White the Cursed

07 - Between ice and fire

Jack managed to go back to the farm before the first lights. Without a sound, he sneaked into the house and placed back the stolen coins in their place. Just as stealthly, he reached back his bedroom, changed into his nightgown and slipped under the covers. It was cold, but he felt like it was colder than usual. Surely because he had learnt anew what warmth was thanks to Hiccup and the dragons.

Thinking back to the tamer and his wonderful creatures felt like spilling acid on his heart. He winced and folded on himself. As his head rubbed on his forearm, the roughness reminded him he still had dye covering his whole head. He held back a grunt and sat up. Despite the darkness, he saw dark stains on his sheets. He would have to clean this, but before that he had to clean his hair, hoping the dye would come off.

So he gave up the comfort of his bed as well as the few hours of sleep he could have had before Jonathan and Mary's wake up. Only dressed in his nightgown, he undid the pillowcase and took it with the blanket, a towel and his cape. He doubted Jonathan would be delighted to find him in the bathroom, using their rainwater, so he aimed to use the basin outside.

He climbed down the stairs, making sure not to make any sound, and headed to the front door, but he was stopped dead in his tracks as he heard a plate break in the kitchen, followed by a gasp. He froze and hesitantly turned to face a shocked Mary. Still in her nightdress, her short hair messed up a bit, she had visibly just woken up.

''J-Jackson...'' She gasped, her hands flying up to her mouth.

Tears shone at her eyes by the candle light on the table, and Jack swore he had stopped breathing. He found himself unable to move, all he could do was staring back at his mom. His mom who was finally recognizing him. He wondered what had changed for her to see him, to remember who he was, until the dye popped in his mind. Granted the color was a bit darker than what he had before, but the dim morning light was making it look close enough.

The hope making his heart pound died down, and he knew it was just a matter of time before she realised he was still the 'ice demon who took possession of her son's corpse'. He didn't want to see realisation dawn in her hazel eyes, not while she was looking at him with this look every mother had for her children. He closed his eyes in a grimace and rushed to the door, almost dropping half of his load.

''Wait !'' Mary called after him.

He didn't give her time to catch him up as he left, but when he slammed the door shut, it didn't really slammed because she had caught it, and he heard her steps running after him, her voice still calling him.

''Jackson, wait ! Come back !''

''No !'' He cried over his shoulder.

''Mary, what's going on ?'' Jonathan asked from the door.

Jack didn't listen to them and kept on running away from the house, towards the farm, at least until he tripped on a chicken coming out of nowhere. He fell and sprawled on the dirty ground, sheets and cape dropping around him. Mary's steps caught up with him and, soon, he felt two thin, warm hands cup his face. He shut his eyes and folded them to make sure she couldn't see them, knowing perfectly the spell would be broken once she saw the icy irises.

''Jack, sweetheart, you okay ?''

''Don't touch me,'' he barked as he pushed her hands away. ''How dare you ?!''

''Jackson, what's wrong ?''

''So now you remember my name, huh ? After four long years, how handy it is !''

''Jack ?''

He jumped as he heard Jonathan's voice sa close to him. Visibly, the woodcutter and farmer had rushed after them too. Jack hated the confusion in the voice of the man who used to be father. He didn't dare open his eyes, he wanted to enjoy this moment as they were finally recognizing him, but at the same time he wanted them to go back to this cold and distant behavior they had had since the accident. Them acting again as parents was hurting more than anything, because it felt insincere.