With much awaited adieu, I'm sure, I've finished the story's last chapter and here it is for all to see. Man, this took a while to finish and get out there. Made my fingers hurt; I can literally feel the muscles throbbing. But that's not important.
So here it is; the second and final chapter of the Free-Running Savior. Hope you all enjoy the chapter and I look forward to your reviews.
Free-Running Savior
Todd watched as Scott was sedated and flinched as a hand gently touched his shoulder, the skin bruised badly from falling on the pipe.
Turning to see Jean, Todd nodded at her and followed her out of the medic lab. But instead of leaving the room, Jean gestured for him to sit on a nearby bed. Todd raised an eyebrow, his folded arms flexing in a challenge.
"Come on, Todd. We just want to make sure you're alright." Jean said encouragingly, a pair of doctor glove in her hand.
"Why did you care, yo?" Todd asked, Jean frowning at his attitude. "If I was able to drag your boyfriend here after fighting all hell for his life, I think I'll live."
"We don't know if you've sustained any internal injuries or not, neither do you." Jean point out, Todd sighing annoyed at the point she made.
"Fine, yo." He said gruffly, walking to the table. "Take's too much energy arguing with you X-Men anyway."
He sat down on the edge of the bed, his back to Scott and his body, almost elegantly, curved over slightly. Todd silently relaxed his body with a sigh and shut his eyes, sleep tugging at him mercilessly.
He was exhausted; his body in a whole other world of pain and Todd understood that he could be suffering from worse injuries on the inside. But he had survived worse fight than this without any aid before, most wounds given to him from the X-Men.
A chill ran down his arms, a soothing coolness rubbing down his arm with the odd sting shooting through his cuts. Opening his eyes slightly, Todd saw the red head psychic carefully cleaning his arms.
Todd rubbed his finger together when he felt the cool liquid running between them and could feel the grime being flushed out of his skin. It dripped down onto the sheets with a "pitter-pat" sound, the sound water from a leaky faucet make after a long day in the sun.
"How did you find Scott?" Jean asked, looking to Todd and pausing for moment.
"Right place, right time, I guess, yo." Todd said with a shrug, not looking at her as she continued, and took a short pause before he continued as well. "I had my reasons, some personal and some for the right reason."
The cloth paused as he spoke and slowly continued, the touch much gentler than it had been before.
"Thank you…for saving him." Jean said softly.
"Don't wor-" Todd began but Jean's quiet voice stalled him
"But I did, so please accept my thanks." Jean said, pouring some clear substance down his arm. "You don't get enough praise as it is, so please accept it."
Todd nodded, looking at the doors as they opened and smiled haphazardly at the figure that walked in. The blonde bombshell smiled and ruffled Todd's hair as she stopped near him.
He, of course, wasn't surprised by the fact that Tabitha had returned to the X-Men, the girl not really having anywhere to go after Mystique kicked her out.
"Hey Greenie. You look a bit banged up, from a fight with Scott I guess?" She teased gently, but the worry was there.
"Wish it had been him rather than the Friends of Humanity and their little toy, might have been less of beating." Todd said, shaking his head when Tabitha began to drop her face. "If you think I'm bad, you should see the other guys, yo."
Tabitha smiled back but the light had dimmed in her eyes, Todd not paying attention because Jean had switched side and a sharp sting shot through his arm.
"OW!" Todd yelped, jerking his arm away from the psychic and glaring at her.
Jean shrugged and Todd grumbled as she took his arm, the blonde girl giggling at the sour look made at the red head. Todd rolled his shoulders back, a loud crack snapping out from his shoulder blades and Todd chuckled as the girls jumped at the loudness.
"So, the Friends of Humanity, huh?" Tabby said, obviously disgusted. "Some humanitarians; I take it they tried to beat Scott as well."
"Try nothing, Boom-Boom." Todd said, the girl's codename brining a smile to both of them. "He was getting his arm broken when I found him and they weren't anything to rave about, yo; punks barely got a scratch on me."
"Then what did this?" Tabby asked in confusion
"You won't believe this, a damn android, yo." Todd said, hissing when Jean dug too deep in the gash to clean it. "Jeez, don't you know how to be gentle?"
"You had to fight a robot, Greenie?"
"Yeah, 'it's the reason my body's bruised to hell, yo." Todd replied, flexing his right arm since Jean was done with it. "Mind you, I didn't need the torture session from the Red Mistress."
Jean glared at him but gave him a half smile, the other chuckling at his small joke. As Jean finished cleaning out the gash and whipping down his arm, Todd was about to get up when he was topped by an unseen force and he glanced at the psychic in annoyance.
"What now, yo?"
"I need you to take off your shirt and jacket." Jean said as she went to changed the water. "I need to take care of your back."
The emotional spike in Todd was so powerful that Jean didn't have to see him to know he was uncomfortable with the request. Tabby, who was looking at him, caught the flicker of panic and when he looked at Tabby, she smiled reassuringly.
Todd sighed as he slowly unzipped his sleeveless jacket and dropped it behind him, rubbing his neck before he pulled his shirt out and hefted it over his head.
Tabby felt her eyes glued to the Brotherhood mutant, his body making her mouth water. The chest was well developed and nicely toned, no evidence of weight training but she suspected he didn't need it.
She had never really paid attention to the smallest Brotherhood member because…well, because she never though he would have the body.
And with Lance and Pietro around, why should she have looked at him?
His mid riff was…well, Tabby thought numerous things about it. Each muscle for his abs was cleanly built and the muscles around his ribs stacked down neatly, Tabby unable to keep quiet anymore.
"Damn, Toady, you've been holding back on me." Tabby said saucily, Todd's cheek gracing her with a blush of light pink.
"I just…stay fit, yo." The Brotherhood mutant muttered offhandedly, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Jean, can you give me a hand over here?" Hank called, his focus on Scott while he drew blood.
Jean sighed and handed a new pair gloves to the nearest person, Tabitha Smith. "You deal with him; I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Oh yeah, Greenie's all mine." Tabby said mischievously, Todd chuckle at the twinkle in her eyes.
Tabby saucily walked up him, eyeing him like a hungry predator. The nails of her hand gently ran down his chest and followed the crevice of his abs. Biting her lower lip, Tabby made sure to be gently as she soaked the cloth and then began to brush his skin.
Todd gulped as the ice cold liquid touched him; sure, fight a lethal android with no problem but have a hot girl touch him and make him think that she was interested in him and he was doomed.
The blonde girl carefully wiped his somewhat broad shoulders, the trails of liquid sliding down his body.
"Jeez, Greenie. All banged up and no where to go?" Tabby teased lightly, Todd gulping as she glanced at him with smile. "Good thing there's plenty of space here, huh?" She winked at him. "I could make space for you, if ya want."
Todd just realized how close Tabby was to him, the explosive mutant right in between his legs as she tended his bruised body. And her touch, Todd never thought anyone could touch that tenderly but his mind instinctively and cruelly blared the harsh reality. Who would want to touch him?
And she knew how close she was and what it was doing to him, tilting her body side to side every now and again to let him know. Almost as if she wanted to touch him more.
The amphibious mutant then opened his legs more, his stomach curling inwards. His back was covered in goose-bumps, Tabby seeing the look on Todd's face resemble a deer in the headlights and grinned at him temptingly.
"You scared, Todd?" Tabby asked quietly, her voice low and husky.
"Those beautiful in appearance rarely have such kind thoughts for me, yo." Todd said in quiet voice, clarifying when he saw the confused yet hurt look in her eyes. "I'm just not used to such a gentle touch."
"You think I'm like that?" Tabby asked sharply as her body about to move away when Todd's hand gently grabbed her hips.
Todd's eye blazed into hers, his amber-gold eyes burning with such rawness that her sky-blues were terrified. She could feel the power in hands, not even needing to look at his arms to see the toned biceps and triceps flexing.
It was then she saw why he was ashamed to take his shirt off. Marks of abuse and torture ran from point to point on his body and his bruises only brought the scars to light. And then she understood, why he wouldn't believe, why he wouldn't want to, that people could be kind to him.
It hurt too much to hope on for a nowhere kid.
His breaths were deep, as though was trying to recover from being winded or being kicked in the balls. Todd slowly let her go, shaking his head slightly.
"No, I didn't." Todd said, looking down between them. "You were one of the few that I would never mind being around because, despite everything, you actually saw more than mutant."
Tabby smiled and picked his head up, kissing his forehead softly. Todd was surprised by this and his surprise made Tabby blush in a way she didn't mind.
"You always were a sweetie, Toddie." Tabby said kindly with a hint of suggestion, making Todd's blush grow as she walk behind him and began work on his back.
The cloth was colder than earlier and Todd shuddered at the contact, his body still able to feel Tabby through the cotton fabric. Todd sighed as he leaned forward, his hands covering his face as he leaned on his elbows.
This night was just full of fun, little surprises.
The Brotherhood mutant hissed when Tabby pressed on his lower back, his body pulling away out of reflex. Reaching around, Todd felt where she had pressed on him and frowned.
"What is it, Toddie?" Tabby asked out concern.
"Dunno, anything from a pulled muscle to bone fracture, Tabs." Todd said, resuming his position carefully as Jean came over.
"Well, we're going to put you though the X-ray machine just in case." Jean said, Todd nodding as he stood up. "Tabitha, if you wouldn't giving us some privacy. I'm sure Todd will be up on a minute."
"Okay, see ya later, Greenie." Tabby said as she sauntered out of the med lab.
"Later, Boom." Todd replied, Jean guiding him to the machine.
Todd, redressed, followed Hank and Jean out of the medical center, Scott still inside due to his injuries and the three of them made their way to the elevator.
The X-Ray showed his had no broken bones thankfully, but several muscles and ligament had been pulled around his right leg. Also, several of his bones were bruised as well as massive portions of his skin, the color already an angry purple color.
His hands were tucked in his sweatshirt as he trudged into the elevator, his knuckles and palm nearly as sore as his legs. The hum of the elevator made his skin crawl, his mind flashing back to the energy cannon the android had.
He now realized how lucky he had been.
Once out of the elevator, Todd was led to Xavier's office where Ororo, Logan and Xavier were waiting. Todd squeezed his eyes shut as he felt a twinge from his cut cheek and shook his head.
"Are you alright, Mr. Tolansky?" Xavier asked in concern, studying the green mutant worryingly.
"Nah, I'll be fine. I had a few beating worse than this, so I just sleep it off, yo." Todd said as he sat down. "Besides, these are scrapes and bruises, yo. I'll be fine…but thanks for the concern."
"I should be thanking you, Mr. Tolansky. You saved one of my students from being killed." Xavier said, Todd sitting down in front of his desk.
"It was nothing, just in the right place at the right time." Todd said offhandedly, rolling his neck before looking at Xavier again. "I guess you saw everything from Scott's mind?"
"Unfortunately, yes. It seems certain fanatic groups, like the Friends of Humanity, have been stepping up their paces on anti-mutant sentiments." Xavier said, linking his fingers in a way a spider would move their legs. "However, that is not the issue I wished to discuss now."
"Anything to do with me and how those FOH members and their toy got trashed, yo?" Todd asked defensively.
"No, it doesn't; although, it did disturb me a bit, your ruthlessness." Xavier said a bit worriedly.
Todd growled and leaned back in the chair, his eyes boring into Xavier's. His bare arms were tight with tension and his eyes glanced at each of the teachers around him.
"It worked, yo. Peace is great if everyone follows it, but if they don't, it's pointless." Todd grumbled. "Besides, I ain't got fancy powers like the rest of you to intimidate others with."
"I was merely concerned if anyone died." Xavier explained calmly, ignoring the rolling of Todd's eyes.
"Whatever, yo." Todd said offhandedly, Logan grabbing him by the front of the shirt and lifting him out of the chair.
"Show some damn respect, ya swamp-breathing punk!" Logan snarled.
Ororo and Hank would have stopped Logan but Xavier raised his hand slowly. The teachers were confused by the gesture and then looked at Todd, surprised slightly by him.
Todd was holding Logan's wrist and staring back under his eye lids. Since Logan was easily holding him off the ground, Todd had let his knee positioned by Logan kidneys and his diaphragm.
His amber eyes weren't even focused on Logan, his body moving out of reflex. Logan looked down at the move and scoffed, smiling as he put the boy down. Todd remained upright and presentable for moment and then slouched back down.
"Not bad, Frog." Logan said, Todd grinning slightly.
"Thanks." Todd then looked at Xavier. "What do you want to talk about again, Professor?"
"I would like to talk about the android you destroyed." Xavier said, leaning forward as everyone took a seat. "It is crucial that we know what we're up against."
Todd nodded, his should giving a spasm of pain. "Alright, this may take a bit…"
Todd was never aware that anyone could on about such little trivial things but he could understand the fear.
Hell, he had fought against a near perfect human looking android and nearly, very nearly lost. If they weren't carefully, there could more of those out in the general public and if they figured a way to read the X-gene…
Todd shivered at the thought. It wasn't pretty.
"Mr. Tolansky, I do have one more issue to discus with you before you leave." Xavier said, taking Todd's shrug and nod as a yes. "And this is one I shall discuss in private with you."
Todd watched in confusion as the staff member slowly left the roof, Wolverine glaring through the Brotherhood mutant's head. The door creaked shut as the Canadian wild man left and Todd looked back at the Professor.
There was a long length silence as Todd sat up straight and tried to relax, his body still taunt from earlier in the evening.
"First of all, I am aware I have thanked you already, but I wish to do so again." Xavier said as he wheeled out in front of Toad, extending his hand. "I am Scott's legal guardian and I consider every student under this roof is a part of my family, so I wanted to give a more personal thank you."
Todd was a bit taken back by this. This man, the very one he had been told was his enemy and that he feared even to today, was offering his thanks and his hand.
Gulping softly, Todd reached forward and gave a cautious but firm shake, his eye watching Xavier's. He let go quickly after a few seconds and placed his hands in his pockets, watching as Xavier folded his into his lap.
"The other matter are bit more pressing and important." Xavier admitted and Todd nodded for him to go on. "The first thing I wish to deal with is how you dealt with the threat that was presented to you."
"What about it, yo?" I did want I had to do, end of story." Todd said offhandedly.
"I was wondering if the option to run was even considered." Xavier asked gently.
Todd sighed; he had considered it, before he got Scott and afterwards. But he was filled with so much rage that the same people that had stolen his first true family that he was willing to defend his enemy to get his revenge. He had been driven into a frenzy of rage.
Todd now realized how close he had been to killing the members of the FOH. He just had to add that little more "umph" and his foot could have crushed their bodies without a second glance.
He then realized why he didn't run with Scott. His fear…
"I did, yo." Todd said softly, his hands tensing until they are cracked. "But I ignored it because…"
"You were afraid to let them go and find another to hurt, like they did to your friends." Xavier said, Todd nodding stiffly. "It's nothing to be ashamed of; actually, it can be considered a form of nobility."
"I'm no hero, Xavier. I'm a piss poor result of Darius's hard work and effort."
"But not of his teachings." Xavier reprimand gently. "You shouldn't forget that."
Todd nodded as a light smile formed on his lips as he agreed with Xavier. Darius would indeed have been proud with him and the choice he had made.
Todd was about to stand up when Xavier held his hand out and the boy looked at the older man questioningly.
"I also need to ask for your forgiveness for the way you were treated when you first came here, when I foolishly decided to test your powers." Xavier said, Todd sitting slowly back down. "Which is why, I fully understand why if you turn down my offer."
"What are you talking about, yo?" Todd asked in confusion.
"I would like to offer the position on the X-Men team to you and tuition here at my school." Xavier said kindly, Todd sure the floor had been pulled out from under him.
Xavier, the bald psychic who orchestrated his enemies, was offering him something no one had in his lifetime except Mystique and Magneto.
The Brotherhood mutant had, at one point, wanted to be a part of something good for a change, but because every time he was met with contempt when he tried he had given up hope.
Todd fell back into the chair, his head spinning slightly. Plus, he had friends, a family, at the Brotherhood. No matter how badly they treated him, they did let him stay there and made him feel at home.
"Why, yo?"
"You demonstrated a rare form of valor and courage tonight, defending your enemy in a time when your actions put you in a great danger. That alone would have been enough." Xavier said, his eyes distant. "But regardless of your injuries, you carried Scott to the mansion rather risk any other form of confrontation or segregation at the hospital."
Todd blinked and mulled over what the wheelchair bound professor, the reasoning making sense to the amphibious mutant.
What he had done was something the boy had only had to read in the books of his English class, something about heroism and brotherhood in the book of Mrs. Dalloway and Band of Brothers.
"That's what it takes to be an X-Man?" Todd asked, his curiosity peeked by this.
"Those are the fundamentals, some of the students only having one or two of the ones you have." Xavier said warmly. "But you have shown to have all of these traits as well as fierce determination and am attitude open and sympathetic to those in your social positions."
Todd cupped his hands over his mouth and exhaled slowly, his eyes distant. A tingle ran up his spine, his stomach and back feeling like it had a cold sweat.
He had never thought that it would be possible for him to be an X-Man. Him! It seemed like a cruel divine comedy that he would be offered to join the X-Men.
Leaning back, Todd knew he couldn't give his answer yet; he needed to think about it and seriously consider all the consequences of what will happen if he chose to come here. But it was not to be thought about tonight, not after all that had happened.
"I understand that you are tired and I know you wish to have time to think about this, so I will let you get home." Xavier said, Todd nodding and standing before Xavier's voice stopped him once again. "I have just one other question?"
"Yeah? What is it, yo?" He asked, leaning slightly on the back of the chair.
"Those friends of yours that were killed…why where they all homeless?" Xavier asked this time much gentler than before.
And there was good reason for this. Todd instantly found his body tensing up in rage, his mind screaming with the memories of his first friends and his first family. Squeezign his eyes shut, Todd gulped and began to heavily breathe as he felt the presence of his friends rise up in him.
It may have been nearly six year since they were killed but that didn't make that cold feeling in his stomach leave, having seen their deaths and having survived when they hadn't. It was a bitch to live with but he had managed to force it down…at least until the anniversary of that day came around.
Then it was as fresh as newly fallen snow, cold and chilling as when he first saw them.
"Parents, their the reason." Todd said, his voice choked by his memories. "Darius Swanson, Justine Pool and Alexander Moss…all had issues with their parents, either being haters or being drug addicts."
"What happened?"
"Darius was kicked out of his house when he took a shotgun shot to his chest, his power to control the density of his body making his skin impenetrable, and his old man flipped out." Todd explained, sighing. "Justine's parents were crack addicts and she had to get out that house for her health, her glowing hair and eyes a result of their substance abuse. Alex's dad was killed in a car crash and his mom blame the death on the fact her son was mutant, his empathetic abilities making him experience her rage in a whole new way."
Xavier sighed, bowing his head while Todd rolled his jaw slightly and sighed. He hated having to know about the past and the way things started. They had managed to pick themselves up and were going fine until that FOH had found them out.
It wasn't that he didn't like to remember them; dear God, no, he loved and cherished his memories of them. It was the way things had to end with them and how brutally that beautiful image of peace had been destroyed.
And the Brotherhood Toad had been made from the ashes.
"Look Xavier, not everyone is lucky to be brought to somewhere like this and often to people like me, it's just too good to be true sometimes. When you've lived on the streets, everything is always a skyscraper above your head." Todd said, being honest with a man that had been honest with him. "But…this is such a good place, for good people and it has the dream so many of us have given up on….I'm not sure I have that kind of goodness anymore."
"You do, Mr. Tolansky, have that goodness. It is shown in your actions." Xavier said, rolling forward. "You may be an enemy but I believe in giving second chances, the reason I gave one to Mr. Alvers and it's the same reason I'm giving you one."
"Well, I'll think about it, yo" Todd said, declining his head slightly. "Goodnight, Professor."
Todd silently walked down the hallway, his sneaker muffled by the carpet and the dimmed lights let his body skin color blend him into the shadows slightly.
He felt a shiver go down his back, a chill reaching deep down in him and he had to stop as he felt his hands shaking. Screwing up his face, Todd placed his hands over his face as he felt a tear fall down his face. He was exhausted mentally and especially physically, his body feeling like it was two hundred pound per limb now.
Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Todd snapped his attention to the side when he heard a door open. The light behind the figure did little to hide who she was, Todd knowing the valley girl princess when he saw her.
She tiredly rubbed her eyes as she squinted at the figure before her, her long T-shirt and short shorts fluttering due to her open window.
"Hmm…whose that?..." She asked sleepily, Todd shaking his head as she quickly recognized him and snapped awake. "Toad? What are you doing here?!"
"Just bringing back one of you X's from getting his asses whooped, yo." Todd said offhandedly, walking down the hallway.
"What?" She sputtered, Todd stopping with a sigh.
He turned around and walked over to her, the light now shining over his bare arms and face. Kitty gasped, the nicks and bruises covering his body apparent in the brighter light. Todd tilted his head and she instantly looked back at the Brotherhood mutant's face.
"I had to fight to keep your leader alive and I had to go toe to toe with an android, nearly getting my ass fried in the process; all because some assholes hate mutant." Todd said, looking at her in question. "Okay?"
"That's ridiculous. Why would Scott need your help?" She asked spitefully, Todd looking impassively.
"Whatever, Kat, I don't have the patience for you, yo." The amphibious mutant said as he walked down the hallway again.
"Hey! Com back here!" Kitty snapped, Todd trying to ignore her.
He looked to his left and right as lights flicked on, grumbles about the valley girl being too loud. Todd stopped briefly to see who would come out and also to let his body rest a bit, the ware and tear reaching a peak.
The door to his left revealed the blue boy Nightcrawler and the one on his right was the Brazilian hotshot Sunspot. Both boys froze in their pj's while Todd just shrugged and kept walking, indifferent to them being there.
He was too tired to give a-
BAMF
Todd stopped, not even looking up. He really hated that sound at times.
And lo, there behold was Nightcrawler, with his blue tail thrashing angrily around him and his teeth bared fiercely. Or at least he so hoped, Todd having seen the face so many time it was nearly funny.
"Vhat in zha name ov God are you doing here?" Kurt snarled, Todd resuming his pace.
"Just dropping off Cyclops for ya damn X-Geeks, yo." Todd said offhandedly, walking past Kurt. "He'll be fine in the morning and I'm going home, blue boy."
Kurt blinked a few times at the sheer lacking of aggression from the Brotherhood mutant, the other two X-Men also surprised by this. The three turned and ran after him, the amphibious mutant hopping down the stair.
Kurt teleported to the base of the stairs and Roberto and Kitty stayed behind him, Todd never really slowing or speeding up. Kurt lunged at him, the German slightly deflated when all his rival did was step to the side and keep walking.
The blue mutant growled and sprung at him again, Todd dropping down in a squat as Kurt flew over him and kept going to the door. Kurt, now completely confused beyond reason, BAMF'd to right in front of Todd, who sighed.
"Yes, fuzzy?" Todd asked in tone bored, his hands still in his hoodie pockets.
"Vhy aren't you here to fight? Zhat's the only reason you ever come." Kurt s questioned.
Todd gave the German a perplexed look, trying to keep from smiling. He figured he would play around a bit before skipping out of this joint. It might make a crappy night better.
"Do you need a fight, yo?" Todd asked, blinking for effect while Kurt looked even more confused. "Cause I kinda had one already for the sake of your team leader and I'm feeling a bit tired."
"Vhat? You saved Scott? From who?" Kurt asked in confusion.
Kitty decide to throw her two cents in. "Why would Scott even need you help?"
"You know, I'm really feeling kinda tired, yo." Todd said, forcing a fake yawn. "Maybe I'll tell you guys later."
"I'll make you tell me now!" Kurt barked, his fist flying at Todd's head.
Now, he might have been tired and running on overdrive but his visual speed and reaction time was still flawless. The amphibious mutant's head tilted to the side, letting the fist breeze past his ear.
Kurt growled with annoyance and let his other hand fly, his rival easily dodging it too. Soon, Todd's head was going from side to side and his body squatting up and down, Kurt's fist's harmless flapping in the. Kurt clenched his fists tightly and Todd stood up straight cheerily.
"You done, cause that really worked out some kinks, yo." Todd said, a slight smile on his lips.
"Hold the HELL still!" Kurt bellowed, his leg swinging around at Todd's side.
The Brotherhood mutant turned to the side so he faced the kick, his left arm coming up to block the limb easily. He then turned to look at Kurt and Todd's right elbow hammered into his chest without hesitation.
Kurt's eyes fly open as he fell forward to his knees breathless, Todd's elbow holding him up. Todd snorted and slowly took his elbow out of his rival's stomach.
"You should have just let me go, yo." Todd said, glaring at the other two. "I'd take him down to the med lab that way you can see how bad Scott was to need my help."
Todd then walked to the doors, carefully opening the door and shutting gently once he passed through it. Pulling his hood up, Todd made his trek back home, his limb only seen by the eyes of Xavier and Logan.
Todd groaned as he stood under the warm spray of the shower, the warm water like an embrace from a loved one. His sore muscles trembled in spasms of relief as the warm water soothed his body and soaked through his long hair.
His back was covered in large purple blotches and his knuckles were raw from punching so much. His leg was shaking too, probably from kick so many kicks back that the bons were shocked.
Todd lazily flipped the shower off and grabbed a towel, drying his self down before he wrapped the fabric around his waist.
Carefully and slowly, Todd eased out of the tub and waked to his room, the others downstairs in front of the TV. They didn't even hear when he came in his room and they hadn't heard him in the shower or the soft closing of the door.
Much to everyone's disbelief, Todd didn't have a messy room. Correction: there was a corner with dirty laundry piled in it and he had some school books on the floor.
His room was actually very sparse, the orphan boy only having a few possessions to him that he would miss and he had them hidden from sight.
Todd quickly dried himself off and dressed, flicking on his radio as he went to bed. The amphibious mutant crawled into his unmade bed as the empty room was soon filled with soft jazz tune, the late night radio station playing a large assortment of genres when the regular listeners weren't tuned in.
And he actually found that he liked the old music as much as the new stuff that he had. Todd sighed as he lay down in his bed and carefully folded his arms above his head, minding the stiff soreness his had.
And then there was a banging at his door.
"Toad! Come out here, man!" Lance called, the green mutant rolling his eyes. "I need your help with something."
"Fine, yo. Just give me a sec." Todd said loudly, stifling his moans of pain as he sat up.
He cast the sheets off him and stiffly made it across his room, opening it up for the tall mutant. Todd rolled his neck as he stared at the leader of the Brotherhood, groaning as he waited for him to tell what was wrong.
"Can you reset the microwave for me? Pietro went and fucked it up again with his fucking button mashing." Lance asked, Todd nodding tiredly.
Pietro was infamous for messing up electronics because he was fast than them and would try and fiddle with the buttons to make it go faster.
The shortest mutant walked out of his room and trudged down the stairwell, his body barely able to move properly. He saw Pietro sitting on the couch, his foot twitching in a fashion that he would assume a severely hyper active squirrel would.
Wanda was reading her book, Todd not really paying much attention to the dark princess of hex bolts. There may have been a chance for him but that was no longer the case and he had given up his pursuit of the angry woman.
Although he would catch her eyes lingering sometimes, like they were now.
Todd smiled when he heard Freddy in the kitchen, scarifying away at what food he could find. Freddy was undoubtedly the one other person that he could remote relate to and was genuine friends with him. But there was always something that kept them different.
He still had a family, not matter how weird they were.
Todd groaned as he tried to suppress his limp into a hop and moved into the kitchen. He sighed as he eased into a standing position, his back cracking in the joints as he straightened up.
"Hey buddy, what the heck happened to your back?" Freddy asked in concern, Todd cringing as a spasm gave a twinge in his back.
"It's nothing, yo. Same old, same old." Todd offhandedly.
"What-are-you-talking-about—Sweet-Jesus,-what-happened-to-you,-wart-face?" Pietro asked, skidding to a stop.
Todd shook his head and kept working with the micro, twisting the fuse around before he plugged the machine back in. He reached up to set the-
Blistering pain raged under his skin and Todd snapped around, reflexively lashing around his fist. A breeze under his fist let him know who touched him.
"Pietro! Jeez, man, what the fuck, yo?" Todd snapped, Lance and Wanda coming in.
"Todd got beaten again, Lance, and Pietro went and poked his bruises," Freddy said, the green mutant pounding on the buttons to filter the pain out.
Todd looked over his shoulder and saw the member of the house staring at his bruises and some of his old scars. Shaking his head, Todd went to the door but Lance stopped him. Sighing and looking up, Todd folded his arms.
This covered his body but also showed his scrapes better.
"Lance, I'm fine. I've had worse." Todd said offhandedly, Lance looking horrified.
"You can tell us if you get hurt, you know, Todd" Lance said, his role as the leader maign him worry.
"Won't speed up the healing or make it easier, so why bother?" Todd asked, his harsh statement true. "I just need some sleep, yo."
Lance nodded and moved aside to let Todd go by, the amphibious mutant not making five steps before Pietro was leaning on him.
On his shoulder, the right one. The one that was heavily bruised.
"Aw,-come-on,-slimy. We-won't-make-fun-of-ya-because-those-X-Geeks-beat-you-up." Pietro said pridefully, applying more pressure to the injured limb. "I-mean,-what-less-would-we-expect-from-you-?"
Todd finally couldn't take it anymore and his body reacted.
His left leg was closest to the super speedy mutant, so that leg shot out and nailed the silver haired boy in the back of the knee. Pietro was caught off guard that he fell to the ground and Todd's limb came back around and hit him in the chest.
Since he was completely exhausted and his strength was spent, the blow was about an eighth of his normal strength. It still sent him back against the table and his back smacked against eh wood with a crack.
Todd breathed heavily as he leaned over, catching his breath. He was tired and needed rest. He ignored the looks he got, hauling his butt up the stairs and into the safety of his warm bed.
Todd sighed, dropping his head down
He had healed somewhat, the bruises fading slowly away and the cuts scabbing up. He was still much better than he had been, his flexibility not damaged and his strength back his normal standards.
But that wasn't the thing weighing in him now. . He had spent all week wrestling with the choice and found that, like the nigh the saved Scott, that the choice was already made. Todd knew what a choice like this could do to and for him and he had weighed the options carefully until ht finally made his choice
Sighing, Todd pressed the buzzer and flexed his fingers that held the bag. Looking around, the amphibious mutant tried to get his head around the fact he would have to start calling it home.
The door opened and Professor was there with Ororo, the old man's smile never the more welcoming. Something that Todd was getting happy to see for a change.
"I see you've made a decision." Xavier said kindly.
"You read my mind, Prof?" Todd joked, the three sharing a chuckle. "Yeah, I would like to give being an X-Men a shot, yo."
"Welcome to the family, Mr. Tolansky." Xavier said, holding his hand out.
As Todd shook the open hand, he knew he had made a change for the better. Yes, he would miss the Brotherhood and yes, it would frustrating in a house that most saw him as an enemy still. But he would take it in stride, using it to push him further.
It was then that Todd knew that he had made a decision for the better. He wasn't ashamed to say he had been an enemy or that he switched sides.
From what he did, Todd gained the respect of an old man, joined a school where he would further his education, moved to a environment where he could make new friends and he might finally be able to find a way to let that rage in his heart go.
Not right away but someday.
Todd looked around him, taking in the size of the mansion. This was his new home.
He guessed he better get used to it
The End / Le Fin / L'Estremita / El Extremo / Das Ende
So, yeah. That's the whole story, nothing more nothing less. I'll probably be doing more stories like this were they might be only one or two chapters. I'll still work on Capoeira de Toad and I'm trying to for Secrets I Keep From You, but I'll do these because I find them to be fun little get-outta-the-way's that keep the imagination going.
If you guys have any ideas you'd like me to try and do, just send them in a review and I'll see what I can do; I can do more like this, I can do more Toad/X23, I can try other things. I'll try and make them interesting but I can't make any promises.
Anyways, please review and tell me what you think about this fic.
-Lin