Staying…for now
"That went well," Ryuiji remarked dryly. After his scuffle with his former peers he'd found Toothless and flown off. With nowhere particular in mind he decided to go to Achoo on a whim. He was sitting at the edge of a pond and staring into his reflection. He saw himself, in his samurai armor and helmet and his swords, and he felt shame.
Daichi would be ashamed of his behavior. He'd been arrogant instead of humble as Daichi had taught him. And he'd hadn't been very polite with his interactions with his former peers. But who would be if you were pretty sure they were taking you back to be executed. He was surprised to see his peers and when he noticed them in a group and armed his instincts immediately screamed 'hunting party'. So of course he wasn't eager to cooperate with people trying to take him to his demise.
Plus seeing Snotlout and the twins, his old tormentors, had brought out some old bitterness he'd buried deep inside of him. He'd never allowed himself to get angry with anyone on Berk despite the way they'd treated him. It wasn't like he could do anything about it in the past. He'd ben to weak and scrawny to do anything besides hurl a low sarcastic remark. But now that he was stronger he'd let his anger get the better of him and allow it to control his actions. That wasn't what samurai did. Then he'd taken it out on Astrid and he might have even hurt Fishlegs. They definitely didn't deserve that. (Though he wasn't all that sorry about beating up Snotlout).
With a sigh he closed his eyes and started to meditate. He needed to think and clear his head. Behind him Toothless laid down loyally and dozed lightly. Until he heard something and his ears perked up. Looking to the sky he made out an approaching figure and growled softly to alert his human. Ryuiji glanced over his shoulder to see a familiar Nadder with a blond Viking atop it. He watched as she dismounted. She looked over to him nervously before taking a few small steps forward. He noticed she wasn't holding her battle axe this time.
Astrid fidgeted nervously and shuffled on her feet. "I followed you," was all she could think to say.
"Obviously," Ryuiji responded dryly.
Astrid scowled and glared at him. Then she took a breath through the nose to calm herself down. She looked up and held his gaze before she spoke. "We weren't taking you back to Berk to be executed Hiccup."
Ryuiji's eyes widened slightly at this. They weren't?
Astrid sighed and turned her head shyly. "Fishlegs kind of pointed out that I didn't say why we wanted to take you back. Then he reminded us that your father technically banished you and his order still stood," she explained. "And I guess coming armed and in a group made us look like we were trying to capture you too," she conceded while shrugging an arm.
Ryuiji was still taking in the news that they weren't trying to capture him. Then he took time to look at Astrid. But really look this time. She was beautiful.
Her attire had changed. She now wore a red tunic with a light colored fur hood. She still wore the same metal shoulder pads and spiked skirt from when she was a kid. Then she had light colored fur gloves with matching boots and blue leggings.
Her face had matured. Now longer round with childness it was the defined and pronounced face of a young woman. Her hair was slightly different with a pleat going down the side. She'd also gotten taller. He was still surprised by exactly how much he'd grown as he was taller than her now.
All in all. She was still the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen. His heart pounded in his chest from just looking at her.
"You're not a criminal Hiccup," Astrid said cutting though his thoughts. "You're a hero, and you've changed the way we live now," she said motioning with a hand to Stormfly for emphasis. "I won't make you come home…but I think you should. Your dad would really like for you to come back," she said earnestly.
She turned around and made her way back to Stormfly. "And so would I," she muttered under her breath. Mounting her dragon she cast one last glance to Hiccup. To her disappointment he didn't rise to follow her. He just sat there and stared straight ahead. She released a sigh before signaling Stormfly to fly and head towards Berk.
In the air she looked over her shoulder to see Hiccup still sitting there. With a clenching heart she faced forward and flew home. Cursing her own cowardice.
She hadn't told him why she really wanted him to come back.
A few hours later Astrid and Stormfly landed on Berk. She landed near the feeding station so Stormfly could eat before dismounting. Immediately she noticed Stoick, Gobber, and the riders making their way over to her. When Stoick reached her he gave her a stern look.
"Got something to tell me Astrid?" he asked gruffly.
Astrid held his gaze and obediently answered. "I went out looking for Hiccup sir. I'm sure the other informed you about what happened. I believe he thought or thinks we want to execute him for returning. Your order of exile still stands," she explained.
Stoick eye's flashed with understanding. The big man brought a palm up to his forehead. "Oh of course. That's why he won't come back," he groaned out. Stoick cursed himself. Of course Hiccup would be reluctant to return. He thought his own father would order his execution.
"I followed him after our initial encounter. I told him he's not going to be executed. I'm not sure if he believed me since he didn't come back with me," she said sadly.
Stoick sighed and rubbed his temples. He'd have to think of a way to track Hiccup down again and convince him to return. That meant he'd have to speak to him himself. He placed a comforting hand on Astrid's shoulder. "You did good lass. Don't blame yourself," he told her. The young woman held his gaze and nodded. With a sigh the chief turned and went on his way.
Astrid watched him go as the other riders came up to her.
"So you think he'll come back?" Fishlegs asked. Astrid looked to him and just shrugged. She didn't know.
"That was not Hiccup," Snotlout said aloud. The other turned to look at him. He was sporting a black eye and a sore jaw from his fight with Hiccup and he was embarrassed at the notion that his cousin could take him down.
"Of course it was," Fishlegs said rolling his eyes.
"Yeah. You're just mad that he kicked your ass," Tuffnut cackled.
Snotlout flushed and glared at the male twin. "Like you did any better," he retorted hotly.
As Tuffnut and Snotlout started to argue back and forth Astrid rolled her eyes and grabbed her axe from Stormfly. She walked around her friend and headed towards the woods. She needed to vent. Hearing footsteps behind her, she glanced over her shoulder to see Ruffnut following her.
"You ok?" her friend asked her in concern. She knew Astrid had feelings for Hiccup. It couldn't have been easy to watch him walk away or know he was back and not be able to do anything about it.
"I guess," Astrid said blankly.
Ruffnut pursed her lips in thought as Astrid faced forward. She need to get her friend out of her slump. She thought of an idea and smiled mischievously. "Hiccup's gotten pretty kinky over the years don't you think. You knew he had the balls to pull as stunt like that," she said aloud. Astrid looked to her and furrowed her brows, not understanding what she meant. "I mean, to smack you on the ass like that. Did it make you feel things," she said waggling her eyebrows. Astrid flushed slightly before turning to punch her in the arm. Ruffnut just laughed and rubbed the sore spot on her arm before following after her as they made their way into the woods.
An hour later Astrid had vented her emotion through her usual method. Hacking into trees with her battle axe. Ruffnut had watched her and stood aside, talking casually about other topics and just providing company. When she saw her friend had finished venting she invited her over to her house for some lunch. Astrid just shrugged in acceptance and the girls made their way to the Thorston home.
But as they walked into the village they noticed that the villagers weren't bustling about. The streets were empty. They furrowed their brows in confusion before noticing a vast throng of villagers gathered at the chief's house. Exchanging a glance they began making their way up the slope of the village. When they got closer they immediately saw why everyone was gathered. Astrid and Ruffnut pushed their way through the crowd and made their way up to the front where their friends were gathered. All of them had their mouths open in shock as they gazed up at what was resting on top of the chief's house.
Stoick, who'd gone to his home for a break and some quiet time, opened his front door and nearly jumped back in shock to find his people all gathered at his front door. He was wondering why they were staring at him when on second glance he noticed they were staring at something above him. Something on top of his house by the direction they were looking. The chief slowly made the way down the steps of his porch before turning around and peering up at the top of his home. He took a few more steps back and then froze.
His eyes met two pairs of green eyes looking down at him from atop his roof. One belonging to a black dragon who was staring at him curiously and another belonging to a helmeted man in armor looking at him intently. The man was leaning forward in his sadly with his arms resting on the dragon's head. The chief and the man just stared at each other, waiting for the other to make a move.
Then the man patted the dragon on the neck and whispered something to it. It huffed in reply before slinking down the side of the home. Stoick stepped to the side slowly, almost in disbelief at what was going on. He watched as the dragon made its way down his house and rested on the ground. Then the man dismounted before giving the dragon a grateful pat on the head.
Holding each other's gaze Stoick and the man walked toward each other until they were directly in front of each other. Stoick looked down at this man. He was quite tall. And even with the armor he could tell there was a sizeable amount of muscle definition. But what really dew his attention were the man's eyes. For they were so familiar. Different, changed, but familiar.
"Hiccup," Stoick breathed out. It was all he could manage. He's lost his voice. He waited for an eternity for the man to respond. Then the man sighed and brought his hands to his hips.
"Well I haven't been called that name in a long time," he said with a chuckle. Then he raised his hands up and placed them at the sides of his helmet. Then slowly he started to pull it off. Stoick held his breath. Finally the man's helmet was gone, ad Stoick gasped as his eyes bulged out of his head.
"But yes. It's me dad," his son said with a smile. It was him. His little boy had become a man. Stoick didn't know what to do. His brain was frozen as he tried to comprehend. Then without warning his son dropped his helmet, stepped forward, and threw his arms around him.
"I've missed you dad."
Even when his son embraced him, even when he called him dad, even though he knew this was his son, Stoick didn't move. He was so thunderstruck. He thought he might have been dreaming. That it was all going to fade away and disappear at any moment. But a squeeze from his son reassured him that this was no dream.
So slowly, the chief warped his arms around him and returned the hug. It was real. His son was back. Tears of joy started to well in Stoick's eyes. And his shoulder started to shake as laughter started to bubble from him. True and genuine. "My son…MY SON IS BACK! MY SON IS BACK!" he bellowed out.
Behind him the villagers cheered and surged forward. In a few second Hiccup was swarmed by his people all laughing and clapping him on the shoulder in happiness from his return. Hiccup was a little overwhelmed to say the least but smiled as the bigger Vikings ruffled his hair and smacking him on the back. They started to bombard him with questions he had no hope answering given the sheer multitude of them when his father intervened.
"Everyone give him some space!" Stoick shouted out. At his words the villagers all stepped back and formed a circle. Stoick placed a hand on his son's shoulder and smiled at him warmly. "Hiccup, we have a lot to talk about," he said. Hiccup smiled back at him and nodded. With that Stoick began to lead him to the great hall with Toothless and the villagers in tow.
The chief's hearts was lighter than it had ever been. Hiccup was back.
His son had come home.
Stop staring, Astrid mentally commanded herself. She was standing at one end of the table where the chief and Hiccup had sat down so they could properly talk. The whole village was gathered in the great hall, way too curious about the return of their heir to go about their own business.
Astrid knew she was openly staring at Hiccup. But she couldn't stop herself. She'd always wondered and imagined what Hiccup might look like if she ever saw him again. But Freya damn it. He was hot.
Ok. You're going to stop staring….now, she said mentally as she averted her gaze from Hiccup. But a moment later her eyes were back on him. Taking in his features, his manly features. Nope, he is so good-looking I literally cannot stop staring, said mentally while giving her attempts to stop ogling him.
She wasn't the only one. Many of the younger preteen girls were staring at him and even the older Viking women who'd know him since he was a child were flabbergasted at how much he'd changed.
Who knew the boy would turn out so handsome.
"So that's my story," Hiccup said finishing his shortened version of his time in Japan.
Everyone listened, amazed at all he'd done in this strange faraway land. It almost sounded unbelievable. Saved a princess, helped kill an eight headed dragon comparable in size to the Red Death, being trained in the ways of the warriors of that land. But they'd seen what he could do the other night.
"And that's where you've been all these years?" Stoick asked. Hiccup took a swig from his cup of tea he'd made from some hot water and a packet he produced from his dragon's saddle bag. He nodded in confirmation. "Why didn't you come back? After the Red Death…why did you leave?"
Hiccup took another sip of tea. "The possibility of facing the blood eagle upon my return was one reason. Plus, I was never a very good Viking," he said with a shrug. "So I set out to see what I could be. And I became something else. I became a samurai," he said with a proud smile. Hiccup was proud of what he'd done. He was prouder still of having become a samurai. He was a warrior in his own right. He was as good, as strong, and as brave as any Viking.
"Well it's good to have you home son. I'm glad you're back where you belong," Stoick said warmly.
Hiccup paused as he was about to take another sip from his cup. With a sigh he set it down and locked eyes with his father. "Yeah…about that dad," he said slowly. "I'm not sure if I'm staying. Or if I want to rejoin the tribe again," he finished to everyone's surprise.
"What!" Stoick sputtered. He looked at his son to see if he was joking. When he saw that he wasn't he became frantic. "Why not Hiccup? We're your people," he argued.
Hiccup narrowed his eyes at him. "Yeah, my people," he said, lacing the last word with venom. "The people who ridiculed me, made me an outcast, treated me like dirt. I think you can see why I'd be reluctant to come back to that," he said bitterly.
"Look Hiccup, I get it ok. We were terrible to you. But you're my son and this is where you belong," Stoick said losing his patience.
Hiccup held his father's gaze and rose from his seat. "Let's get something straight her Stoick," he said firmly. Stoick was stung a little at him not calling him dad. "You're not my master, you're not my chief, and by your own actions you aren't even my father," he said acidly. Everyone was shocked and gasped at the way he spoke to the chief. "You hold absolutely no power over me," he said, his words strong and unwavering.
"What to stop us from keeping you here by force?" Snotlout challenged.
Everyone watched as Hiccup's eyes flicked over to Snotlout. But he didn't move. Didn't speak or even react. And somehow that was more unsettling. Then a low growl caught everyone's attention as the Night Fury rose up and loomed over Hiccup. His presence and glare unnerving Snotlout as he growled. The sight made Hiccup even more intimidating. And some would even dare to say…frightening.
"With the aid of my dragon" Hiccup began and raised a hand to indicate Toothless. "I took down the Queen that plagued your home," clearly referring the Red Death, but what caught their attention was how he described Berk.
Bringing his hand down, he rested it on the hilt of one of his swords. "With these swords by my side, I took down the marauders invading your home," the tension was much heavier now that Snotlout remembered this. He was using all of his strength not to turn away in fear as his formerly timid cousin leveled him a hard stare. He even started to sweat lightly as he felt moisture on his brow.
Bringing his hands away from the swords, "With these hands, I took down you, the defenders of your home," Hiccup said as he brought his hands down to rest them at his sides. His calm expression hadn't changed but just by staring into his eyes, they realized how much he did.
"So please, cousin of mine," the posture may have looked relaxed, but with his calm yet hard expression, it conveyed a powerful will that would not be shaken. "...enlighten me."
The chief was hurt by Hiccup throwing his actions back at him. He was more surprised at how his son was so boldly standing up to him. And how he was so calmly implying that they couldn't stop him if they tried. There was no fear, no hint of intimidation, or worry. Hiccup had truly become a man. And that meant he couldn't treat him like a child anymore.
Then Hiccup turned his gaze back to his father. Slowly his mouth twitched upward into a small smile and the tension seemed to leave the room. Even his dragon behind him relaxed and laid back down. "Now I didn't say for sure that I wasn't going to stay and rejoin the tribe," he explained. "But I have things I need to think about. And spending time here and walking around would help me make a better decision."
Stoick mulled it over and with a defeated sigh he relented. Hiccup was right. By his own actions he'd given up his power over him. Hiccup could do whatever he wanted. That meant he could leave and never come back if he chose to.
But for now he was staying. And that meant Stoick could make it up to him. He could convince Hiccup he'd changed and they could properly reconcile. And hopefully, given time, Hiccup could forgive them and be convinced to rejoin the tribe of his own free will.
"You're right son," Stoick conceded. "For now, you will be my guest. Would you like to use your old room?"
Hiccup smiled and nodded. "That would be great dad. Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to get in one last flight with Toothless," he said. Then he turned and motioned with his hand for Toothless to follow. The dragon loyally did and together they exited the great hall.
Once outside he mounted Toothless and they took off into the sky. As they flew he looked down and took in Berk more clearly. He could see all the changes that had been made to accomodate dragons.
He thought that this could be a place to call home.
But it would take more convincing than that.
Back in the great hall Stoick had gathered up the riders. He ushered them close together and told everyone else to go about their business.
"Ok you lot. I have a very important mission for you," Stoick said seriously. The riders all perked up curiously. "I need you all to try and convince Hiccup to stay on Berk."
The others all exchanged glances. This was the important mission.
"Understood chief," Ash said respectfully. The other turned to look at her curiously. She turned to them and shrugged. "This is an important task," she reiterated.
As the others were about to question why Stoick cut in to explain. "She's right. Hiccup is the rightful heir to the Hooligan tribe and the only other member of my bloodline. We have to convince him to stay," he said firmly.
"But what can we do?" Fishlegs asked the chief.
"You're all Hiccup's age. You have the best chance of connecting with him. I need you to get him to open up," he explained. The others all shrugged. It's not like they could refuse and order from their leader anyway. "Good. Now I'll need someone to stay with Hiccup at all times. To make sure he doesn't suddenly disappear. Now I think that—,"
"Guess that'll have to be me," Astrid said casually, trying to act like she wasn't interested.
Stoick turned to look at her. "Actually I was going to tell Fishlegs to do it," he said.
"Fishlegs doesn't mind if I do it," Astrid replied. "Right Fishlegs?" she said with a small smile to her friend.
"Actually I have no problem doing it. I would love to hear about the drag—OUCH!" Fishlegs yelped, being cut off as Astrid came over and stepped onto his foot.
"Right Fishlegs?" she repeated with a glare.
Fishlegs got the message. "Nope. Why would I mind? Astrid should do it," he muttered out through the pain. Astrid smiled in satisfaction before stepping off his foot. Then she turned to look up at the chief and smiled.
The chief shrugged. He supposed if Hiccup was going to suddenly run off Astrid had a better chance to stop him anyway. "Very well. Astrid you do it," he amended. With that, he dismissed everyone.
As Astrid made her way to her own home she flushed and smiled to herself. Hiccup had come back. With her assigned to shadow him she could spend time with him. She could get to know him.
She figured that a relationship with Hiccup wasn't practical at the moment. For the two of them were practically strangers. Over a decade of her indifference and six years of his disappearance had created a giant rift between them that would take much effort to cross.
But Astrid Hofferson was a Viking. She didn't back down from a seemingly insurmountable task.
Astrid had always been the person to take what she wanted with her own hands.
And more than anything else in her life, she wanted Hiccup.
New chapter. Hope this explains why Hiccup acted like he did last chaer since some of you were questioning his behaviour.