Fiction: Comfort

[kethni]

Name: Comfort

Pairing: Matt/Mohinder, one-way

Rating: PG

Warnings: None

Note: Sequel to The Tiger

 

 

‘Good morning Mohinder, did you have a good night, a good sleep?’

‘Had a good sleep.’

‘Whoa, what’s with the peep show Mohinder? Were you too hot last night? Come on, you can play around later, let’s get your jammies on and get you a shower.’

‘Play in shower?’

‘Yes, you can play in the shower. Come on Mohinder, I’m serious, put it away for now, okay?’

‘Okay.’

 

‘I think the water is okay for you now, do you want to pop your hand under to check?’

‘Mmm, water okay.’

‘That’s real cute, Mohinder. You have a good giggle at poor old Nurse Parkman.’

‘Okay!’

‘I said your hand though; you could’ve burnt yourself and then no playing in the shower.’

‘Said water okay.’

‘Smarty pants, I could’ve been wrong.’

‘Kiss it better?’

‘Ha! Nice try, no matter how much you bat your big brown eyes at me. Okay, into the shower. Here’s your soap; if you get it in your eyes again just call me and I’ll rinse it out for you. I’ll be right outside the door but I won’t listen to you playing. I’m not leaving; I’m just going waiting outside the door so you have some space. Okay, Mohinder?’

‘Okay, Matt.’ 

 

‘You all squeaky clean?’

‘Squeaky! Squeaky!’

‘No soap in your eyes?’

‘No soap in eyes.’

‘Hold out your arms so I can dry you off. Of, are you going to help? Okay, thank you. What do you want today, draw, play animals, something else?’

‘Draw Matt, Molly, cute Mohinder.’

‘Aww, me and Molly don’t get to be cute?’

PFFTTTT! NYAH NYAH!!! 

‘Well now I guess I don’t need a shower. All dry now, pop your boxers on for me.’

 

 

The human condition is a conundrum

that has challenged philosophers throughout

the ages endlessly. The concept of

a unified human personality

is a comforting myth. We are a

different person to our family,

to our friends, to our lovers, and to others.

What Matt is to me is kindness, patience,

and care. It is an enigma to me

what he is to his family, his friends.

The Matt that I will never know, never see,

 is mysterious and beguiling.

‘If wasn’t an emergency I wouldn’t ask but...’

‘Oh no... no it’s... of course. Of course Matt, this is your home to and, and you’ve always... of course.’

‘I really appreciate it. I’ll try not to be intrusive. I’m afraid the noise and the change might upset Mohinder, certainly in the short term. I’m pretty sure he’ll be okay once he gets used to things.’

‘I... I could talk to him but he listens to you more. Do you think... do you think he might be jealous?’

‘Of the attention? It’s certainly possible and I don’t know how he’ll react to a baby.’

 

A society can be judged by its treatment

 of the most vulnerable members. No

matter how rich, how advanced, how powerful

a culture is, failing to

protect its elderly, its children, and

its sick, condemns it as barbarous and

cruel. Each of us, also, stands and falls on

how we treat those who cannot defend themselves

against us. 

 

‘Matt? Matt? MATT! MATT!’

‘Mohinder... Mohinder, sweetheart, Matt had to go out but, but he’ll be back very soon.’

‘Matt!’

‘Matt will be here very soon. Please calm down, Mohinder, please. Matt hasn’t abandoned you, he’ll be back soon.’

ARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH! AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!

‘Mohinder please... be careful, you’re going to hurt... you’re going to hurt yourself.’

 

‘I’m so sorry, Mrs Suresh, it won’t happen again.’

‘Don’t... don’t apologise. You had to go out. It couldn’t be helped.’

‘Could be helped!’

‘Show me your face Mohinder, I need to clean that cut. Come on, you can still pout and sulk while I clean you up.’

GRRRR!!!

‘Don’t be like this, Mohinder. Matt is here now.’

‘Mean!’

‘Mohinder I know you’re upset and angry, and I’m sorry but don’t yell at your mom. It’s not her fault that I had to go out.’

‘Mean.’

‘Call me mean if you have to, but I’m telling you now to stop growling and carrying on at your mom. You hear me, Mohinder? Quit it right now. Give her a kiss and a hug and make it better.’

‘Sorry.’

‘Don't cry Mohinder, please?’

‘Hug?’

‘That better? Shush, it’s okay. I’m not going anywhere, Mohinder. You don’t have to worry about that.’

‘Worried.’

‘I’m sorry you were worried Mohinder.’

‘Should... should I say sorry?’

‘You got something for your mom, Mohinder?’

‘Kiss.’

‘There’s nothing to worry about, Mohinder. I’m not going anywhere.’

Wawaaaaaah! Waaawaaaaaah!

‘It’s okay, it’s okay Mohinder, it’s just the baby crying. He’s hungry.’

‘Baby!’

‘Should... should I see to him? I’ll see to him. A long time since I looked after a baby.’

‘Uh...’

‘Please, I’d like to.’

‘Matt... Matt.’

‘Thanks, it won’t happen again. What is it, Mohinder? Do you want your crayons?’

‘Baby!’

 ‘Would you like to see the baby?’

‘Like to see the baby.’

‘Let me just make sure he’s being nice to your mom. I’m sorry that I scared you by going out. I hope you and me are okay now. Are we okay, are we good?’ 

‘We’re okay, good.’

 

Appppft! Pfffft!

‘Mohinder’s settled down a bit now. Is everything okay here? Little Matty behaving himself? Come here
little guy and let me give you a big kiss.’

‘He’s... he’s cheerful when he isn’t wet. Happy little soul. Mohinder was... we knew something wasn’t right but we didn’t know... things were different then. We said he didn’t seem to look at us much, didn’t respond to our voices, didn’t want to play, and the doctors told us we were being ridiculous.’

‘The understanding wasn’t there but there’s no excuse for talking to you like that. You did everything you could.’

‘Not... not enough.’

‘He’s happy. He has his moments like everyone else but he’s one of the happiest people I know. You do everything that you can for him and you always have.’

‘I hate... hate to think what we would’ve done if you hadn’t gone to the institute. He was so... and when he started getting better and they treated him as an inconvenience. It made me so angry. I could’ve... could’ve hit the director. Chandra nearly did. I know it must seem that he doesn’t care because he doesn’t visit Mohinder, but he does. He gets so upset and Mohinder get so upset.’

‘Honestly Mrs Suresh, you have nothing to blame yourselves for. It’s a complex situation with no easy solution and families always find it very difficult, always. You and Doctor Suresh do the best you can for Mohinder.’

‘I wish... I wish you would call me Lajvati. You look after Mohinder, you live here, you’re a part of the family. Would it be breaking a rule to call me by my first name?’

‘No, not at all, Lajvati. Mohinder was asking to see Matty. Has he been around children, babies, much?’

‘No, no not really. He wouldn’t be violent but... but he might not understand how vulnerable and fragile...’

‘I think it’ll be good for him to bond a little if possible. It’ll ease some of the possible jealousy, I’ll keep a very careful eye on things.’

‘Mohinder, this is my little boy, Matty.’

‘Baby Matt?’

‘Sort of, he’s my son. His mom named him Matty. Do you want to say hello?’

‘Hello baby Matty.’

‘It’s okay Mohinder, he’s awake you don’t have to whisper.’

‘Help!’

‘Oh let me just... Did he hurt you? Tight little grip he’s got.’

‘Not hurting.’

‘It’s okay, it’s okay Mohinder really, he’s just being friendly. He likes you, it’s his way of saying hello. It’s time for his nap now anyway. I’ll just put him to bed and then I’ll make your lunch.’

‘Kiss baby?’

‘Aww, if you want. Gently though, just there.’

‘Kiss, kiss, kiss.’

 

 

As children, we are the centre of our

universe. One of the hardest things we

ever have to come to terms with is sharing

our parents, our loved ones. The ideal of

selfless love is learnt, not innate. Love is

naturally selfish, yet as we grow

and mature, we learn the benefit of

easing our jealous grasp on our loved ones.

We learn that the rival can also be

a playmate or companion.

 

 

‘Whoa, you surprised me Mohinder. Careful there, watch out for the handle of the pan. I’m just making you some eggs. Do you want some bread and butter while you wait?’

‘No.’

‘Are you bored? Or ah... don’t you feel well, is that it?’

‘Help.’

‘Oh, you want to help me make lunch?’

‘Want to help.’

‘Okay handsome, come here and... pour some milk into the jug. Just up that little mark there, do you see?’

‘Pouring milk, pouring milk, pouring milk. Milk poured!’

‘That’s great Mohinder, thank you. Can you hold these eggs for me? They’re fragile so be careful.’

‘Matt.’

‘Yes Mohinder?’

‘Baby Matty stay?’

‘His mom... yes, probably if it works out he’ll be staying.’

‘Good.’

 

 

The End