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

21; No Shame

Six long months had passed, putting them in the month of June of 2019 and a lot had happened since Hayden's deployment to Iraq. He was officially nineteen years ago, still the leader of the Ember Strike platoon and his squadron, Alpha Fire. Their entire platoon had been doing phenomenal since Hayden began leading it. All missions were done correctly, and at least for them there were no deaths and little injuries. It was actually a relief to him, he could deal with injuries but death always hit him harder. He knew it could happen where they were and with what they did but regardless, if he could avoid it he would. He'd gotten to talk to Avery, Camille, and his friends a decent amount: at least twice a week. He found out that they were done with Junior year now too and he was happy for them. They kept raving about the fact in two months they'd be seniors, and Hayden hoped to Odin he would be able to get home for their graduation from high school. He'd already missed so many things, many holidays and birthdays. Information had been given too so that the soldiers could receive packages and letters from home and Hayden remembered who wrote to him the most. Avery, Camille, and his friends. But never his father. Every letter he got, his friends were all over him, laughing and having a good time.

Until the one time he did get a letter from his father and he showed no shame in his emotions when he did get read it. It happened last month...

/Flashback/

Hayden was sitting on his bed in the barrack while his squadron was relaxing and talking with one another about the last mission and how thankful they were that it went alright. They'd come off a twelve hour guard, then another four hour secure the area mission immediately afterwards. Up sixteen hours and he would of thought they'd all want to sleep before they were put back on another patrol or guard but no, everyone was up and having a good time. It was roughly 3pm as Hayden was relaxing on his bed, phone on his chest since he'd been texting Avery but she said she had to get back to work so he was rather bored now. The barrack door opened as Hayden opened his eyes and looked over. "MAIL CALL!" Major Huntington announced. As usual, the soldiers rushed over to see if they'd gotten anything.

Hayden got up and pushed through them to give the Major some room to breathe. "Hey! Back off guys, you know the drill. Your name gets called, then you come up." Hayden reminded.

"Sorry, Lieutenant." they mumbled backing off and sitting on or standing near their bunks.

"Thank you, Haddock. Now...Let's get started." Major Huntington smiled. He began to read off names from the squadron, the soldiers coming up to get their letters or packages. Normally it went letters first, then the packages to keep down on the confusion of sorting, being at war there wasn't a lot of time to do such a thing. We were lucky they got it as far as squads for separation. Major Huntington had been in the E barrack for almost twenty-five minutes handing out letters and packages. Only a few of them ended up with nothing, Hayden got two letters and one package-which was a little more than he'd been anticipating on receiving. Nevertheless, he sat down on his bunk after placing the package down. He'd open that after he read the letters which were from Camille, and the gang no doubt. The package was from Avery, he could tell by the return address sitting at the top left. Hayden grabbed his army knife and opened the first letter, Camille's, and began to read and of course it was all the usual.

Hayden smiled as Theo used the ladder to come up and see him smiling. "My sister sends her best guys, she told me to tell ya." Hayden called out, the group laughed knowing that Hayden's little sister always sent her best to them. Hayden folded it up and placed it down while reaching for the next one. It was from Seth, but he had a feeling that all of his other friends probably added something in too. He tore open the top and unfolded it as he began to what he did read made him inwardly cringe. Dylan had a crush on his sister, Rachel lost her virginity, and Felix and Heather were getting closer...

Hayden's left eye began to twitch at the information. Dylan had a crush...on his sister?! Oh he would make a move when Hayden wasn't home to give him a piece of his mind. "I'll fuckin kill him if he hurts her..." Hayden grumbled as his friends arched a brow at him. "Mind your own...Just some ass-hat who wants to date my sister..." His friends laughed more, they knew how protective Hayden was over Camille. Hayden looked back at the letter to scan it again. And what the fuck, Rachel wasn't a virgin anymore! Oh Gods, Hayden hoped she didn't end up pregnant. Felix and Heather was something he expected to happen way sooner than now, Felix had it bad for Heather since their freshman year. Either way he was happy for them if they got together. His concern was Dylan, the junior class jock and resident asshole. Hayden put it down with a sigh along side Camille's letter before moving on to the package from Avery which was sure to be promising. Hayden cut along the top and two sides where it was taped shut then put his knife down to open it.

"Awe babe, you're the flippin best." Hayden smiled wide as he saw an assortment of some of his favorite snacks. Chips, cookies, and some magazines. Of course there was a letter inside from her too so he took that out then slapped Ritka's hand when he was reaching for the Doritos. "Hey, fuck off. Mine..." Hayden warned.

"Oh come on, share, Haddock! There's no way you're gonna eat all that yourself." Ritka pouted.

"Maybe I will. Now back off so I can read her letter in peace." Hayden shoved Ritka back down as he unfolded Avery's letter to read it.

"We wanna hear it!" Lennox asked.

"Fine..." he mumbled then lifted it to start reading aloud, he prayed to God there was nothing embarrassing in it. "Hey Soldier Boy. And yes, that is my new nickname for you aside from jerk, and babe. I hope this letter and package reach you in one piece, all that stuff costed me an entire weeks paycheck but I bet ya it's better than that vacuumed packed shit you have to eat every single day so try to make it last and you better share with your buds too. Would of sent fish for Toothless but I don't think fish in a box for almost three days would be so good. Tell him I owe him when you guys get back. Oh and the tin is filled with my mom's home baked peanut butter blossoms. She gave me the recipe finally so I made them for you along with some others." Hayden smacked Ritka's hand away seeing him inch towards the box, "You'll wait..." Hayden reminded. Ritka pouted and nodded, "Did I tell you yet that I have my own dragon...A Deadly Nadder that I named Stormfly. She's beautiful babe. White belly, blue and purple on the wings, yellow and blue on the tail. She isn't living with me yet, going through all the legal stuff still. She bonded to me on her own, it was amazing." He was shocked, she'd bonded with her own dragon! He was happy for her. "I really miss you, Hayden. I heard something on the news about a major explosion near you and I couldn't sleep the rest of the night. I hope you're safe and get to come home soon. I need one of your strong armed hugs to let me know it's alright. Sorry if there are stains on the paper, I cried writing this to you. I can't get the image out of my head of you getting on the plane five months ago and fearing you wouldn't come back or would just in a flag draped box...I couldn't bare that so you better keep yourself alive or I'll join the military and fuck someone's shit right up and Toothless would help me too. Anyway...it's about 4am right now. I hope you enjoy the package and know I'm thinking about you every day. I'm counting them until you're in my arms again, where I'm sure I'll refuse to let you go. It's torture without you. I love you with all my heart, Hayden Haddock. Stay safe my brave soldier...-Avery."

"She fell hard for you, Haddock. Damn wish I had a girl who cared that much." Tarelto laughed patting his shoulder, Hayden laughed, he really was lucky to have her, wasn't he?

"And hell, that temper on her. Pretty sure she wears the pants in the relationship. Shit man, threatening to join the military and come hurt the enemies if you die...The glare alone would send me runnin." Lennox joined in on the laughter too. Oh yes, Avery had one hell of a temper that you didn't want to be on the wrong side of.

"And fuck you, I wear the pants since she ain't ever been in them. And the day she does, she gonna find out who wears the pants and why." Hayden remarked, the guys hollered and cheered laughing still. "Enjoy the snacks but stay outta my cookie tin or I'll break your hands and make you do push ups on them." Hayden grabbed the tin and quickly put it behind him on the pillow as the guys grabbed the box and tore into it. Hayden put the letters away and relaxed after eating one of the cookies from the tin. Sergeant Staton came over and knocked.

"Hey, Lieutenant. This letter came to our barrack by mistake, it's for you. Doesn't have a return address though." Sergeant Staton said handing it to him as he sat up. Hayden opened it up with his knife and pulled out the letter while the others watched him slowly open it as they enjoyed the snacks that Avery sent him. As soon as he saw the words, his eyes widened slow.

"Who is it from, Lieutenant? Yer sister or girl again?" They laughed but Theo noticed something as he smacked their arms and shook his head. Quieting down they looked again to see Hayden's lip quiver and his eyes had unshed tears resting there. Hayden read the words slowly as the tears slipped from his eyes. How could they laugh when their Lieutenant was crying and they'd never seen him do it before. One thing that was true in the military that nothing was funny when a soldier cried.

Dear son,

I know I haven't written or called since you left five months ago and I'm sorry. But tonight sitting alone in the office I found something that you gave me a long time ago and it made me realize something that I've known and felt all along. I know I might not of said it so I'll say it now: son you make me proud. I was just scared to lose you. You're my only son and I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. I'm sorry for the things I said since you joined. You're doing the right thing and I am very proud of you for doing it, I have always been proud and I always will be. I love you, son and I hope you get to come home safe and sound soon. Love always, Dad.

Hayden saw his tear drops fall on the paper, "Dad...Thank you." He whispered.

/End Flashback/

It was one letter that he'd never lose, he kept it tucked away in his trunk and the next time he saw his Dad, he was going to hug the shit out of him. "Haddock, Major Huntington is outside and needs to see ya." Lennox told him. Hayden got up and headed outside to see his Major waiting for him. The Major quickly explained the mission. A patrol and secure sectors one.

(Four Hours Later)

They'd reached the location and Hayden split up the units like always to secure the sectors. There were twenty-four in total that meant for eight teams, three sectors a piece except one team would have to take six and of course Hayden took the brunt of the work so Strike One would be clearing sectors nineteen through twenty-four. It'd been four hours since they arrived, so far the activity had been non existent which Hayden knew from experience was never actually good. This was too quiet for having been rumored to have high activity, and even buildings weren't stacked to the teeth in Iraqi weaponry.

"Sharp One, Two, Three, and Four as well Strike Two, Three, and Four. Status update and positions if you wouldn't mind." Hayden asked through his ear piece.

"Sharp Four here. Sectors four and five clear, moving to six now. Nothing to report yet." Came Sgt. Staton's voice.

"Sharp One checking in. Cleared sector one and three, heading towards two. No activity sir." said Varraso.

"Strike Two reporting of slight weaponry in sector fifteen. Orders? Over." Came Brody Nichols's voice over the radio next.

"Define slight weaponry, Nichols. Over." Hayden asked.

"Cases of ammo and grenades. Bout two each sir but no soldiers around. Over." Came his response.

"Mark it off and we'll grab it with the jeeps when we leave. Keep moving, we've been out here four hours already. Haddock over and out." Hayden sighed as they just finished clearing sector twenty-two.

"Sharp units Two and Three have cleared sectors fourteen through seventeen as well eight through ten, Lieutenant. Orders?" Came Morrison's voice.

"Both of you have finished already? Then get back to the jeeps and move the sector fifteen to pick up that weaponry Strike Two reported on. Then get back to the rest of the jeeps and wait for the rest. Over."Hayden stated to them.

"Strike Three done, Lieutenant. Sectors eleven through thirteen cleared with no weapons or activity. Return to jeeps? Over." Hayden heard the leader of Strike Three, Dean Marx state now.

"Good work, Marx. Take 'em back to the jeeps. Waiting on Strike Four's report. Over." Hayden ordered.

"Strike Four. Sectors seven through nine cleared and secured, bring back a case of M16's and ammo. Carrying it by hand to the jeeps. Over."

"Nice job, Bree. I knew putting you in charge was smart. The rest of us should be done soon. Stay on standby. Over." Hayden replied. Bree Milstead was deployed with them and since Richards had been KIA back in Afghanistan the Strike Four only had a temporary leader, when Bree joined Alpha Fire, Hayden put her in charge of Strike Four. Hayden sighed, good, they all checked in. Sharp Two and Three were done, Strike Three was done. Sharp Four and One had one sector left each. And Strike Two was heading to their last sector. Hayden's group still had two to go because they took on six. Suddenly gunfire was heard as Hayden whipped around to locate it coming from the South. Those were sectors that Sharp Four and One were.

"Strike One, this is Sharp Four. We need immediate backup in sector six! Heavy enemy fire, taking cover in buildings but to many enemies to take on! Over." Came Sgt. Staton's worried voice.

"God damn it! These things can never just run smoothly..." Hayden growled almost as he pressed the button to reply. "I hear you, Sharp One. Hang on, I'll send you back up. Strike Four, Sharp One, Two, and Three all move to sector six to give Sharp Four back up. On the double. If your team is near the jeeps, then move your asses! The rest of you, get to the jeeps and get to six!" Hayden called. His team darted off to get to their jeep since they were the farthest away and took theirs to get closer to avoid walking in case of a situation like this arose. There were more explosions heard where the jeeps had been parked together.

"Lieutenant! We just lost three jeeps to RPG's and under fire!" Hayden heard Sharp Three leader say quickly.

"Any injuries!?" Hayden asked.

"Just a few scratches sir. Can't get to Sharp Three cannot move to Sharp Four's location. Repeat, cannot move to sector six."

"Mother fucker...Any units close to Sharp Three move in to cover. Any units close to Sharp Four, move in. I'll get us an extraction!" Hayden stated. He knew with only five jeeps and two units under heavy fire he knew they'd never get away in on piece. "This is Echo Strike to Doragon base, do you copy. Over." Hayden called in.

"Doragon base to Echo Strike, we copy. What's the situation? Over." Came Major Huntington's voice.

"I've lost three jeeps and have two units in different sectors under heavy fire. Area not secure, found weaponry. It's a chaotic mess, we need out. Now. Over." Hayden said.

"Understood, Lieutenant. We'll send a bird your way, get them all together. We'll be waiting half mile from area. ETA is twenty minutes." Huntington said to him. Hayden took his unit to sector six to got them out of trouble with help from a lot of their own fire and grenades and then rushed to where the jeeps were, by this point the extraction team had to be there. Sharp Three was using buildings to hide out in. When all teams arrived to where they left the jeeps, it was just gunfire, grenades, and RPG's everywhere. "Haddock, bird in position. Where are all of you?"

"I'm fucking workin on it!" Hayden replied firing again and went to turn to avoid fire but a bullet ripped through the side of his right arm and he yelled out in pain holding it tightly. "Shit!" Hayden cursed out, "I'm hit," he added dropping down and panting.

"Haddock, you alright?!" Ritka asked quickly.

"I swear I'm gonna hit a new record for most times shot in the arm! Fuck that hurts..." Hayden cringed hard.

"I got ya covered. I'll get on the building and get the fuckers from above, is extraction here?" Ritka asked. Hayden nodded to him as Ritka ran off inside a building.

"Orders, Lieutenant?" Lennox asked.

"Extraction chopper is half mile away, we gotta get get to it to get out. We gotta push these guys back..." Hayden coughed as Theo bandaged his arm temporarily.

"Good news, the bullet only ripped right through ya," Hayden glared at Theo and he chuckled, " You'll be alright, Haddock. Least til we get back to base..." Theo told him, Hayden whipped around with his gun and just started firing his automatic from left to right effectively taking out about twelve soldiers then Tarelto and a few others threw a line of grenades to keep them at bay.

"That's the window! On the double boys, head half mile East! Bird is waitin." Hayden ordered, they all grabbed their guns and bolted as fast as they could. Half mile run was practically nothing with all the work they did, Hayden looked to the building that Ritka had entered. "Rit-" He was cut off watching an RPG slam into the building as it exploded. "RITKA!" Hayden yelled out, he scrambled to his feet and looked for an opening. "Ritka! Damn it, answer me!" Hayden said on the radio.

"I'm here...Lieutenant. I jumped...when I saw the RPG comin..." Ritka coughed hard, Hayden rushed around the side to see him laying there trapped under heavy rocks from the explosion. Hayden skidded in and went to move the rock but couldn't. It was practically cement and to heavy for him. "Haddock, get out of here..." Ritka coughed.

"No. No man left behind, Ritka. We live by it, I'll call back Lennox or Theo...We'll get ya out of here." Hayden panted as he kept trying to move the heavy rocks, but with his arm wounded he couldn't do it. In the frantic movements, Hayden felt Ritka lift his arm and put it on his shoulder to stop him. Hayden looked at him and saw the look in his eyes.

"Haddock...Ya can't this time. You only have...a small window to get out and you can't...bring the others back in..." Ritka coughed up blood and Hayden felt his chest tighten. "You have to leave me."

"No! I don't care...I'll get you out of there...I never leave...a man down or behind. You're coming back with me...That's an order." Hayden went to lift his radio but Ritka lowered it from his mouth with a soft smile on his face.

"If you bring the others back in to the fight, you lose the window...It will...get everyone killed. Take...the extraction, and go. You know...I'm right, don't be stupid, Haddock...You can't bring them here and you can't get me out alone...You have...to leave me and save yourself and the others..." Ritka panted. Hayden's eyes widened, Ritka was...telling him to leave him behind. "Haddock...You have to go or everyone...is dead. The whole...platoon...Don't...worry about me...I'll take some of these fuckers with me before I go...Get on outta here...It's been a pleasure to serve with you, Lieutenant...Take my tags home...since I can't. And Haddock...Don't blame...yourself...we all know...the risk..." Ritka told him.

"Lieutenant! Are you alright? Do you need cover?" Came Lennox's voice on the radio.

"Leave me, Haddock...You have to leave...save them." Ritka panted closing his eyes. Hayden wanted to cry, Ritka let go of his hand and shoved him away. "Go! Get out of here!"

"I can't leave without you..." Hayden said.

"Hayden...Something I never told you. I got a fiance and kid back home. A little girl," Hayden's eyes widened, Ritka had a fiance and daughter back in Visithug? "My girl, Her name is Lexi Simmons...And my daughter, her name is Isabelle Ritka...They live...on Berk. Tell them I'm sorry but I'll always be watching over them. Thank you for being the first friend I ever made since deployment to Afghanistan, because of you...I made a lot of friends and these were some of the best years of my life. You keep doing what you do, and don't worry about me. Everything will be okay...I promise. You can't save me this time...And I'm not mad at you...But I want you to...get out of here. I want you to make it home, and...hold your girl close, your family and tell them you love them. It's not your time to die yet...You're gonna do great things, Haddock...So go on. It'll be okay..." Ritka smiled wide at him as he squeezed his hand tightly then let go as Hayden saw his dog tags resting there. "You might not be able to bring back my body...but send those home for me...You'll do that...for me, won't...you?"

Choking down his tears, he nodded to his friend who he was about to leave behind, something he'd never done before and had no choice but to do. If he didn't leave him, they'd both die and his team would come back into the fire to find them and they'd die. Ritka was trying to save him and the platoon by staying behind and it was breaking Hayden's heart, he didn't know he could feel this much pain, being shot didn't even hurt this much. "I—I will, Steven...I pro—promise..." Hayden forced out while Ritka nodded to him and Hayden got the message as he lifted the radio and pressed the button, "This is...Lieutenant Haddock. Stay where you are, I'm on my way...Over." Hayden stated into to the radio then looked at Ritka one more time pleadingly.

"You don't...have a choice...Go...I'll be...fine. It's okay, Lieutenant...You're an amazing soldier, Haddock...I'm proud to of worked with you, and all the times you saved me," Ritka smiled at him. Hayden saw Ritka grab his gun and start shooting at enemies. "Now let me the same for you...I'll cover you, go on and get out outta here...!" Ritka called. Hayden grabbed his gun, and ran. After so many feet he looked back and watched in horror as an RPG hit the building a second time, it crumbled to the ground in a pile of rubble. Tears in his eyes, Hayden reached the extraction point and jumped in as it took off right away heading back to base.

"Where's...Ritka?" Someone asked. Hayden clutched his fist tighter.

"He's gone...RPG took out the building he was in, he died...saving me so I could get out..." Hayden said with his head turned and eyes closed. The rest of the flight, not a word was said.

(Doragon Base)

The small plane landed as Hayden was out first, Major Huntington rushing over with a few others. "Haddock...You're injured." He said. Before anyone else could react Hayden opened his palm and looked down seeing Ritka's dog tags there. still a little blood on the silver where his name read: Ritka, Steven. And under that BAA. Hayden's eyes filled with tears as he just dropped to his knees and slammed his fist into to the ground as hard as he could, and then he repeated the same action over and over again. Head down, the tears fell from his eyes.

"I should of...been able to save him...And I...didn't...I cou-couldn't..." Hayden lifted his head to the sky now while tears streamed down from his eyes, "AHHHHH!" Hayden yelled out as loud as he could. A lot of people around the area stopped and watched sadly. Theo and Eli put their hands on his shoulders and lowered their heads as well. Hayden hated this. What had happened, what was said, the feeling. It was his fault, he should of kept Ritka with them and they would of all gotten out alive. Toothless heard Hayden yell out and rush to his side, seeing the state his rider was in he wrapped himself around Hayden and used his wings to cover him. "I'm...sorry..." He whispered finally before blacking out against his dragon from the gunshot wound on his arm. Toothless warbled worried as he lifted his wing and the medics rushed over to get him medical attention. No one knew what happened but for Hayden to break down on the ground after a mission where someone wasn't just killed but left as POW, it had to be bad and they wanted to find out what happened but somehow felt that Hayden wasn't going to want to talk about it at all and that worried them all.