Not What You Expected
Author: Nightstar Fury from Nightstar Productions.
Rated: M for Mature.
Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD, Frozen, Tangled, or Brave.
25: The Letter.
It was silent at first as they waited for Hiccup to start. He was almost hesitating to tell them everything but he had promised Astrid he would in exchange for her forgiveness for his lying so he really had no choice in the matter. "It started when I was 10, 3 years after I lost my mom to cancer...I was walking around outside in the back yard just staring at the stars when I saw something black shoot across the sky, I got up quickly and raced towards it. That's when I realized it was a Night Fury. It was wrapped up in some weird trap made of rope and rocks. I think it's called a bola...It looked scared when I saw its eyes. I pulled out my pocket knife and set him free. It roared at me and ran off...I rushed back to my house and hid in my room." Hiccup looked to make sure they were all still listening.
"Well over the next few days after my dad left for another big match...I went out looking for it. I didn't have high hopes but I was bored and curious so...I reached the stables out back and heard growling. That's how I found him. He was injured and his tail fin was gone. It was torn off during his landing in my yard...He was weak and tired trying to keep his guard up. I knew dragon's like fish because of Sharpshot so I ran and got one for the Night Fury...He sniffed it and took it from me. That's when I noticed the retractable teeth and hence why his name is Toothless." Hiccup took a breath.
"So you learned how to earn his trust the same way you taught me that day..." Astrid said with a smile. No one seemed mad at him, more like shocked still and intrigued.
"Only I knew he wouldn't bite your hand off, mine was trial and error..." Hiccup reminded her, "Anyway, after he ate the fish and came close to me I got scared because I thought he wanted more. I said I'd get some but instead...he regurgitated half the fish back up and dropped it in my lap." Hiccup saw their grossed out faces and he chuckled remembering that day well in his mind.
"So what happened after that?" Eret asked now.
"Well I watched as Toothless sat back on his back legs and tail...he was staring at me and the fish. I quickly put it together that he wanted me to eat it. I dreaded it but..." Hiccup trailed off with a small smile.
"Oh God...Hiccup, you didn't...did you?" Astrid asked now.
"Yeah I did. I took a big old bite of it and ate it. It almost came back up but I forced it down and smiled at Toothless, he smiled back with no teeth. It was actually pretty funny looking." Hiccup laughed and heard a warbled from Toothless. "Sorry bud!" Hiccup called to him and got a croon in response. "I tried to reach for him and he growled at me and I pulled my hand back quickly as he laid down to go to sleep. I saw where the tail fin had been torn off and it got me thinking on wanting to help him. But I knew I had to get closer first." Hiccup smiled happily.
"How did you do it! This is all what we've been wondering, how you trained a Night Fury!" Tuffnut exclaimed, they all leaned forward now.
"Well I could tell you or...maybe I can show you. Follow me outside..." Hiccup said, they blinked and did so. Now with the light of the houses they could see Hiccup and Toothless perfectly in the dark. "Alright bud, lets show them how we met." Hiccup said, Toothless licked his cheek and scurried off and laid down in the grass with his tail covering his face. Hiccup sat across from him with his hand out, Toothless stared at him and Hiccup got up quickly and wandered away. Toothless found a tree branch and hung upside down by his tail with his wings around him. Hiccup was sitting on a rock with a stick drawing in the dirt, a picture of Toothless who now came down and walked over curiously watching him with a purr. They were shocked to see Toothless walk on his back legs, stomping away to get a bigger branch and started moving around drawing lines in the dirt.
There was no real pattern of it, just random lines that he was making by holding the large stick in his mouth. Hiccup made a motion with his hands for them to back up so they could see better, they did as Toothless finished and nodded contently almost at his work. Astrid and the others began to understand that Toothless was trying to copy Hiccup with drawing. They laughed a little as they watched Hiccup get off the rock and start walking around looking at the lines curiously. Hiccup stepped on one and Toothless growled at him, he lifted his foot and Toothless was calm. Hiccup did it again, same result. Once more, same results. Toothless would get mad if Hiccup stepped on the lines.
Hiccup finally stepped over the line and Toothless stayed calm, Hiccup began to move around now, following the lines all the way to Toothless with his back to him. Toothless breathed heavily as it moved Hiccup's hair around and he looked back cautiously seeing how close he was to him. Toothless looked down contently as Hiccup backed up and turned around looking at him. Hiccup reached a hand forward and Toothless snarled at him with his teeth showing. Hiccup lowered his hand and turned his head closing his eyes and stretching out his hand to Toothless, palm out. Toothless slowly pressed his nose to Hiccup's hand with his eyes closed and Hiccup seemed to sigh in relief.
"Wow...So he had to trust you wouldn't hurt him, and you trust him not to hurt you..." Heather pointed out. Hiccup nodded as Toothless licked his face again.
"Ugh, Toothless you know that doesn't wash out!" Hiccup tried to wipe the slobber off. Toothless laughed at him with some noises from the back of his throat.
"I wanna see the fish thing! I still don't believe it." Snotlout said. Hiccup grabbed a fish from the bucket and held it out to Toothless in his hands. Toothless neared him slowly as like the first time they did this 7 years ago and his teeth were retracted.
"Huh...Toothless? I could of sworn you had..." Hiccup began as Toothless snatched it from his hands with his teeth out and swallowed it in two bites then licked his lips. "Teeth..." Hiccup finished in a scared tone. Toothless now moved closer as Hiccup fell back, "No no..no...I–I don't have anymore..." He said quickly. Toothless started to regurgitate the fish and drop it in to Hiccup's lap again. The other's stuck their tongues out, but were still curious and watched. "Ick..." Hiccup said as he sat there wondering what to do with it, even though he already knew.
Toothless plopped back on his legs and tail looking at Hiccup now and then motioned for Hiccup to eat the fish with his head. Hiccup looked at the fish, then at Toothless and sighed as he lifted it to his mouth. "Uhhh..." He bit into it.
"Oh God, he actually ate it...Hiccup...we didn't really want you to bite in to it..." Astrid said putting a hand to her mouth to keep from throwing up. Hiccup didn't stop he was hell bent and determined to show them everything like they'd wanted to know in the first place. Hiccup saw the command from Toothless to swallow it and he did, just like the first time, he nearly threw it back up but forced it down and smiled at Toothless and then Toothless gave the gummy smile right back. "So that's why you gave me the cooked fish that day..." Astrid said now.
"I gave it to you because no one is crazy enough to do what I do..." Hiccup smiled as Toothless nuzzled against his cheek.
"Eating a raw fish could make you sick, Hiccup...Like hospital level of sick..." Fishlegs stated.
"Actually, no. Not with Toothless I won't. You see, one factor you never learned that day from me when I was disguised as Fury is that Night Fury saliva has special properties...One of them is an immunity to basic illnesses. Meaning, the harmful things in an uncooked fish that would probably kill me are rendered useless against Toothless's saliva. It's like a barrier almost." Hiccup explained.
"That's awesome..." The other exclaimed. "And still gross." Astrid added.
"What else can it do?" Eret asked.
"Heal minor injuries, protect against fire to a degree..." Hiccup listed off.
"Okay cool, can we hear how you built his tail?" Ruffnut asked now.
"Sure. It started when I heard reports that people were looking for a Night Fury that crashed down a few days back. I knew that if Toothless couldn't fly, he'd get hurt or worse...It scared me to think I'd lose him seeing as he was one of my best friends..." Hiccup began.
"Umm hello, you had Tuff and I?" Fishlegs stated.
"That's right and we're hurt you didn't tell us about this!" Tuffnut stated.
"Guys...I didn't say anything about this for the same reason I didn't tell people who my father was...To much attention that I didn't want. I mean knowing my dad was a wrestler was big but me having a Night Fury...Come on...I'd never be left alone. I'm sorry I hid him from you two...but you saw what happened when everyone found out who my dad was...It's going to start all over again when we go back to school tomorrow. I'm sure the news has already traveled that Hiccup is the famous Fury..." Hiccup sighed.
"We already forgave you, Hiccup but seriously. Tell us the rest of the story." Astrid said excitedly.
"Okay okay...the first thing I did was build the tail fin and found it couldn't open on its own so I made the saddle and rode him controlling the tail with a piece of rope. I pulled to hard and fell off, that got me to make hooks and a belt that would allow me to keep myself in place. After that, still needed a better way to hold on and control his tail to reach different levels of flying. That is what inspired this whole rig you see now. The stirrups are what control the ropes that open and close his tail and I am the one who knows sets all his positions with a simple press of the heel. Toothless can't fly without me...I'll never forget the day we were practicing the first flight with the entire rig on him...I thought I was gonna die..." Hiccup laughed as Toothless nudged his face.
"I think he wants you to show us..." Dagur chuckled.
"I guess we could give it shot, what do you say bud?" Hiccup asked him, Toothless crooned happily as he bumped Hiccup from behind sending him in the air and landing on his back. Hiccup scratched under his chin making him pant with his tongue out. It wasn't dark just yet but it would be soon and they wouldn't be able to see good after that. "See that course over there...?" He asked pointing to it. They nodded. "Watch closely..." Hiccup said. Toothless took off towards it. They watched seeing Hiccup and Toothless fly straight up and then Hiccup purposely fall off Toothless who consequently began to fall as well when his tail closed up.
They were all watching intently as Toothless moved under Hiccup and gave him the chance to grab the saddle and get him self back in position on Toothless's back and opened is tail. Toothless's wings spread out to slow their decent to the ground and then they saw the large stone pillars that they'd crash in to. Hiccup began switching Toothless's tail in to different positions and the avoided them all with spins, barrel rolls, and more, then flew back to the clearing where his friends were. "Wow..." Astrid breathed out.
"It was scary that first day because I'd had all the positions written on a piece of paper and it blew away before I'd memorized it. The clips holding me on Toothless got loose and we fell. When I finally grabbed him again and got on his back, we were faced with obstacles just like that and I had to rely on sheer luck to work his tail and make it out alive. After that, the dragon racers had followed us back here and spoke with my dad...That's how I became a dragon racer but I said I'd only do it if I could be disguised and under a different name. So I chose the all black suit and mask. No one beside the game master, Sven has ever seen me without the mask. Well until today that is..." Hiccup told them.
"Wait wait...That move...with you saving me earlier...Toothless didn't fall when you jumped off him...Well I mean I knew he dived after you but..." Astrid said.
"Toothless's rig has been remade in the last 7 years. I made it with a lever that would allow his tail to stay open in one position for him to fly in without me. Obviously he could dive but the real problem is that he can't change the position while it's locked up. That's why when I was holding you and getting on his back I had to quickly adjust his tail or we would of crashed to the ground." Hiccup told her.
"You used the same move because you'd knew it'd work..." They said together.
"Yep, that's pretty much it..." Hiccup shrugged.
"So you played sick that day so you I'd go to the trip and you could make it to the race without anyone suspecting a thing..." Astrid grinned.
"Also right..." Hiccup smiled.
"Sneaky asshole..." Heather grumbled.
"Oh come on...Give me a break..." Hiccup sighed.
"Fine fine..." Ruffnut added.
"Oh and...thank you for saving my life that day in training. I shouldn't of pulled that move with your dragon..." Eret said.
"I'd be more lucky Toothless doesn't hold a grudge..." Hiccup chuckled as Toothless yawned. "Go to bed bud and thanks for today." Hiccup said to him. Toothless warbled and walked back to the stables as Hiccup led the others back inside the house.
"Still can't believe you're Fury!" Astrid said happily as she sat on his lap and kissed his cheek.
"So are you still going to race as Fury and what not?" Eret asked.
"Of course. Toothless and I love it...Since everyone kind of knows the truth now, I won't race with the mask on and I don't have to hide him here." Hiccup nodded.
"Good because I'm pretty sure there's a race coming up in a few weeks. And I can't wait to see it!" Astrid exclaimed.
"I'm glad. You and the other's get front row seats next race. I already took care of it." Hiccup said to them.
"Did you see the look on Asger's face when he found out Fury was really a 17 year old boy?! I'd pay money to see it again." Dagur laughed. They laughed with him now.
"18 by the way. I turned 18 just after Valentines day." Hiccup grinned.
"I'm starved. What's for dinner, Hiccup?" Astrid asked smiling.
"Whatever you want." Hiccup chuckled.
"Can we have Chinese?" Astrid kissed his cheek now.
"Go get me my phone then and I'll order it." Hiccup said, she crawled off his lap and went to get his phone for him. Astrid came back looking confused. "What's up babe? Did dad call?" Hiccup asked her.
"No...this number texted you. Said it was Asmund from the record company wanting to know when you were coming back in?" Astrid said handing him his phone.
"Asmund...? Oh! Oh yes. That's the man who made my first song public. Remember? The song I sang at Christmas for my mom...He's the record producer. He asks all the time if I'm going to do more. We still keep in contact." Hiccup chuckled as Hiccup typed back a quick reply.
"You should babe. You have a great voice!" Astrid exclaimed. Thank God she hadn't questioned it more. Fishlegs and Tuffnut let out the breath they were holding in. Good save. They had a plan for Astrid to find out the truth about Fire Storm and it was already set in motion. They only had to hide it for another few weeks until the big dance.
"It's not that good, Astrid. Come on..." Hiccup chuckled as he found the number for Chinese take out and got up to make the call. That was too close for comfort. Hiccup placed the order and walked back in seeing Astrid was no longer in the room. "Where'd she go?" Hiccup asked.
"Bedroom. She looked upset too..." Heather stated.
"And none of you thought to check on her...?" Hiccup rolled his eyes as he went to Astrid's door and knocked on it. "Babe, can I come in?" Hiccup asked her.
"No." Astrid replied, that surprised him.
"Are you okay?" Hiccup asked now.
"Go away." She sounded like she was crying.
"Astrid tell me what's wrong..." Hiccup asked trying to open the door, it was locked.
"Just leave me alone, Hiccup...I want to be left alone..." Astrid said muffled now. Hiccup took a few steps back from the door now, she never told him to go away.
"What happened while I was outside for not even 10 minutes?" Hiccup asked looking at his friends now.
"We don't know. She was checking the mail, read something addressed to her and then ran off to her room saying she didn't want to talk..." Fishlegs said now.
"Yeah, she dropped this when she ran. We didn't read it..." Ruffnut said handing him the folded piece of mail. Hiccup started going over it, it was a letter from Astrid's mom, Asta. Explaining that she knew she was going to die. It was dated the day her mom died, the letter explained all about the cancer, that her father knew about it, why they hid it from her for so long. Hiccup began to understand why Astrid was so upset now, she found out the truth about why her mom really died, that her mom woke up before her dad and this letter was given to a nurse and instructed not to mail it until after a certain date. The letter also stated how proud Astrid's mother was of her, and that she loved her always. Hiccup's arms dropped to his sides.
"Hiccup?" Eret asked getting up now to put a hand on his shoulder. Hiccup moved back now.
"There's some money for the food on the counter...Make sure Astrid gets something to eat...I'll be back later..." Hiccup said, his tone was low and sad.
"O–of course Hiccup but...where are you going?" Heather asked him worried now. Hiccup's mind was racing, the same thing happened to him after his mom died. He got a letter in the mail from her telling him she'd always be with him and to never stop being who he was. Hiccup hated seeing Astrid in pain, and he hated reliving his own. It didn't hurt as much but it still took him back to those emotions.
"I need to...just get out for a little while..." Hiccup said quietly as he ran out the door. "TOOTHLESS!" Hiccup yelled out, Toothless ran over as Hiccup jumped on his back and the took to the sky.
"HICCUP, WAIT!" Ruffnut yelled after him, he was already gone. They sighed going back in to the house now. After 30 minutes the food had arrived and they got a plate together for Astrid and brought it to her.
"Astrid...You need to come eat..." Heather said gently knocking on the door.
"Where's Hiccup..." She said through the door, Heather bit her lip looking to her friends for help.
"H–he left..." Heather said slowly. Astrid's door whipped open now.
"What do you mean he left..." Astrid asked quickly.
"He read the letter you got, he asked us to make sure you got something to eat." Snotlout said.
"He said he had to get out for a while. He ran outside and called for Toothless and then took off..." Tuffnut sighed.
"He looked upset when he left..." Eret added now. "What happened...?" He asked now.
"Nothing...you guys can go home. I promise I'm okay her by myself..." Astrid told them.
"A–are you sure?" Fishlegs asked as they got up.
"Yes...See you tomorrow at school..." Astrid said softly. They nodded and left the house, getting in their cars and going home. Astrid sat on the couch poking at her food sadly, she didn't need Hiccup to tell her what was wrong. If Hiccup read the letter, he knew how her mom died, the same way his did and now he was suffering again. Astrid felt like there was no escape from it. Every time something good happened, something bad would immediately afterwards. Astrid sighed as she watched the hours tick by, getting later and later. Hiccup had his phone off, she'd tried to call him a few times but no answer. Astrid fell asleep on the couch with tear stains on her cheeks after putting the food away and locking the doors.