Disclaimer- "Blech...ugh.... I'll take the crab juice."
Chapter Fifteen- Reunions II
Pietro held his breath as the door opened. Behind him, he could sense the presence of Ben, Johnny, and Crystal.
A young man with yellowy-blonde hair and blue eyes appeared in the doorway. His eyes widened slightly, and then he let out a long and insane cackle. The three people behind him took a step back in surprise.
"Well, I'll be darned!" he grinned, rushing forward to squeeze the living daylights out of the speedster. He then threw his arm over his shoulder and led him inside of the boarding house, leaving the door wide open. Hesitantly, the other three walked inside.
"We've been lookin' all over for ya, mate!" Pyro exclaimed, clapping Pietro hard on the back and then shoving him down on the new couch.
"P-Pyro?" Pietro choked out.
"That's my name, don't wear it out," Pyro laughed again, but uttered a small cough muffled by his hand, "You pissed off your sister, mate. Destroyed a whole sentinel and a few warehouses all by herself when she saw you weren't there with the other prisoners."
"She-she what?" Pietro asked, astonished.
But Pyro had ignored him, bounding towards the foot of the stairs. There, he cupped his hand by his mouth, and let out a terrible yodel that ended with a ridiculously high pitch.
"Yodel-lay-HEEEEEEE lookit who's here!" Pyro bellowed up the stairs, then turned abruptly and introduced himself to the two Fantastic Four members and its reserve.
"St. John Allerdyce is the name," he said, shaking every one of their hands in the time span of five seconds. "Call me Pyro."
Fred came out of the kitchen. He had changed a lot in the face. His blonde Mohawk had disappeared, leaving his head shiny and bald, and around his mouth was a sandy blonde goatee.
"What's all this racket you're making, Pyro?" He asked, stuffing the rest of a sandwich in his mouth.
"Lookit who's here!" Pyro exclaimed with a flourish towards Pietro. Fred stared at Pietro. And he stared. Finally, until the point where Pietro thought that Freddy's brain wasn't processing anything, Fred rushed forward, pulled Pietro up in a standing position, and mashed him against his body in a big, bear hug.
Pietro screamed weakly in alarm as all the air rushed out of him and felt like he was being flattened to death.
"Freddy-I can't-can't breath!" he rasped, struggling to push the monster of a man away from him. Fred dropped Pietro, and he crumpled to the couch breathing in ragged breaths.
"You're too skinny, Pietro," Fred told him, patting his shoulder, "I'll go get some food to get into ya." And he stomped heavily off to the kitchen to make a grand meal.
Footsteps came from the stairway and Pietro turned towards it, holding his breath once again. Off to the side, Pyro was standing there with his arms crossed and a smug grin spread on his face. He faltered a bit and coughed, but immediately went back into the same position he was in before.
Todd was the first one. He took one look at Pietro, and ignoring the others that had come with him, he let out a shaky cry of joy and bounded towards him, enveloping the young man into a hug before him.
"Oh, God, I thought Trask took you back, yo!" He cried, and Pietro held him tighter.
"Naw, they gotta be pretty fast to catch me, huh?" he said with a weak smile. Todd pulled back and smiled at him too.
"Yeah, I was scared shitless," he whispered, "It would've all have been for nothing if you didn't escape with me. That was the whole idea, yo."
The Toad stepped away from him and now Lance stepped forward, eyeing Pietro with narrowed brown eyes. Solemnly, he stuck out his hand. Pietro took it hesitantly. Instantly, he was yanked into the warm and brotherly embrace.
"You got ten seconds to get away from me before you get your ass kicked for scaring the fucken shit out of me," Lance whispered to him, shoving him away but then hugging him again. Pietro let out some sort of strangled laugh. He pulled back, tears clouding his eyes.
"I'm serious," Lance warned, his voice oddly choked. He started blinking rapidly.
"I know," Pietro said in a half sob, half laugh, running a hand through his white hair.
"I'm coming over there," Lance said, but he made no move to advance on Pietro.
"I know," the speedster whispered, looking at the floor. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hands.
"I'm going to kick your ass now," Lance took a step forward, but then hugged Pietro again.
Pyro coughed. "Aww, c'mon, maties, you're getting me all wishy-washy. Break it up or get a room. I wasn't this emotional when he showed up unexpectantly on the doorstep."
Lance pulled back again. "God, man, now you're getting me all choked up. Give me a cigarette," he turned to Pyro, who immediately got one from the pack in his blue jeans. Lance lit it and the smoke wafted from the corner of his mouth. He sighed, blinking rapidly again. He offered the cigarette to Pietro, who took it silently.
"That's not good for your running," Lance sounded like he was going to cry again.
"Then why the fuck did you offer it to me?" Pietro cried, taking another drag. Lance took it away from him and gave it to Pyro, who immediately started smoking it.
"I don't know," Lance's voice was trembling violently now, and he kept his head bowed to hide his eyes. He sniffled a few times.
Through the whole thing, Ben and Johnny and Crystal had watched from the side silently. Johnny was looking at them with a little disgust, since he thought it was atrocious to ever even hold a cigarette. Ben and Crystal looked sympathetic.
Pietro was breathing rather heavily now, but he somehow managed to ask, "Where's Wanda?"
Lance placed the heel of his palm on his forehead and squinted his eyes shut tightly. "She's at the institute."
"What? She left the Brotherhood?" Pietro asked incredulously.
Lance shook his head again. "No, she went there to see your father."
"Oh," he said softly.
Lance sighed wearily; "Yeah, he and Xavier are allies now. They've teamed up when Magneto couldn't find you without his help."
Fred came from the kitchen, humming cheerfully. In his hand was a plate with a sub sandwich on it and in the other was a large glass of milk.
"Here you go, buddy," he said happily, setting the food down on the coffee table, careful to set the glass on a coaster. He shoved Pietro forcefully on the couch.
"You eat every single crumb of that," he said pointing a finger at him. Slowly, Pietro began to eat, but stopped immediately when he noticed the two members of the Fantastic Four and Crystal. He jumped back up.
"Oh!" he exclaimed, and then told them to sit down on the couch or the chair.
"These are Johnny Storm, Ben Grimm, and Crystalia Amaquelin," he introduced them and they all shook hands with the Brotherhood boys.
"So, we goin' over to the Institute to go surprise the piss out of Wanda?" Pyro asked, coughing into his sleeve.
"Are you alright?" Pietro asked in mild concern. Pyro nodded, coughing again.
"I've had a tickle in me throat for the past year an' a half," he informed him, making a loud grunt in the back of his throat. "Crikey, it's been driving me bonkers."
Todd twirled Lance's car keys in his fingers. "So, you wanna go?"
Pietro looked around at the guests. "If you guys wanna come and meet a bunch of other mutants, just follow on behind us."
"I really think-" Johnny began.
Crystal cut him off, "We'll follow."
Johnny scowled at her.
"We're not all gonna fit in the jeep," Lance said. "Freddy takes up more room than he used to."
"We'll take two people," Crystal said.
"I'll go with you," Pietro volunteered, and Pyro did also.
And that's how they left, with Fred in the back of the jeep, Lance driving with Todd in the passenger's seat, and Ben and Johnny in the front seats of the van with Crystal, Pyro, and Pietro in the back.
"So, Sheila, dating anybody?" Pyro asked Crystal immediately after they took off.
"She's dating me and her name's not Sheila," Johnny snarled, feeling insulted that these two men would hit on his girlfriend when they knew she was going out with him. Well, Pietro had known, but he still flirted with her.
Pyro held his hands up in peace. "I'm just wondering. You're such a figjam."
"Figjam?" Johnny asked.
"Fuck-I'm-good-just-ask-me," Pyro said, taking a cigarette out of his pack. "Mean's you think highly of yourself. See Pietro, you're not the only one."
Pietro grunted.
Pyro flicked his lighter open, making a little fairy the size of a beetle come from it. It danced its way to the tip of his cigarette until finally it settled itself there and ignited. Pyro rolled down the window, blowing the smoke out.
"Don't smoke in here," Johnny snapped. Pyro paid him no mind, but continued to blow smoke out the window, until finally, he took the little flame from the cigarette at the end and then threw it out the window. In his hand, he started manipulating the flame to do his will. Pietro watched out of boredom more than anything.
Pyro made a little circus, with a look of concentration on his face. Pietro thought that was unusual, since Pyro barely ever looked concentrated when he used his powers. Finally, he sighed and closed his hand into a fist, snuffing out the flames that had been there only a second before.
They had pulled into the driveway and in front of the door of the Xavier's Institute for Gifted Youngsters.
Logan was at the front door, arguing with Lance. Taking a deep breath, Pietro followed Crystal out of the door, slamming it shut behind him.
Logan had smelt something unusual, a familiar scent. He looked up at the unfamiliar van that had followed Lance's jeep. Logan's eyes widened slightly when he caught sight of an all-too-familiar white haired speed demon.
"Maximoff," he called out, "Yer late."
Pietro looked flustered and flabbergasted, unable to say anything. Logan shook his hand. Pietro now looked thoroughly frightened.
Johnny looked down at Logan with a curious look on his face. Logan looked right back up and growled. "What are you lookin' at, bub?"
Johnny averted his eyes quickly from Wolverine. Quickly and quietly, they all walked in, Logan shutting the door behind him.
"Alvers!" Someone yelled in frustration. Pietro looked and saw it was Scott Summers.
Scott immediately skidded to a halt and stared at Pietro with shock.
"Where's Wanda?" Pietro asked as calmly as he could. Scott didn't answer and continued staring at him.
"Where's Wanda?" Pietro asked again, this time with more annoyance.
"Med-bay," Scott said as though in a trance, and then Pietro was gone.
Pietro found himself just outside of the door of the med-bay. There she was, hugging their father tightly. She was crying.
He stood there for a minute, eyes shining, he gulped, still frozen there by the sight.
Until his father's gaze looked up, and he froze, taken aback by what he saw. He let go of Wanda, and slowly stood up, gazing at him in confusion. Wanda turned around to see what her father was staring at.
And she let out a cry of disbelief. Rushing forward, she seized his head and pulled it down until they were both at eye level. For a few seconds they stared at each other, and relief swept through Pietro when he realized that she had not beeen harmed throughout the years he was gone.
Until she backhanded him across the face.
He stumbled back a few steps, his hand clutching the side of his face where she had hit surprisingly hard. He gasped at the stinging pain as he stared at her in disbelief. She rushed at him again and he coward, and tensed up when she wrapped his arms around him.
"Where the fuck were you?" she sobbed, then immediately seized him by the shoulders and shook him violently, repeating the same question over and over.
Trying to answer but not being able to form the words from his mouth, his father calmly put a hand on Wanda's shoulder and gently pried her away.
"Wanda, I'm sure Pietro did not appreciate that," he said softly, and forcefully sat her down in the chair next to Lorna Dane, who had jumped up in alarm at the sound of the slap.
Then something happened that Pietro did not expect.
Magneto enveloped his son into a hug.
Releasing him almost instantly, Magneto cleared his throat and exited. Wanda grabbed her brother gently by the arm and led him to where everybody else was.
(Next section)
Crystal gasped when she saw him. "Pietro what happened to your face?"
He rubbed the red and white handprint on his face tenderly, shaking his head.
"He got bitch-slapped!" crowed Ray Crisp. Wanda turned around and raised her hand threateningly.
"Sorry, Wanda, didn't mean it, sorry," Ray instantly apologized, raising his hands up in front of him in a defense position.
With her lip curled, Wanda turned away from him. She eyed the strangers that were standing in front of her, especially the woman who had spoken.
"Who are you?" she asked viciously.
"Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four," Johnny said proudly. "Also-known-as the Human Torch."
Wanda raised an eyebrow. "I don't give a damn about your code name, I just want to know who the hell you are. Don't waste my time."
"Ben Grimm," Ben stepped forward and shook hands with her, which she did reluctantly. From the side, Professor Xavier and Magneto looked on in interest.
"Crystal Amaquelin," Crystal smiled, shaking hands with her also. Wanda looked suspicious. She turned to her brother.
"You didn't seduce this one did you?" she asked accusingly.
"No!" he said vehemently. "I don't do every fricken woman I meet, Wanda! Have some faith, I just got out of that hellhole."
"I'm just making sure," she reassured him, patting the side of the face she had slapped. He winced slightly.
The Professor wheeled forward. "Well, since you don't seem to be the enemy, and you brought back one of our members safe and sound and well taken care of, I must invite you to stay for dinner. If the drive is too far, the Institute could always provide rooms for those in need, or who just want to stay."
Ben smiled, "That sounds good."
(End chapter, since they're taking away my section separaters)
Okay, here's the chapter. I know I said I'd update Up In Flames first, but this chapter came quicker than that one. I'm working on it.Crazyspaceystracey- I prefer Wanda with John to any other character, but it's not my favorite pairing. Ah, well what I meant was that they were both crazy in the head, and decided that it wouldn't work out. Actually, it's more like John's crazy, and she just couldn't handle having her undergarments mysteriously burned every other night. Not that they're safe from his fire-bearing hands any time soon. Actually, John's got a mental illness in my universe, and that will be explored a bit later. She just can't handle it, and not to mention she's a bit tweaked up there, right? Yep they're still close friends. I'm not having Lorna be Magneto's daughter in my universe, because then it screws up Evo's whole universe. He'll be more like her mentor in here, and she learns to love him like a father. No blood relationship in here. Thanks for your review!
DemonRogue13- Yep, plans for Pietro and Crystal. Not much in this one, I'm just kinda making them more like friends in here. There are two sequels though. I liked how I had Todd say that too, it just felt best that way. Thanks for your review!
Eboni- Yes! You don't know how much of a compliment that is, calling me evil. I feel all good inside... Hehe, I would be worried too if I had to stay in the car with Pietro that long. I'd be worried for my sanity. Thanks for your review!
Purity Black- Yep, sadly, Crystal really did cheat on Pietro...And I think she's an itty-bit insane. Actually, their both off their rocket. They both have so many problems, and I think they should apologize, have sex, and then another baby. It would make them so much more happier... Actually, I was thinking of having Lance answer the door, but I changed it to good ol' Pyro. You gotta love that guy. Thanks for your review!
Don't smoke, folks! It's bad for you! My dad has been smoking since he was 15, and he's only 45 now and has already suffered two heart attacks from the smoking. If you DO smoke, quite ASAP! It not only kills you faster, it kills us too. So, not only save yourself, but prevent others from dying from second-hand smoke related disease.
Hmm...Can we go for 100 reviews? Please review! If you don't I'll threaten not to write or post the next chapter until I do!