It's a mutantfull life

By Todd Fan

Disclaimer: "Everybody in this family hates me!" "Then maybe you should ask Santa for a new family"

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Yup, here's a lovely holiday fic, again. I don't think I'll EVER beat 'The Meaning of Christmas and All That Stuff'. I still read back on that and wonder where the heck it all came from, I do remember it fondly. Anyway, enough of the plugging. If you hadn't guessed by the title, this is kind of a parody of 'It's A Wonderfull Life'. I say KIND OF, because I only know the basic plot of this movie, yes, gasp in horror, I have never seen it.....It isn't shown over here a whole lot...well, not when I'M watching TV, anyway. Enjoy!

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Chapter 1 - Runaway

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Todd Tolensky shivered as he stepped out through the gates of Bayville High School. His amphibian nature always made him hate the winter, so he tried to mumify himself with as many layers as he could. Once again, he was returning home later, because, once again, he'd been given detention. He frowned when he noticed Lance's car had gone. Huh, the rest of his team KNEW how he hated the snow, they could have at least waited for him...jerks. He sighed, his breath leaving a soft whisp in the air as he started to walk the long walk home.

"Well, well, if it a'int Toady Tolensky"

Todd groaned, closing his eyes. Just ignore him, carry on walking, maybe he'll leave me alone.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!"

...Of course, when Duncan Mathews was concerned, it was never that easy. Todd sighed, pausing, turning to look at the blonde haired jock as he marched towards him.

"Hey, Duncan", he sighed.

"Don't 'hey' me, Mutie", snarled Duncan, narrowing his eyes, "what right do YOUR kind have speaking to me?"

"Technically, you spoke to me first", pointed out Todd.

"SHUT UP!", snapped Duncan, swinging a fist in Todd's direction.

Todd easily dodged it, moving into a crouch.

"What do you want, Duncan?".

Duncan scowled, the fact he'd missed his punch had only added to his already sour mood.

"You messed up my car", he growled, "there are scratch marks all over it".

Todd arched a brow.

"Since when did I have anything ta 'scratch' your car?", he asked, "it could have been anyone. Why don't you ask one of the X-Men? They don't like you".

Duncan gave a wicked smirk.

"'Cause I'm askin' you", he replied, cracking his knuckles.

Todd frowned...something wasn't right here. Something wasn't right at all. He got to his feet, backing away...right into two of Duncan's cronies, each grabbing an arm.

"Hey, lemmie go!", said Todd, struggling to get free.

"Now, why would I want to do that?", smirked Duncan, striding forwards.

And then he struck the first blow...

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Buised and battered, Todd limped home half an hour later. His eye was swollen shut and one of his arms hung limply at his side. He winced as he got into the Boarding House driveway, leaning against Lance's car for support.

"Get off my car!!!".

Todd sighed, glancing up at a none-to-happy-looking Lance.

"Shadup, I'm restin'. In case ya haven't noticed, I'm not in the best of shapes here".

"Oh for the love of...", Lance shook his head, "Toad, you have GOT to start sticking up for yourself".

"There were THREE of them", protested Todd.

"Three HUMANS", said Lance, "you're a MUTANT, you should have been able to take them easy".

With a gust of wind, Pietro appeared at his side.

"Yeah, but Toad's a weakling", he pointed out with a smirk, "he couldn't fight Duncan on his own".

"Well, considerin' he's bigger than me....", started Todd.

"HE doesn't have super-strong legs or a prehensile tounge", said Pietro, "and as useless as those powers are, they're still powers, you could have at least TRY to stand up to him"

Pietro raced to his side, a taunting smirk on his face.

"But you won't, will ya?", he said, "'cause you're the weak link in our chain. The only reason Magneto lets you stay on the team is that you're good at following orders".

"Bite me", muttered Todd, limping to the house.

"Speaking of orders", Pietro called after him, "you need to fix the radio antanae again, it broke".

He was replied with the slamming of the front door.

"Think you're being a bit too hard on him, Pie?", asked Lance with a frown.

"Nah, it's good for him", smirked Pietro, "besides, he can take it".

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"I can't TAKE it anymore!!!".

Freddy watched as Todd paced back and forth in front of him, arching a brow.

"So, Pietro ordered you around and put you down", he said, shrugging, "he does it to all of us".

"Yeah, well I'm sick of bein' treated like I don't matter no more!", snapped Todd, "everyone treats me like dirt".

"I don't", pointed out Freddy.

"Oh, goodie", said Todd dryly, "one person on my side. Go me".

"Hey, if you don't want me to stick up for you, then fine", said Freddy, standing up, heading out of the room, "I'm sick of ya whining anyway".

Todd groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. Not for the first time in his life, he considered why he'd joined the Brotherhood in the first place..or more precisely, what was keeping him from staying.

"Where is all the milk?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

He glanced up at the sound of her voice, a soft smile on his face. That was why, he'd never leave the Brotherhood while she was here. He limped into the kitchen, watching Wanda as she glared at the empty milk carton.

"Hi Snuggleplum", he said, "you look very ravishin' today".

Wanda spun around, her death glare falling on him.

"Toad, how many times have I told you NOT to call me those sickening pet names?!!!".

She paused, her glare softening slightly.

"What happened to you?".

Todd cleared his throat, trying to stand straight and pretend nothing was wrong.

"Awww, just got into a little scrap, is all", he said, "nothin' I can't see through".

He smiled at her.

"But it's so nice ta see ya showin' concern", he said, "ya can nurse me back ta health if ya want".

Wanda growled, the lights in the kitchen blinking.

"Forget I asked", she snapped, "I don't want to go within three feet of you, you slimy, smelly disgusting creep".

"But Wanda, sweetie".

"DON'T call me that!", snapped Wanda, pushing him aside, "don't even SPEAK to me. I don't like you, Toad, in fact, I border on loathing you. NOw move out of my way".

Todd sighed degectedly, stepping aside as Wanda stormed into the living room. Well...at least she hadn't hexed him.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZAP!

...He was wrong. He squeaked as a hex bolt shot into the room, kocking him into the wall with a thud.

"Owww", he groaned, picking himself up, wincing as his already bruised and battered body protested at the action, "there was no need fer that".

He sighed, limping up into his room, collapsing on his bed.

"I hate my life", he muttered to himself as he stared at the ceiling, "nobody cares about me at all, I might as well not exist. I'm sick of bein' people's lackeys or punchin' bags".

He gingerly pulled himself to a sitting position.

"I bet they wouldn't even notice I'd gone", he said quietly to himself, then shook his head, "yeah, right, Todd, and where would ya go? The X-Men woudln't have ya, heck, even the Morlocks wouldn't have ya".

He paused.

"An' now you're talking ta yourself".

He narrowed his eyes, getting off his bed Well, sitting here talking to himself wasn't going to disolve all his problems. He amde up his mind. He didn't even bother to leave a note, what was the point? They wouldn't have cared even if he HAD left one. No, he would just leave the house, find somewhere quiet, and just end it all. With a determined nod, he pulled open the door. And was instantly enveloped in a bright light...

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I haven't wrote a good Todd-centered fic for a while, I feel good. Yup, I know the chapters are short, truth be told, I'd rather they were longer. Blame all my coursework mixed with other fandoms diverting my attention. (sends a glare at a house of Thoughts). Anyhoo, do review. Until next time...