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 Hairy Hooligan

-Hiccup's POV-

These last two months of my life had been nothing short of amazing. Everyone had gotten used to having Toothless around, he was even allowed in the Great Hall with me to eat meals with my friends. That's right, I had friends! Astrid, Fishlegs, Ruffnut, and Tuffnut. I wanted to call Snotlout my friend but even two months later, I still don't think he really likes me all that much. Astrid and I actually were getting a lot closer, she loved to hang out with me and ask all kinds of dragon facts and it was kind of cute that she always was one of the first people to sit down beside me for any meal at all. If we were walking, she was always the one next to me and then Ruffnut too. Gobber told me he had a feeling that it might be due to the two of them trying to win my affection. I was confused at first, Gobber laughed at me but he understood that all my life had really just been dragons so how was I to pick up on signs that girls were and I quote, "Crushing" on me.

I didn't mind actually, it was kind of nice to have them challenging one another to see who I'd choose to be with but honestly it hadn't been the first thing on my mind. I was honestly wondering if my mother was okay. Sure she never showed an ounce of caring about me but she was still a human and I worried about her. I already didn't have a dad, not one I knew at least but I didn't want to ever go back to the nest and find out she had died or something. Or maybe she just didn't care at all, she always said I wasn't enough for her and her dragon rescuing. And hell, it had been two months and she hadn't bothered to track me down. She could of easily found me with the types of dragons she had in the nest. Oh well right, at least I was accepted here on Berk, so was Toothless.

I loved working for Gobber, it was amazing. He taught me so much more than I already knew and I showed him what I know. A lot of Berk was using Gronckle Iron made weapons and they loved it, what was odd was that there hadn't been a single raid since I arrived which Stoick and the others said was strange because they used to get them at least once or twice a week. But I'd been here two months and nothing, the only dragons there were the ones I used. So Toothless and a Gronckle I named Ironstone who mainly stayed in the forge with Gobber along with a healthy supply of rocks that made Gronckle Iron and regular ones, and some fish too. Turns out I'd completely forgotten to show Gobber or anyone my shield made of Gronckle Iron and that ended up being a huge hit. It was much more than just an indestructible shield. It was also a single shot bola launcher, catapult, grappling line, boomerang, and crossbow.

They didn't believe me at first so I had to show them as an example and they were also shocked to find out I'd made it when I was 15. Why was it hard to believe that a teen with so much time on his hands during the day built such a thing? Oh did I mention that Astrid turned 17 too? I reinforced her ax that had been past its sharpening limit originally or so she told me. A weapon past its sharpening limit meant it couldn't be sharpened or used again because the force needed would shatter the metal so I shattered it on purpose and used all the original pieces along with some pieces of Gronckle Iron to make it stronger, and lighter for her to use with all the sharpness of a new blade that couldn't wear down easy. Needless to say, it earned me a hug and kiss on the cheek. And I think this might have been the day that I realized I was developing what Gobber called a 'crush' on Astrid because when I was around her, I couldn't stop smiling. Also my heart would race, and pound in my chest.

Gobber told me to tell her but I was hesitant. I had been told I could stay until Toothless healed and today marked two months since his tail injury so after he was healed, Stoick might make us leave. So far he'd been tolerant of everything, we even made conversation a few times and I got to walk around with him when he was chiefing. It was kind of nice, Stoick and Gobber were like father figures to me given I've never had one or known anything about my real father and I doubted I'd ever find out. Not like I had any clues others than the necklace which I still kept hidden, I wanted to know but at the same time...I didn't. I liked Berk, I wanted to stay here as long as they'd allow me too. With all these thoughts in my head, I didn't realize it was just about sunrise but something was wrong. It was far too quiet in the house, normally I'd hear Stoick up already. In the silence as I was about to get up I heard, "DRAGON RAID!" My eyes widened as I jumped to my feet, got on my armor and grabbed my mother's staff. She used it to control the dragons during rescue mission, it would work for a raid too. Wouldn't it? Hiccup certainly hoped so.

"Come on, Toothless. We gotta help out bud..." I told my draconic friend, he huffed in response as we rushed outside to see everything. Now I understood why they killed dragons, this was madness but this wasn't typical behavior for dragons. Something else was going on, something bigger. I spotted my friends and rushed over to them.

"Einarr! Thank Thor you're here..." Astrid said quickly.

"What can I do to help?" I asked in response.

"Lets talk to Stoick, he'll know." Fishlegs offered, with that decided on we made our way towards Stoick.

"Chief, what can we do?" Astrid asked first.

"I don't know. We haven't had a raid in months! You." Stoick pointed to me, "You're the dragon expert here, what is going on?"

"I rescue dragons sir...I've never had to...stop a full blown raid before but...this isn't normal behavior for dragons. Unless they are agitated they shouldn't be acting this way. There may be an underlying issue..." I explained quickly to the man before me.

"Can you stop them, Einarr?" Ruffnut asked.

"I-I wouldn't know unless I tried...I've got my mother's alpha staff, she used it to herd dragons to safety...Maybe I can get them to leave..." I replied showing the staff hooked to my back.

"Let him try, Stoick...Its worth a shot to try at least..." Astrid defended my idea now.

"You get one chance. If you can't stop them...Then I have to do what is necessary to defend the village." Stoick said, I nodded to him. I turned to Toothless now with a smile.

"Have your tribe stand back sir...Ready Toothless, perfect time to test out that tail." I said, Toothless grinned almost as I unhooked the staff from my back and climbed on his back after undoing the wrappings and letting the boards fall. Toothless moved it around a bit and crooned at me. "Toothless, take us up." I told him as I crouched a bit holding the bar of the saddle as Toothless prepared to take off.

"Hey...Be careful up there..." Astrid told me softly with concerned eyes. I nodded to her as Toothless launched, I heard Stoick call back his tribe to all stand together and out of the way looking up at me on my Night Fury.

"Please let this work..." I prayed as my eyes narrowed and lifted the staff over my head, holding one end of it as I stood straight on Toothless's back then began to whirl it around quickly as it seemed to let off a howl and the dragons responded to it. All of them slowly wither lifted from the ground or houses flying in the air following the the whirl pattern of the staff.

-Regular POV-

"Woah...Are you seein what I'm seein?" Tuffnut and Ruffnut said together, Astrid only smiled. It was working, Einarr's plan was working. In the sky standing firmly on Toothless, Hiccup took a breath.

"Alright bud...Let's do this." Hiccup said as the two slowly lowered to the ground and Hiccup stopped the whirling, he slammed the staff down as it made a rattle like noise. The dragons descended slowly, around him and bowing their heads. Hiccup lifted the staff as the dragons raised their heads watching closely. "Settle my friends, these people are not your enemies...They will not harm you. You mustn't destroy their home or take their food..." Hiccup told the dragons who lowered their heads again. "Now off with you, there is no raiding this island. Its under mine and the alpha's protection..." Hiccup added lifting the staff and whipping it off towards the Northern direction. Toothless began to glow blue with a low growl as the dragons took to the sky above and flew off without a fuss.

"How did...you do that?" Gobber asked first after he got off Toothless and faced them.

Hiccup shrugged a little, "Honestly, I have no idea. This staff was made from the scales of the alpha dragon known as the Bewilderbeast, the king of all dragons. Toothless has an alpha mode, the staff gives off certain sounds depending how it's used. All in all, its really just...kindness and understanding that they respond too." Hiccup smiled.

"You did well son." Stoick nodded with a smile and nod. "You stopped the raid, no food was taken, and no one was hurt. Well done indeed."

"Just doing...what I do best sir." I offered a bow.

"And I think what you do best is something Berk could use full time, Einarr." Stoick said, Hiccup's eyes widened. "I know your dragon is healed now and you said you had a mission to fulfill but I want you to know that no matter where you go from here...You will always have a place here on Berk among this tribe. You can come back anytime ya like or if ya choose to stay, I'm happy to make ya an official member of the Hairy Hooligan tribe to Berk."

"Y-You mean...that? I can stay here...on Berk as...part of the tribe?" Hiccup asked shocked, Stoick nodded to him. Hiccup couldn't believe it, the chief was...allowing him to stay on Berk and become a member of the tribe? How could he...possibly say no! He had a home, a real home!

"Stay, Einarr! Stay with us! Please!?" Astrid pleaded now as she smiled wide.

Now he really couldn't say no, he smiled to her nodding, then to the chief nodding again. "I'll stay. I want to stay here on Berk and...be part of the tribe." Hiccup replied.

"Then from this moment forward...Einarr Riddari and his dragon, the Night Fury known as Toothless are members of the Hairy Hooligan tribe who reside on the island of Berk." Stoick announced, the village erupted into applause for them. Toothless roared out happily as he shot a blast into the early morning sky the dispersed into purple waves. Astrid couldn't contain herself, she hugged Einarr tightly jumping up and down while Fishlegs and Tuffnut then hoisted him onto their shoulders with more cheering. Stoick chuckled, "And you're welcome to stay with me son. I rather enjoy having the company." Hiccup couldn't believe it, he was incredibly happy. He had his best friend, Toothless and now his other friends and crush. As well he had a village, a tribe...He had...a home. He was a Hairy Hooligan now and he couldn't be happier about it.