lotus0kid

Rating: PG-13 (a little language, a little violence, a little sex)
Word Count: 433
Disclaimer: Heroes characters belong to Tim Kring.
A/N:

heroes_bigboom fic. Thanks for the beta,

visiblemarket!
Summary: Notorious-inspired AU set chronologically in S1, in which a past schism pits the Company against Primatech. To prevent Primatech from destroying New York City, Company agent Peter Petrelli enlists ex-agent Claude Rains.

Chapter Eleven

The doctors have to shave Claude’s head to treat his burn. They say his eardrum and retina will heal on their own, that he’ll be fine in a couple of months. After their debriefing, Peter finds him sitting out on the stone bench in Kirby Plaza.

“Well that was fun,” Peter says, sitting beside him.

Claude cracks a smile. “Yeah. You’d think the words were poison, them saying we did good.”

“Yeah...” Peter thinks back to Nathan’s face, the respect lurking below the surface. He didn’t seem all that surprised to find out that in a month he’ll be telling Hiro the information that saves Peter and Claude’s assignment, as well as New York City. “So, what now?”

Claude is silent for a beat, then sighs deeply. “Well, I’ve a bad eye and ear to see to now. And Primatech knows I’m alive again. Not just alive- but a bloody great nuisance as well.”

A pit opens in Peter’s stomach. He swallows, waits for the inevitable.

“So, I’m thinking we’ll need some time off before the next job, yeah?”

Peter meets Claude’s look of gentle inquiry with wide-eyed shock. “What?”

“The next job,” Claude repeats. “Or was I not there when you found out what happened to Haram?”

“Uh, no- no, I still don’t know...”

“Right, well, I’d like to get back in good health, maybe let Primatech’s memory grow a little long. And I’m certainly not having my partner run off without me. If Primatech’s not pleased with me, they’re furious with you, mate. That’s a fact.”

“But- you’re staying?” Peter blurts out. “I thought- I mean, you got captured. You almost got sent to Research Division.”

“Didn’t though, and whose fault is that?” Claude’s smiling, and Peter has to look away to try to get the absurd heat to leave his cheeks. “But I would’ve, if you didn’t know I’d been caught.”

“I didn’t.”

“No?”

Peter’s gaze returns to Claude’s face. Indulges in skimming over his features. “René didn’t see you get captured. He just saw you run. But when you didn’t come back to the park or the hotel, I thought Primatech might’ve got you. Because I’m your partner, and I didn’t believe you would run. Because,” he falters, “because...”

Claude takes pity on him with a small smile and a hand on his cheek guiding their mouths together for a long soft moment. A warm peace fills Peter’s heart.

“So,” he says after they separate and he rediscovers language, “This break you mentioned. Any specific ideas about where we should take it?”

“Anywhere we want.”

Peter grins, “Anywhere?”

“Anywhere.”