Thank You to Everyone Who Kept Reviewing. I promise to be better at updating.
I do not own heroes. :)
Claire felt her entire body ripple with the force of being teleported. Her body was twisting, turning in an inhuman nature. If she could puke, she would have puked at the arrival of their destination.
She had forced her eyes closed during the trip, which seemed extremely short but very long all at once. Claire hit the ground, feeling a heavy weight on her back. A coldness and stickiness splashed on her hands, legs and parts of her body. She was on her hands and knees in mud.
The sounds that erupted immediately into her ears were freighting. The silence of the War Tent the group was just in moments earlier made the new sounds of destruction a dramatic difference. Her eardrums felt like they were vibrating. Screams, gunfire, and explosions overwhelmed her before she could open her eyes to visually take in any sights. The smells of chemicals, gunpowder, and copper filled the air. Copper...which meant blood had been spilled. Claire was inhaling half the smells and tasting some of them. She felt the urge to puke again.
Claire scrambled to her feet, finding herself in a small trench, not far from a high, tannish prison wall. A beautiful sight of mountains were far beyond the prison, but an open land lay around the prison.
Half the group had teleported in the trench, the other half landed just in front of it. Claire grabbed ahold of Logan, who had landed on the ground right in front of her and the trench. She dragged him quickly in, unaware if they had been spotted or not. He found his footing after puking and helped Cythania into the trench as well. Peter, Hiro, and Ando had arrived on their feet and unfazed by the journey. They opened their packs and pulled out military style walkie talkies.
Peter, Hiro, and Ando overlooked the sight before them. They held a prison layout in their hands, going straight to work. They placed the map in front of them on the dirt, like a table.
Sylar jumped into the trench beside her, gleefully stepping in the mud. Claire didn't waste her time to scowl at his enjoyment of destruction or dirt, because she was taken back by the enormity of the sight at the Prison Wall.
The trench was overlooking the space at an odd angle to the prison wall. It would have been a wasteland if it wasn't filled with their lines of forces, and some international aid. 5,000 bodies were hurtling themselves in trenches or using their abilities to push forward. Their one focus at this particular Prison Wall. A very large tower just beyond the wall. The target of the forces. Hundreds of trenches had been constructed and a fire battle was raging between the prison wall and the ground prison wall was crammed with soldiers with machine guns and other explosive weaponry. Claire tried to count the number of soldiers on the prison wall, but decided to just guess the length of the wall. 4 football fields long. Claire stood right up against the dirt wall, gripping the ground in front of her. She could barely peek over it. She felt Sylar over her shoulder and that the rest of her group was now enraptured by the visual.
There was an onslaught of gunfire being aimed at the forces, even with large force fields being put up by Specials. The force fields protected different groups of people, they were not able to create one giant wall. The soldiers on the wall must have realized the separation of groups and seemed to aim at one force field at a time. Powers do weaken, but apparently the ammo of the prison did not. The soldiers were barraging each force field group at once. It was like watching light bounce off of glass.
The specials returned fire with small fire balls or electrical surges. Taking out two to three soldiers at a time. Some falling to their deaths at the bottom of the prison wall. The instant a soldier fell though, another would take their place.
Any movement between force fields and a sniper would take apart anyone moving. Claire watched a young boy, no older than 18, try to scramble to a different group. He was met with a bullet between the eyes.
Claire sucked in her breath and noticed a group of 30 people laying on the ground, closest to the prison wall and their trench. They were very still and there was no attempt by the medical team to get to them. Claire realized that the way their bodies were positioned that they were very much dead. It looked as if they were set on fire.
The constant gunfire had begun to make her ears hurt. She touched her ears and noticed blood.
She snapped out of her daze. She spun to Peter in the trench, who was on a walkie talkie.
"Peter! Why aren't they advancing!? We need that tower down so we can get in and get everyone out of here!"
Peter screamed into the walkie talkie.
"Edgar! Edgar?! I need to know what type of advancement or progress you've made. Over."
The walkie talkie cackled with silence.
"Edgar!?"
Sylar interrupted.
"I think your boy is dead. How much command they have over there?"
"Plenty." Peter looked seriously at Sylar. He didn't need to be pushed.
Peter attempted to radio again but was interrupted by Selina. Claire could tell by her voice over the radio that she was very close to the front. The echo of gunfire banging in the background.
"Peter, Edgar's dead. He was on the first line, they detonated from underneath us. We had to fall back so we could have the metal controllers take out the mines. Slight delay, but give me two minutes. That tower will be down. Over."
"Fantastic, Once We are in, get everyone out of here."
"Sounds good to me. Over."
Claire looked back to the battle, and could see the front four groups of force fields meld together. It was a slow process, but the force field wielders had to move slowly and together to keep the wall strong. It was like watching a game of Jenga.
The Prison Wall began to panic and triple their firepower upon the wall that was building before them. Claire watched as guns began to be pulled from one half of the soldiers' hands and dismantled in mid-air before them. Sylar chuckled. The telekinesis Specials had advanced close enough, thanks to the larger force field to be able to dismantle some of the soldiers.
"I wonder who taught them that?"
Sylar leaned over Claire from behind. Locking her between his arms, gripping the dirt in front of him, side by side to her hands. Claire felt her heart began to beat fast.
"The Game isn't over yet." She snarled at him.
As Claire has said, the danger was not over, the soldiers could easily get more weapons.
Claire could see that there was a circle of 100 people forming behind the force field. It looked as if a ball of energy was being formed in the middle of a circle. The group focused their powers into the middle, looking very much like a scene of a Witch movie. It looked like a mixture of fire, ice, electricity and energy molding and growing into the size of a mini-van.
"Peter, Did you teach this to them?"
Peter nodded sternly. "Those with certain kinds of abilities, We took them aside. Privacy and secrecy may not be great for relationships, but fantastic for War."
Claire nodded, amazed by the size of the ball.
"Are they going to have to drop the force field?"
"Yes, this is the part that We hope goes quickly." Peter looked sternly, his scar intensifying his face.
The ball began to swirl in a circle, as if it was being propelled in mid-air. The telekinesis crowd began to to spin it. Claire sucked in her breath. The force field was about to be dropped, leaving everyone to be sitting ducks to machine gun, but the goal was to drop the tower.
Hiro needed to teleport them into the base. They needed to do their part.
She began to silently pray.
The battle suddenly became very still, almost quiet. There was even a calm about it.
The force field dropped and the ball was sent at a medium speed at the tower.
The second the wall had dropped, gunfire erupted into groups of people. She held her breath and turned away for a moment. She had just witnessed a row of people being mowed down by heavy fire. Logan gripped her shoulders.
Claire realized that Sylar and Peter were now standing outside the trench. Both with their hands up, concentrating on the ball. The ball soared over the wall and struck the tower completely. The tower erupted in several explosions. Soldiers were sent scrambling.
"Jenga." Sylar yelled.
Claire started to wondered about Peter's abilities, but was suddenly a ball of nerves. It was their part. They were being sent into the unknown now. Claire watched as their forces retreated quickly. Small groups of people began to disappear. The other teleporters were moving people away as fast as possible. Soldiers were baffled by the loss of the tower and by the sudden retreat, attempting to pick off any Special struggling to retreat from range.
Sylar and Peter spun back into the trench and the group joined hands in a haste. Hiro and Cythania sent them into the prison.
Claire wasn't on her hands and knees when they landed in the prison.
They were teleported directly into Cell Block C. It had a high ceiling and smelled of rust. It also smelled of assorted human smells. Claire scrunched her nose and shook her head. The smells were a bit overwhelming.
"Is that what I think it is?"
Sylar was right beside her in a split second. A joking face greeted her.
"Human odors and some decaying...The usual concentration camp decor."
Claire swiftly grabbed his hand, freezing him. It was a intimate gesture. She looked at him coyly. He stared softly back at her. Claire quickly snapped one of his fingers with a large pop, snapping any moment he thought they were sharing. Sylar grimaced, closing his eyes, and snarling his teeth at the sharp pain.
"Keep your mouth shut."
Claire briskly followed the rest, who were making their way to the middle of the room. None of them had seen their little incident. Sylar stalked slowly behind her, readjust his finger.
The room was made out of steel, with thee large windows letting in a shaded amount of light. Claire wanted to gag at the sight of the cells and the quality of the air. There was an old fashion twirling stair case to lead to the three levels of cells. Each level had at least 10 cells, each filled almost tightly with people. They began to yell at the sight of them.
"Claire, that box there, pull the level down. It releases them without setting off an alarm. each level has one. Go!"
Claire darted to the end of the room, where an old fashion looking switch was placed. She pulled down on it hard. The doors of the first level slid open. An old woman stumbled out of the cell closest to her. Claire lifted her up and felt barely any body weight. She looked as if she were a cancer patient. Her head was shaved and she wore a johnny like in a hospital. Claire realized they were all dressed like that. They had been experimented on. Claire began to grit her teeth.
Sylar quickly flew up to the next two levels, pulling down on the same level box. Each cell held at least four people.
"Peter, Why are there no guards?" Logan asked as he picked up a small girl into his arms, while supporting her mother. Claire moved the old woman into more of the hallway, leaning her against the wall. Other prisoners helped Claire, taking over for her. Claire ran up the stairs to assist Sylar with the next levels prisoners. She told them all to stay calm and quiet. They didn't need to make their own alarm with noise. They moved as silently as possible down the stairs to the hallway in a single file. They must have been use to walking single file.
"A full-fledge attack on the a barrier over a bunch of test rats. These people don't consider them valuable...like We do."
Peter's answer sent chills up Claire's back.
Claire moved to the third level, ushering people quickly. She surveyed the third level, watching as they slowly moved down the stair case. The crowd was so obediently quiet, she almost wished they made more noise. That they were not truly lost. Claire spotted an unmoving person, laying in a cot in the last cell. She moved to go into the cell, but Sylar grabbed her arm before she could enter. She could not see the woman's face due to the top bunk. Sylar pulled her away from the cell.
"Claire, this level is clear."
Claire tried to shake him.
"What? I have to see if she needs-"
Sylar looked sternly at her, with a look she had never seen before. He was begging her to listen with a mere look.
"This level does not have a living soul on it."
Claire's mouth formed a soft 'Oh'. She nodded and turned toward the direction of the stairs.
He let go of her arm, knowing she wouldn't fight him. Claire stood very still for a moment.
"Ok, but let me at least cover her with something. Not leave her here. She isn't a number to me."
Claire moved before Sylar could grab her at again.
"Claire! Don't! Peter, get up here now!"
Claire spun the corner of the cell and walked into it. She was annoyed at how Sylar was protecting her from death, when all he did was bring her death.
Claire stopped dead in her tracks. The wind was sucked out of her lungs.
Sandra lay on the cot before her. Her body rigid and her face looked frozen in pain. She was barely covered in a smock, that was ragged. She looked starved and her skin was a grayish color. Sandra's beautiful hair had been shaved like the others. Claire seemed transfixed at the sight of her mother with no hair.
Claire suddenly was on the ground, not recalling when she had collapsed. An animalistic howl escaped her lips and her chest felt like it was caving in. She curled herself into a ball and covered her face.
The sobs didn't start until she felt arms wrap around her. They held her for a moment, which felt like a lifetime to Claire.
"Claire, We need to go."
Claire felt her eyes blur and a warm, wetness was plastered to her chest and shirt. She had already left her mother once and look what happened. She gasped out a heavy "No." The arms suddenly became very strong and pulled her up to her feet. She held onto the ground and wall with her nails, scrapping and breaking her nails. Claire turned her body into the person holding her and found Sylar gripping her tightly. He used one arm to remove her med-pack and began to take syringes out. He somehow held her close with one arm, and strong enough to keep her from going back into the cell. Peter appeared and glanced into the cell. His face sunk and he pulled Claire into his arms.
Claire gripped him and sobbed into his shoulder.
She felt a harsh tug on her arm and looked down to it. Sylar was taking her blood as quickly as possible. He looked up at Peter, ignoring her eyes.
"Take some of her blood now, give it out to those who need it, just in case."
Claire felt Peter nod.
"Claire, I need you to focus now. Ok? We need to get these people out of here."
Claire didn't respond. She felt her mind begin to spin.
Sylar filled at least twenty syringes and dropped the pack down to Logan on the Lower Level. Claire was unfazed by the process.
Logan began to treat a few set of people, who needed aid standing.
Claire gripped Peter tightly, feeling him pull her away from him.
"Claire, I need to lead. Let me go, it will be okay."
He pulled her away by her arms and looked her in the eyes. She stared back at him, no longer crying. Her face was almost stone. She nodded and stared at the wall past him. Peter gave her a tight squeeze.
"Please, don't get lost." he said softly to her.
He straightened up and shouted an order to Logan. Claire didn't hear it or compute it. She felt her mind going blank and in overdrive of memories all at once.
Peter looked at Sylar.
"You watch her or I'll kill you."
Sylar stared coldly back.
"Go lead, Hero."
Peter headed down to the Lower Level.
Hiro and Cythania had already started to teleport two at a time. The motion and stress of teleportation was a smaller strain in smaller groups. These people were already at a dangerous health level, no need to kill them in the process of rescuing them. The syringes of Claire's blood were being passed quickly to those who needed aid to stand. The blood was an aid, not a cure. The state of these victims would require a heavier blood transfusion.
Sylar went eye-level with Claire and held her face in his hands.
"Claire, We need you to not shut-down. They need you, the people we came to help."
Claire didn't fight him and just stared blankly. He couldn't read her emotions.
"I need you to fight."
An alarm began to sound in the Prison. Their time was almost up until they were bombarded.
He shook her violently suddenly.
"Claire, We have to go. I can be useful and carry out one of these test rats instead of you. Isn't that what you wanted? Stop being so selfish."
He grew angry at her silence and slapped her hard. This awoke Claire and she punched him square in the face. Claire breathed out a grunt, like she had come up from under water, gasping for a breath.
She looked around like she didn't remember the place, but quickly put the puzzle back together.
Sylar rubbed his face.
"Thank God for your body's ability to cope quickly."
Claire nodded and ran down the stairs. She could not look back that cell. Her last memories of her mother going through her brain. She felt anger filling her veins. Sylar was on her heels and as the reached the Lower Level, they found Hiro, Ando, Peter, and three prisoners left.
Claire wondered how long it took her to snap out of her tiny episode.
Hiro looked grimly at them as they reached the group. The alarm was overwhelming. Peter looked at Claire, who stared back and nodded sheepishly.
"We can't teleport any longer, they must have a back up disrupter."
Hiro looked strained, dirty, and a bit of blood seeped from his nose.
Peter started to move the opposite direction of the exit, to the solid wall, beyond the spiral stairs. Claire lifted the arm of one of the prisoners over her shoulder. She was the same age as Claire, even though she looked much older. Claire was so surprised by the lack of weight. It sickened her. Revenge began to creep in her stomach. Claire pondered to herself about her restrain to kill someone.
"Sylar, help me with the wall."
Sylar and Peter stood in front of the wall and made the motion of punching with both fists. The wall exploded forward. Making a noise that would surely attract attention. Ando and Peter helped the two other prisoners out into a open courtyard. They stepped carefully through the rubble of the wall and on the look out for any soldiers.
Oddly, none had turned up yet.
As Claire struggled to move the girl over the rubble, Sylar picked her up swiftly and brought her over the rubble. He placed the girl softly down, allowing her to lean against him. Claire stumbled behind them, trying to keep up. Hiro followed Claire in the same fashion. The open courtyard in the prison looked to have been a prison yard. Abandoned basketball courts, with no nets, and bare tar mats. The sun suddenly seemed very bright and the court had created a bit of a wind tunnel. Peter and Hiro began to panic, trying to find the right direction to escape.
The girl that leaned on Sylar began to faint. Claire caught her mid-fall. Sylar slowly helped place her on the ground.
"She's my age." Claire said softly.
Sylar looked at her and back at the girl.
"I will never let this happen to you."
Claire looked up at him.
"I will never let this happen to anyone again. Unless they deserve it."
Sylar read her thoughts of revenge with a mere stare at her eyes. The emerald green that had shone so brightly, had suddenly become a deep, intense green.
"Now, that's what I like to hear."
Silence filled the courtyard.
Sylar stood up at the stillness of the courtyard.
"Something isn't right."
A bullet ripped through Sylar's skull sending him to the ground. His blood sprayed across Peter's face. Claire jumped in front of the girl. Peter, Hiro, and Ando hit the ground behind a large bolder, where the two other prisoners had been placed.
The courtyard filled with silence again.
Sylar groaned and twitched awake after a few moments. Claire watched as the bullet slowly was pushed out of his skull. It was odd to watch her power appear on someone else.
Sylar stood up quickly and angrily. He growled to the courtyard.
"Send the Cavalry, the Tanks, and whatever you got...That just tickled."
Silence filled the courtyard. Claire and the group searched for the source of the shot.
"You always have to say something don't you? Cockroach?"
Claire swallowed hard at the sound of that voice. She looked to the right side of the courtyard. There was a bridge that over looked the area and standing right in the middle of it was her father.
Sylar snarled and stepped closer to the bridge.
"Bennett."
Claire walked up behind Sylar, and stared in disbelief at her father. He wasn't wearing his classic pair of glasses. He was wearing no glasses in fact. His hair was slicked back in a stylish fashion. He wore a dark suit, with a dark purple shirt, with no tie. He leaned on the Bridge looking down at them. He was still wearing his classic smirk.
"D-Dad?"
Claire tried to piece together what had occurred. Peter and the rest slowly joined them in their staring up at the bridge.
"Claire-bear, you seem rather comfortable with your new-partnerships."
Bennett stared directly at Sylar. Claire felt instant shame. After all these months, her dad could still make her feel like a little girl. She ignored the comment.
"Dad, What are you doing with the C.E.O.S.? They do everything that you try to prevent. I have to make certain alliances to survive. You can help us."
Sylar shot her a look like she had hurt him, but glared back up at Bennett.
Bennett laughed at Claire's comment.
"Sweetheart, I run the C.E.O.S."
Claire nearly choked on the air.
"What?! Why?!"
"Cause Claire-bear, You threw it all the way. The work I put into protecting you and everyone else. The amount of people you revealed to the world. You created an imbalance. You threw away My purpose."
Claire felt a tear fall down her cheek. Bennett continued in a mock scolding tone.
"I needed to create a new one, Honey-Bear."
Peter shook with anger.
"You've killed hundreds of people, Bennett. For what? Revenge on Claire?"
Bennett shook his head, chuckling.
"Oh Peter, You are as abrasive as your brother. And I'm not talking about Nathan. Specials have done nothing but caused me pain. That's all the lot of you do, cause pain, with your mutation. My life has been taken from me more than once, because of Specials. The most Special one of them all...hurt me the most."
Bennett stared intently at Claire.
Her head begin to spin. The justification that all this was her fault had reached a new level of intensity. Sylar interrupted the conversation.
"Bennett, Your lack of humanity is what causes you pain. Instead of taking the blame for your inability to be an average, white, American bacon-maker at a local supermarket, you become a killer of what you don't understand. You lacked Husband and Fathering skills. You can't admit you are a killer, so we are merely a scapegoat to your inability to connect. An excuse for your problem. Without Us, you'd be a run of the mill Serial Killer."
Bennett stared coldly at Sylar.
"Sylar, You of all people, talking about humanity? and Serial Killers?"
Sylar smirked up at him.
"Takes one to know one."
Claire found Sylar's words to be profoundly true and comforting all at once. She interjected furiously at her father, who was giving them that crazy smirk.
"At least Sylar doesn't deny what he is."
"Oh, Don't you have confidence with your big, bad stalker defending you? How easily you forget your biological parents?"
"You killed Mom. You allowed her to suffer here. You are just as much of a monster as he is."
Bennett stilled at the mention of Sandra.
"Sandra, was unfortunate. She didn't follow the rules. I set an example. This is war."
Claire gritted her teeth at him. Two angry tears fell down her face.
"Monster."
Bennett sighed and suddenly shot Ando straight in the forehead.
Both Peter and Sylar had made the motion of stopping the bullet, but nothing happened. Hiro screamed and knelt next to his friend. Claire knelt next to Hiro, gripping his shoulders. Claire felt his grief through his shaking shoulders and soft sobs.
Peter became enraged and attempted to pull Bennett down with his power. He screamed in frustration. Nothing happened.
Bennett, reloaded his gun, and twirled it around his finger in a playful manner.
"So Dramatic Peter."
Mohinder suddenly appeared next to Bennett, holding a gun to the back of a Indian man's head.
"As you may have guess, The Haitian isn't the only one with an ability to turn powers on and off. All those people you "saved" Peter, they have no abilities. We did some testing and found a way to infuse this young man's blood into a cure. I can cure you all."
Peter spit back at him.
"Then why leave them in there? Like animals? If they are apart of your perfect race now?"
Claire felt Hiro still and just lay his head on Ando's chest. Claire stroked his head and softly cried with him. They were ignoring the conversation going on.
"To bring you all here. So I can fix you. All of you."
"Clearly, you need some fixing, Bennett."
Sylar tapped his head, indicating that Bennett needed psychiatric help.
"I just want to put you in the ground, Sylar."
Bennett raised his gun to the direction of Sylar. and Claire sprang in front of Sylar.
Bennett stilled.
"Well, Claire, you seem to be choosing one Monster over another."
Claire ignored his comment.
"What you are doing is wrong, Dad. We don't need to be fixed. We can make the world a better place. Why can't we live just the way we are?"
"Over us, over us normal Humans." Mohinder had finally spoke. He stepped closer to the Indian man and looked sternly down at them. "Who says that you won't do this to us?"
"I killed the wrong Suresh." Sylar growled through his teeth.
Before Claire could answer, the Indian man slammed his head back into Mohinder's face. Mohinder fell forward, slamming his hands, and dropped the gun down into the courtyard. The Indian man was slammed up against the bridge wall by a seething Mohinder. He threw a few punches into the man's side, but held him up so the group could still see him. He had him in a tough arm twist. The man grimaced in pain.
Claire had scrambled forward and grabbed the gun. She quickly lifted it up and found herself pointing it directly at her father. He was pointing his gun directly back at her.
There was a pause.
"Claire-Bear, don't you want to be normal? Wasn't it all that you craved for years?"
Claire slowly answered.
"I needed to grow up, make some mistakes, and find out who I truly am. A pretty normal process for any Cheerleader. A process of a normal human. My power doesn't define me, but it is apart of me."
Bennett narrowed his eyes at her.
"Are you going to shoot me, Claire?"
Claire faltered, but kept her gun raised and pointed. Sylar slid up to her side and slowly began to place his hand on the gun. He was trying to keep it on Bennett and transfer the gun to his hand. Claire realized he was trying to keep his promise to her. He wasn't going to let her kill anyone.
But she had grown up, made some mistakes and found out who she truly was in almost one full day. Claire suddenly pushed Sylar away and fired a shot at her target.
She heard another shot being fired and felt a bullet rip through her neck. She hit the ground, the sun blinding her as she fell and began to choke on the ground. It felt like a tight grip and drowning at the same time. She panicked at the pain and blood gurgled from her mouth. The sun kept her blind and she suddenly could only hear muffled sounds.
A moment passed, but Sylar and Peter were suddenly over her shouting. Blackness struck her.
She felt the sensation of teleporting and she slowly awoke to a blue sky, with a less demanding sun.
She felt her throat slowly healing and she blinked her eyes.
Claire shot up, grasping at the ground. Peter, who had been standing over her, dropped to the ground. He wrapped his arms around her. He began to cry into her hair. The emotion and grief of the day washed over Claire.
"I thought I lost you."
Thoughts of her Mother, Ando, and everyone else who had suffered fill her mind.
The Indian Man, whom she had shot, instead of her father.
To Save them.
Claire started to cry with Peter.
She blinked around to realize that they were back at the camp.
They had made it back to the Camp. She felt a sense of safety and dread build at the same time.
They were surrounded by fellow members of the camp, who whispered to each other. Their faces read fear, confusion, and sympathy. There would be a need for an explanation about Bennett. Another negative connection for Claire, but she didn't care at the moment.
Claire, looking over Peter's shoulder, saw the three prisoners they had saved being carried off to the Medical Tent by the camp members. She breathed in and clutched Peter tighter.
The two of them slowly let go and stood up. The crowd circled them, hugging both Claire and Peter equally. Questions were being thrown out to the two about the mission and its success.
Family members and friends, that had been imprisoned, had been returned to many. Their arrival was a warm, unexpected one.
Claire looked for Hiro and saw him carrying Ando off to a distant tree. He was aided by another camp member with a shovel.
Claire turned to Peter, who shared a look with Claire.
Emma came bursting through the crowd and wrapped her arms around Peter's neck. Claire felt herself hug the both of them.
They were her only family now.
Claire dreaded to think what happened to Lyle.
It was something she would have to worry about from now on.
Claire began to move quickly through the crowd, that began to ask Peter questions. No one stopped her.
She walked a good distance outside the camp, to where Hiro was busying shoveling a grave. She watched him for a moment. He looked like a mess, but determined.
His face was stern, cold and intense. Claire said nothing to him. She knew nothing would change how he felt. No words can fix something like this. So she climbed into the grave with him, grabbing an extra shovel. She began to shovel, feeling relief from the work.
A simple amount of work allowed Claire to release her emotions without tears.
The two dug, even though exhausted by their mission, till the sun had begun to set. It painted a lovely picture for a small moment.
Claire left Hiro for a moment and retrieved a white sheet.
When she returned, she allowed him to wrap Ando very slowly in the sheet. Hiro would stop to cry or pause.
The two said nothing to each other. Words did not need to be exchanged.
Peter appeared with Emma. He brought a large stone to be used as a head stone. Hiro and Peter slowly lowered Ando's body into the grave. The four of them stood around the grave.
Hiro finally spoke out loud.
"We bury our dead too fast and too soon in this place. That is what Ando would say to me. I would try to look on the brighter side of things. I always thrived to be the best Superhero there was. Be the most happy. I wanted to be the best, but I know I could never be the best. Ando was always the best. He was the best. He knew right from wrong. Good vs Evil. My Compass, My Best Friend, My Partner, My Brother."
Hiro spoke a few words in Japanese. The three of them did not ask for a translation. They knew they needed to allow a sense of privacy for Hiro.
Emma weeped softly as Hiro spoke.
They slowly filled the grave and placed the head stone. Peter used his power to carve Ando's name.
He simple wrote Hero underneath the name.
The three of them turned away and walked back into the camp. They left Hiro, who seemed not ready to move from his friend's grave.
Claire barely said a word, but Peter slowly explained to Emma what had gone on at the Prison.
They walked into their camp, but Claire made a side track to a shower.
It was an uneventful shower. No tears, no breakdown.
Claire had done that too many times today.
Claire changed her clothes into dark sweat pants and a black tank top.
She sat outside the campfire staring at the fire. Hugging herself from the chill, her thoughts trailed back to her mother.
She overheard Peter and Emma talking in their tent. They were talking about the day's events.
Claire sighed to herself, putting her head on her knees, curling into a ball.
She didn't need a review already. Every moment since being shot by her father seemed short. Unreal.
Claire put her sneakers on and started walking. Claire passed campsites that were wide awake. Each crowd trying to obtain every piece of information about the battle. She overheard soldiers retelling their details, some bragging. She also observed other soldiers who were openly disturbed by what had transpired. Claire felt a sickness in her stomach.
She walked in a direction she found surprising.
The Limited Section.
Claire wondered about Logan and Meg. She found the Limited Section abuzz like the rest of the camp. Rowdy bunch as ever, added drinking to the event. Claire felt different walking through this time. Her head was up and focused. Her face was stony and cold. It cleared a path for her. Groups fell silent as she passed by. Word about her father must have spread or that she had finally taken the plunge in the dark pool. Claire still hadn't thought about how she had put a bullet between an innocent man's eyes. She was one of them in a sense.
Claire paused at the point where she turned left to meet up with Logan or turn right to the trailers.
Claire turned right. Logan and Meg would be a boat load of talking.
Claire needed something else.
She walked cautiously toward Sylar's trailer, trying to not make a noise. Her heart was picking up and she didn't know why she was seeking him out.
He was going to be real with her. He wouldn't allow her to be weak.
Claire paused outside the door and raised her hand to knock.
She stilled and lowered her hand. Claire began to regret her decision.
The door swung open and Cythania stumbled out of the trailer as if being pushed by an unseen force. The door slammed behind her.
She fell atop of Claire, who yelped in surprise.
The two separated and Cythania gave Claire the biggest death glare on the planet. She reeked of booze.
"Oh Great, Little Ms. Goodie-Goody."
Claire rolled her eyes and felt her inner Mean Girl come out.
"Whatever, We are on the same team here. What is your problem?"
"You, walking around, like you can fix this. You get so much respect, but with so many mistakes."
"My mistakes are unintentionally. Maybe if yours weren't so intentional, people would forgive you too. And not think of you as a psycho."
It was a shot in the dark kind of insult, but it had worked to Claire's surprise.
Cythania raised he fist to hit Claire, but paused.
She smiled a scary grin and shook her finger at her.
"You get a pass today. On Account of your mom. Bitch."
Claire sucked in a breath and glared back.
"But Ms. Goody, Watch your back."
Claire huffed and watched Cythania stumble away from the trailers. She was left in silence outside of Sylar's trailer. She gathered her courage and opened the door.
Claire climbed the stairs in a quick motion, scanning the trailer.
Sylar stepped out of the bathroom, shirtless, but with black, sleep pants on. He was busy drying his hair with a towel, that he didn't see her.
"Listen, Cythania, I threw you out already. Don't test me today-"
Sylar paused when he finally looked up to see Claire standing in front of him. Claire held her hands at her sides, almost in a defiant way.
"Claire, I thought you were-"
"Cythania, yeah, I met her on her way out."
Sylar paused, folding the towel in a very careful manner. He placed it slowly on the counter. He was acting as if he didn't want to spook Claire.
"Would you like Tea?"
Claire nodded.
Sylar slipped into his bedroom and put on a tight, black t-shirt.
They were silent as Sylar brewed the tea.
Claire sat at the small table staring out the window of the trailer. Grateful for the silence. Watching the campfires in the distance. Sylar watched her, taking in her stillness.
He carefully placed a cup in front of her and sat across from her with his own cup.
Claire sipped her tea quietly, feeling very calm.
She broke the silence.
"My father killed my mother, maybe not by his own hands, but by neglecting to help her. Not loving her. He killed her. I want to kill him."
Claire didn't look at Sylar when she confessed out loud.
Sylar took a sip and waited for her to continue.
"I killed that man so that everyone could all escape safely. What happened to Ando, should never happen again. I want to make Bennett pay."
Sylar nodded.
"Your father should pay."
"My father is dead, you killed him. Bennett needs to pay." Claire said cooly.
Sylar leaned in.
"So you came to the Big Bad Wolf's cave to confess your dark secret? You can't pin this on me Claire. Not later on."
Claire sipped her tea. She didn't falter at his words.
"I don't know why I came here. I just needed to. You don't lie to me or judge me. I feel more content with myself now, more than ever."
Sylar leaned back, lowering his defenses.
"What if I don't want you here?"
Claire sipped her tea and raised her eyebrow.
"Want me to go get Cythania back here?"
Sylar smiled his wolf grin and laughed a hearty laugh.
"God, No."
"Aww, You have a fan."
"I hate fans. Sloppy, unoriginal and just too needy."
The two giggled.
"Sylar, will you help me kill Bennett?"
"Why not ask your Super Fan? Peter Perfect?"
"Peter? He wouldn't let me kill that man today if he could help it."
Sylar scoffed.
"Well, Red, I guess you got yourself a Wolf."
Claire finished her tea and nodded. She stared down at the cup.
Sylar took a deep breath and stood up, putting his cup in the sink.
He turned back and Claire was standing in front of him. She handed him her cup. He took it slowly.
"Doesn't it feel like this morning was a lifetime ago?" she asked him.
He nodded and placed her cup in the sink. Claire walked over to the couch and settled herself down on it. She pulled her feet up and leaned her head on her hand.
Sylar stared at her.
"My father murdered my mother in front of me. He slashed her skull."
Claire stared at him.
"Maybe, that's why you don't have a problem being around me."
Claire thought about it for a moment.
"Perhaps. Similar building blocks. Very true now."
Sylar grinned at her memory and sat across from her.
"I found him, wanted him to still be my father. He proved to be-"
"A disappointment."
"So I left him to die alone and of cancer. Teasing him with your ability."
Claire sat up and placed her hands in her lap. She played with her hands.
"Do you regret it?"
Sylar inched carefully next to her. His leg touching her knees. He had never been this close to Claire with her demeanor so calm.
"Not for a moment."
Claire nodded, she noticed his advancement. Claire stood up, making Sylar jump up as if he had done something wrong.
"Can I use your restroom?"
He nodded.
She walked briskly into the bathroom and washed her face. She stared in the mirror. She studied her face. It looked different. She shook the feeling and turned back to the door.
Claire stepped out to find Sylar leaning on the same counter where they had first kissed. Their first real kiss, when she lost herself.
The silence between the two was semi-tense.
"I found my mother dead today. You wouldn't take advantage of me would you?"
Claire found herself craving comfort. She wanted to get lost.
Sylar surely craved her.
Sylar slowly walked up to Claire, looming over her. He placed his hand on her cheek. It sent ripples through Claire's skin.
"Do you want me to?"
Claire slowly answered.
"No."
A shiver ran through Sylar's spine. She was lying to him. Claire knew he would know she was lying. Claire felt such immense emotional pain, she just needed to feel something good.
When Sylar leaned down to her face, she pulled him into her kiss.
She welcomed Sylar's mouth. He moved slowly at first with his tongue, but turned into his aggressive self. He kissed her forcefully and hard against his bedroom door. Her body slamming into the door. Claire felt him crashing down on her. He tasted so perfect and she bite down hard on his lip. They both tasted blood.
Sylar growled into the kiss more so. The bite had thrilled him. He was pulling out sides of Claire he had never seen. He gripped her hips close to his and slowly roamed his hands up her back, pulling her up to him more so. He was rough.
Claire shivered under his hands. She broke the kiss, for a breath, and watched him try to follow her mouth. His eyes in a predator state.
Claire felt him open his bedroom door behind her and he guided them into it with out letting go of her, kissing her neck. He bite at her.
Claire broke away from him, with a small push. She felt cornered in his bedroom.
"Sylar, I don't-"
Sylar pulled her in for another kiss, stopping her from speaking. Claire felt a thrill go through her.
Claire roughly fell onto the bed, facing up towards him. Sylar crawled over her and kissed her slowly. He started to roam his hands all over, sending Claire into waves of sensation. He pulled her tight to him. Claire moaned into his kiss.
It sent Sylar over the edge. He began to fumble with Claire's sweatpants tie.
He paused and stared at Claire. He was unsure to go any further.
Claire grunted in frustration at his pause. She lifted her tank top off, revealing her lace bra. She pulled off his shirt, showcasing his scars. Scars from before her ability.
Claire ran her hands over his scars for a moment.
"I still hate you."
Sylar stared at her. He didn't feel his lying ability go off.
He found it to be utterly sexual though. It propelled him forward. He wanted something that would never want him.
He kissed her hard, growling. Using his ability, he removed their bottoms, without breaking their kiss. She gasped at the movement.
He adjusted himself at her entrance and broke their kiss.
Claire was breathing heavily, staring up at him. He wanted to watch her face. The anticipation was so large.
Sylar pushed his hips forward, breaking the last barrier between them. Claire felt his large presence and felt herself trying to adjust. They both gasped at the connection. Sylar physically shuddered at the feel of her.
Claire's face was a mixture of pain and pleasure. Sylar memorized the entire moment.
He moved slowly once more, allowing things to adjust.
Claire quietly moaned into his ear. He gripped her tightly with his next thrust.
Sylar felt himself take over. He started thrusting with a slow, but hard pace. He focused on Claire's face.
Her eyes were closed and she was biting her lip. It was putting him over the edge. Claire felt a warmth building within her. The intense pleasure was building. She focused on the sensations and pushed her hips back at him. Sylar groaned at the move.
"Claire, Christ-"
Claire whispered back.
"Harder."
Sylar surged forward with a heavy force with his hips. Claire grunted at the pain, but instantly felt the warmth closing in. He became more intene with his pace, controlled, but intense. She arched her back, feeling his hands gripping her hips. She gripped his arms and felt heat covering her chest. In an instant, she was overwhelmed with pleasure. Claire grunted and froze feeling the sensation she was craving wash over her. She cried out and felt her heart speed up. She felt herself go semi-limp. Her body finally was exhausted.
Sylar tried to savor every moment of being within Claire. Feeling her release underneath him sent him over the edge and he muffled his release. He stilled, holding himself over her, still within her.
They both were breathing heavily. Claire had her eyes closed and held her forehead with her hand. Sylar leaned forward, kissing her collarbone slowly.
Claire pulled his face to hers and kissed it slowly.
Sylar slowly freed himself from her, sending shivers through the both of them. Claire, turned on her side, away from Sylar.
She slowly started to drift off to sleep.
In her mind, she'd deal with the consequences tomorrow. She was unsure of how this would change everything. It was going to be a secret for now.
Claire felt Sylar lean up behind her, pulling her into his arms. He rested his head on the back of her neck. Claire tried to not freeze under his touch.
His breathing soon became steady and she realized he was sleeping. She focused on his steady breathing.
Claire felt her eyes drift, forgetting the dread of tomorrow.