The sun was blazing overhead, which only led the women to fan themselves with their embroidery made folding fans that fit right in their man's pocket. Of course, the men wouldn't use such feminine help, forcing the pale man to shut his eyes in an attempt to ignore the heat. Becoming fidgety, the ceremony finally started, or so he assumed by the sound of trumpets and other brass.
Almost whimpering at the loud noise, he peered through half-lidded vision to notice the petite blonde woman march on her path. Small as she may be, she was the type to send men flying with a single slap. Women usually wouldn't be allowed anywhere near the navy, but with what skill Astrid housed, it would've been a detriment on the whole island if they didn't put her with some power.
The crowd was slowly getting to him, along with the drowned out rules, regulations, and vows that had to be made. He was meant to stay here, yes, especially since the new Commodore was going to have a word with him afterward. Never told what the conversation would hold, he could only assume it to be boring and unimportant.
Slowly but surely, he began creeping his way in reverse through the crowd. They were all occupied with cooling themselves, relieving boredom, or actually being intrigued in the ceremony, so Jack figured he had a shot. His father was one of the few actually interested in the promotion, seeing as he had scheduled it. Double, then triple, checking to make sure the governor wasn't watching, he took those few steps back.
Suddenly, the darker blue eyes darted right around to his position, where they furrowed in a questioning look. Communicating with his eyes, the pale young adult gave his eyebrows a shrug as he looked to the woman next to him, as if he was having a conversation with her.
Though, that wasn't in his interest at all. When the bearded man finally turned his head in reassurance his son wasn't attempting anything troublesome, he did just that. Darting out under the arch that flowed entrance into the town square, he ran as fast as his lanky legs would take him, aiming to quickly get out of view from his father, and in reality, all the other civilians and Royal Guard that may have seen.
Soon enough, his shoes turned from clicking on pavement to patting against the dirtened road. A few shops were open, yet most of the town was watching the promotion, as it was a bandwagon thing to do. Taking turns and shortcuts through cracks in buildings, it took a bit to make it to his destination; however, Jack wanted to make sure he hadn't been followed.
The door to the blacksmith shop creaked open with his push, where he firmly slid the wooden hatch into place to close off any pedestrians viewing his presence here. Sighing with relief, the frost haired male turned his cold gaze to his clothing. The shoulder had been ripped, and his skin held a small scrape; he must've snagged it without noticing, likely during his sly escape and maze through walls. His legs were slightly dusty from the kicked up dirt, which was something his father would slam him about.
The floored stairs gave a creak as he walked upon them, making his way to the main floor, also covered in dirt. Metal shrouded the corners of the room and created pathways; the anvil, a spinny-thing that held swords which he knew no name of, the irons, and the swords themselves. It definitely wasn't his place to be, especially as the governor's son, but he had someone to see whom he hadn't caught an eye of at the ceremony.
"I'm sorry; I've been working on a few orders…" The familiar voice began, getting louder as the brunet stepped forward into his main workspace. Dusting away charcoal and ash from his attire, Hiccup eventually looked up to view his visitor. "Jack…" A bit of disbelief shrouded his features, especially as tanned fingers attempted to shoo him out of the shop. "You shouldn't be here!"
"I want to be!" He fought, a bit defiantly, his chest standing proud before his shoulders slumped forward. "I wanted to see you… but you seem rather busy." Reaching his fingers down to adjust the cuffs on his sleeves, his tongue clicked in disappointment, and he turned right on his heels. "Maybe I'll leave-"
"No!" Bluntly interrupted, Jack turned back, an eyebrow raised in question at such tone. "I mean…" Now he was stuck, needing to clarify. The pale man certainly wasn't as strict as his father with official greetings and how to be spoken to, but all the same, a tinge of paranoia that he'd upset his savoir hung in the back of his mind. "I mean, I'd like you to stay, but I don't need to be on the governor's bad side."
With that signature chuckle pouring from cold lips, his crystallized hues softened. "Is that why I'm the one who gets your sarcastic remarks?"
In response, Hiccup's eyebrows shrugged as his jade eyes rolled. Jack would take that as a yes.
Slipping off his coat to become more comfortable, Jack hung it up on the hook of the shop, next to where his brunet friend's was already placed. "Anything new you've been working on?" As he asked, his gaze shifted around the area, searching for something he hadn't yet seen.
His eye caught something, to which he briskly headed over; however, the blacksmith quickly darted in front of his path to block him. Arms outstretched, a pout was evident in his lightly stubbled features. Of course, this only raised the shorter male's curiosity. Stretching up on his toes, he clasped his fingers over the shoulders in front of him, his chin reaching high to get a better view. "Please let me see?"
Receiving another eye roll, he decided to release his pale grip. Though, that was only to give a playful yank to the small braid the darker hair held, where those freckled hands reached up in defense, and a small yelp escaped through his lips.
Jack took his open opportunity, dashing directly past the other to inspect the wooden contraption. His fingertips dragged themselves over the nooks and etchings in the mahogany. By this point, his friend, or more so 'victim', recovered to gently pull the higher-class male away from the machine.
"It's not finished yet, and you might hurt yourself. It's going to be a lever though. Sort of…" It was an accurate worry; Jack had accidentally broken a few things around the shop before, some of them being unfixable. Attempting to lure the attention of blue eyes away from the invention, Hiccup lightly ruffled his fingers over frosted hair.
Jack merely pursed his lips, almost pouting at the blacksmith's refusal to an enjoyable moment of discovery occur. "I can take care of myself fine, thank you." Yet, at this point, he could feel their eyes begin to lock. They must have, for he was actually able to gaze right into the eyes he loved so much; the ones that were so different from his own.
Acting off of his instincts and the background emotions in his head, he outstretched his arm to bring an index finger to Hiccup's jaw. Gradually drifting the tip of his finger under the bone, he was aiming to bring the other closer with his touch.
Yes, this made a light pink heat up over freckle dotted cheekbones, though he did comply, tilting his head forward to work in his savior's hands. He seemed to know what Jack wished for, considering his eyelids began to fall.
And so he stretched up on his toes once more, allowing his lids to close in the same. Leaning in a bit more to shut their space, he was hoping to get a single kiss. Hoping.