Chapter 12: An Answer
Bobby put a pile of sticks down, went to the car and knelt in front of John. "You are John Allerdyce, a mutant with fire capabilities with the nickname Pyro. You were a student at Xavier's School for Gifted Children for a few years and you were my roommate. Then someone attacked the school and in the end, you left us to go with Magneto. After a few months, we faced each other. Except instead of trying to kill me, you saved my life, risking your own in the process. Now you're wondering where you're going to go, what you're going to do. You probably think you're alone. But you're not. John, you're stuck with me whether you like it or not."
John and Bobby just watched each other, Bobby didn't continue and John didn't say anything. After a few moments, Bobby moved, getting the pile of sticks into something they could use for a fire.
"You're turn," Bobby said, motioning to the sticks.
"I don't have my lighter. I lost it when the building collapsed."
Bobby crossed his arms and frowned, looking down at the sticks. He moved his hands down and put them into his pockets, his fingers hitting something.
"But I have one," Bobby said, taking the lighter out of his pocket and giving it to John.
"Why…"
"Sentimentality, I guess."
"Well, if you get out of the way, I'll light those sticks for you."
Bobby stepped aside, then John flipped the lighter open. Within a few seconds, the fire was lit and Bobby heard John flip the lighter shut.
"One fire, as requested," John said.
"We only have one blanket," Bobby noted when he opened the backpack. "If you want to stay put in the car, I'll give you the blanket and I'll sleep next to the fire."
"And what'll you sleep on?"
"The ground."
"Take the blanket, the fire isn't so far away that I'll get cold," John said, holding the blanket out for Bobby to take.
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"I guess I'm going to have to let you sleep tonight."
"I promise to wake up in the morning."
"I'll hold you to it."
"I know you will."
The pair fell asleep soon after. Bobby woke up several times during the night, looking over at John, who slept soundly. Bobby was awake just after the sun rose. He used his power to put the fire out, then he checked John's wrist while he slept. Bobby scolded himself for not doing this the day before after initially taking care of it. He knew that if he touched it, John would wake up. So he just froze the makeshift bandage again, then got into the drivers side of the car.