Jim Lake Jr. x reader || Daylight

Ch. 19: Escape from the Darklands -- Magic and Killer Instinct; Pt. 2

There was a moment --

I, in only a quick moment, went back to that week. That week where I had yet to get to know Jim, to know Toby or any of my now lifelong partners...friends. Where I knew nothing of this magical world of trolls, where I'd laugh if you said any of it were real. Where the biggest worry was if I passed my newest math test. I remember being anxious, but not this anxious. I remember actually wishing magic was real...

And, maybe a part of me still felt that way -- but as the air was sucked out of me, every fiber in my body being ripped apart -- this wasn't the magic I had dreamed of...

I wanted to scream but I was instantly consumed by darkness as we involuntarily slipped into the portal -- the portal I had created with my bare hands.

"She has awoken!" "It has happened!" "She shall be the one!"

Voices, all different pitches, and accents rang in my ears. 

I held my head as I rolled onto my side, Toby offering a bruised hand as we both struggled to stand from the fall.

"That was - incredible!" Toby looked at my still very mystical hands, that electric mist reminding me of Jim.

I covered my mouth as I tried to hide my coughs, my eyes dry with blurry vision. I looked around us, the dark landscape making me aware that I had actually done it...I had gotten us to the Dark Lands.

"We need to search for Gunmar. Where ever he is, Jim, is." Toby supported me by leaning me against his side, starting to walk with my arm slung over his shoulders.

"You sure you're okay?" I quickly nodded and took a deep breath, coughing again as the filthy air made my suffering lunges worse.

"That-that was just new for me. Got any idea how it's-whatever this is, is so powerful?" Our pace was slow so I made sure I took this time to scan every rock we came across.

"You are the key...it makes sense that you're able to make a portal here. I guess? I'm assuming it makes sense." 

I laughed as shook my head as I started to regain sureness of my legs, waking by myself as we searched.

Toby kept positive. It was the happiest I'd seen him in a while...I mean, who wouldn't. We'd have our Jim back soon.

He and I saw a lot, a lot of creatures I'd never even fathomed of. Some I knew while others were similar if not more deadly. Jim, he'd been in all of this, alone. With the mentality that I was being tortured...

╔ ╗Toby's P.O.V ╚ ╝

I was scared. I was scared of a lot of things actually. Silly stuff that seemed irrelevant at the moment while others had to simply be the blood-hungry foreign beasts that eyed us, yet, not coming close.

And, I knew why...

(Y/n)!

When I saw her forcing herself to be able to open the portal, it was horrifying. Her demeanor was different...she wasn't the same loving (Y/n) at that moment. She wasn't giving off her beautiful smile, her mesmerizing bright eyes a neon purple as she made the room shake. But not only did her eyes change the color entirely...but her look! They had changed to slits, the look of a hungry lioness when it goes for her kill. For a moment, I was scared of (Y/n)...

 And her hair, a lock was white...but I wouldn't mention it yet...

Not much of her intimidating aura had gone away. The electric mist still covered her like a shield, her eyes still having a faint glow. 

Blinky had mentioned Dark Magic before. And when he did, it was never good. But, but...what if (Y/n) had found a way, without realizing, to use both Dark Magic and the magic she had as the Trollhunter's Destined Partner...? It would make sense! And, with the edge of wanting to save Jim, she'd done it! Was such a thing possible...?

I looked over at her quietly, her watchful eyes busy as I studied her.

I was wrong...

I had been wrong for a long time...wrong to Jim. Because, no matter how much I forced myself to look away, her beautiful face was seared onto the inside of my lids. Since the beginning of the school year, I'd had feelings for her...

I assumed it'd go away, her being with Jim, by literal magic law! But, I fell harder as she got stronger each day, training with Jim. She and I had even become best friends!  

"Tobes? You okay?" 

I looked at her, wanting to wipe away the grime on her already bruised face.

She looked unreal at this moment. How she glowed with power, her armor fitting her fit body perfectly. Her skin somehow still looked flawless, even under harsh conditions. Her hair was down, tattered, and frizzed, framing her angelic face...

"Of course! Let's go find Jim!"

╔ ╗Jim's P.O.V ╚ ╝

(Y/n)...(Y/n), (Y/n), (Y/n)!

I was driving myself mad as I tried to stay warm, the small fire I'd made only offering so much warmth as I laid on the chill ground stiffly. I was bruised on every section of my body, my limbs so sore I felt I just might pass out from exhaustion.

Tobey, Tobey, Tobey, Tobey...

I knew he'd keep (Y/n) safe. Help her...in her unconscious pain-filled state...

Mom, mom, mom, mom...

I wonder if she was worried about me...probably. I wonder what kind of chaos was happening right now, as I lay here useless...

'It's going to be okay.' Her bright smile eased me as closed my eyes.

I tried to imagine her voice, her soothing voice...her gentle hands holding me...keeping me warm...

Then, that gut feeling! That stupid gut feeling (Y/n) and I had hated for so long, not knowing what it meant!! But now! But now, I could feel her! She was hurting, but not in as much pain like she was when I had last seen her...she was better! But there was something different... an unknown aura I didn't recognize...but I didn't care!

I jolted up, groaning at my numb body. I staggered, following my gut feeling.

She was here! She was here...

╔ ╗(Y/n)'s P.O.V ╚ ╝

"He's this way, Tobey!" I started to run as my stomach felt like it'd pop, the gut feeling never being this strong before.

I had felt it earlier, it faint...but over the many hours, the feeling was overwhelming.

I heard, the smallest and most quiet, footsteps. The sound of struggle yet eagerness.

I felt tears leave my already stinging eyes, "Jim!" He collapsed on me, holding onto me as he wrapped his arms around me tightly.

His warmth, his skin, his touch...

"Jim!" Tobey hugged all of us together, him tearing up as Jim's exhausted face gave us a smile.

I peppered his face with kisses, brushing his muddy hair out of his scarred face. 

"I love you!"

It went dead silent, Jim still holding onto me for dear life.

"I love you, I love you, I love you..." He kissed me gently, holding onto my face with shaky hands.

"I love you too." I whispered with a smile, holding him.

Holding him...holding my Jim...