By Fabrisse
Series Title: Relationships
Section Title: Brothers, part 3
Author: Fabrisse
Pairing: Nathan/Peter
Rating: ADULT - EXPLICIT
Word Count: ~4500
Category: Drama
Spoilers: Pre Season 1, minor for Season 2 through Four Months Ago
Summary: Peter and Nathan are brothers
Warnings: Incest, slash, mentions of teenaged het
Betas: snopes_faith and riverfox
Notes: This came out of discussions at TwoP during the episodes Nothing to Hide and Six Months Ago about either how clueless Heidi was to the vibes between her husband and his brother or how complicit she was in the secret. Since the deleted scenes in Nothing to Hide give us Nathan at Annapolis and Angela calling Heidi a "townie" those two things have entered my personal canon. The overall story is in three parts, "Townie," "Brothers," and "Relationships." Each segment will have it's own rating, but the overall series is ADULT-EXPLICIT.
Thanksgiving was next week. Peter didn't know why that kept going through his head as he teetered into the dining room and made for the sideboard.
"I can't remember the last time you were at breakfast before seven."
Peter poured his coffee but could barely keep his hands from shaking. "Something is wrong with Nathan."
His mother looked at him closely. There were bags under his eyes from lack of sleep, and he was pale, nearly white. "What do you think has happened?"
"He's having hard time breathing, Ma. And I think his leg is broken."
Angela noticed Peter rubbing his left thigh. "You had another of your nightmares, Peter. I know they seem very vivid…"
"Ma," Peter yelled, "This isn't a fucking nightmare. Nathan is in pain, he's bleeding, and he's weak. I don't know where he is, but it's happened."
"Watch your language, young man."
The warning went unheeded. Peter fainted.
Eighteen hours later, the Navy contacted them. Their son, Nathan, had been ambushed in Rwanda. His jaw, left thigh bone, and ankle were broken in several places, two ribs were cracked. As soon as the internal bleeding was under control, he'd be airlifted to the naval hospital at Naples.
When Angela asked when it happened, the time corresponded to the time Peter reported waking in pain the night before. His fainting correlated to the time the rescue team found Nathan and gave him his first shot of morphine.
Of course, she wouldn't tell Peter that. Fifteen was too young for him to know that his dreams were real.
***
He knew his parents fought sometimes. There was a mood in the house whenever it happened. But Peter had never heard them raise their voices before. Right now, his mother was screaming about "some girl we don't know. She's not one of us."
Since Nathan's possessions had finally arrived that day, Peter assumed the fight had something to do with the contents.
The door to his father's office slammed and his mother stomped out to get ready for the evening. He waited for them by the front door, and hugged them goodnight on their way to the museum gala.
Nathan's stuff had been put in his room, so as soon as his parents were gone, Peter went to check it out.
His mom had locked the trunk, but Peter had decided when he was about ten that knowing how to pick locks was cool. This one took him less than a minute. He looked at the contents. Military precision was very … precise. Peter was careful to note each layer so he could put everything back the same way. Almost everything was freshly laundered, but there was a sweater about halfway down that still smelled like Nathan.
At the very bottom of the trunk, there were some personal things. Stationery, a few photos, including several of Peter and one of the lovely dark-haired woman they'd met at the museum; a couple of little things from ports of call that Nathan might have intended as gifts, and two stacks of letters with rubber bands around them.
Inside the stationery box were two half-written letters. Peter read the one addressed to him, and felt tears prick his eyes when he got to "I'll finish this later." He also began to read the one addressed to Heidi – he checked the back of the woman's picture and verified it was the same person – but he very quickly realized that this letter was too intimate. Nathan cared very deeply for this Heidi.
Peter turned his attention to the two stacks of letters. It looked like Nathan had kept every letter Peter had sent him. The other stack was from Heidi. He pulled one out at random and began to read it. He stopped at the top of the third page when it became clear that Heidi was as serious about Nathan as he seemed to be about her.
He counted the letters in each stack and felt a vague satisfaction that he'd sent more than she had. It was also obvious what his parents had been arguing over.
Heidi wouldn't have been notified. Nathan's letters to her had just stopped.
He looked everywhere for an address book, but either Nathan didn't have one or his mother had taken it earlier. The envelopes of Heidi's letters all had her return address, so he tried dialing information. Heidi's number was unlisted.
Peter thought for a minute, then called his classmate Kevin. Everyone in his class knew his brother had been wounded, so he told the truth: he wanted to let his brother's girlfriend know he was alive. Kevin's father was one of the biggest names in real estate in Manhattan which meant he'd have a complete reverse directory.
In half an hour, Kevin called back with Heidi Abbott's telephone number. For the first time, Peter really appreciated what it meant to have connections.
After putting everything back where he'd found it, Peter checked his watch. It was nearly half past ten, and his parents would be getting home sometime soon.
He picked up the phone and called Heidi.
***
Nathan hadn't actually thrown anything, but everyone knew it was a near thing.
The physical therapy was helping him keep his upper body strength, and there were a few things he could do to keep his right leg strong. Passive PT on his left leg, however, made him grumpy, and Peter heard the nurses mention how far back Nathan had cut his pain killers.
So Peter took over. He came early one day, asked Joe the physical therapist to show him how it was done, and did it. After the third day, when Peter did the whole routine correctly without help, Joe turned Nathan over to Peter's ministrations.
"Just so you know, your credit card bill is going to be high this month."
"Peter, I gave you that for an emergency."
"Pissing off the nurses is an emergency. The bill is for chocolates and flowers. Be nice to them and your credit card is safe."
Nathan fumed quietly while Peter manipulated his ankle.
"You don't understand."
"It's about sex. Your cock should be working by now, and it's not."
"Peter!"
"Well?"
Nathan looked away and muttered, "I'm at the low end of the normal range for regaining my sexual function."
"I think it's because you're not listening to the doctors about pain management. It's like you think there's virtue in pain."
"I like the drugs, Pete. I'm afraid I'll like them too much."
"Your body needs to heal. If you're worried about it, ask them to prescribe a weaker drug. Or tell them you don't want an opiate, since they're the most addictive. But don't be an asshole to everybody."
"What's up with you? First the PT, now drug lectures."
"When I worry, I go to the library and do research."
Nathan nodded. "I see. I've been worrying you."
"Yeah. I love you. I don't want you to hurt, and I sure as hell don't want you to hurt yourself. Besides, I like your nurses."
"So. I'll talk to my doctor."
"It's better than paying for all those chocolates. You've been sending the good kind."
***
"Real PT starts on Tuesday. I assume you're glad to be getting the casts and fixator off."
"Ecstatic. They've promised I can have a bath afterwards."
"I've been meaning to say…" Peter made a show of waving away a smell.
"Yeah, yeah. By the way, comic books?"
"You'll like 9th Wonders."
Nathan watched Peter pace around the room. "You don't have to stay. You brought me a whole stash of things to read."
Peter went over and closed the blinds into the hallway. "I want to say something. And after today, I can't be sure you won't run away."
"Did you kill someone? Because seriously, Pete, nothing else could be as bad as the look on your face." Nathan thought for a minute. "And if you did kill someone, I'd probably assume he deserved it and help you bury the body."
"I know." Peter gave a half smile. "That's why I love you."
Nathan couldn't remember the last time he'd heard anyone say, "I love you," with such conviction.
"I love you, too, Peter."
Peter closed his eyes and nodded. Then he came closer to Nathan and kissed his cheek.
Ever since Peter had brought Heidi to the hospital, Peter's greeting and parting had changed. Peter always gave Nathan a quick peck on the lips when he arrived. It was the soft, warm kiss on the cheek when he left that puzzled Nathan and occasionally appeared in his dreams.
Peter kissed him again, moving fractionally closer to Nathan's mouth. By the third kiss, Nathan's heart was beating faster, his breath hitching a little. Peter pulled back just enough to look deeply into Nathan's eyes. He bent forward again and placed a gentle kiss on Nathan's lips.
"Peter?" Nathan's voice was husky.
"I know that I love you. And I know what I want."
"You're too young."
"I'm over the age of consent. Got my driver's license last month."
Nathan smiled at the innocent conviction of those words. He was also very glad he had extra blankets on the bed because the heat in Peter's eyes and that very sweet kiss began to arouse him.
"It's wrong."
"That's not no, Nathan. If you think it's wrong, say so."
Nathan slid his hand up his brother's shoulder to cup his neck. He pulled Peter toward him, but halted just before their lips touched. Peter completed the connection.
This kiss wasn't innocent. Peter parted Nathan's lips with his tongue, and Nathan responded by sucking Peter's tongue into his mouth.
When the kiss broke, Nathan said. "It doesn't feel wrong, but that doesn't mean it isn't very dangerous."
Peter was still leaning over the bed. He began to lean in for another kiss.
"Stop."
Peter looked completely heartbroken and sat back. "I'm sorry, Nathan. I guess I misunderstood."
Nathan's finger came up to shush him. "The angle is awkward, and I don't want either of us to be uncomfortable." He slid over in his bed and tugged Peter toward him. Nathan got one of Peter's astonishing smiles.
Peter climbed up beside Nathan and claimed another kiss, then pinned Nathan to the pillows and began to explore. Slow kisses down his neck, nibbles along his clavicle. He used his tongue to trace Nathan's scars, still an angry red.
Nathan realized his reactions were being catalogued because Peter responded to every hitch of breath, every subtle movement. He now knew how sensitive the skin on Nathan's throat was, so he licked and cooled it with his breath until Nathan shivered beneath him.
Next, Peter unbuttoned Nathan's pajama top and investigated the skin underneath. When his nose hit the drawstring on Nathan's pajama bottoms, he looked up at his brother with wide eyes. "May I suck you? I really want to see you come."
Nathan's hands rested on his shoulders for a minute and then he was pulled up to a passionate kiss. "Have you ever sucked a guy before?" Peter nodded. "Then I promise, the next time you're here, if you still want it, I won't say no."
"I'll want it." Peter's eyes were nearly black with desire. "Why not now?"
Nathan kissed his ear before whispering, "The practical reason is the hardware. I really don't want to wear it a minute longer than I have to."
Peter mouthed at a particularly sensitive spot on Nathan's shoulder. "That implies there's an impractical reason."
Nathan's hand stroked down the front of Peter's body. "Take off your sweater." Peter rushed to comply. " So I can touch you."
Bare chest to bare chest, they touched and rubbed and kissed. Peter groaned when Nathan unbuttoned his jeans and exposed his erection. He felt Nathan's wide palm against the vein and began to leak when Nathan's hand finally wrapped around him.
Peter took this as an invitation to undo the drawstring on Nathan's pajamas. He liked the hiss Nathan made when he ran his fingers along the dripping head. He brought them to his mouth and reveled in the taste, and the sound Nathan made as he watched nearly brought Peter over the edge. Instead, Nathan grasped him firmly and calmed him down. Peter reached for Nathan again and held his cock tightly; the thick weight felt good in his hand.
They began to kiss as their hands moved, each finding the other's rhythm. Peter moaned at the little twist Nathan used on him, and he reciprocated by thumbing the pooled fluid up and down Nathan's shaft.
Peter felt his body begin to vibrate as his orgasm approached. Nathan shifted his hand and sped up as he teased Peter's earlobe with his teeth. "Come for me." Peter's body arched as he pumped his hips into Nathan's hand.
"So beautiful." The words brought Peter back to himself, and he concentrated on Nathan's pleasure. Nathan bit his lower lip to keep from crying out; Peter noticed and bit Nathan's lip for him. His reward was to feel Nathan's cock twitch as warm spunk slicked his hand.
They rocked against each other and enjoyed the moment a little longer. It was Peter who finally moved and began to fix his clothing. "I promised to be home for dinner tonight." He kissed his brother and looked at him closely. "Are you all right?"
"Am I all right? I'm worried about you."
"Worried? I've wanted this, known I wanted this, for two years."
Nathan could see the love shining from him. "When we were ambushed, I felt like you were there with me. When I saw you at Bethesda, I couldn't believe this beautiful young man was my brother. I thought I was sick for wanting to touch you."
Peter swallowed and looked away. "Is this going to be the only time?"
Nathan used the back of his hand to caress Peter's face. "I can't believe you have a five o'clock shadow. Look at me, Pete." Peter turned and kissed Nathan's hand.
When Nathan was sure he had Peter's full attention, he continued, "I don't regret this. I know there are social taboos and you're too young and god knows what else, but I love you. As long as you want me, you have me."
Peter nodded and gave Nathan a shy smile. "I have something for you." He took a packet of condoms out of his backpack. "I know you're seeing Heidi on Monday. I didn't know if the hospital kept them handy for patients."
"I'm confused."
"Are you trying to tell me that you hadn't thought of bedding Heidi as soon as you could? 'Cause I'm not going to believe you."
"I thought about it."
"I like her, Nathan. Marry her. Elope. Introduce her to the folks afterward."
"If I didn't know she wanted a real wedding, I'd consider it. Pete, are you sure you're okay with me and Heidi, I mean in light of…" Nathan realized he wasn't sure how to end that sentence.
"Becoming lovers? Do you expect me to give up my girlfriend?"
"I hadn't thought about it. No."
"Heidi will be a good wife and mother. I know you love her. And I know that even if you didn't want to run for public office some day, you can't choose me. Not openly."
"You worked it all out."
"Yes. And I'll tell you right now. I'll be jealous if I ever find you with another man."
Nathan stared at him. "I think you're the bravest person I know."
"Then you haven't met my big brother." Peter kissed Nathan thoroughly, turned, and walked to the door. "I'll see you Tuesday."
Nathan was left contemplating the box of condoms on his bedside table.
***
Peter arrived half an hour earlier than usual.
"Hey, Pete."
"You don't sound good."
"They did the full diagnostic for the PT today. I'm in more pain than I've been in awhile."
"Painkillers?"
Nathan looked at the clock. "One more hour before I can take the next dose. I won't be very good company today."
"When has that ever stopped me?"
Nathan grinned, but it came out more like a grimace. "The good news is I have more strength and flexibility than they were expecting. You did a great job with the passive stuff."
"So what will you be doing?"
"Pool exercises beginning tomorrow. Once a day for the first three days and then twice a day after that. In two weeks they'll see if I can start doing land exercises."
"How long before they know..."
"Whether I'll be able to walk without aid? Three weeks after starting the land program, they should have a good idea." There was a long pause before Nathan continued. "By the way, I took your advice."
"Which advice?"
"Heidi's agreed to marry me."
Peter's face went blank and then he smiled. "That's great, Nathan. I'm happy for you."
"Come here, Peter."
When Peter was in reaching distance, Nathan pulled him close. "Get on the bed."
Peter complied.
Nathan put an arm around him and said, "The subject came up quickly yesterday. I hadn't planned to propose for a couple of months. But we were talking about housing and living together, and I wanted her to know that I was in for the long haul."
"Good. I take it you want me to keep quiet with the folks until you have a chance to tell them?"
"Yeah. And I don't plan to tell them until I'm out of here. In the meantime, I've asked the hospital attorney to come here in a few minutes. He'll draw up a limited power of attorney for you to get into my safe deposit box. I want Heidi to have Nona Petrelli's ring."
"No problem, Nathan. This Saturday is Heidi's so I'll have it to you on Thursday."
"The lawyer will be here any minute, so kiss me now, OK. And then we can pick up afterward."
Peter looked at him like he'd just had the world's best birthday present. Then he leaned over and pressed his lips to Nathan's.
***
The power of attorney didn't take long. One of the nurses witnessed the document, and the attorney notarized it. Nathan handed it straight to Peter who put it in his backpack. While he was up, he got Nathan water and a muscle relaxant.
"This may make me too relaxed."
"I can live with that."
Nathan looked into wide dark eyes and licked his lips. He pulled Peter closer and licked Peter's lips. A short moan escaped from Peter as Nathan held him closer and began to investigate Peter's reactions. Teeth scraping down his throat made Peter wriggle like an eel. Nathan looked down his body and saw Peter's erection tenting his jeans.
Peter pushed away from him and panted. "Don't let me hurt your leg."
"I won't."
Peter could see the ridge in the blankets. Nathan wasn't too relaxed which was very good. He leaned over and began to mouth the ridge through the layers of blankets. When Nathan's hips thrust upward, Peter peeled back the first layer of blanket and stroked Nathan with his hands. Every time Nathan lost a little more control, Peter removed another layer – either of Nathan's blanket or his own clothing.
Finally, Peter made it down to thin boxers between his mouth and Nathan's erection. He took a small mouthful of water and moistened the fabric. The cool water, the heat of Peter's mouth, and the friction of the fabric combined to drive Nathan to distraction. He was panting, begging to be taken in his mouth. When Peter peeled the final layer from between them, Nathan was leaking copiously onto his belly. Peter touched his tongue to the little pool of pre-come, moaned, and lapped all of it up. He turned and took the head of Nathan's cock into his mouth and reached to stroke the shaft. Between his rasping tongue and squeezing hands, Nathan came hard.
"Don't swallow," he said and slid Peter up his body. They kissed deeply; Nathan shared the flavor.
"You're a perv."
"A pervert who wants to suck you off."
Peter looked embarrassed. "I came when you did."
"Take off your jeans and underwear. I want to lick you clean. And if you're anything like I was at sixteen, I'll still get to suck you off."
Peter stripped while Nathan was talking. "Anything else?"
Nathan began to lick the soft cock in front of him. "When you get dressed, I want to keep your underwear."
Peter's cock stood to attention.
***
"C'mon, Nathan, pick up the phone," Peter muttered at the receiver.
"Nathan Petrelli."
"Ma's on her way. I'll be with her, and you wanted to read…" Peter looked at the book in his hand. "Vanity Fair by Thackeray."
"What?"
"Ma wants to meet Heidi so she's going to the hospital. I can come, but I told her you'd asked for a book so I could get to the library and call you."
"Got it. How long before you get here?"
"Less than an hour, probably."
"Thanks, Pete."
***
Once Nathan got out of the hospital things were easier, at least for a little while. They worked out together in the mornings, though Peter was doing the run on his own. Nathan spent the weekends with Heidi, either with her visiting him in New York or with him traveling down to Baltimore or Annapolis.
In another couple of weeks, Nathan would be done with formal physical therapy, and he would join Edward Abbott's campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Maryland.
Still, Peter thought it was nice that Nathan took the time to pick him up from school most days. They'd walk home together, occasionally stopping for an egg cream or a coffee somewhere.
Peter really wished Nathan hadn't run late today. He didn't know how much more pummeling he could take.
When Bobby Landers fell on top of him, it took a minute for him to recognize it as a good sign. Nathan had apparently pulled Bobby's legs out from under him with his cane.
Three security guards were holding Nathan back. The blows stopped so Peter sat up and spat some blood out of his mouth.
The headmaster finally arrived. He started with Nathan.
"Mr. Petrelli, I hope you appreciate how much trouble you could be in for attacking a minor."
"That boy," Nathan pointed at Bobby, "was about to kick my brother in the kidneys. I stopped him."
"You're trained, and you used a weapon. I'm sure Bobby's parents will press charges so the school doesn't have to."
"Since I plan to sue the school for failing to protect my brother from assault, I don't think you can be so certain."
The headmaster blinked. He turned to the students who were still standing around the courtyard. "Who's going to tell me what happened and how this started? Peter?"
"I don't know, sir. I was on the ground and trying to protect myself before I knew what happened." Peter finally made it to his feet and wove his way over to Nathan.
On the second pass through the crowd, the headmaster stopped and addressed one of the girls on the outskirts of the fight. "Tina, this isn't your usual crowd. Do you have any idea what's going on here?"
"James, Bobby, Ethan, and Dan grabbed Peter as he was walking toward the gates. Peter tried to fight back and got James in the face with his elbow before the others knocked him to the ground and started beating and kicking on him."
"Do you know the reason these four assaulted Mr. Petrelli?"
Nathan spoke up. "I'm sorry, headmaster, but I don't accept extenuating circumstances for four big guys beating on my brother."
"Be quiet, Nathan." Peter whispered.
Tina continued. "James' girlfriend broke up with him and said Peter was better in bed."
"Is this true?" The headmaster glared at Peter.
"I don't know what Emily told James." He was blocking Nathan from the rest of the spectators while Nathan was checking his injuries.
One of the other girls spoke up. "Yes, Emily said it. She broke up with James because he was bragging about stepping out on her. She threw in the thing about Peter to hurt him." She looked very pointedly at Emily, so did every other girl in the courtyard. "But she didn't mean she was seeing Peter while she was with James."
Emily finally spoke up. "No. I wasn't cheating on James. I wanted to make him mad. I didn't think he'd grab a bunch of guys and beat someone up."
The headmaster thought about it. "Did anyone see Mr. Petrelli – Mr. Nathan Petrelli – do anything untoward?"
It was Tina who spoke again. "He kept Bobby Landers from kicking Peter in the back, and he tried to pull Ethan off his brother. You and security came out just after he got here."
"My apologies, Mr. Petrelli. Take Peter home and I'll talk to him tomorrow."
Nathan wasn't so easily dismissed. "And the others involved in this incident?"
"Suspensions. I will decide how long they'll be after I talk to all the witnesses tomorrow."
Nathan nodded and put his arm around Peter. "Let's go."
When they were about a block away, he asked. "Did you sleep with Emily?"
"Last year. Before she was dating James. And before you ask, the only girl in that courtyard I haven't slept with is Tina."
Nathan did a mental head count. "You're sixteen. How many girls have you fucked?"
"Katie, the girl who kept looking at Emily while she was talking, was protecting my reputation. The girls approach me because I don't talk. Half the guys at school think I'm gay. The other half thinks I'm a virgin."
"The girls approach you."
"I've never been very good at the chase. But I can talk to girls. If they invite me home to study, we study. If they make it really clear they want to do something else…"
"My brother the stud."
Peter rolled his eyes. "Thanks for taking down Bobby." They walked a little farther. "You don't think I was weak for not fighting back, do you?"
"It sounded to me like you tried to fight, but were overwhelmed. You did what you could."
"Can we talk about something else?"
"Sure, Pete."
"I'm supposed to start applying for summer jobs – volunteer stuff that looks good on college applications or something that will get me started in whatever profession I choose."
"Got anything in mind?"
"No. I wanted to spend as much of the summer as I could with you. But you'll be with Heidi." Peter hoped he wasn't sounding pathetic.
"Ma was talking about going to Europe with Dad for awhile this summer. They thought they'd have to put it on hold with me in Maryland. But if I tell them you have a burning desire to volunteer on a political campaign…"
"I do. It won't be awkward?"
"I can handle awkward. You have to promise me, you won't be a brat. There are going to be times when I'm escorting Heidi to a fundraiser or even just times…"
Peter cut in, "That you want to be with your fiancée. I get it. I'll be the good little brother. Presentable as an escort to the country club teenagers when necessary."
Nathan ruffled his hair. "I'll talk to Heidi and get it all set."