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

Et tu, Strickler?

The day couldn't get any better than this.
New mug in her hands;the grinning face of Chessur covered most of its front, with the Tulgey Wood in the background.
New untasted (instant) cappuccino flavour;
Blue Velvet Cupcake, limited edition, a potential new addition to Lyonesse Cuppa's range of flavours.

Iris took a sip. Tasted a lot better than she thought it would,it was worth taking a risk buying.
Jim's shoes thudded slowly and heavily downstairs.
" Hey Jim, how did your day go?"
The silence didn't bode well.
Jim walked until he was in view.
His eyes were both sad and angry.
Within the moissanite jewels,there danced blazing fire with floods of grey rain.
It seemed like he wanted to punch someone in the face, then sink to his knees and cry.

" Jim, come here. "
He practically flung himself into her arms, then melted against her with a heavy-hearted sigh, his face pressed to her jacket.
" What happened. "
" I...I don't know. I can't remember most of today at all."
He slipped free of her embrace, and sat down next to her, face to face.
" I was nervous about today's rehearsal. I didn't want to mess up me and Claire's stage kiss."
" Well...did you mess it up?"
"I honestly have no clue. Most of today is just missing from my brain like it got deleted."
Iris frowned at him.
" Okayyy...did you find that memory eraser gun you were looking for and use it on yourself?"
"May as well have," he shrugged.
" I wore a Grit-Shaka necklace for the whole day; Draal gave it to me so I would have the confidence to do the stage kiss right. I put that thing on in history class...I wake up in my armor,I'm in the sewers. Toby is calling to me from outside. "
He shuddered. " Bular is right there. "

Iris inhaled sharply. Ice cubes dropped into her tightening stomach.
"I'm alright Iris, don't worry. Bular tried to hit me with his sword, but I dodged. Toby grabbed my hand, and pulled me out through a manhole.
Had to take a looong shower after that."
" What is a Grit-Shaka? And please don't ever so much as touch one again. "

He sat up. " It's a courage totem. Apparently it can't adjust its bravery dosage to a human body , hence every thing I got up to today that I'll never remember. "
He used hand gestures to help his explanation. " Toby told me about what happened while I was wearing the totem. I was afraid of nothing, but that included several things I SHOULD definitely have feared. Like breaking in to where the school makes announcements from, and playing bass guitar, badly, while singing the bad song I'd just made up ,badly.
Or ,like trying to get a troll tattoo- I almost ended up paralysed or something. "
She started to laugh. She couldn't help it. Jim's smile grew a little happier.

" When , or how,did you get the cursed necklace off?"
" Bular pulled it off of me, or something like that. I don't know. "

She studied his expression, before gently asking," Jim, did he say anything that made you feel hurt or angry? Tell me about it, and you'll get that weight off your chest. Deya knows you're carrying too much already, Brother. "
Jim took a deep breath, eyes shut.
When reopened, they locked on Iris's own.
" Yeah. He did. He called me Young Atlas. "

Her mouth opened. No sound came out.
The earth fell from its pedestal and shattered.
Her heart stuttered through several beats.

" Oh. He's a Changeling."
" Yeah."
Jim rose to his feet, all his anger surging up .
" A co-conspirator with Bular. A snake, whilst I was the mouse. A liar, thief and murderer. A baby supplant-"
" Hey. That's enough. I know Strickler.
Before you, I was his favorite. And I think you shouldn't just assume that he's evil simply because he's a Changeling. "
"Nomura...Gladys...NotEnrique..."
" Alright. I get your point. But back when he was human and you didn't even know what a Trollhunter was, he understood, reached out to and advised, encouraged, praised and supported you. If all Changeling are the same, why wasn't he?"
" Acting. Changelings are lifelong pretenders."
" They pretend when it is necessary. It wasn't necessary, to offer you guidance, compassion, sympathy and words of wisdom. He could have better blended in with others at his workplace, by dismissing or overlooking you like your other teachers. "
Jim faltered. Trying to come up with a good counterargument.
" And, if this is about him dating Mom, and not because he's working with Bular to break Gunmar out-"

Jim blushed pink.
" Oh come on, you're not that immature. And Jim, if you are, you're not gonna convince Strickler to join our side. "
" Why would he ever switch sides? He's a Changeling. "
" He cares for you. You can't lie to both of us, and say that he does not. You're more mad about him and our mom, then you are about who he is and who he works for. Jim, I've heard a lot about Changelings. How they're made, how they shapeshift, who they serve and for what purpose.
Never has Blinky stated,that Changelings choose all this. Because, Strickler had as much say in being changed through unnatural means into a creature he was never meant to be, to serve a master he was forced to serve...he had as much say, as you did in being chosen to be a Trollhunter."

She continued.
" Remember Jim, the trolls didn't want to give you a chance,just because you are human. Now you yourself, aren't giving Strickler a chance. "
"A chance to what? Literally stab me in the back? Drop-kick me into Bular's waiting jaws ?! "
" If Strickler had any intention of doing so, why hasn't he ?"
Jim couldn't think of anything to say in response. Finally, he was starting to listen to her.
" He easily could have. You were unskilled in combat, and you were unaware. You trusted him. He would have lured you into his office, then smuggled out your body. He could've offered you a ride, and ensured that you never reached your destination.
But Strickler didn't even attempt to end you, at any point.
Wherever and whenever he has actually had his opportunity, he's never seized it.
Instead, despite knowing what's going on, he's carried on exactly as before you became the Trollhunter.
He's never treated you differently, even though you're now supposed to be the enemy.
But you turn against him the second you find out what he is?
He didn't have a choice, in going from troll to Changeling, or being stolen from his family. Nor does he have any say, I believe, in whether or not he serves the purpose for which he was enslaved -and probably also brainwashed. "
"So what now, then. If you're right..."
" Which I know you're hoping I am. "
"...if you're right, what should we do?"
" Nobody stalks him home. Or anywhere else he goes, including within the school. No egging his car, no stink bombs in his office, basically no petty payback pranks.
No glaring like little brats, who demanded a new toy but didn't get it.
No saying unfair things behind his back, no making assumptions or threats. First you wait, and watch him. You pretend you hit your head when Toby pulled you out of the sewers. So hard, you cannot remember that entire day , at all.
You're back to not knowing he's a Changeling. Make sure your act is very convincing, so he buys it.
Finally, watch and wait. Strickler will prove himself villain or secret hero, sooner rather than later. "

Jim grinned. " I like your plan."
His grin faded. " I hope you're right about him, Iris. "
Jim went and fetched his satchel, and slipped his phone into it.
" Tobes is waiting for me. Me, him, Blinky and Aaarrrgghh are going to talk about today. "

" Before you go..."
She ran up to him.
" I've invited Bellroc and Skrael over for a movie night. "
" Oh, joy," Jim responded .
" I get it. Bellroc doesn't like you. But you can't take it personally. They aren't able to distinguish the individual from the crowd, special humans from the vast ocean of average. I will help them to grow ,but I have to ask this favor of favors, which is to forgive them. To treat them, as you would prefer they treat you. Please, Jim."

Jim sighed , then smiled.
"I'll do it. But you owe me for life."
He walked out the door with a wave, shutting it behind him.
" See you later,Brother!" she yelled after him.
Now, time to reheat that cappuccino and get buried in a good book.
Leave tomorrow's troubles, in Tomorrow where they belonged.
She would enjoy Today.