HiJack (Corpse Bride Au)

Chapter 7

Hiccup was surprised how much fun the Land of the Dead could be. Jack had taken him back to the tavern that Hiccup first woke up in. There was never a dull moment.

Music soared around as skeletons actually sung and even played instruments. The bartender, which was just a head being carried around by cockroaches, somehow got everybody their drinks in record timing. And everybody had to talk louder than usual in order to have a conversation over the music.

Although Hiccup was still uncomfortable when they first entered the building packed with dead people, somehow the tension in him drifted away as some tried to make normal conversation. Well, normal enough.

"So, how's the Land of the Living this day in age?" a bigger lady in a chef's outfit asked.

"Um, okay, I guess," Hiccup answered. "Nothing this loud and fun up there," he added with a small laugh.

"Yeah, it was pretty gloomy up there when I left," she bellowed. "If I would have known this place existed I would have left years before I did!"

"Now don't say that to the lad," a man in a chef's outfit that must have been her husband said.

"I was just saying what I was thinking."

"That's your problem."

"Okay, let's go over here," Jack said, putting a hand on Hiccup's shoulder and guiding him away as the two started arguing. "They always find something to argue about."

Hiccup laughed. "I'm not used to the loudness," Hiccup said.

"What?" Jack yelled over the music.

"I'm not used to the loudness!" Hiccup repeated, this time yelling. Hiccup laughed, the happy atmosphere being infectious.

Jack smiled and stood in front of Hiccup, holding out his hand. "Shall we dance?"

Hiccup looked around at all of the people. They were either at the bar drinking or dancing. Or a little bit of both which was funny to see. He guessed even skeletons could get drunk.

"We shall," Hiccup finally said, taking the other boy's hand. "Though I'm not much of a dancer."

"Have you seen these people? Neither are they!" Jack said with a laugh.

With more spinning around than actual dancing, Hiccup still had a blast. Jack smiled at how happy Hiccup looked. Maybe it could work after all.

Suddenly Hiccup started coughing again and had to walk off the dance floor, trying to regain his breath. Worried, Jack quickly followed.

"What's wrong?" Jack tried to ask over the music. Hiccup held up his finger as he continued to cough. "Let's go outside," Jack offered, guiding Hiccup out the doors. The music could still faintly be heard.

Hiccup finally caught his breath and leaned against the building trying to slow his breathing down. "Sorry."

"Are you alright? I don't remember you having this problem before," Jack said.

"I'm fine," Hiccup said, not wanting to worry his new friend. "I must have been dancing too hard," Hiccup said with a smile.

Jack didn't return the smile. "It's because you're down here, isn't it?"

Hiccup frowned and shrugged. "I don't know for sure if it's because of that."

"But it first started happening because you're down here," Jack said, not asking it as a question.

Hiccup looked down. "Yeah."

"Why didn't you tell me before?" Jack asked. "Did you think I was heartless enough to not bring you back even if you could barely breathe down here?"

Hiccup shook his head. "No, it was quite the opposite actually. Well, at first I didn't know why my breath got so short easily but then I talked to North and he told me. By that time I knew you would bring me back in a heartbeat if you knew."

Jack looked at Hiccup stunned. "You didn't want to go back?"

Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck. "Don't take it the wrong way now! When you first showed up when I knew I was too tired to mess with it! And then you took me to this place and it was too fun to leave."

Jack still wanted to be happy but couldn't bring himself to even smile. "I have to take you back."

"Hey, I'm not dying yet. It was just a coughing fit. And we were having so much fun. Let's just go back in there for a last hurrah and you can take me back afterwards."

Jack smiled his crooked smile that Hiccup started to love. "Okay, but if you need a break just tell me."

"Deal!" Hiccup grinned, walking back into the tavern. Jack smiled. Hiccup wanted to stay a little longer. Maybe it wasn't because he liked Jack that much, but it still made Jack happy that he was having some fun.

"Wait for me!" Jack shouted after Hiccup as he ran to catch up.

xxx

Hiccup and Jack laughed their way out of the tavern after a few more hours. Behind them, they could hear the party still going full swing.

"How long do they do that?" Hiccup asked, trying to hide the fact he was struggling to breathe.

"I don't think there is a time where it ever stops," Jack laughed. "It's the best place to hang out around here."

"I can tell," Hiccup laughed.

Jack frowned as he heard a slight wheeze come out of the boy's laugh. "We should get you home now."

"I thought you were never serious," Hiccup said, rolling his eyes. "You just killed the happy mood."

"I'm just worried," Jack answered.

"I said I was fine!" Hiccup panted. Truthfully, he didn't feel too fine, but Hiccup found himself having too much fun here. This place showed him how dull his life was. He looked up at Jack's worried face. And although Hiccup would never admit it, he was growing to like Jack's company.

Jack sighed and placed a hand on Hiccup's cheek. "There is nothing more that I want than having you stay here, but you can't. You have to go home."

Hiccup frowned and batted Jack's hand away. "Jeez, you're so mean!"

Jack looked at Hiccup shocked. "What?"

"You're mean!" Hiccup shouted again. "First when I wanted to leave you wouldn't let me leave! And now that I'm having fun and want to stay a little longer you keep pushing me to go home!" Hiccup huffed, stumbling back as he started to feel light headed.

"Hiccup, you have to calm down," Jack coaxed, reaching out to steady him.

"No!" Hiccup yelled, hitting his hand away again. "I'm fine! Can't you see... that I'm fine..." Hiccup panted and slowed his speech as darkness ate away the corners of his eyes.

"Hiccup...?" Jack asked.

"I'm... fine," Hiccup got out before collapsing towards the ground.

"Hiccup!" Jack yelled, barely catching the smaller boy before he hit the ground. "Hiccup? Come on, wake up, you're alright," Jack said in a panic, lightly hitting the boy's cheek. Hiccup laid there motionless, his breathing coming out is short, fast spurts. "Damn it!" Jack said, holding Hiccup close as snow started to swirl around them.

Jack had to get Hiccup back to the Land of the Living.

He just hoped he wasn't too late.