Heroes, Nathan/Peter
Title: Pictures
Pairing: Nathan/Peter
Rating: G
Author's Notes: Prompt requested by conflictx. Set at the start of season 2.
Oh. The brothers during Nathan's wedding, says your mother's elegant script below the photo. Peter Petrelli is your best man. His smile is wide, boyish.
"Congratulations." Peter's smile is genuine as he embraces you. His cheek, you note, is warm against yours. Suddenly you find it difficult to let go -- you want to wrap your arms around him and hide him from everyone, from the world which is out to get you.
You shift your head a little, never breaking skin contact, until both your foreheads meet. You close your eyes. Soon Peter will be in the same situation; his smiles will not be yours, they will be his, and his alone.
The thought makes you scowl.
You take the photo and flip the album pages again, trying to find something else, until you spot it. Peter's graduation in high school - he looks particularly depressed.
"You ready for college, Pete?" You ruffle his hair, and Peter grumbles.
"Listen," You place your hands on his shoulders and urge him to look at you straight in the eyes, "Don't mind our mother. She's just -- "
"I can never be like you." He mumbles. Such a teenager. "I only have this stupid diploma."
"I'm proud of you Pete." You say, seriously. "You know I am, right?"
He smiles sadly at you and pulls away.
You fight a sob before taking the photo out and placing it gently on a pile next to you. After a pregnant pause you dive in again, searching for your youth...
"Stop crying. Crybaby."
"I'm not a crybaby!"
He tries to free himself from your grasp, but you don't let him. Downstairs, mommy and daddy are fighting about something, but you don't understand. You hear your name, and Peter's, and your little brother is trembling. You're scared, but you don't want to show him. You have to be strong.
You close your eyes and pray to God for your brother's life, for immense strength, for the power to fly away from all this.
You are done. You close the album and collect your memories close to your chest. You are done; you cannot follow. You must live, and you must never forget. You will die if you do.
Pairing: Nathan/Peter
Rating: G
Author's Notes: Prompt requested by conflictx. Set at the start of season 2.
Oh. The brothers during Nathan's wedding, says your mother's elegant script below the photo. Peter Petrelli is your best man. His smile is wide, boyish.
"Congratulations." Peter's smile is genuine as he embraces you. His cheek, you note, is warm against yours. Suddenly you find it difficult to let go -- you want to wrap your arms around him and hide him from everyone, from the world which is out to get you.
You shift your head a little, never breaking skin contact, until both your foreheads meet. You close your eyes. Soon Peter will be in the same situation; his smiles will not be yours, they will be his, and his alone.
The thought makes you scowl.
You take the photo and flip the album pages again, trying to find something else, until you spot it. Peter's graduation in high school - he looks particularly depressed.
"You ready for college, Pete?" You ruffle his hair, and Peter grumbles.
"Listen," You place your hands on his shoulders and urge him to look at you straight in the eyes, "Don't mind our mother. She's just -- "
"I can never be like you." He mumbles. Such a teenager. "I only have this stupid diploma."
"I'm proud of you Pete." You say, seriously. "You know I am, right?"
He smiles sadly at you and pulls away.
You fight a sob before taking the photo out and placing it gently on a pile next to you. After a pregnant pause you dive in again, searching for your youth...
"Stop crying. Crybaby."
"I'm not a crybaby!"
He tries to free himself from your grasp, but you don't let him. Downstairs, mommy and daddy are fighting about something, but you don't understand. You hear your name, and Peter's, and your little brother is trembling. You're scared, but you don't want to show him. You have to be strong.
You close your eyes and pray to God for your brother's life, for immense strength, for the power to fly away from all this.
You are done. You close the album and collect your memories close to your chest. You are done; you cannot follow. You must live, and you must never forget. You will die if you do.