Mobile, Alabama

((KK folks, I'm starting this one out earlier))

7:30

By 7:30, everyone was ready to roll. The truck sped down Interstate-10. Over 75 miles per hour. A thrill like no other.

And not a cop in sight.

"TO FLORIDA!" Scott shouted as he rounded a curve.

"TO FLORDIA!" came an echo from the back seat, and laughter from shotgun.

8:45

"Orange grove next right!" shouted Kurt, pointing at a sigh they had just passed.

"Let's bring food home!" Todd suggested

"Alrightie then!" Scott agreed. For some reason, everyone was in high spirits.

8:50

The truck came to a halt in the grass. Everyone slid out, Scott first.

"Hay, you're gettin' better about leaving your truck." Lance noted.

"I'm |learning| to trust you guys."

"Learning my ass!" Lance exclaimed. Scott smiled.

10:00

Truck bed practically filled with fresh fruit and luggage of four, everyone climbed in.

The radio was turned on to a rock station.

11:45

Scott swerved into a grocery store parking lot, handing Todd and Kurt each fifteen dollars.

"Go buy lunch for yourselves. Lance and I'll get gas and come pick you up, k?"

Todd and Kurt nodded and slid out of the truck, walking into the grocery store.

Truck:

"Where are we gonna eat Scott?"

"Gas station."

"Oh."

12:00

Scott pulled into the BP. It was a relief to find a non-generic gas station with a decent store.

Lance went in to pay while Scott pumped the gas.

When the gas tank was full, Lance and Scott went in to buy lunch, which ended up consisting of Easy Mac and Twinkies.

12:15

Scott screeched to a halt in front of the Grocery store.

Todd and Kurt, laughing at something Kurt had just said, climbed in the back.

Scott sped off, sending abandoned papers and trash flying.

1:00

Scott pulled into the gas station, he and Lance sliding out, racing towards the bathroom.

Kurt and Todd looked at each other blankly.

"About last night..." Kurt started off.

"Er...um...yeah. Sorry if I pushed you..."

"You didn't."

"Then what about last night?"

"Have you done anything like that before?"

"Nope." Todd admitted.

"You were the first/So was I." Kurt sang two lines from 'Remember When." He didn't have an accent when he sang.

"You should sing more often."

"Vhy?"

"'Cause it's almost as beautiful as you are." Todd said, causing Kurt to blush.

"Thank you."

Todd switched to the middle seat.

"Vhat vill ze others say?"

"Does it matter?" asked Todd, curling up to Kurt and closing his eyes.

"Hm." Kurt sighed, "You are right. It shouldn't matter."

Kurt held Todd tightly and awaited the return of Lance and Scott.

1:05

Scott slid into the driver's seat, Lance into shotgun.

They looked back at the younger mutants, who were (mostly) asleep.

"Let's not wake them." Scott said. Lance nodded.

"Oh, we're awake." Kurt said opening his eyes.

1:45

"So, basically, this trip has created two couples who used to want to kill the other?"

"Basically? Go for 'it has!'" said Lance.

"Yeah." Todd and Kurt nodded.

"Wow...and, Kurt, didn't you think were all going to die? And, Todd, didn't you call Kurt an X-Freak? And, Lance, you weren't too enthused about this trip." Scott reminded everyone of their original outlook on the trip.

"I guess ve CAN vork together, ze Brotherhood and ze X-Men." Kurt reckoned.

3:00

"Okay, guys, we just left Atlanta, we're going north on interstate eighty-five," Lance updated everyone. "About four more hours of drive time."

3:15

Scott pulled into a gas station.

"Let's put thirty in this time..."

"I got it." Lance said.

Todd and Kurt rushed towards the restroom.

3:18

A full gas tank.

Everyone back in the car.

And a road calling the F-250.

Scot sped out of the gas station, leaving skid marks and the smell of burning rubber behind.

5:45

"Let's stop at that diner!" Kurt exclaimed, pointing out the window. Scott made a sharp turn into the parking lot, causing everyone in the car to jolt.

"See, I'm a good driver!" Scott said. Kurt mumbled something and nothing was said by either Lance or Todd. Everyone looked at the 30-foot long skid marks Scott helped the F-250 create.

5:50

Food ordered, the four started talking.

"So, guys, judging by this map, we'll be home a day early..." Lance announced.

"Thank you, speed!" Scott exclaimed. "Now we can show everyone |how| to work as a REAL team!"

"But...if that doesn't happen, just if, we'll all be split."

"Ve'll find out own home if ve have to!"

"Kurt?"

"Vhat?"

"You're brilliant, but we're in HIGH SCHOOL." Lance reminded him

"I'll live with you X-Freaks." Todd teased.

"I with Todd." Said Lance. "I'm not about to leave the one I love."

6:30

"Wooo-hoooo! Half an hour left!" Scott cried. "C'mon, baby, twenty more miles!"

"We need to stop for gas, don't we?" asked Todd.

"We need to stop for gas."

6:38

Scott pulled into the last gas station for the day.

He let Lance pay, although he knew he had more money left, Lance was too persistent. While pumping gas, he looked down and found a penny, heads up. He picked it up, knowing something good would happen.

7:00

The four had gotten used to the hotel routine. Two rooms, one night. Four keys. This time, it was a Best Western. More expensive, but worth it. Rooms 521 and 432. Todd took 521. Scott took 432.

8:00

521:

Todd and Kurt didn't bother unpacking their suitcases. They each flopped down on a full-sized bed and then looked at each other from across the room.

Kurt took his image inducer off, as well as his shirt, and stood up facing Todd, tail swishing like a whip.

Todd stood up to face Kurt, taking off his wristbands and shirt, revealing several scars.

"Todd...what happened...?..."

"I used to cut myself. Two years ago. I stopped, I really did."

"But vhy?"

"I hated myself."

"Vhy?"

"Because I'm, a mutant. Before I joined the Brotherhood, I didn't know anyone like me. I thought I was alone, okay?" Todd's voice had become cold, hardened, like it was at the beginning of the trip.

"Yes, it iz okay. I'm sorry for bringing this up."

"It's not your fault, though."

"But I do know how you felt. Now you can never be alone."

Todd gazed at Kurt with awe and admiration.

Kurt gathered Todd in his arms. The skin against fur sensation was enough to make both mutants' bodies stiffen and relax shortly. Kurt ran his fingers through Todd's golden hair.

In that moment, all was well...