22: déjà vu all over again
Pyro knows he is about to die. He feels it in his blood and regrets ever eating his broccoli, taking multivitamins, finishing his steak dinner the night before. His blood started humming even before the door to the mansion blew off and only got hotter when he felt himself dragged by the wrists, his belt buckle, the rivets in his jeans, and every other metallic piece of clothing he was wearing.
When Pyro is finished flying through the hallways of the mansion, shattering his bedroom door and slamming into the handrail for the stairs, he is outside the mansion, about seven feet in the air and upside down. Magneto is standing below him, flanked by someone Pyro doesn't recognize but figures is Mystique. Magneto smiles.
'How've you been, boy?' he asks and Pyro struggles to scream and realizes his jaw is trapped shut by his own fillings. Magneto turns his attention to the flow of mutants that have followed Pyro's crash course out of the building. Bobby is first out the door but Storm steps in front of him, her eyes blinding white and lightning crackling in her hair.
Bobby holds Pyro's attention and he tries to signal something to him but all he can manage is spasmodically twitching and blinking furiously. He's never been happier that he has no piercings.
'What is the meaning of this intrusion?' Strom asks and her voice is strong and Pyro's spine would shiver, if he could move. Magneto just smiles again.
'I thought it would be a good time to visit an old friend of mine, but if he isn't available I'll simply take my property and leave.'
'You will do no such thing. Pyro belongs to no man, and he has joined the X-Men of his own free will. If we have to fight you to retrieve him from your grasp we shall –'
Magneto cuts her off. 'That won't be necessary if I am allowed to speak with Charles.'
The team is out in full force with Rogue, Wolverine, and Colossus standing guard, and Pyro sees Jubilee through the wide open and damaged doorway corralling the students back to their rooms. Or he thinks he sees her – his vision is blackening around the edges as all the blood in his body pools in his brain. He wonders why Magneto can't control that too, and tries moving again. It doesn't work, and Mystique shoots him a sharp, reptilian look of reproach.
Beast looks up angrily. 'You could have phoned, you know. Release Allerdyce and you'll get your conversation.'
Pyro sighs inwardly and tries to brace himself as Magneto laughs and releases him. He plummets to the ground and manages to twist his suddenly mobile body to land on its side, not on his head. He rolls on impact, spending little time cheering himself for not breaking his neck and restraining his gait to a swift walk, not run, to the bulk of the X-Men. He settles in next to Rogue and ignores Wolverine's soft growl.
'Well, that was easier than I expected it would be.' Magneto strides confidently toward the open door and Storm pulls herself to her full height and flanks him closely, Beast and Wolverine hustling ahead.
Wolverine snarls at Mystique. 'Only Magneto gets to go in, you better stay out here.' Mystique fixes him with a hard stare but Eric waves her off dismissively and she backs down.
'Colossus, guard her,' calls out Storm as they walk toward the hidden elevator that leads straight to the lab and Piotr tries to look menacing.
Pyro doesn't know what to do and Bobby pulls him inside, straight into the front office and Rogue follows. Pyro is panting and he knows his eyes must look crazy and Bobby just grabs him and pulls him tight to his chest.
'Oh god, oh fuck, I'm so sorry,' is what Pyro manages to blurt out and Rogue snorts.
'Don't be fuckin' sorry, hun, it's not like you called him up and told him to come here.'
Bobby nor Pyro attempt to dissuade her of that notion and Bobby continues to hold Pyro tightly and Pyro just waits for his heart to stop beating. As his breathing slows he realizes his blood is still hot, too hot and he untangles himself from his lover to sit in a chair.
'What's wrong?' Bobby whispers anxiously and Pyro is still sucking in air.
'I'm really hot,' he rasps out and Bobby puts his hand on his forehead and jumps back.
'Shit, John, you're burning up!' Bobby makes a small slab of ice in his hand and it melts a few seconds after touching his forehead. Rogue gasps and then Pyro can't hear their conversation anymore.
