Trying on a New Life (RP for splice-of-life)

[teleparkman]

Matt sat on the edge of the bed, nudging one of his unpacked boxes with his foot. He'd never planned to take over Mohinder's room, and he wasn't going to make anything permanent. Not yet. But the man was right; healing gunshot wounds would have been even less pleasant if he'd been sleeping on the couch

Comments

[splice_of_life]

Looking up from the small kitchen table, Mohinder watched Matt shuffle the ten paces or so from the master bedroom towards the couch. He didn't quite make it. "Very good," he exclaimed softly as he went over Molly's homework. She was two grades above the other students in English, three in science and an astonishing six in math. Helping a ten year old with trigonometry was daunting at best.

As Molly launched into another problem, Mohinder excused himself and rounded the counter to smile at his friend and give him support, even if it was only by his presence and nothing else.

Oh, who was Mohinder kidding? He needed to meddle.

"Would you like some lunch now?"

[teleparkman]

He flashed Mohinder a weak smile. The support was welcome, even though he doubted the smaller man could do anything if he fell down. And he really, really was grateful that he wasn't making a big deal of his weakness. "Yeah. Sounds good." He felt slightly dizzy, and grabbed Mohinder's arm to keep upright. The thought about falling wasn't going to become a prediction.

[splice_of_life]

The slighter man managed to stay put. He planted his feet squarely on the carpet and had enough balance for both of them. Rather than ask if Matt was all right, Mohinder just helped him to the couch and inquired if he'd prefer a cheese and ham sandwich or peanut butter. "I can even cut the crust off."

Now that was a tease. It was what he did for Molly, playing mommy in the kitchen. Mohinder took care of them both, but never made it seem like it was a burden. Frankly? Because for the geneticist, it wasn't.

[teleparkman]

"I'll take peanut butter." He gave a wry smile. "I'm not particularly devout, but I'm pretty sure ham's a pork product." He doubted Mohinder'd met that many Jews in India, so how was he to know? He leaned back against the cushion, hoping he didn't look too pathetic.

[splice_of_life]

Matt had a point there and Mohinder laughed. "Good. I get a few looks taking her to school sometimes. I just did not wish for you to think anything of me that was not true." Mohinder's fingers touched Matt's forehead, just enough to push back the hair at his temples. It was a bit of an overly affectionate gesture, but Mohinder was somewhat touchy.

[teleparkman]

He smiled wryly. "Believe me, I'd know. You wouldn't hurt a fly, Mohinder." He shivered at the touch. He wasn't sure what he felt about it.

[splice_of_life]

"Just a few spiders," Mohinder replied as cooly and casually as ever. "Which is probably unfortunate. I might have accidentally killed one of my aunts." That was said with only a small smile. He was joking of course. "I'll be back in a few moments. Don't try to get up and finish your tea."

[teleparkman]

"Sure, Mom," Matt said, grinning to show he was joking. He leaned back in his chair, trying to take some of the strain off his stitches.

[splice_of_life]

Hitting the lights, which only showed off his wide shouldered, small waisted form again the back lights of the hallway, Mohinder strode towards the bed as Matt fussed around and climbed into the free side. He laid with his back to Matt and hugged his own pillow. How he missed it! "You should rest. Listen to your wife. Lay down."

[teleparkman]

He shrugged and lay down, eyes open and staring at the ceiling. This was weird. There was no other word for it. The last time he'd shared a bed with another guy, he'd been twelve. It just wasn't done. It wasn't right. He suddenly realized that those thoughts were coming to him with his dad's voice, and he flinched and pushed them away. He and Mohinder were friends. There was nothing wrong with friends doing... this. Whatever it was. He forced himself to relax, inch by inch.

[splice_of_life]

As Matt slowly relaxed, Mohinder's thoughts drifted around in circles, into and out of English without any rhyme or reason. Hindi was the language of choice for Mohinder, though he only lapsed into it before sleep. He sighed, childlike in it's innocence, and rolled onto his back as well. The warmth of his bare skin was noticeable, though he and Matt were not touching.

[teleparkman]

The quiet up and down murmur of Mohinder's half-comprehensible thoughts was strangely restful. He found himself fighting to hold back sleep, though he couldn't remember why he'd been resisting.

[splice_of_life]

Mohinder's hand lingered as he settled on the edge of the couch, his fingers pressing into Matt's wrist even as his hand left his face. "Just money. It's a risk of the job, I'm afraid." He smiled painfully.

[teleparkman]

Yeah, it was. But was the job worth the risk? Matt pushed that thought out of his mind. It wasn't his business. "You going to be ok, buddy?"

[splice_of_life]

"Of course I am." Mohinder was not lying. He might be a doctor by trade, a scholar by birth, and a tiny, femininely pretty sort of man, but he was tough as nails. "And how about you? You did not need to wait up. Would you like some tea?"

[teleparkman]

Matt shrugged nonchalantly. "There was something good on TV. Didn't realize how late it was." He stretched slightly, wincing at the pain in his chest, and smiled. "Tea sounds good. Want me to make it?"

[splice_of_life]

Mohinder was silent for a moment and, just for a moment, it seemed as if he had fallen asleep. Of course, nothing could ever be so simple for the man laying beside him. "You really are not my usual type." And how to take that?

[teleparkman]

He tensed again, staring up at the ceiling in, if not horror, then something suspiciously like it. This couldn't be happening. Maybe if he just ignored it, it would all go away. Mohinder was out of his mind on pain meds. That had to be it. "Go to sleep, buddy."

[splice_of_life]

"I don't want to go to sleep." Mohinder's usually soft as velvet, purring voice was anything but. It was not that he was being playfully childish, or raising his voice, or pouting. No, nothing as simple. He sounded, if anything, more serious than usual. "I appreciate you. I am trying to inform you of something... Oooh..." He broke off into a string of Hindi, groaning in pain. So much for that one!

[teleparkman]

Matt winced slightly. "Seriously, Mohinder, tell me in the morning."