Fic: "The Closet" (1/1)

[walkwithheroes]

Title: The Closet
Author: walkwithheroes
Rated: light PG (for one curse word)
Timeline: AU movie ‘verse. No spoilers.
Summary: The first time he ever saw her, she was hiding in his closet. 

He had done some side work for Mystique and the Brotherhood in the past, but he had ever actually been to the home of Mystique’s lover - the mansion were only a handful of Brotherhood members lived. He had been asked to move in, if only for the extra help that was needed around the place. They may have been terrorist, but Mystique was not about to have an untidy yard.

It was an idea he would have come up with, but it was still pretty good. Free food, free rent, a cool place to live. Where was the down side?

Apparently, it was in his closet.

Mystique had done the whole introduction thing an hour earlier. She had re-introduced him to Erik, whom he had worked with once or twice. Mystique had pointed out Marie-Ange, who was busy with her tarot cards. The Frost sisters, all three of them, were busy trying to get away from five different Jamie’s. According to Mystique, it was a perfectly ordinary day. And wasn’t it lovely that they were all so damn normal?

"Like one big dysfunctional, mutant-terrorist family." One of the Jamie’s had joked.

 

 

 

His room was on the third floor of the mansion, in the west wing. It was large, private, and perfect for a guy his age.

He had just opened the closet door, when he noticed her. She was quietly sitting in the corner, her knees up to her chest. Her head was down on her knees, and she was staring at him.

"Who are you?" It seemed like the most sensible thing to say at the time.

"I don’t know." Now, that was something he hadn’t been expecting.

Staring at her, he tried to think of something to say. Something that would make sense. "Well, I’m Pyro."

She stared at him, her big brown eyes full of wonderment. "What’s your real name?"

"John." He couldn’t help but think that the white strip in her hair was kind of cool. "I’m John." He knelt down, wanting to be eye to eye with the girl. "So, how in the hell do you not know who you are?"

"I went to the mall." she told him simply. "The walls give me hives, because of the stuff they’re made out of. But, I went today because of the sale." The girl sniffed back the tears that were threatening to fall from her big eyes. "There were a lot of people. Too many, I guess."

He had no idea what she was on about, but he couldn’t stop himself from finding her fascinating. Finding himself brave, John dared to move closer to the girl.

"The mall can be a dangerous place." John said, his tone flip. "You fry your brain from the sales?"

The girl shook her head, causing even more hair to fly into her face. "That’s not it. I...touched some people." John raised a questioning eyebrow. "Something happens to people when they touch my skin. They...I always end up hurting them."

John inched forward; the girl didn’t move from her spot. "I don’t believe that."

"It’s true!" She protested, maybe a bit too quickly. "I remember that much. So...please don’t come any nearer."

Sighing heavily, he wondered what she felt like. Her skin was slightly pale and smooth. Her eyes, full of awareness, watched him as if he were a hunter and she a wild animal. It was rather exciting for a guy like John.

"I think..." With little thought or regard for the girl’s feelings, John reached out and touched her cheek. Her skin was smooth, but it felt oddly cold. There was a moment when nothing happened, it was simple skin on skin contact. Their eyes locked onto one another, and the girl’s lips began to curl into a warm and grateful smile.

"Th-" Her mouth froze mid-word.

There was a pulling feeling inside both of them, and then...

Quickly, she pushed John away.

Breathing heavily, John tried to get his mind re-focused. "Wh-what the fuck was that?" His dark eyes focused back on the girl, who was now curled into a ball, pressed into the corner of the closet.

She was holding her hands tightly to her chest, tears in her eyes, whispering: "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry."

Wordlessly, John scrabbled out of the closet. The girl was still whispering her meaningless ‘sorry’s.

Fingering the lighter in his jean pocket, John swallowed hard. "It’s okay. You didn’t hurt me. You just freaked me out a little. Next time I’ll know." Looking up at him, the girl looked even more confused than before.

"What? So your power’s a little dangerous. I kind of like it." His eyes burned into hers and he grinned. "You can touch me when you feel like you need to touch someone. Never touching other people, it must make you feel like you’re about to explode. People need human contact, you know?"

"I...thank you, John." Her smile reappeared; John thought she looked beautiful when she smiled.

"You remember your name, yet?"

Her smile grew wider. "Marie. I think it’s Marie."

 

 

Comments

[spfizz.livejournal.com]

Okay, first let me say: Thank God we have another writer in this fandom! I mean, not that the ones already aren't great and all, but...the more the merrier, y'know? Hope to see you write more soon.

Secondly, that was just sweet. Seriously, I love the AU setting (I...don't think a lot of people have ever done that for these two before) and the last few lines definitely made me crack a smile.

Very nice.
;)

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I love these two, but I agree that they don't get a lot of love in the fandom. We have some very talented fans, but sometimes it takes so long for new vids, fic, etc.

Secondly, that was just sweet. Seriously, I love the AU setting (I...don't think a lot of people have ever done that for these two before) and the last few lines definitely made me crack a smile.

Thank you so much. I really love this little AU 'verse I've created and I plan to use it for more fics.

Thanks for reading

[zansbitch.livejournal.com]

I would like to second what psychosomatic17 said. Not enough writers in this fandom. I can't wait to see where you're going with this one.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for reading.