Author's Notes: (1) Major alert that the implications in this chapter may not be liked by all, especially Pyro fans, but after watching his actions and reactions in the movie closely this is just the vibe I got. I do apologize to anyone feeling I'm completely off my rocker for that. (2) My apologies also if this piece seems completely out of place in the series. Hopefully you'll agree I tie it all together nicely, but at the moment it's something of an interlude from the drama of the others dealing with Jean's return. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I never really belonged here, the thought entered my mind before I could stop it as I sneak quietly in the back door of the school.

Reminding myself that I cannot think while I'm here lest *he* should here, I quickly run up the back staircase, sure no one would catch me at this time. After the attack on the school, I was sure everyone was extra cautious here at night, so this morning would be the best time to return for my things.

Everyone here is oblivious in the mornings.

I smile, remembering that.

Friday mornings, like this one, tended to be even more hectic with all the kids wanting to get all their assignments for the week completed so they can enjoy their weekend, even though the teachers always gave more homework for us to do over the weekend.

Arriving back at my former room, my hand hesitates on the knob and I have to force myself not to think of my former roommate.

Telling myself I can do that later, or better yet forget about *him* all together, I take a deep breath and enter the room.

I freeze in my tracks upon seeing Bobby inside, staring blindly out our window.

He turns and stares at me blankly for a second, before his surprise shows. "Have you come back?"

*If that's all the welcome I get from my best friend I've definitely made the right decision.*

*Damn, thinking again.*

Stop it, I tell myself.

"Only for my things," I respond abruptly, springing into action to remove my personal possessions from the room.

"You're really siding with Magneto now, John? After what he tried to do to Professor X at the Lake?" he startles me by demanding from right beside me.

I wasn't about to confess to him that I had had any doubts about my choice after learning what Magneto had tried to make the Professor do with Cerebro2 at Alkali Lake. I'd come to agree that the man had been right to try doing to humans what Stryker had planned for us mutants, but the knowledge that it would have killed Professor X and Magneto had not cared still gave me pause.

*Sure they were enemies now, but they'd once been friends, right? How could Magneto have set the Professor up like that?*

*Professor Xavier would never have done such a thing to Magneto.*

*Was that the future that awaited Bobby and I?*

*Once best friends turned enemies who would try to and perhaps succeed in killing each other?*

Bobby, as an X-Man, was trained not to kill unless every other possible option had failed. With Magneto I would be expected to have no hesitation at ending the life of my former friend.

*Could I ever do that?*

*Was I really ready to be seen as a villain and not just a rebellious teenager?*

Shaking off the thoughts, I throw my head back defiantly and give him my answer, "The name is Pyro."

He understood what that meant.

When a mutant takes the nickname they have given themselves for their mutation and turns it into their whole identity, it means the part of that mutant that had tried to be human was no longer a factor. For one reason or another, that side had been shut down and now only the mutant lived on. We all knew this to happen most often with mutants who turned to Magneto's side.

My mission complete, I closed the knapsack I'd brought to carry my things, heaved it over my shoulder and pushed roughly past Bobby out the door.

I moved slowly, sensing he wanted to say something and secretly wishing he would.

Ask me to stay, I silently urge him.

He bites his tongue on whatever he might have said and I'm gone.

Outside the room, I move fast, wanting to get the hell out of this place.

I would have told him to go to hell, if he HAD asked, I assure myself. Forgetting in my slightly agitated state not to think.

The Professor was outside as I burst out onto the lawn.

He wasn't in my path so I didn't have to stop and deal with him, but I did.

As I stand waiting, he maneuvers his chair toward me and I notice two strangers who stay standing where the Professor had been. They were watching me closely and I was tempted to whip out my lighter and give them something to stare at. Remembering how such foolishly immature acts made me an outcast here in the days before I left, I restrained myself, even as I told myself what these people thought of him no longer mattered.

"John, I am glad to see you again. Would you like to come to my office and speak?" Xavier asks drawing to a stop before me.

I shake my head and tell him the same thing I did Bobby upstairs, "The name is Pryo."

I'm pleased to see that my statement saddens the Professor. He's not just disappointed that I have switched sides, he's saddened by the fact.

"I had hoped things hadn't gone that far, Pyro. I cannot dissuade you?"

Again, I only shake my head.

"Be careful with Magneto, son, and never forget that we are here if you change your mind." He says before turning to slowly make his way back to the duo that still stood watching me.

For a moment, I just watch after him, somewhat shocked by that little scene.

I see him reach the pair he'd left behind to speak to me and all three of them move to enter the door I had left open when I exited the school, not even casting one last look at me over their shoulders.

Finally it sinks in that the Professor was taking my defiant words as truth and would not try convincing me to stay either and I began walking away.

I focus on reaching the clearing on the other side of the trees where Toad awaits me in the helicopter Magneto had taken from Alkali Lake. Hurrying inside the machine, I settle down and indicate to Toad to get us out of there.

In seconds we're in the air, I can see the school clearly again and I allow myself to think once more.

*I was right, no one wanted me there.*

*"Never forget that we are here if you change your mind."*

I'm not sure what to make of the Professor's words, but as they were not, "Please, stay" or any variation on that theme I tell myself they didn't matter.

*I had never belonged there.*

Though I'd gotten along nicely with the other students after the X-Men had rescued me from trouble back home in Australia, I'd never fit in.

*Except with Bobby.*

*Dammit, I don't want to think about that!*

Not anymore. He had made his choice and it wasn't me. End of that pitiful little story.

*It had been that damn Rogue from the moment she slipped into our math class three years ago.*

*No more Fire and Iceman.*

*It had been Iceman following after Rogue with me following after him as an unwanted chaperone.*

The whole situation would have been laughable had I not been involved in it.

In the year before *her* arrival, my friendship with Bobby had deepened on my part. For a time, in the dark nights we shared in our little room, I had thought Bobby felt the same way.

*How wrong I was.*

*I loved him, he had no interest in me.*

*He loved Rogue, she pretended nicely, but obviously longed for the Wolverine.*

*The Wolverine was oblivious of Rogue as he wanted only Dr. Grey.*

At that thought, I took another moment to mourn my fallen teacher.

Magneto, I wouldn't think of calling him Erik though he has given me permission, told me of her death at the dam when he learned of it just two days ago.

News traveled slowly to isolated islands in the middle of no where, I guess.

She'd really only been a teacher to me and the one to doctor my burns in the early days as I adapted to my powers. She was one of the X-Men though. A true hero, and we all idolized her. I probably would have had a king-sized crush on her, if I went that way.

Shaking off my lingering sadness at her heroic death, I return my thoughts to the twisted saga of love at Mutant High, Bobby's name for the school.

*Dr. Grey, while living, did not return Wolverine's interest. She was totally in love with Mr. Summers.*

*At the end of that trail of broken hearts, was Mr. Summers, who loved Dr. Grey back and never even let his eyes stray to the numerous women who would have had him.*

*Man, how cruel was fate to destroy the only working relationship at the school?*

Toad must have really been pushing the helicopter or I was really lost in my thoughts, because suddenly we had landed and the engines stopped. Before I could move the man hopped out past me, knocking me back against my seat.

I was not a big fan of that nasty thing with its spilt-pea-soup-green skin and nasty eating habits. Sabertooth also shared this island sanctuary and I couldn't help fearing and disliking that beast as well, but this was my choice.

In time, I would adjust and thrive here because I had learned the hard way that I shared more traits with the exiles of the Brotherhood than I did those at Xavier's.

Magneto arrived and waited for me to exit the helicopter.

I hop out to stand beside the man, feeling as comfortable in his presence as I had been a grandfather I vaguely remember having had in Australia. Even with my reservations about joining his side of the fight, it had been easy to stop thinking of him as the villain the X-Men touted him to be.

All he wanted was more for mutants than humans allowed us and he was willing to take the necessary measures to get us better lives.

The man was powerful, you only had to look at how he had saved us all from Stryker's plans to know that. It was understandable that the X-Men feared Magneto, but he should be respected like the Professor, not vilified.

"How did it go?" he asked.

"No problem. Went in, got my stuff, and left." I replied casually, moving to take my things to the room I had been given here in Magento's cave/lair.

"Very good. Xavier did not try to stop you?"

"No, I ran into him, but he didn't give me any trouble." I answer honestly.

"Excellent." He changed the subject. "After you've finished settling in with your things, why don't we work on finish your uniform. I've figured out a way we can use blowtorches quite effectively and I think you'll like the results. We just need to test it."

"Sounds like a plan. I'll be there in a few." I reply moving to unpack my things.

*Blowtorches?*

I think I like the sound of that.

Magneto and I had spent a lot of time in the past few days trying to develop a uniform that would best suit my powers. As I couldn't create fire, only control it, we'd run into some snags trying to figure out something more powerful than my lighter to generate flames for me in battle.

Quickly putting my stuff away so I can get to Magneto's chamber as soon as possible, I vow that from here on out it's a clean slate.

There will be no more thinking of the school and Bobby and the X-Men as former friends and allies.

Now I am of the Brotherhood, where I am welcomed and respected for my powers by Magneto.

Today, John truly is gone.

*I am Pyro.*

I say it aloud with conviction as I leave my room.

Making my way through the maze of tunnels to Magneto's room, I smile remembering the man's words and the reason I'm going there.

*Pyro with blowtorches.*

*What more could a young man ask for?*