seekevolution | The Amulet

The Amulet

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"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."

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"...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."

"There is absolutely nothing for you to express sorrow over," Mohinder says, sitting up slightly. He feels...annoyed. Not at Bruce, but at himself. "There's not a thing you need to do to make anything up to me either. Bruce, no. Please. I'm fine. This will be fine. And yes, soon I might be allowed to go home..."

Though Molly ought to be arriving by the end of the week, if only so she can be looked after by anyone other than SHIELD. She's rather interested in Hank. Then again, who doesn't like Hank? He gives good hugs.

"Really, you'll lie to me? I know you aren't fine, Mohinder. I wouldn't be, either. I worry about you and ... I will find a way to make sure you get what you deserve- which is a lot of good." He frowns, biting the edge of his lip.

"Hank is surprisingly excited about Molly's visit. I think he likes having her around."

"You don't--" Ugh, Bruce! "You're a very good friend to me, Bruce. You're beyond what I deserve, considering what I've forced upon you. It is I that am in your debt not--" But all right, change the subject. Actually, that's a very good idea. Mohinder lays back down, but he's more subdued now. He lays a hand over his eyes just the same. "Molly--

Her plane...will you go and meet her, Bruce? She's been left along for long periods of time before, but I know she's been upset. Even if her calls have always been cheerful. Again, it seems I will be owing you. It's a debt I'm glad to have."

"Of course I will!" Bruce says immediately, sitting up. "I would be happy to meet her and I'll bring her here myself. ...getting me to drive in New York traffic, consider that a miracle."

An attempted joke but it's pretty bad, not that he's ever been good at them. "When is her plan touching down?"

"Ah, what time is..." He glances phone for a moment. "Six hours. I suppose that means you really ought to rest. Don't let her chatter your ear off. She's been practicing her Hindi too."

The Tower will be filled with his native language at this point and a smile ghosts over his lips. Bruce certainly is the best friend he's had in a very long while. This requires more than gift basketing to make up for it!

"She and I can practice together." If all goes well, they would be here for the Holidays as well, which makes him wonder if Tony celebrates. Or.... "Mohinder, does Molly celebrate Christmas?" Uncertain of her upbringing to know.

A few thoughts dance in his head, though. Most people he knows are dead or not around, but maybe they could have some here. Small.

"She does." And after a pause... "So do I. I did my schooling in England. I'm afraid there'd been no way to avoid it. I'm actually rather fond of the whole thing. Especially the cookies." Yes, back to speaking terms where they both are quite happy and able to perform in. The tension leaves slowly, but at least it's leaving. In the screen, it's obvious by the way he relaxes, by the smile that grows on his face.

You should be ashamed of being such a voyeur, Banner!

He is not a vouyer! He's only concerned and he isn't staring at the screen!

"I didn't want to assume either way. It might be nice to celebrate with you both. It... Isn't something I have a great deal in the past." Always on the run on the holidays or utterly alone. "If you think she would like to? Or maybe at the Institute if they can put us up. More homey than the Tower."

"Wouldn't you rather spend it with Mr. Stark? You don't have to go out of you way, Bruce. I might be...safer...at the Institute. I'm not sure what SHIELD will do when they realize I'm not going to be able to turn this off." That it will always be a struggle.

That there's a monster lurking underneath. He's not like you. He can't just run. It's not who he is. He's too sloppy, too moral. He'll be caught in no time, no matter how clever he truly is.

"It's not about going out of my way, Mohinder," Bruce says, trying to convey in his voice that he's honest and not just pandering. "I want to spend Christmas with my friends. I don't know if Tony plans to spend Christmas with Pepper here or still in London, or if he plans to be here. If he does, I might be able to convince him to come to the Institute as well."

There is no monster in you, Mohinder, not in Bruce's opinion, even after what happened.

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The Amulet

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Now that I have my icons back and don't have to guess pic numbers...

Re: Now that I have my icons back and don't have to guess pic numbers...

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