You never should've left

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The chaos of the battle on Alcatraz Island had stunned them in numerous ways and Bobby had been one of those who had spent most of the journey back to the mansion in almost complete silence. Aside from a few brief single word answers or remarks he had stayed quiet, unable to form any kind of coherent commentary on all that had happened.

He hadn’t expected to be travelling next to his old friend Pyro, having carried the unconscious fire mutant aboard the jet, set him on the floor and slid down next to him. Grasping John’s jacket to try and hold him in place and avoid the ride causing any more damage. After a while he’d placed an iced up hand on the other mutant’s forehead in hopes it would help ease something, guilt settling in that Pyro still hadn’t stirred but what else could Bobby have done in the heat of the fight?

Back at the mansion he’d deposited Pyro in the medical bay and gone about doing whatever he could elsewhere to help deal with the fallout of the battle, all while doing his best to bury what he felt himself. His thoughts hadn’t strayed far from his former friend especially with the occasional comment from others questioning why the pyrokinetic was even here at all, finally leading Bobby back to see if he’d woken up.


John Allerdyce

ulla

[John Allerdyce]

Pyro could feel it before he even opened his eyes. It was as if an anchor was holding him down, the weight of his head so heavy he could barley lift it. So instead, he first attempted to open his eyes . . . though instantly regretted doing it so quickly. The bright lights surrounding him cause Pyro to groan in discomfort, attempting to open them again though this time through drawn out blinks until they adjusted to his surroundings which . . . were unknown to him. The uncertainty of where he was, and the disorientation of what had happened that led him here, was enough to make him try to sit up to gain his bearings. But a blurry vision of someone else in the room paused his actions, not moving more than in a half upright position. Trying to blink the vision into clarity, eventually, the outline of the person became clearer. The features of the form more distinct. And well, Pyro would recognize him anywhere.

"Well, if I'm dead, then this is hell," he groaned sarcastically, lying back down on the surface of whatever held him up. He didn't know exactly where he was but he could take a guess. The words enough to cause further strain because, who knew talking could be so taxing. He didn't remember everything . . . but he remembered enough to know that the last person he remembered seeing before darkness consumed him, was Bobby. And the first person he saw now, was Bobby. There should be a strong comfort in that, but with their history . . . Pyro couldn't help but feel, unease. "What happened?" He asked, knowing that he couldn't stay here for long without answers.

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When he’d arrived in the medical bay Pyro was still unconscious as far as he could tell, but Bobby stayed and settled himself into a chair nearby the bed where John was resting. He couldn’t sit still for long and no sooner had he gotten as comfortable as he could in the chair, he was up again and looking over the fire mutant wondering how long he would be out. The possibility that he wouldn’t actually wake up at all hit Bobby and he began to pace. That was crazy, he had to wake up and be back to his normal self again soon. Thankfully before Bobby could get a significant panic worked up Pyro finally woke and the cryokinetic froze on the spot, wide-eyed as he watched the labored movements.

When John spoke Bobby might have laughed if the circumstances had been different, or given a friendly roll of his eyes at the remark he’d made. In light of reality he exhaled a quiet huff in relief that at least his former friend had awoken with a sardonic greeting that was almost warming to hear. “The Brotherhood didn’t get Worthington or the kid, if that’s what you’re wondering.” That seemed like the very least of matters to tell Pyro about now but he was working up to it and avoiding the news about Magneto. “We had to get everybody we could off the island, nobody could stop Jean, not even your great leader. So… we had to go.” The losses of Jean and others were still pressing on them all and somehow now making everything he said sound stilted and clinical in his own ears. “Logan stayed behind to deal with it and I brought you here so you didn’t end up a pile of ash, so, you’re welcome.”


John Allerdyce

ulla

[John Allerdyce]

As Bobby spoke, recollection set in. The cure. That was what they had been fighting against. And, unsuccessfully from the sounds of it. When Bobby spoke of Jean, it just added the other element of the battle that ensued between mutants and humans. And even then, between mutants. A civil war amongst them. X-Men versus Brotherhood. Was there even a clear winner? They had lost Xavier and . . . Magneto? Bobby referred to him but didn't say anything about his whereabouts. Pyro supposed that so long as Magneto was alive, so was the Brotherhood. And in turn . . . John would have somewhere to go. Because, he sure as hell couldn't stay here. "How many made it off?" He asked, trying to be as nonchalant as he could but truth was, he cared. Despite whatever cold exterior he put up, he did care. He had made a snide remark about Charles death but had been quickly put into place.

Yes. He was concerned about the well being of the others he had bonded with and . . . though he would never admit it, not even to himself, there was an undeniable comfort to see Bobby. And knowing that he was near, meant Pyro was in a safe place. At least for the time being. But when he added on that he had been the one to bring him here . . . Pyro turned his head away from the other mutant. He remembered. He remembered exactly what had happened. "From headbutting me to saving me." Despite Pyro's aggressive actions towards Bobby, he knew that he wouldn't have actually been able to kill him. Clearly, the feeling was mutual. Taking a risk to look at the other while he said his next words, Pyro turned to hold the other's gaze, still working to keep his tone casual. "Why'd you do it?" Why did he save him?

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Bobby listened, arms still crossed over his chest in a way that felt like it could possibly keep some distance between them in this conversation, or maybe it was just a physical reflection of how he was trying to hold himself together. He was upset with all that had happened before and during the battle and had barely had a chance to process properly because others needed his support. Younger mutants at the mansion needed to see him steady and the X-Men had to see he was capable. No matter what he thought was expected of him all he wanted to do right at this moment was sit down with an old friend and talk over how he felt, but that seemed impossible. “Not nearly enough.” There had been too many lives lost that could have been avoided, both mutant and human, strangers and people he knew well enough. There was guilt for that too, for not managing to do more and he knew he wasn’t the only one feeling that and worse.

He finally gave a roll of eyes at the first remark but it was halfhearted and slight, and he focused on the colorful bruise spreading across Pyro’s head. The next question had Bobby meeting his gaze but he didn’t have an immediate answer ready. He hadn’t even thought it over, the reasons why, there had been no debating with himself at the time. It had just been a natural reaction but faced with having to explain himself he stumbled over his words at first. "Do.. what, bring you with me? You.. I was… you were out cold. What was I supposed to do, just leave you there? I didn’t want you to die.” The only way he could try make the last statement sound less important was to give a tense shrug and move to sit back down on the chair, but it was the truth nonetheless. "Even if you were trying to kill me."


John Allerdyce

ulla

[John Allerdyce]

Not nearly enough. That had Pyro concerned for the others. People he had allied himself with. Some of which he even called friend. As, interesting as that term was. And now they might all be dead. Optimism wasn't exactly one of Pyro's strong suits, but he knew that once he was out of here . . . he would have to go on the hunt and see who all survived the battle. At least on the other side. He had a feeling he'd get a good sense of which X-Men survived after being in this school for, well what he hoped wasn't long at all. As Bobby said though, Jean was dead, and Wolverine wasn't around. Pyro quickly became focused on the mutant's next words; reason as to why he had saved him. He knew Bobby was telling the truth; that he didn't want him to die. His actions had proved everything on the contrary.

He could have iced him instead of knocking him out. He could have left him there instead of bringing him here. But acknowledging that, just like acknowledging the truth behind Bobby's next words, felt a little too . . . deep. Felt far too reminiscent of what all had happened between them. It was the only thing that prevented John from blurting out that he wouldn't have actually killed him, despite his attempt to. To admit that, would be admitting too much. Emotions that John had long since buried. Or at least he thought. "Well you could have just left me there," he said casually, trying not to read into the words too much or at least let the conversation steer in that direction.

"I'm sure it would have been easier than bringing me here. Can't imagine that went down well with the others." Considering he'd left, joined the opposite side, and actively engaged in a war between them. "Besides," he began to say, attempting to sit up a little more. "Since when did you start doing what you want." As he stated, he didn't want him to die. The words both a question and a statement. Despite John's attempt to leave emotions out of it, he knew there was a hint of bitterness in there due to . . . well, their past. But the words were open to interpretation and how Bobby would actually take them. Pyro wasn't entirely certain. Either way, he'd meant them as a jab. It was far easier to do then to actually thank the other for saving his life.

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