A Brotherhood Christmas

By Michiru

Lance

Looking in the frosted-over windows, Lance watched the model train move

around its track, the perfectly modeled countryside a perfect backdrop. Tiny plastic sheep grazed on plastic grass, a little plastic man sitting under a little plastic tree watching over the sheep. It was a plastic world, but perfect in its simplicity.

"Hey, Lance," Pietro's perky voice chimed. The reflection of his face in the

window beside his own, the blue of his eyes startling even in the washed out copy.

"Hey," Lance turned, trying to stifle the longing for the tiny world in the window.

"Food has been delivered to home," the slender blonde chirruped, a grin on his

face. "Hot dogs, marshmallows, chestnuts and Jiffy-Pop."

"Hopefully you got some other things, too," Lance snapped in such a way that he

wished he could take back.

Pietro's face fell for a brief instant. He recovered swiftly, but not before Lance

saw it. He felt like a heel.

"Of course," Pietro said haughtily. Do you really think I'm that stupid? It's just

Christmas Eve food that we can easily cook in the fire."

"Yeah," Lance frowned, then swallowed his pride. "Sorry, man. Didn't mean to

snap."

"No prob," Pietro shrugged, but Lance knew it was. "Pietro turned back to the

window. "That must be some expensive."

"Yeah," Lance sighed wistfully. "Just the engine alone is over 200 bucks."

"I didn't know you liked model trains," the younger boy looked at him curiously.

Lance looked back at the set. He had always wanted a model train, but had never

been able to get one. Between the foster homes and the orphanage, he was just one more stupid kid lost in the cracks of society.

"Couldn't afford it anyway," Lance shrugged. "I'd just steal it, but I like the

shopkeeper too much. He's one of the few good guys left in the world."

He could see Pietro watching him by way of his reflection. Watching with a

strange look in his eyes that Lance was only beginning to recognize as muted longing. It made him wonder what was going on in his head.

"I saw Rogue earlier today," Pietro said casually, changing the subject. Lance

saw wall expression on Pietro's face disappear. He was an utter blank. Lance turned to face him, feeling a touch of concern. "We had coffee together. It was kinda nice. Too bad she left the Brotherhood, really."

"Yeah. She was up our alley," Lance smiled, remembering the moody, dark girl.

"She says she saw m- Magneto... yesterday," Pietro's voice was strangely

neutral.

Lance got the idea that Pietro was going to say something else, but stopped

himself just in time. "Crap," Lance sighed, "I really hope he doesn't come by and bug us."

Pietro pulled his coat closer around him to ward off the cold and the snow which

was beginning to fall faster. His face darkened, his eyes turning stormy. A strange look passed over his face at he turned to the window.

"Yeah, definitely," he said, a hint of anger in his voice. Anger mixed with...

what... sadness? "Why would we even WANT and egotistical, arrogant bucket headed jerk who takes people for granted and can't even give his own -" he shook his head violently. "Never mind," he added in a near whisper.

"Pietro, are you alright?" Lance asked softly, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Sure," he barked a laugh. Why shouldn't I be? I mean, sure we have nothing,

but then again, we have each other, right? We might not have families, but then, shouldn't we consider the Brotherhood as family?"

"Yeah," Lance gave him a troubled smile. He had never seen Pietro like this.

He'd seen the other boy happy, angry, cocky, bored... basically a lot of emotions... but never this lonely and sad. Pietro needed nobody, was Pietro's motto.

"Who's name did you get?" Lance asked him, trying to change the subject.

"Can't tell you," Pietro laughed at him, a little more lighthearted. "But I'm

thinking of getting toilet water for the person," he joked.

"Must be Fred then. Keep him from taking a leak out the window, right?" Lance

grinned.

"Exactly!" Pietro laughed heartily. "Gotta go look for said present."

"Sure," Lance grinned agreement. "Gotta find something really tacky for Tabs.

Maybe a ponytail thing that lights up and plays music."

"Oh, that WOULD be SO tacky! She'll love it!" Pietro snickered.

"Yeah, I thought so," Lance smiled. "Hey, I really am sorry."

"Forget it," Pietro waved a hand in the air. "I take things to personal sometimes.

We're all under stress."

"Yeah," Lance nodded. "But I shouldn't have said it anyway."

"Said what?" Pietro said innocently. "Ciao, Lance!"

"See ya," Lance said with a gentle smile. Sometimes, against his own judgement,

he found himself drawn to the other teen. Something about the way he stood, the cock-sure attitude, his grin... He knew he really liked Kitty, but sometimes he felt it e easier to go after Pietro. He wouldn't have to fight against the X-Geeks about him spending time with Pietro. And Pietro could be fun. He was getting the idea that Pietro hid a lot behind that attitude, and was starting to wonder if he could get past it, and see the true Pietro.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Pietro said quietly, seriously.

"Why?" Lance looked startled. "I- uh- I was just..."

"Forget it," Pietro looked away. "Better get going."

He was gone before Lance could blink.

Running a hand through his hair, he felt confused. What had just happened there?

Could he ever explain it? Did he want to?

He headed down the street, hands shoved deep in his pockets, hunched over

against the mounting wind. Snow clung to his eyelashes, and his hair. Carolers passed him, singing, while people laughed happily, talking about going to their warm homes to spend time with their families.

He had no idea what to get Pietro for Christmas. He pulled out the slip of paper,

with it's hastily written name on it, not guilty in the least for lying to him. Maybe he'd wrap a bow around himself and see how he reacted to that...

**Disclaimer**
I do not own any of the characters within this fic. This is just a fic, not gospel, and situations that may be within the show don't necessarily make their way here. And vice versa.