She always takes it with a heart of stone
Cuz all she does is throws it back to me
I've spent a lifetime looking for someone
Don't try to understand me
Just simply do the things I say
***
" It about damn time someone showed up. These people annoy me!" Wanda spat as the Blackbird landed. Wolverine rolled his eyes. He'd had his fill of Wanda.
" So, watcha waitin' for?" Pietro smiled as he sped from the plane and next to Wanda.
" Pietro?!"
" Xavier said I might be of some use to you guys. Glad someone else recognizes my potential."
" Yak yak yak. If you're as good a hero as you are a bragger, this should be easy." From Evan as he stepped from the plane.
" Can't the two of you just stop....just for five minutes?" Jean asked miserably, trudging from the plane.
Wanda glared at her brother, slapping him upside the head, " Can't you go just one day without causing trouble?"
Evan snickered, " I like Wanda."
" Watch it," Pietro warned and then smiled slyly, " She belongs to Toad."
" I do NOT!" She yelled, blasting him with a hex bolt. " I don't even LIKE Toad. I just think he's okay. That's IT!"
Wolverine sighed and approached Jean, " This all of you?"
" Beast is shutting down the plane. Rogue's putting on her boot. It's been one heck of a flight."
" Black Womb II is located somewhere in the downtown Osaka area. My guess is they are pretty secure if they handle mutants 24/7. So, we're going to have to be very careful."
" Professor Xavier thought a more serious team would be useful." Beast commented as he and Rogue stepped from the Blackbird. " Storm is on call if we need her."
***
Love is a feeling
Give it when I want it
Cuz I'm on fire
Quench my desire
Give it when I want it
Talk to me woman
Give in to me
Give in to me
***
Toad looked through the window at the playroom. It was separate from the nursery. It had light colored carpeting and sky blue paint. Little this and thats also stenciled there. Stuffed animals and blocks and other assorted toys for children aligned the walls and corners. The oldest of the Black Womb II babies must have been 3. Meaning he was born before coming or was the reason for the second lab. Toad didn't know, nor care.
" Cute aren't they?"
He turned to see Jasper smiling at him. He turned back to peek into the playroom. " I'm amazed how many there are."
" More than our small group, Todd."
He felt the arms wrap around his waist as Jasper rested his head on Toad's shoulder and nuzzled his neck, " Ours could be in there someday soon. Kings and Queens of the nursery. You and I....we are capable of creating great..."
" Stop."
Jasper was surprised and let Toad go, looking at him curiously. Toad cast a worried glance up at him, " Jasper, these aren't puppies. They're not kittens. They aren't goldfish, they aren't toys. These are children. Living, breathing children. Everyone keeps refering to these children as objects. They are lives. Lives similar to the ones we used to be. Is Black Womb II going to steal away everything they are too? The way they did to us?"
" The patients never see their children and visa versa. Except this way. We can see the brood from out here in their nursery and playroom. We're not allowed to have contact with them."
" I can't accept that."
" Why?"
" I don't want children."
Jasper gasped, " But, Todd! You don't understand...this is your purpose."
" My purpose?" He snapped. " It's my purpose to have you drop puppies for me? No...not for me...for Black Womb? No. If I have children, I want it to be because I want them. Because I can offer them a life worth living....not because I simply CAN father them." He turned to face Jasper again, " All I ever wanted as a baby was to be held, Jasper. I wanted to be held, cuddled, loved. I wanted to be just like a normal baby...coddled by Mom."
" You are loved, Todd," Jasper whispered, coming closer to hug him. " I already told you..."
" Love from another person is different than love from a parent. Mine...didn't even want me."
" You need to stop beating yourself up like this." Jasper said. " This is only temporary, I swear."
Toad glanced up at him. Jasper nodded, " Patience is a virtue. We'll leave if that's what you want. Just not now. Too dangerous to try to simply walk out. I swear, Todd. I'll take care of you. Just trust me."
Toad turned away and walked down the hall. Jasper didn't follow this time, sensing he wanted to be alone. Toad leaned back against the wall and crouched. " Are they even worried about me? Why haven't they come looking for me?"
" T-3?"
Toad glanced up and gasped, " Nana?"
" Yes. I heard you were hear. I had to come too. No one.."
" STOP!" He spat at her. " I'm tired of everyone saying that! I'm the only one who knows me! Everyone who says that tries to hit on me! I just want to be able to live a normal life like everyone else! Like Pietro, like Kurt, like...Wanda."
" You really like her, don't you?"
" She hates me."
" Her loss," The nurse leaned down and helped Toad to his feet. " Seems abandonment is a pattern with you."
" I hate you," he growled at the nurse. He pushed past her and continued down the hall. The nurse glared after him. " Such rage hidden under that exterior."
" Can you blame him?" Jasper spat, casting an accusing stare her way before pushing past her and down the hall.
***
You always knew just how to make me cry
And never did I ask you questions why
It seems you get your kicks from hurting me
Don't try to understand me
Because your words just aren't enough
***
="Thank you for your time, Mrs. Pennywise." A woman spoke. Todd had watched her in the yard from his dingey room in the attack of the orphanage. He plopped onto his old cot, knowing very well, like all the others, this one was not going to adopt him. No one seemed to want to. He'd been shifted to foster homes now and again, but they all returned him. He had finally given up on wanting parents.
" Not very elaborate decor," he heard coming up the stairs. Mrs. Pennywise didn't reply, put waved towards Todd. He sat up as the young woman from downstairs stepped forward and examined him.
" A mutant?"
" Indeed," Mrs. Pennywise said highly.
" Poor thing."
Todd made no reply.
" I'll be glad to take him off your hands."
Ms. White was a nice woman. She fed him and clothed him, though they were factory seconds. No matter. Todd never asked for the life of a prince. Just for someone to love him.
" Ever want to travel, Todd?"
" Yeah."
" Good," Ms. White was always direct. " We're going to America. The land of opportunity."
" America?!" Todd leapt up with a big smile, " I've read lots about it!"
" This old house?"
" Has potential," Ms. White smiled, looking at the rundown but not condemned building. " Just think, a little elbow-grease and it'll be home."
Todd shook his head with a smile. Ms. White was more like a friend than a mom. The building could certainly be home. It wasn't long before they had moved in. It still wasn't much. Never was. Ms. White never showed off being rich, but she always showed off being able. He was sent to school very quickly after coming to Bayville.
School wasn't that great. Just like back in York, all the kids here picked on him. And again he was misdiagnosed as mentally retarded for his troubles. He would spend his days in Special Ed, even then refusing to put his efforts forth. It worried his teachers. The things that got him through with suspicioun were his homework papers, completed as though he were of normal intelligence. It was in the 5th grade his teachers realized they had misdiagnozed him. He WAS of normal intelligence and DID pay attention to what was being said. At home, Ms. White encouraged him, which made him perform. At school, nothing...so he did not. He went about his own way.
Suddenly a new thought came to mind. So many memories, yet he almost forgot how he ended up with the Brotherhood...how he was never truley worried about seeing the principal time and time again. Now...he remembered why.
He was supposed to be at a church lock in. Some all night party. He didn't want to go, but Ms. White encouraged him to do so. She told him that he might actually make some friends this way. She had made plans to spend the evening alone. It did not go that way. Todd had becom ill. He remembered now. He had stomach pains and wanted to go home and crawl into his own bed where he could feel a little better. He was released. It was only a short walk away and someone walked him home. When he opened the front door, he was left.
He remembered walking up the stairs....and he saw her...but...she was her anymore!~
***
Love is a feeling
Quench my desire
Give it when I want it
Takin' me higher
Love is a woman
I don't wanna hear it
Give in to me
Give in to me
***
Toad shot awake and looked around. Jasper was nowhere to be found. No matter. They weren't attatched at the hip or anything. However, he wished he was there when he saw the Nurse putting clothes into the dresser.
" What are you doing here, Nana?"
" Nightmares, Mr. Tolansky?"
" My mother..."
The nurse seemed a little disturbed and sat beside him, " Your mother?"
" My adopted mother....she....was like me."
A brief silence. " Nonsense, Todd. You're unique."
" NO! She was a mutant! That's why she never freaked out! Ms. White was a mutant! And not just ANY mutant!"
He leapt from the bed and pushed the nurse away, " She was MYSTIQUE!"
The nurse was wide-eyed. " That's silly, Todd! What would Mystique want...." She paused.
Toad eyed her and pointed, " And you...YOU!" He grabbed the nurse's scrubs, " You were Ms. White. You were involved ALL along! WHY didn't you EVER tell me?! ANSWER ME, MYSTIQUE!!!"
The nurse growled and took her true form...Mystique. " Yes, I knew the whole time. I was the nurse that ‘raised' you. I was Ms. White...the ONLY person who ever made you feel like you were needed."
" You don't treat me like that...as yourself."
" Magneto was never supposed to be involved with Black Womb." Mystique confessed. " But, I knew it would be a perfect opportunity for him to have a mutant from Black Womb. I thought you had more potential than what you always showed me. I overheard that you were going back to York so I followed you. I overheard about Black Womb II and decided to retake the life of the nurse that cared for you. That experiment....it proved me right. I knew you had something worth keeping in you. The Brotherhood needs that, Toad."
" I don't need the Brotherhood. And I don't...need...YOU. Ever since I found OUT you were Ms. White...that wonderful evening, you've done nothing but TOY with me. You...never even let me call you my mother."
Mystique made a disgusted face. " I never wanted to BE your mother! I never was or never will be your mother! Your mother disowned you at birth! Defective or not...you were property of Black Womb. It would have been a more gradual introduction into the Brotherhood had you not come home when you did."
" Get out!"
" Face it, without me, you're nothing! Never were, never will be!"
" OUT!"
" Or what? You'll scream like a little girl for Jasper? You're psychic lover? Will he have a shapeshifting match with me? Or...will you exhibit volentary violent rage...like when you were under the influence of Wart Gas? Will you attack me, Toad?"
" Just....get out. My entire life was a lie...all because of you...and Black Womb."
" So, now what? Want to go home?" Mystique smirked.
" I don't have a home. I don't want anything to do with you ever again."
Mystique had retaken her nurse form. Toad was still vulnerable...and threatened his very life if he snitched on her. Angry or not, Mystique always had Toad under her thumb. She smiled until she saw some familiar faces in the lobby.
" Can I help you?" She asked as the nurse. Beast approached.
" We are here to see Todd Tolansky."
" We do not allow outside visitors to our patients, Sir."
" How about you let us see him, or we blow the place up?" Wanda scowled.
" Easy, Girl," Pietro warned, patting his sister on the shoulder.
Mystique saw an opportunity to take revenge on Toad for his blabber. And revenge on Magneto for a past she never told. She placed a hand on Wanda's other shoulder. " One at a time, then. I suppose I can squeeze you in. Miss..."
" Scarlet Witch. That's all you need to know."
" Very well."
" How do we know you won't lock her away?" Evan asked, stepping forward.
" Ah say we all go or no one goes." From Rogue.
" Nande?"
Everyone turned to see Ms. Yamamoto. " Is there something wrong, Nurse?"
" These mutants want to see T-3."
Ms. Yamamoto glanced at the group. She sighed, " Let them up. I'll have Jasper bring him to a visiting room. They can go in one by one. He's been through a lot the past week....I don't want to endanger his health." She smirked, " Jasper's depending on it."
Mystique "nurse" smiled weakly and led the group to the Rec Room. " I'll call you all in individually."
***
You and your friends were laughing at me that time
But it's okay
But it's okay
You won't be laughing, girl
When I'm not around
I'll be okay
And I'll
I'll never find
A better peace of mind
No
***
" Toad?"
" Why are you here?" Toad asked, sitting at the table on the other side of the room set aside for him to speak to his visitors.
" We came to help you!" Wanda spat in offense.
" Why? I thought you didn't like me."
" I don't. But I don't despise your ever being either."
" I have someone."
" This...Jasper person?"
" Yeah."
" Never thought for you to be the homosexual type."
" He's hermaphroditic."
Wanda was silent a moment and leaned on the table. " You saying you don't want to get out? We could just pack up and go home...leave you here to be worked on."
" I don't know what I want, Wanda."
Watching on one of the monitors, Mystique gave an evil chuckle, " I do."
She pressed a button, allowing a small ball to drop into the visiting room. Instantly, the green gas began to spray from it.
" What the..."
" Wart Gas!" Toad gasped. " Wanda, get out!"
" I'm not going anywhere without your slimey butt!"
" NOW! Or...."
" What?!" Wanda was in no mood for this. However, instead of a verbal answer, she was answered with strong hands about her throat, pushing her against and up a wall.
" TOAD!!!!"
" I tried being nice," his voice was harsh and predatorial. Sly and evil. He was no longer him. He was gone..lost with the insane animal nature of violence. " But, no. You put me under your spell you know."
" Toad..."
" SILENCE! For once...I'M in charge!" He slammed Wanda against the door, opening it...moreso breaking it down and pinned her down. " I've waited a looooong time to taste you."
He was definately a formidable foe. Wanda was unable to free her hands to attack. He held her wrists tightly with one hand and pulled at her clothing with the other. She tried her best to scream, letting out choked sounds. But, without the protection of the walls....Jean was able to hear the distress in her mind.
" Toad's got Wanda!"
" Where is this room?" Pietro asked.
" Next corridor...they're in the hall!"
Pietro was out the door like a shot and instantly at Wanda's side, trying his best to pull Toad from her. " Get up, Toad! Not even on your BEST day!"
" Shows what you know," Toad laughed, staring blankly up at Pietro and spitting in his face. " Today IS my best day." He stood up and grabbed Pietro.
" You think you're so hot....so powerful. You're just a pretty boy...a daddy's boy. You're all talk. And care nothing about your team. The tables have turned, Pietro. Look at me...I'm gonna beat on you...very different eh? You're usually beating on me."
He slammed Pietro down and began to squeeze at his throat. " I've waited a long time to get my revenge on you. For all those superiority trips. For...leaving...me...behind!"
Pietro coughed and choked, trying to get some air. Wanda was trying to recover and sent a hex bolt, knocking Toad off Pietro. But, Toad wasn't as dumb as he acted. He shot out his tongue and wrapped it around Pietro's throat and squeezed again.
In no time the rest of the team was in the hall. " Toad!" From Jean.
She tried to touch his mind, but his own thoughts snapped angrily at her. She was forced to back off. Beast picked up Wanda and got her out of range. Wolverine shed his claws. " You wanna play rough, Bub?"
" NO!" Wanda called. " There was some gas in the room! He....he's being controlled!"
Rogue pulled a glove from her hand, " Then Ah'll take control." She ran over and grabbed Toad's tongue. It was a few moments before he finally fell over dizzy. Pietro coughed and struggled to crawl away.
***
Don't try to tell me
Because your words just aren't enough
Live is a feeling
Quench my desire
Give it when I want it
Takin' me higher
***
Toad was about to lunge forward again when a pair of hands grabbed him. One hand over his forehead. With that, Toad dropped.
" What the hell just happened?!" Evan spat. Jasper's eyes studied the group.
" I remember you," he said in his metallic voice. " You are ‘is so-called friends." He turned to side-glance Wanda, " If I were you, I'd bail out. ‘E'll associate you..."
" I figured what he associated me with." Wanda hissed. " What the hell is going on?"
" Wart Gas. Someone set you up...us too. Black Womb II didn't want Todd for breeding...not alone. They wanted to use ‘im as a weapon."
" Very clever, Jasper."
" Ms. Yamamoto?!"
Ms. Yamamoto smiled and looked at the fallen Toad, " Wart Gas was handed over to us in agreement that we use it for..."
" Magneto." From Mystique.
" Black Womb was to NEVER involve Magneto!" Jasper hissed.
" But it did." Mystique smiled. " I was the nurse. I was Ms. White...I was Principal Darkholme. Other than you, I'm the only one who knew Toad from birth."
" You have a paper thin commitment to your kids, y'know that?" Rogue growled. Mystique cast a cruel stare at her. " Toad is not now nor ever was MY CHILD. I'm disgusted at the idea of having him as my adopted son for those few years. To hear him say he loved me like a mother. It made my insides turn."
" Black Womb II is financed by Magneto," Ms. Yamamoto smiled.
" Then we'll have to cut off the supply." Wolverine smiled.
" Destroy Black Womb II and you might as well kill the children in the nursery as well. These mutants are teenagers, unfit to care for babies of their own. They just make them...as guinie pigs for us."
" You can't control ‘im with Wart Gas!" Jasper yelled " It causes blank rage and no psychic powers except mine were able to penetrate it."
A boney spike flew towards the women, pinning Ms. Yamamoto to the wall.
" Good shot, Spyke!" Rogue smiled.
Mystique turned to run but Rogue nodded to the team. She took a great leap until she was in front of Mystique and shot out her tongue, wrapping it around her ankles and lifting her into the air and slamming her into the hard floor. Pietro ran over and grabbed her key-tag.
" I'm sure my pappy would LOVE to know about your two-timing. Trying to use his own program to kill his kids."
" If you tell him, I'll kill Toad."
A heavy foot rested on her throat, " No one will kill Todd," Jasper smirked. " ‘E's a survivor."
" Beast, have Storm knock out the power. We're breaking out Black Womb II."
" There's too many to fit into the Blackbird," Jean mentioned. " Over 50 teens and 30 infants and toddlers."
Jasper turned to them, " I will deal with the patients. Black Womb patients look out for one another."
He turned to Ms. Yamamoto and smiled. She smiled back, " Kisama no baka. Without Black Womb, you are nothing."
" Lady, you need to zip your trap."
" It's ungentlemanly to hit a woman, ne?"
" Indeed," Jasper smiled, taking on the form of Ms. Yamamoto and removing her glasses and punching her across the face. He peered down at Mystique, " As for you....don't ever let me catch you around ‘im again. I won't be so sweet next time."
" I'll get my revenge on all of you," she smiled at him, " Not even you can stop me."
Rogue rolled her eyes and touched Mystique's face, knocking her unconcious. " Ah suggest the sooner the better."
***
Talk to me woman
Love is a feeling
Give in to me
Give in to me
Give in to me
***
" The alarms!" Duke observed, glancing up at the flashing lights. He and the mutants present gasped when Ms. Yamamoto ran in and returned as Jasper, " Gather the tots! We're evacuating! We've been ‘ad!"
" Where will we go?" Vixen asked.
" There are three girls in labor," Wolfe added.
Those in the med-lab, take them to the plane awaiting on the roof. Also, fit as many of the tots as you can. The rest of us can make a run for it. Hurry! Extra security will show up shortly. Defend if you must!"
" Where are YOU going?!" Mudley asked, stepping forward.
" Todd's down. I have to get ‘im out and on the plane. He'll need restraints if ‘e wakes prematurely."
Before anyone could argue, Jasper was back out into the hall and heading back to the team of X-Men and Brotherhood.
***
I don't wanna
I dont' wanna
I don't wanna hear it
Quench my desire
I'm on fire
Give it to me woman
I don't wanna hear it
Tell it to the preacher
Give in to me
Give in to me
Give in to me
***
" Is everyone settled?" Beast asked.
" We won't be able to fly with a full plane," Jean remarked.
" Why don't a few of us stay with the Black Womb II patients? This way we can stay in contact." Evan suggested.
" Ah'll second that."
Wolverine turned. " Wanda, you feeling alright?"
" Peachy."
" Pick your half of the team. You're going with Black Womb II."
She didn't argue. " I want Jasper."
" I'm not about to go with you, Woman," Jasper hissed. " I'm not leaving ‘im. More than I can say for the rest of ya."
" Fine, I want Jean." Wanda remarked, " And Spyke."
" Take Beast," Wolverine remarked. " I'll put the Blackbird on auto pilot and treat the sprouts back there. They may need medical attention down there."
***
Love is a woman
Love is a feeling
Give in to me
Give in to me
Give in to me
***
The door were about to close as the plane was already off the ground. Jasper stayed close to Toad, not liking the feeling of this particular plane. He saw the Black Womb jet take flight as well. It was how they got from York to Osaka in the first place. He hoped they would be alright in the fray.
He gasped as the Blackbird was hit.
" Damn!" Wolverine growled. Pietro tripped backwards knocking Jasper over. Without him holding on to Toad, his body slid to the not yet closed door and out.
Both Pietro and Jasper let out a yell. They both tripped over each other as they tried to get to the door before Toad fell out. No use.
" Claws, do something!" Pietro yelled.
" He....He's gone!"
" GONE?!" Jasper yelled running over to the pilot, " ‘OW can ‘e be gone?! ‘E just fell!"
" Cool it, kid. He's not on the screens. That attack was planned."
" Whoever it was knew exactly which plane Toad would be in," Pietro commented.
Both of them looked at him, which made him jump, " I didn't do it! I haven't talked to him yet!"
" Let's catch up with the rest of them. We can't chance anything ‘appening to the babies," Jasper finally said in a defeated manner. " After they are safe, I'm going back out to ‘unt for ‘im."
***
Love is a feeling
I don't wanna hear it
Quench my desire
Takin' me higher
Satisfy the feeling
I don't like it, Baby
Talk to me, Lady
Give in to me
Give in to me
Give in to me
***
Blurry...but dark. Slowly, Toad woke up and wiped the sleep from his eyes. God how he head hurt. He looked around. Bones...lots of bones. Catacombs under some streets. Where was he? This couldn't be Osaka....not even Japan. Didn't feel like York either.
" I'm glad to see you're awake."
Toad turned, trying to hide the trembling. He hated the idea of being alone with strangers. Hated the idea...of being alone with HIM even more.
" What do you want?"
" No need to be afraid, Toad." Mangeto stepped over, his helmet removed. Toad lowered himself submissively. " I merely pulled you from a dangerous predicament."
" Where...is everyone?"
" They are safe. They got away."
" They...left me behind?" Toad asked and the frowned, " HE left me behind?"
Magneto was silent a long moment before kneeling down next to Toad, " I know you've had a hard time lately."
" Why do you care? You've never had any interest in me before."
" Not true. I think....you're valuable." Magneto's voice was so calm, so well rehearsed. He knew Toad better than anyone thought.
" I'm.....scared." Toad found himself whispering, finally releasing the tension and beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
" Don't be. No one's going to hurt you if you're with me."
" Where..."
" Don't worry about it. I just need you to trust me, Toad. I'm able to offer you peace."
" At what price to you?"
" Bold words for a boy in your position, Toad." Magneto said with narrowed eyes. " But, I'll forgive you. The stress can make a wicked tongue."
" I feel as if I could clip hedges with it right now," Toad whispered angrilly, trying to get up. He was still too weak and dropped to his knees.
" Make the pain go away."
" I'll make it all go away, Toad. I promise from this moment....to take care of you." He held out a gloved hand. Toad, half-lidded eyes sore and tired, peered up at it and frowned. He was defeated. He lowered his head again in submission, never casting eyes at Mangeto and placed his hand into the glove offered to him.
To Be Continued
