Fic: A Night at the Movies
Title: A Night at the Movies
Author: starrdust411
Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: Mohinder/Sylar
Rating: PG
Summary: For the schmoop_bingo challenge. Prompt: Movie night (Word Count: 4,733) (Continuation of the Fathers series)
Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes.
Warnings: Humor, implied Mpreg
"Alright Molly it's movie night, are you in or out?"
Molly hummed in mock thoughtfulness as she lounged on the couch, feet up and eyes trained on the blackberry that she was currently typing out a message on. "Um, nah," she said finally. "Think I'll pass."
"Feet off the couch," Mohinder chided, grabbing the girl's ankles and guiding them back towards the carpet. "And why don't you want to go to the movies with us?"
"Because you only ever go to see baby movies," she said bluntly, peeling her eyes off of her phone just so she could roll them dramatically. "I don't feel like seeing another one of those dopey Disney cartoons with you guys."
"But this will be the third movie night in a row that you'll miss," Mohinder reminded her. "Besides, that's a bit of a harsh assessment since I suffered through your Miley Cyrus phase and took you to see both of those Hannah Montana movies."
She cringed, ducking her head so that he couldn't see her eyes. "Well, uh, that was different," she said, but stopped there. Obviously she was having a hard time clarifying just how it was different.
Mohinder sighed as he watched Manu toddle out of his room carrying his shoes in hands, an eager smile lighting his face. He couldn't cancel movie night, not when Manu was looking forward to going, but he still felt awful about leaving Molly behind. He hated excluding her from family activities even if it was by her own choice, but her teenage attitude and already stubborn nature was making it difficult for the three of them to do anything remotely family related anymore.
Mohinder had to remind himself, however, that he needed to respect Molly's growing sense of independence. She couldn't stay his little girl forever.
"Fine, but this is the last movie you're skipping," he said finally. "I suppose I'll drop you off at Grandmother's house then."
Molly peeled her eyes away from her phone to give him the full force of her indignant scowl. "What? Are you kidding?" she huffed. "Come on! I don't need a babysitter! I'm old enough to look after myself."
"Well this is still family night, so one way or another you're going to spend the evening with family," Mohinder told her. "So you have a choice: go to the movies with Manu and me or spend the night with Grandmother."
She frowned, weighing her options carefully before letting out a long overly dramatic sigh. "Fine, I'll head over to Grandma Suresh's place."
"Alright then," he said, bending down to kiss her forehead. Mohinder had to admit that he was more than a bit disappointed that she still did not want to come with them. After all, he had started this movie night tradition for her, because Mohinder wasn't really one for going to the cinema and watch what could only be described as "popcorn flicks, " but Molly had enjoyed it and she had enjoyed going with him. That phase was over as well he supposed. "Go get ready."
Molly sighed, closing her phone and sliding it into her pocket just as Manu climbed the couch to sit down beside her. "I wanna sit next to Molly today," he announced.
"Sorry booger breath," Molly said, patting her little brother on his curly head. Mohinder hated that nickname. "I'm heading to Grandma's. You and Dad can have fun at the movies without me."
Manu pouted, his lower lip quivering slightly as Molly slid off the sofa and made her way back to her bedroom. The sight alone was enough to make Mohinder want to drag Molly kicking and screaming to the theater with them -- because Manu idolized his older sister and only ever wanted to spend time with her -- but he had to stop himself. He remembered what it was like to be Molly's age, to feel that longing to be free and independent from the rest of the family. It was hard, but it was just something that he would have to deal with.
"I'm sure Molly will see a movie with us next time," Mohinder assured the toddler. He crouched down in front of the couch, inspecting Manu's little feet to make sure that his shoelaces were tied. They were. "But tonight will be just you and me. Won't that be fun?"
Manu nodded, his eyes trained on his shoes. "Can I bring Thirsty?"
Mohinder chuckled, kissing the toddler's round cheeks. "Of course you can."
-+-+-+-
They had just settled into their seats -- a few rows back from the screen, but not too far that they couldn't see at all -- when the house lights began to dim in preparation for the trailers. Manu squirmed in his chair, straightening himself out and tipping his head up in an attempt to stretch as far as possible. He turned toward Mohinder then. "Father, can I sit on your lap?"
Mohinder laughed, as he grabbed Manu under his armpits and lifted him on to his lap. "Of course you can." He knew that Manu would need a booster seat because he was still quite small (just as he had been at that age), but the geneticist also knew that he would only have a few more years when he could hold Manu like this without the child feeling humiliated.
His mind drifted back to Molly then. It was hard to imagine that just a few years ago, she was that sweet little girl who would pull out a box of crayons and draw pictures just for him, pictures that he would proudly display on their refrigerator for all to see. Now Molly's drawings were just as guarded as her smile and getting her to open up to him was like pulling teeth.
He wondered how long it would be before Manu was the same way. How many more years did he have before he could no longer kiss his cheeks or hold his little hand without receiving an earful about his "embarrassing" behavior?
Mohinder's mind was so muddled that he didn't even notice the lights dimming further, signaling the end of the trailers and the start of the film itself. The chair next to them squeaked, announcing the arrival of a late comer to the show.
"Looks like I got here just in time." The geneticist had to bite his tongue to keep from gasping in shock at the sound of the too familiar voice. Although he had to admit nothing really surprised him anymore, especially when it came to Sylar.
"Sylar," Mohinder hissed wearily, turning to stare at the other man in the gloom of the theater. He blended in with the darkened room fairly well with his all black attire, but his pale skin acted as a startling reflection for what little light there was in the area. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see the movie," he whispered casually. His smirk widened as he shifted in his seat, his grip on his popcorn bag tightening. "I bet the prince saves the princess in the end."
"Hi Papa," Manu greeted, squirming in Mohinder's lap so that he could inch himself closer to Sylar. "Can I have some popcorn?"
"No way!" The theater erupted into a wave of "Shhh!" and indignant whispers, their patience obviously have worn thin with their persistent conversation. "This is Papa's popcorn, Angel," Sylar whispered, now mindful of his surroundings. "You can get your own."
Manu pouted in disappointment, his grip tightening on Thirsty as he hugged the stuffed tiger closer to his chest.
"Sylar, you have a large tub of popcorn, two boxes of candy, and a soda. Give him some popcorn."
The ex-serial killer gave a long sigh as he tipped the popcorn bag towards Manu, allowing the toddler to reach in and grab a few kernels. "Thank you, Papa," Manu said. "Can Thirsty have some?"
Sylar looked ready to refuse, but Mohinder cut in before he could. "We talked about this, Manu: tiger's eat tiger food, not people food." He still shuddered at the memory of all the times he had caught Manu sharing his juice boxes and snacks with his favorite toy. Mohinder still had to marvel at the tiger's ability to retain its color and texture after all the washings it had gone through. "Now why don't we all just watch the movie?"
"Okay," Manu agreed. He nibbled on his bits of popcorn before leaning back against Mohinder's chest and focusing his attention on the screen.
Mohinder smiled, his arms tightening their hold on Manu just as he felt Sylar's own arm wrap around his shoulders. "Stop it," he hissed, causing the other man to quickly remove his appendage.
-+-+-+-
"So what did you think of the movie, Manu?" Sylar asked, carrying Manu out of the theater. "Did you like it?"
Half way through the movie, Manu had decided he wanted to switch laps and crawled into Sylar's arms. Fortunately (although remarkably) Sylar had finished off all of his snacks by that time and his arms were free to cradle the toddler. Mohinder hated being jealous of Sylar -- because he was Sylar for God's sakes! -- but whenever the man was around he drew in all of Manu's attention. It was as if Mohinder suddenly had to compete for his own child's affection.
"Yes," Manu said, busying himself by playing with the little strings of yarn that made up Thirsty's whiskers.
"What was your favorite part of the movie?" Mohinder asked, running a hand over the toddler's hair.
"When they fought the dragon," he told him, an eager smile spreading across his face.
"That was fun," Sylar agreed, bouncing the boy gently in his arms. "But you know, not all dragons are bad. Sometimes they're just sad, misunderstood creatures in need of a little compassion and understanding."
Mohinder frowned distastefully at Sylar's words, not at all liking where this "lesson in tolerance" was going. "Most times dragons are just dragons," he cautioned. "They're mean greedy creatures who terrorize villages and kingdoms and hurt people for their own selfish gain."
He watched as Sylar's face twisted into a bitter scowl, his grip on Manu strengthening possessively. "Well even the meanest dragon can grow a conscious and realize his own mistakes. That's why he tries to do good things and be a better person."
"How can that dragon be a better person if he's never once even attempted to apologize for attacking so many villages?"
"Well, maybe the dragon realized that actions speak louder than words, especially when it comes to stubborn princesses who won't move on and let go of the past."
Mohinder rolled his eyes as he grabbed Manu and gently pried him out of Sylar's arms. "Yes, well this princess is officially sick of this analogy," he huffed. "And we should be getting home. Say goodnight to Papa, Manu."
"Wait a minute," Sylar said quickly, reaching out to grab Mohinder's arm in his firm yet desperate hand. His features softened as he looked from Manu to Mohinder, begging them to stay just a little while longer. "You don't have to go yet. It's still early."
"It's almost nine and we've got a bed time to keep," Mohinder said. "Besides, I still have to pick up Molly from my mother's house and I'm sure that there's somewhere you have to be."
"Nope," Sylar said quickly. "It's my day off."
"I thought you didn't get time off."
He gave a casual, indifferent shrugged. "Well, I may have started a small fire in the break room in order to be sent home without pay, but in my defense somebody ate the last doughnut."
"After you ate the first eleven, I'm sure," Mohinder frowned because he doubted that Sylar was joking.
"Father? Can we have ice cream?" Manu asked, tugging on Mohinder's sleeve to gain his attention.
"Darling, you just ate popcorn," Mohinder chided. "Besides, it's nearly bedtime. You'll get a tummy ache if you eat too much before you go to sleep."
"Oh, a little ice cream won't hurt," Sylar argued as he reached out to finger one of Manu's loose curls. "Besides, I'm in the mood for something sweet."
Mohinder felt his ears perk up in disbelief at Sylar's comment. "You mean to tell me that the two boxes of candy and large soda you had in addition to that family sized bucket of popcorn weren't good enough for you?" he gaped.
"Meh," Sylar shrugged, waving his hand dismissively. "One more snack won't hurt." He flashed him a disarming smile -- at least, the smile would have been disarming if it had come from anyone else -- as he grabbed Mohinder's elbow and tugged on it playfully. "Come on. It'll be my treat."
"You mean you're actually going to pay for something?" He laughed. "Wow. I better call and check the temperature in Hell."
"Very funny," Sylar droned. "Now show me the way to the nearest ice cream parlor."
"Down that way," Mohinder said, pointing towards the western end of the movie theater. "It's not too far."
"I wanna walk!" Manu announced, squirming in his grasp as he struggled to break free. Mohinder had no other choice but to relent, but that didn't stop the disappointed frown from spreading across his features when Manu walked over to Sylar and grabbed his hand. "I want chocolate ice cream," he said, pulling Sylar in the direction of the shop.
"Would you like me to carry Thirsty so we can hold hands?" Mohinder asked, wiggling his hand in front of the toddler to emphasize his point.
Manu looked at Mohinder's hand, then at Sylar's, then turned to look at the tiger that he still clutched against his chest. "I wanna hold Thirsty," he decided finally. He tightened his grip on both the doll and Sylar's pale hand before taking it upon himself to lead the trek to the ice cream parlor.
Mohinder noticed the brief, sympathetic glance Sylar shot his way and it embarrassed him to no end. He has to fight off the blush creeping into his cheeks as he shoves his hands into his pockets and fixes his gaze on the ground. He desperately wanted to turn around and go back to his car, but instead he decided to push aside his discomfort for just a little while longer. After all, in a few short months they would be leaving India and moving to New York. Sylar would become an even more inescapable presence in his life and Mohinder will simply have to get used to the idea of having Sylar around whenever he pleased.
When they reached their destination, Mohinder decided to hang back as Sylar ordered. The ex-serial killer offered to buy him a cone, but Mohinder refused. His stomach suddenly felt very tight and knotted and the thought of eating anything seemed less than appealing.
He was only half listening as Manu and Sylar talked -- about ice cream and the movie and other things that the toddler found absolutely fascinating -- barely registering anything that was being said. Mohinder thought about Molly and how just a few years ago she looked at him as if he were the center of the world, had called him her hero, and how now she didn't even want to be seen with him in public. Just two hours ago, Manu had eagerly asked to sit on his lap and now his attention was solely focused on Sylar. He hated being envious of the other man, because it seemed foolish when one considered the fact that Sylar only saw their child a few days out of the year when Mohinder got to be with him all the time, but ... but... but he couldn't find a way to finish that sentence without feeling petty.
"Hey." He blinked at the feeling of Sylar nudging his shoulder with his knuckles as if giving his arm a slow punch. "You seem really far off tonight. Something wrong?"
Mohinder shook his head slowly. "No."
"Lie detector," Sylar said, tapping his head for emphasis.
Mohinder frowned. He always forgot about that ability, even though it was among the more annoying powers that Sylar possessed. "You're as bad as a mind reader sometimes."
"Even without this ability I can read you like a book," Sylar pointed out. "Do you need to talk?"
He supposed that he did, but Sylar wasn't exactly the person he wanted to talk to about this sort of problem. He would have rather discussed this with his mother or Peter, not someone like Sylar. Yet saying as much would either result in a colossal hissy fit or Sylar continuing to pry and badger him until Mohinder gave in.
"Not here," Mohinder said simply. "Not in front of him."
Sylar nodded, understand dawning on him as he turned to the toddler who was still focused on eating the rest of his snack. There was ice cream all over his cheeks and nose and neither one of them could resist the urge to chuckle at the sight. "Okay Manu," Sylar began, grabbing a napkin and wiping at the melted streaks of chocolate decorating his mouth. "Time to go back to the car."
"Do you have to go now, Papa?" Manu asked, the sad gleam shining in his wide brown eyes a clear indication that he did not want to see Sylar leave just yet.
"Soon, Angel," he told him, grabbing the boy's sticky hands and giving them the same treatment. Mohinder could see that some of the chocolate had already gotten on to Thirsty. It looked like he'd have to give the tiger another emergency washing before he put Manu to bed. "First, I've gotta talk with Daddy for a minute."
Manu nodded in understanding as he placed his now chocolate free hand in Sylar's palm. "I'm done with my ice cream," Manu announced, showing off the half eaten waffle cone with only a few drops of chocolate ice cream clinging to its sides.
Sylar frowned, plucking the cone out of his hand and looking at it curiously. "You don't want the rest?" he asked incredulously.
"Sylar, don't make him eat more than he wants to," Mohinder chided. The last thing he wanted was Manu getting sick or having nightmares from eating too many sweets. "Just throw it away."
"Wasteful," Sylar snipped as he dropped the rest off in a nearby trash bin.
Mohinder rolled his eyes, before walking in the direction of his car. He didn't bother walking briskly, because frankly he wasn't in any hurry to talk. What's more, he didn't want to outpace Manu. It would be easier to simply pick him up and carry the toddler to the car, but Manu had inherited his stubbornness. If the child wanted to walk then he would walk.
"Papa, when we move will we live near you?"
He didn't have to look at Sylar to know that the man was staring at him, sending him a pointed look as a smirk pulled on the corners of his lips. "Maybe."
Mohinder cringed. He had yet to find an apartment that met their needs, yet Sylar had been quite eagerly sending him daily e-mails about newly available apartments in his borough, particularly the ones in his building. It didn't take a genius to see what Sylar was getting at, but it did take a great deal of patience to keep himself from lashing out at him.
"Will we see each other every day?"
Again, Sylar looked to him. "Maybe."
"Can we get a doggy?"
"No, dearest, we can't get a dog," Mohinder cut in quickly. He knew that Sylar would promise Manu the moon if he could and the last thing he wanted was for the other man to get his hopes up. Mohinder could practically hear Manu begin to sulk in response just as they reached the car. "Alright, Manu. Get in," he instructed as he opened the back passenger door.
The toddler's pout only deepened as he looked at the open door and waiting car seat, before turning back to Sylar. "Kiss goodnight?" he asked, raising his arms up hopefully.
Sylar laughed, scooping Manu into his arms and placing a quick kiss to his nose. "Goodnight Angel," Sylar crooned, before handing him over to Mohinder.
"I'm going to put in a CD for you to listen to while I talk to Papa," Mohinder announced as he carefully strapped Manu into the chair. "Would you like that?"
"Okay," Manu said softly, his attention now fixed on picking at the chocolate caught in Thirsty's matted fur. "Thirsty needs a bath."
"Don't worry about Thirsty," Mohinder said, giving Manu's cheek a light kiss. "I'll give him a quick wash when we get home and then he'll be all ready for bed."
He closed the door, before opening the front passenger's door and turning on the radio. One of the classical music CDs he had purchased for Manu was already in and instantly began to play. He sighed as he straightened himself up and closed the door, cutting off the music and ensuring that Manu would not be able to hear a word they said.
"I like watching you parent," Sylar said suddenly, a dopey smile spreading across his face. "You're really cute with him. Parenting seems to just come naturally to you."
Mohinder frowned, resting his hip against the door. It wasn't natural at all. It had been awkward and hard when he had taken Molly in, like relearning how to speak his own language, and when Manu was born things were even more difficult, as if he suddenly found himself going backwards once again. His experience with children was like reading a book from the end on and then going back to the middle, before finally starting at the beginning. He knew what was coming, he knew how things ended, but the here and now was somehow still full of twists and turns.
His scowl deepened as he crossed his arms over his chest, hugging himself defensively. "I doubt it comes natural to anyone," he muttered.
Sylar's expression softened, and even now it was still a bit odd to see him with gentle, concerned features. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Is this about me? Are you really that upset that I interrupted your movie night?"
He gave him a bitter look. It was a bit about Sylar, but not entirely. As annoying as it was to have Sylar pop in whenever he pleased, it was more annoying to have time slip away from his so easily. "Not everything is about you," he said, rolling his eyes at Sylar's slight frown. "No. It's not that. I've just... I've been thinking a lot... about Molly and Manu and how fast it all goes."
"What goes?" Sylar asked, cocking his head to the side curiously.
"Childhood," he said. "One minute they're little and think the world of you, then the next they want nothing to do with you." Mohinder sighed, shaking his head. He sounded so stupid and sappy to his own ears, but even that thought didn't stop the morose feelings from gnawing away at his heart. "I can't talk to Molly anymore. She hates me. She hates everyone and everything, but she hates me most of all. In nine years, Manu will be that age and he'll hate me, too."
"Manu won't hate you," Sylar said instantly. "How could he ever hate you? You're an amazing father. You're patient and doting and everything that a kid like him needs. I can't see him not loving you."
I can, Mohinder thought. I know he will. I know he'll hate me because of all the stupid things I've done. Mohinder knew he had made a lot of foolish choices in his life, the biggest one being allowing Sylar to meet their son. It was a mistake that he regretted every single day and he knew that one day Manu would learn the truth about them, about how he was born and who Sylar really was, and he would undoubtedly hate Mohinder for allowing a serial killer to be any part of his life.
"It's an inevitable phase that all children go through," Mohinder said. "I just... I know it's selfish, but I'm really going to miss the way he looks at me, as if I'm the center of his world. I miss being that to Molly."
He stiffened on reflex when Sylar reached out and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Molly still loves you, too," he assured him. "I may not know her as well as Manu, but... but you'll always be her hero. This whole 'I don't want to be with anyone' thing... it'll pass. It always passes.
"And Manu's a smart kid. He'll see through all those hormones and know that you'll always be there for him."
Despite himself, Mohinder actually felt a small smile pulling at his lips. He felt a bit better even if Sylar's reassurances were generic and a bit awkward. Of course that feeling of comfort quickly evaporated as Sylar leaned forward to kiss him. He turned his head quickly so that Sylar's lips only landed on his cheek. Mohinder made a mental note to be more careful not to give Sylar anymore openings. He knew that if he were to allow him so much as one quick peck on the lips the ex-serial killer would go skipping back to New York convinced that they were "in love again."
It was then that he became very mindful of Manu's presence. He couldn't recall Manu ever seeing anyone kiss him -- Sylar had kissed him once on Christmas, but Manu had been too fixed on his presents to notice, and he always asked Mira to kiss him when Manu was not around -- and didn't know how the boy would react to such a sight. Luckily Manu had fallen asleep, his head lulled to the side, resting heavily on his shoulder as he held Thirsty limply in his lap like a kitten he'd fallen asleep stroking.
"Don't do that in front of the baby," Mohinder whispered, despite the fact that he knew no one could hear him.
Sylar backed away, his expression slightly unreadable as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You know, if this is really upsetting you, we could always have another baby." He smiled, hopeful and suggestive all at once. "It'll help you feel better."
Mohinder had to laugh at that offer. Even after all this time Sylar was still trying to convince him that getting pregnant again was a worthy idea.
He couldn't have another baby. Not after the way his first pregnancy had been. He'd never admit it to anyone, especially not Sylar, but there were some times that he missed being pregnant, times when he'd place his hand on his stomach and remember the way Manu had kicked and pushed inside of him. Yet those memories were always ruined when he looked at the ugly brown scar across his stomach or remembered the intense nightmares that had caused him to bite into his own arm to keep from screaming out at night.
No. He would not get pregnant again if he could help it. The memories were simply too painful.
"It wouldn't be a good idea," Mohinder said. "I'd feel like I was replacing Manu. Besides, even if I did have a baby, what then? I'd still go through the same thing sooner or later. Should I have another child every time I feel lonely?" He shook his head. "I can't do that. I'm too old to be chasing babies around."
"You're not old." The words were spoken forcefully, bitterly, because Sylar hated the reminder that Mohinder was still aging while time stood still for him. He had asked Sylar what he would do when Manu caught up him in age and the serial killer had reasoned he'd use his shape shifting ability to mimic the aging process before that could happen. Mohinder hadn't bothered to push further.
"I'm getting old," he shrugged. "I'm nearly forty. Can't help it."
Sylar frowned, hunching his shoulders as he stuck his fists deeper into his pockets. Mohinder knew without asking that there was a dark thought brewing in his head. "I should get going," he said reluctantly. "You have to get him to bed."
Mohinder nodded. "Thank you for listening."
Sylar merely grunted in response, sulking bitterly as he stepped away from the car and marched off into the darkened parking lot.
Author: starrdust411
Fandom: Heroes
Pairing: Mohinder/Sylar
Rating: PG
Summary: For the schmoop_bingo challenge. Prompt: Movie night (Word Count: 4,733) (Continuation of the Fathers series)
Disclaimer: I do not own Heroes.
Warnings: Humor, implied Mpreg
"Alright Molly it's movie night, are you in or out?"
Molly hummed in mock thoughtfulness as she lounged on the couch, feet up and eyes trained on the blackberry that she was currently typing out a message on. "Um, nah," she said finally. "Think I'll pass."
"Feet off the couch," Mohinder chided, grabbing the girl's ankles and guiding them back towards the carpet. "And why don't you want to go to the movies with us?"
"Because you only ever go to see baby movies," she said bluntly, peeling her eyes off of her phone just so she could roll them dramatically. "I don't feel like seeing another one of those dopey Disney cartoons with you guys."
"But this will be the third movie night in a row that you'll miss," Mohinder reminded her. "Besides, that's a bit of a harsh assessment since I suffered through your Miley Cyrus phase and took you to see both of those Hannah Montana movies."
She cringed, ducking her head so that he couldn't see her eyes. "Well, uh, that was different," she said, but stopped there. Obviously she was having a hard time clarifying just how it was different.
Mohinder sighed as he watched Manu toddle out of his room carrying his shoes in hands, an eager smile lighting his face. He couldn't cancel movie night, not when Manu was looking forward to going, but he still felt awful about leaving Molly behind. He hated excluding her from family activities even if it was by her own choice, but her teenage attitude and already stubborn nature was making it difficult for the three of them to do anything remotely family related anymore.
Mohinder had to remind himself, however, that he needed to respect Molly's growing sense of independence. She couldn't stay his little girl forever.
"Fine, but this is the last movie you're skipping," he said finally. "I suppose I'll drop you off at Grandmother's house then."
Molly peeled her eyes away from her phone to give him the full force of her indignant scowl. "What? Are you kidding?" she huffed. "Come on! I don't need a babysitter! I'm old enough to look after myself."
"Well this is still family night, so one way or another you're going to spend the evening with family," Mohinder told her. "So you have a choice: go to the movies with Manu and me or spend the night with Grandmother."
She frowned, weighing her options carefully before letting out a long overly dramatic sigh. "Fine, I'll head over to Grandma Suresh's place."
"Alright then," he said, bending down to kiss her forehead. Mohinder had to admit that he was more than a bit disappointed that she still did not want to come with them. After all, he had started this movie night tradition for her, because Mohinder wasn't really one for going to the cinema and watch what could only be described as "popcorn flicks, " but Molly had enjoyed it and she had enjoyed going with him. That phase was over as well he supposed. "Go get ready."
Molly sighed, closing her phone and sliding it into her pocket just as Manu climbed the couch to sit down beside her. "I wanna sit next to Molly today," he announced.
"Sorry booger breath," Molly said, patting her little brother on his curly head. Mohinder hated that nickname. "I'm heading to Grandma's. You and Dad can have fun at the movies without me."
Manu pouted, his lower lip quivering slightly as Molly slid off the sofa and made her way back to her bedroom. The sight alone was enough to make Mohinder want to drag Molly kicking and screaming to the theater with them -- because Manu idolized his older sister and only ever wanted to spend time with her -- but he had to stop himself. He remembered what it was like to be Molly's age, to feel that longing to be free and independent from the rest of the family. It was hard, but it was just something that he would have to deal with.
"I'm sure Molly will see a movie with us next time," Mohinder assured the toddler. He crouched down in front of the couch, inspecting Manu's little feet to make sure that his shoelaces were tied. They were. "But tonight will be just you and me. Won't that be fun?"
Manu nodded, his eyes trained on his shoes. "Can I bring Thirsty?"
Mohinder chuckled, kissing the toddler's round cheeks. "Of course you can."
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They had just settled into their seats -- a few rows back from the screen, but not too far that they couldn't see at all -- when the house lights began to dim in preparation for the trailers. Manu squirmed in his chair, straightening himself out and tipping his head up in an attempt to stretch as far as possible. He turned toward Mohinder then. "Father, can I sit on your lap?"
Mohinder laughed, as he grabbed Manu under his armpits and lifted him on to his lap. "Of course you can." He knew that Manu would need a booster seat because he was still quite small (just as he had been at that age), but the geneticist also knew that he would only have a few more years when he could hold Manu like this without the child feeling humiliated.
His mind drifted back to Molly then. It was hard to imagine that just a few years ago, she was that sweet little girl who would pull out a box of crayons and draw pictures just for him, pictures that he would proudly display on their refrigerator for all to see. Now Molly's drawings were just as guarded as her smile and getting her to open up to him was like pulling teeth.
He wondered how long it would be before Manu was the same way. How many more years did he have before he could no longer kiss his cheeks or hold his little hand without receiving an earful about his "embarrassing" behavior?
Mohinder's mind was so muddled that he didn't even notice the lights dimming further, signaling the end of the trailers and the start of the film itself. The chair next to them squeaked, announcing the arrival of a late comer to the show.
"Looks like I got here just in time." The geneticist had to bite his tongue to keep from gasping in shock at the sound of the too familiar voice. Although he had to admit nothing really surprised him anymore, especially when it came to Sylar.
"Sylar," Mohinder hissed wearily, turning to stare at the other man in the gloom of the theater. He blended in with the darkened room fairly well with his all black attire, but his pale skin acted as a startling reflection for what little light there was in the area. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see the movie," he whispered casually. His smirk widened as he shifted in his seat, his grip on his popcorn bag tightening. "I bet the prince saves the princess in the end."
"Hi Papa," Manu greeted, squirming in Mohinder's lap so that he could inch himself closer to Sylar. "Can I have some popcorn?"
"No way!" The theater erupted into a wave of "Shhh!" and indignant whispers, their patience obviously have worn thin with their persistent conversation. "This is Papa's popcorn, Angel," Sylar whispered, now mindful of his surroundings. "You can get your own."
Manu pouted in disappointment, his grip tightening on Thirsty as he hugged the stuffed tiger closer to his chest.
"Sylar, you have a large tub of popcorn, two boxes of candy, and a soda. Give him some popcorn."
The ex-serial killer gave a long sigh as he tipped the popcorn bag towards Manu, allowing the toddler to reach in and grab a few kernels. "Thank you, Papa," Manu said. "Can Thirsty have some?"
Sylar looked ready to refuse, but Mohinder cut in before he could. "We talked about this, Manu: tiger's eat tiger food, not people food." He still shuddered at the memory of all the times he had caught Manu sharing his juice boxes and snacks with his favorite toy. Mohinder still had to marvel at the tiger's ability to retain its color and texture after all the washings it had gone through. "Now why don't we all just watch the movie?"
"Okay," Manu agreed. He nibbled on his bits of popcorn before leaning back against Mohinder's chest and focusing his attention on the screen.
Mohinder smiled, his arms tightening their hold on Manu just as he felt Sylar's own arm wrap around his shoulders. "Stop it," he hissed, causing the other man to quickly remove his appendage.
-+-+-+-
"So what did you think of the movie, Manu?" Sylar asked, carrying Manu out of the theater. "Did you like it?"
Half way through the movie, Manu had decided he wanted to switch laps and crawled into Sylar's arms. Fortunately (although remarkably) Sylar had finished off all of his snacks by that time and his arms were free to cradle the toddler. Mohinder hated being jealous of Sylar -- because he was Sylar for God's sakes! -- but whenever the man was around he drew in all of Manu's attention. It was as if Mohinder suddenly had to compete for his own child's affection.
"Yes," Manu said, busying himself by playing with the little strings of yarn that made up Thirsty's whiskers.
"What was your favorite part of the movie?" Mohinder asked, running a hand over the toddler's hair.
"When they fought the dragon," he told him, an eager smile spreading across his face.
"That was fun," Sylar agreed, bouncing the boy gently in his arms. "But you know, not all dragons are bad. Sometimes they're just sad, misunderstood creatures in need of a little compassion and understanding."
Mohinder frowned distastefully at Sylar's words, not at all liking where this "lesson in tolerance" was going. "Most times dragons are just dragons," he cautioned. "They're mean greedy creatures who terrorize villages and kingdoms and hurt people for their own selfish gain."
He watched as Sylar's face twisted into a bitter scowl, his grip on Manu strengthening possessively. "Well even the meanest dragon can grow a conscious and realize his own mistakes. That's why he tries to do good things and be a better person."
"How can that dragon be a better person if he's never once even attempted to apologize for attacking so many villages?"
"Well, maybe the dragon realized that actions speak louder than words, especially when it comes to stubborn princesses who won't move on and let go of the past."
Mohinder rolled his eyes as he grabbed Manu and gently pried him out of Sylar's arms. "Yes, well this princess is officially sick of this analogy," he huffed. "And we should be getting home. Say goodnight to Papa, Manu."
"Wait a minute," Sylar said quickly, reaching out to grab Mohinder's arm in his firm yet desperate hand. His features softened as he looked from Manu to Mohinder, begging them to stay just a little while longer. "You don't have to go yet. It's still early."
"It's almost nine and we've got a bed time to keep," Mohinder said. "Besides, I still have to pick up Molly from my mother's house and I'm sure that there's somewhere you have to be."
"Nope," Sylar said quickly. "It's my day off."
"I thought you didn't get time off."
He gave a casual, indifferent shrugged. "Well, I may have started a small fire in the break room in order to be sent home without pay, but in my defense somebody ate the last doughnut."
"After you ate the first eleven, I'm sure," Mohinder frowned because he doubted that Sylar was joking.
"Father? Can we have ice cream?" Manu asked, tugging on Mohinder's sleeve to gain his attention.
"Darling, you just ate popcorn," Mohinder chided. "Besides, it's nearly bedtime. You'll get a tummy ache if you eat too much before you go to sleep."
"Oh, a little ice cream won't hurt," Sylar argued as he reached out to finger one of Manu's loose curls. "Besides, I'm in the mood for something sweet."
Mohinder felt his ears perk up in disbelief at Sylar's comment. "You mean to tell me that the two boxes of candy and large soda you had in addition to that family sized bucket of popcorn weren't good enough for you?" he gaped.
"Meh," Sylar shrugged, waving his hand dismissively. "One more snack won't hurt." He flashed him a disarming smile -- at least, the smile would have been disarming if it had come from anyone else -- as he grabbed Mohinder's elbow and tugged on it playfully. "Come on. It'll be my treat."
"You mean you're actually going to pay for something?" He laughed. "Wow. I better call and check the temperature in Hell."
"Very funny," Sylar droned. "Now show me the way to the nearest ice cream parlor."
"Down that way," Mohinder said, pointing towards the western end of the movie theater. "It's not too far."
"I wanna walk!" Manu announced, squirming in his grasp as he struggled to break free. Mohinder had no other choice but to relent, but that didn't stop the disappointed frown from spreading across his features when Manu walked over to Sylar and grabbed his hand. "I want chocolate ice cream," he said, pulling Sylar in the direction of the shop.
"Would you like me to carry Thirsty so we can hold hands?" Mohinder asked, wiggling his hand in front of the toddler to emphasize his point.
Manu looked at Mohinder's hand, then at Sylar's, then turned to look at the tiger that he still clutched against his chest. "I wanna hold Thirsty," he decided finally. He tightened his grip on both the doll and Sylar's pale hand before taking it upon himself to lead the trek to the ice cream parlor.
Mohinder noticed the brief, sympathetic glance Sylar shot his way and it embarrassed him to no end. He has to fight off the blush creeping into his cheeks as he shoves his hands into his pockets and fixes his gaze on the ground. He desperately wanted to turn around and go back to his car, but instead he decided to push aside his discomfort for just a little while longer. After all, in a few short months they would be leaving India and moving to New York. Sylar would become an even more inescapable presence in his life and Mohinder will simply have to get used to the idea of having Sylar around whenever he pleased.
When they reached their destination, Mohinder decided to hang back as Sylar ordered. The ex-serial killer offered to buy him a cone, but Mohinder refused. His stomach suddenly felt very tight and knotted and the thought of eating anything seemed less than appealing.
He was only half listening as Manu and Sylar talked -- about ice cream and the movie and other things that the toddler found absolutely fascinating -- barely registering anything that was being said. Mohinder thought about Molly and how just a few years ago she looked at him as if he were the center of the world, had called him her hero, and how now she didn't even want to be seen with him in public. Just two hours ago, Manu had eagerly asked to sit on his lap and now his attention was solely focused on Sylar. He hated being envious of the other man, because it seemed foolish when one considered the fact that Sylar only saw their child a few days out of the year when Mohinder got to be with him all the time, but ... but... but he couldn't find a way to finish that sentence without feeling petty.
"Hey." He blinked at the feeling of Sylar nudging his shoulder with his knuckles as if giving his arm a slow punch. "You seem really far off tonight. Something wrong?"
Mohinder shook his head slowly. "No."
"Lie detector," Sylar said, tapping his head for emphasis.
Mohinder frowned. He always forgot about that ability, even though it was among the more annoying powers that Sylar possessed. "You're as bad as a mind reader sometimes."
"Even without this ability I can read you like a book," Sylar pointed out. "Do you need to talk?"
He supposed that he did, but Sylar wasn't exactly the person he wanted to talk to about this sort of problem. He would have rather discussed this with his mother or Peter, not someone like Sylar. Yet saying as much would either result in a colossal hissy fit or Sylar continuing to pry and badger him until Mohinder gave in.
"Not here," Mohinder said simply. "Not in front of him."
Sylar nodded, understand dawning on him as he turned to the toddler who was still focused on eating the rest of his snack. There was ice cream all over his cheeks and nose and neither one of them could resist the urge to chuckle at the sight. "Okay Manu," Sylar began, grabbing a napkin and wiping at the melted streaks of chocolate decorating his mouth. "Time to go back to the car."
"Do you have to go now, Papa?" Manu asked, the sad gleam shining in his wide brown eyes a clear indication that he did not want to see Sylar leave just yet.
"Soon, Angel," he told him, grabbing the boy's sticky hands and giving them the same treatment. Mohinder could see that some of the chocolate had already gotten on to Thirsty. It looked like he'd have to give the tiger another emergency washing before he put Manu to bed. "First, I've gotta talk with Daddy for a minute."
Manu nodded in understanding as he placed his now chocolate free hand in Sylar's palm. "I'm done with my ice cream," Manu announced, showing off the half eaten waffle cone with only a few drops of chocolate ice cream clinging to its sides.
Sylar frowned, plucking the cone out of his hand and looking at it curiously. "You don't want the rest?" he asked incredulously.
"Sylar, don't make him eat more than he wants to," Mohinder chided. The last thing he wanted was Manu getting sick or having nightmares from eating too many sweets. "Just throw it away."
"Wasteful," Sylar snipped as he dropped the rest off in a nearby trash bin.
Mohinder rolled his eyes, before walking in the direction of his car. He didn't bother walking briskly, because frankly he wasn't in any hurry to talk. What's more, he didn't want to outpace Manu. It would be easier to simply pick him up and carry the toddler to the car, but Manu had inherited his stubbornness. If the child wanted to walk then he would walk.
"Papa, when we move will we live near you?"
He didn't have to look at Sylar to know that the man was staring at him, sending him a pointed look as a smirk pulled on the corners of his lips. "Maybe."
Mohinder cringed. He had yet to find an apartment that met their needs, yet Sylar had been quite eagerly sending him daily e-mails about newly available apartments in his borough, particularly the ones in his building. It didn't take a genius to see what Sylar was getting at, but it did take a great deal of patience to keep himself from lashing out at him.
"Will we see each other every day?"
Again, Sylar looked to him. "Maybe."
"Can we get a doggy?"
"No, dearest, we can't get a dog," Mohinder cut in quickly. He knew that Sylar would promise Manu the moon if he could and the last thing he wanted was for the other man to get his hopes up. Mohinder could practically hear Manu begin to sulk in response just as they reached the car. "Alright, Manu. Get in," he instructed as he opened the back passenger door.
The toddler's pout only deepened as he looked at the open door and waiting car seat, before turning back to Sylar. "Kiss goodnight?" he asked, raising his arms up hopefully.
Sylar laughed, scooping Manu into his arms and placing a quick kiss to his nose. "Goodnight Angel," Sylar crooned, before handing him over to Mohinder.
"I'm going to put in a CD for you to listen to while I talk to Papa," Mohinder announced as he carefully strapped Manu into the chair. "Would you like that?"
"Okay," Manu said softly, his attention now fixed on picking at the chocolate caught in Thirsty's matted fur. "Thirsty needs a bath."
"Don't worry about Thirsty," Mohinder said, giving Manu's cheek a light kiss. "I'll give him a quick wash when we get home and then he'll be all ready for bed."
He closed the door, before opening the front passenger's door and turning on the radio. One of the classical music CDs he had purchased for Manu was already in and instantly began to play. He sighed as he straightened himself up and closed the door, cutting off the music and ensuring that Manu would not be able to hear a word they said.
"I like watching you parent," Sylar said suddenly, a dopey smile spreading across his face. "You're really cute with him. Parenting seems to just come naturally to you."
Mohinder frowned, resting his hip against the door. It wasn't natural at all. It had been awkward and hard when he had taken Molly in, like relearning how to speak his own language, and when Manu was born things were even more difficult, as if he suddenly found himself going backwards once again. His experience with children was like reading a book from the end on and then going back to the middle, before finally starting at the beginning. He knew what was coming, he knew how things ended, but the here and now was somehow still full of twists and turns.
His scowl deepened as he crossed his arms over his chest, hugging himself defensively. "I doubt it comes natural to anyone," he muttered.
Sylar's expression softened, and even now it was still a bit odd to see him with gentle, concerned features. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Is this about me? Are you really that upset that I interrupted your movie night?"
He gave him a bitter look. It was a bit about Sylar, but not entirely. As annoying as it was to have Sylar pop in whenever he pleased, it was more annoying to have time slip away from his so easily. "Not everything is about you," he said, rolling his eyes at Sylar's slight frown. "No. It's not that. I've just... I've been thinking a lot... about Molly and Manu and how fast it all goes."
"What goes?" Sylar asked, cocking his head to the side curiously.
"Childhood," he said. "One minute they're little and think the world of you, then the next they want nothing to do with you." Mohinder sighed, shaking his head. He sounded so stupid and sappy to his own ears, but even that thought didn't stop the morose feelings from gnawing away at his heart. "I can't talk to Molly anymore. She hates me. She hates everyone and everything, but she hates me most of all. In nine years, Manu will be that age and he'll hate me, too."
"Manu won't hate you," Sylar said instantly. "How could he ever hate you? You're an amazing father. You're patient and doting and everything that a kid like him needs. I can't see him not loving you."
I can, Mohinder thought. I know he will. I know he'll hate me because of all the stupid things I've done. Mohinder knew he had made a lot of foolish choices in his life, the biggest one being allowing Sylar to meet their son. It was a mistake that he regretted every single day and he knew that one day Manu would learn the truth about them, about how he was born and who Sylar really was, and he would undoubtedly hate Mohinder for allowing a serial killer to be any part of his life.
"It's an inevitable phase that all children go through," Mohinder said. "I just... I know it's selfish, but I'm really going to miss the way he looks at me, as if I'm the center of his world. I miss being that to Molly."
He stiffened on reflex when Sylar reached out and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Molly still loves you, too," he assured him. "I may not know her as well as Manu, but... but you'll always be her hero. This whole 'I don't want to be with anyone' thing... it'll pass. It always passes.
"And Manu's a smart kid. He'll see through all those hormones and know that you'll always be there for him."
Despite himself, Mohinder actually felt a small smile pulling at his lips. He felt a bit better even if Sylar's reassurances were generic and a bit awkward. Of course that feeling of comfort quickly evaporated as Sylar leaned forward to kiss him. He turned his head quickly so that Sylar's lips only landed on his cheek. Mohinder made a mental note to be more careful not to give Sylar anymore openings. He knew that if he were to allow him so much as one quick peck on the lips the ex-serial killer would go skipping back to New York convinced that they were "in love again."
It was then that he became very mindful of Manu's presence. He couldn't recall Manu ever seeing anyone kiss him -- Sylar had kissed him once on Christmas, but Manu had been too fixed on his presents to notice, and he always asked Mira to kiss him when Manu was not around -- and didn't know how the boy would react to such a sight. Luckily Manu had fallen asleep, his head lulled to the side, resting heavily on his shoulder as he held Thirsty limply in his lap like a kitten he'd fallen asleep stroking.
"Don't do that in front of the baby," Mohinder whispered, despite the fact that he knew no one could hear him.
Sylar backed away, his expression slightly unreadable as he stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You know, if this is really upsetting you, we could always have another baby." He smiled, hopeful and suggestive all at once. "It'll help you feel better."
Mohinder had to laugh at that offer. Even after all this time Sylar was still trying to convince him that getting pregnant again was a worthy idea.
He couldn't have another baby. Not after the way his first pregnancy had been. He'd never admit it to anyone, especially not Sylar, but there were some times that he missed being pregnant, times when he'd place his hand on his stomach and remember the way Manu had kicked and pushed inside of him. Yet those memories were always ruined when he looked at the ugly brown scar across his stomach or remembered the intense nightmares that had caused him to bite into his own arm to keep from screaming out at night.
No. He would not get pregnant again if he could help it. The memories were simply too painful.
"It wouldn't be a good idea," Mohinder said. "I'd feel like I was replacing Manu. Besides, even if I did have a baby, what then? I'd still go through the same thing sooner or later. Should I have another child every time I feel lonely?" He shook his head. "I can't do that. I'm too old to be chasing babies around."
"You're not old." The words were spoken forcefully, bitterly, because Sylar hated the reminder that Mohinder was still aging while time stood still for him. He had asked Sylar what he would do when Manu caught up him in age and the serial killer had reasoned he'd use his shape shifting ability to mimic the aging process before that could happen. Mohinder hadn't bothered to push further.
"I'm getting old," he shrugged. "I'm nearly forty. Can't help it."
Sylar frowned, hunching his shoulders as he stuck his fists deeper into his pockets. Mohinder knew without asking that there was a dark thought brewing in his head. "I should get going," he said reluctantly. "You have to get him to bed."
Mohinder nodded. "Thank you for listening."
Sylar merely grunted in response, sulking bitterly as he stepped away from the car and marched off into the darkened parking lot.