Where I Belong
Author: Nightstar Fury
Rating: M
Pairing: Hiccup/Astrid
Disclaimer: I don't own the HTTYD movies, or any of the HTTYD series such as Riders of Berk, Defenders of Berk, or Race To The Edge.
A New Start
Waking up the next morning, Hiccup felt better than he had in years it seemed. For once he didn't have to go out and stay up all night rescuing dragons, he didn't have to listen to his mother tell him that he doesn't care enough, he didn't have to cook dinner because his mother was a terrible cook! Officially 7 days since he left and he was positive that he was never going back to the ice nest. Hiccup had been laying awake for close to an hour, he had been up before the sun rose but decided to just lay there enjoying the peace a quiet of a simple home. Hiccup did feel bad in a way though, he didn't give these people his real name. Not that he even knew his real last name, he only knew Hiccup and Skye, the name his mother used. Hiccup didn't know her real name, the only thing he ever called her was mom or mother since he was ten years old. He didn't know what it was about this place, he felt...surprisingly comfortable being on this island known as Berk.
Toothless finally groaned and stretched his legs out before sitting up and laying his head on Hiccup's lap with a gummy smile while Hiccup now sat up to rub his head. "I know, you want to go flying but we can't until you're tail heals bud..." Hiccup said softly. Hiccup finally got out out of the bud as he changed his clothes before slipping on his boots then just his brown armor which was: the brown leather dragon scale looking chest plate, shoulder and forearm protectors. His tunic was a medium green with dark brown pants and leather boots. He attached his two headed weapon to his leg, then his silver shield with the strike class symbol on the front. Stepping out of the room slowly he saw the chief known as Stoick sitting at the table with a mug of water. "Oh, morning sir...I hope I...didn't wake you?" Hiccup asked.
"Not at all. I'm always up before the sun, part of bein chief or so my father always told me." Stoick answered.
"I wouldn't know..." Hiccup rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Yer old man never give ya words to live by?" Stoick arched a brow.
"I've...never known my father. It was just me and my mom for as long as I can remember, she always said he was a bad man who would never change..." Hiccup shrugged.
"I'm sure he can't be that bad. So just yer mom and you before you...took off? She do something you didn't like?" Stoick asked curiously motioning to the chair on the other end of the short wooden table.
"She just...never cared about me. It's always been about the dragons and saving them for her, I used to help her but one day I just decided that my life had to have something more to it than rescuing dragons from people who wanted to kill them. So I just left one night with Toothless, determined to find out who I really am." Hiccup explained, it wasn't a lie but he didn't think this man wanted to know everything.
"So you and yer mother do the dragon thing." Stoick questioned as Hiccup nodded. "Well I've got my duties to see too, I'll take you to the hall to eat and then I'll find someone to give ya a tour, I believe Astrid offered before I came back here last night. Your...friend will have to stay outside though, a few people in the village are still hesitant of a Night Fury being among them." Stoick said.
"Oh it's okay, Toothless and I can handle our own breakfast sir...We're survivors. I wouldn't want to trouble you." Hiccup smiled.
"Are you...certain? One more mouth won't make a difference." Stoick blinked a little.
"Toothless eats almost a whole barrel of fish for breakfast alone sir...Really, I'll take care of me and him...You've already been so kind by letting us stay here. If there is...anything I can do for you please let me know." Hiccup offered.
"I will keep that in mind, Einarr. Thank you son." Stoick now stood with a head nod before opening the door to head out. "Oh, morning kids. On your way to the hall?" Stoick asked curiously when he saw Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and the twin standing there.
"We came to see if Einarr wanted to join us too, is he awake?" Astrid asked.
"Sure is. I'll check on ya later." Stoick walked off towards the food store house as Hiccup and Toothless made their way outside now seeing the group of five teens there before him, he smiled with a wave.
"Morning, Einarr. We thought you might want company in the hall." Fishlegs beamed.
"Well I was about to go get breakfast for Toothless and I if you want to come...?" Hiccup offered.
"What are you two gonna eat?" Astrid asked.
"Same as we always do...Fish." Hiccup chuckled as he and Toothless began walking towards the beach area, the teens looked at one another and followed after him.
"So like...How old are you, Einarr?" Ruffnut asked.
"17 as of last week." Hiccup replied calmly.
"Cool, you're older than all of us. Well Fishlegs and I turn 17 in three weeks, Snotlout in seven weeks, and the twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut turn 17 in 15 weeks." Astrid smiled softly.
"So...making sure I have names right...You're Astrid, right?" Hiccup asked, she nodded to him.
"Yeah. Astrid Hofferson: Shield Maiden of Berk. This is Fishlegs Ingerman: Resident fact knower. This is Snotlout Jorgenson, he's Stoick's nephew: Sarcastic, cocky creep. Finally the twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston: Village trouble-making tricksters." Astrid introduced.
"Well if everyone has titles...I'm Einarr Riddari: Dragon rider, rescuer, artist, and inventor." Hiccup chuckled as everyone but Snotlout laughed while they reached beach area.
"So you're gonna fish, with what? Your shield?" Snotlout asked with a chuckle.
"Thor no...That would be way to easy. Ready Toothless?" Hiccup asked hopping on his friend's back, Toothless warbled with a grin almost as Hiccup pulled out a net from the saddlebag then the two took to the sky and dove in the deep water, the group watched closely as Hiccup and Toothless emerged from the water with a net full of fish that they placed on the beach before landing. "I fish with my best friend." Hiccup said as Snotlout's mouth hung open in disbelief. Toothless roasted a pile of 20 or so for Hiccup and the others if they wanted any then began to eat about 50 of his own contently. Hiccup grabbed a stick, gave it a sharpen before starting to eat one of the fish. "You guys can have some too ya know?" Hiccup told them.
"Wow, thanks Einarr...You're awesome." Tuffnut said getting one of the fish to eat, the others did too. Astrid sat closest to Hiccup, the others around enjoying the food quietly and talking about random things which Hiccup couldn't really add too since all he ever knew was the nest and no one outside of it aside from people capturing dragons that he and his mother saved. Other than that, he told them how he met Toothless and learned to fly him: the others were engrossed in the story of how this guy at only three years old became friends with a Night Fury, and learned to fly him at only eight years old. The others told stories of their childhood too, except Snotlout who was basically silent watching the others swoon over Einarr. He didn't like it, not even a full day and everyone was falling in love with this guy and the fact he had a Night Fury, that he worked with dragons all the time. After a good hour, Astrid offered to give him a tour so they got up to start that.
"If you work with dragons all the time then maybe next raid you can help us out, Einarr. If you know another way besides killing them and no one getting hurt then I'm sure the chief would be behind it all the way." Astrid told him.
"Maybe...I don't want to just show up and change everything...I just want dragons and humans both safe, no more fighting..." Hiccup replied to her, she nodded understanding as the two headed back to the village to start the tour and of course Toothless wasn't far behind. Fishlegs, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, and Snotlout had to do their chores but Astrid was allowed to skip hers because she offered to give Einarr the tour the night before to Stoick and he said it was okay. Hiccup actually smiled, this kind'a felt nice. Is this how it felt to be around people? He loved it, this was definitely a perfect new start.