The Journey Into Us
Pairing: Hiccup X Toothless
Rating: M for Mature
Disclaimer: I do not own anything HTTYD-related.
*Author's Note; To my loyal fans. I am so sorry for the wait in chapters! I had posted 44, 45, and 46...But apparently, the fanfiction site is having major problems as you have all reported to me that you are unable to see my new chapters and it only continues to show #43 here. So I decided to update this chapter to get the message to you. I promise, as soon as the issue is fixed you will see many chapters because I'm working hard to get a new one done every day while we wait for this problem to be remedied. In the meantime, please be patient and know that your loyalty and patience will be rewarded with new chapters to read to your heart's content. I plan to start uploading to Archive Of Our Own and Wattpad, so you'll have two other sites to read my stories on for the times that Fanfiction . net decides to have an aneurysm that prevents you from seeing the newly posted chapters. To find me on AO3, my name is, you guessed it, Nightstar_Fury. My Wattpad name is Nightstar 'at symbol, the lowercase a inside the circle'(the symbol above the number 2 on your keyboard)NightstarFury90. There will be no spaces between the at symbol and NightstarFury90. It will take me some time get all the stories moved, so be patient. I will be uploading The Journey Into Us first, so you can stay updated with the newest, uncompleted story. Also, as a bonus, I am going to be starting on a new story as well that will go up as soon as The Journey Into Us is finished. Thank you all again so much for your continued support and loyalty to my works. Remember that if you ever have questions about my works or updates, you're free to locate me on the addresses listed on my author's page. They are to my roleplay Facebook account, which the name for is Natalie Nightstar Fury. My Discord, Natalie Fury#0120. And then also my Skype, which is xxnightstar_furyxx. Your faithful author, -Nightstar.*
Chapter 43
=Trayden's POV=
(Sunday, 1/25/2020; 7:30 pm)
(Barbarchi City, Archipelago)
(Meade Hall)
Two things have surprised me this evening. One, my best friends' army friends showed to follow up on a promise they made to Blake in making sure that I am okay if he ever died overseas. The second was that in a fearful moment of the performance being ruined when Natalie's voice cracked during an instrumental, I grabbed the microphone and completed the song. It was a spur of the moment decision and I didn't regret it, I would never leave my siblings hanging like that. Perhaps the interesting part of performing was seeing the looks of utter shock and disbelief on the faces of my friends. And while Hunter was shock that I sing, I noticed that his face had twisted to more enjoyment and surprise. I felt like now, Hunter and I had yet another thing in common. We're both singers who can understand the music we listen to and sing. I'm sure this would be a conversational topic in texts, or next time we hung out at each other's place. Right now, I'm just standing before my friends after informing them that I'm a singer.
"He's the lead singer, to be precise," Elizabeth broke the silence, standing with her arms crossed and grinning with the other four in the army unit.
"Him and Natalie. The rest are instruments or backup singers," Kris nodded.
"Nat does the girl songs. Tray, the boys. Then there's duet," Cody informed.
"Hell, Tray can do some of the female songs too," Howard reminded.
I rolled my eyes. "Pfft. Yeah, okay." I remarked.
"Oh, come on. I'm sure you could still do some!" Danielle giggled as I just chuckled and shook my head.
"Not about to risk my voice over it, thanks," I informed.
"You'd do it if Blake told you to!" The five scolded.
"That's Blake, not you," I winked, crossing my arms over one another.
"Well, I guess we'll just have to call him and tell him to make you. You never tell him no." Howard mumbled.
I chuckled some. "Blake is my best friend and he knew what he could and couldn't ask me to do. I never had to tell him no, he knew." I reminded.
"That's a real, strong friendship right there," Hunter commented lightly.
I smiled at him and nodded. I loved the happy memories of mine and Blake's friendship, more like brotherhood, but it still hurt to know that all I had were memories now. It would probably always hurt. I'd give anything to see him again, it was times like these with me having a developing crush on Hunter that I needed his advice about what to do. I didn't want to tell Hunter and mess up our friendship. For now, until I figured out what direction to take my growling feelings, I'd just keep it to myself.
"Brotherhood," I corrected. "Best friend if going by the fact that we didn't grow up together and he's not an official Raseri," I added.
"He doesn't have to be, Tray. Like you said, you grew up together and he's basically part of your family as an older brother," Hunter reminded. "Yours and your father's words, friends are just the people you choose to be in your family,"
I swear my heart started to beat harder and faster beyond limits that would make doctors nervous. "It's what we Raseri's live by," Dustin came up, effectively making me jump. "Sorry, son,"
"Oh, it's fine, Dad. I just don't want you and mom surprised the day you're told that your son died from literally being scared to death!" I retorted with an unamused look in my eyes. "Now, what is it? You over here after I just sang tells me you're about to request…So out with it. I know it's coming from you or mom specifically," I added, now looking at him.
"Your mother, and take a wild guess," Dustin smiled.
"Wedding or favorite Disney song?" I arched a brow.
"Disney, and expect wedding later," Dustin chuckled.
"Define Disney favorite because whether she admits it or not, she's got a lot of favorites," I rolled my eyes.
"Descendants. Night Falls." Dustin informed.
I sighed. "Did I not just say not looking to test my voice? I feel like I did." I repeated, closing my eyes.
"You'd do it if Blake asked you…" The five soldiers also repeated.
"Well, when he shows up to tell or ask me to do it, then the situation changes. If and until that happens, the answer is no." I retorted. Yes, I agreed to start singing in the performances, but that didn't mean I was going back on what I said before about not risking my voice. Yes, I could do a lot of different tones, but the one who helped me figure that out was Blake and we'd work with something I hadn't done before prior to trying it with an audience. Blake knew my voice, pitch, and everything. He would be able to tell me what was risky and what wasn't. And he wasn't here right now. I'd give anything for him to be. Even just for a moment.
"Maybe I should ask then," I froze. "Would you do it for me, little brother?" The voice that reached my ears almost instantly brought tears to my eyes. It was Blake's voice. But that was impossible, Blake was dead. He had been for the last eight months! A million thoughts rushing through my mind, and trying to tell myself I was imagining things, I forced myself to turn around with wide eyes and saw a face I didn't think I'd see again. Blake. Blake was standing right there in front of me. I was so stunned that I couldn't move. "Hey." He greeted so casually with his signature smile.
I tried to blink away the tears forming to get a clear image. It really was him. "B-Bl-Blake?" I asked.
He nodded, opening his arms. "Miss me?" Blake inquired. My body moved on its own, despite the overwhelming shock and confusing. I quickly hugged him tightly. It was real. His body was real. His voice real. He was real! Blake was real, he was alive! I finally let go of the tears, burying my face against his chest and sobbing silently. "Guess so," Blake chuckled.
"You're such a dick," Elizabeth commented.
"You made him cry," Cody remarked.
"It was going to happen no matter how I surprised him," Blake replied. I had so many questions I wanted answered, but right now, I just wanted him to hold me. I didn't want to let go. I was terrified this was just a dream. I felt like time had stopped around me, and it was just Blake and I. "Come with me," Blake whispered in my ear. I managed a nod and adjusted so Blake could lead me out of the room. We only stood in the hallway as I sniffled, finally looking up at him. "Are you okay?"
I stared at him, not bothering to wipe the tears. I was overjoyed he was alive, and here with me, but I was so confused. "I'm…" I paused. "I don't even know if I have words for it." I admitted.
"Happy, angry, confused?" Blake asked.
"That's putting it simply," I sighed. "I just…Don't understand. How are you alive?! How come nobody in there was surprised except for me?! How dare you not tell me right away that you weren't dead!" I scolded him, narrowing my eyes and slamming my fists against his chest, but not hard, just in frustration.
"Easy, Tray…It's a lot to explain, but the jist is that I never died in that blast," Blake stated calmly. I hated how calm he was sometimes. I wasn't calm. How could he be!? Never died, but let me believe he was for so long?! How can he be calm about that?! "Relax a bit and I'll tell you," He had be sit down on the floor, back to the wall, then he joined me. "They saw me disappear behind a blast that went off, then a series of two others went off and I was close enough to be knocked out, but not get caught in. The others weren't able to come in after me because the area wasn't safe, and they couldn't see past the smoke. With me knocked out, I couldn't hear them trying to call me and see if I was alive," He started as I listened closely, looking at him, still in shock that he was there with me.
Blake took a breath. "When I woke up…I was chained by the wrists and ankles, in a cell. I was a prisoner of war, stripped of everything except my pants, undershirt, and socks," I gasped, fear filling me eyes. "Mostly, I was just kept in the cell, fed three times a day. I got taken for questioning sometimes, little abuse, but nothing awful. It took me the last six months to get saved by another group from our military that invaded the base I was at. I was among the prisoners. I obviously looked different with not having my uniform, weapons, even my tags and I hadn't shaved or had my hair cut. I reported who I was and it started a long process to restoring me to alive status, I guess you could call it. A lot of meetings, full physical, lab work, forms, etc.," He took a breath.
"I was finally pronounced alive still and hadn't died last month, and reinstated as a citizen of the Archipelago, residence in Eyja Nott at my apartment with Cody. Mom and dad were called when I was found, I told them to keep quiet until everything was settled. I got to come home with them last week when the tour ended. I've already seen the others, but I told them to keep it a secret from you until tonight…I wanted to surprise you because you wouldn't have believed it if you were just told. Plus there were more forms, appointments and meetings all last week and I didn't want to see you until all that was squared away so that way I could have a lot of time with you. Everyone wanting you to perform, the unit showing up…Everything was planned and part of the surprise, little brother. My cue to make my way into the room was someone in the unit saying let's call him to make you, and my signal to reveal myself was them saying you'd do it if I had asked," Blake informed.
I didn't know what to say, it was so much to take in and process. But I knew the bottom line was that he was alive and home. Tears forming again, I just leaned over and hugged him again. I felt Blake sigh gently and hug me back. "I'm just so glad you're okay…And back home…" I cried a little.
"Alright, calm down now…It's okay…" Blake comforted.
"You don't know how lost I was when they told me you were dead…" I sobbed. "I hid in my room the rest of the day, my parents made Dex stay on the couch in my apartment to make sure I was alright. And he stayed for a week…I cried every day until the memorial and funeral when I couldn't deny you were gone anymore…" I revealed to him. "It wasn't right…Nothing was right with you gone…"
"Ssh," Blake soothed. "I'm here now. Your best friend and big brother is here. And I'm not going anywhere, I promise…" He added. I could only nod, still holding onto him. "Settle down…" He rubbed my shoulder. "Stop crying, we still have to go back in and rock the room with our amazing performances. Can't do that while you're all worked up because it won't sound right with a cracked voice," Blake teased to try and cheer me up.
I sniffled and wiped my eyes with my sleeve, finally lifting off him to compose myself. It was going to be really hard to get used to this. I was ready to accept Blake was gone forever, move forward from the mourning and always sad phase into acceptance and getting my life on track. Now, I reverse all that, but it was still a lot to take in. I took a little time there in the hallway to get myself together. "I think I'm okay…" I muttered.
Blake laughed gently. "Go to the bathroom, splash your face, bro…You'll feel better, and I'll head into the room to get things set up with the band," We got off the floor and he went to enter the room again, I grabbed the back of his shirt, looking down.
"D-Don't leave me…" I asked.
"Tray, Tray, it's alright. I'm just going into the next room to get things ready, and you can come in afterward," Blake informed.
"No…I don't want you to leave my sight, or out of reach…" I admitted as Blake turned to face me and I kept my head low. "I was such a mess when I thought you were dead, Blake…And now I'm afraid that I'm going to wake up tomorrow and this will…Have just been a dream." I wiped another tear.
Blake sighed and pulled me close as I wrapped my arms around him again. "Listen to me," Blake lifted my chin so I was looking at him. "I swear to you that I'm not going anywhere ever again. I mean it. Never, Trayden. Do you want to know why?" I nodded. "Because among all the things I did to get back here…I also left the military." My eyes widened. Did he really? "I left because while I love it…I love my family more. My unit told me updates about how my supposed death had affected everyone, especially you. I never want to take another risk like that again. Not the dying part, I knew the sacrifice of fighting in war. The risk of being captured for half a year is what I don't want to go through again. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, but still…" Blake explained. "I'm out, little brother…I'm home for good, you'll never have to worry about losing me on a tour again,"
"Re-Really?" I questioned in shock.
"Really. I'm even moving here to the city because Cody is getting married and getting a house with his fiancé, almost wife. So he's going to be leaving the apartment and with me out of the military, I can't afford it on my own anyway. Plus, it's too far from you and the rest of the family," Blake chuckled. "I promise that I'm not going anywhere, okay? We're going to finish this night by rocking it, and tomorrow when you wake up…I will still be here. And just to prove it to you, I'll come stay with you tonight. Old fashioned sleepover, like when we were kids. Sound good?"
"Yes…" I nodded, loving the sound of that.
"Good. Because I already packed an overnight bag. Well, a couple days' bag assuming you wouldn't want to be away from me until you settle and get used to me being alive again, or still," Blake laughed a bit. I nodded again, smiling some. "Now, go splash your face and meet me back in the room,"
"Kay," I replied, turning to get to the bathroom and Blake disappeared behind the double doors that went into the room where the party was happening. I was still in shock and super emotional, but I was happy. My big brother and best friend is home. For good.
. . .
=Normal POV=
When Blake got back into the room, he returned to his unit former military unit friends who were chatting with another group of people who were around Trayden's age.
"Where's Trayden?" Cody wondered, looking around for him.
"He'll be back. I told him to calm down and splash his face," Blake informed lightly.
"He's all worked up about you being alive, isn't he?" Dustin strolled up with Rachel, then the Raseri siblings.
"Worked up and scared that it's just a dream," Blake nodded.
"It's just going to take some time for him to accept you're alive after spending so much time believing you were dead, dear," Rachel smiled.
"I know, Mom," Blake replied calmly. "I reassured him that I'm not going anywhere, and home for good due to discharge. I even promised to stay over his apartment for a few days so he can wake up and see me on the couch. Or next to him on the floor in his bedroom. Old fashioned sleepover like when we were teenagers," He chuckled a bit.
"Will there actually be any sleeping? Because if I recall you two stayed up all night gaming, working with music and then would crash at 6 am," Dustin laughed.
"All day too, except maybe waking up at noon for lunch, then back to bed until 3 pm," Rachel recalled.
"We just have too much fun," Blake said nodding.
"But he's okay, right?" Hunter asked as Blake turned and looked at him.
"Of course," Blake responded. "I'm sorry, I don't believe I know some of you," He admitted.
"These are Trayden's friends from when he went to school in Berk, Blake," Howard stated.
"Some of us Trayden knows from there…" Fisher corrected.
"The rest of us he met through Trayden finding Hunter's wallet in the park and returning it to him, the two of them going on a thank you date, and Hunter bringing Trayden to his house to fix his car, where we were for a party. That was…When?" Thaxter asked his friends.
"December 8th," Bryan supplied.
"I know this group," Blake pointed to the school friends. "Never met physically, but from pictures and Trayden's stories. Though, I apologize, I don't remember your names," He confessed.
"We're all one big group of friends now," Devon reminded the rest of the friends.
"You seem concerned for him…Hunter, was it?" Blake folded his arms now, looking a bit more serious.
"Yep. Tray's my friend and a good one too, and I know how upset he was believing you were dead. Of course I'm concerned if he's okay. I worry for all my friends and I'd do anything for any of them," Hunter said calmly.
Blake smiled. "I feel like it's a lot more than that," Hunter stared at him when Blake mentioned that quietly. No one else heard it over the music. "Nobody else who has known Tray longer than you got worried, but you did. It's in your eyes." Blake offered his hand to Hunter. "Blake Solberg, official best friend and unofficial older brother to Trayden," He introduced.
Hunter eyed the man, but saw Trayden coming and decided to play nice. Hunter felt like he was being investigated to see if he was alright to be in Trayden's life. And Hunter knew the implication Blake made was regarding that Hunter clearly showed more concern for Trayden than anyone of his other friends, so he had to have a crush or like Trayden. Hunter accepted Blake's hand, shaking it. "Hunter Forger. Just a friend to Trayden," He said.
"Took it upon yourself to introduce who you are to everyone?" Trayden asked.
"Well, with me back I suppose the chances are higher that we're all going to be in your life, right?" Blake beamed to Trayden, who smiled and nodded.
"Well, you've already met Hunter. Which is great because you two will probably hit it off well as friends. You're both super friendly, open, loyal, and amazing friends to me," Trayden giggled a bit. "I'll introduce you to the rest, then we can rock the house…Hotel…Whatever. We're rocking it with the greatest comeback performances of Furies Roar!" He stated.
And just like that, everyone cheered and the night continued.
