Disclaimer: One day, the X-men will be mine! But until then, I'll just steal their ideas and write ficcies off them.

Alright, hasn't been working for my puter, but now that it is, here's the next chapter.

PLEASE! Any sort of critique will help! ANYTHING!

A damn dreary day had settled upon Bayville, listless clouds not even bothering to take shape as they blotched out both the blue of the sky and warmth of the sun. The canopy of the world was one great stretch of gray, dappled here and there with an airplane or bird. Todd squinted even though there was no sun; this unpleasant atmosphere seemed to soak up the light and distribute it in a more magnified form. It was almost as though the muggy weather was trying to be cheerful.

"Screw you and your good intentions," the frog mutant muttered to the sky as he walked, giving a hard kick to an innocent pebble that lay naively in his path. The rock won; Todd missed it entirely and stubbed his toe against the ground. With the developed muscles of his legs backing that foot, the collision had quite an affect on his toes. Todd yelped in pain and hopped about for a moment, clutching the foot and holding it to his chest.

He heard a giggle from across the street, and glared over. Whoever the hell was laughing at him would get a mouthful of stubbed toe if they didn't shut the fuck up. His eyes narrowed, then glazed. Todd's jaw dropped.

He blinked.

And again.

And again.

In what twisted version of reality...?

That giggle, the sweet laugh that had chirped so lissome and liquid into his ears, the way a muse should sound; it was miraculous. Like nectar to lips so his ears swallowed the dying laugh, eyes still unable to comprehend what solid flesh stood before him. He tried to breathe past the beating lump of heart in his throat, finding it impossible. Todd's brain wondered if he might suffocate, and his heart thudded back that it didn't care. His shoulders relaxed, fell, and his head tilted to the side. Still unable to breathe, he stood there, like a dumbfounded ragdoll, slight smile playing across his large mouth.

For the rest of eternity Todd would have been happy to have stayed in that spot; he would have been overjoyed to starve and decompose staring at the form across the street. But, in a rude quirk of fate, a strong hand came down firmly on the boy's shoulder. The was a chuckle behind him, and Todd snapped to sudden attention. Before he could say anything, Magneto spoke.

"I see you've met Nadine, Toad." The small mutant tilted his head up to look at the master of magnetism. He stared down at the boy, strong features emotionless. An eyebrow suddenly quirked, and the giant among mutants spoke again. "Do you find her to your liking? You most assuredly should." His eyes were proud. "I chose her myself. She is a gift to my son." Todd blinked, brow furrowing. A gift? Magneto raised a hand and gestured to Nadine with a flick of his wrist. Smile plastered across her features, the girl obediently crossed the street, not bothering to look either way before she did. A car slammed on it's breaks, squealed to a halt, and honked. Several rude gestures were made at the girl, all of which she ignored, smile never fading and gaze unblinking.

Todd did a double take at this Nadine character, heart skipping again. He could feel his throat close up even more. Her face, her body, her brown eyes; everything. The boy knew what her voice would sound like before she spoke, knew how her hair would smell of lavender even when it wasn't washed, knew what her head would feel resting on his chest. A swarm of insects fluttered around inside his belly, and the mutant felt like crying. He hardly heard Magneto chuckle, his heart was beating so loud as she approached them. The girl he'd dreamt of last night and so many nights before; here she was, splendid in her visibility, as well as her more important complete tangibility.

"I see you do like her, Toad. I only hope that Pietro will find her to his tastes as well." The frog mutant's eyes took on a confused look again. Finds her to his tastes..? Todd forced himself down from the clouds his brain was dancing on, and tried to think the situation through. He tore his eyes from her face, and they fell to her outfit. Fishnet stockings greeted his gaze. And spiked high-heels. Todd's eyebrows jumped up. Her black hair fell in a shining voloptuous mass around her head and neck, tumbling with calculated ease to her shoulderblades. She wore a little black dress, plunging low at the neckline to reveal deep cleavage. The dress ruffled outward at the hips, several layers of a miniskirt layered into an enticing skirt that fell just barely beyond where her thighs met. Around her neck was a black choker, and the outfit was completed with a white tiara. The realization struck Todd in the temple, and he actually jerked backward.

The girl he had dreamed about for so long had manifested before him dressed as a French maid. She was holding an ebony featherduster and everything.

Big brown eyes never left Magneto's hand, and soon Nadine was standing less than a foot from Todd. His breathing wouldn't slow down; he wanted to gather her in his arms and kiss every piece of that soft pale body. She didn't notice his behavior, though; Nadine stared straight at Magneto, eyes glistening with emptiness. The magnetic mutant gave a very stern look to Todd.

"Nadine, this is Toad. He lives with Pietro."

Smooth and graceful, the maid put out a hand. "I am pleazed to meet you. I am called Nadine." Her voice was thick with a French accent, words rising and falling in obedience to it. The smile and expression never changed; she seemed in complete control of everything.

"Uh, I--uh. Uh." the mutant stammered, trying to get real words out, "Call me Todd." He shook her hand, arm crackling with adrenyline at the physical contact. Nadine didn't notice, and tried to let go of the handshake. Todd found himself unable to, and had to put concious effort into prying each of his fingers lose.

Magneto cleared his throat in a serious manner. "Come, Nadine. We must meet your master."

Master? Todd felt confused again.

The magnetic mutant strode with a calm sincerity up to the front door and waved a hand. It opened before him, as though to bow before his wishes. "Son," he called, not a question or a request. Papers rustled in the Brotherhood house, and in a white blur Pietro stood before his father, looking cautious.

R&R Please please pleaseiest please! Next chappy will be up tomorrow or the next day! Hugs n kisses!