Fic: Mad World 8/8
Chapter 8.
Peter opened his eyes onto the truly lovely face of his niece. She lay beside him on his bed, her body a smaller mirror to his own, one arm tucked under her pillow, one curled over her chest. Deep green eyes that had mesmerized him the first time her ever saw them looked back into his with such relief that he almost wanted to weep.
Warmth surrounded Peter from the source at his back.
“Hey.” Claire’s voice was barely above a whisper in the quiet of the room.
“Hey.” A needle hurt as Peter’s voice rasped over a damaged throat.
The emerald gaze sharpened. “It’s been three days. We weren’t sure you were going to wake up.”
What could he answer to that? Apologize for worrying his family? The unconsciousness hadn’t been by choice.
“Is everyone okay?” Peter asked instead. He had to know what he’d done. They’d all come to his rescue, the people in the mansion. His family had led the cavalry but it had been all the heroes at that final battle.
Claire’s eyes dimmed. “Paolo and Regan were killed. There wasn’t much left of them. My blood brought back everyone else.”
Peter’s lids fell against the news. He’d spoken to both of them. Making lunch for everyone on Tuesday with Paolo, just chatting about nothing while they sliced and washed. The woman Regan he’d only encountered briefly, her viciously cropped red hair and angry mouth a reflection of damage Peter was out of his depth at healing.
Gentle fingers stroked his cheekbone.
“They would have wanted no other death. To have stopped…him…was all Regan wanted. All she really lived for at all. Paolo…” Claire hesitated.
“…shouldn’t have even been there.” Peter finished harshly. The man had been able to make plants do anything he asked them to. The magnificent Petrelli gardens had been his playground and a testament to his ability.
“He had as much right as Regan.” Claire countered voice still soft and made of compassion.
“Everyone had the right to fight for our freedom Peter. You didn’t kill them; you gave them the chance to fight for themselves.”
Peter looked into the endless green and choked. “He talked to roses. Why did he…?”
The soft, comforting touches never ceased. “Because you were in trouble. You were his friend Peter.” Her voice hardened a little. “That monster murdered his son. Paolo, of all of us, needed to be there in the end.”
Unable to counter her logic. Peter relaxed into the comfort of the mattress and placed his hand over the arms encircling his waist.
The body behind him was a long warm line of pressure that secured Peter to this place and muffled the pain of death and loss.
Claire smiled again, this time with a flash of wickedness.
“How long?” Peter asked, careful not to awaken the other man.
Her eyebrow canted in a familiar borrowed gesture. “Three days on and off. Angela kept prying him away for food and showers, everyone else got snarled at if they even suggested he leave.”
Affection and awe tumbled through Peter’s aching limbs. The soft breath between his shoulder blades a small indication of the deep passion he was now a part of.
“I love him.” Because it was Claire and even with five years of changes Peter still wanted to tell her everything.
Delighted tears rose in her gaze. “Oh Peter…that’s good. That’s so good because Gabriel has been…”
Claire’s jaw snapped shut and she took on an affronted look.
“Telling secrets Shugar?” Gabriel’s voice was low and velvet deep against the delicate skin beneath Peter’s ear. A shiver of desire began to chase away the aching residue of exhaustion and pain.
Reaching forward the former cheerleader flicked her fingers at Gabriel’s ear.
A huff of laughter and the telekinesis was released. Claire tested her jaw for a few seconds.
“As I was saying…” Peter could tell she was changing her intent given the wakefulness of her charge. “Gabriel has been worried sick about you, just like we all have.”
With a sly glance over Peter’s shoulder, Claire rose gracefully from the bed and walked to the door. “I’ll let everyone know you’re back. Nancy is awake and would like to meet you. Actually, be prepared for everyone to want a visit, starting with Nathan and Angela.”
The door closed quietly behind the blonde and they were alone in the soft stillness of Peter’s room.
“Last time you left without waking me.” The accusation wasn’t really as casual as it sounded.
Stilling in his lover’s arms, Peter wondered at that. After all the pain and betrayal, it was that one simple thing Gabriel chose to accuse him of.
“I couldn’t risk you.” He confessed to the empty room. This was easier when the midnight eyes didn’t sear into his soul. “You would have come with me and I couldn’t take the chance…”
“Do it again,” Gabriel interrupted hands beginning a slow roaming journey over Peter’s chest and hips. “Leave me to wake without you again and I’ll chain you to the bed every night.”
Arms tightened, bringing them closer until Peter was firmly wrapped in long arms and legs.
“Don’t leave me behind again.”
The inherent need in the voice warred with the words ‘every night’ within Peter. It was a declaration of intent that he hadn’t even let himself hope might be possible. It secured the thought Peter had been turning over in the back of his mind since he’d seen Claire’s face and felt the warmth at his back.
“I’ll stay.” Peter vowed, containing in the small statement everything he promised to the man behind him.
Gabriel’s grip became almost lethal. “Hiro has traveled to the past and future. Everything could change.”
Peter ran his fingers along the grasping hands that were so greedy for him to stay. He knew Hiro. There was little doubt in his mind the decision the Japanese man would have already made.
It was the same as Peter’s.
“I could go back and stop Arthur.” He couldn’t say ‘Dad’. Peter’s father had died long since from a heart attack. The Spider had been a monster that had lost all traces of its humanity years ago.
Gabriel went absolutely still.
“But I would remember everything. You wouldn’t be who you are. Claire wouldn’t have Noah. Everyone would be different. I…I don’t have the right to obliterate everyone here just to change a world that is finally starting to right itself.” Peter shuddered at the idea of this whole world, this life being…gone.
Long limbs held him close and warm lips nuzzled at his neck.
“So I don’t need to chain you to the bed?” Gabriel asked in that deep sexy voice laced liberally with amused disappointment.
Peter heard the sound of feet in the hallway and the murmur of voices coming closer. His family, changed as they were by this brave, new world.
Just as Peter was.
“Well...”
*****
finis