Mylar Fic: After a long silence Part 4
Jul. 7th, 2009 08:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alicambsTitle: After a long silence (4/4)
Author: alicambs
Pairing: Mohinder/Sylar
Rating: R
Warnings: This is Mylar! Bastard Sylar takes 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: 5,974
Date: July 09
A/N: Many thanks to Takhallus for being the beta for all four parts.((hugs))
After a long silence - Part 4
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
The next day
Mohinder watches as Sylar plunges the needle into his arm and mentally lists the effects of adrenaline on the body, wincing. The last thing he wants to deal with is a pumped up, energetic Sylar with boosted reactions. He takes the syringe from Sylar who moves to the computer and stares intently at the screen displaying the 3D model of Nathan Petrelli’s brain.
A groan distracts Mohinder and he looks across the room to the stretcher carrying Nathan, the man is slowly coming round, but he is not fully alert and won’t be for a good few minutes.
“Got it,” murmurs Sylar and Mohinder quickly brings his attention back to Sylar watching in interest as the model on the screen appears to move as Sylar touches it. “Just a little more,” Sylar grunts and closes his eyes and shivers. When he opens them his eyes are glowing with energy and his smile is victorious. He punches his fist in the air and takes off whizzing round the lab before returning to Mohinder.
“Always wanted to be Superman,” Sylar says and laughs with excitement.
Mohinder can’t remember seeing him quite so innocently happy before and smiles in return.
“How about a game of kiss chase?” Sylar suggest, the grin getting wider.
Mohinder rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “You need to get that adrenaline out of your system if you want to deal with Petrelli,” he warns.
Sylar makes a grab for him, clasps him to his chest and is flying round the lab with him almost before Mohinder has finished his sentence. “Put me down,” he says firmly, although he can’t help but grin at Sylar, energised by the man’s enthusiasm and, if he is honest, by the thrill of flying.
Sylar lands them a few feet in front of Nathan keeping one arm around Mohinder pulling him close so that they are facing Nathan together. Nathan is still struggling to shake off the effect of the anaesthetic and from the expression on his face he is not happy to see either of them.
“I’d thank you for the ability to fly if I felt you had any respect for it,” Sylar says, and leans slightly towards Nathan. “Not that your hatred for people with abilities stops you from using yours when it’s convenient, isn’t that right, Senator Petrelli?”
Nathan says nothing. He continues to glance between Sylar and Mohinder, a confused and slightly contemptuous expression on his face. “I see being cured hasn’t taught you any common sense or discretion, Suresh,” he finally says.
Mohinder takes a sideways glance at Sylar who is looking highly entertained and shrugs his shoulder. “I’m not the one working with a cold blooded killer masquerading as a government agent, Petrelli,” he says coolly.
“Danko is doing a job and doing it well,” Nathan says quickly.
“And putting a shoot to kill order on your brother is something you are happy to live with?” Mohinder asks.
Nathan opens his mouth and closes it looking troubled. “You’re lying about that,” he accuses Mohinder.
“Are you really that stupid?” Sylar says. “Do you truly think Danko is your leashed bulldog? He’s the one in control, Petrelli.”
Nathan glares at Sylar. “I’m the man with the ear of the President. Danko can be replaced.”
“So can you,” Sylar observes. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes briefly. Mohinder can feel the clench and unclenching of muscles in the arm around him and watches as Sylar slowly transform into Nathan Petrelli. He turns to watch Nathan, whose horrified expression is probably all Sylar can ask for.
Sylar smiles, and the smile is Nathan’s yet it has elements of Sylar in it as well. “I know that’s just what Danko wants, Petrelli. I’ve spent time with the man and listened to him, do you ever do that?”
Nathan breathing has quickened. He pulls himself up and slowly stands, holding on tightly to the bars of the stretcher, and faces Sylar. “You can shape shift?” he asks incredulously.
Sylar raises his eyebrows. “So it appears,” he says sarcastically. “Do you want me to run through some other people just to convince you? Let me see, I do a good Danko, as Mohinder here will confirm. My Sandra Bennet fooled her husband nicely and no one appears to notice my substitution for one of the regulars on the collection teams working from Building 26.”
He smiles nastily and eyes Nathan with dislike. “And the best bit is, Petrelli that Danko is fully aware of both my identity and my abilities and, like you, happy to make use of me despite the fact I’m one of the evolved humans he so despises.”
He jabs his finger at Nathan and his smile widens. “In fact there are a number of similarities between you and Danko. You’re both nasty little men who need to bolster your egos by putting down others you consider less than yourself and you’re both damn hypocrites.”
Nathan looks like he is about to have a coronary.
Sylar eyes him with renewed scorn and sweeps on. “Has it escaped your notice that Danko is suspicious that your natural daughter and your brother have abilities, never mind your parents, but you don’t, Petrelli? Are you really foolish enough not to see that Danko has large ambitions and replacing you is high on his agenda? I’m surprised he hasn’t tried to out you yet.”
Nathan opens his mouth to speak then thinks better of it, shaking his head. “I think he has already tried,” he mutters, his eyes resting uneasily on Sylar as himself. He takes a deep breath “Why am I here, Sylar and considering both your reputation and your apparent dislike for me, how come I’m still alive?”
Sylar’s smile is evil. “You can thank Mohinder for you still being alive. Personally I’d love to rip your brain from your skull.”
Nathan takes a deep breath and his eyes flick momentarily towards Mohinder before returning to Sylar. “Why am I here?” he repeats.
“I would have thought that was obvious,” Mohinder interjects. “You need to stop the persecution and killings of evolved humans. I don’t know what caused you to suddenly turn on your own kind, but even you must see it has gotten totally out of hand.”
“He was jealous, “Sylar says unexpectedly. “His brother’s and parents abilities, like mine, came naturally; you could even say they were a gift from God. His, like your enhanced strength, Mohinder, was given artificially” Sylar shakes his head in amusement. “It hurt his pride to find he wasn’t the chosen son, that was Peter’s role. He was injected when Peter become a disappointment.”
Nathan is flushing a deep angry red colour by the time Sylar finishes his explanation. His fists are held tightly by his side, but he doesn’t refute anything Sylar says.
“How do you know all this?” Mohinder asks Sylar in amazement.
Sylar gives Mohinder a secretive smile. “I can read memories from objects,” he murmurs and shoots Nathan a scathing look. “Petrelli here has quite a few memories he’d like to keep securely locked away.”
“I can imagine,” Mohinder says and turns to look at Petrelli. He’s never much liked the man, always seen him as an ambitious politician concerned with nothing but getting to the top and this makes sense to him. “So what are you going to do, Petrelli?” he asks. “Continue on the way you’re going until Sylar decides he can do a better job? Clear up your act? Call off the hounds? Talk to the President?”
“I did wonder about being President,” Sylar says provocatively.
Mohinder glares at him, all too aware that Sylar’s shape shifting ability has a highly negative and worrisome aspect to it and certain that this, more than anything, will anger Petrelli
“And you wonder why I want to lock up people like you,” Nathan explodes. “You’re a danger to the public at large.”
Sylar shakes his head mischievously. “I’m a danger to the evolved humans you want rid of anyway,” he says. “I’m not the slightest bit interested in the public at large, they have nothing I want.”
Mohinder silently agrees with Sylar.
“Are you going to discontinue the operation?” Sylar demands.
“No!” Petrelli says angrily. “Dangerous abominations like you must be cleared off the streets. That’s why you should leave Suresh alone, his work is important; he needs to be finding the serum to remove powers permanently.”
“I see,” Sylar says dangerously. He takes a deep breath and Mohinder feels the tension in his muscles as he changes back to his own form. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten who you are dealing with here, Petrelli.
Nathan stares back at Sylar unflinchingly. “You maybe able to look like me but you’ll never convince those I work with,” he says scathingly.
“We’ll see,” Sylar says and flicks his finger. Nathan sails across the room and lands badly crumpling to the ground. He moves his finger again and Nathan body rebounds against the floor.
Mohinder catches Sylar’s hand as he raises it again struggling even with his strength to keep the telekinetic power restrained. “Remember you need him alive,” he says urgently. “Petrelli’s isn’t the kind of death that can be hushed up. It will focus attention even more on his work with our kind, don’t kill him, please.”
Sylar stares down at him unblinkingly for a few seconds then shakes his head and runs a finger along Mohinder’s face. “Don’t do that again, “he says quietly. “I could have hurt you badly.”
Mohinder nods and backs away, slightly shaken at the intensity of Sylar’s gaze. “I’m fine, Sylar,” Mohinder says quietly. “You need to concentrate on Petrelli and how you’re going to topple Danko.”
Sylar nods slowly and moves towards Nathan. The man is sitting dazed and bloody propped up against the wall. His expression changes to alarm as Sylar approaches.
“Get up,” Sylar demands, and stands and waits for Nathan to pull himself up. “It’s too bad you’re too arrogant and pigheaded to work with me, Petrelli. You’ll just have to stay here as my guest while I go and fix the mess you’ve made.” He beckons and Nathan lurches to his feet and stumbles forward.
Mohinder sits down heavily on the nearest stool and gets up hurriedly wincing in discomfort while damning Sylar under his breath. How the man can treat him as an equal one minute and the next act as if he is a recalcitrant child in need of severe discipline continues to bewilder Mohinder. He tears his mind away from the contemplation of his and Sylar’s bizarre relationship and sits gingerly back on the stool pulling his father’s security badge from his pocket. Sylar said he could read objects and Mohinder wonders if he will read the badge for him just to try and clarify what exactly his father had been doing in America back in the 1960s.
Mohinder holds out the badge to Sylar on his return. “Would you read this for me?” he asks.
Sylar glances at it. “Do you think it has any relevance to now?” he asks.
Mohinder shakes his head. “Not really,” he admits. “I just need to know how my father could lie about something this big.”
Sylar snorts but takes the badge and holds it firmly. He stands still for a moment, head cocked to the side, eyes distant before looking at Mohinder. “Your father was working in Building 26, Coyote Sands Relocation Centre, Arizona investigating the children,” he says unemotionally.
“Building 26,” Mohinder repeats slowly.
Sylar nods. “It was some kind of Internment Camp for evolved humans.”
Mohinder takes a deep breath. “So Petrelli and Danko are repeating history,” he says unhappily eyeing the badge with some distaste. “Sylar, my father had files on Angela Petrelli and her sister. He knew about evolved humans as early as 61, he may even have been experimenting on them. But he returns to India and doesn’t write his book until years later. Then he comes to New York and names you Patient Zero, it doesn’t make sense!”
Sylar drops the badge like it’s contaminated and sighs. “I found out very recently that I was adopted and my father killed my mother,” he says and Mohinder can hear the pain in his voice. Without thinking he reaches out to clasp Sylar’s arm and squeezes it. Sylar responds by pulling him into an embrace and hugging him.
“Digging up the past is a painful business, Mohinder,” Sylar says simply.
Mohinder gives a pained laugh. “I know,” he says quietly, and wonders if he and Sylar will ever be able to get past their own shared past.
They stand together for a few seconds before Mohinder asks. “What did you do?” then wonders if he really wants to know.
Sylar chuckles and leans back to look at Mohinder’s face. “Went on a voyage with a foolish 17 year old who claimed to know my father,” he says. “When I found him he was a pathetic old man dying of cancer. He has the same ability as me and tried to steal my power to regenerate. I decided that having a potential cure almost within his grasp and losing it was a crueller punishment that killing him on the spot.”
Mohinder nods slowly and looks regretfully at the discarded badge. He knows he won’t get any more from Sylar and he can’t see what would be gained from taking a trip to Coyote Sands, even if Sylar would agree to let him go. “What next?” he asks as he straightens and starts to put some distance between them.
Sylar squeezes him arms before letting him go. “Get rid of Danko,” Sylar says and his voice sounds happy at the thought.
“Permanently?” Mohinder asks, and is a little shocked at the viciousness of his own voice.
Sylar laughs. “You really don’t like that man, do you?” he says obviously amused. “No, I’m going to destroy his credibility, Danko will hate that far more that death.”
“And Senator Petrelli?”
Sylar raises his eyebrows. “What an arrogant bastard,” he says, still sounding faintly amused.
Takes one to know one Mohinder thinks affectionately and nods. “Do you think we could involve the Petrelli family?” he asks tentatively.
Sylar’s good humour evaporates and he stares forbiddingly at Mohinder. “Why?” he asks sharply.
Mohinder takes a deep breath. “I thought that if Peter and his mother understood what you were doing they might offer their help?” he suggests.
Sylar frowns before shaking his head. “Peter Petrelli and his witch of a mother are both on the run,” he says.
“Angela Petrelli was at Coyote Sands,” Mohinder says. “She might have information that the President would listen to.”
Sylar’s frown fades as he contemplates this.
Encouraged, Mohinder ploughs on. “We could also do with Matt Parkman. If the President won’t listen you might need to ‘persuade’ him.”
Sylar is by now looking highly amused. “Mind whammy the President, Mohinder!” he mock gasps. “Whatever next?”
Mohinder shrugs. “Whatever is necessary,” he says, and means it. “Just promise me that you don’t want to be President, Sylar.”
Sylar shakes his head slowly. “The only way I’m going to have any chance to be President is to mimic the present one or fight a campaign as Petrelli. I really don’t want to spend the rest of my days in someone else’s body, Mohinder.”
The shiver that accompanies that statement does more that anything to convince Mohinder of Sylar’s honesty. He has a feeling that shape shifting is something of a double-edged sword, plus in all honesty he can’t see Sylar as the type willing to hide behind someone else’s persona. “I’m glad,” he says simply.
Sylar gives a mock bow and smirks.
Mohinder ignores him and thinks furiously, desperate to get Sylar’s agreement on getting help. “You said Noah Bennet is working with Danko.”
Sylar nods, his expression intrigued.
“Do you think he’s playing a double game?”
Sylar ponders for a second. “His adopted daughter’s an evolved human. He’s not going to want her caught. He worked for the Company for years bagging and tagging. He probably has some loyalty to the Petrelli family.” He shrugs. “Personally I just want to destroy him.”
Mohinder decides to leave that statement alone and continues doggedly with his suggestions. “He could be our contact with the others. He’ll probably know where Peter and his mother are and they might know where Matt is, if he hasn’t done something stupid. He went off to destroy Danko, he holds him totally responsible for Daphne’s death.”
Sylar raises his eyebrows but says nothing.
“Then there’s Hiro, he can stop time which is a very nifty and useful trick.”
Sylar growls. “He tried to kill me.”
Mohinder glances at him. “He didn’t succeed, Sylar and anyway dealing with this crisis is more important than your thirst for revenge.” He watches the frown deepen on Sylar’s face and decides to go for flattery. “Sylar, you have the most amazing powers at your finger tips and more importantly the control needed to use them, but this situation is so delicate, so entangled and potentially catastrophic for all of us that I think you need help.”
Sylar’s frown slowly evaporates and he stares at Mohinder intently for a second. “You said I could be the greatest among us,” he says slowly. “You really believe it don’t you?”
“I have to, “Mohinder says earnestly. “I have to believe that you can work for the greater good if you see the need, Sylar.”
Sylar looks at him blankly for a few seconds and then laughs. “Clever, Mohinder,” he says approvingly and without the faintest hint of patronisation. “That way you can still call me an evil manipulative bastard and yet give me this spin about being the greatest among us.”
Mohinder hopes that Sylar can’t see the flush he can feel creeping up his cheeks.
Sylar grins. “Don’t worry, Pet” he says cheerfully, and the grins increases as Mohinder growls at him. “I enjoy watching that brain of yours at work, deciding how best to pacify the raging beast.” He leans forward and watches Mohinder intently. “Is that how you think of me?”
Mohinder shakes his head. “No,” he says honestly.
Sylar nods thoughtfully. “Are you afraid of me, Mohinder?”
“Sometimes,” Mohinder answers truthfully, wondering quite where this is going.
“Does that fear stop you from saying or doing things?”
Mohinder shakes his head again. “Not really,” he says slowly. “May be it will stop me from doing or saying something immediately, or make me rethink the situation, but in the end I will address what worries me.”
Sylar nods again and smiles. “And that’s why I appreciate you and need you around, Mohinder.” He traces a finger along Mohinder’s eyebrow. “You try and keep me on the straight and narrow.”
Mohinder gives him a relieved smile
Sylar gives him an evil grin in return. “But would I be right in thinking that you get a secret thrill in having such a potentially dangerous lover, my dear Mohinder?”
Mohinder drops his eyes from Sylar’s face and yet again feels his cheeks fill with unwanted warmth flinching at Sylar delighted chuckle. Sylar has hit the nail on the head. Ever since Peter’s intrusion into the lab and their subsequent talk he and Sylar have slowly become lovers and, if he is honest, he does get a visceral thrill in knowing that he alone sees Sylar at his most vulnerable.
“I’ve corrupted you, Pet,” Sylar says far too cheerfully.
“Stop damn well calling me that!” Mohinder cries out in exasperation, needing something to hit out at and to hide his embarrassment. He looks back at Sylar and is reassured to see real warmth and affection in the man’s eyes.
Sylar shakes his head and the grin widens. “No,” he says simply, and Mohinder knows that his frustrated anger at the epithet is now the only reason Sylar uses it.
Mohinder shakes his head and looks pleadingly at Sylar. “Will you work with the Petrellis, Matt and anyone else we can contact, please?” he begs.
Sylar slowly nods his head. “Yes, but on one condition, Mohinder. They must know who I am yet be willing to work with me.”
Mohinder considers the request and knows that it has to be. Matt can read minds and with everyone’s distrust of Petrelli Sylar’s impersonation would soon be discovered. “Okay,” he says. “Let’s go for it.”
~~~
Mohinder is on tenterhooks. He worries that no one will turn up for fear of it all being an elaborate trap. Sylar has convinced him that curiosity and an increasing sense of desperation will ensure that they all attend.
Sylar is waiting, disguised at Petrelli, in the centre of one of the large, bright and airy waiting areas that seem to abound in Pinehearst. He has chosen to dress formally and is sitting, looking relaxed, in one of the many modern designer seats Arthur Petrelli filled the place with.
Despite Sylar’s apparently peaceful demeanour, Mohinder worries about the strain that masquerading as Petrelli is causing Sylar. Sylar’s glee at ending Danko’s leadership at Building 26 has faded over the past few weeks and he has been a little too quiet and withdrawn for Mohinder’s liking. A couple of times he has even flickered and turned into Petrelli without meaning to and Mohinder is concerned for his mental stability if he has to continue with the deception for much longer.
The door swings open and Peter and his mother walk in the room. Peter gives Nathan a look of disgust and stands as far away from him as possible. Angela Petrelli eyes Nathan sharply and follows Peter. Noah Bennet follows them his gun at the ready. He sweeps the place with his eyes, registering Mohinder’s presence with a quick look, and eyes the walkway with concern.
“There is no one else in the building,” Sylar says and crosses him arms.
“You would say that,” Peter says bitterly. “You’re good at double crossing people, Nathan.”
Sylar makes no reply watching Bennet carefully as he takes his place near Peter.
Mohinder is surprised to see Claire Bennet walk in. From the exasperated look her father sends her Mohinder guesses the man has fought a losing battle to keep her away. She is followed by Hiro and his companion, Ando. Hiro is looking solemn; Ando curious and slightly nervy. They take their places around the room, all standing as far away from the disguised Sylar as possible.
A young man Mohinder belatedly recognises as Micah walks through the door followed by Matt looking weary and rumpled, but happier than Mohinder expects. Mohinder holds his breath. If Matt suspects something is wrong instantly then all of this could fall apart before it even starts. He hopes that Sylar has mastered thinking only of what they all want to achieve today.
Matt faces Sylar and his face takes on the pained questioning look that Mohinder recognises all too well. He focuses for a few seconds and then slowly steps back towards the rest of the group a puzzled, but not yet suspicious, expression on his face.
Sylar nods at them and stands. “Thank you for coming,” he says quietly and holds up his hand as nearly everyone start talking. “Please listen,” he says and Mohinder recognises the faint suggestion of command in the voice and hopes that no one else can. “We need to start planning how we can resolve this crisis.”
“One you started,” Peter says bitterly. “How can you look any of us in the face, you bastard?”
Sylar beckons to Mohinder. “Perhaps this might come better from Doctor Suresh,” he says pleasantly.
Mohinder takes a deep breath and looks directly at Matt who is eyeing him in bemusement. “Matt, before I explain all this to everyone would you please check through my thoughts and assure everyone that this is on the level?”
Matt nods tentatively and approaches Mohinder putting his hand on his shoulder. Mohinder looks at him calmly. “Please don’t judge until you’ve seen it all,” he asks Matt and closes his eyes. He recalls their meeting at Building 26 and takes Matt back to Sylar and him setting up his ‘capture’ by Danko. Matt’s hold falters as he first catches a glimpse of Sylar, but Mohinder grabs his hand and squeezes it and Matt stills and carries on. He shows him their stand off with Nathan Petrelli and Matt again falters at Sylar’s ability to shape shift is shown. He listens in to their conversations making a pleased sound when he hears of Danko’s humiliation. Finally Mohinder brings them back to this moment and opens his eyes.
Matt is staring at him in amazement and some trepidation, but he isn’t screaming or shouting. Mohinder glances at Sylar who is watching the pair of them with a worried expression. Matt turns to look at Sylar and his expression darkens, but he still says nothing.
“Want to see what motivates me?” Sylar asks, much to Mohinder’s amazement.
Matt nods and fixes his gaze on Sylar. Sylar stares him out and doesn’t move. Matt blinks and shakes his head, starts listening intently for a few minutes and then hold up his hand. “Enough!” he says his voice thick with embarrassment and shoots an astonished look at Mohinder. “I get it!” He moves away from Sylar and pats Mohinder soothingly on the arm.
Mohinder glances in bewilderment at Sylar catching a highly amused and somewhat evil expression on the man’s face before it is wiped clean and he return his attention to the waiting group.
Matt clears his throat. “Please listen to Mohinder, he’s been driving this forward and it seems he’s responsible for what could be termed a drastic change of…” he stumbles over the word and shrugs. “I suppose change of heart isn’t too cliché an expression here, in someone you’d least expect.”
Mohinder raises his eyebrows and decides he needs to get on with his speech before Sylar does something else to send Matt into a stuttering idiot. He eyes everyone and begins.
“A few weeks ago I asked Senator Petrelli if he would discontinue the operation to round up all evolved humans and close Building 26. He said no.” Mohinder says, trying to ignores the muttering and continues raising his voice a little. “I’ve asked him the same question every day for the past three weeks and the answer has been the same. I am hoping that meeting you all face to face might make him reconsider his attitude, but I’m not holding my breath.”
Mohinder can see the puzzled and suspicious expressions in front of him and forces himself to quickly continue. “In the mean time Danko has been taken down. The person responsible for that has ensured that Senator Petrelli has been continuing business as usual and has also worked at contacting you all via Noah Bennet. That person wants this situation cleared up just as much as you do, and he also needs your help to do it.” Mohinder takes a deep breath and turns to Sylar.
Sylar nods and begins to change. There is total silence for a few seconds and then bedlam.
~~~
Mohinder is still shaking with tension as he and Sylar head for their rooms. It has been exhausting work trying to persuade everyone to work together for a common cause. The situation has not been helped by Sylar’s penchant for dropping sly, sarcastic comments at the most inappropriate of times, oh so helpfully reminding most of the people there why they so distrust and fear him.
The Chef has left them food to heat up in the microwave, but Mohinder doesn’t feel like eating. He heads for the living room and stares at the blank TV screen. He is quickly joined by Sylar who looks as weary as he feels. Sylar sits next to him and throws his arm around his shoulder. Mohinder leans into the support and closes his eyes.
“Do you think it will work?” he asks.
Sylar plays with a curl. “Yes,” he says at last.
Mohinder sighs and relaxes a bit more. “It was good to see everyone finally working together,” he murmurs.
Sylar grunts again, but says nothing.
“I’m glad Nathan Petrelli came through in the end,” Mohinder adds.
Sylar grunt sounds highly contemptuous. Mohinder has a feeling that the only ‘Petrelli’ Sylar has any time for is Claire. He is drifting towards sleep when Matt’s bizarre behaviour comes to mind.
“Matt kept giving me funny looks,” he says, puzzled by his friend’s behaviour. “I made it clear that you and I had pretty much solved our differences, but he still kept patting me and asking me if I was really okay.”
Sylar gives a snort of laughter and Mohinder opens his eyes and sits up to glare at him. “Did you say something to him?” he asks suspiciously.
Sylar opens an eye and gives him a lazy grin. “No,” he says and the grin becomes evil. “I did show him just how much I appreciated you though.”
Mohinder stares at him. “What exactly did you ‘show’ him?” he asks, almost dreading the answer.
Sylar gives a lustful grin. “Only some of my favourite pornographic images of you.”
“Sylar!” Mohinder cries cringing as he remembers Matt’s embarrassment at the time. “How could you! Matt’s my friend, how am I going to look him in the eye again!”
Sylar opens both eyes and looks totally unapologetic “I’m not a hearts and flowers type of guy, Mohinder and Parkman wasn’t going to buy any bull about me doing this because it was the honourable thing to do.” he says easily. “Anyway, it might teach him to stop peering into other people’s memories.”
Mohinder swears rapidly in Tamil and punches Sylar on the arm. “You bastard!” he says.
Sylar just laughs and leans towards him. “Actually I feel like I sullied my memories showing them to Parkman so how about we go to bed and make some more?”
Mohinder rolls his eyes. “You silvered tongued seducer,” he says sarcastically and crosses his arms in annoyance.
Sylar watches him in amusement for a while before wrapping his arms round Mohinder’s shoulders again and pulling him close. “It’s all true,” he says and tugs gently at Mohinder’s curls until he is looking at him. “You are my main motivation, Mohinder and I certainly wouldn’t have asked any of those fools to assist me if you hadn’t persuaded me.”
Slightly mollified Mohinder relaxes into Sylar’s embrace.
Sylar reaches across to Mohinder’s right arm and fondles the gold bracelet on his wrist. “Do you still want go home when this is all over?” he asks.
“Yes,” Mohinder answers without hesitation.
Sylar raises his eyebrows and looks encouragingly at him.
Mohinder sighs internally and gives Sylar what he’s angling for. “I’ll show you the sights,” he says, and wonders how the hell he is going to introduce Sylar to his mother and what Molly is going to say.
Sylar grins. “I’d like that,” he says and Mohinder has a sneaking feeling that Sylar is fully aware of what he is thinking.
“Will you remove it now?” Mohinder asks challengingly, pointing at the bracelet.
Sylar shrugs “It looks very beautiful against your skin you know,” he says.
Mohinder takes a deep breath and looks down at the bracelet with distaste. “I hate it,” he says vehemently. It represents all that was, and to a degree still is, painful and hurtful about his relationship with Sylar.
Sylar pulls a face, but says nothing while continuing to fiddle with it. “Would you wear something similar if I chose it for you?” he asks finally.
“Without the ability to knock me unconscious or track me?” Mohinder asks sharply.
“But of course,” Sylar says, managing to sound shocked that he should ask.
Mohinder doesn’t believe him, he’s sure a tracking device will be snuck in somehow. “I’ll think about it when you remove this one,” he says somewhat mendaciously, he has no intention of wearing any jewellery bar his thumb ring, and holds his wrist out hopefully.
Sylar shrugs and sits up floating over a cloth napkin from the table. He tucks it, with some difficult, between the bracelet and Mohinder’s skin ensuring that the skin is completely covered. “Sit very still,” he warns Mohinder before touching the bracelet.
Mohinder watches in awe as the bracelet vibrates fiercely and then disintegrates. “Wow!” he says and inspects his skin carefully for any marks.
Sylar traces his finger around Mohinder’s wrist and then kisses him fiercely. “You’re still mine,” he says forcefully and covers Mohinder’s mouth again before he can say anything. “Mine!” he murmurs as he pulls Mohinder up to standing, and continues to kiss and bite at his neck as he propels them towards the bedroom.
They land on the bed and a tussle breaks out between them. Sylar is determined and soon has Mohinder lying under him. He props himself up on his elbows and grins down at Mohinder.
“You’ll be begging me to tattoo my name on you before I’ve finished,” Sylar promises.
Mohinder opens his mouth to angrily refute the statement, but has no chance to speak before Sylar clamps his mouth over his and starts kissing him enthusiastically.
Seconds, minutes, hours later having lost track of time and having been denied orgasm three times Mohinder finally comes screaming Sylar’s name in wild abandon. He collapses on the bed in an exhausted, satisfied mess and closes his eyes.
Sylar collapses next to him breathing deeply. They lie silently for a while until Sylar makes a move and spoons round him.
“Where do you want the tattoo, Pet?” Sylar teases.
Mohinder makes a mighty effort and manages not to rise to the goad. “Up yours,” he mutters refusing to even open his eyes.
Sylar laughs and kisses the back of his neck. “Mine, body, mind and soul,” he says curling his fingers in Mohinder’s hair. “That’s what I demanded right back at the beginning by force.” He drops another kiss on his neck. “Now I have you by consent and I promise that I’ll make sure you never regret it.”
Mohinder knows it is futile to point out to Sylar that promises given under sexual coercion, however playful and enjoyable, are false promises.
“I’ve read of an evolved human who can take the life out of anything and transfer it to something else,” Sylar says, talking almost to himself. “If I can get the power I needn’t worry about you ageing. I could even make you younger; see what you were like in your twenties. I wonder if you were as beautiful then as you are now.”
Mohinder bites his lip and says nothing ignoring Sylar as he continues. The trap Sylar first set was malevolent and spiteful. The trap Mohinder finds himself in now could almost be seen as benevolent. Sylar wants him happy, content and his. Mohinder wants to be free to make his own choices, a number that might well include Sylar, but some that don’t. He foresees battles ahead and since Sylar has never, ever played by the rules he doesn’t hold out much hope of winning many of them.
Sylar has stopped talking and appears to be waiting for an answer. “What do you think?” he asks a little impatiently.
Mohinder plays back the conversation as far as he can remember, but can’t work out what he should be answering, so he grunts and snuggles back into Sylar.
“I knew you’d agree,” Sylar says mischievously.
Mohinder sighs in frustration, but decides he’ll worry about what he’s agreed to in the morning. For now sleep beckons and tomorrow is another day.
With Sylar.
The End
Author: alicambs
Pairing: Mohinder/Sylar
Rating: R
Warnings: This is Mylar! Bastard Sylar takes 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: 5,974
Date: July 09
A/N: Many thanks to Takhallus for being the beta for all four parts.((hugs))
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
The next day
Mohinder watches as Sylar plunges the needle into his arm and mentally lists the effects of adrenaline on the body, wincing. The last thing he wants to deal with is a pumped up, energetic Sylar with boosted reactions. He takes the syringe from Sylar who moves to the computer and stares intently at the screen displaying the 3D model of Nathan Petrelli’s brain.
A groan distracts Mohinder and he looks across the room to the stretcher carrying Nathan, the man is slowly coming round, but he is not fully alert and won’t be for a good few minutes.
“Got it,” murmurs Sylar and Mohinder quickly brings his attention back to Sylar watching in interest as the model on the screen appears to move as Sylar touches it. “Just a little more,” Sylar grunts and closes his eyes and shivers. When he opens them his eyes are glowing with energy and his smile is victorious. He punches his fist in the air and takes off whizzing round the lab before returning to Mohinder.
“Always wanted to be Superman,” Sylar says and laughs with excitement.
Mohinder can’t remember seeing him quite so innocently happy before and smiles in return.
“How about a game of kiss chase?” Sylar suggest, the grin getting wider.
Mohinder rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “You need to get that adrenaline out of your system if you want to deal with Petrelli,” he warns.
Sylar makes a grab for him, clasps him to his chest and is flying round the lab with him almost before Mohinder has finished his sentence. “Put me down,” he says firmly, although he can’t help but grin at Sylar, energised by the man’s enthusiasm and, if he is honest, by the thrill of flying.
Sylar lands them a few feet in front of Nathan keeping one arm around Mohinder pulling him close so that they are facing Nathan together. Nathan is still struggling to shake off the effect of the anaesthetic and from the expression on his face he is not happy to see either of them.
“I’d thank you for the ability to fly if I felt you had any respect for it,” Sylar says, and leans slightly towards Nathan. “Not that your hatred for people with abilities stops you from using yours when it’s convenient, isn’t that right, Senator Petrelli?”
Nathan says nothing. He continues to glance between Sylar and Mohinder, a confused and slightly contemptuous expression on his face. “I see being cured hasn’t taught you any common sense or discretion, Suresh,” he finally says.
Mohinder takes a sideways glance at Sylar who is looking highly entertained and shrugs his shoulder. “I’m not the one working with a cold blooded killer masquerading as a government agent, Petrelli,” he says coolly.
“Danko is doing a job and doing it well,” Nathan says quickly.
“And putting a shoot to kill order on your brother is something you are happy to live with?” Mohinder asks.
Nathan opens his mouth and closes it looking troubled. “You’re lying about that,” he accuses Mohinder.
“Are you really that stupid?” Sylar says. “Do you truly think Danko is your leashed bulldog? He’s the one in control, Petrelli.”
Nathan glares at Sylar. “I’m the man with the ear of the President. Danko can be replaced.”
“So can you,” Sylar observes. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes briefly. Mohinder can feel the clench and unclenching of muscles in the arm around him and watches as Sylar slowly transform into Nathan Petrelli. He turns to watch Nathan, whose horrified expression is probably all Sylar can ask for.
Sylar smiles, and the smile is Nathan’s yet it has elements of Sylar in it as well. “I know that’s just what Danko wants, Petrelli. I’ve spent time with the man and listened to him, do you ever do that?”
Nathan breathing has quickened. He pulls himself up and slowly stands, holding on tightly to the bars of the stretcher, and faces Sylar. “You can shape shift?” he asks incredulously.
Sylar raises his eyebrows. “So it appears,” he says sarcastically. “Do you want me to run through some other people just to convince you? Let me see, I do a good Danko, as Mohinder here will confirm. My Sandra Bennet fooled her husband nicely and no one appears to notice my substitution for one of the regulars on the collection teams working from Building 26.”
He smiles nastily and eyes Nathan with dislike. “And the best bit is, Petrelli that Danko is fully aware of both my identity and my abilities and, like you, happy to make use of me despite the fact I’m one of the evolved humans he so despises.”
He jabs his finger at Nathan and his smile widens. “In fact there are a number of similarities between you and Danko. You’re both nasty little men who need to bolster your egos by putting down others you consider less than yourself and you’re both damn hypocrites.”
Nathan looks like he is about to have a coronary.
Sylar eyes him with renewed scorn and sweeps on. “Has it escaped your notice that Danko is suspicious that your natural daughter and your brother have abilities, never mind your parents, but you don’t, Petrelli? Are you really foolish enough not to see that Danko has large ambitions and replacing you is high on his agenda? I’m surprised he hasn’t tried to out you yet.”
Nathan opens his mouth to speak then thinks better of it, shaking his head. “I think he has already tried,” he mutters, his eyes resting uneasily on Sylar as himself. He takes a deep breath “Why am I here, Sylar and considering both your reputation and your apparent dislike for me, how come I’m still alive?”
Sylar’s smile is evil. “You can thank Mohinder for you still being alive. Personally I’d love to rip your brain from your skull.”
Nathan takes a deep breath and his eyes flick momentarily towards Mohinder before returning to Sylar. “Why am I here?” he repeats.
“I would have thought that was obvious,” Mohinder interjects. “You need to stop the persecution and killings of evolved humans. I don’t know what caused you to suddenly turn on your own kind, but even you must see it has gotten totally out of hand.”
“He was jealous, “Sylar says unexpectedly. “His brother’s and parents abilities, like mine, came naturally; you could even say they were a gift from God. His, like your enhanced strength, Mohinder, was given artificially” Sylar shakes his head in amusement. “It hurt his pride to find he wasn’t the chosen son, that was Peter’s role. He was injected when Peter become a disappointment.”
Nathan is flushing a deep angry red colour by the time Sylar finishes his explanation. His fists are held tightly by his side, but he doesn’t refute anything Sylar says.
“How do you know all this?” Mohinder asks Sylar in amazement.
Sylar gives Mohinder a secretive smile. “I can read memories from objects,” he murmurs and shoots Nathan a scathing look. “Petrelli here has quite a few memories he’d like to keep securely locked away.”
“I can imagine,” Mohinder says and turns to look at Petrelli. He’s never much liked the man, always seen him as an ambitious politician concerned with nothing but getting to the top and this makes sense to him. “So what are you going to do, Petrelli?” he asks. “Continue on the way you’re going until Sylar decides he can do a better job? Clear up your act? Call off the hounds? Talk to the President?”
“I did wonder about being President,” Sylar says provocatively.
Mohinder glares at him, all too aware that Sylar’s shape shifting ability has a highly negative and worrisome aspect to it and certain that this, more than anything, will anger Petrelli
“And you wonder why I want to lock up people like you,” Nathan explodes. “You’re a danger to the public at large.”
Sylar shakes his head mischievously. “I’m a danger to the evolved humans you want rid of anyway,” he says. “I’m not the slightest bit interested in the public at large, they have nothing I want.”
Mohinder silently agrees with Sylar.
“Are you going to discontinue the operation?” Sylar demands.
“No!” Petrelli says angrily. “Dangerous abominations like you must be cleared off the streets. That’s why you should leave Suresh alone, his work is important; he needs to be finding the serum to remove powers permanently.”
“I see,” Sylar says dangerously. He takes a deep breath and Mohinder feels the tension in his muscles as he changes back to his own form. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten who you are dealing with here, Petrelli.
Nathan stares back at Sylar unflinchingly. “You maybe able to look like me but you’ll never convince those I work with,” he says scathingly.
“We’ll see,” Sylar says and flicks his finger. Nathan sails across the room and lands badly crumpling to the ground. He moves his finger again and Nathan body rebounds against the floor.
Mohinder catches Sylar’s hand as he raises it again struggling even with his strength to keep the telekinetic power restrained. “Remember you need him alive,” he says urgently. “Petrelli’s isn’t the kind of death that can be hushed up. It will focus attention even more on his work with our kind, don’t kill him, please.”
Sylar stares down at him unblinkingly for a few seconds then shakes his head and runs a finger along Mohinder’s face. “Don’t do that again, “he says quietly. “I could have hurt you badly.”
Mohinder nods and backs away, slightly shaken at the intensity of Sylar’s gaze. “I’m fine, Sylar,” Mohinder says quietly. “You need to concentrate on Petrelli and how you’re going to topple Danko.”
Sylar nods slowly and moves towards Nathan. The man is sitting dazed and bloody propped up against the wall. His expression changes to alarm as Sylar approaches.
“Get up,” Sylar demands, and stands and waits for Nathan to pull himself up. “It’s too bad you’re too arrogant and pigheaded to work with me, Petrelli. You’ll just have to stay here as my guest while I go and fix the mess you’ve made.” He beckons and Nathan lurches to his feet and stumbles forward.
Mohinder sits down heavily on the nearest stool and gets up hurriedly wincing in discomfort while damning Sylar under his breath. How the man can treat him as an equal one minute and the next act as if he is a recalcitrant child in need of severe discipline continues to bewilder Mohinder. He tears his mind away from the contemplation of his and Sylar’s bizarre relationship and sits gingerly back on the stool pulling his father’s security badge from his pocket. Sylar said he could read objects and Mohinder wonders if he will read the badge for him just to try and clarify what exactly his father had been doing in America back in the 1960s.
Mohinder holds out the badge to Sylar on his return. “Would you read this for me?” he asks.
Sylar glances at it. “Do you think it has any relevance to now?” he asks.
Mohinder shakes his head. “Not really,” he admits. “I just need to know how my father could lie about something this big.”
Sylar snorts but takes the badge and holds it firmly. He stands still for a moment, head cocked to the side, eyes distant before looking at Mohinder. “Your father was working in Building 26, Coyote Sands Relocation Centre, Arizona investigating the children,” he says unemotionally.
“Building 26,” Mohinder repeats slowly.
Sylar nods. “It was some kind of Internment Camp for evolved humans.”
Mohinder takes a deep breath. “So Petrelli and Danko are repeating history,” he says unhappily eyeing the badge with some distaste. “Sylar, my father had files on Angela Petrelli and her sister. He knew about evolved humans as early as 61, he may even have been experimenting on them. But he returns to India and doesn’t write his book until years later. Then he comes to New York and names you Patient Zero, it doesn’t make sense!”
Sylar drops the badge like it’s contaminated and sighs. “I found out very recently that I was adopted and my father killed my mother,” he says and Mohinder can hear the pain in his voice. Without thinking he reaches out to clasp Sylar’s arm and squeezes it. Sylar responds by pulling him into an embrace and hugging him.
“Digging up the past is a painful business, Mohinder,” Sylar says simply.
Mohinder gives a pained laugh. “I know,” he says quietly, and wonders if he and Sylar will ever be able to get past their own shared past.
They stand together for a few seconds before Mohinder asks. “What did you do?” then wonders if he really wants to know.
Sylar chuckles and leans back to look at Mohinder’s face. “Went on a voyage with a foolish 17 year old who claimed to know my father,” he says. “When I found him he was a pathetic old man dying of cancer. He has the same ability as me and tried to steal my power to regenerate. I decided that having a potential cure almost within his grasp and losing it was a crueller punishment that killing him on the spot.”
Mohinder nods slowly and looks regretfully at the discarded badge. He knows he won’t get any more from Sylar and he can’t see what would be gained from taking a trip to Coyote Sands, even if Sylar would agree to let him go. “What next?” he asks as he straightens and starts to put some distance between them.
Sylar squeezes him arms before letting him go. “Get rid of Danko,” Sylar says and his voice sounds happy at the thought.
“Permanently?” Mohinder asks, and is a little shocked at the viciousness of his own voice.
Sylar laughs. “You really don’t like that man, do you?” he says obviously amused. “No, I’m going to destroy his credibility, Danko will hate that far more that death.”
“And Senator Petrelli?”
Sylar raises his eyebrows. “What an arrogant bastard,” he says, still sounding faintly amused.
Takes one to know one Mohinder thinks affectionately and nods. “Do you think we could involve the Petrelli family?” he asks tentatively.
Sylar’s good humour evaporates and he stares forbiddingly at Mohinder. “Why?” he asks sharply.
Mohinder takes a deep breath. “I thought that if Peter and his mother understood what you were doing they might offer their help?” he suggests.
Sylar frowns before shaking his head. “Peter Petrelli and his witch of a mother are both on the run,” he says.
“Angela Petrelli was at Coyote Sands,” Mohinder says. “She might have information that the President would listen to.”
Sylar’s frown fades as he contemplates this.
Encouraged, Mohinder ploughs on. “We could also do with Matt Parkman. If the President won’t listen you might need to ‘persuade’ him.”
Sylar is by now looking highly amused. “Mind whammy the President, Mohinder!” he mock gasps. “Whatever next?”
Mohinder shrugs. “Whatever is necessary,” he says, and means it. “Just promise me that you don’t want to be President, Sylar.”
Sylar shakes his head slowly. “The only way I’m going to have any chance to be President is to mimic the present one or fight a campaign as Petrelli. I really don’t want to spend the rest of my days in someone else’s body, Mohinder.”
The shiver that accompanies that statement does more that anything to convince Mohinder of Sylar’s honesty. He has a feeling that shape shifting is something of a double-edged sword, plus in all honesty he can’t see Sylar as the type willing to hide behind someone else’s persona. “I’m glad,” he says simply.
Sylar gives a mock bow and smirks.
Mohinder ignores him and thinks furiously, desperate to get Sylar’s agreement on getting help. “You said Noah Bennet is working with Danko.”
Sylar nods, his expression intrigued.
“Do you think he’s playing a double game?”
Sylar ponders for a second. “His adopted daughter’s an evolved human. He’s not going to want her caught. He worked for the Company for years bagging and tagging. He probably has some loyalty to the Petrelli family.” He shrugs. “Personally I just want to destroy him.”
Mohinder decides to leave that statement alone and continues doggedly with his suggestions. “He could be our contact with the others. He’ll probably know where Peter and his mother are and they might know where Matt is, if he hasn’t done something stupid. He went off to destroy Danko, he holds him totally responsible for Daphne’s death.”
Sylar raises his eyebrows but says nothing.
“Then there’s Hiro, he can stop time which is a very nifty and useful trick.”
Sylar growls. “He tried to kill me.”
Mohinder glances at him. “He didn’t succeed, Sylar and anyway dealing with this crisis is more important than your thirst for revenge.” He watches the frown deepen on Sylar’s face and decides to go for flattery. “Sylar, you have the most amazing powers at your finger tips and more importantly the control needed to use them, but this situation is so delicate, so entangled and potentially catastrophic for all of us that I think you need help.”
Sylar’s frown slowly evaporates and he stares at Mohinder intently for a second. “You said I could be the greatest among us,” he says slowly. “You really believe it don’t you?”
“I have to, “Mohinder says earnestly. “I have to believe that you can work for the greater good if you see the need, Sylar.”
Sylar looks at him blankly for a few seconds and then laughs. “Clever, Mohinder,” he says approvingly and without the faintest hint of patronisation. “That way you can still call me an evil manipulative bastard and yet give me this spin about being the greatest among us.”
Mohinder hopes that Sylar can’t see the flush he can feel creeping up his cheeks.
Sylar grins. “Don’t worry, Pet” he says cheerfully, and the grins increases as Mohinder growls at him. “I enjoy watching that brain of yours at work, deciding how best to pacify the raging beast.” He leans forward and watches Mohinder intently. “Is that how you think of me?”
Mohinder shakes his head. “No,” he says honestly.
Sylar nods thoughtfully. “Are you afraid of me, Mohinder?”
“Sometimes,” Mohinder answers truthfully, wondering quite where this is going.
“Does that fear stop you from saying or doing things?”
Mohinder shakes his head again. “Not really,” he says slowly. “May be it will stop me from doing or saying something immediately, or make me rethink the situation, but in the end I will address what worries me.”
Sylar nods again and smiles. “And that’s why I appreciate you and need you around, Mohinder.” He traces a finger along Mohinder’s eyebrow. “You try and keep me on the straight and narrow.”
Mohinder gives him a relieved smile
Sylar gives him an evil grin in return. “But would I be right in thinking that you get a secret thrill in having such a potentially dangerous lover, my dear Mohinder?”
Mohinder drops his eyes from Sylar’s face and yet again feels his cheeks fill with unwanted warmth flinching at Sylar delighted chuckle. Sylar has hit the nail on the head. Ever since Peter’s intrusion into the lab and their subsequent talk he and Sylar have slowly become lovers and, if he is honest, he does get a visceral thrill in knowing that he alone sees Sylar at his most vulnerable.
“I’ve corrupted you, Pet,” Sylar says far too cheerfully.
“Stop damn well calling me that!” Mohinder cries out in exasperation, needing something to hit out at and to hide his embarrassment. He looks back at Sylar and is reassured to see real warmth and affection in the man’s eyes.
Sylar shakes his head and the grin widens. “No,” he says simply, and Mohinder knows that his frustrated anger at the epithet is now the only reason Sylar uses it.
Mohinder shakes his head and looks pleadingly at Sylar. “Will you work with the Petrellis, Matt and anyone else we can contact, please?” he begs.
Sylar slowly nods his head. “Yes, but on one condition, Mohinder. They must know who I am yet be willing to work with me.”
Mohinder considers the request and knows that it has to be. Matt can read minds and with everyone’s distrust of Petrelli Sylar’s impersonation would soon be discovered. “Okay,” he says. “Let’s go for it.”
~~~
Mohinder is on tenterhooks. He worries that no one will turn up for fear of it all being an elaborate trap. Sylar has convinced him that curiosity and an increasing sense of desperation will ensure that they all attend.
Sylar is waiting, disguised at Petrelli, in the centre of one of the large, bright and airy waiting areas that seem to abound in Pinehearst. He has chosen to dress formally and is sitting, looking relaxed, in one of the many modern designer seats Arthur Petrelli filled the place with.
Despite Sylar’s apparently peaceful demeanour, Mohinder worries about the strain that masquerading as Petrelli is causing Sylar. Sylar’s glee at ending Danko’s leadership at Building 26 has faded over the past few weeks and he has been a little too quiet and withdrawn for Mohinder’s liking. A couple of times he has even flickered and turned into Petrelli without meaning to and Mohinder is concerned for his mental stability if he has to continue with the deception for much longer.
The door swings open and Peter and his mother walk in the room. Peter gives Nathan a look of disgust and stands as far away from him as possible. Angela Petrelli eyes Nathan sharply and follows Peter. Noah Bennet follows them his gun at the ready. He sweeps the place with his eyes, registering Mohinder’s presence with a quick look, and eyes the walkway with concern.
“There is no one else in the building,” Sylar says and crosses him arms.
“You would say that,” Peter says bitterly. “You’re good at double crossing people, Nathan.”
Sylar makes no reply watching Bennet carefully as he takes his place near Peter.
Mohinder is surprised to see Claire Bennet walk in. From the exasperated look her father sends her Mohinder guesses the man has fought a losing battle to keep her away. She is followed by Hiro and his companion, Ando. Hiro is looking solemn; Ando curious and slightly nervy. They take their places around the room, all standing as far away from the disguised Sylar as possible.
A young man Mohinder belatedly recognises as Micah walks through the door followed by Matt looking weary and rumpled, but happier than Mohinder expects. Mohinder holds his breath. If Matt suspects something is wrong instantly then all of this could fall apart before it even starts. He hopes that Sylar has mastered thinking only of what they all want to achieve today.
Matt faces Sylar and his face takes on the pained questioning look that Mohinder recognises all too well. He focuses for a few seconds and then slowly steps back towards the rest of the group a puzzled, but not yet suspicious, expression on his face.
Sylar nods at them and stands. “Thank you for coming,” he says quietly and holds up his hand as nearly everyone start talking. “Please listen,” he says and Mohinder recognises the faint suggestion of command in the voice and hopes that no one else can. “We need to start planning how we can resolve this crisis.”
“One you started,” Peter says bitterly. “How can you look any of us in the face, you bastard?”
Sylar beckons to Mohinder. “Perhaps this might come better from Doctor Suresh,” he says pleasantly.
Mohinder takes a deep breath and looks directly at Matt who is eyeing him in bemusement. “Matt, before I explain all this to everyone would you please check through my thoughts and assure everyone that this is on the level?”
Matt nods tentatively and approaches Mohinder putting his hand on his shoulder. Mohinder looks at him calmly. “Please don’t judge until you’ve seen it all,” he asks Matt and closes his eyes. He recalls their meeting at Building 26 and takes Matt back to Sylar and him setting up his ‘capture’ by Danko. Matt’s hold falters as he first catches a glimpse of Sylar, but Mohinder grabs his hand and squeezes it and Matt stills and carries on. He shows him their stand off with Nathan Petrelli and Matt again falters at Sylar’s ability to shape shift is shown. He listens in to their conversations making a pleased sound when he hears of Danko’s humiliation. Finally Mohinder brings them back to this moment and opens his eyes.
Matt is staring at him in amazement and some trepidation, but he isn’t screaming or shouting. Mohinder glances at Sylar who is watching the pair of them with a worried expression. Matt turns to look at Sylar and his expression darkens, but he still says nothing.
“Want to see what motivates me?” Sylar asks, much to Mohinder’s amazement.
Matt nods and fixes his gaze on Sylar. Sylar stares him out and doesn’t move. Matt blinks and shakes his head, starts listening intently for a few minutes and then hold up his hand. “Enough!” he says his voice thick with embarrassment and shoots an astonished look at Mohinder. “I get it!” He moves away from Sylar and pats Mohinder soothingly on the arm.
Mohinder glances in bewilderment at Sylar catching a highly amused and somewhat evil expression on the man’s face before it is wiped clean and he return his attention to the waiting group.
Matt clears his throat. “Please listen to Mohinder, he’s been driving this forward and it seems he’s responsible for what could be termed a drastic change of…” he stumbles over the word and shrugs. “I suppose change of heart isn’t too cliché an expression here, in someone you’d least expect.”
Mohinder raises his eyebrows and decides he needs to get on with his speech before Sylar does something else to send Matt into a stuttering idiot. He eyes everyone and begins.
“A few weeks ago I asked Senator Petrelli if he would discontinue the operation to round up all evolved humans and close Building 26. He said no.” Mohinder says, trying to ignores the muttering and continues raising his voice a little. “I’ve asked him the same question every day for the past three weeks and the answer has been the same. I am hoping that meeting you all face to face might make him reconsider his attitude, but I’m not holding my breath.”
Mohinder can see the puzzled and suspicious expressions in front of him and forces himself to quickly continue. “In the mean time Danko has been taken down. The person responsible for that has ensured that Senator Petrelli has been continuing business as usual and has also worked at contacting you all via Noah Bennet. That person wants this situation cleared up just as much as you do, and he also needs your help to do it.” Mohinder takes a deep breath and turns to Sylar.
Sylar nods and begins to change. There is total silence for a few seconds and then bedlam.
~~~
Mohinder is still shaking with tension as he and Sylar head for their rooms. It has been exhausting work trying to persuade everyone to work together for a common cause. The situation has not been helped by Sylar’s penchant for dropping sly, sarcastic comments at the most inappropriate of times, oh so helpfully reminding most of the people there why they so distrust and fear him.
The Chef has left them food to heat up in the microwave, but Mohinder doesn’t feel like eating. He heads for the living room and stares at the blank TV screen. He is quickly joined by Sylar who looks as weary as he feels. Sylar sits next to him and throws his arm around his shoulder. Mohinder leans into the support and closes his eyes.
“Do you think it will work?” he asks.
Sylar plays with a curl. “Yes,” he says at last.
Mohinder sighs and relaxes a bit more. “It was good to see everyone finally working together,” he murmurs.
Sylar grunts again, but says nothing.
“I’m glad Nathan Petrelli came through in the end,” Mohinder adds.
Sylar grunt sounds highly contemptuous. Mohinder has a feeling that the only ‘Petrelli’ Sylar has any time for is Claire. He is drifting towards sleep when Matt’s bizarre behaviour comes to mind.
“Matt kept giving me funny looks,” he says, puzzled by his friend’s behaviour. “I made it clear that you and I had pretty much solved our differences, but he still kept patting me and asking me if I was really okay.”
Sylar gives a snort of laughter and Mohinder opens his eyes and sits up to glare at him. “Did you say something to him?” he asks suspiciously.
Sylar opens an eye and gives him a lazy grin. “No,” he says and the grin becomes evil. “I did show him just how much I appreciated you though.”
Mohinder stares at him. “What exactly did you ‘show’ him?” he asks, almost dreading the answer.
Sylar gives a lustful grin. “Only some of my favourite pornographic images of you.”
“Sylar!” Mohinder cries cringing as he remembers Matt’s embarrassment at the time. “How could you! Matt’s my friend, how am I going to look him in the eye again!”
Sylar opens both eyes and looks totally unapologetic “I’m not a hearts and flowers type of guy, Mohinder and Parkman wasn’t going to buy any bull about me doing this because it was the honourable thing to do.” he says easily. “Anyway, it might teach him to stop peering into other people’s memories.”
Mohinder swears rapidly in Tamil and punches Sylar on the arm. “You bastard!” he says.
Sylar just laughs and leans towards him. “Actually I feel like I sullied my memories showing them to Parkman so how about we go to bed and make some more?”
Mohinder rolls his eyes. “You silvered tongued seducer,” he says sarcastically and crosses his arms in annoyance.
Sylar watches him in amusement for a while before wrapping his arms round Mohinder’s shoulders again and pulling him close. “It’s all true,” he says and tugs gently at Mohinder’s curls until he is looking at him. “You are my main motivation, Mohinder and I certainly wouldn’t have asked any of those fools to assist me if you hadn’t persuaded me.”
Slightly mollified Mohinder relaxes into Sylar’s embrace.
Sylar reaches across to Mohinder’s right arm and fondles the gold bracelet on his wrist. “Do you still want go home when this is all over?” he asks.
“Yes,” Mohinder answers without hesitation.
Sylar raises his eyebrows and looks encouragingly at him.
Mohinder sighs internally and gives Sylar what he’s angling for. “I’ll show you the sights,” he says, and wonders how the hell he is going to introduce Sylar to his mother and what Molly is going to say.
Sylar grins. “I’d like that,” he says and Mohinder has a sneaking feeling that Sylar is fully aware of what he is thinking.
“Will you remove it now?” Mohinder asks challengingly, pointing at the bracelet.
Sylar shrugs “It looks very beautiful against your skin you know,” he says.
Mohinder takes a deep breath and looks down at the bracelet with distaste. “I hate it,” he says vehemently. It represents all that was, and to a degree still is, painful and hurtful about his relationship with Sylar.
Sylar pulls a face, but says nothing while continuing to fiddle with it. “Would you wear something similar if I chose it for you?” he asks finally.
“Without the ability to knock me unconscious or track me?” Mohinder asks sharply.
“But of course,” Sylar says, managing to sound shocked that he should ask.
Mohinder doesn’t believe him, he’s sure a tracking device will be snuck in somehow. “I’ll think about it when you remove this one,” he says somewhat mendaciously, he has no intention of wearing any jewellery bar his thumb ring, and holds his wrist out hopefully.
Sylar shrugs and sits up floating over a cloth napkin from the table. He tucks it, with some difficult, between the bracelet and Mohinder’s skin ensuring that the skin is completely covered. “Sit very still,” he warns Mohinder before touching the bracelet.
Mohinder watches in awe as the bracelet vibrates fiercely and then disintegrates. “Wow!” he says and inspects his skin carefully for any marks.
Sylar traces his finger around Mohinder’s wrist and then kisses him fiercely. “You’re still mine,” he says forcefully and covers Mohinder’s mouth again before he can say anything. “Mine!” he murmurs as he pulls Mohinder up to standing, and continues to kiss and bite at his neck as he propels them towards the bedroom.
They land on the bed and a tussle breaks out between them. Sylar is determined and soon has Mohinder lying under him. He props himself up on his elbows and grins down at Mohinder.
“You’ll be begging me to tattoo my name on you before I’ve finished,” Sylar promises.
Mohinder opens his mouth to angrily refute the statement, but has no chance to speak before Sylar clamps his mouth over his and starts kissing him enthusiastically.
Seconds, minutes, hours later having lost track of time and having been denied orgasm three times Mohinder finally comes screaming Sylar’s name in wild abandon. He collapses on the bed in an exhausted, satisfied mess and closes his eyes.
Sylar collapses next to him breathing deeply. They lie silently for a while until Sylar makes a move and spoons round him.
“Where do you want the tattoo, Pet?” Sylar teases.
Mohinder makes a mighty effort and manages not to rise to the goad. “Up yours,” he mutters refusing to even open his eyes.
Sylar laughs and kisses the back of his neck. “Mine, body, mind and soul,” he says curling his fingers in Mohinder’s hair. “That’s what I demanded right back at the beginning by force.” He drops another kiss on his neck. “Now I have you by consent and I promise that I’ll make sure you never regret it.”
Mohinder knows it is futile to point out to Sylar that promises given under sexual coercion, however playful and enjoyable, are false promises.
“I’ve read of an evolved human who can take the life out of anything and transfer it to something else,” Sylar says, talking almost to himself. “If I can get the power I needn’t worry about you ageing. I could even make you younger; see what you were like in your twenties. I wonder if you were as beautiful then as you are now.”
Mohinder bites his lip and says nothing ignoring Sylar as he continues. The trap Sylar first set was malevolent and spiteful. The trap Mohinder finds himself in now could almost be seen as benevolent. Sylar wants him happy, content and his. Mohinder wants to be free to make his own choices, a number that might well include Sylar, but some that don’t. He foresees battles ahead and since Sylar has never, ever played by the rules he doesn’t hold out much hope of winning many of them.
Sylar has stopped talking and appears to be waiting for an answer. “What do you think?” he asks a little impatiently.
Mohinder plays back the conversation as far as he can remember, but can’t work out what he should be answering, so he grunts and snuggles back into Sylar.
“I knew you’d agree,” Sylar says mischievously.
Mohinder sighs in frustration, but decides he’ll worry about what he’s agreed to in the morning. For now sleep beckons and tomorrow is another day.
With Sylar.
The End
(no subject)
Date: 2009-07-08 09:36 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2009-07-08 09:40 pm (UTC)much hugs