Author's Note: First things first. I must apologise for the delay in posting. Between organising two work Christmas parties, two retirements, a 60th birthday and having a gig out of town, I haven't had two minutes to myself. But don't worry – I've still been plotting away! I just...haven't had two minutes to actually write any of it! I HATE THIS TIME OF YEAR!!! Secondly, these chapters are doing my head in. I've written and rewritten and still feel I'm going in circles. Please bare with me! Really we're still scene-setting, it should get better when we get to the X-Men two time frame and then the multiple man chapters. I promise to try and get the next chapter up quicker!

Chapter Four: The Curtain Burning Incident: Part II

(Sometime between X-Men 1 and X-Men 2, about a week after chapter four: part I)

John scowled into the steam rising from the mug cradled in his hands. He couldn't sleep, he was bored, he was – he grudged to admit – lonely, he really wanted to play with his lighters – which were still confiscated – and he desperately needed – again he grudged to admit – a cigarette. That was Drake's fault. He'd only started chain smoking to take his mind of this silly little infatuation. In fact...everything was Drake's fault. He couldn't sleep because he kept thinking about the stupid ice mutant, wondering what had been going through his stupid ice encased head, hoping there may have been something behind their stupid kiss. And then when he finally did sleep, he just had stupid dreams about the stupid ice mutant and their stupid kiss. He was lonely because the stupid ice mutant had hardly said a word to him all week which just made him think more about the stupid ice mutant and what was going through his stupid head. And above all, his lighters had been confiscated because the stupid ice mutant had looked so damn hot and tempting and...

John cursed under his breath, taking a sip of the hot drink in his hands. The hot drink laden with five teaspoons of sugar and practically the whole packet of chocolate powder. Still, the sweetness did not make up for the lack of tobacco. John frowned thoughtfully as he stood, hunched over the central island in the darkened kitchen. Perhaps there would be some matches hiding in the kitchen somewhere...

A shadow in the doorway tore John's attention away from the thought of hunting down matches. His frown turned back to a scowl as the shadow quickly disappeared.

"You can't avoid me forever Drake," he called after the shadow. A short silence followed before Bobby stepped slowly into the kitchen.

"I'm not avoiding you," he mumbled, making his way to the freezer and pulling out a tub of ice cream. John shivered.

"You're a shit liar," he took a sip of his steaming hot drink to warm himself up again, as Bobby took the long way round the island to retrieve a spoon, avoiding walking past him. John shook his head. "It's almost like you've been too scared to be alone in a room with me."

"Why would I be scared of that?" but his laugh was uneasy. "I mean, we're alone now."

John just looked at him, eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he finished his ridiculously sweet drink, wandering over to the sink to dump the mug.

"Fine, if you say so," John turned to head for the door, walking past Bobby as he now stood over the island, ready to start scooping out some ice cream. As he passed however, John suddenly leaned in towards Bobby, who immediately jumped backward. "Oh my god...you do remember!" John ran his hands through his hair, turning away from Bobby, taking a few steps away for good measure. "You dick, why didn't you say so?"

"I'm sorry, John, I just..." Bobby stuttered quietly, also retreating backwards. "I just didn't want things to be weird between us."

"What, so you thought you'd just avoid me instead?" John replied angrily. "Gee, thanks!"

"John, come on. Can't we just talk about this? I mean, we're still friends right? We just write it off as drunken mistake and..."

"Oh call it whatever the fuck you want Drake!" John snapped, turning quickly and making for the door. "But I wasn't drunk!"

--- --- --- --- ---

John kicked whatever it was that was lying just inside his door angrily as he slammed his bedroom door shut behind him. Why the hell did he just say that? Why couldn't he just say, yeah Drake, drunken mistake, sure we're still friends. But oh no, he had to go and say that.

With a heavy sigh he collapsed back onto his bed. Why did he do this to himself? If there was an easy way of doing things...he took the other way. Every fucking time...

There was a quiet knock on the door. John cursed silently, but before he could even think about whether he was going to answer or not, the door opened quietly and John heard someone slip into his room.

"John?" Bobby whispered. Again John cursed silently.

"What?"

"We need to talk."

"No we don't."

"Yes we do," John felt his bed shift as Bobby sat down on the corner of the mattress. "What did you mean you weren't drunk?"

John sighed heavily and rolled off his bed, clambering to his feet and making his way to the window, resting his elbows against the sill as he stared out at the darkened sky.

"Look, forget I said anything. Forget last week, forget tonight. Tomorrow, we'll be back to normal."

"John..."

"Just go Bobby," John sighed tiredly. "I'll see you in class."

John heard Bobby stand up but frowned as he did not hear the door opening. He turned to face back into the room, only to find himself being pulled forward by a mutant taller than he, cold lips capturing his. He stood still, momentarily shocked before responding eagerly, wrapping his hands around the other boy's neck. But all too quickly that other boy pulled away, stumbling backwards out of John's reach.

"I'm sorry John," Bobby whispered, turning to leave. John grabbed his arm and pulled him back, holding him at a half arms length away. He reached out with his spare hand and ran it gently down Bobby's face. The ice mutant closed his eyes tightly but made no effort to pull away. John frowned helplessly.

"What the hell is going on in that ice encased head of yours?" he asked quietly, as much to himself as to Bobby. Bobby shook his head slowly, looking back up at John through confused, troubled, emotional eyes.

"I have no idea," he admitted in an almost inaudible tone. "I'm sorry, I do really care about Marie, but when I'm with you I..." Bobby reached out and ran a hand lightly down John's arm, but pulled it away quickly. Again, he shook his head as he tried to free himself from John's grasp, but the smaller mutant held him tightly.

"You what?" John prompted softly, loosening his grip as he reduced the gap between them, taking one of Bobby's hands in his free hand. After a short pause, he moved forward and brushed his lips softly over Bobby's. "Forget what everyone else thinks Bobby. Forget about your parents, forget about the teachers, forget about Marie," John said quietly, his face remaining just inches from Bobby's, which instantly turned guilty at the mention of his girlfriend. John closed his eyes briefly against the pained expression, but with a small shake of the head continued, resting his forehead against Bobby's, running a hand softly down his cheek. "Just, for once, think about what you want," tilting his head forward slowly, John took Bobby's lips softly in his, gently nibbling on Bobby's lower lip as he felt the ice mutants cold hands slip around his back, holding him close he started to return the kiss. Tenderly, John deepened the kiss, running his hands through Bobby's hair, holding him firmly but gently enough that the other boy could pull away. Grudgingly, it was John who broke the kiss, stepping back to look up at Bobby.

"John...I..." Bobby stuttered, running a hand over John's shoulder up into his hair, the confused, lost expression returning to his eyes. He shook his head slightly with a helpless sigh. "I just...I..."

A loud, sharp knock on the door caused the two to jump apart quickly. John scowled as the door opened and Scott Summers entered the room.

"Anyway," Bobby forced a smile as John's scowl darkened. "I'll see you tomorrow."

John opened his mouth to protest, but Bobby was already out the door. Narrowing his eyes, he turned to the unwelcome intruder in his room.

"Were you wanting something?" he asked bluntly.

"The professor seems to think it's time you got these back," Scott replied in much the same tone, throwing a selection of lighters onto John's bed. Immediately, the fire mutant made a grab for the lighter with the shark teeth, cradling it in his hands before flicking it over and lighting it, a grin spreading over his face as the flame flickered into his spare hand. Scott rolled his eyes – although of course John could not tell. "What was Drake's hurry?"

John suppressed a groan.

"I think he's going to go study for that test you're giving us tomorrow," John's lip curled in distain. "You know, being the good little student he is."

Above the glasses the older mutant wore, John saw an eyebrow rise.

"That test was this morning, Allerdyce."

John pursed his lips.

"Oh."

"Yeah, oh," Scott crossed his arms. "You can take a new one in detention tomorrow. I'll make it extra fun for you."

John screwed his nose up at the departing mutant, flicking his lighter open and shut, raising an eyebrow thoughtfully as he looked from the flame in his hand to Scott's back...

"Ah, he's not fucking worth it," John mumbled to himself, wondering over to his bedside table and pulling a pack of cigarettes from the drawer. Finally he could have a damn cigarette – God knows he needed it. Crossing first to his bed, he raised a hand to the wall, leaning his head against the cold plaster as once again he found himself contemplating the activity of the ice-encased mind of Bobby Drake...