Chapter Text

Chapter Three: The Dance

The first few steps were awkward.

Not painfully so.

Just...

Careful.

Hiccup led Jackie toward the center of the ballroom, painfully aware of the dozens of eyes following them. Somewhere behind him, North's booming laughter rolled through the hall, while Aster muttered something that sounded suspiciously like, "Finally."

Jackie heard it too.

He ducked his head with an embarrassed little laugh. "They're never going to let us live this down."

"I'm beginning to suspect this was their plan all along."

Jackie glanced over at him, blue eyes sparkling. "...honestly? Probably."

The admission made Hiccup laugh.

Some of the tension melted away.

The orchestra eased into a slower melody, violins carrying the tune while a lone cello hummed beneath it.

Couples gradually drifted onto the floor around them.

Not close enough to crowd them.

Almost as if everyone instinctively understood they needed space.

Hiccup turned to face Jackie fully.

"...May I?"

His hand hovered uncertainly near Jackie's waist.

He wasn't worried about dancing.

He was worried about making Jackie uncomfortable.

Jackie noticed the hesitation.

A tiny smile touched his lips. "You asked."

"I did."

"You haven't touched me yet."

"...Right."

Heat flooded Hiccup's ears.

"I may have forgotten how."

Jackie's giggle escaped before he could stop it.

It wasn't loud.

It wasn't elegant.

It was wonderfully, wonderfully real. "I promise I don't bite."

"That's reassuring."

"...Usually."

Hiccup laughed. "There it is."

"There what is?"

"Your sense of humor."

Jackie blinked. "I thought I hid it."

"You did."

"...Oh."

"...Poorly."

Jackie bumped his shoulder lightly against Hiccup's.

"Oh, you're funny."

"I've been told."

"By Toothless?"

"...Mostly."

The Night Fury chirped proudly from somewhere behind them.

Jackie laughed again.

This time there was no hesitation in it.

Hiccup smiled before he even realized he was doing it.

There it was again.

That warmth in his chest.

Slowly, giving Jackie every opportunity to refuse, he rested one hand against the small of his back.

Jackie stiffened.

Only for the briefest moment.

Then he exhaled.

His shoulders relaxed beneath Hiccup's hand.

"Is this alright?" Hiccup asked quietly.

Blue eyes lifted to meet his.

There was uncertainty there.

And something else.

Trust.

"...Yes."

Only then did Hiccup take Jackie's other hand.

His fingers were cool.

Not unpleasantly.

Like fresh snow resting against warm skin.

The music carried them into motion.

They moved carefully at first.

One cautious step.

Then another.

Jackie watched his own feet. "I haven't danced like this in a while."

"No?"

Jackie smiled sheepishly. "Lumi prefers being carried."

"I imagine she's not a very graceful dance partner."

"Oh, she's wonderful." Jackie's smile grew softer. "She just keeps trying to climb me."

Hiccup chuckled. "I've noticed she likes climbing things."

"Especially people."

"I'm honored she chose me."

Jackie looked at him then.

Really looked.

"I think she likes kind people."

The words caught Hiccup off guard.

"You barely know me."

"I know how you've looked at us all evening."

Hiccup blinked.

"...You noticed?"

Jackie laughed softly. "You weren't exactly subtle."

Heat climbed all the way to Hiccup's forehead. "I wasn't staring."

Jackie raised one delicate eyebrow. "You were very much so staring."

"I..."

"You were."

"...I was."

Jackie smiled triumphantly. "I win."

"I didn't realize we were competing."

"We weren't."

"...Then how did you win?"

"I don't know."

They both laughed.

The awkwardness that had clung to them since meeting began dissolving with every turn across the ballroom.

Around them, tiny snowbell flowers blossomed beneath Jackie's bare feet.

At the same time, amber and crimson leaves drifted lazily through the air around Hiccup.

Neither of them noticed at first.

North did.

The great Guardian nudged Tooth gently.

She looked toward the dance floor.

Her eyes widened.

Autumn leaves swirled together with delicate snowflakes.

Neither overpowered the other.

Instead...

The frost settled gently along the leaves without freezing them.

The leaves caught the snowflakes instead of letting them fall.

Winter.

And autumn.

Separate.

Together.

"...North," Tooth whispered.

"I see it."

Aster looked over his shoulder.

For once...

The Pooka didn't tease.

He simply smiled.

"Would ya look at tha'."

Even Sandy paused.

The Sandman glanced down at Lumi, who was sitting happily on his lap, tiny fingers reaching toward the drifting magic.

She giggled.

Above the dance floor...

Snow and leaves danced together.

Neither Hiccup nor Jackie seemed aware they were doing it.