Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
One thought. Running. Someone was following them. Then there was the "Ugh!" sound of relish, as they heard someone jumped and tackle one of them down harshly onto the rough, snow covered ground of the forest. Not only was it dark. It was cold. Made it a really bad battle site. Pyro crashed into the wet snow, and could feel the heat slowly fade from his face. He tried to wrestle off his attacker, since Pryde wasn't really helping. She too suddenly hit the ground, and was trying to push off her attacker, which was holding her in a joke grip, the two of them sliding and slopping from area to area of white snow. Pyro was lucky. He managed to get a shot it, which distracted his attacker momentarily. He pushed the man off and tried to stand up. No use. He was pushed back, and soon the guy he had tried to push away was pounding at him, punching his head side to side. Damn did it hurt. Everything was a blur to him, and he could only feel the numbingly harsh and solid punches coming from seemingly everywhere. He tried to knock his attacker away. No use again. He could hear Pryde. She was squealing and gasping with effort, trying to win her freedom. Then she went silent and he could hear two women grunting.
John found his moment of chance in between. He pulled himself up and head-butted his attacker, sending him reeling. Seeing the action in motion, he couldn't help but agree that Iceman's old tactic of knocking him out at Alcatraz really did work. Huh. He got up, and ran, pulling and flinging away Kitty's attacker, who had her in a choke lock. He was panting. She was breathing harshly, but seemed fine, and pulled him quickly away while their two attackers regained themselves.
She was pulling him away, and soon both of them were tracking through the snow, drenched, cold and exhausted. Not a good start. They had lost the others in the beginning – the team had split up. A bad choice, in Pyro's opinion. But apparently, as Storm had said, it would cover more ground. The snow seemed so deep and endless, that every step made him more and more tired. Then suddenly, as they ran at top speed, a branch whacked at them both. Pryde phased through it. He got whacked back into the snow. Another woman was there, but she looked far more sophisticated than the other two. Her dress seemed to leak into the floor, and her hands were bony, harnessing power over the trees. He stood up, first on his knees, and saw red droplets in the snow. Another one of their new enemies' attacks shot at Shadowcat, but she avoided it once more.
Pyro stood, heavily annoyed by now, and flicked open his lighter. In a flash, a bomb of flames burst behind, around and beneath the woman. It burned her dress. She backed up, her arms raised to cover her face. She suddenly looked at them with such sharpness in her eyes, like knives, and the flames blew out of her area, and turned to a green beam, which hit the two of them. Pryde collapsed. Pyro dropped down to the ground, but wouldn't be put out of his consciousness.
He was fighting for something real important to him. Nothing could stop the upcoming meeting with his old boss. But the new members were strong. Too strong. He sent fire after fire. Ring of burn after ring of burn. She pushed them away softly, and smiled. Then suddenly, she was engulfed in a white blinding light, and in a shriek of loud pain, disappeared. Storm appeared.
"She's teleported," the leader muttered. She pulled up Kitty, who stirred back up.
"He's picked the big leagues this time," Piotr added, coming into the scene, followed by Logan. Their costumes were cut – everyone's was.
"Come on," Wolverine remarked. "The camp's not far away." He turned and marched off, claws tight and out, ready to plunge the life out of anyone.
Pyro felt the cold snow turn to cold water on him. He was heating it up unconsciously. Sometimes he couldn't control his emotions with his power. It'd just work out itself on its own. He was pumped. Ready. "On fire". He walked up with the others.
"What does Magneto want with Destiny?" he heard Pryde ask Storm.
"I'm not so sure…he…Destiny is an incomplete puzzle of a person. Nobody really knows who she is, what she's capable of…stuff like that…" Storm began.
"But they say she can alter the future as well as tell it," Pyro completed. "I've heard," he later added at Storm's surprised look. "Magneto's always been interested in finding her. He's said that she could be the answer to all his problems. All of mutant kind's problems."
"Destiny's not a good person either," Storm continued. "She's on no one's side. But the side with the best offers is the side she's on. Offers as in power."
"Then Magneto's got his work cut out for him," Logan remarked from the front. "What do we do about her?"
"Destiny's got quite a defense, despite being blind. She's apparently got this bow and arrow thing. Highly deadly."
"Won't she also be able to see what someone's going to do?"
"Yeah," Piotr said, smiling. "But when a lot of people do a lot of the same things, at one point, the lady's got to miss a hit."
They heard footsteps in snow. Everyone stopped. Logan took a sniff and continued. In a moment they were joined by the others – Iceman, Archangel, Beast and Jubilee…the new addition as of late last night, as Storm had said. The girl looked a little confused and befuddled. She was new after all. But she didn't have a trace of fear on her.
"Camp's round here," Iceman reported.
"Yes. And all the five new recruits are securing it," McCoy added. "I suggest a little confusion ought to do the work?"
"Are you kidding me? You actually think they'd fall for that?" Pryde asked.
Pyro nodded. "They could. Pawns go first. They don't have that much a matter in the situation of chess, do they? They're just sacrifice."
"Whoa, check out the chess champion," Jubilee remarked, smiling.
"It's his metaphor. But I think Pryde's right as well. They won't fall for it that easily."
"Listen," Jubilee cut in. "I hit one of them with a rock at the back of the head to get him away from Warren, and the guy charged at me. I think distraction is the way to go."
"No more arguing," Wolverine barked. "Fine. Distraction. There are nine of us. Five guards. So five – Bobby, Warren, Hank, Lee and Tin Man – block and bring them far away. The rest of us – Kid, Pyro, Storm and I – head inside. Okay?"
John took a moment to realize the use of "Kid". "Kid" used to be Rogue. He had replaced her. The anger inside him flourished at the Wolverine. The pain he had caused Rogue. But he ignored it. Once this whole thing was over, he and Rogue could leave. They'd be gone for good. Forget all these people.
"Fine," Everyone murmured.
"Two attack each guard, and then one leaves to the core group, and we head for the main cabin. But I have a problem. Logan." Storm had taken charge, and looked at the Wolverine. "You're practically a lying piece of metal. You're staying out. Once we look like we need you, you come in. Hank's joining us." Logan looked pissed off.
"You're kidding me," he said gruffly.
"No, not joking."
"She makes sense, Wolvie," Jubilation Lee said. She smirked but her smile disappeared the minute she saw the feral look on Wolverine's face. She shifted next to Storm and the team turned and walked.
They saw the guards. John was suppose to work with Piotr.
"I heard of you and Rogue," he said quietly, while they awaited Storm's signal. The team had spread out, aligning in front of their enemies.
"Yeah," he said simply, trying to keep thing short.
"Take care of her. She's a good person," he said, sensing Pyro's discomfort and ending the conversation.
They saw Storm's signal, and Pyro ignited a fire ball in his hand. As he did, he heard the slight sound of metal surrounding Piotr's body. He threw the fire ball, and as the thug – a strong built, furious looking large man – started to run, Pyro grabbed at the top branch of a stable-looking tree, and hoisted himself up. The thug and Piotr collided, rumbling on the ground. He ran into the area, and ducked the hit from the woman from earlier. He had jumped onto the ground to avoid the hit, and heard her fight of the ice Drake was fighting her with. Out of the corner of his eye, Pyro saw that Drake's skills had advanced too. He was sending out different-styled, dangerous-looking rows of ice, confusing the woman heavily. He saw fire burning, and took his advantage. He sent off fierce lines in the way of other team mates, helping those who weren't doing so well – like Jubilee. Again, she was new.
He got up once more, and joined Storm, who had brought an even fiercer wind – more fierce than his fire – causing one wall of the cabin to blow off. Lightning struck a continuous boundary around the area, locking them apart from the other team. Destiny was looking at them already from the broken wall, with Magneto behind her, letting the woman have her way. It was obvious. He had earned her trust. Lines from the lightning boundary struck into the area, hitting everything they could and striking holes through the cabin. But inside were various types of metal. And soon, a few circular disks rose, and sharp edges formed. They advanced quicker than ever, at the same time arrow by arrow shot out from Destiny's bow. Pyro found himself on the ground once more. He stood, and using the fire from his lighter, brought out a strong dragon like creature, which swam everywhere.
He had seen the look on Magneto's face. He understood. The old man found him pathetic. He hated that. Soon the dragon was everywhere, and flames dropped around, shooting out towards the cabin. Soon it blew up, but Magneto had turned the metal into forcefields for him and his new recruit, guarding them. Storm let out a gulf of lightning, which just bounced off the two things. Pyro saw Beast and Pryde turn and catch a glance at the back. One of the guards was dead. He had been hit by a disk and an arrow. Jubilee backs off from him, but quickly turned to help Warren. Logan was nearly killing the guy he was against. The man had many scratches already.
Pyro grunted. He walked forward, but soon the metal had blasted out, and a force of magnetism hit him, pushing him harshly back and causing him to hit the ground. The dragon had stopped by now, and creating it had exhausted him. He got up once more, a little off his balance, but all right. Storm sent in more lines of lightning, but Pryde jumped onto her and pushed her down, and both of them disappeared as Destiny fired more arrows. She turned to Hank. She shot out one, which Beast caught, and as the lady was distracted, Pyro had engulfed her bow and arrows in fire, causing her to drop them. They burned to crust quickly, and now she was angry. But the lady had turned to dust. She must have been bitter enough, Pyro thought.
They heard a sword stab, and turned around. As Iceman had struck the woman, she had stabbed him in the side. He backed up, the lady's sword in him. He'd be all right. Pyro was assured the sword didn't hit anything. Storm's boundary had disappeared as well.
"Go," Pyro had gestured to McCoy, who left as soon as he got the message. He turned to Magneto, and ducked another swipe.
Destiny moved to attack him, but Erik Lensherr called her back. "I'll deal with this, Destiny. Go handle his friends."
The woman nodded and left gracefully. She was marching towards Wolverine, ignoring all of the chaos around. John watched her go, and then turned to the man he used to look up to. In truth, if you asked Pyro – merciless and filled with power – he still looked up to him. But John loved Rogue. Nothing came before her. Not even power.
xXx
Rogue looked into her mirror. She looked down, and stared at the table. Her head was clouded with worry. She was begging within that John would come back alive. Even if he didn't have good news. She hoped he'd be fine. This was big. This was a huge chance where she could end up either losing him or gaining him entirely. She looked up at the mirror again, and startled, back up, hitting it with her knee. She turned directly to the woman behind her.
She had jet black, cropped up hair. Her skin was rather pale. She was dressed in dark blue clothes, and she looked so…human.
"Hello," she said, clearly unable to think of anything else to say. She was uncomfortable at being there. Rogue could tell.
"Mystique." Rogue regarded the huge change.
"Rogue," Mystique replied. "We…need to talk." She sat down on a chair, and folded her legs and arms. "I've heard. Of you and Pyro." '
Rogue stared at her disbelievingly. This woman had helped Magneto try to use her to turn innocent people into mutants before. The effort would've killed Rogue and later o n the people as well. She knew Mystique. She was ruthless; a killing machine. Now she looked so human, not lethal. She even looked innocent, but hurt inside. Ofcourse, it must've been because Magneto had abandoned her the minute she turned human. It was bad. Mystique had even taken the bullet for her master, who she adored and served undoubtedly. The bullet ofcourse was an injection filled with the cure. So. There. Now it wasn't Mystique. It was Raven.
Rogue didn't reply, so Mystique continued. "You need to understand, Rogue." She looked a little pained at what she was about to say. Humanity had softened her. "The Brotherhood has one rule. You're in, you're in. You're never getting out. The only out you'll see is death. The only way you escape that is prison. But knowing what we've done, prison will result in death as well." She took a breath. "You and Pyro will never be happy together." Pause. "Magneto saw the potential in the boy, and he's not going to let a sculpture of his brilliance go that easily. Or at all." Pause once more. "Pyro knows this as well. But he's stubborn. He won't believe it. But I'm sure he's thought about it. And sooner being together will tear you two apart, whether you like it or not." She looked at Rogue for a response.
"He loves me," she said. It was the only thing she could say in reply.
"He does," Mystique agreed. "He really does. But Magneto will kill him. Or you. Or the both of you. He will make sure Pyro pays for betraying him. For putting his cause as second. Magneto knows as well, Rogue. He knows how much Pyro loves you. He understands the pain it would cause him to lose you. And I'm not talking about losing you in a relationship. Magneto will kill you Rogue. Being with him will hurt you. Physically, emotionally, everything."
"And if I don't care about what happens to me?"
"What about what happens to him? What happens to him if he loses you?"
Silence.
"You know I'm telling you the truth, Rogue. I'm just trying to help. Make up for my wrongs," Mystique said, getting up. She walked to the window, and put a foot out on a railing. She took a step out and clutched onto the railing. "He really does love you," she said once more. Then she lowered herself down, and was gone.
Rogue bent down, and placed her face into her arms. She began to cry. She understood. It was true. Magneto wouldn't let John go. Wouldn't leave them alone. He'd just cause them as much pain as he could. She didn't want John to die. Oh my…she didn't want him to die. She couldn't let him die. Not even for her or for anything. And there he was, risking his life for the both of them. She loved him too much to let him go. Please be all right, please be all right, she begged.
Then she found herself murmuring, to no one in particular, "Johnny, please come back. Just please come back."
xXx
"You're powers have developed magnificently. But your amount of usage and timing is pitiful," Magneto remarked. "You're sloppy. I suggest this is the result of…love?" Then his gaze turned serious. "You know the rules, John. The rule is, you're in, you're in. You're out, you're dead. Understand, John?" Then he was angry. "You are an insolent brat, y'know? I've carved you into a perfect warrior. That's all I ever wanted. To turn you into what you were meant to be! A warrior. An unbeatable warrior. A god among insects. And now – now you're nothing! Scum! Worse than scum…you were a traitor to the X-Men, Pyro. They will never trust you." He smiled. "I'm willing to welcome you back. Your final choice is here. When you say no, you'll be a traitor to me as well. Then, I assure you. I will do everything I can to ensure you feel pain. Torture. Death. Whatsoever. I created you. Created Pyro. And you can be damned sure that I will destroy you."
"Take your best shot, jackass!" John said cockily. He pulled back his arm, and released a huge amount of fire. It stopped before Magneto, whose magnetic forcefield guarded him.
xXx
Logan took charged stabs towards Destiny. He gutted his first enemy in a flash, and turned to the newest recruit of the Brotherhood. She avoided and dodged his attacks continuously, and even managed to find time to talk.
"Oh, just grow up," she said. "I thought the Wolverine was great. Undefeated. And here you are, weaker than I ever thought. Damn it, Logan, grow up. You can't control the way things are. Don't beat up yourself, stay pissed off and act as though you got a stick up your ass. Take charge, Wolverine. That's the only way a leader can act. I guess that's why the X-Men are lead by a woman. Tsk, tsk, tsk…back then, this would never happen. You can't even control a weak girl. She's overpowered you." Rogue. He knew. She was talking about Rogue. "You know you can't control her anymore." That hit him. He was angry. "Oh, there we are! Come on, Logan! Get angry! Be the Wolverine! Don't just take the name!"
He didn't know. Except the next thing, he swerved and ducked, then straightened, and gutted the bitch.
"Darlin', you talk too much," he said. Then he turned to Pyro. "But you may have a point."
xXx
The fire spread out everywhere, and hit the ground, where they flared in the blink of an eye, and headed for his old leader. Again, they were blocked. Grunting with effort, he increased the amount and fierceness of the fire. Soon Magneto's guard would fall. Then it hit. It was loud. It ran throughout the place, and hit everything in its way. Everyone, X-Men, Brotherhood, was thrown back by a force than seemed to cause the heart to beat harshly.
"You're no good, Pyro," Magneto said. He turned, chuckling, and left, his new recruits following. A flash of light ignited, and he was gone.
Pyro turned, Wolverine was right next to him, and the only thing he saw coming was the fist that protruded into his head. He dropped to the ground.
"You're a traitor, Pyro," he said gruffly. Then he pulled him up. "Traitors are meant to be killed." He hit him once more, and kicked him in the gut. "You deserve to die." Then he turned and walked away.
Pyro got up. The others looked on. Jubilee found herself think, Oh, damn no, Firefly. Do not do that.
But it was too late. He lit a fireball, and threw it. It hit the Wolverine in the back, and he turned. The flames died instantly. He charged, and the two men collided onto the ground. Logan punched him across the head a few times harsh. Blood leaked from his nose and mouth. John head-butted him. To heck with it, his head was already throbbing. He pushed him off. Then began to strike him hard on the head repeatedly. His knuckles began to bleed. Logan's had too, earlier, but they had healed up. Pyro kept hitting him and hitting him and hitting him.
"Fuck you, Logan!" he screamed. "Just fucking leave me and Rogue alone. Damn it! You don't own her! Especially after the way you've treated her!"
"Storm," Hank said, distantly away. He was bent over Bobby, who was watching the fight, shaking his head. "We've got a situation," McCoy added into the tiny microphone tucked under his ear. A communicator. "I'm just saying it could end bloody." Pause. "Yeah. It's over. Magneto's gone. Destiny's dead. Logan killed her. It looks like he's going to kill John too…"
Logan shoved off Pyro, and extended his claws. Jubilee jumped and pulled his arm back.
"Damn it, Wolvie! Control yourself!" she said. He pulled his arm out of her grasp.
"No. This punk is gonna get what's coming." He marched to Pyro, who got up.
"Bring it on, Logan," he added, smirking. Wolverine tackled him down, and raised his claws. Pyro rolled at the right time, and they hit him in the side as well. Logan retracted his claws.
Hank pulled him off. "Logan!" he yelled. He pushed him back, and checked Pyro's wound. Blood had started to slowly leak through the three holes. "Jubilee, got help Bobby," Hank added as a jet started to land from above. Storm and Pryde. As the door came down, Pryde ran for Bobby, starting to stutter, asking him different questions. "Piotr!" Hank called. Colossus arrived, and heaved Pyro's arm over his shoulder, and half-dragged him towards the jet.
"Nice way to try and get yourself killed," Piotr commented, giving a small laugh.
Storm however, was livid. She was rather quiet about it, but the ride home was highly uncomfortable. Hank escorted both injured men to the Infirmary, where he and Storm began to patch them up. They could hear yelling – female and male – in the background, and Hank shook his head.
"Ah…" he said, looking at Pyro. "I think Rogue knows."
The doors parted and in she came. Her hair swished back and forth as she approached John, and kissed him lightly. Storm looked away respectively, and Bobby looked annoyed.
"You okay?" she breathed, relieved he was alive.
"Yeah. Peachy," he said sarcastically. Then he softened. "I'm fine."
"I think you can go," Hank interrupted. "No pressure on the wound," he added as Rogue half-supported Pyro.
As the Infirmary doors shut behind them, he pulled his arm back from around her neck, and placed it around her waist.
"I can walk y'know." He looked deep in thought as they walked to their room. It was already morning, and the sun shined through the windows. He turned to her and shut the door from behind her. She leaned back to it, and his lips rested on hers.
"I…" he began. "Rogue…" but she ignored his tries at talking. Her lips often found their way to his, and her hand took his firmly. He just shut up for the moment, and enjoyed the contact. Enjoyed actually being with her again. He found a moment in between the kisses and told her, looking deeply into her eyes.
"Let's get married."
Tell me what you think…)
Will update as soon as I can…