fic: Elle's 6 Different Valentine's Days
Title: Elle's 6 Different Valentine's Days
Characters: Elle, Gabriel, Adam, Noah Bennet, Little Noah
Rating: PG-13
Summary: 6 different drabbles chronicling Elle's life around the idea of love and Valentine's Day
A/N: So after writing this and reading it over, I realized it can fit prompt #12 "Tell me you love me" on the Sylar/Elle prompt table, so hey, score for me! And I had a completely different ending originally for this but I decided against it. I'm also debating writing a somewhat companion fic, like Gabriel's version of this.
Age 4
Elle knows that Valentine's Day is coming up even if she's not sure what it's for. At pre-school, her teacher made her and her classmates decorate paper hearts and bring them home to their parents. Elle worked especially hard on hers, doing her best to color in the lines and adding glitter. With the help of her teacher, in her very best 4 year old printing, she writes "I love you Mommy and Daddy. Love, Elle".
She brings it home to her parents and the big smile on her mother's face fills Elle with joy.
"Oh Elle, this is beautiful! I'm going to hang it right here on our refrigerator." Elle beams as she watches her mom carefully place it on the refrigerator with magnets. "I'm sure your dad will like it too."
"Good," Elle nods. "Mommy?"
"Yes, dear?"
"What is Valentine's Day?"
"Well, it's a day in February for people to tell each other how much they love each other and some people give presents."
"Why not everyday?" Elle asks, wide-eyed. "I tell you I love you everyday."
"You're right, Elle. It should be everyday." Her mom pulls her into a tight hug.
That paper heart remained on the refrigerator until Elle was six and burnt the house down.
Age 12
Elle's been living at Primatech for about 4 years now. She doesn't remember what the outside world looks like anymore because she isn't allowed beyond the front doors of Primatech. She doesn't get to go to school because Daddy arranges for private tutors to come in every weekday. Days pass by without anything to differentiate them. It's only when she notices agents and workers in the company start wearing a little bit more red and seeing a few more flowers and candy pop up that she realizes something's coming up. Especially when even the coldest and meanest agents seem to thaw a little bit.
One day, Elle's in her father's office when Bennet stops by. His daughter is with him, a small precocious four year old that Elle thinks could have been her a long time ago. The little girl is decked out in a sweater with pink and red hearts all over it and she extends a small card to Elle and a heart shaped lollipop.
Elle unfolds it to see some random Disney character and a little speech bubble saying "Happy Valentine's Day!" She smiles weakly and leaves the office. Marching down the halls, she crumbles the valentine and tosses it aside.
Valentine's Day. The day that's supposed to be about love. Daddy never talked about it after she had burnt the house down with Mommy trapped inside. He also never said he loved her anymore either.
Age 18
Sex doesn't equal love. Elle knows that. Known it ever since she fooled around with one of the agents when she was 16. But even if it wasn't love, she still felt something. And something was better than nothing.
Her stiletto heels click along the cement floor as she walks down the hallway of Level 5. Whistles and cat calls come from various inmates as she passes them and she merely smiles. She's used to the attention now. Elle finally stops in front of one window and sees the prisoner sitting on his bed, leaning against the wall. He only looks over when Elle taps her newly painted bright red fingernails on the window. A little sneer escapes his lips when he sees her.
Elle punches in a keycode on the numberpad and steps into the room. "I've decided that I'm giving myself a Valentine's Day present this year. And you're it."
He merely watches her, not moving from his position on the rock hard bed. "Is that so?"
"Mhmm," Elle answers as she walks up to him and climbs onto the bed, easing herself between his legs. "I know you want me. I've seen the looks you give me." Her hands ease their way up his torso. "And today just happens to be your lucky day because I choose you." She leans forward and kisses him hard, electricity escaping from her lips.
He pushes her away when his lips are tingling with electricity. "What are you doing?"
"Silly Adam. You, of course."
When Elle leaves Adam's cell a little bit later, a small smile plays at her lips as she smooths down the wrinkles on her skirt. But that smile is wiped off her face when she gets back to her room and sees Daddy waiting for her, a stern look on his face.
Age 23
Elle gets assigned to work with Noah Bennet. While their subject seemed to be a complete dud on paper, Elle still relishes the chance to leave Primatech and go out into the real world.
"This Gabriel Gray guy, I'm not supposed to use my powers on him?"
"No. Just get on his good side first. That means act the complete opposite of yourself" Bennet orders.
Elle shrugs and steps out of the van. She pulls her cardigan over her white tank top and before entering the store, she affixes a more innocent look on her face. Can't friend a guy if she looks like she'd hurt him and then laugh about it. A jingle from a bell signals her entrance and she calls out "Hello". A weird noise comes from the backroom so she rushes over.
A man is dangling from a rope and before she can think about it, electricity rushes out of her and hits the rope, burning through it and the man falls down to the ground. She feels an odd sense of compassion for this nerdy watchmaker and in the ensuing conversation between them, her kind words are genuine.
She can't stop thinking about him after she leaves the shop. Can't stop thinking about the way he said her name. Nobody else had ever said it the way he did. Daddy usually said it in a no-nonsense tone and Glasses usually said it with an annoyed tone.
So she is almost happy to go to Gabriel's apartment a few days later, holding up a peach pie bought from a nearby bakery. That afternoon, she almost forgets she was on a mission and being watched by Bennet in the company van. She's certain that Gabriel feels something for her. And maybe underneath it all, something inside her felt something for him. For the first time in a long time, she suddenly thinks of Valentine's Day even though it's months away and how Gabriel might celebrate it. And how maybe she'd be his Valentine.
Then reality sets in when Bennet reminds her that they need to get the whale to sing. Gabriel falls into the trap easily once Trevor steps into the apartment. His features turn dark and cold as he pins Trevor to the wall. Elle runs out to the van and Bennet thinks she's crying at the sight of blood and brains. No, she's crying for the Valentine's Day that will never happen.
Age 24
One year later after meeting and essentially destroying Gabriel, she gets another chance with him. Only her anger at herself overpowers her and she wants nothing more than to kill him. Kill him to exact revenge over her father's murder and more importantly, so she can stop feeling so guilty over that mission one year ago. But she knows that he has the cheerleader's power now, so she can't kill him. So she resolves to make him feel the pain that she's felt.
Make him feel enough pain to kill her, take her power, end her misery. But he doesn't kill her. His skin crackles and burns as she fries him from the inside out but he still takes it all...and even forgives her. Makes her realize that she needs to forgive herself. And she does.
Now they're here, on the floor of the Canfield house. Slightly breathless but still feeling the euphoria and reveling in the afterglow.
"Do you think its permanent?"
"What? Our powers going away or us?"
"Both I guess"
"I dont know anymore"
"What if it is...permanent?"
"Then you get exactly what you want"
"And what is it I want?"
"Chance to reinvent ourselves.. Free of powers or parents."
Elle smiles as she lays her head back down on Gabriel's bare chest and her arms at his sides. Maybe she can once again dream of a Valentine's Day with Gabriel.
"Gabriel?"
"Hmm?"
"Tell me you love me."
Age 29
"Mommy, look what I made you!" A little boy comes rushing inside brandishing a construction paper heart and his father following him.
"Oh, Noah,you made this for me?" Elle wipes her hands on a dish towel before she takes the heart from Noah's hands. "It looks wonderful!"
"So you like it?"
"Like it? I love it!" Elle responds with a big smile. She looks up over to Gabriel. "Did you get one?"
"Nope, apparently I'm not as special as you," he feigns sadness
"Daddy! You said you only wanted candy."
"True enough."
Elle shakes her head laughing. "Well, Noah, I'm going to hang this up on the refrigerator so I can see it everyday." She arranges it in the center of the refrigerator door and stands back to admire it. "There. Perfect." She turns and walks to Noah, bending down to give him a big hug. "I love it, little man. Thank you."
Noah runs off to somewhere else inside the house and Elle can't stop staring at the valentine. It's a reminder of the one she made her mother so many years ago and tears come to her eyes. She feels Gabriel's arms wrap around her waist from behind and his chin resting on her head.
"Don't think about then, just live in the now," he murmurs.
The now. That thought reverberates through Elle's mind as she closes her eyes and leans back into Gabriel's warm chest. After previous years of disappointments, something good has finally happened. She just wants another confirmation that this is real.
"Gabriel...tell me you love me."
Characters: Elle, Gabriel, Adam, Noah Bennet, Little Noah
Rating: PG-13
Summary: 6 different drabbles chronicling Elle's life around the idea of love and Valentine's Day
A/N: So after writing this and reading it over, I realized it can fit prompt #12 "Tell me you love me" on the Sylar/Elle prompt table, so hey, score for me! And I had a completely different ending originally for this but I decided against it. I'm also debating writing a somewhat companion fic, like Gabriel's version of this.
Age 4
Elle knows that Valentine's Day is coming up even if she's not sure what it's for. At pre-school, her teacher made her and her classmates decorate paper hearts and bring them home to their parents. Elle worked especially hard on hers, doing her best to color in the lines and adding glitter. With the help of her teacher, in her very best 4 year old printing, she writes "I love you Mommy and Daddy. Love, Elle".
She brings it home to her parents and the big smile on her mother's face fills Elle with joy.
"Oh Elle, this is beautiful! I'm going to hang it right here on our refrigerator." Elle beams as she watches her mom carefully place it on the refrigerator with magnets. "I'm sure your dad will like it too."
"Good," Elle nods. "Mommy?"
"Yes, dear?"
"What is Valentine's Day?"
"Well, it's a day in February for people to tell each other how much they love each other and some people give presents."
"Why not everyday?" Elle asks, wide-eyed. "I tell you I love you everyday."
"You're right, Elle. It should be everyday." Her mom pulls her into a tight hug.
That paper heart remained on the refrigerator until Elle was six and burnt the house down.
Age 12
Elle's been living at Primatech for about 4 years now. She doesn't remember what the outside world looks like anymore because she isn't allowed beyond the front doors of Primatech. She doesn't get to go to school because Daddy arranges for private tutors to come in every weekday. Days pass by without anything to differentiate them. It's only when she notices agents and workers in the company start wearing a little bit more red and seeing a few more flowers and candy pop up that she realizes something's coming up. Especially when even the coldest and meanest agents seem to thaw a little bit.
One day, Elle's in her father's office when Bennet stops by. His daughter is with him, a small precocious four year old that Elle thinks could have been her a long time ago. The little girl is decked out in a sweater with pink and red hearts all over it and she extends a small card to Elle and a heart shaped lollipop.
Elle unfolds it to see some random Disney character and a little speech bubble saying "Happy Valentine's Day!" She smiles weakly and leaves the office. Marching down the halls, she crumbles the valentine and tosses it aside.
Valentine's Day. The day that's supposed to be about love. Daddy never talked about it after she had burnt the house down with Mommy trapped inside. He also never said he loved her anymore either.
Age 18
Sex doesn't equal love. Elle knows that. Known it ever since she fooled around with one of the agents when she was 16. But even if it wasn't love, she still felt something. And something was better than nothing.
Her stiletto heels click along the cement floor as she walks down the hallway of Level 5. Whistles and cat calls come from various inmates as she passes them and she merely smiles. She's used to the attention now. Elle finally stops in front of one window and sees the prisoner sitting on his bed, leaning against the wall. He only looks over when Elle taps her newly painted bright red fingernails on the window. A little sneer escapes his lips when he sees her.
Elle punches in a keycode on the numberpad and steps into the room. "I've decided that I'm giving myself a Valentine's Day present this year. And you're it."
He merely watches her, not moving from his position on the rock hard bed. "Is that so?"
"Mhmm," Elle answers as she walks up to him and climbs onto the bed, easing herself between his legs. "I know you want me. I've seen the looks you give me." Her hands ease their way up his torso. "And today just happens to be your lucky day because I choose you." She leans forward and kisses him hard, electricity escaping from her lips.
He pushes her away when his lips are tingling with electricity. "What are you doing?"
"Silly Adam. You, of course."
When Elle leaves Adam's cell a little bit later, a small smile plays at her lips as she smooths down the wrinkles on her skirt. But that smile is wiped off her face when she gets back to her room and sees Daddy waiting for her, a stern look on his face.
Age 23
Elle gets assigned to work with Noah Bennet. While their subject seemed to be a complete dud on paper, Elle still relishes the chance to leave Primatech and go out into the real world.
"This Gabriel Gray guy, I'm not supposed to use my powers on him?"
"No. Just get on his good side first. That means act the complete opposite of yourself" Bennet orders.
Elle shrugs and steps out of the van. She pulls her cardigan over her white tank top and before entering the store, she affixes a more innocent look on her face. Can't friend a guy if she looks like she'd hurt him and then laugh about it. A jingle from a bell signals her entrance and she calls out "Hello". A weird noise comes from the backroom so she rushes over.
A man is dangling from a rope and before she can think about it, electricity rushes out of her and hits the rope, burning through it and the man falls down to the ground. She feels an odd sense of compassion for this nerdy watchmaker and in the ensuing conversation between them, her kind words are genuine.
She can't stop thinking about him after she leaves the shop. Can't stop thinking about the way he said her name. Nobody else had ever said it the way he did. Daddy usually said it in a no-nonsense tone and Glasses usually said it with an annoyed tone.
So she is almost happy to go to Gabriel's apartment a few days later, holding up a peach pie bought from a nearby bakery. That afternoon, she almost forgets she was on a mission and being watched by Bennet in the company van. She's certain that Gabriel feels something for her. And maybe underneath it all, something inside her felt something for him. For the first time in a long time, she suddenly thinks of Valentine's Day even though it's months away and how Gabriel might celebrate it. And how maybe she'd be his Valentine.
Then reality sets in when Bennet reminds her that they need to get the whale to sing. Gabriel falls into the trap easily once Trevor steps into the apartment. His features turn dark and cold as he pins Trevor to the wall. Elle runs out to the van and Bennet thinks she's crying at the sight of blood and brains. No, she's crying for the Valentine's Day that will never happen.
Age 24
One year later after meeting and essentially destroying Gabriel, she gets another chance with him. Only her anger at herself overpowers her and she wants nothing more than to kill him. Kill him to exact revenge over her father's murder and more importantly, so she can stop feeling so guilty over that mission one year ago. But she knows that he has the cheerleader's power now, so she can't kill him. So she resolves to make him feel the pain that she's felt.
Make him feel enough pain to kill her, take her power, end her misery. But he doesn't kill her. His skin crackles and burns as she fries him from the inside out but he still takes it all...and even forgives her. Makes her realize that she needs to forgive herself. And she does.
Now they're here, on the floor of the Canfield house. Slightly breathless but still feeling the euphoria and reveling in the afterglow.
"Do you think its permanent?"
"What? Our powers going away or us?"
"Both I guess"
"I dont know anymore"
"What if it is...permanent?"
"Then you get exactly what you want"
"And what is it I want?"
"Chance to reinvent ourselves.. Free of powers or parents."
Elle smiles as she lays her head back down on Gabriel's bare chest and her arms at his sides. Maybe she can once again dream of a Valentine's Day with Gabriel.
"Gabriel?"
"Hmm?"
"Tell me you love me."
Age 29
"Mommy, look what I made you!" A little boy comes rushing inside brandishing a construction paper heart and his father following him.
"Oh, Noah,you made this for me?" Elle wipes her hands on a dish towel before she takes the heart from Noah's hands. "It looks wonderful!"
"So you like it?"
"Like it? I love it!" Elle responds with a big smile. She looks up over to Gabriel. "Did you get one?"
"Nope, apparently I'm not as special as you," he feigns sadness
"Daddy! You said you only wanted candy."
"True enough."
Elle shakes her head laughing. "Well, Noah, I'm going to hang this up on the refrigerator so I can see it everyday." She arranges it in the center of the refrigerator door and stands back to admire it. "There. Perfect." She turns and walks to Noah, bending down to give him a big hug. "I love it, little man. Thank you."
Noah runs off to somewhere else inside the house and Elle can't stop staring at the valentine. It's a reminder of the one she made her mother so many years ago and tears come to her eyes. She feels Gabriel's arms wrap around her waist from behind and his chin resting on her head.
"Don't think about then, just live in the now," he murmurs.
The now. That thought reverberates through Elle's mind as she closes her eyes and leans back into Gabriel's warm chest. After previous years of disappointments, something good has finally happened. She just wants another confirmation that this is real.
"Gabriel...tell me you love me."