Just realized I didn't really give the last chapter any kind of introduction. Whoops 0.0. Anyway, hopefully if you're reading this now you liked the first chapter enough to continue. So thanks for that! I hope this chapter is an okay continuation. Jardia as a BrOTP, some cute Hiccstrid fluff, and doggy Toothless! Please review, favorite, follow, and enjoy! ;D\
And when I own any of the Big Four, BELIEVE ME, you'll know.
The old car pulled up to the tall brick building with a loud moan. At times, Jack was amazed how Hiccup managed to deny the car's poor condition. He pushed the car door open and shuffled around to the back of the car. He popped the truck open and grabbed his duffel bag. When he shut the trunk, Hiccup stuck his head out the driver window.
"You want me to walk up with you?" he asked.
Jack rolled his eyes.
"No thanks honey. Maybe you can on our next date."
"Alright, alright." Hiccup said, obviously getting a little annoyed.
"Hey, Hic," Jack said with a serious tone, "thanks. Really, I appreciate it."
Hiccup's expression softened.
"Keep in touch, okay?" he sounded genuinely concerned.
"I will." Jack put his hand on Hiccup's shoulder, "I'm not going anywhere."
They looked at each other for a minute, trying to read the other's faces.
"I know." Hiccup said, not sounding very convinced.
He pulled away from the sidewalk, looking back through the mirror one more time, just to see if Jack was still there. He watched the small car drive out of view before turning to the apartment building. Jack had never actually been inside of it. He only got the space because his cousin's wife was the landlord's daughter's friend or something. The small amount of furniture he owned was already brought in by his uncle's moving company. This was his first time walking up the slick cement steps of the building.
There were a few scattered lights hanging outside the windows for Christmas, though Jack suspected they were left there year round. He pulled the large wooden doors open and stepped inside. The lobby wasn't much; just an elevator at the far wall and a hallway leading to who-knows-where. A small, but heavily decorated, Christmas tree sat in the corner next to a fish tank. This was weird, because there weren't any actual fish in it. Jack shrugged it off and walked toward the elevator. He pressed the button and it opened with a ding.
On the way up to the 4th floor, Jack felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He flipped it open to see that he had a new message.
COFFEE. TOMORROW AT THE DUCKLING ON 3RD. 9:00 DON'T BE LATE. –MER
Jack smiled. He sent a quick reply saying he'd be there and stepped out of the elevator. He pulled his bag down the left hallway until he found 4G. He rummaged in his pockets for a minute before he finally found the key. With a click, the door swung open. The apartment wasn't very big. The kitchen and the living room sort of merged into one and the bedroom and bathroom were down a short hallway on the right. Two or three boxes sat on the table. Jack shut the door behind him and dropped his bag on the floor.
Opening the boxes he found a lot of old trinkets and photos. They were the only things he'd taken with him when he left. He started pulling things out and setting them on shelves or countertops. It didn't take him long to get through the first two boxes. He didn't have that much to unpack. He hesitated, however, opening the third box. He knew what was in it, and to be honest, wasn't entirely sure why he'd kept some of it. With a heavy sigh, he cut the tape off and opened the box. His body went numb as he gazed at the content inside.
Unconsciously, he lifted a small stuffed rabbit out of the box. It had dark blue buttons for eyes and thick stitches in several places. His heart ached as he looked at the small toy. It had been Pippa's. The thought of his sister still made Jack tense, but he had gotten better. He carefully set the bunny down on the table and continued sifting through the box. Most of it was old family items he'd kept over the years. He pulled out a baseball cap from his father and a silver pocket watch from his mother. He didn't really like thinking about them, either.
The last thing he pulled out was an old photo album. It was worn at the edges, but he could see the photo in the center perfectly. It was him, Merida, Hiccup, and Rapunzel. A ghost of a smile crossed his face. They were all 15 or so. Merida's parents had invited them on a trip down to their cabin in the Poconos. It was the first trip they'd been on together, and it was one of the best weeks of Jack's life. He opened the album and began flipping through the pages. Most of them were of him and his friends. He stopped when had saw a photo he'd long forgotten about. He and Rapunzel sat on a blanket spread out in the grass. It was nighttime, the night of the meteor shower. Punz was a science nerd, so when their teacher had told them about a meteor shower, she told Jack to no end about how they had see it.
He'd borrowed his father's car and driven her out to the park. There were a few other people there to see the shower, but they mostly had the place to themselves. After deciding she'd found the perfect spot, Rapunzel and Jack set up her telescope. They'd talked for hours until she saw the first meteor. It was Jack's first shower and he was pretty impressed. Rapunzel was spitting out all these different facts that he wasn't paying attention to. After a few more minutes of her rambling and looking at the stars, he pulled her in for a kiss. Then he asked her to be his girlfriend. When she said yes, it was the happiest he'd ever been.
Jack slammed the album shut. He threw it back in the box and shoved it in the hallway closet. He was done walking down memory lane for today.
3rd Avenue was extremely busy for nine in the morning. An elderly woman outside of a florist shop was handing out mistletoe to young men and women as they walked by. Jack shoved his hands in his pockets and walked past her quickly. On the other side of the street, a large man in a Santa suit was ringing a bell while holding a donation bucket. He'd looked to be doing alright, getting a few dollars every couple people. Jack decided to get him later, or not.
He finally found the café he was looking for, The Snuggly Ducking. Jack knew not to be thrown off by the name. He'd worked there through most of high school, and his boss had made sure there was nothing snuggly about the experience. Still, it had been one of Jack's favorite places to hang out. That was hopefully something that wouldn't change. When he opened the door, a small bell above the frame jingled. A few people turned to look at him, but most just continued their conversations while sipping their lattes.
He looked around for Merida but didn't see her. He checked his watch. It was two minutes until nine. He smirked to himself, certain the red head would flip when she found that he beat her there. He found a table for two by the window and took a seat. Twiddling with his thumbs, Jack started to worry about meeting Merida. He had a pretty good idea of what she wanted to ask him and was already flinching from the many punches he was probably going to take. His phone buzzed in his pocket and he flipped it open.
YOU STILL HERE? -HIC
Jack frowned. It wasn't that he didn't understand the lack of trust Hiccup was putting into him. He knew it would take awhile for him to earn it back, but did Hic really think he'd leave after one day?
YEAH. GRABBING COFFEE WITH MER. PRETTY SURE SHE'S GOT SOME STUFF TO GET OFF HER CHEST.
After a few moments, it went off again.
JACK, THERE'S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO KNOW.
Ring ring. Jack looked up to see Merida walking into the shop. She looked totally beaten up, her wild red hair even messier than he remembered. Her dark green jacket flopped loosely around her frame; her arms hung sluggishly at her sides. Jack quickly typed on his phone.
MER IS HERE. WE'LL TALK LATER.
Then he slid it back in his pocket. He waved once or twice to get the red head's attention. She saw him and smiled weakly before scowling like a disappointed teacher. She marched over to where he was sitting and took the chair across from him.
"Ya came." she said, unable to hide the surprise in her voice.
"Yeah," he shrugged, "I came. Didn't really expect the invite, though."
Merida bit her lip.
"We need to talk." she said with a half angry half anxious face.
"Yeah, I know. Look, before you start throwing punches, there are some things I need to say."
"No, Jack," she interrupted, "ye aren't saying a word 'till I'm finished."
He opened his mouth to argue, but her glare stopped him. He just nodded and slid down in his chair. Merida took a deep breath. She composed herself like she was about to let go off all the emotion she'd been holding for the last five years. Instead, she got up, walked over to the café counter, and ordered two caramel mochas. Jack cocked his head in utter confusion. Wasn't she supposed to be screaming at him or hitting him or something? She walked back over with the coffees in hand. She gave the one to Jack and took a big gulp out of the other.
"Come on, Frosty. We're going for a walk."
She started out of the café. Jack hesitated for a moment, but followed her out. The two walked down the street in the opposite direction from which he'd come. He took a sip of his coffee and furrowed his eyebrows.
"Does this have-"
"Peppermint?" she said, "Aye. I remember that being the way ya like it, right?"
Jack grinned, "That was years ago. I can't believe you remembered."
Merida shrugged.
"So Jack," she said more seriously, "Despite all the proof ya give me, I'm pretty sure ya aren't a snow brained doofus. Ya know why I wanted to talk to ya."
"I figured." he said.
"Well, I guess first I want to know why ya left. I mean, I get that you were grieving and all, but you didn't even tell us. We were friends, all of us, weren't we?'
He took another gulp of his coffee.
"Merida, you guys were- are my best friends. That's why I skipped the whole goodbye thing. I knew if I told you I was leaving you'd argue and try to stop me. And at the time, I couldn't deal with that. I had to split."
She was silent for a few steps. She seemed like she was contemplating how to feel about what he'd said.
"Why didn't ya call? You could have kept in touch."
"I know," he said solemnly, "Same reason I skipped the goodbye, I guess. I was afraid to face you guys."
"'Cause we would've knocked some sense into ya?" she said, chuckling halfheartedly.
Jack nodded. For so long, he'd been complicating everything. Now, talking to Merida, it seemed so simple. But he knew it wasn't, not really.
"What the devil have ye been doing for the past five years?" she asked.
"I actually finished college, believe it or not." he said smirking.
She gagged on the swig of coffee she was taking. Jack laughed.
"Ye did what?" she said, still sort of choking, "How? Where? What-"
"Easy there, Red." he snorted, "I finished up school at Burges University. Got a bachelor's degree in social sciences."
Merida was at a complete loss for words. He'd been in Burges all this time. For five long years, Jack Frost had only been a day's trip away. She couldn't believe it. Then, all of the sudden, the red head got mad. Not just mad, she was furious. Frost had runaway without a word, and then he had the nerve to only go as far as Burges? What a jerk!
"Burges? Jack, that's not running away!" she boomed, "That's hiding! It's not that far, we could've come to visit ya! Ya didn't have to drop off the face of the Earth!"
Jack rubbed the back of his neck, wishing he were invisible. He forced himself to keep looking Merida in the eyes, despite how much he wanted to turn away. The look she was giving him was pure disappointment, and it was killing him. The two turned down another street that was much quieter than the one they'd been on. There were no joggers or venders Jack could use to distract himself from the silence.
"I'm sorry, Jack." Merida managed, "Its good ye got to finish school. I'm proud of ya."
She slugged him in the arm, letting him know she meant it. As they continued to walk, Merida dropped the topic of Jack's motives for leaving. She wasn't really satisfied with the answers she got; a blind man could see that. But she didn't want to press the issue too much. She guessed she'd just have to revisit the topic again later, when there were no witnesses to see her beat the snot out of him.
Jack began asking questions about what Merida had been up to the past few years. She didn't go into a lot of detail; the Scottish girl was notoriously very private. But she did share about how she was saving up for something big, something she was really excited about. Jack cocked his eyebrow, but couldn't get her to reveal anymore about her 'big something'. He gave it up, though. Knowing Merida, it would come into the light soon enough. And when it did, it was coming in with a BANG.
The next time Jack looked at his watch, it was almost 10. It should have surprised him how much the time had flown by. But he and Merida were well known for spending hours talking and arguing until they were both blue in the face. He wasn't at all shocked that time had gotten away from them. At the next corner, she led him to the right. Jack looked up at the street sign. Berk Avenue? Was she taking him where she thought she was?
Halfway down the block, they stopped in front of a tall stone building. It was obviously much older than the ones surrounding it. The window frames looked worn and chafed and a large collection of foliage was growing on the front side of the building. Still, it seemed so inviting. Jack new he'd been here before. He read the large letters engraved in the stone, Dragon Village Apartments. It was where Hiccup's father live; or more where he used to live. Why did Merida bring him here?
She was already at the front door when he tuned back into reality. She gave him a look that told him one thing, 'What are ye waiting for?' Jack hurried up the steps and entered the building with her. It had barely changed from when he'd been there as a teenager. To the left of the main doors was a quaint sitting area with a couch and a few chairs. A coffee table stood in the center with an assortment of magazines and children's books spread on top of it. Sometimes when he was here, Jack would see mothers sitting a chair, reading to their kids. The memory made him smile.
Merida gave him another slug on the arm.
"Come on, Frosty." she said sarcastically as she started toward the elevator.
Jack gulped. He hated this building's elevator. Mold covered the ceiling and it smelled as if no one had even tried to clean it since it was built. It ran in a similar fashion, creaking and groaning as it climbed higher and higher. Ignoring the queasy feeling in his stomach, he joined Merida in the elevator. She pressed the button for the third floor and the rickety box lurched upward. She avoided eye contact with him most of the way up. When the doors opened, she didn't hesitate to speed out into the hall. Jack ran to keep up with her, wondering why she was suddenly acting weird.
They stopped at apartment 38. Though Jack had been there a lot, it felt like he was in a foreign country. It had been so many years since he'd been welcomed here. The familiarity of it was slowly fading. Merida knocked forcefully on the door.
"Who is it?" a woman's voice asked.
"It's me." Merida replied bluntly.
Without a moment of pause, the door swung open. Jack froze. Astrid Hofferson stood in the door way. Her hair was down out of her usual braid, draping lazily over her shoulders. She wore a simple blue tunic and ripped up jeans. She looked really pretty, Jack was shocked to say. Was this the same girl he'd known in high school? She smiled warmly and gestured into the apartment.
"Hey guys, come on in." she said guys. Plural, like she was including Jack.
Merida nodded a hello and stepped inside. Jack was hesitant, thinking he was possibly stepping into some sort of elaborate trap. But the surprisingly kind look on the blonde's face was so welcoming; he decided it was probably fine. The inside of the apartment had completely changed from when he was there last. Stoik's old hunting rifles and swords were replaced with photos and different family items. The fur rug that used to lie in front of the couch was gone and most of the old man's historic Viking stuff was gone, too. One thing that stayed was a traditional battle ax that hung on the wall next to the TV. Astrid followed Jack's gaze to the large metal weapon and grinned.
"Most of the stuff he either took with him or we put into storage." she pointed at the ax, "I liked that one."
Jack couldn't decide if he should laugh or run out in fear. He didn't have time to decide, because Hiccup walked in the room. He looked at the silver and red heads with wide eyes. Apparently, he had not been expecting them. He was dressed like he was ready to go out, complete with scarf, hat, and goofy plaid earmuffs. Astrid giggled, Merida rolled her eyes.
"Hey- uh Merida and Jack." Hiccup said as he stumbled trying to find words, "What are you guys doing here?"
"We need to talk," Merida said, "all of us."
Hiccup looked at Merida and then at Jack, then back at Merida. He narrowed his eyes.
"I've gotta go walk Toothless." he said.
Just then, a black lab came racing into the room. He jumped around and barked happily at the new visitors. Jack laughed. He hadn't seen Toothless since he was a puppy. Now the dog reached his knees. Merida scoffed and cocked her hip.
"Hiccup, he has to see her sooner or later." she said with haste.
"Hic," Astrid said putting a hand on Hiccup's shoulder, "I'll walk Toothless. You guys talk."
"No, babe," Hiccup argued, "that's not-"
She silenced him by kissing him briefly on the lips before throwing on her coat and running out the door with the black dog at her heels. When it slammed shut, Hiccup glared at the two with a blazing irritation in his eyes. Merida blatantly ignored it.
"Hiccup, we have to go see her." she said.
"Not yet, if we do it to soon-"
"Too soon? It's been five years! If he doesn't see her now he's never gonna-"
"Guys!" Jack yelled.
They both turned to look at him.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, even though he knew exactly to whom they were referring.
Merida sighed and gave Hiccup a pleading look. He ran his fingers through his hair like he always did when he was thinking through a tough problem. He brought his gaze up from the floor to meet Jack's.
"It's what I texted you about before." he explained, "There's some stuff you need to know, but we aren't the ones who should tell you."
Jack glanced back and forth between the two. Merida's expression stiffened.
"Its way over do, in my opinion." she said shaking, "We need to see Rapunzel."
Okay, for those of you who are like WHERE THE F*CK IS RAPUNZEL?!, I promise she shows up next chapter. Thanks so much for reading (please ignore my grammar) and see ya next time! OH OH OH, I ALMOST FORGOT! If you have any suggestions for the plot or character appearances, I'm totally open! Just shoot me a message and I'll look into it. Bye bye now! 8D