*Fanfic*The Importance of Routine 3/5
Title: The Importance of Routine 2/5
Author: purplewind88
Disclaimer: Don't own Heroes.
Rating: PG for this one, but NC-17 overall
Previous Chapters: Part 1 Part 2
Warnings: Slash
Summary: When Matt gets a girlfriend Mohinder realizes how much everything they had meant to him.
Author Note: Special thanks to my beta, g0shawk, without her you'd be reading something a less coherent.
"No," Matt said, puffing his chest out as well and challenging Mohinder back. "I talk about Molly all the time!"
"Then I'm your only little secret," Mohinder exclaimed.
Mohinder was wrong. The date had gone well, very well. It was so great, in fact, that Matthew had started going on a date with her every night. Mohinder could barely remember the last time they had sat down together and done anything. When Molly wasn't around and they were both home, which was very seldom, he would call his Jill up on the phone and talk to her in Molly's room. The only conversations they had were about Jill and whatever cute new little thing she had done. Mohinder couldn't understand how after almost a month of constant dates, Matt could still be so overwhelmingly obsessed.
Mohinder was becoming irritated and on top of it all, was having trouble sleeping. He hadn't gotten a good night’s sleep since this whole dating business had started. He kept having that same damn dream over and over again. Each time, he never got to see the bride, Molly would blow him a kiss, and Matt would have that god-awful smile on his lips.
Through all of this, Mohinder kept one tradition alive. He sat on the coach as Matt put Molly to bed or got changed. He watched the programs that Matt enjoyed so much more than him. Every night he hoped that Matthew would put away this nonsense and stay with him.
Mohinder wouldn’t admit how much he missed Matt, not even to himself. He forced himself to watch, for the full hour, whatever show seemed to fit the category of mystery. That way, he wouldn’t realize that the only reason he didn't go straight to his room was to keep the hope of Matt joining him alive.
Tonight was not the night for miracles. Matt had just gotten out of the bathroom. He’d changed into a loose fitting t-shirt that was the color of the midday sky and dark brown jeans that fit snuggly. He gave Mohinder a wave as he went to the door.
"I'm going to get going. You'll have to tell me how it turns out," he said, motioning to the TV as Mohinder stiffly grinned and nodded at him.
Mohinder slumped back in the couch and looked to the empty seat to his right. He should be rational and go into his room. He could get some very important work done; he was a workaholic wasn't he? He had better things to do.
For some reason he didn't leave. He didn't have the energy to become engulfed in numbers again. Instead he let himself slump down to the other side of the couch. He rested his head on the pillow that Matt used at night and took a deep breath. It smelled like Matt, which was not an overwhelmingly pleasant smell. It was the very male scent of the gym locker room mixed with a little drool. Still, it comforted Mohinder, and before the scientist knew what was happening, he was lulled into a dreamless sleep.
In the middle of the night he heard a scream. It was unmistakable and had his exhausted body up and moving before he was truly awake. It was the sound of Molly calling out in fear. He was in her room and by her bed in a moment's notice.
"Molly? Honey? What's wrong?" Mohinder asked, stroking her cheek, trying to calm her fears as well as his own. It'd been too long since he'd had to worry about his little girl’s wellbeing. His heart was racing and he was trying to keep out images that had flashed through his mind when he'd heard her call out.
I had a dream…that I woke up and you and Matt were being attacked by this figure,” she said, closing her eyes and wincing at the images behind her lids. “I didn't see him, but he was hurting you really really bad. I could hear your screams." She put her face into her hands and started to cry openly
Mohinder took her into his arms and cradled her close to him. He started to rock gently until her sobbing slowed. She opened her eyes and looked around.
"Where's Matt?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
Mohinder didn't know what to say. He had to think on his feet, but he'd never been a very good liar. Hopefully, he could fool an eight-year-old.
"He was called away to work," Mohinder explained softly.
"I need him," she cried, hugging onto Mohinder tightly.
"He'll be back in the morning."
"I know, but it was so scary. Can I find him?" she asked, looking up at him for permission.
"I'm not sure if that'd be such a good idea. He might be…busy."
"Please," she pleaded.
"Couldn't we just call him on his cell phone?" Mohinder suggested.
"No! No, I want to see him. I have to see him to know he's okay," she begged, her voice full of broken hope.
"Alright. I'll go get the map," he said, getting up. After the nightmare she'd had, he could deny her nothing. He got the map from the cupboard, and a marker. He took it into her room and spread out the map of the city on her lap.
She gave him a half-hearted smile and took the marker.
"Thanks," she said, taking his hand. He gave her a smile and sat down beside her.
With her free hand, Molly took the marker and held it over the paper. It only took a few seconds for her hand to start moving towards an area of town Mohinder didn't know. The marker landed down on an address, leaving a small black mark. Suddenly Molly lurched backwards as if thrown, a small trail of blood coming out of her nose. Mohinder put his hands on her shoulders and watched her eyes desperately. He couldn't go through it again if Molly didn't open those beautiful eyes.
It only took a few seconds for Molly to open her eyes. Mohinder let out his breath and watched her cautiously.
"What happened honey?" he asked, once she seemed stable.
"I saw a house. I didn't know it, but I knew Matt was there. I was heading towards the back room, the bedroom I think. I knew he was there, I just knew it. Then, suddenly, I was hit with a wall. I don't think he wanted me in there. I think…he pushed me out so I wouldn’t see him," Molly said, holding her head in her hand.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what Matt had been doing in a strange bedroom that he wouldn’t want Molly to see. It angered him that while Molly was here needing him, he was out fulfilling his cardinal pleasures.
Don't worry, honey. I'll be home soon. Sorry about…that. Baby girl, you just surprised me. I've never had you look for me before. I'm on my way home right now. Is everything okay?
Matt's thunderous voice was projected into both of their minds. Mohinder didn't know why Matt bothered to send the thought to him as well.
Molly nodded and seemed to be sending some kind of return message.
Mohinder got up and went to the bathroom. He grabbed a towel, and a pair of children’s aspirins. After grabbing a glass of water he went back to Molly's room. The young girl seemed in better spirits. Mohinder sat down and started to clean up the blood that had been smeared when she tried to clean it off herself. Once he got the blood off of her, he gave her the painkillers, which she took with a grimace.
"Are you alright?" Mohinder asked softly.
She gave him a slow nod.
"I'll be okay. I'm sorry I scared you and Matt. I didn't mean to. I just had this awful dream," she said in a sad tone.
"That's what parents are for. We're here when you have bad dreams. We live to be worried about you. We're always here for you," Mohinder assured her.
"That's not true. Matt goes out every night," Molly said, in a way that was both defensive and accusatory.
"He doesn't," Mohinder lied. "He's here with us."
"That's not true. I hear him go sometimes when I'm not really asleep, and I hear him come in the morning," she admitted. "And I bet when he comes home he won't be in his uniform, will he?"
Mohinder couldn't help but smirk. He kissed Molly on the head and sighed.
"You’re too smart sometimes. Smarter than either of us give you credit for," Mohinder said, and from behind him he heard the door open.
Matt raced into Molly's room and to the other side of the bed. He gathered the little girl up into his arms and kissed her face. Mohinder was glad he'd gotten a chance to clean up the blood so Matt wouldn’t feel too guilty. Than again, perhaps Matt should feel guilty.
"My poor little Molly. What happened? What was the nightmare about? It wasn't any new kind of nightmare man was it?" Matt asked, the worry radiating off of him. Mohinder remembered why it was so hard to stay mad at the stubborn, selfish ogre.
Molly shook her head and explained. Matt simply nodded along and then gave her assuring words, much like Mohinder had. Mohinder stroked the young girl’s back and accidentally hit Matt's fingers. Matt's hand jumped and went straight into Molly's hair. His cheeks turned a slight red, but Mohinder was starting to remember why he was angry. Matt had been avoiding him. Mohinder got up slowly and started towards the door.
"Matthew, once you get Molly back to bed I need a word with you," Mohinder said, getting a downcast nod from the man.
It took almost half an hour to get Molly back to bed. Matt finally came out of her room. Mohinder hadn't let the time diminish his angry flame.
"How dare you do that to Molly!?" he whisper-shouted at Matt, as to not disturb Molly further for the evening. Matt started walking to the kitchen, which was the furthest room from Molly's where they could fight with the least chance of waking up Molly.
"First of all, how dare you let Molly use her power to find me when you know full well I'm on a date."
"She needed you. That's your first priority, or have you forgotten that?!"
"Of course I haven't forgotten. I love that little girl."
"Well, you're going to have to make a choice soon. Between her and this Jill of yours. Molly knows you've been leaving at night. Did you really think you could fool her for very long?"
"I don't think it’ll hurt Molly to know I was dating someone," Matt said, angrily going over and leaning on the counter.
Mohinder went over and stood in front of him.
"Won't hurt her? Didn't you start leaving in the middle of the night because you didn't want Molly to figure out you were dating someone? Didn't want her get her hopes up or something like that? You know if you tell Molly, she'll want to meet this woman. Have you been keeping Molly a secret like you've been keeping Jill a secret from Molly?"
"No," Matt said, puffing his chest out as well and challenging Mohinder back. "I talk about Molly all the time!"
"Then I'm your only little secret," Mohinder claimed.
"What? God, Mohinder, don't make us sound so gay. I mean, this situation makes us look pretty gay as it is. What, did you want me to tell my girlfriend that I was living with a guy and raising a little girl with him?"
"I understand this situation is unusual, but she's my daughter too, Matthew. If you’re going to have someone in Molly's life than they’re in mine too. I don't plan to roll over and let you take my little girl from me so you can take her and play house with some hussy from work!" Mohinder said, his face scrunching with anger.
"Don't you ever dare call her…a hussy…" Matt said, and paused, trying to not laugh at the word coming from Mohinder. "You don't know her. You've never even met her."
"That was your choice now wasn't it?" Mohinder demanded, poking Matt in the chest. "You wanted this whole relationship to be a big secret. You wanted to have your cake and eat it too."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Matt demanded.
"You wanted to have your daughter, your live-in babysitter and your fun-time girlfriend all at once. Well you can't. Humans aren't toys to position as you like and make them stay there."
Matt's face changed for a moment and he looked to the side. A look of disgust and something that could mimic arousal crossed his face. Mohinder was about to comment, when Matt suddenly left the kitchen.
"Screw this. Screw you. I can't do this right now. I've gone through enough shit for one fucking night," Matt said, and stomped to his couch. He tore off his jacket, then his shoes and socks. He lay down on the couch, trying to be as dramatic as he possibly could. The attempt was laughable, but Mohinder was too angry to laugh. Instead, he strode past and went into his room, closing and locking the door behind him.
He went to bed and thought for a moment that he would weep. Instead, he closed his eyes and used his meditation breathing. He felt himself go to a peaceful place deep inside of himself--a numb place where Matt's girlfriends and little girl's nightmares didn't exist. There he could feel somewhat safe in the darkness.
He wasn't sure when he fell asleep, but again, he must have; he knew this time, because he started dreaming.
To be Continued in Chapter 4 where we met Matt's girlfriend.
Author: purplewind88
Disclaimer: Don't own Heroes.
Rating: PG for this one, but NC-17 overall
Previous Chapters: Part 1 Part 2
Warnings: Slash
Summary: When Matt gets a girlfriend Mohinder realizes how much everything they had meant to him.
Author Note: Special thanks to my beta, g0shawk, without her you'd be reading something a less coherent.
"No," Matt said, puffing his chest out as well and challenging Mohinder back. "I talk about Molly all the time!"
"Then I'm your only little secret," Mohinder exclaimed.
Mohinder was wrong. The date had gone well, very well. It was so great, in fact, that Matthew had started going on a date with her every night. Mohinder could barely remember the last time they had sat down together and done anything. When Molly wasn't around and they were both home, which was very seldom, he would call his Jill up on the phone and talk to her in Molly's room. The only conversations they had were about Jill and whatever cute new little thing she had done. Mohinder couldn't understand how after almost a month of constant dates, Matt could still be so overwhelmingly obsessed.
Mohinder was becoming irritated and on top of it all, was having trouble sleeping. He hadn't gotten a good night’s sleep since this whole dating business had started. He kept having that same damn dream over and over again. Each time, he never got to see the bride, Molly would blow him a kiss, and Matt would have that god-awful smile on his lips.
Through all of this, Mohinder kept one tradition alive. He sat on the coach as Matt put Molly to bed or got changed. He watched the programs that Matt enjoyed so much more than him. Every night he hoped that Matthew would put away this nonsense and stay with him.
Mohinder wouldn’t admit how much he missed Matt, not even to himself. He forced himself to watch, for the full hour, whatever show seemed to fit the category of mystery. That way, he wouldn’t realize that the only reason he didn't go straight to his room was to keep the hope of Matt joining him alive.
Tonight was not the night for miracles. Matt had just gotten out of the bathroom. He’d changed into a loose fitting t-shirt that was the color of the midday sky and dark brown jeans that fit snuggly. He gave Mohinder a wave as he went to the door.
"I'm going to get going. You'll have to tell me how it turns out," he said, motioning to the TV as Mohinder stiffly grinned and nodded at him.
Mohinder slumped back in the couch and looked to the empty seat to his right. He should be rational and go into his room. He could get some very important work done; he was a workaholic wasn't he? He had better things to do.
For some reason he didn't leave. He didn't have the energy to become engulfed in numbers again. Instead he let himself slump down to the other side of the couch. He rested his head on the pillow that Matt used at night and took a deep breath. It smelled like Matt, which was not an overwhelmingly pleasant smell. It was the very male scent of the gym locker room mixed with a little drool. Still, it comforted Mohinder, and before the scientist knew what was happening, he was lulled into a dreamless sleep.
In the middle of the night he heard a scream. It was unmistakable and had his exhausted body up and moving before he was truly awake. It was the sound of Molly calling out in fear. He was in her room and by her bed in a moment's notice.
"Molly? Honey? What's wrong?" Mohinder asked, stroking her cheek, trying to calm her fears as well as his own. It'd been too long since he'd had to worry about his little girl’s wellbeing. His heart was racing and he was trying to keep out images that had flashed through his mind when he'd heard her call out.
I had a dream…that I woke up and you and Matt were being attacked by this figure,” she said, closing her eyes and wincing at the images behind her lids. “I didn't see him, but he was hurting you really really bad. I could hear your screams." She put her face into her hands and started to cry openly
Mohinder took her into his arms and cradled her close to him. He started to rock gently until her sobbing slowed. She opened her eyes and looked around.
"Where's Matt?" she asked, her voice full of concern.
Mohinder didn't know what to say. He had to think on his feet, but he'd never been a very good liar. Hopefully, he could fool an eight-year-old.
"He was called away to work," Mohinder explained softly.
"I need him," she cried, hugging onto Mohinder tightly.
"He'll be back in the morning."
"I know, but it was so scary. Can I find him?" she asked, looking up at him for permission.
"I'm not sure if that'd be such a good idea. He might be…busy."
"Please," she pleaded.
"Couldn't we just call him on his cell phone?" Mohinder suggested.
"No! No, I want to see him. I have to see him to know he's okay," she begged, her voice full of broken hope.
"Alright. I'll go get the map," he said, getting up. After the nightmare she'd had, he could deny her nothing. He got the map from the cupboard, and a marker. He took it into her room and spread out the map of the city on her lap.
She gave him a half-hearted smile and took the marker.
"Thanks," she said, taking his hand. He gave her a smile and sat down beside her.
With her free hand, Molly took the marker and held it over the paper. It only took a few seconds for her hand to start moving towards an area of town Mohinder didn't know. The marker landed down on an address, leaving a small black mark. Suddenly Molly lurched backwards as if thrown, a small trail of blood coming out of her nose. Mohinder put his hands on her shoulders and watched her eyes desperately. He couldn't go through it again if Molly didn't open those beautiful eyes.
It only took a few seconds for Molly to open her eyes. Mohinder let out his breath and watched her cautiously.
"What happened honey?" he asked, once she seemed stable.
"I saw a house. I didn't know it, but I knew Matt was there. I was heading towards the back room, the bedroom I think. I knew he was there, I just knew it. Then, suddenly, I was hit with a wall. I don't think he wanted me in there. I think…he pushed me out so I wouldn’t see him," Molly said, holding her head in her hand.
It didn't take a genius to figure out what Matt had been doing in a strange bedroom that he wouldn’t want Molly to see. It angered him that while Molly was here needing him, he was out fulfilling his cardinal pleasures.
Don't worry, honey. I'll be home soon. Sorry about…that. Baby girl, you just surprised me. I've never had you look for me before. I'm on my way home right now. Is everything okay?
Matt's thunderous voice was projected into both of their minds. Mohinder didn't know why Matt bothered to send the thought to him as well.
Molly nodded and seemed to be sending some kind of return message.
Mohinder got up and went to the bathroom. He grabbed a towel, and a pair of children’s aspirins. After grabbing a glass of water he went back to Molly's room. The young girl seemed in better spirits. Mohinder sat down and started to clean up the blood that had been smeared when she tried to clean it off herself. Once he got the blood off of her, he gave her the painkillers, which she took with a grimace.
"Are you alright?" Mohinder asked softly.
She gave him a slow nod.
"I'll be okay. I'm sorry I scared you and Matt. I didn't mean to. I just had this awful dream," she said in a sad tone.
"That's what parents are for. We're here when you have bad dreams. We live to be worried about you. We're always here for you," Mohinder assured her.
"That's not true. Matt goes out every night," Molly said, in a way that was both defensive and accusatory.
"He doesn't," Mohinder lied. "He's here with us."
"That's not true. I hear him go sometimes when I'm not really asleep, and I hear him come in the morning," she admitted. "And I bet when he comes home he won't be in his uniform, will he?"
Mohinder couldn't help but smirk. He kissed Molly on the head and sighed.
"You’re too smart sometimes. Smarter than either of us give you credit for," Mohinder said, and from behind him he heard the door open.
Matt raced into Molly's room and to the other side of the bed. He gathered the little girl up into his arms and kissed her face. Mohinder was glad he'd gotten a chance to clean up the blood so Matt wouldn’t feel too guilty. Than again, perhaps Matt should feel guilty.
"My poor little Molly. What happened? What was the nightmare about? It wasn't any new kind of nightmare man was it?" Matt asked, the worry radiating off of him. Mohinder remembered why it was so hard to stay mad at the stubborn, selfish ogre.
Molly shook her head and explained. Matt simply nodded along and then gave her assuring words, much like Mohinder had. Mohinder stroked the young girl’s back and accidentally hit Matt's fingers. Matt's hand jumped and went straight into Molly's hair. His cheeks turned a slight red, but Mohinder was starting to remember why he was angry. Matt had been avoiding him. Mohinder got up slowly and started towards the door.
"Matthew, once you get Molly back to bed I need a word with you," Mohinder said, getting a downcast nod from the man.
It took almost half an hour to get Molly back to bed. Matt finally came out of her room. Mohinder hadn't let the time diminish his angry flame.
"How dare you do that to Molly!?" he whisper-shouted at Matt, as to not disturb Molly further for the evening. Matt started walking to the kitchen, which was the furthest room from Molly's where they could fight with the least chance of waking up Molly.
"First of all, how dare you let Molly use her power to find me when you know full well I'm on a date."
"She needed you. That's your first priority, or have you forgotten that?!"
"Of course I haven't forgotten. I love that little girl."
"Well, you're going to have to make a choice soon. Between her and this Jill of yours. Molly knows you've been leaving at night. Did you really think you could fool her for very long?"
"I don't think it’ll hurt Molly to know I was dating someone," Matt said, angrily going over and leaning on the counter.
Mohinder went over and stood in front of him.
"Won't hurt her? Didn't you start leaving in the middle of the night because you didn't want Molly to figure out you were dating someone? Didn't want her get her hopes up or something like that? You know if you tell Molly, she'll want to meet this woman. Have you been keeping Molly a secret like you've been keeping Jill a secret from Molly?"
"No," Matt said, puffing his chest out as well and challenging Mohinder back. "I talk about Molly all the time!"
"Then I'm your only little secret," Mohinder claimed.
"What? God, Mohinder, don't make us sound so gay. I mean, this situation makes us look pretty gay as it is. What, did you want me to tell my girlfriend that I was living with a guy and raising a little girl with him?"
"I understand this situation is unusual, but she's my daughter too, Matthew. If you’re going to have someone in Molly's life than they’re in mine too. I don't plan to roll over and let you take my little girl from me so you can take her and play house with some hussy from work!" Mohinder said, his face scrunching with anger.
"Don't you ever dare call her…a hussy…" Matt said, and paused, trying to not laugh at the word coming from Mohinder. "You don't know her. You've never even met her."
"That was your choice now wasn't it?" Mohinder demanded, poking Matt in the chest. "You wanted this whole relationship to be a big secret. You wanted to have your cake and eat it too."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Matt demanded.
"You wanted to have your daughter, your live-in babysitter and your fun-time girlfriend all at once. Well you can't. Humans aren't toys to position as you like and make them stay there."
Matt's face changed for a moment and he looked to the side. A look of disgust and something that could mimic arousal crossed his face. Mohinder was about to comment, when Matt suddenly left the kitchen.
"Screw this. Screw you. I can't do this right now. I've gone through enough shit for one fucking night," Matt said, and stomped to his couch. He tore off his jacket, then his shoes and socks. He lay down on the couch, trying to be as dramatic as he possibly could. The attempt was laughable, but Mohinder was too angry to laugh. Instead, he strode past and went into his room, closing and locking the door behind him.
He went to bed and thought for a moment that he would weep. Instead, he closed his eyes and used his meditation breathing. He felt himself go to a peaceful place deep inside of himself--a numb place where Matt's girlfriends and little girl's nightmares didn't exist. There he could feel somewhat safe in the darkness.
He wasn't sure when he fell asleep, but again, he must have; he knew this time, because he started dreaming.
To be Continued in Chapter 4 where we met Matt's girlfriend.