Phoenix Like

Claire Bennet. 27. Rapid Cellular Regeneration

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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He leaned against the wall, quietly waiting while Soo removed the screw. Having nothing else of interest to look at, his gaze remained fixed on her, boring into her. When she hesitated to follow through on what he had ‘suggested’ he spoke. “Your empathy for her is admirable — but misplaced. She has as little love for you as she does me. You’re a traitor in her eyes.” He tilted his head. “You can stay in there. If you like. But if she comes to and decides to try something — say killing you — don’t expect me to do anything.” 

He looked at her, completely serious. “Because I won’t.” 

Soo Jin’s expression was pained as Nathaniel spoke to her. She brushed Claire’s hair from her eyes with a sigh. She knew what she looked like to Claire and every other Evo that she was forced to interrogate. She saw the hatred and pain in their eyes even as she confessed every last detail to her. She wanted to believe that Nathaniel was lying, but knew that it was an impossibility with her in such close proximity.

As Soo Jin stood, she subtly kicked the bloody screw across the floor and followed it as it rolled to the door. Her hand lingered on the door as her fingers drew a small arrow to the door jam with Claire’s blood on her fingers that would be impossible for Nathaniel to see from the observation room. When she closed the door behind her, the screw managed to hold it open just enough to prevent it from latching. 

It took a few minutes for Claire to wake up and when she did, Claire spit up some blood onto the floor and looked up at Nathaniel angrily. “Did you at least have the guts to come in here and take it out of my head yourself?” She asked, brow raising slightly before glancing over at Soo Jin. “Or did you make her do it for you?”

She turned back to him after a second and stared, not sure what she was going to do if he asked the question again. As if looking for something to do other than stare at Nathaniel in despair, Claire glanced around the cell and noticed the small blood mark on the door. It was almost unnoticeable and Claire turned to look at Soo Jin again, trying to keep her features a sort of neutral angry.

[austenkates]

Hayden Panettiere as Juliette Barnes on Nashville, Season 1; 1.04 “We Live in Two Different Worlds” Part 2/3 

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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He chuckled, her answer tickling his sense of humor. “You worry about Sylar least.” He pronounced. The answer for her had been too easy, and Soo Jin hadn’t used her ability — something Nathaniel wouldn’t soon forget. Her defiance was something he’d address out of Claire’s sight. “I’ll wager Peter comes second. His ability is so similar.” He tilted his head, thinking out loud. “Henry you’re clearly concerned about, even with his ability. At least, you think of him. Claude and Noah — The both of them are just a little elusive. Like Minnows.” He licked his lips. “Thank you for clearing that up.” 

He put out the cigarette, dropping the remains carelessly on the ground and crushing it with a boot. The look he gave Soo Jin was a new one. It wasn’t angry — because he was decided. “Henry was hiding a secret.” He mused, “One he didn’t deign to share with me. He’s had enough time to talk to you. What did Henry tell you Claire?” 

Soo Jin felt her spirit fall as Claire opted to answer even without the assistance of Soo Jin’s ability. She could feel the weight of her resistance bearing down on her with a promise of repercussions even as she watched Nathaniel piece apart Claire’s answers with more information than had even been spoken. When Nathaniel looked to her once more, she felt cold all over. Swallowing, she repeated after him, barely able to look to Claire as she spoke. ❝What secret did Henry tell you, Claire?❞

If only there wasn’t the glass between them, Claire would have destroyed Nathaniel. But of course, there were always obstacles. The second the words left his mouth, Claire clenched her jaw tightly and stared at him for a few seconds before walking over to the sink in her cell and unscrewed one of the knobs.

As Soo Jin asked the question, Claire didn’t dare open her mouth, afraid that the answer would come spilling out and Claire wanted to know more about it before she started telling anyone else, or before Nathaniel could ruin it. Giving a small smile, she held up the screw and smiled before jabbing it into her own kill spot and falling to the floor.

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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He seemed to consider the information for a moment, before staring at Claire, disinterested. “You’re not in any real position to make demands.” He said in response to her ordering him to leave. “When you have answered my questions — and I am satisfied with your answers — I will leave. But not before.” 

He continued smoking for a moment, leaving both Soo Jin waiting and Claire before speaking again. “When people say pain — generally, they will associated it on the physical level.” He exhaled, enjoying the cigarette. “There are many — many kinds of pain Claire. You’re experiencing one right now. The pain of losing control.” He looked up. “Most people react to that with anger — denial — frustration. You are exhibiting all three.” 

He looked back to Soo Jin, holding the cigarette between two fingers casually. “If you had to choose one to die — who?” He nodded at Soo Jin, directing her to ask the question. 

Soo Jin was used to obtaining necessary information for the government to gain the upper hand on her own kind. She was merely a pawn. Her ability could not physically hurt anyone, but the truth was often more powerful than many forces of nature. Soo Jin furrowed her brow as Claire answered the question, wishing very much that the interrogation could end. It was not going as most did. 

At her next assigned question, she paused, looking to Nathaniel in disbelief. This did not feel like an interrogation, but a torture session. ❝I… I do not think…❞ She looked back to Claire momentarily before returning to Nathaniel. ❝Please, I cannot ask he that.❞

Claire let out a small growl from the back of her throat. She was starting to lose that sense of self-control a little. If she were stronger, Claire probably would have tried to throw the bed at the glass, though that probably wouldn’t have done anything either.

At his next question, Claire had to resist the urge to laugh or smile, which was more difficult than she’d thought. It was a ridiculously easy question and she didn’t even have to second guess herself on. “It’s okay.” Claire muttered, glancing at Soo Jin before turning to Nathaniel. “Sylar.” She answered, staring at him intently. 

They may have made up a little a few years ago, and Claire maybe have learned a lot about who and why he was this way,  but that didn’t really diminish the way she saw him. Besides, he was immortal too and more powerful than Nathaniel even knew. She wasn't even sure he could really die. Yes, he had a kill spot like all the others, but from experience and what others had told her, he seemed to move it around. It would be impossible to put Sylar down permanently.

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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“Excellent.” He said, “I’ll have them monitored then.” 

He looked at her, mind clearly thinking. He wanted to twist her arm a little. He glanced at Soo Jin, almost as if she were merely a communications device. “Peter. Henry. Sylar. Claude. Noah Bennet…” He licked his lips, considering the names she’d given him. “If I asked you Claire, to pick one of these names — at random — who?” 

He shrugged. “Doesn’t have to be any particular reason for choosing.” 

Soo Jin looked to the floor, well aware that she was only an accessory in this encounter. She’d become used to the role, but that did not make it any easier. Wincing at his question, knowing that the answer could only cause more trouble, she hesitated before repeating the question. 

❝Of Peter, Henry, Sylar, Claude, or Noah… which would you pick at random?❞

When Soo Jin asked the question, Claire closed her eyes with a pained expression. The first person that came to her head? “Henry.” She answered. It was both easy and hard at the same time. Claire knew that Henry would feel bad about what had happened last week and for basically leading them right to her. But Peter would be angry, though that anger would mostly just turn into an ‘I told you so’ kind of scenario.

“Now, get out.”

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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“Who is most likely—”, He rephrased his question. He needed answers, not some damn attitude from people who were supposed to be working with him. He held up a hand when Claire asked her own question to Soo Jin. He didn’t care what questions she had, he wanted answers. 

“I want names.” He said, looking at Jin, expecting her to comply. 

Soo Jin closed her eyes, unable to stand the look she was getting from Claire. She felt shame come over her like a familiar storm cloud as she took a deep breath to respond until she stopped herself at the sight of Nathaniel’s hand. She looked into his eyes for a moment before nodding.

❝Who would be most likely to try and retrieve you from this place?❞

Claire crossed her arms, watching the interaction between the two of them for a moment, though it was mostly just to keep from throwing herself at the glass. She knew it would be useless anyway.

Soo Jin’s questions made Claire grind her teeth, almost to the point of pain, to keep from answering. But it was useless. “Peter. Henry. Sylar. Claude. My dad.” She growled, her hands balling into fists as each name left her lips.

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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“I know who you are.” He said, brushing off Soo’s greeting. His tone delivered a message of slight annoyance. It was always foolish to introduce yourself in front of a prisoner. If they ever escaped, and if they ever wanted payback, finding you would be easy. 

His gaze lingered, almost in a kind of sharp warning that he didn’t appreciate the niceties. He wanted her there only for what she was good at — nothing more. “Ask Claire — if she thinks anyone is coming for her. And who.” He licked his lips, interested in whom he might have to be on the lookout for. 

Soo Jin, looked to Nathaniel. She’d heard much of him from Alistair as well as others and had no desire to appease him despite his known cruelty. ❝Actually, I was not speaking to you.❞ She blinked and looked back to Claire, a woman that had actually earned the respect of those around her and there was a pain in the pit of Soo Jin’s stomach with the knowledge of what she would have to do.

Her eyes did their best to communicate apologies as they always did before she asked her questions. ❝Do you think that anyone is coming for you? And who?❞ 

Claire frowned angrily at Soo Jin, though smirked a little at her sass to Nathaniel. She glanced at the two of them for a moment, catching the other woman’s look before she asked Claire her questions. The sensation that came after was almost overwhelming and she looked at Soo Jin in disbelief.

“Of course someone is coming for me, but I don’t know who.” She growled, narrowing her eyes in irritation. “How the hell can you betray your people?” Claire could tell that there was a reason. Soo Jin looked too uncomfortable, but that didn’t make the situation any easier.

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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“I see.” He commented. “I suppose it’s time to raise a little hell then.” He shrugged, an air of slight disappointment about him. It was as if whatever he was going to do wasn’t brought on because he wanted it, but rather that Claire was forcing him to take a definitive step. Honestly, he wasn’t surprised. Everyone did that. He lifted his phone to his ear, sending a few thin wisps of smoke from his lips as he spoke. “Send her in.” 

Whomever was on the other line had no need for greeting or farewell — and so Nathaniel simply hung up, looking back to Claire. “I have someone I’d like you to meet.” 

Soo Jin had been waiting in a separate room with her coffee in hand. It was odd that they hadn’t allowed her to watch the first half of the interrogation as they usually did. When an agent entered, jerking his head to the side to indicate that she was to leave with him, it took everything in her to refrain from forcing him to tell her who was in the next room.

She was unceremoniously shoved into the room, her eyes widening at the sight ahead of her. Claire Bennet? Despite her shock, Claire was hardly the most disconcerting presence in the room. At the sight of Nathaniel, she took a step away. ❝Hello, I’m Soo Jin…❞ she paused, a sinking feeling in her stomach. ❝I’m here to assist with your questioning.❞

“Go ahead, Nathaniel.” Claire challenged. Between being kidnapped and locked away in a safe by Flash, left to die over and over again, she’d been through so much in the past 6 years that she doubted there was much he could do to her now. 

She eyeballed his cigarette and tried hard not to roll her eyes at Nathaniel. When a woman walked in a moment later, Claire turned to look at her, almost bored. “Well?” She asked, raising a brow slightly. “What are you waiting for?”

[sylcr]

I bet everybody here is  f a k e  h a p p y  too. ( insp. )

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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He smiled serenely, completely unworried by her lack of cooperation. “I get that a lot.” He smirked. “But sooner or later you will realize Claire — I’m the closest thing you have to a friend here.” She might not understand yet, but she had her quality of life was in her own hands. “Still, the first lesson you should learn about me, is that I do not have endless patience.” He paused, savoring the smoke from the cigarette. “I want to know what you do. I would rather you tell me willingly, free of pain.” 

“Saying that over and over again isn’t going to make me believe it any more than I already do, Nathaniel.” Claire mused, sighing heavily at him. “And I’m not going to tell you anything.” It would pointless for him to throw these threats at her. Yes, she felt pain, but it was so used to it by now that he may as well not have felt it.

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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“If you don’t tell me about him I’ll be forced to draw conclusions on what my colleagues tell me.” He shrugged, as if he didn’t care all too much. “Most of it is quite negative.” She wasn’t an overly tough nut to crack. He had a handle on her now, he understood she cared for people. Like Henry. Very much like Henry. He lifted a brow, expecting her to make some answer. 

“Draw conclusions all you want, Nathaniel, but I’m not telling you anything. I’m not falling for that trick.” She’d done it once or twice in the past and didn’t want to do it again. “And I know better than to believe most of what you tell me, so don’t try turning things around. I told once already, I know him better than you think. Maybe even better than you.” ‘Unfortunately’, she thought to herself.

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10/07/2017 - Brooklyn Heights Promenade

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“Claire — I!” He growled a little out of impatience, but balled up his fist as if summoning what he lacked in order to keep from shouting. A deep breath. “Really?” He looked at her incredulously, irritated despite attempting not to be. “At the time ‘help’ for the mentally insane was torture —”, Something about how he said the sentence was so venomous it would give anyone pause. “Electric Shock therapy. Starvation. Beatings. Lobotomies. W — water —.” He shook his head, deciding not to finish. “To name a very few. If on the off chance someone believed me, and that I wasn’t a threat myself, I’m sure that would have worked perfectly well.” 

The wind blew for a moment, and he seemed to gladly lose himself in it. “This world was going to burn Claire.” He said softly. “The methods — Barbaric. Unacceptable.” He swallowed. “They wouldn’t listen.”

He bit his lip, expression changing instantly to remorse when she spoke. The question seemed to pierce him far deeper than anything yet, but he managed to nod, as if he was forcing himself to accept whatever it might be she wanted. “I don’t know if you can…” He said, replying in honesty. “When we first met — I said there was a great deal you didn’t know about me. I’ve lived a long time — But I don’t want to live like that anymore.” He grimaced. “I’ve kept secrets for too long.”

She rolled her eyes and spun back around to glare at him. “Okay, I get that at the time, there weren’t options, but how long have they been locked up, Henry?! A few decades? Centuries? I’m sure that in the last 50 years there was an opportunity to get them real help. Especially after my jump and before the war started! Before you were taken! People knew then and could have actually helped, Henry!”

Another heavy sigh escaped her and she looked out over the water trying to calm herself down a little. “Maybe they were insane and trying to destroy the world, but what methods did you use to try convincing them it was a bad idea, huh?” Maybe he tried several things, maybe he tried one and then gave up. Claire didn’t know and part of her didn’t care. He’d done something almost unforgivable. 

“I don’t know if I can either, Henry.” She took another deep breath and started walking away from him before glancing back. “I need some time to think and---I need some space. Away from you.”

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10/07/2017 - Brooklyn Heights Promenade

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“Claire — they’re sick.” He took a hesitant breath, shaking his head. “They’re not themselves — It’s not their fault.” There was something almost youthfully naive in the way he defended them; perhaps some kind of blind loyalty. “I understand them.” His protests were emotional, based on no better fact than that he had known them. “What time does to the mind. Their — pain. I feel it too.” He had always felt other emotions, keenly. Far too keenly. “I won’t give up on them. It could have just as easily been me…” 

He looked as if he didn’t have an answer at first, before shaking his head. “I don’t know!” He admitted. “But I doubt killing them would have been better — you’d have been robbed all the same. And joining them? Your ancestors would have likely died. Robbing you of more than history and questions that none of us fools know the answer to anyway!” The last sentence betrayed some of the frustration he himself felt. 

“I—” For a moment he seemed unwilling to answer. He gave in with a frustrated sigh. “I admit — I grew suspicious of people like me after that. Margaret was the only one I knew of that didn’t want a hell on earth — She keeps to herself mostly. She doesn’t like people — Can’t blame her.” He held onto that thought for another moment, not wanting to admit to Claire. “I. Considered. It.” He strained finally, grimacing. “I had to be sure of your intentions. Only — I realized how different you were. How you are everything they and I are not.” 

“Oh, they’re sick?! How are they sick, Henry? Is it really the kind of thing for them to be locked up for? Or, maybe, did you consider that they might just need help?” She sighed in frustration and shook her head, taking a few steps to the balcony to lean on. It was a little cold from the night’s ocean breeze, but it didn’t bother her much.

“I agree, killing them would have been worse, but there had to be other ways, Henry!” She desperately wanted to know what he’d done with them, but maybe it was better that Claire didn’t. If she had found out, she probably would have tried to find them. Though what was stopping her from doing that now? Nothing.

When he confessed to having considered doing the same to her, Claire’s jaw dropped slightly. “You--” She shook her head and turned away from him, not sure if she really wanted to believe it, but why would he lie to her? “---why? How --” Claire swallowed and leaned against the balcony for support. “--how can I trust you now that I know that?”

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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“Are you saying he’s not?” He said, ignoring her veiled threats. “Or are you implying we should take an interest?” Tilting his head he met her angry stare. Both of them knew this was a game, but only one knew what it was about. “As someone that knows him you’re best abled to defend his name. Tell me about him.” 

“Don’t put words in my mouth, thank you.” Claire growled, not liking the fact that he may have been reading her mind a little. “And I said to leave him alone, so I think that means not to take an interest. Though I doubt you’ll listen, Nathaniel, considering I’m pretty sure you’re the one who took him five years ago.” She shook her head after a minute, almost laughing. “No.”

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10/07/2017 - Brooklyn Heights Promenade

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“No.” He said. “I can’t tell you where they are. There are people —” When she asked him he looked at her, hurt. “The LEAST qualified person to make it.” He had waited until she had finished yelling, letting an uncomfortable silence build up between them. “But when I looked around I was all there was.” His tone slid down to a quiet voice, seemingly indifferent and reserved as always. Up until this point, he had been leaning against the balcony, staring from time to time down at the waters. 

He discarded that position, standing and moving a few steps away. When he turned back to her he was guilt and frustration, a century’s worth, come to a head in a painful bewilderment. “AND I DIDN’T ASK TO MAKE IT!” He threw out an arm in a wild gesture. He wasn’t normally one to raise his voice, but Claire’s shouting and his own self-condemnation had pushed him to it. “How could I make it?! How could I choose between something so IMPOSSIBLE. Damned either way — My own kind; my only HOPE — or those innocents; all thankless, greedy, cruel — How could I choose?!” 

He looked betrayed, by what he would not say. “I couldn’t kill them! I couldn’t—live with myself. Even as they plotted genocide what right did I have to do the same; regardless of how worthy I felt the cause?” He bit his lip. “What SHOULD I have done Claire?” He looked away, a hand moving to his own face suspiciously. “I thought they deserved another chance — A chance — I could give them. That is why I looked to discover a way to end it all. Something to strip away the ability. Their weapon; take it away — then let them choose as they would.” His voice quieted, as he confessed further. “If I ever succeed in this ‘cure’ , and they walk free again, — I know they will never accept me. I knew that. I chose to be alone. Forever.” He finally looked at her, but on his face was a grief and hopelessness carried far too long. “Because I would not risk making the wrong choice.” 

Claire barely flinched when Henry started yelling back. She’d partly been expecting it, considering she’d been yelling at him and Henry wasn’t exactly the same person since being back. His words didn’t surprise her, though. Henry was always the type to blame himself.

“Henry--” She started, once he’d calmed down a little bit. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? We can never let them out now! After reading about what Adam Monroe did, I have no doubt that they’ll seek revenge. On you. Probably on me for caring about you. On the rest of your family. Just because you couldn’t think of a better way to change their minds.” Her tone was quiet, yet serious. Like a mother chastising her child almost.

She snorted in annoyance at his last few words. “Henry, no matter what decision you made, it was always going to be the wrong choice. Don’t you see that? And now--” Claire shook her head, part of her wanting to cry at the very thought of what Henry had done. “--Henry, what about the rest of us regenerators, huh? How am I, or any future regenerators, supposed to learn more? Ask questions?”

Claire paused a moment, biting her lip before speaking again. “And--and more importantly, are you going to do that to me?”

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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“Henry. Escott? Is it now? He changes his name so often…” He said suddenly. “What about him? Is he trustworthy?” She still had no clue what he wanted with the pair of them, and he liked it that way. For now at least. Henry was elusive, and if he didn’t want to be found it would be difficult. The man was willing to kill when it came to survival. Luckily, Nathaniel had found something he cared more about than his own skin. 

Claire completely ignored his question. After their conversation earlier that week, she wasn’t sure about the answer to that herself. “You leave him alone.” She hissed in response. This was the second time that he’d mentioned Henry so it was beyond obvious that Nathaniel knew the two were connected, to say the least. 

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July 16 - Government Holding Cells

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“And Peter? You trust him implicitly?” He tilted his head, looking as if he felt her answer would be interesting. There was enough room to at least let her consider the possibility of betrayal. After all, they had known where she was going to be in the exact moment she would be there. Even if trust in Peter couldn’t be shaken, he didn’t mind letting her think there might be moles or traitors in their own ranks.

Claire tried not to laugh at his question. “Of course I trust Peter! That’s probably the most ridiculous thing you’ve asked so far.” Though that didn’t mean there weren’t others who couldn’t tell Nathaniel things. 

She made a mental note to bring that up to Peter the next time they saw each other. He had to already suspect that there were moles and maybe he even had an idea of who they might be. The thought made her a little uneasy, but Claire tried not to show it too much. 

“Anything else?”