Well... Please don't kill me. I am truly sorry for the very long unacceptable wait. This one is like, long. I hope you enjoy.
"WhooHoo!" Jack howled into the air, as he and Hiccup slid down a hole that seemed to have a non-stop slide ride. The dirted, grassy ground beneath them was incredibly soft and flawless for he felt no discomfort or pain like he would have sliding down on the hills in Berk. This made his ride to a place known as Burgess quite exciting and admittedly fun already.
Fits of laughter and howls echoed off the tunnel's walls from not only Jack, but also Hiccup. He figured it was about time to let himself be more open and free, so why not enjoy himself?
Releasing his tight hold on Jack's legs, Hiccup raised his hands slowly, carefully over his head as a few shy chuckles slipped pass his lips.
"Be loud Hiccup, be loud!" Jack yelled out unnecessarily loud, grabbing the boy's wrists to stretch his arms fully up. That made Hiccup giggle even more.
"Wooooo Hooo!" They shouted in unison, Jack following just behind Hiccup's chant.
Upon feeling a fresh, cooler breeze against his face, Hiccup was brought closer to Jack's chest by the teen's arms circling around his own thinner chest, and up they went. Jack brought Hiccup up into the air and out of the tunnel they were just in.
"We have arrived!" Jack announced as he placed the two back on land. "Iiiin the forest of Burgess." His tone dropped from its enthusiastic tone.
"Is that a bad thing?" Hiccup asked.
"Eh not really." Just shrugged. "Just means we have to walk a bit." He smiled, grabbing the shoulders of the blind boy. Hiccup took that as a signal to start walking.
.
.
A couple of steps into their journey and Jack already felt the need of doing something different. Something else besides walking awkwardly behind Hiccup with his staff oddly and uncomfortably placed in one of his hands that were holding onto Hiccup's shoulder. Of course that was just few of the reasons why he didn't want to walk like this. It just didn't fit his mood to have to take a stroll like this in the forest. So, Jack decided to change it up a bit. The winter teen pulled his hands away; making sure his staff didn't bump Hiccup's head in the process and moved beside Hiccup. Upon from losing contact with him, Hiccup's hands flinched up a small fraction before stopping in his slow pace.
"Jack?" Hiccup called as he began to move again, but more slowly and cautiously by sliding his right foot against the ground so he wouldn't trip on anything.
"I'm right here." Jack replied, gently sliding his hand into Hiccup's. The boy flinched at the sudden, strange contact and he stopped once more. His mouth opened as if he were going to say something, but since nothing came out and after a few seconds of waiting for nothing, Jack decided to break the silence (which was awkward to Hiccup). "Come on kid, let's get movin'." He chuckled.
Hiccup nodded hesitantly and continued their journey.
"Hey Hiccup?"
"Hm?"
"I've been wondering, how did you manage to get away from your friend?" Jack asked, looking and his smaller friend.
"Oh them, right, I uh, I told them to take Hookfang home for some resting." He informed.
"And Toothless? I'm surprised the lizard would leave you with a guy like me!" Jack said, letting out a short laugh and a nudge at Hiccup's side.
"Oh he was hesitant at first," Hiccup grinned, nudging Jack right back with his elbow. "But the others needed help carrying Hookfang on that net."
Jack nodded, letting out a quiet 'ah' when he'd almost forgot again that Hiccup couldn't see the small action.
Once again, they walked in silence. Jack searched for a topic in his head to break the now awkward silence between the both of them, and the singing bird were not helping one bit by lifting the mood. 'What ever that mood might be'.
As they walked, Jack swung his staff about, tapping what ever things he could such as trees, rocks, bushes, the ground, and whatever else there was in the forest he could leave beautiful frost patterns on. Every now and then he would turn his gaze towards Hiccup who would curl his free hand in and out of a ball. What made the kid so nervous well… Jack may have figured that out already, because he held that boy's hand while his cold thumb rubbed the back of Hiccup's hand. It was a nice feeling for Jack, to be able to touch warm human skin, though he could not say Hiccup felt the same way with Jack's freezing rough hands.
The more he thought about Hiccup's uncomfortable gestures, and the tensity in his shoulders, the more Jack felt guilty for his actions. He's causing such discomfort to the poor boy and he didn't even ask how Hiccup felt about this whole thing! Did he even want to come with Jack to a place he's never been before in the first place!? Is Hiccup unhappy by the fact that he was pretty much being forced to ditch Toothless? Or was it simply because he was holding the boy's hand when he has a girlfriend. Or the fact that Jack too was of the same gender and it was just plain weird? And with that thought, Jack's heart began to sink for some odd reason all the while, thumping loudly in his chest.
"Jack?" Hiccup touched the arm of his guardian friend with his free hand.
"Yeah?" Jack gasped out, unaware that he was holding in his breath for some strange reason.
"You okay?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" He asked, giving Hiccup a forced smile to shield his lie.
"My hand." Hiccup said, pointing towards the two connecting hands. "You're squeezing it."
Immediately Jack drew back his hand away from Hiccup's and as if that was the key for the blind boy, the absence of Jack's hand had stopped Hiccup from walking any further.
"Oh, sorry." He apologized, turning back to a somewhat flustered Hiccup. The boy began poking the ground with the toe of his boot and his hands once again began to ball up into fists.
"It's fine Jack, but you know, it's kind of hard to walk when I cannot see.. And when I'm alone." Hiccup said as he hesitantly began to slowly raise his hand towards Jack. "So.. If you don't mind?" He asked, eyebrow raised and smile crooked.
Jack stared at the boy's smaller hand that waited for his own to take hold of and guide him. 'Just to guide him.' Jack reminded himself, but no matter, Hiccup needed Jack and he should be happy to be there for him. To be needed by someone. "I don't mind." Jack said, taking Hiccup's hand again and they continued their journey by walking out of the small forest, with Hiccup tripping only a few times, and onto the streets. It would have been better and easier to go through the small fence that boarded the Bennett's backyard, but seeing how Hiccup was a stranger and if Jamie's mother caught him, well that would be a difficult thing to explain to Ms. Bennett. So with that being said, Jack guided Hiccup around until they were in front of all the houses.
"Jack." Hiccup whispered, looking down towards the concrete sidewalk so that his auburn bangs would cover his eyes.
"What's up?" Jack asked, getting a little concern for the younger teen. "Do your eyes hurt again?" Hiccup shook his head before stopping the action to tilt his head to the side.
"Well, they have been in pain, but that's not it." Hiccup said before shaking it off with his hand and lowering his head again. His hand began tightening around Jack's "I feel… I feel people are watching me." And it's making him feel very uncomfortable. Jack guessed.
People were indeed were giving Hiccup strange stares, and he couldn't blame them for doing so. The Viking did stick out like a black sheep in a white flock. His clothes were definitely… Different from everybody else's and Jack was sure that some did see Hiccup's eyes.
"They are! But that's only because they're jealous of your Vikingness!" Jack exclaimed happily as he tried to cheer up Hiccup by giving him a shake.
"They wouldn't be able to tell that I was a Viking even if I told them my life story!" Hiccup said, unable to help himself but to smile.
"Then they would be even more jealous!" Jack exclaimed again.
"How so?" Hiccup asked, raising a brow as if he didn't even know! But now he is distracted, he began to forget all those stares he is currently receiving from people who probably think that Hiccup is crazy by now. Oops.
"Um, Dragon Trainer hello?" Jack teased, playfully bumping into Hiccup. The Viking chuckled as he gained his posture again before doing the same back to Jack by push him with his arm.
By now, everybody who was outside was staring at the one man performance Hiccup was giving, but since Jack knew he didn't even belong here in the first place, it didn't matter. Hiccup looked like he was having fun, and that's all that matters to Jack.
Soon the two boys arrived in front of Jamie's, house. How Jack was going to do this, he really did not know. He could always ring the doorbell and hope the young boy would answer it, but if his mom were to, that might be a big problem. Neither she nor Jamie knew who Hiccup was and Ms. Bennett could not see Jack Frost. While Jack was thinking about how he should go about this, he decided to walk Hiccup to the basketball hoop Jamie had right by his garage.
"Wait here. I'm gonna go get Jamie." Jack said as he ushered Hiccup so his back would touch the pole and the blind boy would know what's there behind him. Hiccup nodded as he turned slightly to lean against the railing on his left arm while he ran his right hand down it with a questioning look on his face.
Jack took one moment to stare at Hiccup with a sympathetic smile on his face. Why he was feeling a hint of sadness, he wasn't too sure, and why he smiled at the blind boy, he didn't know! He just wanted to bring Hiccup in the air with him again, and fly him into Jamie's room. But Jack knows that he cannot do that in the middle of the day.
The winter guardian shook his head before he could zone out and overthink things again before flying off to Jamie's window.
.
.
"Ey, are ye sure Trader Johann is out here?"
"For the fourth time Gobber, yes!"
And four the fourth time that day, Gobber the Belch mumbled to himself about how long the two men were in the air and moaned about his tailbone being in pain. For him, it felt as if they have been flying for many, many hours, but in reality, it's only been one at the most.
What made Stoick the Vast so determined to find Trader Johann had something to do with a letter he received that mid-morning. Gobber had no idea what the item was specifically, but it must have been important for them to go out right away. It was also the morning Gobber was informed that Hiccup was gone and nowhere to be seen on the island.
"Maybe it is a good thing." Stoick said, looking at a piece of ripped out paper that was in his hand. "If he isn't doing anything too rash such as the forge, I believe he is going to be alright."
"But where on Earth could he be going with a condition like his!?" Gobber asked.
"I don't know." Stoick mumbled, lifting a paper he had in his hand that was underneath Hiccup's note. "But I think we may be able to do something about his eyes." A small smile formed.
"Odin, let 'em be right 'bout that." Gobber mumbled.
"What was that?" Stoick asked.
"Nothing, just ah… Check behind that island there." He pointed to one of the very few small islands that had a single mountain on it. With nothing to lose, Stoick steered Thornado behind said island and there it was! Trader Johann's ship.
"You were right Gobber! How did you know he was there?"
"Eh," He shrugged. "Gobber knows things!"
It was a perfect place Johann had to chosen to settle as the three landed on the beach of the island the ship was parked on. Thornado stretched and shook his body after the two big Vikings slid off of him. While the men went to do business, the dragon rested on the soft sand that the water ever so gently touched.
Gobber groaned as his bones cracked in mid-stretch before following Stoick on to the ship. "Johann! You in there?" Gobber called out. A few seconds later, and the smaller man came out from below deck, wearing a pair of sunglasses.
"Ah! My favourite chief! Glad you can make it!"
"So am I." Stoick said. "Seeing how you were so vague as to where you would be."
"I thought it wouldn't be a problem now that you have your dragons."
"I suppose you're right." Stoick shrugged off the topic. "So, you found it?"
"Found wha'?" Gobber asked, looking up from a pair of sunglasses that he had found in a box he was going through.
"Yes old friend I did, and something else that might strike your fancy." Johann said, gesturing with his hand to follow him.
"It's a bit dark to be wearing these down 'ere isn't it?" Gobber mentioned, taking the sunglasses off.
"It's better this way for me." Johann said. For some very odd reason, Gobber felt as if there was something different with Johann's voice right then. It wasn't his voice directly, but… His accent maybe? It changed, and so did his tone. It was softer. Gobber shrugged it off as nothing, taking off his sunglasses and hung it on the strap of his arm guard.
Johann opened a cabinet that had a red plus sign painted on it, pulling out a small wooden box by the handle. "Here we are." He mumbled, opening it up to reveal a roll of bandages and gauze, a bottle of clear liquid, a spray can, cotton balls, a box that carried pills in them, a pair of scissors and tweezers.
Johann then picked up the bottle first, explaining that it was rubbing alcohol for healing and disinfecting. The can, he next explained, was antiseptic. It was to be sprayed on the injury to thoroughly clean and disinfect disease-causing organisms that wander into unclean cuts. They were to be used on Hiccup's cuts so that it wouldn't become worse than it already it. Johann also explained how it would sting very badly when applied, introducing the next unknown item for the two Vikings. The aspirins. They were to relieve the pains in his eyes. And that was the end of his lesson. Johann closed the med box, seeing as there wasn't any need for an explanation for the rest of the items.
"Thank you Trader Johann." Stoick said, shaking the smaller man's hand. "This means a lot. Are you sure there isn't anything else you want?" He asked, placing a bag of bread he carried around his shoulders on a table. Gobber followed suit, as he placed his bag that carried different meats next to the other bag.
"No." Johann chucked, shaking his head. "But, I also have something for your dragons!" He mentioned, grabbing a small bag that hid behind a stack of boxes. He opened it to pull out what it looks to be some sort of collar that was shaped to look like rose vines. Beautiful indeed they were. "A beut they are, aren't they?" He said, and both Stoick and Gobber nodded in agreement. "Don't know what else to do with 'em. So," The trader put the collar back in its bag, closing it before handing it to them. "Free of charge! Think the young ones will like it for their dragons?"
"Aye. Thank you Johann." Stoick nodded. The two Vikings showed themselves out and off the ship, but not before Stoick had to tell Gobber to put back the sunglasses for which he replied an 'I have no idea what you are talking about' before they slipped off his armguard.
Then they were off, back to Berk in hopes that Hiccup would be home safe. Even though Stoick doesn't seem to show much worry for his fishbone son, he certainly cares for Hiccup and his happiness, and he will sure be happy to see more things to give to the dragons he so cared about!
.
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Of all the gifts he had gotten from his mother, his favourite is a book filled with all sorts of information and stories about Knights, Pirates, Wizards, Ninjas and Vikings. Jamie had all sorts of books he collected for stories and just facts about mystical creatures and people. He's thinking that it is about time he starts an actual series! The only problem with that was he couldn't choose which thing to start with! Should he begin reading Harry Potter, a wizard story? Or maybe King Arthur, that has knights, dragons and sorcerers! Jamie squirmed at the thought of what book he might get next and flipped to the Knights section, stopping to hear a knocking sound at his bedroom window. Jamie turned his head to see his guardian friend waving to him. The boy happily jumped off his bed, dashing to his window to let Jack inside.
"Jack! You made it!" Jamie exclaimed, hugging the guardian teen tightly.
"Of course I did squirt!" Jack returned the embrace. "Wouldn't missed it for the world!" Jamie giggled, releasing his hold on Jack, but when he got a better look of his face, he burst out laughing.
"What?" Jack asked.
After Jamie was able to catch his breath again, he wiped the tear from his eye. "Your face!" He giggled. "Why do you have a rabbit's face?"
Jack ran to see his reflection and saw that Bunny's paint was still on his face. Ugly bits of white with black dots under his ugly painted pink nose, and ugly painted bucked teeth on his lips. He had to hand it to Bunny's artistic skills though. The painted fur looked pretty real!
"Bunnymund!" Jack yelled, making Jamie laugh even more until he fell on his knees. Jack stomped to the bathroom and washed all the paint off. Why didn't anybody say anything earlier!? They were in such a serious predicament and all that time, Jack had a stupid, dorky painting of a rabbit's face on him? 'Wow Bunny, you are seriously going to pay.' After scrubbing the paint off, he returned to the boy's room to see Jamie still laughing. Jack cleared his throat loudly, but Jamie was still on the floor, giggling.
"AH HEH- HEH- HEH- HEM! …I have someone I'd like you to meet."
"Huh?" Jamie finally stopped laughing, but still giggled every now and then. Jack had grabbed his attention with the fact that he had someone with him. "A new believer!?"
"Mmm, something like that!" Jack said, walking towards the bedroom door. "You'll love him!"
"I will?" Jamie questioned as he walked out the door and began descending the stairs.
"I know you will! You know how I know?" Jack asked, receiving a smile from the young boy, shaking his head. "He is a real Viking." He said, keeping his voice slow and quiet for dramatic effects. Jamie gasped.
"You're joking." Jack shook his head.
"He's outside waiting for us right now!"
"No way!" Jamie exclaimed as he now began running down the rest of his stairs, jumping off from the fourth step and ran to his door, but was stopped by his mother.
"Jamie, where are you going?"
"Just out in the front. To uh," Jamie answered, thinking of a reason. Jack nudged the boy slightly. "I have a friend out there waiting for me."
She chuckled. "Then why doesn't he knock on the door?"
"He's blind." Jack quickly whispered to Jamie as if the mother would hear him.
"He's blind." The boy repeated. "I gotta go help him in!" Before his mother could say anything more, Jamie ran out the door, barefooted and excited, to meet this "Viking".
"Over here." Jack said, waving his hand for Jamie to follow.
Around the corner, sitting with his knees pulled to his chest, was a boy who looked to be around Jack's age, but not quite. He was younger than Jack and smaller as well.
Is this really the Viking Jack was talking about? Aren't Vikings supposed to be big and tough looking with horned helmets, armor, and fur cloaks? Well, maybe he did have a bit of the fur for his vest, but… This didn't look like any of the Vikings he had read about and imagined. Jamie shot a glance at the guardian with a questioning look, tilting his head to the side. Jack knew exactly what he was thinking for he replied the silent conversation the two were having, with a nod.
"Hey Hiccup." Jack called quietly to the younger teen. "I'd like you to meet Jamie." He offered a hand to Hiccup by bumping him on the arm, causing the blind teen to hold out his hand. Jack happily took him by the hand and lifted up Hiccup in one easy pick up. "Jamie, this is Hiccup. A real living Viking."
"A little bit over the edge Jack?" Hiccup mumbled. The guardian chuckled, making him chuckle as well.
After being helped up by the guardian, Hiccup held out his hand towards well, wherever he thought Jamie was. He was off a little, but that seemed to be understandable. The boy was quite speechless. There were so many things about Hiccup that Jamie couldn't think to ask first. His mouth was open, and he did not take his eyes off of the small Viking boy as the scanned up and down his body, but mainly they stared at his left leg, and his eyes. Was he an actual real life Viking, or was Jack just joking around? Why were his eyes all scratched up so much to where he couldn't open them back up? And… What happened to his leg?
While Jamie was zoned out, aweing at Hiccup, Jack grabbed the young boy's hand and placed it in Hiccup's for him to shake, and assuming Jamie had done so himself, the Viking shook his hand gently, greeting with an "It's nice to finally meet you."
Jamie nodded, lips still parted. His eyes slightly averted to Jack, who stood just behind Hiccup and pointed at his closed eyes. "Oh, yeah! It's nice to meet you too."
"So, it's you're birthday huh?" Hiccup suddenly brought up, breaking the silence between the three despite the little bits of other outside noises going on around them.
"Yeah! I'm having my birthday party here and Jack is going to make it snow in the forest, just for us!"
"Really now?" Hiccup smiled. "That's pretty nice!"
"Yeah!" Jamie exclaimed, hoping a few times due to excitement. "We just have to wait for my friends and we can go right Jack?"
"That's right." Jack confirmed. "Make sure you get approval from your mother first."
"Oh right! Come on inside Hiccup." The Viking chuckled when Jamie had taken his hand and started pulling him towards the steps at the front door.
"Careful now." Jack warned. "Incoming stairs." A silent 'oh' from Jamie and he stopped just before the steps, and with that warning, Hiccup immediately stopped as well.
The two gentlemen both had Hiccup by the hand, much to the Viking's small complaint of 'I can do it by myself'; they slowly made their way to the front door that was opened by Ms. Bennett.
A gasp was heard as she placed a hand in front of her mouth before running to Hiccup's side. It was too late for Jack to move before she went right through him. Both Jamie and Jack gasp silently, but made no comment.
"My goodness Jamie, you really weren't joking when you said your friend was blind!" Her eyes quickly shot at Jamie, then to Hiccup who shifted uncomfortably from one for to the other. "Oh I am sorry dear. Here let's get you inside."
.
.
For the first few minutes of talking with this boy, it's a no wonder why Jack took quite a liking to Jamie. He was a sweet kid, and so was his mother. When he was brought into their home, which had a strange lemony smell to it, he was immediately sat down in a very cushiony, soft sofa. It was nothing like he has ever felt before.
He was too distracted by the texture and comfort this sofa brought him that he didn't hear much of what Jamie's mother was going on about (something along the lines of oranges and birthday food.)
"You mustn't eat too much, or you won't have an appetite for the birthday meal!" She said, bringing back Hiccup's attention with a 'clank' in front of him.
"We won't." Jamie said. Hiccup then heard the sound of a door closing. She must have left, but what is the low rumbling roaring noise?
"What is that noise?" Hiccup asked, tilting his head slightly, trying his best to put all of his focus on the strange noise that lasted maybe six seconds.
"That's the garage!" Jamie answered from another room. He too was making a lot of noises Hiccup was both familiar and unfamiliar with.
"Ohhhh kay?" Hiccup said, knowing full well that he wasn't going to understand the contraptions these people have unless maybe he sees them for himself, which was never going to happen.
"Here Hiccup," Jack grabbed his hand, lifting it up to press something cold cup shape object to his hand.
Hiccup grabbed the cup carefully, knowing that it was made out of glass. Strange how different and nicer it felt compared to the wooden cups he always drank out of. He then took a sip of a tangy drink. Wow was it good! He smiled.
"Haven't you ever had orange juice?" Jack asked.
"No! But it's really delicious!"
A refill and a couple of tasty potato chips later, the doorbell rang. Jamie jumped off the couch the three sat on and opened the door.
"Happy Birthday Jamie!" A group of kids shouted from outside. Jamie giggled, opening the door wider to let his group of friends inside.
"Thanks guys!" Jamie said. "Jack's already here and he also brought someone else!"
"A new believer?" A girl asked.
"Who is he?"
"Whoa, he's kinda cute." Another girl whispered.
Hiccup took a deep breath, bracing himself for the group of gasps he knew he was about to hear, and followed Jack as he stood up.
"Guys, this is Hiccup." Hiccup then turned around, and as he expected, the group of young kids gasped. It wasn't offending for his looks or anything, and he knew that. But did it really look that bad?
"Sorry, for the uh, the sight." Hiccup chuckled, as he gestured himself, making Jack laugh. As a result, the guardian received a push from him. The kids were silent for a few second, doing the exact thing Jamie had done, and Hiccup could feel all of their eyes on him. "Does it really look bad?" He mumbled to Jack. He then heard a few whispers from one of the boys.
"Horrible." Jack replied. Hiccup rolled his head like he would do when rolling his eyes again, and again pushed Jack away playfully.
"Sorry, uhm. Hi, Hiccup. My name's Pippa." The girl who spoke up first introduced herself.
"You can see Jack! Oh, well, sort of. I mean" the boy cleared his throat. "I-I'm Monty."
"You're always making things weird Monty."
"You're such a dork"
"Hey! I am not!" Monty protested.
"Name's Caleb."
"I'm Claude"
"Introduce yourself." Pippa whispered.
"Um, I'm Cupcake."
"And that's everyone!" Jamie exclaimed. "So Jack, can we go to the forest now!?"
"Yeah, be sure to leave your mom a note telling her where we will be alright?"
"Mhmm."
.
.
The sound of laughter and joyful cheers from the group of children, including Sophie, rang through the air as Jack flew up tree high and filled the air with snow. Since Jack didn't want it to snow everywhere in town, and only in the forest part of where they were at, it was a much more difficult task to do, making it take a little longer than a couple of minutes. During that time, the kids seemed to have taken rather a strong liking towards Hiccup, especially Sophie who climbed onto his back when they had left. For a little while, it scared Hiccup to have a small child on him, feeling he'd be responsible if he would have tripped, but Jack made sure to guide him carefully over anything that could possibly trip on.
Jack almost wanted to stop working on his little snow biome to listen to Hiccup tell the kids about what it is like to be a Viking. He did however over heard that he was the smallest Viking and he could make all sorts of weapons, though he already knew that.
Just before he was about to shout out to them, he laid out a layer of snowballs. Grabbing one from off the ground, he chucked it right at Hiccup's lips, making sure not to aim at any of his wounds.
"Snow Day!" Jack yelled, laughing at the scowling boy. The kids yelled running to grab a snowball for themselves, Sophie squirmed to get out off of Hiccup's arms.
"Alright, alright." Hiccup said, trying to remain balance. He then carefully fell on his knees and she immediately jumped off and joined Jamie and the rest of the older kids.
Jack loved when kids enjoy the snow he brings them. He'd always act like he was apart of the action by blending himself in with the crowd and snowballs being tossed all through out the air, but recently, he didn't have to do that with these kids. He was actually seen by them. There wasn't need for acting anymore with them, and if he had these guys, well, he couldn't ask for more.
"Hiccup!" Jamie yelled, and before the young teen could react, he was hit right on the eyes. Hiccup let out a pained grunt and stumbled backwards.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry Hiccup!" Cupcake apologized quietly, but frantically as she ran up to him while the others followed behind.
"Ya gotta be more careful Cupcake!" Pippa scolded.
"I'm alright. Don't worry about me. Didn't hurt one bit!" Hiccup chuckled, gently brushing the snow off.
"You sure?" Cupcake asked, feeling really guilty about hitting Hiccup of all places.
"'Course. I'm a Viking after all." He playfully flexed. "We take pain like it's nothing! Go back to playing before it all melts."
And with that, Cupcake was relieved that the Viking boy wasn't hurt nor upset with her. She smiled and ran back with the others. Hiccup sighed as he continued to gently rub in the snow. Jack could see right though his act.
"You little liar." Jack teased. "It did hurt." Hiccup sighed, shaking his head with a smile.
"Wasn't all that bad." Hiccup shrugged, acting like it was nothing.
But if Hiccup were to actually show any signs of pain, well, that would have definitely made Cupcake a whole lot worse. Poor girl was actually quite sensitive, but kept her feelings to herself.
"Right." Jack sighed. "You did a great thing though."
As he watched the kids play, he heard a bit of movement from Hiccup, but not paying too much attention to the Viking at the moment, he wasn't prepared for the snowball that hit him right at the side of his head. Oh that daring Hiccup. Jack turned around just in time to see another snowball hitting him right in the face.
"Oh that's it!" Jack jumped into action and flew up into the air over a branch that was covered with a bit of snow.
"Whoa whoa whoa Jack, where are you!? This isn't fair you know!" Hiccup yelled as he spun about with his arms up for protection. Jack sniggered as he added a bit more snow to the branch before jumping down on it, causing all the snow to fall on top of Hiccup.
.
"What!? Dragons are actually real!?" Jamie yelled, almost choking on his slice of pizza.
"No way." Claude said.
"You're kidding." Commented Caleb.
"There's no such thing." Said Pippa.
"Oh, but there is!"
"Dragons! Rawr!" Sophie yelled, hopping in Hiccup's lap.
"That is so cool!" Monty shouted.
"Show them your notebook Hiccup!" Jack said, tapping Hiccup on his arm.
"Oh right."
After taking one last bite of his pizza, Hiccup pulled out his sketchbook from his vest and opened it up. "You guys can look through, I can't really see which pages are drawings and which pages are black or just notes."
Jamie eagerly took the sketchbook and placed it on an empty space of the table where the pizza box once was. Everybody, including Ms. Bennett, leaned forward to get a better view of Hiccup's sketchbook. They awed at a drawing of Toothless that contained little notes and information on the Night Fury. They continued to turn pages, asking multiple questions to Hiccup about what kind of dragon is what, what did they do, and if they all breathed fire (which to Jamie's surprise wasn't true! Some shoot out acid, boiling water, and even sound waves! They are all quite different.) They also asked if they kept any of them as pets.
In the middle of Hiccup's presentation from his book, Ms. Bennett, much to her dislike, had to interrupt Hiccup to bring out the cake and ice cream. Sophie jumped off from his lap and to her mother to get the second plate, (because we all know that the birthday boy gets the first slice). She passed out plates to each of the kids and Hiccup, and immediately, the Viking boy fell in love with the double chocolate Oreo cake and vanilla ice cream.
"Jack, you have to try this!" Hiccup whispered excitedly to the winter guardian that shared a seat with him. Reason as to why that came to be, was because Ms. Bennett would find it strange to bring an extra chair to a table for it to be empty. Or so that's what it would look like to her sadly.
He searched for the cake with his spoon before scooping up a piece of it and bits of the ice cream, and then offered it to Jack. When Ms. Bennett wasn't looking, Jack took a bite of the cake, finding that it was indeed amazing. He ended up stealing a couple of more bites from Hiccup's spoon when he was about to take a bite, but the poor boy sometimes missed the cake or ice cream and barely got any. But with the help of his guardian friend, Jack of course helped him out.
After the birthday dinner and deserts, they all went into the living room to open presents. Jamie ended up getting another book from Monty, a group of Pokémon stuffed animals to complete his Evee evolution collection from both Pippa and Cupcake, and packets of Magic cards from Caleb and Claude. Jack had Hiccup give Jamie the little bag with the two eggs inside from Bunnymund, telling Jamie that one was for him, and the other was for Sophie.
"Easter Bunny!" She cheered, grabbing the egg Jamie had handed to her. They were painted beautifully, and on Jamie's egg, there was a small 'Happy Birthday' hidden in the pictures. "Thank you!"
"Yeah thanks! Thank you guys!" Jamie said, his smile wide that Jack could see that the tooth he had lost was almost grown out. "These gifts are awesome! I love them!"
"I have one for you too." Hiccup suddenly said as he reached for his neck. He then pulled on a string and revealed a necklace that hid under his tunic. The necklace turned out to be a tooth, but it was a dragon's tooth! How cool is that? Normally it would be a shark's tooth or something.
"Whoa! Is that-?"
"A Night Fury tooth." Hiccup explained as everybody let out a quiet 'Whoooa'."My dragon Toothless lost one of his teeth, so I decided to string it up." Jamie again awed, now convinced that dragons were a hundred percent real. Not that he wasn't really convinced before. This time, he had solid proof.
Jamie slowly took the necklace from Hiccup, receiving comments such as 'cool' and 'lucky!'. Being too focused on the necklace, Jamie gently hovered his fingers to where they barely ghosted the tooth as if it would break. "Wooow." He put it on. "You sure you want me to have this?" Hiccup nodded. "Wow! Thanks Hiccup!" Jamie said, hugging the Viking boy. It really surprised him, taking a moment before hugging him back.
It was a really nice smile Hiccup has right now. Jack observed. It was such a nice, soft smile that showed that he is growing on to Jamie.
"Can you tell us more about the dragons?"
"And the other Vikings!"
"Tell us about Toothless!"
And so, Hiccup continued, pretty much telling them the whole story on how he became the Viking who trained a dragon called a Night Fury (Toothless being the only Night Fury to their knowledge at least), in secret while training to kill them, though, he was never good at that. They laughed and commented about how he was the only one who goofed up during training, just like Monty during gym class and Hiccup laughed along with them. In the end, he wound up being popular with everybody except for one girl, who Jack guessed was Astrid, but Hiccup didn't tell them really much about her or his feelings. He talked about her like he talked about everyone else. Usually, you'd have a different tone or smile for the one you love. He just figured that maybe Hiccup was good with hiding his feelings.
But when he came to the part where he had lost his leg, they became dead silent. Hiccup used hand movements and just vivid descriptions as if he is seeing it all over again.
"Ever since that incident," Hiccup continued, "Toothless and I have became so close. He and I share a bond like no other. This missing left leg reminds me of him."
"Wow."
For a few minutes, every one was silent; still a little shocked from the story. That is until Pippa spoke up and asked, "Could you possibly… Tell us what happened to your eyes?"
"Yeah." Everyone pleaded. "Tell us." "Please!"
Hiccup chuckled. "Sure." And everybody scooted closer to the boy. Jack joined in too as he closed a little more distance between the two. "A few days ago, the gang and I went back to the academy for another day's worth of training. Snotlout and Tuffnut were of course up to no good by making a bet. Tuffnut's bet was that he could ride Snotlout's dragon, Hookfang, better than he can, and Snotlout did the same, except for Tuff's dragon. Of course Snotlout was jealous that Hookfang listened to Tuff just as good, perhaps even better, than he did with Snotlout. So what he did was-"
Ding Dong
A loud bell interrupted Hiccup's story telling. The Viking tilted his head, wondering what that strange noise was.
"Oh I'm sorry Hiccup." Ms. Bennett apologized deeply, not wanting his story telling to stop. "Let me just go get that."
Everybody, excluding Hiccup, turned all turned their attention to the door when it opened, revealing Cupcake's mother. A silent 'aw' was heard from both Cupcake and Pippa.
The two adults greeted each other, having a short chat before Cupcake's mother said, "Alright Cupcake sweetie, it's time to come home. Pippa you too, your parents wanted me to take you home."
"Aw, but mom, Hiccup was telling us a story." Cupcake said.
"It's getting late Cupcake. Your father wants you home. And your parents as well" She directed to Pippa.
"Aw." They both said, heads hanging down.
"How about I tell the rest later alright?" Hiccup said, giving the girls a reassuring smile. "Let's save it for next time."
"Alright." The both replied.
"Thank you Hiccup." Ms. Bennett said.
"Yeah thanks Hiccup." Pippa said, and then the group of kids followed after, Hiccup received many thanks that made him blush slightly.
"Haha, you're welcome. Well," He cleared his throat. "We better get going." He got up carefully.
"I'll be happy to give you a ride." Cupcake's mother offered. "Where do you live Hiccup?"
"Ah, that's alright. I uh, I live far from here. Very far."
"How about staying the night here hun? As a thanks for the stories." Ms. Bennett offered.
"Oh no, that's al-"
"Please Hiccup! It'll be fun!" Jamie pleaded, pulling on Hiccup's sleeve.
"Sleep over. Yay!" Sophie joined in.
In the end, Hiccup couldn't refuse the offer, especially after how kind she has been to him, letting in a stranger into her home with her kids? Maybe it was because he was sort of a kid himself, and what could he possibly do when blind? But of course he wouldn't dare to say no to either Jamie nor Sophie after what Jack had said to be the power of puppy eyes.
After the kids have gone home, and after they had made Hiccup promise not to tell Jamie the rest of the story, Ms. Bennett gave Hiccup some clothes that she owned, and sadly (for Hiccup anyways), she has only women's clothing. She showed him the way to the guest bedroom and bathroom. Wanting him to take a shower first, she organized the soaps for him to tell which is what just by feeling and placement. After setting up the shower and asking him if any more help would be necessary, Jack carefully helped Hiccup in the shower (with his clothes on of course), and folded the Vikings clothes for him to place on the bathroom counter.
Once Hiccup was done with the shower, after a very long time of just standing in the "magical heated water", Jack handed Hiccup a towel, while shielding his eyes of course, psh, why would he want to look anyways?
"Wow! Those things smell so good. And that water, Wow!" Hiccup sighed longingly to have another go in the shower. Jack chuckled.
"Seemed like you loved it in there." Jack said as he helped Hiccup slide on Ms. Bennett's short sleeved, thin (very thin compared to Hiccup's tunic), Mickey Mouse shirt. He had already put the pair of sweatpants on before exiting the shower.
"Very much so."
Before going to the room he would be staying in, Jack ushered Hiccup to Jamie's room, to say a quick thank you to the boy, in which Jamie's reply was
"Thank you Hiccup! I had the best birthday with both you and Jack here. Thanks for the snow Jack, and Hiccup, thanks for the cool necklace and stories! I can't wait to hear more!"
"I'm happy you enjoyed them." Hiccup said. Jack then tucked Jamie in, before heading towards the bedroom window to draw a small dragon in the window and brought it to life.
It first flew around Hiccup, leaving a trail of snowflakes behind and then over to Jamie, breathing cold "fire" at his face. He giggled and went to gently touch it, but upon contacted, it burst into snow.
"Good night." They both said, Jack smiling when he saw the smile on Jamie's face, and Hiccup did so as well when he heard the young boy giggling.
The two teens left Jamie's room and quietly walked to the room they would be staying in. Jack guided Hiccup onto the bed, and then followed right after.
"Jack?"
"Hm?" He answered, scooting closer to Hiccup.
"Why are you here?" He asked, shifting a bit away from him, but scooted right back.
"To help you with your blindness silly!" Jack playfully pinched Hiccup's nose.
"No! That's not what I meant." He swatted his hand away. "I mean, why are you here? With me? Iiiin the same bed."
"Honestly?" He asked.
"Honestly."
"Honestly?"
"Jack"
"Alright." He chuckled, giving it a moment to think. "Well… To tell you the truth," he paused. "I haven't slept with someone in… In years!" He settled with just that.
"How many?" Hiccup asked.
"Hmm…. Three hundred and one give or take?" Jack chuckled.
"Oh?" Hiccup stuttered slightly, again shifting uncomfortably. "With who?" Jack chuckled.
"Jealous?" He teased.
"No! Just… Curious that's all." He pushed Jack away, giving each other a bit of space between them now on the twin size bed.
"My sister use to sleep with me whenever she'd get scared." Jack smiled softly, as the memory came back to him after he was able to get it all back. He turned on his back with his arm behind his head and stared at the ceiling.
"Oh? What was she like? If I may ask that is."
"Well… I suppose since I know a lot about you, I guess it is fair that I tell you a bit about me."
Thanks again for all your guy's reviews. They all make me so happy and motivated. Now that I am done with vacation, i can finally go back to writing. I also apologize for not replying to them. I will again start that up. Hope you enjoyed. Sorry for grammar and what nots too.