Heroes, "Grave New World" ensemble, rated R [4/5]
Fandom: Heroes
Title: Grave New World
Chapter Title: Inheritance and Mercy
Author: paynesgrey
Artist: rebelle_elle
Type: Gen, Het, Darkfic
Word Count: ~21,000
Rating: R
Characters: Sylar, Elle, Noah, Sandra, Claire, Peter, Angela, Rene (the Haitian), Noah Jr., Nathan, OCs
Pairings: Noah/Sandra, Sylar/Elle, implied Peter/Claire, Claire/Rene
Warnings violence, torture, character death, implied incest
Notes: This is a supposed future after Nathan's press conference at the end of Season 2 that lead up to the events of "I am Become Death" in Season 3. AU. Done for heroes_bigboom. Thank you to rtwofan for the beta job and rebelle_elle for her artwork contribution.
Summary: After Nathan Petrelli’s revelation, the world panics and rejects people with special abilities. As fear and darkness spread, those who were once villains become the victims, a family is destroyed, and an innocent woman is forced to fight.
Artwork: Link
Other URLs: FFnet | AO3
Part Four: Inheritance and Mercy
When the storm came through Costa Verde, the air became muggy, first turning cold before turning blazing hot again. Thunder grumbled through the sky for a couple nights, and lightening illuminated the dusky dark as the wind screamed through the air.
The news warned for heavy storms, warning people to stay away from the beaches.
The house seemed crowded because of the weather, and Sylar admitted to himself he felt slightly trapped. Though, it wasn’t as bad as Coyote Sands. Nothing would ever be as bad as that.
Luckily in that week, Elle was learning not to snap at him so much. She had destroyed some of the Bennets’ property because of her anger, but he noticed that the moment she lost it, the baby would start crying and she’d feel bad. She’d even apologized to him once, when she had accidentally singed some of his hair. To Sylar’s dismay, Noah had laughed at it.
Thoughts of killing Noah Bennet were oddly enough, subsiding. Truthfully, Sylar didn’t think about it so much anymore. Noah Bennet had saved his life, and even though the man had rightfully almost left him to rot there, he had spared him, and Sylar thought that was something.
He’d like to thank whatever angel or power for giving Noah Bennet a heart that day.
Of course, none of this would be possible without his son’s existence, for him or Elle. Noah would have probably left them both at the side of the road somewhere if Elle didn’t have his baby.
They still couldn’t agree on his name though. Elle had wanted Robert, and Sylar was adamantly against it. He actually started to feel bad about killing Bob Bishop, even though the man was a scoundrel. Sylar knew about the things he’d done to his own daughter, and he didn’t know why she didn’t hate him as much as she probably should. Elle didn’t exactly produce emotions like everyone else, which was something to say about children who were sheltered and manipulated.
Maybe that had made the Coyote Sands experiments harder for her. The first time it was her father who had done them, so maybe in her brain they were acceptable.
But no one ever made her have a baby, or had plans to continue using her as breeding stock. The one time Elle mentioned it, Sylar visibly watched her shudder. He almost wanted to hold her, but it seemed untimely.
That and he didn’t want to get fried. It was all baby steps with Elle. It amazed him that she was starting to talk to him without insults and threats, which Sylar resolved was some considerable progress.
The Bennets were still tense around them. Sylar figured Noah Bennet would never trust him, and Sandra would always see him as the monster who wanted to kill her daughter. Not that he could really hurt her. (They didn’t know their own daughter at all, he scoffed.)
He didn’t want to admit his own comfort zone had been expanding. He’d always been a loner, and nobody had accepted him enough for it to matter. Nobody had been worthy enough because he really felt all was inferior to him. Dr. Crabtree had changed that feeling. He had used him like a tool, and he did it without having powers at all.
Sylar had vowed that he would be the last man he would kill before truly giving it up, and becoming a father; however, he didn’t think he’d get the opportunity so quickly.
For all the time they had waited for the doctor’s retaliation, when they were settling down one peaceful night arguing politics over pot-roast, the small glimmer of serenity that he and Elle had found had been destroyed when the fire alarm went off and a small explosive rocked the house.
Everyone but Elle had ducked for cover, and she rushed to the baby and drew it close to her chest. Automatically, she huddled near Sylar, who protectively shielded his body around mother and son as Noah snatched a gun that was taped under their dinner table. He looked to Sylar, and then Sylar looked to Elle, who nodded at him. She signaled she’d be okay without him, and Noah and Sylar started to creep toward the exit, with Sandra, Elle and the baby waiting in anticipation for the signal that they were safe.
They didn’t even know where the enemy was. He could be anywhere around the house, and he could’ve had help. Adrenaline rose, and Sylar kept on his guard. He’d have to use powers that he hadn’t used in two years. He was confident, but now that he was fighting for him, Elle and his baby, fighting against an enemy felt differently. He had more than his own life to look out for now.
He saw Noah pause, and Sylar used his enhanced hearing when he picked up footsteps outside. Piece of cake, he thought, and he noticed two sets of footsteps. He put up two fingers to Noah, and then he pointed the direction they were coming. Noah nodded, and they relaxed a little, feeling they had the advantage. Noah and the others crouched and started for the back door. Enemies were coming right toward them. Noah charged first, and the door flew open.
Before Sylar could protect him, a large burly man with a ginger beard punched open the door, and he grabbed Noah by the cuff of his shirt after he got off a shot, nicking the man in the shoulder.
Noah struggled as the man tried to lift Noah off the ground. He tried to aim his gun, but the man grabbed his hand and growled. Sylar prepared to use his TK, but he heard footsteps from the front door. The other set of footsteps were coming up from the front.
And Sylar knew exactly who it was. “Crabtree,” he seethed. Hatred and vengeance took over his mind, and he turned around, leaving Noah to his own vices. He thought he could take care of himself, but when Crabtree charged in with a confident smile, Sylar knew that not even his TK could affect him. He was happy and smug about something else.
Sylar held him against the wall, and he heard Sandra’s small scream as she and Elle hid behind the kitchen counter with the baby. The fire that had erupted in the living room was dying out in in steady embers. He paid them no mind as long as they didn’t get worse, and he focused on Crabtree. He wanted to look inside him, see how he worked. Sylar wanted to know just why he thought he could win.
“I could kill you. Snap your neck just like that,” Sylar threatened.
“An act of mercy,” Crabtree said with a hardened smirk. “Detention has made you soft, mighty one.”
“Then I’ll cripple you, and you’ll suffer as an invalid,” Sylar said. It was not as fun as torturing him like he wanted to, to string him up by his balls and light fires under his bald head.
“Still, it would solve nothing, not when I will already win.” Crabtree looked beyond him, and Sylar followed his gaze. “You remember my friend Mika. He is special, like you.” Crabtree smacked his lips approvingly. “I bet you’ll want his power after you see what he can do.”
Sylar watched. Noah Bennet was suddenly still, no longer struggling. He saw Noah’s wife watching him, and she put a hand to her lips in shock.
The big burly man fell backwards, and suddenly Noah’s body was on his feet. But it wasn’t Noah. He gave Sylar a happy, dangerous grin and then turned his attention to Sandra, who screamed. She tried to move away, but he grabbed her arm.
“Delightful. Mika has the power to remove a person’s consciousness and take over their body. I call it Soul Displacement. He can even put a person’s consciousness in another body! Isn’t that fascinating! It’s more fun than your powers... so vulgar and artless. I knew I just had to have him for myself,” the doctor told him. “I admit he is my favorite.”
“What have you done?” Sylar raged at him. Noah Bennet may have been his enemy before, but he didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve some degenerate to take over his body and harm his wife. Mika used Noah’s body, moving his hand so that it wrapped a hand around Sandra’s neck.
“Elle! Do something!” Sylar turned his other hand and shot TK at Mika, who was unusually strong in Noah’s body. He barely staggered toward the force, still grabbing onto Sandra’s neck for dear life. If Sylar used any more energy, he was afraid he’d hurt Sandra by snapping her neck in the process. So he struggled (he’d never been this weak before) by holding Dr. Crabtree against the wall in the front and Mika in the back. One would have to give way, and he’d never let that doctor get his hands on him again.
But he couldn’t leave Noah.
Their son wailed, and Elle squealed.
“Elle, you can do it,” Sylar said.
“I can’t. I don’t want to hurt Noah... I could kill him,” she said, her voice quivering. “I can’t control my range.” She gave Sylar a pleading look.
“He’ll be okay,” Sylar said.
“Hrmm, I don’t know about that. If she shocks Mika while Noah Bennet’s consciousness is displaced he might become lost forever. Even brain-dead.”
Elle gasped, and Sylar wondered if Crabtree may be lying. Regardless, Elle wasn’t going to use her powers now. He saw as Elle crouched further against the kitchen cabinet, holding their son to her chest.
“What is your choice, Sylar? Will you kill me in time to save your friend?” mocked Crabtree, and Sylar whipped around and glared. He didn’t give him the chance to gloat. He snapped a finger, and the doctor’s neck was broken. It was a shame, Sylar thought, that he couldn’t have drawn out his death like he deserved.
Behind him, Mika (in Noah’s body) roared with anger. Sylar pushed him against the kitchen counter with his TK on reflex, and he didn’t even think of the state of Sandra. The second he controlled Noah’s possessed body was the second Mika paid him in turn for killing Dr. Crabtree. Sandra’s neck snapped with a much softer sound, and she tumbled to the floor, lifeless.
Elle began to sob. She stopped when Mika looked down at her, his fists clenched at his sides, and he struggled to break free of Sylar’s powers to go after her and his son.
Never. Sylar would never allow that to happen. No one was going to hurt his son. No one. He was the reason that he was able to start life anew. Noah gave him purpose, and he would never let such a worthless worm ever get the chance to lay a hand on either of them.
In that moment, he forgot that Noah was still somewhere inside his own body, so Sylar began flinging him around the kitchen. He crashed through glass, clawing and spitting, and trying to regain control. Finally, Sylar felt it. The desire to see, to reach inside him and yank his powers out.
He wanted those powers. He wanted a taste. After this he’d stop, cold turkey, but this was his reward. He’d take it...claw it from his brain if he had to, and then his vengeance would be complete, as dull as it was.
Sylar flung Noah’s body against the hot stove, and he turned on the burner beside his face as his arms flailed.
In Noah’s body, Mika spoke as Sylar’s power caged him tightly. “You would kill your friend? Let us talk and I’ll spare his life.”
Sylar tilted his head, and he narrowed his eyes. “You think I’d ever believe you? I just killed your lover...ah, I was right. I killed him before your eyes and you want revenge.” Sylar paused with a sinister laugh. “You want my body, and in my body you can have unimaginable power. Oh, yes, I know how you think. You and I are a lot alike.” Sylar’s smirk turned into a deadly frown. Mika looked scared, which was odd in Noah’s body because the man had hardly ever looked scared, except for the times when Claire was in danger.
But this fear was different because it was not truly Noah’s.
“I will never give you this body back. We are at a stalemate,” Mika said.
Sylar stared at him, and he glanced at the lifeless body of Sandra on the floor. He said a silent apology to Noah, hoping that this is what he’d want him to do. He also made a promise, in all his redemption; he would someday make it up to Claire as well.
“No, we’re not,” Sylar said, and the burners of the stove ignited.
Elle stood up and ran toward him. “What are you doing? We can still save him!” Their son cried from the screaming and his mother’s distress. Noah Bennet’s body began to burn, and he reached his hand out, still Mika looking for another body to escape to.
“Do you really think we can?” Sylar turned to her sadly. “If you have an idea to save him, then you try!”
The burners turned off, and Mika was still alive, but Noah’s body was badly burned. He tried to shuffle away, but Sylar held up his hand, using very little power to detain him.
Elle looked at him helplessly. She turned her head away, and Sylar felt her forehead on his arm. “Just do it quickly, okay? Noah’s still inside him. He can feel it too.”
Sylar paused, not thinking about that. She was right, of course, and he nodded.
He looked into Mika’s eyes, hoping that Noah was somewhere still in there. “Forgive me, Noah.”
It was the third neck to be broken that night.
The moment Noah Bennet died Peter Petrelli had crashed through the door. He met Elle and Sylar’s distressed faces, and he only needed to glance around to see the carnage.
He blew out a heavy sigh. “What have you done, Sylar?”
For the first time in as long as he could remember, Sylar felt deep remorse.
++
Sylar looked at his hand, but he didn’t say much. Elle had soothed the baby, and she explained what happened to Peter as they cleaned up the house.
“I called the Aunt. She and Lyle are driving down here in the morning. We make an anonymous tip to the cops and leave the bodies, and we’ll hide until the coast is clear. The aunt says she’ll take care of the house,” Peter said.
“Wait, I want to keep the house,” Sylar insisted, and Peter shook his head.
“This isn’t the time for that, Sylar,” Peter scolded him, and Sylar charged forward.
“Noah Bennet saved my life; it’s the least I can do to take care of his place.” Sylar looked away from Peter’s gaze, for he was getting annoyed by the way the man was glowering at him since he got there, even though he said he understood Sylar and Elle had no choice. “I already regret what I did, so say what you’re going to say, Boy Scout.”
“Okay, one, you can stop with the attitude,” Peter said, getting in his face. Sylar stood motionless with a scowl. “And two, I really don’t care what happens to this house as long as Claire is safe, and Noah and Sandra are given a proper memorial. Also, more than anything, you should be concerned about your baby. If this doctor found you, than more agents are probably on their way.”
“He’s right,” Elle said. “As much as I want to stay here for the Bennets’ sakes, I don’t care where go, as long little Noah is safe.”
Sylar and Peter both turned to her with a curious look. Sylar was the first to inquire. “Little Noah?” He looked at his son.
Elle lifted her chin confidently. “Yeah, that’s his name.” Elle sniffed. “It’s the least I can do for Noah after he got me out of that hell-hole Coyote Sands.”
Sylar nodded, and he gave her a small smile. The two of them shared an affectionate pause. “It’s fine. It’s a good name.”
“Okay, tender moment is over,” Peter said, and they all heard sirens nearing. “We have to go. I have a brown Chevy two blocks over.”
They already headed to the door when Sylar stopped and looked back into the house. “What about the dog?”
“Let’s go, Sylar!” Peter said, and he pushed them forward as Elle was already running through the neighbor’s lawn.
++
“This place stinks,” Elle complained, and the three of them walked into a double-bed motel room, just outside of Nevada. They had driven most of the night and morning, and finally, Peter found them a place to stop and rest. He seemed to know the owner of the place, which indicated they would be safe.
“Chuck is like us. He’s hiding from the government too; though, I doubt they’d be interested in his powers,” Peter said with a shrug.
“What’s his power?” Sylar asked, and Peter turned to glare at him. Sylar’s lips pursed into a thin line. “I promise I won’t kill him,” he said mockingly, and Peter’s glare remained intact.
“It’s really nothing. He can talk to birds or something like that,” Peter said, dropping his backpack on one of the beds.
Elle laughed. “Really? A bird whisperer?” She turned to Sylar with a cheeky grin. “Go get it, boy.” Sylar rolled his eyes, but the two seemed in good spirits (despite the recent past carnage) as their baby laughed and cooed while the mother rocked him.
Peter ignored them, digging into his backpack full of prepaid phones. “This is the one, I think.” He turned to the parents who watched him curiously. Peter was the only one with the plan at the moment. “Sandra’s sister is going to call me, but I’m going to need to destroy it once the call goes through.”
Sylar’s brow knitted together. “What for?”
“I don’t entirely trust her. She’s scared, and that’s indication she could turn us in. Her niece is already on the most wanted list and someone with abilities kills her sister? I would understand if she turns on us through grief.” Peter paused and he seemed to wear a permanent frown since they left the Bennet house in Costa Verde. Sandra and Noah’s death was affecting him too, and he’d have to do the unsavory duty of informing Claire, but he couldn’t do that now.
He was expecting another call. He fished out another phone from his bag, and he set it on the table next to the small sofa. He met Sylar and Elle’s eyes and looked at the beds. “You two get some sleep. I’ll take this couch.”
“You can rest too, you know. We’re not going to hurt you, not after all you’ve done,” Sylar said, and Peter scrutinized him, but he didn’t seem any tenser than usual.
“I know,” he said, which was more of an offering of trust, one that Sylar didn’t outright expect.
“I’m waiting for a call, and then I’ll turn in. You guys go on ahead. I suspect this call will come very soon.”
When it did, Peter left the hotel room to stand on the porch and talk. He knew Sylar was listening with his super-hearing anyway, but he didn’t want to disturb Elle and the baby. He spoke to his mother on the phone for almost a half hour, and when she hung up, he knew they’d be expecting her presence. Beyond the deaths of the Bennets, Angela had some news for Peter, and now that he was helping Sylar and Elle, she felt it was important she come there and tell them in person.
Soon, he had to call Claire. He didn’t know just exactly how to tell her that her father and mother were dead, and who had really killed them. He wondered if she’d understand.
++
Peter had dozed off, and he woke with a start, as if he felt spiders crawling all over him. Even worse, Elle and the child were resting in their beds, but Sylar’s was empty.
He found him leaning against the rickety balcony of their second floor hotel room, and he gazed across the parking lot, waiting and thinking. Peter came out, and he rested against the door frame and stared in the same direction as Sylar’s gaze.
“There’s something you should know, Peter,” Sylar said, and Peter feared the worse. Sylar was full of surprises lately. A killer, a prisoner, a father and a killer with mercy. Now, he claimed he was a person of redemption.
Peter shoved his hands into the pockets of his dark jeans. He met Sylar’s face without expression. “Go on.”
“That man’s power, the one that controlled Noah?” Sylar paused but continued when Peter nodded. “I have it.”
Peter narrowed his eyes. “How?” There were no skull extractions, not his usual M.O. to take powers.
“I have Elle’s powers too. It happened before we were attacked. I think... I think my son is an empath like you, latent of course. I was only able to take her power with when he touched me, but I can do it now. I can take powers without killing people. But the desire to kill... it’s still there. It only lessens when I think of my son,” he said.
“And the power you took from Noah’s killer?” Peter asked, coming toward him.
“Crabtree called it Soul Displacement.” Sylar scrunched his brow and stared at Peter with a small smile. “Now, I suppose, you have that power too.”
Peter frowned. Sylar was probably right; however, he didn’t jump at the chance to use that power any time soon. The memory of that power bringing about Noah’s death definitely left an ache in his heart.
++
“She’s here,” Peter said, peeking out of the curtain and letting it fall away as he move toward the door.
The baby was asleep, yet still in Elle’s arms like he was glued there. Sylar stood beside her, and he nodded at Peter as they waited for her to come to the door. Peter stared at Sylar for a second, finding it oddly natural of him paired with Elle. They were the oddest parents he’d ever known, and deep down, he prayed for their son’s future.
With two light knocks, Peter cracked the door open. Angela Petrelli and another henchman he did not recognize followed dutifully behind her.
“This is Roman,” she said in low yet terse tone. “You don’t need to concern yourself with him. He doesn’t work for Pinehearst. He works for me.”
Peter didn’t know whether or not to believe his mother, but since she had spoken of it, he supposed the knowledge was somewhat important.
“Noah Bennet’s dead. Please tell me you have a plan,” Peter said, his brow knitted together. “He was a strong arm of the resistance, and his death will no doubt hinder it.”
“I’m sorry about Noah,” she said in a soft voice, which made Peter believe she did actually have sympathy for his death, and that maybe Noah Bennet was more important to her than she had led on. The two of them definitely had a history together. He watched as Angela turned to Sylar and Elle and lifted her chin. He saw no fear when she looked at Sylar. “You have another strong arm of the resistance to take his place. I’m sorry to be so crass, but time is of the essence.”
Sylar stepped forward, angry. “What makes you think I want to be a part of this rebellion? After what they did to me, there’s no way I want to be a target again. Not now when I have a son to raise.”
“Yes,” Angela said dryly with a fake smile. “Congratulations.” She paused, and she and Sylar seemed to get in a staring match. Elle frowned, rocking the baby encouragingly. “If you’re so adamant about protecting your son, you would be better to rebel as much as you can, Sylar.”
“We can hide him and the baby. They don’t have to fight,” Peter said. He really didn’t want to do it just for Noah Jr.’s sake. He didn’t want to work with Sylar, and he didn’t want Claire to cross paths with him at all.
Angela seemed to understand her son’s concern. She sighed, and she began removing her gloves. “I suppose it’s only fair that you would rather not work with Sylar, but this next bit of news may change your mind.” Her lips pursed with some semblance of a wicked smile. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Sylar... and Peter, but you are brothers.”
“What?” Peter yelled immediately, but Sylar seemed shocked and perplexed.
“How can that be?” Sylar blew out a breath, becoming cautious as she began gliding toward him. She outstretched her hand and cupped his cheek as he froze.
“I’m sorry, my dear. This is a terrible time to tell you, but it’s true...I gave you up for adoption to the Grays. I was having trouble with my husband at the time...and I was confused, and I was afraid of your power. I hoped to tell you some day, and when we were trying to recruit you for the Company, things got out of control and...”
“Recruit! Out of control?” Sylar raged at her. When he noticed his son whimper in his mother’s arms, Elle moved away and Sylar tried to level his temper. His voice came out in a hushed hiss. “Your Company made me into a monster. You encouraged me to become what I am and tap into the darkest source of my power, and all you have to say is ‘hi, I’m your mother and I’m sorry?’”
“Yes,” Angela said simply, controlled. She tilted her head. “I know you will never forgive me, but I felt it time to tell you.”
“Why? Because you want me to join my brother, if he is my brother, to fight against the government?” he accused.
Angela sighed heavily. “If you’ll let me explain, you’ll see that there is more to all of this. Your parentage is only a microcosm to the things to come,” she said harshly. She stared sternly at both her sons. “Very soon the government won’t be hunting specials anymore...” Everyone gaped as she paused. “They won’t need to. Back when I ran the Company we developed a synthetic formula to give people abilities. You brother, Nathan, is one of those test subjects. The experiments got out of control, and we discontinued the program. The formula was split up and never brought up again. Well, an unknown source has unearthed the formula after acquiring both parts. The formula is still incomplete in its beginning stages, but very soon they will perfect it. Then, Pinehearst will sell it on the open market. Everyone will be able to have abilities and special people...” She laughed mockingly. “They won’t be special anymore.”
“So? What does this have to do with us being brothers?”
“Nothing really. Just that I...” Suddenly, her harsh tone faded, and she grabbed Peter’s arm. She looked into his eyes, and Peter saw the wetness of brimming tears in her eyes. “Someone has put a hit on me. I won’t survive long.”
Peter grabbed her desperately. “We’ll hide you. I won’t let that happen, mom. I won’t!”
“It’s too late,” she said in defeat, and she drew away from him and started smoothing out her clothes. She lifted her chin again, dignified, but Peter could see her shaking. “I made a deal with them. My life for yours.” She turned to Sylar. “For you both. You’ll continue to fight them, of course.”
“Why should we fight them now?” Elle asked, coming out of the shadows yet still listening in on the conversation. She shrugged. “They won’t be hunting us. We won’t have to run anymore.”
“You’re so naive,” Angela said, shaking her head. “You’re still criminals to the government. They’ll want you for your past actions, to control you. More than that, you must destroy Pinehearst. There was a reason we halted those experiments. That formula is not meant for regular people. It’ll change the whole world for the worst.”
“So... you want use to fight a new fight. We’re no longer fighting for our freedom,” Peter said.
Angela turned to Noah Jr. who was watching her intently. She smiled, and she answered him softly. “No, but you’ll be fighting for future generations. If too many people have powers, they’ll get out of control. They’ll destroy this whole world, and children like Noah Jr. will barely reach an age where he can enjoy his life.”
The room drowned in silence as everyone thought of this. Sylar, who was still mulling over the news as Peter’s brother, was uncommonly silent and contemplative. Peter was still wrestling with the news that his mother had traded her life for his, and he was trying to think of any scenario he could to save her.
Angela watched him and turned her eyes to Sylar. “I have to go. I must return to New York. Peter, you’ll tell Claire about me, won’t you?”
“Mom, there must be another way,” Peter said, drawing her into his arms tightly. She resisted lightly, and he let her go. She cupped his jaw with her palm and smiled at him.
“There isn’t, Peter. We aren’t the ones in control here. Let it be,” she said. She kissed his cheek, and he felt her sob against him as they embraced. For almost a minute, he held her, knowing he’d never see his mother again. He blinked tears in his eyes, and he barely let her go. She turned to Sylar and squeezed his arm.
“I’m sorry, my boy,” she said. “I can’t apologize enough.”
He put his hand over hers, feeling oddly comforted, even though she was going to her death. “At least I know now.”
She nodded, and like a fuzzy dream, they all watched her as she and her companion began to leave back to their car. Peter and Sylar stared as the black car slowly exit the parking lot of that small motel, and they took comfort in imaging that she was watching them from her seat until she could not see them anymore.
++
Peter thought the hardest thing he ever had to do in his life is watch his mother go to her death. It was worse than that, worse than accepting that Nathan had betrayed him and settled for becoming a government puppet.
None of that was harder than telling Claire about her father.
It had been almost a week since Noah died, and Peter felt the time was right. He would also tell her about Angela, but unfortunately, he doubted she’d be as affected.
The ringer seemed to go on forever, and when Rene answered, Peter tensed up, knowing he’d have to tell the Haitian first about his partner’s demise.
“Peter, what news do you have? I have not heard from Noah in many days,” he said, his velvet voice not even a comfort like it usually was.
“I’m sorry. I know you guys are off the grid, but something happened in Costa Verde. Noah was right. That doctor came after his family, but he had help.” A long pause wedged between them, but Rene said nothing. Peter exhaled heavily. “Rene, Noah is dead. So is Sandra. A special did it, some kind of possession power. Sylar had to neutralize him before he went after Elle and the baby.”
“I see,” he said cryptically, and Peter knew that Claire was listening in.
“I need to tell Claire. Let it be me. It’s not your responsibility,” Peter said.
“Claire.” Peter felt the phone rustle between them, and when he could hear her breathing, he spoke.
“I’m sorry,” he said suddenly, knowing she had to suspect something. Quickly, she burst into sobs.
“What happened?” she asked through her tears. “Please, tell me everything.”
“The doctor of that facility they raided in Coyote Sands came after your family while Sylar and Elle were there. You mother sent Lyle to your aunt’s but she refused to go with them against your father’s wishes. When... the doctor attacked, he brought someone with him who had a strong ability.”
“What ability,” she sniffed.
“It’s body displacement. He...ah took over your father’s body, killed your mother, and then tried to kill Elle and the baby. Sylar appealed for your father’s release, but neither the doctor nor the other man relented. He killed him... quickly, so to save your father the pain.” Peter heard Claire take a long breath. “I don’t know the true nature of this power, but I’m guessing your father had no control. He was powerless, but he did go down with a fight.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” she lashed at him.
“Claire,” Peter started.
“No, no, forget it. Sylar killed my father. That’s all I need to know,” she sneered.
“He had no choice. Your father was possessed. He had already killed your mother. Sylar was protecting Elle and the baby,” Peter repeated.
“But my father is the sacrifice! How is it that Elle and her baby get to live instead, huh? Tell me that, Peter!” she stormed at him.
Peter raised his voice, knowing the effort was probably futile to convince her at this point. Claire was acting out her grief and anger. “What if it was me, Claire? What if I had to kill Noah to save someone else’s life before he could use your father’s body to hurt someone else?” The other end of the phone was barely silent, with only Claire’s breathing to let him know she was still listening. “It’s only because it was Sylar that it’s easier to blame him. I understand how you feel, but...”
“No you don’t! Sylar should have never been there in the first place! He was in my house, Peter. My house, with Elle, and my mother and now they’re dead, but Elle and Sylar and their spawn are alive? And that’s all that matters. My dad died so that Sylar and Elle, two known psychopaths, could live!”
“Claire...” He wanted to soothe her, to calm her down and tell it was alright that she was mad. It was okay she had these feelings, and if Peter even dared negate her lack of rational, he feared she’d never forgive him either.
She continued to cry, but Peter did not break the connection. He let her scream and release her feelings, and when she had somewhat settled down, she sounded exhausted.
“Peter, what am I supposed to do now? Huh? I can’t even go back and visit their funeral because of my wanted status.”
“Mourn them, Claire. Remember them and mourn them in any way that you can,” Peter said softly. “And mourn your grandmother too,” he added, with his own pain rising in his tone.
“Angela? She’s dead too?” Claire paused, and Peter knew that she wasn’t expecting that extra news. “What happened?”
“She made a deal with the government. Things are about to change,” he said ominously. “And not for the better either.”
“So what’s the point?” she asked, her anger returning. Mostly, Peter knew she was tired of the hiding, running, and persecution.
“We fight for her, for your dad too, so their deeds were not done in vain,” Peter said. “That’s what my mother would have wanted.”
“And what about Sylar?” she asked gruffly. “So what, he just gets a free pass? He gets to start over because he’s a victim too, even after all those people he killed?”
Peter didn’t want to take Sylar’s side here, but really, they were all criminals as far as the government was concerned. If his mother was right, they would still be seen that way even if anyone off the street could buy this formula and gain abilities just like theirs.
“We all get to start over, Claire,” he said, and he felt Sylar’s eyes on him. He met the man’s gaze, his brother, and he frowned.
“I’ll never forgive him, Peter. You tell him. This is a warning,” she said, and Peter had never heard such hate and viciousness in his Claire’s voice before. “The next time I see him, he’s dead. I don’t care if he’s changed. I don’t care if he’s got a son and now he’s the father of the year. I’ll kill him and watch him take his last breath.”
Peter sighed. He didn’t even want to address that threat, but he’d find some way to pass it along. “You stay safe, Claire. I will see you again.”
She scoffed into the phone. “Yeah, I’ll see you.” Another pause and her voice turned oddly tender. “I love you, Peter.”
Before he could reply, the line went dead. He lowered the phone to his side and looked at the floor, avoiding Sylar’s gaze. He’d never wanted to be with Claire more than he did right now.
“What did she say?” Sylar asked cautiously, and Peter shot him a glare.
“You already know.”
“She wants to kill me,” he said, and Peter knew he’d been listening in the whole time. Peter rolled his eyes and walked toward his sofa.
“Are you surprised?” Peter asked, and in the corner of his eye, Elle and the baby were settling down to bed.
“You didn’t tell her we were brothers,” Sylar said bluntly, as if that knowledge would have changed Claire’s reaction.
“I think she’s had enough shock for one night,” Peter said, and he fished into his backpack for flask full of whiskey. When he took a swig, he strangely thought of Nathan. Great, now he had two brothers, neither of them he got along with very well.
“So what do we do now? Angela’s gone, and the Haitian and Claire are on their own,” Sylar said impatiently. “What about us?”
“We hide until this government witch-hunt blows over,” Peter said. “Don’t worry; I’ll stay with you as long as I can.”
“And then what? When the formula is out then what do we do?” he asked, and his questions started to annoy Peter. He didn’t know why Sylar thought he had all the answers. He met his new brother’s eyes and glared.
“We get new identities, and then we go our separate ways. You want to raise your son, and I want to avenge my mother. I will do what she wants and go after Pinehearst,” Peter said, and without paying much attention, he’d taken several swigs from his flask. He was starting to feel a nice buzz already. Nothing more than he deserved for what he had to deal with tonight.
Sylar thought about Peter’s plan, and he lumbered back to his bed. He glanced at Peter several times while he began to retire for the night, but Peter ignored him the best he could. He was tired of the death, of babysitting Sylar, and desperately he wanted to run away from all of it and find Claire. It’d be better for both of them to leave the country now, forget about Pinehearst and Nathan, and Sylar too, and go start their lives anew. Together. Maybe they could make something of what was left of this family and mourn their dead loved ones in peace.
It was much easier for Peter to think he could just say ‘screw the world’ and run off with Claire, but he knew deep down that would never happen. His heart would never dare let him.
Chapters: Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Epilogue
Title: Grave New World
Chapter Title: Inheritance and Mercy
Author: paynesgrey
Artist: rebelle_elle
Type: Gen, Het, Darkfic
Word Count: ~21,000
Rating: R
Characters: Sylar, Elle, Noah, Sandra, Claire, Peter, Angela, Rene (the Haitian), Noah Jr., Nathan, OCs
Pairings: Noah/Sandra, Sylar/Elle, implied Peter/Claire, Claire/Rene
Warnings violence, torture, character death, implied incest
Notes: This is a supposed future after Nathan's press conference at the end of Season 2 that lead up to the events of "I am Become Death" in Season 3. AU. Done for heroes_bigboom. Thank you to rtwofan for the beta job and rebelle_elle for her artwork contribution.
Summary: After Nathan Petrelli’s revelation, the world panics and rejects people with special abilities. As fear and darkness spread, those who were once villains become the victims, a family is destroyed, and an innocent woman is forced to fight.
Artwork: Link
Other URLs: FFnet | AO3
Part Four: Inheritance and Mercy
When the storm came through Costa Verde, the air became muggy, first turning cold before turning blazing hot again. Thunder grumbled through the sky for a couple nights, and lightening illuminated the dusky dark as the wind screamed through the air.
The news warned for heavy storms, warning people to stay away from the beaches.
The house seemed crowded because of the weather, and Sylar admitted to himself he felt slightly trapped. Though, it wasn’t as bad as Coyote Sands. Nothing would ever be as bad as that.
Luckily in that week, Elle was learning not to snap at him so much. She had destroyed some of the Bennets’ property because of her anger, but he noticed that the moment she lost it, the baby would start crying and she’d feel bad. She’d even apologized to him once, when she had accidentally singed some of his hair. To Sylar’s dismay, Noah had laughed at it.
Thoughts of killing Noah Bennet were oddly enough, subsiding. Truthfully, Sylar didn’t think about it so much anymore. Noah Bennet had saved his life, and even though the man had rightfully almost left him to rot there, he had spared him, and Sylar thought that was something.
He’d like to thank whatever angel or power for giving Noah Bennet a heart that day.
Of course, none of this would be possible without his son’s existence, for him or Elle. Noah would have probably left them both at the side of the road somewhere if Elle didn’t have his baby.
They still couldn’t agree on his name though. Elle had wanted Robert, and Sylar was adamantly against it. He actually started to feel bad about killing Bob Bishop, even though the man was a scoundrel. Sylar knew about the things he’d done to his own daughter, and he didn’t know why she didn’t hate him as much as she probably should. Elle didn’t exactly produce emotions like everyone else, which was something to say about children who were sheltered and manipulated.
Maybe that had made the Coyote Sands experiments harder for her. The first time it was her father who had done them, so maybe in her brain they were acceptable.
But no one ever made her have a baby, or had plans to continue using her as breeding stock. The one time Elle mentioned it, Sylar visibly watched her shudder. He almost wanted to hold her, but it seemed untimely.
That and he didn’t want to get fried. It was all baby steps with Elle. It amazed him that she was starting to talk to him without insults and threats, which Sylar resolved was some considerable progress.
The Bennets were still tense around them. Sylar figured Noah Bennet would never trust him, and Sandra would always see him as the monster who wanted to kill her daughter. Not that he could really hurt her. (They didn’t know their own daughter at all, he scoffed.)
He didn’t want to admit his own comfort zone had been expanding. He’d always been a loner, and nobody had accepted him enough for it to matter. Nobody had been worthy enough because he really felt all was inferior to him. Dr. Crabtree had changed that feeling. He had used him like a tool, and he did it without having powers at all.
Sylar had vowed that he would be the last man he would kill before truly giving it up, and becoming a father; however, he didn’t think he’d get the opportunity so quickly.
For all the time they had waited for the doctor’s retaliation, when they were settling down one peaceful night arguing politics over pot-roast, the small glimmer of serenity that he and Elle had found had been destroyed when the fire alarm went off and a small explosive rocked the house.
Everyone but Elle had ducked for cover, and she rushed to the baby and drew it close to her chest. Automatically, she huddled near Sylar, who protectively shielded his body around mother and son as Noah snatched a gun that was taped under their dinner table. He looked to Sylar, and then Sylar looked to Elle, who nodded at him. She signaled she’d be okay without him, and Noah and Sylar started to creep toward the exit, with Sandra, Elle and the baby waiting in anticipation for the signal that they were safe.
They didn’t even know where the enemy was. He could be anywhere around the house, and he could’ve had help. Adrenaline rose, and Sylar kept on his guard. He’d have to use powers that he hadn’t used in two years. He was confident, but now that he was fighting for him, Elle and his baby, fighting against an enemy felt differently. He had more than his own life to look out for now.
He saw Noah pause, and Sylar used his enhanced hearing when he picked up footsteps outside. Piece of cake, he thought, and he noticed two sets of footsteps. He put up two fingers to Noah, and then he pointed the direction they were coming. Noah nodded, and they relaxed a little, feeling they had the advantage. Noah and the others crouched and started for the back door. Enemies were coming right toward them. Noah charged first, and the door flew open.
Before Sylar could protect him, a large burly man with a ginger beard punched open the door, and he grabbed Noah by the cuff of his shirt after he got off a shot, nicking the man in the shoulder.
Noah struggled as the man tried to lift Noah off the ground. He tried to aim his gun, but the man grabbed his hand and growled. Sylar prepared to use his TK, but he heard footsteps from the front door. The other set of footsteps were coming up from the front.
And Sylar knew exactly who it was. “Crabtree,” he seethed. Hatred and vengeance took over his mind, and he turned around, leaving Noah to his own vices. He thought he could take care of himself, but when Crabtree charged in with a confident smile, Sylar knew that not even his TK could affect him. He was happy and smug about something else.
Sylar held him against the wall, and he heard Sandra’s small scream as she and Elle hid behind the kitchen counter with the baby. The fire that had erupted in the living room was dying out in in steady embers. He paid them no mind as long as they didn’t get worse, and he focused on Crabtree. He wanted to look inside him, see how he worked. Sylar wanted to know just why he thought he could win.
“I could kill you. Snap your neck just like that,” Sylar threatened.
“An act of mercy,” Crabtree said with a hardened smirk. “Detention has made you soft, mighty one.”
“Then I’ll cripple you, and you’ll suffer as an invalid,” Sylar said. It was not as fun as torturing him like he wanted to, to string him up by his balls and light fires under his bald head.
“Still, it would solve nothing, not when I will already win.” Crabtree looked beyond him, and Sylar followed his gaze. “You remember my friend Mika. He is special, like you.” Crabtree smacked his lips approvingly. “I bet you’ll want his power after you see what he can do.”
Sylar watched. Noah Bennet was suddenly still, no longer struggling. He saw Noah’s wife watching him, and she put a hand to her lips in shock.
The big burly man fell backwards, and suddenly Noah’s body was on his feet. But it wasn’t Noah. He gave Sylar a happy, dangerous grin and then turned his attention to Sandra, who screamed. She tried to move away, but he grabbed her arm.
“Delightful. Mika has the power to remove a person’s consciousness and take over their body. I call it Soul Displacement. He can even put a person’s consciousness in another body! Isn’t that fascinating! It’s more fun than your powers... so vulgar and artless. I knew I just had to have him for myself,” the doctor told him. “I admit he is my favorite.”
“What have you done?” Sylar raged at him. Noah Bennet may have been his enemy before, but he didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve some degenerate to take over his body and harm his wife. Mika used Noah’s body, moving his hand so that it wrapped a hand around Sandra’s neck.
“Elle! Do something!” Sylar turned his other hand and shot TK at Mika, who was unusually strong in Noah’s body. He barely staggered toward the force, still grabbing onto Sandra’s neck for dear life. If Sylar used any more energy, he was afraid he’d hurt Sandra by snapping her neck in the process. So he struggled (he’d never been this weak before) by holding Dr. Crabtree against the wall in the front and Mika in the back. One would have to give way, and he’d never let that doctor get his hands on him again.
But he couldn’t leave Noah.
Their son wailed, and Elle squealed.
“Elle, you can do it,” Sylar said.
“I can’t. I don’t want to hurt Noah... I could kill him,” she said, her voice quivering. “I can’t control my range.” She gave Sylar a pleading look.
“He’ll be okay,” Sylar said.
“Hrmm, I don’t know about that. If she shocks Mika while Noah Bennet’s consciousness is displaced he might become lost forever. Even brain-dead.”
Elle gasped, and Sylar wondered if Crabtree may be lying. Regardless, Elle wasn’t going to use her powers now. He saw as Elle crouched further against the kitchen cabinet, holding their son to her chest.
“What is your choice, Sylar? Will you kill me in time to save your friend?” mocked Crabtree, and Sylar whipped around and glared. He didn’t give him the chance to gloat. He snapped a finger, and the doctor’s neck was broken. It was a shame, Sylar thought, that he couldn’t have drawn out his death like he deserved.
Behind him, Mika (in Noah’s body) roared with anger. Sylar pushed him against the kitchen counter with his TK on reflex, and he didn’t even think of the state of Sandra. The second he controlled Noah’s possessed body was the second Mika paid him in turn for killing Dr. Crabtree. Sandra’s neck snapped with a much softer sound, and she tumbled to the floor, lifeless.
Elle began to sob. She stopped when Mika looked down at her, his fists clenched at his sides, and he struggled to break free of Sylar’s powers to go after her and his son.
Never. Sylar would never allow that to happen. No one was going to hurt his son. No one. He was the reason that he was able to start life anew. Noah gave him purpose, and he would never let such a worthless worm ever get the chance to lay a hand on either of them.
In that moment, he forgot that Noah was still somewhere inside his own body, so Sylar began flinging him around the kitchen. He crashed through glass, clawing and spitting, and trying to regain control. Finally, Sylar felt it. The desire to see, to reach inside him and yank his powers out.
He wanted those powers. He wanted a taste. After this he’d stop, cold turkey, but this was his reward. He’d take it...claw it from his brain if he had to, and then his vengeance would be complete, as dull as it was.
Sylar flung Noah’s body against the hot stove, and he turned on the burner beside his face as his arms flailed.
In Noah’s body, Mika spoke as Sylar’s power caged him tightly. “You would kill your friend? Let us talk and I’ll spare his life.”
Sylar tilted his head, and he narrowed his eyes. “You think I’d ever believe you? I just killed your lover...ah, I was right. I killed him before your eyes and you want revenge.” Sylar paused with a sinister laugh. “You want my body, and in my body you can have unimaginable power. Oh, yes, I know how you think. You and I are a lot alike.” Sylar’s smirk turned into a deadly frown. Mika looked scared, which was odd in Noah’s body because the man had hardly ever looked scared, except for the times when Claire was in danger.
But this fear was different because it was not truly Noah’s.
“I will never give you this body back. We are at a stalemate,” Mika said.
Sylar stared at him, and he glanced at the lifeless body of Sandra on the floor. He said a silent apology to Noah, hoping that this is what he’d want him to do. He also made a promise, in all his redemption; he would someday make it up to Claire as well.
“No, we’re not,” Sylar said, and the burners of the stove ignited.
Elle stood up and ran toward him. “What are you doing? We can still save him!” Their son cried from the screaming and his mother’s distress. Noah Bennet’s body began to burn, and he reached his hand out, still Mika looking for another body to escape to.
“Do you really think we can?” Sylar turned to her sadly. “If you have an idea to save him, then you try!”
The burners turned off, and Mika was still alive, but Noah’s body was badly burned. He tried to shuffle away, but Sylar held up his hand, using very little power to detain him.
Elle looked at him helplessly. She turned her head away, and Sylar felt her forehead on his arm. “Just do it quickly, okay? Noah’s still inside him. He can feel it too.”
Sylar paused, not thinking about that. She was right, of course, and he nodded.
He looked into Mika’s eyes, hoping that Noah was somewhere still in there. “Forgive me, Noah.”
It was the third neck to be broken that night.
The moment Noah Bennet died Peter Petrelli had crashed through the door. He met Elle and Sylar’s distressed faces, and he only needed to glance around to see the carnage.
He blew out a heavy sigh. “What have you done, Sylar?”
For the first time in as long as he could remember, Sylar felt deep remorse.
++
Sylar looked at his hand, but he didn’t say much. Elle had soothed the baby, and she explained what happened to Peter as they cleaned up the house.
“I called the Aunt. She and Lyle are driving down here in the morning. We make an anonymous tip to the cops and leave the bodies, and we’ll hide until the coast is clear. The aunt says she’ll take care of the house,” Peter said.
“Wait, I want to keep the house,” Sylar insisted, and Peter shook his head.
“This isn’t the time for that, Sylar,” Peter scolded him, and Sylar charged forward.
“Noah Bennet saved my life; it’s the least I can do to take care of his place.” Sylar looked away from Peter’s gaze, for he was getting annoyed by the way the man was glowering at him since he got there, even though he said he understood Sylar and Elle had no choice. “I already regret what I did, so say what you’re going to say, Boy Scout.”
“Okay, one, you can stop with the attitude,” Peter said, getting in his face. Sylar stood motionless with a scowl. “And two, I really don’t care what happens to this house as long as Claire is safe, and Noah and Sandra are given a proper memorial. Also, more than anything, you should be concerned about your baby. If this doctor found you, than more agents are probably on their way.”
“He’s right,” Elle said. “As much as I want to stay here for the Bennets’ sakes, I don’t care where go, as long little Noah is safe.”
Sylar and Peter both turned to her with a curious look. Sylar was the first to inquire. “Little Noah?” He looked at his son.
Elle lifted her chin confidently. “Yeah, that’s his name.” Elle sniffed. “It’s the least I can do for Noah after he got me out of that hell-hole Coyote Sands.”
Sylar nodded, and he gave her a small smile. The two of them shared an affectionate pause. “It’s fine. It’s a good name.”
“Okay, tender moment is over,” Peter said, and they all heard sirens nearing. “We have to go. I have a brown Chevy two blocks over.”
They already headed to the door when Sylar stopped and looked back into the house. “What about the dog?”
“Let’s go, Sylar!” Peter said, and he pushed them forward as Elle was already running through the neighbor’s lawn.
++
“This place stinks,” Elle complained, and the three of them walked into a double-bed motel room, just outside of Nevada. They had driven most of the night and morning, and finally, Peter found them a place to stop and rest. He seemed to know the owner of the place, which indicated they would be safe.
“Chuck is like us. He’s hiding from the government too; though, I doubt they’d be interested in his powers,” Peter said with a shrug.
“What’s his power?” Sylar asked, and Peter turned to glare at him. Sylar’s lips pursed into a thin line. “I promise I won’t kill him,” he said mockingly, and Peter’s glare remained intact.
“It’s really nothing. He can talk to birds or something like that,” Peter said, dropping his backpack on one of the beds.
Elle laughed. “Really? A bird whisperer?” She turned to Sylar with a cheeky grin. “Go get it, boy.” Sylar rolled his eyes, but the two seemed in good spirits (despite the recent past carnage) as their baby laughed and cooed while the mother rocked him.
Peter ignored them, digging into his backpack full of prepaid phones. “This is the one, I think.” He turned to the parents who watched him curiously. Peter was the only one with the plan at the moment. “Sandra’s sister is going to call me, but I’m going to need to destroy it once the call goes through.”
Sylar’s brow knitted together. “What for?”
“I don’t entirely trust her. She’s scared, and that’s indication she could turn us in. Her niece is already on the most wanted list and someone with abilities kills her sister? I would understand if she turns on us through grief.” Peter paused and he seemed to wear a permanent frown since they left the Bennet house in Costa Verde. Sandra and Noah’s death was affecting him too, and he’d have to do the unsavory duty of informing Claire, but he couldn’t do that now.
He was expecting another call. He fished out another phone from his bag, and he set it on the table next to the small sofa. He met Sylar and Elle’s eyes and looked at the beds. “You two get some sleep. I’ll take this couch.”
“You can rest too, you know. We’re not going to hurt you, not after all you’ve done,” Sylar said, and Peter scrutinized him, but he didn’t seem any tenser than usual.
“I know,” he said, which was more of an offering of trust, one that Sylar didn’t outright expect.
“I’m waiting for a call, and then I’ll turn in. You guys go on ahead. I suspect this call will come very soon.”
When it did, Peter left the hotel room to stand on the porch and talk. He knew Sylar was listening with his super-hearing anyway, but he didn’t want to disturb Elle and the baby. He spoke to his mother on the phone for almost a half hour, and when she hung up, he knew they’d be expecting her presence. Beyond the deaths of the Bennets, Angela had some news for Peter, and now that he was helping Sylar and Elle, she felt it was important she come there and tell them in person.
Soon, he had to call Claire. He didn’t know just exactly how to tell her that her father and mother were dead, and who had really killed them. He wondered if she’d understand.
++
Peter had dozed off, and he woke with a start, as if he felt spiders crawling all over him. Even worse, Elle and the child were resting in their beds, but Sylar’s was empty.
He found him leaning against the rickety balcony of their second floor hotel room, and he gazed across the parking lot, waiting and thinking. Peter came out, and he rested against the door frame and stared in the same direction as Sylar’s gaze.
“There’s something you should know, Peter,” Sylar said, and Peter feared the worse. Sylar was full of surprises lately. A killer, a prisoner, a father and a killer with mercy. Now, he claimed he was a person of redemption.
Peter shoved his hands into the pockets of his dark jeans. He met Sylar’s face without expression. “Go on.”
“That man’s power, the one that controlled Noah?” Sylar paused but continued when Peter nodded. “I have it.”
Peter narrowed his eyes. “How?” There were no skull extractions, not his usual M.O. to take powers.
“I have Elle’s powers too. It happened before we were attacked. I think... I think my son is an empath like you, latent of course. I was only able to take her power with when he touched me, but I can do it now. I can take powers without killing people. But the desire to kill... it’s still there. It only lessens when I think of my son,” he said.
“And the power you took from Noah’s killer?” Peter asked, coming toward him.
“Crabtree called it Soul Displacement.” Sylar scrunched his brow and stared at Peter with a small smile. “Now, I suppose, you have that power too.”
Peter frowned. Sylar was probably right; however, he didn’t jump at the chance to use that power any time soon. The memory of that power bringing about Noah’s death definitely left an ache in his heart.
++
“She’s here,” Peter said, peeking out of the curtain and letting it fall away as he move toward the door.
The baby was asleep, yet still in Elle’s arms like he was glued there. Sylar stood beside her, and he nodded at Peter as they waited for her to come to the door. Peter stared at Sylar for a second, finding it oddly natural of him paired with Elle. They were the oddest parents he’d ever known, and deep down, he prayed for their son’s future.
With two light knocks, Peter cracked the door open. Angela Petrelli and another henchman he did not recognize followed dutifully behind her.
“This is Roman,” she said in low yet terse tone. “You don’t need to concern yourself with him. He doesn’t work for Pinehearst. He works for me.”
Peter didn’t know whether or not to believe his mother, but since she had spoken of it, he supposed the knowledge was somewhat important.
“Noah Bennet’s dead. Please tell me you have a plan,” Peter said, his brow knitted together. “He was a strong arm of the resistance, and his death will no doubt hinder it.”
“I’m sorry about Noah,” she said in a soft voice, which made Peter believe she did actually have sympathy for his death, and that maybe Noah Bennet was more important to her than she had led on. The two of them definitely had a history together. He watched as Angela turned to Sylar and Elle and lifted her chin. He saw no fear when she looked at Sylar. “You have another strong arm of the resistance to take his place. I’m sorry to be so crass, but time is of the essence.”
Sylar stepped forward, angry. “What makes you think I want to be a part of this rebellion? After what they did to me, there’s no way I want to be a target again. Not now when I have a son to raise.”
“Yes,” Angela said dryly with a fake smile. “Congratulations.” She paused, and she and Sylar seemed to get in a staring match. Elle frowned, rocking the baby encouragingly. “If you’re so adamant about protecting your son, you would be better to rebel as much as you can, Sylar.”
“We can hide him and the baby. They don’t have to fight,” Peter said. He really didn’t want to do it just for Noah Jr.’s sake. He didn’t want to work with Sylar, and he didn’t want Claire to cross paths with him at all.
Angela seemed to understand her son’s concern. She sighed, and she began removing her gloves. “I suppose it’s only fair that you would rather not work with Sylar, but this next bit of news may change your mind.” Her lips pursed with some semblance of a wicked smile. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Sylar... and Peter, but you are brothers.”
“What?” Peter yelled immediately, but Sylar seemed shocked and perplexed.
“How can that be?” Sylar blew out a breath, becoming cautious as she began gliding toward him. She outstretched her hand and cupped his cheek as he froze.
“I’m sorry, my dear. This is a terrible time to tell you, but it’s true...I gave you up for adoption to the Grays. I was having trouble with my husband at the time...and I was confused, and I was afraid of your power. I hoped to tell you some day, and when we were trying to recruit you for the Company, things got out of control and...”
“Recruit! Out of control?” Sylar raged at her. When he noticed his son whimper in his mother’s arms, Elle moved away and Sylar tried to level his temper. His voice came out in a hushed hiss. “Your Company made me into a monster. You encouraged me to become what I am and tap into the darkest source of my power, and all you have to say is ‘hi, I’m your mother and I’m sorry?’”
“Yes,” Angela said simply, controlled. She tilted her head. “I know you will never forgive me, but I felt it time to tell you.”
“Why? Because you want me to join my brother, if he is my brother, to fight against the government?” he accused.
Angela sighed heavily. “If you’ll let me explain, you’ll see that there is more to all of this. Your parentage is only a microcosm to the things to come,” she said harshly. She stared sternly at both her sons. “Very soon the government won’t be hunting specials anymore...” Everyone gaped as she paused. “They won’t need to. Back when I ran the Company we developed a synthetic formula to give people abilities. You brother, Nathan, is one of those test subjects. The experiments got out of control, and we discontinued the program. The formula was split up and never brought up again. Well, an unknown source has unearthed the formula after acquiring both parts. The formula is still incomplete in its beginning stages, but very soon they will perfect it. Then, Pinehearst will sell it on the open market. Everyone will be able to have abilities and special people...” She laughed mockingly. “They won’t be special anymore.”
“So? What does this have to do with us being brothers?”
“Nothing really. Just that I...” Suddenly, her harsh tone faded, and she grabbed Peter’s arm. She looked into his eyes, and Peter saw the wetness of brimming tears in her eyes. “Someone has put a hit on me. I won’t survive long.”
Peter grabbed her desperately. “We’ll hide you. I won’t let that happen, mom. I won’t!”
“It’s too late,” she said in defeat, and she drew away from him and started smoothing out her clothes. She lifted her chin again, dignified, but Peter could see her shaking. “I made a deal with them. My life for yours.” She turned to Sylar. “For you both. You’ll continue to fight them, of course.”
“Why should we fight them now?” Elle asked, coming out of the shadows yet still listening in on the conversation. She shrugged. “They won’t be hunting us. We won’t have to run anymore.”
“You’re so naive,” Angela said, shaking her head. “You’re still criminals to the government. They’ll want you for your past actions, to control you. More than that, you must destroy Pinehearst. There was a reason we halted those experiments. That formula is not meant for regular people. It’ll change the whole world for the worst.”
“So... you want use to fight a new fight. We’re no longer fighting for our freedom,” Peter said.
Angela turned to Noah Jr. who was watching her intently. She smiled, and she answered him softly. “No, but you’ll be fighting for future generations. If too many people have powers, they’ll get out of control. They’ll destroy this whole world, and children like Noah Jr. will barely reach an age where he can enjoy his life.”
The room drowned in silence as everyone thought of this. Sylar, who was still mulling over the news as Peter’s brother, was uncommonly silent and contemplative. Peter was still wrestling with the news that his mother had traded her life for his, and he was trying to think of any scenario he could to save her.
Angela watched him and turned her eyes to Sylar. “I have to go. I must return to New York. Peter, you’ll tell Claire about me, won’t you?”
“Mom, there must be another way,” Peter said, drawing her into his arms tightly. She resisted lightly, and he let her go. She cupped his jaw with her palm and smiled at him.
“There isn’t, Peter. We aren’t the ones in control here. Let it be,” she said. She kissed his cheek, and he felt her sob against him as they embraced. For almost a minute, he held her, knowing he’d never see his mother again. He blinked tears in his eyes, and he barely let her go. She turned to Sylar and squeezed his arm.
“I’m sorry, my boy,” she said. “I can’t apologize enough.”
He put his hand over hers, feeling oddly comforted, even though she was going to her death. “At least I know now.”
She nodded, and like a fuzzy dream, they all watched her as she and her companion began to leave back to their car. Peter and Sylar stared as the black car slowly exit the parking lot of that small motel, and they took comfort in imaging that she was watching them from her seat until she could not see them anymore.
++
Peter thought the hardest thing he ever had to do in his life is watch his mother go to her death. It was worse than that, worse than accepting that Nathan had betrayed him and settled for becoming a government puppet.
None of that was harder than telling Claire about her father.
It had been almost a week since Noah died, and Peter felt the time was right. He would also tell her about Angela, but unfortunately, he doubted she’d be as affected.
The ringer seemed to go on forever, and when Rene answered, Peter tensed up, knowing he’d have to tell the Haitian first about his partner’s demise.
“Peter, what news do you have? I have not heard from Noah in many days,” he said, his velvet voice not even a comfort like it usually was.
“I’m sorry. I know you guys are off the grid, but something happened in Costa Verde. Noah was right. That doctor came after his family, but he had help.” A long pause wedged between them, but Rene said nothing. Peter exhaled heavily. “Rene, Noah is dead. So is Sandra. A special did it, some kind of possession power. Sylar had to neutralize him before he went after Elle and the baby.”
“I see,” he said cryptically, and Peter knew that Claire was listening in.
“I need to tell Claire. Let it be me. It’s not your responsibility,” Peter said.
“Claire.” Peter felt the phone rustle between them, and when he could hear her breathing, he spoke.
“I’m sorry,” he said suddenly, knowing she had to suspect something. Quickly, she burst into sobs.
“What happened?” she asked through her tears. “Please, tell me everything.”
“The doctor of that facility they raided in Coyote Sands came after your family while Sylar and Elle were there. You mother sent Lyle to your aunt’s but she refused to go with them against your father’s wishes. When... the doctor attacked, he brought someone with him who had a strong ability.”
“What ability,” she sniffed.
“It’s body displacement. He...ah took over your father’s body, killed your mother, and then tried to kill Elle and the baby. Sylar appealed for your father’s release, but neither the doctor nor the other man relented. He killed him... quickly, so to save your father the pain.” Peter heard Claire take a long breath. “I don’t know the true nature of this power, but I’m guessing your father had no control. He was powerless, but he did go down with a fight.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” she lashed at him.
“Claire,” Peter started.
“No, no, forget it. Sylar killed my father. That’s all I need to know,” she sneered.
“He had no choice. Your father was possessed. He had already killed your mother. Sylar was protecting Elle and the baby,” Peter repeated.
“But my father is the sacrifice! How is it that Elle and her baby get to live instead, huh? Tell me that, Peter!” she stormed at him.
Peter raised his voice, knowing the effort was probably futile to convince her at this point. Claire was acting out her grief and anger. “What if it was me, Claire? What if I had to kill Noah to save someone else’s life before he could use your father’s body to hurt someone else?” The other end of the phone was barely silent, with only Claire’s breathing to let him know she was still listening. “It’s only because it was Sylar that it’s easier to blame him. I understand how you feel, but...”
“No you don’t! Sylar should have never been there in the first place! He was in my house, Peter. My house, with Elle, and my mother and now they’re dead, but Elle and Sylar and their spawn are alive? And that’s all that matters. My dad died so that Sylar and Elle, two known psychopaths, could live!”
“Claire...” He wanted to soothe her, to calm her down and tell it was alright that she was mad. It was okay she had these feelings, and if Peter even dared negate her lack of rational, he feared she’d never forgive him either.
She continued to cry, but Peter did not break the connection. He let her scream and release her feelings, and when she had somewhat settled down, she sounded exhausted.
“Peter, what am I supposed to do now? Huh? I can’t even go back and visit their funeral because of my wanted status.”
“Mourn them, Claire. Remember them and mourn them in any way that you can,” Peter said softly. “And mourn your grandmother too,” he added, with his own pain rising in his tone.
“Angela? She’s dead too?” Claire paused, and Peter knew that she wasn’t expecting that extra news. “What happened?”
“She made a deal with the government. Things are about to change,” he said ominously. “And not for the better either.”
“So what’s the point?” she asked, her anger returning. Mostly, Peter knew she was tired of the hiding, running, and persecution.
“We fight for her, for your dad too, so their deeds were not done in vain,” Peter said. “That’s what my mother would have wanted.”
“And what about Sylar?” she asked gruffly. “So what, he just gets a free pass? He gets to start over because he’s a victim too, even after all those people he killed?”
Peter didn’t want to take Sylar’s side here, but really, they were all criminals as far as the government was concerned. If his mother was right, they would still be seen that way even if anyone off the street could buy this formula and gain abilities just like theirs.
“We all get to start over, Claire,” he said, and he felt Sylar’s eyes on him. He met the man’s gaze, his brother, and he frowned.
“I’ll never forgive him, Peter. You tell him. This is a warning,” she said, and Peter had never heard such hate and viciousness in his Claire’s voice before. “The next time I see him, he’s dead. I don’t care if he’s changed. I don’t care if he’s got a son and now he’s the father of the year. I’ll kill him and watch him take his last breath.”
Peter sighed. He didn’t even want to address that threat, but he’d find some way to pass it along. “You stay safe, Claire. I will see you again.”
She scoffed into the phone. “Yeah, I’ll see you.” Another pause and her voice turned oddly tender. “I love you, Peter.”
Before he could reply, the line went dead. He lowered the phone to his side and looked at the floor, avoiding Sylar’s gaze. He’d never wanted to be with Claire more than he did right now.
“What did she say?” Sylar asked cautiously, and Peter shot him a glare.
“You already know.”
“She wants to kill me,” he said, and Peter knew he’d been listening in the whole time. Peter rolled his eyes and walked toward his sofa.
“Are you surprised?” Peter asked, and in the corner of his eye, Elle and the baby were settling down to bed.
“You didn’t tell her we were brothers,” Sylar said bluntly, as if that knowledge would have changed Claire’s reaction.
“I think she’s had enough shock for one night,” Peter said, and he fished into his backpack for flask full of whiskey. When he took a swig, he strangely thought of Nathan. Great, now he had two brothers, neither of them he got along with very well.
“So what do we do now? Angela’s gone, and the Haitian and Claire are on their own,” Sylar said impatiently. “What about us?”
“We hide until this government witch-hunt blows over,” Peter said. “Don’t worry; I’ll stay with you as long as I can.”
“And then what? When the formula is out then what do we do?” he asked, and his questions started to annoy Peter. He didn’t know why Sylar thought he had all the answers. He met his new brother’s eyes and glared.
“We get new identities, and then we go our separate ways. You want to raise your son, and I want to avenge my mother. I will do what she wants and go after Pinehearst,” Peter said, and without paying much attention, he’d taken several swigs from his flask. He was starting to feel a nice buzz already. Nothing more than he deserved for what he had to deal with tonight.
Sylar thought about Peter’s plan, and he lumbered back to his bed. He glanced at Peter several times while he began to retire for the night, but Peter ignored him the best he could. He was tired of the death, of babysitting Sylar, and desperately he wanted to run away from all of it and find Claire. It’d be better for both of them to leave the country now, forget about Pinehearst and Nathan, and Sylar too, and go start their lives anew. Together. Maybe they could make something of what was left of this family and mourn their dead loved ones in peace.
It was much easier for Peter to think he could just say ‘screw the world’ and run off with Claire, but he knew deep down that would never happen. His heart would never dare let him.
Chapters: Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Epilogue