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beccabloo · 1 day ago

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Morning reblog ✨

As the light of dawn broke the lingering cloak of night across the never-ending sky, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third saw the village of Berk stand proudly (if not also precariously) ahead.

“Alright bud, nearly home.” Hiccup gave Toothless an encouraging pat upon his neck, his own body thrumming with anticipation of their arrival. Toothless warbled in response, likely more than glad to rest and gobble down at least two baskets of fish before falling into a food coma once they landed. Hiccup was tempted to do the same, eventually.

“I don't think I've ever seen you this excited to see Berk,” Astrid remarked, stirring Hiccup from his thoughts, Stormfly gliding alongside Toothless as they headed homebound, “Not without a single detour or some catastrophe chasing you anyway.”

“Ha ha.” Hiccup rolled his eyes, his voice as dry as Astrid’s speciality ‘roast’. As much as he missed Dragon’s Edge, he did not miss the communal meals, “Very funny, Astrid. I almost fell off of Toothless laughing at your wit.”

It showed how far their friendship had come, for Hiccup to flinch only partly in jest when Astrid narrowed her eyes in what he had learned to be playful. Would wonders ever cease?

Determinedly looking elsewhere, Hiccup coughed, forcefully changing the subject, “So far, nothing seems to be on fire. Or flooded. Or torn apart. I am cautiously optimistic that the others haven’t caused any major damage, collateral or otherwise.”

Astrid groaned, and weirdly enough, Hiccup swore he felt Toothless sigh of all things beneath him. Rude. “Hiccup, don’t jinx us. I just want to go home, feed Stormfly and myself before collapsing in my own bed until at least noon.”

“Since when have you skipped morning drills?” He teased, “If Toothless doesn’t wake me up for a morning flight at the crack of dawn, it’s usually you at my door with an axe announcing combat training.”

Astrid huffed, and Hiccup could sense her eyeroll. “Yeah, well, usually we aren’t up all night trying to find some weird glowing mushrooms for Gothi. Mushrooms that I am sure could have waited till sunlight to be picked after we found them.”

Shifting a little out of guilt, Hiccup stammered out an excuse, hoping Astrid would buy it, “Gothi is our main healer, you never know if she’ll suddenly need the stuff for something important the moment we return. Plus, with our luck, some smaller species of dragon would appear and eat it all whilst we slept. Something like the Flightmare, except you know, hopefully smaller.”

Astrid, evidently, did not buy it.

“So, you’re telling me you thought about the possibility of finding a new dragon by accident, and that made you decide to go home early?”

Yeah, Hiccup wouldn’t have believed himself either.

Astrid stared at Hiccup, her eyebrows raised high, but mercifully dropped the subject. “Well, we'd better get back to Berk asap then, so you can go and see Gothi right away.”

With some encouragement to Stormfly, Astrid shot past them, the shadow of her dragon slowly appearing on the sea’s surface below as the sun rose behind them.

“Well, we can’t let ourselves be overtaken like that, bud, can we?” Hiccup asked Toothless with a grin. With a tired but determined warble, Hiccup got his answer. “Alright, Toothless, let’s get home.”

~~~

By the time their dragons landed, the night had all but gone, although their village remained quiet besides the squawk of stubborn, courageous (and stupid) seagulls. But with the arrival of dawn, soon the residents would awaken and begin their day. For some, it meant lighting the forge to start the day’s work, for others, the fire that would begin reheating the previous night’s dinner, or perhaps a fresh batch of porridge if you were lucky.

It was not quite that time yet, which meant they would need to scrounge for themselves or put up with their hunger until they woke up to have the leftovers later.

Although tempted by the latter, more than once their dragons had taken it upon themselves to provide for their riders when they heard stomachs grumble, which was, as to be expected, raw fish (and only sometimes with a bite taken from it already).

Both Astrid and Hiccup had wordlessly chosen the former option

As Hiccup unclicked his prosthetic from the saddle’s stirrup and swung himself off of Toothless, he stumbled, legs numb from the prolonged flight and his back more than a little stiff. To his left, Astrid was already stretching to unloosen her limbs and muscles, and he had no doubt she’d be as fresh as a daisy after some food and a quick nap. Hiccup, meanwhile, would be lucky if he didn’t wake up with an even worse ache.

Hiccup unhooked his satchel from Toothless’ saddle, which contained the mushrooms they had spent more than one night searching for, all carefully separated into multiple containers, treated to keep the moisture as long as possible. They would have made it back to Berk even quicker if he hadn’t been worried they would spill out and make all of their work for nothing. Astrid wasn’t incorrect that he wanted to return as soon as possible, and having to go back to the swamp was the opposite of what he wanted.

“Hey,” Astrid called out, attracting Hiccup’s drifting attention, and yet she wasn't looking at him. With a nod of her head, he followed her line of sight, and there, growing ever closer, was a figure he was intimately familiar with.

‘Jack, he was waiting for me?’

The Winter fae was a blur of mostly blue and white as he sprinted over the grassy knolls. The image was almost funny. Jack could fly, and yet in his excitement, he hurtled towards their location like an overly excited fawn. Hiccup’s chest warmed as little dragons fluttered in his stomach, his eagerness to be reunited shared. They were long past what should have been the ‘honeymoon’ stage, and yet he knew their mutual feelings hadn’t dwindled in the slightest.

“Think someone missed you?” Astrid asked with a grin as she unclipped her satchel from Stormfly’s saddle. Hiccup elected to ignore her. He knew his own grin was particularly dopey and love-sick, but he hadn’t really cared about others seeing him like that for months now. He was happy and in love, so sue him.

Very soon, the details of Jack’s features became much clearer as he closed in, and yet Hiccup began to feel a nervousness of another kind emerge.

Jack was not slowing down.

And Hiccup was still holding a satchel filled with mushrooms he and Astrid had spent several days finding to return, and he was also very close to a very steep drop.

In his panic, he didn’t think to carefully place it on the ground first or pass it over to Astrid, and could only find the brain function to cry out with wide eyes, “W-wait, Jack! I'm holding-!”

Out of the corner of his eye, Hiccup made out a flash of blonde hair swooping in to snatch the bag as it fell before his arms were suddenly filled with a familiar weight and the scent of earth, fresh mint and crisp ozone. Automatically, for it was muscle memory by this point, he caught the thighs that clung around his waist, and felt bare feet briefly dig in to the back of his legs with an affectionate squeeze. Somehow, they were both still upright; Hiccup was getting better at this.

“Hic!”

Jack’s voice was filled with delight, and when Hiccup saw Astrid holding the satchel, he knew the fluttering feeling present in his stomach was still very much due to the man he held, and not the anxiety of potentially losing the purpose of their temporary separation. The knowledge did loosen the tension in his shoulders, though.

And she was still smirking at him with that knowing look. Rude.

Hiccup ignored her, choosing to turn his gaze up to meet Jack’s and wryly responded, “Well, hello to you, too.”

He was answered with an even wider grin, showing the most pearly white teeth Hiccup (and Berk) had ever seen. And then a slyness crossed Jack’s features as he leered, “Fancy seeing you here, Haddock. Come here often?”

The answering snort came out without permission, and Jack’s smile grew even more. Hiccup squeezed the legs in his hands once, “Yeah, you could say something like that.”

Obviously feeling ignored, which just was not done, Toothless warbled, butting his head against Jack’s thigh, brushing against Hiccup’s hand as he did so, reminding Jack that he too had come back as well. With a coo that he would swear he never made when confronted, Jack leaned, reaching down to scratch behind Toothless’s ears. As Jack never made any motion to let go with his legs, Hiccup didn’t loosen his grip. “Aww, did the most badass reptile in the archipelago miss me?”

Filled with affection watching two of his most important existences interact, Hiccup immediately ratted out his dragonic best friend, “I’ve never seen a dragon sulk like Toothless did, when he realised you wouldn’t be there to make ice for him to crunch, or someone to throw around when he got bored.”

The offence on Toothless’s face was plain to see, and this time Jack buried his face into Hiccup’s left shoulder to muffle his laughter. Toothless stared flatly at them both before turning his back on them, a fantastic example of his earlier-mentioned sulking.

“Okay, I’ll take this as my queue to leave you two love birds alone, shall I?”

Both Hiccup’s and Jack’s faces flushed; Hiccup turning red whilst Jack’s crackled with fresh frost, his nose and ears turning just a little pink underneath it all.

Straightening up his posture (and Hiccup readjusting his grip to accommodate), Jack greeted Astrid as though he wasn’t clinging to his boyfriend like a particularly sticky weed, “Hello there, Astrid, glad to see you didn’t murder Hiccup for what would likely have been a very reasonable cause.”

Astrid snorted, adjusting the satchel to cross her shoulder before pulling out her braid from underneath the strap, “I don’t have to try when he just about does the job for me, wandering into swamps and nearly losing his leg and himself trying to retrieve it. It’s a wonder all the hunters, trappers, and bandits we faced before didn’t just let Hiccup get to it himself.”

The body in his arms trembled as Jack snickered, and Hiccup looked to the sky for patience. “Yes, thank you, Astrid, for that. Didn’t you say you wanted to eat and collapse? I don’t see that happening.”

With another roll of her eyes, Astrid led Stormfly towards the village, but not without a reminder of afternoon drills. Great.

A silence fell over the two lovers as Astrid disappeared from view, and Toothless moved to the side, grooming himself, now over his sulk fest. Hiccup admired how the rising sun to the side of them made Jack’s pale skin and snow white hair glow with a warmth that usually could only be expressed in the way his smile met his eyes. The brooch he had designed and made as a courting gift clasped shut the blue fur-lined hooded cloak that Hiccup had also hand-sewn for Jack. It wasn’t the first time he had seen his lover wear it, but it never failed to tickle his heart seeing Berk’s resident Winter spirit wear his gifts.

And of course, there, hanging down in front of Jack’s right ear, was a braid Hiccup personally wove, with a bead that stated to all his intentions. Hiccup wore a matching one in one of his own braids, and he could feel Jack’s slender fingers fiddle with it right then. If they were sitting down, Hiccup could have fallen asleep like that, with his lover’s fingers in his hair.

“So…” Hiccup started, reluctant to end the peace that settled between them, but hungry for more of Jack’s voice. It had only been a few days, but it still felt an age since they last talked just the two of them. “Should I expect the place to be overrun with chaos and Snotlout as the new Chief?”

Jack’s mouth quirked into a grin before forcefully turning down, eyebrows narrowed playfully, mock stern, “Why Hiccup, I am aghast-”

“Jack.”

“offended-”

Hiccup tightened his grip on Jack’s thighs as he waved a fist to further emphasise his words, the two only wobbling slightly, although the cliff edge was still too close for comfort. “Jack, stay still-”

“-and appalled, that you would think that!” Jack finished, his attempt to keep a straight face falling apart at Hiccup's flat stare. He laughed, and Hiccup couldn't stop his own lips from turning up into a smile in response. Jack's laugh was infectious like that, “Okay, okay, but I swear I behaved. Ruffnut and Tuffnut, on the other hand, I take no responsibility for them when their impulse control goes and leaves for some expedition.”

Hiccup sighed with just a little exaggeration at the news, “I told you, Gothi needed some ingredients that only grew in damp, humid conditions and since the merchants didn't have any in stock. It was faster if I went with Toothless.”

“And Stormfly?” Jack interjected, eyebrow rising in scepticism.

Hiccup raised his own eyebrow in turn, “Well, I've been made aware that I need some kind of competent company with my history of being kidnapped. Astrid, meanwhile, has a reputation for keeping her axes sharp and instincts sharper.”

“And no one thought that a literal spirit of Winter that could fly and shoot ice would be of help too?” Oh, Jack was pouting. That was just plain unfair.

“Hey,” with just a soft vocal nudge, Jack’s eyes flickered back to meet Hiccup’s, and there they remained locked onto one another; It was hard not to pay attention to anything else like that. It was perhaps why their friends were so exasperated when in the same room as them, come to think. “I promise I didn't think we'd be gone that long, past escapades notwithstanding. Besides-”, Hiccup grinned, “you were having fun with the village kids, I couldn't force you away from that.”

A drop of silence, and then Jack groaned, “Stop that.”

“Stop what?” Hiccup asked innocently. Jack, however, looked unconvinced.

“Stop doing that with your face!”

Hiccup couldn’t help the laugh of disbelief that escaped him then, “My face? What has my face ever done to you?”

“What hasn’t it done?” Jack grumbled and then snickered shortly thereafter when Hiccup’s cheeks flushed. With a sigh and a look of resigned acceptance, he continued, “You make it so hard to stay annoyed at you, pretend or not. It’s those big ol’ puppy eyes, it’s an unfair biological advantage.”

“I’ll have to keep that in mind then.” Hiccup quipped and felt Jack’s bare feet thump the back of his thighs once again in response.

The quiet never bothered Hiccup, not between them. Some said pictures spoke louder than words anyway. The way Jack looked down at him, eyes turning half-lidded, the snowflakes hidden within his irises partially obscured but no less brilliant when they focused on him. And when Jack’s eyes flicked down and back up, well, nothing had to be said.

Hiccup’s eyelids fluttered close at the silent request, and he felt the pale fingers that cupped the back of his head tighten their grip in response. Cold breath tickled the skin of his face, although not unpleasantly; how could it when Hiccup’s face flushed hot as his heartbeat quickened? He could only hope that, despite not having slept, he wouldn’t somehow have morning breath.

And then, within the span of a breath, Hiccup felt a pair of cold yet soft lips press against the tip of his nose.

Laughter, soft, sweet, and so very warm, echoed across the area, and Hiccup opened his eyes to playfully glare up at his boyfriend. He also did his best to ignore the tickle that usually foretold a sneeze.

“Welcome back, Hiccup. Missed you”

Jack’s words were hushed, as though it was meant only for Hiccup, even as isolated as they were. Nevertheless, it did its job in making Hiccup feel particularly gooey with feelings, “Glad to be back.”

Jack was a winter spirit, capable of treading air as though he were a leaf in the wind. And yet despite this, Hiccup still loosened his grip slowly, letting his lover’s bare feet find the grass before letting go. His hands lingered, however, and Jack made no move to untangle himself from Hiccup's embrace either.

The sun continued to rise, and the brilliance of the golden glow continued to spread across Jack’s features, his blue eyes reflecting the radiance as though it were the sea that stood far below them both.

The longer that Hiccup stared, the more Jack’s cheeks began to glint softly, frost spreading across them and his nose once more until it reached his ears. Hiccup couldn't stop the growing smile on his face if he tried. Reluctantly, as his stomach would very soon begin to protest if he didn’t eat something soon (as would Toothless, no doubt), their loose embrace ended.

Now side by side, their hands brushed once, twice, before they tangled together instinctively; Hiccup rubbed his thumb across cool skin, and he felt Jack squeeze back in return. The smile they shared was equally silly.

Toothless, alert, and no doubt hungry for his post-flight snack and breakfast, rose onto all fours and galloped over to them enthusiastically to lead the way back home.

“So…what should I be expecting then?” Hiccup asked nonchalantly as they began the short trek back.

Jack hummed, and Hiccup only felt the slightest bit of concern well up inside of him. Ultimately, whatever happened could wait until he ate something and took a six-hour nap (hopefully with Jack joining him). That was future-Hiccup's problem.

“The mead hall has a brand new skylight just recently installed, very thoughtfully, by the twins. Really brightens the place up. Fantastic way to tell the time from inside, although not great when it rains. Or snows. Or hails.”

“Oh, I am sure my dad was thrilled by their generosity.”

“He definitely had some words for them, that’s for sure. Which, on a totally unrelated note, want to grab something to go?”

“Gods yes.”

#Jack “If I run at Hiccup he will most certainly catch me in his arms” Frost #Hiccup “Wait- No Jack I'm holding coffee!!” Haddock #hijack #frostcup #httyd #rotg #rotg jack frost #httyd hiccup #how to train your dragon #rise of the guardians

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beccabloo · 2 days ago