Post-Wizards but Pre-Redemption Douxie and Archieās relationship must be TENSE. Does Archie make snipes at him, or is he just kinda there to supervise Douxie awkwardly? Or is their relationship something else entirely? -M.H. Anon
MMMMMM VERY. Letās talk about that.
The first four days consist of Douxie clawing at his magic cuff and lifeless staff. He tries and he tries and he tries and he tries. Archie watches the kid tire himself out. He doesnāt say anything, he doesnāt know whatĀ to say. Instead he gives Douxie some space to let the reality sink in.
Douxie snaps hard. Heās shouting and kicking, breaking things in a rage that nearly rivals his anger towards Merlin. This stage is rough for Archie. And itās understandable because yknow, last time he was with his familiar, the kid was adorable and awkward and soft voiced, not a loud sorcerer bursting with pride and ego. It takes a whole lot of catnip to keep the cat dragon from slipping up and telling Douxie that heās no longer the magic boy he used to be. Some days heās really tempted, but what did we say about shortcuts and taking easy ways out? Exactly, weāre having none of that.
So they agree to stay quiet for letās say, two to three weeks?
TheĀ āif onlyās come crashing in. Douxie canāt differentiate whether heās thinking or speaking out loud anymore and Archie is wondering what on Earth heās muttering about. He would pry but you know what they said, curiosity kills the cat. Meanwhile, the ex wizard is pacing throughout the house. If only he trained harder. If only he was able to poison Claire quicker. If only he didnāt spare them to see the breaking of the Genesis Seals. If only this, if only that. The things that could have been haunts him and heās spiraling again into his intrusive thoughts.Ā
When Douxie starts calling out for a bargain between him and Mordrax, Archie knows he cannot stand by this time. The kidās going to go insane. He pulls Douxieās face in his hands.
āStop thinking about what could have been. Whatās done is done.ā
That was a month ago. Nowadays, Douxie doesnāt leave his bed. He just lies there, staring at the ceiling, falling asleep, sometimes getting up to use the bathroom, going back to the bedroom, repeat. Thereās no point in his life it seems now.
Jim stops by and drops off a care package from the gang; clothes, snacks, an old but working record player, some cat toys for Archie. Itās been a while since they checked in. Heās surprised to see that it was Archie who answered him, but the look on the familiarās face said enough.
āIf you need anything, you have my number,ā Jim says apologetically, before heading out. Archie nods.
He tells Douxie to get himself washed and change into the new clothes; his old outfit smells horrendous and thereās no way the stench wouldnāt stick on him.
āNew clothes? Whereād you scrap them up from, the trash?ā
āJim dropped them off. A gift I dare say,ā
Douxie raises an eyebrow. Now why would the trollhunter even bother with him after everything heās done? Is this some sort of prank waiting to be pulled? Or is it a reminder that heās at the trollhunterās mercy, to take the gift or else face his wrath? Whatever. Nothing mattered anymore anyways.
He doesnāt take the bath or change into the new clothes. Not until next week anyways. Itās too much effort. The only time he does getĀ in the shower is when Archie starts licking him.
āArch that is gross!ā
āYou absolutely taste gross, but if this is how you want to take your bath then so be it,ā
āFine, fine, Iāll take the stupid bath, just donāt lick me,ā Douxie yells back. He slams the bathroom door purposefully.Ā
Heās never hated the stall so much. The extremities of either side of the handle felt like wrath delivered by Skrael and Bellroc personally. Foolish humans and their inventions.Ā
But after learning how to manage the temperature of the water, he relaxes, sitting down and letting the water hit him. Looking around curiously, his eyes hover over the little squishy vials of green fluid. Were these potions of some sort? Hm, it must be for cleansing otherwise they wouldnāt be here. The only thing familiar he finds is a soap bar and the corners of his lips turn up slightly. The first time he said fuzz buckets earned him a soap bar to the mouth from Morgana. A fond memory after a while huh?
And it turns out he really needed that bath, more than heād like to admit.Ā
He sighs after coming out from the room and changes into his new clothes. It was all black like the others, but loose and comfy. He canāt say that he likes it, but he doesnāt hate it either. Itāll have to do. Archie walks in and is delighted to see the much cleaner boy.
āAh I see youāre ready! Letās get going then, shall we?ā
āYou didnāt tell me about going anywhere!ā
āDouxie, you know we canāt survive on my nightly scavenges alone. Itās time you carried your weight. Come, I know two places where you can get a job.ā
The old lady. Thatās all I have to say.