pcterpcttigrew:
Now that he’s already in it, he has to wonder if maybe the right choice would’ve been to leave rather, to run away as a rat and risk being found because of the Mark. No one, but James, Sirius, and Remus knew about that, after all, he might’ve been able to get far, might’ve been able to deal with living the rest of his likely short life as a fucking rodent if it meant he wouldn’t cause anyone else he had cared about more pain. Because they were right, of course, there was nothing that he could say or do to make it better. Even if he’s capable now, somehow, of being someone better, of doing better, nothing would change what had already happened, what he’d already done.
Maybe, in a way, it’s a perverse need to keep suffering that drove him to reveal himself to Mert. He knows that’s not really it, though, even if he won’t admit it to himself that he hoped maybe Mert would still be able to see the good in him, like they had years ago, seeing him more clearly than anyone else, even his best friends, in the end. Because, the thing is, this is the reaction he’s going to get from everyone. Hell, this is mild compared to what he’s expecting when the news spreads.
If he can’t leave, though, maybe at least he can give them all the chance to tell him what they all think to his face. Catharsis is a thing for people, after all, and if he’s never going to get anything like that for himself, he doesn’t deserve it, after all, then maybe at least showing his face and giving them the chance to do whatever it is they’d like might be something. Maybe that’s the best he can do, since there’s nothing else he can do to change any of it.
“I know. I know,” he agrees, an edge of desperation creeping into his voice. He wants them to realize that he thinks exactly the same of himself as they likely think of him now. He hates himself just as much as the rest of them hate him. “I don’t expect anyone to forgive me; hell, I’ll never forgive myself for being so fuckin’ weak and spineless, for all the damage I did, and pain I caused. But I’m here now, and I have to try, right? Or else what’s the point? If I have to keep living, what’s the point of it unless it’s to give everyone I hurt the chance to, I don’t know, say what they want, do what they want with me. Then maybe it won’t be quite as bad for everyone, if I try, since I can’t go anywhere else without putting you all in danger all over again.”
He knows. It doesn’t seem like it should be enough. Mert should stay a icy thing, practice at being something un-meltable. It’s only fair. Everyone else does it. But everyone knows that Mert is an easy thing to sway in the end –– they can’t hold their anger, they can’t hold on to hate. Donaghan hurt them once, back at school. Made them feel small and worthless, once. Mert forgave him too quickly, everybody said so. It’s just that when people come to them with sorrow and desperation in their eye, Mert finds it so hard to turn them away.
What do they want Peter to do, other than what he is? Other than apologising and working to be better, what can Mert or anyone else expect of him? Death? Mert shudders at the thought, at the idea of Peter living only to suffer.
“You’re right.” They say, softer again than before. “No one’s just going to forgive you.” And there’s a hesitation again, before Mert moves, turns and rubs at their face, sinks down into an over-stuffed armchair, letting the smell of incense calm them down again. They don’t want Peter to die, or disappear again. They’re finding it as impossible as always to hold on to their hate.
They look up, look Peter in the eye and examine what they find there. Someone sorry, as much as they can be. Mert isn’t sure if it’s for the right reasons, but they want to give Peter... something. The benefit of the doubt, maybe. A second chance. The boy they’d known at school could have been a good man, if he’d followed the right path. Mert always thought that this alternate version of Peter was one they would have liked to know.
“I can help you, if you need it.” Whisper soft, shamed at what they’re saying, shamed that they’re helping someone who did so much wrong. “To make up for it, to fix things. But it’s the only second chance you’re getting from me.”
















