A.N: It seems my muse has come back for a bit, 'cause it's only been a few days since I posted my last one. This story's more upbeat, partly because of the music I was listening to - Sia, Buttons - and partly because I was getting a little fed up of writing angsty!Paire (even though that's what they are, really.)
I just thought they deserved a little more happiness for once :)
So...this is still canon!Paire, but happy canon!Paire.
Canon up to the end of Season 1, AU after that. (And also incest, so don't read if you don't like.)
Disclaimer: I don't own Heroes, as Kring owns it but, boy, if I did? Peter and Claire would've been together a looong time ago.
"You got me pushing imaginary buttons, step away from me lover, away from me lover."
Another one of Nathan's political parties, excellent, Claire thought, sitting idly at one of the large round tables decked out in red, white and blue – how patriotic of him.
She had, yet again, been dragged to this event by her terrifying grandmother – "You're a Petrelli, Claire, act like one," - forced to wear this red garment as the rest of the family were all wearing the blasted colour, and was now swirling around a glass of punch with a straw, feeling extremely bored and more than a little out of place.
Looking over to her left, she could see Peter – Uncle Peter? No, it just doesn't sound right – nodding politely to Senator What's-his-face, while obviously not being interested in the subject matter whatsoever. Catching her eye for a split second, he smiled in her direction, and began to excuse himself from the conversation.
Claire hated it when he smiled like that, his mouth turning into that lazy, half-smirk that just made her want to kiss him.
No.
Not kiss him.
Because Peter was her uncle, and that would be a very un-niece like thing to do. And exceedingly inappropriate, especially in present company.
Dammit, he's walking this way – niece-time, Claire. Family. Related. Not attractive in any w – who am I kidding?
"Hey, ready to throw yourself out of the window yet?" Peter joked upon reaching her, seating himself down in the chair opposite and throwing another – annoyingly attractive – grin her way.
"Thinking about it," Claire mumbled, keeping her eyes focused mostly on the last remnants of ice that were spinning around in her glass, "Hate these things, they're so...boring."
She immediately grimaced inwardly, Way to sound like a fed up teenager, Claire – very mature.
But Peter just laughed, 'cause it was Peter and he would've been nice about her anyway, no matter what she said, - Damn empath – "Couldn't agree more, you think Nathan would learn to entertain more interesting company."
His roll of the eyes towards that Senator guy now cornering Heidi by the punch bowl succeeded in making Claire burst into giggles, before instantly coughing awkwardly, "Yeah...I guess."
She could see Peter frowning out of the corner of her eye – probably wondering why she was acting so strangely – and the atmosphere was decidedly awkward.
Her fingers laced and unlaced themselves together multiple times, sort of wishing he would just go away so she could actually begin to inhale oxygen again.
"You sure you're ok?" He probed, looking all concerned and sweet and – Dammit, Peter! Stop it! – so, cute that Claire felt all discombobulated.
"Yep, yeah, definitely, all ok over here, heh…" She grinned widely for good measure.
Dear God, you idiot.
"Actually, you'll have to excuse me, I'm gonna get a drink -" Then she noticed her glass was still half full, "– Of water...don't really like this punch stuff..."
Claire got up and fled the scene quite briskly – If I do say so myself – walking out of the room and passing the bar completely before taking a turn for the gardens outside.
Fresh air, thank you, Lord.
Was it her, or was it getting extremely hot in there? It was probably just her, or the presence of certain people, duh, but Claire felt relieved at the cool air that breezed around her body, and finally felt able to breathe.
"Get a grip, Bennet," she chastised herself, wishing she wasn't so darn transparent about the whole 'crush-on-my-totally-hot-uncle' thing. It wasn't like she planned it – he was good looking, with his emo bangs and intense eyes, and he was the one that started flirting with her at Homecoming in the first place! Plus he carried on being all lovely and caring when she was in New York, so what self-respecting girl wouldn't fall for him?
Yeah, Peter was to blame for the whole thing.
That made her feel better.
"Funny kind of place to get water from," a voice sounded from behind her.
Damn. It. I can't get away!
"Oh, erm, I just...hot in there so...I...came out here," Claire pirouetted awkwardly on the cobbled pavement to face him, trying to put on her best smile. Unfortunately, she caught the heel of her shoe and stumbled forward. She was waiting for the impact when Peter grabbed hold of her forearms and steadied her, bringing his face, and whole body really, within precariously close proximity.
Totally my hero – again. Oh God, oh God, no, Claire, no. This line will not be crossed. Nope. Not crossing it. Nuh-uh.
"You ok?" She could feel his voice reverberating around her, and swallowed thickly, "...Yeah...I'm ok..."
...Dangerously close to crossing line right now...
And, oh, God, this was where she realised that he can read minds for God's sake and immediately went into hyperventilating zone. Seriously. 'Cause if she could go into cardiac arrest right about now, she so would.
"Claire..." She kept her eyes level with his chest, her throat dry and hands shaking.
"...Yeah?" She asked tentatively, daring to glance up at his face and instantaneously falling prey to the pair of gorgeous brown eyes that Peter possessed.
"You think too much," he smiled softly and Claire felt her resolve weaken over crossing that line – who drew that stupid line anyway? – as she swore his lips were coming closer in contact with hers, and if she just moved that fraction of an inch forward…
"Peter!"
Said Petrelli turned around to face his brother, and Claire felt an immediate loss of warmth, and wondered why she felt like crying – stupid girly hormones.
"Coming, Nate," Peter returned, spinning back round with a mischievous grin on his face that she was instantly wary of – and that her heart was fluttering over.
"I think," he whispered, tugging at a lock of her hair before placing it behind her ear, "we should talk about this 'line', later."
A quick kiss on the forehead and he was gone, leaving Claire in a very befuddled, but very giddy, state of mind.
Lines? They rock. Crossing them? Hell yeah.