Author's Note: So sorry about the delay – this was such a horrendous chapter to write! Also I've taken in another mutant – an old favourite of mine. I don't think I have his speech quite right but it's been quite a while since I've encountered him . I think that's it…oh – Jamie's ringtone is a Metallica song, alas nothing to do with me. Now…on with the chapter!
A Little Complication
Chapter 28: What I Want
The apartment was quiet when Bobby reached the front door; so much so that he presumed he was the first there. He jumped slightly as he entered the lounge and saw the figure sitting on the sofa. The fire mutant looked up slowly – tiredly – his fiery brown eyes dulled over. Bobby's gut wrenched at the sight of John looking so down and dejected. The ice mutant's determination and confidence disappeared rapidly. John's expression softened immediately as he saw the other mutant crumble.
"Hey…" he stood quickly, making his way towards Bobby, wrapping his arms around him supportively. Bobby let out the breath he had been holding, squeezing John back tightly. Closing his eyes he lowered his head onto the smaller mutant's shoulder, an ever so slight smile pulling on his lips as John's head rested gently against his, the fire mutant's hand slowly caressing his lower back. Instinctively Bobby relaxed, pushing his troubles to the back of his mind as he leant against John's body, running a hand slowly into his hair, gently coaxing his head back to softly capture his lips. John responded to the kiss, cupping his hand over Bobby's face. The two mutants pulled apart slowly, gradually, still keeping a tight hold on the other. John leant forward and rested his head on Bobby's. "So, how are you feeling?"
Bobby laughed quietly, closing his eyes and leaning into the fire mutant's hold.
"I have no idea," he admitted. John smiled sympathetically and backed away slowly, pulling Bobby towards the sofa to sit down. The fire mutant guided the cryokinetic into his seat, sitting down next to him, turning to face him as he let go. Bobby frowned slightly but did not try and pull him back.
"How does it feel to be a dad?"
Bobby couldn't help the wide smile that spread onto his lips.
"It's…" he sighed softly, laughing quietly as he did. "It's amazing. I mean, it's not what I would have planned – not this young – but whenever I look at Abi I just…" he shrugged slightly, the smile still on his face. "She has the tiniest little fingers and toes and…it's just…I can't describe it."
John inhaled sharply, trying to keep his expression neutral as he nodded slowly.
"Abi?"
Bobby nodded.
"Abigail Jean."
A slight smile pulled on John's lips as he found himself nodding approvingly.
"That's…nice," he took another deep breath. "So you're happy about it right?"
"Yeah," Bobby replied instantly, surprising himself with his conviction. He laughed quietly. "Yeah I'm happy. Scared as Hell but happy."
Again John nodded slowly.
"Good."
Bobby took a deep breath, exhaling quietly, slowly feeling more relaxed.
"My mom phoned this morning," he said quietly.
"Oh yeah?" John nodded, having to try even harder this time to keep his face straight. "She excited about being a grandmother?"
"She is actually," the ice mutant replied, smiling to himself. "She was inviting us up for Christmas dinner."
John couldn't help but arch his eyebrow dubiously.
"Is this the same mother who was mortified when you told her you were a mutant?"
Bobby sighed quietly. Of course he understood John's bitterness about that day…
"I think she just needed time to come to terms with it all," the ice mutant shrugged a little defensively. John frowned slightly, biting hard on his lip to stop himself saying anything that would make things worse.
"So are you going to go?" he managed to ask calmly. Bobby shook his head.
"No, they wanna keep Abi and Marie in for another night so they're not getting home until tomorrow afternoon so there's no way I'm driving up to Boston with them tomorrow or Christmas day so…" Bobby smiled meekly. "We'll just spend Christmas at the mansion – maybe we'll go up some other time," he arched an eyebrow questioningly at the fire mutant. "What are you gonna be doing? I mean for Christmas?"
John screwed up his nose, unable to stop himself frowning.
"I don't do holidays remember Drake – neither does Mystique," he shrugged absently. "And if anything Magneto's Jewish," the pyrokinetic's gaze dropped guiltily, his voice growing a little quieter. "The only person looking forward to Christmas was Jamie and last I saw him he wasn't looking very festive."
Bobby bit his lip at the fire mutant's downturn in demeanour.
"So…are you two…"
"Definitely over," John interrupted bluntly. Bobby looked down uncomfortably.
"I'm sorry John, I know you two…I mean I shouldn't have put you in that position…"
John glanced up, his stance relaxing slightly.
"I shouldn't have let myself get in that position."
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
The bedroom was still plunged in darkness, despite the encroaching afternoon, a deep silence settled over the room.
Gimme fuel, gimme fire, gimme that which I desire!
The dark shape on the bed jumped. Jamie groaned and grabbed for the phone by his side, hitting the hang up button and burying his head back in his pillows. For a moment the silence returned.
Gimme fuel, gimme fire, gimme that which I desire!
The multiplying mutant cursed. Grudgingly he propped himself up on his elbow, snatching at his phone and answering the call.
"I'm not in the mood Pyro," he grumbled.
"Pyro?" a distinctive laugh drifted over the phone. "Wrong as always Madrox."
Jamie sat up, a frown pulling on his brow.
"Remy?"
The mutant on the other end of the line laughed again.
"Long time no see."
Jamie arched an eyebrow.
"Not long enough."
"Oh don't be like 'at!" Remy mocked a hurt tone. "I have a project for you."
"A project?" Jamie's frown deepened. "Last time I did a project with you I got arrested."
"Awwww…Madrox! That wasn't Remy's fault."
The multiplying mutant sighed quietly. That was true…
"I'm not available for any projects."
"Ah yes, you're running about with some mutant rights movement."
Jamie paused for a moment, frowning thoughtfully.
"Hey, how did you get this number?"
The Cajun laughed.
"Come on Madrox, you're the only guy who can pull this off."
"Flattery will get you nowhere," Jamie grumbled.
"You really have something better to do?"
The question hung in the air, hovering over Jamie like a most unwelcome storm. A wry smile pulled on his lips as he gave a conceding sigh.
"What's the job?"
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
Bobby looked back at the fire mutant next to him, his icy blue eyes glistening slightly.
"Thank you John," he leant his head on the back of the sofa, giving the fire mutant a soft smile. "Thanks for being so…just great about all this."
John just shrugged absently, dropping his gaze. Bobby reached out and cupped a hand over John's face, to pull him closer.
"Bobby, don't," the fire mutant pulled away sharply. Bobby frowned slightly.
"John…you…" he tried to turn John back to face him. "You said you understood."
"I do understand," John replied, standing up quickly before Bobby could grab him again. "I understand why you're not leaving Marie but that doesn't mean I'm just going to be your bit on the side!" the fire mutant crossed his arms defensively. "I will not be your dirty little secret."
Bobby opened his mouth quickly to argue but shut it again as he found himself lost for words. Shaking his head he too stood up.
"You're not just some bit on the side John…"
"So you're going to leave Marie?" John arched an eyebrow dubiously. Bobby rubbed the back of his neck uneasily, a knot tightening in his stomach.
"I will! Just…not now – not yet…" he reached out again as John scoffed and turned towards the door. "John please!"
"No Bobby!" John shook his head venomously. "I can't do this! I won't!"
Bobby frowned heavily.
"I can't leave Abi, John, you know that!"
"This isn't about Abi! This is about you!" the fire mutant ran his hands through his hair. "You will never tell Marie! You will never tell anyone!"
Bobby frowned heavily.
"John, I will!" he reached out and managed to grab a hold of the pyrokinetic's arm. John arched an eyebrow.
"You're going to tell Marie? The rest of the X-Men? Your students?" he scoffed quietly as Bobby's expression wavered. "Your parents?"
Bobby's eyes widened slightly but he nodded determinedly.
"I just need time," but his voice was quiet and not at all convincing. John shook his head.
"You know when your parents came home that day you introduced Marie to them straight away. You only told them who I was after your mother kept giving me funny looks. And you remember how you introduced me?" the fire mutant couldn't help his bitter tone. "You just called me a classmate. You couldn't even introduce me as a friend Bobby. That hurt!"
Bobby dropped his gaze, his grip slackening.
"I'm sorry, I just…" but he couldn't explain himself. "John please, I can't go back to pretending we're just friends," he ran a hand down John's cheek. "This is what I want – I'll make it work."
"What about what I want Bobby?" John frowned slightly. "Who says I want to be with someone who has a kid?"
Bobby's hand dropped, his brow mirroring John's frown.
"But…I mean it doesn't have to affect us," he returned his hand to John's arm. The smaller mutant shook his head.
"I haven't got a paternal bone in my body Bobby," he said bluntly. "And would you honestly be ok with the person you were in a relationship with saying that they wanted nothing to do with your child?"
Bobby inhaled sharply. He hadn't had long to think about it but at the back of his mind he had already thought about introducing his daughter to his lover, imagined him and John sitting, curled up on the sofa watching a movie with Abi asleep between their laps…
"I…eh…"
John smiled wryly as the ice mutant stuttered.
"I'll take it this is just a detour on your way to the hospital?"
Bobby bowed his head reluctantly, letting go of the smaller mutant.
"Yeah," he replied quietly. John swallowed hard but managed to keep an even tone.
"Well you'd better get on your way."
Bobby looked up and caught the fire mutant's gaze, icy blue eyes locking with fiery brown, both filled with a resigned understanding. The ice mutant nodded slowly but did not move. John took a deep breath and forced a smile.
"Bye Bobby," he slowly started to back away towards the door. "Good luck. And congratulations…I do mean that."
Bobby could only manage to return a meek smile before John disappeared, slipping quietly out the door. The ice mutant closed his eyes tightly, clenching his fists as he tried to fight the emotions raging within him, fighting the urge to run after him. Finally he took a deep, calming breath, opening his eyes slowly. Sighing quietly he gave a small shake of the head and made his way towards the door, filling his head with thoughts of the tiny baby waiting for him at the nearby hospital…
x-x-x x-x-x x-x-x
John cursed under his breath as he reached into the fridge, pulling out a cold bottle of beer. He jumped slightly as he found that bottle taken from his hand.
"Hey…I…" the fire mutant turned, expecting to find Mystique. His eyes widened as he found himself face to face with Jamie. The older mutant smirked dryly.
"Drinking doesn't help," he opened the fridge and returned the bottle to its shelf, pulling out a bottle of orange juice and popping two headache tablets from the box in his other hand. Throwing them into his mouth, he took a few swigs of the juice, pulling a face before turning back to John. "Trust me."
The fire mutant winced guiltily.
"Look Jamie, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean…"
"I know," the multiplying mutant held up his hand to silence the younger male. "Hey, I knew how you both felt. I was just relying on him being too chicken-shit to act on it," he smiled dryly. "Guess I underestimated him."
Not really the fire mutant thought but before he could comment further his attention was drawn to the bag slung over Jamie's shoulder.
"You're leaving?" his eyes widened in horror. Jamie glanced at the bag and shrugged casually.
"An old friend called and offered me a job."
"But…you…" John frowned heavily. "You can't leave! What…what about the Brotherhood?"
Jamie smiled faintly.
"My debt to the Brotherhood for releasing me was paid the moment I was arrested for playing decoy before Alcatraz. After that…" Jamie sighed quietly, reaching out to brush John's cheek gently with his hand. "I only stayed for you."
John opened his mouth as Jamie pulled away but nothing came out. All he could do was watch silently as the older mutant turned and made his way to the doorway, leaving the fire mutant completely and utterly alone…
