fic: too young
Title: Too young
Characters: Mohinder, Claire and Peter, mentions of others.
Word Count: 554
Rating: PG-13
Summary: AU after S1, Peter exploded in the sky, Nathan died and everybody else joined a crusade against The Company.
Spoilers: S1.
A/N: Unbetaed and needs a lot of polishing.
They have walked a long way, she was a living person instead of a scaring image on a painting. Mohinder is intrigued by her, in a scientific and personal point of view; Claire is a contradiction in a petite body; she’s all honey and adorable Texan drawl built in steel. Bursted into Peter’s life without announcement and became part of their group of misfits effortlessly, grew up to be a sister in arms.
There're some experiences in life not suitable for everybody, he knows he’ll never forget that this girl buried her family with her own hands.
She’s too young to be part of this war, she should be in college, discussing about classes, flirting in parties and complaining about annoying professors. Mohinder’s heart constrict when he watches her with Molly, barely years apart, one is still a girl and the other… he regrets he can’t make it easier for her, she ought to have a chance to be whatever she dreams. If they change the world, he’ll make sure of that.
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He has confronted Peter about allowing her to do missions: she’s your family Peter, she’s all you have! how can you let her risk herself like this? He wouldn’t let Molly being near anything potentially dangerous, he knows he’ll go to hell to keep her safe.
Peter chuckles: Don’t let her hear you talking like that. You know, there’s no way she’s staying behind. There’s pride mixed in his statement and he can’t understand why.
Worried sick, described his situation, Nikki, Hiro and Ando were supposed to meet him there 30 minutes prior, the bitter taste on his mouth burned deep and made him discover Peter and him are equals, both willing to send their family into danger, blood is a lost concept for them. The relief he feels when later on the 3 of them materialize in the corner almost knocked him of his feet.
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Mohinder recognizes the glint in her eyes when he walks through the door, and knows Peter must be there too, she brighten up on his presence.
She smiles like she’s hiding a secret, dances around the apartment when she’s cleaning and rolls her eyes like any teenager; still Peter looks at her thinking the sun comes out just in her request. It’s obvious to all of them that she thinks the world rotates because of him, that’s who they are.
They play like children, talk without words and fight like lovers, Mohinder smirks because that’s normal for Peter and Claire, they’re entitled to have a life.
Every movie night ends exactly the same, popcorn in the floor and quiet goodbyes to not disturb the snoring couple. Claire looks like any other teenager, asleep on the couch comfortably trapped in Peter’s body, he wishes them pleasantry dreams on his way out, he knows this will be a peaceful night for them.
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Claire has seen more than she should and broke her soul and fixed it up again more times than she can remember, or maybe that she is willing to recall.
She’s too young for all of that, they all know it, but when she’s a bloody mess in the pouring rain clinging to Peter’s chest and imploring him to breathe, nobody speaks or judges.
She’s not that young to know what love is.