Trial and Error: A Crack Fic
Nathan’s office was an uneasy silence as Claude sat in one of the chairs. It was quite eerie to be honest. The glass windows kept the inside quiet while all around it people were bustling passed, chattering loudly on cell phones or to each other, each with a duty that needed to be accomplished.
Claude shifted in his seat, the leather creaking as he did so. The pup’s brother wasn’t in the room with him, thank God, but that did little to ease the tiny nagging voice in his head.
What had he done to Peter now?
The door opened with the soft tapping of blinds as they hit the window pane, and Nathan smiled at his visitor.
“Claude, what a surprise.”
“You told me to come here.”
“Right.” Nathan nodded and waved his hand at his secretary, shooing her off.
The woman glanced at Claude curiously, a twinkle in her eye showing that she knew something, but before he could inquire she was closing the door. Now it was just him and Nathan.
Lovely.
“Would you like something to drink?” Nathan questioned with feigned politeness.
Claude declined with a shake of his head, watching the flying man carefully.
“I’m sure you’re wondering why I asked you to come in.”
Claude nodded, deciding that saying little to nothing was probably the best option he could choose at the moment. He never liked Nathan, politicians tended to give him a bad bull-shit rash.
“It’s about Peter.” Nathan continued, sitting behind his desk and adjusting himself accordingly. “I just want to know what your plans are for the future, for yourself and my brother.”
The British man snorted, slumping down in his seat slightly “I’m not gonna marry him, if that’s what your on about.”
Nathan stiffened slightly, clasping his hands in front of him, “But you are going to be staying with him, right?”
Sighing the ex-company agent fixed the politician with a look, “Why the sudden interest?”
“Because I want to know that you don’t have a hidden agenda.”
The English man was somewhat surprised at the man’s straightforwardness. He expected to be beating around the bush for much longer than had actually transpired. Maybe Nathan wasn’t a bad guy after all.
“Considering though you aren’t planning on marrying, that puts my mind at ease. It also makes this easier to say.” the older Petrelli brother leaned back in his chair, smoothing down his tie as he did so, “I want you to stop seeing my brother.”
Bloody Yank!
“Well isn’t that surprising!” Claude sneered, “And why’s that?”
“Because Peter is a very specia-“
“He’s a fuckin’ idiot!”
Nathan cleared his throat and looked at the gruff man seriously. “That may be but, I still think it’d be in Peter’s best interests if he found someone who was a bit…” he trailed off as he cast a judgmental eye on the English man’s clothing, “more caring.”
“Did your mother putcha up to this?”
“That’s none of your conce-.”
“She did, didn’t she.”
“Claude, I’m doing this for my brothe-“
“Oh what a crock of shi-“
“Yes, she did.” Nathan finally answered in a rush of breath.
“I knew it!” Claude cried triumphantly, “You Petrelli’s, always runnin’ around doin’ what mummy tells ya’ to!”
Nathan kept a steely eye on the English man, not at all appreciating the observation. He did things without his mother’s say so. He was a man after all, not some child. This was just a favor for his mom…yeah.
“That aside,” Nathan ground out, “she still doesn’t want you with Peter.”
“Ah, and what about you?”
“Honestly Claude, I couldn’t give a rat’s ass.” Nathan admitted his voice weary. “Peter’s a grown man he can make his own decisions…some of the time. I’m more surprised that you’ve lasted this long. What’s it gonna be, a year at the end of next month?”
The English man gulped inaudibly. A year? He never spent a year in any one place, he was always moving about making sure that he didn’t get tied down in the ridiculous rituals that people called their lives.
Nathan noticed a bit of sweat on the rugged man’s brow and mentally patted himself on the back. He knew Claude would be a commitment phobe. Peter would be single soon enough and his nagging mother would finally be off his back. The future seemed bright.
“Sounds ‘bought right.” Claude grunted after a while.
Damn, Petrelli had got him good. But poodle did make the best cookies around and his sandwiches…
The British man quietly fantasized about the many sandwiches that the younger Petrelli had made him.
Roast beef.
Ham.
Corned beef.
Tuna.
And that amazing BLT.
A sob almost escaped him. He could never let go of those delicious sandwiches. He would die before he let anyone else get their hands on one. Those sandwiches, those sumptuous pieces of heaven, were one of the only things keeping him with the dreamy idiot. That and he was a good lay.
While Claude was busy fantasizing about his snacks, Nathan was currently in deal mode, babbling smoothly about how it would benefit the Briton a great deal if he would throw the relationship to the gutter.
Claude felt anger begin to pulsate throughout his being. How could this ass think he had a right to step into their lives and drive them apart?
He would never leave his sandwiches.
“You’re off your nut Petrelli.” Claude ground out, standing from his chair, “You’re brother’s going to hit the roof when he hears about this.”
“Claude, think about what you’re doing.” Nathan said calmly, “You said it yourself, Peter is an idiot. You’re not. How do you expect to continue your life with him?”
He would never admit it out loud but the politician was starting to make sense. The boy was a few fries short of a happy meal. And that chanting, his damn chanting. Day in and day out it was nonstop, even when they were in the middle of a good fuck.
“Whu?” the invisible man raced back from his thoughts after having heard Nathan say something, “What was that?”
“I’m willing to pay you $10,000 dollars to leave my brother alone.”
Claude’s mouth dropped open. The audacity, the nerve, the sheer sick determination this man had!
“No deal, I love your brother.” the English man spat.
Nathan saw the bearded one in a new light. Maybe their relationship wasn’t just a sham. Maybe this man had defied all odds and fallen in love with a complete moron.
“It would take at least $50,000 for me to even consider it.”
Or maybe not.
“And a new coat!” the gruff man continued, ticking each request off on his fingers. “An apartment, you know what, make it two coats and I want some wings from that place on 131st St.”
Nathan’s eyes were wide as he scribbled down the slightly older man’s demands, “Geez you want a lot.” Nathan paused for a second, “Extra crispy or regular?”
“Extra crispy, and make’em hot.”
‘Good man.’ Nathan thought. Maybe he would get some for himself while he was down there.
“Should I add a pony to that?” Nathan muttered.
“Don’t get fresh with me Petrelli, I’m doin’ you a favor.”
‘A very expensive favor.’ the older brother thought forlornly.
“$50,000 is a lot to just leave my brother, and you want an apartment on top of that?”
“Fine, $25,000 and an apartment.”
“And the coats?” Nathan inquired, looking up at the bearded man.
“Non-negotiable.”
Dammit.
“Deal.” the politician finally sighed, running a tired hand through his hair.
“You drive a hard bargain.” Claude sat back down, resting his fore arms on his knees, “I dunno how I’m gonna’ tell your brother.”
“That’s another thing.” Nathan clasped his hands in front of him again.
He whispered softly to the other man, telling him his plans and how it would play out. He didn’t want any of the nosy bodies in his office hearing him.
For once though, Nathan didn’t have anything to fear. His secretary and her co-workers were all too busy with various tasks to take time to listen in on him, even though they would have loved to. The fact that the two had been cooped up in there for so long had peaked everyone’s curiosity, but they would have to deal with not knowing…for now.
“You’re a mean bastard.” Claude growled, shoving a piece of gum into his mouth, wishing it was a Cigar instead.
Nathan shrugged half-heartedly, knowing this to be true. “If you were raised the way I was, you would understand.”
Claude gave a snort in response and stood from his seat, “You done?”
Nathan nodded and turned his attention onto a few sheets of paper on his desk.
“Nice talking to you Claude.”
The British man didn’t respond, he just walked quickly to the door and out of his office. He was grateful that their meeting had ended. He had quite a bit to mull over.
Did he really want to leave the pup?
He’d be well off if he did…but it would tear Peter to shreds. In reality, why should he care? People would turn on you sooner or later, and he had already spent a while with the empath. It was time to move on.
So then why did he feel so…off?
Fuck.
Chapter 6