Unintentional Hero
Author: Nightstar Fury of Nightstar Productions
Rated: M for a variety of things that will happen
Pairing: Hiccup/Astrid
Disclaimer: I do not own HTTYD
2; Squad Leader
-Hayden's POV-
Everything happened so quickly after I'd been woken up by Theodore, Theo for short. We were ordered to get our bags, then go to the main building-on the double too. So we rushed and made it there in under five minutes. Once inside we were all panting and seeing people try to relax from the running but it didn't last: instantly we were told to form up together in a square with our hands by our sides and to remain silent while paying close attention. From there we were told what the next ten weeks would be like for us: in a word. Hell. It was only an hour into this and all of us new recruits had been yelled at several times for either fidgeting or some other stupid reason. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea since I was a sarcastic little shit who didn't like to be yelled and took every chance I got to make someone else look like the fool: however, I knew in the military that wouldn't fly at all and I'd be up to my auburn tips in push ups and sits up if I mouthed off, so first lesson I taught myself after signing up was to shut up and speak when spoken too.
We stood for hours being briefed about our time here, learning the basic commands we'd hear every day from our drill sergeant who we also haven't had the pleasure of meeting yet. We were told we'd meet our drill sergeants when we got separated into our barrack groups. There were about 150 of us and judging by what I was hearing we'd be split up into groups of twenty-five. Each group got their own letter assigned barrack. We arrived at this camp around 12:15pm, and currently it was about 3:20pm. I was glad I ate before I left home because others were suffering. We had to get rid of any drinks or food we had turn over our wallets, phones, and more into small personal bags that we'd get back later after all this was over. We went over the rules, and the schedule for how every day would go until graduation which our families would be invited to a week before the ceremony itself.
Finally around 4pm, we had our uniforms, bags, hygienic, and laundry stuff. We'd be given three towels each, one bar of soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, and anything else we might need to last us the week. We'd get to resupply on Saturday, except for towels and clothes. We had to do our own laundry but that was to be expected. Now hauling our bags we were being separated into our barracks. There didn't seem to be a particular order, just six barracks with twenty-five of us per barrack and obviously we couldn't complain or reassign. Whoever we were with, we were with for the next two and a half months. I guessed I'd better make friends and not have problems with my group or I'd have a big problem.
"The people you room with will be your squad for the next ten weeks! And the barrack partner you are given will be making up the rest of your platoon members so best get along." yelled the instructor.
"Sir, yes sir!" the room replied.
"Good! Now listen up! You are all the 2nd Berk Infantry. Alpha Armourwing Company." As he went through the barracks, he also announced the drill sergeant for each. Barracks A and C were read off and given the name Tracker platoon. Next became B and F which became Stoker platoon. Finally the room was beginning to clear which meant everyone left including myself was either barrack D or E and these people would be in my platoon. Hopefully I got along with them all. "For those of you left, you're either Barrack E or D, you will become Strike platoon. Let's make it easy. If your last name falls between A and M you are Barrack D with Drill Sergeant Thomas Ramirez. N through Z are Barrack E with Drill Sergeant Todd Amunsav. Dis-missed!" the instructor called out.
Okay so Drill Sergeant Thomas Ramirez, hopefully he wasn't a complete ass. Who was I kidding? This was the military-they were all assholes. Silently moving with my new squad we got outside and headed to our barrack, D. Sure enough he was there and waiting. "From this moment on your asses our mine, maggots!" the man began in a loud voice. "You will call me Drill Sergeant. Nothing else! Is that understood?!"
"Yes Drill Sergeant!" we all replied to him.
"Good! I am giving you fifteen minutes to pick your bunk pal and unpack. Starting now!" He stood with his arms behind his back, feet shoulder width apart, watching us scramble.
"Hey, Hayden, wanna bunk with me?" Theodore asked. Oh, thank Thor-I had one friend.
"Sure, Theo. Pick where ya wanna be?" I smiled. He picked a bunk close to the bathrooms and he gave me the top since he was a bigger guy. We unpacked our things in record time with two minutes to spare as we stood in front of our bunk straight, feet together and hands at our sides. By unpacking, it meant doing everything: beds to be made, boots lined up at the ready, hygienic and bathroom items away, uniforms in the stand up closet, and nothing looking out of place. Thank Odin I was semi OCD and liked everything in its place. The Drill Sergeant peered our way as he blew a air horn to signal time was up. Every stood how Theo and I were as the Drill Sergeant looked over everything. What I hadn't noticed was one of the other guys accidentally pulled my blanket out of position and sure enough...I didn't see it until it was too late.
He stopped right in front of me and took a deep breath, "What is your name, maggot!?"
"Hayden Haddock, Drill Sergeant." I replied respectfully.
"I don't like my barracks out of place and your blanket is out of place! Do you like mess maggot!?" he screamed. Oooh I wanted to punch him in the face.
"No, Drill Sergeant!" I yelled back.
"Drop and give me twenty-five, Haddock!" He yelled again. I fought the urge to groan as I got down and forced myself to do the push ups. Note to self, double check everything so this didn't happen again. By the fifteenth push up, my arms felt like jell-o but I kept going. When I had done, I stood back in position.
"It won't happen again, Drill Sergeant!" I stated firmly. He eyed me then backed up.
"It best not." DS Ramirez huffed and walked away to keep inspecting. Theo glanced my way and apologized for moving the blanket by accident. I shrugged it off and we waited for next orders. And here it was only day one out of ten weeks. I almost cringed hearing the DS yell at someone else for their shirt being untucked. This was going to be a long ten weeks for sure.
(Weeks Later)
Turned out the first three weeks were mainly book work, first aid, and radios. Seemed easy enough to me. First aid and radio work that was, book work on the other hand was all learning the laws and protocols of the military. We'd learned military time, and Gods if we didn't know our routine schedules like the back of our heads which were now all shaved unless you were a female- in which case, it had be back neatly. In those three weeks we also did drill ceremony, and M-16 practice. First time I fired the gun it pushed me back and that landed me an fifty push ups, half mile run, and fifteen sit ups. But I definitely didn't let that gun push me back again. We got personal time after 8:00pm to do laundry, call home or spend with friends in the barracks. I only had Theo and another kid my age named Oivind Flinvor.
So the first few weeks were phase one, now we were in the second week of phase two. Working on unarmed combat, survival exercises, more gun work too. So here we were on week five of ten total. Half way done and I was doing just fine. I was sore and tired but all the work gave me stamina I didn't think was possible and I even bulked up a bit, nothing big but you could see the muscles coming in. I wondered how things were back home, I had calls from my dad, Cami, Avery, and Seth but I never really called back. I was still mad that my father made a scene before I got on the bus to leave five weeks ago. But I couldn't ignore them could I...well, not Cami at least.
"What's up bro?" Oivind asked as he saw me jump down off my bunk and pull out my phone.
"Nothing, gotta call home." I said pressing Cami's contact and waiting, after two rings she answered and I swore I was deaf in one ear.
"HAYDEN!" Cami screamed. I'm pretty sure everyone in the barrack heard it.
"Could you stop yelling, Cami. For fucks sake woman...I get yelled at all day by my DS, I don't need it from you too." I mumbled back to her.
"Don't you give me that! It's been five weeks and we've barely heard from you!" Cami shouted. I rolled my eyes.
"Maybe because I don't feel like talking to Dad. And the only time I can call is when he's home..." I replied.
"Well he's busy right now, something about a big case tomorrow. So how are you?" I smiled, there's my happy sister.
"I'm great, got five weeks left..." I told her.
"Are you survivin?"
"Of course I am. Fifty push ups, twenty sit ups, and two mile runs a day is the life sis...How's school?" I asked her.
"Boring without you...Ethan and Dylan keep harassing us..." Cami answered softly.
"What do you mean by harassing?" I asked now: she began to explain it all and it honestly pissed me off. I didn't like hearing my sister cry, especially when I couldn't be there to hug and comfort her. "I got five weeks left and if they don't quit, I'll kick their asses myself. I ain't no twig anymore sis..." I beamed proudly.
"Can't wait to see you. Are you coming home after Basic?"
"Yeah, we're all supposed to get at least a week before being assigned to our bases," I told her.
"Dad! No, I'm talking to him right now!" I heard Cami whimper. Go figure Dad would take the phone from her.
"Hayden Haddock, how dare you not call for three weeks!"
"Oh come off it, Dad. I've been busy," I groaned. More arguing and I got fed up after ten minutes, "For the love of Thor will you just shut up!" Now I had the entire barrack looking at me so I moved outside. "I don't care how much you don't like that I joined, I did and I'm staying! Get over it. And maybe I would have stayed home if you would have stopped trying to make me be you and let me be me! I'll never be you! You suck! I called to talk to Cami, not you. I'm not having this argument again! Stop trying to control my fucking life!"
"Don't you dare hang-" he began.
"Fuck you!" I interrupted then ended the call and stuffed the phone back in my pocket. Before entering the barrack I saw others come out of theirs. "Mind your own damn business!" I marched back into my barrack and got my sweats and hoodie on.
"Where are you going, Haddock?" DS Ramirez's voice stopped me, I sighed.
"For a run before personal time is over, Drill Sergeant." I replied calmly.
"You know you aren't supposed to go alone." DS reminded, Theo got up, Oivind too.
"We'll go with him, Drill Sergeant." they offered. DS seemed satisfied and backed off but not before I felt him put a hand on my shoulder and give me a gentle shake.
"Don't let it get to ya, Haddock. You can't please them all," he told me, I nodded as I finished tying my boots and left the barracks with Theo and Oivind. Once outside, they jogged but I bolted as fast as I could. Every phone conversation with Dad since I left ended the same way. I hated it! While running, I don't know where it came from but I just yelled out as loud as I could into the darkness. I spent a good hour outside before realizing we had to go back to the barracks for lights out. I got ready for bed and laid down after checking my phone, I saw a text from Camille.
I really miss you, Hiccup...I just want to hug you. Sleep well, hopefully talk to you tomorrow. Always, -Sis
I put my phone down and closed my eyes, I ended up knocking out before lights out was even ordered.
(Week Eight)
Weeks five through seven were pretty easy, more combat training and exercises to to test ourselves with unexpected situations, how fast we handle them and find a solution. We worked on war things, medevacs, positions, movements, codes, commands, and more too. I hadn't called anyone since the fight with Dad, I knew anytime I did call he would take the phone from Cami and we'd just fight so now we just texted but most of the time because of the training, I was whooped. I'd made a few more friends, others whose dads weren't happy about their joining either. I was in a barrack with guys sixteen and older, ranging to the twenties. It was personal time again, the others were doing their laundry, I did mine the night before so I could relax tonight, DS Ramirez came out of his room and we all stood in position for orders. It didn't matter the time of day, when he came out in uniform we got ready.
"Maggots! I've just been informed that starting tomorrow for seven days, you're all going into the forest for survival training. You'll be in full gear, with your 'weapons'," the Drill Sergeant informed us. Now when he said weapons, he meant the drill guns that fired blanks but if we used them in training, they'd send a signal back to base where our trainers would be watching the speed and accuracy of shot. "It's wild dragon territory too so be mindful. I've been asked to select your squad leader who will be in charge and you do as you're told. He runs the mission. Your leader will be..." he paused as we waited.
"Haddock!" came another voice, it was DS Amunsav from barrack E. I didn't move but answered still.
"Yes, Drill Sergeant?" I said firmly.
"You have a personal call in my barrack office. Not sure why it came to me but it did." I moved out of position now, I knew I wasn't supposed to but if I had a personal call then something was wrong. "Come with me," he said. I nodded slipping on my boots but then my phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out and it was Dad calling. Really? I was half tempted to ignore it but if he was calling then something might actually be wrong. It was personal time, I was allowed.
"What, Dad?" I answered. I listened as he explained that there was a small explosion at the house. "Are you kidding me!?" I yelled. "What the hell did you do now!" He explained that there was a gas leak and when he lit the fire place it just exploded. "I told you to get the gas line checked months ago! I told you I smelled gas in the house, why can't you even listen to me! You wonder why mom spent so much time in the military!" I growled almost. "How much of the house is destroyed?" He tells me the living room, kitchen, my room and part of Cami's. "That's not a small explosion, Dad! That's more than half the house itself! We only live in a one level four bedroom! Oh Gods, is Cami alright?! Is she hurt!? I could care less about the house, I know the insurance will fix it. Is my sister alright?!" I asked.
"It's not a big deal, Hayden. She's fine son, the blast...knocked her into the wall. We're at the hospital right now, doctor says she should be fine..." I glared almost.
"My sister got knocked back into the wall in the explosion because of your mistake and is in the hospital! You think that's not a big deal!? I joined the military to do better things, to do the right thing but it's pretty fucking sad my own father can't manage the house without his sixteen year old son around! When Cami is up to talking, you tell her to call me and if I need to leave, I will. I won't let you endanger my little sister because you're pissy that I left home. I want to talk to her, not you! Until then, I got shit to do," I told him harshly. I didn't care all eyes were on me.
"I'm your father, Hayden! You're MY son and you can't just dismiss me!" he argued. Of course he did although I hadn't realized I accidentally turned on the speakerphone when he said that.
"Since the day I signed those papers at the recruiter's office, I haven't belonged to you. I belong the the military now and I'm proud to be here but you wouldn't know proud if it slapped you in the face because ever since mom died you haven't been proud of a single thing I've done. Not making straight A's from the time I was ten, not when I saved Cami from being hit by a car and broke my leg, not for anything! And I'm sick of it. The only reason you don't want me in the military is because you think I'm going to get killed like Mom did. Awesome, I feel the love, Dad. I'm glad my own father has so much confidence in me. Mom and Cloud Jumper were KIA, Dad. Killed in action. They were shot out of the sky and landed in enemy fire. There was nothing that anyone could of done! I'm almost sure Dad, that if Mom were alive...she wouldn't be too proud with how you've handled things since her death. Now for the last time...leave me alone. I don't want to see you, talk to you, hear from you...anything until after I graduate. Have Cami call me either before 2100 hours tonight," I told him firmly.
"Uh...what hundred now?" I smacked my forehead.
"For the love of...just have her call me before 9:30pm tonight. Tomorrow I'll be on a seven day mission in the forest with my squad... and unreachable," I sighed.
"No need to get huffy, Hayden. I'll have her call you, and be safe."
"Like you care what happens to me...I'll be fine, don't you worry. I know how to handle myself..." I hung up.
The room was silent now, all eyes on me as I tossed my phone on the bed and stood back in position quietly. "Are you…?" Theo began.
"I'm fine," I retorted. Both DS's were looking at me now, "I apologize for my outburst and interrupting, Drill Sergeant." I stated more calmly.
"Right, as I was saying maggots. Starting tomorrow, survival training in wild dragon territory. Your leader will be...Haddock." I froze, I was being chosen as squad leader?! "Over the last eight weeks, he's shown exemplary work in all fields. So, Private Haddock will be your squad leader. You will be briefed at 0500 hours. Get your rest, boys-you're gonna need it!" DS Ramirez ordered.
"Yes, Drill Sergeant." we replied before he set us as dismissed to return to our business. I couldn't believe it. Me as team leader for the entire D barrack for seven days in the wilderness? How had I shown the best work in all fields, I was getting yelled at half the time. I guess I couldn't argue, so tomorrow then I'd be in charge of myself and twenty-four others for this mission. After being dismissed, I laid in my bed with my arms behind my head. I couldn't believe my father, he irritated me to no end. I was worried about Camille but I guess I'd have to wait to find out for now. Sure enough about ten minutes before personal time was over, Cami called me, crying. I tried to talk her down as much as I could but she just wanted me home and she freaked out more when I told her I was unreachable for seven days.
"I'll be okay, Cami...get some rest, I'll talk to you soon, okay? I love you, sis," I told her. She told me she loved me too and I hung up. I put my phone to charge then rolled over and went to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be long, so would the days following that until this mission was over. I knew I needed sleep and prayed to Odin I didn't let down the people I was leading the next seven days.
