A/N: Sorry about no update yesterday, but I had to get my school work done. Now, I've got the rest of the week to handle writing and whatever else comes up.

Taking advice, I'm stopping with the witty dividers and going to something more professional.

Go ahead, read.

Legend:
::Dragon speak::
- For dragons (and Michael) only.
Thoughts
– Private to the character


When Snotlout finally came downstairs from his shower, he was red from head to toe. Hiccup, Astrid, Fishlegs, and Ruffnut managed not to laugh, but Tuffnut couldn't help himself. He gave a quick guff before Snotlout shot a glare the silenced him.

"What have we learned?" Michael asked, sounding smug. When Snotlout didn't respond, Michael sighed. "Let me quote someone. 'A child learns not to touch a stove, not because his parents say 'it's hot, don't touch' but because he has tears in his eyes and a blister on his finger. Hopefully he also learns to listen to his parents.'"

"What?" Snotlout said.

"It means learn your lesson. I warned you it was hot, but you didn't listen. Maybe now you'll listen to me when I warn you about things."

"Yeah, whatever." Snotlout mumbled. His pride was more injured then anything.

"Whose next?" Michael asked.

"I am, of course." Tuffnut said, standing up.

"In your dreams!" Ruffnut responded.

"Rock, paper, scissors." Michael said.

"Huh?"

"Rock breaks scissors, scissors cuts paper, paper covers rock." Michael explained making each symbol with his hands. It didn't take long. Ruffnut won, knowing her brother would chose rock. Michael provided her with some of Karine's old clothes and she went to shower. It took the rest of the morning to get everyone showered and properly clothed. Michael whipped up sandwiches for everyone.

The questions never seemed to stop coming. Hiccup and Fishlegs were the worst. Ruff, Tuff, and Snotlout didn't seem to care about how. Astrid would ask if something caught here interest, but she mostly let Hiccup talk. The question and answer session took them into the evening. Dinner was quick macaroni and cheese. Everyone seemed to enjoy the new food. The dragons didn't need to be fed until the next day. Michael was still trying to work out how to get them fed.

Once dinner was over, Michael lead everyone into the entertainment room. Once everyone was comfortable, he knelt down and started sifting through the DVD collection for a good, scary movie. Snotlout still believed he could beat anything. Michael wanted him to see something he couldn't beat. As he looked, a case caught his attention. It wasn't a movie he had seen, so it was new, but the picture on the cover was way to familiar for his liking. Particularly the dragon and teen. He shoved the movie under the entertainment center. He'd deal with this later. Finally, he found what he wanted.

"Okay, we're going to watch a movie." Michael said, immediately putting his hands up to ward off questions. "I'll answer questions later, for now, just enjoy the benefit of modern technology."

Michael popped the DVD into the unit and started the TV. He had chosen the Alien vs. Predator movie for several reasons. One, it was one of his favorite movies. Two, Aliens were terrifying. Three, Predators were cool and bad to the bone. Four, he wanted to scare the daylight out of the teens.

Michael was careful to keep the volume down. He had a suspicion that, for all their intelligence, a dragon would not immediately realize that there was no real danger from the monstrosities on the screen. The teens were quiet engaged in the movie until the Alien Queen appeared. Michael watched as every eye went dinner plate wide at the sight of it.

By the time the movie was over, Michael was certain a couple of the Vikings would not sleep well that night. Predators had the Vikings' respect for their strength and combat prowess, but the Aliens were monsters worse then any dragon, even the Red Death.

"Well, it's late, and I think sleep would be a good idea." Michael said. "Have you guys decided who gets the beds?"

That lead to several rapid games of rock, paper, scissors. Soon, everyone was in their rooms. Hiccup looked at Michael who was brushing his teeth. Once he was done, Michael went to his room with Hiccup following. He opened the door revealing a large number of weapons on the walls.

Hiccup was nervous. He recognized most of the weapons as guns, but there were two bows among them. Michael noticed Hiccup's anxiety.

"Don't worry, none of them are real." Michael assured him. "Well, the bows are, but none of the guns."

Hiccup, not exactly reassured, looked around the room. A bed along one side, a desk on the opposite wall on which was sitting a black object, a bookshelf filled with books, none of which Hiccup could read, and a small TV in one corner with a white box connected to it by wires. In the middle of the floor was a sleeping bag with a thin air mattress underneath.

Hiccup sighed and got into the sleeping bag. Michael killed the light and everyone went to sleep.

\\-\\

Toothless was awoken by a sharp thunk nearby. Moaning, he opened his eyes. Like many dragons, Toothless was not a morning person. Especially since he was semi-nocturnal. The source of his awakening was standing nearby. Michael. Toothless grumbled slightly until he realized what the young man was up to. He had a bow in his right hand and a quiver along the opposite hip. He pulled an arrow out, notched it, and pulled back.

Toothless had seen bows before, the Vikings did have them. They were used more for hunting then for combat. Dragons made for hard targets and arrows were time-consuming to produce. However, the bow Michael had possessed some form of pulley system. Toothless watched as Michael pulled back, seeming to have a increasingly harder time pulling the string. That was expected. The more you pull, the harder it gets. Suddenly, he drew the string full back as if there was no resistance. Toothless realized the pulleys must make it hard to pull at first but then make it easier to hold.

Michael aimed at an inch-thick sheet of wood nailed in place against a tree. He released and the arrow flew true to its target. Toothless watched as the arrow drove itself half way into the tree. The pulleys obviously gave the bow more force. Enough to punch through dragon scale. Toothless was quickly on edge. The last time Michael had a weapon, he had put the dragon in a bed for a week and a half. An unconscious snarl escaped his mouth.

Michael reacted quickly. A third arrow was already notched and while he hadn't drawn the bow, he had turned to face the now crouching dragon.

"What?" Michael asked.

::The bow... put it down.:: Toothless growled.

"What, you think I'm going to shoot you?"

::Last time you had a weapon, you did.:: He snarled.

"Out of self-defense." Michael replied, pausing before adding, "And I'll do it again."

Toothless' growled went up several levels. He was so focused on Michael and Michael on him, neither noticed a very sleepy Hiccup staggering up.

"Morning." Hiccup started only to be caught in the chest by a black paw with enough force to send him flying a few feet.

Toothless was dumbstruck. He had been so on edge about Michael he had reacted instinctively to the sudden voice beside him. Even as he twisted, bringing a paw to bear on the person who had surprised him, he knew who it was. He watched as time slowed, seeing Hiccup tumble and land in a lump. He was moving before the teen hit the ground. By the time Hiccup came to a rest, Toothless was on top of him whining and licking him while checking to make sure he was alright.

::Hiccup! Are you okay? Is anything broken? Are you bleeding? Say something!::

"Toothless..." Hiccup wheezed. "Bad dragon."

Toothless relaxed. Despite what Hiccup had said, his voice had a joking tone to it. Hiccup wouldn't have used that tone unless he was really okay and not the slightest bit upset. Obviously the teen had realized it had been a mistake to sneak up on Toothless when he was in such a state.

"Yeah, bad dragon." Michael chuckled from where he was standing. He knew Hiccup was alright. Toothless had realized who had startled him and softened his blow significantly. Michael reached a hand down to help Hiccup to his feet. Once there, Hiccup leaned on Toothless, clearly feeling the blow.

"I've got to go make breakfast. If you're up, Hiccup, the others won't be far behind. And from experience, there's nothing worse then a hungry Viking."

Hiccup watched Michael leave before sitting down and leaning against Toothless.

"You can't keep holding a grudge like this, Tooth." Hiccup said, using the dragon's nickname. Toothless grumbled. Hiccup never used that name unless he telling the dragon something he didn't want to hear. Toothless most certainly did not want to hear Hiccup's opinion on his behavior around Michael.

"I mean, you actually hit me. I know you held back once you realized it was me, but if that had been Snotlout or Fishlegs, they could have been really hurt if you didn't realize who they were." The dragon only rumbled in reply.

"Toothless, if you can't get a hold on this... I don't know what I'll do, but you won't like it."

Toothless was now staring at Hiccup with a distressed look. Hiccup had never before suggested punishing the Night Fury, at least not personally. Stoick would throw him out from time to time, but that was the worst of it.

::You're joking, right?:: He whined desperately.

"Tooth."

Second use of that name. The dragon flinched.

"Seriously. If I think you're going to hurt someone because of this..." Hiccup paused, struggling to get the words out. "I'll... I'll have to restrain you."

The dragon's eyes went wide in shock. Restrain him? Like with chains? Toothless whimpered. For Hiccup to even suggest something like that... His behavior must have been worse then he realized. Toothless pulled Hiccup as close as possible, nuzzling him and crooning gently.

::I won't let that happen. I promise!:: Toothless assured his Viking.

Hiccup sighed and started scratching the dragon behind his ear-flap. Together, they watched the sun rise over the forest.


A/N 2: Yay! Toothless finally got over his issues with Michael.

I've got nothing to say. Review please! Helps me get better.