There Must Be Something More ( Bellroc x Jim Lake's older sister Iris Lake)

Did You Say I Was Different?

" BEHOLD!!"
Iris nearly choked on her wafffle.
Toby's voice boomed at her like he was a commentator at a wrestling match. He walked ahead of Jim, arms gesturing as wide as they were able, a big proud grin on his chubby face.
" The Mighty Hero! Bringer of justice to those shoved into lockers and glued to their desk chairs without realizing!! "
" Your waffles are ice cold, Brother and Other Brother. "
Toby notices the syrup and sprinkles and ice cream on Iris's lunch.
" Oohh, you made celebration waffles?! " He races to the kitchen to nuke his own plateful, beaming.
Jim addresses her.
" I punched Steve."
"Then why aren't you in a body cast?"
" It hurt to lose his tooth."
" It hurts even more,watching fresh celebration waffles go cold."
" Sorry. But he hurt Claire. That was the last straw ."
She stopped eating, and took a good look at him. He wasn't the same.
Steel in his summer breeze-voice, mettle glinting readily in his eyes.
Ordinarily, Jim was Best Good Boy in Arcadia, and not one to favor fists over flight.
" What took you so long?"
" I..." He took a deep breath. Her gaze met his, but his eyes slid away.
" I challenged Draal to a rematch. "
" Oh."
" I thought you'd be a lot more upset."
" Why would I be upset? I've never been to a funeral before."
She suddenly found her waffles nauseating , and put down her fork.
Her throat grew tight. As tight as Draal's grip on Jim's skinny body had been, when she stood with Tobes and watched what went down in the arena.

I scream,and Toby screams ,and then Jim is dropped down.
He survives. His belief in himself does not.
She thought she'd cycle home alone that day.She almost believed their mother would never see him again.

" What the heck are you thinking," Iris said,a thunderstorm brewing in her gaze and tone.
Toby showed up,his plate of waffles in one hand, and Jim's in the other.
" It's, it's not a fight to the death, Iris-"
" Your spar with the spiky blue pinball wasn't supposed to be, either.
No harm in it."
" This is destiny. The 'something more' I was looking for this whole time. I can do this.With enough training-"
" I wonder how Mom will react, when one day, you vanish without a trace. What exactly makes you think you are destined? The Amulet of Daylight glitched. It wasn't supposed to pick a chosen one who's less than a third of the size of his enemies. One of which eats kids just like him. "
" How can it be random? It's never randomly chosen a human before. "
" You were in the wrong place at the right time. Had Toby picked it up, it would've called his name."
A cloud settles over her beloved brother's boy-next-door features.
He stands up, shoving away the waffles her non-biological brother had placed before him, glaring at her.
" So you see me the same as the trolls in Trollmarket. Good to know."
" I believe , that it's not about the size of the fight in the dog. That inspirational quote looks ridiculous when it's a Chihuahua versus a werewolf."
Anger iced the oceans in his eyes.
" Fine then. Don't have any faith in me. The trolls don't either. I'll prove that the fight is within me.If you won't see, I won't stay."
" Jim. Listen. Even though you can, you shouldn't . That Bular guy -"
" - is someone I can take on once I have sword skills. I'm done trying to make you believe. "
He turned and stormed out. Toby shot her a reproachful look, and to her shock, left his plateful behind.
The house stood silent and chill around her.

She slumped down on the table, head in her hands, trying to envision him as a Trollhunter. Or, one that lasted longer than a month.
He was determined to risk his invaluable life. And for what?
These rock -behemoths,who saw him as unworthy and useless.
He could do it, sure. But he was almost certainly fated to die for his courage. For his heroism. For his tenacity, charity, indomitable spirit,selflessness, valor...

She supposed those sounded like Trollhunter traits , according to the spider- troll's description .

Heat flashed in the room.
They were here.
" Why did you come?"
" You appeared as though you were grieving. He is not dead."
" How did you see? Who are you?"
Their shoulder- eyeballs gazed at her.
" I am Bellroc, Keeper of the Flame.
I am a millenia- old demigod, I have seen all that is under the sun. I have traversed the realm of the Shadows. "
" How do you keep appearing and disappearing? How did the fire appear in your hand?"
" Strange that you show no fear, human."
They stared closely at her, their fireplace- hot breath fanning over her face. A rosy blush bloomed on her cheeks.
" That's me, the fearless warrioress."
" You could be. But your soul's spark is missing. There are shadows in your eyes, where there should be light. Tell me: Who snuffed it out?"
" Uh...I don't know. Blame dear ol' Dad, I guess ."

"I used scrying to watch you."
" How, and why me. "
" Magic. And because I find you attractive. You are not like most
humans. "
" Is ' magic' how you made and manipulated fire?"
" Yes. That is called ' pyromancy' . I am also a lavamancer. And the alpha of the Arcane Order. We are three in number, all possessing of ancient and inexhaustible magic . "
" I am...going to go reheat my waffles."
Their hand closed round her wrist.
" A gift, for a gift. "
"Huh?"
Bellroc huffed like a leopard, and suddenly her back was against the wall. Their nose touched hers.
Her shoulders were held fast.
" What you gave, I give back."

Lips were pressed to her own; warm hands explored her face, and felt her hair. The kiss deepened, she grabbed hold of them . They tasted like honey and elderflower and smoke.
Their hands squeezed her hips, and one breached her sweater. They broke the kiss, purr- growing, and she felt their hair brushing against her throat.
Puff of oven-hot breath.
Moist lips on her neck. Hard sucking,as her breast was lightly grasped. Eager fingers moved, she squeaked at the sensation.

It was over in one breathless instant.
The double- voiced demigod let her go, and their hand slipped off her chest. A warm spot lingered in its place, a bruise throbbed on the side of her neck.
She panted wide- eyed. They smirked.
" We will meet often , in future. I will make you mine."
They teleported in a roaring blaze, and she found herself alone once more.