"Well, how do you like them?"

He asks me that question as if my response could be anything other than gratitude. Didn't he understand yet? Maybe he did, in a small way he might understand that these were the best gifts I'd ever been given. Sure, I'd gotten cards and little presents from friends on the holidays at school- but these were the first that openly encouraged my powers. It was a glaring dose of reality, how different they were than the others.

There was no school with them- everything I needed to know would be learned in the field. There would be no more hiding. Eric had told me, from now on there would only be the fight, the pride of being what I am and who I've become.

They'd given me a pair of flame-throwers.

Leather straps to be kept tight over my forearms; thin, plastic tubes that mixed flammable chemicals in my palms, right where I needed the flames to be. I turned them over in my hands and smiled once I saw the design.

"That was Mystique, she has a better eye for design. I hadn't even thought to stitch in the shark teeth on the straps. Does it match that old lighter of yours?"

I glanced up and felt almost startled when I saw the pleased expressions on their faces. My voice felt stuck in my throat. "I…they're great, thank you both,"

Mystique moved forward, "Hold out your arms, I'll help you strap them on so you can get used to using them,"

Eric watched quietly as she strapped the flame-throwers tightly around my arms. "Thank you," I flexed my wrist and twin balls of flame were instantly in my hands. "Whoa," I couldn't wipe the smile off my face if I'd tried.

"They'll take some getting used to, but better than the lighter, wouldn't you say?" Eric asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. No fumbling around in my pockets, no fear of not being able to strike a flame. If I wore long sleeves, you wouldn't even see these things."

"That was the idea. You once told me that you could only manipulate the flame, but that you could not create it. We took the liberty of invention for you. Now, no one will be the wiser," Eric said. He put a hand on my shoulder briefly, and gave me one of his usual half-smiles.

"You've only been with us for a short time, Pyro, but you're one of us. You always have been," Mystique whispered in my ear.

I nodded, and made more flames.

"Come, John. Let's practice, I want to make sure they work perfectly for you."

"Try not to burn anything that could lead to an explosion," Mystique said, teasing, as she left us to it.

I turned to Eric, "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes, Pyro."

"Why'd you let me come with you at the lake?"

He shrugged. "Well, I recognized talent when I saw it. Now, come on, let's put those things to use."

"Eric?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for this…I mean, not just these, but for everything. I never had anything for my power. That lighter was my dad's, but I like these better." I murmured. I was never that great at emotional stuff, neither was he.

He shrugged. That half-smile again. "Happy birthday, Pyro."