Stupid Love - Chapter 18

Pairing: Hijack

Word Count: 1659

Warnings: Vague threats, maybe some language

"Hello? Bunny?" Jack pushed the phone against his ear as he leaned against the brick wall, picking at the rocks on his feet with his free hand. An angry voice cracked through the static and he grinned. "Bunny! Hey, did Sandy talk to you?"

The static returned, cutting through their conversation.

"You're already what?" he tried, but his phone made a loud BEEP BEEP right in his ear and he pulled it away, looking at it confusedly. "Annnnd, call dropped. Of course. Come on, you piece of crap phone! Work already!"

He huffed and shoved the phone back in his front pocket, walking down the alley toward the street. He peeked his head out from behind the building, glancing up and down the road for any cars. As soon as he knew the coast was clear, he took a deep breath and ran across the street, stopping as he got back into the continued alleyway.

His feet screamed at him in pain, but he brushed it off. He had more important things to do right now, like getting his fucking phone to work, or to find some way back to that gas station to find Hiccup…

A drop of water splashed on his nose. He blinked and looked up.

The sky had gotten even darker. He was right, it really was going to rain. And it was going to rain all over him.

"Great."

He turned and jogged down the alley, heading toward the next street.

Astrid gripped the steering wheel, leaning forward as she pulled up to the stop sign and scanned the road ahead. She had finally reached downtown, now alone in her car as Hiccup had already rushed ahead in Jack's car. She figured that he was just blindly roaming around the neighborhoods nearer to the gas station, going around in circles, hoping Toothless would just pop up again somewhere.

She shook her head and let go of the brake, driving forward. There didn't seem to be a lot of people about, just a few parked cars here and there, a few neon signs glowing in the windows.

Astrid turned the corner, slowing down as some rain started to come down on her windshield. She glanced up to see the clouds overhead getting darker. If they didn't find Hiccup's fiero soon, they were going to have to cut this search short…

She sat back, only to notice a quick movement out of the corner of her eye. Someone was poking their head out from the alleyway as she passed it. It looked like someone with white...hair.

She slammed on her brakes, jerking her head to the right.

"I'd recognize that dumbass anywhere," she smirked.

Jack lifted his hood up as the rain started to increase, eyeing the street sign down the block. He couldn't read it from here, but he knew getting much closer to it was only going to make it easier for that Pitch guy to find him. He stepped out onto the sidewalk, looking back behind him before walking into the street.

A car honked its horn, and Jack jumped.

"Wh- Hey, watch it!" he exclaimed, turning to look at the maniac that tried to hit him, but he almost instantly recognized the car. Blue camaro? It couldn't be...

The blue car's driver rolled the window down and leaned over the passenger's seat to look at him.

"Just get in."

Jack blinked. Stormfly? And...It was that girl from the bar! Oh, he was saved!

He ran around to the other side, a smile now branded on his face, and yanked open the car door, hopping in, and pulling his hood back down.

"Oh, man!" he giddily exclaimed, "Never thought I'd be happy to see you!"

Astrid rolled up her window, slowly turning to glare at him.

Jack cringed, shifting in his seat.

"Wait...that came out wrong."

Astrid shook her head, smirking,

"That happens to you a lot, doesn't it?"

Jack opened his mouth to retort, but he barely had the time to be insulted by that.

"Whatever!" Jack grumbled, looking over his shoulder and out the back window. Of course, he couldn't see anything through the louvers, but he could feel the sense of urgency from before rising. "We gotta get out of here, like, now."

Astrid raised an eyebrow to question him, but shrugged and shook her head.

"Alright, alright, I'm going…" she told him, shifting into drive and pulling away from the curb.

Jack sank back into the seat, relief suddenly washing over him. He could finally breathe and get his thoughts together for more than a few seconds. He glanced out the window and in and around the car again.

"So...where's Hiccup?" he asked curiously.

Astrid stared ahead as she turned a corner, replying,

"He's in your car, looking for you...and his car. Actually, you should call him-"

Jack jolted forward, eyes wide.

"Whoa, whoa. Hold up!" he blurted out, looking at her incredulously. "Did you just say Hiccup is driving MY BABY?"

Astrid rolled her eyes, undeterred by Jack's outburst, and simply replying,

"Yes, and he's exceptionally pissed at you right now, so I'd call him ASAP."

Jack turned to her, eccentric.

"Who the hell said he could drive my car?!"

Astrid groaned.

"Ask him."

"But-!"

"AGH, FINE!" Astrid cut him off, pulling out her cell phone. "I'll call him!"

She glanced down and tapped at her phone screen before lifting it to her ear.

"...yeah, Hiccup? Meet us at Gobber's."

Jack could faintly hear Hiccup's voice as he tried to ask what she was talking about, but Astrid just hung up the phone and threw it down on her dash.

Jack ran a hand through his hair, staring down at his feet.

"I can't believe this is happening…" he muttered. "Did Hiccup seriously take my car?"

Astrid held her hand up, motioning him to stop.

"Don't even start with me!" she fumed. "I am not having this conversation again!"

Hiccup parked Jack's car in the lot at Gobber's, fumbling to lift the door to get out. He looked over at the entrance to see Astrid's car pulling in. His eyes narrowed when he noticed the white-haired passenger.

The car came to a halt near Jack's huayra, and the doors opened.

"Jack!" he yelled, stomping over to the camaro.

Jack visibly jumped and swallowed, giving Hiccup a sheepish smile.

"Well, hey…" he responsed, "Long time, no see?"

Hiccup stepped right up to Jack, grabbing the front of his hoodie and pulling him down to his eye level.

"Where is Toothless? What did you do with my car?!"

Jack pulled back, but Hiccup's tight grip held him there.

"Wh-whoa, slow down!" he stammered, his voice cracking as he tried to keep Hiccup from killing him right there. "I had nothing to do with what happened to your fiero… it just kinda, uhh, got stolen, with me inside-in case you hadn't noticed-and now it's in some chop-shop downtown…"

Hiccup only glared at him, gritting his teeth.

"What?!"

Okay, so that didn't work.

Jack tried again.

"Uhh, yeah, but...but, it's cool!" he told him. "I got some guys coming to help me out. They should be here any second-"

Hiccup let go, shoving him away.

"We have to go there now," Hiccup shouted, walking back to Jack's car.

Jack had to laugh at that one.

"Ha, are you kidding me?" he asked, reaching up to rub at his neck. There was no way Hiccup was going to get his car back from all those scary-looking guys in that shop.

Astrid walked around her car, stepping up and putting a hand on Hiccup's shoulder.

"Hiccup, we should wait for-"

"I'm not waiting around so Toothless can get torn apart and sold for scrap metal!" he yelled, pushing her hand away. He reached down and opened Jack's car door. "Are you coming with me or not?"

Jack rushed up to him, hands up defensively.

"No, no, no, no! Hiccup, don't," he frowned. "No, you don't know what you're up against! Listen to me. Pitch-that guy was packing heat, and I'm willing to bet all his little buddies were, too!"

"I don't care," Hiccup told him bluntly.

Jack huffed,

"Would you just-" he reached over and pulled Hiccup toward him. "Hiccup, it's a car!"

"It's MY car!" Hiccup angrily shot back. "Now, let go of me!"

Hiccup shoved his hand away and Jack furrowed his eyebrows.

Hiccup climbed into the car.

"Hiccup, you can't!" Jack pleaded.

Astrid moved in front of him,

"Hiccup."

Jack looked over and Hiccup stared up at her.

"You, too?" Hiccup groaned. "Oh, come on! What'd we even come out here for if we aren't gonna get Toothless back?"

"Oh, don't you worry, mate," came a voice from behind all of them.

Hiccup glanced past Astrid and Jack as the two turned around.

"We'll getcha your car back."

The tall, grey-haired man with tattoos that he'd seen only once was back. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked over as the massive, bearded man joined him, followed by a thin brunette and a short, red-haired guy.

Astrid's jaw dropped open as the group walked up to them.

"Is that…?"

Hiccup stepped back out of the car. The Guardians? That's who Jack had called?

North beamed and walked over to Jack, clapping a hand on his back.

"Jack! It is good seeing you again," he leaned down, looking over him a little, "You are doing okay?"

Toothania scrunched up her nose, eyeing Jack.

"Where are your shoes, Jacky?" she asked him.

Jack felt everyone suddenly stare down at his feet and he grumbled, annoyed.

"Uhh, never mind that," he told her. "It's not important. Did Sandy tell you guys what happened?"

Bunnymund nodded,

"More or less, yeah."

North's voice bellowed a bit as he added,

"If it is Pitch behind this, you will need our help!"

Jack grinned.

"Well, we gotta act fast," he told them. "He knows I escaped. They're out looking for me right now."

Hiccup made a face.

"Gods, Jack, what did you do?"

Jack glanced back at him, awkwardly responding,

"N-nothing! That guy was just crazy!"

Bunnymund spoke up again.

"So, what's the plan?" he asked.

Jack tapped his chin, looking back at everyone gathered there.

"Well…"

Pitch Black was on the move. He was angrily looking up and down every street he passed, but there was still no sign of the white-haired nuisance that had ruined his meeting and, clearly, the rest of his day. He was not going to let that brat get away with any of it.

"Where is he?" He snapped, gritting his teeth and pushing on the gas.

The car sped forward on the wet asphalt, the rain having stopped for now. Jamie bit his lip, raising a hand and suggesting,

"Maybe he...caught a cab and went home?"

"There aren't any cabs in this wretched town!" Pitch shouted, sharply turning a corner, heading back towards the downtown district.

He grabbed the cell phone sitting in the cup holder in the center console. He tapped at the screen and held it up to his ear.

It rang only once before the person on the other line picked up.

"Have the girls check the police station," he ordered, and then instantly hung up.

Jamie leaned forward.

"I doubt he'd go to the police, sir-"

Pitch glared over at him, gripping the phone tightly in his fist.

"You sure seem to know a lot about that kid, JB."

Jamie's eyes went wide.

"What? O-oh, no," he stammered back, "I don't know anything!"

Pitch eyed him, hitting the brakes and pulling over. His eyes narrowed.

"Oh, you know something," he remarked slyly. "Yes... Maybe you overheard something or you know where the boy likes to hang about?"

Jamie shrank in his seat, "Jack didn't- I mean, that kid didn't say anything."

Pitch sat back, resting his free hand on top of the steering wheel.

"You know, Bennett," he started, "I haven't had the chance to meet your mother yet..."

He grinned maliciously,

"How is she? Well and healthy?"

Jamie shifted, looking away.

"Uhm..."

"And your sister?" Pitch continued, "She goes to that new school over on 14th now, doesn't she?"

Jamie grimaced, looking sick.

"Okay, okay! I think..." he urgently replied, "I think he said that the car wasn't his."

Pitch grumbled.

"And?"

"A-and...he said his friend would come back for it!"

"Good. Good..." Pitch grinned, stepping back on the gas and pulling back onto the street. "I can work with that."

He reached over, shoving the cell phone into Jamie's hands.

"Call everybody back to the shop. We've got a new plan."

North set down a duffel bag on the hood of his car, zipping it open and reaching inside.

"Alright," he said, pulling out materials from it, "here is lockpick, flashlight, electrical tape, pliers, and..."

He turned and grabbed something from the front seat of his car and handed them to Jack.

"New pair of shoes."

Jack snickered, taking them.

"Thanks."

He threw them down on the ground and slipped his feet into them. Holy cow, he had never felt more comfortable wearing shoes in his life.

Bunny folded up the map he was holding, shoving it into Jack's hands and saying,

"All you gotta do is sneak in, start 'er up, and lead them back here. We'll handle them on our turf."

"And Sandy will wait 'til the coast is clear and bring your car back," Toothania added, leaning back against North's chevy and pointing back at the red-haired man to her left.

Astrid stepped forward.

"Wait, what about us?" She interjected.

"Yeah!" Hiccup stood next to her, "We can help, too!"

North held up his hand, turning back to them.

"No, no, no, far too dangerous. Pitch is not an easy man to shake."

Bunny nodded,

"It's best if we just get him to come to us and settle this the easy way."

Hiccup furrowed his brows, arguing,

"But it's my car! I have to go!"

Jack frowned, walking over to him. He knew Hiccup wanted to have a part in this, but The Guardians knew Pitch and they knew how to handle it. It wasn't that Hiccup would get in the way, but... well, he would get in the way.

"Hiccup," he told him, "just wait here, and we'll be back with your car in no time."

Hiccup grumbled,

"But what if something goes wrong? What if you need... backup, or something?"

Jack smirked.

"Are you kidding? Sandy's always got my back!"

He looked over his shoulder back at the quiet man, and Sandy gave him a thumbs up and a smile in return.

Hiccup sighed exhaustedly, thinking on what to try next. His eyes shifted back to the cars behind them.

"What if...what if I help you move your car? That way Sandy can help you out and your car won't get left behind if something goes wrong!"

Tooth giggled, looking over at her brother, commenting,

"He sure is determined to do this, isn't he?"

Hiccup held up his hands to Jack pleadingly,

"I have to help, at least with something!"

Jack sighed, putting his hand on his hip.

"What do you think, North?" He asked, glancing over at him.

North rubbed at his chin a moment before replying calmly,

"It is your plan, Jack. You call shots this time."

Jack gulped. Really? He was putting this on him? Jack looked back at Hiccup's desperate expression and then past him to Astrid's determined one. He only got out of that shop through pure luck...and probably some stupidity. If this was on him, he was going to have to think this all through very carefully.

Jack eyed the few people around him. The Guardians were the best of the best, but he's seen Hiccup in action.

He looked over at the collection of all their cars. Hiccup knew how to drive his car, too...

Jack inhaled loudly.

"Okay," he stared down at Hiccup, "you ride with me."

He turned to Astrid. "And, you? Go with Sandy."

He turned around and smirked at North and Bunny.

"If we got all these cars, we might as well use them, right?"

Hiccup jumped up behind him, grinning and tugging on his hood.

"Yes!"

Jack laughed, leaning back in his seat in his car, right where he belonged. He was driving back into town while retelling the story of his crazy adventure of getting hijacked to Hiccup.

"Man, you should have seen me climbing out that window," he smirked. " I should start doing parkour or something."

Hiccup just sank down in his seat, arms over his chest. His mood seemed to deplete the instant they had gotten into the car and Jack had told him his plan. He didn't expect Hiccup to like just sitting back while he handled everything, but at least they were getting Toothless back, right?

"Can't you go any faster?" Hiccup griped, sitting up.

Jack sighed, his expression dropping. Apparently not...

"Look, I know you want your car back, but the last thing I need is the cops coming after me while I'm trying to sneak into some garage to steal back a car-"

"MY car," Hiccup corrected, giving him a stern look.

Jack gave him a weak smile.

"Right, right. YOUR car," he admitted. He came to a stop at a stoplight and looked over at Hiccup. "You...you know it wasn't my fault, right?"

Hiccup turned and looked out the tinted window.

"I don't CARE whose fault it was!" Hiccup groaned, annoyed. "I just want Toothless back!"

Jack sighed.

"I know..."

Drops of water plopped onto his car and Jack leaned forward a bit, realizing the rain from earlier had returned. With the flip of a switch, his windshield wipers came on, and he turned another corner, recognizing the neon sign glowing in the window of a nearby building.

"Alright," he said, stopping the car and parking it inconspicuously behind another parked car, "it should be around this corner."

Hiccup sat up, looking around and trying to see. Jack reached back and grabbed the lockpick out of the duffel bag and crammed it in his already-full pocket.

The rain picked up, adding to the silence as Hiccup turned back and stared at Jack collecting his thoughts as well as his supplies. He knew he didn't all those stupid things, right? The fiero's fusebox was easily accessible from the driver's seat. Hell, the bozo who took it had his keys. They might even still be in the ignition.

Jack fumbled with North's pliers before deciding to put them back. Honestly, he would rather have something he could definitively defend himself with, but, for now, a lockpick would just have to do.

He sighed.

"Okay, stay here," he instructed Hiccup, turning to face him, "and- Don't give me that look."

Hiccup huffed, rolling his eyes to stare up at the roof. Jack lifted his door, shaking his head at Hiccup's ridiculous behavior.

"Stay here," he started again. "When I bust out of there in your car, you need to duck down and wait. Those guys will be crawling all over, looking for me.

"Once it's clear, climb over here, start her up, and meet me at Gobber's. Got it?"

Hiccup closed his eyes, droning,

"Yeah, yeah, I got it."

Jack shook his head. That guy just didn't know when to quit. Well, it would be worth it when Jack got his car back and he got to see that smile on Hiccup's face again.

"Alright," Jack stepped out, taking a deep breath before shutting the door quietly. "Here goes nothing."

He pulled up his hood and walked over to the sidewalk casually, glancing back to see Hiccup watching him closely from inside the car. He motioned for him to put his head down and then crept closer to the nearby alleyway.

Hiccup ducked down, both hands on the door, only to take another peek just as Jack disappeared into the alley.

He grinned triumphantly and pulled open the car door.