Pyromaniac - SN/X-Men fic - PG13

[tigriswolf]

Title: Pyromaniac
Fandom: “Supernatural”/X-Men movie ‘verse crossover
Disclaimer: Not my characters. Just for fun.
Warnings: spoilers for seasons 1&2 of “Supernatural” and X3; AU for “Supernatural” sometime before “Croatoan”
Pairings: none
Rating: PG13
Wordcount: 1410
Point of view: third
Notes: This is set in the same universe as “Pyromania” but the timelines don’t really mesh. So, I’m pulling rank and saying not to worry about it.

 

You should have let them kill me.
            I’m sorry.

 

When the news aired the first time, the kid that nearly torched part of the Boston PD, Dean knew. It made front pages across the country, the attack on the school that culminated in an upscale Boston neighborhood and a boy that could burn the world.

But there was a poltergeist, then a vengeful spirit, and then a black dog that almost eviscerated Sam, so ‘Pyro,’ as he apparently called himself, was wiped clean from Dean’s mind.

Sam’s powers had grown in leaps and bounds. He’d been approached by a man(mutant) named Charles Xavier, asked if he’d join the X-Men, but Sam said no. He never told Dean what the professor whispered mind-to-mind, but he didn’t smile in the days after. Not for weeks.

The first time Dean controlled fire he was thirty-three, way too old to develop a power. And fire? Not cool. Not cool at all. But he didn’t pause, just told the blaze to calm the fuck down because Sam was still somewhere in the house. He felt the fire, like it was somewhere in his mind and it—listened. It collapsed in on itself, leaving only smoke in its wake.

“It isn’t possible,” Dean told Sam, barely staying on his feet.

“No, it isn’t,” Sam answered, catching Dean when he passed out.

So, Sam had premonitions, telepathy, and telekinesis. Dean could boss fire around.

Honestly, it just didn’t seem fair.

But like with Sam’s so called ‘gifts,’ they worked it into their gig. They no longer had to worry about gasoline or matches or a lighter. Dean could form an inferno with a thought, have it burn just long and hot enough, then put it out.

Xavier approached them again, and again they turned him down.

This time he spoke to Dean’s mind. If your brother dies before you, Mr. Winchester, Xavier asked, what will you do?
            Around them, the room’s temperature rose. Dean didn’t speak aloud but all three of them heard his answer.

“He told me I was a Class Four,” Sam said a few days later. “The first time we spoke.” Sam laughed a little, not mirthful at all. “That’s the same level as Magneto, Dean.”

“It’s alright, Sammy,” Dean responded, praying to a god he gave up on years before that he didn’t lie.

 

Fire ravishes and consumes, never sated, never tiring. And it listened to Dean, any fire he came across.

Watching the news reports about Magneto and his Brotherhood, about Mystique, about the ‘cure’ that led only to madness—Dean wondered who was right and who was wrong and if there even was a ‘good’ side anymore.

 

When Xavier died, every mutant in the world felt it.

“She’s a Class Five,” Sam whispered in horror. “Dean, she could kill us all.”

Dean closed his eyes and swore, deep in his soul, that ‘she’ would get nowhere near his little brother.

So when the battle at Alcatraz happened, Sam was in Maine. Dean kept him wrapped up in a hunt, giving him no time to consider what was happening.

But then Sam cried out, dropping to his knees, and keened. Dean fell beside him, helpless to end his pain, only able to hold him and whisper baseless promises.

“She’s gone,” Sam muttered, on the edge of consciousness. “Dean, she’s gone.”

And finally Sam passed out, slept for almost a week. Dean watched his vital signs and the news, wondered how the world sank into such a state.

When Sam woke, he told Dean, “I’m the strongest,” voice filled with fear. “Me, Dean. But that cure—it won’t last forever. For the powerful ones, it’s already fading.”

 Dean looked into his baby brother’s terrified eyes and said, “I’m not afraid of you , Sammy. I never have been. I never will be.”

And Sammy smiled, comforted.

 

The months after Alcatraz were full of riots and fear, and a war almost broke out, but the president held the country together. And finally it seemed like maybe everything would be fine.

The mutants who’d been on Magneto’s side had mostly been ‘cured,’ but it was fading. A few lashed out when their powers returned and were quickly rounded up.

Magneto himself had vanished but none doubted he’d return. Mystique, too, was long gone. Most of Magneto’s lieutenants had died at Alcatraz, but one—Pyro—had been pulled out, unconscious but unhurt, and given to the military. Tried as a minor—he was barely seventeen—he was given a bracelet filled with Leech’s blood that could never come off.

Dean learned all of it from hacking into every government database. Sam didn’t need to read his mind to know. And Sam didn’t try to convince him not to go after Pyro.

“I know where he is,” Sam said. “I can feel him.

“You’re not coming with me,” Dean replied and Sam raised an eyebrow.

“Uh, yeah, I am.”

“Sammy,” Dean explained, “I don’t want you anywhere near that cure.”

“Dean,” Sam said, standing up and walking over to his brother. “Before they even raise the gun, I’ll know what they’re doing. If you want to get that kid, you’re taking me with you.”
            “What did Xavier tell you, Sam?” Dean asked, studying his brother’s face. “That first time he came to us?”

Sam licked his lips, looked away. “He gave me a warning,” Sam answered softly. “Power, responsibility. How I owed the world.”

Dean nodded. “He told me the same.”

With a shared smile, they started planning.

 

It was a quick battle and there were no casualties. Sam knocked out the prison’s power and murmured to Dean’s mind where they kept Pyro. Dean ghosted through the halls, using years of training and experience; Sam held all the guards in a gentle grip, allowing them to breathe and nothing else.

When the news broke hours later, America trembled. All the powerful mutants were meant to be accounted for, but everyone was at a loss. Some thought that Pyro’s escape proved Magneto had returned; others, that it was a declaration of war. The president turned to the X-Men, but they had no explanation. 

Pyro’s bracelet, the only thing that kept his inferno leashed, was found a few feet away from the main doors of the prison.

 

Pyro—John, John Allerdyce—shivered in the motel bed, curled in on himself. Sam lounged on the other bed and Dean sat in the chair. They didn’t talk; they didn’t need to. Hadn’t needed to in a long time.

Dean studied the kid; he didn’t look like one of the most dangerous mutants in the world. Didn’t look like much more than a wounded boy. That wounded boy Dean had helped out so long before.

Dean wondered where that shark lighter had gotten to.

John’s eyes flicked from one to the other. “What d’ya want with me?” he asked, voice hoarse and barely there.

“You don’t belong in jail, kid,” Dean replied. 

“I killed people.” John’s voice filled with self-loathing. “Good people.”

“You regret it,” Sam responded, compassionate and gentle. “You weren’t being helped in there, so we got you out.”

John scoffed, seeming to find some of that attitude that made him infamous from one ocean to the other. “The hell are you people?”

Dean and Sam shared a smirk. “We’re just people, kid,” Dean said. “We just like helpin’ others.”

John bit his lip, some of his bravado fading. “What’re you gonna do with me?”

Sam sat up, eyes sincere. “Do you still want to hurt humanity, John?” he asked.

The kid shook his head. “I just wanna fade into the background, forget Alcatraz.” 

Dean looked over at Sam, who met his gaze. “We can help there, John,” Sam said, turning back to him. 

 

Bobby helped them, getting John across the Atlantic. He could melt into the scores of people in Europe with ease. “Take care, kid,” Dean told him. “Don’t ever be afraid to call.”

“Thanks again,” John said. “That’s twice now I owe you my life.”

Dean grinned at him. “Don’t mention it. Just stay outta trouble.”

John nodded. “I’ll try.”

 

“He’ll be fine, Dean,” Sam said as they drove west, away from John’s plane flying over the Atlantic. “You’ve done good with him.”

Dean shrugged. “Just felt responsible for the kid, you know?”

Sam chuckled, giving Dean one of those you’re just too cute for words looks Dean couldn’t stand. “Yeah,” he said. “I know.” 

 

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

That's nice.

At first Dean having fire powers made me think, "After being separated from his mother, and Sam from Jess, by fire, Dean's not going to be happy with this power." Then I remembered that he's always wanted to be a fireman, and this could come in handy.

I've always found the idea of a mutant "cure" to be morally ambiguous at best, even when used against the Brotherhood.
Suppose that someone in the Dark Angel 'verse developed a similar "cure" for X5s.

[lucywiggin.livejournal.com]

Love your story, although I don't get why they got Pyro out (then again, I've only seen the third movie). Love Super!Special!Sammy as usual:)

[tigriswolf]

Thank you.

[tigriswolf]

They got him out because Dean had a connection with him.

Thank you for reading!

[(Anonymous)]

Well, what do you think?

[tigriswolf]

I think the "cure" is nothing more than rape.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm inclined to agree. I should have been more specific, I meant what do you think might happen if there was such a "cure" in the Dark Angel 'verse? How would the characters react? I think some such as Alec would be totally against it and others would open to the idea. Max might have considered it earlier on, but by 'Freak Nation' she's accepted who she is. For that matter, how would Max or Alec react if they had already been injected with it without their permission? Ben would, of course, go into an even crazier place.

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

I think I'd love to read some more of pyrotechnist!Dean. Pitting him against the Phoenix, who is naught but fire...



I'm glad you're mixing these two 'verses. The results are delicious to read.

*scampers off to read her flist*

[tigriswolf]

Why did X3 leave a foul taste in your mouth?

Thank you so much!

[(Anonymous)]

I don't think that would work. Phoenix's main power is psychokinetic energy which affects things on a molecular level, it just manifests as flame, and I'm pretty sure that her mind is strong enough to stop anyone else from interfering with her flames.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, that's my thoughts on what might happen. What are your thoughts?

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

Because I love Phoenix. I love Phoenix the way it made its first appearance disguised as an evolution of Jean's powers. I love Phoenix the way it manifested via Rachel Summers. I love Phoenix the way it's essentially one of the forces of nature in the Marvel-verse.
It's fire and it's all the creation and destruction fire promises.

And then X3 came, and the element Phoenix is associated with? Is water. *is still annoyed*

However, the first time I was able to see X3, we had interruptions all the time, so I might've missed something, made connections that just weren't there in reality. And former experiences have taught me that it's the second viewing that I should really base all my opinions on. But the first impression of this movie is sad, because the first two I loved.

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

Just checking...
Are we talking about the Phoenix in the comics or about the Phoenix in the movie?

If the latter is true, I think it best for us to not discuss, because my knowledge is better applicable for the former.

Jean is a strong psychic, no doubt about it, but I still think pyrotechnist!Dean would be able to give her a good run for her money.

[(Anonymous)]

If it's the comic Phoenix then I really doubt pyrokineticist!Dean would stand a chance. Her power isn't fire so much as the idea of fire. She manipulates objects on a molecular level, controls all forms of energy, and is one of the world's greatest telepaths (able to kill with that alone). One sees Phoenix using actual flames in the movie, but in the comics the firebird image is really a mental or energy projection. Sure, Dean could burn her, but only if she was taken unawares, which is extremely unlikely. She would simply put the fire out by telling its molecules to calm down, and incapitate him with telepathy, a telekinetically gripped heavy object, or a blast of pure power.

[tigriswolf]

But the transgenics, unlike the mutants, really aren't human. They have too much "other" DNA. So a cure would kill them, since it would suppress all the rest of their DNA.

[tigriswolf]

The second is the best; there's so much Pyro! He's my favorite. (For some reason, I like broken boys who like fire. *shrugs*)

So, Phoenix is more than what's shown in the movie? 'cause that's all I know about it.

[(Anonymous)]

It would really be for the X series, who are mostly human genetically (more so than some mutants). Just suppose it worked for the sake of argument.

[paper-cranes.livejournal.com]

I'm really in love with what you did with this. The verses fit together pretty perfectly. :)

[I've missed a handful of S3 episodes, and I'm realizing I've missed something important involving firemen. Damn! Sounds hot...]

[tigriswolf]

... firemen? Really? What have you heard? (I've seen every ep and don't remember firemen.)

Thank you for reading!

[paper-cranes.livejournal.com]

Well, I saw mention of them hooking up a supply of holy water to a hydrant, dressing as firemen, and dousing a house with it... or something. Then I saw a screencap (the episode source wasn't mentioned) of them dressed as firemen.
Then I read the comment above: At first Dean having fire powers made me think, "After being separated from his mother, and Sam from Jess, by fire, Dean's not going to be happy with this power." Then I remembered that he's always wanted to be a fireman, and this could come in handy. I would remember something like that if I'd seen it.

:)

[tigriswolf]

That must be a spoiler.

Man, I can't wait!

[(Anonymous)]

Devil's Trap, the Season One finale. Dean and Sam dress as firemen, and Dean mentions that he wanted to be a fireman.

[paper-cranes.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, I haven't seen Devils Trap more than once or twice. Conveniently, it's next in order for me to re-watch. Thanks!

[paper-cranes.livejournal.com]

Apparently not? Devils Trap, I guess. I was gonna re-watch it soon anyway. :)

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

Saying that the Phoenix is what's shown in the movie is sort of like saying that God's a bearded old dude.


Phoenix is not Jean Grey. It just manifested via her. Far as I recall, the Phoenix is right up there with Galactus and the Beyonder, but since you're not a comic buff, I'm not sure how much those two say to you.
*feels like she better shut up about now*
But Phoenix, whenever incarnated, is always associated with fire.

[sadelyrate.livejournal.com]

And, of course, then there's the distinction between the Phoenix itself and Jean just using the codename 'Phoenix'.
Jean is not the Phoenix: she was merely touched by that power, became its avatar. And her powers are the same as Charles Xavier's, or Psylocke's, depending on what era one's reading. :)

But playing with fire is never a good idea, never mind how bloody pretty it is...

[inheritedjeans.livejournal.com]

This is fantastic and love. Everything I wanted when I decided to search for SPN and X-Men crossovers. Just pure awesomesauce. :)

[tigriswolf]

Oh, wow, it's been ages since I thought of this fic. *hee*

Thank you so very much!

[alessandra-c.livejournal.com]

So when deansays he feels responsible for pyro, I was thinking it may be because he's pyro's father or something. (Dean gets around)

[tigriswolf]

Uh, no. He only feels responsible because Pyro's a kid in trouble and Dean was in a position to help.

Thanks for reading!