Hey guys !

Last chapter (already?!)

A big thank you to all my readers !

Hope you enjoy !

Love and scales !

Chapter 9

For the love of a dragon, part 2

When they finally managed to open up the chains, the vikings got horrified to see the poor state of Joke's wrists. Tatters of bandages had increased the abrasions on an already scarred skin. Joke used his healing knowledge to take care of it.

They were a bit infected, causing his fever. When she saw the wounds, the white Fury pushed them all to lick at the boy's wrists, making him wince. The vikings panicked and stopped her, but it turned out to be as efficient as alcohol to clean the wounds.

With her researchs about dragons, Gothi had learnt that liquefied Zippleback gas had healing properties and could be used against fever. Joke also told them what he had learnt about Monstruous Nightmare spit. Did the Night Fury's slime also has healing properties ? That would explain why Toothless was licking Hiccup so often, surely the dragon knew about it and wanted to make sure his rider was healthy.

Five days of travel had separated them from their dear island of Berk, allowing the white-haired boy to heal and get back some energy. He was riding Toothless, just behind Hiccup, but it didn't stop him from admiring the white Fury who was still following them, swirling in a good mood.

She didn't have the slightest distrust anymore for the vikings, she was even chirping with the other dragons, mostly Toothless, Stormfly and Turnmoil.

The way back home helped them all evacuate the pression they had accumulated during the previous weeks, and enjoying Joke's return. The boy explained them how he had met the white Fury, how they managed to escape from the ship before getting caught again, and the riders got amazed at how she had tracked him to Rambert's fortress.

He didn't really speak about what he had endured there, he just told them he had never lost hope to see them coming. Then the topic became the white Fury. Hiccup said how he thought she was not exactly a Night Fury, Joke gave them details about her camouflage, and everyone agreed to say she was part of a relative specie to Night Furies, but not a Night Fury. After all, Toothless was black and couldn't hide like her.

Hiccup suggested to call her a Bright Fury, but the name Astrid found, a Light Fury, had more success. Joke laughed seeing them debating with such fervor, until the moment Hiccup caught his attention by puting his hand over his. Their eyes met above Hiccup's shoulder, and he smiled.

''If you want to keep her, you should give her a name.''

Seeing the hint Hiccup was making, refering to the time when he was trying to tame Toothless, Joke smiled. It was the exact same words he had told him back then. He tightened his grip around his viking's waist and rested his chin on his shoulder, a sily smile on his face.

''I think I'll call her Lumiverse.''

''That's pretty.'' Hiccup complimented.

o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o.o

Going back to Berk turned out to be eventful. The villagers welcomed back the riders and congratulated them for their successful rescue. Olgarg cried of joy, hugging her family whole again, then she cursed the men who had dared to take her precious son. The arrival of the new dragon didn't go unnoticed, earning Joke countless congrats.

They even threw a party to celebrate their chief's return, the success of the rescue and the new dragon rider, yet Joke and Hiccup didn't joined it. The riders were exausted by the travel, and the two boys wanted to be alone so they could enjoy each other's company, even if it was just for resting. At least, they would rest together, sleeping in the arms of the other, enjoying the other's presence.

After Gothi left, she had check if the wound of the boy had properly healed, they were finally alone with their dragons. Silence filled the Hofferson's house, the only sounds were the faint noises from the party, the crackling fire and the heavy breathing from the dragons.

The four of them were settled in front of the fireplace, Hiccup and Joke were sharing a fur blanket while Lumiverse and Toothless were sleeping around them. Once again, Lumiverse had put her tail around them, which made them smile.

Hiccup was waryly and tenderly holding his boyfriend against him, an arm around his shoulders and his head against his. His eyes were closed and he was smiling like a dumb, but he couldn't help it : he was just too happy to have Joke back.

''I was so scared, you know.'' He finally said while nuzzling his boyfriend's smooth hair. ''I'd started to think we would never get you back.''

''Well I never doubted it. I knew you would come for me, and it gave me the will to hold on. I hold on to your memory, Hiccup, and…''

Silence fell again, letting them hear the party again. Hiccup opened his eyes and stayed against him, sensing something was troubling his boyfriend. He didn't dare to move, simply waiting to see if Joke was going to say something else, yet his attention got caught downward as he felt the boy take his free hand. The viking stared at their finger intertwining, feeling shivers running down his spine.

Then he looked at Joke, who was staring at their hands. Hiccup still daren't to speak, he didn't want to rush Joke after what he had been through, even if he was curious to know what was going on inside his beautiful head. They stayed like this for a moment, until Joke moved. He bent forward and lead their hands to his lips, leaving a kiss on the warm knuckles of his viking.

''I couldn't stop thinking about you, about us, and I realised that, despite everything we have lived together, there's something really important I never told you. It's time to fix it.''

Hiccup got puzzled, he wasn't sure of what that meant, if he had to worry. The words of his boyfriend seemed pretty serious while his voice was soft, just like the way he was holding his hand, and this smile on his face. When Joke looked up at him, the viking's heart skipped a beat.

Blue and green met and melted into each other. Hiccup waited with apprehension what Joke was going to say, he could feel his whole body stiffen and his hands getting sweaty. Yet, everything calmed down when the white-haired boy spoke.

''I love you, Hiccup Haddock.''

The chief's son paused, sweat left to be replaced by a comforting warmth spreading from his chest, where his heart was now beating like crazy. His breath sped up too, and he felt the urge to shout of joy, bouncing everywhere, punching the air, squeeze the boy in his arms, yell even more and kiss him endlessly.

All his thoughts were gushing in his mind, threatening to take control over his body, and yet all he managed to do was smile the brightest smile and fill the gap between their faces. He pressed his lips against his boyfriend's, with the blessing feeling of discovering them all over again, then he wrapped his arms around him to keep him as close as he could.

They made use of their privacy, having only two sound asleep dragons with them, to kiss passionately. Hiccup couldn't say how many time it lasted, but he didn't care, it felt like a blessing forever for him, yet only like a second when they parted. They kissed until their lungs were burning for air.

Their lips parted, but not them. They caught up their breath, resting in each other's arms, foreheads against each other, both of them surrounded by this warm aura of love.

''I love you too, Joke Hofferson.''

Both opened their eyes again, contemplating the person in front of them, smiling, eyes full of love and tenderness. None of them could be more happy than in this very moment, but they heard a noise that pulled them out of this magic spell : a purr.

Then they noticed that, actually, their dragons were not asleep but looking at them with wide round pupils. Obviously, both boys blushed a deep shade of red, making the dragons laugh.

''This is Berk. We've got ice, snow, and even more ice. But we also have dragons. We train them, we learn from them, we protect them, and they protect us too. One thing for sure, we wouldn't trade them for anything. Would you ?''

THE END

This is the end of The Lost Boy II – For the Love of a Dragon, hope you enjoyed it ! It was nothing related to the second movie as I wanted to add more adventures, focusing on Hiccup and Joke's relationship but also how Joke had met and tamed his own dragon.

Next opus will go back to the 'copy-paste-like-style' of the first book, but it won't be a copy-paste as I changed a lot of things.

Well, no spoilers, you'll see soon :)

Love and scales !