A/N: Yo, haven't updated in a whole two days you guys must think I died! XD, nah, just started to slow due to a number of things happening, I'm gonna smooth out a few more details on a third HTTYD fiction as well and get that up either later today early tomorrow, mostly cause I like the idea I had and really want to see what other people think! Well, I'm sure you've had enough of me prattling on, to the chapter!
Hiccup rubbed at his eyes, he hadn't slept he was too worried Alvin would come back and try to finish them off, but while he was up all night he had worked out a solution to getting them off the island, provided Ghost would let him ride her, Astrid's grip tightened on his hand, he had intertwined his fingers with hers at some point during the night, he couldn't be sure when, but the warmth did offer him some measure of comfort.
He ran a hand through his hair and sighed, 'Okay, fly back to Berk, fix connecting rod, come back, repair Toothless tail, leave this damned island on the horizon.'
At first he thought he would be able to get away with flying back on Stormfly, but the dragging need to bob it's head with it flew would jostle Astrid more than he wanted to risk, he could fly Ghost low and smooth, causing Astrid much less discomfort and hopefully not breaking anything.
Toothless stirred, at this point he had become desensitized to the female Nightfury under his left wing in the morning, his face reflected about as close to a love struck grin a dragon could replicate, he nuzzled the back of her head affectionately, still not entirely thinking about what he was doing and just giving over to his whims.
Hiccup chortled when the black dragon realized what it was doing and it's head snapped up as Ghost awoke, Hiccup untangled himself from Astrid's hand to approach the two Nightfury's, Toothless eyed him curiously, Ghost mirrored the expression identically.
"Uh, H-Hi," Hiccup took a deep breath "Ghost, I need your help."
Ghost looked at Toothless for a moment then looked at Astrid, the blonde was pretty, for a human, the Nightfury felt just the tiniest miniscule, need to help the boy in front of her and subsequently his mate as she rose to her feet.
Hiccup extended his hand towards the grey Nightfury slowly, Ghost hesitated only a moment until she pressed her head against his hand, she snorted and he scratched under her neck in appreciation.
"I didn't expect you to be so easy to get along with," Toothless chuckled "Where's the pointless resistance?"
"Quiet," Ghost snapped "I am going to save your friend, his mate and by extension you, show some gratitude."
"Thank you." Toothless bowed his head respectfully "For today and for helping the girl yesterday even though you had no requirement to, it means a lot."
Ghost smirked pride-fully "I'm not nearly as horrible as you think I am."
Toothless warbled calmly "I never said you were horrible." He defended
Ghost gave him a look.
"What?" Toothless questioned "I don't even think it."
Ghost's expression didn't change and Toothless slumped to the ground.
"Do you want something specific? I'm not good with hints." His face screwed up as he said the word hints, like females expected him to know what they were thinking by subtle looks and actions, what did they think males were? Magic?
"If you don't find me horrible, what do you think of me?" Ghost asked
Toothless lifted an eyebrow and Ghost waited with a bated breath "I think your eyes and scales are pretty," Toothless confessed "I think you care more than you let on and I would be proud to have a Nightfury like yourself as my mate."
Ghost looked taken aback "T-That was…quite…blunt."
"Did you want me to mince words?" Toothless asked
"No," Ghost made a movement that could be considered a shrug "Colorful words are a human custom, I think you would make a fine mate as well."
Toothless chuckled "Glad to see we are in agreement."
Hiccup carefully moved Astrid atop Ghost, the grey Nightfury even lowered to the ground to make it easier, he climbed on her back and cradled Astrid the best he could to his chest "I'll be back soon bud, I promise."
Toothless warbled affectionately and turned to Ghost "I shall await milady's return." He bowed his head and Ghost scoffed.
"Right after I said I care nothing for colorful words." She turned her head away.
"I know, that's why I started using it." Toothless teased light heartedly as the Nightfury took off.
Stormfly padded over the clearing and gave him a simple look.
"What?"
"Of all the stupid things you have done, accidentally mating, is definitely on top of the list." Stormfly taunted him.
Toothless merely grumbled in response "How was I supposed to know eating a fish would tie us irreversibly together, it's stupid."
"Oh, maybe when she told you?" Stormfly laughed, finding the Nightfury's situation comical.
"In hindsight I am aware of that now aren't I?" Toothless snapped, Ghost leaving him on an island already making him aggravated "Ugh, Why does this make me feel so weak."
Stormfly gave him a look "It's supposed to, you rely on someone now, even if you don't like each other, your bodies don't care."
Toothless just grumbled something intelligible and turned away from the Nadder who took off to find food.
Ghost must have been trying to set a record, Stoick darted through the crowd as his son got off the new Nightfury, Ghost ignored the pointed whispers and stares as best she could, only growling when someone she didn't know approached her.
"Hiccup!" Stoick exclaimed in relief.
"Hi dad," Hiccup waved as he moved Astrid off of Ghosts back, he had been correct the Nightfury sharpest movements were taking off and landing "I need you to take Astrid to Gothi, I've got to repair this and get back to Toothless."
"But-" Hiccup lifted his hand and his father paused.
"I'll explained everything after I bring Toothless and Stormfly back, you can even ground me for interrupting you." Hiccup offered sarcastically.
"You will be grounded, indefinitely," Stoick countered bluntly "After you get the dragon, we have a lot to discuss."
Hiccup nodded as Stoick gathered Astrid and began towards Gothi's, Hiccup gestured for Ghost to follow him as he darted to the forge, a connecting rod was simple, Hiccup moved with a simple purpose as he hammered the metal into the correct shape.
"You look like you're in good shape, even though Astrid got beaten up." Snotlout jeered from the door.
"She was shot down and I was miles away Snotlout," Hiccup snapped at the boy flatly, giving him a very angry warning glare, Ghost was surprised by the sheer ferocity the lanky human could put in his glare alone, it made sense now why Toothless had worried so little about him "Alvin made an appearance, I killed a few of his men and drove him off."
"You…killed people?" Snotlout asked in surprise
"Yes, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if they threatened Astrid or anyone else on Berk, this place is my home and I'll protect it." Hiccup finished flatly as he lifted the rod, inspecting it one last time before cooling it.
"Alright girl, let's get back to Toothless, I'm sure you want to see him too." Hiccup cooed softly, ferocity absent from his tone as he moved outside and jumped atop Ghost's back.
"I'll be back soon." He informed Snotlout simply as he took off, Ghost needed very little guidance as she turned to the island and dropped into a quick flight.
A twig snapped, Toothless eyes snapped open, the pupils narrowed threateningly as he lifted his head, the sun was beginning to dip again, the Nightfury's eyes drifted between the tree's, he lifted his head and smelled a the air, surprised to find nothing, Toothless rose on all fours and growled, every spine on his body bristled as he looked around.
A net flew from the shadow of the tree and Toothless blasted it, the flimsy rope snapped and fell around his feet uselessly as a Group of Outcasts rushed him, Toothless whipped around, tail slamming a few of the men out of the way as his maw glowed, he heard the familiar whistle and the area in front of him exploded as Ghost landed with a thud, Hiccup dismounted and charged forward, jumping into the air to drop kick an Outcast who was nearing Toothless.
"So, we were just a little too slow." Alvin cackled as he emerged from the tree's, Hiccup glared at the man angrily, his helmet muffling his voice slightly.
"You must really have a death wish," Hiccup lifted his hands to his sides, hands outstretched as the clearing darkened completely, a dark purple glow appeared by his left hand a bright blue mimicked the action on the right as Toothless and Ghost's mouths glowed with the flame they were readying, Hiccup's body was painted with the glows of both lights, his eyes glared as his fists clenched, the Nightfury's blasted fire forward, the tree's to Alvin's sides exploded, fire bellowing into the air as Hiccup darted forward, the massive Viking smirked confidentially, as an arrow whistled passed him, Hiccup slid to an abrupt stop his blade flicked to his hand, Hiccup spun it around his fingers, knocking arrows to the side as he rolled to the side and popped to his feet.
"Light the whole dam forest on fire!" Hiccup shouted, Toothless was more than happy to comply, Ghost joined him, fire shot forwards and a continued stream, the archers dived out of the way of the dual waves of purple and blue as Hiccup darted to Toothless, slamming the connecting rod into place and leaping atop the dragons back, his foot locked into place and he glared at Alvin, the firelight dancing on his mask giving his eyes a dark glow.
"If you challenge Berk, I'll make sure you don't live to see your next birthday." Hiccup growled darkly as Ghost and Toothless pulled off the ground, the tree's toppled around Alvin as he retreated into the forest, his men had long since abandoned the front.
Hiccup gave Toothless's neck an affectionate pat "Good job bud."
Ghost warbled from beside them "Yes Ghost, you helped too." Hiccup acknowledged as if he understood the dragons sounds.
"So, what do you plan to do about a rider?" Toothless asked curiously.
"I refuse to be ridden by one of the large heavy ones, no fat ones either," Ghost grumbled, she had seen more than her fair share of large Vikings "I like the blonde female, and your rider, maybe I'll steal him away from you." She joked as they flew.
"He wouldn't choose you over me anyway," Toothless retorted "He gets enough attitude from his own mate."
"I don't have an attitude." Ghost shot at him, Toothless gave her a look.
Ghost deflated slightly "I might have, a little bit of an attitude, you know what this is why I hate you!"
"I thought I'd be an acceptable mate?" Toothless taunted, referring to their earlier conversation.
"I like you a little, but I still hate you a whole lot!" Ghost shot at him flatly.
"I see." Toothless chuckled
"Would you fly silently!?" Ghost snapped, Toothless just let out a draconic sigh as he turned in a slow arc towards Berk.
"As milady commands." He let out quietly.
Stormfly just rolled her eyes as she flew behind the two Nightfury's silently.
Ghost shot him a look, but neither spoke again as they set down on Berk, Hiccup dismounted and dropped on his bed heavily, dropping his helmet he pushed himself back to his feet as he forced the allure of sleep from his mind, Toothless moved back outside to be nearer to Ghost, who only glared at him for a few moments before stepping under his outstretched wing and snuggling next to him, both aware they'd end up in that position anyway.
Hiccup slammed through Gothi's front door, the old lady seemed completely unfazed by the sudden noise, sitting a large pot calmly, she glanced up at the boy knowingly and gestured upstairs, Hiccup nodded gratefully as he ran upstairs, Astrid was still peacefully wrapped in blankets, the swelling in her shoulder almost completely down, leaving only a dark purple bruise marring her flawless pale skin, Hiccup grimaced as she dragged a chair around and plopped down in front of her.
A blue eye cracked open and he lifted an eyebrow at it "Did you get Toothless back?"
Hiccup nodded, a small smile on his face.
"What about that other dragon? The grey one?" She asked, excitement causing her to sit up a little too quickly, she winced when her ribs groaned at her, she played it off as best she could as she pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her braid had been abandoned, her long hair flowed over her back, Hiccup struggled to contain the urge to run his fingers through it, he didn't really get the opportunity when the braid was done.
"Ghost," Hiccup informed "She's a female Nightfury Astrid, I think Toothless and her already mated somehow, but she's a lot like you, stubborn and prideful."
Astrid's punch bounced of his shoulder pad and she winced, she waved her hand "Ow."
Hiccup chuckled "I'll let you get back to sleep." He got to his feet and moved to leave.
"Stay." Hiccup froze, Astrid's cheeks colored scarlet as soon as the word left her mouth, the painkillers Gothi had given her suppressing her usual filter "I-It's cold," She attempted to explained, rubbing at her arms nervously "And I don't want you walking home this late."
Hiccup smiled gently as he moved back to the seat, his hand found hers and he gave it a reassuring squeeze as he tilted his head "Alright, since you want me here so bad."
Astrid shot him a half-hearted glare and pulled him forward, his knee struck the edge of the bed and he raised an eyebrow, Astrid grabbed his collar with her working arm and hoisted him onto the bed, Hiccup smirked up at her, his hand rested on her cheek before the warm appendage left her cheek and Hiccup sat up, pulling the armor over his head he set it down beside the bed and laid down, his hand rested on her cheek as he smiled at her.
She nuzzled against his hand tiredly, her own folding over it gently as she got comfortable, her head resting on his chest, one of his arms folded around her carefully, avoiding all her injuries, the other trailed through her hair slowly, the comforting feeling of his fingers on her hair and the rhythmic thump of his heart put her to sleep quickly, light snores escaped her form as he pressed a light kiss to her head.
Hiccup stared at the roof for a few more minutes, before the day's events caught up with him, he was already running on an all-nighter, sleep only eluded him for a few seconds as he drifted off.
A/N: Bit of a shorter chapter, but it's kind of like a primer, a lot of stuff is going to happen relatively quickly, but for now I hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you did drop and a follow and feel free to check out my other stories and I will see you guys in the next one, peace!