Authors note: They both found inspiration in each other^^ here's today's update! Hope you like it^^ please leave a review- and I'll see you tomorrow^^ (super tired right now- I can't think of anything else to say XD)
They finished together. The final few notes of beautiful violin ending with a gentle flourish of piano keys.
Hiccup's eyes slowly opened... and he stared, breath taken away, at the golden ghost. A brilliant, beaming smile shone on his face like his sparkling eyes, hand still holding the bow to the strings as he panted heavily in the echoes of their song. Hiccup didn't even realise he was panting too, but his chest was filled with far too many emotions for it to matter.
His eyes locked with ghost's, indescribable messages flying back and forth between them. A thousand words said. A thousand words heard. Not a single one of them seemed to really sink in. It was the emotions that did. That terrifying, unnamed feeling ruling over them all. Powerful, intense... Magical.
Did he really just say-? A tumultuous roar shook the hall, jolting Hiccup from the moment. What was going-? He turned- only then remembering the four thousand people sat watching him- or, well, they were sat, but they weren't seated anymore. Every single one of them... was standing. Infinite blurs of movement filling the crowd, as millions of claps rolled together into a single, thunderous sound. It took a while for Hiccup to realise what was going on. What was happening?
A standing ovation.
The entire audience had left their seats to show their appreciation and enthusiasm for the song he'd just played. Cheers and whistles permeated the crowd, as everyone tried to convey their how they'd been moved to the performer- wonder and amazement in their wide, awestruck eyes.
Hiccup just stood there, numbly, in the middle of the stage... unable to believe that this was happening. There must be some mistake, he thought. This couldn't be for him. He turned towards the only person who's reaction he really cared about. The ghost's eyes were shining with pride, his smile (somehow even broader than before) was tight with emotion and he seemed to be glowing even brighter. Hiccup stood there, amazed... as the spirit brought together his hands, to join in the deafening applause praising his music. But, no, it wasn't right. Hiccup thought. The golden spirit deserved that applause as much as he did- he would've been nothing without him.
But the audience couldn't hear the violin. They hadn't seen or heard the ghost's part in it, and yet they were still standing and applauding him all the same.
A wave of emotion rose up his chest and his eyes suddenly grew damp. He found himself meeting the spirit's shining eyes. 'Take it in, Hiccup.' They told him. 'It's all for you.' He took a deep breath and turned back towards the audience. The crowd suddenly blurred slightly, eyes filling with liquid shine, as he bowed down low in front of them. Just like he'd been taught to do ever since his very first performance.
He started walked back towards the curtains. It was a shame, really, he thought. They never really heard the full magic of the song. They did all that and they'd only heard half the duet. But the full song was something that was only reserved for him and the golden spirit- something that only the two of them shared.
He finally stepped off the stage, (for once, not in a terrible hurry to do so). The audience's cheers and approval following him as he headed down the stairs and backstage, feeling more incredible than he would've ever thought possible just fifteen minutes ago.
He didn't notice the ghost, normally stuck to his side like his shadow, pause suddenly behind him.
The spirit's smile faded for a second.
It didn't last but a moment before he headed off after Hiccup... but something seemed to have changed.
"Hey Hiccup? Can I talk to you outside?" He asked. His smile was just as bright as though it had never wavered, and Hiccup remained oblivious that anything had ever happened. He was too busy soaring on the euphoria of the performance to even wonder about the strange question. Lost in the experience of that musical magic that he'd never felt before- and that standing ovation... the appreciation of his work that he always longed for... he just couldn't believe it. He didn't know it was possible to even be this overjoyed, but he was!
Thus, was in high spirits as he led his phantom follower out of a side door he'd been told led to a 'private garden'. It wasn't really a garden- there were no flowers, grass or trees- but it was a place for performers to go when they wanted some fresh air, but didn't want to risk some kind of mugging (or other dodgy activities that tended to occur in alleyways).
Hiccup took deep breaths of the fresh air, grinning ecstatically up at heavens as though he was searching the stars for some kind of godly sign that this was really reality- or perhaps thanking any gods that were up there for the most incredible ten minutes of his life.
"I can't believe I actually did it." He whispered. "... I actually did it!" He yelled in pure joy, laughing giddily as he turned to face the spirit. His heart felt like it was floating amongst the stars. Nothing could ruin his mood right now- he didn't think he'd ever lose this smile on his face.
Now he was out of the stage spotlight, the ghost's glow had returned to its usual silver hue.
"It was incredible!" The pianist exclaimed, but the spirit seemed strangely quiet. His grin just as broad as earlier, but it didn't seem to quite touch his eyes. Hiccup didn't pick up on this- he just stared at him in amazement. All this... this entire night... it was all thanks to him... and he couldn't be more grateful.
"Yeah... you were, Hic... you were amazing." He muttered. He was looking at, and speaking, straight to him, but his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere. He still meant every word he was saying, but he was thinking of something else as he said them. His gaze seemed a little too focussed on the pianist- like he was committing him to memory.
Hiccup didn't take too much notice to it- he was too happy to let tiny details like that get him down- they probably meant nothing anyway... Like the sad look in his eyes that wouldn't quite meet his... and how his starry glow wasn't quite as bright as it was before... Or how he was stood on the ground, rather than floating just above it.
"This night has just been... amazing." Hiccup breathed. He searched for any words to thank the brilliant spirit, but nothing seemed to do him justice. He'd completely turned his life around in just under two hours. He'd taught him how to find happiness again- and given him hope when he thought he'd given that up a long time ago. He'd helped him fall in love with the piano again! Nothing he could say would ever be enough to express his gratitude to that ghost. He owed him everything.
"It feels like it's been forever, huh?..." The silver white spirit muttered. "Since we first met at that lake..." He reminisced, looking at the stars under which they'd first found each other. "I was dancing on the lake- you were just aimlessly walking in the park..." It was those stars that had inspired his first song for him, hadn't it, the spirit recalled, silently.
Hiccup smiled as he remembered it.
"Yeah." He agreed, slowly starting to stroll deeper into the gentle night- the ghostly boy following.
They walked slowly.
Side by side.
Only a single step between them.
"I remember laughing at some point... and you laughing too." He recalled, his normally firmly placed smile starting to slip. "I wish I could remember why we were laughing." He muttered, wistfully. Hiccup thought about it too. Yeah, he could remember chuckling with the spirit; he couldn't remember what had caused it though. Had it been something one of them had said?
"... I just wanted to say thanks, Hiccup." The boy jumped, staring at him in astonishment. Wha-! What had he done to deserve his thanks? "I can't remember anything..." he continued. "But there's some thing I just know- like I knew how I could play the violin-... and I just know that I've been waiting a long time for somebody to really hear my music in the way you do. To see it as more than just a song- and, I just, can't thank you enough for that." He told him.
Hiccup's elation started to fade away now. He guessed he should be happy he'd done so much for the spirit, just like he'd done for him... But it was the way he was saying it... It was almost sad, but not quite. What was he going on about all this for? He wondered... And was it him or did he appear to be slightly more transparent than usual?
"What's going on?" He asked him. He was starting to get nervous now- he didn't like the way he was talking like this. The spirit didn't answer- he stopped in place.
Hiccup stopped too- turning to face him so he could see the spirit's face properly. Something was going on, he could tell... Something was wrong, wasn't it. What was it?
The spirit took a deep, shaky breath, and looked up to meet him in the eyes. Hiccup frowned, worriedly. It was hard to tell through the glowing white light... but he almost thought he could see tears brimming in those brilliantly bright, diamond eyes. What was wrong, he thought.
"Close your eyes..." The ghost whispered.
Hiccup didn't like it, but he he did as he was told. Putting his faith once again in the silver spirit. Just tell me what's wrong, he thought. What's the problem? He didn't understand.
"... Don't forget me, Hiccup."
The words drifted across to him, through the silent blackness. They sounded like they were broken- like his voice had cracked slightly... Like he was about to start crying. Hiccup so desperately wanted to open his eyes, but he followed the ghost's wishes and kept them closed. Why was he saying that? What did he mean? What was going on?
...
"...Remember our duet..."
Hiccup swore he could feel a phantom teardrop fall...
...
...
He waited... listening for his voice to say something else... Was there another thing he wanted to say? What was he- why would he even say that? Of course he'd never forget their symphony! Not in a thousand years! He knew he wouldn't! Why was he even telling him that?!...
...
It had been a while now... What was he waiting for?... Was he going to speak?... When could he open his eyes?
"I promise.. I won't forget." He said to the silent air, worry starting to appear in his voice. Why wasn't the spirit saying anything? He was starting to panic now, but he forced it behind a happy facade and forced a smile.
"Can I open my eyes yet?" He smirked.
...
...Nothing...
His smile fell.
"This isn't funny!" He called out, voice shaking now. "Why aren't you answering me?!" He shouted- anger rising up to try and cover his fear, as he snapped his eyes open... He went silent.
The air in front of him was empty...
But why was it empty? Where did that silver ghost go? He searched vainly across the garden, turning round to look behind him. There was nowhere for him to hide out here. Where was he? He wouldn't have just left him like that. He couldn't have abandoned him! Where had he gone?! He had to be somewhere! This was just a joke right? Well, he was telling him- it wasn't funny!
He went to call out the spirit's name, when he realised something so stupid... He'd never even asked.
After everything he'd done for him, he didn't even think to find out his name?! He cursed his stupid idiocy, and tried to calm down his interior panic. He never knew where to insert asking a name into the conversation- he just kinda hoped he found out at some point. Why did his social inadequacy have to come and stab him in the back at the worst possible moment?
...Okay, the joke had gone on long enough... He should've come out by now...
Where was he?!
"Where have you gone?!" He yelled, freezing as the last word suddenly hit him. Hard.
... No... He couldn't be-... He just couldn't... No... He thought back to his last words:
'... Don't forget me, Hiccup...'
...He'd been trying to say goodbye.
... But that wasn't fair! No! He didn't get to say his goodbye! He couldn't just leave like that! Drop into his life, and turn it into upside down- fix his grief, help him to play again, remind him about hope- teach him how to be happy-!... He couldn't do all of that and then just leave him... What about their song... What about their melody?... He couldn't play it without him. It was incomplete without him... He was incomplete without him... What was he meant to do?... What could he do now... without him... What was he supposed to...?
His knees buckled, and he crumpled to the floor. He couldn't have gone! He wouldn't! How could he?! He'd couldn't have gone and left him- just like his mother did!...
Why did this happen to them... To the people who his life so wonderful- and magical... Why did they have to keep abandoning?... Why... Why did they have to leave him all alone... What did he do now?... What did he do without them?...
A soft curl of wind drifted across the garden- and with it, brought spirit's final whisper...
'Remember our duet...'
Slowly, the pianist's fingers curled up to squeeze into his palm...
"...I promise." He whispered into the empty, desolate air.
"I promise that's what I'll do." He said- a crystal teardrop falling from his eye, as he forced a smile onto his face.
That was what he'd taught him after all... He'd helped him find his smile again, and he was going to make sure he never lost it- ever- again. He was going to carry on smiling in his memory. For him... And he was going to carry on playing...
He promised that with every note he pressed, he would think of their song... and not a day would go by when he wouldn't remember their melody.
He'd stood on the open stage, later that night, accepting a grand trophy from some random man in a suit.
The audience had cheering and clapping as he recieved the award, but he'd just felt hollow. He'd smiled in gratitude, and taken the applause, but inside.. he just felt dead.
This wasn't his award. He didn't deserve it. It belonged to that beyond brilliant spirit who's name he could not have regretted more not knowing... Because, whilst they congratulated him, and sang praises about his 'incredible masterpiece'. Calling it a 'breakthrough'- 'a work of wonder'... they were wrong. It wasn't any of that. It was a duet. Never to be heard for it's true beauty.
A song of two seperated hearts.
An incompete melody.
But Hiccup never thought of it as that... He would always remember it...
...as their symphony.