Jack opened his eyes. Checking his phone he discovered the time was 8 am. He had an hour before his first lecture. He didn't move though. He was still thinking about what happened during the night.
Hiccup returned! He placed me in bed. He-he kissed my forehead twice! He apologized again.
After a few more minutes Jack climbed out of his bed. He got dressed quickly and headed into the rest of the apartment.
Should I knock his door, make sure he is back?
Jack bit his bottom lip debating before deciding to open Hiccup's door. Opening the door Jack saw an empty bed. Jack's heart dropped. Scanning to see if anything was different Jack couldn't see any sign that Hiccup had been.
Maybe it was just a dream.
Jack closed Hiccup's door and headed towards the kitchen. There on the side Jack instantly spotted two bags like the morning before. Tears started to fall down Jack's cheeks.
No Hiccup was definitely here. Is this what he meant by protecting me? Is he only going to come back to make me meals before disappearing again?
Jack sat down as the tears ran down his face. He felt empty on the inside.
I miss him. I miss Hiccup. I miss he laugh, his jokes even his sarcastic comments. If he just vanished it would be easier, I could simply search for him. But he keeps coming back and caring for me. He keeps coming so close before disappearing so far away.
A fresh wave of tears fell down Jack's cheeks. Glancing at the clock Jack wipes his eyes to try and stop the tears but they continue to fall. He grabs the two bags waiting for him before heading to the front door.
Jack met up with Astrid after all his lectures like normal.
"So any ideas about Hiccup."
Jack nodded and explained to Astrid what happened the night before. Astrid's eyes widened as she nodded her head listening. By the time Jack had finished she had a plan.
"So you're saying Hiccup came back to the apartment to make you meals."
Jack nodded.
"Great. Right come on if that is the case then we might be able to catch him."
Astrid started dragging Jack across campus towards one of the other buildings.
"What are you going on about? Hasn't Hiccup disappeared?"
"Well if he is still making your meals then he may still be going to his art room. If so we might be able to catch him there."
Jack started to run alongside Astrid no longer being dragged as he understood what she was saying. Soon they were stood outside one of the new buildings. It was the biggest and specifically made for the art students.
"Come on let's see if he is inside."
Astrid headed for the door and Jack followed closely behind her. As they entered they ran into another student.
"Aye mate. Be more careful with where you're going."
In front of Jack and Astrid stood a tall male. He wasn't wearing a top and was showing off a lot of muscle, his grey hair was pulled back into a ponytail. Tattoo's wrapped around the top of his arms.
"Err… Erm…"
Astrid was struggling to form words as her eyes moved up and down the male's body. Jack decided he should speak up.
"We are looking for a student."
The grey haired male rolled his eyes and huffed.
"Well I guess that mate. Which student are you looking for?"
"Hiccup."
The male's eyes widened.
"Hiccup? He's already left."
This time Jack's eyes widened.
"Did you see which way he went or know where he was heading?"
The grey haired male scratched the back of his neck.
"Well he seemed to mumble something about getting back to the dragons. That's all I know. You might be able to catch him if you run to the nearest campus exit."
With that Jack bolted from the building trying to drag Astrid behind him.
"Thanks …"
"Aster."
"Astrid and Jack."
Astrid and Aster swapped smiles as Jack dragged her until Aster was out of view. Astrid started to run alongside Jack again.
"So where we heading?"
"The nearest exit. We should be able to spot Hiccup easily."
Astrid nodded and continued to run.
Once they got to the exit they scanned to street. Jack was able to spot someone who appeared to be Hiccup walking around a corner.
"Astrid this way."
He took off. Astrid followed closely behind. As they reached the corner Hiccup was easy to spot. Jack went to run over to him but Astrid held him back. Jack hissed.
"What are you doing? He is right there we can bring him back with us now and straighten up all this mess."
"Why don't we follow him instead? That way if something like this happens again we will know where to find him."
Jack let the plan sink in before he nodded.
"Good. For now we will just follow him."
They followed a good distance behind. They watched as he entered a supermarket and waited for him to come back out. When he did he was carrying a couple of bags which seemed full. He continued down the street, getting further and further away from the university.
As they walked they noticed how less and less people travelled down each street Hiccup took. Soon the only people on the street were Hiccup, Jack and Astrid. Jack had the nagging feeling Hiccup knew they were there. How could he not? Astrid kept telling him that they were too far away for Hiccup to sense them.
As they turned a corner they noticed Hiccup diving into an alleyway.
"Quick we might lose him if we don't follow quickly."
Astrid and Jack ran to the alleyway and entered it. Before either of them could process what was happening both were pinned with their backs to the wall, an elbow against each of their throats. It took a while for their eyes to get accustomed to the dimly lit alleyway. Once they could see both gasped at the person pinning them.
"Hiccup?"
The brunet released them and took a few steps back.
"What are you doing here? Don't you know the danger you have put yourselves in?"
Astrid snapped at these words.
"And what about you? Aren't you in just as much danger? Besides we came to see if you were ok seen as you disappeared for two days."
"No I am not in danger. I know these parts and I can protect myself. Also I didn't disappear for two days I just didn't contact you for two days."
"Same thing Hiccup. You can't just stop communicating with people after seeing them every day for over a year."
Jack just stood watching them arguing.
"Hiccup?"
Jack voice came out as a whisper but it was enough to silence the others. Hiccup turned to Jack.
"Yeah Jack it's me. Come on you shouldn't be here let me take you…"
Before Hiccup could finish what he was Jack flung himself towards the brunet and hugged him.
"I missed you."
Tears once again spilled down Jack's cheeks. Hiccup froze for a moment before returning the hug and comforting the younger male. Astrid just stood watching them, a smile dancing on her lips.
Before anyone could say or do anything else the shadows began to move.
Astrid found an arm around her throat and her own arms pinned to her back.
Jack found himself pulled away from Hiccup and in the same situation as Astrid.
Hiccup stood shocked for a moment before he also was restrained.
"Nice to see you again Dragon Tamer."
