ACK! This took like a millennium to do, so sorry about that... and it's *still* not done. I decided to break it up into parts again cuz yeah... it's taking awhile *Scowls at school and her social like... o wait..I *like* having a social life. O well*.
This may end up being 3 parts...or 2... I can't decide yet. In any case, this is the last 'chapter' *sniffle.* I'll probably do an epilogue too. So anyway, here is part I of the final chapter of Turning Point.
Review Responses are at the bottom.
O yeah, one more thing... If anyone wants to rattle off some decent brohood angst fics... feel free :) Cuz I want to read 'em lol. Thanks.
Chapter 23- Moving On Part I
The dinner table was eerily quiet, save for the occasional request to pass the salt. In the last couple of days, no one had seemed too interested in talking. It was as though no one really knew what to say to each other. There was also the awkward matter of having St. John, Wanda, and Remy at the table.
As it turned out, Remy had released his 'prisoners' after deciding he wanted nothing to do with Magneto anymore. Though surprising, none of the adults had objected at the time considering Gambit was their only means of escape. The fact that Gambit had come to his decision without any convincing was slightly comforting to the students, but it didn't take away the nervousness they felt towards the Cajun. He had kept to himself mostly, and only spoken to the adults. He was well aware of the student's distrust of him and hardly blamed them.
John on the other hand, was avoided by the students like he had some outrageous disease. The only one who would go anywhere near him was Pietro, and even he was too preoccupied to be with the pyromaniac very often. John hadn't been kidding when he said he was unstable. Already he had made several outbursts and charred a total of three rooms. The professor now kept mental tabs on him at all times and calmed him down if it was necessary. In his sanest moments, it was obvious that Pyro was trying for all he was worth to pull himself together, but it would obviously be a long process.
Xavier cleared his throat and the many weary eyes around the table turned to face him. He sighed mentally and wished he could just erase the events of two days ago for them. Everyone acted as though they were on eggshells. No one wanted to ask anyone else about their injuries, or how they got them, for fear it would be too painful to talk about. Pietro and Wanda's presence made Magneto bashing a difficult issue as well. The twins both seemed as if they had taken a vacation to hell and no one wanted to bring up the root of their anger, or whatever it was they were feeling; no one was brave enough to ask.
"How many days," Charles asked finally, "would you like off school before I make the call?"
There were a few shrugs and a few sarcastic murmurs asking for the entire year off. School wasn't starting for another couple of days, but the professor knew that none of them felt up to going back just yet.
"Perhaps I'll ask you on an individual basis?"
The table of teenagers nodded and continued to pick at their yellow rice. Without warning, the glasses and dishes began to quake and the students instinctively clasped their hands around the various utensils to keep them from floating off the table. A mere two days with a very confused Wanda had worn off any surprise at her losses of control.
Wanda was shivering at the far end of the table with her eyes clenched shut. Pietro, to her left, placed a hand timidly on her shoulder, wishing he knew how to help her. His twin immediately flinched and drew away from him. She was terrified of him, or incredibly pissed; Pietro couldn't ever tell the difference. He clenched his jaw and slammed his fist into the table before he silently stood and stormed to his room.
"I'll follow him," Evan volunteered, and headed after Pietro.
Wanda was still shivering slightly and the glasses were still rattling despite the students' attempts to hold them down.
"Wanda? It's ok yo. Don't try to fight them, it makes it worse," Todd murmured.
Wanda's eyes flickered towards Todd. The shuddering utensils stilled as she wrinkled her nose at Todd in confusion.
"How...how do you know which ones are real?" she asked slowly, her voice hoarse from lack of use.
Todd shrugged, slightly surprised by the question. "You just do I guess." Todd glanced around at the strange looks coming at him from the table's occupants. Not too many people knew about Todd's memory issues, and he fully intended to keep it that way. "Can we maybe talk about this later sweetums? I'd rather not bring it up in front of gossip central over here yo," he said jerking his chin towards Jubilee.
Jubes rolled her eyes in response. No one was speaking to her at the moment anyway, unless you counted Rahne's occasional growling. Jubilee actually found the fact that Rahne could sound so wolfish in her human form slightly creepy.
Wanda stared at Todd for a few minutes and he was certain he saw the wheels turning behind her eyes. He knew she was remembering.
With a sudden gasp, Wanda sent a hex bolt at the base of Todd's chair, sending him sprawling across the floor.
"You *kissed* me!?!" she shrieked.
Kurt burst into laughter while everyone else turned in their seats to look at Todd. He was on the ground with his chair toppled over him, sputtering.
"Damn you!" Wanda screeched, "My first kiss and I don't even know *why* I was being kissed!"
Kurt abruptly went silent and went back to his rice.
"I uh... look sweety..."
"Stop calling me stuff like that! Please, for the love of anything sane in this world, tell me we weren't an item or something!"
Todd cracked a smile at that and shook his head.
"Wanda, Todd, why don't the two of you find somewhere to talk. Perhaps Todd can help you remember some things Wanda."
Todd instantly paled. A year ago, Todd would have given his right arm to be in the same room alone with Wanda, but that was a year ago. This was now, and Todd knew exactly how twisted Wanda's mind was at the moment, considering his was in a similar state. That, combined with the Maximoff temper, was not something he wanted to experience.
He remained silent however, and picked himself up off the floor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Pietro, come on man, it's alright. She'll be fine. It's just like Todd."
Evan fidgeted from his seat on Lance's bed. Pietro was doing everything he could to ignore his friend and Evan was getting frustrated.
Finally, Pietro looked over at Evan from his position on the floor and scowled. "It's *nothing* like Todd," he hissed. "And it's not just that."
Evan sighed. It wasn't quite the reaction he'd been hoping for, but he'd take it. A silent Pietro was just too weird.
"Pietro, I don't know what happened in that room ok? But I do know that once Wanda gets her head sorted out she'll realize how much you mean to her, and visa versa. I'd be confused too if I was her. No one but me and maybe Lance and Todd know you give a rip about her anyway because of your whole attitude about her when she showed up."
Pietro narrowed his eyes. "Is that supposed to make me feel better? Thanks a lot you jerk."
"Well it's true!" Evan paused and considered apologizing but changed his mind. He didn't feel like he needed to apologize for telling Pietro the truth. To be honest, Rogue had spoiled him. Evan didn't deny that it was what the speedster had needed at the time, but in this case, Pietro needed to be kicked with the facts; the fact that he had acted like a complete butt head in regards to Wanda ever since Mystique brought her on the scene. Evan took a deep breath and puffed it out of his cheeks. "How about you tell me why you're so upset and maybe I'll be able to keep the jerk factor to a minimum?"
Pietro rubbed his temple and rolled his eyes. He was having to do this whole "talk about your feelings" thing a lot lately and he didn't think he would ever get used to it. It wasn't so much Wanda that was getting to him, although she was a major part of it, it was everything in general.
"I...I feel so old," he said flatly. "I mean, I'm seventeen, but I'm out fighting in battles for who the hell knows what. Seventeen year olds aren't supposed to be soldiers, always living for 'the cause.'" Pietro's brow furrowed as his thoughts skimmed rapidly over the surface of his brain, "Seventeen year olds aren't supposed to have to beg for their dad's attention either. Do you know what I'd give to fight with my dad over a curfew Evan? Instead, I fight with him over my freedom, and I'm not talking about the whole teen independence thing here either. I'm talking about literal, actual, freedom. Every day! Every- damn- day- I- go- through- the- same- battle- in- my- head- about- wether- or- not- I'm- going- to- let- myself- become- his- puppet!" Pietro dropped his voice and his eyes. "Only this time I won." he paused again as he let his words catch up with his thoughts. "Before we found out we were mutants, what did you want to be when you grew up?"
Evan tilted his head to the side. He had to admit he was caught off guard by the question. Pietro was thinking in hyper mode and was probably getting ahead of himself again. He was used to Pietro's randomness however, and answered the question anyway.
"I used to think a bunch of stuff. Like pro basketball player, but that was more of a fantasy. I wanted to be a doctor when I was like in second grade or something, but yeah right. Maybe start my own business or something, that could be cool..." he trailed off, taking in Pietro's pained expression. "I don't get your point man."
"What do you want to be now?"
Evan paused. "Um... an X-Man I guess. Fight the good fight and stuff ya know? Seems kind of cheesy I guess, but still."
"It's what you want though, right?"
Evan nodded, still not seeing where this was going. Pietro suddenly *looked* old to him.
Pietro looked up and held Evan's eyes for a second or so. "Evan...I never had a choice. No one asked me what I wanted. It was 'oh my son is a mutant, your life is now mine.' Everyone just assumes that I'm involved in this...this crap for the same reasons they are, but I'm not. The day Magneto took Wanda away sealed it. He broke me then and I know that sounds all dramatic, but that's what happened. As long as he controlled the people I actually cared about, which you know damn well is a slim amount of people, he could control me, and he knew it," he stopped and shifted his gaze uneasily, away from Evan. "Wanna know what I would do with my life... if I had the choice?"
All Evan could do was nod. He was stunned. Pietro had changed drastically when Wanda had been put away, Evan could remember that much, but he hadn't realized that the effect was a long lasting one. If he stopped to think about it, he realized that Pietro had never been the same since. He had shelved the changes in the 'growing up' category, which part of it probably was, but still; losing Wanda had obviously done something to him.
"I would go to college, probably do a lot of stupid stuff like your average college guy, then get a doctorate. I'd do research and stuff...genetics maybe. I admit I'm a complete science nerd. I'd get married," he smirked at Evan's raised eyebrow, "Yep, I'd actually put someone before myself for a change; weird huh? And I'd have kids, and damnit Evan I'd fight with them about their curfews until they turned 18! I would have nothing to do with fighting for mutant rights, training for a war that shouldn't have to happen, and my family would be safe from all that kind of shit."
Evan blinked. 'Damn I wish Rogue was here now.' "Uh...wow."
Pietro sighed. "Yeah I know. Sorry if I completely weirded you out."
"Nah," Evan said with a shrug, "Just... since when did *you* get all introspective?"
He meant it as a rhetorical question but Pietro answered anyway.
"Since the moment I told Magneto he didn't own me anymore," he said quietly.
"You told him that?"
"Yeah. I did."
The two sat in silence for a while, Evan not really knowing what to say and Pietro stewing in his own thoughts. Pietro had never made so many conclusions at one time before. It had been so overwhelming on the van ride home that he probably would have gone nuts if the professor hadn't put him out. Now that he'd had a few days to think things out at a human pace, he didn't feel like he was going to suffocate anymore, but it all still felt very surreal.
"You know Pietro, if- if you finally got yourself away from him, you can get out. You can go off and be a scientist or something. No one here is going to make you fight."
"Yeah. It just hasn't sunk in all the way yet. I kinda got used to the idea that I was going to spend my life as a lackey."
Evan nodded. "Umm, you should probably talk to Wanda, explain to her why you acted like such an ass towards her. It'll be a lot easier for you guys to work stuff out if you tell her up front you know you were a jerk. Otherwise, her memories will speak for her."
"Yeah I know. She doesn't know if she can trust me yet though. She doesn't want to be anywhere near me it seems. Not that I blame her," after another moment of silence he added, "Oh yeah, guess what. I dealt with the stuff in my head without running."
It was a simple statement, and he slipped it out casually, but Evan knew just how great a feat it had been for the speedster.
"You're gonna be alright Pietro, remember that ok?"
Pietro nodded. "Yeah, eventually."
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Mr. Allerdyce you are not insane," Xavier said calmly.
"Ha! And how the hell would you know that? I nearly burned down yer office yesterday because I wanted to see the flames eating up the curtains! Does tha' sound sane to you sir?"
Charles sighed and leaned back in his chair. Pyro was once again trying to convince Xavier that the flame tamer was out of his mind. Which, Xavier had decided, he wasn't; he was merely confused.
"I won't give you all the text book reasons why you are not insane John as I'm sure it would fly right over your head. However, the very fact that you're *aware* of your odd behavior is proof enough that you are still very much a sane man. 'Brushes with nuttyness,' if you will, are quite different than losing your mind completely. Now, if you would be so kind as to tell me when this started happening, maybe I can help come up with a way to help you."
Pyro slumped into one of the desk chairs facing Xavier and let out a long puff of air. There had been times in the last two days when he wondered why on earth he had come with the X-Men, but he would quickly remember. He had seen what Magneto had done to his own children and knew that the powerful mutant would not hesitate to do much worse to mere nobodies in his service, especially now that his followers were growing rapidly and losing one 'soldier' would not be so devastating.
"John, listen to me, you're very torn at the moment. Part of you wants revenge on those that have harmed you for what you are, but somehow, you know that isn't the solution."
John shook his orange mane of hair and sighed. "It isn't right. Something has to be done about the world's stupidity! We can't just stand around and wait for them to attack; Magneto had the right idea about that at least. He just wasn't going about it in the right ways," John paused and brought his eyes up to the professor, "I'm not so sure you're going about it the right way either mate."
The professor closed his eyes briefly, then stared back at Pyro with a strange sadness on his face. "You're referring to the fact that I'm training children to be fighters?"
John scowled, "Cut that mind reading crap out."
"I didn't read your mind John, I merely inferred as much. I am not proud of the fact that my students are forced to grow up before they should need to. But, perhaps I'm a fool for believing this, I don't think that mutants in this time have any other choice. Without this institute, many of these kids would not have any type of normal life. The world fears us too much still, and without the support my students receive here, I doubt many of them would find much joy."
Pyro stayed quiet for minute or so, then nodded slowly. The professor was right, the students would never receive *any* sense of normalcy without a place like the institute. John had never had such a place, and he couldn't help but wonder what choices he would have made if he had been a student here himself.
"I'm dangerous to the others. I could hurt someone," Pyro said after a substantial amount of silence.
"I can keep mental tabs on you, like I have been, until you've got yourself under control again."
Pyro shook his head. "No. I can't stay here."
The professor rose an eyebrow and studied Pyro. The young man spoke as though he had been broken one too many times. An idea came to him as he looked at John's lifeless eyes. The professor was certain that the life could be returned to them somehow.
"Why don't you back to Australia?"
John's head snapped up and he looked at Xavier in shock.
"Eh?"
"I'm serious John. Just go back home and live a normal life."
John stared at the professor and blinked. Xavier made it sound so simple, but it wasn't. Or was it?
"John, simply being a mutant does not bind you to a 'side.' You can still live as a normal man in the normal world. That is my goal after all, to create a world where such an idea is not so strange to mutants."
John leaned back in his chair and stared, stunned, at the wall above Xavier.
"Magneto...he never really made it seem like there was another option. It was... it was either fight for our kind or die in shame. It was like we're...obligated to be a part of this battle."
"Yes, Magneto truly believes that, but he's wrong. You aren't the first that has been trapped in that lie. I suddenly realize that there is someone else who's life has been greatly altered in the wake of Magneto's narrowminded thinking."
"Pietro," John stated promptly.
Xavier nodded as Pyro sighed and fiddled with his lighter.
"I think I need to think about some of this mate. It's kind of a new concept. In the mean time, I gotta learn to keep myself unda control ya know?"
"You'll be fine John. Take as much time as you need."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Todd swallowed hard and tried to smile. Wanda was staring at him with her head held high, as though she was sizing him up. Needless to say, a death glare from Wanda was enough to make anyone nervous. For Todd, it was beyond terrifying. After dinner, the two of them had been ushered into the library by the professor. He seemed convinced that Wanda should talk to Todd about her memory loss.
"So snookums..."
"Don't call me that!" she roared, the lights flickering slightly.
"Hey, hey, hey. It's alright yo. Yeesh, you really gotta work on that temper of yours."
Wanda scowled. "So why is Xavier so convinced that *you* can help me?"
Todd looked back at Wanda and shrugged slightly. "I guess it's 'cuz I uh, I've been having a similar problem yo."
Wanda's glare softened slightly. Despite how angry she was, and despite the fact that she didn't trust Todd, or anyone else for that matter, she was desperate for answers.
"What do you mean? How the hell do *you* know what my problem is?"
Todd clenched his jaw for a moment and narrowed his eyes briefly at Wanda. "Would you stop referring to me like some sort of...some sort of *thing!* I'm trying to help you out yo! The least you could do is *pretend* you can tolerate my presence!"
Wanda's eyes widened in surprise. "Um..I uh... sorry," she mumbled.
"It's ok yo. I know you're all upset and stuff, I would be too. See, there's this mutant named Mastermind that changed all your memories around."
"Yeah," Wanda said softly, "The professor told me all that. My father thought I was uncontrollable."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but you kinda were. You musta tried to kill Pietro at least five times a week, and he wasn't even the one who put you in that psycho ward."
Wanda shuddered involuntarily. "But he didn't try and stop it either!"
"What was he supposed to do? Tell Magneto to take a hike? Your father ain't exactly open to other people's opinions yo. I'm not saying Pietro doesn't deserve a smack in the head for some of the stuff he's done to you, but still. He actually cares about you believe it or not. Pietro's just kinda bad at the whole emotions thing."
"No kidding," Wanda snorted. "But back to the whole...what do you call this crap anyway? Memory problem?"
Todd shrugged. "I dunno. I think mine probably has some sorta medical name, but with you I think the best term is brainwashing."
Wanda nodded and closed her eyes. "Do you...do you mind if I ask you a few things?"
"Not at all snoo...Wanda. That's kinda why we're here."
"I just want to know how you tell which memories are *real.* I get so confused. It's like..like..."
"Like you have to question everything from your breakfast to your identity."
"Yeah! Exactly. I just don't know how to deal with it all."
The pair sat in silence for awhile. Todd had never been the person people went to for advice, or comfort, or anything really. He wasn't really sure what he was supposed to be saying or doing. He wasn't sure how much Wanda remembered either. For all he knew, she may not even remember much of her time at the boarding house, in which case she probably didn't remember much about him.
"Well," he said at last, "It ain't easy or anything yo, but it *is* possible to move on. You just gotta be willing to accept help, which you aren't that good at."
"Gee, I can't imagine why," Wanda said sarcastically, rolling her eyes, "Everyone betrays me... I think."
"The proff never has. I never have. Pietro never has, not *really* anyway. You gotta let people in Wanda, otherwise you'll never know which memories are real," Todd paused, his eyes widening at his own revelation, "Hey! That's it yo. That's how you know."
Wanda arched an eyebrow at Todd skeptically. "What do you mean?"
"It's like this yo. If you let people in, and let yourself know them, you'll be able to tell when a memory doesn't make sense. See? Like I've got this memory of you trying to fry me with one of your hex bolts, and I know it's a real memory because I know *you.* I know that it's something you would do. Get it?"
Wanda tilted her head and nodded slowly. "That makes sense I guess."
"Ha! Yeah, it does yo!" Todd said proudly.
"Um, can I ask you something else?"
Todd nodded. He was beginning to think that Xavier wasn't such a nut for leaving him alone with Wanda after all, though he was pretty sure the feeling wasn't mutual. Wanda's feelings toward Todd obviously hadn't changed much. He was still trying to decide if his had.
"Do you think I can trust Pietro? I've got loads of conflicting memories about him up here," she said, tapping her head.
"That doesn't surprise me. Pietro's as moody as a chick, uh...no offence," he added quickly, "It's just that Pietro gets himself pretty confused sometimes. You'd probably just have to ask him about stuff to find out what's true and what's not. A year and a half ago I woulda told you he wasn't trustworthy after that whole thing with him ditching us, but he is now. He's learned the hard way I guess. Besides, you can't really blame him for wanting his own dad to accept him ya know?"
"I...I guess I can understand that. I'm just kinda scared to talk to him."
"Yeah, you Maximoff's have a real communication problem yo," Todd said, grinning. "But don't worry sweetums. He..."
"I thought I said not to call me that!" Wanda thundered.
"Eh?" Todd said sheepishly.
"I may be confused, but I *know* that I never, and never will, want you to call me stuff like that! Got it!"
Todd cringed as blue energy appeared around Wanda's fists. "Yeah, yeah! Point taken!"
AN: Ok... So I will really try and update sooner this time but I can't promise anything. Let me know what ya think :)
Review Responses: I got confused with which reviews I already responded to...so if I skipped you I'm sorry.
Incrediblecuznz- lol.. Yeah I updated fast but then I blew it and took forever with this one. *sigh* o well. I dunno how I feel about Pyro's scene but I suppose you'll tell me lol. He's more fun to write as a nutcase. Mastermind's whereabouts will be mentioned briefly somewhere, just so it's not like he dropped off the face of the earth lol. Thanks so much for the long review :)
Ricter- Yes there will be Maximoff bonding and yes Poitr is with mags still. I'll get to that ;)
Black Arachne- Yeah I think Wanda is awesome. All that bitterness and stuff but she's actually really nice...at least I think she is.
Mandy- THEY CAME BACK!! I loved the Pietro rescuing Wanda from psycho dad thing. Then there was the whole Wanda and Pietro helping psycho dad up. It made me happy lol. Anyway...Tabby is 'in Texas somewhere' She was mentioned in the beginning of the fic.
KS-Fan- Yay you feared for his safety :) Feeling is good. Hehe...and here I thought I was just cheating with the whole action thing... glad it worked tho. *kicks and throws a mini hissy fit that you don't have a scanner* Ok... I'm better now lol. Thats awesome that u can draw tho... I SOOOO wish I could. I come up with stuff to draw all the time, then I remember that I cant... at all. Now... as for sequels... I'm not adamantly against it...but I'd have to come up with something really solid ya know? Cuz I attempted a sequel to my first fic (DON'T READ IT!!! lol) and it was... scary. I'll see though.
Scrawler- Well he was all weak and barely coherent anyway...so it couldn't have been that hard to knock him out. I love him tho... so he'll be ok.
SD- Nah... romance has been semi banned from this fic lol. With the exception of the one sided Rietro.
IceBlueRose- Aww...*hands u a tissue*
Storm-Pietro- *grins* it's nice to be loves lol
Calamari Rings- Aww...go ahead, write an essay, I won't complain :) hehe. I don't know why I picked Lance to knock Kurt out... I just liked it that way for some odd reason.
Eboni- Yeah, I'll get to the brohoods reaction to him in a little bit. And yeah... I wish I could draw, cuz I'd draw them asleep in the van.
Gohan Hunter- Yeah school is definitely on the evil side. I don't know why I care so much about my grades lol. Stupid conscience.
Yma- Thank you thank you :) And ur welcome for the ad. You're fabulous.
Windwalker- Wow, thanks. I *hope* I continue when this is finished. We'll see.
Wizard1- Yeah the brohood made me happy in Ascension part 2. Very very very happy lol. Anyway... I feel bad for picking on Jubes and Roberto but I had to pick on *someone*
Winkybells- Crazy-go-nuts-cool is a fun compliment :) I like that. Thanks hehe.
Loolan- I won't write slash. Nothing personal, I just won't. :)
Lady-Freeze- Thankies :) I love them as breakable too...im so mean lol.
Warmlight- Nope, that was the first time I've seen a review from you. Thanks :) I'll get to Poitr/Piotr (lol... im too lazy to check how to spell his name cuz I always forget too)
This may end up being 3 parts...or 2... I can't decide yet. In any case, this is the last 'chapter' *sniffle.* I'll probably do an epilogue too. So anyway, here is part I of the final chapter of Turning Point.
Review Responses are at the bottom.
O yeah, one more thing... If anyone wants to rattle off some decent brohood angst fics... feel free :) Cuz I want to read 'em lol. Thanks.
Chapter 23- Moving On Part I
The dinner table was eerily quiet, save for the occasional request to pass the salt. In the last couple of days, no one had seemed too interested in talking. It was as though no one really knew what to say to each other. There was also the awkward matter of having St. John, Wanda, and Remy at the table.
As it turned out, Remy had released his 'prisoners' after deciding he wanted nothing to do with Magneto anymore. Though surprising, none of the adults had objected at the time considering Gambit was their only means of escape. The fact that Gambit had come to his decision without any convincing was slightly comforting to the students, but it didn't take away the nervousness they felt towards the Cajun. He had kept to himself mostly, and only spoken to the adults. He was well aware of the student's distrust of him and hardly blamed them.
John on the other hand, was avoided by the students like he had some outrageous disease. The only one who would go anywhere near him was Pietro, and even he was too preoccupied to be with the pyromaniac very often. John hadn't been kidding when he said he was unstable. Already he had made several outbursts and charred a total of three rooms. The professor now kept mental tabs on him at all times and calmed him down if it was necessary. In his sanest moments, it was obvious that Pyro was trying for all he was worth to pull himself together, but it would obviously be a long process.
Xavier cleared his throat and the many weary eyes around the table turned to face him. He sighed mentally and wished he could just erase the events of two days ago for them. Everyone acted as though they were on eggshells. No one wanted to ask anyone else about their injuries, or how they got them, for fear it would be too painful to talk about. Pietro and Wanda's presence made Magneto bashing a difficult issue as well. The twins both seemed as if they had taken a vacation to hell and no one wanted to bring up the root of their anger, or whatever it was they were feeling; no one was brave enough to ask.
"How many days," Charles asked finally, "would you like off school before I make the call?"
There were a few shrugs and a few sarcastic murmurs asking for the entire year off. School wasn't starting for another couple of days, but the professor knew that none of them felt up to going back just yet.
"Perhaps I'll ask you on an individual basis?"
The table of teenagers nodded and continued to pick at their yellow rice. Without warning, the glasses and dishes began to quake and the students instinctively clasped their hands around the various utensils to keep them from floating off the table. A mere two days with a very confused Wanda had worn off any surprise at her losses of control.
Wanda was shivering at the far end of the table with her eyes clenched shut. Pietro, to her left, placed a hand timidly on her shoulder, wishing he knew how to help her. His twin immediately flinched and drew away from him. She was terrified of him, or incredibly pissed; Pietro couldn't ever tell the difference. He clenched his jaw and slammed his fist into the table before he silently stood and stormed to his room.
"I'll follow him," Evan volunteered, and headed after Pietro.
Wanda was still shivering slightly and the glasses were still rattling despite the students' attempts to hold them down.
"Wanda? It's ok yo. Don't try to fight them, it makes it worse," Todd murmured.
Wanda's eyes flickered towards Todd. The shuddering utensils stilled as she wrinkled her nose at Todd in confusion.
"How...how do you know which ones are real?" she asked slowly, her voice hoarse from lack of use.
Todd shrugged, slightly surprised by the question. "You just do I guess." Todd glanced around at the strange looks coming at him from the table's occupants. Not too many people knew about Todd's memory issues, and he fully intended to keep it that way. "Can we maybe talk about this later sweetums? I'd rather not bring it up in front of gossip central over here yo," he said jerking his chin towards Jubilee.
Jubes rolled her eyes in response. No one was speaking to her at the moment anyway, unless you counted Rahne's occasional growling. Jubilee actually found the fact that Rahne could sound so wolfish in her human form slightly creepy.
Wanda stared at Todd for a few minutes and he was certain he saw the wheels turning behind her eyes. He knew she was remembering.
With a sudden gasp, Wanda sent a hex bolt at the base of Todd's chair, sending him sprawling across the floor.
"You *kissed* me!?!" she shrieked.
Kurt burst into laughter while everyone else turned in their seats to look at Todd. He was on the ground with his chair toppled over him, sputtering.
"Damn you!" Wanda screeched, "My first kiss and I don't even know *why* I was being kissed!"
Kurt abruptly went silent and went back to his rice.
"I uh... look sweety..."
"Stop calling me stuff like that! Please, for the love of anything sane in this world, tell me we weren't an item or something!"
Todd cracked a smile at that and shook his head.
"Wanda, Todd, why don't the two of you find somewhere to talk. Perhaps Todd can help you remember some things Wanda."
Todd instantly paled. A year ago, Todd would have given his right arm to be in the same room alone with Wanda, but that was a year ago. This was now, and Todd knew exactly how twisted Wanda's mind was at the moment, considering his was in a similar state. That, combined with the Maximoff temper, was not something he wanted to experience.
He remained silent however, and picked himself up off the floor.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Pietro, come on man, it's alright. She'll be fine. It's just like Todd."
Evan fidgeted from his seat on Lance's bed. Pietro was doing everything he could to ignore his friend and Evan was getting frustrated.
Finally, Pietro looked over at Evan from his position on the floor and scowled. "It's *nothing* like Todd," he hissed. "And it's not just that."
Evan sighed. It wasn't quite the reaction he'd been hoping for, but he'd take it. A silent Pietro was just too weird.
"Pietro, I don't know what happened in that room ok? But I do know that once Wanda gets her head sorted out she'll realize how much you mean to her, and visa versa. I'd be confused too if I was her. No one but me and maybe Lance and Todd know you give a rip about her anyway because of your whole attitude about her when she showed up."
Pietro narrowed his eyes. "Is that supposed to make me feel better? Thanks a lot you jerk."
"Well it's true!" Evan paused and considered apologizing but changed his mind. He didn't feel like he needed to apologize for telling Pietro the truth. To be honest, Rogue had spoiled him. Evan didn't deny that it was what the speedster had needed at the time, but in this case, Pietro needed to be kicked with the facts; the fact that he had acted like a complete butt head in regards to Wanda ever since Mystique brought her on the scene. Evan took a deep breath and puffed it out of his cheeks. "How about you tell me why you're so upset and maybe I'll be able to keep the jerk factor to a minimum?"
Pietro rubbed his temple and rolled his eyes. He was having to do this whole "talk about your feelings" thing a lot lately and he didn't think he would ever get used to it. It wasn't so much Wanda that was getting to him, although she was a major part of it, it was everything in general.
"I...I feel so old," he said flatly. "I mean, I'm seventeen, but I'm out fighting in battles for who the hell knows what. Seventeen year olds aren't supposed to be soldiers, always living for 'the cause.'" Pietro's brow furrowed as his thoughts skimmed rapidly over the surface of his brain, "Seventeen year olds aren't supposed to have to beg for their dad's attention either. Do you know what I'd give to fight with my dad over a curfew Evan? Instead, I fight with him over my freedom, and I'm not talking about the whole teen independence thing here either. I'm talking about literal, actual, freedom. Every day! Every- damn- day- I- go- through- the- same- battle- in- my- head- about- wether- or- not- I'm- going- to- let- myself- become- his- puppet!" Pietro dropped his voice and his eyes. "Only this time I won." he paused again as he let his words catch up with his thoughts. "Before we found out we were mutants, what did you want to be when you grew up?"
Evan tilted his head to the side. He had to admit he was caught off guard by the question. Pietro was thinking in hyper mode and was probably getting ahead of himself again. He was used to Pietro's randomness however, and answered the question anyway.
"I used to think a bunch of stuff. Like pro basketball player, but that was more of a fantasy. I wanted to be a doctor when I was like in second grade or something, but yeah right. Maybe start my own business or something, that could be cool..." he trailed off, taking in Pietro's pained expression. "I don't get your point man."
"What do you want to be now?"
Evan paused. "Um... an X-Man I guess. Fight the good fight and stuff ya know? Seems kind of cheesy I guess, but still."
"It's what you want though, right?"
Evan nodded, still not seeing where this was going. Pietro suddenly *looked* old to him.
Pietro looked up and held Evan's eyes for a second or so. "Evan...I never had a choice. No one asked me what I wanted. It was 'oh my son is a mutant, your life is now mine.' Everyone just assumes that I'm involved in this...this crap for the same reasons they are, but I'm not. The day Magneto took Wanda away sealed it. He broke me then and I know that sounds all dramatic, but that's what happened. As long as he controlled the people I actually cared about, which you know damn well is a slim amount of people, he could control me, and he knew it," he stopped and shifted his gaze uneasily, away from Evan. "Wanna know what I would do with my life... if I had the choice?"
All Evan could do was nod. He was stunned. Pietro had changed drastically when Wanda had been put away, Evan could remember that much, but he hadn't realized that the effect was a long lasting one. If he stopped to think about it, he realized that Pietro had never been the same since. He had shelved the changes in the 'growing up' category, which part of it probably was, but still; losing Wanda had obviously done something to him.
"I would go to college, probably do a lot of stupid stuff like your average college guy, then get a doctorate. I'd do research and stuff...genetics maybe. I admit I'm a complete science nerd. I'd get married," he smirked at Evan's raised eyebrow, "Yep, I'd actually put someone before myself for a change; weird huh? And I'd have kids, and damnit Evan I'd fight with them about their curfews until they turned 18! I would have nothing to do with fighting for mutant rights, training for a war that shouldn't have to happen, and my family would be safe from all that kind of shit."
Evan blinked. 'Damn I wish Rogue was here now.' "Uh...wow."
Pietro sighed. "Yeah I know. Sorry if I completely weirded you out."
"Nah," Evan said with a shrug, "Just... since when did *you* get all introspective?"
He meant it as a rhetorical question but Pietro answered anyway.
"Since the moment I told Magneto he didn't own me anymore," he said quietly.
"You told him that?"
"Yeah. I did."
The two sat in silence for a while, Evan not really knowing what to say and Pietro stewing in his own thoughts. Pietro had never made so many conclusions at one time before. It had been so overwhelming on the van ride home that he probably would have gone nuts if the professor hadn't put him out. Now that he'd had a few days to think things out at a human pace, he didn't feel like he was going to suffocate anymore, but it all still felt very surreal.
"You know Pietro, if- if you finally got yourself away from him, you can get out. You can go off and be a scientist or something. No one here is going to make you fight."
"Yeah. It just hasn't sunk in all the way yet. I kinda got used to the idea that I was going to spend my life as a lackey."
Evan nodded. "Umm, you should probably talk to Wanda, explain to her why you acted like such an ass towards her. It'll be a lot easier for you guys to work stuff out if you tell her up front you know you were a jerk. Otherwise, her memories will speak for her."
"Yeah I know. She doesn't know if she can trust me yet though. She doesn't want to be anywhere near me it seems. Not that I blame her," after another moment of silence he added, "Oh yeah, guess what. I dealt with the stuff in my head without running."
It was a simple statement, and he slipped it out casually, but Evan knew just how great a feat it had been for the speedster.
"You're gonna be alright Pietro, remember that ok?"
Pietro nodded. "Yeah, eventually."
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Mr. Allerdyce you are not insane," Xavier said calmly.
"Ha! And how the hell would you know that? I nearly burned down yer office yesterday because I wanted to see the flames eating up the curtains! Does tha' sound sane to you sir?"
Charles sighed and leaned back in his chair. Pyro was once again trying to convince Xavier that the flame tamer was out of his mind. Which, Xavier had decided, he wasn't; he was merely confused.
"I won't give you all the text book reasons why you are not insane John as I'm sure it would fly right over your head. However, the very fact that you're *aware* of your odd behavior is proof enough that you are still very much a sane man. 'Brushes with nuttyness,' if you will, are quite different than losing your mind completely. Now, if you would be so kind as to tell me when this started happening, maybe I can help come up with a way to help you."
Pyro slumped into one of the desk chairs facing Xavier and let out a long puff of air. There had been times in the last two days when he wondered why on earth he had come with the X-Men, but he would quickly remember. He had seen what Magneto had done to his own children and knew that the powerful mutant would not hesitate to do much worse to mere nobodies in his service, especially now that his followers were growing rapidly and losing one 'soldier' would not be so devastating.
"John, listen to me, you're very torn at the moment. Part of you wants revenge on those that have harmed you for what you are, but somehow, you know that isn't the solution."
John shook his orange mane of hair and sighed. "It isn't right. Something has to be done about the world's stupidity! We can't just stand around and wait for them to attack; Magneto had the right idea about that at least. He just wasn't going about it in the right ways," John paused and brought his eyes up to the professor, "I'm not so sure you're going about it the right way either mate."
The professor closed his eyes briefly, then stared back at Pyro with a strange sadness on his face. "You're referring to the fact that I'm training children to be fighters?"
John scowled, "Cut that mind reading crap out."
"I didn't read your mind John, I merely inferred as much. I am not proud of the fact that my students are forced to grow up before they should need to. But, perhaps I'm a fool for believing this, I don't think that mutants in this time have any other choice. Without this institute, many of these kids would not have any type of normal life. The world fears us too much still, and without the support my students receive here, I doubt many of them would find much joy."
Pyro stayed quiet for minute or so, then nodded slowly. The professor was right, the students would never receive *any* sense of normalcy without a place like the institute. John had never had such a place, and he couldn't help but wonder what choices he would have made if he had been a student here himself.
"I'm dangerous to the others. I could hurt someone," Pyro said after a substantial amount of silence.
"I can keep mental tabs on you, like I have been, until you've got yourself under control again."
Pyro shook his head. "No. I can't stay here."
The professor rose an eyebrow and studied Pyro. The young man spoke as though he had been broken one too many times. An idea came to him as he looked at John's lifeless eyes. The professor was certain that the life could be returned to them somehow.
"Why don't you back to Australia?"
John's head snapped up and he looked at Xavier in shock.
"Eh?"
"I'm serious John. Just go back home and live a normal life."
John stared at the professor and blinked. Xavier made it sound so simple, but it wasn't. Or was it?
"John, simply being a mutant does not bind you to a 'side.' You can still live as a normal man in the normal world. That is my goal after all, to create a world where such an idea is not so strange to mutants."
John leaned back in his chair and stared, stunned, at the wall above Xavier.
"Magneto...he never really made it seem like there was another option. It was... it was either fight for our kind or die in shame. It was like we're...obligated to be a part of this battle."
"Yes, Magneto truly believes that, but he's wrong. You aren't the first that has been trapped in that lie. I suddenly realize that there is someone else who's life has been greatly altered in the wake of Magneto's narrowminded thinking."
"Pietro," John stated promptly.
Xavier nodded as Pyro sighed and fiddled with his lighter.
"I think I need to think about some of this mate. It's kind of a new concept. In the mean time, I gotta learn to keep myself unda control ya know?"
"You'll be fine John. Take as much time as you need."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Todd swallowed hard and tried to smile. Wanda was staring at him with her head held high, as though she was sizing him up. Needless to say, a death glare from Wanda was enough to make anyone nervous. For Todd, it was beyond terrifying. After dinner, the two of them had been ushered into the library by the professor. He seemed convinced that Wanda should talk to Todd about her memory loss.
"So snookums..."
"Don't call me that!" she roared, the lights flickering slightly.
"Hey, hey, hey. It's alright yo. Yeesh, you really gotta work on that temper of yours."
Wanda scowled. "So why is Xavier so convinced that *you* can help me?"
Todd looked back at Wanda and shrugged slightly. "I guess it's 'cuz I uh, I've been having a similar problem yo."
Wanda's glare softened slightly. Despite how angry she was, and despite the fact that she didn't trust Todd, or anyone else for that matter, she was desperate for answers.
"What do you mean? How the hell do *you* know what my problem is?"
Todd clenched his jaw for a moment and narrowed his eyes briefly at Wanda. "Would you stop referring to me like some sort of...some sort of *thing!* I'm trying to help you out yo! The least you could do is *pretend* you can tolerate my presence!"
Wanda's eyes widened in surprise. "Um..I uh... sorry," she mumbled.
"It's ok yo. I know you're all upset and stuff, I would be too. See, there's this mutant named Mastermind that changed all your memories around."
"Yeah," Wanda said softly, "The professor told me all that. My father thought I was uncontrollable."
"Don't take this the wrong way, but you kinda were. You musta tried to kill Pietro at least five times a week, and he wasn't even the one who put you in that psycho ward."
Wanda shuddered involuntarily. "But he didn't try and stop it either!"
"What was he supposed to do? Tell Magneto to take a hike? Your father ain't exactly open to other people's opinions yo. I'm not saying Pietro doesn't deserve a smack in the head for some of the stuff he's done to you, but still. He actually cares about you believe it or not. Pietro's just kinda bad at the whole emotions thing."
"No kidding," Wanda snorted. "But back to the whole...what do you call this crap anyway? Memory problem?"
Todd shrugged. "I dunno. I think mine probably has some sorta medical name, but with you I think the best term is brainwashing."
Wanda nodded and closed her eyes. "Do you...do you mind if I ask you a few things?"
"Not at all snoo...Wanda. That's kinda why we're here."
"I just want to know how you tell which memories are *real.* I get so confused. It's like..like..."
"Like you have to question everything from your breakfast to your identity."
"Yeah! Exactly. I just don't know how to deal with it all."
The pair sat in silence for awhile. Todd had never been the person people went to for advice, or comfort, or anything really. He wasn't really sure what he was supposed to be saying or doing. He wasn't sure how much Wanda remembered either. For all he knew, she may not even remember much of her time at the boarding house, in which case she probably didn't remember much about him.
"Well," he said at last, "It ain't easy or anything yo, but it *is* possible to move on. You just gotta be willing to accept help, which you aren't that good at."
"Gee, I can't imagine why," Wanda said sarcastically, rolling her eyes, "Everyone betrays me... I think."
"The proff never has. I never have. Pietro never has, not *really* anyway. You gotta let people in Wanda, otherwise you'll never know which memories are real," Todd paused, his eyes widening at his own revelation, "Hey! That's it yo. That's how you know."
Wanda arched an eyebrow at Todd skeptically. "What do you mean?"
"It's like this yo. If you let people in, and let yourself know them, you'll be able to tell when a memory doesn't make sense. See? Like I've got this memory of you trying to fry me with one of your hex bolts, and I know it's a real memory because I know *you.* I know that it's something you would do. Get it?"
Wanda tilted her head and nodded slowly. "That makes sense I guess."
"Ha! Yeah, it does yo!" Todd said proudly.
"Um, can I ask you something else?"
Todd nodded. He was beginning to think that Xavier wasn't such a nut for leaving him alone with Wanda after all, though he was pretty sure the feeling wasn't mutual. Wanda's feelings toward Todd obviously hadn't changed much. He was still trying to decide if his had.
"Do you think I can trust Pietro? I've got loads of conflicting memories about him up here," she said, tapping her head.
"That doesn't surprise me. Pietro's as moody as a chick, uh...no offence," he added quickly, "It's just that Pietro gets himself pretty confused sometimes. You'd probably just have to ask him about stuff to find out what's true and what's not. A year and a half ago I woulda told you he wasn't trustworthy after that whole thing with him ditching us, but he is now. He's learned the hard way I guess. Besides, you can't really blame him for wanting his own dad to accept him ya know?"
"I...I guess I can understand that. I'm just kinda scared to talk to him."
"Yeah, you Maximoff's have a real communication problem yo," Todd said, grinning. "But don't worry sweetums. He..."
"I thought I said not to call me that!" Wanda thundered.
"Eh?" Todd said sheepishly.
"I may be confused, but I *know* that I never, and never will, want you to call me stuff like that! Got it!"
Todd cringed as blue energy appeared around Wanda's fists. "Yeah, yeah! Point taken!"
AN: Ok... So I will really try and update sooner this time but I can't promise anything. Let me know what ya think :)
Review Responses: I got confused with which reviews I already responded to...so if I skipped you I'm sorry.
Incrediblecuznz- lol.. Yeah I updated fast but then I blew it and took forever with this one. *sigh* o well. I dunno how I feel about Pyro's scene but I suppose you'll tell me lol. He's more fun to write as a nutcase. Mastermind's whereabouts will be mentioned briefly somewhere, just so it's not like he dropped off the face of the earth lol. Thanks so much for the long review :)
Ricter- Yes there will be Maximoff bonding and yes Poitr is with mags still. I'll get to that ;)
Black Arachne- Yeah I think Wanda is awesome. All that bitterness and stuff but she's actually really nice...at least I think she is.
Mandy- THEY CAME BACK!! I loved the Pietro rescuing Wanda from psycho dad thing. Then there was the whole Wanda and Pietro helping psycho dad up. It made me happy lol. Anyway...Tabby is 'in Texas somewhere' She was mentioned in the beginning of the fic.
KS-Fan- Yay you feared for his safety :) Feeling is good. Hehe...and here I thought I was just cheating with the whole action thing... glad it worked tho. *kicks and throws a mini hissy fit that you don't have a scanner* Ok... I'm better now lol. Thats awesome that u can draw tho... I SOOOO wish I could. I come up with stuff to draw all the time, then I remember that I cant... at all. Now... as for sequels... I'm not adamantly against it...but I'd have to come up with something really solid ya know? Cuz I attempted a sequel to my first fic (DON'T READ IT!!! lol) and it was... scary. I'll see though.
Scrawler- Well he was all weak and barely coherent anyway...so it couldn't have been that hard to knock him out. I love him tho... so he'll be ok.
SD- Nah... romance has been semi banned from this fic lol. With the exception of the one sided Rietro.
IceBlueRose- Aww...*hands u a tissue*
Storm-Pietro- *grins* it's nice to be loves lol
Calamari Rings- Aww...go ahead, write an essay, I won't complain :) hehe. I don't know why I picked Lance to knock Kurt out... I just liked it that way for some odd reason.
Eboni- Yeah, I'll get to the brohoods reaction to him in a little bit. And yeah... I wish I could draw, cuz I'd draw them asleep in the van.
Gohan Hunter- Yeah school is definitely on the evil side. I don't know why I care so much about my grades lol. Stupid conscience.
Yma- Thank you thank you :) And ur welcome for the ad. You're fabulous.
Windwalker- Wow, thanks. I *hope* I continue when this is finished. We'll see.
Wizard1- Yeah the brohood made me happy in Ascension part 2. Very very very happy lol. Anyway... I feel bad for picking on Jubes and Roberto but I had to pick on *someone*
Winkybells- Crazy-go-nuts-cool is a fun compliment :) I like that. Thanks hehe.
Loolan- I won't write slash. Nothing personal, I just won't. :)
Lady-Freeze- Thankies :) I love them as breakable too...im so mean lol.
Warmlight- Nope, that was the first time I've seen a review from you. Thanks :) I'll get to Poitr/Piotr (lol... im too lazy to check how to spell his name cuz I always forget too)