Chapter Text
Pietro doesn't run far. With a reach of his powers, Erik can still feel the buttons on his jacket, though he cannot locate them. Pietro must still be on the move, likely running laps around the base.
Pyro is being tended to by the other members of the Brotherhood. Erik is well aware of Pietro's volatile nature. But Erik didn't expect him purposely provoking other members of the team into anger.
What had brought it on was a mystery to Erik. Pyro was just as hotheaded as his son and equally prone to violence. Unlike Pyro though Pietro would usually have some incentive to attack, no matter how obscure it might be.
Maybe it is only Pyro's presence that made Pietro so agitated? Pietro was never particularly fond of the members of his Brotherhood so Erik saw no sense in forcing comradery on him. Pietro would otherwise make his anger with it very clear.
But he hasn't outright attacked any of them. Erik has not warned them to be wary, but the majority of them heard about his actions and especially his lineage and they wisely treaded with caution regardless.
The metal buttons don't stop moving and Erik instinctively feels worry bubbling up. Pietro had already run himself into the ground once before. Would he do it again? Or would he manage to find another valve for his frustrations?
He knows he should speak to Pyro, the young man has been observing him for a while. Erik isn't sure of what he should do. He didn't feel like Pyro's actions deserved reprimand, nor praise, as he was indeed goaded by Pietro but has also taken the brunt of his aggression.
Though Erik does feel like the outburst was more meant for him. Pietro's cornered stare as Erik told him to stand down was peculiar, uncommon. So was his obedience. Usually, he tends to keep pushing until he reaches the breaking point of whoever the outburst is aimed at.
Erik does end up deciding to talk to Pyro. A leader is supposed to keep his followers safe and he failed in that aspect. Erik can't promise that he would discipline Pietro the way he would with any other member of the Brotherhood, but he can assure to speak with him.
Not that it has proven to be fruitful before. Pietro has too much of Erik in him.
When he tries to sense his son with his powers again, the buttons are motionless and outside. So he finally stopped running. Erik goes outside to check.
The sun is setting and Pietro is lying in the grass, arms and legs outstretched, panting while trying to come down from the run. Erik can see that the bottoms of his shoes are charred and slightly smoking.
He walks over to him, making enough noise to alert Pietro of his presence. Pietro doesn't even open his eyes when he addresses him. "Are you here to yell at me?" His voice is neutral but the annoyance beneath it is poorly concealed.
"I believe that would prove itself futile," Erik notes dully. "I would, however, like to know, why you have foolishly decided to attack the boy."
Pietro stays petulantly silent. Despite his age, he remains childish.
Erik sits down next to him so they are on the same level. "I'm not Charles. I can't read your mind."
Pietro scoffs. "That wouldn't help you either. Superspeed." He deflects the question while he taps his temple in the same way Charles always has.
"Why did you do it?" Erik asks again. "Has he provoked you before?" He can't even recall them having ever spoken before. Pyro had different beliefs - Erik's beliefs - regarding mutantkind. Him and Pietro would not see face to face.
Pietro remains silent again for a while. "He should have kept his fucking mouth shut about Xavier." He says eventually.
Pyro was always far too eager to put people into the categories of good and bad. He regarded Charles as weak, but he didn't understand the strength it took to have so much hope. As naive as his old friend was, he was steadfast in his beliefs.
"I spoke to him about that." Erik says. "But I don't believe that is the real reason."
Pietro opens his eyes and frowns. "I don't appreciate being dissected."
"And I don't appreciate you harming a fellow mutant. Especially one that is on our side."
"Your side, you mean," Pietro harshly corrects him, snarling out the words as he sits up quickly. "He might be your lapdog. I'm not."
"My side then." Erik repeats. "Semantics aside, I don't want you to hurt people."
"Tell him to stay away then." Pietro glares daggers at him. "He thinks fawning over me will work as well as it does with you."
Erik sighs. Pyro was an enthusiastic student, but he would hardly describe his interest as fawning. "I must ask you to not repeat that anyway. We're protecting mutants." He reminds him sharply.
From Pietro's glare, he can tell that the situation is likely to repeat itself. "Keep your puppets away from me and I won't hurt them. That is all I can offer you."
It's unpleasant, to have his own words thrown back in his face, but Pietro can be quite petty. "They could hurt you. I would advice you not to tempt it."
Pietro laughs dryly. "They would have to catch up first."
He is right in that - to Erik's disdain. "I'd still prefer if you at the very least didn't provoke them into it."
Pietro's face falls again. "If they have the guts to stand up against me, they deserve what's coming for them."
Erik sighs again. "What has Pyro done then?"
Pietro's face twists in rage. "Do you ever stop fucking asking? It's none of your business."
And then he's gone again, only a mild breeze left in his wake.
Erik keeps replaying the conversation in his head for the rest of the evening.
Boot-licking won't work on me, kid.
He thinks fawning over me will work as well as it does with you.
Keep your puppets away from me.
Erik sighs yet again when it finally dawns on him.
Pietro is jealous.
It is a surprising realisation. Pietro didn't seem all that interested in Erik's company, and rather irritated by it. He hadn't expect him to be jealous. He had assume him to be relieved that they don't have to spend much time together alone outside of night.
He couldn't simply ignore that problem. If Pietro continued like that, he would soon kill someone. That had to be prevented.