For the Good of All: Oneshot

For the Good of All

"Tobes!"

Of all the losses Jim had experienced, nothing compared to this; Jim wanted to scream his anger to the world. His eyes burned as if his tears were an entity of their own, wailing in their agony. He could faintly hear his comrades behind him, AAARRRGGHH!!!, in particular, who roared at the loss of his wingman. However, at least for those first few moments, no other sound was able to process within his mind. Toby was all he could think about.

A hand rested on Jim's shoulder. He knew that touch, and at first, he didn't dare turn his dirty, tear-stained face to meet those eyes of hers, knowing whatever he would see would only increase the blow destroying his heart.

Claire didn't say a word to him, merely climbing into the remains of the truck to throw her weight on the limp body that belonged to one they knew so well. Her cries were much quieter than his had initially been, but her tears ran much more freely.

The two remained there in their agony. Jim, understanding he was not the only person suffering, regarded the girl, grasping her hand with his own, which currently rested upon Toby's stomach. She looked up weakly, her puffy brown eyes staring right back at him. They exchanged a look, gazing at their friend as Jim stood up from his spot, helping Claire up with him. She came to her feet gradually, and he did the best he could to support her as she stepped out of the rubble.

Before long, she was in his arms once again. His jacket slowly began to feel like a sponge as she buried her delicate face into his chest. Meanwhile, her hair was taking on a similar effect as his own tears continued to swim downstream beyond his cheeks.

Jim forced his gaze to the side to look at his friend, but every time he did so, he almost immediately pulled away. It was hard enough trying to muster at least some strength for Claire; the constant reminder of why he was in this state of disarray to begin with was enough in itself.

Clank.

Something interrupted his thoughts as metal hit the surface of the Earth while AAARRRGGHH!!! let out one last wail. It rolled along what used to be smooth pavement, tapping the base of Jim's shoe like a child trying to get his mother's attention.

At first, Jim tried to ignore it, but soon enough, the bright green glow was too much to simply fade away if even for a moment. He picked himself away from Claire, still keeping an arm around her but clearly shifting his focus. He looked down at the sphere, which greeted him with its blinding light.

As he did, Nari's words measled their way into his mind.

"Trollhunter make ninth configuration," Jim repeated the second part in unison with his thoughts. "Krohnisfere will make right."

He processed these words in his mind before letting go of Claire entirely, who stood blankly as he grabbed Excalibur from its place on the ground, lifted the mighty sword high above his head, and slammed the blade into the heart of the Krohnisfere, shouting as he did. It smashed, sending its once contained light across the radius of the group, swallowing up their figures for a mere few seconds.

Jim shielded his eyes from the explosion that followed, the desire to keep his sight intact motivating him despite his minor curiosity as to what it may have looked like. It was gone in a flash, disappearing as soon as it came, and he lowered his arms. He narrowed his eyes as the stone from inside rose to his eye level.

Blinky's gasp of astonishment came in a whisper, but Jim heard it as clear as day.

"The time stone..."

Time stone? Jim's thoughts began racing in every direction. His eyes widened at the sudden realization. Was this a second chance?

"What if it wasn't the Titans this thing was meant to make right?" he thought aloud.