A/N- I apologize for the wait. This chapter just never sounded right.

Enjoy. Love, Sai-Chan

Kurt waited just outside the Institute gates, looking left and right. His cell phone was in one hand, a frown prominent on his pale face. Time ticked by, then he saw a car driving up, coming from the direction of the Boarding House. It pulled up alongside him. The car was not the Jeep. Rather, it was a slick blue sports car, the top rolled down. He frowned even deeper as the passenger climbed out and shared a kiss with the driver. In a moment, the engine roared and the car drove off.

" Vhy'd Wally drop vou off?" he sneered, disappearing and reappearing next to Toad. He waved away the smoke.

" He wuzz over when chu called. What do ya care, Elf Boi?" he answered, adjusting the T-shirt that hung near his knees. Kurt grunted, grabbed his wrist, and the two vanished in a puff of smoke.

When they appeared, they were standing in the middle of the X-Man's bedroom. Toad jerked out of his grip, snapping that he had no right to touch him like that. Kurt said nothing. He merely snatched up the toad's wrists and held tight above the cuffs. He barely heard the swear words being shouted as he examined his rival's small frame. It proved quite difficult, for all the thrashing. As he opened his mouth to tell him to stop, a knee slammed into his stomach and his feet went several inches off the ground, the wind rushing out of his lungs. Pain erupted at his middle.

" I SAID GET YER HANDS OFFA ME!!!!" Toad screamed, kneeing him again. The three fingered hands released him as the mutant fell to the ground in agony, " An' don't chu ever pull that shit again!"

" Ow..."

" Serves ya right,"

" D-Do vou hit Wally vhen he hits vou too?" Kurt's voice came out in a gaspy sort of whisper, his black eyes looking up through his bangs.

Toad stood over him, body suddenly stiff. Those golden eyes were wide, horrified. The only other time Kurt had seen him look so terrified was when he'd mentioned the bruise that had been on his cheek so many days ago. There was no mark there now, but there were fading ones on his arms. However, in the moments that it took the older mutant to regain his composure, the bruises weren't what caught the younger's attention. It was the light purple eye shadow and lipstick that graced the other's stunned face. It was noticeable only because the one wearing it never took that much of an interest in their appearance, least of all to start applying makeup.

" Toad... vhy are vou vearing makeup?" Kurt stood up slowly as he said it, reaching out and motioning to his face. Those words bought the other back to life, and his webbed hands flew up to his face. They hesitated, then dropped back to his sides, " Do... did he...are vou vearing that to cover up black eyes?"

" No!" Toad answered a little too quickly. Kurt moved closer, " W-Wally just said he'd like ta see me look a lil feminine an' everythin', is all!"

" Do vou do everything Wally says?"

" No,"

" Vell, I don't like the makeup. Take it off,"

" I don't hafta listen to ya!" he hissed, crossing his arms under his chest. Seeing that doing that showed the marks, however, he dropped them and folded them behind him instead. Kurt watched all this and got an expression close to disgust on his face, " Wuzz wit the look, huh, Nightcreeper?"

" Vou've changed so much,"

" Well, ain't that fer the better? No one liked me bafore," the way Toad said that, it sounded like ice. Kurt couldn't help but flinch.

" It vasn't for the better, Toad,"

" Couldn't a been fer the worse, though, could it?"

" Trust me, it vas. You've got bruises all over vou and I don't think you've ever sounded so bitter," one of Kurt's hands brushed Toad's shoulder. The toad recoiled at the touch, his eyes filled with an emotion foreign to the elf. Whatever it was, it wasn't a pleasant one and that made a twang of anger rush through Kurt, " I know he hit y-"

" Ya don't know anythin'! Wally loves me!" he yelled back, hugging himself and forgetting that revealed the marks, " He loves me fer me an' he says he always will! That's more then I've ever gotten from anyone bafore!"

" And that's enough to give up your happiness?!"

" I AM HAPPY, DAMMIT!!!"

" Then vhy are vou crying?"

At those words, Toad did a double take. Tears were starting to run down his cheeks, making his makeup run in purple streaks that hauntingly looked like scars. He hurriedly wiped the smears away, beginning to shake. Kurt bit his lower lip, the words he'd wanted to say evaporating in a wave of sorrow over this scared female in front of him. Desperation poured over him, but when he went to take hold of the mutant, he ducked away. Toad's hands shook as they clasped together in front of his chest and his eyes filled up with new tears. He started to cry, his legs bending slightly as though he longed to pull them to his chest and sob. Kurt froze, seeing that face and knew it would stay with him for the rest of his days as words were spoken.

" Please, Kurt, just leave it alone. Ya have no idea what I've been through. Ya have no idea h-how h-h-happy Wally makes me. Just... Just walk away now a-and lemme decide this fer myself," Toad begged in the voice of someone else. There was something in that voice that made Kurt want to start crying himself, to hold him. Instead, Kurt shook his head.

" I can't... it's not right..."

" P-please..."

" But... he's hurting vou..."

" I'm beggin' you, Kurt,"

Before Kurt could respond, Kitty suddenly burst through the door. A millisecond pasted where it looked as if she'd phase herself back out upon witnessing the scene before her. That didn't happen. She turned away from her fellow X-Man as he protested her interruption and went to grab Toad's hands. The mutant backed up and she was left gripping the air. She didn't appear to have noticed.

" Toad! Of thank Gawd I could find a Brethren!" she exclaimed, her eyes livid with what could only be called desperation, " I have to know! Is Lance really seeing another woman?"

" Yea',"

" He is?" she looked crestfallen, her hands gripping the air so tight it looked painful, " D-does that mean there's no hope for me anymore?"

" Yea',"

" WHAT!!" Kitty cried, going to grab him again. Toad avoided her embrace, narrowing his eyes, " He can't of!! He didn't give up on us! He can't!! I accept him! Oh won't you please tell him that! Please, Toad! I beg of you!"

" Kitty, this is not the time or place. I invited him here!" Kurt retorted, his tail curling out from his waist. He meant for it to restrain Toad from moving, but he found that Kitty's intervention had forced the female out of his grasp, " Now ve vere talking and vou'll just have to g-"

" No! Toad, please promise me yo-"

" ENOUGH!!!" came a Southern voice right before the door was thrown open. All three mutants jumped as Rogue came storming in, " Kitty, Ah've had enough of ya whinin' an' complainin' about that boy! Ya'll the one who said ya couldn't be with him! Now, ya'll have to live without him!! Get outta Kurt's bedroom!!"

" Rogue, I have to talk to To-"

" Ya don't have to talk to no one! Ah'm takin' you to see the Professor! Maybe he can rid ya of this stupid idears!!" she barked, her gloved hands wrapping around Kitty's upper arms. In her panic and hysteria, she forgot she could phase and merely ended up trying not to be moved as she was dragged from the room, sobbing about having to talk to Toad about Lance.

Kurt watched them leave, then turned to continue his talk. But the room was empty. Toad had already vanished.

Out in Bayville suburbia, Fred knocked on the blue door of a house he'd been to a few times before in the last couple of days. The mailbox out front read 'Cit', as it was Jeff's house. Although it made him nervous that the man inside was interested in him, he enjoyed his company and had found himself requesting that Lance drop him off at the house on his way out to Brit's. Now he was knocking and wondering whether coming without an invitation was such a good idea. After all, he'd only seen Jeff when he'd been asked over for soda or a game of ping pong. He prayed it was acceptable.

The door was pulled open by the brunette, who grinned like mad when he saw whom had paid him a visit.

" Dukes! Well, hey there! I wasn't expecting you!" he declared as he ushered him inside and shut the door. Fred smiled in spite of himself, " I've got a friend over, but she shouldn't bother us,"

" Uh, she?"

" Yeah, Janice. I work with her. She's a royal bitch, but good with a wrench," he shrugged, motioning for him to have a seat on the couch like he always did, " But don't worry. She's on the phone with her brother, Billy, and they'll probably be fighting all night long,"

" Oh. Is it okay for me to be here?"

" Hey, I'm not complaining. I could always do with some good company," Jeff winked and cracked open two cans of root beer. He got a seductive look on his face as he held out the drink, " Glass or can?"

" Um... can is fine,"

" So quiet. Why? Is something the matter? Something happen at the home?" his voice was overcome with worry, which caused a tiny smile to form on the mutant's lips.

Although the two had only known each other for a few days, they'd shared most of their lives through tales and basic reenacting of certain moments. Fred had held a few things back, such as him really being a boy and him being a mutant, but had expressed the other realties of his life: he was an orphan, he was poor, he lived in a home with several others to pay rent, and he hated it when people laughed at him. Likewise, the human had confessed to him that he was afraid of heights, his father had walked out on his mother, he hadn't gone to college, and he'd been in a couple wrecks before. These talks had not only brought them closer fairly quickly, but allowed them to feel like they'd known each other even longer then they actually had. Even if Fred felt a nagging pang of guilt for keeping many of his most imitate realties to himself. However, those talks had informed Jeff about life at the Boarding House, for the most part, and led him to worry about whether or not things were going okay at the unconventional home.

" Naw... not really. Toad's been actin' seriously weird, but nothin' new. She's a psycho... just a bit nervous," he gave a hearty laugh.

" But why?"

" Um... that girl yous got over,"

" Who? Janice? She's nothing to worry about... you don't think I'm interested in her, do you?" Jeff got a fleeting look of curiosity, followed by a grin, " She's totally not my type. She's a twig and she talks waaay too much, even for a girl... Which reminds me, I've been meaning to ask. How'd you get so butch? Brit's pretty vague on the details,"

" Butch?" Fred looked as confused as he sounded.

" Like a guy. I mean, you live with a bunch of chicks. You'd think, I dunno, you'd all be a lot more feminine then you are," he shrugged, " I mean, I can understand that Alvers. She's gay... You're not gay, right?"

" No. Just... had a hard live... Y'know... made me... uh... tough,"

" I like that in a woman,"

" Really?" Fred couldn't help but feel a bit hopeful. Sure, he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to get involved with someone he was lying to. Still, it was quite a change to hear someone talk to him in that manner. Dare he think it? He felt needed and wanted.

And the feeling was good.

" Yeah. I dated all those girly types in high school. Talk about drama queens. Naw, I'm looking for someone like you, Dukes. Someone quieter, tougher, rougher. It's a turn on, I have to say," Jeff leaned in closer. Their arms brushed and both blushed innocently, " But I don't want to push you into anything if you're not ready... it's great just talking like we have been,"

" I feel like I know you, Jeff,"

" Me too. It's comforting, being this close to someone,"

" Yeah..."

" You must feel like this a lot... living with so many people..." he gave a chuckle, running a hand through his locks. Fred nonchalantly shrugged, enjoying toying with Jeff.

" Not really. Mostly with you,"

" Surely you jest,"

" Uh, not really," he cast a glance over at the brunette as he took a careful sip of soda. Jeff looked like he was in bliss, grinning goofy like and snickering to himself. For once, though, Fred didn't think he was being laughed at. He felt like he was laughing too, and realized he was on the good end of an inside joke; though the joke remained a mystery.

Jeff gently kissed Fred on the lips. They both hesitated, not sure if the other approved, then pushed a bit harder. The kiss was chaste but passionate and Fred's eyelids closed without him having to dictate the movement. One of Jeff's hands stroked his jaw tenderly, although he didn't try to force his tongue in or push too rough. Their lips grazed the others and it lighted heat inside Fred hotter then fire. He smiled into the kiss.

" Am I interrupting anything of importance, Jeffy Boy? Who's the girl?" came a catty voice, breaking the moment between the two. Fred's hands clenched into fists as he turned to glare at the skinny female standing in the doorway. Her clearly dyed blond hair was piled up on her head and her tiny breasts were nearly shown for all to see in her tight tank top. She puckered cherry red lips.

" Bad timing, Janice..." Jeff growled, drawing away from Fred reluctantly. She faked a smile, " Dukes, this is Janice. Janice, this is Dukes. Weren't you talking to your brother?"

" He hung up on me. So you're the girl with the right shit?" she asked, strolling over and dropping down on top of the coffee table, directly in front of them. Fred nodded, " Weird haircut,"

" Janice,"

" I like it," Fred curtly responded, cracking his knuckles. A thin eyebrow arched, " Do you mind? I was talkin' to Jeff,"

" Yeah, about that, I need to talk to my boss about my hours tomorrow,"

" Dukes, please excuse us for a moment," Jeff grabbed Janice by the forearm and jerked her out of the room. She waved coyly as the two disappeared around the corner. There was something about the wave that made Fred grit his teeth and want to knock her pearly whites to the ground.

Fred sat patiently, finishing off the rest of his soda, waiting for Jeff to return from the clutches of that woman. He got the distinct impression that Janice liked Jeff and wanted him to herself, even though he didn't have a reason to think that. It may have just been jealousy or lack of self confidence, but he truly believed she'd snagged him to put the moves on him and convince him to leave with her. That thought alone made him grip the can so hard it bent. Thankfully, it was already empty and merely got crushed in his hands.

While he glanced down at the can, Janice came barreling out of the hallway. She didn't stop to look back. She just flew out the front door and it slammed shut before Fred could figure out if she was mad or just in a hurry. In a moment, just as Jeff was stepping into the room, an engine roared to life and the squealing of tires echoed in the nighttime air. She departed, clearly. That was when the human sank down onto the couch next to the mutant, sighing and rubbing his temples, muttering something about 'that crazy bitch'.

" You get in a fight?" Fred tried to keep the sarcasm from his voice and succeeded in failing miserably. Jeff snorted.

" She wanted more time off to go on a date with some guy who's car we fixed down at the shop. I gave her hell and off she went like a child," he answered, heaving himself back up, " She's always doing shit like that. Fucking annoying, to tell the truth,"

" Bet she doesn't have a hard time getting a date. With a body like that,"

" Yeah," Jeff muttered, sipping from his can.

A wave of pain flooded into Fred's heart. Yeah? Did that mean Jeff liked the kind of skinny body that Janice possessed? He liked those small, dainty types after all? A dreadful feeling filled up the mutant's stomach. He recalled the department stores from his first days as a female. That store, more then likely the type of store Janice shopped at, hadn't carried his size at all. That shame and embarrassed caused Fred to stare down at the table, fighting tears that weren't there but probably should of been. The idea that this boy, with whom he'd shared such a connection, liked that woman's type was heartbreaking on a million different levels in a trillion different ways. He wasn't sure if he should get angry, sad, cry, blush, or march out of there like she had and just be rid of him.

He didn't get a chance to do any of the above. At that moment, Jeff tilted Fred's head back up, a finger under his chin.

" Y'know, if you like those twiggy types," he cooed, a smile forming playfully. The mutant smiled back, despite how he'd previously felt, taking Jeff's hand in his, " Dukes... I know this is probably too sudden and all..."

" Yeah?"

" But... would you mind being my girlfriend?" he lowered his voice unnecessarily.

Fred swallowed, having never been asked something so personal, so loving in his life. He'd wanted to date Jean at one point, but it hadn't felt nearly as passionate as this moment. There was no reason to even think about, though he considered saying no just because he wasn't being completely honest with Jeff. On the other hand, he knew that would all come out in time, when he could be one hundred percent sure that this boy wouldn't have a problem with what he had to say. With that firmly in mind, he nodded his head.

Jeff looked elated in the split second it took for the two to lock lips once more. Fred's eyes closed and he held onto the other's hands tightly. Jeff didn't struggle. He just kissed his new partner as deeply as he could while still remaining chaste. Both ended up smiling and laughing through the kiss, hugging each other and squeezing.

What a perfect end to the night, Fred thought.

By the way, Toad is older then Kurt. In the show, he's seventeen, whereas Kurt is fifteen. So says the bio included on my DVD.

That's all.