Sylinder the Sitcom - Episode 2
Title: Sylinder the Sitcom, episode 2
Words: 7,076
Rating: PG for hints dropped
Warnings: Unstable levels of crack
Summery: AU - Mohinder, Sylar and Molly are all living together, and trying to manage in a domestic setting. In this episode, Lyle asks just how this came about, prompting many flashbacks, involving taking down the Company, being marooned on desert islands, and the first Mylar Christmas.
Notes: I do recommend reading episode 1 first ( http://community.livejournal.com/mylar_fic/455512.html#cutid1) but it still works as a stand-alone.
Episode 2 - “Dad doesn’t go to murderer rehab, Molly.”
Thanks to all the wonderful people at the Television Without Pity HoYay board for the wonderful cracky ideas behind this!
Suresh apartment, later that night. Molly, Mohinder and Sylar are all squashed on the sofa - Sylar and Molly both have fluffy-socked feet up on the coffee table, which Mohinder has quietly refrained from commenting on.
Lyle emerges from Molly’s room, where he’s been dumping his small amount of stuff.
Lyle: Gee, I guess it was really nice of Dad to organise me this holiday without telling me so it would be a surprise!
Mohinder: Yes, it really was.
Molly: Really nice of him.
Sylar: *just raises an eyebrow without looking away from the TV screen*
Lyle: Yeah… except… I don’t really know you people. Like… at all.
Mohinder: … just makes it even more surprising, doesn’t it?
Sylar: I know your father quite well.
Lyle: You do?
Sylar: Oh yes, we’ve had quite a few interesting conversations. And I went to your sister’s homecoming. And then I went round to your house one time and met your mother. And your little fluffy dog…
Mohinder: *interrupting loudly* Er, and Molly’s met your dad too, haven’t you Molly?
Molly: Oh yes! Was he the one who was going to shoot me?
Mohinder: … Who’s for ice-cream?!
He hurriedly gets up and practically runs over to the freezer. In the awkward silence, Molly digs Sylar in the ribs to make him scooch over so that Lyle can sit down on the sofa too.
Lyle: So… you all live here together? A geneticist, a schoolgirl and… er…
Sylar: Between jobs.
Lyle: … yeah… so, how did this happen?
Everyone looks at each other.
Mohinder: Well, I guess it all started the day Molly’s science lab had to be evacuated…
Everyone looks nostalgic, and…
FLASHBACK! To a generic school science lab, where a bunch of kids are assembled around smoking beakers on bunsen burners, one between two. Molly’s partner Suzie is tentatively adding powder from a jar to theirs.
Teacher: Now, kids, be careful, you only need a little bit…
Molly: *frowns* Huh, that’s strange.
Suzie: What?
Molly: Mr Thomas is in the stationery cupboard.
Suzie: So? Maybe he’s getting something.
Molly: Yeah, but Mr Davison is in there too. And they’re standing REALLY close together.
Suzie: WHAT?
As Suzie turns round in astonishment, her hand slips, and all the powder in the jar falls in. It immediately starts to boil and vapour starts pouring from it.
Molly: Er - sir? -
CUT TO a taxi, where Mohinder is sitting in the backseat alongside a vaguely exploded Molly, with sticky-out hair and a sooty face.
Molly: … but I STILL don’t get why Mr Thomas and Mr Davison were having a special hug.
Mohinder: Er… well, Molly… sometimes when a guy and another guy love each other very much -
Molly: Like you and Matt?
Mohinder: Yes - no - I mean - that’s different. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is - guys have special hugs with each too, not just mummies and daddies.
Molly: Oh, I knew THAT.
Mohinder: … you did?
Molly: Yeah. I was just wondering why those two were having one when Mr Thomas is so much prettier than Mr Davison.
Mohinder: … oh.
Molly: I mean, it would be like you having a special hug with, like, Bob.
Mohinder: Molly! That’s not very nice.
Molly: I’m just SAYING. It’d make more sense for you to have one with, I don’t know, Mr Petrelli. Maybe even Mr Sylar.
Mohinder: What? Mr Sylar isn’t PRETTY.
Molly: Well, the nose is a bit odd, but -
They are interrupted by Mohinder’s phone ringing.
Mohinder: Hello?
Sylar: I’m hurt, Mohinder. Deeply offended.
Mohinder: You - what??
Sylar: I know my eyebrows are striking features not everyone can get past, but I’d consider myself at least equal to either of the Petrellis. Especially when they have emo fringes and beards.
Mohinder: *craning around* Where are you?
Sylar: Close enough nearby to hear you. So close enough for you to worry about.
We pan upwards to reveal Sylar happily sitting cross-legged on the cab roof as it drives along, unnoticed by anyone within.
Sylar: I just want a chat, is all.
Mohinder: I’m not a chatty person.
Sylar: Yes, I remember, but you loosen up after a few drinks. I never knew super memory would be so fun.
Mohinder reddens.
Mohinder: That was ONE NIGHT -
Sylar: Yes, but memories are eternal treasures. Especially when they involve karaoke.*
FLASHBACK WITHIN A FLASHBACK! Well, I couldn’t just say that then let it go, could I?? A bar somewhere in Montana.
Mohinder: - so then I tried telling my dad how much I loved his book, but he just shut me out as usual. I tried so hard to get his love and attention, but he just…
Sylar: *handing him more drinks* I know, I know. Parents are difficult.
Mohinder: Oh no, Zane, I shouldn’t drink more, I’m driving tomorrow -
Sylar: So what was that about you being born just to save his other daughter?
Mohinder: Oh, that, WELL -
SEVERAL HOURS LATER, Mohinder is considerably more tipsy.
Mohinder: … sho Petereletelli gets in my cab, and starts blathering on about being special and doing stuff that was extraordinary! And I’m just “DUDE, I’m driving a CAB. Maybe you could see that if you CUT YOUR HAIR.”
Sylar: The nerve. More drink?
Mohinder: *taking glass* Really shouldn’t. *knocks it back* Very bad of me. Anyway -
EVEN MORE LATER, Mohinder is doing karaoke.
Mohinder: CAAAAN’T LIIIIIIIIIVE if livin’sh without yooooou…. I CAN’T LIIIIIIIIIIIIVE, CAN’T LIIIIIIIIIIVE ANY MOOOOOORE-
He’s hanging onto the microphone stand as if his very balance depends on it. Sylar grins at his surrounding bar patrons.
Sylar: He’s with me.
Mohinder, meanwhile, flings out his arms to the side dramatically to emphasise the tragedy of the song, and topples sideways off the stage. *
WE NOW RETURN YOU TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED FLASHBACK.
Sylar: Anyway, meet me at that Italian restaurant we went to when we got back from the road trip, ‘kay? I’m sure you remember it.
Mohinder: Why should I?
Sylar: Because you’re a scientist and naturally curious? Plus I know you love their tartufo. See you there.
Mohinder: Are you asking me on a DATE?
Sylar: Course not. You might want to go home and change though, it’s a nice place, I don’t think that scarf is appropriate. Dress pretty, toodles!
And he hangs up. Mohinder stares at the phone.
Molly: Are you OK, Papa Mohinder?
Mohinder: Yes, Molly, just… my life is strange.
~~~~ OPENING CREDITS!!! ~~~
SCENE - That Italian Restaurant
Mohinder enters, looking all stompy and determined, and looks around for Sylar, who waves wildly and grins from across the room. Mohinder goes and sits down huffily.
Mohinder: Right, what’s this about?
Sylar: Hey, I ordered us the mozzarella sticks to start. You like those, right?
Mohinder: What??
Sylar: Look, I know you prefer the garlic mushrooms, but let’s face it, I have to sit opposite you for the next hour or so, and I don’t want garlic-face. Consideration, you know?
Mohinder: … Why have you called me here?
Sylar: Oh! That! Don’t you want to wait till we’ve ordered?
Mohinder: I don’t want to order anything!
Sylar: Really? Eating regularly is key to a healthy diet, Dr Suresh.
Mohinder: I think your diet and mine differ quite considerably, Mr Sylar.
Sylar: Oh! HA! Because of the whole *air-quotes* “Eating Brains” thing! I get it! You’re a wag, Dr Suresh. Now, I’m going to stick with tagliatelle - you want to split some garlic bread?
Mohinder: …
Later, the food has arrived. Mohinder is just sitting there, food untouched, staring at Sylar, who is happily twirling tagliatelle round his fork and already has pasta sauce round his mouth. Finally, Mohinder snaps.
Mohinder: So why did you ask me here?
Sylar: Whoa, steady, doctor! Patience isn’t just an opera.
Mohinder: … it IS an opera?
Sylar: Oh yes, by Gilbert and Sullivan. It was first performed in 1881 -
Mohinder: Sylar!
Sylar: Fine. It’s simple. You’re out against the Company at the moment, are you not?
Mohinder: How did you-
Sylar: Just a guess. Well, I’m not exactly happy with them either. So why don’t we work together?
Mohinder: HA. Sorry. What?
Sylar: What?
Mohinder: You’re joking, aren’t you?
Sylar: Yes, this is indeed one of those jokes I’m so well known for.
Mohinder: You can’t be serious.
Sylar: Why not? You’ve got the brains, and I’ve got - other people’s brains…
Mohinder: *standing up* This is absurd. I’m leaving.
Sylar: But - wait - the tartufo!
Mohinder: *weakens for a moment, then gets resolved face* No! I’m not going to sit here with a serial killer and eat pasta. Did you really expect me to agree with you, Sylar? To put everything that’s happened to one side and pretend it never happened? You’ve got super memory - you remember you killed my father, right?
Sylar: Well, yes…
Mohinder: I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to get past the murder of a parent.
That stings. Mohinder gets up and starts to leave, being briefly accosted by a party by the door who insist on putting a party hat on his head. Sylar is left alone, looking surprised, even disappointed. But then he seems to remember something, and looks horrified, and quickly runs after him.
OUTSIDE, Mohinder tries to hail a cab, when someone approaches him.
Shady McBadGuy: Dr Suresh?
Mohinder: Oh goodness, for the last time, I didn’t post those pictures on the internet, my friend Nathan has a strange sense of humour -
Shady McBadGuy: Dr Suresh, I’m going to have to ask you to come with me.
Mohinder: … why?
Shady McBadGuy: The Company knows what you’re trying to do. They just want a chat about it.
Mohinder: You’re the second person today to be under the false impression I like to chat. No, I’m going home.
Shady McBadGuy: I’m told to use any means necessary…
Mohinder: Use ‘em. You can bet I’ve faced worse.
As Mohinder turns to get into a cab, Shady McBadGuy suddenly punches Mohinder, and he goes flying dramatically, because that is and always will be Mohinder’s reaction to being punched. Molly finds it hilarious.
However, before Shady McBadGuy can even move, he finds himself being flung through the air by TK into the nearest lamppost. As he looks up, he sees Sylar striding towards him, hand raised, looking all kinds of pissed off.
Sylar: I’ll be back to deal with you later. If you’ve broken his nose, you’ll wish you had a power so I’d just eat your brain and be done with it.
Ice shoots out of his hand, freezing the guy to the lamppost. Sylar then turns and runs to Mohinder, who’s been knocked out after landing against a fire hydrant.
Sylar: *rolls eyes* Honestly, Dr Suresh, you should just start wearing a crash helmet everywhere.
He slings Mohinder over his shoulders, and heads to -
SCENE: The Matthinder Apartment
Molly: Matt, where’s Mohinder?
Matt: He just had to go meet someone, Molly.
Molly: Is it a date?
Matt: Of course not. It’s just a, er, perfectly normal meeting of acquaintances.
At that moment, Sylar kicks the door in, with unconscious Mohinder in his arms.
Sylar: Right, where’s the bed?
Matt leaps to his feet, probably trying to remember the antidote to Rohypnol.
Molly: Papa Mohinder??
Matt: Molly, run next door to Maya’s, now.
Molly: What’s wrong with him??
Sylar: He’ll be fine -
Molly: Why’s the Boogeyman here??
Matt: Molly, go! I’ll come get you in a minute!
Molly doesn’t look happy about it, but runs out the door and goes along to Maya’s. Then Matt rounds on Sylar.
Matt: She has a point. Why ARE you here? And what’s happened to Mohinder?
Sylar: *walking into Mohinder’s room and putting him on the bed* I’m here because your roommate got himself into some trouble and I was kind enough not to leave his pretty self unconscious in the middle of the street, just asking for more trouble of a more debauched nature.
Matt: … Did you just call Mohinder pretty?
Sylar: ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE MAN SOME ICE?
Matt scuttles out. Just then, Mohinder groans. Sylar quickly turns round and kneels down next to him, just as Mohinder opens his eyes. Our favourite geneticist blearily looks around, taking in his surroundings - back home, in his bed… with Sylar looming over him.
Mohinder: *leaping away* Ack!
Sylar: Are you OK?
Mohinder: WhatwherewhyhowWHY? WHY are you here?? WHY???
Sylar: Oh, THAT’S gratitude. You’d just had your nose dented by a Company guy again, and I happen to have the sense of duty to bring you home to your apartment, and am just met by suspicion and demanding questions. And people wonder why I turned evil.
Mohinder: Yes, I can imagine it’s a vicious circle. Sylar, what-
Sylar: I painted a picture a couple of days ago of you unconscious next to a fire hydrant. I guessed then you might need some help with the whole going-up-against-the-Company thing. But I didn’t know when it was going to happen - till you had that party hat put on.
And Sylar takes out a photo of a painting of the earlier scene - Mohinder unconscious against the fire hydrant, party hat askew on his curls.
Mohinder: Well… er… thanks.
Sylar: Don’t think I did it for YOU. I’ve got a Company guy back there who I’m going to get the information I need off. I was just paying a courtesy getting you back here.
Mohinder: Well… still… thank you.
And he means it. Sylar, not quite sure of how to react, just stands there, then turns and walks quickly out of the room. Mohinder hears the door slam shut behind him, and falls back onto the pillow, as Matt comes in with ice.
Matt: Hey doc, you all right?
Mohinder: Oh yes. I’m rather getting used to being punched in the face.
Matt: I meant the whole Sylar thing. It must be pretty disturbing having him trying to be nice to you.
Mohinder: … oh yeah. Yeah, really disturbing.
Fade out on Mohinder’s pensive face to Sylar walking along the streets, looking similarly troubled. But his expression clears as he approaches the guy on the lamppost, as he sees a definite task to be done that he thinks he might enjoy. His hand starts to glow, and he holds it up to melt the ice.
Sylar: Hi. Now, I’m a REAL chatty person.
SCENE: Back at the Suresh Apartment
Mohinder: So there we were. I was trying to find out about the Company in my own way, and Sylar was trying to find out… in his way.
Molly: Freezing people to lampposts?
Sylar: *nostalgic* Good times.
Mohinder: So of course, eventually, our paths crossed again.
SCENE: Outside a Company Facility. We have a Hero shot - Mohinder, Matt, Nathan and Peter striding down the street towards it, in slo-mo. Imagine 300-esque guitar riff in the background, them all silhouetted against the sun. Hell, have it be an eclipse. This shot would be used in every single promo for months. And they should all look pretty.
Mohinder: Right, everyone remember the plan. Matt, read minds of security people and influence them to just go home and watch TV. Nathan, fly up and take out their power supply. Peter - just don’t explode, OK? And I’ll get into the computer and try to find out where the main files room is, there we can AAARGH!
He opens the door to the building and finds Sylar standing directly behind it.
Sylar: Your plan sucks.
Mohinder: WHAT?!? WHAT - WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE??? You can’t just - stand behind - WHY? WHO DOES THAT?
Sylar ignores his mild panic attack and takes out some photos of paintings from his pocket. He hands the topmost one to Mohinder.
Sylar: See this picture here? It’s you failing utterly.
Matt: Wait, where did you get that?
Sylar: I painted it. *at Peter’s face* Oh yes, Chuckles, I can paint the future too. Anyway, your plan goes wrong. Sure, Matt takes out the security people you can see, but there are lots more, who alert more, till there’s more than he can handle. Nathan pulls the wrong wire and gets more than slightly singed. Mohinder - it took you how long to figure out your dad’s password was ‘Shanti’? Do you think you can manage hacking a mainframe? As for Peter - ha, his fail is so epic I might just sell it on e-bay.
Peter: What? What is it??
Sylar: Oh, I think it’s beyond words… Actually, I took the liberty of painting it lots of times, so you can see it almost in live-action with this handy flip-book.
And he holds out a flip book, and flicks the pages of one corner, so they can see, through a series of paintings, Peter over-enthusiastically shooting some lightning, tripping over his shoelaces, falling over and immediately exploding.
Nathan: That’s… well…
Sylar: You should see the other side.
Peter: I wouldn’t have done that!!
Sylar: Well, you won’t NOW. For one thing, I’m here to tell you your shoelaces are untied.
Peter: *looks down* … oh.
Sylar: For another, I can help you.
Mohinder: I don’t think that’s -
Sylar: I have just as many powers as Fallout Boy here, and I’m less likely to explode. Look, Dr Suresh - for the second time, we want the same thing -
Mohinder: WHEN was the first time?
Sylar: We both wanted to find special people, didn’t we?
Mohinder: You wanted to kill them and snack on their brains!
Sylar: Motivations aside, we still had a common goal! And it was so much better doing it together-
Nathan snerks. Matt glares at him.
Sylar: - than going alone, wasn’t it? Those days were fun, weren’t they?
Mohinder: The days I spent with ZANE were fun, yes.
Sylar: But that was me. That was always me. That’s still me.
Mohinder: No it isn’t. It was a persona you adopted. You are not, and never were, Zane Taylor. He was better than you.
Peter: Come on! We don’t need this guy! What could go wrong?
Nathan: … Peter, your shoelaces are still untied!
Peter: *looks down again* Oh, right. *ducks to tie them*
Sylar: Everyone has their secrets, Mohinder. Did you know Zane Taylor sold drugs to kids?
Mohinder: No he didn’t.
Sylar: Yeah he did. Heroin AND crack.
Mohinder: No, he didn’t.
Sylar: Well, he totally could have done. You don’t know.
Mohinder: Why are you so desperate to help??
Sylar: Because I want to take down the Company just as much as you do. And I knew if I didn’t help you, you’d get killed.
Mohinder: Why do you even CARE? I tried to kill you.
Sylar: I only wish I knew, Mohinder.
Awkward silence. Meanwhile, the others have been shifting uncomfortably. Finally, Peter snaps.
Peter: Screw this! Let’s do it! *charges in* PEEETER PETRELLIIII!!!!
Everyone stares after him, aghast, as shouting and bright light erupts from the room.
Sylar: … Sooo you might need my help?
Mohinder: I - well - fine, just stop him from being an idiot, alright?
Sylar: *grins* Thanks, Mohinder.
Mohinder: Whatever.
And the four of them run in, another fantastic Hero shot.
***COMMERCIAL BREAK! Coming soon, on the Heroes network - The Cookery Hour, with Mr Linderman! How to make a delicious pot pie, and STILL have time to heal the world! ***
Back from commercials, we cut straight to a massive battle going on. The security guards are all lined up with guns, facing our heroes.
Mohinder: Oh no! What do we do?
Matt: I can’t stop them all!
Nathan: Peter - it’s up to you! You’re our only hope!
Peter turns to face them and flashes them a cocky grin, with a twinkle on his teeth.
Peter: Don’t worry, guys. I can save the world. I’m a Hero.
And Peter steps forward to rising dramatic music, closes his eyes, and sends out a massive wave of power which disintegrates all their guns, and then all the important people come running out of their offices waving white flags, and everyone cheers, and-
Molly V/O: Mohinder! Make Uncle Peter tell it right!!
Scene: Suresh Apartment. They have been joined by the Petrellis.
Peter: But that’s what happened!
Nathan: In all fairness, Pete, Sylar did help a lot.
Sylar: And I don’t think the lighting in there was quite so flattering.
Lyle: So… you guys brought down a Company?
Molly: THE Company.
Mohinder: Well, not entirely… but we certainly prevented that particular Apocalypse.
Nathan: In the end, we needn’t have even bothered with fighting.
FLASHBACK SCENE: Bob’s office
Mohinder: Bob, whatever nefarious things you’re up to, just - stop it!
Bob just stares blankly. Mohinder looks nervous, but then dares to unleash his power - the Sunshine Smile.
Mohinder: *beaming* Please?
Bob: Of course! Whatever you want, Dr Suresh. Mohinder.
Mohinder: Er… thanks. We’ll just be going, then.
Bob: MoMo.
Mohinder: … yeah.
And he quickly scuttles out to join the others.
SCENE: Mohinder’s Apartment
Lyle: Well, that doesn’t sound like it was difficult at all.
Mohinder: … no, Lyle, of course it wasn’t. Just simple talking, and in no way… disturbing, or… slightly traumatising.
He shudders slightly, and Sylar puts an arm round his shoulders.
Nathan: Well, after that, Dr Suresh wanted… a bit of a break.
FLASHBACK SCENE:
Mohinder is throwing stuff into a suitcase.
Mohinder: I’ve had it up to here with Apocalypses, alright? I need a break. When we’re at the level of needing a serial killer’s help…
Nathan: Well, he DID help.
Mohinder: I don’t care! He killed lots of people, he killed my father -
Nathan: Oh yes, and Mr Bennet shot himself in the eye, did he?
Mohinder: I brought him back!
Nathan: Would you have shot him even if you didn’t have Magick Blud?
Mohinder: I… of course not! I -
Nathan: Because I seem to remember you saying once that just because you had a failsafe, it didn’t make something ethical.
Mohinder: I… well…
Nathan: Look, Mohinder - availability of Magick Blud aside, he really seemed to want to change. I did bad stuff myself in the past - hell, I was going to let New York explode. Even Sylar balked at that. If he wants to redeem himself, isn’t that better than letting him loose to go kill more innocent people?
Mohinder: Well, of course. But what he does is his own business.
Nathan: But that’s the thing, Mohinder. I don’t think he’s going to bother unless it IS your business.
Mohinder: … what?
Nathan: He cares about what you think of him. Haven’t you noticed?
Mohinder: …
Nathan: Oh, poor Mohinder. Thank god you’re pretty.
Mohinder: … I just need a holiday. Sun, sea, sand. I’ll deal with this when I get back. Can you fly me somewhere? Mauritius, maybe?
Nathan: As you long as you promise to at least talk to him when you next see him.
Mohinder: Fine, fine…
ONE SHORT AIR NATHAN FLIGHT LATER, Nathan drops Mohinder off on a deserted white-sand beach. Mohinder immediately takes his jacket off and smiles up at the sun.
Mohinder: Oh, that’s better. Completely alone…
Nathan: Well - not quite.
Mohinder: What?
Nathan: I’m a very bad person.
He points behind Mohinder. Mohinder turns and sees Sylar on a sunlounger underneath a palm tree, wearing huge sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt, grinning and waving.
Sylar: Hey Mohinder! I made margaritas!
Mohinder spins back to Nathan, but he’s already super-zipped off into the air.
Mohinder: DAMN YOU PETRELLI!
But of course, he can’t hear him. Mohinder sighs and looks back down to the sand. And then back to Sylar along the beach. Sylar lowers his sunglasses on his nose and looks at Mohinder over them.
Sylar: So… Nathan said you wanted to talk to me?
Scene: the Suresh household
Lyle: So Nathan just left you both there together?
Sylar: Yes. For six weeks.
Lyle: Wow. What did you do to pass the time??
Molly: Oh come on Lyle, what do you THINK they did?
Flashback Scene: the desert island. Sylar’s still in full tropical gear on the sunlounger, but Mohinder is stubbornly remaining in his usual clothes, sitting on top of his bag with his arms folded in a sulk.
Sylar: Come on, you’ve still got 17 questions left.
Mohinder: I can’t believe I’m even doing this.
Sylar: Come ooon… I’m a thing, I’m animal, I’m part of a human -
Mohinder: Brain.
Sylar: … dang.
Mohinder: Did Nathan say when he was coming back?
Sylar: When we were done chatting, he said. What are we even supposed to be chatting about?
Mohinder: I don’t know.
Sylar: Liar.
Mohinder: Excuse me?
Sylar: Your heart-rate increased. Come on, what are we supposed to be talking about?
Mohinder: I’d rather if you didn’t use your powers, thank you.
Sylar: I couldn’t exactly help it.
Mohinder: Fine. Nathan has this crazy idea that you could change, and that you wouldn’t bother if I didn’t care about it.
Sylar: (pause) You think that’s crazy?
Mohinder: Well, it’s ridiculous, isn’t it?
Sylar: ... You know what’s ridiculous? You still wearing those city clothes.
Mohinder: Oh, come on -
Sylar: I’m serious. Nathan Petrelli isn’t coming back for you any time soon. You might as well dress appropriately.
Mohinder: I don’t think -
Sylar: I saved you the bright paisley one.
Mohinder rolls his eyes, but it’s true - it’s ridiculously hot.
Mohinder: Fine. I can go get changed over there, maybe -
Sylar: Please, Dr Suresh, you’re only taking your shirt off. I can look away, if you like.
Mohinder rolls his eyes, but takes the shirt and starts to remove his jacket. Sylar starts clapping and humming the stripper music.
Sylar: Ba-da-ba - dum! Ba-da-ba - dum!
Mohinder stops and glares.
Sylar: Sorry. Carry on.
Mohinder sulkily changes into a floral shirt (because hell, if Heroes won’t give me shirtless Mohinder, I’ll just have to create it for myself) and sits down on a sunlounger next to Sylar’s.
Sylar: Margarita?
Mohinder: What? No! I’m stuck on an island with a serial killer. This is a horrible enough situation without adding alcohol into the mix.
Sylar: Enough alcohol and you won’t even remember it.
Mohinder: … that’s a very fair point. *grabs glass* Cheers.
LATER - The island at night. They’ve got a fire going, and the pile of empty margarita glasses between the sunloungers says something about their level of inebriation. Sylar is in the middle of a story which Mohinder can’t help but laugh at.
Sylar: … and boy, I’d never trust a nun from Nebraska again!
Mohinder: I’d hope not! (pause) Damn, Sylar, it’s not fair.
Sylar: What’s not?
Mohinder: Well, you’ve had the chance to travel all across the country and had all these experiences. Sure, you were eating brains, but still, you had that kind of freedom I can only dream of, you know? I mean, closest I ever came was… well, our road trip.
Sylar: Yeah.
Mohinder: And look how THAT turned out.
Sylar: With bondage and torture? Some people wouldn’t mind that.
Mohinder: You know what I mean.
Sylar: Yeah, I do. (pause) We did have fun though, didn’t we?
Mohinder: What?
Sylar: The Zany days. Admit it, we had a good time.
Mohinder: Well, yeah. You were nice.
Sylar: Yeah?
Mohinder: Yeah. I mean, I don’t have many friends - I’m not good with people - but we had something to talk about, you know? I guess that and a shared goal just made it easier to loosen up a bit.
Sylar: Really?
Mohinder: Yeah.
Sylar: Huh.
Mohinder: Of course, this was before the whole serial killer thing.
There’s a slight awkward pause.
Sylar: It was the same for me, you know. I always had my mum telling me I wasn’t special enough, and then your dad - but then you came along, and you seemed to think I was fine the way I was. It… changed me, I think.
Mohinder: Huh.
Sylar: Yeah.
Mohinder: But then there was the whole serial killer thing.
Sylar: What if I stopped?
Mohinder: What?
Sylar: What if I stopped taking other people’s powers? Just - stopped?
Mohinder: … well, that’s not exactly going to bring the others back, is it?
Sylar: Well, no, but - I’d try to make up for what I’d done. Use my powers for good, and all that. And you could help me, Mohinder! You could make me a better man!
Mohinder: Hahahahahahahaha.
Sylar: What?
Mohinder: What, you’re serious?
Sylar: Yes. I want your help.
Mohinder: … you want me to help you redeem yourself?
Sylar: Yes.
Mohinder: I don’t think that’s the best idea.
Sylar: Well, why not?
Mohinder: Well, I’m not exactly impersonal, am I? You killed my father.
Sylar: But that’s fantastic!
Mohinder: Really? Doesn’t seem great.
Sylar: No - you’re, like, my ultimate judge! Only when I’ve won your forgiveness do I know I’ve redeemed myself.
Mohinder: I’ll never forgive you for that.
Sylar: Well, your acceptance. What do you say, Mohinder? Can you save the world?
Mohinder: I don’t think so.
Sylar: … can you save me?
Mohinder: … you’re really serious about this, aren’t you?
Sylar: More than you know.
Mohinder: … OK.
Sylar: Really?
Mohinder: OK. I’ll try to help you.
Sylar’s face breaks out into a huge grin.
Sylar: Thanks, Mohinder.
Mohinder: Less chitchat, more margaritas.
And so begins the merry montage of island life! Mohinder and Sylar go swimming, they shake coconuts out of trees, they draw shapes in the sand and make sandcastles, they come across a polar bear in the jungle which they stare at blankly before Sylar TKs it unconscious.
On another later night, they are both sitting on the sand looking up at the stars. Mohinder looks at Sylar, but looks away when Sylar looks back at him. Sylar keeps staring at him, so he looks back. There is some deep eye-gazing going on here. And then -
Scene: Suresh apartment
Molly: What? What happened then?
Mohinder has gone rather pink.
Mohinder: Then, er, Uncle Sylar gave me a hug and then we went to sleep.
Sylar: But we knew now that we were very special friends.
~~~COMMERCIAL BREAK! The Mr Muggles Doggy Bath! Perfect for both psycho-electro-girl containment AND making sure your special pooch’s fur has 100% Fluffability! ~~~
Scene: The Suresh Apartment
Lyle: So how long were you on the island for?
Mohinder: Until Christmas. Then Nathan kindly deigned to pick us up again.
Nathan: Eh. The boys wanted Nintendo Wiis for Christmas - they were far cheaper in Tokyo, and you were on my way, so…
Flashback scene: Suresh & Parkman apartment, all decorated for Christmas and Hanukkah. Matt is running around setting things up while Molly feels presents under the tree. There’s a knock at the door, and Molly runs to answer it. Mohinder and Sylar are there, with armfuls of presents, and her face immediately brightens and she throws her arms around him.
Molly: Papa Mohinder! You’re back! And - Boogeyman?
Mohinder: Don’t worry, Molly, it’s OK. He’s not going to hurt you.
Sylar makes the ‘BRAAINS’ face at Molly over Mohinder’s shoulder. She squeaks and runs off. Mohinder looks back at him, just as he rearranges his face into an innocent expression.
Mohinder: Sylar? What did you do?
Sylar: Who? Me? Nothing! Nothing.
Not looking convinced, Mohinder still enters the apartment, and Sylar follows.
Mohinder: Hey Matt - how’s the cooking going?
Matt: Not even started. I left it all for you. Don’t look at me like that, Mohinder, I knew what you’d say if I started without you.
Mohinder: Oh yes? And what would I say?
Matt: Absolutely nothing. But I know you’d be annoyed.
Mohinder rolls his eyes, but is secretly pleased. He grabs the ‘World’s Greatest Dad’ apron and heads into the kitchen.
Matt: MollyDoll and I went out yesterday and got everything you needed, though!
Molly: Not everything. Matt forgot the nutmeg.
Matt: Oh yeah, well, it’s not that important, right?
Mohinder’s eye twitches.
Mohinder: Of course not. We’ll just have to manage without. Who else is coming?
Matt: Oh, the Petrellis, and the Ferreras, and Claude said he might stop by… Oh, and Audrey.
Mohinder: Audrey?
Matt: We used to work together, and she’s stuck in this city on a case over the holiday, so I said she could come round…
Meanwhile, Sylar comes over to Molly, who’s now sat cross-legged on the floor wrapping up presents. As he approaches, she glares up at him with evident mistrust, but doesn’t say anything.
Sylar: Hello, small girl.
Molly: We’ve met before.
Sylar: We have?
Molly: Yes. You killed my mum and dad and then tried to kidnap me from the FBI.
Sylar: … oh. Yeah.
Molly just keeps wrapping the present. Sylar looks at Mohinder desperately, but he’s busy cutting up potatoes, and Matt’s watching Sylar and Molly closely. Vaguely awkward, he turns back to Molly.
Sylar: So … who’s that for?
Molly: Nathan. It’s flight goggles for when he goes flying.
Sylar: That’s really nice.
Molly: *duh* I know.
Sylar: You should see some glasses I used to have. They used to have lots of little microscopic attachments so I could see the watch I was fixing better.
Molly: You used to fix watches?
Sylar: I did.
Molly: Mine’s broken.
Sylar raises an eyebrow. Molly takes a purple-strap watch with bumblebees on it out of her pocket and hands it to him.
Molly: Mohinder gave it to me for my birthday. Could you fix it?
Sylar is staring closely at it, his face alight with eagerness.
Sylar: Yes. Yes I can.
He hurries over to Mohinder’s desk, turns on the lamp, and gets to work. Molly watches curiously from the floor.
There’s a knock at the door and Matt runs to answer it. It’s Audrey.
Matt: Oh! Hi, Audrey! I mean, Agent Hanson, sorry.
Audrey: Oh, that’s OK, Matt. I brought nutmeg.
Matt: What? How did you-
Molly: I knew she lived near a grocery store. And her number’s on our speed-dial.
Mohinder has hurried over, and he takes the small bottle from her with great reverence.
Mohinder: You are an amazing delightful person thank you thank you thank you.
And he scuttles back into the kitchen.
Matt: Er… that’s Mohinder, he’s helping me raise Molly. And… he likes nutmeg.
Audrey: I gathered. Hi, Molly!
Molly: Hi Agent Hanson!
Audrey: And who’s that?
Sylar hasn’t even looked up from mending Molly’s watch. Matt reddens and clears his throat.
Matt: That’s - er - that’s… that’s Sylar.
Audrey: … I take it he’s not a relation?
Matt: No, it’s… it’s the real Sylar. Mohinder brought him. (Audrey just stares) Come over here. We’ll talk.
The two of them go off into a corner, while Sylar - who hasn’t even noticed all this, so caught up in his happy watchworking - suddenly exhales and straightens, a bright happy smile on his face.
Sylar: All done!
He holds it out to Molly, who takes it somewhat suspiciously, looks at it, shakes it, then also beams and fastens it round her wrist.
Molly: Thanks. I guess.
Sylar: No problem.
The doorbell rings, and Molly darts to answer it. It’s Maya y Alejandro.
Maya: Hello! I brought chile-quiles!
Mohinder: That’s very kind of you, Maya, but I really don’t think we’re going to need errr yes, this is Sylar.
Maya and Alejandro have frozen, looking at Sylar, who waves sheepishly.
Sylar: Um, hi, Maya. Alejandro. Long time no see.
Mohinder: (quickly) It’s OK. He’s… here with me.
Alejandro starts talking very quickly in Spanish.
Mohinder: *calling over to Matt* What’s he saying?
Matt: Hell, I’m not translating that in front of Molly.
Mohinder: Maya - he’s not going to hurt you, OK? Tell Alejandro he’s not going to hurt either of you.
Maya turns and starts talking to Alejandro in Spanish. Sylar meanwhile sidles over to Mohinder.
Sylar: Didn’t I, er - kill him?
Mohinder: Magick Blud.
Sylar: Ohhhh.
Matt and Audrey emerge from the corner.
Matt: OK, I explained everything, and she might actually be able to help you.
Sylar: Really?
Audrey: Yes. If you really want to reform, we can help.
Mohinder: You’re not going to - arrest him or anything?
Audrey: Dr Suresh, can you imagine what my report would look like?
Mohinder: … fair point.
There’s a knock on the door again, and Molly runs to answer it.
Audrey: But as long as you’re controlling your murderous impulses, there’s no reason why you can’t -
Peter: SYLAR!
Everyone spins to see the Petrellis have just walked in the door.
Mohinder: Oh no -
Sylar: PETRELLI!
Peter: WE MEET AGAIN!
Sylar: … WELL NOTICED!
Peter: *sparks up* This time, you will not escape!
Sylar: … you mean, unlike last time, when you exploded?
Peter: ONLY A LITTLE!
Sylar: And I, on the other hand, got rescued by a girl and taken away to an exclusive retreat to be treated at the Company’s expense?
Mohinder: Wasn’t it a hut in a jungle-?
Sylar: SHH MOHINDER.
Peter: Yeah… well… I got looked after by the Company as well! And had someone hot looking after me too!
Nathan: I’d say Adam was more ‘pretty’ than ‘hot’-
Peter: I meant Elle!
Nathan: Oh. (pause) Didn’t she keep electroshocking you?
Peter: SHH NATHAN!
Mohinder: Guys, guys - can you not fight? Or at least, not fight in here? The gravy’s at a very tricky stage.
Sylar glares, but lowers his hands.
Sylar: I guess… since it’s Christmas.
Mohinder: Thank you.
Peter also glares and lowers his hands.
Peter: You’re just lucky the gravy was here.
LATER, they are all sat around opening presents. Nathan’s trying on those flying goggles, Peter’s frowning at a Rubik’s cube while Matt smirks behind his hand, and Molly’s struggling with a heavily-taped present.
Sylar: Here, let me get that -
He TKs it to slice it open.
Molly: Thanks!
Mohinder: *opening latest package* Wow, a scarf! Thanks, Nathan!
Nathan: Don’t mention it - Ma had some leftover curtain fabric.
Molly: Mohinder! We’re out of cakes!
Mohinder: Ah - is that Molly-speak for “Mohinder, bring us more cakes”?
Molly: You’ll miss it when I’m at college!
Mohinder grins and takes the empty plate and heads over to the kitchen. Matt gets up and follows.
Matt: He’s not being that bad, actually.
Mohinder: Actually, he’s not being bad at all. I told you he wanted to change.
Matt: Yeah, well, cut me some slack, you were the only one he was nice to in his serial killer days -
Mohinder: ‘Nice to’?!?!
Matt: You know - nice for him. And he definitely likes you a lot.
Mohinder: Have you been reading our thoughts??
Matt: No - it was actually the mistletoe that’s been following you around all day.
Mohinder looks up and sees some mistletoe hanging directly over him, suspended by TK. He looks around at Sylar, who is staring innocently at a speck on the ceiling.
Matt: Why - are your thoughts interesting?
Mohinder: (quickly) Never you mind.
Matt: Anyway - I read his mind, and there really isn’t any dream or notion of eating brains in there. Well, he’s got some homocidal thoughts towards Maya and occasionally Peter, but let’s face it, who doesn’t?
Mohinder: Exactly.
Matt: So I don’t mind so much leaving you here with him around.
Mohinder: That’s great. Wait - leaving?
Matt: That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Audrey’s going back to LA in the new year, and, well - she’s asked me to go with her.
Mohinder: …!
Matt: She says she could get me a job with the FBI down there. Thinks I could do real good in the criminal profiling department, for some reason. And also, she, er, wants to be with me… for some reason.
Mohinder: …….!!
Matt: It’s a great opportunity, Mohinder - and with Air Nathan, I can still come see Molly all the time - I mean, she should really stay here, it would hardly be as good a home for her over there with two busy cops at work most of the day. I’ve already spoken to her about it, and she was sad, but seemed to accept it, as long as she got to be a bridesmaid if we, well, if all goes well.
Mohinder: ………!!!
Matt: … Please say something, Mohinder, you’re only thinking punctuation.
Mohinder: … I’ll miss you.
Matt: I’ll miss you too.
And they hug. A lovely moment, broken only by a cupcake floating off the tray and disappearing into thin air. Matt rolls his eyes.
Matt: Claude!
Claude: (disembodied voice) What?
Matt: House rules! Visibility AND knocking!
Claude: Where’s the fun in that?
Molly’s leapt to her feet, grinning.
Molly: Uncle Claude!
Claude: Hey, Little Miss GPS, where am I?
Molly: Please, you’re by the stove. *footsteps* By the window. *footsteps* Right behind Peter.
Peter: He is? *suddenly jumps about a foot in the air* AAAHH!! Hey, when did you discover I was that ticklish?
Claude: I told you you should punch your brother, didn’t I?
Peter shoots a wounded glare at Nathan. Sylar’s eyes, meanwhile, have lit up.
Sylar: You’re… ticklish?
Peter: Oh yeah, really badly. Practically get paralysed when I’m tickled, I can’t stand it. And there was this one time… when I realised I was an utter idiot for telling this to a bad person with TK?
Sylar, grinning, nods slowly.
BACK TO THE FUTURE!
Mohinder: So Matt moved to LA a couple of weeks later, and Sylar moved in shortly after that.
Molly: Papa Mohinder made sure he was doing well in his serial killer support programme before he let him in.
CUT TO: Room with circle of chairs, where Sylar is standing up facing everyone else sitting down.
Sylar: Hi, my name is Sylar, and I’m a serial killer.
People: *chorus* Hi, Sylar!
Sylar: I still haven’t eaten Peter Petrelli’s brain.
Everyone applauds politely.
Elle: Big deal, I bet you wouldn’t find much in there anyway-
Group co-ordinator: Elle, you wait your turn.
Elle rolls her eyes and crackles electricity in her hands.
BACK TO THE SURESH APARTMENT!
Mohinder: … and so, that’s how this whole crazy set-up came into being.
Lyle: Wow.
Molly: I know, my family project is going to be really interesting this year.
Lyle: No, I just never imagined Peter Petrelli to be that ticklish.
Sylar: Oh no, he really is, watch -
Peter: No, no-!
He’s suddenly wracked with paralysing giggles as he’s tickled mercilessly by some unseen force. Everyone watches as he giggles so much he falls off the sofa, and continues shaking on the floor.
Lyle: *raising eyebrows* Huh.
Nathan: Please don’t break my little brother.
Sylar: Fine, fine…
Sylar looks away, and Peter stops giggling, and just lies still on the floor.
Nathan: You ‘kay, Pete?
Pete mumbles something incoherently.
Nathan: He’s fine.
THE END! Coming soon - Episode 3! It's posted on my LJ as I write it, then the entire episode's put up here.
DVD EXTRAS!:
* Deleted scene: For your mental image pleasure, Mohinder sung the entire of 'Without You' in a very over-emotional way, scrunching up his face with the pain of tragic love and practically rolling around the stage at the dramatic parts. Finally, at the end, he just fell back on the stage, and Sylar had to go help him up.
"Are you OK?"
"It's just... such... a BEAUTIFUL SONG..."
"I know, you really made us feel it along with you, it was very moving-"
"It WAS?"
"Yeah, totally wasn't a dry eye in the house. Come on, doctor, let's get you home..."
And as Sylar drags Mohinder out of the bar, he giggles and goes, "Hee. Your name is ZANE. Like ZANY."
Also, it's available in macro form: http://hobbit-eyes.livejournal.com/76850.html#cutid1
** This scene is also available in macro form: http://hobbit-eyes.livejournal.com/78515.html#cutid1
Words: 7,076
Rating: PG for hints dropped
Warnings: Unstable levels of crack
Summery: AU - Mohinder, Sylar and Molly are all living together, and trying to manage in a domestic setting. In this episode, Lyle asks just how this came about, prompting many flashbacks, involving taking down the Company, being marooned on desert islands, and the first Mylar Christmas.
Notes: I do recommend reading episode 1 first ( http://community.livejournal.com/mylar_fic/455512.html#cutid1) but it still works as a stand-alone.
Episode 2 - “Dad doesn’t go to murderer rehab, Molly.”
Thanks to all the wonderful people at the Television Without Pity HoYay board for the wonderful cracky ideas behind this!
Suresh apartment, later that night. Molly, Mohinder and Sylar are all squashed on the sofa - Sylar and Molly both have fluffy-socked feet up on the coffee table, which Mohinder has quietly refrained from commenting on.
Lyle emerges from Molly’s room, where he’s been dumping his small amount of stuff.
Lyle: Gee, I guess it was really nice of Dad to organise me this holiday without telling me so it would be a surprise!
Mohinder: Yes, it really was.
Molly: Really nice of him.
Sylar: *just raises an eyebrow without looking away from the TV screen*
Lyle: Yeah… except… I don’t really know you people. Like… at all.
Mohinder: … just makes it even more surprising, doesn’t it?
Sylar: I know your father quite well.
Lyle: You do?
Sylar: Oh yes, we’ve had quite a few interesting conversations. And I went to your sister’s homecoming. And then I went round to your house one time and met your mother. And your little fluffy dog…
Mohinder: *interrupting loudly* Er, and Molly’s met your dad too, haven’t you Molly?
Molly: Oh yes! Was he the one who was going to shoot me?
Mohinder: … Who’s for ice-cream?!
He hurriedly gets up and practically runs over to the freezer. In the awkward silence, Molly digs Sylar in the ribs to make him scooch over so that Lyle can sit down on the sofa too.
Lyle: So… you all live here together? A geneticist, a schoolgirl and… er…
Sylar: Between jobs.
Lyle: … yeah… so, how did this happen?
Everyone looks at each other.
Mohinder: Well, I guess it all started the day Molly’s science lab had to be evacuated…
Everyone looks nostalgic, and…
FLASHBACK! To a generic school science lab, where a bunch of kids are assembled around smoking beakers on bunsen burners, one between two. Molly’s partner Suzie is tentatively adding powder from a jar to theirs.
Teacher: Now, kids, be careful, you only need a little bit…
Molly: *frowns* Huh, that’s strange.
Suzie: What?
Molly: Mr Thomas is in the stationery cupboard.
Suzie: So? Maybe he’s getting something.
Molly: Yeah, but Mr Davison is in there too. And they’re standing REALLY close together.
Suzie: WHAT?
As Suzie turns round in astonishment, her hand slips, and all the powder in the jar falls in. It immediately starts to boil and vapour starts pouring from it.
Molly: Er - sir? -
CUT TO a taxi, where Mohinder is sitting in the backseat alongside a vaguely exploded Molly, with sticky-out hair and a sooty face.
Molly: … but I STILL don’t get why Mr Thomas and Mr Davison were having a special hug.
Mohinder: Er… well, Molly… sometimes when a guy and another guy love each other very much -
Molly: Like you and Matt?
Mohinder: Yes - no - I mean - that’s different. Anyway, what I’m trying to say is - guys have special hugs with each too, not just mummies and daddies.
Molly: Oh, I knew THAT.
Mohinder: … you did?
Molly: Yeah. I was just wondering why those two were having one when Mr Thomas is so much prettier than Mr Davison.
Mohinder: … oh.
Molly: I mean, it would be like you having a special hug with, like, Bob.
Mohinder: Molly! That’s not very nice.
Molly: I’m just SAYING. It’d make more sense for you to have one with, I don’t know, Mr Petrelli. Maybe even Mr Sylar.
Mohinder: What? Mr Sylar isn’t PRETTY.
Molly: Well, the nose is a bit odd, but -
They are interrupted by Mohinder’s phone ringing.
Mohinder: Hello?
Sylar: I’m hurt, Mohinder. Deeply offended.
Mohinder: You - what??
Sylar: I know my eyebrows are striking features not everyone can get past, but I’d consider myself at least equal to either of the Petrellis. Especially when they have emo fringes and beards.
Mohinder: *craning around* Where are you?
Sylar: Close enough nearby to hear you. So close enough for you to worry about.
We pan upwards to reveal Sylar happily sitting cross-legged on the cab roof as it drives along, unnoticed by anyone within.
Sylar: I just want a chat, is all.
Mohinder: I’m not a chatty person.
Sylar: Yes, I remember, but you loosen up after a few drinks. I never knew super memory would be so fun.
Mohinder reddens.
Mohinder: That was ONE NIGHT -
Sylar: Yes, but memories are eternal treasures. Especially when they involve karaoke.*
FLASHBACK WITHIN A FLASHBACK! Well, I couldn’t just say that then let it go, could I?? A bar somewhere in Montana.
Mohinder: - so then I tried telling my dad how much I loved his book, but he just shut me out as usual. I tried so hard to get his love and attention, but he just…
Sylar: *handing him more drinks* I know, I know. Parents are difficult.
Mohinder: Oh no, Zane, I shouldn’t drink more, I’m driving tomorrow -
Sylar: So what was that about you being born just to save his other daughter?
Mohinder: Oh, that, WELL -
SEVERAL HOURS LATER, Mohinder is considerably more tipsy.
Mohinder: … sho Petereletelli gets in my cab, and starts blathering on about being special and doing stuff that was extraordinary! And I’m just “DUDE, I’m driving a CAB. Maybe you could see that if you CUT YOUR HAIR.”
Sylar: The nerve. More drink?
Mohinder: *taking glass* Really shouldn’t. *knocks it back* Very bad of me. Anyway -
EVEN MORE LATER, Mohinder is doing karaoke.
Mohinder: CAAAAN’T LIIIIIIIIIVE if livin’sh without yooooou…. I CAN’T LIIIIIIIIIIIIVE, CAN’T LIIIIIIIIIIVE ANY MOOOOOORE-
He’s hanging onto the microphone stand as if his very balance depends on it. Sylar grins at his surrounding bar patrons.
Sylar: He’s with me.
Mohinder, meanwhile, flings out his arms to the side dramatically to emphasise the tragedy of the song, and topples sideways off the stage. *
WE NOW RETURN YOU TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED FLASHBACK.
Sylar: Anyway, meet me at that Italian restaurant we went to when we got back from the road trip, ‘kay? I’m sure you remember it.
Mohinder: Why should I?
Sylar: Because you’re a scientist and naturally curious? Plus I know you love their tartufo. See you there.
Mohinder: Are you asking me on a DATE?
Sylar: Course not. You might want to go home and change though, it’s a nice place, I don’t think that scarf is appropriate. Dress pretty, toodles!
And he hangs up. Mohinder stares at the phone.
Molly: Are you OK, Papa Mohinder?
Mohinder: Yes, Molly, just… my life is strange.
~~~~ OPENING CREDITS!!! ~~~
SCENE - That Italian Restaurant
Mohinder enters, looking all stompy and determined, and looks around for Sylar, who waves wildly and grins from across the room. Mohinder goes and sits down huffily.
Mohinder: Right, what’s this about?
Sylar: Hey, I ordered us the mozzarella sticks to start. You like those, right?
Mohinder: What??
Sylar: Look, I know you prefer the garlic mushrooms, but let’s face it, I have to sit opposite you for the next hour or so, and I don’t want garlic-face. Consideration, you know?
Mohinder: … Why have you called me here?
Sylar: Oh! That! Don’t you want to wait till we’ve ordered?
Mohinder: I don’t want to order anything!
Sylar: Really? Eating regularly is key to a healthy diet, Dr Suresh.
Mohinder: I think your diet and mine differ quite considerably, Mr Sylar.
Sylar: Oh! HA! Because of the whole *air-quotes* “Eating Brains” thing! I get it! You’re a wag, Dr Suresh. Now, I’m going to stick with tagliatelle - you want to split some garlic bread?
Mohinder: …
Later, the food has arrived. Mohinder is just sitting there, food untouched, staring at Sylar, who is happily twirling tagliatelle round his fork and already has pasta sauce round his mouth. Finally, Mohinder snaps.
Mohinder: So why did you ask me here?
Sylar: Whoa, steady, doctor! Patience isn’t just an opera.
Mohinder: … it IS an opera?
Sylar: Oh yes, by Gilbert and Sullivan. It was first performed in 1881 -
Mohinder: Sylar!
Sylar: Fine. It’s simple. You’re out against the Company at the moment, are you not?
Mohinder: How did you-
Sylar: Just a guess. Well, I’m not exactly happy with them either. So why don’t we work together?
Mohinder: HA. Sorry. What?
Sylar: What?
Mohinder: You’re joking, aren’t you?
Sylar: Yes, this is indeed one of those jokes I’m so well known for.
Mohinder: You can’t be serious.
Sylar: Why not? You’ve got the brains, and I’ve got - other people’s brains…
Mohinder: *standing up* This is absurd. I’m leaving.
Sylar: But - wait - the tartufo!
Mohinder: *weakens for a moment, then gets resolved face* No! I’m not going to sit here with a serial killer and eat pasta. Did you really expect me to agree with you, Sylar? To put everything that’s happened to one side and pretend it never happened? You’ve got super memory - you remember you killed my father, right?
Sylar: Well, yes…
Mohinder: I don’t know about you, but I find it difficult to get past the murder of a parent.
That stings. Mohinder gets up and starts to leave, being briefly accosted by a party by the door who insist on putting a party hat on his head. Sylar is left alone, looking surprised, even disappointed. But then he seems to remember something, and looks horrified, and quickly runs after him.
OUTSIDE, Mohinder tries to hail a cab, when someone approaches him.
Shady McBadGuy: Dr Suresh?
Mohinder: Oh goodness, for the last time, I didn’t post those pictures on the internet, my friend Nathan has a strange sense of humour -
Shady McBadGuy: Dr Suresh, I’m going to have to ask you to come with me.
Mohinder: … why?
Shady McBadGuy: The Company knows what you’re trying to do. They just want a chat about it.
Mohinder: You’re the second person today to be under the false impression I like to chat. No, I’m going home.
Shady McBadGuy: I’m told to use any means necessary…
Mohinder: Use ‘em. You can bet I’ve faced worse.
As Mohinder turns to get into a cab, Shady McBadGuy suddenly punches Mohinder, and he goes flying dramatically, because that is and always will be Mohinder’s reaction to being punched. Molly finds it hilarious.
However, before Shady McBadGuy can even move, he finds himself being flung through the air by TK into the nearest lamppost. As he looks up, he sees Sylar striding towards him, hand raised, looking all kinds of pissed off.
Sylar: I’ll be back to deal with you later. If you’ve broken his nose, you’ll wish you had a power so I’d just eat your brain and be done with it.
Ice shoots out of his hand, freezing the guy to the lamppost. Sylar then turns and runs to Mohinder, who’s been knocked out after landing against a fire hydrant.
Sylar: *rolls eyes* Honestly, Dr Suresh, you should just start wearing a crash helmet everywhere.
He slings Mohinder over his shoulders, and heads to -
SCENE: The Matthinder Apartment
Molly: Matt, where’s Mohinder?
Matt: He just had to go meet someone, Molly.
Molly: Is it a date?
Matt: Of course not. It’s just a, er, perfectly normal meeting of acquaintances.
At that moment, Sylar kicks the door in, with unconscious Mohinder in his arms.
Sylar: Right, where’s the bed?
Matt leaps to his feet, probably trying to remember the antidote to Rohypnol.
Molly: Papa Mohinder??
Matt: Molly, run next door to Maya’s, now.
Molly: What’s wrong with him??
Sylar: He’ll be fine -
Molly: Why’s the Boogeyman here??
Matt: Molly, go! I’ll come get you in a minute!
Molly doesn’t look happy about it, but runs out the door and goes along to Maya’s. Then Matt rounds on Sylar.
Matt: She has a point. Why ARE you here? And what’s happened to Mohinder?
Sylar: *walking into Mohinder’s room and putting him on the bed* I’m here because your roommate got himself into some trouble and I was kind enough not to leave his pretty self unconscious in the middle of the street, just asking for more trouble of a more debauched nature.
Matt: … Did you just call Mohinder pretty?
Sylar: ARE YOU GOING TO GET THE MAN SOME ICE?
Matt scuttles out. Just then, Mohinder groans. Sylar quickly turns round and kneels down next to him, just as Mohinder opens his eyes. Our favourite geneticist blearily looks around, taking in his surroundings - back home, in his bed… with Sylar looming over him.
Mohinder: *leaping away* Ack!
Sylar: Are you OK?
Mohinder: WhatwherewhyhowWHY? WHY are you here?? WHY???
Sylar: Oh, THAT’S gratitude. You’d just had your nose dented by a Company guy again, and I happen to have the sense of duty to bring you home to your apartment, and am just met by suspicion and demanding questions. And people wonder why I turned evil.
Mohinder: Yes, I can imagine it’s a vicious circle. Sylar, what-
Sylar: I painted a picture a couple of days ago of you unconscious next to a fire hydrant. I guessed then you might need some help with the whole going-up-against-the-Company thing. But I didn’t know when it was going to happen - till you had that party hat put on.
And Sylar takes out a photo of a painting of the earlier scene - Mohinder unconscious against the fire hydrant, party hat askew on his curls.
Mohinder: Well… er… thanks.
Sylar: Don’t think I did it for YOU. I’ve got a Company guy back there who I’m going to get the information I need off. I was just paying a courtesy getting you back here.
Mohinder: Well… still… thank you.
And he means it. Sylar, not quite sure of how to react, just stands there, then turns and walks quickly out of the room. Mohinder hears the door slam shut behind him, and falls back onto the pillow, as Matt comes in with ice.
Matt: Hey doc, you all right?
Mohinder: Oh yes. I’m rather getting used to being punched in the face.
Matt: I meant the whole Sylar thing. It must be pretty disturbing having him trying to be nice to you.
Mohinder: … oh yeah. Yeah, really disturbing.
Fade out on Mohinder’s pensive face to Sylar walking along the streets, looking similarly troubled. But his expression clears as he approaches the guy on the lamppost, as he sees a definite task to be done that he thinks he might enjoy. His hand starts to glow, and he holds it up to melt the ice.
Sylar: Hi. Now, I’m a REAL chatty person.
SCENE: Back at the Suresh Apartment
Mohinder: So there we were. I was trying to find out about the Company in my own way, and Sylar was trying to find out… in his way.
Molly: Freezing people to lampposts?
Sylar: *nostalgic* Good times.
Mohinder: So of course, eventually, our paths crossed again.
SCENE: Outside a Company Facility. We have a Hero shot - Mohinder, Matt, Nathan and Peter striding down the street towards it, in slo-mo. Imagine 300-esque guitar riff in the background, them all silhouetted against the sun. Hell, have it be an eclipse. This shot would be used in every single promo for months. And they should all look pretty.
Mohinder: Right, everyone remember the plan. Matt, read minds of security people and influence them to just go home and watch TV. Nathan, fly up and take out their power supply. Peter - just don’t explode, OK? And I’ll get into the computer and try to find out where the main files room is, there we can AAARGH!
He opens the door to the building and finds Sylar standing directly behind it.
Sylar: Your plan sucks.
Mohinder: WHAT?!? WHAT - WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE??? You can’t just - stand behind - WHY? WHO DOES THAT?
Sylar ignores his mild panic attack and takes out some photos of paintings from his pocket. He hands the topmost one to Mohinder.
Sylar: See this picture here? It’s you failing utterly.
Matt: Wait, where did you get that?
Sylar: I painted it. *at Peter’s face* Oh yes, Chuckles, I can paint the future too. Anyway, your plan goes wrong. Sure, Matt takes out the security people you can see, but there are lots more, who alert more, till there’s more than he can handle. Nathan pulls the wrong wire and gets more than slightly singed. Mohinder - it took you how long to figure out your dad’s password was ‘Shanti’? Do you think you can manage hacking a mainframe? As for Peter - ha, his fail is so epic I might just sell it on e-bay.
Peter: What? What is it??
Sylar: Oh, I think it’s beyond words… Actually, I took the liberty of painting it lots of times, so you can see it almost in live-action with this handy flip-book.
And he holds out a flip book, and flicks the pages of one corner, so they can see, through a series of paintings, Peter over-enthusiastically shooting some lightning, tripping over his shoelaces, falling over and immediately exploding.
Nathan: That’s… well…
Sylar: You should see the other side.
Peter: I wouldn’t have done that!!
Sylar: Well, you won’t NOW. For one thing, I’m here to tell you your shoelaces are untied.
Peter: *looks down* … oh.
Sylar: For another, I can help you.
Mohinder: I don’t think that’s -
Sylar: I have just as many powers as Fallout Boy here, and I’m less likely to explode. Look, Dr Suresh - for the second time, we want the same thing -
Mohinder: WHEN was the first time?
Sylar: We both wanted to find special people, didn’t we?
Mohinder: You wanted to kill them and snack on their brains!
Sylar: Motivations aside, we still had a common goal! And it was so much better doing it together-
Nathan snerks. Matt glares at him.
Sylar: - than going alone, wasn’t it? Those days were fun, weren’t they?
Mohinder: The days I spent with ZANE were fun, yes.
Sylar: But that was me. That was always me. That’s still me.
Mohinder: No it isn’t. It was a persona you adopted. You are not, and never were, Zane Taylor. He was better than you.
Peter: Come on! We don’t need this guy! What could go wrong?
Nathan: … Peter, your shoelaces are still untied!
Peter: *looks down again* Oh, right. *ducks to tie them*
Sylar: Everyone has their secrets, Mohinder. Did you know Zane Taylor sold drugs to kids?
Mohinder: No he didn’t.
Sylar: Yeah he did. Heroin AND crack.
Mohinder: No, he didn’t.
Sylar: Well, he totally could have done. You don’t know.
Mohinder: Why are you so desperate to help??
Sylar: Because I want to take down the Company just as much as you do. And I knew if I didn’t help you, you’d get killed.
Mohinder: Why do you even CARE? I tried to kill you.
Sylar: I only wish I knew, Mohinder.
Awkward silence. Meanwhile, the others have been shifting uncomfortably. Finally, Peter snaps.
Peter: Screw this! Let’s do it! *charges in* PEEETER PETRELLIIII!!!!
Everyone stares after him, aghast, as shouting and bright light erupts from the room.
Sylar: … Sooo you might need my help?
Mohinder: I - well - fine, just stop him from being an idiot, alright?
Sylar: *grins* Thanks, Mohinder.
Mohinder: Whatever.
And the four of them run in, another fantastic Hero shot.
***COMMERCIAL BREAK! Coming soon, on the Heroes network - The Cookery Hour, with Mr Linderman! How to make a delicious pot pie, and STILL have time to heal the world! ***
Back from commercials, we cut straight to a massive battle going on. The security guards are all lined up with guns, facing our heroes.
Mohinder: Oh no! What do we do?
Matt: I can’t stop them all!
Nathan: Peter - it’s up to you! You’re our only hope!
Peter turns to face them and flashes them a cocky grin, with a twinkle on his teeth.
Peter: Don’t worry, guys. I can save the world. I’m a Hero.
And Peter steps forward to rising dramatic music, closes his eyes, and sends out a massive wave of power which disintegrates all their guns, and then all the important people come running out of their offices waving white flags, and everyone cheers, and-
Molly V/O: Mohinder! Make Uncle Peter tell it right!!
Scene: Suresh Apartment. They have been joined by the Petrellis.
Peter: But that’s what happened!
Nathan: In all fairness, Pete, Sylar did help a lot.
Sylar: And I don’t think the lighting in there was quite so flattering.
Lyle: So… you guys brought down a Company?
Molly: THE Company.
Mohinder: Well, not entirely… but we certainly prevented that particular Apocalypse.
Nathan: In the end, we needn’t have even bothered with fighting.
FLASHBACK SCENE: Bob’s office
Mohinder: Bob, whatever nefarious things you’re up to, just - stop it!
Bob just stares blankly. Mohinder looks nervous, but then dares to unleash his power - the Sunshine Smile.
Mohinder: *beaming* Please?
Bob: Of course! Whatever you want, Dr Suresh. Mohinder.
Mohinder: Er… thanks. We’ll just be going, then.
Bob: MoMo.
Mohinder: … yeah.
And he quickly scuttles out to join the others.
SCENE: Mohinder’s Apartment
Lyle: Well, that doesn’t sound like it was difficult at all.
Mohinder: … no, Lyle, of course it wasn’t. Just simple talking, and in no way… disturbing, or… slightly traumatising.
He shudders slightly, and Sylar puts an arm round his shoulders.
Nathan: Well, after that, Dr Suresh wanted… a bit of a break.
FLASHBACK SCENE:
Mohinder is throwing stuff into a suitcase.
Mohinder: I’ve had it up to here with Apocalypses, alright? I need a break. When we’re at the level of needing a serial killer’s help…
Nathan: Well, he DID help.
Mohinder: I don’t care! He killed lots of people, he killed my father -
Nathan: Oh yes, and Mr Bennet shot himself in the eye, did he?
Mohinder: I brought him back!
Nathan: Would you have shot him even if you didn’t have Magick Blud?
Mohinder: I… of course not! I -
Nathan: Because I seem to remember you saying once that just because you had a failsafe, it didn’t make something ethical.
Mohinder: I… well…
Nathan: Look, Mohinder - availability of Magick Blud aside, he really seemed to want to change. I did bad stuff myself in the past - hell, I was going to let New York explode. Even Sylar balked at that. If he wants to redeem himself, isn’t that better than letting him loose to go kill more innocent people?
Mohinder: Well, of course. But what he does is his own business.
Nathan: But that’s the thing, Mohinder. I don’t think he’s going to bother unless it IS your business.
Mohinder: … what?
Nathan: He cares about what you think of him. Haven’t you noticed?
Mohinder: …
Nathan: Oh, poor Mohinder. Thank god you’re pretty.
Mohinder: … I just need a holiday. Sun, sea, sand. I’ll deal with this when I get back. Can you fly me somewhere? Mauritius, maybe?
Nathan: As you long as you promise to at least talk to him when you next see him.
Mohinder: Fine, fine…
ONE SHORT AIR NATHAN FLIGHT LATER, Nathan drops Mohinder off on a deserted white-sand beach. Mohinder immediately takes his jacket off and smiles up at the sun.
Mohinder: Oh, that’s better. Completely alone…
Nathan: Well - not quite.
Mohinder: What?
Nathan: I’m a very bad person.
He points behind Mohinder. Mohinder turns and sees Sylar on a sunlounger underneath a palm tree, wearing huge sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt, grinning and waving.
Sylar: Hey Mohinder! I made margaritas!
Mohinder spins back to Nathan, but he’s already super-zipped off into the air.
Mohinder: DAMN YOU PETRELLI!
But of course, he can’t hear him. Mohinder sighs and looks back down to the sand. And then back to Sylar along the beach. Sylar lowers his sunglasses on his nose and looks at Mohinder over them.
Sylar: So… Nathan said you wanted to talk to me?
Scene: the Suresh household
Lyle: So Nathan just left you both there together?
Sylar: Yes. For six weeks.
Lyle: Wow. What did you do to pass the time??
Molly: Oh come on Lyle, what do you THINK they did?
Flashback Scene: the desert island. Sylar’s still in full tropical gear on the sunlounger, but Mohinder is stubbornly remaining in his usual clothes, sitting on top of his bag with his arms folded in a sulk.
Sylar: Come on, you’ve still got 17 questions left.
Mohinder: I can’t believe I’m even doing this.
Sylar: Come ooon… I’m a thing, I’m animal, I’m part of a human -
Mohinder: Brain.
Sylar: … dang.
Mohinder: Did Nathan say when he was coming back?
Sylar: When we were done chatting, he said. What are we even supposed to be chatting about?
Mohinder: I don’t know.
Sylar: Liar.
Mohinder: Excuse me?
Sylar: Your heart-rate increased. Come on, what are we supposed to be talking about?
Mohinder: I’d rather if you didn’t use your powers, thank you.
Sylar: I couldn’t exactly help it.
Mohinder: Fine. Nathan has this crazy idea that you could change, and that you wouldn’t bother if I didn’t care about it.
Sylar: (pause) You think that’s crazy?
Mohinder: Well, it’s ridiculous, isn’t it?
Sylar: ... You know what’s ridiculous? You still wearing those city clothes.
Mohinder: Oh, come on -
Sylar: I’m serious. Nathan Petrelli isn’t coming back for you any time soon. You might as well dress appropriately.
Mohinder: I don’t think -
Sylar: I saved you the bright paisley one.
Mohinder rolls his eyes, but it’s true - it’s ridiculously hot.
Mohinder: Fine. I can go get changed over there, maybe -
Sylar: Please, Dr Suresh, you’re only taking your shirt off. I can look away, if you like.
Mohinder rolls his eyes, but takes the shirt and starts to remove his jacket. Sylar starts clapping and humming the stripper music.
Sylar: Ba-da-ba - dum! Ba-da-ba - dum!
Mohinder stops and glares.
Sylar: Sorry. Carry on.
Mohinder sulkily changes into a floral shirt (because hell, if Heroes won’t give me shirtless Mohinder, I’ll just have to create it for myself) and sits down on a sunlounger next to Sylar’s.
Sylar: Margarita?
Mohinder: What? No! I’m stuck on an island with a serial killer. This is a horrible enough situation without adding alcohol into the mix.
Sylar: Enough alcohol and you won’t even remember it.
Mohinder: … that’s a very fair point. *grabs glass* Cheers.
LATER - The island at night. They’ve got a fire going, and the pile of empty margarita glasses between the sunloungers says something about their level of inebriation. Sylar is in the middle of a story which Mohinder can’t help but laugh at.
Sylar: … and boy, I’d never trust a nun from Nebraska again!
Mohinder: I’d hope not! (pause) Damn, Sylar, it’s not fair.
Sylar: What’s not?
Mohinder: Well, you’ve had the chance to travel all across the country and had all these experiences. Sure, you were eating brains, but still, you had that kind of freedom I can only dream of, you know? I mean, closest I ever came was… well, our road trip.
Sylar: Yeah.
Mohinder: And look how THAT turned out.
Sylar: With bondage and torture? Some people wouldn’t mind that.
Mohinder: You know what I mean.
Sylar: Yeah, I do. (pause) We did have fun though, didn’t we?
Mohinder: What?
Sylar: The Zany days. Admit it, we had a good time.
Mohinder: Well, yeah. You were nice.
Sylar: Yeah?
Mohinder: Yeah. I mean, I don’t have many friends - I’m not good with people - but we had something to talk about, you know? I guess that and a shared goal just made it easier to loosen up a bit.
Sylar: Really?
Mohinder: Yeah.
Sylar: Huh.
Mohinder: Of course, this was before the whole serial killer thing.
There’s a slight awkward pause.
Sylar: It was the same for me, you know. I always had my mum telling me I wasn’t special enough, and then your dad - but then you came along, and you seemed to think I was fine the way I was. It… changed me, I think.
Mohinder: Huh.
Sylar: Yeah.
Mohinder: But then there was the whole serial killer thing.
Sylar: What if I stopped?
Mohinder: What?
Sylar: What if I stopped taking other people’s powers? Just - stopped?
Mohinder: … well, that’s not exactly going to bring the others back, is it?
Sylar: Well, no, but - I’d try to make up for what I’d done. Use my powers for good, and all that. And you could help me, Mohinder! You could make me a better man!
Mohinder: Hahahahahahahaha.
Sylar: What?
Mohinder: What, you’re serious?
Sylar: Yes. I want your help.
Mohinder: … you want me to help you redeem yourself?
Sylar: Yes.
Mohinder: I don’t think that’s the best idea.
Sylar: Well, why not?
Mohinder: Well, I’m not exactly impersonal, am I? You killed my father.
Sylar: But that’s fantastic!
Mohinder: Really? Doesn’t seem great.
Sylar: No - you’re, like, my ultimate judge! Only when I’ve won your forgiveness do I know I’ve redeemed myself.
Mohinder: I’ll never forgive you for that.
Sylar: Well, your acceptance. What do you say, Mohinder? Can you save the world?
Mohinder: I don’t think so.
Sylar: … can you save me?
Mohinder: … you’re really serious about this, aren’t you?
Sylar: More than you know.
Mohinder: … OK.
Sylar: Really?
Mohinder: OK. I’ll try to help you.
Sylar’s face breaks out into a huge grin.
Sylar: Thanks, Mohinder.
Mohinder: Less chitchat, more margaritas.
And so begins the merry montage of island life! Mohinder and Sylar go swimming, they shake coconuts out of trees, they draw shapes in the sand and make sandcastles, they come across a polar bear in the jungle which they stare at blankly before Sylar TKs it unconscious.
On another later night, they are both sitting on the sand looking up at the stars. Mohinder looks at Sylar, but looks away when Sylar looks back at him. Sylar keeps staring at him, so he looks back. There is some deep eye-gazing going on here. And then -
Scene: Suresh apartment
Molly: What? What happened then?
Mohinder has gone rather pink.
Mohinder: Then, er, Uncle Sylar gave me a hug and then we went to sleep.
Sylar: But we knew now that we were very special friends.
~~~COMMERCIAL BREAK! The Mr Muggles Doggy Bath! Perfect for both psycho-electro-girl containment AND making sure your special pooch’s fur has 100% Fluffability! ~~~
Scene: The Suresh Apartment
Lyle: So how long were you on the island for?
Mohinder: Until Christmas. Then Nathan kindly deigned to pick us up again.
Nathan: Eh. The boys wanted Nintendo Wiis for Christmas - they were far cheaper in Tokyo, and you were on my way, so…
Flashback scene: Suresh & Parkman apartment, all decorated for Christmas and Hanukkah. Matt is running around setting things up while Molly feels presents under the tree. There’s a knock at the door, and Molly runs to answer it. Mohinder and Sylar are there, with armfuls of presents, and her face immediately brightens and she throws her arms around him.
Molly: Papa Mohinder! You’re back! And - Boogeyman?
Mohinder: Don’t worry, Molly, it’s OK. He’s not going to hurt you.
Sylar makes the ‘BRAAINS’ face at Molly over Mohinder’s shoulder. She squeaks and runs off. Mohinder looks back at him, just as he rearranges his face into an innocent expression.
Mohinder: Sylar? What did you do?
Sylar: Who? Me? Nothing! Nothing.
Not looking convinced, Mohinder still enters the apartment, and Sylar follows.
Mohinder: Hey Matt - how’s the cooking going?
Matt: Not even started. I left it all for you. Don’t look at me like that, Mohinder, I knew what you’d say if I started without you.
Mohinder: Oh yes? And what would I say?
Matt: Absolutely nothing. But I know you’d be annoyed.
Mohinder rolls his eyes, but is secretly pleased. He grabs the ‘World’s Greatest Dad’ apron and heads into the kitchen.
Matt: MollyDoll and I went out yesterday and got everything you needed, though!
Molly: Not everything. Matt forgot the nutmeg.
Matt: Oh yeah, well, it’s not that important, right?
Mohinder’s eye twitches.
Mohinder: Of course not. We’ll just have to manage without. Who else is coming?
Matt: Oh, the Petrellis, and the Ferreras, and Claude said he might stop by… Oh, and Audrey.
Mohinder: Audrey?
Matt: We used to work together, and she’s stuck in this city on a case over the holiday, so I said she could come round…
Meanwhile, Sylar comes over to Molly, who’s now sat cross-legged on the floor wrapping up presents. As he approaches, she glares up at him with evident mistrust, but doesn’t say anything.
Sylar: Hello, small girl.
Molly: We’ve met before.
Sylar: We have?
Molly: Yes. You killed my mum and dad and then tried to kidnap me from the FBI.
Sylar: … oh. Yeah.
Molly just keeps wrapping the present. Sylar looks at Mohinder desperately, but he’s busy cutting up potatoes, and Matt’s watching Sylar and Molly closely. Vaguely awkward, he turns back to Molly.
Sylar: So … who’s that for?
Molly: Nathan. It’s flight goggles for when he goes flying.
Sylar: That’s really nice.
Molly: *duh* I know.
Sylar: You should see some glasses I used to have. They used to have lots of little microscopic attachments so I could see the watch I was fixing better.
Molly: You used to fix watches?
Sylar: I did.
Molly: Mine’s broken.
Sylar raises an eyebrow. Molly takes a purple-strap watch with bumblebees on it out of her pocket and hands it to him.
Molly: Mohinder gave it to me for my birthday. Could you fix it?
Sylar is staring closely at it, his face alight with eagerness.
Sylar: Yes. Yes I can.
He hurries over to Mohinder’s desk, turns on the lamp, and gets to work. Molly watches curiously from the floor.
There’s a knock at the door and Matt runs to answer it. It’s Audrey.
Matt: Oh! Hi, Audrey! I mean, Agent Hanson, sorry.
Audrey: Oh, that’s OK, Matt. I brought nutmeg.
Matt: What? How did you-
Molly: I knew she lived near a grocery store. And her number’s on our speed-dial.
Mohinder has hurried over, and he takes the small bottle from her with great reverence.
Mohinder: You are an amazing delightful person thank you thank you thank you.
And he scuttles back into the kitchen.
Matt: Er… that’s Mohinder, he’s helping me raise Molly. And… he likes nutmeg.
Audrey: I gathered. Hi, Molly!
Molly: Hi Agent Hanson!
Audrey: And who’s that?
Sylar hasn’t even looked up from mending Molly’s watch. Matt reddens and clears his throat.
Matt: That’s - er - that’s… that’s Sylar.
Audrey: … I take it he’s not a relation?
Matt: No, it’s… it’s the real Sylar. Mohinder brought him. (Audrey just stares) Come over here. We’ll talk.
The two of them go off into a corner, while Sylar - who hasn’t even noticed all this, so caught up in his happy watchworking - suddenly exhales and straightens, a bright happy smile on his face.
Sylar: All done!
He holds it out to Molly, who takes it somewhat suspiciously, looks at it, shakes it, then also beams and fastens it round her wrist.
Molly: Thanks. I guess.
Sylar: No problem.
The doorbell rings, and Molly darts to answer it. It’s Maya y Alejandro.
Maya: Hello! I brought chile-quiles!
Mohinder: That’s very kind of you, Maya, but I really don’t think we’re going to need errr yes, this is Sylar.
Maya and Alejandro have frozen, looking at Sylar, who waves sheepishly.
Sylar: Um, hi, Maya. Alejandro. Long time no see.
Mohinder: (quickly) It’s OK. He’s… here with me.
Alejandro starts talking very quickly in Spanish.
Mohinder: *calling over to Matt* What’s he saying?
Matt: Hell, I’m not translating that in front of Molly.
Mohinder: Maya - he’s not going to hurt you, OK? Tell Alejandro he’s not going to hurt either of you.
Maya turns and starts talking to Alejandro in Spanish. Sylar meanwhile sidles over to Mohinder.
Sylar: Didn’t I, er - kill him?
Mohinder: Magick Blud.
Sylar: Ohhhh.
Matt and Audrey emerge from the corner.
Matt: OK, I explained everything, and she might actually be able to help you.
Sylar: Really?
Audrey: Yes. If you really want to reform, we can help.
Mohinder: You’re not going to - arrest him or anything?
Audrey: Dr Suresh, can you imagine what my report would look like?
Mohinder: … fair point.
There’s a knock on the door again, and Molly runs to answer it.
Audrey: But as long as you’re controlling your murderous impulses, there’s no reason why you can’t -
Peter: SYLAR!
Everyone spins to see the Petrellis have just walked in the door.
Mohinder: Oh no -
Sylar: PETRELLI!
Peter: WE MEET AGAIN!
Sylar: … WELL NOTICED!
Peter: *sparks up* This time, you will not escape!
Sylar: … you mean, unlike last time, when you exploded?
Peter: ONLY A LITTLE!
Sylar: And I, on the other hand, got rescued by a girl and taken away to an exclusive retreat to be treated at the Company’s expense?
Mohinder: Wasn’t it a hut in a jungle-?
Sylar: SHH MOHINDER.
Peter: Yeah… well… I got looked after by the Company as well! And had someone hot looking after me too!
Nathan: I’d say Adam was more ‘pretty’ than ‘hot’-
Peter: I meant Elle!
Nathan: Oh. (pause) Didn’t she keep electroshocking you?
Peter: SHH NATHAN!
Mohinder: Guys, guys - can you not fight? Or at least, not fight in here? The gravy’s at a very tricky stage.
Sylar glares, but lowers his hands.
Sylar: I guess… since it’s Christmas.
Mohinder: Thank you.
Peter also glares and lowers his hands.
Peter: You’re just lucky the gravy was here.
LATER, they are all sat around opening presents. Nathan’s trying on those flying goggles, Peter’s frowning at a Rubik’s cube while Matt smirks behind his hand, and Molly’s struggling with a heavily-taped present.
Sylar: Here, let me get that -
He TKs it to slice it open.
Molly: Thanks!
Mohinder: *opening latest package* Wow, a scarf! Thanks, Nathan!
Nathan: Don’t mention it - Ma had some leftover curtain fabric.
Molly: Mohinder! We’re out of cakes!
Mohinder: Ah - is that Molly-speak for “Mohinder, bring us more cakes”?
Molly: You’ll miss it when I’m at college!
Mohinder grins and takes the empty plate and heads over to the kitchen. Matt gets up and follows.
Matt: He’s not being that bad, actually.
Mohinder: Actually, he’s not being bad at all. I told you he wanted to change.
Matt: Yeah, well, cut me some slack, you were the only one he was nice to in his serial killer days -
Mohinder: ‘Nice to’?!?!
Matt: You know - nice for him. And he definitely likes you a lot.
Mohinder: Have you been reading our thoughts??
Matt: No - it was actually the mistletoe that’s been following you around all day.
Mohinder looks up and sees some mistletoe hanging directly over him, suspended by TK. He looks around at Sylar, who is staring innocently at a speck on the ceiling.
Matt: Why - are your thoughts interesting?
Mohinder: (quickly) Never you mind.
Matt: Anyway - I read his mind, and there really isn’t any dream or notion of eating brains in there. Well, he’s got some homocidal thoughts towards Maya and occasionally Peter, but let’s face it, who doesn’t?
Mohinder: Exactly.
Matt: So I don’t mind so much leaving you here with him around.
Mohinder: That’s great. Wait - leaving?
Matt: That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Audrey’s going back to LA in the new year, and, well - she’s asked me to go with her.
Mohinder: …!
Matt: She says she could get me a job with the FBI down there. Thinks I could do real good in the criminal profiling department, for some reason. And also, she, er, wants to be with me… for some reason.
Mohinder: …….!!
Matt: It’s a great opportunity, Mohinder - and with Air Nathan, I can still come see Molly all the time - I mean, she should really stay here, it would hardly be as good a home for her over there with two busy cops at work most of the day. I’ve already spoken to her about it, and she was sad, but seemed to accept it, as long as she got to be a bridesmaid if we, well, if all goes well.
Mohinder: ………!!!
Matt: … Please say something, Mohinder, you’re only thinking punctuation.
Mohinder: … I’ll miss you.
Matt: I’ll miss you too.
And they hug. A lovely moment, broken only by a cupcake floating off the tray and disappearing into thin air. Matt rolls his eyes.
Matt: Claude!
Claude: (disembodied voice) What?
Matt: House rules! Visibility AND knocking!
Claude: Where’s the fun in that?
Molly’s leapt to her feet, grinning.
Molly: Uncle Claude!
Claude: Hey, Little Miss GPS, where am I?
Molly: Please, you’re by the stove. *footsteps* By the window. *footsteps* Right behind Peter.
Peter: He is? *suddenly jumps about a foot in the air* AAAHH!! Hey, when did you discover I was that ticklish?
Claude: I told you you should punch your brother, didn’t I?
Peter shoots a wounded glare at Nathan. Sylar’s eyes, meanwhile, have lit up.
Sylar: You’re… ticklish?
Peter: Oh yeah, really badly. Practically get paralysed when I’m tickled, I can’t stand it. And there was this one time… when I realised I was an utter idiot for telling this to a bad person with TK?
Sylar, grinning, nods slowly.
BACK TO THE FUTURE!
Mohinder: So Matt moved to LA a couple of weeks later, and Sylar moved in shortly after that.
Molly: Papa Mohinder made sure he was doing well in his serial killer support programme before he let him in.
CUT TO: Room with circle of chairs, where Sylar is standing up facing everyone else sitting down.
Sylar: Hi, my name is Sylar, and I’m a serial killer.
People: *chorus* Hi, Sylar!
Sylar: I still haven’t eaten Peter Petrelli’s brain.
Everyone applauds politely.
Elle: Big deal, I bet you wouldn’t find much in there anyway-
Group co-ordinator: Elle, you wait your turn.
Elle rolls her eyes and crackles electricity in her hands.
BACK TO THE SURESH APARTMENT!
Mohinder: … and so, that’s how this whole crazy set-up came into being.
Lyle: Wow.
Molly: I know, my family project is going to be really interesting this year.
Lyle: No, I just never imagined Peter Petrelli to be that ticklish.
Sylar: Oh no, he really is, watch -
Peter: No, no-!
He’s suddenly wracked with paralysing giggles as he’s tickled mercilessly by some unseen force. Everyone watches as he giggles so much he falls off the sofa, and continues shaking on the floor.
Lyle: *raising eyebrows* Huh.
Nathan: Please don’t break my little brother.
Sylar: Fine, fine…
Sylar looks away, and Peter stops giggling, and just lies still on the floor.
Nathan: You ‘kay, Pete?
Pete mumbles something incoherently.
Nathan: He’s fine.
THE END! Coming soon - Episode 3! It's posted on my LJ as I write it, then the entire episode's put up here.
DVD EXTRAS!:
* Deleted scene: For your mental image pleasure, Mohinder sung the entire of 'Without You' in a very over-emotional way, scrunching up his face with the pain of tragic love and practically rolling around the stage at the dramatic parts. Finally, at the end, he just fell back on the stage, and Sylar had to go help him up.
"Are you OK?"
"It's just... such... a BEAUTIFUL SONG..."
"I know, you really made us feel it along with you, it was very moving-"
"It WAS?"
"Yeah, totally wasn't a dry eye in the house. Come on, doctor, let's get you home..."
And as Sylar drags Mohinder out of the bar, he giggles and goes, "Hee. Your name is ZANE. Like ZANY."
Also, it's available in macro form: http://hobbit-eyes.livejournal.com/76850.html#cutid1
** This scene is also available in macro form: http://hobbit-eyes.livejournal.com/78515.html#cutid1