The Two Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia Book One: Just the Beginning

Chapter 11: Young Atlas

Draal was training Jim and me in Jim's backyard. Jim and I were covered in our armor and Draal was parrying his own weapon against Jim's sword as I attempted to attack from behind. I let out a yell as I jumped up and tried to get a hit on Draal, but he turned in a split second and deflected my blow, flinging me across the yard. I landed on my back pretty roughly, winding myself for a good while.

While Draal was distracted by me, Jim tried to swing his sword around to catch Draal off guard. But Draal managed to pary Jim's strike and Jim fell onto his butt. He dropped his sword and it quickly disappeared. Draal took that moment to point his weapon at Jim's neck.

"I think I just broke my butt..." Jim groaned with a grimace. I finally got my breath back and gasped as I sat up.

I coughed and rasped for a good minute before shooting back, "Try not being able to breathe for thirty seconds,"

"Where there is an actual battle, Trollhunters, you would have been deprived of your right legs, three fingers each, and lives." Draal scolded us.

"Sorry, Draal." I apologized as Jim walked over to me and helped me up off of the ground.

"Yeah, I guess we're just distracted," Jim replied.

Just as Jim had gotten me onto my feet, Draal attacked again, "Bular will use your distraction as an opportunity." He hissed, "To cleave your heads from your shoulders." He knocked Jim and me right back down, "What has you both so distracted this night."

"It's uh... pretty complicated." I lowered my head, hiding my blush.

"You wouldn't understand." Jim agreed with me. Draal stabbed his weapon into the grass and held out both of his hands to help us up. We took them graciously and stood back up. But as we stood up Draal yanked our hands and tossed me back onto my back and Jim onto the other side. He pointed his weapon at Jim while I coughed and sputtered at having the air knocked out of me yet again.

"I am the son of one of the former Trollhunters, Trollhunters." He said, expecting us to explain the situation now.

"I guess we're a little preoccupied about having to kiss each other..." Jim finally told him.

"I don't understand." Draal flashed Jim a strange look.

I coughed and sat back up, "The school play, Romeo and Juliet. We have to rehearse the kissing scene tomorrow. We; me and Jim have to kiss." I flushed at the thought.

"Kissing?" Draal moved and picked us both up, sitting us on top of one of the rocks, "What is this, kissing?" I looked at Jim expectantly and he just shrugged.

"W-well... Jim and I have... uh kissed before. Only once, after your fight actually." I started to explain, "Usually when two people like each other, like a lot, they put their mouths- um, together? And it sorta depends on how much they like each other, it determines how long they kiss. Sometimes for hours. I-I dunno, explaining it is weird." My face had turned the color of the setting sun and Jim chuckled at me.

"Disgusting, killing sounds easier." Draal said pointedly, "Besides, if you both have done this... erm kissing, before. Shouldn't it be easier now?" Both mine and Jim's armor disappeared and we sighed.

"I mean, sure. I guess so." Jim shrugged but I added on.

"We aren't actually in a relationship with each other... that's what makes it weird." I finished and Jim nodded.

Draal gave us a confused glance, "But if you both have similar feelings, why not?"

"It's complicated..." Jim replied, "I-I don't want to ruin what we had before."