The Journey Into Us
Pairing: Hiccup X Toothless
Rating: M for Mature
Disclaimer: I do not own anything HTTYD-related.
Chapter 71
=Normal POV=
(Thursday, 12/31/2020; 9:30 pm)
(Barbarchi City, Archipelago)
(The Great Hall)
The night had been great since it began, and Trayden finally did one of this mother's song requests as a performance. Unfortunately, it wasn't something he'd ever practiced to make sure he could do it without hurting himself. Now, Trayden nailed the song and everyone had been congratulating him on a job well done. That was until Hunter pointed out that Trayden hadn't spoken since finishing the lyrics and Hunter's theory was that Trayden may have unintentionally killed his voice. So when Hunter asked Trayden if he was okay, and to respond by saying yes, or shaking his head no, Trayden shook his head. Everyone was still in the room, only now concerned for Trayden who admitted silently that he wasn't alright.
"You said you would be okay!" Blake scolded.
"Actually, you asked him if he was sure of his choice…" Shane mentioned.
"You never asked if he'd be okay to do it," Tyler confirmed.
"It doesn't matter." Hunter stopped them from bickering. "The damage is already done, so the goal now would be in discussing how to fix it,"
"It came out so perfect though…If he killed his voice, wouldn't the singing have been affected?" Hailey asked.
"Not necessarily. You can strain your vocal chords, know that you have, and continue to sing normally," Natalie stated.
"The point at which you wouldn't be able to finish a song is if your voice had cracked, that's the equivalent of your voice breaking and losing it during a sore throat," Hunter told them. "Tray definitely strained them, and he can feel that he did. He's not talking to avoid making it worse, trying to speak or sing right now risks that voice cracking and causing damage that may take surgery to fix." He explained. "Or permanently make it so he never sings again."
"What do we do then?" Ava wondered.
"We need to figure out how bad the strain is first," Natalie pointed out.
"Okay, let's all just calm down and take a few steps back," Dustin remarked. "I believe the singers have this under control."
Everyone began dispersing as Hunter took Trayden's hand gently. "Come with me, babe," He said as Trayden nodded. Hunter led Trayden out of the room and to where the break room was for workers of City Hall. Once in the space, Hunter had Trayden sit down in a chair. "I need you to let me know what it feels like. Sore? Sting? Dull? Burn?" Hunter asked. Trayden took a moment, but he held up four fingers to signal his response as the fourth thing Hunter listed. "Burn?" Trayden nodded to confirm. "Alright, so we don't want to use hot as you can stand water, or salt…That's just going to make it hurt more and cause damage. Your chords are likely sore and inflamed…" He considered, trying to think of what to use to soothe it.
Trayden felt like he knew what could help, so he grabbed his phone out of his pocket and brought up the notepad application. He typed something out and then tapped Hunter's arm to get his attention. Hunter looked at Trayden, who set his phone down face up as Hunter looked at the screen. "Cough Drop and Ibuprofen? But you're not sick, babe," Trayden took the phone again and typed something else under the first thing, then turned it around to show Hunter. "Ibuprofen has anti-inflammatory properties and the cough drop would soothe the throat with it's cool numbing factor. You're right! That's genius…Hang tight, okay?" Hunter kissed his forehead and then left the room.
Hunter returned to the space where the party was and looked around for Rachel. That was the rest of Trayden's message, to find his mom because she always had that stuff on her. "Rachel," Hunter said gently.
"Yes, dear? Where's Trayden?" Rachel asked.
"Sitting in the break room. Do you have two Ibuprofen's and a cough drop?" Hunter hoped.
"I should in my purse," Rachel nodded as she moved to where her purse was at the table she was sitting and dug through it. Rachel pulled out her cough drops and pill bottle. Hunter got what he needed and moved to get back to where Trayden was waiting for him.
Hunter reached the break room and got a cold glass of water, then brought the pills and cough drop to Trayden at the table. "Here, love," Hunter put the two pills in Trayden's palm and gave him the cup of water. Trayden took both pills down and gave it a moment or two before getting the cough drop out of it's packaging and popping it in his mouth. "You really did an amazing job with that song," Hunter complimented. Trayden smiled a little, and shrugged. "But don't do that again…At least not just going for it. I feel like that was a song with more practice you could have done and not hurt yourself," Trayden nodded. "You never cease to amaze me," Hunter smiled and caressed Trayden's cheek, who leaned into it.
"I'm beyond happy and grateful we met, Trayden…Seriously. You have no idea how much you changed my life, how much better it became with you being a part of it." Hunter admitted, holding Trayden's hands now. "I love you." Unable to talk due to still sucking on the cough drop, Trayden raised his hands. He used one to point to his eye, then used both to make a heart, and finally took one hand to point at Hunter; it was his way of replying I love you. Hunter smiled, leaning in to peck Trayden's cheek. "Want to spend the night with me, enjoy the new year privately?" Hunter questioned lightly. Trayden motioned to himself, then to Hunter, asking if his place or Hunter's. "Well, we were at my house on the 28th for our anniversary, so how about yours?" Trayden gave an okay with his fingers.
"I love that we don't have to talk to understand one another," Hunter laughed a little. "How's your throat feeling?" He inquired. Trayden gave a so-so motion with his hand. "Still burning sensation, or has it lessened to dull, sting, or sore?" Hunter wondered. Trayden put up one finger, then two more. "Dull sore?" Trayden nodded to him. "That's good. The pills should only take about ten to fifteen minutes to start working, that with the cough drop should help a lot. Think you'll be able to talk again before tomorrow?" He asked. Trayden shrugged as an I don't know. "I hope so. I'd like to enjoy hearing you moan later," Hunter chuckled as Trayden's face lit up with a blush and that only made Hunter laugh more. "It should be illegal for you to be both handsome and still so shy with some of the things we've done."
Trayden's blush remained, but he smiled and shook his head. He finished the cough drop and then drank down the rest of the cold water from the cup Hunter got him. "Want to go back to the party? We could just sit and enjoy the music, maybe dance? I never did get one with you last year during the celebration at my house…" Hunter teased. Trayden looked down embarrassed, but Hunter knew Trayden just felt ashamed and believed he couldn't dance. "Oh, come on…I'm sure you can handle a slow dance. Those don't take much movement. Would I ever do anything to make you embarrassed or look silly in front of people?" Trayden gave him a are you serious look, one that clearly asked did you really just ask me that. "Okay, aside from flirting with and teasing the hell out of you when we're with friends…Have I ever done that?" Trayden shook his head. "Then I won't do it here with all these people. Come on, love…Just one dance with me?"
Trayden gave in and nodded to him. Hunter beamed, leaning in and kissing Trayden's lips. Trayden smiled and kissed him back. Hunter deepened it slightly, holding Trayden's hands at his sides and scooting from his seat to sit on Trayden's lap. Trayden melted into the action and they kept this up for a few minutes, then Hunter took things to the next level where he turned it into a make-out session. The party was non-existent to them right now, Hunter and Trayden just wanted this moment, despite knowing it would get them riled up. Or Trayden would get turned on at least. Hunter had years of being able to control himself, Trayden did not and Hunter knew exactly how to get him going. When Trayden started to get hard, he felt it and flinched quickly, Hunter caught the movement and broke the kiss to look at Trayden.
"You alright?" Hunter questioned. Trayden blushed, panting a little. "Are you getting turned on?" Trayden nodded shyly, looking down. "I won't leave you to suffer, babe," Hunter smiled. Trayden's eyes widened, the redness on his cheeks darkening at the thought of Hunter getting him off here. No way. It was too risky and people would come looking for them if they didn't get back to the party. Trayden just about paled at the idea of being found, and for a moment, his mind went back to when Blake barged in on him and Hunter. Trayden almost shivered and shook his head to Hunter. "No hand or blowjob?" Hunter asked. Trayden stared at him, a very visible look of embarrassment and not here on his face and in his eyes. "Okay, message received. Not here," He nodded to Trayden, who sighed in relief. "Still want to go back in?" Trayden nodded to him. Hunter got off his lap and helped Trayden to his feet.
Hand in hand, the two exited the break room and went back to where the party was. "There you two are," Addilyn smiled.
"How you doing, Tray?" Thaxter asked. Trayden shrugged, and then his siblings and parents came over.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" Rachel questioned quickly.
"Did the medication and cough drop help?" Dustin pushed.
Trayden rolled his eyes, but didn't talk. "He's still not able to talk," Rachel frowned. "Should we go to the hospital?" Trayden sighed and closed his eyes, but Hunter got the idea.
"He can talk, Mrs. Raseri, he's just choosing not to so he doesn't irritate his throat before it's recovered enough that we don't have to risk it becoming worse," Hunter responded.
"So how do you know he's okay then?" Rylee wondered. "If he's choosing not to talk and let us know?"
"Tray and I don't need to physically speak to be able to communicate. I ask questions, he responds with hand motions or head movements," Hunter stated. "I believe he strained his vocal chords, and that caused them to become inflamed, like you get with a sore or strep throat just minus the bacteria and germs."
"Why didn't he just gargle the salt water then?" Natalie questioned. "That's what he made me do last year when my voice cracked,"
"Because Tray's voice didn't crack," Hunter said. "When your voice cracked, it wasn't because you strained anything. You just sang too much in one sitting without giving your voice a break. You just needed to rehydrate. If Tray had used hot water and salt, it would have caused more pain and irritation."
"So, what did you do for him then?" Hailey inquired.
"Ibuprofen and a cough drop," Hunter replied.
"You treated strained vocal chords with a cold symptom remedy?" Nicole blinked.
"Aren't both your parents doctors?" Hunter arched a brow.
"W-Well yes, but-," Nicole began.
"What does Ibuprofen do?" Hunter asked.
"It's…A pain reliever and fever reducer…" Alyssa answered.
"It's also an anti-inflammatory. Tray's vocal chords are strained, causing inflammation. The Ibuprofen will take that down, and the cough drop should be self-explanatory. That's an ice cold sensation down your throat, and it doubles to numb the area," Hunter explained. "Both working together will reverse the damage, as long as he doesn't do anything that would make it worse. In this case, talking. If he's not using his vocal chords until his throat feels better, meaning no pain, then there's no chance of irritating his throat further and the two items used can reverse the irritation and inflammation."
"That's brilliant, Hunter," Gregory informed.
"I wish I could take credit, but it wasn't my idea. It was Trayden's." Hunter shrugged. "I also first thought it sounded crazy because that's a combination used with a cold, but he reminded me that Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory. I wouldn't have thought of it, despite being a singer as well. I've only done songs I know without a doubt I can handle. I've never tried to push my voice. If there was the slightest hint of uncertainty, I wouldn't do it. Tray, though, does far more singing than I do. It makes sense he knows how to handle different problems that can occur."
"Well, as long as my son is good, then I'm good. On with the party!" Rachel beamed with joy. "I promised the next song I request won't hurt you, son!" Rachel left, dragging Dustin off with her.
Hunter had to chuckle a bit because he felt Trayden's sigh in displeasure that if he managed to feel better before the party ended; his mother would request more songs. "Should I get you drunk, babe? She won't ask you to sing if you can't stand up," Hunter offered. Trayden folded his arms and sighed some. Hunter smiled and kissed him. "Do I still get that dance with you?" Trayden blushed a little, but he nodded to Hunter. "Now, or later?" Trayden held up two fingers. "Later it is." Hunter replied. "Want to go grab some snacks and sit down for a bit?" Trayden gave him a nod, and then the two walked off.
. . .
(11:45 pm)
Fifteen minutes until midnight, and beginning of the year 2021. Everyone was having a great time too. Trayden stayed close to Hunter, who was acting as his translator, but he was feeling a lot better. Trayden ended up getting another cough drop from his mother at 11:30 pm; the burning of his throat was gone and only left a slight dull soreness when he swallowed. Trayden stuck to cold drinks, and Hunter managed to find him ice cream. After having that second cough drop, he felt great and his throat didn't hurt at all, but he probably wouldn't sing again tonight. Trayden and Hunter still hadn't gotten to dance, but Trayden realized that in all his playlists, he didn't really have any slow songs and he figured that's what Hunter was waiting to come up for them to dance to. Trayden checked his phone, and set it up to be paired via Bluetooth to his laptop. Tapping his music app, Trayden scrolled through the songs until he found something that Hunter and he would both enjoy. Trayden set it to play next, so it would start after the one playing finished in a minute or so.
"How you feeling, lil bro?" Blake asked.
"I'm fine," Trayden answered.
"Hey, you talked!" Blake gasped in surprise.
"I never claimed I couldn't…I've just chosen not to…Hunter literally explained this two hours ago." Trayden rolled his eyes. "My throat doesn't hurt anymore, so I'm good," He added.
"Great! Now, you can do another song before midnight!" Trayden grumbled when Blake said that. "I have a request,"
The song that Trayden chose to play for the dance with Hunter started, and Trayden had promised that he'd dance with Hunter before this night was over and the new year began. When Hunter heard the slow song begin, he instantly turned Trayden's way with an excited look in his eyes. I nodded to him, I knew what he was hoping for. "Sorry, big brother," Trayden smiled as Hunter got up and Trayden turned in his chair towards Hunter who offered his hand. "The rest of tonight has been claimed,"
"May I have this dance?" Hunter inquired.
Trayden put his hand in Hunter's, smiling. "I'd love to dance with you," Trayden replied. Hunter held Trayden's hand and brought his boyfriend up on his feet.
"Hey, wait…You've never danced before!" Alyssa remarked quickly.
"Yeah, actually. Never at school dances, and never with any of your ex-girlfriends," Natalie said with surprise.
"You always said you couldn't dance," Rylee mentioned.
"And I can't," Trayden admitted. "But I'm willing to try for him anyway,"
"You never tried with the others," Blake reminded.
"I was scared with them, I didn't want to screw up and look like an idiot…" Trayden paused as he looked into Hunter's eyes and smiled softly. "I'm not with Hunter, he's different than the others." Hunter led Trayden onto the dance floor. Once in the middle, Hunter set his hands on Trayden's hips and Trayden, recalling from old school dances he was dragged to, put his hands on Hunter's shoulders.
"Nervous?" Hunter asked.
"Maybe a little…" Trayden stated.
Hunter gave him a light peck on the lips. "Don't be," He reassured.
"Can't help it…I told you I don't know how to dance, I'm not good at moving with music…" Trayden mumbled, embarrassed.
"But I told you to trust me and that I can teach you without it ever looking off. So…I need you to trust me, and close your eyes." Hunter instructed. Trayden nodded to him and closed his eyes. "Do you remember the first time we made love, babe?" He inquired as Trayden thought it was an odd question to ask when they were supposed to be dancing. Pushing his confusion aside, Trayden gave a nod that he did remember. "Recall how nervous you were, afraid you'd do something wrong and constantly kept psyching yourself out, believing you'd never be able to do it?"
"I remember," Trayden replied. He felt Hunter was moving him in some kind of slow circle, Hunter was leading, or guiding and Trayden only felt like he looked ridiculous to everyone else. Still, he only heard the music playing and Hunter's voice. With his eyes closed, Trayden couldn't see anyone, so he supposed that made things better because it meant he didn't have to see how awkward he probably looked to others.
"You remember how I'd told you beforehand that it would feel strange at first, but if you stayed relaxed, breathed, and trusted me, everything would be alright and feel good?" Hunter smiled. Trayden nodded to him. "Then once we started, you got into things without any worry at all and just let the feeling take hold? That you just began moving with me?" Trayden nodded once more. "Because we've always had that connection between us, right? Go with the flow, following our hearts, staying close?" He added. "When we make love, we're always against one another," Trayden felt Hunter pull him closer so their bodies were close. "My hands on your hips, or wrapped around your back," Hunter moved his arms around Trayden's back. "Your arms around my neck to keep me in kissing range, making it so our foreheads would touch and we'd stare into each other's eyes?"
Trayden didn't know what force made him do it, but his arms went around Hunter's neck, and their foreheads touched. "The first time we made love, you were nervous but once I started to move and you caught onto the rhythm to move with me; it felt great. Every worry you had about what male intimacy would feel like just faded away. We got to share that incredible moment, babe. The one where we moved our bodies moved together, our hearts would beat in time with each other, that we never needed to say what we wanted because we knew. When we just let go and gave into desire, like you wanted. And for me, I got to be the one you trusted to experience it all with. That we fell in love so early on and never realized it until months later after our first time and after we admitted to liking one another and started dating. And now…With that knowledge of how long there has been this love between you and me, us having sex that night means so much more…" Hunter explained, then paused a few seconds.
Taking a breath, Hunter gave Trayden a gentle kiss, which was returned. "Open your eyes, love, but only look into mine. Okay? Only look at me, nothing else." Hunter said as Trayden opened his eyes and instantly locked onto Hunter's. "That first time means so much more now because everything between us, Trayden, has just come naturally. Our friendship, our relationship, our feelings, our love-making…It came so easily from the connection that formed the first moment we met…" Hunter continued. "That connection is why everything for us comes together so perfectly and why I knew tonight that I wouldn't have to teach you how to dance,"
"Yes you will…I can't dance, baby," Trayden sighed a little.
"You can because you already are," Hunter smiled. Trayden's eyes widened a little. "You have been since I asked you if you remembered our first time,"
"B-But I don't…Understand-How?" Trayden asked.
"Tray, when I made you close your eyes and remember our first time; it took your mind off dancing. Because I redirected your thoughts to recall that night last year. How it went, how it felt…How you felt. That you were nervous, but once I started to move, you let it all go. And when you began moving; it was because you let our connection take hold and move you. You let the love we share guide you to forget everything else and only focused on us and the moment we were sharing." Hunter enlightened as Trayden kept his eyes on Hunter still. "Tonight, you were nervous to dance with me because you have believed for so long that you can't move to the music."
Hunter kissed Trayden again lightly. "And with that distraction, you let the feelings of our first time come forward and take over. Reliving that moment of how us making love was so perfect and felt so right. All I did was use a time where you let go of your nervousness and worries, following your heart and opening it to me as I did the same for you with mine." Hunter informed. "Tonight, I made you remember something where nothing else and no one else mattered except us,"
Trayden was beginning to understand. "I made you think about the first time we made love because you weren't thinking about anything else except our connection and love for one another. And when that feelings comes through, babe, you let it move you. So what I did was give you a moment to remember, where you forgot we were here on the dance floor. You weren't even hearing the music that played," Hunter smiled softly. "You subconsciously blocked it out so that It was just you and me again. One body, one mind…"
"One heart…" Trayden said as Hunter nodded to him. "You didn't have to teach me how to dance, you just…Used what we already have together and it came naturally."
"It might be awkward for others to dance together when there's no connection, but for you and me, a couple that has what we do…You don't need to know how to dance, you don't even need music when you're dancing with the person you love. You just have to relax, trust your partner, forget all your worries and fears, and let the love take hold to move you," Hunter raised a hand to poke his nose and then cup his cheek. "Just like when we are making love, handsome,-"
"And we move together as one…" Trayden smiled, saying it at the same time Hunter did. As luck would have it, they said one at the same time everyone else had. The two male lovers were brought back to reality by fireworks that were going off outside. It was officially midnight, and January 1st, 2021. Hunter and Trayden smiled together, still staring into each other's eyes. "Happy New Year," They said together.
"I love you, Hunter," Trayden said.
"I love you, Trayden," Hunter replied.
The two were still in the middle of the dance floor, ignoring everyone as they leaned in and shared a passionate kiss.
