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

12; Soldier At Work

His army buds knew he was pissed off, but they didn't expect it to last as long as it had. Since the night of the patrol gone horribly wrong when his unit, Lieutenant, Major, and Colonel heard him yell at his own father, they noticed the severe mood shift that hadn't altered in the slightest since it occurred. Generally, Hayden was a calm guy and knew how to have a good time and laugh when they had some quiet time but even when those times had come in the last two months...Hayden didn't budge at all and they were incredibly worried for him. Any off time they had was spent talking among themselves with slight glanced towards Hayden to see him silently laying on his bed, legs crossed, arms behind his head, and eyes closed with very distinct look of irritation on his face. In missions, Hayden still did all he was supposed to. It might have been the only time they saw any form of fire or drive in him which was concerning also. The higher officers tried to offer him someone to talk to but he declined and just went about whatever it was he was doing at the time, more often than not: sitting on his bed silently.

(Berk)

It was now January, a new year had started with Hayden being in Afghanistan. It had been two months since Hayden yelled at his father after coming out of a very scary situation and on top of all that happened, when he came back to base on Toothless he had been wounded not that he cared. They knew Hayden could hold a grudge and Thor help the soul that Hayden held a grudge on because unless you miraculously got on his good side, then that person would forever be nothing more than an irritation to him and would fight constantly. Camille and Avery our of everyone were worried the most, Hayden hadn't spoken to anyone since that night he called them two months ago. Gerald had been actually a little afraid to try and call Hayden since he said if they had one more fight than Hayden would refuse to talk to anyone until his deployment ended and the only way they'd know about him was through news reports.

Camille was in Algebra with Avery and Felix. TJ and Rachel were in Science, and Seth was in Language Arts. She would of given anything for Hayden to walk through the door like he did four months before when he came home at the end of September and surprised her in class. Camille was depressed as ever, this was now two Thanksgivings, Christmases, and in February, two of their own birthdays that Hayden had missed because of military things. She hated it so much, she only got one week with him after he'd been gone ten months on deployment, technically a year because he'd left for Basic in October 2016 and deployed immediately after Basic in December 2016. He came home ten months later making it September 2017, then re-deployed early from his two week leave the first week of October, and had been in Afghanistan four months since then. Now it was January 2018, and she hadn't heard from him in two months. No calls, texts, letters, or Skype. Camille was almost done with Sophomore year and she'd barely seen her brother at all in the last two years.

Tears formed in her eyes but she didn't let them fall, also in her class right now was Dylan, Ethan, and Dylan's sister, Heather. She wouldn't cry in front of them, they'd tease her for missing her brother so much. She just wanted to know if he was okay...She'd give anything to know that one piece on information. A text would be enough, but she doubted he would. He was very angry that night two months ago. The bell ringing brought her from her thoughts of her twin brother as it was time for lunch hour. She had lunch with all of her friends which was good because she could really use the comfort right now.

(Lunch Room; 11:45am)

It was twenty minutes into lunch making it 12:05pm as Camille sat with Avery, Felix, Rachel, Seth, and TJ. They were all eating and talking about possible plans for the upcoming summer which Camille felt would suck for her again. Camille was very distracted during lunch, her friends saw her just staring off into nothing. Then her friends heard something, vibrating against the table where Camille's phone was. It was lighting up with a call, and the icon had Hayden's face. "Camille! Hayden's calling you on Skype!" Rachel said quickly shaking her friend, Camille snapped out of it instantly and lifted her phone to answer it.

"Hayden! Thank the Gods you're alright..." Camille said quickly as his face came on the screen after it connected.

"I'm fine, sis. What are you doing right now?" Hayden asked her calmly.

"In school, sitting at lunch though so it's okay..." Camille replied softly trying not to cry in front of him.

"Damn, I always forget that I'm four hours and thirty minutes ahead...Well at least I caught ya at lunch. How much longer you have?" Hayden questioned her.

"Umm we get until 12:45pm before next class." Camille said gently. He nodded to her, it was lagging and grainy as always but at least she could see him although he wasn't wearing his hat this time so she could see the shaved head and he looked weird without the auburn hair. It was there to a degree but very short.

"So forty minutes left, cool...Then I got some time to talk. My next guard shift isn't until 2300..." Hayden stated and she arched a brow at him. "Right, you don't run by military time. 2300 is 10pm, sis."

"Oh it's okay, Hayden...I'm just...really glad you're okay. Haven't heard from since November...And it's...January now..." Camille trailed off.

"Sorry about that...You know how busy it can get when I'm here, I don't always have time to call and chat."Hayden answered.

"So is tonight's guard shift a long one?" Avery leaned over and asked now.

"Eight hours, maybe more. Depends on if we see anything. The others sitting with you?" Hayden asked now, Camille nodded as she turned the phone so they could see him.

"Hey, hey cuz!" Seth waved with a smile.

"Hey, Seth. How's the family?"Hayden smiled.

"Real good, how's things over there?"Seth inquired.

Hayden shrugged now, "Same old same. Tell everyone I said hi. Hey TJ, sup Felix?"

"Not much, man. Miss ya." Felix answered now. Camille finally turned the phone so it was back to her seeing him.

"I miss you bro...Any word on when...you're coming home again?" Camille asked a little hesitantly.

"Not yet..."Hayden replied sighing. "Sergeant Haddock, we're heading to the mess hall. Coming with?" They heard one of the other men ask Hayden. "I'll come later on for dinner, Matthews. It's only 4:30pm guys...Besides, kind'a busy..."Hayden motioned motioned to the phone. "Right, sorry. See ya for dinner!" Then the barrack seemed to fall quiet.

"We aren't keeping you, are we?" Rachel asked.

"Nah." Hayden smiled some.

"Hayden...you really should call, Dad...He's been really worried about you since that whole thing in November." Camille bit her bottom lip now, she knew Hayden was furious with their father right now which is probably why he called her at school instead of later on when he knew she'd be home and so would their dad.

"I'll call him when he gets it through that stubborn, thick skull of his to stop telling me what I'm doing is wrong." Hayden huffed angrily.

"Okay...I'm sorry for bringing it up..." Camille sighed sadly feeling like she made him mad at her. Hayden closed his eyes and sighed now before opening his eyes.

"Camille...I'm sorry for snapping okay? Not just a second ago but any of the times since I joined the army. I know you're just worried about me, especially with me getting shot three times now and with what you you heard on TV that night two months ago. I'm not mad you, or anyone for that matter. Just dad, because he can't accept this as my job or that it's what I want to do with my life. I know how dangerous it is, I've lived through the danger and still do every time the horn blows or I go on guard or patrol duty. But I don't care...because I know you are safe. You, our friends and family, even Dad as much as he pisses me off sometimes I still love him and always will. " Hayden told her calmly but still firm.

"I-I know Hayden but...you're..." The tears came now, "my twin brother and...I'm afraid to lose you. I don't know what I'd do if you..."

"Sssh now. I know you're scared of me dying, sis but...I'm out here keeping all of you safe at home and if I had to give my life to ensure that safety of all you back home...Then so be it. I'm not afraid of death, I'm not afraid to die." Hayden said gently. Camille lowered her head crying softly still, "Cami," he started again as she looked at him with tears rolling down her cheeks, "I'll be alright okay?"

"You can't tell me that, Hayden!" Camille yelled, now the lunch room got quieter and turned their attention to find out what was going on. "You can't tell me you'll be okay when you've been shot three times already, and almost killed two months ago if it hadn't been for Toothless! You admitted that! You can't...tell me you'll be alright with all the risks you take out there..." Her crying was hard sobs now.

"Camille, listen to me..." Hayden asked.

"No! You listen! You have been gone fourteen months over there, Hayden. You have been gone since December of 2016...You got deployed to that terrible place only an hour after graduating Basic Training. You were gone...a year before I got to see you. And I didn't even the two weeks you said you had...Then I find out a month later watching TV that you were in another fire fight while on area security...Do you even get how hard it was to watch that TV, and when they said you were a prisoner of war...Gods, Hayden...I've never screamed so loud in my life thinking you were dead! It was...like losing Mom all over again...You can't tell me you will be alright because you have even said yourself that every day you go out there its a risk to live or die." Camille whimpered.

(Afghanistan)

Hayden knew she was right, he couldn't tell her that he'd be okay because he never knew with how things had been going lately with attacks. Lately it'd been quiet which only put everyone on a higher alert and more patrols and guarding. Hayden sighed softly as Anderson entered now and saw him sitting there not sure what to say, Hayden saw him and jumped down from his bed right away to stand at attention and salute him. "Lieutenant Anderson." He greeted.

"At ease, Haddock. What are you doing in here, the rest of your squadron is in the mess hall enjoying the latest victory from last night." Anderson asked.

"Talking to my sister, sir. Wasn't really up to celebrating, still sore." Hayden replied.

"Ah, right...I forgot you took a hard fall from the sky last night during the fight." Anderson chuckled, Hayden's eyes widened and motioned to the phone. Too late. Camille had heard it.

"HAYDEN! What the hell happened this time!" Camille screeched.

Hayden groaned as Anderson whispered an 'I'm Sorry' to him then stayed quiet. "It's nothing, Camille. I was on Toothless and when an RPG came at us, Toothless blasted it and the force from the explosion knocked me off him. I only fell eight feet..." Hayden sighed.

"Try fifteen feet, Sergeant." Anderson said, Hayden glared at him. "Shutting up now."

"Hayden...How badly are you hurt right now?" Camille asked crying still.

"I'm not, just sore. Toothless broke my fall when he wrapped me in his wings and rolled upon landing...He's fine too." Hayden sighed. Suddenly the horn signaling an incoming attack was upon them, then Toothless roared out as a second alert.

"Hayden! Hayden, no! Don't you dare go out there again! Please, I can't lose you! Please don't leave!" Camille pleaded him.

"Hang on Toothless, I'm coming bud!" Hayden called to his friend as he tossed his phone to Anderson now as he started getting ready with his helmet and automatic strapped over his back.

"Anderson, send Haddock out on Toothless, not a big attack. We got ground cover! We can push them back easy this time!" Major White had rushed into the barrack.

"What the hell am I supposed to do with this, Haddock?" Anderson asked holding the phone which had the camera pointed at Hayden.

(Berk)

Camille and Avery watched as Hayden got on his gear and grinned at Anderson. "Keep the video call going, this won't take long at all!" Hayden called as he rushed out and jumped on Toothless's back, Anderson had rushed out following him as Camille watched Hayden take off into the sky with an upward twirl, Toothless let out a loud roar heading right towards the enemy.

"Hold fire until Haddock's signal!" Major White called as about thirty soldiers were lined up and ready to fire. Camille watched as a lot of people in the lunch room got up to watch this happen, they were watching it live! They saw Hayden on his dragon hovering slightly ahead of the ground soldiers.

"Toothless! Barrel roll, multiple blasts!" Hayden ordered loudly, in seconds they saw Toothless shoot forward then with wings out they span sideways in a roll as he let off six blasts rapid fire into the line of enemies. Toothless whipped around in a flip as Hayden landed with his gun at the ready. "Having fun watchin your brother work, sis?" Hayden chuckled locking and loading his gun. "Ready boys?...FIRE!" Hayden ordered, suddenly it was gun fire and incredibly loud too.

"INCOMING GRENADE!" Someone yelled as the soldiers adjusted and moved for the explosion. Hayden didn't move though, he watched it as he flipped the safety to on for his gun, flipped it so he was holding the barrel and brought it back over his shoulder with the butt of the gun in the air as he took a stance and as soon as the grenade came close, Hayden whipped the gun around like a baseball bat and sent the grenade right back.

"Going, going..." Hayden grinned watching it fly towards the enemies as it exploded breaking the line up. "GONE!" Hayden called as the soldiers began to step back and retreat!

"They're retreating! YEAH!" The soldiers cheered out getting to their feet and giving high fives to one another, patting Hayden on the back. Camille and the others just stared in shock, mouths agape. "Nice work, Haddock! Ballsy move but good work!"Lt. Col. Grayson laughed.

"Just doing my job sir."Hayden shrugged a little.

"And you do a damn good job of it, Sergeant Haddock. Anyone injured?" Lt. Col. Grayson asked looking around.

"No sir." Lennox smiled.

(Afghanistan)

Anderson chuckled as he slapped Hayden on the back, "That was awesome, Haddock! Shit, never seen someone use a grenade as a baseball before!" Hayden took his phone back now with a nod.

"Well it was that or Toothless shooting it. I took the lesser of the two dangerous ideas." Hayden laughed. "Hey sis. See, it's all good over here." Hayden told her now.

"You're fuckin crazy is what you are man." Ethan remarked.

"No one asked you jack-ass." Hayden mumbled.

"Alright, you made your point. You can handle it...Just...still, be careful, Hayden...Not all your victories will be that easy..." Camilled told him now.

"I can't make any promises sis. All I can do is try..." Hayden smiled at her.

"Haddock! Look out!" Theo warned, Hayden turned to see an enemy soldier jump up and attack him, both were on the ground and Hayden whacked his head from the force when tackled down. Of course his army buds had their guns ready but one wrong shot and Hayden would be hit too. Hayden wrestled with the guy grunting, then lifted his legs and kicked the guy off him before grabbing his side pistol aiming while the guy was running, Hayden hesitated only a second, having a brief flashback of the day when he shot the enemy who turned out to be a kid about his age. Hayden forced it back before controlling his shaking hands to pull the trigger and effectively shooting the guy in the back of the head when he tried to get away, he fell right to the ground. Hayden panted hard lowering his gun, "You alright?" Theo asked him.

Hayden went to nod but he just blacked out and fell back, Anderson caught him. "Haddock? Haddock!..." No answer. "MEDIC!" Anderson called out.

"Hayden! Oh my Gods! Hayden are you okay!?" Camille cried out, Ritka picked up Hayden's phone which had gone flying when he was tackled.

"Enemy soldier tackled him, he whacked his head pretty hard when he hit the ground. He'll be alright, he'll call you when he's up again I'm sure." Ritka said.

"Okay..." Camille nodded.

"What happened to the guy who tackled him?" Avery asked.

It was silent among the soldiers now. "Sergeant Haddock shot him in the back of the head from fifteen feet away when the guy tried to make a run for it." Ritka answered. "Gotta go now. Bye." Then he hung up the call as Hayden was taken to the medical tent for some light bleeding on the back of his head from impact. While Hayden was unconscious, the guys were sitting with Anderson.

"Did...any of you notice that right before Haddock shot that enemy soldier...He was hesitant...and his hands were shaking?" Lennox asked curiously.

"We all did..." Anderson stated.

"But why though? He's killed before and never hesitated..." Theo asked.

"I guess that is something only Sergeant Haddock knows the answer too." Matthews shrugged, they all sighed. They knew something was wrong with Hayden but he always refused to talk and they were really concerned for him. The rest of that day since it was already 5pm and the night, Hayden was out of commission laying unconscious in the medical tent. His squad switched with Delta Fury since they couldn't go without Hayden given he was the squad leader and if Anderson went then the teams would be uneven and they couldn't have that. For once though, there weren't any other attacks. Just a standard night of guarding and patrolling. All of them were thankful for that at least.