Title: Company Man, 1/6
Fandoms: Heroes/Lost
Pairing, Characters: Mohinder Suresh/Sayid Jarrah
Rating: PG, this part
Spoilers: Heroes: The Kindness of Strangers, Lost: vague S2
Disclaimer: They're not mine & they don't make me any money. But they do make me very happy.
A/N: I’ve been wanting to write this pairing since the very first ep of Heroes (Wot? You think maybe I’ve got a type? Nyah!), but I never really tried to figure out how to make it work. Well, suddenly the other day it dawned on me how to merge the worlds of Heroes and Lost, so I had to give it a try.
Thanks to: themoononastick for betaing.


Mohinder was accustomed to working with dangerous people. In fact, it seemed like everyone he’d come into contact with during the course of the past year had been dangerous. He worked with dangerous people, he lived with dangerous people… He sometimes wondered if he wasn’t, on some level, a dangerous person himself, all appearances to the contrary.

So it wasn’t a surprise when Bob entered his lab one morning with a silent, serious-faced man beside him who positively radiated danger.

“This is Sayid Jarrah,” Bob said. “He’ll be coordinating your personal security from now on.”

“I don’t need more security,” Mohinder said, turning to face them. “It would seem to me that I already have plenty of security.” He eyed the camera that was focused on his work station, its red light blinking steadily. Then he looked at the two others in opposite corners of the loft, then he looked at Bob himself, who was always hovering nearby, and if he wasn’t there then one of his flunkies was, unobtrusive but impossible to ignore. Now it would appear there was yet another flunky to add to the group. “It is getting crowded around here. Besides, I am more than capable to looking after myself.”

He saw the newcomer take him in from head to toe, the corner of his lip twitching as their eyes met. He looked amused, which Mohinder decided was rather rude and not a very good way to begin a working relationship.

“I don’t doubt that, Dr. Suresh,” Bob said placatingly. “Nevertheless, my work will be taking me away more often in the next few months and I want to be sure you’ll be as safe as is humanly possible. The Company takes care of its own. Sayid’s presence will ensure that you are completely safe.”

“Was I not safe here before?” Mohinder asked, his eyes drawn to his new watcher, who was now looking around the room curiously. He was dark – eyes so dark they were almost black, dark, shiny hair. Arabic obviously by his name. Not tall, but clearly strong and fit. He was wearing black – black boots, black jeans, black t-shirt, black leather jacket.

How appropriate, thought Mohinder. The bad guys always wear black.

On the whole, everything about him looked severe and restrained, everything that is, except his hair. It was pulled back into a tight ponytail, but even so, wisps of it escaped, curly tendrils that brushed his cheek, his neck. It was a strange contrast, a man who seemed so tightly reined in, having so much long, luxuriant hair. Mohinder wondered what it would look like loose, falling about his face and down his back, and then he caught himself and dragged his attention back to Bob. “I thought adequate security measures were already in place.”

“You were safe,” assured Bob. “Now you will be safer.” He gave Mohinder an oily smile. “Sayid will be stationed outside while you are here. He will accompany you anywhere you need to go, including to and from work.”

“To and from work? No! That is out of the question. You cannot impact my personal life like that! I won’t –”

“And,” Bob continued, ignoring Mohinder’s protest, “he will need to enter your home to ensure it is adequately protected.”

Mohinder opened his mouth to protest. He couldn’t have this stranger in his home, not with Molly there.

“Is your home safe, Dr. Suresh?” Bob asked.

“Of course it’s safe!” Mohinder snapped, but even as he said it, he wondered. Was it? Not safe enough, a voice in the back of his mind whispered, but he wouldn’t trust this man he didn’t even know, this Company man, to make it so. Mohinder would bet he had no intention of installing an alarm system – he probably had been instructed to install surveillance equipment instead.

“Not safe enough,” Bob said, echoing his thoughts. “This is not optional, Dr. Suresh. You work for us now. We provide the funding you need to carry out your research. In return you will comply with The Company’s wishes. Surely this is not an onerous burden being placed upon you. It is for your own good, after all.”

Mohinder stared at him for a long moment, knowing that he would have to give in. Hatred was not an emotion he was overly familiar with. He’d really only become acquainted with it in the past year. But he hated this man, he really did.

“Fine,” he grit out finally.

“Good!” exclaimed Bob cheerily. “Excellent. Sayid is very good at his job. You will be in capable hands.” He clapped Sayid on the back once and turned to go. In the dooway he stopped.

“Sayid here is Iraqi. He was in the Republican Guard. He has a great many very useful… talents. Should there be need of them.” And then he was gone, and Mohinder sighed in relief, swallowing the sour taste the man always left in his mouth.

Sayid stepped forward, holding out his hand. “I feel that our introduction left something to be desired,” he said politely. “Sayid Jarrah.” He gave Mohinder a small smile, sincere enough to convey the impression of friendliness, but doing nothing to mitigate the aura of quiet authority that clung to him. “Call me Sayid.”

“Mohinder Suresh.” Sayid’s hand was warm and calloused, his grip firm. Mohinder felt his irritation at that little condescending smirk Sayid had bestowed upon him when he'd said he could look after himself waver.

“You don’t like him,” Sayid said, his eyes flicking toward the doorway.

“He is not a likeable man,” Mohinder replied. It wasn’t a secret, his dislike. If he’d pretended to like Bob it would only have aroused suspicion.

“No, he is not,” agreed Sayid. “I understand your reluctance at having a private watchdog, but you must see the necessity. I understand your work is highly sensitive. The Company perceives you as a – perhaps the prime target for kidnapping and extortion. I assure you that additional security is a wise step, though I will try to keep out of your way as much as possible.”

Sayid’s voice was soft and pleasantly accented, lilting almost, and yet Mohinder had no problem imagining that voice issuing commands or even threats. This man wouldn’t need to raise his voice, Mohinder realized. He would probably speak quietly and calmly and that would send shivers up one’s spine more surely than angry shouting ever could.

“It’s nothing personal,” said Mohinder. “I just don’t feel this is necessary.” Inwardly he cursed himself for trying to make nice. What did he care if this goonda thought he had personal issues with him? He was always trying to be the nice guy, an instinctual need to be liked that kicked in without his conscious notice. Look where his empathy had gotten him. Look at what had happened with Sylar. He should have hardened up by now. Parkman called him a pussy – teasingly, but he was right. He’d never make it in this game if he cared what people thought about him.

“I do not take it personally,” said Sayid, again with that slight smile. “As long as you allow me to do my job, we should not run into any problems.” He paused, his eyes moving again as they had before up Mohinder’s body, to his face, a silent assessment that made Mohinder unexpectedly, unaccountably warm. “I will leave you to your work,” Sayid said, his eyes traveling over Mohinder’s face before meeting his gaze. “I shall be just outside.”

“Wait,” said Mohinder, as he turned to go. “Is there a – a file on you that I can read? I want to know your background if I’m to entrust my safety to you.”

Sayid nodded. “I will request it for you.”

When Mohinder was alone again he sank down onto his chair. Alone. He was never alone, not here. He glanced up at the camera. This gamble had better pay off, he thought, because working here was sheer hell, never mind that it was to all outward appearances everything he could want. Being constantly watched was too exhausting. It was wearing him down, bit by bit, and now he had a single person devoted to that and only that. He didn’t know how he was going to keep up the charade.

TBC