Fic: it takes two to whisper quietly
The wind blew softly across his face, leaves crunching under his boots as he maneuvered his way through the deserted graveyard, coming to a stop in front of Nathan’s grave. Peter swallowed a sudden lump in his throat at the sight of his brother’s name engraved on the gray stone.
He kneeled down, setting the flowers he’d brought on the grave. He placed a hand on the headstone. A wave of emotion coursed through him and he closed his eyes briefly before whispering a voice thick with emotion, “Happy Birthday, Nathan.”
Memories from the back of his mind pushed forward and he saw himself at five years old, clapping wildly at Nathan’s side as his big brother cut the cake. Happy birthday Nathan! He had chanted again and again, tugging on Nathan’s side until he’d obliged and picked him up, nuzzling his neck affectionately. Thanks, champ. Nathan had said, grinning and Peter had squealed with delight when Nathan spun him around in the air.
Peter smiled to himself at the memory, leaning back and sitting down firmly in front of his brother’s grave. “Remember when Mom used to force us apart at the parties she threw for you?” he asked, choking over a laugh as he remembered Nathan’s comments about dad’s bald bastard friends.”She’d always chastise me for keeping you occupied when you obviously had bigger and more important people to meet.” He shook his head, running an absent hand over the gravestone.
There was a moment of silence when the smile faded from his face. “Guess there’s no party this year, huh?” it was soft and lamenting. “They dont sound so bad now...I would pretty much do anything for another painful evening of Petrelli birthday celebrations…” at least you’d still be here.
He lost track of how long he sat there, talking about meaningless things in low whispers as if it were just the two of them and just their secret. He smiled to himself at memories and bit his lip to keep from crying at cruel reality. “I miss you…,” he said over and over, “I miss you…”
A shadow fell across the ground and Peter frowned, looking up. “Claire,” he said, surprised.
“I thought I’d find you here.” She smiled softly, sitting down next to him.
“But what are you doing here?” he asked, brow crinkling in confusion.
Claire smiled, “We had a lunch date today, remember?” she reminded him gently.
Of course! Peter smacked his forehead lightly with his palm. “Shoot, I forgot. I’m so sorry, Claire. I should have called, I-”
“It’s okay,” she said with a casual wave of her hand. “I understand.”
He smiled at her gratefully and they turned back to Nathan’s headstone, sitting in respectful silence for a few moments.
“You know, today is his birthday.” He could see that she was surprised out of the corner of his eye.
“I…didn’t know that,” she said quietly, head ducking. He thought he saw the slightest hint of a sad little smile behind the curtain of her hair and he felt and urge to know what she was thinking but he turned away.
“Come on,” he said suddenly a second later, standing up and offering her his hand. She looked at him curiously for a moment before taking it and getting to her feet.
“Where are we going?” she asked as he started to walk towards the gates.
“We had a lunch date, right?” he turned to grin at her. She smiled back and he wrapped an affectionate arm around her shoulder as they made their way out of the graveyard.