It wasn't unusual for Nikolai to doodle or paint on Ferran. He didn't mind, knowing it was a form of stress relief for the other man. It made him happy to help. Their quiet moments spent simply in one another's presence made him feel secure and was a much needed reprieve from the world.
Ferran was so absorbed in reading articles from The Strad that he wasn't entirely focused on Nikolai. There was a lot on his mind, mostly his odd theory about Heather. He couldn't shake the feeling it was true, though he wouldn't know until a paternity test, if that was even possible without Brandon around... Ferran hadn't heard from his brother in a long time.
He sensed Nikolai shifting, but continued to read until he felt his friend's hand in his hair, causing a ripple of warmth to spread through his body. He tried not to focus on it. What are you doing? Ferran asked with amusement, reaching into that comfortable space within his friend's mind.