Title: And Now For Something Completely Similar
Author: Jack Velvet
Characters: Peter, Nathan
Rating: T / PG-13
Warnings: None.
Spoilers: None, pre-series
Word Count: 500
Summary: Peter stands in the shadow of someone better. Nathan offers his support. (Pre-series)
Notes: Written for heroes_contest drabble challenge #21 (Picture Challenge). Title taken from a NOFX song.

Could also be seen as a prequel to Peter Was A Punk Rocker. No knowledge of that fic is needed to enjoy this fic.

Disclaimer: Heroes (c) Tim Kring/NBC. Iggy and the Stooges and NOFX are real bands that have been referenced. No infringement is intended.

And Now For Something Completely Similar
by Jack Velvet

Peter was his usual, mopey self when he came home from school. He threw his bookbag on the nearest cushion, and plopped down on the sofa, fists clenching longer-than-Dad-liked locks of hair.

"What's up, Pete?" Nathan asked.

"It's nothing,"

"It's something."

Peter relaxed his back on the couch, and explained, "I'm just tired of all the standards, Nathan. The double-standards, the regular standards, the shady standards."

"This about Dad?"

"No, it's about Jeremy."

"Valedictorian jock whose father is one of Dad's buddies?"

"Yeah, that dick."

"Pete, Ma hates it when you say that."

"I don't care. I'm pissed. I'm sick of being compared to him. Especially when he practically stole my story and got a standing ovation for reading it at the assembly."

Nathan sat down beside his brother. "You're kidding."

"I'm not."

"We can get something about infringement typed up with my letterhead," Nathan offered.

"Like Dad's gonna be keen on that. Just forget it, Nathan. I'll get it over it."

"You never do, Pete," Nathan remarked. "Besides, I hate the kid. He is a dick."

Peter laughed and rested on his brother's shoulder. "I can only try so hard sometimes. It gets frustrating with all of these tall shadows, ya know?"

"Dad's got one of the tallest," replied the older, leaning in to the touch.

"You're a close second."

Nathan patted Peter's knee. "You keep me down here on Earth, Pete. Don't ever stop that."

The two brothers sat in silence, listening as Peter's labored, angry breathing calmed to normal levels.

"What was similar?" Nathan asked.

"Might as well have been everything. Character names, histories, the relationships between them. The title was a spin on a Stooges song."

"Right, that punk stuff you like." Nathan kissed Peter's temple. "The title?"

"It was 'Her Pretty Face Is Going to Hell'."

"His?"

"'Her Nice Face Is Going to Hell.'"

"Infringement can be foggy Pete. How well do you know this kid?"

"Not well."

"Maybe he's like you, and thought the song was good."

"I talked to Dan-"

"Ryder? The kid in your band?"

"The band you hate," Peter corrected. "And Jeremy is always mocking him in the halls."

"His hair is pink, Pete."

"So what?"

Nathan rolled his eyes and decided to drop it. "I dunno Pete. Let's not jump to conclusions."

"Thought you were on my side with this?"

"I am. I just don't want your face to go to Hell..."

Peter gave Nathan a confused look. "What was that?"

"Trying to bond with you."

The younger gently elbowed the older. "We bond fine."

"Right. Want me to send him a letter?"

"Don't worry about it."

Nathan wrapped an arm around Peter and gave him a squeeze. "Because I would. I love you, you know."

"I know. I love you too." Peter stood and stretched. "Besides, tomorrow night Dan said we can write a song about it at practice."

Nathan smiled. "And if you need help copyrighting it-"

"I know where to go," Peter grinned.

End.