The Secret of the Gifted

One day, for a reason or another, Pitch curses them both. They're both lost and trapped in a new and un familiar environment. Hiccup is overjoyed that he's finally able to catch Jack when they bump into each other but that feeling doesn't last long. They're both kind of terrified of where they are but won't show it to each other, instead letting it out as anger towards each other.

A few days into their banishment, Hiccup gets desperate. There's no animals to hunt, nothing to grow, he's starving and it doesn't seem like he's gonna get any food any time soon. So he goes to Jack and begs to know how he's not hungry. Jack replies with how he obviously doesn't get hungry because he's a spirit.

Hiccup breaks in front of him, he tells him how scared he is and how much he wants to go back home. Jack gets surprised, of all people, he would've never expected Hiccup to show this much vulnerability.

Jack feels the same as he does, he's scared and he wants to go home. And after settling down and making sure Hiccup isn't trying to trick him, he tells him so.

They talk about how much they love their home, about anything that comes to mind really. Until Hiccup has a fainting spell. Jack hurries to help him but has no idea how humans work anymore. He's been in his forest for so long.

When Hiccup wakes up, Jack asks him what happened. Hiccup reminds him how hungry he is and how little energy his body has. Jack hesitates before telling Hiccup how he has saved people lost in the forest in the same situation before but he's not gonna like how it's done.

Hiccup brushes it off, it can't be that bad right?

Jack presses his lips together in an awkward smile.

"Well- Not a lot of people get lost in the woods you know. And the children can see and hear me no problem. They follow the animals out of the forest. I've only done this twice and the first time I didn't even know I could do it so it wasn't super successful..."

"Just spit it out, if you can save me, do it. I want to go home after we get out of this shit hole."

Jack thought about telling him for a second but he doubted Hiccup would let him after hearing of the process.

"Ok, close your eyes then."

"Why?"

"It'll be easier for the both of us."

So Hiccup closed his eyes after giving Jack an eye roll. Jack took Hiccup's chin, opening his mouth slightly, braced himself and leaned in. As soon as their lips connected, Hiccup jumped in surprise and tried to push Jack away but couldn't find the strength in time before he realized what was happening.

This wasn't just a kiss, Jack's eyes glowed and his skin slowly lost the little colour it had left. He was transferring his energy to Hiccup. And Hiccup felt alive again. He leaned in slightly and enjoyed the feeling this gave him. Until he felt Jack's grasp on him weakened and he regained he train of thought again.

Jack took a second to snap out of the daze this put him in. Hiccup feared for a the worst for a second before Jack blinked a few times and his eyes went back to normal. He looked around for a second, almost looking as if he had no idea where he was. His eyes locked onto Hiccup and fear crept onto his expression. Hiccup felt him tense up in his arms. And then just like that, he took a breath for the first time since Hiccup closed his eyes and he looked normal again.

"For the Gods, if you told me this was gonna kill you I wouldn't have let you to do it!" Hiccup scolded.

"I didn't know it would do that. It never did in my forest." Jack looked off in the distance to ponder for a bit before what Hiccup said actually registered in his head. "Wait you're worried about me?"

"That's not the point."

"Yes it is!"

Jack gave Hiccup as teasing grin. Hiccup completely disconnected from the conversation and got up. Jack couldn't hold back, he kept teasing Hiccup as he tried to walk away.

"Well look who's feeling better." Hiccup tried to say it in a sarcastic tone but couldn't hold back a small smile.

==============

As Jack entered the cafeteria, he marvelled at how big and beautiful it was. Similar to the lobby, the ceiling was littered with art and all of the windows had stained glass in them. There were 2 big doors leading to a courtyard which was filled with flower gardens, picnic tables dotted around and a decent sized water fountain in the middle. Jack spotted a few butterflies landing on the flowers and frolicking around each other. He smiled. 

He wasn’t staring out the window long before he felt eyes on him. He looked around and landed on a familiar face: the boy Astrid had been talking to. Jack cocked his head to the side and the boy quickly looked away with what seemed to be embarrassment. Jack shook his head. He was probably not looking at him. 

Jack walked over to the kitchen and grabbed his food. He was about to start looking for a table to sit at when he saw a colourful head of hair stick out of the crowd. Toothiana was standing up and waving Jack over. He smiled and walked over to her table. Merida and 2 other people were also sitting at the table. 

Jack closed his eyes and tried to focus on bringing out his power. He heard North clear his voice after a few moments. Jack looked at him swiftly before trying to concentrate again. He remembered the hospital room and his new dorm room. He felt the wind rush against his face which made him smirk. He opened his eyes and he slumped his whole body. Nothing. 

“Well you sure made a gust of wind. Is that all?” North looked at him slightly disappointed. 

“N-no, I can make ice. I just- I don’t know how to do it.” Jack said defeatedly. 

“Not a problem. This is why you’re here first and not in training.” North let out a hearty laugh. Jack gave a weak laugh back. “So, what were you feeling when you used your magic?” 

“Emotional? Angry and scared. Like I was defending myself.” Jack looked at the ground as he thought. 

“Is that so…” North seemed to trail off and Jack gave him a nod. 

The sounds of swords being filled out suddenly echoed through the courtyard. Jack’s head shot towards North who now had 2 swords in his hands and seemed ready to fight. Jack stiffened and took a few steps back. 

“Uh, what are you doing?” Jack’s voice quivered. 

“So, seeing them isn’t enough, huh?” 

North jumped towards Jack. Jack put his arms in front of his face and felt a gust of wind push passed him from behind. North let out a grunt and Jack peered through his arms to see if he was alright. North had been pushed to the floor but there was still no ice in sight. North got back up and, with a joyful smile, lunged at Jack again. 

“Is that all you’ve got?”

“Well I don’t want to hurt you!” 

More wind rose from behind Jack and this time North seemed to avoid it.

“I’m not going to hold back just because you’re one of my students, Jack.”

A chill went down Jack’s spine as he realised he was in real danger. He backed away again and stared at North approaching until time seemed to stop. Jack pushed his hands in front of him as if to direct something forward and squeezed his eyes shut. North let out a more pained grunt and Jack could hear him slump down. Jack’s knees also gave out from under him and he fell to the ground, covering his head again. 

“Ok Jack, you’re fine, you can stop now.” North’s voice seemed rough but Jack couldn’t hear him over the sound of his own heart pounding. “Jack!”

“ENOUGH!” A female voice stopped in. The sound of ice breaking broke Jack’s frozen state and he finally looked up. The woman from before was between him and North with a frown on her face. 

Jack tried standing up but failed and instead just crawled back. She looked terrifying in her new attire. She had a blue coat with a belt tied around her waist and a translucent cape. Her hair that was previously in a bun, was now in a braid that framed her face fiercely. 

“Were you trying to kill him?!” She walked over to Jack with ice in her eyes.