Author's Note: Another little flashback here – just cause I felt like it. This flashback takes place before the two previous ones – just so you don't get confused!
Chapter Fifteen: Never Underestimate Me: Part II
"And you have no idea how you ended up on the bridge? Or what became of Eric?" Mystique raised an eyebrow as the fire mutant shook his head and slumped back onto the sofa. The shapeshifter bit her lip and frowned thoughtfully. "Apparently he is missing and cured – for what that's worth. But then, John Allerdyce is listed as missing presumed dead," Mystique looked over at Pyro, a serious, solemn expression playing at her face. "I was actually quite upset when I read that."
Pyro looked back over at the shapeshifter, a small, understanding smile playing at his lips before both returned to their more casual demeanours.
"So how did you know where to find me?" Pyro frowned. Mystique smirked.
"Oh I just hacked into a couple of computers and pulled up the lists of everyone hospitalized and arrested after Alcatraz. I recognized Taylor's name," Mystique raised an eyebrow mischievously. "Perhaps plying you with alcohol and making you spill your guts that night was a good idea."
Pyro managed a smile.
"It didn't feel like a good idea the morning after."
Mystique laughed softly at the more familiar demeanour of the fire mutant. Her pleasant expression faded suddenly however as a noise came from the front door. The two mutants looked up to see Magneto appear in the lounge doorway.
"Pyro..." he looked between the two, obviously startled. "Mystique...my dear..."
"Eric," the shapeshifter cut in flatly, raised an eyebrow at the other mutant. "You didn't think I knew about this place, did you? You should know better than to underestimate me," she gave him a pointed look before turning her head slightly towards Pyro, keeping her gaze firmly on Magneto. "Pyro, go upstairs and find yourself a room."
The fire mutant opened his mouth to protest but upon looking at the two older mutants, he realised he knew better. Slowly he stumbled to his feet and made his way past Magneto towards the stairs, leaning on anything that didn't move for support, his head still spinning and his legs still weak. Finally, he collapsed onto a bed at the far end of the huge house. He frowned heavily as he realised that despite using all that energy to put distance between himself and the pair downstairs, he could still hear their raised voices. The pyrokinetic sighed and closed his eyes. At least he couldn't make out what they were saying...
John cringed as a loud bang came from downstairs. He threw himself onto his bed, hugging his knees to his chest, his head bowed.
"You're too damn soft on him!" he heard his father yell. John raised an eyebrow and looked at the bruise on his arm. Soft wasn't the word he'd choose for his mother. The only nice thing she ever did was tell him to go upstairs when she and his dad were going to have a huge fight.
"At least I try!" his mother yelled back. John shook his head slightly. Did she?
"What's the point? He's always been a waste of space!" John closed his eyes to the disgust in his father's voice. "He has no intellect or common sense! He doesn't even like sports for crying out loud – what kind of boy doesn't like sports?"
John leapt suddenly to his feet and made his way to his window, loudly shoving it open as he tried to block out the noise of his parents. Quickly he clambered out onto the adjoining garage roof, sitting on the edge with his legs dangling over the side. Biting his lip, he contemplated his next move. He could go right and head towards the old school playground – no doubt there would be someone from school kicking about. Or he could just do what he always did and head left – cut through next doors garden to Taylor's house on the other side. John frowned slightly as he glanced to the left. Normally it was a no brainer, but lately John had...well. He just wasn't entirely sure that seeing Taylor was such a good idea...
"Oh don't be fucking stupid," he muttered to himself, jumping down off the garage, pausing briefly to register that he hadn't broken his leg again. With a slight smirk at remembering that failed escape, he made his way quickly to Taylor's back garden. He couldn't help but smile as he saw the older boy sneak round the back of his garage, lighting a cigarette. John paused and watched as Taylor took a long drag, tilting his head back to blow the smoke out overhead, his other hand by his side playing absently with his new shark tooth Zippo. As he again raised the cigarette to his lips, John couldn't help but let his eyes travel from those lips, down the other boys arm, across his tight, black T-shirt...
John shook his head abruptly. That was a forbidden train of thought. Taking a deep breath, he started forward.
"Hey!" Taylor smiled as he looked up and saw his friend. "You're parents fighting too then?"
"How did you guess?" John smirked. "Maybe bunking off football trials after promising to go try out wasn't such a good idea."
Taylor laughed.
"Yeah, maybe not," he raised an eyebrow mischievously. "But stealing those reports was quite worthwhile."
"Yeah, until we just get new worse ones," John smirked none the less, delving into his pocket and pulling out a cigarette. He scowled as he reached into his other pocket only to remember his lighter was still in his room. Quickly, he reached out and grabbed the Zippo from Taylor.
"Hey!" the older boy laughed and made a grab for John's arm, missing him completely. John moved back to a few feet away, turning to look at the other boy smugly as he lit his cigarette, blowing smoke in his direction. Taylor raised an eyebrow at the smaller boys confidence, smirking as he took one last quick drag of his own cigarette. "Oh you asked for it..."
John's eyes widened slightly as the older, taller and faster boy threw aside his tobacco and made another grab for him. Instinctively, John ducked out of the way, dropping his own cigarette as he tried to avoid Taylor but he knew it was hopeless. He let out a sharp gasp as he found himself slammed up against the back wall of the garage, surprised by the force his friend used. He opened his mouth to protest but found himself unable as Taylor's warm lips crashed into his. For a moment the younger boy hesitated, but as he felt Taylor's hands slip from his chest down to his sides, sliding round to his back and pulling him closer, John found his own hands round Taylor's neck, responding eagerly as Taylor deepened the kiss...
"Taylor!"
The two separated instantly at the sound of Mr Jordison's voice, jumping apart just in time as Taylor's father rounded the garage. He glared down at the discarded cigarettes on the ground.
"Taylor, into the house, now."
John frowned slightly as Taylor bowed his head and for the first time since John could remember obeyed his father. The younger boy let out a short sigh. He wasn't sure whether to be upset or relieved by the interruption. He glanced up to see Mr Jordison looking at him sternly. John took the hint and turned to head back towards his own house, subconsciously flicking the stolen shark tooth lighter still in his hand open and shut, unaware that the flame rose just a little higher than it had with the previous owner...
Mystique stood in the doorway, frowning slightly as the pyrokinetic subconsciously flicked his faithful lighter open and shut, staring distractedly into space.
"You know," she said suddenly, causing the fire mutant to snap out of this trance. "You have to let go of the past sometime."
Pyro gave a wry smile.
"Have you let go of yours?"
Mystique looked back at the younger mutant with a raised eyebrow, silently letting him know he had overstepped the mark but just this once, she'd let him away with it. She moved forward as the fire mutant gave her an apologetic smile before bowing his head. Mystique sat down on his bed and glanced around his room.
"You could have had a bigger room you know," she commented lightly, frowning slightly as she realised the pyrokinetic had in fact chosen the smallest room in the house. Pyro just shrugged.
"I like this one," he replied. Mystique gave a small nod.
"Well you'd better. We're all staying here until the new base is ready," she pulled a face. "Since I kinda compromised the old one."
Pyro looked at her incredulously.
"You forgave him?"
Mystique gave a small smile and reached out to ruffle the younger mutant's hair. Pyro frowned and pouted at the condescending gesture.
"Always look at the bigger picture Pyro," the shapeshifter said softly. "Eric took me in when no one else would – I owe him a lot. I would like for you to forgive him too," she smiled as Pyro grudgingly gave a small nod, her yellow eyes sparkling mischievously. "Of course, that doesn't mean we're gonna give him an easy ride."
Pyro let out a laugh shaking his head as he looked at the other mutant.
"I never do easy," he reminded her. Mystique laughed and stood up slowly.
"True."
Pyro bit his lip nervously as he flicked his lighter open, gazing thoughtfully into the flame.
"Mystique," he caught the shapeshifter's attention just as she reached the door. "That...those lists you looked at..." the pyrokinetic kept his eyes fixed firmly on his lighter. "Did you see any other familiar names?"
Mystique frowned.
"The X-Men are all ok, if that's what you mean. Well except Jean Grey.," she waved a hand dismissively "She's dead again."
"No...I didn't mean the X-Men...I...eh..." Pyro snapped his lighter shut and shook his head. "It doesn't matter."
"Pyro..."
"Really!" the younger mutant waved her away dismissively. "It doesn't matter. Forget I said anything."
Mystique raised an eyebrow but never less turned and left the fire mutant in peace. He should know better than to think she'd forget about this...
Magneto looked up at the shapeshifter as she returned to the downstairs room.
"How is he?" he asked, somewhat cautiously.
"He's fine," Mystique replied flatly, her eyes narrowing. "But what the hell were you doing pitting him against the Iceman like that?"
Magneto returned an even look.
"I did what I had to my dear. You know there is not much room for sentimentality in what we do. You would do well to try and detach yourself from the youngster."
Mystique frowned heavily but bit her tongue to prevent herself from an unsuitable retort.
"Did you read the file?" she asked eventually when she had calmed down a little, gesturing to the folder on the table. Some additional information she had picked up when hacking into the computers to look up the Alcatraz survivors.
"Yes," Magneto stood and started pacing the floor. "Some very interesting reading. But we need those other files."
"I told you – it's not possible! They're heavily guarded, through several security doors and when you do finally reach them, you need to enter five codes and turn five keys simultaneously to open the safe," Mystique waved her arms in exasperation. "We don't exactly have the man power to do that right now, do we?"
Magneto sighed heavily and sat back down, closing his eyes thoughtfully. Mystique scowled and slumped down onto the sofa, rolling her head back to look up at the ceiling. Slowly a smirk spread over her lips as she glanced thoughtfully at the folder on the table and then upwards in the general direction of Pyro. The smirk quickly spread into a grin.
"I have an idea..."