Fan Creation:Paire
"Paire" is a fan-created word coined to describe the relationship between the two characters Peter Petrelli and Claire Bennet.
About
Collision
A future Hiro Nakamura travels back in time to visit Peter Petrelli on a crowded subway in New York City. Future Hiro stops time, and converses with Peter. After conversing with Peter for a moment, Hiro tells Peter that there is a message for him.
Hiros
Future Hiro and Peter are still on the subway train. Hiro tells Peter that he doesn't have a lot of time, since he's risking a rift just being there. He tells Peter the message: "Save the cheerleader, save the world." Hiro tells Peter to go see Isaac because Isaac will understand. He also tells Peter that when Hiro calls, Peter needs to tell Hiro where to meet.
Later, Peter heads to Isaac's studio. Peter receives Hiro's call, and tells Hiro that there is a message for him.
Better Halves
Peter delivers his message to Hiro and Ando. He tells them, "Save the cheerleader, save the world." Ando asks where the cheerleader is, but neither Peter nor Isaac knows. Peter tells them about "Future Hiro" and that he was told to save the cheerleader. Peter tells the Japanese men to get to New York so they can find the cheerleader together, and then their conversation ends. Peter then fits Isaac's paintings together, realizing they're telling a story like a comic book. He points out that there is one painting missing, which Isaac says Simone has.
Homecoming
During the Union Wells Homecoming, Sylar arrives to kill the cheerleader who has the special abilities. However, upon entering the school, he sees a newspaper clipping about Jackie receiving an award for rescuing a firefighter at the train wreck; Sylar assumes that Jackie is the cheerleader he wants. When he tracks the girls down in the locker room, he grabs Jackie by the throat and telekinetically opens her skull to obtain her brain. Jackie's last word to Claire is "run..."
Claire runs into Peter in the school halls as they are pursued by Sylar. They climb up the bleachers outside of the school as Peter and Sylar fight. As Claire manages to escape, both men fall off the top of the bleachers and are severely injured. When Claire arrives, Peter manages to mimic Claire's power to heal himself.
As she runs off, Peter calls out to Claire and asks if, in saving her, he's saved the world. She simply says, "I don't know. I'm just a cheerleader."
Fallout
Claire tells her father of her powers. Meanwhile, a sick Peter is being interviewed at the local police station by Matt and Audrey. Upon discovering that Claire is not being protected at all from Sylar, he tries to convince the two that Claire is the one that Sylar is after. Peter insists, "If you want to protect someone, protect her."
Following Peter's advice, Matt and Audrey bring Claire in for questioning. When they finish up, Claire asks to see Peter. She is escorted to his holding cell, and asks when he found out she was like her. He responds, saying that he isn't like her. Mr. Bennet knocks on the door to signal that he and Claire should leave, and on her way out tells Peter, "You're totally my hero."
Near the end, when leaving the police station with Nathan, Peter collapses and has a prophetic vision in which Claire, among other the other heroes, runs up to him, mouths an apology, and runs away again.
Peter lights up, screams, and turns into a ball of energy.
Waking up, he gasps to Nathan, "It's all my fault. The explosion. It's me." Peter then passes out.
Age Difference
While many fans are loyal to this relationship, several others protest due to the age difference. Claire is 17 and Peter is apparently much older, although his age is unconfirmed. According to the press kit released by NBC before Genesis aired, Peter is 30. In an interview with UGO however, Milo Ventimiglia spoke about the character he plays, stating that Peter "stalled out" around 23/24 years of age. His age has never been stated on screen.
That said, Claire is of legal age in both Texas and New York, which many Paire supporters use as a defense against Peter's rumored age.
Whatever the case, at this point in the series while their immediate connection to one another is deep, they're merely platonic. Peter's determination to fulfill whatever destiny awaits him and Claire and her own alleviation that she isn't 'alone' anymore fuel whatever connection they have.
External Links
1. Peter and Claire -- a fansite 2. Peter/Claire Love -- a Live Journal Community