There's a Connection

[chimeramimicry]

"There's a Connection"
Who:  Peter and Nathan
When: Pre Season 1

It took ten minutes to actually get inside the building.  People wearing his last name on their chests and bags was a usual sight.  He wasn't presumptuous enough to actually wear a pin himself, though he kept one in his satchel.

Peter saw his brother cross in front of the glass, talking on the phone, and he tried to wave at him, but of course, the man had better things to do than glance out windows.  Nevermind that.  Peter finally pushed his way through the revolving doors of his brother's campaign headquarters and sighed as even more people clogged the small reception area.

"Nathan!"  He needed just a bit of help to catch up to his brother and not be stuck with the teaming masses.

Comments

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

He thought he heard his name, but people were always yelling Nathan's name. He figured it was just another person wanting him to sign off on something, or asking what he wanted for lunch, or how many buttons they should buy, who should be invited to his next rally.

It often felt overwhelming. Though, this was the path he'd chosen - or the path his mother and father and had chosen for him, rather.

Nathan hung up his phone prematurely, angry at the person on the other end of the line. Some snotty reporter trying to get things out of him. Bitch.

He sat down in his chair, his fingertips pressing into his lips as he thought for a few moments. And then he saw his baby brother's unmistakable head as Peter waved through the crowd. Nathan drew in a slow breath and exhaled through his nose. He'd told Peter not to come here when it was this busy.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

When wasn't Nathan busy though? Peter finally pulled his way through the crowd of people trying to get lunch orders from everyone, reached back to grab his fallen satchel, and half ran towards his brother.

"Nathan!" he said again, grinning as he pulled up another chair, spindly legs stretched out in front of him. "I had the most amazing--"

The look on his brother's face said 'can it,' but Peter decided to plunge right on through the icy waters of disenchanted Petrelli stares.

"--dream. Everytime I close my eyes lately, I just--"

"Mr. Petrelli, tuna again or pastrami?" Why did interns always interupt him?

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

He blatantly ignored his brother, considering the topic of discussion. "Pastrami," Nathan said shortly. "Without the fucking green peppers this time. I see green peppers on there and you're fired." The intern nodded profusely and dashed off to place his order.

"Pete I'm busy. I'll see you later, okay?" He picked up his notepad and flipped through some notes from an earlier meeting.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter's face fell. He frowned lightly at his brother before reaching across the desk to steal the yellow legal pad out of his hands. "Oh come on, Nathan. You'll conveniently forget! Again. You were suppose to come to my place last night for beers and brother night and you blew me off."

He was waiting for a sob story about staying with his wife. Nathan always did this to him, but like any kicked puppy, Peter forgave and forgot.

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

Scowling, Nathan stood and walked around his desk, snatching the notepad away. He closed his office door, pulling the blinds down for privacy. "How many times do I have to tell you I want to keep you out of this bullshit, Pete? You shouldn't be here. This is my place of business. It isn't a place of dreaming and comic books and pizza and beer."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Leaning back in his seat, Peter was a bit stunned. He blinked eyelashes half the length of Nathan's -- why did that man always get the best of everything? -- and looked from his empty hands to his cruel big brother.

"You're right, Nathan, this is bullshit!" And sometimes, the puppy found his voice. Generally it was not a very strong one, but he was frustrated.

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

Nathan sat on the edge of his desk in front of Peter, pressing his palms into his eyes. He always got such a headache at the office.

His hands moved to Peter's shoulders and he leaned down, looking his younger brother in the eye. "Sometimes I think you don't understand the kind of pressure I'm under here. I'd love to run off and play as much as you," blatant lie - this workhorse mentality had been forced upon him from birth, "but I just can't. If I don't have decent ratings at my next rally, this entire campaign was a waste. Say bye to twenty grand of ma's money and our summer trip to Italy."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Cowed, Peter frowned lightly up at his brother and sighed, one hand gently patting Nathan's. He fell for it every time, and worst of all, he knew he was and let it happen anyway.

"I'm not asking you to come and play. I know you're under a lot of stress, but--"

He shut his mouth and stood up, pulling out of Nathan's hands. He did feel guilty trying to monopolize his brother's time. He had two kids that probably saw him even less.

"Know what? You're right. Good luck, Nathan."

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

"Thanks Pete." He cupped the side of Peter's face and then gave it a pat. "No more talk about dreams, either. If you spent less time sleeping and more time working I wouldn't have to kick you out of my office all the time."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Setting his jaw, Peter gave his brother a little shove. "Oh, you won't have to anymore, Nathan," he said, not exactly grunting, though he certain had the desire to lean over and punch the man in the face. That'd look great at his rally! "I won't bother coming by."

As if that would hurt Nathan! The man probably just felt relieved!

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

He stepped back, fixing his tie. Nathan then set about fixing Peter's.....ugh, would it be called a jacket? It was kind of long and womanly. He needed new clothes.

"You'll be at my dinner tonight, right? Lots of old stuffy men trading laughs and stock tips. Ma and I both want you there, dressed to the nines."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter wanted to growl. Or hiss. Or complain or something! He just couldn't bring himself to do anything more than sigh in defeat and nod. "Yeah," he said, finally. "Yeah, I'll be there." He pushed out of the office and was immediately surrounded by chaos again. One day Nathan was going to listen to him.

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

Later that evening, Nathan was shmoozing with a gentleman named Henry Wallace, a millionaire from upstate Nrw York. Glass of scotch in hand and pristine suit on, Nathan occasionally glanced around to look for Peter. He didn't like these parties but they were better than working till 3am.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter did clean up nicely. A little gel in his hair and he could even look less like a kid and more like the adult everyone wanted him to be. He had on his tux, something simple, though the shirt was wrinkled under the jacket and he had used safety pins instead of cufflinks. Where they'd gotten to, he didn't know.

The problem with being the kid brother of someone like Nathan was that everyone ignored him. Maybe that was a blessing in this case. Whatever it may be, Peter found himself sitting in the corner, nursing a purposefully watered down glass of liquor.

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

He spotted Peter in the corner and noticed how...not put-together he was. Nathan signed, excusing himself from his conversation before he made his way over. He leaned against the wall next to Peter casually. "Come here often?"

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter's eyes lit up. Whether it was just having someone to talk to, a trick of the light, or Nathan himself, Nathan would invariably choose to believe the latter. "Only when you make me," he said, lips curling up. "Why do you even want me here anyhow? I'm not good at mingling."

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

"Sure you are. I've seen the way Mrs. Swartzman looks at you," he said, motioning to the 65 year old grave digging widow who had managed to stay in their social circle these past few husbands. She was in the middle of a group of younger men, flashing her jewels and laughing for their delight. "Maybe you can be her next conquest." Nathan nudged Peter with his elbow.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter stood up too quickly as he tried to remove himself from line of sight of the people in the group he gestured to. "I'm not just a piece of meat," he joked, though it felt uncomfortable. "It'd be like that one time mom's friend kept trying to get me to come over when her kids were gone."

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

"Come on Pete, it'd be a good way to pay for that pizza habit of yours. You could whore yourself out to any number of these old bags and you'd be set." He chuckled, sipping his scotch. Nathan would never admit it but he'd probably fucked half of the women in that room under thirty.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"But I'm not you," Peter said softly, not meaning that as a bad thing exactly. His brother was an asshole, but he loved him. They had a connection, always had.

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

"Oh, real nice thing to say Pete," Nathan replied, sliding his arms around his brother's shoulders. He gave him a gentle squeeze and then kissed the side of his head.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter gazed downward, inhaling the way that his brother smelled. I loved that cologne but couldn't pull it off himself...probably because it cost as much as his rent. Peter was too proud for handouts. He hadn't even touched his trust fund. Wrapping his arms around Nathan's waist, Peter leaned against him. "You know I love you, Nathan."

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

He glanced about the room to make sure nobody was looking and then pulled Peter into the kitchen. Only a few chefs were lingering making food and they knew better than to stare. Nathan gave Peter a proper hug and then went to the cupboard to refill his scotch. "How was your day, Pete?"

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

He wanted it to linger. They use to be so much closer until Nathan set his sights on office. Since he'd come back from New York after the Academy and the Navy to begin lawyering, Peter had enjoyed quite a lot of time with his older brother. It was no secret he idolized him.

"Everytime I close my eyes," he said, after Nathan left him go, "I have these amazing dreams! You're in most of them."

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

He gave Peter a look. "That isn't what I asked you. Damn it Pete, didn't you do anything productive today?" He leaned against the counter and sipped his drink.