A/N: Sorry it's a little late but it's the last chapter! EEP! Guys, I was so excited to write this chapter, you have no idea! At the same time, I'm so sad that it's finished... :( Well, for the most part. There will be a sequel! :D Look forward to more HiJack from yours truly, because heavens know I can't keep myself from writing it!

Please read, review, and enjoy! :)

Good Trouble

Jack realized he'd never asked Hiccup about when he would be released from the hospital. It probably didn't matter, but Jack hoped he would be reassigned with a new room before then. Even as he got back to the empty room he felt suffocated. Hiccup's stuff seemed to stare him down and Jack wanted out of there as soon as possible. There was no way they could remain roommates after what had happened. Perhaps they could be friends in the distant future, although Jack was still dubious at the prospect. It was clear that Hiccup hadn't been interested and it was clear that Jack had been too hopeful. He should have just said no. He should have just said no.

It was killing him.

The only thing that helped him was being in class. Despite never paying full attention in them before, it became a sweet relief when he could sit down and focus on words out of another's mouth and slides with information splayed in front of the room. He had to admit that he was learning more than he'd thought he would. However, there were always lulls in the classes in which people would begin to whisper and he'd be alone with his thoughts like he was the rest of the day when he wasn't in class. It made him bitter even though he knew there was nothing he could do about it.

Jack had only just gotten back two days ago, but it felt like an eternity through the walking and sitting and staring and writing. While his face remained that of stone, his insides were churning and ripping and colliding. Every step threatened to trip him up. His hands were shaky, unsteady whenever he wrote. His eyes were constantly strained and tired with black and blue beginning to show easily on his pale face. Food had little taste and Jack didn't care for it. He still sat in the dining hall with a small plate of carrots or some toast or maybe a few pieces of fruit, but each time he didn't touch a thing. It mocked him and he wanted to heave whenever he remotely thought about putting a piece in his mouth. Dumping the contents into the trash, he'd be off to class or the library or anywhere but the dorm without eating. His stomach stopped rumbling about a day into the change, so that didn't bother him too much. Sure his vision was a little hazy, but it would only be in small episodes, not all the time. Jack figured he was just a little sick, alleviating from the shock of recent events.

On the other hand, Jack was glad that he didn't have to worry about his father anymore. He didn't want to say anything to his mother, but both he and Sophie knew that they were safe. Okay, Sophie had always been safe. No one could ever hurt her intentionally. Even their father hadn't meant to hit her. It didn't change the fact that he had, but at least it could never happen again. Jack and Sophie had celebrated on their own in the car when their mother had gone into a gas station─ she had insisted on driving Jack back to campus herself. They had hugged and smiled and shared laughs like old times. The one bright thing in his life had pulled him through for those few hours until they left him at the place where everything changed. Then she was gone again and he wouldn't see her until Christmas. He could wait until then. He could make it.

Jack just needed some time.

Walking out of his last class for that Wednesday, Jack made his way for the library. It was down the central mall─ an open, grassy field with trees lining the walks on the edge─ at the end with a giant angled staircase. The granite and brick front towered over most of the buildings on campus, with flags centered over the second floor faux balcony that fluttered toward the trees. Jack would sit at the steps and play with his phone to pass some of the time. Then he would go inside and sit at a computer, dawdling around with the mouse and pretending to do something important. But this time, just before plodding onto the first step, he heard his name being called. Jack turned around, his eyebrows knotted close, to see a blond girl bounding his way.

"Astrid?" She hadn't called out to him, had she?

"Hey, Jack!" Astrid flashed a smile and shifted her bag's weight. "H-how's it going?" She pointed to the stairs and Jack nodded. They began going up the stairs while Jack racked his brain for a reason she'd want to talk to him.

Then he realized he had to answer her. "Things are fine," Jack wanted to believe that he wasn't lying. He was still trying to figure out why she was here. Did she hear about what happened? He thought Hiccup and Astrid had broken up. She couldn't care that much now. Wasn't that how breakups worked? One would try to forget the other person? Maybe she did care and wanted to talk to him through Jack. Well, she had another thing coming. "I haven't seen him recently, so if you're trying to pass on a message, don't ask me." He couldn't say the boy's name, lest his emotions get the better of him.

Astrid glanced at him questioningly as they crossed the granite walkway toward the door. "What are you talking about? I'm just... you know... shooting the breeze. Come on," she punched his shoulder awkwardly, "what class did you just have?" There's no way she actually cares...

"Euro Civ.," Jack answered without thinking, "but, really, what─"

"Is it hard?" Astrid turned to face him as they got into the lobby and stood out of the way of others. Why was she trying to grab his attention? She'd never been too excited to talk to him before, and that was an understatement. Astrid had always given off that uninterested and rough personality, and Jack had caught her sneers in his direction before. That was back when she and Hiccup had been dating and after a few meetings at the dorm room. Jack tried his best to be himself and sociable and everything, but she still hadn't liked him. Jack should have taken it as forewarning. But this was from somewhere out of left field and it was leaving him dumbfounded.

"Uh," Jack tried to remember her question, "not really. Just a lot of factual stuff. It can get really dry sometimes," like this conversation.

"Really?" Astrid thrummed her fingers against the wall on which she was leaning. "Fascinating..." she smiled cheekily and looked around the room. Jack could tell she was trying to think up something more to say.

"Alright, spill. Why are you talking to me?"

Astrid pulled her attention to him again. "What? I just wanted to see how you were doing. I thought maybe Hiccup was taking the breakup badly and taking it out on you. And that's no fun, right? So how─ how are you?"

Jack's fists clenched inside his sweatshirt's front pocket as he tried to hide his scorn. Yeah, Hiccup was taking it badly, alright. Guess he didn't tell you he wasn't into girls, did he? Glad to know he kept it from both of us. Jack glanced away, uncomfortably searching for an acceptable answer. "I'm fine, but I've got a paper to work on, so I think I'll get─" Jack had been turning around and about to head off to the computer lab when a hand slapped his shoulder and Astrid ran in front of him.

"Jack, wait," Astrid bit her lip and took her hand off Jack's shoulder. The sudden touch had been unnerving and he couldn't think long enough to get away from Astrid's gaze. "I told Hiccup I'd see how you were doing. I know he was at the hospital; I went and saw him. He's worried about you, Jack."

Jack knew he should have ignored her and moved on. Now he had to be careful not to make a scene. His heart grew colder and he shouldered past Astrid. Like hell Hiccup was worried. And just then he realized what Astrid had implicated─ Hiccup had probably told her all about it. So Jack's story was out. Great. He wasn't sure what Astrid would do with the information aside from rub it in his face, but maybe if he denied her his answers, perhaps she wouldn't say anything to anyone else. Jack tried not to stomp as he walked down the hallway. There were other entrances to this gigantic library and he could lose her through one of those and head back to his room. It wasn't the ideal place he wanted to be, but it would have to do. Astrid couldn't get into a dorm she didn't live in. Jack was almost out when he heard quick steps catch up to him.

"Jack!" Astrid hissed as she reached his side. "Alright, I probably shouldn't have told you. I get that. But you can't just walk away from this! I've seen how you've been handling this since you got back. You're not eating and from the looks of those bags under your eyes, I'd guess you're not getting the best night's sleep, either. Hiccup cares about you, Jack. What would he say if he saw you like this?"

Jack came to an abrupt halt and turned to her, staring her down. "Hiccup doesn't care. He made that clear."

"No, Jack," Astrid huffed, "you don't understand. Hiccup─"

"Just go away," Jack's tired voice silenced her faster than a scream would have. He walked onward again and left the library. He didn't actually need the computer, anyway.

Jack didn't last long in the dorm room before he felt himself going crazy. He still hadn't unpacked yet─ his suitcase open and sprawled across his side of the floor with clothes this way and that. Of the articles, his sweatshirt was included. When he'd gotten into the room, the heat from being indoors proved to be too much for Jack. Even his tee─ a faded gray─ felt constricting. He saw no reason to unpack; he would get the email from Housing soon enough and would have to pack everything up to move yet again. These things never seemed to end.

But Astrid's words kept nagging at him. Hiccup cares about you. Shut up! If Hiccup had cared, he would have at least had the decency to tell Jack at some point in the past month about anything of the sort. He would have at least mentioned that detail about himself. Whether he was interested or not, Jack thought he deserved to know this about Hiccup. It would have saved him all the trouble he'd gone through to even find the answer. Jack kicked his suitcase in anger, hopping and holding his foot when he realized how much it hurt. Cursing to himself, he leaned onto his desk and grimaced. It hadn't hurt as much as the dull ache in his chest, but at least it was something to focus on.

Jack supposed, in hindsight, that he could have just asked Hiccup. There were so many times he could have brought the subject up with him, but Jack had been so nervous every time Hiccup came into the room. Once he'd realized how he felt, Jack knew it was going to be hard to just talk to him. He'd tried his best, and as far as he knew, he had pulled it off well. But Jack never expected to fall this hard. Thankfully he wouldn't have to confront these feelings after his room got reassigned. He would never see this room again. Jack bit his lip and tried to breathe as the pain in his toe subsided and the other emotions flooded through. Pounding his fist onto the wooden desk, Jack shoved himself outward and stormed out of the room. He couldn't bear to stay in the room anymore. Everything hurt and the room was only making it worse. Despite it being near sunset out, Jack didn't bother to take his sweatshirt. He also realized too late that his keycard was still inside the sweatshirt's pocket, but he couldn't be bothered to fix the problem now.

The air outside contained a slight breeze that ruffled Jack's snowy white hair. He let the wind caress his face as his legs carried him nowhere in particular. With no destination in mind, Jack kicked a large pebble and saw that it landed within his path again. He led the pebble along, walking slightly out of his way in order to push it back onto the sidewalk he was using. There were no people around on a Wednesday evening, so he wasn't fearful of being judged. Of all the things Jack could be judged for, kicking a pebble was the least of his worries. The inanimate companion eventually found itself in a patch of grass and Jack frowned. It wasn't worth the effort, so he continued on his way with no stone to keep him company.

Jack sighed and recognized the fact that he had been looking down for most of the walk. Upon lifting his head, he realized he'd walked to the campus's fountain across from the student's union building. It was a large, circular piece with benches placed in the field surrounding it. Jack ignored them and made his way to the side of the fountain. The center piece involved three tiers of excruciatingly detailed dishes and marble fairies balancing along the edges as water fell from each height. Jack watched the droplets as they traversed from the top fairy piece down into the smallest dish then to the second and the last dish before finally dropping into the broad pool spanning nearly fifteen feet in diameter. The pumps were turned down low during the night, so the humming was minimal. During the day, it would be much louder. In either case, the water usually masked the motors and this time was no different. Jack peered into the water with dead eyes, looking around the side of the pool and the trees that reached above it into the sky. The recessed lighting underneath the water's surface splayed dabbled reflections across the yellow, red, and orange leaves. The show was more pronounced by the fact that the sun had already begun to set, splashing yet more color onto everything. It reminded Jack that it was definitely late autumn and winter would be there in a few more weeks. That was a more cheerful thought, and he smiled faintly as he sat on the fountain's edge, eyes fixed on the scene above him.

Winter would be better.

Hiccup nearly crashed several times and immediately slowed down at the very hint of any police officers patrolling various areas only to speed back up again when he knew he was in the clear. He hadn't gotten into an accident yet and he hoped that luck would hold out. His brand new windshield was a beautiful sight as he hopped in as soon as he got home. Stoick had hugged him goodbye and shook his head with a laugh when he saw Hiccup driving off as fast as he ever did drive. The boy had spirit.

Hiccup didn't feel like he had spirit when he left towards the end of the afternoon. He'd gotten a call from Astrid saying that she'd talked to Jack earlier and that it was as bad as she'd suspected. Hiccup hinged on every word that she said, questioning every detail that she could give about Jack's condition. None of it was flattering. Astrid wouldn't sugarcoat anything, and this one time, Hiccup was glad about that. Astrid had said that Jack felt like Hiccup didn't care at all. Hiccup couldn't let that go. He'd resolved during the last half hour of the car ride with his dad that he would do exactly as Stoick had predicted─ go after Jack.

The concern forced his hand to grip the steering wheel and press further on the gas. He only had a few more miles to go before he hit city traffic and he prayed to the gods that it wouldn't be too bad. He had to get back to campus and find Jack. Hopefully he hadn't been able to move out yet. Hiccup didn't know who he would have to contact to find out, and he wasn't exactly the type to stalk someone. Besides, finding Jack in the first place was going to be difficult. If there was one thing Hiccup knew about Jack, he knew that the boy could be invisible pretty much whenever he wanted─ and whenever he didn't. Hiccup's mind fogged over with Jack's story again and he bit his lip. He couldn't begin to understand what kind of pain Jack must have felt all those years. Jack had poured his heart out to his family and they'd rejected him, except for Sophie. But no one could live a happy life with only one person they could truly trust. Ideally, one person could drive another's entire existence, but Hiccup knew better. The real world wasn't as romantic. Life was better when you had two or three people beside you. Hiccup wanted to be one of those select people for Jack.

Well, Hiccup wanted more. He already settled his mind on that matter. But his heart was still tugging at this chest and pulling him forward. He needed to see Jack, to set things right, to say everything on his mind. Of course, the last piece on his agenda would most likely be impossible. Hiccup couldn't even articulate it to himself. Jack, the boy with spirited blue eyes and a snarky expression permanently on his lips, wouldn't leave his head to wander in peace. Jack, the boy with the light laugh and mischievous quirks, made his stomach flutter uneasily and his fingers tremble against the steering wheel. As Hiccup stopped for the fourth consecutive stoplight, he realized he hadn't even thought of what to tell Jack. He was right back at square one. Back before all of the wounds had torn them open and apart. Hiccup let a low growl slip from his throat as he waited for the unbearably unresponsive light to turn green. Hurry up!

It was around sunset when Hiccup finally parked the car in the dorm's parking lot─ which had taken awhile considering the lot was full during the week. It took several cycles of searching, but he'd found a spot and parked it hastily. He could deal with any parking tickets he'd receive later. Hiccup grabbed a few things and ran toward the building. He could deal with unloading his car later, too. Running up the stairs, he rummaged his pockets for his keycard. The room's door was closed and he had to put down the various things he'd grabbed from the car to look for his card. Once he located it, he unlocked the door and walked in cautiously.

"Hey, Jack?" Hiccup asked before he could glance around the room completely and see that Jack was nowhere to be found. In a sense, Hiccup was relieved. He still hadn't completely thought out what to say and at least he'd have a few minutes to settle in and collect himself. Hiccup saw Jack's messy suitcase lying on the floor and sighed heavily. Jack hadn't applied for a new room yet. Or he had and the email hadn't been replied to and Hiccup had limited time. After putting all of his stuff on the dorm bed, Hiccup puzzled through the places where Jack could be right now. It was around six, so the only places open would be the union and the library. Hiccup swore at nothing in particular. The campus was always less lively after dinner during the week and things shut down early. Of course, the dining hall was also open and would be open for its extended nighttime hours (thanks to the lovely habits of college students), but that didn't help out now. Astrid had said that Jack wasn't eating, so he wouldn't be there. Jack also never went into the union unless he lost his─

That's when Hiccup saw a shiny plastic peeking out of Jack's blue sweatshirt on the ground. Holding his breath, he pulled it out to reveal that Jack had indeed forgotten his card, wherever he had gone. An idea slowly formed in Hiccup's brain as he grabbed his own card and bolted out the door without a jacket.

Prosthetic clacking against the concrete, Hiccup veered up the hill toward the center of campus. Ever few steps, his fake leg would dig into the cracks and he would stumble forward, but he was running so quickly that he always managed to keep himself upright. His lungs and injured shoulder screamed at him to slow down but he wouldn't listen. Before he'd begun running, he had texted Astrid saying that Jack wasn't in the room. She hadn't answered and Hiccup had to go with his gut on this one. His dry throat was threatening to crack again as he panted through his mouth. For all of his training, one would think he'd known better than to breathe through his mouth when running, but his mind was otherwise engaged. Checking his watch, he realized he'd only have five minutes before the union closed and he wouldn't have another hint of where to look. Glancing upward, Hiccup was frightened to realize that the sun was almost gone. The sky was becoming a light mix of purple and orange and it was getting harder to see.

Hiccup had arrived at the walkway between the union and the library when he noticed another person out on the field by the fountain. It was the same fountain he'd thrown his prosthetic across a couple weeks ago. However, the smirk that was on his lips just then disappeared when he began to recognize the person sitting there. He had beautiful white hair tinged with the sun's dying rays and the watery reflections of the pool. His body was hunched inward and one small, pale hand played with the water in tiny, unknown patterns. Hiccup's heart lurched forward ahead of his body and he almost fell because of it.

Jack.

Jack, with his face in his palms, couldn't handle watching all of the colors change around him. The wind had died down but the temperature continued to drop. His arms dissolved into a canvas for goose bumps, but he couldn't care less. The cold was somewhat comforting, all things considered. It was the same thing he'd done every night since coming back to campus. Letting the frigidness seep into his being as he steeled his brain against emotions he didn't want to feel again had become a rhythm for him already. This was the only way he knew he'd be able to cope with losing Hiccup. Jack's arm closest to the fountain's pool found its way to the water's surface and his fingers traced little snowflake patterns, sending shivers up his forearm. Steps were heard relatively close by, but Jack figured it was just some student trying to get into the union for some food. Jack ran a hand through his hair absently and continued his sullen meditation. A moment later, Jack heard something settle down a few feet from him. He ignored it at first, but couldn't resist a peek.

To Jack's right, the guy was sitting just out of arm's reach. His rigid posture, more than anything else, gave him away. Jack's eyes traveled dangerously up to this person's head. He instantly wished that he hadn't. Hiccup sat right there, clad in a green tee and cargo shorts, and twiddled his thumbs. His brown hair looked nearly black in what little light there was left. Jack noticed that Hiccup wasn't even looking at him, but Jack knew Hiccup had sat down here on purpose. Although it wouldn't surprise him if Hiccup actually was ignoring him and didn't know he was here. It would make sense. Jack, for once, wanted to be invisible. Obviously he wouldn't be able to do so this time. Go figure.

"What are you doing here?" Jack dropped one hand lifelessly onto his lap, the other one still touching the water, and stared at the ground once more.

Nothing. Nada. Zilch. The silence remained and Jack felt stupid for even trying to talk. He had hardly expected to run into Hiccup again after recent events, and this occurrence jarred his senses. His heart beat faster before his brain could order it otherwise. His skull began to pound and he winced at the sudden onset. How dare Hiccup come to find him! Was he just here to reiterate what the last two people had told him?

"Never mind," Jack decided, "don't say anything. I'll just head back. Don't bother─"

Heated arms swarmed his chilled body and Jack stiffened from the contact, his eyes wide in disbelief. His breath shaky, he glanced down to see that the freckled arms had slid around his shoulders and back and pulled him close to Hiccup's body. Before he could refuse the thousand emotions from surfacing, a blush spread across his cheeks and he tried to pull away. The pressure surrounding him didn't change, but it wasn't threatening. Jack's hands had flinched upward in reaction to the hug, and now they rested against Hiccup's chest. The brunet's head was downcast, resting upon Jack's shoulder and breathing warm against his cool neck. The breaths were ragged and practically forced. Had Hiccup run throughout campus just to find him? Jack had to admit that he was touched by the thought, but he shook it away.

"What─"

"Don't you dare," Hiccup muttered barely above a whisper. His voice was strained and filtered with something Jack couldn't quite identify. "Don't you dare say that I don't care about you."

Jack pushed against Hiccup uselessly when he saw Hiccup's head lift to face him. Forest green eyes, glimmering in the unsteady, watery reflections stared at him and Jack stopped resisting. The gaze only lasted a moment before Jack registered the brush of heat against his lips. It was a full second later when Jack's entire body shut down, freezing and sweltering at the same time. Hiccup's brown strands of hair tickled the bridge of Jack's nose, but the feeling was hardly recognized. Even though both of them were still, Jack could sense Hiccup's pulse beating against his fingers still lying on the other boy's chest. It was fast and irregular and frantic, and for a moment Jack believed that it was just his own heart he was feeling. Hiccup moved his head closer and shifted, forming his lips to Jack's more comfortably. Jack was about to close his eyes, about to lean into Hiccup trustingly, when the situation dawned on him.

Hiccup was kissing him.

No. Hiccup was kissing him out of pity. Mustering what little strength he had, Jack pushed away from Hiccup and shoved the boy further. "Are you trying to make this harder?"

Hiccup, lips still parted, looked at him in confusion. "W-what? I─ I just─ you! I mean─ I looked all over and─ and I found you. I─ I─ I needed to talk─ well, I guess I didn't really─ anyway!" Hiccup paused to catch his breath and let his eyes rest upon Jack's again, the same confusion still present. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," Jack spat, still blushing embarrassingly. "You're just kissing me because you feel bad about not telling me."

"What No─! Well, yes, but─ wait. Um... look. I know you're upset because my father had to be the one to tell you, but I swear─ I swear─I never meant for it to happen that way. I wanted to─"

"Yeah, well, he did," Jack cut Hiccup off, not wanting to hear any excuses, "and I get it. You're not interested. Just let me─"

"Not interested?!" Hiccup grabbed Jack's shoulders urgently but gently. "Jack, I literally took a bullet for you. How can you tell me what I feel after all of that? I couldn't have even told myself how I felt until a few days ago. That's why I wanted to go to your house, Jack. I was going to tell you that night. But your father got involved and─ and I couldn't just sit by while he hurt you. I was about ready to release all this─ raw─ vikingness─" Hiccup crudely pointed to his own slightly muscled physique "─on that guy if it meant he wouldn't hit you anymore. No one deserves to live like that, Jack. I'm glad I was there that night. I'm glad I took that bullet. I just... What─ what even made you think I didn't feel anything for you?"

Jack's face, just like the rest of his body, was stiff with shock. "Y-you didn't know until...?"

"I didn't know until Astrid and I argued about it not even an hour before I left. It sounds stupid, I know. How─ how do you not know this sort of thing after eighteen years? I guess... I never put much thought into it. But that doesn't excuse myself. I was hoping to tell you this under better circumstances, but... I'm gay."

Jack turned away from Hiccup, narrowing his eyes. "I know th─"

Hiccup's hands tightened on Jack's shoulders and he cut off Jack's retort with one short sentence.

"And I love you."

That was it. That was the feeling Hiccup couldn't mold out of abstractness for days now. It was the feeling that had forced him to lay his hands on the horn that dreadful night. It was the feeling that raked his brain nonstop. It was the feeling that drove his body forward to this moment. Even though the words were exactly what he had been searching for, they still felt unrealistic rolling off his tongue. But they were out and Hiccup put himself behind them one hundred thousand percent.

Jack's stare misted over unexpectedly and the blush on his cheeks deepened. When Hiccup had first noticed Jack's blush, he had to admit that it had caused him to blush as well. The color stood out─ even in the now dark blue of the night─ against his stark white hair and light blue eyes. And to Hiccup's utter amazement for the boy in front of him, it suited Jack. Hiccup hoped one day to sketch this exact moment of Jack─ it was the moment where Jack's defenses fell and Hiccup could see the real boy he'd always known there was. Hiccup licked his lips and brought them inward, biting on both the upper and lower lip at the same time as he waited for Jack to respond. Jack didn't swat Hiccup's arms from his shoulders, so that must be a good thing. Right? Right?!

"Hic─"

But by that point it was too late. Hiccup already had his lips back on Jack's, and this time he wasn't letting go. The kiss was more urgent this time around as he tilted his head for a better angle and wrapped his arms around Jack's shoulders. Every emotion that tugged at his consciousness was poured into this movement and Hiccup struggled to convey each and every one of them. Jack was still motionless, like the first time, but not as frozen as before. His lips were still slightly warm from Hiccup's last kiss and it just felt right. Hiccup had never thought himself to be like this before, but now nothing else mattered. Earlier this same day, he had just been getting out of the hospital and now he was back on campus, ensnaring Jack close to his body. His injured arm yelled at him to lessen his grip, but he ignored it again. Then Hiccup felt Jack shift and next thing he knew, Jack's arms were wrapped around his neck, pushing his own embrace downward to the small of Jack's back. His lips relaxed and pushed against Hiccup's, accepting the boy's outburst. The pleasant, faint taste of peppermint could be felt on the younger boy's smooth lips and Hiccup swore that he fell just a little more for the boy.

Hiccup parted his lips and turned his head in a new way, trying to memorize the feeling of Jack against him. Although at first Jack didn't respond, he eventually parted his own lips ever so slightly and began running a cold hand through Hiccup's hair. The novel feeling was so intense that Hiccup strengthened his embrace─ against the better judgment of his injured shoulder─ and kissed a little deeper. Each and every little movement was gradual and measured, as if everything had to be perfect. Oh, and Hiccup most certainly perceived this moment to be perfect. His chest was both heavy as a weight and light as air, his arms were both tired and invigorated, his mind was both cluttered and at ease. The churning in his stomach continued as Jack responded to every little detail and Hiccup was spurred onward.

They kept each other like this for a minute or so before Jack pulled away and breathed unevenly. "I─ I'm so sorry, Hiccup. I didn't─"

Hiccup shut him up with another kiss; this one small and sweet. "You don't need to say anything. I said it and I meant it. I love you."

Jack's eyes darted down to Hiccup's lips for what seem like the billionth time and he bit his lip. Gods, did Hiccup find that tantalizing. Then a smirk curled one side of his lips upward. Never mind, that was tantalizing. At least he was within Hiccup's grasp...

"I love you," Jack said, interrupting Hiccup's thoughts again. Hiccup could tell that the boy was testing out the words rather than really saying them to him as a response and could see that Jack's smirk wasn't disappearing. "I love you. I really do, Hiccup. But..."

Hiccup only had an instant to think about Jack's next words when he realized Jack had pushed him. Without enough time to regain his balance, Hiccup fell into the fountain pool with flailing appendages. Hiccup realized his prosthetic had been put under the water and he just knew that it was going to take forever to dry out. The water washed over him and he spat out water as it tried to travel down his throat. Hiccup resurfaced from the foot's depth of water and shook his hair out of his face, glaring at Jack. The boy was laughing uncontrollably, holding his stomach with his legs balancing in the air. Water dripped off a section of Hiccup's hair as he watched the boy's previously hardened features lighten and glow against the watery blues that refracted onto his face from the disturbed water. The sight was more than heartwarming and Hiccup almost forgot that Jack had pushed him into the water.

Almost.

Catching Jack unaware, Hiccup tugged onto the boy's shirt and pulled him down so that they would be soaked together.

"Hey, Hic?"

"Hmm?" Hiccup's eyes fluttered open. They had been napping on Hiccup's bed for most of Saturday. Well, Hiccup had been napping. They were watching Netflix until Hiccup's drowsiness overcame him. He'd had to change his wound's dressings earlier that morning─ a task in which Jack was eager to help out with (probably because he knew Hiccup would be willingly shirtless)─ and he didn't particularly feel like doing anything too strenuous that day. Or anything at all. Jack happily obliged with Hiccup's wishes and curled up next to the boy, pulling his own body higher up than Hiccup's and cradling the older boy humorously. Hiccup had let it happen and set up his laptop so that they could both view it easily. It was only a few minutes into the movie that Jack had picked when Hiccup felt his eyelids grow heavy and the room began to dim. Now that they were open again, however, Hiccup realized that the movie was over.

"You fell asleep," Jack amused pleasantly, pecking a kiss onto Hiccup's forehead, "are you feeling alright?"

"Mm..." Hiccup rolled over and pulled Jack closer, bringing him lower so that Hiccup could be the taller one. One arm snaked its way underneath Jack's neck and the other rested on his waist without Hiccup ever consciously thinking of doing such things. "I'm..." Hiccup yawned as the last word came out, "fine. Just tired."

Jack's throat uttered a giggle without moving his lips. "That's fine with me." Jack's head buried itself into Hiccup's bare, freckled chest and their legs entwined lazily. Every night since Hiccup confessed, Jack had stayed in his bed─ intentionally─ and slept better than he had in weeks. The fact that the bed was twin-sized mattered very little. In fact, it just forced them to stay closer to each other, and neither party had a problem with that. Jack absentmindedly pressed his lips into Hiccup's chest and hummed satisfactorily when Hiccup twitched beside him. Jack knew Hiccup was a little ticklish, but Jack's cool lips always seemed to elevate the sensation.

Out of nowhere, Jack remembered something. "Hey, Hic?"

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaat...?" Hiccup half groaned and dug his head further into his pillow, clutching Jack tighter. Hiccup then cleared his throat and licked his lips before falling back into a gentle snore.

Jack shook his head and smiled. Hiccup was too damn adorable. The younger boy quietly dug his phone out of his pajama pants' pocket. Clicking on the app that he wanted, he lowered the volume before tapping the 'call' button.

Tooth's face appeared, happily eager and excitedly bubbly as always. "Jack! It's been like, two weeks since you've Skyped me! What's up? How is your─" Tooth cut off her own sentence when she realized where Jack's camera was pointed. There was a brunet─ Hiccup, as her look registered─ cuddling Jack. She'd always figured that about Jack, something which he had learned later on in this conversation, but he let it slip. Tooth gushed, yet again, and begged for Jack to tell her everything. Jack glossed over a lot of the details─ pretty much everything gruesome because he knew Tooth would want even more details─ and told her the parts he knew she would rave over forever. A squeal from his phone's speakers told him he was right. But that same squeal also woke up a certain boy.

"Did you─ did you pick another movie...?" Hiccup grimaced before opening his eyes again. Then he saw that Jack was holding his phone upward but smiling at him with a goofy expression.

"Say 'hi' to Tooth, Hic!" Jack flashed a smile at Hiccup, who had brought his hand up and pawed at Jack's face.

"I hate you," Hiccup whispered. Then he turned to Tooth's image on Jack's phone and forced a pleasant smile that turned into a real smile. "Hi, Tooth. Can we call you later? Jack's still in time-out for plunging me into ice water."

"It wasn't that cold," Jack retorted, muffled by Hiccup's hand. "And you liked it..." he mumbled and faked a sneer when he thought Hiccup wasn't looking.

Tooth giggled and blushed. "Don't be too mean to him! I know he's trouble, but he's good trouble. Sleep well, guys!" Tooth winked and ended the call.

Hiccup took his hand off of Jack's face to steal Jack's phone and toss it onto his desk despite Jack's protest. Jack nipped at Hiccup's hand playfully when it came back to cup his face as payback. And as payback for payback, Hiccup bumped his forehead into Jack's and pecked his nose. "What did I tell you about pranking me while I was asleep?"

Jack appeared impossibly offended. "I would never!"

Hiccup could recall a dozen examples─ all within the past couple days, in fact─ in which he could prove Jack wrong. He was about to mention at least one, but decided against it and pulled Jack in for another kiss. The boy with amazingly white hair and startling blue eyes hummed in amusement against Hiccup's lips and they collapsed into each other's embrace.

Jack was good trouble, indeed.

A/N: Yay! All the HiJack fluff! :D Hopefully that eases every puzzle piece into place and settles all the horrible tension that I've put you guys through. They're too gosh darn cute together. (No swearing near the babies!)

Sooo... there's definitely a sequl, but what about nsfw spin-off/continuation? o: scandalous! (I mean, it'd also be hilarious because it's their first time with each other and they probably don't know what they're doing... they probably don't even know who'd be top! And let's just admit they'd be huge goofs about it, too. So really, it'd be a fluffy smut if there ever was such a thing haha. Could I actually write one? Well...)

Also, I've decided to go on with the Pirate!AU idea. It won't get uploaded/finished until I finish my other works (well, not all of them). I sort of got ahead of myself and drew a map (well, it's Hiccup's map), along with a description and some details on the story. It also contains a brief summary. You can find this in a link on my profile (but if you'd rather have a more direct answer or have questions for me, please pm me and I'll give you details). I'd really appreciate it if you guys could tell me whether or not it's a good idea; I've already gotten super into it (like how I get into everything), but I'd like to know that it'd be something people would want to read.

Have a great day/night, everyone! :)