A/N: post DvW au, a revamp of my abandoned fic "self destruct", idk why I chose to write this in first person, but it's from the pov of my oc. I wrote this quickly as a freewrite. the tense changes mid-way sorry, this is quick and dirty writing - if that doesn't dissuade you, please read ahead. In this verse, Pyro had been stuck in that Deadpool hellscape for 20 years and now he's back in the real world, a post-apocalyptic guy trying to survive in the modern world and he's started to attract the wrong attention. Meanwhile, there has been friction among the remaining mutants and X-Men as alliances change. And the rest, you'll have to stay and read to find out.
---
I keep my eyes trained on the back of his head as he walks down the street, slipping into the crowd. No one is hurt yet but a crowd is growing, sirens blare in the distance and the scent of smoke is in the air.
I move against incoming onlookers and he slips out of sight, behind a building. It takes a few seconds for me to feel him. In a public space like this I'm receiving all sorts of frequencies -- only human, no animals-- and of course, mutants. His energy is crackling like a growing flame emitting pleasurable sparks.
"John," I speak, a little above a whisper.
He stops walking and turns around looking over his shoulder like he senses something -- me, but he doesn't see me. He continues on his pace and by the time I round the building he's cut down the alley and across the street to a parked car, an old black Mercedes. He walks to the driver's door, places a hand on the handle and I quicken my pace.
"John!" I call, this time louder, with all my feeling reaching out to him, and he freezes.
He turns to look at me, body tensing, eyes like glowing embers. "What did you call me?"
He doesn't budge from the door, but his hand lowers to his jacket pocket -- a move I was familiar with. He was reaching for his lighter, an anxious move.
"John," I said.
He flickered.
"I called you John once."
He scowled and spat on the ground. "That's not my name."
I stared at him intently. He was unshaven, wearing worn jeans and a coffee leather roadster. His hair was longer than I'd ever seen it before, shoulder-length and uncombed under a black trucker hat. Was this the John I knew? Aged and rougher around the edges. "Okay, what's your name?"
He smirked. "Why so many questions? What's it to you anyway?"
Storm had warned me that he might not be the same. But, he spoke almost as if…
"Look, if you're a cop, you have to tell me," he said.
"A cop!?" I sputtered. "I'm not a fxcking-- damnit Pyro, this isn't funny. Is this all a joke to you?"
He continued smirking, and I wanted to shake him down. "So, you do know me."
"Of course, I know you. Don't you know, don't you recognize who I am?"
He raised his eyebrows and looked offside as if searching for the hidden camera gag. "So, you're not a cop? Great." He opened the car door and jumped inside.
In seconds, he would drive away. I couldn't let him leave again. I couldn't stand to watch him leave again. I ran towards the car and stretched out my arm towards him using my light manipulation to create a sheet of white light across the windshield. He threw his hand up in front of his face and swore, the keys fell to the ground.
"You're a mutant!"
"Of course, I'm a mutant. And I'm sorry but I can't let you go."
He rubbed his eyes, blinking. "What have you done to me? I can't see."
I smiled. "Oh don't whine, it's not permanent. Move over, I'm the captain now." I nudged his arm to get him to move over to the passenger seat. You're a rogue one aren't you, I thought to myself as I picked up the keys and started the car. It was shiny and sleek on the inside despite initial appearances. The car revved up exceptionally and briefly I thought of Scott and he would've loved this old beast, but Scott was long gone along with many others who had first welcomed me in.
"Where are you taking me?" asked John, once we were moving. The lighter had found its way to his hand and he was flicking it incessantly. A new zippo, all black.
"Somewhere safe."
The zippo clicked open, close. Open, close. Open, close.
He scoffed and turned his head to face the window. "I'm just supposed to trust you?"
areudirty
annaxmalina
vaporwave
gummygunk
theartofmadeline
pixelskylines
jacobvanloon
ellievsbear
stormborns
