Chapter Text
Soft sunlight illuminated the cove. The forest silent except for the chirps of the birds and the low steady rumble of the sleeping dragon's chest.
Toothless curled around the two tangled bodies next to him. Jack had Hiccup held tight by the waist, his strong arms entrapping him to his chest, his face buried into the soft red hair. Hiccup on the other hand, tangled his legs in between Jack's, arms holding into his back, face pressed at the crook of his neck, breathing out little sighs of contempt.
Out of the three, Jack was the first to awaken, His eyes opened slowly, confusion flowing into him as to why he was not laying on his nest, before the events from the previous days crashed into him. Instinctively, his hold on Hiccup tightened, he growled loudly.
"Jack..?" Hiccup asked groggily, a little breathless. He strained his neck and looked at Jack in the eye.
"Jack, are you okay?" Jack stared at him in silence; he closed his eyes and shoved his face into Hiccup's neck. Breathing in his scent and relaxing somewhat.
Jack breathed through his nose, and looked at Hiccup once more, marveling in silent wonder at how the warm, gentle light of the morning sun sprayed onto his face, his freckles and button nose illuminated in an almost otherworldly glow.
"Jack, fine." Jack finally responded, gently running his fingertips over Hiccup's checks. Hiccup leaned into the touch, and closed his eyes. A small sigh passed his lips.
Jack stared at Hiccup's too pink lips. A strangle urge irked him again. The same urge he had felt that night swinging in the vines back at the island.
He inched his face closer, eyes never leaving Hiccup's mouth. Hiccup's eyes opened and looked at Jack with full attention, his expression turning soft as he kept watching Jack. He smiled.
"Jack." He breathed. Hiccup's arms unwrapped from his back and warm smooth hands cradled his face.
Hiccup leaned in closer; eyes fluttering shut, Jack did the same, Hiccup's breath warm near his lips. His hold tightened further, and made move to close the inch gap between them.
Toothless yawned and stretched out. Limbs sprawled wildly around, wings expanding, and tail swishing from side to side. He rolled over, successfully smacking his massive paw over Hiccup's head. Hiccup's forehead smashed into Jack's lips with a loud crunch. Jack yowled in pain, hands leaving Hiccup, holding his bruised mouth. Hiccup rolled over and curled into him, hands firmly pressed on his head.
"Dammit, Toothless!" Jack hissed at his brother. Toothless chirped in confusion, what? Jack grumbled incoherently, rubbing away the remaining hints of pain from his teeth.
Hiccup lay still, and his shoulders shook. Jack crawled to him, worried, petting his hair gently.
"Hiccup, okay?" Instead of a response, Hiccup opened his mouth and a loud blast of laughter escaped from him. His nose scrunched in the strangest way, and his entire body shook.
Bewailed, Jack did the only thing he could think to do. He laughed with him.
Both doubled over in hysteric laughter, none stopping. Jack's sides and face hurt, his eyes watered, but he could do nothing to stop the laughter. They laughed and laughed continuously until they settled next to one another, shoulder to shoulder, hands clasped together, in small hysterics of giggles. Finally, they quieted. The silence ringing in their ears.
"How do you feel?" Hiccup turned to Jack, faced flushed and eyes shining. Jack watched the sky, marveling at the few clouds that lingered about. He felt tired, confused scared, but also…
"Peace." He said. Hiccup watched him intensely. He said nothing more and watched the clouds alongside him.
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Alvin paced through his cabin, ignoring the quiet hiccupping of the small child in the corner. He watched through his window as men passed by hurriedly, some obviously drunk, others hyper aware of their surrounding and hurrying along, not making eye contact. A knock echoed through the cabin, the little boy sat silent and still.
"WHAT?" Alvin yelled, stopping his pacing and making his way through the door, yanking it open. One of the few young men stood straight, fear in his eyes, but determined.
"S-sir, I think we know where Daggur has gone" He stuttered. Alvin smiled and pushed the man inside, slamming the door shut and gesturing the man to show him the way.
They walked in silence, Alvin pleased as the people parted for me him to walk through, like the hero he was. They neared Daggur's cabin, ignoring the rotting dismembered bodies that littered around, and holding back the vile at the smell of dried blood. They entered the cabin and headed straight to his desk, littered with papers and sketched, too good to be drawn by Daggur. The man pointed at one of the scribbled on sketches, Alvin peered down at it. Some of the writing scrawled in a way that was unreadable, others not making sense, but he zeroed into the bolded writing at the edge of the paper. Ride the dragons.
Next to it was an arrow pointing at the sketched dragon of a scavenger sporting a riding saddle, next to it was a small scribbled note. Berk . Alvin smiled, yellow teeth showing.
"Aw, well lookie here. Little Daggur wen' ahead and rode a dragon!" He laughed at his crude joke. "Wonder how he managed tha'?" He asked the man. Alvin clasped a dirty hand on the boy's shoulder and laughed Hartley, the boy laughing awkwardly next to him.
"Taming the retched beasts sounds ridiculous, but I guess it's easier than losing an eye over it." He shoved the boy forward and they stepped out of the cabin.
"What's yer' name, by the way?" Alvin asked as he finally looked at the boy from up and down, eyes scrunching in satisfaction at his lean body and soft features.
"A-adam, sir." Adam stuttered. Alvin smiled sickly sweet. He wrapped a heavy arm around Adam's shoulder, herding him towards the port.
"Well, Adam, you'll do nicely." He chuckled. "Get me some more information about this whole… Taming dragons, and I'll give you a nice reward." Adam relaxed.
"Yes sir!" Adam smiled and ran off. Alvin watched him go with a leer.
"Yes, very nice" He hummed to himself, making his way back to his own cabin.