Fic: Tradition 1/1
Title: Tradition. Author: Lopaka Tanu Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes. Characters: Claire, Peter, Sylar, Adam Words: 728 Prompt: Immortal Fandom: Heroes Pairing: Peter/Sylar Rating: General Warnings: Language Summary: Long after the world has ended, they still come home. Author's Note: Idea based upon the Dark Sun Trilogy. ______________________________________
The winds picked up, blowing dust across the horizon. The glean of metal and glass sparkled in the early morning light. Where once majestic spires had stood, lay only a flat plain.
Standing upon a hill nearby, four figures watched the sun rise. This was become their quiet tradition, one few else had observed. It had been ages since they had stopped counting the millennia. The had been coming for so long, they were almost instinctively drawn here.
Dressed in the leather and animal hides of the people to the south, the ancient queen stood further apart from the rest. Many of her children had once seen the sun rise with her and the other three. Long ago she had stopped bringing them, knowing one day they would never be able to make the journey again.
Closer to the others, yet still apart, a taller figure with her hair and eyes contemplated why he still tried. His clothes were still that made in the once glorious city. His people to the north reveled in the knowledge he provided, worshiping him as god. He planned on leaving them soon.
At the core, two figures stood with their arms entwined. One's ancient skin was given him by the queen, the other's was stolen. Not confined by time or space, they chose only to remain from lack of enthusiasm. Together, they were considering sleeping for the next millennium of sunrises.
As the last vestiges cleared the horizon of the ancient site, they collectively sighed.
Claire turned to look at her uncle. Long ago, she had stopped thinking of him as anything but 'Peter'. An ancient flare of memory tried to intrude upon the peace she felt in the others' presence, but she drove it away. Whatever had happened in the past was done and over with.
Catching her expression, Adam snorted. He waved two fingers in their general direction, then turned away. His transport was not far, and it would take him almost a week of constant traveling before he reached the boundaries of his city.
Not caring about him, Claire stepped closer to Peter and the other. She would never give him name in her mind. The only reason he was here was due to the harm he had caused them both. "The people of the Cavern of Winds would welcome your visit."
"We were considering visiting the Polar Region." Squeezing Peter's hand, Sylar pulled him against his chest. "Your little apes disgust us both."
Claire scrunched her nose, glaring at the other. She would have made a comment, but the fight was old. "Peter is welcome."
"I am tired." Stretching his neck, Peter leaned in to Sylar's touch. He wouldn't admit it to Claire, but they did make him uncomfortable. She should never have started selectively breeding them for intelligence. "We've been thinking of sleeping."
She wanted to say something, started to, but held back. It had been a hundred thousand years since they last spent a great deal of time together. What held her tongue, though, was the understanding and sympathetic need of her own. There were days when she was just so tired... Clearing her throat, she nodded. "How long?"
"A thousand, may be a little more, years. We'll still come here for the sunrise, though." Thinking about it made Peter yawn. Soon, all three of them were doing it. "Would you like us to drop you off?"
Shaking her head, she pointed past them. "They came with me, a hundred or so. We will journey back together."
"Ah." Smiling at her, Peter stepped forward. He embraced her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. When he eventually stepped back, he continued until he was flush against Sylar. "See you next time."
As she watched, the wind picked up, tossing her hair about her. One blink of her eyes, they were there. Then when she opened them, they were gone.
An emptiness filled her, making her feel as if the wind blew through her as well. She looked once more over what had been a great city, though she could no longer recall its name. This was where it all had started, this was where it all would continue.
For there would never be an end.
Feeling depressed, she decided to take her time getting back to her people. They could wait for her a little while longer.