After the massive amount of heartbreak, darkness and cruelty of the last few chapters here's something more lighthearted. It's cute and fluffy Petrelli-time again, and it's the final chapter of Part One. Please enjoy it.

Chapter Nine

New York, May 1992

Peter woke up from his dream with a gasp, drenched in cold sweat and with his small body trembling from head to toe. He could feel a coppery taste in his mouth that was quickly joined by an even more disgusting flavor of gastric acid when the bile started to rise in his throat.

Oh God, he felt so sick!

The young boy quickly bolted from his bed and managed to make his way to the adorning bathroom just in time for the heaving to start. He fell onto his knees in front of the toilet and threw up forcefully in between gasps for air.

And that's how Nathan found his little brother when he entered their shared bathroom some time later to prepare for bed.

"Pete!" Nathan stared down at the young boy in shock. He was at Peter's side in two quick strides and crouched down next to him, a steadying hand placed onto Peter's back immediately. "Are you sick?"

Peter had just enough time to give him a glare that clearly said "Duh!" before another wave of nausea had him bowed over the toilet again. He retched and coughed forcefully and all through it he could feel Nathan's warm hand drawing comforting patterns on his back.

"Shhht, it's okay, Pete! I got you, I'm here!" Nathan whispered into his hair and Peter tried to concentrate on the calming voice as well as on the heat and steady pressure emanating from Nathan's touch. He forced his mind to block out everything but the comfort, the feeling of love and protectiveness his brother radiated.

And eventually his upset stomach seemed to calm down and Peter was able to take a few deep breaths without the urge to spit them out right away again.

"Here," Nathan pressed a wet washcloth to Peter's sweat-drenched forehead while pulling him further away from the toilet and back into his chest. The soothing cold from the washcloth contrasted heavily with the scorching heat seeping into every part of Peter that was held by Nathan's firm body. Peter closed his eyes in relief.

"Thanks," he whispered, his voice feeble and unsteady. Instead of a reply Nathan simply pressed a soft kiss onto the damp hair and strengthened his grip on the shaking body.

The two brothers remained like that for a long time, crouched together on the cold bathroom floor, silent but for the occasional calming notion from Nathan whenever a soft whimpering sob made it past Peter's lips. He tried to hold the tears at bay, he didn't want to cry like a baby in front of his big brother! But he couldn't! It was just too awful, too much!

Before his closed eyes Peter could still see the skinless, corpselike… thing he'd dreamed of, twitching desperately in its confines. The steel chains had turned crimson from all the blood running down the torn flesh of what had once been a man's very human extremities, before something (or someone) had turned them into… this!

"Oh God!" Peter choked out when the memory threatened to overwhelm him once again.

"Shhht, Pete! It's okay, calm down. Calm down, Pete!" Nathan's steady voice broke through the images before Peter's eyes and managed to dissolve them into nothingness.

"God, Nathan!" Peter twisted around in Nathan's embrace and threw his arms around his brother's neck. Face pressed tightly against Nathan's chest Peter clung to him then, sobbing desperately.

Nathan could feel his undershirt, the only thing he was wearing besides dark slacks, becoming drenched in hot tears. They leaked through the thin garment until his chest felt uncomfortably wet. But Nathan didn't mind, in fact he couldn't have cared less right now. The only thing he cared about at the moment was… finding out what had Peter so disturbingly upset and how to make it better somehow.

Peter's sickness from before had thankfully subsided and Nathan quickly flushed the remains of that down the toilet.

He assumed that Peter getting sick hadn't been the result of their earlier family dinner like he'd first thought. No, it seemed to him now that it must have been brought on by a bad dream. A particularly nasty kind of nightmare, if it had reduced Peter to this state.

Peter was still sniffling into Nathan's chest and although the small arms around his neck had somewhat lessened their death grip, it seemed that Peter had no inclination of letting go any time soon. Nathan sighed quietly into Peter's hair. His bare feet were beginning to fall asleep on the cold floor and he could feel a cramp creeping up his right leg from being held in an awkward angle for too long. He needed to move soon, or else this position would get really painful.

Nathan took a deep intake of breath and then, with a tightening grip around Peter's back, he managed to shift both their weights onto his cramped leg in order to get the other steadily onto the floor. Moments later he summoned all his strength to stand up and… ouch! Now that hurt!

Okay, so his body was clearly not in as good a shape as Nathan had thought, despite the work-out he usually put it through two times a week. Lifting up yourself with a twelve-year-old firmly attached, maybe a bit smaller than average but by no means a little child, was obviously out of the question.

Peter had made no sign that he'd even noticed Nathan's failed attempt to get up and Nathan thought briefly about exercising a second shot.

But then he shrugged it off with a simple 'what the hell' and, closing his eyes in concentration for a second, called on his ability. He felt his whole body become feather-light instantly.

Nathan grabbed Peter tightly and, without any effort, their bodies lifted up into the air. Nathan directed their low flight from the bathroom floor through the slightly ajar door into Peter's room. He steered them over to the bed and managed a soft landing.

As soon as Peter's back hit the mattress he lifted his face off Nathan's chest and stared at his brother in complete wonderment. "Did you just fly us here?"

Nathan simply shrugged and stretched out so that he'd come to lie next to Peter's smaller form. The younger boy immediately turned onto his side and melted closely into his brother with one arm thrown over Nathan's chest. His head found the perfect spot on Nathan's shoulder and he snuggled up to it like he'd done many times before.

And Nathan couldn't help it either, it came absolutely natural to burry his face in the soft dark hair and inhale his brother's oh so familiar scent. His arm sneaked out from under Peter's side and came to rest on one narrow hipbone.

It was the most intimate position he'd ever shared with anyone (since Nathan had never cared for cuddling and ridiculous pillow-talk after – or during - sex) and yet there was nothing sexual about this situation. It was brotherly comfort at its best and Nathan felt his entire body relax into the familiar sensation. His strained muscles loosened up and he could feel his consciousness drift off slowly.

Nathan knew that he could easily fall asleep like this.

And yet, some part of his brain was still working pretty much on overload, the part that cared deeply for his brother's well-being. He needed to know what had Peter so upset earlier that he'd nearly spilled his guts out.

"Pete?" he asked quietly after a while.

"Hm?"

"Was it a dream?" Nathan asked further. He could feel Peter's arm tighten briefly around his chest and the buried head nodded silently.

"You can tell me, you know that, right?"

"Nathan, I…" Peter had lifted his head from Nathan's shoulder and big brown eyes bore into Nathan's slightly more golden ones. "It was awful, Nathan. The skin was all gone and there was so much blood and the… the thing, it wasn't a man anymore… that thing kept twitching and jerking… still alive…"

Nathan pulled Peter's form closer. "Shhht Pete, it's alright. It was just a dream, okay? Just a dream."

Peter didn't reply anything, he just buried his face in the crook of Nathan's neck again. He knew that it had been more than a simple nightmare, more than just a dream.

It had really happened, he knew it.

Somewhere someone had done that, had killed a man by making him lose his skin somehow.

He simply knew that it had been real. But what Peter didn't know was why he'd been forced to see that. What should he do about it? Was there something he could do at all?

The man was dead, and Peter had no idea how he should have done anything to prevent that. And even if… if he really should have done anything to save the man at all. He wasn't so sure about that now.

Because… and Peter had no idea what to make of it but… it had felt right somehow! Besides the horror at the gruesome sight Peter had felt… satisfied. It had been good to see the man die.

And now Peter felt absolutely bad because of that. He couldn't really be a hero if he thought bad things like that, could he?

"Nathan?" Peter asked when the silence had stretched and Nathan had thought his little brother had fallen asleep already.

"Yeah, Pete?"

"You were right, you know?" Peter's voice was barely audible.

Nathan frowned. "What are you talking about, Pete?"

"You know, remember when I made those Superman costumes and wanted us to be heroes?" Nathan simply nodded and fixed his brother with shaded eyes. What the hell was going on in that brain of his?

"You were right then, to stop me. I know that now. I can't be a real hero, not when I let things like that happen."

Nathan leaned up on one elbow and immediately glared down at Peter. "Stop it, Pete! Alright? Nothing happened! It was just a dream!"

"No, it wasn't! And I did nothing… I'm no hero, Nathan. I can never be!" Peter's voice was calm and steady, as if he believed there was absolutely no doubt. And Nathan hated seeing his little brother like this. So miserable, so dejected.

"Pete," he stated at last, determined to cheer him up somehow. "Come on, you're a kid! What do you expect?"

"Thanks, Nathan! That really helps!" Peter might be a kid but he sure as hell knew how to nail sarcasm. But Nathan waved off impatiently. "No, Pete! I mean… you're only twelve, right?"

"So?"

"So," Nathan's eyes gleamed suddenly with a certain fire. "Have you ever seen Superman, Batman or even Spiderman at the age of twelve?"

"No," Peter frowned.

"Right! That's what I'm talking about. They weren't heroes then, Pete. They were just kids, like you! They became heroes only when they'd grown up." Nathan send his brother a brilliant grin and pulled his small form close to his side again. "So, give yourself a few more years, okay? Who's to say that you won't end up a hero after all?"

Peter snuggled into Nathan's side and remained silent for a long time. Eventually Nathan felt a small hand creep into his and squeeze it tightly.

"Thanks, Nathan," Peter whispered into Nathan's shoulder and closed his eyes.

"Any time," Nathan smiled down on him and then, after a while, cautiously moved to extract his body from Peter's bed. The hold on him tightened immediately.

"Can you sleep here tonight? Stay with me?" Peter asked hesitantly and Nathan let his body relax onto the mattress again. "Sure," he smiled fondly and pulled the bedcovers over their bodies. He wrapped his arms more tightly around Peter and soon enough both brothers drifted off into sleep.

The next morning found its way into the bedroom by steams of bright light settling onto the bed. A golden patch made it onto Nathan's face and tickled his nose. He turned away and, still more asleep than awake, Nathan shifted slightly. He felt relaxed and warm, all drowsy and not-there-yet to deal with the world.

Nathan trailed a lazy hand down his chest and abdomen where it found the quite usual morning erection in his pants. He gave his half-hard cock a gentle squeeze, nestled back into the warmth around him and his hand found the zipper and pulled it down.

Nathan's sleepy subconscious wondered briefly about the fact that he'd apparently slept in his trousers instead of his usual nightly attire of boxers and T-shirt, but then… who cared about that?

He shifted his hips a little to get the annoyingly tight slacks far enough opened for his hand do reach into his boxers.

Hm, now that felt decidedly better. He let out a soft moan and rubbed his flat palm a few times over his cock before he let his hand wander lower to give his balls equal attention.

And that was exactly when Nathan noticed two things simultaneously. The first was a strange firm warmth covering most of his left side, as if someone was lying there beside him. And the second was the badly suppressed giggle he could suddenly hear from next to him.

Nathan's eyes shot open and the hand on his dick stilled immediately in its actions. His head turned left and he was instantly met by Peter's wide grin.

"Oh, come on! Don't stop because of me, Nathan!" Peter had the audacity to smirk. His eyes flickered down to Nathan's crotch with a gleam and the elder brother pulled his hand out of his slacks as if it had been burned.

"Peter!" he glared into the boy's face and sat up abruptly. "What the hell…?" He broke off when he noticed that he wasn't in his own bed. He'd obviously slept in Peter's room last night, with him, in his small bed.

And then Nathan suddenly remembered. Last night, Peter being sick and crying his heart out. He'd tried to comfort him, had flown them back into Peter's bed (And wasn't that something already? He'd flown again! The first time since… you know, since that day in Texas). There he'd held Peter and had tried to make the dejected disappointment disappear from Peter's eyes by telling him shit about superheroes as kids. Or rather, the nonexistence of them.

They'd fallen asleep in each other's arms soon after that and now…

Now Peter had caught him with his hand down his pants (very much like the proverbial hand in the cookie jar, wasn't it?)! He'd been about to jerk off, in front of his little brother!

Fuck!

Nathan covered his face with his hands and let out a deep groan. He heard Peter laugh gleefully and shook his head.

"Oh come on, Nathan!" Peter nudged his side with an elbow. "It's not that bad, is it? I didn't get to see anything, if that's what you're worried about!"

Nathan simply glared at him and stood up from the bed. "I'm gonna go take a shower!"

Peter broke into another giggle-fit and Nathan turned back to him with another glare. "Good to see you're feeling better, Pete, but… seriously, shut it, alright?"

Peter sobered up immediately. "I am feeling better, Nathan. Thanks to you!"

Nathan walked on without a reply but when he'd reached the bathroom door Peter's next words stopped him from going in. "In fact, I'm feeling so good right now that I'm gonna let you take your shower without bothering you at all. So you can 'walk your dog' for as long as you like, Nathan! Or, you know… need to."

"What's that?" Nathan turned around again, a disbelieving glint brightening his eyes.

"Jimmy Hawthorne explained it to me," Peter grinned embarrassed. "You know, 'walking your dog'… he told me all about how he spied on his brother doing it that one time and..."

"You know what, Pete?" Nathan stated with one hand on the doorknob. "Some day I'd really like to meet that friend of yours, if only to flush his head down the nearest toilet!"

Peter broke into a huge grin imagining that and Nathan shook his head silently before he finally made his way into the bathroom. He stripped off his clothes and, after a second thought, turned the lock on both doors, the one to Peter's bedroom as well as to his own.

He wouldn't put it past his devilish little brother to try sneaking in on him in the shower. Although, Nathan threw a quick glance at his now flaccid cock, not that there would be anything for Peter to see. The urge to relieve some pressure had definitely passed after what had just happened!

Nathan let the water heat up and then stepped under the scalding hot spray, determined to wash away the embarrassment as well as the lingering memories of a certain gleam in Peter's eyes when he'd been staring at his crotch earlier. Peter had looked so… fascinated and attached… absolutely hooked.

And, oh fuck, he was only twelve!

Nathan forbid himself to think about what would become of their relationship if Peter would continue giving him those looks once he'd be fifteen, nineteen or, God forbid, twenty-five!

That way lay a place, a pretty dark one, Nathan definitely wouldn't allow his thoughts to wander to, ever!

Not if he could help it, that is!

It was the 28th of May 1992, when Nathan vowed to himself that he would do everything in his power to keep this promise.

END OF PART ONE

Coming soon:

Part Two in the 'Patchwork Family' Series: Fight And Flight

Teaser: "I'm sorry, Nathan," was all Peter had to say. He pulled his big brother close and placed a tender kiss onto his hair. "I'm sorry."

Then he went and quickly filled their glasses with red wine. He handed one to Nathan and lifted his own up in a toast. "To the new periods of our lives, whether they begin with committing ourselves to new places…" he waved his glass around to encompass their surroundings, "…or new people. May it result in happiness for the both of us, together forever."

"Hear hear," Nathan smiled and lifted the wineglass to his lips.

I will start posting Part Two in a few days (three, tops). Until then... tell me what you think of this, please.