"So everyone knows what they're supposed to do?" Jim asks, looking around at each person at the table.
There is a chorus of affirmation.
"Good," He says. "And if anyone forgets something or needs clarification: Ask. If we fail… Well… It will be the end."
"Again," Toby mutters under his breath.
This is what? Three almost apocalypses now? Were they counting attempts to take over the world? He is so done with stupid villains and their stupid need to destroy everything.
Jim is talking again so Toby forces himself to pay attention.
"Okay. Everyone let's get to our places…."
Jim stops talking midsentence. His face goes completely blank; eyes staring into the middle distance. For a second Toby thinks he sees a flash of green in them.
"Um… Jimbo?" Toby calls out. "You okay there buddy?"
Suddenly Jim's eyes refocus and his head snaps up. His eyes dart around the room before finally settling on Toby.
"It worked," he breathes out. "I can't believe it actually…"
His breathing hitches and tears well in his eyes. Before Toby can really register what is happening Jim has vaulted over the table and has him in a bone crushing hug.
"You're alive," Jim whispers.
Well that's not ominous at all.
"Yeah," Toby says, patting Jim's back. "Why wouldn't I be?"
He would really like to know, actually. He's starting to get freaked out.
"Because…" Jim doesn't finish his sentence.
He starts shaking and Toby feels his shoulder grow wet.
He glances around the room to find everyone staring at them. They all look about as confused as he does. Everything is silent for a moment except for Jim's half-muffled sobs.
Then Nari frowns and sniffs the air. Still sniffing she approaches Jim and Toby.
"You have used the Kronosphere," She says.
Jim finally pulls away –just a little- from Toby. He scrubs at his face with one arm. The other remains firmly wrapped around Toby.
"Yeah," he says quietly.
"What's the Kronosphere?" Claire asks. She's come to their side. Her hand is hovering over Jim's shoulder like she's debating whether or not she should hug him.
"It allows you to see the future," Jim says. "I broke it and used the stone to travel to the past."
Toby has a distinct and horrible feeling he knows exactly where this is going.
"Did I die, by any chance?" He ventures.
Jim shudders and presses his face back into Toby's neck.
"You and Nari, and Nomura, and… and…" His voice cracks and trails off. "We messed up." He finishes.
Toby trades gazes with the others as he strokes Jim's back.
"What do you want to do Jimbo?" He asks finally. "Actually no. Is anything going to happen in the next few hours?"
Jim shakes his head without looking up.
"Good," Toby says. "In that case you're taking a rest. We can do planning later."
"I…" Jim starts before trailing off. "Okay."
Toby and Claire exchange a glance.
"Do you want to go to your room or…?"
"It'd be better to have all of you here," Jim says quietly.
"Okay. Claire. We need pillows."
"On it," She says. Several portals open depositing copious amounts of blankets and pillows into a corner of the room. Once a small mountain has formed, one opens under Jim and Toby and they're dropped into the pile.
Claire crawls up beside them and wraps her arms around Jim and Toby. The Trollhunter makes a wordless sound of thanks.
Over the next few hours the Defenders of Arcadia drift around the room. They take turns making contact with Jim –except for Toby who Jim has yet to let go of. It's easy to determine who died in the future. Jim stares at them hard and touches them in a way that suggests he's trying to confirm that they're really real.
Eventually he starts to tell them bits and pieces of what happened. It isn't a pretty picture. They managed to stop the end of the world, but only just. The amount of devastation, both personal and global, is horrific.
Toby is glad that they know more about their enemy, but he also suspects that this time travel is a one time deal. It's not that he hadn't been taking it seriously before, but knowing that they'd already messed up once really drives it home how high the stakes are.
And then there's the fact that Toby died.
He's going to think about that later… much later.
For now they need to get Jim grounded. Then they need a new plan.
