Where I Belong

by Nightstar Fury

When Hiccup stumbles on an object of his mother's, he realizes that it's a link to the past he's never known. Having enough of his mother's neglect, Hiccup leaves with Toothless to find who he is and ends up on Berk where they start anew and where he learns that everything his mother ever told him was a lie. Including that Berk was his home and his father is chief of the island.

26. Barely Hanging On

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.

Barely Hanging On

Although Valka had told them that the last time Hiccup saved her and got himself captured, he only took a day in getting free and returning to the ice nest, thus far it had already been four days and there was still no sign of him, Astrid and Stoick were deeply worried for him and who was to say that those horrid people were even still in that original location Hiccup had flown them to? They were long gone by now and even Valka, who had such confidence Hiccup would of made it back by now, was worried for him: he was her son, after all. She understood where she went wrong, she understood that since the day her son said he was done with her, when even her own husband sent her away from Berk because he didn't want to lose his son again because of her. Valka understood her mistake and it may very well have cost her Hiccup's life, as she abandoned him for her own selfish reasons.

Valka decided on her own to care more about dragons than her only son, whom she had been blessed by the Gods with to have after losing so many before Hiccup was born. Valka and Stoick both knew that but Astrid never did and while the three of them sat in the nest wondering if Hiccup was alive, she learned a lot. Such as that Valka and Stoick didn't have an easy time conceiving a child or if Valka did get pregnant, the baby wouldn't make it to term, to the full nine months. Instead, she would have a miscarriage or the child would be stillborn. But then finally, as they were about to give up...she discovered she was pregnant again and this time, she made it to seven months before going into early labor, something that had usually happened before to result in the baby being stillborn. However, as weak as this child was...it was born alive and that baby ended up being Hiccup. He was their miracle child and only got one year with both Valka and Stoick before Cloud Jumper-as Astrid had been introduced too now- carried Valka off with the young Hiccup in her arms as well.

Then for 16 long years, Stoick believed both of them were dead when in truth both were alive only days away, living in a ice mountain nest, and saving the lives of dragon from heartless Vikings who only wanted them dead. However, Valka wasn't motherly to Hiccup after he turned four: she began distancing herself and caring more for the dragons than her son, leaving Hiccup alone with only Toothless to care for him. Astrid didn't understand how, after going through all they did when trying to have children, she would just abandon the child that actually survived? Astrid tried to get answers but Valka didn't say much: she just sat moping about with worry about Hiccup's incredibly delayed return because according to her, he should have been back already. Astrid was terrified for her boyfriend's life: he'd said how dangerous this guy-whoever he was-could be. And even before he went in to save his mother, he told them not to worry about him just get to safety. It was as if he knew he'd be captured or might not make it out. And Astrid noticed that when the chain had wrapped around Toothless, instead of letting himself, his mother, and Toothless be captured...he had Cloud Jumper take his mother so only he was taken as prisoner.

Stoick and Astrid could barely sleep or do anything else wondering if Hiccup was alright. "This is taking too long! I'm going to look for him..." Stoick said firmly getting to his feet and prepared to mount Thornado who was already on his feet awaiting his rider. A loud screech filled the nest as everyone froze: it was the call of an incoming Night Fury and the only one in Valka's nest ever was Toothless. They looked around but didn't see him until finally Valka stood and rushed through the rock formations to the back entrance of the nest-the one where Hiccup had taken Stoick and Astrid through upon their arrival and, sure enough, a black dragon flew in over their heads and landed as carefully as it could.

"Go-Good...work, Too-Tooth...less..." came a weakened voice from upon its back, and hearing the name this voice said, it was clear to Valka, Stoick, and Astrid that it was Hiccup's.

"Hiccup?..." Astrid asked quickly rushing over to the side of Toothless and saw the state her boyfriend was in: he was weak, cut up, and barely hanging onto Toothless's saddle. He tried to force a smile to her while panting, his eyes drooping as if were about to pass out and tears filled Astrid's eyes.

"H-hey...beauti...ful. See...told ya...not to worry...about me." Hiccup tried to sit up but he couldn't: his arms gave out and he fell forward, knocking himself unconscious as he did so. His body fell off Toothless's but Astrid skidded under and caught him so he wouldn't hit the ground hard even though Toothless himself was pretty low to the ground so it wouldn't of been a very hard fall to begin with but still. Astrid knew Hiccup was hurt and didn't need more injuries. Stoick rushed over now and looked over Hiccup's body: his armor was gone and so were an weapons he had except for his silver, Gronckle Iron shield. Hiccup only wore a tattered, red tunic, his brown pants, and boots.

"Val, do you have healing ointments and bandages?" Stoick asked quickly.

"Y-Yes...Bring him inside, quickly!" Valka said as she ushered them in. Stoick picked Hiccup's unconscious form up in his arms and rushed behind Valka back into the heart of the nest, Astrid was right behind then and Toothless after her. Once inside, Valka had Stoick lay Hiccup down in his old room where she brought over everything they'd need, or hoped he'd need. Astrid and Stoick worked together to get off the tunic top, and pants leaving him only in his underpants lying there. Astrid was in tears seeing her boyfriend's body: he had to have gone through hours of torture to sustain injuries like this and he had been prisoner for four days. Stoick did what he could to apply ointment and bandage his son up but Hiccup remained unconscious throughout.

"All we can do is wait for him to wake up now..." Stoick sighed stepping back after tenderly covering Hiccup with a blanket. Toothless laid beside Hiccup's bed and whimpered sadly, worried for his rider and friend. Astrid and Stoick grabbed seats and sat down close to Hiccup's bed as well. Valka didn't know what to say: she'd been silent since seeing Hiccup's body. Even after their big fight, he had come looking for her, rescued her, and got captured himself. They still had no idea what had happened and wouldn't until Hiccup awoke but for now it was safe to assume that he was weak, exhausted, and by how swiftly he fell unconscious after landing on Toothless, they assumed he was barely hanging onto that conscious state while flying and right now, they feared he was barely hanging onto his very life.