Living The Dream

Rated; M
Pairing; Hiccup X Astrid
Disclaimer; I do not own anything from HTTYD; it belongs to Dreamworks/Cressida Cowell

Start Of A New Adventure

=Hiccup's POV=
(Friday, March 16, 2018-7:35 pm)
{Drakonian Palace; Copenhagen, Denmark}

I knew my parents were pissed at me for bolting on Toothless, but right now; I really didn't care. I'll never understand why they can't treat me like the eighteen-year-old adult that I am! Ugh! It's infuriating. I kept my focus on my flight path with my dragon, Toothless; I'm five minutes from landing at the location Viggo Grimborn, Founder of Dreki Heart Protection and Research, had given me. I called a few hours ago after arriving at the Archia Airport around 4:45 pm, and being told the plane carrying the Dreki Heart interns left at 3:20 pm. I panicked, and instantly located my folder with contact numbers, and informed Viggo that I would be there by dragon. I hated that my parents were home early when I got there because Davin Hagebak told me that I had a plane to catch with the others. Of course, the argument with my parents messed that right up, and there had been some printing issue with my ticket. Overall; I'm almost where I need to be now, and I was stoked to finally be out of Berk.

My dragon warbled at me as I rubbed the top of his head and he trilled. "It's okay, bud; we're free now," I told him as he crooned with a smile. I closed me eyes, thinking back on how my day has been. In one word; awful. Everything began that morning with my parents; Mayor Stoick Haddock, and Dragon Veterinarian Valka Haddock when I said I would be applying to colleges outside the Archipelago.

/Flashback; Earlier That Morning/

I woke up at 6:30 am to shower and get downstairs for breakfast. My mother was drinking her coffee, and dad was cooking eggs, bacon, toast, sausage, and a few pancakes. I poured myself a glass of orange juice and sat down at the table with my backpack on the floor beside my chair.

"Morning," I greeted.

"Morning, dear," Valka responded with a smile.

"Hope you're hungry, son," Stoick added, flipping an egg carefully.

"Always," I remarked.

"So, Hiccup. High School is almost over, have you given any thought to what colleges you'll apply for?" Valka inquired. I gulped nervously, knowing this would start a fight.

"Uh, y-yeah. I have a few ideas. Um…Berk Community College, Hooligan State, Archia University…" I trailed off, seeing their nods of approval. I took a deep breath. "University of Copenhagen o-or Greenland…Maybe something else outside…of the…Archipelago…" I said. Suddenly, all actions in the home seemed to stop as I saw my mother lower the paper, and my father turning; both of them were looking at me intently.

"Your first three idea were acceptable; the rest you will not apply too," Stoick informed.

"B-But they are schools within the Kingdom of Denmark, Dad…I-I wouldn't be far from home," I tried.

"Hunter. No." Valka said sternly. "There is nothing wrong with staying right here on Berk to further your schooling,"

"Might not be anything wrong with it, but it's not what I want to do," I mumbled.

"What was that?" Stoick asked for clarification.

"I said; it's not what I want to do, Dad," I repeated.

"Well, it's what you're doing," Stoick huffed. I began to get angry.

"I'm eighteen; you can't make me stay here," I reminded.

"You will stay!" Valka stated firmly. "It's not safe out there, Hiccup,"

"Oh, here we go again…" I rolled my eyes.

"Don't you sass your mother, boy," Stoick warned. "You have no reason to leave Berk; there is nothing out there for you but danger. You will remain here, and that is final!" his voice boomed.

"You can't control me forever!" I slammed my fists down and rose from my seat. Grabbing my bag; I rushed to the backyard door.

"Hiccup Haddock! Not another step!" Stoick glared. I shot one right back, opening the door and throwing myself over the railing before my father could grab me. I landed on the ground in a crouch, then ran out the back fence and hid there. I panted as I heard Stoick slam the door with a groan. I grinned and ran into the forest.

"Toothless!" I called. A large black dragon jumped out and tackled me down, licking my face. "I missed you too," I rubbed his face as he let me up. "Let's jet, pal," I said climbing on his back, then opened the left tail fin with a press of my foot on the pedal. Toothless launched into the sky, and we headed for the woods behind Hooligan High.

/End Flashback/

Of course, my day only got worse. I tried to tell my friends Snotlout Jorgenson, Fishlegs Ingerman, Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston, and Astrid Hofferson about my parents acting the way they were, and my pals AGREED with my parents! I couldn't believe it; they all said I should stay on Berk, and we'd all remain close or whatever. It ticked me off to no end, so I flipped out and left the lunch room after saying that if they were my real friends; they would understand and support me. I went to the woods to sit with Toothless for the rest of lunch hour. See, no one knew that I had a dragon. All my friends had dragons, and have since we were fifteen or so, but I never told them I have a Night Fury. Why? The Night Fury is a Strike Class dragon; the fastest, most elusive and feared dragon to humans. Granted, we have peace with dragons, but the legend of a Night Fury is that it's the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself, and anyone who has encounted this dragon has not lived to tell the tale.

Well, I survived. And Toothless is harmless, an overgrown lizard with the personality and tendencies of a cat or dog, sometimes both. Toothless wouldn't harm a soul unless the posed an immediate threat to me. Toothless and I bonded because I found him in the woods near my parent's house after a big argument. Toothless was tied up in a Dragon Hunter's bola, and his left tail fin was ripped off. I set Toothless free and nursed him back to health. It took a bit to gain his trust, but we became the best of friends. Toothless was unable to fly, but I used my Uncle Gobber's shop to build Toothless a prosthetic tail, and here we are still using it three years later with some new modifications to the original design. This rig operates by me control the left side of Toothless' tail fin with a pedal that opens and shuts according to how I move my foot. It's pulleys, cables, rope, leather tail, and a custom-made saddle all connected for the function of me flying Toothless. I don't ride Toothless; I actually fly him.

So for three years; I've been keeping him a secret. Well, that was until today at least. And it's part of why I'm flying Toothless now to Drakonian Palace; the operating base of the Dreki Heart Protection and Research program. I sighed some, thinking back to just a few hours ago around 1:30 pm when I got called to the main office to see Headmaster Davin Hagebak.

/Flashback; 1:30 pm/

Ding. Ding. Dong.

The sound of the PA system went off as I looked with the rest of the class and our teacher for Science up to the clock/speaker on the wall.

"Excuse me. Can we have Hiccup Haddock to the main office, please?" the woman said gently.

"Hiccup," the teacher said as I packed my stuff sighing, then heading for the door. "He's on his way down," the teacher informed.

"Thank you," the PA woman spoke, then the connection cut just as I walked out the door.

. . .

{Main Office}

"You can head right to Mr. Hagebak's office, Hiccup," the receptionist said, pointing to the Headmaster's room behind me. I wondered if I was in trouble for what happened in the cafeteria when I yelled at my friends, well, I guess former now, then ran out until the next period began at 12:30 pm. I moved to the room, knocking a few times.

"Enter," I heard. Taking a deep breath, I turned the handle and walked in. "Hello, Hiccup," Mr. Hagebak greeted. "Have a seat," he offered as I came in more, closing the door behind me. I sat down in the chair across from Davin. "Do you know why I called you down?"

"No, sir. If it's about me flipping out in the cafeteria, I'm sorry…My former friends and I had a falling out over something," I apologized quickly.

"Nothing to do with that, but I would ask that you try not to swear next time?" Davin hoped.

"Yes, Mr. Hagebak. Um, so what am I here for if not that?" I wondered.

"Have you ever heard of Dreki Heart Protection and Research?" Davin inquired.

"Who hasn't? One of the leading programs that rescue, protect, and research dragons for all of Denmark. And sometimes more than that," I replied with a smile. "An incredible group that any dragon lover would be proud and honored to be part of,"

"Well, prepared to be proud and honored, Mr. Haddock. Dreki Heart is extending an internship to a small group of select, and lucky student from schools around the Archipelago. You, Hiccup, have been chosen from Berk," Davin informed.

My eyes widened instantly as I felt my heart skip a beat and breath get caught in my throat. "M-Me?" I asked to confirm.

"Correct. You have the highest marks in dragon training, and as soon as Dreki Heart asked if I had anyone who met their requirements; I knew exactly who to recommend," Davin smiled.

"This is…I can't even…Thank you, Mr. Hagebak," I said, still in shock.

"You're welcome. Now, you will be expected at the Archia Airport for 2:30 pm to leave with the other interns this afternoon," Davin began to explain, and my face fell.

"Wait. Wait. Leave at 2:30 pm today?" I asked.

"That's right," Davin nodded.

"That's…A little under an hour away. And what about finished High School, there's still three months left until graduation," I mentioned.

"Relax, lad. Your graduation requirements are met because of all your AP classes, and you maintain a 4.0 GPA. As far as I'm concerned, you've finished High School, and will still receive a diploma by mail as soon as you give us an address. Not sure where Dreki Heart is stationed; I know it's in Copenhagen, Denmark, which is where you're flight from Archia Isle will be to," Davin explained.

"I see. Wow. A chance to travel with Dreki Heart; its…more than I could ever ask for," I blinked a few times, still settling with the information. "So I just…Leave now?"

"Yep, and take this too. It's a packet with all the information they sent me to give to you," Davin remarked.

"I will, and thank you, again, Mr. Hagebak," I stood, shaking his hand.

"You're welcome. Best of luck!" Davin called as I hurried out the door. I rushed to the woods and located Toothless; we quickly launched into the sky to get home. "This is our opportunity to leave, bud. Finally, we can have an adventure," I told him while flying.

. . .

(1:40 pm)
{Haddock Home}

Flying over the house, I saw my parent's dragons in the backyard. Skullcrusher and Cloudjumper. What are they doing here so early!? I thought, worried. Then again, why should I be? I'm eighteen; I don't need their permission. This is my chance to explore and see the world with the best researchers around; I'm not passing it up. I landed Toothless in the woods, telling him to wait for my signal, then I dashed into the house.

"Hiccup?" my mother said quickly.

"It's only 1:40 pm, what are you doing home from school?" Stoick asked. I didn't answer as I hurried to my room and started packing things into my one suitcase. Clothes, bathroom items, pictures, notebooks; all things I wouldn't leave behind. I grabbed smaller things and shoved them into a drawstring gym bag. I hid the folder in there too just as my parents came into my room.

"Where do you think you're going?" Valka demanded.

"Far away from here," I said while finishing packing in record time, then zipping the suitcase closed.

"Like hell you are," Stoick remarked.

"I'd like to see you try and stop me, Dad," I scoffed while getting through them and wheeling the bag out.

"You're not leaving!" Valka yelled, beginning to cry.

"I am," I walked to the back door.

"Hiccup Haddock! You are not!" Stoick boomed. I narrowed my eyes.

"I AM, SO GET OVER IT!" I screamed back, taking them by surprise. "I'm so sick and tired of you two treating me like a kid! I'm eighteen-years-old, and that means I'm free to leave whenever I want! You won't let me do anything unless it's here at home or we're out, and you're with me! Thank my lucky stars that I've been able to have a somewhat regular job with me Godfather these past few years. No, I'm leaving, and there's nothing you can do to stop me. You won't let me go to school outside the Archipelago. I can't be out after 8 pm. For Odin's sake, you have people following me around, don't think I haven't noticed! I'm done with it! I got a once in a lifetime chance, and I won't pass it up just because you don't want me out there! That's not what's dangerous; living here is! This is my life, not yours. I told you this morning you couldn't control me forever, and this is me taking back what's mine! Now, if you don't mind…I have a plane to catch to get the hell out of Berk. So, uh…Bye,"

"HICCUP!" Stoick bellowed. I hurried outside, knowing they were right behind me.

"Damn it. I have no choice…" I sighed. I gave a long whistle. "TOOTHLESS!" I yelled. There was a roar as Toothless bolted out of the woods and landed on the upper deck carefully. I secured the suitcase, then jumped on his back as my parents made it outside, then froze seeing what dragon I was on the back of.

"A Ni-Night-," Valka began.

"Yes, a Night Fury. Mom, Dad. Meet Toothless, my bonded Night Fury dragon. That being said…See ya!" I gave a salute as Toothless almost grinned. "Hit it, bud. Top speed!" Toothless darted into the sky, and with a burst of speed; we were gone leaving my parents calling after me. I huffed; they'd never catch us.

/End Flashback/

They never did find us, and after the whole fiasco with the airport and missing the flight because a ticket printing problem…Here I am, flying to Copenhagen, Denmark on Toothless. I mean, why not? A plane trip would only take two hours; dragon back is shorter with Toothless's speed. I made sure to have Toothless destroy my cell phone at the airport dragon drop off. My parent would lose the trail there if they came looking.

"Ready to begin our new life, Toothless?" I asked him. Toothless warbled as I looked ahead and saw Drakonian Palace dead ahead. "Let's do it," I smiled confidently. Yes, this was the start of a whole new adventure for us.