Vicious

The morning was chilly and dreary but Vicious couldn't be in a better mood. Dagur and his godsforsaken armada were leaving. Finally. He was so happy and so grateful that he was helping the Berserkers pack. And he was doing it with a smile on his face. Which everyone else was finding creepy because they were giving him a wide berth. No matter, it made packing faster and more efficient.

He was still a little pissed off about yesterday, Dagur flaunting the girl around like a trophy. Having the audacity to try to act like they were a normal couple. It was sickening. And it wasn't like Dagur had stopped acting. He still had her in his arms even now as he supervised everything and shouted orders. She looked like the most miserable human being in the world and, honestly, Vicious was glad he would never be a position like that. It made him pity and admire her. Then again, he pitied and admired Dagur's men and the fact that they could stand to be around him.

He grunted as he lifted a barrel of ale onto one of the long boats.

The large Viking grunted his thanks and Vicious drew back to admire the sight of them getting ready to depart.

It was at that moment that he saw one of the Viking men stumble and dropped the rope sustaining the sail. The pole swung around, aiming straight for the girl. Dagur had moved away a bit to yell at a Viking so he was unaware of the girl's danger. Everything slowed down and he couldn't help but jump into action.

"Look out! Above you!" he cried. Even before he started running her way, he knew he wouldn't arrive on time. But then, something extraordinary happened. The girl looked up at his shout and ducked out of the way, just as the pole came swinging around where her head should have been.

He reached her side just as everyone started yelling and trying to get a hold of the wayward mast. Kneeling down, he offered his hand just as she looked up with her sharp eyes and it was like falling into an icy ocean.

Everything fell into place.

"You understand -" He winced as she squeezed his hand in a death grip and lifted her fingers to her lips.

"Please," she said in Norse her eyes wide.

Ah. He nodded lightly and helped her to her feet just as Dagur barreled through and shoved him off her.

"Are you okay?" He touched her everywhere, looking for an injury. She just grunted and once he was satisfied that she wasn't bleeding or cut, he lifted his head and snarled, "Who was the fucking idiot that let the mast go?" Silence. He swung his head around, veins bulging and eyes manically wide. "Well?"

A couple of Vikings shoved a trembling man forward and before anyone could even blink, Dagur had grabbed him by the throat and rammed his face into the steering oar several times. The man screamed and then chocked on his blood. Everyone remained quiet and just watched as Dagur dragged his twitching body over to the edge and threw him overboard. Everyone heard him scream and then splutter as he tried to swim back to shore with is broken body. "Worthless," he spat. He wiped his hands on his armor and then calmly turned to gaze upon Vicious.

His face turned into a strained smile and Vicious suddenly really wanted to get away. He did not need false gratitude thrown his way.

"Vicious. You saved my betrothed. I'm…forever grateful. And I'm in your debt." He said that last part as if it pained him. Good. Dagur was not known to be thankful for anything. But despite his pride, he did offer his hand to shake. Vicious took it grudgingly, if only because it was expected of him. He also allowed himself to savor this show of equality from Dagur's part. He knew it was killing him inside.

Vicious smiled a gesture that was not too far off from smirking. "I'll hold you to it."

They squeezed each other's hands until they were red in the face.

"Dagur," a man shouted, causing heads to turn. "We're ready to set sail."

"Perfect," he said, retracting his hand and taking Merida's. He turned his eyes back to him, shoulders tense and dangerous but voice deceptively light. "It was a pleasure being here. I appreciate your hospitality. Give my regards to your mother and father who, unfortunately, could not be here."

"I will," Vicious said. His eyes momentarily flickered over to Merida who gazed at him with true gratefulness and subtly bowed her head at him, her curls swinging forward and back as she was jerked backwards by Dagur. She gave him one last look before Vicious was forced to get off the ship.

The creak and groan of the ships moving as well as the heave and grunts of the oaring men, was music to his ears. Dagur shouted some indiscernible orders and another captain from another boat mimicked him. Vicious stood back, arms crossed, the smile twitching on and off on his lips. Combined with the frown, he was sure he looked like he was suffering some great discomfort. No one said anything though, just joining him by his side.

Viewing the departure from the docks was a spectacle. Many of his people breathed a sigh of relief as the ships grew smaller and smaller in the horizon.

"Good riddance," one of them grumbled.

"They were gobbling everything up like a pack of starving Terrors."

"Who do they think they are? Food doesn't grow on trees."

Vicious laughed, causing a chain reaction of laughter.

"The dragons can come out again!" a little boy shouted and everyone cheered. They'd all missed the dragons. They'd taken for granted how integrated they were in their daily life, whereas before many were still suspicious of them (Ruthless being one of them). In fact, many of the older Vikings were too set in their mindset to make any great effort for change.

That's why you're a ray of hope to our people, Glum had told him one day, shortly after the Hooligans and the Meatheads had left to go back to their islands. The young generation is more adaptable to change. Your alliances could possibly help us one day.

Maybe. Vicious had already formed a great bond with Thuggory, heir to the Meathead tribe. And now, with the dragons and the Berserkers and the threat of the Outcasts, it had been a smart move to cooperate with the Berkians. Though, personally, Vicious could not see the praise and honor in Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. He was a scrawny thing. Brainy. Frail boned. It didn't look like it would take much to bowl him over.

That Night Fury though was beautiful. How could he have gotten a hold of something so rare and deadly? It seemed almost ludicrous.

Well, the gods did as they pleased. And besides, if it hadn't been for Hiccup, he might have never befriended Pyra. And he would be dead.

Speaking of whom, Vicious took a step forward to go and find Pyra but paused and gave the specks in the distance one last glance. He could almost picture Merida standing by the edge, looking out to sea. Her future was looking grim and yet…

"Gods, she's something else," he whispered. She had balls to be keeping quiet, knowing exactly what everyone was talking about. Knowing exactly what Dagur was planning for her. Not many people would be able to keep their cool.

"I hope you succeed," he said aloud and walked out of there in search of Pyra.

oOo

He spent a long time with Pyra at the tower and ultimately came to the decision that he needed to pay Thuggory a visit. Not only because he needed to relay the news that Dagur was back in the Archipelago, but also to just get away. His parents would probably not be happy though. The last time he'd taken off for an adventure, he'd been gone for almost a year and he'd come back with a dragon.

Ruthless was waiting for him when he got back. She pressed her lips together at the sight of Pyra but said nothing. Similarly, Pyra huffed smoke rings out of her nostrils before turning her neck and spitting fire over her wings. The small bushes behind them burst into flames and she turned to taunt his mother. Vicious knew that if she could, Pyra would be smirking.

"Easy, girl," he said, petting her scales and watching her relax under his hands.

"Yes," Ruthless said, looking at the dragon with an upturned nose. She turned back to Vicious. "I heard the departure didn't go as smoothly as was planned but that everything turned out alright?"

"You heard correctly," he said and moved on past her to feed Pyra some fish. She followed him.

"I'm glad." They had made their way over to the storage shed. And while Vicious went off to hunt for the food, his mother lingered by the door. "I was worried you know."

"About what?" He kicked over a barrel of freshly caught fish which Pyra immediately dug into. There was no mistaking the hardness in his voice as he turned back to face his mother. "That Dagur would attack or that I wouldn't be able to control myself?"

"Actually," she said with a small smile. "I was worried I wouldn't be able to control myself." She rolled her eyes at his surprised face. "What? That boy treats everyone like a cockroach at the mercy of his shoe. The fact that he thinks you're nothing but trash gets my blood boiling like nothing else."

"It's Dagur." And thought popped into his head. "Did he say something?"

Her silence was confirmation enough. Godsdamn Dagur. He spreads discord and malice wherever he went. "What did he say?"

"Nothing that is worth repeating."

"Well obviously you can't let it go if it's still bothering you. Was it during the feast? Is that why you've been acting odd?" He sighed. "Mother, you know he's a lunatic. Nothing that spews out of his mouth is worth considering."

"Yes. I know. But he had no right. No right." He watched her fight to control herself. Vicious knew very well whose temper he'd taken after. What exactly had Dagur had said? It must have been horrible if it could get his mother this worked up. He wondered why his parents hadn't said anything. Maybe they thought it would set him off.

Whatever it was, Vicious didn't like seeing his mother like this. He got closer towards her and rested a hand on her shoulder to show support. Just like she'd done, some many times before when he was on the cusp of loosing control. "Calm down. It's in the past. Dagur's left and we can finally move on with our lives. He doesn't deserve so much of our attention."

She managed a smile and her fist slowly unclenched. Taking a deep breath, Ruthless moved towards him and in a rare show of physical affection drew him close to her by the neck and gave him a one armed hug.

The shed was quiet. Even Pyra had stopped to stare. Vicious was suddenly very self-conscious but made no effort to push her away. After a moment, Ruthless was the first to break the silence. "I know I'm not your real mother," she whispered into his hair. "But you know we love you as if you were. Right?"

Of course he knew. He didn't need her to tell him this. Wait. Was this about Dagur again? He hadn't thought it possible, but Vicious got angry at the bastard all over again. If he hadn't already left, he was sure he would have marched on over to finally give him that long deserving punch.

"He's lucky he's gone," Vicious seethed and clutched at her arm tightly.

She chuckled and she finally let go of him. They smiled and everything was good.

Until Vicious told her that he was leaving for Meathead Island.

"What?" she said in a long and sharp voice.

He shrugged. "I want to visit. And I have important news."

It looked like Ruthless was trying not to yell at him. Her mouth opened and closed and Vicious would have laughed if he wasn't so sure she would kill him for it. "Go talk to your father," was all she could say before she left without another word.

Well…he'd known it wasn't going to be easy and while he preferred their approval, he didn't need it.

"Enjoying the spectacle?" he said when he caught Pyra staring, having forgotten almost completely her food. She immediately shoved more fish in her mouth. But not before drawing him close with one wing and keeping him trapped against her side.

To StillAnonymous: Sorry to disappoint that this wasn't the big chapter you were expecting. But it's a coming. Just a little bit more. And you're right. I'm saving the kingdom for later. Patience. All shall be revealed. Once again, this chapter was set up for a possible meeting between Merida and the other, friendlier tribes, in the far distant future. As far as I've physically outlined this story, this is the last of Vicious's appearance. Still, there are some other characters to be revealed though and I hope they don't disappoint. Thanks for reading.

A/N: Next chapter is a Butch chapter.