torchwoodinstitute | (no subject)

(no subject)

Who: Murder Kids
When: January 15th
What: Lockdown at the Hub but some people just don't know how to play by the rules.

The fourth day of lockdown was no different from the third or the second other than a growing sense of boredom. Most of the engineering and IT folk were still working at the Rift core in an attempt to find the intrusion. It shouldn't have taken that long, and that's what bothered Jack the most was the morale of his people.

Many were fine, even with being cut off from the Archive and their work. Some, however, were not. Gabriel and Jim were the worst culprits there, pacing at times, running up and down the catwalks...

It was driving him crazy.

There were also a lot of their people gone, various agents on various missions. That they couldn't get back was worrying too. At least they did happen to have power. Otherwise, by now they would have a very dead prisoner. Jack really hated that.

But what he hated the most? People able to bypass all of his precautions and get into the Hub without any of the security systems in place to let him know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Sy?"

He'd been seconds from knocking on the door when Luke said his name again. He figured that Sylar would figure out what he was going to ask him, but it not, Luke would let his head fall back against the wall.

"You know I'm dead, right?" He pushed a hand to his chest. "I've been for a really long time. Can't you let me go with you?"

Sylar turned around, almost too quickly. He hadn't been surprised by the request. He just had to be sure.

"Yeah," he said, his downcast eyes sliding upwards until they met Luke's. "I can do that."

He rose a hand up, almost in a surrender gesture, and used telekinesis to hold Luke against the wall. He just stood there for a moment, regulating his breathing and gathering himself back up. He wiped his eyes with his free hand, and then reached out, pointing.

Nothing happened for a moment, and Sylar choked out a laugh. "I can't think of anything to say. I always have something." A one-liner wasn't right here, though. "I'm gonna miss you, so much."

"Come here." He wasn't trying to draw any of this out, but they had been through enough that Luke didn't want to go out like those other chumps. He wanted this to be special. Upclose. Personal.

He couldn't exactly move, but that was all right. Maybe for the first time in his life, since those assholes his dad use to hang around with, he wanted someone to touch him.

Sylar had a strong stomach. A little bit of blood between friends? Who fucking cared? Luke hated that stuff but it couldn't be helped this time.

A few verbal cues might bring Sylar into his lap or at least kneeling at his side.

"You're not gonna miss me too much, promise. You're gonna get all the best parts of me to go with you." This would be perfect. "Go ahead."

Edited 2016-01-30 22:17 (UTC)

Oh, good. Sylar hadn't approached, because he knew that Luke generally didn't want to be touched. But as he sat himself carefully down, mostly on Luke's lap, he felt better. This was how it should be, if it had to happen at all. He even smiled sadly hearing about the 'best parts' of Luke.

He leaned in close, barely touching the sides of their heads together. It was the closest he'd get to a proper hug, but it felt like both of them, anyway. Then he pulled back. His fingers went up to touch Luke's forehead, and he stared for just a moment, steeling himself.

Those fingers pulled left, as if brushing some of Luke's hair back. But under the index finger his telekinesis was cutting into the skin and the skull. The sound of the skull ripping apart was so loud here.

It would be too late by the time they reached the boys. Jack had moved Mohinder and Gabriel down the hallway. The walls were thick, and screams were swallowed up by the cavernous rooms clad in brick. At one point, Mohinder had actually left Gabriel and Jack where they were still discussing Luke's fate, stating loudly that he could not believe, after everything they both had seen, that neither seemed to accept that rehabilitation was possible.

He went to fetch the boys something to eat, a tray nicely laid out with sugary drinks and the remains of the pizza. Strangely, none of the other denizens of the Hub had found and devoured it.

He strode once more passed Gabriel (who would likely be sleeping on his own for awhile at this rate) and Jack to knock lightly on the door before he unlocked it. "I've brought you something to--"

The tray slipped from Mohinder's hands as he pushed open the door.

He'd never actually seen Sylar work before. How could he have been so wrong about everything today?

Sylar was crying as he moved his fingers through Luke's brain, but it was hard to tell. His face was smeared all over with blood, from the last few times he'd tried to clear the tears. The front of his shirt was coated with the stuff, and parts of his jeans were splattered.

He was moving as fast as possible, having had to switch to a kneeling position to see the brain properly. He knew that people would probably be barging their way in soon, and he had to find the power before then. Luke needed to come with him, as much as possible.

He heard someone come in and the tray clatter, but it didn't matter. He was following the path through, and...there. There it was. He sucked in a deep breath as he felt it settle into his brain. And then he just kind of collapsed, leaning his head on the dead kid's shoulder as he sobbed. Luke wasn't around to feel uncomfortable about it now.

Mohinder wasn't able to understand, but when Jack got to where the Indian was, leaning against the wall with his hands on his knees, crying and trying not to vomit on his shoes, and looked through the door, he understood.

"You did right by him," Jack said, knowing that the Indian was probably never look at him the same way again. He stepped into the room and crouched by where Sylar wept bitterly against Luke's bloody shirt. "Come on." He knew Sylar could fly off the handle for a touch to his shoulder but Jack thought that he might not. "I'll take care of him. I promise. But first we have to take care of you."

Jack had been with Gabriel/Sylar for so many parts of his life, unseen, just watching. That made him the best candidate for this job, even if Sylar and Gabriel had diverged along the way because of the boy laying on the bloody mattress.

Luke had the smallest smile on his face, through the blood. That was pretty telling too.

Sylar was very ready to fly off the handle. He had thought that they'd all be appalled, and maybe Gabriel would just nod and put him in another room. And then he'd have something to rage against. But Jack's words got through to him, even if Sylar didn't want them to.

He did right by him. He'd tried. Sylar sat up and wiped at his eyes, like a three-year-old. "He wanted- wanted me to-" Ugh, his voice was too shaky. He stopped talking and just nodded. Maybe he'd be mad after he calmed down. After all, Jack had kind of forced his hand. Right now, though, he was just hurting.

Gabriel had come by after Jack, and after seeing the whole scene, he sighed and leaned against the wall in the hallway. He'd wait for Jack to take Sylar out of there, and then he'd help Mohinder, if he could.

Mohinder was just a little beyond help at the moment. He rubbed at his eyes as if trying to pinch away the tears that kept flowing. He'd heard Jack's and Sylar's exchange and...

That hurt even worse.

The boy he'd barely met, the one that had killed a version of his father and had so steadfastly tried to protect Sylar in the kitchen, who had had a flare up of his ability and rushed away from the other boy... He'd given Sylar his ability. Mohinder could not believe that such a thing was ever romantic, but he hurt for them both, for their troubled relationship.

He had no idea what would become of the teenage version of his fiance... Or even what to think of Gabriel as he stood opposite him now.

"There's always another option," he said, the words in Tamil because he could not be bothered to attempt English. "There would have been-- I can't see you right now," Mohinder actually whimpered. He was not taking this well at all.

"Come on out of the room at least, Mohinder," Gabriel said gently. He replied in English- Tamil he liked to use in safe, pleasant situations or for emergency purposes, and this was neither. "You don't have to see me or talk to me, but you should leave the room and wash your face. There's a bathroom across the hall."

Mohinder seemed so lost, and Gabriel hated to see that. He hadn't been wrong, really, but he hadn't spend as much time with Luke as he and Jack did. And, to be honest, Gabriel hadn't been happy with the conclusion he'd reached. He had hoped to be proven wrong, but Luke went out the way he'd wanted.

Because Mohinder could not find the strength to do so, he let Gabriel tend to him. He might be angry and hurting and confused at the sheer horror of what had been done to the boy still laying in that bed looking more angelic than he ever had in life, but he needed Gabriel as much as he wished to distance himself from him.

Gabriel would be allowed to wash his face and his hands. He would be allowed to lightly pat him dry. And when that was finished, he slipped his arms around his waist and just held him.

Since they had awoken together in the jungle, Mohinder had not once been able to be angry with Gabriel. And now he needed him most of all.

Gabriel was quiet and slow and gentle with his movements. If he had a blanket, he'd wrap Mohinder up with it after he helped wash Mohinder up. He might go to find one at some point. But for now, he was ready to just back off, as much as Mohinder needed, while he processed this.

He was surprised when Mohinder came closer, rather than drifting farther. Gabriel hugged him back, letting him feel the warmth in his body. He'd stay like this for as long as Mohinder needed. And if Mohinder wanted to yell at him later, or have him explain himself, he'd be happy to do that too. But for now, they could both use some time to just be there, together. Gabriel lightly rubbed Mohinder's back and closed his eyes.

Jack wasn't too far away doing roughly the same thing with Gabriel's younger self. As long as Sylar allowed Jack to help him clean up, that was what he'd do. Blood was difficult without a little assistance after all and Jack rubbed soaped up hands across Sylar's as they stood by the sink, water running.

He didn't say anything. There were no questions asked, no apologies demanded.

Jack knew what it was like to have kids and he knew what it was like to house murderers. That didn't mean that any of this was easy for him. Mohinder could heal through physical affection and understanding, but what about Sylar? Jack could attempt to find him another, less homocidal Luke when the lock lifted but he didn't think that would be a good idea.

The quiet time was very helpful for Sylar. He'd had much too much in the way of difficult conversations today. The help washing up was also appreciated- he wasn't feeling the burst of energy he usually felt with acquiring a new power. His limbs felt sluggish.

He stared at the blood and brain matter washing down the sink, breathing shallowly. "I'm not doing that again," he said, more to himself than anything. If he was going to keep killing for powers, he should've chosen to stay with Luke. No. This was special, and it was the last time.

"Good." Jack knew that Sylar hadn't needed to hear that word but he said it anyway. The sink was splashed with pink and these clothes were going to have to go. "You'll have to find a new name for yourself then. Sylar is a murderer."

But this boy didn't have to be. It might get hard to have two Gabriels but hey, Jack could call this one Junior. The thought tickled him just a little. And the boy might end up going home anyway.

"But that can be for later. You stay here and I'll get you something to wear." Not that they had a whole lot of things laying around for kids--

Sylar nodded, although he doubted you just stop being a murderer because you changed your name. It was a lot to make up for- half of his kills were people he loved. Looking at it felt like an insurmountable mountain, and he wouldn't even know where to start.

He pushed the thought away. A lot of this could be for later. He was feeling woozy and tired, and he suspected that adding two powers within a week might be a factor in that. The rest of it- well, it was obvious where that would come from.

"Anything's fine," he said, as Jack told him he'd find something to wear. The blood soaking through his shirt was getting tacky and cold, but he left it for the moment.

"Why're you being so nice to me?" he blurted out, before Jack made it out the door. "I don't even want to be nice to me right now."

Jack smiled. "I can't save everyone. I can't even find everyone that needs to be saved. I picked you. Not the you that's talking to me right now, but it's still you. I think I just chose to rescue the wrong one when I had the chance. Gabriel was already saved. Mohinder found him first." Jack ducked out of the door and went to find Sasan. Sylar was a skinny kid, but tall, and Sasan happened to wear clothing that might as well be painted on sometimes. Mohinder might have something as well but...

Jack really didn't want to interrupt whatever was going on with Mohinder and Gabriel right now. He'd already gotten them an engagement present for the surprise party and he didn't want have to return it.

It was best that they figure out for themselves what to do.

Sylar didn't know how to respond to what Jack said, so he just blinked at him, eyes widening in a vulnerable look.

And then he was left alone. He felt cold, through and through. He stretched out a shaky hand and watched as the running water in the sink began to steam from the heat.

He looked at the palm of his hand, as if it would somehow seem different. But he didn't see what he wanted. So he crossed his arms tightly and leaned up against a wall, pressing his face to the cool tile to keep his nausea down.

Sasan was back in the kitchen, hoping to sneak a piece of pizza when no one was looking. He was a little sad at being caught, but kept munching on it anyway. "Hey, how'd it go with those creepy kids?" he asked, when he saw Jack again.

"Just one creepy kid," Jack said, glancing around because he rarely saw Sasan alone. "What happened to your boyfriend?" It was suppose to deflect here. He really didn't want Sasan asking questions and he really didn't want to talk about it anyway before he requested some of Sasan's emergency clothing supply he knew the other kept laying around.

Sasan had yet to repeat an outfit since their lockdown so he was hoping there was something clean and appropriate he could get. There wasn't a whole lot of time. Someone needed to get back to Sylar. The kid couldn't be alone.

Sasan raised an eyebrow, and he could totally see your deflection there, Jack Harkness. But he let it slide because: a) Jack was looking fairly serious and he knew better than to ask for details then, and b) He sure appreciated the way that question was phrased. Maybe Campbell ended up melting into a puddle or something. Sasan didn't generally understand how these super-power things were supposed to work.

With a smile, he replied, "Oh, he had to go for another walk. You know, since the last one got interrupted. He usually starts at the top and works his way down, so he's probably up there somewhere. Why? Do you need him?"

Oh right. Wrong part of the pair to fluster with that. Jim would have been on the defensive or just looked angry and left the room. He'd hired Sasan for a reason and now he was just proving how good he was at his job. Jack cracked his neck.

"I need you. Well, some of your clothing. Something teenage you sized," Jack clarified. "Jeans and a shirt. And some socks. And maybe some underware?" Jack arched his eyebrows and grinned. Yes, he was being flirty. With blood under his fingernails. Don't pay attention to that.

Oh, clothes for the Tiny Gabriel and not for Campbell, huh? Well, that was more likely to work out at least. "I can help with that," he said, although he bapped Jack on the shoulder when he took it to underwear. "My suitcase isn't far. I'm sure we can find something for him."

He put the remains of his pizza slice down, and caught that blood under Jack's fingernails. This prompted a bit of a frown. "You'll tell me all about it once the dust settles, won't you?" Because he will be asking.

And then he was out the door, only to return within a minute or two with a full suitcase. Opening it up, he started to sort through. "Okay, no...no, no. This might work, no. Hmm, all the jeans could go, but it might be smarter to stick with the skinny jeans, that kid is a twig."

He separated out about four outfits, all coordinated and fairly dark colors, for Sasan. "Just tell him to use all of these. It feels better if you have some choices." He plopped the pile of folded clothes into Jack's hands.

"I think that depends on what happens when all of this is over," Jack said. He liked talking to Sasan and Sasan was pretty much in the know about everything here because he had to be to do his job correctly. That said, when it came to personal matters, Jack did keep mum on most subjects.

Once Sasan had returned to the kitchen, though, depositing the large stack of clothing in his hands, Jack reached forward with the jeans curled against his chest between one arm and hugged the younger man tightly.

"I'm not going to ask why you keep so many clothes here on a constant basis," Jack said and pulled back again.

He grabbed a soda from the fridge and then nodded back to Sasan.

"I think you're good for Jim. And I think you should tell him that you are. But minding my own business!" And off he went back to Sylar.

He'd been kind of waiting for the comment about the clothes. So when it came, he just smirked and said, "You think that's bad? I actually have two suitcases." It was a combination of occasional late nights and a massive overabundance of clothing.

The advice actually made Sasan blush slightly. He hadn't been expecting it, and it wasn't the usual teasing/flirting. He was smiling quietly to himself as Jack left the room.

Sylar didn't want to be in this room anymore, but he didn't want to leave either. For one brief, fleeting moment, he wanted to go back to Primatech, before he realized he wanted to go back in time. He was staring at a spot on the floor, thinking about this, when Jack came back in. His eyes immediately went to Jack, and then to the clothes. "Wow, you hit the jackpot."

"Technically you did," Jack grinned, heading to the showers to turn on the taps. This was the last place Luke had been before being locked up in that dorm room but Sylar didn't need to know that. "These are Sasan's, that guy that looks like you will in a few years. He is far too prepared. You can use whatever you want. There's soap in there. And a can of soda. I'll be right outside."

Jack reached out to take Sylar's cheek in hand, large thumb rubbing briefly against his temple. It was the smallest of gestures and though it was affectionate, Jack didn't intend it to really be so. He just wanted Sylar to be strong.

He was alone here, after all. His support system was gone. Jack was offering himself as a surrogate for now.