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stricklandermewmew · 18 days ago

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For @stricklandermewmew My half of an art trade. She Asked; what if Toby learned about Gunmar and Strickler's deal? And it sort of spiralled form there.

Toby's jaw dropped.

It hung in the air for a moment, his lower lip twitching as if struggling to hold back words.

“Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?”

He stretched out the phrase, turning it into a breathless gasp of disbelief.

Strickler rubbed his eyes, feeling the first stirrings of a headache.

“The changeling and I are not just ambassador and King.” Gunmar boomed, “We are bonded. He is my mate.”

Silence hung over the Trollhunter's for a moment, then everyone started talking at once.

“I KNEW IT.” Claire whispered, “I knew Strickler was hiding something!” The shadow staff was slowly turning black in her white-knuckled hands.

“Mates? As in married? Like, 'married', married?” Toby shouted to be heard above Claire.

Only Jim was silent.

The trollhunter looked stricken, his mouth open wide, eyes bulging. The shadows beneath his lids looked deeper than ever, as if Jim had taken ill.

Strickler snuck a quick glance before burying his face in his hand again, letting out a quiet groan. He could feel his cheeks heating beneath the stares of the Trollhunters.

“Gunmar!” Claire's voice rang out clearly, “If you've hurt him, I swear I'll---”

She actually managed a step forward before Toby reached out to hold her back.

“If I wanted him hurt, Trollhunter, trust me, he would be.” Gunmar retorted, blue flames flaring from the corner of his eye. “As it stands, his well-being is within my interests.”

Toby frowned, turning to Strickler.

“So all this time, you've been cheating on Jim's mom? With Gunmar?” he asked, sounding crushed. “Dude! That is so uncool!”

“Jim?” Claire sett a hand on the Trollhunter's shoulder. “You okay?”

The trollhunter responded by fainting dead away.

Strickler winced, extending a hand toward Jim as if he could keep him from falling. Luckily, his armor managed to protect him from the brunt of the impact.

Gunmar looked at the fallen Trollhunter and smiled, reaching out across the brief distance between Strickler and his throne.

Gunmar's claws closed solidly around Strickler's hand, giving it a squeeze.

“I think that went well.” Dictatious chimed in from Gunmar's other side, shooting Strickler a smug look.

Strickler sighed deeply.

Toby knelt down beside Jim, fanning him with one hand.

“Well, Jimbo's gone!” He barked out a nervous laugh, shooting a glance toward Claire.

Claire was staring at Strickler and Gunmar, her lips set in a firm line.

“If you're Gunmar's mate, then that mean's you aren't just his ambassador. You're the Gumm-Gumm Queen.” she said in a low tone.

Strickler swallowed against the sudden lump in his throat. He'd been prepared for the betrayal in her voice. What he hadn't expected was how worried she sounded.

Worried for him.

“I am.” Strickler pulled his hand free, making his way down the steps leading to Gunmar's throne, “But it doesn't change the fact that I'm the same Strickler you all know. I understand if this revelation shakes your trust in me, but I assure you, everything I've done as of late, I've done for the well-being of our Trollhunter.”

“If you're together,” Toby tapped a finger to his lips, one eyebrow raised like a question mark. “Does that mean you two are gay?”

“Gay?” Gunmar repeated.

The Warlord considered Strickler for a moment before giving a solid nod.

“Yes,” He finally answered, “There has been some tension, for the most part, we are gay together.”

Dictatious cleared his throat.

“Dark Underlord,” Het stated, “I think the boy is referring to the modern parlance. 'Gay' in this instance, means two people of the same gender being partners.”

“Humans have a separate word for that?” Gunmar grunted, “We just call it 'marriage.'”

Toby counted along his fingers silently before speaking up,

“So, you guys have been married this whole time? WAIT.”

Toby gasped, a sudden intake of breath.

“---Strickler, were you Bular's mom!?”

After two thousand years of life, Not many things could surprise Strickler, but that sentence was one of them.

He barked out a sharp sound, the noise nearly catching in his throat. Something between a cough and a squawk.

Gunmar rose from his throne with a look of fury, and that was enough for Strickler to regain control of himself.

“Bular's mother was---” He began quickly, “A remarkable troll. She was the fiercest general to ever serve in Gunmar's horde, and a fine blade-maker. A far greater warrior than I. She---”

“Enough, Stricklander.” Gunmar's voice was flat, “You've made your point.”

“---Bular was actually a bit younger than me.” Strickler finished lamely. “Gunmar and I; our union is rather recent. Within the last two years.”

A low groan rose from the Trollhunter, and Jim Lake Junior sat up rubbing his head.

“Claire? Tobes? Ugh, I just had the grossest dream.”

Jim blinked, taking in his surroundings,

“Fudgeknuckles.” he muttered.

Strickler took a step toward the trollhunter, hand outstretched to offer him help up.

But Toby intercepted, looking at Strickler's hand curiously.

“No ring?” He asked.

“Pact trolls exchange rings.” Gunmar stated, “We Gumm-Gumms do not need the reminder of our vows.”

“Vows, so there was a wedding?” Toby looked intently at Strickler for a moment, then he shuddered, “Ugh, I don't even wanna imagine the catering.”

Claire's eyes narrowed as Strickler knelt beside Jim.

Suddenly, she leaned in close to him, their forehead's nearly touching.

“Did he force you?” Claire demanded in a harsh whisper, “He did, didn't he? That's why he let Jim and Nomura go!”

Her breath was warm and sweetened with the scent of bubblegum, reminding Strickler that despite the fierceness of her tone, despite the certainty in her voice, this was his student, looking to him for guidance.

He'd be damned if he gave her a reason to pity him.

“Gunmar and I considered everything at our disposal when brokering for peace.” Strickler said stiffly, “The point is, he is no longer my master,, and we are not at odds. We present a united, equal front for the Gumm-Gumms when it comes to negotiations with Trollmarket.”

“That isn't a 'no.'” Claire stated.

“Enough.” Strickler's voice broke on a growl, his eyes flashing briefly in warning, “We've already wasted centuries letting the past shape our futures.”

That was trite, and he knew it. So Strickler switched tactics.

“I can appreciate your concern for my well being, but if you really want to help me, then let it go. Jim's the one who needs you right now, not me.”

Claire's gaze hardened for a moment, then, with a decisive nod, she turned her attention back to Trollhunter.

“I'm fine,” The trollhunter insisted, setting gauntleted hand over Claire's. But his stare was focused on Strickler, his eyes asking a question he couldn't bring himself to voice.

Was Claire right?

“After the Battle of Two Bridges, I sought power for changelings.” Strickler climbed to his feet, reaching out a hand and helping Jim up. “My marriage to Gunmar offered up such an opportunity. He sought a path to power over Trollmarket and I wanted a place for changelings. It was the easiest way for us both to get what we wanted.”

The lie flowed easily from his lips, but it was clear that Claire wasn't convinced.

Gunmar seemed to sense Strickler's struggle.

“Marriage was the quickest way to join the world of Trolls and changelings,” Gunmar stated, “I gave Strickler my word I would find a place for his kind, as well as the Trollhunter's freedom. That I have kept my word is all you should concern yourself with.”

Jim searched Strickler's face, his blue eyes wide and worried.

Strickler forced a smile, deciding he could afford to spare a modicum of truth.

“Whatever choice I made, or was asked to make; the fact is you are safe. Not only have you grown stronger as a Trollhunter, but your skills as a diplomat helped to end a war millennia in the making. Forget about me, for a moment, think about what you have accomplished. You've made peace with Gunmar The Black. Something no Troll or Human for that matter has ever even dreamt of. Not even King Arthur could broker peace with the Gumm-Gumms, but you managed it.”

Not just a modicum, but the whole truth, if Strickler was being honest with himself. Peace was never a condition of his marriage with Gunmar. He'd never even considered asking for it. It was the Trollhunter who turned back at the mouth of Killahead bridge, who walked willingly back into Gunmar's clutches, heart and amulet in his hand.

Strickler's breath caught at the memory of how Gunmar's eye had locked onto the amulet, remembered the sharp intake of air as the Warlord took in the sight of the Trollhunter, unarmored.

“Alright, Gunmar.” Jim had said, “Let's talk.”

Now, Jim stood uncertain, more nervous facing his teacher than he had been facing down a troll Warlord.

“You have to tell my mom.” he said after a long moment, “It isn't fair to her.”

“Of course.” Strickler felt his heart breaking on the words, like a ship in a bottle falling from a great height.

“We both have to tell her.” Jim lifted a hand to his forehead, running his fingers through his hair.

“You would be wise to do so, Trollhunter.” There was knowing in Gunmar's voice. “You are still young, Merlin was merciless in his choice, but a parent lives to lend strength to their sons. Give her a chance to show she is strong. Take it from a father.”

Bitterness dripped from the final word like bile, but Jim still nodded mutely.

“She can't protect herself if she doesn't know she has enemies.” Gunmar added, “Stricklander targeted her. He will not be the last to do so.”

“Is that a threat?” Jim asked suddenly, his fingers clenching into a fist at his side.

“A warning, Trollhunter” Gunmar waved a hand, dismissing the accusation, “nothing more. I am not the only one who like to see your end. If you want to protect your mother, then arm her.”

A warm hand rested on Strickler's back, and he jolted before glancing down to see Toby at his side.

“Tell me there was cake, at least!” He exclaimed, forcing a smile.

Strickler breathed out a soft laugh. “No, Toby, no cake.”

“Cake?” Gunmar repeated, brow furrowed.

“Yeah, dude, you totally owe Strickler a wedding cake!” Toby pointed an accusing finger at Gunmar, “And you better treat him right, he's got friends in Trollhunting places!”

“Friends.” It was Strickler's turn to voice an echo, turning to look at Claire, Jim and Toby.

The three of them returned his gaze, Claire steadfast, Jim caring, and Toby good-humored.

Such young warriors, but still so capable, so much stronger than he gave them credit for.

Friends.

He could live with that.

#this is so sweet and heartfelt #didn’t know I need this but I do :-;#the trios’ support and protectiveness #also Jim really be going for that in law talk lmao #this is such a gentle moment for all of them #thank you thank you thank you!

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