Congrats kids, it's story time! A quick clarification for those with high hopes: I will not be doing a full in-depth fic or series of fics. Family Ties will be the last of it unless there's a miracle and I'm struck by sudden inspiration.

Enjoy!

NoS

Walter entered the Museum, burying his fear beneath a facade of confidence and power he had taken centuries to master. It wasn't everyday Bular actually summoned him. He was likely frustrated by how long it was taking to identify the Trollhunter and acquire the Amulet. How long it was taking to kill Jim. Walter's only consolation was that Jim seemed to grasp some level of Walter's warning and had managed to hide his identity from his enemies. Mostly. The only one that did know reported directly to him, though, so he wasn't worried.

"Bular," Walter greeted as he entered the room, "to what do I owe the pleasure?"

The brute huffed from his perch atop the now complete Killahead Bridge. Luckily Gunmar was not listening in today. "Do you have news of the Trollhunter?"

Walter allowed himself to relax ever so slightly, falling deeper into his mask. "No, the Hunter and their allies have fallen silent. None of our agents have seen or heard anything since the goblins attempted to kill the Nuñez girl." That had been a night to remember. He had sent the goblins to retrieve the changeling his son had taken to calling NotEnrique for a meeting, only to hear that the brat had killed the messenger and the goblins were blaming his son's crush. They had been forced to send Nomura out to check on things and she had very nearly killed him. If not for Jim's friends, she probably would have.

"How unfortunate."

"Indeed. It seems they have learned the value of anonymity. It may take quite some time and more than a little luck to find them." So far, all Bular and the Order had managed to discover was that the Trollhunter was a human. They were focusing on adults on the assumption that the Amulet would never endanger a child like that. If only they had been right.

"Unfortunate for you, impure."

"For me!? Why!? No one has made any progress with the Trollhunter's identity!"

"Because, I've heard rumors that the Trollhunter is actually a child. In fact, from what I've heard, he's the human whelp you've taken on as a son."

No. This couldn't be happening. "Preposterous. I would know if he had the Amulet! He trusts me!"

"The rumors also say that you've known about this for quite a while. That you failed to report it, even when your subordinates brought it up to you."

How… NotEnrique. He must have found out about their connection and that he hadn't been passing on those reports. He went straight to the big man himself. "They're just rumors, Bular! Jim doesn't have the Amulet! I remain loyal to your father!"

Bular drew his blades. "You always were a slippery liar, Impure. Submit and I will make this quick." He launched himself down to Walter, blades at the ready.

Walter dodged and rolled out of the way, dropping his human disguise. He reached up, plucking several knives from his collar and threw them at Bular. The brute blocked and charged, swinging his swords down on Walter's head. Walter deflected one blade and dodged from the other, lunging forward with another knife in hand to strike at Bular's chest. He hit, but Bular turned and smacked him in the back with his arm. Walter went flying across the room, smacking into the wall.

"Pathetic," Bular growled.

A snarl rose through Walter's throat as he stood again. This time Bular had put one of his swords away and used his free hand to grab Walter's leg, throwing him again. With his breath knocked out of him, he was unable to do anything to stop Bular from wrapping a large hand around his throat and squeezing.

"You've gone soft, Stricklander. I don't know when, but I do know why. I am going to make you watch as we kill them. And they will not receive the mercy of a quick death. But you, you served me and my father faithfully for many long years. You secured so many priceless artefacts and placed your people in what I have been assured are invaluable positions. But you are still replaceable. Your death may yet be swift if you confess."

Walter's face contorted, and weak snarls escaped through his constricted throat as he reached back and grabbed another hand full of knives and jabbed them deep into the living stone of Bular's arm. Bular screamed and released his hold, but recovered fast enough to slash across Walter's chest, leaving a deep gash. Walter cried out in pain and responded with more viciousness than Bular had seen in his many years working beside the changeling. He moved more fluidly now despite the pain that undoubtedly coursed through his body. Eventually, Walter maneuvered everything into place and brought the scaffolding that had filled the room, covered in crates and supplies, down on top of the massive troll. Bular groaned beneath the wreckage.

Walter stopped to breathe for barely even a second before he was bolting from the room, fishing his phone from his pocket once his human guise was firmly in place. How long had that fight lasted? How long had it been since Bular had called for him? Nomura hadn't been present and neither had Otto. Nomura was the one Bular would have sent. Otto wasn't much of a fighter. But how long ago? Where even was Jim right now? Barbara had to be home. He dialed Jim's number.

"Please pick up. Please pick up. Please pick up," he chanted as he limped out the doors and through the parking lot to his car.

"Hey-"

They didn't have time for pleasantries. "Jim," Walter cut him off, "run!" He slid into his car and turned the key in the ignition. "I don't care what you're doing right now, you need to run! Just grab your mother and go! They're coming!"

"Dad, wha-"

Walter hung up, hoping Jim would listen to him. He had the last time he had been given cryptic advice. As soon as the car had started, Walter threw it into gear and slammed his foot on the gas.

Walter should not have been driving in his condition, but he didn't have much choice. The blood loss was starting to make him woozy, and breathing was becoming increasingly difficult as time went on, but anything even remotely public was out of the question. They would find him and finish what they started.

It took longer than he wanted to get to the house. He hoped Jim and Barbara would already be gone, but he was out of luck. Jim's bike lay abandoned on the driveway as Jim, in full armor, fought Nomura as best he could with Barbara taking pot shots with a shovel she managed to grab in the chaos. Walter felt a smile pulling at his lips, despite the seriousness of the situation. That was why he loved them. They fought with fire and fury for anything and anyone that won their favor, and when it came to family, nothing would get between them.

Walter pressed down hard on the gas, aiming to clip Nomura and miss Jim. It would be close, but he was confident he could pull it off. In the end he got a helping hand from Jim when the boy noticed the car barreling towards them and shoved Nomura off balance further into the road and leaped back away from her. The car hit her straight on. Walter yanked the wheel to the side and careened back around to stop near the house.

He rolled down the window. "Get in!" he yelled.

"Walt!? What's going on?" Barbara looked more rattled than he had seen her in a very long time. That was to be expected when an inhuman assassin attempted to kill your family and you discovered your son had a magic amulet and knew how to fight.

Jim grabbed her hand and pulled her into the car. "We don't have time!"

"Indeed. Jim, call-"

"Walt!" She had seen the blood that was covering the front seat of the car.

"I promise, I'll explain later." His foot hit the gas again. "Jim, call your friends. We need to go to Trollmarket."

Jim obediently grabbed his phone and began dialing before he even processed what Walter had said. "Wait, what?"

"I said I'll explain later." Walter was driving a bit slower now, hoping to avoid hitting anything in his blood loss induced stupor. It also helped that he wasn't racing the clock to get to his family and Nomura couldn't keep up with a car.

Jim frowned at him from the back but chose not to ask. "C'mon, Tobes. Pick up. Pick up."

Walter's eyes went wide as he spotted the hulking brute that was Bular barreling down the street towards the car. He stomped on the gas and cranked the steering wheel, directing the car down a side street. Barbara shrieked in surprise.

"Go to the bridge!" Jim yelled. "Tobes, open the gate! Open the gate! And make it big!" A slight pause. "We're coming through with a car!" Jim hung up the phone, turning to look out the back window as Bular charged after them.

Cars and trucks were flung towards them as they swerved through the streets, with Bular slowly falling behind. They crossed the bridge.

"Under!" Jim cried. "Go under! In the canal!"

"Which side," Walter groaned. The pain in his chest was getting to be too much and he couldn't think through the haze.

"North!"

Bular crashed down and cracked the concrete, roaring at the vehicle.

"Gogogogogo!"

"How will we know if it's open?" Walter asked.

"We don't!" Jim yelled back as he stood on the seat to look back at Bular.

Walter didn't hesitate as he slammed forward again. Launching the car at the seemingly firm wall of concrete in front of them.

They didn't hit the wall. Instead they found themselves lurching down a series of steps of bright blue crystal. The jerks and bumps caused Walter's seatbelt to dig into his chest and shoulder. His body screamed at him, demanding relief from the pain. The car, beat up and thoroughly broken, rolled to a stop after flying down the last steps and into the streets of Trollmarket. The occupants groaned and peeled themselves off the seats, stumbling out of the car. At least, two of them did, anyway.

Yeah, I'm evil. Enjoy the cliff hanger. I can guarantee the rest will be posted next week. Favorites, follows, and reviews are always much appreciated!

NoS