Hello, my darlings! How y'all doing? I hope everyone is well! Just wanted to check in with everyone and see how you guys are since the world is basically fucked, ya know? I hope everyone is healthy and well and that you guys are just doing good with everything going on. For me, I wouldn't be writing if it wasn't for those that enjoy my writing. Like you guys! So, I want you guys to know that I really care for you guys and I truly enjoy seeing you guys enjoying the story. Especially with how the world is being. Like, if I can make a few people happy with my stories, then I'm doing something good within these trying times.
Anyway! Enough with the cheesiness. On with the story!
Oh, also, the translation will be my ending notes now! lol By the way, I think Jim would pick up sayings from Douxie. His famous Fuzz Buckets being one of them. With Wizard!Jim's own twist to it, of course.
I paced slightly in the backstage area as my mind started to rage between my thoughts.
"You keep my family out of this, you fucking snake."
"That's no way to talk to your teacher, Ms. Nuñez."
"You are not my teacher. Not to me. To the public, sure, but you're the one that decided to bring my brother into this."
"And you are not in the right to disrespect me or did you forget that I'm the one holding the strings here, Trollhunter."
I swallowed hard as I remembered the haunting words of my history teacher.
How am I suppose to protect a whole species when I can't even protect my brother? How am I suppose to be the Trollhunter if I can't even be a good sister?
I placed my hands onto the table I was next to as I leaned my weight completely against it.
It's been three days since Enrique's been missing and the Janus Order hasn't made any moves against me since. Three days of trying to throw myself into my Trollhunting work, party searches I know will do nothing for anyone, and theater. I haven't even gotten myself to speak to Jim in those three days. Not even while he was in his wizard outings.
I felt a frown form itself on my face as I let out a small sigh.
It wasn't his fault but I knew it was better to keep him out of this. If not, then he would meet the same fate. The changelings have proven to me that they know more about me than I thought they would. If they can go after my infant brother, then why not go after the one they know is dear to me? It's bad enough Darci and Mary are targets as well. Jim is already in danger by just existing let alone being near me.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and I instantly acted on instinct as I grabbed it before twisting the arm of the person behind their back.
"HOLY-! Remind me to never get on your bad side." My eyes widened as I dropped his arm almost instantly. Jim turned toward me with a lopsided grin as he rubbed his arm gently.
"I'm so sorry! I never meant to-!"
"It's okay, Claire. I should have known better than to do that. You're probably not in the best... mind space." He gave me a nervous smile as he reached out with the same hand that he placed on my shoulder as he put it onto my right one instead. "I'm just happy you're talking to me." I felt a ping of guilt as I realized by watching the small switch of emotion in his eyes.
So my silence caused a stir within him. Didn't think I would have that much of an impact.
"I'm sorry." I suddenly spoke as I didn't even think about it. "I'm just worried and overthinking. With everything, I'm just worried about those around me."
"I can understand, but you still need people that care about you within these moments." I looked within his eyes to see a silent plead within them. I knew exactly what it was that he was asking for.
"I don't want anything to happen."
"Nothing will."
"How can you say that, Jim?"
"Because I won't let it." He gave a small smirk as he continued to speak. "I would like to see them try."
"You do know what you're saying that to, right?"
"Some assholes that stooped low enough to kidnap an infant."
"They're not just some asshole, Jim."
"I know. Doesn't mean the shoe doesn't fit." I felt a small smile appear on my face as I felt him place his hands onto my biceps. "You have nothing to worry about when it comes to me. I can handle myself. It's you I'm worried about."
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine." I sighed as I knew I couldn't lie to the wizard.
"I don't want you to get in danger. It's bad enough that others are."
"I would rather be in danger than be stuck with silence." He gave a lopsided smile once more as he continued to speak. "What's Romeo without his Juliet anyway? We're going to have to be near each other anyway so there's no getting rid of me, Nuñez."
"I don't think I would want to." I felt a full smile bring itself to my face as I felt no shame or nervousness in what I said but I watched as a blush appeared on the slightly taller teen. He smiled nervously as his normal lopsided grin that made my heart flutter.
I might not have been able to keep Enrique away from all of this, but I would like to see them try and attack the wizard before me. I think I would lose my mind.
I leaned forward suddenly and placed a quick kiss on his cheek as I heard Miss Janeth call out to all of us to set our places for act three.
"I promise to keep you in the loop." I reached up and placed a quick pat onto the same cheek that I had kissed. "Just as long as you do the same."
"I-I-I p-promise." I giggled at his sudden loss of confidence as I slipped out of his hands and may my way toward the right-wing. I looked over my shoulder for a moment to see the still blushing wizard with his adorable lopsided grin still in place.
I dare the Order to lay a hand on anyone else. Darci, Mary, or anyone else.
I brought my eyes before me as I say Mary standing before me as she was ready to be the nurse. A smirk dancing on her face as it seemed she watched the small scene between me and Jim.
I won't allow anyone else to be harmed. Not a single one of them. It doesn't matter what happens. It doesn't matter what anyone else says. I won't let anything else happen.
Not now. Not ever.
I set my bag down next to Blinky's island counter in his library as I gave Darci a large smile. She was going on patrol for us during rehearsal as we realized that this would be a lot better for us since it was around my rehearsal time that Enrique went missing.
Better to have more patrols than have anything else happened.
"Anything we missed on during rehearsal, Darc?"
"Yes, actually. For once I have a sighting." She handed me her phone as I saw that there was a photo of a group of goblins that were displayed on the screen. "I saw these little nuisances going around the woods not too far away from the museum. They were looking for something or someone. I can't tell you what though." I gave a smile toward my friend as I handed her phone back to her.
"Good work, Darc. Are we ready for some goblin hunting then?"
"ALWAYS!" I laughed a little ar Mary's enthusiasm as we started heading toward our destination without a second word.
If the goblins were up to something specific, we would find it.
It didn't take long for us to reach the forest that Darci was speaking of and not long later did we start our investigation. We walked around the forestry in a small group as my armor's soft clings were the one sound keeping us from complete silence. Each of us was scanning the horizons in different directions as each of us had our own weapons in hand. Mary having a wooden bow with a quiver full of arrows attached to her hip while Darci decided to stick with a simple staff. I had my sword gripped tightly in my hands as I lead our small pack through the forestry. My eyes caught a sudden figure dashing through the trees and I instinctively brought my sword before me in a defensive stance.
"We got company ladies." Instantly, I heard Mary grabbed out an arrow and ready her bow as Darci shifted her stance so she was ready for an attack at any second. My eyes scanned the area I saw the figure to see a bush ruffling lightly before a familiar glow of green eyes appeared in the small rustling bush. My eyes widened as I realized it was not just a normal goblin hunt anymore.
It's a fucking trap.
"Girls. Run."
"What?"
"RUN!" Just as I yelled, a purple figure leaped out from the bush and tried to slash at me. I brought up my sword right in time as the changeling gave me a sinister smirk.
"HOLY FUCK!" Mary cursed as I heard her feet scurry off toward the trees with Darci in tow. We had made these escapes as plans in case we encountered Nomura once more. We knew that if all of us were there that it would only end with one of us getting hurt, so instead we would disperse. Darci and Mary making an escape as I held the changeling off.
"Here I thought your friends would be courageous enough to fight alongside you."
"And here I thought you knew better than to fuck with me. You assholes already have my brother. If you think I won't let my grief out onto you, then you're dead wrong." The changeling only chuckled darkly as her smirk furthered up into her left cheek.
"If there is anything that will be dead, it will be you." I jumped back as she brought her hooked blade back to slash at me once more, but I was already anticipating her attack. I rolled over my shoulder to the right as she leaped forward. Once I got back onto my feet, I readied my blade before me with both of my hands as I saw that Nomura's eyes looked down to my chest. "Didn't know you had a guardian angel. Calling stones are rare creations, Trollhunter. Seems you matter to a specific wizard." I narrowed my eyes at the changeling.
"Don't you dare speak about him." She chuckled once more as she pulled out her other blade from her back with a quick flick of her wrist.
"Seems I struck a chord. Just proves my own idea between the two of you. I was wondering how the wizard always seems to know where you are." She gave a smirk as her eyes had a small bit of amusement within them. "I always wanted to add a wizard to my kill list. Maybe then we could find out who exactly the other magical beings are within this pitiful town. It seems to be only in death we will find out who he is." I felt anger rumble through my chest as I felt myself clench my teeth together.
"Keep him out of this!" I yelled out toward her as I slashed at her out of anger. We continued to clash blades against one another for a moment before Nomura used a small opening to kick me square into the chest which caused me to yell out as I fell back and skid for a few feet before coming to a stop. I groaned as I reached up to my necklace suddenly and held onto the calling stone. I heard hurried footsteps come toward me as I brought up my sword instinctively before Nomura's two swords came down against mine. I groaned as I pushed against her blades just enough to keep her blades only a few inches away from my face.
"Sorry you couldn't call upon your little friend. I doubt it was long enough for him to know where you are."
"Fuck off." I clenched my teeth once more as I felt her add weight behind her blades that nearly caused her to win the small struggle we were having.
"Any last words, Trollhunter?"
"¡Vete a la mierda, perra!" She suddenly hooked one blade undermine and with a sudden flick of her wrist forced my sword out of my hand and flung it to my left.
"I'LL MAKE YOU REGRET WHAT YOU SAID, YOU BLUNDERING CHILD!" She brought both of her hooked blades high above her head as she seemed to be ready to rid of me from this earth.
But it seemed I held the calling stone just long enough.
"Spinta d'aria!" Suddenly, the changeling was forced off of me and went flying into a tree not too far away from me. Hurried footsteps came to my side as I was helped up to a sitting position. "Are you alright?" I gave a small laugh as I felt pain within my chest. I knew I had at least a few bruises covering my body from the small scuffle causing the sudden pain to surge.
"As much as I can be."
"YOU DAMNED WIZARD!" He brought his attention back toward Nomura without a second thought as he brought his hand out before him. She was rushing toward us, but suddenly she was flung back once more. This time being thrown through the tree that she had hit not long ago.
"Stai indietro!" He brought his attention back toward me once more as he tried to help me up. "Can you walk? We need to get you out of here." I was able to get up to my feet with his help, but it seemed I harmed one of my ankles by how as soon as I placed weight to my right foot, I almost crumbled to the floor if it wasn't for his arm that he set around my waist.
"Seems not."
"Where's your sword?"
"Don't worry about it. It'll reappear once my amulet is called upon again." He gave a simple nod as he held his hand out toward the changeling that was dashing at us once more.
"Catene dell' inferno!" Suddenly bright red chains appeared onto Nomura. I looked over toward the wizard and noticed a bright blue glow appeared under his hood. "Giuro su Merlino che ti farò a pezzi!" I felt a shiver run down my spine as I noticed that his voice was an octave lower. He turned his head back toward me as he suddenly brought his arm that was out before him behind my knees and lifted me up into his arms in a bridal style. Just as soon as he had picked me up, he snapped his fingers which caused a blue portal to appear beside us. "Close your eyes." I did as he told me as I buried my face into his jacket.
"Come back and fight me, wizard!" I felt him chuckle as he responded to Nomura.
"Ti auguro una buona serata. Spero ti piacciano le restrizioni." I heard of soft whoosh as I figured that we jumped through the portal together. I felt him walk slowly before he gently placed me down onto what I figured was a couch or something from what I could feel. I heard him chuckle as he brought his arms away from under me as he lifted my right foot and placed something soft under it to bring it up slightly. "You can open your eyes now." I opened my eyes slowly to see his familiar smile before scanning my surroundings. I could tell we were in the cafe that was in the heart of downtown and that I was on a long couch with a small pillow under my hurt ankle. "My teacher and my friend are out on patrol together. This is the place we meet up at and the front door has a special spell lock on it so I figured it would be the best place for you to be within this moment."
"Thank you."
"It's nothing to thank me for." I gave a small laugh at the wizard as I reached out to place a hand on his shoulder.
"You kept your word and helped me out of a sticky situation. That earns you a thank you no matter what you say." I saw his smile furthered into his left cheek as he placed a hand on top of mine.
"You would do the same, so I do not need any thanks for lending a hand." I could only smile softly at him as I slipped my hand out from under his. I didn't think as I brought my hand under his hood and onto his left cheek. I rubbed my thumb gently on the skin there as I felt a small dip on his cheek that equaled to the small scar I knew was there. "You treat me as if you know me completely." His voice was soft as he spoke and it didn't surprise me as I felt a small smile danced on my lips.
"I believe I do." He seemed to be contemplating something as he grabbed my hand from under his hood as if he was afraid to break me as he guided it to the back of his hood. He closed my hand gently onto the back of his hood as he gave a small smile toward me. I gave him a confused look as his hand dropped to his side.
"Pull." My eyes widened slightly as I spoke without a second thought.
"But I thought you said-?"
"You seemed to have already put the puzzle together, Claire." He gave a small chuckle before continuing. "You're good at keeping your own secret anyway, so what's another to your list? Also," He stopped for a moment as a tone of amusement added itself to his voice. "I can't seem to stay out of your affairs anyway." I looked over his lopsided smile as I noticed it was as genuine as always. The same smile as he always gave me.
He trusts me to know. Not even caring what it would mean for him or what it would cause. But he doesn't just trust me to know, he wants me to know.
I slowly pulled off the hood as I noted the small details to his face that I knew all too well. The small curve to his cheeks. The scar I knew all too well that danced on his left cheek. My eyes continued to scan the details of his face as I pulled the hood the rest of the way off. I gave him a gentle smile as I saw his familiar blue eyes that were just as bright as always. I felt my hand untangle itself from his hood as I then decided to run my hand through his dark brown hair.
"Was I who you thought I would be?" I gave a small giggle to him as my fingers toyed with the back of his hair.
"Exactly." He chuckled in return.
"Happy to not disappoint."
"You could never disappoint me, Jim." I saw a small blush appear on his face as a smile spread across mine.
Still don't know which side I enjoy more. The confident wizard or the nervous teenager. Either way though, I know I wouldn't change him for the world. As Shakespeare said, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
And he would still be my Romeo no matter if he was a human, wizard, or anything else in between. It wouldn't matter to me. Just as long as he is here for me.
I felt my smile widen ever so slightly as I spoke once more.
"Will your teacher and friend be upset that I'm here?"
"I'll be able to patch you up before they-." Suddenly the doors flung open as two hooded figures looked over toward us before the one in black spoke freely.
"What in the bloody hell is going on here?" Jim flashed me a sheepish look as he muttered softly just low enough for me to hear.
"Aw, benne fuzz."
Spinta d'aria- air push
Vete a la mierda, perra- fuck off, bitch lol
Stai indietro!- stay back
Catene dell' inferno! - chains of hell.
Giuro su Merlino che ti farò a pezzi!- I swear to Merlin I will tear you to shreads
Ti auguro una buona serata. Spero ti piacciano le restrizioni. - Have a nice night. Hope you enjoy your restraints.
Aw, benne fuzz- Aw Fuzz Buckets lol