They say history repeats itself.
Hiccup believed the saying to hold some truth after all.
The Rider blinked his eyes open, looking at the world vertically from where he laid on the ground, hands bound before him and in reach of his vision. Despite having been out for Thor knows how long again, he still felt as exhausted as ever, his mind and body screaming at him to just slid his eyelids back shut and sleep - to just pretend like he had never cracked his eyes opened. His head pounded hard like a dozen hammers knocking against his skull. He could smell the smoke on him and imagined the stains darkening his skin. At least he had some recollection of what had happened with Krogan. He remembered their conversation all too well. How Krogan had let him know that the situation in which he'd found himself had been his very fault. Hiccup would never believe a word this man said. But… he also couldn't just ignore it.
"You're awake," said a hoarse voice, dragging Hiccup out of his waking stage and back into the painful world of reality. "Good for you."
Hiccup groaned at his aching form and lifted himself up with his elbows, managing to sit up in a posture that gave away his exhaustion. The Rider didn't have to wonder who the voice belonged to. Viggo sat at a desk with his back to him.
"Oh, yippee…" was all Hiccup could think of as a reply to the Dragon Hunter's remark.
"My fellow business partner hasn't treated you too harshly, I trust?" asked Viggo, never turning around to greet the young Dragon Rider properly as he usually would.
"Depends on your perspective," groaned Hiccup, every single one of his senses returning as he acknowledged the situation he currently found himself in.
"Mmh, yes," agreed Viggo, snickering quietly to himself. "We can agree on that."
"What am I doing here, Viggo?" asked Hiccup, his eyelids still only lifted halfway. He was so tired. But the uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach refused to let him relax, keeping him alert. After all, he wasn't back home. He wasn't on neutral ground either. He was on enemy territory, captive, in the lair of Viggo Grimborn and his fellow companions. The realization should strike him more fiercely, making him feel helpless and devoid of all bravery. But at the moment, he just couldn't find the right amount of adrenaline to make him jump to his feet and rush out at the first opportunity presented.
Hiccup didn't even notice the footsteps coming in from behind him and was surprised by the large hand squeezing his shoulder. Hiccup grunted in pain and frustration and looked up through hatred-filled eyes as Krogan towered beside him, shoving him forward as an attempt of intimidation.
"Krogan, please," said Viggo, straightening up a little, his body-language letting his partner know he was short on patience. "Keep him quiet. I'm trying to work here."
The Flyer walked past Hiccup and joined Viggo at the desk, putting a hand down on the wooden surface where the Hunter worked.
"We finally capture Hiccup Haddock," said Krogan through gritted teeth, trying to meet Viggo's eyes, but the Hunter was focused on his syringe and sheets of instructions. "Don't you just want to hurt him?"
"Explaining why would take longer than I have the patience for," said Viggo as professionally as ever.
"Are you at least making any progress?" asked Krogan, pressing his back against the wall to keep an eye on the Rider.
"Not to worry," said Viggo, a smirk stretching on his lips as he poured the purple content into the syringe and lifted the tube to observe the liquid as he'd done so many times before. Its toxic color and all the possibilities this little dose held to offer kept making him wonder about all the things he could accomplish with it. "It's almost finished."
"Mind telling me what this is all about?" asked Hiccup from behind him, leaning forward on his knees with his eyes narrowed on the Hunter's back.
Viggo chuckled quietly to himself. "Patience, my boy," he said, finally pushing the chair back. He stood up and turned to his captive, hands reached behind his back. Hiccup didn't feel frightened by the man from where he kneeled on the hard and cold ground, holding Viggo's gaze challengingly. "I must tell you, I've truly missed our time together, my dear Hiccup. My partner here has taken much of our playtime away if you know what I mean."
Hiccup didn't speak and kept glaring up at him, ignoring Krogan's angry scowl at the back.
"My boy, don't look so morose," commented Viggo, approaching the Rider.
He crouched down before him and grabbed his chin, lifting up his face to gaze into the emerald-green of his eyes. Hiccup showed resistance, his upper lip twitching in disgust as the Hunter grasped his chin more firmly, studying each eye carefully. Hiccup was starting to wonder how much was missing in his memory bank. The Rider tugged to the side, freeing himself from his adversary's grip on his face, and fled his dark brown gaze as if holding his stare would only damage him more. Whatever he was looking for, Hiccup refused to make it easy for him. But all Viggo did was smile in satisfaction before getting back up.
"Hiccup, are you familiar with the Deathgripper dragon?" asked Viggo, walking back to the desk where his work lay.
Hiccup lifted his head back up, frowning at the name. He wasn't sure if Viggo wanted 'yes' or 'no' as a response.
"Of course," said Hiccup, only truly recalling a few facts about the particular species from the Book of Dragons.
Viggo chuckled again, looking down at the syringe resting on the wooden surface along with his sheets.
"Well, you're not, actually," he said, returning his attention on the boy. Hiccup blinked but didn't make anything else obvious for the man to notice and use against him. "If you were, you would know that this particular species possesses one of the world's deadliest venom. I'm certain that if you searched the lenses on your makeshift Dragon Eye, you would find a handful of bone-chilling information you might not want to read twice. As a matter of fact, this species' venom is not simply dangerous for its deadly effects on the prey. Should one understand its composition and how it works, it can serve as more than a simple poison to kill, but to turn whatever dragon or person into a tool… into a weapon. And a weapon as such willed by humans – by professional Dragon Hunters?" Viggo huffed, grabbing the syringe and its toxic content. "Well. All becomes a game, doesn't it?"
Hiccup's eyes locked on the toxic violet glow inside the transparent tube, the color all too familiar. The venom… he almost felt attracted to it. Fixing it clouded his mind – his judgment. He wanted it. But he refused to.
Hiccup shook his head violently, throwing off the numb sensation that had settled in just by looking at the venom. His body and mind remembered it and wanted it. He started to fill in the blanks, replaying Viggo's words in the back of his mind.
...turn whatever dragon or person into a tool… into a weapon.
Had this happened before? Had Viggo poisoned him and used him to do his bidding? He recalled his last memory before waking up. He was at the lagoon. He didn't recall ever returning from the lagoon.
Hiccup bounced to his feet, the adrenaline finally kicking in.
"What did you make me do?!" he bellowed, his voice cracking at the thought of all the things he could have done under the influence of the venom and under Viggo's orders. If what Viggo was saying was true, then Krogan's word could be just as good.
Krogan wasn't hesitant to grab his ax and point it up at the Rider, warning him to try anything. But Hiccup wasn't intimidated by Krogan's aggressive behavior and held his stare while standing ready before the heavy blade of the ax.
Krogan chuckled lightly, with admiration somewhat. "You've kept your wits, Dragon Rider," said Krogan, cocking an eyebrow.
"What do you want with me? I've done your dirty work," he snapped, turning Viggo's direction while the Hunter stood calmly, studying him like he was an agitated dragon in a cage destined for auction. "You should be after the lenses, not me."
"Oh, well that's just the thing," said Viggo, holding up his index. He turned to the desk again and slid the heavy bag filled to the brink with Dragon Eye lenses for the Rider to see. "We already have them."
Hiccup stood in bewilderment, staring at the bag while a cold shiver traveled his spine. He could have sworn he'd saved the lenses when he went to help defend Wingmaiden Island… Snotlout was with him, he remembered. They'd brought them back to Dragon's Edge for safety measures until they could find a safer, more defendable location to keep them, he remembered…
"How did you—"
"You handed them to me, willingly," explained Viggo, shrugging like it was nothing. It wasn't nothing. This should not be happening.
"I don't believe you," he spat, but he did. He did believe it.
"Oh no?" continued Viggo, smirking. "I remember it crystal clear. Now thanks to your cooperation, we can finally move forward. The King of Dragons will be ours and your Dragon Riders and all of your precious dragon-loving allies will fall. But not to worry, dear boy, I'll keep you alive. You're a valuable aspect to my plans, believe it or not."
His mind raced with all sorts of thoughts. Questions, escape plans, scans of the room, and how to make anything at all to his advantage. The venom, the lenses, the plans… and him. Hiccup was too quick for either the Hunter or Flyer to react in time. He reached out and grabbed the dagger resting on the table next to Viggo's work, backing off the instant he had a weapon to will. He held it shakily between his bound hands, his breathing all the same. He didn't look up to see the look in his enemies' eyes and lifted up the blade to his throat, holding it there while he challengingly locked gaze with Viggo. Whatever he needed him for, whatever valuable aspect he could be used as in the Dragon Hunters' plans… he wouldn't let it happen.
"Hiccup," said Viggo warningly, putting down the syringe and holding his hands forward. The smug and confident attitude he had earlier was replaced with one of uncertainty. Hiccup could very easily tell, that for a man who planned everything ahead of time, calculated every possible alternative in the near future, this wasn't like anything he'd expected to happen. "Think about what you're doing."
"I'm not gonna let you use me against them," he hissed, holding the blade up with trembling hands, holding the cold metal just an inch over the surface of his skin. His heart raced, the uneasy feeling in his stomach making him feel sick. He swallowed, pushing down the fear of dying. "I'll die before I hurt them."
"And this is your great master plan?" said Krogan, waving a wild arm at him like he'd lost his mind. "To end your own life? You're more senseless than I thought then."
"Come now, let's not be hasty. You're a smarter boy than this. Hiccup," said Viggo warningly, taking a step forward while Hiccup took one back. "Think. Put the knife down. Now."
"He doesn't even have the guts to do it…" commented Krogan, retrieving his ax, a smirk on his lips as if he was daring Hiccup to drag that blade across his throat.
"I won't let you do this," he said, teeth gritted. His jaws clenched, the tensed up muscles showing beneath the skin of his cheeks.
"You can't just take your own life!" snapped Viggo, his patience wearing short.
"Wait," said Krogan, placing an arm between the Rider and the Hunter. "Why are we stopping him?"
"Because Hiccup is much more valuable to us alive than dead!" snarled Viggo, hands balled to his sides. "How many times will I need to repeat myself?!"
Hiccup took advantage of the dispute taking place before him and kicked Krogan's ax out of his reach. The metal clanking against the hard surface of the ground echoed against the stone walls of the cavern they were in.
Krogan looked displeased and bared his teeth. Hiccup didn't want to die. If there were an option to escape he'd take it. At least Krogan was left without his weapon to threaten him.
"Even with a weapon to will, you're no match for me," growled Krogan, taking on a battle-ready position while Hiccup held the blade before him. Viggo watched the scene unfold before him, displeased.
Hiccup kept his distance from Krogan as the Flyer circled around him, trapping him between Viggo and him. Hiccup looked back over his shoulder as Viggo took a step forward to grab him. He was cornered between the two men and the desk.
"Maybe not," agreed Hiccup, taking a firmer hold of the handle. "But this is!"
With a swift move, he slit the ropes bounding his hands and swung the blade with both hands, impaling it in the Hunter's shoulder with all his strength, making sure to cause enough damage for his own sake. Viggo groaned at the painful sting, stumbling backward into the pile of crates gathered near the wall. Hiccup wasn't hesitant with his next move and grabbed the syringe. Krogan leaped at him with hands out like claws. But even Krogan was no match for his plans and Hiccup jabbed the needle in the Flyer's neck, pressing the venom in.
"How about you have a taste of your own medicine," he growled, pressing on the syringe till he saw no more purple. Krogan had slumped to the ground like a dragon hit by Dragon Root arrows, out cold.
Hiccup panted, standing a couple of feet away from the Flyer. Viggo groaned painfully from the corner, holding his shoulder with blood trickling down his hand. In other circumstances, Hiccup would've felt sorry for both these men, but not this time. After supposedly poisoning him and using him against his team? Never. His mind was crystal clear. He stepped over Krogan's unconscious form and glared Viggo's way to dare try anything. But the man only seemed to take it as a challenge and Viggo took a step forward. Hiccup held his dark yet fiery gaze, balling his fists at his sides. His attention drifted to the lenses on the table between them and Hiccup didn't hesitate a second to grab the leather satchel and back off as rapidly as he had snatched it. He backed off while the Hunter kept cautiously approaching. Hiccup could see the frustration in his eyes and the pain in his groans. He watched him close his hand on the handle of the knife and yank the blade out, incapable of holding back the yelp.
The young Rider turned a shoulder at him defensively before sprinting down the corridor, knowing full well Viggo couldn't be far behind.
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