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]

"No." He tightened his grip, even pulling Peter close enough for his brother to feel hot, alcohol-heavy breath on his face. "I've been down there mingling for hours. You haven't. I needed a break. You didn't. But you followed me up here like a helpless dog, Pete."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter tried to rip his arm out of Nathan's and only bruised himself in the process. Nurse versus Navy Vet. Who was going to win? The answer was annoyingly obvious. "This isn't a fundraiser for me," he replied. "I don't have to do whatever the hell--" Peter winced. 'Nathan, you're hurting me."

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

"Maybe that's what you need, Pete. How do you train a brat? Show them a little bit of pain. Ma should have sent you off to join the army. You'd be a fine specimen of a man right now, not an antisocial nurse."

No more alcohol for Senator Petrelli.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Well that was uncalled for! Peter flinched at his brother and frowned. Nathan knew quite well that Peter had been sheltered, not because he wanted to be, but because their mother seemed to enjoy clinging to her youngest.

Nathan could travel with his friends for senior week. Peter didn't have many friends because he was never allowed to go to parties and was too much of a 'gentle boy' to sneak out. Nathan went to Annapolis for college. Peter? NYU. He didn't move out until last year, and then it was only because he had begged his mother to let him go.

How could he know that he was being 'saved' for the one task he was born to do? Dying for his brother's sake was noble. Dying and killing a city so his brother could be president was not.

"Let go, Nathan."

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

"Make me. You think you're a man, Peter? Show me how much of a man you are." His eyes were wild with passionate anger, Arthur Petrelli's genes sparking inside of him. Like father like son.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter was not above hitting his brother, but not here. Not at this party. He was better 'trained' than that. "That'll look real good on the polls, huh?"

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

"Nobody can see us, Pete. Come on." He leaned in closer, their noses nearly touching. "Either make me let go, or I'll drag you down to the party like this. Like you're a child."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"Again, people will see," Peter said, pulling his head back. "Jesus, how much have you had tonight?"

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

"You know what? Fine. Leave." He gave Peter a shove and walked to his desk, sitting down to make a call. "See you later."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Well, now he was in nurse mode. Or, maybe it was just another extension of puppy mode. Peter trotted after his brother, took the handset out of his grip and replaced it in the cradle. "Nathan, look at yourself."

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

Nathan held up a finger. "Don't." He picked the phone back up and dialed again, calling one of his campaign managers to check the polls. Maybe Peter was right about him, and he was a big dick. Maybe the public saw that, and he wasn't in favor to win.

The idea ate away at Nathan's stomach.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Slowly, Peter sank into a seat opposite the desk and watched his brother. He could feel the bruise on his arm where he'd been held too tightly. It wasn't right, but he manned up and didn't complain.

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

Nathan rubbed his left eye. "Jerry, how's it looking? ...Uh huh. I see. Right. Thanks." He hung up and leaned back. "Thought you were leaving, Peter."

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Peter sighed. "Someone's got to stay with you," he murmured. "You're my big brother." It seemed so simple. Peter was still so forgiving. Nothing truly terrible had happened yet.

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

"I don't need a babysitter," he said, scowling. But it was cute on Peter's end. Truly.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"I'm not here to babysit you!" Peter bleated as he watched his brother's face and reached across the desk for his hand.

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

He allowed Peter to touch his hand, eyebrow lifting silently. What was the point of this?

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

It was just comfort. Peter needed to do it with his brother, just like he needed everything else. They were touchy. Their fingers met in passing whenever they were near each other. It was second nature. And also unlike what other brothers did with each other. Peter knew it. He knew it like he knew there was a sickness involved with the degree in which he loved his brother. "Do you want to go back down? I'll go with you."

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

Nathan put his other hand on top of Peter's, sandwiching it. His expression relaxed some and he shook his head. "I don't want to be down there any more than you do, Pete. What I really want, is another drink."

He stood, pulling away from Peter and walking to his booze cabinet, the slightest stumble to his step.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

Right, bad idea. Peter jumped to his feet and ran after his brother, getting between him and the cabinet. "Rememner the tree house you helped me build when I was twelve?" He was just trying to keep his mind off of everything. "It's still there and pretty safe." He wasn't going to say that he went up every once in awhile. "Wanna go?"

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

Nathan studied Peter's face and then smiled. "Yeah, that sounds nice, Pete." He bent down and reached around his brother, grabbing some vodka from the cabinet. "For the road," Nathan said, holding it up as he walked to the door. He went right down the hallway, and descended some back stairs.

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"That's not what I--" Well, he had gotten drunk for the first time in that treehouse. Fifteen. Nathan gave him rum and coke and he downed beers until he was left in a giggle fit and passed out. Peter remembered most of it fondly -- the rest was a blur of sleep against Nathan's chest!

He followed his big brother out to the treehouse and in their tuxes, they climbed on up. It was a cozy fit.

"Can I have the vodka?"

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

He uncapped it as he settled awkwardly in the corner, taking a swig and then passing it off to Peter. "Just like old times, right?"

[chimeramimic.livejournal.com]

"Yep, just like old times," Peter said before he tossed the rest of the bottle out of the trap door. He grinned a little sheepishly as the glass broke.

[dontflywithme.livejournal.com]

"Peter!! Why the fuck did you do that?!" Nathan frowned where the bottle had disappeared and then gave Peter a shove. "Asshole."