Unintentional Hero

by Nightstar Fury

Modern HTTYD Military AU. Hayden 'Hiccup' Haddock signed up for the Barbaric Archipelago Army at 16 to prove to himself and everyone else that he wasn't useless and could do great things despite his size. Six years later, Lieutenant Colonel Haddock returns to Berk a changed man and war hero. But at what cost, has the price been too high? Rated M for various reasons.

7. Strong Front

Unintentional Hero

Author: Nightstar Fury of Nightstar Productions

Rated: M for a variety of things that will happen

Pairing: Hiccup/Astrid

Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD

7; Strong Front

It was long into the next morning there had still been no report on his friend but at least he'd managed to get some sleep though that was difficult in itself to sleep when you were worried about one of your best friends. However though he was still tired, as he'd told Camille the day before on Skype that he'd come off a twelve hour guard and was tired. Normal day continued on the base well past lunch time and now it had been almost twenty-four hours and still no update. Hayden had managed to fall asleep again after his duties for the day were done, waiting on a report or update for Oivind and the others left him alone so he could, but they would wake him up when Major Stilwater radioed in to talk to him. What ended up waking him up was "Hayden...Major Stilwater on the radio." Lennox said shaking him a bit. Hayden woke up groggily then snapped away hearing the radio static, he grabbed it.

"Sergeant Haddock here How's Private Flinvor? Over." Hayden said. It was quiet a moment, the barrack was noisy so Hayden moved outside to hear better.

"Private Flinvor..." Major Stilwater paused as Hayden got a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach, a tightness forming in his chest, "He didn't make it, Sergeant Haddock. They did everything they could but his injuries were too far gone to be treated. I haven't told anyone else from your former Company in Basic Training...I thought you might want to tell them since you were their commanding officer. Over." Hayden didn't know what to think or do. Oivind was...dead? "Sergeant? Over." Major Stilwater asked.

"Thank you, Major Stilwater. I'll...let them know. Over." Hayden dropped the radio beside his leg and dropped his head in silence, a silent prayer for his fallen friend who was killed in action. Oivind had been in a fire fight just like he had on their side of the base and the team he was on got ambushed according to reports given to Major Stilwater when the medevac was called in to get Oivind out for help. All that happened while Hayden was in his fire fight on their side of the base. Oivind asked Major Stilwater to contact him, so he could say good bye to him. Hayden walked right to First Lieutenant, Hector Vazquez's office since he was platoon leader.

"Enter." Came the Lieutenant's voice. Hayden entered slow and saw Sgt. Anderson there too. "Sergeant Haddock, what brings you by?" He asked calmly.

"Can I ask a favor sir?" Hayden requested.

"Proceed?" Vazquez responded paying closer attention.

"Is it possible to get word to all of the former Alpha Armourwing Company soldiers...to meet up in one location. I have...some news for them about one of ours being...KIA yesterday afternoon." Hayden asked.

"I'll send message to the Battalion leader now, wait here." Vazquez stated as he reached for his walkie and pressed the button. "Lieutenant Colonel Grayson, this is Dragonfire platoon leader, Lieutenant Vazquez. Do you read me. Over."

A brief pause and then... "I read you, Lieutenant. Go ahead, Vazquez. Over."

"I've got Sergeant Haddock in my office requesting the former members of Alpha Armourwing Company be formed in one location so he can inform them about one of their own being KIA. Over." Vazquez said.

"I'll make the announcement for them to form by center flag post in an hour. And give Sergeant Haddock my condolences. Over." Lt. Col. Grayson stated then the radio was turned down.

"Thank you sir." Hayden said with a salute before turning heel to leave quietly, he just walked to the center flag post and then the bell rang for general announcement.

"Would all soldiers of the Alpha Armourwing Company report to the center flag immediately please. All soldiers from the 2nd Berk Infantry, Alpha Armourwing Company to the center flag post. Thank you." Came Lt. Col. Grayson's voice over the speaker. It was rare for announcements like that but they were used for somethings and if anyone should tell them about Oivind passing then Hayden felt it should be him and it would be anything but easy to do. He stood there staring up at the flag as all one hundred and fifty soldiers from his old company came forward from different directions or drove up in the little carts. Theo, Shaw, Matthews, Sanchez, and Palmer arrived last and Hayden took a deep breath. As they arrived I had already gotten what I needed from Major Stilwater. Oivind's boots, gun, helmet...andthe final piece had yet to be placed. The dog tags that Major Stilwater gave to Hayden after they'd been taken from his body after he passed on. Hayden had them assembled at the base of the flag post and everyone was wondering what was going on.

-Hayden's POV-

"What's up, Sarge?" Asked one girl with dark brown hair and hazel eyes.

"I've gathered you here to tell you all something and...I guess the higher ups thought...it might be better coming from me." I began.

"Hold up, Hayden...Oivind isn't here yet. We should wait for him." Theo said quickly, my fist tightened.

"I know he isn't..." I closed my eyes trying to get this out, it wasn't easy. How did you tell one hundred and fifty friends you made and trained with that you'd lost a soldier in battle. They all got quiet now standing there and waiting for me to continue. "Some of you may or may not know that Private Finvor...was shot twice yesterday during the attack then medevac to the base, from here air lifted to the nearest hospital. And Major Stilwater just informed me that...Private Oivind Flinvor...is no longer with us." I heard them gasp in shock. "Private Flinvor was killed in action yesterday and being prepared to go home to be put to rest. I know we cannot be with him but I felt that since we are all here together...We could bow our heads and say a prayer for our fallen comrade." I added.

"We're with you Sergeant Haddock." The others agreed.

"I know we can't fire our guns in salute, or hold a full ceremony for him but I think he'd like us coming together to send him farewells as he goes home." I said then felt a hand on my shoulder, I turned to see Sergeant Anderson there, he offered me a small smile as I nodded to him understanding what he wanted to do.

"Honoring the fallen soldier, Private Oivind Flinvor. Respected and loved by his fellow Alpha Armourwing Company members! Commanding Officer, Sergeant Hayden Haddock will give a few words and lead his group in prayer." Sgt. Anderson announced, the noise around us seemed to lessen as they now understood what was going on. My former company banding together as we remembered our friend. I took a breath.

"Private Oivind Flinvor. What can I say about him that people standing here doesn't already know?..." I paused trying to think of something, my whole company knew about him and how he was. He was the best friend that anyone could ask and hope for.

-End Hayden's POV-

(Back on Berk-3:30pm)

Camille was watching TV when she came across a live news broadcast about Hayden's base. And shockingly enough she could see the group of men standing around a pair of boots, gun, and helmet standing at the base of the flag pole, she instantly got worried. Someone clearly died and they were honoring the fallen solider and her worries were that it was her brother who had fallen. But a wave of relief came over her as she heard the Sgt beside Hayden who she could finally see clearly when he was zoomed in on say that CO Sgt. Haddock would be giving a few words about their fallen friend. "GUYS! Get in here, Hayden's on TV!" Cami yelled.

Avery, Rachel, TJ, Seth, Felix, Gerald and Cami's aunt Melody and uncle Samuel rushed in as she turned up the TV for them to be able to hear it. "Oh Gods...One of his friends were KIA..." Avery put a hand to her mouth.

"Private Oivind Flinvor was a man of many strengths, smarts, and Gods if he didn't always have a smile on his face no matter the situation. I remember in BCT that he couldn't even keep a straight face when our DS was screamin in his face. After being forced to do fifty push ups and thirty sits ups followed by a two mile run...He finally asked Private Theo Holgerson and myself for help in how to stay firm." Hayden tried to smile as the others were looking at him. "Flinvor was the second friend I ever made at BCT, and even when I wanted to be mad he got me to smile. Flinvor was anything you needed him to be. A brother, a friend, a soldier, and now...a hero. Private Flinvor took two bullets to his person to save a ten man squad in enemy fire yesterday afternoon. He was gotten out by medevac by his comrades who refused to leave him behind, then air lifted to the nearest hospital before passing away at 0400 hours." The group watched silently listening to Hayden talk about his friend.

"Its so sad...How isn't he a mess right now?..." Seth asked quietly.

"Something you should know about soldiers son...No matter what, they will always put on a strong front and keep fighting. Military life is written vow that you may have to give your life for peace around you, to keep the ones you love safe from the dangers of the enemy. Hayden might look fine but I promise you on the inside...He's screaming to the Gods and back for the loss of his friend." Seth's father, Samuel Jorgenson said. They continued to watch as Hayden's facial reactions never changed, he just kept talking about Oivind, times he remembered in training.

"After yesterday's attack, I was radioed by Private Flinvor's Major that he'd been shot twice and requesting to see me. I told myself, I can't deny him such. So I went to see him and I saw him laying there and like always...He was smiling. I took his hand and he told me he was glad I made it because he didn't want to leave without saying goodbye to me. I told him he couldn't talk like that, and to hold on because he'd be fine...He responded that I'm always so positive. And he hoped he'd would of gotten to go home. I told him we'd all get to go home...The last thing he told me was that he was thankful and it was an honor to of served with me. He told me so long before he was flown off. Now I know that he's gone and no longer with us but to you Private Flinvor...You get to go home. So cheers to you my brave friend. We all know the sacrifice of this job and we all know the risks every time that horn blows but we still grab our helmets and guns and we fight for the people we love so they can sleep in peace knowing we're keeping them safe so they never have to face what we do. There's a song that Private Oivind showed me back in Basic, and I'd like to share it with everyone here and anyone listening at home. A song that represents what we do, and who we are." Hayden stated firmly lifting his head up now towards the clouds.

"Go ahead, Sergeant." Came the voice of a higher up officer.

(Deployment Base)

Hayden nodded to Lieutenant Colonel Grayson as a standard radio was brought out and Hayden plugged his phone into the system after getting the song ready. "This song is called, For You by Keith Urban." Hayden announced then the music began. "All I saw was smoke and fire, I didn't feel a thing, but suddenly I was rising higher. And I felt like I just made, the biggest mistake. When I thought about my unborn child. When I thought about my wife. And the answer rang out clear, from somewhere up above! No greater gift has man, than to lay down his life for love...!"

"And I wonder, would I give my life? Could I make that sacrifice?...If it came down to it. Could I take the bullet, I would...Yes I would, for you." The other soldiers linked their arms around each other's shoulders swaying to the tune.

"Maybe you don't understand, I don't understand it all myself. But there's a brother on my left and another on my right. And in his pocket just like mine, he's got a photograph and they're waiting for him back home. It's weighing on my mind...I'm not trying to be a hero. I don't wanna die, but right now in this moment, you don't think twice!" Hayden closed his eyes again as he stood in salute at the boots, helmet, and gun.

"I wonder, would I give my life?...Could I make that sacrifice? If it came down to it. Could I take the bullet, I would. Yes I would!..." There was brief pause,"You don't think about right! You don't think about wrong! You just do what you gotta do, to defend your own. I'd do the same, for you! Yes I would!"

"And I would give my life. I would make that sacrifice!...Cause if it came down to it, could I take a bullet? I would, yes I would. I'd do it for you! I'd do it for you! Take the bullet...! Yes I would. I'd do it for you." Hayden dropped to one knee before the boots, gun, and helmet now Hayden pulled a chain with two dog tags on it from his pocket and hung them from the gun before lowering his head more with a hand on the helmet.

"Soldiers, attention!" Lt. Col. Grayson ordered, all men stood at attention with hands raised in salute while Hayden remained on his one knee with his head down. "Sergeant Haddock will be leading the company in prayer." Grayson added now.

"You shall never be forgotten. For, though you may be gone from this world, your spirit will live forever," Hayden began as the others took a breath to start with him on the next line, "It lives in the laughing eyes of children who are free from want and oppression. It lives in the bravery and conviction of those who still struggle for liberty. And it lives in me...For I promise to cherish every breath of freedom that you paid the ultimate price to secure. I ask only that I might be granted a small fraction of your courage and strength to face the challenges of my life with an honor and dignity worth your legacy. May you rest in eternal peace, safe in the knowledge that your sacrifice was not made in vain. On the wings of our fallen, we will soar to victory!" They all said together.

"FOR THE BARBARIC ARCHIPELAGO." The group yelled out together with their heads up. "We fight, we protect and defend. We never give up, we win!"

-Hayden's POV-

I put my head down farther before lifting it with a grin, "You're going home but I pray you guide us with your wings my friend. Rest in peace knowing we will never accept defeat, we will never quit, and we won't let these sons of bitches win." I whispered but of course I was heard though no one said anything about it because I was every bit of right in my words. Finally I stood up and stood with the group. "Company...Atten-SHUN!" I ordered, all were at attention including myself now. "Hand...Salute!" Hands were brought up to salute then returned to the sides. "Dis-missed!" Everyone dispersed slowly and returned to what they were doing. It had been a nice ceremony too, much more than I expected or had requested.

"Well done, Sergeant." Lt. Col. Grayson told me.

"Thank you sir." I nodded before leaving with Theo, Matthews, Sanchez, Palmer, and Shaw back to our barrack with Sgt. Anderson walking with us. The rest of the night was pretty quiet, no attacks and I lead my unit on a patrol. This was something that was picked and formed on our first day to the base, since I was Sergeant and Anderson told me I'd be leading the the fourth unit which was now called the Strike-1 unit. A team of six men including a Sergeant. The were six barrack for the Wing Defenders company commanded by Major Frank White. In this company were one hundred and fourty-four men total but all broken up into platoons, then squads, then units. There were three platoons formed in this company and those were organized by six different lettered barracks. Barracks A and B made up the Dragonfire Platoon. Barracks C and D made up Lavablast Platoon, and finally E and F barracks were the Inferowing Platoon.

Each Platoon had fourty-eight soldiers split up among two barracks to make each barrack have one squad each. A squad consisted of twenty-four men in these each barrack. Now each squad was broken up in to four separate units which consisted of six men per including the leading Sergeant. My team was Strike-1 and it consisted of Private; Theodore Holgerson(Theo for short), Private; Eli Matthews, Corporal; Daryl Lennox, Specialist; Steven Rikta, and Private First Class; Jason Tarelto. Then of course myself as unit leader, Sergeant Hayden Haddock. We were a good group, worked well together too. Great communication and excellent patrol work according to Sgt. Anderson who was Alpha Fire squadron leader. After dinner was over Theo, Eli, Kyle Shaw, Zackary Palmer, Luis Sanchez and I sat around talking about Oivind. We knew he was gone but that didn't stop us from celebrating him.

Oh! Theo, Eli, Kyle, Zack, and Luis were all in D barrack with me during Basic and we thankfully got to stay together when we got here four months ago. I was glad to have Eli and Theo on my unit...I didn't like working with people who felt it was wrong that a seventeen year old was leading men who were in their twenties which was true. I was seventeen now and leading Theo(seventeen), Eli(nineteen), Daryl(twenty-one), Steven(Twenty), and Jason(nineteen). I was the youngest and leading what our platoon leader said was an elite group since we never ran into trouble thanks to my tactics. Just like in Basic with the forest mission. This wasn't just enemy territory with the Afghanistans...It was also wild dragon territory and that made it all the harder to win a war against two enemies in one location. Having Toothless made it a shit ton easier but I could only bring him if I was doing sky patrol with a different group, the company aerial guard which I did take part in three times a week. Having a Night Fury on the team...I was elected team leader for that too but there are far to many names to give you for that group since it changed depending on weather, situation, numbers and all that crap.

I basically just went where I was told and carried out orders. I couldn't believe we'd graduated Basic and got deployed immediately and honestly I was pretty sure that someone meaning one of the DS's sent word that one 'private' in the company managed to do so many things to earn himself rank of Sergeant and owned a Night Fury. Yeah, that someone happened to be me. I think we got deployed because they wanted my dragon and knew I wouldn't go without him, hence why DS Ramirez brought him on a plane to arrive just after mine did. I was grateful for that...I had been terrified coming here but with Toothless and my friends, I was feeling a lot better about it. Or had been...until Oivind got shot and killed.

Checking my watch I could see that it was now 2200, basically meaning 10pm and honestly I just wanted to get back to the barrack to sleep. I was exhausted beyond belief from the last three days. I felt my phone vibrate and checked the screen; Hayden, I know it's late over there but think you can sneak away for a Skype call...Everyone is at one house right now, really wanna hear from you -Cami. I sighed, go figure...It was only 1500 over there, basically it was 5:30pm, almost 6pm in thirty minutes. I got up from the table and walked to my my platoon leader, 1st Lieutenant Vazquez and offered a salute.

"What's up Sergeant Haddock?" He said glancing up.

"Curious if Dragonfire is on patrol tonight, sir." I answered.

"Nope, you boys are off unless we get attacked and need ya. Why?" Vazquez asked curiously now.

"Family wants me to call home, make sure I'm alright. They...saw the ceremony on TV." I replied softly.

"Go ahead, Sergeant." He says to me.

"Thank you." I said and saluted before exited the mess hall tent and walking through through the paths as I clicked the Skype app and pressed Camille's name as it started the call. The platoon leader tents had good reception and I was near those right now so hopefully they'd be able to hear me okay. After two rings, it connected and I held the camera away so they'd see me.

"Hayden!" They said together.

"Could we maybe not deafen me temporarily every time I call?" I asked, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Sorry, we know sometimes you can't hear us..." Avery stated.

"I'm by platoon leader offices, they got best service. So what's up?" I stated.

"We wanted to check in on ya since the other day we got cut off during whatever it was." Camille smiled. I sighed, when I got cut off from them because of the attack...the one that got Oivind shot and killed in action.

"Sorry about that. We get the call, we run off." I replied offering a smile.

"Hayden...I ask this because we saw everything on TV earlier...Are you...?" Camille began gently. Nope I wasn't doing it, not right now I wasn't going to deal with the being asked if I was okay for the next however many amount of days it took until they decided to believe me. I'd been asked that about a hundred times since I got the news Oivind died and I was sick of it already. I cut her off.

"I'm fine, alright. I'm perfectly fine...It's part of the job, a job where we risk our own lives every single day. The others do it, and so do I. Every time that horn sounds, we know we might not come out alive or unscathed. If it mattered to me if I lived or died, then I wouldn't of joined the military. But it doesn't, I come out every day knowing it might be my last and that is fine with me because at least I died protecting my home. I didn't call to get asked another six thousand times if I'm okay. Yes. I'm fucking fine...So just stop asking me." I said coldly.

"Hayden we're...sorry..." I heard Aunt Melody said softly.

I couldn't do this right now, I was taking my frustration out on them and that wasn't fair. They were just worried about me, I hadn't been able to see them other than this stupid phone screen in four months. I missed the major holidays, and I just lost one of my best friends. "Look, I gotta go." I said to them.

"But...we just got on with you. Don't leave yet..." Avery said.

"Shit to do before next patrol. I'll talk to you next time I can..." I told them calmer.

"Okay...well we love and miss you, Hayden. Stay safe...okay?" Camille tells me.

"You too." And then I just ended it before anything else could be said. I stuffed it in my pocket and walked back to the barrack, it was now about 10:20pm or so. I knew the others would be reaching the barrack by eleven. I spotted Toothless and went to sit with him, he adjusted so I could lay sit against him comfortable, he crooned at me as I just sighed staring out and up into the night sky. As the hours got later, I saw them all returning but I stayed with Toothless since nothing said I couldn't although I didn't tell anyone where I was either so that sparked them looking for me. Eventually, Sgt. Anderson radioed me.

"Haddock. Come in Sergeant Haddock. Over." Anderson asked. I lifted the radio now.

"Haddock here. Go ahead. Over." I replied.

"Where in the name of Odin are you? Over." Anderson ordered.

"In the stable to Toothless. I'm right next to the barracks sir, I didn't go far. Over." I sighed.

"Ah. Alright then, next time just say where ya are. Made us think you were taken and about to send up the signal. Over." Anderson chuckled a little.

"My fault. Won't happen again, Sergeant Anderson. I'll be in soon. Over and out." I put the radio down as I leaned against the back wall of Toothless stable with my knees up and arms draped over them looking at a picture of Theo, Oivind and I on our first day as official friends on personal time in the barrack. It was a great day too, Theo and I had already been friends but when Oivind joined us it got so much better. Never a dull moment when we weren't doing training. I couldn't believe that Oivind was dead, I really couldn't and I was...the last person he talked too. He actually knew he was going to die and wanted to say goodbye to me above anyone else. It killed me inside to know that. I put my head against the wall and closed my eyes as a silent tears slipped down, I finally dropped my head letting them fall to the ground. He was gone and I should have been there for him...I told him I'd always have his back, I'd promised and...I couldn't do anything. He should of died. That's all I could tell myself was that I should have been there and he shouldn't have died.

I cried a good fifteen minutes before collecting myself and getting up, I tucked away the picture and rubbed Toothless's head before heading inside the barrack. I saw most of them were asleep or reading, I kicked off my boots and climbed into bed closing my eyes. "Forgive me for not keeping my promise to you and rest in peace my friend.' I thought. I knew I was putting on a strong front for the others, but deep inside this was killing me to know he was gone. This would be something I never forgot and it would haunt me forever. Sleep finally took over me and I was out.