It's a mutantfull life
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "May the Yule log slip from your fire and burn your house down!"
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Chapter 2 - A guardian whatnow?
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Todd squinted as he stepped outside, trying to see through the blinding light. He realised his aching body no longer ached..and his arm was working properly again. It took him a good few moments to get his eyes ajusted, and when he did, a figure stood before him. A figure with perfectly neat blonde hair, an aristcratic jawline....and a pair of twelve foot angelic wings protruding from his back.
".....Angel?", blinked Todd, "errr I hate ta break it to ya, buddy, but I think yer migratory pattern's off. The posh side of town's the other way".
His companion sighed, shaking his head.
"No, Todd", he said, "I am here to see you. I am your guardian angel"
Todd arched a brow.
"Warren Worthington is my guardian angel?"
"I'm not Warren!", he shouted, "I'm just assuming a form you'd agree as an angel!"
"Well, If you're NOT Warren, who are you?"
"My name is of no importance", said the not-Warren.
"Come on, tell me"
Not-Warren sighed, drooping his wings.
"Percy"
Todd wrinkled his nose.
"My guardian angel is named Percy?"
Percy crossed his arms.
"Not all of us are named Gabriel, you know", he said
"So, why can't I see you as...errr..Percy?"
"Because my form wouldn't work in your mortal mind"
"Whatever", said Todd, "how can I know you're not just Warren, who's been drinking too much egg nog..again?. Last time he drank too much egg nog, he tried ta climb on top of the X-Geek's Christmas tree, and that Beast guy had ta smack him with a stick ta get him back down again".
"Your name is Todd Tolensky, AKA Toad, you have a crush on Wanda Maximoff and you like to eat insects", replied Percy
"Nice try", snorted Todd, "you have to do better than that".
"Okay", said Percy, "when you were eight years old, you broke your foster mother's favorite vase while playing baseball in the house. You hid your baseball and bat and blamed it all on the family dog, Yippity. Yippity sadly died two months later after, when he was run over by the milk truck, and you've felt guilty about it ever since"
Todd blinked.
"I've never told ANYONE that".
"See?", said Percy, "I TOLD you I was your guardian angel".
Todd frowned.
"Why would I have a guardian angel? Nobody cares about me", said Todd, crossing his arms, "if ya haven't noticed".
"That is not true", said Percy simply, "and I am here to prove that"
"No thanks", said Todd, glancing aorund for a possible exit, "I don't need a spiritual journey today".
"Oh, but you do", said Percy, "if you leave this world behind, there will be dire consequences".
"Yeah, right", snorted Todd, then paused, ".....like what?".
"Alow me to show you", said Percy, gesturing to a blue-green patch of light as it swirled aorund in a spiral.
Todd frowned, backing up slightly.
"Why do ya want to do this?", he asked, "there's gotta be somethin' in it fer ya".
"There is the knowledge that I have done everything in my power to steer you away from a wrongfull path", replied Percy.
Todd blinked at him.
"...That's it?", he shook his head, "then yer probably wastin' your time"
"I don't think so", said Percy softly, then gestured to the light again, "will you come, and see? What have you left to lose?".
Todd frowned, considering this, before sighing, stepping towards the light.
"Fine,. but if I still want to wlak at the end of this, no winged guy is gonna stop me"
"As you wish", said Percy, moving with him into the light, "let me show you a world...a world in which you never existed".
"Whoopie", said Todd dryly as the light enveloped them both.
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When the light disapated, they were both standing outside Bayville High.
"It don't look no different to me", said Todd, crossing his arms.
"It DOES NOT look any different to you", corrected Percy.
"What are ya? The grammar police as well?", snapped Todd.
"Sorry", said Percy, clearing his throat, then looked at Todd, "you expected things to be different here?"
"Not really", said Todd with a shrug, "but I don't expect anythin' ta be different".
"Then you are in for a big surpise", said Percy solemly, waving his hand.
Within moments, they were inside the building. Students milled around, heading for class.
"Ooooooooh magic", said Todd dryly.
"Get outta my way!!!".
Todd and Percy looked up as Duncan Mathews stalked through the hallway, people parting for him to pass quickly. Todd instinctively flinched away.
"There's no need to be frightened", pointed out Percy, "you don't exist, remember?"
Duncan strode forwards, a smirk crossing his face. Todd whimpered. He knew that smirk, that was the 'gonna beat the tar out of you' smirk. But if Todd wasn't around....
"He has a different victim now", said Percy with a sigh, nodding over to a small figure, stretching on his tiptoes to get things from his locker.
Todd sqiunted his eyes...that kid looked familiar.
"MADROX!".
Jamie jumped as Duncan shouted his name, looking aorund for an escape route..and finding none. Not that it mattered, Duncan would find him eventually, even if he DID find a place to hide. He squeaked as Duncan grabbed him by the collar, pushing him against a closed locker, ignoring the dupe that popped out as result. Not that the dupe could have caused any trouble, her just stayed curled up in a ball on the floor, his eyes squeased closed tightly.
"Whatcha doin' HERE mutie?", snarled Duncan.
"I.....I go to school here, Duncan", Jamie stammered, trying to wriggle out of his grasp.
"Don't get smart with me", said Duncan, "I HATE you filthy, stinkin' muties, clogging up our gene pool".
Todd winced, turning his head away as Duncan slammed a fist into Jamie's stomach, causing the young mutant to cry out in pain, another dupe dropping to the ground. Duncan, however, have a dangerous smirk on his face.
"Look like you're the sum of your parts, Madrox", he sneered, "I wonder how many of these I can beat outta ya before you're all used up?".
"Please....don't", Jamie gasped, fighting for air.
"Let's find out, shall we?", said Duncan with a sinister chuckle.
Todd closed his eyes, wanting to drown out any sound of agony from the youngest X-Man....but found he didn't have to. He and Percy were once again surrounded by a bright light.
"That was cold", growled Todd, "you tryin' ta tell me it's MY fault that kid's gettin' beat on?".
"No", said Percy, "you don't exist, it can't be your fault".
He paused, before sighing.
"But that is the problem, you don't exist. Duncan preys on the weak and the helpless", he said, "without you around, he would have to take a different...prey".
Todd crossed his arms, sniffing.
"The fact that I'm taking a beating instead of the little X-Geek a'int exactly something to convince me to go back", he said.
"I know", replied Percy simply, "that is why I must show you more. It is time to meet a team mate".
And with that, the light brightened.
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Considering Jamie was 'late for school' in 'Sins of the Son', I figured he'd be there by now. Not sure if he's of High School age, but here in the U.K, he would be..It's all very confusing.. The next chapter, you finally see a coughformercough Brotherhood member in this Todd-less world. Have a good holiday, whatever it be!Do review. Until next time....