quirkysmuse: (paire)
[personal profile] quirkysmuse
Fandom: Heroes
Title: Deserter
Author: Paynesgrey
Characters/Pairings: Claire/Peter, slight Claire/Hiro
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Warnings: Some implications, established relationship
Spoilers: after Season 3
Word Count: 497
Notes: Written for "Worry" at [livejournal.com profile] pairechallenge.

Summary: Peter finds Claire in Tokyo and makes her choose.



Claire thinks she can get lost in the crowd here, but she can’t. Once in awhile she gets strange looks from the people in Tokyo, a pretty blond so lost and so far away from home.

Her cell beeps, and she knows Hiro is worried about her now. He’s leaving his work and expects her to stay close. There’s only one other man in her life that acts that worried – at least, one other man still alive.

She thinks she’s dreaming when she sees him standing among Tokyo’s busy streets.

“Peter,” she whispers, and he embraces her.

Peter is the permanent home inside her heart, but Claire knows she can never stay.

She steps back. “What are you doing here?” She hasn’t seen him since...

“I came to see you.” His touch never leaves her arm, but she sees him frown. “You left again.”

She remembers the six months ago when she left him after one heated night in a loft in Cairo. She looks away regretfully remembering how things changed. She feels the tension in his grip on her arm.

“I had to, Peter,” she says. “You know why.”

He nods with understanding, but his tone is stern. “I don’t think you should run anymore. It’s not going to solve anything. It’s not going to bring them back.”

“What about you? You’ve been running too. I can’t forgive them, and neither can you.” He deserves her harsh words, and as usual, Peter is amiable. “Where have you been?”

“Ireland,” he says, and she thinks she’s detected a faint learned accent. “I was looking for something and never found it, so I came to you.”

He squeezes her arm as she holds back tears. “If you’re going to run away, let me come with you.”

After Cairo, Claire doesn’t think that’s wise. She opens her mouth to answer, but her phone beeps again.

“It’s Hiro. He’s expecting me,” Claire says, pulling away from him. Peter looks disturbed and unsure about her involvement with Hiro.

“Are you two…?”

“He wants to,” Claire says quickly. “I mean, I can tell. He’s so sweet.”

Peter nods. “Do you?”

Claire doesn’t know. Being with Hiro is a lot safer than being with Peter. It’s a lot more normal too. “I don’t want to hurt him.” It’s not really an answer, but it’s all she can give.

“I’ll leave you two alone, but I’m coming over tomorrow.” Claire takes it as a warning, even if his voice is light and hopeful. His smile almost kills her. “Then I’m off to Prague. I want you to come with me.”

She purses her lips and nods once. “I’ll let you know.”

As Peter disappears into the amorphous crowd, Claire feels an ugly weight on her heart.

She doesn’t know if she can make such a decision by tomorrow. Peter doesn’t know the real reason she’s run away.

If she chooses him tomorrow, her life of denial will have to come to an end.

on 2009-06-17 09:06 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] capeofstorm.livejournal.com
Why would she prefer a life of denial over a life with Peter?
... but then again, it is Claire, so who knows.

Great little one. And aww at Hiro/Claire <3

on 2009-06-17 09:10 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] quirkysmuse.livejournal.com
Yes, this is Claire. Plus, it might not always be easy to jump right into a forbidden romance. [shrug]
Thank you for reading. :)

on 2009-06-17 11:39 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] justwriter2.livejournal.com
Is denial really a good thing to have when she and Peter have obviously had, 'a heated night in Cairo'?


-jw`chan

on 2009-06-18 03:22 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] quirkysmuse.livejournal.com
Yeah, denial isn't a good thing after what's alreardy been done, as much as it is a very human thing. :)
Thanks for reading!

on 2009-06-18 02:04 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] wuhdemah.livejournal.com
Oh maaan this was good. It's not often I see fics like this, little snippets of the future that leave so many questions but is satisfying too. <3 Great job.

on 2009-06-18 03:23 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] quirkysmuse.livejournal.com
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I tend to like those future fics that leave things open. I know a lot of people may feel incomplete like that, but sometimes it's fun to fill in the blanks as a reader.

Thanks again for reading.

on 2009-06-18 04:18 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] rtwofan.livejournal.com
I agree that Claire's desire for normalcy is an essential part of her character ground in since the pilot ;) So this makes perfect sense. I loved the awkwardness and Peter's strung out longing. So Peter, to be the dreamer, to HOPE that he has a chance. But Claire has always been the realist - it's what makes them complement each other so well. =)

on 2009-06-18 11:35 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] quirkysmuse.livejournal.com
Thank you, darlin! I'm glad you thought it fit their personality well. <3

on 2009-06-18 08:37 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] commen-sense.livejournal.com
aw, im totally digging hiro/claire. he IS sweet. and i think this view of claire is also v.true to her character. youre right, it may not always be easy to jump into an incestious relationship...

on 2009-06-18 11:35 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] quirkysmuse.livejournal.com
Thank you! I have a soft spot for Hiro/Claire, especially after they finally met.
I appreciate the comments. <3

on 2009-06-20 07:52 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] flowrs4ophelia.livejournal.com
Very nice. So much underlying angst and conflict in a simple and subdued conversation.

on 2009-06-20 03:43 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] quirkysmuse.livejournal.com
Thank you! :D

on 2009-06-20 05:00 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] dauting.livejournal.com
I have the sudden urge to laugh maniacally at Peter's threat to Claire. I'm not sure why, but I do.

And denial after the fact is bad form, Claire.

Thank you for sharing and good luck on the challenge.

on 2009-06-21 02:11 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] quirkysmuse.livejournal.com
Thank you so much for reading! <3

on 2009-06-21 12:39 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] golden-scarlett.livejournal.com
ok so, don't fall off your chair....it's me! Long lost Scarlett..! I'm so sorry I've been awol from the Paire fandom, especially this community *hugs and pets comm* I am a bad bad shitty fangirl :(

I've just had lots of RL going on and then I've been tryin to write this Rogan fic for weeks and so trying to keep away from other ships but that hasn't even worked
:( Then I had some multi chapter fics to read and....anyway, am on catch ups now! I haven't even read the last round of one shots...but I will! Anyway that's enough of that...

This: If you're gonna run away, let me come with you. I LOVED. Aww :( poor Peter. He can run away with me if he likes *heh*

Hope everything is good with you hon x

on 2009-06-21 02:12 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] quirkysmuse.livejournal.com
Good to see you again! I know very well what it's like to be busy with RL, but I'm glad you're back. I hope your Rogan fic turned out good. :D

Thanks for reading! And ditto, hope things are well with you too.

on 2009-06-22 03:03 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] boombangbing.livejournal.com
Oh, my two favourite Claire pairings! It's been too long since I've seen even a little Claire/Hiro. I thought this was really true to character for Peter; he tries to be strong but is still vulnerable and a little childish.

I totally want to know whether Claire chooses him or not.

on 2009-06-22 05:39 pm (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] quirkysmuse.livejournal.com
It's been too long since I've seen even a little Claire/Hiro.
Me too. I wish this pairing was more popular. It's definitely the one ship I'm pulling to become canon. Haha.

Thanks for reading!

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