==Okay guys, I seem to be whipping this out- I guess that's what happens when you have up to this far in a handwritten copy. :D Well, Here is chapter 7, give me some feedback- what you like, don't like... maybe some things you would like to see happen. I know for a fact what my younger sister wants from here- I would like to know what my readers would like. So please let me know how I'm doing! Thankies!==
Chapter 7
Hiccup smiled as he awoke from a good night's sleep. It had been a few days since his father had left, and the snow day with Jack. He had had many wonderful new adventures with Jack since then, but none came even close to rivaling that first day in the clearing. Hiccup was happy. Jack was sound asleep, but not on or even next to Toothless. Jack, in all of his innocent wonder, was curled up next to Hiccup's body.
In the nights after Stoick left, Hiccup had fallen asleep every night next to Jack. He would wake every morning, as close to the boy as he could possibly go. Hiccup loved the secure feeling he had when Jack was holding him close, so Hiccup had wondered if it would be different if Jack was the one being held.
Jack had been extremely wary of the idea. He had mentioned his cold skin on more than one occasion, but Hiccup didn't mind. In fact, he enjoyed the cool touch as much as he enjoyed flying on Toothless.
"We can try it, just this once. But you have to promise to be careful. Bundle up your arms or something, so I don't end up freezing you."
Hiccup had done as Jack had instructed, but as soon as the teen was asleep, he took off the bundles and felt the cool skin on his bare arms. Toothless had watched intently as he did this, and Hiccup had silently begged the dragon not to make any noise indicating he was sneaking around Jack's rule of protection. Thankfully, his best friend was still on his side.
Toothless was now fast asleep in his corner, his ear flaps twitching ever so slightly. Hiccup watched quietly, his eyes scanning around the dark room. He was certain the sun wasn't out yet, but he could see the tiny white flecks of something floating lazily in the air. Jack must have been having a really good dream. Hiccup wondered what it was about, and then shook the thought away. Why should he care what the snowy haired boy was thinking? Why was he even awake anyway?
He watched the snowflakes swirling calmly around his room. They were melting before they hit the ground, but instead of snow, there were small puddles of water here and there all over the floor. Hiccup sighed silently, grateful his dad wasn't home to see this. This would take a lot of work to explain.
Jack tensed, causing Hiccup to look down. The white haired teen was still sleeping. His lips were slightly parted, and they were a light shade of pink. Hiccup was entranced by the contrasting color of Jack's lips with the rest of his skin. Jack's brow was slightly furled into a frown. Hiccup moved his arm and pulled Jack closer to himself, burying his face in the boy's white hair.
He inhaled, the faint smell of peppermint filling his nostrils.
Hiccup closed his eyes, focusing on the smell. He had peppermint every year for Snoggletog, but it was always a more overpowering scent. This peppermint was even better smelling than his Snoggletog treat.
Jack's breathing was so constant, and so soft; Hiccup had to really listen to even hear him breathing at all. How was it even possible for someone to breathe that quietly? Hiccup's head began to swim with questions, and some of them he felt weren't welcome.
Jack rolled over, so his body was facing Hiccup. The frown disappeared off of Jack's face and Hiccup smiled. He looked so calm. His breath was cool as he exhaled gently into Hiccup's face. Hiccup reached out his hand and gently touched the pale boy's face. His skin was soft, but in a numbing way. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was strange.
Hiccup's heart gave a small flutter. The idea of doing this every day; of feeling Jack's cool skin on his own, seeing the lively spark in his eyes, the snow days filled with fun and adventure, was something he liked very much. It was an idea he hated to like. Wasn't he supposed to become the next chief? Doesn't that mean he needed a wife, to bear sons?
Even as he thought about that, he knew it wasn't his lifestyle. He had always been different. And, he had lost interest in Astrid, which was the only girl who had ever caught his attention. Maybe he wasn't supposed to find a woman. Hiccup's heart fluttered again, and his stomach churned uneasily.
If that was the case, then he wouldn't be able to face his father. There would be no sons to continue as chief. Stoick would not take that well. But he wasn't there right now… so maybe he could work it out? Figure out what he was going to do.
Jack moved again, drawing Hiccup out of his dizzying thoughts. As Jack snuggled closer to Hiccup, the brunette realized that all Jack had wanted was to not be alone. How long had the boy been alone? How long had he been wandering around the world, longing for the warm embrace of a hug, for someone to know he was there?
Hiccup remembered when all he had wanted was the affection of his father, and the acceptance of his tribe. Thirteen years of longing had felt like an eternity. He had some sort of acceptance, and his father did pay more attention to him, but he still didn't have what he had truly wanted. Jack was a bit different.
He was a spirit. He could have been around for hundreds of years already. Hiccup had never really thought to ask. If he was hundreds of years old, of course he would be longing for the attention and warmth that Hiccup could give. But, if no one else could see Jack, then how come he could?
Hiccup frowned slightly, trying to come up with an answer.
"He talks to me like you talk to me-only a lot meaner."
Hiccup sighed, remembering. It probably did have something to do with Toothless. As he turned his head to look back at the sleeping boy, Hiccup's eyes met with Jack's. They were brighter than he had ever seen them, and clear enough that Hiccup could see his own surprised face peering back. His breath caught in his throat.
Hiccup forced himself to breath, and smiled. Jack returned the smile, his white teeth shining like freshly fallen snow. Hiccup beat himself up for that horrible analogy of the boy's teeth; they were, after all, just teeth. He could feel the color rising to his face, and Hiccup forced himself to look down to the small space that separated the boy's bodies.
"Good morning." Jack mumbled, shifting slightly. He reached out a hand and brushed the hair off Hiccup's face.
"M-morning." Hiccup stuttered slightly, urging his heart to stop beating so loud. He heard Toothless grumble as he got up. The beast froze upon seeing both boys already awake, shook his head and sat back down. Jack's smile got even bigger.
How could Jack be so happy? Jack's smile always seemed biggest when he was around Hiccup, even though the boy had really done nothing for him. Hiccup lamented silently, soaking in Jack's sparkling eyes.
Toothless looked from one boy to the other, his pupils narrowed. It wasn't a menacing look; Hiccup knew the dragon meant no harm to wither boy, but it didn't seem very kind either. Hiccup's eyebrows shot up, first in surprise and then in confusion. Toothless had never given him this look before. Annoyed, yes. Angry, even. But never this. Hiccup couldn't even be sure if it was stern.
Jack frowned and rolled over to face Toothless, who just warbled grumpily. Jack nodded slightly, and closed his eyes. In an instant he shot up to a sitting position. Toothless' ear flaps were raised and he was looking at the door.
"What?" Hiccup asked, slightly shocked at how quickly the boy had moved.
Before Jack could answer, a girl's voice cut through the air. Hiccup jumped when he realized the voice was not only in his house, but coming up the stairs.
"Hiccup? We need you to help melt the snow. It really came down last night, and Stormfly is already at her shot limit just getting to you. The village is almost completely snowed in."
Astrid strode into the room moments later, just as Jack leapt into the rafters, leaving a dent in the mattress where he had been laying. Hiccup wasn't fast enough to cover Jack's tracks, and Astrid's eyes widened as she looked at the dent, and then to Hiccup. Hiccup closed his eyes and sighed. There was no way Astrid was going to understand any of this.
Astrid's mouth was opening and closing like a fish, her eyes seeing yet not seeing anything except the now fading dent in the bed and Hiccup.
"Listen Astrid, it- it isn't what you think." Hiccup said, looking at Astrid's frozen figure, a look of terror on her face. He was glad she didn't have her axe in its holster today.
"Is it Ruffnut? Heather? Or a different girl?" Astrid whispered, her blue eyes dropping to the ground. Hiccup smiled slightly, noticing her eyes were similar to Jack's, the latter being a much brighter hue.
Jack shifted in the rafters, peering out of the shadows at the two. Toothless hadn't moved from where he had lain down, but he watched Astrid carefully. Hiccup's smile dropped from his face as Astrid looked back up. He cleared his throat nervously.
"No, Astrid. I told you, it's not what you think. I'm letting him stay here for a little while. I knew I could help-"
"He?" Astrid said, her voice rising almost a full octave as her eyes widened even more. She took a step back, "What do you mean, he?"
Toothless looked up toward Jack and smiled his toothless grin. Hiccup glanced up and saw Jack press himself to the wall. Astrid looked up too, but quickly looked back to Hiccup in confusion.
"Hiccup. You just got to not being a failure at everything. Don't screw this up like you have with the entirety of your life. You are acting weird again. Though that doesn't explain that." Astrid gestured to the place where the dent had once been.
Hiccup heard Jack let out a quiet breath and out of the corner of his eye saw him move out of the shadows a bit. Hiccup pulled the covers off of his skinny frame, revealing his bare chest and his dark wool pants. Hiccup shivered as he placed his bare foot on the cold floor, followed by his prosthetic leg.
He stood in front of Astrid, standing up to his full height-which was still shorter than the girl by a good two inches at least- and crossed his arms over his chest. He locked eyes with Astrid, his green orbs full of determination.
"I am not going crazy Astrid. Jack is just as real as you, or me, or even Toothless." Toothless looked over to Hiccup and snorted, his yellow-green eyes narrowing to slits. Hiccup ignored the protest of his dragon and stared straight into Astrid's now paling face. Astrid shook her head in awe.
"Jack?"
Hiccup nodded his head.
"Who is Jack?"
Jack shifted again, letting himself fully out of the shadows now. Astrid didn't seem to notice him at all. When Jack realized this, he leapt lightly to the floor next to her, a mysterious smirk playing on his lips. Hiccup found this smirk all too cute.
"You know what, I don't want to know. Just come help melt the snow and unbury us from this winter horrorland."
"HEY!" Jack exclaimed, looking at Astrid with his eyes narrowed. Hiccup chuckled lightly and turned to his dresser. Toothless watched in slight interest as Hiccup opened the dresser and pulled out a slightly oversized grass green shirt. He pulled it over his head, rolling up his sleeves and then brushed his fingers through his nappy hair.
"Alright Astrid, I'll be down shortly."
Astrid nodded and turned away quickly. Jack watched her go, his frown deepening as she walked right through him. Hiccup gasped, causing Astrid to turn and look at him.
"What now Hiccup?"
"N-nothing Astrid. Just got a chill is all. I'll be down." Astrid nodded again and walked out of the room and down the stairs. The two boys and dragon were frozen and silent until they heard Astrid open the door and shuffle into the cold.
"She walked right through you." Hiccup whispered, his knees shaking slightly. Jack nodded.
"It's been happening for so long now. I'm used to it."
"Jack, why does it happen? How long is so long?"
Jack sighed and looked at the floor. "They don't believe I exist. I'm not real to them. They can't hear, see, smell or touch me. And I've been awake for about fifty, sixty years now."
"But how could I see, when I didn't believe?"
Jack looked up and met Hiccup's eyes. Hiccup's mouth dried as he stared into Jack's blue orbs. He felt the heat rising in his face, but he didn't care anymore. He was worried for Jack.
"I don't know why. I don't care either way, because you can see me. I do have my suspicions though."
"Oh." Hiccup broke Jack's gaze and looked at the floor. He moved his prosthetic leg clumsily. Jack chuckled lightly as he moved forward. Hiccup looked up as the wintery boy wrapped him in a giant hug. Hiccup stood awkwardly in Jack's embrace.
Oh how he wanted to press his face into Jack's neck. Hiccup's heart sped up. What was he thinking? Was he really so desperate for attention and love that he would fall for a spirit? Get it under control Hic.
Jack pulled away and chuckled lightly, flicking Hiccup's nose playfully. "You are so cute, little Viking." The frown disappeared off of Hiccup's face. He rolled his eyes and turned to Toothless, who had the harness clamped in his mouth.
"I am glad I know you Hiccup."
Hiccup smiled, but didn't turn around. He nodded his head and took the harness from Toothless' mouth, and slipping it over his head. "You ready to go bud?" Toothless wagged his tail wildly, knocking it into the wall.
"Should I wait here then?" Jack asked, leaning his back against Hiccup's dresser, his staff held loosely in his hand.
"If you don't make it snow anymore today, you can come with. I don't think we have to worry about people seeing you with me and freaking out. Apparently you did a number last night."
Jack smiled and jumped over to Toothless. He hopped up and down, switching his lands between his right and left foot. "I promise."Hiccup walked down the narrow steps to the front door. "Good." He opened the door and looked at the wide white expanse beyond his hut. Toothless warbled gently, and Hiccup sighed. "Then let's get going."
