Gifts and Curses
By Todd Fan
Disclaimer: "Wait, you're telling me that there's a guy who dresses like a pirate on our team?"
&&&
Sperrydee- Sure thing, my YM name is welshwerecat. Actually, I don't think I've reinstalled YM on my computer yet, that's something I'll have to do. Yup.
This chapter will be full of hints to Black Ice, oh yes, more foreshadowing again.
&&&&
Chapter 4 – A new path
&&&&&
Rogue and Piotr watched in amazement as Bobby walked towards them, the snow that had hindered their own journey moving easily aside for him. Bobby certainly had changed since they last met him, with longer hair and a mustache and beard.
"Even in one of the coldest, most desolate places on earth, my past still catches up to me", said Bobby, narrowing his eyes, "and here's me thinking I could spend some time to myself here".
"You", growled Rogue, "a'h thought you'd been locked away, where you deserve to be"
"Hello to you too, Miss Sunshine", said Bobby dryly, "if Xavier sent you, tell him I served my time, he can't pin anything else on me".
"The Professor did not send us, Bobby", said Piotr, "we are here looking for my sister. I do not suppose you have heard anything about a missing girl while you were here?".
Bobby watched them suspiciously.
"Why should I help you?"
"After everything you did to us?", snapped Rogue, "a'h think you owe us this one thing".
"I didn't ask you, Redneck", retorted Bobby, "I don't need to be judged by the likes of you. I told you, I've paid the price".
Piotr sighed.
"Please, Bobby", he said, "she is my sister. She is only years old, and she is lost somewhere out here. Myself and my brother are the only family she has left…and Mikhail is still in space. I know that you are still angry at us, but please do not let your anger get in the way. If not for us, please do this for Illyana, she has done no harm to anyone".
Bobby arched a brow, before sighing.
"I've been working here for a while now, and you hear some things as you move about", he said, "I don't know if it's your sister or not, Piotr, but I overheard some guy talking about a kid heading off towards a large set of caves about five miles away from here"
Piotr smiled.
"Thank you, Bobby", he said, "I, as you Americans say, 'Am owing you one'"
"Still not grasped English yet, have you, Peety?", smirked Bobby, though with slightly less malice.
"Back off, Ice cube", snapped Rogue, pushing past him as she stormed forwards, "a'h haven't forgotten what you did, and a'h never will. There was no call for any of it, not after everything the Professor did for you"
"You mean like ground me constantly and then never look for me after I left?", shouted Bobby back, "I don't care if you don't forget, remember all you like, Skunk-head"
Piotr sighed, stopping by Bobby and putting his hand on his shoulder.
"If it is any consolation, Bobby, I forgive you", he said, "You went through a difficult time, and people somehow expected you to cope with it better than you did. I hope that one day, you find your way with this situation. I hope one day you can return to the mansion, if not to stay to just put yourself and those in the Institute at peace"
Bobby frowned for a moment, trying to decide whenever Piotr was being sincere or not. Of course, the fact that Piotr was an extremely bad liar and had an even worse poker face showed that he HAD to be telling the truth.
"Thanks Peety, I appreciate it.. though I doubt I'll be going back to the Mansion, I got somewhere I belong in better now", said Bobby, giving a slight smile, "hey, I hope you find your sister"
"So do I", said Piotr with a sigh, heading off after Rogue in the direction of the cave system.
Bobby watched them leave before moving away in the opposite direction, vanishing as the snow flurried around him.
&&&&
Meanwhile, at a classy New York restaurant, Todd and Sidney were enjoying their meal. Or at least, Sidney was enjoying her meal. Todd, on the other hand, was fidgety. He kept looking around the restraint and nervously drumming his fingers on the table. Sidney finally frowned, setting down her fork.
"I know that they don't let you eat bugs here, Todd", she said, "but that's no reason to be so….uptight"
"Uptight?", squeaked Todd, giving a nervous laugh, "I'm not uptight. No sireeeeee. I'm just dandy. Heh heh. The picture of calm"
Sidney looked at him flatly.
"You've torn your napkin into confetti", she said, pointing at the napkin-pieces covered table.
"Oh", Todd coughed, "that's ominous"
Sidney cocked her head to the side.
"Huh?"
Todd gave her a nervous smile.
"Nothin', go back ta eatin', everythin's fine", he said, "no worries"
Sidney crossed her arms.
"Now I am worried", she said, "Todd, what is it? You're supposed to be able to tell me anything"
Todd looked at her before sighing, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You see, Sid", he said, shifting awkwardly, "there's been something I've been meaning to…to ask you for a long time now"
He gave a nervous laugh.
"And.. well, I kinda figured I'd better do it now, before I lose my…"
He paused as his phone started ringing, he glared at his phone, Why now? WHY NOW!
"Go on, answer it", said Sidney, "you can't leave it ringing"
"But…", Todd frowned, picking it up, "hello?"
He paused, listening to Pietro's voice on the other end.
"No, I can't come home right now", he said, "I'm kinda busy. Well, Nick Fury will have ta wait, won't he? What do ya mean 'It's a matter of life or death'?"
He winced, holding the phone away from his ear.
"Okay, okay, I'll come, I'll come", he surrendered, "just stop singin' that awful song! Fine, I'll be there now!"
He switched off his phone and gave Sidney an apologetic look.
"I gotta go", he said, "Pietro's gonna throw a hissy fit if I don't…..you gonna be okay?'
"I'm fine", said Sidney, gesturing to her plate, "I got me a ton of fish, I'm going to eat until I can't move"
Todd sighed, leaning over to give her a kiss.
"I'm really, really, really, really sorry", he said.
"Don't worry about it", smiled Sidney, "now get out of here before Pie shows up here and makes a scene"
Todd sighed, heading to the door, giving one glance back before heading out.
"I'm gonna kill Pietro", he growled.
&&&
"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me!", sang Pietro and Freddy.
Nick Fury groaned as they launched into their twelth verse of the song.
"For the last time, I'm not a pirate!", he snapped, "how long will it be for the rest of your team to come?"
"Todd's on his way", said Pietro, then grinned, "but I'm the leader, so you can tell me, anyway"
"Translation: Pietro's too impatient to wait", smirked Pyro.
"Shut up, Allerdyce", growled Pietro, 'I'm still mad at you".
"Pie, I asked your sister to marry me, I didn't ask you", said Pyro, "and she said yes, get over it".
"Will not, can not, shall not", said Pietro stubbornly.
"You sound just like Kitty's dad", commented Lance, "and he made me convert to Judaism before he even let Kitty wear her engagement ring"
He looked sadly at his collection of books.
"I still haven't figured out what I can or can't eat!"
SLAM
Everyone looked up as Todd stalked into the house.
"Okay, lets get this crap over with, 'cause I am not in the mood anymore"
"What's your problem?", said Pietro, "it's not like you were doing anything be….."
He trailed off, looking at Todd's glare.
"Oh", Pietro gave a nervous laugh, "I forgot about that"
"Isn't tonight supposed to be the night?", asked Freddy, "when you ask Sid to marry you?"
"It was", said Todd icily, "but I got called away"
"Err…..oopsie?", said Pietro with a shrug.
"I'll 'oopsie' you, buddy", said Todd, "right down the nearest cliffside!"
"Ahem"
Everyone turned to look at Nick, who was still sitting patiently.
"As much as I find this insight into the young adult life fascinating", he said, "I am here for a reason"
"Well, you'd better tell us it then, hadn't you?", grumped Todd, "my evening has been ruined already".
Nick arched a brow, before smiling.
"Have you people heard of a group of mutants called 'Freedom Force?'" (1)
"A bunch of sad-acts that make mutant seem shiny and squeaky clean", said Pyro with a smirk.
Nick gave a forced smile.
"Those 'ad-acts' put mutants in a more positive light", he said, "and as a result, have improved mutant-human relations far batter than the X-Men have"
"And you're telling us this…why?", asked Wanda, arching a brow.
"Well, Freedom Force are doing a brilliant job", said Nick, "but one team can't cover the whole country. So, we decided to form another team, Freedom Force East"
"Oh yack", said Lance, "it sounds like a crummy super-buddies team name".
"It's better than 'The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants", pointed out Nick, "besides, you haven't got a role as the Brotherhood anymore"
He looked at Lance.
"You're engaged to an X-Man. She can't really be on an opposing side to you anymore, or have you not seen 'West Side Story'?", he turned to Freddy, "and you, your girlfriend is a human, isn't she? Wouldn't that make her an enemy of the Brotherhood ideal?"
Freddy narrowed his eyes.
"You leave Rosie out of this", he warned.
Nick ignored him, looking around the group.
"Lets face it, you're not the Brotherhood anymore, you're just a bunch of mutants with no structure to your lives, you're lost, and needs something to bring back the unity you once had", he said, "that's why S.H.I.E.L.D has chosen you as Freedom Force East"
"And why, exactly, would we want to join your little club?", asked Pietro, crossing his arms.
Nick Fury reached into his bag and pulled out a stack of files.
"These are your criminal records", he said, "there's enough here to get you all incarcerated for a very long time"
He smirked.
"You become Freedom Force East, and I make these files…disappear".
"That's blackmail", growled Fred.
"No", said Nick, "that's good business sense. So, what'll it be boys.. and girl?"
&&&&
(1) – See Black Ice.
Do review. Until next time…