The sound of a delighted glee lured Jack to come down the stairs toward the living room, it was the sign that Sandy had come to spend the evening with Emma. The sound of laughter was what he treasured most, he clung to like it was the thing that proved him alive. The evidence itself was how it always caused warmth to spread through his chest causing the corner of his lips to form a sincere smile. "I believe that 'dreamers' must learn to keep their mouth shut, Ems. Might as well learn from Sandy."
"Very funny, Jack."
He only heard Sandy speak once, his voice was gentle and soft spoken as if he spoke any louder an avalanche might tumble down and drown out the sight of the city. If that were to happen, it'd be practically Jack's fault for exaggerating the amount of snow.
Gentle.
The word only reminded him of her. It was the way she gently pressed her fingers toward the soil; the way she disappeared so smoothly as if she thought no one was watching. And as the wind whispered a name- Rapunzel- it gave him a scent that he thought he'd never yearn for: Spring.
A giggle had brought him back from his trance, and he appeared almost confused. "What's so funny?" he asked.
Sandy only gave him a knowing smile while Emma tried covering her smirk with her hand. "Oh, nothing.."
The golden haired dreamer used both his hand to pat his cheeks as if signaling him, hesitantly Jack touched his face and immediately recoiled. His face was warm.
"Pink!" his sister squealed. "You're blushing! Who knew that was possible.."
Out of his will, he became flustered; how could he not? This whole thing was confusing him to point where he had believed it. No, he was blushing. He covered his face his face in astonishment, he was seriously not liking this day.
"Now, now, young souls. What this giggling about?" A voice who belonged to a woman with a smile that almost changed the atmosphere of the room. One of the people who could ever do that, bring you reassurance even though it was a lie. A rare ability that's put in the hands trusted most by the creator of this world. A dangerous ability, yes. The lady who's parents were never spoken for she did not know of them herself. She was the loving mother of the Overland's.
She turned to Jack and immediately tried to stop her giggle, looking at him as if she knew something herself, "Look at you! What an odd combination; what's up with you?"
Forgetting what she had just witnessed Emma jumped and yelled out, "Mother! Tomorrow is our first year, Sandy and I. It's so close I can almost feel it."
She formed the smallest amount of dream sand at the palm of her hand, and her finger tips glowed. "Planning to sleep already?" their mother asked.
Her finger tips glowed.
He wondered if Rapunzel was a Dreamer, but what dreamer could have possibly made a flower re-bloom? No, it had to be something else.
"Ooh, needles! Fun." he responded sarcastically.
It was the samples they needed that caused him to be confused. Just a little pinch. Alright, but what for? The schools were meant to educate and show them how to maintain their ability, why on earth do they need samples for; it was ridiculous.
Going back to his regular pale tone, he made his way towards the stairs but was stopped by his mother who gently tugged on his arm. He raised a brow, somewhat confused.
"Someone told me you met a girl today." she smirked.
He felt his face go warm once more, and looked back to see if the youngsters had catched that; they were oblivious to the scene. He turned back, her expression the same. "Uhh.."
"Need I remind you that I am friends with the wind?" she replied, ruffling his snow white hair.
Wind whisperer. It runs in the family.
It was more hurtful of finding out yourself than being told, because after you discover their true feelings you have no choice but to pretend you didn't. No matter how much of an affect it had on you. That was the way Merida has always thought of it for years; what her ability meant. Eyes spoke to her, even if a thought were to be filled with anger, the eyes would calmly whisper. Most of times, she'd avoid them, she wanted to find out their thoughts and feelings herself. Not have the ability to know them whether or not she wanted to. The ability itself was absurd.
Just like how she went to the movies the other time, the lady from the booth handed her ticket with a sigh. And Merida made the mistake of looking her in the eye, for her eyes whispered, You are going to cry when he dies.
The idea of mind reading seemed fun, then throughout the years it became annoying. But the only perk was how Hiccup needed her to have it the most, the ability was advantageous. He was different from the other kids, he was nothing like them at all, but it made him stand out in his own way. And oh, as a kid he was awfully shy.
"It's alright, I'm not gonna force you to say anything. It's okay to be different, to be shy. If you need to tell me something you can just look at me in the eyes, I'll read you."
But what did she know, she was just six; Hiccup was five turning a year older in a week. He had avoided her for a while, but when she was the only one who had the heart to wish him a happy birthday, he grabbed her face with both hands in response. And leaned in to rest his forehead against hers, with a shy pout he dared to look her in the eye.
Let's be friends, a tiny boyish voice whispered.
She had grinned, nodding eagerly and it had been the first time she had seen him smile.
But now- the present- he couldn't touch her like that not because he was disgusted, but because he was cursed with a capability. A curse that had killed his mother and his best friend, his cat Toothless, it made Merida scold herself for calling her capability something awful when she knew that Hiccup would do anything to not feel responsible for their death.
"Merida, a princess does not simply daydream in the middle of a lecture, it's not ladylike," Queen Elinor snapped.
It's not like I asked to be one, she thought to herself. Now why was she being lectured again?
"A man defends himself, Merida. You didn't help, all you did was make him look weak and pathetic."
She had enough, she didn't need to be lectured for standing up for someone, why bother trying to make her understand something she'll never get? Walking towards the door, she was grabbed by her shoulders and turned, only to be staring into the eyes of her mother.
You don't fail to disappoint me, her eyes whispered, using the voice of Queen Eleanor; which hurt.
She let go and only to have Merida to stand there in utter shock, she assumed that her mother was disappointed, yes, but why did it hurt so much? Those words had always been thoughts but it had turned to reality. The feeling swelled up in her chest, it hurts.
"Running away, isn't always the solution, you know?" Hiccup said, breaking the silence. It was the end of May, the month that promised us the warming sun.
Merida scoffed, "You're the one to talk."
She bit her tongue, what was she thinking? But deep down she knew she was right; all he ever did was spend most of his times outside in the abandoned park, he knew it was best to avoid public ones.
He laughed, but it appeared cold, "Merida."
It was a demand, he was demanding her to look at him. She didn't want to read him, she didn't want to hear his voice say such harsh words. But when has he ever said something to her to the point where she had shed tears?
"I can't touch you."
A familiar feeling returned to her chest, heat rose up her cheeks and she left out a sigh of relief. That bitter laugh.. was just the sign of annoyance, he wanted to comfort her. "Idiot, you scared me." Now she sighed in annoyance, she leaned her cheek upon her hand. One cannot feel two things at once. What a lie.
He was staring, she felt his gaze and it only made her nervous. He hesitated, his arms were covered due to the season, there was no danger in that, right? May was just a breeze, he thought. He could feel it, the scales that lay upon his elbows, but they were shield from exposure, nothing could go wrong.. right?
"Hey.." he said, gently elbowing her to grab her attention.
But he held his breath, he was waiting her to fall. A fall that never came, and he almost cried of relief; how was he expected to get through life like this?
She flinched at the contact and turned toward him, her face veiled in confusion. "Hmm?"
He couldn't really focus on her voice, all he began to notice was how the sunset complimented her hair and made her skin glow, how the blue river was no better than her eyes. It was rare for one to have more than one ability, even if he meant that metaphorically, he was under her spell.
Except, he didn't know which, all he knew was that his head was spinning at just the sight of her, that he wouldn't be satisfied by just elbowing her. He need contact that reassured him something, she was doing something to him, unintentionally.
The idea that she has two abilities is obviously false, he's been friends with her so long to know. But if it wasn't a spell, then what was it that suddenly made him feel captivated?
Maybe it was so complicated that even Merida, the mind reader, couldn't read it through his eyes.