Author's note: Hey guys im pretty nervous because this is my very first fanfic and it's going to get a bit confusing so bear with me on this okaaayy~~
It was raining that night; which was no surprise because the weather in Berk contests with that in England. The stars burned behind nimbus clouds, invisible to the eye so the only light in the streets were from the blinking headlights of what little cars pass by. Berk was just too poor-or just run by sadistic bastards- to put up streetlights.
Just a few blocks downtown stood a lonely building, the peeling paint on its walls is evidence of old age as well as the roof panels which are in need of replacing. From afar you really can't tell that this small abandoned-looking building was an animal clinic. There were several small windows though only one window revealed a lighted room. Inside was a boy shuffling around boxes, moving about and arranging cans of dog food on several shelves in one side of the room.
He was rather tall, with unkempt brown hair and inquisitive eyes that burned green under the light. His built suggested that he was about eighteen years old. The clock which hung on the white washed wall read half past six and he should really be home by now but unlike other eighteen year olds, he didn't have a car, since his father is the stereotypical overprotective "focus on your studies" and "no parties 'til college" kind.
Suddenly a frantic knocking broke the silent routine which almost made him drop the canned food he was holding. By Odin's beard, who would still be out at this time? He thought to himself, running towards the door. Opening it, he found himself in front of a girl, drenched from head to toe with frantic green eyes searching the boy's face helplessly. She was hugging herself which meant she was probably freezing out here. What possessed you to go running around in the rain?
Then the girl started talking. "I just- I didn't see it- it was too-too dark" She stuttered out incomprehensibly, shaking with panic and cold. "One second I looked away to grab my phone then he next it just- I-I" She kept on glancing behind her at something in the dark.
"Calm down" The boy reassured. "Tell me what happened."
The girl took a deep shaky breath and composed what she could of herself. "I hit something-a cat or a dog, I don't know."
"Where is it?"
"It's in-in my car." With that she ran back into the rain, leading the boy to where her car was. It was really dark to see anything and the rain made it worse. When she opened the trunk he had to strain his eyes to be able to grasp what exactly she hit. Then in the corner he saw a shadowy creature move. He bent forward, arms stretched out, ready to catch it if ever it pounces on him and claws his face out. The girl stood behind him, shaken as ever and breathed heavily. His hands had to search the floor of the car before finally grabbing hold of the animal's damp body.
As he retrieved it, the animal hissed at him, clearly annoyed-or hurt. It's a cat. He thought. It kept on hissing, the hairs on its back standing. The girl, who was about to pet it, recoiled her hand from the black cat.
"Don't worry, it's just frightened." He reassured again to which his nervous companion smiled. Hugging the cat close to his chest, they hurried back into the clinic now soaking wet.
"Is it going to be okay?" The blonde girl peered over his shoulders as the boy examined the cat's left foreleg. It seems to have been hurt badly.
He scratched his head. "I don't know. His leg's not looking good and I think the vet might have to perform surgery on it tomorrow morning. In the meantime though I could just bandage it and let him rest here for the night."
The girl's eyes widened even more-if it were possible, at his words. "Oh god. This is all my fault. I should have just kept my eyes on the road." She bit her lip, grabbed a handful of her soaking blond locks and clutched at it.
"Hey it's not your fault. No one normal can see out there with all this rain anyways. He's going to be fine, I promise." His mouth quirked up into a lopsided smile to which his companion mirrored.
They stayed like that for several awkward seconds until the girl shivered involuntarily and hugged her elbows. The boy recognized the action and an expression of self-hatred registered on his face. He stupidly bumped into one of the desks, causing a fit of giggles from the girl. Then he opened a bag sitting on one of the tables and retrieved a worn-looking sweatshirt. He handed it to the girl.
"Here. You must be-uh, cold." His arm holding the clothing hung suspended between them. She shyly took it, her delicate fingers brushing his palm causing them both to blush. Before turning to change in the other room, she glanced back at him, playing with the sweatshirt in her hands.
"I didn't catch your name." She said.
The boy however, wasn't listening since he was busying himself with the medical kit. Strands of dripping hair partly hid his far-off look, and green orbs wandering off somewhere. She watched him for several moments, a smile tugging on her lips.
"Hello?"
That shook him out of his reverie, and instantly he whipped his head towards her, face burning red. How could he act so stupid in front of a girl?
"Sorry what was that?" He asked, scratching his head.
The girl hid her laugh behind her hand. "I was asking for your name, silly."
This was the second time he wanted to slap himself and if it happens again, he's gonna have a one way ticket to stupidville.
"I..uhmm…Hiccup." He burst out, causing the blond to jump a little.
"Sorry?" She wrinkled her nose in confusion.
"My name's Hiccup" The girl opened her mouth to respond but he interrupted quickly. "It's a Viking name. Everyone around here has Viking blood, or so they claim it to be."
He must have been blushing profusely since the girl was still smiling at him goofily. Is it the name? Is it the Viking part?
"I'm Rapunzel." She said, turning away and leaving him confused and drowning in his thoughts, unconsciously gripping the edge of a table to steady himself and completely forgetting about the furry creature that rested on top of it. Its purring caught Hiccup's attention which made him affectionately pet the feline's damp neck.
Before realizing it, he glanced over at the slender silhouette inside the next room; memorizing the small curves, her long hair pressed onto her small back. As if recognizing the action, the cat stared up at Hiccup, its large glassy eyes piercing into him.
"What?" He said, playfully, nudging the cat. "I didn't see anything."
"It's pretty late. Aren't you going home?" Her singsong voice called out from inside.
It was only in that moment did he remember to look at the clock. It read a few minutes till seven. "Uh yeah, well" He held the back of his hand and walked aimlessly around the room. "I'm just gonna wait for the weather to calm down a bit."
Rapunzel called out again. "Don't you have a car?" She too was pacing around the room, constantly shifting things around- probably empty boxes. He should really clean up this place.
"I have a license but my dad doesn't really trust me with a car." Now that he actually said it, the idea seemed pretty silly. What kind of an 18 year old senior still takes the bus to school? People must really pity him a lot.
Rapunzel came out, holding a wet shirt in her hands. His sweatshirt hung loosely on her small frame, but it looks kinda nice. Why is it that guy clothes look instantly better on girls?
"Overprotective?" She said, wearing a sympathetic look on her face. He nodded.
The blonde leaned against the table where their rescued friend sat staring at them both. Hiccup sat on top of a desk and they sat there in an impenetrable silence with her stroking the cat and with him watching her.
Finally he broke the stillness. "I guess it's just that he's afraid I might end up miles across the country in some nasty car accident."
Her smile looked distracted and and her gaze wandered far.
"Parents just do what's best for us you know, even though they know that we can't see it; we can't see their motives. Sometimes they'll sacrifice everything for you even when you rebel against them. They're just that devoted to you."
And with those words hushed any thoughts that wished to be spoken between them and they fell into a contemplating silence again that no one wanted to break. The rain kept on pounding the streets and rattled against the roof. It had gotten colder as the seconds turned into minutes. But no one bothered to move from their place. The sound of the pattering of raindrops made you just want to sit very still because you don't want to miss what it wants to say. They held onto this moment like a thread, just to admire the fragility of the world as the water breaks through its surface.
"Psithurism." He whispered to the air. Rapunzel slowly turned to look at him, with a questioning look on her face. "the sound of wind through the trees..psithurism."
No one knew how they ended up like this. In soaking clothes sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall and just listening to the drumming of each others heartbeats, hearing their pulses. The rain has stopped hours ago and the world grew even more silent as the hands of the clock raced with each other. They talked for hours. They just talked and talked, without even recalling their words. She told him about her adoptive mother. Of how she was forced to study medicine in college. She told him about her pet chameleon. She told him of how she wanted to escape; to travel everywhere. He told her she should pursue what she wants to do. She told him she can't.
In turn he told her about his strict father. Of how he never had a mother to love him, growing up. He told her about a girl he kissed years ago. He told her that he wanted to go on adventures too. He wanted to explore wildlife and discover new animal species. She told him he should. He told her he can't.
But then everything that ever mattered, everything we held on to, eventually had to pass.
"It's late." Hiccup whispered to her hoarsely, though he did not want her to leave.
She smiled. And it was the kind of smile that dimples her cheek. It was the kind that puts the Mona Lisa to shame. It was the kind that looked so fragile and vulnerable that it could fade into nothing with each breath. He never thought he could be so affected by a simple tug of the lips, by a small curve on the face. Her smile contained every emotion he was ever taught. Hurt, anger, happiness, envy..love. Her smile was beautiful and cold. It was mysterious and broken. She held his hand, weaved their fingers together. Her touch was warm and comforting.
"I don't want to leave."
"Then stay."
"I can't."
He gripped her hand tight. "I don't know who you are Rapunzel. I don't know why you have this effect on me. I don't know why the gods led you to me tonight. But I do know one thing. I don't want you to leave."
Doubt hung between them, no one dared to voice their thoughts. This was all so silly in the first place. They just met and now they're here hesitating to let go of a hint of a budding romance. They were too naïve to realize what they were going to put themselves into.
"Let me drive you home." Rapunzel said, hoping to break the tension.
Hiccup snorted. "Wouldn't it be weird for a girl to offer a guy a ride home?"
"So you'd rather stay here? Alone? With a bunch of animals?" She scoffed at him and crossed her arms.
He scrunched up his nose and narrowed his eyes at her. "I think you don't understand what 'alone' means. And besides, I have Toothless." He said, gesturing to the cat who just approached them begging for a petting.
His remark caused the blond to laugh a little. "It already has a name?"
"He grows on you."
They sat back and petted Toothless who was enjoying every bit on it. They both wished for a way to stay like this; no parents, no commitments, just to sit on the floor and stare at a peeling wall. Without warning, Rapunzel hurriedly stood up.
"Hiccup I really have to go." She whispered, tugging at the sleeves of the shirt. She pulled him up and they wordlessly walked to the door, Toothless following close behind. This was the worst part; when part of you wishes to take hold of her and run away. When you give up and don't say anything. When the words hang suspended in the air, waiting to be put into a jar and thrown out into sea.
She turned to him and her smile hurt. He barely knew her and it hurt him; everything she does. He begged for time to linger longer. He wanted just a few more minutes to just look at her like this. He wanted to memorize the curves of her face, the lines, the way her hair cascades down her back, the way her eyes give away her every emotion. He wanted to take her in, all of her afraid she might run away.
Basorexia-the overwhelming urge to kiss
"Good night Hiccup."
"Good night Punzie"
She smiles at the nickname. And her smile is all that he sees for the rest of the night.
Lypophrenia: a feeling of sadness seemingly without a cause
A.N. sooooooo a bit short right? hurhur. i still got a few oneshot (and hopefully actual stories) ideas but idk if i will be able to write them all *fingers crossed*
anyways hope you enjoyed and dont forget to REVIEW AND SHARE thanks luv u my fire breathing cupcakes~~