Chasing the Flame
Chapter 8: Brotherhood Bonding
AN: Alright, I have to tell you this, because I might be a little... inconsistant with my updating for next week. I've got a seven page research paper for Abnormal Psych. due Wed, and a presentation on the Romantic period due Thurs. Of course, I have to have the info by monday, since it's a group project. Er, in other words, I'm a senior in college with a bad habit of procrastinating. And I'll apologize ahead of time, and say there's not... er... none, actually, of the Amyro goodness in this chap. Why? Because I had to have a Toad moment. Sorry, I'll make it up to you soon. (VERY soon, chapter 9 is rioght hysterical, mates! I'll try to get it up Monday, kay?) I promise.
And I know I said no Kitty/?? But I've been really thinking about the Kiotr pairing... Er... but I want your thoughts before I even think about adding it, since you guys have been so great^_^ If you don't like I won't put it in, but no Kietro, Pietro makes me wanna knock some sense into him. And I kinda like Kitty. Leave a review! **************************
"I had thought this might happen." Charles said, no emotion showing. "While I disagree with Duncan's methods, it seems we are unable to continue with public schooling, John."
"Ahh… Sorry bout tha, prof." John said, grinning widely. "But ya see-"
"Oh, I think it best that I don't. Now I have been contemplating something, your knowledge of the written language is surprising for one so young, John. I was wondering if you might consider tutoring some of our younger members. We will arrange for your GED soon enough."
"Sure th'ng!"
"And as punishment for this little… escapade… you have a training room session with Logan. In fifteen minutes."
"… Mommy?"
***************************
That afternoon, after Logan had schooled the pyrokinetic thoroughly, he made his way to Charles office, chewing on the end of a cigar. "I was wondering when you would show up, Logan."
"You let that kid off real light, Chuck. Are you sure we should be doing that?"
"Mr. Allerdyce… John… is a very special case, Logan. Although he has been on his best behavior lately, I would not put it past him to do something… that could be harmful to himself and others in such a situation."
"He's a raving lunatic, you mean."
"Exactly." Charles smiled then, tipping his hands so the fingertips touched. "Although I wouldn't put it so bluntly. He is merely… eccentric."
"So why did you let him in?"
"I have the feeling that he will prove quite competent if focused correctly. And even you must admit, he does make a delightful addition to our small family. Did you know the child knew every verse to both The Love Boat song, and Gilligan's Island? Quite entertaining."
Logan merely grunted, figuring that he had his answer and turning away. "One thing in the kid's favor. He doesn't cry when he's up against tough odds." He smirked, having enjoyed the training session even more when it was somewhat of a challenge. Note… somewhat. "With a few more years he might even be entertaining."
*********************
The doorbell rang. Then rang again. "Doesn't anybody know how to answer a door?!" Kitty shouted, phasing through the kitchen door and sticking her head through the front door. "Oh. It's you." Reluctantly she pulled back, opening the door
"We come bearin gifts, yo!" Todd, AKA Toad said, grinning widely. "We heard what Pyro did to ultra-jerk, and thought we'd give him a bit of a… housewarming." He started laughing. "House warming? For a Pyro? Get it?!"
Lance cuffed him lightly, trying to look cool. "She gets it already, Toad. So… Can we talk to him?"
"Wait… how did you find out? I thought Jean-"
"Frog boy is in that class, see?" Pietro interrupted, leaning against Blob to enhance his "Cool" appeal. "Jean didn't bother wiping his head. It's too slimy to mess with."
"Yeah, and it was a great thing, yo. Just…" Toad wiped away an imaginary tear. "Boo-tiful." Kitty rolled her eyes, turning to the stairs.
"PYRO!! YOU'VE GOT VISITORS!!" She shouted, making the people at the door wince. "Where's Wanda?"
"Oh, snookums said she had a headache." Toad replied, about to start in on his favorite subject, only to stop as he caught sight of Pyro walking down the stairs. "John! Man, I have ta thank you! Even brought you a present!" Toad hopped forward, presenting a badly wrapped package to the other man.
"Wha-"
"For the jock." Lance replied to Pyro's unsaid question.
"Tha's the second time taday I been thanked fer tha… He m'sta been a bigger wanker than I thought." Pyro commented as he unwrapped the package. "Ooohh… what a beaut!"
"Stole it myself, yo! Thought you'd like the flame design." Toad said proudly, pointing at the side of the Zippo lighter.
"Well c'mon. We're gonna 'aveta test 'er out!" Pyro said, completely oblivious to the sudden look of fear on the faces of the others as he led them out to the yard.
"But-"
"Have fun, guys!" Kitty said, waving happily as the others reluctantly followed the flame head out. She closed the door, leaning back to laugh, only to accidentally phase through and fall on her butt. "Ouch."
Amara was reading her homework under one of the huge trees that surrounded the mansion when she heard them coming. She groaned, moving further back into the shadows as Pyro led the brotherhood into the clearing, enthusing over what appeared to be a new lighter.
She blinked as he lit the lighter, quickly creating a dragon out of the flames.
"Wait! Yo! Don't char-broil us, man!" Toad shouted, hopping out of the way of the dragon's blast.
"But 'ow else am I ta figger out how good she is?" Pyro replied, having the dragon dive at the group. "Ohh, she's smooth… not as good as me flamethrowers, but-" The dragon reared back, shooting a large flame into the air before disappearing. "Thanks mate!"
Toad and the others fell down, panting slightly, while Pietro started tapping his foot, having avoided the dragon easily. Fred's stomach grumbled. They headed back to the mansion, leaving Amara to read in peace, save for one little problem. Now she wanted to figure out how to do the design thing even more.
*****************************
Remy was bored. It was one thing when he had a goal, like working for Magneto, or going to save his adopted father, but there was no more Magneto, and his adopted father was safe… and wanting to cash in on Remy's powers. It didn't take the brain of that Summers fellow to figure out it was best not to be in N'Orleans a that time.
He frowned, wondering vaguely where Pyro had gotten to for the last week. If that going straight idea of his had lasted very long he was probably in jail by now. He almost laughed at that, the idea of John stuck in a jail cell without his lighter and a big brawny male called Bubba. He smirked, grabbing his trench and heading for the door.
He was out of cards.
And if he just happened to stop by the X-place, well… it was on the way to the store.
*************************
Chapter 8: Brotherhood Bonding
AN: Alright, I have to tell you this, because I might be a little... inconsistant with my updating for next week. I've got a seven page research paper for Abnormal Psych. due Wed, and a presentation on the Romantic period due Thurs. Of course, I have to have the info by monday, since it's a group project. Er, in other words, I'm a senior in college with a bad habit of procrastinating. And I'll apologize ahead of time, and say there's not... er... none, actually, of the Amyro goodness in this chap. Why? Because I had to have a Toad moment. Sorry, I'll make it up to you soon. (VERY soon, chapter 9 is rioght hysterical, mates! I'll try to get it up Monday, kay?) I promise.
And I know I said no Kitty/?? But I've been really thinking about the Kiotr pairing... Er... but I want your thoughts before I even think about adding it, since you guys have been so great^_^ If you don't like I won't put it in, but no Kietro, Pietro makes me wanna knock some sense into him. And I kinda like Kitty. Leave a review! **************************
"I had thought this might happen." Charles said, no emotion showing. "While I disagree with Duncan's methods, it seems we are unable to continue with public schooling, John."
"Ahh… Sorry bout tha, prof." John said, grinning widely. "But ya see-"
"Oh, I think it best that I don't. Now I have been contemplating something, your knowledge of the written language is surprising for one so young, John. I was wondering if you might consider tutoring some of our younger members. We will arrange for your GED soon enough."
"Sure th'ng!"
"And as punishment for this little… escapade… you have a training room session with Logan. In fifteen minutes."
"… Mommy?"
***************************
That afternoon, after Logan had schooled the pyrokinetic thoroughly, he made his way to Charles office, chewing on the end of a cigar. "I was wondering when you would show up, Logan."
"You let that kid off real light, Chuck. Are you sure we should be doing that?"
"Mr. Allerdyce… John… is a very special case, Logan. Although he has been on his best behavior lately, I would not put it past him to do something… that could be harmful to himself and others in such a situation."
"He's a raving lunatic, you mean."
"Exactly." Charles smiled then, tipping his hands so the fingertips touched. "Although I wouldn't put it so bluntly. He is merely… eccentric."
"So why did you let him in?"
"I have the feeling that he will prove quite competent if focused correctly. And even you must admit, he does make a delightful addition to our small family. Did you know the child knew every verse to both The Love Boat song, and Gilligan's Island? Quite entertaining."
Logan merely grunted, figuring that he had his answer and turning away. "One thing in the kid's favor. He doesn't cry when he's up against tough odds." He smirked, having enjoyed the training session even more when it was somewhat of a challenge. Note… somewhat. "With a few more years he might even be entertaining."
*********************
The doorbell rang. Then rang again. "Doesn't anybody know how to answer a door?!" Kitty shouted, phasing through the kitchen door and sticking her head through the front door. "Oh. It's you." Reluctantly she pulled back, opening the door
"We come bearin gifts, yo!" Todd, AKA Toad said, grinning widely. "We heard what Pyro did to ultra-jerk, and thought we'd give him a bit of a… housewarming." He started laughing. "House warming? For a Pyro? Get it?!"
Lance cuffed him lightly, trying to look cool. "She gets it already, Toad. So… Can we talk to him?"
"Wait… how did you find out? I thought Jean-"
"Frog boy is in that class, see?" Pietro interrupted, leaning against Blob to enhance his "Cool" appeal. "Jean didn't bother wiping his head. It's too slimy to mess with."
"Yeah, and it was a great thing, yo. Just…" Toad wiped away an imaginary tear. "Boo-tiful." Kitty rolled her eyes, turning to the stairs.
"PYRO!! YOU'VE GOT VISITORS!!" She shouted, making the people at the door wince. "Where's Wanda?"
"Oh, snookums said she had a headache." Toad replied, about to start in on his favorite subject, only to stop as he caught sight of Pyro walking down the stairs. "John! Man, I have ta thank you! Even brought you a present!" Toad hopped forward, presenting a badly wrapped package to the other man.
"Wha-"
"For the jock." Lance replied to Pyro's unsaid question.
"Tha's the second time taday I been thanked fer tha… He m'sta been a bigger wanker than I thought." Pyro commented as he unwrapped the package. "Ooohh… what a beaut!"
"Stole it myself, yo! Thought you'd like the flame design." Toad said proudly, pointing at the side of the Zippo lighter.
"Well c'mon. We're gonna 'aveta test 'er out!" Pyro said, completely oblivious to the sudden look of fear on the faces of the others as he led them out to the yard.
"But-"
"Have fun, guys!" Kitty said, waving happily as the others reluctantly followed the flame head out. She closed the door, leaning back to laugh, only to accidentally phase through and fall on her butt. "Ouch."
Amara was reading her homework under one of the huge trees that surrounded the mansion when she heard them coming. She groaned, moving further back into the shadows as Pyro led the brotherhood into the clearing, enthusing over what appeared to be a new lighter.
She blinked as he lit the lighter, quickly creating a dragon out of the flames.
"Wait! Yo! Don't char-broil us, man!" Toad shouted, hopping out of the way of the dragon's blast.
"But 'ow else am I ta figger out how good she is?" Pyro replied, having the dragon dive at the group. "Ohh, she's smooth… not as good as me flamethrowers, but-" The dragon reared back, shooting a large flame into the air before disappearing. "Thanks mate!"
Toad and the others fell down, panting slightly, while Pietro started tapping his foot, having avoided the dragon easily. Fred's stomach grumbled. They headed back to the mansion, leaving Amara to read in peace, save for one little problem. Now she wanted to figure out how to do the design thing even more.
*****************************
Remy was bored. It was one thing when he had a goal, like working for Magneto, or going to save his adopted father, but there was no more Magneto, and his adopted father was safe… and wanting to cash in on Remy's powers. It didn't take the brain of that Summers fellow to figure out it was best not to be in N'Orleans a that time.
He frowned, wondering vaguely where Pyro had gotten to for the last week. If that going straight idea of his had lasted very long he was probably in jail by now. He almost laughed at that, the idea of John stuck in a jail cell without his lighter and a big brawny male called Bubba. He smirked, grabbing his trench and heading for the door.
He was out of cards.
And if he just happened to stop by the X-place, well… it was on the way to the store.
*************************