playing with fire! ( pyro. )

[beckii]

Rogue knew what she was doing was a huge risk. However Rogue had to know what was going on. First X, and now Adam. What the hell did X want with Logan, and why was Adam at the mansion? He was hiding something, she knew that much. Unfortunately she had no idea where William Stryker was, even if he was alive, and so she couldn't get to the source of the problem. However, there was Magneto. He was pretty much the biggest villian around, and if something was going on it was most likely that he knew about it. Hence why she was here at his mansion. It had taken a lot to find out where it even was. Now she had to get inside. Rogue just hoped her sneaking skills had improved since she tried to stalk Adam. Inhaling a deep breath she proceeded to sneak onto the grounds, keeping to the shadows whenever possible as well as hiding behind man-made objects and flauna. She didn't doubt he had CCTV going on, as well as other security measures, so Rogue was doing her best to avoid them all.

Fortunately with having known Kitty so long, Rogue was pretty okay when it came to hacking computers. She was pretty sure all she had to do was get to Magneto's office, go through his files and computer, and she would find out all she wanted to know. She just had to get inside, go to the first floor, and find his office. Biting her bottom lip she glanced out from where she was hiding behind a bush. Now, was she going to go in the front door or the back door? Perhaps she should have done more recon first. Ah well, she couldn't really redo it now. She was here, and she doubted she would get a second chance. That is unless she pretended to join the Brotherhood. Rogue knew she wouldn't do that unless she had no other option. After all, it wasn't likely she had family at the Brotherhood in Rogue's knowledge. Of course she was wrong considering Mistique was her mother and Sabertooth was her father. Rogue didn't know this, and who knew who of the Brotherhood knew it.

Rogue decided that it would be best to find an empty room with an open window. Going in the front door or even back door would be too risky. She wasn't sure if any of the Brotherhood was home, and she really did not want to run into any of them - after all it would defeat the purpose of sneaking in. So Rogue quietly padded around the grounds, making sure to hide along the way. Eventually she found a living room which had no one in it. Good. She glanced around herself quickly, knowing she would have to do a quick run on the open grounds with no where to hide to get to the window. It would be a huge risk but then again all of this was a huge risk. She supposed her entire life was just danger so why shouldn't she just keep going anyway? After a few minutes of hesitation Rogue got her confidence built up. She shot up to her feet and ran as fast as possible to the window. Unfortunately it didn't seem fast enough because before she knew it she heard a voice. A familiar voice. Talking to her. Sighing deeply Rogue turned around to look at Pyro.

"Hey, fancy seeing ya here..."

Yep, she was screwed.

[pyro2]

After spending so much time at the X-Men mansion with the rest of the Brotherhood, it was a bit strange to be back here. Strange and empty. Magneto had asked him to get some things he needed from his office, and since there had been not much else to do, he had agreed to do it. The house had been deserted and seemed untouched when he had entered it about two hours ago. He had walked through the rooms, just to make sure that there hadn't been any visitors. Then he packed the things Magneto wanted and stored everything in the car. Finally he had done a last round inside the building and was just leaving it, when he detected some movement out of the corner of his left eye.

He quickly moved backwards to the wall and took another peek. There was someone sneaking around in the bushes near the house. Quietly he followed, his hand moving into his pocket to draw out his trusted zippo. He couldn't really see much but it seemed it was only one person. And that person rather suddenly darted out of the bushes and ran towards the house. Only now he recognized her.

Taken by surprise, he revealed himself by stepping out of the shadows. "Rogue? What the fuck?" She came to a sudden stop and turned to him with an expression on her face that clearly signaled she was caught in the act. But what act? "Yeah who would have thought, right? Me, the Brotherhood guy here at the Brotherhood mansion..." He studied her, the zippo still in his hand. "Why are you sneaking around here?"

[beckii]

"Oh! So this is the Brotherhood mansion. Ah never knew that. Ah was just looking for places to loot... It seemed abandoned."

That has to be the worst lie ever told. Rogue thought even as she said it. What was she supposed to do though, tell the truth? The Xmen were working with the Brotherhood to defeat Apocolypse. If they found out one of the Xmen had tried to break into their mansion, well, it wouldn't end well. Xavier would probably be angry she had ruined the whole working together to defeat the greater evil thing, and she had no doubt Magneto would love to see her suffer again in payment of her doing such a thing. She knew Pyro wouldn't buy it but the best she could do now was do her best to deny everything. As long as she didn't admit to any of it they couldn't say she had been here on purpose, knowing it was the Brotherhood mansion, and tried to break in. They could accuse of course but they couldn't prove it. Rogue hoped anyway. I really need to work on my sneaking skills. This is getting ridiculous. Rogue decided.

She bit her bottom lip, glad for the moment the fact she was trying not to get into trouble was hiding how she felt about Pyro. He was even more attractive then ever. She hated to admit it, but being a villian - as it were - just made him even more attractive. Rogue didn't know what was wrong with her. She was a good person. So why on earth was she attracting bad boys like moths to a flame? First X, now Adam, and now Pyro. There was also Magneto of course, and briefly Sabertooth. There had to be something wrong with her. No one person could attract half the danger Rogue had without something being wrong with them. She glanced down at Pyro's zippo briefly, remembering the time she had been forced to absorb him to put his fires out. The only time she had touched him and it hadn't been for pleasure. It was a deep shame. She glanced back up at his face, knowing despite her attraction to Pyro - and long standing crush - she would have to keep herself on guard.

[pyro2]

"Right", Pyro said with a frown and a voice that betrayed his doubt about her explanation. His eyes moved up and down on her. "Looting." He considered the implications. "Do you loot a lot, lately? I know, times got more difficult and maybe Xavier isn't keeping his people as well fed, clothed and furnitured as he used to." There was quite some sarcasm in his voice.

Then he sighed. "It's me Rogue, not some dim-wit, Magneto just took in because he likes to follow orders and is good at destruction." Even though, he, of course, was extremely good at destruction. "So, I'll ask again: What are you doing here?"

It didn't sound threatening but there was more than just curiosity behind it. He felt protective of this place, no X-man (or -woman) had any right to snoop around here. Also, Rogue wasn't exactly his most favorite girl in the world. It was mainly her fault that his friendship with Bobby had gone south, after all. And he still remembered the sickening feeling when she had grabbed his ankle at the Drake residence in Boston, how he felt his powers draining out of him, getting weaker, vanishing. It had been a nightmare come true, and he actually did have nightmares of losing his powers, occasionally. He never had had those before her little intervention.

[beckii]

Damn it! I should have gone with a better lie. Rogue thought as he called her bluff. She was tempted to try and get herself to cry. She had heard crying usually got girls out of tight situations, but for some reason she didn't feel comfortable with manipulating John like that. John. She missed her friend John. He was Pyro now though, and he didn't seem to like her at all. She couldn't blame him either. She hated her ability herself. She knew no one could like ever being the victim of it. Still, it hurt to know he didn't even like her or wasn't even happy to see her. Hell, she'd settle for plain lust from him right now then the purely negative feelings he seemed to be showing her. Now she really did feel like she wanted to cry. Biting her bottom lip she looked down at the ground, letting her crimson and white hair fall loose to hide her face as she tried her hardest not to cry and if she did not to let Pyro see it. If she could go back in time, Rogue would have spent more time with John instead of practically abandoning him in lue of Bobby's attentions. She had been so stupid, but now, it seemed she couldn't even try to make things right. She wished she could but she didn't see how she could.

"Ah, uh, wanted to see you."

It wasn't an exact lie. It wasn't why she was here but Rogue had wanted to see him. She bit her bottom lip as she wrapepd her arms around herself and risked lifting her head to look at him hoping to god he didn't see the tears in her eyes. Right now Rogue would have settled for fighting with him because at least then she knew he could maybe feel something good for her again. After all the saying did say there was a fine line between love and hate. He didn't seem at all bothered in seeing her. Well, besides being annoyed. Perhaps she should just leave. She couldn't sneak into the place right now with Pyro here, and she doubted he wanted to spend any time with her. Sighing, she glanced away and tucked some hair behind her ear. Right now ah think ah'd rather face X then have to be here... this hurts so much. Rogue thought as she glanced over at the main gate.

"Ah'll get out of your hair. Bye John."

She whispered quietly as she began to walk towards the gate.

[pyro2]

Slightly puzzled he looked at her now. Her subdued reaction, the way how she was hiding her face... what was going on here? And then finally, she claimed she was here to see him? "Why would you come all the way here if you could just go around the corner at the mansion and see me there?" Well, that was the one question. The other, much more interesting question... "Why would you wanna see me?" She had never been interested in him before, so what did she want now?

But it just got more and more bizarre. When she finally looked at him again, her face seemed flushed and her whole behavior was just... odd. And on top of that she suddenly declared that she would leave now, only to turn around and just do that. Pyro stood there for a split second, unsure what to make of it. "Rogue, what the fuck is going on?" he then demanded to know, talking to her back. "You're behaving like a 6 year old that got caught with her hands in a honey pot. Why did you want to break into the Brotherhood mansion?" He put the zippo back in his pocket and took out a keychain instead. "I do have a key, you know..."

[beckii]

Pyro did have a point there. She could have easily seen him at the mansion. Why wasn't her brain working properly right now? Oh, right. Pyro was here. She never seemed to have her brain functioning properly with him around. She bit her bottom lip as he asked her why she would want to see him, and then asked what was going on as he called her acting like a six year old with their hand in the honey pot. How on earth was she supposed to answer that?

"Ah... Ah wanna tell you but... Ahm ashamed, and ya'd probably laugh at me..."

Rogue found herself stopped short as Pyro mentioned he had a key. She turned around in shock looking at him then at the key chain. Was he serious?

"Ya would seriously let me in there, knowing ah probably was up to no good?"

Now this Rogue hadn't expected. She couldn't quite believe it. Maybe her friend John was still in there somewhere, all be it a bit crass. Then again, John had never been the polite well mannered type like Bobby. Bobby had been the safe choice back then. Not that she hadn't ever cared about Bobby because she did and had, just a different way now. However Rogue still felt ashamed she had choosen Bobby, in a way, over John just because Bobby was the safer choice. She had never been proud of that. Since Pyro was willing to let her in, with a key no less, Rogue decided she could perhaps trust her friend.

"Ah need to look at Magneto's files and computer. Ah need to find out what is going on with some other people, and Magneto has always known what is going on, especially when it comes to bad guys, so ah thought he would have the information ah need. Ahm not here to hurt the Brotherhood, and ah would have asked but ah can't let anyone else know what is going on, not until ah do. Some things just don't make sense in meh life right now and ah just need to know the people ah have met what they are up to and why. Please don't tell anyone. Xavier and everyone would be so disappointed with meh since we and the Brotherhood are supposed to be working together right now, and here ah am trying to sneak into the Brotherhood's mansion. It would ruin everything, and ah can't be a screw up again. Ah can't be a failure again. Ah just found a purpose in my life, thanks to Xavier, and ah don't want to go back to being the screw up leech..."

[pyro2]

She was of course right. In all likelihood he would laugh at her - whatever reasons she could possibly have for her behavior, it would be very entertaining and amusing for sure. But before he could go further into that, she reacted positively thrilled to his revealing of the key which was currently dangling on a little keychain between the fingers of his left hand. "Well, I don't know about that." He studied her face. "But why don't you try me?"

She seemed to be reluctant at first, considering his proposal - but then started to talk. Like a little waterfall as a matter of fact. John listened to this... well, outburst, trying to make sense of it. Obviously Rogue wasn't exactly in a happy place right now. Funny. It seemed one was leaving Bobby Drake at one's own peril. Not that John hadn't been in a happy place after he did that, but when it came to certain parts of his life, he might have wanted... the fire mutant interrupted that train of thought very quickly and focused back on the story at hand, on Rogue.

"So, let me get this straight. You met some people, some non-X-men-people and you suspect that they might be up to no good. And instead of talking to high-almighty-Xavier who happens to be your leader and - conveniently - a telepath, you come here with the plan to break into the deserted mansion of Magneto, assuming that the master of magnetism might know something about said people, has that information on file and has left those files and his computers for anyone to look at who happens to have some burglary skills?" He looked her in the eyes. "Is that about right?"

[beckii]

"Ah... uh... Ah never thought ah'd actually say it to you... Ah can still remember when we met... you, me and Bobby... Ah felt drawn to ya... both... Ah really screwed up. Ah had the biggest crush on ya but ah knew... well ah felt... god, ah dunno how to even explain it. Uh, ya know in those typical teen movies there's the safe boy who would never hurt ya, and then the wild guy who ya know could break you until ya are unrepairable if he really wanted to and got close enough to ya... Thats how it kinda felt for me. Bobby should have been my best friend, but... he was safe, and he liked me... My power hurts... Its a curse... Ah just needed safe... Then ya left... ah miss you. Since ya left ah always hoped ya'd come back... Bobby kissed Kitty... when the cure came out. Ah don't blame them, but ah just couldn't keep him around any more. He's a nice guy and deserves to be with someone he can touch, who can give him everything. We broke up. Ah miss ya ah guess... Ah miss being able to call ya John... hanging out. Admiring your ability... Ah always thought it was pretty awesome."

Rogue eventually admitted. He was definately going to laugh at her. Well, at least I got it off my chest Rogue thought.

When Pyro spoke again she glanced back up at him and frowned.

"Well when ya say it like that it sounds stupid. Look, there are some bits ah can't tell ya about. Ah can't tell anyone whats going on. Ah have to protect people. Ah told you 'cos ah trust ya. Call me niave or whatever, but to me you'll always be John."

Rogue responded firmly. Just when she thought he was going to help and be decent he then turns. Maybe she shouldn't have told him. She couldn't take it back now. All she could do was hope he didn't tell anyone, and if he did, well at least she didn't tell him the important details of everything. Sighing she ran a hand through her crimson hair in fustration. She supposed though when she told him she had a crush on him - well it was still kinda there - she had felt a weight lift off her shoulders.

[pyro2]

It really didn't happen a lot that St. John Allerdyce was stunned, and he was utterly unable to hide the raising amount of surprise on his face when Rogue had her little monologue about the old times and how she had had this mad crush on him, the wild guy. When she was done, John blinked with his eyes and was, for a moment literally speechless. Also, he didn't laugh. She even admired his ability. Had he known any of this at the time, everything might have turned out quite differently. How could he not have known this? Had Bobby ever known? "I...", he had to clear his throat and tried again. "I had no idea..." They had been friendly enough originally but after her and Bobby got an item, the dynamic had changed quickly. He never got the impression that she liked him very much, and he certainly was blaming her for keeping Bobby occupied far too much. He still wasn't sure what to say. He couldn't mock someone who admired his powers, could he?

When she continued to talk, he only half-listened, still busy to digest all that. Absent-mindedly he added. "You shouldn't... Trust me, I mean." Confused, irritated, also a bit annoyed about all of this, he sat down on a small garden wall that separated the park from the way to the entrance, sighed, then looked at her. "I don't know how much Magneto will be able to help you. But I can assure you that if he has such informations, there won't be in his computer and there won't be in this building. There is nothing of importance back here, not while we're all somewhere else. it's far too risky that it could fall into the wrong hands." It was much easier to talk about this than what she had revealed before.

[beckii]

"Honestly, ah wasn't sure ya liked me in that way. You and Bobby had a rivarly even then... Ah... Ah have no self confidence... You're... well ya. Ya could have anyone you wanted. Why waste any time on meh? Ah can't even be touched... Besides, you and Bobby were so close... Always competing, although it was friendly then... Ah didn't think ah stood a chance... Ah would have been devastated to tell ya ah wanted ya and then to have ya reject me, so ah hid it. Ya don't have to say anythin'. Ah never thought ya would want me. Ah've accepted that. Ah've accepted ah'll always be alone. Its fine."

Rogue confessed, biting her bottom lip as her gaze fell to the grass again. She leaned against the brick wall of the building next to the open window. She listened as John spoke again and did appreciate his honesty. Well, there was no information here. Rogue sighed. Now what was she going to do? Forcing back any tears, and doing her best to hide her emotional turmoil she glanced up at John.

"Do ya know if William Stryker is alive, and if not, took over for him, and where the headquarters are?"

She asked, tilting her head a little before shaking her head.

"Ah'll always trust ya John. You may be Pyro now, and with the Brotherhood, but to me you'll always be John who impressed me when he created a fire ball in class."

[pyro2]

The irony of the constellation at the time was staggering, Pyro thought, contemplating the past while she continued talking. What a great little triangle they had been. Bobby had been into Rogue, Rogue had been into him, and he... he had been... ah, fuck it! "You would have stood no chance", he said and looked her in the eye. "I was a teenage boy...", he shrugged. He would have never gone for a girl he couldn't have sex with, it was one of the most mystifying things for him that Bobby didn't seem to care about that.

And as much as he had hardened himself these past years, Rogue's words about having accepted that she'd always be alone, touched something in him, because it sounded so sad and lonely. "It's not so bad being alone", he said and his voice was nearly kind. "I'm alone. Also means a lot of freedom and independence. Less worries."

Rogue seemed even more devastated by the fact that the Brotherhood mansion contained no secret information for her. "As far as I know, Magneto killed Stryker at Alkali Lake by chaining him to a wall that would be flooded..." He shrugged. "Why don't you talk with Logan or Xavier about these things? They would know." Why would she trust Brotherhood information more than what she could learn of those people she belonged to? Why was Stryker even an issue anymore? He shook his head when she talked how she trusted him. "I'm not that boy anymore. And I'm not the only one who has changed..."

[beckii]

So he didn't want her. Rogue had told herself that but it hurt more hearing it directly from him. She bit her bottom lip as she glanced down at her feet, watching as the grass brushed against her shoes. Rogue listened as John spoke about loneliness.

"Ah haven't been touched in years. Not even a handshake. Ya don't know how that feels John. Everyone takes their senses for granted. No one understands what its like to not have one. To know if ah gave in, if ah touched just one person for just one second ah will hurt them. Ah don't want to live with this. Ah would have killed myself after all this time if ah could... but there is always something in my soul that won't let meh. Ah tried the cure and now its only temporary. Ah never got to find love so ah could have my first time... Ya don't know what it likes to be lonely as ah am. Always being covered up. Ah would trade anything ah posess just for one minute to be able to touch without causing anyone any pain."

Rogue explained, not even sure why she was being so open with him. She had never told anyone any of this. She didn't see the point of telling them. None of them would understand, and they would just all end up pitying her. She didn't need their pity, and she didn't want them to look down on her either.

"Ah can't tell anyone John! Ah need to protect them. Ah have to do this on my own. Ah'll find the information ah need. Eventually."

She just had to figure out who else would know about Stryker and his program. Who else could she go to? If the Phoenix was still around she could probably find it all out for her. Rogue finally lifted her head to look at John as he spoke about not being the same boy any more.

"Ya haven't changed that much. Ya should have attacked and killed meh by now, but ya haven't. There is still good in you. As much as ah want ya back at the mansion, ah won't try to convince ya to come back. Just know, ya will always be my friend. Ah will do anything for ya. Even get in the way if or when Bobby or anyone else tries to hurt ya. Its the least ah would do."

She frowned in confusion though when he mentioned he wasn't the only one who had changed.

"What do ya mean?"

[pyro2]

Pyro frowned. "You have touched me once and it's not something I will ever forget." One of his more unpleasant memories, right up there with being knocked out by Drake's icy head on Alcatraz. But he continued to listen. "Why did you leave Bobby when you had the cure - you could have touched him then, no? Why don't you just get yourself a stack of this cure stuff and renew it when the effect is fading, treat your powers as a chronic illness like HIV or something. You do have options..." He saw no reason to pity her. If he had her powers, he'd probably set himself up to be the worlds deadliest and highest paid assassin. And yeah, sure, for his other needs, he might actually use the cure, find a dosage that just made it possible to go without his powers for one night or so.

His frown deepend when she explained why she couldn't tell anybody. "Why would you...?" But then he just shook his head. "Hey, up to you, you're a grown girl and have to know why you do what you do." Obviously despite her talk of trust, she didn't trust him far enough to explain what was actually going on.

"Aren't you forgetting something? We're supposed to work together. I'm not killing any X-Men right now, Magneto would have my balls if I did. Also, I do currently reside at the mansion... but you're right, there is no chance to convince me to stay longer than I have to." The fact that she would do anything for him, even defend him against her former boyfriend, caused him to pause. He looked at her skeptically. "Why would you do that? I've never been a friend to you, never did anything for you. Bobby is the one you should be nice to, not me."

When she asked what he meant with the change, he just shrugged. "Everybody has. Bobby for sure has, most people at the mansion have." The building, as familiar as its setting was to him, did feel pretty alien. Sure he had spend some of his happier times there, in the beginning at the school, but it didn't feel like that at all, now that he was back there.

[beckii]

Rogue frowned as the niceness of the conversation seemed to be over. Perhaps deep down she had rather hoped that when they did finally get to talk, that her and John would have this undeniable chemistry, and that things would get better from there. Unfortunately that wasn't happening. She had just been starting to feel like an adult with a purpose after her latest meeting with Xavier. The more John spoke though the more Rogue was feeling like he saw ( and she felt she was ) a stupid little girl who didn't know what she was talking about. Rogue knew her life would never be a happy romance novel, but she couldn't help but hope. That hope seemed to be waning. She felt hurt when John mentioned she had touched him once and it would not be something he would ever forget. Unfortunately, as much as she wished those words had been said in a positive way his tone made it clear he meant them in a negative way. It struck at her heart, sending a slice through it. She actually felt it clench as she closed her eyes, trying so hard to keep herself somewhere near composed.

"Ah had no choice... Ya were gonna kill innocent people... Ah had to stop you..."

She whimpered quietly, her voice so soft and quiet it almost couldn't be heard.

"The evening ah left to get the cure, before ah decided, ah saw him and Kitty... He had frozen the fountain, they were skating... She almost fell... He caught her... they kissed. Ah took the cure after ah saw that, but by the time ah got back ah realised... ah just couldn't hold Bobby back anymore. He deserved to be with someone who is worth more then dirt, he deserved to be with someone who he could touch. He deserved more then meh, so ah left him."

Rogue explained. At this point she didn't expect John to understand, nor did she want his sympathy. Her life was a living hell, and she had accepted that. She accepted people would always see her as a plague or a leech. Logan would always hold his daughter higher then her. She would always be a second thought, and she would never be touched, would never get to date, and would always be wrapped up in clothing just so she didn't send anyone into a coma by accident. This was her life. Her life would never be normal. It would never be filled with happiness, friends, shopping, going out, dating, romance, and kids. No. She would always be the Rogue. She knew this and at this point she had accepted it..

"Bobby can take care of himself. Not that you can't of course, but your meh friend John, even if you hate, are disgusted by me, want to kill me, and just plain can't bare to be any where near me. Ah won't have many friends in meh life... Ya may not see meh as a friend, but ya mine, and ah'll do anything for meh friends."