pookabox | cop/thief AU for 2cool4guardian

cop/thief AU for 2cool4guardian

[The roar of an engine purred down the street at 2am, the rider stopping it a block from his destination. With a sweep of hair, he pulled his helmet off, scanning the skies above the roof of a museum building before sweeping his leg around and off one side of the bike, kicking out the stand and hanging the helmet on one of the handle bars. With a small frown, Detective Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the III lifted his intercom to his mouth, holding down the button to speak into it.]

Are you sure it was this museum, Fishlegs?

Positive! [Fishlegs' voice crackled over the system, sounding excited but nervous at the same time.] That's what the message the chief got overnight said. Catch me if you can. 2am, at the museum downtown.

Now he's just taunting us.

[Hiccup grumbled under his breath, yawning into his hand. Who the hell challenged cops to come and get him at 2am? Apparently their new little thief. There had already been a batch of robberies over the last few weeks, all with a similar pattern. Hiccup ran his hand down his face, then pulled his gun from the halter on his belt as he replaced his intercom, running across the street. The museum was naturally quiet, but it looked broken into. Hiccup stepped through the broken glass, looking around. Ah, there was the security guard, knocked out with chloroform no doubt.

The young man made his way down through the exhibits, not sure what he was looking for but knowing enough to be Genre Savvy. There had been a crowd here a few days ago when he'd come himself with his girlfriend on their last date (ever. Astrid broke up with him that afternoon to focus on her own career), all gathering to see the Hope Diamond, the biggest diamond in the world.

Hiccup let his feet drag him over to the exhibition room, eyes looking this way and that. He wouldn't let a thief get the drop on him.]

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[Jack can't help staring a bit at the offered arm in surprise. His first reaction is to throw more sarcasm, since he believes Hiccup is making fun of him. It takes him a minute to understand he isn't.

What the hell is going on.

A cop is going all gentleman for him. It confuses Jack quite a lot, especially because the lonely self he keeps hidden wants to reach out to this and accept-- No, no, wrong. This is totally stupid. It's supposed to be part of the game, and he's gotta behave like it.

So he rolls his eyes and shakes his head instead.] Just because I sing the occasional Disney song at school you don't have to treat me like some kind of princess. Come on, mister knight.

[He turns and starts walking toward the building, putting his hands on his hoodie pocket before he does something dumb.]

[Does he feel a little insulted when Jack doesn't take his arm? Perhaps. But he doesn't blame him. It's not like they know each other very well and this wasn't exactly a date. That's what he kept trying to tell himself anyway. Hiccup shrugs and slides his hands into his pockets, wearing jeans and a button up himself.

The waiter greets them at the door and he tells him of their reservation. With a gesture for them to follow him, he leads them over to a secluded area, handing them menus and telling them he'd be back to take their order. Hiccup pauses, wondering if he should hold the other's chair open for him, but he figures like his arm it wouldn't be welcome. So instead, he sits down himself, tucking his chair in and opening his menu.]

How were the kids this afternoon? Not too much trouble?

[Definitively not a date, and Jack will gladly remind Hiccup of that if necessary. Having a waiter receiving them and a secluded table for themselves aren't things Jack is used to, and he has to wonder if Hiccup prepared this on purpose or the special treatment is to look good with a police officer (who also happens to be the chief's son).

The later makes his stomach turn.

Once on the table, Jack doesn't need to go through the menu in detail. His eyes skim the prices to choose the highest (something with seafood it seems) and keep his promise of ruining the detective's wallet more.

The question takes him off-guard, and there's a flash of confusion on his face before he leans back against the chair with his teacher act back on place, arms crossing behind his head.]

What exactly do you call trouble, detective? Troublesome for you may mean lots of fun for them.

[He rolls his eyes a little at the use of his title, thanking the waiter as he brings a jug of water and two glasses. He pours one for himself, then for Jackson, setting the jug down and picking his up when he's done.]

They're good kids, Jackson. I'm not saying they're troublemakers or anything like that. I just thought a little casual banter would make things less frosty between us.

[The frosty quip was pure coincidence, Hiccup would reflect on later when he knew of Jackson's true identity. He's not sure what he did to get this kind of attitude, but he's determined to make Jackson like him. It took him ages to become the respected detective he is, and even then he still has trouble with that, considering he works in an area that his whole family is part of.

He takes a sip of his water, setting it down afterwards and leaning back, crossing his arms over his chest as he looks at the other man.]

Don't presume I don't care about them.

[The word frosty definitively makes him raise his eyebrows, but he doesn't comment on it. Teacher Jackson shouldn't have any reasons to pick on that word after all.]

Of course they are good kids, I know that better than anyone. Cops have this bad habit of thinking of them as potential pranksters though.

[So yeah, he's gonna presume all that and more, thank you very much. Or at least, he'll do so in his mind, because it seems he needs to stop his mouth a bit more. If Hiccup thinks things are frosty between them, then Jack's bitterness is slipping into his words and can't allow that. It'd put his cover in danger.

He rests his chin on his hand, leaning forward to try to come off as more relaxed and carefree. He's itching to take off his shoes, but he knows that as soon as they are off he would start going all monkey on the chair, and it's not a good idea to show off how flexible he is.]

We met today, detective, I didn't know there already was a "between us".

Well, believe it or not people used to see me as a potential prankster because of my name. 'Hiccup' means runt to vikings and those of viking descent. I know better than anyone to give someone a fair chance to make something of themselves.

[Hiccup waves a hand nonchalantly though. He's speaking from experience, all things considered, and he leans back in his chair as he glances over his menu one last time. For some reason he felt like he could trust Jackson. All of his teachers when he had been a student had been kind to him, despite their eye rolling at his antics. Teachers were trustworthy.

He inclines his head and raises an eyebrow at the statement, then shrugs his shoulders with a smile.]

We're already friends, aren't we? Or at the very least we're on friendly acquaintance terms. Of course there's a "between us".

[The waiter comes over and asks what they'd like to order. Hiccup drags his finger down the menu before he finds what he'd spotted earlier and glances at his dinner partner.]

What're you going to have?

Wait, they actually named you for being a runt? That's just... wrong.

[Jack is left frowning at that story. He's had lots of weird experiences with bad or dumb parents, but it seems there's always more weirdness to discover.

We're already friends. It's hard to keep the smile after that - this plan is backfiring fast. He would've never thought a cop would trust so easily. Jack tries not to make friends in each city he visits - just a charming smile here and there and a daily "hello" to the neighbors was enough to have a decent reputation and get them to leave him live his life.

Luckily the waiter arrives just in time to stop any possible awkwardness, and Jack points at the expensive seafood dish on the menu before returning it.]

This town's detective is very generous, isn't he? You guys are lucky.

[The waiter agrees before leaving, and Jack turns to Hiccup with an innocent smile.] Where were we?

Well, yeah. [He shrugs.] I was a premature baby and didn't hit my growth spurt until I was eighteen. It's technically true.

[He's used to explaining the weirdness of his name to newcomers by now, though newcomers are rare in Berk City. He looks like he's about to protest when Jack orders the expensive seafood dish before he shuts his mouth as the waiter agrees, reaching up to run his fingers through his hair. Well, he did say he was paying. Looks like his credit card would be used and abused by this guy if given a chance.

For some reason he almost gets the sense that he's done wrong by Jackson just by existing, and he almost feels a little disgruntled, the feeling a bit naggingly familiar though he still can't put his finger on it.]

We were talking about your kids. And then somehow got onto the subject of my name.

Edited 2014-11-09 03:46 (UTC)

Being true doesn't make it ok. They destroyed you with that name, don't defend it.

[Getting away with ordering the expensive dish turns out easier than he thought. This guy truly is a nice as they come, isn't he? Jack is starting to doubt this plan of his. Bothering people isn't fun if the bothered party doesn't react to it.

All cops have done him wrong by existing, poor Hiccup isn't at fault. In fact he's pretty ok for a policeman, something that Jack isn't admitting any time soon.

He drinks some of his water before answering.] The kids are fine, detective. It's my job to make sure of that. Believe me, if something ever happens to them, I'm not gonna keep it exactly quiet.

[He looks like he's going to argue the point but Hiccup bites his bottom lip and says nothing. He's not going to tell Jack that that's what he's thought of a thousand times growing up. Instead, he reaches for his own glass of water, leaning his head on his hand as he takes a sip. Deciding he needs something stronger, he stops a waiter and asks for a glass of scotch.

If he's ordering expensive food he might as well get expensive alcohol. This is going to be a long night.]

I wouldn't doubt that, Mister Overland. [Shit, was that too cold? He didn't even know anymore.] You seem to care a lot for kids.

[The request for alcohol has Jack raising an eyebrow. Wine wouldn't have surprised him, but scotch? Maybe this guy does have a little more going on besides being too nice for his own good, though Jack isn't if he wants stupid alcohol to show it to him.]

Drinking before driving? I wasn't expecting that from you, detective.

[He rolls his eyes when he's called that. Hilarious.] Drop the mister, you aren't one of my students. And yes, I do. Kids are the most important to me and whom I give my life to.

[And that sounds truer than anything else he's said so far. Probably because it is true. Both his jobs are for the kids.]

[It's been a long hard day at work, facing his father after failing to keep the diamond safe. The waiter comes back with his drink and Hiccup thanks him, taking it from the tray and leaning back in his chair, one arm draped over the back. He rolls his eyes a little in return, pursing his lips around the rim and taking a sip.]

It's just the one drink. You'd need it too if you dealt with what I have today.

[He doesn't say anything more than that. He already told Jack too much this morning, so he's not going to talk about himself again tonight. Hiccup tilts his head back for a longer drink before setting his glass down on the table, stretching his legs out and unable to stop himself from raising an eyebrow.]

They're lucky to have such a dedicated teacher.

[There's no need for explanations, Jack has a good idea of what must've happened at the police station after he "introduced" himself to the city. He's glad and even proud to know the mess he's causing, but at the same time, the sight in front of him is just... sad.]

So this little outing isn't enough to distract you? Sorry for being boring.

[He grins to show he's kidding - as much as he's dying to hear more about what happened, staying on the robbery topic is dangerous and he should avoid it if he can. He won't stop Hiccup from talking about it since that'd be too suspicious, but he can't allow himself to be curious about it either.

The chuckle that comes then is more sincere, since something tells him this particular cop actually means the compliment. Now that's new.]

You can bet your badge they are. Oh wait, is that illegal or something. Maybe I should try "thank you".

It's not your fault.

[He swirls the scotch around in his glass, crossing one leg over the other as he sighs into his glass. The grin does make him relax a little more, though not by much. Despite the ride around the city for a couple of hours, his mood was still slightly sour, though he did put on a front to be able to enjoy tonight. After all, it wasn't every day he got to go on a date with someone so cute.

...wait what.

Shaking his head out of his thoughts and reminding himself that this wasn't a date, he inclines his head.]

A thank you would suffice. Though I don't know if badge betting is illegal.

[Wow, this sure is getting depressing now. A man sighing while swirling a scotch? He's only missing the low lights and instrumental music. What happened to the funny guy he met this morning? Jack is starting to regret this, and not because of the cop-related reasons he thought would get on his nerves.

Thankfully their food arrives just in time to provide some distraction, and Jack digs in while trying to think how to save this night.]

If it isn't I call dibs on yours. Hey, I could make a raffle for it, get some money for the school.

[The funny guy you met this morning only appears at certain times of the day, sorry Jack. Hiccup swallowed the rest of his scotch down as their meals came, giving the glass to the waiter when he asked for it. Food is a good distraction. He swirls some pasta around in his food, laughing a little at the concept.]

What? Would that be like a stripper night only instead of placing dibs on cops, it's on their badges?

[Alright, that's a little better. Jack coughs as some food goes down the wrong pipe when he laughs, but he recovers quickly, obviously glad the mood is picking up.]

Are you telling you have been bid on, detective?

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cop/thief AU for 2cool4guardian

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