Chapter Text
Atlas's crystalline horns caught the shimmer of light as he trudged along the hidden path. After ensuring no one followed, he pressed his palm against a seemingly ordinary rock wall. The stone shifted silently, revealing a small cavity where he kept his most precious possessions; a leather-wrapped bundle containing his journal and the Magitek amulet. He quickly checked their condition before sealing the cache once more. After making sure the leather wrapped bundle of chaos that started this mess, it was time to head out for a while, his favorite spot to enjoy the day without training, monsters, or gnomes trying to steal his stuff again.
The secluded waterfall had become his sanctuary over the past weeks. Crystal formations jutted from the cavern walls, their bioluminescent glow painting the chamber in ethereal blues and purples. The steady rush of water drummed a soothing rhythm against ancient stone.
Atlas approached the meditation stones, its smooth boulders arranged in a perfect circle near the water's edge. He removed his worn leather vest and carefully folded his clothes, placing them on a dry stone. Years of living in Trollmarket, 2 years, had taught him to take care of what little he possessed.
"Just a few moments of peace." Atlas muttered, looking down at his stone form. "That's all I'm asking for."
He kept his shorts on, his blue stone skin catching the ambient light from glowing moss and crystals. Years of training had honed his troll form into that of a warrior, muscles along his arms, legs, chest, abs and back from Kanjigar himself, though he remained smaller than most. The thought brought a wry smile to his face, if only they knew the truth behind his unique stature.
The pool beckoned, its crystal-clear depths illuminated by underwater formations. Through the water, he could see the faint golden pulse of the Heartstone's energy - a reminder that even here, duty was never far away.
With practiced grace, he dove into the pool. The cool water enveloped him, washing away the day's tensions. He glided through the depths, letting the gentle current guide him. When his lungs began to burn, he surfaced near what appeared to be a smooth rock formation perfect for climbing out. Atlas hauled himself up, water cascading off his form. The "rock" shifted suddenly beneath his grip.
"By Merlin’s beard!" Atlas yelped as the formation moved, revealing itself to be none other than Draal the Deadly. Atlas found himself clinging to the larger troll's back like a startled whelp.
Atlas scrambled to find purchase, but his wet hands slipped on Draal's crystal back skin. He tumbled backward toward the water, only to find himself caught in Draal's strong grip. The larger troll's hands lingered perhaps a moment too long before setting Atlas on his feet.
"Surprised?" Draal rumbled, amusement clear in his voice despite his attempt at stoicism.
"I... didn't expect company." Atlas managed, acutely aware that they were both shirtless. Draal wore simple cloth shorts, the seams uneven but sturdy. The sight was oddly endearing.
"The falls are for all of Trollmarket." Draal said, though his usual bravado seemed subdued. His eyes darted over Atlas's form before quickly looking away. "Though I admit, I've never seen another here during my visits."
After an awkward moment, Draal allowed Atlas down from his arms. Atlas settled onto one of the meditation stones, feet dangling in the water. After a moment's hesitation, Draal joined him. Their shoulders nearly touched, sending an unexpected current of awareness through Atlas's form.
"Tell me." Draal began, uncharacteristically hesitant, "What brings a fellow warrior to this sanctuary? Not many trolls know about this area."
Atlas chose his words carefully, as he always did. "Sometimes... the weight of responsibilities becomes too heavy to bear alone."
"The burden of expectations. I know it well. "Draal nodded sagely, though Atlas caught the flash of understanding in his eyes.
"Your father..." Draal held a finger up, cutting off Atlas.
"Kanjigar the Courageous." Draal corrected, his voice held pride tinged with something darker. "His shadow stretches long through Trollmarket's halls."
Atlas studied Draal's profile, seeing him with new eyes. His knowledge of their future relationship remained carefully guarded, but the emotions it stirred were very present.
"Perhaps." Atlas ventured, "I could show you a new fighting technique? Something to surprise him with during your next sparring match."
"Would you share your knowledge with me?" Draal's eyes lit up at the prospect, though he tried to maintain his warrior's composure.
"Well..." Atlas smirked, standing up, "I have to maintain some mysteries. But this mo-OOO!..." He shifted into a defensive stance, then promptly slipped on the wet stone.
For the second time that day, he found himself caught in Draal's arms. Their faces were inches apart. Water droplets traced paths down Draal's stone skin, catching the crystal light like stars. Atlas became acutely aware of the larger troll's breathing, the warmth radiating from his chest.
"Your technique needs work." Draal murmured, but made no move to release him.
A school of bioluminescent fish chose that moment to leap in perfect synchronization nearby, breaking the spell.
"Perhaps a demonstration would help? Show me how a proper troll warrior handles these treacherous conditions." Atlas straightened, clearing his throat.
"Watch and learn." Draal's chest puffed up at the challenge. He approached the waterfall wall with determined strides.
"A true troll warrior can scale any surface, no matter how..." His grip on a patch of moss gave way, sending him tumbling backward into the pool with a tremendous splash.
The sight of Draal emerging covered in glowing algae, looking like a neon Kappa, broke through Atlas's carefully maintained composure. Laughter erupted from his chest, echoing off the cavern walls. After a moment of wounded dignity, Draal joined in, his deep chuckles harmonizing with Atlas's lighter tones.
"I won't tell anyone if you don't." Atlas offered between laughs.
"Deal." Draal agreed, shaking off excess water and algae. "Though I maintain the moss was clearly enchanted to be especially slippery."
They settled back onto the meditation stones, comfortable silence falling between them. The Heartstone's distant light pulsed stronger through the water, surrounding them in a gentle golden glow. Atlas found himself unconsciously leaning closer to Draal's warmth.
"It's growing late." Draal finally said as the cavern crystals began to dim. Indicating that the surface sun has set as the night begins to rise. "We should return before Blinky sends a search party."
Atlas nodded as he and Draal gathered up their piles of clothes but Atlas had more clothes than Draal simple loincloth/pants, and a belt buckle that was so big and heavy could be used as a weapon itself. Before getting dressed Atlas took a look at Draal, hoisting up his kilt and wrapping the thick leather around his waist. Once secured Draal was a bit frustrated as his belt refused to click into place but from his frustration, he accidentally bent the pin with his big blue fingers and now can't secure the buckle to keep his kilt up.
“Here, let me help.” Atlas stepped forward, finding himself fitting perfectly against Draal's broad chest.
Taking a look, Atlas pulled the dark leather belt and rebent the pin and secured the pin back in place. Each time their hands accidentally brushed, from Draal helping to hold his belt secure, tiny sparks seemed to dance across his crystalline skin.
Draal opened his arms hesitantly, the traditional warrior's embrace between comrades. A simple hug to show gratitude. They stood facing each other in the fading light, neither quite ready to leave the sanctuary's peace. Taking the offer, Atlas pressed his chest against Draal and held tightly to the warmth of the larger troll’s rough but warm embrace. The larger troll's heartbeat vibrated through their stone bodies, a rhythm as ancient as the earth itself. Atlas tilted his head up, meeting Draal's gaze. Something shifted in the air between them, like the moment before lightning strikes.
Without warning or thinking, Atlas rose on his toes, pressing his lips to Draal's. For one terrifying heartbeat, the larger troll remained frozen, not sure what to do or how to respond. Then Draal's arms slowly tightened around Atlas, lifting him slightly as he returned the kiss with unexpected gentleness. Both Trolls began to embrace each other more as Atlas and Draal lips became more firm between then and soon, the sounds of the waterfall, the drips of stalactites became muffled and silent, on the beat and warmth from each other. Atlas mind began to fill with Draal from their first meeting as human jim to Draal sacrifice, then to their meeting again as Atlas.
The bioluminescent plants around the pool flared brilliantly, responding to the surge of energy. Steam rose where their heated stone skin met the cool cavern air. Atlas's hands explored the contours of Draal's face, tracing the patterns that marked him as a warrior, while Draal's grip maintained that perfect balance between strength and tenderness.
When they finally broke apart, both were breathing heavily, both lost in each other's eyes. Draal’s gentle yellow eyes filled Atlas' dark blue eyes like the sun and night, draal lighting his life as warriors and something more, to Atlas night.
‘OH SH#$% WHAT DID I DO!!!!’ Atlas screamed internally as he turned to hold his mouth with red blushing that was so deep it looked like Atlas painted his face.
Looking back slowly, Atlas thought Draal would be mad but the moment Atlas looked, Draal touched his lips with wonder, eyes wide open and frozen from the ordeal. Atlas clammed up and fumbled with his clothes, suddenly unable to remember how they worked as Atlas was struggling to get his vest on.
They dressed in awkward silence, stealing glances when they thought the other wasn't looking. The walk back through Trollmarket's tunnels was a study in careful distance, close enough to protect, far enough to maintain composure. Their arms brushed occasionally, causing both to startle and separate like charged crystals, ready to discharge without warning.
Market trolls whispered as they passed, noting the unusual tension between the pair. Atlas caught fragments of speculation about training accidents and territory disputes. If they only knew...
They reached the library entrance all too soon. Blinky's voice drifted through the ornate doorway, mentioning something about prepared metal dinner.
"I should..." Atlas gestured vaguely at the door.
"Yes, of course." Draal reached out, then let his hand fall short of Atlas's shoulder.
Their eyes met one final time, volumes of unspoken words passing between them before Atlas slipped through the doorway. Slipping by AAARRRGGHH!!! And Blinky as they continued cooking in the kitchen without noticing Atlas passing by. The moment his chamber door closed, he made a brief detour to check his hidden cache, ensuring the leather bundle remained secure. Once he checked the content, he, with struggling hands, placed them back in the wall and stood up like a statue for a brief moment.
Atlas grabbed his pillow and screamed into it, muffling the sound of confusion, excitement, and sheer overwhelming emotion. His lips tingled with the memory of stone-on-stone contact. Through his window, the Heartstone pulsed steadily, offering no answers to his turbulent thoughts.
Later on, Atlas paced his small chamber, the stone floor already showing signs of wear from his repetitive path. A path usually made from his deep thinking about the future but now more focused on the present situation. Blinky's metal dinner sat untouched on a nearby table, the carefully arranged scraps growing cold, despite being solid metal and trash. Every few steps, his hand would drift to his lips, remembering the unexpected warmth of Draal's kiss.
"Focus." he muttered, stopping to press his forehead against the cool stone wall. "You have more important things to worry about than..." His voice trailed off as the memory surfaced again, sending a shiver through his crystalline form.
“What was I thi-.” A knock at his door nearly sent him jumping out of his stone skin.
"Atlas?" Blinky's voice carried through the thick door. "Are you quite alright? You've barely touched your dinner, and I specifically included that nicely rusted chainmail you usually enjoy."
"I'm fine, Blinky. Just... thinking." Atlas cleared his throat, trying to steady his voice.
"Ah, the pursuit of knowledge!" All six of Blinky's eyes probably lit up at that. "Perhaps you'd like to discuss the ancient texts we were studying earlier? I've discovered a fascinating passage about the First Age of Trollkind that-."
"Actually." Atlas interrupted, grateful for the stone door between them hiding his flustered expression, "I think I need some rest. Tomorrow's training and all that." A pause on blinky was usually a rare case but blinking looked at Atlas as if he's not buying it.
"Very well. Though I must say, you've been rather distracted lately. If there's anything troubling you..." Blinky offered, acting the father figure to Atlas to give him some comfort.
Atlas glanced at the hidden cache where his journal and amulet lay. If only he could tell Blinky everything; about the future, about his mission, about this unexpected development with Draal that somehow hadn't happened in his original timeline. But that knowledge had to remain buried, like so many other secrets.
"I appreciate the concern." Atlas said carefully. "But I'm fine. Really."
"Hmm." Blinky didn't sound entirely convinced. "Well, should you change your mind, you know where to find me. Though perhaps not for the next hour. I've promised AAARRRGGHH!!! a game of chess. We're using captured gnomes as pieces! He's becoming quite the strategic thinker, you know!"
Atlas couldn't help but smile at that. Some things never changed, no matter which timeline you were in. The image of AAARRRGGHH!!! carefully moving stubborn gnomes across a makeshift chessboard was oddly endearing. "Good night, Blinky."
"Good night, young Atlas. Do try to eat something before bed. A warrior needs his strength!" Blinky left, shutting the wooden door behind him.
Footsteps retreated down the corridor, accompanied by the soft murmur of Blinky already launching into an explanation of advanced chess strategies to someone, probably AAARRRGGHH!!!, with the occasional squeak of a protesting gnome being repositioned. Atlas waited until the sounds faded completely before sliding down to sit on the floor, back against the wall, head banging against the wall, nocking a pebble down, clanking on his sandstone horns. His hand drifted to his lips again.
"What am I doing?" he whispered to the empty room.
The Heartstone's glow filtered through his window, casting long shadows across the chamber. Somewhere in Trollmarket, Draal was probably still demolishing training dummies. The thought brought both a smile and a pang of uncertainty. Atlas stood abruptly, reaching for his journal. He needed to think this through logically. Maybe writing it down would help clear his head. He retrieved the leather bundle from its hiding place and carefully unwrapped it. The Magitek amulet glinted in the Heartstone's light, a reminder of everything at stake. Atlas set it aside with reverence before opening his journal to a fresh page. The familiar weight of the pencil in his hand was grounding.
"Pros and cons." he muttered, then laughed at himself. Was he really making a list about this? But his hand was already moving:
Pros;
* Draal is a powerful ally.
* Already trust each other, (sort of).
* The kiss was... (asdfghkl) *TEAR*
Atlas scratched out the last line so thoroughly it nearly tore through the page.
Cons;
* Could complicate the mission
* Might change timeline in unexpected ways
* Can't tell him the truth about…
* Do I still love Cla-.
A crash from somewhere in Trollmarket interrupted his writing. Atlas instinctively reached for his hidden amulet by habit before recognizing the particular sound of stone hitting stone. Draal was still at it in the training hall.
"Great." Atlas sighed, closing the journal. "I can't even make a proper list without thinking about him."
He rewrapped the bundle and returned it to its hiding place, then flopped onto his bed. The ceiling offered no more answers than the journal had, but at least it didn't remind him of Draal's eyes, or the way his hands had felt, or…..
Atlas grabbed his pillow and pressed it over his face, groaning. This was not part of the plan. None of this was part of the plan. He was supposed to prevent catastrophe, save lives, and change the future for the better. Falling for Draal was definitely not on that list.
Falling for… Atlas sat bolt upright, the pillow tumbling to the floor.
"No." he said firmly to the empty room. "No, no, no. It was just a kiss. One kiss. In a moment of... whatever that was. It doesn't mean anything." But his own words didn't feel convincing to his own emotions that were spiraling. The Heartstone's pulsing light seemed to take on an amused quality.
"Not helping stone and it doesn't…. matter." Atlas insisted, though his voice lacked conviction. He retrieved the pillow and punched it into shape with perhaps more force than necessary. "Tomorrow everything goes back to normal. We focus on training, on preparing for what's coming. No more... distractions. Well just pretend nothing happened."
But as he lay back down, his mind drifted to the falls. The way the crystal light played across Draal's features. The surprising gentleness in hands capable of crushing stone. The perfect fit of their bodies together, like pieces of a puzzle finally finding their match. Atlas pressed his face into the pillow and groaned again. Tomorrow was going to be interesting.
*****
Meanwhile, in the training hall, the sound of splintering wood and crunching metal echoed as Draal systematically destroyed every practice dummy in sight. Two passing trolls witnessed a particularly mangled dummy flying through the air, its head landing just before them, and wisely chose another route.
Draal stood amid the destruction, chest heaving, face transitioning from bewilderment, to fierce determination, to confusions. The kiss played over and over in his mind, each replay sending another surge of energy through his stone form. He touched his lips, still warm from Atlas's touch. A slow smile spread across his face as he made a silent vow, whatever it took, whatever battles lay ahead, he would find his way back to that perfect moment by the falls.
The training dummies never stood a chance. The training hall lay in ruins. Splintered wood, crushed stone, and the remains of what had once been training dummies littered the floor. In the center of the destruction stood Draal, chest heaving, fists clenched at his sides as he stared at the mess he'd created.
"Feel better?" A familiar voice echoed through the chamber. Kanjigar emerged from the shadows, his expression a mixture of amusement and concern.
"Father, I was just... training." Draal straightened immediately, trying to adopt a more dignified pose despite being surrounded by destruction.
"I can see that." Kanjigar picked up a dummy's head, its wooden features frozen in perpetual surprise. "Though I suspect these poor warriors gave you little challenge."
"I needed to think." Draal said, trying to act composed.
"Clearly." Kanjigar set the head down with deliberate care. "And did this... thinking... involve a certain young troll who's been training with us?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Draal's crystalline skin flushed slightly darker.
"No?" Kanjigar's eyes twinkled. "Then perhaps you wouldn't be interested to know that Blinky mentioned seeing you two return from the crystal falls earlier. Something about you being covered in glowing algae?"
"That was..." Draal fumbled for words, a rare occurrence for the usually confident warrior. "There was slippery moss." Draal tried to sound confident but his lies were easy to read.
"Ah yes, the notorious enchanted moss of the falls. It claimed many victims." Kanjigar's voice was serious, but his eyes betrayed his amusement. "Though few emerge looking quite so... festive."
"Father, please." Draal groaned, sinking onto a nearby bench that had somehow survived his earlier rampage.
Kanjigar sat beside his son, their shoulders nearly touching. For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, surrounded by the evidence of Draal's "training."
"You know." Kanjigar finally said, "your mother once pushed me into those same falls."
"She what?" Draal's head snapped up.
"Oh yes. I was being, as she put it, 'an insufferable stone-head moron' about something or other." Kanjigar smiled at the memory. "I emerged covered in that same glowing algae. She laughed so hard she nearly fell in herself."
"You never told me that story before." Draal can't believe something that his mother did ages ago.
"There are many stories I haven't told you, my son." Kanjigar's voice grew softer. "Perhaps I should have shared more of them sooner."
Another crash echoed from somewhere in Trollmarket, followed by the distinct sound of Blinky shouting something about "unruly gnome bishops" and "illegal castle moves."
"Atlas..." Draal began, then stopped, unsure how to continue.
"Yes?" Kanjigar raised an eyebrow to Draal.
"He's... different. From other trolls." Draal began, twirling his fingers in his lap.
"I've noticed." Kanjigar nodded sagely.
"Not just in size or fighting style." Draal rushed on. "There's something about him. Like he carries a weight none of us can see. And sometimes, when he thinks no one's watching, he gets this look in his eyes..."
"Like he's seeing ghosts?" Kanjigar suggested quietly.
"Yes! Exactly like that." Draal turned to his father. "You've noticed it too?"
"I've noticed many things about our young friend." Kanjigar chose his words carefully. "He fights with the skill of someone who's seen more battles than his years should allow. He carries himself like one who bears great responsibility. And..." He gave his son a sidelong glance. "He seems to have caught the eye of my son."
"Father!" Draal sputtered.
"Am I wrong?" Kanjigar raised a brow.
"No." The younger troll's shoulders slumped. "But it's... complicated." he admitted.
"Matters of the heart usually are." Kanjigar stood, stretching his stone limbs. "Though perhaps not as complicated as you think."
"What do you mean?" Draal looked at his father with genuine confusion.
"I mean that sometimes we overthink things that should be simple." Kanjigar gestured at the demolished training hall. "Like how destroying every dummy in Trollmarket won't actually answer the questions in your heart."
"I'll clean this up." Draal looked around sheepishly.
"Yes, you will." Kanjigar smiled. "But first, tell me what happened at the falls. And please, spare your old father any... overly detailed descriptions."
"We kissed." Draal blurted out. "Just once. But it was..."
"Enlightening?" Kanjigar smiled, slapping Draal’s shoulder.
"Life-changing." Draal touched his lips, still feeling the ghost of that contact. "I've never felt anything like it." Kanjigar nodded, understanding in his eyes.
"And now you're afraid." Kanjigar's arms crossed as he looked at Draal.
"I'm not afraid!" Draal protested automatically, then deflated under his father's knowing look. "Maybe a little. What if I'm reading too much into it? What if he regrets it? What if-."
"What if the sky falls and we all turn to dust?" Kanjigar interrupted gently. "You can't live your life on 'what if’s,' my son. Trust your heart. It's usually wiser than our heads."
Another crash from the direction of the market, followed by what sounded suspiciously like a gnome victory cry.
"Now." Kanjigar said, "I believe I should go rescue AAARRRGGHH!!! from what appears to be a rather aggressive checkmate. And you..." He looked pointedly at the mess around them. "Have some cleaning to do."
"Father?" Draal stood, squaring his shoulders.
"Yes?" Kanjigar raised an eyebrow.
"Thank you." Draal said, not looking at the Trollhunter but at his father.
"Just promise me one thing?" Kanjigar smiled, clasping his son's shoulder.
"Anything." Draal looked excited.
"Next time you need to think, perhaps try meditation instead of demolition? The training dummies are becoming quite expensive to replace." Kanjigar flicked a broken dummy's head as it rolled to Draal’s feet.
With that, Kanjigar turned and strode from the hall, leaving Draal alone with his thoughts and a lot of cleanup work ahead of him. But as he began gathering the scattered debris, his mind kept returning to the falls, to that perfect moment when everything had changed. He touched his lips again, a smile spreading across his face. Tomorrow couldn't come soon enough.
*****
The Heartstone's glow shifts from its nighttime amber to a brighter golden hue. Atlas hadn't slept. He'd spent the night alternating between staring at the ceiling, pacing his chamber, and checking his hidden journal at least a dozen times, as if the answers to his current situation might magically appear on its pages. A knock at his door made him jump.
"Training begins in ten minutes!" Blinky's cheerful voice called out. "And I must say, AAARRRGGHH!!! is quite eager for a rematch after last night's rather unconventional checkmate. Who knew gnomes could be such aggressive chess players?"
Atlas managed a grunt of acknowledgement, already dreading what awaited him in the training hall. Would Draal be there? Of course he would be there. Where else would he be? They'd have to act normal, pretend nothing had happened, focus on training…
The memory of the kiss flooded back, and Atlas banged his head softly against the wall. "Focus." he muttered. "You've faced worse. Much worse." Though at the moment, he couldn't think of anything more terrifying than facing Draal in the light of day.
He checked his hidden cache one final time before heading out. The leather-wrapped bundle remained secure, its secrets safe. If only his emotions could be so easily contained. The corridors of Trollmarket were already bustling with activity. Atlas weaved through the crowd, noting how several trolls seemed to be giving the training hall a wide berth. Given the sounds of destruction he'd heard last night, he couldn't blame them.
As he approached the hall, he caught snippets of conversation:
"...never seen so many dummies destroyed..."
"...took Kanjigar himself to calm him down..."
"...something about kissing..."
Atlas quickened his pace, keeping his head down. The last thing he needed was to be drawn into gossip about last night's events, especially since he was partly responsible for them.
He reached the training hall entrance and froze. Through the doorway, he could see Draal clearly focused on setting up new training dummies. The larger troll's movements were precise, almost gentle, a stark contrast to last night's destruction he heard about. Morning light from the Heartstone caught his crystalline form, highlighting the intricate patterns in his back stone skin.
Atlas must have made some sound, because Draal turned suddenly, their eyes meeting. For a moment, neither moved. The air seemed to crackle with unspoken words.
"You're here early." Atlas managed, proud that his voice remained steady.
"Someone had to clean up the mess." Draal's tone was carefully neutral, but his eyes held an intensity that made Atlas's stone skin warm.
"About that..." Atlas took a step forward, then stopped, unsure. "About last night..."
"Incoming!" Blinky's warning shout was their only notice before something small and angry shot between them. A rogue gnome, wearing what appeared to be a chess queen's crown, zoomed past wielding a tiny makeshift sword.
"Return at once!" Blinky burst into the hall, all six eyes fixed on the escaping piece. "That crown is a precious artifact! Well, more of a bottle cap really, but the principle remains!"
"Queen mad…. bad checkmate." AAARRRGGHH!!! lumbered in after them, looking both amused and concerned.
The gnome took advantage of their distraction to scale one of the training dummies Draal had just set up. It reached the top and brandished its weapon, squeaking what was probably a declaration of independence from the tyranny of chess.
"Oh, for Deya's sake." Blinky threw up all four hands in exasperation. "Atlas, Draal, a little help perhaps?"
Atlas and Draal exchanged glances. A silent understanding passed between them. Whatever they needed to discuss could wait. Right now, they had a renegade chess piece to capture.
"I'll go high." Atlas offered, already moving toward the dummy's left side.
"I'll guard the exit." Draal responded, positioning himself by the door.
The gnome, realizing it was about to be cornered, made a bold decision. It leaped from the dummy's head, using its crown as a makeshift parachute. The tiny sword glinted as it spun through the air with surprising grace.
Atlas lunged to intercept, but his foot caught on a piece of debris from last night's destruction. He stumbled forward, directly into Draal's chest. Strong arms caught him automatically, and suddenly they were right back where they'd been at the falls, too close, not close enough, the world narrowing to just the two of them.
A triumphant squeak broke the moment. The gnome had reached the door, pausing only to offer what appeared to be a tiny royal wave before disappearing into Trollmarket's winding corridors.
"After that gnome!" Blinky shouted, already running past them. "Do you have any idea how long it took to train them to play chess properly?"
"Talk…. later." he rumbled softly. "Catch queen…. now." AAARRRGGHH!!! followed more slowly, pausing to give Atlas and Draal a knowing look.
And then they were alone again. Atlas realized he was still in Draal's arms and quickly stepped back, straightening his clothes.
"We should probably..." Atlas began but was blushing.
"Help them catch the gnome?" Draal finished. "Probably."
Neither moved. This felt more awkward for them than any battles or nightmares they faced as if they were frozen in fear. Both trying to ignore the elephant in the room that's blowing its trumpet and running around in the training hall.
"About last night." They both started at the same time. Draal gestured for Atlas to continue. But before he could speak, another of Blinky's shouts echoed from the corridor.
"It's heading for the Heartstone! And it's recruiting other gnomes!" Blinky’s shouting cuts through the tensions.
Atlas couldn't help it, he laughed. The situation was too absurd not to. After a moment, Draal joined in, his deep chuckles filling the training hall.
"We should..." Atlas gestured toward the door, still grinning.
"Yes, we should." Draal's eyes sparkled with barely contained mirth. "But later..."
"Later." Atlas agreed, understanding passing between them. They had unfinished business to discuss, but for now, they had a rebel chess piece to capture.
Together, they headed out into Trollmarket, following the sound of chaos and Blinky's increasingly creative threats about what he'd do to any gnome that dared disrupt his perfect chess set. Whatever came next between them could wait but Atlas had a feeling it would be worth the anticipation.
Chaos reigned in the heart of Trollmarket. The rogue chess queen had indeed gathered reinforcements as a small army of gnomes now marched through the market's winding paths, led by their crowned champion. Some wore makeshift armor crafted from bottle caps and discarded metal, while others brandished tiny weapons that might have been toothpicks.
"If anyone had told me I'd be chasing militant chess pieces today..." Atlas muttered, crouching behind a crystal formation with Draal. “I think I would rather be back in bed.”
"At least they're organized." Draal observed as the gnome army executed a perfect flanking maneuver around a surprised merchant's cart. "You have to admire their tactical prowess."
"Of course they're organized!” Blinky skidded to a stop beside them, all six eyes wide with a mixture of pride and exasperation. “I spent months teaching them chess strategy. Though I must admit, I didn't expect them to apply it quite so... literally." AAARRRGGHH!!! joined their impromptu war council, careful not to crush the crystal they hid behind.
"Queen good teacher." he rumbled approvingly as they watched the gnome forces split into clearly coordinated units.
"We need a plan." Atlas said, trying to focus on the task at hand rather than how close Draal was in their hiding spot. He can almost feel the heat from Draal’s body. "Any ideas?"
"Well..." Blinky began, but was interrupted by a chorus of tiny battle cries. The gnome army had spotted them.
"Move!" Draal grabbed Atlas and rolled them both clear as a barrage of pebbles peppered their previous position. They came up together, Atlas practically in Draal's chest and lap, both breathing hard.
"Sorry." Draal muttered, though he didn't sound particularly apologetic. Nor letting go.
"Don't be." Atlas replied softly, before remembering they had an audience, and a gnome situation to handle.
Blinky cleared his throat pointedly. "If you two are quite finished, perhaps we could focus on the revolutionary chess piece currently leading an uprising in our market?"
The gnome queen stood atop a barrel, crown glinting in the Heartstone's light as she directed her troops with impressive authority. The tiny sword pointed toward the group, and another volley of pebbles launched their way.
"Wait." Atlas said, an idea forming. "She's using chess strategies, right? So maybe we should too."
"If we move like chess pieces..." Draal caught on immediately.
"We can predict their patterns!" Blinky finished excitedly. "Oh, brilliant! Though we'll need to coordinate our movements carefully. Atlas, you'll need to move like a knight, unpredictable but precise. Draal, you're obviously a rook, powerful, straightforward. AAARRRGGHH!!!, you'll be our bishop, moving along the diagonals. And I shall be the queen, free to move in any direction!"
"What about the king?" AAARRRGGHH!!! asked. They all looked at each other, then at the gnome queen still directing her troops.
"No king." Blinky decided. "This queen plays by her own rules. Now, everyone! And remember, we move only as our pieces allow!"
What followed was perhaps the strangest battle in Trollmarket's history. Atlas leaped in the knight's moves, creating confusion among the gnome ranks. Draal charged in straight lines, scattering gnome formations with careful precision. AAARRRGGHH!!! swept diagonally through their defenses while Blinky darted everywhere at once, all six eyes tracking multiple movements.
The gnome queen watched her forces slowly fall into disarray, tiny faces scrunching in concentration. Then, to everyone's surprise, she called her troops to halt with a sharp squeak.
"Check." she announced in perfect, if squeaky, English. The market fell silent.
"Did... did that gnome just speak?" Atlas asked.
"Oh yes." Blinky replied proudly. "They're quite intelligent when properly motivated. Though they usually prefer their own language."
The gnome queen descended from her barrel, crown still perfectly positioned. She approached their group with a regal bearing, a tiny sword held at her side.
"Good game." she squeaked, bowing slightly. "Rematch tomorrow?"
"My dear queen, nothing would please me more! Though perhaps we could keep it to the chessboard this time?" Blinky's face split into a delighted grin.
The queen considered this, then nodded. She turned to her troops and squeaked a series of commands. The gnome army began dispersing, many stopping to return "borrowed" items to stunned market vendors.
"Well." Draal said as they watched the gnomes depart, "that was..."
"Interesting?" Atlas suggested.
"I was going to say 'completely insane,' but interesting works too." Draal said, rubbing the back of his head.
Their eyes met, and suddenly the morning's tension returned in full force. They still hadn't talked about the kiss, about what it meant, about where they went from here.
"Would you..." Atlas started.
"Yes." Draal answered immediately, then looked embarrassed. "I mean, you haven't asked anything yet."
"Would you like to go back to the falls?" Atlas finished, heart pounding. "To talk?"
"Yes." Draal said again, softer this time. "I'd like that."
Blinky, who had been pretending not to listen while gathering his chess pieces, suddenly developed an intense interest in a nearby crystal formation. AAARRRGGHH!!! was less subtle, giving them both a thumbs up before following Blinky.
"Now?" Atlas asked.
Draal glanced at the retreating gnome army, then back at Atlas. "Now."
They walked toward the falls in comfortable silence, shoulders occasionally brushing. The market trolls they passed were too busy discussing the Great Gnome Uprising to pay them much attention. They reached the falls, the familiar sound of rushing water welcomed them. Crystal light played across the pool's surface, creating dancing patterns on the cavern walls.
"So..." they both started again, then laughed.
"You first." Atlas insisted. Draal took a deep breath.
"I don't regret it. The kiss. I've been trying to think of a more elegant way to say that, but... there it is. I don't regret it, and I'd very much like to do it again. If you want to."
Atlas's stone heart seemed to skip a beat. He had responsibilities, secrets he needed to keep, a timeline to protect, a girlfriend he once had. But looking at Draal now, backlit by crystal light and watching him with such open honesty, none of that seemed to matter quite as much.
"I don't regret it either." Atlas said softly.
"Then perhaps we should..." Draal stepped closer, one hand coming up to cup Atlas's face.
A distant squeak interrupted them, followed by Blinky's voice echoing through the tunnels: "No, absolutely not! The queen cannot actually fly, that's not in the official rules!"
They burst out laughing, the tension breaking like a wave. When their laughter subsided, Atlas found himself wrapped in Draal's arms, their foreheads touching.
"We should probably help them." Atlas murmured, making no move to pull away.
"Probably." Draal agreed, leaning closer. "In a minute."
This time when they kissed, there was no surprise, no hesitation. Just the perfect fit of stone against stone, the sound of falling water, and the knowledge that whatever came next, they would face it together.
Somewhere in Trollmarket, a gnome queen was probably planning her next revolution. But that was tomorrow's problem. For now, there was just this moment, this kiss, this promise of something new and wonderful and entirely unexpected. And for once, Atlas didn't need his journal to tell him what happened next. Some things he was learning were better left unwritten, better lived, moment by precious moment, in the here and now.
As they broke apart, Atlas just stared at Draal’s eyes and Draal doing the same as they held each other’s arms, Draal never wanting to let go of this moment. Atlas resting his head under Draal chin, listening to his breathing and heart beating softly as it provided a lovely sound that lulled Atlas in a calm embrace, a feeling he never knew he needed but was glad to have. they just stood near the falls, allowing the crashing waves to fill the surroundings, isolating themselves in their own oasis from the troubles of troll market, the dangers on the surface. But this moment, was just for them, and them alone.
They stared at each other again, with a silent vow, they would stand together, but maybe more than just warriors, something they both needed that the other had to fill.