The Journey Into Us
Pairing: Hiccup X Toothless
Rating: M for Mature
Disclaimer:I do not own anything HTTYD-related.
Chapter 26
=Trayden's POV=
(Monday, 1/13/2020; 2:40 pm)
(Barbarchi City, Archipelago)
(Trayden's Apartment)
I finally felt better, not that I was sick, but had recovered from the overworking after crazy hours through nine days with no real break. I probably slept until 10 am Saturday morning, and didn't feel 100%, but enough that I wasn't feeling sick anymore. My body still hurt, and I was still tired. I told Andrew I'd still come to work that night, and handled my 4 to 10 pm shift. I was supposed to work until close, but Andy told me to go home at 10 pm. Sunday, I worked from 3 pm to close. I'm working today too, another 3 pm to closing. I still feel some fatigue, but it's not nearly as bad as it was Friday. The headaches and nausea were gone, and any pain I felt was average from being on my feet at work. Andrew seemed to be turning around, checking on his workers throughout a shift, and sending them to the back with some water if they seemed hot and out of breath. Unfortunately, I couldn't say I was impressed as we'd been here before and the real test was in how many of these interviews this week would become new hires, and then survive training. If all that lasted, the big thing was if they handled full shifts on their own and would stay reliable, and hardworking.
Right now, I was just sitting at home and messaging with some friends. They knew I had work, and hoped we could hang out soon. I did want to see them, but I wanted to get some time with Hunter too. Just us, though. Not that I mind the group fun, but some of the conversations Hunter and I get into are too deep or personal for sharing with the rest. That's mainly me not wanting everyone to know what happened some of my ex-girlfriends after believing I was bisexual. My friends from school still didn't know, and I wasn't sure I'd ever tell them. It's embarrassing to admit that I had issues getting turned on and hard by girls when I was temporarily bi. And then the issue with my last ex where I couldn't get hard at all. Obviously, other conversations Hunter and I got into were about sexual stuff. Not so much what we could do or how I felt about going beyond a blowjob, but random questions that I didn't trust the internet to give me. I wasn't overly awkward and shy about asking things, as Hunter promised, nothing was too personal or off limits, and he never judged me for not knowing.
On my own time, I've been contemplating on trying something new with Hunter next time we hung out. I was safely assuming that any time we got together now, there was chance of us messing around. Hunter has only ever given me the one hand and blowjob back on Christmas night, and I was find with having that done to me, but I wasn't sure what was next. I knew there was rimming, fingering, and fucking that could be done to me. Obviously, Hunter had no objections to me doing anything to him, as long as it's what I wanted and ready for it. Maybe I'd talk about it with Hunter later, I'm sure he'd message me soon. We talked earlier and he said he had practice with the other dancers. I guess they were going to finish some routines by adding music, and then start trying to make new with the music Hunter like from my phone. I know he asked if we could hang out earlier and I told him I was waiting on my schedule to come through as it didn't show up on Sunday.
I only knew I had work today because Andy messaged me that the computer had some meltdown and he couldn't email it out, so he just messaged everyone working for Monday. I didn't want to bother Hunter while he was…Technically working, so I'd just wait until he was done. I realized the time as 2:45 pm, which mean I needed to leave for work. I sighed, then got to my feet and stretched some. I collected my usual things and headed out the door. Reaching my car, I slipped in and buckled up. As I was about to turn the key, I heard my phone vibrate in the cupholder, so I grabbed it to find a message from Hunter. I smiled and brought up the text in full.
Hunter's Cell, 2:50 pm
I'm just going on record to say now that when we release the routines with the songs I found from your phone, I'm leaving you credit for finding the music. We're way farther along than I first expected we'd be XD
Anyway, the others are leaving around 4. You ever end up hearing from your boss?
~Credit not needed, Hunter. Lol. And yes, I did hear from him. 3 to close tonight, so I'm actually about to head there now.~
I set the phone down, turned on the car, and instantly headed for work.
. . .
(3:10 pm)
(Trayden's Job)
Once I got to work, clocked in, and set up where I'd be tonight, I relaxed since it was slow. Usually always was on Mondays. It might pick up later, but it wouldn't be crazy like the weekends. I pulled my phone and saw a reply from Hunter.
Hunter's Cell, 2:51 pm
Lol aw. I was hoping you wouldn't have to work. What's the rest of your week look like?
~I was hoping I wouldn't have to either when I didn't get the schedule on Sunday. Guess the computer had a meltdown, so the boss couldn't email it out. He just let those of us working tonight know when we needed to be in. Working Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Tuesday and Sunday off…Would you wanna hang tomorrow?~
I hoped news of me having tomorrow off would cheer him up, I know we've been trying to hang since the 1st.
Hunter's Cell, 3:11 pm
Do you even have to ask! Omg, yes, I absolutely want to hangout with you tomorrow lol
I totally did not just get overly excited and nearly squeal like a fangirl about to see her favorite artist, actor, or whatever .
I laughed a bit trying to get a mental image of Hunter doing what he said he didn't over hearing we could see one another tomorrow.
~I assumed you wouldn't turn down the chance to see me XD What time? And what are we doing?~
Hunter's Cell, 3:12 pm
It'd have to be serious injury or death to keep me from seeing you. I can cross off your crazy work hours from that list lol. And I don't know. What do you want to do? Usual of food, music, couple drinks, movie, maybe make out and have some extra fun?
I really hoped I wasn't blushing, and I honestly felt like I shouldn't be. It's not like I'm unaware of Hunter's sexual advances, and we definitely agreed to play around at my pace. Maybe I just didn't want to be blushing at work and raising questions.
~All of that sounds good. What extra fun would we be doing?~
I had no reason to be shy in text messages, we weren't face to face and just jumping into things. We were just talking about what we could or would do. I'd rather know ahead of time so I can prepare for it. At the same time, I somehow knew Hunter's response was going to be him asking what I wanted to do.
Hunter's Cell, 3:14 pm
Whatever you want, handsome. Your pace, remember? ;) I've done everything…
Okay, most things. There's some I haven't due to personal preference, or past the boundaries I've set.
I'll have to tell you about them when we hangout lol Oh, but I don't do rimming. I don't give or take it. Figured I should make that one known as I feel it's among what many consider to be foreplay. I'll finger and fuck the ass all day, or night, long…But I won't lick it.
Well, I'm glad he mentioned that because it was one of the things I decided against doing after I looked it up and saw a video. It was cool if others did it, but not me.
Good to know. I was going to tell you, prior to seeing what you said just now, that I was against all that.~
Hunter's Cell, 3:16 pm
Great minds think alike ^.- So with that out of the way, is there anything you want to do or try? And if you don't feel ready to move onto anything else, just say so and I will very contently assault your cock with my hand and mouth again.
Odin above, I sometimes forget how blunt Hunter is.
~There's plenty I want to try, and do. It's hard to tell if I'm ready or not. I feel like there's no way to tell without trying, but at the same time, the nervousness sets in and the cycle continues if that makes sense.~
I had to be honest with Hunter about it. Yes, there was plenty I wanted try and do, but how do I know if I'm ready when I know what I want, but nervousness keeps me from actually going through with it? Hunter said I could tell him anything, so why was this different? I saw Hunter replying, but unfortunately, had to slip my phone away to handle customers.
. . .
(8:00 pm)
Well. It certainly picked right up around 4:30 pm. It was slow, then steady. Things finally calmed a bit and Andrew sent me on my thirty-minute break. I grabbed the dinner I made myself at home from the fridge and then sat down to check messages and eat. The only messages were from mom and Hunter. Mom wanted to check in and see how I was doing at 4:15, then another message came in at 6:45 to ask my shifts for the week to plan a family dinner. I already dedicated my Tuesday to Hunter, but I could use Sunday to see family. I also needed to do laundry and go shopping along with some tidying up of the apartment. I suppose I can tidy tomorrow morning, maybe meet up with Hunter after lunch. It would depend on what time I wake up, and that is based on how late I get out tonight.
I quickly responded to mom about being sorry for the late responses, but work got busy and was now on break. I told her we could see one another on Sunday once I got laundry, full clean, and shopping done. I sent it off and went to the texts with Hunter, not at all surprised to see a few there from earlier because I stopped answering.
Hunter's Cell, 3:20 pm
It makes sense, Tray. Don't worry. You're not the first gay guy who has felt that way and you will most definitely not be the last. So now let me see if I can shed some light on it that might help.
When it's said to you 'be ready', it doesn't mean that you wait until you're no longer nervous about doing it. Everyone gets nervous to do new things, and that extends to everything you do in life. First day of school as a kid, riding your bike without training wheels, starting at a new school and wanting to make friends, first job, and even beginning a new job. All these types of things are just small examples of being nervous to do something new. It's the same situation now when you want to be intimate with someone. And you've technically been down this journey once, only it was with a female. Surely, you had your reservations(nervous and hesitant) when you entered the point in your life where you got to start foreplay and sex. You knew you wanted to try it, go through with it, and eventually you did. Nervousness was gone after that, right? And I'm sure that after that first time, any other girl you were about to become intimate with, you relayed the same message of wanting them to be sure and ready, in the case of them virgins, first-timers to pleasure.
Hunter's Cell, 3:24 pm
In your case, consider what we're doing is backtracking to your first time. You've never done these things with a male, so your nervousness comes from the fact it is different to be intimate with a guy. And your partner, me, right now, is just making sure you're ready to pursue the desires you have of experiencing things with a male. Example is that getting a hand and blowjob wasn't scary to you because that is something that doesn't change whether you do it with male or female. The only change was maybe technique. For everything else, excluding rimming as neither of us are into that, nervousness is to be expected. And I can tell you that there is no getting rid of it until you go through the new thing. The readiness to do these things, Tray, isn't getting to a point where you're not nervous before you do these things. Readiness is moving at your pace into something new, knowing what actions will be taking place, and that you are in control. Okay? Readiness is when you can figuratively check off all three of those things.
Hunter's Cell, 3:29 pm
Moving at your pace means not just jumping in to get it done. This is a thing I've told you about from the beginning. You set the pace. Knowing what will take place means being aware of what you want to try and ensuring what goes into it. The last thing is knowing you are in control of the entire situation as the 'first timer'. And that's really about as important as moving at your pace.
So that last metric, we'll call it, in readiness is knowing that you have the control in going through new things, Tray. Nervousness is average, and very much expected.
What I'm going for here, handsome, is that being nervous doesn't mean you aren't ready. I don't want you pushing through these new things if you aren't ready in the sense that once you say let's do it, it's set in stone. I want you to have the full understanding that, at any time, when we're doing new things, you are in control. That's what I mean when I tell you to make sure you're ready. I want you going over those three things I explained and making sure you can check all of them off. And then when action comes to happening, you can be nervous of what is coming. But you can also have the understanding that you've reached that moment at your pace and aware of what will be happening, and that you are in control. The one thing I want you to lose the nervousness of, Tray, is that if you want to slow down, take a break, need a moment, or stop completely…Speak up. That's what I want you to be 'ready' to do, without nervousness that I, or anyone else in the future you do things with, will become upset at you.
Well, I wish Hunter would have led with that because I've been interpreting it wrong all this time. I suppose maybe I knew everything he just said was involved in some way, but I didn't associate it with being ready to do things. I was under the impression I needed to prepare to lose the nervousness because Hunter did stop on Christmas when he sensed that I was nervous. Knowing this, I guess I wasn't so afraid to engage in extra fun with this understanding now. I continue to eat while dragging my finger up to see what else was writing below.
Hunter's Cell, 4:30 pm
Okay, now the others are gone and it's just me :) I'm so bored lol Maybe I'll come see you at work.
Would he actually, though? I wouldn't mind, it would give me someone to talk to at the bar. All the customers we've had are sitting at tables and booths. The few at the bar in pairs and talking among themselves, so I just get to stand around until someone needs a new drink. I chuckled some and kept reading.
Hunter's Cell, 4:45 pm
And it's dawned on me that we never did decide on a time to hangout tomorrow. I'm free whenever, I only ask for the sake of letting the others know if there's practice or not XD
Hunter's Cell, 5:15 pm
I strolled by around 5:30, it looked pretty busy. Might have stared at you for a bit, then hurried off before the guard thought I was being a stalker. Anyway lol I'm just aimlessly walking the streets. Might go for a jog, then dinner. I'll stop in if it's quieter when I walk by to get back to my truck. Hope you're having a good night at work!
It was pretty busy around then or I probably would have seen Hunter by the window. It's around 8:15 right now, I've got fifteen minutes left on my break. The chances of Hunter still being out and about are slim, but it was sweet of him to come by to try and see me. I tapped the reply box and started typing.
~We started getting busy around 4:30, it only just lightened up at 7:45ish. I'm on my break right now, it ends in 15 mins. As for hanging out tomorrow, it depends on when I wake up, which can't be determined until I leave here on time tonight lol But I absolutely need to tidy up my apartment, and go shopping.~
I checked a few other things with my phone, then set it down to finish eating. Once done, I cleaned up and just relaxed until 8:25 pm. At that time, I put my phone away in my pocket, used the bathroom, and then strolled back into the main area. I punched in from break, and got back on my register. The guy who covered me headed off to enjoy his break. I checked some usual stuff behind the bar, tidied up, restocked things and then started making sure all the customers there were good. I made my way around the bar, and I happened to notice a familiar face that wasn't there before I started checking on the patrons. The person sitting down and smiling at me was none other than Hunter.
"It's a good thing I decided to check my messages before I drove home. I totally would have missed your text about when your break was over," Hunter stated with a smile.
"You sure you weren't stalking the window again?" I teased.
"Well, I was going to, but the guard was eyeing me suspiciously," Hunter chuckled. "I was on my way back to the truck, and hadn't seen you while I walked by. When I got to my vehicle, I saw your message and came back since I noticed it was quieter than before,"
"Aw, you came all the way back just to see me?" I leaned on the bar with a smile.
Hunter shifted a bit and leaned forward closer to me. "I miss your company, so I take all chances available to have it," Hunter quickly pecked my lips and sat back. I almost whined when his lips left mine. "I'd have made that a better kiss if not for the fact I caught your boss over there," I blinked and stood up straighter and looked over to Andrew, who had just come out of the back room, and was staring in surprise to have witnessed a random customer kiss me.
"Keep walking, Andy," I told him.
"I feel like I need to understand this. I've never seen you kiss customers at random," Andrew remarked.
"If you feel like you need to understand it, then understand it's none ya business," I huffed. "You've never seen it because I don't ever do it. I wouldn't kiss a random person, Andrew…This is my really good, very gay and proud of it friend who greatly enjoys flirting with and teasing the hell out of me,"
"O-Oh!" Andrew realized. I glared at him when I saw he was going to ask something else and oddly, I knew what the question would be. "Well, carry on then!" Andrew hurried off.
"He was about to ask if I was your friend with benefits, wasn't he?" Hunter smiled. I groaned. "It's cool, Tray. People are gonna assume what they do and believe what they want. What matters is that we know how things really are," He added.
"I know, but still…I told you how he'd be if he saw me interacting with you back on New Year's Eve. You didn't even need the stripper outfit for him to assume things," I muttered.
"I told you it was more interesting to just see what happens," Hunter winked.
I smiled and shrugged, agreeing with Hunter. "Since you're sitting in my area this evening, can I get you anything? Drink? Food?" I asked. I still had to do my job and serve customers, but I know my night was a lot better with Hunter here now.