Hiccup-also known as the hero "Fury"-flew through the city of Berk in the Barbaric Archipelago. Having survived escaping The School six months ago, the seventeen year old boy used his dragon-traits to save people. At first he didn't want anything to do with the humans who permanently scarred him, but his protective Night Fury instincts and humane side made him realize he wanted to make sure no one of the good guys suffered the same pain he'd known all his life.
Hiccup didn't attend school, didn't let anyone know who he was, didn't even let anyone see him outside of his black "Fury" mask. Most adults assumed he was an adult with unique gifts, others thought he was much more dragon than he actually was and didn't have a human side hardly at all. Hiccup and Toothless were both fine with this. The less people knew about them, the better.
Hiccup spotted a girl down on a sidewalk held in the arms of a boy with beefy arms and a black leather jacket. No doubt was he a gang member judging by his tattoos, and even though the girl he had captive seemed pretty strong, she had many disadvantages.
"It's your call Hiccup." Toothless growled to his boy in the dragon's tongue. Hiccup nodded his head and growled back. "We're saving her. I know what it's like to be used. We're not letting that happen to her." He spat rather harshly as flashbacks ran through the back of his mind. Toothless knew the boy wasn't trying to be rude, but had just been roughened out by his past.
Hiccup noticed the tall, thin, strong blonde girl look up at him from below as he landed. Something about her baby blue, shining eyes caught him off guard. The emotion that hit him in the chest was not one he was familiar with.
Hiccup and Toothless landed next to the guy holding the girl. The Night Fury hit the man with his tail, causing him to raise a gun. The dragon was caught off guard when a bullet struck his tail fin, making the dragon yelp in surprise. Hiccup immediately felt something crush deep within himself, and he grabbed the guy's shoulders. He flipped the man over his shoulder and stood on his chest. The man was dazed for a moment, but another one came out of the shadows of an ally way.
"You have got to be kidding me." Hiccup growled in the dragon's tongue, confusing the girl on the ground nearby. "Fury look out!" She screamed as the man under him raised a gun. All Hiccup felt was something hard leaving a hole in the center of his wing, and it registered somewhere in the back of his mind that he couldn't fly as the adrenaline sent him into offense mode.
With quick movements Hiccup kicked the guy below him in the head, knocking him out immediately with his prosthetic foot (more on that later). The man coming out of the shadows looked scared, and with one swift movement Toothless ran into him, pinning him into the ground and making him feint. The Night Fury then ran to his rider with his left tail fin bleeding slightly on the ground.
"Toothless." Hiccup whispered in Nordic, reaching out and touching the dragon's head. He then turned to the girl on the ground. "Are you okay?" He questioned in a stern tone. The girl stood up, dusting off her knees. She looked to be about his age.
"I-I'm fine. You're not though." She stated, pointing to his wing. Hiccup blushed beneath his mask, something he'd never done before. He turned with his back to her, not looking her in the eye. With balled fists he looked at Toothless. She was right.
"Yeah. Guess we're screwed." Hiccup mumbled just loud enough for the girl to hear him. She put a hand on her hip. "Well what are you gonna do about it Fury?" She asked in a sarcastic tone. Hiccup sighed and turned around again to face her.
"Dunno. We'll figure something out though. Always do." Hiccup said in a more calm tone, reaching out with his hand in a 'it's fine' gesture. The girl wasn't having it. Hiccup realized she was the protective type. Go figure, they were just alike.
"I don't think so. You can't fly. You're a hero and you help people everyday. My mother is a nurse. Let her help you." The girl said, this time speaking more confidently than before. Her skirt swayed in the wind as stars appeared in the sky one by one.
"I don't even know you." Hiccup mumbled, holding one of his arms uncomfortably. Toothless crooned worriedly, wrapping his injured tail around his boy. The girl smiled warmly and reached out to touch 'Fury's' shoulder. He flinched back with a small warning hiss out of reflex.
"My name is Astrid. I go to Berk high and take psychology and medical classes so I can take on a career in recreational therapy like my grandmother before my mother. Now you know me. What about you?" Astrid crossed her arms and leaned against a brick wall, worrying about Fury's bleeding wing in the back of her head.
Hiccup sighed and squeezed his arm tighter. His breath came out in a cloud in the air around them due to the cold. "There's not much to know. I can't tell you my past until I know I can trust you. I don't have much experience with humans that don't act nice just because they want something from me." He explained in a dark tone. Astrid frowned.
"Okay...I get that you don't trust me. How are we going to fix your wing? I can't get near you emotionally because we just met, and you're afraid to let me touch you." Astrid went through what she knew in her head. Hiccup looked up confused. It was as if Astrid had made it her mission to help him or something. Did she always do this? Odd.
"I don't know. You don't have to help me. I've been defending myself all my years." Hiccup tried to explained, fiddling with a loose thread on his mask. His suit was black like his wings, so he knew if he needed he could easily hide just about anywhere because it was night. This helped ease his nerves a little.
"I'm going to help you Fury. I don't mean that as a threat, but rather as a gesture of kindness. I'm not doing this because I want something from you. I'm doing it because you've saved my city from crime numerous times and you've saved me from getting shot." Astrid gestured to the two men laying unconscious on the ground a few feat away. Cops suddenly began coming their way. Someone in the apartments nearby must've called them.
"Look Fury. The cops are coming to pick these guys up and you can't fly. Come with me." Astrid held out her hand and Hiccup shivered. He looked at Toothless. "What should we do?" He asked, more nervous than he had been in a while. Toothless sighed.
"It's this or the authorities." The dragon hissed, defeated. He'd have to go with the humans to save his boy. He had to go, for Hiccup.
