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.

62)

=Hiccup's POV=
(8/30/2019-4:15 pm)
(Archipelago; Isle of Berk)
(Hooligan Village; Great Hall)

Betrayal was all I felt, and I didn't understand why that specific feeling would run so strong. This was just me showing the other upcoming Chieftains to their tribes how it was done, since we were semi-locked down right now. I didn't mind leaving in a storm, it wasn't that bad. But I guess I understood dad not wanting to have a lot of people wandering around if things would get worse. I couldn't do anything other than stand tall when Gothi finished the symbol on my forehead; she had smiled and bowed her head to me before everyone was able to see what was there. My father was standing beside me, almost too proudly with a hand on my shoulder.

"Hooligans, it is my pleasure and honor to give you my son, Hiccup -The Dragon Master- Horrendous Haddock the Third," Stoick said as Hiccup could have rolled his eyes at the name his father stated. Hiccup had said time and time again that he wasn't a dragon master; he just understood and trained them to work with humans. It wasn't so bad he guessed. "Chief to the Hairy Hooligan Tribe of the Isle of Berk." As soon as those words left my father's mouth; that betrayed feeling shot through me like electricity, or maybe a fire that raged out of control when gasoline was tossed on it. All of this didn't so much feel wrong as it sounded wrong now. It was too formal and…Official for just a show. The room hollered and cheered, clapping and shouting in chant long live the chief.

"So…We done now?" I forced myself to ask. I kind of wanted to run away. Grab Toothless and head for Norway, right this very moment too.

"Just need to go through the mock wedding for Gunnar and his daughter Ragna. Then we can relax for dinner and celebrate." Stoick informed cheerfully. I nodded to him as he got the room quiet again and things changed around a bit. Spitelout went to sit down, but dad stayed in place with Gothi. Gunnar walked Ragna towards me; she was dressed in something different than before. Floral crown, hair completely undone, helmet off, white dress with gold edging, a belt around her waist…Something that looked formal and like mine. My body was frozen in fear, but my head and heart said run.

. . .

(4:45 pm)

With the ceremony proceeding as it was meant too, Dad and Gunnar mainly explained each thing so Ragna would understand. And I guess me too as Heir and was likely expected to take a wife and give a child. It wouldn't matter once I revealed the truth about Toothless and I, and that I wasn't going to become the next Chief. It had been about twenty minutes as Ragna and I were holding hands while Gothi brought out the ceremonial marriage binding cloth. This wasn't right, but I didn't freak out because perhaps it was just being shown for learning purposes. It was white with gold designs. Gothi wrapped it around our hands, using her staff to bless it with a smile.

"And now you kiss." Gunnar informed.

"You mean would kiss, because this is just a mock ceremony and not real." I corrected.

"Oh, come on, son. Just a little kiss for…The experience of it all." Stoick urged with a smile.

"I'm…I'm not kissing someone I barely know and I'm not with." I stated.

"It's totally fine for unmarried people to hug, hold hands, and kiss outside of marriage. Happens all the time." Madguts offered.

"Yeah…Well…" I paused a moment. It was true, Astrid and I shared a few kisses since I was fifteen. But even then, I'm with Toothless now, and engaged to him. "Ragna is about to be married, so that ground someone who isn't her betrothed treads on." I countered.

"The contract is finished yet. It will be when we return, just final signings. So she's not betrothed yet, and you're not seeing anyone since your ending of things with Miss. Hofferson." Gunnar beamed. "Come on, one little kiss. Ragna has never had one, and you have…So it'd be good for her to get kissed by someone who has been." He tried.

No. No. This was all wrong; it didn't make sense and he could stop it all by mentioning he was with Toothless, but he didn't want to resort to that as a way out. "How do you know I'm not with anyone?" Hiccup remarked. "I have a lover back in Norway." He added, surprising many.

"Well, they aren't here right now and who is going to tell, Hiccup? Just a little kiss and it's over." Stoick pushed. "Now, stop being difficult and do what's expected of you, son."

I didn't want to have it out with him right now, and Toothless would absolutely know that something happened. I refused by shaking my head. "No. I won't do it, it's wrong."

"Hiccup…" Stoick warned.

"How…How about just a kiss on the cheek then?" Ragna offered suddenly as I looked at her. "Kisses on the lips are…More for love anyway and it's clear Hiccup and I aren't in love. I wouldn't want my kiss to go to someone I don't love anyway. So, how about just the cheek?"

"I suppose that would be okay…" Gunnar said, trying to get Stoick to agree to it. "The kiss doesn't have to be on the lips, that's just a form of affection. After all this, it's only said that the groom can kiss his bride, doesn't specify where. What confirms the marriage is the consummation later." He whispered.

. . .

=Normal POV=

"Oh my Gods! You're giving me a friggin migraine that I spent all day trying to get rid of and had under control over this crap. Fine. If it shuts everyone up so I can go sleep…" Hiccup groaned, having enough of this. He leaned in to kiss her cheek and Ragna's plan was to turn and kiss his lips.

However the hall door whipped open with Toothless standing front and center, looking very unamused. "Hiccup, no!" Toothless made Hiccup pull his head back and look at him in surprise, but also joy that he was here and would save him from all this madness. "Don't believe a word your father says. It's a trick." He informed firmly, but not in anger. Hiccup's eyes widened as he pulled his hands back and moved away from Ragna. "Come to me, Mi amor…" Hiccup knew Toothless was calling him my love in Spanish to avoid anyone asking questions. Hiccup went to run to him, but was grabbed by Stoick and forced to stay in place.

"Let go, Dad." Hiccup ordered.

"No. You will stay right here and finish this." Stoick demanded firmly.

"Release him, Stoick. I will not say it again, and if you refuse; I will hurt you. I can not even believe you would do something like this. Not listening or accepting your son is bad enough, but forcing him into marriage and being the next Chief because you know deep down that if you don't do it your way, Hiccup won't do those things on his own? That's heartless, cold, and low." Toothless remarked coldly. Hiccup's eyes widened more and he gasped. That's what all this was?! His father was forcing him to do what he wanted by tricking him into it? How…Did Toothless know about all this? This is why it felt wrong and like betrayal. His gut was warning him, and he ignored it. He owed Toothless big for this.

"I don't care how wrong it is. He was born the Heir of Berk long before you came around and I will see to it that he does the same as all the Heirs and Chiefs before him." Stoick scoffed and snapped his fingers as Madguts and UG held Toothless in place before Stoick. "If you'd just stayed away a minute more; this would be done without him ever knowing. Now you leave me no choice but to use force." Stoick glared as Madguts held a dagger to Toothless's throat, applying pressure.

"DAD! This is ridiculous, let him go!" Hiccup yelled.

"No, Hiccup. You finish the wedding and kiss Ragna, right now…Or I will kill Toothless." Stoick ordered.

"Y-You can't be serious…" Hiccup said, eyes wide with shock and fear.

"I'm dead serious, Hiccup. I gave you chance and chance again to come around on your own, but you've been running from it. No more. You will get married to Ragna, and run this tribe as their Chief. Toothless will be left alive, but locked in the prison hold from now on to avoid any attempts at him escaping and taking you with him. I already lost my wife to a dragon, I will not lose my son too. You said you'd be Chief if Toothless could be human beyond the barrier, but you kept running from the talk about it. I decided to take matters into my own hands and trick you into getting married. If I have to use force to make you do what you're supposed to as Heir, then so be it. You'll do just about anything for Toothless, so how far are you willing to go to keep him alive?" Stoick looked at Hiccup now.

"Stoick! This is outrageous. You're going too far!" Gobber yelled now.

"I don't care what it takes." Stoick huffed. "Kiss her, now."

Hiccup looked horrified and like he was about to cry at what his father was doing. Hiccup's eyes fell on Toothless now; he couldn't risk him. "It's okay, Hiccup…Just do it. I won't be mad or upset, and I promise everything will be alright. Trust me…" Toothless assured.

"No...No, it's wrong." Hiccup refused as Madguts pressed the blade more, drawing slight blood as Toothless hissed. "Stop!"

"Do what you're told and he'll be fine." UG told Hiccup now; he didn't know what to do.

The room was quiet now, everyone waiting to see what would happen. Some were on Hiccup's side that this was wrong, but the rest agreed with Stoick that Hiccup shouldn't be shirking his responsibilities. Hiccup lowered his head, closing his eyes tightly and balling up his hands to fists until they cracked.

"I'm done…" Hiccup whispered making Toothless look at him. "I'm so done with being told what I can't and can't do. I'm done with you not listening to me. I'm done with you not accepting me. Not supporting or loving me. I'm done with you always having to have your own goddamn way. I'm not your son; I'm just your replacement. That's all I was born to do; take your place so you can be the proud father of the one child between you and mom had that survived through all the previous losses and being born early, who became the next leader of your precious island." Hiccup's voice was cold, but angry, and clearly hints of sadness from the betrayal and heartbreak of what Stoick had chosen to do. "You've never loved me. Never accepted or supported me. You aren't my father…I don't have one because he died the day my mom did. You've never cared and you never will."

"Believe whatever you want to believe, boy, but this isn't going to stop." Stoick remarked.

Hiccup's anger was raging, boiling over the top at the response. Because unlike the hurtful comments made in the past; Stoick really showed that he didn't care and all of this since Hiccup's engagement to Toothless, had been a lie. His father only said it to stop the fighting and get what he wanted. "I won't do it." Hiccup refused again.

"I will kill him if you don't!" Stoick glared, gripping his arm tightly. Hiccup stomped his father's foot with his own and ripped his arm away to get free and fully glaring back. "Hiccup Haddock!" Stoick warned again.

"You can't force me to marry someone I don't love! You can't make me do anything! I won't do this! I don't love her and I'm already with someone! I swear to the Gods and on mom's grave that if you hurt Toothless one more time, Stoick Haddock…I swear that I will hurt you. I will invoke self-exile, and I will leave for good with Toothless…" Hiccup threatened.

"Kill the dragon." Stoick demanded.

"NO!" Hiccup screamed out in worry for Toothless, actual tears in his eyes visible to anyone who could see him clearly.

"That's quite enough of this." Said a calm, but deep toned voice. Everything seemed to stop as a small group of people emerged from the shadows now. "Boys, take your places near your brother." Two took their place near UG and Madguts, holding up their own weapons and kept the two Chieftains from carrying out Stoick's command. A male and female stood near Stoick, Hiccup, and anyone else who had been in close proximity when the wedding was happening. Toothless's head shot up when he heard the voice and what was said about your brother.

"Father?" Toothless's eyes widened a bit.

"Hello, son. It's been quite some years, hasn't it?" the man, identified, but unnamed, as Toothless's father.

"Ya think?" Toothless remarked. "What are you doing here?"

"Evidently, saving you and your mate's life." The male informed calmly still. "Chief Stoick…" He began again, facing Stoick. "Forgive me, I don't believe we've been properly introduced yet. I am Toothless's father, Drake Raseri. Beside me is my daughter; Alva Raseri and my son; Garret. My other two youngest sons near your fellow Chieftains are Dag and Cort Raseri. Now…I believe I've watched long enough to understand the situation, and it needs to come to an end. Release my son, please?" Drake asked. "You won't be killing him."

"I will if-," Stoick began quickly.

"You will not if you don't desire that your son is killed as well." Drake said firmer now. "And do not take that as if you kill me son, I will kill yours. No. But if you kill my son, then I'm afraid Hiccup will end up dying too. You seem to not understand what I'm saying, so I will make it easy for you. Their lives are tied together, not in the sense they are friends or anything else of the sort. If one dies, the other follows because that is what happens when Night Furies mate. It's for life. If you kill Toothless, Hiccup will die as well."

Hiccup's eyes widened a bit. How come Toothless never told him this when they talked about the mating thing? "Don't be ridiculous. They aren't mated." Stoick scoffed.

"You've seen the mark on your boy's neck, haven't you?" Drake informed as Stoick froze a moment. "You were told it was because they got engaged, and a dragon claims their intended so others stay clear? No, the mark was placed because they've already mated, intimately. I believe you humans call it consummation." Stoick instantly looked at Hiccup who seemed shocked that his betrothed's father just basically revealed to the entire tribe that he and Toothless have had sex.

"Y-You mean they've-," Dagur began.

"Had sex? Yes. Dragon mating is the equivalent of human marriage. Toothless and Hiccup are already married in the dragon community, and wear rings on their left hand's fourth finger to signify engagement or betrothal. But they are technically already married. So, Stoick…This whole fake wedding you're attempting to throw Hiccup into is void as Hiccup is already with another." Drake revealed calmly still. "Release my son; I don't desire to have to kill anyone today, but will if necessary." Madguts and UG backed off, allowing Toothless to get up and take a few moments to catch his breath and balance.

"Toothless!" Hiccup gasped, quickly jumping down and running into his arms, trying desperately not to break down at the situation.

"Ssh, ssh…I'm here now. It's alright, Hiccup…I've got you." Toothless embraced him lovingly. Hiccup just buried his face against Toothless's chest, gripping his shirt tightly and trying not to let his tears slip. All of this was just too much, and like he knew he'd feel; the heartbreak, betrayal, the hurt he felt from knowing it was all a lie was indescribable. He didn't know he could hurt this much, except that he had, six years ago when his father threw him down and said he wasn't a Viking and wasn't his son. The time that made Hiccup actually consider taking his own life to stop feeling all the pain. Toothless wanted answers on why his father and siblings were here, and more on that; he sensed others close by acting as guards. However, right now his total focus was on Hiccup, who was trying desperately not to lose it with whatever emotions he was feeling.

"Son," Drake got Toothless's attention. "I believe your mate could do with some fresh air and out of here for a little bit. Off you go. I will handle this."

"Yes, father." Toothless replied respectfully as he coaxed Hiccup to moving with him out of the hall. The two got to the dock on their boat, then down below. As soon as the door was shut and locked so that no one could bother them; Hiccup broke down against Toothless, and all he could do for now was to just hold Hiccup and whisper that everything would be alright and he would ensure of that fact. Hiccup just wanted to be held and hopefully get out everything he was feeling through the tears that were spilling from his eyes and not worry about whatever was happening in the Great Hall. Hiccup knew that Toothless's father, Drake, evidently knew there was some kind of issue, or figured it out on his own based on the scene. Hiccup was grateful to the man, or dragon; he wasn't sure but it was clear he was in human form, so it was whatever. He'd have to thank him later, but right now; this is all he wanted. He just wanted Toothless.