Chapter Text
Jimmy had gotten quite the injury. While running away from a fight, he tripped, and half of his toenail had fallen off. It wasn't a bad injury, though it was scary the amount of blood that came out. To add insult to (literal) injury, Jimmy was quite ticklish, particularly in his feet.
"Tim, I can't help if you keep running away from me!" Grian shouted down the hallway. He walked down to the bathroom of the Bambunker where Jimmy was currently holed up, and banged on the door. "I need to wrap up that toe before it gets infected!"
Jimmy shuddered at the mention of infection, remembering how bad Lizzie got. Despite knowing the vet's words were true, Jimmy was too stubborn to give up that easily. He had snatched some gauze and bandages before locking himself in, and tried his best to wrap it up. It wasn't pretty.
"Timmy, you don't know how to fix a broken nail. Get out here before Scar breaks the door down!" Grian called. It was an empty threat, but Jimmy didn't have to know that. Scar definitely had the strength to break down the door, but fixing it after wasn't worth it.
"Don't make me do it, Jimmy!" Scar yelled from behind Grian. Lizzie was nearby as well, less out of worry and more because of the hilarity behind the situation.
With reluctance, Jimmy opened the door to the bathroom. Grian looked annoyed, which quickly deepened as Jimmy pushed past him and bolted down towards the main room of the bunker. It was a messy getaway, due to the pain in his foot and the oversized wrapping on his toe. Luckily, right as Grian had begun to focus on stopping the injured bamboozler, a red glow appeared around his legs and he slowed greatly.
"Scarr!" Jimmy groaned, "Stop picking favorites, let me go!" Lizzie was laughing at his shoddy attempt at an escape, while Grian approached his target, still deeply focused.
"That's.. not me," Scar said quietly.
"What?" Grian sputtered, turning to look at his partner. Lizzie stopped laughing, and a confused look dawned on her face. Scar looked just as confused, if not more. A small thud was heard as Jimmy stumbled forward, released from the time control.
They all looked at Jimmy for a moment, who stood frozen in place, shocked at what just happened, before turning to face Scar.
"What do you mean you it wasn't you?" Lizzie questioned, "Who else could it be?"
After standing in silence for a moment, a few members of the group seemed to have moments of realization, as they turned to look at Grian. Suddenly feeling pressure from all the eyes on him, he decided to change the topic.
"W-Well. That's. Something to think about. However, Jimmy still needs his toe wrapped up properly, and not looking like a lightbulb." The use of Jimmy's real name was noticed, along with the accurate description of his overdone wrapping. Grian spoke up again, "So how about you let me fix that before we discuss this uh... topic... any further?"
Jimmy stayed silent for a moment, before realizing it was his cue to speak, "Oh, right. Yeah. You can do that."
The experience certainly wasn't pleasant, with Grian having to be careful with his movements to keep Jim from flailing, and a tense air lingering in the bunker. Scar watched as the vet did his work, with a vague expression on his face. Soon enough, the blonde bamboozler had a neater wrapping on his injured toe, and was given lots of instruction on cleaning and caring for it.
"Grian," Scar said as he approached his partner, who was cleaning up his medical supplies. The man in question startled a bit, then froze, still staring at the supplies. The other Bamboozlers had realized what was happening, and had left the living area of the bunker.
"Yes, Scar?"
"Can you look at me please?"
Grian turned around slowly, avoiding Scar's gaze, until he felt a warm hand on his cheek. He looked towards the villain, and saw a concerned look on his face.
"Was that you, Grian?" Scar asked sincerely, a slight worry dripping in his voice. "I thought... you don't have powers, do you?"
"I-I don't know! I thought I didn't but when Jim slowed I-I felt like locked into focusing on him and—"
"Hey," Scar interrupted the panicked speech, gently placing his hands on Grian's shoulders. "Slow down a little. This isn't an interrogation. I just... I just want to understand your side."
They maintained eye contact for a moment, before Grian took a deep breath and started again.
"I don't... I don't think I have powers. I've never used them before, at least! And I mean, it's been years since I would've gotten them if I had them, I don't suspect they'd just show up!" He became more expressive as he spoke, "I thought it was you at first, but thinking back on it I could kind of feel... something... and he was released when I looked away, so ..."
Scar appeared to be putting the pieces together in his head, taking a minute to think before he responded.
"I guess... I mean if you had powers to begin with, they would've faded by now. I guess there's nothing saying you can't develop powers 15 years late, but that's not the only confusing part about this," He spoke inquisitively, as if he had suddenly become smarter.
"What's the other part?"
"How would you have the same power as me?" Scar said this as if it were something obvious, though it was clear Grian didn't understand. It makes sense, with him being a civilian. "Grian," Scar spoke again, "two people never have the same powers."
The vet chewed at his lip for a moment before asking, "Like, it's uncommon, or...?"
"Like, never. It's never been seen before, to my knowledge." The villain spoke with utmost seriousness.
"So then... what does that mean about me? Assuming my powers did just appear late."
"I have no idea."