(Untitled)

[visibleclaude]

Claude hadn't shaved in a week.

He should have known better. Should have realized that one night of good sex wasn't enough to change his whole world view. That there was no such thing as closure. That everyone screws you over in the end, no matter how many times they've done it before, how many amends you've made

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[saves_the_world]

Peter balanced the container of food in one hand and twisted the knob on the door leading out of the compound with the other. Though Gwen hadn't asked him for anything, Peter thought she might like some of the fresh fruit that had been sitting out on the kitchen counter.

One corner of his mouth hitched up as he imagined the fondness he'd see in her eyes as she'd insist he shouldn't have done that when he returned to their hut. Yanking the door open, Peter moved to cross through the frame and then abruptly stopped before he ran into Claude.

"Hey, Claude," Peter greeted, jerking fully upright after having stopped short. "How are--" Concern immediately etched his features. "What happened?"

[visibleclaude]

What happened. Good question.

"Bennet's gone," Claude said flatly.

[saves_the_world]

The door slammed heavily behind them.

Feeling as though he'd had the wind knocked out of him, Peter pulled Claude by the sleeve over to the side so as to not block the door from anyone.

"When?" Peter asked urgently, all the earlier mirth gone from his face.

[visibleclaude]

"A week ago," Claude told him, really not wanting to have this conversation. "I went looking for him. He's... definitely gone."

[saves_the_world]

Peter's mouth turned down as he exhaled slowly, his shoulders slumping slightly. The island was taking them all away, one by one.

"I would have gone with you. Why didn't you say anything sooner?"

[visibleclaude]

"Because it was..." Claude looked away for a second, and scratched at the beard that was coming in on his jaw. "Something I needed to do by myself. If he'd just gone off, it would have been my fault."

[saves_the_world]

Fair enough.

Staring hard at Claude's profile, Peter took in the tension set there. He knew Claude and Bennet were often at odds, but beneath it all Peter knew there had been a respect and history there.

"It's not your fault that he's gone now. You know that, right?"

[visibleclaude]

"I know," said Claude tersely, "but let's just say that the timing is suspect."

He wondered if maybe he should get out of the conversation, because he really felt like hitting something, and Peter wouldn't be his first choice of targets.

[saves_the_world]

"That seems to be how this place operates." His brother had disappeared when he'd had amnesia, after all. That almost hurt more than Claire disappearing right after he'd regained his memory.

[visibleclaude]

"Good thing I don't get so caught up in people like you do," Claude muttered.

"Hey, doesn't your wife run the bar? I could use a drink."

[saves_the_world]

"I don't get 'caught up' in people," Peter said, automatically defensive. He held up his free hand, then, preemptively dismissing any comments to the contrary Claude might have about that. "I don't want to hear it, okay? Let's go get you that drink."

[visibleclaude]

Claude shrugged. If Peter was going to procure him some alcohol, he wasn't going to piss him off. For now. "Lead the way, friend."

[saves_the_world]

Though he caught the shrug and what it implied, Peter pretended to ignore it. Claude just lost his friend. Peter could cut him a little bit of slack. For once.

"Come on." After touching the crook of Claude's arm briefly, signaling he was to follow, Peter led the way toward the Hub.

[visibleclaude]

Claude followed after him. He was actually starting to wish he'd taken a shower after all. His face itched now that he wasn't used to the beard, and his clothes were dirty from trudging through the jungle.

He couldn't stop thinking about Bennet. He'd told him his fucking name.

[saves_the_world]

It wasn't Gwen at the bar, though Peter knew it wouldn't be. She hadn't been tending bar much since she'd really started to show.

After ordering a round of drinks from the keep, Peter handed one to Claude. He didn't bother ushering Claude to a table; Peter could tell they'd just as well stay close to where the alcohol was.

Raising his own glass, Peter said, "To Bennet."

[visibleclaude]

Claude raised his glass almost imperceptively, then knocked back most of it.

"Sonofabitch that is foul."