Disclaimer: *rambles on* Don't own anything X-Men. I DO, however, own Haris and Thymes...who's appearances will be more fully detailed next chapter. I also mention the the movie 'Titanic', the soundtrack to the movie and use a few lyrics from the song 'My Heart Will Go On' by Celine Dion. I own neither the movie, soundtrack, or the song, so don't sue me.
Summary: Todd makes his way painfully to Xavier's to get help, will the X-Men exile him, or help him?
A/N: *half asleep* annoying small child has been tampering with my computer! I'm sorry if in my rereading I missed a sentence that stops in the middle and starts into a different paragraph. -.-' Guess I haven't already made it clear that I hate small children, huh? Oh, and the way I have Kurt talking about Titanic is not my view...it's based on a true thing that happened to my cousins when my family watched it. Weee...I'm on a roll with this story!
I would like to send a special thanks out to Mocla, thanks so much for your loyal reviews! And don't worry, chapters should keep coming at least two chaps or more a week!
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Wounded Wanderings
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Todd limped through the scarce ground cover, the holes in the knees of his jeans had stretched considerably to now reach down to his ankles. He sighed, thinking that he might as well have worn short. His legs were all cut up from the thorns of wild blackberry bushes and the occasional concealed sharp stick. Blood trickled down to his shoes, leaving from his knees down nothing but red. Now on the ground he held his arm to him at his stomach, careful not to allow anything collide with either his dislocated shoulder or broken wrist. But these injuries were making him move slowly, unable to leap unless he wanted to experience blinding pain.
Hours had past since he had started moving in the direction of the Institute. He hadn't realized just how far nearly 12 miles was on foot, without leaping. By this time it was past noon, by the position of the sun, Todd guessed maybe closer to 2 p.m. It was blistering hot outside, not the forcasted cloudy with a 39% chance of rain like the weather channel had said. His attention was grabbed by the sound of running water, and he tried to move a little more quickly. Pushing past sapling oak and maple trees, he finally spotted the source of the noise. A small waterfall that lead into a stream. He edged closer, sitting down under the shade of a willow tree and scooping up a handful of water to drink. At this point he didn't care if it was acid water, he would drink it anyway. After a few 'less-than-refreshing' handfuls of water, he looked down at his lower legs, caked in crimson. He debated about washing the dried blood off, but decided strongly against it. That would only make him bleed more, something he most certainly didn't need to happen. He leaned back into the rough bark of the aging tree, closing his eyes briefly. He wanted to sleep so badly. His head was throbbing, he was broken and bruised and wanted nothing more than to curl up in a dark corner where no one could or would find him and sleep. He forced his eyes open again. No, he couldn't sleep yet. The faster he could get to Xavier's the faster he could get help...or so he hoped. Prying himself off the ground, Todd took a minute to just stand, getting his weakened legs ready to walk again. He looked around at the difference in the shadows since when he had sat down.
"Shit..."
He muttered disbelievingly. At least an hour or more had past, and it would soon be getting dark. Heaving a sigh, he started off again.
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Rogue walked into Kitty's room without knocking, she knew Kitty wouldn't mind. And even if the preppy teen did care, Rogue sure didn't. She seemed to remember a certain valley girl bursting into her room all the time to sob about some homework or something stupid like that. To the goths surprise, the room was dark. She took a step further in, to see Kitty still sitting faithfully by the window. But she was far from still, her shoulders bobbed in time with sobs. Rogue rolled her eyes, pausing to stare at the ceiling. Not again.
"Hey, whats wrong Kitty?"
Rogue asked in her best 'I'm worried about you...you sure your ok?' voice that she could muster at the moment. Kitty shook her head, never averting her eyes from the window.
"He was supposed to be here hours ago. Something, like, totally must have happened to him Rogue! I can't reach him by phone or anything!"
She sobbed, sniffling now and then before letting her hand search for the box of tissues she had drug over to the window sill. Rogue narrowed her eyes a little.
"You invited Lance over?"
"Like...yeah. We haven't seen eachother for a whole day already!"
"Why did Ah even bother askin'..."
Rogue scoffed somewhat more harshly than she intended. Deep down, even though Kitty was a friend of hers, she hated the valley girl. She was jealous of her...she could touch the one she loved...Rogue couldn't. And everytime she talked about Lance it just made Rogue loath her more. Kitty gave her a deeply hurt look.
"Rogue! This could be, like, serious and your not helping any! Leave..."
The last word was barely whispered, but the requested action was made clear when she pointed harshly to the door Rogue had come in. Fuming, Rogue got up and stalked out, slamming the door closed behind her. Kitty didn't seem to care, sending her glance over to the phone.
"Oh Lance...what's going on? Don't you love me anymore?"
She sobbed before burying her head into her arms and crying.
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The dinner call rang through the mansion, but most of the student were already near the kitchen. The food Storm had prepared looked delicious, and they sat down and started to eat. They were only interupted when Kurt, Bobby, and Jamie crept into the kitchen. Kurt gave a sheepish smirk, pressing his thumb against his palm and holding up his two fingers in what could be described as almost a peace sign.
"Ve come in peace...."
Kurt said, taking another step to get harder glares from the rest of the students.
"And...to prove it....no vake-up calls tomorrow!"
The glares lessened, Rahne and Sam even returned to eating. There were mutters coming from the older students, and finally a nod from Scott.
"Fine, have a seat."
Kurt grinned wildly, and in one leap made it from the doorway to his seat and nearly began eating no more than a second later. Bobby and Jamie were quick to follow him.
In the midst of stuffing his face, Kurt looked around the table and noticed that Kitty's usual place was empty. He gulped down the mouthful of spagetti, tilting his head curiously. It wasn't like Kitty to be late for anything.
"Vhere is Katzchen?"
Suddenly everything was quiet, all the students turned and looked to Kitty's empty seat. No one said anything, but all were obviously embarrassed by not having realized she was missing before. Before anyone could say anything, Kurt got up.
"I'll go find 'er..."
He glanced over at Jamie who was taking the oppertunity of lacking attention to slowly reach over to Kurt's plate to take the last sweet roll in sight. His wrist was suddenly grabbed by a strange hand. He looked up at Kurt, giving his best innocent smirk.
"And if you eat the roll, you vill meet your doom."
With that made clear, Kurt teleported away.
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Kurt reappeared outside Kitty's door, and was about to knock before a strange sound made him pause. Music, depressing and sad music. He pressed his ear against the door, and was able to catch a few words.
"Near, far, where ever you are.
I believe that the heart does go on."
Kurt nearly gagged right there. It was Kitty's 'Titanic' soundtrack. He hated movies that could somehow make an entire room full of girls suddenly burst out in tear, while the guys laughed at the sickening love scene and managed to get smacked in the face with a pillow to make them shut up. 'Titanic' had proven to be the worst movie to have this effect...the longest too. But this stumped Kurt. Kitty only listened to her 'Titanic' soundtrack when she wanted to cry. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen her exit her room all day. He had seen her looking out the window, but never actually outside. He proceeded to gently knock on the door, and got a sob as a response. Slowly turning the knob and peeking inside, he was met by pitch blackness. It was dark outside, and yet Kitty had not turned on her lights. The only light came from the soft glow of the lit console on her stereo. He then saw her in that soft multicolored glow, still beside the window and sobbing away. He took a cautious step inside.
"Katzchen? Katzchen...vhat's ze matter?"
He said softly as he stepped continually closer to her. His words got a sobbed response again, but this time Kitty spoke.
"It's Lance...he said he'd come down this morning, but he never showed up! And I can't reach him either! Fuzzy, what if something happened? What if he doesn't love me anymore."
Kurt had no time to move before Kitty lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and crying on his shoulder. Kurt's hands were out at his side, but slowly he relaxed and returned the embrace.
"Keety, I'm sure zat 'e is alright. You know how ze rest of ze Brotherhood can get about you two being together..."
Kitty nodded slightly, but still sobbed. Kurt could feel his fur beginning to mat, though his image inducer hid it.
"Come on, everyone is vorried about you downstairs."
She only nodded again, her sobs were lessening though. Kurt walked slowly, Kitty refusing to let go of his neck. He didn't want to teleport...he was tired from doing that all day. So, they slowly made there way towards the stairs.
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Todd moved slowly through the darkness, weary and cursing. He had found the way he had first come to the institute, and looked at the wall he had leapt over and cursed again. He crouched low to the ground, and jumped. He sailed over the wall, but couldn't steady his landing with either of his arms, so he skidded across the ground on his back. He grimaced, whimpering slightly. 'Goody, more cuts to add to my collection. This day keeps getting better and better...' He snarled in his mind, slowly getting up and looking around. The front door...which way had it been. He took another step, and suddenly a buzzing alarm started going off. His eyes went wide with fear. The security system...he had forgotten all about it. Metal object suddenly rose from the ground, laser beams began firing at him from every angle. He started to run, whether in the right direction or not, he didn't care.
Inside the mansion, Logan had shot out of his seat and looked at all the student.
"Intruder. Stay put, alla you. Cyclops, Rogue, Spyke...be ready incase I call for back up."
He snarled out the orders, Scott, Evan, and Rogue nodded, though they knew there was a slim to none chance that Logan would ever request back up. There were hurried mutters from the table as Storm calmly walked outside. She looked down into the front yard, recognizing the terrified form almost instantly. Todd Tolansky, the Toad. But from the way he was moving and not leaping gave her the instant impression that something was wrong with him. She whirled around, looking to the worried faces of the younger student and smiling.
"Do not worry too much, it is someone we have dealt with before."
She said before she too ran downstairs to try and catch Logan...who would no doubt try to kill Todd.
Todd continued to clumbsily dodge the lasers, but he bore the scars of them. A few patched of skin were charred, and with every step he whimpered. Suddenly the lasers stopped, and he sunk down to his knees in pain. There was no way anyone could pay him enough to do this again. He heard a twig snap and he froze. Someone was out there...but where he didn't know. His question was quickly answered by the sound of SNIKT and an orange and black clad Logan leaping at him. Todd's eyes widened more than they had ever been.
"YYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Came forth a less than masculine screech as Todd closed his eyes tightly. Throwing himself to his side and holding the arm with the broken wrist in front of him for a sense of shielding himself. But Logan never attacked, and Todd noticed that there was a sense of calm around him. He slowly opened his eyes to see Storm standing over him and holding her cloak so that he was hidden from Logan's view.
"Logan, stop this senseless attack of yours."
Storm said in what could have been considered an angery voice, though she was rarely angery. Logan withdrew his claws, looking at the weather witch.
"What's the idea Ororo?"
"In your rush, you failed to see who you nearly impaled..."
Todd looked at the cloak to see three rip marks, his eyes widening a little again. He was quivering now, consumed by fear, surprise, and uncertainty. He suddenly wished he hadn't come here, he wanted to be back at the boarding house. But it was too late now, Storm slowly withdrew her cloak to reveal Todd laying on the ground, arm still held in front of him to protect himself. He heard Logan growl, and closed his eyes again.
"What are you doin' here Toad?"
The metal man snarled. Todd quivered a little, but felt himself being lifted off the ground. He opened his eyes to see the Storm was holding him gently in her arms.
"Logan, he is severely injured. Questions will have to wait."
Logan growled again.
"'Ro, he might just be part of a trap, questions need to be answered now."
Storm gave Logan a dangerous glare, rising both herself and the injured teen cradled in her arms into the air.
"Do not question maternal instincts, Logan."
And without waiting for a reply, she brought both to the doorway of the Institute, leaving Logan standing in the front yard alone.
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Kurt had finally mastered how to maneuver both himself and Kitty down the stairs so that Kitty wouldn't strangle him. They had just reached the bottom of the staircase when a large gust of wind erupted through the door, flinging them open. Now Kitty's face was no longer buried in Kurt's shoulder, but her full attention was on the door. Both gasped when they saw Storm carrying a familiar enemy inside.
"Storm! How did you manage to capture a Brotherhood member?"
Kurt asked excitedly. Storm looked at the normally blue mutant and shook her head.
"He is not a captive, Kurt. Of why he is here, I do not kn...."
Storm was cut off when Kitty lunged forward and grabbed Todd's shoulder's roughly. He let out a yelp and tried to struggle out of her grip.
"Not that shoulder! NOT THAT SHOULDER!"
Kitty would have relentlessly tightened her grip if Kurt hadn't pulled her back away from the quivering teen. Kurt had noticed long before Kitty the full extent of Todd's injuries, and now that she was back away from him, so did Kitty.
"Oh my God...like, what happened? Where's Lance? What did you do!"
She shouted, but Kurt restrained her. Todd glanced over at Kitty, his dull yellow-green eyes looked duller than ever.
"I didn't do nothing, yo. Mutant Control jumped us, but they missed me. Lance 'n the others...their captured. I saw 'em myself."
Kitty's swollen and red eyes waned under the surge of new tears.
"Lance is...captured...."
She said slowly, in disbelief. Todd nodded slightly, his eyes sliding shut from exhaustion. Storm's features were void of most emotion, and she hadn't moved. She was allowing the Professor to listen to what she was hearing.
~Professor...~
~I know Storm, get him down to the med wing for treatment. We'll discuss this later. It seems that he went through a great deal just to get here. We are fortunate that he came to us, I doubt Magnus would give him proper treatment.~
Ororo nodded to the voice unheard by the others, turning without another word to go to the med wing. She heard Kurt get Kitty to shuffle a step forward, and paused.
"Todd need immediate help...tell Logan to come down to the hospital wing to reset Mr. Tolansky's shoulder..."
With a soft flutter of her cape, she wisked herself downstairs.
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A/N: Well, there was chapter 5! The longest chapter in this story so far! How did you like it? *hint hint* That wonderful lilac button would be a helpful way of letting me know what you think...
OK, next chapter deals with the rest of the brotherhood (mostly Pietro, since he is the only one still awake...)and their trip to the secret labs. Haris and Thymes characters will be better brought out as well.
Next Chapter: Journey to Living Hell
Summary: Todd makes his way painfully to Xavier's to get help, will the X-Men exile him, or help him?
A/N: *half asleep* annoying small child has been tampering with my computer! I'm sorry if in my rereading I missed a sentence that stops in the middle and starts into a different paragraph. -.-' Guess I haven't already made it clear that I hate small children, huh? Oh, and the way I have Kurt talking about Titanic is not my view...it's based on a true thing that happened to my cousins when my family watched it. Weee...I'm on a roll with this story!
I would like to send a special thanks out to Mocla, thanks so much for your loyal reviews! And don't worry, chapters should keep coming at least two chaps or more a week!
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Wounded Wanderings
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Todd limped through the scarce ground cover, the holes in the knees of his jeans had stretched considerably to now reach down to his ankles. He sighed, thinking that he might as well have worn short. His legs were all cut up from the thorns of wild blackberry bushes and the occasional concealed sharp stick. Blood trickled down to his shoes, leaving from his knees down nothing but red. Now on the ground he held his arm to him at his stomach, careful not to allow anything collide with either his dislocated shoulder or broken wrist. But these injuries were making him move slowly, unable to leap unless he wanted to experience blinding pain.
Hours had past since he had started moving in the direction of the Institute. He hadn't realized just how far nearly 12 miles was on foot, without leaping. By this time it was past noon, by the position of the sun, Todd guessed maybe closer to 2 p.m. It was blistering hot outside, not the forcasted cloudy with a 39% chance of rain like the weather channel had said. His attention was grabbed by the sound of running water, and he tried to move a little more quickly. Pushing past sapling oak and maple trees, he finally spotted the source of the noise. A small waterfall that lead into a stream. He edged closer, sitting down under the shade of a willow tree and scooping up a handful of water to drink. At this point he didn't care if it was acid water, he would drink it anyway. After a few 'less-than-refreshing' handfuls of water, he looked down at his lower legs, caked in crimson. He debated about washing the dried blood off, but decided strongly against it. That would only make him bleed more, something he most certainly didn't need to happen. He leaned back into the rough bark of the aging tree, closing his eyes briefly. He wanted to sleep so badly. His head was throbbing, he was broken and bruised and wanted nothing more than to curl up in a dark corner where no one could or would find him and sleep. He forced his eyes open again. No, he couldn't sleep yet. The faster he could get to Xavier's the faster he could get help...or so he hoped. Prying himself off the ground, Todd took a minute to just stand, getting his weakened legs ready to walk again. He looked around at the difference in the shadows since when he had sat down.
"Shit..."
He muttered disbelievingly. At least an hour or more had past, and it would soon be getting dark. Heaving a sigh, he started off again.
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Rogue walked into Kitty's room without knocking, she knew Kitty wouldn't mind. And even if the preppy teen did care, Rogue sure didn't. She seemed to remember a certain valley girl bursting into her room all the time to sob about some homework or something stupid like that. To the goths surprise, the room was dark. She took a step further in, to see Kitty still sitting faithfully by the window. But she was far from still, her shoulders bobbed in time with sobs. Rogue rolled her eyes, pausing to stare at the ceiling. Not again.
"Hey, whats wrong Kitty?"
Rogue asked in her best 'I'm worried about you...you sure your ok?' voice that she could muster at the moment. Kitty shook her head, never averting her eyes from the window.
"He was supposed to be here hours ago. Something, like, totally must have happened to him Rogue! I can't reach him by phone or anything!"
She sobbed, sniffling now and then before letting her hand search for the box of tissues she had drug over to the window sill. Rogue narrowed her eyes a little.
"You invited Lance over?"
"Like...yeah. We haven't seen eachother for a whole day already!"
"Why did Ah even bother askin'..."
Rogue scoffed somewhat more harshly than she intended. Deep down, even though Kitty was a friend of hers, she hated the valley girl. She was jealous of her...she could touch the one she loved...Rogue couldn't. And everytime she talked about Lance it just made Rogue loath her more. Kitty gave her a deeply hurt look.
"Rogue! This could be, like, serious and your not helping any! Leave..."
The last word was barely whispered, but the requested action was made clear when she pointed harshly to the door Rogue had come in. Fuming, Rogue got up and stalked out, slamming the door closed behind her. Kitty didn't seem to care, sending her glance over to the phone.
"Oh Lance...what's going on? Don't you love me anymore?"
She sobbed before burying her head into her arms and crying.
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The dinner call rang through the mansion, but most of the student were already near the kitchen. The food Storm had prepared looked delicious, and they sat down and started to eat. They were only interupted when Kurt, Bobby, and Jamie crept into the kitchen. Kurt gave a sheepish smirk, pressing his thumb against his palm and holding up his two fingers in what could be described as almost a peace sign.
"Ve come in peace...."
Kurt said, taking another step to get harder glares from the rest of the students.
"And...to prove it....no vake-up calls tomorrow!"
The glares lessened, Rahne and Sam even returned to eating. There were mutters coming from the older students, and finally a nod from Scott.
"Fine, have a seat."
Kurt grinned wildly, and in one leap made it from the doorway to his seat and nearly began eating no more than a second later. Bobby and Jamie were quick to follow him.
In the midst of stuffing his face, Kurt looked around the table and noticed that Kitty's usual place was empty. He gulped down the mouthful of spagetti, tilting his head curiously. It wasn't like Kitty to be late for anything.
"Vhere is Katzchen?"
Suddenly everything was quiet, all the students turned and looked to Kitty's empty seat. No one said anything, but all were obviously embarrassed by not having realized she was missing before. Before anyone could say anything, Kurt got up.
"I'll go find 'er..."
He glanced over at Jamie who was taking the oppertunity of lacking attention to slowly reach over to Kurt's plate to take the last sweet roll in sight. His wrist was suddenly grabbed by a strange hand. He looked up at Kurt, giving his best innocent smirk.
"And if you eat the roll, you vill meet your doom."
With that made clear, Kurt teleported away.
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Kurt reappeared outside Kitty's door, and was about to knock before a strange sound made him pause. Music, depressing and sad music. He pressed his ear against the door, and was able to catch a few words.
"Near, far, where ever you are.
I believe that the heart does go on."
Kurt nearly gagged right there. It was Kitty's 'Titanic' soundtrack. He hated movies that could somehow make an entire room full of girls suddenly burst out in tear, while the guys laughed at the sickening love scene and managed to get smacked in the face with a pillow to make them shut up. 'Titanic' had proven to be the worst movie to have this effect...the longest too. But this stumped Kurt. Kitty only listened to her 'Titanic' soundtrack when she wanted to cry. Come to think of it, he hadn't seen her exit her room all day. He had seen her looking out the window, but never actually outside. He proceeded to gently knock on the door, and got a sob as a response. Slowly turning the knob and peeking inside, he was met by pitch blackness. It was dark outside, and yet Kitty had not turned on her lights. The only light came from the soft glow of the lit console on her stereo. He then saw her in that soft multicolored glow, still beside the window and sobbing away. He took a cautious step inside.
"Katzchen? Katzchen...vhat's ze matter?"
He said softly as he stepped continually closer to her. His words got a sobbed response again, but this time Kitty spoke.
"It's Lance...he said he'd come down this morning, but he never showed up! And I can't reach him either! Fuzzy, what if something happened? What if he doesn't love me anymore."
Kurt had no time to move before Kitty lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and crying on his shoulder. Kurt's hands were out at his side, but slowly he relaxed and returned the embrace.
"Keety, I'm sure zat 'e is alright. You know how ze rest of ze Brotherhood can get about you two being together..."
Kitty nodded slightly, but still sobbed. Kurt could feel his fur beginning to mat, though his image inducer hid it.
"Come on, everyone is vorried about you downstairs."
She only nodded again, her sobs were lessening though. Kurt walked slowly, Kitty refusing to let go of his neck. He didn't want to teleport...he was tired from doing that all day. So, they slowly made there way towards the stairs.
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Todd moved slowly through the darkness, weary and cursing. He had found the way he had first come to the institute, and looked at the wall he had leapt over and cursed again. He crouched low to the ground, and jumped. He sailed over the wall, but couldn't steady his landing with either of his arms, so he skidded across the ground on his back. He grimaced, whimpering slightly. 'Goody, more cuts to add to my collection. This day keeps getting better and better...' He snarled in his mind, slowly getting up and looking around. The front door...which way had it been. He took another step, and suddenly a buzzing alarm started going off. His eyes went wide with fear. The security system...he had forgotten all about it. Metal object suddenly rose from the ground, laser beams began firing at him from every angle. He started to run, whether in the right direction or not, he didn't care.
Inside the mansion, Logan had shot out of his seat and looked at all the student.
"Intruder. Stay put, alla you. Cyclops, Rogue, Spyke...be ready incase I call for back up."
He snarled out the orders, Scott, Evan, and Rogue nodded, though they knew there was a slim to none chance that Logan would ever request back up. There were hurried mutters from the table as Storm calmly walked outside. She looked down into the front yard, recognizing the terrified form almost instantly. Todd Tolansky, the Toad. But from the way he was moving and not leaping gave her the instant impression that something was wrong with him. She whirled around, looking to the worried faces of the younger student and smiling.
"Do not worry too much, it is someone we have dealt with before."
She said before she too ran downstairs to try and catch Logan...who would no doubt try to kill Todd.
Todd continued to clumbsily dodge the lasers, but he bore the scars of them. A few patched of skin were charred, and with every step he whimpered. Suddenly the lasers stopped, and he sunk down to his knees in pain. There was no way anyone could pay him enough to do this again. He heard a twig snap and he froze. Someone was out there...but where he didn't know. His question was quickly answered by the sound of SNIKT and an orange and black clad Logan leaping at him. Todd's eyes widened more than they had ever been.
"YYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Came forth a less than masculine screech as Todd closed his eyes tightly. Throwing himself to his side and holding the arm with the broken wrist in front of him for a sense of shielding himself. But Logan never attacked, and Todd noticed that there was a sense of calm around him. He slowly opened his eyes to see Storm standing over him and holding her cloak so that he was hidden from Logan's view.
"Logan, stop this senseless attack of yours."
Storm said in what could have been considered an angery voice, though she was rarely angery. Logan withdrew his claws, looking at the weather witch.
"What's the idea Ororo?"
"In your rush, you failed to see who you nearly impaled..."
Todd looked at the cloak to see three rip marks, his eyes widening a little again. He was quivering now, consumed by fear, surprise, and uncertainty. He suddenly wished he hadn't come here, he wanted to be back at the boarding house. But it was too late now, Storm slowly withdrew her cloak to reveal Todd laying on the ground, arm still held in front of him to protect himself. He heard Logan growl, and closed his eyes again.
"What are you doin' here Toad?"
The metal man snarled. Todd quivered a little, but felt himself being lifted off the ground. He opened his eyes to see the Storm was holding him gently in her arms.
"Logan, he is severely injured. Questions will have to wait."
Logan growled again.
"'Ro, he might just be part of a trap, questions need to be answered now."
Storm gave Logan a dangerous glare, rising both herself and the injured teen cradled in her arms into the air.
"Do not question maternal instincts, Logan."
And without waiting for a reply, she brought both to the doorway of the Institute, leaving Logan standing in the front yard alone.
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Kurt had finally mastered how to maneuver both himself and Kitty down the stairs so that Kitty wouldn't strangle him. They had just reached the bottom of the staircase when a large gust of wind erupted through the door, flinging them open. Now Kitty's face was no longer buried in Kurt's shoulder, but her full attention was on the door. Both gasped when they saw Storm carrying a familiar enemy inside.
"Storm! How did you manage to capture a Brotherhood member?"
Kurt asked excitedly. Storm looked at the normally blue mutant and shook her head.
"He is not a captive, Kurt. Of why he is here, I do not kn...."
Storm was cut off when Kitty lunged forward and grabbed Todd's shoulder's roughly. He let out a yelp and tried to struggle out of her grip.
"Not that shoulder! NOT THAT SHOULDER!"
Kitty would have relentlessly tightened her grip if Kurt hadn't pulled her back away from the quivering teen. Kurt had noticed long before Kitty the full extent of Todd's injuries, and now that she was back away from him, so did Kitty.
"Oh my God...like, what happened? Where's Lance? What did you do!"
She shouted, but Kurt restrained her. Todd glanced over at Kitty, his dull yellow-green eyes looked duller than ever.
"I didn't do nothing, yo. Mutant Control jumped us, but they missed me. Lance 'n the others...their captured. I saw 'em myself."
Kitty's swollen and red eyes waned under the surge of new tears.
"Lance is...captured...."
She said slowly, in disbelief. Todd nodded slightly, his eyes sliding shut from exhaustion. Storm's features were void of most emotion, and she hadn't moved. She was allowing the Professor to listen to what she was hearing.
~Professor...~
~I know Storm, get him down to the med wing for treatment. We'll discuss this later. It seems that he went through a great deal just to get here. We are fortunate that he came to us, I doubt Magnus would give him proper treatment.~
Ororo nodded to the voice unheard by the others, turning without another word to go to the med wing. She heard Kurt get Kitty to shuffle a step forward, and paused.
"Todd need immediate help...tell Logan to come down to the hospital wing to reset Mr. Tolansky's shoulder..."
With a soft flutter of her cape, she wisked herself downstairs.
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A/N: Well, there was chapter 5! The longest chapter in this story so far! How did you like it? *hint hint* That wonderful lilac button would be a helpful way of letting me know what you think...
OK, next chapter deals with the rest of the brotherhood (mostly Pietro, since he is the only one still awake...)and their trip to the secret labs. Haris and Thymes characters will be better brought out as well.
Next Chapter: Journey to Living Hell
