Disclaimer: Don't own Trollhunters or any of its characters.

Hey! Thanks for all the reviews, especially in regards to the heads up about the missing scene last chapter! So sorry if that ruined anyone's reading experience. Big thanks to Charlie for helping me with the grammar in this chapter. I'm working on chapter 3 of Summer Happy Fun Time. It should be up soon. I hope you enjoy this new chapter.

Win, Lose, or Draal (I)

The air in Blinky's study was unpleasantly warm. Perhaps it was the amount of candles Blinky had lighted, or the amount of bodies currently stuffed within an already crowded space. Either way, it felt extremely uncomfortable.

But, then again, nothing about this situation was going to be comfortable, was it?

Toby bumped into Atlas's shoulder. The shorter teen lifted his head for a moment before nodding off again, resting heavily onto Atlas's side. He let him. His friend was paler than normal, his sweater vest on inside out. Atlas couldn't begrudge the boy of wanting a few extra winks. This early morning meeting had been made posthaste. Atlas was already awake when he received the sleepy text from Toby, who had been none too thrilled to find AAARRRGGHH! standing over his bed at zero dark thirty.

Nevertheless, they all came.

Blinky said something in Trollspeak, but Atlas barely caught any of it other than a few spare words. His mind was elsewhere, still stuck in the hazy in-between of sleep and awake. Atlas wondered if he looked as bad as Toby. It wouldn't surprise him. His mind felt burnt out. Though he only got a few hours of sleep, his dreams were quite long and vivid, all centered around Killahead.

He saw flashes of battle, troll against troll, with a dark ominous bridge standing tall amidst the death and destruction below. He wondered if it were merely his imagination, or something more. Did it have something to do with being the Trollhunter? He wished he could talk with the previous guy.

Atlas bit down on the inside of his cheek. All this business about the bridge left a bad taste in his mouth.

And now he'd walked straight back into it.

The talk was one he desperately wished he could have avoided, but considering current events, Atlas knew it was better start now than wait until later, especially as the fight with Draal drew nearer. It sat like a pendulum above his head. Every second passed meant another second closer and closer to his possible death.

Though, Atlas noted inside his head, this isn't the first time someone's wanted to kill me.

And now it felt like it hounded him at every corner. He brushed paths with it yesterday, close enough to make him twitch every time a door creaked open. Nomura would no doubt want to regain her honor. The question was not a matter of if, but when.

"Master Atlas?" Blinky said. "Are you with us? You seem particularly distracted."

Atlas jerked his head up, blinking in surprise. The force of movement nearly caused Toby to topple over. Both teens stood ramrod straight, now wide awake.

"Sorry," Atlas said. "I got distracted. What were you saying?"

Vendel banged his staff against the ground, placing a hand over his eyes in what Atlas expected was exasperation. "The bridge, child. Are you certain it was the Killahead Bridge?"

"No, it was the Golden Gate Bridge," Atlas snarked. "Of course it was the Killahead. I know what I saw. Why would I lie?"

"We got evidence too!" Toby added, waving his phone around. "I mean, it's a little hard to see, but that's totally a bridge."

Vendel peered into the phone's screen, the glare of the picture reflected in his milky eyes. He turned his head from side to side.

"That could be anything," Vendel grumbled.

"While Tobias' photographic skills are less than exemplary," Blinky remarked. "I trust Master Atlas's word on this."

Atlas waited for AAARRRGGHH! to back Blinky up, but heard nothing. Strange. Instead, AAARRRGGHH! sat in the corner of Blinky's study, surprisingly quiet. His legs and arms were tucked close to his body, as though he were trying to make himself as small as possible. He smiled when Atlas glanced over, but it did not reach his eyes.

Vendel shook his head, turning his body away from the group. "What you are suggesting, Blinkous, is quite an egregious accusation."

"What else could it be?" Blinky asked. "Tobias, is there anything else of note you saw there?"

"Well, there was this changeling—"

Atlas interrupted, "She was a low-level minion, nothing more."

Both Blinky and Vendel regarded him with knowing looks. Atlas didn't budge, arms tightly wound behind his back. He had failed to protect on of his own kind. The least he could do was protect her here.

Even if she might hate his guts right now.

Thankfully, Toby tried to change the conversation to something else. "So, what are changelings exactly? I mean, I know Atlas is part one, but where do they come from? And why do trolls and changelings not get along?"

"Changelings," Blinky started, his tone grave. "Are quite the unusual sort. In the Old World, Gumm-Gumms stole our young and did something unnatural to change them. Their sole purpose was to spy on the world above. Trolls do not take kindly to spies."

"Is that true, Atlas?"

Atlas crossed his arms, eyes focused on the floor. "We're not unnatural. My mentor calls it the Pale One's Gift. Most of us only have two forms, while others, polymorphs, are able to take on anyone's appearance, human or troll. And we don't all spy. That's a common misconception."

"And these changelings, they are the ones who put together the Killahead Bridge?" Vendel said.

Atlas nodded.

Vendel began to pace, his staff hitting the ground in a steady rhythm. "I do not question you saw a bridge, but Killahead? It would take years to collect all of the stones. Decades, even. You would need an army—"

"We," Atlas sighed, knowing what would come next. "we do have an army."

"They call themselves the Janus Order," Blinky provided. "Atlas is currently the head's assistant."

"Oh…Oh dear." Vendel said, his mouth slackening as his eyes grew large. "I think I need to sit down for a moment."

Blinky brought up a small stool. Vendel looked at it with annoyance, using his staff to push it away. "I can stand just fine, Blinkous."

Atlas raised an eyebrow. "But you just said—"

"It was a turn of phrase," Vendel snapped.

"Hey, quick question," Toby began. "What exactly does the Killahead Bridge thingy do?"

"Where you not listening to what we just said, human?" Vendel said, now choosing to lean against one of the bookcases to Blinky's chagrin.

Toby yawned. "Sorry, it's like five A.M right now. My mind hasn't woken up yet."

"The Killahead Bridge is a portal to the Darklands," Blinky explained. "It is where Gunmar and the rest of the Gumm-Gumms were sent by the Trollhunter Deya. If Bular and the Order have the Bridge, it will only be a matter of time before they figure out how to open the portal."

"Dude, what are we going to do?" Toby turned to Atlas.

Blinky stepped in between the two boys, one hand on each of their shoulders. "Right now? Neither of you will do anything until I see the structure myself."

"You can't," Atlas said.

Blinky frowned. "And whyever not?"

"Because it's been moved."

"By who?"

Atlas stared down at his feet. "Well, technically, me."

Blinky was quiet for a moment. In the edge of his vision, Atlas saw Blinky's fingers tense.

"Pardon?" He finally said, his voice cracking.

"We moved it to another location," Atlas stated. "My mentor made sure of it."

The blue troll placed two hands together in front of his mouth, all six eyes hyper focused on Atlas. The teen resisted the urge to squirm.

"Where is it now?" Blinky asked in a soft voice.

"I can't tell you. If I tell you then my mentor will know I told you. He already knows Jim and Toby know," Atlas stressed, pulling away from the other troll's grasp.

To the teen's disbelief, Vendel actually agreed. "Hmm…Yes, as strange as it may seem, I believe Atlas is right on this particular matter. He would compromise his position if he told us. As the leader of Trollmarket, I would not let such an opportunity to destroy it pass me by if I knew of its location. Even you, Blinkous, I doubt would sit by and do nothing."

"I'm already on thin ice with the head of the Order," Atlas admitted. "Yesterday I…kind of blew up on my mentor. I didn't know about the Killahead Bridge, honest. So when I found out…I let my feelings get the better of me. It was stupid, I know."

Respect was a commodity within changeling society and Atlas had just bankrupted himself. He allowed his emotions to get ahold of him and—arrogantly—tried to challenge Stricklander's authority. Atlas acted recklessly and paid the price. Embarrassment couldn't even begin to describe the emotions he was feeling. He'd humiliated himself in front of his dad and his subordinates, possibly compromising the head's authority. He was lucky Stricklander even tasked him with hiding the bridge away in the early hours before dawn.

Nevertheless, Atlas knew that such a task wasn't without a hidden agenda. He'd been around his mentor enough to spot that at least. If the Trollhunters group got to the bridge Atlas would immediately be blamed for treason. It was a proverbial knife-to-throat tactic so to speak. He couldn't blame the man. Atlas would have done the same in Stricklander's position.

Didn't mean the sting hurt any less though. He would need to work hard to regain his dad's trust.

Blinky edged closer, leaning forward with a comforting expression on his face. "You are balancing three lives, Master Atlas. I do not think anyone here can fault you for such an action, especially considering the circumstances in which you are living."

The edges of Atlas's lips rose up, not enough to be a smile, but very nearly close to one. It never ceased to amaze Atlas how much trust Blinky put into him.

"Thank you, Blinky," he said. He looked up at the group. "And even if I did tell you, Nomura is protecting its location night now. She would immediately alert Bular and the rest of the Order."

"Nomura?" Blinky asked.

Crap. He did it again. "She's the changeling who was guarding it last night. She's not important. What we need to do is tell Trollmarket. Maybe they can help somehow. We're stronger together, right?"

Vendel massaged his left temple. There was skepticism in his features, but also fear. His gaze traveled to Atlas, clearly calculating the variables that now existed. Finally, he spoke. "You keep mentioning this mentor of yours. What is he to you?"

Atlas shuffled his feet, shoulders bent forward. "He's…he's my dad."

The old troll tried to school his features, but Atlas could read the shock in the way he held his staff, stiff and trembling. "Your sire is the head of the Janus Order?"

"Oh no," Atlas said, hands up in what he hoped was a placating gesture. "He's not…He kind of adopted me. According to Tobes, my birth father skipped town when I was a kid."

"And your birth father, I presume, was the changeling?"

"I mean…I guess? What else could he be?" Atlas said.

Vendel stroked his beard. "So this other changeling adopted you."

"In a way. It's not official or anything. Like, I can't call him dad around any of the others."

"Seriously?" Toby said. "Dude, that's cold."

"He has an image to uphold," Atlas explained. "If he showed any more favoritism to me than he already does, then it could put us both in danger."

"And what is this mysterious father's name?" Vendel asked.

Atlas took a deep breath, sucking in his lower lip with his teeth. "I can't tell you that either."

"So far," Vendel said in a tired tone. "It does not appear like you can tell us much of anything. Your accusations are rather serious, but without further proof, we are at a stalemate of sorts. If this got out to Trollmarket—"

Toby raised his hand as if in class, eyes widening. "Whoa, whoa, wait a second! You aren't going to warn the other trolls?"

"It would be rather ill-advised to tell an entire society that their way of life is being threatened with but a scant amount of information," Vendel stated.

Blinky stomped his foot, hands outstretched, moving with his rising voice. "A scant amount? Is that what you're calling what could amount to being the most vile plot of this century? A scant amount of information? No, this is no mere conspiracy. I have uncovered many a plot, and while some may have led to dead ends, this, good sir, is not one of them. You are acting as if this information is not as dire as it truly is."

"I'm risking my life telling you this," Atlas said. "And now you want to do nothing?"

"Dude, what about Arcadia?" Toby added, "Our families could be in danger!"

"I know," Vendel said in a strained voice.

Blinky's hands shook. "Then why—"

"Because I do not want to cause a panic!" Vendel yelled, silencing the group.

"And being blissfully unaware of what's happening topside seems fine to you?" Atlas asked dryly.

"No, it is not fine, but as the leader of Trollmarket I must keep order. Unless you are willing to part with the information of the bridge's location, I see no reason to start up a panic that could shake the very foundations of our society." Vendel said, appearing to deflate with each word. "I do not ask for you to understand my reasoning, only to respect it."

"How long must we wait? This is of the utmost urgency!" Blinky argued.

"We will resume within a week's time. It will take time to gather the elders of Trollmarket and convincing them of the issue even more so. Caution must be taken to ensure a productive result."

"But Atlas's fight with Draal is tonight. What if Atlas is injured, or worse?" Toby said.

"If I could postpone the battle, I would do it, but that is not my decision to make," Vendel said. "You may try to convince his opponent, but I highly doubt Draal the Deadly will budge, Killahead Bridge or not."

"So we just wait on this?" Atlas said. "Wait until it's too late to act?"

"I do not see you providing any solutions, boy." Vendel said.

Atlas could feel the amulet whirl to life. Vendel glared down at him. Atlas arched his back, refusing to break eye contact.

It was Blinky who broke the two up, pulling Atlas away. "I think we should make a decision soon, but it is obvious emotions are high for all of us right now."

"Agree with Blinky," AAARRRGGHH! said, no longer residing in the corner. "Plan later. Now, everyone scared."

"All this must remain a secret," Vendel ordered. "Until such time we reconvene."

Toby was about to speak up, but Atlas placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking his head. Atlas…wasn't sure what he wanted to do about the bridge yet. While he disagreed with the trolls on not telling the populace, everyone in the room was growing increasingly upset. From AAARRRGGHH!'s unsteady gaze to Vendel's tired face, no one looked ready to face the reality that was now in front of them. Gunmar had left a scar on these people, just as his son had left on Atlas.

Still, this entire conversation left him feeling fatigued. It was another lie to Atlas's growing list. All these secrets, all these lives—at some point soon, he knew he might break under the weight of them. How could he juggle being Jim, Atlas, and the Trollhunter, all within the same day?

Perhaps this was why he was a failure of a changeling.

Vendel left without saying goodbye, his gait more alike to a male his age (older than dirt, Atlas thought) than ever before. AAARRRGGHH! approached the two boys, a soft comforting smile on his lips.

"Look sad." The large troll said.

"It's okay, wingman," Toby comforted, patting the troll's hand. "We'll be okay. Ready to go to school, Atlas? It's a bit early though. Maybe we should go get breakfast first. Oh! The local diner has the most amazing blueberry pancakes!"

Atlas turned his head to the side, eyes focused on the door. "Not today. There's some things I need to do. I'll catch up with you later."

"Aw. I'd play hookie too, but the school's got Nana on speed dial," Toby admitted. He reached out to pat Atlas's shoulder. "You gonna be okay?"

"Yeah," Atlas lied. "Yeah, I think I will be."

The bar was surprisingly busy for what was supposed to be in the early morning. However, given that trolls kept to different schedules in comparison to humans, perhaps a morning for a troll was like happy hour for humans.

Atlas watched the bar-goers silently. Every once and awhile, a troll would throw an uneasy glance over at their table, specifically towards himself.

While he wasn't bothered by his half-breed status, it was clear that Trollmarket had yet to accept that fact. Three times someone tried to grab one of his horns in a nondescript way and three times Atlas caught the offensive hand in his claws, squeezing tightly to assure them that yes, he was real and yes, his bite could take a finger clean off a troll's hand if the situation called for it.

Atlas took a slow sip of his water. Unlike topside, the liquid had an almost sweet clean aftertaste to it. He had yet to ask Blinky the reason, but he suspected the Heartstone had something to do with it.

Speaking of Blinky—Atlas fixed his attention to the troll across from him. Blinky tried to appear nonchalant about it all, but the way his fingers strummed atop the table made more for the beginning of a drumline and less like the composed troll he liked to portray.

Blinky licked the gulg off of his upper lip before starting. "I know that you do not trust me very much—"

"No," Atlas said, startling both of them. "I…I do. Surprisingly, I do."

As much as he was able to, at least. While he liked Toby's company more, Blinky was a far better listener and confidant. He respected Atlas's secrets and his advice was normally worthwhile.

"Truly?"

"You remind me of my mentor," Atlas supplied.

It was unfortunate Blinky chose that moment of time to take another sip of his drink, for he spent the next few seconds choking on it. Coughing into the back of his hand, he raised all six eyes to Atlas's two. "The leader of the you-know-who? I should say, I would be offended had I not known the amount of respect you hold for the man. In truth, I'm almost flattered. Tell me, what similarities do you glean from us?"

Atlas twirled the water in his cup. "You both like to lecture me."

"Oh, I'm sure you've received lectures from others."

"It's not the same though. Your lectures…both of you try to guide me, I guess is what I'm trying to say. You care about me and my future. You care about what happens to me."

"Atlas," Blinky drew closer. "Do you think you are not worth caring for?"

A curious question, one Atlas couldn't say he knew the answer. He had gone from a half-breed weakling to some strange chosen figure destined to fight the very people who gave him a home at a moment's notice.

"I think…I think I'm tired of this game," Atlas said, switching the subject. "I keep adding different identities and now I'm not sure which one I am."

"Which one do you want to be?"

"I…I don't know. Not anymore." Atlas said.

"Might I ask you a more serious question, Master Atlas?"

He wrapped his fingers around the cup, holding steady. "Sure. Ask away."

"Why will you not reveal your father's identity?" Blinky asked. "It would help—"

"He's my dad," Atlas interjected, slamming his drink down. "I don't want him to get hurt. He saved me. I owe him my entire life, so he's…he's off limits, okay?"

Even if they were technically on the outs at the moment.

"And the rest of the changelings? Toby told me that the museum curator is this so-called Nomura. What will you do if she decides to come after Toby?"

"No, no, she wouldn't. She's only after the Trollhunter, not Toby. He's just a human. Nomura, she's not that desperate." Atlas paused. "She can't be that desperate, can she?"

Blinky looked down at his gulg, his mouth pulling down into a sharp frown. "Dark times are upon us, I fear. If the Killahead Bridge is almost or already completed, I've no doubt the changelings are growing restless to free their Master."

"He's not my master and he never will be." Atlas urged.

Blinky's eyes rose back up to meet his, capturing Atlas within his steady gaze. "For you, yes, but what of the rest of your brethren?"

Damn. Damn him and damn the changelings.

Damn it all.

Atlas dropped his head. "I just want my people to be saved. Why is everything so hard? Why can't they understand I'm trying to help them?" He lifted his eyes, looking at Blinky. "We're not all bad, right?"

Blinky reached out, smoothing out Atlas's fallen bangs. It was almost comforting. "Of course not, but, Master Atlas, you are quite different. The others here may not believe the words of one to account for the rest, especially in regards to the abuses between our two kinds."

"What if I'm not the only one? What if, I can find another changeling? Someone who agrees with me?" Atlas said, lifting his head higher.

"While I'm not certain it would convince the other trolls, it may help convince Vendel to a certain degree."

A spark of hope lit up within him. There had to be some changelings that disagreed with living under Gunmar's rule, right?

The question was, how would he be able to find them?

His cell hummed within the inner folds of his cloak. He clicked it on. It was nearly dawn. He would need to make Stricklander's breakfast and then…what? What was he going to do with the rest of his day if he wasn't going to school?

Crap, what was he going to do about rehearsal?

"Well, if it isn't the Trollhunter's little friend," A familiar voice rumbled, a large hand draping across Atlas's shoulder and upper arm. "Or is that Co-Trollhunter? Funny, I never see you in the armor."

Atlas shucked off the hand, getting to his feet. Draal cocked his head to the side, assessing him. Atlas knew his plan wasn't the best. While manipulating Blinky into taking him to Draal's favorite bar had been easy, the second part now seemed far more daunting than he predicted.

Still. He had to try.

"I've already got armor," Atlas said, hitting his breastplate with the back of his hand. "Listen, Draal—"

The troll punched his open palm, his entire body language reading as aggressive. "I look forward to your friend's pain and I'll drink to his death."

Atlas closed his eyes, putting his hands on his hips. This was probably going to go very badly for him, but damn the consequences. If Draal had any speck of honor, he would listen.

He hoped.

"We—You need to postpone the fight," Atlas said.

"Oh? Is the half-breed afraid his little human friend is going to lose?"

"No, he's not, I mean, I'm not. Just…put down your troll bravado bullshit and listen. This is serious."

Blinky put a hand on his shoulder. "Master Atlas—"

"I saw the Killahead Bridge," he said. "It's completed."

The conversations around them grew muted. More than one troll dropped their mugs. Atlas didn't look at them however. He stared at Draal, eyes not leaving the troll's face for even a moment.

Someone had to listen. Someone needed to know.

Blinky laughed nervously, hands furiously working to do damage control. "He's kidding! He means the Kaibab Bridge! You know, that small one where all those pixies reside! Excellent tourist spot, I should add."

Draal flared his nostrils. "You're bluffing."

"Ask you ex."

"Which one?"

"The angry pink one," he replied.

Atlas didn't hear the rest, too busy being dragged outside of the establishment. Once they were around the corner, he twisted out of the Draal's hold with a well-placed kick to the male's face. It hurt his foot, but damn was it satisfying to actual get a hit on the troll.

"That almost hurt," Draal said, rubbing his jaw.

He crossed his arms. "Good."

Draal paced around in a circle before coming close his face. "How do you know about that? I've never told anyone. Who are you?"

"Who I am is not important right now. She helped build the bridge." He added, "Also, she tried to kill me last night."

Draal paused. "Yeah, she's like that."

"Look, I'm not good at asking for help but…Draal, you can have your chance at Jim later. Right now, the fate of both trolls and humanity is in jeopardy. I don't," Atlas said before visibly swallowing. "I don't want to see the people l care about get hurt…I don't want to lose my dad."

Despite the status of their relationship, Atlas…still loved his dad. If he just had enough time to convince the man, then maybe—

Draal looked away for a moment. Finally, he said, "I'm sorry. Troll challenges cannot be postponed or reversed. Even if I agreed, Trollmarket would not accept it and your friend and I would both be banished. This is just how things work down here."

Atlas nodded, no longer regarding the troll. "Then I guess…Jim will see you on the battlefield."

Before leaving, Draal gave the teen one last parting line. "If I win and become Trollhunter…I promise I will look into this Killahead business, if it's really true."

Atlas stayed silent. There was nothing could be said in response. If Draal did become Trollhunter and stop Bular, his dad and Nomura would be killed, as would the rest of the changelings.

It was up to him to stop it. If only he could figure out how.

A second or two ticked by before Blinky found him. Carefully, the troll raised his hands in a placating gesture, two of them coming to rest on Atlas's shoulders.

"How long have you been listening?" Atlas asked.

"Oh, not so long." Blinky admitted, "Just most of it."

"I'm sorry I dragged you into this."

"You didn't. I knew what you were trying to do the moment you suggested this very bar."

"I never should have challenged Draal to a rematch," Atlas said, his voice rising. "Everything is all…Damn it! What's the point in being the Trollhunter if no one ever listens to me?"

"I'm sorry it turned out this way. I wish my society were not so rigid in its customs and social mores. It's part of the reason I admire humanity so much. Their capacity to change and grow is rather fascinating. Us trolls are not so flexible in that regard. We are like stone, unmovable."

Atlas's head shot up, his eyes fierce and determined. "Then I'll make them move for me."