1. This story picks up at the final scene of "Snotlout Gets the Axe." Slight deviation from the ep in that the subplot with the wedding ends before this scene, instead of ending the episode.
2. Not into Snotlout whump? Click 'back' now. This is an extended Snotlout-centric h/c. Consider yourselves duly notified.
3. The dragons' names for themselves - Fire-Scale, Spike-Tail, etc - are the invention of the wonderful 10Blue10, here on FFN, and used with permission.
4. Gratitude to Thursday26 for editing efforts above and beyond.
5. This is pretty much finished, just at the beta's. Expect frequent updates.
For Meraki7734, with thanks!
Hookfang is wandering the island, bursting into flame. He's been pacing up and down the beach without rest since they got back to the Edge. Toothless looks down from the deck outside their hut, and croons to Hiccup.
"I know, bud," Hiccup breathes, staring down at the flaming Nightmare pacing the beach. He looks pensive, but his muscles are strained. "I know."
Toothless knows that Hiccup does know. His rider goes where most others don't. He lacks draconic senses but uses stealth and silence to see what a dragon could detect by scent and hearing alone. Toothless has heard shouting and crying from inside the Jorgenson hut, and has smelled pain and iron and blood. Hiccup has not heard it and lacks the capacity to scent it, but he's seen Snotlout crying when he thinks no-one is there, has noticed him limping when he thinks no-one can see, has seen the color drain from his face and the way he snaps to attention when his father speaks – has seen the nervous pleasure he takes in his dad's company and the almost manic joy when Spitelout says he's proud. Hiccup sees more than he lets on, and Toothless sees what he sees, the shadow at his side.
And Spitelout has told Snotlout he needs to talk to him. Alone. The other riders may think Spitelout is just going to chew his ear off, as the humans like to say, but Hiccup knows. And so do the dragons.
Including Hookfang. Toothless looks down at him again, and his gut twists. If it was his Hiccup over there… being humiliated and hurt… Toothless does not know how he could endure it. He nuzzles his human and croons urgently.
Hiccup kneels to embrace Toothless. "I'm here, bud. I'm okay. I'm okay." Toothless covers him with gentle licks, head-butting him urgently. Hiccup squeezes his neck and strokes his head until they are both soothed, then straightens. "Guess it's about time we did something. C'mon."
Hiccup hooks his foot into the stirrup and they sail the few hundred yards down to the beach, landing silently in front of the agitated Nightmare. He rears up, flaming, and roars.
At once, Hiccup has a soft hand on Toothless' snout, keeping him from snarling right back at Hookfang. "Hey, hey. It's okay. It's just us." Hiccup steps away from Toothless and faces Hookfang, holding his hands out in the human gesture of no-threat. He gives the moment its due, not rushing. This is why most dragons appreciate Toothless' rider. He's one of the few humans who don't rush things. A human who doesn't think he can order a dragon around. A human who knows he can't.
Toothless' admiration increases when, having indicated he isn't a threat, Hiccup breaks eye contact and looks out over the sea, not pressuring Hookfang or acting like a predator by staring at him, just being there and giving him the choice to trust. Toothless' heart swells to bursting. He wants to nuzzle Hiccup and praise him and love him, but there are more important matters right now.
After a few moments of looking out over the sea, Hiccup ventures, "If it were Toothless out there, I'd want to go to him."
I know you want to be with him, Toothless croons. I feel for you.
But it's a bad move. Hookfang bursts into flame and whirls, blasting and roaring in a threat display as if Toothless is the aggressor, as if he has been the one causing Hookfang all this pain. Me? he roars. Want to go to him? You think I'm some kind of sentimental mess like you, you tame, toothless – might as well call yourself Spineless—
That's it. Toothless has more patience than other dragons, but he can only allow so many insults before he snaps. After all, he has his pride. He roars, flapping his wings and rearing up. I've just about had it with being insulted, when any idiot can see you're frantic about your rider—
FRANTIC? ME? He's hanging out with his dad. Hookfang uses the human phrase; it sounds odd on his tongue. To hear you talk you'd think—
Toothless folds his wings and drops. Stop, Fire-Scale. We know. We all know.
You don't! Hookfang roars, another display of dominance. He falters when Toothless doesn't respond. You don't, Hookfang repeats, flame snuffing out. You can't.
Toothless remains silent. Finally, Hookfang folds his wings. He lands on his haunches and stares. How?
"Hey… everything okay? You guys need anything?"
Toothless gently nudges Hiccup aside, looking into his eyes. Let me talk some sense into him, then you go in for the second round.
Hiccup trustingly gives them space, letting him approach Hookfang. What's with you, Hookfang? says Toothless, not unkindly, but firmly. Of course we know: we can see it and smell it. Just because we don't speak of it out of respect to you and your rider doesn't mean you get to pull this posturing crap with us! He gives it a moment to sink in. Of course you're worried about Snotlout. If it was Hiccup out there? I would be beside myself.
Hookfang curls up mulishly. I don't do 'beside myself,' he mutters. Snotlout's a grown man. A Viking. He can take care of himself.
Snotlout can't take care of himself if it means striking or fleeing his own sire , says Toothless reasonably . Humans are not Razorwhips or Scauldrons. Their culture does not permit them to attack their kin, especially not their dams or sires. Sure, Snotlout can take care of himself if he's being attacked by dragon trappers, or by hostile wild dragons—
Not even then, Hookfang snorts ruefully. He rushes in without planning angles of attack.
Hmm. I wonder who he gets that from?
Hookfang huffs out flame, a plume of rueful amusement. Yeah.
Toothless waits.
Hookfang looks out over the ocean. Is this what it's like to be bonded?
Probably.
The Fire-Scale bursts into flame, still looking out over the ocean. I don't like it. It hurts.
Occupational hazard, Toothless nods, not without sympathy.
Hookfang flames higher. I am not bonded!
If you say so.
He roars. Don't patronize me!
"Everything okay?" Hiccup says worriedly.
Yes, Toothless croons. Be patient, Hiccup.
"Okay, bud, I'm here if you guys need me."
See? That's another thing. How can you be bonded with someone who doesn't understand you?
Toothless doesn't deny it, doesn't challenge. It's hard. But you end up understanding a lot. Your partner does, too.
Hookfang's flame dies down. His articulated wings collapse into his body and his neck droops. He is not my partner, he mutters. It is convenient to have him around. He… he brings fish.
Toothless waits.
It makes no sense to call him partner. He's just a human. I'm a proud Fire-Scale. He should mean nothing to me. Nothing, he reiterates, flaming for an instant before cutting off.
You're right, Toothless says smoothly. Humans are ten a penny. So what if he's screaming right now.
Hookfang suppresses a flinch, still silently facing the water. His tail lashes from side to side.
Toothless continues, relentless. So what if he dies? So what if his sire beats him so badly that he can never fly again? There's plenty more humans where he came from.
Hookfang cries out, as if in pain. Toothless waits, looking respectfully away.
Still facing out to sea, Hookfang lets out a rumbling breath. I don't want that.
It's all Hookfang will concede, but for Hookfang, it's enough. Toothless nudges Hiccup with his hip. Over to you, Human-Queen.
"Hey, Hookfang, it's getting late," Hiccup says, walking over to Hookfang with that swinging gait Toothless knows means he's trying too hard to be casual. His attempt isn't fooling anyone, but luckily Hookfang's too distraught to notice. (Yeah, yeah, Toothless catches himself, he's a big bad Fire-Scale, he doesn't do 'distraught.' Just kill me now.) "Why don't you swing by and see if Snotlout wants to come home?"
Toothless cringes at the desperation in Hookfang's eyes as he turns to face Hiccup, tail lashing. Life debt vow. I told him I wouldn't come.
Hiccup folds his arms, drumming his fingers thoughtfully. "He probably made you promise or something dumb only Snotlout would do."
A nod and a puff of flame confirm it. "Okay. Here's what we're gonna do. You're gonna go check on Snotlout. If he gives you any trouble, tell him I commanded you, in my – in my capacity as, uh, the Leader of Dragon's Edge and Human-Queen," Toothless never thought he'd see the day Hiccup would voluntarily claim that title, "to go and bring him back."
And I, as your Queen, Toothless says softly, command you.
Hookfang's eyes widen in something like awe. His gaze swivels to the horizon and then back to his Human-Alpha and his Queen, then back out to sea.
Go, says Toothless. Queen's command can supersede a life debt. If you let it.
Hookfang exhales softly, eyes and scent filled with gratitude. Hiccup nods. "Yeah. Go on, Hookfang." Hiccup's gazing out at the horizon too. "Bring him home."
Hookfang nods back, taking off hard enough that he kicks up part of the beach.