asgardmeridiem | how slowly we built the walls [ closed ]

Don't tell me he's gone nuts again.

[Muffled but audible from behind the door. Honestly, at this point, he just expects Oswin when he hears an unexpected knock. There's the sounds of shuffling around, and finally footsteps approaching the door.]

You could just break in again and save me the tr -

[Whoops. Well, his first reaction is somewhat promising; his expression turns guarded, rather than hostile.]

What are you doing here.

[ Nice to see you too, sunshine.

Nope, stop that, Bobby. You're here for a reason. No time for sarcastic remarks.

To answer the question, he lifts the bag. ]

Brought lunch.

[And in spite of himself, his lips quirk.]

You always bring food.

[Even here. And the familiarity of it makes him step back, let Bobby in - along with the knowledge that an anonymous fight over the network was stupid and childish, even if he didn't say anything that wasn't true. That girl just pissed him off, and having the two of them gang up like that reminded him too much of the latter days in Xavier's. When Bobby stopped being his ally and turned into just another voice telling him he was fundamentally wrong.]

Yeah, that's the only way I can get you to listen to me.

[ He enters the room, taking a moment to reminisce. Even from the beginning, they always bickered, but a few times, they crossed the line from banter to serious argument. Whenever that happened, Bobby would search through the mansion's kitchen and show up at their room to offer food as a silent apology. It was almost a reflex now. ]

[He sees that look, and he knows that Bobby is thinking of the same moments, the same scraps that got out of hand. It's the reason that Bobby is so hard to let go of completely - without the constant pressure of human cruelty making him choose the other side, these shared memories and times of effortless understanding are harder to lose. There are people that get parts of him and even accept more than Bobby will, but they don't have that history.

Pyro's had to erase his history so many times. It leaves him feeling a bit transparent around the edges sometimes.]

So I guess this means big, serious talk time, huh? [He grabs the bag away from Bobby and peeks inside, pulling out a bag of chips with a shake of his head. His favourite flavour.] Really serious.

[ That was the fatal flaw with the idea that they could become enemies. Their effortless friendship -- that unquestionable camaraderie that once existed -- isn't so easy to forget.

When John retrieves the chips, he nods. ]

[He ignores the rest of the food for now, going for the junk as always, and sits cross-legged on his bed with the chips.]

We're totally powerless here. [A pause.] I don't just mean our mutations, I mean everything. We can't speak out, we can't change anything meaningful - we can't even live as ourselves. Everyone laughed at me when I showed up because I said I'd never settle down or accept what they were doing here, but -

[The hand not holding the bag curls into a fist.]

- but now it's all bargains with gods and learning to use weapons, and I catch myself telling people that they'll learn to put up with it after awhile. They got into my head without even using a curse. This whole place has just gotten into my head. It pisses me off.

[That's the point of his whole tirade: he's on a hair-trigger lately, angered by the constant feeling that he's losing even more of himself every day he stays.]

[ Meanwhile, Bobby's share of snacks stay in the bag for now. He's not in the mood to eat, and he didn't really bring the food for himself, after all. ]

I know. I hate feeling helpless too.

[ A pause. ]

But y'know, remember what happened last time. They tried to take away who you were, but I didn't forget.

[ He'll be here to remind him. No matter how many petty fights they have. ]

That's who I was. [He levels Bobby with a grim look.] You know how much has changed. And I know you wan't accept it.

[Then he holds his hands up to stop anything Bobby might say.]

We're not having that fight again. But who I'm trying to hold onto and who you're trying to get back are two different people. That's just how it is.

[ He sighs softly. Was John right? Is he simply holding onto remnants of a memory? It's true; he'd never accept his loyalty to Magneto. However, the thought of them being enemies feels so fundamentally wrong. ]

I can't believe that.

[ How often will they have this conversation? How many times will Bobby return and try to reconcile?

In that moment, he suddenly realizes:

As many times as it takes. ]

You're my friend. [ No, that's not quite accurate either. ] My best friend. I can't just shrug that off.

[He stands up and hurls the bag of chips against the wall, just like he's done with his candles so many times before, but it just hits with a soft crinkling noise and slides to the floor. No satisfying thump, no splatter of wax. And with that, his anger deflates as well.

The problem is that he can't decide what to take away from that statement: whether Bobby is offering real reconciliation, with all of Pyro's changes intact, or if he's still living in denial and refusing to see what's right in front of him. Is it "I can't believe we can't get through this," or "I can't believe you're not still the same person?" They're very different, and one will continue this little war into infinity while the other -

- well, he just can't believe the other. Because of course they can't get through it. As soon as John Allerdyce becomes something other than what a person wants of him, he's no longer needed or wanted. Pyro walked out not only because he'd reached his breaking point with the X-Men, but because he knew when Bobby wouldn't follow that he had reached a breaking point. The one that the X-Men had reached with John long ago, even though they wouldn't go so far as kicking him right out. The one that his parents had reached.

It's all a lie, isn't it? Bobby being from a different time, not remembering, and clinging to their friendship for that reason. Can he really buy into that lie just because it feels comfortable in a place where everything is strange and infuriating?]

You know it's not that easy, either. [After going through all of that, he just looks defeated.] It can't be like it was.

[ Truthfully, the answer is complex. Of course, in an ideal situation, John (not Pyro) would come back. They would revert to being best friends again, pulling annoying but harmless pranks and sharing that profound level of trust they used to have.

What if there truly is no way for them to repair their bond? Would he sever their ties eventually?

There are moments when he fears that's his only option, but he ultimately knows better. No, of course he can't.

Bobby never leaves those who need him. In a time he hasn't experienced yet, he refused to hate his family, even when they rejected him. And when Rogue leaves for the cure, nothing could stop him from searching for her.

There's little difference here. John's betrayal hurt him deeply (and perhaps his allegiance to Magneto hurts most of all is because of his bias toward the man; how could John join Magneto, who threatened Rogue's life and would destroy his parents and brother without hesitation?). But regardless, he can't abandon him. ]

Maybe, but I'm not gonna leave you. No matter what.

[ This is what John needs, he realizes. Reassurance that he won't lose a friend, to counteract what he's expecting from the future. ]

You're gonna regret that.

[It's in no way a threat, nor does it sound like one - there's nothing in his voice but utter resignation. There are plans coming with Magneto, big plans, and they'll bear Pyro's stamp all over them. There's no way Bobby will be able to miss it.

But if he says that nothing will change things, then that's his cross to bear when the time comes. For now, it seems he's got one completely unshakeable friend.

He doesn't really know how to feel about that. But he does pick up his chips and sit down again, opening the bag and starting to eat. It's the best peace offering he can manage in return.]

Then, don't make me. [ His tone is solemn but calm. There's no hostility in his words. ] What're you planning?

I'm not dumb enough to expect that you'll spill all the details, but I at least need to know what you're getting yourself into.

[ If there's any hope for this friendship to last, they must have mutual trust, to some extent. ]

[Oh, okay, the second part changes -

- absolutely nothing.]

Just because the Professor's gone doesn't mean you won't try to get in there and screw things up. I know you. You really think I can report back to someone on his side?

[ Weren't they supposed to reconcile in this log? Uh oh...

His brow furrows. ]

Listen. I'm not talking about sides -- Magneto or the Professor. I'm talking about you and me.

I don't want you getting in over your head 'cause you're doing someone else's dirty work.

[He side-eyes Bobby for a moment, then sighs.]

It's nothing I can't handle. Trust me on that one.

[ He doesn't like the cryptic reply, but it doesn't surprise him, at least. ]

So what's his deal, anyway? There's no human versus mutant rivalry here. Is his grudge against the gods?

Of course it is. They're the ones who've tried to eliminate us as a species this time, at least in their little city. It's no better than trying to kill us.

[In some ways it's worse, because it's led to him living this disjointed, confused life. Always determined to hold onto what he is, but never sure what it means anymore.]

And he's planning to kill them, in retaliation. [ Probably, anyway. ]

We've seen what they can do. [ How powerless they are compared to the gods. ]

You striking a deal with their enemies or something?

Don't try to play in this game, Bobby. [He looks amused, which means that Bobby is completely wrong.] You're way out of your league. Apparently I talked to one of the enemies already, and all she did was make a lot of big promises that fell apart as soon as you started asking questions. That angle's no good.

[ His countenance turns a bit annoyed at John's smug smirk, but he keeps his temper in check. ]

Yeah? [ Still, that means it was a possible idea once. ]

Well, a direct attack's not gonna work.

Are you helping us with our strategy now?

[That one's pure teasing - not something he ever thought he could be lighthearted about with Bobby, but this conversation really is getting silly.]

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