RP for im_afreakshow - Just checking.

[vote4nathan]

The article was still imprinted on his mind. Images and knowledge that was all too familiar resounded inside of him almost making nauseous from just the thought. Even the small vicarious contact he had had with the murderer had been enough to know that he was a force to be reckoned with. And no chances would be taken this time

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[thecheerleader]

Claire was left to walk home by herself after Lyle had arranged to go over a friend's house. She didn't mind, it got her home earlier than she normally was when she waited for him. Ever since Dad had left, she was stopping by his soccer practice when cheerleading was over so that she could make sure he got home okay. He hated it, but she couldn't help take on the role of protector after everything that had happened to them.

Today she was only a little worried because she kept getting distracted with thoughts of how weird her school was. Mr. Ramone had been cool, but him wanting to talk about what was going on struck her as off. Like something really was going on.

As she neared her house, she noticed a man sitting out in front and quickened her pace. She was too far away to see who it was, but anyone being there at all was enough to have her worried.

Getting close enough to see who it was only had her more concerned. Her stomach was in knots by the time she stood in front of Nathan. He wasn't supposed to be there. If he was, then maybe something had happened, or something was wrong with Peter.

But he didn't look as upset as she thought he'd be if this was about something bad, and she doubted he would be wasting time coming to see her if he could be doing something more useful instead. All the things she could think to say were questions.

"Nathan," she paused, not knowing how to greet him. "Is everything okay?"

[vote4nathan]

Lost in his own thoughts, he only noticed Claire approaching when she was several feet away. He stood up and smoothed out the material of his shirt as he automatically inspected her to make sure that she looked healthy and unharmed.

Once he had assured himself of that fact... at least in the physical sense, he nodded quickly. "Yes. Yes everything seems okay." Somewhat awkwardly, he stepped forward to give her a hug. But once his arms were around her, he relaxed into the embrace. "I was more worried about you, actually. You're doing okay?"

[thecheerleader]

Claire hugged Nathan gently, taking a deep breath and calming herself down now that she knew everyone was alright. She was a little surprised that he'd come to check in on her, he could have just called if he wanted to do that, but she was also grateful. It made her think maybe she was more than an obligation to him. He already had a family and so did she, if he didn't want to see her again, he knew he didn't have to.

"Yeah, I'm alright," Claire answered, pulling back to look at him. It took her a minute to figure out what was going on, but then she realized he knew. Of course he knew, Nathan had probably been keeping better track of things than she was. "You found the article, didn't you?"

[vote4nathan]

"I did." Nathan nodded, finally letting go of her and pulling back. "I was worried about you when I read..."

He paused, head tilting to the side curiously. "You haven't heard from him." He acknowledged.

[thecheerleader]

Claire shook her head in response to his question. If he'd only read it too, then maybe it didn't mean anything that Sylar had been spotted so close by. He could have been trying to stay away from New York City because he knew people were aware of him there. This wasn't much better for her now, but at least he wasn't going after Peter and trying to destroy the city. At least Peter and Nathan were okay.

"I was going to call Peter, but I know he's busy. He told me he got married, I didn't want to ruin it unless I had to," she explained. "I thought he deserved to be happy for a while."

[vote4nathan]

"He does. But we're going to put together a real wedding for him. You should come when we plan it. No ruining anything about it." Nathan said around a small grin. Instinctively he wanted to bundle her up and take her back to New York with him right now. What he would do after that, he wasn't sure. But he also knew that she had a family here.

[thecheerleader]

"I'd be happy to visit for that," Claire nodded, taking a step back and realizing she hadn't even invited Nathan in yet. If her her mom was home she would have killed her for having such bad manners around her biological father. She'd say she'd raised her better than that. "Would you like to come in? Mom won't be home for another hour, and you're supposed to be hiding. It might be safer for you."

[vote4nathan]

"Maybe for a half hour or so." Nathan wasn't quite sure that he wanted to meet and greet the people who had been chosen to raise Claire over him. He would execute it flawlessly if it happened but he wasn't going to instigate it or hone in on their lives.

On the flip side, he wouldn't turn down time with Claire. "Lead the way."

[thecheerleader]

"Cool," Claire smiled and nodded again, taking out her key and first unlocking, then opening the front door. They were greeted by Mr. Muggles, who Claire had to immediately kneel down and greet if she didn't want him to start yapping at Nathan.

"I forgot Mr. Muggles wasn't going anywhere today," Claire explained, closing the door once Nathan was inside and hitting the lights on. She sort of hoped he likes dogs, at least enough to tolerate hers for a little while. "Mr. Muggles meet Nathan. Nathan, this is Mr. Muggles," she told him, looking around to make sure that things were fairly organized. "He's my mom's baby. She says he always does everything she tells him to do."

[vote4nathan]

Nathan had mixed feelings about being here. On one hand this place and yes even Mr Muggles represented his daughter's other life. However it was something that was always going to be here so he smiled slightly and reached out to scratch at the dog's ears. "He's cute. And this is a very nice house. I'm sure that you enjoy it here."

[thecheerleader]

"I used to, sometimes," she replied honestly, putting Mr. Muggles down and then walking over to hang up her book bag. "Its a lot different than Texas, but Dad thought it would be safe. Then we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to stay that way. I didn't listen the way I should have with that."

She walked over to the couch and sat down at the end closest to where she was standing. "You can make yourself comfortable," she paused, wanting to ask and then wondering if it was appropriate. After a moment she gave up on trying to resist and decided he might not mind answering her. She really wanted to know. "Did you fly here?"

[vote4nathan]

"I think we've all put a lot of pressure on ourselves to keep those we love safe." Nathan acknowledged, moving to sit in an armchair close to Claire. He unbuttoned his overcoat as he sat and settled into the chair, attempting not to look as tense as he felt.

He gave her a small nod. "I did. I was afraid I would talk myself out of it if it took too long to get here." He admitted. "I have an awful habit of over-thinking... pretty much everything."

[thecheerleader]

"I was surprised to see you," Claire commented, sitting further back against the couch and folding her hands in her lap. "But I'm glad you didn't talk yourself out of it. I think of you sometimes, and Peter. I talk myself out of calling."

[vote4nathan]

"We should fix that... the not calling. I do the same." Nathan answered, pressing his lips together thoughtfully for a moment before continuing. "It's easy to talk yourself into thinking that someone wants nothing to do with you. I know that. But I want you to know that from my standpoint, that's not truth. I would like to hear from you... and see you." And he knew he was stepping out on a limb even saying so. "I know that I'm late due to circumstances both out of my control and lately in my control, but I want to know you."

[thecheerleader]

"You didn't want to know me when Peter was missing," she said with a sigh, not sure how to take what he was telling her, and afraid of how he'd take what she was saying to him. She wasn't mad at him, she'd only been hurt in the first place, but all she'd wanted was someone to talk to. If he was going to turn his back on her when something went wrong, Claire wasn't sure she wanted to try it at all.

"I've disappointed enough people lately, Nathan. I don't know how I feel about taking the risk and making you another person that I could let down."

[vote4nathan]

Nathan nodded, pressing his lips together thoughtfully. "That I did." And he had a million excuses for that and none at all. He wasn't going to put her through excuses because he was sick of them himself.

"There's no pressure here." He said quietly. "When and if you're ready or... want to. But... who's told you that you're disappointing them?"