Summary: When escaping the Red Death, Hiccup and Toothless were marked. Now on the scent trail of a murderous dragon, Hiccup leaves with Toothless, not to linger anyplace. Five years time, Berk is thriving, but right on the map of the Red Death. Running is no longer an option for Hiccup and he returns to Berk. But time's toll has had Hiccup become a man in mask, afraid of his true identity.

Behind the Mask

Prologue

"She's like the queen bee and they're the workers!" Astrid squealed softly, looking down at this red, massive, ferocious... thing.

Hiccup was excited at the revelation; he really was. Some of the excitement even crept on to his face, but what Hiccup really wanted to do was get out. This extremely dangerous beehive, with an extremely dangerous dragon, was going to notice the intruders any moment.

"Come on, bud," Hiccup whispered to Toothless, "Let's get out of here."

As they were about to make a break for it, Astrid said something that sparked Hiccup's attention.

"Why don't they leave?" She questioned.

Hiccup mulled over the idea for a moment before he answered, "Bees don't stray from their queen."

Astrid shook her head.

"But Toothless did!" Astrid exclaimed, barely remembering to whisper.

"I don't kn — "

Something caught Hiccup's eye: a gronkle scratching at a rather distinct mark on his side. He'd seen another one as he entered, but he never took any note of it, after all, Vikings were proud warriors for a reason. But Vikings leaving the exact same mark? They were too messy for that. Hiccup looked around, noting the mark on every dragon.

Hiccup looked to Astrid, who had been scrutinizing the lair, and tapped her shoulder.

"We have to get out of here," Hiccup said breathlessly, eyes wide.

"What do you —"?

"She-she marks them, gives them a scent," Hiccup latched his foot into the harness, "Toothless, we have to go before —"

A monstrous roar rang out, startling the dragons into flee.

"She finds out we're new recruits," Hiccup finished exasperatedly. He sighed before escalating into a scream, "Go, Toothless!"

Foot already in place, they took off. Hiccup felt Astrid twist around in the seat, then freeze.

"What's wrong?" Hiccup asked over the noise.

"She's gone!" Astrid yelled back.

Hiccup turned around to find that the dragon was, indeed, gone.

"Where did she —" Hiccup was cut off by a thunderous roar in front of him. "Found her," Hiccup concluded weakly.

Everything slowed for a moment, and Hiccup could see everything, feel everything, and smell everything clearly. The calm, collected dragon opened her jaws, and everything went blurry for Hiccup. The dragon gave what looked like a cruel smile and nipped twice. One nip hit Toothless's left, front shoulder. The second hit Hiccup's right thigh. Hiccup dodged before the dragoness hit Astrid, ignoring the sting of the venom in his leg. Toothless also felt the pain, and indicated he did my twitching his shoulder.

Hiccup flew a bit blindly, but thoroughly to get out of that Hel hole. It was absolute chaos. Finally, Hiccup pulled aside of the flock of dragons and landed in His and Toothless's meeting place, disturbing some water as they landed.

"That's it! That's the nest!" Astrid cried as she descended onto the ground, "We have to tell your dad!"

"No! No, we should not tell my dad. That, that would be a very bad idea," Hiccup replied, grabbing Astrid's arm to prevent her from leaving.

"Why not? This is what we've been working for. This is what we've wanted to— " Astrid looked at Toothless and stopped.

"What," Hiccup asked as he jumped to the ground, fully knowing "What have we wanted to do to the dragon nest, Astrid?"

"Destroy it." Astrid answered quietly.

Their conversation was filled with a large, uncomfortable silence that only the crickets and wind in the night wanted to break.

"So, we won't tell your dad," Astrid amended, "What's next?"

Hiccup swallowed.

"Well, you will go to town and forget you ever met me and I — "

Hiccup stopped. He knew what he had to do. He just didn't want to do it. The air around him grew thick and Toothless took a step forward to comfort his friend.

"You'll what?" Astrid pushed.

"I'll... leave." Hiccup looked at the ground, afraid to look Astrid in the eye.

"What! Why?!" Astrid cried, "I thought you were going to work this out!"

"I know, I know what I said," Hiccup said, tracing the lines on the grass with his eyes, "But..."

He let his words ring through the air, too petrified to share his thoughts.

" 'But' what? Hiccup, what happened in the nest?" Astrid demanded.

"It was what I was trying to tell you," Hiccup said quietly, "All the dragons in there are marked. They find food for their queen, because, if they don't, they'll be hunted down by those who do. Or even worse," Hiccup looked up at Astrid, "her."

Hiccup watched as Astrid slowly put it together in her head. Her eyes moved with every thought, and Hiccup doubted that those eyes would be easy to forget.

"You were marked." Astrid said it. It wasn't a question, she knew.

"And Toothless was too. But don't you worry, you're just fine! So you can move along now, forget this ever happened, and pretend I ran away when I'm not here tomorrow," Hiccup said, faking perkiness.

"But you are running," Astrid stated bluntly.

"No, Astrid, I'm not." Hiccup's eyes grew hard. "You saw that thing too. If it got to Berk, it would destroy us. Destroy them. You guys? You get my point!"

Hiccup threw up his hands and raked them through his hair, collapsing to the ground. Toothless hovered over him, nudging him for condolence. Astrid however, stayed in place.

"Then I'm going back to town, and when they find out you're gone, I'll tell them how you really are the hero," Astrid told him.

Hiccup shook his head.

"They'd never believe you. And even if they did, finding me a hero would be the last thing they'd think about." Hiccup stood up, "Besides, I'm not a hero."

Astrid didn't turn back to go to the village. Instead, she grasped Hiccup's shoulders.

"You've got what you need?"

Hiccup nodded.

"It's in that basket I was planning to use to runaway. Earlier," Hiccup gave a small, lopsided smile.

"Well, good."

Hiccup nodded in acknowledgement and mounted onto Toothless, strapping the basket onto the back. He strapped his foot into the steer and readied Toothless for take off.

"Oh!" Astrid shouted before Hiccup was too fully elevated, "And remember, you didn't runaway!"

Hiccup himself said that to her. So why didn't he agree?


A/N: Ah! My first chapter over 1000 words? Geesh. You should see some of my other first chapters. They're, like, 600 words. And that's plus A/N! Oh, well. It's not like this is a long one either.

Anyways, onto the little details of this story. I know, I know. Another 'what if' story. But you've got to admit, it has a bit of a spin. Well, here is why I started it when they got to the cave of the Red Death. I felt like a lot (more like all, but, hey, some are unaccounted for) of the 'what if Hiccup did runaway' stories leave out that one bonding flight that I felt was crucial to Hiccup and Astrid's relationship. So, I decided to add it in! Plus it's got a bit more drama and motive.

Also, I'd like to say that, for starters, that bit with the Red Death what the first and most drama I've ever written. So, please don't go all hater on me. If you say I needed a bit more details, that's fine (I've thought of that myself). I promise to read up on my "How To Write A Drama Scene" (Hey! That's a good name...) book.

Last thing. I know this is my second HTTYD fanfic, and I'm not even on my third chapter with the first, but I REALLY liked this idea. Plus, let's face it, no one really cares about How To Define You Life And Dragon anyways.

That's it!

Love,

Sam

P.S. (HA! That's right, I'm not done.) You will only read this once. So remember: I do not own How To Train Your Dragon 1 or 2.

There.