Author's Note: ok, the last chapter and this one are really more about Pyro and how he's adjusting to life on the 'dark side', but I figure that since he's a part of their lives now, he deserves a little showcasing.
John had come to the Brotherhood with only the clothes on his back, and nothing else. Save for his signature lighter, of course. So naturally, it was quickly decided that he was to be accompanied by Eric and Mystique on a trip to New York for shopping. The boy was in need of many things: clothes, shoes, linens for his newly constructed bedroom, and other necessities. Eric could easily afford all of it, and was happy to provide anything his new apprentice might desire. They left the island and booked a rather lavish hotel suite for the weekend visit.
Their first day in the city, Eric and Mystique- in the guise of a middle-aged socialite- followed behind Pyro at a distance; he needed his space, after all, best if they didn't smother him with their presence.
It suited both parties well enough; John got to window-shop by himself for a few blocks while Eric and Mystique could keep an eye on him and at the same time catch the sights.
He glanced over his shoulder and saw them about thirty feet back, strolling down the sidewalk. Eric had Mystique on his arm like in those old TV shows when everyone had manners and respect. John smiled back at them and then returned his attention to the designer stores. He wasn't really a Versace kinda guy, so he kept moving.
Several city blocks and stores later, John had just about everything he could possibly need. He had clothes and shoes, linens and pillows for his bedroom, music and movies to keep him entertained. Far too much for them to carry, the packages were to be delivered to their hotel suite before they returned to the island.
Quite exhausted from roaming the city all afternoon, the small group returned to the hotel to seek rest.
*****
Late in the night, Mystique woke up to find that she was alone in the bed. The sheets were cold where Eric had been, which made her nervous. She quickly got up and went downstairs to look for him.
She shouldn't have been worried; with his power, he is one of the strongest and most powerful mutants on Earth. However, he had human enemies who would have loved to see him dead. She crept downstairs, looking for any sign of danger. John was asleep on the other bed. She watched him for a moment, the steady rise and fall of his chest under the blanket satisfying her question as to whether or not he was safe. A small movement at her side caught her eye.
Eric staring out the window. She came behind him and looked over his shoulder, at the city below. New York never slept; traffic on both the streets and sidewalks bustled about, crowding everyone. Couples walked quickly in hand and hand, mothers and fathers carried their children, car horns could be heard from the street even up to their floor.
That was what Mystique saw, but Eric saw other things. He saw the hate, the prejudice, the fear, the jealousy and rage. He also saw the potential, the possibilities that awaited them, after mutants reigned supreme.
"Look at them down there, Mystique. They don't know us but they hate us already. Someday, someday soon, it will be our turn to be free of fear. Charles has often searched my mind and heart for hope, and I do have some left."
He turned to face her, and jutted his chin in the general direction behind her, where young Pyro was sleeping. "I have hope for him. I may not live to see the day when mutants are safe, but I know he will. He may even be the one to lead us to it."
Mystique moved forward. Magneto had returned his attention to the view, his back facing her. She leaned her chin on his shoulder, wrapping her arm around his chest and placing her hand over his heart. She felt the strong muscle's beat increase slightly; he covered her hand with his own.
"It could be our world, Mystique. Someday, you could walk down the street, in your natural form. I'll fight for you to be able to do so." He kissed her palm, and they returned to their bed, getting sleep.
*****^^^^^*****
John left the hotel suite, and decided to go for an early morning walk through Central Park. He had heard what Eric said about him the night before. He had hope for him, he thought that maybe...maybe, Pyro could be the hero that mutants needed.
It made him somewhat uncomfortable, for someone who barely knew him to have that much faith in him. Yet, a large part of him felt honored. Pyro knew that Magneto was a great man, and great men do not usually put so much faith into rebels who run away from home.
John had been thought of as a class clown and lazy student by Scott. John had been thought of as a nuisance and potentially dangerous by Xavier. Now John is thought of as a beacon of hope for the whole mutant race by Magneto. He believed in him. The feeling was almost alien. No one had really believed in him since his biological parents, but that had been some years ago.
John had to admit, he was a little scared. He wasn't scared to die for what he believed in, or any of the challenges that he would have to face. He was mostly afraid of disappointing Eric.
Eric his new personal hero. Eric who had saved him from hypothermia and drowning. Eric who had given him a home and spent most of the day buying him new things. He didn't want to hurt him. If he did, it would just prove everyone else right, that he was a show-off and an all around failure. He couldn't let that happen.
The park was beautiful that morning; the sunshine, the trees, the flowers. He had wandered over to a park bench and took a seat.
The world seemed clear now that he was rid of distractions like irritated teachers and nagging friends. Is this what true freedom felt like?
"Hey, gimme your wallet." Demanded a voice from behind him.
He spun around to face the voice and was instantly revolted. The man behind him looked like road kill run over twice. His clothes were ripped and filthy, his face was covered with sores and dirt. His hair was stringy and matted and many of his teeth were missing. The sad part was that he didn't look like he had even hit forty yet. The way he kept twitching and shaking alerted John like a beacon: drug addict!
"Go away." John snapped back in an equally commanding tone.
The order angered the addict, and he pulled a knife on him. His own anger mounting, John got a nasty idea in his head.
"All right, all right, man, chill." He reached into his shirt pocket, his fingers wrapping around the small metal object there.
Slowly, he pulled out his lighter. The addict was confused, and then got even more angry when he saw that it wasn't money.
John flicked it open, a tiny flame rising into the air.
"What the fu-" the addict started asking as the flame grew larger and then flew at him.
John used his power to make the flames fly after the man, who was now bolting through the park as fast as his legs could take him. The fiery streamer dissipated after John released his concentration. He smiled to himself and walked back towards the hotel.
*****^^^^^*****
Eric and Mystique were at the breakfast table when John let himself in.
"Hey guys, what's up?" he asked casually. Mystique said nothing, but Eric turned to him.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, Pyro. However, I'm afraid that we will have to cut our little trip short. It seems that some rather dangerous enemies of mine know that we are somewhere in the city."
"Enemies? Who are they? It's not the X-men is it?"
Eric sat back in his chair and sighed, there was so much to tell Pyro.
"No, the X-men and I have a sort of silent understanding that we do not interact unless absolutely necessary. They wouldn't bother us even if they were in the suite next door...so long as we weren't doing anything that would endanger civilians. No, the enemy of which I speak is a human based group that wish to exterminate mutants, starting with the strongest ones and then trickling down to the others."
Pyro nodded his understanding. "And you're a prime target because of your power?"
Eric shrugged. "Price I pay for greatness. Don't be too alarmed, John. We are not afraid of them, we just wish to lead them away from the city so as not to endanger anyone else. At best, they are unprepared and disorganized; if they make a move, it will be their funeral, you understand?"
John nodded. "Yeah, I guess."
Pyro's packages had arrived while he was in the park, so there was really no reason for them to stay in the city anyway. Eric and he loaded everything into the chopper as Mystique began the start-up sequence.
Pyro was somewhat curious about this new enemy, and he would learn all about them soon enough.
John had come to the Brotherhood with only the clothes on his back, and nothing else. Save for his signature lighter, of course. So naturally, it was quickly decided that he was to be accompanied by Eric and Mystique on a trip to New York for shopping. The boy was in need of many things: clothes, shoes, linens for his newly constructed bedroom, and other necessities. Eric could easily afford all of it, and was happy to provide anything his new apprentice might desire. They left the island and booked a rather lavish hotel suite for the weekend visit.
Their first day in the city, Eric and Mystique- in the guise of a middle-aged socialite- followed behind Pyro at a distance; he needed his space, after all, best if they didn't smother him with their presence.
It suited both parties well enough; John got to window-shop by himself for a few blocks while Eric and Mystique could keep an eye on him and at the same time catch the sights.
He glanced over his shoulder and saw them about thirty feet back, strolling down the sidewalk. Eric had Mystique on his arm like in those old TV shows when everyone had manners and respect. John smiled back at them and then returned his attention to the designer stores. He wasn't really a Versace kinda guy, so he kept moving.
Several city blocks and stores later, John had just about everything he could possibly need. He had clothes and shoes, linens and pillows for his bedroom, music and movies to keep him entertained. Far too much for them to carry, the packages were to be delivered to their hotel suite before they returned to the island.
Quite exhausted from roaming the city all afternoon, the small group returned to the hotel to seek rest.
*****
Late in the night, Mystique woke up to find that she was alone in the bed. The sheets were cold where Eric had been, which made her nervous. She quickly got up and went downstairs to look for him.
She shouldn't have been worried; with his power, he is one of the strongest and most powerful mutants on Earth. However, he had human enemies who would have loved to see him dead. She crept downstairs, looking for any sign of danger. John was asleep on the other bed. She watched him for a moment, the steady rise and fall of his chest under the blanket satisfying her question as to whether or not he was safe. A small movement at her side caught her eye.
Eric staring out the window. She came behind him and looked over his shoulder, at the city below. New York never slept; traffic on both the streets and sidewalks bustled about, crowding everyone. Couples walked quickly in hand and hand, mothers and fathers carried their children, car horns could be heard from the street even up to their floor.
That was what Mystique saw, but Eric saw other things. He saw the hate, the prejudice, the fear, the jealousy and rage. He also saw the potential, the possibilities that awaited them, after mutants reigned supreme.
"Look at them down there, Mystique. They don't know us but they hate us already. Someday, someday soon, it will be our turn to be free of fear. Charles has often searched my mind and heart for hope, and I do have some left."
He turned to face her, and jutted his chin in the general direction behind her, where young Pyro was sleeping. "I have hope for him. I may not live to see the day when mutants are safe, but I know he will. He may even be the one to lead us to it."
Mystique moved forward. Magneto had returned his attention to the view, his back facing her. She leaned her chin on his shoulder, wrapping her arm around his chest and placing her hand over his heart. She felt the strong muscle's beat increase slightly; he covered her hand with his own.
"It could be our world, Mystique. Someday, you could walk down the street, in your natural form. I'll fight for you to be able to do so." He kissed her palm, and they returned to their bed, getting sleep.
*****^^^^^*****
John left the hotel suite, and decided to go for an early morning walk through Central Park. He had heard what Eric said about him the night before. He had hope for him, he thought that maybe...maybe, Pyro could be the hero that mutants needed.
It made him somewhat uncomfortable, for someone who barely knew him to have that much faith in him. Yet, a large part of him felt honored. Pyro knew that Magneto was a great man, and great men do not usually put so much faith into rebels who run away from home.
John had been thought of as a class clown and lazy student by Scott. John had been thought of as a nuisance and potentially dangerous by Xavier. Now John is thought of as a beacon of hope for the whole mutant race by Magneto. He believed in him. The feeling was almost alien. No one had really believed in him since his biological parents, but that had been some years ago.
John had to admit, he was a little scared. He wasn't scared to die for what he believed in, or any of the challenges that he would have to face. He was mostly afraid of disappointing Eric.
Eric his new personal hero. Eric who had saved him from hypothermia and drowning. Eric who had given him a home and spent most of the day buying him new things. He didn't want to hurt him. If he did, it would just prove everyone else right, that he was a show-off and an all around failure. He couldn't let that happen.
The park was beautiful that morning; the sunshine, the trees, the flowers. He had wandered over to a park bench and took a seat.
The world seemed clear now that he was rid of distractions like irritated teachers and nagging friends. Is this what true freedom felt like?
"Hey, gimme your wallet." Demanded a voice from behind him.
He spun around to face the voice and was instantly revolted. The man behind him looked like road kill run over twice. His clothes were ripped and filthy, his face was covered with sores and dirt. His hair was stringy and matted and many of his teeth were missing. The sad part was that he didn't look like he had even hit forty yet. The way he kept twitching and shaking alerted John like a beacon: drug addict!
"Go away." John snapped back in an equally commanding tone.
The order angered the addict, and he pulled a knife on him. His own anger mounting, John got a nasty idea in his head.
"All right, all right, man, chill." He reached into his shirt pocket, his fingers wrapping around the small metal object there.
Slowly, he pulled out his lighter. The addict was confused, and then got even more angry when he saw that it wasn't money.
John flicked it open, a tiny flame rising into the air.
"What the fu-" the addict started asking as the flame grew larger and then flew at him.
John used his power to make the flames fly after the man, who was now bolting through the park as fast as his legs could take him. The fiery streamer dissipated after John released his concentration. He smiled to himself and walked back towards the hotel.
*****^^^^^*****
Eric and Mystique were at the breakfast table when John let himself in.
"Hey guys, what's up?" he asked casually. Mystique said nothing, but Eric turned to him.
"Nothing out of the ordinary, Pyro. However, I'm afraid that we will have to cut our little trip short. It seems that some rather dangerous enemies of mine know that we are somewhere in the city."
"Enemies? Who are they? It's not the X-men is it?"
Eric sat back in his chair and sighed, there was so much to tell Pyro.
"No, the X-men and I have a sort of silent understanding that we do not interact unless absolutely necessary. They wouldn't bother us even if they were in the suite next door...so long as we weren't doing anything that would endanger civilians. No, the enemy of which I speak is a human based group that wish to exterminate mutants, starting with the strongest ones and then trickling down to the others."
Pyro nodded his understanding. "And you're a prime target because of your power?"
Eric shrugged. "Price I pay for greatness. Don't be too alarmed, John. We are not afraid of them, we just wish to lead them away from the city so as not to endanger anyone else. At best, they are unprepared and disorganized; if they make a move, it will be their funeral, you understand?"
John nodded. "Yeah, I guess."
Pyro's packages had arrived while he was in the park, so there was really no reason for them to stay in the city anyway. Eric and he loaded everything into the chopper as Mystique began the start-up sequence.
Pyro was somewhat curious about this new enemy, and he would learn all about them soon enough.