Trollhunters: The Short Stories

Her

Summary: Jim lays awake, his thoughts running as a certain brown-haired beauty comes to mind.

Characters: Jim

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Jim had an issue.

He couldn't sleep.

It wasn't because of the current assassin that was threatening to take his life, or even Strickler who reclaimed the school, becoming a tyrant principal and giving Jim's life hell. It wasn't even the broken relationship with his mother as he continued to lie to her. Not even the silence of the night that made him feel eerie knowing what lurked in it.

No, it was none of those.

It was a certain brown-haired beauty that captivated him, that had been confident as she joined the Trollhunters, instantly fitting it and becoming all the more impressive. He seemed to fall in love with her all over again. And while he hated to see Claire risk her life as she had done earlier by going after Angor Rot in the Shadow Realm, he couldn't help but marvel at how amazing.

In the past few years, Jim struggled to find his words with her, knowing how much he wanted her, yet, struggling as he had no directions to follow. It seemed as if tight chains wrapped around his heart, the emotional numbness that held him back, unsure how love worked as his experiences were not well, even after watching his father back away from someone that Jim thought he loved.

It made him scared of giving so much appreciation to others without being loved in the first place, his heart would race as the simple concept of love was hard to comprehend. Yet, Claire was different, he couldn't stop his cheeks from reddening, his heart beating nearly from his chest and his palms sweating.

It was hard to describe when he first met her, he never felt that way about anyone and thought he had been dying. Every night, confusion invaded his mind. A tremendous question bothered him whether this feeling was love or not. It was as if he was fantasizing about a happier part of himself, such an incredible feeling. Yet, she was real, she was there.

It was his heart dedicating itself to Claire, ready to give her the world and drop everything he could for her.

As time passed, the more he saw her walking through the hallways, her smile soft and delicate, his perception of love began to change, the amazing woman standing around him, unaware that he existed or that she was changing him.

Claire was an image of perfection, her sweet laugh sounded like a melody, her eyes could make him drown in a pool of brown and her beauty was heavenly. She was the perfect piece of a puzzle in such an imperfect world.

The times that she had glanced at him, catching him lost in a trance as he stared at her, smiling kindly, turned Jim's gloomy days into a sunny paradise. Her smile was perfection and stirred butterflies within him. The presence of her caused Jim to feel bubbly and gave him a childlike reaction, almost as if he didn't deserve to walk the same earth as her.

During the play, the look of focus, yet, breathtaking expressions she wore, speaking her lines with confidence made him melt. The way she would get closer, willingly getting to know him as he was lost in her divine beauty. It caught his attention, sucking him in as her cheerfulness spread around him.

The dying heart he once had for love was pumping constantly as if she gave him life and hope. And when the moment came when he had to throw his life into danger to get her to safety, he barely thought of the consequences he would face, only seeing her safe.

He could barely think of the feeling of her hand that night, focused on running with her, ready to let out every secret he held. The way her hand touched his armored chest, him silently wishing the armor hadn't been there in the first place, the way she was captivated as he explained what he had been through.

All leading to her being a part of the team.

She was marvelous, a natural. And even a distraction as he focused his attention solely on her. He was love-struck and he knew it. He smiled as he turned to his phone, his thumbs itching to text her, wanting to see her, wanting to hold her, wanting to finish the kiss they almost had during their dance with the trolls.

His heart fluttered that his lips nearly touched her, that she asked him to the dance, which he had stupidly answered to. Yet, that she was waiting for him to ask, wanting him to take her, his chance finally arriving, he couldn't help but feel as if the world stopped.

He was thankful for her and nothing will ever hurt her, never as he lived. He would do anything to save her, to protect her, to love her.

If it came to it and he knew how far he'd go, the one thing he wouldn't even question even if it was a risk.

He would die for her.

He loved her.