“a kiss would make me feel better.”
the exalted son of stoick the vastㅤ/ㅤfriend of dragons,ㅤfoe to menㅤ/ㅤfear struck simply with the utterance of håkan haddock's name.ㅤbefore jack sits the man feared / revered across the archipelago.ㅤthey live in a rare period of calm where tribes have found contentment within their territories,ㅤyet fables of the berkian's accomplishments have only continued to spread and grow.ㅤbards sing their false tunes, believing that dragons bow to his command.ㅤin truth,ㅤthe dragons are his charge,ㅤand any who dare to harm what is his are doomed to a righteous reckoning.
however,ㅤthere is a crucial core missing from the cacophony of every praise chorused of jack's betrothed.ㅤlike now,ㅤas the moon heir purses his lips in amusement at håkan holding up his weeping finger in offense.ㅤdroplets of blood spatter where stray skerries around varghal had once been.ㅤaggravation furrows the chief's brows as he stares at the angry crimson of the spreading blot and—in a display that jack isn't emotionally ready for—pouts.ㅤchildish and defeated.ㅤhåkan haddock,ㅤfearsome first rider of sky's piercers,ㅤalso happened to be an adorable fool of a man.
it takes unbelievable effort for jack to keep his laughter quelled,ㅤnot wishing for håkan to notice and only further deepen his moue.ㅤbut dancing glacier eyes speak enough volumes of his mirth even through pressed lips.ㅤhe raises his cloak and begins to wipe håkan's offending appendage clean.ㅤ❝we can patch the stain up with a layer of parchment. but you still should've rested. you've been sketching that map out the whole day, you blockhead.❞ㅤa sigh,ㅤbut the sound is more affectionate than exasperated. ㅤack withdraws the dark cloak from håkan's hand and squeezes around the cut to keep the wound flowing.ㅤ❝could you remind me where we keep the salve, kærr? i think it was up those shelves—❞
but the berkian hums before jack can move away,ㅤjutted lip gone to give way for a lopsided smile.ㅤunoccupied hands find one another to fill the gaps between their fingers and hearts.ㅤ‘a kiss would make me feel better.’ㅤthe playfulness makes jack's heart clench with bittersweet affection.ㅤboyish,ㅤeven with the new rigidness of his shoulders.ㅤjack squeezes their fingers back and imagines soothing the tension in his posture,ㅤif only for a moment.ㅤbut this is not the right opportunity to preach respite for his betrothed.ㅤhe'll have to save the genuine scolding for another day.
❝to ask for healing from the moontouched is no inexpensive matter,❞ㅤjack chides,ㅤthough the same cheerful glint remains in bright eyes.ㅤthey have long known each other far too long by now.ㅤeverything that is jack's—everything that is jack—wholly,ㅤunequivocally belongs to håkan.ㅤstill,ㅤthere are moments where jack reminisces the thrill of of uncertain chases,ㅤlonging glances, and unsaid words between the dramatics of banter.ㅤso jack pretends,ㅤthough yearning is easy to embody when he has only wanted the man who has always been in front of him.
ever the generous kindred of the moon,ㅤit is the obvious choice for jack to brush his lips against such a serious injury.ㅤthe frost prince traces the open line with the tip of his tongue to free it from all stain.ㅤtaste of iron and scent of torchfire lingers in the back of his mouth,ㅤand jack is more than eager to swallow håkan even at his most minute essence.ㅤfor all his titles,ㅤthe chief of berk is not above the northmost of north's incarnate as a selfish winter ofㅤtaking, taking, taking.
an exhale passes and ends the moment.ㅤa final kiss on the back of his beloved's hand.ㅤ❝there you go. 'n look at that, you've even stopped bleeding.❞ㅤeyes widen with an unconvincing oblivousness paired with tongue swiping over the remnants of his own blood-stained lips.ㅤa rite dutifully accomplished.ㅤand yet jack makes no action to away from his perch.ㅤdares to shrink the gap between them,ㅤto share the space that separates them until they are together and whole.ㅤ❝now tell me, how do you plan to repay me then, ástin mín?❞ㅤa futile ask,ㅤnot when jack leaves the answer welcome for håkan,ㅤshown by a sly gaze and an open heart:ㅤyou, you, you.
