Chapter 4
The night is young, part 1

The show was over, all the artists came back to the stage for a final bow. The ringmistress thanked the visitors and wished them a good night, before reminding the Hooligans' circus was giving one last representation on the following night. The ad Jack had read was saying they were staying at Burgess for three nights. He had thought tonight was the first show, but visibly it was already the second one.

It didn't change his disappointment to see the curtains close, and the crowd exit the tent. He took his time to follow and quickly got late. It was no wonder he was so reluctant to leave the place, the evening had been absolutely wonderful. Not only had he been able to forget all his troubles as he marveled at the different performances, but above all, during these few hours, he had only been Jack. Not White the Cursed, not the ice demon, not the miserable ghost of the pond, not the outcast of the village. Just Jack. However, now that the show was over, he had to go back to this sad life of his.

He sighed heavily as he crossed the torches and signs indicating the circus' entrance, and he stopped as he noticed there was noone left. It was odd that the entrance was not watched anymore while the visitors were leaving. Where was the blonde woman with fishy smell ? He looked around with curiosity, two men bumped into him but left without even an apology.

He didn't pay attention to it and started to search the area. He was not worried, just curious and wanted to make sure nothing happened to this woman. Even if her hair was reeking and she had extorted money from him, he would feel guilty if he didn't check. And he was not expecting to have good intuition before he heard noises coming from bushes just a few steps away from the entrance.

It sounded like a punch, then he heard voices. He stepped closer and managed to discern words even before he could see anything. The first voice he heard was the blonde's.

''You call that a punch ? Ha ! Even my brother hits harder than that.''

''Will you shut up ?!''

Jack froze as he heard this familiar voice, quickly followed by snickers. These sneers echoed in his head, mirrors from taunts and bullies he had been through. It was Franc. Franc and his friends. Just his luck.

''Where's the money ?''

''Like I would tell you.'' The fish-smelling blonde snickered.

''Hit harder, Bruno. Will, hold her arms.''

''Oh yes Willy, hold me close !'' She teased, or actually flirted ?

''Shut up !''

Jack blenched as he heard them punch her again, but she was only laughing at it, as if she was having fun. Since Franc and his friends were asking for money, he assumed she had gouged them too. Despite of this, the boy couldn't resolve himself to just leave her like this. For all the times he had hoped to see someone help him when he was himself bullied and beaten up, he couldn't just leave her.

So he gathered his courage and crossed the bushes, and before he could realise it, he found himself in front of the group. The blonde was there, kneeling on the ground while Will was holding her arms behind her back, too high for it to be comfortable. In front of her was standing Bruno, his clenched fist lifted in a silent threat, the other hand gripping her collar. As to Franc, he was just watching from a bit afar, contemplating the escenary as he used to.

Once Jack stepped in, the four persons in this little glade looked at him, surprised to be interrupted. He tensed at the sudden attention, and nervousness took a hold of him. His bravery had already fled and left him, but now it was too late to turn around. So he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

''L-Leave her alone.'' He stuttered.

He mentally cursed his shaking voice, making him loose any credibility he could have had. Franc snorted and Bruno let go of the blonde's collar to face him.

''Aw, look at this. A knight in shining armor coming to your rescue, Fishy ? Who's that, your boyfriend ?''

Jack blushed in shame while the blonde eyed him quizzically. She seemed confused for a second, then something sparked in her greyish blue eyes. Jack knew she had just recognized him, still she shrugged.

''Don't know that guy.''

''Oh,'' Franc smirked. ''So he's just a good samaritan ?''

It was Jack's turn to be confused. Granted he had dyed his hair but, despite of this, Franc and his friends didn't seem to recognize him. Either White the Cursed or Jackson Overland. But since these guys had never minded him even before the accident, it was not really surprising. Actually, it relieved him because it was going to spare him added reprisals. It didn't mean it was going to spare him the upcoming ones.

He swallowed hard and reach for his belt, unstrapping his pouch.

''If it's just money you want, y-you can take mine. Just don't hurt her.''

Ordinarily, Jack would have done everything to keep this money. Not just because it was not his, but also because it was impossible for Jonathan to not notice all these coins missing. One could pass, but five ? No. Jack didn't want to face the farmer's wrath, neither his punishment, but he knew he would handle it easier than the guilt of not trying to help this woman. Even if he doubted these coins would suffice Franc, he had to at least try.

His offer, and his shaking voice, made the bullies laugh again, then Franc tore the pouch from him, smirking, but lifted an unimpressed eyebrow at the coins.

''Are you kidding me ? Were you really expecting to buy me with that little ?''

He dropped everything, letting the coins scatter in the most haughty way possible. Jack's eyes followed the coins disappearing in the grass, then he looked back up to Franc's face, who was still smirking.

''I got a better idea. What if we smash your face, little samaritan ?''

Jack couldn't get the chance to answer before Franc kicked him in the belly, making him gasp for air. The boy dropped to his knees, gritting his teeth as he wrapped his arms around his aching middle. He withstood the pain while the bullies were laughing around him. He withstood because he was used to this kind of pain and humiliation, he had went through this countless times. However there was one thing different this time. Among the snickers, he heard the blonde intervene.

''Hey, asshole ! What about you pick someone your size ?''

''What, you jealous, Fishy ? Rather be the one I kick ?''

''Usually bullying and racket are my hobbies, you know. Especially on my brother. What about you come here and we see how you handle the punches, huh ? I wanna bet you never even got slapped in your life and you would cry like a baby if that happened.''

''Shut up already, for God's sake !''

Jack panted as he forced his head up to see. The kick from Franc had weakened his skinny body, he could barely move, paralyzed by the pain, but that didn't mean he was going to let Franc go after her. Even if that seemed more like sport than being beaten up for her. She laughed as Franc pushed Bruno aside to punch her square in the face. Her laughter infuriated even more the chief's son, so he hit her again and again. Jack gritted his teeth and picked up a peeble before throwing it on Franc, who yelped in surprise.

''Argh ! You just wait, you ass ! Bruno, break him in two, I got the bitch.''

''Bitch yourself, bitch !'' The blonde spat. ''Hey jerk, are you always picking on smaller than you ? Such scarridy cats, really, and I know a lot about scarridy cats : my brother's the worst of them !''

The chief's son roared an enraged war cry but Jack couldn't do anything to help the blonde as Bruno's fist collided with his shoulder. He fell on the side and his only reflex was to shield his head with his arms. Hits and blows started to rain over him, but it was not worst than other times. Actually, Bruno even seemed exhauted, surely they had been picking on the blonde for a moment. Jack saw his chance in it.

If Bruno was not as energic as usual, maybe he had a chance to escape him ? Moreover, the guy may be following blindly Franc's orders because he thought the chief's son protected him from White the Cursed, but he still was deadly scared of the ice demon. It was hard for Jack to think that, for once, this fear would come handy.

He had to act fast. If Bruno was to hit him in the face, he was sure to be knocked out instantly. So, when he opened up his arms, he didn't wait to act. With a swift move, he managed to catch his opponent's wrist. He knew he would not be strong enough to hold him, but he was counting on the unusual cold of his skin to catch Bruno's attention. It worked. The tall dark-haired boy stopped dead in his movements, then he met Jack's eyes. He froze in fear as he saw the ice blue irises.

The effect was immediate. Despite being tall and bulky, Bruno stepped back in a start with a yelp, then he ran away, screaming.

''The White ! It's the White !''

''Bruno, what's gotten on you ?!'' Franc panicked.

''He saw the White !'' Will repeated, already looking frantically around them, searching for the demon.

Noting they had not recognized him, Jack remained on the ground, laying on his side, his arms wrapped around his middle. He was still panting and in pain, but the cold was numbing it. Closing his eyes, he could only hear the two remaining boys fleeing disgracefully, and the young woman making fun of them.

''Yeah, good riddance ! And don't come back, or else I'll kick your ass !''

She snickered even more, then Jack heard her steps coming closer to him. When he opened his eyes, he found her standing next to him, slightly bent over him.

''You okay, kiddo ?''

Despite his panting, he nodded in reply, then took the hand she was offering him. As he found himself back on his feet, he woobled a bit and wrapped his arms back around his middle. The pain was numbing slowly, it wouldn't take long before it would give him rest. He was going to be fine, like the other times. It wasn't like Jonathan was going to notice it in the morning, or would take it seriously.

Jack came out of his thoughts as the blonde straightened again, as if she had been bending to pick up something. He gasped as he saw her put back the few coins in his pouch, then give it back to him.

''Here. Sorry for scaming you earlier.''

Jack hesitated a bit.

''Huh… Let's just forget this. But you should stop doing this, you'll get in trouble.''

''Hey, I fought worst than these assholes. And I would have been fine even if you didn't show up.''

Jack pouted and averted his eyes. Weirdly, he didn't know if he could believe her or not. It was true she was tough, after all. She wasn't wincing at the numerous punches and hit she had gotten, neither the black eye already blooming, neither her split lip. She was even smiling at him as if nothing had happened.

''Still, thanks for coming to my rescue.'' She added while patting his shoulder. ''I've always dreamt of having my own knight in shining armor.''

Jack blushed a crimson red at that, making her chuckle. She wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pressed herself against his arm. Her grip was so strong the boy doubted he could get out of it, and he had to admit this sudden touch was kind of unsettling and awkward for him. Noone had touched him since the accident, this young woman was oppressing and, he had to admit, her smell of fish oil was awful.

''As a thanks, I'll do something for you too. Come with me.''

Not giving him the chance to say no, she dragged him back towards the circus. He found himself with a bad feeling as they circled the main tent to go into the forest.

''Huh… Where are we going ?'' He asked, trying to steady his shaking voice. ''Is it far ?''

''No, don't worry. Look, we're almost there.''

Jack spotted a few lights and tents, it looked like a camp, and the tents' shape and fabric looked a lot like the circus. Visibly, it was the troup's camp, but that didn't tell him why the young woman was bringing him there. As they kept on walking, Jack noticed a long tent that was a bit isolated from the others, and there was someone sitting on a log next to the campfire. Though he recognized that athletic silhouette and the auburn hair, his mouth kept on following his previous thoughts.

''I should go back home-''

''Just wait a bit !'' The blonde insisted, suddenly stopping in front of him, which made him start. ''We're almost there ! You'll see, it's gonna be awesome !''

She smiled and placed her hands around her mouth, shouting through the camp.

''Guys, come here ! I have a favor to ask you !''

Without a warning, she pushed Jack forward. Even though she had only meant to make him come closer, she had pushed too hard, and he was too light, so he ended up falling down. He barely avoided kissing the ground and managed to end up on his hands and knees, protecting his face. His too-many encounters with Franc and his friends had at least developed some reflexes.

''Whoops, sorry !'' The blonde chuckled. ''I got carried away.''

Jack blew a dyed lock from his forehead and looked up, only to find a pair of unknown boots in front of him.

''What's goin' on, Ruff ? Wow, what happened t'your eye ?!''

Jack looked up and recognised the stocky man from the first act of the show, Snotlout. The blonde from the entrance, whose name seemed to be Ruff, giggled and shook her hand as if her wounds didn't matter.

''Arf, don't worry 'bout that, just a tiny fight. Can you put him back to his feet, please ?''

Jack swallowed hard as he saw the black-haired guy give him a death glare. He seemed angry, surely because his friend had been hurt, but this anger seemed to be aimed at the hooded boy for some reason. He almost choked as Snotlout grabbed his hood and pulled on it to bring him to his feet, then lift him above the ground. Okay, maybe the guy wasn't pretty tall, he was even a bit shorter than Jack, but his arm was stretching high enough to lift the boy effortlessly.

Jack found himself hanging by his hood, kicking his feet in the air as much as he could because of the numbed pain in his middle, his hands busy pulling at his collar for it to not strangle him.

''Whad'ya want me t'do with 'im ?'' Snotlout grunted.

''What ? What's wrong with you, put him down !''

''We should throw 'im inha river.''

''What a dumbass, you get it wrong !''

''Or at least giv'im a black eye like yours.''

Jack tried to reassure himself thinking it was just a misunderstanding and the stocky guy was not really going to harm him, that didn't mean he was not freaking out, especially seeing Ruff was not convincing him. He tried to keep calm, repeating himself reassuring words. He knew he was risking loosing control over his strange snow powers if his emotions were getting too strong. If the young woman managed to dissipate the misunderstanding, then they wouldn't harm him. However, if they discovered he was some kind of ice demon, then they would definitively try and murder him. He had to keep calm. Keep calm. Keep calm.

''Are you even listening, you big moron ?!''

''Oh, I know, I'm gonna cut one of his fingers, that way he'll rem'mber it. ''

''What ?!'' Jack yelped in horror.

Jack panicked even more as he saw Snotlout pull a knife from his belt. A shine caught on the blade caught his attention and sent his already-panicking heart into another loop, the poor boy now shaking from head to toes. If he had been touching the ground, frost would have certainly started to form around his feet. The knife was dangerously coming closer to him and he could feel the temperature drop around him.

''W-Wait !'' He stuttered.

''Stop that already !'' Ruff insisted, starting to punch her friend.

''Hey ! What are you doing ?!'' A voice suddenly shouted from behind them.

''Oh shit.'' Snotlout muttered, quickly retreiving his weapon.

Jack tried to take a look behind his back, but his hood was blocking out his field of view. Still he managed to know who had just stepped in, because he had recognized Horrendous' voice. Snotlout's face turned dark and, without letting go of Jack's hood, he spoke over his shoulder.

''Get off, Hiccup, that's not your business.''

''Don't tell me you're mugging someone again ? Valka was clear enough about this, you-''

The dragon tamer froze and his face shifted from a disapproving scowl to panic as he met Jack's eyes. The boy knew he had just been recognized.

''That's the boy who tamed Hookfang !''

''What ?!'' Snotlout started.

He quickly let go and Jack met the ground for the third time in the night. Snotlout quickly recovered from his shock and kicked the boy with his foot.

''An' y'dare beat up Ruff after that ?!''

''Seriously, you're helpless !'' The blonde groaned. ''I never said he did it ! He even helped me and that's how you thank him ?!''

''He helped… ? But why didn't you say it right'way ?!''

''Because you didn't let me, duh !''

While the two kept on arguing, Jack wrapped an arm around his middle while trying to sit up. Snotlout's kick wasn't helping his forming bruises. That's when Horrendous crouched next to him and gave him a hand.

''You okay ?''

''Huh yeah… Thanks…''

Jack let him help him on his feet, the young man even brushed off some dirt from his cape, before he faced the arguing duo.

''Now explain yourself : what happened, exactly ?''

Jack was astonished by how adamant he sounded, which was stark contrast with the kindness he had shown during the show.

''We weren't rubbing him !'' Ruff claimed.

''Really ? So what were you doing, exactly ?''

''Well, huh… Okay, I admit I may have increased prices for some of the customers. Some of them took it bad and caught me at the exit. They beat me up a bit because I didn't agree to repay them. Then this kind kid came to my rescue. Since I scamed him too, I thought it would be nice to bring him here to show him a bonus show. You know, as thanks ?''

''A bonus show ? Are you serious ? What would that even have been ? Knive throwing ?'' Horrendous almost spat as he gestured to Snotlout's dagger. ''Astrid and Eret are the ones in charge of it, not Snotlout and you. We don't have other shows, and it's not like he would be interested in seeing my other dragons.''

Jack started as he heard that. Actually, yes, he was interested. Granted, at first he had not been thrilled as this Ruff girl dragged him at the camp, but that was because he didn't know what she wanted. But now that he knew she just wanted to offer him another show as thanks, especially if it included dragons, now he did was thrilled.

''Come on,'' Horrendous told him, his voice closer to the one he knew because of the return of his kindness. ''I'll walk you back to the exit… before these nitwits try something else.''

Without further words, just a death glare to Ruff and Snotlout, the dragon tamer dragged Jack with him. He had just gotten the boy out of troubles and was really walking him back, but Jack found himself wanting to stay. No, actually it was not surprising. He coudl easily wait to go back to the village, and if he had to be honest with himself, he wanted to get the chance to spend some time with Horrendous and, if it really was possible, see other dragons.

''Wait.'' He ended up saying, stopping in his tracks.

Horrendous stopped too and Jack saw his green eyes fill with worry.

''You okay ? Are you hurt ?''

''I… Huh…''

He thought fast, his heart pounding in his chest as he didn't have the slightest idea how to ask. How was he supposed to ? Should he be direct and admit he didn't want to leave ? Should he find some excuse ? As silence was lasting and Horrendous' worry increasing, Jack panicked and ended up saying the first thing he could think of.

''You… Do you really have other dragons ?''

The boy tensed even more as he saw the tamer blink with dismay, then he frowned.

''Why ?''

Jack lowered his head and averted his eyes, even more tensed and hesitant. He still didn't know how to ask.

''Huh… Well, your friend did mention a bonus show and… I-I did pay more at the entrance, so…''

''We can repay you, that's not a problem.''

Jack bit his lips. He wanted to insist but Horrendous spoke louder to reach behind the boy.

''Right, Ruffnut ?''

''Okay,'' She growled in reply. ''I get it, I'll bring the jar.''

Jack didn't dare look at her, he could hear her steps leaving, anyway. He bit his lip harder and resigned to just go along with it. He didn't dare anymore to ask seeing how things were turning out.

''Yeah, I supposed that's the best thing to do…'' He muttered, unable to contain his dissapointment.

Heavy silence loomed around him as he was staring down as his feet. He just waited for Ruffnut to come back with the money, silently accepting that after this, he was just going back home. Well… to the roof over his head more than a home.

''Wait, you…'' Horrendous asked, his voice full of surprise. ''You really want to see dragons ?''

Jack looked up at him, seeing that the tamer really was taken aback. With much hesitation, he nodded and tried a faint smile.

''Those things are dangerous.'' Ruffnut said, thought the idea seemed to please her.

Jack started at her voice, he had not noticed she was already back. Despite his start, his smile grew larger.

''I doubt that.'

''You could be hurt.'' Snotlout added.

Jack didn't know why, but he found their attempt to deter him kind of funny.

''I doubt that too. Horrendous would be there, I'm sure he will make sure everything's fine, just like during the show.''

Adding weight to his words, he shyly patted the tamer's shoulder, which was more toned than the boy expected it. He also got a bit distracted by the warmth radiating from the young man. It was still surprising him, though he knew it was actually due to the unsual cold of his own skin.

''Okay.'' Horrendous said.

Jack gapped at him for accepting like this, without the slightest complain, and that seemed to shock the other two too.

''You serious, Hiccup ?'' Snotlout gasped.

''I am.'' The auburnet replied with a defying smirk. ''Someone has to clean Ruffnut's mess, especially if she had plenty coins to give him change.''

The blonde gritted her teeth and averted her eyes, fingers tapping the full jar.

''I don't think you guys want this boy to tell his family of the traveling circus scaming him… then mugging him for no reason.''

Jack grabbed Horrendous' sleeve to catch his attention, suddenly panicked.

''I wouldn't-''

''Hush,'' the tamer cut him.

So the boy realised he was just trying to scare the others, obviously so they wouldn't do something like this again.

''There would be repercussions, his parents would be furious.''

Jack swallowed to the simple idea of Jonathan's anger.

''So better give him a reason to like us, huh ? For the circus and its reputation.''

The two artists in front of him seemed speechless, which made the tamer smile.

''Good. Since we all agree on that, I'm counting on you to keep an eye on Valka. She won't be happy to learn we let someone in the camp.''

He looked intently at Ruffnut, silently adding reproaches. She understood it seeing how she shrunk on herself, hugging the jar as if it was a stuffed animal. Horrendous seemed satisfied with their reaction and invited Jack to follow him.