Mylar Fic: After a long silence Part 3
Jun. 23rd, 2009 09:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alicambsTitle: After a long silence (3/4)
Author: alicambs
Pairing: Mohinder/Sylar
Rating: R
Warnings: This is Mylar! Bastard Sylar taking advantage of a weary, guilt ridden Mohinder.
Spoilers: Season 3 (Volume 4)
Summary: Mohinder is the weary fly caught in Sylar's malevolent web
Disclaimer: Heroes does not belong to me no matter how much I wish it did. Mohinder is not mine, however much I might wish he was. Sylar... okay you get the drift. Not mine.
Word Count: 5,563
Date: June 09
A/N: Many thanks to Takhallus for continuing to beta and even more for her encouraging words.((hugs))
After a long silence - Part 3
Part 1
Part 2
Mohinder’s dislike of Danko increases the longer the man stares at him.
Sylar is talking, his hands resting gently, but possessively, on Mohinder’s shoulders however, if Danko is listening Mohinder can’t see any sign off it. He’s beginning to wonder if his scales are making an unexpected reappearance because Danko is looking at him as if he were some kind of nasty bug. Whatever the man is thinking or doing Mohinder wishes that he would just stop with the staring.
Sylar rumbles to a stop and leans back against the wall, pulling Mohinder with him and Danko’s watchful gaze never falters. “Are we agreed?” Sylar says clearly and precisely and Mohinder can hear the underlying irritation in his voice.
Danko blinks and at lasts looks directly at Sylar. “I wasn’t aware your interest in him was quite so personal, but I can see why it might be,” he says somewhat mockingly, and flicks his gaze back towards Mohinder.
Sylar’s fingers tighten on Mohinder’s shoulders but his voice remains level. “What Mohinder is to me is my business and mine alone,” he says. “I’m offering his services, for a price, to help you work on the serum you say that Petrelli, and more importantly, the President is demanding.”
“And pretty boy here is actually capable of succeeding where others have failed?” Danko asks contempt in his voice.
Mohinder decides there and then that if anyone sneeringly describes him as a ‘pretty boy’ ever again he will commit mayhem and murder.
“Have you listened to a word I’ve told you about Doctor Suresh?” Sylar says, and Mohinder flinches at the anger in his voice even though it’s not directed at him.
“You didn’t tell me everything,” Danko observes.
“I told you what you needed to know,” Sylar snaps. “Do we have a bargain or not?”
Danko shrugs and Mohinder marvels at the idiocy of the man. Does he not realise who he is dealing with in Sylar - the powers the man has?
“Personally I’d be happy to lock them up and throw away the key.” Danko says callously.
Mohinder shivers. He truly can’t believe that Petrelli has got into an alliance with this man.
Sylar begins to turn. “If you have no need for Doctor Suresh then I think our agreement is null and void.”
“No!” Danko says hastily. “No, leave him.”
“Fine,” Sylar says curtly. He lets go of Mohinder and drops a kiss on his forehead. “Behave, Pet,” he says and Mohinder can’t help but glare at him. Sylar grins cheerfully and taps his nose. “See you soon.” He gives Danko a look that Mohinder can’t quite decipher and leaves the room.
Danko waits for Sylar’s footsteps to recede before levelling his gun at Mohinder and gesturing him forward. “Move it, ‘Pet’,” he says with a snarl.
Mohinder grits his teeth and clenches his fists telling himself over an over again that this is necessary and walks where he is directed. The pain of a taser isn’t unexpected, but he fights it nether the less, receiving two further shots in quick succession. Collapsing to his knees he catches sight of Danko’s face and the sadistic amusement he sees there frightens and appals him. Another shot hits him and blackness descends.
He awakes suddenly, shivering, gasping and wet. He’s sitting, hands chained to a bar behind him, in a dark cell with Nathan Petrelli standing in front of him holding an empty bucket of water. Mohinder blinks and tries to shake away the long strand of soaking hair dangling in front of his eyes.
“Our positions appear to be somewhat the reverse of our last meeting,” Nathan says placing the bucket on the floor before sitting astride a chair and leaning his hands on the back to watch him.
Mohinder shakes his head again peering up at the man. “The last contact I had with you was being ordered to inject that soldier,” Mohinder taunts, and then thinks better of it. He does not need to alienate Petrelli as well. “What I did to you and Miss Strauss was wrong,” he says honestly. “But what you are doing here is evil.”
Nathan laughs. “Saving the nation from monsters like Sylar, you call that evil?”
Mohinder looks at him levelly. “We all have the ability to be monsters, Petrelli,” he says, “and you’re certainly no exception to that. And I question the right of anyone who is prepared to sacrifice his brother to lecture me about morals.”
“Peter’s given you his sob story then,” Nathan says, and stares at him angrily. “You will work here and find a solution to this problem, Suresh. You gave yourself powers; you can damn well find a way to get rid of them.”
“Why should I? What right have you to take away powers from people who are doing nothing wrong with them?” Mohinder challenges.
“I have every right, you’re all security risks and our government takes the safety of its people very seriously.”
“Your government, not mine,” Mohinder retorts. “I don’t see or hear of my country rounding up its citizens illegally.”
Nathan waves away Mohinder’s argument. “You’re here not there, you’re subject to our laws.” He stands up from the chair and walks towards a monitor fixed on the wall and angles it towards Mohinder. “Look at them, they’ll stay like this until a cure for this disease can be found and if you need further encouragement, your friend Parkman would be very disappointed in you if you did nothing to help his little girlfriend.”
Mohinder looks at the unmoving bodies and spots the bright white hair of Daphne. Her face is pale and sweaty and her breathing is laboured. “She should be in hospital,” he says, shocked.
Nathan shrugs. “We’ve got medical staff here; anyway she’s a security risk and can’t be moved.”
“And you dare call me a monster,” Mohinder says acidly.
Nathan shrugs again. “Work for us and you may be able to help her,” he says and leaves the room.
Mohinder fights the chains in frustration and slumps forward in the chair. Sylar hasn’t really confided his plans to him, he’s got a suspicion that he’s just a stool pigeon anyway, but having seen the room full of drugged people he knows that he has to go forward with it whatever the consequences.
The door opens again and Danko strides in. He grabs the chair and sits contemplating Mohinder in silence. Mohinder raises his chin and stares back.
“You’re not Petrelli’s most favourite person,” Danko says, a small spark of amusement in his voice.
“He’s not one of mine either,” Mohinder says shortly.
Danko snorts and sits back. “I hear you injected yourself and gave yourself powers,” he says and the contempt Mohinder glimpsed at the first meeting is audible.
Mohinder nods.
“Why?”
Mohinder shrugs. “Stupidity, envy, greed, scientific interest and, strangely enough, in an attempt to help a friend of mine rid herself of her powers,” he says frankly.
“Well you’re honest, I’ll give you that,” Danko says. “But you and Sylar?”
Mohinder gives him a level look, but doesn’t pretend not to understand. “You may have noticed that when Sylar wants something he doesn’t tend to let anything get in his way,” he says, wondering why Danko is interested. If Danko thinks that he is a way of getting at Sylar he’s sadly mistaken.
“So an unwilling boy toy,” Danko says and laughs nastily.
Mohinder keeps his face impassive with effort and decides that the next person who refers to him as a boy of any description will regret it!
Danko stands abruptly and moves towards the chains. “I’ve got men outside with tasers. Obey me and you won’t get hurt. No sudden movements, you understand?”
Mohinder nods. He waits for the chains to be unlocked, stands and stretches, moving towards the door. As they walk down the long grey corridors he wonders if Danko will really make use of him. He knows Petrelli wants him working for them, but he’s getting the strong feeling that it’s Danko that actually calls the shots here.
Mohinder stops abruptly on entering the warehouse packed with drugged evolved humans. The picture on the monitor has not prepared him for the reality. He takes a deep breath and holds onto the nearest trolley for support. Danko watches him, a small smile on his lips.
“Am I joining them?” Mohinder asks, trying not to shudder at the thought.
Danko’s lips curl up into a sneering smile. “The thought had certainly crossed my mind. You’ll certainly be joining them at night, I’m not wasting a cell or guard for you.”
Mohinder doesn’t know whether to be horrified or relieved. “Can I see Daphne?”
Danko waves him forward and they cross over the room to the small still figure. Mohinder checks her pulse and feels her forehead. “She’s in a bad way,” he says urgently, although he already knows that Danko doesn’t give a damn. He looks at the bag of IV fluids. “There’s no note of any antibiotics being given.”
Danko shrugs again and waves him forward with his gun. “A lab been set up for you. You’ll be monitored at all times; the door will be locked and secured. Any sign of aggression and the room will be flooded with gas. You will have access to a computer; it will of course be closely monitored. Do you understand?”
Mohinder nods, his mind still consumed with worry over Daphne.
“You will communicate any needs by email; there will be no contact with you and the other scientists unless I give the say so.” Danko continues and pushes open a door a few yards from the warehouse.
The room is small and well equipped but it is the sight of familiar looking research notes standing in a box by the bench that interests Mohinder. He has them out on the counter and is reading them before Danko has locked the door.
~~~
It is a week into his enforced employment that Danko make another appearance in his life. Mohinder ignores him, preferring silence and his research to conversation with the man
“No hello kiss, Pet?” Danko says, and Mohinder looks up at him in astonishment.
Danko beckons and Mohinder is dumbfounded to feel the force of compulsion in the gesture. He grabs hold of his stool and resists, staring intently at the man.
“One week and you’ve forgotten me?” Danko says, and laughs.
He beckons again and the compulsion is stronger. Mohinder moves towards him, stopping within arms reach. “Sylar?” he asks incredulously.
The smile on Danko’s face is pure Sylar. “In spirit if not in flesh,” Sylar says and with a slight ripple Mohinder is looking into Sylar’s eyes in Danko’s face.
Mohinder shudders and tries to step back, but Sylar makes a grab for his chin. “Please don’t kiss me with that face,” Mohinder begs, totally disconcerted.
Sylar grins and Danko’s face ripples again until it is pure Sylar. “That better, Pet?” he asks
“Stop calling me that!” Mohinder demands.
Sylar ignores him, pulling him forward and kissing him as if they’ve been apart for months. Mohinder kisses him back with equal enthusiasm. He doesn’t really want to admit it to himself, but kissing Sylar is no hardship. The man knows how to kiss, and let’s face it; they’ve had enough practice at it.
When they surface for air, Mohinder pulls away. “Surveillance,” he hisses frantically at Sylar.
Sylar shakes his head, his eyes roaming possessively over Mohinder face. He reaches for a curl and gives it a gentle tug and it is that gesture almost more than the face that convinces Mohinder that this is no illusion. “Danko and his merry band are a little preoccupied at the moment,” he says.
“What’s happening?” Mohinder asks.
“Your friend Parkman is here, probably to rescue his girlfriend, Tracy Strauss is free and creating hell and Rebel appears to be controlling everything in the building,” Sylar says.
“Matt’s here? We need to help him, Daphne’s dying,” Mohinder says urgently before taking in the rest of Sylar’s sentence. “Who is Rebel?”
“Some kind of special computer whizz, “Sylar says and shrugs. “He appears to be able to hack into anything.” He pauses before adding. “Parkman’s doing very interesting things with his mind whammy ability.”
Mohinder tries to ignore the desire he hears in Sylar’s voice. “Daphne,” he says and makes a move for the door.
Sylar holds him back. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asks.
Mohinder looks at him impatiently. “To help Matt find Daphne and free some of the others,” he says.
Sylar shakes his head. “And after that?”
Mohinder opens his mouth and closes it. He’s got no money, no cards, no identification and New York, and his apartment, is well over two hundred miles away. “I’ll go with Matt,” he suggests.
Sylar shakes him head emphatically. “Parkman and Peter Petrelli have shoot to kill orders on them.”
“Danko!” Mohinder snarls.
Sylar nods. “Petrelli is one fucked up bastard, but even he wouldn’t put a kill order on his own brother.”
“Who the hell is in control here?” Mohinder asks.
“Petrelli has the President’s ear and gets the funding, but he’s a politician and it’s Danko who has the loyalty of all the men and women working here.”
Mohinder nods his head slowly. “I thought Danko was going to drug me and add me to the bodies in the warehouse,” he says and shivers, Sylar pulls him back into an embrace and strokes his back and Mohinder feels absurdly grateful for the gesture. “It’s bad enough them doing it at night.”
Sylar stills. “Danko is putting you in that warehouse at night,” he says slowly, and Mohinder marvels at the anger he can hear.
Mohinder nods.
Sylar hisses through his teeth. “I didn’t expect him to treat you particularly well, but that’s barbaric.”
Mohinder decides that he’ll forgo mentioning some of the things that Sylar has done to him over the past months, particularly if it means that he can help Matt. “Danko doesn’t like me,” Mohinder says simply.
Sylar gives a short bark of unwilling laughter. “You weren’t at all what he expected and he doesn’t like to be surprised.” Sylar drops a kiss on Mohinder head before reaching into his back pocket and offering a roll of bills. “You’ll need money to get back to Pinehearst. Get the train, they’re monitoring the airports. Separate from Parkman as soon as you can, and ring me when you arrive.” He stops and holds Mohinder’s arm up and taps the bracelet in warning. “I expect to hear from you by late afternoon, early evening, Mohinder.”
Mohinder nods and shows his gratitude with a kiss before slipping out of the door and towards the warehouse. He heads towards Daphne and unclips her IV bag and catheter bag off their stands before moving her trolley into the gangway.
Sylar follows him then slowly morphs into a person Mohinder’s never seen before. Despite the urgency of the situation, Mohinder is fascinated by the procedure. It doesn’t look like a very pleasant experience for Sylar. “You’ll have to explain that to me,” he says before glancing around at the other evolved humans. “Will you help me rouse some of these people?” he asks, and touches Sylar’s arm in a silent plea.
Sylar looks at him then looks at the bodies and a gives a secretive smile. “Danko’s going to be furious.”
Mohinder gives a small sigh of relief. “You need to remove the needle for the IV infusion and I think the only thing to do with the catheter is to cut the tube. They’ll have to get them removed properly later,” he says quickly. “The drug that’s keeping them under is administered via the nasal tube. Just pull it out and give them a couple of gentle slaps. It will take a little bit of time for them to be fully alert, but we can get them moving. ”
“Did Danko have this done to you every night?” Sylar asks.
Mohinder shakes his head. “They just drugged me. I was fed during the day and I’d imagine it I had wet myself Danko would have found it hilarious.”
Sylar says and does nothing for a few seconds before moving towards one of the trolleys and setting to work. Mohinder blinks, he’s sure this is the first time he’s given Sylar orders and they’ve been followed. He watches Sylar in disguise for a few moments before turning to his work. They’ve roused six highly confused and frightened people between them, none of whom Mohinder recognises, and he has explained the situation as best he can when Matt bursts into the room followed by an angry looking Tracy Strauss.
“Over here, Matt,” Mohinder calls, and indicates Daphne.
Matt makes bee line for her and gathers her in his arms.
“She needs to get to hospital immediately,” Mohinder says. Matt nods mutely and cradles Daphne to him lovingly.
“We need to go now,” Tracy orders, peering at Mohinder and the shifted Sylar suspiciously.
Mohinder nods and looks around. “Where’s the exit?” he asks.
Sylar points. “I’m good at directions,” he says in a high excited voice. “The exit it to the building is 10 yards due west from here. We’ll get directly on to 283 East Street.”
Tracy glances at him and nods following his finger. Mohinder shakes his head at Sylar’s acting skills and proceeds to marshal Matt and the evolved humans out of the warehouse as quickly as possible. Just as they are about to exit, Sylar touches his sleeve and whispers. “Remember, go directly to Pinehearst, I’ll meet you there as soon as I can,” and vanishes in another direction.
In the rush to leave no one notices his absence. Tracy is on a mission of her own refusing to come with Matt and Mohinder to the hospital while the newly awakened specials have enough sense to vanish into the crowds.
The news from the hospital is as bleak as Mohinder feared. Daphne is dying and it is too late to save her. Matt sits grim faced by her side. He has avoided awkward questions; Mohinder is astounded by the increase in Matt’s ability to persuade people against the evidence of their own eyes, and has been given a quiet room in order to say his goodbyes. He sits holding Daphne’s hands until the heart monitor flattens out and beeps. He then gets up, kisses Daphne’s lips tenderly and leaves.
Mohinder follows silently, worried. “Matt.” he says quietly.
Matt turns to look at him and gives him a small smile. “Thank you, Mohinder,” he says. “I know you tried to do your best for her.”
Mohinder blinks. He’s not said anything to Matt.
Matt shrugs, mildly apologetic. “You’ve been broadcasting your worry since we met up and I kinda of listened in to your thoughts, those that I could understand.” He gives a small smile then sighs and shakes himself. “I’m sorry about the Sylar business, Peter told me.”
Mohinder flushes and says nothing, what is there to say?
Matt gives him a brief hug. “I’m sorry to be leaving you again, but I’m going to make Danko pay.”
“Is that a wise idea, Matt?” Mohinder asks, worried about Matt’s state of mind.
Matt shrugs. “I don’t care, Mohinder. He let Daphne die and I want revenge.” He embraces Mohinder again. “Look after yourself,” he says and walks off.
Mohinder watches him leave until he is out of sight and slumps resignedly against the nearest wall. He’d hoped to have more time with Matt, find out what was going on and how everyone was coping and he’s disappointed not to have had the chance. Also he failed to tell Matt of the shoot to kill order on him, but he gets a feeling that it wouldn’t make the slightest difference to Matt’s intentions.
Mohinder shakes his head and start moving, heading for the hospital entrance to hire a taxi to Union Station. He needs to get out of Washington and as far away from Danko and his ilk as is possible, although he knows he won’t be safe anywhere.
He glances at the bracelet on his wrist and considers his choices. This is the first time in four months that he has been out of Pinehearst unescorted, the first time that Sylar has given him autonomy, the first time he has had money and the freedom is heady. He desperately wants to go back to his apartment and see what has been left of it. He’s hopeful that Danko’s men haven’t touched his personal effects.
His aim is still to go home to India, to see Molly and his mother. America has become too dangerous for him and he is helpless to do anything to help without Sylar’s agreement and cooperation, not that he thinks that he is really needed. He doesn’t want to make a serum to take away powers from evolved humans, it doesn’t seem ethical, although he accepts that he would prefer to be free and powerless than locked up or drugged for ever.
Mind made up, Mohinder heads for New York
~~~
It is well into the early hours of the morning and he is sitting on the floor of his apartment holding a security badge with his father’s name on it when the doors rattle and Sylar marches in looking furious.
“I told you to go back to Pinehearst,” Sylar says angrily. “Are you incapable of understanding that your life is in danger and my protection is all that keeps you safe, Mohinder?”
“I needed to come here,” Mohinder says quietly, prepared to fight his corner. He has been so absorbed in his reading that he has honestly forgotten about Sylar.
“And this is the first place that Danko’s people will look,” Sylar snaps.
“I know,” Mohinder acknowledges wearily. He holds up his father’s pass for Sylar to see. “My father left some files here with the landlord; he was here in America in the 1960’s working for the government.” Mohinder takes a deep breath and wipes at his eyes, biting his lip to stop the trembling. “He knew about evolved humans back then, Sylar.”
Sylar glances at the pass. “Nothing surprises me about that man,” Sylar mutter darkly before turning his angry gaze back on Mohinder. “Get up, pack anything you need to take in a small bag, you are coming back with me now!”
Mohinder opens his mouth to protest and closes it quickly after taking a proper look at Sylar’s face. The man is truly enraged and close to violence. Mohinder quietly gets up, heads to his bedroom and fills a bag with a few personal possessions and then sweeps the rest of his father’s files into the bag. It takes him less than five minutes in all, but Sylar is tapping his feet in annoyance before he is finished. Sylar grabs his arm and has him down the stair and bundled in a taxi almost in seconds. The trip to Pinehearst passes in heavy silence and Sylar never lets go of his arm for the duration. They arrive and he is marched up to Sylar’s private rooms.
“Go to the bedroom and strip,” Sylar orders.
Mohinder has seen Sylar like this a few times, although not lately, and he knows that nothing he says or does will be of any use. He strips methodically, trying hard to find a focus.
Sylar marches in the room and eyes him coldly. He sits in a chair and beckons to him. “Over my knees,” he snaps.
Mohinder obeys and tries hard not to tense. The smacking starts immediately and is relentless and painful. There is no mocking counting, no sexual innuendo, no playful teasing, just the noise of flesh meeting flesh, Sylar’s breathing and Mohinder’s pained gasps. He is crying silent tears, of pain, anger and resentment by the time Sylar finishes and remains passive as he is lifted off Sylar’s knees and placed face down on the bed. A few seconds later he is being cradled in Sylar’s arms.
“You frightened me,” Sylar says quietly tracing the tears still running down Mohinder’s face.
Mohinder takes a shaky breath and tries hard to get his emotions under control. He doesn’t know what to say. He’s not sorry for going to his apartment. He wants to be back in control of his life, to make his own choices. “What do you want me to say,” he says slowly, picking his words carefully and despising himself for the tremor in his voice. “I’m an adult, Sylar yet you treat me like a naughty child. You can’t keep punishing me like this every time I do something you disagree with.”
Sylar sighs. “I know you’re an adult, I wouldn’t want you if you weren’t, but you seem incapable of grasping certain facts, Mohinder. One of them is that it is just not safe out there for any evolved human except me and even then I have to think carefully about what I’m doing.”
He slowly begins to stroke along Mohinder’s back carefully avoiding his bruised ass and Mohinder decides he is prepared to listen. Sylar is explaining his actions, which is something he has only begun to do fairly recently, Mohinder may well disagree with the reasons, but he appreciates that they are at least being offered.
“I’m playing a dangerous game with Danko. He thinks he has me under control, offering me the pick of their targets, the shape shifter being the most obvious and useful. I in turn use my disguised skills to increase their collection rates.” Sylar continues and pulls Mohinder’s head up watching his expression carefully. “Danko thinks I offered him you to him in gratitude. I made certain that he saw how possessive I am about you and now he feels he has one over on me, I also did it to ensure your safety.”
Mohinder takes a deep breath and gives a small nod. “Okay, I can accept that. Will my escaping with Matt change things?”
Sylar shakes his head. “He’ll demand you back; not because he really wants your expertise, unlike Petrelli, but because you escaped and I’ve no doubt he’ll want to make you pay. I’ll refuse, citing his treatment of you as one of the factors. I’ll let him persuade me that you need to carry on working on developing a serum for them.”
“He won’t be satisfied,” Mohinder warns. “Nor will Petrelli.”
“I can deal with Petrelli,” Sylar says shortly. “As to Danko, he needs to learn a lesson that I have my limits. He treats me like a leashed hound; I think he gets a vicarious thrill from seeing me use my abilities despite his supposed contempt for ‘us’.” He gives a bitter smile. “I know Bennet’s told him I can be killed by a head wound, as I was there when he said it, and I’m sure Danko believes he can end me at any time, but at the moment he thinks he gains more from me being alive than dead.”
“More fool him,” Mohinder mutters, and is graced by a small smile from Sylar. Mohinder considers what Sylar has said. “What do you intend to do with Danko?” he asks.
“Set him up in front of his troops,” Sylar says and the malice in his tone is something Mohinder hasn’t heard for a while. “They won’t ever trust him again after I’m through with him.”
Mohinder approves. “Will that stop anything though?” he can’t help but ask. “He could be replaced and Petrelli still has the ear of the President.”
Sylar looks down at him and gives him a faint smile. “Petrelli is locked in your old room,” he says with satisfaction.
Mohinder gasps and sits up, collapsing back onto his side as his ass complains with a vengeance. “When did this happen? What do you intend to do with him and why?” he asks totally and utterly shocked by the news.
Sylar sits up on the bed beside him and watches him with an amused smile on his face. “That’s covered everything,” he says. “We’ll deal with Petrelli in the morning. I want to take his ability without killing him, preferably, so we need to scan him and hope your adrenalin theory works. Now’s not the best time to be rid of him, not that the world wouldn’t be a better place without him.” Sylar’s eyes go cold. “I’ve heard him go on at length about me and my psychotic behaviour I think it’s time he faced me and offered an explanation for his.”
Mohinder finds himself in agreement. Given a choice between Sylar and Nathan Petrelli he’d go for Sylar any day. For all his faults, and they are too numerous to list, hypocrisy is not one of Sylar’s failings.
“We’ll talk more in the morning, which will be here all too soon,” Sylar says and shakes his head as Mohinder opens his mouth to ask more questions. “We haven’t finished dealing with the consequences of your disobedience yet. I want to hear you telling me how sorry you are for not obeying me, for causing me worry and for putting your life at risk.”
Mohinder’s mouth drops open in shock. “But, but…,” he splutters. “But we’ve just talked it over, Sylar.”
Sylar stares at him implacably.
Mohinder takes a deep breath and offers a small “Sorry.”
Sylar raises his eyebrows. “I think it needs working on,” he says and there is no teasing in his voice. “It appears that you constantly need reminding that you are mine, Mohinder. You also need to learn when it is acceptable to question and disagree with me and when it is totally unacceptable, like yesterday morning. Try again.”
Mohinder shivers and lies back on the bed closing his eyes. Every time he thinks Sylar and he have taken major steps towards a level of mutual understanding and respect something comes along that reinforces Sylar’s need to dominate and control. He takes a deep breath, he knows he frightened Sylar and in Sylar’s book that is a major crime. He’s not going to get away with this so he needs to focus on what he actually is sorry for and hope that Sylar’s lie detector will be fooled by his sincerity on that point. He is sorry in a way for putting his life at risk, but it couldn’t be helped. He’s not sorry for disobeying Sylar as that implies that Sylar has the right to tell him what to do. He is however surprised to find that he regrets making Sylar worry, for many reasons not least his sore and aching backside.
Mohinder opens his eyes to look at Sylar. “I am sorry,” he says.
Sylar nods. “You’re certainly sorry about something,” he says, “and I can guess what for. However, I want you to look at me and say; ‘I am sorry, Sylar for not obeying you, for causing you worry and for putting my life at risk’. You can sit up as concentrating on your painful ass might help you come to realise just how sorry you are.” He takes hold of Mohinder’s hands and pulls him up to face him.
Mohinder bites his lip to stop crying out, crosses his legs and shifts his weight forward onto his hips and thighs. He tries hard to put in as much sincerity as he can into the apology. “I’m sorry, Sylar for not letting you know where I was since you were concerned about my safety, I regret causing you worry and I was foolish to put my life at risk.”
Sylar stares at him. “I don’t need proof of your intelligence, your ingenuity or your cunning, Mohinder,” he says sternly. “Repeat the words I gave you.”
Twenty minutes later, trembling with weariness, sweaty with exhaustion and thoroughly ashamed of himself, Mohinder has finally convinced Sylar of his sincerity and is ready to drop.
“Come here,” murmurs Sylar and Mohinder crawls into his arms too tried and defeated to care about anything but sleep.
Sylar kisses him tenderly and there is blissful silence for a few minutes until Sylar asks, “Do you care about me, Mohinder?”
Mohinder is too tired to be wary and nods his head slowly, eyes still shut. Sylar might be a twisted, evil, psychopathic bastard, but somehow he has breached Mohinder’s defences.
There is another brief silence and then Sylar asks “Do you love me?”
Mohinder shakes his head, his eyes opening in surprised alarm at the question. Sylar is looking down at him a faint smile on his lips. Mohinder slowly relaxes and closes his eyes again.
The seconds stretch into minutes before Sylar whispers in Mohinder’s ear. “Do you think you could ever learn to love me?”
Mohinder mumbles a weary yes before his sleep deprived brain actually processes the question. He is wide awake in seconds as he contemplates the consequence of his unthinking answer should there be the slightest hint of truth in it. He cracks open an eye and finds himself staring at a very self satisfied and predatory looking Sylar.
“Good,” Sylar says and lays his head down next to Mohinder, closes his eyes and goes to sleep.
Mohinder is left wide awake in the silence.
Part 4
Author: alicambs
Pairing: Mohinder/Sylar
Rating: R
Warnings: This is Mylar! Bastard Sylar taking advantage of a weary, guilt ridden Mohinder.
Spoilers: Season 3 (Volume 4)
Summary: Mohinder is the weary fly caught in Sylar's malevolent web
Disclaimer: Heroes does not belong to me no matter how much I wish it did. Mohinder is not mine, however much I might wish he was. Sylar... okay you get the drift. Not mine.
Word Count: 5,563
Date: June 09
A/N: Many thanks to Takhallus for continuing to beta and even more for her encouraging words.((hugs))
Part 1
Part 2
Mohinder’s dislike of Danko increases the longer the man stares at him.
Sylar is talking, his hands resting gently, but possessively, on Mohinder’s shoulders however, if Danko is listening Mohinder can’t see any sign off it. He’s beginning to wonder if his scales are making an unexpected reappearance because Danko is looking at him as if he were some kind of nasty bug. Whatever the man is thinking or doing Mohinder wishes that he would just stop with the staring.
Sylar rumbles to a stop and leans back against the wall, pulling Mohinder with him and Danko’s watchful gaze never falters. “Are we agreed?” Sylar says clearly and precisely and Mohinder can hear the underlying irritation in his voice.
Danko blinks and at lasts looks directly at Sylar. “I wasn’t aware your interest in him was quite so personal, but I can see why it might be,” he says somewhat mockingly, and flicks his gaze back towards Mohinder.
Sylar’s fingers tighten on Mohinder’s shoulders but his voice remains level. “What Mohinder is to me is my business and mine alone,” he says. “I’m offering his services, for a price, to help you work on the serum you say that Petrelli, and more importantly, the President is demanding.”
“And pretty boy here is actually capable of succeeding where others have failed?” Danko asks contempt in his voice.
Mohinder decides there and then that if anyone sneeringly describes him as a ‘pretty boy’ ever again he will commit mayhem and murder.
“Have you listened to a word I’ve told you about Doctor Suresh?” Sylar says, and Mohinder flinches at the anger in his voice even though it’s not directed at him.
“You didn’t tell me everything,” Danko observes.
“I told you what you needed to know,” Sylar snaps. “Do we have a bargain or not?”
Danko shrugs and Mohinder marvels at the idiocy of the man. Does he not realise who he is dealing with in Sylar - the powers the man has?
“Personally I’d be happy to lock them up and throw away the key.” Danko says callously.
Mohinder shivers. He truly can’t believe that Petrelli has got into an alliance with this man.
Sylar begins to turn. “If you have no need for Doctor Suresh then I think our agreement is null and void.”
“No!” Danko says hastily. “No, leave him.”
“Fine,” Sylar says curtly. He lets go of Mohinder and drops a kiss on his forehead. “Behave, Pet,” he says and Mohinder can’t help but glare at him. Sylar grins cheerfully and taps his nose. “See you soon.” He gives Danko a look that Mohinder can’t quite decipher and leaves the room.
Danko waits for Sylar’s footsteps to recede before levelling his gun at Mohinder and gesturing him forward. “Move it, ‘Pet’,” he says with a snarl.
Mohinder grits his teeth and clenches his fists telling himself over an over again that this is necessary and walks where he is directed. The pain of a taser isn’t unexpected, but he fights it nether the less, receiving two further shots in quick succession. Collapsing to his knees he catches sight of Danko’s face and the sadistic amusement he sees there frightens and appals him. Another shot hits him and blackness descends.
He awakes suddenly, shivering, gasping and wet. He’s sitting, hands chained to a bar behind him, in a dark cell with Nathan Petrelli standing in front of him holding an empty bucket of water. Mohinder blinks and tries to shake away the long strand of soaking hair dangling in front of his eyes.
“Our positions appear to be somewhat the reverse of our last meeting,” Nathan says placing the bucket on the floor before sitting astride a chair and leaning his hands on the back to watch him.
Mohinder shakes his head again peering up at the man. “The last contact I had with you was being ordered to inject that soldier,” Mohinder taunts, and then thinks better of it. He does not need to alienate Petrelli as well. “What I did to you and Miss Strauss was wrong,” he says honestly. “But what you are doing here is evil.”
Nathan laughs. “Saving the nation from monsters like Sylar, you call that evil?”
Mohinder looks at him levelly. “We all have the ability to be monsters, Petrelli,” he says, “and you’re certainly no exception to that. And I question the right of anyone who is prepared to sacrifice his brother to lecture me about morals.”
“Peter’s given you his sob story then,” Nathan says, and stares at him angrily. “You will work here and find a solution to this problem, Suresh. You gave yourself powers; you can damn well find a way to get rid of them.”
“Why should I? What right have you to take away powers from people who are doing nothing wrong with them?” Mohinder challenges.
“I have every right, you’re all security risks and our government takes the safety of its people very seriously.”
“Your government, not mine,” Mohinder retorts. “I don’t see or hear of my country rounding up its citizens illegally.”
Nathan waves away Mohinder’s argument. “You’re here not there, you’re subject to our laws.” He stands up from the chair and walks towards a monitor fixed on the wall and angles it towards Mohinder. “Look at them, they’ll stay like this until a cure for this disease can be found and if you need further encouragement, your friend Parkman would be very disappointed in you if you did nothing to help his little girlfriend.”
Mohinder looks at the unmoving bodies and spots the bright white hair of Daphne. Her face is pale and sweaty and her breathing is laboured. “She should be in hospital,” he says, shocked.
Nathan shrugs. “We’ve got medical staff here; anyway she’s a security risk and can’t be moved.”
“And you dare call me a monster,” Mohinder says acidly.
Nathan shrugs again. “Work for us and you may be able to help her,” he says and leaves the room.
Mohinder fights the chains in frustration and slumps forward in the chair. Sylar hasn’t really confided his plans to him, he’s got a suspicion that he’s just a stool pigeon anyway, but having seen the room full of drugged people he knows that he has to go forward with it whatever the consequences.
The door opens again and Danko strides in. He grabs the chair and sits contemplating Mohinder in silence. Mohinder raises his chin and stares back.
“You’re not Petrelli’s most favourite person,” Danko says, a small spark of amusement in his voice.
“He’s not one of mine either,” Mohinder says shortly.
Danko snorts and sits back. “I hear you injected yourself and gave yourself powers,” he says and the contempt Mohinder glimpsed at the first meeting is audible.
Mohinder nods.
“Why?”
Mohinder shrugs. “Stupidity, envy, greed, scientific interest and, strangely enough, in an attempt to help a friend of mine rid herself of her powers,” he says frankly.
“Well you’re honest, I’ll give you that,” Danko says. “But you and Sylar?”
Mohinder gives him a level look, but doesn’t pretend not to understand. “You may have noticed that when Sylar wants something he doesn’t tend to let anything get in his way,” he says, wondering why Danko is interested. If Danko thinks that he is a way of getting at Sylar he’s sadly mistaken.
“So an unwilling boy toy,” Danko says and laughs nastily.
Mohinder keeps his face impassive with effort and decides that the next person who refers to him as a boy of any description will regret it!
Danko stands abruptly and moves towards the chains. “I’ve got men outside with tasers. Obey me and you won’t get hurt. No sudden movements, you understand?”
Mohinder nods. He waits for the chains to be unlocked, stands and stretches, moving towards the door. As they walk down the long grey corridors he wonders if Danko will really make use of him. He knows Petrelli wants him working for them, but he’s getting the strong feeling that it’s Danko that actually calls the shots here.
Mohinder stops abruptly on entering the warehouse packed with drugged evolved humans. The picture on the monitor has not prepared him for the reality. He takes a deep breath and holds onto the nearest trolley for support. Danko watches him, a small smile on his lips.
“Am I joining them?” Mohinder asks, trying not to shudder at the thought.
Danko’s lips curl up into a sneering smile. “The thought had certainly crossed my mind. You’ll certainly be joining them at night, I’m not wasting a cell or guard for you.”
Mohinder doesn’t know whether to be horrified or relieved. “Can I see Daphne?”
Danko waves him forward and they cross over the room to the small still figure. Mohinder checks her pulse and feels her forehead. “She’s in a bad way,” he says urgently, although he already knows that Danko doesn’t give a damn. He looks at the bag of IV fluids. “There’s no note of any antibiotics being given.”
Danko shrugs again and waves him forward with his gun. “A lab been set up for you. You’ll be monitored at all times; the door will be locked and secured. Any sign of aggression and the room will be flooded with gas. You will have access to a computer; it will of course be closely monitored. Do you understand?”
Mohinder nods, his mind still consumed with worry over Daphne.
“You will communicate any needs by email; there will be no contact with you and the other scientists unless I give the say so.” Danko continues and pushes open a door a few yards from the warehouse.
The room is small and well equipped but it is the sight of familiar looking research notes standing in a box by the bench that interests Mohinder. He has them out on the counter and is reading them before Danko has locked the door.
~~~
It is a week into his enforced employment that Danko make another appearance in his life. Mohinder ignores him, preferring silence and his research to conversation with the man
“No hello kiss, Pet?” Danko says, and Mohinder looks up at him in astonishment.
Danko beckons and Mohinder is dumbfounded to feel the force of compulsion in the gesture. He grabs hold of his stool and resists, staring intently at the man.
“One week and you’ve forgotten me?” Danko says, and laughs.
He beckons again and the compulsion is stronger. Mohinder moves towards him, stopping within arms reach. “Sylar?” he asks incredulously.
The smile on Danko’s face is pure Sylar. “In spirit if not in flesh,” Sylar says and with a slight ripple Mohinder is looking into Sylar’s eyes in Danko’s face.
Mohinder shudders and tries to step back, but Sylar makes a grab for his chin. “Please don’t kiss me with that face,” Mohinder begs, totally disconcerted.
Sylar grins and Danko’s face ripples again until it is pure Sylar. “That better, Pet?” he asks
“Stop calling me that!” Mohinder demands.
Sylar ignores him, pulling him forward and kissing him as if they’ve been apart for months. Mohinder kisses him back with equal enthusiasm. He doesn’t really want to admit it to himself, but kissing Sylar is no hardship. The man knows how to kiss, and let’s face it; they’ve had enough practice at it.
When they surface for air, Mohinder pulls away. “Surveillance,” he hisses frantically at Sylar.
Sylar shakes his head, his eyes roaming possessively over Mohinder face. He reaches for a curl and gives it a gentle tug and it is that gesture almost more than the face that convinces Mohinder that this is no illusion. “Danko and his merry band are a little preoccupied at the moment,” he says.
“What’s happening?” Mohinder asks.
“Your friend Parkman is here, probably to rescue his girlfriend, Tracy Strauss is free and creating hell and Rebel appears to be controlling everything in the building,” Sylar says.
“Matt’s here? We need to help him, Daphne’s dying,” Mohinder says urgently before taking in the rest of Sylar’s sentence. “Who is Rebel?”
“Some kind of special computer whizz, “Sylar says and shrugs. “He appears to be able to hack into anything.” He pauses before adding. “Parkman’s doing very interesting things with his mind whammy ability.”
Mohinder tries to ignore the desire he hears in Sylar’s voice. “Daphne,” he says and makes a move for the door.
Sylar holds him back. “Where do you think you’re going?” he asks.
Mohinder looks at him impatiently. “To help Matt find Daphne and free some of the others,” he says.
Sylar shakes his head. “And after that?”
Mohinder opens his mouth and closes it. He’s got no money, no cards, no identification and New York, and his apartment, is well over two hundred miles away. “I’ll go with Matt,” he suggests.
Sylar shakes him head emphatically. “Parkman and Peter Petrelli have shoot to kill orders on them.”
“Danko!” Mohinder snarls.
Sylar nods. “Petrelli is one fucked up bastard, but even he wouldn’t put a kill order on his own brother.”
“Who the hell is in control here?” Mohinder asks.
“Petrelli has the President’s ear and gets the funding, but he’s a politician and it’s Danko who has the loyalty of all the men and women working here.”
Mohinder nods his head slowly. “I thought Danko was going to drug me and add me to the bodies in the warehouse,” he says and shivers, Sylar pulls him back into an embrace and strokes his back and Mohinder feels absurdly grateful for the gesture. “It’s bad enough them doing it at night.”
Sylar stills. “Danko is putting you in that warehouse at night,” he says slowly, and Mohinder marvels at the anger he can hear.
Mohinder nods.
Sylar hisses through his teeth. “I didn’t expect him to treat you particularly well, but that’s barbaric.”
Mohinder decides that he’ll forgo mentioning some of the things that Sylar has done to him over the past months, particularly if it means that he can help Matt. “Danko doesn’t like me,” Mohinder says simply.
Sylar gives a short bark of unwilling laughter. “You weren’t at all what he expected and he doesn’t like to be surprised.” Sylar drops a kiss on Mohinder head before reaching into his back pocket and offering a roll of bills. “You’ll need money to get back to Pinehearst. Get the train, they’re monitoring the airports. Separate from Parkman as soon as you can, and ring me when you arrive.” He stops and holds Mohinder’s arm up and taps the bracelet in warning. “I expect to hear from you by late afternoon, early evening, Mohinder.”
Mohinder nods and shows his gratitude with a kiss before slipping out of the door and towards the warehouse. He heads towards Daphne and unclips her IV bag and catheter bag off their stands before moving her trolley into the gangway.
Sylar follows him then slowly morphs into a person Mohinder’s never seen before. Despite the urgency of the situation, Mohinder is fascinated by the procedure. It doesn’t look like a very pleasant experience for Sylar. “You’ll have to explain that to me,” he says before glancing around at the other evolved humans. “Will you help me rouse some of these people?” he asks, and touches Sylar’s arm in a silent plea.
Sylar looks at him then looks at the bodies and a gives a secretive smile. “Danko’s going to be furious.”
Mohinder gives a small sigh of relief. “You need to remove the needle for the IV infusion and I think the only thing to do with the catheter is to cut the tube. They’ll have to get them removed properly later,” he says quickly. “The drug that’s keeping them under is administered via the nasal tube. Just pull it out and give them a couple of gentle slaps. It will take a little bit of time for them to be fully alert, but we can get them moving. ”
“Did Danko have this done to you every night?” Sylar asks.
Mohinder shakes his head. “They just drugged me. I was fed during the day and I’d imagine it I had wet myself Danko would have found it hilarious.”
Sylar says and does nothing for a few seconds before moving towards one of the trolleys and setting to work. Mohinder blinks, he’s sure this is the first time he’s given Sylar orders and they’ve been followed. He watches Sylar in disguise for a few moments before turning to his work. They’ve roused six highly confused and frightened people between them, none of whom Mohinder recognises, and he has explained the situation as best he can when Matt bursts into the room followed by an angry looking Tracy Strauss.
“Over here, Matt,” Mohinder calls, and indicates Daphne.
Matt makes bee line for her and gathers her in his arms.
“She needs to get to hospital immediately,” Mohinder says. Matt nods mutely and cradles Daphne to him lovingly.
“We need to go now,” Tracy orders, peering at Mohinder and the shifted Sylar suspiciously.
Mohinder nods and looks around. “Where’s the exit?” he asks.
Sylar points. “I’m good at directions,” he says in a high excited voice. “The exit it to the building is 10 yards due west from here. We’ll get directly on to 283 East Street.”
Tracy glances at him and nods following his finger. Mohinder shakes his head at Sylar’s acting skills and proceeds to marshal Matt and the evolved humans out of the warehouse as quickly as possible. Just as they are about to exit, Sylar touches his sleeve and whispers. “Remember, go directly to Pinehearst, I’ll meet you there as soon as I can,” and vanishes in another direction.
In the rush to leave no one notices his absence. Tracy is on a mission of her own refusing to come with Matt and Mohinder to the hospital while the newly awakened specials have enough sense to vanish into the crowds.
The news from the hospital is as bleak as Mohinder feared. Daphne is dying and it is too late to save her. Matt sits grim faced by her side. He has avoided awkward questions; Mohinder is astounded by the increase in Matt’s ability to persuade people against the evidence of their own eyes, and has been given a quiet room in order to say his goodbyes. He sits holding Daphne’s hands until the heart monitor flattens out and beeps. He then gets up, kisses Daphne’s lips tenderly and leaves.
Mohinder follows silently, worried. “Matt.” he says quietly.
Matt turns to look at him and gives him a small smile. “Thank you, Mohinder,” he says. “I know you tried to do your best for her.”
Mohinder blinks. He’s not said anything to Matt.
Matt shrugs, mildly apologetic. “You’ve been broadcasting your worry since we met up and I kinda of listened in to your thoughts, those that I could understand.” He gives a small smile then sighs and shakes himself. “I’m sorry about the Sylar business, Peter told me.”
Mohinder flushes and says nothing, what is there to say?
Matt gives him a brief hug. “I’m sorry to be leaving you again, but I’m going to make Danko pay.”
“Is that a wise idea, Matt?” Mohinder asks, worried about Matt’s state of mind.
Matt shrugs. “I don’t care, Mohinder. He let Daphne die and I want revenge.” He embraces Mohinder again. “Look after yourself,” he says and walks off.
Mohinder watches him leave until he is out of sight and slumps resignedly against the nearest wall. He’d hoped to have more time with Matt, find out what was going on and how everyone was coping and he’s disappointed not to have had the chance. Also he failed to tell Matt of the shoot to kill order on him, but he gets a feeling that it wouldn’t make the slightest difference to Matt’s intentions.
Mohinder shakes his head and start moving, heading for the hospital entrance to hire a taxi to Union Station. He needs to get out of Washington and as far away from Danko and his ilk as is possible, although he knows he won’t be safe anywhere.
He glances at the bracelet on his wrist and considers his choices. This is the first time in four months that he has been out of Pinehearst unescorted, the first time that Sylar has given him autonomy, the first time he has had money and the freedom is heady. He desperately wants to go back to his apartment and see what has been left of it. He’s hopeful that Danko’s men haven’t touched his personal effects.
His aim is still to go home to India, to see Molly and his mother. America has become too dangerous for him and he is helpless to do anything to help without Sylar’s agreement and cooperation, not that he thinks that he is really needed. He doesn’t want to make a serum to take away powers from evolved humans, it doesn’t seem ethical, although he accepts that he would prefer to be free and powerless than locked up or drugged for ever.
Mind made up, Mohinder heads for New York
~~~
It is well into the early hours of the morning and he is sitting on the floor of his apartment holding a security badge with his father’s name on it when the doors rattle and Sylar marches in looking furious.
“I told you to go back to Pinehearst,” Sylar says angrily. “Are you incapable of understanding that your life is in danger and my protection is all that keeps you safe, Mohinder?”
“I needed to come here,” Mohinder says quietly, prepared to fight his corner. He has been so absorbed in his reading that he has honestly forgotten about Sylar.
“And this is the first place that Danko’s people will look,” Sylar snaps.
“I know,” Mohinder acknowledges wearily. He holds up his father’s pass for Sylar to see. “My father left some files here with the landlord; he was here in America in the 1960’s working for the government.” Mohinder takes a deep breath and wipes at his eyes, biting his lip to stop the trembling. “He knew about evolved humans back then, Sylar.”
Sylar glances at the pass. “Nothing surprises me about that man,” Sylar mutter darkly before turning his angry gaze back on Mohinder. “Get up, pack anything you need to take in a small bag, you are coming back with me now!”
Mohinder opens his mouth to protest and closes it quickly after taking a proper look at Sylar’s face. The man is truly enraged and close to violence. Mohinder quietly gets up, heads to his bedroom and fills a bag with a few personal possessions and then sweeps the rest of his father’s files into the bag. It takes him less than five minutes in all, but Sylar is tapping his feet in annoyance before he is finished. Sylar grabs his arm and has him down the stair and bundled in a taxi almost in seconds. The trip to Pinehearst passes in heavy silence and Sylar never lets go of his arm for the duration. They arrive and he is marched up to Sylar’s private rooms.
“Go to the bedroom and strip,” Sylar orders.
Mohinder has seen Sylar like this a few times, although not lately, and he knows that nothing he says or does will be of any use. He strips methodically, trying hard to find a focus.
Sylar marches in the room and eyes him coldly. He sits in a chair and beckons to him. “Over my knees,” he snaps.
Mohinder obeys and tries hard not to tense. The smacking starts immediately and is relentless and painful. There is no mocking counting, no sexual innuendo, no playful teasing, just the noise of flesh meeting flesh, Sylar’s breathing and Mohinder’s pained gasps. He is crying silent tears, of pain, anger and resentment by the time Sylar finishes and remains passive as he is lifted off Sylar’s knees and placed face down on the bed. A few seconds later he is being cradled in Sylar’s arms.
“You frightened me,” Sylar says quietly tracing the tears still running down Mohinder’s face.
Mohinder takes a shaky breath and tries hard to get his emotions under control. He doesn’t know what to say. He’s not sorry for going to his apartment. He wants to be back in control of his life, to make his own choices. “What do you want me to say,” he says slowly, picking his words carefully and despising himself for the tremor in his voice. “I’m an adult, Sylar yet you treat me like a naughty child. You can’t keep punishing me like this every time I do something you disagree with.”
Sylar sighs. “I know you’re an adult, I wouldn’t want you if you weren’t, but you seem incapable of grasping certain facts, Mohinder. One of them is that it is just not safe out there for any evolved human except me and even then I have to think carefully about what I’m doing.”
He slowly begins to stroke along Mohinder’s back carefully avoiding his bruised ass and Mohinder decides he is prepared to listen. Sylar is explaining his actions, which is something he has only begun to do fairly recently, Mohinder may well disagree with the reasons, but he appreciates that they are at least being offered.
“I’m playing a dangerous game with Danko. He thinks he has me under control, offering me the pick of their targets, the shape shifter being the most obvious and useful. I in turn use my disguised skills to increase their collection rates.” Sylar continues and pulls Mohinder’s head up watching his expression carefully. “Danko thinks I offered him you to him in gratitude. I made certain that he saw how possessive I am about you and now he feels he has one over on me, I also did it to ensure your safety.”
Mohinder takes a deep breath and gives a small nod. “Okay, I can accept that. Will my escaping with Matt change things?”
Sylar shakes his head. “He’ll demand you back; not because he really wants your expertise, unlike Petrelli, but because you escaped and I’ve no doubt he’ll want to make you pay. I’ll refuse, citing his treatment of you as one of the factors. I’ll let him persuade me that you need to carry on working on developing a serum for them.”
“He won’t be satisfied,” Mohinder warns. “Nor will Petrelli.”
“I can deal with Petrelli,” Sylar says shortly. “As to Danko, he needs to learn a lesson that I have my limits. He treats me like a leashed hound; I think he gets a vicarious thrill from seeing me use my abilities despite his supposed contempt for ‘us’.” He gives a bitter smile. “I know Bennet’s told him I can be killed by a head wound, as I was there when he said it, and I’m sure Danko believes he can end me at any time, but at the moment he thinks he gains more from me being alive than dead.”
“More fool him,” Mohinder mutters, and is graced by a small smile from Sylar. Mohinder considers what Sylar has said. “What do you intend to do with Danko?” he asks.
“Set him up in front of his troops,” Sylar says and the malice in his tone is something Mohinder hasn’t heard for a while. “They won’t ever trust him again after I’m through with him.”
Mohinder approves. “Will that stop anything though?” he can’t help but ask. “He could be replaced and Petrelli still has the ear of the President.”
Sylar looks down at him and gives him a faint smile. “Petrelli is locked in your old room,” he says with satisfaction.
Mohinder gasps and sits up, collapsing back onto his side as his ass complains with a vengeance. “When did this happen? What do you intend to do with him and why?” he asks totally and utterly shocked by the news.
Sylar sits up on the bed beside him and watches him with an amused smile on his face. “That’s covered everything,” he says. “We’ll deal with Petrelli in the morning. I want to take his ability without killing him, preferably, so we need to scan him and hope your adrenalin theory works. Now’s not the best time to be rid of him, not that the world wouldn’t be a better place without him.” Sylar’s eyes go cold. “I’ve heard him go on at length about me and my psychotic behaviour I think it’s time he faced me and offered an explanation for his.”
Mohinder finds himself in agreement. Given a choice between Sylar and Nathan Petrelli he’d go for Sylar any day. For all his faults, and they are too numerous to list, hypocrisy is not one of Sylar’s failings.
“We’ll talk more in the morning, which will be here all too soon,” Sylar says and shakes his head as Mohinder opens his mouth to ask more questions. “We haven’t finished dealing with the consequences of your disobedience yet. I want to hear you telling me how sorry you are for not obeying me, for causing me worry and for putting your life at risk.”
Mohinder’s mouth drops open in shock. “But, but…,” he splutters. “But we’ve just talked it over, Sylar.”
Sylar stares at him implacably.
Mohinder takes a deep breath and offers a small “Sorry.”
Sylar raises his eyebrows. “I think it needs working on,” he says and there is no teasing in his voice. “It appears that you constantly need reminding that you are mine, Mohinder. You also need to learn when it is acceptable to question and disagree with me and when it is totally unacceptable, like yesterday morning. Try again.”
Mohinder shivers and lies back on the bed closing his eyes. Every time he thinks Sylar and he have taken major steps towards a level of mutual understanding and respect something comes along that reinforces Sylar’s need to dominate and control. He takes a deep breath, he knows he frightened Sylar and in Sylar’s book that is a major crime. He’s not going to get away with this so he needs to focus on what he actually is sorry for and hope that Sylar’s lie detector will be fooled by his sincerity on that point. He is sorry in a way for putting his life at risk, but it couldn’t be helped. He’s not sorry for disobeying Sylar as that implies that Sylar has the right to tell him what to do. He is however surprised to find that he regrets making Sylar worry, for many reasons not least his sore and aching backside.
Mohinder opens his eyes to look at Sylar. “I am sorry,” he says.
Sylar nods. “You’re certainly sorry about something,” he says, “and I can guess what for. However, I want you to look at me and say; ‘I am sorry, Sylar for not obeying you, for causing you worry and for putting my life at risk’. You can sit up as concentrating on your painful ass might help you come to realise just how sorry you are.” He takes hold of Mohinder’s hands and pulls him up to face him.
Mohinder bites his lip to stop crying out, crosses his legs and shifts his weight forward onto his hips and thighs. He tries hard to put in as much sincerity as he can into the apology. “I’m sorry, Sylar for not letting you know where I was since you were concerned about my safety, I regret causing you worry and I was foolish to put my life at risk.”
Sylar stares at him. “I don’t need proof of your intelligence, your ingenuity or your cunning, Mohinder,” he says sternly. “Repeat the words I gave you.”
Twenty minutes later, trembling with weariness, sweaty with exhaustion and thoroughly ashamed of himself, Mohinder has finally convinced Sylar of his sincerity and is ready to drop.
“Come here,” murmurs Sylar and Mohinder crawls into his arms too tried and defeated to care about anything but sleep.
Sylar kisses him tenderly and there is blissful silence for a few minutes until Sylar asks, “Do you care about me, Mohinder?”
Mohinder is too tired to be wary and nods his head slowly, eyes still shut. Sylar might be a twisted, evil, psychopathic bastard, but somehow he has breached Mohinder’s defences.
There is another brief silence and then Sylar asks “Do you love me?”
Mohinder shakes his head, his eyes opening in surprised alarm at the question. Sylar is looking down at him a faint smile on his lips. Mohinder slowly relaxes and closes his eyes again.
The seconds stretch into minutes before Sylar whispers in Mohinder’s ear. “Do you think you could ever learn to love me?”
Mohinder mumbles a weary yes before his sleep deprived brain actually processes the question. He is wide awake in seconds as he contemplates the consequence of his unthinking answer should there be the slightest hint of truth in it. He cracks open an eye and finds himself staring at a very self satisfied and predatory looking Sylar.
“Good,” Sylar says and lays his head down next to Mohinder, closes his eyes and goes to sleep.
Mohinder is left wide awake in the silence.
Part 4
