*Took me forever to update sorry! I hope it's ok :P
The next day, Hiccup woke up early to snow gently falling out his window. Toothless was still asleep, so Hiccup decided to let him rest. After putting on his prosthetic and changing, Hiccup headed to Gobber's workshop to work on new gear for Toothless. Hiccup's eyes gazed at the snow and his mind quickly drifted to the night before. Him meeting a lone barefooted teenager, having snowball fights in the middle of the night; Just the memory stirred an excitement and curiosity that Hiccup couldn't handle, so he tried to not think about it. Honestly, he wanted to see Jack again already. But Hiccup didn't want to seem anxious or weird by visiting so soon.
When Hiccup entered the shop, he found he was alone. He sat at his desk and began doodling in his sketchpad instead of thinking of new tail designs like he intended. No matter how hard he tried, his curiosity in Jack grew as he tried to occupy himself. Where is he really from? Did he die last night from frostbite? Hiccup then turned worried. I hope I didn't just leave Jack freeze to death... Hiccup stopped and realized he had drawn the pale boy from the other night in his sketchpad. It was unconscious, but he had definitely drawn Jack.
"That's it." Hiccup mumbled to himself. "I need to check on him today." Though he made his decision, he figured to at least go during the late afternoon to avoid seeming nuts, if he was still alive anyways. Hiccup spent the entire day doodling, reading his favorite book on Viking folklore, riding Toothless, and visiting the other dragons. By midafternoon, Hiccup finally caved and went looking for Jack. Once Hiccup arrived on the mountain, it began to snow.
"Jack?" Hiccup mumbled, almost wanting Jack not to hear him. This was a bad idea, he's going to think I'm nuts, visiting again so soon… Hiccup worried. He then recalled that Jack could be lying dead somewhere. He instantly became urgent.
"JACK! JACK!" Hiccup yelled. A snowball nailed Hiccup on the back of the head, a painful sensation which in that moment, seemed like a blessing. A smile grew on his face and he turned to find the barefooted teen, smirking evilly with a perfect snowball in hand.
"Miss me already?"
"Jack! You're ok!" Hiccup laughed. In that moment he felt he wanted to hug Jack, a gesture he recognized as being far too familiar, so he resisted. Jack chuckled a little.
"Whatever do you mean?" Jack teased. The handsome teen stood barefooted in the snow, not even slightly bothered by the ice beneath his feet. Hiccup began to become less worried about Jack and more concerned with whether Jack was human or not.
"I thought you'd freeze to death on this mountain, so I came back to check on you." Hiccup admitted. He stared at Jack, standing in the snow that blended with his pale skin and his silver hair. He looked like no one he had ever seen before. After all, his entire village was composed of bulky, dirty men. Jack was lean, and weirdly enough to Hiccup, pretty.
Jack approached Hiccup with a grateful smile that Hiccup didn't quite know if he deserved. If Hiccup really thought Jack would freeze, he should've come much sooner.
"Thank you for coming to see me, Hiccup." Jack smiled. Hearing his own name come from Jack's lips now in daylight made this whole dreamlike encounter with Jack real, causing Hiccup's heart to race. Who is this person? What am I doing? Hiccup wondered.
"No need to worry about me. I was built for cold!" Jack assured as he pounced on Hiccup and skillfully buried him in snow before Hiccup could blink. Hiccup shivered in the snow heap and glared at Jack.
"Unlike you." Jack laughed. Jack was playful as he was before, but today, somehow more controlled, almost a serious playfulness.
Hiccup stood up and wiped the snow from his body. He just couldn't wrap his brain around Jack. All this time he hasn't seen Jack so much as shudder. Hiccup didn't want to overthink it. He shrugged it off and laughed. They then began a similar snow fight to the night before. The two fought and tossed snowballs at each other and Hiccup became so suprised to find such an effortless friendship. Between battles, they would lay in the snow and throw in an occasional question.
"Hiccup, you're a Viking right?" Jack asked, catching his breath. Hiccup nodded, his back on the ice.
"You seem a bit different from others I've seen from your village." Jack commented. Hiccup turned to him.
"What? Because I'm scrawny?" Hiccup scowled teasingly. He'd heard that remark from just about everyone in the village. It was not a surprise to hear from Jack.
"No, you just seem pretty calm and collected…You're very…" Jack rubbed his chin to think of the word. "Thoughtful. Vikings have always come across as brash and violent to me but I feel very safe around you." Jack stared into Hiccup's eyes in a way that almost looked like admiration. Hiccup blushed.
"O-oh you think so?" Hiccup rolled on his back to turn away. Jack made being a fishbone sound like a good thing. To his surprise, Jack's comment made Hiccup feel… happy. No one has regarded my bizarreness as a good thing… Hiccup pondered. Not until I had to prove myself to my entire village by integrating the entire dragon community into Viking living... He didn't let Jack see, but he smiled ear to ear. Thoughtful…never thought of that way.
For another hour they played. Whenever Hiccup got too tired, he'd sit while Jack rolled around happily in the snow. At one point, Hiccup became distracted, turning over rocks and checking behind trees as Jack continued to roll around in the snow. Hiccup's eyes scanned the area with curiosity. After a while, Jack noticed Hiccup's strange behavior and sat up.
"What are you doing?" Jack questioned. Hiccup froze. He was so comfortable around Jack he began reverting back to his old routines.
"Um, well..." Hiccup began. He figured he should just be honest.
"I'm looking for trolls."
Jack tilted his head.
"Trolls?"
Hiccup nodded.
"You actually believe in those things?" Jack questioned with more confusion than judgment.
"I do." Hiccup said firmly, with a hint of embarrassment.
Jack jumped up and looked around then to the boy.
"Why?"
Hiccup took a breath. He's probably going to think strangely of me after this but…
"Well...I want to meet one." Hiccup smiled. "Just because I haven't seen one yet doesn't mean they aren't there." Hiccup awkwardly twiddled his thumbs. He continued to search as he spoke.
"I don't know a troll, but if I were a troll I'd hate to think that people put me aside for so long that no one even gives me a chance anymore. If I don't even try to believe in them, how will ever I ever get to meet one?" Hiccup continued to scan the area.
"All I know is if I were a troll, I certainly wouldn't want to meet someone who had no interest in meeting me."
Jack stood motionless with a blank stare. For a moment it was silent, until Jack burst into laughter.
"Ha ha!" Jack cracked up and fell to the snow. Hiccup scowled.
"I figured that's what you'd do..." Hiccup grumbled. "I'm always wrong aren't I?" Jack rolled over, his gaze avoiding Hiccups.
"No, I think you're right." Jack said, his face flushing slightly. Hiccup tilted his head and Jack jumped up.
"We'll have better luck with two people." Jack chuckled. Hiccup smiled as Jack and he searched aimlessly for something they would never find.