By Fabrisse
Story: Anything for You -- FRA
Title: Anything for You
Author: Fabrisse
Pairing: Nathan/Peter
Rating: ADULT
Word Count: ~1700
Category: Drama
Prompt: heroes_fest 103 - you can tell Nathan really loves his little brother
Spoilers: Pre Season 1
Summary: A week before the wedding, Nathan and Peter talk.
Warnings: Brothers sharing more than parents
Notes: My beta was aurora_novarum
Nathan couldn’t believe that his wedding was only a week away. With Heidi’s family coming up from Maryland and over from Germany, and his mother’s side of the family coming down from Montreal - hell, there were even a few Petrelli cousins coming from Italy - Angela had decided there should be a large party to welcome everyone the week before and then smaller family groups could plan their own get togethers through the week before the big wedding and reception the following weekend. She’d arranged everything. There were even buses to get people from the hotels in Manhattan out to the house in Westchester and back.
The only thing that seemed to be missing from this huge crowd was Peter. He caught a little glimpse of movement out of the corner of his eye and made his way to the large balcony upstairs.
"I thought it might be you."
When Peter looked around, Nathan was looking at him fondly. His brother stepped closer and leaned against the balustrade. They looked out over the yard together.
"Shouldn't you be in at the party?"
"It's ten o'clock."
Peter glanced at him. "And that means..."
"I learned a long time ago that I can take anything for an hour and a half. But the noise and the heat and the effort start to pall after that amount of time. So I take breaks. There's usually one around ten o'clock. As long as I'm back by ten thirty, no one will miss me."
"You sure about that?"
Nathan smiled. "No one ever has. Mind you, if it hits ten thirty- one, Ma and Heidi will have the police out looking for me. Half an hour seems to be the maximum."
"I've been up here since nine. No one's missed me."
"I did. But I admit, I didn't notice until after nine thirty."
Peter gave a quiet chuckle. "You always work out all the angles, don't you?"
"As many as I can."
"You really hate the noise and stuff at these things?"
"Always have. But they're useful. It's ironic. The best politicians and judges are thoughtful and quiet, but it's hard to connect to the people who elect you if you're thoughtful and quiet."
"The lack of privacy aboard a ship must have really bothered you."
"When I was in the Navy, I hadn't had any real privacy since I was twelve. It's part of why I loved flying jets. It's just you and one other person and the sky."
They let the silence fall between them. Peter finally said, "I saw you with your friends or girls in the summers sometimes, but it just occured to me that it was never a large group."
"No. I can handle it, but I don't enjoy large and loud. Heidi's good at negotiating these things."
Peter froze.
Nathan let him compose himself then said, "Say it, Pete."
"What?"
"Whatever this is. It's been going on for awhile. I thought it was just that you'd miss me - though heaven knows I haven't been here anywhere near enough to expect that." He put an arm around Peter's shoulders and kissed his temple. "This isn't just little brother jealousy. And you're old enough that you'd mask it better if it were."
Peter started to pull away, then turned toward Nathan instead. "Do you love Heidi?"
"Very much."
He nodded and walked toward the shadows at the back of their balcony. "Your half hour is nearly up."
"Yes." He continued to lean back against the stone, trying to see Peter's face through the darkness. "If it would be easier, I'll stay tonight after the party. We can talk then."
"No. It's fine, Nathan."
He started forward into the brightness of the house. As he got to French doors, he stopped. "Last chance, Pete. Say it now or ask me to stay and talk later, but after this, I'm not entirely my own man."
The pause was long. Nathan picked up his foot and started forward when he heard a quiet, "Don't marry her."
"Just a minute." Nathan caught his mother's eye, and she came over to the windows. "I know I've disappeared, but my head's throbbing. I'm going to be out here a little longer to let it clear."
"Of course, dear." His mother pat his shoulder affectionately. "I'll let Heidi know. The fireworks are in an hour."
"I'll be there."
"There are earplugs in the guest bath if it will help."
"Thanks, Ma." He watched her walk away before stepping towards Peter.
"Did you just lie to Ma?"
"I have the courage of ten." Nathan gave quick grin and just as quickly became serious again. "Now talk."
"I love you. I don't want you to marry Heidi."
“Do you know something about her that I don’t?” Nathan put his hand on Peter’s shoulder to get him to look up. “Seriously, Pete. Why?”
The kiss was hard enough to mash Nathan’s lips against his teeth. He gentled it, pushed his brother into the shadows and let him explore with hands and tongue.
When Peter finally pulled back, all Nathan said was, “Oh.”
“I thought, when you first said you were getting married, that it would get easier. That I’d be okay with it, because I couldn’t have fallen in love with…”
Nathan pulled him into a hug. “It’s all right. I love you, too.”
Peter turned his head and started to kiss Nathan again. When they broke he said, “You’ll go in there and announce the wedding’s off?”
“No.”
Before Peter could bolt, Nathan grabbed his shoulders. “Heidi deserves better than that. I’ll take her quietly aside and let her figure out how to handle the break up. If she wants to tell all her friends, that I couldn’t satisfy her in bed or that we quarreled over religious differences or whatever. It’s up to her. She’s a good woman. It’s entirely up to her what the public story will be.”
“Of course. I didn’t think.” Peter looked puzzled. “You’ll tell her the wedding’s off with only a week to go. Why?”
“You asked me to. That’s all I need.”
“You said you’d stay tonight, after the party, if I asked.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t tell Heidi. Stay here tonight.”
Nathan took a breath. “I’ll stay. But she has to know tomorrow at the latest.”
He began to wander in to the party when, once again, Peter’s voice stopped him. “How many children did you want?”
“We thought four. We talked about a mixed family, maybe adopt two and have two.”
Peter nodded.
Nathan waited a beat to see if there would be anything else then put on a host’s smile and returned to the party.
Heidi walked up to him. “Is the headache’s name Peter?”
“Yeah. I thought, if you didn’t mind, I’d stay here tonight - meet you and your folks in town tomorrow.”
She leaned in to whisper, “I was going to suggest you stay here tonight. Mom wants to take me shopping and Dad is meeting up with some old Army buddies. Tomorrow night, though…”
Nathan saw the wicked little flash in her eyes and wanted to believe they’d have a tomorrow night. He kissed her cheek and whispered, “It’s a date.”
“Now, we need to go find somewhere to view the fireworks. I can’t believe your mother did that.”
“I asked for them. I love fireworks.”
Heidi turned and smiled conspiratorially. “So do I.”
***
The last guest had gone, and the caterers were just packing the very last of their equipment into their van. Nathan gave them an envelope filled with cash for a tip and saw them off the property before finding Peter.
Peter was waiting in Nathan’s room, already in his night clothes. Nathan leaned over to give him a quick kiss on his way to the bathroom. He came out a few minutes later dressed similarly to his brother.
After a few moments of silence, Nathan realized Peter wasn’t going to say anything, so he leaned in for an exploratory kiss. They ended up lying on the bed facing each other.
“You’re in love with Heidi.”
“I told you that earlier.” Nathan was surprised.
“I got that you loved her. I didn’t get that you were in love.”
“The subtle confusions of the English language.”
“I want you to be happy. I want you to have four kids. But I want you, too.”
Nathan raised his eyebrows and lay back. “Heidi and I have talked about a great many things. There’s nothing about me she doesn’t know. Well, other than the fact that I’ll probably suck off my brother before the night’s over.”
Peter’s eyes dilated at Nathan’s words, and he wriggled a little closer. “Does she know you like guys?”
“Yes. And we’ve talked about affairs. For both of us. Heidi likes sex. She also likes variety.”
“Oh.” Peter was honestly shocked.
“My rule, unless it proves impossible for us to have children together, she doesn’t take any risks with other men. Her rule: she never knows who it is. She’ll know that if I work late every Tuesday night, I’m probably fucking someone else, but if she ever finds out who that’s the end. I’ll break it off at that point.”
“Why?”
“Because it would mean I got sloppy. And because she let me have the freedom. If I didn’t want to go into politics, we’d probably have a truly open marriage. But since I do and she supports me, discretion is the watchword.” Nathan blinked then said, “Sorry. I just realized I put it in the present tense. I meant before.”
Peter touched his mouth to get him quiet. “If I promise that she’ll never know it’s me, would you be willing to have us both?”
“Is it enough for you?”
“I think you’ll be a great dad. I’d just assumed you were like me and didn’t want kids. But you do. And you love Heidi.” Peter kissed him. “And, more than anything, I want you to be happy. Seeing you happy will be enough.” After another gentle kiss, he continued, “Well, with the sex it will be enough.”
Nathan grinned. “I’ll hold you to your promise. Heidi never knows.” He slid his hands under Peter’s shirt. “Now about that sex…”
~
end