Prompt #208 - Four
[based on RP canon, X2 movie-canon, and a created-by-mun backstory.]
There are those moments in life that change a person's path. Definite moments where one can look back and say, "That is where my life changed."
John Allerdyce, also known as Pyro, has four such moments thus far.
One: Mutation Manifest
John sat at the kitchen table, angry and hostile as his Stepfather, Kevin, yelled at him. Things about being worthless and unappreciative. Just because John didn't like that skateboard he'd just opened for his birthday. That wasn't what he asked for, had never mentioned wanting one ever in his life, and had no idea what made Kevin think that John would want one.
And when John didn't like it, Kevin became angry. Yelled about it. Chucked it across the room, where it cracked as it hit the wall. Somehow, it had become John's fault that it wouldn't be able to be returned now.
John argued back, yelled back, and tried to get up to walk away, but Kevin - so much bigger then him - grabbed him and threw him back into his chair. "Your mother is lighting the goddamn candles on your goddamn cake. Sit the fuck down."
And that's when it happened, John was so angry he saw red. But it wasn't just a metaphorical red, really - suddenly, the kitchen appeared to be on fire. The flames from the birthday cake candles had jumped right off them, and landed on the counter, burning bright. Had landed on the sleeve of his mother's sweater, and started to burn her too. Kevin jumped up and ran to John's mother, but he was yelling, "Look at what you did, Kathrine. Look what you did!"
But, somewhere deep down, John knew that he had done it. That he had set the kitchen on fire. But he didn't know how to stop it, as he watched in horror as his mother's arm burned.
So he turned and ran.
Two: Savior Xavier
It was the end of July, and John Allerdyce was fifteen years old. He was tired. He was hungry. He was fucking hot as hell in the heat. He sat down in the shade of a dumpster, resting for a minute before trying to hoist himself up and dig around to see if he could find any food. What he could really use was a little rain to cool things off, and maybe catch some raindrops on his tongue (he was so parched) and maybe even wash off some of the grit and grim that clung to his clothes and hair.
And suddenly, there was some rain. It wasn't too light, but it wasn't pelting him too hard. It felt just right. It fell right on him, and he threw back his head and he let it fall on his face. It almost felt refreshing.
Suddenly, he heard someone at the entrance of the alley. He jumped up, less relaxed, and on guard. He grabbed his zippo from his pocket.
The woman spoke. "There is no need to be afraid." She had dark skin, but even though her hair was silver white, she looked young. And, though it didn't scare John as he'd certainly seen more unusual in his day, her eyes were pure white as well.
A bald man in a wheel chair was beside her. He smiled, and spoke without moving his mouth at all.
We're here to help you, John.
Three: Magneto's Magnetism.
After years being treated like a child, being patronized, being shoved aside as if he was nothing but an annoyance, John Allerdyce met someone new to look up to. Someone who, within but a minute of speaking to each other, appreciated John. Appreciated him for his power, for his strength, for who he was.
A god among insects.
Four: Love After Lust
Pyro went to the Summit to support Magneto. To support the Brotherhood, and their ideals. To stand up against those high and mighty self-righteous do-gooders who tried to crush them down just for thinking different. Pyro stood there, proud and strong. The soldier.
But then, at the open bar, Pyro met him. (Well, re-met, actually - they'd known each other, vaguely, a couple years back, but hadn't had contact after John left Xavier's and became Pyro.)
Pyro instantly noticed that the guy was no longer the scrawny, geeky little shy kid, he was tall and gorgeous and... well, still geeky, but within five minutes, had Pyro smiling and chuckling in the middle of all the seriousness. And, even though Pyro had sworn off interest in guys beyond anything but fucking, he felt it in that short conversation: intrigue, and attraction, and maybe something more.
And things just weren't the same after Pyro (re)met Douglas Ramsey.
Five: The Future
It's only a matter of time, really, before something new completely changes Pyro's life. Again.
There are those moments in life that change a person's path. Definite moments where one can look back and say, "That is where my life changed."
John Allerdyce, also known as Pyro, has four such moments thus far.
One: Mutation Manifest
John sat at the kitchen table, angry and hostile as his Stepfather, Kevin, yelled at him. Things about being worthless and unappreciative. Just because John didn't like that skateboard he'd just opened for his birthday. That wasn't what he asked for, had never mentioned wanting one ever in his life, and had no idea what made Kevin think that John would want one.
And when John didn't like it, Kevin became angry. Yelled about it. Chucked it across the room, where it cracked as it hit the wall. Somehow, it had become John's fault that it wouldn't be able to be returned now.
John argued back, yelled back, and tried to get up to walk away, but Kevin - so much bigger then him - grabbed him and threw him back into his chair. "Your mother is lighting the goddamn candles on your goddamn cake. Sit the fuck down."
And that's when it happened, John was so angry he saw red. But it wasn't just a metaphorical red, really - suddenly, the kitchen appeared to be on fire. The flames from the birthday cake candles had jumped right off them, and landed on the counter, burning bright. Had landed on the sleeve of his mother's sweater, and started to burn her too. Kevin jumped up and ran to John's mother, but he was yelling, "Look at what you did, Kathrine. Look what you did!"
But, somewhere deep down, John knew that he had done it. That he had set the kitchen on fire. But he didn't know how to stop it, as he watched in horror as his mother's arm burned.
So he turned and ran.
Two: Savior Xavier
It was the end of July, and John Allerdyce was fifteen years old. He was tired. He was hungry. He was fucking hot as hell in the heat. He sat down in the shade of a dumpster, resting for a minute before trying to hoist himself up and dig around to see if he could find any food. What he could really use was a little rain to cool things off, and maybe catch some raindrops on his tongue (he was so parched) and maybe even wash off some of the grit and grim that clung to his clothes and hair.
And suddenly, there was some rain. It wasn't too light, but it wasn't pelting him too hard. It felt just right. It fell right on him, and he threw back his head and he let it fall on his face. It almost felt refreshing.
Suddenly, he heard someone at the entrance of the alley. He jumped up, less relaxed, and on guard. He grabbed his zippo from his pocket.
The woman spoke. "There is no need to be afraid." She had dark skin, but even though her hair was silver white, she looked young. And, though it didn't scare John as he'd certainly seen more unusual in his day, her eyes were pure white as well.
A bald man in a wheel chair was beside her. He smiled, and spoke without moving his mouth at all.
We're here to help you, John.
Three: Magneto's Magnetism.
After years being treated like a child, being patronized, being shoved aside as if he was nothing but an annoyance, John Allerdyce met someone new to look up to. Someone who, within but a minute of speaking to each other, appreciated John. Appreciated him for his power, for his strength, for who he was.
A god among insects.
Four: Love After Lust
Pyro went to the Summit to support Magneto. To support the Brotherhood, and their ideals. To stand up against those high and mighty self-righteous do-gooders who tried to crush them down just for thinking different. Pyro stood there, proud and strong. The soldier.
But then, at the open bar, Pyro met him. (Well, re-met, actually - they'd known each other, vaguely, a couple years back, but hadn't had contact after John left Xavier's and became Pyro.)
Pyro instantly noticed that the guy was no longer the scrawny, geeky little shy kid, he was tall and gorgeous and... well, still geeky, but within five minutes, had Pyro smiling and chuckling in the middle of all the seriousness. And, even though Pyro had sworn off interest in guys beyond anything but fucking, he felt it in that short conversation: intrigue, and attraction, and maybe something more.
And things just weren't the same after Pyro (re)met Douglas Ramsey.
Five: The Future
It's only a matter of time, really, before something new completely changes Pyro's life. Again.