Author's Note: It's funny. I know I have at least 16 constant readers based off the traffic stats. I wish this cite was more like AO3 and included a kudos button. It's much easier than writing a comment.
Jump (part 2)
Human's are often considered to be fragile to trolls for far more reasons than their soft bodies. With such short life spans, humans' emotions and mental states change rapidly in comparison to a troll's.
It's completely understandable considering they require these things in order to form relationships, learn to fend for themselves, and raise offspring in an average of less than one measly century. It's nigh unfathomable.
So, the moment he recognized the injury and it's cause, Blinky couldn't bring himself to be angry.
"Your wound. Creeper's Sun poison."
He reached forward to touch the afflicted area only for Arrrgh to recoil from the pain.
"Oh Arrrgh, why did you not tell us?" Asked the stout troll despite already knowing the answer.
"Didn't want worry." The large troll frowned as Claire and Jim peered up with wide eyes and Toby kept his distance.
It was too sudden a shock for any troll, more so for such youthful humans.
Claire's gazed zeroed in on the darkened stone skin.
"Angor Rot must have cut him."
Despite the fact her blunder that day had to of happened after the fact, she felt guilty. Though apparently she wasn't the only one.
Jim huffed, "This is my fault. It should have been me that got hurt."
"Not Jim's fault." Arrrgh insisted, weary of both teens' self-depreciating thoughts, "Don't want to leave."
Tobias couldn't hold back a rather loud sniffle.
This wasn't the proper way to approach the kids, not that they had much choice in the matter. They were visibly cracking around the edges... but to say Blinky was not effected is absolute hogwash.
"The only way you will survive is with your own kind. You must return with them." he pressed.
He should have figured it out. He let a little insecurity about his human form blind his usual perception.
"We could always visit." Jim's weak attempt to lighten the mood only drove Blinky's regrets deeper.
"I'm afraid, Master Jim, only the Krubera can thrive in the deep caves."
The historian himself was unable to adapt to the harsh conditions of his mate's homeland.
The trollhunter visibly wilted.
"Oh... well, if it means you'll live." he tried. He really did.
The large troll couldn't summon the will to speak.
"Oh Arrrgh, what sort of friend would I be if I demanded you stayed?" Blinky forced out.
He refused to let this sound like a final goodbye, and he needed the human's to understand. Arrrgh's life was more important than his company.
The darkness in which shrouded the Krubera caves would overwhelm Creeper's Sun poison. It's the only place shadows held dominion over any form of daylight.
"I... will go." Arrrgh tried to keep his voice steady. "Goodbye."
The feelings brewing within made that run in with the tipsy market troll seem like a walk in the park. Even so, Blinkous refused to shed a single tear. He could fuss later once the kids were gone.
"The times.. the laughs..." he wished to elevate everyone's spirits, to focus on the positives... no proper sentence would form.
Luckily, Claire pulled through for him.
"For once, he's speechless." She said, placing a reassuring hand on his own, "And here we just got to know each other. I'll miss you big guy."
Arrrgh enveloped her thin figure in a gentle embrace. As she withdrew, Draal stepped forward to pat the ex-warrior on the shoulder.
"Goodbye old friend. I shall protect them in your stead."
It was a very deep type of promise to receive from an unrelated troll, yet there were no doubts Draal would stake his pride on it.
Finally, Arrrgh turned his attention on the distraught boy he'd grown so very close to.
"Wingman." He smiled and offered a fist bump.
Toby couldn't bring himself to do it. Instead, he ran, tears wetting his cheeks.
That boy had come to mean so much to the larger troll. Blinky could feel it held a similar standing to his bond with Jim. His mate even spent his final goodbye asking they relay a message to Toby.
Once Arrrgh and his fellow Krubera were out of sight, Jim and Claire followed after the other teen in hopes of conveying the message and uplifting the boy's spirits.
What fragile creatures indeed... though the historian could also view it as a strength.
He'd seen them adapt to situations quicker than any troll he knew. He only wished that Tobias could be strong until Arrrgh's return.
Blinky found himself to be the only one of the group left, eyes still fixated on the exit.
"Blinkous?" Came a familiar voice.
"How long..." he turned to face the elder troll, "How long until he can return?"
Vendel's countenance was one of pitty, the last thing the historian wanted to see.
The pale troll sighed, "It will take at least a few months before the darkness will stop the poison from spreading. The healing process, however, could take years."
Blinky had years, centuries even. Humans do not.
He frowned, "The children-"
"Blinky." A soft rumbling voice called out.
It couldn't be real, but the selfish part of him acknowledged it anyways and returned his gaze to the exit.
Small as his legs may be, he was across the room in an instant and nuzzled himself against his mate's chest.
"Go home." He muttered, his more pragmatic side insisting.
The pacifist simply nuzzled back and smiled.
"My family is my home."
AN: The first conversation in this chapter is taken from episode 23. (Seriously, fanfiction needs a kudos button.) Aaaannd the next chapter will probably be the last.