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
53; Can I Lay With You
-Hayden's POV-
Since I hadn't wanted to partake in the holiday festivities that Alpha Fire was doing-which was calling home and I had opted to take one of the other squads out for a mission to clear a twelve sector area and secure any weaponry. I'd already been up about sixteen hours and knew I wouldn't be able to sleep so whatever, why not go clear my head awhile? At 7pm, Nightwave headed off to the area in the jeeps and we got through all sectors except two of them and those happened to be an ambush waiting for us. Right away three of our jeeps were destroyed to trap us there then we were engaged in a heavy fire fight with sixteen enemy soldiers, we out numbered them but they had heavier weaponry than us which made it really hard to fight back but we held firm through it and thank Thor no one was injured. One of mine got whacked on the head really hard but that was it. No injuries and no deaths, the problem was that if we didn't get out soon we'd run out of ammo and be left defenseless.
I knew extraction would take too long so I did what I knew would work. I called for Toothless, a training exercise we'd been working on since Fort Dreki, how good his hearing was. And tonight proved that he could hear my call from fifteen miles away, impressive hearing right? I trained two Nightmares and then had eighteen of the soldiers get on a piece of thick wood that I tied rope to, then had Toothless and the two Nightmares carry back to the base while the other six soldiers of Nightwave drove the remaining jeep we had. Reaching the base, I was grateful to be back and it was only 10:15pm, I'd have time to catch a shower and relax after giving the report to Anderson and the others. I was exhausted and wanted to sleep for once. After agreeing to give the report in my office so I could apparently get off the heavy gear, we walked there with Toothless and I leading. I took off my helmet while I walked in then out of nowhere came,
"Merry Christmas, Hayden!"My eyes never snapped open so fast in my entire life. At first I thought it was just Strike One trying to cheer me up about me not getting to go home for Christmas again but as I saw past them to see my family and friends standing there with wide smiles of excitement to see me. What the fuck?! Why were they here, in my office, in Iraq?! I didn't even know how to handle this! I did the one thing I could do, I got mad.
"What the fuck are all of you doing here!?" I stated putting my gun down against the door and tossing my helmet to the cot on the side of the room-my bed when I didn't feel like going to the barrack to sleep.
"We came to see you for Christmas since you couldn't come home." Camille smiled brightly.
"Did you fuckin fly here? Whose god damn idea was this! And you, Avery swore to me you'd never do this again after last time!" I yelled angrily.
"Hayden, calm down...this was...my idea." Anderson suddenly said putting a hand on my shoulder as I whipped around and faced him completely shocked. Anderson's idea was for them to come to Iraq for Christmas. No, no way. I had to be sleeping or maybe knocked out. Anderson wouldn't do that, he knows how I feel about it. "We all know that you got kind of depressed hearing you couldn't go home again for Christmas so I talked with Evans, and the others, and we arranged to fly them here just until after Christmas so you could have a holiday with them. They had...nothing to do with this. It was me..."
"Anderson you are a very dear friend of mine, and I love you like a brother but what the fuck! You know how I feel about this, for Thor's sake you were there when Avery flew in and nearly died not once, but twice! WHY WOULD YOU BRING MY ENTIRE FAMILY TO IRAQ, YOU KNOW HOW FUCKING DANGEROUS IT IS HERE!" I snapped at him as the others backed up.
"Hayden it's just until the 27th! Calm down please!" Boggs said now.
"That's three days! Fuck fuck's sake, Avery was shot down from the sky and stabbed in the course of two! Civilians don't belong here! For any reason at all!" I glared hard.
"They'll be okay, I promise. I'm taking full part in protection detail so are the other leaders and Strike One. Nothing will happen to them, and they'll be staying right here in your office." Anderson tried to assure me but I wasn't having it.
"Did anything I say a week ago matter?! I don't want them here, I don't care what it's for! Get them back on the plane, chopper, whatever you used to get them here and send them back to Berk. Now. My family, my orders...I'm not going to risk it, Anderson. I can't. I can't...deal with it. I've lost too many people already and I won't lose them, not over a holiday. What would you do if it was your wife and kids? Would you want them here? In all this where...we get attacked at random?" I asked him.
Anderson's eyes widened a bit as he realized where I was coming from now, he wouldn't risk his own family so why was he risking mine? "Hayden, I'm sorry...I didn't even think about that. You're right, I wouldn't bring my family here...and I shouldn't of brought yours. Strike One and I were just worried about you because you've been so...depressed lately with knowing you had missed four years of holidays with them already...we just wanted to see you happy again, you've done so much for all of us already." he placed his hands on his infuriated friend.
"I know you were trying to make me happy by bringing them here, but what makes me happier than anything else in the world is knowing they all safe and sound back home. I can deal with everything else around me as long as I know that and right now, they are the farthest thing from safe...You cannot guarantee their safety, it doesn't matter how many soldiers are protecting them. If an RPG hits this tent, they are dead. If a barrage of bullets hits this tent, they are dead. Even in the barrack, they wouldn't be safe. Anderson you saw first hand what happened when Avery was hurt saving me...okay? You saw me wrangle fifty soldiers in a ring of fire, shoot deadly Nadder spines into it, then let Toothless blast it. And I killed thirty five people because she'd only been hurt. And you were lucky I managed to break myself out of that mindset but I promise you that if anything happens to them because they are here...I will lose it completely this time and you will have to shoot me to stop me, and when you shoot, you better hit my head because you know being shot in the arm or leg can't hold me down...Understand me, you will have to kill me to stop me this time." I stated firmly.
Anderson hugged me tightly, "I'm sorry, you're right. I just wanted to see you smile again, I miss the sarcastic laughter you used to give little brother. The jokes, the fun...and I've only seen it when you've got your friends and family around. I just wanted you to have everyone you care about for Christmas."
I sighed heavily as I stepped back from him now, "Send them back to Berk, Lieutenant Colonel Anderson." I prepared to walk away but Avery grabbed my hand and pulled me towards her, before I could say anything I felt her press her lips to mine in a kiss. I froze but then I just wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her back before breaking it.
"Please Hayden...let us stay. We'll stay...right here the whole time and do anything you say. I know you're scared for us but we'll be okay...please, I've missed you so much...Just this once, let us have a Christmas with you..." she pleaded.
"Avery...it's not safe. And Thor knows you can't control yourself if you see me get hurt..." I reminded.
"I swear it on our relationship that we'll do as you say," Avery tried again as she held onto my uniform tightly, "We brought all the presents...Christmas is big for you-you told me that yourself. Just this one time..."
"Please big brother? It's been hard without you at home, we all used to celebrate together...It was hard without Mom, and now...we don't have you either..." Camille added softly.
"Difference is: I'm not dead, Cami...I get me being home but you being here, in Iraq, where the heaviest of the war is being held...this is Utter Hell okay? This right here, this base is the heart of the war and I don't want you in the middle of it," I remarked.
"We'll be okay," Avery cupped my face with a gentle smile.
"You can't promise me that babe," I sighed closing my eyes.
"You're right, I can't...but know that I love you and nothing is stronger than that. War couldn't separate us before, and it can't now. We'll all be okay because you won't let anything happen to us, Major Haddock, rider of the Night Fury. Come on soldier boy, don't let down your biggest fans and support system. I want a Christmas with my boyfriend...I don't care where we are to celebrate it, you know you miss us like crazy..." Avery said with a giggle.
I did miss them a lot and it had been four years since I'd gotten to spend a holiday with them. I really couldn't believe I was about to say this, "You DO NOT leave this tent at all for anything. Is that clear. I don't care if I'm on the ground bleeding out, don't you dare leave this tent." They all smiled wide nodding to me.
"So...they can stay?" Anderson asked me.
"They leave on the 27th?" I asked.
"Yes, at 1500." Evans stated firmly with a nod.
"Then they can stay. Swear to God, anyone gets hurt because of this..." I warned.
"We'll protect them, just like we do with pinned down group rescues." Anderson said softly.
I sighed, "Get the cots in here. It's 10:45pm, and I'm exhausted...That mission sucked...fuckin bastards ambushed us in sectors nine and ten as we were regrouping..." I mumbled as I cracked my neck.
"Right, we need the report on that..." Boggs reminded.
"No shit, Boggs..." I rolled my eyes.
-Ends Hayden's POV-
The next thirty minutes was spent arranging the tent to accommodate eleven people and a dragon who Hayden opted to sleep against to save room on cots. There was six on each side of the tent now, and everyone had one. Hayden's was still there but he said he preferred to be against his dragon who would be near the tent entrance that way he could rush out if he had too. "Alright, keep your bags under the beds and for the love of God, this is the Drill Sergeant in me talking-but keep your beds made and area organized..." Hayden mumbled.
"Yep, back to normal." Theo chuckled.
"Shut it, Theo. It's late, go to bed Strike One." Hayden stated with a chuckle of his own.
"Night, Major Haddock." they said all waving and leaving the ten which thankfully managed to declutter it of people. Now it was just his family, friends, and officers above him.
"So, report on the mission?" Evans asked, Hayden sighed as he crossed his arms over his chest now.
"Arrived about twenty minutes after 1900, area was quiet. Split off into units, three sectors each started with the farther ones first, moving closer in. An hour and thirty minutes in we were making our way to sectors nine and ten to regroup and were ambushed by an RPG hitting three of the jeeps. We all took cover and started firing back when they did. We started running out of ammo since all of ours had been in the jeeps, all the extra at least. No one got hurt, and no one died. There were only sixteen enemies on us but they were trying to get more, I called for Toothless had him run them off, then I made a platform to have Toothless and the two Nightmares carry back the eighteen soldiers and myself who could fit in the lone jeep we had. You know the rest from there. Area secure though, they won't be back. Motion trackers in place if anyone returns." Hayden shrugged.
"Well done, Haddock. You never cease to impress me. Though curious, how did your dragon find you?" Evans asked.
"Training exercise he and I been working on since Fort Dreki. How many miles can he hear my call from? We only got as far as seven there, jumping to fifteen was a stretch but evidently it worked. Right bud?" Hayden rubbed his head.
"Huh, good hearing. I'm curious to see how far he can actually hear from." Greenhalgh chuckled.
"And he did it over gunfire and bombs although his eye sight is good too so he probably saw it from the sky. It's not hard for him to locate me." Hayden chuckled slightly.
"Appears so. Well, we'll leave ya to relax," Anderson smiled.
"Oh, I know tomorrow is Christmas and all but...you think you and Alpha Fire can take a guard shift?" Evans asked.
"Where at?" Hayden questioned as Evans pointed to a spot on the map of the base. "Front lines, what we looking for or just in general guard?"
"Just guarding, lost about fifteen people while you were on area patrol. You got sharp eyes, Haddock and you can take Toothless too." Boggs said.
"Done deal. What time?" Hayden nodded to him.
"Early morning. 0200 to 0800?" Anderson stated.
"Yeah we don't mind, I'll go tell...Fuck it, I know they are still awake. Alpha Fire, fall in!" In seconds they heard the barrack door open and the guys and girls forming in front of him standing at parade rest. "Get your rest, be up for 0200: front line guard duty. Got it?"
"Sir, yes sir!" they saluted to him.
"Back to the barrack boys and girls." Hayden ordered, "Dis-missed!" they rushed off back to E barrack as he walked back in the tent. "We'll see you in four hours then. Good night gentleman." he nodded to them as they did the same and walked out except for Anderson.
"You gonna be good with only four hours of sleep?" Anderson asked him.
"Something Drill Sergeant taught me real quick at Basic: Infantry never sleep. I'll be fine, it's only six hours of guard." Hayden mentioned.
"You're a tough kid, Hayden. Alright, I'm taking your spare cot. Someone's gotta watch them while you're on guard with Toothless." Anderson flopped on it carelessly.
"Could you maybe not break my bed, I do sleep there pretty often." Hayden rolled his eyes.
"Oh relax, these things are made from...what are they made from again, the metal you discovered?" Anderson asked.
"Gronckle Iron?" Hayden arched a brow.
"YEAH!" Hayden sighed heavily as he laid down against Toothless.
"Anderson, go to sleep." Hayden stated, Anderson laughed and nodded as he laid down and relaxed. "That goes for the rest of you too." he added.
"But we're not tired..." Camille said.
"Well I am and you aren't the ones who have to get up and guard the front lines and watch for enemy attacks at 2am, are you?" Hayden remarked.
"True." said Seth now.
"The lad is right, this is still a war zone and he still has a job to do whether we are here or not so let's settle down and let him rest." Gobber pointed out now.
"Thanks, Gobber." Hayden smiled a bit as he leaned against Toothless with his legs out and arm over his mid-section, eyes closed and relaxing and sure enough not long after he was knocked out and asleep.
"So we shouldn't wake up freaking out if there's a random attack?" TJ asked.
"No, you shouldn't. It will be noisy, a lot of yelling, gun fire and more. Best you can do is stay in the tent and keep quiet." Anderson informed.
"Hayden...will be okay right?" Camille asked.
"Course he will, he's a trooper for sure. Been shot plenty of times and he still fights until everyone is safe regardless of himself. Don't know how he does it-but he does every time." Anderson smiled softly. Not long after a few more minutes of talking, all of them had laid down and began to fall asleep.
(12:30am)
Avery was tossing and turning on her cot, beads of sweat rolling down her face as she whimpered, Toothless noticed first as he nudged Hayden awake, "Hm, what is it bud?" Hayden said tiredly, the dragon crooned softly as he moved his head in Avery's direction as Hayden looked to see his girlfriend tossing and turning. Hayden got up and lightly shook her awake, "Avery...Avery it's okay, wake up babe." He whispered to her, Avery snapped awake as she panted hard and saw him now, "What's wrong?"
"I-I saw me...killing that soldier...again...only...I saw you were already dead too..." Hayden didn't wait for her to finish, he just hugged her tightly and she whimpered against him.
"Ssh, it's okay...I'm okay see, I'm right here holding you. It's alright..." Hayden soothed her as he pulled away from the hug and wiped her eyes free of tears.
"I don't...understand, Hayden...I was okay. I wasn't seeing this anymore after I talked to you that day...Why is it...coming back?" Avery asked him.
"Probably because you're back in a war setting and you experienced what you had while in the middle of a battle. You recall sleeping on a cot near me, the sounds of gunfire and bombs. Though none have sounded, you're aware of where you are and when you go from war, to civilian, back to war you start remembering. Just keep telling yourself that what you did was the right thing, and you saved a life. Now come on, back to sleep. Can't enjoy Christmas if you're too tired babe." Hayden told her.
"But I'm scared..." Avery said. Hayden kissed her forehead now with a soft smile.
"Don't be. You got me protecting you, that's a promise." he said lightly.
"Can I...sleep with you?" Avery asked bashfully.
"The cots aren't big enough for two people, but you're welcome to lay with against Toothless." Hayden said, she nodded to him as she got off the cot and laid down in Hayden's arms after he was against Toothless again. Hayden covered them both up as Toothless let out a comforting purr to settle Avery down, not long after she was back to sleep and Hayden saw Anderson looking at him. "She's okay." Hayden told him, Anderson nodded and then put his head back down to return to sleep. Hayden yawned as he held her tightly before sleep took him again. He did have to be up-again in an hour and a half for guard duty, he didn't want to be falling asleep there of all places. He just hoped Avery would sleep a little better in his arms.
