Hi everyone !
I'm so sorry it took so long for updating this chapter, my new job is litterally eating away my writing time. But I promised I'd never abandon a fiction again so better late than never, I guess ? To make it up to you, I'll post two chapters today, and this time I made sure to complete all the translation before posting again, so here we go !
Chapter 19
Live again
After their snowball fight, and even after the last remain of snow had melted and dried, none of Hiccup nore Jack thought about getting up from the ground. They were still laying there, next to each other, finding another activity as they watched the clouds, seraching for shapes in it. Jack was seeing a lot of twisted animals, trolls fighting for a fish, a bear wearing a hat and scarf, all kind of crazed shapes trying to fit the haphzardous clouds. As to Hiccup, 'surprisingly', he was only seeing dragons.
Most of them, Jack had never heard about, so he could actually compare the clouds to the real thing, still it didn't matter since the dragon names were just so funny. Hiccup told him it used to be a tradition among viking : giving stupid, ridiculous names to children to scare off trolls, fairies and spirits, detering them from kidnapping the kids, and it extended to dragons later on. They spent hours talking about dragons and Berk, and Jack learnt more about the place Hiccup was from.
He had troubles believing the part of the story in which Hiccup used to be a scrawny teenager, laughed at and rejected by pretty much everyone. It seemed so far away from the self-confident Hiccup he had next to him, thought he did recognized his friend's clumbsiness and nervous stutter.
With this new facette in mind, he realised where Hiccup's kindness and open-mind were coming from. It was coming from loneliness and wounds he had back then. It was said that the kindest people were the hurt ones, and that definitively applied to the dragon tamer. Jack felt a new kind of affection for him, sympathy forged in a shared story, a shared lonely path, thought it was not exactly the same one.
Despite what he had been through, Hiccup was still an optimist and was deeply convinced people could change for the better. Surely because he had seen blood-thirsty warriors make peace wih their enemy.
Trying to light up the mood, Jack asked more details about this name-tradition. Hiccup smirked before giving him a list of samples, picking the worst names even given to vikings and dragons. The boy swore he was going to have a stomach cramp with how much he was laughing. Hiccup joined too, until both noticed the change of colors in the sky, the greyish-blue getting tainted with pinkish hues. Evening was there, soon it would be time to head back to the castle of Broch.
''So…'' Hiccup suddenly asked. ''What did you think of this pause ?''
another smile crept on the pale lips.
''It was awesome.''
Jack turned his head on the side and met Hiccup's gaze, his face still adorned by that peculiar smile. Jack found himself unable to look away, a new group of butterflies set free in his belly, tickling his body from inside.
''That was the best birthday I had in a long time.'' He murmured.
Hiccup's smile vanished, wiped away by surprise, making him sit up in a jolt. ''What ? Today's your birthday ? But why didn't you say anything ? We could have thrown a party or something…''
''Don't worry, it's was great like this.'' The dyed-haired boy chuckled.
It had been perfect, actually. A whole day spent alone with the tamer, just the two of them with their dragons, and the auburnet kicking away Jack's demons and past haunting him. He couldn't have dreamt of a better birthday present. Just having Hiccup there during that special day would have been enough, but once again he had to surprise Jack for the better. Jack couldn't have had a beter gift, nor a better friend, even though he knew that Hiccup was not just a friend for him.
Said tamer seemed satisfied with jack's answer as he layed back down next to him. A comfortable silence surrounded them, only broken by the soft breeze in their hair. Without tearing his eyes from Jack, Hiccup took his hand, intertwinning their fingers, and gently squeezed.
''Happy Birthday, Jack.''
The boy smiled and squeezed back, a pleasant weight forming in his chest.
''Thanks.''
They layed there, surrounded by two excited dragons still playing together, but none of them was looking at their wingd friends. Each was just staring at the other, eye in eye. Forest green and wintery blue were boring into one another, as if magnetized, hypnotized. As if nothing else in the world existed. As if the other was the first rays of dawn after the longest, scariest night. Somehow, Jack felt like this night was the cold incasing him for almost four years, and that Hiccup actually was this dawn. His warmth, his kindness, his smile… it was thawing the ice that had been injailing Jack's heart and soul.
The boy couldn't remember the last time he had been that serene. All he knew was he owed iHiccup for this, and that he didn't want this moment to end. But it ended. It ended with the sound of hooves hammering the forest soil, getting closer to their position. Both friends sat up and their hands separated before that tall horse entered the glade, harshly stopping before stepping inside of the circle.
''There ye are !'' Merida shouted from the horse' back. ''Hiccup, Ah've been looking fer ye everywhere !''
Jack held back a snort as he heard the tamer grunt, and saw him running a hand on his face. He patted his shoulder int ry and comfort him, before teasing him ''Looks like the princess is asking for her knight in shining armor.''
Hiccup turned his head to him and Jack got surprised by his look. He had just meant it as a joke, but somehow the tamer didn't take it well. He seemed disappointed and even… hurt ? Jack wasn't sure, but everything in Hiccup was reluctant when he got up and went to Merida, asking her what she wanted. Jack barely paid attention to what they were saying, his eyes focused solely on the tamer, trying to make sense of the reaction he had just witnessed.
He remained sat on the ground, silent, a bit stunned and mostly confused, while Hiccup was talking to the princess. Down from her horse's back, she was standing close to the auburnet, nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her hair. Though the rest of her body langage was tensed, they must have been talking about something serious. At least something important. After what felt like hours of waiting, Jack saw Hiccup turn towards him.
''Jack, I have to go back to the castle. But if you want to stay here a bit longer, you can.''
The boy hesitated. He had to admit that he did want to stay and keep on practicing his magic, but there was a tiny problem.
''Huh… But I don't know how to go back to the castle…''
Hiccup smirked. ''Don't worry. Toothless will stay with you and bring you back. Right, bud ?''
The ebony dragon approved with a vibrating warble as he trotted to Jack, bumping his wing his the boy's back and nudging his head with his big, warm snout.
''Okay then.''
Hiccup smiled and nodded, before helping the princess back on her saddle, only as a gentleman since it was obvious she wasn't needing any help to do so. Then he climbed behind her, turning his head to Jack before leaving.
''See you there.''
''See you.''
The boy wondered what was going on for the tamer to look that upset. It remained in a corner of his mind even after the auburnet's departure. The princess had barely gave Jack a look, even less a word, that she had already left with his friend. Without Hiccup, Jack felt a bit down, the joy of discovering his magic dropped too, and that's only thanks to the two dragons and their playfulness that he actually kept on training.
He didn't manage to cover up in snow the glace for a second time, but he found a way to somehow summon snowballs, creating the snow within his palms. He got fun covering the standing stones in frost, drawing haphazardous, messy portraits of his circus friends. Toothless ended up imitating him as he strated to drag a long branch in the dirt to draw swirls.
In the end, even if Jack would have rather share this moment with Hiccup up til the end, he still had a lot of fun, and realised it was way easier to use his magic that he had thought so. It was instinctive, which was another proof that he had always had this magic in him. So he realised why it had been so hard to suppress and hide since it had woken up.
Enjoying a moment of calmness – Toothless frisking around him to continue his masterpiece and Sharpshot licking the frost-covered grass around Jack – the boy's mind wandered once more. He wondered how things would have turned out back at his village if they had known for his magic. And what Emma would have thought of it. A melancolic smile bloomed on his face as he pictured his sister asking for magic tricks, staring at him in awe.
When Toothless came back to him, he came out his thoughts, watching the dragon shake his head and calling him with high-pitched, rushed noises. Jack didn't have to ask what had gotten on him to know what he was trying to tell him : night was starting to fall, it was time to head back to the castle. Well, after spending that much energy, Jack did was hungry and tired, he was just hoping to go back in time to get some leftovers from the grilled meals at the festival.
As they were leaving the Standing Stones circle, Jack couldn't help but look back. He was already missing the magical pricklings and bubbling energy from that place.
Since he had never learnt to fly on a dragon's back by himself, even less without Hiccup to supervise him, the boy was kind of uneased, but Toothless noticed and was kind enough to fly slowly and close to the ground, slow enough for Sharpshot to eagerly exceed him several times. The three of them made their way back to the castle without incidents, guided by the lights and music.
Landing near the place not to disturb anyone, they finished on foot. Jack followed the grilled scent to the gathering around the bonefires. If he had recognised Gobber's rebec among the bagpipes, he did got surprised as he spotted an improved spectacle. Well, a surely-drunk improved spectacle. Dagur and the twins were stading on a table, dancing a singing so loud they could have become deaf, cheered by the rest of the troupe and a whole bunch of locals.
Jack aimed to sneak in the crowd and join the cheerings before finding some leftovers to eat, but visibly the two dragons with him – especially one as talla s Toothless – made him quite eye-catching. Indeed, he had not even reached the crowd as two familiar figures emerged from it to meet him : Astrid and Eret. The blonde knife-thrower rushed to him and squeezed his breath away as she gave him a bear-hug.
Even before she let go of him and he could see her face, he already suspected what was going on her head as he saw the mortified expression on the tall dark-haired guy. He found the same chock on Astrid's face, her ocean eyes brimming with both sad and angry unshed tears.
''Hiccup told us.'' She said.
Then Jack knew where their chock was coming from, though he wondered when Hiccup had had the time to tell them if he had been hogged by the princess. Jack couldn't help but scan the crowd in try to find him among the others, but he was not there.
''I'm so sorry,'' Eret added. ''That's so horrible, what they did to you.''
''Lucky for them they haven't crossed my path,'' Astrid growled as her hands tightened on Jack's shoulders. ''I'm far from being as extreme as the twins, but for once I agree with Ruffnut : we should have burnt that village.''
Jack was so touched he swore his chest had just swollen, filled with warm, soft coton. He was so grateful for Hiccup not getting scared of him, for opening his eyes on the true nature of his magic, and he was just as grateful for the others to keep on defending him.
Not really thinking it, he did the first thing that came to his mind, he hugged back Astrid. He hugged her back and let his relief and joy out with a broad, beaming smile, followed by a bubbling laugh. Both Astrid and Eret smiled too, then they joined the others.
Fishlegs, Mala, Valka, Snotlout and Heather also seemed to be in the confidence and expressed just as much support for him and anger towards his village for treating him that bad.
Others hugs were shared, Jack thanking them all and each, then Snotlout gave him the plate he had been keeping for him. Jack then realised the troupe had been worried for him because of the previous day's incident but that, except for Snotlout and Mala, no one had doubted Hiccup would manage to cheer him up. So Jack told them about their tour, especially the Standing Stones circles and the magical experiments he had done there. Fishlegs and Snotlout didn't hide their curiosity and even asked if they could see some of his tricks. that's when the three drunk dancers and the musician arrived, the twins throwing themselve at Jack's neck to babble in their drunken way how people from Burgess were blind not to see how amazing Jack was, and how the troupe did know how lucky they were to have an wonderful little brother.
The smile Jack gave them in return surprised more than one of them, seeig how bright and light it was. Jack had never felt that happy as he was fully accepted. Surely he had not built his own show and was only having a replacable role in the circus, but unlike princess Merida had told him, he did have a place among the Hairy Hooligans Circus' family.
Knowing that made his evening so nice and warm, just like the night he spent in the twins' room, surrounded by their hungover snoring but also their caring arms – giving him the pleasant feelign they were holding onto him as if afraid he would disappear if they dared let go. Even Sharpshot struggled to find a place in the human cocoon, so he ended up settling on Toothless' head, who was laying against the bed foot and seemed wanting to compete with the twins' snoring.
Somewhere during the night, Jack woke up feeling something soft and warm press on his forehead. The twins' arms around him felt so nice he didn't have the will to open his eyes, just enjoying it and smiling in his half-sleep. He convinced himself it was one of the twins' breath that was softly blowing on his face, totally oblivious that someone else had entered the room, and fell back to his slumber. He didn't remember what he had dreamt of that night, he simply knew that that day too, he woke up with a smile and good mood.
Toothless had left during the night, but the boy didn't worry about it, suspecting Hiccup had come to fetch him, depositing Sharpshot on the bed since the small dragon had used his larger fellow's head as a pillow.
Jack slipped from the twins' arms, wary not to wake them up. He knew they were hungover so he didn't want to disturb them. He still took a bit of his time to focus his magic and lay a thin layer of frost on their forehead to sooth their headache. The faint tickling sound was enough to wake up the small dragon, his head popping up in a jolt, golden eyes sparkling like little suns. He bounced to his paws and arched his back, his pointy tail wagging playfully.
The boy chuckled and took him in his arms, holding him with one hand as he used the other to create a sparkling snowflake which the small beast tried to catch. Sharpshot ended up swallowing it just when Jack left the room. Glacing at the other doors, he couldn't say who was still sleeping and who was already up. If he had to guess who was still in their bed, he would obviously say the twins, but also Dagur since he was surely also hungover, and Hiccup if he really had gone back later at night.
Curiosity fed his morning energy, his steps turning bouncing as he was making his way outside of the castle, towards the place where the troupe used to take breakfast during the festival. His smile wasn't faltering as he was trying to guess which of his friends he was going to meet there.
Looking from afar, he spotted Snotlout, Fishlegs and Heather, and his smile turned into a smirk as he noticed the two dark-haired were holding hands under the table, not letting anything show even if they didn't seem attentive to what their chubby friend was saying. Evidently the bets had ended, but Jack wasn't going to make any comment in front of the newly reformed couple, instead he was going to wait later to ask the others who had won.
''Hi guys,'' he greeted them as he skirted the table so he could sit next to Fishlegs.
''Hi Jack,'' the chubby blond smiled back, while the couple seemed uncomfortable, quickly letting go of the other's hand.
Jack held from chuckling but still gave the a knowing look with a teasing smile. Faint pink colored Snotlout's cheeks while Heather returned Jack's smile before changing the subject.
''You seem to be in a good mood, today.''
''I don't just 'seem'.'' He admitted.
''The twins didn't snore too loud last night ?'' Fishlegs enquired.
''I don' 'ven understand you had th'guts t'sleep wit'em, t'night.'' Snotlout grumbled.
Jack shrugged. ''I like having company. I suppose it's because I didn't have any for a long time.''
No one replied. Jack wondered what was going on in his friends' mind, especially since he couldn't see anything but sadness on their faces.
''You know…'' Heather hesitated, ''it doesn't have to be the twins every time. We're here too. We're all here for you, Jack. Don't ever forget that.''
These few words warmed his heart, making him smile again.
''Thank you.''
''Stop thankin' us,'' Snotlout grunted as he averted his eyes. ''S'normal.''
Once again Jack felt his heart swell with warmth. After spending so much time being shunned and rejected, finding himself surrounded by people really caring for him and supporting him, it was near miracle for him. It was so hard for him to get used to him, and that's why he really wanted to thank them. Even if they didn't seem to want his thanks. He shyly admitted it to them, only to meet Snotlout's annoyed glare.
''Listen up, m'boy, we ain't super kind, okay ? We're just normal, t'was th'guys from your village who had a problem, got it ?''
Heather chucled and tapped the stocky guys' hand, trying to calm down his anger, whose bushy eyebrows softened.
''Us liking you helps a lot to treat you good, obviously.'' She smiled at Jack.
He blushed, running a hand in his hair.
''I like you guys, too. A lot.''
If Fishlegs and Heather beamed at that, Snotlout crossed his arms and averted his eyes, looking grumpy.
''Hope so. S'not hard likin' us, 'nyway.''
Jack chuckled at that, quickly pulling his hand off his hair as he noticed his nervous tic. His eyes remained on the few brownish stains covering his palms.
''Oh,'' Fishlegs noted, ''looks like your dye is coming off. You might want to go back to your room to fix it ?''
Jack's first reflex was to agree, but he stopped himself, mouth open without saying a word. He thought back to everything that had happened to previous day, and the previous day. Hiccup had made him realise he always had had this magic in him, and that it wasn't evil. Jack had always been afraid of it because of the villagers, still using it at the Standing Stones had been so wonderful and liberating. He wasn't afraid of it anymore. Thus, his vision of his white hair had changed too.
It was no longer the proof of a monster he had because of the accident, but a sign of his magic, a manifestation of this wintery magic. Valka and Hiccup had already seen and accepted it, and Hiccup even thought it was nice. So Jack couldn't see a reason to hide it from his friends. Surprisingly, he wasn't either afraid anymore for strangers to see it. Surely it was because he trusted his friends to defend him if someone was to say something.
''Actually… I think I'll let it be.'' He admitted with a shy smile.
From the corner of his eye, he saw his three friends freeze. Puzzled by the reaction, he looked at them, and only meet rejoycing faces. Fishlegs was smiling so bright it was a miracle his face had not been split in two yet. Heather looked softer than ever and Snotlout even had brimming eyes, as if he was about to burst in tears by the second.
''Oh no !'' A voice shouted from behind the two dark-haired. ''Mala winned !''
Jack looked up and couldn't help but grin as the twins were joining them. Tuffnut seemed a bit nauseatous and pale but Ruffnut was perfectly laert and was pointing accusingly to Snotlout and Heather, who started. The way their arm moved indicated they had been once again holding hands under the table, and Ruffnut had seen it. She was smirking while her twin brother rolled his eyes, dropping himself on the bench next to Snotlout.
''As long as they don't spend their time snogging like Fishlegs and you.'' The blond mumbled to his sister.
''What ?!'' Said sister scoffed, ''what are you implying, dumbass ?''
''Don't play innocent, my dear sister. Let me remind you we have to do patrols during the circus shows, and your hiding spot is not a really good one.''
A dark shade of red suddenly bloomed on Fishlegs' face, the stut blond quickly hiding his face.
''Nonsense.'' Ruffnut insisted.
She glanced at Jack, as if asking him to confirm it was just her brother inventing things, but the boy bit his lip.
''Actually…'' He hesitated.
He flushed at the memory of spotting them once, though he did had tried to erase the image from his mind, since the kiss he had stumbled upon was certainly not decent enough to be witnessed. Luckily for him, Ruffnut didn't let him burry himself in embarrassment, she just waved her hand dismissively and sat next to him, her head high.
''Tuff is only saying this because he's jealous and don't know what it's like to be a couple without privacy.''
''Doesn't bother Dagur and Mala,'' Heather sighed, a blazed pout on her face.
Ruffnut snickered at that and grabbed Jack's arm, leaning on him with a teasing smirk dancing on her lips.
''What about you, Jackie Jack ? We told you everything about the troupe's love life, but you ? Have some juicy stories to share ?''
Jack did his best not to flush, still embarrassed the twins had found Hiccup in his room the other day, and were surely misunderstanding the situation.
''No.'' He mumbled.
''How come 'no' ?'' Tuff scandalised. ''Don't try and tell us a cute sweetheart like you never had a girlfriend ?''
''Or boyfriend,'' Ruffnut corrected, wiggling her eyebrows at him.
Jack held from rolling his eyes. He set down his fork and pointed to his face, or rather his hair. ''Huh, White the Cursed, ring any bell ? Everyone was scared off.''
The twins gritted their teeth and tensed their shoulders, even backing with a guilty look. Jack was not offended not hurt, actually he was impressed with himself that he could speak about it. To prove them he wasn't holding a grudge to them, he shrugged and added : ''And before that, I was spending all my time with my sister, so it hasn't crossed my mind.''
''Well, if y'want m'opinion, ''Snotlout huffed, mouth full of chicken, ''that'll change soon.''
''Why are you saying this ?'' Fishlegs asked.
''Jus' look at th'guy starin' at Jack for th'whole meal.''
He nodded his head to somewhere behind Jack, making the boy and the others at the table turn around to see. Among the guests having their breakfast in the noisy commotion, there was one staring at them, who quickly averted his eyes, ducking his head in his plate. The colors of his tartan were saying he was a McGuffin. Jack recognized him as the chief's son. Despite a large, slightly chubby silhouette, the guy seemed quite timid. The shark shade of red on his face proved it, just as how much he was squeezing his cutlery, bending the fork and knife.
''Not very discreet,'' Ruffnut snickered. ''I've seen guys having hungry stare, but this one seems starving.''
''B-But I don't know him, I didn't talk to him even once.'' Jack stammered.
''No need t'know someone t'find 'em attractive.'' Snotlout scoffed as if it was obvious.
''But I'm not-''
''Hush, don't be silly,'' Ruffnut interrupted, squeezing him harder and twisting her neck so she could lean her head on his shoulder. ''If I wasn't already taken, I would have eaten you raw.''
Jack didn't know if he had to chuckle or flush at that.
''Didn't you say you were seeing me as a brother ?'' He teased.
''That's an expression, Jackie.''
''What she's trying to say,'' Tuffnut added though he was wincing and rubbing his temple, ''is that you don't realise your charms.''
''You're a cutie,'' Ruffnut confirmed.
Jack couldn't help but smile. The twins' words were helping soothing his self-consciousness, even if he still couldn't really agree with them, it was still nice to be complimented. Either way, his focus was rather directed on Tuffnut and his wince. The poor guy seemed to have a worst hangover than his sister, having a serious case of headache. Jack hesitated. Usually he would have glanced aroudn and make sure noone was looking in their direction, but this time he didn't before acting. Extending his head towards the dreadlocked blond in front of him, he softly tapped his finger on his friend's forehead, spreading a thin layer of frost on the burning skin. He vaguely heard the surprised gasps of the others, then Tuffnut's eyes lit up while a large grin stretched his lips.
''Aaah, feels so good…'' He sighed.
''Hey !'' Ruffnut argued, ''I want some too ! I'm hangovered too !''
Jack contemplated the idea for a moment, holding his chin and looking skyward as if he was really thinking about it.
''Hum, I don't know…''
''Pretty please, Jackie Jack !''
He rolled his eyes, smiling, before giving in.
''Fine, but on one condition.''
The blond's face lit up and she quickly nodded before resting her elbows on the table, burrying her fists in her cheeks, all ears.
''Can you stop calling me that, please ? 'Jack' is already a nickname, you know.''
The five persons around him rose their eyebrows.
''Short for what ?'' Snotlout asked.
''Jackson. Jackson Overland.''
The fiveth blinked owlishly and gave each others looks, then several frowns and grimaces appeared on their faces. Heather looked blazed, upset. Snotlout seemed disgusted. Fishlegs more hesitant, and the twins were grimacing.
''Nuh huh,'' Tuffnut said while shaking his head no. ''No way I'm calling you that, no.''
''Me neither.'' Snotlout approved.
''Jack sounds better,'' Fishlegs added.
''Agreed !'' Ruffnut chirped.
Heather nodded to show her approval. Jack chuckled, half amused, half embarrassed, running a hand in his getting-lighter-hair.
''Yeah, I never really liked that name either. Oh, well, now that I think about it, it's not my name anymore, actually. I've been banished somehow, and banished people are stripped from their name, aren't they ?''
None of the vikings around him seemed to know what to say to that. They looked shocked, sad, but Jack smiled to show them he was not hurt. It had been hurtful at the beginning, but it was not anymore. Not when he had found a place he was really accepted.
''It gives me an excuse to find a new name, then. A better fitted one. Oh, what about something linked to my magic ?''
His rising enthusiasm didn't took long before contaminating his friends, drawing smiles and smirks on their faces as they started to share their own ideas.
''Snowflake,'' Ruffnut grinned.
''Snowstorm !'' Tuffnut added, even more excited to the extend of bouncing on the bench. ''Northwind !''
''I like Northwind,'' Heather approved.
''Snowman,'' Snotlout teased. ''Could be your stage name. The 'Snowman Show', catchy, right ?''
Jack chuckled, but stopped as Ruffnut grabbed his hand. ''Icicle ! Snowcone, Snowball !''
The boy playfully glared at her, and decided to tease her back by blowing a thin icy mist to her face. She started and backed, lauching the whole table in a laughting fit, including her. Sharpshot perked at that and threw himself to her face, runing his tongue to her face in try to eat the magical frost. Jack was seriously starting to wonder why the small dragon was so fond of it, but ended up convincing himself it was linked to the fizzing magic in it.
''Hey !'' Heather interupted, rejoycing as if she had had a sudden idea. ''What about Jack Frost ?''
The magic embued boy was taken aback, blinking a few times, then he laughed. ''I love it !'' He assured, wiping away a tear of laugh, just before Sharpshot jumped in his arms.
The dragon chirped and cooed as he stood on his hinder legs, pressing his small paws on the boy's jaw, golden eyes inspecting his expectantly. Jack chuckled at that. He had learnt to read the dragon's body langage and differenciate the sounds he was making. So it was not a problem to recognized those sounds, despite how new they were and only were going back to the previous day with the dragon playing with the boy's magic. So Jack didn't wait to grant the small demanding dragon's wish.
With a flicker of his wrist, Jack summoned a single snowflake, letting it swirl around the dragon, who took off and started to chase the magical marvel all over the table, not minding pushing or stepping into plates. New fit of laughters started at the table, the twins and Snotlout making fun of Sharpshot while Heather and Fishlegs were encouraging him.
The mood was so filled with mirth and friendship, Jack lost in the moment, that he didn't realise immediatly when Hiccup arrived. It took Toothless coming out of nowhere, puting his large paws on the table, pushing it in a hight-pitched wooden grunt, for the six guests to start.
Jack got distracted from his snowflake, which ended up eaten by Sharpshot, and turned his head towards the tamer. Their eyes instantly met. Hioccup had stopped in his steps, surely taken aback by the scene and the public display of magic he had not been expecting. Jack couldn't help but notice how his friend was beaming. His whole freckled face was lit up, just especially his eyes and smile. Then both smile and eyes softened, still adressed to Jack. It was this smile again, this peculiar smile that was making the boy melt inside. So Jack smiled back, and even more as Hiccup approached.
Jack felt like his heart had just broke free from a cage, beating faster, at top speed, like a wild stallion galoping freely after a long moment of being captive. Or a dragon soaring up in the skies after having their wings tied for too long.
Without him meaning too, his breath got caught in his throat, his chest swelling while blue eyes couldn't tear themself from forest green. Jack's hands were starting to get sweaty and his fingers itched with the urge to grab the auburnet and pull him close, the closest he could.
That's when the firing, curly waterfall of Princess Merida's ginger hair came out of nowhere and went to Hiccup, grabbing his arm and pulling him away. They were a bit too far for Jack to hear them, so he couldn't know what the princess was saying to his friend. He only knew that the auburnet's expression fell and that Hiccup was staring at him while being pulled away from him.
All previous thoughts filling Jack ceased, leaving him hollow and cold. His eyes still traced on the retreating two silhouettes, it took a moment before he realised he had been holding a hand towards them, as if he could have hold back his friend.
Letting his hand drop, he turned so he could face his plate again, suddenly feeling like someone had stolen all his good mood. He wasn't hungry anymore. Nore did he felt like laughing or joking. He was feeling kind of numb, empty, and particularly disappointed. Even more than when Hiccup had left with the princess the previous day, leaving him at the Standing Stones.
Eyes dropped on his plate that wasn't tempting anymore, it took a moment ofr him to register the silence surrounding the table. He looked up to check what was going on, only to notice his five friends were looking at him. The moment seemed surreal. No word was spoken, but still the expressions on their faces, their stare, it spoke volumes.
All of them were looking at him sympathetically, with compassion, and some sadness. Only when Snotlout glowered towards Hiccup and Merida did Jack realized what was going on, did he realized his friends had realized. Just like everyone had noticed Snotlout and Heather had a thing, Jack couldn't phantom how they could have missed what he was feeling. They had noticed this sort of connexion Jack had had with Hiccup since the first night they met. Astrid, Ruffnut and Eret had teased them both with this. Jack himself had been aware of it.
From the first night they had met, from the first time he had seen the tamer on stage, the first time he had heard his nasally voice, so full of kindness and care. And when he had stepped on stage with him, when he had found himself so close to Hiccup, when he had looked right into forest green eyes, he had felt something. Something so intense it had managed to crumble his resolution, make him forget he wanted to throw himself in the pond, just so he could see the tamer again. Jack had felt a connexion between them, a special bound.
And after that, the auburnet had saved his life, he had saved him from his village, offered him a new life at the circus, and had become a real fireplace in the harsh winter he was trapped in. Hiccup had been way more supportive than anyone else, he even had opened Jack's eyes about the true nature of his magic, helped him accept it and let it out. He had freed Jack from the past tourmenting him, and proved him he could live again, be happy again.
It was no wonder the boy felt that safe with the tamer, why he loved spending time with him, bask in the warmth he was emitting, and why his heart was flustered when Hiccupw as around, and how he seemed to be under a spell each time he was getting lost in these forest green eyes.
If he could have fooled himself in thinking that, when they first met, it had only been some sort of flirt that had disappeared with the following events, replaced by a simple friendship as they were actually getting to know each other, it hadn't been like this. Hiccup was more than a friend for him, he had become way more than just that. More than someone to support him, more than a ear to confide in all his troubles, more than a hand to hold onto when he was low. The tamer held his heart.
Jack lowered his gaze back to his plate. There was no point in denying it, but he didn't want to comment on it either. A warm hand cam eto rest on his own. But it wasn't the one he would have liked. It wasn't as warm as Hiccup's, the fingers weren't as calloused, and the hand was smaller, even a tad smaller than his. Looking up, he met the eyes of the person the hand belonged to. A pair of grey-blue eyes looking at him with so much emotions it fed the ones he was struggling with.
Ruffnut was understanding him, looking like she expected him to burst in tears, and he would have lied if saying he didn't want to.
It was not just disappointment he was feeling. Oh no, this void and this pain in his chest, it was far from being only disappointment.
It was his heart breaking.