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Brother's Keeper	By : Bloodylocks Category: G through L > Heroes Views: 3679 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Heroes or the characters, and no financial gain is made from this story.

Chapter List
- 1-Brother's Keeper
- 2-Ch. 2
- 3-Ch. 3
- 4-Ch. 4
- 5-Ch. 5
- 6-Ch. 6
- 7-Chapter 7
- 8-Chapter 8
- 9-Chapter 9
- 10-Chapter 10
- 11-Chapter 11
- 12-Ch 12
- 13-Ch 13
- 14-Ch 14
- 15-Ch 15
- 16-Ch 16
- 17-Ch 17
- 18-Ch 18
- 19-Ch 19
- 20-Ch 20
- 21-Ch 21
- 22-Ch 22
- 23-Ch 23
- 24-Ch 24
- 25-Ch 25
- 26-Ch 26
- 27-Ch 27
- 28-Ch 28
- 29-Ch 29
- 30-Ch 30
- 31-Ch 31
- 27
- 28
- 29
Chapter 28
When the time came that the Thanksgiving dinner was only a day away, Peter began to have second thoughts, but he kept this feeling of doubt to himself. The last thing either he or Nathan needed was some hitch between now and that visit.
You�re just nervous, he told himself. Nathan would say the same thing.
That night, Peter lay in bed while his older brother was still on the couch, watching some boring historical documentary about fighter planes. The boy had decided to turn in early, but now that he was alone and away from distraction, his mind wandered into bothersome territory. His doubt concerning tomorrow evening was making him agitated. Rubbing his legs together absent-mindedly, he unintentionally caused a tingle that rippled through him, making his cheeks go pink with blush.
Listening closely, he could still hear the dull tones of the TV set, and he glanced at the bedside table where a digital clock sat.
9: 45. The program wouldn�t be over yet for 15 minutes at most. He figured he should have enough time. He would have to finish quickly, but he usually did. Rubbing his now engorging penis with one hand, he reached into his bedside drawer with the other, digging for the adult magazine he knew was there. It was one of his favourites and had helped him on the way many times even when he was still living at the Petrelli mansion.
Peter flung back the covers and placed the magazine on the mattress next to him. The men in it reminded him of Nathan in terms of complexion and physique, and this alone was a turn-on for Peter.
He jerked his cock, slowly at first and speeding up the closer he came to finishing. Peter had bought the magazine used from a store that sold second-hand adult merchandise, ranging from sex toys to bondage gear to vintage magazines. He had only been sixteen at the time, and the cashier had not asked to see any ID; something that had made Peter ecstatic.
�Mmnn...� Peter�s chest heaved a little with every gentle tug and squeeze, feeling full, feeling the pressure building and the heat rising within every limb. He knew the pleasure would burst free soon, and another quick glance at the tanned athletic man in the image made him moan sharply on the next stroke. So close... Yes, Nathan...
The knock on the door nearly scared Peter out of his wits, but he did not cry out, only jumped forward into a seated position.
�Peter, can I come in?� Nathan called out through the closed door.
�Just a minute,� Peter responded, his voice sounding strangled from the exertion he was putting upon himself.
�Alright,� the older man replied, and he waited. He could figure out easily what was going on beyond the door, and he was glad to have thought to knock this time.
A few minutes later, he heard a muffled but very identifiable groan, then a shuffling of fabric, and finally an uneven ��okayyy...�
Cautiously entering, not knowing what to expect, the lawyer saw Peter�s flushed, sweaty appearance and tried not to laugh at how rattled his brother looked. Peter currently looked like a puppy who knew he had done something wrong and was awaiting a reprimand.
The boy had crawled in under the covers and pulled them up almost to his chin, leaving only his face for display. When Nathan tried to catch his gaze, he quickly averted his eyes. �You weren�t asleep yet, were you?� Nathan asked, despite knowing the answer.
�No...� Peter murmured, flushing even deeper. �I was just... I mean... Nothing...� He had not had enough presence of mind to put the magazine back where he�d taken it, so for now he had simply stuffed it underneath the mattress. Why had he not registered the TV going quiet?
�I see,� Nathan said, smiling indulgently as he began to undress. �Were you having a private moment?�
Peter�s initial impulse was to deny such a thing, but he quickly realized that Nathan could see right through him and already knew what had been going on. It was probably why he hadn�t just opened the door and entered like he usually did. Peter felt even more ashamed upon realizing his moans had been that loud.
�I�m sorry...� he murmured, again refusing to look at Nathan when the older man approached him.
�Sorry? What for?� Nathan sounded truthfully puzzled. �You know it�s okay to do that.�
�Well, I...� Peter was not sure what to say, how to explain why he was so embarrassed. Nathan had told him even before this night that his private time to masturbate was completely welcome. Nathan even had been enough of a gentleman to knock and wait until he was allowed to enter.
�It... it is your bed...�
�Nonsense,� Nathan replied, sitting down next to his little brother. �It�s your bed too.�
�I dunno...� Peter murmured, turning his glance away. �It�s still me jizzing in sheets you bought. I tried to be careful with that, but...�
�They can be cleaned, sweetheart.� Nathan placed a hand on his brother�s head, stroking at the dark, soft hair. �There�s no need to feel bad.�
Peter still felt he should keep those feelings of shame and guilt, but Nathan would have none of it, so he just nodded and made a wordless noise of agreement. �You okay now?� the lawyer asked.
�Sleepy.�
�Then let�s go to sleep.�
Nathan crawled in beside his brother and coaxed Peter into his arms, though the boy�s slender frame was rather taut at first. �You nervous about tomorrow?� Nathan whispered into the darkness.
�Yeah... I�d be lying if I said I wasn�t...� Peter whispered back. �Are you?�
�Just a little. It�s not like we�re doing something we�ve never done before.�
�Things have changed now...� Peter muttered, suddenly sounding a lot older than either his appearance or mental state suggested.
�It�s just a dinner. We�ll eat, and once we�re done, we�ll go back home. You like turkey, don�t you?�
�Yeah, I guess...�
�Mom�s always made excellent dinners.�
�What am I supposed to wear? I think my suit�s still left... there.� Peter didn�t know what to call the Petrelli mansion, as he didn�t think of it as his home anymore.
�If you want, you can just wear jeans and a t-shirt,� Nathan suggested, and the humor was clear in his voice.
�Nahh,� Peter replied. �I still wanna look nice. For mom.�
�Good idea, but you don�t have to wear a suit,� the older man pointed out, stroking his brother�s hair and feeling the rigid form relax. �How about just some pants and a buttoned shirt?�
�I don�t have those.�
�We can get them pretty easily.�
�How?� Peter asked. He had no idea if any of the clothes he left behind at the mansion were still there.
�At a store, silly.�
�Oh... oh Nathan...� Peter said gratefully. �Thank you, I...�
�Don�t mention it buddy. We can�t let mom down, after all.�
Peter chuckled and last year�s dinner appeared fresh in his mind. It had been delicious as always and tomorrow could not possibly be different. The thought of such a dinner � as well as the hand stroking his head � made falling asleep easy.
*
Peter was awakened by his brother relatively early the following morning � a bit too early for the boy�s liking � and after a quick trip to the nearest mall, Peter was now the owner of a new pair of dress pants and two new button-down shirts, one grey and one light blue.
�Which one should I wear?� Peter consulted his older brother, regarding the two shirts critically.
�The blue one, definitely. It�ll go best with your black dress pants. Otherwise you�ll look like you�re headed to a funeral.�
Peter raised an eyebrow. �And what are you gonna wear?�
Nathan shrugged. �A suit, I suppose. I believe that much is expected from me.�
�Think you can decide on which tie to wear this year?� Peter teased, knowing that Nathan often asked for advice on such a matter.
�Blue,� the lawyer said without hesitation. �That will go perfectly with your shirt, buddy.�
Peter smiled out of pure natural reaction. �Ma�s boys,� he said. �Together again for Thanksgiving.�
�That�s right,� Nathan said with a grin, and he pulled his little brother close enough to kiss his forehead. �You ready to eat tonight?�
Peter nodded against his brother�s face.
�A lot?�
Peter pulled away as he nodded again, his eyes bright and happy. It had been one of the biggest smiles Nathan had seen on his younger brother for a long time.
�Maybe we should bring something,� Peter suggested. �Like some crackers or juice, or...�
Nathan laughed. He would have ruffled his brother�s hair if it had not been brushed so neatly for the visit. �Ma�s always prepared to keep everyone full,� he replied �And then some. You�ll have plenty for leftovers soon enough.�
Nathan and his mother had agreed that five o�clock was a good time for the two of them to arrive, so about an hour ahead of time, he called for a cab that would take them to the Petrelli mansion. When Peter asked why Nathan would not take his own car, the older man explained that their mother might serve her older son alcoholic beverages and it would be rude to refuse under the excuse that he was driving.
Peter considered reminding Nathan that he still had a driver�s license, but fairly certain that his brother would not allow him behind the wheel of a car and also because the mere idea of driving in New York traffic was very daunting, he did not mention it. Taking a cab was just fine.
Nathan offered to hold his little brother�s hand as they walked out to the yellow taxi waiting for them by the street, but Peter, however, declined the offer. Tonight he was going to show everybody how independent he could be.
�We�re going to have fun, buddy,� Nathan said during the ride over. Already his mood was brighter from the confidence his little brother expressed, and he hoped his own happiness would help keep the stress level to a minimum during their possibly harrowing visit.
�I can�t wait to eat,� Peter remarked. �I�ve been thinking about mom�s dinner all day long.�
�Me too,� Nathan lied, though he hid the falseness of it well. All day � and the previous night before � he had been thinking about how their father would handle the dinner.
Scratch that. His father. Not Peter�s.
�And the doctor always says I need to eat anyway,� Peter added, unaware of Nathan�s nagging concerns.
�That�s right, bud,� the lawyer said. �With mom�s food, how can you resist?�
The cab stopped outside the gates of the Petrelli mansion twenty minutes later, and Nathan paid the cab driver, also giving him a very generous tip. The drive over had taken slightly longer than anticipated, but since it was Thanksgiving and virtually impossible to get anywhere on time, the two brothers didn�t mind. Also, Nathan knew what a shitter it was, having to work on this day and deal with rushed and disgruntled customers rather than spend time at home with your family.
Despite Peter�s alleged earlier independence, Nathan felt the boy�s slender hand slip into his as they approached the main entrance. Nathan squeezed the hand enclosed in his, also smiling when Peter�s gaze met his, quietly reassuring his brother that things were going to be just fine.
Since they were now guests at this house, Nathan rang the doorbell rather than checking if the door was unlocked. He still had a key for his parents� home in his set of keys, but using it would have been rude.
A housekeeper let the two brothers in with a genuine smile and Peter could smell the food upon entry of the mansion. Already his mouth was watering at the scent of turkey, mashed potatoes, and even several different pies.
�Where�s Ma?� Nathan asked the housekeeper as she took their coats.
�In the living room,� she answered.
A hand touched her shoulder and she looked up into Nathan�s eyes as he leant in to whisper to her, �Is my father there?�
�Yes, Mr. Petrelli.�
�Thank you.�
Nathan prepared himself, his thoughts warning him not to get angry. He did not need a fight to happen just when they had arrived.
Sure enough, Angela was in the living room, standing from her seat on the plush sofa to welcome her sons. Presently, Arthur was in corner, drinking and conversing with someone on his phone. Nathan wondered if his father was only pretending to do so in order to hold off interacting with the guests. Only when he knew the man was at the far end of the room did the lawyer feel just comfortable enough to enter with his little brother.
�Nathan! Peter!�
Angela practically beamed and hurried forth to embrace her two children. She was wearing a stylish black halter neck dress along with matching black pumps and lots of jewelry to go with that. Her lips left a slight lipstick mark on Nathan�s clean-shaven cheek when she reached up to kiss him. While Peter returned his mother�s hug, his movements betrayed his nervousness, adding the fact that she had once scolded him for hugging her too fiercely.
�I am so glad to have you here. Both of you.� The woman�s coral lips were pulled back in a smile almost too wide for her face. �I hope you�re hungry, boys. There is plenty for all of us.�
Both brothers confirmed this, Peter adding that he had been thinking about her dinner all day.

Arthur had finally stopped talking in his cell phone and slowly approached his family with an unreadable expression on his face. Peter involuntarily took a step back and felt a strong urge � which he only managed to resist only with great effort � to hide behind Nathan�s back.
Arthur�s icy gaze met Nathan�s, and for a moment all movement seemed to stop around them. Finally the elder Petrelli offered his hand. �Welcome, Nathan. Good to see you again.�
Nathan hardly wanted to say the same, as he could not reciprocate such sentiments. He had a feeling that Arthur was lying through his teeth anyway. �Happy Thanksgiving, Dad.�
�In case you couldn�t tell by the aroma,� Angela addressed her guests, possibly to avoid any more of the uncomfortable silence, �dinner is ready.�
�It smells great,� Peter said, feeling far more comfortable next to his mother.
�It should taste just as good,� the woman said with a pleasant smile. �It took the girls all day to prepare.�
�The two of you go ahead,� Arthur said, lingering in the room. �Nathan, come and have a drink with me. We haven�t caught up on things for a while.�
Nathan clenched his jaw, and he was sure his mother saw it. Something in her eyes told him she was just as worried about what might unfold.
�Alright, but not too long,� the lawyer said. �The food won�t stay hot for much longer.�
And I don�t want to go to the table with either of us sporting a black eye, he thought.
Arthur poured himself a glass of scotch. Nathan had a feeling it would not be his last for the evening.
Nathan hesitantly accepted the glass offered to him by his father and took a small sip, grimacing at the bitter, strong taste of it. He hadn�t had a drink in months and had almost forgotten how bad scotch tasted. Arthur took a seat in one of the armchairs placed before the fireplace, and Nathan figured he was expected to do the same.
An uncomfortable silence descended on the two men, as though neither could think of a topic of conversation that would interest the other and also be neutral enough.
�How are things with you, Nathan?� the older man finally asked. �Still fighting to send my clients to jail?�
Though the last was supposed to be a joke, Nathan suspected it was also to remind him of why he had gone to work for the district attorney rather than join his father�s law firm.
�Dad, you know I�m on a break from work,� Nathan replied. �I�m not sure when I�ll be returning.�
�Ahh...� his father replied. �To take care of... your brother.�
Nathan did not like the way the older man spoke of Peter. The tone in his voice was contemptuous, and if not for the camping trip which changed everything, Nathan never would have thought Arthur Petrelli could go as far as to feel contempt for the boy.
�Yes. But he�s made great progress.� This time Nathan was mindful of his own tone. As he spoke, he made sure that his father knew this was the end of the discussion about Peter.
�So...� Arthur said, catching on and changing the subject. �We haven�t seen or heard from Heidi. You must have updated her about what�s been going on. I�m sure you�re thinking of proposing to her...?�
Nathan felt his stomach tighten at the memory of the last time he had seen Heidi. �Actually I haven�t seen Heidi in a long time. The last time I did, things didn�t end well. We fought.�
Arthur�s grip on his glass tightened slightly, not enough to be in danger of breaking the glass, but enough for Nathan to notice his father�s displeasure. �I hope it�s something that can be rectified.�
�Unfortunately not,� Nathan responded, his face grave.
Arthur seemed to notice the danger the scotch glass � and thus his hand � were in, so he put it on the table with enough force to splash out some of the liquid.

�Well, perhaps we should go join Ma and Peter,� Nathan said and made a move to rise from his armchair.
�Sit down, Nathan! We�re not finished with this discussion!� Arthur hissed, regarding his son with the anger of a rattle snake that had just lost its prey.
The response baffled Nathan enough to make him obey the command.
�I can�t believe this!� the Petrelli patriarch huffed, his face assuming a shade of colour that could only mean his blood pressure was rocketing. �You�ve given up everything that used to matter in your life to babysit that retarded little shit you call your brother? People like him belong in a facility kept away from normal people.�
�First of all,� Nathan said, his voice low enough that only Arthur could hear him, �he�s not your son, so I have no idea why you invest so much concern involving him. Secondly, Heidi showed her true colors when we fought and I realized how invested she was in only herself and no one else.� The younger man�s eyes narrowed, the volume of his voice going higher. �In fact, it must have been why you liked her so much, you two have so much in common. You loved her so much, why didn�t you take an example from mom and have sex with her?�
Arthur stood up, his face a mask of rage. �How dare you, you...�
�Mr. Petrelli?�
�WHAT IS IT?� the older man demanded, causing the housekeeper to shrink down a bit in fear.
�Mrs. Petrelli has ordered that I ask you to the dinner table and that the food cannot wait any longer.�
Nathan went to instantly follow the housekeeper, not caring if Arthur was going to join the rest of the family or not. In fact, it would be just fine if he didn�t.
The dinner laid out on the big, rectangular dinner table in the Petrelli mansion salon was impressive enough to almost take his thoughts off his father and just help himself to an unforgettable taste sensation, but just almost.
Angela smiled brightly at him, but her eyes held a clear hint of warning. //Do not start anything, Nathan. Let us all have a good time//
Peter, already seated at the table, shot his brother an anxious look as well. He relaxed slightly when Nathan mouthed �it�s okay� and gave him a soothing smile. Hopefully the poor thing had not heard the barbs exchanged between the two lawyers inside the living room.
�Nathan, dear, where is your father?� Angela asked, trying her best to still sound jovial.
�He might need a moment or two to collect himself,� Nathan replied. �But I suspect he�ll be joining us shortly.�
Sure enough, Arthur Petrelli, his face a less threatening shade of red, entered the room, cleared his throat, and sat down at the table. He sat next to his wife while Nathan sat across from him and Peter sat across from Angela. Nathan figured his little brother would want to stay as far away from his �father� as possible.
�I�ll say grace,� Nathan offered, avoiding the chance of looking in his father�s eyes. He would have done without the family joining hands as well but as long as he did not have to look at the wretched bastard, the situation could have been worse.
After the prayer, Angela finally said in a quiet voice, �well then,� as if about to say a long statement, but she left it at that and began to eat. The rest joined in.
The first ten minutes went on in silence, to the point of being uncomfortably disquieting. Occasionally someone would ask another to pass the salt or the butter, but otherwise, the family was uneasy when it came to conversation. Nathan could tell his mother did not like it one bit, but he also knew she was not going to let everyone rely on her to initiate a talk.
�Nathan�s told me he and Heidi have ended their relationship,� Arthur suddenly said.
Nathan�s closed his eyes for a brief moment, annoyed. Damn it, Dad.
Angela raised one finely plucked brow, but other than that her face did not display any emotions.

�Is that so, Nathan?�
�Yes,� the lawyer replied shortly, hoping his mother got the hint and would not delve further into the subject.
�I�m sorry to hear that, dear. But I suppose it means you two were not meant for each other.�
Nathan, who got the feeling that his mother had never really been fond of Heidi, exhaled in relief.
�That�s bullshit, Angela,� Arthur cut in, his voice full of venom. �Heidi was perfect for our Nathan. The one responsible for the break-up is your other son. If he weren�t so needy and always clinging, Nathan would�ve proposed to Heidi by now!�
�That�s unfair, Dad,� Nathan replied. He attempted a cool demeanor because part of him thought of Peter�s vulnerability. Perhaps pretending to stay calm would help him stay in control himself. �I was with Heidi mostly because you liked her. I figured she would help to keep you off my back. Besides, I�m not your Nathan.�
�Now, boys,� Angela warned, though her calm facade was fading away. She knew things were about to get very ugly, and soon.
�The HELL you aren�t.� Arthur removed his napkin from his lap and tossed it to the table, looking ready to shove his chair back and stand up. �You�re more my son than Peter is and that�s a fact!�
�That�s enough,� Nathan said low, his teeth showing as though he would snarl like some wild animal. If Arthur dared to reveal Peter�s true heritage now, Nathan was not sure if he could hold himself back.
Nathan threw a sidelong glance at his brother and could see that Peter had shrunk back against the backrest of his chair, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but there.
�Don�t mouth off to me in my house, son!� Arthur growled. �I have the right to speak my mind about certain things.�
Nathan still had some hope being able to solve the situation with a diplomatic approach. �I wasn�t mouthing off, Dad. I just want us to be able to enjoy Mom�s delicious dinner together without raising our voices.�
Arthur seemed to be thinking about a witty comeback for the next few seconds, but finally decided to stay silent, simply glaring at Nathan and then at Peter.
A bottle of white wine from the Petrellis� wine cellar had been opened, and was being passed around between Nathan and his two parents. Peter, who was neither old enough to drink nor interested in it, was sipping on a Coke.
Nathan actually trusted the dinner to pass without further ugliness until Peter, obviously thirsty, reached for the large bottle of Coca Cola to fill up his glass, and accidentally knocked over his brother�s wine glass.
�I�m sorry!� he quietly exclaimed, instantly ashamed of his mistake.
�It�s not bad,� Nathan replied, indicating the puddle on the table cloth. He used his own napkin to dry the area as best as he could. �It wasn�t red, so it�ll come out easier, right Mom?�
Angela did not answer, as her reply was interrupted by her husband.
�Why am I not surprised to see that Peter is making a mess?�
�It was purely accidental, dear,� Angela answered him. The emphasis on the word dear did not sound very affectionate at all.
�Speaking of accidents...�
�Dad...� Nathan said, eyes locking with his, his tone a dark warning.
�I�m only being sincere,� Arthur said. �Your mother had him at such a late age, it�s only natural for Peter to be a little touched in the head.�
Nathan rose from his seat with enough force to make his chair fall backwards, his face resembling a storm cloud. �How DARE you---�
�Nathan, please! Don�t!�
The enraged lawyer was not softened by his mother�s pleading voice. He felt a brief flash of anger toward her as well for trying to defend her wretched husband even in a situation like this.
�Take that back,� Nathan said, his eyes riveted on his father�s sneering, spiteful face. He felt someone tugging on his arm, absently figuring it was Peter, but his undivided attention remained on Arthur Petrelli.
�Take it back? Nathan, you amuse me, proving that you can joke even now. And Angela, if you�d actually gone through with the abortion like I wanted you to when I first found out about the parasite he�d put in your womb, we wouldn�t be in this mess now, would we?�
That was it. With three long strides, Nathan had rounded the table and reached his father. �You...� his voice trembling, his left hand held fistfuls of his father�s clothing. His other hand was balled into another fist, ready to let it fly, as though he were holding down a rat which needed exterminating.�You... horrible-fucking-monster...�
Arthur was not helpless. One of his hands shot out and grabbed Nathan by the throat, squeezing enough to loosen the hold from his suit jacket. Once he knew he had the advantage, the older man shoved his son away, watching Nathan stumble and hit the floor.
�Nathan!� Peter cried out. His terrified form was frozen in the chair where he still sat, cowering and shaking.
Nathan did not hear his younger brother. He got up, fury still set on Arthur, and ready to beat the living hell out of him. A hand on his shoulder made him think � no, he knew � that his father was about to hit him, and he lashed out an arm, knocking the body next to him aside. Arthur toppled to the ground before Nathan could even see him.
But Arthur Petrelli did not cry out like that. The cry was that of a woman.
Almost at once all the air left Nathan�s lungs and he felt as though he were drowning or suffocating. All thoughts of beating up Arthur had left his head and though his subconscious already knew what had happened, he spun around to see what he had done.
Angela was lying in a heap on the floor, one hand pressed to the spot where Nathan�s hand had collided with her face. For a moment Nathan stood frozen like a statue. He was later ashamed of the first thought that entered his mind while he desperately tried to will his body to break out of the paralysis. //Thank God it wasn�t Peter...//
�Ma... I�m so sorry, I didn�t mean to...� Nathan shook his head, finally able to approach his mother and kneel beside her. Nathan�s heart sank further when Angela jerked when he reached out to touch her head.
�My God, Nathan... What has become of this family?� she whispered.
Arthur had a strangely sedate look on his face, but for a fleeting moment, Nathan could have sworn he saw a hint of a smile. Perhaps the younger man had played into his father�s trap after all. Nathan could not bear to look at either of his parents for long. Instinctively, his gaze went to the table where Peter would have remained.
Yet Peter was gone.
�That�s right. Go to him,� Arthur said, gloating. �It�s what he�s trained you to do.�
�To hell with you,� Nathan said, never looking at his father. He patted his mother�s shoulder, and upon her wave of dismissal, as though she were bidding him permission, he left the kitchen, dinner forgotten.
A maid in the hallway pointed upstairs when she saw the imploring look on the elder Petrelli brother�s face. He nodded in gratitude and jogged up the stairs. He only knew of one place where Peter could have been: his old bedroom.
Nathan knocked on the door once and received no response, so he knocked again. This time a small, choked, barely audible and also very frightened voice asked, �Who is it?�
�Just me, baby boy,� Nathan called. �Can I come in?�
�Okay...�
Nathan carefully pressed down the doorknob and opened the door to what used to be Peter�s bedroom. The first thing that caught his eye was his brother�s small, curled up shape lying on a naked mattress on an otherwise stripped bed. Peter was shaking violently, sobs and tremors violently wracking his waif-like form. Nathan approached him slowly.
�I�m sorry, sweetheart. I didn�t mean to do any of that. Can I sit down with you?�
Peter finally lifted his tear-streaked face from the bend of his arm. His new blue dress shirt was all wrinkly and stained with tears. �Is Ma okay?� he asked.
�She�s fine, bud. I think I mostly just scared her.�
�I hope he won�t hurt her.�
Nathan did not have to guess twice who �he� was. �No, he won�t,� he replied, stepping closer. �Ma would put him in a world of hurt of her own if he did anything like that.�
In his search and undistracted concern for his little brother, Nathan soon realized the implications of the bare bed. Looking up, he stared around the room, taking in the naked quality of it, the emptiness. Peter must have been devastated to see it.
�My stuff...� the boy whimpered. �It�s all gone.�
�Oh sweetie...� Nathan said softly, and he sat next to his brother�s form, laying down and wrapping his arms around the smaller figure. Indeed everything was gone. His framed pictures, his old bat from childhood years of little league baseball (as well as the trophy he won for the 1987 summer game), even all the remaining clothes from the bureau drawers. Only the bed remained.
�I�m sure Ma�s put them somewhere on the attic,� Nathan said. �She wouldn�t throw them away.�
�My room�s not my room anymore,� Peter whispered. �It�s like I never lived here.�
Nathan wanted to deny it, but he couldn�t, since Peter was right. The room carried no traces of the boy who had spent the first eighteen years of his life living there.
�I�ll ask Ma about your things,� Nathan promised. �We�ll work it out, little buddy.�
�I never should have come back here...� Peter said with surprising lack of emotion all of a sudden. �I�m sorry I talked you into it.�
�No, no, none of this is your fault��
�Yes, it is! It�s all my fault! Maybe Dad w-was right... Maybe it would�ve been better if I�d have never been born...�
�Peter, stop it!� Nathan took the boy�s head in his hands and forced Peter to meet his gaze. If his brother chose to believe in Arthur�s atrocities, he might be headed down a road even Nathan could not save him from. The last thing Peter needed now was more emotional baggage. He had plenty to deal with already.
�Nathan...�
�Hmmm?�
�Who is he?�
�My real dad. I want to know who he is.�

Nathan�s mind froze in its own little place of panic and confusion. He had promised his mother to never speak a word of the truth behind his brother�s birth, not only to honor her wishes but because he hardly wanted to reveal the truth to Peter himself. And yet Arthur had beaten both of them. Was there nothing short of killing Peter that the old bastard was not capable of?
His pause lasted short enough that he could have hardly called it a hesitation. �Don�t be silly. We should go and ask mom about where you�re stuff is once things have calmed down. I know she wouldn�t throw all those things away...�
�Nathan.�
A thin hand grasped at one of the lawyer�s wrists, a pale and naked limb compared to his hairy, masculine arm. Large eyes writ with despair meant that Nathan could not sweet-talk his way out of the subject.
�I heard what dad said.� Tears hovered at the edge of weary, puffy lids. �Is it true?�
�Yes. It�s true.� The heavy sigh of resignation that Nathan gave before he spoke could have been affirmative enough of an answer for his little brother, as Peter�s tears fell before a word had escaped his lips.
Peter swallowed. �So who is he?�
�I don�t know, sweetheart. Ma wouldn�t tell me.�
Suddenly Peter�s sad little face was twisted by something resembling anger. �You�re lying to me, Nathan! Stop lying to me, and stop treating me like I�m some fucking idiot and just tell me the truth!� The rant was punctuated by a half-hearted punch to the lawyer�s chest.
�I�m not lying to you, Peter,� Nathan said truthfully. �I really don�t know who he is.�
�How long have you known?�
�Just a few months. He told me when I came to take you home with me. Probably thinking that if I knew, I�d care less for you.� Nathan snorted at the mere idea that Peter�s genetics might have anything to do with his love for the boy.
�I guess it all makes sense now...� Peter murmured. �How he�s always hated me... Come on, Nathan, don�t give me that face! You know he�s always hated me, he just hasn�t shown it until recently.�
�It was never Ma�s or my intention that you find out, sweetheart. We were afraid of how you might react to the news.�
�In a way, I�m actually relieved.�
Nathan�s eyes widened in surprise. �Relieved? How so?�
�Well, I always thought he hated me just because I was... me. Now I know there was another reason for it and he didn�t just hate me because of what I was.�
A hand carded through Peter�s dark hair, with a touch that always put him at ease instantly. �He�s a miserable old bastard who has nothing to do but hurt other people in any way he can,� Nathan said. �I told him that I was glad he wasn�t your father.�
�When?�
�The first time he told me about it. I was pretty crude about it, but long story short, he knows I�m glad he wasn�t required to make a sweet kid like you.�
Peter seemed to be happy at those words, as he nuzzled into the warmth of Nathan�s chest, his skinny arms wrapping tight around his big brother�s waist. The older brother removed his hand from Peter�s head to his back. He felt a bit like a replacement blanket on the bare and unwelcoming looking bed. It was cold both in sight and touch. Peter patted Nathan�s shoulder blade absent-mindedly.
�Hmmnn...�
�What?� Nathan said, looking down at the mess of long hair that had been so perfectly combed minutes before.
�Nothing,� Peter replied. �It�s just... a lot to take in tonight.� Then, after a minute of silence, �I�m scared to go back downstairs.�
Nathan instinctively kissed his brother�s head, the boy�s vulnerability sparking feelings of protectiveness. �I understand.�
Peter wondered if their sharing only one genetic parent would change anything concerning the crush he had on his older brother. While he suspected that a relationship between half-brothers would be considered just as �wrong� as that between full siblings, a small grain of hope had formed within him. While Nathan and he were certainly still closely related, they did not share many physical attributes, other than their large, hazel eyes and long eyelashes; traits they had both inherited from Angela.
�We can�t stay up here forever, you know,� Nathan then said, putting an end to Peter�s musings. �We have to move sometime.�
Instantly Peter felt his heart sink. �But... what if he�s down there? What if he won�t let us leave?�
�Nonsense. He knows better than trying anything like that.� Nathan tried to sound confident and secure to calm his little brother, but inside he felt almost as frightened and insecure as the boy. Oh, how he wished he could have simply flown out of the window with Peter in his arms and escape the confrontation that no doubt waited to happen downstairs. He almost chuckled at the thought of flight when his little brother was always referring to the lawyer as his superhero.
�We�re better off going down together,� Nathan finally said. �If it�s the two of us, it�s not so bad.�
�You really think so?� Peter asked, the doubt clear in his voice.
�Yeah, sure,� Nathan answered with a friendly nudge, smiling. �If you want, we can try to finish dinner too.�
Nathan could feel his younger brother bristle at the thought, his body tense.
�I�m not sure if that�s a good idea,� the boy said, his face still hidden.
�It�s alright if we don�t,� Nathan said. �I can tell that your appetite may not be the best right now.�
Peter nodded, his nose going up and down against his brother�s front. It would have tickled Nathan more if he had not been in such a serious and protective mood.
The hallway outside was dark and quiet once the two brothers finally exited Peter�s old room. The younger man�s hand was in Nathan�s and notably relaxed when he discovered there were no immediate dangers lurking nearby.
�It�s okay, sweetie,� Nathan whispered. �I�m here.�
�I know,� Peter whispered back.
The foyer downstairs was just as silent as the second floor, and though the idea to simply sneak out without notifying anybody was tempting, Nathan knew better than that. At least their mother deserved a goodbye as well as an apology for how things turned out. The living room turned out to be empty as well, but the lights were on in the kitchen. Despite Peter�s hesitance, Nathan insisted they go check it out. One place Arthur Petrelli definitely didn�t frequent was the kitchen, so the chances of him being in there were slim to none.
�Ma?� Nathan nearly whispered so as not to frighten the woman sitting, shoulders slumped, at the table.
�Oh... Nathan.� Angela raised her head and both brothers could see that her make-up had smudged and left dark streaks beneath her eyes. The idea of their mother crying was almost as unthinkable as her having a temper tantrum, which had, to Nathan and Peter�s knowledge, never occurred.
Nathan felt the grasp of his brother tighten in his hand, a quick glance revealed to him that Peter had begun to look distressed again. Angela Petrelli was never one to openly show weakness, and in a way she was the rock of the family, strong and unmoving. To see her upset, let alone crying was enough to cause a feeling of hopelessness in Peter. Nathan had to admit to himself that he felt similarly.
Of course Angela was always apt to making herself presentable no matter what, and within seconds she was blinking away potential tears and wiping away the worst of the dribbled makeup. She turned toward her sons and stood up with a smile, albeit not the cheeriest.
�Are the two of you alright?� she asked, placing a hand on her youngest�s cheek. Peter managed a smile.
�Well, a little worse for wear,� Nathan admitted. �By the way, Peter was pretty shocked to see that his room is vacant.�
�Yes... about that...� Angela had the decency to look ashamed for a moment. �Arthur insisted that he needed a bigger study and Peter�s room would fit his needs...�
Nathan cocked an eyebrow. �So you just emptied all his stuff out without even telling us?�
�We had your things packaged up in boxes, Peter. We didn�t throw anything away.�
�Can I have them back?� Peter asked.
�In time, sweetheart.� Angela smiled tightly. �Now, boys... I�m sorry things turned out the way they did, but on the bright side, there is plenty of food left.�
�I�m not really hungry anymore, Ma,� Peter said apologetically.
�I can understand that, dear, but I was hoping you wouldn�t mind bringing some leftovers home with you.�
Peter smiled, but it faded into sadness. �But I don�t wanna take all of your food if you want it...�
Nathan took the opportunity to laugh, but their mother only smiled patiently. �I don�t know if you forgot already, Pete,� the lawyer said, �but even if we took more than half, that dinner would last the household for a week straight.�
Angela adjusted her youngest son�s hair with one hand, smoothing it out. She kept in mind to avoid the piece of hair which covered the damaged ear. �We can do well if some of it�s taken off our hands, dearest,� she said. �You wanted so badly to enjoy your dinner, I would hate for it to go to waste.�
Nathan smiled at his mother, genuinely grateful, and placed a hand on her shoulder. �Thanks Mom. So much.�
�Of course, dear.�
Neither brother asked where Arthur had gone, and both were relieved the other one did not bring it up. Nathan, knowing his father, figured that the head of the Petrelli family had gone up to his own private study and was probably drowning his sorrows in booze. With some luck he would fall asleep in there and thus not disturb their mother by stumbling into the bedroom reeling drunk three o�clock in the morning.
�Will you be alright, Ma?� Nathan asked dutifully, giving her a chance to let him know if there was anything he could do for her.
The woman nodded with a sad and weary smile. �I�ll be just fine. And I hope the two of you will, as well.�
Several of the hired help had stored away the uneaten dinner in small plastic containers by the time Nathan and Peter came to pick up their share of leftovers. Someone had even labeled those which were meant to go with the two brothers.
A hug and a kiss later, Peter was sitting in a taxi that his mother had personally called for her sons. Nathan was giving the woman one final hug goodbye before entering the back seat himself, and in that brief moment when he was alone in the taxi with no one else but the driver, Peter felt a stab of fear at the thought of being driven away without his brother to protect him. He calmed when Nathan joined him and both looked out the window at their mother, who stood on the stoop of the front door until they were out of sight, possibly even longer.
TBC...
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Brother's Keeper