Chapter Text
"And the search continues for seventeen-year-old Peter Moore. Moore is wanted for questioning regarding the beating death of eighteen-year-old Sam Wiley in Little Rock, Arkansas just over two weeks ago. Moore was last seen outside of Dallas, Texas when the transport bus he was traveling in was overturned. In the ensuing confusion, Moore escaped in an unknown vehicle of make and model with an unidentified accomplice.
"One prisoner saw the accomplice but was unable to describe them due to what appeared to be fear. The driver of the bus stated that Peter Moore broke the chains of his handcuffs before kicking in the door separating the prisoners from the guards. This, he said, is what caused him to veer off the road and lose consciousness.
"Anyone who sees this young man is advised to call the police or the tip hotline at 1-800-TIPS or 1-800-8477. Again, anyone who knows anything is advised to call the police or 1-800-8477. This young man is reported as being very dangerous. In other news, the sniper responsible for the shooting of Senator…" Peter blinked when his reflection appeared on the black TV screen accompanied by his glowing white wings.
He looked over his shoulder and met Rose's reproachful gaze. "Why do you do that to yourself, Peter?" He sighed and leaned back against the couch. "What else am I supposed to do? I didn't mean to kill him. It was an accident. Do you think they're going to believe me?"
He looked down at his hands folded between his knees. He didn't look up when Rose sat beside him. He tensed slightly when he felt her hand smooth over his shoulder blades. "We all make mistakes, Peter. We're not perfect. We weren't made to be perfect." Peter scoffed. "Unfortunately, the justice system doesn't see it like that." Rose nodded slowly and removed her hand from his back, setting it in her own lap.
"'The Lord, our God, is merciful and forgiving.' The Book of Daniel, chapter 9, verse 9." She brought her hand to rest on Peter's. "The only things unforgivable in God's eyes are blasphemy and suicide. You just need to ask his forgiveness for what you've done." Peter shook his head and looked at their hands. "I already feel bad for what I've done. Isn't that enough?"
Rose shrugged and looked pityingly at Peter. "I don't know. We're the same, Peter. We're just here to deliver God's message. It doesn't mean that we know everything God has planned." He nodded and looked over at her. "I think I'm going to go find Nadia. Maybe she needs help with Famine and Death." Rose smiled gently up at Peter as he stood and walked down the hall.
Peter knocked carefully on Nadia's bedroom door. The house they occupied, illegally he reminded himself, had more space than originally believed. There were four bedrooms along the hallway. Two on each side and a bathroom at the end. Amy and Erin shared the master bedroom which had a full bathroom attached. Vera and Rose shared the next biggest room with a half-bath. Nadia had the smallest room to herself, they had reasoned that she was the only teenage girl and needed her own space. Peter, Raul, and Josh took turns sharing the fourth bed and sleeping on the couch. Peter took the couch on most nights because he was the youngest male but sometimes Raul had trouble sleeping and would switch places with Peter and there were occasional nights when Josh didn't sleep at all and Peter and Raul would share the back bedroom.
Peter smiled tightly when Nadia answered the door. She looked him up and down before making a decision she didn't voice aloud to him. She took his wrist in her hand and pushed past him, stepping down the hall and leading him to the back porch. She sat him down on the porch swing and tucked her legs beneath her, staring at him.
"What's up with you today?" Peter shrugged, gazing out into the empty backyard. He didn't want to tell her about what he'd done in Arkansas. He really liked her and he was afraid she would treat him differently if she knew about Sam. He was afraid she would be scared of him.
"It's just one of those days." He said vaguely. Nadia nodded slowly and brushed her hair over one shoulder. "Talk about something, then. Take your mind off of it." Peter smiled. "Like what?" He asked, turning to look at her. She shrugged, smiling. "I don't know, anything." He sucked his lip loudly between his teeth. "When Zeus was fighting the Titans for power on Olympus, a Titan named Prometheus sided with Zeus. This was how he escaped punishment for the actions against the gods on Olympus. Prometheus was the protector and benefactor of mankind.
"Prometheus played a trick on Zeus, called the Trick of Mecone. He asked Zeus to choose between two offerings, something pleasing hidden inside a repelling exterior or something inedible hidden inside a pleasing exterior. Zeus picked the latter and this set the precedent for what the humans would sacrifice to him. Zeus was furious and hid fire from humankind.
"Prometheus managed to find fire and give it to the humans in an effort to help humanity. Zeus became even angrier than he already was and ordered the creation of Pandora, who would bring troubles to mankind, and punished Prometheus by having him chained to a rock where an eagle would eat his liver during the day it would regenerate at night, due to his immortality."
He turned his head to Nadia who was staring at him in both confusion and delight. "Why did you pick that story?" She laughed. Peter chuckled and shook his head. "I don't know. You said to tell a story and I picked a story. I was always fascinated with Greek mythology and that seemed like a good place to start."
Nadia unfolded her legs and leaned forward. "Do you feel better?" Peter looked down at his clasped hands and shook his head. "Not really. This is just something I'll have to get over myself. I can't really distract myself from it." She nodded and followed his gaze out into the backyard. He looked down when he felt her hand slide up the length of his forearm and slip between his clasped hands, knotting her fingers with his.
"I like you, Peter." He stared at the side of her face, willing her to look at him. She did, eventually, smiling. "I hope eventually you trust me enough to tell me what's bothering you." He opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off with a wave of her hand. "You don't have to say anything. It's okay. I just want you to know that I'm always here for you, you know if you need it." She looked away, suddenly embarrassed. Peter watched silently as she detangled their hands and stood up, retreating back into the house.