Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes.
13 December, 2009
"It's snowing," Claire whispered in amazement.
Gabriel laughed from doorway to the patio, enjoying the view of Claire staring up at the sky as millions of tiny white flakes drifted out of the sky. Claire had shaken him awake with excitement, racing out the doors to spin around on the snow coated patio tile.
"Careful," he said the word not as a scolding but as a reminder that she was precious, that it would hurt him to see her hurt.
"It's snow," Claire cried, green eyes flashing brightly in the early morning darkness. "We're going to have a white Christmas! I've never had one of those."
"You had better come inside before you freeze," Gabriel laughed, extending his hand to Claire.
She danced away from him, bare feet sliding along the slippery floor. "I once broke my foot off because it was frozen, it grew back," Claire laughed in defiance. "They're so tiny."
Scowling, Sylar stepped outside, and in three large steps caught Claire up in his arms, cradling her. "It would serve you right if you got sick," he shook his head, as she wriggled in his grasp, desperate to be free.
Sylar dumped her onto the bed; she bounced but was quickly pressed against he covers by his body. He exhaled slowly, enjoying the feel of her body beneath his, feeling the warmth return to her skin. Claire had apparently lost her senses because she had run out into the cold in little else but tiny shorts and a tank top.
"You are crazy," Sylar spoke into her hair, "the next time you go running off half-clothed I'm going to lock you up for your own good."
Claire snorted, wrapping her arms around Sylar, "You could try."
"Are you insinuating I would fail," he leaned up on his elbows, staring down at her face.
A sly smile caught Claire's lips, "I didn't say it, you did."
"Want to bet," he leaned down and caught Claire's lips in a kiss.
As he pulled back, Claire followed him, refusing to let their lips part. One hand slipped around his neck to keep them together, Claire moaned as Gabriel nipped at her lips. Each breath became a little shakier, a little warmer.
"So this is new," Sylar murmured against her lips. "We do this now."
"Are you really trying to have a conversation about us kissing when you could just be kissing me," Claire asked head falling back in disbelief. "You are really different from most guys."
"I haven't really done this before," Sylar rolled off of her, staring up at the ceiling.
Claire flopped back beside him, "And your instincts said 'let's talk about this' rather than kissing me senseless?"
"If I kiss you again will you shut up," Sylar asked, trying to avoid the ribbing.
"Maybe," Claire offered, "as long as you don't start talking about how we kiss now."
Sylar twisted to lay on his side, watching her, "You have to admit this isn't where you expected you would be."
"In Chicago?"
A shake of the head, "Try lying in bed with the man who tried to kill you?"
Claire sighed loudly, "Well, when you put it that way…Look, do you want me to say it? You were right!" He gave her a blank look. "We're going to outlast everyone we know, it's either forgive and learn to forget, or be lonely for a very long time."
"It doesn't frighten you that fourteen days ago you ran away from me," he asked in a rush of words.
"Fourteen days ago," Claire breathed, "I was seriously considering going back to the Carnival, even though I knew Samuel was a bad man. I kind of like his dream, it seemed peaceful. You know, except for the murderous aspect."
"So you're okay with kissing me," Sylar asked.
"Oh my god," Claire groaned, before pushing herself up and straddling Sylar's waist, pushing him back against the bed and leaning down to kiss him roughly. "Just shut up," she growled against his lips. Running her hands through his hair, Claire tugged his head back slightly so she could run her lips down his jaw, teeth scraping roughly against his throat.
Long fingers dragged up her thighs before pressing against her hips, pulling her down against him. "Claire," his voice was gravelly, the calm, softness gone.
Her lips broke away from his skin, "If you are about to stop what's happening, I swear I will kill you."
The fingers on her hip tightened, digging into firm muscle, making Claire inhale sharply at the sensation. The pressure felt nice. A hand slid into her hair, tangling with the blonde waves, urging Claire's head back up to Sylar's mouth. She smirked and let him guide her back to kissing him. He was starting to catch on to the whole not talking thing.
"Zip me up," Claire asked as she stood in the mirror.
Sylar stepped up behind Claire, admiring the sweep of her spine as it dipped beneath the dark blue fabric. "You look lovely," he pressed a kiss behind her ear as he slid the stiff zipper up.
"You look nice too," Claire smiled at the mirror, watching him straighten his hair and collar.
"Well," Sylar settled his hands on Claire's hips, "If this is going to be our first date, I want it to be one we remember."
"First date," the young woman asked, leaning to the side so she could look up at her apparent date. "Did you forget to ask me something?"
"Apparently I did," Sylar grinned, "so let me rectify that. Claire, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner?"
"Well, when you put it like that, I suppose that could be arranged," Claire grinned. "But don't make this a habit."
"I like being spontaneous," Sylar pouted, eyes darkening in anticipation of a little tiff.
Claire shook her head as she pulled her hair into an up-do, pinning it in place with a hum of satisfaction. "Spontaneous is asking me something on when you think of it, not planning something and then dragging me along with you."
A long finger trailed down the nape of her neck, "How do you do that?"
"What," Claire asked, gooseflesh rising along neck, "put you down with one careful sentence?"
"No," Sylar grinned, replacing his finger with his lips, pressing small kisses along the warm skin of her neck and shoulders. "How do you put your hair up like that?"
"Seriously, that's what you are so interested in? It's practice," Claire informed him, amused by his fascination.
A particularly warm breath between her shoulder blades had Claire squirming, shoulders pulling back, hips twisting at the sensation. Firm hands caught her hips and held them still as the zipper slid down and Sylar's lips followed it.
"Okay," Claire gasped, knees locking as her hands gripped the bathroom counter, "that is really not fair."
The breathless admission caused the man laving kisses on Claire's spine to chuckle. The sound was pure sin, making her whole body clench in desire, her head fell back and her feet shifted. Sylar held her hips firmly; Claire squirmed ineffectively, in agony.
"Gabriel," was the moan that slipped past Claire's red painted lips.
"Yes, Claire," came the slow, warm voice from just above the base of her spine.
"We're going to be late," she struggled to keep her voice level.
"Mm," the noise was a vibration against Claire's spine, making her jump, "that would be a crime."
"If this is your idea of a perfect first date," Claire forced herself to frown, "this will definitely be the last."
The reaction was instantaneous, Sylar stood, sliding the zipper up with a swiftness that revealed the truth of his feelings. Pressing a final kiss to the nape of Claire's neck he spun her around, "Ready to go?"
"Yes."
Sylar pressed one last chaste kiss to her lips before extending his arm to Claire, "I am really looking forward to tonight, Claire."
The blonde watched him from beneath darkened lashes, the genuine smile on his face, the white button up that was undone at the neck, and the black slacks spoke of a man who was confident, happy. It was very attractive.
Offering him a red smile, Claire curled her arm around his, pulling herself close to his body. She was looking forward to their date as well.
A/N: 14/25. The next three days are going to be hectic. I'll be doing some frantic work before break. Hopefully I'll manage to keep writing everything on time, but if not I will catch up. Happy Holidays!