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.
It Doesn't Matter
Hiccup had been unconscious for close to 24 hours now, showing no signs of movement, waking up, or even life except for his very slow breathing. Stoick and Astrid hadn't moved from their spots near his bed except to either eat, sleep, or relieve themselves and even then, they took shifts so Hiccup wasn't sitting alone even though Toothless hadn't left Hiccup's side even once, Valka brought him fish to eat though. "Why...isn't he waking up..." Astrid asked finally.
"He must of went through a lot lass...His body needs time to recover, and his brain needs to catch up to his body and realize it's safe again..." Stoick replied softly. Astrid sighed heavily as she took Hiccup's hand in hers and used her thumb to stroke the back of his hand, slight tears forming in her eyes.
"Hiccup...Babe, you have to get up..." Astrid told him, "It's time to wake up now, you're safe...I promise and no one will ever hurt you again..." As usual, there had been no response to show he was listening. Toothless whimpered softly as he nudged his rider's face, huffing at him, and licking Hiccup's cheek. Toothless was trying too but Hiccup wasn't waking up, whatever he went through on that ship in the hands of those people had to of been bad.
"Who were those people, Val?..." Stoick asked turning his head to Valka.
"Dragon hunters, led by a man who goes by the name of Drago Bludvist. He captures dragons, sells them off for money, or kills them if they are of no use to him. He's smart, and always one step ahead of Hiccup and I...We've had trouble with him before and barely made it out without being caught. The times we were, Hiccup saved me and Cloud Jumper but stayed behind to let us get away. And Toothless always stayed with him." Valka explained.
"Drago...Bludvist?" Stoick asked. "The madman who thinks he can control the dragons?"
"That would be him, yes. You've met him before?" Valka asked.
"Aye. It was years ago when there was a gathering of chieftains to discuss the dragon scourge we all faced. Then he came into our midst saying his name was Drago Bludvist and that he alone could control the dragons if we chose to bow down to him. We laughed, then he wrapped himself in his cloak and walked away saying 'then see how well you do without me'. An army of armored dragons descended on the hall, burning it to the ground and I was the only one to escape alive..." Stoick closed his eyes now.
"And Hiccup...a dragon rider on a Night Fury, was at his evident, non-merciful hands for four days..." Astrid whimpered a bit holding Hiccup's hand still as she kissed his forehead.
"Toothless doesn't appear to be harmed, they probably tortured Hiccup for his information on dragons, the nest, or how to ride them." Valka said.
"And that makes it better?! He's fighting for his life right now!" Astrid scolded, before she could continue she heard slight groaning and something squeeze her hand slightly. Whipping her head around she saw Hiccup's breathing had quickened, and deepened a bit. "Hiccup?!" Astrid asked with wide, worried eyes.
"As-Astrid?" Hiccup whispered out weakly. She leaned over so he could see her better, she watched his head turn and eyes begin to open.
"Yes, it's me...I'm here babe. I'm here..." Astrid said softly stroking his face a bit. Hiccup's eyes opened more now as he saw his father, mother, and Astrid standing there. Hearing a croon, he turned his head to see Toothless.
"Hey bud..." Hiccup smiled a bit, Toothless nudged his face worried. "Yeah I'm okay...You saved my life, Toothless...Thank you." Hiccup let go of Astrid's hand as he sat up slowly with a grunt and wrapped his arms around Toothless's neck. "You're the best friend I've ever had." Toothless warbled and pressed into the hug the best he could. The two separated as Hiccup looked over to see his dad, Astrid and his mother again.
"Thank Thor you're alright son..." Stoick sighed in relief as he carefully hugged Hiccup next, then Astrid did. Valka wanted too but wasn't sure if Hiccup would be up for such a thing given how they left things on Berk.
"What happened to you..." Astrid asked trying not to cry, Hiccup only kissed her softly which she returned.
"Ssh now. It doesn't matter, I got away." Hiccup moved some of her blond hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ear as she nestled into his palm.
"But it does matter...Look at what he did to you..." Astrid whimpered slightly.
"Hey, I don't care...I'm alive, and that's what matters." Hiccup replied as he kissed her again and she sat beside him laying her head on his shoulder but refusing to let go of his hand. His eyes turned onto his mother now, "You," She flinched a bit at the change in his voice and the sudden coldness to his eyes which were narrowed, "I didn't leave Berk to come save you. I didn't even know you were captured until after my girlfriend, my father, and I arrived here. What the hell were you thinking going there by yourself! You know how hard it was with two people and this isn't the first time I've risked my life to save yours!" Hiccup growled out.
"I just...He'd been to quiet lately and I wanted to see what he was planning...Drago wasn't even there, his men didn't spot me. Drago did when he sailed in on another ship...I was captured only about four hours before you arrived..." Valka explained.
"It doesn't matter, you knew it was dangerous to be anywhere near them. They could of beaten, starved, whipped, or raped you mother! You know they'll do anything to get their hands on the information we have for dragon training and riding and Thor forbid he got his hands on Iceshot...We'd all be done for." Hiccup reminded. Valka winced at his anger, and closed her eyes. "I didn't know you'd been captured, not until you didn't return the next morning. I found your map and tracked you...You were barely hanging to consciousness when I found you!" Hiccup saw her about to cry and he stopped yelling, he sighed heavily as Toothless brought him over a pair of green pants which he slid on and tied off then stood up. "What did they do to you?" He said calmer.
"I just got hit a few times, that was it...They kept me locked up the rest of it..." She replied rubbing her arm a bit.
"Good...Then I got there at the right time then..." Hiccup stated mumbling as he crossed his arms over his chest and winced a bit.
"How did you get away?..." Valka asked.
"I did what I always do...Take whatever they do, and wait for my opening to strike." Hiccup answered.
"Son...What did they do to you?" Stoick asked softly, Hiccup glanced his way then closed his eyes.
"It doesn't matter. It's over now..." He replied which worried Valka, Astrid, and Stoick. "Now that you're actually here...I can do what I came here to do...I want answers, mother. And you're going to tell me what I want to know or I'm going to leave here and never look back or return. I will make you cease to exist from my life which you've already stolen years from with your selfishness. You owe me this much, especially after I came back here and saved your ass. So sit." Hiccup said. Valka sat down with a nod as she looked to him. He didn't care that he'd just woken up from being unconscious for 24 hours, he didn't care how much pain his body was suffering. He came to the nest for answers and he wasn't leaving without them.