Toxic

Jim had decided he very much did not like being the subject of experimentation, either human (that woman at 49-B) or wizardly (Merlin). Actually, he thought, he should maybe count Douxie in that latter category. But he had the honest impression that Douxie touching his bracelet to that damned shard was supposed to be an illustrative gesture, not something the vampire-wizard had expected to actually do something. So he was giving Douxie a pass for now.

Besides, with how Toby had Merlin ranting on about vampires and the evil they represented and how his foolish apprentice had destroyed himself, becoming one of them... well, right now Jim had a lot of sympathy going for Douxie.

"I thought my ears were burning," the individual in question said, walking into the room.

"Douxie!" Jim straightened up as Merlin's rant cut off mid-word and the older wizard glared at his apprentice.

"Well, you're looking better," Douxie said, strolling over.

Jim laughed. "I could say the same about you." The wizard was wearing real clothing, and shoes for the first time since Jim had known him. "Why does it not surprise me you're a goth?"

"Black doesn't show the fur," the cat riding on Douxie's shoulder informed him, surprising Jim. He blinked. The cat used Douxie as a springboard, leaping into the air and transforming into something bigger, with wings. He swooped around the room before coming to hover in the air in front of Jim. He extended a paw. "The name's Archibald. A pleasure to meet you, Trollhunter."

Jim had to chuckle, shaking the tiny paw. "Jim Lake. Nice to meet you."

"Archie's a dragon. And my familiar," Douxie explained as the dragon dove back for his shoulders, turning back into a cat. Douxie's gaze intensified into a mild glare as he looked at Blinky and Aaarrrgghh. "Not a snack," he emphasized.

Blinky looked taken aback. "I would never!" he declared.

"Smells good, though," offered Aaarrrgghh.

Jim chuckled again. Cats had never smelled delicious to him, the way they did to true trolls. Though, now that he thought about it, there was definitely something sweet in the air around Archie. Huh. Something to watch out for. "Douxie, these are my mentors, Blinky and Aaarrrgghh."

"Toby Domzalski, best friend material," Toby introduced himself, hand out, after Douxie had exchanged greetings with the trolls.

"I hear good things about you," Douxie said. His gaze drifted to Claire. "And you must be the shadowmancer girlfriend. Claire, was it?"

"Yes." She gave him a firm handshake. "Thank you for saving Jim."

"Believe me, it was very much a mutual effort." Douxie's gaze drifted last to Barbara, questioning.

"Doctor Barbara Lake." She crossed her arms and glared. "You should be in bed."

"I've been doing nothing for fourteen years," Douxie told her. "I am not staying in bed."

"Wizards are remarkably physically resilient," Archie informed her. He glanced at his familiar. "Douxie should be fine. I'll sit on him if he's not."

Douxie rolled his eyes. "So, now that we've resolved the issue of my health, shall we move on to Jim's?"

Merlin glowered. "Assuming your half-baked idea works," he began.

"Do you have a better one?" Douxie asked back.

Merlin glared for a moment longer, then deflated. "No," he admitted. His gaze lingered on Douxie's wrist. "Though I would need an assistant with two hands, to deal with something this... toxic."

Douxie sighed. "You still don't trust Zoe, do you, Master?"

Merlin's gaze sharpened. "No."

"Oh, hey, I have an idea!" Toby pulled his cellphone out of his backpack and waved it. "Would you guys mind if I called in an expert, to see about a prosthetic?"

"An expert...?" Jim asked.

Toby grinned. "You're going to love this," he promised, and dialed.