Disclaimer: I don't own X-men. If I did, then John and Bobby would be together and Rogue wouldn't even exist

This first chapter is my attempt at how Pyro's life was like before X-men.

Hey Bobby,

Let me tell you a story about a boy. This little boy recieved his mutant powers when he was five. After a little accident in which he almost killed his little brother, his mother took his little brother and left. That left him with an older brother and an abusive father. He and his brother ran away after one rather heavy beating. They were then bounced from foster home to foster home- but they always made sure to stay together. Finally they were separated when these scientists came and took his older brother away. They experimented on the boy's older brother. He eventually died during his time in captivity.

The little boy, however, ended in up juvie for trying to break into the labs and find his older brother. During his time in juvie, he met a much older boy. He thought of this boy as another older brother because he always protected him from the other boys in juvie. This older boy promised that he'd be waiting for this little boy after he got out- they would get away and find somewhere safe together. When the little boy got out of juvie, he tried to find his 'older brother'. He never found him.

After being on the streets for months, he was found by a professor in a school. This professor promised he'd be safe wherever he was going to go. When he got to this school, he was kept safe and well taken care of. In that school, he even met up with the boy he'd met in juvie. Except this boy didn't even know about him anymore. He'd completely forgotten about him.

So the little boy moved on. He met his first ever best friend in that school. They did everything together and even finished each other's sentences. They didn't need to be a telekenesis to read each other's minds. But that all changed too, when a girl came into the picture. This girl started going out with the boy's best friend. Everyday the boy would have to watch his best friend flirt and hang out with this girl and completely ignore his presence in the room. They used to hang out on the weekends and they used to do their homework together. Now, the boy could only see his best friend in the hallways between classes. And still then, he was with his girlfriend.

That little boy was me, Bobby. And if you're ever wondering why I left the school, this is exactly why. I was sick of being left behind- of being alone. I didn't want to have to tackle this world alone again, time after time, I feel like I'm loosing my friend. And I know that eventually it's going to happen because you care so much about her.

You're probably tearing this up by now because I'm labled the traitor now. But Bobby, I never want to have to fight you. You're my best friend and I just had to get away from it all. Magneto would probably see this as a failure on my part, but if I ever saw you on the battlefield, I'd rather you turn me into a popsicle then have to fight you. You know it really sucks that you're not with me because whenever I'm setting anything on fire, you're not there to put it out. It sucked how you'd be raining on my parade all the time, but it only showed something to me. You'd make a great X-men one day, Bobby.

Yours til the fire burns out,

Johnny