Author's Note: Well, now that I got a bit of frustration out of my system with the alternate ending to this story, I can get back to the actual story which, as I've said since the first part, will be slash. Once again, as I've been saying with every chapter, this is a slash story. Highly understated slash, but still slash. Also, sorry about taking so long getting this done. My creativity demons took a vacation without me. Shame on them! And, since my creativity demons have only been talking to me about the ending, I've rushed a bit to get there, which is why this chapter is kind of forced in places. Also, I'm abandoning writing in Kurt's accent and leaving it up to the reader's imagination because spell check really hates going through Kurt's dialogue.
The point of the alternate ending was not that narrow minds deserve a bad/depressing/whatever ending. Most of my stuff ends on a depressing note with a ray of hope for the future provided. In the case of the alternate ending, I merely took away that ray of hope. What I was trying to say was that I felt it would take something more than friendship (i.e. love) to bring about Todd's redemption. Admitted, that love is still in its very tentative stages in this story.
This chapter takes place where part 3 left off.
Part Four (AKA The Ending)
The new day dawned bright and new. The birds were singing; the dogs were barking; the garbagemen were clattering around outside; Todd stuffed his head under his pillow. Mornings should be outlawed, and the day should start with noon. Todd would have gladly stayed in bed all day had he been given the chance, but he got up when his dad started yelling for him to get ready for school.
Todd arrived at school just as the first bell was ringing. In the ten minutes he had before homeroom, he got his things stuffed in his locker and dashed for homeroom, arriving with time to spare. Sliding into his seat, Todd noticed Kurt smiling at him. Todd smiled back, then shot a warning glance in Pietro's direction, hoping Kurt would get the idea that broadcasting their friendship was not a good idea.
Kurt's eyes followed Todd's gaze. Turning his attention back to Todd, Kurt nodded and shut one eye in a slow, deliberate wink. Todd let out a relieved sigh. Message received and understood.
Lunchtime rolled around quicker than Todd thought it would, and he found himself standing in line trying, like so many other students, to guess the identity of the mystery meat. Kurt had managed to worm his way into the line beside Todd, and the two boys stood shoulder to shoulder as they slid their trays along. "Perhaps today it's rat," Kurt whispered, causing Todd to snicker.
"That's what they served last week," Todd returned. "This week I'm betting that it's minced snake seasoned with crushed beetles." Whatever it was, Todd made sure that it was slathered in gravy to hide the taste. Some things existed that even he couldn't stomach without a lot of doctoring. Their commentary on the quality of cafeteria food finished, the boys paid for their lunches and went their separate ways.
The end of the school day seemed to arrive just as quickly as lunch had. Todd got his books together, and went to wait by Kurt's locker, pretending to tie his shoe. When Kurt arrived, he chuckled as he saw Todd. "Are you planning on staying down there like that for long? Someone might get suspicious."
Todd straightened and shouldered his bookbag. "Nope." He went to the nearest water fountain and began drinking, keeping an eye on Kurt. As soon as Kurt had his stuff together, Todd stopped drinking and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. The halls were starting to clear and no other member of the Brotherhood was in sight. "Now what?"
Kurt shifted his bookbag from his left side to his right. "I know of a place. Found it a while back while teleporting around. It's quiet, but we for sure wouldn't run into anyone we know." Todd gave a noncommital shrug. He could handle being someplace quiet, and as long as he wouldn't be found consorting with the "enemy" well, so much the better then. Taking hold of Todd's arm, Kurt began teleporting.
Four poofs later, the boys found themselves by a stream. The babbling water and the trees across the bank created a nice atmosphere. 'Almost romantic,' Todd decided. Bird song was plentiful and the roar of cars along the unseen road distant. Todd made a mental note to find out where this place was. He wouldn't mind using this place as an escape sometime.
The boys set their bookbags down and began skipping rocks, or trying to because the moving water made it difficult. They also talked, the conversation drifting inevitably towards girls. "You ever kissed a girl?" Todd asked.
Kurt shook his head. "I probably won't ever be able to until I'm old enough to convincingly add a beard to the hologram. The fuzziness would be a bit hard to explain. How about you? Ever really kissed anyone?"
Todd grimaced, knowing that girls weren't his strong suit. He'd heard Lance and Pietro bragging about their conquests more than a few times, but his own experience with the opposite sex was rather lacking. For answer, he let his tongue fall out of his mouth and hang well below his chin, and the retracted it. "With a tongue like this, what do you think?"
Kurt leaned close to Todd, eyes glitter with amusement. "I think that with a tongue like that, you must be a master of the French kiss."
Todd howled with laughter, and soon tears were streaming down his cheeks. He would definitely remember that line the next time Lance began bragging. "That is the funniest thing I've ever..." Todd didn't get a chance to finish for Kurt had silenced him with a kiss. 'Oh damn!' were the first words to pop into Todd's brain, followed quickly by, 'Y'know, this isn't so bad...'
When Kurt pulled away, his usual self-confident nature seemed to have abandoned him. Todd could see it in his pale eyes. Kurt was afraid. 'Afraid of what, though?' Todd wondered, though deep down inside he knew. Kurt feared that Todd would curse him, go away, tell the whole school. 'And I could do just that, too. Still, what he did took guts. Have to admire him for that. And... Well...'
Todd reached out a trembling hand and stroked Kurt's cheek. "Pop'll
kill me if he ever finds out about this," Todd whispered, and then brushed
his lips lightly against Kurt's. "This stays a secret." Kurt
nodded and laid his head against Todd's chest, a wavering smile breaking
through.
