Heroes, "The Wrong Brother" Tracy, Nathan, Peter

[quirkysmuse]

Fandom: Heroes
Title: The Wrong Brother
Characters/Pairing: Tracy, Peter, Nathan
Rating: PG
Word Count: 440
Spoilers/Notes: Season 3, 3x16. Written for the "Freedom" challenge at heroes_contest.

Summary: Tracy realizes it's too late; she's already made the wrong choice.



The Wrong Brother

Tracy knew her calculations were flawed. She hated to admit the error, but she’d been in the business long enough, and she was used to getting her way. She’d manipulated lobbyists, and she’d warmed the beds of high profile men. She studied the expressions on their faces, knew instantly when they were lying, and had seen the strongest of them curl into her arms and sob like a baby.

And in her games, she always stayed a few paces ahead of them.

Yet, Tracy Strauss never counted on a turn from Nathan Petrelli. She’d handled God fearing types before. There was always a pattern with them. Save the world by doing God’s bidding. Save people and become their minister of hope and righteousness through smooth words and miraculous near-death recoveries. Those faith loving politicians wanted a golden staircase to Heaven, and Tracy Strauss would bring them to the first step.

Nathan was good at what he did too. His morality was twisting and teetering between his own definition of justice and the loyalty to his own corrupt family. She was sure when his sense of justice won out in the end that she could bargain his brother for her own freedom.

Despite smooth words and their pasts clinging to their shadows, she was unprepared when Nathan betrayed her. She underestimated him, and it was a mistake that rewarded her with shackles and a scorching prison.

She knew it was too late, but she realized she’d put her trust in the wrong brother. Obviously, her freedom was sound in Peter Petrelli’s hands. At first, she thought he was expendable. He didn’t have the flair, charm and natural fortitude that Nathan had. He was only a bargaining chip.

But Peter thought decisively on his feet, knew his brother better than she did, and he managed to escape into the night. When they restrained her, she felt regret, and she hated herself for it.

She remembered how Peter ascended into the sky, and that her one ticket to freedom left with him. She could have betrayed Nathan and grabbed onto Peter tightly and flew to safety with him through the chilled air.

The burning hot prison reminded her of the error again, and she willed herself not to cry. She thought of Peter, Nathan’s opposition, somewhere out there, probably planning to fight this entire mess. Knowing his determination to undo Nathan’s plan gave her hope.

If he’d trusted her before, perhaps he’d trust her again. She’d make sure of it, and when he came to stop Nathan, she’d wisely choose Peter’s side.

For now she would have to wait.

Comments

[shaun-duckie.livejournal.com]

wow.i loved this.
"she’d wisely choose Peter’s side."
i hope so! that's what i was wishing from the start,never trust Nathan nowadays lol :)

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much.

I was hoping for a Peter and Tracy team up too. :3

[seasonofspring.livejournal.com]

Looooved it! I've been in a Nathan/Tracy/Peter high lately and there are like, NO fics. But they make such a pretty threesome! I really hope we get to see them together again when Tracy busts out.

Anyway, great job. Tracy really needs to be in more fics and you captured her well.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Same for me. I really think the three of them could have great tension if given more chances.

It's so true about Tracy. I couldn't even find a tag for her at the heroes_fic community! She needs more love, seriously.

Tracy, Nathan vs. Peter

[crashgirl82.livejournal.com]

Very nice. But I wouldn't want Tracy near Peter with a ten-foot pole, honestly, that's just me, lol. Nice vision of what she's thinking after the events of "Building 26."

Re: Tracy, Nathan vs. Peter

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the comments! :D

[jemmalynette.livejournal.com]

LOVED it. I really liked the Peter/Tracy scenes that episode so I really enjoyed reading this. Awesome work!

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you! <3

[kate-swynford.livejournal.com]

Loved this look at Tracy. She is still calculating and choosing sides, despite everything that happened.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

[landofthekwt.livejournal.com]

Nice story. I haven't "warmed up " to Tracy. She is just too cold for me. Besides we want to save Peter for Claire. Tracy knows that Nathan actually wants to help her. She even taunted hima about it. I bet lot of the Heroes fandom expected her to be dead by now. Many characters show up just in time to be killed on Heroes.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Tracy does seem like a character you either love or hate. Haha, I WISH I could save Peter for Claire. *stupid related thing* But... I like to explore other options.

I've heard Ali Larter say she'll be around next season, so Tracy will still be around for awhile.

[shaun-duckie.livejournal.com]

i SO agree!!
i like TRacy and Peter... but i would LOVE to see Peter and Claire together,i hate the fact they're related >:(

[avaserenity.livejournal.com]

If he’d trusted her before, perhaps he’d trust her again. She’d make sure of it, and when he came to stop Nathan, she’d wisely choose Peter’s side.

I think this is a nice call to Peter's trusting nature and to Tracy's caluclating mind.

Plus I love a Tracy/Peter team up.

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That's totally what I would think. I think Peter is good at giving people second and third chances, and right now I think Tracy's learned her lesson, but she's still her calculating self.

Me too. They need more screen time together.:D

[boombangbing.livejournal.com]

Wow, this actually makes me like Tracy! It's nice to see her as a more three dimensional character; calculating, but for reasons that make sense. And I always love fics where Peter's the stronger brother. :)

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you! There are times in the show I want to like Tracy more but just can't, so I'm hoping writing about her might make her a little bit more likable to me. I'm glad that was a result for you.
I appreciate the comment! <3

[thespottedzebra.livejournal.com]

almost forgot to post how much I liked this:
"Those faith loving politicians wanted a golden staircase to Heaven, and Tracy Strauss would bring them to the first step."

this was great :) your writing is always so pristine, and you know how I voted.

and I don't mean to sound stalker-ish or anything, but I just realized that you wrote a fic for me once. It was at the flying_petrellis comm - that fic exchange was my first time writing fanfic, and I was looking back at it and saw your username. Kind of a neat coincidence :)

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you! I'm glad you liked it.

I remember that! Wow, it's been awhile but yeah that was one of my first fics too. <3

[commen-sense.livejournal.com]

oooo me luuurrrvvv this ^_^ peter/tracy teaming up would be awsome but in a non-coupleish way. i dont like her with him. i liked nikki waaaaaay better but im trying REAALLYYY hard to like Tracy since im sure she'll be a big thing next volume but like you said in one of your comments, i just cant bring myself to gush over her :/ regardless, awsome fic. i love love love youre writing!!!

[quirkysmuse.livejournal.com]

Thank you.
I always liked Peter/Niki too, but Tracy is growing on me (not as fast as I like though, but "Cold Snap" was pretty badass.). :3