A/N: This fic takes place two weeks after Pyro left the X-Men.

Listen

Things happened so fast. There was no time to hesitate. For him it was either do or die. He made a choice, but was it for the right reasons?

Now that things had settled down, he needed space to just relax and think. John left the hideout for some air and space. He never asked Magneto or Mystique where they were exactly. To be honest, he didn't really want to know nor care.

John was walking on the sidewalk casually, pulling leaves off bushes every once in awhile. He would look at the houses he passed by and wondered what it would have been like if he lived in a 'perfect' family home. Would he still have a numbness inside of him or would he feel completely different? Putting those thoughts aside John found a bench that was facing a pond. It was the perfect spot to just sit and relax to think about more important things. Did he leave the jet because of Magneto's interest in him or did he leave because it was the right thing to do?

His thoughts were slightly interrupted when someone sat next to him. He didn't take a quick glance at the person right away, but he felt like the person was just staring at him. Eventually he went with his instincts and turned his head to the right. The person next to him smiled without saying anything.

"What are you doing here?" He grumbled.

"I came to talk to you." She said softly.

"I'm not going back." John stood up about to leave.

"I'm not here to bring you back. Like I said, just to talk."

"Why on earth would I want to talk to you!" There was so much bile wrapped around the last word. John picked up a smooth rock from the floor, threw it; and made it skip across the water.

"I didn't know you could do that."

John threw another, "That's because you don't know anything about me, Rogue."

"Is that why you left?" she asked.

John snapped, "I left because-" He paused to regain his composure, "Because at the time it felt like the right decision."

"And now?"

"I don't know… that's why I came here." He said as he sat on the bench once more.

"I'll listen if you let me."

John thought about her offer. He also thought a few things were odd, but at this point he really didn't give a crap.

He talked and Rogue listened like she said she would. He finally came to talking about his decision to leave the X-Men.

"I left because it was something I had to do. If I had to do it all over again… I would've made the same decision. I don't know why I'm even bothering… you don't understand." John got up and left Rogue there. He took a few steps before he stopped. He felt it was quite odd that she didn't try to stop him.

Mystique morphed into her original form; just before John turned around.

"You can't just do that!" John shouted, both hands in tight fists. He was ready to strangle her.

"What?" she asked innocently.

"Don't act like you don't know! I'm confused as it is… and then you make me think that Ro-," he took a breath, "actually car-" John paused and sighed, "Forget it."

Mystique grinned, "I believe I struck a nerve…"

"You're getting on my nerves!" John turned to leave.

Mystique changed her form again, "Is this better?"

He turned around once again, quickly eyed the figure and spit in the grass. "When hell freezes over!" John turned around again to head back to the hideout, "Don't burn anything," he muttered to himself. "Ha! What didn't I burn that day, asshole!"

Mystique watched him walk away. After a few feet, he stopped in his tracks, the tension in his body, fading. With his back to her, in an even voice, he said, "By the way Raven, you would have been just fine."

A/N: A challenge fic given to me by Orli. The challenge was - It was after John left. It's him and Mystique, but Mystique plays Rogue.

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