A Little Incentive (Nathan/Peter; Private)
Peter: After his talk with Claire and once he was away enough he took off at a dead run towards the room. He didn't even bother knocking and just barged in. "Nathan!" Yeah... what she'd just told him... it didn't sit well with him. In fact, it scared the hell out of him.
Nathan: "Whoa, what's wrong?" Nathan snapped faintly, coming out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel. His brown eyes narrowed a little bit at the panicked expression on his brother's face before melting a little, concern taking its place. "What's up, Pete?"
Peter: "Claire's here." Okay... not quite what he'd meant to say. Not really. It just seemed to come out. But then again it didn't help that his mind at the moment was a jumbled mess. From him nearly blowing up New York... Nathan flying him out... his big brother being... Yeah, that thought brings a frown to those lips. Nathan was standing right in front of him.
Nathan: "Claire? As in the cheerleader you saved?" His eyebrow quirked very slightly as he moved further into the room, keeping the towel firmly around his waist as he did so. Peter looked sincerely freaked, and he was more than a little unsure about what was going on. Why was Claire being there such a big deal? "So?"
Peter: "Yes, the cheerleader!" Those brown eyes watch Nathan before he starts pacing. This was all a whole lot to take in. "I talked to her." Not that; that meant much to Nathan, he was sure. After all, his brother didn't have the same views with all this stuff that he did. "I nearly blew up New York! And you flew!" He really needed to stop and catch his breath... something before he just collapsed. "You saved the world, Nathan!"
Nathan: "Peter . . . Did you hit your head or something on the way up here?" That was the only thing he was coming up with, to explain away his baby brother's rant. Was he serious? It was bad enough, the way Peter thought he absolutely had to save the world. But now his brother was ranting about nearly blowing up New York . . . And HE had saved the city? Something wasn't right here, obviously, and Nathan didn't like it. Shaking his head a little, he moved back into the bathroom to get dressed, still waiting for his brother's answer.
Peter: "No, I didn't hit my head." He states with a slight scowl. Of course he hadn't hit his head. "She told me that I nearly blew it up... that in order to save the people of New York you flew. Made sure we were nowhere near them. So YOU did save the world." He still needs to try and calm down... breathe a little.
Nathan: He came back out of the bathroom dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt, though the shirt was sitll open and unbuttoned at the moment. The words made him blink, brow furrowing a little more. "Pete . . . I think we both know that's not gonna happen."
Peter: "No, we don't know." He shakes his head but doesn't stop the pacing. "What if I do go nuclear, Nathan? What then? I mean come on... there are people in this place with powers."
Nathan: "Pete, calm down," he said, moving over to stop his brother from pacing any further. "You won't. We'll figure this out."
Peter: And the moment he turned he'd nearly run into his big brother. Which, hey, he'd been pacing there buddy. "There's nothing to figure out. Nothing at all. I mean think about it... it's not far fetched considering all the other stuff I can do."
Nathan: He'd invaded that space for a reason, of course, and this was it. Peter didn't need to pace a hole in the rug. "It's VERY far-fetched. It's one thing for you to- to heal, Pete. It's another to blow up a city."
Peter: "No, it isn't. I go invisible, Nathan. Flames come from my hands and go up my damn arms. I heal. So, no, it isn't that far fetched." He'd left the whole 'I read minds' out for a reason.
Nathan: "Come on, Pete. Think about it. You're the one with the hero complex. Why would I do anything, when you can do it yourself?"
Peter: "Because you were making sure I didn't blow up the whole damn world."
Nathan: "You can use my . . . power. Why would I do it when you can?"
Peter: "Maybe because you actually give a damn about your little brother. And I seriously doubt I can use two powers at once."
Nathan: "You're right. I do actually give a damn about my little brother, and I THOUGHT you already knew that," he snapped faintly, scowling a tiny bit. The idea that Peter didn't think he even cared? That was enough to get under his skin.
Peter: "I do already know that! But you're the one that doesn't believe, Nathan! The one who just thinks I hit my head or something. Like I've freakin' lost it!"
Nathan: "Because sometimes I wonder if you really have!" The minute it was out of his mouth, he regretted the words.
Peter: "That's right... I'm nothing but the crazy little brother that should be locked up. Oh wait... wouldn't be the first time you've told people I was mental. Keep it up, Nathan. Maybe you'll have the power to make me believe that. I mean you keep drilling it in my head."
Nathan: Nathan had to bite his tongue to keep from snapping at Peter then, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. Finally he turned away from his brother, buttoning up his shirt to keep himself from sticking his foot further into his mouth.
Peter: "Yeah, turn away. You've gotten good at that. Hey, you don't want to believe me... don't want to trust in your damnable powers, that's fine. At least I've found who I am. I'm not even sure if I know who you are anymore. Because my brother sure as hell wouldn't pull a lot of the shit you have."
Nathan: "Oh, of course. I'm the one who's changed here. I'm not the one who jumped off a ROOF, Pete. You can say all you want about me, but I'm who I've always been."
Peter: "No, you aren't." He states sounding tired all of a sudden. "I used to have a big brother that gave a damn."
Nathan: "I still do, Pete. God, if I didn't, do you think I'd be here right now?"
Peter: "Yeah, you would be. Just to spite me and shoot me down like you've done before."
Nathan: "If that's all you think of me anymore, then why the fuck are you still here?"
Peter: "Maybe because even with all your damn faults... even with this whole not believing me, I still love you."
Nathan: He closed his eyes quietly for a long moment before turning to look at his baby brother over his shoulder, brown eyes oddly open for once, without the cold mask he usually kept in place. "I love you, Pete. I thought you knew that, but now I'm not so sure."
Peter: "Then what are we doing, Nathan? If you seem to think I don't know that you love me?"
Nathan: ". . . I don't know, okay? I don't know. But if you think I don't even care, what am I supposed to think?"
Peter: "I do give a damn. But it gets a bit hard when you think I'm crazy or something."
Nathan: "Peter . . ." He sighed softly, moving forward to try and wrap his arms around his little brother, wanting to pull him close. "I'm sorry, okay? You know I'm not good at this apology stuff, but . . . I'm sorry."
Peter: A bit of that tension dies away and he leans into Nathan. "I won't bring it up." He bit his tongue with what he really wanted to say. How he didn't think Nathan could handle it. That; that was why he hated his powers so much. Who knew. Right now he was too damn tired to care.
Nathan: His arms immediately wrapped around the younger man, and he nuzzled Peter, holding the younger man closer against him. "Hey . . . It's okay. Whatever she said, it didn't happen. I'm right here, YOU'RE right here, and that's not going to change."
Peter: "It isn't okay, Nathan. Everything is screwed up now." He states quietly. "We're here... she's from, well, definitely not the same time as us or something... which means back home the cheerleader is still in danger and Sylar could kill everyone. The world is going to die."
Nathan: "Pete, listen to me, okay? There is NOTHING either of us can do about this. We can't leave, remember? You can't worry about something you can't change."
Peter: "I'm the only one who can change it, Nathan! Without me everyone is dead! Don't you get that?!"
Nathan: "And how exactly are you going to change it when you can't even leave?!"
Peter: "I don't know." He states sounding a bit defeated. "I really don't know. He's going to kill people and I can't do a damn thing about it."
Nathan: "Hey, hey . . . Come on," he murmured, feeling odd trying to comfort his little brother. He held him close, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead as he cradled the smaller man against him. "Pete . . . You can't beat yourself up over something you can't control."
Peter: "It doesn't feel right, Nathan."
Nathan: "What part?"
Peter: "The whole fact that it's going to go to hell."
Nathan: "We don't know that it will, Pete. We don't know ANYTHING about any of it."
Peter: "Yeah, we do. Sylar's going to end up killing them all."
Nathan: "You can't know that."
Peter: "I do know that."
Nathan: "And just how the hell would you know? You can't possibly know what's going to happen."
Peter: He sighs and pulls away. "There's... an ability that I have that I haven't told you about." Oh, this was going to go over well.
Nathan: Nathan's dark brow furrowed a bit at the way his brother was acting, particularly when Peter pulled away. He frowned faintly, crossing his arms over his chest. "And what's that, Pete?"
Peter: "Um... well..." Brown eyes watch Nathan for a moment. "I can read thoughts."
Nathan: "You . . . what now?" He couldn't believe what he'd heard. He wasn't going to jump to conclusions. Perhaps he'd heard wrong.
Peter: "I can read thoughts, Nathan." No, the older Petrelli hadn't heard wrong. He'd heard everything just right.
Nathan: ". . . Fuck, Pete." He sighed darkly, rubbing a hand over his eyes for a long moment. "Just HOW long have you been eavesdropping in my head without telling me??"
Peter: Oh... he knew that was going to happen. "I've only heard a few things." Peter states. It wasn't like he'd listened in every time his big brother thought something.
Nathan: "Like WHAT?"
Peter: "You stating I was yours... things like that."
Nathan: ". . . . You heard that." It wasn't a question.
Peter: "I heard that..."
Nathan: ". . . Fuck," he muttered, rubbing a hand over his face.
Peter: He states silent for a minute. "It was nice to hear. Even if it wasn't out loud."
Nathan: Nathan blinked and turned his head to look at his brother, his brow furrowing a little bit. ". . . . . I meant it."
Peter: He gives a small smile. "I'm sorry. I should've told you but I didn't know how you'd react."
Nathan: "Pete . . . Come here."
Peter: He watches Nathan for a moment before walking over to his big brother.
Nathan: Nathan didn't say anything at all. Not a single word slipped from him as he watched Peter for several seconds. Finally he reached out, pulling the younger man into an oddly soft kiss.
Peter: He was a bit surprised at his big brother's reaction to the whole thing. But not overly surprised. Instead of thinking too much on it though he merely kisses him back.
Nathan: Oh, Nathan planned on making sure Peter understood that he wasn't okay with having his mind read without his permission, but that would wait until after he had calmed the younger man down from his earlier distress. Instead he just kissed him, pulling his brother close against him.
Peter: He kisses him back and once he's considerablly calmed down and not thinking about Sylar, him blowing up New York... the end of the world. All of the bad things that could happen with him gone... he just leans against his big brother, head on his shoulder.
Nathan: He could almost FEEL Peter calm down in his arms, and Nathan smiled against his lips once it happened, tightening his hold on his baby brother. He wasn't letting the younger man go until they were both good and ready for him to, and he hoped that wouldn't be for a while. He rested his own head atop Peter's when his brother leaned against him, pressing a tiny kiss to the crown of his hair as he held him close. It'll be okay . . . He'll see. It'll be okay.
Peter: Brown eyes closed as he leaned against his big brother. As for Nathan's thoughts... he was going to pretend he didn't hear them. It wasn't like he could always control it. Either way... he just stays quiet and tries to ignore those thoughts. They were Nathan's thoughts. Not his own.
Nathan: "I love you . . ." It was almost inaudible, and whether or not Nathan even realized he said it was unknown.
Peter: Oh... he said it alright. And Peter heard him loud and clear. So to speak anyways. After all, he was leaning against his big brother. "I love you too."
Nathan: He wouldn't let Peter explode. He knew that much; while he didn't really believe his brother WOULD, Nathan knew that he wouldn't let it happen, even if it could.
Peter: "We should sit down and relax or something." Rather than standing in the middle of a room. Besides, he's sure Nathan ain't done talking yet.
Nathan: "Come on," he answered, leading his brother to the couch in the front room of his room. He plopped down almost as if he were mimicking the way Peter tended to sit down on his couch, grinning faintly up at his brother.
Peter: He gives a slight chuckle at Nathan's actions before plopping down onto the couch next to his brother and lays his head on Nathan's shoulder.
Nathan: An arm wrapped around his brother's shoulders lightly without a thought, and he pressed a light kiss to his forehead. "We need to talk about this new power, though, Pete."
Peter: Oh... he knew that was coming. Didn't have to be a mind reader for that one. "I know."
Nathan: "You can't just go around listening in on people's thoughts, Pete. It's not right."
Peter: "It's not like I try to, Nathan. Sometimes I can control it and sometimes I can't. But if someone's a bit loud then I hear them anyways. Whether I want to or not."
Nathan: "Just . . . be careful. If you hear something you shouldn't . . . It could go bad. Just be CAREFUL."
Peter: "Only person I've heard anything from is you."
Nathan: "Yet." He frowned faintly, carding his hand through his little brother's hair softly. "Just be careful."
Peter: "Nathan, I'll be fine. Besides... if I do hear anything I shouldn't... I'll keep it to myself."
Nathan: Nathan pursed his lips slightly, frowning a bit as he pulled his brother closer. He obviously still didn't like this, but what more could he do? Peter wouldn't be any more careful than he already was, was he? "Also? Stay out of my head," he muttered, but it was said with an affectionate tone.
Peter: "I'll try my best. But you make that very hard to do." He teases.
Nathan: "I do, do I?" he teased back, giving his brother a little snort. "How exactly do I do that?"
Peter: "Wouldn't you like to know." He says with a grin. "Besides, I can't give away secrets now."
Nathan: That grin only made Nathan quirk an eyebrow, and he started to pin Peter to the couch. "Oh, I think you owe me a few secrets, since you've been reading my mind."
Peter: "Nathan!" He laughs. "I don't know. Does big brother deserve to know little brother's secrets?" He asks with a wicked little grin.
Nathan: "Hmm . . . I'd have to say I think I do," Nathan answered, grinning down at Peter beneath him.
Peter: "You think you do?"
Nathan: "That's my opinion, of course," he answered, smirking.
Peter: "Well... opinions don't gain secrets big brother." He states with a smirk of his own.
Nathan: "Hmm . . . What'll it take to get them, then?"
Peter: "I'm sure the great Nathan Petrelli can think of something. I mean, after all, the one he's interrigating... he does have pinned down."
Nathan: "Hmmm . . . Very true," he answered, carefully covering Peter's body with his own. It would make things easier, after all, to keep him pinned down.
Peter: "Now what're you going to do with your prisoner?" He asks with a cheeky grin.
Nathan: "Well, now, that's the question, isn't it?" he murmured, a knee moving to press against his thighs lightly.
Peter: "Yeah, it is. And I'm guessing I don't get an answer. Do I?"
Nathan: "You'll get the answer . . . eventually."
Peter: "Eventually? Okay, so what until then?"
Nathan: "Until then, you're going to learn to control that mind-reading thing, got it?"
Peter: "It's not that easy, Nathan. It isn't like it has an on and off switch."
Nathan: "Well, we'll figure it out . . . Every time you slip up, you'll pay for it."
Peter: He raises a slight brow at that. "Pay for it how?"
Nathan: Nathan leaned in, pressing against his brother, his lips brushing along Peter's ear softly. "You like this?"
Peter: Peter gives an involuntary shiver at that. Oh hell... That just... "Yes." He couldn't deny it.
Nathan: "Good . . ." Suddenly Nathan pulled back off of him, the only part touching his brother now being his hands around Peter's wrists. "Every time you slip up, you DON'T get to feel it again."
Peter: "Nathan!" Oh, he is so getting to get paid back for this. "So how do we know if I've slipped up or not?"
Nathan: "Trust me, I'll figure it out if you slip up," he answered smugly.
Peter: "Is that so?" He asks with a smirk, brown eyes watching his big brother.
Nathan: "That's so," he answered, grinning down at his brother as he absently pressed into him again.
Peter: He gives a contented sound. Right... control the telepathy. Oh, that was going to be hard to do.
Nathan: Nathan pressed in close again, his knee settling between Peter's thighs as he smirked, his mind focused. Let's see if he can do it . . .
Peter: Right... tune big brother out... he could do that. Right...? "Nathan..." He moans out.
Nathan: "Hmmmm?" he asked sofly, pressing just a little more. Wonder how long he'll last . . .
Peter: Yeah... big brother isn't getting answered at the moment and he's still trying to keep Nathan tuned out. Which wasn't easy because his brother was starting to leak through.
Nathan: His hands moved down from his wrists, sliding down Peter's sides as he smirked faintly. Come on, baby brother . . . Keep control of it . . .
Peter: He gives a light shiver still keeping his big brother tuned out but he was slowly slipping on that control. It wasn't that easy to keep control of.
Nathan: "Come on, Pete . . ." Nathan grinned a little, his hand sliding down to press between his brother's legs. Attaboy . . . You're doing good . . . Let's see how long you can last.
Peter: "Come on what?" He mutters, fingers running lightly down his brother's arms but when Nathan does that he arches against his hand. Of for the love of... yeah, he was seriously slipping here. Not good. Those brown eyes close and he bites his bottom lip.
Nathan: "Oh, nothing," he answered, grinning a little as his hand pressed just a little more. He knew he was working on Peter's last bit of control here, and it only made him smile further.
Peter: He makes a face at that and, yeah, we're sure if Nathan thought anything else that Peter would crack. Because his control... so not worth shit right now. It's dead and gone.
Nathan: Come on Pete . . . I know he's not going to make it much longer . . . Nathan smirked, his hand stroking just a little more strongly.
Peter: "Fuck." Peter groans. Yeah, he'd heard that alright. Damnit! His big brother was going to be the death of him. He really was.
Nathan: That was what he was waiting for. He could feel the effect he'd had on Peter already, and smirking he pulled back, releasing his brother entirely.
Peter: "I'm... gonna go take a cold shower." Peter states giving his big brother a slight glare because, man, that was just so wrong.
Nathan: Nathan grinned at his brother, plopping back down onto the couch, his hands pillowing behind his head as he shot the younger man a smug smirk. "Now you have an incentive to learn to control that power, don't you, Pete?"
Peter: That just gets another glare as he heads off towards the bathroom. "Yeah, seems that I do."
Nathan: He was enjoying this too much, quite obviously, leering at his brother as he wandered off toward the bathroom.