There's no use in apologizing for updating late, because we all know I will next time, as well. I hope to incorporate some characters that aren't our main two soon :3

Hiccup hadn't meant to get involved, he really hadn't. He hadn't meant to overstep boundaries. And the last thing he'd ever want to do is make Jack feel uncomfortable or unsafe, lose any sort of trust he had been gifted with... but when he'd found his friend, curled up and panting beneath the gym bleacher... well, he had to make an exception. He had last seen him not fifteen minutes ago, and he knew Jack didn't partake in any after school activities. Hiccup was curious. Not only about the obvious question, Why the hell is the kid so upset? But also, Why the hell is he here in the first place?

Jack wasn't one to intentionally lie, unless he had to. From what Hiccup could tell, at least. Last he'd seen him, he was heading out of the main door. He'd said he was in a rush, some sort of family issues. Hiccup had shrugged it off and instead found company in Ruffnut and Tuffnut, some friends of Astrid.

Eventually he'd run off to grab his P.E. clothes before the gym locked up, but... this seemed a bit more important. He silently set down his schoolbag and crept closer, "Hey, bud..." he said soothingly.

Jack's eyes shot open as he picked up his head, "What the hell are you doing here?" his voice held a surprising amount of venom, though it was mostly filled with urgency.

"Hey, hey..." Hiccup raised his arms, shoulders bouncing as he released a nervous chuckle, "I didn't mean to startle you."

"Did you follow me?" he asked stiffly, fingers clutching tight around the handle of his book bag. He was ready to run.

Hiccup was beginning to question whether or not approaching his... strange... friend was a good idea, "What? No, of course not... I... I was just grabbing my gym clothes..." he walked forward slowly but stopped the second Jack moved a muscle, in an attempt to get up. Gods, he looked like a mess.

"You have P.E. tomorrow..." he looked uncertain.

"I also have a doctor's appointment..." he smiled reassuringly, "Calm down..." he reached out to set a hand on Jack's shoulder, but he stood immediately. They stared at one another for a long moment before Jack turned away suddenly. He began to run, but didn't get far. The poor kid was shaking so bad, and Hiccup assumed he must have been too dizzy to run.

The second Jack toppled over, Hiccup was by his side, "Jack... Jack, calm down, alright?" he clasped one hand around his wrist, the other riffling around in his own backpack. He retrieved a bottle of some store-brand sports drink, shoving it in his hand, "You're dehydrated or tired o-or stressed, but you gotta calm down..."

It took a few moments for Jack to peel his tearstained face from the gymnasium flooring, "I hate you," he mumbled under his breath, not the smallest hint of joking in his voice. He attempted to get up again, but his limbs shook.

Hiccup sighed a little bit, "Okay. We can discuss that after you quit acting like a crazy person. Until then, you're drinking this," he opened the bottle for him, "Or I'm bringing you to the nurses' office," it was really the only threat he could come up with that meant shit to Jack.

His jaw clenched refusing to look at him as he snatched the bottle, "Nothing's wrong with me, I just want you to leave me alone."

Hiccup ducked his head to conceal a small smile. He was wrong. Damn, did this kid lie a lot, "No. What you want is to walk home with me, sit on your bed, play Battleship and stuff your face with cake," this time he took Jack's bag, fishing his concealer out of it, "So we're gonna go do just that. Okay?" he tilted Jack's head up, wiping his wet cheeks with his sleeve and messily applying some of the makeup over the bits of skin with a blue hue.

"You're really bad at that," Jack said with a pitiful sniffle, "You're not finger painting."

"I never claimed to be good," Hiccup finished, wiping his hands on his pants, "This stuff feels gross," he picked up both their bags, "If you start crying again, you can fix your own face."

"Shut up..." he grumbled, standing shakily, looking around nervously, "Can... can we go to your house instead?"

Hiccup frowned, "How good are you at sneaking into windows?"

"Nice place," Jack commented, "A bit dark... Looks like the outside of a wood cabin," he smirked, sitting on the bed with his arms crossing over his chest, "Is this where you sulk over how you'll never be as good as me at Battleship?"

"No, it's where I plot my revenge on you and your shitty fleet of ships," he pulled the game out from under his bed, box covered in dust.

He smirked, "I've told you, this game works better if you don't have a strategy," he leaned against the bedframe, kicking off his shoes.

"You're just telling me that so you can win," Hiccup said dully, pulling the game from the box, handing over Jack's, "Which isn't happening."

"Wanna bet on it?" Jack smirked, "If I win, you gotta buy me one of those dollar store crowns, and I get to be declared king of the ocean," he smiled widely.

"M'kay," Hiccup hummed, "And if I win... you gotta tell me the truth about something you've lied about."

"Do I get a say in what I tell you?" he raised an eyebrow out of interest.

"Anything you want. I just wanna see how much of a big fat liar you are," he smiled, "Deal?"

"Deal."

"Now I'll never get a chance to marry Princess Fishlips," Jack faked a sob, "She's only interested in royalty."

Hiccup laughed bitterly, "I told you I'd get revenge," he grabbed Jack's wrist for the second time that day, "You're a prisoner of war now, you're never leaving."

Jack whined, flopping on his back, "I suppose now you're king of the ocean? First you steal my ship, then my place on the throne... soon enough, you'll be stealing my princess."

"Not interested," Hiccup chuckled, "I've got all the entertainment I need. Besides," he flopped on his stomach next to where Jack was on his back, "You've got a lie to confess to."

"I didn't think I'd actually lose..." he groaned, "But... fine," a smirk played at his lips, turning on his side to look at his friend, "I don't hate you."

Good news is, I think I have a pretty clear idea for next chapter so it shouldn't be tooo long until the next one. Sorry for the wait ;-; btw, things will be explained! The whole breakdown was for a reason, I just can't explain it this chapter.