The Amulet

[seekevolution]

from here

"You're probably going to want to stay away from Doctor Suresh."  Fury, in all of his all-black glory, comes at them from around a corridor as Tony finally manages to catch up with the charging bull that is his, thankfully, not so currently green friend.  He does hold a hand up behind Bruce's back to try to signal Fury to move but, alas.  The Director never was good at listening.

You can't blame that on the missing eye or anything but Tony likes to think he has mini eye patches inside his ears too.

"In fact, I'm absolutely sure of it.  We need to get a baseline reading on you, Doctor Banner."

Comments

[templeistelepathybutton]

You did well, very well. There is warmth and honest praise in Charles' voice, and a calmness again, attempting to soothe the sickness that comes from straining a new 'muscle', so to speak, along with the painful knowledge. There is surprising strength in you. It will be difficult at first, as you must break that connection with each person you come into contact with, but it will get easier, I promise.

He draws back, speaking aloud and easily. "I believe that is all for today, as you will need to rest. Tomorrow, I will teach you how to make it so you will not form another connection."

[seekevolution]

Mohinder doesn't just go to bed, he falls into it, the promise of learning to keep connections from happening a good comfort for the evening. Logan stands when the door opens and he glances down at Xavier with a frown and gets the door for him shut when the professor glides through it.

"Went well I take it?" He hooks his thumb into his jacket and walks towards the elevator. "How bad is he?"

Logan's not concerned. He's just making conversation. And hoping Charles will want to chill with Bruce a little bit so he can find and consume Stark's good scotch.

[templeistelepathybutton]

"As well as I could have hoped. It could have been difficult, if he had any notion of wanting to control others, but he wanted no part of it as I had hoped. He takes well to the instruction, and Logan, please do not instigate our missing host by bothering his alcohol. ...You did so last time and I received a significant bill."

He hardly needs telepathy to guess what his friend wishes to do. "I will speak to Doctor Banner before retiring." As the elevator comes down and opens, he looks up at Logan with a pointed look before he goes within.

[seekevolution]

Damn it. Oh well. Maybe just a small taste then... That'd hurt no one.

After filling Bruce and Hank in on the progress they've made, giving them both some hope that Mohinder may well be able to re-enter society with some time and effort, Xavier does indeed turn in. By then, several hours have passed and Mohinder is once again stirring.

He gives Bruce a call on his cell, thumb running over the back of the casing as he lays in bed. He's still tired, worn out, but he'd like to check in just the same.

[aggravated]

"Mohinder?" A little surprised to get the call at all. Bruce is sitting at the desk in 'his' room in the Tower, several pages spread out before him and his laptop, working on his next paper. "I would have thought you would be asleep for the rest of the night."

Bruce squints a bit at the time on the laptop, then runs a hand over his face when he realizes the time. Later- more like earlier- than he thought. "How do you feel?"

[seekevolution]

"Am I keeping you awake? It's late, I know, I'm sorry. I just wanted to speak with someone that might understand and--" He chuckles to himself, under his breath. "There's so little I could ever do to repay you, Bruce. Everything you've done for me has-- You've been my saviour. I don't say that lightly and I don't want you to interrupt either. I feel honoured that you've not only remained my friend through all of this, but also have not given up on me either."

It's a lot to say but Mohinder's use to giving long winded speeches and everything that comes from his mouth right now is utterly important. He needs Bruce to know how he feels.

The man had asked after all.

Oh Momo <3

[aggravated]

Bruce has gotten used to the way Mohinder tends to run at the mouth a little; it's something he finds surprisingly endearing. It means he can listen and keep silent, allowing his friend to go on. Both Mohinder and Tony do that, now that he thinks about it. Either way, he'd rather be the ears than the mouth.

When he believes Mohinder to be done, he actually asks if he might speak before he does. "First, you didn't wake me. I had some work to finish. Second, I wasn't about to give up on my friend that easily, and I don't plan to now. You would do the same if I needed your help. You owe me nothing, other than when this is over, we find somewhere quiet and have a good dinner."

Re: Oh Momo <3

[seekevolution]

Mohinder takes a breath.

Bruce... Bruce that's a small bit cruel when you know just how. Mohinder feels. He's getting his hopes up. He's reading into the request. Mohinder holds into the phone a little too tightly and shifts. The sound of that translates to a muffled brush across the receiver.

"I... Would very much like that. It has always been my most profound pleasure to speak with you."

[aggravated]

Bruce blinks once, then closes his eyes. Why is it that Mohinder's voice reminds him of Tony's kiss? Not the first one, but that one that so soft and gentle and full of warmth that he had no voice after? Why...

"After this is all over." After a moment to find his own voice again. Tony has left him confused; that must be the problem.

[seekevolution]

There's more work to be done the next day and so Mohinder doesn't keep Bruce for too much longer. Hope, even false hope, can only help Mohinder now, can't it?

In the morning, he's ready to try again. Charles is a delight and working the mind is like working a muscle. The training is slow, but important. He's getting stronger, and though exhaustion hits more quickly, he knows that in the days to come, it will become easier and easier.

They only have a limited time, however.

He knows the stipulation. And he knows SHIELD will likely hound them all even when this is finished. He owes Bruce so much more than dinner.

[templeistelepathybutton]

It's four days later that Charles decides it is time for the greatest test Mohinder has had into do yet. Four days of learning to break the connection as well as create shields for his own mind. On this day, he joins Mohinder for breakfast, a hearty one designed to fuel the working body and mind, when he introduces the next step.

"After breakfast, Doctor Banner will be joining us." Calmly spoken, as if this is no matter to be concerned about.

[seekevolution]

This is not something that Mohinder expects and he nearly chokes on his oatmeal and maple syrup. "I'm...sorry? What?" No, he's not-- "The last time he--" All sorts of thoughts pour out of him, bombarding Charles' shields without meaning to.

Bruce is a trigger point, obviously. Bruce is important to Mohinder. And that's why he's coming down.

Mohinder draws a hand over his face, heart pounding in his chest. "Are you... Are you... I'm not sure I'm ready!"

[templeistelepathybutton]

"Shields," Charles says immediately but calmly. Mohinder has a very loud mind when he wishes, a true broadcaster. "You must learn to keep them up even in the midst of panic. You are, however, ready for this test. I will be here to make sure that no harm comes to Doctor Banner."

He touches his temple and reaches out, lightly calling Doctor Banner to his mind. Only minutes later, there is a knock. "Join us, Doctor Banner," he says, keeping his eyes on Mohinder and feeling what the others mind will do as Bruce steps in.

[seekevolution]

Shields. Right, yes. He apologizes and nods, trying to still himself, to concentrate on what he and Charles have been doing for the last four days. That doesn't mean he's ready to really see Bruce in person again. It takes all of his ability to stay seated and not move into another room.

He's not hurt Bruce nearly as bad as some people but he feels the most guilty about him just the same.

[templeistelepathybutton]

From the way Bruce looks at Charles, it's clear that there is a silent conversation going on. Bruce finally ends up nodding and sitting down near Mohinder, watching between the two.

When Charles feels the shields in place, he nods. "Good. Now, you still have that connection to Doctor Banner." He guides his chair over to Bruce and reaches up, laying his fingertips just over the temple without actually touching skin while Bruce looks faintly uneasy. "As we did before, you must remove the rope from his mind to free him."

[seekevolution]

That seems...unfortunate. Bruce's presence, while wanted, also makes the desire to 'free' him from the grasp of the amulet that much more difficult. He'd enjoyed Charles' company. But Bruce--

What if he doesn't want to talk with him anymore?

That sudden thought is truly horrifying to the Indian and he balls his hands into fists. "All right," he voices, but it's weak. Mohinder feels weak. What's become of him?

[templeistelepathybutton]

Calm yourself, Mohinder. Charles' voice rings in the other's mind. Doctor Banner is here willingly and from what we spoke of last night, he wants nothing more than your safety and well being in this matter. He could have chosen to allow you to remain with SHIELD or simply remained that 'safe' distance from you, but instead he has done the opposite. Now, you must free him.

[seekevolution]

Calm yourself, he repeats Charles' words, though his tongue feels wrongly thick in his mouth. There's so little to say not. He's tasted what it might be like to be corrupted but this...ability. He's not sure if there's any hope for him, but there must be one for Bruce.

Mohinder visualizes a string between himself and Bruce and, carefully, works the loop from over their fingers. There's a great deal of regret in doing it that Charles might be able to feel but Mohinder keeps wisely to himself.

[templeistelepathybutton]

Charles believes fully that Mohinder will be able to control this ability, provided he wishes too. He is glad to feel when the link to Bruce disappears, letting him take a breath. "Well done," he says aloud for both of their benefit.

"How do you feel?" An open question for both, judging.

"I felt something just for a second, but it's gone. Doesn't feel any different otherwise," Bruce informs after thinking it over.

[seekevolution]

Mohinder's not listening. He feels ill, sick to his stomach. Slowly, the doctor stands and tries a smile. It's weak at best. "I-- Please excuse me. I'm not feeling well."

It's an emotional illness just as much as a physical one and the moment he's out of the room, Mohinder runs back towards the bedroom that's been set up for him. He'd very much like to drown himself in the pillow if possible.

[templeistelepathybutton]

Both Bruce and Charles sit in surprise for a moment, then both shift to very different expressions. Bruce looks worried, ready to go after Mohinder, while Charles looks more thoughtful than anything else. "Let him be for now, Doctor Banner. We will finish the exercise another time."

"...if you say so," Bruce murmurs, looking in the direction Mohinder went. He leaves with a very uneasy feeling, not even bothering to go back to work until he's thought it through.

[seekevolution]

Is he a monster? The thought, the question, plays over and over again in his mind as he lays there, cheek to the pillow. The only thing that's ever gotten him even remotely what he wanted can't fully be taken from him, but with Bruce's release, he wonders if he can find it again, if he can just be himself.

Obviously, being himself did no good at all.

He's not interested in talking right now. Or eating right now. He just wants to have his angst. No wonder it's so appealing to teenagers, he thinks, though even that doesn't make him laugh or bring him solace.

[aggravated]

Bruce ends up watching Mohinder after a time through the cameras, seeing his friend not moving at all. He sighs as he slowly rubs his brow, before picking up his cell and dialing Mohinder. The other seems easier with that then the back and forth between JARVIS.

"Please pick up..." But if Mohinder doesn't, he'll leave him be.

[seekevolution]

Mohinder stares at the phone for a few seconds before he reaches for it. He likely doesn't realize how closely he's being monitored, or that Bruce is watching him now, looking at the name that appears across the screen. He nearly puts the phone down, but something possesses him just before voice mail picks up to roll over and press the phone to his cheek.

"Hi," he says simply, not so much in the mood to talk. He completes his turn, knees up, and curls on the other side of the bed.

[aggravated]

"...I... I'm sorry," Bruce says, the apology falling from his lips before he can think about it. "I'm sorry how hard this is for you." It seems foolish as soon as he says it. Seeing his friend hurting so badly tears at him. "I'll find a way to make it up to you."

His head hangs, phone pressed hot to his ear. "But you'll be able to see Molly soon."