The Journey Into Us

Pairing: Hiccup X Toothless
Rating:
M for Mature

Disclaimer:I do not own anything HTTYD-related.

Chapter 65

=Normal POV=
(Saturday, 7/4/2020; 8:45 pm)
(Barbarchi City, Archipelago)
(Beach)

Trayden wasn't the only was shocked by what Blake said was his reason for being jealous of Hunter. The whole group was surprised, but none more than Hunter and Trayden. The friends wondered where it would go from here and were waiting on Trayden to snap out of his seemingly frozen stated. Finally, Trayden blinked a few times and shook his head before looking to Blake once more.

"I'm sorry…But what the fuck did you just say?" Trayden asked. Blake didn't speak, but his face showed that what he did say obviously didn't sit well with Trayden. "Did you seriously just tell me that you believe Hunter took your place in my life?" Blake nodded. Trayden ended up facepalming, his head down into the palm of his hand and his eyes were closed as he sighed heavily. Trayden lowered his hand and made his way in front of Blake and stared at him for a second before his eyes narrowed, then he brought his left hand up and smacked the male right upside the back of his head, hard too.

"Ow!" Blake yelped, but thankfully, not loud enough to catch any attention. He had his hands on the freshly slapped spot, hissing, then checking one hand for any blood. "What the fuck was that for?!"

"For even daring to let those words exit your mouth, let alone think them." Trayden commented. "You damned idiot." He added.

"I tell you how I feel, like you asked, and you smack me?" Blake glared, rubbing the back of his head a little.

Trayden had stepped back, arms crossed over one another again, and still giving a hard stare. "Be lucky that's all I did to you because I would have much preferred to sock you in the gut and put you on your ass for what you just said," Trayden remarked. "And don't think for a second that I couldn't actually do it. The only reason I didn't is because we're in public, me putting you on your ass far more noticeable than a quick smack upside the head for blatant idiocy. I rather not have to explain to my parents why I beat your ass, even though you frigging deserve it."

"How do I deserve it for telling you the truth!?" Blake countered.

"You deserve it because you're clearly not the Blake Solberg I know and love. You're clearly out of your fucking mind if you would even dare to think, let alone speak, of anyone taking your place in my life or replacing you!" Trayden glared, but those who were close enough to see it would notice the tears that formed and rested in his green eyes. Blake's strong-front fell a bit and he hesitated on talking again. "Why? Why would you even consider such an impossible thing?"

"Because of everything I've seen since with you two since I got back. We used to be that close…And now he's the one who comforts and protects you, who helped you get comfortable in the gay community…And even trying to argue tonight that he knows you better." Blake sighed, looking down. "It just seems like he replaced me as your best friend." A second time, Trayden facepalmed, then took a deep breath before looking back at Blake.

"Blake…Hunter did those things because he was being a good friend, and boyfriend," Trayden stated. "The things he did as my friend, he would have done them for any of the people standing with us right now because that's the type of person he is," He informed. "As my boyfriend, would you being my best friend not be on his ass if he was anything but good to me? You'd expect him to comfort and protect me if those things needed to be done while we were together, and if you weren't around. Like say, if you were still in the military," Trayden mentioned. "I know it's not the case because you left that work now, but Blake…You have to remember that at the time I met Hunter, I believed you were dead and you weren't here for me."

"That's not my fault, you know I would never have left you willingly…" Blake interjected quickly. "And I fought to get back to you, Tray. I swear the only thing that kept me going some days was knowing you that I couldn't leave you. Not after promising I'd be home soon, and we'd kick it back like old times…"

"Of course I know that, and I am not holding it against you…But it doesn't change the fact that when I had a lot going on, I wasn't able unable to turn to you. Believe that I wanted nothing more than to have my best friend around…And I told you the night you showed up at mom's birthday to surprise me that nothing felt right with you gone. That I felt like a piece of me was missing, and nothing…I mean nothing could fill that void," Trayden explained. "Not even Hunter. Yes, plenty of distractions, but that didn't mean the pain I felt went away. Hunter was there for me while I thought you were dead, and the reason he knows so much about me is because he's easy to talk to. I can't tell you how many deep conversations we've gotten into about life. He knows everything, just like you do. Okay? And he wasn't arguing that he knows me better, just that he does know me too." Trayden paused. "But it was never his intention to take your place, or replace you, Blake. Hunter wouldn't do that to me because he knows how important you are and how much you mean to me." Blake closed his eyes.

"How can you say used to be that close?" Trayden asked. "Do you remember how I reacted when I heard your voice, and saw your face? Realized you were alive? What about later that night at my place, when, just like you promised me, we kicked back as we used to? It was as if nothing changed, like you hadn't been assumed dead all those months. The first thing you did was tease me about liking Hunter, and demanded details," Trayden reminded. Blake nodded to him. "My point is that just like Hunter, you tease the fuck out of me…But you're always there for me, and I can tell you anything. If I have a problem, you listen, and help me. Hell, you're the one who told me not to be afraid to tell Hunter I liked him, because you somehow knew that he liked me, through an intense stare down because you picked up right away that he was the only one of my friends or family to ask if I was okay when you turned up alive."

Blake shrugged a little. "It's my job to check out the people you like and may date…I have to make sure that you won't end up hurt."

"Exactly…" Trayden agreed. "No one else knew the things you did about me and Hunter. I entrusted that information to you and before that night was through, you told me to go for it because you believed that I had nothing to worry about and he probably liked me too. But what I'm getting at, Blake, is who did I go to?" He asked.

"Me," Blake replied.

"Because you're my what?" Trayden pushed.

"Your best friend," Blake answered.

"And you always will be." Trayden reassured. "That's why I can't understand why you would ever think someone could take your place, or that you've been replaced. Do you honestly believe I'd allow it to happen?" He wondered. "Hunter hasn't taken your place, and he doesn't want to either. And tell me this, if you felt he was a threat to you like those girls in the past…Would you have sent me off to date him? Would you have let him be my boyfriend?" Blake shook his head. "No, you'd have warned him the night of mom's party to stay away from me, and then told me like a father catching their teenager doing something bad that I was never to see that guy again," Blake shrugged, and nodded. "But that didn't happen. You told me to go for it…So you had to know he was okay. All that aside…" He paused a moment.

"I need you to listen to me…" Trayden sighed as he finally dropped his arms down at his sides and walked forward to Blake. "You are my best friend, Blake, you have that spot. Hands down, that position belongs to you. Okay?" Trayden grabbed Blake's hands gently, holding them so they were connected as the males stood a foot or so away from one another. Trayden looked him dead in the eyes. "No one will ever take that away, and nothing will ever change the fact that you are my oldest and truest friend. You are the first friend I ever made. We've known each other since we were kids; grew up together as best friends and technically when you were thirteen, as brothers. My family fostered you, and though there was never a formal adoption, you're basically a Raseri." Trayden revealed. After a moment, Trayden began again. "Blake, I swear to you on my life that you always have a place in my life. Two, actually. You will always be my best friend as one place. And you will always my brother as the second…" Trayden vowed, his voice becoming thick with emotion as he tried to keep his composure. "But you do have to share the sibling position with Dex, Ava, Erik, and Cole. They're family too, obviously." He added.

Blake nodded to Trayden, also attempting to keep himself from just grabbing Trayden in a tight hug. "Hell, you might have to share with Natalie too," Trayden managed to give a little laugh, and smile. "Beyond that, though…" He continued. "You are special to me, Blake. No matter where I go, or what I do in this life…Never forget that I am who I today because of you. You are part of who I am. Part of me and will forever be part of my life." Trayden reassured. "There isn't a force in this world or the next that can keep us apart. Like seriously, not even death," Blake finally found a little smile. "You survived an IED field with multiple explosions going off, getting knocked out, and taken prisoner of war for several months!" He reminded as the man laughed a little, shrugging as if to say that he was pretty awesome. "And the first thing you did after all that madness, the only thing you wanted to do and did…Was find me." Trayden said softly.

"I knew your had to be a mess without me…" Blake informed.

"And I was…But Hunter helped make it a little better, not just through distractions of a very seductive manner," Trayden paused, his eyes shifting over to Hunter, who couldn't deny it. "He also praised you for my knowledge of music that helped build some of the routines in the strip show, and he reminded me that even though I believed you were dead, you were still with me in spirit and that I was never alone. I had you, and him and he promised that you two would always be here for me…" Blake looked over at Hunter now. "He wasn't trying to take your place, but he is on your side. He wants to work with you, so that way between the two of you…I'm always okay and happy, like you both want for me." Trayden stated.

"Okay? Hunter knows you're my best friend. He knows he can't compete with that, and he has no desire to. But Blake…While your place in my life can never be taken, you can't have me all to yourself. Like I told you that you have to share your brother position with the Raseri siblings and Natalie…You have to share me with other people in my life because they have places in it too." Trayden told him. "And Hunter has the place of both my friend, and my boyfriend. Hunter isn't against you, so you don't have to protect me from him. Please, don't fight with him again? It's not a matter of taking sides or who I defended…You were the one who was wrong in the argument, and Hunter was only trying to get you to see that you two are on the same side when it comes to me."

"Fine…Can I kick his ass if he ever does hurt you?" Blake inquired.

"N-," Trayden started.

"Yes," Hunter spoke up. "Yes, he can. I won't stop him, or even press charges," He nodded.

Trayden sighed and rolled his eyes as Blake grinned that Hunter said he could freely hurt him if Hunter ever hurt Tray. "Okay, but that's between you two…So unless it happens, can you two get along? Please?" Trayden asked. "And don't you dare threaten him again...Your position in my life does not grant you the almighty power of deciding who I can and can't date, nor removing someone from my life. You're not my father, and I'm not under eighteen, so you have no say. You are my best friend, and Hunter is not just my boyfriend, but he's a friend too." He informed. "No more fighting, please? For me? If this happens again, you both lose me as I will not choose between you in order to stick by what I said of never picking a relationship over our friendship, and vice-versa that I'd never pick a friend over a relationship. I just won't choose either...So will you two not fight again?"

Blake and Hunter looked at one another, then faced off with their hands extended. "For you," The males said, shaking their hands. "And we're sorry,"

"Good. Thank you." Trayden relaxed a bit.

"Yeah, yeah…You're lucky I love you," Blake mentioned.

Trayden smiled and hugged Blake. "I know…I love you too," He pulled back and stood between Hunter and Trayden now.

"Aw, you do love me," Blake beamed. Trayden shook his head, eyes closed and Blake looked towards Hunter, seeing him gaze down and sigh a bit. Then he lifted his head, smiling like normal.

"Now, with everything fixed up…We should enjoy the rest of the night," Trayden announced as the rest cheered, all smiling, ready to relax after all that tension.

"Wait! Wait…" Blake stopped everyone from rejoining the crowd. "Not…Everything is fixed," He moved to be standing between Hunter and Trayden now. "I know there was another situation between you two on Wednesday…I know this isn't the place, but given everything else that just went down; I think the two of you should get to fix things too."

"What?" Hunter blinked. "No, no…Everything is fixed. Tray and I are fine, nothing to fix," He mentioned. "I apologized to him earlier tonight for the whole immediately bailing thing and not asking beforehand if he was okay," Trayden seemed confused, and Hunter stared at Blake to be quiet because he didn't want to get into all that heavy stuff again.

Blake understood and shrugged. "Oh! My bad then. Right, I forgot about that." He chuckled. "Carrying on!" The others laughed and began making their way to enjoy the event. Hunter and Trayden stayed back a bit, walking side by side.

"I am sorry about all that happening," Hunter said gently. "Me and Blake arguing…"

"It's done and over with now, baby. I'm sorry he fought with you at all," Trayden smiled.

"He's protective of his little brother, and best friend. It shows how big of an impact you've had being in his life all these years. He loves you, as family and friend," Hunter replied.

"Well, like I told him…He's not the only person in my life, so he's gotta share," Trayden's hand brushed by Hunter's and they linked up to intertwine. "I know that most of that whole scene with him was more than jealousy. Based on the first thing he said, that everything had changed since he came home," Hunter looked over at Trayden now. "He's still coping with being back, adjusting to the small changes that took place. I think it just finally hit him that that there's someone else in my life who wants the same things for me that he does and it took hold, made him feel like he was being replaced." He explained. "After what he dealt with overseas, I suppose I get it. He's scared, he came back and things weren't the same as he left them."

"Is sounds like he needed assurance that he wasn't going to lose you, and you gave him that, babe. I'm sure everything will be okay now," Hunter kissed Trayden's cheek. "He knows that no one can take his place, and he could never be replaced. I wasn't offended by any of what happened, I figured there had to be a reason why he would suddenly be jealous of me after the talks we've had. And he definitely already gave me the warning not to hurt you," He laughed a bit and Trayden set his head on Hunter's shoulder. "I think Blake, and everyone else in our friend circle knows now how special he is to you, and he knows that you love him,"

They were catching up to the others now, it looked like the Raseri siblings were doing a performance and the friends made it in time to watch the end. "I do love him," Trayden said as he looked forward to see Blake trying to motion them to come up more and stand with them since Hunter and Trayden were the ones farthest back. As the two reached the rest, Trayden held Hunter's hand tightly and lifted his head up to look at his boyfriend.

"I know you do," Hunter responded, but he was looking ahead and Trayden could see a somewhat distant look in his eyes. There was miniscule hint of sadness in them too. Trayden tried to cycle through his thoughts to figure out why Hunter would look upset, and realized that he only just got that way when Trayden said words I do love him. Hunter's reply was so…Accepting, that he knew Trayden loved Blake. That's when it hit Trayden hard. Due to everything going on, the two of them still hadn't talked about what happened between them on Wednesday night where Hunter told Trayden right before Blake burst in that he loved Trayden.

Is that what Blake was talking about with me and Hunter fixing things? Trayden wondered. Does Blake know that Hunter told me he loves me? Did…Hunter tell him? Is that what started the arguing? Them trying to figure out which situation hurt me? Neither did. I was annoyed with Blake barging in at the worst time because I'd just been about to tell Hunter I love him too. And after Blake left, Hunter got called. We haven't been able to talk about it yet. Should I bring it up? Trayden wished he knew how to handle this, but based on all this thoughts and theories, it seemed that Blake and Hunter knew of each other's situation from Wednesday night. But with Blake's side of things, it was settled. Maybe it was only fair that Trayden let Hunter know how he felt, so the poor guy wasn't thinking that Trayden didn't hear him, forgot.

"Hey," Trayden got Hunter's attention as the auburn-haired male turned his head and looked at Trayden with a smile. Trayden giggled a little as he shifted lean up and kiss Hunter deeply. Surprised by the action, Hunter returned the affection. The kiss finally ended as Trayden looked in his eyes. "I love you." He said.

"I love you too," Hunter replied, then it hit him as he quickly faced Trayden more, surprise plastered on his features. "Wait…" Hunter paused. "D-Did you just tell me you love me?"

Trayden nodded once. "Didn't you tell me Wednesday night before Blake showed up after we finished making love that you love me?" He asked gently.

"Y-Yes! I did, but…I didn't think you heard me, or forgot…" Hunter admitted.

Trayden shook his head now. "I heard you, and while I was a bit shocked that you confessed it out of nowhere, I was happy that you did. I was about to tell you I love you too before Blake came in."

"I'm sorry that I had to take off, because that whole moment is why I wanted to make sure you were okay and have us be able to sit down and talk about it. And then I just didn't want to bring it earlier today because I felt like you had needed time to sit with it. I didn't want you to feel rushed or pressured, but then I also wondered if you hadn't heard me or forgotten…I was going to ask you if you wanted to spend time together tonight and bring it up because I didn't want you to think that I only said it in the heat of the moment," Hunter explained.

Trayden laughed a little and pecked Hunter's lips again. "Hey, hey…Relax, baby. I know, and understand. I told you that before. And had you not been called off, like I said, we would have talked about it. I wanted to bring it up over the last two days, but I felt it would be better in person. I was going to ask you if you wanted to come over after all this, so I could tell you how I felt. I didn't want you to think that I was avoiding saying something because I didn't feel the same." Trayden informed.

"Seems we both ended up thinking the same things," Hunter chuckled.

"Great minds think alike," Trayden reminded.

"That they do," Hunter held Trayden close. "I love you, Trayden,"

"I love you too, Hunter," Trayden responded as they shared another kiss just as the fireworks started going off above them. The friends were all watching, some even took pictures or recorded it before everyone enjoyed the display. And all of them were in agreement that this turned out to be a great night all around.