the_muses_stage prompt set #40.1.4 [picture prompt]
There were times when Claire was convinced that living with Peter was worse than living with her dad. Both men had learned the fine art of communicating with just a look and there were a lot of glances that Peter sent her that spoke volumes.
She knew he didn’t agree with what she was doing and that he had a lot of questions about what that was lately. She had a habit of disappearing on him, giving him no explanation of what it was that she was doing but she expected him to look after Sylar’s still and silent form while she was gone. When she came back from those times of disappearing, she still had no explanation for him and she knew it was driving him crazy.
Even now, he watched her with a look that asked every question that was troubling him but she ignored him as she rushed up the stairs while clutching a bag that was filled with things she had bought from a nearby store. It was a relief to put some distance between them because there were still times when it was hard to lie to him but she had decided that it was better if she did. He didn’t need to know everything that was going on because she was sure he would leave if he did. If he knew what Sylar had done to her before lapsing into his little coma.
Entering the room that she shared with her comatose boyfriend, Claire wrinkled her nose at the stale air that immediately assaulted her senses. Dropping the bag on the bed near his feet, she walked over to open the window with a little sigh. Almost immediately the salt laced air rushed into the room, stealing away the staleness and replacing it with something fresher. Drawing in a relieved breath, she turned back to the bed so that she could open the bag.
“You know, I had no idea what kind of shaving cream you like.” She commented casually as she removed the can of shaving cream she had bought. Studying the label, she tilted her head before setting the can on the bedside stand. “All this time of being around each other and I didn’t know.” Or maybe the answer had just slipped her mind.
“Of course I’m not sure you could tell me what kind of stuff I like.” She smirked a little. “It’s the cucumber smelling stuff, just in case you ever wanted to know.” She glanced up at his ever stoic features and tried to ignore the sharpness she felt in her chest ever time she looked for something besides blankness there.
Trying not to focus on how much it ached that he wasn’t fully there, she focused on just talking to him instead. She reassured him that she had gotten the good razors, the ones that would keep her from cutting him as she took care of the beard that had filled in to cover his cheeks and jawline. She told him about her days and nights that she spent trying to figure out how to help him. About all the abilities she had found but hadn’t bothered taking since they would be useless to her at the moment. She was more concerned about finding whatever it took to help bring him back after all.
“But I know where they are.” She nodded as she scraped the razor slowly over some more of his beard. “We’ll be able to find them when you wake up.”
To her, there was no other option than him waking up.
As she finished shaving his beard off, she sighed as she dropped the razor into the bowl of water that she had been using to rinse off the razor. Picking up the wet facecloth, she started to wipe away the rest of the shaving cream as her eyes searched his features once more. She looked for anything that would signal to her that he was coming to, any sign of him that maybe he was aware of her being there and looking after him but there was still nothing.
Fighting back a sigh, she dropped the cloth on the edge of the bowl before looking back to him again. “Sylar.” She murmured his name softly as she reached up to brush her fingers along his now smooth cheek. “Come on, you’ve got to be in there somewhere. You’ve got to make your way back. I don’t know what to do anymore. I haven’t been doing this as long as you have.” Reaching down to take his hand, she waited for the comforting squeeze of his fingers around her own but there was nothing. So she curled her fingers around his, fighting back the tears he hated as she drew in a slow breath to calm herself down.
“I never thought I’d say this but...I’m lost without you.” She gave a rather dry laugh. “Strange, huh? Just a few years ago, I didn’t want anything to do with you and now I have no idea what to do without you here. I’ve gotten used to your little ‘shut up’ looks and the way you grunt when you don’t want to say anything. I’ve even gotten used to your stupid jealousy and possessiveness. If you don’t come back, who else is going to do all the stuff you do?”
“Remember? The whole immortality thing and how it means we’re supposed to be together?” Her voice broke just a bit before she suddenly reached up to pinch his arm, hoping it would somehow jolt him awake but she had a feeling she’d only leave a bruise.
Giving a frustrated noise, she let go of his arm and his hand as she pushed to her feet to stalk away from the bed. The urge to hit something and scream was strong but the urge to break down was stronger. She honestly didn’t know what she wanted to do more, so she settled for dropping into the chair at the end of the bed. It had become her little perch lately, the place where she sat and kept vigilance over his body while waiting for him to wake up.
After all, it wasn’t like there was anywhere else she wanted to be.
[Sylar is heroslayer, and is used with lots of love.]