"I'm sorry."
ONE MONTH LATER
Bobby walked down the mansion hallway, stopping as he heard Hank and Storm talking behind a door.
“How is he?”
“Same as when I last visited. He won’t leave his room, lays in bed all day, barely eats, flips people off if they try to come in to talk to him. I tried again this morning to tell him that he has been fully pardoned but the finger was up before I could say as much, so I didn’t bother. I doubt he would even care.”
“Wait, fully pardoned?”
“I managed to pull some strings. I don’t think it’s important, though. John doesn’t seem to care if he lives or dies, so it doesn’t matter where he goes. I’m curious, why did you want to save him anyway?”
“I… I just couldn’t leave him out there. I looked at him and all I could see was the sad, scared boy that Charles and Scott brought to the mansion.”
“I see. You still care for him. And I suppose he’s your problem more than mine, now that he’s been pardoned.”
Storm sighed. “Couldn’t Bobby get through to him?”
“I don’t know if he’s even tried. From what I’ve seen, he’s been acting different after Alcatraz.”
“The fight was tough, and Rogue’s decision must have hit him hard. They were together for a long time.”
Storm’s empathetic tone made Bobby sigh audibly as he shook his head and continued walking. His relationship was none of their business, and he definitely didn’t want to be used as a tool for them to talk to his former best friend. Besides, Bobby had tried. Three days after John was brought into the mansion, Bobby had knocked on his door to bring him some food and hopefully start a conversation, and he had gotten the same response as everyone else.
Still, as the day went by, Bobby found himself being drawn to John’s door. Now he was standing in front of it, having waited until the sun went down and most people were asleep. It had been a month, after all. Maybe, just maybe, he’d be able to get something out of him now. Just a “go fuck yourself” would be enough closure, then he could stop thinking about it. He had nothing left to lose at this point, might as well give it a shot.
So he knocked.
“Hey,” Bobby said quietly as he opened the door. “You still awake?”
John was laying on his bed facing away from the door as usual, but the sharp, frustrated exhale was enough for a response.
“Look, I…” Bobby's voice trailed off as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. He wasn’t sure how to begin. “I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you. I didn’t know what to say or… well, you probably get it. But I just wanted to come and-”
“What? Say you’re sorry for everything? Or just pity me?”
Bobby was taken aback for a moment. This was the first time he had heard John speak since Alcatraz.
He was even more shocked when John stood up and flicked the ceiling light on. He then turned around, staring into Bobby’s soul with what he could only describe as pure scorn. He was wearing the same old grey t-shirt and black sweatpants that he had used as pyjamas for years. If it weren’t for the bleached hair, Bobby could’ve sworn he was looking at a ghost from the past.
“Jesus, Drake, at least say something. Don’t just stand there.”
“Sorry,” Bobby muttered. He needed to focus. “I had news for you but… I do want to apologize. I’ve been a jerk this whole time.”
“No shit.”
“And I mean, like, for years. I haven’t been fair to you. I tried to defend you, but sometimes all the nasty stuff people said about you just… got to me. And then Rogue came along and-”
“Don’t even fucking mention Rogue! As soon as she showed up, she took up all of your time! Whatever happened to the ‘inseparable duo’ that everyone said we were! I loved you, you asshole! You left me behind and now you’re trying to crawl back when your poor girlfriend turned out to be a coward and left you!”
Bobby went silent for a moment, staring at John in shock. Of course he had noticed that Rogue didn’t get along with John. He just hadn’t stopped to think about how John must have felt about it.
“John, I-”
“Shut up! Just shut up! Don’t give me that ‘lost puppy’ stare again! Just say what you had to say and go!”
“I just- I just wanted to tell you that things can still change! You were officially pardoned by the president this morning. You could still prove yourself.”
“Oh, please. I hear what they say about me. John Allerdyce, the villain, the traitor who sided with the terrorist. People start whispering every time they walk past my door. Apparently I got my face on the news, too.”
“That’ll all die down,” Bobby reassured, unsure of what to say. John was right, after all. People were talking. “It- it’ll die down and you can start over.”
John scoffed, shaking his head. Bobby could swear he had tears in his eyes.
“Sure it will. I’m starting to think I would’ve been better off dying alone on Alcatraz. Or getting thrown into prison. Hell, maybe they would’ve put me out of my misery and executed me.”
“John, please don’t say that, you still have-”
“God, Bobby, stop trying to be a saint! Why can’t you just hate me like everybody else?”
Bobby lowered his gaze to the floor. He didn’t have an answer. The rational part of his brain was telling him that he should’ve hated John. That he had no good reason to even try to reconcile. John didn’t deserve it after what he had done.
Still, the question felt like a knife to his heart. He couldn’t bring himself to hate John, not after everything they had been through.
When he looked back up, he noticed the tears rolling down John’s face. He was visibly shaking - whether it was rage, hurt, or a mix of both, Bobby couldn’t tell. Either way, the sight broke his heart.
“Oh, John…” Bobby hated how soft he sounded to his own ears, but he couldn’t help it. He took a tentative step towards him and John flinched, stepping back. He stumbled over the leg of his chair and almost fell flat to the floor, but Bobby sprang into action and caught him. He wrapped his arms around his old friend and pulled him back to his feet, keeping him locked in a tight hug.
After a few seconds of initial resistance, John gave in, resting his head on Bobby’s shoulder as more tears began to fall.
“I’m sorry,” Bobby said quietly, his right hand moving up to cradle the back of John's head. “I’m so, so sorry.”