The Academy of S.I.D.E.

No. 20: More Bonding Time

"You know, you could just ask for help or use a stepstool," Virgil said, feeling a little queasy. "You don't have to do... that."

"This is easier," Janus said, his arm lengthening as he continued to rifle through the top shelves.

"It doesn't make it any less gross. Plus, we're supposed to be undercover at the moment."

"Nobody's around. I checked."

The freshmen, sophomore, junior, and senior classes were taking a field trip around Toronto, which was apparently a monthly thing. It was partly an excuse to let the kids blow off steam, and partly a way for them to practice undercover work---which didn't appear to have the intended effect, seeing as most of the students just ran wild around the city and goofed off until it was time to head back. Virgil and his friends had gone to the library first, mostly so some of them could stock up on reading material.

Right now, he was kind of wishing that he'd brought a barf bag.

"Dude, if you really want to use your powers to get to higher stuff, you could just make yourself taller," Virgil told him. "I've seen you do it before. Plus, that way, it'd be easier for you to see what's there."

"What's the point of having shapeshifting powers if I can't channel my inner Ms. Marvel every now and then?" Janus said, plucking a book off of one of the shelves. "Ah, Stalking Jack the Ripper! I've been looking for this one."

"I thought you were a Loki-Verity fusion."

"I can be more than one thing." His other arm stretched up to the top shelf and tugged another book down. "Ooooh, The Clockwork Scarab. This one looks promising."

"Janus, again, we are supposed to be undercover," Virgil reminded him.

"I don't take advice from someone who, on the day that I found him, was attacking someone with shadows in broad daylight," Janus retorted, sticking the book into his bag.

"Hey, I only let people see my shadow stuff if I want them to see my shadow stuff!"

"Really? Then how come I was able to see it, then?"

"BECAUSE OF YOUR---" Virgil took a deep breath. "Never mind. Just let it go, Virgil."

"Well, I'm finished browsing, anyway." His arms returned to normal, much to Virgil's relief. "Let's go downstairs and meet the others, shall we? They've most likely been waiting ages for us."

"You know, the way you talk is infinitely more ridiculous when it's coming from a five-foot-two tenth grader who couldn't put on weight if he tried," Virgil informed him as the two of them walked out of the teen section. "Same goes for the way you dress."

"Says the guy who's still emo in 2021," Janus said casually, looking at his gloved fingernails. "I'd recommend wearing colored eyeshadow, by the way---the black makes you look like a raccoon."

Virgil snorted. "Yeah? Nice gloves. Were you washing some dishes earlier?"

Janus paused, then smirked. "Yes."

"I can't believe I'm friends with you," Virgil muttered.

"It's because of my charming personality."

"Did you seriously just adjust your bow tie? And are you seriously wearing a bow tie in the first place?"

"Class just isn't appreciated anymore, is it?"

.........

"Based on the look on your face, I'm assuming that you were formally introduced to Janus's rather disturbing method of getting things off of high shelves," Logan commented as the two boys pushed the front doors of the library open. "We've seen it one too many times on our trips here."