Greetings once more! I won't say much this time, because I'm excited for this chapter and want you to get right to it, so enjoy!
Hiccup POV
Where does my dragon keep going? This is the second day where he has just taken off on me.
I walked around the village in hopes of finding him, but was shocked when I instead saw Thorunn. No one's seen her in days, I actually was getting ready to go check her house. I was about to walk over to her when I noticed bandages on her neck, shocking me since last time I saw her she was completely fine.
She had her back to me when I walked up to her, and it was then that I noticed she was limping slightly as well. "Thorunn?" She jumped when I nudged her shoulder, spinning around to face me as I noticed she was carrying medical supplies.
"Oh, don't sneak up on me like that. It won't end well Hiccup." Thorunn said before we both heard a roar, and I saw a concerned look in her eyes for a second.
"Thorunn, what happened to you?" I asked as I motioned towards her bandaged neck, wondering if that was her only injury though because of her limp that I had noticed.
"What? The bandage? Oh nothing, just Zu roughhousing, nothing to worry about." Thorunn said quickly before I watched her run off, dropping something though as she was running.
I walked over and picked it up to find that it was some of our dragon medicine, surprised since I only saw injuries on her. Is Zu hurt too?
I was about to go find her again when I noticed Toothless creeping out around down the street, narrowing my eyes at him when he saw me and realize I spotted him. "Toothless! Get back here!" I yelled after him as I took off after the sneaky dragon, and he immediately started running as well.
I must be getting faster with this leg, since I managed to follow him all the way towards the cove in the woods, surprised he would go this way since no one really comes out here anymore. Well, besides us when I need some time to cool off about stuff.
I got closer to the Cove when I started to hear dragon's chittering and grumbling, figuring it was probably just Toothless, but then I heard a person's voice.
I finally got to the cove to see Toothless down by the water, Pythius beside him roaring and grumbling to him.
I was about to go down there to get the sneaky dragon when I heard flapping, looking up in time to see something dropping into the cove.
"Alright, I think that's enough for today!" My head shot up when I heard her voice, looking down to see Thorunn leaning up against a tree and watching the dragon swoop down. It was as it landed that I finally felt shock hit me like Toothless running me over for a barrel of fish.
Landed right next to Thorunn was another Night Fury, but a smaller one than Toothless. She walked up to Thorunn, roared, then plopped down, her head now on Thorunn's legs as Thorunn began to do something with her side.
Okay, I have to go down there now.
I slid down the side of the cove gently, trying to be as quiet as I could, but as I hit the bottom my prosthetic snapped a stick underneath it, and the other Night Fury's head shot up, looking in my direction before growling.
"Whoever's there, come out now or she might come get you." Thorunn's voice drifted to me, and I slowly raised my hand, stepping out into the open so she could see me, and the moment she did her eyes widened. "Hiccup?" Thorunn asked, obviously surprised to see me.
"Well hello to you too madame." I called as my eyes fell from her to the Night Fury laying her head in her lap once more.
"H...how'd you find me?" Thorunn asked, and I realized that she was actually afraid to see me, surprised that it actually hurt me a little by how she was afraid of me since almost no one was afraid of me.
"Actually, I was following my run away dragon over there. Didn't know I'd find you over here." I answered truthfully as I walked over towards her.
Each step I took I noticed the dragon in her lap watching me, looking ready to pounce on me if I took one wrong step even. I finally reached her, and it was then that I noticed what her hands had been doing on the dragon's side.
Bandages covered the Night Fury's side, looking like the poor thing had been in a major fight as I knelt down to be at level with them. "What happened?" I asked as I nodded my head towards the dragon she was tending to.
Her eyes met mine, sadness filling those glowing green eyes that I had been used to seeing full of confidence and happiness. I felt it tug at my heart a little to see how she was actually hurting for this dragon. "Zu." That was all she said, and at that I moved over to help her remove the bandages, biting my lip when I saw the three gashes across the poor thing's rib cage. "He got...over protective of me." Thorunn murmured as I turned to look at her, surprised by what I saw.
Her eyes were on the Night Fury in front of us, but I could see the look of hopelessness, looking like a little child instead of a dragon trainer now.
"Mind telling me the story?" I asked quietly as I gently took the soiled bandages off fully to replace with the new ones she had next to her.
She was quiet as she spoke, eyes locked with the Night Fury, and I even saw her fingers trembling slightly as she handed me some disinfectant. "I...I've never seen him like that before." Thorunn muttered as I finished replacing the bandages on Dusk's side, looking back to her. My eyes landed on the bandages on her neck though this time.
"Thorunn, did he do that to you?" I asked quietly as I tapped her on the shoulder, not wanting to touch the actual injury.
I looked back at Dusk when she let out a whine, and I was in for more shock when Thorunn laid her head down on hers, trembling slightly.
"H...hey it's alright." I murmured quietly, moving over closer to her to try to help her calm down. I've never been around a girl in distress before though, since Astrid being the way she is doesn't show weakness to anyone. I laid a hand on her back, and she let out a slight hiss as I realized the injury just wasn't her neck.
She sat up slowly, pulling her vest off as she did. I was about to ask her how bad it was when she instead began to pull off her tunic, and by habit I quickly covered my eyes. "It's alright, Hiccup. I have bindings on." Thorunn assured me, and I slowly uncovered my eyes only to feel sick at the sight I saw.
Thorunn obviously cared more about helping Dusk than herself, since her bandages looked rushed and like they haven't been changed since she put them there. "Thorunn..." I murmured quietly as I reached a hand out, touching the raised welts that came out from under the bandages but pulling back when she flinched at my touch.
"He...he knocked me flying when he went after Dusk. I hit a tree pretty hard. The time before that I don't even know what happened." Thorunn explained as she kept her head down, obviously in distress about what her companion had done to her, since last time when I saw them together they were the best of friends.
"You need to have these changed." I advised as I grabbed the extra bandages to help her, trying not to pull away when she flinched at my touch again. "Thorunn...are you afraid of me?" I asked quietly as I began to remove the bandages, setting them over with Dusk's own bandages.
She was silent for a little while, so I guess that was her way of saying yes that she was. "No." I looked towards her face when I heard her frail voice speak up. "If you're asking because of my flinching when you move towards me, no I'm not. It's just...people." Thorunn muttered as I looked towards her face in confusion about her words.
"People?" I asked, stopping her when she tried to turn to face me so I could finish removing the rest of her bandages.
"I...I cant...tell you Hiccup." Thorunn murmured, and I was surprised by how hurt it made me feel to hear she couldn't trust me with that information. I mean, I've been trying my best to make her feel welcome here on Berk, haven't I?
We were silent for a little while after that as I worked to get rid of the bandages, trying to ignore the sick feeling I got over seeing that Zu had injured his companion in such a way. She had cuts and bruises running from her neck down to her lower back, and this was all just because he got protective of her.
I slowly put the new bandages over her wounds as she scratched Dusk under the chin, actually chuckling each time she purred at the menstruation's. "Thorunn, you know you can trust me." I advised her as I finished placing the last bandage on her back, watching as she pulled her tunic back on and then her vest.
She turned to face me when done and I noticed she was actually a bit more relaxed now than she had been before. "I know. It's just...hard." Thorunn said as I yet again looked at her in confusion. "When you've lived eight years with only dragons, then finally meet someone who doesn't want to just kill them...it's hard to get used to that." Thorunn explained as the realization hit me finally.
"I'm not like those other vikings. I don't plan to ever hurt any of the dragons, or you for that matter." I assured her, and it was after that that her eyes met mine, glowing once more as I found myself yet again ensnared.
"You promise?" Thorunn asked, and I found myself smiling at her over how careful she was not only for just herself but the dragons as well.
"I give you my word. I won't ever do anything to hurt you, or Zu, or Dusk since from what I see, you've got yourself a new friend here." I said with a smile down at the female Night Fury who was just watching us in curiosity, flashing my a smile that reminded me of Toothless when I was done talking.
I turned back to Thorunn, only to gasp when she leaned forward, forehead pressing against mine for a split second before she retreated, cursing herself quietly as I felt my face heat up at the gesture. "I...sorry I'm too used to living with just dragons." Thorunn said as I turned to face somewhere else, surprised that I was actually getting nervous with this girl.
I forced a chuckle before seeing Toothless watching nearby, glaring at him when he began his chortling laugh that he always does when I start getting flustered over things. "It's fine, you do it with Zu all the time so I'm not surprised." I said with a shrug before standing up to go swat Toothless when he got Pythius to join him in his laughter.
Third Person POV
Thorunn watched the teen stomp over towards his dragon before turning her attention to the now sniggering dragon in her own lap. "What?" Thorunn asked as her eyes locked with Dusk's.
Dusk leaned up until she was in the human's face before laughing once more, sticking her tongue out at her when she noticed the human wasn't very amused by her poking fun at her own blunder.
"Oh hush you. Or should I go bring Toothless over here." Thorunn asked, winking at the dragon before yelping when it earned her a swat with the tail, laughing though when the female Night Fury buried her face into her lap.
The girls turned their attention back to the men on the other side of the cove as they heard them begin to wrestle, watching Hiccup throw himself at Toothless only for the dragon to just walk over and drop let him drop into the water. "Toothless!" Hiccup protested at the sneaky dragon's prank against him.
Both men gave a glance over towards the tree when they heard the two woman laughing at them, Hiccup not so amused but Toothless puffing his chest out with pride over being smart enough to outwit his trainer.
"Got quiet the gentleman there, ya do." Thorunn teased her female companion lightly, laughing when the girl jumped up to get her for that comment and jumping up herself to run from her.
Thorunn quickly ran towards the water, jumping onto Toothless to use him as her shield. "Save me, oh night in black armor!" Thorunn cried happily as she held onto Toothless's neck, confusing the poor male before he realized she was being chased by Dusk.
Considering if he should actually help, or leave her to Dusk, he decided for the latter just to see what would happen, shaking her off quickly but not thinking she would go flying into the water beside Hiccup.
"Toothless, really? She has bandages on!" Hiccup chastised as he quickly took Thorunn's arm to help her out of the water, rolling his eyes as both of the Night Fury's on shore just laughed at them, Pythius rolling her eyes at the scene though before taking flight to go get some fresh cod.
"Oh, thank you Pythius for leaving me here!" Thorunn called after the fleeing Boneknapper before turning her attention to the Night Fury's instead. "Now, who should I punish first." Thorunn mused, dawning a devious smile as both dragon's ears perked up, exchanging looks before they quickly fled towards the exit.
Hiccup couldn't help but laugh at how the dragon's actually thought she was being serious. Or at least, he was pretty sure she wasn't being serious. Up until he felt arms wrap around his neck from behind. "So, that leaves you to take the blame for your dragon then, Dragon Trainer." Thorunn purred deviously in the teen's ear, and he didn't know what caused it but he felt his face flush from her tone and her close proximity.
"Hey, I redid your bandages for you. I'm exempt from being blamed here." Hiccup reminded as he quickly got out of the girl's grip, retreating towards the exit as well before seeing Thorunn shoot past him, wondering how in the name of Thor she could manage to move that fast even when injured.
"Oh no, he's your dragon. You pay for it." Thorunn said deviously as Hiccup gulped at the look she held, knowing he should run now.
One dragon's ears perked up at the sound of a male yelling down below, glancing up at it's rider as Astrid realized that was Hiccup, swooping down only to backtrack upon seeing who he was with, feeling her temper spark upon seeing the brunette girl with him.
Stormfly chittered up at her rider upon sensing that she wasn't very happy by the sight, but all Astrid did was lead her back to the village, and the moment they touched ground she picked up the nearest weapon and chucked it at the nearest wall, breathing heavy with rage.
Stormfly backed away a little upon seeing this angry act, unsure of what to do of her trainer since she hadn't been this mad about anyone in a long time. She stood back and watched as she just stomped around for a little while, muttering curses under her breath every so often, before finally taking her to get some dinner, much to the dragon's glee over that.
Stormfly licked her lips eagerly as she watched Astrid angrily tear apart the chicken that she was going to feed to her, waiting for her to throw it to her as the blonde wished it wasn't the chicken she was tearing apart but someone else entirely.
"I mean...where does she get off!" Astrid finally burst as she threw the chicken to her dragon, who caught it eagerly, licking her lips again as she swallowed it as she waited for the next one.
This girl, she was getting under his skin since the day she walked onto the island with her oh so fancy Boneknappers. Astrid really hoped that one day the Boneknapper's would just whirl on her, or something.
Especially for the way she was gradually winning over her Hiccup.
Really, she knows that they haven't been as close lately. She's felt bad about it, but they've all just been so busy with training the rug rats. And now he has something else keeping him occupied and it was that seclusive know it all lunk head.
Astrid threw the next chicken to Stormfly angrily, tearing into the next one as her anger continued to rise.
Laughter seemed to bounce off the houses of Berk as two teens walked down the streets, their Night Fury friends bounding around them and playing happily together as well as the humans continued talking and laughing with one another.
"So...so then Zu...he just...dropped him in with the month old cod. Oh gods, I've never heard a man screaming for a dragon to save him before then!" Thorunn chimed through her laughter as Hiccup himself was in an uproar with laughter beside him, wishing he could have as many adventures as Thorunn has so far in her life.
The two were still talking and laughing as they reached the end of the road, unaware of an older, more gruff man standing in the doorway of the house as he watched the two teens, a small smile forming on his face at his son standing their with the heir to the Murderous tribe.
"Well, I'd invite you in...but I don't know how my dad would react." Stoick's focused more on their conversation upon hearing his name be mentioned, wondering what his son was going on about now.
"Ah, overprotective father of his son huh? Can't blame him, you're kinda small for a viking." Thorunn teased, laughing when Hiccup glared playfully at her for the comment.
"I'm not small, I'm almost taller than the rest of the trainers here." Hiccup argued as Stoick wondered who his son got his knack to easily be distracted from.
Oh wait, he got everything from his mother from how he's been most of his life.
"No though my dad just...he tend to...cause a scene a bit when I'm around." Hiccup said as Stoick's eyebrows rose at his son's words, wondering what he meant by that. He didn't cause a scene whenever he was around.
"How? Trying to give the old "You're my heir so you have to be this way" speech whenever you're around?" Thorunn asked as Hiccup scratched the back of his neck tentatively.
While that was one of the things his father did, the other was embarrass him around girls. More so it was Astrid though, since his father knew that they were together.
He just didn't want his father to embarrass him in front of this girl that he was trying to get to trust him right now though.
"Hiccup." Oh no. Hiccup shrunk a bit upon hearing his father's gruff voice, looking up to see his father walking down the steps towards him. "I see you brought a pretty young lass home tonight, how are ya Thorunn?" Stoick asked with a warm smile down at the brunette as she looked between the chief and his son.
"I'm doing better than I've been tonight, sir." Thorunn advised as she tried not to laugh at how Hiccup was trying to signal to her to try to get away from the area as fast as she could.
"Better than ya been? Don't tell me my son here's been doing something to harm or upset ya now." Stoick said as Hiccup buried his face in his hands in defeat, knowing that one way or another he was stuck with his father here possibly ruining what could have been a nice finish to the day he spent with Thorunn.
"No sir, I just had an injury while working with Zu the other day. In fact, he actually helped me earlier with the bandages." Thorunn advised, since she didn't need to live there for very long to hear the stories about how Hiccup would cause either a lot of problems, or destroy a lot of the stuff in the town.
"Oh did he now?" Stoick asked as he raised an eyebrow at his son, a bit surprised with that since normally his son only tended his own wounds or the dragon's if they were injured. "Well then, how's about ya come in for a bit, maybe a drink for the lass." Stoick offered as he turned to go back up to the door.
Hiccup quickly began moving his hand across his neck to motion to her to object the offer and go quick, but all Thorunn did in response was smile at him. "I don't know sir, I wouldn't want to be a burden this late." Thorunn called after the chief innocently, watching as Hiccup relaxed a bit at her answer.
"Ah it's no trouble at all, will give me a chance to hear what you two have been up to all day." Stoick said before holding the door open for the young heir, glancing between the two children before Hiccup walked up the stairs, head hung as he passed his father.
Once inside Stoick sent Hiccup to get some tea for the three of them, sitting down opposite Thorunn as he took notice of the bandages peaking out on her neck and the way her eyes seemed to flicker about in curiosity.
"So, how're you enjoying Berk then lass?" Stoick asked once Hiccup returned with the drinks, sitting down with a huff since he knew this was going to be a long night.
"I'm still trying to get used to it, sir. I've been living off the land for so long, it's still a bit hard to even get used to sleeping in a house instead of under my dragon's wing." Thorunn said as Stoick chuckled at her statement, not knowing much about her but figuring she's been away from home for longer than she originally told him.
"Well, how's your father then? Haven't seen him in many a year now." Stoick said as he took a sip of his drink, unaware of the way the girl's body tensed at the mention of her father. The other man sitting at the table did notice though.
"He...he's fine. I guess. I haven't seen him in a while." Thorunn muttered before taking another sip of her drink.
"Ah, tis a shame. I know Hiccup would be at a loss without me." Stoick said, and at that his boy's head shot up at the blatant false statement, just then noticing the devious look in his father's eyes as he glanced in his direction.
"I can imagine, sir." Thorunn said, trying not to giggle at the chief's words about his son since now Thorunn noticed what Hiccup meant by embarrassing him. She had to admit though, it was a bit funny.
"Ay, last time I left him in charge, I came back to him stumbling about going "Dad, dad, I need you. I can't run the tribe alone. I need you dad." Quiet a shame, I mean, you were sixteen for Thor's sake, boy." Stoick said as Hiccup gripped his cup tighter, aware of his face turning a deep scarlet red now but deciding that if it came to it, he could just tell Thorunn that he was getting a bit stifled in the warm house.
If it were possible, his face grew even redder when Thorunn began to giggle at his father's words.
"Now, I don't remember it like that." Hiccup spoke up, but neither seemed to notice as his father just continued on with another story about him when he was little.
"Now this boy, he's never been very good with the ladies mind you." Stoick began, and at that Hiccup wanted to jump up and cover his father's mouth because he knew where his father was going with that statement.
"Oh really? I hadn't noticed, sir." Thorunn said as she kept her eyes glued to this insightful chief in front of her, unable to deny that he brought her to more laughter with his words than her own father ever did.
"No, now a days you wouldn't. But back when he was barely ten..." Stoick cut short upon hearing something crash, looking over to see his son's cup shattered on the floor.
"Oh oops, I dropped my cup. Dad, you mind helping me clean it up." Hiccup said through his teeth, trying to control himself to make sure he didn't give away that he intentionally wanted his father to stop talking.
"In a second boy, let me finish the story for the lass here." Stoick said with a dismissive wave at his offspring, smiling when he realized that he was getting to the boy now. It will teach him not to talk about him behind his back hopefully though. "Now, as I was saying. Barely ten, meets this pretty little lass at the docks that's visiting with her tribe." Stoick continued as Hiccup dropped his head onto the table in front of him, both of the other vikings at the other end looking to him in surprise.
"Hiccup, what are ya doing?" Thorunn asked curiously, giggling when he just grumbled in response since by now he knew it was a lost cause to try to stop his father from speaking about his hiccup of a past.
"As I was saying, he met this little lass and invited her over for a spell. As he's walking away, he get's his trousers caught in one of the clamps we use to hold the nets, and before we know it his trousers are flying like a flag and he's standing there in nothing but his scivvies for a moment before realizing what's happened because the lass begins laughing." Stoick finished, laughter bubbling up as he finishes the story, Thorunn joining in on the laughter since she'd never heard of anyone doing that before.
The two laughing vikings looked up when they heard a slam, glancing down the table to see Hiccup gone as Stoick smiled, knowing he just retreated to his bedroom. "Is he okay?" Thorunn asked as the older chief finished off his drink.
"He's fine, just doesn't like a good ol' story time." Stoick said with a smile before excusing himself to go get himself some mead, letting the girl know that if she wants she can go on up to say good night to his son before she heads home.
Upstairs Hiccup was hitting his head against his desk again and again, cursing his father under his breath for ruining the night. All he wanted was to walk home and say good night with the girl, hopefully earn her trust, but no. His father has to go and tell the story of how he was left standing their in his underwear while a girl laughed at him.
Oh why did he have to stay on Berk? He should have taken off with Toothless, gone exploring or something. Then he wouldn't be stuck with his father embarrassing him every chance he got.
Hiccup stopped banging his head against his desk when he heard a soft knock at his door, knowing that wasn't his father since his father didn't even knock. He got up and walked over, only to regret it when the moment their eyes locked, she began giggling again. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up." Hiccup grumbled before turning to go back to his desk.
Thorunn covered her mouth this time, as she followed him in, watching him sit down at his desk and drop his head onto the wood once more. "I...I'm sorry. It's just...your foreheads all red now." Thorunn mumbled as she tried to keep herself from laughing again. When he just dropped lifted his head and dropped it onto the desk again, she walked over to stand beside him.
"Now you see why I told you to go." Hiccup grumbled before feeling small fingers on his arm, looking up to see Thorunn trying to stop him from intentionally hurting himself.
"It wasn't that bad, all he did was tell a story. Everyone does something embarrassing at one point in their life." Thorunn assured, eyes locking with Hiccup's as he actually felt himself relax a little more at her words.
"I...guess you're right." Hiccup mumbled before glancing behind them as he heard his dragon crawl into the window, the Night Fury freezing in his steps when he saw the two still awake. "Well thank you for joining us Toothless." Hiccup said in response before the dragon went over to his own bed, figuring he just walked in on them talking and should have left them be but wanting to lay down.
"I should probably take that as my sign to go then, let you get some sleep after what your dad did to you." Thorunn said, turning to head to the door as Hiccup shot a glare at Toothless for interrupting before standing up to walk Thorunn out. "Thanks for having me over for a bit." Thorunn said as they reached the front door, both unaware of the older chief sitting just inside the house as they stood on the steps.
"Don't need to thank me, was my Dad I mean." Hiccup said as he rubbed the back of his neck, still wishing that his father had just left them alone to say their good night's earlier so she wouldn't have ever heard about one of his most embarrassing events of his childhood.
"Well, thank you, none the less. Especially for...you know earlier." Thorunn murmured, nodding towards the bandages that now covered half of her back.
Hiccup smiled as he realized how this girl that he had met weeks ago, who at the time was confident and suave as she soared in on her Boneknapper, was in fact much more frail than he would have ever assumed, or at least when it came to vikings.
"Again, don't need to thank me. Just...take better care of yourself, alright?" Hiccup said as he carefully reached out to tap the bandages on her neck, mildly surprised when Thorunn didn't flinch away from his touch this time like she had done before.
Stoick continued to watch the two teens, unable to hear them from inside the house but somehow, he could tell that his son was having a tender moment with this young lass, a smile forming beneath his red beard since he had begun to give up on his hopes that his son would learn how to better handle women.
Especially after the whole Astrid debacle where she'd be sweet on him one day, then absolutely hating him the next.
"I should be going, have to go feed Zu since he's been hiding in the house all day." Thorunn said as her gaze fell from Hiccup's warm green eyes, unsure of what this burning sensation was that she was feeling in the pit of her stomach but glad that it went away when her gaze diverted from him.
"Are you sure you'll be okay with him?" Hiccup's voice was soft as he asked this, since he didn't know if he wanted to leave her alone with the aggressive dragon after a look at what he did to her back. Thorunn's quick nod of assurance did nothing to make him feel any better about it either.
"We just need to...reconnect I guess. He won't hurt me again, Hiccup. He's been with me since I was nine." Thorunn reminded the teen as her eyes flickered up to meet his again, surprised when she noticed the worry laced across his face since never had anyone worried for her besides her own dragon. Or, at least no one had worried about her in the eight years she's been on her own.
"Well...if you need anything, or help with him, just let me know. Okay?" Hiccup murmured to the brunette in front of him, already sure that she was going to reject his help, but surprised when she forced a smile up at him, unable to keep the smile off his own face as she nodded her head in agreement to coming to get him if she needed someone.
Thorunn glanced back in the direction of her house at the sound of her dragon roaring for her, before back at Hiccup, part of her fearful of what could happen with Zu, but the other part of her glad that if something did, she could come to Hiccup for help.
Hiccup was about to say his good night and go back inside to prepare for bed when Thorunn gave him the biggest surprise of the night, stepping forward and slipping her arms around his abdomen in a hug as he felt his face flush at the gesture. "Thank you, Hiccup." Thorunn murmured against his tunic before just as quickly pulling away.
Hiccup watched silently as she retreated down the street towards her house, his worry for her slowly evaporating as he thought over how it felt to have her smaller arms encircle him as a thank you.
Ah, at last the bonding begins. Normally I don't make it take this long for two characters to start forming a bond. Heck, she made a quicker bond with a dragon than a human. Though, can't blame her, I'd love to have a dragon of my own.
Anyways, thanks as always for reading! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it down for you.
