A/N- Okay, for those of you that didn't realize, this happened during X-2, and now it's going to be after X-2. I'm going to thank my reviewers again next chapter. Bye!
* * * * *
Once my head cleared, I sat up and looked at Toad. "Okay, what the hell was that?" I asked, as loudly as my new headache would allow.
"I don't know…but I really hope it doesn't happen again." Was his response.
"Hey, I'm not in any hurry to get up, what about you?"
"No, I'm not." He said while turning me so I was lying with my side against him. I closed my eyes and breathed in, getting my wish from the day before. I was almost asleep, when I felt myself being shaken.
"You know, just saying my name would have worked." I mumbled.
"It didn't last night. You didn't wake up when I left your room."
"I was very tired, because I'd done two changes, one of them very complex. I'm usually a very light sleeper. Anyways, why are you waking me?"
"Well, Magneto should be back soon, and he might find this a strange position for us to be in, though I don't mind it at all."
I nodded, and reluctantly got up. I straightened my skirt, and went out the door he held open for me; not forgetting my newly created map, and handing the original one back to him. As he started toward the stairs, I stopped him, and kissed him again. When he looked at me questioningly, I told him, "We might not be able to do that for a while." He smiled at me, and kissed me once more before taking me back to the living room.
While we walked, I watched him out of the corner of my eye. He had fallen a little behind me, and was watching me with an enraptured expression on his face. I felt very loved, and turned to smile at him again as beautifully as I could. He smiled back, and we went into the living room. "I call the chair!" I said. He laughed and nodded. I sat in the chair, and he crouched on the floor next to me, looking disturbingly toad-like. I watched him for a minute, and suddenly his head turned. I looked the same way, and saw the door opening.
In walked Magneto, closely followed by Mystique. Last to enter was a boy, about my physical age, who was the cutest guy I'd seen in a long time. He looked around, and then looked at Sabertooth, Toad, then me. And still me. I almost laughed at his hilarious stare, but turned to Magneto, who, looking at me, raised his eyebrows, probably at the fact that I was still wearing the sunglasses. Magneto waited for everyone's attention before speaking. He did not have to wait long; Sabertooth ogled Mystique for a minute before looking at him, and both Toad and I looked at the newcomer first. The boy went and leaned against a wall and paid attention, while Mystique just stood at attention, looking around uninterestedly around until Magneto started speaking.
"Brothers, this is Pyro. Pyro, these fine people are Sabertooth, Toad, and Suzan. Toad will show you to your room. I will see to your training tomorrow, Pyro. Mystique?" he swept out the door, Mystique following with a nod to me! Hmm, maybe she just doesn't smile much. She's probably dying for female company.
Toad glanced at Pyro, and, looking at me, jerked his head to the door-want to come? I shook my head a little, flickered my head to my wrist, and smiled-no, just hurry back. He nodded and led the kid 'Pyro' out the door. I then watched the television, where the president had paused in making a speech for some reason, probably a malfunction in the teleprompter. I spent a good five minutes wondering how we understood each other, when I notice the two guys coming back in. looking at Toad, I flickered my head to the kid, and raised my eyebrows a little-was he any trouble? He shook his head and tightened his lips for a second-no, he's an idiot. I smiled and turned my attention back to the television, which was now showing the sign 'Technical Difficulties' for some reason.
Toad came and crouched beside me again. Pyro sat on the floor, staring at me. I went over to the TV, and flipped channels until I got to a debate on the newly proposed ban from mutants living too near humans, going to the same schools, jobs, stores, etc. I sat back down, and watched for a minute.
Suddenly I realized how hungry I was. I stood up and said, "I'm going to get some food. Any of you want anything?"
As expected, Pyro volunteered instantly. Sabertooth shook his head, and Toad said, "Yeah, an apple." I turned my head to him, and he started laughing. I smiled to him, amused but not wanting to laugh, and said, "No, seriously, are you hungry?" Still laughing, he shook his head and sat in my newly vacated chair. I smiled at the confused kid and walked out the door, not waiting for him. He followed me, of course, and said, "What was-"
I looked at him and shook my head. "-That about. You're so predictable. An apple was the first thing I used my talent for that he saw." I broke down and laughed at the hilarious expression on Pyro's face. A joke popped into my head, and I closed the door and locked it while I turned back to him. "Shall we?" I said. I started walking without waiting for a response, so I could laugh silently.
He hurried back up to me and asked, "Isn't it a little dark for sunglasses?"
I looked at him, thinking tactless idiot, and said, "Yes. Now go inside." He raised his eyebrows, but turned and entered the room next to him. He looked around with as much amazement as I had the first time I was in here. I struggled to remember, succeeded, and told him, "The refrigerators are sorted by food group. The first one has dairy, the second one has meats, and the last vegetables and fruits. Bread product are in the cupboards, and I have sadly been unable to find anything sweet."
He frowned and said, "Where-"
"-Are the cupboards. Over here, hidden in the wall." I ran my hand along it, as Toad had done the day before. To my relief, it opened.
I made us some food, finished it, and waited, leaning against the wall, while he ate. I copied Mystique in that I tried very hard not to make conversation, until he was done. When he was, I took his plate and fork, brushing his fingers to get a bit of his skin cells. I went with our dishes to the counter, opened it, let the dishes wash, put them away, and started for the door, congratulating myself for predicting all that he said in that time. I took him back to the living room, and said, "Well? Aren't you going to open the door for me?"
He smiled, and gallantly opened the door. Or, he tried to. I laughed at him, unlocked the door, refused to explain, and opened it. I called out, "Toad! I'm doing the bed next, the same color as the couch. Want to come with me?" He nodded, and followed me out the door, looking down at Pyro contemptuously. After a minute, we heard the door close. I looked back, and, seeing no sign of Pyro, and the door closed, started laughing.
"Did you see the way he looked at me? You'd think he loves me or something." I laughed even harder, remembering the expression he had as he looked at Toad. "And the way he looked at you! He looked like he wanted to kill you just for going with me!"
He smiled down at me, taking my hand as soon as we were up the stairs. When we got to my room, I sat down on the couch, and said, "Sit down. I have to do something really quickly." He did, and I concentrated on storing the DNA sample I got from Pyro in my mind. After all, he was a member of our team, the brotherhood, and he might need help someday. Or harm. Whichever. When I was done, I looked at Toad, who was watching me worriedly.
I smiled at him, then my smile faded when I realized what I had to do. I said, "Okay. Before we get any closer, you have to see…my eyes." I closed my eyes, took off the sunglasses that had been my best protection for the last year, and slowly looked at him, expecting the look I had seen since I was thirteen, and my eyes slowly changed from hazel/brown to a pupil-less gold, flecked with red. I'm pretty sure that no one else had ever noticed the red, since they shuddered and looked away whenever they saw them.
Instead, I saw him looking into my eyes with wonder, not fear. With love, not hatred. He leaned forward and kissed me, looking into my eyes the whole time. I smiled at him, and hugged him, laying my cheek against his. He hugged me back, and I relaxed against him, cuddling with him. I closed my eyes and reached inside him, searching for anything that shouldn't be there. I noticed that he had picked up a cold virus from that kid Pyro, and changed the germs into red blood cells, so he would be healthier. I changed the damaged cells to healthy ones, and, not finding anything else, released him.
Exhausted, I got up and went to the bed, pulling him with me. I made him lay down on his side, and laid on mine, facing him, and cuddled completely up against him. I said, "Wake me before you go in the morning." I reached into him once more, and stimulated a gland in his brain so that it released endorphins to make him sleepy. He fell asleep very soon after that, and so did I.
