Another Forgotten Birthday
Heidi sat at the kitchen table waiting for her husband to come home from work. After spending the day with her children Nathan's mother kindly agreed to taking the boys off her hands for the evening so that she and Nathan could celebrate her birthday in peace
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Christmas dinner wasn’t quite the terrible endeavor Peter had thought it might be; once he got a mouthful of Heidi’s homemade turkey gravy and mashed potatoes, he concentrated on nothing but how delicious everything tasted. Well, almost.
Nathan hadn’t slowed down one bit on the alcohol, even though he looked much more presentable than he had when Peter had run into him upstairs. Peter sneaked a quick look at him now and again, and he could swear Nathan’s expression became angrier with each glass of wine he emptied.
Peter’s empathy didn’t have to be working for him to know just what Nathan was feeling at the moment. In fact, he was almost thankful for that. It showed in the set of Nathan’s jaw, not to mention that little vein that rose at his temple when he was pissed off. Nathan Petrelli couldn’t have his way? Too fucking bad.
Nathan should regret how he'd destroyed their relationship. Peter was tired of unconditionally forgiving his brother for his wrongdoings, unconditionally overlooking his shortcomings. Nathan wouldn’t change, and that meant Peter had to do it for both of them.
So then why did it hurt so badly?
Peter ignored his conflicted emotions and cleaned his plate, and once he finished he let out a belch that would have been embarrassing if it hadn’t been in front of all the people he loved most in the world. Simon and Monty burst out laughing, and Heidi looked amused. But his brother?
Nathan’s fork clattered to his plate, and Peter received the most hateful, disgusted look his brother had ever given him.
“Sorry, Nathan.” No, he wasn’t. “You know, in some cultures that’s a compliment to the chef,” Peter continued, smiling brightly. “That doesn’t mean you guys should do it, though,” he added to his nephews as an afterthought.
Simon and Monty then proceeded to belch at each other until Nathan thundered, "All right, that's enough! Where the hell are your manners?"
Peter successfully managed to eat his birthday cake and drink his milk without making a mess this time around, but by then Nathan had already excused himself. The boys of course stayed for the cake, but once they finished and wished him a happy birthday again they asked if they could go play their video game for a while. Heidi nodded in response.
He guessed it was time for that talk Heidi thought they should have. Dinner hadn’t been awkward; maybe this wouldn’t be either.
“I’m really sorry about what happened earlier, Heidi. You were just trying to help me, and I -”
Started fantasizing about my brother? Yeah, that’s not awkward at all, Peter berated himself.
He got up and started putting dishes in the sink so Heidi wouldn’t see the embarrassment that burned across his face.
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Heidi did, however, notice Nathan's manner during dinner, and the fact that every now and then she saw a little sparkle in Nathan's eye that led her to believe he wanted to rip Peter's arms off and Peter looked like a lost puppy whose master had kicked him.
"Nathan!" Heidi eyed him, actually she thought the belching was a sweet gesture, as a chef it is always nice to hear when one's food goes down well but no, Nathan was on one of those 'let's blow everything out of proportion' rants, really she thought laundry sex would have calmed him down. After dinner, with the kids gone upstairs and Nathan retiring to his study, probably to drink more and ponder whatever lies Angela told him in her absence, Heidi once again found herself alone with Peter.
"Do you understand what happened?" Heidi asked, to be honest, she wasn't quite sure. "I've had patients project things onto me before, but never quite like that." There would be a lot fewer therapists in the world if they had to experience scenarios in that manner all the time.
Heidi could sense what he was feeling; anger, a little bit of shame, embarrassment, it was about this time most others would ramp up their bills but Heidi instead emanated an aura of comfort. "Talk to me."
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Do you understand what happened? Oh, he did now.
Ever since the night of Heidi’s birthday, Peter had known she was empathic, just like he was. But did she know? They'd never really talked about it; they’d never had the chance. There was no denying the empathic link they shared whenever they were in close proximity with each other, and Peter could feel his own empathy strengthening again with every second that passed.
I've had patients project things onto me before, but never quite like that.
The memory that had come to him while in the shower with her had stirred up so many emotions inside of him that he’d projected them onto her. The jealousy. The lust. The absolute desperation for Nathan to stop and for him never to stop. She had felt everything Peter had experienced the night he feared he would lose his brother’s love and attention forever.
She knows. She knows!
His entire dinner threatened to come up and out of him on that thought, and he stumbled back over to the table and nearly fell into the chair next to her. The nausea didn’t last, and a sensation of calm and peace came over him, dulling out the panic, slowing his racing heart. Peter had felt this before, when he cut his hand and Heidi tried to stop the bleeding. Now she was projecting onto him.
Heidi had an empathic ability, all right. One that was somewhat like his own, but at the same time nothing like it. Peter Petrelli, the human sponge that he was, had picked it up and used it without knowing. But now that he did, he could try to learn it, control it. Now wasn't the time, though.
He concentrated instead on blocking out her influence, and decided to change the subject to something else. Anything that could direct Heidi’s attention away from her knowledge of the situation between himself and his brother that she should have never, ever had.
“Were you ever able to do something without understanding why you could suddenly do it?” Peter asked. “Like this?”
Peter flicked his wrist, and the silverware drawer slid open; he then motioned towards himself, and a spoon flew out of the drawer and into his outstretched hand. The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on him: he was fully prepared to bend that spoon with the power of his mind if Heidi wasn’t convinced.
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It made a lot of sense to her really, Nathan and Peter had always been close, Heidi believed it was because of their overbearing mother and tyrant of a father, but it had been more than that; she was only realizing now how much more. There were still questions, however, why weren't they close now? Was it because of her? Heidi hoped that wasn't the case.
If Heidi had been in any other line of work, such knowledge would have broken her, being a therapist softened the blow somewhat but she still had to live with the fact that Nathan had a physical relationship with his much younger brother and it had obviously affected Peter in a way where it was impossible for him to get close to anyone else.
Heidi watched as Peter called forth a spoon from the draw with just the power of his mind or at least that was what she believed was happening, she'd seen similar things in television shows. Her thoughts went back to when she was in the hospital with Nathan, if both brothers had abilities would her children develop them? She rubbed her hand over her stomach absently, suddenly filled with worry but she couldn't deal with that right now, this was about Peter.
"I can honestly say that I've never been able to do that." Funny how this ability still worked and not his healing. "What else can you do?" It was important that she pay attention to him right now, Peter was in such a fragile state that talking about what happened upstairs might cause him to pull a knife out of the drawer next.
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Peter laid the spoon down on the table in front of him and sighed heavily. How could he explain his empathic mimicry to Heidi in a way that wouldn’t make her think he’d completely lost his mind? He recalled explaining it to his brother, but he’d been much easier to convince considering Nathan could suddenly fly like Superman, and then witnessed Peter duplicate his ability exactly.
He was well aware Nathan’s first flight without a plane had been the night their father’s associates had chased Nathan on the highway, and his convertible had gone crashing into a median without him in it, severely injuring Heidi in the process. When Heidi recovered, Nathan was so guilt-ridden that he tried to tell her what had happened, and she’d told him to lay off the alcohol and get some sleep. Did Heidi know now that her husband could fly? Without his telepathy, Peter couldn’t be sure.
Nathan’s flight would stay secret for now; Peter would cover for his brother as he’d always done, regardless of the rift between them.
“There’s a lot of other things I used to be able to do. I had dreams about things that hadn’t happened yet. I could turn invisible.” He waved his bandaged arm. “Rapid regeneration, too. Remember when I cut myself on the razor? I wasn’t telling you the truth when I said I didn’t know why I heal so fast. I do know, Heidi.”
Peter reached over, took her hand and continued.
“When I was fifteen years old, I began to sense the emotions of the people around me. It wasn’t very strong at first, but over time it became almost overwhelming. I taught myself how to control it for the most part. Sometimes it can really be helpful. Other times I can’t stand the constant barrage of feelings, so I just block them out.
“That went on for a long time, until I graduated from nursing school. Then everything else started happening. It turns out my empathy has another function. If I’m around a person who has a special ability, my body picks it up. Sometimes I don’t even know I have something until I use it… accidentally.”
Like he had with Heidi in the shower. He had lain bare everything he had ever felt about his relationship with his brother. Her husband. How could Heidi even stand to look at him right now?
Peter let go of her hand and turned away from her, absolutely overcome with shame and disgust, loneliness and longing.
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Peter mentioned to her that he used to be able to do much more than just bend spoons; he had invisibility and could dream about the future and the healing, obviously, things he didn't have now. She couldn't help but wonder why that was if he could hold all that knowledge, how was it suddenly gone?
Peter then spoke of when he was younger, how he felt he had first acquired his ability, Heidi couldn't help but think how harrowing it must have been for him having such a gift and having to hide listening to him now, she realized that perhaps what happened in the shower was an emotional backfire, that Peter was presented with an ability, her ability. She had her suspicions of course but it hadn't really clicked until that moment and poor Peter was didn't have control over it fully which led him to reveal more about himself than he had been intending.
She could feel what he felt in that instant and it weighed Heidi down, no wonder Peter had kept his distance from Nathan, it was too much for him otherwise. "So let's talk about the empathy thing." She doubted he got a lot of chances to do that. "I have no idea about this so I guess I'm deferring to the expert?" She had so many questions, but it would only work if Peter wanted to answer her.
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“I guess I am an expert, huh? I never met anyone like me before. But don’t worry. You’re not gonna be bending spoons or shapeshifting or flying anytime soon.
“You probably figured it out already, but you have an ability, Heidi. Your empathy is like mine, but it’s different. You can sense the emotions of others, but you can also project your emotions onto others so strongly that they become theirs. That’s what happened upstairs. I took it and I used it and --” He couldn’t bear to speak the rest of that thought.
You felt what I felt, and now you know everything.
“I’m sorry, Heidi,” he blurted, impulsively reaching out to embrace her. “I’m sorry.”
Peter had been so focused on himself that he hadn’t really considered how she felt about his inadvertent revelation in the shower. While it didn’t seem that important to her at this moment, it was to him: this knowledge could destroy the life Heidi and his brother had built for themselves, and as much as he’d like to, Peter couldn’t lay the blame solely on Nathan for that.
Heidi seemed concerned, yes, but not angry or disgusted, or even surprised. Maybe her empathy had given her a deeper understanding of the power dynamic between her brilliant, successful lawyer husband and his black-sheep younger brother. Only someone with an empathic ability could really grasp the true extent of their relationship, that ever-present mix of sibling rivalry and brotherly love, threaded through with inexplicable sexual desire and utter dependence on one another. Or maybe Peter was completely wrong. Maybe shock had caused Heidi to retreat to that comforting place called denial. He couldn’t tell which, but he wasn’t ready to find out just yet.
Now was not the time to talk about that elephant in the living room named Nathan Petrelli, because the man himself was now walking through the doorway, regarding his brother and his wife with an intoxicated, yet accusatory glare.
“This cute little therapy session is over. Get your fucking hands off my wife and get out of my kitchen, Peter,” Nathan seethed.
Nathan’s emotional state was nearly overwhelming: anger and jealousy combined with way too much alcohol had him raring for a fight, and Peter’s own anger and adrenaline surged in response. He leapt from his chair, raised his hand and pinned Nathan against the kitchen wall with an invisible hold.
“Make me,” Peter suggested, his voice low yet threatening.
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"Hey, it's okay." Heidi hugged him tightly, sometimes the people in her care just needed a hug, it helped them heal. "It'll be okay." She told him again softly though she wasn't sure how she was going to face Nathan after this, while she was a therapist who firmly believed that people needed to let go of all their negative emotions, Heidi ignored that advice and had channeled all of her thoughts down into hands, balling them up until their inevitable release.
A release that would come soon as Heidi suddenly felt her own mood change; extreme feelings of anger and jealousy invading her space. She snapped around to face her husband.
"Excuse you this is a therapy session, you don't get to interrupt or are you scared that Peter is going to say something I don't want to hear?"
What happened next was lighting fast, Heidi didn't quite understand it at first but from his position Heidi believed that Peter had his brother pinned to the wall, okay so it did more than just bend spoons. Heidi quickly assessed the situation, Peter was angry but Heidi didn't think he would actually hurt Nathan, there was still a lot of love there despite their current animosity. It then became clear what she needed to do, Peter seemed to be channeling this particular power through his hands, she needed to break his concentration. She reached out and put her hand on his outstretched one, lowering it. "Now is not the time to point fingers."
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Upon having broken the news to his mother about Heidi’s pregnancy, Ma's hand had shaken slightly as she tucked a stray piece of his hair back into place.
That’s lovely news, Nathan. However, it’s your brother you should be congratulating, his mother had whispered. I’ve seen it.
That’s ridiculous, Ma. Peter would never do that to me. Neither would Heidi. I think it’s time for you to leave, Nathan had answered calmly, handing her her coat.
He had tried his best to convince himself that she was mistaken, but all the signs were there, and he couldn’t deny the fact that her dreams were usually accurate if she interpreted their images correctly. And honestly, how could she have gotten something like that wrong?
The grandfather clock struck ten, and he was suddenly aware that the boys were still clamoring away with their new toys. Heidi hadn’t put them to bed yet? What the hell was she doing, then?
Nathan reluctantly composed himself, went upstairs, and peeked his head into the boys’ bedroom. “Hey, guys. Time for bed. Pajamas and toothbrushes, now.”
Simon and Monty regarded him warily, but after Nathan’s warning look, they got to their feet and replied, “Yes, Dad.”
Nathan waited for them to return, and once they were tucked in Monty asked quietly, “Daddy, could you read us a story? Please?”
“Not tonight, Monty, it’s late,” he snapped, immediately regretting it. More softly, he added, “Tomorrow night, buddy. Good night.”
“Good night, Dad,” the boys answered, and Nathan was not too inebriated to mistake the frightened waver in their voices.
Nathan stormed down the stairs, his anger reaching new heights now that he knew the tension Peter had brought into his house was affecting his relationship with his sons. And just as he’d suspected, Peter and Heidi were together. Again. At his kitchen table, clinging to one another.
Rage consumed Nathan so completely that he hardly registered it at first when his body flew backward on its own volition, not until his back slammed painfully into the far wall. His formerly powerless little brother’s arm was raised toward him, holding him there so tightly he could barely pull enough air into his lungs to breathe. His heart began to race, and colored pinpoints danced in his vision; he couldn’t see anything else except for Peter’s eyes, smoldering with anger, black with hatred.
Then Heidi lowered Peter’s arm, effectively breaking his concentration, and Nathan’s feet hit the tiled floor, his breath returning to him in a ragged gasp. Peter looked confused and took one step forward; that was all the time Nathan needed to close the distance between them and throw a hard right directly into Peter’s face. His head snapped sideways violently and he staggered back, but didn’t fall. The look of absolute shock on his brother’s face combined with the black and blue that blossomed across his cheekbone was utterly satisfying, even as Nathan gritted his teeth against the pain that radiated up and down his arm, through his fingers.
“Get out of my sight, Peter. Before I do it again,” Nathan threatened, closing his hand into a fist once more.
Peter turned to Heidi and gave her a pained look, then disappeared from the kitchen without another word. Once he was sure Peter was upstairs, Nathan stepped into the living room, retrieved another glass of Scotch, and rejoined his wife at the table.
“I want that goddamn homewrecker out of my house before the New Year, Heidi. I’ll clean his fucking apartment myself if I have to. Merry fucking Christmas,” Nathan said, finishing most of the drink in one swallow.
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Heidi had managed to calm Peter, she thought it was the end of it, and that Nathan would just back down, but he was not that type of guy and considering how much rage Nathan was harboring things weren't about to be a cakewalk but to actually strike Peter? She hadn't been expecting that and it was obvious Peter hadn't been either which said to her that this had been one of the few if only times that Nathan had acted in such a manner.
The aftermath had Heidi in a state of shock, her empathy had gone haywire as she was both concerned for Peter and blindingly angry at Nathan, it was a good thing she was sitting because otherwise, the weight of the situation would have made her knees buckle. When he joined her back at the table, Scotch glass in hand, the look on her face was one of horror and disbelief. "I'm sorry, but what the fuck?" She closed her eyes briefly, shaking her head. "Congratulations, you've become your father."
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The truth of the words cut deeper than any knife ever could, and Nathan closed his eyes, unable to look at her face. He had sworn even before he’d had children of his own that he would never be as cruel and abusive as their father had been to Peter.
Even with his eyes shut, Nathan was unable to block out the wounded, stunned expression on his brother’s face after his fist had collided with it so satisfyingly. He’d seen that same look once before, and now instead of fueling his anger, it filled him with guilt.
When Peter was about thirteen or fourteen, their parents took them on a drive around the neighborhood to look at all the Christmas lights. Peter was in a particularly sullen mood that night, and Nathan figured he’d just sit it out in silence, but when they passed a lot with a large sign advertising fresh cut Christmas trees, Peter went off.
“You know, it’s really terrible to cut down all those evergreen trees just to keep them inside for two months and then throw them away after New Year’s,” Peter started. “Christmas is supposed to be about Jesus being born, not killing a tree in order to decorate it…”
In the rearview mirror, Nathan could see their father’s expression becoming darker and angrier as Peter’s tirade continued.
“Pete, stop. You made your point,” Nathan said, elbowing Peter in the ribs just enough to get his attention, but he just wouldn’t quit.
“That’s enough, Peter!” Arthur bellowed. Suddenly, their father slammed on the brakes, flung his door open, and stormed around to the side of the car where Peter was sitting. Nathan could only watch in horror as Arthur yanked Peter out of the backseat by his arm and slapped him hard across his face. Peter was so surprised he didn’t even cry.
Not at first.
Peter sat back down, his shocked, hurt expression made worse by the bright red handprint on his fair skin.
“Your mother and I will go look at the Christmas lights, and you can sit with your brother in the car until we come back,” Arthur hissed before slamming the back door shut. He helped their mother out and they walked down the sidewalk into the slightly snowy, cold night, leaving the two brothers alone in the backseat.
Nathan reached out to put a comforting hand on Peter’s shoulder, and that was finally when Peter burst into tears.
“He really hates me, doesn’t he?” Peter said, as Nathan pulled him tightly against his chest. “My own father doesn’t love me at all.”
Nathan couldn’t think of a single thing to say that would make Peter feel better, so he just held him there while he cried, until his hitched breathing eased and he became quiet.
When their parents returned, Arthur glared at Nathan in the rearview mirror, no doubt disgusted to see Peter asleep in his arms. Nathan glared right back.
“Your brother brought it on himself. Next time he’ll keep his mouth shut if he knows what’s good for him,” Arthur spat.
On the drive home, Nathan came to an inescapable conclusion: If their father indeed hated his younger son, then his elder son would hate him in return, and there was only one way Nathan could insure that their father knew that unequivocally.
A few hours later, after Angela and Peter had both gone to sleep, Nathan knocked on the door to his father’s study, and once Arthur beckoned him inside, he walked up to him and looked him right in the eyes. Anger rose up in him, but he forced himself to stay calm, because what Nathan was about to say would be far more effective if he kept his voice down.
“If you ever lay a hand on Peter again, if you so much as touch him, I will kill you. Do you understand me?”
Arthur seemed not the least bit fazed by his elder son’s brazen statement, and he merely laughed and sipped his Scotch.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Nathan,” he answered. “Now get out.”
The threat had its intended effect, however; their father never raised a hand to Peter again after that night.
Nathan finished his drink, the alcohol barely drowning out his shame at what he’d done to his brother. He imagined he could feel Heidi’s ice-blue stare, because he still couldn’t raise his eyes to hers.
“What do you want me to say, Heidi? That I was wrong? That I’m sorry?” Nathan scoffed. “Well, I’m not. He deserved it.”
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"You are a sadist." It's a simple statement and not one she had voiced but it was at the forefront of her mind today. "Everything has to be your way, or it's bye-bye birdie. It's hardly surprising considering..." She was going to say who his parents were but she stopped short; it was hard to tell how Nathan felt about his father, even more so now that she just compared Nathan to him. She cleared her throat, continuing on. "As I was saying, I'm sick of this, these attitudes from both you and Peter. He's angry and upset and you know why that is." She met Nathan's gaze finally, only now finding the courage to do so. "I know why that is." She doesn't sound angry, just tired. "It is something that needs to be resolved because if it's not, it'll be an early death for both of you."
Heidi stood, excusing herself. "I need to check on my sons and make sure my brother-in-law hasn't put another shard of glass into his hand. Merry fucking Christmas indeed."
Once out of the room she decided to check on Peter first, he seemed like the one most in need at that moment. She would hug the boys to death later but this came first. She found him in his room, huddled up in bed. "Peter, Peter Peter..." When he peeked out from the blanket, she smiled. "Are you okay?"
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While he had held his brother suspended against the kitchen wall, Peter’s only thought was how thoroughly he relished the fear and panic his telekinetic grip instilled in Nathan. Heidi had no doubt felt it as well, due to their empathic link, and she'd only been trying to help when she attempted to defuse the situation. She couldn’t have known Nathan would strike back so quickly and brutally, and Peter couldn’t hold that against her.
He sat down on his bed in the pitch dark and ran his fingers cautiously over the swollen place under his eye. Thankfully, nothing felt broken. He knew he should put some ice on it, but no way was he going near the kitchen now. He didn’t need to look in the mirror to know he would have one hell of a black eye in the morning.
His brother could be a jealous, vindictive bastard when he drank, but he had never hit Peter with a closed fist in his life before today. The only time Nathan had ever put a hand on him, he'd known damn well he deserved it.
Peter was seventeen years old, smoking a joint behind the high school with his chemistry lab partner, a girl who insisted that everyone call her Charlie because she hated how formal Charlotte sounded.
Once he got home, Nathan took one look at him and knew right away he was high, and he grabbed Peter and shook him roughly.
"I will slap the shit out of you if I ever catch you smoking pot with that little girlfriend of yours again. Do you hear me?" Nathan threatened.
"Yes! I'm sorry! It'll never happen again, I promise!" Peter answered, squirming out of Nathan's grasp, running for his bedroom, and hiding in there for the rest of the afternoon.
Of course, it happened plenty of times after that, but Peter was extremely careful about it. Besides, Charlie wasn’t actually his girlfriend; she was more like a friend with benefits…
He sighed and pushed the thought from his mind before it could serve as an upsetting reminder that exactly none of his romantic relationships had ever been healthy or normal. Right now, he’d rather feel nothing; life was easier that way. He supposed he should be worried about that, but he was too exhausted to care now that the adrenaline had leeched from his system. He stripped off his clothes, mindful of his bandaged hand, and as soon as he crawled under the covers, sleep overcame him.
Until Heidi called his name softly, asking him if he was okay. He pulled the covers away from his face and murmured, “Yeah, Heidi. I’m fine.”
But Heidi made no move to leave. Peter sat up, raised his hand and motioned with his fingers, first to turn the locking mechanism in the doorknob, and then to flick on the lamp on his bedside table.
“What are you doing here?” he demanded, a little too loudly. Lower, he continued, “You shouldn’t be in here. Nathan’s already pissed off. If he comes upstairs -”
Peter inhaled in surprise as their empathic link re-established itself, emotions rushing into him like a black-and-white picture unexpectedly filling with color. With his empathy back full-force, he could tell his brother was no longer in the house, and that Heidi was extremely concerned for him after what she witnessed.
“I wouldn’t have hurt him, Heidi. I only wanted to scare him so he’d leave me alone.” Even as he said the words, Peter wasn't entirely sure they were the truth.
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"That's obviously a lie, Peter. Things are not fine." She sat down beside him and lightly touched the area where Nathan struck him. Heidi could tell the pain he was in, not so much physically, but knowing that it was Nathan that did this to him? There was a whole different level of hurt there.
The confrontation in the kitchen showed Heidi how much rage there was inside both of them, it made her skin feel so hot like she was about to combust.
"Nathan is not going to come upstairs because he's not here." His negative presence left the building just after she had headed upstairs, he knew better to face off with her while she was upset.
"I felt that entire thing Peter, all of it. If I hadn't of stepped in, do you really think you could have stopped yourself from something worse happening? I know you didn't mean to hurt him but the desire to do more was present." She had her own theories about that. "You never did tell me where you got the telekinesis from." Perhaps the person he had got it from left an imprint on him that he hadn't been expecting.
Heidi wrapped her arms around Peter in a comforting hug. "I love you both, and the fact that you can't be in the same room together kills me." It was something that they needed to work on. "You should rest or we could, together." It must be their bond because she really didn't want to leave him right now.
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Without hesitation, Peter pulled the covers aside so Heidi could get in bed beside him, and he thought nothing of it as he laid his head on her chest, her arms still around him.
“Out of everything I had, the telekinesis is all I have left. I got it from someone who spent most of his life hurt and angry and alone.” Just like I am now, he thought bitterly.
“He felt powerless. Once he discovered his ability, he used it to make others fear him. He used it to hurt them.” And kill them.
To share that particular detail about Sylar out loud would only scare her, and Peter had done enough of that today. But he didn’t need to say it; Heidi had felt it. No amount of denial in the world would change the fact that Peter had almost given in to the overwhelming desire to destroy the source of his pain permanently. Of course, the consequences of such an impulsive act would have been far, far worse, the pain even deeper. Nathan would have died by his hand. Peter would have left Heidi a widow, her sons and unborn child without a father, and himself without his brother.
“Thank God you were there, Heidi. If you hadn’t stopped me, I could have killed him. I love Nathan so much, and I love you too, and I would have made you hate me. I’m sorry.”
Tears ran down his face and dripped onto Heidi’s shirt, and as he brushed them away, his fingers ran over the curve of her breast. Immediately he recalled how he stared ridiculously at Heidi’s chest before she got in the shower with him, before his nerves and her ability got the better of him.
His sexual relationship with his brother was much more than an expression of love; it was also a momentary reprieve from the loneliness and isolation he’d felt as a teenager because of his mother’s overbearing tendencies and his father’s abusive ones. Even as an adult, Peter often found sex an escape, and now was no different.
She was so soft and warm next to him… soon, he was immersed in yet another fantasy.
He lifted his head, opened the first few buttons of her shirt, and tugged her bra down enough that he could take all of one large, rosy pink nipple into his mouth, sucking there until her flesh hardened against his tongue, until his cock lay hard and hot against his thigh. He pressed himself against her hip, first with a low moan, and then a gasp. He definitely hadn’t imagined doing that!
“Shit. I’m sorry, Heidi,” he said, absolutely mortified. He tossed the covers off himself, intending to get out of the bed and find his clothes.
What the hell is wrong with me?
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She nodded. "You're welcome, I'm not an expert in this stuff but I could feel your rage, Peter. I know that wasn't all you." Some of the feelings associated with the original owner of the ability must still linger within, making it easier for Peter to be consumed by darkness.
"Sometimes, we need others to keep us sane." Without that, what lay ahead but a lonely existence where hurting people means nothing and killing becomes the norm? Heidi couldn't stand if Peter became like that, that was why she stepped in.
Heidi blushed when Peter brushed her breast, things were tense right now between the brothers and herself but the bond she shared with Peter because of their abilities was special, she could tell he needed comforting.
Peter seemed lost in his thoughts, Heidi couldn't even be sure that he had heard what she had said but she did experience an outpour of lust coming from her companion. Peter must have realized it too because he quickly bolted upright.
"Peter, hey." She reached out, taking his hand and pulled her to towards him, kissing him hotly. "Stay here with me? I'll make you feel better."
Was this inappropriate? Yes but Heidi couldn't help it, she needed him. She quickly undressed and reached for his hard cock. Heidi pulled him back into bed and grinned. "Come on Petrelli, show me a good time." Her words came out in a whispered tone because she was still fully aware that her children were down the hall and were the type who would come unannounced if they thought she was in danger.
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