Dysfunctional
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"Who's ready for pie?"
Your voice… doesn't belong here. It belongs in a big, brightly-lit house with a table laden with good food, with bustling servants, with a happy family sitting around it. Do you actually see that big, brightly lit house, the laden table, the happy family, when you close your eyes, Ma? Do you see them with your eyes open?
Say something, Ma. And this time, let it not be some mindless prattle about wine or pie I wouldn't mind pie How can you pretend everything's fine and that this is just another family Thanksgiving? What sort of family do you think this is? When have we ever had Thanksgiving dinner in Peter's apartment in this dismal place? Since you got wasted and slept it off in your brother's bed when you should all have gone to that bright fancy house like the storybook family that you are, that's when. And that's MY body you were pouring all that Scotch into, pal. I thought we'd established that alcohol doesn't get rid of me.
I'm dead.
"You look at me, you don't see your son… you see the man who killed your son. You…" – Peter – "you don't see your brother. Because I'm not your brother."
Come on, Pete, you even you can't deny I'm not me. You want for things to be normal again I bet you do. You really think that big, imbecile oaf of a cop could have destroyed me, could have driven me permanently from my body? I would have thought even you were smarter than that.
"Nathan…"
"Guess again."
Ah, you're scared now, "Mom". So good to see you scared. This is for the time you played me like a puppet. I'm nobody's puppet.
"We never should have gone to Texas, Pete."
The shock in their faces; they honestly didn't see this one coming? Such confidence in that fat idiot. Matt Parkman should feel flattered. I'll make sure I'll tell him when I go back to kill him.
But first, this. This one really deserves to last a while. The two people I love hate most No but I need to get rid of… him first I won't let you hurt them get away from me No get out of my head NO you're dead Not yet I'm not it's over, let go of me NO LET GO OF ME!
A few last remnants of electricity still course about the room. The lights are flickering, dangling. The wooden floor feels cold under my hands. Feels. Cold. My hands. I had forgotten what it felt like. I'm back in my own body. The smell of food is everywhere. I'm starved. For more than just food.
But first things first. That pumpkin pie smells delicious. You want some? Oh, of course, you can't move. How silly of me to forget. Well, it's only fair since you didn't leave me any of the turkey. The crust here is a bit dry. Probably was in the oven for a few minutes too long. You mind if I just eat the middle? Course not. That's what family's for, right?
"I feel like I haven't eaten in months. You think that's some kind of existential soul thing?"
"You have a soul?"
Aw, this is cute. If somewhat disappointing.
"Come on, buddy. That's the best you've got? No big speeches about hope? Triumph of the human spirit?"
"Why don't you let me out of this chair and find out?"
Aw again. What would you do? Fly a pretty loop? Shapeshift into the President… ah, no, we had that. And anyway, you're not going anywhere near me. Not yet, at least. I'm not letting you walk away this time. Not because you have anything I want – keep your shoddy one-at-a-time, delivery-on-touch-only power. But you're a stain on my record. Several stains on my record.
And you… it's hard to figure what you're thinking. Peter's an open book; you're a lot more complex. And, of course, you once managed to convince me I was your son. I liked the thought at the time. Kind of still like it. Which doesn't mean I won't kill you, but there's some fond memories there. Turning the serial killer who killed me her son into her son? That's justsick so beautiful it makes me wonder I didn't think of it.
"And you... You have raised the evil incarnate bar to an entirely new level. Thank you for giving me something to strive for."
Oh, this is fun. You look at me like I'm a rapist. Did you feel like a rapist Son of a when you kissed me, telling me you were my mother? Of course you didn't.
Time to end this. The pie's gone anyway.
"All this talk of souls and spirits sends my head spinning. I am not a religious man. But there is one thing I do believe in: blood. Time to carve the turkey."
She screams as I start opening her skull. How ironic. Remember when it was you, Peter, who tried to open your mother's skull let her go while I was watching? You probably mind more now than I did back then. Watch carefully now. Stop it, you son of It's your turn next STOP IT!
"What's happening?"
I'm not letting it happen! What's the matter with Get out of here me! You're nothing! You're less than a memory! Why won't you I don't care what I am, I don't care leave me alone what you are! It's over, accept it! What else Leave her alone do you need before you finally I'm not letting you accept that it's over hurt my mother get out of my damn head or my brother get OUT I've felt what it's like LEAVE ME ALONE to be you NO and I chose to be me There IS no you, there's no more Nathan Petrelli, I slit your damn throat Whatever I am, I can stop you get out of my and I WILL!
Oh my God.
I nearly killed them. That monster nearly killed them.
"What have you done to me?"
I've got to get away from here. I don't care where. Somewhere I can't hurt them.
And for the love of Christ, Pete, don't come after me.