Author's note goes here. We'll see if it happens. XD
Among The Stars
Chapter 15
Jack's eyes snapped open up with every nerve screaming at him that something was wrong. The same feeling that had told him to get off Krash the week before.
He lay on his side, facing Rapunzel, one arm draped around her waist to keep her close even in sleep. She was still sound asleep.
It was a sign of their mutual exhaustion that the sun was up, streaming through the window. It illuminated her, and the room, in a soft golden glow. She was beautiful, and the sight of her took his breath away. But the foreboding at the back of his mind wouldn't allow him even a moment to appreciate the sight.
He was still reluctant as he touched her cheek. He could feel that they were running out of time, but he still couldn't bear to interrupt whatever dream caused her to smile in her sleep.
"Rapunzel," he whispered. He ran the back of his knuckled down her cheek lightly.
She hummed softly, curling closer to him.
He repeated her name again, leaning down to kiss her forehead. There was a normalcy to the whole situation. He couldn't shake the feeling that this was supposed to be their normal. That he should be able to wake up next to her every morning. Or at least, he had the desire for it to be so.
If only he didn't feel as though they were about to run for their lives. Again.
"You need to wake up."
Her eyes finally opened slowly, out of focus for a moment before she looked at him, then toward the room. "Jack?"
"You need to get to your own room before-"
But the feeling in the back of his mind ratcheted up, and he knew it was already too late even before he heard the door of the common room slam open.
"Where is she?"
Rapunzel's eyes widened in horror at her father's raised voice. Through the door they could hear Merida say something to the king, though they couldn't make out the words.
Jack spared a moment to feel a surge of pride at how fast Rapunzel reacted, rolling out of bed, adjusting her dark pink nightgown to make sure she was decent. (As decent as she could in a flimsy silk garment that didn't even skim her mid-thigh, at least.) He followed her out of bed, diving in search of the hoodie he had thrown aside in frustration the night before.
He shrugged into it, and Rapunzel pushed the strap of her nightgown back up onto his shoulder just before the door was thrown open.
Jack was relieved there was a good five feet between them. Right now, being close to her wasn't the best way to keep her safe.
Safe. Right. Because he had been doing such a good job of that lately.
Thomas stood in the doorway, looking between them, Jack with his hands in his hoodie, Rapunzel hugging herself as she looked down at the white carpet. His face bore all the fury Jack had expected, and after a moment he had to look away from the king's gaze.
He couldn't even blame him. He had known he shouldn't fall asleep – that he shouldn't have let her stay. And if it was his daughter, he knew he probably would have been out for blood.
But after a moment of silence, he looked up. Thomas was watching Rapunzel, who worried her lower lip while her eyes remained fixed on the floor. His expression was no longer angry, though. Rather, he looked hurt.
When he spoke, his voice was quiet and sad. "Your mother is looking for you, Rapunzel."
She finally lifted her eyes, looking first to her father, then to Jack.
He nodded, silently trying to assure her he would be all right. (Hopefully he would be.)
When their gazes met, he saw in her eyes that they were both aware this was probably goodbye.
His heart clenched painfully and the knife sank a little deeper.
This wasn't how he had wanted to say goodbye – let alone how he had expected it to be. He didn't want to say goodbye at all. But if he had to, this wasn't how he wanted it to be.
Once more he was at a loss for words, but he knew he wanted to say something.
Rapunzel let out a trembling breath, and then he saw her swallow and square her shoulders.
That's my girl, he thought sadly, thought there was an undeniable flash of pride at her strength.
"Yes sir," she said.
Her father nodded, and held the door open for her.
Jack looked away, unable to watch her leave. But he looked up when he saw her approach him out of the corner of his eye, and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
He didn't bother glancing at her father as he slid his hands from the pocket of his hoodie to wrap them around her waist, pulling her as close as physics allowed. He bent his head to rest it in the crook of her neck, taking one last breath of her floral and sunlight scent.
"Never doubt that you're good enough, Rapunzel," he whispered. "I wouldn't take back a moment."
"Never doubt that I love you," she whispered in response. He felt her take a shuddering breath. "N-no matter what happens."
He knew what she meant.
And it made him sick to his stomach.
But when she pulled back, he only nodded. Their eyes met, and he couldn't look away. Rapunzel lifted a hand to touch his cheek. And he realized this was probably the most they could have ever expected.
"I love you," he whispered.
She smiled, tears welling in her eyes.
Thomas cleared his throat. "Rapunzel."
Jack blinked, realizing he had forgotten the man was in the room.
Rapunzel turned toward the door. Their hands lingered as long as possible, until she stepped beyond the reach of their fingertips.
In the doorway she paused to look back, her eyes once more pleading. Jack touched his chest, over his heart, reminding her of what he had said the night before, about the scar she had left on his heart. At the moment, it was all he could give her.
And her expression told him that was enough.
He waited until he heard the door of the suite common room close behind them before he left his room.
The moment he was through the door a mind green pillow from one of the couches collided with his face and chest.
"Are ye outta yer bloody mind?"
Jack caught the pillow before it could fall to the floor. "Apparently. Exhaustion didn't help."
Another pillow collided with his face. Deadly aim was one of Merida's greatest strengths. He dropped the first pillow, and just let the second one fall to the ground.
"Do ye have any idea what y've done?"
"People are asking me that a lot lately."
Another pillow.
"We didn't do anything."
"I know. If ye did, Hiccup'd kill ya."
"Wait – Hiccup?" Jack quirked an eyebrow. Situation aside, he couldn't help being amused at the change.
"Why me?" Hiccup asked. He appeared to be staying out of the way as much as possible. If Jack were smart, he would have done the same thing.
"I'm pregnant," she said, as though that explained everything. And he supposed it did.
He waited a moment; to be sure no more pillows came his way. When they didn't, he picked up the ones on the floor and headed toward the second couch.
"I didn't mean to fall asleep," he sighed. He throw the pillows down. "I just…"
"Ye know it's probably all over the palace now," Merida said. "I know you're noble enough t' just sleep beside her – but the servants ain't gonna know that. An' one of de only absolutes in the universe is that servants talk. Her reputation's now shot!"
Jack pushed his bangs out of his face, expelling all the air from his lungs.
The three were silent for several long moments, Jack covering his face with his hands while he tried to sort out his own thoughts. But those were interrupted when another pillow collided with his head.
"Ow!" he picked up the pillow to throw it back at her. But frowned when the remembered (thanks in part to Hiccup's glare.) "If you weren't pregnant…."
She just snickered.
"The question is – what do we do now?" Hiccup asked, looking between them.
Merida's smirk dropped.
They both looked at Jack expectantly.
"Why are you looking at me?" Jack asked. "I think I've proved I'm incapable of making executive decisions."
"While ye certainly have a point," Merida said. "But we're also your family, so we're on your side whatever you want to do next."
Jack stared at them for a moment.
Finally he shook his head. "Maybe we should just leave – head back to Warren."
"You sure?" Hiccup asked.
"Ye're willin' t' leave it like this?"
"Judging by the look her father gave me, I'm not sure I have much choice."
Hiccup chuckled. "When has that ever stopped us?"
"I—" Jack ran a hand through his hair, trying to calculate – though he knew he wasn't doing a very good job of it. After a moment he turned to Merida. "You know more about these things that I do, Princess."
Merida shook her head. "It's up t' yoo."
#
Jack really did not like being inside for extended periods of time. And all his conflicted emotions made his pent up energy that much worse, and eventually it drove him out of the suite.
He was surprised the guards didn't stop him as he passed through a side door of the palace, out into the gardens. They didn't stop him – but he didn't miss the sidelong glances they, and the servants, shot his way. And he heard their whispers. Word had spread faster than he's expected – especially since half of them probably hadn't even seen him the day before. By the time he found a door leading to the gardens, it was a relief to get away from them and out into the fresh air.
The breeze was silent, but still a comfort as it ruffled his hair, brushing his bangs away from his eyes. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the sea and floral scented air.
He looked around to get his bearings, making not of the landmarks he could use to remember which door he had come through. The bottom of the stairs connected to a sand and gravel walking path that made its way deeper into the garden with soft, lazy curves.
With one more deep breath, he started to run.
He had learned a long time ago that even light speed wasn't fast enough to run away from his problems.
But if he ran hard enough and fast enough, feet pounding the ground, lungs burning, heart pumping, blood rushing in his ears, he could leave them behind for a little while.
Only running worked, though.
So for now, he just ran.
The path was designed for casual strolls, so it rambled its way with ease, past rose bushes and lilies, through flowering and fruit bearing trees.
It was similar to the garden in Pallash II where Rapunzel had hidden after he got her out of the Tower – though less convoluted.
His mind's eye called back the memory of that night. Of Rapunzel sitting in the pear tree, framed by the last few rays of the setting sun, which seemed to linger above the horizon just a little longer just to stay in her presence.
He remembered her small waist in his hands as he had helped her down from the fruit laden branches.
If he had known…
But he didn't want to think about it. Not right now.
So he pushed a little faster, feet hitting the packed sand and gravel a little harder.
He focused on his breathing. In through the nose, out through the mouth – the way Bunnymund had taught him.
Two women were walking on the path, but he didn't slow down. He didn't have the chance to think of saying anything. Instead he swerved onto the grass on the right side to pass them. They exclaimed in surprise – but he kept running.
The path bent around the edge of a manmade pond a little further ahead. He barely registered the flowering lily pads in the shallows, and the pair of swans in the deeper waters.
His leg muscles were starting to protest the work he was demanding from them. He would have to stop soon – sooner than he wanted. But he would push himself a little further. He refused to slow down though, for fear of his thoughts catching up with him.
A little further.
A burning sensation was starting on the edges of his lung.
A little further.
He was about to stop as he rounded another bend, aware he still needed to walk several miles back to the suite. But he caught sight of an Imperial uniform and grimaced.
A little further.
Fel and his guard stood on the lawn, clearly in discussion. About what, Jack couldn't have cared less. He bent his head and pushed a little faster.
"Frost!"
He stopped, a few feet beyond their position, almost against his own will. Defiantly against his better judgment. Not that he'd paid much attention to that lately. Why start now?
His shoulders rose and fell with the rapid expansion and contraction of his lungs as they worked to keep his rushing blood supplied with fresh oxygen, and quell the burn the had spread to most of the twin organs.
He could feel the t-shirt under his hoodie cling to his back and chest with sweat.
He didn't respond, not turning back, waiting for Fel to say whatever was on his mind. Courtesy to the Imperial wasn't high on his list of priorities at the moment. After a couple more breaths, (they were starting to even out), he slowly turned to face the ambassador, who had come toward him across the lawn.
"You had an interesting night, from what I hear," Fel said.
Jack looked away with a half shrug. It was a move that had never failed to infuriate nearly every one of his instructors – on Warren and at the Academy. It sent Bunnymund into conniptions. Only North was unaffected by it – he said because he had done the same thing in his own youth.
But Fel wasn't North – he didn't even have Bunnymund's discipline. So, just as Jack predicted, from the corner of his eye he saw Fel's calm façade slip, fury turning his features ugly.
"Did you think shaming her would be enough to make me change my mind?"
Jack kept his expression schooled, eyes fixed on a point beyond Fel's shoulder. When his hand twitched to punch the man, he instead wiped the sweat from his face before it could reach his eyes.
Fel took a step forward.
Jack barely bit back a grimace as he started to take a half step back. Before he could, Fel grabbed the collar of his hoodie.
"I hope you enjoyed yourself, Jack, but it won't happen again," he hissed.
Jack had barely been able to hold himself back when Fel grabbed his hoodie. Now his control broke. (Control never had been one of his strengths.)
With his right hand he grabbed the man's wrist and twisted until the fingers were forced to release. At the same time he drove his left fist hard into Fel's solar plexus. Jack heard him gasp as the blow caused his diaphragm to spasm.
"Hit hard and fast in the right places," Bunnymund had taught him. "Getting your opponent out of the way is more important than looking impressive."
Fel stumbled backwards, gasping for breath.
"Why do you care?" Jack asked. "Why do you want her?"
The Imperial didn't answer, but stumbled forward to attack.
Jack grimaced. Great. He had not set out to get in a fight with the Imperial ambassador. He had thrown the first punch on instinct.
"Thinking with his fists," as Katherine had once said while she and Tooth had tended to his and Nightlight's bruises after they had gotten into a fight with some of the other boys.
He dodged Fel's first, and took a step back, hesitant to fight back.
But in doing so he gave Fel space to catch his breath and prepare before his next attack. And, for a moment, Jack realized he had forgotten that Fel had trained in hand to hand combat at the Academy, and that course hadn't been lacking – he was facing a soldier.
He grimaced as he remembered that with the precision of Fel's next blow.
Jack threw a punch with his left hand. Fel blocked. But Jack swung his right arm a second later and it landed hard on Fel's shoulder.
The Imperial dropped in a sweeping kick in an attempt to trip him up. But Jack jumped over Fel's leg. As soon as he was back on the ground, his right foot snapped up to collide with Fel's ribs before the Imperial had a chance to stand up.
Fel grimaced and growled, faltering to his feet. He was still unsteady, but threw a punch at Jack's face, before Jack had fully regained balance from his last kick. He tried to dodge, but Fel's knuckles still collided with his mouth.
He stumbled backwards, getting space to regain balance and bearing. He tasted copper. When he touched his knuckles to his mouth, they came away smeared with red. Not much, but still there.
Fel attacked again, coming at Jack from the side.
Jack spun on his heel, adjusting his position to slam his elbow into Fel's solar plexus again, before his opponent could land a blow. He didn't back down, shifting his arm to slam the side of his hand just below Fel's eye.
The two men glowered at each other, adjusting their stances, waiting for the other to close the space between them. The skin under Fel's left eye was already beginning to swell. Jack wiped blood from his chin.
His leg muscles reminded him that they had already been worked. This fight couldn't go on long.
Before he could decide whether to wait or attack, a sound reached him, growing stronger and closer with each moment.
A ship engine – a distinct one. Smooth and well maintained, but still loud.
Jack risked taking his eyes off Fel to look up in disbelief at the ship flying over the palace ground, towards the royal landing pad. His jaw went slack as he took in the familiar bronze finished ship, with red detailing.
"You gotta be kidding me," he whispered, his hands lowering in shock.
"Sir!"
Jack and Fel both looked over at the Imperial guard who was running back toward them, eyes wide in what looked like horror as he reached the ambassador.
"Sir, an emissary from Warren is arriving. The royal family is going to meet them now."