Young Atlas (Trollhunters/Jim) +S2

Part 1

Jim runs around being happy about everything. He's trying to be fine by forgetting about the Darklands and Gummar, but every night he's haunted in his dreams by what happened to him in there, and everything that happened when Gummar held him prisoner. He feels like he's drowning in this darkness, and he can barely breathe. He had so much hope when he first entered the Darklands, but it was taken away from him by the trauma of it all. Instead he just had all the weight on his shoulders that keeps pushing him down. I guess Strickler was right. I am like Atlas. He thinks. I guess everyone lives up to their nickname eventually.
Jim has not just one, but two worlds on his shoulders. He has promised so much people many things. He was able to keep his promise to Claire, and get Enrique back. But there's still so much promises he failed. He promised all those babies in the Darklands that he'd go back for them, but how was he supposed to go back if the bridge was in ruins. He promised to keep Trollmarket safe, but now it's destroyed, and the trolls need a new home. He promised his mom he'd tell her the truth, but he can't because he wants to keep her safe. He promised Draal he would protect him, but now Draal is under control of Gummar. He promised to keep every troll safe, but so much are dead now, including Vendel. He promised his friends they go to the Darklands together, and couldn't even do that. He had to go alone because he needed to keep them safe. He couldn't bare to lose anymore of his friends.
He just feels so guilty. So much trolls lost their lives because of a selfish decision he made. He went into the Darklands alone, and because of that Gummar escaped, and killed so much trolls. The guilt he felt was more than guilt though. He hates himself. When he looks into the mirror he saw a stranger. When he lays awake at night, he wants to hurt himself.

Claire and Toby ain't buying this "Jim being fine" crap though. At school, he gets so overly happy. It's like it ain't even real. He gets happy when they get homework. He gets happy when Steve says the things he says. He gets happy when they have a test. He gets happy when they have to run 10 miles in gym. He gets happy when anything happens. But they can see the look in his eyes. It's not just the huge bags he has under them from not sleeping. It's the way he looks down anytime he's in a conversation. The way he stares off into the distance when they eat lunch. The way he looks around frantically, almost paranoid, when there's a banging noise or someone drops their book. The way his eyes water up anytime someone mentions the two weeks he was gone or anytime someone says something nice to him. The way his sad eyes look up when he's presenting.
Claire and Toby notice the way he picks at his food too. He was with limited food sources for two weeks straight, and he don't eat anything. He might eat a bite or two, but he usually throws a whole plate of food in the trash.
Claire wants to say something about it, but she wants to give him space. Toby is just afraid of what he might find out about his friend if he says something about it.

Blinky and Aaarrrgggh! notice the improvement in Jim's training. The Darklands might of broken him down, but it also made him stronger. They also notice how sometimes it seems like he's fighting something that isn't there. Like he is having a flashback or something. Blinky tried not to worry, but he does anyway. From the first time he met Jim to now, Jim had become a kind of son to him. Someone he could look after, and be there for.
Aaarrrgghh! was worried for Jim because of the fierce look in Jim's eyes when he was training. It looks like Jim could kill anyone in his way, and Aaarrrggh! don't want Jim to have the death of anyone on his conscious. Unfortunately, Jim has plenty of deaths on his conscious.