Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Heroes. Please don't sue me.
A/N: Written for heroes15 over on lj using the prompt laughter. Leave a review if you like.
Claire had been told that she was like a ray of sunshine, often after she laughed at something a family friend said. It had become like a private mantra that was repeated aloud so many times there had to be some truth to it. But that was before the powers and saving the world dimmed the light. It was during a time when innocence still existed and she didn't have to put on a brave face to make it through the day.
Now she'd call that happy Claire a rainbow. Pretty to look at, but leading to nowhere. Her happiness didn't accomplish anything; she couldn't save thousands of people by smiling and laughing.
Occasionally, Matt would catch her brooding and try to cheer her up. He'd stay until the lies in her head became believable, leaving only to meet up with Audrey. Audrey didn't know how to comfort a person, so if and inevitably when she tried it was heartwarming. The best person to coax a laugh out of her was Peter. It might've been because he was an empath and probably understood what she felt. Probably. Small comfort for a rainbow, but sometimes she felt a little more solid.