Author's note: You know what? I've decided to aim for 50 chapters. As in 50 overall – so we'll reach about chapter 37-38 title-wise. If you feel I'm dragging it out too far though please let me know and I will halt immediately!

Chapter Thirty-one: Just Forget

You are a motherfucking idiot.

So you keep saying...

Well you are.

Oh leave me alone.

No! I'll leave you alone when you take your ass through to bed where your little boyfriend is.

Like he's gonna want to see me right now...

What? You're just gonna leave him to ponder over the fact that the stupid ice mutant loves him?

Yeah...great idea...

Fuck off.

James Madrox...

I hate being called James.

I hate being called Jamie.

While we're on the subject Multiple Man is a really lame name...

Oh shut up the lot of you.

Well Jamie/James/Multiple Man – moping isn't going to get you anywhere.

I'm not moping.

What? You get the sexy little pyromaniac back after two weeks apart and you're sitting alone drinking and you don't call that moping?

I think we should give him time to...

To what? Decide he made a mistake coming back here?

No! To...think things through.

...and decide he made a mistake.

... ...

... ...

You think he thinks he made a mistake?

How the hell should I know? He's through in his room and we're stuck here drinking! A quite disgusting drink it must be said.

I like beer.

I'd rather have a whiskey...

I prefer a cocktail myself...

That's 'cause you're a filthy little queer...

Oh crap haven't we got you killed yet?

Fuck you.

Seriously though... you need to go see him!

Yeah, when have we ever been scared of a little competition?

... ...

Since losing would actually hurt?

Hurt? Pu-lease...

Oh you know fine well it would!

... ...

... ...

Yeah I guess. I did miss him.

What?

You missed the disgusting little faggot?

What? He's grown on me. A little.

But...

Fuck off!

We're getting off the point...

Which is?

Which is...we haven't been with the same person for so long ever.

So?

So! Go through and see him!

... ...

... ...

... ...

What if he doesn't want to see me?

Then at least we'll have a proper reason to drink. Besides, why wouldn't he?

Looks like we really did that ice mutant some damage.

That wasn't us!

It was! Technically...

Technically it wasn't...

Oh shut up!

... ...

... ...

Just fucking go and see him!

And then just go and fuck him.

Oh you stay out of this!

What? It's been two weeks...

Oh shut up! Alright! I'll go see him after this drink...

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

"There you are."

Bobby's head snapped up to find Storm standing in the kitchen doorway, smiling at him softly. The ice mutant let out a wry laugh and dug into another scoop of ice cream, pointing towards the clock.

"I figured I'd be safe to wander about now."

Storm frowned sympathetically, making her way forward to sit opposite the younger mutant.

"You can't hide away forever Bobby," she said in that calm, non-condescending voice she had. "The students will get bored."

"Really?" he looked at her sceptically. "You really think they're going to get bored of the fact that one of their teachers who was engaged to one of their other teachers just outed himself in front of the whole school with the evil pyromaniac who used to be a student here?"

Storm bit her lip. Perhaps they wouldn't be so quick to forget about something like that. The veteran teacher frowned sadly as Bobby just hung his head and continued to tuck into his comfort food. After just a short pause she delved into her pocket and slid a mobile phone across the table. Bobby looked at it briefly before looking up at her inquisitively.

"It was John's," Storm explained. "Maybe...just maybe...Mystique or that multiplying mutant will let you speak to him."

Bobby let out a wry laugh.

"Yeah maybe," he muttered but he smiled up at her appreciatively. "Thanks."

"No problem," Storm returned the smile, climbing to her feet. "Look Bobby, you know if you ever need anything..."

The ice mutant nodded.

"Yeah," he smiled, truly grateful for the friendly face. They felt in short supply... "Thank you."

Storm gave one last smile and turned to leave the room. Bobby bit his lip and picked up the phone, unlocking it to scroll through the contacts. There were only two numbers – Jamie and Mystique. Worrying his lip, he opened the inbox, only to find it empty. He let out a small laugh as he realised he was glad of that. He dreaded to think of what kind of messages he may have found.

With a small shake of the head he too clambered to his feet, shoving the phone in his pocket as he returned the ice cream to the freezer. Sighing heavily he made his way to the door. As if either Jamie or Mystique would let him talk to John...

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

Jamie sighed heavily, pausing outside Pyro's bedroom door. Closing his eyes briefly, he shook his head to clear his thoughts, easing the door open slowly.

"Hey," he smiled timidly as the fire mutant sat up, hurriedly extinguishing the cigarette in his hands.

"Hey," John shuffled about onto the middle of the bed, crossing his legs underneath him.

"Mind if I come in?"

John laughed softly.

"Your room too," he shrugged, looking down at the fireball twirling in his hands. Jamie gave a small smile and a quick nod, frowning apprehensively as he turned to shut the door behind him. With an inward sigh, he crossed the room and sat down on the edge of the bed, further along from the fire mutant but with his back to him. He leant forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he rubbed his temples wearily to try and keep his thoughts clear. He glanced at the discarded cigarettes on the ground, seriously considering the mental state of the fire mutant as he had smoked what looked like almost a whole packet.

"So, how you feeling?" he asked quietly. John looked up briefly before returning to the comfort of the flame.

"I'm fine," he replied, clasping his hands around the fireball. Frowning heavily, he reignited the flame and continued to twirl it nervously around his fingers. "Look Jamie, I had no idea Bobby was gonna do that, I mean...I just..."

Yeah right.

Like he had no encouragement...

John's not like that...

You honestly think that...

Shut up!

"It's alright," the multiplying mutant shrugged, closing his eyes tightly.

Actually...

Shut up...

Well you can't...

SHUT UP!

"Jamie?" John bit his lip anxiously, shuffling forward as he once again extinguished the fireball. He knelt behind the other mutant, gently slipping his hands onto his shoulders, sitting close but keeping a little distance between them. "If something's bothering you just tell me."

"Nothing's bothering me..." Jamie muttered, but the weary rubbing of the temples didn't help convince the fire mutant.

"Jamie..." John shuffled a little closer. "Just talk to me."

The older mutant sighed.

"It's just..." he laughed dryly. "It's been driving me mad thinking of you being with him."

John closed his eyes briefly, taking a deep breath as he ran one hand up through Jamie's hair, the other slipping down to rest loosely on his side.

"I only saw him once," John said quietly. "They kept me secret for a while."

"Really?" Jamie lifted his head, leaning back slightly.

"Really," John smiled as the mood lightened. "And the first time he tried to kiss me I head-butted him."

A short laugh escaped Jamie's lips. He turned his head to the side towards the fire mutant.

"I like the sound of that," he smiled but a frown quickly took over his face. "And the second time was in the garden right?"

John opened his mouth to reply but shut it quickly. With a small sigh he slipped his hand round to Jamie's stomach, resting his head on the back of the taller mutant's shoulder. Jamie shook his head, giving a sigh of his own as the fire mutant's silence answered his question.

"He caught me off guard," John replied eventually. "And in my defence I was strapped down at the time."

Doesn't mean he didn't want it.

Shut up!

"That's true..." Jamie conceded, forcing a small laugh. He let out another small sigh and turned his head towards John, although he couldn't see him. John smiled softly, circling his fingers around Jamie's stomach and up his chest.

"I did miss you," he whispered.

Who's he trying to convince? Us or himself?

SHUT UP!

Jamie closed his eyes and took a deep breath, slipping his hands over John's. The fire mutant raised his head, planting soft kisses on the back of Jamie's neck. Slowly he peeled back the older mutant's jacket, slipping it off his shoulders.

Don't you dare!

You have to talk to him!

Fuck talking...

Yeah he said he missed us didn't he?

Jamie let out a soft moan as the pyrokinetic found that weak spot on his neck. Slowly he tightened his grip on the fire mutant's hands.

Don't even think about it!

Oh you stay out of this...

No I agree...

Who cares?

SHUT UP!

Suddenly Jamie pulled on John's arms, lifting him up and turning so the smaller mutant was on his lap. Without waiting for a reaction Jamie leant forward and captured John's lips, smiling into the kiss as the fire mutant wrapped his arms securely around his neck. Slowly he pulled up John's T-shirt, only breaking from their kiss to pull it over the fire mutant's head. Running a hand up into John's hair, he gently eased his head to the side and leant forward to kiss his neck and shoulder. John moaned softly, running his hands up the other mutant's back.

"Can we just forget I was gone?" he pleaded quietly, returning the occasional kiss to Jamie's neck. "Just go back to like before?"

Wait a minute!

If he's over him why does he need to forget?

That's not what he said...

It pretty much is...

Shut up!

Jamie suddenly flipped the fire mutant round, pinning him on his back to their bed.

"Fine by me," the older mutant smiled, quickly capturing those delicious warm lips in front of him.

Idiot.

Shut up...

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

Bobby sighed heavily and just continued to gaze up into the darkness towards the ceiling. Slowly he rolled his head to the side, looking towards where that mobile sat on his bedside cabinet. He bit his bottom lip thoughtfully as he reached out his hand, although he quickly pulled it back.

"Idiot," he muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes wearily. Rolling over, he turned his back to the phone and shut his eyes tightly, desperately trying not to think of that fire mutant...and what he was doing...and who he was probably with...

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

Idiot...

Fuck you...

Jamie let out a quiet sigh and once again opened his eyes, knowing full well there was no hope of him getting any sleep any time soon. He rolled his head to the side to look down at the fire mutant curled up in his arms, the gentle rise and fall of John's chest against his side and the soft, steady breaths assuring him that the pyrokinetic was sound asleep.

A quiet buzzing sound tore Jamie's attention away from the sleeping mutant. He frowned and looked across the floor to where his jacket lay abandoned, almost certain it had been his phone but only Mystique and John had the number. A duplicate rolled away from the original and slid out of bed, retrieving the phone from the pocket of the discarded jacket and morphing back into the bed. Jamie frowned as he flipped open the phone, revealing a new text message – apparently from John. Clenching his jaw, he opened the message.

Hey. I was just wondering if John was alright? He still seemed dizzy when you left. Bobby

Jamie snapped the phone shut and dropped his arm to his side, scowling heavily as he glared up at the ceiling.

Well...he isn't going to forget...

Oh who cares about him?

Come on! He's just worried about John. You know...like we were just a couple of days ago?

So?

So...cut the poor kid some slack.

You are kidding right?

He just wants to know John's ok.

I don't care!

Jamie...

Fuck off!

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

Bobby let out a wry laugh and returned the mobile to his bedside cabinet. Had he really expected a reply to that? He shook his head and settled back down into his pillows, closing his eyes in what he knew would be a vain attempt to get to sleep. Slowly however, his mind did finally stop racing, his thoughts becoming duller and more broken as sleep started to catch up with him...

The ice mutant's eyes flew open as a loud beep tore through the silence. He sat up and grabbed at the phone, opening the message that was alerted to on the screen.

He's fine.

A quiet laugh escaped Bobby's lips as they curled up into a small smile. Quickly he typed the simple reply of thank you before locking the phone and laying it back on the cabinet. Maybe...