The Bad Guys Justice League: Arcadia-Point

Chapter 4: Draal

Snow_Wolf9 BetaTheAutobotNinja ReptileEdge
The gnome problem was easier when there wasn't a Spanish exam that needed to be done, not in Toby's case, at least. Jim suggested seeing if Chompsky was amenable to staying in the dollhouse, and Toby called in sick. So that at least was working out. By the time Jim got there after school, Toby was big again, and their gnome problem was dealt with. And since he wasn't stressed out of his mind, he'd gone to his rehearsals, and Steve was showing no inclination of being interested in theatre. Actually, Steve was avoiding both of them like the plague.

Toby's training was coming along too. He fought very differently to Jim, obviously, but he was getting very good at it. He did falter, same as Jim, on rule two. Finishing a fight against a dummy was one thing, but he hadn't even really finished the fight against Steve. Jim wasn't sure if it was good or bad. It did lean to the inclination to spare Draal at least. Jim was pretty sure Toby, same as himself, couldn't kill the troll, regardless of his behaviour. And if Draal had the same reaction to his defeat, Jim would sleep more soundly, knowing Draal was protecting Toby. He was keeping up with his own training, in secret. He needed to stay active. He wasn't going to sit on the bench. Soon enough, he'd have to find a way to get the others on the scent of Killahead bridge being built in the museum. He'd dug into the books this time, telling Toby to focus on his training, Jim would give him the sparknotes version. It was easier since Jim already knew big chunks of it. And it did delight Blinky, in a way that Jim wished he'd read this properly last time. The troll was delighted to talk and discuss specific sections, positively brimming with information and enthusiasm. He seemed to enjoy teaching Jim troll lore just as much as he enjoyed coaching Toby to be a warrior.

And finally, the field trip to the museum came, the day after Toby got his point tracker, just like last time. "I need it Jim, for my trollhunter training, and look! I'm racking up so many points!"

Jim looked at Miss Nomura, in her human form, a stab in his heart as he thought of her being torn apart in the sunlight. Even if he couldn't get her to their side, he hoped she'd find some purpose once Gunmar was gone. Find a place where she belonged. But for now, he had to get Toby to the bridge, to make sure they had proof. But then two hands took him around the elbow, Claire smiling at him.

"Wanna come look at the displays with me?"

"Yes he does!" Toby announced, winking at Jim and slipping away before he had time to protest. Ok, fine, he did need to hang out with Claire too. They'd be here a while.

"I was a bit surprised you wanted to join the play. You never struck me as a theatre kid." Claire told him, letting her hands slip down his arm as she let him go, wandering a step ahead.

Last time he might not have realized that was flirting behaviour, but he knew Claire now, and her fingers lingering on him all the way down to his pinkie before letting go was a not very subtle hint. Same as the little smile, and her biting her lip. He'd been afraid it would be difficult, but apparently, just being a little more attentive had put him squarely in her good books.

"It was... Kind of a spur of the moment thing. But I'm enjoying it a lot. Especially the company."

"Why thank you." She smiled.

"Oh, I was talking about Eli." Jim shot back, cheekily, making her laugh and shove at his shoulder. He honestly couldn't have planned it better. They were right by the sheets obscuring the inner courtyard with the big No Entry signs on. All he had to do was stumble a little, and pretend to lose his balance.
He flailed inside, careful not to make too much sound, looking up at the half finished bridge. There it was.