Tony blinked, thrown off by Dorri's sudden, odd question. "Wha—"
"Siblings?" Dorri interrupted smoothly. "Friends waiting for you somewhere? Someone you were supposed to meet today? A special day interrupted? What exactly was supposed to be, if not for the nightmarish occurrence you just had?"
Tony could only stare, bewildered, as Dorri sighed heavily and took another sip from his tea, his frustration palpable.
"Okay, you're doing that thing where you look at me like I've got three heads," Dorri said, exhaling sharply. "Look, what happened here today is a very sensitive thing, and it's obligated to leave such matters between the fewest number of witnesses." He floated lazily back a few steps, gesturing broadly at the moonlit glade. "What happened to you and your friend back there? It's not exactly... something people are supposed to know about. No one outside the four of us should have a clue. Not a single soul. Got it?"
"Four of us?" Tony repeated, frowning as his gaze flicked around the clearing. He didn't say anything further but started subtly scanning the area, his eyes darting to the shifting shadows.
Dorri waved him off again. "Details later. The point is, if I let you two wander back home and someone starts asking, 'Where were you? Why do you look like you've been dragged through hell?'... well, it gets messy. And I hate messy. So, I need to know who's expecting you, what they're expecting to see, and whether there's a chance I need to do a little... adjusting."
"Adjusting?" Tony asked, his voice sharpening as suspicion crept in.
"Relax,I'm not gonna brainwash anyone," Dorri replied, rolling his eyes. "I just need to make sure when you go back, it's like nothing ever happened. No questions, no suspicious stares, no 'what's with the limp?' or 'why are you covered in bruises?'" He took another sip of tea, his casual demeanor doing little to put Tony at ease.
Tony hesitated, his frown deepening. "It's Clay's birthday," he said finally. "We were on our way to his place for a party. Two friends—" He stopped himself, his jaw tightening slightly before continuing. "Two friends were supposed to be waiting for us there. His mom and my dad know. They're probably already looking for us by now."
Dorri tilted his head, an amused smile forming on his lips. "That's it? No names? Your dad and his mom are just... people? And those friends of yours? Faceless shadows waiting in the ether?"
Tony stiffened, glancing at Dorri before quickly looking away, his gaze flicking back to the shadows around the glade. "I've seen you open portals," he said, his tone guarded. "Didn't think names were something you needed."
"Portals are my thing, sure," Dorri said with a shrug. "But names? Names aren't for me." He gestured lazily toward the dark edge of the glade, where something seemed to ripple unnaturally in the dim light. "They're for Slim Shady over here to do his job."
Tony's breath hitched, his eyes narrowing as he tried to focus on the vague, shadowy figure lurking just beyond the firelight. "That's... the fourth guy?"
Dorri took another sip of his tea, the cup now almost glowing faintly in the dim light. Tony, still cradling Clay in his arms, was leaning against a tree, his body tense.
Before Tony could process Dorri's cryptic response about "Slim Shady," a weak chuckle escaped from Clay. His eyes fluttered open, hazy but aware enough to glance at the figure in the shadows. He pointed weakly and croaked, "Enderman... heh."
Tony blinked at him. "What?"
Clay slumped back against Tony with a faint laugh, already halfway back to unconsciousness. "Enderman... shadow thing…"
Dorri smirked, tipping his tea cup in a mock toast. "Enderman, huh? Can't say he's wrong."
Tony's lips twitched in reluctant agreement. "Honestly? Not far off."
The shadowy figure hissed something unintelligible, its tone low and venomous. Then, like smoke caught in a gust of wind, it retreated deeper into the shadows, melting into the dark.
"Guess Enderman didn't appreciate the nickname," Dorri quipped, swirling the tea in his cup lazily. "Not much of a sense of humor, that one."
Tony sighed, leaning back against the tree with Clay still propped beside him. The boy's breathing had evened out, though his head lolled against Tony's shoulder. Feeling a flicker of relief, Tony finally let some of the tension drain from his body.
"All right," Dorri said, breaking the silence. "Names. Let's hear 'em. It's for the sake of your grand reappearance into the world."
Tony groaned softly, rubbing a hand over his face.
Clay stirred again, mumbling something under his breath. He squinted blearily at Dorri, then Tony. "My mom..." His voice was a sleepy mumble. "Dr. Marshel Marshalls…" He yawned mid-sentence and slumped completely into Tony's side again.
Dorri's eyebrows shot up. "Dr. Marshel Marshalls? Fancy."
Tony chuckled faintly, his own weariness finally starting to show. "Yeah, she's... thorough. And worried sick right about now."
"And your dad?" Dorri pressed, though his tone was casual, as if they were discussing the weather.
Tony hesitated for a beat but then relented. "Sergeant Hart. Police officer. Probably combing the whole city looking for me."
"Solid. And the friends?"
Tony sighed, closing his eyes briefly as if gathering himself. "Lara and J-, her friend Jacob. They were supposed to be at Clay's house for his birthday."
Dorri nodded, satisfied. "See? That wasn't so hard. Now we've got everyone accounted for, Slim Shady can work his magic, and you two can go home like nothing ever happened. Probably"
Following Dorri statement, was a sharp cutting sound through the stillness of the glade, and Tony's head snapped toward the sound. The shadowy figure—Slim Shady, as they had dubbed it—disappeared into the darkness, the faint rustling of disturbed air the only trace it left behind.
"Guess that's his cue," Tony muttered, shifting Clay's weight as the latter groaned softly, still half-lucid. "Come on, let's get you up."
Tony braced himself, helping Clay to his feet. Clay wobbled slightly, leaning heavily on Tony for support, but managed to stay upright.
Across from them, Dorri stretched lazily, his movements slow and exaggerated as though he had all the time in the world. A shimmering portal appeared beside him, and with a casual flick of his wrist, he pulled a cover from thin air, placing it over his teacup. Without so much as a glance, he slid the cup into the portal, which vanished instantly.
"Right," Dorri said, rolling his shoulders and flexing his hands. "Slim Shady will make sure everything's normal on your end. Mostly. You'll still have to explain the bruises, though. And Clay's… less-than-stellar condition." He gestured toward the groggy boy, whose head lolled slightly to the side.
Tony gave a faint smirk, adjusting his grip on Clay. "I can handle that part."
"Good man," Dorri replied, smirking as he snapped his fingers. Another portal materialized, swirling with hues of violet and blue, casting an ethereal glow over the glade. "All right, hop on. Your chariot awaits."
Dorri stepped back, giving the boys room. Tony hesitated, turning toward Dorri. "Farewell, I guess. And... thanks."
"Farew—" Dorri started, but before he could finish, Clay, too tired and disoriented to wait, took an unsteady step forward and tumbled into the portal, dragging Tony along with him.
The portal snapped shut with a soft pop, leaving the glade silent once more. Dorri stood there for a moment, hands on his hips, staring at the now-empty space.
"Hm," he mused, a sly smile tugging at his lips. "Now then. I wonder if my license is valid here"
He chuckled to himself and, with a flick of his wrist, opened another portal, stepping through without a backward glance.
The glade returned to its tranquil state, the moonlight shining undisturbed over the grass.