Love's Past Turmoil

A/N Thanks to Chris for putting in the parts of Charles and Scott!!


Charles looked up from his desk, staring at the monitor and smiling. "Why hello John." He said silently to himself, before buzzing down to the gates. "Stay put, I'll send someone down."

At that moment, Cyclops was already well on his way towards the front door when the message entered his mind with a gentle caress *Scott, go down to the front gates and greet Ramana and Pyro, please.*

*Already on my way, Sir.* Scott sent back, as he stepped out of the front door and up to the gates. "Greetings Ramana, John." He didn't seem even remotely angry that John returned after having betrayed them. Pushing his thumb to the sensor, the gates slid open slowly allowing them entrance, but not before Creed was able to slice his claws into Pyro's side.

Cyclops eyes narrowed in on Creed just as the gate closed, and he sent a blast flying into his chest, tossing him back. "Not even, Creed." He said simply, as Creed then naturally ran like the wind to get away after healing.


[NOTE: From now is where Thena and me start to write together. *Claps happily* Chris also helped too, as previously stated.]

Mana felt the pain in her foster brother’s side, via their link, as it happened. She ignored the man who had come to open the gate for them, kneeling beside him.

“Well, that hurt.” John managed to say, through clenched teeth.

Mana would have smiled had she not been so worried about him, and extremely angry at a certain big cat.

“I never even knew he was following us.” she said.

“No one knows they are being followed by him. Trust me.” Pyro said. “Unless it’s Wolverine, or a telepath or… aaaah.” Pyro clutched his side.

Mana placed her forefinger on his lips. “No more words.” The purple glow was already appearing around her entire body, as the healing power reacted to the injury it knew was close.

Skye had been taking a solitary walk around the grounds, just letting her mind wander. She couldn’t believe just how much had changed in the 6 months that she’d been at the mansion. She was no longer the terrified freaked out girl that she had been. She now had some control over her powers and loved every moment of it.

She stopped in her tracks as she felt something, wickedly strong nearby. She felt deep worry, concern, and red hot anger. So many emotions in one shot, she closed her eyes and followed the feelings till she reached the gates.

She saw Scott, and 2 people that she didn’t know, a dark haired girl...who was glowing purple. ~Neat!~ She thought as she walked closer.

Any thoughts of neatness fled as she saw the dark haired male on the ground, blood seeping from his clothes.

"Oh no!" she said as she rushed over, kneeling. "Can I help?" she asked, softly.

Mana glanced up at her, her eyes now completely purple, the power aching to enter the one it would heal.

“I have it under control, thanks.” Mana answered, sensing something about this young woman. “At least I will as soon as I do this.”

Mana placed her hand on Pyro’s side, watching it leave her.

John felt the all-too-familiar energy enter his body; felt the wounds on his side begin to close; and then felt the same pain run through his mind as Mana’s own body took on the claw marks.

Mana slumped slightly to the side, gritting her teeth against the pain until the job was done.

Skye watched as the young woman healed the guy, taking the wounds to her own body. She held her breath, as she had not come across anything like this before.

John moved to hold Mana up while her own regenerative abilities healed his wound in mere minutes, noticing the worried look on the strange girl’s face.

“It’s okay.” he told her. “Mana’s regenerative. A wound like this is nothing to her.”

Skye nodded. "I just don’t see this too often...in fact...I wonder if I have?" She gave him a slight grin. "Are you ok?" she asked the girl.

Normal brown eyes looked straight at her. “Yes. Thanks.” Mana answered, climbing back to her feet, gently pulling John up with her. Her eyes roamed to the darkness beyond the gate. “Although, there is a certain Brotherhood member I want to smack right now.”

Pyro burst out laughing. “I think it would take more than just a smack to hurt him, Mana.”

Mana looked at him. “Well, duh!” she said, hitting him playfully.

Glancing at the man with the visor over his eyes nearby, Mana said, “Thanks for sending him flying.” Before looking back at the young girl with flowing, dark red hair. “I’m Ramana, or Mana. This is John.” she introduced.

“You can call me Pyro if you like. If we stick around long enough you will find out why.” John added.

Skye smiled. "Which brotherhood member was that... I’ve not seen him before?" she said. "I’m Skye... or Swann, which is what my mum called me before she died..." she said.

Mana narrowed her eyes. “That was Victor Creed, better known as Sabretooth. Um,” she hesitated. “I’m sorry about your Mom.”

"It was a few years ago… I’m dealing." she said matter-of-factly. "Can you walk?" she asked Mana.

“Yes. The wound is gone now.” Mana answered, looking at the rather handsome man standing close by. “Where to?” she asked him, but before he could answer Mana sensed John’s deep hesitation. She glanced at him.

John swallowed hard. “I don’t really want to do this, you know?” he said, stepping close to her.

“It’ll be okay, FM. Can Skye come to?” Mana asked Scott, squeezing John’s hand, reassuringly.

Scott turned, a simple nod given to Mana. "If she wishes." He said, before stepping inside and moving down the hall towards the Professor's office, raising his hand to knock he didn't even get a chance when he heard the familiar voice. "Come in, Scott." Charles said, able to sense their presence already.

Skye looked at Mana and John and then at Scott. "I’ll stay." she said as she opened the door to the Professor’s office. She hoped that HE didn’t mind at least.

Pyro somehow managed to move behind Mana, trying his best to hide himself.

Charles gestured to a seat, nodding to Skye and those present as Scott slipped out and headed down towards the Faculty Lounge. "Welcome home, John." Charles said, nodding to Pyro. "I trust you are well?"

John sighed. ~Hide myself from a telepath? Yeah right.~ he thought. “I am now, Sir.” He said, throwing Mana an appreciative glance.

*You can’t hide anything here John...may as well be honest.* Skye thought over to him, her green eyes brightening.

~No. Obviously not.~ he thought, grinning, in spite of the terror swirling around inside him.

“Sabretooth is out to kill John, Sir.” Mana started. “And I won’t let that happen.”

"Neither will I, Mana." Charles said, closing his eyes for a moment. "Neither will my X-Men.." He trailed off for a moment, as he thought to Storm and the child. "He can't get inside the Mansion ground. We've heightened security majorly."

”What? Why?” John started. “Has something happened?” ~Something I obviously wasn’t here to help with.~ he thought.

Mana was overwhelmed by his feelings of guilt and sadness. *Pyro.* she said, via their link, placing a hand on his knee.

Skye looked at him and gave him a sympathetic look. "All that matters...is that you came back...a lot of other people wouldn’t even do that." she said, feeling his sorrow flood over her like water.

Charles nodded, agreeing to Skye. "I tend to agree with her, John, -but-, if I for even a moment, believe that you are here and still working for Magneto, I'll throw you out. You put us in danger once. I won't let it happen again."

Pyro looked at the floor, bringing his hand down to place it on Mana’s. “And I can assure you, Professor, you won’t be the only one.”

Skye looked at the closeness of the 2 in front of her and found herself feeling slightly disappointed. What an odd thing to feel right then. She kept her eyes down and let the others speak.

Charles nodded, slightly smiling. "You always have a home here, John, where I'm concerned. The problem however, will be convincing Bobby and Marie to accept you."

Charles sent a brief message back to Mana that he would meet with her after Pyro and Skye left his office, and then turned back to face Pyro. "There is one final problem, John…" He tried to find the right words to continue. "Mr. Quire has been placed into position of headmaster, as myself and Jean are too busy to do it. In order to return into full enrolment here, you have to see him. Alone."

Pyro’s mouth fell open. “Um, I… no way!” he said, shaking his head. “Quentin will kill me.”

Skye looked up. "Professor...Mr Quire has recently taken me in as his teaching assistant...I know I’m not near strong enough to keep him from John. But I don’t think that it will come to that..."

"No it won't. But until John can see Mr. Quire.." He emphasized the name, to tell John that using his first name to address the man would only result in him getting completely pissed.. "I'm afraid the school isn't open to him."

*You have to see him, John.* Mana sent to him.

*I know that.* he basically snapped, instantly regretting it. *Sorry, Mana.*

Standing up, he said, “I’ll go now, before I lose my nerve completely. Where is he?”

"3rd floor. 2nd office on the right." Charles replied, nodding to John.

Skye looked up. "Professor...do you want me to take him?"

"He needs to face Mr. Quire alone, Skye." Charles said, shaking his head at the question.

"I meant in escort only...but as you wish." she said, looking down

Mana watched John leave the room, his emotions rolling around inside of her. ~I don’t like this one little bit.~ she thought.

Skye nodded at Mana and the Professor. "I don't think that I am needed here further." she said, softly. "I take my leave now...if you need me...you know how to get me." she said, as she walked out of the door.

**

[Co-written between Mana and Chris.]


John held onto his lighter tightly, flicking the lid on and off as he always did when he was nervous.

~Why did I let Mana bring me back here?~ he thought. ~And she better realise that if she is not allowed to stay here, or if she chooses not to, I’m not either.~

He kept his eyes low as he moved through the hallway and on up the stairs, taking the lift on the second floor to the third.

The lift doors stood wide open; yet, its occupant had not the least bit interest in stepping out through them.

~I seriously cannot do this.~ he thought. ~Fortunately I have not run into anyone I used to know yet, but…~ His thoughts trailed off, and he stared into the orange element atop his lighter.

He sighed. “Putting it off is not an option here, John.” He admonished, moving out of the lift

The door was shut, and Pyro suddenly felt completely unwelcome, but he knocked anyway.

"Come in, John." Quentin's voice sounded from inside the office, as he looked up able to sense the firebug’s presence. "Come in, and sit down."

John took a deep breath, opening the door, and walking to sit opposite the older man, his eyes on the floor the whole way.

"I understand you wish to enrol in school again?" Right down to business, naturally. Quentin's brow rose, as he looked at John awaiting his answer.

Quentin would have had to of seen the movement of John’s throat as he swallowed hard and looked up. “Yes.” He managed, a little of his fear showing. ~Man! This is worse than facing Sabretooth.~ he thought.

"Done." Quentin said, his eyes falling on John's face. Boy, wasn't that easy. A little too easy. "But.." He paused for a moment. "If you screw up even once. If you put your team in danger. IF you cross the line. IF YOU anger me again, I will tear your spine out and feed it to you. Am I clear, John?"

John’s eyes widened. “Ah, okay.” He said. What else could he say? “Mana may not rip my spine out, Quentin, but she will help you if I ever turn again. And I won’t!” he quickly added.

"Was that all?" Quentin asked, his eyes narrowing at the mention of Mana helping. Anyone who knew Quentin would know that someone else interfering with him was either impossible, or if they succeeded, a bad move.

Pyro swallowed again, getting up the nerve to ask anyway. “Where do Mana and I sleep tonight? Where do we go from here?”

"You and Mana can each have a guest room, until Jean can give you both your own."

John nodded. “You need to talk to Mana, Sir. I think her powers may be of some assistance here. Do you know anything about her?” Talking about his foster sister upped his game face, and this time he kept his eyes level with Q’s face.

"I know enough." Quentin replied, not being into conversation much at that moment. "Now if you'll excuse me."

John stood up almost too fast, nearly tripping over his own feet. “Sorry.” he said, backing out of the room, turning as he felt the door behind him.

The sigh of relief was audible once he was out of the office. ~Please tell me I don’t have to do that again in a hurry?~ he thought, walking back to the lift.