Mohinder blinked awake, feeling cold and disoriented. His body was aching as he lay on his right side, rough concrete under his bare torso. He moved his head slightly to look around the room. The pool glittered by his feet, the water now calm. He began to register the warm arm resting on his hip, and Mohinder breathed out slowly as he maneuvered his body out from under Sylar's sleeping form. Carefully laying the killer's arm on the concrete, Mohinder held his breath as he sat up. Sylar didn't wake, and Mohinder picked up his jacket as he stood quietly.
With light steps, Mohinder was soon putting as much distance between the killer and himself as he could. He hurried into the dark tiled hall, listening intently for any sign of Sylar stirring behind him. Mohinder fumbled with the door to the alley, finally managing to open it with his trembling right hand. He stepped out into the alley, closing the door softly behind him, uncomfortably aware of the cool pavement under his bare feet as he exited the building. Unfolding his jacket and pulling it snugly over himself, Mohinder zipped it up, the only cover he had for his bare torso. His hands patted the jacket pockets until he found his cell phone. It had been off all day at work, and he hadn't bothered to turn it back on. He pushed the end call button, carefully watching his step to make sure he didn't walk on anything sharp or dangerous while he waited for the phone to start up.
When the main screen came on, the phone buzzed. He had three messages from Matt. Mohinder used speed dial to contact the detective as he continued to rush along, turning the corner to the next alley. The phone rang twice before Matt picked up.
"Mohinder? Where are you? I've been trying to reach you for the last hour."
"Matt, listen to me. You have to take Molly and get out of there, right now. You remember what we talked about before? The emergency plan? You have to go. Don't tell me where you're going, and don't tell anyone who would try and contact me. I can't explain right now, you just have to do this. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes I understand. Are you okay, Mohinder? I could call Elle and..."
"Don't! Listen to me, do not send anyone after me. Do not have Molly try and find me. I mean it. It's too dangerous."
"This is about Sylar isn't it? What has he done?" Mohinder stopped walking for a moment, unable to respond to Matt as he blinked rapidly, fighting back tears of frustration.
"Matt, tell Molly I love-" Mohinder jumped as the phone was ripped from his hand and slammed into the brick wall beside him by telekinesis. He spun around, heart hammering as he faced the killer.
"Sylar, I..."
"Where were you going, Mohinder? Back to your family?" Sylar looked livid as he stood before Mohinder, shirtless and shoeless, but seemingly unconcerned by either circumstance.
"No, no I wasn't going anywhere," Mohinder said, backing instinctively away as Sylar began to stalk toward him. The killer easily closed the distance between Mohinder and himself.
"Don't lie to me!" Sylar growled, grabbing Mohinder by the front of his jacket and slamming him against the wall. Mohinder gasped painfully.
"You could hear the whole conversation, Sylar. I wasn't going back to them, I was trying to warn them," Mohinder pleaded for reason.
"Warn them about me," Sylar hissed.
"Yes."
Sylar blinked, taken aback by Mohinder's honesty. The geneticist's breathing was fast as he was held roughly against the wall. He was careful not to break eye contact with Sylar.
"You were running away," Sylar pointed out.
"I was scared."
"I wouldn't have hurt you," Sylar said, loosening his grip on Mohinder's jacket. He moved his hands over so he was gripping Mohinder's upper-arms firmly but not painfully.
"Past experiences might suggest otherwise," Mohinder pointed out.
Sylar leaned in close, his mouth brushing against Mohinder's ear as he spoke, "I can change."
Mohinder was startled to feel Sylar's heartbeat against his chest. The killer was trembling.
"Then let me go," Mohinder begged, "if you can change for me, then let me leave."
Mohinder heard Sylar swallow heavily, and when the killer moved back a little, Mohinder saw that a tear was rolling down his cheek despite his blinking. The killer shook his head.
"I can't."
"Sylar, please. I want to live my life."
"Wha-what if I told you that you could save people by staying. I wouldn't take another life if you would be with me," Sylar pleaded.
"That's not fair..."
"Life's not fair, Mohinder. Why should I be born to become a killer. Why must my ability work this way? Nature made me like this, it didn't give me a choice. If I could absorb people's abilities like an empath, don't you think I would? I don't want to be this monster. I just want to be special."
"What of my father? He had no ability, and you murdered him," Mohinder regretted speaking almost as soon as he said the words, but Sylar did not get angry.
"I was confused, and hurt by your father. I let my anger go too far, and I don't regret it, because it brought me to you. If I could let Chandra live again, I would, but I wouldn't give up meeting you for all the abilities in the world, Mohinder."
Sylar looked imploringly at Mohinder, and the geneticist sighed.
"Why Sylar? Why me?" Mohinder asked. Sylar smiled as he realized by Mohinder's tone that he'd won. The killer slowly unzipped Mohinder's jacket, and leaned down to kiss the geneticist on the neck.
"Because...when I'm...with...you...I feel more...complete...more...happy...and more...special...than I've ever...felt...in my life," Sylar spoke in between kisses down Mohinder's neck, and over his chest, until the killer was kneeling on the ground looking up at the geneticist. Mohinder's breathing grew heavy as he watched the killer grinning up at him. Sylar's hands moved to the button of Mohinder's pants, and the geneticist's mouth went dry from anticipation.
"Let me make you feel special for a change," Sylar said as he slowly unzipped Mohinder's jeans. Mohinder leaned his head back against the wall as he let the pleasure of Sylar's touch wash over him.
