Billy.
Billy looked up from her Cosmogirl, detaching the booming headphones from her ears unconcerned with the voice calling in her mind. Living with two psychics you wouldn't be surprised of her reaction of such. "Hey professor, to what do I owe with the head call?" Xavier's voice was clear as a bell as it rung in her psyche. It seems we are expecting company, get 'dressed' and meet me in the foyer. Bill turned off her walkman silencing her headphones with a conscious smile.
She opened her closet door pushing her wardrobes aside, drawing out her uniform from inside. Billy dressed quickly, took a quick look in the mirror, grabbed her rose tinted goggles whisked herself out of her room, swaggering her way to the lobby. A fast wind was pushing against the windows, clouds quickly casing the before now dark sky. A flicker of lightning, a crash of thunder and rain was quick to fall. "Billy." Billy smiled taking the steps two at a time as Kurt came up not far behind.
"Vait up." The blonde halted almost on a dime at the base of the stairs, Kurt cut the distance in no time at all. "Vhat's going on?"
"We-" The wind broke through the doors with a loud clatter and a…yell? They turn in surprise to see a flying Todd Tolansky coming haphazardly into the manor. His name fell deafly on her lips as said boy in a shrill yell toppled into Kurt rolling the both of them a ways away from the blonde. In a mid-roll Kurt pushed Todd off, circling each other like a pair of dogs ready to snap at each other.
"Whoa! What are you? Some kind of ratty plush toy?" Let he who is without unusual clothes cast the first stone and Todd was certainly one to talk. Garbed in green and off grey, he looked more like the toad that everyone claimed him to be than he had ever before. A quick whiff from Kurt brought about a disgusted groan and a quick remark.
"The name's Nightcrawler," Kurt quickly pinched his nose. "And at least I don't reek like unvashed lederhosen!"
"You blue-furred freak!" Todd lashed out, leaping at Kurt in testosterone rage. Guess he did not take the 'lederhosen' comment kindly. But Kurt was quicker and ported before Todd even reached the ground. Safe to say Todd was surprised by the small clouds of smoke where Kurt once stood. Kurt came back of course…on the chandelier.
"As you say in America; Nee nah, nee nah, nee nah!" Todd looked up to find Kurt waving down from the lighting.
"That ain't gonna help you boy!" He shook his fist crossly at Kurt, leaping again. Kurt acting quick for a second time jumped off the chandelier and off Todd's back, landing harmlessly handing from the wall before Todd reached the chandelier.
"You're so slow!" Kurt laughed, winking at Todd just to peeve him off crawling across the wall like a spider into the hall. Todd growling angrily jumped down following close behind hopping from wall to wall. "You couldn't catch flies on a vindshield!"
"Fight like a man!" As the two were ricocheting through the halls, Billy was in a stunned stupor. No one could jump like that; there is no way any normal person could jump from the ground floor all the way to the chandelier. That being said, there was only one way Todd Tolansky could have made that leap.
"No way…" Billy's stupor subsided with Storm descending through the still open doors finding the young girl's eyes wide.
"Yes, Tolansky is indeed gifted." Xavier came out at last, the weather witch and the lumokinetic approaching him with questioning eyes. "He could be one of us." He seemed to be questioning his own words.
"Sometimes professor, I feel your good heart blinds even you from the truth." Ororo's speech however lost its luster to the sounds of broken glass and cracking clay. Kurt and Todd were coming around again, breaking and knocking over everything that was in their way with each bounding leap. Not on purpose of course, but broke them none the less. Bouncing around the lobby now like a pair of wild pin balls.
"You blue little wookie boy, come here!" Off the ceiling. "Ah! Come back here!" Off the wall. "Aw, don't make me-" On and up the stairs. "Don't make me-" On the banisters. "Aw, now you're just trying to tick me off!" Toad shot something green and slimy out of his mouth missing Kurt and breaking the window. Wow, Todd really was a toad.
"Ew." Billy cringed at the amphibious tongue; Kurt laughed jumping again and Todd breaking another window in his wake.
"This test is over." Xavier's voice boomed in the foyer, stopping the two in their tracks. Todd was still on the banisters; Kurt was upside down on the chandelier. "Todd Tolansky does have the special gift of the X gene." Xavier, Ororo and Billy came forth. "He is welcome to join us, if he so desires."
"Only thing I desire is blue boy's fuzzy head!" Todd jumped off the banister, latching his tongue around Kurt's arm. Pulling himself the rest of the way Todd grabbed onto Kurt, unable to hold their combined weight both Kurt and Todd fell from the chandelier. Instinct must have taken over as a pall of smoke took the two young mutants away before they hit the floor. The question is, to where?
"Professor…?"
"The Danger room." Of all the places they would go, they had to teleport to an automated deathtrap! "We must hurry, quickly!" Billy was the first to run for the elevator, Xavier and Storm right behind her. The blasted thing didn't seem to move fast enough for the young blonde just about jumping out of her suit to get down there.
Xavier contacted Jean and Scott, they being closer to the danger room then He and the others. They hastily entered the control room Storm and Billy moving without delay to the glass panels, Xavier rolling to the console. "Security code override. Priority X, voice print Charles Xavier." Xavier's fingers raced across the keyboards, quick to rescue the mutants below.
"Confirmed. Shut down in five seconds."
"They'll be charbroiled in five seconds!" Billy grabbed at the panels, pushing at the glass panels opening into the danger room. "Cannonball!"
"Billy!" Ororo's reach was too short, Billy jumped out of the control room hands glowing dangerously. The storm caster went after her pupil. Three laser cannons were destroyed as they came down, however not before one bucked off Kurt like a rodeo bull and blasted at Scott and Todd knocking them into a cold steel wall. Storm toasted it with a thunderbolt.
Slowly, the defense system wound down. Claws and tentacles curled up and retracted inside the walls with the cannons alongside. Billy ran to the closest person blue and fuzzy. "Kurt!" Billy reached for Kurt, but Kurt had reached for her, as well. A little stressed out but otherwise alright. "Are you okay?"
"I think so."
"Forget this man!" Todd got back on his feet, spooked all to hell. "I've seen enough! I'm outta here!" Todd hopped out of the danger room in a fright, Scott with the wind knocked out of him, could not stop him.
"Tolansky!" Scott reached out, but like Ororo had it was in vain Todd was already down the hall.
"I got him!" Billy ran after Todd with energy to spare, sprinting after the amphibious teenage boy. "Todd! Todd wait up!" Billy chased him all throughout the manor, the boy could hop she'd give him that much. She followed him all the way up to the ground floor. "Hey! I said wait up!" Still Todd was not listening. "Listen damn it, I. said. STOP!"
Billy tackled Todd in mid-leap, knocking them both through a casement window and crashing into a patio table and breaking it before tumbling to a stop on the lawn, Todd on the ground Billy on his back. "Ow…Ouch." The two sat up unsteadily, patio furniture hurts. Shaking off a dull ache, the two noticed a pair of dark leather boots standing in front of them. The boots were attached to denim dressed legs attached to a gruffly looking fellow wearing a cowboy hat. "Huh?"
Todd glared at the man, the man flexed his arms and the two teens grabbed each other in fright as three symmetrical blades sprouted from his knuckles…on each hand. "Going somewhere?" He tipped his hat with his left hand blades, revealing piercing brown eyes. Nose flaring as if he smelled something foul…oh wait, Todd's here. Billy and Todd shrunk back.
"No Logan!" Said stranger and teenagers looked up; Xavier appeared on the second story balcony. "Let him go." Billy and Todd looked at the stranger, now named Logan seeing him staring back. He flexed again, the blades retracted with a sharp slicing sound, his stare turning to a glare towards Todd. Todd in fear smiled poorly in a desperate attempt in a peaceful leave. Logan stepped aside with a gravely sigh, holding his hand out. Showing him out. Not waiting for him to change his mind, Todd hopped off, leaving the premises.
"Wait!"
"It's alright, Billy." Xavier said, stopping her from following. "Another time."
"I came back here cause I smelled trouble brewing." Logan addressed the Professor, sniffing the air again. "Course, maybe it was just stink boy there." Logan pointed behind him where Toad disappeared.
"I wish it was." Xavier was disappointed Todd Tolansky would not join their school, but it was not all a lost cause. Looking down at the gruff figure he smiled. "Welcome home, old friend. We've missed you." Logan's softened into a light smirk, pleased to be back.
"Um…excuse me?" Attention came back to the blonde haired teenager sitting awkwardly on the grass. "I don't mean to ruin the moment…but could someone help me up?" Billy asked lamely, an embarrassed flush across her cheeks. "I…I lost all the strength in my legs." Billy was so frightened by Logan's entrance she couldn't stand up. Logan raised his brow in disbelief, darkening Billy's flushed face. "…Please?" Hearing Xavier laughing to himself didn't help either.
Another gravely sigh, Logan threw Billy over his shoulders like a burlap sack. Billy making a small 'eep' as he gracelessly did so. She wasn't expecting the royal treatment, but a little dignity would have been nice. Billy resting her chin in her gloved hand, glaring faintly at the back of his cowboy hat. "Thanks."
A grunt was her only reply as Logan carried her roughly back into the house.
"Hold it right there!" Scott and Kurt froze, standing in the pantry with two cans of Fizzy Fruit Frenzies in hand. Billy stood in the pantry door, glaring openly at the two, forefinger pointed dangerously at them. "I caught you red handed, you thieving weasels." The boys turned, Billy shaking her head. "Taking my soda, unbelievable." She took Scott's can popping the can's tabs she took a sip, letting out satisfied baby burp. "I expected more from you Scotty." Billy winked, leaning over and grabbing a bag of cheddar flavored popcorn, bopping Scott on the forehead once with it.
"Hey!"
"Naughty!" Billy walked out of the pantry. "I'm telling Jean." Quickly she put her popcorn in the microwave. Scott stepped out quietly throwing a quick glance at Billy, the blonde stuck out her tongue blowing a big wet raspberry at him. He gave a 'humph' and left the kitchen, Kurt peeking out of the pantry. Billy looked back doing a quick double take. "What? I said I expected more from him." Reaching into the cupboard she pulled out a big bowl. "You," She said distinctly, "I like you, so it's okay."
"You don't like Scott?"
"I didn't say that." She cut in sharply. "I like Scotty boy, I just like you more." Billy admitted honestly. Kurt grinned. Billy grinned back, taking her now finished popcorn out of the microwave. "Besides, it's fun to mess with him."
"If you say so."
"I do." Billy emptied the bag into the bowl, throwing the crumpled bag effortlessly into a waste bin. Picking up the bowl she flashed Kurt her pearly whites. "I'm going to watch a movie; you want to watch it with me?"
"Really?" Kurt looked surprised in that moment.
"Totally."
"Vhat's the movie?"
"Little Shop of Horrors." Billy liked old movies. She would watch them all the time with her mother when she was little and she never really stopped. Even after she was thrown out, Billy never stopped watching them. "It's a classic; funny characters, talking killer plants. You'll love it." Kurt was puzzled.
"Is it funny or scary?" Billy tapped her lip, figuring the best way to explain.
"A little bit of both." She shrugged lightly, grabbing her soda and heading for the den, Kurt behind her more or less interested in this so called movie. "It originally was supposed to be a horror movie and all, but they figured it would be better as a comedy so they added a few musical numbers, some dance moves and some slapstick shenanigans here and there." Billy did a quick dance step for emphasis making Kurt laugh a little. "It's cheesy but in the best way." The two settled on the couch, Kurt taking a handful of popcorn. "There are some killer scenes too. You'd really have to see it to get it."
Kurt raised his hand and made a thumbs up, his mouth full his words would be unrecognizable looking like blue squirrel. It was so cute Billy had to fight down a giggle. She grabbed the remote and started the movie. For the first part, Billy was right. It was cheesy, the effects were retro and plot was uber corny, but all in all Kurt didn't mind watching it. The talking plant was pretty cool.
Billy being the outgoing person she was she would sing a few verses from every song, do a few moves from the couch, and point out all the good parts when she wasn't laughing at any which scene or remark. It was natural, not uncomfortable. "You really like ze movies, ja?" Billy smiled.
"I grew up near Hollywood. Movies are pretty big there." Her smile widened, slumping back into the couch. "I spent my childhood walking down the Hollywood walk of fame. My friends and I would hang out at coffee shops with wannabe actresses and supermodels with legs up to their neck, with talent agents on every other street looking for the next big thing." Ah, Billy remembered it well. "Half my life I dreamt I was the next Baywatch lifeguard." Billy couldn't see it, but a pale blush crossed across Kurt's temples.
"Really?"
"Yeah, but my parents didn't want that for me." Her smile went sour, her blue eyes icy. "They wanted what all parents wanted. They wanted me to go to college and be a doctor or a lawyer, a real big business big shot." She laughed frostily, tangling her fingers against her scalp. "Funny how things change."
"…" The movie was still playing but neither was watching anymore at least not with the same comfort as before. Billy's mind was elsewhere and Kurt was watching Billy with concern in his golden eyes. The blonde stewed in a silent anger, glaring at the TV screen as if it were who she was really angry at, but they were clear across the continent. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, pushing the attitude down for another time.
With a deep sigh and a broken smile she glanced at her blue friend.
"Well, who needs all that drama anyway?" Billy turned up the volume and went back to watching the movie. "I got it great here, what more could a girl ask for?"
Kurt was surprised. For that brief instant, he saw the angry part of Billy's character. She was hurt, he realized. She was hurt and angry and parents were playing a major role in the part. Come to think of it, she never mentioned them the night before. Not once. Whatever they did it wasn't something she was going to forgive anytime soon. Kurt had a pretty good guess as to what.
"Zhey didn't take it vell, did zhey?" Billy looked at him, no smile, no friendly peace, just looked at him. She found herself hiding her eyes, staring away knuckles white against her cheek.
"…No." She said. "No they didn't."
"Vhat did zhey do?"
"Who cares, god knows they don't."
"Do you talk to zhem?" He asked, she shook her head.
"Not a word."
"Do you vant to?"
"Not. At. All."
Kurt stared at her for the longest time.
"Stop it. You're making me feel self-conscious." Billy turned her head cracking a smile. Kurt smiled back scratching the back of his neck.
"S-sorry." Billy looked up and laughed.
"Don't be." She leaned over and pinched his cheek. "Ugh, you are just so cute I can't stand it!" Bashfully Kurt smiled, rubbing the back of his head.
"D-danke." Billy smiled sitting back on her end of the couch.
"You're welcome. Now let's get back to the movie, this is the best part!"
Billy and Kurt finished the movie happily, Billy laughing and Kurt making fun, pretending to be a man eating plant. Ororo watched them quietly outside the den, smiling briefly before looking at a thin white envelope in her hands. Between her fingers she could see in printed letter: Billy A. Quinn. Ororo held the letter up, looking at it and Billy back and forth for a time. The young girl giggled running around the couch as Kurt made a fake attempt to eat her. Ororo watched a moment longer before tucking the letter away.
Ororo walked off quietly, letting them be. She would be sure to dispose of the letter later.
Sorry it took me this long, my readers.
I had some writer's block, mostly about how I would start this chapter...It took a while. But with it I managed to make something special to go with it. I managed to draw a rough sketch of Billy, I'm an Artist as well as a attempted writer. So if you want to take a peeky-poo. the link is:
.com/gallery/#/d2tl2l0
Well, after all that writing and being it so early in the morning I'm turning in.
I'll have another chapter out as soon as I can.
Reviews are welcome, I really love to hear what you guys have to say.
ta ta loves.