Chapter 6

- Everyone's Least Favorite Season -

Hiccup knew immediately that he disliked Jack.

After seeing him, Hiccup stood stunned, gaping unblinkingly as his mind attempted to grasp what was happening. This was a distinctive impossibility, and yet the boy stood in front of him, cheeky features illuminating his mirth. The wind seemed to adore him, tugging at his clothes and giving him slight pushes and pulls into the air. He wasn't human, and he wasn't alive, the lack of color in his cheeks proving that much. Albeit Hiccup walked as the boy's gaze followed passing birds, and the way his hands would absentmindedly trail on passing objects, and he knew him to be real. Everything that had once seemed abiotic to Hiccup seemed alive when reacting to Jack, the setting rays of the sun tickling his paled cheeks with impossible giggles.

Just when he was starting to accept it, to accept the impossibility life had thrust upon him, Jack abruptly turned and said,"What are you looking at tooth pick?" It was a challenge, a mischief filled one, and something about the way his eyes glinted send a shudder down the Viking's spine.

What was he supposed to say to something that shouldn't exist, the boy's expression faltering slightly at Hiccup's lack of a response. He wanted a reaction.

The strange girl's head snapped up from her hair at his words, expression irate. "Jack! Apologize!" She demanded, not used to contact with others but determined to make things run smoothly. She wasn't about to lose a chance to make friends. He chuckled at her command, much to her irritation, and twirled his staff with the aid of the wind. He glided up out of her reach as she halfheartedly swatted at him, trying not to smile herself.

Hiccup watched as she attempted to strike him, wanting to say something, anything, but finding his words lodged in his throat. Jack only chuckled and did a few loop-de-loops. The girl groaned, shaking her head, before peering through her hair at the silent Viking. Her gaze brightened, and, gathering her locks, she marched over to Hiccup.

He attempted to back away from her, only to stop as a gentle hand rested on his arm. He looked into her kind eyes whose hue matched his own, before smiling and relaxing him a bit. "Jack can be a pain, but he's alright." Her expression changed. "Scratch that, he's a jerk." Jack smiled widely, eating up the attention. "Hey, Rapunzel! I'm still here ya' know!" Rapunzel grabbed Hiccups hand, indirectly causing him to tense up once more. "Yeah, we know." Albeit she didn't notice his dilemma and walked off, pulling him along side her.

She dragged him into the woods while Jack flew in the tree tops above them, undoubtedly unsure of where to go but needing to experience the freedom to roam.

Hiccup listened as Rapunzel told him all about her day with Jack. She spoke of her predicament, and of how they met, and the dream that drove her to challenge the unthinkable. Despite the strange set of events she seemed happy. Her eyes darted about, as though she was taking in every detail. With each passing word she seemed to relax, and Hiccup found himself doing the same. She had this contagious aura of happiness about her, and being near it caused one to view life with a brightened light. Sure, there are hardships in this world, and cruelty seemingly at every turn, but that's why it was beautiful. This world is cruel, but it's also home.

After a few minutes of them talking, learning to accept and enjoy one another's presence, Jack floated down to them, albeit with too much vigor, and violently tumbled into a pile of snow. He lay their for a moment, laughing uncaringly at the rare occurrence of clumsiness, then rose with abnormal grace and rested an arm over Rapunzel's shoulders. "Hey! We're you too gonna forget about me?" She shook him off and refused to look at him, smile washed away. "That's the plan." She said, the venom dripping from her voice sounding wrong to both the men's ears.

Hiccup took note of the hurt in Jacks eyes, the hurt that was gone as fast as it had came. He was skilled in hiding his emotions.

Breaking the silence, Hiccup cleared his throat, asking a question that had been troubling his mind. "So Jack, why did you come? I mean, weren't the both of you headed to the light's festival?" Jack shrugged, expression still guarded behind a small smirk. "I wanted to visit an old friend. That's all" He reminded Hiccup in that instance of Snotlout, and it was clear he was trying to impress other's with his nonchalant attitude.

Rapunzel rolled her eyes, also seeing through his guise, and whispered to Hiccup,"He wouldn't stop talking about you on the way here." Jack stepped back, pretending to be offended. "Hey, I resent that!" She childishly stuck her tongue out at him, still retaining the mischievous expression.

'Just great', Hiccup thought as he listened to their continuing banter, Jack lightly tugging a strand of her hair. 'I'm stuck with two love birds.' Although one pretended to resent the other, the attraction between the pair was clear. Hiccup just hoped thy wouldn't drag him into any drama only the way, he had enough to worry about as it was.

Jack slyly slid his way over to Hiccup, a breeze ruffling his hair. "So...Blondie needs a place to stay...and some winter clothing." Hiccup hadn't noticed, and felt slightly guilty for it, but Rapunzel wore no shoes and a thin, springtime dress. The way Jack's eyes questioned his virtue made the brunet shuffle uncomfortably, he couldn't refuse. He sighed, gaze lingering on the mossy forest floor. "Well, I suppose you could stay." Rapunzel's smile lit up her face, and he quickly interjected his conditioning. "But only for one night!"

Rapunzel turned to Hiccup and gave him a peck on the cheek, soft lips flushing his cheeks. "Thanks Hic'!" She said, squeezing him tightly in a hug. Then she twirled and was gone, leaving Hiccup speechless and blushing. Jack chased after Rapunzel, whining loudly. "Hey! Don't I get a kiss!?" Hiccup shook himself out of his daze and half heartedly shouted after them, already regretting letting them stay. "Guys! My house is the other way!"


Haha! Done! Two chapters in one day yeah! Just to clear things up, Hiccup does NOT like Rapunzel, it's just fluff for until he meets Merida, which he will soon. Rapunzel is still pretty mad at Jack, but she will get over it. Thank for for reading, and I know last chapter sucked. Revision is bae. I went from 605 words to 1,176. Not a lot but I noticed it and was happy.