I know I know...I said that I was gonna have this be a Pietro goes nuts chapter...but after reading some reviews (I LOVE REVIEWS!!) I decided to wait on his outburst. It seems that him losing it was the most popular option so that' what im leaning toward but the pole is still open :)
So this chapter is about....TODD!! Yay! I've kinda been neglecting him so...here ya go Toad fans.
Rena Lupin- Ya, I'm gonna make him wait some more b4 he loses it...good point.
Riye Link- Um, if you've got any ideas on who to set him up with I'll take em...but no promises there.
Alex-Mad- Thanks, I like Pietro more like this too...and here's some Todd for ya :)
KS Fan- Just thought Id say thanks and let u know that 'between the bars' is one of my fav fics ever lol. (If anyone goes to read it...read this one first. Cuz after u read BTB, you wont want to read my lame attempts at brotherhood angst stuff lol)
Charmedfan03- Go Vulnerable Pietro! hehe
MiracleChick- Aw yay. I'm glad my writing made you feel something...that's always a good compliment.
Jounouchi Kun Joey- yeah, I'm pretty sure it's Creed. Yay kurtty lol. I'll probably throw them in as much as possible. ; )
Ok, one last note....I made a decision about them being OOC.....I don't care even if they are lol. I like them this way. The poor guys are screwed up, so they aren't going to be like themselves anyway. Plus, how much can you know for certain about a cartoon character anyway? It's not like they have an astonishing amount of depth to them.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"You what?" Pietro's voice was completely flat.
Lance gripped his friend by the shoulders and forced the younger boy to look up at him. "Listen Pietro, it's not that bad man. The McCoy guy said my odds are pretty good."
He hadn't expected this. The already deadened look in Pietro's eyes seemed to become more pronounced after Lance had told him about his tumor. He had expected Pietro to be mad, to scream and kick and throw things. That would have been a lot more- more 'Pietro like.' But instead, he was looking up at Lance with the oddest, most somber expression Lance had ever seen.
He dropped his eyes to the floor and began to mumble in his incoherent hyper speech. Lance could usually decipher it, having had to endure it for the past couple of years, but he could barely hear Pietro, let alone decode his mumbling.
Again, he forced the white haired teen to look him in the eye. He stopped mumbling and just looked at Lance with the same cold expression as before.
"So...uh, yeah. That's it really," Lance said lamely.
Pietro nodded mechanically. "Todd?"
"Yeah, that's gonna be a problem."
Again Pietro nodded stiffly. He focused on the wall over Lance's shoulders and scarcely blinked.
"Um, do you want me to tell you the details? It sounds a lot better with details actually. Brain tumor sounds pretty terrifying," Lance tried to make Pietro look at him rather than around him.
In a hollow voice, Pietro responded, "Does it really matter? I mean seriously, no matter how you put it, it isn't good news."
Lance's already waxen face paled and he set his jaw tightly. He was really frustrated with Pietro's reaction. Here he was, trying for once in his life, to look on the positive side of things and Pietro wasn't even making an effort to find hope in the situation. Lance suddenly wanted to kick himself. This was happening to *him* not Pietro, yet he was still managing to veer his thoughts to how his friend was handling things. For once, why couldn't Pietro try and make *him* feel a little more at ease.
"Our lives suck Lance. Ever notice that? What did we ever do to end up so...so pathetic."
"What do you mean we? *You* don't have a tumor!" Lance spat, surprised at his own outburst.
Pietro's cold expression softened a little. "Sorry," he mumbled, "Are you ok?"
Lance thought for a second. "Nope, not really. Just numb to the whole thing."
Pietro nodded and concentrated on his shoelaces. "Sorry."
"It's alright. Just never mind for now, we need to find Todd."
The two teens headed down the hall in silence. Pietro's vacant expression was now replaced with his typical scowl, while Lance shoved his hands deep into his pockets and slouched. When they reached the common room, Todd was laying on the couch with his legs dangling lazily over the arm of the sofa. He appeared to more or less be in one of his 'ok' moods, much to Lance and Pietro's relief.
"Hey Todd? Can we talk to you for a second?" Pietro asked, his scowl in no way reflecting in his voice.
Todd pulled himself up so that he was sitting on the arm of the couch and nodded.
Lance rubbed the back of his neck and bit his lip. He wasn't sure how to address this. There was every possibility that Todd would just swallow it and deal with is as best he could, but there was also the equal possibility that he would go into complete shock.
"I've got some bad news. You know how Dr. McCoy took me out of the room the first day we were here and ran a bunch of tests on my head? Well he got some results." He paused, waiting to see Todd's reaction, and how to continue.
Todd sank slowly from the edge of the couch and into the cushion. He looked up at the older boys, a nervous expression creeping onto his face. His mind spun as he tried to concentrate on the words coming out of Pietro's mouth.
"Now, it's not as bad as it's gonna sound," he was saying, "But..."
"I have a brain tumor. A benign one, but still," Lance tried to keep his voice steady and indifferent, but instead the sentence came out in a mumbled rush.
Todd stared. From that point on he didn't hear a word Lance or Pietro said. He closed his eyes and clamped his hands over his ears. If he pretended long enough, maybe the world would rewind and he would still be watching TV, thinking about what he would make himself for lunch.
He had chosen to ignore what was going on many times before, and this time was no different. In his mind, a different world began to unfold.
Lance and Pietro weren't here. Pietro was out with a girl but had promised to be back early. He didn't usually make an effort to spend time with the rest of the brotherhood, but occasionally he would agree to a night of horror movies and popcorn. Lance was on his way home with Chinese food. He didn't even argue when Mystique asked him to go get it. Todd and Fred were sitting on the couch trying to decide which movie to watch. Fred was convinced that the more creepy events there were, the more chilling the movie would be. Todd on the other hand, liked the violent bloody stuff. It was more exciting then trying to think into a mysterious plot line. Mystique was in one of her extremely rare, almost motherly moods, and was making them popcorn. Todd had always liked her best when she was like that. She was cruel and heartless at times, but she did have her rare moments. She would have been a pretty decent mom if Magneto didn't work her into the ground, Todd was sure of it. Wanda came in and sat down next to him, something she only did when she was in an extremely good mood.
A grin spread across Todd's face as he continued to keep his eyes sealed shut against the harsh reality of Pietro and Lance standing in front of him, telling him that Lance was really sick. He frowned slightly as a few of their words interrupted his perfect thoughts.
"Todd! Todd snap out of it!!"
'No. I can't. I can't! Leave me alone! Just let me stay here next to Wanda while I wait for the Chinese food and popcorn!'
As reality and his dream world collided, Todd began to panic. Pietro and Lance kept talking to him, telling him to open his eyes. If he opened his eyes though, he'd lose the image. He'd lose the popcorn smell. He's lose the sight of Wanda who he hadn't seen in almost a year. He clenched his eyes tighter and curled himself up on the couch.
"Todd, listen to me," Lance said. His voice had a tone of gentleness that only He, Todd, and Pietro knew the brunette possessed. "You need to listen man. Don't freak out until you know the whole story."
Todd continued to curl himself tighter. 'Why can't they just let me stay here! I like it here! No one hates me here! Everything's perfect here!...'
"JUST LET ME STAY HERE!"
Pietro and Lance glanced at each other, startled.
"Stay where, Todd?"
Todd didn't respond. He was fighting to block them out. He had always been successful at it before, but he couldn't seem to focus enough. He began to shake, his whole body trembling with the effort to keep his mind fixed on his imaginary world. Panic began to take over as he realized it wasn't working. He felt Lance's hands clasp his shoulders and pull him into a sitting position.
Todd kept his eyes closed as Lance pleaded with the younger boy to look up at him. If he could just hold it for a little longer - just keep that image there for a few more minutes - but he couldn't. He snapped his eyes open and looked into Lance's gaunt face.
It was like an anvil had been dropped on his chest. Todd made a small noise that could only be described as a gasp. It was like an anguished scream that had been muffled and merged into a sharp intake of breath. His eyes widened and darted around the room. He took in Pietro's near emaciated form, Lance's sickly face, and glanced to his left in search of Fred. A Fred that wasn't there.
His memories swirled in his head and he could remember beatings. 'Beatings that had come from Fred? No, not from Fred, that didn't make sense. From Mystique? No, she was mean, but never...no.'
Pietro stepped toward Todd to place a hand on his shoulder, but Todd recoiled in fear.
'Pietro? Lance? No. No! NO! What's...ahhg!'
His mental screams of confusion broke out into an audible screech. He couldn't think anymore. A pounding head ache began to further his difficulty in figuring out what was happening. His memories of the real world and his delusional one merged and spun behind his skull.
"I can't! I don't know! You can't be sick! You...you aren't weak. You...they...he...never! None of it, ever! Then Wanda...she was here...no she was there. There with Me and Fred? No, there with...I don't know. Where's the Chinese Lance? Didn't Mystique send you to...no. No."
Todd gripped wildly at the sofa cushions, digging his nails into the fabric. He looked pleadingly at Lance, desperate for answers. His voice cracked and tears began to flood his vision. He couldn't even tell what he was crying for. Or maybe he was crying because he didn't understand why he was so upset. He didn't know.
His ranting of confused thoughts died down slightly as he gasped for air amidst sobs. He rocked slowly back and forth and grabbed his head. He coughed violently and sucked air into his lungs with desperation. The hot liquid running down his face was now threatening to drown him as he did nothing to prevent it from running into his mouth.
Pietro's hand was gripped around Lance's arm as the scene took place. "Lance...?"
"Get the professor, hurry," Lance instructed, and Pietro was gone.
Lance looked at Todd for a second and without hesitation, did something that would have astounded any person who happened to choose this moment to enter; he silently prayed that nobody would. He gently placed one arm across Todd's shoulders and his other underneath the boy's legs. Scooping him up, he sat himself down on the couch and placed Todd in his lap.
Todd curled into a fetal position against Lance and continued to weep convulsively into the older boys chest. Lance kept his arm along Todd's shoulder and swayed slightly. It couldn't be called rocking really, but it was none the less, a swaying motion. It was a side of Lance that rarely came out and one he had only discovered in the last six months.
That was how the professor found them, minutes later. Lance's expression instantly morphed from tender to angry with concern. Pietro stood in the doorway, staring at Todd. He wrapped his arms around himself and leaned against the doorframe.
"Perhaps we should take him to my office?" the professor suggested gently. He could sense the three boys' fear and Pietro was screaming his thoughts out as though he were the host of a psychic radio line. If he projected them any louder, Jean was bound to pick up on them.
"No," Lance said firmly, "Someone'll see."
Nodding, the professor didn't bother to argue. "Pietro, lock that door and hopefully no one will come by. You do realize that I'm going to have to enter his mind, correct? There's no other way."
Lance and Pietro glanced at each other, then at Todd, who was still struggling to take in air. Lance nodded stiffly at the professor, gently lifted Todd off of his lap, and set him down again on the couch. He walked over to Pietro and waited to see what the professor would do.
"Before I begin, Pietro, you really have to calm down. I can't concentrate with you screaming so much." Xavier said softly.
Pietro froze. To a mere bystander, Pietro looked the perfect picture of calm. Concerned yes, but definitely in control. However, in his head he was a complete wreck, and only the professor could detect such things. It made him incredibly uneasy to be around someone who could see through him so easily.
"That's better," Xavier said, and he placed a hand to Todd's temple.
Charles delved into Todd's mind and focused all his energy on the boy. The emotions and memories were buried so deep that they weren't easy to decipher at first.
~Todd, Focus on me. I'm going to help you. Try and relax.~
For the next several minutes, the professor read and analyzed Todd's thoughts. He slowly separated the young boy's fantasy world from reality, gently reminding him that there was still hope when he suddenly became panicked. He was amazed at some of the things he heard. How Todd was able to even come across as a normal guy most of the time with all this mumbo jumbo going on in his head was beyond him
After what seemed like ages, Xavier removed his hand from Todd's temple and straightened.
"Mr. Tolensky?"
Todd opened his tear filled eyes and looked up at the professor with an expression of terror.
"I know, this is a lot to have to deal with all at once. I'll help you through this slowly," the professor lowered his voice kindly, "Todd, this is going to take a long time to heal. I can't fix it all instantly like you want me to. You have to be willing to try ok?"
Todd pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his forehead there. He nodded as tears seeped through his jeans.
~I'll leave you three alone for now. There is little else I can do to help at the moment. He'll be alright. He just needs to calm down for now. I'll meet with the two of you later on this evening.~
Lance and Pietro nodded silently at the professor's mental message and stepped aside for the him to pass.
The instant he was gone, Pietro and Lance flanked Todd on either side of the couch. His face was still hidden in his knees and his shoulders were shaking slightly.
"I dunno what to do yo," he mumbled.
"It's ok. We aren't gonna make you explain anything right now. Come here," Lance said softly.
For the second time that day, Lance did something that would seem completely unexpected to anyone but the three brotherhood members. He reached over to Todd and pulled him into a comforting embrace. Not the usual swift, but still heartfelt, hug usually shared by teenage boys, but a long, soothing embrace that was usually only depicted between a child and adult.
Todd wrapped his arms awkwardly around Lance and cried once again into the older boys chest. It was all he could do really. Trying to formulate any intelligent thoughts would be a waste of his time.
Pietro rested a hand on Todd's shoulder and looked worriedly at Lance. He couldn't help but think of the irony of it all. Lance had just received news that he had a very serious medical condition, yet he was the one dealing out comfort. It was one of those rare moments when Pietro saw Lance as so much older than he really was. He was barely 18, but at the moment he could pass for a 40 year old father of a mixed up teenager.
Pietro was both angry and jealous about the whole situation. Angry, because Lance shouldn't have to play this role when he was just a messed up teenager himself, and jealous because he wished he possessed the amazing quality Lance had. He didn't know what it was, but he felt that being able to do what Lance was doing -- putting Todd's emotional needs before his own -- was an ability he desperately wanted. In the back of his mind he was aware of the reason but he felt silly thinking it. Pietro wanted more than anything to hold his own son or daughter just like that. He flushed just for thinking such a random and ridiculous thought, and brought his attention back to Todd.
The youngest of the three boys was now asleep against Lance, completely worn out. Lance shifted slightly so that Pietro could pick Todd up. He zipped out of the room and placed Todd in his bed, then returned to Lance who was leaning his head back against the couch with his eyes closed.
"Lance...I'm, well look, I'm sorry ok? I really suck at the whole comforter thing."
"S'ok," Lance said shrugging.
"No it isn't. For goodness sakes why should you be telling us it's ok when you're the one that needs to be told? It'spathetic.You'realwaysthereforusandwe,wellwejustdon'tknowhowtobeIguess."
Pietro flopped onto the couch and avoided Lance's eyes. Not only was he a terrible comforter, he was also horrible at verbalizing what he felt.
Lance raised an eyebrow at Pietro and a half hearted smile crossed his face. "You weirdo."
Pietro wrinkled his nose and looked up at Lance. "What?"
"You guys are always here for me too. I don't really want to explain how, but you are. I'm just surprised you never realized it."
Pietro studied Lance's face for a minute then nodded. "Do me a favor? Tell me when you aren't ok. Cuz I can't pick up on that kind of stuff."
Lance nodded and headed out of the room.
AN: Alrighty, remember the pole is still up on Pietro, and I'm also open to some Lance ideas...? Just any random stuff will help, not promising I'll use it though. Also there is more Todd to come...I promise. Pretty Please Review!
So this chapter is about....TODD!! Yay! I've kinda been neglecting him so...here ya go Toad fans.
Rena Lupin- Ya, I'm gonna make him wait some more b4 he loses it...good point.
Riye Link- Um, if you've got any ideas on who to set him up with I'll take em...but no promises there.
Alex-Mad- Thanks, I like Pietro more like this too...and here's some Todd for ya :)
KS Fan- Just thought Id say thanks and let u know that 'between the bars' is one of my fav fics ever lol. (If anyone goes to read it...read this one first. Cuz after u read BTB, you wont want to read my lame attempts at brotherhood angst stuff lol)
Charmedfan03- Go Vulnerable Pietro! hehe
MiracleChick- Aw yay. I'm glad my writing made you feel something...that's always a good compliment.
Jounouchi Kun Joey- yeah, I'm pretty sure it's Creed. Yay kurtty lol. I'll probably throw them in as much as possible. ; )
Ok, one last note....I made a decision about them being OOC.....I don't care even if they are lol. I like them this way. The poor guys are screwed up, so they aren't going to be like themselves anyway. Plus, how much can you know for certain about a cartoon character anyway? It's not like they have an astonishing amount of depth to them.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"You what?" Pietro's voice was completely flat.
Lance gripped his friend by the shoulders and forced the younger boy to look up at him. "Listen Pietro, it's not that bad man. The McCoy guy said my odds are pretty good."
He hadn't expected this. The already deadened look in Pietro's eyes seemed to become more pronounced after Lance had told him about his tumor. He had expected Pietro to be mad, to scream and kick and throw things. That would have been a lot more- more 'Pietro like.' But instead, he was looking up at Lance with the oddest, most somber expression Lance had ever seen.
He dropped his eyes to the floor and began to mumble in his incoherent hyper speech. Lance could usually decipher it, having had to endure it for the past couple of years, but he could barely hear Pietro, let alone decode his mumbling.
Again, he forced the white haired teen to look him in the eye. He stopped mumbling and just looked at Lance with the same cold expression as before.
"So...uh, yeah. That's it really," Lance said lamely.
Pietro nodded mechanically. "Todd?"
"Yeah, that's gonna be a problem."
Again Pietro nodded stiffly. He focused on the wall over Lance's shoulders and scarcely blinked.
"Um, do you want me to tell you the details? It sounds a lot better with details actually. Brain tumor sounds pretty terrifying," Lance tried to make Pietro look at him rather than around him.
In a hollow voice, Pietro responded, "Does it really matter? I mean seriously, no matter how you put it, it isn't good news."
Lance's already waxen face paled and he set his jaw tightly. He was really frustrated with Pietro's reaction. Here he was, trying for once in his life, to look on the positive side of things and Pietro wasn't even making an effort to find hope in the situation. Lance suddenly wanted to kick himself. This was happening to *him* not Pietro, yet he was still managing to veer his thoughts to how his friend was handling things. For once, why couldn't Pietro try and make *him* feel a little more at ease.
"Our lives suck Lance. Ever notice that? What did we ever do to end up so...so pathetic."
"What do you mean we? *You* don't have a tumor!" Lance spat, surprised at his own outburst.
Pietro's cold expression softened a little. "Sorry," he mumbled, "Are you ok?"
Lance thought for a second. "Nope, not really. Just numb to the whole thing."
Pietro nodded and concentrated on his shoelaces. "Sorry."
"It's alright. Just never mind for now, we need to find Todd."
The two teens headed down the hall in silence. Pietro's vacant expression was now replaced with his typical scowl, while Lance shoved his hands deep into his pockets and slouched. When they reached the common room, Todd was laying on the couch with his legs dangling lazily over the arm of the sofa. He appeared to more or less be in one of his 'ok' moods, much to Lance and Pietro's relief.
"Hey Todd? Can we talk to you for a second?" Pietro asked, his scowl in no way reflecting in his voice.
Todd pulled himself up so that he was sitting on the arm of the couch and nodded.
Lance rubbed the back of his neck and bit his lip. He wasn't sure how to address this. There was every possibility that Todd would just swallow it and deal with is as best he could, but there was also the equal possibility that he would go into complete shock.
"I've got some bad news. You know how Dr. McCoy took me out of the room the first day we were here and ran a bunch of tests on my head? Well he got some results." He paused, waiting to see Todd's reaction, and how to continue.
Todd sank slowly from the edge of the couch and into the cushion. He looked up at the older boys, a nervous expression creeping onto his face. His mind spun as he tried to concentrate on the words coming out of Pietro's mouth.
"Now, it's not as bad as it's gonna sound," he was saying, "But..."
"I have a brain tumor. A benign one, but still," Lance tried to keep his voice steady and indifferent, but instead the sentence came out in a mumbled rush.
Todd stared. From that point on he didn't hear a word Lance or Pietro said. He closed his eyes and clamped his hands over his ears. If he pretended long enough, maybe the world would rewind and he would still be watching TV, thinking about what he would make himself for lunch.
He had chosen to ignore what was going on many times before, and this time was no different. In his mind, a different world began to unfold.
Lance and Pietro weren't here. Pietro was out with a girl but had promised to be back early. He didn't usually make an effort to spend time with the rest of the brotherhood, but occasionally he would agree to a night of horror movies and popcorn. Lance was on his way home with Chinese food. He didn't even argue when Mystique asked him to go get it. Todd and Fred were sitting on the couch trying to decide which movie to watch. Fred was convinced that the more creepy events there were, the more chilling the movie would be. Todd on the other hand, liked the violent bloody stuff. It was more exciting then trying to think into a mysterious plot line. Mystique was in one of her extremely rare, almost motherly moods, and was making them popcorn. Todd had always liked her best when she was like that. She was cruel and heartless at times, but she did have her rare moments. She would have been a pretty decent mom if Magneto didn't work her into the ground, Todd was sure of it. Wanda came in and sat down next to him, something she only did when she was in an extremely good mood.
A grin spread across Todd's face as he continued to keep his eyes sealed shut against the harsh reality of Pietro and Lance standing in front of him, telling him that Lance was really sick. He frowned slightly as a few of their words interrupted his perfect thoughts.
"Todd! Todd snap out of it!!"
'No. I can't. I can't! Leave me alone! Just let me stay here next to Wanda while I wait for the Chinese food and popcorn!'
As reality and his dream world collided, Todd began to panic. Pietro and Lance kept talking to him, telling him to open his eyes. If he opened his eyes though, he'd lose the image. He'd lose the popcorn smell. He's lose the sight of Wanda who he hadn't seen in almost a year. He clenched his eyes tighter and curled himself up on the couch.
"Todd, listen to me," Lance said. His voice had a tone of gentleness that only He, Todd, and Pietro knew the brunette possessed. "You need to listen man. Don't freak out until you know the whole story."
Todd continued to curl himself tighter. 'Why can't they just let me stay here! I like it here! No one hates me here! Everything's perfect here!...'
"JUST LET ME STAY HERE!"
Pietro and Lance glanced at each other, startled.
"Stay where, Todd?"
Todd didn't respond. He was fighting to block them out. He had always been successful at it before, but he couldn't seem to focus enough. He began to shake, his whole body trembling with the effort to keep his mind fixed on his imaginary world. Panic began to take over as he realized it wasn't working. He felt Lance's hands clasp his shoulders and pull him into a sitting position.
Todd kept his eyes closed as Lance pleaded with the younger boy to look up at him. If he could just hold it for a little longer - just keep that image there for a few more minutes - but he couldn't. He snapped his eyes open and looked into Lance's gaunt face.
It was like an anvil had been dropped on his chest. Todd made a small noise that could only be described as a gasp. It was like an anguished scream that had been muffled and merged into a sharp intake of breath. His eyes widened and darted around the room. He took in Pietro's near emaciated form, Lance's sickly face, and glanced to his left in search of Fred. A Fred that wasn't there.
His memories swirled in his head and he could remember beatings. 'Beatings that had come from Fred? No, not from Fred, that didn't make sense. From Mystique? No, she was mean, but never...no.'
Pietro stepped toward Todd to place a hand on his shoulder, but Todd recoiled in fear.
'Pietro? Lance? No. No! NO! What's...ahhg!'
His mental screams of confusion broke out into an audible screech. He couldn't think anymore. A pounding head ache began to further his difficulty in figuring out what was happening. His memories of the real world and his delusional one merged and spun behind his skull.
"I can't! I don't know! You can't be sick! You...you aren't weak. You...they...he...never! None of it, ever! Then Wanda...she was here...no she was there. There with Me and Fred? No, there with...I don't know. Where's the Chinese Lance? Didn't Mystique send you to...no. No."
Todd gripped wildly at the sofa cushions, digging his nails into the fabric. He looked pleadingly at Lance, desperate for answers. His voice cracked and tears began to flood his vision. He couldn't even tell what he was crying for. Or maybe he was crying because he didn't understand why he was so upset. He didn't know.
His ranting of confused thoughts died down slightly as he gasped for air amidst sobs. He rocked slowly back and forth and grabbed his head. He coughed violently and sucked air into his lungs with desperation. The hot liquid running down his face was now threatening to drown him as he did nothing to prevent it from running into his mouth.
Pietro's hand was gripped around Lance's arm as the scene took place. "Lance...?"
"Get the professor, hurry," Lance instructed, and Pietro was gone.
Lance looked at Todd for a second and without hesitation, did something that would have astounded any person who happened to choose this moment to enter; he silently prayed that nobody would. He gently placed one arm across Todd's shoulders and his other underneath the boy's legs. Scooping him up, he sat himself down on the couch and placed Todd in his lap.
Todd curled into a fetal position against Lance and continued to weep convulsively into the older boys chest. Lance kept his arm along Todd's shoulder and swayed slightly. It couldn't be called rocking really, but it was none the less, a swaying motion. It was a side of Lance that rarely came out and one he had only discovered in the last six months.
That was how the professor found them, minutes later. Lance's expression instantly morphed from tender to angry with concern. Pietro stood in the doorway, staring at Todd. He wrapped his arms around himself and leaned against the doorframe.
"Perhaps we should take him to my office?" the professor suggested gently. He could sense the three boys' fear and Pietro was screaming his thoughts out as though he were the host of a psychic radio line. If he projected them any louder, Jean was bound to pick up on them.
"No," Lance said firmly, "Someone'll see."
Nodding, the professor didn't bother to argue. "Pietro, lock that door and hopefully no one will come by. You do realize that I'm going to have to enter his mind, correct? There's no other way."
Lance and Pietro glanced at each other, then at Todd, who was still struggling to take in air. Lance nodded stiffly at the professor, gently lifted Todd off of his lap, and set him down again on the couch. He walked over to Pietro and waited to see what the professor would do.
"Before I begin, Pietro, you really have to calm down. I can't concentrate with you screaming so much." Xavier said softly.
Pietro froze. To a mere bystander, Pietro looked the perfect picture of calm. Concerned yes, but definitely in control. However, in his head he was a complete wreck, and only the professor could detect such things. It made him incredibly uneasy to be around someone who could see through him so easily.
"That's better," Xavier said, and he placed a hand to Todd's temple.
Charles delved into Todd's mind and focused all his energy on the boy. The emotions and memories were buried so deep that they weren't easy to decipher at first.
~Todd, Focus on me. I'm going to help you. Try and relax.~
For the next several minutes, the professor read and analyzed Todd's thoughts. He slowly separated the young boy's fantasy world from reality, gently reminding him that there was still hope when he suddenly became panicked. He was amazed at some of the things he heard. How Todd was able to even come across as a normal guy most of the time with all this mumbo jumbo going on in his head was beyond him
After what seemed like ages, Xavier removed his hand from Todd's temple and straightened.
"Mr. Tolensky?"
Todd opened his tear filled eyes and looked up at the professor with an expression of terror.
"I know, this is a lot to have to deal with all at once. I'll help you through this slowly," the professor lowered his voice kindly, "Todd, this is going to take a long time to heal. I can't fix it all instantly like you want me to. You have to be willing to try ok?"
Todd pulled his knees up to his chest and rested his forehead there. He nodded as tears seeped through his jeans.
~I'll leave you three alone for now. There is little else I can do to help at the moment. He'll be alright. He just needs to calm down for now. I'll meet with the two of you later on this evening.~
Lance and Pietro nodded silently at the professor's mental message and stepped aside for the him to pass.
The instant he was gone, Pietro and Lance flanked Todd on either side of the couch. His face was still hidden in his knees and his shoulders were shaking slightly.
"I dunno what to do yo," he mumbled.
"It's ok. We aren't gonna make you explain anything right now. Come here," Lance said softly.
For the second time that day, Lance did something that would seem completely unexpected to anyone but the three brotherhood members. He reached over to Todd and pulled him into a comforting embrace. Not the usual swift, but still heartfelt, hug usually shared by teenage boys, but a long, soothing embrace that was usually only depicted between a child and adult.
Todd wrapped his arms awkwardly around Lance and cried once again into the older boys chest. It was all he could do really. Trying to formulate any intelligent thoughts would be a waste of his time.
Pietro rested a hand on Todd's shoulder and looked worriedly at Lance. He couldn't help but think of the irony of it all. Lance had just received news that he had a very serious medical condition, yet he was the one dealing out comfort. It was one of those rare moments when Pietro saw Lance as so much older than he really was. He was barely 18, but at the moment he could pass for a 40 year old father of a mixed up teenager.
Pietro was both angry and jealous about the whole situation. Angry, because Lance shouldn't have to play this role when he was just a messed up teenager himself, and jealous because he wished he possessed the amazing quality Lance had. He didn't know what it was, but he felt that being able to do what Lance was doing -- putting Todd's emotional needs before his own -- was an ability he desperately wanted. In the back of his mind he was aware of the reason but he felt silly thinking it. Pietro wanted more than anything to hold his own son or daughter just like that. He flushed just for thinking such a random and ridiculous thought, and brought his attention back to Todd.
The youngest of the three boys was now asleep against Lance, completely worn out. Lance shifted slightly so that Pietro could pick Todd up. He zipped out of the room and placed Todd in his bed, then returned to Lance who was leaning his head back against the couch with his eyes closed.
"Lance...I'm, well look, I'm sorry ok? I really suck at the whole comforter thing."
"S'ok," Lance said shrugging.
"No it isn't. For goodness sakes why should you be telling us it's ok when you're the one that needs to be told? It'spathetic.You'realwaysthereforusandwe,wellwejustdon'tknowhowtobeIguess."
Pietro flopped onto the couch and avoided Lance's eyes. Not only was he a terrible comforter, he was also horrible at verbalizing what he felt.
Lance raised an eyebrow at Pietro and a half hearted smile crossed his face. "You weirdo."
Pietro wrinkled his nose and looked up at Lance. "What?"
"You guys are always here for me too. I don't really want to explain how, but you are. I'm just surprised you never realized it."
Pietro studied Lance's face for a minute then nodded. "Do me a favor? Tell me when you aren't ok. Cuz I can't pick up on that kind of stuff."
Lance nodded and headed out of the room.
AN: Alrighty, remember the pole is still up on Pietro, and I'm also open to some Lance ideas...? Just any random stuff will help, not promising I'll use it though. Also there is more Todd to come...I promise. Pretty Please Review!