White the Cursed

14 - On the way

Jack had to admit, at first he was scared. Terrified, even. It reminded him a bit of the first and only time he had found himself on a horse's back, when he had been eight. Granted Toothless was smaller than a horse, but being on his back made Jack dizzy. The dragon barely moved his back to be more comfy that Jack quickly wrapped his arms around Hiccup's waist and squeezed with distress. The tamer chuckled and patted his arm, looking at him over his own shoulder.

''It's okay, don't worry.''

Jack swallowed and tried to relax, nodding in understanding. He knew he had nothing to worry about, but that didn't mean he managed to really act confident and relaxed. Hiccup proved himself patient with him, giving him reassuring smiles and a few advices so he wouldn't get frightened by the height.

Little by little, Jack managed to relax, then appreciate the flight. Once he was at ease, Toothless made a couple aerial stunt to entertain him, which allowed Hiccup to hear the boy's laugh. They spent a good hour in the sky, flying above the forest and around the island, until dawn caught up with them, signaling them to go back to the camp. In the end, Jack had liked this flight so much he couldn't help but smile and bounce on his feet when Hiccup offered to come with them too on the following day.

And he came along the next day as well, and soon it became an habit between the three of them. Sharpshot tagged along too, either by flying with them, either by snuggling in Jack's arms, who was making sure not to crush him between Hiccup and him.

At the circus, noone questioned this new habit. Actually, Jack doubted anyone had noticed since the tamer and him were always the first ones to get up in the morning. He liked this idea, it felt like he was sharing a secret with Hiccup, and most of all he could enjoy some quality time with him, just the two of them... well with the dragons, of course, but still. With this he felt closer to the tamer, and it was during these moments he could see this peculiar smile of Hiccup's. Jack liked this smile and, with time, it was making him smile too.

Jack really liked these morning flights. The scenery was changing with each location of the circus – which was making the boy loose the smallest landmark he could have – but Hiccup and the dragons being here with him, along with the clouds surrounding them, it felt familiar, and it felt like freedom.

He was feeling free since he had left Burgess and his village. Surely he was still hidding his appearance and was still plagued with nightmares, but at least the circus troup wasn't treating him like some leper they didn't want to touch nore come too close to, even less look at. No, the troup was treating him as a human, even as a friend.

Moreover, these morning flights were benefic for his nightmares as it was bringing him dreams instead. Peaceful dreams in which he was flying among the clouds, above cities and their light in the dark. Sometimes, Jack was wondering what it looked like by daylight, or lit by sunset or sunrise. These dreams were making his nights more bearable and allowed him to drift back to sleep even after a nightmare, thing that he had never managed to do beforehand. Now, once the bad memories were haunting him, he could fight them back, he just had to think about flying or hug Sharpshot closer to him.

Little by little, he could sleep better and it was visible during the day because he had more energy and merrier mood. Jack started to go see others more easily, constantly helping with luggages and tools – in the extend of what he was able to carry – with mounting and dismounting the tents, he was cooking almost all the meals and was sometimes caught humming while doing so.

The day Valka told him he was doing a lot of work, maybe too much, he shyly responded that he felt indebted to them and wanted to pay them back, somehow. For saving him, but also for taking him in with them. That day, Jack saw an expression on the ringmistress' face that left him puzzled and a bit guilty : Valka looked like she was moved but saddened by his thankfulness. Their conversation ended up in a hug, which Jack returned, and a few words assuring him the circus was his home too, now.