There was so muchblood. The acrid scent burned Jackie’s nose and eyes, making them waterfiercely as he patted his friend down, shouting fiercely at him.

“Wake up! Wake up, youidiot, you c-can’t—You’re not allowed to do this to me! Wake up! Wake up!” Round and round it went fortoo many seconds, too long, and then a sharp sob broke through the mantra as heslid his hands under his head, lifting it from the ground, cradling it. Hecould feel the blood matted into his long hair, sloughing onto his gloves.

“Marv,” he croaked out.“C’mon, buddy, you’ve gotta wake up s-so I can be angry at you…”

He was angry, he was angrier than he could say. He was angry and hurtand so many other things. The magician had gone off the rails; he’d taken offwhen he wasn’t prepared. He’d made sure they couldn’t interfere. Jackie stillremembered that glint of reckless, dangerousdetermination in his eyes as magic flared at his fingertips; it was the lastthing the hero had seen before his mind was lost in fog and dancing lights andhe felt as if the sky was collapsing in on him, draining his strength and forcinghim to his knees.

None of that matterednow. “Marvin?! Marvin!” The magician’sashen, blood-flecked features didn’t change, his dark eyes didn’t open andJackieboy at last took a hurried, tearful breath. “I’m not letting this happen!We’re both getting out of here, alright? I know y-you don’t like being carriedb-but you—you don’t get a say!”

Jonny: Ok, fine.

Jonny: