Brothers by Blood, Brothers in Arms

Chapter 4: Destiny Is A Gift

 "Do you think I should tell Toby?" Jim asked Archie later that night.

They were sitting on the couch together, Gun Robot playing in the background, but neither of them were paying much attention to it.

"Why on Earth would you want to tell Toby?" Archie stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Because..." Jim sighed. "Because Toby is my best friend, and if I don't tell him the real truth then he's going to wonder why I'm not doing anything about Douxie being gone."

"Ah," Archie nodded slowly. "Yes, you're right." He thought for a moment, tail swishing back and forth. "And we'd need to do something if your mother notices he's missing too."

Jim chewed his lower lip. "What if we went to the police?"

Archie cocked his head to the side, curious. "Why?"

"Because... Douxie is missing. And I know the police can't actually do anything about it, assuming this is even a troll thing."

"It most certainly is." Archie said. He thought for a moment.
"Actually, I'd be rather amused if mortal kidnappers were to choose your brother as a target."

"Why?"

Archie grinned sharply. "He isn't really as nice as you think he is. At least to the undeserving."

Jim nodded slowly, thinking about all the times Douxie had openly stood up to Steve in defense of everyone else. Those had been some of the most epic verbal smackdowns he'd ever witnessed. "Yeah... he can be kind of mean in a fight, can't he?"

"He's never been one to play fair," Archie admitted. "Mostly because none of his opponents do either."

Jim took a deep breath. "Right, back on topic. If we tell the police, that will also make it seem like I know less than I do."

"Oh, very good point." Archie looked rather impressed. "It would throw Gunmar's spies off your trail. Yes, Jim. Excellent brainstorming session." He stretched and hopped off the couch. "You tell Toby in the morning. I'll make arrangements with Blinkous about starting your training."

Jim watched him leave, something stirring in his gut. He had a feeling something was about to go terribly wrong.

____

"I can't believe it takes eight hours," Jim complained, slamming the front door shut. His earlier attempts at telling Toby had been interrupted by Toby's dentist appointment.

"Two molars, plus insertions, and some cleanup." Toby said, walking into the kitchen. "Hello Archibald," he greeted the cat with a scratch on the head.

Archie leaned into him, purring softly. Jim noticed what Toby didn't. Archie's little side eye, gold eyes glinting with too much intelligence.

"So," Toby was going through Jim's refrigerator. "Any news on Douxie?"

Jim pursed his lips. "What I wanted to show you has to do with Doux."

Toby raised a brow, turning slowly with a cold pizza in his hands. "Okay, go on."

JIm took a deep breath, pulling the Amulet from his pocket. "For the glory of Merlin, Daylight is-"

The microwave beeped. "Sorry," Toby took the pizza out of the microwave. "I'm listening."

Jim frowned at him. Neither of them missed Archie's exasperated eye roll.

Turning back to the Amulet, Jim steeled his nerves and spoke the incantation. The armor appeared with a flash of blue light.