Sean and Evelien were relieved to get BB back. So relieved that they didn't even ask questions. Sean seemed to know that Jackie wasn't able to capture Anti so in the end, it all worked out. Sean just let Jackie return in his head without asking a single thing. Although Evelien WAS curious as to why BB smelt of Salmon and wasn't all that hungry that night.

No one else was really bothered with how Jackie came back. No one except for Chase and Marvin. 

Chase was curious and worried about Jackie's encounter with the villain but Jackie wouldn't even say much. That's how he knew something was off. Usually Jackie would be ranting all about their fight or rather . . . Jackie chasing him and Anti running away. 

'What happened? Did something happen like how I ran into Anti the other day? It sure was weird . . . .'

But Chase didn't want to bring it up right now. He was worried he'd sound sympathetic towards Anti.

And he was the last person who should feel that way.

Meanwhile Marvin was curious for other reasons. He was in his room working on a potion, deep in thought about today's recent events.

'Anti was able to  sneak right by my wards AGAIN. But how? Surely I didn't miss any points? Anti's clever but surely not THAT clever? Then again . . . he HAS thwarted Sean more than enough times as it is'

The magician smirked, 'I must admit, it IS sort of entertaining to watch him get flustered when nobody's getting hurt. Since Jackie refuses to talk about their little scuffle, perhaps I should talk to BB about it?'

Yes, that DID sound like a good idea, didn't it?

Suddenly there was a knock on his door and Marvin almost put too much explosive powder in the pot, "Damn. Coming!" he flicked his wrist, making the door open of its own accord.

Jackie was at the door with an unimpressed look on his face, "You know saying you're 'coming' to get the door usually implies that you physically come to open the door YOURSELF, Marv"

"Eh" Marvin just shrugged, "What do you need? I am pretty busy, you see"

"So I see" he snorted, "Please don't tell me you're making another diarrhea potion-"

". . . then I just won't tell you, will I?"

Jackie sighed in exasperation, "Anyway . . . So one of the walkie talkies got smashed today. Was wondering if you could make me another?"

Marvin gasped, "Uh! Jackie! I told you to be careful with those!" he rolled his eyes, "But of course I have another." he made another appear in the palm of his hand, "I usually have backups for you anyway. How'd the other get smashed?"

"Oh uh . . . . fell out of my  .. pocket?"

"You're a shit liar, you know that?" Marvin teased him.

Jackie just snorted, "Aaaaand~ . . . you're shit at card tricks but I never call you out on it"

"YOU JUST DID!" 

The hero just shrugged.

Marvin scoffed, "Hmph. . . Fine. Don't tell me, then. Did you at least recover the tracker or any parts from it? I could reuse them to-nevermind, I'll just conjure them back myself and-"

"NO!" Jackie shouted, effectively halted Marvin from doing so. The hero realized he may have messed up already, "I mean . . . don't worry about it. Not like we can't afford more of the parts. It's smashed all to hell anyway, Marv. Unsalvageable."

". . . . hm . ..if you say so." Marvin obviously didn't believe him but laid off of it for now.

Jackie nodded and backed up a bit, "I'll uh . .  see you for dinner. Please don't use that potion on ME at least?"

"No promises. See you later!" Marvin called out sweetly.

Jackie used his chance to get out of there as fast as he could, shutting the door behind him.

Marvin watched him scurry out, 'Oh yeah, something's definitely up. He only ever acts nervous and weird like that if he's hiding something.' he rolled his eyes, 'I swear if it's about Anti, though, I'll kick his ass for not telling me. Been wanting to know more about that guy for years'

Truth be told, Marvin was . . . different. While the others always feared or hated Anti, Marvin . . .. was just curious about him. How did he work? How was he able to be so free and unmanipulated by Sean? Sean was able to command them all to do anything if he wanted so why was Anti unaffected? Not that Marvin saw Sean as the bad guy. Sean had tried his best to protect them all from Anti for years.

'If only I got the chance to talk to him but Sean always insists I stay in his head and use my magic to keep the wards up . . . Life's unfair sometimes'

He smiled though as he finished his potion. Jackie was a bad liar. But Marvin wasn't.

This potion was the key to all of Marvin's curiosities.

Jackie felt horrible for lying but thankfully Marvin didn't pressure him too bad. He didn't know who to trust right now even if that thought was contradictory.

Going to his room, Jackie turned on his phone to view the other walkie talkie Anti had.

'Seems like he's still at his apartment. . . We'll see now though where he goes, if he brings along the thing. He might not but it doesn't mean I can't still track him and follow him a different way.'

Thinking about Anti again got him thinking even more about the rest of their conversation earlier.

'Starting tomorrow I'll stop working out. I'm in need of a rest anyway. Those fucking chains were heavier than they looked but I couldn't let HIM know that' 

Taking off his shirt, he cracked his back and groaned, seeing the bruises already start to form, 'I can just say Anti and I got into a big fight . .  although . . .. honestly Anti was just as pitiful as Chase, I got to admit. If it came down to a fight, I'm certain Chase would actually win, really.'

But he couldn't get too comfortable with these thoughts, 'If he really is telling the truth. I have to keep up my guard. There's no telling what's really going on through his head. There's only a slim chance he could be telling the truth. I have to-'

Suddenly he flinched as the walkie talkie turned on, "Pst! Jackie!"

The hero scrambled to the device and whispered to the other end, "The hell are you doing?! The fook do you want?"

Anti on the other end was silent for a moment but spoke even more quietly, "I uh . . . are you alone?"

"Fucking . ..  yes. What is it?"

"Oh nothing . . I was just checking to see if this thing really worked" Anti whispered back.

"Right . . . well don't contact me like that again. Any of the others could have been around me and we'd BOTH be fucked"

" . . Sorry. But you said this thing was to help us talk. How can we do that without communicating through this device?"

"Just . .  let ME get a hold of you. It'll be easier that way"

"Oh. . . okay"

"Anything else?"

"Uh . . .  you owe me a new chair."

Jackie vaguely remembered breaking one at his apartment, "Oh . .right. Okay. Raincheck?"

"Sounds good . . . . bye!"

"B-bye?"

With that, Anti was gone, leaving Jackie even MORE confused, 'This just keeps getting more and more weird, honestly. Guess I have an errand to do tomorrow, though'

Jackie suddenly found himself smiling and shook  the feeling away, 'Don't let your guard down.. . . not yet'

Anti was feeling happier than usual. Of course he was. Why wouldn't he be?

He was on the right path with Jackie and if he stayed good with him, perhaps Jackie could put in a few good words to the others? The sooner the better but Anti didn't want to rush it.

Good things come in good time, after all.

The previous night, Anti had gotten ahold of Jackie through the device just to check and see if it worked. There was a little static, but nothing Anti couldn't fool around with and fix himself. Although he did feel bad about mentioning the chair but then again, he bought that one himself so it was only fair Jackie should get him another one, right?

'Maybe I should look for one myself and tell him later tonight not to worry about it? No, he said he'd contact ME, though. But how long would it be until then!?'

It was killing him.

He started to tap his foot, staring at the walkie talkie. He bit his lip and whined to himself apprehensively.

Finally, he caved.

He picked up the walkie talkie, "Hey Jackie? You there?" he whispered into it just in case. He didn't want to be too loud and blow his 'cover'.

A few moments passed and Anti was beginning to think that maybe Jackie was either resting or busy working out. Until he finally answered!

"Yeah? What's up?"

"Jackie! Y-you alone?"

"Yeah?"

"Okay! I know you said you'd contact ME but I just wanted to let you know about the chair . . it's okay. Y-you don't have to worry about it. I'm going out today and getting on myself"

A few more seconds passed, "Alright. How about I meet you at the furniture store? You're probably going to the big one more so near the city, right?"

"Y-yeah, how'd you know?"

"It's the only furniture store worth buying at, of course! I mean- . . . see you there?"

Anti bounced up and down on his feet, "Okay! See ya there! In a few minutes? How are ya gonna get out of Sean's head? Will we need to fight or something? Should I disguise myself when around you? Although when I ran into Chase the other day, that girl I like didn't seem to realize we looked alike. Are we actually gonna pose as brothers!? Unless that's too much, then I could just wear my hoodie. Am I asking too many questions?"

" . .. . . . . We are SO going to talk about this girl you like . . . also don't worry about disguising yourself. See you in a few. We'll meet at the store itself. I'll find you"

"Okay! See ya! Can't wait!" Anti was too excited for his own good.

Too excited to realize that something was completely off with Jackie on the walkie talkie.

On the other end, Marvin turned off his own device, switching the link back on to Jackie's new one, "So THAT'S what's going on?" 

The magician chuckled to himself, "My, my, am I actually jealous of Jackie suddenly? At least I finally get to have some answers"

Furniture shopping was about to get even more fun than usual to Marvin.

Poor Anti didn't even have a clue.