Awkward silence settled between them like a thick fog as they each tried to sort through their tangled thoughts. This was a new territory and no one wanted to be the first one to break the barely held together peace.
"I think, to start, I'm going to make some tea," Barbara said at last.
"I think we may need something a little stronger than tea," Stricklander commented snidely as he shifted back into his human skin, moving around Barbara with a familiarity of her kitchen that ought to have alarmed her. From a top shelf he pulled out a mostly full bottle of wine that he'd brought over from a previous visit. "This is hardly enough for this sort of evening but it's a start," he said with a smirk.
Draal snorted but looked to be in amused agreement. Barbara nodded and pulled open a drawer to retrieve the corkscrew opener. As she looked at the dainty wine glasses and then back over her shoulder at the large troll by the back door she shrugged and took down coffee mugs instead. She handed one to Draal who sniffed it dubiously before taking an experimental swig and grunting. He passed the cup back to Barbara –who in turn handed it to Stricklander– before standing up.
"I will be right back," he told them. Then he narrowed his eyes at the Changeling, "Don't try anything."
"Wouldn't dream of it," he answered with a well practiced air of offended dignity. As the other troll contorted his body to fit through the narrow doorway down to the cellar, Stricklander turned his attention back to the woman who'd decided to take control of this peculiar confrontation.
"So how long have you two known each other? You seem far too relaxed for this to be a recent introduction."
The woman raised a skeptical eyebrow at the innocuous turn in conversation but decided to roll with it until her ally returned. "Remember when you suddenly left town for a while? Just a little before that I found him one day while doing laundry. It's been a lot to take in but well… here we are." She took a long pull of her newly poured mug and reclaimed a chair.
Heaving a sigh, he took his own chair and wiped the rim of his mug with his sleeve before helping himself to a drink.
"I am sorry you've gotten pulled into all of this."
"Yeah, I'm sure you are," Barbara shot back with a glare. "I'm sorry to cut in on your plans to murder my son and take over the world or whatever but that's just the way it's going to be." They watched each other cautiously from over the rims of their mugs as they both took another sip of wine.
Stricklander frowned suddenly and looked into his cup then back over to the woman who'd begrudgingly won his admiration. "I think, unless we know for sure how the binding between us might react in these conditions, that perhaps one of us might want to stop drinking lest we become doubly drunk."
Barbara scoffed, taking offense at the very idea that she was going to have to drink responsibly at a time like this. "Fine. No more for you. I know my limit and since my human physiology is a known variable, I'll just have to get us both a buzz. Because you're an ass."
"Yes, I know."
"Well good. I'd hate to think you weren't aware of the fact."
The Changeling took a deep breath and ran a hand through his graying hair. "Look, Barbara, I know nothing I can say to you now will likely mean anything but I want you to know that I honestly am very fond of you. I'll admit, we aren't in the best of predicaments at the moment but know that it wasn't an act. At least, not all of it. The compliments, the encouragements, I did mean them sincerely."
Barbara emptied her mug and her eyes stung. It had been easier not to think about the betrayal while she was running high on righteous fury but it was hard to hold onto that level of anger when so much hurt came with it. Thankfully, she was saved from having to respond by the return of Draal. First through the door was a large wooden barrel and second came the spiky troll himself, effectively breaking the added layer of tension that had settled during his absence.
"Do I even want to know where that came from?"
"No."
"Probably not," Stricklander and Draal answered at the same time and exchanged a look that might have been misinterpreted as camaraderie under any other circumstances.
"Something stronger," the troll indicated with a lopsided grin, producing a sizable stone mug at the same time.
The smell was notably more potent than whiskey and the sour brew shared a similarity with the biter tang of apple-cider vinegar. After Draal had filled his cup to the brim and sat back down, Barbara topped off her own mug and then took a fortifying breath.
"Okay. Walt, what is currently going on. Why are you still fighting my son and his friends? Isn't that Boolag guy gone? Wasn't he who you were working for?"
"Bular," the Changeling corrected with an unpleasant crinkle to his nose. "That collaboration was indeed a complicated one. I wasn't exactly looking forward to the return of his great monstrosity of a father but if I'd proved myself, things would have gone well enough for me and my kin; at least, that was the plan." He leaned back into his chair and sent a condescending glare in Draal's direction. "My ilk are not exactly a popular crowd. Either servants or shunned abominations not belonging to anyone but ourselves. My motivations have always been to change that."
Draal snorted and rolled his eyes. Barbara simply gave a slow nod to show that she was at least following his logic.
"Now is no different. I seek only to secure a future worth existing in."
"Bykilling my son? No, don't give me that look, I'm not just going to let that go!"
"And you're not going to even chastise this brute here for the time he tried to do the very same thing?"
"Wait, what?" Barbara paused and looked back to Draal who was trying valiantly to look small and innocent. Their fist encounter came back to mind as she remembered the words 'not a friendly spar' with a new consideration. Her mouth opened and closed several times while she looked for the best way to respond.
"Actually, no. No, I'm not," she said at last. "Because the difference here is that it was a one time encounter and he's since worked to prove himself and make up for it. I'm betting the times he's helped or saved Jim outnumber the one time they fought. I'm trying really hard to take into consideration cultural differences." Draal looked pleased but still offered another apology, anyway. If nothing else it worked to heighten the distinction between himself and the sanctimonious Changeling trying to cause friction.
"Cultural differences? But am I not afforded the same courtesy?"
"Within reason!"
Barbara took another long pull of wine and then sat the mug aside completely. She needed to keep her wits about her if this conversation was going to be as productive as she wanted it to be.
"Look, I can see where you're coming from in wanting to look after your own but the whole world domination aspect seems extra. I'm not going to outright say that it sounds like you're a power hungry ego maniac but you're not doing a good job making it look any other way."
"That's an over simplification if I ever heard one. Besides, you'd be surprised and likely appalled to know how much of the world we already control." This last statement was delivered with equal parts pride and defiance.
"And clearly nothing has devolved into fire and brimstone so why push for more? I'm really not overly interested in some bigger picture Illuminati type plot at the moment, I'm working on trying to keep my family and home safe!" Her cheeks were flushed and it was hard to tell what was the wine taking effect and what was her impassioned rant.
Stricklander sighed and rubbed his eyes as if fighting off the beginnings of a headache. Draal watched the exchange with rapt interest and felt perfectly willing to let the woman carry on. She seemed to be doing a fine job of dealing with the Changeling without his help. This was far more amusing than anything he'd been anticipating. Or perhaps some of his light mood could be blamed on his troll-made ale.
"You really should reconsider worrying about the bigger picture. What you're failing to grasp in all of this is that the Janus Order –that is, my fellow Changelings– are still set on bringing back Gunmar and following the same notion of rewarded loyalties that I told you of earlier. That, and frankly, too many are genuinely loyal to the cause and want to see the world burn. What I honestly want? Not power for its own sake but for order! There are a few who think as I do, that the world as-is is not a half bad place. I've lived among humans for so long now that I'm rather partial to keeping the gears turning as they are. No troll overlords! But I also don't want a world where Changelings are reduced to some sniveling role of inferiority just because we exist!
"If I claimed power without question I could do what is best. Don't you see? Left to their own devices, most Changelings would go on serving Gumm-Gumm goals and seeking to end humanity as we know it. But that is out of stubbornness and ignorance for most but I would change that!" He had sit up straighter in his seat during his rant and his eyes gleamed with excitement at the thought of this world he was painting.
"I- ouch! Woman! Would you stop doing that?"
Barbara released the tender skin of her upper arm and rubbed where her nails had left another imprint. The glare she gave him could have leveled buildings.
"I'm sorry, but maybe you didn't hear how utterly vain-glorious and obnoxious you were being. If things are like that, then why not just team up with Jim? Isn't that suppose to be his whole thing with this Trollhunter job? He's suppose to stop Gumm-Gumms and Gunmar and whatever else! Why insist on being so counter productive?"
"I'm sorry, did you miss the part where I said we Changelings are despised by trollkind? Perhaps I should put it another way: they would much sooner rip a Changeling limb from limb than work with – or heaven forbid, take orders from– one." Stricklander crossed his arms and sat back into his chair once more, nodding his head in Draal's direction as if waiting on him to weigh in on the truth of his words. The other troll only shrugged, neither confirming nor denying the claim.
Barbara groaned in frustration. There had to be a compromise somewhere.
"I feel like you should have at least considered it an option. From what Draal has told me, there's been a shift in attitudes since Jim has become the Trollhunter. Being the first human in the role, from my understanding, wasn't a very popular idea but they've been forced to adapt. Why couldn't that work for you?"
This time it was Draal who's sigh was the heaviest.
"He may have a point, Barbara. A human Trollhunter is an entirely different situation than working with a Changeling. Jim has novelty on his side for the moment more than actual respect; though, he is working on it. He has proved himself to many –myself included– but Stricklander would not have that same opportunity."
"Very succinctly put. Thank you," Strickler said with a curt nod. He turned his attention back to the human woman to see if she'd finally accept what he was trying to tell her. Her blue eyes where unfocused as she gazed intensely into the middle distance and ran a finger over her bottom lip, clearly deep in thought. After a brief moment of silence Barbara shrugged and nodded, as if coming to some kind of conclusion.
"Fine. Don't work with them. Work with us."
"Us?" Draal and Stricklander asked in unison and with equal measures of disbelief.
She nodded again, with more certainty this time as she seemed to warm to her idea.
"Yes, us," she waved a hand between herself and Draal to better explain her meaning.
The troll and Changeling exchanged horrified glances before turning back to her, seemingly waiting on her to clarify that she was only joking. It had to be a joke. Or an utterly naive but genuine proposal.
"I'm sorry but-"
"Nope. Before you try and shoot my idea down, I want to make one thing perfectly clear to you, Walter. I will put myself into a full body cast before I let you walk out my door without giving me an assurance that you're going to stop attacking my boy." She looked every inch a warrior goddess as she delivered the threat. "I don't know how permanent this magic bind thing is between us but it seems pretty solidly in place tonight and if I thought for one minute that you intend to go on with this insane plotting of yours I will either throw myself down the stairs or have Draal step on me and or just have him do it to you and deal with the backlash."
"I wouldn't dare!" Draal looked utterly horrified at the idea. "You do know imprisonment is an option, right? I'm beginning to grow a little concerned about you being so willing to injure yourself."
Barbara sighed and nodded, deflating a little.
"Yeah, this is true. I'm sorry. I'm just... frustrated and possibly a little more intoxicated than I'd realized."
"Trying to hold me captive isn't as good an idea as you might think." He looked more resigned than trying to brag. He held up his hand and drew attention to the ring he wore.
"Behold, the Inferna Copula, the captive soul of Angor Rot. Because I have it he follows my orders. Were I out of the picture and unable to rein in his leash there's no accounting for how he might decide to take matters into his own hands." Draal growled at his explanation but Barbara only groaned.
"Why do you have to complicate everything?"
"However, you did not let me finish. I may be willing to consider your offer," Stricklander said. His brow furrowed and he bit his lip as he swiftly considered his options. "Would you be willing to allow me a day to decide? This level of a change in plans is nearly unprecedented. I propose a temporary truce of at least twenty-four hours. I would agree not to make any moves of aggression and you would agree not to try and leap to your death."
"No. Too much can happen in that amount of time. It really isn't that hard of a concept, Walt. Either you would treat me as an equal and an ally or you wont," Barbara told him plainly. She had tactfully omitted Draal's name from the offer though both males knew he was still part of the bargain. But it was true that if he were to have feelings of mutuality towards anyone it would be her. His affection warred with his ambition but in the end he gave a stiff nod.
"Fine. But I do not think you realize the enormity of what you are asking and I do not think your expectations are going to be met with this haphazardly thrown together little arrangement," Stricklander relented with an edge of spite to his voice.
Draal grunted his agreement with the Changeling's assessment. Clearly his human friend was prone to idealism. While he would try to restrain himself from openly antagonizing this supposed new ally he would be vigilant against the inevitable betrayal. This couldn't possibly work but he was willing to remain silent and observe for the moment. He didn't think he would have to wait long for this plan to collapse.
The front door slamming broke the moment.
"Mom! I'm home! Sorry I'm late," Jim called from the front room.
Draal's eyes widened with panic and surprise and he shuffled backwards as quickly and as stealthily as he could while heading for the basement door. Thinking quickly, Barbara tucked her arm into the crook of Walt's and lead him through the swinging door. Jim was already halfway up the stairs, his backpack looped over the end post. He froze in place when he saw them and had to quickly try and make his glare look like a grimaced smile.
"You're here awful late, Mr. Strickler," he observed with barely disguised irritation.
"Awfully late indeed, Young Atlas. You do know you have school tomorrow, yes? I would hate for you to under preform because of a night out gallivanting." He slipped into his old role of concerned teacher easily.
"Thank you for a lovely night, Walter." Barbara cut in smoothly before either of the two could continue with their usual snipes of passive aggression, "It's always a pleasure talking with you."
"No, thank you. It was an exceedingly lively evening. I believe we shall have to do it again soon," he said with his typical charm. His smile was half part genuine and half part teasing as he looked down at her on his arm as she lead him to the front door.
"I look forward to it. I have a long shift tomorrow but maybe we can have lunch Thursday?"
"Sounds perfect. Until Thursday, then."
She gripped his arm harder, well aware of Jim watching them from the stairs. She leaned up on her toes a bit to press a kiss to his cheek.
"Please," she whispered desperately against his ear before pulling away. Her eyes were unbelievably sincere as they shared one more long look full of an unspoken conversation. He sighed and felt his softer tendencies rise to the fore as he brought her hand to his lips in a familiar kiss.
"Okay," he breathed across her knuckles. He nodded slightly and gave her fingers a parting little squeeze before seeing himself to his car.
In that moment, none of them could fully appreciate the gravity of the deal they had stuck. Changeling, human and troll. There had never been an odder alliance forged.