Fic: Testing Fate
Title: Testing Fate
Author: Claire
Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: Noah/Claire, though it could be gen if you choose to remove your shippy specs…
Rating: PG
Genre: Het/Gen
WC: 513
Spoilers: Up to 2x03.
Summary: There’s only one thing left to say.
“Who is that boy?”
Claire slid into the passenger seat beside Noah, avoiding his eyes as she stashed her bag between her feet.
“Claire?”
“Which?”
She watched as he leveled his eyes on West, brow drawn over his glasses. She tried to stifle West’s words as they floated up from her unconsciousness, sending her stomach plummeting with renewed dread - the man in the horn-rimmed glasses.
“Nobody.” Claire clenched the muscles of her abdomen, trying to crush pervading misery, knowing her tone had been entirely too clipped, her words peaked with all the suspicion in the world.
Noah turned the keys in the ignition, eyes still on West, lips a thin line of disapproval. They’d barely cleared the parking lot before he started in again.
“I need you to tell me who he is, Claire.”
Claire glared, grimacing into her refusal, “it’s none of your business.”
Noah’s fist wheeled out to slam the dashboard, eyes anywhere but the road.
“The hell it’s none of my business.”
“Dad, drop it, we’ll talk about it later.” Claire motioned violently towards the highway.
“No Claire, now, we’re getting this over with now -”
“DAD!”
He swerved expertly, skimming off to the side of the road in the wake of the passing car’s honk. Claire let loose a deep breath, fixing him with a glare.
“Who’s that boy Claire?”
“You could’ve killed…you.”
Noah’s eyes slipped shut as he drew a deep breath in through his nose, let it out softly.
“No. I couldn’t have.”
Claire’s expression twisted from one of fury to confusion.
“What are you talking about?”
“Claire -”
“WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?” She lashed out before she could think, fists pummeling at every inch of him, fear her driving instinct in a moment lost in fate.
“Claire -” Noah clasped her wrists, holding them together against his chest, eyes squeezed shut. Claire felt a sob well up inside her, felt it break loose and couldn’t keep more from coming.
“Dad -”
“Claire. Sweetheart.” Noah drew her head in close, slowly easing her against him over the car’s separating armrest, taking her sobs against his chest, smoothing her hair. “A lot will be changing soon, honey. You have to stay strong for me, can you do that?”
He felt the quick up-down pressure of her soft nod against his chest. He buried his face against her hair, drawing a deep breath, inhaling the warm, citrus scent of her - so alive, so close. He pressed a long, soft kiss to her hair.
“Shh…” He wanted to tell her that everything would be alright. That they’d be a family forever, they’d be happy forever, they’d move time and again, change their lives over and over if necessary, but stay together, always together. He couldn’t.
“I love you, Claire.”
Her voice was soft against his sweater, feeble, muffled and he wondered how long he had to hear it, how long before he wouldn’t hear anything anymore. Shame seared through him like a knife, sick at the selfishness of his own laments. Would she miss him?
“I love you too, Daddy.”
-------fin-------