Cassidy as stable as she was going to get with the manual mask, they all reconvened in the living room. His younger self and Toby, who seemed surprisingly stressed, sat on the floor in front of the coffee table. Claire was on the couch, holding Cassidy protectively, glancing down every few seconds to make sure the sleeping three-month-old was still breathing. Nari sat on the opposite cushion, sitting as far away as she could not from Claire but from Cassidy, staring at her with a strange glare.
"So you're all from the future?" Younger Jim asked for the fourth time, needing reassurance to confirm he was not in fact going crazy. He looked up at his future self and Douxie, waiting patiently but at the same time impatiently for an answer.
Douxie nodded, holding the Time Map with a firm grip, staring down at it if some strange language was written on it and he was attempting to decipher it."That we are, about a year and a half to be exact."He specified, Toby's jaw-dropping into a round O shape.
"So cool." He exclaimed his tone as if he'd just got word that a new rock exhibit was opening up, which in their time, eventually would."Wait so if there's time travel what else is there?"
Jim turned to Douxie for an answer, wondering the same thing. If they could travel through time - back in time to be specific - could they travel to the future? Or cross dimensions? Douxie wore the same face of wonder as he did, looking down at the Time Map."That I'm unsure. Before his passing Merlin never gave any insight into the Time Maps pull potential. But it'd be best we didn't look into it, time and space manipulation can have devastating consequences." A disappointing answer, yes, but perhaps it was for the better. The three of them knew first hand how dangerous messing with time could be.
"I'm confused."His younger self intervened, breaking from his train of thought."If Time travel is so dangerous, then why have you come to the past?"
"I'm wondering the same thing," Claire stated, mildly pissed at Douxie for sending them back so unexpectedly without Cassidy's breathing tube, causing her very likely death. Normally she would be going full mama bear on the wizard but was in a way grateful for the experience since she knew only too well what they would eventually have to go through.
Douxie smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of his neck in guilt."Ah yes about that, my apologies but after we began shutting off the Market I realized that even the Arcane Order's powers have limitations. Time manipulation is a hard feat to accomplish and even combing both their powers they'd still need a powering source to harness that and create a hole in time." He held the Time Map up."With the Time Map in my custody and Nari still having a small portion of her powers I figured we'd be able to in a way hide in time itself."
Jim and Claire both mentally nodded, a relatively good idea."I guess it makes sense but why did you bring us along?" Jim asked, crossing his arms loosely. It surprised him how strange it was to be back home, even if he hadn't necessarily left. The part that was probably the strangest was how calm everything was. In his head he laughed thinking about how his younger self was overwhelmed, thinking his life was over and his life couldn't get any harder. God was he wrong.
"We weren't originally," Douxie began his explanation, raising an eyebrow at Nari who made a faint moan when Cassidy whimpered.
"Shshh," Claire cooed, sighing realizing she hadn't finished breastfeeding her before the intrusion, and she was probably hungry. Uncomfortable breastfeeding in such a public environment(Toby, Douxie, and Nari in particular), and physically unable since the mask covered Cassidy's mouth as well as her nose. Jim noticed his younger self eyeing Claire and Cassidy. He wasn't sure if he'd connected the dots that Cassidy was their baby or even the dots he and Claire were together since as he could tell, thanks to the way the living room was decorated, it was before Angor Rot's attack on them.
"As I was saying, we were only coming to inform you of our plan, but while on our way, an accomplice of the Arcane Order came after us, explaining our rush to escape, "Douxie explained, gaze prefixed on Nari who seemed to grow more uncomfortable every time Cassidy did so much as move.
"Fucken Changeling, "Jim muttered, leaning against the wall, sliding his hands into his pockets and looking away from Douxie and to Claire. He frowned recalling what had gone down between them less than half an hour earlier. He knew he wasn't his father but couldn't help but feel the guilt of how he approached the situation. He should've been telling her how bad things were getting down in Troll Market weeks earlier, but she was already so stressed with Cass, he wanted to help. But of course, he did the opposite and possibly could've ruined everything between them.
"Actually no. It wasn't a changeling but one of those prehistoric-looking Twits."He said, Both Jim's blood running cold, immediately knowing what he was talking about.
"Stalkling." Both Jim and his past self said in sync, glancing at one another before turning back to Douxie."did you kill it?" Jim asked, concern rising in him.
"No," Shit, Jim thought hoping it wouldn't attach itself to someone else. That would be disastrous without them there."I am unsure if it was or was not an accomplice of the Arcane Order since those twits have a habit of tracking and killing people, do they not?"
"No, they do, "Jim sighed. This made things only more complicated. From personal experience, Stalklings were ruthless and though they weren't their biggest worry at the moment, it would still make things harder once they returned to their time." I understand the urgency and why you brought us back as well but," he eyed Claire, able to tell how uncomfortable she was."We can't hide here forever."
"I agree and you're not." Douxie informed the TrollHunter, setting the Time Map on the coffee table in front of Nari."As not to mess up time, You, Claire, and Cassidy will be sent back. Once you're back I'll remove your younger self and Toby's memories and Nari and I will-"
"Hold a sec." Toby interrupted."First of all, I don't know you so I don't want you performing weird magicy stuff on me, and second, you haven't explained anything." Douxie cocked his head to the side in confusion, letting Toby know to continue his explanation."Like what's this talk of Merlin from Sword in the Stone? Who's this green lady who looks like she's gonna vomit? And who the hell is that baby that practically died?!"
Jim's muscles tensed at the word died, since it had been a possibility of their daughter's fate is his mother hadn't had such a plentiful first aid kit."It doesn't matter, Douxie," Jim said, motioning his head in the direction of the Time Map. Douxie nodded, moving closer to the forest sprite.
"Nari if you will." They waited for her to work her magic but she didn't. Instead, she stared at the floor in a possessed like daze. She didn't move when Douxie called out her name again and didn't flinch when he tapped her on the shoulder. She remained perfectly still, like a portrait, that was until Cassidy whimpered up towards Claire for food again.
Nari remained still but seemed to react in an uncomfortable way to the noise. As she opened her eyes, they shone bright blue, blinding Toby, Douxie, Jim, and his younger self."Young, moon and sun, shadows and light, bearer of burdens, teller of lives. Ended by familiar blood, blood trusted, blood loved, ended for the call of destiny."
"That's new," Jim commented, slightly freaked out, trying to decipher her strange words.
Claire, who had pulled Cassidy closer to her, paused recognizing one of the lines. Bearer of burdens. She couldn't remember when or where but she remembered, someone saying something like that to her. Her grip on the mask loosened and the mask easily fell down, letting Cassidy's muffled cries roam free. The shrill cries made Nari turn toward Cassidy slowly, whispering some sort of incantation. Claire quickly jumped up from her seat, nearly falling over, but found stable ground, stepping as far as she could form the sprite. Sadly, before Claire could escape, Nari's ring finger had graced the edge of the mask, causing it to break, leaving them with no breathing source for the three-month-old.
"Nari!" Douxie yelled. His yell broke Nari from her trance, her eyes dimming and weakening. All energy was sucked from her, body turning limp as she crashed down into the couch. They all waited, relieved when nothing happened. Nari seemed to have fallen asleep, drugged by her own magic.
"What in the fucking hell was tha-" Toby shouted but was interrupted by a panicking Claire, hurrying over to Jim with Cassidy facing up towards the ceiling. She gasped repeatedly, her chokes more breathy than before since she had still been recovering from her attack just mere minutes ago.
"Call mom," Jim ordered, gently taking Cassidy from Claire who was beginning to shake again.
His younger self had stood up along with Toby but didn't move, just stared at Cassidy, Claire and, his older self with a blank expression." You said it was too dangerous to call her. Maybe we can find another ma-"
Oh no, Jim thought as he watched Claire's worried expression become angered. She only used that face when yelling at Jim or her mo, both a rare sight to see. But when it came to Cass and her well being, you had to be afraid. Enraged more than he'd seen her in a long time, Claire stomped over to his younger self show shriveled in fear.
"James Lake Jr., don't you fucken use Douxie's shitty time magic as an excuse." She said, surprising Jim by how calm she was actually was. She brought her finger up to his younger selves jaw and wagged it back and forth."All I'm doing is trying to make it so our daughter doesn't die. So I'll ask you again, call your god damn mom for an oxygen tank and Breathing tube."
His younger self who was already stricken in fear, went pale hearing a specific part of Claire's decree." Our daughter?" he questioned making sure he'd heard her right. Jim and Claire quickly glanced at one another, remembering that in their current time they weren't a couple.
"Yoooo..." Toby said, jaw dragging against the wood floor."I thought you were taking up the babysitting business again but you guys entered the se-"
Cassidy whimpered, everyone, turning to her, Jim's younger self turning with wide eyes acknowledging he was looking at his daughter. Jim sighed,d looking his younger self straight in the eye."We promise to explain everything later just please call mom."
Though he was freaking out, realizing not only did he get Claire Nunez but had a goddam baby with her, he nodded, pulling out his phone."Hey mom, weird request but-"
. . .
"Was that necessary Arch?"Douxie questioned his cat companion who was licking himself clean, not taking notice or even care that he'd knocked out the TrollHunter's mother.
Licking his paw and brushing the fur atop his hair back, Archie only looked up at the wizard for a moment before sighing."How else would you have explained a doppelganger of his son, son's lady friend, and a baby with the need for oxygen provided via tube?"
Douxie frowned, still not pleased with his friend who'd been sleeping in his jacket pocket as a Flea. When Barbara arrived, with the breathing tube and a lot of questions, he rose from the pocket, "accidentally" knocking her out cold."I think you could've gone lighter." Jim said, looking at his mother who was asleep on the couch. They'd moved Nari to the rug, resting on top of two pillows.
Archie rolled his eyes."Ungrateful humans,' he muttered jumping down from his post and up the stairs to find some peace and quiet he could continue to groom himself in.
Claire hadn't said much since the whole Barbara nock out situation, mainly since she was enjoying the feeling of relief having her daughter back on oxygen. She smiled, always loving to watch Cassidy sleep her peaceful round little face, but she was also smiling since she could feel her boyfriend's younger and more naive self staring at her and Cassidy."You know I'm open for a conversation." She joked.
Younge Jim went red in the cheeks, blinking and straightening up to appear less creepy." Sorry I just..." he paused trying to pick from a million questions."You guys are only two years in the future."
"Oh," Claire said smile fading."So that's what this is about." She sighed reminding herself that seeing Cass probably wasn't all a miracle to come."Technically we're only a year a half in the future."
He nearly choked hearing that."Seriously? And in that time we manage to stop the world from ending, have a baby and start..." He cut himself short, guessing they were together but not wanting to make assumptions.
Her smile returned, bobbing her head up and down."Yup, though the world isn't really done ending." she said, trying to make it sound as much as a joke as she could. Her smile wavered for a moment, looking down and seeing her ring absent from her hand. She regretted saying what she did, and only hoped she could take it back and be forgiven.
"Ugh great."Toby moaned slumping down in the chair across from Claire."And I expect I'm still alone."
Claire laughed shaking her head."You definitely don't have to worry about that."
"Wait what!" Toby shrieked, Claire, ignoring him with a smile and turning to her younger boyfriend.
"Can I borrow your room?" She asked, remembering it wasn't their room in his time.
Younger Jim raised an eyebrow."Uh sure but why?"
Claire smiled, surprisingly not feeling embarrassed." Cass's hungry," she said quietly so only younger Jim would hear, causing the poor boy to turn bright red. As she walked towards the stairs she could hear Toby interrogating Younge Jim on what she said but the boy was just silent.
"Need help?" she heard the voice belonging to her boyfriend ask, grabbing the base of the oxygen tank.
"Oh thanks," she said. She knew what he was getting at. They had to talk.
I'm still figuring out how to write for Douxie so my apologies. My least favorite part about this platform is you can't go back and edit. You have no idea how much I want to go back and edit/add onto pre-existing chapters but I digress.
