Pairing: Claire/Sylar

Theme: Fix

Dimension: Alternate

Word Count: 1,158

Fix

The sounds of the war boomed and shuddered around him as he moved silently through the old house. The Nakamura residence outside Tokyo, Japan was one of the last remaining safe houses in the destructive war between the vast militaries of the world and those unfortunate enough to have abilities. The majority of the world without powers, led by the UN, had finally declared war upon those with abilities on December 21, 2012. Petrelli, Bennet and the others had banded together in the end, but each had fallen.

Hiro Nakamura had learned quickly to use his ability to hide and stay hidden. Only those who knew what to look for could find the traditional style Japanese summer home hidden deep in the mountains. He could feel the powerful forcefield that kept the place hidden from view when he'd broken in. Even that hadn't been enough to stop him, but he wasn't here to gloat.

Here, Nakamura had raised his family in protection, venturing out only to help those who were being pursued for their abilities. He was an old man now, having lived to an astonishing ninety years in his self-imposed exile. Sylar stopped as he came to the hallway where Nakamura's room was. He didn't have much time as the old man was dying, and he needed his help. He maintained his invisibility as a woman with striking red hair stepped out of the room. So this was the person responsible for the forcefield. She must have been Hiro's daughter, though the resemblance to a certain perky waitress was striking. She looked in his direction but after seeing nothing, hurried down the hall. Sylar waited until he could hear her downstairs before moving quickly into the room.

It was wide and spacious, with windows open to reveal a panoramic scene of the mountain valley. It was one of the last places untouched and unscarred by the war.

"I know you are there, Sylar. Have you come to attack me in my last moment?" The wheezy voice of the old rebel made Sylar smirk. He flashed into view, coming to stand beside Hiro's deathbed.

"I do need your power, Nakamura. I have to change things."

"You cannot change what has been done. You cannot fix the past to save the future. One mistake would cost-"

"Everything! I know, you've told me this before. However, I have to do this. I've done too much to ever atone for my sins, but I can at least stop this." Hiro opened his rheumy eyes, glaring as best as he could at the man who had caused so much damage.

"I know of your son's death. I know that you grieve for him. I also know of your treachery. You will say anything to get a new ability, and you cannot have mine." He struggled to speak around his cough, and Sylar watched as the once proud young man was reduced to a series of hacks and jarring coughs. "Death is coming for me, Sylar. I can see that is something you will never experience. Now, leave me in peace." Sylar pulled up an old chair and rolled up his right sleeve to expose the old tattoo of Claire Bennet. Hiro's eyes widened.

"Then explain to me why her face still stares up at me! Tell me why I haven't been able to get her out of my mind. Tell me why I can't sleep for the horrors that follow me!" He was getting angry, but ninety years of control had taught him to leash the Hunger. Hiro sighed.

"Even if you could go back, you could not stop her choices. She would have been discovered eventually. I have thought this through many times. You are a mere catalyst in all of this."

"My son is dead because of what I did to her. I can change myself. I can stop myself."

"This is impossible. I cannot-"

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry for the damages I have caused. I'm sorry for hunting those people for their powers. I'm sorry for terrorizing her and then hurting her. I'm sorry that I am alive, but I can change that! Let me at least try. What could be worse than all of this?" Hiro looked at Sylar shrewdly, seeing a man tired and broken. He thought back with a saddened love on his own Charlie, and how much he'd adored her. He could not imagine losing their daughter the way the man before him had lost his son.

"If you change things too much, Noah will never exist."

"My son will live. He'll grow up with a mother that loves him." Hiro nodded heavily and closed his eyes.

"Then, take my power. I am ready." He squeezed his eyes shut, preparing for the agonizing pain of having his skull cap sliced open. A dark chuckle met his ears.

"I don't actually need to kill you to take your ability, you know." Sylar's fingers met Hiro's temples, and a faint warmth lit up at the contact.

When it was over, Sylar stood and thanked the man who'd started everything.

"I was wrong about you, Sylar," Hiro said quietly. Sylar turned back to him.

"How so? I'm a monster, I'll be alone."

"No. a monster cares for none. You have learned to make love stay. I believe that if you truly do right, you will not die alone, but with family and love." Hiro's words became fainter and fainter until he laid still. It was over. The last of the rebel was dead. Sylar closed his eyes and concentrated, going back to find the woman he loved in order to save her from himself.

Sylar popped into the girl's locker room just as Claire was turning with alarm at a banging noise. Jackie stood beside her, loudly asking about the noise. He waited for a few seconds, sensing his past self creeping upon them, watching with predatory eyes as the girls moved away from him.

Sylar moved quickly, capturing himself with telekinesis, slamming him into the wall hard enough to black him out. Claire and Jackie whipped around in surprise.

"You, go now." Jackie stared at him with wide eyes until Claire pushed her forwards. "Claire! Wait. I need to talk to you." The blonde turned back with fear and confusion written on her face.

"Who are you? And how do you know my name?" Sylar breathed deep and edged towards her slowly, as not to scare her. He kept a firm grip on the other Sylar, careful not to lose his concentration. If only she'd listen to him for a few moments.

"I know you because I come from the future."

"The future? Really? That's impossible."

"It's about as impossible as you throwing yourself off a building and coming away with no wounds."

"How do you know that?" Sylar smiled, suddenly feeling that he could finally set things right.

"Let me tell you who I am. And then, maybe if we have time, I can tell you a little bit about a boy named Noah."

This was a suggestion from Smithsbabe65, who inspired me to keep going. Thanks so much! Read and review!