pookabox | we're not broken just bent (AU for dragonring and icy)

we're not broken just bent (AU for dragonring and icy)

[In the months that followed Morgana's spell and subsequent defeat, there was reports of strange activity happening in the northern seas past Norway, toward the colder reaches of the world. Tales from sea captains about creatures coming out of the waters, jaws like pelicans but scales like lizards, a few poor fellows getting burned by scalding hot water. Creatures that could change their colour like a chameleon and spit acid, or burrowing ones with spines of death and razor sharp teeth that could cleave a man in two.

Even further north, nearer to the Faroe Islands, reports sightings of large, whale-like beasts that rise out of the ocean in pods with cries that caused sonic waves of air, migrating to warmer waters, following the kelp and schools of fish.

The world had not seen the likes of these beasts in well over a thousand years, since the great hibernation began. Mere fantasy now, the ideas of days gone past, tales told of them in favor of valiant knights rather than the majestic creatures themselves.

Dragons were waking.

Deep in the sanctuary, the alpha rumbled, appearing to be a mountain of snow hidden in the recesses of caverns centuries old. Moss and grass surrounded him, a breath of cold, frosted air blowing from a large maw as its eyes opened, blinking slowly. In another part of the caverns, in a den filled with old furs and a musty smell, a boy and his dragon were beginning to wake.

Toothless slowly uncurled himself from his protective position around his rider, stretching with cracking bones before shaking himself down, wings spreading. The Night Fury flicked his tail, licking gummy maws with a smacking sound before nudging at his human, crooning deep in the back of his throat. Part of him was concerned - humans weren't meant to sleep that long. Did his brother survive the hibernation?

Green eyes open, fluttering as life began to breathe back into the dragon prince. Not that he was alive, per say, but the instinct to breathe was as natural as sucking on a mother's breast when one is born. Hiccup's eyes were dilated for a moment, slits for irises before he grappled for control over the dragon instincts embedded deep inside him, returning to normal.

It came back to him. The oath, the grief, the years spent alone, then finding his mate...

His mate.

The hibernation had happened during one of the months Jack had left to take care of winter. Hiccup couldn't have helped it - the Bewilderbeast's song happened without warning, the lull of sleep effortless on a human mixed with dragon. There had been no time to leave a note, no time to say goodbye. The cave had been sealed up, an earthquake causing the entrance to be filled, dragons trapped inside in a long hibernation, a short investigation later informed Hiccup at the mouth of the cave.

He pressed a hand to the wall of rocks, feeling Toothless nudge his arm in an attempt at soothing him. He had promised he would be there no matter what, that he would always find Jack no matter what he became or where he went. Hadn't that been an oath he'd murmured into his husband's ear?]

I'm sorry, Jack.

[That had been months ago.]

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[ Dragons are coming back. Jack knows because he's seen them, and with Dave introduced to North and the other Guardians it's only natural for him to want to share this wonder, too. With a snowglobe (taken with permission this time, oops) he travels with Dave to Norway in the same vague region as his old cave used to be, skirting it with a wide berth; inside could be anything, a sleeping figure he no longer believes will wake or a bone-ridden nest, neither of which he wants to see.

So he takes Dave's hand, kisses him reassuringly that No, the dragons won't hurt us if we're nice to them, and leads him to the top of a fjord with a fantastic view. Standing there together, he points excitedly to the ripples on the water as a tidal-class dragon raises its head, thickset and wide-lipped with countless teeth. ]

I think that's a Thunderdrum, there must be a shoal of them nearby.

[ His arm slips around Dave's waist, casual and close. It's not very good but his impersonation of a Night Fury (the call he heard most often, long, long ago) carries over the waters and through the endless skies on the wind's back. ]

I think I just said Hello, don't quote me on that.

[It's not like the sorcerers are unaware of this event, or at least, Balthazar isn't. This is very important, someone should be there to receive them. Seeing as the Guardians are already on it, Dave is sent without his master, it's already time he takes the reigns of being the Prime Merlinean and becomes the guide Merlin once was.

Thank goodness Jack is there with him, or who knows if Dave would survive.

Norway is freaking gorgeous, and Dave has to remind himself they aren't here for a vacation (though if Jack can really borrow snowglobes so easily, they should consider it for the future). Brown eyes squint at the ripples on the water, and he can't help jumping a bit when he sees the dragon's head.]

Sweet!

[With the initial shock gone, Dave is laughing now. This is amazing, and he's so happy he gets to see it. And with the person he loves, too. He puts an arm around Jack's shoulders, a snort escaping him at the weird noise.]

You're such an old man. [Shaking his head fondly.] Do you think we can get closer? Found out more about why they suddenly came back?

[Somewhere around the vicinity of the old cave, there's a deep, thundering roar. The Thunderdrum going past them lights up comically, trilling excitedly to Jack before turning direction, clicking instructions to the rest of the pod.

The alpha's awake!

In the distance, behind rocks centuries old, a mountain moves, ocean water rising around him and splashing with great tidal waves. He moves with a sluggish grace, the dragons in the area unable to resist his call, not that they would want to. There's an alpha, someone who watches over them and leads them and feeds them. There's no need for the panic they have all been in since the great awakening.

Riding on the alpha's head, though, is something that is smaller than the great dragon. Much smaller. Toothless is settled on his head excitedly, bouncing around like a big black spot moving this way and that from a distance before he stops, giving his own roar that can be heard from miles around.]

[ Just a few dragons, nothing huge. Nothing ... like the earthquake that rumbles under bare feet, cutting off Jack as he agrees with Dave that yes, they can go down and pet the beasts and make friends. That was the original plan, but it falls to the wayside as the earth seems to shiver. Then there's a roar like thunder that seems to reverberate through the leaves and dirt and Jack's very bones, weakening him at the knees as he recognizes it.

Ordinarily pale, he turns gaunt as his expression wipes in shock. His hand clutches at the back of Dave's hoodie as he pulls him closer, blue eyes wide and startled as he stares around the fjord at the tidal dragons splashing below, the way rockfalls are loosening and crashing into the inlet. ]

This is impossible, only one dragon's big enough to make that kind of noise. The Alpha. But it's been asleep ... been dead, I thought, for a thousand years. This can't be happening.

[ It's not the Bewilderbeast that has Jack frozen with close-to terror, however. If the hulking creature is awake, then so is ... ]

I ... I have to let them know where I am. Stay here.

[ Kissing him on the cheek, he leaps into the air to fire a blast of frosty, white-bright lightning into the dull grey clouds like a beacon. ]

[It's weird - the Thunderdrum is almost cute in its excitement, and that's saying a lot for such a beast. Dave knows he shouldn't be surprised, after meeting so many members of the magical community he should know things really aren't as the stories say.

Except until the earthquakes hits them, the roar sending shivers down his spine. He clings to Jack, trying to remember how nice nice dragons really are, but it turns out... Jack is scared too.

And if fucking Jack Frost is scared, then Dave knows this is the right time to panic.

He turns to Jack, confusion clear on his face.] What-- what do you mean "it can't be happening"? All the dragons came back, why wouldn't the alpha wake up too?

[His hand on Jack's shoulder squeezes it hard when he hears the next suggestion, eyes going wide with worry and fear. Letting them know? Shouldn't they be hiding?]

WHAT. Are you out of your-- JACK, WAIT!

[Too late. Nervous as hell, Dave looks around, noticing the forms in the water, and decides to put on his ring, just in case. Then, with his hands on his hips, he looks up at Jack and huffs, already planning Some Words for when the spirit comes back down.]

Edited 2014-07-27 21:25 (UTC)

[The dragons in the area surround the alphas, clicking and chirping excitedly as they responded to the roar with one of their own. At the moment, they don't really care about much. They have a structured society now, like they remember having thousands of years ago. The Bewilderbeast lowers his head from where he was letting out a roar, huffing out cold air.

Toothless looks around, his earflaps flattening against his head. The landscape has changed so much. Where rocks were is now just ocean, crumbled into the sea with the changing temperatures and times. He hops down from the other alpha's head, pawing his way along a tusk as he gives a mournful trill.

He'd been hoping he might see Jack out here, be able to bring back good news to Hiccup. His wings fold into his body, chuffing before he makes the comment to the dragons in the crowd, describing the winter spirit and asking if anyone has seen him. Most dragons shake their heads, but a Thunderdrum makes a call in clicking and whirring noises and Toothless' face lights up and he bounces back up onto the Bewilderbeast's head, scrambling up there as the great beast itself gives a noise of approval.

Jack was still alive. Hiccup would be happy to hear that.]

[ He can hear them but he can't see them, the cacophony is too great to pin down from any one direction. Sparing a glance down at Dave, Jack shoots a little higher and holds his arms wide to speed up the wind. Clouds broil and tumble over one another, thickening and darkening, and the air gets colder as the winter spirit turns all the dampness in the air to ice. Snowflakes rush down from the newly darkened skies and he shoots frost-lightning into the mess he's made, the arena of the heavens flaring here and there like silent bombs are going off inside muffling lungs.

Jack turns full-circle in the air where he peers around in a desperate panic. Follow the snow. Hiccup has to be around somewhere, doesn't he? Catching sight of waves, he darts down toward the water and swerves sharply around the mountainside, leaving Dave in his wake on the tall ledge of the fjord's end. He draws up sharply to see the enormous Alpha swimming, and dragons innumerable wheeling about. Blue eyes scan automatically for black scales, landing on the Night Fury where it rides the big monster.

Dave will have to stew in his frustrated worry while Jack zooms toward Toothless for news, almost out of sight. ]

[Dave doesn't know where to look, eyes going to Jack then to water, then back to Jack. He doesn't like how much time he's taking while the sounds keep getting louder (worse?). When the temperature lowers and snow starts to fall, he rolls his eyes and conjures some flames on his hands to keep himself warm.

But concentration breaks and the flames disappear when Dave notices his boyfriend leaving him behind and flying towards the dragons. He puts his hands around his mouth to yell at him.]

Jack, what are you--?! JACK!

[Pointless. Dropping his hands, Dave can only stare in frustration at Jack's leaving shape. He's a little angry, he has to admit. This is why he was invited? To be ditched when the actual stuff happens? He's a sorcerer now. Fear or not, he wants to help.

To hell with this, with the 'tall ledge', Dave starts running towards the shore. Maybe if he can get closer to one of the dragons he can get a clue of what's going on.]

[There's a commotion around the dragons the moment the skies grow dark, chittering to each other. They knew the weather phenomenon wasn't natural, but Toothless perks. He recognizes the patterns, the snow, and he bounces around on the Bewilderbeast's head as Jack gets closer, like an excited puppy.

JackJackJackJackJack!

The Bewilderbeast also notices the approaching spirit, remembering times long in the past. The alpha croons a welcome, now several times bigger than when Jack had last seen him. The great hulking mountain blows out a breath of cold air, about the warmest reception Jack will ever get from him.

Behind the Bewilderbeast's head spikes emerges a figure, leaning against it as he runs fingers through shaggy hair, human. Or seemingly so anyway. Hiccup lets his hand fall to scratch the back of his neck, eyeing his partner with a raised eyebrow.]

Something's got someone all excited. The fishing good?

[Toothless bounds over to his rider, tongue lolling out of his mouth as he makes a noise that sounds vaguely like an annoyance before he smacks the dragon prince around the head with his fully grown tail, earning him a look and an indignant 'hey!'.]

It's Jack. [Toothless turns and point his snout to the figure on the horizon like a pointer hound, causing an exasperated Hiccup to look towards the sky. His heart leaps into his throat even though it's long been dead, an ashen face brightening before he gets another smack with a tail.] I told you he'd come home.

[ Jack smiles as the Bewilderbeast puffs him a Hello, sending a frosty pattern up one of its tusks in pretty spirals by way of a reply. His attention remains on Toothless, however, and he feels himself fall a half-foot out of the air when he catches sight of the one person he never expected to see again, at least not (alive) awake talking to the Night Fury.

He stares at Hiccup, putting together the dragons re-emerging as one huge family, one force, and thinks about all the times he begged him to wake up. Returning from an attack by this or that spirit and curling up with his husband who never moved an inch or batted an eyelash to help. Shouting at him, pleading, kissing. Nothing.

You promised you wouldn't leave me. You lied.

But Hiccup has come back with the dragons. Of course he has. The stab of bitterness Jack feels immediately makes him glad he's with someone whom he's sure will never abandon him like that.

Shit! Dave.

He isn't even sure he wants to talk to Hiccup right now. After around the eight-hundred year mark, Jack gave up hoping, and now this is all too much to take in when Dave has been left with the wild dragons at the fjord. Jack bolts in the direction in which he came, urgency shooting him faster on the wind's back as he careens to where he left his boyfriend, leaving his past behind. Hiccup can still take care of himself, if that even is Jack's old flame. He can deal with his Alpha and all his other scaly family members while Jack protects his own. ]

Dave! Dave, where are you? [ I'm such an idiot, he thinks angrily, leaving him alone with wild, hungry dragons around. Stupid! Finding Dave has moved away from the ledge, Jack's panic spirals. ] Dave!

[So Dave isn't a full sorcerer yet, he lacks more experience with supernatural matters. And dragons aren't exactly regular animals, of course, they're smart and more powerful. But there's something to be said about universal animal behavior, and Dave is still smart as hell. Magical or not, he's been around pets long enough to recognize this kind of reception.

They're happy to see Jack.

Suddenly feeling completely out of place, Dave stops running, the water of the shore barely reaching the pointy end of his old man shoes. Jack knows these guys, probably knows a thing or two of the stuff Dave was supposed to be researching. Once again, he's starting to wonder why he even came.

His thoughts are interrupted when he notices the spirit coming back to where they were standing before - searching for him, uh? Sighing, Dave raises a hand and throws a plasma bolt high in the air to show his location. What happened to make Jack go and come so suddenly?]

[He was ready to welcome his husband back with open arms, skidding down the Bewilderbeast's face to his nose, trying to get as close as possible without flying. He sees the staring, a few flashes coming to mind. Dark, a cold curling up next to him, screaming. His every instinct was to wake up, but the hibernation sleep kept him from doing so. The time wasn't right.

Hiccup recognized the voice screaming at him in his deepest nightmares now.

Why won't you wake up?!

The Bewilderbeast nuzzles the hand resting on his nose reassuringly as Hiccup watches Jack fly off as he comes to the startling realization, stumbling back against it's face as he raises a hand to his head.]

No. [His voice comes out in a small croak, shaking his head before looking up at where Toothless was peering over the edge, crooning in concern.] Toothless help...

[The Night Fury bounded down one of the tusks again, and with practiced ease leaped off of it, Hiccup jumping at the same time. The alpha caught him, warbling out a noise as they started flying, still in sync after sleeping hundreds of years, following the winter spirit's trail.

He had to find Jack.

Had to apologize.

You said you'd never leave me.]

[ He follows the plasma bolt like a bloodhound, too shocked at first to realize it's Dave's style and not a Night Fury's. When he swerves down to the beach, he hits it at a run and takes Dave's hand with him, tugging his boyfriend along with a fervent glance over his shoulder at the sky. He doesn't know what he's feeling at the sight of Hiccup (choked, terrified, elated, resentful) but his old mate won't take kindly to Dave, not at all. And there's an armada of dragons around as well as the Bewilderbeast. Dave is human; he has to be the priority. ]

We have to go, right now. There are worse things than dragons coming.

[ The last snowglobe bumps in his hoodie pocket as Jack veers around for a safe place to transport, looking here and there as he tries to lead Dave back up the shore. ]

If we don't hurry, you're going to meet my ex.

[Dave runs to meet Jack midway, self-deprecation forgotten for now and his usual worry appearing with some extra over-reaction than the average when he notices Jack's face. He doesn't notice his boyfriend's intend to leave at first.]

What was THAT about? You can't just leave and-- Jack? [Frowning, he looks at their joint hands in confusion, and tries to pull Jack back, fighting the dragging. But he can't do anything, not really, because Jack will always be stronger than him.] Jack, stop it! We just got here and those dragons obviously know you, I want an explana... tion.

[And an explanation he gets. His mouth open and closes a couple of times, brain not comprehending what he's just heard. An ex? But Jack never told him... And right here, right now? Just what the hell is going on?]

Your-- your what?

[Toothless' immediate reaction to the plasma bolt is to snarl at it before Hiccup kicks him following it, noticing that's where Jack is heading. The landscape has changed so much that he doesn't recognize the fjord, just bits and pieces here and there, like an imprint on an old memory.

Much like Jack was.

The hurt look on his face keeps playing in his mind as he swerves Toothless down to te beach, just in time to watch Jack take the hand of what looks like a teenager. Hiccup is startled for a moment before Toothless' croon sounds in his ears, ringing like a bell, and he kicks the Night Fury into high gear - not their top speed, but a decent speed that lets them catch up, coming to land in front of them.

Now that Hiccup has a good look of the teenager, he can see some striking similarities. The hair and nose in particular, just as gangly as he had been. His nose picks up his scent, and his heart sinks when he realizes it's all over his husband.

Hiccup slides down from Toothless' back, expression one of worry and sorrow. What did he do to make Jack run like that? Who was this posing as his husband's mate? Why did he smell him all over him?

The answer was obvious but he didn't want to face it.]

Jack! Jack, slow down! Let me explain, please!

Edited 2014-07-28 21:28 (UTC)

[ Frustrated that Dave is resisting, he turns on his heel and bites out just enough of the truth to try and get him moving. It twists him inside in ways he never wanted to feel again, the guilt unplugged and rising from a deeply miserable place in his soul. ]

The Dragon Prince, the Guardian of Freedom. I thought he was dead, but ... Dave, he's fast, you have to trust me and get back to the workshop!

[ It's all too late. The Night Fury lands squarely ahead of them right as he finishes speaking and Jack immediately drags Dave behind him, staff flaring blue as ice crackles threateningly all over it. He can't help his shallow breathing, panicked and completely unprepared for Hiccup to be here, talking, real. It's impossible.

Jack uses that fright constructively, eyes narrowing when he picks up on the subtle sniff Hiccup gives. No. ]

I don't want to hear it, you're a thousand years too late! Get out of our way.

[Dave has never seen Jack like this, it worries him. But he can't just concentrate on comforting his boyfriend when there's so much going on. There's another Guardian, one he hadn't been told about. And he is Jack's ex?

He hadn't been told about that either - in fact, Jack told him a very different story.

But if he is a Guardian, why should they run? Meeting with exes can be awkward, but for Jack to feel like this, so... scared. He thought he was dead... Dave can already feel his stomach turning, his mind providing what that means for his own position.

Nobody should be angry to see someone beloved come back to life, he thinks. But he's definitely starting to feel upset - there's no time to comment on it though.

The landing of the dragon makes him jump, making it easy for Jack to act as a shield between the new arrivals and a startled Dave. Such a beautiful creature, and in any other situation his inner fanboy would pay more attention to it, but right now he only has eyes for the so called 'prince'. He has to admit, he was expecting someone more mixed, like the Tooth Fairy, while the guy he's seeing is pretty normal, except for the little fangs and the black spots on his face.

A little voice in his head points out he's concentrating on that to avoid noticing certain similarities. He ignores it, because he's already upset enough. His self-esteem can't take that hit now.

And Jack. Just, wow. Even Dave is starting to be a little scared of this reaction. Such violence because of love? Then he remembers what happened between Balthazar and Horvarth, and he reaches the conclusion that eternal beings can't keep things simple. They've forgotten how.]

...Jack. [His voice is cracking and his hand trembles as it lands on the spirit's shoulder. He understands why they should leave now, and part of him does want to flee, but they can't do that without being chased by the prince and his dragon.] Jack, please. You-- you're scaring me a little bit. I don't know what happened between you two, but I don't think he wants to hurt us.

[Because messy thoughts about this guy aside, Dave can see that sorrow, has felt it (probably not in such a big way, but still) and thinks there may be a chance of parting ways without challenging each other to a magic duel.]

[If there's anything on Hiccup's face that says he wants to hurt them, it's gone with the shock at the amount of time Jack relays has past. A thousand years? No. No, that's not possible. Toothless himself flattens his earflaps like a puppy, a small whine in the back of his throat as he nudges his rider, sensing his distress.]

A...a thousand...no, that's not right. I just saw you a month ago...before you left...

[Hiccup is too distressed right now to even think about sniffing them to work out where the matching scents are coming from, a hand raising to his head as he lets out a small noise, like a cry. That explains how hurt Jack looks, the way he's taking up a defensive stand in front of...whoever that is that just placed a hand on his mate's shoulder.

Toothless nudges him in the small of his back, bringing him around. Hiccup swallows the dryness he feels in his throat, croaking out a response as Toothless nudges him forward again, with his snout.]

It can't have been...Jack, I didn't know. I didn't get any warning when the hibernation sleep began. It just...it just happened. The Bewilderbeast didn't tell me...

[Hiccup raises a hand to rub his temples, trying to get himself together. A thousand years...]

Stay behind me.

[ His grip on Dave is firm and very, very cold as Jack drops the temperature in the fjord, the ice by the shore crackling as it freezes solid a few feet out. Sharp eyes remain trained on Hiccup, blue fires limned in unfallen tears. His staff flares as his temper rockets to hear It just happened. ]

You don't abandon the person you swore to protect because it just happened, that's bullshit! That's bullshit! [ Overhead the sky darkens, thunder rolling. Jack shifts his stance, gritting his teeth. ] I don't care if it was magic or instinct or both, fuck you for waking up just because your precious dragons said so. Do you even know the state I was in sometimes when I begged you to come back to me? I needed your help and you didn't love me enough to ignore your reptiles, so leave me and Dave alone!

[ Lightning flashes in the heavens, the snowfall thinning as frost begins to curl over plants and trees alike. ]

You don't get to chase me down just because you care. I don't want you to anymore! I'm not asking for you to care now, understand? [ Lip curling, it takes a couple of attempts to wrangle his voice into check before he can croak out, ] Everything you ever told me was a lie.

[Dave's magical training may not be complete, but Hiccup's words are definitely enough to ping it. Spells definitely happen. Magic hitting you out of nowhere one day and ruining your life definitely happens.

He looks down, not being able to keep watching the two spirits without feeling unwelcome, like he doesn't belong in this scene. His thoughts about the prince go from mild-sympathy to wanting to punch his face when he hears Jack answering with so much pain that is reflected on the weather. How can you have hurt him like this? And that bit of sympathy cracks too when Dave hears that last word, his hand leaving his boyfriend's shoulder.

You lied to me too, Jack.

The prince was victim of magic and made a mistake, Jack was abandoned and now is taken by bitterness. Both of them have the right to feel they way they do, but it's truly clear for Dave now: he's the odd man out. Jack has returned home, and there's nothing else for Dave to do by his side anymore.

It's hard to clear his mind when his heart is breaking and his body is freezing, so when fingers wiggle and the stone on his ring glows, he only manages to shake the snowglobe in Jack's pocket, not take it out as he wants. Throwing his head back in frustration, he finally snaps.]

JACK! You really need to calm down before you bury us all in snow!

[ All his fury and the storm of his unbridled bitterness fractures when Dave snaps at him, eyes widening when he catches sight of his boyfriend shivering badly. The snowglobe in Jack's pocket shudders, his attention ticking to the glowing ring, and a noise breaks on his lips as he steps around to put his back to Hiccup. ]

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking ... Are you okay? [ He zips up Dave's hoodie and rubs those thin arms, digging out the snowglobe after trying to get him a little more insulated. ] It's okay, it's okay.

[ Jack briefly touches Dave's neck, cupping the back of his head before swiftly letting go. ]

I ... I can't keep you warm, I need to get you to North.

[Something in Jack's sentence seems to make Hiccup snap back to reality, a sudden white hot flare of anger surging through him. His anger might not be able to control the weather like the storm Jack has suddenly kicked up around them, but his eyes slit, snarl curling on his lips that shows fanged teeth, nostrils flaring.]

You have no right to talk about abandoning people you swore to protect, Jack! You abandoned me for ten years, a newly born spirit who didn't know jack shit about himself! That wasn't magic or instinct if I recall!

[He gestured to himself, shoulders jerking this way and that as he did.]

I forgave you! I became this for you and you abandoned me and I forgave you! Or did you forget that in the last thousand years, ridiculous as that is? [When Jack turns his back on him, he raises his voice, snapping it in a scream.] LOOK AT ME!

[Something in his heart breaks when he sees the human - Dave, a voice in his head remembers bitterly - is able to snap Jack out of it more than he can. His fingers clench at his sides, wanting to stomp over and rip them apart, make Jack look at him. His blood runs hot through his veins without a living heart to pump it, livid, before he realizes that the human is freezing. Freezing, like he couldn't do.

The nails biting his palms cease as he uncurls his hands. He feels Toothless nudge under his hand in comfort, nuzzling his side - the Night Fury can sense his rider's distress. His voice breaks a little, chest heaving with half a sob. His body temperature might be eternally warm but he's not about to offer to comfort his husband's - ex-husband, a small voice reminds him, since Jack seems so determined to believe such - new partner.]

[ Furious when turns around on Hiccup, a hand gripping Dave's arm as if to console himself his boyfriend is safe, Jack feels the old guilt bubbling up and tells it No. ]

You ran away, Hiccup, I found you by accident. I would have stayed with you but you wouldn't let me! And I did forget you, yeah! I had to, because you wanted to stay asleep with your dragons instead of coming back to me. I am done being your side-kick!

It wasn't ten years, it wasn't a hundred, it was a few fucking ages of mankind that you stayed dead to me.

[ Snapping that, he takes the snowglobe and tells it The Workshop before throwing it, the portal blasting open as Jack swivels back to Dave. ]

Go through.

[For a short moment there, Dave basks in Jack's care, self-esteem getting a bit of a boost for being the one getting his attention and worry instead of the prince. It's the snarling that makes him snap out of it, and reality hits him again, hard.

He doesn't belong by Jack's side. That thought upsets him more than the surging dragon's anger coming from the prince. He takes two steps back, fighting his own thoughts in his mind as he rubs his forehead - Jack is hurt and needs comfort, the gentleman in him wants to take care of that, but at the same time, he's too distressed to do that now. He wants to leave, he wants to go home and back to being a lonely loser. That hurts less than this.

And if he goes home... what will he tell Balthazar?

Dave looks at the portal (not home but it'll have to do for now), then at Jack before his eyes fall on the dragon guy. Hands close in fists at his sides and when he speaks, he surprisingly manages to keep his voice more stable than he expected. His personal life is screwed at the moment, he isn't going to fail as a sorcerer too.]

The order of Merlin wants to tell the dragons... and the prince, I guess... [He swallows.] ...welcome back.

[He's always been good at saying inappropriate things in serious, tense moments, that much hasn't changed. A quick glance is thrown at Jack - it's really hard not to do or say anything else to the spirit before Dave turns around and jumps into the portal, ready to find North and ask him to send him back to NY before he breaks down like a baby.]

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we're not broken just bent (AU for dragonring and icy)

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