"Wakachaka!" The urgent growl of a goblin awoke Jim from his nap, the teen groaning at his inhuman companion.

"What's up Frawa?" The goblin growled, it's small claws digging into his windowsill as it climbed further into his room and nestled itself on his bed, into his cacoon of blankets.

Jim listened silently, gently scratching the Goblin under the chin and on the head, smiling at the pleased purr from the head goblin. He stopped when he heard the goblin hiss and bark, declaring yet another, "Wakachaka!"

"Trolls? Around here? Where are they going?" Jim frowned, getting up from the bed and running to the bathroom. Opening the low cabinet under the sink, he grabbed the air fresheners he'd put away a few minutes ago before his nap. Taking the caps off, Jim started spraying the rooms around the house and shooed off his friend.

"Go on buddy, gotta make sure they don't crush you on sight." Jim smiled at his friend and Frawa affectionately but his hand before leaving, making sure to be careful with their nuzzling.

Jim tidied up, waiting in the living room with baited breath as he heard the creaks and crashes of the trolls he'd been warned of. He took a deep breath, biting his lips in anxiety at the smell of trolls approaching the house. A crash sounded from the basement, and Jim flinched at the loud noise before going to investigate. Grabbing a pan on the way— One he was fine with damaging of course, he stepped downstairs, trying not to let his fear win out against his need to hide his other form.

Reaching the bottom he was silent at the sight of two trolls, one giant and covered in moss, the other small and blue, still taller than him even in his troll form. Jim knew what he was, he knew what they were, he knew of the world beneath his feet. He knew of magic and the danger every human had in this town above the hearthstone, he'd learned it all from the bookstore, Arcane books downtown. He spent too much time there, usually with a cup of coffee and a small bag of cat treats for the magical familiar in its walls.

"Master Jim!" His heart got stuck in his throat, tears in his eyes at the sound of his name. His name... He was called Master Jim, and while that made him very uncomfortable, it made him want to grab the troll that spoke and hug them as hard as he could.

"Wh- What?" Jim felt dizzy, too hot while this close to the furnace downstairs.

"Master Jim! You've been chosen for the sacred mantle of Trollhunter!" The blue troll spoke with excitement, furiosity that Jim only wished he could cheer for. Trollhunter, he knew how dangerous that was. No, he couldn't do that, not when he was a thing the trollhunter was supposed to kill. But if the trolls knew, he'd be killed on the spot. Jim rubbed at his face, silently crying.

"T- Trollhunter? What's that?" He tried not to hiccup, feeling embarrassed at the terrified tears running down his face. He'd changed out of his binder hours ago, he didn't even look like a boy, he was just in his pajamas, flustered and red faced as if a child.

"You will be a champion of trolls and humans everywhere. But... Youngling, you don't look well, I'm sorry to impose on you with this but it's something you cannot turn away from."

Jim gulped, taking a deep breath before he nodded, trying to convince the trolls he was fine. The larger troll reached out to gently pat his head to comfort and Jim said nothing, flinching slightly at his heavy handed touch but still appreciating the attempt at comfort.

"W- Who are you?"

"Why I youngling, am Blinkous Galadrical! A scholar of Trollmarket and a trainer of the Trollhunter." Jim frowned, nodding along despite his confusion. Man, he just wanted to go to bed, he didn't want to deal with this right now.

"Aaaarrrggghhh, three Rs." The larger troll smiled at Jim, making his instincts shiver. He knew about General Arrrgh from the books at the bookstore, so he was nervous about training with him.

"H- Hi... I'm J- Jim..." His voice squeaked nervously and he blushed scarlet, feeling trapped in the small area of his basement. He groaned quietly and looked at the time, hearing the steady engine of his mom's car make it's way into the driveway.

"G- Go! Please, come back tomorrow and we'll talk more about it, I have school in the morning and if my mom finds you here she'll kill me." Jim turned from the trolls, his heart pounding in his chest as he ran up the stairs and all the way up to his room, groaning in exhaustion and frustration as he fell onto his bed, face first.

————

The next night, Jim was waiting outside in the backyard, holding onto a book he'd gotten from the bookstore, just to learn a little more about being the Trollhunter. The clerk was happy to help him, since Jim helped him multiple times before with creatures around Arcadia.

Douxie, the apprentice of the wizard who created the amulet, wanted him to be prepared as the first chosen "human" and he was thankful the blue eyes wizard wasn't bothered by his status as a changeling. The magic around the shop had let him in, able to tell that he was a good soul and meant to simply learn rather than harm like other changelings would.

It hurtful to know there was a prejudice against changelings, especially those that were apparently by their lonesome. He just hoped that if he were to be found out, he wouldn't be pursued.

"Good Eve Master Jim, are you ready to begin your training?" Jim smiled, glancing over towards Toby's house.

"Just a second, I need to tell a friend what's going on so I have an alibi for later. Human responsibilities and all that..." Jim picked up his phone, which he'd rested on the porch while reading.

"Tobes, you coming over or what?" Jim texted Toby immediately, waiting impatiently as he closed his book and dropped it into his bag, which held a first aid kit and his book, and now his phone. A call rang out to Jim as Toby ran into the back, jumping up while trying to get his attention past the fence. Jim laughed and ran over to the fence, hoping over it with ease as he grabbed on and pushed himself up.

"So, you're gonna teach me, right?" Jim grinned at the two trolls, excited but also secretly terrified. Thankfully, he'd warned Toby about this before they met up. Besides, why wouldn't be bring his boyfriend to his new job?