Hey! Just Kchuu here this time! Sketchy has an eye-doctor appointment :[ So anyway, hope you like this chapter! It's prank time :] And a little sweetness. Also… Some background on why Todd didn't join the X-Men! …… also, I knowwww it's spelled "Jocular." But it's a pun, yo!! Anyway, seeya next chapter!

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Kurt ran like he'd never run in his whole life. The ground under him was a blur, gone for a moment, then a blur again. He was sprinting his very fastest towards the school. He glanced down at his inducer-watch, shiny-new and fixed from Beast. If he got there within the next minute, he could catch Todd on his way out! As he bamfed to a safe place on a side street near the school, the bell rang. Just as he ran up in front of the main door, the high schoolers were streaming out, congregating everywhere. He looked around for the familiar greasy head. He ducked through crowds of people, ignoring questions and greetings. He sniffed, but there was no hint of swampy odor among the musky teenage scents. He spotted the brotherhood jeep, with a familiar boy leaning on the hood. The tall, dark-haired teen was glaring around, no-doubt disgruntled at how he had to wait for the other guys. "Y-yo, Lance!" Kurt ran up. "H-have you seen Todd?" His breathing was heavy from running.

Lance blinked, "You scheduled to fight him or something? Weird, I never thought you guys planned those things." Lance gave a shrug, not feeling particularly up to arguing with the X-geek's furball mascot. "He left not long after fourth, said something 'bout not feeling well." He gave Kurt a long glare and growled, "I suggest you don't bother him, he's had it rough enough today without you pummeling him."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, Alvers!" Kurt made an annoyed expression, which then turned into a smile. "...Thanks!" He scampered off behind the building. If Todd already went home, and Lance was waiting at school... That meant that Quicksilver and the Blob probably weren't at the house. Kurt leaped behind the nearest building. He could make it in one port if he really.... Tried. Kurt landed in front of the brotherhood house, out of breath, but he made it. He knocked on the door. "Todd?"

Todd groaned at the noise, and tried to roll himself off the couch. He winced as his newly obtained bruises gave out their objections. Shuffling to the door, he opened it just enough to stick out his head. "Yeah, wadda yah wa- oh, it's you." Todd face went from annoyed to agitated. "What are yah here for Fuzzball?"

"I *gasp* got here as fast as I could... *hah hah* sorry!" A concerned look flashed across Kurt's face. "Y-you okay, Todd? Vh-vhat happened to you?" He pushed slightly on the door. The younger boy's face was bruised, and he looked miserable. Kurt's heart twisted with worry.

Todd didn't mind showing his irritation at Kurt coming out of nowhere. "I'm surprised yah didn't already hear it yo, the whole school's havin' a field day with it. Though, I guess since you didn't go today, it's not that weird that word didn't get around to you." Todd spat out the last sentence spitefully. Giving an angry glare to the taller boy. "'Tro let it slip that I'm bi, and now the whole damn school knows. Lance just thinks it's a rumor, an' Fred barely knows what 'bi' is, but everyone else had no trouble findin' new ways to make my life hell." His angry expression faded to a blank one. He walked back to the couch he had been on moments ago, leaving the door open for Kurt to follow if he wanted. Plopping down on the sofa with a whimper, he said "Duncan an' his crew did this to me after they heard."

Kurt stepped softly after him, and sat on the couch beside the younger boy. "I... I'm really sorry, Todd... I would've been there, but... My inducer broke from being in the rain...." He put a tentative arm around Todd's shoulder. "I'm so sorry....."

Todd creaked open an eye to look at the other boy, " Yeah yeah, I'm used to being beat up, that part was no big deal." Todd leaned forward, trying to escape Kurt's touch. "What was a big deal was what they said. An' I'm practically quotin' here-" Todd stared right into Kurt's eyes, his own reflecting the hurt he was shoving into the back of his mind. " 'Sure is funny that the fucker who'll take anyone, is too disgusting to HAVE anyone.' " Todd tilted his head, brow furrowing as he took his gaze from Kurt to the floor. "An' you weren't around to prove 'em wrong."

The fur on Kurt's back bristled with anger. "Those.... Jerks!" His hand tightened on Todd's shoulder, then let go. All inhibitions were gone. "I'll show them!!" He stomped towards the door, flipping the inducer back on. "I know they practice after school on the field by the theatre building..."

Todd turned to Kurt, a furious expression on his face and yelled, "Don't BOTHER Fuzzbutt! It'll just give them another reason tah beat me up!"

Kurt stopped. "But.... They can't just get avay vith that!!! I can't let them get avay vith talking to you like that!! I've got to... Got to do something!" His tail whipped furiously in rage.

"It's not something that's gonna stop because one German exchange student says it's wrong! Hell, they get away with it every day even when a teacher was right there! YOU got away with it for everyday up until now!" Todd scowled at the boy, "Or did falling off that branch yesterday make you forget that you HATED me up until a couple days ago?"

Kurt glared at Todd, growling slightly in frustration. "Todd.... There's a difference. Vhen you and I fought.... ve vere equals. You vere fighting me, and I vas fighting you... I didn't gang up on you! I faced you for real reasons.... I didn't pick on you because it vas easy! Vhat really gets me is how zey use... the fact that you're different... as an excuse to gang up on you! And now that we're--"

"What? Now that we're together?" Todd gave a barking laugh, no humor in it at all. "That's rich Fuzzy! Ganging up or not, everyone looks down on me fo' bein' 'Different'. Think about it. You hated me before fo' some reason, 'cause I was DIFFERENT than what you thought was 'good'. Then for some god-damned reason, you figure out that I'm not a huge bastard, and yah realize you were wrong." Todd turned on the couch, ignoring the pain it caused. Now he was kneeling on it, chest facing the backrest. "They're just like you were, only they're not gonna figure out that I'm more than a heap of garbage. Remember what I said in that bathroom two days ago? NO ONE CARES."

"Aren't you glad that I know you better now?! Aren't you glad that I know you're not a... huge bastard? And now that you're... my friend... I have to protect you! Even if it means I have to face the whole team myself!" He clenched his hands into fists. His mind was a whirlwind of rage. He took a breath, and stepped back towards the couch. He crouched behind the backrest, eye to eye with the injured boy. "Todd....." He said as tenderly as he could manage. "What can I do..... to show you that someone cares..? ...that I care...."

The word 'friend' stung. Todd shifted away from the induced face that just yesterday he had known intimately. "Glad, sure I'm glad. Nice to know someone who's not me can tell I'm an actual person. But..." He looked away, eyes lost somewhere in his past. "You can't prove that, no one can. Every time I try tah let someone-" His eyes snapped back to Kurt, piercing the other boy with his amber gaze. "They aren't there when it counts. I've looked out for myself since I was six, I don't need you tah fight my battles."

"But Todd... I vant to be there for you.... I vant to help.... I'm sorry I couldn't be there today.... my inducer broke...." He stood, breaking eye contact. He turned away from the younger boy. "Vell... If you don't vant to trust me... I can't force you...." Kurt wanted to tell him about his meeting with Xavier... But he knew now things were too delicate...

Todd felt confused, he wanted to trust Kurt, something he hadn't wanted to do since he was a kid. But it was too hard, if Kurt changed his mind one day, he would be alone and open to be hurt....Again.... " Yeah, whatever Fuzzy." He let his gaze soften, and a small smirk came to his face. "So you just here to check up on me? Or did yah want something?"

"Vell, first of all, I came here because I vanted to see you." The hurt was cold in his voice. "Second... Logan noticed my injuries and thought that you were abusing me.." He laughed a little. "So I had to talk to the Professor about it... He's fine vith me, and fine vith us being together... but.... he just vanted to talk to you..." He began to walk slowly towards the door. "But you don't have to go if you don't vant to.... I guess I came here mainly... because I vanted to see you again..." Todd's closedness left a knife wound in Kurt's heart. He always did this. He was always too easily trusting, and then people left him...

Todd gave a small frown at Kurt's first sentence, didn't fuzzy know when he was joking around? But at the next part, Todd felt frozen, a look of horror on his face. "A-abusing you? Shit...I mean..." He ran a hand through his not as greasy as usual hair. " God..." --I'd slit my fucking throat before I did that, or at least I hope I would.-- His eyes darted to Kurt, questioning him, and finally noticing the bruise that the boys fur had hid so well last night. He looked at the floor, shame welling up in his chest, causing it to feel tight. --I didn't mean it like that, but... I still hurt him, stupid, idiot frog.-- Hearing the rest of what Kurt said, he struggled with himself for a moment. Finally asking in a small voice, "Do you want me to talk with 'im yo?"

Kurt shrugged, still not making eye contact. "If you vant to..." He hated himself for missing school... for breaking his promise... for not being there when Todd needed him. He kicked at the carpet, muttering German profanities under his breath.

Todd gave a little gulp. He really didn't want to, but right now all he could think of was making amends for that bruise. "I'll do it if it'll...If it'll make you happy, yo." His eyes were wide open, desperately trying to find Kurt's, to give himself some kind of assurance that this was definitely NOT an abusive relationship.

Kurt, surprised, met eyes with the younger boy. "You mean it? ...You'll actually come to the mansion, and..... and... talk vith the professor?" I thought Todd vanted to avoid the Institute at all costs... Not to mention vhat Mystique vould do to him if she found out he was in enemy territory for a reason like this.... His stomach turned at the thought of her name, but he didn't dwell on it for long. "I ... I thought you vere mad at me..."

Giving out a small sigh of relief that his eyes had finally met Kurt's. "Y-yeah, I mean it. I'll talk wit' him all you want." He squirmed a little, trying to pick his next words carefully, "I...I wasn't mad at you yo, a lot of crap just happened today. An' when you weren't there I....I felt really alone."

A warm feeling blossomed in Kurt's stomach at his boyfriend's words. "Aww... Todd..." His voice was full of tenderness as he took a few steps forward, placing his hand on the younger boy's. "All I could think about today vas how much I just vanted to spend time vith you..." He smiled, and his not-face smiled, too, although Kurt was sure the effect wasn't as good. "But before ve talk to the professor.... vhat do you say ve have a little... fun, first." His smile turned into a mischievous grin.

Finally able to relax at Kurt's forgiveness (which was what his mind perceived it to be), he let his usual grin fall into place. "Depends yo, what kind of fun we talkin'?" He turned his hand so he could hold Kurt's, and he let his thumb rub softly over the short fur covering the digits.

Kurt's face turned to surprise. "O-oh! Vell... I vasn't thinking about that.... but... not that I don't vant to do that...." His own plan seemed silly now. "I... I vas just thinking that ve could work together.... like we did with the frogs... to get back at Duncan and those football jerks!"

Todd blinked. "What did you think I was talkin' 'bout yo?" He let his grin widen, "Though kissin' would be fun, I gotta say, messin' with jocks is too hilarious tah pass up." He stood with a mutter about 'stupid bruises', then turned back to Kurt, smiling wide. "Beam us up, Scotty!"

Kurt put his arms around Todd's shoulders gently, and in a flash, they were on the roof of the theatre building overlooking the football field. "There zey are, those jerks!" The sky was darker than usual, still overcast and gloomy. The lights were all on the football field, and the team was on the muddy grass, just tossing the ball around until their coach would come out for the real practice at 3:00. Kurt crouched by the small wall at the edge of the roof. "So... you're probably better at this delinquent stuff zan I am... Do you have any ideas?"

Todd's eyes darted from area to area, trying to find anything they could use to their advantage. Spying some water bottles nearby, he said, "Well, I could slime their drinks, but that may kill them if it sticks in their throat, so that's out." He looked over at Kurt, obviously weighing something in his mind. "I don't wanna risk you 'portin around, or showin' yer Fuzzy self. Yah look enough like the fake-o you that they could put two an' two together." He let his eyes drift again, settling on the lights above. "We could make the lights up there explode. Whaddabout that?"

"That sounds good, but..." Kurt looked pensive. "I vas thinking that ve'd vant to make zis scare.... a little more personal." He grinned. "If ve bust those lights, zey vouldn't be able to tell it vas me that easily...." He flicked off his holo-watch, his yellow eyes glowing slightly in the low light. "And I can be pretty scary in the dark..."

Todd's grin became wicked looking. "I like the way you think, Kurt." Todd grabbed the boy's hand and led him to the locked circuit breaker in the middle of the roof. "Think you can 'port the door offa this thing without affecting the stuff inside?"

Kurt grimaced slightly, averting his eyes. "P-port the door off it? Geez, this really seems like a job for Kitty... Screwing vith electronics and all that crap... I'll try, though!" He began inspecting the door, figuring out exactly its details. Scrunching his eyes closed, he wrapped his hands around the door handle. With a loud BAMF, he was three feet away, holding half the metal door in his hand. The rest of the door was a twisted metal wreck... but an unlocked twisted metal wreck.

Todd gave Kurt an amazed stare, "Wow Fuzzy, I'm impressed!" He then quickly turned to the now open box. Ripping open a panel, he stared at the wiring inside, pulling out two seemingly identical green wires, he said "Cover yo' ears yo." And crossed the two wires. The result was a spark that leapt between them, and a sudden explosion as the nearest light's bulbs burst. The next closest ones followed, and within a minute all the lights were out of commission. Todd searched out the glowing eyes behind him, giving a smug smirk. "Betcha didn't know I had a way with machines, huh Fuzzbutt? Anyway, that's yer cue."

Kurt grinned. "Alright, but I need you to do one more thing...." He grabbed Todd, and the next second, they were in the announcers box by the field. He flicked the microphone on, and passed it towards Todd. "They vould recognize my accent too much... and besides, you've got to make it personal." With one last devilish grin, Kurt was gone.

Smiling and hyped up on adrenaline. Todd did his best impersonation of a sports announcer (which was pretty darn good if he said so himself) yelling into the microphone, "Thursday Thursday THURSDAY! Well get ready you folks at home because we've got an exciting match tonight!" He watched in fascination as the jocks scurried around, trying to figure out what was going on. "Bayville's Hawks versus the rough and tough and much more attractive Euro-Panthers! This is gonna be a slaughter tonight folks, the hawks don't have the same chance that a snowball in hell does!"

Kurt bamfed behind one of the jocks, all that showed in the darkened field were his eyes and teeth. He shoved the boy, hard. The jock lost his balance, and tumbled to the ground, taking another guy down with him. Kurt disappeared, and appeared again behind another boy in a noisy flash of purple smoke. He kicked this kid, hard, in the back. Another flash, and soon the boys were all falling one way or another.

"Oooh, that's first down, second down, and about ten other downs folks!" Todd grinned insanely at the mike, " Looks like all the hawks have taken a dive! That's a touch down for our European friends, but honestly folks, it's just one guy on that team! Who knew the Hawks would be such a pushover? Of course, it could be that he's just plain better than they are." Todd skimmed the field with his eyes, watching the now thoroughly confused football team. "What's this folks? Looks like the Hawks team captain, Duncan, is getting back up! You gotta admire that determination folks! Even if some people-" Todd's voice dripped with malice at the next part, "Should just keep their face in the dirt where it belongs."

Duncan stood unsteadily. "H-hey! Who's there?!" He thought he recognized the voice from somewhere, and... In another moment, he was flat on his back in the mud. On top of him, crouching on his chest, was a midnight blue demon! Kurt crouched low, close to Duncan's face. "Before you pick on others next time... remember. Some of those people... have very strong friends." With a loud bang, the demon was gone. The next second saw him in the announcers box, and then he 'ported himself and Todd to a wooded area close to the mansion. Kurt couldn't stop laughing. "the look on his FACE!"

Todd began to laugh along with the other boy, "His face? You shoulda seen how all of 'em were runnin! Like chickens after their heads get cut off!" Todd leaned into the other boy, laughter subsiding. His face was against Kurt's shoulder, and all he was really looking at was the tan fabric of the boy's overshirt. This feels...Nice.

Kurt placed his arms tenderly around the other boy's shoulders. "Zis feels... nice..." He kissed Todd's forehead gently. "Thanks for helping me prank those guys... and for agreeing to... this." He glanced at the mansion. Most of the X-Men were home now, and their lighted windows twinkled brightly in the stormy evening.

Todd lifted his eyes to Kurt, suddenly wondering if the blue teen COULD read his mind. "Yeah well, yer welcome." He looked over to the mansion, lights on in most rooms. "Think we can avoid 'em? I don't wanna explain why I decided to pop in fo' a visit."

"Vell, I could port in... but I need a little break, first. I'm getting better at taking two people, but it still vears me out a lot....." He started to drop into a sitting position slowly, his arms pulling Todd gently next to him. "You wanna sit out here for a little while? Or.... Do you not vant to lose your nerve...?"

"N-naw, yo. I'll sit wit' chu for a bit." Letting Kurt's soft grip pull him down alongside him, Todd shifted so he sat next to the boy. Hesitating for a moment, he leaned his head on Kurt's shoulder. " Wonder how we neveh figured out we'd be so good together before now."

"Haha, probably too busy beating each other up." Kurt tilted his head to lean on Todd's. "You know, I used to think about you a lot... I always kinda liked how you were able to be yourself all the time... No matter vhat anyvone thought. I think if we veren't on these teams... Ve would have been friends a lot sooner.."

"Heh, probably yo. Every once in a while I wonder if I shoulda taken up Baldy on his invite here." He closed his eyes, sighing at the pleasant pressure of Kurt's head on his. "Still not sure if I made the right decision dawg, but I can tell you I wouldn't've fit in here."

Kurt turned his face, seeking eye-contact, his cheek squishing against Todd's head. "Vhy do you think that? I'm sure you'd fit in here if you gave it a good try! Heck, Lance did it, and he vas a good X-Man... vhile he lasted."

Todd let his eyes meet Kurt's. Did he really want to tell this boy? He had never said any of this aloud before. Deciding that he owed Kurt that much, he began to explain. "Lance is rough around the edges dawg, but he's a good guy, and he has a good head on his shoulders." He gave a sigh and turned his eyes away from Kurt, his face still directed towards the boy. "Baldy could see that, but with me...I'm screwed up in the head, I know it, Baldy knows it, heck even Mystique knows! But the boss just let me into the Brotherhood, no questions asked. Baldy had to see if I would crack under the pressure of a few lightning bolts before he considered lettin' me in."

Kurt squeezed Todd in a gentle hug. "You're not screwed up... Ve all have our issues! I'm sure there vas a reason... or maybe Storm just vent a little overboard... Vhateveh the reason, I'm sure if you ever decided to fight vith us..." Kurt drew his arms back, cupping Todd's cheeks in his furry fingers. "You vould be a great member of our team."

Todd wanted to argue with him, to try and convince him he was wrong. He WAS screwed in the head: that was a fact. But Kurt's hands were so warm and soft, it felt so accepting, almost...Forgiving. Like anything he'd done bad was alright now, because he had taken care of it for him. So all Todd could do was lean into the other boy's hands, and whisper a lie. "I believe you, Fuzzy."

Kurt's face lit up. "Vunderbar! Now, are you ready to see the Professor?" He stood, stretching, and flexed his tail. "I think I'm ready to port again!" Todd's trust, his belief, had erased all sadness lurking in the corners of his mind. He reached down his hand to help Todd up.

Todd grasped the offered hand and hoisted himself up. "Good yo, I don't wanna put this off anymore than I already have." He held Kurt's hand tightly, and soon all that was left of the two was the smell of brimstone.