Treble Clef
By Silver Falcon
Chapter Twelve
Lance opened the door to the boarding house when the three knocks had sounded. He sent a slight glare in the pink-haired girl's direction before smiling happily and rushing back to the phone. Pixie grinned and walked inside, leading the smaller boy inside after her. She closed it and watched Lance look at her suspiciously from the phone.
"He's a friend of mine," she said. "Touch him and die."
The boy looked about high school age, and he looked at Lance with bright green eyes that whispered more than secrets. He wore a shirt that was way to big for him and blue denim shorts. From the sound of his footsteps, he was wearing sandals.
Pixie ushered the boy to the couch next to Lance and hugged him tightly. "Wait right here."
She fixed her coat and smiled, ruffling his hair before walking upstairs. Jerry drew his knees up, his feet sliding elegantly out of the sandals, and rested them on the edge of the sofa, carefully turning his head to look at Lance who was mindlessly talking on the phone. He raised one hand, smoothed his naturally messy red hair, and continued to curiously stare at the other boy. When he noticed that Lance began to get agitated with his gaze, he averted it in another direction, not wanting to cause trouble.
Pixie walked upstairs and knocked on Todd's door.
"Pietro, go away!"
"Todd, it's me," she laughed.
She heard a thud from the other side of the door, and the doorknob turned. Todd opened the door and jumped on her, knocking her into the other wall. She hugged him and laughed again.
"You're back!" he said happily.
She hugged him and took his hand softly in hers. "I want you to meet someone."
His smile faded slightly, and he nodded. "Who?"
She pulled him downstairs and pointed to the little boy on the couch. "Him. His name is Jerry."
Todd hopped over the railing and over to the couch. "Name's Toad!"
Jerry shyly extended his hand. "Jerry."
Todd took his hand and shook it quickly. "Welcome to the Brotherhood House yo!"
Pixie walked over to them and sat next to Jerry. "He's been a friend of mine for a long time. He was a mutant like you, and his power was eternal life. Unfortunately, he was killed and was later reincarnated as Gabriel. This is both of them in one body."
Todd scratched the back of his neck. "Cool?"
"He's gonna be around Bayville for a while, and I think Marcie wants to adopt him. He doesn't like to talk much, but he's a really nice guy."
Jerry smiled and hid his face in his knees, covering his small blush.
Pixie smiled and hugged him.
"Where's Wanda?" the half-blood asked, looking around.
"Oh, she went out early this morning to look for Pietro," Todd said, crouching on the floor. "Speaking of Speedy, he wants to go on a date with you Saturday."
Pixie looked confused. "If it's okay with you, sure, but why?"
"Because if you don't," Todd started sheepishly, "then he's going to kill me."
Pixie laughed. "I think we should get out of here and let Lance talk." She stood up and hurried the two boys outside, where Jerry sat down in the grass next to a bush. "What were you planning to do today, Todd?"
"Just hang around the house, I guess. Maybe visit a dumpster or two. I dunno."
He spied a grasshopper, and his tongue shot out of his mouth. There was a loud crunch as he bit down, but the two immortals didn't seem disgusted at all.
"You want to go down to Georgia? I'll bring you back tomorrow, and that'll leave Saturday for Pietro's date," Pixie asked.
Todd nearly choked on his grasshopper. "What? Georgia? Oh.right. You can fly. I guess."
Jerry smiled and looked at Pixie. "Home," he whispered.
Pixie stood up and stretched. "I'll go tell Lance. Where's Fred? I haven't seen him anywhere today either."
"He's at a monster truck rally."
"Oh, cool. Well, be right back."
Todd watched as she disappeared inside the door, her coat flowing in a delicate curve behind her. He sat on the grass with his chin in his hands and sighed. Jerry laughed.
"She's pretty, isn't she?" he said.
"Yeah. Gorgeous. What's in Georgia?"
"Home."
Jerry stood up and stretched his arms. Pixie came out of the house, waving goodbye to Lance. She closed the door and sent the two boys a thumbs up sign.
"We are moving! Jerry, you get one hand and I'll get the other, okay?"
Todd felt odd holding hands with a guy, but he decided that at least he was holding her hand. That made up for everything.
"One, two, three!"
Todd squirmed ferociously as he felt his feet leave the ground. He felt both his hands tighten.
"Todd, it's okay. We won't drop you," Pixie said calmly, reaching down with her other hand to grab him around his waist. "It's okay. Calm down."
It took a few minutes for him to chill, but eventually, she released him, and he experienced what it felt like to fly. Both of their touches was gentle and in sync with the other. They looked nothing a like, but they knew each other in a personal manner. Todd felt the air whip past him while he watched the city of Bayville fly by below him at an alarming rate.
He turned his head to the left and looked at Pixie. She didn't notice that he was watching, and soon his eyes went to her wings. He couldn't see them, but he could see her jacket flutter around her as they flapped. Jerry's wings were white and looked very soft. They beat carefully, gracefully, almost in a manner that they were afraid to move. He stayed aloft with ease, and Todd watched the scenery.
"Wow. This is.so.awesome," he gasped, his huge smile making both of the fliers smile.
"It's certainly better than walking. Not as fast as Pietro, but it's.fast."
Jerry seemed to be enjoying the scenery too. He was following Pix, because he was lagging slightly behind. It was very cool this high above the world, but it felt really good, just like her hand. His grip on her hand was slightly tighter than Jerry's, and she still felt soft.
He wanted that kiss. Todd came to the conclusion that it was half-and-half, but he wasn't sure if she had anything to do with the reality half. It might be toad intuition or something. He might have dreamed the entire thing up, but hey, she had seemed awkward about Pietro's date, so maybe she did have something to do with it. Todd suddenly noticed that her arm was bandaged.
"What happened to your arm?" he asked, staring at the wound harshly.
She looked at him and then her shoulder. "Oh, I found one of the assassins after I dropped Jerry off at Marcie's. I killed him and gained that. It's nothing. I'll probably disappear in a week or two."
"You need to stop getting hurt yo. You're too troublesome for a girl. Just the way I likes ya!"
***************************************
"Pietro, what nonsense is this?" the voice growled from over the phone.
"Look, I'll tell you one more time! There is a mutant here that I think you want to meet. She's not even close to human, Magneto. She's just.you have to meet her."
"You of all people.," his father droned sadly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Falling in love at that age. How pathetic is this girl, anyway?"
-click-
****************************************
Wanda sat on the edge of a tree branch, staring down into a park next to an elementary school. All of them were kids, all the people playing in the park were kids five years old or near that. They were all so innocent. No doubt they had been visited by their fairy guardian. She managed to do is spiritually, even though she was other places physically. She had a knack at doing that. And she did it to every child on earth. Wanda couldn't do what she could. She wouldn't have the patience, even if she had fairy blood in her. She just couldn't do it.
She had never been gifted with the innocent life that the children below her had. She had spent her days locked in a steel room with that horrible jacket surrounding her. She cringed. She did not wish to remember those days now, not now. Not now. She slid down from the tree and began to walk again. It was barely three, and it wasn't like she was heading to school today. School was such a waste of time. She didn't even go through elementary or middle, why high school?
It was all so confusing, unlike the simple joys of holding a doll. It just was different. She felt so placid when she was around the park now. It.was.almost.like.a.dream.
****************************
It was amazing. Humans couldn't fly for a reason, but give one wings and they're off like naturals. Jerry wasn't human, not anymore. He knew death. He knew birth. He knew rebirth. Humans do not know those things. They have never known those things.
Even she did not know those things.
She knew birth. Just birth, not death. She knew life.
Pixus, Pixie, Pix. Just names for the physical body. All names for what would eventually die and return to the earth.
What of the soul?
Was it possible to name one's soul?
Todd had a large grin still pasted to his face as he watched the land fly quickly before his eyes. Their hands had gotten sweaty from clasping each other for so long, but that didn't bother them. Flying felt so normal. Not like walking or driving. It had the feel that one had when he walked on a treadmill and then got off. The lighter than air feeling that makes one just fly off the ground.
Pix was lost to the world, just sensing all the feeling that was radiating off of her young friend. She had two assassins after her. Both wanted her dead. Todd was at risk. If they found out about him, they could use him against her. Wanda and Rogue as well. Pietro was at the greatest risk. They knew what he looked like. They could pick him off the street if they wanted to. Pietro needed her protection.
Jerry was safe as long as he stayed with Marcie. Jerry knew the danger that she was in. He knew about the assassins.
Todd did not. He knew they were dangerous, but he didn't know how dangerous they could get. She had to practice her spells more. After her fight with Jinn, she realized how much she had forgot. Those spells, and all she could summon was a stalling spell. How pathetic. Forez and Oribisus would be harder to kill than Jinn. And certainly after they found out that their friend was dead, they would be just as pissed.
The treetops became more dense. They were nearing her secret haven after about four hours of flight. Todd was still just as interested as he had been. The swamp was only a few miles away, as was the old cabin. Pix smelled the familiar scent of complete freedom and found that her soul had truly missed it.
Chapter Twelve
Lance opened the door to the boarding house when the three knocks had sounded. He sent a slight glare in the pink-haired girl's direction before smiling happily and rushing back to the phone. Pixie grinned and walked inside, leading the smaller boy inside after her. She closed it and watched Lance look at her suspiciously from the phone.
"He's a friend of mine," she said. "Touch him and die."
The boy looked about high school age, and he looked at Lance with bright green eyes that whispered more than secrets. He wore a shirt that was way to big for him and blue denim shorts. From the sound of his footsteps, he was wearing sandals.
Pixie ushered the boy to the couch next to Lance and hugged him tightly. "Wait right here."
She fixed her coat and smiled, ruffling his hair before walking upstairs. Jerry drew his knees up, his feet sliding elegantly out of the sandals, and rested them on the edge of the sofa, carefully turning his head to look at Lance who was mindlessly talking on the phone. He raised one hand, smoothed his naturally messy red hair, and continued to curiously stare at the other boy. When he noticed that Lance began to get agitated with his gaze, he averted it in another direction, not wanting to cause trouble.
Pixie walked upstairs and knocked on Todd's door.
"Pietro, go away!"
"Todd, it's me," she laughed.
She heard a thud from the other side of the door, and the doorknob turned. Todd opened the door and jumped on her, knocking her into the other wall. She hugged him and laughed again.
"You're back!" he said happily.
She hugged him and took his hand softly in hers. "I want you to meet someone."
His smile faded slightly, and he nodded. "Who?"
She pulled him downstairs and pointed to the little boy on the couch. "Him. His name is Jerry."
Todd hopped over the railing and over to the couch. "Name's Toad!"
Jerry shyly extended his hand. "Jerry."
Todd took his hand and shook it quickly. "Welcome to the Brotherhood House yo!"
Pixie walked over to them and sat next to Jerry. "He's been a friend of mine for a long time. He was a mutant like you, and his power was eternal life. Unfortunately, he was killed and was later reincarnated as Gabriel. This is both of them in one body."
Todd scratched the back of his neck. "Cool?"
"He's gonna be around Bayville for a while, and I think Marcie wants to adopt him. He doesn't like to talk much, but he's a really nice guy."
Jerry smiled and hid his face in his knees, covering his small blush.
Pixie smiled and hugged him.
"Where's Wanda?" the half-blood asked, looking around.
"Oh, she went out early this morning to look for Pietro," Todd said, crouching on the floor. "Speaking of Speedy, he wants to go on a date with you Saturday."
Pixie looked confused. "If it's okay with you, sure, but why?"
"Because if you don't," Todd started sheepishly, "then he's going to kill me."
Pixie laughed. "I think we should get out of here and let Lance talk." She stood up and hurried the two boys outside, where Jerry sat down in the grass next to a bush. "What were you planning to do today, Todd?"
"Just hang around the house, I guess. Maybe visit a dumpster or two. I dunno."
He spied a grasshopper, and his tongue shot out of his mouth. There was a loud crunch as he bit down, but the two immortals didn't seem disgusted at all.
"You want to go down to Georgia? I'll bring you back tomorrow, and that'll leave Saturday for Pietro's date," Pixie asked.
Todd nearly choked on his grasshopper. "What? Georgia? Oh.right. You can fly. I guess."
Jerry smiled and looked at Pixie. "Home," he whispered.
Pixie stood up and stretched. "I'll go tell Lance. Where's Fred? I haven't seen him anywhere today either."
"He's at a monster truck rally."
"Oh, cool. Well, be right back."
Todd watched as she disappeared inside the door, her coat flowing in a delicate curve behind her. He sat on the grass with his chin in his hands and sighed. Jerry laughed.
"She's pretty, isn't she?" he said.
"Yeah. Gorgeous. What's in Georgia?"
"Home."
Jerry stood up and stretched his arms. Pixie came out of the house, waving goodbye to Lance. She closed the door and sent the two boys a thumbs up sign.
"We are moving! Jerry, you get one hand and I'll get the other, okay?"
Todd felt odd holding hands with a guy, but he decided that at least he was holding her hand. That made up for everything.
"One, two, three!"
Todd squirmed ferociously as he felt his feet leave the ground. He felt both his hands tighten.
"Todd, it's okay. We won't drop you," Pixie said calmly, reaching down with her other hand to grab him around his waist. "It's okay. Calm down."
It took a few minutes for him to chill, but eventually, she released him, and he experienced what it felt like to fly. Both of their touches was gentle and in sync with the other. They looked nothing a like, but they knew each other in a personal manner. Todd felt the air whip past him while he watched the city of Bayville fly by below him at an alarming rate.
He turned his head to the left and looked at Pixie. She didn't notice that he was watching, and soon his eyes went to her wings. He couldn't see them, but he could see her jacket flutter around her as they flapped. Jerry's wings were white and looked very soft. They beat carefully, gracefully, almost in a manner that they were afraid to move. He stayed aloft with ease, and Todd watched the scenery.
"Wow. This is.so.awesome," he gasped, his huge smile making both of the fliers smile.
"It's certainly better than walking. Not as fast as Pietro, but it's.fast."
Jerry seemed to be enjoying the scenery too. He was following Pix, because he was lagging slightly behind. It was very cool this high above the world, but it felt really good, just like her hand. His grip on her hand was slightly tighter than Jerry's, and she still felt soft.
He wanted that kiss. Todd came to the conclusion that it was half-and-half, but he wasn't sure if she had anything to do with the reality half. It might be toad intuition or something. He might have dreamed the entire thing up, but hey, she had seemed awkward about Pietro's date, so maybe she did have something to do with it. Todd suddenly noticed that her arm was bandaged.
"What happened to your arm?" he asked, staring at the wound harshly.
She looked at him and then her shoulder. "Oh, I found one of the assassins after I dropped Jerry off at Marcie's. I killed him and gained that. It's nothing. I'll probably disappear in a week or two."
"You need to stop getting hurt yo. You're too troublesome for a girl. Just the way I likes ya!"
***************************************
"Pietro, what nonsense is this?" the voice growled from over the phone.
"Look, I'll tell you one more time! There is a mutant here that I think you want to meet. She's not even close to human, Magneto. She's just.you have to meet her."
"You of all people.," his father droned sadly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Falling in love at that age. How pathetic is this girl, anyway?"
-click-
****************************************
Wanda sat on the edge of a tree branch, staring down into a park next to an elementary school. All of them were kids, all the people playing in the park were kids five years old or near that. They were all so innocent. No doubt they had been visited by their fairy guardian. She managed to do is spiritually, even though she was other places physically. She had a knack at doing that. And she did it to every child on earth. Wanda couldn't do what she could. She wouldn't have the patience, even if she had fairy blood in her. She just couldn't do it.
She had never been gifted with the innocent life that the children below her had. She had spent her days locked in a steel room with that horrible jacket surrounding her. She cringed. She did not wish to remember those days now, not now. Not now. She slid down from the tree and began to walk again. It was barely three, and it wasn't like she was heading to school today. School was such a waste of time. She didn't even go through elementary or middle, why high school?
It was all so confusing, unlike the simple joys of holding a doll. It just was different. She felt so placid when she was around the park now. It.was.almost.like.a.dream.
****************************
It was amazing. Humans couldn't fly for a reason, but give one wings and they're off like naturals. Jerry wasn't human, not anymore. He knew death. He knew birth. He knew rebirth. Humans do not know those things. They have never known those things.
Even she did not know those things.
She knew birth. Just birth, not death. She knew life.
Pixus, Pixie, Pix. Just names for the physical body. All names for what would eventually die and return to the earth.
What of the soul?
Was it possible to name one's soul?
Todd had a large grin still pasted to his face as he watched the land fly quickly before his eyes. Their hands had gotten sweaty from clasping each other for so long, but that didn't bother them. Flying felt so normal. Not like walking or driving. It had the feel that one had when he walked on a treadmill and then got off. The lighter than air feeling that makes one just fly off the ground.
Pix was lost to the world, just sensing all the feeling that was radiating off of her young friend. She had two assassins after her. Both wanted her dead. Todd was at risk. If they found out about him, they could use him against her. Wanda and Rogue as well. Pietro was at the greatest risk. They knew what he looked like. They could pick him off the street if they wanted to. Pietro needed her protection.
Jerry was safe as long as he stayed with Marcie. Jerry knew the danger that she was in. He knew about the assassins.
Todd did not. He knew they were dangerous, but he didn't know how dangerous they could get. She had to practice her spells more. After her fight with Jinn, she realized how much she had forgot. Those spells, and all she could summon was a stalling spell. How pathetic. Forez and Oribisus would be harder to kill than Jinn. And certainly after they found out that their friend was dead, they would be just as pissed.
The treetops became more dense. They were nearing her secret haven after about four hours of flight. Todd was still just as interested as he had been. The swamp was only a few miles away, as was the old cabin. Pix smelled the familiar scent of complete freedom and found that her soul had truly missed it.
