Chapter 21
This Isn't Good-Bye
Author's Note: Sorry these stories are so short, everyone. I'm trying not to burn myself out and create another writers block. I do hope that you all still enjoy reading this. I promise there will be more chapters to come. And I am gonna make sure that I see this story all the way to the end. ;) Enjoy the latest chapter and please give me some feed back. So that it'll help encourage me to write more chapters' quicker. lolz
Lance went back to the Brotherhood Bording house to collect his things. As he was packing, Pietro happened to be walking by.
"Lance?" Pietro stopped and looked into his room, "What are you doing? You going on a trip or something?"
"You can sorta say that." Lance said bitterly under his breath, shoving another load of his clothes into his back pack.
Pietro zipped up to him and sat down on his bed, "Something wrong, man? You don't look so good?" Lance didn't say anything. Pietro tried again, "Lance?"
Lance heaved a heavy sigh, stopped what he was doing, and looked at the boy, whom he been comrads with for a long time. "I'm quitting the Brotherhood."
"WHAT? You too? God dammit! That leave only me and my sister. How the hell are we suppose to fight the X-Men with just two fucking members!"
"Pietro... It doesn't matter whether or not you and your sister are the only two Brotherhood Members left. Magneto never had any intention of letting the Brotherhood join the ranks of the acolytes. Only you and your sister have that chance. The rest of us were nothing more than grunts and were expendable in his eyes."
"That's not true, Lance! It's not-"
"Pietro." Lance stared into the young boy's ice blue eyes with gentle brown eyes, "Pietro... You know I'm right."
Pietro turned his head away and closed his eyes in anger, "Yeah... But I don't like it!"
"I know, man. I know." He reached out and touched Pietro's shoulder, "I'm sorry, things have turned out to be this way."
"So am I." he turned his head back to look at him, "Where are you going to go?"
"I don't know. I'll probably stay over at Freddy's house for a while, until I can get a job again, and earn enough to get a place of my own."
"Okay. Sounds like a plan. But... But why quit now all of the sudden? You've been with the Brotherhood for so long. Why now?"
"Because... It's no longer my life I have to fight for."
"Huh? Could you be more specific?"
"Kitty and I are going to have a baby and I need to prove to her parents how serious I am about wanting too keep her and our child together. That includes cutting ties with the Brotherhood."
"I understand." Pietro lowered his head and stared at the floor, "I won't try to stop you. If anyone deserves a chance at happiniess... It's you."
"Thank you, Pietro."
Pietro stood up, dusted his hands off onto his pants, and held out his hand, "Well... Good luck to you."
Lance chuckled and pulled the silver haired boy into a warm hug, "This isn't good-bye, you goof ball. We're still gonna be friends. Just like Fred and Todd. Just... We're no longer gonna be teammates." he hugged him for a bit longer before pulling away from him, "You may not believe it, but Mystique really will help you if you and Wanda ever decide to leave the Brotherhood. She's changed man. I know you don't want to hear it, but she has. She's changed for the good."
"Yeah right. And my old man wants to make peace with humans."
"Just give her a chance, man. That's all I ask."
"Whatever." he looked over at Lance's bag and sighed, "Do you need any help packing?"
"Naw. I pretty much got this taken care of. I guess it's a good thing that I never had that many belongings, huh?"
"I guess. Well... Let me know when you're ready to leave. I'm sure Wanda would like to say good-bye to you too."
"Pietro. I told you that this isn't good-"
"I know. I know. Just... Well... You know what I mean!"
Lance smirked, "Yeah. I guess I do."
About an hour and a half went by when Lance was finished and said his good-bye's to Pietro and Wanda. He dropped off his belongings at Freddy's house, then went back out to start his job hunt. He went back to his old job and asked the boss if he could come back full time. After giving him a lengthy apology and explaining to him why he had broken down, his former boss rehired him, under the condition that Lance would not pull a stunt like that again. Lance's heart became lighter with the good news and immediately went to work with a new vigor. He world all day, until it was tim to close down the shop, then he went back to Freddy's house. Where Mystique was there to greet him as he came in through the front door.
"Mystique? You're still here?" he asked in a puzzled voice, "I thought you'd be out doing important things."
"I was and I finished them early. I wanted to be here when you got home to give you this." she handed him a paper and watched him as he read over it. Smirking as she saw his jaw drop and was unable to utter any words.
"What's goin' on, yo?" asked Todd, who had perched himself on the stair way banister, "Lance, if you keep holdin' your mouth open like that, then all the flies will be catchin' all the flies instead of me." Lance was still unable to speak, so Todd turned his attention to his mother, "What's wrong him, mom?"
"Oh, nothing really. He's just having a difficult time comprehending that he is the a proud owner of a brand new house that has been paid in full."
"What? Really? Wow!" Todd hopped down from the banister and right next to Lance, reading the paper his friend was holding, "Whoa! The address on this thing says that the house you own is the one right next to ours, yo! We're gonna be neighbors!"
Finally Lance found his voice, "H-H-How are you able to afford all of this? You not only bought and paid for Fred's house, but now you've done the same for me. Not to sound ungrateful, but can you really afford spend your money like this?"
"How I spend my money is none of your concern, Lance. I'll spend it however way I see fit. As I told all of you, I will help you, and look after you even after you quit the Brotherhood. You are my children and I want to make sure that you have a chance at a decent life. Lord knows how the economies gone to hell these days that it's diffucult for anybody to get anywhere. And don't you dare pay me back a single cent or else I will no longer acknowledge your exsistance. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Now how did the job hunting go?"
"I was able to get my old job back and it's full time too."
"Good. I'm glad to hear that." she smiled and sighed, "Well, I'd love to stay longer, but I have a date tonight." she picked up her purse and keys and walked to the front door.
"A date?" Lance asked, "Who's the lucky person?"
"Are you even allowed to day at your age?"
She turned and glared down her son, "Do I need to take you back into Freddrick's study to teach you a thing called manners?"
Todd jumped back, shaking his head vigorously, and protecting his rear end with his hands, "No, ma'am!"
"That's better." she turned her head back to Lance, "Call me if things start heating up with your situation with Kitty. I'll try my best to help you, Lance. I promise."
"Thank you, Mystique."
"Good-night, boys." she waved at Lance and gave Todd a kiss on the cheek, then she dissapeared out the door.
Todd hopped back over to Lance, practically jumping up and down for joy, "Man O man! I can't believe we're gonna be neighbors! this is gonna be great! Now I can come over and ask if I can borrow a cup of sugar. Ha Ha!"
Lance rolled his eyes and ruffed Todd's hair, "You're such a goof ball, ya know that Todd?"