In Order To Survive
Rated; M for Mature
Pairing; Hiccup X Vera[OC]
Disclaimer; I do not own How To Train Your Dragon, movies or books. Everything belongs to Dreamworks or Cressida Cowell
I'm A Viking
=Normal POV=
[Sunday, 7/8/2018-5 pm]
[Dragor, Denmark; Hiccup's House]
Nobody had anything to say, and this was not the first time Hiccup had spouted off about refusing to allow the Archipelago to turn into an active war zone. Hiccup had even begun to go as far as saying he was the Heir to the Hooligan Tribe, and he would stand against his fellow soldiers if it meant protecting his home. And Hiccup wasn't just talking about defending Berk; he meant all the islands in the Barbaric Archipelago. The Vikings were probably the ones who were most confused in all this because they thought Hiccup hated them, and enough to never return. Hiccup stated he was forced into the Archipelago, but no one made him go on the island to push back an enemy attack and dragon raid. Hiccup had said that was his decision to intervene and reveal himself to them.
However, Hiccup's words of refusing to return were said back in November 2017, now it was early July 2018; 7 months later and Hiccup was all about going back to keep them safe, even going as far as saying he wouldn't let the Danish Military, a group he was a soldier for, endanger his people. And now he was threatening to take matters into his own hands if he had to tell Askel one more time that he would defend his home from enemies and the Danish Military if he needed to. And Hiccup proved that he had the drive and strength needed for such a battle; all it took was Toothless and Lightheart standing beside him protectively for the other dragons to react and following Toothless's order.
After much silence, Askel sighed heavily and closed his eyes. "I think everyone just needs to relax…"
"Lieutenant, settle down; we understand your stance on the situation, but you have to know that we only decide these things for the greater good of all. Sometimes the only way to win the battle is to fight the war," Colden informed.
"There is no greater good when you risk soldiers and civilians knowing you don't have enough information on your enemy to effectively even make half of a decent plan!" Hiccup growled almost.
"Alright…Easy," Sigvard told Hiccup, getting next to him now. "The Major General is right; everyone needs to step back and take a breather…"
"And on that note…Perhaps discussing operatives here is not the best idea," Brynjar added.
"I have to agree," Ander nodded. "This is supposed to be a Summer Celebration, not a work-related meeting,"
"There's no sense in everyone getting worked up when things haven't been finalized," Henrik reminded. "Askel…This is not the time and place,"
Askel sighed. "You're right. I apologize, Lieutenant Haddock," he bowed his head. Hiccup grabbed his knife and continued cutting food up.
"It's Hiccup off the clock," Hiccup retorted. "And keep the dragons out of your plans; I saw that look in your eyes when you saw how easily they will ignore their owner to listen to Toothless. I already told you and HQ once that it wouldn't work. That is all I have to say on this subject. It's a party," he clicked the volume button a few times as the music turned up while he got back to work on preparing his side dish.
. . .
[5:45 pm]
Everyone was back to talking, snacking, and having a drink. Of course, not all the drinks were alcoholic, and small amounts if they were. For Hiccup, though it appeared he was having a great time with friends and family; his mind weighed heavily with the thought of what to do about the current predicament. Stay in Denmark or return to the Archipelago. After everything he said almost an hour ago; he certainly sounded like his place in the world was made clear. However, Hiccup was still conflicted about things.
Hiccup felt like no one could help him with this decision; it was solely his to make, and anyone would tell him that he needed to follow his heart and do what he felt was right. Hiccup knew he needed to just grab Toothless and go flying to have time alone to choose his answer. So much happened when he was at home; he had Emma, the Vikings…Honestly; it was like Hiccup never stopped doing things until he got to sleep at night. On the bright side of things; Hiccup finished Sharp and Stoker Class with the Vikings. Next was Tidal, and then Hiccup would finish things with Strike.
Hopefully, it wouldn't take too much longer. Hiccup was hoping to be done with classifications by the end of July or early August at best. After that, Hiccup would work with Vera on training and flying Moodscale while he also decided if he would let the rest of the Vikings partake in bonding, training, and flying; he still wasn't entirely sold on the idea, but considering it while finishing off classifications.
Hiccup was sitting in his chair, the baby monitor on his chair-side table and turned up. At first, Hiccup heard whimpers, then it stopped. However, 5 minutes later; it became light crying. Hiccup turned the music down and listened as the crying became harder.
"Sounds like Emma is awake," Lilly smiled. Hiccup pushed himself out of his chair and went to the nursery. Hiccup changed Emma's diapers, then went into the kitchen to make the bottle. Hiccup returned to his seat while shaking the bottle, testing it on his wrist, then sitting back to feed his daughter while rocking the chair back and forth. Hiccup did turn the music back up a little.
After 20 or so minutes; Emma was finished with the second half of her bottle and burped again. Hiccup smiled as he nuzzled his nose to hers. Stoick was close to Hiccup, just sitting there and watching him interact with Emma; it made Stoick hate himself for never giving Hiccup the same love and attention as a child. Stoick couldn't get over how much of a good father Hiccup was, and to a child that wasn't even biologically his. Emma was the child of Olivia, Hiccup's ex-wife, and Dane, Hiccup's best friend's ex-boyfriend who was in prison for various crimes. However, Hiccup took on the responsibility to raise Emma despite everything, just to give Emma a good life.
What bothered Stoick the most was that Hiccup became this man that he is today on his own with no help from him. Maybe from Henrik, and a few other male figures, but not from his own father. However, Stoick could not deny how proud of Hiccup he was. Hiccup noticed Stoick looking at him and Emma, and turned to look at Stoick now.
"Do you want to hold her?" Hiccup asked. The question took Stoick by surprise, and anyone else who happened to overhear, which was kind of everyone in attendance. All the guests and even Stoick knew that Hiccup disliked Stoick more than anyone else for Hiccup's upbringing until he was 14 and Hiccup left the Archipelago.
"What?" Stoick responded quickly.
"I said; do you want to hold her?" Hiccup inquired again.
"I-I…That's up to you, Hiccup; she's…Your daughter…" Stoick mentioned.
Hiccup rolled his eyes as he got up and stood before Stoick. "If I wasn't okay with it; I wouldn't have asked. She's my daughter, but I'm your son…That makes her your granddaughter, adopted, but still part of the family as I am," Hiccup set Emma into Stoick's arms gently. Of course, the Berk Chief was never one to show much emotion. However, holding Emma; the slow-forming smile was unmistakable on the Berk Chief's lips. Hiccup sat on the edge of the couch, watching Stoick get all happy and affectionate with his granddaughter; it made Hiccup smile some.
"She's beautiful, son," Stoick complimented looking up at Hiccup now.
"I…Wish I could take credit for how she came out," Hiccup said softly. It wasn't untrue; he had no part in the making of Emma, but Hiccup could see that Emma definitely had a lot of Olivia's features.
"Ah well; you ended up with features from your mother and I," Stoick chuckled a little. "My eyes, your mother's almost everything else, even the lean-figure,"
"I-I…Wouldn't know. I was too young to remember my mother before she was taken," Hiccup replied gently. "Mom was skinny like me?"
"Your mother was born early too, son; I think it was 5 weeks before the due date. Yer mom was always small-figured, but she had autumn-brown hair, blue-green eyes. And she was different, like you," Stoick informed looking back at Emma. Everyone was kind of listening in; this was the most Hiccup and Stoick had talked in the last 7 months, and the two weren't arguing like back on Berk.
"S-She was?" Hiccup asked.
"I never told you about this?" Stoick inquired.
"Well…We didn't exactly have the greatest father/son relationship, Dad…So, no…" Hiccup mumbled a bit.
Stoick laughed a bit. "Your mother was never like the rest of us Vikings; she didn't like to fight, and pleaded so many times to stop the fighting with the dragons. We never listened to her…" Stoick looked down a bit.
"Guess I see how we're alike," Hiccup sighed.
"There's a reason I refused to hear it, Hiccup…" Stoick closed his eyes. "The night your mother was taken was one of the hardest things I've ever had to endure. Moments before the dragon broke into the house; your mother stopped someone from killing a dragon saying that it would only make things worse. Your mother rushed to protect you after the dragon got in; I believe you it was a Stormcutter species if I recall what you explained they looked like…But your mother wouldn't kill or attack the dragon that was by your cradle. I did…And the dragon got mad; I grabbed you, but by the time I turned around; your mother was being carried off,"
Hiccup looked at his father now, surprised to have heard the story from that night; he knew his father didn't like to talk about it. "You mother believed wholeheartedly that we didn't need to fight the dragons; that there could be peace…Hiccup, you are just like your mother; trying to believe the best in every situation. And I confess that I was afraid you'd meet the same fate she did," Hiccup's eyes widened a little. "It was never that I didn't love or want you around, son…I was scared that you too would be taken from me. I…Thought if I either kept my distance or pushed you hard enough to be like me…It would save you,"
"Save me?" Hiccup questioned.
"Hiccup; you remember that I always told you that you were many things, but a dragon killer was not one of them?" Hiccup nodded. "Just like your mother. Different like her; I knew you couldn't fight or kill dragons. I knew if faced with having to; you wouldn't like your mom couldn't. And I was right…You couldn't and wouldn't kill Toothless. You befriended him and now look at the two of you. But back then, son…I was so afraid of you encountering a dragon and hesitating; then it would carry you off. I never wanted to feel the pain I felt when Valka was taken again. I didn't want to lose you, Hiccup. But I did anyway because my neglect made you want to leave with a dragon,"
"The thing is Dad…I did always need you. I just needed you to be my father, not my Chief…I needed you to be someone I could go to, to help me and guide me, give me advice…All I ever wanted was to be like you," Hiccup confessed as Hiccup looked at him quickly. "I wanted to be big and strong…I wanted to lead the Tribe as you did. I wanted you to have me by your side, and be proud to call me your son in front of other Chieftains and Heirs. More than that…All I ever wanted was…"
"For me to accept you as you were and love you no matter what," Stoick finished. "Aw, son…We both know that I could never have taught you to be like me,"
"Yeah, guess that never happened…Sorry, that I let you down…Again," Hiccup closed his eyes. Stoick put his hand on Hiccup's shoulder, smiling a bit.
"Never apologize for being you, Hiccup. It might be years late, but I do accept you. And I'm ashamed that it took you running for me to see that you were always going to be just fine and that I was wrong. Hiccup, I never meant to make you feel like you weren't worth something because the truth is; you mean the world to me, and I love you just the way you are. Difference and all. I'm the one who is sorry for trying to make you be something you weren't. But…I never needed to make or teach you to be like me, Hiccup," Hiccup stared at him with a little shock now. "You became the man I always hoped you would be without my help," Hiccup's eyes widened again. "And I'm very proud of everything you have become, have done and will continue to do. And one more thing…I'm proud to call you my son,"
"D-Dad…" Hiccup whispered, entirely shocked by the words he'd longed to hear come out of his father's mouth.
"I know I can't take back everything I did and said Hiccup…And no amount of apologies will ever be enough. But I'm prepared to spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you and be the father you always wanted and needed me to be," Stoick vowed. Hiccup got off the couch, staring at Stoick for a moment.
Hiccup did something nobody expected; he took Emma from Stoick and handed her off to Britta. Stoick got up quickly and was about to ask Hiccup what was wrong because it looked like he was going to cry, but Hiccup just hugged Stoick tightly. Well, as much as he was able to. Stoick was a large Viking who stood at 7 feet fall, and Hiccup was only at 6 feet and 2 inches. Stoick was entirely surprised by the action, and he froze a moment.
"I forgive you for everything…" Hiccup said. Stoick was so relieved to hear those 5 words. "I love you, Dad" and those 4 words made it even better.
"I love you too, son," Stoick wrapped his arms around Hiccup and embraced him tightly. Everyone just smiled because they knew how things between Hiccup and Stoick had always been, so this was a huge turning point for them, and it looked like all had been forgiven as the two were going to have a much better father/son relationship now. After a few moments; the two separated. Stoick kissed Hiccup's forehead as the two were smiling. Seconds later, Valda and Halvor rushed up to join in and then Hiccup took Emma back. To everyone looking; it seemed the Haddock family was back together and stronger than ever.
"Well, I'm totally now crying after that…" Signy said all choked up in agreement with a bunch of the other females.
"Lieutenant Haddock," Askel interrupted as Hiccup looked at him. "I know we agreed to no work, but I have your orders," he added before Hiccup handed Emma back to Stoick. "HQ has decided the next course of action,"
"If it's anything other than gather information; you can kindly tell them to fuck off," Hiccup muttered.
"I heard that!" Colden growled.
"You were supposed to," Hiccup rolled his eyes. "I told you; I'm not agreeing to anything that endangers my people," he remarked.
"You're going back into the Archipelago to capture the target. You have no choice, Lieutenant," Askel said.
"There is always a choice," Hiccup informed.
"Headquarters is ordering this, Haddock," Colden reminded.
"I recognize it's an order, but given it's a stupid ass plan; I've elected to ignore it," Hiccup scoffed. Everyone gasped. Hiccup was refusing an order?
"You face disciplinary action if you don't," Askel said.
"Then so be it, but I'm not going in there to risk my ass and capture the target without a few more recons on the operation. I already explained why this is not your standard war-like situation," Hiccup said. "You do it my way…" he sighed heavily. "Or I walk away," eyes widened.
"Hiccup…You don't mean-," Oivind started.
"That you'll quit the army," Ander asked.
"Will you?" Eirik frowned.
"If I must. I'm not going out on a level 12 without more information; it's suicide…And I'm not going out that way," Hiccup crossed his arms over his chest. "Also, in case you didn't consider it; if I fail…You know they'll attack the Archipelago with everything they have. And last I saw; they have more than enough to destroy it beyond the point of fighting back and saving. Sorry, but I can't allow that to happen. And if you send someone else, and set in motion the war that I'm trying to prevent…You will become an enemy to me, and I'll take down anyone who threatens my home,"
Everyone held their breaths, looking to Askel and Colden, who were shocked at what Hiccup said.
"You realize I can have you arrested for turning on your fellow soldiers," Askel warned. Toothless stepped in to cut Askel off, growling.
"I dare you to-," Stoick handed Emma to Vera and stepped in front of Toothless and Askel now.
"Stop," Stoick ordered. "First off, keep your hands off my boy. Secondly, let's not get carried away here. Now, Hiccup, I know you want to do what's right for the Tribes…But you do have a duty to Denmark, and you have to do what they say. I believe that you can complete the task," Stoick informed.
"I have a duty to protect my home, yes, dad. And while I'm a soldier for the Danish Army; it covers the Kingdom of Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, which to you is the Barbaric Archipelago. I understand defending my country, but when a threat rises to what would be my hometown, or in this case, Berk; that comes before anything else." Hiccup reminded.
"Son, if it's anyone's job to protect the Hooligan Tribe; it's mine. I'm the Chief. A Chief leads and listens to others, even if he doesn't agree," Stoick said calmly. "Lead by example and listen to your commanding officers,"
"And you've always said that a Chief protects his own no matter what, Father," Hiccup looked at Stoick now, surprising him with the words. "We're all Vikings, aren't we? Everyone in Denmark or Greenland is likely, in some form or another, a descendant of our ancestors. Come on; Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the First lived 1,000 years before I did and if I'm not wrong…He was King of the Archipelago. Another runt like me stopped the first Dragon War and kept everyone safe. All that aside, we all came from the same place; it doesn't matter how many years are in between. We're all Vikings, Dad," Hiccup continued.
Stoick didn't say anything, nobody did. Hiccup wasn't talking like a soldier anymore; this was him acting like a leader of his people. "This isn't just another place; it's home," he paused as the Vikings' eyes widened. "I have to do right by said home, and keep the Tribe safe. The only difference is that I'm willing to protect all the Tribes just like my ancestor did; it's part of our bloodline and family history, Dad. And you know what…I'm done pretending to be something I'm not,"
"Wh-What are you saying, Hiccup?" Vera asked cautiously.
"I love the job I have, the friends and family I've made. I love my life here…But I am the firstborn and only son to Stoick the Vast and Valka Haddock. I'm the Heir to the throne of Berk and Hairy Hooligan Tribe residing there. I'm a Viking," Hiccup said. "And it's time I took my place among them as their Heir and future Chief," Hiccup was sure of his decision now; it was made for him as soon as Askel gave the order. Everyone's eyes widened.
"S-Son…?" Stoick asked, shocked.
"I'm going back home, and I'm protecting it with everything I got," Hiccup stated firmly.
