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
26: Good News
The next morning after Lennox's death came faster than Hayden expected, he ended up falling asleep outside against Toothless which was fine. Evidently Sgt. Staton spotted him and let the Major know. This of course only proved to the Major what Theo had told him, that Hayden really needed the time off. Since being in Iraq, they lost Steven Ritka, Eli Matthews, and now Daryl Lennox. Three members to Strike One unit and Alpha-Fire squadron. Three of Hayden's best friends and it was clear that if anything else happened, Hayden might lose it completely. To avoid that, Major Huntington arranged that Hayden could go on leave. It had been strange to because when the other officers caught wind of Lennox's death and that he died in Hayden's arms, they agreed to issue a mandatory leave so he could get his thoughts together.
"Lieutenant Haddock. Can you come to the Division leader's office please? Over." Major Huntington's voice came through Hayden's radio.
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes. Over." Hayden replied then sighed getting his gear on, it never mattered if there was an attack or not. They were trained to be ready for anything, he stepped out of the barrack and made his way through the sections until he reached the Division leader's office and knocked lightly.
"Come in, Haddock." Lt. General Evan's voice said from the other side of the doorway. Hayden opened the door and walked in.
"You wanted to see me sir," He paused seeing the others in there now: Division, Brigade, Regiment, Battalion, and Company. That was never good. They weren't making him handle Lennox's funeral were they?! He silently prayed that wasn't the case. "Sorry...Sirs." Hayden corrected himself.
"No offense, Lieutenant but you look like shit." Lt. Naylar remarked.
"I feel like shit after last night's mission." Hayden swung his gun around his back and crossed his arms over his chest looking at them.
"Well, we have some news that might cheer ya up," Major Huntington began with a small smile, Hayden arched a brow. Cheer him up? After losing Lennox? Fat chance.
"Major Huntington made mention that you were pretty upset about losing your leave," Said Col. Boggs.
"I was granted leave, then had it revoked. Both my sister, and girlfriend are hurt and upset over it. Yes, I'm upset. I haven't been home for a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Years since 2015. I missed Thanksgiving because of Basic, then was deployed to Afghanistan through Christmas. And so on and so forth between deployment or stationed at Fort Titanwing, and here too. Now I'm missing graduation...After telling them I'd be there once and having to take it back." Hayden stated firmly.
"We know. Which is why we made some calls and have men to cover you while you're gone," Lt. General Evans said now. Hayden flinched now as he looked towards them. "Now we can't give you two weeks, but we're sending you home for seven days to attend the graduation and take a break from all this fighting. Your seven days can start as soon as you touch down in Berk."
"Y-You're...being serious?" Hayden asked.
"Very. Now you will have to wait until cover arrives. They should be here in a week or so." Colonel Boggs stated. "Just in time for you get home on that Saturday morning before the graduation."
"And while you're home...Try to take it easy will ya? Your squad is worried bout ya, lad." Colonel Greenhalgh smiled.
"Oh I will. Thank you! Thank you so much!" Hayden rushed out, then back in to salute, then back out heading to the barrack. The others sighed quickly.
"Now we can only hope he gets the help he needs..." Lt. General Evans said softly while the rest nodded.
(Barracks)
Hayden rushed in smiling which took his squad by surprise. "What the shit, Haddock? Where's the fire?" Tarelto asked quickly.
"Shut it, Tarelto. I get to go home for a week! I'll make the graduation...I have to call them right now and tell them." Hayden said reaching for his phone.
"Or you could surprise them?" Theo offered him, he arched a brow. "Don't tell them, just show up like you did that one time in Afghanistan. Make it special..."
"I'm listening." Hayden said softly now lowering the phone.
"Okay so here's what you should do," Tarelto said. From there they began to give Hayden the perfect plan to surprise Avery and Camille for their graduation. And for the next week they pieced it together, they might slap him for this plan but they'd be grateful he was home if nothing else.
(Berk)
"I'm really worried about him..." Avery said softly, she and Camille were having a sleep over.
"Me too...Haven't heard from him in almost three weeks..." Camille sighed.
"Graduation is gonna suck without him..." Avery put her head down as she looked at the picture of her and Hayden on her desk. It was taken during the picnic at the park when he'd come home for the funeral of Ritka.
"He tried...You heard it, he did have the time and then it was taken back. It wasn't his fault..." Camille comforted her friend softly.
"I hope he's okay..." Avery closed her eyes sadly. Camille and her hugged as they worried about Hayden together.
(Graduation Day)
They had waited four years to be where they were now, standing on stage in cap and gown awaiting to receive their high school diplomas and become graduates. Camille and Avery were actually beside one another in line since it went from Camille right to Avery second due to their last names. The ceremony thus far had been fine, as expected it would and they had been rehearsing for weeks for this day. But as happy as two best friends should be about graduation, they couldn't be. Because Hayden wasn't there like he had originally planned to be. He had missed so much since he joined the military. His Basic Training made him lose Thanksgiving in 2016, then immediate deployment to Afghanistan made him miss Christmas 2016 and New Years 2017. Of course their seventeenth birthday too. After ten months of the first tour, he was home for a week. And it just kept happening with the tour, being stationed in Visithug, and now deployed to Iraq where he'd been for sixteen months and only home for five days for the funeral of his friend.
They were finally onto the H's for announcing names of students to come up for their diplomas. Camille was next, then Avery would be after her. They were about to graduate and Hayden wasn't home. Camille sighed as Avery offered a smile and put her hand on her shoulder. "Camille Haddock!" Mr. Trechdon announced, the room clapped for her as she walked the stage and got her diploma from him, she shook his hand and prepared to leave but was stopped. "Just a minute there, Miss. Haddock. I need you to wait for Miss. Hofferson before you two exit the stage." Camille blinked a little confused but nodded and stood off to the side. "Avery Hofferson!" Avery came up now and got hers after shaking the principal's hand. "Now, I'm going to stop right here for a moment. I received a call early this morning from a former student who is currently overseas serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. And he asked if I'd stop on these two ladies right here so he could call them from his position and congratulate them himself. So Camille and Avery, I need you to turn your attention to the screen."
Camille and Avery stood next to one another now as she had tears in their eyes as the call began, Hayden came on to the screen smiling. "Hello my two favorite women in the world. Can ya hear me alright?" Hayden asked them.
"We hear you babe." Avery replied as the principal handed her the microphone.
"Good, we had a complete net down situation earlier. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to call in for this..." Hayden replied with a chuckle.
"Only you would stop the entire graduation procession to do this..." Camille cried lightly now.
"Well duh. I couldn't be there to watch it in person so I wanted to find some way to see ya. I called Mr. Trechdon this morning and asked him to set this up and unfortunately if you can hear the noise in the background then you know I don't have a lot of time so let me say what I came to say..." He took a breath. "I tried my hardest to get the time off. Hell, it was granted then when things got chaotic, it was revoked and I'm sorry for that."
"We forgive you but you owe us big time, Hiccup!" Avery wiped her eyes now.
"You're so lucky I love you both because ain't no one else allowed to call me that name." Hayden started.
"That's your nickname?! Hiccup? Haha! Shit man, no way I'm calling you Haddock anymore!" Said one of the voices in the room, Hayden picked up his boot of the ground and chucked it at his friend.
"Don't you dare, I'm still your CO, soldier. It's Lieutenant Haddock to you, Private Shaw. Now get the fuck will you, I'm busy." Hayden scoffed.
"Sorry sir..." The male replied now.
"Anyway...Listen. I know my joining the military has been hard on you, on everyone close to me. But mostly on you two. I left for Basic, then was immediately deployed to Afghanistan for eighteen months before the tour ended. I only got one week off when I was supposed to have two and I'm sorry I've missed all the holidays with the family. It's been torture on me too being so far away from all of you. But I swear that as soon as I can, I'll be home. By the way, sis...Don't be getting no boyfriend til I get home either because anyone who dates you has to go through me because if anyone hurts you...Well, I'm a 100% accurate sharpshooter with a vast collection of guns and if that doesn't do it...I have a Night Fury." Hayden grinned. Camille blushed and nodded to him with a small smile. "And the rest of you, stay away from Avery..." He warned. A few people in line backed up. "Now I-" He stopped as there were explosions outside and gunfire. "GET DOWN!" Hayden ordered.
"Hayden!" Camille and Avery said together with worry. Hayden grabbed his gun from beside him and loaded it with a click.
"LIEUTENANT HADDOCK! We're under attack, we need you like now!" They heard one of his team members yell to him.
"I'm comin, don't get your fuckin panties in a wad, Sidoli, " Hayden yelled back cocking the gun and putting it over his shoulder then suddenly the noise outside stopped and they heard a group of hearty laughter as Hayden glared hard and cracked his neck. "Oh you did not just do what I think you assholes did..." Hayden remarked coldly as he put the gun down and his walked inside quickly, still laughing it up.
"Drill, just a drill Lieutenant! Sorry, forgot to warn ya since you been sick the last three days and we were told to leave ya be! My bad…" Came Theo's voice.
"Oh you mother fuckers are all so DEAD! How the fuck was that a drill when you specifically called for me!?...Hold on two seconds ladies..." He got up as the camera followed him, his men standing there a little worried at his incredibly irritated face. "You sons of bitches! I swear to Odin I'm kicking all your asses when I get off the phone! Better yet...Squadron...Atten-SHUN!" They watched as the group formed together quickly and stood still. "Since you jokers think it's comical to mess with drills when we're at fuckin war, then I find it comical that as of right now we just took the twenty patrol guard tonight." He paused with a grin almost as the crowd could see a large group of men and women standing angrily and groaning about it. "I do believe while at attention you are supposed to be still and shut your damn mouths. Now shut the hell up and get some rest, I'm busy and we got work to do later. Squadron, Dis-missed!" Hayden mumbled as he returned to the chair and sat down.
"Did they...seriously just make you think you were under attack?" Camille asked.
"Yep and they will all be doing fifty push ups, sit ups, and a two mile run later when I'm done with this...Anyway sis...Since I can't be there to congratulate you both in person...I decided to send you both a gift, mind you it might be a little beat up but I think you'll like it and you have to share since I could only send one. As your brother/lover ladies, I couldn't send ya nothing when you graduate high school with A's and B's even with all this going on. So after this call ends, the principal will bring it out for you. I think it will make you as happy as it made me when I thought of it." Hayden said.
"When are you coming home bro...I miss you." Cami asked gently. "We both do..."
"I don't know...Hopefully soon. For now...I do have to go. Routine patrol closer to the front line and remember that every day I'm out here...I'm making sure you, Dad, our friends and everyone else in the Archipelago is safe...Happy graduation sis, and I am wicked proud of you. Hope ya like the gift. I love you lil sis and I love you with all my heart Avery. Never forget that. Talk to you as soon as I can," Hayden blew them both a kiss before the call ended and the screen turned off.
"Now before I have staff bring out the gift for Camille and Avery-I'd like to remind everyone that Hayden Haddock was once a student as this school and would be graduating today with his sister and girlfriend but he left and joined the military at sixteen. He spent ten weeks in Basic Training, and Advanced Individual Training, and Dragon Training with his Night Fury before graduation. I was informed that Hayden Haddock graduated top of his Basic Training class with exceptional marks in leadership, and all tests. Mr. Haddock also was promoted to Sergeant from Private at his graduation three years ago before being immediately deployed to Afghanistan. Also he was promoted to Lieutenant after his first tour ended. He hasn't been able to come home at all due to the situations overseas. And now he has been deployed to Iraq for the last sixteen months. We take this time to remember that there are soldiers out there fighting to keep us safe so we can have more days like this in our futures. Now...I think it's time for Hayden's gift to his sister and girlfriend. Ladies, if you'd turn to your right please?" Mr. Trechdon smiled wide.
From the right side of the stage, Hayden walked out holding two bouquets of flowers in his left arm. Camille and Avery covered their mouths in shock. "Hey sis, hey babe...Happy graduation day." Hayden grinned at them. Without another word they rushed at him crying their eyes out, he dropped his oblong green bag and backpack to the floor as they jumped together right into his arms. He smiled holding them up and hugging tightly while they cried on his shoulder.
"HAYDEN" They cried together once in his arms.
"Welcome home Lieutenant Hayden Haddock who came all the way home from his second tour of duty in Iraq just for his sister's and girlfriend's graduation!" Alvin announced, the room erupted into applause for him and the reunion. Hayden finally put his girls down with a chuckle.
"Did you really think I'd miss this day?" Hayden asked them as they wiped their eyes now.
"Well you missed everything else the last three years! I can't believe you..." Camille said quickly.
"I don't even understand...That call, it was live how did you end up here...and the guns and explosion..." Avery asked.
"All recorded sounds before I left. In case ya didn't notice, the screen was grainier than usual...I was actually backstage the whole time talking to you from my phone, a three way call with the guys and what you saw was a video me and the guys made to trick you both in to thinking I was live calling you when I was here the whole time. I flew back on Toothless about an hour ago." Hayden told them. "So...this gift enough for you two, like I said you're gonna have to share?" He asked next.
"Best gift ever..." They replied hugging him again as he kissed Camille's forehead and placed a soft kiss on Avery's lips.
"Gods I've missed you two so much..." Hayden whispered, he needed this. He needed to hold his sister and girlfriend again, after the last few months he'd had, this was needed desperately.
"How long you home for?" Seth asked from the line of students.
"Only a week then I gotta go," He paused as his radio began to make noise, "Oh don't you even dare because I will bring Toothless and start blasting at random..." He growled lifting it up to listen better.
"Holgerson of Alpha-Fire to Lieutenant Haddock! Come in, Haddock. Over."
"Reading you loud and clear, Holgerson. Go ahead, Over." Hayden replied.
"We...Co-ing ho.." Holgerson came through in sections.
"Didn't catch that, Private Holgerson. Go again. Over." Hayden said in to the radio. Still happening and he groaned. "For fucks sake, Holgerson just call my damn phone! You know that radio sucks between Archipelago islands and Hell as we call it."
"Hang...on, Tare...lto...call..ing you..." Suddenly his phone began to ring, he lifted that after putting the radio in his back. "Yes Tarelto?" Hayden asked. He listened closely, his eyes widening with the more he heard. "Are you kidding me? Seriously? I've had a bad few months, don't even play, Tarelto..." More pause, "I swear to God if this is a joke," Hayden warned. "Well no kiddin..." his smile grew wider while listening, "Hell yeah I'm happy! Shit, make it come faster. I'll see you guys in a week boys. See ya then." Hayden hung up.
"You don't...have to go back right now...do you?" Avery asked, Hayden shook his head. "Then what was...all that about?"
Hayden pulled her close to him smiling, she saw faint tears in his eyes. "My tour...It's over. Sixteen fuckin months of that Hell...and now it's over. They are sending my platoon home..." Hayden said. Camille and Avery gasped.
"Oh my Gods! Don't even joke, Hayden! Is it really!?" Camille asked quickly.
"That's what the call was about. The whole Echo Strike platoon is coming home. Both squads, Alpha Fire and Ember Fire...They will be back in a week and," He paused, "I'm getting stationed right here in Berk, at Fort Dreki." Hayden added.
Camille and Avery hugged him tightly again jumping up and down. "Now it's officially the best gift ever!" Avery cried. Hayden couldn't believe it. The principal arched a brow at him as he chuckled.
"Sorry sir..." Hayden grabbed his bags and moved off stage with the girls now as the ceremony continued for another house, ending with another speech-then it was over. The Berk High class was announced and everyone had their diploma. Hayden hugged his friends and father, all shocked to see him there and find out his second tour ended at the same time. "Alright...It's time to celebrate!" Hayden announced. He'd left, and then he finds out that his platoon's tour was over! Sixteen months later and his second tour was over! And he was stationed in Berk, this was officially the best day of his life which felt really good because he needed a good day after everything else that had happened. Nothing could make him happier right now.
