Day 4! :D Based on the quote "Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?" - What a Girl Wants
Hiccup had always been the kind of person who tried not to stand out. When he was younger it was to avoid the bullies at his schools. Now that he was in high school, it was still the same story. He excelled in his studies and had all the right friends. Except Jack. Jack was the one unaccountable variable. Hiccup loved Jack, there was no doubt about that. It was just that...well...Jack stood out.
Jack was used to people staring at him or tossing dirty looks at him. He had to be with his hair. When he and his foster father moved to Los Angeles he decided he needed a change. At fifteen he had dyed his dark locks white and invested in electric blue contacts. North had supported him, he knew more than anyone that the boy needed some shred of control over his own life. But none of that stopped other adults from giving him strange, dirty looks, nor did it stop other teenagers from judging him. Jack took it in stride, trying his best to ignore it all.
That was something that Hiccup loved about Jack. He did whatever he pleased without thinking about what others thought. Hiccup wished he could have that courage. Instead he admired the boy he loved. He didn't realize that how much Jack held in. It wasn't until one day Jack came into homeroom with his hood thrown over his head, head bent down. Hiccup watched as his boyfriend took his usual seat in front of him, slumping forward to rest his head on his crossed arms.
"Mr. Overland. We have a dress code. No hoods in class." the teacher called from her desk in front.
Hiccup gasped as the hood came down revealing brown strands of hair. A few people had looked over because of Hiccup's gasp and soon everyone was staring at Jack. Jack said nothing. He had already put his head back down.
When the passing period bell rang, Jack was the first one out the door and Hiccup rushed to follow him. He caught up to him easily, grabbing one end of Jack's hoodie. The taller boy stopped dead in his tracks.
"Hic we're gonna be late." Jack spoke lowly.
"Screw being late. Jack what's going on?" Hiccup glanced around realizing that various other students in the hall were staring at them. He took Jack's hand in his and tugged him out of the hall to the mostly empty courtyard. He watched his boyfriend carefully.
Jack took a seat on the ground, leaning against the building. Jack flicked his tongue over his bottom lip, confusion and hurt contorting his face. It was then that Hiccup realized that Jack wasn't even wearing his usual blue contacts. He spoke quietly, "I -I think North is giving me back."
"What? Jack, North loves you."
"Then why has he been secretly calling child services?" Jack roared in clear anger. His hands clenched into tight fists.
Hiccup frowned, "Have you asked him about it?"
"I can't. I don't...Hic I'm really scared. I thought maybe he was tired of me causing trouble. I thought maybe if I was more like you...I thought maybe he'd want to keep me." Jack sniffed, holding back the tears that were pooling in his brown eyes. He tugged on a piece of his now brown hair. Hiccup knelt in front of him, placing his hand on Jack's knee. Jack flinched as the bell rang again. They were late for class.
"Jack, you could never be like me. I try to fit in but you...You were meant to stand out."
Jack laughed slightly. "But what if he gives me back to them because of it?"
"I don't think North would do that. He's put up with you for nearly two years. He loves you as if you were his real son. You should just ask him about it." Hiccup stood then, extending his hand down for Jack to take. He helped him up, keeping his hand in his. "C'mon. Let's get out of here."
"The great Hiccup Haddock ditching class?" Jack mocked lightly.
Hiccup rolled his eyes even thought this was the first time he had ever skipped class. "Some things are just more important." Carefully they made their way out of the school, narrowly avoiding the gaze of one of the administrators. Jack just followed behind Hiccup letting the shorter boy lead him. He was more focused on the growing pit in his stomach. He didn't want to go back into the system. He wanted more than anything to stay with North.
After what had happened to his family and a dozen or so foster homes, the only people who made Jack feel safe were North and Hiccup. They were his home. He looked at Hiccup when they came to a stop in front of Target. Hiccup smiled at him, leading him once more towards the beauty department.
"Hic what are we doing here?"
"What do you think?" Hiccup replied as he grabbed a box of hair dye from the neatly stocked shelves. He turned on his heel walking towards the registers, leaving a surprised Jack behind.
When they finally made it back to Jack's house, Hiccup had ordered Jack into the bathroom, shoving the small box at him. "Go on. I'll be in your room when you're done."
Jack gave him a small smile, "Yes sir."
Awhile later Jack wandered into his room, finding Hiccup sitting on his bed reading a book. "Hey I'm done."
Hiccup turned to look at his boyfriend smiling when he saw the snow colored hair had returned. "It's good to see you Jack. C'mere."
Jack smirked, obeying the small command, sitting on the edge of his bed. Hiccup gave him a small kiss, wrapping his arms around Jack. "I love you best when you're you Jack. You know that right?"
"I know Hiccup. I know. I love you too." Jack closed his eyes, resting his forehead against Hiccup's. "Would you mind being here when I ask North about...you know?"
"Of course." Hiccup replied, happy to support him. The two proceeded to cuddle in Jack's bed until a few hours later when they heard North's booming voice, "Jack! I'm home!"
The couple stood from the bed, slowly making their way downstairs to the kitchen where North was busy putting groceries away. "Oh hello there Hiccup! I did not realize you were here too! Though I suppose it makes sense now why the school called to tell me you ditched Jack."
Hiccup smiled, North was seriously the coolest adult ever. He wasn't even mad that Jack had skipped.
"Sorry North, I um well I wanted to dye my hair white again."
North looked at Jack, still putting away the groceries, "But your hair was already white, no?"
"I dyed it brown last night." Jack confessed quietly.
North stopped then, turning to look at the teenager fully, "Why?"
Jack's eyes darted around the room, "I - North I know you wanna give me back and I thought maybe if I stopped being so much trouble, you'd want to keep me. So -"
"Give you back? What are you talking about?" North sounded genuinely confused. Hiccup glanced between the two, hoping that Jack had seriously misunderstood the situation.
"I know you've been talking to social services." Jack admitted.
"I have. But Jack, how could you ever think I would give you back." North deflated, making his way over to the white haired boy. "I have been talking to your social worker. I wanted... Jack I want to legally adopt you."
Hiccup's eyes widened, watching as Jack's face went from shocked to excited. "Really? You really want to keep me? Even though I'm not the best student and I like my hair white and I skip class?"
"Jack those things do not make you a bad person. You're simply Jack. And I would be happy if you would be my son." North looked at the white haired boy with pure familiar love in his eyes.
Jack nodded slowly, "Yes. I-I would really really like that. Hic! I'm getting adopted!" Hiccup nodded, smiling at the two. Jack bounced in his spot a few times before launching himself at his soon to be legal father. North chuckled, pulling the boy into a bone-crushing hug.