More nonsense with a side of stupidity! ^_^ Enjoy.

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"B-but I don't want to!" Sunshine whined as Lance practically dragged her down the slippery street, heading for the mall. He was not in the best of moods.

He just yanked her arm more when she tried to hold on to a streetlight, "Hey, if you wanna stay at The Brotherhood, you gotta make yourself useful." They finally stopped in front of the mall entrance and he released her.

"Alright, Pietro and Freddy, snag a few clothes and shakedown a few soda machines; Toad and Sunshine, pickpocket a couple o' saps and bite through some candy venders. We'll meet at the Food Court in twenty minutes,"

Everyone went their separate ways, and Sunshine went from angry, to confused, to scared, and ran to catch up with Toad who was heading for a large crowd and had already swiped several wallets. She clung to his arm when she got to him.

"Oh god, T-Todd, please don't run off like that!" She was nearly hyperventilating; crowds scared her. A lot. "Easy 'Shine, it's okay," he patted her back, surprised at how twitchy she's been all day. She got on Lance's bad side earlier this morning after he found the coffee table half-eaten, and also had to borrow some of his clothes.

She now wore a pair of blue jeans that were a little too long and were rolled up just below her ankles and a blue tee shirt with a forest green sweater over it. She had the hood up as not to attract anyone to her overly pale complexion.

"We'll be done and outta here in no time, k?" he lazily draped an arm over her shoulders as he snagged another wallet, stuffing it in his big brown trench coat he had on, then ushering the shaking girl off to the side and out of the crowd.

"You wanna stay here until I finish up?" his voice was low and soothing as he gently guided her to the wall near the restrooms and she wanted to melt at his touch and rested against the wall, visibly relaxing. Nodding, she watched as Toad disappeared into the crowd and sank to the floor.

She started to bite her nails after several people had come by and asked her if she was lost or needed help, but she would just shake her head or wave them off. She was definitely was not used to this kind of attention, or just plain attention.

"Being antisocial sucks," she thought aloud, looking down at the floor to see a shadow looming over her. "Do you need any help?" Sunshine gazed up to see a tall woman standing over her. She had long wavy red hair and was wearing a white sweater with red pants, and a perfect body.

"Are you lost?" the poor mutant had lost her voice upon seeing her. She had to admit, although she didn't 'swing that way', that the woman before her was gorgeous, and looked very sophisticated. Bright-confused green eyes stared into misty gray ones.

"N-n-n-no!" she stammered, putting her head down, hoping the woman did not get a good look at her. "Just waiting for my friend is all." "Oh. Well, alright then," the woman turned and was about to leave, when she bumped into, none other than, "Toad!!" "Jean!!"

The two of them were so surprised to see each other they nearly fell backwards, but righted themselves and started a death-glaring contest. "Just what are you doing here?" the woman, who Toad had called 'Jean', demanded, balling her fists.

"Hey, it's a public mall ain't it?" He helped up Sunshine and started to move away, when the Jean woman put a hand on her shoulder. "You mean this slimeball is your friend?" "Slimeball no, friend yes…" the two of them walked away, the albino girl once again clinging to Toad.

She didn't mean to sound rude, but the slimeball comment really ticked her off. Moving his sleeve up, she ran her fingers along Todd's forearm. Although he did have a greenish tint to him, his skin certainly wasn't slimy.

It was rather smooth and soft, a bit mottled if you looked close enough, and absolutely delightful to run her fingers over. "Yo, uh…what are you doing?" she looked up to see he was looking at her in a funny way, his cheeks stained red.

"You are not slimy." They passed the candy machine and Sunshine chomped down on the left corner like butter, gulping down the thick plastic, giving her access to not only all the sweets she could ever dream of, but also the spot where all the quarters and dollars go.

Making sure no one was looking, Sunshine snatched up as many treats as she could, while Toad grabbed several handfuls of change and stuffed them in his coat pockets, then they hastily retreated before anyone suspects anything.

The punky mutant ate her candy in a matter of seconds, wrappers and all. "Damn, you really can eat anything can't ya?" "Heh heh, well, not having a sense of taste helps a lot," The amphibious teen quirked a brow.

"I only have three senses. Sight, touch, and hearing. I don't have taste or smell." "Prove it, squirt." She heard Lance from behind them and growled quietly, then, to verify her words, she lifted Toad's arm, then stuck her face right in his armpit and breathed deeply.

"See? Nothing." She turned to see a very ill looking leader, his face almost greener then Toad's. "Oh, sick!" he rushed into the bathroom to toss his cookies while the two laughed there heads off. When he came back out, Todd had said to him, "I just saw Jean. I think the others might be here as well."

Avalanche nodded. "I'll round up Pietro and Freddy; meet me back at the entrance." And then he was off. "T-Todd!" Sunshine yelped as he grabbed her hand and muscled his way through the crowd, elbowing quite a lot of people.

"What are we doing? I was just getting used to crowds!" "Jean is a member of a group called the X-men, and I really don't feel like being tossed through the air by her mind." X-men. That sounded so familiar, but she couldn't quite place her finger on it.

She knew it was going to drive her crazy as they stopped at the exit, where the rest of the group were waiting for them, and Lance was the first to speak, "So, Sunshine, you get any…?" he didn't have time to finish as she thrusted her remaining goods into his hands.

She felt bad for stealing it, but she had done it so many times in the past that guilt never plagued her mind for very long. He muttered a small thanks before Sunshine said calmly, "Alright, quid pro quo Lance. Who are the X-men?"

"Bunch a guys…bunch a girls…bunch a mutants…" he really didn't feel like explaining and headed out the door, the rest following, yet she stayed put. "Okay, you don't wanna tell me, I'll find the Jean person and she'll tell me!"

She then dashed back into the crowd, instantly blending in and Toad was about to go after her, but Lance yanked him back. "Let her go. She knows where the boarding house is. I really don't care." He looked passive. He didn't want her to come back.

"No! I'm going after her!" the greenish punk then disappeared as well. He had finally found a friend, and he wasn't about to lose her now.

Blurred colors swaying confusedly with the droning sound with people, all talking at once and uneven, almost frantic panting.

Sunshine was weaving her way through the crowds of people at a maddening pace, tuning out all the noises around her. Curiosity always ate away at her self-control. It was a strong, burning desire that can only be quenched by satisfaction.

And that satisfaction was to know whom the X-men were. To her, it sounded like some kind of secret group; a secret group or club of mutants perhaps? Like the Brotherhood, or even an unknown society! The thought made her squeal in utter delight.

Right before she ran into a pole. Curiosity also ate her awareness and common sense. She cursed quietly, rubbing the head with the rough bandages wrapped around her hands and wrists. She was more than happy to redress them, since her old bandages were pretty worn out.

She saw a flash of red out of the corner of her eye. "Jean-woman!" she called out after confirming that it was, indeed, Jean. Sunshine tilted her head down and rammed her way through the jungle of teens and sweaters, finally catching the person she had been seeking.

"May…" she panted, "I have a…word…with you?" bewildered as well as confused and oddly curious, she pardoned herself from her friends and followed the girl till they were alone behind a few potted plants.

Making sure her face was covered; Sunshine turned to the fiery redhead. "I have recently heard a rumor that you, Jean, are an active member of something called the X-men," she tried to sound as polite as possible. If she wanted answers, she would have to at least sound like a decent person.

"My curiosity has requested that it must know, who are the X-men?" Jean's blood had run cold and she appeared quite stunned. This had never happened before. A complete stranger just wandered up to her and knew about her secret life?

But then she remembered that this girl was a friend with Toad and scowled. "Well, you see, the X-men are—" "Jean!" a friend of hers called out, blonde-headed male. Boyfriend perhaps? "Hurry up or we're going to the movies without you!" she waved over to them and handed Sunshine a card.

"I can't explain now, just come to this address and you'll get your answer," with that done she dashed off to join her friends. Sunshine watched her fleeting form until she was completely gone with a blank stare and a twitching eye.

"I hate belated answers!" she screamed before stomping back away, not caring about all the odd looks she was getting. "Whatcha yellin' about Street Rat?" she growled at the voice in her ear and shoved Pietro with her elbow.

"Why do you care Quickie?" she turned to him, but he was now behind her again, hands on her shoulders. "I don't, I just wanted to—"

"If you don't care about me then don't bother me!"

"Ugh, whatever," Sunshine felt his hands were now gone and started on her way again.

It wasn't long before there was another pair of hands resting on her shoulders once again and spun around, ready to sink her teeth into someone's neck, but gasped when she saw that it was Toad, looking concerned and slightly afraid from the harsh look he got.

"I-I heard you scream. What's wrong?" the albino teen looked down at the card in her hand and shoved it in her back pocket. "Nothing. Screaming about nothing…" she bowed her head, feeling ashamed for acting so childish just moments ago.

Licking his dry lips, Toad opened his arms and Sunshine pitifully walked into them, accepting his hug yet not returning it. She was tired and wanted to go back to her hopefully permanent home; guilt usually drained her energy pretty quick.

"Can we just go…" a hesitant pause. "h…home…?" Toad furrowed his brows, worried about her mood change, but figured he shouldn't ask and patted the girls' dirty blonde head, smiling gently.

"Yeah, we can do that. Let's get outta here," the duo strode to the exit, but Sunshine wondered where the rest of the Brotherhood were and scanned the area visually, and spotted Lance talking to a rather girlish girl with her brown hair up in a high ponytail.

Toad looked back as well and just shook his head and smirked. "Let him go. He knows his way back to the boarding house."

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Wow, this chapter was pretty long compared to the others. I was thinking of making it a 2 part thing, but then it sounded stupid so I didn't. Sorry for not updating very often, but I am in the middle of moving, so I barely have time for writing ;;;