John had wanted to stay awake, but it proved to be too difficult a task. As Magneto and Mystique both knew, training yourself to stay awake for days at a time can take months.
Magneto knew that John had heard Mystique and he talking before dinner yesterday and their more recent conversation in the center room. He knew many things, but was curious about John's reaction.
He stared down at the sleeping boy before him, Eric found him to be very interesting. In the short time he'd known him, John had shown great potential, even if he didn't know it yet.
Eric and Mystique had heard the news report of some 'crazed' mutant attacking the local police force, but the media is full of exaggeration, and not to be trusted.
He had only seen John's little display on the jet; he had yet to see what John could really do.
'Time will tell.' He thought.
He glanced at his watch. Yes, the time was drawing near.
"John?" The boy didn't react to his name.
"John, wake up." The boy rolled over, his back now facing Eric.
Obviously, John was more tired than Eric had initially assumed, but today was important, it would test John's loyalty.
"John, wake up right now!" he demanded.
Eric's booming voice shattered the peaceful silence, and John started awake. His eyes came to rest on Eric, and he backed up to the headboard, seemingly scared out of his wits.
Eric was confused at the reaction. "Are you all right?" he asked.
John swallowed once, and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, his entire visage was different.
He was calmer, smoother, and seemed almost indifferent to Eric's unexpected presence. "Yeah, I'm fine. What's going on?"
Eric watched John for a few moments before answering, pondering John's odd behavior. With an inward shrug, he dismissed it as simply being startled.
"Well, it's past noon, and I'd like you to wake up and start the day. Take a shower, get dressed, have some breakfast. Then, come up to the room on the top floor, there's something you I want you to see."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Seemingly obedient as a lapdog, John did what Magneto had asked of him. He took a quick shower, changed into clean clothes, and ate breakfast.
He was surprised to find Magneto in his bedroom, but thought that he had recovered quickly enough...then again, Magneto doesn't miss much.
Magneto wanted him to go into the big upstairs room with him; John knew that that would lead to nothing good.
He had an idea.
Magneto still had his lighter, and all John would have to do is ask for it back. Then, he'd give Magneto a full-body 3rd degree burn before the man could even blink.
'Nothing like the old flash-furnace trick.' He thought to himself as he finished his cereal.
Then, while Magneto was out for the count, he'd just waltz downstairs and burn his way through the front door.
By the time Mystique came back, he'd be long gone.
'Man, I gotta be the craftiest mutant alive!' he thought, trying not to smile as he ascended the stairs.
*^*^*^*^**^*
John knocked on the double doors, and could hear Magneto moving things around inside.
"Come in John."
He opened the doors, and felt a natural sense of awe sweep over him at the sight of the room.
Or, more accurately, what lay just beyond it. The interior room was luxurious and beautifully decorated, but what set it apart was the back wall. It was all glass, with a set of doors that led outside to what John considered as one badass backyard.
From what he could see, there was a patio and a pool, all set against the background of New York.
"Whoa." John breathed as he walked further into the room.
"Yes, I imagine you'd like that." Magneto said as he came out of a side room that John assumed was where he and Mystique slept.
"It's pretty cool, is that what you came up here to show me?"
"No, I want you to watch Mystique in her senatorial debate."
"Why?"
"Well, it'd be good for you to understand what we are doing here. Better that you learn now."
"Okay." John said slowly. This wasn't what he had expected at all. But then again, nothing had ever turned out the way he thought it would.
*^*^*^^*^*^*
"Oh, God, make it stop!" John moaned in misery.
Beside him on the couch, Magneto smiled. "John, it's only been twenty minutes."
"Yeah, twenty minutes of the most boring talk ever! I don't get it, how can you still be awake after this?" John asked.
He had not been expecting Magneto to invite him to watch TV beside him, and it was a strange thing. Strange, but in a cool way. He knew that he still had to escape, but as time went on it seemed that there was no threat to watch out for.
John wasn't fooled, he knew Magneto was dangerous, but his gut was telling him that it was safe...for now, anyway.
Magneto ticked an eyebrow at Senator Kelly on the TV screen, "I'm in on the joke. That's Mystique, John, as you already know."
John shrugged, "Yeah, yeah. What are they arguing about now?"
"The same tired issues. In this case, her opponent is pushing for scientific mutant studies."
John scowled, "Sure, turn us all into science projects. I'd like to see them try."
"That is precisely why Mystique went to Boston. This situation will be dealt with before the hour is up. I must admit that she and I went to some great lengths to end the proposition."
John didn't know what Magneto could've meant by that; painfully, he returned his attention to the debate.
15 minutes (but what seemed like 15 hours to John) later...
"I have here, evidence that Mr. Green has already begun the study of mutants for 'scientific' purposes!" Senator Kelly declared.
Magneto sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned in closer to catch every detail. John had to admit that this was finally starting to get interesting.
Kelly popped the lid on his/her briefcase and pulled out a handful of Polaroid photos.
"Let's look at the end result of your 'science'."
He held out the pictures, and every news camera in the room instantly zoomed in.
John really wished they hadn't.
In every picture, there was a mutant in a cage, with wired sensors connected to their chests or foreheads. Each figure in the pictures had different appearances, though they were visually united in that they all looked like they had been run over on the highway.
A young man that had a scattering of red scales over his chest and shoulders was missing an arm.
A woman with fully green eyes had a huge bandage covering her head.
A little girl who didn't even have any visible sign of mutation looked more dead than alive.
John felt sick. "Oh, God."
Magneto noticed his reaction. "Don't worry, John. They're all her."
"What?"
"They're all Mystique. I was the one holding the camera."
John turned back to the television, where Mystique's opponent Mr. Green was being taken away by police, yelling out, "I don't know what he's talking about, I've never seen those pictures before in my life! I'm innocent!"
"You see, John, drastic measures must be taken for the greater good. Green may be released from prison, but his reputation is ruined, and those images have been burned into the audience's memory. That proposal will never be accepted now."
John was silent.
"I know that you heard Mystique and I discussing this yesterday, certainly you haven't been shocked into silence over it?"
John stared wide-eyed at Magneto.
'I know that you heard Mystique and I discussing this yesterday...'
"What? You know that I...?"
"Yes, John, of course. I know that you may find our methods dishonest and such, but you must understand, you aren't in Charles's school anymore."
"So, yesterday when you and Mystique were talking, you meant Green?"
"Yes."
"Not me?"
"What?" Magneto asked confusedly.
John put his head in his hands and started laughing. Quietly at first, then louder and almost hysterically as the frustration, fear and anxiety drained out of him.
John was practically rolling off the couch, while Magneto sat beside him wondering if the boy had gone mad.
John looked at Magneto, who stared back curiously, and cracked up all over again.
Magneto rolled his eyes and got off the couch to find the remote control. "You silly child, what has gotten into you?" he asked as he sat back down next to him.
"No, it's just...I thought you were talking about me."
Magneto gave him an odd look.
"I thought that you and Mystique were planning to kill me! And I've been going crazy, waiting for an attack!"
John was now laughing so hard that his eyes were watering up.
Magneto did not find this revelation amusing. "You thought that Mystique and I were planning to kill you?" he asked incredulously.
"Yeah." John said between giggles.
"John, honestly, what kind of nonsense has Charles and his X-men been filling your head with?"
John finally got control of himself. "No, it's just what I heard..."
"John, I may kill out of necessity, but killing a young fellow mutant is hardly my idea of fun. Mystique and I saved you from the flood because at that moment we had the power to save a life, rather than leave you to die. We brought you here because we thought you had potential, not so we could hurt you."
John nodded, "Dude, just try to see things from my point of view, ok? I barely know either one of you, and then I'm hearing, 'I'll take care of him, he'll be gone without a trace.'? What would you think?" he asked.
Magneto leveled his gaze on John, who was surprised when the older man before him began to laugh. It wasn't loud, or anywhere near hysterical, it was a low chuckle that escaped his lips.
"Well, when you put it that way, I see your point," he said, "John, Mystique and I mean you no harm. We want you to stay here with us, but not if it is against your will."
John ran a hand through his hair. "That's a relief. I was having dreams all night about getting skewered by a crowbar."
Magneto frowned. "Not my style. But that's beside the point. We aren't going to hurt you John, and you can still stay here, but only if you feel secure."
John nodded. "I do. Aside from our little misunderstanding, I'll stay as long as I'm welcome. By the way, I'm totally cool with the underhanded methods for ruining threats to mutants. If we don't, then who will?"
"So, we understand each other now, yes?"
"Yeah, sure." John said.
Magneto held out his hand, and John eagerly shook it.
Together, they settled back in to watch the rest of Senator Kelly's speech.
Magneto knew that John had heard Mystique and he talking before dinner yesterday and their more recent conversation in the center room. He knew many things, but was curious about John's reaction.
He stared down at the sleeping boy before him, Eric found him to be very interesting. In the short time he'd known him, John had shown great potential, even if he didn't know it yet.
Eric and Mystique had heard the news report of some 'crazed' mutant attacking the local police force, but the media is full of exaggeration, and not to be trusted.
He had only seen John's little display on the jet; he had yet to see what John could really do.
'Time will tell.' He thought.
He glanced at his watch. Yes, the time was drawing near.
"John?" The boy didn't react to his name.
"John, wake up." The boy rolled over, his back now facing Eric.
Obviously, John was more tired than Eric had initially assumed, but today was important, it would test John's loyalty.
"John, wake up right now!" he demanded.
Eric's booming voice shattered the peaceful silence, and John started awake. His eyes came to rest on Eric, and he backed up to the headboard, seemingly scared out of his wits.
Eric was confused at the reaction. "Are you all right?" he asked.
John swallowed once, and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, his entire visage was different.
He was calmer, smoother, and seemed almost indifferent to Eric's unexpected presence. "Yeah, I'm fine. What's going on?"
Eric watched John for a few moments before answering, pondering John's odd behavior. With an inward shrug, he dismissed it as simply being startled.
"Well, it's past noon, and I'd like you to wake up and start the day. Take a shower, get dressed, have some breakfast. Then, come up to the room on the top floor, there's something you I want you to see."
*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Seemingly obedient as a lapdog, John did what Magneto had asked of him. He took a quick shower, changed into clean clothes, and ate breakfast.
He was surprised to find Magneto in his bedroom, but thought that he had recovered quickly enough...then again, Magneto doesn't miss much.
Magneto wanted him to go into the big upstairs room with him; John knew that that would lead to nothing good.
He had an idea.
Magneto still had his lighter, and all John would have to do is ask for it back. Then, he'd give Magneto a full-body 3rd degree burn before the man could even blink.
'Nothing like the old flash-furnace trick.' He thought to himself as he finished his cereal.
Then, while Magneto was out for the count, he'd just waltz downstairs and burn his way through the front door.
By the time Mystique came back, he'd be long gone.
'Man, I gotta be the craftiest mutant alive!' he thought, trying not to smile as he ascended the stairs.
*^*^*^*^**^*
John knocked on the double doors, and could hear Magneto moving things around inside.
"Come in John."
He opened the doors, and felt a natural sense of awe sweep over him at the sight of the room.
Or, more accurately, what lay just beyond it. The interior room was luxurious and beautifully decorated, but what set it apart was the back wall. It was all glass, with a set of doors that led outside to what John considered as one badass backyard.
From what he could see, there was a patio and a pool, all set against the background of New York.
"Whoa." John breathed as he walked further into the room.
"Yes, I imagine you'd like that." Magneto said as he came out of a side room that John assumed was where he and Mystique slept.
"It's pretty cool, is that what you came up here to show me?"
"No, I want you to watch Mystique in her senatorial debate."
"Why?"
"Well, it'd be good for you to understand what we are doing here. Better that you learn now."
"Okay." John said slowly. This wasn't what he had expected at all. But then again, nothing had ever turned out the way he thought it would.
*^*^*^^*^*^*
"Oh, God, make it stop!" John moaned in misery.
Beside him on the couch, Magneto smiled. "John, it's only been twenty minutes."
"Yeah, twenty minutes of the most boring talk ever! I don't get it, how can you still be awake after this?" John asked.
He had not been expecting Magneto to invite him to watch TV beside him, and it was a strange thing. Strange, but in a cool way. He knew that he still had to escape, but as time went on it seemed that there was no threat to watch out for.
John wasn't fooled, he knew Magneto was dangerous, but his gut was telling him that it was safe...for now, anyway.
Magneto ticked an eyebrow at Senator Kelly on the TV screen, "I'm in on the joke. That's Mystique, John, as you already know."
John shrugged, "Yeah, yeah. What are they arguing about now?"
"The same tired issues. In this case, her opponent is pushing for scientific mutant studies."
John scowled, "Sure, turn us all into science projects. I'd like to see them try."
"That is precisely why Mystique went to Boston. This situation will be dealt with before the hour is up. I must admit that she and I went to some great lengths to end the proposition."
John didn't know what Magneto could've meant by that; painfully, he returned his attention to the debate.
15 minutes (but what seemed like 15 hours to John) later...
"I have here, evidence that Mr. Green has already begun the study of mutants for 'scientific' purposes!" Senator Kelly declared.
Magneto sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he leaned in closer to catch every detail. John had to admit that this was finally starting to get interesting.
Kelly popped the lid on his/her briefcase and pulled out a handful of Polaroid photos.
"Let's look at the end result of your 'science'."
He held out the pictures, and every news camera in the room instantly zoomed in.
John really wished they hadn't.
In every picture, there was a mutant in a cage, with wired sensors connected to their chests or foreheads. Each figure in the pictures had different appearances, though they were visually united in that they all looked like they had been run over on the highway.
A young man that had a scattering of red scales over his chest and shoulders was missing an arm.
A woman with fully green eyes had a huge bandage covering her head.
A little girl who didn't even have any visible sign of mutation looked more dead than alive.
John felt sick. "Oh, God."
Magneto noticed his reaction. "Don't worry, John. They're all her."
"What?"
"They're all Mystique. I was the one holding the camera."
John turned back to the television, where Mystique's opponent Mr. Green was being taken away by police, yelling out, "I don't know what he's talking about, I've never seen those pictures before in my life! I'm innocent!"
"You see, John, drastic measures must be taken for the greater good. Green may be released from prison, but his reputation is ruined, and those images have been burned into the audience's memory. That proposal will never be accepted now."
John was silent.
"I know that you heard Mystique and I discussing this yesterday, certainly you haven't been shocked into silence over it?"
John stared wide-eyed at Magneto.
'I know that you heard Mystique and I discussing this yesterday...'
"What? You know that I...?"
"Yes, John, of course. I know that you may find our methods dishonest and such, but you must understand, you aren't in Charles's school anymore."
"So, yesterday when you and Mystique were talking, you meant Green?"
"Yes."
"Not me?"
"What?" Magneto asked confusedly.
John put his head in his hands and started laughing. Quietly at first, then louder and almost hysterically as the frustration, fear and anxiety drained out of him.
John was practically rolling off the couch, while Magneto sat beside him wondering if the boy had gone mad.
John looked at Magneto, who stared back curiously, and cracked up all over again.
Magneto rolled his eyes and got off the couch to find the remote control. "You silly child, what has gotten into you?" he asked as he sat back down next to him.
"No, it's just...I thought you were talking about me."
Magneto gave him an odd look.
"I thought that you and Mystique were planning to kill me! And I've been going crazy, waiting for an attack!"
John was now laughing so hard that his eyes were watering up.
Magneto did not find this revelation amusing. "You thought that Mystique and I were planning to kill you?" he asked incredulously.
"Yeah." John said between giggles.
"John, honestly, what kind of nonsense has Charles and his X-men been filling your head with?"
John finally got control of himself. "No, it's just what I heard..."
"John, I may kill out of necessity, but killing a young fellow mutant is hardly my idea of fun. Mystique and I saved you from the flood because at that moment we had the power to save a life, rather than leave you to die. We brought you here because we thought you had potential, not so we could hurt you."
John nodded, "Dude, just try to see things from my point of view, ok? I barely know either one of you, and then I'm hearing, 'I'll take care of him, he'll be gone without a trace.'? What would you think?" he asked.
Magneto leveled his gaze on John, who was surprised when the older man before him began to laugh. It wasn't loud, or anywhere near hysterical, it was a low chuckle that escaped his lips.
"Well, when you put it that way, I see your point," he said, "John, Mystique and I mean you no harm. We want you to stay here with us, but not if it is against your will."
John ran a hand through his hair. "That's a relief. I was having dreams all night about getting skewered by a crowbar."
Magneto frowned. "Not my style. But that's beside the point. We aren't going to hurt you John, and you can still stay here, but only if you feel secure."
John nodded. "I do. Aside from our little misunderstanding, I'll stay as long as I'm welcome. By the way, I'm totally cool with the underhanded methods for ruining threats to mutants. If we don't, then who will?"
"So, we understand each other now, yes?"
"Yeah, sure." John said.
Magneto held out his hand, and John eagerly shook it.
Together, they settled back in to watch the rest of Senator Kelly's speech.