((Inspired by a Deviantart picture I saw that was soooo adorable! Search for 'Sleeping Trolls Trollhunter' to find it! All credit to the artist for the wonderful drawing!))
Chapter Four: Sleepy
Jim, Toby, and Claire walked through the streets of Trollmarket amid the happy hustle and bustle of Trolls going about their regular business. By this point the sight of such normalcy brought smiles to the teens in this comfortable, home-away-from-home. It meant that there were no disasters or Calls for the Trollhunter.
At least not any immediate Calls. They'd been in the library with Blinky doing research on what Toby had termed an 'Ooze Slug from Hell' that had been sighted around the woods until late the previous night, until the humans had been nodding off over their books and Blinky had insisted they return to their homes to rest, that he would acquire Aaarrrggghh and Draal's assistance if he could to continue. While there had been some friendly joking about the warrior Troll participating in the reading project, they had agreed to leave the task to the Trolls.
But after a good night's sleep they were ready to get back to work. Taking among themselves they turned into the library, Jim leading the way... only for first Toby then Claire to bump into him as Jim stopped short.
"What -" began Claire only to have Jim quickly but quietly shush her and gesture into the room beyond. Stepping to the side, the other two humans caught the same sight Jim had. Claire's hand went up to cover her mouth, and Toby barely muffled a laugh. Even Jim was grinning ear to ear, but none of them could be blamed.
The library was a mess, books literally everywhere. It was reminiscent of when Toby, Jim, and Blinky we're researching the Triumbric Stones while Blinky had been human, stacks and piles from wall to wall. There was only one clear place, and here was where their Troll friends were, but not reading.
Aaarrrggghh was laying on the ground, legs slightly curled against his side and head pillowed on his folded arms. Blinky sat nestled between the big Troll's side and shoulder, head slightly turned to rest against Aaarrrggghh's fur, all four arms folded over his stomach with fingers interlaced. And Draal - it seemed somehow they'd gotten his agreement to help - was quite literally draped stomach-down across Aaarrrggghh's back.
All three were fast asleep.
Toby stifled another laugh at the priceless sight.
"A Troll puppy pile?" He barely got it out without losing his composure, and in turn almost made his friends lose it themselves.
"They look so sweet!" Claire whispered. As if on cue, Aaarrrggghh peeked one eye open, gave them one of his big, happy smiles, then closed it again and settled his head more comfortably on his arms seeming content to be a living pillow, though the sighing breath of relaxation he gave afterwards made Draal go up and down. Jim would deny that he almost snorted trying not to laugh forever.
"Lets... let them sleep," he suggested quickly, and the three teens retreated... but not without Toby sticking his head and one arm back in to quickly and quietly snap a picture on his phone, which he also immediately sent to Jim's and Claire's emails with a promise from his best friend to email it back to him later before he then deleted it from the phone's memory because if Draal knew they'd evidence of the sight he'd probably pummel them and not in the training manner.
Yes, this was definitely a case where it was best to let sleeping Trolls lie.