Fic Exchange -- Written for veetvoojagig
Title: Time For Heroes
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Nathan/Hiro
Spoilers/Warnings (if any): General first season, no real spoilers
Prompts: Hero worship, unrequited love, campaign buttons
Summary: Hiro gives Nathan a hand on one of his more chaotic days; after all, he can always find time to help other heroes.
In the shade of a building adorned with his name, Nathan Petrelli was rushed off his feet. Luckily not literally, because flying off in the middle of an important election campaign would probably do little for his popularity. He'd never particularly wanted to go for the 'Superman' angle on the election.
His day had slowly become worse throughout the day; from burnt toast to a flat iyre to an assistant not turning up, nothing had seemed to go right.
He should have known something worse would happen.
"FLYING MAN!"
Nathan cringed the moment he heard the yell from behind him. It was a familiar voice, by now. Of course, it sounded just a little more like 'frying man', giving him hope that perhaps that would be what the people around him would hear. Completely baffling, but at least it wouldn't give a certain something away.
Not that anyone would believe him if it did.
"Mr. Petrelli!" came that same voice again, worryingly nearer. Nathan didn't mind the little guy; he was friendly, after all. This, however, really wasn't the time.
He raised his eyebrows and smiled at a colleague and friend before spinning in his spot to face his attacker. "Hello there. Something I can help you with?"
"Mr. Petrelli. You remember me? I am Hiro Nakamura." He was close now, all smiles and dimply cheeks, eyes flickering between the banners over the building and Nathan's own semi-plastic smile. "We met uh, in the diner."
"Yeah. I remember," he said. His smile got a little less forced. At least he wasn't shouting about flying anymore. "Look, it's great seeing you again but I've got a lot of work to do so, I'd better..."
"Yes!" exclaimed Hiro, pointing an outstretched arm at the banners. "The election! I would vote for you."
"Then it's unfortunate you can't," he replied, turning his head just a bit to smile and wave at his waiting staff. "I'm sorry I can't stop to chat. Maybe another time."
"You are busy in your noble quest," said Hiro with a kind of half-bow that had Nathan raising his eyebrows. "I shall see you soon, Mr. Petrelli."
And though Nathan had already turned away, he was sure he saw the man disappear out of the corner of his eye.
-----
Chaos had to be the only word to describe the organization of the day. People seemed to be running around like headless chickens; in fact, Nathan had never known that phrase to be so appropriate. They flapped around, trying to pull everything together, but they were short-staffed and behind schedule.
Something that wouldn't look too good to those potential voters.
It didn't seem ready to get any less chaotic when that familiar smiling face bobbed up out of nowhere waving a bunch of flyers in the air. He dropped a few as Nathan turned to him.
"Mr. Nakamura," he said, looking up to the skies but giving him an open smile. "I'm afraid I have a lot to do right now, I can't stop to talk."
"I can help!" exclaimed Hiro. "I was talking to your friend," he said, waving his arm vaguely backwards and dropping yet more flyers that scattered like petals across the floor, "she said I can help you."
"Great," said Nathan, "that's... actually, an extra pair of hands would be a godsend."
"You would like me to hand out these?" he asked, lifting the pile of flyers and miraculously not dropping a single one this time.
"Yeah," he replied. "If you just start over there..."
"Wait!" interrupted Hiro. He was grinning. He leaned in closer, beckoning Nathan down. The politician glanced around and then lowered his head to hear his quiet words. "I have very useful trick. Watch this, flying man."
Nathan straightened up, shaking his head, but by the time he had, the flyers blinked out of view. He did a double-take so comic that Hiro's chuckle rang out a little too loudly. His eyes flicked around questioningly, down at the pile on the floor - too small to be the one he was previously holding - and down to his pockets, which bulged but not quite enough to hold a wad of processed paper. His face was a mask of astonishment, though he hid it quickly enough. "What did you do with them?"
Hiro straightened his back and looked him in the eye. "I can bend time and space." He looked to the side, to the crowds milling past the windows of his office, and saw a strange sight; dozens and dozens of people stopping in their tracks, holding his flyer. One man summed up their confusion; he stood, arm outstretched with the leaflet in his hand, frowning like he had never seen it before. He pocketed it after a moment and walked on.
"You... you mean you..." he started, but he couldn't quite get the words out. He shook his head and cleared his throat. "It's...probably not a good idea to pull stunts like that here. I'm walking a thin line in this business."
"I promise no one saw me," he said, but his grin was fading just a little bit. He was quickly edging towards crestfallen. "I will not do it again. I thought it would help. You are busy today. I save time."
"Or bend it," commented the confused politician. He hesitated for a moment, then patted the guy on the shoulder. "Good job. Maybe not the best way to do things, but it's certainly getting the message out. Thanks."
"No problem, Mr. Petrelli!" he said. "I shall go now, leave you to your hard work."
He bowed again, a little deeper this time, and there was a glint in his eye. He turned to leave with a smile on his face.
Just before he reached the door, Nathan stepped forwards. "Wait. Mr. Nakamura."
Hiro looked back over his shoulder. "I don't suppose you've got a little while longer to spare? I really could use a spare hand."
The man didn't hesitate on bouncing back.
---
By the time the sun sank behind the buildings, Hiro looked as worn out as Nathan felt. He hadn't, however, lost that sparkling little smile that he got whenever they crossed paths in their busy day. It was infectious. Nathan had taken to smiling back.
It was over now, though, and the office was shutting up for the night. Hiro was getting his jacket from the chair on which he'd dumped it and was wiping his wrist over his forehead, a picture of exhaustion. He seemed to consider the door for a moment, through which the last of Nathan's staff were departing, then sank into the hard chair at his side with a sigh.
Nathan was across the room, on the phone to his wife. She was saying goodbye; he hung up and walked across to Hiro, pressing a hand to his shoulder as he stepped up behind him.
Hiro twisted his head around and pushed his glasses up. "It has been a very long day. I shall leave now."
"No rush," said Nathan. "The office is empty."
He sat down on a chair opposite him, slouching back in it with a sigh. It fell silent and the seconds ticked by audibly on the stale old clock on the wall. Nathan regarded it absently, watching the little red hand jerk slowly around the numbers until a thought occurred to him, too important not to vocalise.
"Have you eaten?"
Hiro jumped a little; the voice seemed loud and abrupt in the moment of quietness. He cleared his throat and nodded. "Yes."
Nathan raised an eyebrow yet again. "When did you find time for that?"
"Oh," replied Hiro with a knowing look, "I can always find time, Mr. Petrelli. I also had a short nap earlier in the day."
Nathan widened his eyes. "Sounds like your day was even longer than mine."
"It was not so bad."
"You're a real hero, Hiro," he said, and gave him the truest smile yet. "You really saved the day today. Thank you."
Hiro pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with a finger and smiled until his eyes were nearly closed. "No, thank you Mr. Petrelli."
"Call me Nathan."
He glowed at that, and his smile got impossibly wider. "Thank you."
"There's just one thing I want to know," said Nathan, tilting his head to the side and fixing the other man with a curious gaze. Hiro seemed to have shifted subtly closer in anticipation of the question. "Aren't you busy doing heroic things? I mean... you seemed pretty set on that bomb thing before. Is it really sensible to come help me out?"
Hiro seemed to consider this, then shrugged awkwardly. "I like you. I know you are a great man."
"No, I'm not," said Nathan, glancing down at his balled-up hands. "But, you know, thank you."
"Yes, you are," he replied, and there was such fire to it that it seemed to burn away the cheerful, innocent man he had seemed to be before. The fire smouldered in his eyes. "You are a great man. I can see it in you. You are hero too."
"I'm a politician."
"That does not mean you cannot be a superhero."
Nathan laughed but there was no humour to it. "Many people would disagree with you there, Hiro."
"Many people are idiots," Hiro replied. He picked up a campaign button from the desk in front of him and turned it in his hands, considering it quietly. Looking down at his jacket and seeing now button there, Hiro started to fasten the one he held to his collar. Fingers fumbled and slipped and lost hold of the little object. Nathan caught it instinctively and gripped it in his own hand.
He raised his eyes; Hiro met them with an embarrassed smile. Nathan just lifted the pin and offered it. "You want some help there, buddy?" he asked, but he didn't wait for an answer. Nathan moved in closer, slid the sharp metal under thin fabric that smelt of apples, an clipped it into place. "There you go."
Hiro was looking at him strangely. A horrible heavy feeling began to settle deep in his stomach at that glint in his eye; the glint, come to think of it, that had been there most of the day.
"Hiro, I..."
But he couldn't finish the sentence. Hiro's thin, warm lips were already on his cheek, too close to his own tight lips. He closed his eyes as the touch lingered; turned his head in that one awful moment of temptation that left the kiss more intimate than even Hiro had intended.
For a moment that seemed to drag longer than possible, the kiss was gentle and awkward. Nathan didn't open his eyes or move his hands from where they lay tightly clenched in his lap. It was sweet and soft and... incredibly wrong.
He pulled away. Hiro had his hand half-raised but he dropped it quickly and stood up, scraping the chair back noisily. Nathan stayed where he was, covering his mouth with his hands and looking down at the formal faded carpet beneath them.
"Mr. Petrelli... Nathan," Hiro said, his voice tense. "I am so sorry. I did not mean for..."
"It's fine," he cut in, looking up from under a lowered brow. "Or, no, it isn't, because I'm married and not..."
"Me either," Hiro replied hurriedly. "I respect you, sir. I did not want to cross a line. I really must leave now."
Looking red-faced and flustered, the man made for the door, but Nathan stood before he could leave. "Are you going to be okay? It's getting pretty late. I could call you a cab."
"I am fine," he said, his shoulders hunched in an apologetic bow. "I am fine, but I am also very sorry."
"Don't worry much about it," said Nathan, and he meant it. "And if you ever have some free time to spare, feel free to come back and help out again."
By the time Hiro stepped through the door and out onto the cold street, he was smiling again.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Nathan/Hiro
Spoilers/Warnings (if any): General first season, no real spoilers
Prompts: Hero worship, unrequited love, campaign buttons
Summary: Hiro gives Nathan a hand on one of his more chaotic days; after all, he can always find time to help other heroes.
In the shade of a building adorned with his name, Nathan Petrelli was rushed off his feet. Luckily not literally, because flying off in the middle of an important election campaign would probably do little for his popularity. He'd never particularly wanted to go for the 'Superman' angle on the election.
His day had slowly become worse throughout the day; from burnt toast to a flat iyre to an assistant not turning up, nothing had seemed to go right.
He should have known something worse would happen.
"FLYING MAN!"
Nathan cringed the moment he heard the yell from behind him. It was a familiar voice, by now. Of course, it sounded just a little more like 'frying man', giving him hope that perhaps that would be what the people around him would hear. Completely baffling, but at least it wouldn't give a certain something away.
Not that anyone would believe him if it did.
"Mr. Petrelli!" came that same voice again, worryingly nearer. Nathan didn't mind the little guy; he was friendly, after all. This, however, really wasn't the time.
He raised his eyebrows and smiled at a colleague and friend before spinning in his spot to face his attacker. "Hello there. Something I can help you with?"
"Mr. Petrelli. You remember me? I am Hiro Nakamura." He was close now, all smiles and dimply cheeks, eyes flickering between the banners over the building and Nathan's own semi-plastic smile. "We met uh, in the diner."
"Yeah. I remember," he said. His smile got a little less forced. At least he wasn't shouting about flying anymore. "Look, it's great seeing you again but I've got a lot of work to do so, I'd better..."
"Yes!" exclaimed Hiro, pointing an outstretched arm at the banners. "The election! I would vote for you."
"Then it's unfortunate you can't," he replied, turning his head just a bit to smile and wave at his waiting staff. "I'm sorry I can't stop to chat. Maybe another time."
"You are busy in your noble quest," said Hiro with a kind of half-bow that had Nathan raising his eyebrows. "I shall see you soon, Mr. Petrelli."
And though Nathan had already turned away, he was sure he saw the man disappear out of the corner of his eye.
-----
Chaos had to be the only word to describe the organization of the day. People seemed to be running around like headless chickens; in fact, Nathan had never known that phrase to be so appropriate. They flapped around, trying to pull everything together, but they were short-staffed and behind schedule.
Something that wouldn't look too good to those potential voters.
It didn't seem ready to get any less chaotic when that familiar smiling face bobbed up out of nowhere waving a bunch of flyers in the air. He dropped a few as Nathan turned to him.
"Mr. Nakamura," he said, looking up to the skies but giving him an open smile. "I'm afraid I have a lot to do right now, I can't stop to talk."
"I can help!" exclaimed Hiro. "I was talking to your friend," he said, waving his arm vaguely backwards and dropping yet more flyers that scattered like petals across the floor, "she said I can help you."
"Great," said Nathan, "that's... actually, an extra pair of hands would be a godsend."
"You would like me to hand out these?" he asked, lifting the pile of flyers and miraculously not dropping a single one this time.
"Yeah," he replied. "If you just start over there..."
"Wait!" interrupted Hiro. He was grinning. He leaned in closer, beckoning Nathan down. The politician glanced around and then lowered his head to hear his quiet words. "I have very useful trick. Watch this, flying man."
Nathan straightened up, shaking his head, but by the time he had, the flyers blinked out of view. He did a double-take so comic that Hiro's chuckle rang out a little too loudly. His eyes flicked around questioningly, down at the pile on the floor - too small to be the one he was previously holding - and down to his pockets, which bulged but not quite enough to hold a wad of processed paper. His face was a mask of astonishment, though he hid it quickly enough. "What did you do with them?"
Hiro straightened his back and looked him in the eye. "I can bend time and space." He looked to the side, to the crowds milling past the windows of his office, and saw a strange sight; dozens and dozens of people stopping in their tracks, holding his flyer. One man summed up their confusion; he stood, arm outstretched with the leaflet in his hand, frowning like he had never seen it before. He pocketed it after a moment and walked on.
"You... you mean you..." he started, but he couldn't quite get the words out. He shook his head and cleared his throat. "It's...probably not a good idea to pull stunts like that here. I'm walking a thin line in this business."
"I promise no one saw me," he said, but his grin was fading just a little bit. He was quickly edging towards crestfallen. "I will not do it again. I thought it would help. You are busy today. I save time."
"Or bend it," commented the confused politician. He hesitated for a moment, then patted the guy on the shoulder. "Good job. Maybe not the best way to do things, but it's certainly getting the message out. Thanks."
"No problem, Mr. Petrelli!" he said. "I shall go now, leave you to your hard work."
He bowed again, a little deeper this time, and there was a glint in his eye. He turned to leave with a smile on his face.
Just before he reached the door, Nathan stepped forwards. "Wait. Mr. Nakamura."
Hiro looked back over his shoulder. "I don't suppose you've got a little while longer to spare? I really could use a spare hand."
The man didn't hesitate on bouncing back.
---
By the time the sun sank behind the buildings, Hiro looked as worn out as Nathan felt. He hadn't, however, lost that sparkling little smile that he got whenever they crossed paths in their busy day. It was infectious. Nathan had taken to smiling back.
It was over now, though, and the office was shutting up for the night. Hiro was getting his jacket from the chair on which he'd dumped it and was wiping his wrist over his forehead, a picture of exhaustion. He seemed to consider the door for a moment, through which the last of Nathan's staff were departing, then sank into the hard chair at his side with a sigh.
Nathan was across the room, on the phone to his wife. She was saying goodbye; he hung up and walked across to Hiro, pressing a hand to his shoulder as he stepped up behind him.
Hiro twisted his head around and pushed his glasses up. "It has been a very long day. I shall leave now."
"No rush," said Nathan. "The office is empty."
He sat down on a chair opposite him, slouching back in it with a sigh. It fell silent and the seconds ticked by audibly on the stale old clock on the wall. Nathan regarded it absently, watching the little red hand jerk slowly around the numbers until a thought occurred to him, too important not to vocalise.
"Have you eaten?"
Hiro jumped a little; the voice seemed loud and abrupt in the moment of quietness. He cleared his throat and nodded. "Yes."
Nathan raised an eyebrow yet again. "When did you find time for that?"
"Oh," replied Hiro with a knowing look, "I can always find time, Mr. Petrelli. I also had a short nap earlier in the day."
Nathan widened his eyes. "Sounds like your day was even longer than mine."
"It was not so bad."
"You're a real hero, Hiro," he said, and gave him the truest smile yet. "You really saved the day today. Thank you."
Hiro pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose with a finger and smiled until his eyes were nearly closed. "No, thank you Mr. Petrelli."
"Call me Nathan."
He glowed at that, and his smile got impossibly wider. "Thank you."
"There's just one thing I want to know," said Nathan, tilting his head to the side and fixing the other man with a curious gaze. Hiro seemed to have shifted subtly closer in anticipation of the question. "Aren't you busy doing heroic things? I mean... you seemed pretty set on that bomb thing before. Is it really sensible to come help me out?"
Hiro seemed to consider this, then shrugged awkwardly. "I like you. I know you are a great man."
"No, I'm not," said Nathan, glancing down at his balled-up hands. "But, you know, thank you."
"Yes, you are," he replied, and there was such fire to it that it seemed to burn away the cheerful, innocent man he had seemed to be before. The fire smouldered in his eyes. "You are a great man. I can see it in you. You are hero too."
"I'm a politician."
"That does not mean you cannot be a superhero."
Nathan laughed but there was no humour to it. "Many people would disagree with you there, Hiro."
"Many people are idiots," Hiro replied. He picked up a campaign button from the desk in front of him and turned it in his hands, considering it quietly. Looking down at his jacket and seeing now button there, Hiro started to fasten the one he held to his collar. Fingers fumbled and slipped and lost hold of the little object. Nathan caught it instinctively and gripped it in his own hand.
He raised his eyes; Hiro met them with an embarrassed smile. Nathan just lifted the pin and offered it. "You want some help there, buddy?" he asked, but he didn't wait for an answer. Nathan moved in closer, slid the sharp metal under thin fabric that smelt of apples, an clipped it into place. "There you go."
Hiro was looking at him strangely. A horrible heavy feeling began to settle deep in his stomach at that glint in his eye; the glint, come to think of it, that had been there most of the day.
"Hiro, I..."
But he couldn't finish the sentence. Hiro's thin, warm lips were already on his cheek, too close to his own tight lips. He closed his eyes as the touch lingered; turned his head in that one awful moment of temptation that left the kiss more intimate than even Hiro had intended.
For a moment that seemed to drag longer than possible, the kiss was gentle and awkward. Nathan didn't open his eyes or move his hands from where they lay tightly clenched in his lap. It was sweet and soft and... incredibly wrong.
He pulled away. Hiro had his hand half-raised but he dropped it quickly and stood up, scraping the chair back noisily. Nathan stayed where he was, covering his mouth with his hands and looking down at the formal faded carpet beneath them.
"Mr. Petrelli... Nathan," Hiro said, his voice tense. "I am so sorry. I did not mean for..."
"It's fine," he cut in, looking up from under a lowered brow. "Or, no, it isn't, because I'm married and not..."
"Me either," Hiro replied hurriedly. "I respect you, sir. I did not want to cross a line. I really must leave now."
Looking red-faced and flustered, the man made for the door, but Nathan stood before he could leave. "Are you going to be okay? It's getting pretty late. I could call you a cab."
"I am fine," he said, his shoulders hunched in an apologetic bow. "I am fine, but I am also very sorry."
"Don't worry much about it," said Nathan, and he meant it. "And if you ever have some free time to spare, feel free to come back and help out again."
By the time Hiro stepped through the door and out onto the cold street, he was smiling again.