Quarantine

[seekevolution]

News had a way of spreading a little too quickly. The moment Nathan had fallen at the press conference, media began having it's field day. Mohinder paid little attention.

He arrived at Odessa fourteen hours after the incident, severely jet-lagged and with a computer pre-loaded with all of the information that the Company thought he'd need. Mohinder had been down this road before, though never with such dire circumstances. The Shanti Virus was a subject near and dear to his heart, though it was far less stressful when all he needed to cure it was a bit of blood. Even though it was his own blood, at least he felt as if he was doing something.

Knowing from experience that not everything was black and white anymore, Mohinder kept his laptop and medical kit close at hand and made his way to the quarantine line with a grim look in his redrimmed black eyes. "Mohinder Suresh," he said, forgetting his title again for just a moment. "Doctor. You need to let me through."

The National Guard service man looked wary before radioing it in through the barricade. It was tense. Mohinder's shoulder bag slipped twice and he nearly dropped his sample kit. "All right, cleared to go in. Good luck, doctor."

Mohinder nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. He'd gone from New York to India and back again in two days, bringing Molly to stay with his mother. After what Sylar did to her, again, he could not risk leaving her in anyone else's care. Not with Matt gone.

Seeing the man, however, after he'd just gone off on this quest to find his father at the expense of helping him with a child they both sort of promised to look out for, did not make Mohinder smile. If anything, it only made the lines on his face etch in more deeply. He stood in front of him, looking as tired as Mohinder felt, ill fitting clothing a bit more rumpled than usual. Never mind, of course, that Mohinder had done his fair share of leaving too on his attempts to bait the Company through lectures across the globe. "Do I have a lab yet?" Mohinder asked. No greetings. No necessities. That's what happens when you abandon people, Matt.

Comments

[seekevolution]

"Bending over microscopes and playing house," Mohinder replied easily enough. "My social life hasn't exactly been all that social since I was a child. And even then, you heard my mother." He changed his tone to effect an Indian accent. "Mohinder was a good boy, always smiling, but his best friends were books rather than other children his age," he quoted his mother as saying to Matt at dinner one night.

He wasn't putting himself down, he simply didn't have time for a lot of people. All of his romantic interests, of which there had been several, were colleagues or roommates. People that lived or worked closely with him.

Matt, in that way at least, fit Mohinder's type.

"Costa Verde was the first time I've ever seen a beach by an ocean without flying over head. Even when I was sent to the Dominican Republic, I'd never stepped foot out of the city." All work and no play made Mohinder a very dull person. Luckily, New York's changed all of that.

[keepinmind]

Matt stared at him for a second, then gave him a somewhat disbelieving smile over his shoulder when he too leaned to set away his glass. "Alright, we're so taking Molly to the beach when it gets warm enough. And by that I mean me and Molly are taking you. You clearly need to learn how to live a little."

They'd established partial roles early on - Matt had usually been the one to goof around more with the other two and that probably showed now in the teasing light in his eyes. Settling his shoulder back against the back of the sofa and catching the beginning of Mohinder's answering smile, Matt thought unbidden that Mohinder at the beach would be one hell of a sight.

"So ... what? Loner by choice, not by nature?" he asked after another moment, searching Mohinder's face.

[seekevolution]

"I wouldn't exactly say that I'm a loner," Mohinder said, pushing the empty cookie plate aside and to the table with their empty milk glasses. He might not look like it, and he certainly might not sound like the sort, but tactile touch was extremely important to him and... They could talk and touch at the same time. Quite forward, certainly more forward than Janice had ever been, Mohinder leaned back against Matt and pulled one large arm around his waist. Because he could. Because he wanted to. Because Matt's shoulder made an excellent pillow.

If he ended up shocking Matt a bit by that somewhat catlike need for physical affection, he didn't notice.

"I'm a bit singled minded you might say. Monorailic." A one track mind never sounded so scientific until it was put that way. "But you know that. We had a few dozen arguments about putting my pursuit of the Company before Molly's well being." He wasn't accusing Matt at all.

The thought actually made him smile.

"You're the only person in my life that's ever tried to snap me back to the real world." His fingers lightly cradled Matt's elbow. "I can't begin to express my gratitude for that. It takes companionship and caring to realise just how lonely my life had been."

[keepinmind]

"I, er - really?"

If the sudden way Mohinder curled up with him was surprising, his words were decidedly moreso. Matt looked down at him, feeling stunned, and for that reason accepted the proximity with some uncertainty. But he still wound up with his chin somewhere on top of Mohinder's head. It felt natural.

"I didn't think you did", he said after a moment's of silence, voice close to the other man's hair. "Appreciate that, I mean. You always seemed happier with your numbers. Well, and Molly. You light up with her."

He lifted his free hand to rub over his eyes.

"Sorry I kept giving you such a hard time about that, by the way."

The whole Company thing. His criticism had been justified in the end but Matt wouldn't pull an 'I told you so' even if he'd get paid for it. In hindsight, it just seemed unnecessary, the few dozen fights, hushed voices if Molly was close by or all-out yelling if she wasn't. That, if anything, had been one hell of a strain on them. They could've handled that better. Done away with all that hostility.

[seekevolution]

Mohinder's laughter reverberated through his back and against Matt's chest. His eyes fell onto Molly's door, the girl inside asleep with her hair done up in braids so it would be wavy in the morning. He could spend many evenings like this, though perhaps it was silly to imagine a future when they'd only just been given a chance to really try for a present.

"I don't want to say that you were right," he teased. "It might inflate you ego to portions even I couldn't manage." His head shifted until it was tucked neatly under Matt's head and his fingers traced little patterns in pale skin.

It was indulgent. He couldn't apologise for that either.

"You were right though. They were using me. Both sides. Well it doesn't matter now. You were just trying to protect me from myself and protect Molly from what was obviously folly."

[keepinmind]

Matt breathed out through his nose in response, not quite a snort but similar enough, and splayed his fingers against Mohinder's side when he shifted. The teasing didn't offend since he didn't have that kind of ego and couldn't imagine having one. Instead, it all felt surprisingly good-natured despite the topic.

"Someone's got to try", he said back, eyes falling to Mohinder's fingers on his arm. I wouldn't use you he added mentally, soft enough that maybe he hadn't meant to project it.

It was easier to think certain things than say them. It was fortunate his ability allowed for that kind of communication. Although Mohinder's tone had been light enough it wasn't difficult for Matt to figure out he had to have issues about that sort of thing, about perpetually being used as a pawn, even without the doubts that had laced his mind when he'd told him about so many things back in Odessa.

He didn't want him to doubt the two of them. Whatever it was they were doing, yelling or teasing or this thing (cuddling? to think they were actually cuddling) it had always been genuine.

[seekevolution]

I'm glad that someone is you.

Matt's fingers along his ribs did give Mohinder pause, but only for a moment. This was what couples did, even if they were a couple in cohabitation and romantic sparks only. Mohinder didn't need to put a name to it. He was happy to spend the night talking and sharing Matt's warmth.

The only trouble, however, was that as comfortable as this was, he also just wanted to fall asleep.

Mohinder covered a yawn with his hand, unwilling to sit up just yet. "Tomorrow will you make it to dinner? I can hold it back a little if I give Molly a treat after school." It was amazing what some peanut butter and apple slices could do.

They were coming to the end of the school year, at least. That also meant that they were going to have to discuss summer options for their girl. Mohinder could have her tag along with him to work on the days he taught, but she might enjoy summer camp too and--

Another yawn. Certainly time for bed.

[keepinmind]

Matt didn't know what to say to that thought, so he didn't. "I'll call if I can't", he confirmed the spoken words instead, but it would take one hell of a lot to keep him away from home. He practically hadn't seen Molly for two days, something he was all too aware of, and he missed her. Missed all three of them together, definitely.

He laughed slightly and disentangled himself from Mohinder when he heard his thoughts speed up and despite his protests, stood and offered him a hand to help pull him up from the surprisingly comfortable sofa as well. He stifled a yawn with his free hand. They really were contagious.

"Your thoughts are slipping again", he said with half a smile. "Or uh, racing."

Bed wouldn't be a bad idea. For his own part, he was surprised not to feel very tired at all, but he knew that he'd likely fall into a deep sleep the moment he laid down regardless.

Once they were both standing Matt held onto Mohinder's hand for a moment before he let go and something a little more self conscious entered that smile. "This was ... nice", he said, because he felt it should be adressed. It really had been, though. He could get used to it.

[seekevolution]

"Slipping." Mohinder liked that concept and he smiled, sleep in his eyes, just managing to keep from inviting Matt to bed with him. Not yet. They need more of these sessions, even if the offer wasn't in any way sexual. He just liked the idea of sleeping beside the other man. Hand to Matt's chest, Mohinder pressed a hand against the detective and leaned in to kiss him. "It seems I've slipped again. I'll see you tomorrow."

Matt was left watching Mohinder head back to the kitchen with the cups and the plate and, a moment later, the sound of the door to his bedroom shutting would complete the evening. It'd been a very long, strange, and heartbreaking journey from Kirby Plaza to this point.

But it'd all been worth it.