Chapter 9

AN: There are a few random lines in this chapter that I have borrowed and altered to fit my needs. In other words, I thought they were funny and decided to use them here.

XxXxX

"Are you sure this was a good idea?"

The massive metal man turned to look his fearless leader in the eye, or rather, the visor.

"You would prefer to deal with the madness that would surly come with having the whole team attack him?" he turned back to the monitor before him. "Gambit was the only one who ever had the patience to deal with Pyro, he will take care of it."

Cyclops went back to tapping his fingers against one of the many consoles in the War Room.

"That doesn't mean I have to like it."

XxXxX

Isn't it nuts how when you see a crowd of frightened people running away screaming from some unseen source, you kinda expect Godzilla to appear around the corner?

Remy laughed to himself at that thought. 'Wouldn't put it past ol' Johnny to make a fire Godzilla.' Then he thought of that scene in Ghostbusters with the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man and burst out laughing.

Making his way through the throngs of panicked people, he could feel the temperature begin to go up slightly and see a strange glow emanating from a few buildings a couple blocks ahead of him.

Looking up at the sky, his theory about his old teammate's behavior was confirmed. 'Don't those 'hood kids no anything about the people they take in?' He thought as he rounded the corner and saw the object of tonight's quote-en-quote mission.

Before him he saw numerous animal shaped flames gallivanting around an old warehouse-looking building that may have been used for something, but had been gutted by the raging fire. And in the center of it all, was the man of the hour himself, laughing in that psychotic way that had driven them all nuts back during the Acolyte days.

Remy paused for a moment and pondered the best way to go about this. On the one hand, he could run at Pyro, cards just a-blastin', and have his old buddy flame broil him alive just for surprising him. On the other hand, he could just walk over all calm and collected and avoid getting himself fried. Yes, that sounds like a better idea.

Making his way to the epicenter of all the chaos, Remy waited until he was at a distance where he wouldn't have to shout.

"Now, my only question here is what is it with you and ponies? I mean really?" Remy asked in the most nonchalant manner he could muster.

The figure before stop his manipulations at the sound of that oddly accented voice. Could it be? No, he went and buggered off somewhere after Bucket-head had supposedly met his untimely end. Still…

Turning himself away from his fun, Pyro's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.

"Holy shit! Remy, is that you mate?" He shouted, walking over to his friend and completely ignoring the raging inferno behind him.

Remy nearly did a double take. John had to have grown at least half a foot since he saw him last, but still had that crazy glint in his eyes. The most shocking thing however, was when Pyro came and picked up Remy in a huge bear hug.

"Oh it's been forever mate!" Pyro cried, swinging Remy around like a rag doll. "ya know what we oughta go do!"

"You could start by putting me down and letting me breathe!" Remy choked out. As he was placed down, the gleam in Pyros eye got brighter.

"We gotta go get ourselves good and pissed!" He said, turning back towards his fire. "Right after I torch the sucker!"

"Uh," Remy thought quickly. "How 'bout before?"

Pyro looked back at him for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"Same ol' Rem-Rem! Alright, lets go!" He said, walking over and dragging Remy down the street. Remy looked behind him at the burning building, hoping that Storm would be there soon to dampen the flames before it got too out of hand.

XxXxX

About an hour later, after dumping Pyro's flame throwers in a safe spot, the pair was sitting at the bar in some dive they had come across. Pyro was downing his tenth shot of…actually he couldn't remember anymore, and was updating Remy on what'd been going on the last few years.

"Look…man…ya know I thought the Aky…Acow…Acolytes were the best thing ever. Wouln't ever knock on ya and Petey….But the thing about these guys is that there's five of them…lots more people to bug…" Pyro slurred. "Ya folllllow me mate?"

"Oh yeah, I getcha." Remy slurred back. "So who's the five?"

"Lessee, there's…Rock-boy…..uhhhhh, Wanda…..Boy Wanda……the one that smells real bad….Oh! Annnnnd the fat guy…..How I hate him!" He managed to get out before falling off the bar stool and passing out on the floor.

Both Remy and the bartender leaned over to make sure that he wasn't bleeding.

"Is he gonna be alright?" the bartender asked.

"Oh yeah, give him ten minutes and he'll be back up here." Remy replied. Staring into his glass, he felt his mind begin to wander. 'X-Men….X-X-X…that's a lot of X's…Holy God, dey sound like a buncha porn stars or somethin'. He thought he heard the bartender ask if he wanted another, and he thought he heard himself answer yes, but he couldn't be sure. 'I wunner if dere be a market for mutie porn? Jus' imagine what those femmes with more creative powers could do…' He liked this train of thought, so he continued with it.

It was with him staring off into space with a stupid grin on his face that two more figures entered the bar, and found what they were looking for.

Remy snapped out of his stupor when someone gave him a light smack on the back of his head.

"Hey! I didn't do it!" He whined. Turning to see who his assailant was, he nearly fell out of his chair when he felt a tugging on the bottom of his coat.

"Oy, mate." Pyro was back from the land of the dead and decided to pick up where he left off. "Where was I? Oh yeah…Gotta tell ya about Wanda, mate…Now there's a Sheila…tell ya what I'd like to do ta her…"

"Excuse me?" a feminine voice asked behind them.

"Aw Hell." Was all He could say at seeing Wanda standing there with a disapproving glare.

"You are in so much trouble firebug. Lance sent me to get you."

"But I'm having fuuuun…"He whined

"And you…"She rounded on Gambit. "Just what do you think you're doing!"

"What am I doin'?" He looked back at her. "I'm keepin' him from torchin' a whole city block, dat's what I'm doin'!"

"By getting him hammered!" Wanda cried.

"Exactly!"

Wanda just gave her head a shake, there's no reasoning with drunken males. She oughta know, she lives with several.

"Okay, lets start over…" She switched to the voice one would use to talk to a toddler. "Where did you find him?"

"Um, I t'ink it was a few blocks down de road…can't really r'member." Remy muttered, then he looked like something dawned on him. "Don't you people know anyt'ing about de people take in? Geez!"

"What are you babbling about?" Wanda asked, getting rather frustrated.

"Johnny-boy is a lunatic." Remy stated matter-of-factly.

"We know that he's crazy, but that doesn't…" She started but was cut off by Remy.

"Non, not just crazy…he's a lunatic, he has lunacy." When Wanda just gave him a look, he went on. "Lunatics are affected by de phases of de moon, when de moon is full, dey go a little nuts. Happens to most people, but effects some more so dan others. You people really need to keep an eye on your own"

Wanda was shocked at how coherent Remy had sounded for a moment. She thought a moment and realized that this was the night of the full moon.

"Okay, that's it then, I'm taking you home John." She finally said.

"Really! Oh, I've finally won you ova Sheila!" Pyro said as he tried to get up and hug her.

"Don't. Even.Think. About. It." She told him. "Come on, Gambit. Nobody is driving anywhere tonight."

"A'ight." Remy slid off the bar stool.

"Where are you situated?" Wanda asked as they made their way outside.

"Uh…" Where was he supposed to be again? Oh, yeah. "X-people…wait, dat ain't right…"

"You're with the X-Men!" Wanda's eyes got wide.

"Dat's it!" He cried.

Wanda had a few different thoughts at this little revelation as she led the two men out to the vehicle; mostly about how this was going to affect things from now on. The X-Men had had a few run-ins with them over the past couple of years, but they had been few and far between. She supposed they had Nick Fury to thank for that, but on the slight off chance that they would have to battle the X-Men again, Gambit would be quite the powerful addition.

Her train of thought was interrupted when Pyro almost walked into oncoming traffic. She would definitely have to give Lance a full report once she got back, but for now, she focused on getting them back to their respectful homes.

Remy had stopped for a moment, looking across the road at the trees. Wanda led him over to her car and all but shoved him inside. Remy, looking back over at the park, couldn't help but feel like someone was watching them.

XxXxX

He watched them leave the bar. It would've been the perfect chance had the woman not shown up. But where was the glory in killing a man who is not up to full strength?

Bishop retreated from his vantage point in the shadows of the trees in the park and continued on his way. Knowing that there would be more opportunities to take him out, he decided to bide his time. It wouldn't matter, the bastard was good as dead.

XxXxX

AN: Wow, long time no update huh? Well I have no real excuses save that I've just got settled back at school, which has been nuts getting used to living with roommates again.

This was gonna be up a few days ago, but it was my birthday on Saturday, so I didn't get anything done.

Anyhoo, updates ought to be quicker from now on (I hope).

Thanx to ishandahalf, Pomegranate Queen, and lonewolf4981 for reviewing last chapter.