Free Happy Market

[seekevolution]

Who: Mohinder Suresh, Gabriel Gray, Jack Harkness, Others
What: Mohinder’s been busy while Jim and Gabriel were away
When: August 14th (whoops, time travel on those manipulators are extremely difficult to predict sometimes)

“Whoever has been putting Euros in the Free Happy Market machine really needs to stop,” Mohinder said, clipboard under his arm as he raced across the testing unit where the seemingly innocuous vending machine was plugged in. “Someone get me more plastic bins!” The machine had been dispensing orange foam for the last three minutes in a steady stream that was coating the floor and the table and chair legs in a semicircle around it. While three minutes didn’t really seem like it would be a long time in the grand scheme of things, it was enough to ruin everyone’s shoes.

Luckily, the foam didn’t seem to be toxic or acidic. It wasn’t turning anyone funny shapes or leading them to rush to the medical theater. That didn’t mean that Mohinder was pleased to have to play janitor, however. Running turned into sloshing and he turned just in time for Kaylee to hit him in the face with the bin he had requested.

“Awful sorry Mohinder!” she called, but she was giggling and Mohinder was too annoyed at the machine to be angry with her. Besides, it was almost impossible to be angry with her. Picking up the bin from where it had fallen to the floor, Mohinder shoved the mouth against the machine’s dispenser...only to have the thing shut off and chime merrily to signal that it had completed a transaction satisfactorily.

He sighed and set the bin beside three others, the former contains full of foam, and plopped down into a chair. “Yen. Only. From now on. I mean it,” he was saying before a familiar figure appeared on the second floor landing overlooking the testing room. Mohinder was on his feet at once.

Three weeks ago, Gabriel left on his first mission. Three weeks ago, Mohinder threw himself into his work. Three weeks ago, he was suppose to be right back. Mohinder smirked. “You’re late!”

Comments

[termineur]

Gabriel happened to be an expert at selectively remembering things. And of course, when he did remember that they weren't supposed to be working on that, he'd rationalize it by deciding to destroy it once Mohinder had what he needed. And yes, at this point it was a need.

That was all for later, of course. Right now, he laughed with relief and shook his head. "No, no! I was worried that might be what you wanted. Jim told me that Jack did that, and I-" He shrugged. "I was worried for nothing. Sorry."

He pulled Mohinder into a hug once again, and this one was tight. "I'm not letting you go, promise," he murmured.

[seekevolution]

It made sense to Mohinder. Watching someone die slowly as their body gave out had to have been a horrible thing. And for the person aging, watching their lover stay young and beautiful, it would be just as terrible. Mohinder felt that thought click inside of him even as he pulled Gabriel into a very passionate, very public kiss.

What did he care? When he was with Gabriel, sometimes the world stopped mattering. Sometimes it disappeared. That might be a problem with his wiring, since he no longer even equated his father's (or anyone's) death with Gabriel.

A touch of Stockholm Syndrome? It was so under his radar that it literally didn't even register with him as something to think about.

Lowering himself on his heels, face still an inch from Gabriel's, Mohinder watched those pouty, full lips promise him what amounted to eternity.

"I trust you, Gabriel."

[termineur]

Gabriel's (very recent) bloody past was almost certainly a time-bomb for both of them, but for now he could and would ignore it. This was not something he was going to give up on, even for the reality of their situations. He'd make it all right. And if he never heard Chandra's name ever again- well, that'd be just fine by him. He was the epitome of wishing for something hard enough, and being willing to do anything it took to make it real.

He hoped it would work out this time. And how could it not? Mohinder was with him every step of the way. He'd be fine. They'd both be fine. This kiss confirmed it. He kissed Mohinder back with abandon, enjoying every second of it. When he finally pulled away, he caught a glimpse of some people hastily turning away, but it just made him smirk briefly in their direction.

He was nearly bowled over by Mohinder's declaration of trust. Having anyone's trust, much less Mohinder's, had seemed like such a foreign concept for a long, long time. He squeezed his eyes shut, just for a second, and smiled wide. "Thank you, Mohinder," he said quietly, sounding as if his voice had been taken from him. "I trust you, too. We'll figure out a way to make it work, together."

He leaned down to give Mohinder another, slightly calmer kiss. It was a confirmation of his promise, and he pulled away still smiling. "Come on, let's go home." He shifted so one arm was around Mohinder's shoulder, he'd stay that way as they walked.