FicWad

Bobby Drake had drawn the short straw today, landing him with the task of waking up his roommate and best friend, John Allerdyce. Most of the time, John was nearly impossible to rouse from sleep, and even the most persistent knocks on his door rarely made a dent in the pyromaniac’s slumber.

Usually, it involved some kind of risk to life and limb—at least, when it came to waking John up without triggering one of his fiery outbursts.

Standing outside the door, Bobby let out a sigh. Why does it always have to be me? he wondered, pushing the door open. The room was dimly lit, heavy curtains drawn across the window, blocking out the morning sun. In the middle of the bed, sprawled across the mattress with one arm hanging off the side, was John, his messy hair falling into his eyes, his face pressed into the pillow.

Bobby rolled his eyes at the sight, stifling a groan. The guy looked so peaceful, like a bear in hibernation.

If that bear could throw fireballs when disturbed.

Bobby had tried calling his name, shaking the bedframe, even flicking the lights on and off. But John was still dead to the world.

Okay, Bobby, think, he thought, rubbing his chin.

'What’s a way to wake him up without ending up as a pile of ashes?'

That’s when Bobby noticed something. The blanket had slipped off, revealing John’s bare feet, slightly curled at the edges, peeking out from beneath the sheets. An idea started to form, and Bobby couldn’t help the mischievous grin that spread across his face. He dropped down to his knees beside the bed, glancing up at John’s still-sleeping face one more time, just to be sure.

“Let’s see if this works,” Bobby muttered under his breath, reaching out with one hand toward John’s exposed sole. He took a deep breath, praying this wouldn't earn him a fireball to the face, and gently poked his index finger against the bottom of John’s left foot, pressing into the warm, tanned skin.

John’s foot twitched slightly in response, and Bobby heard a muffled snort escape his roommate’s lips. The sight made Bobby’s grin widen. Encouraged, he tried again, poking at the sole with a little more determination.

“C’mon, it’s time to wake up,” he whispered, keeping his voice low. John shifted slightly, but he showed no signs of waking up.

Well, if poking won’t do it… Bobby thought, a mischievous glint in his eye. He placed his fingertips against John’s sole and began to wiggle them gently, trailing across the sensitive skin. He couldn’t help the snicker that escaped him as he watched John’s foot flex, his toes curling slightly in response.

“Mmmpehehehehehehehe...” John let out a soft, involuntary chuckle, his lips curling into a faint smile even as he remained asleep. He shifted onto his side, trying to escape the ticklish sensation, but Bobby wasn’t about to let him off that easy. He followed John’s movements, leaning closer to continue his gentle assault on the now-vulnerable foot.

“Oh, so even Pyro is ticklish, huh? Interesting...” Bobby teased, wiggling his fingers faster, enjoying the sight of his usually grumpy roommate reduced to giggles. “C’mon, wakey-wakey, John.”

“Mmm...hehehehehe...” John’s laughter grew a little louder as Bobby’s fingers skittered across the bottom of his foot, his body twisting slightly as if trying to fend off the tickling. It was as if some part of John’s mind knew what was happening, but he couldn’t quite wake up enough to stop it. His foot squirmed beneath Bobby’s fingers, trying to pull away, but Bobby reached out with his free hand and grabbed hold of John’s ankle.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Bobby snickered, tightening his grip as he continued his tickling assault. He dragged his fingers up and down the length of John’s foot, digging into the arch and along the sides. John’s face scrunched up, and he let out a louder, breathless laugh, his body squirming on the bed.

“Ah...s-stop...mmmphehehehhehehe!” John mumbled, his voice slurred with sleep, his laughter becoming more genuine as the sensation finally broke through the fog of his slumber.

Bobby, seeing his chance, decided to go all out, rapidly scribbling his fingers all over the sole of John’s foot, not holding back anymore. He dug underneath John’s toes, feeling them try to curl up and escape his touch. “Time to wake up already!” he said, his voice a little louder, the taunting edge in his tone unmistakable.

Suddenly, John’s eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright, his reflexes kicking in before his mind could catch up. He swung a fist in Bobby’s direction, but Bobby had been expecting it. He ducked down, narrowly avoiding the hit, and, with one last triumphant wiggle of his fingers, released his grip on John’s ankle.

“Good, you’re finally up!” Bobby declared with a smug grin, quickly scrambling to his feet and backing away. “The Professor told me to wake you up ’cause breakfast is ready, so hurry up!” He didn’t wait for a response before darting out of the room, leaving a bewildered and increasingly furious John behind.

For a moment, John just sat there on the bed, his face flushed with embarrassment and irritation. His mind raced to catch up with what had just happened, and he could still feel the ghost of those ticklish sensations lingering on his sole. His face felt like it was on fire, heat prickling beneath his skin as he realized just how much he’d been laughing.

“That little bastard,” John muttered under his breath, glaring at the empty doorway where Bobby had made his hasty exit. He felt a surge of indignation rushed through him.

'He’s going to pay for that.'

The pyromaniac took a deep breath, trying to steady his heartbeat as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. His muscles still felt heavy with the remnants of sleep, but the memory of Bobby’s smug grin drove him into motion. He grabbed a fresh shirt from his dresser, yanking it on over his head, and stomped out of the room.

By the time John reached the kitchen, his mood sour as he spotted Bobby sitting at the table, happily munching on a piece of toast as if he hadn’t just humiliated him. The other students in the mansion, including Rogue, were chatting quietly amongst themselves, blissfully unaware of the morning’s drama. John slid into a chair opposite Bobby, his expression thunderous, but he said nothing, opting to glare daggers at his friend instead.

Bobby just gave him a cheeky smile, taking another bite of his toast with exaggerated cheerfulness.

“Morning, sunshine,” he said in a sing-song voice, clearly enjoying every moment of John’s barely-contained rage. “Sleep well?”

John’s eye twitched, and he could feel the heat building in his palms, the familiar flicker of fire sparking to life beneath his skin. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to keep it in check. Not here, not in front of everyone. He knew better than to make a scene in the kitchen. Instead, he focused on shoveling his breakfast into his mouth, chewing furiously as he tried to ignore Bobby’s smug grin.

Rogue, sensing the tension between the two boys, raised an eyebrow.

“What’s got you two so worked up this morning?” she asked, glancing from John to Bobby with a bemused expression.

Bobby shrugged, looking all too innocent.

“Oh, it's nothing."

John shot him a withering glare, swallowing a mouthful of eggs before leaning forward, his voice low and dangerous.

“Don’t think you’re going to get away with that, Drake,” he growled, barely managing to keep his tone civil. “I will get you back for this.”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be waiting." Bobby just chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a satisfied smirk. "But hey, at least you’re awake now, right? Mission accomplished.”

John clenched his fists, forcing himself to take another calming breath. He knew that any attempt at revenge would have to wait until later, when they weren’t surrounded by half the mansion. For now, he would have to bide his time. But as he looked at the self-satisfied smirk on Bobby’s face, he silently vowed that he would make sure his friend regretted ever thinking this was a good idea.

Breakfast continued, with Rogue keeping a wary eye on the two of them, but to everyone else, it seemed like a typical morning. Beneath the surface, however, the tension between Bobby and John simmered, waiting for the moment when the tables would inevitably turn.

As they finished their meal and left the kitchen, John caught Bobby’s eye one last time, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face.

“Oh, don’t worry, Bobby,” he said softly, his voice carrying a hint of menace. “This isn’t over.”

Bobby just winked, completely unbothered. "Lighten up, John," he said with a chuckle. "Or I'll keep waking you up like that, day after day."

John’s eyes narrowed at Bobby’s taunt, and he felt a flare of irritation rush through him. His hands itched with the familiar urge to conjure fire, but he kept his temper in check—barely. He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning in closer, his expression darkening as he glared at Bobby.

“You wouldn’t dare,” John growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Try it again, and I swear, I’ll—”

“Whoa, whoa, calm down, Pyro. I’m just messing with you,” Bobby raised his hands in mock surrender, but still grinning from ear to ear. “But, you’ve gotta admit, it worked. You were out like a light, and now here you are, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.”

John just glowered, refusing to be swayed by Bobby’s teasing tone. The memory of the morning’s indignity—being tickled awake like some kid—was still fresh, and he couldn’t believe Bobby had had the nerve to try it, much less that it had actually worked. And now, his best friend had the audacity to threaten to do it again?

“Yeah, well, maybe next time I’ll make sure you wake up in an ice block,” John muttered, though the edge in his voice had softened. There was something about Bobby’s easygoing nature that made it hard for him to stay truly mad, even if he’d never admit it out loud.

As they went their separate ways, Bobby couldn’t help but feel a thrill of satisfaction at having gotten one over on his friend. But he also knew, deep down, that he’d have to keep his guard up. With John Allerdyce, payback was inevitable. And when it came, Bobby had a feeling it would be fiery.

The game between them had only just begun.