The Gentle Sniper

Chapter 43: No More Half Measures, Part One

A/N: So this obviously took a while to write, but at least I can say it was all me. I didn't commission anyone to help me write this. Let's hope my writing mojo is back for good.

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CajunBear73: Yeah, Hiccup should have. But that plot development was by design. Regarding dealing with the bad eggs on Berk, well… Hiccup is nothing if not patient. Comes with the territory of being a sniper.

…

Astrid was woken when something landed on her stomach.

She groaned, sitting up to find a bouquet of cherry blossom flowers had fallen into her lap.

She rubbed the sleep from her eyes slowly, then stretched a crick in her neck, before stretching in an almost cat-like fashion, making her yawn again.

After this, her eyes were drawn from the bouquet to Hiccup, who sat at the foot of her bed. "Good morning, Astrid."

"Morning, babe," she yawned, then held up the flowers with a smile. "How'd you know I like these? Did Heather tell you?"

"She didn't. I didn't guess either; Fishlegs knows stuff about flowers. He once mentioned that they symbolise eternal beauty - and yes, I'm a sap. Deal with it."

Her smile towards him grew warm. "No complaints here. Thank you, Hiccup."

"Anytime," Hiccup said, then looked at the window with a sigh, which changed the mood. "Sorry about yesterday's phone call, Astrid."

She shrugged. "It's fine. Don't worry about it. We've all had bad work days. But if you're here, does that mean your work is over?"

He shrugged in turn. "The dangerous bit is over, I think. But there's still stuff I need to do, though that can wait a bit. Is it…?"

"Is it, what?"

"I was about to ask if it was too early to suggest we move in together, but-"

"I would love to."

He stopped, meeting her eyes with an uncertain gaze. "You do?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Should I not?"

"The last time I had a girl living with me, it didn't end well. I'm worried it could happen again. N-not that I think it will, exactly, but-"

Setting the bouquet aside, she took his hands in hers. "Relax babe," she smiled. "I'm not going anywhere. You had to make a hard decision in the past, and who else besides me would be okay with that decision?"

He still looked concerned over something. "You know they're not the only people I've killed, right? I'm not supposed to tell you, but if we move in, you should know regardless."

"Yeah, I kinda figured there would be more. But listen, I've never met them, but I've met you. Were they good people?"

"I don't know."

"Neither do I. And since we both don't know and they are dead, we can't get to know them and make amends. So there's no use worrying now. You can't change the past and neither can I."

His concerned look melted away as he stood up. Then he moved to embrace her, bringing his lips to a cheek. "I don't deserve you," he murmured against her skin.

"That's my line, babe."

She felt him shake his head while letting out a quiet laugh. "It's more accurate when I say it."

"I disagree," she murmured as he broke the hug to look at her. "Where else would I find someone as caring and hot as you?"

He laughed louder then, his green eyes filling with mirth. "I could ask you the same thing."

"Mhm. Don't forget that," smirked Astrid. "Now," She continued after pausing to pick up and smell the bouquet. "Do you have any vases?"

He nodded, face still alight with happiness. "I have one. For my one and only vase as well as breakfast, follow me."

…

You poisoned a close friend of mine and lied about a friend who, to me, is closer still. Clearly, I thought you wouldn't do anything stupid, as close to the clear as you were, but we both know I was wrong, and a friend paid for my hope regarding you.

That changes today. As of now, Bluestar Security and its partner company's premises are under DSIS and DDIS control. No more half measures, Kasper.

I have paid for my hubris. Now it's your turn.

Don't even think you can bargain with me now. I'm not making that mistake again.

Adios, General Muttonhead.

Hitting send, Hiccup pocketed his phone and turned to his guests.

The three of them were standing in front of the door to a bloodstained room.

The very same room that Mildew, Sven and Cillie Thorston had each visited.

"Alright, before we begin, I have something to show you."

So saying, Hiccup unlocked and held out his phone, displaying the picture of Fishlegs and Aage No-Name that had been taken the day before, the latter looking more than a little confused as to who exactly Fishlegs was.

Hiccup regarded the couple carefully for a moment as they stared at the picture of their son, his father looking saddened and his mother moved to tears.

"I notice neither of you are surprised he's alive. And are those crocodile years, Mrs No-Name? I must say they fit you rather well."

Mr No-Name glared at Hiccup, his hands curling into fists. "You auburn haired bastard. You take that insult to my wife back or-"

The man didn't expect the sudden punch to the face; neither its speed nor the force behind it, which broke his nose and caused blood to coat his fingers as he clutched at the delicate area.

To his credit, the older man did not respond to the pain beyond a brief groan, while sending Hiccup his fiercest glare. His wife mirrored his expression towards Hiccup after sending her husband a look that expressed her concern.

"You will do nothing, because you can do nothing," Hiccup responded, with eyes that held no emotion other than contempt and a voice colder than Berk's most frigid day in winter. "For all the lies you've expressed and partaken in, and who you've seen fit to ally yourselves with, I have a mind to grab a knife and make you experience a painful end. It would be what you hypocrites deserve."

"However," Hiccup continued after a pause. "Your son is alive but has lost his memory, doubtless due to his coma. And as I intend to bring him home and help him regain his memory if at all possible, it would be cruel for him to discover that his parents are dead. That is why I won't kill you."

"That's generous of you," snarked Mrs No-Name. "Then if you aren't going to kill us, why are we here?"

"I said I wouldn't kill you. I never said you would go unharmed. Now it feels like my birthday came early, so let's step into that room behind you there, and get down to brass tacks."

…

"There's a shipment scheduled for tonight, at either the marina or the harbour," Hiccup reported.

Johann shook his head. "There's no way Kasper would actually do that. Not after his actions in Skagen. He knows we're alert and watching for his next move now."

Hiccup nodded. "My thoughts exactly. So did they lie to avoid torture or for some other reason?"

"I trust we'll find out eventually. Now, what of Mr and Mrs No-Name? What state did you leave them in?"

"Broke their left hands. They were quite vocal. Then they became silent when I said I would do the same to their dominant hands. But enough about them. What's our next step?"

"For you, three things: Go visit Gobber and deal with a renegade employee of mine. She went rogue, but now I want her back. Bring her here, to my office as soon as you can."

"You mentioned there are three things for me to do. What's the third thing?"

"Stake-out the harbour tonight and watch for our expected Icelandic friends' arrival. A fitting job for a sniper, wouldn't you say?"

"Alright. I'll go get your renegade agent. What's her name and address?"

…

Stepping into his office, Hiccup found three items waiting for him on his desk.

An intercom unit.

An open wallet that displayed the ID card within, complete with a picture of an unsmiling version of him with his Jaeger Beret on and details of his security clearance.

Last of all, there was a note.

Hiccup picked up the wallet, reading the ID Card before he pocketed the wallet and then proceeded to read over the note.

Moments later, the door on Naja's left opened and Hiccup stepped forward to stand on the threshold of the door.

"You expect me to be nicer to Sigrid? Not happening, unless she does her job better."

"Understandable. But have you considered her status in this organisation? Everyone knows Sigrid. Everyone besides you likes her as well. I recommend you never say that to anyone besides me."

Hiccup crumpled the note in his hand and continued as if Naja hadn't spoken. "Another thing, no more notes. You have something to say, you come to my office, talk to me via intercom or by text if I'm not around."

Naja turned her seat so she faced him. "I'll need your number for that."

After he told her, she entered his number in her phone, then leaned back in her chair, eyeing him carefully. "Hmm, now what to call you in this contact…"

He shrugged, and she smirked. "Alright then. Your name in my phone shall be 'Auburn Indifference'. Anything else you need to tell me?"

"Only that I've got an errand to run. Do you want to come along and teach me how to use handcuffs? Never done it before."

"Sure. Babysitting is better than paperwork."

With an eye-roll, Hiccup turned away, then let a smirk show. "Come along then, little barn. We're leaving now. Get your small pink coat."

…

"I take it you know what we're doing, since you agreed so quickly."

"Yeah, we're going to bring Agnut in. She used to be my mentor, so this will be a thing."

"I see. Been there, in a way. It's never fun to deal with former colleagues like this."

"Hmm. Also, Johann told me he was going to meet with you about this. It was to keep you busy while they installed the intercom on your desk."

"And once they were finished, you left that note about Sigrid."

"Yup."

"You could have just waited to tell me to be nicer to Sigrid, rather than leaving a note. Being direct is always best."

…

"Now then Agnut. It is my best interest - and yours as well - to keep Thor Bonecrusher happy."

Agnut snorted as she looked between Hiccup and Fishlegs. "Who is Thor Bonecrusher?"

Hiccup gestured to Fishlegs. "This is Thor Bonecrusher. Thor?"

"Yes, toothpick?" Fishlegs grunted.

"What would make you unhappy?"

"This bitch not doing what she's told."

"Splendid. Now then Agnut, get in the car."

"Uh… how about no?" she decided, then made to shut the door.

A boot stopped the door from closing, and Agnut looked from said boot into a face. A large round face that was topped by blonde hair and which sported a toothy, merciless, grin.

"Wrong move, bitch. I'm going to enjoy this."

Then a fist flew for her face, the last thing she saw before Agnut Thorston's world became dark.

As Hiccup opened the door and picked up Agnut's unconscious form, Fishlegs looked at Hiccup. "Is it bad that I got a kick out of that? I want to do it again as well."

"I'm probably not the person to ask, Fish…"

"Point taken. Let's move this along."

After Agnut had been deposited in the backseat beside Fishlegs, Naja stepped outside with Hiccup.

"Alright," she began as she picked the handcuffs from her belt. "Watch what I do, closely," she instructed, tightening the cuffs around Hiccup's hands.

"Okay… you've put me in handcuffs. Why…?"

"Unless you start to be nice to Sigrid, you won't be getting out of those cuffs."

"You realise I have the keys for the car, right? Which I need, combined with my hands to drive."

"Then I'll just have to drive."

"On a side note, I recall you mentioning curiosity over my basically non-existent team. You're sure as Helheim not becoming a member if you keep me in these handcuffs."

"Too bad. Now, which pocket are your keys in?"

"Unlock these cuffs and I'll tell you, and let you join my team. Deal?"

Honk!

The sound pierced the air, and both turned to see Fishlegs pressing both hands to the steering wheel, his expression conveying his impatience if his actions hadn't already made that clear enough.

"Shall we continue this, never?" Naja proposed.

"Sure, never sounds good. Cuffs off now, please."

Naja reached into a pocket for her keys when her phone rang. "Sorry Hiccup. Gotta take this."

"Figures," Hiccup sighed.

"Hello? Not strictly available, but I can be with you in ten minutes. Yes ma'am. See you soon."

Shoving her phone back in her pocket, she snatched up a key for the handcuffs. "We need to move things along. No handcuff lessons today. Sorry Hiccup."

"You know what, I'll just leave all future arrests to you. Welcome to the team."

"Probably for the best, and thanks."

"Anytime."

…

A short while later, Johann watched with an eyebrow raised as Hiccup unceremoniously dumped Agnut Thorston in one of the chairs in front of his desk. "Do be careful with that. I'd rather you not break her."

"Well I don't care what happens to her, either way."

"Wait a moment," Johann called, as Hiccup approached the door.

"What is it?"

"I need you to fetch me a bottle of water from the staffroom. To wake up our guest. I want to fill her in on something."

"Fine. Where is it? I want to go check up on Gobber."

"The staffroom is down the hall. First door on the left. You'll find a bottle of water in the fridge."

Nodding, Hiccup hurried from the room. When he returned and woke Agnut by emptying the bottle of water over her head, she predictably gasped because of the chilled liquid.

Standing up, she readjusted her hair, then glared at Johann. "For fuck's sake Johann."

"Don't look at me. I didn't pour the water over your head. That was him," he informed her, pointing at Hiccup.

Agnut watched Hiccup as he left the room before refocusing on Johann. "You will have asked him to bring me here, so I blame you."

"I am well within my rights to have you locked away where you will never see the light of day again, so this is you getting off lightly. Sit. Down."

Agnut did so, but not immediately, opting for the dry chair next to hers, which Hiccup had vacated.

Putting her feet on the edge of Johann's desk, she crossed her arms. "Since I'm not in trouble, what do you want, boss?"

An eyebrow went up. "I thought Drago was your boss."

"Cut to the chase, Johann. This routine is old."

The man nodded once. "What have you learned about a man named Kasper?"

…

Hiccup returned to his office to get his coat, which hung from a hook on the back of his door.

But upon opening said door, he spotted Viggo sitting at his desk. "Uh, hey?"

"Come in and sit down. We have something important to discuss. Sooner you do, sooner you can go visit Gobber."

At the end of the discussion, Hiccup was left reeling as Viggo left.

There's no way they think I can pull it off. Surely not.

A knock on the door to Naja's office halted his time to think, as his colleague stepped through. "I guess they spoke to you about this as well."

"Yeah. And uh, I think they've lost the plot if they think it'll work."

"Welcome to the DDIS, errand boy. Home of crazy plans and long periods of inactivity," Naja sighed, her arms and shoulders drooping.

"This plan of theirs is going to take months to prepare for. Maybe even a year."

"Yeah. So it looks like we'll just have to somehow deal with it, together, because the management sure as shit won't."

"Well that's good then. I am nothing if not patient. Oh, and speaking of patience, have you ever done a stakeout before?"

"Yep."

"Want to join me on one, tonight?"

"Yep. Call me and I'll come along."

"Great. Will do. Now, come along. About time you met a few of your new team members."

…

"I see your beds are next to each other. Convenient. Means I don't need to look in any other hospital room."

"Hurrah for you, Haddock," Cami smiled. "How are you doing?"

"I should be asking you that. You and the old meathead in the bed next to you."

"Oi!" said man mock-protested, before all three laughed.

"How are you doing, Gobber? How's that bandaged shoulder holding up?"

"Pretty good because I've taken a few painkillers. What is your next step, laddie?"

"Never mind that," interrupted Cami. "Let's first address the elephant in the room. Who is she?"

"I'm Naja. A colleague of Hiccup's at the DDIS. And you are?"

"Ze Great Camicazi. I work for the DSIS."

"Ah yes. The DSIS. An organisation that is filled with top heavy girls, from the looks of things."

"At least I can do my job right."

"Ladies, flirt on your own time. Seriously, I should have brought Bekker along to join in. But anyway, what happened to you? You seem fine to me."

Cami looked at Hiccup and nodded to her right arm. "Got grazed on the arm. I'm going to be discharged soon in fact; the doctor left a few minutes before you came. Though I'm not meant to lift anything with my right arm for a few days."

"I know something you could do that would consist of waiting around and watching for stuff to happen."

"A stakeout you mean?" Cami wondered, at the same time that Naja's eyes narrowed.

"Not happening."

"Oh it is happening, but she'll be with me. We have two locations to keep an eye on, and just enough people to stay at each location. You'll be with Rebecca, since she claims to have met you, as well as her friend, Ludvig."

"A wise decision. I'd accept his plan if I were you, lass. Haddocks are nothing if not stubborn," advised Gobber.

"Fine. At least I don't have to be with her."

"The feeling is mutual."

Hiccup looked at Gobber with an expression that read. 'What has gotten into them?'

The man simply shrugged, just as clueless as he.

…

It was the constant beeping that woke her up. Slow and steady, it permeated through the thick fog clouding her mind and stirred her from a deep slumber.

"I see you're finally awake."

Bekker chased the voice by sitting up. Opening her eyes, she regretted the idea as light seared her retinas. On the second attempt, she managed to keep her eyes open, proceeding to rub at them.

"I'm over here by the way. Look this way when you're ready."

Eventually, she managed to look over at the guy who had spoken and was sitting in a chair on her left, blinking multiple times. "Marc, was it?"

"Yep. Before you ask, Hiccup wanted me around to keep an eye on you. You were poisoned by the way."

"Kasper," growled Bekker. "I'm going to kill that fucker. You wouldn't happen to know where he is would you, hon?"

"If I did, then you and I would have to get in line behind Snow Cub. Or as you guys apparently know him, 'Fishman'. I bet he hates the callsign."

"Yeah, he does."

"Wanna know why?"

"Because it's a mockery of his name. Why else?"

"Because I was going to call him that, but then Alexsander beat us to the punch. He was happy to have dodged a bullet, until he met you and you brought it back," Marc snorted. "So now you know the Haddock lore, what do you say we get you out of here?"

Bekker grinned and nodded, but her nose wrinkled at the same time, creating an odd-looking expression. "I can get behind that. Never liked the smell of hospitals, and I have a call to make."

"Yeah, I'm not a huge fan of the smell either. I'll go get you discharged now. Your phone is on the table there," Marc informed, pointing.

She followed his finger, then reached for the device as Marc stood up, watched Bekker pick up the phone for a moment more, then turned and set off for the door.

"Careful now. Best you don't drop that iPhone with how fragile they are. It's one of the reasons why Android is better," he called back to her, then laughed as she flipped him off as he left.

…

Hiccup had just stepped out of a lift and was navigating his way to the Hospital's front door when his phone started ringing in his pocket.

Plucking it out, he found that Bekker was calling. "Hello. Back from the land of the nearly-dead. Welcome back."

"It's good to be back. Shame I found that I was mostly alone when I got back. I expected more."

"Sorry, but I had work to do. I figured you'd like it more if you weren't attacked again, so I asked Marc to stay behind."

"For shame. Alright, so what happens now?"

Hiccup didn't reply for a moment, as this was the point where he stepped through the hospital's front door. "Well, I could ask you to join me on a stakeout. Us, I should say, as it's not just me. But with what you've just been through, who knows if you'll be up for it."

"I'm not joking by the way. If you happen to get drowsy and fall asleep, it's anyone's guess what will happen. Physical injuries I can handle. Chemical attacks are not my forté."

"Don't be such a worrywart. I got released from the hospital. The doctors think I'm okay, so you should as well."

"Worrying is my life now. Can you blame me?"

Hiccup didn't register Bekker's reply, as in that moment, with him standing right outside the hospital, some guy passed him by, intending to get around him - as Hiccup was blocking the doorway somewhat - and inside the building.

At least the guy would have, had his head not exploded in the brief moment that he was in front of Hiccup.

There was no warning. No muzzle flash or any noise that could pinpoint the shooter.

This indicated subsonic ammo, a suppressor, and flash hiders, which in turn indicated the shooter was someone who knew exactly what they were doing.

These things crossed Hiccup's subconscious, but he didn't dwell on them.

Rather, half-blinded by blood and brain tissue, the last living member of the Haddock clan half-stumbled, half sat-down, all too aware of his very close brush with death, while all around him, chaos erupted, and in front of him, the corpse of his unwitting saviour lay still.

"Hiccup? Hiccup! What's going on? Why is there so much screaming?!"

Several moments passed by, during which he didn't speak, his mind raced and adrenaline surged through his body until he came to a conclusion.

"You know how I always say the gods hate me?" Hiccup asked, still not even bothering to clean his face.

"…Yeah?"

"Sometimes, just sometimes, they make me think differently. This is one of those times."

"What happened? I still don't understand…"

"Kasper happened. Kasper sent me a warning, Bekker. He wants me to stop. Only problem with that is, I won't. No more half measures. Get here as soon as you can. We're going on a stake out together."

…

A/N: Clearly, I can't decide on how and when to end this story… mostly… so there is more to come. Not sure how much more though. Stay tuned guys ;)

B/N: Beta-read and approved for publishing by CommanderGreya.