"What do you want to see first, Tadpole?" Tara looks around the zoo in a strange form of awe considering she was nearly fifteen. "Monkey, lions, bats?" Toad continues talking as they walk further into the zoo. "I think I want to see a monkey,"she mumbles, staying closer to his side then she realized. He looks down at her. "Something wrong, Tara? You look like you're about to jump out of your skin..." She shakes her head without really looking at him. "Never been here before.....have you, Morty?" "Not in a long time. Alright....monkeys, monkeys, monkeys, monkeys.." Toad moves his finger down the listings and stops on one. "Monkeys. I think I know where to go...come on." Tara follows him, slowly, watching all the families gathered together at the zoo; she felt like an intruder at a place for family until Toad pulls her to a stop. "There. A monkey named Tara." "It isn't named Tara, Morty....I think it's named...Hank. Looks kind of like him if you think about it. Tilt your head." Toad tilts his head to the side and stares at the monkey. "Well...you're right,"he agrees after a moment,"Come look. I found some penguins." "It's fun to throw ice at penguins..." "Where'd you figure this out from?" Tara shrugs. "Angel has a game...you shoot ice out of a gun at penguins. It's neat. Remind me to show you sometime."(xRDx: This game is downloadable from the internet. Download it.) Toad nods. "Right..you want something to eat?" "Um...popcorn. Wow, that's what a real penguin looks like." Tara stares at the black and white creatured waddling around until he returns with her popcorn.
"You like the penguin, Tadpole?" He lightly taps her on the head to get her attention. Tara rubs her head, looking up at him. "What was that for, Morty? I was watching the penguin...can I give it popcorn." "No. Sign says no feeding the animals." "Right..."she nods, popping a handful of popcorn into her mouth as they continue to walk around, looking at diffrent animals. Tara pulls back from him when they reach the alligator pen. She watches the alligator for a little while then throws handfuls of popcorn at it. "Tara, would you stop that for a minute. What's wrong?" "I don't like him..." Toad stares at her in a confused manner, ignoring the odd stares they were recieving. They'd been getting them all day. "Right, why not? Come on, talk to me...why don't you like the alligator..." After a few more moments of throwing popcorn at him she stops and throws away the empty box. "Tell Mortimer what the alligator did." Tara hesitates a moment, peering through the glass at him. "I got threatened with one when I was in...the circus." Toad freezes. "Circus? Threatened with an alligator? Why, Tara?"
"I wouldn't do what they wanted...it seems stupid now but I was five and an alligator was scary." Toad nods. "No more alligators. What else do you want to see? Anything you want....." Tara smiles. "The Reptile House!" Her words echo. "Reptiles? Sure...but if any of them bite me I'm biting back,"he agrees, taking her arm and leading her to the big dome like cave with a bright black sign with red writing-THE REPTILE HOUSE. "Wow, a giant snake....that's really really big. I think he could even eat Logan,"Tara says, tapping her fingers against the glass,"That's a neat image. Logan being eaten by a giant black and blue snake."That's not very nice, Tara. The guy's taken care of you when I couldn't. Don't make faces..." "Wasn't making faces. Oh bats!" "Vampire bats.." Toad moves to stand beside her as she peers at the bats; one swoops down, beginning to lick at a bowl of some red liquid. "Do they really drink blood?" Tara shakes her head. "Course not. Wild ones maybe but these are raised in captivity...it's a blood substitute, Mort." "Right...blood substitute." He shakes his head. My fourteen-year-old sister knows more then I do. Genius. Something slams into him from behind but he simply turns to see what it was. For a moment he was confused until the man behind him's eyes shifted to yellow for a moment. "Mystique..." ~Remember our deal, Toad. Don't fail.~
"You okay, Morty?"Tara questions, pulling on his arm as he stares at where Mystique had been. "Fine...uh, don't you want to go somewhere else? Maybe to get something to eat...." "Sure...I mean, if you're ready to go." "I just..uh, think I'm getting allergic to animals." He forces himself to sneeze. "Oh okay. Let's go then....we can get some food." "Where do you want to eat?" Tara shrugs as they make their way back to the entrance, taking in all the sights. She knew something had happened because his words were tense and strained but knew if she were to ask he probaly wouldn't tell her. "Who was that person, Morty?" "What person?" "Mystic or something. You mumbled it in the reptile house...who are they?" "It's not important...come on." "Where to? I wanted to see lions...can we go see the lions, Morty?" "Lions? Uh, sure...you want some popcorn or something?" Tara thinks a moment then nods. "Cotton Candy then lions...then we can go if you want." "Sure...cotton candy, lions,"Toad mumbles, looking around,"Where can I buy cotton candy?" "There's a vender right in front of you, dear brother,"she says, pointing,"Something's wrong. Who's Mistic?" "No one, Tadpole. Here..." He gives her the cotton candy then looks around. "Lead the way to these lions."
Tara stays with the lions for a while as a way to keep her brother with her longer. She knew the second they left he'd go back to being worried and tense. "Hey, Mort, when do you have to get back to Kitty?"she questions, playing with the cotton candy more then eating it. "Couple hours but I told Logan you'd be back at seven." "Why seven? That's still early....can't I stay with you longer?" "Afraid not, Tadpole. I have something to uh....do for Vicky. What else do you want to look at?" Tara shakes her head. "Nothing. We can go...." "Don't sound so sad. We'll go get something to eat, okay?" She nods, slowly then follows him out of the zoo......
"That looks gross...it's all greasy and dripping." Toad stares at Tara's food. She shrugs. "So? It tastes really good...aren't you going to eat?" "No...I ate before we went to the zoo. Did you get your test results yet?" "No but I did good. Most of what Hank taught us was on there....I think we both passed it. What's Vicky making you do?" She takes a bite out of her hamburger, watching him for his reaction. Toad stiffens and stares at her. "It's not important. It doesn't concern you, Tara." "But you're my brother. What if something happens to you?" She continues eating while asking her question. "Nothing's going to happen to me, Tara, alright? I won't let it...just finish eating." "Mort...." She gives up after a few moments and continued eating her food while he stared blankly out a window. Tara poked at the remains of her food after she finished most of it. "Mort, I'm done....we can go now,"she mumbles, throwing the remainder of the food away,"Mort?" She pokes him with a plastic fork until he looks at her. "Huh?" "I think I want to go back to the institute,"she tells him, continuing to hold the fork,"Is that okay?"
Logan paces the hall in front of the door. The clock strikes 7: 13. "Where is she?"he growls, glowering at the door. Jean looks up from playing with David on the stairs. "Don't know. She's out of area again." "Uncle Logan, can I play with Aunt Tara?" "She ain't here, kid. Gumbo get the little drunkard to sleep?" "Intoxicated, not drunk,"Jean replies, giving hte car she'd been holding to her son,"She's been asleep. Rogue had to lock the door because she kept sleep walking. Stop worrying, Logan. You're projecting." Just as he was about to reply Storm's voice interrupts from the next room over, the rec room. "They're here, Logan. Stop pacing." Everyone wishes she hadn't said the words when the door slams shut. "Oops..." Logan leaps down the few steps to the ground but stop as Tara leans up and gives Toad a hug. "Bye, Mort. Thanks for taking me." Her expression turns wary when she releases Toad and sees Logan. "I'm fine. He wouldn't hurt me, Logan...." "Kid, go inside." "Don't hurt him, Logan." "I ain't going to hurt him. Go inside...don't mess with Angel. She's drunk." "Not asking. Promise?" "Promise." Logan waits until she makes it inside and closes the door before facing Toad who is blankly staring at the ground. "Kid's late." "I know...I lost track of time. I wouldn't hurt her, Logan,"he says without bothering to look up. Logan nods. "I know but she may get too attached to you. I don't want her hurt. She's been hurt enough." "I won't hurt her. Watch her carefully...I don't want her to end up in the hell I live in. Protect her when I can't." His blades exit his hands. "Anyone that touches the kid has to go through these first..." Toad nods. "Good. I need to leave...tell her thanks. She'll understand."
"You like the penguin, Tadpole?" He lightly taps her on the head to get her attention. Tara rubs her head, looking up at him. "What was that for, Morty? I was watching the penguin...can I give it popcorn." "No. Sign says no feeding the animals." "Right..."she nods, popping a handful of popcorn into her mouth as they continue to walk around, looking at diffrent animals. Tara pulls back from him when they reach the alligator pen. She watches the alligator for a little while then throws handfuls of popcorn at it. "Tara, would you stop that for a minute. What's wrong?" "I don't like him..." Toad stares at her in a confused manner, ignoring the odd stares they were recieving. They'd been getting them all day. "Right, why not? Come on, talk to me...why don't you like the alligator..." After a few more moments of throwing popcorn at him she stops and throws away the empty box. "Tell Mortimer what the alligator did." Tara hesitates a moment, peering through the glass at him. "I got threatened with one when I was in...the circus." Toad freezes. "Circus? Threatened with an alligator? Why, Tara?"
"I wouldn't do what they wanted...it seems stupid now but I was five and an alligator was scary." Toad nods. "No more alligators. What else do you want to see? Anything you want....." Tara smiles. "The Reptile House!" Her words echo. "Reptiles? Sure...but if any of them bite me I'm biting back,"he agrees, taking her arm and leading her to the big dome like cave with a bright black sign with red writing-THE REPTILE HOUSE. "Wow, a giant snake....that's really really big. I think he could even eat Logan,"Tara says, tapping her fingers against the glass,"That's a neat image. Logan being eaten by a giant black and blue snake."That's not very nice, Tara. The guy's taken care of you when I couldn't. Don't make faces..." "Wasn't making faces. Oh bats!" "Vampire bats.." Toad moves to stand beside her as she peers at the bats; one swoops down, beginning to lick at a bowl of some red liquid. "Do they really drink blood?" Tara shakes her head. "Course not. Wild ones maybe but these are raised in captivity...it's a blood substitute, Mort." "Right...blood substitute." He shakes his head. My fourteen-year-old sister knows more then I do. Genius. Something slams into him from behind but he simply turns to see what it was. For a moment he was confused until the man behind him's eyes shifted to yellow for a moment. "Mystique..." ~Remember our deal, Toad. Don't fail.~
"You okay, Morty?"Tara questions, pulling on his arm as he stares at where Mystique had been. "Fine...uh, don't you want to go somewhere else? Maybe to get something to eat...." "Sure...I mean, if you're ready to go." "I just..uh, think I'm getting allergic to animals." He forces himself to sneeze. "Oh okay. Let's go then....we can get some food." "Where do you want to eat?" Tara shrugs as they make their way back to the entrance, taking in all the sights. She knew something had happened because his words were tense and strained but knew if she were to ask he probaly wouldn't tell her. "Who was that person, Morty?" "What person?" "Mystic or something. You mumbled it in the reptile house...who are they?" "It's not important...come on." "Where to? I wanted to see lions...can we go see the lions, Morty?" "Lions? Uh, sure...you want some popcorn or something?" Tara thinks a moment then nods. "Cotton Candy then lions...then we can go if you want." "Sure...cotton candy, lions,"Toad mumbles, looking around,"Where can I buy cotton candy?" "There's a vender right in front of you, dear brother,"she says, pointing,"Something's wrong. Who's Mistic?" "No one, Tadpole. Here..." He gives her the cotton candy then looks around. "Lead the way to these lions."
Tara stays with the lions for a while as a way to keep her brother with her longer. She knew the second they left he'd go back to being worried and tense. "Hey, Mort, when do you have to get back to Kitty?"she questions, playing with the cotton candy more then eating it. "Couple hours but I told Logan you'd be back at seven." "Why seven? That's still early....can't I stay with you longer?" "Afraid not, Tadpole. I have something to uh....do for Vicky. What else do you want to look at?" Tara shakes her head. "Nothing. We can go...." "Don't sound so sad. We'll go get something to eat, okay?" She nods, slowly then follows him out of the zoo......
"That looks gross...it's all greasy and dripping." Toad stares at Tara's food. She shrugs. "So? It tastes really good...aren't you going to eat?" "No...I ate before we went to the zoo. Did you get your test results yet?" "No but I did good. Most of what Hank taught us was on there....I think we both passed it. What's Vicky making you do?" She takes a bite out of her hamburger, watching him for his reaction. Toad stiffens and stares at her. "It's not important. It doesn't concern you, Tara." "But you're my brother. What if something happens to you?" She continues eating while asking her question. "Nothing's going to happen to me, Tara, alright? I won't let it...just finish eating." "Mort...." She gives up after a few moments and continued eating her food while he stared blankly out a window. Tara poked at the remains of her food after she finished most of it. "Mort, I'm done....we can go now,"she mumbles, throwing the remainder of the food away,"Mort?" She pokes him with a plastic fork until he looks at her. "Huh?" "I think I want to go back to the institute,"she tells him, continuing to hold the fork,"Is that okay?"
Logan paces the hall in front of the door. The clock strikes 7: 13. "Where is she?"he growls, glowering at the door. Jean looks up from playing with David on the stairs. "Don't know. She's out of area again." "Uncle Logan, can I play with Aunt Tara?" "She ain't here, kid. Gumbo get the little drunkard to sleep?" "Intoxicated, not drunk,"Jean replies, giving hte car she'd been holding to her son,"She's been asleep. Rogue had to lock the door because she kept sleep walking. Stop worrying, Logan. You're projecting." Just as he was about to reply Storm's voice interrupts from the next room over, the rec room. "They're here, Logan. Stop pacing." Everyone wishes she hadn't said the words when the door slams shut. "Oops..." Logan leaps down the few steps to the ground but stop as Tara leans up and gives Toad a hug. "Bye, Mort. Thanks for taking me." Her expression turns wary when she releases Toad and sees Logan. "I'm fine. He wouldn't hurt me, Logan...." "Kid, go inside." "Don't hurt him, Logan." "I ain't going to hurt him. Go inside...don't mess with Angel. She's drunk." "Not asking. Promise?" "Promise." Logan waits until she makes it inside and closes the door before facing Toad who is blankly staring at the ground. "Kid's late." "I know...I lost track of time. I wouldn't hurt her, Logan,"he says without bothering to look up. Logan nods. "I know but she may get too attached to you. I don't want her hurt. She's been hurt enough." "I won't hurt her. Watch her carefully...I don't want her to end up in the hell I live in. Protect her when I can't." His blades exit his hands. "Anyone that touches the kid has to go through these first..." Toad nods. "Good. I need to leave...tell her thanks. She'll understand."