St John the Divine: Welcoming Committee

- Chibi Lurrel

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'Hey Jubes,' was the first thing he said as he walked into the TV lounge. So much for grand entrances, but the shocked squeak she made and her slack jawed stare almost made up for it. Pyro flicked his lighter. 'How's it been?'

'John! What the hell are you even doing here?' She jumped off the couch and ran up to him, and he gave her a hug out of habit. She was never too touchy, too annoying, so he figured he owed her that much.

He shrugged. 'Storm invited me when she called Bobby back here.'

'Bobby's here? Oh man I'm so glad. This place has been ridiculous lately. I made the team though!' Jubilee pointed excitedly at a new patch on the sleeve of her bright yellow coat and Pyro tried to smile at her. Jesus Christ, they really were strapped for artillery, weren't they?

'Cool. Where's everyone else?'

'Midterms are coming up, so everyone's studying I guess. This movie I really wanted to see is coming on soon so I figured I'd take a break. Rogue's still in the same room, by the way,' she added with a wink. Pyro rolled his eyes. 'Anyway, I'm surprised Storm let you come back, I figured she'd still be resting some of the blame of Jean's death on your shoulders or something.'

Pyro stiffened. 'What the hell did I have to do with that? We were trying to keep ourselves from being lined up and neutered, not kill other mutants. Jesus.' He figured he was a bad guy, but he didn't expect it so soon, and not from Jubilee at least.

'I guess this isn't the best welcome home talk I could have mustered, huh? But you did run off, John. You joined that bastard Magneto and now-'

Pyro's eyes narrowed dangerously. 'Jubes, I don't. I don't want to get into this right now. I just got back today, I'd rather not argue with you.' She looked angry, she wasn't stupid, just a little air headed, but she didn't know anything about it. Xavier's was a tight little bubble of isolation. He stared right back at her and she backed down.

'Well, if Storm let you back, I guess that's enough. Welcome home.'

---

It didn't feel like home, really. The mansion was old and fine and rich, deep with history, Pyro was sure. But the mansion always tugged at him, making him think of earlier times. Only the Professor and Dr. Grey knew had known how uncomfortable he felt.

He wondered sometimes why Bobby had never asked about his life before Xavier's. He'd heard all about Bobby's shitty home life, how his parents were nice and stupid and ignored him and his brother most of the time, how they didn't know where he was or who he was and they didn't care as long as he kept being great, blah blah blah. Pyro didn't give a shit, but he'd listen as well as he could. Meeting Bobby's parents in the flesh had been weird as hell, but they'd been pretty typical. It was weirder to him that Bobby could be so damn typical but then so not. He was a mutant, for one. And he was pretty gay, if Pyro was any authority on it. Or queer. Or something. Goddamn good at fucking, at any rate.

The stairs creaked in the mansion, and the dining room was huge, and there were old, expensive carpets on the floor. Pyro remembers the mansion of his youth being less dark, better lit, less mahogany.

He didn't think he'd last in the mansion for long.

---

'Hey,' he said as he slumped into the dining room. Pyro was realizing he was shit at entrances, really, as he watched Rogue sort of choke and drop her spoon and stare wide eyed at him. 'Uh.'

'Mah gawd, Johnny. I had no idea you were back!'

'Uh. Well I am. How've you been, Marie?' He managed some kind of demented looking smile and sat down across from her, next to Bobby and the corner.

'Well. Pretty terrible, I guess.' She laughed a little and Pyro raised an eyebrow. He wasn't back for five minutes and already this. It was interesting to be home for sure.

'I brought Bobby back for you, all in one piece.' He hit his friend in the shoulder and got a cold glare in return.

'Oh. Well, if he didn't tell you, we've broken up.'

'Yeah, he told me. But I figured you'd care a little if I'd shattered him with a hammer or something. Or is that the task you'd've assigned to get me back into your good graces, madam?' Pyro grabs at her hand, still holding a spoon, and plants a kiss on the back of her leather glove. She giggled. Perfect.

Bobby scowled some more and began stabbing at his food.

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Author's Note: This series has taken control of my life. Expect some weird plot developments soon. Please review if you've been following this; I'd love to hear from you even if it's just a couple of words!