Petrelli UES House, Saturday afternoon
Nathan was talking with Angela in the living room when Peter burst in.
"You joined with Linderman?" Peter demanded, looking like he was going to explode at any minute, nuclear power or not.
"I'll handle this," Nathan assured Angela. He ushered Peter into the study, closing the door behind them. "You need to calm down."
"He's a crook!" Peter said. "How can you even think of working with him?"
"You've gotta see the big picture, Pete," Nathan said. He grasped Peter's shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "Which means I need you to really listen."
"I'm not gonna listen when - " Peter started to say, then got cut off when Nathan gripped his shoulders almost painfully hard.
Please tell me you still have mind-reading, Nathan thought towards Peter, hoping like hell Peter would think to use it or at least pick up Nathan's thoughts if he thought them loud enough.
A look of confusion crossed Peter's face, indicating that at least some of Nathan's unspoken words had come across. "Nate?"
"Are you listening?" Nathan asked. He quirked his eyebrows up in a silent hope that Peter would be savvy enough to follow Nathan's lead.
"Yeah," Peter said, watching Nathan carefully. "I'm listening."
"I don't expect you to understand politics, but I can't do anything unless I'm in office. I'm doing what I have to in order to make that happen," Nathan said. This is bigger than you and me. We can't stop the explosion. Nothing can stop it.
"I don't accept that," Peter told him.
"You don't get a choice," Nathan said. It worked for both conversations. I need to be on the inside so I can help.
"That doesn't mean I have to like it," Peter said. "You don't have to do this. We can figure out another way!"
"Pete, the best thing for you to do is stay out of the way." It was harsh, but true on all counts. You'll be safe if you get out of the city.
"I'm not going along with this," Peter said. "You can't make me."
No, but Nathan knew how to nudge and hint Peter into the right direction. "Fine. Do whatever the hell you want. Just don't get in my way."
Peter studied Nathan's face for a long time. "Will you try to stop me?"
"If I have to," Nathan replied.
Angela finally came into the room. "Is everything settled?"
"I think so," Nathan said.
"You joined with Linderman?" Peter demanded, looking like he was going to explode at any minute, nuclear power or not.
"I'll handle this," Nathan assured Angela. He ushered Peter into the study, closing the door behind them. "You need to calm down."
"He's a crook!" Peter said. "How can you even think of working with him?"
"You've gotta see the big picture, Pete," Nathan said. He grasped Peter's shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "Which means I need you to really listen."
"I'm not gonna listen when - " Peter started to say, then got cut off when Nathan gripped his shoulders almost painfully hard.
Please tell me you still have mind-reading, Nathan thought towards Peter, hoping like hell Peter would think to use it or at least pick up Nathan's thoughts if he thought them loud enough.
A look of confusion crossed Peter's face, indicating that at least some of Nathan's unspoken words had come across. "Nate?"
"Are you listening?" Nathan asked. He quirked his eyebrows up in a silent hope that Peter would be savvy enough to follow Nathan's lead.
"Yeah," Peter said, watching Nathan carefully. "I'm listening."
"I don't expect you to understand politics, but I can't do anything unless I'm in office. I'm doing what I have to in order to make that happen," Nathan said. This is bigger than you and me. We can't stop the explosion. Nothing can stop it.
"I don't accept that," Peter told him.
"You don't get a choice," Nathan said. It worked for both conversations. I need to be on the inside so I can help.
"That doesn't mean I have to like it," Peter said. "You don't have to do this. We can figure out another way!"
"Pete, the best thing for you to do is stay out of the way." It was harsh, but true on all counts. You'll be safe if you get out of the city.
"I'm not going along with this," Peter said. "You can't make me."
No, but Nathan knew how to nudge and hint Peter into the right direction. "Fine. Do whatever the hell you want. Just don't get in my way."
Peter studied Nathan's face for a long time. "Will you try to stop me?"
"If I have to," Nathan replied.
Angela finally came into the room. "Is everything settled?"
"I think so," Nathan said.