Helpless Flame, a x-men: the movie fanfic

This fic, which is my first attempt in the X-Men world, is dedicated to my sister, Yuriko Oyama aka RaineSolo, who had been a really great friend and sibling. To show how much I appreciate everything you've done for me, here's Pyro goodness for you, with a little Ryro (Pyro/Rogue) for the finishing touches.

Helpless Flame

Logan had fallen.

We stared at his unconscious figure in alarm, for the strongest one among us had fallen, shot in the head by the policeman who was stationed not far from where Bobby was standing. Marie, the only woman among our runaway crew, was trembling; the mutant who had been in her defense countless number of times had dropped out like a light.

Despite the fact that he had the ability to heal himself quickly, I could not see the progress in his condition. He lay still, unmoving, unaware of what was happening. He might be dead for all we know.

And Marie's safety depended on our ability to protect her.

"On the ground! On the ground!" the policeman bellowed with drastically narrowed eyes, his gun aimed at us, ready to shoot if there need be. We continued to stand on our spot, however, in defiance to his orders. How dare he try to order us mutants around!

But the feeling that we were in control over those pesky weaklings who threatened us with their fancy weapons did not last long. The next thing I knew, Bobby was lowering himself to the ground in surrender. My eyes flew wide open in disbelief. Bobby --- Iceman --- allowed himself to be bossed around that way, when not even Marie, who was already shaking in fear, thought of giving in?!

What a coward!

After what seemed to be eternity of cursing Bobby for his cowardice, I noticed movement from my left. It was Marie, moving down to the ground in obedience to the policeman's orders. I couldn't blame her and I wouldn't. I know how much fear she felt, right from Logan's descent into unconsciousness.

I turned my head slightly to look at her, to check if she was all right despite of the turmoil that was going on, and the dread she was feeling. And that, was the moment when I saw the flame that was burning in her ravishing eyes, amidst the gleam of fear and dread that sent a shiver down my spine.

The flame of helplessness.

She wanted to help out, to find a way for us to escape; I could tell. But she didn't know how, and she was too full of fear to be able to think straight. Logan was unconscious; Bobby was on the ground in compliance, too chicken to fight back when he was powerful enough.

I was the only one who had the nerve to stand up to them. I was the only one who had the confidence to fight back; I was only waiting for the right moment to pull off the attack that would leave them in horrified, that would leave a mark in their lives that would never be erased. I was the last man standing.

And I was her last and only hope.

"We don't want to hurt you, kid!" the policewoman shouted this time, her gaze stern despite her words of concern, her gun directed towards me.

Marie looked at me from her spot, her eyes pleading that I obey them as well, like what she and her nerveless boyfriend were doing. But I couldn't and I wouldn't. The flame in her eyes, the flame of helplessness in her eyes, ignited a blaze inside of me far greater than what I could create with my powers.

I'm not a coward.

And I'm going to fight.

To protect her.

To save her.

"You know all those mutants you hear about on the news?" I began confidently, my voice cool and steady as I flicked my precious lighter --- one of the keys to my success --- on. I stole a glance at Marie, drawing strength from the flame that burned in her eyes to create mine, before I averted my gaze to our adversaries and finished in a low, lethal tone, "I'm the worst one."