Bricks in the Wall, Chapter 89: Serial Killers
Title: Serial Killers
Characters: Peter, Sylar
Words: 700
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Setting: The Wall
Summary: Peter wants to know why Sylar doesn't consider himself to be a serial killer.
Note: Sylar's recitation is paraphrased from the Wikipedia page on serial killers.
"The other day, you told me you weren't a serial killer, but you didn't explain why."
"What you're asking is personal," Sylar said like that was the end of the matter.
Peter drew back his head and scoffed. "Like me telling you what it was like to go down on Catey wasn't."
Sylar looked confused and uneasy, then he sneered. "You've had sex with so many people it's practically public knowledge anyway."
Peter stepped closer and even though he did it casual, Sylar knew enough to go on alert. He didn't flinch or dodge when Peter grabbed his shirt and shoved him against the wall, even though he fully expected to get hit. Peter's free hand went to Sylar's shoulder, palm flat against it to hold him there. Sylar didn't resist. With intimidating calmness, Peter told him, "Who I'm with and what we do together is private. That I tell you about it is a sign of how much I trust you, not that it's something I'd tell to anyone who asks. If you want to keep that trust, then you have to show some respect."
"Respect for your legendary cunnilingus skills?" Sylar couldn't help but snark. It earned him a hard slap, almost instantly. Peter's hand was back on Sylar's shoulder before Sylar had even worked out which one he'd been hit with. His cheek stung and reddened, but his face became more impassive than ever.
"I share very personal things with you all the time, Sylar. Don't act like you're the only one making an effort here. You have reasons. I want to know what they are." Peter released him and stepped away.
Sylar glared at him. "You think slapping me around is going to make me tell you what you want to know?"
Peter took a seat and looked up expectantly, ignoring the objection.
Sylar rolled his eyes and circled, getting away from the damn wall. He stopped when he had his back to the way out. That made him more comfortable. He didn't know why he was explaining this - Peter didn't deserve an explanation, especially after hitting him - but he did anyway. "Serial killers are perverted. They're deranged. They pick their targets for sexual reasons. That's not what I did!" Peter nodded, face sober. He wasn't trying to argue, so Sylar continued, "No one calls a soldier a serial killer. Or an executioner. Or even a mad scientist who kills his subjects. They kill people for different reasons - legitimate reasons (or at least in the case of the mad scientist, he thinks they're legitimate). A serial killer knows what they're doing is wrong."
"You've said," Peter said slowly, "that you knew what you did was wrong."
Sylar shook his head decisively in contradiction to his words. "Yes, I said that. You're taking it out of context."
Peter nodded and gestured for him to go on. "Okay. Then explain."
"I knew I was murdering people. I was not getting off on it."
Peter weighed that for a while. "How much do you know about serial killers?"
The question seemed serious, not challenging. Sylar hesitated a moment, then spoke like he was quoting something, "The inability for form attachments is a common factor, as is the existence of facilitators who encourage the devaluing of human life. The quality of attachment to parents and other family members is critical to how they relate to and value other members of society. A dysfunctional family history can lead to the inability to attach, which can further lead to homicidal behavior unless they find a way to develop substantial relationships and fight the label they receive."
"You're not a serial killer because you don't want to be a serial killer?" Peter asked.
"I am not a serial killer because I am not a serial killer."
Peter tilted his head slightly, taking that in. "Okay," he said agreeably. "You're not a serial killer." He waited a few beats and added, "You do realize, right, that what we have is a 'substantial relationship'?"
"And you're not dead," Sylar said simply.