"Now let's start with that night when you shot Mystique. Although I don't particularly want to say it, you're not barmy. Crazy, that is. You did shoot her; the chamber was loaded. You must have had some balls aimin' that gun to ya head, mate. And pullin' the trigger? You scored some major brownie points with the Brotherhood for that one. Well, anti-brownie points, I suppose."
"This has nothing to do with my question, Toad."
"You're so impatient! Why don't you let me tell my story? Ah, because you want it your way or nothing at all. Well listen, mate, I'm the one tellin' the story here, so 'old ya 'orses!"
John huffed and crossed his arms. He knew that Toad wanted him to suffer. It seemed to be working, for John had to scold himself for wanting to fidget. His entire mind ached with anticipation. What was the truth? Was it something that he wanted to know? If it wasn't, what would he do? He shook the questions out of his mind and sat silently in front of Toad.
"That's what I thought," The amphibian said. "Now, as I've said, the chamber was loaded. You shot Mystique in the stomach and she fell to the floor, dead, as you thought. But oh, the power of mutation, me friend."
"Her mutation doesn't allow her to heal..."
"You're not letting me tell my story."
"Sorry. Go on."
"Thank you," Toad said mockingly and continued his story:
"I didn't say her mutation, Pyro. I didn't even say to whom it belonged to. But let's just say, a very, very powerful friend of ours took care of everything and that is why our little shape shifter's able to move about and destroy more innocent lives."
"I don't know what you mean."
"Then shut up and listen."
The two mutants stared at each other for a moment. Pyro's gaze held nothing but impatience and contempt, but Toad's eyes danced with glee and satisfaction. He wanted to prolong the agony for the younger mutant; the more he spoke, the better. He didn't want to tell Pyro what he truly wanted to hear until it was appropriate for Toad. Yes, that would do just fine.
"So, Mystique's there, lyin' on the ground, dead, as you presume. And what was another mutant doing while all of this was happening?" Toad paused and let Pyro think of the answer. Arrogantly, the amphibian shook his head.
"Being entertained, Pyro! She loved the spectacle that you were putting on; she was intrigued. You could say she had an... interest in you?"
Silence became a thick wall between the two male mutants. John's thoughts ran rapidly through his mind but he couldn't seem to stop them. He knew the answer but...
Oh, God.
"Oh, yes," Toad chuckled. "You're finally grasping the situation at hand! It's about bloody time. I'd thought your brain was dimmer than the petty fire you control."
Pyro sneered at the insult and retaliated, "We'll see what's petty when I burn your fucking green hide, Toad."
The Brotherhood member only chuckled and smiled at the remark. He enjoyed this very much and he could tell that the other mutant did not.
"You're angry, mate," Toad said playfully. "Why don't you calm down and I'll tell it to ya in plain words what happened."
Burning eyes looked toward him and for the first time that night, Toad took Pyro seriously. A thought crossed his mind that this kid held more power in his attitude than in his actual mutation. It seemed that his attitude toward his emotions was what fueled the fire that he controlled.
"So you know what's been goin' on now, but I'll say it more clearly. You and I both know that this particular mutant is the most powerful on this bloody earth."
"Xavier is."
"No he's not."
"Yes, he..."
Toad raised his hand and smacked Pyro harshly across the face. Surprised by the action, John's head was flung to the side and it stayed there for a moment as the stinging pain settled in. Never had he thought that Toad would do such a thing... but he knew someone who would. Strangely, the blow felt like another that he had received before- two others in fact. He wanted to hit back but something stopped him.
"Don't hit me," Pyro warned calmly. The tone was edged with acid, which stung more than the strike, and Toad settled himself again.
"I'm sorry, Pyro. I just don't like it when Xavier is put before everyone else. It just... doesn't seem fair. Do you know what I mean?"
He watched the teenager nod.
Perfect. He understands.
"It must be hard even living with him. He must be recognized as the most powerful mutant at your school."
"Well... he is," John said carefully in case another strike was to follow. But Toad remained composed and didn't even change facial expressions. The one that adorned his face now was of complete neutrality. Blank, as it were.
"So, I partially know how Mystique is alive. Now, is that the same reason why you all can read my thoughts?"
"Ah, you see, I thought that that was the most interesting part of the deal. We got to keep one of our members and know what's going on inside that inferno-of-a-brain you've got there."
Toad tapped Pyro on the head to accent his point. John found himself smiling, if only briefly.
"But only one of you can do it at a time?"
"Yes, that's right."
"So it jumps from person to person when it feels like it? But... what does it want in return?"
"Hmm... that is a very smart question. It only wants to know what it's like to be human, Pyro. That is its one ambition- be human. But can it? No. And why is this? Because it doesn't have a permanent body. Part of that is its own bloody fault because it's so damn picky... but what can you do? It's not every day when an all-powerful entity possesses you. The amazing thing is, I'm in control of my own actions. It just hangs around and reads mine and other people's thoughts."
John sat and stared at the mutant before him. Everything was falling into place now, but he wasn't quite sure whether or not to believe any of it.
"Believe it or not, mate, I'm tellin' you the truth." Toad squirmed. "Which is very hard for me to do sometimes. So be grateful!"
In spite of himself, John laughed. He did believe Toad. Surprisingly, he did. But doing so, he knew that he was one step closer to the brink of decision. Did he want to stay with the X-Men or did he want to be with the Brotherhood? Three months ago, he had tried to leave it all, but he now saw where that got him. He just couldn't be left alone.
"So, it really is that simple," Pyro sighed. "I've been keeping myself in the dark and it's taken a damn frog to make me realize it!" He scratched his neck and bowed his head in defeat. A sudden voice made him jerk his head back up.
"No, Pyro. I wouldn't let you sink that low; I give you more credit than that."
The hypnotic voice floated into his ears and his eyes settled on the pair opposite him. In the dark, the golden eyes glowed magnificently, more radiant than any amount of fire that Pyro had ever seen or could imagine.
"I knew I recognized that smack," John said coolly, his eyes not straying from the ones that now appeared.
The shape shifter's blue lips curled into a smile and she reached out for him and touched his face.
"Pyro," she said softly, "I don't want to hurt you. Do you know that?"
He was taken aback by her words, but he was unable to express himself. Had she just admitted to not wanting to be cruel?
"Well, at one point I did, but now that's over. I didn't want to admit it, but you're not like other mutants. I was sent here to try and convert you, but I don't want to try anymore. Everything I said was true, but I only impersonated Toad so I wouldn't have to face you myself."
Expecting his silence, Mystique continued:
"You were taken to the laboratory because we wanted to see the extent of your powers. Erik wanted to offer you the opportunity to enhance your mutation. Pyro, he wanted to give you the ability to create fire. He swore that he could do it; he was sure that it would convert you to our side. But then... you escaped. I wasn't proud of you then and I had to stop you. The display of power that I showed you wasn't my own; you should have known that.
"I was angry then, and I struck you. You were paralyzed against your own will by the tremendous force of the powerful entity that had invaded my body and there was nothing that I could do. It transferred to you the moment you stepped out of that doorway. It wanted you. It had expressed its longing to be apart of you because it has a similar gift. All it wanted was to be a part of you; that was its reason for helping us before and now. Except now..."
Mystique took a heavy breath and spoke again. "It desperately wants to obtain you and I'm afraid that nothing will stop it. Pyro, there's no way to destroy it! No matter how many times it is defeated, it will come back again and again and again. We are fighting a losing battle."
"So let me get this straight," John said. "The Phoenix entered and healed you? I didn't think she could do that."
"Her mere presence sustained me, Pyro. She... it is a powerful force that is not to be tampered with. Like I said, there is no way that we can win."
John watched as the blue mutant's face sunk as she lowered her head; with one hand he grasped her shoulder and with the other, he raised her chin so that the golden eyes could stare into his. He smiled.
"Mystique, I'm willing to believe you and I think that it's something that I shouldn't do. But I have a feeling that you're not lying to me. I don't care if you were a part of this scheme in the first place," he stroked her cheek affectionately. "All I want is to see you happy."
She searched his eyes for some hidden meaning, but all she could see was pure conviction and truth. Without thinking, she pressed herself into his chest and hugged him tightly. She was sick of being evil. She was sick of being the bitch. She had been searching for what she wanted and now it was right here in front of her- love. Undying love.
A platonic relationship was all that she was asking for, and that was all that she really needed. All she wanted to do was be loved.
"We're gonna do this together, Mystique. Dark Phoenix is goin' down; I'll make sure of it. But there's one thing: Why does she want me so badly?"
Mystique pulled away from him only the slightest bit and spoke:
"She has a similar power to yours- a most devastating gift. She's a fire manipulator, Pyro. She's a bitch with Pyrokinesis."
