Wash Away Those Years: Break And Burn (4/?)
Story Title: Wash Away Those Years
Chapter Title: Break And Burn
Pairing: Pyro/Rogue (of course) but for a while, might be Bobby/Kitty/Rogue/Pyro love square
Part: [4/?]
Author: Katie aka
melkat92
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Set during X-Men: The Last Stand, and loosely based off the video footage from X-Men: The Last Stand.
Disclaimer: I just own the idea.
Summary: Rogue runs into Pyro while seeking the cure. Some unexpected things arise from their encounter. Now, their both struggling to find themselves, and to find one another as they try to hold onto what used to be, and what could've been. But can they re-write the past and present all together and find something worthwhile?...
New: Wash Away Those Years Trailer! Take a look. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83qyA6vkntk
Previously on Wash Away Those Years:
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“You have no fucking idea what I’d go through for you!”
The memory of what Pyro had said to her that day on the sidewalk echoed in her mind as she tossed and turned through another restless night.
“John!” Rogue hollered as she watched him walk away from her.
--
The next day… Pyro and the others have been assigned to take out Worthington’s doctors and staff from within the building of Worthington labs... Planning to attack at night, Magneto goes over the plan with everyone from their underground woods location.
--
Pyro snapped out of his thoughts, ignoring them as he set down his shark Zippo and put on his com-link to get ready for battle that night.
--
Night had fallen in the secluded area of The Brotherhood’s temporary headquarters. They were currently preparing for the upcoming mission. Pyro stood outside his tent as Magneto approached.
“Pyro…” Magneto says to get his attention. He looks up at the older man numbly, already knowing what he was about to say.
“I’m frankly not quite fond of meddling in other people’s business, but I need to know if you’re with us.” He says sternly. Pyro just silently stared at him. Was it really obvious to him that he had other things on his mind? He’d barely said a word to anyone since he left Rogue that day at the cure center.
“I’d be willing for you to set this one out if you need to.” Magneto said, not truly wanting him to. The Brotherhood needed to attack with everything and everyone they could, Pyro being the most important... besides, Mystique and Magneto of course.
Pyro looks into his eyes with defiance. “No,” he said simply, shaking his head before continuing. “I’ll be there.” He said boldly to the man. He didn’t think an explanation for his behavior, or any other words were necessary at the moment. Magneto never needed explanations like Xavier would, one of the leadership differences between the two from Magneto that Pyro liked. Magneto simply nodded his head, and then turned to walk away. Pyro looked away from Magneto, and down towards the ground.
--
Rogue had been avoiding Bobby since that day she saw him kiss Kitty, and he was starting to notice it. At lunch, he’d sit over by Kitty as they’d share their plates. Did he think she was stupid? He’d look over and smile admiringly at her. She’d break eye contact, and get up, leaving him there to wonder. It wasn’t what Rogue wanted; receiving attention from such an ungrateful backstabber. He had been knocking on the girl’s dormitory door for the past few minutes now, as the rest of the girls were out and about. Rogue ignored him, not caring to hear his voice, but having no choice.
“Rogue, talk to me. What’s been going on with you lately? Did I do something wrong?” He asked, his voice being muffled by the thick wooden door that stood between them. He was beginning to wonder whether she knew. He decided he’d play it cool until further notice.
“Let me just talk to you...” He said, as a last effort.
Rogue got so annoyed with hearing him speak; she got up and opened the door. He takes a small step backwards in surprise, not thinking she’d open it.
“What do you want Bobby?” she asked, not really wanting to hear an answer.
“What’s going on with you? Why won’t you talk to me?” He asked with concern painted all over his face.
“I’m talking to you now.” She said sarcastically, not looking at all impressed to see him.
He motioned with his head, silently asking permission to come in. He didn’t wanna have this conversation in the public halls. She just crossed her arms and stepped aside, allowing him entrance. He stepped in, and Rogue shut the door, then turned around to face him.
“If you’ve come in here to act like everything is fine, don’t waste your breath,” Rogue said as Bobby stayed silent. “I know what you’ve done.” She said as her bottom lip began to tremble, trying her best to be as bold and tough as possible for this moment.
All Bobby could do was let out a sigh. “I never meant to hurt you Rogue,” He shook his head “It just… happened...”
Rogue just stood there, arms crossed, not giving into any of his excuses. She should have known he’d do this to her. It didn’t take Bobby long to realize she wasn’t wearing any gloves.
“…Rogue, what happened to your gloves?” He asked as he moved closer to her, and her noticing it, took a few more steps back.
“Did… did you get the cure?” He asked with concern and a little bit of happiness on his face. Rogue couldn’t think of anything to say. She wanted to say yes, but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. Maybe she would’ve gone through with saying it, if it wasn’t for him being such an asshole, betraying their relationship.
“I did it for me,” was really all she could think of. Bobby smiled a bit, knowing that she could finally touch him. He knew with all that’s happened, he could never--
“It’s all you wanted from me, wasn’t it…?” Rogue said to him with a little emotion piercing through her words, tearing up a little as she looked towards the shaggy carpet that covered the girl’s dormitory.
“Rogue, stop.” He said, unable to actually deny what she was saying. She knew it was the truth. He didn’t have to explain himself. “I will admit. You’re power was a stain... but what happened with me and Kitty… it was something me and you never had.” He confessed, giving her the saddest look that she just wouldn’t look at. “You know we weren’t going far,” he said, once again walking closer to her. “Just be happy for me and her.”
Rogue's head snapped up to glare at him, furious with hate. “Are you serious!? We barely have broken up, and yet you’re saying to be happy for your affair?” She shook her head in frustration as she became fed up.
“You know what, just get out… Okay? I’m done talking.” Rogue said, trying not to be overwhelmed with more anger and depression. Bobby didn’t say another word. He slowly did as she asked, and turned to leave. He looked back at her once more as he stood in the doorway. She ignored him, turning away from the doorway. Rogue couldn’t seem to hold back her tears any longer. Why was all of this happening to her? First John and now Bobby leaving her? John… another issue of Rogue’s, yet to be forgotten.
--
Pyro tried his best to keep a level head as the team got ready for battle. He needed to stay together. He needed to do this mission. He couldn’t help it though. Rogue… The taste of her kiss... The way he’d just left her there, crying into the pavement that day at the cure center, instead of being there for her. The other side of his mind defended... She was the one who stopped talking to you, and changed... She has Bobby to help her grieve. Isn’t that what she wanted anyways? Bobby?
He pushed back his haunting thoughts as he walked up to Magneto.
“Are you ready my boy?” Magneto asked him. Pyro just replied with a simple nod. So, the team started their march. Sadly at this point, The Brotherhood weren’t at their headquarters so they have no means of transportation. So, they walked… Finally reaching the tall Worthington labs building, they all stood. Magneto looks to Juggernaut, signaling that it was time to carry out his part in the plan, explained prior in the strategy for the mission. He gave Magneto a satisfied grin, and then ran as fast as he could and broke down the doors. There was nothing but debris and ruble in the air as the lab doors crashed down, a loud rumble ringing through everyone’s ears.
Pyro’s mind now focused, prepared for action. He followed the group inside the building. Sparking the pilot lighter on his wrist igniter, he felt the familiar and all too satisfying heat in the palm of his hands as his fireball got bigger. Soldiers came out from everywhere and he started hurling the fire at them.
Pyro smelt that familiar scent… Flesh burning. Smoke clouded the area. Mystique ran past him, as she started doing back-flips, then kicking a gun away from one of the men. Some cure weapons, others just standard firearms. Pyro saw some of the soldiers approaching in the corner of his eye, and the flames grew. His mind, still not in the right place as he had a chain reaction thought, leading from the men’s cure guns, to the cure, then to Rogue. She was driving him crazy… His mind and emotions were driving him crazy.
Then, within a blink of an eye, his emotions switched from damaged and conflicted, to hatred as he thought of her without her power, in the presence of Bobby… His fire became stronger and bigger, more powerful and useful in the heat of the battle. He raged on, switching the fire from one hand into the other, switching around to seal the fate of more soldiers.
Usually in battle, he’d be the funnest to fight beside, cracking jokes and making bets with the other Brotherhood members. He tried his best to still be like that, but his state of mind changed when he saw Rogue for the first time, in a long time that day. Feelings he thought were long gone, now very visible.
“Pyro, watch out!” Mystique yelled as she kicked the gun away from the soldier that had been sneaking up behind Pyro, he was too preoccupied to notice. Before he could realize what she had said, she had already saved him. He stopped hurling fire for a second and turned around, to meet her smile as she chuckled. “You owe me a drink.” She barely got the sentence out, before elbowing a guy behind her and taking away his weapon.
“Bullshit, that was an earned save from when I saved your ass at practice a while back.” Pyro replied.
“You’re still on that?” She asked sarcastically, passing by him to take on more soldiers.
The Brotherhood members… They weren’t the ‘share-issues’ types, but they did treat one another like family. Pyro and Mystique were almost like brother and sister. It was no surprise to Mystique why he had been so out of it lately. She knew why, but didn’t talk about it with him. She knew he’d work it out on his own. Pyro began to sweat as the heat became fierce in the building. Smoke became visible everywhere from the burnt building, and began polluting his vision. He sensed a guy behind him, preparing to grab one of the fallen weapons on the ground and shoot him. Pyro turned around fast and grabbed the guys arm, yanking it in towards himself as he punched him, then in his other hand, manipulated a fireball and threw it at him, searing the guy. Pyro had learned more from The Brotherhood, than at Xavier’s school. He knew more fighting skills and more techniques with his power.
Pyro, for a brief second saw Warren Worthington II, the man who created the cure. He’d like nothing more than to burn every inch of the man, but something held him back… The thought of Rogue inside his head held him back. Her crying and longing for so long to get cured of what she thought was a curse. It gave the woman he loved happiness he’d wished he could give her. He could never revoke that so quickly by killing the man that helped it become a reality. He let out a grunt of frustration as he threw more flames as more back-up soldiers were called, who were now coming in by the dozens.
More Brotherhood members poured into the building, fighting for their cause. Another painful memory that occurred a few days before he left the X-Men poured into Pyro’s mind as he fought…
Bobby and Rogue’s laughter filled the room of the student lounge area. Teenagers playing everywhere… Some played games, others watched TV. With all the teenager’s voices, only two stood out from within John’s hearing as he sat in the distant corner of the doorway. He snapped open his lighter, igniting it as he stood there growing more angry as he listened to the two.
“Oh, shut up! You cannot freeze your lips in time.” Rogue playfully flirted with Bobby as she played with his shirt.
“Really? I think I can.” Bobby challenged.
“Fine... If you die, it’s your fault.” She smiled as she got closer to him. He too got closer, staring at her lips, slowly closing in on them. Rogue could feel the warmth closing in, as their lips were mere inches away. Then suddenly, Bobby felt this rush of heat come up his leg. He looked down once he started to feel it get hotter, and hotter.
“Ah!” Bobby yelled in panic as he quickly shot ice crystals from within his hand to extinguish the flames. The jean on his pant leg totally deteriorated and fried. It didn’t take Rogue long to take a fierce glance over at John, knowing immediately he had done it. He sends her a satisfied, sarcastic grin as he continues clicking his lighter in the corner.
“What’s the matter Bobby? Is someone too ‘hot’ to seal the deal?” He joked, then continued. “Aww… maybe next time.” He chuckled.
Bobby just looked over at him, furious, pissed off, and confused at why he would be such an asshole to him. Rogue looked back at Bobby, who was in the midst of opening his mouth to respond to John. “I’ll be right back… “She softly spoke to Bobby. He looked back at her and then nodded. She got up from the couch they had been seated on, not at all happy with John. She walked over towards him, giving him a serious glare.
“Can we talk for a moment alone?” The tone of her voice making it clear she was mad. John took in an annoyed sigh as he closed his Zippo lighter, and put it inside his pocket. He left the student lounge area, waiting for Rogue to follow behind him. He turned back around, to see she had not at all been lagging behind.
“What the hell is wrong with you John!? Do you have to be an asshole 24/7?” Rogue put her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
“Yep, it’s my calling.” He sarcastically came back with an answer. Rogue gave him the biggest glare, one that John had never seen before. A look that signified a lot about where they’re friendship stood.
“Oh, come on Rogue, stop being so fucking uptight. So the idiot has to get a new pair of pants… Let’s call Dr. Phil shall we?” John said, ignoring the seriousness of her mood.
“You’re such an asshole John. It makes me feel stupid to ever think I cared about you, you know that?” Rogue spat. Once again, she got no visible sign of emotion from him, which pissed her off even more.
He just rolled his eyes at her “Oh shut the hell up. What the fuck would you know about caring for someone?” he asked, silently dying a little on the inside from her words, never letting it show.
“You know what? Fuck you Rogue… just go back inside, fluff out your boobs a little, and show Bobby what you truly are. It’s a fucking shame I didn’t see it sooner.” He said, desperately trying to mentally cut her as he turned away from her, quickening his pace. Not slowing down for one second, just furiously trying to get away…
Pyro was jolted back to reality when he felt a sharp pain on his forearm. He looked up, as a soldier stood there with a weapon in his hand. He gave the man a fierce glare as he clenches his jaw, and threw a massive amount of fire towards the soldier, killing him slowly. Screams were being heard from everywhere throughout the building. He sees Juggernaut walk past him, as well as others. He looked around the tarnished building… There weren’t many soldier’s left, and those that were, were too badly injured to get up. He looked at the destruction The Brotherhood had caused. He then picked up his pace, following the others out of the building.
“Job-well-done...” Magneto praised them. “The president will now know where we stand.” He looked over his Brotherhood members with pride.
“Not yet…” Pyro replied not long before clicking a spark on his wrist igniter and throwing one last force of fire into the building, torching every last bit of the building. The mutants just smiled as they watched it burn, but knowing they would have to get on the move quickly. Mystique looks at Pyro, then down to his left shoulder. Pyro caught her eye, following it down to his blood soaked shirt sleeve.
“Shit…” he mumbled, shrugging.
A/N: Special thanks to
rogue_detective for being my beta and helping me with my grammar.
A/N2: More chapters coming soon! Don't worry, things will get more interesting! Well, i hope you guys will think so anyways. And please review! I really appreciate every comment i get, and it never goes unnoticed. I always reply back to each and every one. I really hate begging, as i kinda want things to come naturally. Plus, i has pride! But i really need to hear y'alls thoughts. Please review!