Wash Away Those Years Chapter 9: Love And War, a x-men: the movie fanfic

Previously on Wash Away Those Years:

"Logan's right. What if he does something to jeopardize us, and the school?" Storm asked Xavier as she sat uneasily on the couch, much like some of the others."

"Listen, as soon as Rogue wakes up and becomes well again, you'll never have to see me again." Pyro told him, being relieved himself at the precious moment he can make that a reality.

Xavier looked at him and nodded. "She's becoming stronger. I can feel it." He said, watching as Pyro's head snapped up, startled, paying more attention to his words now that Rogue had been mentioned.

Jean heard a voice coming from the intercom system in the medical bay office area, not far from the recovery rooms. Pyro broke his stare away from Rogue, and looked over at Jean. Jean looked at Pyro, she too hearing the voice. She excused herself for a moment by motioning her head, and then turned to leave.

"Jean, the mansion is under attacked!" Cyclops hollered, sounding quite out of breath and in a panic.

Jean quickly ran inside Rogue's recovery room, startling Pyro.

"The mansion is being attacked." Was really all she could spit out. Pyro looked at her, already knowing what she must think.

Mystique's working hard to fight off Cyclops, who had been fighting her every step of the way. He'd try to get a lock to shoot the red hot beam from his eyes at her, but she'd quickly get out of the way, kicking him in the stomach with her knee and using her combat skills to help avoid the dreadful beam. Everyone had been in complete chaos. Students running everywhere in a panic, teachers trying to fight them off, the mansion was a battlefield. Mimic, formally known as Calvin, could mimic other mutants, making it easy for him to win. With lots of mutants in the room, it became easy for Mimic to overcome any mutant that came his way. Callisto was really having fun, zooming by everyone before they had time to react and knocking them down to the ground, easily taking the upper-hand. The X-Men were quite surprised from the attack; most had been sleeping soundly beforehand. None of them were prepared at all. The Brotherhood without a doubt was winning.

Pyro shakes his head in denial. He opened his mouth, contemplating on what to say to Jean in order to explain and defend himself that he had no idea of the attack, but before he did, Jean had already beat him to the punch.

"Don't worry. I know you had nothing to do with it. I'm a telepath you know." She assured Pyro, wasting no time on the issue. Pyro nodded his head, and then looked to Rogue, which raised his next question.

"The machine's Rogue's hooked up to..." Pyro said, glancing in between the two women. "Can she survive without them?" he asked quickly, knowing they didn't have much time.

"Yes. She's breathing on her own and the machines are just monitoring her stats." She answered. Pyro nodded, walking towards Rogue.

"Whoa, what are you doing?" she asked curiously, concerned for Rogue.

Pyro stops from reaching Rogue and glances back at Jean; he narrowed his eyes, giving her a 'you're kidding right?' stare. No words were necessary. He looked back to Rogue, ripping off the IV's that were in her arm, causing the heart-rate monitor to make an annoying beep noise that rung through their ears.

"Pyro, you can't just go out there with her. You'll endanger her, and yourself!" Jean protested against Pyro's decision. Pyro of course ignored her and picked Rogue tentatively, carrying her bridal-style in his arms.

He turned back around, positioning Rogue comfortably in his arms. "Where's the nearest escape tunnel?" Pyro asked, not willing to waste time arguing with Jean.

"Pyro, stop… We can fight as a team and be a lot better off." She said, looking in his eyes. Pyro defiantly shakes his head while looking at the telepath.

"I'm not a team spirit kinda guy." He retorted; walking towards the exit with Rogue as Jean followed close behind. "Besides, this isn't about fighting, or winning. This is about me getting Rogue the hell out of here as soon as possible so she isn't in the way and she doesn't get hurt. I don't care about the rest." He took Jean by surprise. She'd swear he would've taken off, saving and defending only himself.

Jean couldn't think of another argument, he had said everything to convince her. Plus, he made a good point. Rogue doesn't need to be surrounded by people who wanna kill her when she can't defend herself. That's like placing a small moth inside a web for a hungry spider.

"I'm leaving with, or without your help." He looked at Jean, pinning her with a resolute stare. She nodded at Pyro, acquiescing. Together, they made haste, quickly leaving the recovery room behind as she led Pyro down a hallway.

"The closest one near us besides the blackbird is on the ground floor. There's a hidden route to get to it." She said, leading him to the secret stairwell that leads up to the kitchen.

They reach the stairway and she looks at Pyro, hearing the chaos from upstairs leading closer and closer towards where they were.

"Let's hurry." She said quickly, coming along with Pyro so she can go help upstairs.

They reach the kitchen and people are fighting everywhere. Most were running and others like the teachers were sticking it out and fighting. They heard commotion everywhere they turned. People were running all around him. For Pyro, it was hard to stay focused, hoping nobody would try and hurt him or worse, Rogue. He'd felt so vulnerable because since he has Rogue in his arms, it makes it more difficult for him to protect them if something should happen.

They finally reach the secret passageway and Jean looked to Pyro. "Okay, now take Rogue to the safe house not far from here. Only me and the other teachers know about it. It'll be easier for us to find you after this is all over." She explained carefully making sure Pyro's listening, and then she continued. "It's about 5 miles east up on a hill, the street name is Terrace. You can't miss it. We'll meet up with you there soon." Pyro nodded, and then he quickly ran into the passageway still holding Rogue in his arms, desperately trying to safely get out.

Jean watched as Pyro ran away with Rogue through the tunnel and closed the door behind them. She turns around seeing Wolverine get in over his head and with her telekinesis; she throws one of The Brotherhood member's back into the wall, saving Logan.

Pyro ran through the passageway holding Rogue, busting open the sealed tunnel's gate with his foot. Mimic stood; his face revealing such betrayal and antipathy, looking at Pyro trying to make off with Rogue, now becoming very skeptical of him.

"Pyro." mimic hollered, while stepping a little closer to him. Pyro's head quickly snaps around, surprised and unaware of his presence. He turns around, still holding a subconscious Rogue in his arms.

"Who's the little bitch?" He asked, pissed more than ever to see his fellow Brotherhood member helping an X-Men member out.

Did he just call her a bitch? Pyro's mind had furiously wondered.

"What was that?" Pyro asked with abhorrence in his tone. He asked him to repeat it just to irritate and anger himself even further.

"I asked who the little bitch is. What, you can't hear?" Mimic insulted him, as if they had never met before.

Pyro quickly yet softly set a still unconscious Rogue down to the ground, standing up straight again while looking at Mimic across from him. At the moment, Pyro was confused as hell on why The Brotherhood wanted to attack the mansion. He wouldn't have cared. Hell, he would've been joining them in the fight if it weren't for Rogue. Fiery hatred jolted through Pyro, listening to what Mimic had just said. Pyro stepped closer to the man, walking farther away from Rogue as he took the painful sting from Mimic's contumely words towards her, into the familiar rage Pyro had always been accustomed to. He curled his upper lip while sparking his wrist igniter and creating a fireball, wanting to roast him so badly where he stood, wanting to watch and enjoy him burn.

"If I were you, I'd rethink my fucking words." He spat maliciously. He was usually indifferent to anything like that, but Rogue was a new and very different story. She was too good to be talked down to, even if she wasn't aware of it and he was.

"Nah, I think I defined them pretty well." Mimic's words lashed back at him, knowing they were cutting him.

Pyro looked down at Mimic, as he too created a little ball of flame himself.

Seeing the fire within his hand, Pyro mockingly laughs. "You're not good enough to have your own powers, so you gotta take mine?" Pyro's words filled with insolence as he continued "How original." Pyro spat while he narrowed his eyes with such hate at the copycat.

Pyro's flame grew bigger and bigger until he finally made the first move. He swung his arms in a circle, directing the fire straight at Mimic. In retaliation, he shoots fire right back at Pyro, making a huge fire wave between the two.

What was happening…? Was Pyro fighting against his own? Is Pyro defending a member of the X-Men? No… She's more than just a member of their enemy's team. Pyro started to throw more power into his flowing flames, stepping closer to him. Mimic had soon gotten a little over his head, not knowing the full potential on using this power. Pyro concentrated as hard as he could slowly manipulating Mimic's own flames, folding them onto himself.

Then, Pyro saw something that dumbfounded him. Mystique was slowly making her way towards Rogue across from the two fighting. Why? What does Mystique want with Rogue? Pyro was so distracted by his confusion, watching Mystique, that he was not aware he had taken his eyes off the battle with Mimic. When he glanced back over at Mimic, he wasn't there anymore. Suddenly, he popped up in front of Pyro, avoiding his jet of fire. He tackled Pyro to the ground.

Pyro became immensely distracted by what The Brotherhood wanted with Rogue. He'd swing a punch at Mimic, right as Mimic would swing a punch at him. He'd get on top of Mimic, punching him as forcefully as he could. He looked over to see Mystique crouching down next to Rogue and thoughts plagued his mind like a worried mother. No way are they gonna take Rogue away from him. To Mimic's pleasure, it was enough of a distraction. Mimic flung Pyro off of him and begun punching him with his fists. Pyro sparks his wrist igniter and manipulates a fast ball of flame and throws it into Mimic's face, burning some of the skin off. Mimic's screams were now flooding Pyro's ears. He threw Mimic off of him and he falls to his knees and stumbles on the ground, clutching his face in pain. Pyro quickly gets up, fury visible in his eyes as he looks down; he kicks a now severely burned Mimic out of frustration and victory. Then, he sees a crouched down Mystique near Rogue.

Darkness seems to fade slightly into images... Aware, but not completely... Warmth seeping into slick coldness, feeling the moist ground… Soft orange glow lighting up the night… Scaly skin wrapped around her pale wrist, seeing nothing but a dark shadow. Catching a glimpse of yellow eyes, striking her with fear and danger... Echoing voices, too blurry to make any sense... The cold air tickling her skin… The bright glow of the moon… Moving trees and breaking sticks, feeling safe as darkness prevails.

Pyro looked ahead, seeing nothing but trees for what looked to be miles. Moonlight, thankfully being enough light to see. He held an unconscious Rogue tightly and safely in his arms, wondering how long this'll take before reaching the safe house. He was in debt to Mystique. The feeling of gratitude and respect was all he could give in return to her… She let them go.

Mystique retreats to Magneto who had been inside the mansion, now outside seeing Mystique come closer. She approaches him and sees the look of curiosity and hope in his eyes, which filled her with disappointment as she now had to confess the following.

"She's gone." Her strong voice admitted as her yellow eyes looked to her leader, seeing his displeased face. It was silence outside as the two looked at one another, still hearing all sorts of commotion still going on in the mansion. He looks at her nodding his head forward, expressing more of a need for an explanation.

"She was taken..." She said, wondering if she should follow through with revealing who took her. She then continued, having no choice. "She was taken by Pyro." She confessed.

Magneto narrowed his eyes, at first thinking that it was a joke that he was not at all pleased to have heard, but Mystique's expression proved she was far from joking. He had betrayal and disbelief painted all over his face. Why is the man who he's considered his right-hand-man, and even a little like a son, betraying him and his mission involving The X-Men of all people?... He was astounded.

Pyro had been carrying Rogue through the wilderness for what seemed like an eternity. Strong, icy cold winds chilling him to the bone. Sticks breaking below his feet as he continued to walk, cradling Rogue in his arms. The crispy wind whistled, brushing the fragile, bare branches together making them crackle. He knew The Brotherhood members would be looking for him, so they really needed to reach the safe house as quickly as possible without any detection. He feels that Rogue is slipping away from his grip slightly, so he repositions her up towards his chest, pulling her up a little more. He glanced down at her briefly before looking ahead. She looked so pale, so sick. Pyro could barely admit to himself how worried he was feeling for her. He thought over things, over all that's happened lately. His feet getting more tired, step by step. This whole thing… It was never supposed to happen. He can't say he'd wanna go back before when it was just him and The Brotherhood, but he doesn't like the position he's in now. He's obviously gathered that they want Rogue for something. Mystique didn't tell him much, but with every second she tried to, he'd get more and more furious. He's a very hard person to control, ever since he was a teenager. Nobody could explain or say anything to him that would get him to calm down once he's gotten to a certain point. He has a very short temper, as many would know. And as luck would have it, Pyro feels a drop. And then it turns into two, then three. It starts down pouring. He couldn't believe this. 'Could it get any worse?' His mind wondered, dragging himself and Rogue further into the woods, hoping to find the safe house soon.

Magneto's glare never left Mystique; he then nods to her, dreadfully accepting this mission as a failure.

"Tell them to fall back. We retreat." He orders Mystique. She nods, then turns, walking away.

Mimic's face had been severely burned. He needed medical attention as soon as possible. Magneto looks over at Mimic as he struggles to get up, still holding onto his burnt face. Magneto looks at him with disappointment while shaking his head.

Mystique runs back into the X-Men mansion hollering into her com-link, telling everyone to pull back. She went in to help the wounded, and fight as they got out. Luckily their wounds were minor enough, so they could get out without any trouble. The mansion looked like hell. Broken pictures hanging crooked on the wall, vases shattered on the floor, it was a warzone.

The Brotherhood one by one started to retreat from the mansion, as quickly as possible. Just as soon as they'd get out, they were ordered on the com-link to disappear into the night before the X-Men could catch up with them.

Pyro became relieved when he finally got out of the woods with Rogue, now seeing a house up on a hill. He closes his eyes to try and remember Jean's words… "It's about 5 miles east up on a hill, the street name is Terrace. You can't miss it. We'll meet up with you there soon." He remembered. 'Fucking great… A little more walking.' he thought to himself. He and Rogue were completely drenched in rain, not to mention the freezing temperatures from the night, including what the wind had brought on, making it worse. He was freezing, so he knew Rogue had to be worse off. He could hear sounds of the rain smacking into the pavement as he walked onto it. Old broken street lights barely lighting the way as he walked down the street leading to the house. Lightening flickered, and then followed by a huge, ground shaking rumble afterwards. This was one of the worst moments of the day. But, he did have Rogue in his arms which he knew was good. Beats worrying about her every moment… At least he knows where she is, and that she's safe. Finally, he sees the street name. He goes up the slightly winding gravel road, leading to the house.

All of The Brotherhood members finally made it out of the mansion, and back to their location. It was something Magneto absolutely did not wanna see happen tonight. They had to retreat. They had to admit defeat in the line of battle. Magneto stares at the crowd of members before him. All standing, looking to him for guidance; a new plan, their next move as a team. Magneto became quite disappointed with tonight's actions, obviously everyone else as well.

"Our goal is far from over!" Magneto hollers to all of his members, and then continues. "We are not giving up." He looks to all his silenced members, waiting on his words.

"As some of you may know, Pyro has betrayed us." He watched as some faces turn in disgust, some in anger. "He has taken Rogue, and we will find them no matter the cost."

He comforts his troops. "I have a new plan." He said while standing taller, more proud. "We will manipulate Pyro into bringing Rogue to us, any way we can." The crowd starts talking amongst themselves, jabbering of how they're gonna do what. "We will use the unique absorbing effect within her genetics, to reverse the cure for an antidote along with using it as a lethal weapon to humans, causing them to be drained." He said, shushing the crowd as they listened with curiosity.

He looked around the crowd, and everyone seemed to be pretty content with their plan. He nods his head, signaling dismissal. Everyone slowly scatters away from the area, going back to their business.

Mystique walks up to Magneto, looking to the man.

"How do we get Pyro back here?" she asks, and then continues. "I mean, he holds her of some value, or else he wouldn't have taken her. So, how do we convince Pyro to bring her to us?" she waits for Magneto's answer.

Magneto still had no clue about what Mystique had done for Pyro and Rogue. He didn't know she'd let them go, or that she'd even talked to him. Pyro was like a brother to Mystique. She knows what he's going through. Even though she knows she's just prolonging the inevitable, she thinks he deserves a little bit more time with her. It's the least she could do.

The rain dreadfully didn't let up one bit as Pyro walked closer towards the abandoned building. Pyro finally reaches the doorstep and tries his best to balance Rogue, fumbling to open the door. He jiggled the doorknob and to his disappointment, it wouldn't open. He swears to himself out of anger, and then he grips onto Rogue real tight as he kicks the door open as hard as he can with his foot. His foot screamed something awful with pain, but he successfully got it open. He stumbles inside with Rogue still in his arms, barely having enough strength to hold her up. A bolt of lightning lit up the room, sending Pyro's eyes temporarily in a blind state. Then, a huge clap of thunder follows afterwards. 'Fucking storms…' Pyro thought. He stood in the doorway, and then walked towards the living room, hoping to see something he can rest on. A bolt of lightning happened and lit up the house, revealing nothing to be in the room but cabinets. It was pretty much empty. He sighs in defeat, and softly sets Rogue down on the ground near the corner of the room. He straightens up his body a little, and flosses his fingers through his hair to ring some of the water out of it. He looks around the room, but can't see hardly anything. It's too dark. He sparks his wrist igniter, lighting up the room. He walks to the light fixture and turns it on, sadly getting no light response out of it. He flickered it on and off to make double sure, but still nothing.

'Come on… There has to be something to burn here.' He wondered while looking around the abandoned building. Ya know for being a second home for the X-Men, there isn't much to fall back on in this house. He walked around the living room, looking through the cabinet drawers, trying to look for something. Anything to get keep his flame burning for him. He shuffles through and finds a small book that was inside the drawer, and sighed. He knew there had to be some candles somewhere around here, probably the bathroom or bedroom. But he didn't wanna leave Rogue alone, so he had no choice but to use the papers to burn. He takes the small book, and brought it over near Rogue. His flame sends an orange glow, caressing the sight of Rogue. Her hair was soaked, she looked so pale. She lay there, sleeping just so. He held his gaze on her for a moment, before touching her skin. It was icy cold, which of course Pyro knew wasn't good. With the fireball still inside his palm, he lifts it into the air long enough so he can use both hands to start ripping the pages from out of the book, and laying them in piles around Rogue. He then took his fireball, and took it to all of the piles of paper, lighting up the room more. He walks back over to Rogue, sitting down with her in the corner of the room. He leans back against the wall, easing a very cold Rogue onto his lap, trying to warm her as best he could. He held Rogue as tight as he could, he too feeling frigidly cold. He takes a little fire from the burning papers, and manipulates it into a small, small fireball that barely took up the space of the middle of his palm. He takes it and barely, barely touches Rogue's skin, cupping the ball of flame over her skin, using the technique to hopefully warm her more. He knew it wouldn't be much, but it would help. He was getting so exhausted, his eyes became heavy, letting the flame die down from within his hand, slowly fading away as he put his arms around Rogue and began to fall asleep just a little.

Rogue began to open her eyes, taking a few deep breaths. She moved slightly, trying to get her eyes to adjust. Pyro repositioned, thinking nothing of it as he fell back asleep. She looked around the room, and saw burning paper piles all around her. Her eyes narrow in confusion, and then she looked downwards and saw arms wrapped around her. She got scared, and tried her best to think level headed on what Logan taught her in simulation challenges. She closed her eyes, taking in a moment of anticipation. Then as fast at the lightning bolts that had been annoyingly escaping through the sky the whole night, she elbowed him in the stomach. He wakes up fast, air escaping him from the impact, totally unaware of the situation. She then punches Pyro in the face with the back of her fist, quickly getting away from his hold on her. She stands up, running as fast as she could to wherever she could find something to defend herself from this person. She rifles through the drawers, sadly only coming up with a mechanical pen. She whips around fast, her hair spinning around and sticking to the side of her face, wet from the rain.

"Fuck!" he yells out loud in pain, putting his finger below his nose and coming back with blood that's now draining onto his lip from her punch.

Rogue's face is shocked at the very least. She gasps in complete disbelief. She stands there dumbfounded, holding out her mechanical pen in front of her as if it were a knife. Her only defense towards whom she thought was someone, anyone other than Pyro.

A/N: Special thanks to sarahroseserena for being my beta and helping me with my grammar as well as guide me through some of the tough scenes i couldn't figure out how to create. Thanks girl!