Chapter Text
❅♯¹❅
Enough was enough. Jack had to do something about it now.
Jack has spent the last years being helplessly, pathetically, undoubtedly and madly in love with the one and only Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Yes. The dork, nerdy, insanely smart, handsome and caring idiot that he was.
Honestly, he should had seen that coming. The moment those beautiful green eyes had locked with his, something happen.
How had all this started and why it felt like the galaxy was being remade every time Jack did as much as brush his skin with Hiccup's? It was actually a funny story. If you really want to now, (and I know you do), just promise to not laugh too much at him.
Their friendship started like many things had on Jack's life. With a snowball fight!
Jamie was still a little baby back then (six years old was still baby on Jack's book, specially if it was about his little brother), so his and Mary's friends had decided to go easy on the fight. Or he thought that. Five minutes into the fight, Mary, Katherine, Emily Jane and Rapunzel had united forces and ganged up against him. Girl power and that jazz, for Jack it was just an excuse so they could kick his ass. An understandable strategy, really, Jack was the King of Snowball Fights for a reason, but come on! Jamie was there too, a little of compassion. Where's the love for the sport?
And there they were, one day of December having fun like only they knew how to do it. Jack was being more Jamie's shield than anything, but it was alright. He liked it. And then, one of his snowballs went and hit straight in the head some random kid that was crossing the street with his friends. The random kid with auburn hair was, in fact, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Son of the mayor, 'Chief' Stoick Haddock. And it took Jack an awful whole of ten seconds to realize.
Time froze for a second as Hiccup looked at him, eyes open in surprise. Jack was rooted to his spot, unable to do anything but to look at those forest green eyes. It only lasted a a few breaths. Maybe just seconds were enough.
Then the twins started to laugh loudly and somehow the snowballs started flying in all directions once again. It was fun. Maybe even funnier than before. A piece fitting into a space that Jack never noticed it was empty. A snowball went straight to his head, and for some reason he knew exactly who to blame. A laugh, mischief adorning those eyes and a smirk that invited too much trouble. Trouble that called to him.
There was no way to come back from that addictive view. Looking back, it was incredible easy to understand why he had fallen for Hiccup.
That year, Jack had invited Hiccup to his family's Christmas party and so it began. Hiccup and Jack. Jack and Hiccup. Attached to the hip.
it wasn't long when one night two years later Jack would be screaming into his pillow when he came to the horrible realization that he was in love with his best friend. Damn Emily Jane who jokingly said that his current boyfriend looked a little too much like Hiccup! He broke off with the guy immediately and spent the rest of the week having an existencial crisis. Now it turned out that Hiccup had became his type. It was so hard to find a guy attractive that looked nothing like Hiccup.
Curses, curse Emily Jane for the rest of her life. His love life had ended shortly after that. It felt wrong in a way, trying to love someone else when he knew damn well for whom his heart yearned. So he focused on other things. School, his family, his friends, even helping North at the workshop. Anything that kept his mind busy and heart silent.
He should have done something back then, maybe it wouldn't have became this mess of too many emotions and confusion, maybe the rejection would have hurt less and he could've moved on. But Jack let the fear and insecurities get an iron grip on his heart. Now it was too late. Too late to move on, too late to forget, too late to stop his fall, too late to be a joke both of the would laught at. What would Hiccup think of him now? What would it mean for their friendship? Was he willing to risk it for this? Risk losing Hiccup over his stupid crush?
The answer had been no, and it was like that for some long years.
Until last week.
He had finally grown tired of everything. Of being scared, of all the hidden glances, the whispers of love that only the moon knew about, the way his skin burned at lingering touches, the jealousy, the wanting, the way he itched to touch Hiccup in ways that had nothing to do with friendship. Jack's heart was heavy and tired of all the confessions he never dared to say outloud and could only mouth to himself.
He now had only two options: confess his feelings to Hiccup and risk years of friendship, or try to get over him.
Being completely honest, there was only one option. Jack already had tried to leave behind these feelings for years remember?, and it clearly hadn't worked! It was an impossible task. (Maybe Jack didn't wanted to get rid of the feelings, because as much as it hurt, nothing was better than looking at Hiccup working on some project of his and having his heart flutter when Hiccup looked back at him with that smile.) (Jack liked to think that this was the kind of love that made Achilles or Juliet go crazy at the fact of not having it on their lives anymore.)
And... there was something that Tooth had said too. "Didn't you noticed the way he looks at you, too?"
Jack's world did a whole turn and spiralled yet again. What on earth did that even mean?
Jack didn't want to get his hopes up, but it was hard not to. He couldn't help it. All the night scenarios he had daydreamed, all those images he tried not to dwell into, they all came back to him, even more than before. Too many fantasies and images that made him stomach do cartwheels. But could you blame him? No. No you can't, and you won't.
So Jack had a plan. Confess his feelings to Hiccup or die trying.
(Let's hope he doesn't die)
⭒˗ˏˋ𓆩 ❆ 𓆪ˎˊ˗⭒
Spring had arrived finally, the end of fun and games but also a new start for life, new beginnings and whatever other things Aster loved to said.
It was Easter's Day and the kids had already found all the eggs they've hidden in the forest. Jack was still whining about how easy they had found the ones he had hidden, but whatever, he could survive that. They were now heading back to Jack's house to enjoy the party Aster always hosted and that the kids loved so much. Jack loved the party too, though he never said it out loud, part of the fun was annoying Aster to hell and back.
"Man, I don't wanna hear Easter's story again." Jack whines, being purely dramatic, thank you.
"I've to say, it's a good story." Hiccup says, humor and joke falling easy from his voice.
"You didn't just say that." and yeah, Aster has a talent for storytelling and it is an endearing story, but you'll never hear that from his mouth.
"Aw, come on Jack, just because is not Christmas doesn't mean is bad." fireworks goes off on his skin when Hiccup bumps their shoulders together.
And then Jack is aware of Hiccup at his side. Everything he is. The heat of his body and how Hiccup always has been like a furnace. His hair that each year is longer, with the braid he made as a joke still intact. The way he keept getting taller and taller, and really what was the need?, Jack's neck is already a victim here. His strong arms, oh how Jack wants to be crushed by them—uhm, yeah, you get it.
Walking at his side like this, in the forest behind Jack's home, feels too good, too them. He can see it, and feel it too, the way their hands would fit together. Fingers locked, palm to palm. How easy they would fit together. (How easy it was, when they were still young. They used to run around the forest and the pond, hand in hand without a care in the world. Until one day, it felt like too much, too big, too important. Jack now knew why.)
Jack could just slip his hand into Hiccup's. Just like that, so easy. He probably wouldn't mind. He probably would hold his hand back. It wasn't really a risk, just a gesture. It didn't had to mean anything. (Except Jack wanted that it could mean something.)
Two breaths after, Jack gets his hand closer to Hiccup's, his pinky brushing just barely, heart hammering on his chest and all his body tingling in pure anticipation. And then, they were locked togheter. Both of their pinkies linked together, perhaps, a bit stronger than necessary. It lasted a few seconds before Hiccup dropped his hand, for long enough seconds to send Jack into a nearly panic, when Hiccup went and grabbed Jack's hand the way it's supposed to. Fingers locked between each one, palm to plam. Fitting. Like always have been. Like he knew they would.
Jack feels the always striking difference between his cold hands and Hiccup's warm ones. He feels the roughness, from all the years spent at the workshop and building things, from Hiccup's hands. The rings Hiccup had started wearing after his nineteenth birthday, and how they weren't as uncomfortable as he had thought, (Jack's favorite had always been the one with the moon and swirls). He could feel the bigger hand caging Jack's smaller one and spirits, how much he loves that.
He also feels his face growing hotter. Is like his body had developed another sense focused only on Hiccup. It wasn't new, nor the way he responded to it, drinking everything like water on the desert. Is both overwhelming and addicting. Mary says that is borderline obsessive, but what does she know?
Jack, though, doesn't notice how they've been walking slower and slower until they finally stop. A few meters away from Jack's home. Hand in hand.
"I don't want to go in." he whispers, like a secret.
"Me neither." Hiccup responds, in the same tone and with something extra that Jack has heard not enough times to know what it is.
"We can always get lost in the forest. At least until the sun sets." is nothing they haven't done before, and Jack hates, just a little, how shy his voice sounds.
"Yeah." and is not like Hiccup is helping here.
The wind passes through them, almost curling against the two of them and Jack feels courage pumping on his veins. He looks at Hiccup, at his curious and intelligent and beautiful eyes and makes a decision.
Here. Right here, right now. He'll do it.
"Um," he starts, pathetically. "there's something I've wanted to tell you. For a long time actually." Jack sees Hiccup growing tense and attentive, his hand squeezing just a little. "Is, uh, y'know how we, ah, we've been friends for so long and..." and what's he supposed to say?! Oh god this actually harder than expected. Jack is never laughing at characters on romance books ever again.
"And?" Hiccup prompts, waiting. Is that a slight of pink on his cheeks or is Jack losing his mind? "You can trust me with whatever Jack."
"Is- is not about trust." he says fast. "But I do trust you, like no one. You know that. You know that, right? And, and you can trust me too, no matter what. I might judge you-"
"Hey!"
"-but just a little bit."
They laugh and Jack feels lighter. Laughing always has been like medicine to Jack, no matter whose is, but Hiccup's is one of his favorites.
"Yes, Jack, I know you trust me and I do trust you too."
"Oh ok, good, good. Nice. Great. Cool." someone please kill him. "What I was trying to say is that, since I've met you and I got to know you, I've never known anyone that gets close to you. Hiccup, you're one of a kind and sometimes I can't belive that you stuck around to be my friend." words spill from his mouth but Jack doesn't stop them. They come from his heart and that's what's important. "I don't know what my life could had been without you in it, and I don't want to know. I don't even want to think of a me without a you."
At some point, they end holding both hands. Focused only on each other. Growing closer.
"Hiccup I- ah!" nothing gets said, just a surprised yelp and the sudden attack of an evil beast. One that sends Jack to the ground and that probably would leave a bruise on his side. "Abby!" he screams angry at his dog who's too busy licking his face.
The greyhound leave Jack on the ground, runs around the two young adults barking and then jumps on Jack's stomach again, punching all the air out of him. Twice. Still barking and acting as if she just didn't ruined Jack's confession.
"Oh my gods." and the bastard that he loves so much just starts laughing at him! "Abby, girl calm down." he says with laughter spilling from every word. The dog keeps making his life hell tough.
Hiccup grabs Abby by the collar and gets to calm her down, before extending a hand to help Jack, while tiny laughs still pass trough his lips. His cheeks are rosy, his hair moves with the air and his eyes have such a beautiful shine that Jack almost forgets what brought him to the ground.
Jack knows he'll remember the way he looked like a prince, with the sunlight donning him with a halo, unforgiving of Jack's poor heart. "Need a hand?"
"No thank you, I think I actually died. Abby killed me." Jack whines and pretends to be dead, posing like a victorian child.
"Abby?, imposible. Don't you see the precious girl she is?" the dog barks, as if supporting Hiccup's words.
"Oh!, I see it now, betrayal!" he begins. "This was a plot all along to get rid of me. Now that I'm dead, you're gonna drop my body at the pond and it will never be found. But I assure your, good sir, I shall come back as a vengeful spirit and torment you!" and Hiccup laughs again.
How Jack loves that sound.
"Shut up, you poor baby." Hiccup says and grabs him by the hand, effortlessly pulling him up until Jack is standing again. That's uh... wow. Hiccup sure is strong.
Jack separates from Hiccup, pretending to dust off his clothes, not like he really cared about it, but is useful to pretend. Pretend what?, uhm, maybe that his dog didn't just ruined Jack's first attempt at doing something about his feelings. It was a signal that Jack shouldn't do it? Maybe.
"What it was?" Hiccup asks, hands on his pockets and avoiding Jack's eyes.
"What was what?"
"The thing you wanted to tell me?"
"Oh." heat and color comes back to his face. Jack looks at Abby and feels the embarrassment hit him full force in all his body. Is not like she was at fault, but that certainly stole all bravery out of Jack. There's no way he can say the 'I'm in love you' discourse now. "It was, uhm," so now he has to lie to Hiccup, something he utterly hates to do. "it was just that you're my best friend Hiccup and I'm grateful for that."
Is not a lie, but even Jack can feel how lame shallow feels, and is not something that Hiccup didn't already knew. The outcome is not like he planned it at all, is rather awkward and truly pathetic in Jack's end.
"Ah, I see." is worse when Hiccup can't disguise his disappointment. Whatever he was expecting, clearly isn't this. "Well, thank you Jack. And, I feel the same way about you. Ah!, that you're my best friend too."
Jack laughs, or tries to, at that. Trying to get rid of whatever tense atmosphere that just settled between them. "Oh really?, I thought it was Tuffnutt."
"I just go along to not hurt his feelings."
Is easy, too easy, how they come back to the way they've always been.
Abby barks again and Jack sighs defeated. "We should head inside." he says, quietly. Hiccup just nods and they begin walking towards the Overland home. Abby walking beside them, acting all innocent. Ugh, can someone truly hate their own dog?
Well, Jack can always try again right?
(Jack would later forget his anger the moment Abby whines asking for pets. He'd just sigh and give in. Is not her fault that Jack is slow and a coward.
Hiccup has long gone to his own home, but Jack still can feel him. Is that weird? It probably is.
Mary and Jamie definitely notice his low spirits, if the extra chocolate eggs that they give him is any sign, he still doesn't comments about it. Just eats the chocolate and starts annoying Aster, as always.)