Chapter 12: Scar

'This is going to hurt.' I ignore EX saying for the fifth time, sat in my office in the townhall, about to start working on fixing my communicator. 'Ok?' I don't reply.

'Scar, are you ok?' Cub asks from next to me. I blink back tears.

'No! Bdubs is dead and... Grian killed Doc.'

Grian killed Doc.

That's the part I can't get out of my mind. The fact that Grian killed Doc. Provoked, yes, but Grian killed Doc. One blow. Watcher magic.

Dead.

It's been about a week since then, and EX has started working on fixing my communicator. Which, he's told me as many times as he's told me it's going to hurt, first involves cutting it loose from my arm to repair the mechanics underneath.

'It's horrible, I know. But I'm here when you need me, ok?'

'Yeah. Ok.'

'Scar, are you alright with me starting now?' EX asks, adjusting his position to be more comfortable again. I blink back to focus.

'Yeah, yeah. Just do it.'

Cub takes my unhurt hand as it starts. I don't need it. Something about the pain helps distract from Bdubs and Doc's deaths in a way nothing else does.

As I watch EX working and fixing the wires with careful precision, I think about Grian again. I've been avoiding him. I don't know what it is - anger, sadness, maybe fear  that he'll lash out at me and... then I'll be dead. Especially with-

'No!' EX stops. I take a moment to breathe. 'Sorry... continue. I was... thinking.'

'Scar I'm here, ok?'

'I know, Cub. You'll always be here for me...'

'If you want to talk about Grian... or... Bdubs.'

I don't answer, watching EX.

'Scar?'

'I'm fine.'

'I can come back tomorrow.' EX offers. 'And do more work then.'

'No... no... it's fine. We need to do this.'

'Scar seriously. You've been really distant. I'm worried for you.'

'Be worried quietly! I'm fine!' Instant regret as Cub falls silent. 'I'm sorry.'

'It's fine.' But he's not fine, and doesn't speak much for the rest of the 2 hours until EX gives up for the day, satisfied, quickly bandaging up my arm and telling me not to move it much. I stare as a hint of blood seeps through onto it.

'How much does it hurt?' Cub asks quietly. I look over.

'Not much.' I lie. I can't think about anything except the pain. But that's good. It's better than thinking about Grian, Doc or Bdubs. 'I need sleep though.'

'Then sleep... I'll be in my office next door, ok?'

'Yeah.' The same discomfort that I'm stuck in the town hall and can't get back to my base easily fills me. But communicator first, then magic.

Cub leaves. For a moment, EX doesn't, still gathering his stuff together.

'It's fine. I don't mind mess. You'll be back in here again tomorrow anyway.'

'Oh... alright.' He stops. It's then I realise he's stalling. 

'Why are you...?'

'Look, Scar. Badtimes wanted me to give this to you...'

'Badtimes? Why...' I frown as EX pulls a red crystal from his pocket.

'I don't know, but he said it was important. You'd... know how to activate it or something.' It's forced into my good hand. I blink, knowing what it is, but not why it's been sent.

'What does Badtimes want to...'

'You should sleep. I'll see you tomorrow.'

He closes the door as he leaves. I'm stuck, holding the crystal. I can't... 

But why would he contact me?

I sigh, muttering the spell, crystal held tight in my hand until...

A flash of vex fire. I blink, eyes narrowed, as Badtimes appears.

'So he gave it to you huh?' His arms are crossed, impressed.

'What do you want?'

'Your magic.' He crosses his arms. 'What happened?'

'Nothing.' I lie, looking him in the eyes. 'Nothing happened that you need to know about.'

He raises an eyebrow.

'Scar. Come on. I'm worried... and what about your other hand? Why's it...'

'Don't touch it!' I snap. He draws away the hand that was about to poke it quickly.

'Sorry. What happened? Looks like... ooh... communicator problem. Nasty...'

'Yeah. I'm currently in recovery, so leave me to recover.'

'But I care about your magic problem.'

'Why?'

'Because I care about you.'

'Why would you possibly care about me? You're the embodiment of everything I hate.'

'Because you're not normally this worried.'

'You want diamonds, don't you?'

'I admit, I do.' He raises his hands in surrender. 'But I also care about your safety. What's going on?' I shuffle away as he sits next to me on the bed.

'Watchers.' I mutter

'What?'

'Watcher magic removed mine.'

A pause.

'I can help you with watchers.'

I blink. 'What?' My gaze turns to Badtimes.

'Nasty creatures, but me and Vex know how to stop their magic and get back yours... Are you in?' Bad-times holds out his hand to shake.

'No way!'

'Scar, do you want to be stuck magicless for the rest of your life or do you want my help?'

I don't reply. I know I need my magic back. I can't fly without it. People will start noticing...

'And if you don't trust me on that, I'll add in that I'll do this for free.'

'You never do stuff for free.' I frown.

'But I will if it proves that I care about you... Are you in?' I look between his outstretched hand and the ground. Everything tells me this is a bad idea. But at the same time... Bad-times has never been this concerned before. And has never seemed so sincere about an offer... and... I need my magic. For everything.

'If you don't accept, I make the crystal set on fire and burn down your townhall.' Adds Badtimes with a smile

'Fire-tick is off.'

'EX is admin.'

I pause.

'You're blackmailing me.'

'Come on, did you expect anything else? Just shake on it. Just once a week. It won't hurt. At all. All it'll be is a bit of magic, a bit of practice, and in no time at all you'll be back to normal. Do you trust me?'

I pause again.

'Your entire personality is being untrustworthy.'

'...and chaotic.'

'And chaotic. Why would I agree with you on this?'

'Because just this once I'm acting nice. And you're desperate for your magic back. I might be the only person who can and will help, and do it in a friendly, painless way. What do you say, Scar?' He holds out his hand. 'Are you in?'

I have to shake it.

'...I'm in.'


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