It seems that Pyro could take the hint that Eric and Mystique wanted to be alone, so he decided to familiarize himself with his new home. He had to admit it was pretty cool, the architecture blended with the natural environment and that Magneto, the 'bad guy', had his own island headquarters. It was like something out of a comic book!
The island itself was a little rugged, but in a cool way.
Two or three steps could be the only distance that separated the forest floor from the interior floor of the shelter. Forest covered much of the island surface, tall pines made the home for many small birds. There was a large rock face that came up from the ocean, making for a long fall down to the water below. He discovered to his delight that there was even a small strip of beach on the island that would be prime for sunbathing come summertime.
'Maybe it won't be so bad with them' he had thought to himself as he wandered the trails of the forest, exploring the small wilderness.
Despite the fact that they were wanted criminals, and he assumed that he was now as well, he knew that they had reasons-good ones- for everything they did. True, Magneto had almost killed Rogue to power the machine, but only to change the world leaders into mutants in the hope that they would drop their support of the Mutant Registration Act. He only wanted to save them, his people. Rogue had been a last resort, a reluctant sacrifice. Magneto- despite everything Xavier and the X-men had warned him about- didn't seem like some deranged murderer. Nor Mystique as his sadistic girlfriend. Rather, they seemed in control, rational, and willing to accept consequences for what they have done.
To an extent.
Mystique had helped Magneto break out of jail, and he had destroyed the compound he was being held in. Pyro couldn't blame him, though. He hated being contained too. Maybe that was why he went a little overboard back at Bobby's house. Whatever, it wasn't like anyone was seriously hurt, and they deserved it anyway, shooting Logan in the head!
They were lucky that Rogue had grabbed him when she did.
He stopped his roaming to take a seat on a boulder that rested close to the rock face. The ocean stretched on for miles in front of him, into a clean horizon until the starry night sky and the water touched each other. It was a beautiful sight, and he relaxed, simply enjoying the view.
He sat for a while, tossing pebbles into the ocean below him mostly to pass the time. Boredom was closing in. At least Magneto and Mystique were being entertained! He threw the last stone into the tumultuous waters so far below him, and sighed.
"Restless, John?" asked a voice from behind him.
He spun around, searching for the source. He knew it was Magneto who spoke, but he couldn't see anything, the island was way too dark. He pulled out his lighter and ignited a flame. He grasped the flame in his hand and forced it to become larger and brighter, illuminating the area around him like a torch.
Magneto stood a few feet in front of him, between two large pine trees. He had changed into a charcoal sweater and a pair of black pants, but he wore the same amused expression John remembered from the jet.
"A little, yeah. But your island is pretty cool. Did you build it?" he asked.
Magneto smiled a little at the question. "Yes, years ago. Mystique and I, we needed a place to live. An island seemed like to most logical choice."
John's eyebrows shot up and he asked, "You ever hear of an apartment?"
Magneto moved forward, "Where's the challenge? Anyone can just rent an apartment or buy a house, but it takes a certain level of character to purchase a piece of land and then mold it to fit his or her own needs. I'm glad to know that you like what we've done with the place. This means that I will not have to spend much energy suiting it to your tastes."
John furrowed his brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you're staying here with us aren't you? That makes this your home; the island is partly yours now, and it pleases me that I will not have to remodel, save for constructing a bedroom for you."
John was shocked by what he had just said. This was his new home. The island was his. He couldn't believe what he had just been told any more than he could believe who told him. Imagine that, John Allerdyce rooming with two of the most dangerous mutant criminals on the world.
Magneto turned away from John and started back through the forest in the direction from where he came.
"I imagine that you're hungry, if you want something to eat, follow me."
It was somewhat of a command, but it didn't bother Pyro. Magneto had praised him for what he was rather than order him to hide his power, he had saved his life, and just now opened his home to him. Pyro liked him, for more than just his generosity.
He caught up to Magneto and followed him through the woods back into the interior area. Magneto led him through the earth and metal tunnels to a room that resembled a kitchen. Like most of the inner parts of the island, the walls were made of rock and metal, the floors made of shiny metallic tiles. It didn't exactly scream 'comfort' like all of the kitchens on television.
Nevertheless, it was a kitchen with lots of food, which he could not complain about. He hadn't eaten anything substantial since dinner the night of the attack on the mansion; after that he had been given a few protein bars by Storm on the X-jet, but it hadn't been much help for a teenage boy's appetite.
Magneto was a surprisingly fantastic cook. Sure, cheeseburgers aren't so difficult to make, but after hours of having an empty stomach, it was like eating a meat patty from heaven.
Magneto sat down at the table across from him, enjoying his own dinner with as much appreciation. Prison food must be as bad as he'd heard.
That last thought stuck with him. Magneto had been in prison for a long, long time. He saw the fading bruises on Magneto's face, and was caught staring.
"If you have something on your mind, you shouldn't hesitate to ask."
"Um...nothing important, I was just wondering about your bruises."
"Oh, nothing to be overly concerned about, just some souvenirs from incarceration."
"Did another prisoner deck you in the yard or something?" John asked jokingly.
Magneto's eyebrows furrowed together. He had been studying John's behavior since they had sat down to eat. The young man was curious and witty, which amused him. Eric decided to tell him a little more than he would have usually, just to gauge his reaction.
"Actually, I had no contact with any other prisoners. The only daily contact I had was with my guards. That particular guard who gave me these and a few other marks met with a very unpleasant end at my hands."
Magneto kept his gaze on John, wondering if the boy would flee in fear upon learning that the man before him could be so violent with the right motivation. He had to admit that he was impressed that Pyro didn't shy away. In fact, the boy pressed him further.
"How did you do it?" Whether he meant the escape or revenge against the guard, Eric couldn't decide, and so he explained both.
"Well, with Mystique's ability, she was able to get very...friendly with Mr. Laurio- the guard- when he wasn't working. Somehow, she managed to inject some liquid iron into his bloodstream. I can sense metal when it's close, so naturally, I felt it when he came into my cell. The only problem was how to get the metal free from him. To put it frankly, I removed every particle from his body by sucking it out of his blood. He was a mess by the time I got out the door."
Pyro wasn't too shocked at hearing this, considering the source. 'This is the guy who pulled guns on the entire NYPD, after all!' he reminded himself.
"So, Mystique seems...nice, I guess. You guys are...together, right?"
Eric smiled. "Is that the consensus at the school?"
The young man before him shrugged, "I guess so. Bobby doesn't think so, some of the other kids do think so...Rogue knows for sure since she absorbed your memories and whatever, but she won't tell us anything."
Eric grinned at the childish gossip of the school. 'Some things never change.' He thought.
"I suppose it would be better to clear the air. If you must know, yes, we are 'together' as you said. In every sense of the word."
"Does that mean you're married?"
"Oh, John, please! What church in the world would wed us? Of course we aren't married."
John nodded. "Yeah, gotcha. My parents were never married, they kinda never moved past their on again off again relationship phase."
"How did you fit into that?" Eric asked.
"Well, they'd ship me back and forth every couple months. But, after they found out about my being a mutant...it was like they never wanted their turn to take me. I didn't want to stay where I wasn't wanted, so I left."
Eric nodded. It happened all the time, it had happened to his dear Mystique. Parents often disowned their children upon learning of their mutations. He himself had never known what it was like; to have a child grow up and then find they were a mutant.
His daughter Anya had not seen five years old, he would never know if she carried the X-gene, the mutant factor; but if she had, he couldn't imagine loving her any less because of it.
He smiled sadly at the young Pyro, "You are not alone. Many of our kind have been abandoned, but have no fear. You are welcome here, as long as you remain loyal."
John swallowed. When Magneto spoke to him, it felt like a part of him came alive. Magneto made him feel like he could be better than he was, as if he was powerful, like he meant something and wasn't just the unwanted accident between two irresponsible 20 year olds.
Quietly, he declared more to himself than Magneto, "I will be."
The island itself was a little rugged, but in a cool way.
Two or three steps could be the only distance that separated the forest floor from the interior floor of the shelter. Forest covered much of the island surface, tall pines made the home for many small birds. There was a large rock face that came up from the ocean, making for a long fall down to the water below. He discovered to his delight that there was even a small strip of beach on the island that would be prime for sunbathing come summertime.
'Maybe it won't be so bad with them' he had thought to himself as he wandered the trails of the forest, exploring the small wilderness.
Despite the fact that they were wanted criminals, and he assumed that he was now as well, he knew that they had reasons-good ones- for everything they did. True, Magneto had almost killed Rogue to power the machine, but only to change the world leaders into mutants in the hope that they would drop their support of the Mutant Registration Act. He only wanted to save them, his people. Rogue had been a last resort, a reluctant sacrifice. Magneto- despite everything Xavier and the X-men had warned him about- didn't seem like some deranged murderer. Nor Mystique as his sadistic girlfriend. Rather, they seemed in control, rational, and willing to accept consequences for what they have done.
To an extent.
Mystique had helped Magneto break out of jail, and he had destroyed the compound he was being held in. Pyro couldn't blame him, though. He hated being contained too. Maybe that was why he went a little overboard back at Bobby's house. Whatever, it wasn't like anyone was seriously hurt, and they deserved it anyway, shooting Logan in the head!
They were lucky that Rogue had grabbed him when she did.
He stopped his roaming to take a seat on a boulder that rested close to the rock face. The ocean stretched on for miles in front of him, into a clean horizon until the starry night sky and the water touched each other. It was a beautiful sight, and he relaxed, simply enjoying the view.
He sat for a while, tossing pebbles into the ocean below him mostly to pass the time. Boredom was closing in. At least Magneto and Mystique were being entertained! He threw the last stone into the tumultuous waters so far below him, and sighed.
"Restless, John?" asked a voice from behind him.
He spun around, searching for the source. He knew it was Magneto who spoke, but he couldn't see anything, the island was way too dark. He pulled out his lighter and ignited a flame. He grasped the flame in his hand and forced it to become larger and brighter, illuminating the area around him like a torch.
Magneto stood a few feet in front of him, between two large pine trees. He had changed into a charcoal sweater and a pair of black pants, but he wore the same amused expression John remembered from the jet.
"A little, yeah. But your island is pretty cool. Did you build it?" he asked.
Magneto smiled a little at the question. "Yes, years ago. Mystique and I, we needed a place to live. An island seemed like to most logical choice."
John's eyebrows shot up and he asked, "You ever hear of an apartment?"
Magneto moved forward, "Where's the challenge? Anyone can just rent an apartment or buy a house, but it takes a certain level of character to purchase a piece of land and then mold it to fit his or her own needs. I'm glad to know that you like what we've done with the place. This means that I will not have to spend much energy suiting it to your tastes."
John furrowed his brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you're staying here with us aren't you? That makes this your home; the island is partly yours now, and it pleases me that I will not have to remodel, save for constructing a bedroom for you."
John was shocked by what he had just said. This was his new home. The island was his. He couldn't believe what he had just been told any more than he could believe who told him. Imagine that, John Allerdyce rooming with two of the most dangerous mutant criminals on the world.
Magneto turned away from John and started back through the forest in the direction from where he came.
"I imagine that you're hungry, if you want something to eat, follow me."
It was somewhat of a command, but it didn't bother Pyro. Magneto had praised him for what he was rather than order him to hide his power, he had saved his life, and just now opened his home to him. Pyro liked him, for more than just his generosity.
He caught up to Magneto and followed him through the woods back into the interior area. Magneto led him through the earth and metal tunnels to a room that resembled a kitchen. Like most of the inner parts of the island, the walls were made of rock and metal, the floors made of shiny metallic tiles. It didn't exactly scream 'comfort' like all of the kitchens on television.
Nevertheless, it was a kitchen with lots of food, which he could not complain about. He hadn't eaten anything substantial since dinner the night of the attack on the mansion; after that he had been given a few protein bars by Storm on the X-jet, but it hadn't been much help for a teenage boy's appetite.
Magneto was a surprisingly fantastic cook. Sure, cheeseburgers aren't so difficult to make, but after hours of having an empty stomach, it was like eating a meat patty from heaven.
Magneto sat down at the table across from him, enjoying his own dinner with as much appreciation. Prison food must be as bad as he'd heard.
That last thought stuck with him. Magneto had been in prison for a long, long time. He saw the fading bruises on Magneto's face, and was caught staring.
"If you have something on your mind, you shouldn't hesitate to ask."
"Um...nothing important, I was just wondering about your bruises."
"Oh, nothing to be overly concerned about, just some souvenirs from incarceration."
"Did another prisoner deck you in the yard or something?" John asked jokingly.
Magneto's eyebrows furrowed together. He had been studying John's behavior since they had sat down to eat. The young man was curious and witty, which amused him. Eric decided to tell him a little more than he would have usually, just to gauge his reaction.
"Actually, I had no contact with any other prisoners. The only daily contact I had was with my guards. That particular guard who gave me these and a few other marks met with a very unpleasant end at my hands."
Magneto kept his gaze on John, wondering if the boy would flee in fear upon learning that the man before him could be so violent with the right motivation. He had to admit that he was impressed that Pyro didn't shy away. In fact, the boy pressed him further.
"How did you do it?" Whether he meant the escape or revenge against the guard, Eric couldn't decide, and so he explained both.
"Well, with Mystique's ability, she was able to get very...friendly with Mr. Laurio- the guard- when he wasn't working. Somehow, she managed to inject some liquid iron into his bloodstream. I can sense metal when it's close, so naturally, I felt it when he came into my cell. The only problem was how to get the metal free from him. To put it frankly, I removed every particle from his body by sucking it out of his blood. He was a mess by the time I got out the door."
Pyro wasn't too shocked at hearing this, considering the source. 'This is the guy who pulled guns on the entire NYPD, after all!' he reminded himself.
"So, Mystique seems...nice, I guess. You guys are...together, right?"
Eric smiled. "Is that the consensus at the school?"
The young man before him shrugged, "I guess so. Bobby doesn't think so, some of the other kids do think so...Rogue knows for sure since she absorbed your memories and whatever, but she won't tell us anything."
Eric grinned at the childish gossip of the school. 'Some things never change.' He thought.
"I suppose it would be better to clear the air. If you must know, yes, we are 'together' as you said. In every sense of the word."
"Does that mean you're married?"
"Oh, John, please! What church in the world would wed us? Of course we aren't married."
John nodded. "Yeah, gotcha. My parents were never married, they kinda never moved past their on again off again relationship phase."
"How did you fit into that?" Eric asked.
"Well, they'd ship me back and forth every couple months. But, after they found out about my being a mutant...it was like they never wanted their turn to take me. I didn't want to stay where I wasn't wanted, so I left."
Eric nodded. It happened all the time, it had happened to his dear Mystique. Parents often disowned their children upon learning of their mutations. He himself had never known what it was like; to have a child grow up and then find they were a mutant.
His daughter Anya had not seen five years old, he would never know if she carried the X-gene, the mutant factor; but if she had, he couldn't imagine loving her any less because of it.
He smiled sadly at the young Pyro, "You are not alone. Many of our kind have been abandoned, but have no fear. You are welcome here, as long as you remain loyal."
John swallowed. When Magneto spoke to him, it felt like a part of him came alive. Magneto made him feel like he could be better than he was, as if he was powerful, like he meant something and wasn't just the unwanted accident between two irresponsible 20 year olds.
Quietly, he declared more to himself than Magneto, "I will be."