Darwinian Rhapsody
By LejindaryBunny
A totally awesome X-men: Evolution Fanfiction
A/N: Hi again! *Cheerfully bounces* I have to be overly cheerful like Ebony or I get depressed like Todd. *Pouts* I hope you all liked the last chapter, it practically wrote itself. (And kept me up way too late in the process.) However the downside to Ebs and Todd writing the last chapter by themselves and leaving me out of the creative process is frustrating. Now I have to slip an extra chapter into the Falling in love sequence (this one) because I didn't get to finish day 1 in one chapter. Therefor this chapter takes place only a few minutes after last chapter, instead of the next day as I had originally planned. Thanks to all my reviewers! Ah reviews! My anti-depressant.
Red Witch: You'll have to keep reading for more on the cover up!
Muffinelf: I'm glad you think I write Gambit really well. Yes, those Sentinels were just plain dumb.
Todd Fan: Have I mentioned that you are one of the coolest people in the universe? I'm glad my story made your day: your reviews make mine.( Your favorite story? Is it really?
Foxglove33: *gack! * Fox honey, Bunny can't breath! *Recovers from hug* I can't believe I made it onto your favorites list. Anything special you want to see in the fic? Glad to have another Todd fan aboard. (Gee, who else would read this?)
Akasha: Another person who thinks I write Gambit really well? Does that mean I really do? Was last chapter soon enough for you?
Neva: Glad you think that I'm witty. Hope you like the rest of the fic too. ^.^
Cara: I watched that too (duh)! I think they should have left Rogue like she was from that. I understand that they had a character personality type roster to fill though.
About this chapter. You're going to see a little bit of a new side of Ebony in these next two bits. There was a glimmer of it in the first chapter but it's a little more obvious here. It's how she acts when she's not very happy with someone. (Don't worry she's upset with Todd!)
Disclaimer: Anything that you don't recognize is probably mine, unless of course you've never heard of x-men. I own Ebony and little else.
Chapter 7.Truth (Falling in Love part 2)
The sky was quickly darkening as Ebony walked back from the movies, it was after all, the middle of winter. Even with her black jacket pulled tightly around her the air seemed distinctly colder than it had a few moments before, when she had had to part ways with Todd. She smiled quietly to herself; well at least she knew she was stuck for it. She definitely liked him. She sniffed, still a bit teary from the movie. Yes she knew it was just a space alien rehash of Romeo and Juliet, but it was still sweet.
At the time she hadn't really been paying attention, too focused on the movie and her sobs, but now she remembered that Todd had put his arms around her while she was crying. His arms were wiry as was the rest of his build, but not quite bony. His hands a little bit cooler in temperature than normal and were also very smooth. like silk. Ebony giggled. Who cared if people thought she was weird, she liked him. There was only one question. Did he like her? And if so how much?
Part of her thought, well duh, of course he likes you. He asked you to the movies didn't he? But the other part of her, the insecure part that whispered things to her wasn't so sure. He could have just asked you as a friend, or just in return for the shirt. And even if he didn't, even if he does like you back, is it worth it? You know what they'll say in school. 'Can you believe it? She's the Toad's girlfriend! Ew, I'd kill myself first.' Or 'if it was me, I wouldn't date him if he was the last guy on earth.' Then there was the fact that it would most likely ruin her chances of ever having another date in her life if things didn't work out.
Ebony shook her head as though to clear the thoughts from it and bit her bottom lip. She shivered as the temperature dropped and contemplated going the rest of the way in shadow form. But she wasn't far now and she didn't want to risk getting lost; it was much harder to find her way in the dark world.
For a moment she managed to keep her thoughts on normal things, like how cold it was and the amount of homework that she'd have to do when she got back, and then she realized, the amount of explaining as well. She hadn't told anyone where she was going or when she'd be back. It was three hours after school let out and it was quite possible that the Professor was looking for her by now. Then she remembered something else, and knew that he'd be wondering where she was. They'd had group training in the Danger room this afternoon.
She glowered at handy snow bank, which had done absolutely nothing wrong.
"Rats," she 'swore' gnawing on her lip. Now there was no way she was going to keep this from the rest of the X-men. Xavier would want an explanation and wouldn't take 'I was out' for an answer, and he'd know if she was lying.
A curse on psychics! May they all get lost at a UFO convention and go mad!
And not only would the news be out, but also the Professor would definitely ground her for missing training. Briefly she considered turning around and just not going back to the Institute, after all she'd run away before, why not again? Because she hadn't had time to find another place to hang out in Bayville and staying with the Brotherhood would be a bit awkward at this point.
So she sighed a heavy sigh as she rounded the corner to the block that was taken up be Xavier's school for 'gifted youngsters'.
Inside the Professor had indeed been waiting for her. He was sitting in his wheelchair in the large mansion entryway; Scott Summers looming arrogantly behind him.
"We were about to go looking for you," Scott said.
"Yes, we were worried about you. Where were you?"
"And why exactly did you miss training?"
For a moment she wavered between trying to play innocent to apply for sympathy or to be completely unperturbed about it and show them that she wasn't always the sweet, helpless little girl she came off as. She decided on the latter.
Ebony shrugged fluidly, "I was busy," she said coolly.
"What were you doing?" the Professor asked, hands folded on his lap.
"I was at the movies," the tiny girl informed him with studied carelessness, running a hand through her dark hair.
"Did you forget that you were supposed to have group practice in the Danger room?" Scott interrogated.
"No," she lied smartly.
"It's dangerous for you to about out alone," the Professor said worriedly, "with the Sentinels hunting-"
She cut him off, deciding to get the inevitable over with and at least be able to enjoy their reactions. "Oh, I wasn't alone Professor."
"I don't think a human-"
She cut his sentence off again, "It wasn't with a human" she informed him merrily.
"I'm afraid all the other recruits are accounted for, Ebony."
"Oh, I wasn't with anyone from here," she said brightly. "I was with Todd."
There was silence. Both the Professor and his star pupil looked stupidly at the beaming girl. The effect would have been perfect if Xavier's mouth had fallen open and Scott's glasses had slipped down on his nose. But sometimes Drama didn't always agree with life. We'll have to make do with the fact that they both blinked at least twice.
"Todd Tolensky? The Toad?" Scott finally managed; baffled
She cocked her head in cute confusion, "Is there another Todd in school? He asked me this morning and I figured it'd be worth skipping training. How long am I grounded for, Professor?" she asked him blithely.
"Three days, I'm afraid; you need to take training more seriously." Xavier somehow managed to look unflapped and unflappable as always.
Ebony nodded and skipped smugly up to her room. Once inside her own territory with the door closed she crossed her arms. "So nyah," she told them.
Her room was not the way she would have ideally wanted it she hadn't had enough time yet to put any posters up or anything. But it had a bed and a dresser, a bookcase and her CD player. She pursed her lips. Music, she needed music. She walked over to the dresser (which had her stereo on it) and flipped through the CD rack/holder thingy. David Bowie, The GooGoo Dolls, the Bangles, the GoGos, Aqua, the Sailor Moon soundtrack, Everclear, the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, then she found it, Counting Crows. Into the CD player it went. Then she sat down on her bed to think and promptly forgot that there was music at all.
She lay on her stomach with her chin in her hands. "And what do you think of this mess, Mr. Fuzzy?" she addressed the stuffed snow leopard whom she'd had since she was five. His fur was by then more of a gray/brown than white by now and his spots blended with the rest of him but that wasn't the point. "No, I know you haven't met him yet. I was asking if you thought it was fair that I got grounded.So? It's just training.No I don't want to die messily.Don't you take that tone with me!.Okay I'm sorry.Oh, you want to hear about him?.Well he's a little over six inches taller than me.Yes I AM aware that everyone past fourth grade is taller than me.Look, do you want to hear this or not?"
***
Todd had found his way home in a daze; he now stood at the door of the Brotherhood house. He quite nearly forgot to knock, standing outside the door for several minutes grinning, before he realized that something was amiss.
"Somebody lemme in, yo," he called, rapping on the door.
Pietro answered the door as usual. "Hey Toddy boy, where you been! Todd? Hey, Todd you okay man?"
The young mutant nodded mutely still grinning like an idiot.
"You.wanna come in?" he asked mind boggled by his friend's seemingly out of character behavior.
Todd nodded emphatically and followed the speedster indoors.
Lance walked into the room. "Well, look who's finally back. Where have you been all day?"
"Movies, yo. 'Attack of the Curse of the Revenge of the Return of the Blood Eatin' Brain Suckin' Soul Stealin' Zombie Werewolf Vampires from Mars part VII'"
"If the movie was as long as the title no wonder you're late," Lance said.
Tabitha sauntered in, "The one by Stephen Cruz? Isn't it supposed to be a love story or something? A tragedy?"
He nodded again. "A B-movie."
"How was it?" she asked.
He shrugged.
Lance noticed something, "uh, what happened to your shirt, Todd?"
Pietro blinked, looked from the grin on the boy's face to his still quite damp shirt and exclaimed, "OH! I GET IT!" and promptly burst out into gales of laughter.
"What is it Pietro, c'mon tell me," Tabitha begged.
He sniggered, "Hee, aha, heh, he, Toad, *snort*, *chuckle*."
"Yeah, what is it?" Lance asked, curiously.
"Yo, I'm still in the room people," Todd finally managed.
Finally Pietro's giggle fit subsided and he wiped his eyes. He put an arm around Todd and a fist to his own chest; "Our little Todd is finally growing up." He sniffed Dramatically, "I'm.so proud."
"Will you spit it out already Speedy?" Lance demanded.
"Get off me already," Todd said, shoving the slender boy away from him, "'S no big deal yo, I uh, went to the movies. With Ebony yo."
"Woohoo," Tabby said, "That is news."
"Good for you Todd," Lance said.
"Did you kiss her? C'mon man, tell me you did!" Pietro seemed excited.
The lanky freshman blushed, embarrassed. "Not xactley yo." He mumbled. Then even less audibly he continued. "She kinda, nah, she really started cryin' yo an' I kinda just put my arm around her, yo. An' then we was walking home and shmm mumble mumble."
"Didn't catch that, Toddy."
"She. kinda kissed me, yo. But not really, yo," he told the platinum blonde almost defensively.
Pietro rubbed his hands together. "Not bad for your first date ever my friend. Not bad at all!"
"It wasn't a date yo."
"She let you put your arm around her right? Then it was a date and she knows it."
From the other room Freddy called, "You guys! The movie's on!" Lance and Tabby, not seeing much point in staying, left.
"Now," Pietro said drawing Todd aside, "You let the Master help you and there's no way you can go wrong."
"I don't need any help, yo, I don't think it was even really a-"
Pietro's puppy eyes stopped him, "Aw, come on, please."
Todd crossed his arms and sank down onto the couch. "Fine yo, put don't 'spect me to do everything you say just cuz."
"Of course not! It's always your choice whether to use my expert advice or not." He sat down next to Todd and put his arm around him, "Now let's see-"
"Yo," he said mockingly, "This mean we're on a date?"
Pietro removed his arm. "You're not my type. Now like I was saying.ehem. Okay first. Hmmm, where to start? I've never had such an unspoiled student! I know! I've got this cologne that will drive girls wild. She'll be-" He noticed his raised eyebrow. "Or maybe you should start with something more basic. Hold on a sec." He disappeared for literally a split second before running back in with a good-sized bottle. "Here."
"Whas it smell like, yo?" he asked.
"Sorta vanillay, try some on."
He did so, rather self-consciously.
Pietro paused a minute, presumably smelling his friend. "Good. That'll do for now. You can keep it by the way. It doesn't mesh with my personal fragrance. Now where were we?"
***
Well I hope you liked the chapter. I know it's a little short but that's because it was originally supposed to be part of last chapter (before both parts doubled in size). Tell me what you think, especially of how I write Pietro, I'm not sure if I have his personality quite right yet. Praise and constructive criticism is appreciated, flames will be used to heat the Brotherhood house.
By LejindaryBunny
A totally awesome X-men: Evolution Fanfiction
A/N: Hi again! *Cheerfully bounces* I have to be overly cheerful like Ebony or I get depressed like Todd. *Pouts* I hope you all liked the last chapter, it practically wrote itself. (And kept me up way too late in the process.) However the downside to Ebs and Todd writing the last chapter by themselves and leaving me out of the creative process is frustrating. Now I have to slip an extra chapter into the Falling in love sequence (this one) because I didn't get to finish day 1 in one chapter. Therefor this chapter takes place only a few minutes after last chapter, instead of the next day as I had originally planned. Thanks to all my reviewers! Ah reviews! My anti-depressant.
Red Witch: You'll have to keep reading for more on the cover up!
Muffinelf: I'm glad you think I write Gambit really well. Yes, those Sentinels were just plain dumb.
Todd Fan: Have I mentioned that you are one of the coolest people in the universe? I'm glad my story made your day: your reviews make mine.( Your favorite story? Is it really?
Foxglove33: *gack! * Fox honey, Bunny can't breath! *Recovers from hug* I can't believe I made it onto your favorites list. Anything special you want to see in the fic? Glad to have another Todd fan aboard. (Gee, who else would read this?)
Akasha: Another person who thinks I write Gambit really well? Does that mean I really do? Was last chapter soon enough for you?
Neva: Glad you think that I'm witty. Hope you like the rest of the fic too. ^.^
Cara: I watched that too (duh)! I think they should have left Rogue like she was from that. I understand that they had a character personality type roster to fill though.
About this chapter. You're going to see a little bit of a new side of Ebony in these next two bits. There was a glimmer of it in the first chapter but it's a little more obvious here. It's how she acts when she's not very happy with someone. (Don't worry she's upset with Todd!)
Disclaimer: Anything that you don't recognize is probably mine, unless of course you've never heard of x-men. I own Ebony and little else.
Chapter 7.Truth (Falling in Love part 2)
The sky was quickly darkening as Ebony walked back from the movies, it was after all, the middle of winter. Even with her black jacket pulled tightly around her the air seemed distinctly colder than it had a few moments before, when she had had to part ways with Todd. She smiled quietly to herself; well at least she knew she was stuck for it. She definitely liked him. She sniffed, still a bit teary from the movie. Yes she knew it was just a space alien rehash of Romeo and Juliet, but it was still sweet.
At the time she hadn't really been paying attention, too focused on the movie and her sobs, but now she remembered that Todd had put his arms around her while she was crying. His arms were wiry as was the rest of his build, but not quite bony. His hands a little bit cooler in temperature than normal and were also very smooth. like silk. Ebony giggled. Who cared if people thought she was weird, she liked him. There was only one question. Did he like her? And if so how much?
Part of her thought, well duh, of course he likes you. He asked you to the movies didn't he? But the other part of her, the insecure part that whispered things to her wasn't so sure. He could have just asked you as a friend, or just in return for the shirt. And even if he didn't, even if he does like you back, is it worth it? You know what they'll say in school. 'Can you believe it? She's the Toad's girlfriend! Ew, I'd kill myself first.' Or 'if it was me, I wouldn't date him if he was the last guy on earth.' Then there was the fact that it would most likely ruin her chances of ever having another date in her life if things didn't work out.
Ebony shook her head as though to clear the thoughts from it and bit her bottom lip. She shivered as the temperature dropped and contemplated going the rest of the way in shadow form. But she wasn't far now and she didn't want to risk getting lost; it was much harder to find her way in the dark world.
For a moment she managed to keep her thoughts on normal things, like how cold it was and the amount of homework that she'd have to do when she got back, and then she realized, the amount of explaining as well. She hadn't told anyone where she was going or when she'd be back. It was three hours after school let out and it was quite possible that the Professor was looking for her by now. Then she remembered something else, and knew that he'd be wondering where she was. They'd had group training in the Danger room this afternoon.
She glowered at handy snow bank, which had done absolutely nothing wrong.
"Rats," she 'swore' gnawing on her lip. Now there was no way she was going to keep this from the rest of the X-men. Xavier would want an explanation and wouldn't take 'I was out' for an answer, and he'd know if she was lying.
A curse on psychics! May they all get lost at a UFO convention and go mad!
And not only would the news be out, but also the Professor would definitely ground her for missing training. Briefly she considered turning around and just not going back to the Institute, after all she'd run away before, why not again? Because she hadn't had time to find another place to hang out in Bayville and staying with the Brotherhood would be a bit awkward at this point.
So she sighed a heavy sigh as she rounded the corner to the block that was taken up be Xavier's school for 'gifted youngsters'.
Inside the Professor had indeed been waiting for her. He was sitting in his wheelchair in the large mansion entryway; Scott Summers looming arrogantly behind him.
"We were about to go looking for you," Scott said.
"Yes, we were worried about you. Where were you?"
"And why exactly did you miss training?"
For a moment she wavered between trying to play innocent to apply for sympathy or to be completely unperturbed about it and show them that she wasn't always the sweet, helpless little girl she came off as. She decided on the latter.
Ebony shrugged fluidly, "I was busy," she said coolly.
"What were you doing?" the Professor asked, hands folded on his lap.
"I was at the movies," the tiny girl informed him with studied carelessness, running a hand through her dark hair.
"Did you forget that you were supposed to have group practice in the Danger room?" Scott interrogated.
"No," she lied smartly.
"It's dangerous for you to about out alone," the Professor said worriedly, "with the Sentinels hunting-"
She cut him off, deciding to get the inevitable over with and at least be able to enjoy their reactions. "Oh, I wasn't alone Professor."
"I don't think a human-"
She cut his sentence off again, "It wasn't with a human" she informed him merrily.
"I'm afraid all the other recruits are accounted for, Ebony."
"Oh, I wasn't with anyone from here," she said brightly. "I was with Todd."
There was silence. Both the Professor and his star pupil looked stupidly at the beaming girl. The effect would have been perfect if Xavier's mouth had fallen open and Scott's glasses had slipped down on his nose. But sometimes Drama didn't always agree with life. We'll have to make do with the fact that they both blinked at least twice.
"Todd Tolensky? The Toad?" Scott finally managed; baffled
She cocked her head in cute confusion, "Is there another Todd in school? He asked me this morning and I figured it'd be worth skipping training. How long am I grounded for, Professor?" she asked him blithely.
"Three days, I'm afraid; you need to take training more seriously." Xavier somehow managed to look unflapped and unflappable as always.
Ebony nodded and skipped smugly up to her room. Once inside her own territory with the door closed she crossed her arms. "So nyah," she told them.
Her room was not the way she would have ideally wanted it she hadn't had enough time yet to put any posters up or anything. But it had a bed and a dresser, a bookcase and her CD player. She pursed her lips. Music, she needed music. She walked over to the dresser (which had her stereo on it) and flipped through the CD rack/holder thingy. David Bowie, The GooGoo Dolls, the Bangles, the GoGos, Aqua, the Sailor Moon soundtrack, Everclear, the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, then she found it, Counting Crows. Into the CD player it went. Then she sat down on her bed to think and promptly forgot that there was music at all.
She lay on her stomach with her chin in her hands. "And what do you think of this mess, Mr. Fuzzy?" she addressed the stuffed snow leopard whom she'd had since she was five. His fur was by then more of a gray/brown than white by now and his spots blended with the rest of him but that wasn't the point. "No, I know you haven't met him yet. I was asking if you thought it was fair that I got grounded.So? It's just training.No I don't want to die messily.Don't you take that tone with me!.Okay I'm sorry.Oh, you want to hear about him?.Well he's a little over six inches taller than me.Yes I AM aware that everyone past fourth grade is taller than me.Look, do you want to hear this or not?"
***
Todd had found his way home in a daze; he now stood at the door of the Brotherhood house. He quite nearly forgot to knock, standing outside the door for several minutes grinning, before he realized that something was amiss.
"Somebody lemme in, yo," he called, rapping on the door.
Pietro answered the door as usual. "Hey Toddy boy, where you been! Todd? Hey, Todd you okay man?"
The young mutant nodded mutely still grinning like an idiot.
"You.wanna come in?" he asked mind boggled by his friend's seemingly out of character behavior.
Todd nodded emphatically and followed the speedster indoors.
Lance walked into the room. "Well, look who's finally back. Where have you been all day?"
"Movies, yo. 'Attack of the Curse of the Revenge of the Return of the Blood Eatin' Brain Suckin' Soul Stealin' Zombie Werewolf Vampires from Mars part VII'"
"If the movie was as long as the title no wonder you're late," Lance said.
Tabitha sauntered in, "The one by Stephen Cruz? Isn't it supposed to be a love story or something? A tragedy?"
He nodded again. "A B-movie."
"How was it?" she asked.
He shrugged.
Lance noticed something, "uh, what happened to your shirt, Todd?"
Pietro blinked, looked from the grin on the boy's face to his still quite damp shirt and exclaimed, "OH! I GET IT!" and promptly burst out into gales of laughter.
"What is it Pietro, c'mon tell me," Tabitha begged.
He sniggered, "Hee, aha, heh, he, Toad, *snort*, *chuckle*."
"Yeah, what is it?" Lance asked, curiously.
"Yo, I'm still in the room people," Todd finally managed.
Finally Pietro's giggle fit subsided and he wiped his eyes. He put an arm around Todd and a fist to his own chest; "Our little Todd is finally growing up." He sniffed Dramatically, "I'm.so proud."
"Will you spit it out already Speedy?" Lance demanded.
"Get off me already," Todd said, shoving the slender boy away from him, "'S no big deal yo, I uh, went to the movies. With Ebony yo."
"Woohoo," Tabby said, "That is news."
"Good for you Todd," Lance said.
"Did you kiss her? C'mon man, tell me you did!" Pietro seemed excited.
The lanky freshman blushed, embarrassed. "Not xactley yo." He mumbled. Then even less audibly he continued. "She kinda, nah, she really started cryin' yo an' I kinda just put my arm around her, yo. An' then we was walking home and shmm mumble mumble."
"Didn't catch that, Toddy."
"She. kinda kissed me, yo. But not really, yo," he told the platinum blonde almost defensively.
Pietro rubbed his hands together. "Not bad for your first date ever my friend. Not bad at all!"
"It wasn't a date yo."
"She let you put your arm around her right? Then it was a date and she knows it."
From the other room Freddy called, "You guys! The movie's on!" Lance and Tabby, not seeing much point in staying, left.
"Now," Pietro said drawing Todd aside, "You let the Master help you and there's no way you can go wrong."
"I don't need any help, yo, I don't think it was even really a-"
Pietro's puppy eyes stopped him, "Aw, come on, please."
Todd crossed his arms and sank down onto the couch. "Fine yo, put don't 'spect me to do everything you say just cuz."
"Of course not! It's always your choice whether to use my expert advice or not." He sat down next to Todd and put his arm around him, "Now let's see-"
"Yo," he said mockingly, "This mean we're on a date?"
Pietro removed his arm. "You're not my type. Now like I was saying.ehem. Okay first. Hmmm, where to start? I've never had such an unspoiled student! I know! I've got this cologne that will drive girls wild. She'll be-" He noticed his raised eyebrow. "Or maybe you should start with something more basic. Hold on a sec." He disappeared for literally a split second before running back in with a good-sized bottle. "Here."
"Whas it smell like, yo?" he asked.
"Sorta vanillay, try some on."
He did so, rather self-consciously.
Pietro paused a minute, presumably smelling his friend. "Good. That'll do for now. You can keep it by the way. It doesn't mesh with my personal fragrance. Now where were we?"
***
Well I hope you liked the chapter. I know it's a little short but that's because it was originally supposed to be part of last chapter (before both parts doubled in size). Tell me what you think, especially of how I write Pietro, I'm not sure if I have his personality quite right yet. Praise and constructive criticism is appreciated, flames will be used to heat the Brotherhood house.
