[xmen fic] Burn (Magneto, Pyro, PG)
Burn
Fandom: X-Men (movie universe)
Characters: Magneto, Pyro
Rating: PG
Summary: Pyro offers his own interpretation of a legend.
A/N: My first X-Men ficlet. Second in a series of ficlets I intend to write, one for each night of Hanukkah. This one's prompt is, appropriately, candles. Approx. 300 words.
The candles were nearly gone; there was now more flame than wax except for what spilled slowly down the nine branches of the small candelabra that Magneto sat watching.
As Pyro drew near, the old man's lashes twitched and the grim line of his mouth curved subtly. "Do you know," his voice rustled, "much about Hanukkah?"
"Of course," Pyro said. The brightness of the flames hurt his eyes; the room was completely dark otherwise. "I knew a few Jewish kids. Eight days, presents, candles, those spinning things…"
Magneto waved a dismissive hand and the flames danced. "Nonsense, most of it. The presents - attempts by parents to make their children feel less…different."
Something in his tone hooked Pyro's attention. "Oh, yeah?" He moved closer until he was standing just behind Magneto. The flames' warmth stroked his cheek.
"It's quite a minor holiday, really."
"Huh."
"It's about a miracle, essentially," Magneto continued, his gaze flicking back to the candles. "The Greeks sacked the temple and when the Jews finally reclaimed it, almost all the oil had been spilled and was unusable. They thought they had barely enough for one night. But somehow what little they had last for eight."
"All right, I think I might've heard that once, in elementary school. Still, I wouldn't say no to presents, even if it's not traditional."
"Few would," Magneto said lightly. "I don't believe in taking gifts for granted. The Jews did not take their god's gift of fire - and victory over the Greeks - for granted. Which is why we have this celebration."
There was nothing celebratory in his demeanor, Pyro noted.
"Yeah, so-"
As he spoke, one of the flames sputtered and went out. Without thinking, he reached around Magneto's arm and touched his fingertip to the blackened wick. The other flames leaned toward his hand as if in curiosity or adoration and the lost one leaped back to life.
"Sure it was God's gift?" he said with a grin.
12/25/05
Fandom: X-Men (movie universe)
Characters: Magneto, Pyro
Rating: PG
Summary: Pyro offers his own interpretation of a legend.
A/N: My first X-Men ficlet. Second in a series of ficlets I intend to write, one for each night of Hanukkah. This one's prompt is, appropriately, candles. Approx. 300 words.
The candles were nearly gone; there was now more flame than wax except for what spilled slowly down the nine branches of the small candelabra that Magneto sat watching.
As Pyro drew near, the old man's lashes twitched and the grim line of his mouth curved subtly. "Do you know," his voice rustled, "much about Hanukkah?"
"Of course," Pyro said. The brightness of the flames hurt his eyes; the room was completely dark otherwise. "I knew a few Jewish kids. Eight days, presents, candles, those spinning things…"
Magneto waved a dismissive hand and the flames danced. "Nonsense, most of it. The presents - attempts by parents to make their children feel less…different."
Something in his tone hooked Pyro's attention. "Oh, yeah?" He moved closer until he was standing just behind Magneto. The flames' warmth stroked his cheek.
"It's quite a minor holiday, really."
"Huh."
"It's about a miracle, essentially," Magneto continued, his gaze flicking back to the candles. "The Greeks sacked the temple and when the Jews finally reclaimed it, almost all the oil had been spilled and was unusable. They thought they had barely enough for one night. But somehow what little they had last for eight."
"All right, I think I might've heard that once, in elementary school. Still, I wouldn't say no to presents, even if it's not traditional."
"Few would," Magneto said lightly. "I don't believe in taking gifts for granted. The Jews did not take their god's gift of fire - and victory over the Greeks - for granted. Which is why we have this celebration."
There was nothing celebratory in his demeanor, Pyro noted.
"Yeah, so-"
As he spoke, one of the flames sputtered and went out. Without thinking, he reached around Magneto's arm and touched his fingertip to the blackened wick. The other flames leaned toward his hand as if in curiosity or adoration and the lost one leaped back to life.
"Sure it was God's gift?" he said with a grin.
12/25/05