I told you I'd post later. Sorry for such a short chapter, I just couldn't combine it with anything else.

Chapter 12: Tehama

July 6th, Tehama CA

Jim had been in Mineral city when he'd heard about a comic convention, it was a bit of a backtrack on his way to Gasquet, but decided to go.

He walked the rows of vendors booths and authors and artists sitting at autograph tables. It was a vibrant crowd, not as odd as he thought they'd be. He found them to actually be quite a lively bunch.

He'd been there about ten minutes, when some exuberant extrovert came and yanked down his hood.

"Heyo! Wow, dude, check out that costume… your makeup is fantastic too!"

Jim had jumped out of his skin, turned with fangs barred."

"Uhhh… calm down, bro."

He took a breath and apologized. The boy had shaggy blonde hair, he was wearing a tight black suit with black cat ears and a mask.

"What are you?" Jim asked.

"Dude," he stepped back and did a spin. "I'm Chat Noir."

Jim pressed his lips and nodded.

The 'Chat Noir' laughed. "Smiling and nodding is the best thing to do at these things. I don't know what fandom your costume is from." He put his hand out, "My name's Steve, but I hate my name so just call me V."

"Jim," he said, taking the hand. "And I'm not really from any fandom. I'm just here as me. In a costume."

"Did you make it? It's dope."

"Uh, you could say that. I had a few friends help, one who you could say is a real wizard," Jim gave a pained laugh.

"Holy shit…" a girl spat. She looked like a gymnast in a ladybug leotard. "Where did you get that tail!"

Jim froze, realizing himself he found his tail flowing outside the confines of his cloak. "Shit."

The ladybug came around and stood next to V, who was staring at the tail just as much as the gathering crowd.

"Uh…" Jim paused then rolled his eyes. "I had a magician make it for me."

The group around him gave a roar of laughter then dissipated.

"No really, how the hell does that work. Some kind of high-tech mechanical tail or something?"

"Hardison, if he doesn't wanna tell then leave him be," V said.

The girl rolled her eyes. "Who's your new friend, V?"

Jim offered her hand. "I'm Jim. You're Hardison? Cool name."

The girl had brown hair in two short pigtails, she smiled and nodded. "Thanks."

Jim hung out with those two for a while, met some of their friends. Helped a comic book artist escape a mob of angry fans when he declared he was discontinuing a comic book. The man had looked at Jim with an air of artistry.

He found a few other people who had costumes similar to his own physique and asked about theirs.

He had fun, an odd weird kind of fun. He left as it was getting dark, and walked with his hood down. So many other people with their strange costumes it wouldn't be questioned. Though the further he walked, the more odd looks he gained. So he once again replaced the leather hood.

Once dark had claimed the landscape, he picked up his pace as he ran invisibly through the shadows.

He was about to hitch a ride on a semi headed north when something stopped him. He didn't know what. He just froze, and something tugged at his heart. And he felt as if the universe was urging him to turn back.

Being a person with his life tied to fate, you just don't ignore universe mail.

He turned around and just ran to the first place he laid his eyes on. A shuttle bus building. He ran, and arrived only minutes later. And what he saw made his eyes burn red and growl violently from the roof.

Below him, a girl being pulled around and shaken by a firm grip around her upper arm.

"What did you expect? You think I wouldn't find you?!" A red headed man screamed in her face. A faint scent of alcohol on him.

"Well it's what I was hoping," the girl growled back.

"You're such an ungrateful brat. I feed and clothe you and this is what I get in return." The man threw her arm forward, slamming her into the red pickup truck as he let go. "Get in, we're going home."

She moved the hair out of her face and stood tall. "No, I'm not going! I'm sick of you treating me like this!"

"Why you little…" he raised his arm and a sickening slap resonated through the still darkness.

Jim could feel his eyes burning, his lip curled in an ugly snarl he sprinted off the roof and charged the man like a bull and sent him flying then rolling like a limp corpse.

The girl learched out and yelled, "Dad!"

Jim stood and tried to force the blood color from his eyes, ultimately failing. So he simply turned away from her. "Are you ok?" He asked.

She sighed and nodded. "Nothing I'm not used to, thanks… Atlas."

Jim gave a short laugh. "Yeah, of course. Would you like me to take him…"

"NO. No, I don't. I… I'll just drive him home. Try again in a while. I can live with a few more bruises."

Jim shook his head, but couldn't disagree with her.

Even if his mother was to hit him, he wouldn't wish anything ill on her. Nor did he to Claire.

"Alright, just… be ok."

She gave a broken smile. "It's all I ever am."

He choked, but chose to leave as he didn't want to be discovered. Simply turning and booking it to the freeway.

July 4th, 9:38 pm, Mineral City CA

Jim was waiting for the fireworks to start, it had just gotten dark, and sat on a lone hill in the forest area outside the city.

It was nice and quiet but he had begun to feel lonely. As if on cue, his phone rang. He pulled it out, expecting Claire or Toby's blocked number, instead finding Darcy's.

"Hey Darci," he said in a cheerful tone.

"Hey Jim! It… It's really good to hear your voice," She almost choked. "Hey, I'm really sorry about… everything. I… We…"

"Hey, Darci. Don't." Jim shook his head. "No, this was for the best." He reassured. "Honestly, this was probably the best decision I've made next to picking up the amulet and taking Merlin's potion." He laughed.

"Really?" Darcy gaped.

"Really, I've been able to figure a lot of things out. And I've helped a lot of people too."

"What? What do you mean…?"

"Oh, I've been wandering north since I left. And I've been watching for crime all over. You would not believe how many muggers there are a night in Sacramento." He gave a deep laugh.

"Oh, um… Well, I'm at the fourth of July BBQ that Claire's mom hosts every year. And the gang and I, We were wondering when you're coming back?" Darci pressed.

"Hmmm, not for a while. Solitude is kinda nice, and I'm not sure if my mom, and Toby are ready for me to come back. As for Claire, I've no idea if I'm ready to face her." He gave a frustrated growl

"I also feel really bad for blocking Toby's number, but he just kept sending me angry texts. I… I don't feel like dealing with that."

"Well, they realized that they were… upsetting you. And Toby and Claire are working really hard on making sure they treat you properly when you come back. I don't know much about your mom, but I do know that several people have been wearing her down."

"That's good, I guess. Hey look, I've kinda sworn off answering my phone. I missed the friendly conversation, and I would love to keep chatting, but I would feel really bad if Toby or Claire found out. I would answer, but I'm not ready to talk with them. And when I do, I want it to be face to face."

"I can understand that. I'm actually…" She thought about telling him but decided against it. "I'm actually really excited for when you get back. Arcadia's not the same without you Jim."

"Thanks. Hey, I'll tell you a secret if you can keep it."

She paused for a second then said. "Yeah I can keep a secret."

"I'll be back by August 15th, so it won't be too much longer."

"Privileged information, alright. It won't leave my lips. Good luck out there."

"You have a good fourth Darci…" The fireworks went off and the loud unexpected sound caused him to snarl and drop the phone.

Hastily, he pressed his ears against his head and ran deeper into the forest. -IDIOT- he thought. How could he be so thoughtless about the fireworks.

He already felt a headache coming on.

But he was glad to hear about the progress back home.

Hope ya'll kept in mind that mystery girl. Review!