Author's Note: Mmmm…didn't quite turn out as I'd hoped but hopefully you all approve none-the-less!

A Little Complication

Chapter 21: Face to Face

The fire mutant pulled his jumper tighter around himself, picking up the steaming hot mug of hot chocolate he had just made, cradling it in his hands against his chest in a vain attempt to warm himself up. He hated winter.

"Hi Pyro."

The pyrokinetic looked up startled to find Mystique standing in the doorway, grinning back at him.

"What?" the fire mutant narrowed his eyes suspiciously. The shapeshifter simply cast her eyes upwards. John groaned as he looked up and saw the mistletoe hanging from the doorframe. He thought he'd burned it all. He started to back away as he caught the glint in Mystique's eyes. "Don't even think about it…"

The shapeshifter laughed a quiet, silvery laugh and grabbed the younger mutant's top, pulling him closer, her blue scaly skin peeling back. Pyro scowled heavily as the Logan shaped figure pulled away from a rough but playful kiss. The blue scales returned as Mystique winked at him, laughing amusedly as she turned and disappeared back into the corridor. Pyro glared up at the mistletoe that was just out of his reach. He hated the holidays.

Grumbling away to himself the fire mutant made his way through to one of the smaller rec. rooms, pulling his phone from his pocket and curling up on the single chair. Taking a sip of his hot drink, John frowned thoughtfully as he looked down at his cell. A guilty knot tightened in his stomach as he thought back to Bobby's despondent tone the last time he'd called – most likely caused by the sound of him and Jamie carrying on…

John shook his head. It wouldn't have bothered Bobby that much. And even if it had he shouldn't feel guilty. Bobby was his friend. Jamie was his boyfriend. With a definite nod the fire mutant unlocked his phone and selected to dial Bobby's number. He tapped his fingers impatiently on the side of the mug in his spare hand as he waited for an answer.

"Hey John," Bobby's weary sounding voice came finally. "Look I'm sorry, this isn't a good time – can I call you back?"

"Everything ok?" John frowned at how concerned he suddenly found himself.

"Oh it's nothing serious, it's just…" Bobby sighed tiredly. "You remember me talking about Jinx and Tommy? Well Tommy's been telling his parents that he's not going home for Christmas but they turned up this morning to take him home anyway and in the argument that followed Tommy outed himself and Jinx. So now Tommy's parents are threatening to pull him out the school altogether. They're all up in Storm's office right now. And in the midst of all this Jinx upped and left."

John arched an eyebrow. School was never this exciting when he was there.

"Jinx left? As in just leaving to give them space or left as in…"

"Ran away," Bobby confirmed. "He's been arguing with Tommy all week telling him to just go home and not fall out with his parents on his account."

John nodded understandingly.

"So he's getting out of the way thinking it's for the best?"

"I guess so," Bobby sighed. "Me and Pete are away to go out and look for him but I mean he could be anywhere by now."

"I'll let you go then," again John's fingers drummed against the side of his mug. "Quicker you go the better."

"Yeah. I will call you later though, ok?"

"Sure. I'll speak to you later then," John frowned thoughtfully as he laid the cell phone on the arm of the seat, cradling both hands back around the hot mug. As hard as he tried though he couldn't shake off the concern welling up in him…

x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x

John inhaled deeply as he entered the small bus station foyer, a feeling of de-ja-vu washing over him. Twice Cyclops had tracked him down to the remote station when he had first arrived at the mansion, although of course he had had the professor and Cerebro to help with the search. Bobby and Piotr would probably head to the main train station much nearer the mansion.

It didn't take long for John to track down the Xavier School's runaway. He recognised the young mutant from his days at the school but even if he hadn't the youngsters demeanour would have given him away – anxious, constantly watching his back, defiant yet clearly upset. John sighed quietly and sat down next to the student. Jinx shuffled slightly, glancing sideways but not actually looking at him, continuing instead to scan the rest of the crowd for his teachers.

"Be glad there's no one left at the mansion who can work Cerebro," the fire mutant commented casually, keeping his gaze fixed firmly ahead of him as Jinx's head snapped to look at him. "You might actually make a clean getaway."

Jinx's eyes narrowed suspiciously. There was a hint of confusion in his eyes as he recognised the fire mutant.

"I'm not going back," he insisted. John turned briefly to look at him, holding up his hands in retreat.

"I'm not here to make you go back," the fire mutant shrugged and looked ahead again. "Personally leaving the mansion was the best thing I ever did."

"Then…" Jinx frowned heavily, shuffling away further. "Why are you here?

John laughed at the apprehension on the younger mutant's face.

"Don't worry, I'm not here to drag you off to the Brotherhood," he arched an eyebrow. "Although you'd be more than welcome. Your power would come in handy."

Despite his anxious state Jinx smiled sheepishly.

"So…why?"

John smirked.

"Because my dick of a boyfriend has stuck mistletoe all over our base and Mystique keeps shifting into x-men to kiss me. I fucking hate the holidays," he glanced around at the cheap decorations littering the station. "Although this isn't much better."

Jinx couldn't help but laugh.

"You still talk to Mr Drake don't you?" he rolled his eyes as John nodded. "Should have known he'd stick his nose in"

"The way I hear it, it was Drake sticking his nose in that got your boyfriend to make a move on you in the first place."

Jinx opened his mouth to argue but shut it abruptly.

"I guess…" he grumbled reluctantly. The older mutant let a short silence fall before he looked up at the board detailing the handful of buses that rolled through that station.

"So where you headed?"

Jinx pulled a face and shrugged.

"Wherever the first bus that comes along is going."

John nodded slowly.

"You don't have family, right?"

The younger mutant scowled.

"No."

"Me neither," John replied casually, although his expression let Jinx know that he too had his parent issues. "That why you're so determined for Tommy not to fall out with his parents?"

"As much as he moans about them he does love them," Jinx replied defensively. "This is for the best."

John held his hands up.

"I'm not arguing."

"Good."

"Everything will just go back to normal."

"Yeah."

"His parents will put it down to teenage curiosity and blame the rest on you."

"Exactly."

"Until the next guy comes along of course."

The younger mutant bristled.

"Well…" Jinx frowned heavily. "But he…"

"Stays single for the rest of his life?" John arched an eyebrow pointedly. "Gets a girlfriend? Gets married? Has children…" the fire mutant's voice trailed off slightly. A quiet sigh escaped his lips as he continued, as much to himself as the younger student. "You haven't made him who he is – if he's gay he's gay. The fact he's chosen you is irrelevant."

"I guess…" Jinx bit his lip thoughtfully, his eyes widening slightly as a bus pulled into the depot. John arched an eyebrow questioningly. The younger mutant scowled, standing up defensively. "I thought you weren't here to make me go back."

"I'm not," John shrugged. "I just felt bad for Drake cause I know I think he's still beating himself up about letting one of his friends leave when he was a student. I dare say your Tommy will take a while to get over it too."

Jinx's frown deepened.

"But you said you don't regret leaving – it was the best thing you've ever done!"

"I don't regret anything I've done," the fire mutant agreed calmly. "I just…things could have been very different if I'd have stayed."

Jinx looked down at the still seated mutant, his expression unreadable. Gritting his teeth determinedly he turned to look at the bus behind him…his fingers twitching around the strap of the rucksack on his shoulder as he debated about whether or not to get on that bus…

x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x

Bobby sighed heavily as he looked thoroughly around the crowded train station. He turned to his left as Piotr appeared beside him.

"Any luck?"

The huge Russian shook his head.

"Nothing."

Bobby nodded resignedly, glancing once more over the train schedule. He didn't even have the first clue where Jinx would go…

The ice mutant gave a small shake of the head as he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Pulling it out he looked at the screen, opening the message from John. Your runaways on his way back to the mansion. Bobby blinked rapidly, a confused frown pulling on his face before a smile spread over his lips.

"Jinx is heading back to the mansion," he turned and gestured for Piotr to follow him. "Come on…"

x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x

Marie smiled reassuringly at the anxious looking teen pacing about in the garden in front of her.

"I'm sure he'll be fine Tommy," she said softly. The student shook his head.

"He's so damn stubborn!" he replied, crossing his arms angrily. "I spend all afternoon trying to persuade my parents he's ok and to let me come back early if I do go home for Christmas so I can spend time with him only to find he's gone."

Marie just pursed her lips sympathetically, sitting silently as Tommy continued to pace. The female looked up inquisitively at the sound of a car engine, a hopeful smile on her face as Bobby drew his car to a stop in front of her, but the ice mutant and Piotr clambered out of the car alone.

"No sign of him?" she asked quietly. Bobby arched an eyebrow.

"Apparently he's on his way here."

"Apparently?" Tommy chimed up from nearby, his arms still crossed angrily but his face was anxious. Bobby opened his mouth to reply but paused at the sound of an approaching car. The ice mutant smiled as he saw the shiny red sports car approaching, recognising it as John's preferred car to borrow from Jamie. The car rolled to a stop just behind Bobby's and although the windows were darkened the group could make out two figures sitting in the front seats. After a brief pause the passenger door opened, Jinx clambering out slowly.

"Hey…" the young mutant smiled apprehensively at his teachers before turning his gaze towards the other student.

"What the hell were you playing at?" Tommy demanded, his arms still crossed. Jinx opened his mouth but just bowed his head helplessly. "Oh for crying out loud…come here!"

Despite himself the fire mutant still sitting in the sports car smiled as Tommy threw his arms around Jinx, apparently continuing to chastise him as he hugged him tightly. John laughed quietly and shook his head, turning his attention back to moving the car but in doing so he noticed Marie was gesturing for him to wait. He sighed quietly as the heavily pregnant female started to make towards him – her boyfriend not far behind. Taking a deep breath John clambered from the car, standing behind the open door, leaning against it casually.

"Yeah?"

"What were you doing?" Marie asked simply. John arched an eyebrow.

"Brainwashing him and dragging him off to the Brotherhood. What does it look like?" he rolled his eyes. "Look…I ran away myself a couple of times – I know some of the more obscure hiding places."

Marie pursed her lips thoughtfully.

"Well…thank you," she gave the fire mutant a small nod and turned to waddle back to where Piotr was standing with Jinx and Tommy. Bobby however held back, looking at John, waiting for him to return the gaze. Finally he did and for just a brief moment, Bobby was sure he saw the pain that he himself was feeling.

"Thank you," the ice mutant smiled warmly. John swallowed hard as he gave a casual nod.

"You're welcome," the pyrokinetic turned his gaze sharply to the sky as a couple of snowflakes started to fall. Bobby laughed softly as John curled his lip up.

"There's no escaping it," he said quietly. John sighed.

"Yeah…look I'd better go before it gets bad," he turned his eyes briefly back to the ice mutant. "Bye Bobby."

"Bye," Bobby clenched his fists by his side slightly as John went to climb back into the car. "Hey John," the fire mutant paused and Bobby smiled. "Happy birthday for tomorrow."

John managed a faint smile and a small nod before his head disappeared into the car. Bobby sighed heavily as the car revved loudly, skidding quickly back down the driveway. He stood for just a brief moment watching the departing car before pulling a more upbeat smile onto his face and turning back towards everyone else…