The Becoming

6 A.M. and the alarm beeped persistently, waking the sleeping teen. With an energetic swipe of his hand, he turned it off and with a huge grin, he got out of bed. He could already smell the scent of omelettes being cooked. Running down the stairs, he headed straight to the kitchen where Walter had already begun cooking.

"Good morning Jim," Walter said pleasantly.

Jim playfully took the spatula from Walter. "Good morning dad."

Strickler smiled at Jim, taking off his green apron and putting it on his future son. Jim was already comfortable calling his history teacher his dad, after all, why hold back if he and his mom was getting married anyway?

"I'm leaving in fifteen minutes," Walter said, gathering his papers from the dining table. "You think you can be ready by then?"

Jim flipped the eggs which landed perfectly on the pan. "Oh, you go ahead, I'm going to school with Toby today. Promised him I'd cook something special for him!"

Walter had just finished packing up his things and gave him a little smile which quickly morphed into a stern look. "Don't be late to school Jim Lake, Jr," Strickler scolded but in a lighthearted tone.

Jim laughed and scratched the back of his head as Walter opened the door. "I won't, dad, don't worry."

With a final wave, Strickler exited the house, leaving Jim to his cooking.

Jim was late either way. It wasn't because he didn't leave the house early. Jim stared at the amulet in his bag, wondering what it was. Maybe he should tell Walter about it, maybe he shouldn't. He wasn't quite sure.

"Jim, would you agree?"

Walter's voice snapped the teen from his train of thought, and in surprise, he turned around to face his teacher. "Sir?" He asked, not sure what to answer.

Strickler gave him an inquiring gaze. "With Herodotus' opinion on his tactics of war as I described?"

Without anything else to say, Jim agreed. This answer didn't suffice for Walter who was now looking at him with an unimpressed expression. "Which tactics specifically?"

Despite Walter on the way to become Jim's dad, Jim never really excelled that much in history, much to both of their disappointment. Jim'd do decently if he tried, but the subject just never caught his eye.

Jim, having nothing else to say, came up with a half-baked reply. "The, uh, winning ones?" He answered though it sounded more like a question than an answer.

The entire class burst into laughter as the bell rang, signaling the end of the subject. Jim sighed before standing up. He was about to gather his things when Strickler approached him.

"Jim," Walter began, concern lining his voice, "you seem distracted today, are you alright?"

The teen looked at his bag, contemplated whether or not he'd tell Strickler what he got, but decided this wasn't the time. Jim nodded, mustering a small smile.

"Yeah, I am."

Strickler looked at him, scanning his face for any hints of a lie. Jim wasn't sure if Walter took it as one, regardless, Strickler brushed it aside. "Well, if that's the case," Strickler said, "you best be on your way, Young Atlas."

Jim looped the strap of his bag around his shoulder.

"Also," Walter added, smiling at Jim, "if you fancy Ms. Nuñez, I believe talking to would prove more effective than staring at."

Jim reflected on what he said, thinking that Strickler did have a point. "Thanks," Jim said, making a resolve to try and talk to Claire when he can. "I'll try."

The teen was about to exit the room when he paused. "You coming home tonight?" He asked Walter. The latter smiled sadly but shook his head.

"I have somethings to finish tonight," Walter said, walking to the window and looking out. "I'm meeting up with a few... Colleagues of mine."

A small oh escaped Jim but shrugged it off anyway. He opened the door. "See you tommorow then!"

Holy guacamole! Holy, holy, holy guacamole!

Jim sprint towards Mr. Strickler's office, panting and occasionally tripping on himself. Those things — trolls — they were terrifiying!

Jim slowed down his pace as he approached his dad's office until he eventually came to a halt when he was in front of the door. Swiftly knocking thrice, he opened the door to Strickler's office and got in, closing it after he entered.

"Dad," Jim said, his voice higher in pitch in panic.

Walter looked up from his papers and gave Jim a concerned yet intrigued look. "Jim? You look shaken. Take a seat."

Jim didn't need telling twice and he took the stool of the piano, twisting the seat to adjust the height.

"Okay, so last night you won't believe it happened, but it did happen!" Jim started, continuously twisting the chair. He paused and tried to take a seat, finding it still too small for him, so he stood up and readjusted it. "Last night two things came to the house! One of them had these EYES and the other one, he was HUGE!" Jim finally took his seat.

Strickler raised one of his eyebrows. "And why do these two bother you?"

Jim sighed, leaning forward on Walter's desk. "Promise me you would believe me, dad."

Walter gave him a small smile, reaching out and placing his hand on Jim's shoulder. "Promise."

There was a swift pause during which Jim took a deep breath in, trying to decide how he'd say it. He gave up half-way through and decided he'd go for the easiest explanation. Jim looked down, bracing himself for the reaction to his confession.

"Last night, there were trolls who came to our home!"

Jim didn't see the sudden yet slight tensing of Strickler's posture, the subtle widening of his eyes, and the clenching of his jaw as he gritted his teeth. His mind was racing, wondering how in the world Jim knew about trolls or why these trolls even visited him in the first place.

Strickler withdrew his hand from Jim's shoulder, equally terrified at the only answer that he could think of.

It wouldn't hurt to ask anyway.

"And why did these... Trolls come to our house?"

Jim eagerly looked at him before diving into his bag, rummaging through its contents. "I'm glad you asked that."

Strickler had a metaphorical heart attack when Jim procured Merlin's Amulet from his bag but despite that, for a moment, instinct told him to lunge at the amulet, to tear it from the human's hands and get rid of the newest Trollhunter. He was just a pathetic human with no experience in fighting, getting rid of him was easy. And after he disposed of him, he could finally finish the plan he worked centuries to finish.

But the Trollhunter was his son. He couldn't bring himself to hurt Jim, no. He'd never do that. He can't bring himself to.

"Walter." Jim called out, snapping Strickler back to reality. He had been staring at the amulet, not really hearing what Jim was saying.

"That's an interesting artifact," Stricker mused, trying to find a way to take it from Jim without having to kill him. He outstretched his hand. "May I?"

Jim obediently gave Strickler the amulet before firing off on another tangent about his troll encounter. When the cold metal touched his hand, he felt the urge to grab it and laugh. Who knew taking the amulet was this easy. He turned around, caressed the amulet, analyzing the intricacies of the artifact, his eyes flashing yellow as he did so.

Strickler opened his mouth to ask if he could keep the amulet to inspect it, probably giving the reason that it was a lost artifact from the museum and that he'd return it promptly there. But something stopped him and he bit his lip instead.

He decided to do the unthinkable.

"Here you go," Strickler said, handing back the amulet to Jim who gingerly took it back. "It seems that that's a very ancient heirloom you've stumbled across." Walter faced the bookshelf behind him, running his hand across the spines of his books, contemplating about what he chose to do.

"I would keep it safe, if I were you." He turned to face Jim "That amulet's so priceless, I'd say you should guard it with your life."

Silence descended upon the two in the room, both lost in their own thoughts; Jim contemplating what Strickler had just said and Strickler terrified as all hell upon the betrayal he had committed. He really should've just kept the amulet.

Walter watched as Jim fiddled with the amulet absentmindedly. A human Trollhunter would change everything. And if there was anything he knew about his son, it was that he would grow into a very strong Trollhunter. And, in due time, one who would be able enough to vanquish Gunmar permanently.

"You coming home tonight?"

The question took Strickler by surprise, not really knowing whether he should go home or report to the others the amulet's current predicament.

"I'll be there at around seven," Walter said, straightening his coat. "Alright?"

Jim nodded before finally standing up. "Well, I gotta go," Jim said walking towards the door. "I'm meeting up Tobs at the dentist."

Walter smiled at him and escorted him to the door. "Take care, Young Atlas," he said. Jim opened the door and slowly exited the office.

"Try soaking up sunlight," Walter called after him as the Trollhunter walked along the corridor. "you still look pale."

Jim gave him a thumbs up before disappearing when he took a turn. Walter sighed, closing the door behind him.

All Strickler could do now was to protect Jim.