(no subject)
Title: Subterfuge, Chapter Three.
Characters: Eden/Sylar
Rating: PG-13.
Word Count: 2,253.
Disclaimer: Do not own.
Summery: Eden is living next door to Chandra Suresh. She begins to suspect Sylar‘s involvement in his life.
Note: Third Chapter. Eden takes in his surroundings and gets a job.
Eden was taken aback from the state of his apartment. It was clean. Clinically, obsessively clean. There were plastic covers over the chairs and lots of old books lined against the walls. Eden’s interest was heightened; she had worked in an antique book shop. No photos. Lots of mirrors. She turned to look at him in confusion. Where was the paint? He was also covered in a fine layer of dust, but this place was absolutely spotless. The apartment seemed like it was meant for someone much older then the young man in front of her. Who was swaying.
Eden moved closer, feeling her stomach scrunch up when she did. Every time she went near him it was like getting close to some wild animal that you’re told is tame. She brushed aside this irrational though and placed her hands on his forearms.
“Where do you sleep?”
He blinked down at her owlishly, exhaustion seeming to come from him in waves. He turned to the corridor and Eden followed behind him to his bedroom.
Single bed. Not a crease or wrinkle in place. More books. Strange, strange man.
He drew back to covers and sat down. Eden stood awkwardly. He had her hands in his.
“Erm, I’ll just leave you ok?” He looked so miserable and lost, staring up at her with wet eyes. Eden felt her hand automatically stroke his hair. He closed his eyes. She could have been anyone at this moment, of that she was sure. She wondered suddenly where his mother was. Eden pulled away from him gently.
Eden walked backwards out of the room as he laid down. She was going to go, it was very late, but the books drew her attention. She took one down tentatively, a book on philosophy, and sat down. The chair made an annoying squeaking noise. Eden shifted and set the book down on her knees to read. She would leave in a bit…
Someone squeezing her knee woke her. She blinked away the sun in her eyes. Sylar was crouched down in front of her with the book under one arm. The other left her leg. Both were clean. She sat up quick, her neck stiff and sore.
“Shit! What time is it? I fell asleep.”
“I gathered that.” He said coolly.
She could feel herself blushing and apologised. He stood up and went to put the book back. She could feel the plastic sticking to her skin. It made a sucking noise when she got up. She went redder. He turned back to look at her.
“I thought I had dreamed you. Guess not.”
Eden was made acutely aware that she was in a stranger’s house. Always an uncomfortable feeling, made even more so by the fact he seemed slightly displeased. He was staring at her hard, eyes boring into her head. She couldn’t believe she compared him to puppies earlier! He must remember what happened, and is feeling embarrassed she reasoned to herself.
“Like I said, I fell asleep. I only came in here to help, you seemed sort of out of it.” She knew immediately that was the wrong thing to say. He stiffened and his face went stone.
“I don’t know what you mean.” His eyes darted to the mirrors behind him and back again. He started to look suspicious.
“I wasn’t snooping if that’s what you think!” There was a long, tense silence. Neither wanting to speak of what had taken place before.
“I came here to ask for a job remember? If you’re offering that would be great. Cleaning maybe? But I’ll leave if you want? I said I’d go see Chandra this morning…” Eden stood apprehensively. She wanted to be gone, but a part of her was desperate to stay. He stood like a statue for a few seconds, she could almost see the cogs whirling madly in his head. The he seemed to change, another mask falling into place. He looked pleased.
“Of course. Sure, that would be fine. You can use the bathroom if you want?” He smiled at her warmly.
Eden looked at him wearily. A moment ago he seemed ready to kick her out the door, now he’s all hospitable. She decided it was in her best interests to go with it.
“Ok, thanks.” He pointed her down the short corridor. She washed her face and brushed her teeth with her finger. She did it quick, feeling like her very presence in the sterile place was causing it to be dirtied. She opened the door and went back to the living room. He wasn’t there. She walked back down to his bedroom. Feeling nosy, she crept in to have another look. Bed neatly made. He was a total neat freak. Maybe he had a compulsion. He probably didn’t even need a cleaner…
She had got on her knees on the floor to have a look at his books, then stretched over his bed to look at the ones above it, careful not to disturb the mattress. Books on art, psychology, horology, biology. It went on and on. She was keenly aware when she first met him he was very intelligent. What the hell was he doing fixing watches? Well, he’s involved with Chandra now. Was.
Having them separated was not ideal. She couldn’t watch both of them. She needed them together. Eden was resting her knee on the bed. She looked at the wooden headboard and her dream from days earlier suddenly flashed before her eyes, causing a hot flush in her. Someone cleared their throat behind her. Eden shrieked and ended up sitting down on the bed.
“Creeping Jesus! You should wear a bell!” Realising she’d been caught peeping, she put on a mollified expression. He was smiling in bemusement.
“Sorry. I promise to warn you before I scare you next time.”
Eden’s lips curved into a derisive smile, eyes sweeping him. He was all clean now, clean and gorgeous. She suddenly realised he was between her open legs and shot up from the bed. He stepped back, his eyes slightly creased with mischief.
Was he doing it on purpose? But Eden dismissed the thought when he again looked indifferent. That old look.
“I couldn’t find you. Where did you go?” They where back in the living room. His eyes again darted to the mirrors.
“I went in the kitchen.”
“Right.” Silence stretched out again.
“What happened? Between you and Papa Suresh?” She waited, breath in her throat, convinced he’d not answer. But he did.
“Me and Papa had a disagreement about something. He thinks I’m too…extreme in my methods. He’s totally paranoid. I tried to apologize and was shown the door.” He looked furious. “We were meant to do it together. Both of us finding and helping these people. But he turned his back on that! ” His features softened, calmed, looking at her hopefully. “Maybe you could talk to him? Try and persuade him to see sense?”
Eden felt like he was asking more, like a man who was expecting her to throw him a life line. She wasn’t going to persuade Chandra to do anything, but she would try to reason with him. She felt that tightening sensation again as Sylar moved closer to her, looking down eagerly at her. Kiss? His fingers closed down on her arm. She hissed through her teeth and pulled back, hand cupping her bruise gently. He looked surprised but moved into her personal space again, his hand gently covering over hers. Eden could almost hear her heart beating. She wouldn’t be surprised if she was vibrating with it.
“You’ll help right?” The words came out in a low purr. Eden trapped a moan in her throat. She couldn’t speak, so she nodded. She couldn’t look away. I’m being hypnotised. The thought was fleeting but assured. Everything was heaving.
Suddenly, whatever it was, snapped and he was stepping to the door behind her.
All polite distance again. Asking her to visit his shop tomorrow to work out the particulars. The door closed behind her with a civil clap.
Eden stood slightly stunned. What the hell just happened? Did he just come on to me? Eden tried and failed to ignore the writhing excitement and lust in her. Instead she pushed it down, like a lid over a great pressure. Shakily she left and made her way home.
She opened her front door and spotted a note on the floor. She picked it up and read:
Dear Eden
I shall be away for a few days on work purposes, meeting some newly made friends. If you would be so kind as to feed Mohinder? I would be grateful. I would have told you in person but you seemed to be out.
Professor “Papa” Suresh.
Eden guessed that his being away for a time was fortunate, as she wouldn’t be so stretched between watching him and Sylar.
Sylar. She tried to push him from her mind, he was someone to be watched and only that, but her body would not follow suit.
*
The next afternoon Eden waited outside Gray & Sons, watching Sylar through the gloom. He was standing very close to a blonde woman, both stood against a wall at the very back of the shop. The scene was intimate. From what she could see past his back, the woman looked intoxicated. A flash of his white grin smeared across a mirror.
Eden experienced an unexpected swell of jealousy, hot and prickly. She moved away, needing to distance herself. She would come back tomorrow.
But she didn’t go home, she walked the streets, never straying too far from his shop. Eden berated herself for being unprofessional, she shouldn’t care, shouldn’t have let her ridiculous feelings pull her away. That was why she found herself much later walking into his shop, with a sure and determined step.
He was sat at his work bench, dropping food pellets into a fish bowl slowly. A fat black goldfish swam in lazy circles. He caught her reflection in the glass and sat up.
“Hi. You’re late!”
He looked completely different from the tired, hurt man from earlier. Gone to was the frigid distance. He was enormously happy, eyes sparkling and mouth continuously flickering into a grin. Eden expected him to start bouncing on his feet in any minute.
“Yeah, sorry, I was busy. You seem very joyful!”
Post coital bliss perhaps? Eden told the voice to shut up and watched him put the bowl back up on a cabinet.
“I had a visit from someone, and was given something very…special”
“A clock?”
“Something like that.”
Yeah right
Now his attention was fixated completely on her and Eden felt self-conscience under his now calm scrutiny. She was back up against a filing cabinet and she suddenly saw that women’s dazed face.
“You’re hot”
“What?”
“You’re sweating. You should take that off.” He pointed to her cardigan, that she was over her sleeveless dress. Over that bruise that had become a mottled, deep purple stain. It was so painful sometimes she could hardly move it. Proof of his potential on her arm.
“I’m fine. So have you reached a decision?”
He nodded. “You said cleaner right? Well I could use one. But only to polish the glass cabinets and hover. You can’t move anything ok? And if you do, it has to be back in it’s place. Exactly. If you’re up to standards, I’ll teach you how to clean the timepieces. But for now that’s it.”
Jesus Christ the man was pedantic personified. She smiled and nodded, trying to keep the simper from her face. He gave her the keys, instructing her that she should come at night when the shop was closed. He would be there from time to time. They were at the door, leaning against the frame, facing each other. He looked at her inquiringly.
“Have you seen Chandra?” His face fell when she shook her head.
“He’s gone away for awhile. On work business.” Eden watched his face perk up. “Yeah he wrote something about meeting new acquaintances.” Eden was sure she had imagined it, for a second later the look was gone, but his face had become a frightening mask of greedy longing. She felt herself shudder internally. “I’m feeding Mohinder.”
“Who?”
“His lizard. It’s named after his son. Didn’t you know?” Eden watched a peeved look appear at the fact she knew something he didn’t. He must have caught her pleased expression and leaned in closer to her.
“You did that intentionally. Why do you do that?”
Eden raised her eyebrows in shocked innocence. “Do what?” Her lips twitched teasingly. He was very close, long thick eyelashes inches from her face. And suddenly Eden didn’t care about the job, the spying. She would like nothing more at that moment then for him to -
“May I?”
“Sorry?”
His eyes were ruby dark and wine filled. “May I come over? To Chandra’s?”
Eden felt like she had been plunged in a lake of ice. He’s using me! Eden was placed on an aching edge, on one side disgust the other apathy to it. She stayed poised.
“Sure. Be outside my door at 8. Night.”
He looked cat fed satisfied. He pushed his body away from hers. Eden stepped out the door and made her way down the sidewalk. She felt sludge filled and aquiver with contained desires.
His eyes ate her up till she was lost in the dusk.
Part Four here