#i mulled over many possibilities but the rabbit thing made the most sense honestly

[periwinkla]

I wanted to draw a particular scene for the comic but Edgeworth was making it difficult, so... I employed the help of a rabbit to make it happen. ^ I swear I'm serious. Kinda.

[transboygenius]

SE4SON: Chapter 11

[*Morning*]

Like a young child on a Saturday morning, Jimmy slept in. Nick wasn't present in the barn, which means he had gotten up early before Jimmy. The boy genius was still warm and cozy under his friend's leather jacket. Nick originally planned to retrieve his jacket back and replace it with the blanket he no longer needed, but he just couldn't wake his crush up from his slumber. Right down to the rooster's cry, Jimmy's eyelids reopened. The first thing he saw from his awakening was, to his surprise, some fluffy cotton ball resting between his eyes. Not only that, but he felt like something heavy was weighing down on his forehead. He picked up the unknown object with both hands. It appeared to be a small, white bunny rabbit.

"Where did you come from?"

The rabbit responded by twitching their little pink nose. Then, the mammal began to struggle in Jimmy's grip. After a kick in the face, the boy genius released the rabbit and it ran free once more. As if on perfect cue, Nick opened the barn just as the rabbit was making their exit. Nick didn't expect what was coming to him, so he almost tripped. The tall boy was wearing Benson's frilly apron yet again, while holding a plate with, what looks to be, toast. Breakfast in bed, what a treat. Nick just can't get enough of fulfilling these good deeds for Jimmy.

"I made cinnamon toast. Thought you'd like some." Said Nick. "Oh. Thanks! I love cinnamon toast." That was all Jimmy could say.

Jimmy reached out his hand towards the plate, only to have Nick withhold it.

"Wha--?" "You can eat, unless you tell me." "Tell you what?" "Why would you even care about who's been hurting me in my life? Why did you even ask at all? I could've sworn I told you it's not always okay to poke your nose into other people's family affairs."

Oh, so he's not serving him breakfast. He's blackmailing him. That's new.

"You knew how personal that is to me, Jimmy. Just why?" "That shouldn't be hard to answer. And that shouldn't be hard for you to understand, either. Ever since you stood up for me, about what Cindy is doing to my life, you told me out in a perspective I actually understood! You've actually shown you cared about me, and what I might get myself into! Look, unlike whatever lecture my friends have put me through, they never have any substantial reason to back up their claims. No one, and I do mean no one, has ever helped me with a psychological issue, mainly due to the fact I've never done such for them. And I've been friends with Carl and Sheen for years! I started to think I didn't need any common sense, because, well, I'm a genius. But after hearing it from you, and we were like friends for just a day, I needed it more than I realized. You actually gave out some pretty good logical advice there." "Yeah, but how does that answer my question?" "Open your eyes, you big idiot. I was returning concern for you, the same way you did for me! And other than that, you held your belief in me. You have been nothing but generous to me, despite our history together. Both of us were beginning to communicate like how friends are suppose to! Gosh, after so much neglect, I forgot what it actually felt like. I thought, if you told me, I would find a way to help you! My arrogance have been in the way of my friendships for too long, and now for once, I wanna try to use that common sense to help a friend in need! Stuff best friends conventionally do for each other! Besides; It makes for good practice to rejuvenate my relationship with Carl and Sheen."

Nick's face flushed red again. It's just like he thought. Jimmy did have concern for him. He didn't mean to pry of Nick's past like that, but he only wanted to help. If he felt that in his gut that it is right, then it is right. Jimmy has proven that he cares for Nick just like he cares for him. Nick always thought it'd just be one-sided. Him and the boy genius speak to each other on the same level. Jimmy and Cindy are too much alike, which makes it difficult for their sentiments to compute. The two boys' aspects are more balanced. Nick then handed Jimmy the plate, with a grin.

"To tell you the truth, I'm now honestly glad I told you. Nobody has ever asserted for me." "Probably because you have yourself a real buddy now. Oh! By the way, have you made up your mind yet?" "Hmmmmm... I'm still mulling it over." "Okay! Take your time! I guess." "It might be soon, eventually. You are a cool guy to be around with." "Wow, Nick. I don't believe I ever heard that before. Heh-hehheh."

.................................

Elsewhere, a certain someone was peeping out from the kitchen window, behind a curtain.

"I'm telling you, Diana. I smell a rat." Said Mitzi.

Her comment had left Rodent Girl offended. Everybody was just going about their day, except for the skeptical Mitzi. Rodent Girl was playing poker with Butterscotch, betting with oats and cheese. Benson was dusting the house. He didn't really feel like cleaning, he just wanted to eavesdrop on whatever Mitzi might be thinking. Diana was doing bicep curls.

"Uh-What now?" Asked Diana. "Diana, was it really a good idea to bring these two abnormal boys from the outside world into our hut and then agree to let then stay, as well as let them touch our supplies?" "Why, yes! They're just a couple of lost souls who want to get back home! And, why wouldn't I allow them into our house? They're well-behaved gents!" "Too well-behaved, if you ask me. C'mon, think for a moment! You rescued them from a stake burning! You found them on shackles! They don the most repulsive sense of fashion I have yet laid eyes on. The fudgy haired one bears an insignia on his top we're unfamiliar with! What could that even represent?" "Hey! I've seen a lot of witches! I've sniffed a lot of witches! I've poked a lot of witches with a stick! These boys are no way, in Sam Hill, witches!" "I did not say they were witches! I'm saying I'm not sure we can trust them! They're weird. Very, very, diabolically weird." "I guess that makes Rodent Girl and Benson any different! *Looks over to them* No offense. I'm sorry." "Oh, they're much weirder than that! They're not like any of us at all! From the future? Please. Time machine? Ha! If you ask me, sounds like they're planning a cult sorcery." "What is with you and men?!" "This has nothing to do with men! I tolerate Benson, right?" "You don't know them! What gives you the right to accuse them?" "You don't know them, either."

Diana stomped her foot on the ground, which caused the entire hut to shake. Rodent Girl and Butterscotch stopped playing. Benson stopped dusting. They all looked at their leader with fear in their eyes. To them, nothing's more scarier than seeing Diana angry. She has enough raw power to break you in half like a twig. That earthquake was all she needed to shut Mitzi up.

"Enough!! We are the Faithful Five, and whenever there's an unfortunate mortal on the breadline, we help them back onto their feet, no matter how uncanny they be! Perhaps if you spoke with them more, the picture may come out clearer! They even cooked us the most delectable cuisine to ever please our tastebuds! *Sigh* If I didn't have such a good heart--"

Nick walked in, carrying the empty plate, with a straight expression on his face. It has been implied that he heard every word of Di and Mitzi's conversation.

"Pardon me. I was just about to bring this China inside to clean, when I overheard you talking about something. But I really shouldn't be involved." Said Nick. "They were just talking about you and your friend!" Shouted Rodent Girl across the room. "Thanks for RATting me out, Oona." Mitzi whispered under her breath. "There you go again, you rat-ist!"

Nick tried to pretend that he didn't care, and said everybody is entitled to their opinion. Wanting to avoid Mitzi as quickly as possible, he set the plate down on the counter, and just headed his way out, before Diana grabbed the back of his shirt. Thankfully, she wasn't upset.

"Didn't you mention a minute ago that you'd clean it yourself?" Asked Diana. "Yeaaaaah, but now I just remembered." Nick replied. "'Remembered...'" "...that you have Benson for that job. Here's one of his aprons back, by the way."

Nick removed the apron and walked outside.

"See! They even think like us, too!" Diana said. "When will you ever learn." Mitzi whispered again.

.....................................

[*Back in modern times*]

Carl decided it was best to cancel a magic show for today, and maybe the next, and help Hugh attach Have You Seen Me flyers all around Retroville. Their current location right now is The Candy Bar. Hugh taped the flyers, while Carl held the stack.

"Shake a tail feather, Carl! How are people in this blasted town suppose to recognize a missing child if they don't know what he looks like?! Or even remember what he looks like?!"

Then Sam butted in.

"Oh, I'm pretty sure everybody took that mental picture quite perfectly."

Hugh has overdid himself. There were flyers everywhere. On the floor, on the ceiling, the walls covered in every inch, in the restrooms, and even on the customers as well. Jimmy's face was hard to ignore.

"Look at what you've done to the place! You're disturbing my costumers! You've vandalized my eatery! You're disturbing my costumers!!" "Do you mind repeating that first and third phrase? I wasn't paying attention."

Sam eventually threw Hugh, Carl, and all of his paper flyers out.

"Get out! Take you, and your 'sons' someplace else! Yeah!"

While Hugh got back on his feet, Carl tried to pick up as many flyers as he could. With such luck, he only grabbed hold of three. The rest of them got carried off by the wind. Well, it's not like he needed those, anyways. Just like The Candy Bar, Jimmy's face practically polluted the whole town. Cars, stores, windows, people, a twonkie, you name it. The amount of flyers in sight was extremely compulsive. And dangerous, you might add. A lot of civilians tend to get themselves too distracted from them.

"Mr. Neutron? I think we should take all these down before we get charged for littering." "Littering?! Now you listen to me, young man! This is merely a social justice movement to help a poor lost child make it back home to his loving family! I don't see any littering around here!"

Carl then tugged at Hugh's shirt and pointed at Miss Fowl, who was covered from head to toe in flyers, resembling some bird-like creature. She was squawking and flapping her arms while being chased by a dozen kindergartners holding bats, shouting Pinata! Pinata! Hugh still forebears.

"THAT right there isn't littering! That's decorating! Either way of what you think of it, I will not rest until I have found my little Jimbo! For all we know, he could be anywhere! Lost, confused, and all alone! Without the comfort of a parent to warm him! If anything ever happens to him, I would dare take responsibility- Hello, what is this?"

As Hugh turned towards the lamppost, he found that another Have You Seen Me flyer was placed over his son's flyers. There was another on a mailbox, a store window, and on a parking meter.

"Could it be that my eyes deceive me? Who is this kid? I don't believe we ever met! What are these even doing here when we already have a missing child at hand?" "Mr. Neutron, that's N-" "Is some evil mastermind trying to pull everybody off track? To make sure nobody bothers to come looking for Jimmy, and instead search for this random photo of a child we don't even know?! I bet this boy probably isn't even lost at all!" "(Okay, you're making less sense as usual.)" "Jimbo was quite popular at making more enemies than friends! But who? Who?! Who would be cruel enough to bring our quest into a dead-end?!"

...........................

The authorities were no help to find Nick, so Mrs. Dean tried her own solution. Searching Retroville left and right, and stapling Missing flyers in every location. She saw that some other kid was missing, too. By sheer coincidence, it's the same boy Nick happens to keep a picture of. Many questions come to mind as to why both of them are lost. What is Nick's relationship with this boy? Whatever it is, I'm sure it can't be love.

"OW! I broke my leg!"

Mrs. Dean turned around as soon as she heard that. Could it be?

"Stupid posters. Got me distracted!"

No, she said. It's not Nick. Just some other kid she doesn't know. Then suddenly, Hugh got up in her face, holding one of her flyers.

"So, it was YOU! Trying to set the people of Retroville into a wild goose chase to prevent anyone from ever rescuing said boy genius! Welllll, I'll have you know, you can't throw me off, from my own flesh and blood! Ya know, I'm starting to think YOU have something to do with his disappearance!" "What are you talking about? You're making no sens- Wait, are you that other kid's father?" "A-ha! If you weren't really my son's enemy, you wouldn't have known that! And whose this child, anyways?" "He's mine." "Ohhhhhh, really? What's his name, then?" "Nicholas Dean. Nick Dean. He goes to the same school with Jimmy. Don't you recognize him?"

Hugh took a better look at the flyer he was holding.

"Oh yeaaaaaaah. Isn't that the same kid who keeps breaking his leg?" "*Sigh* Yes, that's him."

Embarrassment washed all over Hugh.

"I'm sorry for that. I tend to get a little coo-coo when I lose something dear to me for quite very long. My son. My memories. My 3rd place Duck-a-thon trophy. *Sniffs, sobs* Oh no, it's coming back to me again." "Apology accepted. You weren't really that threatening, anyways." "Us, lonely parents of lost children should stick together! You have my sympathy!" "I sure gained it fast." "Say! That gives me an idea! Since both of our sons are missing, why don't we make a pact and conjoin? It'll probably make our job much easier! We could maybe even find both at the same time!" "I should be shouting for the nearest police officer right now, being that we just met and you already want us to take league together. What's more is that you're creeping me out a bit. But, I'm curious of what connection my son has with yours. Fine. Let me in on the party." "WOO-HOOO! And while we're working together, we could also make friends of ourselves to make this experience more fun! Like, exchange phone numbers, talk about 166 species of ducks, eat many pies until we blow chunks!" "Are we searching for our sons, or are you inviting me to a slumber party?"

Hugh and Mrs. Dean walked off together, leaving Carl in the back trying to catch up with them. Sometime later, he stopped following them when he met up with Sheen.

"Heyyyyyyyy, Carl!" "Hoh, thank goodness! Sheen! I thought you were lost, too! I haven't seen you since yesterday afternoon! I was beginning to worry when you didn't return my calls! Where were you?" "Oh, we got warped into a galaxy far, far away. Then the McSpanky's ship ran out of fuel. After that, we got tangled into a war with the nebulous tentagon people! In case you don't believe me, I brought back a souvenir!"

Sheen withdrew an object from behind his back. It was a severed tentacle, with its own set of mini tentacles. The disembodied limb was still dripping green fluids, which is presumably blood.

"Zix said I can keep it as long as I never set foot on his ship again!" "Have you found Jimmy?" "No." "Then what am I doing talking to you?! There's a lot of work to be done!"

As if he's in a hurry, Carl began attaching his three remaining flyers on whatever he could stick them onto. A wall, fire hydrant, and a preteen boy's face. Afterwards, the boy removed the flyer and crumbled it up.

"Sorry, Benny!" Said Carl. "It's kinda weird how you keep running into a different guy with the same name." Replied Sheen. "Sheen, why aren't you doing any effort to help?! Don't you know our friend needs us?!"

Sheen froze in silence. He wish Carl didn't bring up the subject. If he told the truth, he would not only hurt him, but himself as well.

"Carl; I've like to come clean with you."

Carl took out two bottles of hand sanitizer, which is the normal Wheezer thing to do.

"Lemon, or ocean scented?" "Not that kinda clean! I meant you oughta learn the truth." "Is Jimmy dead?" "No! Well, I don't really know. Nobody knows. But I'll tell you what I knows!" "What?" "Do you think Jimmy would ever appreciate us if we went looking for him?" "Of course! He's our friend!" "Or is he?" "Sheen, whatever you're implying, please don't go on! You're starting to scare me!" "You might as well hear it! It's for your own good!"

Sheen took Carl to sit on a nearby bench.

"Jimmy, how do I put it, wasn't very nice to us lately." "Are you saying he's mean as Cindy?!" "No, Carl. Jimmy is just mean. Cindy is plain ol' evil." "H-how could you say that about him?!" "Take a moment to look back at everything! He's been mean, narcissistic, inconsiderate, and pushy! He doesn't even care about what we're feeling! Whenever we're having a psychological crisis, he only turns to his precious science! And if there's no precious science to turn to, 'man-up' is his only option. 'Get over it.' 'Just wait another day.' Remember that time I tried to save him from the clutches of the League of Villains? He could've at least shown some appreciation to a friend for trying! He's not as fun like he used to be anymore. It's like he's trying to be an adult! Always serious! Talks down to us, even with his short structure! Thinks games are only fun if we're playing his! Just because we don't have much IQ to function, that doesn't excuse him for making us feel more stupid! No wonder he's made so much enemies!" "C'mon, Sheen! Try looking at the positives! He has saved our lives a couple of times!" "Pffffffffft, that was probably out of hero's instinct. Look at Ultralord! No matter how many attempts Robofiend had almost destroyed his home, Ultralord continues to spare his life cuz of his 'no killing rule.' What is it with heroes and 'no killing?!'" "What about the old times-?" "Yeah, those were OLD TIMES! He's changed, Carl. He's not the same Jimmy from our past. In a world where one is for all, he's just all for one. Years of standing by his side, and years of a cherished 'friendship,' we have become blind towards his insufferable behavior. What I'm trying to say, we thought he was a good friend now, just because he was a good friend then. His head may be big, but there's no room for us. It's just him and him alone. And the reason why he keeps us as his friends is because nobody else would wanna be with him. We're his tools, Carl. He doesn't view us as his friends anymore. Just his tools! Nobody is stupid enough to kneel before him but us. I know what a best friend is, and Jimmy is no best friend!"

Sheen was making a heartbreaking, but very good point. Carl refuses to accept that. Yes, Jimmy can be hostile, ill-mannered, and un-empathetic. At times he's harsh towards Carl like a strict teacher, even while acknowledging his low self-esteem. His greed for superiority has brought damage upon his friendships. On top of all that, he can be a big party pooper. Whether there's a scary story, or a cutesy little fairytale, Jimmy loves to ruin it all with his scientific beliefs. And he's hardly any relatable with his serious attitude.

Jimmy wasn't always like this. Back then, when he actually showed he cared for his friends. Back when he had empathy. Every time Carl got concerned or scared, Jimmy put in whatever encouragement he could to convince him that everything will be alright. He shared his rewards and accomplishments with his friends to make them feel like winners. He rarely ever yelled at them, or degraded them. Like any sane person, he would accept that he's imperfect, and wasn't afraid to make an apology. He doesn't take criticism well, but he at least tries to become the better person everyone deserves. Back then, he cared for once. Jimmy Neutron was a friend you must have.

How did Jimmy get to where he is today? It's complicated, but his background sure tells a story. Despite being the smartest kid in school, his peers felt like he wasn't enough. He wasn't very talented either. Cindy could cook, do art, sing, perform, and write. Jimmy could only do smart-stuff. The poor boy genius was just too nerdy for his own good. He was also too short for his age, physically weak, and hung out with one of the biggest losers in school. He was at the bottom of the food chain. All of his inventions were an effort to prove to them that he had potential, but they only end up hating him more cuz his gadgets usually cause more trouble than help. It's not just other kids he gets spite from, but other adults and grownups too. Even his own relatives weren't too fond of him.

Jimmy was always insecure with himself. This drove him into pushing himself to do better, such as studying hard and focusing on his experiments more. Due to how hard he's been pushing himself, his brain has completely shut off from common sense. He was now isolated from reality. That's all he's been thinking of ever since: Doing better and being mature. However, occasionally, Jimmy still holds a little common sense with him. An example would be breaking up with Cindy. Carl is convinced that Jimmy still loves his friends, but is too stubborn to show it, or he probably isn't ready yet.

"Ya know, Sheen, this is getting pretty scary, cuz that's possibly the smartest thing you ever said." "Glad you're starting to see- What? I said something smart?! ME?! Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod! I talked intellectual! *Breathes deeply* I'm a man, now. I GOTTA TELL LIBBY! No, I'll recite the whole thing for her! mAyBe ShE'lL fINaLly AgReE tO hOlD hAnDs WiTh Me In PuBlIc!"

Without saying goodbye, Sheen just beat and ran. Carl remained seated. He didn't have the energy anymore after what Sheen told him, yet he didn't want to believe it was true.