Third Floor Common Room, Saturday Morning

[dollpocalypse]

Topher was exploring.

Usually he had to be careful. Mom and Dad didn't like it when he went too far or wandered outside. But today Mom and Dad weren't around, and anyway he had all the necessary precautions -- his safety goggles, a pair of gloves, and a magnifying glass -- just like the scientists on TV. So it should be safe to see what was nearby.

Like in this room, the TV was all weird and skinny, not like the TVs at home. He wanted to go behind it to see what wires did what, but Mom had yelled at him last time. So instead he took his magnifying glass and used it to look at the buttons on the remote, but really, really big. It looked cool!

While he played with the remote, he turned on the TV. Cartoons, cartoons, cartoons... ooh, but a special about fireworks was on! That was enough to distract him from the buttons, so he came up closer to sit on the floor and hold up the magnifying glass to the TV instead. It made the fireworks all big and pretty.

It was a good thing there weren't any big kids around, he decided. They would just laugh at him like the kids at home. Better that he had this whole big room and TV all to himself. 

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[dollpocalypse]

Easier said than done, but Topher gave it his best shot.

"I, um, I never killed ants," he managed finally, his voice barely above a whisper. "But if you hold it close you can, um. See ants. And how they're shaped an' stuff."

[lockestheway]

"Don't you think that's a little boring?" Peter asked, finally giving Topher his full attention. "Are you a boring boy, Christopher?"

[dollpocalypse]

No, he thought it was the coolest thing ever, but people always made fun of him for saying that.

"I don't know," he whispered. "I like it."

[lockestheway]

"Well, it's boring," said Peter, who liked stuff that actually made things happen. "So come up with something more interesting real quick, or I'm keeping this. Actually, I might just keep it anyway."

[dollpocalypse]

Topher's eyes widened. He knew the bully wasn't exaggerating. When they threatened to take his things, they always meant it.

"I have tools," he said softly. Indicating Quinn, he whispered, "She's holding them for me. I could get them."

[lockestheway]

Peter's eyebrow went up. "What kind of tools?" he asked, reaching out to nudge at Topher's head with the magnifying glass.

[dollpocalypse]

That made it a little harder to concentrate, but Topher kept himself very, very still in case a sudden movement might give Peter the idea to hit him with it.

"Um, there's, um, screwdrivers, and, um, and little screws and a flashlight and band-aids and stuff," he managed, trying to concentrate on that instead of the threat of death by magnifying glass.

[lockestheway]

Poke.

"Now what's a boring little boy like you do with things like that?" Peter wondered.

[dollpocalypse]

As it turned out, staying still? Easier said than done. He couldn't help a slight shiver that ran through him at that poke. Or the obvious fear in his eyes, but that had been going on since Peter had gotten here.

"Science," he whispered.

[lockestheway]

"Sorry, what was that? I can't hear you."

[dollpocalypse]

"Science," he said again, barely any louder but almost managing to meet Peter's eyes this time. Almost.

[lockestheway]

"Science," Peter said, throwing up his hands. "Science, he says! So what kind of science, boy wonder? Physics? Chemistry? Biology? One of those exciting fields that blurs the three?"

[dollpocalypse]

The removal of the magnifying glass from his head gave Topher the opportunity to scoot back until he was pressed up against the back of the couch, huddled up tight.

"Lot of stuff," he said softly. "I can make a circuit. One time I fixed a lamp."

[lockestheway]

"A whole lamp?"

Peter grinned.

"You can have your magnifying glass back if you build me a lamp, fart mouth," he said.

[dollpocalypse]

Topher thought back to how mad his mom had been last time, and the little burns on his fingers that hadn't gone away for like weeks even though everyone at school made fun of him for them.

Then he thought about his magnifying glass.

"Okay," he whispered.

[lockestheway]

"Well, get going then, genius!" Peter stuck the magnifying glass in his pocket, then clapped his hands.

[dollpocalypse]

"I gotta do it in my room," Topher said softly. "'Cause there's space and stuff I need. Is that okay? An' I'll bring it later."

[lockestheway]

"You have an hour," Peter told him, "Any longer, and I might drop this, you know?"

He pulled the magnifying glass back out of his pocket. "And that'd be a very sad thing."

[dollpocalypse]

That made Topher nervous enough that he had to give a quick puff on his inhaler, then got up. Because it was brilliant to show young Peter Wiggin that kind of weakness.

"Okay," he said. "Where should I come find you?"

[lockestheway]

"Right here," Peter said, his eyes tracking the movement of that inhaler. "Try not to choke on anything on the way back!"

[dollpocalypse]

Nervously, Topher nodded, then gave Peter one more quick, scared glance before quickly heading out.

He wasn't sure how much time he had left, but he'd have to work fast to protect his magnifying glass. And maybe himself -- he wasn't sure, but he had a faint idea that this might be the kind of bully who hit too.