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

38; Promise Me

"Has...anyone ever seen him like that before?" Theo asked while sitting with the Alpha Fire squadron in the mess hall. No one could believe what happened, and was sure no one would ever believe the story that Hayden Haddock lost his shit when his girlfriend got stabbed saving him-then proceeding to kill a bunch of enemies using only the dragons as a weapon. All of them responded to Toothless's roar and Hayden's commands, even dragons Hayden hadn't trained listened to him. Alpha Fire knew that Hayden was lead trainer now, who stood up against the guy who trained the Night Fury? They remember that while off deployment while stationed at Fort Titanwing that Hayden mentioned something about the dragons will all follow one leader, the elite dragon. The dragon in this case was Toothless.

"No...Not even when Ritka died..." Anderson stated, "And frankly, I don't ever want to see him like that again."

"So he took her back to Berk himself?" Ethan asked.

"He refused to wait on the plane tomorrow. Can't say I blame him, Avery's fear of losing him made her rush to protect him. She shot the guy in the head, and got stabbed in the process. I didn't even know she could use a gun..." Anderson mentioned. Major White came in now with a sigh as Anderson looked at him, "How many?"

"Final count was thirty-five, Anderson. Hayden took out thirty-five enemies in that attack after his girlfriend got hurt. Either death by explosion or Nadder spines." Major White informed. Anderson sighed.

"I'll send him for psych when he gets back, I wasn't arguing with him when he got back from that...I don't think anyone could." Anderson stated.

"Is he going to be okay?" Theo asked softly.

"Honestly, I don't know. Hayden's been through some shit, and as you saw when pushed enough...he's very capable of losing it. He said when Avery arrived if anything had happened to her he would lose it...I think we all just need to watch ourselves when he gets back. He's likely to not be happy." Anderson stated.

"Yes sir." The Alpha Fire men and women replied.

(Berk; Ten Hours Later)

Hayden had checked his watch when he left base camp, it was around 2am. He and Toothless flew all night back to Berk and Avery stayed unconscious the entire time: he was constantly checking her wound and that she was still breathing. When he got to his neighborhood it was 8:30am, he went right to his Dad's house and landed outside in the front yard. Of course Camille and his dad were out immediately, followed by Seth, Rachel, TJ, and Felix now that Hayden cared right now. Hayden got off Toothless and still holding Avery in his arms.

"Hayden? You're...home?" Gerald asked a little surprised. Hayden didn't say a word as he carried Avery inside and laid her on the couch.

"You idiot..." He mumbled crouching beside her and moving some of her hair out of her face.

"What happened?" Camille asked, "She was supposed to be home tomorrow night?"

"She got herself stabbed saving me, I decided to bring her home myself. I've been flying since 2am, Afghanistan time..." Hayden sighed as he took his gun off his shoulder and made sure the safety was on before setting it down. Before anyone could ask anything else, Avery began to groan and start waking up.

"Oh everything hurts..." She mumbled out.

"Be lucky you're still alive you idiot." Hayden scoffed with his arms over his chest. Avery looked around noticing she wasn't in the barrack anymore, she saw Camille and the others standing there worried.

"How did...I get back here?" Avery asked.

"I flew you home on Toothless after you got stabbed in the side." Hayden answered coldly. "What the fuck happened, Avery, I specifically ordered you to stay in the barrack during the ambush..."

"I saw you...get slammed down and looked out of it...I just...I panicked thinking you'd die right there so I...ran out and got your gun...I closed my eyes after feeling something sharp hit me in the side, I pulled...the trigger..." Avery said softly looking down.

"And you don't remember anything after that?" Avery shook her head. "Let me tell you then. You killed that guy, then fell over. I caught you, had Anderson call medic and took you in the barrack to get treated...And you want to know what happened after that?" Hayden asked, she shook her head again. "What did I say I'd do if you ever got killed or hurt because of my lifestyle..." Hayden stated firmly.

"Y-You said...you'd lose it...and no one would be able to stop you..." Avery said worried now.

"And I don't ever go back on my word, be lucky none of my teammates had to shoot me to stop me..." Hayden said.

"What...did you do?" Avery asked.

"I do what I do to enemies. I killed them. And I don't even know how many, but I sure as shit want to know who died because I lost my shit when you got stabbed for stepping into my fight!" Hayden yelled. "You swore to me you wouldn't do this again! You promised, Avery! You fuckin promised you'd never do anything like this again! YOU COULD HAVE DIED! The only reason all those soldiers aren't dead right now is because you didn't die! If you had...I'd be dead too because it would take a bullet to stop the rage I was feeling."

"I'm...sorry...I just...rushed out...I wasn't thinking..." Avery whimpered.

"No shit you weren't thinking, AGAIN! God damn it, Avery! You're laying on my Dad's couch because you got stabbed! You nearly got shot out of of the sky yesterday! Wasn't that enough for you?! Why would you recklessly put yourself in danger!? I promise you that your life has far more meaning than my own! I wouldn't of been killed, if you'd been listening, Theo had called out for me not to move because he had my back! If he didn't see you, he would of shot you because you were in his line of fire! I told you not to leave the barrack because you were safe in there! For fuck's sake, Avery...Are you trying to make me go insane? Because I'm this fucking close to losing it completely," Hayden illustrated with his fingers being incredibly close together how close to insanity he was getting.

"I'm sorry..." Avery cried now. She didn't like it when he was mad, no one did.

"I have lost enough people in the last four years to last me a lifetime, Avery. Do you not understand that? I lost Ritka, he gave his life to save mine and the squad's lives. I had to leave him behind, I watched an RPG blow that building to hell and I couldn't stop it. And as soon as I was up, I went back for his body. I lost Matthews, I lost Lennox-who took a bullet to the chest saving my life and then he died in my arms. And then Tarelto...who killed himself because he couldn't take losing anyone else when we got deployed again. I watched that happen and none of that broke me but if I had lost you, Avery...I was done. That would be the last straw, my girlfriend who shouldn't even of been there in the first place getting killed to save me...No. Everyone would be dead. I'd lose it, do you understand me. Lose It. And then to avoid Thor only knows much counseling time, I'd probably kill myself because I just wouldn't be able to take it anymore." Hayden scolded her.

Of course this shocked his family and friends to know, they hadn't known about Lennox or Matthews dying. "Hayden..." Camille cried a bit.

"Stay out of this. And you...Stay on Berk. I swear to God, Avery...Don't you ever find me while I'm deployed or stationed elsewhere. The day I die, you'll be one of the first to know. Now you fuckin just take it easy while I go back and keep fighting to keep your ass safe. And just so you don't think I'm joking about how many people died when you got hurt," Hayden remarked as he pulled his radio. "Haddock to Anderson." he said firmly.

"Anderson to Haddock. Go ahead."

"Enemy body count on last attack. Now." Hayden said.

They heard a sigh, "Thirty-five from your attack alone, Haddock. And you do know you're going to be under psych eval with me when you get back, right?"

"Yeah, I figured as much. I'll be back in about twelve hours...I flew all night, Toothless's wings need a break..." Hayden stated.

"How's your girl? The others are worried." Anderson asked softly.

"She's fine. Resting now and swearing to me on my life she won't ever do something like this again, right Avery?" Hayden stated.

"I swear on your life I won't leave Berk to find you..." Avery said slowly..

"Good. Anderson, I'll see you in twelve hours-fourteen at the longest. Haddock over and out." Hayden put the radio away after turning it down. "This is no joke on my remaining sanity, Avery...I killed thirty-five people when you got hurt..." Hayden stated to her firmly, she put her head down. Hayden crouched down before her and kissed her deeply then hugged her. "Don't you ever scare me like that again..." he sighed now.

"I won't...I'm sorry." Avery said as she went to hug him back but cringed from pain.

"Lay down, let me see it." Hayden told her, she did so as he lifted her shirt and saw the blood coming through. Hayden pulled a few first aid things from his vest. "Don't move. I knew it was to deep to just be wrapped. Then I suppose I have no choice but to stitch it myself." Hayden told her firmly as he pulled out a sewing needle, cotton, disinfectant, bandage, and cleaning tools. He pulled a small bottle out after dabbing the blood clear of the wound. He rubbed some of the oil from the bottle over the wound.

"What is that stuff?" Seth asked.

"You know the stuff doctors use when women are having a c-section?" They nodded, "It's that. Only stronger, we've had to do a lot of on field wound fixing before." Hayden said as he grabbed the the needle and poked her a few times. "Can ya feel that?" Avery shook her head, Hayden threaded the needle and started on the left of the wound -stitching it carefully and dabbing the blood as he went. It took close to twenty minutes but he finished, tied the knot off-then he put some gauze on it, wrapped it, and stepped back putting away his things after cleaning them. "No heavy lifting over five pounds, watch corners and rewrap that after every shower. Next few days, rewrap about three times a day and use a q-tip with hydrogen peroxide to keep it clean. You should be be fine in two weeks or so. The doctor can remove the stitches, it's really just a simple cut though and pulling the thread out then using a band-aid." Hayden stated.

"Is there anything you can't do?" Camille asked.

"Nothing I've found so far. Now, you need sleep and so do I..." Hayden yawned taking off his vest and outer coat leaving him in just his green tee-shirt with his dog tags hanging there.

"Will you hold me?" Avery asked, Hayden picked her up carefully and walked to his old bedroom-he laid her down first and then crawled beside her, while making sure she was comfortable.

"Avery..." Hayden asked now.

"Hm?" She replied tiredly.

"Where did you learn to shoot a gun," Hayden inquired.

"I learned when I was fourteen." She said.

"And...you're okay with the fact you shot someone in the head?" Hayden asked carefully.

"I don't like killing...I was...shocked that I'd done. I had my eyes closed when I shot him, I expected to miss or hit the shoulder but I didn't...think I'd hit him in the head...It...scared me. But I know I did it protecting you and Dad has always told me that sometimes you have to do things you don't want too in order to protect the people you love most." Avery said with a yawn. Hayden looked up at the ceiling, a flash of him killing that kid with a perfect shot to the head came across his mind. "Its terrible those soldiers are as old as we are and forced to fight...I don't know what I'd do if that had been a soldier my age...it would feel weird but at least you'd still be safe."

"Avery. I want you to promise me something...If you shooting that guy starts to bother you...Go talk to someone or call me. Understand?" Hayden told her.

"I...will but why would it bother me?" Avery asked.

"I'm not saying it will, but if it does...call me or talk to someone about it okay. Don't let it get to you, it won't be a good feeling." Hayden closed his eyes.

"I can't imagine it would be a good feeling knowing you took another life-but...Hayden, is something wrong?" Avery asked.

"Nothing at all. Just promise me you will." Hayden said.

"I promise." Avery replied snuggling against him.

"Good...now get some sleep." Hayden replied to her, she closed her eyes and soon fell asleep. 'I won't let it hurt you like it still hurts me...' Hayden thought before sleep finally took over him.

(Six Hours Later)

He slept longer than he'd meant to but he was actually really tired, he woke up around 2:30 in the afternoon and sat up seeing Avery still asleep on the bed. He kissed her forehead and got up to use the bathroom then made his way out to the living room while the others were just sitting around. "Heading back?" TJ asked.

"Yeah," He nodded, "Avery is still asleep. I'll call her later...but I have a ten hour flight back to Afghanistan so I better leave now." Hayden said getting his gear back on, finally the gun last.

"You sure you're okay?" Gerald asked.

"Doesn't matter if I am as long as she is...She and I are back together now, she'll be fine. Stormfly will be here on time...I'll let ya know when I land." Hayden said, the others nodded as Hayden said goodbye to them and went outside getting back on Toothless and rubbing his neck then he took off back to Afghanistan.

(Base Camp)

Another long flight ended, landing in front of the A barrack at 5am. Oh he was so tired but knew he had to check in with Anderson who he knew was awake because Hayden radioed him thirty minutes ago to say he'd be coming in and please don't shoot him down. Anderson actually got a laugh out of it and when Hayden landed, the man rushed over to him and they hugged. "There ya are. How's Avery? We won't be getting a surprise visit from your sister next will we?" Anderson joked.

"Shut up...She's alright. I gave her stitches, wound was deeper than medic said it was." Hayden shrugged.

"Good man...now...I'm sure you're tired but...you know we have to do this first. Where's your mind at right now from everything?" Anderson asked.

Hayden sighed, "To be completely honest. I don't know...I'm...much calmer than I was when she was hurt but still...terrified. She could of died, Harry and I really don't think my sanity could stand against something like that happening..."

"I understand...you gave the entire front lines last night a scare, ain't no one ever seen Toothless do that before." Anderson said.

"Toothless is the Alpha of all dragon. They will listen to him, and the person riding him without a problem. I knew they couldn't handle Toothless and the dragons...Makes it just a little more threatening than the guns and RPG's..." Hayden stated.

"I'll keep that in mind. All I need to know is if you're going to snap again?" Anderson asked softly.

"I'm fine. Avery is back home and safe, that's enough for me...I'm good, I'm just really effin tired..." Hayden stated to him, Anderson patted his back.

"Go get some sleep kid. We can talk more tomorrow." Hayden nodded as he headed inside the barrack, he got off his gear and climbed into bed. It didn't take long at all for him to knock right back to sleep again. Avery was safe in Berk, he was back where he had to be, he and Avery were a couple again-and everything was back to normal for now. It was calm and that was totally fine by Hayden-he just hoped that Avery would keep her promise to him, to call if the fact she shot someone in head began to bother her because Hayden knew he shot a kid point blank in the head four years ago and he still hated how it made him feel, he didn't want Avery to feel the same thing. He didn't want her to suffer like he did and still was.