Life As We Know It

Rated; M for Mature
Pairing; Hiccup & Toothless(Tallon)
Disclaimer; I do not own anything HTTYD-related. Everything belongs to its original creator.

57)

=Normal POV=
(8/8/2019-5:45 pm)
(Archipelago; Isle of Berk)
(Hooligan Village; Stoick's House)

"Hiccup…Please, babe? Please come to the hall with me…" Toothless tried again, for the hundredth time in the last hour to get his fiancé to leave the house and join him in the Great Hall. Hiccup was pretty firm on his stance of not wanting to go, saying that he just wasn't in the mood to be around everyone and wasn't hungry.

"What's the point, Tooth?" Hiccup sighed, his head down on his knees which were pulled up to his chest, and his arms around them. "I'm not hungry, and I don't want everyone all over me asking if I'm okay when it's pretty clear that I'm not. Especially my dad…Who clearly can't be bothered to even check on me…" He added, showing Toothless that he was actually bothered by it.

"You know he gets busy as Chief…" Toothless said softly while putting a hand on Hiccup's back.

"So that's an excuse not to check on his only son? The son he promised he was here for? That he wanted to make up for all those years being my Chief instead of my father?..." Hiccup replied, clearly trying to hold back tears. "He doesn't care, Toothless. Nothing he does is ever for me…All he wants is for me to be Chief, and that's it. I just want the barrier to open…I want to leave…And never come back…" He hid his face.

"Is that really what you want to do, Hiccup? You said before you wanted to be able to return and live in Norway, but be able to visit here…" Toothless reminded.

"It's never going to be that way, Toothless," Hiccup replied, shaking his head and looking at his lover again. "As soon as I tell dad that I don't want to be Chief, or even live here anymore…He's going to flip out. Even if were allowed to come back after leaving, we'd only fight…It's better to just leave, never tell them you and I are together, and keep the memories of the people I hold close here."

Toothless knew it wasn't what Hiccup actually wanted to do, he was just saying that because he was upset and knew how his father would be. Toothless couldn't blame Hiccup for having that train of thought; it was how things seemed to go when Stoick didn't get his own way, which is exactly what the case would be when Hiccup revealed he didn't want to be Chief or even live on Berk and in the Archipelago anymore. And now, Hiccup didn't even want to reveal their relationship, afraid of the outcome. And Toothless couldn't hold that against Hiccup either given how things went when it first came out they were together, and then that Tallon was actually Toothless. Doing all he could to think of; Toothless hugged him tightly.

"I know it hurts, love." Toothless comforted. "If that is what you want to do, I support you fully. But Hiccup…You can't just lock yourself away in the house like this, waiting for the barrier to open again. You barely sleep, you aren't eating that much; I find you crying at random…Baby, this isn't healthy and you know that. Yes, its probably a small case of depression because of everything you suffered here in the past, and then all the bad luck that seems to have hit since we ended up back here five weeks ago…I'm worried about you. So are the others. Please? Please come out, just for a little bit and have something to eat. Nothing big, maybe just bread or some fruit." Toothless pleaded gently.

Hiccup sighed softly. "I just…Don't have an appetite, Toothless. I haven't for days…The thought of food makes me nauseous. Not saying I'm sick, but…I don't know, maybe stress or my mood…" Hiccup informed. "I don't want to be there, Tooth…I can't be myself here."

"I know food isn't your thing right now, but you have to try. You're…Losing weight, Hiccup. You're already under the average for your age…I'll keep everyone away from you, but please come for a little while. An hour, if nothing else. And who cares what they think, baby…Be yourself. Throw on your modern clothes, be comfortable. The others aren't going all Viking to appease the tribe…Neither should you. And then we'll come back here and do whatever you want to do, okay? Maces and Talons game? Wanna take off to the cove again for the night? Get a fire going, make love? Or, I'll just hold you until you fall asleep. Whatever you want, babe. Just…An hour, please?" Toothless begged.

"Okay, okay…Fine." Hiccup groaned. He knew Toothless was only trying to help, and it was working as far as comfort went. But being around everyone was making his mood worse and that's why he'd been staying distanced. But if it would appease his mate that he leave the house for an hour to show everyone he was still alive, so be it. Hiccup released his legs and moved off the bed to get himself a bit washed up and changed into something different. Toothless was right, why should he dress like a Viking when he didn't really represent one? And besides, he was gonna be leaving Berk and living modern, so he needed to not be afraid to dress his role. After ten minutes, Hiccup slid on his black sneakers and stood beside Toothless. "Alright, I'm ready…" Toothless smiled as he took Hiccup's hand and led him downstairs and out of the house, then over to the Great Hall.

. . .

(6:10 pm)
(Great Hall)

Upon approaching the steps to the doors that would lead them inside the hall, Hiccup couldn't help but start to feel a bit nervous. He'd barely seen anyone in a week, and the wonder of what they all thought of him was making him scared to be questioned. Hiccup didn't do anything in his depressed state, no thoughts of suicide and no self-harm. Hiccup mainly just stayed to his room, deep in thought, and occasionally just letting himself cry when he knew no one was in the house. Toothless sensed Hiccup's nervousness and felt his slight shaking; he held Hiccup's hand and kissed his knuckles gently.

"Everything is going to be fine, love." Toothless assured before looking around and sneaking in a kiss to his fiancé's lips. Hiccup returned it before they broke apart and Toothless opened the doors and walked in with them. As Hiccup had hoped wouldn't happen; the room instantly silenced and all eyes were on him.

"Ugh…No, I'm going back to the house." Hiccup went to turn around leave the hall again, but Toothless rolled his eyes and grabbed his hand to keep Hiccup from getting out the door.

"No. Hiccup, no. Come on…" Toothless pulled him back next to him.

"Don't want to be here…" Hiccup mumbled.

"Don't make me have to make you…" Toothless stated firmly. "Ignore it and just walk. Put in your headphones and listen to music on your phone, tell people to screw off…I don't care. You can't keep hiding away in the house, so come on. Just for a little bit, please?"

"Do I have to…?" Hiccup grumbled.

"Yes…Or I'm throwing you over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes and carrying you in." Toothless smiled jokingly.

"You wouldn't…" Hiccup said.

"I would. Now, come on." Toothless urged Hiccup to walk with him, still holding his hand and not really caring. It wouldn't be out of Toothless's norm to make Hiccup do something, so therefore, as long as it didn't like something a couple would do; Toothless was safe from anyone picking up that they were together. Although, what Toothless really wanted to do was shove it in everyone's faces that he was Hiccup's lover, that they were more than friends, more than partners…That they were lovers and going to get married. However, Toothless loved Hiccup too much not to respect his wishes of keeping it a secret, for now. Toothless suspected they'd reveal things before they left forever.

Reaching the Chief's table because Toothless knew Stoick would call Hiccup over if they ignored going over, Stoick smiled wide to see Hiccup out of the house. "Son! So good to see you finally."

"Yeah, just draw attention to the fact I've been hiding out I'm ridiculously miserable and don't want to be here…" Hiccup muttered quietly, but Toothless heard it and squeezed his hand. "You know I'm not exactly tribe social." Hiccup stated.

"Better get used to it, Hiccup. It's part of being Chief…" Stoick sighed.

"I'm not the Chief, you are. But you seem to keep forgetting that in your growing age…" Hiccup remarked with an eye roll.

"Watch it, Hiccup…" Stoick warned.

"He's not wrong, Stoick." Toothless huffed. "Don't push your job off on your son. It's still your job until he takes the official vow and is initiated in as Chief by the elder." He added. "He's allowed to be in a bad mood when, again, it is your fault the barrier started locking up every single time too many people cross now. Don't make me have to explain it to you again in front of all your guests because I don't care if I make you looking like an idiot to them. Now…We don't have a problem, do we?" Toothless eyed him firmly.

"No problem at all, Toothless." Stoick replied. "Now, come sit down and eat, son. We're having chicken soup with vegetables."

"Joy…" Hiccup sighed as he sat down and Toothless was about to when Dagur approached him.

"Can I help you, Dagur?" Toothless questioned.

"The, uh, modern guests are requesting your presence." Dagur motioned to the others.

"You good here?" Toothless asked his betrothed. Hiccup nodded his head as Toothless went over to the others. "What's up?"

"We know Hiccup's been a little down the past week and we thought of a way that might cheer him up. We wanted to run it by you in case it's a bad idea since you know Hiccup better." Brenna started softly.

"Well, no promises on anything actually working. I begged him to come out of the house as it is and told him to at least stay for an hour and eat…" Toothless shrugged. "But what's the idea anyway?"

"Your modern friends thought it might be a good idea to let Hiccup experience some of your lives in Norway here." Gobber interjected now. "Dagur, Heather, and the other riders felt it could work too as we all agreed that Hiccup has never looked happier anywhere but there…So they thought to set up some generator that uses the sun or moon's light to create power, and play music to sing and dance to for him, hoping he might join in and at least have a little fun."

Toothless blinked a bit. Their friends thought of all this? "A-And we have alcohol too. Not the mead here, but some of the harder stuff. We brought it all on the boats, like we always do." Cuyler offered. "D-Do you think Hiccup might brighten up a bit if he has the freedom to be himself for a night?"

"It's…Possible, but he may not act outside of the Heir mindset with the tribe around…And he really won't get into it with his father watching him like a hawk so he doesn't embarrass him in front of the other tribe leaders." Toothless shrugged.

"They have Stoick's permission," Dagur stated. "Heather and I asked, for the sake of helping Hiccup."

"You…Actually want to help him?" Toothless inquired, arching a curious brow.

"Of course. I know I haven't been the greatest to him…" Dagur began.

Toothless gave a bored, and unamused look now. "You tried to kill him, multiple times. And started war with Berk over the peace with dragons…Excuse me if I have a hard time believing you…"

"Okay, okay. I was awful to him, but…" Dagur looked down a bit.

"But he's changed now, Toothless." Heather offered, a hand on Dagur's shoulder. "He's still…Berserk and…Deranged, but it's not centered towards hurting others or being the most powerful anymore. It's more…Protective rage, like how you are over Hiccup…"

"Dagur only spoke on Hiccup's behalf of wanting to help." Mala assured.

"But I'm sure what Gobber said is what made Stoick decide fully that we were right and Hiccup needs a night where he can be himself. Something to raise his spirits…Or we're all gonna lose him to the depression, Toothless. You…Can't say you don't see it…We're worried about him." Astrid stated.

"Of course I see it. I mentioned it to him. How do you think I got him out of the house?" Toothless remarked. "Look, it's a great idea and if Stoick said it was okay, then go for it. I just can't promise that Hiccup will get into it is all. It's worth a shot, if nothing else." He said. "I hope it works. I'm gonna get back to him now; I'm sure he doesn't like being over there by himself." Toothless headed off back to the table with Hiccup.

"We'll go too, encourage from there." Mala smiled.

"Since you're not allowed by that table without an invite from Stoick, or Hiccup." Dagur added before he and Mala left the spot, but Heather stayed with them and the riders.

"So…How do we start this?" Brynjar wondered.

"Well, they said we couldn't approach without an invite…So that means get Hiccup in the mood to hangout first." Oivind offered.

"Or we tempt him with something he can't refuse?" Heather tried. "You said he usually goes for alcohol, right? What if you made him a drink or something…And I could bring it to him as I'm an Heiress of Berserker, so I've got an automatic invite to that table."

"It's something to start with." They all shrugged in agreement then got to work making the drink and giving it to Heather as she went to the table with a smile and set it down in front of Hiccup.

"What's this?" Hiccup asked, surprised to see it.

"Your friends know they can't come to the table without an invite, so they asked if I'd bring it over to you for them. They said it might help you feel better." Heather informed.

"Oh, thanks, I guess." Hiccup told her as she nodded and headed back to the table and Hiccup looked at the drink again.

"I'm almost afraid to know what they decided to mix for you to drink…Like the last time when they gave you that one cup and called it the-," Toothless started.

"The Knockout?" Hiccup half smiled. "Oh, I remember it…Okay, I remember drinking it and not remembering the rest of the night."

"That's because you literally knocked out after you finished it." Toothless rolled his eyes. "I carried you to bed after making sure you were alive still. So give it here, Hiccup. We're not having a repeat." He demanded.

"They wouldn't do that again…It'll be fine. I was younger then…" Hiccup mumbled.

"Never you mind. You were eighteen…" Toothless huffed.

"It was four years ago! You damn well know I can handle my alcohol." Hiccup remarked.

"Not better than me." Toothless grinned.

"That's not even fair to use, Toothless! It's not even a contest with you, Mister All Powerful and Feared Night Fury! Your body burns alcohol off faster than you can finish one drink! It's impossible to get you drunk!" Hiccup crossed his arms over his chest.

"All powerful and feared? That's a new one…Just come up with that?" Toothless chuckled.

"Oh you know what…Screw you, dick." Hiccup made a humph noise before picking up the mug with the mixed drink his friends made for him. It really was a nice gesture and Hiccup would have ignored it because of where he was, but everyone knew he was different and where he's been the last four years amongst his exploring with Toothless. So why not? He was already wearing modern clothes, so there was no reason not to enjoy himself right now. A little drink wouldn't hurt him. Just as he was about to take a drink from it, Toothless snatched it away. "Hey!" Hiccup pouted, trying to glare at him. He didn't really care that he knew all eyes were on him, wondering why he was acting like such a child.

After taking a small sip, he handed it back with a nod of approval. "Double Soco and Coke," Toothless said. "It's safe."

"Because my friends would poison me." Hiccup rolled his eyes now before taking a drink from the mug.

"Don't hate because I care. It's my job to keep you safe, almighty dragon master." Toothless stated.

"Ugh, don't call me that. Every time someone uses that nickname; it's because I've been captured to train dragons, or someone is jealous that I can…" Hiccup mumbled.

"And we always make it out on top, don't we? We have the strongest bond of all the riders, and no one can dispute it. What doesn't kill you makes your stronger, Hiccup," Toothless smiled. Hiccup really wanted to blush, but refrained as it would only bring questions as to why his cheeks pinked at such a comment. "And you'll never be alone. I'm always with you, forever.." Toothless was trying to make him blush! Hiccup hid his face in his mug so no one would see. Toothless laughed a little as he wrapped an arm around Hiccup's shoulders and pulled him in. Hiccup gave in and returned the one-armed hug, smiling.

"Forever." Hiccup nodded gently. "Thank you, Toothless." Hiccup relaxed. Maybe he really just needed to get out of this slump by being around his friends, not caring about what anyone thought, and of course; being near his one and only love. Yeah, tonight could be interesting.