Title: The Dagger
Rating: M slash, violence, language, suspense, KurtxTodd
Notes: Years after his life as a member of the Brotherhood and S.H.I.E.L.D operative, Todd is living a new life working at a pawn shop when he comes to possess a powerful and mysterious object making him the target of a new powerful enemy. Things only get worse when an old love from his past resurfaces with surprising news.
Sorry for the long delay I was working two jobs during the end of the summer then moved for school. I also took some time to adjust to university life. To make up for my absence I will do a quick recap.
Todd is working at a pawn shop after he ran away from his previous life as an S.H.I.E.L.D agent. He was involved in some sort of horrific incident the memories continue to haunt him. While working the shop during his usual graveyard shift a strange girl comes in wearing odd clothes to pawn a dagger she vanishes without payment leaving the dagger. Todd finds himself distracted by this as the dagger begins to haunt him and make him feel strange. To make things worse an old familiar face he hasn't seen for ages makes an appearance at the pawn shop and that is where I left off.
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Chapter 3
Todd could not believe his luck, first the dagger and the weird girl and now he was looking at the face of his childhood friend/enemy Kurt Wagner. He hadn't seen Kurt much since the Apocalypse incident, they weren't friends so he didn't feel the need to keep in touch. Todd couldn't say they were enemies either; Kurt was one of the few people that Todd had ever opened up to about his past, in particular his mother. Their relationship could have best been described as complicated. Especially with the level the two took their relationship to back in the day.
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Could one call it a fling if there was no emotional attachment? However their relationship wasn't just an intimate one, the two would open up to each other what they felt could not be shared with their teammates. It was very difficult to explain and it was still fuzzy to Todd how their relationship ended up the way it did from fighting to kissing then later something more pleasurable. Of course no one knew about Todd and Kurt's relationship they kept it hidden but it was hard to maintain. Especially when the heat between the Brotherhood and X-Men escalated.
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Todd felt more upset over the end of their relationship then Kurt. When the two called it quits realizing their differences were complicating things and they had to choose their sides Todd was alone again while Kurt went back to his girlfriend at the time Amanda Sefton. Kurt had loved her even when he was with Todd so it was no real surprise. A part of Todd hated Kurt for choosing her and he had even thought of telling the dark skinned beauty about her boyfriend's affairs just to ruin their relationship. Todd didn't though, she probably wouldn't believe him anyway, Todd was a compulsive liar and Kurt a Saint in the eyes of others.
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Even if it wasn't an actual breakup Todd felt like it was and he was kind of sore about the whole thing, it was one of the reasons why he didn't keep in touch after leaving for S.H.I.E.L.D. Now here he was in the ghettos of New York in the pawn shop Todd happened to be working at.
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Kurt ignored his fuzz butt comment but seemed really excited for some odd reason. "It has been awhile Toad. You look different." It had been a long time since Todd had heard that nickname. Todd wasn't sure if Kurt was being sarcastic, he hadn't changed much if anything he had became lankier and his hair longer.
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"Can't say the same for you, what's the matter yo can't update your image inducer to make your face not look like that of a twelve year old." It was a lie, Kurt's face was much more mature and a lot more attractive then Todd remembered.
.
"Same old Toad, you are as unpleasant as ever. What are you doing here anyway?" Kurt asked as he pulled Todd in for a hug in which Todd awkwardly recuperated. "I work here yo." Todd stated in a matter of fact tone as he pulled away and put a few steps between him and Kurt.
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"I should ask you why you're here yo." Todd gestured around him. "In case you haven't noticed you are on the wrong side of the tracks fool."
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Kurt rubbed his hand through the back of his hair. "Yeah about that, you see I am kind of in a predicament. I have some things I needed pawned. I picked the shop furthest out from my hotel so no one would catch me."
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Todd was curious. "You in some kind of trouble furry?"
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"Kind of. You see I was out here to have fun with a few of the others. Well I was stupid and drunk and I spent the money I wasn't supposed too. I am supposed to make an appointment at Kleinfelds today and she is going to kill me if she knew I spent money from her dress budget." Kurt sounded panic.
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"Kleinfeld?" Todd knew that shop well having been born in New York and moving back recently. The store in Manhattan specialized in bridal apparel and more, Todd just couldn't wrap his mind around why Kurt would have an appointment there. Or he was refusing to believe what that could possibly mean.
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"Yeah Amanda always wanted to be a Kleinfeld bride so we saved up for her to get the dress she wanted. I was an idiot though and blew two hundred dollars last night." Kurt didn't seem to notice as Todd began fidgeting. Still Todd's mind wasn't fully comprehending and he couldn't help but ask the obvious.
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"You are getting married?" Kurt blushed at that. "Yeah Amanda and I decided to finally settle down. You are invited to the wedding, I would have invited you sooner but you know no one knew where to find you. You seemed to disappear from existence." Kurt looked like he wanted to say more but hesitated.
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"Anyway how much can you give me for my grandfather's watch? I don't wear it much anyway because of my image inducer and it would be going for a good cause." Kurt's eyes stared at the watch he had pulled out of his pocket sympathetically.
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"Well um." Todd swallowed and tried to shake off the news, what did he care it was over between him and Kurt years ago, he still couldn't possibly have feelings for the other mutant. "Congratulations dude. Tell you what, keep the watch I will give you the money." Todd stopped Kurt from interrupting. "Think of it was a wedding gift since I won't be making the wedding yo."
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"You don't even know the date." Kurt complained. "I would like it if you came I am sure the others would be happy to hear from you again. Last I talked to Alvers he said no one had heard from you in years. They are very worried because no one knows where you are."
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Todd pulled out his wallet and slipped out two bills. "Yeah I want to keep it that way yo. So I can't go to your wedding. I wish you the best and shit so take your money and go. I don't want to be bothered anymore." Todd briefly wondered if that was rude and the look on Kurt's face showed it did hurt him a bit.
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"Thanks but I still plan on sending you an invitation. I hope you change your mind Toad." Todd shoved the money in Kurt's hand. "It's Todd man, I go by Todd now. Toad died a long time ago and I still decline. Now get out of here before your fiancé comes looking for you. Not good for a boy wearing brand name clothes like you are to hang around this part of the hood." Todd pulled a comic out and opened it proceeding to try and ignore Kurt.
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It wasn't enough of a hint and Kurt waited for Todd to acknowledge him again but when Todd gave no response he sighed. "I am sorry Toad I mean Todd, I didn't know. At least consider it for me, we used to be friends right? Everyone misses you, I missed you too you know." Todd didn't respond or look up. After a few more minutes of silence Todd sighed in relief as the door chimed. He looked up happy to see that Kurt had left the shop. The happiness was short lived as a heavy pressure ascended on him.
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Todd realized that seeing Kurt again was having a seriously negative effect on his body. His chest constricted as he thought about his old fling and the fact he was marrying Amanda, something he knew was going to happen ages ago. Still having it rubbed in his face was not something he wanted. Worse yet was now Kurt knew where Todd was and he was sure to tell the others. That was the very last thing Todd wanted but in his panic to get Kurt to leave Todd foolishly gave him almost all the money he had to his name.
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"What the fuck was I thinking yo." Todd gritted his teeth and hoped his attitude would be enough to keep Kurt from bothering him or bringing back the others. The last thing he needed was his old team mates to come storming in anger at him for leaving, or in anger for reappearing back in their lives. Todd wasn't sure which would be worse. He knew Fred wouldn't come rushing back to see Todd, he doubted he even missed him. Last time Todd talked to Fred Dukes, the man that used to be his best friend, was the day Fred told him he would never forgive Todd nor would he ever want to.
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Fred had always blamed Todd for the accident, if it was Todd that lost his life that day he was sure Fred wouldn't have suffered like he had. A part of Todd still wished he could go back and change what happened but he couldn't. Memories that he spent years burying were bubbling to the surface and Todd found himself starting to shake and he became pretty nauseous.
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"Not this shit again." Todd felt his butt contact the floor as he curled his legs up to his chest and tried to breath. Eyes clenched tight he tried to keep himself from slipping into a massive panic attack. His mind trying to think of anything to keep it off of the incident from years ago.
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With his thoughts drifting Todd suddenly began thinking of the girl from the other night and felt himself relaxing into eyes of teal but her words interrupted him. "I need you to have this." He opened his eyes and glanced towards the counter where the dagger sat hidden from view. The chime of the bell quickly reminded him that he was working and he had a new customer he ignored the odd looks he was given when the young man saw Todd sitting on the floor. Todd just stood up and mentioned to the man to let him know if he needed any help.
…..
It was a long shift for Todd after seeing Kurt he really regretted agreeing to that double and when it was finally over he skipped out of that door. The thing that sucked about the graveyard shift was the bars were closed when Todd actually got off and he seriously needed a drink. A quick stop at the liquor store helped remedy that. The one that was opened 24 hours and did not question the people that stopped by around 6 am.
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Case in hand Todd went back to his motel room to try and drown this horrible night away. It was a bad habit he knew, trying to drown ones sorrows, but he had done worse and didn't think a night of drinking was knocking him off the wagon. He could go back to his darker addictions however he was sober from that life and far from living it up. Today though he had to try and forget about Kurt and his upcoming wedding and admit to himself that it ended a long time ago. Whatever it was the two of them shared briefly. It was over and he shouldn't be fighting with these feelings, feelings that should have disappeared ages ago.
…..
Back in the pawn shop that night Todd regretted his decisions hours ago. He had drunk way too much and didn't really have the time to sleep much of it off. Now he found himself back at work only this time with a massive hangover. He was tempted to sleep but the fear of being robbed was too strong. He stood behind the counter with his head resting on his arms trying to block out the horrible florescent lights.
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The only good thing was after this shift he had two whole days off to make up for the full double he worked yesterday and this shift on top of it. He was required a break by law and Ivanov did not like paying time and a half. Todd planned spending that night crawling the bars and looking for another lonely desperate person to spend some time with, if he was lucky.
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The bell chimed and Todd was sure his annoyed groan was audible to the customer and totally not appropriate. He struggled to bring his head up and was grateful to see it was not an S.H.I.E.L.D. operative, X-Men, or one of the ex-Brotherhood boys.
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Instead it was an older gentleman, he had to be about middle age with dark black hair slicked back. His eyes were covered by a pair of dark sunglasses, this alerted Todd as it was the middle of the night and he didn't understand the need for glasses. The man had a chin curtain beard and reminded him of a character from an anime he seen years ago, Gendo he believed.
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The man was dressed very sharply almost dressed to nicely to be in this part of the neighborhood. He wore a pure black slim fit suit with a black dress shirt and red tie that was loosened and not so nice. The man also was wearing dark leather gloves. Todd felt panic creep in, was this man here to rob him. Todd's hand reached for the gun but the gentleman seemed to notice and chuckled. "Relax," his rich baritone of a voice rung out. "I am not here to hurt you, I am actually here for something." He slipped off his sunglasses and Todd was meet with red eyes that seemed to slightly glow. The man was a mutant like Todd no doubt, this did not ease Todd's nerves and he felt his panic start to set in.