Jim stepped through the door into the other half of the gym. The first years were busy suiting up in protective gear. As he crossed the room to the familiar cat in footwear he scanned for either of his friends.
"Watch it!" Someone snapped at him.
Jim stumbled to a halt, moments away from walking into another boy. "I'm so sorry, I didn't see you."
"Maybe if you weren't craning your neck around like it's your first time in the market, you wouldn't have had that issue." The boy before him crossed his arms over his chest. Jim recognized Mozenrath's scowl.
Beside him a familiar blue skinned boy with shockingly orange hair stretched out his hand to check his nails. "The little sap is searching for the pathetic human that left for medical earlier."
"Sy isn't pathetic," Jim snapped irritably. "And don't go around making assumptions."
Asterism scoffed. "I can't stand when lesser beings act as if they can make demands. Don't talk about what you don't know, human. I don't make 'assumptions', and I do not appreciate the names you have in mind for me. They are far more reflective of yourself than of my superior being."
Mozenrath snickered. "He is quite full of himself, isn't he?"
Jim clenched his fists tightly. "Get out of my way. I'm here to speak with the instructor." He wasn't going to start a fight, no matter how tempting it may have been.
Mozenrath stepped back with a mock bow. "Well don't allow us to stop you, your highness." Jim shoved past the two of them with a scowl. A familiar whirl of gears caught his attention as he stepped by. Unable to help himself he glanced over at the sound.
"It seems your arm has caught his attention, Mozenrath." Asterism reported. Jim turned to glare at him, but the boy wasn't even looking his way. He'd turned around to focus on his protective gear.
Mozenrath flexed his metal fingers. "Well isn't that a shame. I don't much like it when others stare at my arm." The gears whirled again and he closed his hand into a fist. When he opened it again, a small talisman glistened in the middle of his palm. "I suppose I shall have to take care of that."
"Leave him alone, Mozenrath." From behind them another voice spoke up. Jim spun around to see a boy that could only have been from the same planet as Mozenrath. The new boy had darker skin, but their accents were identical.
"Hello, Aladdin." Mozenrath did not sound pleased to see him.
The new boy, Aladdin, reached over to take Jim's hand. "Come on! You said you wanted to see the instructor?"
Jim tensed at the unexpected hand holding. "I can get there myself."
Aladdin laughed. "Oh, I'm sure you can!" He headed that direction regardless. "Sorry about those two. Mozenrath is from my home, he's here to repent for the things he's done back in Agrabah. Razoul didn't want to give him a second chance, he favored the idea of execution, but Jasmine and I agreed that if he could make himself useful, he could live."
Jim nodded along with the explanation. "Uh, who's Jasmine?"
"My wife!" Aladdin's face lit up as he spoke about her. "She's the most beautiful woman in the world! She's smart, and clever, and independent. You'd just love her!" He released Jim's hand and nodded to where Puss was helping a youth tie on his chest protector. "If Mozenrath or his companions give you any issues, just let me know."
Jim nodded. "Sure. Thanks, I guess?" Aladdin raised a hand in acknowledgement before heading back the way he had come. Jim shook his head and turned to the orange feline. "Sir."
Puss looked up and smiled. "Ah, James!"
"Jim."
"Si. Jim. How can I help you?"
"Mister Gru said to inform you that the second half of the gym is yours." Jim reported dutifully.
"Excellent!" Puss scooped up his tablet and tapped in a few commands. The barrier that divided the two halves of the gymnasium began to slowly pull apart and it folded itself up into the pockets in the walls. Puss turned to his students. "You may spread across the entire gym, I shall go over your exercises en un momento!"
Jim headed for the doors that lead outside. He had a class of his own to catch up with.
