Chapter three

Pietro wanted to run. All he wanted to do was to get away from all this pain, as if running away would help it. How could his father do this to him? Betraying his own son, manipulating him into turning against his own trustworthy friends. He knew now, he understood. He had just lived a huge lie for all his sixteen years.

He thought that his father loved him. He thought that his father would never do anything to hurt him. Now, he had betrayed not only his trust, but his own son too. "Why are you doing this to me?"Pietro yelled to thin air, the sadness in his voice frightened him.

Suddenly, his foot was caught in something, sending him sprawling to the floor. Just like whatever had stopped his run, Pietro knew that he couldn't get away. Not bothering to stand up, Pietro lay on the floor, letting the tears fall.

"Why father, why?" Pietro whispered, "Why did you lie to me? Don't I mean anything to you anymore? Why did you steal Wanda from me?" So many questions that could not be answered. He knew from what was reality, Eric never loved him. He was just another useful possession due to his powers.

Amidst his tears, Pietro heard the sound of hurried footfalls coming in his direction. Then strong arms gathered his trembling body into a comforting embrace. He knew who it was instantly. The person who had always cared for him, like a father.

Lying in Lance's arms where he felt no longer alone, Pietro let himself take significant comfort from the gentle rocking sensation. At least, there was someone else there to love and care for him, even when his father didn't.

Lance had rushed out when he had seen Pietro trip and fall in the school yard. He had seen the tears and knew. The truth hurt. At a time like this, they needed him most. Lance had sworn years ago to be the father figure to them no matter what. He kept his promise.

"Don't say you're sorry, Pietro," he told the boy, "You didn't know. And listen, you are not like him. He betrayed you and still is, but you will be coming back, right?" Pietro , who indeed been opening his mouth to say he was sorry, gave the answer instantaneously.

Pietro wanted to be accepted back into the team where he was loved and had friends who cared about him. "See, you are never going to be like your father," Lance pointed out, the smile that lit up his face for the first time in months made Pietro smile too.

Although his father had betrayed him, maybe he wasn't really all that alone.

Rouge ran a hand nervously through her white bangs, as every disbelieving eye locked in on her. She should have known that proposing that was not a good idea. She did not have to wait for their reactions to know that it was a "No".

"You've gotta be kidding me! Help them?" Scott exclaimed.

"The Brotherhood? Don't talk rots!" Evan growled.

"The day I'll help ze brotherhood will come, but not in this lifetime," Kurt snapped

"Fine then!" Rouge snapped back, promptly turning on her heels and marched out of the Dining Hall.

Stopping at the professor's office, she hot temperedly rapped at the door, ignoring the fact that the entire door shook on its hinges. "Come in ,Rouge," she heard Professor Xavier's voice inside her head.

"Professor! Ah think the Brotherhood is in trouble!" she announced the moment she flung open the door. The boys had gotten on her nerves and any forms of unnecessary obstacles were not tolerated.

Being an ex-Brotherhood member, naturally she still cared for them. They, after all, were not really what the x-men thought they were. They were not hoods, or anything close there. They weren't even bad people. Somehow, only she and Kitty knew that.

Charles Xavier leaned forward in his seat, smiling reassuringly at her. "Take a seat, Rouge. Tell me everything you heard."