pookabox | i like your messy hair, i like the clothes you wear

i like your messy hair, i like the clothes you wear

[ A week passes with two spirits and one human as residents of the enormous Workshop, dining with North whenever he appears out of his office but generally doing their own thing in the meantime. Jack flies off now and again to spread snow and wintry cheer, tactfully letting Dave and Hiccup some time to get to know each other now that both of them are rubbing along better than could have been hoped. He hasn't seen much of either of them separately, so Hiccup wandering the Workshop corridors far below Jack (where he sits atop the Globe playing with a puzzlebox) in the new clothes the winter spirit procured for him from a high street store a couple of days ago, is definitely a head-turner.

Oh no, he's hot. Hotter.

Hiccup looks not entirely unlike the way he does in his flight-suit, only ... casual, cut and shaped into modern-day clothing in a way that has Jack staring (fitted brown leather jacket, bottle-green leather pants with laces up the sides so they can be adjusted to those skinny legs), puzzlebox dropped forgotten atop the North Pole as he sweeps down to land in front of him. He drapes his staff over a shoulder as he hops onto the carpet, a hand stuffing inside his hoodie pocket as he ducks his head with a greeting smile. ]

So where've you been all morning, lazybones? It's almost noon.

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[ Furiously indignant as he hears (and sees, from his potato-sack position) the yeti having a good time at his expense, he swats an especially cold line of frost across Hiccup's ass, chilly enough to be felt even by the dragon prince through leather. ]

You're not getting any after this, y'know!

[The frost is indeed felt, and after a moment Hiccup puts Jack down as they reach the door to his room, setting his husband on his feet. He tilts his head, pressing a kiss to Jack's jaw and murmuring an apology as he peppered kisses down his throat.]

I was only joking around, you know...

[ On his feet, Jack remains stoically still as he watches the kiss to his jaw, shrugging him off and heading inside the room with a huff. ]

Not in front of the yetis.

Okay, okay, fine. Not in front of the yetis.

[Hiccup props the closing door open with his foot and follows in after his huffy husband, frowning and biting his lower lip. Once they're inside, he sets the food parcel and wine down, reaching out gently to touch Jack's back.]

I'm sorry. I thought...never mind.

[He pulls his hand away, still feeling the frost on his ass and starts setting up their little indoor picnic, unveiling a full spread.]

[ The touch on his back comes as he's opening the window to let in the comfort of a cold breeze. Jack wanders over to help with the picnic, eyes down. ]

They never listen to me, Guardian or not. Don't make them laugh at me, too.

[Hiccup pauses in his setting up, taking hold of one of Jack's arms from where he's squatting to do it.]

Jack, you know I'd never intentionally do that. I didn't know. I just...wanted to carry you to my room like I used to...

[Like I used to carry you to our den. It goes unsaid but it hangs in the air as Hiccup stands, reaching with his free hand to cup and caress Jack's cheek.]

This isn't like it was before, we don't have our own home.

[ It's been playing on his mind recently, what with all three of them crashing at North's (and the old spirit doesn't mind at all, but Jack isn't used to this). He turns his face out of the touch, crouching down to start spreading out the food without another word. ]

[They didn't have their own home, and Hiccup wasn't going back to the den, not when he remembers it full of cheer and lust, the musty smell of sex permeating the cave. North didn't mind their staying here, but something would have to be done about it sooner or later. Hiccup drops his hand and then his body when his touch is ignored, tugging at the corners of the picnic blanket and setting out some of the food. The fire is already going, but he gets up to wander over, placing some more kindle wood into it.]

[ Jack sighs, watching him at the fire. He's feeling twitchy, but he likely owes Hiccup more of an explanation than that. ]

I've only been staying at Dave's for a couple of days here and there, nothing regular. Before that, I didn't stay anywhere, I just ... I roamed around. The Workshop is where I came on Guardian business, somewhere I got into the swing of doing a job.

[ As much as Jack flits around, he tries to keep an ounce of professionalism around the yeti. Most of the time. Going stir-crazy, banged up in the building with his adjusting partners, hasn't helped. Looking at Hiccup in his new clothes, the way he fits so well into the new world at a glance, even if he doesn't feel like it, Jack has to wonder. ]

Dave's going to have to go back to New York soon, he's still a student. Are you going to stay on here or head off to find somewhere safe for the dragons? I didn't have a plan for myself besides ... flying off again.

[ As much as he loves his partners, it's jarring to think of staying in one place forever after spending so long with a carefree nomadic lifestyle. Jack wants to get out there. It's easiest on him to crash at their homes when they get together, only North's place is more like staying at an uncle's office. ]

[He definitely doesn't feel like he fits into this new world he's woken up in. The clothes might fit but they're odd, nothing like the moleskins and furs he's used to wearing. The sheets lf the bed made him twitchy and uncomfortable, instead opting to sleep with Toothless in his corner when he felt the need to snooze.]

I need to find somewhere safe for them. I'm not going to let anyone take control of them, or kill them. As much as children are my responsibility now, I have to take care lf the dragons. [He shakes his head.] I can't stay there. There's...it doesn't feel right. The Bewilderbeast talked about migrating further north, out of human sight. They're probably already on the move.

[He doesn't realize he's rambling on until he stops, pausing and turning to look at Jack. He should be there with them, but he's here. Hiccup turns fully, reaching out with a hand.]

Come with us. Come with me. We can find a home again, Jack.

[ Setting aside his staff by a wall, he takes Hiccup's hand and leans in to peck him on the cheek. ]

I don't want to. [ His nose follows the line of a jaw. ] I want to be outside, not cooped up anywhere. I've changed since ...

[ Since you slept. You weren't got for a measly ten years, Hic. Jack doesn't have dragons to take care of, he only happens upon kids playing by chance most of the time; his responsibilities are still close to nil and he likes it that way. ]

I'll come and visit you, though. I promise.

[His eyes flutter at the feeling of a cold nose along his jaw, threading their fingers as he tilted his face into the nuzzle. Ten years was nothing compared to a thousand he knew, and the change visible in his husband made his chest hurt. Hiccup tugged him in, wrapping his arms around a thin waist as he rested his head against Jack's.]

I understand. I'll probably find some place different but close to the herd. North offered to make my room here permanent...I told him I'd have to think about it.

[ Jack hugs him back, resting his temple against a shoulder with a chuckle. ]

You're the Guardian of Freedom, Hic. Whatever you decide to do will be fine, because it'll be your choice.

[There's a damp dewyness forming between them during the hug, but Hiccup doesn't care. He lets his fingers slide up, stroking white hair.]

What does that even mean? I still have no idea what I have to do. You and the others...you all know your place. I never have.

I didn't know my place for a long time, there's no rush. You already know you are about Freedom, it doesn't have to be conventional. [ Leaning back in order to see him, Jack wipes some of the condensation on the leather jacket, casually freezing it. ] You're brave without being too reckless and that's rare. If I were a kid, I'd look up to you if I was feeling trapped or too insignificant to pull myself out of my problems, because you've been there. You care.

You're a Guardian, whatever you already do is what's needed.

[Yeah, he's definitely been there. The docks after the kill ring immediately comes to mind when he listens to Jack, but Astrid had really been the one who pulled him out of that helplessness he'd been feeling at the time. Hiccup slides his hands down from the back of Jack's head, resting them on his shoulders and watching him freeze the condensation.]

See, it sounds easy when you say it like that. I just...have trouble putting it into words. This whole thing is...I know I was made years ago but it feels like I was only meant to start now.

There's nothing wrong with that. I spent three-hundred years doing my own thing.

[ Trailing his nails along Hiccup's leathers, Jack find the inner curve of his thigh and scratches there in a mirror of the scars left beneath. His icy nails tear through the top lining ever so slightly in thin lines, just enough to have the touch felt. ]

You should stay here for now, where it's safe ...

[He lets out a small hiss when he feels nails scratch at him through his pants, squeezing his fingers around Jack's shoulders. Hiccup's brow furrows slightly, rocking his hips forward a little out of familiarity towards chilly touches there.]

Is that why you do that? Leave scratches on me?

[ He slides his arm around Hiccup, cinching him in at the waist. ]

Nah, I just enjoy it. [ Jack laughs as he fails to keep a straight face and shrugs, nudging them to sit and enjoy the fireside picnic. ] You're not the only one that knows my smell, or scent, or whatever. It's pretty distinct. You'll always carry it with you now even if it's too faint for your nose to pick up, there are creatures out there who'll know you're taken without having to wonder at all.

[He sits where nudged, wrapping his arm around the other spirit's waist and tugging him closest he can lean on him. There's a few croissants mixed in with the meats and fruit, something he remembers Jack liking that one time he went and got breakfast in bed. It's these that Hiccup reaches for, passing one off to his husband. The explanation gets a raised eyebrow but he smiles.]

So you're scenting me, is that what you're saying? Basically telling other spirits 'This is mine, back off'?

No, don't be stupid. That sounds so medieval.

[ Except he is, but won't admit it. He tears into the croissant and leans over to peck Hiccup on the cheek for remembering, settling in against him to offer some to his lips after shredding the pastry. ]

Spirits are weird and I don't want anything to happen to you.

You forget I'm from before medieval.

[According to Dave and North anyway. Hiccup isn't too sure of how those things go anyway. He takes the offered pastry even though he has his own, tilting his head to press a kiss to Jack's jaw after as he chew.]

You're right. I already let one weird spirit into my life and look what happened to me.

[He's joking, he's joking.]

We'll get you up to speed on timelines, medieval is ... it sucked. Black Plague, not a lot of fun across half the world.

[ Jack munches the leftover croissant, snorting. He knows Hiccup is being light-hearted about ... everything, so he eases into the same humor. ]

You got to see his good-looking face almost every day, for a while?

[He tears into his own pastry with dragon teeth, wincing a little as he hears that. That sounds worse than eel pox. Hiccup curls his arm around Jack's waist, finding his free hand and slipping his fingers through his, nuzzling white hair.]

I'd like to wake up to it again if he'll permit it.

[He's choosing his words carefully, not wanting to upset the light hearted mood and get his husband moody again. Hiccup snuffles his way down a neck, kissing the crook there as he tilts his head to look at Jack with warm eyes.]

[ The nuzzles are lovely, especially as he nibbles a few slices of apple to clean off the sticky sweetness of his fingers. Even without the kisses to his neck, the way Hiccup looks at him is enough to have his stomach flipping, trailing two fingers under his husband's chin to tilt it up for a chaste kiss that lingers. ]

I'm still in love with you. [ Being a dork, being scared of the new world, being nostalgic and sweet and remembering croissants in leather jackets. Jack pecks his lips again. ] And I still want you.

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