This chapter is much shorter, sorry. But out supper early, so that should make up the difference right?
So, a bit about my writing process for this specific story. There is none, I just write. Then I go back over it a few times to check for errors or to improve the structure or story. It's going to be something of just following Jim around Corbin City, partially ending up as an urban legend and a night time vigilante. But, I don't have a set plan written out on how this story will end. I don't even have an ending to it so we're in for the long haul.
I'd like to send a big thanks to Jormus; and their clever comment and review. P.S. I'm totally going to make Jim a meme now.
Also to AngelicVollyball; who reviews every chapter of this and my other fanfic- Sometimes more than once. It makes me so happy!
Last thing, I'm very open to any new ideas, if there is something you would like to see Jim or Claire doing. or a specific monster you want them to fight or anything else... let me know. If you review that you have an Idea I'll PM you.
Last, last thing, I don't own Trollhunters.
Last, last, last thing, Enjoy!
Chapter 5: Troll Crowd Control; And A Lot Of Sleep.
My ears twitch, I wake from my sleep with blurry eyes and see Blinkey and ARRRGGG! entering my dwelling… that's what it's called right? They tiptoe into the empty room that will soon be a living room. I carefully raise my finger to my lips to keep them quiet. They nod and walk into the smaller room. I slip out from under Claire and leave her to sleep, wishing to myself I could stay with her, then join the others.
"This might make a nice bedroom." I mutter under my breath, glancing around the empty cave. "What's up Blink?"
"Master Jim, sorry to wake you and take your attention from the fair Claire."
"It's fine," It's not. "but did you know that she hasn't slept in a week?" I say.
Blinkey gasps. "She what?"
"Not good." ARRRGGG! chimes.
"I know. We need to make sure she starts getting more sleep." I say.
"I will keep an eye out, as will ARRRGGG!." ARRRGGG! nods.
"Thanks. But I'm sure it's not what you came here to talk about."
"Indeed not, Master Jim. There is an issue." his four hands pressed into a pair of steples.
"What is it?"
"Fights." ARRRGGG! says.
"What?" I run out to the ledge of the cave, and I see it. Riots breaking out already. "What this about?" I say running my hands up my horns, the other two join me on the ledge, "And when did these stairs get here?"
The stairs came out from the wall about four feet. The last foot was smooth, similar to a slide that ran all the way down to the street below.
"Where they not there before?" Blinkey asks.
"Not before Merlin… Ohh, Merlin put them there." I say facepalming.
"Jim, focus." ARRRGGG! badgers.
"Right," I say. Problem at hand, calming down angry trolls. I jump onto the smooth part of the stairs sliding down it like a snowboard on my bare feet. I jump off a few feet before the bottom, going directly into a full four legged sprint toward the comotion. Once I reach it, I can't get past the larger trolls. So I do what any logical half troll would do. Jump on their heads to get to the center. One by one I get cussed and swiped at as I pass, until I finally reach the middle where I find a troll I am not familiar with and NotEnrique fighting it out.
"I was here first." the larger troll grumbles.
"Was not, I was here before you. Ya just didn't see me, and ya nearly stepped on me!" NotEnrique yells back. They continue squabbling and fighting about who was there first. All around me I hear other trolls complaining about not finding the right cave or someone else got the the one they wanted first. All around me small arguments began to turn into larger, more physical fights.
"Everyone!" I shout. No one hears me. "Hey, listen up!" not a turned head. Blinkey and ARRRGGG! have finally caught up from my cave. They can't seem to get anyone's attention either.
"Shut… UP!" It barely sounded like words, let alone human. It was more like a low grumble at first then rose and sounded like the blood curdling roar of a lion. All eyes turned to me. "That's better," I growl through clenched teeth. "Now we just got here, and we're already at each others throats?" Keep my voice low and raspy, feeling that it commanded the attention I needed. "Now I understand, It's been a long three months, and we're all tired, I know. But we can't start like this. If you want to piss and moan about what you got, you can come talk to me." I beat my right fist to my chest. "If not, then I suggest you go cool off." the last words pushed through my teeth with a menacing threat behind my tone. The looks on the trolls faces said one thing. Message received.
The trolls began to disperse. Wandering off in all sorts of directions. I turn on my heel pointing a menacing finger at NotEnrique.
"If I found out you were the one that started this…" he cuts me off.
"I was there first." he starts.
"You also happen to be on the bottom of the troll totem pole. And the newest member of Troll Market." he opens his mouth to argue, but I push another growl and he shrinks.
"Won't happen again." he says running away like a jumping spider.
"Ah ha! Master Jim, you dealt with that quite well." Blinky says.
"Good crowd control." ARRRGGG! says. I pat his shoulder.
"Thanks buddy." I check my phone then turn to Blinkey. "It's almost daybreak, I'm going to go back and sit with Claire till she wakes up. Please don't come us up again until Claire has had a good long rest." I say quietly. He nods and I turn and walk back to my new home.
I rub my throat, that time it kinda hurt. I'd never tried to growl that much or so loud. I can feel the soreness of my throat slowly growing.
I begin my hike up the stairs. I have so many responsibilities, but now that troll market's formed I'll be able to relax a bit. Right? Claire was still missing human contact, and I can't give it to her. But the fact that she still loves me, helps me love me. Man I sound sappy. At least she doesn't mind the purring, In fact I think she actually likes it.
I reach the top of the stairs and go inside. Claire still sound asleep in the corner. I press my back against the wall and slowly slide to the floor. Carefully adjusting a loose sleeve on my hoodie, I move it under Claire's head for a makeshift pillow, and scoot a bit closer. I slide to my side, curling around Clare. And resting my head on the floor, horn biting into the ground. I try and rest not able to fall asleep, my head going to fast for any sort of mental rest.
Claire stirs for a moment then opens her eyes. She lifts her head looking into my eyes. She grabs one of my arms and rolls over, forcing me to wrap my arm around her.
"Fix the coat would you," she mumbles. "You feel like an Ice cube."
I move the jacket slowly out from under her, and laid it across us both, making sure it fully covers her, then the rest barely reaching my shoulder.
"Don't worry about me, just get your rest." I whisper in her ear, but she is right. I'm freezing. I'm exhausted. And despite the Heartstone, I'm still hungry, starving actually. The underground is cold, and with everything racing through my head at light speeds, I can't concentrate on anything. My stomach growls loudly, Claire repostitions herself, but doesn't wake. Good.
What I wouldn't give for one of those scones. It's wired, some human food tastes good, while others taste like trash used to. And now trash tastes as good as most human food once did. I rest my arm under my head, trying to find support for my horns, I lift my four fingered hand. Examining the front and the back, a stranger's hand. I may have finally accepted myself. But this will probably always be weird. So much for 'I know this like the back of my hand' expression.
I pull Claire closer to my chest, making sure she is warm and covered by my jacket. She subtly grabs my hand. My freaky, large, four fingered, dark clawed fingernails, blue hand. Because for some reason, she loves me.
Mind at ease, I drift to sleep.