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
18; No Choice
Hayden was glad to be on Visithug-he'd loved it since the Alpha-Fire squadron landed there after getting out of Afghanistan. It felt weird to think about it, that they weren't there anymore. They'd been out of what they referred to as Hell for about eight months now, in a month it'd be nine. Currently it was December of 2018, and he'd been very busy: dragon training and being a Drill Sergeant to two more squads since the graduation of his first squad, Nightwave. There had been two other batches of recruits since then and of course, Hayden was a DS for them but he'd always be leader of Alpha Fire. Hayden hadn't been allowed to go home yet and hoped he could soon: he missed Avery and Camille the most. They had finished their Sophomore year of high school in the middle of June, and of course started their Junior year during the last week of August. He couldn't believe how fast the time was going: he'd been in the military a full two years and two months now and he still felt like it was one of the best decisions he ever made even with all the horror from Afghanistan that kept him up some nights.
It wasn't as bad as before: mostly he could push it back but sometimes it got the better of him and he just held firm. A lot of members in Alpha-Fire were now dragon riders: Theo, Eli, Steven, Daryl, Samantha, Jasmine, and Jason. A few others too but Hayden was proud to say that everyone in his unit had a bonded dragon and were full riders to the dragon aerial guard, having earned their Dragon Wings pins. Theo and Daryl bonded with Nightmares where Theo named his Phoenix and Daryl used the name Ashspark. Eli, Jasmine, and Samantha had Nadders. Jasmine's being Swiftshot, Eli using Sunflare, and Samantha called hers Solarsky. Steven and Jason ended up with Gronckles, using the most obvious names for them: Jason's was Stomp and Steven's was Rocky. Hayden got a kick out of it but all of them were trained now and loved being dragon riders: he could vouch for how awesome it was to be able to fly in the sky above the clouds. Nothing could beat it.
Hayden was most impressed by Jasmine, who was a lot more comfortable in the military now. He knew she'd been forced in but now she seemed to of accepted it and even showed that she liked it slightly since having Swiftshot with her. She wasn't as scared anymore and was indeed a very good soldier if Hayden said so himself, which he did often. Jasmine and Samantha had become really good friends and Hayden was happy for her: it had kind'a sucked when she first joined and didn't have any other girls in the original all-boys squadron known as Alpha Fire. But then Samantha came and she felt better about it. Hayden wanted to see his family and friends again: he missed them but he'd asked about leave and it hadn't been granted right now so that sucked that he was stuck having to use his phone to text, call, or Skype with them when he managed to find a quick minute to sit down and breathe.
Hayden and Avery had been doing great in their relationship even though it was long distance: they talked as much as they could about what had been going on new since the last time they talked. Right now it was about twice a week as Hayden also had to fit in talking to his other friends and Camille. Hayden and Avery admitted that their feelings had evolved and were now saying 'I love you' on the phone calls before they ended. And they'd be together a full year of dating come the second week of May 2019 so Hayden hoped he'd get to see her for that so they could celebrate being together for so long and surviving the distance which neither of them would deny was harder but they made it work, just as they said they would. Hayden didn't really talk to his dad, in fear of more arguments but he did let him know that he was okay and missed everyone.
Hayden himself in free time got more training in for stealth, negotiations, and more: it never hurt to learn more and sharpen the skills after all. Hayden went running every morning on the track at 5am while the the squads were getting ready for the day with breakfast and what not. Hayden liked keeping himself in peak form and it made him feel good to know he'd gone from a scrawny twig to a slightly buff guy. It was nothing huge, but muscles were evident and he'd been told that by Rachel, before she'd gotten with Ethan and Hayden was always told by Avery how hot he apparently was. He wouldn't deny it was a nice feeling he no longer was a twig. He'd just come back from a run, it was about 5:20am when he did so he took a shower and got dressed then relaxed until it was time for breakfast. There were no recruits to train right now and it was pretty quiet around the Titanwing base.
(Berk; Few Hours Later)
Around 9am, the students were all in class. Camille, Avery, Seth, TJ, Felix, and Rachel were shockingly having a lot of the same classes together this year. It was quiet:, normal classes that were boring. Camille and Avery kind'a wished that Hayden would call to distract them but that chance wasn't very high since they knew he was busy with training or something along those lines. They all sighed heavily as the teacher was going on and on about something they cared nothing about. The school recently suffered a loss in their junior class, a kid had killed himself because of bullying and the police were still trying to find who was responsible but so far no luck and no one was stepping forward. There was a ding on the intercom to alert of a message.
"All junior students to the gymnasium immediately. Thank you." came the principal's voice.
"I didn't know there was an assembly today..." the teacher murmured then stopped quickly as she put her book down and the classes all filed out into the halls and made their way to the far side of the school where the gymnasium was. Everyone was confused as to what was going on: it didn't make any sense. A lot of them were actually scared too, things like this didn't happen often. Everyone was sitting down talking to one another about the situation but no one could put a finger on what it was about.
"This is kind'a scary...why would we get called here and then the principal not show?" Avery said, as the doors opened as Alvin Trechdon came in with a man behind him holding a gun: people began to get quiet and get scared.
"Come on now, you don't want to do this...the police will find who did it..." Alvin tried to tell the man.
"No! I'm sick of waiting on the police. I want to know who made my brother kill himself!" the man yelled, and now everyone understood. This guy was going to hold the junior class hostage until he found out who did it and if anyone stepped forward they would probably be killed. "I want all cell phones slid to the middle of the room...Anyone holding back dies." Not wanting to argue they all took out their phones and passed them down to the front row students who slid them in sections. The man then made the teachers collect them and put them in a bag that was given to the guy.
(Fort Titanwing; Hours Later)
"Haddock. I need you in my office right away." Major Masons said over the intercom to the base, Hayden jumped out of bed and got ready as he raced to his Major's office and entered panting. "There's a situation in Berk and I have to send you and your unit to handle it."
"Why type of situation?" Hayden asked.
"A bomb and shooter threat at Berk High School." Hayden's eyes widened hearing the name of the school. "The police are there but the shooter is refusing to answer calls or anything. We don't know anything other than Fort Dreki is asking for your team because they know you have the training for it. There's a chopper waiting to take you there."
"I'll keep you posted via radio, Major Masons," Hayden nodded rushing out. "Strike One, Fall in!" Hayden ordered quickly. His team rushed out. "Grab your bomb gear and guns. We're going to Berk to handle a delicate situation. I will hear no arguments or questions, I'll explain on the chopper." His men nodded quickly and went to get their gear as he did too. They loaded on the chopper, shut the door and took off towards Berk. It'd be a quick flight or Hayden hoped so at least.
"Lieutenant, what's going on?" Theo asked.
"Berk High School is under bomb threat and has a shooter inside...Fort Dreki requested this team to handle it..." Hayden answered. Their eyes widened.
"Berk High...that's..." Eli paused worried.
"It's where my sister, friends, and girlfriend go to school...Delicate situation." he reminded them and they nodded and kept quiet for most of the flight there. Upon arriving almost two and a half hour later, Hayden didn't even wait for the helicopter to land as he jumped out and rushed to the lead officer in charge. "Status update, now!" Hayden ordered.
"Who are you?" the officer asked.
"Lieutenant Hayden Haddock of the Archipelago Army. We were called here to handle this so update, now!" Hayden said again.
"A shooter got to the principal, had him order all juniors to the gym and then the rest of the school was evacuated. Shooter won't respond to calls going in and so far we haven't heard any shots fired," the chief of police said to him.
"Just the junior class? This shooter must have a personal thing going on..." Eli stated now beside Hayden.
"Has anyone tried the intercom?" Hayden asked.
"No...He won't answer," another officer said.
"The intercom has a two way...Oh never mind. Theo, get me a map of the school." Hayden said, Theo nodded getting on the computer and pulling up the school floor plans for Hayden to look at. "The gym has two outside exits and one inside entrance. The doors are probably locked...The only way in would be the ceiling but scaring a shooter could be bad..." Hayden mumbled to himself trying to think now. He had to get inside or find a way to talk to the shooter and quickly. "Theo, can you get me on the intercom through the phone lines?" Hayden asked.
"Sure can, Lieutenant." Theo gave a thumbs up and got to work, after fifteen minutes a distant dinging was heard meaning the intercom was on now and Theo handed him the cell phone.
(Inside)
The intercom going off got the shooter's attention as he looked around. "I'm not talking to anybody!" he yelled out.
"If you don't talk then we can't solve this." Hayden's voice rang through the room as Avery and Cami lifted their heads quickly.
"Who am I talking to!"
"This is Lieutenant Hayden Haddock of the BA Army. Who am I talking to?" Hayden asked now.
"Jeremy Bryant...I'm not letting any of them go, not until the people step forward and admit what they did!" the shooter, Jeremy now said.
"Okay, okay. That's fine, Jeremy. But I need to know everyone is okay, will you let me come inside to check?" Hayden tried. Jeremy didn't answer, "I need to know everyone is alright, Jeremy. I promise I'll come in alone and unarmed. No cops, no tricks. Just me."
"How can I trust you not to trick me!? I don't even know who you are!" Jeremy yelled.
"You can trust me. I promise...Now I know you have the junior class hostage in there, I know you're a student at Berk University and just lost a brother who was in the junior class. My sister is in the junior class you're holding...Okay, you can ask her yourself that if I make a promise...I'd sooner die than break it," Hayden said to him calmly.
"Which one of you is this guy's sister?!" Camille slowly put her hand up. "Can I trust him? Because if you lie...I'll kill you first..." Jeremy said.
"You can trust my brother...He'd never lie or break a promise. I swear it..." Camille said shakily. Jeremy closed his eyes and growled almost looking to the speaker.
"Only you. I see anyone else or any guys and I'll start shooting," Jeremy said in response.
"Alright. I'm coming to the outside door on the left side...I'm going to need you to let me in. I'll knock when I get there..." Hayden replied.
(Outside)
Hayden knew it was risky involving Camille but he knew he could do this. "All of you stay back..." Hayden warned them.
"You can't do this by yourself..." Lennox told him.
"I have to...Stay here and wait for my mark," Hayden told them swiftly and they nodded as took off his gear and set it down. They didn't want him going in unarmed but he wouldn't risk anyone else's life needlessly. Hayden reached the door and knocked twice. In about fifteen seconds the door was pushed open and he saw Jeremy with a gun pointed to his face. Hayden put his hands up as Jeremy pulled him in and shut the door tightly then checked him to make sure he was unarmed before stepping back still holding the gun on him. This gun was pistol: something he'd used in war himself. Hayden wasn't scared: he had survived Afghanistan. Without warning, Jeremy aimed the gun at Hayden's leg and shot him in the thigh. Hayden hit the ground hard, holding his leg which was already bleeding badly.
"Hayden!" Camille and Avery shouted.
"Sit back down or I'll kill him!" Jeremy warned angrily, Hayden cringed checking his leg. He took off his jacket then inner shirt and wrapped it around his leg before putting his outer coat on. The intercom beeped meaning one of his men were about to ask about the shot fired. "Get them to back off..." Jeremy warned.
"Lieutenant, we heard gun fire, is everyone alright?" came Theo's voice quickly.
"Everyone is fine, Holgerson." Hayden told him.
"He's lyin! Hayden got shot in the thigh!" Avery cried.
"We're moving in!"
"NO!" Hayden said firmly. "Stand down, that's an order! I've got it wrapped, I'm fine...for now..." Hayden yelled and it went quiet. Hayden new that he might bleed out if this dragged out, the bullet was still in his leg and he'd need it treated but he wasn't pulling out yet. Not until he saved these people, or talked the shooter down. "Jeremy, listen to me...Shooting me isn't gonna prove nothing. Hurting anyone here won't prove nothing...You're going to get yourself in more trouble. Just stop now and we can work this out..." Hayden grunted through the pain, already the blood was coming through the make-shift bandage he'd made with his tee-shirt.
"What do you want?" Jeremy asked.
"It's not what I want...I didn't come here for me. I came here to help you, Jeremy. Now why don't you tell me what is going on and why you have taken the junior class hostage? What do you gain from this?" Hayden asked, keeping his hands up.
"My brother committed suicide because of bullies in this class and no one has stepped forward! I didn't let you in to talk me. I said you could check them!" Jeremy yelled.
"And then you shot me! I came in unarmed as promised and you still shot me. You're making this worse for yourself but regardless...Listen to me, I can help you," he panted hard, "You know that you are surrounded, you know the cops are here and trying to find a way in. Their job is to obtain the shooter and set these people free. They've given me ten minutes before they take over again...And when they come they will either arrest you or shoot you. And if you die then you don't see justice served for your brother's death...Right now I'm the only one who can help you but you have to talk to me," Hayden offered.
"I want to find who pushed my brother too far...and I want to kill that person!" Jeremy answered angrily.
"I understand you want to hurt the one who hurt your brother...But this isn't the way to do it," Hayden told him.
"I know what you're trying to do and it won't work!" Jeremy yelled.
"I am trying to help you but I can't if you aren't willing to help yourself. Why did your brother kill himself, Jeremy?" Hayden asked.
"He was bullied, weren't you listening!" Jeremy scolded him.
"Did he tell you he was bullied?" Hayden asked him directly and Jeremy stepped back, momentarily taken off guard. Then he blinked.
"No but...I was always bullied and he shied away and was quiet like me so he had to have been..." Jeremy answered.
"That doesn't mean he killed himself because of bullies, Jeremy. Let me tell you something...People kill themselves for a ton of reasons. Depression, bullying, PTSD, and more...and just because you were bullied doesn't mean he was too. I used to go to this school year, about two years ago and I was bullied all the time too. I was called weak, stupid, and useless...but you don't see me going around holding entire grades hostage and demanding the people who used to hurt me to come down to face their death. Now maybe your brother was bullied but that doesn't mean he killed himself because of it...You don't know what caused it. You are not a killer, Jeremy...You don't want to do this. You don't want to kill... Please...give me the gun and we can leave together and no one has to get hurt..." Hayden held his hand out now for Jeremy to give him the gun. Jeremy closed his eyes he lowered it then leaned forward, preparing to hand it over to Hayden when two guys stood up.
"It was us! We didn't mean too!" the one on the right said quickly.
"Sorry Lieutenant...But I still have my own revenge to get..." Jeremy pulled back the gun and turned it on them to shoot as Hayden forced himself up and tackled Jeremy down and wrestled him for the gun. It went on a good two minutes before Hayden managed to get it away from him but then Jeremy stood up and opened his shirt revealing a bomb. "It doesn't matter...I'll kill them, you, everyone and myself!" Jeremy laughed out with his hand reaching for the detonator. Hayden was laying on the floor on his stomach, he grabbed the gun and forced himself to stand up as he held it with two hands to hold it steady. He didn't want to do this-he really didn't-but if he didn't than everyone was dead including the two people he cared for most. Hayden positioned his finger on the trigger and fired it. The laughter from Jeremy stopped as Hayden panted, watching him fall backward to the ground, dead from a bullet between the eyes. He limped over and took the detonator as he reached for his radio.
"This is Lieutenant Haddock. Area secure, bomb disarmed and shooter...dead. Hostages safe...Building clear to enter..." Hayden panted a little.
"Copy that, Lieutenant. We're entering. Over." Hayden dropped the radio as his legs gave out and he fall back against the bleachers holding his leg, panting and sweating. He hadn't been shot in a long time and the pain still sucked tremendously. Camille and Avery rushed down the bleachers to him on the other side, both in tears as the doors were kicked in and his team rushed to him.
"Lieutenant!" Theo said checking his leg.
"Is he...gonna be okay?" Avery asked while trying to stay out of the way.
"How does it feel?" Lennox asked.
"It feels like fuckin ice cream cones and sunshine...How the hell do you think it feels, Lennox!" Hayden groaned.
"Good to see ya didn't lose that sarcasm, Lieutenant." Ritka chuckled some.
"Fuck...you, Shit...head..." Hayden closed his eyes panting still, cringing at the pain.
"Don't worry, we'll get ya fixed up. Ambulance is comin'," Tarelto said and rubbed his shoulder. "He'll be okay, he's been shot before...This ain't enough to take 'im down," Tarelto added, looking to Avery and Camille. The paramedics rushed in with a gurney and lifted Hayden onto it as they got an IV going and applied pressure to his leg.
"I'm riding with him, I'm his sister...Avery, call my Dad and tell him what happened!" Camille said as she got up, holding Hayden's hand while walking alongside the bed as it rolled out of the gym and to the ambulance. Avery nodded as she pulled out her phone to call Gerald: she had actually never turned it in when Jeremy ordered them too. Once Hayden was in the ambulance, he sighed out, closing his eyes. "You idiot..." Camille cried.
"Just...doin...my job, sis..." Hayden coughed a little.
"Rest now..." Camille stroked the side of his face, Hayden closed his eyes and laid there for the duration of the ride. He ended up having to do it again. Kill someone. And this time he wasn't even at war: this time it was just a civilian who was trapped in grief about losing his little brother to suicide and Hayden had shot him in the head to stop him from setting off a bomb. It just made him feel worse about himself and once more the pain was consuming him from the inside about all his kills, and what was worse, he knew it wouldn't be his last.
