Summary: Can Peter save Sylar from his infinite nightmare? Can Claire save Noah from asphyxiating 50 feet underground? Can they halt Samuel and his dastardly plans? Multi-chaptered, set during 4x17 and 4x18.
Author's note: So here we are, at my 20th Heroes fan fic. It's been 13 months of the most fun I've ever had, shaping and crafting my creative juices into stories that I hoped people would enjoy reading. A massive thank you to those of you who read my fics, and especially to those of you who took the time to click the big, green button to let me know your thoughts. Also, an equally massive thank you to all the writers of fan fiction who have shared their wonderful stories. I love you all from the bottom of my heart. I've read some amazing fan fics in 2010, and look forward to what the remainder of this year has to offer. Sadly, I plan to write less stories this year than I did last year, because I will be recommencing my postgraduate studies in June, after a year-and-a-third long deferral.
But enough about that. I watched 4x17 "The Wall" aka the episode that inspired thousands of fan fics a week before, and 4x18 "Brave New World" on the same day as the publication date of this chapter (2 April 2010). A deluge of fan fic ideas swept me away. This story got written as a result. Yay!
This 20th Heroes fic marks the first time I will include HRG as a character, as well as multiple story arcs. I feel that it has done me a disservice to wait this long, since he is a central character in the Heroes universe. My excuse is that after getting hooked on writing and reading Peter/Sylar fics in the middle of 2009, everyone else got pushed back to the chorus line. Hopefully, including HRG will go a little way to 'redeeming' myself. LOL. He isn't in this chapter, but will be in the next one. BTW, I'm not sure how long this story will go on for. I plan to play it by ear, and hope that I'll find enough time to finish it...*fingers and toes crossed*.
Damn, I sure know how to write a long author's note. It's no wonder I frustrate people so much. Time to get on with it.
Warnings (for future chapters, not just Chapter One): mild slash, mild sexual references, lots of angst, attempts at humour, with crack included. Spoilers up to and including 4x17 and 4x18 (with some of my twists included).
Characters: Peter, Sylar, Claire, HRG, Tracy, Eli, Samuel, other characters as I see fit, [Exotic Cindy and Generic Adam (OC's)]. Unfortunately, the Hiro/Ando/Charlie story arc will be omitted, due to time constraints. I might write a fic for that one day. Exotic Cindy and Generic Adam return for a guest appearance - they first appeared in "Somebody to Love" (not really connected to this fic, so you don't need to read that before this one, but please read it anyway!).
Disclaimer: Me, own Heroes? Don't make me laugh. Oh yeah, the fic's title is a Pink Floyd song. I don't own that song, nor any other song lyrics referenced. LONGEST. AUTHOR'S. NOTE. EVER. GET ON WITH IT.
Another Brick In The Wall
Chapter One: A Surprise Encounter
The train grinded to a halt at the subway's platform, like a giant mechanical snake on rails taking a rest. Yet no passengers alighted when the doors opened. There wasn't even a train driver, which would have freaked Sylar out if not for the fact that he had been stuck in this lifeless city for three years, and he accepted it as a way of life.
Sylar stepped aboard the train. It had become almost a daily ritual for him to do this, boarding a train and getting off at a random stop. It mattered not where he got on or off. There would always be no signs of life wherever he went, and no way to leave this city, no matter how hard he tried.
He was amazed that the buildings had not fallen into ruin after all of this time, and that there was always food and drink available when there was nobody around to deliver it. He had come to accept all of this as "just another one of those things", his reality that would remain so for the remainder of his unnaturally long life.
He got off the train, and exited the subway to street level. It came as a massive shock to find out that he was not alone.
"Peter?" He couldn't believe his eyes. He stepped closer to Peter. "It really is you."
Peter nodded. "I've come to save you. I've come to get you out of here."
"There is no way out. I've tried to get out for three years, and it's all been futile."
"No. Not three years. Three hours. Parkman did this," Peter said, sweeping his hand around at the city landscape. "He was the one who trapped you in your worst nightmare."
Sylar wasn't shocked at this. The explanation for this reality didn't matter much to him. He had accepted that he had done many terrible things to deserve this punishment, and that he would serve out his sentence in this prison, no matter how long it took.
"You should leave now," Sylar said. "I am here for a reason, Peter, and I'm not going to take you down with me."
"I can't leave easily, even if I wanted to. I'm not leaving without you, because the world needs you right now. In a precognitive dream, I saw my friend Emma almost kill thousands of people. But you saved her. You saved everyone's life. That is why I'm here. I have a bad feeling that Samuel Sullivan is planning something big, and I need you to help me stop him."
Sylar laughed unpleasantly. "I am the last thing the world needs right now."
An empty, driverless train stopped next to them. "Let's go," Sylar said, and he stepped aboard. Peter had no choice but to follow. He sat opposite Sylar, and studied him thoughtfully. The train accelerated. It scared Peter somewhat to see his arch-nemesis like this. The Sylar he was used to was always full of confidence, in knowing himself and having empathy towards others, albeit in a twisted, selfish way. Now, to see this defeated, shell of a man before him...this was totally messed up.
"Look, I know what it feels, to feel helpless, to feel that you are alone in this world," said Peter. Sylar glared at him. Ah, there was some of the Sylar he knew. "Okay, okay, maybe I don't know completely what you have been through. But whatever this is, you need to snap out of it. I can't do this alone."
It was Sylar's turn to study Peter. He remembered how he had killed Peter when they first met, and how he had saved Peter's life after Peter was thrown from the Pinehearst building. Yet it always came back to the mutual animosity they had for each other. Needless to say, they had hit a low point after he had willfully murdered Nathan. At least Peter wasn't trying to beat the crap out of him this time (even if 'this time' encompassed his unimaginable nightmare). In fact, it was kind of nice that the younger man had appeared out of the blue, and was treating him like an equal.
"Fine. I'll work with you," Sylar said. "But don't hold your breath about getting out of here."
They continued on their train ride in silence until an attractive woman in a police uniform entered their carriage ten minutes later.
"Oh, here we go again," Sylar muttered. Peter looked at him, his eyes wide. "Do you know this woman, Sylar? I thought we were the only ones here."
"That's Exotic Cindy, my imaginary friend. Hold on, you can see her too?" Sylar then realised, of course Peter could see her, since they were both inside Sylar's head.
By this time, Exotic Cindy had sat down in the seat beside Sylar, and began stroking his chin.
"Good morning, big boy," she purred, the lascivious glint in her eyes plain for all to see. "Who is your friend?"
"Peter Petrelli. He's, uh, not exactly a friend."
Exotic Cindy waved at Peter. "Hi, Peter."
Peter waved back, feeling slightly uncomfortable. This was too weird for words (as if entering Sylar's mind wasn't scary enough as it was).
"He's cute, but I like you better," Exotic Cindy whispered into Sylar's ear.
"Shouldn't you be busy, doing police related stuff?" Sylar asked, while epically failing to inch away from her.
"Heh. Try policing an empty city. Crime is non-existent. Oh yeah, Generic Adam promised to take me shopping today. Would you like to join us? Peter can come." She gave Peter a lovely smile, her hands wrapped around Sylar's torso. Peter tried not to meet her eyes, feeling like he was intruding on something private.
"Uh, no thanks," Sylar replied weakly.
"Cindy, leave the poor man alone," a male voice said. They all turned towards Generic Adam, who was standing on the opposite end of the carriage, and was also wearing a police uniform.
"But I was just starting to have fun." Exotic Cindy pouted.
"Come on, I'll take you out to have apple pie."
"With choc-mint ice-cream?"
"Whatever you want."
"Goody." She somewhat reluctantly let go of Sylar, before getting up and walking over to Generic Adam. She turned back to Sylar and said, "Next time, Sy Sy, I will bring the handcuffs. Especially for you. Bye, Peter." Generic Adam gave Sylar a sympathetic look, which also suggested that Sylar was on his own in all things Exotic Cindy related.
Exotic Cindy and Generic Adam exited the carriage and stood around chatting in the adjacent one.
Peter was proud of himself for restraining a belly laugh. Sylar gave him a dark look. "Firstly," Sylar said, "Don't even ask. Secondly, we will never speak of this to anyone, ever." Peter nodded quickly, and felt it best not to say anything at all.
The train stopped, and the doors opened. Sylar and Peter got off. They exited the subway up a flight of stairs, and were confronted by something that neither of them had encountered before.
"That is one big ass wall," Sylar commented.
Peter had to agree with him, for once.
Happy Easter and God bless you all.
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