I was in quite a hurry when I wrote this, so just tell me if I made a lot of mistakes.
2 – The Heroism of Passive Obedience
"Molly, will you pass the salt please?"
The frail girl nudged the salt shaker towards her caregiver and eyed Nathan suspiciously for the millionth time that night. Mohinder had already explained to him that her parents had been murdered. No reason was known other than that they possessed special powers, as did Molly. Nathan stayed silent on the subject.
Looking at Molly now, Nathan shifted uncomfortably in his seat. It was like she knew something about him, other than his criminal background, which Mohinder had already disclosed with her. The way she was watching him made Nathan feel guilty, like she suspected him of another crime he had yet to commit.
Once the dinner was finished and the plates were cleared, the trio proceeded to sit in the living room area surrounded by an awkward silence. After a good deal of conversation had started and failed, Molly claimed she was "absolutely exhausted" and said her goodnights. Nathan suddenly found it was increasingly difficult to keep his own eyelids open as well.
"You're tired also?" Mohinder observed.
"I should be leaving anyway," Nathan replied as he made a motion to stand.
Mohinder halted him. "Please, stay here if you would like. I doubt you have anywhere else to go."
"No," Nathan realized. He had honestly forgotten his situation already.
"Then you can have the couch." Mohinder rose and headed to the hallway. "I'll be in my study working if you need anything."
"Thanks," Nathan responded as Mohinder flicked off the lights, leaving him alone in the dark with his thoughts.
To the casual observer, Nathan Petrelli's life was easy to define. It wasn't too hard to classify him as a bad person.
In retrospect, he had to admit his intentions were shady. He had started as an honest businessman with fledgling political aspirations. He had married a great woman (one he probably didn't deserve) and started the perfect family. He was close with his parents and his younger brother, who had always looked up to him, a fact Nathan hadn't realized until he stopped visiting him in prison.
But perfect wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Somewhere along the way, his dreams got derailed, leading him into a downward spiral of gambling and subsequent debt. He got involved in the stock market, which only made matters worse.
Nathan had impulsively bought a good number of shares in an airline company (for irony's sake). Over time, he became such a well-known contributor that he befriended the owner of the company. So naturally, Nathan didn't think much of it when his friend tipped him off that the company was due to take a nose-dive in the market and that he would be wise to transfer his investments.
Yeah. Big mistake.
Within several months' time, Nathan was sentenced, along with a few of the company's other 'business partners', to eight years in prison (plus the one he received for his attempted escape), which seemed a little harsh until you figured in some aggravated assault claims. His wife wasted no time in filing for divorce and full custody of their sons, and his politically influential father basically disowned him on national television. His brother almost disappeared from the picture, and when his visits grew increasingly sporadic, Nathan knew he had lost his only ally.
And right now, trapped inside his head, Nathan was feeling lower than ever. He should have been grateful that this virtual stranger trusted him and gave him food and shelter for the night. But it wasn't enough.
He needed money.
Groping about the foreign living area in the dark, Nathan held his breath, praying he wouldn't be discovered. He was nearing the door when he bumped into something that felt like a coat rack. It was damn near impossible to tell whose was whose, but he started going through the pockets anyway.
Just as his fingers closed around a well-stocked wallet, the light flicked on. Nathan blinked, taking in his surroundings once more. Mohinder was standing near the light switch, watching him from across the room, with an expression akin to fury etched across his features.
"What the hell are you doing?" He strode across the apartment and come to a stop by the door, towering over Nathan.
Nathan was honest-to-God terrified, but he didn't have time to think. Instinctively, he swung out his arm, procuring the wallet and clubbing Mohinder in the chest in one swift motion.
Adrenaline racing, Nathan fumbled with his friend's money. He yanked out a couple hundreds and looked up in time to see Mohinder lunging toward him. He tackled Nathan, sending both of them sprawling to the floor.
Both men struggled to their feet, simultaneously pummeling each other. Nathan's fist made contact with Mohinder's jaw. Mohinder began to raise his arm, as if to punch back, but stopped.
"Take it," Mohinder growled. "Take the money." Again, Nathan could sense the determination in the younger man's demeanor. They stood staring at each other, panting in frustration.
"Mohinder?" A small voice echoed throughout the room. Nathan and Mohinder both turned to see Molly, her slight frame huddled in the empty hallway. The poor girl looked so frightened that Nathan instantly regretted ever coming here and meeting her.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her shaky voice directed more at Mohinder.
"Everything's fine," Mohinder lied, stepping toward her. "Go back to bed."
Nathan, seeing his chance to escape, broke free from the captive atmosphere and dashed for the door. He barely saw Mohinder turn out of the corner of his eye as he bolted out into the hallway.
The people were waiting there for him already.
Not recognizing anyone, Nathan inferred that these were some of Mohinder's neighbors, apparently disturbed by their neighbor's fight.
Oh crap.
"Nathan, what are you doing out there?" a familiar voice called out. Nathan winced with guilt as the door behind him opened and Dr. Suresh emerged.
One of Mohinder's disgruntled neighbors pointed a finger in Nathan's face. "You know this guy?" Mohinder nodded, not unkindly.
"And he's not giving you any trouble?"
"No, no trouble," Mohinder replied smoothly. "We were just discussing a, um, donation for a case of his that I've been considering. I'm sorry if we woke you."
With just a few final grunts and grimaces, the crowd dispersed, wondering what their crazy neighbor was planning. Nathan, finally feeling truly exhausted as the day's events caught up with him, turned to face his victim and hero. The good doctor's expression was unreadable.
"Thank you," Nathan said, slightly harsher than he had intended," but what do you really want?"
Mohinder raised an eyebrow. He proceeded to draw a slip of paper out of his pocket, unfold it, and hand it to Nathan.
"You forgot this," he replied, nudging Nathan's clenched fist with the paper.
With shaking hands, Nathan took the paper and glanced at it. Either the dim light was playing tricks on his sight, or it was a check.
A rather large check.
"I can't take this," Nathan croaked, gazing pitifully at his companion.
"It's got your name on it," he replied, shrugging. "But promise me one thing."
"Anything," Nathan answered earnestly.
Mohinder smiled. "That you'll use it for something great, something with a real purpose. I think that, along with the money in your pocket, should help you keep an honest living for quite a while."
"An honest living…" Nathan repeated. He made to return the cash he had pocketed earlier, but Mohinder held up his hand, gesturing him to stop.
Nathan laughed. "You are truly a man of God. Charitable, wise…"
"There is no God," Mohinder responded, a spark of determination in his voice.
"If you say so," Nathan muttered. The two stood in the quiet hallway a moment longer.
"So," Mohinder said, hoping to end their awkward conversation on a higher note, "anything else I should know about?" The way he said it, with a tentative smile and laid-back manner, made Nathan decide to come (fully) clean.
"I can fly," Nathan stated, looking Mohinder dead in the eye. He stepped back slightly and even levitated (as much as the tiny hall would allow) for effect.
Mohinder's eyes grew wide, clearly astounded. "Incredible," he replied.
Nathan shrugged. "It's not something I do very often. Just out of curiosity," he began, eyeing the closed door, "what's her power?"
"Who, Molly?" Mohinder asked, following his gaze. "She's clairvoyant. Give her a map, name a person and she can find them."
"Anywhere?"
"Anywhere."
"Wow." Nathan took one final look at the apartment. "Well, I suppose…"
"… You should be on your way," Mohinder finished for him. "But where exactly are you going?"
Nathan glanced at his strange new friend. "I'm not sure. But when I get there," he said with a smile, "you'll be the first to know."