Debts Owing
It had been nearly a year since the war between Hooligans/Outcasts/Berserkers. A year of peace and quiet in which Hiccup and Toothless had been able to fly anywhere in the Archipelago they wanted, to discover new lands and dragons. It was perfect but like all good things it didn't last. Peace treaty time with the Outcasts came. Hiccup had hoped to skip it. Even though Alvin was now their ally he really didn't trust him. So he woke up early, hoping to escape the hut without waking his father but when you had a metal foot silence was nearly impossible and it took only the few steps from his bed to where he had laid Toothless's saddle on his desk before his father was calling him for breakfast.
Hiccup's shoulder's fell and he looked to his Nightfury who was stretching and giving a big yawn before bouncing excitedly at the smell of fresh fish and dragon nip. "Yeah, yeah. You know he only did it to keep us here, right?" Hiccup grumbled as his best friend bounced down the stairs.
A lot of people might say that Stoick the Vast wasn't the smartest Viking around but they didn't know him like Hiccup did. Stoick was amazingly smart, clever and witty in his own fashion and when it came to keeping Hiccup grounded he forgot the boy entirely and went straight for the dragon knowing that without Toothless Hiccup wouldn't get far. This time it was a heaping basket filled up and over with sturgeon mixed with dragon nip and a healthy helping of kale. All the things needed to keep a healthy dragon happy and content with a full belly which meant lunch would be much the same if Stoick was planning on having a sleepy Toothless. Hiccup was on to him even if Toothless choose to ignore it.
"Da-ad!" Hiccup whined when he saw Toothless bury his muzzle into the basket without a care in the world except for his rumbling belly. Stoick had his back to him and was bent over the frying pan cooking what smelt like bacon and eggs. "Come on, we agreed not to let Toothless eat that much first thing in the morning and especially not dragon nip. It makes him tipsy when he flies."
"So I guess you won't be flying this morning," Stoick said cheekily, a big grin on his face as he scooped eggs and bacon onto a plate and placed it on the table. "Now sit down and eat. Alvin should be here soon."
"You seem excited to see him," Hiccup observed. His father was positively bouncing and he rarely did that when any other chief visited.
Stoick tried to hide his smile but it was impossible. "It's been over twenty years since he and I sat together and talked like real friends. He's quite a character when you get to know him."
"Yeah, you can say that again," the boy grumbled.
"What was that?"
"Nothing. Do I really have to stay for this? If Alvin's no threat then you don't need me or the riders, right?"
His father sat down with his plate of food. "No, you're right. The riders aren't needed but as my heir you are. It's time you learned the politics behind being a chief. One of these days I won't be here, Hiccup. It's time you prepared to take my place."
"Can't I sit through the Bog Burglar treaty signing? Or the Visithugs? Hell, I'll even sit next to you with Norbert the Nutjob," Hiccup pleaded, really not wanting to be anywhere near Alvin although Norbert the Nutjob much be a little much.
Stoick raised his brows a look of utter amusement on his bearded face. "Really? Norbert? Well if you want I'll send a messenger dragon to invite him but while we're waiting you might as well sit in with Alvin and me? It's not as if Toothless will be taking anywhere far today."
The boy moaned and slumped in his chair. "You drugged my dragon! There's no escaping this today is there?"
"Nope. Now eat up, his ship should be here within the hour…if he doesn't ride that Screaming Death of his. I hope he's not riding that Screaming Death of his." A worried looked shadowed his features. The Screaming Death was bad news and had done quite a bit of destruction searching for its mother, including destroying entire islands. So far it hadn't done anything since reuniting with its kin and being under Alvin's guard but that didn't mean the Outcast wasn't training it and turning it into his very own weapon. Stoick prayed Alvin wasn't fool enough to attempt that. Dragons were only loyal to a point. Not every rider was as lucky as Hiccup and his friends.
His son shared his fear but luck was with them. When Alvin arrived it was on his new flag ship bought with what treasure he had plundered from the Berserkers presently serving time in his dungeons. No one spoke of them even though Hiccup was burning with questions, especially about the Berserker chief who was also imprisoned but he kept them to himself.
It was a strange affair having Outcasts freely walk around Berk. Alvin didn't bring many men only a handful of his most trusted who stayed close to him and looked just as nervous being there as the Hooligans were to have them. Stoick and the council escorted them to the Great Hall with Hiccup tagging along. Toothless, the lazy dragon, was taking a late afternoon nap, his belly full of fish and dragon nip. If the Outcasts tried anything the Nightfury would be of little use to them which made Hiccup question once again why his father would feed him so much when he knew that Outcasts were coming. Hiccup had Astrid checking on him from time to time.
The meeting went better than planned. There was the usual tour of the village that came when any chief visited although in Alvin's case it was a bit of a homecoming and introduction to how Hiccup had changed everything for the tribe with the dragons, the new water towers and how they put out fires, feeding stations and so forth. Alvin looked impressed and graced Hiccup with smiles that actually met his eyes and made Hiccup look anywhere but at him. If anyone else noticed no one said anything. When they reached the Great Hall a great feast awaited them as did a vast amount of mead. There was drinking and celebrating but Hiccup mind wasn't on any of it. This was much too much like when Dagur came to sign the peace treaty two years earlier when the dragons were in hiding. He felt lonely without Toothless.
When the celebrating ended he thought Alvin would leave. The man wasn't the partying type and had stayed back while others sung and laughed seeming a little out of his element. Hiccup supposed it had to do with be cast out of the Hooligan tribe so long ago and while he became the chief of the Outcasts he had never become comfortable amongst them. He drank deep from his tankard, eying the partying men and women, his face free of emotion until his gaze met Hiccup's then a look would cross it that Hiccup could not explain. Unfortunately Hiccup was prevented from leaving by being called over by one person or another, some asking for advice about their dragon or if maybe something was wrong and that he seemed far away. He assured everyone he was alright even when Gobber asked if Alvin was making him uncomfortable.
Eventually he did managed to slip out and started to for home, anxious to spend the rest of the evening with Toothless and with luck get in one good flight around the island before heading to bed. Not doing anything exciting tired him out faster than battling a whole armada of Berserkers.
"He's alive, if that's what you've been itching to ask," a deep gravelling voice called from behind him.
Hiccup froze. His breath quickened for a moment until he schooled himself and channelled his fear. He turned slowly and faced the one person he had hoped not to have to talk to ever again. "Oh? I didn't know you read minds."
The large man smirked. "Well it's not hard when the two of you mimic each other every now and then. When he's burning to know if I've seen you he usually avoids eye contact and gets all shifty."
"Well I guess that takes a stroke of brilliance to decipher. Congrads, you're extremely gifted."
He shouldn't have been so sarcastic but he just couldn't get past their history. He thought quickly, trying to find something to say that wouldn't sound belittling or challenging but he couldn't think of anything other than getting to Toothless because Alvin had to up to something. "I need to go," he said finally, turning back toward his hut.
"No, we need to talk…" Alvin countered, moving surprisingly quickly and grabbing the boy's shoulder. Hiccup inhaled sharply as he was spun around to face the Outcast chief. He shifted his weight to his right foot and went to kick his sheen but stopped midway at Alvin's next words. "…about that little favor you owe me for helping save your father. I'm calling it in."
The youth's brows furrowed in confusion the quickly narrowed. "I'm not training your dragons," he reaffirmed as had many times in the past. "I don't care what you do."
Alvin grin grew and Hiccup quickly cursed himself for saying what he did but Alvin surprised him and shook his head. "I don't care about training the dragons, boy. I already know all I need. No, this is more…personal. I need your help dealing with something no one else has been able to help me with." He seemed uncomfortable explaining himself and it made Hiccup relax a little. He had never seen Alvin like this…so out of his element.
"Like what?" he asked, still unwilling to trust Alvin.
The man studied the boy for a moment or two. "I'll show you tomorrow. Meet me ten kilometers west of here. I'll be alone. Feel free to bring Toothless, but only Toothless." He let Hiccup go and stepped away.
While Alvin's actions were unusual Hiccup wasn't quite ready to buy it. "And you're not going to try and kidnap me and force me to train your dragons?" He gave a laugh. "Alvin, you're schemes are getting worse every year. Why would I ever agree to meet you in secret?"
"What secret? I already told your father I need to speak to you in private. It's a bit of a treasure hunt and maybe getting some advice but considering how many people keep turning to you about their dragons I thought maybe you can give me a little advice away from all the chaos here."
Hiccup stared at him in disbelief. Of all the things Alvin had ever said to him this had to be the craziest yet strangely the sincerest. He sighed and gave a nod. If Alvin was for real then maybe Hiccup could help him. He worried his lower lip for a moment. Giving Alvin advice wasn't training his dragon it was just helping a troubled rider learn how to bond better. "Alright, I'll talk to Dad and if he's okay with it Toothless and I will meet you there, if not then you're on your own. If anyone's there with you we'll blast you to Helheim."
Alvin gave a curt nod. "Agreed. Goodnight, Hiccup."
"Yeah," Hiccup returned, rubbing his arm nervously. "Goodnight…Alvin." It wasn't going to be a good night for Hiccup. He tossed and turned and even Toothless's loving warmth and snuggles did little to calm him. He did not trust Alvin and he doubted he ever could.