Berk was an isolated and small Viking island, devoid of any other season but winter. Hiccup sighed as he walked through the deep woods, dragging his feet through the thick blanket of snow. His father, Stoick the Vast, Chief of Berk, had allocated him the task of collecting firewood for his people. By his side was Toothless, Hiccup's Night Fury. The dragon's scales were shining black, hints of navy and grey shimmering through in the weak winter sun. The dragon was moderately small for a dragon, but still huge in comparison to Hiccup's lean body. His wings were neatly folded against his back, and his teeth retracted as he strode happily alongside his trainer, his feet leaving a large set of prints behind him. Hiccup watched the dragon jump around in the snow, his large gummy smile making Hiccup laugh as he patted the animal's head. "It's a good thing you like the snow, bud. At least one of us does." The dragon grumbled in response, his giant tongue stretching out in an attempt to lick Hiccup.

A playful voice interrupted them. "You're not a fan of my work?"

Hiccup yelled and threw all the firewood into the air, waving his hands about maniacally in a bid to look threatening. His voice shook, and he coughed to steady it. "Who-who's there?"

"Oh, he hears me. Now that's interesting." The mystery voice said again, although no matter how hard Hiccup looked he couldn't find a body to match it.

Toothless growled and snarled, his non-existent teeth suddenly descending from his gums. His ears flattened against his head, and he moved his long black body around Hiccup, protecting him. Hiccup gulped worriedly and took a breath, "Whoever's speaking should come out now, or my dragon will not be very happy. And you don't w-want him to be mad."

Jack laughed and leaped down from the trees, his slowed decent landing him gracefully in the snow. He shook his head, the pure white hair seeming to give of it's own glow. "Alright, alright. Hi, name's Jack. Jack Frost."

Hiccup's eyes widened as he took the stranger in. He was tall and slim, his pale white body clad only in brown cut off trousers with frayed ends, and an electric blue hoodie. Frost covered the hood and the sleeves, crawling up his arms like intricate vines. His hair was long and whiter than the snow, and seemed to move even though there was no wind. His eyes were ever brighter than his jumper, the irises a swirling mix of different shades of blue. In his hand was a long wooden staff, curved at the top. He looked like the human embodiment of winter. "Why were you up in the trees?" He asked breathily.

"Just admiring my work. And I happened to hear you and your, ah...dragon." Jack's pale lips pulled into a lopsided smile, and Hiccup felt the blood run to his face. "You never told me your name."

"Oh!" Hiccup exclaimed, running a hand through his messy brown hair. "It's uh, I'm uh, Hiccup! My name is Hiccup."

"That's a bit of a weird name." A chuckle escaped Jack's mouth.

Hiccup's cheeks were fast becoming the colour of berries, they were that red. "Yeah, I know. It's just like, parents name their children hideous names to keep them safe from gnomes and trolls and stuff." He gave a half smile. "As if our wonderful Viking demeanor wouldn't do that already."

Jack let out a belt of laughter, and Hiccup felt the knot of fear inside him loosen. "What about winter spirits?"

"Huh?"

"Does your name keep you safe from winter spirits?" Jack said lightly, a playing tone to his voice.

Hiccup swore the strange boy winked at him, and he blushed furiously. Again. "Ah, well, I-I don't know. Is that what you are? A, w-winter spirit?"

Jack leaned against his staff lightly. "Yep, that's me."

"No...no, you can't be. What type of name is Jack for a winter spirit?" Hiccup shook his head, thin arms folding as he presented this to Jack.

Somewhat shocked and a tad amused, Jack gave a grin. "I believe your name for me is Jokul Frosti. But you can call me Jack."

Hiccup felt his mouth open. He gently patted Toothless' head, not fully aware that the beast was still quietly grumbling at Jack. "Jokul Frosti... but, but aren't you meant to be an elf? You don't look like an elf. You're all tall and slim and really.." Hiccup lost his train of thought looking at the boy. "Uh, I mean you don't have pointy ears either."

Jack's eyebrows raised. He was really what? "Well, nobody ever gets it right. So very few ever have the privilege of seeing me. Or speaking to me."

"So why am I one of the lucky few?" Smiling, Hiccup cocked his head.

"You believe in me. This whole village does, albeit in a different form, which is why I guess I've never been noticed here. But you...there must be something special about you." Jack's hand twitched as if to reach out, but it stayed still.

Smiling at the ground, the dark haired boy shook his head. "I'm many things, an idiot, clumsy and awkward, to name a few, but I am not special."

The next thing Hiccup felt was a finger under his chin, lifting his head up. His electric blue eyes stared intently into the bright green of Hiccup's, and his voice was soft, but certain. "You are a dragon trainer. I've visited Berk many times, I know how it used to be. I know that you changed it. It takes someone special to do that."

Hiccup was silent for a while, his breaths coming faster this close to the ethereal boy in front of him. He gave a gentle smile, somewhat resisting an urge to wrap his fingers around Jack's wrist. "Show me what you can do."

Jack took the change of conversation in his stride and gave a lop sided grin. Challenge accepted. "Alright. First off, I can fly." Before Hiccup could respond, Jack wrapped his arm around Hiccup's waist, yanked him close and took a leap into the air.

The wind propelled them straight up, gently blowing their hair around. Jack gave a grin as Hiccup clung to him, unused to flying without his dragon. Toothless was still on ground, desperately trying to fly up and meet them, but unable to. After a few failed attempts he gave up, and opted to stare at them instead, searching for any signs of danger. Hiccup bent his head down and yelled to his friend. "Hey, buddy! It's okay, don't fire." He turned to face Jack. "You could've told me you were going to do that."

"I'm spontaneous. Sue me." Jack smiled, descending back down softly next to the dragon.

Recovering his breath, Hiccup looked up, and after a few seconds, coughed and de-tangled himself from Jack. "What else can you do?"

Jack waved his staff, and it started snowing. When Hiccup cursed, he laughed, lifted his hand, and the snow ceased. "Don't you like the snow?"

"It snows nine months of the year here, and hails the other three." Hiccup sighed exasperatedly. "Because of you?"

Jack took a leap and landed softly on top of his staff, his balance perfect. The staff stayed still, and he crouched down, tilting his head to the side. "Not completely. I mean every country has its basic weather. I just come along and spice things up. I make it fun."

"Oh yeah, I'm having so much fun. Now help me pick these logs up." Hiccup muttered, eyeing Jack up. He bent down to start picking up all the logs that littered the ground.

"You wouldn't know fun if it bit you in the ass." Jack snickered. Hiccup straightened his spine, and dropped the logs. He walked over to his dragon, and scratched his ear.

"Oh, I can guarantee I know fun. Hop on." Toothless flashed Jack a toothy grin.

Recoiling, Jack put his hands up. "Uh..no thanks, I don't do dragons. Wind-only type of guy."

"You scared? Here I thought that someone as fun as you wouldn't be afraid of the big bag dragon." Hiccup taunted, climbing onto the dragon's back. His hands took the reins, and his foot latched into place. His amputated leg clipped into it's place, and he gave it a test twist, moving the fake tail in the process. "Good to go, Toothless."

Jack's pale cheeks twinged pink. "Fine, I'll do it. It's not that bad."

Gingerly he climbed onto Toothless' back, and wrapped his arms around Hiccup's slender waist. He carefully set his staff down on the snow, and locked his legs tightly to the dragon's torso. Snickering, Hiccup gripped the reins and called out, and the dragon lurched. Jack wailed and clung to Hiccup as hard as he could. He wasn't used to the rocking motion a dragon flew with, or the rough takeoff. When he felt Hiccup's chest moving with suppressed laughter, he opened his eyes. They were above the clouds, and the dragon flew now with such ease that Jack wouldn't have known they were still flying if it wasn't for the wind blowing his hair back.

Jack grinned, his hands still wound round Hiccup's waist. He rested his head on the boy's shoulder. "Wow."

"Pretty cool, right?"

"Very. But where's the fun?"

"You asked for it." Grinning wildly, with a sense of freedom, Hiccup yanked the reins, and down they went.

Jack let loose a yell as they plummeted, daring to lift a hand into the air. The dragon spread its wings and flew back upwards, using the momentum to spin and twirl. They were fast approaching a large series of rocks, miles into the air, and Jack inhaled. "Those gaps look thin...can we make that?"

In response, Hiccup grinned. He latched his left foot into the stirrup, pushing down on it. The mechanical half of Toothless' tail shot out, and as Hiccup yanked the reins to the side, the Dragon seems to flatten out it's body as they sailed through the first gap. The team worked together, turning and pulling and shifting their position in seconds to fit through. Jack could feel his heart enter his mouth with every twist, this was the most exhilarated he'd ever felt. Eventually, they made it out the collection of cliffs, and Jack breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay, you have skill. That was amazing." He said, his lips at the other boy's ear.

Hiccup tried not to shiver. He was uncomfortably aware that Jack still had a hand wrapped around his waist, and his icy touch felt more like fire. "Thanks. Wanna do a loop?"

"Bring it."

At Hiccup's command, Toothless soared upwards, his huge wings batting them further, higher, faster. Jack raised his hands at the top of the loop and yelled. Just as Hiccup turned round to look at him, The scream fell from Jack's lips and he detached from the dragon's back. Jack fell straight down, the momentum spinning and turning his thin body beyond control. He screamed, trying desperately to right himself so he could fly. Suddenly, a strong hand gripped Jack's, and lifted him up with a strength he would not have paired to Hiccup's slender frame. He found himself back on the dragon's back, Hiccup's emerald eyes drinking him in.

"You okay?" He asked worriedly, scanning him for any signs of injury.

Jack threw his head back and laughed. "Now that was fun. I'm great, thanks to you."

Hiccup sighed. "You could have died!"

"Ah, not exactly. I can fly." Jack said wisely.

"Didn't seem to look like it when you were spiraling down." He muttered, a hint of a smile on his lips.

"I'm not even sure I can die. I've never tried." He said thoughtfully.

Hiccup wondered. "How old are you?"

"I'm not sure, it's hard for me to measure time. I've been alive for a long time. I've lived with the moon, grew with the sun, existed with the planet. I'm as much a part of it as the trees and the lakes and the hills,and all the animals. I'm connected to it, just like you are." He said softly.

Hiccup's eyes widened. "Are you a God? Are you from Asgard?"

Jack smiled gently. "I'm no God. There is more than just your Gods in this world. Everything exists, everything is linked. You for instance believe in Odin, and Freya. You believe in Valhalla, and Hel, and Folkvangr, where you will go after death. Elsewhere in the world, Christians and Catholics believe in one God, and heaven and hell. They only exist because you believe."

Hiccup bit his lip. "So what's real?"

"All of it. None of it. It only exists because you believe. After all, you believe in me, and I exist. But only to you. You get me?" Jack said, his hand lazily snaking around Hiccup's waist again.

Hiccup blushed and nodded. "Yeah. I get it, the world is more than what I see. How do you like this type of flying?"

"It's brilliant. Toothless is certainly exceptional. His rider more so." He said quietly, his ice cold hand petting the rough scales on the dragons back.

Hiccup smiled as they descended, landing softly where they took off. Jack slid off and picked up his staff, leaning against it fondly. His hands trailed up and down the wood, humming with the power coursing through it. Hiccup caught this with his eye and smiled.

"Want me to give you some privacy?" Hiccup sniggered.

Jack made a snowball by waving his hand and whacked it off his shoulder. "No thanks, it's not my type."

"What is?"

"Hm?" Jack tilted his face up to look at the boy.

"What is your type?" Hiccup asked, almost sheepishly.

Jack grinned. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Hiccup puffed his chest out and flicked his hair away from his eyes. "Pfft, I don't care. I was just curious."

Jack smiled softly, his lips quirking up in a way that stirred butterflies in Hiccup's stomach. "What can I do for you for saving my life?"

Hiccup waved his hand. "Nothing, it's fine."

"How about a kiss?" Jack raised his eyebrow, a blossom of hope seeded in his stomach.

"W-what?" Hiccup stammered, unsure he'd even heard right. "A kiss? Like, between you and me?"

Jack stepped closer, standing about a head taller than Hiccup. "Exactly like that."

Hiccup was speechless. He couldn't deny that he felt an attraction to Jack, like something was pulling him towards the white haired boy with the electric blue eyes. But there was so much to consider, his family, his friends. However, what he felt with Jack was much more electrifying than what he felt with Astrid, and suddenly he felt confused all over again. Finally he opened his mouth to speak. "Tell you what, you beat me in a race next time we meet, and you'll get your kiss."

Jack leaned against his staff. "And if I lose?"

"Who knows? Maybe if you believe you'll win, it'll happen." Hiccup laughed and shook his head.

Jack blinked and waved his staff. A small torrent of snowflakes flew around Hiccup, making him shiver through his thin green knit sweater. They flew around him, landing in his soft hair. With a gentle smile, Jack nodded. "Till next time, Hiccup."

With a gust of wind, he was gone, and all that remained was the echo of Hiccup's name on his lips. Sighing softly, Hiccup sat down against Toothless, kicking the abandoned sticks with his foot. "Till next time, Jack."