White the Cursed

20 - A leap of faith

Jack didn't want to party anymore. Once Hiccup had left with the princess, even leaving Toothless behind, he was feeling empty. Until then, he hadn't realized just how much place Hiccup held in his heart, but obviously he had realized it the hard way. Despite how supportive his friends were, especially Ruffnut, his mood just wouldn't be brought back up.

He wasn't planning on enjoying the last day of the festival. The twins had offered him to come with them, strolling along al the shops and going to cheer all the sportive contests, but he didn't feel like it. He rathered the prospect of collapsing on his bed, alone with Sharpshot and Toothless, and cry while snuggling with them.

He was so down he was tired and only wanted to go to bed before collasping from exhaustion, but he was stopped by the entrance of the castle when a silhouette moved in front of him to block his way. A large silhouette. Looking up hesitantly, he was met with a slightly chubby face and an hesitant, nervous smile. It took him a few moments to recognize the boy who had been staring at him during breakfast. McGuffin.

''H'lo,'' the boy said.

Jack hesitated, taken aback. By reflex, he pulled at the colar of his hood, a gesture that had become an habit once Sharpshot was settling in his hood.

''Huh... Hi ?''

McGuffin's smile grew larger, more genuine, and his posture straightened and realxed, as if someone had suddenly chased his shyness away. At least, until Jack opened his mouth and asked : ''Can I help you ?''

The boy in front of him suddenly seemed small as he hunched a bit over, fidgeting with his fingers nervously.

''WeelhuhAhthoughtthatetwasehnicemornin'andwecouldmaybetakeehwalkAhmeanwouldyeliketecomewithmehforehstrollintehgardens ?''

Jack blinked owlishly. The boy's nervous smile vanished.

''Ahmeanonlyifyewantofcourse...''

Okay, so the boy seemed to have problems with articulating, but maybe it was his nervousness doing this ? Or was he always talking like this ? Jack felt a tug of sympathy for him, wondering if that boy had been laughed at for this. The way he was shrinking on himself and averting his eyes was saying he was expecting Jack to laugh at him. Obviously, Jack wouldn't. He himself had suffered enough scorns to know what it felt like, so there was no way he was going to do that to someone else. So, instead, he gave a tentative smile, a bit embarrassed.

''Excuse me, I didn't get it all. You said something about gardens, right ?''

McGuffin looke dup at him, seemingly at a loss. Then his eyes darted to the side, like he was thinkign about it. It looked like he was so convinced Jack would make fun of him that, seeing it wasn't the case, he didn't know what to do. After an awkward silence, McGuffin opened his mouth. Jack still had troubles to understand him. It was not much about articulation, but he was talking so fast and low that it was hard to catch all the words. Not talking about the accent jack was not familiar with.

''Ahwantedteinviteyeteastroll...Huhehdate.''

McGuffin lowered his head, looking even more embarrassed, but still hesitantly glancing at him. Jack took a moment to replay the words and dissect them, until he finally caught up with what it meant.

''Oh... But... I don't understand, why me ?''

The chubby cheeks of the taller boy blushed a dark pink while pale blue eyes averted him even more.

''Welltebehonestit'sbeenehbitoftimeAh'venoticedye. Thefirstdayactually. Yewereshybutyelookedsoniceandcaringwithtehothersespeciallythatsmalldragonandyersmileisjustsobright... sowhenAhmetyereyesthismornin'AhthoughtAhshouldtakemehchanceespeciallysinceit'stehlastdayoftehfestivaltodayandthatAhwon'tbeableteseeyebeforeehlongtimewell... Yeknow.''