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Claire awoke to Peter shaking her, his brow was furrowed with worry. His scar looked a lot less red, but still cringe worthy. It was still open and gaping a bit. His eyes shone brightly and forceful. Claire grabbed his arms, stopping him from shaking her. She realized she was still dressed from the day before and that the heat of the day was suffocating her tent. Claire inhaled, taking in the heat, and recalled the evening before. She sat up, yawning.
"Pete, I'm awake, what time is it?"
" 7 in the morning, I figured no one gave you a wake up time."
He leaned back away from her, still sitting on the cot. He looked off in the distance, leaning his arms on his legs. He twirled his fingers. He was wearing a tight black t-shirt and dark pants.
"I came to get you. Thought maybe you'd like a head start. We are debriefing the Army at 8am, but having the Elite gather alone. Incase..you know spies. Give the army one objective, without knowing the details of the main goal."
Claire rested her head against her own shoulder, tilting it to watch Peter. He looked worn down, but still with charming, good looks. The scar was a new look, but still somehow gave him depth. She would say that was a family trait of theirs, to look good in crap conditions, but she realized that genetics were not their connection anymore. Claire sighed.
"Army? I can't ever get use to that word."
Peter grinned and looked down at the ground.
"Yeah, seems like yesterday Emma and I were planning a new apartment. I was going to apply to the Fire Academy."
Claire watched him as he continued to speak. She didn't want to stop him.
"I was going to propose. On her birthday, you know? So We would never forget that day. You and Mo-Angela were teasing me at that dinner about it, before all this. I tried not to look nervous, I didn't want to let on that I was going to ask her. I bought the ring...with Gab-Sylar. He helped me pick out the color, the cut, and he even knew her favorite style. I was so ready to ask her and I pushed her away. I pushed her away, because of the person who helped pick out our engagement ring. But now that person doesn't exist or didn't...and he is the only blood relative I have now. The man, who killed my adoptive parents and brother, is my brother. We don't love each other, I don't even think we could ever like each other. Yet, I can't kill him. I'm not a killer. I want to so bad, but when I seriously come to doing it. I can't."
Claire didn't even breath during Peter's admission. He had been bottling so much of his emotions and fears. He spoke almost in a robotic tone, as if he couldn't process it anymore. Claire slowly sat up, sat side by side with him, and took his hand.
"Peter, You aren't a killer. That is what separates you two."
Peter looked at her with sad eyes.
"Today, that is going to change. For all of us, Claire." Peter stressed her name as he said it.
"We are going to have to kill people. People we don't know. To survive."
Claire nodded and squeezed his hand.
"I know, it's called self-defense. I don't want to either Peter, but I will do what I have to do to survive and protect the people that need it."
Peter squeezed back, tears forming in his eyes.
"Man, Nathan wanted such a normal life for you, but things just kept getting more complicated. Things just became undone. I would fix it. He would. We would. There is just no end to it."
Claire softly spoke.
"Lots of people have wanted things for me. For my future. They were hurt trying to protect me. I finally made my own choice and ended up hurting people who didn't even know I existed. That's a whole lot of effort, for a girl with a never-ending future, who throws it all away. Maybe the Good Guys should take a break."
Peter laughed.
"It's because you are Special, Claire, with or without your abilities. You fail to see that. It baffles me. But it certainly sounds like the two of us hold the world on our shoulders."
Claire leaned against Pete, resting her head on his shoulder. She knew his feelings were complicated for her, but the comfort and warmth in this moment was perfect. Claire mumbled to him.
"You, so much more than me, holds the world."
Peter leaned his head atop hers and the two were very quiet for a moment. Claire realized they were still holding hands. She slowly pulled away and stood up to get ready.
Peter stayed seated, looking like he wanted to say something.
"Claire, I've wanted to talk to you about something."
Claire had her back to him and she grimaced a bit. Things were going to become more complicated. She slowly turned to face him.
"I have been really torn inside about Emma and...about you."
Claire tried to act surprised, but was kind of annoyed that Peter didn't think she could figure out his feelings for her.
"Claire, When we first met, I felt like we connected really well. That when we found out that we were related, I associated that connection to that. Now, I don't know what to think. I never had romantic thoughts about you when we were related but-"
Claire cut him off. She felt super strange talking about this with him.
"Peter, I have to agree with you. Our connection has been different. Not like with Nathan or my father. Lyle and I are more brotherly-sisterly than we are, and I don't see the kid. You see a barrier being lifted to a potentially advance relati-connection. What I need right now is just a friend. You love Emma. I know you do. She loves you. I would never feel right being in between that. We have more important worries."
Peter sunk in defeat. He must have planned a more dramatic speech or wanted a different ending. He eventually looked up and smiled at her.
"Claire, you have become a pretty good voice of reason."
Claire smiled weakly back. Her thoughts swarmed to the previous night. She felt her insides do a back-flip. This "voice of reason" had a pretty heated kiss with a serial killer, who specialized in killing her loved ones. She felt like a hypocrite.
"Trust me Pete, I'm still learning."
Peter stood up and headed out of the tent. Claire followed him with her outfit. She figured she shower and change, then head straight to the Elite meeting.
"You should make things right with Emma before we leave."
Peter nodded, but stopped dead in his tracks. Claire nearly knocked into him trying to climb out of the tent.
Sylar was standing next to the campfire with his arms crossed. He was dressed in a black, classic button down dress shirt and pair of dark black pants. He didn't change his style too often. He was staring pretty deadly at Peter. Claire instantly began to blush. The kiss the previous night swarmed her head. She averted her eyes to the ground, standing behind Pete so he wouldn't see her face.
"Sylar, Can I help you with something?"
Peter looked confused and a bit irritated.
"I was here to speak with Claire actually." Sylar growled out.
Claire realized she had a perfect excuse and started to walk past them both.
"I have to shower really quick and we have that meeting, so I can't right now."
The heat that day started to feel a bit overbearing to Claire, who was grateful for the feeling. A cool shower was going to be a great sensation. Claire didn't look at the two of them as she passed them and made a straight line to the shower area. She was surprised that neither one had stopped her.
Claire indulged in her shower, feeling the water run over her hair and back. Her first shower since gaining normal sensation was incredible. The tickles and tingles of the cold water made her smile. Her thoughts began to wander away from the impending battle she would face today. She would rather put it off until the moment was at hand. Her mind thought of Peter. She did love him very much, but she was't sure she could let that love be more than a friendship. Thoughts flooded her of a conversation with Sylar in her College's closet. About how she pushed people away and it was because of her ability. Claire couldn't stand to see the people she loves die around her. She felt that so many had already prematurely passed away. Maybe she saw that letting Peter in...would be a greater heartbreak in the future. Plus Emma was her friend. The two were meant to be.
Claire turned the shower off and wrapped herself in her towel. She turned into the dressing area of the shower area. Usually there was a few people in there with her, but this morning it was eerily quiet. She opened her curtain to her stall to find Sylar sitting on the bench. He startled her.
"Ahhh what the fuu-"
Sylar stood up swiftly and backed Claire into the opposing wall. Claire felt panic rise up in her. She felt so vulnerable in this moment. She held the towel tightly to her body. Sylar was furious. Claire could tell by his eyes.
"Who the hell do you think you are you?"
He practically screamed at her.
Claire couldn't find words, she was so thrown off.
"Uh-I-"
"You ask for my help. MY help. I give it to you. Gave you what you wanted. And you treat me like I am just some dirt. We kissed, you kissed me back. Than look at me like I was the one who crossed the line. Back at the campsite, you just ignore me? That I am some ordinary Jock that you would just ignore back in high school. I don't think so." He had his finger in her face, threatening her with his eyes. Sylar was a bit jumbled with words, but he was so mad he couldn't organize his thoughts.
Claire finally got angry at the mention of Jocks. She wasn't a child. She reared her head up and glared back with her own fury.
"Yeah, You kissed me. I gave in. For the feeling. The sensation. It had nothing to do with you. I lost myself and maybe I was trying to be nice to you for once. Right? As for ignoring you or treating you like dirt. I have every right to do so. I have the right to kill you with my own bare hands or make it as slow and as painful as I want."
Sylar slammed his fist into the wall next to her head. He nearly punched through it. He grabbed her throat and slammed her back into the wall, releasing her as soon as she hit the wall. Claire enjoyed the pain for a moment, but got back on her guard. He growled at her.
"You are my living, breathing nightmare."
Claire laughed in Sylar's face.
"I'm your nightmare? You have got to be kidding me."
Sylar took a step back and started to control his emotions.
"You frustrate me. More than anyone else in my life. Peter is a close second. You have your undying faith in people and in the world, maybe even in rainbows. You are just so..."
Sylar was searching for the word. Claire could tell he was really over the edge.
"..pure."
Claire clutched her towel tighter. Sylar saw the movement and chuckled to himself. He enjoyed scaring her.
"Claire, don't be so full of yourself-"
Claire glared at him.
"I'm not the one-"
He snapped his head up at her. Silencing her.
"I'm not done talking...yet you do have this darkness in you. This darkness just bursting to come out. And when it does...You tend to blame it on me or direct it your distaste at me."
Sylar stepped back and looked like he just solved the meaning of life.
"I do things, the wrong things by other peoples' standards. But they are the right things for me. It makes me feel good. I have no guilt for that. allow yourself that guilt and the second that you pull the dark, selfish part of you into the world...You blame it on me or hate yourself."
Claire stood still during his tirade. She watched him and let his words sink in.
"You still think I am like you?"
"I know it. Even as I cut into June's head last night after you left. Taking her healing ability...I knew that you were completely capable of doing the same thing."
Claire blinked twice. The news of him killing June hit her. She practically whispered.
"You killed June?"
Sylar just smiled at her. Claire glared back, she had no words for him. Claire did think to herself how June made her uncomfortable with Felix. The two of them use to kill people, for money, sometimes bringing them back to life. They enjoyed it. Her death didn't bother her as much as the thought of Sylar still killing. Sylar was watching Claire strangely and than suddenly tapped the side of his head. Claire swore at herself. He had read her mind.
"See, that thought isn't Pure Peter's Claire, that is Survival Sylar's Claire."
Claire shoved him aside and went into the her changing station. Claire slammed the curtain shut in his face. Sylar laughed almost evilly while she changed. She threw on her underwear, a tight black tank top with dark pants. Claire stormed out of the stall and slapped Sylar hard in the face.
"I am not Peter's. I will never be Yours. No one owns me. You killed June, someone who could have helped or hindered, and because I have a lack of caring doesn't make me like you. It makes me prepared for whats to come, because a lot of people I do care for will be hurt and die. The difference is I care too much. What's the point of your existence if you have nothing to care for?"
Sylar looked like he was slapped more than once.
"Why come and do this to me now, Sylar? We are about to walk into a war, and you think this is important? Between You and Peter...I don't know who has priorities more messed up. You two are brothers in that sense."
Sylar suddenly looked very defeated. He looked as if he were about to cry. It unnerved Claire. She started to walk away from him.
"Claire, I want to care."
She laughed and turned back to him.
"About what? This place, these people, our people? It is a good time to start caring."
Sylar looked longingly at her.
"I want to care about you."
Claire stiffened and shook her head no.
"I'm a lost cause. Look what've you done to me."
"You accept me for who I am. You hate it, but you at least know that this is who I am."
Claire gritted her teeth.
"I didn't have much of a choice."
Sylar became very calm.
"I wanted to talk about this. But you make me so angry. I go off and kill something."
"Someone." She corrected him. "Yet I'm the one who blames things on you." Claire snapped sarcastically.
Her eyes were pissed and Sylar's were a calm storm.
"Claire, We are going to live longer than anyone else, this is our first of many lives. We are going to need to connect now, so we can keep a connection to this life later. Keep us grounded."
Claire crossed her arms.
"So You want me to forgive you-"
"No, not at all. I want you to just be around me. Deal with me. You are the only person who can be around me and not end up dead."
Claire stood still, thinking about his words.
"I need you to stop trying to kiss me. If you want me to deal, that is the number one you should stop doing. Don't kill in front of me, unless in battle." Claire choose her words and regretted adding the "in front of me" part. She should of said killing altogether.
Sylar nodded.
"Claire, you need this just as much as I do."
Claire bit her lip and thought for a moment. She had a tendency of having very open moments with Sylar. They never really lied to one another. There was a strange, honest, and very harsh connection.
"Maybe I do...but doesn't mean I like it. I hate it."
Sylar smiled.
He brushed past her and headed toward the exit.
"Building Bridges Claire. You'll see."
Claire was the one now slamming her fist into the wall.
Claire hustled into the War Room tent to meet up with the other Elite group. She threw on a gray, military style coat and took a deep breath before stepping into the passageway. The sensation almost made her dizzy this time, but she felt so grateful to have the feeling.
When she finally appeared in the tent, she found the Elite force in front of her. Peter and Hiro were scanning a blue print of the prison, marking it with tacks and vantage points. Logan was stuffing two med packs that were shaped like small backpacks. He looked up and noticed her, flashing the Hollywood smile. Claire walked briskly toward him, not finishing her scan of the room. She mumbled to him.
"Sorry, I'm late, but I got a bit delayed."
She glared across the room at Sylar, who was engaging in a conversation with a woman that Claire had never seen before. He was eyeing her, still talking to the woman, overly engaging with her now since Claire arrived. She was of medium height, athletic build, with a tight, french braid. Her hair was a deep black, but Claire could see glimmers of purple. She had an Eastern European look. Pale skinned, but a powerful set of red lips and masterful jawline. She would be a model if she had another foot on her. Claire couldn't see her eyes too well, but she understood that Sylar was attempting to create a reaction from Claire. She rolled her eyes and turned her back to the situation. Claire looked up at Logan, who was checking and rechecking his med pack.
"Who is that?"
"The other teleporter, she can't stop time, but she is Elite at what she does. I heard rumors around the Limited Section that she once teleported 10 people, at once, after a transport plane was free falling. She even teleported parts of the plane as well."
Logan stuffed what looked to be packet of at least 200 syringes into Claire's bag. He never looked up when talking about the teleporter.
"Cythania, I assume? Is she from your section?"
Logan nodded. "Yeah, she is a tough cookie. I saw why she might be in the Limited Section maybe a week ago. She threatened to teleport some jerk over the Atlantic Ocean and leave him there. Right where the Titanic sank. So Claire, no grabbing her ass." Logan winked at her.
Claire couldn't help but smile. She had a bit of a crush. He may be taken, but he sure was pretty with his blonde hair and blue eyes.
"But in all honesty, I think she is in the Limited Section due to robberies. Not everyone is blood and guts like Sylar. They should give him his own section."
Logan dangerously looked at Sylar, who saw him eyeing him. He began to wrap up his conversation with Cythania. Claire prayed he wouldn't venture over to them. Logan looked back at Claire, suddenly very solemn.
"June crossed paths with him last night. At the wrong time. He killed her, Claire, and no one here is going to do a thing about it because he is the most powerful Special on the planet. June and I weren't close, but she didn't deserve that. No one does. What if it was Meg?"
Claire stared at him with sad eyes, feeling conflicted. Her thoughts darted to her earlier conversation with Sylar. She was almost indifferent to June's death, trying not to care, while Logan was much more affected. Claire was assaulted with guilt.
"I heard, I am so sorry. We weren't close either. I can tell you I understand what it feels like to have that monster touch a part of your life and destroy it."
Logan nodded, looking down at his pack. He was over-thinking, Claire could tell.
"Did you talk to Meg, before all this?"
"Yes, We had a long conversation and a rough good-bye. Just in-case, you know? She wanted to let you know to Kick-Ass, by the way."
Logan went very pale. He was staring at his watch. The time read 11:35.
"Thirty Minutes."
Her stomach began to do somersaults.
"Logan, I don't know if I can do this."
Logan looked surprised.
"No offense Claire, but you can't really die..."
"I don't think I can kill anyone."
Logan turned to her, placing his hands on her arms, gripping her tightly.
"Try not to than, care for others like you do. I've never met someone who was constantly on the look-out to help other people."
Claire felt overwhelmed by his statement and couldn't help but hug him. He hugged her back. Claire took a deep breath. He smelled like the ocean. Claire let him go slowly and turned back to her med-pack. Her moment with Logan was a comfort, but she felt like she was crossing a line against Meg. Claire's feelings may be a little more than she let on, and she needed to control that.
Claire felt a tap on her shoulder. Claire slowly turned to Hiro and Ando.
"Hey Guys, What's the plan?"
Hiro looked at her with a cool stare and Ando smiled weakly.
"Cheerleader, We are going to go transport the rest of the army, to begin the attack. We just wanted to get a chance to talk to you."
"You aren't saying goodbye..."
Ando shook his head.
"No, not all, We just want to be prepared."
Claire hugged Hiro tightly. He slowly hugged her back. Claire could feel the sword strapped to his back. Hiro had changed. Peter had even mentioned how he had to kill a man to ensure the arrival of a Brazilian family to the camp. Hiro was the first of them to suffer. He softened under her hug and adjusted his glasses when they let go. Ando gave her a tight hug.
"Good Luck Cheerleader."
Claire watched them disappear with a pop.
Peter cleared his throat and the group gathered.
"Well, all of you must know that we are almost at that time." Peter's voice was stern and strong. His leadership had hardened.
"The first line will be transported in ten minutes. Followed by the second. We will than be transported when a trench will be cleared for us. It will give us a clear view of the battle and if this distraction is strong enough for us to be teleported in. Our goal, is to reach Cell Block C. We believe that is where they are holding the captives. Sylar and I will take lead, Cythania and Hiro, stay behind us. They are vital to getting people out. Logan and Claire, you guys know what to do. Just follow us. The two of us have memorized the layout of the prison. Anyone sees anything that could be truly important, give out a yell. We are trying to get in and out undetected. We just have to wait till the tower is destroyed. That will give us out chance to be transported in. Understand?"
The group nodded in agreement.
"So, Get prepared. Remember...they will kill us without a second thought."
Claire crossed her arms and took a deep breath.
Emma appeared in the tent and Peter broke up the meeting. He hurried over to her. They spoke in hushed tones and shared an intimate kiss. Claire turned away to give them their privacy and goodbye. She suddenly felt an embrace from behind. Emma was hugging her and signed to her to stay safe. Claire nodded and felt tears release from her eyes. Claire knew she was scared, seeing Emma instilled more fear in her. Claire walked to the back of the tent, wiping some tears away. Emma turned and left the tent, leaving Peter with a small kiss.
The tent became extremely silent. The computers were the only noises to be heard. Claire suddenly felt a hand on her back, and she turned to find Sylar there. He looked down at her. Claire froze underneath his touch. Sylar quietly spoke to Claire. He didn't want the others to hear.
"I will make sure that you don't have to hurt anyone. Let me do it. I will have my eyes on you the entire time."
Claire took a deep breath and nodded looking away from him.
"Thank You."
The answer seemed to satisfy Sylar, who leaned up against the wall next to her. He watched the rest of the room. Claire leaned up against the wall next to him. She watched Logan, sitting on a side table, stare into space. Peter was re-looking at all the paper work on the main table, mumbling to himself. Cythania played with a switchblade and was carving into a table in the corner.
Sylar slowly looked at Claire.
"Our first War. How many do you think We'll be apart of?"
Claire thought for a moment, Sylar's breathed hitched a bit when she shifted towards him. He thought she was going to strike him.
"I wonder that. I always hoped to just be a viewer. Stay in the shadows. Kind of cowardly."
Sylar nodded.
"I have few reasons to be here for this one, so I can understand that."
Claire knew what he was alluding to.
"The powers you need to collect-"
"and you."
Claire looked at him with a cold stare.
"How heroic of you."
"I never said I was a hero."
"I wish I never did."
Sylar turned to Claire, now the two were facing another, leaning up against the wall.
"You are a hero. You are here now."
Claire shrugged.
"Maybe We can be heroes after today?"
Suddenly Hero and Ando popped into the tent. They looked sweaty, covered in dirt and a bit of blood.
"Time is now!"
Peter yelled and grabbed ahold of Hiro's hand, who grabbed Ando's. Logan grabbed Ando's. Claire hustled forward grabbing Logan's other hand. She felt Sylar slip his hand into hers, she felt her skin shiver. Cyathania took Sylar's, giving Claire a dark look, than took Peter's other hand. Sylar squeezed Claire's hand.
"Let's go be Heroes."