The Journey Into Us

Pairing: Hiccup X Toothless
Rating:
M for Mature

Disclaimer:I do not own anything HTTYD-related.

Chapter 63

=Normal POV=
(Saturday, 7/4/2020; 8:00 pm)
(Barbarchi City, Archipelago)
(Beach)

Blake didn't know what to do right now. He tried to talk to Trayden and apologize for what happened Wednesday night, but as Blake learned, Trayden didn't want to talk about it and asked to be alone after stating that he didn't even want to be at the celebration tonight. No, Trayden admitted he was only faking a smile to keep everyone from jumping on his back to know what was wrong. Blake felt awful about what took place a few days ago, and also that his attempt at playfulness with Trayden backfired and may have ticked the man off more. Trayden normally gave into the jokes, laughing a bit, and would forgive Blake. However, this time, Trayden stayed firm. Trayden had walked away, farther down the beach and Blake was left to decide what he should do. Pursue his friend? Cut right to the heartfelt apology and pray Trayden forgave him? Or leave him alone, but have to face Hunter, the friends, or any of the other Raseri family members asking questions. Blake knew if he made Trayden's mood worse just now, it was possible that Trayden wouldn't even be able to give a convincing fake smile. Anyone who really knew Trayden could always see through him and know when he was holding back.

For now, Blake would give Trayden his space. The only ones who knew something was up were the friends anyway and if Blake had to tell them that Trayden's actually mad and to leave him be for a bit, then he would. Taking a breath, Blake made his way back to the group, standing between Shane and Hailey.

"Welcome back," Addilyn smiled.

"Where's Tray? Did he get stolen by his family again?" Hunter chuckled a bit.

Blake glanced down. "Not sure where he went," He stated softly.

"What do you mean?" Hunter asked. "You were right next to him by the water…" He pointed out.

"And he told me to leave him alone, then walked off…So I don't know where he went." Blake admitted.

"You apologized to him, didn't you?" Hunter hoped.

"I was leading into it. I didn't want to just say sorry without knowing the level of his mood…That's something me and several others have learned over the years with Trayden. Tread carefully until you know where he's at, or shit like this happens where he just won't hear it." Blake informed. "I started talking to him casually, he stayed silent. I tried to crack a joke that he couldn't stay mad at me for long, and that also got no response. I told him I'd make it up to him and named a few things, but he just told me to stop,"

"Did he say anything else?" Devon inquired.

"That he didn't want to talk and be left alone. Mentioned that he didn't even want to be here tonight, but came anyway to keep people off his back and was using the time away from the party to get his head together so he could rejoin the event with a convincing enough smile for everyone to think he was fine. He said he wanted to go home and sleep." Blake sighed. "Then he walked off."

"Maybe I should try to talk to him," Hunter suggested.

"Don't, Hunter…" Blake warned. "He's obviously mad and needs his space, so let's just give it to him."

"He's clearly mad at you because he didn't tell me to leave him alone earlier when I apologized," Hunter countered.

"You don't know he's not upset with you," Blake retorted. "He could be mad at both of us."

"He told me he wasn't mad at me," Hunter stared.

"Yeah, and he also told you he wasn't mad at me, that he let it go and was just annoyed that he was rushed here by his parents for an event they didn't confirm with him was still on for tonight," Blake argued. "But he's very clearly still angry with me about what happened on Wednesday, despite what he told you." Okay, Hunter had to admit that Blake had him there. "So maybe he is actually upset with us both and doesn't want to confront the situation until he's sorted it out with himself first. We both did shit that could be affecting him…"

"True…" A few of the friends agreed.

"Blake might have barged in on you two at the end of sex," Thaxter mentioned.

"But you also told Trayden that you love him right before Blake showed up, and after he left, you rushed off quickly once dressed." Shane reminded.

"Blake's right, Hunter…Trayden could be acting this way because he's got a lot on his mind and needs time to figure it out." Fisher shrugged.

"It could be due to different reasons too," Hailey offered. "Tray might be upset with Blake for barging in unannounced, we know he gets upset about that whole thing. And with you, Trayden could be trying to sort out his feelings since you told him you love him."

"Or Trayden is upset that Hunter couldn't stick around after they got dressed, meaning they didn't get a chance to talk about the confession…" Olivia suggested.

"And there's a chance he could be mad at both of you for avoiding the serious situations," Bryan said.

"Oh, that's a good point too," Alyssa nodded. "Bryan's right. Blake, you admitted to having been ignoring Trayden's messages to you over the past few days since the incident. Trayden could be mad at you for barging into his place, but also hurt that you've avoided talking to him until tonight."

"And with you Hunter…You've sort'a been avoiding him too." Addilyn frowned.

"I have spoken with him every day," Hunter remarked.

"But not about the love confession. You also admitted tonight that you don't want to bring it up to him for fear of making Trayden feel rushed or pushed, when you don't even know if he heard you say it, or remembers since Blake showed up." Devon stated calmly.

"It's also possible that Trayden may think you didn't mean what you said, Hunter," Nicole gave him a soft look.

"Excuse me?" Hunter narrowed his eyes.

"Don't get pissy, we're only trying to help," Jason told him.

"But maybe because you and Tray never talked about the situation, as mentioned, he feels that you said it in the moment. The one right after you two had sex." Elijah informed.

"Then Blake showed up, ruined that moment…Sorry, B," Tyler shrugged a bit and Blake waved it off, knowing that it was likely true.

"And once Blake left, you two obviously didn't go back to the moment before…So you got dressed, and then you also left. And nothing has been said about it since," Rylee said, finishing her brother's original sentence.

"They're right, Hunter…Trayden might not believe you meant what you said because you haven't brought it up. And there's a range of other theories that could be the reason Trayden is like this right now." Blake looked at Hunter now.

"You said you had one before, and never told us," Thaxter reminded.

"My theory is that Trayden is likely mad and upset with my actions. Showing up, and avoiding him…But it also involves Hunter's confession," Blake started. "You said you talked to him tonight and apologized for rushing off after I left, instead of checking on him in regard to the events that took place moments before. Referring to your love confession and me barging in."

"Yeah, and?" Hunter pushed him to continue.

"What if he's upset with you because you still haven't asked him if he's okay from that night?" Blake offered. "You apologized, ONLY for immediately having to take off to get to your family member and not asking if he was alright after what happened. You said Trayden told you it was all good and he understood why you took off in a hurry…That he wasn't mad about THAT. The situation that you didn't ask him that night if he was okay…" He paused. "But have you asked him yet if he's okay from that night?"

"No…" Hunter replied. "I didn't feel it was a conversation for texts, or a phone call…With how busy I got in helping my parents, I haven't been able to see him face to face to talk. And doing here during the event didn't seem appropriate either," He explained. "But right before Natalie dragged him off for performances, I asked if he spend time with me at mine or his place tonight, after the party. I was going to bring it up then, if he agreed. But Natalie tried to pull him away and I told him to go on and we'd talk later." Hunter glanced to all of them. "Regardless…I have full confidence that Trayden wondering if I meant my love confession to him three days ago is not a possibility."

"And how can you know that, Hunter? He's not telling anyone what's wrong," Blake sighed.

"For several reasons. One; Trayden knows that I haven't told any of my ex-boyfriends in the past that I love them. Two; Trayden knows all my past relationships didn't even reach a loving one another stage because they all left me over being a stripper, or knowing I've had sex with my friends. And three; Trayden knows that I have never lied to him. He knows I'm loyal, open, and honest. I've never given Trayden a reason to not believe or trust me." Hunter informed firmly. "Trayden knows that when I say something…I mean it." He added. After a moment, Hunter took a breath. "Now, I'm not saying that the things you tell Trayden aren't what you mean. And I'm sure you didn't mean to do what you did…But you hurt him by acting as if it was nothing."

"I realized what I did the second I saw you two on the couch and I said sorry, then left. You can't stand there and make an assumption about me or my feelings regarding the matter. Don't think that just because you're dating him, you know him better than me." Blake folded his arms with a scowl.

"Okay, first of all…You left after Trayden had asked you once, and then demanded twice for you to get out," Hunter corrected. "You did realize what you walked in on right away, but didn't immediately leave. You stalled and pointed out that you barged into the middle of something. Tray asked you, nicely, to leave. You stalled again, he told you out. You still stalled until he glared, pointed to the door, and yelled out." He informed. Staying calm still, Hunter kept his eyes on Blake. "And I didn't make any assumptions, you freely admitted the information that you made your apology to Trayden casual. Joking and teasing him that he couldn't stay mad at you, and offering things to make up for what happened on Wednesday." Hunter enlightened.

"Well, that's how we are. Always have been, and it's how we settled prank wars between us in the past. I'm his best friend, and unofficial older brother. Again, you don't know me." Blake remarked.

"This isn't the past, Blake. This is the present. You and Trayden aren't kids anymore, not even teenagers either," Hunter pointed out as Blake's stern look faltered a moment. "And what happened three days ago…That wasn't revenge prank. You two weren't having a prank war. This time, you blindly and with no regard for his privacy, waltzed into his apartment. Even after you realized what you barged into, you stayed and stalled, furthering the already awkward moment that it was when you first came through the door with no warning." He explained. "Tell me this…Back then, have you and Trayden ever settled this particular issue? One of you walking in on the other with their boyfriend or girlfriend?"

Blake looked down a bit. "No…All those were just pranks that went a bit too far, or disagreements,"

"Then what I said isn't an assumption. You can't compare those incidents to this one because it's not the same thing. This situation wasn't a prank. It was you being disrespectful to him, and considering you are his best friend and unofficial older brother, that's probably pretty hurtful to him." Hunter remarked, folding his own arms over one another now.

"Me barging in was an accident. And I tried to apologize to him before coming back over here." Blake countered.

"Did you approach him and say sorry for bursting through the door?" Hunter asked as Blake didn't respond. "How about for stalling until Tray yelled for you to get out?" He pushed. There was a momentary pause. "No, you didn't and you admitted that to us when you came back over," Hunter reminded.

"I was only trying to be casual until I knew where his mood was at," Blake defended.

"You knew he was obviously in a bad mood if we're all over here for the party and he was standing down by the water, by himself." Hunter retorted. "I get testing the waters with a hey or what are you doing here instead of with everyone else, but you said he didn't answer, and stayed silent until you tried to downplay the situation as no big deal with promises of things to make it up to him. Then he told you to stop and that he wanted to be left alone." Blake let his arms drop with a sigh. "Yes, he told me earlier tonight that he wasn't mad at you, and let it go. I believe him, because he's not angry, Blake…He's hurt."

"And you know this indefinitely?" Shane jumped in, curious like the rest of them. Hunter nodded.

"Its not hard to figure out," Hunter rolled his eyes. "You disrespected Trayden by, one, barging into his apartment. And two, undermining his feelings about how bad the situation was by acting as if what you did was no big deal. That it was nothing. Something small he could easily forgive and put behind him, when in reality, disrespecting your best friend and brother figure is actually a major issue." He stared at Blake. "That's what you did tonight with your way of apologizing to Tray for Wednesday. You downplayed the severity of the matter and basically turned it into a joke."

"Hunter, that's a bit harsh," Addilyn frowned.

"Harsh or not, its truth and fact." Hunter told her. "Would you forgive Shane easily if he walked in on you and Ty in the middle of an intimate moment, then avoided you for three days, and made it out to be a light matter? Approaching you all casual, promises of doing things to make it up to you and not taking it seriously that he invaded your privacy? Making it no big deal just because he's your older brother and you guys never stay mad at one another long in the past?" Hunter asked. "How about you Tyler? If Rylee burst in on you and Addi? Or vice versa, and Tyler walked in on you and Ethan?" He pushed. "What about any of you? Would you be upset if this situation happened to you with a close friend?"

The group seemed to look at one another, then collectively sighed and glanced down. "Okay, you made your point, Hunter. I fucked up and hurt him…" Blake spoke up. "I shouldn't have just showed up unannounced,"

Hunter groaned, facepalming. "That's not what Tray is upset about!" Hunter gave an annoyed look. "You downplayed the situation like it wasn't a big deal. Going over there to apologize and figured your past of being close and easily forgiven would get you off the hook if you cracked a few jokes and offered favorite things to make it up to him. But did you ever end up saying the words I'm sorry to him?" He asked.

"No…" Blake closed his eyes. "In the midst of suggesting things, he told me to stop…"

"Because he's hurt. Like I keep saying. I haven't mentioned any of this stuff under the impression that I know you, Blake. Nor was it to judge you. And its not to shift all the blame to you about why Tray is like this…" Hunter paused. "I'm sure he's not thrilled that I haven't brought up the confession from that night yet, but I also said that if we're gonna discuss that, it will be when its just us and face to face. Maybe I haven't had that conversation with Trayden and it could be a reason why he's upset, or confused…But I haven't avoided or ignored him for three days despite throwing that I love you on him. And even though we didn't talk about it that night, I found him tonight when he arrived here and apologized for the events of Wednesday, where after all that happened, I rushed off without making sure he was okay." Hunter explained. "Trayden wasn't upset with me for taking off that night, he understood it was a family emergency. And Tray told me that I didn't even have to apologize to him, because he knew if the emergency hadn't come up, we would have talked about things."

There was silence in the group now, realizing Hunter was right. "My point is that while we both might have had a hand in Trayden's mood…I apologized to him and took it seriously, not relying on our relationship as friends or a couple, that everything would work itself out if I left it for a few days and then tried to casually play it off that it wasn't anything major. Even though I had nothing to worry about, Trayden told me right away that there was nothing to apologize for and nothing I did wrong…I didn't just assume that things were all good and he'd understand why I bailed right away." Hunter continued. "I'm the first person who will always make things fun, but when the situation changes, so does my approach. And in this, I knew to just apologize to Trayden and explain why I was, even though told me following the apology that I didn't need to do it. He let me explain, and everything was fine."

"Okay, I get it…I should have taken it more seriously," Blake muttered. "I was just overly excited that day, and Tray gave me a key to his place. He told me to come over whenever, so I just rushed over to tell him the news. I had the open invite, so I didn't think it would be disrespectful to barge in."

"The disrespectful part was not having any regard that he could be busy. Not bothering to message or call him first and ask?" Hunter informed.

"He was with you, so he wouldn't have answered anyway," Jason shrugged.

"Then it would have potentially acted as an indicator that he wasn't available, don't you think?" Hunter arched a brow. "What if he hadn't been with me? What if he was doing something for the show? In the shower? Sleeping?" He suggested. "And having a key and open invite is no excuse to abuse the trust he put in you not to screw him. You lot," He motioned to the friends he grew up with. "Should know that already considering Tray once told you where the spare key was hidden and you kept showing up unannounced when he was in the shower or sleeping, and then there were times you literally let yourselves in when he wasn't even home."

"We know…He stopped hiding it and said from now on we would have to-," Alyssa started.

"Check with him and ask to come over." Hunter finished it for her. "I know, he told me." He added. "Getting a key to someone's place is a privilege of the trust they have in you. And open invite, contextually, means you still ask if its okay first." Hunter remarked. "That's just basic manners and respectful to the person who lives there."

"I knew he was home, I saw his car and I knew he'd be home. He told me he didn't have plans." Blake defended.

"That just means he didn't have plans at that time. It can always change, Blake." Hunter said. "I didn't just go over so we could screw, I'd been there since that morning. He knew I was bored and had invited me to come over if I wanted. I knew he was bored too. And home, but I still checked in before just going inside because I knew that while I had the invitation, and did decide to take the offer, I forgot to message him back that I was coming and on my way. So when I arrived, I knocked on the door instead of just walking in even though he told me that if I decided to visit, I could let myself in."

"You're just his boyfriend, I'm his best friend. There's a difference between you and me showing up. I have a key, you would have no choice but to ask him before going in." Blake retorted. "If he didn't have prior plans, and it was that early in the morning, the door still was locked because he hadn't gone anywhere yet and you would have needed to call, text or knock to get Tray to let you in. I know my brother." He made a hmph noise, arms crossed once again.

"Wrong," Hunter informed. "The door was locked when I arrived, but I didn't need him to let me in because I have a key to his apartment too." He revealed. "And an open invite. Just like you, Blake." Hunter added. "I've had a key to his place since last January, when his old boss fired him for bullshit reasons and I went over to spend the day and night with him. Night because I knew he was upset and we were likely gonna end up drunk. We got on the topic of spare keys and I joked that if he gave me one, I could abuse the power to be sprawled out naked on his bed when he got home from work. Again, joke, but it made him laugh and that's all I cared about. Cheering him up after what happened the night before. And to my surprise, the next time we saw each other, he gave me a key to his apartment. And I promised him that he wouldn't regret that decision. But hey, you're right..." He paused as Blake arched a brow at Hunter now. "There is a difference between us and it's that I respect him. Despite having a key, and open invite to come over any time for anything, and the invite three days ago to come over because I was bored and he was home all day...I still knocked on his door because I knew that I hadn't let him know I'd be coming over, and I had not been told to just let myself in if I decided to take the invite. I respected him, though that doesn't matter to you because you're his best friend, practically his brother, and I'm just his boyfriend. Right?"

"Yep, a temporary position. And don't ever forget it because I,-" Blake started his warning.

"Enough." Trayden's voice cut Blake off and everyone froze. Unknown to the group, Trayden had heard almost the entire conversation from point where Hunter said they both, as in Blake and Hunter, may have had something to do with Trayden's mood, Hunter still apologized and didn't make light of the situation. Trayden wanted to know how all this came about, but for now, he needed to make sure this didn't become a fight. He was also kind of annoyed at how Blake was acting towards Hunter and Trayden heard all he needed to. Walking up into sight, Trayden had his arms crossed and stood between, but a few steps away from both Hunter and Blake. "That is so enough." Trayden told two males, causing them both to look over and see him looking very unamused at them.