Fic: Stars
Author: hihielmo
Title: Stars
Pairing/Characters: implied Nathan/Peter
Rating: PG
Warnings: Mentions of child abuse
Spoilers: None.
Notes: Written for heroes_bingo prompt “Sharing A Bed” and sacred_20 prompt “Purgatory”.
Summary/Description: On the nights that Arthur and Peter fight Nathan takes care of everything but himself.
When Arthur and Peter fight, it’s always Nathan who has to fix it. Whether it be him creeping into Dad’s study later to pull the scotch bottle out of his hand or gently chiding Peter as he rubs Neosporin on yet another scrap. It’s always him.
Afterwards, after the first aid kit has been tucked away and the bottles thrown away Nathan always slides into bed with Peter. He tells himself it’s to stop the nightmares he has about their father. He tells himself it’s so Peter won’t feel alone with his bruised body and broken pride. He is lying to himself on both counts.
He shares Peter’s bed because it is the only time that he can pull his brother into his arms. They don’t do anything strange. Those thoughts remain firmly sealed in Nathan’s mind and tucked away. Instead he lays there, breathing and feeling Peter’s chest rise.
It was a frequent event in Nathan’s life when Peter started high school but eventually Peter matures to the point that he can walk away the second he sees Arthur’s lip curl. The last time his brother and father fight to the point that Nathan is driven to Peter’s bed is the night Peter graduated from high school.
“Peter,” Nathan muttered in surprise when Peter stumbles into his room at 2 am bleeding and sobbing. Peter doesn’t say a word as Nathan helps him change and while Peter crawls into bed Nathan leaves to find their father.
“He wants to be a nurse,” his father greets him, red in the face and swaying, “A fucking nurse.”
“I know,” Nathan leads Arthur to the couch carefully, “He told me months ago.” Arthur fails to hear this confession, too lost in his drunken ramblings.
“Go to bed, Pop,” Nathan turns the office lights off and leaves his father there with his drink and disappointment. When he gets back to Peter’s room the lights are off and Peter has rolled to the side, leaving him a spot to lie in his bed.
He crawls into bed next to his brother and, once comfortable, reaches out an arm that Peter immediately rolls into.
“He loves you, you know,” Nathan whispers into Peter’s ear, his lips brushing it softly. “He’s just…”
“Spare me, Nathan,” Peter snaps, burrowing his face deeper into his brother’s chest and Nathan’s breath catches in his throat.
They lay together and Nathan counted the glow-in-the-dark stars still stuck to Peter’s ceiling. Consequences of running his had down Peter’s thighs raced around his mind chasing the pictures forming of Peter laying on his back, sweating and writhing.
“Nathan,” Peter said softly, his hand pressing into Nathan’s side. Nathan jerked and his heart lurched.
“Peter,” he said, placing his hand on top of Peter’s and moving it away quickly. Peter shifted and Nathan could feel his eyes burning into him.
“Let’s… let’s just lay here, okay?” his voice was choked.
“Okay…” Peter whispered and they turned back to there thoughts, each other, and those stupid ceiling stars.