-A/N-: This chapter struck me as odd for some reason. It’s like John is finally changing and feeling like he’s starting to belong in the mansion again.

---

John spent a good amount of his time searching the sizeable mansion for Erik Lensherr or the location of his temporary living quarters at least. For some reason, he wasn’t having any luck in tracking down the man. He’d already combed the guest rooms—they were all full, housing the increasing number of dejected mutants seeking refuge at the school due to the dying effects of the Cure. And he’d already tried the upper-level quarters where the staff slept. John couldn’t help but notice that Scott Summer’s room was seemingly untouched by the others, his things were all still there, intact and unmoved. The door to Jean Grey’s room however, was locked like a dark, wooden barrier that hid bleak secrets—as though the reminder of what she once was and what she ultimately became was too much for the mansion’s occupants to bear.

And it wasn’t as though the mansion wasn’t gloomy enough. The late news had traveled through the building like wildfire. Soon, everyone on campus seemed shaken by the fact that Warren’s renowned father had been murdered by crazy mutant-hating bastards. And the fact that he wasn’t even a mutant either gave them something to worry about.

Well, the worse is yet to come, I reckon, John muttered to himself inwardly.

He was about to give up what was once his tireless - but now pretty much aimless - search for his former leader when he ran into Bobby Drake just outside their room. My old room, John corrected himself automatically when he remembered that he had been sharing his room with poor old Pietro for quite awhile now.

“’Dyce, hey,” Bobby greeted, and then looked at him inquiringly. “You lookin’ for someone? You sure look like you are.”

John thought momentarily about just brushing him off, then changed his mind abruptly and asked, “Have you seen Magneto?”

Bobby’s brow furrowed and he looked at John almost warily. “What’s this about?” His voice bordered on guarded skepticism.

John stared at Bobby.

Just because it’s Magneto I’m looking for, he thinks I’m going to murder the school’s population or something. What the hell? He shook his head with a slight smirk before answering. “Oh, you know, I wanna’ blow the mansion up. I just gotta’ see if the dude likes my idea. Dammit, Drake, use your head. Why else would I wanna’ go looking for him for?”

Bobby sighed with a small smile and questioned him no further—years of friendship gave him the aptitude to know when he wasn’t being serious. “I heard he’s staying in one of the last few rooms in the new mutant dorms, next to Leech’s room I think.”

John couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at that. “They put him next to the boy whom he wanted to kill so badly on Alcatraz?”

The Iceman looked startled for a split second, as though just realising that particular fact. He then gave John a lifeless half-shrug. “The Professor knows what he’s doing. I shouldn’t be too worried.”

John took a moment to study Bobby’s face—it wasn’t exactly like him to be this aloof—and found traces of fear and unsettlement hidden behind his troubled eyes.

“What’s eating you?” John asked, unable to help himself.

Bobby just smiled blandly and made to turn away and walk back into his room. “It’s nothing you’d be bothered about,” the blue-eyed boy replied indifferently, waving his question aside. “Just go on ahead and look for your old pal.”

John frowned. What the hell was wrong with him? “Hey, man. Just because I seriously want to kick you in the ass doesn’t change the fact that we’re friends. And I know a brooding-Bobby when I see one. So, what the hell’s eatin’ you?”

Bobby looked back at John and held his gaze for what felt like ages before he let loose a second sigh and spoke, nervously glancing up and down the hallway at the same time as though afraid that someone might overhear what he had to say.

“It’s… uh, well it’s about Kitty…” he mumbled, “and Jubilee too,” he added quickly, fidgeting uneasily on the spot.

Huh?

John’s expression suddenly changed to one of amusement when he realised the subject in which Bobby was bordering on. “I get it,” he said, trying his hardest not to grin. “This is mostly about Kitty ain’t it?”

Bobby gave John what seemed like the ultimate look of annoyance and pain melded together in one tight-lipped grimace. “Yeah. Well… right. It’s about Kitty. Jubilee has nothing to do with this.”

John was smirking now. “What about Little Miss Pryde?”

Bobby gave a strangled noise like he’d swallowed something the wrong way. John had the impression that whatever he was trying to say was proving to be extremely difficult.

“Well, she, ah…” He rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably, “Actually, can we not talk about this now?”

“Just spit it out already, Drake!”

“Look, she—and Jubilee I suppose… they’ve been crying over Warren’s dad’s death for ages now. It’s as though they think Warren himself is dead. And, I dunno, the Professor’s supposed death may have hit Kitty hard but this is… ridiculous!” he exclaimed in a semi-hushed voice, “She wasn’t this upset when Xavier died!”

John examined the boy before him for a while longer, before coming to an amusing conclusion.

“Could little Bobby Icefreak be jealous of the bereaved angel?” John wondered aloud, semi-incredulous.

Bobby’s head snapped up and he looked as though he’d been slapped. “What? Jealous…!” he gibbered, outraged. But John always knew that anger was usually used to cover up embarrassment.

“Oh god, and I thought I’ve seen it all,” John sniggered. “You pining after Kitty… that’s just hilarious! And now you’re jealous that she’s paying more attention to Warren instead of you! Hah!”

Bobby flushed, summoning up his ultimate death glare this time. “Thanks,” he muttered sarcastically, “you’ve helped a lot.”

“So it is true!” John howled with laughter.

“Cut it out, man!” Bobby hissed, a dark look crossing his face like a mask of miserable trepidation.

Something in Bobby’s hard voice made John stop laughing. But a grin was still firmly plastered on his face. He gave the Iceman a friendly pat on the back. “Don’t worry, Drake. Secret’s safe with me.”

Bobby swatted his hand away like an annoying fly. “Why do I get the impression that you’re not very trustworthy?”

John smirked. “Because I’m unpredictable, Drake. Very unpredictable.”

Bobby just groaned and shook his head, mumbling something incoherent under his breath.

“Well, whatever,” John said offhandedly, “I’m off. See ya’ around, Ice.”

With that, John set off down the corridor in the direction of the new mutant dorms, vaguely aware that Bobby had gone back into his room and slammed the door behind him in a huff.

John laughed to himself. Who knew the Iceman could be so bloody emo when it came to girls?

The pyrokinetic manipulator made his way to Magneto’s room unhurriedly, now that he had a proper destination in mind. Bypassing Kitty’s room, he wasn’t entirely surprised to see the door shut—and most likely locked as well. All was quiet from within however.

He finally came to a stop in front of the room that stood just to the left of Jimmy’s. It was devoid of life, but there was no questioning that it was indeed Magneto’s room. No doubt, he didn’t see Erik arrive at their doorstep with anything in hand, much less a suitcase full of his belongings. But there on the bed in the very center of the room sat an open travel case stuffed full of the man’s possessions. And on the mahogany desk at the very far end of the small room, John recognized the unmistakable dorky-looking helmet and red-black ensemble.

How’d he get that in here?

And John wondered for a fleeting instant if Magneto had lived in the mansion before; years back when he had been close friends with Xavier.

Either way, Erik Lensherr was not in his room at the moment and John mentally cursed his luck.

“Looking for him, I suppose?” a vaguely familiar feminine voice rang out from behind him.

John had no trouble discerning whom it belonged to even though it wasn’t exactly the inhuman, reptilian voice he was used to, but a more subtle, ordinary voice. It still hadn’t lost its superior-than-thou edge however.

“Mystique,” he greeted in an even voice, turning on the spot and fixing the dark-haired woman with a cool gaze. It was strange to see her walking around without her blue skin, yellow eyes and flaming red hair. But it was a nice change. Still, that didn’t mean she wasn’t as quick on her feet.

“Good to see someone around here calls me by my mutant alias.” The woman sniffed disdainfully. “I was getting tired of being Raven.”

John raised an eyebrow. Raven wasn’t such a bad name, really.

“Anyway,” Mystique continued, “You won’t find him here. He’s gone to discuss tactics with Charles Xavier in their little war room belowground.” The way she said the word ‘tactics’ made it seem like it were an absurdity. But John knew better.

He sensed contempt in her voice.

Don’t tell me she’s jealous too. John was ready to bet that Mystique was getting all bitchy because she used to be the only one that Magneto would readily share his plans with. Now, that was not the case.

“Tactics?” John echoed mildly.

“They think the mutant-haters are going to strike again,” she said flatly.

He wasn’t sure how she knew all this but he was sure that she didn’t want to refer to Erik by name.

“And where do you stand in all this?” John asked finally.

Mystique’s eyes flickered a gleaming yellow before changing back to its pale blue. “Frankly, I don’t care anymore. I don’t plan on getting involved again. Ever. Let them fight their own battles. I’ll fight mine.”

John shrugged. “Fair enough,” he replied. And then he suddenly realised that she had just emerged from the room to the right of Magneto’s. “Your room’s right next to his?”

She glanced once at the doorway to her own room and nodded mechanically. “I was a ‘new mutant’, remember? Risty Wilde. So now I’m stuck in the new mutant dorms.” She made a face. “Funny thing, huh? Strange how they didn’t put you in a room down this corridor. That would have made us a big, bloody happy family now, wouldn’t you say?”

Not if you tear Magneto’s throat out while he’s asleep, John wanted to say. She was still obviously hurt about what the man did. Damn, the dude really knows how to ditch people who were actually close to him.

He sighed. It was time to change the subject before she decided to get all depressed and angry and defensive. Like Bobby.

“How’ve you been, Mystique? I don’t really recall talking to you since the whole Risty thing.”

She looked startled for a moment, but then dropped her insensitive and stiff manner and gave him what seemed like a wry smile. “I’ve been better. But I must say that having classes here while being the young purple-haired adolescent had been… interesting.”

John smirked. “I believe you called yourself a minor shapeshifter?” he asked, remembering the conversation they had in the kitchen when he still thought she was an audacious teen. “Didn’t know you were actually willing to stoop so low as to adopt that as your power.”

Mystique only gave John a look of irritation. “Overconfidence leads to suspicion, Pyro. I had to keep a low profile. Deceit is everything if you want to fool your opponent,” she hissed. “Thought I’ve told you that once before.”

John didn’t really want to remind her that she’d told him that at least a dozen times in the past while he was under her and Magneto’s guidance.

“Well, you sure fooled me when you were Risty.”

“That’s because you were too busy concentrating on that other girl. What was it they call her? Rogue. That’s the one.” She smirked. “And you were in that little squabble with the Iceman too that night in her room.”

“That was an interesting fight, now that I look back,” John said lightly.

“I heard you lost the one at Alcatraz.”

“In all fairness, he cheated.” It was true to an extent. Bobby turned into Popsicle Man for real. And then froze his hands.

He cheated big time.

“But you still lost,” she chided him. “Weren’t you always the cheater?”

“Whatever.”

There was a slight pause in their banter.

“You’ve fallen for her, haven’t you?” Mystique asked finally, a small smile gracing her lips.

“Who? Rogue?”

“Yes. Her.”

“You know what? You’re right.”

“I knew it.”

“You know a lot of things, Mystique. You’ve probably been eavesdropping on our conversations posed as Jubilee or something.”

“I would do no such thing,” the woman declared hotly, but without any real indication that she had been offended.

John snorted. “And why do I not believe you?”

Their conversation lasted for a good ten minutes longer and John wasn’t quite sure how they got from overly-angsty to lighthearted. But he knew that one thing was for sure: They were now on much friendlier terms with each other than what they were before.

-

Rogue really wished she’d gone with John to look for Magneto, now that she’d realised how boring it was outside. Sure, the mansion grounds sprawled extensively and were no doubt beautiful with all its fine greenery, but she was starting to feel a little weary.

“You sure you don’t wanna’ come with me to go see him?” John had asked her.

“Not particularly. The man tried to kill me, remember?” she recalled herself replying.

“You know he’s not gonna’ lay a single finger on you while I’m around, Marie.”

And she had only given him a shrug of irresolution.

“Okay, I understand totally. You don’t have to follow.”

“Yeah, umm… I’ll just go out and get some fresh air. Think I need it.”

And here she was, doing just that, sitting by the edge of the vast water fountain that the mansion overlooked. Grass and dead leaves of every colour stretched out below her feet. The water feature itself was picturesque in its own right and clear, crystalline water was merrily trickling down the fountain spouts like drizzly fireworks, catching the late afternoon sunlight and reflecting in into her eyes.

Everything was so peaceful out here.

Truth be told, John was still in her head. Literally. The little kiss they shared resulted in her now wanting to see things blow up, for lack of a better expression, but it also made her wonder if there could be some other, hopefully safer, way for them to touch.

They had gone through so much together and so many words and emotions had been exchanged… Their last two kisses had proven that there was something there. Something magical. And she didn’t want to lose him. Not ever. Not when she’d nearly lost him at Alkali Lake. And Alcatraz.

Alcatraz… That had been a disaster. The Brotherhood had been at fault there, Rogue knew. And now, was there going to be another disaster with this new group of extremists?

The girl silently tucked a loose strand of silvery-white hair that was billowing about in the wind behind her ear before gently removing a glove and dipping pale a finger into the fountain idly, swirling the cool waters with languid ease.

Bobby did this once, she recalled. He’d put a finger to the water and turned it all to ice for Kitty Pryde. And they’d gone skating on this very fountain under the moonlit sky. That had been just after Xavier’s demise. It was one of the things that drove her to take the Cure in the first place—winning Bobby’s heart back. Well, not really. She did it because she needed to feel skin, to feel… normal.

Her hand skimmed across the water once more, enjoying the feel of it running through her fingers. She remembered how pretty the fountain looked when it had all turned to ice and wondered how the hell Bobby had managed to turn it all completely snow-white with just one finger.

She frowned and tried to rid her mind of all the things that Bobby did and did not do for her in the past. It didn’t matter anymore, she told herself. She had John. And he was all she ever wanted.

She stirred the water once more and realised with some foreboding that it was much colder than what it once was. She glanced down at the mirrored surface, expecting to see her reflection looking back up at her. But that was not what she noticed immediately.

Standing up with widened eyes, she backed away from the edge of the water feature in horror when she realised that half the fountain had turned to ice and water had stopped pouring down the spout.

“Shit.”

---

-A/N-: Climax. Is. Coming. Soon.

BOBBY’S HAVING GIRL PROBLEMS!

Hmm… On another note, I took the liberty to visit Youtube the other day to watch some X-Men: Evolution episodes (God, I missed that show) and I just have to say that Evo-Bobby is THE MOST adorkable thing since… uh, Evo Kurt! He’s the most flirtatious, unserious, lady-lovin’ juvenile you have EVER seen. Plus he thinks he’s awesome. Well, he IS awesome, and his powers DO kick ass (way better than movieverse-Bobby who hasn’t demonstrated the ‘ice slide technique’… YET). But in all fairness, Evo-Pyro would kill Evo-Bobby in a firefight, no questions asked.

Okay, I’m ranting and raving here. On to review responses!

PsYcHoThErApY17: I seriously LOVE you for quoting your favourite scenes last chapter in your review! At least I know I’m writing those two right. Seriously, I love you! And you’ve been sticking with this fic for so long! It’s now at least 4 frickin’ months old. LOL. :)

mellowgold: Hey! Haven’t seen you review in awhile! Thanks for the review! Did you really go back to read the first chapter? Whoa!

we-r-the-cure: YES! RYRO FOREVER! You can never have too much Ryro! And yes, regarding Firefly/Serenity, Mal’s my hero! LOL.

yaba: You’re absolutely correct in saying that the last chapter seemed like the ‘calm before the storm’… There’s a huge, big, bad storm coming.

Obiwanfan: Hmm… I try my hardest to update as soon as possible—at the very least once a week. So fear not! Even if I’m dying of some virus, I’ll still update this thing once every seven days.

BrownEyedAngel14: Hey there! AWESOME! Did this fic actually get you hooked onto Ryro? Dang, I’m ecstatic now. Thank you for reviewing and welcome aboard the ‘Stranger’ ship!

And many thanks to the rest: zshp1411, Dama Jade, xLiLix, the sillylittlepanda, storytellergirl & annie as always for reviewing!