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jesterladyficThis part's title is by John Keats.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four: From Out the Middle Air
i
2187
Claire hurried to table four, unloading her trays, then reloading them with empty dishes. The restaurant was fairly busy which wasn’t surprising on a Friday night. At least she didn't have to carry them. The one great thing about living so long was the advance of technology like hovering bussing stations.
“Girl, your shift was up half hour ago!”
Claire deactivated her station and used the moment to respond to her best friend.
“I know. Ronny asked me to stay another hour.”
Liz shook her head and her bright holographic earrings changed shape and color and jangled around her ears. That was one thing Claire didn't think was a necessary advancement. Nobody needed mood earrings that actually worked. On the other hand, it made it possible to avoid getting fifty real holes in your ears.
“That man would make his grandmother work on her deathbed. Go home!”
“What, and miss the opportunity of watching you do your ritual closing dance? Never.”
Liz just laughed.
“Just for that you have to do it too.”
“Fat chance. Ooh, that’s my table.”
Claire hurried off and spent the next hour occupied in much the same way.
It seemed to take forever before she was finally sitting at a clean table watching Liz lock up.
“Remind me why I have this job?” Liz groaned as she demagnetized the floor so she could clean it.
“Cause stripper was your only other option?”
“Shut up.”
Claire ducked the napkin holder tossed at her.
“Come on then,” Claire teased, “if you’ve got that much energy, let’s see the dance.”
“I shouldn’t just cause you’re a minx,” Liz said dramatically, “but I mustn’t disappoint tradition.” Claire thought tonight’s performance was particularly inspired. Liz’s imitation of Ronny was always impeccable. It certainly helped keep morale up when their boss was being a jerk. “So,” Liz said casually, linking her arm through Claire’s as they walked home, “I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”
“On a day ending in 't'? I’m utterly shocked, how unlike you!”
“You’ll love him, I promise you.”
“Like I loved Tony the Rat?”
“I promise he didn’t act like that before the operation,” Liz answered with a grimace. “And, yes, you will actually love this guy. Even if you don’t like him, you’ll love him. He’s an absolute sweetheart.”
“Well, in that case,” Claire conceded, “I’m afraid I’ve got a little setup in mind for you as well. So, we’ll have to make a double of it!”
“How utterly precious of us,” Liz said sarcastically. “Well, when do I have to meet him?”
“Have some faith,” Claire admonished. “I promise you, you’ll love Cy!”
“And you, my dear Zreta, will love dear William.”
***
Claire and Peter walked toward their destination slowly.
“Claire, this is seriously ridiculous.”
“Come on, Peter. You will love her, I promise. Even if you don’t, you’ll help me get through my date. You just moved here and you don’t know anyone. This is your chance.”
“Claire, the way I live my life is hardly something that can be divulged to blind dates. I’m currently listed as a terrorist.”
“I know. But here you don’t have to be Isaac the terrorist. You can be Cy, the happy go lucky guy of the future.”
“I still can’t believe you picked that name for me.”
Peter’s expression was priceless.
“Oh, and I suppose being called Zreta is some sort of treat for me? I know we had to adapt to the times, but, oh my, did we have to adapt quite so much?”
“Names of the future do kind of suck,” he agreed. “But I’m just glad Heroes are a normal part of society now. It was touch and go there for awhile though I guess it helps that we're now the majority of the population. More and more people are born evolved.”
“You and Eli really made a difference,” Claire said through the sudden lump in her throat.
“He was a good man. At least he could escape the repercussions of our actions. I’ve had to assume an entirely different identity. Again.”
“And he’s dead.”
“I know, Claire,” Peter said gently, putting his arm around her shoulders. “Nobody knows better than me.”
“I suppose so. We did have thirty years together before...it happened. Anyway, let’s put the past behind us. Tonight, we are going to party.”
“Don’t remind me,” Peter groaned.
“Hey, wacky kids,” came a voice from behind them.
They turned to see Liz and someone who must be William.
Peter suddenly began to blink rapidly as if his eyes were hurting him and he turned his head to face behind them, looking red with embarrassment. Claire nudged him and he turned back around and looked at the woman in front of him who was staring at him unashamedly. So he stared back at the dark curls, bright blue eyes, incredibly red dress, and golden skin.
“Liz, this is Cy,” Claire said knowingly.
Liz’s eyes roamed a little too long up and down. Claire smiled. It was fun being the only one knowing that Liz had x-ray vision and that Peter now had it too. She was actually amazed it had taken Peter this long to meet someone with x-ray vision.
“Zreta certainly can pick them,” Liz said. “But my manners. Honey, this is William.”
Claire smiled and shook his hand. He was medium sized with dark hair and a bit of stubble. He looked shy.
“You can call me Will.”
“I would shorten Zreta for you, but I think that would be even more painful,” she replied.
“Ever thought about renaming yourself? Pretty easy to do nowadays,” Will suggested.
Claire shot a quick glance at Peter.
“All the time. But I never got around to it.”
“I could help you out with that if you want. It’s popular among my clients.”
“What do you do?” Claire said, walking ahead with him.
They left Liz and Peter behind to eye each other.
“I’m a name recyclist. I guess that’s the best way of describing it. When we had the 'name famine' about ten years back it sorta opened up a job for me. I'm a historian really. But once they passed that law that said celebrities couldn't name their kids such weird things...it changed things. People want to get new names and keep ahead of the Walokas, so to speak. I find names from history and either give them a modern spin or see how well they can be used in today’s society.”
“Is that where you got William?” Claire inquired, intrigued. “It’s a pretty old name.”
“You like history?” Will asked. “I haven’t met very many people who do.”
“You could almost say history was my forte,” Claire said.
Behind them Peter and Liz were already holding hands and Claire suspected other things were in their immediate future. She was proud of herself. She’d known her friend’s spunky nature would be drawn to Peter’s sensitivity and vice versa. It didn’t hurt that they were both rather attractive, pretty people.
As for Will, Claire felt a keen sense of familiarity. It was comfortable being with him. Perhaps it was the slight air of geekiness around him, but he reminded her of Zach.
“I really liked computers before they went under,” he said continuing the Zach déjà vu feeling she was having.
“I like making new friends,” Claire said warmly. “Thanks for this, Will. It’s refreshing talking to someone so enthusiastic about life.”
“It’s refreshing being on a date with someone I don’t feel like I have to be date-like with,” he said cautiously. “I don’t mean that in a bad way, but it’s really easy to just talk with you.”
“I know what you mean,” Claire assured him. “I feel like I just rediscovered my high school best friend.”
“Me too,” Will said happily. “Except mine was a guy.”
“So was mine.” Claire laughed. “But, don’t worry, I think you’re way more mature than he was.”
“Don’t be too sure,” Will warned her.
As far as Claire was concerned, the evening was a total success.
ii
2189
“So, are you gonna walk me home or what?” Claire asked Will, slinging her arm around his shoulders.
“Go on home!” Liz told him. “Cy’s meeting me here. No need to fulfill the obligation.”
“See ya, Liz.”
“Bye, kids!”
Claire and Will walked in comfortable silence. They’d been friends for a long time now and life didn’t seem like it could get better.
“You know how we’re really good friends?” Will asked after awhile.
“No, I forgot, remind me?”
“I don’t know why I bother,” he said in mock exasperation. “Well, see, awhile back we were introduced and that was a good thing for both of us. We talk to each other a lot and go places and enjoy the same things. That’s what’s called being friends. And we’re really good at it.”
“I see. Well, that does seem nice.”
“It is.”
“Continue on then.”
“I like that we’re friends. I don’t feel any pressure to be anything else, like I have to measure up to something.”
“Me either. Did I make you think otherwise?”
“No, I just felt like talking. But since I know you didn’t actually comprehend any of it…”
“Wicked man!” Claire said affectionately. “Just for that, there shall be no scones for you.”
“You wound me.” He laughed. “Scones are like currency, you know.”
“The future does seem to be built like that. Britain rises again and all that.”
“The future?”
Will looked over at her curiously.
Claire winced. Friends though they may be, Will still didn’t know about her. Though Heroes were normal now, her association with Peter made it necessary for her to remain on the down low. Which meant situations like this were awkward. To her, the nation’s obsession with scones was weird, but to him, it was normal.
“Well, scones are the world’s future. It’s obvious.”
“Sometimes your brain is on an entirely different level.”
“It’s just hard to talk with people sometimes when I feel like I’m elsewhere,” Claire protested.
“Elsewhere? Trying to get away from me?”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I just have a hard time keeping my mind focused on one thing.”
Will looked slightly uncomfortable for a moment. Their friendship was strong, it was true, but she knew he sometime got the feeling she was keeping something from him. Which she was. That, and it was sometimes incredibly hard for him to talk with anyone, let alone her. Most of the time she couldn’t believe he let her be his friend.
“You know you can talk to me about anything,” he said after a pause.
“Thank you, Will,” Claire said, putting her arm through his. “I promise that unless it’s about icky girl things, I’m coming to you.”
“Thank you,” he said fervently. “No icky girl things.”
Claire just laughed and they spent the rest of the way talking about other things. She waved goodbye and closed the door.
She leaned against it for a moment. It was funny, but in all her experiences with love and her resistance of it or fighting for it; she’d never encountered unrequited love before. She didn’t think she liked it. Within her heart was stirring what felt like a second chance, but Will didn’t seem to be ready for that.
“Well,” Claire said, preparing for bed. “Who’s got more time than me?”
iii
2193
“Claire, watch out!”
Claire ducked as the automated PeaceKeeper swung at her head.
“Behind you!” she shouted in response to Peter.
A blue bolt shot from his hand and his own PeaceKeeper fell to the ground, smoking.
Peter2 came along beside her and pulled off her PeaceKeeper’s head. With an expression of short concentration, Peter caused his double to vanish and he and Claire continued on their way.
“I’m going to meet with Liz later,” he said conversationally. “Is Will gonna make it?”
“Probably.”
“What’s wrong?”
“What makes you think something has to be wrong?”
“You have the ‘something’s wrong' face.“
“No, I have a ‘none of your business' face on.”
“Touchy tonight, aren’t we?”
Claire sighed. She didn’t really know why she was testy. Unless it had something to do with the fact that Will didn’t seem to know she was a girl. She knew she shouldn’t feel jealous, but Liz and Peter had been attached at the mouth for the last six years whereas she hadn’t been able to get even an admiring glance. She'd thought that if she was always there for him Will might finally make a move. But so far, he hadn’t. She knew it took him forever to make up his mind, but she hadn’t known it was a literal forever.
“Why doesn’t Will notice me?”
“As I recall, he seems to do just that. In fact, I think you might be BFF.”
“People haven’t talked like that for two hundred years,” Claire teased. “You’re beginning to show your age.”
“Well, you know how it is. We old people can’t let go of the past.”
“I wish I could get a future.”
“Maybe you need to reveal the past to get one,” Peter suggested.
“What?”
Peter stopped in front of restaurant that was their destination, but didn’t go in.
“Claire, Will thinks you’re a modern girl named Zreta. Maybe you need to go all in and show him who you are. Intimacy, baby!”
“Does Liz know about you?”
“Yup. Full disclosure. By the way, thanks for letting me walk into the X-ray vision blind.”
“Since that only took you six years to say, no problem. I wonder why Liz hasn’t let me know she knows.”
“She probably wants you to squirm for not being the one to tell her. She’s like that.”
“Tell me about it. I’ll get her later.”
“Make it be after you tell Will. Even if he doesn’t magically fall in love, you guys have known each other long enough for him to know.”
“You’re right. I hate it when you’re right.”
“So that’s why you’re always unhappy!”
Claire just laughed and slugged him.
***
Claire took a huge breath as she knocked on Will’s door. She’d been preparing for this all day. She’d even practiced in front of the mirror. She was over two hundred years old. She could do this.
“Hey there, Z,” Will said as he opened the door. “Come in. I was getting something to eat. You want something?”
“No, I’m good. Go ahead, though.”
“Eating in front of people. Hmm, I guess I’m getting better.”
“Must be,” Claire agreed as she closed the door behind her and settled into her favorite spot on the couch.
It comforted her to know that she had a favorite spot.
“I have something to confess,” she began as Will bustled around the kitchen.
“You need another tech favor?”
“No, this is really personal and actually highly serious.”
Will raised his eyebrows.
“I guess I’ll wait to eat.” He came over and sat on the couch facing her. “Spill.”
“Do you remember when we were at the park and Cy showed up and I left with him and I came back with my shirt torn?”
“Wild dogs a cover up?”
“Yeah.”
“You and he didn’t…?”
“No, nothing like that.”
Will sighed in what sounded like relief.
Claire felt suddenly hopeful.
“You guys just have this connection or something,” he apologized. “I just thought…”
“We do have a connection,” Claire admitted. “He’s my uncle.”
“Weird family story coming up.” Will whistled. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Cause it gets even more complicated. Yes, he’s about ten years older than I am. But neither of us look our age. We both have powers.”
“You’re Heroes?” Will asked in disbelief. “Why didn’t you- what can you do?”
“Well, I can heal and regenerate.”
A look of awe swept over Will’s face. Claire hoped that was a good sign.
“Show me.” Claire moved into the kitchen and took a big knife from the drawer. She held out her pinky and chopped it off over the sink. It looked like Will's eyes were going to pop out and join it down the drain, which immediately started a disinfectant cycle, but they stayed firmly attached to his head and watched another pinky grow on her hand. “That’s pretty sweet,” he said slowly. “Are you okay? You don’t need anything?”
“I feel pain. But it doesn’t last long,” she reassured him. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but I don’t tell people. Liz doesn’t even know. I have a feeling I’m going to have to tell her. But there’s more.”
“I’ll sit down then.”
Will put a hand to his head as he moved back toward the couch.
Claire moved to join him.
“Cy has the ability to appropriate other people’s abilities. So, he can heal too, but he can also do a hundred other things. He’s pretty much Super Everything Man.”
“Wow! I feel inadequate now.”
“Don’t be. His ego is big enough without your help,” Claire told him. “But part of our power is not aging. Our cells regenerate and don’t grow old. We can’t die.”
“What!”
Will sat back.
Claire watched him for a moment. She knew why he wasn't saying anything; even though people having powers was normal, knowing that his best friend couldn’t die, had to be incredible sounding.
“I’m over two hundred years old,” Claire said slowly. “He’s even older. We both changed our names to match the times. His real name is Peter Petrelli or, in other circles, Isaac Mendez. I’m Claire Soveros nee Rosen nee Butler nee Bennett nee Petrelli. And that really doesn't mean that I was married four times like it sounds.”
“That’s just a little hard to take in.” Will got up and walked around the room a little bit. “I’m glad I didn’t start eating.”
“I hope you’re not mad. I know it’s a lot. I wish it didn’t have to be. It was a lot easier even a hundred years ago when the world hadn’t changed so much.”
“That’s why you’re such a history buff.”
“It’s easy to know things when you lived it.”
“This is a little too much. I need to process. I need to breathe.”
“Of course.” Claire got up to leave. “There’s just one more thing I have to tell you.”
“I don’t know how much more I can handle, Zr-Claire.”
It was strangely sweet to hear him say her real name.
“I know. But it’s the real reason I told you any of it. I hope you at least will always be my friend even with knowing this. But the truth is, I love you. I want more than your friendship, amazing as it is. I don’t know if you feel that way or if what I said makes a difference, but I just wanted you to know.”
Claire walked toward the door with her heart pounding. That was something she didn’t want to do every day.
iv
Will wondered at how even when he was weirded out and a little angry, that he could still be softened by the plaintive tone of Zre- no, Claire's voice. Her voice was still the same. It was still the same voice that caused his heart to jump whenever it spoke. But almost everything else had changed.
Will had watched Claire go, feeling slightly faint. Why did she love him? How could she when he would just grow old and die on her? He was nothing special with his antiquated knowledge and unimpressive presence. She was a Hero with a lifetime of experience and the greatest heart of anyone he knew. He'd wanted nothing more than to run after her and press his lips against hers.
But that wasn’t the way he lived his life. So he'd just stood there, thoughts racing, heart aching, afraid he was about to lose the most important thing in his life through his own awkwardness.
Will didn't talk to Claire for four months, not since that night in his apartment. He reckoned they were the worst four months he’d ever spent. She'd sent him messages, about one a week, but they were tentative, and she hadn't bothered him any more than that. Calling her was the first and last thing on his mind. He tried to do it at least once a day. He didn’t know why he was so scared of admitting his love for her. Hadn’t she already done so with him? Didn’t he have assurance of her affection? But he’d been hurt too often and rejected too much. Even without her extraordinary circumstances, it would have been too hard for him.
He avoided places where she was and people she knew. Liz had been calling him daily which he ducked dutifully. He was sure she would show up at his place any day now. He was right because she appeared on his doorstep the next day after breakfast.
“Will, I know you’re in there! I’m not leaving until you come out and face me! Be a man for once in your life!”
Will cracked the door open and walked away. Liz impatiently shoved her way inside and flung her things on the couch.
"Hi," he said glumly.
“What is your problem?” Will opened his mouth to answer but she kept going. “How long have you known the girl? You’ve been best friends for at least five years! If I didn’t have Peter, I would be upset that you'd stolen my best friend away. As it is, it appears I’m handling the news much better than you. If you don’t love her, than say so, but don’t leave the girl hanging! She’s terrified she’s offended you or something ridiculous like that!”
“She didn’t,” Will managed to squeeze in.
“So tell her! So what if she’s two hundred! Peter’s older than that and can walk through walls! I’m the one who should be scared and, yet, I’m having the time of my life.”
“I’m not as brave as you are, Lizaba!” Will shouted, shocking her into silence. “I don’t risk everything on my feelings. People get hurt all the time and I don’t want to be one of them. I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t know what I would do if I did. And what about when I’m old and she can’t love me anymore? How could I live after knowing her love?”
“You’re hurt now!” Liz said finally. “You want her and you won’t let yourself go to her. It’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face. You know, like those sayings you like to drone on about? Claire knows it for a fact and has probably already lived through it. She knows the risk, took it, and she chose you. So stop acting like a baby and go get the girl!”
A swelling feeling rose up within Will’s heart. He’d always wanted to be like an actor in the old movies, the ones you had to watch on a special projector it was really hard to procure unless you were a historian like him, and run after the girl down the street, shouting her name. But he’d never been brave or charismatic. Now he suddenly felt like both.
***
Claire couldn’t believe her eyes when the knock on the door turned out to be her dearest wish. It had been some of the hardest months of her life since the day she'd told Will the truth. When she hadn't heard from him she'd feared the worst and had cried for days, eating what passed for ice cream in this century and avoiding Peter. She was old enough to know it wouldn't last, but that didn't make it hurt any less. Pain was pain, just like Elijah had always said.
But now...Will was actually at her door.
Will entered the room slowly, barely meeting her eyes.
“Are you okay?” Claire asked. “I haven’t seen you so I thought…”
“I love you,” Will whispered.
“What?”
He looked up and looked into her eyes.
“I love you.”
Then he kissed her.
Claire didn’t need any more assurance than that.
v
2245
Claire gazed at the grey slab in front of her. She was really sick of seeing them and hated the fact that she had a regular trip with Peter every year to visit them all. One more had been added to their agenda today.
“I don’t know how you’ve done this so often,” Peter said from beside her.
“I don’t know either. But people would definitely call me a murderess/gold digger if they knew how many men I’ve buried while I look like this.”
“After Karl you said you couldn’t do this anymore,” he reminded her. “Elijah practically had to force you and you waited for Will. Do you think you’ll try again?”
“On actual burial days it’s the farthest thing from my mind. It does take awhile, you know that. But right now I’m going to say that there is one thing I’ve learned from all this and that is you can’t run from love. But it doesn’t mean I have to go looking for it either. So I will be content until the day someone like Will comes for me.”
Claire bent down and kissed the tombstone that read:
William Bexon Hardyll
“Goodbye, my love,” she whispered. Straightening up, she turned to Peter. “Do you want to see Liz while we’re here?”
The pain, still fresh from a year ago, was in his eyes as he answered.
“No, I was just there. We’ll be back.”
“Yes, we will be.”
The two walked together up the hill toward the cemetery gates. It was a dance they performed in unison, the steps memorized from constant repetition and executed with increased weariness and excellence as time wore on.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four: From Out the Middle Air
i
2187
Claire hurried to table four, unloading her trays, then reloading them with empty dishes. The restaurant was fairly busy which wasn’t surprising on a Friday night. At least she didn't have to carry them. The one great thing about living so long was the advance of technology like hovering bussing stations.
“Girl, your shift was up half hour ago!”
Claire deactivated her station and used the moment to respond to her best friend.
“I know. Ronny asked me to stay another hour.”
Liz shook her head and her bright holographic earrings changed shape and color and jangled around her ears. That was one thing Claire didn't think was a necessary advancement. Nobody needed mood earrings that actually worked. On the other hand, it made it possible to avoid getting fifty real holes in your ears.
“That man would make his grandmother work on her deathbed. Go home!”
“What, and miss the opportunity of watching you do your ritual closing dance? Never.”
Liz just laughed.
“Just for that you have to do it too.”
“Fat chance. Ooh, that’s my table.”
Claire hurried off and spent the next hour occupied in much the same way.
It seemed to take forever before she was finally sitting at a clean table watching Liz lock up.
“Remind me why I have this job?” Liz groaned as she demagnetized the floor so she could clean it.
“Cause stripper was your only other option?”
“Shut up.”
Claire ducked the napkin holder tossed at her.
“Come on then,” Claire teased, “if you’ve got that much energy, let’s see the dance.”
“I shouldn’t just cause you’re a minx,” Liz said dramatically, “but I mustn’t disappoint tradition.” Claire thought tonight’s performance was particularly inspired. Liz’s imitation of Ronny was always impeccable. It certainly helped keep morale up when their boss was being a jerk. “So,” Liz said casually, linking her arm through Claire’s as they walked home, “I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”
“On a day ending in 't'? I’m utterly shocked, how unlike you!”
“You’ll love him, I promise you.”
“Like I loved Tony the Rat?”
“I promise he didn’t act like that before the operation,” Liz answered with a grimace. “And, yes, you will actually love this guy. Even if you don’t like him, you’ll love him. He’s an absolute sweetheart.”
“Well, in that case,” Claire conceded, “I’m afraid I’ve got a little setup in mind for you as well. So, we’ll have to make a double of it!”
“How utterly precious of us,” Liz said sarcastically. “Well, when do I have to meet him?”
“Have some faith,” Claire admonished. “I promise you, you’ll love Cy!”
“And you, my dear Zreta, will love dear William.”
***
Claire and Peter walked toward their destination slowly.
“Claire, this is seriously ridiculous.”
“Come on, Peter. You will love her, I promise. Even if you don’t, you’ll help me get through my date. You just moved here and you don’t know anyone. This is your chance.”
“Claire, the way I live my life is hardly something that can be divulged to blind dates. I’m currently listed as a terrorist.”
“I know. But here you don’t have to be Isaac the terrorist. You can be Cy, the happy go lucky guy of the future.”
“I still can’t believe you picked that name for me.”
Peter’s expression was priceless.
“Oh, and I suppose being called Zreta is some sort of treat for me? I know we had to adapt to the times, but, oh my, did we have to adapt quite so much?”
“Names of the future do kind of suck,” he agreed. “But I’m just glad Heroes are a normal part of society now. It was touch and go there for awhile though I guess it helps that we're now the majority of the population. More and more people are born evolved.”
“You and Eli really made a difference,” Claire said through the sudden lump in her throat.
“He was a good man. At least he could escape the repercussions of our actions. I’ve had to assume an entirely different identity. Again.”
“And he’s dead.”
“I know, Claire,” Peter said gently, putting his arm around her shoulders. “Nobody knows better than me.”
“I suppose so. We did have thirty years together before...it happened. Anyway, let’s put the past behind us. Tonight, we are going to party.”
“Don’t remind me,” Peter groaned.
“Hey, wacky kids,” came a voice from behind them.
They turned to see Liz and someone who must be William.
Peter suddenly began to blink rapidly as if his eyes were hurting him and he turned his head to face behind them, looking red with embarrassment. Claire nudged him and he turned back around and looked at the woman in front of him who was staring at him unashamedly. So he stared back at the dark curls, bright blue eyes, incredibly red dress, and golden skin.
“Liz, this is Cy,” Claire said knowingly.
Liz’s eyes roamed a little too long up and down. Claire smiled. It was fun being the only one knowing that Liz had x-ray vision and that Peter now had it too. She was actually amazed it had taken Peter this long to meet someone with x-ray vision.
“Zreta certainly can pick them,” Liz said. “But my manners. Honey, this is William.”
Claire smiled and shook his hand. He was medium sized with dark hair and a bit of stubble. He looked shy.
“You can call me Will.”
“I would shorten Zreta for you, but I think that would be even more painful,” she replied.
“Ever thought about renaming yourself? Pretty easy to do nowadays,” Will suggested.
Claire shot a quick glance at Peter.
“All the time. But I never got around to it.”
“I could help you out with that if you want. It’s popular among my clients.”
“What do you do?” Claire said, walking ahead with him.
They left Liz and Peter behind to eye each other.
“I’m a name recyclist. I guess that’s the best way of describing it. When we had the 'name famine' about ten years back it sorta opened up a job for me. I'm a historian really. But once they passed that law that said celebrities couldn't name their kids such weird things...it changed things. People want to get new names and keep ahead of the Walokas, so to speak. I find names from history and either give them a modern spin or see how well they can be used in today’s society.”
“Is that where you got William?” Claire inquired, intrigued. “It’s a pretty old name.”
“You like history?” Will asked. “I haven’t met very many people who do.”
“You could almost say history was my forte,” Claire said.
Behind them Peter and Liz were already holding hands and Claire suspected other things were in their immediate future. She was proud of herself. She’d known her friend’s spunky nature would be drawn to Peter’s sensitivity and vice versa. It didn’t hurt that they were both rather attractive, pretty people.
As for Will, Claire felt a keen sense of familiarity. It was comfortable being with him. Perhaps it was the slight air of geekiness around him, but he reminded her of Zach.
“I really liked computers before they went under,” he said continuing the Zach déjà vu feeling she was having.
“I like making new friends,” Claire said warmly. “Thanks for this, Will. It’s refreshing talking to someone so enthusiastic about life.”
“It’s refreshing being on a date with someone I don’t feel like I have to be date-like with,” he said cautiously. “I don’t mean that in a bad way, but it’s really easy to just talk with you.”
“I know what you mean,” Claire assured him. “I feel like I just rediscovered my high school best friend.”
“Me too,” Will said happily. “Except mine was a guy.”
“So was mine.” Claire laughed. “But, don’t worry, I think you’re way more mature than he was.”
“Don’t be too sure,” Will warned her.
As far as Claire was concerned, the evening was a total success.
ii
2189
“So, are you gonna walk me home or what?” Claire asked Will, slinging her arm around his shoulders.
“Go on home!” Liz told him. “Cy’s meeting me here. No need to fulfill the obligation.”
“See ya, Liz.”
“Bye, kids!”
Claire and Will walked in comfortable silence. They’d been friends for a long time now and life didn’t seem like it could get better.
“You know how we’re really good friends?” Will asked after awhile.
“No, I forgot, remind me?”
“I don’t know why I bother,” he said in mock exasperation. “Well, see, awhile back we were introduced and that was a good thing for both of us. We talk to each other a lot and go places and enjoy the same things. That’s what’s called being friends. And we’re really good at it.”
“I see. Well, that does seem nice.”
“It is.”
“Continue on then.”
“I like that we’re friends. I don’t feel any pressure to be anything else, like I have to measure up to something.”
“Me either. Did I make you think otherwise?”
“No, I just felt like talking. But since I know you didn’t actually comprehend any of it…”
“Wicked man!” Claire said affectionately. “Just for that, there shall be no scones for you.”
“You wound me.” He laughed. “Scones are like currency, you know.”
“The future does seem to be built like that. Britain rises again and all that.”
“The future?”
Will looked over at her curiously.
Claire winced. Friends though they may be, Will still didn’t know about her. Though Heroes were normal now, her association with Peter made it necessary for her to remain on the down low. Which meant situations like this were awkward. To her, the nation’s obsession with scones was weird, but to him, it was normal.
“Well, scones are the world’s future. It’s obvious.”
“Sometimes your brain is on an entirely different level.”
“It’s just hard to talk with people sometimes when I feel like I’m elsewhere,” Claire protested.
“Elsewhere? Trying to get away from me?”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I just have a hard time keeping my mind focused on one thing.”
Will looked slightly uncomfortable for a moment. Their friendship was strong, it was true, but she knew he sometime got the feeling she was keeping something from him. Which she was. That, and it was sometimes incredibly hard for him to talk with anyone, let alone her. Most of the time she couldn’t believe he let her be his friend.
“You know you can talk to me about anything,” he said after a pause.
“Thank you, Will,” Claire said, putting her arm through his. “I promise that unless it’s about icky girl things, I’m coming to you.”
“Thank you,” he said fervently. “No icky girl things.”
Claire just laughed and they spent the rest of the way talking about other things. She waved goodbye and closed the door.
She leaned against it for a moment. It was funny, but in all her experiences with love and her resistance of it or fighting for it; she’d never encountered unrequited love before. She didn’t think she liked it. Within her heart was stirring what felt like a second chance, but Will didn’t seem to be ready for that.
“Well,” Claire said, preparing for bed. “Who’s got more time than me?”
iii
2193
“Claire, watch out!”
Claire ducked as the automated PeaceKeeper swung at her head.
“Behind you!” she shouted in response to Peter.
A blue bolt shot from his hand and his own PeaceKeeper fell to the ground, smoking.
Peter2 came along beside her and pulled off her PeaceKeeper’s head. With an expression of short concentration, Peter caused his double to vanish and he and Claire continued on their way.
“I’m going to meet with Liz later,” he said conversationally. “Is Will gonna make it?”
“Probably.”
“What’s wrong?”
“What makes you think something has to be wrong?”
“You have the ‘something’s wrong' face.“
“No, I have a ‘none of your business' face on.”
“Touchy tonight, aren’t we?”
Claire sighed. She didn’t really know why she was testy. Unless it had something to do with the fact that Will didn’t seem to know she was a girl. She knew she shouldn’t feel jealous, but Liz and Peter had been attached at the mouth for the last six years whereas she hadn’t been able to get even an admiring glance. She'd thought that if she was always there for him Will might finally make a move. But so far, he hadn’t. She knew it took him forever to make up his mind, but she hadn’t known it was a literal forever.
“Why doesn’t Will notice me?”
“As I recall, he seems to do just that. In fact, I think you might be BFF.”
“People haven’t talked like that for two hundred years,” Claire teased. “You’re beginning to show your age.”
“Well, you know how it is. We old people can’t let go of the past.”
“I wish I could get a future.”
“Maybe you need to reveal the past to get one,” Peter suggested.
“What?”
Peter stopped in front of restaurant that was their destination, but didn’t go in.
“Claire, Will thinks you’re a modern girl named Zreta. Maybe you need to go all in and show him who you are. Intimacy, baby!”
“Does Liz know about you?”
“Yup. Full disclosure. By the way, thanks for letting me walk into the X-ray vision blind.”
“Since that only took you six years to say, no problem. I wonder why Liz hasn’t let me know she knows.”
“She probably wants you to squirm for not being the one to tell her. She’s like that.”
“Tell me about it. I’ll get her later.”
“Make it be after you tell Will. Even if he doesn’t magically fall in love, you guys have known each other long enough for him to know.”
“You’re right. I hate it when you’re right.”
“So that’s why you’re always unhappy!”
Claire just laughed and slugged him.
***
Claire took a huge breath as she knocked on Will’s door. She’d been preparing for this all day. She’d even practiced in front of the mirror. She was over two hundred years old. She could do this.
“Hey there, Z,” Will said as he opened the door. “Come in. I was getting something to eat. You want something?”
“No, I’m good. Go ahead, though.”
“Eating in front of people. Hmm, I guess I’m getting better.”
“Must be,” Claire agreed as she closed the door behind her and settled into her favorite spot on the couch.
It comforted her to know that she had a favorite spot.
“I have something to confess,” she began as Will bustled around the kitchen.
“You need another tech favor?”
“No, this is really personal and actually highly serious.”
Will raised his eyebrows.
“I guess I’ll wait to eat.” He came over and sat on the couch facing her. “Spill.”
“Do you remember when we were at the park and Cy showed up and I left with him and I came back with my shirt torn?”
“Wild dogs a cover up?”
“Yeah.”
“You and he didn’t…?”
“No, nothing like that.”
Will sighed in what sounded like relief.
Claire felt suddenly hopeful.
“You guys just have this connection or something,” he apologized. “I just thought…”
“We do have a connection,” Claire admitted. “He’s my uncle.”
“Weird family story coming up.” Will whistled. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Cause it gets even more complicated. Yes, he’s about ten years older than I am. But neither of us look our age. We both have powers.”
“You’re Heroes?” Will asked in disbelief. “Why didn’t you- what can you do?”
“Well, I can heal and regenerate.”
A look of awe swept over Will’s face. Claire hoped that was a good sign.
“Show me.” Claire moved into the kitchen and took a big knife from the drawer. She held out her pinky and chopped it off over the sink. It looked like Will's eyes were going to pop out and join it down the drain, which immediately started a disinfectant cycle, but they stayed firmly attached to his head and watched another pinky grow on her hand. “That’s pretty sweet,” he said slowly. “Are you okay? You don’t need anything?”
“I feel pain. But it doesn’t last long,” she reassured him. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but I don’t tell people. Liz doesn’t even know. I have a feeling I’m going to have to tell her. But there’s more.”
“I’ll sit down then.”
Will put a hand to his head as he moved back toward the couch.
Claire moved to join him.
“Cy has the ability to appropriate other people’s abilities. So, he can heal too, but he can also do a hundred other things. He’s pretty much Super Everything Man.”
“Wow! I feel inadequate now.”
“Don’t be. His ego is big enough without your help,” Claire told him. “But part of our power is not aging. Our cells regenerate and don’t grow old. We can’t die.”
“What!”
Will sat back.
Claire watched him for a moment. She knew why he wasn't saying anything; even though people having powers was normal, knowing that his best friend couldn’t die, had to be incredible sounding.
“I’m over two hundred years old,” Claire said slowly. “He’s even older. We both changed our names to match the times. His real name is Peter Petrelli or, in other circles, Isaac Mendez. I’m Claire Soveros nee Rosen nee Butler nee Bennett nee Petrelli. And that really doesn't mean that I was married four times like it sounds.”
“That’s just a little hard to take in.” Will got up and walked around the room a little bit. “I’m glad I didn’t start eating.”
“I hope you’re not mad. I know it’s a lot. I wish it didn’t have to be. It was a lot easier even a hundred years ago when the world hadn’t changed so much.”
“That’s why you’re such a history buff.”
“It’s easy to know things when you lived it.”
“This is a little too much. I need to process. I need to breathe.”
“Of course.” Claire got up to leave. “There’s just one more thing I have to tell you.”
“I don’t know how much more I can handle, Zr-Claire.”
It was strangely sweet to hear him say her real name.
“I know. But it’s the real reason I told you any of it. I hope you at least will always be my friend even with knowing this. But the truth is, I love you. I want more than your friendship, amazing as it is. I don’t know if you feel that way or if what I said makes a difference, but I just wanted you to know.”
Claire walked toward the door with her heart pounding. That was something she didn’t want to do every day.
iv
Will wondered at how even when he was weirded out and a little angry, that he could still be softened by the plaintive tone of Zre- no, Claire's voice. Her voice was still the same. It was still the same voice that caused his heart to jump whenever it spoke. But almost everything else had changed.
Will had watched Claire go, feeling slightly faint. Why did she love him? How could she when he would just grow old and die on her? He was nothing special with his antiquated knowledge and unimpressive presence. She was a Hero with a lifetime of experience and the greatest heart of anyone he knew. He'd wanted nothing more than to run after her and press his lips against hers.
But that wasn’t the way he lived his life. So he'd just stood there, thoughts racing, heart aching, afraid he was about to lose the most important thing in his life through his own awkwardness.
Will didn't talk to Claire for four months, not since that night in his apartment. He reckoned they were the worst four months he’d ever spent. She'd sent him messages, about one a week, but they were tentative, and she hadn't bothered him any more than that. Calling her was the first and last thing on his mind. He tried to do it at least once a day. He didn’t know why he was so scared of admitting his love for her. Hadn’t she already done so with him? Didn’t he have assurance of her affection? But he’d been hurt too often and rejected too much. Even without her extraordinary circumstances, it would have been too hard for him.
He avoided places where she was and people she knew. Liz had been calling him daily which he ducked dutifully. He was sure she would show up at his place any day now. He was right because she appeared on his doorstep the next day after breakfast.
“Will, I know you’re in there! I’m not leaving until you come out and face me! Be a man for once in your life!”
Will cracked the door open and walked away. Liz impatiently shoved her way inside and flung her things on the couch.
"Hi," he said glumly.
“What is your problem?” Will opened his mouth to answer but she kept going. “How long have you known the girl? You’ve been best friends for at least five years! If I didn’t have Peter, I would be upset that you'd stolen my best friend away. As it is, it appears I’m handling the news much better than you. If you don’t love her, than say so, but don’t leave the girl hanging! She’s terrified she’s offended you or something ridiculous like that!”
“She didn’t,” Will managed to squeeze in.
“So tell her! So what if she’s two hundred! Peter’s older than that and can walk through walls! I’m the one who should be scared and, yet, I’m having the time of my life.”
“I’m not as brave as you are, Lizaba!” Will shouted, shocking her into silence. “I don’t risk everything on my feelings. People get hurt all the time and I don’t want to be one of them. I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t know what I would do if I did. And what about when I’m old and she can’t love me anymore? How could I live after knowing her love?”
“You’re hurt now!” Liz said finally. “You want her and you won’t let yourself go to her. It’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face. You know, like those sayings you like to drone on about? Claire knows it for a fact and has probably already lived through it. She knows the risk, took it, and she chose you. So stop acting like a baby and go get the girl!”
A swelling feeling rose up within Will’s heart. He’d always wanted to be like an actor in the old movies, the ones you had to watch on a special projector it was really hard to procure unless you were a historian like him, and run after the girl down the street, shouting her name. But he’d never been brave or charismatic. Now he suddenly felt like both.
***
Claire couldn’t believe her eyes when the knock on the door turned out to be her dearest wish. It had been some of the hardest months of her life since the day she'd told Will the truth. When she hadn't heard from him she'd feared the worst and had cried for days, eating what passed for ice cream in this century and avoiding Peter. She was old enough to know it wouldn't last, but that didn't make it hurt any less. Pain was pain, just like Elijah had always said.
But now...Will was actually at her door.
Will entered the room slowly, barely meeting her eyes.
“Are you okay?” Claire asked. “I haven’t seen you so I thought…”
“I love you,” Will whispered.
“What?”
He looked up and looked into her eyes.
“I love you.”
Then he kissed her.
Claire didn’t need any more assurance than that.
v
2245
Claire gazed at the grey slab in front of her. She was really sick of seeing them and hated the fact that she had a regular trip with Peter every year to visit them all. One more had been added to their agenda today.
“I don’t know how you’ve done this so often,” Peter said from beside her.
“I don’t know either. But people would definitely call me a murderess/gold digger if they knew how many men I’ve buried while I look like this.”
“After Karl you said you couldn’t do this anymore,” he reminded her. “Elijah practically had to force you and you waited for Will. Do you think you’ll try again?”
“On actual burial days it’s the farthest thing from my mind. It does take awhile, you know that. But right now I’m going to say that there is one thing I’ve learned from all this and that is you can’t run from love. But it doesn’t mean I have to go looking for it either. So I will be content until the day someone like Will comes for me.”
Claire bent down and kissed the tombstone that read:
William Bexon Hardyll
“Goodbye, my love,” she whispered. Straightening up, she turned to Peter. “Do you want to see Liz while we’re here?”
The pain, still fresh from a year ago, was in his eyes as he answered.
“No, I was just there. We’ll be back.”
“Yes, we will be.”
The two walked together up the hill toward the cemetery gates. It was a dance they performed in unison, the steps memorized from constant repetition and executed with increased weariness and excellence as time wore on.
