The Journey Into Us

Pairing: Hiccup X Toothless
Rating:
M for Mature

Disclaimer: I do not own anything HTTYD-related.

Chapter 46

=Normal POV=
(Wednesday, 1/28/2020; 6:30 pm)
(Barbarchi City, Archipelago)
(Hunter's House)

Trayden and Hunter were having a great time, and obviously, Trayden was more stoked that he had a job again and would be working at Wild Fantasies in the casino with Hunter as an all-around type of worker. At the same time, Trayden had been considering to work with Hunter since the first offer was given to him some weeks ago. Trayden was happy that he agreed to this arrangement, he felt it would be a good job and he would obviously do a good job. Currently, the two males were doing as they always did. Sitting on the couch, talking, with a drink in hand, and music playing in the background. The topics changed often or one led into another, but it was entertaining, and a good time regardless. Hunter and Trayden did enjoy dinner together, they shared cooking the meal and Trayden set up his new phone, then left it to get a full charge before he did anything else with it. He didn't need to do anything except add his contacts, download applications, and sign into his email, social media, and hook up to his laptop to transfer all his music onto the device.

"Dinner was really good," Trayden told Hunter.

"Not as amazing as the one you made when I slept over your place," Hunter complimented.

"I'll make it for you again next to we hang out if you want. It's actually not a favorite of anyone's, except yours now. I'll only make for you and we can call it Hunter's Special," Trayden joked.

"Aw, I have a homemade Trayden-made meal all to myself!" Hunter batted his eyes, acting bashful and shy.

"Oh, cut it out! We both know you ain't shy. Not any part of you!" Trayden remarked as they laughed.

"Yeah, you're right about that. But I act it pretty damn good, don't I?" Hunter grinned.

"Yes, you do. No wonder you're so wanted at work with the hard to get routine," Trayden teased a bit.

"It's no fun if it's easy," Hunter commented. "Like I told you last time we had sex. I enjoy a challenge and it not being easy to attain whether I'm playing hard to get or trying to get,"

"I feel like I'll always bit the not so easy one, and probably shy," Trayden shrugged. "I've always been that way. At least when it comes to love, sex, relationships or whatever," He added.

"It happens, so don't worry. Some people are shy to everything, and others, only to some aspects of life. There's nothing wrong with that. You seem bothered by it, and for what it's worth, you're not so shy with me anymore," Hunter gave a smile, wink, and Trayden knew it was an attempt to boost his confidence.

"I ask myself that all the time," Trayden admitted.

"What?" Hunter inquired. "Why you're shy with intimacy stuff?"

"Why I'm not shy with you," Trayden confided.

"Maybe because I'm the first…Non-threatening, open and forward gay male you met and became friends with. I'm a very likable individual," Hunter offered. "That factor enabled you to easily trust me and we have the added aspect of naturally getting along with common interests and having real conversations that aren't completely associated with the past or dance moves and music for routines," He informed. "I'm not like the gay or bisexual guys you've met before, I don't hit on you in a way that makes you disgusted, I hope, or uncomfortable."

"You don't do either of those things, just to let that record show from my voice," Trayden told him gently. "You don't stalk me like a dragon preys on fish…"

"Well, I don't know about that. When we message, I stare at the phone waiting for you to reply and also peer through the window like a total creeper waiting for you to arrive," Hunter confessed lightly.

"And why me or do you do that with everyone?" Trayden wondered.

"Just you," Hunter smiled as Trayden looked down a bit, a small blush appear on his cheeks. "I've mentioned before that the others are…Predictable. You aren't and I like that,"

"I know, but still…I'm sure you have better uses for your time," Trayden countered.

"Still nothing. I told you back in December that I enjoy your company because it's different. You are different and we always have a good time when we talk in just messages or here in person hanging out. Of all my friends, who I do adore and love equally…You are the one who I look forward to spending my available time with. The school group go on about the stuff I missed with them at school and it sounds like had I not been kicked out at fifteen, I'd have met you for senior year. And work group is work stuff, get drunk, be perverts to each other. It's…Average. It's become the norm. I don't get…And don't take it the wrong way, normal with you," Hunter explained. "That's what I love about getting to spend time with you, even if we're just messaging. It's…Intriguing, exciting, different, random…But overall; it's fun and I enjoy the hell out of it. I really do," He admitted.

"I don't know if I should say you're welcome or feel honored that I have such an impact in your life," Trayden stated softly.

"You can do both if you like," Hunter smiled. "But it's the honest truth, Tray. I mean it. I've never met anyone like you before, someone different than the rest. To add more to the list, you're good looking and you constantly keep me interested in you. In a non-sexual way, more of just wanting to know more about you. Although, I can't deny that the sex keeps me coming back too," He winked as Trayden blushed a bit more.

"I feel like you have a better time with one of the others. I'm so shy and inexperienced…You don't have to spare my feelings," Trayden glanced down. Hunter set his drink down, then took Trayden's and set it next to his on the table. Trayden looked at him with surprise, only to not have time to react to Hunter leaning in and kissing him deeply. It took Trayden a few moments to process what just happened, but by the time he could respond, Hunter pulled back and stared into Trayden's eyes seriously.

"I don't do that with the others, Trayden." Hunter said firmly.

"W-What? You said you had sex with your friends many times," Trayden replied, confused.

"Not that," Hunter stated. "Kissing them. I don't kiss them, Tray. I don't know if I ever mentioned that to you or not, but I don't kiss my friends. Yes, I have sex with them…But it's just…Meaningless drunk, bored, or horny escapades when we're in the same place and can do it because why not," He continued as Trayden stared, shocked and not fully understanding what Hunter was getting at to make him see.

"Then…Why do you kiss me when I'm just another friend you have sex with?" Trayden decided to be bold and ask, it would save on mixed messages.

"Tray…I only kiss people I'm genuinely interested in. People…Who I feel and see that it could be more than just sex," Hunter responded, straight out. Before Trayden could say anything, not that he could entire formulate a sentence to make, Hunter put his hand over Trayden's. "I only kiss people that I'm attracted to, want more with. People that I want more than what I have available from other friends," He paused. "So going back to what I told you in December about not beating around the bush and that I'm open and forward…I like you, Trayden. I like you a lot,"

Trayden couldn't believe it. Well, he could because there was speculation from himself and even Blake mentioning that Hunter could like Trayden and be holding back for whatever reason, that Trayden now felt like he needed to understand where this came from. "H-How long? Have you liked me? And why didn't you say anything at that point?" Trayden inquired. They were obviously on a brand new subject and it was a serious one.

Hunter sat back a little, smiling some to try and keep it casual. "Probably since that first party you attended after I fixed your car was when the crush started. Liking was after that first time we hung out along," Hunter replied. "As for why I didn't say anything, I knew you were new to things. I'd already thrown on you that night I wanted to be your friend and fuck you, which was out of attraction, not you being my friend who I screw like I do the others," He clarified. "I didn't say anything because I didn't know where you stood with relationships. I know you'd been out of the one with Rosanna, not that I knew her name at the time, but you get it. You never talked about wanting to be with someone again, so I figured you weren't ready to make a commitment like that until you got more settled with being gay."

Okay. Trayden couldn't argue that. "I've…Been dropping hints to liking you since Christmas. I mentioned actually liking you before you went to your parents' place." Hunter informed gently, surprising Trayden. "I told you during the blowjob that I wanted you more than any of my other friends, that my attraction to you was so strong, kissing is enough to get me aroused and damn if the only one I wanted is you." He confessed boldly. "Can I tell you something that the others want to know and I refuse to reveal?"

"You can tell me anything," Trayden managed to find his words, still taking in the last things that Hunter spoke of.

"Since that first kiss in the garage, Tray…I haven't wanted anyone else." Hunter said, making Trayden's eyes widen again. "Eli, Jason…I haven't slept with either of or both of them since that first party. And they've tried, but I only had my mind on you and what one kiss was able to do. When Jay and Eli have attempted to mess around, I tell them I'm not in the mood. Or too tired. But its really that the only one to get me into that mood is you." He explained.

"You haven't slept with anyone since that night from the garage?" Trayden was astounded. Hunter nodded. "Is you liking me why you got on Eli and Jason to back off? And why you didn't just jump into things with me?" He asked.

"No, I told you those reasons. Jason and Eli need to respect their boundaries, and with what we have done, it was strictly what you want at your pace. You said you trusted me to be the one you experienced intimacy with, and I accepted that task. That was completely separate from me liking you, but I will admit to always taking it slower and more…Sensual with you." Hunter revealed. "You wanted to see what it was like to be with a guy, so I showed you the ways that could happen. Random lets fuck sex with friends or a hookup. But there is also the slow, passionate with someone you care about lets make love sex. Like how our first time went. Then the jump in and do because we're horny was last Saturday at like 2 am," He reminded.

There was some silence now, Trayden trying to take it in. "Its okay if you don't feel the same. I can put it aside, stay your friend. No hard-," Hunter began.

"No!" Trayden blurted out as if he'd been kicked in the rear with Blake's words to speak up or risk losing a chance with Hunter, who now stared at him in surprise. "Sorry…" He looked away embarrassed.

"It's okay…Is there a reason you yelled no, though?" Hunter wondered.

Trayden bit his bottom lip and finally sighed. "I don't want you to be be just my friend…" Trayden confessed. "I-I like you too,"

Hunter stared a minute, then smiled. "Okay, so since its mutual…Turning your question back on you. How long and why didn't you say something?"

"It's been a crush since Christmas when my brother pointed out I have to have a crush on you, which I why every time you texted me that night, I was smiling like an idiot. His words, not mine. I was smiling, and honestly forgetting I was at my parents' house. I think the like hit on Sunday night when you came to comfort me. Meaning there was like building, but I didn't know if I should call it that until I was sure I felt something…Solid. And then I didn't say anything because-," Trayden saw Hunter chuckle some.

"You were afraid it wouldn't be mutual and didn't want to make our friendship weird?" Hunter offered as Trayden nodded. "Well, you don't have to worry about that now because this is mutual. I like you. I want more with you…But you know how I am. It has to be what you want too and are ready for. Your choice, your pace," Hunter stated lightly.

"Does it change anything we have now?" Trayden questioned. "Aside being boyfriends and dating?"

"Not really, handsome," Hunter shook his head. "Does us dating change our interests? Morals? Hanging out and everything else? Does it change who we are? The only change is that I'll call you my boyfriend. And all I ask for in a boyfriend is," He paused a moment.

"Not associating your job or past sexual encounters with the current of who you're with as that is where your loyalty is." Trayden recalled aloud.

"Yes, very good," Hunter beamed with delight that Trayden remembered what he said. "You don't mind all that, do you?"

"Don't see how I could. I, now, technically work the same place you do and we've had sex as friends," Trayden laughed a little. "And even if those two factors weren't involved, I'm not one to hold anything before me against the person I'm with. That's just not fair to judge someone based on things that happened before you were in their life as a friend or a lover," He shrugged.

"See, this is why I like you. That right there is one thing none of my ex-lovers ever understood and all those relationships ended due to them not liking my job or that I've slept with friends," Hunter smiled.

"You won't have to worry about that with me. The past has no bearing in present or future," Trayden told him.

"So you'd be okay with dating me then?" Hunter questioned.

"I have no concerns with the idea," Trayden giggled some.

"Well…If you're willing, wanting, and ready to be with someone," Hunter paused, holding Trayden's hand, and looking into his eyes. "Would you like to be with me, Trayden, as my boyfriend in a relationship?"

Trayden blushed, but nodded, securing his hand with Hunter's. "I would like that very much," Trayden replied.

"Then I suppose now…We're a couple," Hunter chuckled a bit, lifting Trayden's hand to kiss the back of it. "How does that feel, boyfriend?" He wondered.

"Feels like I should have said something a while ago because I had nothing to worry about," Trayden admitted. "Or I need to learn to listen to Blake…Who has this ability to know shit before I realize it," He muttered.

Hunter laughed a little. "Did he tell you that you obviously liked me and I probably had a thing for you because of my borderline obsessive concern for you?"

"Yeah…Something exactly like that," Trayden blushed a bit. "He told me he caught onto your worry for my wellbeing after he was revealed to be alive,"

"I think our friends have noticed too. I got asked earlier by Jason and Eli if I wanted to come over to their place for a get together, which I knew was an invitation to get drunk and have sex. But I said no, and that I'd wait here for you to come. They mentioned you were late and I said that something probably came up, but it doesn't change plans were made for you to come here, so I would be here waiting, until I heard otherwise that plans changed," Hunter shrugged a bit, still smiling. "It started the whole what's with you two questions, which I dismissed because I feel like it's none of their business and also, if I give them too much, they'd try to push us together and I didn't want them doing that to you,"

"It probably would have deterred me from saying anything to you," Trayden confessed. "Blake and I talked about the crush and like thing on Sunday night, he told me to tell you and I planned to next time we were alone and ventured into the topic. I didn't want it to be just a random, blurted out thing."

"I'd say we did that tonight, handsome. We just got into the topic and since we got there, I figured it was the best time to just tell you," Hunter informed gently. "Dropping hints wasn't working, so I decided that I would be up front about it to avoid any confusion and also that there was no worry of mixed signals. Like the night we had sex and you were trying to flirt your way into telling me let's just do it and I didn't know how to take it. I feel like we know each other well enough now in many scenarios, how we think and what the other means." He smiled. "So it's totally okay, Tray. And hey, what's important now is that we did reveal how we feel, it's mutual, and the endgame is that we're now together, dating, as a couple." Hunter added.

"Yeah, you're right," Trayden nodded, agreeing fully. "You know what I just thought of?"

"Hm?" Hunter wondered.

"We're gonna have to tell everyone we're dating," Trayden smiled.

"We don't have to right now. It's none of their business, and there are a lot of gay couples out there who keep their relationships quiet to avoid negative backfire from those who don't support the community," Hunter told him.

"You don't think our friends would give us negativity about being together, do you?" Trayden got a look of some concern on his face.

"They might be surprised as we only became friends about two months ago, but no…I don't believe they'd be unsupportive or angry about it. And again, we don't have to tell them anything we don't want to. They don't need to know that we had sex as friends, or any time we do it as a couple." Hunter said gently. "Above all else, we don't need their approval to make the choices we do individually or together," Hunter kissed his cheek. "So don't worry so much."

"I only worry because the school group had plenty of remarks to make about some of my ex-girlfriends. Ones they never actually met too," Trayden sighed.

"Hey. Relax, Tray. It's our relationship, not theirs. They don't get a say in what we do or how we feel. So then can just accept it, or not. It's not going to change what we do or who we are to one another. I don't end relationships because my friends don't approve. Hell, I've never ended any relationships," Hunter chuckled a bit. "They all left me over my job as a stripper or that, when I'm single, I sleep with my friends." He added.

"Well, lucky you; I won't leave you over either," Trayden smiled some.

"Yay me," Hunter beamed. "But on the serious note, babe…" He paused as Trayden looked at him. "I'm good with anything, if you want to tell them or wait a bit. And I say that wait a bit part because the truth will eventually come out. It always does," He reminded.

"I know, but maybe for now we just keep it to ourselves…We know how the school group is with this stuff. All over it, making it a big deal," Trayden shrugged.

"Then we won't tell them right away," Hunter reassured. Trayden smiled as Hunter moved in more to cuddle him. "I'm really glad you still came over after all that crap you dealt with today and that we got the chance to do what we do and end up here, dating, now," He said.

"Me too," Trayden replied. "That's why I wanted to come see you, in hopes of telling you how I felt and seeing where we end up,"

"Are you happy where we've ended up?" Hunter asked.

Trayden nodded. "Extremely." "What do we do with the rest of our night?" He wondered.

"Whatever you like, boyfriend," Hunter winked.

"Then I guess we keep doing what we're doing with being together, boyfriend," Trayden blushed. Hunter pulled him close and they shared a kiss and Trayden adored that this kiss felt so much different than all the others before it. Trayden was beyond happy he chose to still come see Hunter and that they got to talk about things. Now, they were dating and Trayden felt like this was the best decision of his life, so far, and couldn't wait to see what came next.