Chapter Five:
"Good evening, and welcome to the six o'clock news..." the anchor said with appropriate temperance, "Our top stories tonight...tensions heighten overseas as delegates from around the world meet to discuss current economic issues...farmers in the Midwest fear the possibility of drought this summer due to below average snow fall over the winter months...and a series of bizarre robberies around the city have left police baffled and shoe stores under alert...but first, a small apartment fire quickly turned into a three alarm blaze earlier this afternoon..."
"Not my fault," Pyro muttered unhappily under his breath as the report continued.
Rebecca had taken Mary and Remy out for a quick spin around the city nearly an hour and a half before and Sid was entirely preoccupied with checking his stocks online, so Pyro was left to his own devices until the representatives of the Brotherhood arrived.
He had spent most of the hour or so wondering how the hell he was going to explain the presence of two X-Men in the home to Mystique. He did not want to know what Magneto's reaction would be to Pyro's involuntary fraternizing with the enemy. But, as Pyro worried, he slowly decided the situation could have been worse.
After all, both Mary and Remy were new members to Xavier's school, and probably were not technically X-Men yet. Sure, Remy had worn the uniform during the Sentinel incident, but he did not act like the X-Men Pyro knew.
Cyclops...Storm...even Wolverine had a very specific manner about them when discussing the Brotherhood. Good guys versus bad guys...enough said. Bad guys did bad things (like kidnapping Rogue and trying to kill all the humans on the planet) and good guys did good things (like interfering with everything the Brotherhood ever tried to do).
But, Pyro had come to realize over the past year...from Alkalai Lake to the Magneto's Island to New York City...that the lines were not so clearly drawn.
Pyro started out of his thoughts as the doorbell sounded again.
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As Toad and Mystique stood outside the main entrance of the Malloy home, neither bothered to disguise the fact they were mutants. The cul du sac was entirely deserted and the house could not be seen by passing pedestrians.
Despite that, Mystique had chosen to wear a simple dress suit and pants. The outfit was an off white color and accented her blue skin beautifully. When she was on a mission, her typical near nudity served her and her power well. However, when the need to morph was unnecessary, she was not a stranger to the latest fashions and preferred not to have all of her skin exposed to the elements all the time.
Toad stood beside her, bundled in his long black coat, but he had pushed back his hood after he got behind the wheel of their black car. The windows were tinted slightly, not enough to bother passing law enforcement officials, but sufficient to hide the skin colors of passengers within.
Mystique pressed the bell again, her face expressionless as Pyro opened the door.
"Hey..." the young man said, and directed them toward the elevator, "Sid's upstairs..."
They rode in silence, and Pyro shifted uncomfortably, uncertain of how he should react to his cohorts after such a prolonged absence. Somehow he doubted hugs would be appropriate.
They left the elevator in a single line, and followed Pyro into the large apartment.
Sid rose from his computer as the new guests entered his home and he greeted them amicably, using all of his professional charm when he spoke.
"Welcome back," Sid said with a grin, extending his arm politely first to Mystique and then to Toad, who hesitated a moment before shaking Sid's hand.
"Thank you for having us here," Mystique replied in her natural, multi-toned voice, "While Pyro's daily reports to Magneto have been quite detailed, he thought it would be nice to have a familiar face visit the boy."
Sid nodded, but took careful note of how Mystique spoke. He had been involved with all kinds of industry and trade settings since he was eighteen years old, and he knew right away that this woman was skilled at diplomatic apathy.
"That's wonderful," Sid said, never breaking his pleasant expression, "Pyro's been a very attentive student, both to myself and to my sister. He's very dedicated to his training...and his comrades."
Mystique nodded with exaggerated appreciation that was almost flirtatious.
"Magneto will be pleased to hear that," she said, taking a purposeful moment to give the boy an impressed glance...that Sid did not buy for a second.
"Please," Sid said, "Let me take your things to your rooms. I put on a pot of coffee if anyone would like some..."
"Thank you, that was very thoughtful," Mystique replied and headed toward over to a nearby chair without taking up the offer for beverages. She sat silently and waited for their host to return.
Toad glanced over a Pyro and threw him a silent signal to take a seat somewhere nearby. The kid did not look happy about how the other two had talked around him, but Toad knew how Mystique worked, and gave the kid a reassuring smirk as he crouched in one corner.
Sid came out of the hall and sat down in a plush chair not far from the blue lady. He seemed quite delighted to be entertaining, and played up his suave manner to its fullest. Pyro could do nothing but watch and hope Rebecca had taken Xavier's people on a very extended city tour.
"So, how long were you both planning to visit the city?" Sid asked, "It doesn't feel like nearly a month has passed since you arrived, Pyro. I guess we've kept you pretty busy."
Pyro offered him a weak grin, "Yeah...busy's not really the word for it..."
Mystique shifted her eyes between Sid and Pyro, politely interested in their exchange.
"You've taken him to the Underground," she replied quickly, and without question.
Sid nodded, "Of course...best training facilities in the city for firebugs like him and Becca."
"May I ask how your sister is?" Mystique inquired innocently, as if the question had just occurred to her.
"She's doing well," Sid replied, and his tone became more casual, "Takes more than a bullet to stop her...believe me...I've tried before."
"And it takes more than a dozen to stop you, if I remember correctly," Mystique replied, her eyes flashing as she smiled.
Damn...this chick is good, Sid thought with amusement. People he had worked with for years in the economic front did not have half the skills in body language as this woman.
"Rebecca should be back soon," Sid said, taking a moment to enjoy his upcoming revelation, "She had to run to the university to drop off a few things. She and Mary and Remy should be returning soon, though they were going to make a few stops before heading to the school..."
"Remy?" Toad suddenly spoke up, and Mystique shot him a hard look for the interruption, "You don't mean that Cajun...oh, bloody hell..."
Toad's last words were accompanied by a disbelieving chuckle, which seemed entirely uncharacteristic for the brooding mutant. Pyro, on the other hand, looked like he had just been kicked in the stomach, and avoided Mystique's confused glare.
"Who is that?" she asked, the calm discipline in her voice cracking slightly.
Toad smirked, and glanced over at Pyro for an explanation. However, when it was clear that the young man was not capable of responding at that moment (the kid looked like a Sentinel was in the room instead of Mystique), Toad sighed and shook his head with annoyance.
"He's one of X's" he replied, enjoying immensely the look of shock on the blue lady's face as he continued, "He's the one who was stuck in the cell with me an'..."
"The...X-Men..." Mystique interrupted him, annunciating each word with increasing rage, "...are here?"
Pyro gaped a moment, but he did not have a chance to offer his side of the story before Toad laughed again. During the sudden reprieve, Pyro realized he never heard Toad sound so honestly amused.
"Are they the only two?" he asked the younger mutant, who nodded awkwardly.
"Two X-Men are still a threat..." Mystique spoke again, rising to her feet almost menacingly.
Only Sid Malloy seemed to share Toad's new entertainment at the situation.
"That Frenchy's not really a threat," Toad said cynically, cutting Mystique off, another atypical action on his part.
She glared at him fiercely, and then back at Pyro, who struggled not to wince as she turned her sudden anger on him.
"Who else has been here?" she asked, "Have you had any other communication with Xavier's people?"
"No," Pyro replied simply, the hard tone in his voice echoing his own sudden resentment at her accusation, "Sid and Rebecca received a call from Xavier today saying they were en route to the city...just before I told them you two were coming. I didn't know anything about it until they stepped through the front door."
"You should have contacted us immediately," Mystique replied, unconcerned about Sid or Toad's presence in the room as she berated him.
"That's wouldn't have matter," Pyro shot back, "You'd still have come anyway..."
Careful... Toad thought to himself, his amusement fading as Pyro treaded onto dangerous ground with the blue lady, who always fancied herself second in command to their leader.
"Please," Sid interrupted before the argument could continue; he had expected antagonism between the two mutant groups but not directed at Pyro, "Lady Mystique, I know you are aware of some of the Council's practices, and our family has followed the rule of xenia for as long as I've known them. Treat your guests as you would hope to be treated in their home. You all, on your Island, helped my sister when she was wounded. Xavier's people, as you put it, aided me in my search for her after the Sentinel attack. Therefore, we are indebted to both Mr. Lensherr and the Professor, and do not hold one above the other. Who we choose to have in our home is our business, and arrangements were made without Pyro's knowledge."
Mystique had watched the young man carefully as he spoke. She could put no argument to his explanation of the current situation, and she knew it. Magneto, though alienated by the Council, also kept some of their practices. Specifically, when it came to the bonds of brotherhood and loyalty to one's beliefs. It was where he drew the name for himself and his followers. As stated, there was nothing she could do about the presence of X-Men in the Malloy home.
She turned to head to look at Toad, who shrugged noncommittally. He knew Magneto almost as well as she did, though did not know much about Council practices. However, she could usually read his thoughts by his actions (she did not consider him the deepest of thinkers). He was familiar with at least one of the other 'guests' and, by his complacent attitude, she assumed there was no direct danger to their mission.
Despite her opinion about the amphibious mutant, Toad still kept his own secrets, especially about the other mission Magneto had given him before leaving the Island. He did not want to be forced to leave the city until he had been able to do some scouting for the mutants on his list.
Mystique took a deep breath before continuing, "Very well. I apologize for my outburst. Your additional guests...caught me off guard. Though, one might suspect that such a reaction had crossed your minds before we arrived."
"Of course," Sid replied with a broad grin, "Just trying to keep things interesting."
"Indeed," the word sounded much darker coming from Mystique than Professor Xavier.
"And, to make up for any hard feelings," Sid said, "We'd like to invite you all to an Underground event tonight. One of our friends is in town and his band will be playing at the Muddy Duck nightclub. It will give you the opportunity to meet a few of the people Pyro has been socializing with during his stay with us."
"That sounds fine," she agreed, and then smiled at Sid with a no-so-subtle request for forgiveness, "You had mentioned coffee before? I think I would enjoy a cup."
Sid nodded and directed the blue lady into the kitchen. After the swinging door had settled, Toad quickly drew a small computer from his pockets and activated it. He glanced at Pyro, who looked relieved that his exchange with Mystique was over.
"What time they usually take you down there?" Toad asked quickly, glancing at the kitchen door to keep watch for the others.
"After nightfall," Pyro replied, looking at his watch, "So in an hour or two..."
"Right," Toad replied, "When do you 'spect the Cajun and the others to be back?"
Pyro shrugged and shook his head.
Toad frowned with frustration. He wanted to get started on Magneto's list as soon as possible.
"Where'd they go?" he asked, annoyed at Pyro's short, nervous replies.
"To the university," the younger mutant said, "NYU. Probably the biology building...Becca's got some friends there who've been..."
All I need to know, Toad thought and ignored Pyro's surprise as he went to one open window and climbed out, scaling the building to the ground.
Once again, Pyro was left alone in the large main room. He sighed, still with relief but now with newfound boredom. He rose from his chair and flopped back down on one large sofa. He clicked the news on again and watched with disinterest as some reported took witness testimony on the scene of a recent crime.
"I don't know who they were," the Versace store attended said tearfully, "But they were mean...and ugly...and had really good taste in boots and sandals..."
