Yay! I finally got inspiration and now I write this. Whee! This is in an alternative universe, I think. It's an X-mas theme, even though it's almost March. _ I try.
-----
The sound of carolers singing rung through the city streets of Bayville, filling the chilly air with warmth and cheer as people were out buying gifts for their loved ones or frolicking in the snow.
Everyone was in a good mood. Except for one gloomy soul.
Todd Tolansky, otherwise known as Toad, walked down the sidewalk with his head hung, trying his best not to be accidentally pushed or shoved from the many people in his way. Cold, he thought. How he hated it. Also crowds.
Two of his most hated things right there in his face. He sighed heavily as he stopped to peer into the window of a department store, seeing a line of kids all waiting to sit in Santa's lap and tell him what they want for Christmas.
He too, wanted something for Christmas, but it was a special something that would not be able to fit in his bag. Someone to share the holiday with, a friend, or possibly more. Tears stung his eyes as he continued down the street, not headed for anywhere in particular.
It was the same every year. Lance and Pietro would fight over something stupid and Freddy would try to break it up while Toad would wander about the city, hoping everything had cooled down by the time he got back.
He could never find Christmas cheer at the Brotherhood, he didn't want to spend it with them…even if they were his only (dysfunctional) family. But nonetheless he did not want to risk being caught in between the feud, having still being sore from last time.
During the clash of egos, started by a rather rude comment from Pietro about Lance's hairstyle, Lance had unnoticeably shoved Toad down the stairs and he landed on his back- right onto a pair of misplaced sneakers.
Shaking off the bad memory, he heard a distant shriek and finally noticed that he had stumbled into a bad part of town. In the distance gunshots and sirens could be heard, and many druggies, hobos and gang members roamed the streets, with a beer in their hand and a cigarette between their lips.
Graffiti was everywhere except the grayish slush and snow and Toad felt it was the time to hightail it out of there and leaped onto the roof of a dilapidated building, scanning his surroundings. He really must have traveled far, for he didn't recognize a single thing.
He looked down at the sidewalk where he had just been and saw that his footprints were starting to get covered up by the snow, and also saw two lines, side by side and flanked with various footprints leading to who knows where.
He knew he shouldn't, but curiosity got the better of him and he hopped down to follow them. It was probably just some people pulling a cart or something, he thought with a scowl, but his instincts told him that something was wrong. Very, very wrong.
The young mutant pursued the tracks for several blocks until they finally ended on a street corner, and in their place were many scattered tracks that formed somewhat of large circle. "A struggle took place here," Toad muttered to himself.
Trashcans clanked together noisily in the small dark alley next to him and he snapped his head to the side to see who had caused this, and horror plastered onto his face upon spotting a small pool of blood and a pair of jean-covered legs, matted with fresh blood.
---@---
Is Toad Jewish? O_o oh well, I have an excuse: ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE, I think. Next chapter up whenever ^^