Snow_Wolf9 BetaTheAutobotNinja ReptileEdge
The gnome problem was easier when there wasn't a Spanish exam that needed to be done, not in Toby's case, at least. Jim suggested seeing if Chompsky was amenable to staying in the dollhouse, and Toby called in sick. So that at least was working out. By the time Jim got there after school, Toby was big again, and their gnome problem was dealt with. And since he wasn't stressed out of his mind, he'd gone to his rehearsals, and Steve was showing no inclination of being interested in theatre. Actually, Steve was avoiding both of them like the plague.

Toby's training was coming along too. He fought very differently to Jim, obviously, but he was getting very good at it. He did falter, same as Jim, on rule two. Finishing a fight against a dummy was one thing, but he hadn't even really finished the fight against Steve. Jim wasn't sure if it was good or bad. It did lean to the inclination to spare Draal at least. Jim was pretty sure Toby, same as himself, couldn't kill the troll, regardless of his behaviour. And if Draal had the same reaction to his defeat, Jim would sleep more soundly, knowing Draal was protecting Toby. He was keeping up with his own training, in secret. He needed to stay active. He wasn't going to sit on the bench. Soon enough, he'd have to find a way to get the others on the scent of Killahead bridge being built in the museum. He'd dug into the books this time, telling Toby to focus on his training, Jim would give him the sparknotes version. It was easier since Jim already knew big chunks of it. And it did delight Blinky, in a way that Jim wished he'd read this properly last time. The troll was delighted to talk and discuss specific sections, positively brimming with information and enthusiasm. He seemed to enjoy teaching Jim troll lore just as much as he enjoyed coaching Toby to be a warrior.

And finally, the field trip to the museum came, the day after Toby got his point tracker, just like last time. "I need it Jim, for my trollhunter training, and look! I'm racking up so many points!"

Jim looked at Miss Nomura, in her human form, a stab in his heart as he thought of her being torn apart in the sunlight. Even if he couldn't get her to their side, he hoped she'd find some purpose once Gunmar was gone. Find a place where she belonged. But for now, he had to get Toby to the bridge, to make sure they had proof. But then two hands took him around the elbow, Claire smiling at him.

"Wanna come look at the displays with me?"

"Yes he does!" Toby announced, winking at Jim and slipping away before he had time to protest. Ok, fine, he did need to hang out with Claire too. They'd be here a while.

"I was a bit surprised you wanted to join the play. You never struck me as a theatre kid." Claire told him, letting her hands slip down his arm as she let him go, wandering a step ahead.

Last time he might not have realized that was flirting behaviour, but he knew Claire now, and her fingers lingering on him all the way down to his pinkie before letting go was a not very subtle hint. Same as the little smile, and her biting her lip. He'd been afraid it would be difficult, but apparently, just being a little more attentive had put him squarely in her good books.

"It was... Kind of a spur of the moment thing. But I'm enjoying it a lot. Especially the company."

"Why thank you." She smiled.

"Oh, I was talking about Eli." Jim shot back, cheekily, making her laugh and shove at his shoulder. He honestly couldn't have planned it better. They were right by the sheets obscuring the inner courtyard with the big No Entry signs on. All he had to do was stumble a little, and pretend to lose his balance.
He flailed inside, careful not to make too much sound, looking up at the half finished bridge. There it was.

"Oh wow..."

"Jim, oh my god. I'm sorry." Claire slipped through, helping him to his feet.

"I'm ok, promise, just lost my balance. But check that out." He nodded to the bridge.

She looked over, letting out a little surprised sound. "That's pretty cool. I wonder what it is... Anyway, we shouldn't be here."

"What's life without a little risk?" Jim asked her, and feeling maybe a little more daring than he should, took her hand. "We're not going to touch anything, just a little sneak peek."

Claire looked down at their hands, and he could see her blush a little, before wrapping her fingers around his.

"Ok, fine." She agreed.

Jim took out his phone, waving at her to come closer, and held it up to take a selfie, the bridge in the background. Claire leaned into his arm, putting her hand around it, smiling into the camera.
He almost wanted to stay in there, but he really didn't want any of the changelings to notice he'd been here or seen it. He did snap another picture before they slipped back outside, Claire still holding his hand. Just as the sheet fell into place behind them, Strickler walked around the corner, spotting them. Claire blushed a little, letting go.

"I'm just gonna... You know... Alright." Before slipping away. Jim watched her go with a smile, Strickler coming up next to him.

"I see that we have gone from staring at, to talking to." He nodded approvingly. "It does tend to help."

"Yeah. Bit more nerve wracking, but totally worth it." Jim nodded, before turning to Strickler, who seemed to debate a little before speaking again.

"I wanted to make sure..."

"I'm sure I'm alright with you asking my mom out." Jim cut him off, smiling at the look on Walter's face. Strickler quickly composed himself again, clearing his throat.

"Right. She mentioned she'd asked, I just... I enjoy her company. But I know that you are very close, and I should hate to come between you. And I know, if she were ever to choose, I would not be the winner."

"She doesn't have to choose. I think you'll be good for each other." Jim assured him, Strickler looking relieved.

Then he glanced at the sheets, and Jim could see a flash go over his face. The realization that this wouldn't last much longer anyway, or so he thought. And there was a hint of sadness there, but it was quickly squashed.

"She did mention you seemed to be spreading yourself a bit thin lately, she's worried. Atlas too carried the world on his shoulders, I should hope your burdens are lighter."

"I'll be fine." Jim nodded. "I have just enough on my plate. I can handle this. And if I need to talk to someone..."

"You may come to me." Strickler nodded, just as Toby skidded around the corner, coming towards them. "Please do not run in the museum, Domzalski."

"Sorry Mr. Strickler, but I need Jim, it's an emergency!"

Strickler gave him a look, one of light concern, but Jim just smiled, and went to meet Toby so he could hurriedly and whisperingly tell him about the picture of a squished goblin Eli had taken.

"A gnome in a dollhouse?!"

Toby and Jim shrugged, Toby stuffing his face with the snacks he'd grabbed from the fridge after their daring escape from the hoard of angry goblins.

"You said take care of it!"

"This is not what I meant, and you know it!" Blinky huffed, pacing the room. "This is indeed the exact opposite."

"It's fine, he's out of the way and not causing trouble. We do have more pressing matters." Jim pointed out, Aaarrrgghh grabbing the bowl and eating the whole thing.

"That is true. They'll be coming for revenge, and now, they know your domicile, Master Tobias." Blinky said as he placed his hands together, continuing to pace.

"Ugh, why can't just one thing be just a little easy?" Toby huffed, laying back on the bed. Jim patted his shoulder sympathetically, before pulling out his phone.

"By the way, I noticed something strange at the museum today... " He pulled up the photo, Toby sitting up and snatching the phone out of his hands.

"Oh my gosh! Look at that! Dude, she's totally into you!"

"Which is very nice, but not really what's important right now." Jim pointed out, even though he couldn't stop smiling.

He scrolled to the next picture, showing Blinky. "Am I mad, or have I seen that somewhere before?"

"Great Gronka Morka!" Blinky snatched the phone, peering at it closely with all his eyes. "That's... That's Killahead bridge!"

"And that's important because...?" Toby wondered, rubbing his empty wrist.

"It's what Deya the Deliverer used to lock Gunmar and the GummGumms away, remember? Hey, what happened to your tracer thingy?" Jim asked, pointing.

"Oh, the goblins grabbed it... And I was doing so well too. But why are they gathering up the Killahead bridge here, in our museum?"

"That is what needs to be determined." Blinky nodded, handing the phone back. "It has to be a ploy of some kind. We must investigate, at once."

"Hey Tobes." Jim snapped his fingers. "If the goblins have your tubby tracker... Doesn't that come with GPS?"

"Oh my gosh! It does!" Toby jumped on the bed, pulling out his phone. "Look, look! It's moving! It's right in the middle of town!"

"Is it... Right at the museum?" Jim looked at the little icon, not actually believing his luck. Maybe fate was on his side? Maybe this would all work out.

"We should go right now!" Toby got up, already grabbing for the amulet.

"Absolutely not." Blinky stopped him. "We can't go in there alone. If this is happening in a human dwelling, then it's surely changelings behind it."

"I'm sorry, who what now?" Toby blinked.

"Changelings. Have human form. Spies." Aaarrrgghh informed them.

"Wait... So there are trolls just... Walking around? Right among us? Pretending to be humans?"

"In the old days, the GummGumms stole some of our young, and did something... Horrendous to them. Changed them, twisted them into abominations. Devious creatures, Gunmar's spies in the human world. They do his bidding, helping him. Apparently, they have started to assemble the bridge, and that can only be to one end."

"Release Gunmar." Jim mumbled, a chill running down his spine.

"Besides, it's only half complete. We have some time. This is a delicate matter, we must bring it up to Vendel, but very gently. He will not believe the word of a human trollhunter. But hopefully, he'll be more amenable, once you've defeated Draal." Blinky pointed out, Toby sighing, sitting back down on the edge of the bed.

"Right. That. I'm still not sure I can. I mean I had some gumption when I challenged him again but... Oh, I should have just left it alone."

"You'll defeat him." Jim promised. "I'll help you. I think all you need is a winning strategy. And then we can try to tell trollmarket about the changelings, and Killahead."

With no midnight trip to the museum, they didn't have to deal with Nomura. It also meant they didn't confirm she was a changeling. Jim floated it as an idea, she was in charge at the museum after all, but had to agree it could be anyone working there. Still, the seed of doubt was enough for Toby to start questioning if everyone around them was a changeling. It took some calm to brush off the ones he knew when Toby ranted off people to Jim, but he figured he managed. On the day of Toby's rematch against Draal, Jim sat down, and started working on his list.

Save Draal- all of him.
Connect to Nomura- if possible
Contact Douxie- Tell him everything?
Tell the others- When?
Save trollmarket- How?
Find Merlin early? Douxie might help.
Strickler? -Seems to be working itself out
Avoid the darklands- how?
Save Vendel- When he trusts us

And then, remembering what was coming up, he added 'Deal with Not-Enrique.' Before folding it up, and tucking it in his bag. Put down on paper, it wasn't too many things, but he did need to think them over carefully, and judge when it was the right time to act. With all of them, he'd been just a little too late. He needed to figure out what the point of no return was. At least now, he had somewhat of a plan.

He'd told Toby to read the chapters on finding someone's weakness, and judging from the blue light that had shone in his window most of the night, he'd figured out that the amulet translated most the words for him. Hopefully he'd gleen what he needed, or Jim would have to do a quick coaching session. But he knew it would work better if Toby figured it out. And he was pretty sure Toby could figure it out.
Toby was just as displeased as Jim had been to find out that the stakes of this fight were higher. He was pacing back and forth inside the antechamber, glancing out at the gathering crowd, before going back to mumbling to himself.

"You'll be ok, Tobes."

"See, every time you say that, I somehow believe you less and less." Toby muttered, looking out over the arena again. "What if I just run away? What if I don't fight, and apologize?"

"You'll be labeled a coward, you'll never earn their respect, and you can never return to trollmarket, making your job of protecting it very difficult." Blinky informed him.

Toby's shoulders sank, and he looked to Jim. "Take care of nana for me, will you? Please, I hate to think of her all alone..."

"Toby, you'll take care of her yourself. You'll be fine. Don't talk like that." Jim waved it away, but Toby pulled out a letter, handing it to Jim.

"She can't read all that well so... If I don't make it, will you read it to her?"

Jim took it, before bopping Toby on the nose with it.

"Tacos."

"What?"

"I owe you tacos. Remember? We had some last week, you paid, and I said next time on me. You're going to do this, I'm going to give this letter back, and then we'll go get tacos." Jim said.

Toby smiled a little, glancing away, before nodding.

"You studied, you trained, you can do this." Jim grabbed Toby's shoulders, looking him in the eye.

"You're smarter, you already faced Bular, remember? You knocked him back, you can knock Draal all the way down."

"And don't forget to finish it!" Blinky told him firmly, Toby paling.

Jim grabbed his shoulder tighter, meeting his eyes again. "Do it your way."

Toby nodded, hearing Vendel greet the crowd, announcing Draal to them as the troll rolled out into the arena to their cheers. Toby donned his armour, walking up to the gate, mumbling under his breath.

"Fear is but the precursor to valor... Fear is but the precursor to valor... Don't think. Don't think. Don't think..."

The gate rose, and with a deep breath, Toby summoned Daylight, and walked out into the arena.

"TOBIAS! SON OF RALPH, SON OF NANCY, THE TROLLHUNTER!"

Jim leaned against the thick stone bars, gripping them tight, Aaarrrgghh and Blinky on either side of him. The fight was very different. Toby did not have the speed or agility that Jim had been relying on, nor was he as used to a blade. But his training had done some good, it wasn't at all as bad as last time, even with the arena warping and changing under them.
Toby focused on holding his ground, stepping aside when Draal attacked and striking as he passed, trying to knock him out of his roll. It worked on the fourth try, Draal spinning over the edge, only barely catching himself. Toby was right behind him, and with a roar he swung the blade along the edge, forcing Draal to let go and drop. The troll landed, not too poorly, and started jumping up with an angered roar. The crowd cheered, finally seeing that this trollhunter could maybe hold his own. This time, Toby parried him into a stop, Draal skidding on the rocks before lunging, slamming his fist down. And like with Bular's strike, Toby caught it, and swung at Draals now open midsection. The force of the blow sent the troll sprawling back, his jagged back gorging deep grooves in the rock, and Toby followed, swinging the blade more like a hammer, sideways, to knock him back to the edge.

Draal caught it, tearing it from his grip and tossing it away. Toby rolled to the side, summoning it back, and struck Draal under the arm, before skipping in behind him.

"By Deya's grace, he's done it!" Blinky cheered when Toby stayed there, following as Draal turned, anger and frustration clouding his mind. "He's found his weakness!"

Toby took a few deep breaths, steadying himself, before ducking down low, and swinging the sword at Draal's ankles. The already moving troll lost his balance, and Toby jumped onto his chest, placing the end of Daylight's blade at Draal's throat. The arena was deathly silent. No one had bet on this outcome. Even Jim was amazed. He'd known Toby would rise to the occasion, would be a good trollhunter. He hadn't dared to hope Toby would be better. Relief flooded his chest, as the arena erupted into a roar. Trollmarket cheered their trollhunter and his victory.

"Now, he just has to finish it..." Blinky mumbled, Aaarrrgghh nodding solemnly.

The chant was taken up by the crowd. Finish him! Finish him! Finish him! Toby's hands were shaking, from down here, Jim could see it. And he saw the fight seep out of Draal as the troll accepted his fate. Maybe that's what he wanted, right now. If he couldn't succeed his father, joining him might feel like the best option. Jim knew the feeling, the deep sadness when death seemed not a terrifying ordeal, but like a friend, offering a way out. But Toby was still Toby, despite his changes, and when he raised the sword and drove it home, it went into the floor next to Draal's head. Jim couldn't hear what they said, but he could guess the gist of it. And then Toby stepped down, facing the now booing crowd.

"I'm not like you! I'm not a troll, and I can't kill someone in cold blood who isn't really my enemy! We're on the same side! And we're going to need all the help we can get! Me being here is already changing the rules! The amulet chose me for a reason, and I think the reason is that for the fight to come, we all need to change! You need a different kind of trollhunter, not least one that isn't bound to the shadows! Changelings walk the streets of Arcadia!"

The crowd erupted into pandemonium, and Jim slipped forward, passed Draal, still on the ground, having only pushed himself halfway up. The trolls couldn't handle the news of Killahead bridge as well, he knew, and he pulled on Toby's arm before he could get that far, Blinky right behind him.

"I think that'll do." Jim told him, before they were pulled away from the arena.

Toby asked about Draal, about the scorn he faced as he lumbered away, defeated. Jim felt a pang of guilt, but he knew this would work out. At least, he hoped Draal made the same decision as he had last time. He did not, fate toying with Jim again, filling him with doubt. Because it was in his backyard that Draal appeared, hulking in the low light from the door.

"Why are you here?" Jim asked, confused, glancing back to make sure his mom had actually gone up the stairs, before walking outside.

"I had to leave trollmarket..." Draal answered.

"I know, Blinky told us. But why are you here?" Jim asked.

Draal looked smaller than he had when he'd come to Jim the first time. To be fair, that time he'd gotten to save the day, help Jim fight against Nomura. But Nomura wasn't here, wasn't aware of them, so he didn't get to come as a hero, but as an outcast.

"I don't know where else to go." Draal said with a little sadness in his voice.

And Jim couldn't help it. Draal had been such a good friend, and losing him had hurt so much. So Jim just stepped forward, and wrapped his arms around Draal best he could, hugging him tight. Draal seemed surprised, tensing, before relaxing again, slowly.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry all this happened to you. It's not fair." Jim said. Draal just huffed, before giving Jim an awkward little pat, stepping back.

"I was going to go to the fle... To the trollhunter. Since I have lost my honor and my home, I figured I can maybe regain them in his service. But I wasn't sure he'd..." He trailed off, looking away.

"We can go together." Jim offered. Draal looked up, and nodded.

"I would feel safer if there was someone looking after nana." Toby admitted, watching Draal rummage around in the basement, putting things aside to make room.

"She doesn't come down here anymore, and she doesn't see very well. But I am a bit worried about her with all these GummGumms running around." Toby added.

"I'll protect her. And you. You have a long way to go until you're a full fledged trollhunter. Your technique is appalling." Draal muttered.

"Hey, I've been at it for less than a month, cut me some slack." Toby muttered back, sitting on the basement stair.

"You could train him." Jim suggested. "You could train both of us."

Both of them looked up at him, Jim shrugging.

"I want to be prepared. I swore to Toby I'd be with him, I don't want to be dead weight."

Toby smiled softly at him, and Draal nodded. "Sensible. Very well. I shall train you both. There is honor in that, I feel. If I can not be the trollhunter, I shall make you the best one there ever was. Then there shall be no shame in my defeat."

"It's settled then. Thank you." Toby smiled at him, reaching out to put his hand on Draal's shoulder. "I mean it. Thank you."

Draal nodded, smiling, small but true. "It shall be my honor."

He had them start right away, Jim getting an old mop and a hockey stick, Toby donning the armor. Draal ran them through the basics, teaching them the forms. Jim did his best to act like he didn't know what he was doing, but more than once he noticed Draal giving him a look out of the corner of his eye.

"You are doing one thing correctly, and that is playing to your strengths." Draal told Toby, letting him take a breather. "You know you can not outrun your opponent, so you save your energy for when they come to you. The problem will arise when you are the hunter, not the hunted. You will need to build up stamina. But you know the most important thing at least."

"Kick them in the gronk-nuks?"

Draal smirked. "You know how to take a hit." He sat down in the grass, Toby taking it as permission to collapse. Jim sunk down as well, letting out a sigh.

"You will get hit. It is inevitable. The point is to survive the hits that you take. You take blows, and they don't rattle you. You stay focused. More than one brilliant warrior lets fear overtake them when pain and danger snap their jaws at their neck. You stand firm. You get up, and you attack." Draal instructed.

"Well, that's something, I guess?"

"It is something that can't be taught." Draal told him, putting his hand on Toby's arm.

"It's good. It's a beginning, and it's been enough to get you this far. I will teach you how to get further."

Jim woke up sore. He'd thought he'd stayed on top of his training, but now he had to admit he'd been slacking off, and his muscles were going to punish him for it. But he got up, made himself ready, and took his list out of the bag to look it over. He'd do it every morning, to keep it fresh in his mind.

Jim
I'm going to steal this letter back if I survive, but just in case I don't...

It wasn't his list. It wasn't even his handwriting. Toby had had the same idea as him, he'd probably left notes for all the people he cared about, Jim being one. He dug through his bag, but no list. Toby must have mistaken it for the letter, and taken it. He'd probably not read it, he'd have a thousand questions if he'd had. Jim cursed under his breath, trying to think. Toby might just have thrown it away, or he might have left it on his desk and forgotten about it. Where he might find it and look at it later. So what to do? If it was still in his bag, Jim could swap them out. But if it wasn't, it would be harder. Unless...
He texted Toby to go ahead without him. Jim would just have to be a little late to school. He had math first thing, and half the time Miss Janeth forgot to put in detention for people, he might get out of it ok. Toby texted back to make sure he was ok, and Jim promised to be there before the second period. And then he waited for Toby to leave, biking away, before going around the back, getting the spare key, opening the back door... And falling to his butt with a yelp. Draal hulked in the doorway, glaring suspiciously at him.

"It's morning, it's dangerous, you should be downstairs." Jim said.

"I heard a sound." Draal huffed, letting Jim shove him inside and close the door, but then stood his ground, not letting him pass. "What are you doing?"

"I just... Forgot something in Toby's room. I'm just going to get it real quick." Jim held up his hands, smiling. Draal's face remained unchanged.

"And why not wait until he's returned, and ask for it back?"

"Because..." Jim started, thinking of a thousand lies, but something about Draal's face told him none of them would work. That he'd get it out of Jim one way or the other.

"Because it'll confuse him. And he doesn't need to be confused, he needs to be focused." Jim said.

Draal grunted, hunching down a little, less imposing. Jim took that as a sign to explain himself. "He took it by accident, and I need to get it back."

"Why would it confuse him? Why can't you just explain?"

Jim faltered, throwing his hands out a little. "It's just... I'm... I..."

"Does it have anything to do with your lie yesterday?"

"What lie?" Jim asked, something cold seeping into his chest.

Draal looked at him for what felt like an age, before speaking, voice low. "You wanted me to train you, but you've already had training. You learned nothing new yesterday, you have fought like a troll before. Someone taught you. Who? Why?"

Jim felt his lip wobble, biting it. He'd known this would be hard, but now it was becoming impossible.

"You. You taught me."

Draal's eyes widened. He blinked at Jim, a flash of anger washing over his face, before it settled into confusion, realizing that Jim wasn't lying.

"I was the trollhunter. I was the one the amulet chose. And you hated me too, and we fought the same way, and I too beat you, and spared you. And you came to me, and offered to train me and protect me. You taught me how to be a trollhunter. You trained me until I was strong enough not just to defeat Bular, but Gunmar too. I won. I did it. I beat them. But there were more dangers, stronger ones, and I wasn't..." His voice broke, and he realized he was crying. That he had been for a while. "He died. Toby died. Saving me. And I can't let it happen again. I can't. So I went back. We used magic, and I went back to the day I found the amulet, and I didn't go. I sent Toby. And it chose him, like I knew it would, and now I'm trying my hardest to keep him safe."

And then he broke down. Nana Domzalski had to have already left to play chess in the park, because there was no way she wouldn't have heard him, bawling his eyes out. Draal sat there for a long while, not saying anything, before finally putting a large hand on Jim's back. The weight of it grounded him, had him suck in breath and try to calm down again. It took a while, Draal not saying anything until he had wiped his tears and they weren't replaced by new ones, his breathing calmer.

"The thing you're getting, what is it?"

Jim blinked, having forgotten why he was there in the first place. "A list... Of the things I want to change."

"Not a smart move, leaving it lying around." Draal said.

Draal pointed out, taking his hand back.

"Toby took it from my bag, he thought it was something else... It doesn't matter. Will you let me...?" Jim asked.

Draal nodded, letting Jim go upstairs. The list was on Toby's desk, tucked under a stack of books. He grabbed it, about to replace it with the letter. And then he couldn't stop himself, opening it.

You are the best friend I ever had. I needed you to know that. I am grateful every day that I have you, and I wouldn't have gotten this far without you. I would hope that the amulet picks you, you always wanted adventure, but it is kinda heavy. So, I'll hope Draal gets it, even if he is a jerk. I just want you to be happy, Jim. Thank you. For being the best friend anyone ever had.

Jim smiled, knowing he wrote something very similar. He tucked the letter under the books, before heading down to Draal. He handed him the list, wordlessly, letting him read it. If he was going to know some of it, he could might as well know it all.

"All of me." Draal finally read, out loud, before looking up. "What does it mean?"

"It means all of you. It means I wasn't strong enough, and you paid a prize for that. Not this time." Jim told him, firmly.

Draal looked down again, the paper small in his huge hand, but he ran his thumb along it very gently. "Nomura..."

"Yes."

"She's here."

Jim couldn't quite make out what the feeling in Draal's voice was, just that there was a lot of it. He wasn't sure Draal himself knew what he felt about it.

"She is. And with a bit of luck... "

"You can't connect to an impure." Draal spat.

"You did." Jim pointed out, not even flinching when Draal snarled at him.

"It's a fact. And this time... Last time I convinced her to join us. I think I might be able to do it again." Jim said.

"Waste of time..." Drall muttered.

"Well, I'm going to try. Besides, in the other timeline you got engaged with a human named Jessica Cruz." Jim explained.

"Who?" Draal said looking confused.

"A Green Lantern. A member of the Justice League. A team of superheroes. Come on, almost everyone knows about them." Jim said.

"Never heard of them nor of a "Justice League" in my life." Draal said.

Hearing that surprised Jim. How could he not know about the JL? Come to think of it, no one at school has spoken about them and they're usually a big topic. Draal held out the list, but Jim just pushed his hand back.

"Keep it for me? So I don't lose it again?" Jim said.

Draal made a face, but nodded, looking down at it again. "I have a lot of questions. And a lot to think about."

Jim nodded. "I know. I have to go, I have to get to school. But... I'll tell you. I have to tell someone, and I'm kinda glad it's you. I missed you."

"We were that good of friends?" Draal asked, surprised.

Jim nodded.

"I see... Well... I guess we make a pair. The would-be trollhunters." Draal said.

Jim smiled at that, Draal smiling back, tucking the paper gently into his belt.

"Go. I have to sleep. We'll resume training at dusk." Draal said.

Jim made it just before second period, shaking his head at Toby trying to figure out if he was ok. Claire gave him a concerned look as well, but he just smiled at her, and eventually, she smiled back, and focused on her work. It felt a little easier, knowing there was someone he could talk to now. It was something. But now he has another problem. No one has ever heard of the Justice League. None of the heroes. He'll have to get to the bottom of this.