In the majority of the world it's already Sendhil's birthday
Title: Surprise
Author: Megmatthews20
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Mylar, Sendhil, Molly, Matt, Zach, Greg, Adair, Adrian
Summary: Mohinder and Sendhil both walk into darkness...
Word Count: 1778-ish
Warnings: threatening, angst
Spoilers: Necessary to know the living dynamics of season two
AN: It's good to know that Adair plays Molly, Greg plays Matt, Adrian plays Nathan, etc...the concept of this fic came to me when I realized it was Sendhil's birthday soon...this is for the "something dark, something permanent" prompt, specifically AU
Sendhil opened the door, freezing as he looked in at the darkened studio.
“Hello?”
XXXX
Mohinder blinked as he opened the door, looking around the dark apartment. Too dark. Matt and Molly should have been home. Something was definitely wrong.
XXXX
“Sendhil? Is that you?”
Sendhil heard a voice, Zach’s voice. It had to be him.
“Zach? What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure, I’m trying to find the switches,” Zach shouted back.
Sendhil dragged his fingers along the wall, blinking in the darkness as he waited for Zach to find the lights. By some miracle he managed not to trip over any cords.
XXXX
“Matt?” Mohinder called, knowing perfectly well that he wasn’t home.
“Mohinder, come in, have a seat.”
Mohinder started, backing toward the doorway as he heard Sylar’s voice.
“No, no don’t leave now...”
Mohinder jumped as the door he’d reached back to open was closed behind him with telekinesis. Then he felt a psychic push at the small of his back and he stumbled into the room, heart racing as he was guided toward the kitchen.
XXXX
“Zach?” Sendhil called again, beginning to fear that he was just a little too far from the door, from the safety of the light.
“Sendhil? I’m over here.”
Sendhil followed Zach’s voice, leaving the security of the wall to walk carefully toward the middle of the floor. Suddenly there was a blinding light and a wall of sound.
“Surprise!”
Sendhil blinked, looking at the now visible cast and crew standing before him, a large sign hanging behind them reading ‘Happy Birthday, Sendhil!’
Then he blushed.
XXXX
Mohinder bumped into the table, gasping as he gripped onto a chair to steady himself. Suddenly the light clicked on and he blinked as he saw Sylar sitting at the other end of the table, a small cake and a wrapped present in between them.
“What is this?” Mohinder asked, hand trembling on the back of the chair, gaze darting between Sylar and the cake.
“Don’t tell me you don’t know your own birthday,” Sylar grinned, standing and walking around the table.
Mohinder shrank away from Sylar, trying to step back, but Sylar easily caught his arm and guided him into the chair.
“We need to celebrate,” Sylar said.
XXXX
“Oh no!” Sendhil shook his head as the cast brought out the cake, setting it on a table before him. Zach came up to stand beside him, patting Sendhil on the shoulder, chuckling at his indignance as everyone began to sing.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday...”
XXXX
“Dear, Mohinder, happy birthday to you.”
Mohinder shivered as he stared at the candles Sylar had lit, each flame fluttering desperately on top of the cake.
“Make a wish,” Sylar said.
Mohinder clenched his jaw, shaking his head.
“Mohinder...make a wish,” Sylar insisted, leaning toward Mohinder from the chair next to his.
Mohinder closed his eyes, wishing with all his being that his family was alright, that he would be alright. He opened his eyes, leaned forward, and blew out the candles.
XXXX
Everyone clapped.
“What’d you wish for?” Adair beamed, leaning against the table restlessly, gazing between the cake and Sendhil.
“He can’t say,” Zach warned, squeezing Sendhil’s shoulder before walking forward to cut the cake.
“But...” Adair started.
“Then it won’t come true,” Greg pointed out.
“And it must have been a doozy,” Adrian said, grinning at Sendhil.
“You know it,” Sendhil chuckled as Zach handed him the first piece of cake.
“Eat up,” Zach said.
XXXX
“No,” Mohinder mumbled.
“It’s not poisoned,” Sylar insisted.
“What did you do to them?” Mohinder demanded, “Matt and Molly...where are they?”
“Eat up,” Sylar repeated.
“Like I’m going to eat anything you gave me,” Mohinder said, shoving the plate of cake away from himself.
Sylar rolled his eyes and leaned forward, grabbing a fork and taking a small slice of Mohinder’s piece of cake, popping it into his mouth, chewing, and swallowing with a smile.
“Mmm, that’s good. Have a bite, Mohinder. You can’t have presents before you eat some cake.”
Mohinder glared at Sylar before picking up his own fork, taking a bite of the cake, forcing himself to swallow.
“Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
XXXX
“You should have seen the look on your face when we turned on the lights,” Zach laughed.
“I wasn’t really expecting everyone to be standing here, staring at me,” Sendhil shook his head in mild disbelief at the event.
“Now that you’ve opened all your other gifts...” Zach trailed off as he hurried to a table by the wall, picking something up and bringing it back to Sendhil, “It’s not much, but I wanted you to have a reminder of all our fun times together.”
Zach shrugged, handing Sendhil a smallish box with shiny blue foil.
“Thank you, Zach,” Sendhil said.
“You haven’t even opened it.”
XXXX
Sylar tilted his head slightly as Mohinder set down his fork. The tiny gift, wrapped in shiny black foil, slid across the table, bumping into Mohinder’s hand. Mohinder pulled his hands back from the table, setting them on his lap as he stared apprehensively at the box.
“Aren’t you going to open it?” Sylar asked.
“Just-just tell me if they’re alive,” Mohinder pleaded, gaze never leaving the box.
“They’re alive,” Sylar said, “now open the box.”
Mohinder looked at Sylar who raised an eyebrow as he waited for Mohinder to comply.
“I don’t want to play this game,” Mohinder said, feeling queasy.
“You started playing when you entered the apartment,” Sylar said, “now open the box, or I will open it for you and you can watch from the ceiling, or upside down on the wall, I’m not particular.”
Mohinder’s hands quickly found the box, fumbling from adrenaline as he tore the wrapping off, letting it fall to the ground, lifting the top off, blinking as he looked inside.
XXXX
Sendhil tore the wrapping off the box, setting it aside as he carefully removed the top of the box to reveal the gift within.
“It’s...uh...”
“A watch...a Sylar watch. I had the props department make it for you. To symbolize our time together.”
Sendhil chuckled, pulling the watch out, holding it up to read the small writing of Sylar at the top.
Zach sounded almost nervous as he spoke, “go ahead...”
XXXX
“Try it on.”
Mohinder pulled the Sylar brand watch out of its box, carefully removing his own watch and placing Sylar’s gift on his wrist.
Sylar leaned forward, bringing Mohinder’s arm toward him, scoffing in amusement as he fitted the clasp properly on the watch.
“Perfect,” Sylar said, brushing his fingers down Mohinder’s hand as he let the watch go.
Mohinder snatched his hand away, breathing heavily as he looked at Sylar.
“I’ve done what you’ve asked. Tell me where they are,” Mohinder demanded.
Sylar leaned back in his chair, smiling pleasantly at Mohinder.
XXXX
“So, now Sylar will always be with you,” Zach joked, tapping the watch lightly on Sendhil’s wrist.
“Couldn’t ask for a better companion,” Sendhil said, looking at Zach in amusement.
“It was my idea too, and Greg’s,” Adair piped up, hands on her hips as she looked up at Zach.
“Was not,” Zach said, picking Adair up and holding her so she was face to face with him, before both of them turned to look at Sendhil.
“It’s certainly different,” Sendhil admitted, admiring the craftsmanship of the watch, before looking at Zach and Adair, “I think my wife will get a kick out of it.”
“Happy birthday, Sendhil,” Adair exclaimed.
“Yeah, happy birthday,” Zach repeated.
“Thanks,” Sendhil blushed, looking around at the rest of the studio, and everyone who had come here for him on his birthday, then back at Zach, who was staring at him, a content smile on the corners of his lips.
XXXX
“Time for me to go,” Sylar said, standing quickly.
Mohinder stared up at him in dismay, “w-wait...”
“Wait?” Sylar looked amused as he came to stand beside Mohinder, leaning down to whisper in his ear, “wait for what, Mohinder?”
“Please...” Mohinder begged, “please, tell me where...tell me they’re...”
Sylar moved out of Mohinder’s sight, coming to stand behind him, hands moving to Mohinder’s shoulders, causing him to tense.
“I have to go,” Sylar said, voice low, almost threatening, one hand moving up to trail fingers through Mohinder’s hair; gripping a handful before pulling back, not painful, but hard enough that Mohinder was forced to look up.
Mohinder stared upside down at Sylar, hearing the throb of his pulse in his ears, breath ragged as he stared at the man.
“I hope you enjoyed your birthday, Mohinder,” Sylar said, releasing his grip on Mohinder’s hair.
Mohinder stared straight forward, trembling so hard that he could hear the clinking of the fork that was touching his hand. He heard the door shut behind him.
XXXX
“So, you liked the gift?” Zach asked, walking Sendhil to his car.
“I loved it.”
“Good.”
“I’ll see you Monday, when we’re working together to take down The Company,” Sendhil said, smiling at Zach as he reached his car.
“Yeah, see you. Happy birthday again!” Zach said, “you old man.”
“I’m not that much older than you,” Sendhil pointed out indignantly.
“You’re old enough,” Zach teased.
Sendhil scoffed, waving vaguely at Zach as he climbed into the driver’s seat of his car.
“Drive carefully, or they’ll figure out you’re senile and take away your license,” Zach called.
“Shut-up!” Sendhil snapped, closing the door even as he grinned to himself. He glanced at the watch on his left wrist.
The constant reminder of all the good times.
XXXX
The door opened, and Mohinder jumped up.
“I’m sorry we’re late, we got...Mohinder, what-“
”Oh my god, Molly, Matt!” Mohinder hurried toward them, hugging Molly as they looked at him in shock.
“What happened?” Matt asked, looking at the partially eaten cake on the table.
“We were buying you a cake. Did you already eat?” Molly added.
“No-I-yes...it doesn’t matter,” Mohinder said, “nothing matters except that you two are safe.”
Mohinder stood up, smiling in relief.
“I’ll make dinner, then maybe you can explain what happened here,” Matt said, eyeing the contents on the table.
“I’ll clear that up,” Mohinder said, “I’ll tell you everything later. Let’s just celebrate right now, okay?”
Matt finally nodded, and Molly was soon ushered into helping him cook as Mohinder walked to the table, leaning down to pick up the wrapping, looking up at the partially eaten cake before his gaze trailed to his wrist.
To the watch.
To Sylar’s constant reminder that he was always there.
Author: Megmatthews20
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairings: Mylar, Sendhil, Molly, Matt, Zach, Greg, Adair, Adrian
Summary: Mohinder and Sendhil both walk into darkness...
Word Count: 1778-ish
Warnings: threatening, angst
Spoilers: Necessary to know the living dynamics of season two
AN: It's good to know that Adair plays Molly, Greg plays Matt, Adrian plays Nathan, etc...the concept of this fic came to me when I realized it was Sendhil's birthday soon...this is for the "something dark, something permanent" prompt, specifically AU
Sendhil opened the door, freezing as he looked in at the darkened studio.
“Hello?”
XXXX
Mohinder blinked as he opened the door, looking around the dark apartment. Too dark. Matt and Molly should have been home. Something was definitely wrong.
XXXX
“Sendhil? Is that you?”
Sendhil heard a voice, Zach’s voice. It had to be him.
“Zach? What’s going on?”
“I’m not sure, I’m trying to find the switches,” Zach shouted back.
Sendhil dragged his fingers along the wall, blinking in the darkness as he waited for Zach to find the lights. By some miracle he managed not to trip over any cords.
XXXX
“Matt?” Mohinder called, knowing perfectly well that he wasn’t home.
“Mohinder, come in, have a seat.”
Mohinder started, backing toward the doorway as he heard Sylar’s voice.
“No, no don’t leave now...”
Mohinder jumped as the door he’d reached back to open was closed behind him with telekinesis. Then he felt a psychic push at the small of his back and he stumbled into the room, heart racing as he was guided toward the kitchen.
XXXX
“Zach?” Sendhil called again, beginning to fear that he was just a little too far from the door, from the safety of the light.
“Sendhil? I’m over here.”
Sendhil followed Zach’s voice, leaving the security of the wall to walk carefully toward the middle of the floor. Suddenly there was a blinding light and a wall of sound.
“Surprise!”
Sendhil blinked, looking at the now visible cast and crew standing before him, a large sign hanging behind them reading ‘Happy Birthday, Sendhil!’
Then he blushed.
XXXX
Mohinder bumped into the table, gasping as he gripped onto a chair to steady himself. Suddenly the light clicked on and he blinked as he saw Sylar sitting at the other end of the table, a small cake and a wrapped present in between them.
“What is this?” Mohinder asked, hand trembling on the back of the chair, gaze darting between Sylar and the cake.
“Don’t tell me you don’t know your own birthday,” Sylar grinned, standing and walking around the table.
Mohinder shrank away from Sylar, trying to step back, but Sylar easily caught his arm and guided him into the chair.
“We need to celebrate,” Sylar said.
XXXX
“Oh no!” Sendhil shook his head as the cast brought out the cake, setting it on a table before him. Zach came up to stand beside him, patting Sendhil on the shoulder, chuckling at his indignance as everyone began to sing.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday...”
XXXX
“Dear, Mohinder, happy birthday to you.”
Mohinder shivered as he stared at the candles Sylar had lit, each flame fluttering desperately on top of the cake.
“Make a wish,” Sylar said.
Mohinder clenched his jaw, shaking his head.
“Mohinder...make a wish,” Sylar insisted, leaning toward Mohinder from the chair next to his.
Mohinder closed his eyes, wishing with all his being that his family was alright, that he would be alright. He opened his eyes, leaned forward, and blew out the candles.
XXXX
Everyone clapped.
“What’d you wish for?” Adair beamed, leaning against the table restlessly, gazing between the cake and Sendhil.
“He can’t say,” Zach warned, squeezing Sendhil’s shoulder before walking forward to cut the cake.
“But...” Adair started.
“Then it won’t come true,” Greg pointed out.
“And it must have been a doozy,” Adrian said, grinning at Sendhil.
“You know it,” Sendhil chuckled as Zach handed him the first piece of cake.
“Eat up,” Zach said.
XXXX
“No,” Mohinder mumbled.
“It’s not poisoned,” Sylar insisted.
“What did you do to them?” Mohinder demanded, “Matt and Molly...where are they?”
“Eat up,” Sylar repeated.
“Like I’m going to eat anything you gave me,” Mohinder said, shoving the plate of cake away from himself.
Sylar rolled his eyes and leaned forward, grabbing a fork and taking a small slice of Mohinder’s piece of cake, popping it into his mouth, chewing, and swallowing with a smile.
“Mmm, that’s good. Have a bite, Mohinder. You can’t have presents before you eat some cake.”
Mohinder glared at Sylar before picking up his own fork, taking a bite of the cake, forcing himself to swallow.
“Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”
XXXX
“You should have seen the look on your face when we turned on the lights,” Zach laughed.
“I wasn’t really expecting everyone to be standing here, staring at me,” Sendhil shook his head in mild disbelief at the event.
“Now that you’ve opened all your other gifts...” Zach trailed off as he hurried to a table by the wall, picking something up and bringing it back to Sendhil, “It’s not much, but I wanted you to have a reminder of all our fun times together.”
Zach shrugged, handing Sendhil a smallish box with shiny blue foil.
“Thank you, Zach,” Sendhil said.
“You haven’t even opened it.”
XXXX
Sylar tilted his head slightly as Mohinder set down his fork. The tiny gift, wrapped in shiny black foil, slid across the table, bumping into Mohinder’s hand. Mohinder pulled his hands back from the table, setting them on his lap as he stared apprehensively at the box.
“Aren’t you going to open it?” Sylar asked.
“Just-just tell me if they’re alive,” Mohinder pleaded, gaze never leaving the box.
“They’re alive,” Sylar said, “now open the box.”
Mohinder looked at Sylar who raised an eyebrow as he waited for Mohinder to comply.
“I don’t want to play this game,” Mohinder said, feeling queasy.
“You started playing when you entered the apartment,” Sylar said, “now open the box, or I will open it for you and you can watch from the ceiling, or upside down on the wall, I’m not particular.”
Mohinder’s hands quickly found the box, fumbling from adrenaline as he tore the wrapping off, letting it fall to the ground, lifting the top off, blinking as he looked inside.
XXXX
Sendhil tore the wrapping off the box, setting it aside as he carefully removed the top of the box to reveal the gift within.
“It’s...uh...”
“A watch...a Sylar watch. I had the props department make it for you. To symbolize our time together.”
Sendhil chuckled, pulling the watch out, holding it up to read the small writing of Sylar at the top.
Zach sounded almost nervous as he spoke, “go ahead...”
XXXX
“Try it on.”
Mohinder pulled the Sylar brand watch out of its box, carefully removing his own watch and placing Sylar’s gift on his wrist.
Sylar leaned forward, bringing Mohinder’s arm toward him, scoffing in amusement as he fitted the clasp properly on the watch.
“Perfect,” Sylar said, brushing his fingers down Mohinder’s hand as he let the watch go.
Mohinder snatched his hand away, breathing heavily as he looked at Sylar.
“I’ve done what you’ve asked. Tell me where they are,” Mohinder demanded.
Sylar leaned back in his chair, smiling pleasantly at Mohinder.
XXXX
“So, now Sylar will always be with you,” Zach joked, tapping the watch lightly on Sendhil’s wrist.
“Couldn’t ask for a better companion,” Sendhil said, looking at Zach in amusement.
“It was my idea too, and Greg’s,” Adair piped up, hands on her hips as she looked up at Zach.
“Was not,” Zach said, picking Adair up and holding her so she was face to face with him, before both of them turned to look at Sendhil.
“It’s certainly different,” Sendhil admitted, admiring the craftsmanship of the watch, before looking at Zach and Adair, “I think my wife will get a kick out of it.”
“Happy birthday, Sendhil,” Adair exclaimed.
“Yeah, happy birthday,” Zach repeated.
“Thanks,” Sendhil blushed, looking around at the rest of the studio, and everyone who had come here for him on his birthday, then back at Zach, who was staring at him, a content smile on the corners of his lips.
XXXX
“Time for me to go,” Sylar said, standing quickly.
Mohinder stared up at him in dismay, “w-wait...”
“Wait?” Sylar looked amused as he came to stand beside Mohinder, leaning down to whisper in his ear, “wait for what, Mohinder?”
“Please...” Mohinder begged, “please, tell me where...tell me they’re...”
Sylar moved out of Mohinder’s sight, coming to stand behind him, hands moving to Mohinder’s shoulders, causing him to tense.
“I have to go,” Sylar said, voice low, almost threatening, one hand moving up to trail fingers through Mohinder’s hair; gripping a handful before pulling back, not painful, but hard enough that Mohinder was forced to look up.
Mohinder stared upside down at Sylar, hearing the throb of his pulse in his ears, breath ragged as he stared at the man.
“I hope you enjoyed your birthday, Mohinder,” Sylar said, releasing his grip on Mohinder’s hair.
Mohinder stared straight forward, trembling so hard that he could hear the clinking of the fork that was touching his hand. He heard the door shut behind him.
XXXX
“So, you liked the gift?” Zach asked, walking Sendhil to his car.
“I loved it.”
“Good.”
“I’ll see you Monday, when we’re working together to take down The Company,” Sendhil said, smiling at Zach as he reached his car.
“Yeah, see you. Happy birthday again!” Zach said, “you old man.”
“I’m not that much older than you,” Sendhil pointed out indignantly.
“You’re old enough,” Zach teased.
Sendhil scoffed, waving vaguely at Zach as he climbed into the driver’s seat of his car.
“Drive carefully, or they’ll figure out you’re senile and take away your license,” Zach called.
“Shut-up!” Sendhil snapped, closing the door even as he grinned to himself. He glanced at the watch on his left wrist.
The constant reminder of all the good times.
XXXX
The door opened, and Mohinder jumped up.
“I’m sorry we’re late, we got...Mohinder, what-“
”Oh my god, Molly, Matt!” Mohinder hurried toward them, hugging Molly as they looked at him in shock.
“What happened?” Matt asked, looking at the partially eaten cake on the table.
“We were buying you a cake. Did you already eat?” Molly added.
“No-I-yes...it doesn’t matter,” Mohinder said, “nothing matters except that you two are safe.”
Mohinder stood up, smiling in relief.
“I’ll make dinner, then maybe you can explain what happened here,” Matt said, eyeing the contents on the table.
“I’ll clear that up,” Mohinder said, “I’ll tell you everything later. Let’s just celebrate right now, okay?”
Matt finally nodded, and Molly was soon ushered into helping him cook as Mohinder walked to the table, leaning down to pick up the wrapping, looking up at the partially eaten cake before his gaze trailed to his wrist.
To the watch.
To Sylar’s constant reminder that he was always there.