Author's note: Half way through this chapter it goes into Claire's POV. No sex in this chapter, as I want to develop some kind of plotline, but don't fret. The first chapter is not going to be the last time they're together.
We spent the rest of the day not talking about it. Once again I stayed up later than she had, thinking about what had happened. I felt such shame about Robert. I knew she must have wondered why in the world I was with him, why I tried to love him when it was clear that I still felt so strongly for her. This time she didn't feel me staring at her, at least she didn't act like she noticed. She appeared to be sound asleep, and I stared at the back of her neck. She went to sleep with her body faced away from me, and it hurt me a little. She was scared to touch me. Scared that I might break into pieces. I turned on my back, and willed myself to sleep.
The next morning I put on a brave face and made her breakfast. She slept a little longer than I did, so I fried bacon and eggs and put the plate on the table, hoping the smell would entice her to awaken. Didn't take long before she came out, half asleep in just her underwear and a Nirvana t-shirt. I laughed at her hair, sticking up in all directions, and she smiled sleepily at me.
"You look so cute right now." I said as she sat down at the table and began to eat.
"I'm sure I do." She said before she took a bite of bacon. After she finished eating, which didn't take too long, she looked at me with a curious expression on her face.
"So what's on the agenda today?" She said after a couple seconds. I frowned.
"I have to work." She looked surprised for a second, and then smiled sheepishly.
"Oh. I forgot it was Monday." She said quietly. I looked at her apologetically.
"Where do you work?" She said after a moment.
"I work at a bank right now as a loan officer." She nodded, and then sat back in her chair.
"I guess I could do what I came here to do in the first place. There a kid who can make people hallucinate that I was sent here to find." It had been a long time since I'd ever thought of "specials". There were a few people I'd see who just stood out; they seemed more on guard, more alert. But all in all the only people with abilities I'd encountered was when I was in college with Claire.
"Bag and tag?" I replied hesitantly. She shrugged.
"My father started a new company, and now I do freelance work every once in awhile." Suddenly it dawned on me.
"So you coming here, it was all just because of work?" She blinked a few times in shock, and back peddled quickly.
"I knew there was a possibility I'd run into you, but I wasn't sure. I took the job because I thought I could look you up in the phone book or something." She looked a little ashamed that she hadn't come to Austin just to see me. I don't know why I even took issue with this, it had been five years since we graduated. What was I expecting?
"It's alright. I better go get changed and go to work." I said after I took a look at the clock.
"Oh yeah, go get ready." After I got dressed, I walked thoughtlessly toward the door, and I heard her cough. I turned around. She walked up to me nervously.
"Have a good day at work." She said quietly before kissing me on the cheek. I ran my fingers down her face lovingly, and then left.
Claire P.O.V.
I watched as she shut the door, and sighed. I was a mess. I walked over to her room and looked at my phone on the dresser. Five messages. I rolled my eyes and got some clothes from my duffle bag. As I fixed my hair I looked down at what she had on her bathroom counter. There was make up, and some perfume, but besides that it was pretty sparse. She doesn't really take care of herself, I concluded. I swallowed and walked to the front door, locking it as I walked out. My taser was in the car. I took out my phone and listened to the voicemail.
"Claire, I haven't heard from you in awhile--" Delete.
"I hope you've taken care of this Travis situation--" Delete.
"Claire? It's your mother. Noah is worried that you haven't answered your--" Delete. I hit seven two more times and closed the phone. Little baby Claire has to call her daddy everyday. You can't trust her by herself, she might do something risky. I got in the car and drove out, looking at the paper work on this kid, Travis. Fourteen. I tisked aloud. What was I doing at fourteen? I couldn't even remember. It's funny, I'm going to live forever, and I probably won't remember most of it. The days blur together. That is, when I'm not with Gretchen. As I got on I-35 my mind flashed to just what I'd done without her. I was aimless, getting into trouble, making friends with other evolves that were dangerous to be around. Acid emitting, fire breathing, clawed freaks that I found I could relate to. They were eventually killed by Sylar, but it was fun while it lasted. After I realized everyone I ever loved was doomed to be killed, I stopped seeking out friends. Now I was all about work, finding people like me and asking them questions. We didn't do things the way my father used to years ago. We were gentler, something I insisted. We took blood samples and tried to talk to them like human beings. We still tasered them and wiped their memories--my father still was doing things the old way. I begged for him to stop doing things that way, but he wouldn't listen. Too dangerous, he said.
I crossed into the small suburban community where the boy lived, and looked at my GPS. He was a few blocks down. I parked far enough away to not look conspicuous and walked toward his house. When I got to the house and looked in the window, I saw him, playing video games before school. I shook my head to myself. I had to snag him before the bus came for him that morning. I walked back to my car, and waited. In thirty minutes or so, I saw him step outside. I got out, and once he was standing nearby I closed my eyes for a second and pulled the trigger to the taser gun. He fell quickly, and I rushed to grab him before he hit the concrete. I put him in the car, and drove to the address I had been given. It was the Austin location of The New Company and Rene was waiting for me. I drove fast enough, but I heard him stir behind me. I pulled up to the discreet brick building, and was met by a couple of Company men who took him to the "interview room". Rene was in the hallway.
"Hey." I replied, knowing exactly what he was gonna say.
"Your father has been worried." He replied tersely, quickly getting to the point.
"I know. He checks on me too much. I mean, I'm invincible, what's the worst that could happen?" I smile, but his face remained serious.
"He's concerned." He replied, and I put on a poker face.
"About what?" He looked conflicted, and quietly continued.
"He knows she's here." I fought back the anger rising in the pit of my stomach.
"Why the fuck does he care? I'm twenty seven for Christ's sake."
"To him you will always be his little girl." He countered. "He just wants you to live a normal life. One that will keep you from being noticed." I grit my teeth.
"That's fucking stupid. Tell him I'm staying an extra week, and you can tell him the truth or you can lie. I don't care." He looked at me intensely, and then his face softened.
"I do not agree with his opinions, but he does love you." I scoffed.
"I wish he'd love me less."
