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
41; Vacation
As planned after Hayden had returned and said it, they all met at his house-minus Anderson- to get ready for the vacation Hayden was generously taking them on for a week. They were going camping just outside the Archipelago to a campground named: Dragons Edge. It was a fun place with so much to do. Anderson had told Hayden about it and told him he needed to get his mind out of military for a while and take some time off to be with his family and friends. Gerald had work so he couldn't join but he said he'd come to visit them during the week. As Hayden came to learn with being back that Seth, Rachel, TJ, and Felix now all had their own dragons. Seth had a Monstrous Nightmare named Hookfang. Felix with a Gronckle named Meatlug and the twins were sharing a Zippleback where they each named a head-Rachel's was Barf, and TJ's was Belch. Hayden almost just shook his head when he saw them land in the yard. Avery would be taking Stormfly, Camille taking her Nadder, Rain. Theo taking his Nightmare, Jasmine on her Nadder and finally Heather who shocked everyone by bonding with a wounded Razorwhip she named Windshear. Hayden trained her while they were doing the last tour.
Hayden had arranged it so they'd be sleeping between two RV's and then tents between the two campsites. Luckily for them he managed to get two that were sitting close to the pool, store, mini-golf, and pavilion. Also, as a bonus the two RV's faced one another so they'd be able to hang out, share the firepit, grill the food and more. It was going to be a good week for them, more so for Hayden. He needed this in the worst and best way: just time with people he cared about. After getting loaded up, they decided they'd just buy food when they got there so the dragons wouldn't have to carry as much. After all, according to Anderson's instructions, Dragons Edge was North-East of Berk about a day's flight so they'd have to stop and give their dragon's a break in between on Fireworm Island which was just outside the Archipelago boundary: then from there they could continue to Dragons Edge. They'd get there just before it got dark, hopefully.
"Alright gang, let's hit the sky." Hayden smiled to them as he got on Toothless's back after the others were mounted up to leave. Dylan was flying with Camille, Ethan with Theo, and the rest were all all flying solo on their own dragons. "And you," he said, pointing at Dylan, who quickly pulled back from almost kissing Camille, "Remember what I said in Afghanistan-you hurt her, and you'll wish you didn't make it out of your first tour alive because I. Never. Miss," Hayden warned.
Camille pouted a bit. "HAYDEN!..." she whined.
His eyes still on Dylan: "We clear?"
"Sir, yes sir..." Dylan said quickly as he moved his hands from Camille's waist to her shoulders and Hayden huffed at him as he put his hands on the saddle and smiled when Toothless looked up at him.
"Let's go bud!" Hayden told him and with a roar, Toothless took off North-East: so began the vacation that he desperately needed.
(Hours Later; Dragon's Edge Campground)
They arrived around 7pm: thankfully the sun was only just setting after Hayden checked them in and then using the campground map: found their two sites. It was so big and there was plenty of space for the dragons since there were nine of them. They landed in between the two and dismounted: the dragons let them unload their bags then went to lay down in the shelter stables which just about connected the two sites together making it look boxed in with the stables right against the forest edge. There was one big fire ring, two grills, two picnic tables, two clothes lines, and two awnings that just about made a perfect tent over them in case it rained. "The RV to my right is for Avery, Theo, Camille, Seth, and myself. The rest of you can fight over who sleeps in the other RV and who sets up a tent," Hayden chuckled.
It was decided after about ten minutes later that Jasmine, Heather, Dylan, Ethan, and Rachel would take the RV and Felix and TJ would share a tent outside. Hayden helped the two tent-goers with the tent which sat in the back corner of the left RV. After that, the others got settled in the RV's. Of course Hayden and Avery were sharing the big bed. Seth and Camille were sharing the bunk beds towards the back of the RV and Theo was sleeping on the pull out couch near the sink and small counter area. Likewise in the other RV, Ethan and Rachel were sharing the big bed, Dylan on the pull out, while Jasmine and Heather took the bunk beds.
Once they were settled inside, they moved outside to push the two tables together. After everything was set outside, the boys went out to go shopping-which was much easier on their dragons and returned within an hour. They whipped up cheeseburgers and hot-dogs for dinner then Hayden had Toothless get the fire going and everyone relaxed around it in the camping chairs. "Hey, I think we should all take a shot," Seth suggested.
"What for?" Rachel asked.
"Well, I was gonna ask if it was okay with Hayden first but...I was gonna say to celebrate one war being over and the soldiers home safe?" TJ added now. Most eyes fell on him now as he was just staring into the fire: he realized his name had been said about ten seconds later.
"Hm? Yeah, go ahead. Doesn't matter how it happened, one war is still over so fuck it, let's celebrate it," Hayden smiled now. Seth smiled widely as he went and got the alcohol and a bunch of plastic shot glasses to pass out. When everyone had one, Hayden noticed that the bottle of alcohol happened to be Southern Comfort: Lennox's and Tarelto's favorite. Last time they drank that in a shot it was to celebrate the life of Steven Ritka after his funeral. Theo-who was sitting beside Hayden put a hand on his shoulder.
"They'd want us to drink to them, Hayden..." Theo mentioned, "I brought our favorite, Fireball, if you want that instead?"
"Thanks, Theo but I'm alright. If I'm gonna get fucked up, then I'm gonna do it like we all used to. Without a god damn smile on my face and no care in the world of how I feel tomorrow morning," Hayden smiled to him.
"Well Major, your lead then?" Ethan said.
"Alright. Here's to...a war ending, to thousands of soldiers getting to go home to their families. Here's to family who supported them through their worrying and fear. Here is to damn good friends...And here is to those who paid the ultimate price who are no longer with us in body-but always in spirit because we soared to victory on their wings. Here is to a better future and it finally being over," Hayden said raising his shot cup.
The others raised theirs up while smiling too, "To a better future!" they said together as they brought the cups to their mouths and took back the shot. Hayden and Theo both shook at the taste and stuck their tongues out in disgust, coughing a few times and laughing.
"That was for you assholes up there laughing at us because you know we hate soco," Theo flipped off the sky.
"A-fucking-men to that my friend," Hayden and he fist bumped and sat back to relax as a warm breeze whipped through. "Yeah, yeah, I know you're here too." he said more quietly.
"Hayden, you and me. Shot for each of the fallen members of the original Strike One," Theo said to him.
"You tryin to kill me? That's...four shots. You're trying to fuck me up aren't you?" Hayden asked.
"You did say if you were gonna get fucked up then you were gonna do it with a smile on your face and not caring how you felt tomorrow?" Jasmine reminded him, grinning.
"Fair point. Alright, line 'em up, Theo," Hayden told him. Theo beamed as he got up, set up four shots each for them then Hayden got up and stood across from him.
"Race ya?" Theo challenged.
"I wouldn't do it, Theo. Haddock can take six shots rapid fire..." Dylan warned.
"I'll take my chances. Loser does fifteen push ups, and sits up?" Theo grinned.
"You're so on." Hayden said as they both put one hand behind their backs and the other on one glass. "Ericksen, start it..." Hayden said with a smirk.
"Alright...One, two...THREE!" Ethan called to them, as Hayden took the first shot and kept going while Theo was only two when Hayden forced back the fourth one on his side and put his fist in the air. "Haddock wins!"
"No fair, you have like an iron stomach. Did you even breathe?" Theo panted hard, finishing his fourth now.
"Course I did, I'm just faster. Trick that Ritka taught me that night we snuck out off base: don't swallow a line of shots one by one. Hold it in the back of your throat and take it all down at once. Doesn't burn as much because your throat will be numb," Hayden winked as he made his way back over to his chair and sat down.
"How are you not falling over?" Avery asked.
"It'll take eight to get Hayden remotely close to wasted. He's probably just tipsy right now, and we just ate so that has something to do with it." Theo chuckled making his way to his own chair.
"Yep, that's enough for tonight to. I know my limit. Soco and Fireball is just asking for bad decisions to be made," Hayden chuckled. They all just sighed out and relaxed enjoying the fire now as Hayden leaned back and looked up towards the sky, the rest looked over at him wondering if he was okay.
"Hey, you alright?" Theo asked him.
"Yeah, I'm good. I just really miss the fuckers..." Hayden said. "We always said we'd do this, just the six us go camping and get fucked up for three days..." he stated.
"Come on, Haddock, you know they are up there having an endless party and driving everyone crazy. The four of them together was a dangerous mix, especially drunk. Hell they almost got us kicked out of the bar that night during karaoke," Theo chuckled.
"I remember that...was gods damn hilarious seeing them drunken asses try and sing," Hayden smiled now.
"I might still have that video on my phone..." Theo said, Hayden arched a brow at him.
"You were recordin' that?" Hayden asked, Theo beamed as he rushed into the RV and grabbed his phone, then came back scrolling through the videos and pictures.
"Holy shit, I still have it! Take a look!" Theo exclaimed handing the phone to Hayden. Sure enough he pressed play and watched the camera move around and stop on him drinking a beer then telling Theo to get the camera out of his face as it turned and showed Ritka, Tarelto, Lennox, and Matthews on the stage trying to sing while wasted. He could hear him and Theo laughing so hard at the failed attempt.
"Fuck you, Haddock, you get your ass up here and sing if you think you can do better!" came Ritka's voice on the video.
"No way. I ain't a singer. I ain't makin a fool of myself while drunk..." Hayden had said.
"Pussy!" Tarelto, Lennox, Matthews, and Ritka teased him.
"Alright, move the fuck over then..." Hayden finally gave in.
"You didn't really get up there and sing while drunk, did you?" Camille asked.
"Oh he did and he fuckin rocked it too, I'll put it on the laptop so you can see better." Theo said as he hooked everything up in about five minutes then started it right where Hayden was on stage with a beer in his hand while Tarelto, Matthews, Lennox, and Ritka were standing to the right with cocky smiles thinking Hayden couldn't do it. Theo wasn't seen given he was holding the phone and recording. The music started as Hayden saw his friends lean forward in anticipation.
"I'm okay, I'm okay. Kinda being awkward socially. With the fact, with that girls, don't lose their shit when they look at me. It's okay, it's okay: that I'm not that good at anything. And I don't hit the notes, perfectly when I try to sing...Oh! I know I'm not alone. So turn the music up and let go..." Hayden's voice paused a moment.
"Here's to the rest of us! To all the ones that never felt they were good enough. I wanna hear it for the chased and confused, the freaks and the losers...Let's point them up," In the video they'd see Hayden raise his beer while the bar-goers sitting in front of the stage did the same. Ritka, Matthews, Lennox, and Tarelto just has their mouths hanging open. Now that Hayden saw Avery and the others were just as shocked and he couldn't help but chuckle, "Here's to the rest of us(The rest of us)!" Hayden took a swig of the beer before starting to sing again.
"I'm okay, I'm okay. I don't need to be a billionaire so freaking bad! And my trust fund hopes are looking sad. I confess, I'm a mess, I'm perfectly dysfunctional-but I don't give a damn. If you feel the same let me hear you sing! Oh! I know I'm not alone! So turn the music up and let go..." Another pause as the beer in Hayden's hand on the video raised again.
"Here's to the rest of us! To all the ones that never felt they were good enough. I wanna hear it for the chased and confused, the freaks and the losers. Let's point them up...Let's point them up, up, up!" Now in the video the four friends only shook their heads and walked to stand on either side of Hayden with their beers raised as well and joined in on the singing. "Here's to the rest of us! We do it better than the rich and the fabulous. I wanna hear it for the nothing to lose, with something to prove...Let's point them up! Here's to the rest of us!" The five on stage all put their arms around one another's shoulders and began to sway when the music slowed slightly.
"We don't need to apologize for anything. We're who we are, I just wanna hear you sing," The group did together then they saw Hayden take a breath for the next part, "Oh! I know I'm not alone!..." Hayden sang out before the rest joined in again, "Here's to the rest of us! To all the ones that never felt they were good enough. I wanna hear it for the chased and confused, the freaks and the losers. Let's point them up. Let's point them up, up, up! Here's to the rest of us! We do it better than the rich and the fabulous. I wanna hear it for the nothing to lose, with something to prove...Let's point them up! Here's to the rest of us!"
"The lost, the geeks, the rejects, the losers. The wrong, the freaks, the hopeless, the future(The rest of us)! The lost, the geeks, the rejects, the losers. The wrong, the freaks, the hopeless, the future...The rest of us!" The five guys finished as the bar was going wild. By this point, Theo handed the bartender the phone and he rushed up as the six of them put their hands in. "On three boys...One, two, three," Hayden said smiling wide,
"ALPHA FIRE SQUAD-STRIKE ONE UNIT!" the six cheered together before all clanking their beers and sucking them back with their fists in the air for victory. "I fuckin love you assholes. Now let's get back and show these fuckers who they messin with!" Hayden said to more cheering and then the video stopped on the last shot with the six of the guys, arms over shoulders, laughing and smiling. The group was amazed, the friendship these six had was incredible and now it was just Hayden and Theo left. It was actually really sad and they understood why it hurt Hayden so much to lose Ritka, Matthews, Lennox, and then Tarelto last.
"Thanks, Theo...I needed to see that." Hayden told Theo, now looking at him.
"I miss 'em too, Hayden. Always will and this is how I remember them, the good times where we all got fucked up after a hard mission, and had the best damn time of our lives," Theo told him. "And hey, we still got each other right?" Theo smiled brightly.
"Damn right we do. Been stuck together since Basic, you better not die on me cuz I'll follow you and kick your ass..." Hayden warned with a smile as they connected hands and hugged one another.
"Could say the same for you, Haddock," Theo replied, "Come on, let's do it for old times sakeā¦" Hayden sighed shaking his head but nodded none the less with a smile on his face.
"Defenders of the Archipelago, with our guns at the ready: we'll protect what we love together and remain brothers forever!" the two said unison with a smile.
"What the hell babe, I never knew you could sing!" Avery pointed out now-having not wanted to interrupt Hayden and Theo who were clearly having a moment while reminiscing about their fallen friends.
"I cannot, that's because I was drunk..." Hayden stated.
"Bull, heard you sing that day to Camille in class," Ethan pointed out quickly.
"Zip it..." Hayden warned, "Fine, yes I can, I just don't like to," Hayden added rolling his eyes.
"Well, you're damn good at it!" Camille giggled now.
"Alright, stop stroking his ego. Pretty sure if it inflates anymore he'll be able to fly away on his own power," Theo snickered, Hayden punched him in the arm hard.
"Asshole," Hayden mumbled.
"And I'm the only one allowed to stroke anything of Hayden's," Avery grinned, Hayden just about choked on his soda.
"AVERY!" he said quickly as she stuck her tongue out at him.
"That was payback for you telling your friends they could stay in the barrack to watch you show me a good time," Avery remarked with her arms over her chest. Hayden finally caught his breath from choking as he pulled her against him and she giggled when they locked lips in a deep kiss. "You did promise when you got home, I could show you a good time..." Avery said softly to him.
"I did, didn't I? You want to sneak off or stay in the RV?" Hayden said.
"Go have your fun so we don't have to hear it later." Camille rolled her eyes.
"Done deal. I wouldn't come in for...What's say you babe?" Avery gleamed.
"Depends on what you want..." Hayden grinned moved behind her to kiss her neck.
"Everything you'll allow..." Avery moaned a bit.
"So everything but sex then," Hayden said, seeing her nod her head with a dark crimson blush on her cheeks and chuckled, "I think I can handle that."
"Oh my Gods! Please take it in the camper! We'll stay out here until quiet hours at 11pm...That enough time?" Camille screeched with embarrassment hearing the conversation her brother and his girlfriend were having.
"More than enough...Night!" Hayden took Avery's hand and pulled her inside the RV and shut the door. The group just sighed and shook their heads: at least he was smiling and happy again. Some of the times they'd seen him on leave he looked miserable so even if he was off enjoying himself with Avery, at least he was happy and that was enough for them because earlier that day when he was awarded, recognized, and promoted for ending the war in Afghanistan-he looked pissed and proved it when he snapped at everyone to stop talking about what he did. So for him to go from that to where he was now, it was a comforting feeling to see him acting like the Hayden they all remembered before he joined the military-now they just hoped he'd stay that way too.
