"You should have never come to Odessa to save me, you should have never become my friend or my hero. Because now I have a favor to return." - Claire Bennett
Claire sat on her bed clutching a pillow tightly to her chest. She let the tears fall from her eyes easily, and released long sobs that came so smoothly. She thought she could be strong. She wanted to help and fight the villains that were out there. But after seeing Peter, she didn't want to become the monster he described. How could she kill him? He was one of the closest people to her, the one she could relate the most with.
Claire laid down on her side. It was all too much. She was still only seventeen. She thought of all the girls her age who's minds were consumed with prom and friends, not villains or murder. Her mind flickered with everything, and before she knew it, she was in a soft slumber; tears still rolling down her cheek.
"Peter, Peter, I can't kill Peter. I don't want to become evil. I don't want to be a monster. I love Peter. He's one of my best friends. I wish I were normal. I'm sick of going through with this. A never-ending struggle."
Her voice pierced his thoughts as Peter stood outside her house. He knew he had traumatized her by telling her about the future, and the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her. He gently floated up to her window on the second floor to see if she was in her room. She was sleeping. He could tell that she had been crying, and it sent a stab of guilt through-out his whole body.
"NO! PETER I'M SORRY! COME BACK! Come back! I never meant to hurt you," Claire screamed in her sleep. Her eyes flew open and her breathing was rough while she sobbed. Peter flew to her side immediately. He wrapped her small frame up in his arms and cradled her.
"Claire? Are you okay?" Her sobs continued. "It's okay. I'm right here. Just let it out." She wrapped her arms around his torso as tightly as she could, clenching as if he could disappear any second.
"P-Peter," Claire said, her voice muffled by his chest. "Peter! I have to leave! I can't stay here and just let the future happen. I have to go, or- or I need to be locked up! I'm going to-"
"Claire, relax. I should have never told you about the future. I- I could have tried to prevent it without you ever knowing." He gently wiped the tears from her face. The corners of her mouth turned up for a split second and then went down again.
"But it's too late now, Peter. I know. And I guess it's better that I do know 'cause now I can do something to stop it. I can leave. And that's exactly what I'm going to do," Claire said and stood up abruptly. Peter frowned.
"It's not as simple as it sounds, Claire. You're the catalyst remember? They are going to have people all over trying to kidnap you. And how do you think you're going to protect yourself alone Claire? I know you're strong, but you're still young. I couldn't stand the thought of you being alone out there. Especially now."
Claire stared into his deep brown eyes and felt the emotion spilling out of him. She sadly understood the fact that she couldn't leave by herself and that just made it even harder. Peter placed his hand on her shoulder.
"I just don't want it to come true Peter. You can't die. You're the only one who makes me feel safe, remember?"
Peter smiled sadly at what she said, and pulled her into an embrace. They stood there for what seemed like hours as Claire silently cried into his shoulder.
"I'll always be here to protect you Claire, even if you want to kill me. You remember that, okay? I love you."
"I love you too, Peter," Claire said in a whisper. The words felt so right coming off her tongue. Maybe just a little too right..