The Words
Jack paced quietly near the bottom of the staircase, waiting for Hiccup. The younger had promised to give him the full tour of the estate while their fathers were in the meeting; and while that sounded fun the thought of what said fathers were discussing made the pale boy feel sick to his stomach. A gleeful whoop brought him out of his thoughts, and Jack couldn't help smiling as he looked up to see the aubrunet sliding wildly down the enormous banister. Hiccup was going ridiculously fast as he neared the bottom; without thinking Jack lunged forward and caught Hiccup just as he shot off the end, gripping the smaller figure tightly as they spun around from the momentum.
Their breathless laughter stopped abruptly when they noticed how close they were. Hiccup's arms had instinctively wound around Jack's neck, and who couldn't seem to tear his gaze away from the emerald eyes just inches from his own. Those eyes had widened slightly, freckled skin darkened by a blush. The white-haired youth didn't even realize he'd stopped breathing, completely absorbed by the person in his arms. They were in a large corridor where anyone could walk in on them, and he was betrothed to Hiccup's sister but all Jack could think about were those rosy lips and the recognition that the cinnamon-haired boy hadn't pulled away yet. Wait, is he leaning closer?
Jack had no idea which of them made the final move, but suddenly their lips were joined together and it was complete bliss. The pale youth was totally overwhelmed by the freckled one's sweet sweet mouth, and the knowledge that he was actually finally kissing a boy—properly that is. And not just any boy, but Hiccup: whose sarcastic quips and crooked smile had done wild things to his heart everyday since their unusual meeting. The Duke's son pressed their mouths together harder, smiling when Hiccup gasped faintly and tightened his grip around Jack's neck. His smile vanished a second later though, knowing that he was going to lose him. That this stolen moment was all they were ever going to have. Hiccup knew it too, and the pair kissed desperately; trying to stave off the inevitable, to keep reality from crashing down on them.
The sound of a door opening made them jump apart, breathing heavily as they frantically tried to flatten their messy hair. A moment later a servant rounded the corner and bowed to them. "Earl Stoick and Duke North request your presence in the Great Hall."
The pale youth felt nauseous as he and Hiccup entered the room and saw their fathers looking highly pleased, and Astrid who did not. His feelings for Hiccup were intense enough before, but now that he knew they were returned? He couldn't marry Astrid, he just couldn't. "Jack, my boy!" Duke North rose from his chair. "Earl Stoick and I have reached an agreement, you'll be happy to know everything has been finalized for your marriage to the Lady Astrid." Heart beating wildly, Jack noted Astrid's stony expression, and Hiccup's face which looked as white as his own. Swallowing, the blue-eyed youth prepared to say what were surely the stupidest words of his entire life.
"Father, Earl Stoick, I'm sorry. I cannot marry the Lady Astrid." Horrified gasps filled the air, but all that mattered to Jack was the smile that bloomed on Hiccup's face.
Earl Stoick's face was getting redder by the second, and Duke North was frowning terribly. "Jackson, this is completely unacceptable, you—"
Bravely, Jack interrupted his father. "I won't marry her. For reasons that are not hers—or anyone's—fault it wouldn't be fair to either of us, and so I won't do it. I refuse." At this pronouncement there was a veritable eruption of noise from the two leaders. Earl Stoick was threatening to revoke Duke North's access to his ships if his daughter wasn't married off, and Duke North was going on and on about how this was the best marriage partnership available to Jack on the entire eastern side of the country unless he wanted to marry an 8-year-old, and it didn't matter what Jack wanted because this partnership simply had to happen, and that was final—
"I'll marry him."
Hiccup hadn't spoken very loudly, but somehow everyone had heard and gone utterly silent, looking at him in shock. "I'll marry Jack," he repeated confidently. The white-haired boy unfroze first, dashing forward to take freckled hands in his. "You will? Really?"
The younger blushed slightly as he smiled and nodded. "Yes Jack, it would make me so happy to spend my life with you." Jack beamed, squeezing Hiccup's fingers tighter.
"Well that's a relief," both boys turn their heads to look at Astrid. "I'm sure you're a great person Jack, but I certainly don't want to marry you either. I don't ever want to get married."
"ASTRID!"
"WELL I DON'T FATHER, AND YOU KNOW IT!"
Before things could get any more out of hand, Hiccup turned to address his father and Duke North, both of whom were seething. "Father, Duke North, I know this isn't at all what you'd planned, but it's the best solution. If I marry Jack then not only will we both be happy, but you'll have your marriage alliance. And Astrid—"
"And who is going to be in charge here after I die Hiccup, if you're living with Jack!"
"Yes," Duke North added, "and Jack, how are you supposed to pass things on if you can't have any legitimate children!"
But Hiccup was way ahead of them. "Astrid can rule after you Father; she is perfectly capable of handling such responsibility, and I know you hate to admit it but she's far better at this sort of thing than I am." He turned to his sweetheart, who still had an arm around him. "And Jack—"
"I'll pass the seat of power to my cousin's oldest son," he continued smoothly. "It's not a direct line of descent, but the land will remain in our family's bloodline." The youths were quiet as they watched their fathers brooding silently. Both men were furious, and well aware of the remaining problems, but they also knew just how stubborn their sons were.
"Jack did save me Father," Hiccup pointed out quietly, "Without him I wouldn't even be here, and I think that ought to count for something."
Another tense minute went by, and then Earl Stoick unexpectedly sighed. "Well Duke North," he turned to said man with a faint smile, "If you're agreeable I suggest we go and rewrite that marriage agreement." Jack's heart leaped at his words. Was this actually happening? He and Hiccup had been putting on a brave front, but he'd fully expected their argument to fail and that they would have to run away or something. But now…Cobalt eyes filled with hope as he looked at his father, who was tugging on his beard thoughtfully.
"I can't believe I'm saying this Earl Stoick, but I agree with you that that would be the best course of action." The white-haired youth could barely contain his glee, and as the two leaders left the room he turned to Hiccup who was also grinning hugely. Jack didn't even hear Astrid's chuckle and murmured 'I'll give you two some space' as she exited the room. Instead, he was drinking in emerald eyes and that beautiful smile; tracing a soft cheek with his thumb before leaning down and kissing his Hiccup.
And they lived very happily for the high majority of the rest of their days
~.~
