Chapter Eight- Misery Hates Company
Xavier had said that the best thing for Mortimer's bad mood would be company.
Obviously the Toad didn't agree. He acknowledged her presence with a toneless 'hello' and then went on sleeping.
The troubling thing was that his condition didn't seem to improve. His bruises didn't darken- but nor did they fade. He never asked for food or to use the bathroom. Something was going on.
"I suspect the plasma has some effect on the aging process. Very interesting." Mused Beast over breakfast.
"But that means he'll never recover!" exclaimed Marie.
"We cannot trust that Ms. Strain will leave us be, so in he stays." But on seeing the look on Rogue's face, he slightly changed his tune. "I will speak to Professor Xavier about this. Perhaps there is another course of action." Marie turned to leave, but a large clawed hand grasped her shoulder.
"If you happen by Mr. Toynbee's cell on your way to your…morning classes…" he winked at her. "Would you please tell him that he is set to use the Danger Room this afternoon?"
"Alright." She said, smiling sheepishly. She HAD been skipping Science classes since their return from New York…her 'inner mort' was still so strong inside her that when ever she was around Ororo, she had to rein herself in as not to attack her.
'Who knows if she's teachin' static electricity today or somfin'? Non thanks. How 'bout we go visit me?" She rolled her eyes and proceeded down the hallway towards Mortimer's cell.
And there he lay, surprise, surprise, asleep. "Mort," she said in a prodding fashion. "Mort…Mo-o-o-o-o-r-t…" golden eyes soon blinked open, and the green man stretched.
"Wot?" he asked, letting out a mammoth yawn. "Wait, don't tell me." He said, closing his eyes in a mock telepathic fashion, putting his fingers to his temples. "Storm ran outta dissection specimens and she wanted to check if the pickled Toad was still alive an' breathin'? Send my regrets." He said, curling back up to go back to sleep. Marie smiled.
"Glad to see you're feeling better."
"Nothin' like swimmin' in formaldehyde to get you up to full health." He said, turning back to her, figuring that he'd have a snowman's chance in hell at getting back to sleep. But he was feeling a little better- and although he would never admit it- Rogue's company really meant a lot to him. It was nice to have someone to talk to.
"Mr. McCoy wanted you to know that he's set up a time in the Danger Room for you."
"Rapture." He muttered.
"I'd give anything over being in a tube." She said crossly.
"When may I expect Baldy and His Amazing Friends?" He asked. "Or should I get ready t'get back to bed? As anyone can tell, I need to catch up on my beauty sleep. Few centuries should do it…"
"No need, Mr. Toynbee. The Cavalry has arrived." Beast entered, carrying a pair of handcuffs and a muzzle.
"Where's Cue-Ball? I thought he was the only one who could get me outta this thing." He muttered, eyeing the restraints nervously.
"This is true; these are for when we relocate you, good sir." Toad raised his brow.
"Relocate?" Xavier wheeled in to the room, and immediately, Toad felt a push at the back of his mind.
"Aw, c'mon now, Prof. I thought you trusted me." He said, feigning hurt. He thought himself that he was still too injured to do any real damage. The best he could probably do was knock a few heads together before conking out himself.
"If that's how you feel. Mortimer, I will trust you enough to let you walk unaided."
"Wot?" he asked, uncertain. "Oh, right. Telepath. 'Spose it has it's assets, eh?" Beast gave him a hand out of the goop, now that Xavier had de-activated it. He was suddenly hit with extreme hunger, fatigue, and pain. He fainted straight away.
"Oh dear…" said Beast. "I had feared this would happen. Let's get him to the infirmary."
Mortimer regained consciousness about ten minutes later, with the wonders of sedatives, and the always helpful IV. He was quite pleased to find that he wasn't strapped down to the table, and sat up experimentally, wincing.
"Awake so soon?" Beast approached, carrying a tray with a sandwich.
"Yeah." He said, between bites.
"Do you still think you'll be able to use the Danger Room?"
"Yeah." He repeated, finishing the snack, and trying to stretch a little bit. His muscles were sore, and his leg pounded, but he wasn't going to get any better lying there. "Lead the way, blue boy." He walked to the danger with more or less of a limp, preparing himself for the battle mentally. Once they reached the door, Beast put a large hand on his shoulder. Toad, not used to any act of condolence, stiffened, defenses up.
"I know you don't like it here. But please let the Professor help in your recovery. Maybe you'll find you like it here, my friend."
"I'm not really the X-Man type." He said. "But thanks." Beast looked at the smaller man in shock. It was the first time he had heard a straight answer from the green mutant.
"I must warn you, the Danger Room does inflict real damage on you. It is only a visual illusion in there- the pain is real. So if you ever want us to stop, say so. We can hear you from the control room. It is set to level seven." Toad nodded, and entered the Danger Room calmly, cat-like eyes surveying the area around him. It was just a room- a metal room. Up above was the observation room, Rogue, the Professor, and now Beast congregated there, attending the controls.
"I am going to probe your mind quickly, Mortimer. I am looking for your greatest adversary." The Professor was not surprised at what he found, and tapped the answer in to the Danger Room's programming.
Toad was suddenly surrounded by a building- all too familiar. He was crouched on the railing of a balcony, looking at the elevator shaft in disbelief. His stomach froze with fear, but he pushed on. He could beat her…he could. He jumped down, looking Storm in the face.
"Are we feeling like catering to the Laws of Physics today, luv?" he asked, bracing himself against the wind. He lunged at her while the wind was still weak, not waiting for her to gain power. He kicked her in to a table of souvenirs, and then flipped, kicking her again. He took the crow-bar he still held from the elevator and tripped her up as she tried to right herself. He latched his tongue around her throat, and carried her to the outside balcony. He cringed in memory, and transferred the struggling Ororo from his tongue to his strong hands. He held her over the edge, anger evident in every feature. Something on his face changed then, as he saw her struggling, fear and pain mingled in her eyes. It was a look he knew. He dropped her safely on the ground, and grabbed her neck in a sleeper-hold.
"I mus' be goin' soft." He muttered, turning to where Scott and Jean struggled in the hallway. Jean got up, and froze him. He couldn't move, not an inch. He began to raise the walls of defense around his mind, and slowly but surely, he regained mobility. He sprung forward, kicking Jean to the side. Scott shot him in his bum leg, and he winced, but carried on. He was hit several more times before he crumpled, his vision fading. Scott put his hand up to make the final blow, but Toad struggled up, and jumped to the side, snagging Scott's visor on the way. He put it on his forehead, watching as Cyclops gave Lady Liberty a new orifice. He twirled the visor around his finger and grinned as the illusion faded.
"I could start a collection 'o these things." He muttered, and limped to the door of the Danger Room tiredly.
Storm watched from the observation room in astonishment. She had come to tell Rogue off for skipping class, but stopped, speechless- as Mortimer laid a holographic version of her safely on the balcony, rendering her unconscious.
He had spared her. He had her life in his hands, and he released her- when she had just as well as killed him. The man could barely bring himself to kill a hologram of someone who was in such a position that he once was.
Ororo wasn't the only one to be astonished by the humanity of Mr. Toynbee. Beast could barely tear himself away to go and fetch the green mutant. He carried with him a pair of handcuffs and the muzzle, by order of Xavier. Mort didn't like his mind messed in, so who knew what the mutant was capable of, even in this weakened state, with blood-lust and adrenaline rushing through his veins?
To the blue mutant's surprise, Mortimer took the restraints without complaint, just a bit of adjusting of the muzzle before he was put in to the handcuffs.
"I'm sorry about this, old boy." Said Beast uncertainly.
" 'S fine." said Mort tiredly, his voice muffled by the muzzle. Beast almost felt bad by restraining him in this way. Beast lead the small mutant to the room he had been in on his first 'visit' to the X-Mansion.
