Juliet and The Hunter (Hiatus)

Chapter Twenty-one

Of course, the canal is empty. Although Jim was expecting this, that doesn't stop him from being disappointed. Kicking a stone across the abandoned waterway, Jim despondently starts planning his next move.

Deciding to lighten the mood, Not-Enrique turns to Jim, ready with his usual amount of stupidity. "We have to think like Claire," Not-Enrique says with mock sagacity. As serious as ever, Jim remains expressionless. "C'mon, I'll go first."

Like a performer preparing for a show, Not-Enrique takes a deep breath and bats his eyelashes suggestively.

Jim is instantly dismissive. "No."

The changeling continues, undeterred. "Oh, Jim," he crows in a high-pitched squeaky voice. "I'm so mad at you."

He pulls his features into what he hopes resembles Claire when she's irritated with him for throwing food on the floor. To complete the look, Not-Enrique puffs out his chest and stands on his hind legs, puckering his lips into a pout.

"We don't have time for this!" Jim chastises. Bordering hysteria, he's in no mood to joke; the wounds from her harsh words are still too raw and the thought of him never being able to make amends is too much.

Still getting into character, Not-Enrique searches for props to aid his theatrics. Spotting something metallic glinting in the moonlight, he picks it up in his grubby claw. Perfect.

"Jim. . ." he coos flirtatiously.

When Jim spins to him, a look of derision pinching his features, Not-Enrique has a neon hairclip fastened to his mane and winks at the Trollhunter.

"What now. . . ? Hold on! Gimme that." Snatching the clip from Not-Enrique's matted fur, Jim demands, "Where did you get this?"

Extending a green finger, the Troll points to a spot a few feet away. "I dunno, somewhere over there I guess."

Checking to see if Not-Enrique's on the same wavelength, Jim asks, "Do you know what this means?"

"I would look fabulous in drag?" He isn't serious, but he clearly isn't following. Finally registering Jim's short fuse, he drops the act.

"What?!? No. . . This is Claire's! I think she wanted me to find this!" He hypothesises, hoping he isn't grasping at straws. "Are there any more?"

After searching around for a moment, Jim finds what he's looking for. "Yes! It's like breadcrumbs! She's leading us somewhere. . ."

The last thing Not-Enrique wants to do is take away Jim's glimmer of hope, but one thought keeps plaguing the changeling. "Jim, why would she do that? It doesn't make any sense. She ran away." The reminder is unnecessary, but it still strikes a chord with the young Trollhunter.  

There's a heavy silence. "Not unless. . ." He trails off with a gulp.

"Unless she's in trouble." Not-Enrique finishes. Hearing it from someone else made it all the more real.

With not a second to lose, they follow the trail of Claire's hairclips, hoping they aren't already too late.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed that chapter and if you did, don't be a silent reader! Thanks to my beta midnightpansy!

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