If anyone were to walk up the wooden planks of Coach Oleander's tree house after Agent Labhan and Intern Labahn left for their levitation class, they would have come across a very peculiar scene. It would have been extremely uncomfortable for everyone involved should this scene have been uncovered. Even if someone was to stand in the doorway and look in for only a second, no one would have left happy with what had been witnessed.
Bobby and Mikhail were locked in an intense game of tug-of-war. They dug in their heels and leaned back as far as they could, stretching their arms to the point where aches formed in their elbows and shoulders. Bobby growled and gnashed down his teeth, feeling as if his arm was about to pop out of his socket. Snatching his arm, his muscles tensed under his sky blue skin, perspiration beginning to trickle down his cheeks while Mikhail's face was splotched with red stress marks.
"Is not working," Mikhail seethed through gritted teeth.
"It's gotta work! You're not tryin' hard enough!" Bobby barked, stomping his foot.
He furrowed his brow, grunting, "Telekinetic lock will not break by physical strength. Cannot work."
Bobby huffed out a breath and dropped their arms. They stared at their entwined hands, a clammy sensation running up their limbs and making their faces screw up in disgust. Mikhail dragged his fingers through his short dark brown hair, a dull twinge forming in his jaw from the tension formed by his grinding molars.
"Dammit!" Bobby snapped, clenching his fist. "This is all your fault! If you didn't throw that stupid stove, then it wouldn't have broken the stupid wall, and I wouldn't be stuck with stupid you!"
"Not doing this now," Mikhail said, raising a finger. He aimed it at the entrance and lowered his voice. "Do not want to attract attention. Leads to..." He sighed. "...unfortunate implications."
Bobby raised an eyebrow only to quickly suck down a sharp breath. They were in a very vulnerable position. If anyone saw them holding hands, then he could only imagine the rumors that would spread. At Whispering Rock, rumors spread like an epidemic. Telepathic messages or notes on the bulletin boards let gossip fly free without a single mouth needing to open. Having been the subject of a few nasty rumors when he was younger and being the source of countless malicious lies he had weaved throughout camp, he certainly did not want something as horrible as the other cadets knowing that he held a boy's hand ruining the reputation he crafted through several acts of cruelty towards his peers and former counselors.
As fear gripped Bobby, Mikhail sighed. He could not think of a way to convince Agent Labahn to dismiss their punishment. It was not like they could simply lie about getting along. Anything Mikhail could have said would have led to Bobby insulting him or throwing a punch when he least expected it. Agent Labahn would have easily seen through the trick, leaving him back at square one when Bobby snatched his wrist and tried tugging his hand away, the keening whine in the back of Bobby's throat making his ears sting.
"Told you, will not work," he grumbled, and Bobby threw his hands up, dragging Mikhail's with them.
"Then what the hell are we s'pposed to do? We can't go out like this!" He scratched through his fiery mop of hair and breathed heavily through the spaces of his teeth. "That ancient hag, I can't believe her! Next time I see that ugly granddaughter of hers, I'm PSI blast her 'til she pukes out all of her guts and then I'll-"
"Empty threats aside," Mikhail started, Bobby scoffing at his blasé interruption, "we need plan. Do not want to be seen, do not want rumors." Regret edged into his voice as he added, "Any ideas?"
Pensiveness crossed them as they threw out a few ideas. They weren't skilled in teleportation, which also risked them appearing before someone if they weren't careful. Mikhail suggested that they stay in the classroom, but Bobby brushed it aside by mentioning upcoming classes. Mikhail tapped his foot and wondered aloud if they could have hidden away in the forest or caves until the telekinetic lock wore off. Bobby looked at him with his lips parted, his tell-tale sign of bewilderment, prompting Mikhail to add that they would have been able to sense if others were coming.
"That ain't too bad, but no freakin' way," Bobby said, shaking their hands.
Irritation pitched Mikhail's voice. "What? Why?"
"'Cause we'll have to go through others to get there. You want us to go out there like this?" He jerked their hands up to eye level. "One step outside and it's over. Check it out." He pivoted on his heels and dragged Mikhail with him to the entrance, the other boy almost tripping from the sudden harsh pull. Their footsteps creaked on the wooden planks as they came on to the balcony, giving them a chance to examine the cabin area, and the shadows of the massive tree hid their hands.
Bobby cocked his head to the bridge. Mikhail followed his gaze and uttered an understanding hum. At their usual posts were Kitty and Franke chatting about something they couldn't hear. Kitty seemed to be laughing, her shoulders jostling, and Franke flapped her hand, apparently in the middle of a story from how quickly her mouth moved. They both stopped to giggle, leaning in to each other and laced their fingers together and resumed chitchatting.
"If those two see us, it's game over," Bobby grumbled and shook his head. He flashed a cynical grin at Mikhail. "Got any more ideas, smart guy?"
He allowed the insult to go unanswered. Focusing on the task at hand was more important than letting Bobby's insults rile him up. He was already dealing with the worst punishment he had ever faced, so anything Bobby said could not have even nicked him.
But reflexively, he squeezed Bobby's hand and made him flinch. He felt Bobby's knuckles tense under his strength, the boniness of his hand making Mikhail quirk an eyebrow. He was used to those knuckles crashing into his cheek, but feeling them and the long length of his phalanges under his thumb sparked Mikhail's curiosity.
"What are you doing?" Bobby slowly whispered, the deep red bags underneath his eyes more pronounced as he narrowed them at him.
"Nothing," Mikhail quickly replied, loosening his grip despite their palms being stuck together.
"Better be nothin'," he mumbled, glaring back at Kitty and Franke. He surveyed the cabin area and found no one else around. The usual suspects who could have been lurking around were more likely than not in classes or making out somewhere in seclusion.
"Oh, there," Mikhail said, pushing their hands forward. He frowned, his fingers refusing to move, and he pointed with his left hand at the tree trunk. "We use that. Get to underground transit system." His mouth twitched into a grin despite the pricking in his jaw. "Should get us to places without being seen, no?"
Bobby mulled it over for a second, his eyes widening in realization. His quick nod shifted his hair. He hurried to his feet only to frown, asking, "But how's that gonna work? We're still right in front of 'em."
"Not so true." Mikhail stood up and in the blink of an eye, he was invisible. He felt weightless, as if the wind could go through him. The shock on Bobby's face was enough to make him smirk, and he said, "Will look like you walk by yourself. Mikhail will stay invisible while you go to tree trunk. Simple plan. Can't be found out."
Bobby snorted and refused to give him any satisfaction. Admitting Mikhail was right was like another punch to his gut. He still felt sore from the bruises scattered along his body from how tightly Mikhail crushed him in his telekinetic hand earlier. Glancing at his hand, now appearing like it was cupping thin air, the same pain shot up his arm when Mikhail squeezed his hand to urge him to move.
He ignored the throbbing in his body. Thrashing Mikhail when they were free from their punishment and away from the mischievous eyes of Agent Labahn was a promise he made with himself. He would have really let him have it next time, and the vow thrilled him, his mouth curling upwards in a sneer as he swaggered down the steps, his back hunching forward, his gait slow and casual.
He ambled over to the tree trunk and refused to look at Kitty and Franke. They stopped their conversation and took a hard look at him. He knew he was a physical wreck. Dried blood crusting over his nose and lips, black bruises dotting his body, his jersey more torn than usual, Bobby looked like he came out of a bar brawl.
Jeez, I almost look like the old drunk, he thought, quickly dismissing the thought by spitting in the girls' direction.
Drunk? Mikhail wondered innocently enough, Kitty uttering an exaggerated squeal of disgust.
Bobby grimaced, panic twisting his face into a scowl. Nothin'. Shut up. Just stay invisible, commie, he swiftly snarled and raised his mental defenses, stopping in front of the tree trunk.
"Oh, Bobby!" Kitty suddenly called, her fuchsia colored lips splitting into a smile. She wiggled her fingers in a wave when Bobby leered at her. "What are you doing over there?"
"The hell does it look like, fat cat? Are you blind with those stupid contacts?" Bobby snapped, wiping a bit of blood off his chapped lips.
She chuckled and leaned her hip into Franke's side. "They're real, you know, but I guess what you don't know is that they locked the transit system entrances."
Bobby blinked, her words making no sense to him. He dropped his head and gawked, drawing back and raising his hands. He felt Mikhail's elbow brush against him and quickly tucked his hands on the rounded, chipped bark of the tree trunk. Much to his bafflement, thick metal bars criss-crossed over the opening of the tree trunk. A quick telekinetic tug proved fruitless. It merely jiggled in place until Bobby released it. He heard Mikhail grunt next to him, his efforts proving no better, and his sigh forced Bobby to come to terms with their imminent failure.
"What the-? When the hell did these get here?" Bobby cried out and punched the metal with their entwined hands only to wince. Blowing on his knuckles, he glowered at Kitty and Franke when they burst into laughter, Mikhail growling next to him.
"You seriously didn't know? The new counselors installed them this morning to block off any PSI cadet access to them." She clicked her tongue and shook her head. "Seriously, dude, you better get some glasses if you're that blind. They put them on every single entrance, so I have no idea how you missed them."
"Yeah, get your eyes checked, Bobby! They're already weird enough!" Franke added, Kitty nodding along.
If he shared one trait with Mikhail, it was that he also hated being insulted to his face. His body had already taken a beating, and his pride was on its way out, but he refused to let two snooty girls have their way with him. His fingernails curled inwards, and while he felt the coarse skin of his palm, he gasped when Mikhail stifled a grunt next to him, his bitten nails gashing into Mikhail's tense palm. The surface of his hand was smooth, but defying his expectations, a trace of softness was layered over the strength within it. His hand was not as long as his, but it felt wider, reminding him of a bear paw.
"Don't do that," Mikhail hissed under his breath. "Need concentration to stay invisible. Did you forget?"
"I didn't freakin' mean it, you big baby," Bobby mumbled, and he kicked the tree trunk. "There's no lock. Can't you just, I dunno, rip it off?"
"Is PSI proof. Needs some sort of, eh, key or code. Or is just like that."
His arm lifted slightly, evident of Mikhail shrugging. Dragging his tongue around the inside of his mouth, Bobby marched over to the girls. He expected their derision and ordered them to move aside, but they stared up at him as if he grew a second head. For a split second, he thought Mikhail reappeared next to him and flicked his worried gaze at the other boy, but he saw right through him to the small, sloping hill next to the worn fencing.
Franke took in a breath and held it. She glanced at Kitty, clearly sending her a telepathic message. Kitty patted her shoulder, reassuring her of something that left the boys on edge. Her eyes drifted down to Bobby's hand, its cupped position catching her interest, and she aimed a polished, pearly pink fingernail at it.
"Is your hand...sprained?" she asked, and then, she dragged her finger towards Bobby's mouth. "And were you talking to yourself just now?"
The playfulness in her voice elicited a growl rolling over his tongue as he barked, "No! No, I wasn't. You're imagining things, Boob-ai."
Stop bullying, Mikhail thought, tapping his thumb on Bobby's knuckles.
Bobby tightened his jaw and pursed his lips as best as he could with his overbite. You're really going at me for saying Boob-ai? Your priorities are messed up.
I forbade bullying. Acknowledge it, please.
Kitty tilted her head as she stared at the space where Mikhail stood. "You know," she started, bringing Bobby's attention back to her before he could punch Mikhail, "there's a weird energy next to you." She twirled her finger in the air and hummed. "It's, like, PSI power, but it doesn't feel like you."
"Or smell like you," Franke quickly added, causing Kitty to snicker over her words.
"Oh, nice one, Franke. You're getting better at this," she said, chortling as heat burned Bobby's freckled cheeks a darker pink.
As Franke beamed, Bobby shuddered and shook Mikhail's arm. He jerked their hands forward, not caring one bit if Mikhail stumbled, and Mikhail was forced to ground himself before he could fall into Kitty. He jabbed his other hand out, shouting, "Back off! If you wanna keep this up, then I'll settle it with my fists!" He jabbed it under Kitty's chin, who remained unfazed by his threat despite his bony knuckles a centimeter from her skin..
"If you touch me, then I'll cancel our arrowhead deal," she said, checking her fingernails, "and you remember what will happen if you do anything unfortunate, right?"
His pupils constricted. "You wouldn't," he breathed out, leaning back, his grip on Mikhail's hand loosening.
Mikhail felt Bobby's sweat bead against his palm and shivered. He gently nudged his elbow into Bobby's stomach. Whatever deal Bobby had with Kitty needed to be ignored if they were going to make it past them. And he was certain it wasn't anything too terrible considering the situation they were in was much worse.
"I will gladly tell Little Miss Alien all about you-know-what," Kitty said, Mikhail feeling like she was hammering in the final nail of Bobby's coffin.
"You wouldn't," Bobby snarled again, hunching forward, his nostrils flaring.
Bobby's shadow loomed over them. His shoulders rose and lifted Mikhail's hand as he thrust his elbows out, his fists clenched in front of his chest. He sucked down sharp breaths as Kitty calmly leered at him. Every primal urge in his body and brain ordered him to smash his fist through her face and break every bone in there, but he grimaced, his expression contorting as Mikhail squeezed his hand so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
No, no, no, Mikhail chanted, the girls exchanging another dumbfounded glimpse at each other.
"Just one friggin' punch. That's all," Bobby hissed, keeping his glare on Kitty.
If you do, game over as you say.
"I don't give a crap what I said! Shut the hell up already with your stupid holier-than-thou shtick!" Bobby bellowed, jerking his head at Mikhail, who struggled to maintain his invisibility when his spittle hit him square in his eyes.
Kitty and Franke flinched and instinctively held each other. They gawked at Bobby, their voices momentarily stripped from them. Franke curled her fingers through Kitty's camp shirt, and Kitty rubbed the small of her back, her surprise swapping for confusion as Bobby winced, peering down at them out of the corner of his beady eyes.
"Uh, who are you shouting at? We're right here. Do you have an imaginary friend or something?" Franke piped up, but Kitty gripped her shoulder and quickly shook her head.
"Let's just, uh, let the crazy hooligan go on his way. I think he's more brain damaged than usual since that bear lover beat him up," she urged, guiding Franke away from the bridge. She glanced over her shoulder, wrinkling her nose and raising an eyebrow. To her bewilderment, Bobby's spit was rolling down in mid-air, but before she could dwell on it, Bobby rushed across the bridge, the planks creaking and ropes swaying as he darted off.
Someone was with him. That much she knew for certain. But considering how quickly he lashed out at them, she did not want herself or Franke to be on the wrong end of his spit or fist. She rubbed her neck and decided some things were best left undiscovered as she and Franke went to their cabin, but it did give her more leverage over him in case she needed his brawn.
"You spit on me. Disgusting," Mikhail said, turning visible and wiping the spittle off his cheek with his shirt.
Dragging Mikhail across the final plank, Bobby snorted, "Get over it, pansy, and get over here, too."
The lodge in front of them appeared as dismal as they left it. There was still the gaping hole in the lodge's side for everyone to see. Light gray smoke continued wafting from inside and out towards the cloudy sky above them. On the deck was a decently sized rubble pile filled with slabs of wood, metallic shards, and faulty wiring, looking more like a fire hazard in Mikhail's opinion. He did not have time to examine it when Bobby jerked him around the lodge, nearly tumbling over his feet. He glared at the back of Bobby's head, demanding to know what he was doing when Bobby pivoted around, fire burning in his eyes as they stood by the rocky formation keeping the lodge upright.
"Are you really that goddamn stupid?" Bobby barked, jabbing a nail-bitten fingernail into Mikhail's neck and felt his pulse pump against his finger.
He crossed his arms over his chest, smirking as Bobby tried tugging his arm back. "Says one who almost blew cover."
"That wasn't my fault! That was your fault! You're always like-" Bobby cleared his throat and deepened his voice. "-oh, look at me, Mr. Speech Impediment who cannot look the other way for five seconds."
"Sounds nothing like Mikhail." He dropped his arms and pinched his brow. "Arguing gets us nowhere. Need new plan."
Bobby huffed that he was about to say that and leaned against the gray limestone. He kicked his heel against it, his gaze fixated on the parking lot down the paved dirt path. He sent Mikhail a few scowls, his anger desperately needing an outlet, but Mikhail seemed too deep in thought to consider looking at him.
"If transit system closed, we trek across camp to find safe location," Mikhail said, fixing his hat. "Caves and forest best bets as Mikhail suggested early."
Bobby twisted his body around Mikhail and raised his fist, his knuckles grazing the underside of his chin. "Who said you could call the shots? I ain't gonna march across the stupid camp holding your hand. That'll kill my rep."
Mikhail dug in his heels. "What rep? Reputation, you mean?"
"Yeah, moron, that's exactly what I mean."
"Mikhail thought you had no rep. No longer running protection services, yes? No gang either?" he countered, a quiet part of him relishing in the grimace washing over Bobby's features. After he ended Bobby's reign of terror over Maloof, he had effectively destroyed whatever bullying activities Bobby sought. To his knowledge, he now spent most of his time with Chloe helping with her experiments, and whenever he tried harassing Maloof in his spare time, he had the misfortune of Mikhail never being too far away to threaten him with a Deadly Nelson.
"Just 'cause, uh, just 'cause Benny put his tail between his legs or somethin' and joined your little ragtag misfit team doesn't mean I don't have a reputation here," Bobby growled, tapping his foot and quickening his pace. He fiddled with the loose hem of his jersey, his pinky finger playing with the loose threads of the tear Mikhail made. "And just 'cause you keep getting in the way of me and that crybaby boss you got doesn't mean I don't have other suckers to leech arrowheads from."
"No. Are contracted with Maloof now." Mikhail felt Bobby's hand twitch against his. The shock exploding on Bobby's face should have made him smirk, but there was an odd heaviness in his gut as Bobby spluttered.
"The cheer losers? Elton?" Bobby demanded, furrowing his brows. He swallowed audibly, a sudden tenseness filling his body, which made Mikhail swallow. "What about Chloe? Is she-?"
"Mm. Part of tiny boss' protection services-agh!"
Bobby smashed Mikhail's hand against the rocks and pressed down hard. The smoothed rock curved Mikhail's knuckles inwards, pain bursting in his hand and making Bobby flinch from the strain he forced upon his own hand. Mikhail cut his other palm into Bobby's cheek and shoved him off, but he jerked backwards as Bobby rammed his heel at his leg. Mikhail set two fingers to his temple, but Bobby clutched his hand and shifted his weight towards the wall, slamming Mikhail's back into it. Crying out, Mikhail clenched his jaw, and his hat fell off, rolling a yard away from them as Bobby pinned him.
"Why the hell is Chloe with your protection services? I'm the one lookin' after her! Not you, commie!" he roared, his hot breath hitting Mikhail's face as he glared down at him.
Trying not to breath in any foul air, he hissed back, "Tiny boss offered, she agreed."
"Why? What kind of deal did you offer her?" Bobby's voice grew strained as he tightened his grip, smirking as Mikhail winced.
"Regular offer. Arrowheads for services." he replied, struggling to free himself. "Help with getting to higher locations. Keep wild animals at bay when researching. Honestly, is boring." Knowing he could have easily used telekinesis to pry Bobby off, he found himself surprised by how strong Bobby really was. Being able to keep him pinned and only breaking into a little bit of a sweat impressed him, but he bit his tongue when Bobby's expression twisted in distress.
"But that's the stuff I do with her! Why's she so interested in you when I'm helping, too? That makes no friggin' sense!" he cried, his grip loosening.
Seizing the opportunity, Mikhail sweeped his leg out and tripped Bobby. The loud 'oof' he grunted made Mikhail's lips twitch as he landed on his bottom. He could have easily finished the fight right then and there. A few blows to his head would have easily incapacitated him if his fists didn't get lodged in his hair, but they already risked being caught with their boisterous bickering.
When Bobby leered up at him, he set his finger over his lips. Bobby scoffed, snatched a fistful of grass, and threw it at him. They stared at the dirty green blades on Mikhail's camp shirt, and Mikhail flicked them off one by one. Silence came over them again as Bobby grumbled, moping on the ground for a reason Mikhail found painfully childish.
"Come. Must get moving," Mikhail ordered, and Bobby dragged himself to his feet.
"You got a place in mi-wait!" Bobby thrust their hands out and grinned. "I got a place! It's perfect! No one goes there!"
Mikhail blinked. "Where?"
"Crazy Cruller's hut! He ain't been around for a while now, so that place is completely abandoned." Pride swelled in his chest as he watched realization dawn on Mikhail's face. "It's perfect, and I ain't lettin' you say no to it."
"No, no, is...good," he quietly admitted, stroking his chin. "Part of off-limit woods, too. Other kids tend to stay on pathways. Not dwell for so long."
"Great! Glad you know how smart I am," Bobby sneered, and Mikhail rolled his eyes. He was about to storm out but gasped. Scratching through his hair, he looked around the corner of the lodge and found no one else in sight. "Coast is clear. You turn invisible, and I'll get us there faster than you can say-"
"I swear, I heard Bobby's voice over here! When I see him, I'm giving him the biggest piece of my mind! You heard it, too, right? Tell me I'm not hearing things out of stress."
"You're good. That definitely sounded like him. Wonder where he is?"
Bobby clapped his hand over his mouth and looked up at the deck, spotting none other than Phoebe and Quentin. Mikhail gestured for him to duck and quickly got to his knees. They huddled together and listened to them march around the rubble, a few pieces being tossed over their heads, courtesy of Phoebe's telekinesis.
"Ugh, I know I shouldn't throw that stuff when Agent Nassar worked so hard to clean up, but it's better than burning it all," she muttered, stomping towards the side of the lodge.
"I know, I know, but, like, throwing's better than burning, right? That's what Milla said," Quentin replied, shrugging.
Their shadows slipped over the edge just above them. Bobby gripped his jaw, his eyes bulging out of his skull. He gnawed on his palm, his few upper teeth jostling slightly from the harsh bite he inflicted upon himself.
Mikhail stared at their hands and chewed on his tongue. They were protected by the lodge's shadow and the deck's height, but all Phoebe and Quentin needed to do was look down, and their goose was cooked. Not that Bobby would know what expression meant, he told himself, watching Bobby's head twist over his shoulder.
You idiot, Bobby suddenly thought, his cheeks paling.
What now?
Your dumb ugly hat is over there!
"Oh, I can't believe those two destroyed part of the lodge! Don't they know violence is never the answer?" Phoebe shouted, Mikhail's mouth falling open as he spotted his hat lying in plain sight on the grass. He fidgeted, slowly reaching out for it as Phoebe drummed her fingers on the wooden railing above them. "I mean, we were right in the middle of band practice when they went at it! And Bobby's fiery totem pole of death scorched my bass drum! Where am I gonna get another bass drum, Q? How can a drummer keep a beat without a bass drum?"
"Maybe we can order one online?" Quentin offered, and out of the shadows as Bobby's hand tightened around his mouth, Mikhail's telekinetic hand curled around the furry rim of his hat.
"I know your grandma didn't give you her credit card this year, not after the-hey, wait a minute!" Phoebe blurted and lunged over the railing. Landing on her knees, she snatched Mikhail's hat off the ground and held it up in front of her face. Turning around, the hat blocked her view of Quentin as she stretched it out in front of her. "Check it out! I've never seen this thing without a big Russian dude underneath it."
"Dang, he must be missing that. Maybe he lost it in the fight?" Quentin offered as Phoebe lowered the hat.
She hummed and stared at the rocky formation. Tilting her head, she scrutinized the grass, noticing some spots were flattened compared to others. Shrugging, Phoebe tossed the hat to Quentin and jumped over the railing off her levitation ball. Taking the hat back, she grinned and set it on her head, giggling with Quentin over how ridiculously tall it was on her smaller frame.
"You're lookin' like a million bucks. Maybe you should wear that on our first album cover," Quentin said, his footsteps retreating.
"Oh, please, I'm gonna give it back to Mikhail as soon as I see him. Besides, I don't think I could work this."
"You could! Dude, you totally could. Maybe you should ask Mikhail for a spare but a smaller size?"
"Maybe after I tell him the importance of using words over violence."
Their voices and footsteps quietened, leaving Bobby and Mikhail to relapse with heavy sighs. Mikhail hurried to his feet, dragging Bobby with him as they peered up at the docks. They caught Phoebe and Quentin just as they vanished around the corner and into the lodge. Mikhail reached out for his hat, his lips a thin, distressed line while Bobby shook his head.
"That was too freakin' close," he muttered, sighing.
Mikhail threw out their hands, shouting, "My hat! I-!"
"Oh, no, you don't!" Bobby snatched Mikhail's collar, pinning him back to the rocks. "You ain't runnin' out there and ruinin' everything for me again. Hothead said she'll give it back later, so get it later." He jabbed his thumb into Mikhail's chin. "Get to bein' invisible before I give you a good fist-sized reason to wanna be invisible."
Mikhail scrapped his teeth together and wanted nothing more than to punch Bobby in the face. But he knew Bobby had a point. Phoebe would give him his hat later, even if he had to sit through a lecture. It would be fine, and he would soon be free from the terror that was being stuck with Bobby Zilch.
But he raised his fingers in front of Bobby's face. He held his pointer finger and thumb an inch apart, saying, "Am this close."
"To what?" Bobby asked, smirking as he very well knew the answer.
"You know what," Mikhail warned, and he turned invisible, tugging Bobby with him as he stomped towards the bridge leading to the docks.