Summary: Underneath the overhang of an abandoned storage house, Kudou and Houzuki seek shelter from the storm and they find that the rain itself can be a shelter. Post-Canon. Posted on AO3 here
A/N: They’re making out. That’s it. That’s the plot. Also this is the first I’ve written something like that. so there’s your disclaimer.
It was getting harder now. Harder to look away and not get caught. It was little things, her face in concentration when she was working on getting the music right. The sometimes stubborn set to her body when she didn’t want to admit something. She had gotten a lot better now, with being open, but sometimes that side of her remained and he’d couldn’t help but tease her, watch her stutter and try to hide. But Satowa’s blush would always give her away. A red that crept up her cheeks and spread downward. He had to stop himself, of course, from tracking how far down that flush went. But he couldn’t escape his dreams. Didn’t want to, at times, and now he had a new reason to hate mornings.
He shook his head, tying to clear his thoughts away. That path led to danger.
“It doesn’t look like the rain will let up soon.”
Her voice was soft but clear underneath the deluge of the rain. She sat beside him, hands around her knees, a light pink dusting her cheeks. Was it cold? Damn he should have thought about that before. They’d only just found shelter. He took off his jacket.
“Here.” He said, heat creeping up his neck and he turned his face away.
Satowa blinked once. Twice. Her heart pounding loudly in her ears. He couldn’t just do that and look away. No. it was a good thing he looked away her face was probably extremely red right now. She pressed her hand to her cheek. It was burning. After four years of knowing him, she would think she would get a better grip on her emotions when it concerned Chika. They were on first a name basis. But no. Every kind act, every devasting look. Yes, like the one he gave her when he loaned her his jacket -she fitted her arms through the sleeves- it short circuited her brain. It just looked so warm. Kudo was a warm person. Gentle even when he was being brash, but that gaze. She wanted to reach out and touch it with her hands. That was strange, wasn’t it? Wanting to touch something intangible? Wanting to keep it for herself? She was seeing that gaze more often now, and each time her heart answered with a resounding thud, that seemed as it wanted to say mine.
She was getting greedy. This wasn’t good. She sunk herself further into his jacket. It smelled like him. Cut wood and a scent that was distinctly Chika. She wrapped it closer around herself, surrounding herself with him.
“I guess the day turned out fine after all.” She felt Chika shift beside her, she turned only to see him, eye wide looking like a deer in the headlights. Did she say that out loud?.
They were supposed to meet up with the Hiro-san, Takezou and the others from the Koto Club. They had planned an outing the year before last, when the third years graduated, and last year when their group had graduated. They wanted to do something again this year, when Yoshinaga and Momoya graduated, but everyone cancelled at the last minute, while both Chika and Satowa were at the meeting point. They had walked around for a bit, deciding to still make use of the day, when the downpour began.
“I-I only meant that -” Oh god what could she possibly say. “-That.” A soft chuff sounded from Chika. “Wait what are you doing?” It gave way to laughter and could the ground kindly swallow her up right now? She had almost ducked her head, but his eye got that soft look and the laughter died down. He turned his head sideways, head resting in folded arms upon his knees.
“Yeah, the day turned out great.” His eyes crinkled at the sides, gaze never leaving hers.
Her breath caught. Oh. Her hand reached out touch him, hovering right above that crinkle before she realised what she was doing. She breathed in. What was she doing? She moved to draw her hand away, slower than she had intended, but Chika’s hand caught around hers. Calluses rough against her fingers. He brought hand to his face. Fingertips marking their trek down to her hands to her wrist where it stayed. Thumbs absently running circles around her wrist bone.
Languid but restless, each scrape of his fingers against skin pulled at her, all the while it stoked a fire. Warming her from the inside. The rain continued to fall, drowning out all sounds and thought. Except for the sounds of their breathing. Blood rushed in her ears as she traced her fingers down to corner of his lips.
Time stopped. Her heart pounded. She brought her face to his.
Chika was caught suspended in time. Frozen but to the feel her lips against his. And then all too suddenly it was pulled away.
Red-face Satowa looked up. Her body now turned towards him. She seemed to be trying to find the words something and he couldn’t help but think, had he been misreading the situation wrong all these years?
“I guess the day turned out fine after all.”
He took a deep breath. His hand reached out to cup her the back of neck. She shivered, her eyes closing as she leaned into his touch. “Satowa-san.” He stroked his thumb on the skin behind her ear. A sound escaped her, almost too soft to hear if he wasn’t so attuned to her in this moment. He swallowed hard. “May I kiss you.” She opened her eyes and he could see everything he wanted reflected in them.
She pulled him towards her, and that’s when he lost all thought. He was only aware of their lips meeting, once, and again. A gentle sip that gave way to more. And then nothing else but feel of her skin. So soft, how could she be so soft? Her fingers tugged at his hair and he let out a full body shudder. Threads of electricity ran up his spine extending outwards and he wanted more. More of their breaths entwined. More of her touch. More.
“Chi-“ her breathing hitched as he kissed a particular spot on her neck. Teeth scraped, and she was feeling too much but not enough. Her thoughts only filled with him, and how she could get closer, chasing at this feeling. She wanted this. She moved one hand from his chest to the hem of his shirt. She wanted to feel skin. He let out a groan and the sound reverberated through her, pooling low at core. One hand pressed back against the wooden wall, needing an anchor, the other pulling him closer. She was losing herself in him, in the hand that cradled in head, in his mouth at hers, in the soft yet rough touch of his fingers at her waist. She was losing herself in him and she didn’t want to find a way out.
But reality intruded somewhere in the midst of it all, the sound of rain no longer cocooned them. Birds made their way out, noticing the rain had stopped. Their kisses - could something so all-consuming being considered mere kisses? – calmed and until they were but sweet touches and when they stopped, still they held on to each other. Heavy breaths making a music all on their own.
A soft kiss to her forehead and then he was looking at her, eyes turning a molten amber. Soft touches ran across her face. His hands telling her she was precious. Did he know he was precious too? She pressed another kiss to his lips. Soft and languid, she held his face, hoping her feelings were conveyed.
It took another couple of minutes until she was ready to let go, until they pulled themselves to right. Still, they weren’t fully apart. Their hands still entangled even as they caught the bus.
Separately, they each smiled to themselves. They were glad the rain had fallen.
Summary: In which Satowa does some thinking about Chika. Set somewhere around Chapter 69 and some references to the Volume extras found in chapter 105.5. Cross-posted to AO3 here
Darling, you are the sound of my life
Sharp in clarity, soft in melody
A whisper at the start
Now you’re my crescendo
and every music that follows
It started with his sound. Before that, he was an unforgivable delinquent. Someone who had no care music and did not deserve to lay his hands on the koto. She was wrong. She was wrong, and she would always regret her initial judgement. The words she said to him. Kudou Chika was someone who faced the koto much like he did with the people he cared about, earnestly and with a straightforwardness that sometimes belied his gentleness. Because Chika was someone who cared and it showed in his music. How he approached the koto and the consideration in his notes.
His first, true sound was one that stopped her in her tracks. It lasted only a moment, but she felt cocooned in warmth. How could a sound be so gentle? Who made that sound? She didn’t want to believe it was him. It didn’t fit with her perceptions, but soon, other moments came and stayed with her.
Chika asking about her family’s situation, helping her to make friends, his complete lack of artifice and willingness to catch up to her. He and the koto club had pulled her out of the dark and given her the hope she lost. She started paying attention to his laughs, the distance between their hands when walking. She both lived for and hated the moments they would take subway together and his head would rest on her shoulder because it would be perfect, only if he felt the same way.
It was honestly, a little too much at times, the way her heart would race. How loudly it pounded, how she was so flustered she would say the wrong things. Sometimes she just wanted to curl up in embarrassment. Why was she so awkward with words? She loved the koto, and would never regret the time spent on it, but sometimes she wished she were at least a little better with social interactions. It didn’t help that sometimes she just wanted to reach out and touch him. It was an itch under her skin that wouldn’t go away. He had become a significant presence in her life. One that grew more by the day. His latest act did nothing to deter his importance.
She brushed her hands lightly over the ranunculus flower Chika had given her, her fingers lingering on the petals. Her cheeks heated for the umpteenth time that evening and she wouldn’t even try to stop the smile on her face. “It suits you.” Doujima-sensei had said, and she couldn’t help but search for the flower on the internet. Ranunculus. Her heart pitter-pattered as she read the meaning of the flower.
The ranunculus symbolizes charm and attractiveness. The pink colour represents love, romance, and admiration.
Her heart sputtered then went into overdrive. She buried her face in her hands, certain that her cheeks were as pink as the ranunculus he had given her. She was getting ahead of herself. Way ahead. She was pretty sure Chika wasn’t aware of the meaning. ‘Still’, she thought as she brought the flower close to her, taking great care not to crush it. ‘It would be nice to have a reminder of this moment.’
****
“Are you sure you want to hang it in the lobby?” Her mother asked.
She shook her head. She wanted it to be the both the first and last thing upon leaving and entering the house. It would be as if he were here, in her house, welcoming her home, and wishing her the best on her way out. How could she want it anywhere else?
Summary: Life was always a monotonous grey, until he came along. Cross-posted to AO3 here
A/N: An Uzuki centric piece set somewhere around chpt 101.
It didn’t take long for Uzuki to notice that this world was a farcical display of people and their selfish wants. People were less smart than they believed, disguising their avarice under a thin cover of altruism. It made life tedious. He supposed it could be said his outlook was because of his upbringing, growing up in a household of liars who held nothing sacrosanct. But that was simply not the case. He saw through to the heart of things, that humans were liars. They were simple. And they were boring. Everyone he met lent truth to his theory, and it seemed he was the only one aware.
Emotions were a tool to get what you wanted, it was proved time and time again and sometimes he wished he could do away with it all and shatter the perfectly constructed lie. No one seemed to understand this, except, perhaps his brother. He was surprised when he realised he wasn’t alone in his thinking. Siblings were truly a wonder.
Still, time passed interminably slow.
Until, he came.
Fierce and stupid looking. Just another stupid, empty can. That was his first impression. Uzuki thought he was like the rest. Until he saved him. He saved him without wanting a reward. What human did that?
Six days later he found his answer. A human who was not like the others. A human who was rough, yet selfless. There was no artifice in his actions. He just was. The boy had willingly put himself in harm’s way for another with no thought or reason. Uzuki’s world shifted on its axis finding a new centre of gravity.
A golden light that seemed to pierce through the muck of this world.
‘More, more, more,’ he thought. He needed to learn more about him, this boy that touched his emotions like nothing else could. It didn’t take long. He was smart. Chika. Kudou Chika. His light.
He met him again. He had to. He had to know more about him. This selfless creature who yet again tried to protect him!
“It’s dangerous.” Chika told him. It was too dangerous and he tried to protect him, warning Uzuki away from coming back. But Chika didn’t realise, with his words, with his actions, that only made him want to be closer. To him, Chika was like no other, and if he couldn’t be with him as is, then he would change himself to fit him. Be more like his brash personality. He could do it. So long as he could see Chika again.
Chika was worried about him after all.
He wanted to be friends with him. And he did! The days he spent his days with him were fun. Something he didn’t think possible, but his Chika brought colour to the monotonous grey of his world. His Chika was unlike any other pulling emotions from him that he once thought weren’t possible. It was remarkable.
Until it wasn’t.
Chika began pulling away. Why was he pulling away? What was he doing wrong? Where was Chika going.
Where? Where? There!
That damn Old Man, luring Chika in with his smiles. He was taking Chika away. Didn’t Chika realise? Light only shone brightest in the dark! Why was he doing this? Uzuki needed him. No. He would not lose Chika. He only needed to show him where he belonged.
He would make it so Chika knew where he belonged. With him, in this dark place.
Chika would come home.
But he didn’t.
And he was alone again. Alone with all the idiots of this world. Alone with the lies, and the monotone.
Alone, alone, alone.
****
He clicked on the link Abiko sent him, not really caring what it was. Some club interview, smiling faces appeared and Uzuki scoffed. They didn’t know just how thin those bonds were. Every bond could be broken. He hovered his hand over the exit icon.
He paused.
Heart in his throat. He expanded the window. Fingers hovered over a face. It was smiling against a backdrop of light.
His hands clenched but he couldn’t tear his gaze away. Tears fell.
Chika. Chika was there. But why? He forced himself to take in the bigger picture. Who were those people around him? They were smiling. They were all smiling. With him. With his Chika.
What kind of bullshit was this?! He flung his phone against the wall. No, no, no. He shouldn’t have done that. It was his only link to Chika. At least for now. He needed to examine the video. Needed to take it all in.
And then, then he would remind Chika of his place.
A/N: A drabble-ish thing set somewhere during and at the end of episode 6
Rating: K
Summary: In which the cursed castle begins to see a ray of light.
A hand to the cheek.
Soft and spreading a sense of something she doesn't quite know, but that she knows she wants more of.
A smile that that crinkles at the corners and seems to light up the room. It’s dazzling and it sparks that unnamed thing inside her. She wants to reach for it. Wants to keep it and hold it close.
Sounds of the living in a once empty house. A haunted house, cursed with ghosts that lurked in every corner, where formless hands scrape along the wood and soundless whispers shriek in the night.
“You’re mine,” it said.
“You will never escape.”
But the windows are open, and she hears the puttering of people, living people in the kitchen below, and somehow, in the midst of it all, the whispers fade away.
The nightmares come again. But perhaps nightmares aren't the correct term. Night terrors? It holds her in its grasp, claws deep into her skin and pins her to the spot. The chill seeps into her bones, leaching away the precious warmth she so managed to grab. It surrounds her with its emptiness. Cold hands lock her down and she tries not to make a noise. She strangles her voice before the specter above her can do so.
It stares her in the face even as she wants to look away. It reminds her of its strength. How she is nothing but its creation. That her childish grab at that unnamed thing does nothing but rouses its anger. And its anger is dangerous, she remembers.
“Ko Moon-young!” She hears again. This time much closer and a terror awakens her screams. He cannot be here. She will come for you! She wants to say, but she can’t stop crying, can't stop screaming. Because he is here and she will come for him. And he needs to leave, this man who somehow shines with something that feels warm.
“Ko Moon-young!” A voice sounds in the distance, muffled through the pounding of her heart.
She clutches on to him even as she tells him to go. But he doesn't.
Instead, he wraps his arms around her. Solid arms that block out the chill of the Specter. A ghost she doesn't see anymore. Doesn’t hear anymore. He holds her closer wrapping her completely up in him, entangling them so that all she can feel is his pulse. All she can hear is the beats of his heart.
A/N: Because after those last few episodes I know most of us need a little pick me up. Be prepared to get diabetes. It probably has a little angst in it..but not much, I think. I really hope tumblr doesn’t mess with the format.
Rating: K
Summary: An AU epilogue of sorts (Canon Compliant up to episode 12 maybe?) in which it’s moving day. Some slight sprinklings of Ji Soo x Sung Mo.
It was a mess. It was chaos, honestly. Boxes holding various items were strewn across the floor, some were stacked on top of others. It was a safety hazard in the making and he was to say something about it, if he didn’t just have to dodge said boxes.
“Ah Hyung, you're back!” Lee Ann looked up mid-pause from eating his chicken. Seung Mo supposed the chicken delivery had come. He wasn’t able to hear it from the 2nd level though. That may pose a problem. He'd have to ask the electrician about it later.
“Yes, I’m here. It’s as if I didn’t leave.”
Lee Ahn laughed, eyes crinkling at the corners, and Seung Mo had a flashback of a young boy pulling on his parents hands, feet practically dancing in anticipation of something. And then again, another image of the same boy, running up to him, hugging tightly. Small hands that felt warm despite the chill of winter.
“Sorry, Hyung, ahh..” he looked up, eyes darting around for an answer. “Ah! Ji Soo Noona asked me to help her with the boxes.”
“Oi,” Ji Soo slapped him on the back of his head with one of the paper plates. “Did we raise you to tell lies..ah,” she paused, “I did ask him about the case he was working on though.”
“See, I wasn’t avoiding-“
Seung Mo turned to woman in front of him, “You know you’re not supposed to be involved in any of the cases right now.”
“Yes, yes, yes,” she waved him off and handed him a plate of chicken and rolls. “But I was just asking. It’s not like I’m actively in the field..”
Seung Mo leveled a look at her. She tapped Ahn on his shoulder and mock-whispered. “Hey, he's getting better at that look don’t you think.”
Ahn, gave a shudder, playing his role well. “Scary.” He said rubbing his arms, pretending to ward off some imaginary cold when it was in the middle of summer. Seung Mo looked at them both, smiles tugging at the edges of their mouths. It was difficult to keep a straight face around them. He already felt the tell-tale twitch at the corner of his mouth.
He shook his head, and let out a soft chuckle. The smiles on their faces became wider and Seung Mo felt a familiar tug on his chest. He didn't know if he'd ever get used to it. This complete and utter lightness they brought to his life. The fact that he was allowed to feel this way was another thing he was trying to wrap his head around. He wasn’t quite sure if he’d ever be able to.
“Appa,” Jae in turned to her father. “You know there’s an extra room for you right? Prosecutor Kang even said so.” They were nearing the house now. A spacious two-storey building that had enough rooms for a large family and plenty of yard space with cheerful, yellow flowers decorating the graden.
Her father smiled. It was a mix of wistfulness and peace that had Jae In frowning. It was a conversation they had many times and still his answer was the same.
“Jae In,” he said as he put the car in park. “You shouldn’t worry about me. You kids don’t need me underfoot.”
She wanted to argue with him but she was hitting a dead end every time. Lee Ahn had asked him, Officer Eun had asked him. Even Prosecutor Kang had asked him, but it was all to no avail. Her father was a brick wall that wouldn’t be moved. He was stubborn in his insistence to stick to his decision. What else could she say for him to change his mind? “Appa.” It was a complaint and a plea in one.
“Jae In.” He patted her hair and smoothed it backwards. “My pretty daughter, I won’t be going anywhere.” He took in a deep breath, “We..” He started. “We’re not separated anymore. I’ll still be here at anytime you need me.” It was said softly, but was no less powerful in its impact. All at once, a lump formed in her throat making it difficult to swallow. She remembered all the years she spent believing and doubting her father. She thought of all the times when she wished he was there, and how she nearly lost him. “Abeoji.”
Her father let out a shaky laugh and looked up in the sky.
“The sky is so vast don’t you think? Yet you and I, we’re standing under this same sky.” He looked at her again. “We’re not so far away are we?” He laughed again, the sound less heavy than what she heard from him recently. “Besides I’m just a couple of minutes away. Now why don’t we go inside?”
The day was coming to a close, but the night was still going strong. The boxes, while, not quite emptied, had found some semblance of structure and they’d mostly gotten all the important rooms sorted out. They would have might have been able to finish unpacking everything that day because shortly after Jae In and her father arrived, Dae Bong and So Hyun followed. Then Jae In’s aunt came in, and afterwards Dr. Hong stopped by. No one had left and the day was inter-spread with the occasional laughter, beer and more food. Somehow, through it all, work on the house managed to be done.
Seung Mo wasn’t too sure how he felt about that many people in their house. But the people he cared about were happy and thriving. His gaze landed on Ji Soo. He took a second, almost glancing away before he remembered he didn’t have to hide, that there was nothing to protect them from because the true perpetrator could never harm them. He traced her features with his eyes. The curve of her smile, the lightness in her eyes. Just the entire way her body would radiate strength and purpose. Ji Soo would always be committed to his memory.
“I’m glad.” A voice broke his train of thought and he looked up.
Jae-In’s father was staring at him. Sometime between after his release and now, Jae In’s father had become a constant in all their lives. That’s why he wanted him with them. It wasn’t only because of the guilt, although, that did play a major part. He had ruined the older man’s life, ruined Jae In’s life. And yet this man just told Seung Mo he was happy?
Some confusion must have shown on Seung Mo’s face because he then said, “The young boy Officer Lee and I saw, the kid we thought we might not be able to help. He’s doing well.”
It somehow managed to shift his entire thought process on its axis, while at the same time not. They were alright. They were happy. These were facts. It was what he had been telling himself. What he believed. Still doubts remained. The worry that somehow this was all a dream, that he was still running and hiding, that he was still trapped.
At times he wondered if he even deserved it? This stroke of seemingly good luck. But then he dismissed it. He dismissed them all. He didn’t have to convince himself that everything was good because, even if he still wished he said something to someone prior to the fire, he couldn’t help but think – he looked a Jae In who was smiling at something Lee Ahn did, and to Lee Ahn himself who was talking animatedly to Dae Bong – this was exactly what he wanted and the future, he thought as he looked at Ji Soo, her hand resting on the swell of her stomach, her eyes caught his and he felt his lips curve upwards.
A/N: Okay so I wrote a thing. A short drabble-ish thing for Trollhunters. I’ll do better next time. I wasn’t quite as ready to dive into this fandom as I thought.
Rating: K
Summary: Set somewhere after Part 3. In which the residents of Arcadia Oaks deals with the aftermath of the Eternal Night.
Arcadia Oaks.
Just a regular suburban town that had all the underpinnings of an average life. But, it was much more than that. In addition to being home to the greatest food, ever (the Diablo Maximus), it had some of the greatest people in it too.
In the aftermath of the Morgana’s swipe at grandeur to bring about oh-the-Eternal-Night, with a capital E., Arcadia Oaks was showing…just a little bit of some wear and tear, sure there were open craters cracks in the road, and an influx of babies without a home, but Jim’s mom and Strickler were working on the latter. And the trolls moved much faster than any heavy machinery could do, at least until the roads smoothed out and the trucks could actually drive on the road.
But, it was nothing they couldn’t handle. The people in Arcadia Oaks were resilient and surprisingly flexible. But then this was the same town whose residents stood to fight the Gumm-Gumms before the evacuation. Coach Lawrence was already forming the first ever Troll-Humans Games. It was a way to smooth the way for relations between Trolls and humans. One of many initiatives planned by Councilwoman Ñunez to quell any possible conflict. But honestly, Toby thought everyone was pretty chill with the Trolls. After all, these were the same beings that helped to save their hometown.
That wasn’t to say there weren’t any hiccups. Now that the Gumm-Gumms were out of the way, other not-so-good Troll creatures were coming out of hiding. Of course, that’s where Aarrgh! and Toby’s warhammer came into play. They were Arcadia Oaks’ remaining Trollhunters and they had a duty to protect their town. It was what Jim had tasked them with.
But…it sure would’ve been more fun if Jim and Claire were there. Or if he were there with them.
“Wing…man?”
Aarrgh’s voice rumbled behind him. Toby quickly swiped at his eyes, rubbing away whatever moisture was there, and turned around. “Hey big guy, just uh.., looking at the sunset. Any latest from Bagdwella on the Goblin sightings?”
“Miss. Jim. Too.”
Toby sniffled and hugged Aarrgh. It wasn’t just that Jim was gone. Everything changed and before they even had time to process it, they were off again on the next mission. What if things were different when Jim returned? What if ---
A buzzing interrupted Toby’s thoughts. He looked from underneath Aarrgh’s arm to see his phone blinking, and scrambled to the phone. Aarrgh perked up.
“Jim message?”
Hey Tobes. About to turn in for the day. Merlin and Blink think we’re close to finding the new HeartStone. How’s everyone doing? Say hi to Aarrgh for us. Wish you were here. We miss you.
Toby smiled and typed a quick reply. He didn’t know what got into him. This was Jim. Jim who was game for every harebrained plan they’d concocted in elementary school. They’d been friends from kindergarten. They’d fought the bad guys together, weathered the changes being Trollhunters brought. They texted each other every day. Multiple times, in fact. They’d be fine.
This was just another part of being a Trollhunter. He looked out at the dawning rays outside his window. This was just another part of their journey, one that was filled with hope and new beginnings. He shouldn’t be down like this. Sure Jim, Claire and Blinky were gone. But they weren’t going to be gone forever. And when they returned, there was too much to look forward to.
A/N: Another drabble-ish thing! I really should space these out. This one is from Strickler’s POV
Rating: K
Summary: Stricklander was a changeling through and through, but life and humanity, continued to surpise him. Can be set any time after Part 3.
Stricklander had lived a long time, had seen civilisations rise and fall. He had become different people, and all for one purpose.
Impure.
The whispers of Trollkind echoed constantly in his ears. Their disdained looks followed him everywhere. The trolls spat upon his kind like they were beneath them, or looked on in horror as they cried abominations! Impure! Unholy and everything that went against the law of nature.
There was no safe place for changelings back in the day. Not, unless you could find a yourself a familiar, and even then, things got dicey. But Strickler was tired of hiding. Tired of having to look over his shoulder, tired of having to be less. A new order would usher in a change in the hierarchy. Having a familiar was no longer just a means of hiding, but it would be a way to completely overturn the balance.
They would be able to walk in daylight and night, never having to worry about trolls. Soon a new era would be wrought. He would never be looked upon as less, as impure.
The problem with having a familiar however, was that it meant, becoming. Now, if the becoming wasn’t human, that would be no problem. But humans were tricky beings. They came with tricky emotions. They wanted, they loved, they hated, they desired, they yearned, they hoped, with all the ferocity one would never expect from their tiny lifespans. They were naught but a tiny flicker in the grand scheme of time. It was as if, to compensate their lack of time, lack of meaningful impact on the world, they crammed all those emotions in their fragile bodies. It was those emotions, those feelings, that Strickler found himself seeing much more of the world than what he meant to. He participated in wars that did not further his cause, and he climbed mountains just for the sheer reason that he could.
Eventually he arrived at Arcadia Oaks.
An unassuming town, if not for the fact that the battle of Killahead Bridge was held here. Unassuming people, if not for the fact that his own cover was unassuming, and people were much more than they appeared to be...Despite their otherwise, senseless, mundane drivel. Teenagers, were one such example, despite their seemingly insignificant concerns, they did sometimes manage to come up with something inspiring, and their young minds were a sponge, soaking up information (if they every decided to apply themselves).
In all his yeards, he’d honestly thought he’d seen it all. Until he found the trollhunter. A human trollhunter. A young man who was Merlin’s Champion. What was the decrepit fool thinking? He was a boy! Made up of flesh and who bled red! Still, he would do what had to be done. The plans had been put in place long before this trollhunter had even been born.
Yet, he was only a boy, who had to juggle high school nonetheless. A boy who had a mother who was worried sick about him, who worked hard to keep close her family consisting of two. Only, her normally open son was being closed, despite how she tried to reach him. Barbara was a surprise to him. How one woman could hold so much strength in her fine bones, he would never know. Humans, were, surprisingly resilient he thought. And she, she was where Young Atlas got his strength from. Everything good in Jim, was on account of Barbara.
And for the first time in centuries, Strickler found another way to just be. Of course, he found a way to muck things up. He supposed trying to kill her son and trying to bring back the scourge that was Gunmar would do that. But he came back, and Barbara had an unfathomable capacity for love and forgiveness.
Sometimes he still remembered the whispers. But that was of a past long ago. In the here and now, he was Walter Strickler, changeling and husband to Barbara, teacher at Arcadia Oaks High, and occasional grilling buddy of Javier Nuñez. The world was a much different place than it was years ago. He was a different person. Not too different. He was always up for a good fight, but there was certainly a little more...lightness in his being.
Nomura once said that it was feckless hope that was the humans’ downfall. But it was hope, they had come to realise, it was hope and the promise of a better day that allowed them to have courage, and be much stronger than they ever thought they could be.
