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
58; Off Our Chests
Due to not being in a rush this time, Hayden and Toothless took their time getting back to Berk in six hours making it 6pm when he landed outside his family's home, he saw Stormfly in the stables with Rain and Cloud Jumper-which meant that Avery was over while his mother and Camille were home. Good chance of his father being home too but he didn't see his father's car so that was a good sign. "Go on out back bud and get some fish," Hayden smiled to Toothless as his dragon rushed off to the backyard. Hayden walked to the kitchen door where he saw his mother cooking while Avery and Camille sitting at the table doing their homework. He smiled a bit, this was going to be a fun two weeks. Hayden put his hand on the door handle, turning it and walking in. "Guess who is home for two weeks?" Hayden announced.
"Hayden!" all three women yelled stopping what they were doing and rushing over to him for his opened arms to get a hug from him. He chuckled holding them for a moment then they stepped back while Valora kissed his cheek, then he kissed Camille's forehead-after that he pulled Avery into his arms and hugged her tightly placing a kiss on her lips gently. "What are you doing home babe?" Avery asked with a smile while still in his arms.
"I thought I just said that. Two week leave time and don't worry, I won't get called back after a week this time..." Hayden smiled to her.
"Just in time for dinner, making baked macaroni and cheese with broccoli and cracker bread crumbs." Valora smiled brightly.
"Sounds good. Where's the old man at?" Hayden asked glancing around.
"Still at work, had a late night meeting with some clients. Probably won't be here until 8:30pm or so...Why are you gonna leave when he gets here?" Camille asked holding onto Hayden's arm with worry.
"That depends on how the talk goes when he gets here. He starts with me and I'm staying at Seth's for two weeks, already asked him. The old man can manage a simple conversation without fighting with me then I'll stay." Hayden remarked firmly.
"So you're actually gonna talk to him?" Valora asked.
"I'm going to attempt too, no promises." he said shortly as he closed the kitchen door finally and sat down at the table with the others. "So anything new since we last talked?"
"Mom got a job finally, working with wounded or baby dragons over at the the Sanctuary. You saving her is all over the news and people been trying to contact us to get a hold of you for an interview. I'd go civilian mode real quick." Camille chuckled now.
"Really now? Congrats, Mom!" Hayden smiled getting up to get a drink from the fridge and sitting back down between Avery and his sister-then cracking the soda open. "And I'm not worried about press, ain't their business." he shrugged.
"Your mom was also rewarded the Iraq Campaign, POW, and Dragon Heart Medal after being confirmed alive and full discharge from the military. We showed her all the ones you've gotten over the last few years," Avery smiled.
"Very impressive son, looks like military runs in your blood as it does mine." Valora laughed a little now as she began to set up for dinner. Hayden was actually glad to be home, he needed a break from Iraq-although he wasn't looking forward to the talk with his father tonight but it needed to be done. Hayden decided to take a shower and change clothes while dinner was cooking another fifteen minutes, felt good to have one too. He wore dark blue jeans, black tee-shirt with his dog tags hanging from around his neck, his watch on his wrist, and of course-right back into his boots in case he didn't stay at home tonight because he wasn't having another argument or he'd just be done with it and accept that no matter what happens his father will never be proud of him or that they can have a civilized father-son relationship, where they put up with one another for the sake of Camille and Valora.
"Feel better after the shower?" Camille asked.
"Nothing beats a hot shower after six hours of flying, pretty sure Toothless ate some fish and went to bed himself." Hayden chuckled a little as the food was served, it was now around 6:30pm as the four of them were sitting at the table to eat together. Hayden helped the girls with their homework afterwards, it wasn't as bad though-all dragon related questions he could easily answer. Hayden helped his mother with the dishes by drying and putting them away-then they all sat in the living room waiting for the time to pass until Gerald got home, most of that time waiting was spent talking about things that had happened since they left Iraq in December. Not a lot, mainly just keeping busy with missions, guarding, and patrols. Around 7:45pm, the kitchen door opened with a heavy sigh from Gerald as he closed it.
"I'm home." Gerald stated as the sound of keys was heard dropping to the counter, then a briefcase set on the dining room table.
"We're in the living room," Valora called gently, heavy footsteps were heard making their way towards the living room as Gerald walked in to see his wife, daughter, Avery, and then Hayden on the couch. Gerald did a double take to make sure he wasn't imagining it. He saw Hayden was on the couch still with Avery leaning on him.
"Hey old man," Hayden began as he stood up slowly as Avery moved beside Camille and Valora now, "You look a little surprised to see me, you didn't think I'd stay away forever, did you?" he asked.
"N-no...When did you fly in?" Gerald asked.
"Doesn't matter, I'm here. You look tired, had a long night?" Hayden inquired with his hands over his chest.
"Long day...started at 8am..." Gerald mentioned.
"That sucks. Twelve hours must be hard and tiring. I'd like to see you try sixteen to twenty hours walking around an enemy infested, fourteen sector area with forty-eight people to keep an eye on during a fire fight while watching your own ass then tell me you had a hard day-then tell me you're tired, but hey you're doing your job and providing for the family so good on you, Dad. Unfortunately, you're not off the clock for the night yet so sit down. We aren't leaving this living room until everything has been said between us. You start fighting with me, and I'm leaving-staying at Seth's and I already asked if I could. I'm willing to stay calm if you are." Hayden said firmly.
Feeling as though he didn't have much choice, Gerald moved to the couch and sat down quietly: this might be his only chance to get Hayden's forgiveness so he had to try, "I'll do the same..."
"Well that's one thing off the list," Hayden muttered, "Shocked that you even agreed with me, that's definitely a first." he added casually. "I figured tonight we could talk like men, you have issues with me and I have some with you so why don't we both get it out in the open, everything off our chests?" Hayden offered to his father.
"I can agree to that, son." Gerald nodded.
"Let's not call me that, I'm undecided if I forgive you or if I even can," Hayden scoffed as Gerald stiffened a bit, "I may be your son by blood but that doesn't make you a father. The father is the one who takes care of you, provides for you, loves and protects you. Haven't had that from you since Mom was assumed dead. So you're man of the house, why don't you start? What's your issues with me? I know I'd like to know why you hate me so god damn much,"
"I-I don't hate you, Hayden. You're my son, I love you and would do anything for your safety and happiness..." Gerald said quickly.
"Then why don't you support anything I do or choose to do?" Hayden asked.
"Because I felt like you were making bad decisions and as your father it's my job to put you on the right path to success, to guide you, and prepare you for the world..." Gerald replied calmly.
"You thought I was making bad choices at eleven?" Hayden arched a brow.
"No, when you joined the military." his father answered.
"I'm not talking about that, I'm talking about all of it, Dad. We were a perfect family before Mom was assumed dead. We were all happy, smiling, eating dinner together, laughing, playing, taking family trip, watching TV, you both used to help Cami and I with homework, we'd go out for ice cream or to dinner at Gobber's...then Camille and I came home that day from school and you told us Mom wasn't coming home, that she was dead and killed in action. You were there for Cami and I until after the funeral...then-nothing. You didn't exist anymore, maybe to Cami but not me. So why did you suddenly stop caring about everything except work? Why did you expect so much of me, and even when I did all you asked-it didn't matter." Hayden asked.
"It was hard losing your mother, Hayden. I had...become a single father and had to support you and your sister myself. You always said you wanted to be like me," Gerald sighed.
"Like you, not become you. Big difference, Dad. I wanted be like you: a hard working, smiling, kind, caring, loving family man who did anything to make his kids and wife happy. That's what I wanted to do, I wanted to learn how one man could do such wonderful things, to say I learned from the best. I didn't want to become you by getting high marks, studying law, becoming a lawyer, then defending both innocent and guilty people. Losing Mom was hard on all of us, it wasn't just you-so don't even try and play that card. And regardless, why were you pushing an eleven year old to become some well known lawyer? I was eleven and you pushed me all the time, even when I was sick you had me reading law books." Hayden retorted.
"I misunderstood what you meant, son. I'm sorry." Gerald closed his eyes.
"See I might of bought that line if you'd stopped when I told you I didn't want to be a lawyer the first time when I was a freshman. I told you I wanted to work with law another way, by being a police officer and you said that wasn't good enough. How is it not? Defending people who can't fight for themselves, who need someone on their side? How is that bad?" Hayden asked.
"It's...not. I just...didn't listen to you."
"I know you didn't. You never did after Mom was gone, it was your way or no way. That was how it was with you. I got straight A's from the time I was eleven until I dropped out, I made the honor roll for years and that was still not enough for you. Do you know how I came to making the decision to joining the army?" Hayden asked, Gerald shook his head. "That day I came home and told you I joined: that wasn't the day I did it. I'd actually signed up a week before hand. I'd had a really bad day at school getting pushed around, bullied, teased, called useless and weak. I went walking through town and saw a father and son walk out of the recruitment office. The father told the son that he was proud of him. The son replied thanking him and saying he knew he was doing the right thing. I stood in front of the recruitment office for three minutes reading over those fliers about joining. Then a recruiter walked out asked me what I wanted to do with my life, I said I wanted to defend the innocent. He asked me if I saw myself in the military, defending the Archipelago on a much bigger scale. I told him I could and that's where it went from there. I signed the forms, I did all the tests, aced them and was told I'd be picked up for Basic in two days. You know the rest from there."
"I...never knew you got bullied, Hayden...why didn't you tell me?" Gerald asked.
"Would you of listened? Or would you just tell me to go do my homework because you were busy preparing for a case? I got bullied all the time for being a skinny kid. My bullies were Ethan and Dylan and now they are in my squadron following every single order. First time Dylan gave me trouble on Fort Dreki, I pinned him to the wall and reminded him who his Drill Sergeant was. I saved his sister from getting shot, I helped him ace his gun tests, and I took a bullet to the side saving Ethan. Now they have nothing but respect for me as their friend and commanding officer." Hayden informed. "All I've ever wanted was for you to be proud of me, to say good job son and pat me on the back with a smile. No matter what I did growing up, it was never enough for you. But first time in Iraq...I got that letter from you and I couldn't of been happier. I held on to it, I told you all this already so I won't repeat it."
"I remember..." Gerald looking down, Hayden went to start again but his radio sounded with static.
"Swear to God..." He warned.
"Strike One to Major Haddock, do you copy? Over." came Theo's worried voice.
"Strike One this is Haddock, I copy. What's the issue, I'm kind of in the middle of something right now..." Hayden replied before releasing the button.
"So we can't get through to the base and we're...shit, stuck in the middle of enemy fire with one wounded and another unconscious," Theo said.
"What do you mean you can't through to the base?! Who the hell got knocked out and who is hurt, Theo?" Hayden said quickly.
"Heather knocked out because a huge piece of rock fell on her head and Ethan got shot in the upper right shoulder. I've tried radioing Doragon base three times and no one is answering, it's just static sir. What do we do?" Theo asked beginning to panic.
"Hey! Strike One doesn't panic first off. Are you in a safe area, can you move away from the fight without getting spotted?" Hayden asked pulling out his phone.
"We're boxed in, it was an ambush and we're severely outnumbered." Theo said
"Stay where you are and stay down, return fire if you have to. What area and sector are you in?" Hayden questioned.
"Area twenty-six, sector seven. Pinned down between two buildings and a shack behind us...Heather's head is bleeding: she's been out for twenty minutes going on thirty, Ethan's not doing so great either. Dylan and Jasmine are trying cover them and I'm trying to get through. We need extraction immediately or I don't think Ethan is gonna make it." Theo admitted sadly with worry.
"Stand by, I'll get you out of there." Hayden said as he called Anderson and waited for him to pick up, thankfully he did after four rings. "Anderson, what the hell is going on with the radio?"
"What are you talking about, Hayden?" Anderson asked.
"Strike One needs extraction on the double, Theo has been trying to radio in for thirty minutes. Heather is unconscious and Ethan was shot in the arm, neither of them are doing all that good right now. Area twenty-six, sector seven...Get a bird out there, now, they are pinned down and outnumbered with only three soldiers who can fight." Hayden ordered firmly.
"On it! No idea what happened but we'll get them out, Haddock. You have my word..." Anderson said quickly.
"Call me back when they are on base. I want a status update on my team...Pisses me off that I'm five hours away and this shit happens..." Hayden remarked.
"I'll call you back, I promise." Anderson hung up after that.
"Haddock to Holgerson, hang in there. Anderson is sending a bird, ETA ten minutes. Can ya hold that long?" Hayden asked lifting the radio again.
"We'll try but I uh...I just got hit..." Hayden's eyes widened, Theo got hit.
"Where and how bad!?" Hayden exclaimed quickly ignoring the worried looks from his family, they knew he had to be hating this right now. Hours away and his whole team was in trouble.
"Lower chest...right...side, pretty bad, Major..." Theo coughed hard, Hayden could hear how weak his voice was and didn't like it.
"Don't you die on me, Theo...don't you dare...just hang in there buddy, Anderson will get you out...It ain't your time my friend...hang tough, I still gotta take ya for drink for your twenty first birthday. July right? We won't bring Anderson this time, he fucked me up on my twenty-first...just us..." Hayden said to him.
"Orders...understood, Major Haddock...I'll hold ya to that. How the...hell do you," Theo coughed again, "deal with the pain of being shot and keeping goin, this sucks..."
"I'm have a habit of not feeling anything when I know my team isn't in the clear...You're in charge right now, so stay strong, Theo. I'm right here with you, I won't leave until I know you're safe...Come on now, keep talking to me." Hayden insisted to him.
"Hey...remember that girl I told ya about...black as night hair with honey brown eyes...the one I met when we were on Fort Titanwing right before deployment to Afghanistan the second...time?" Theo chuckled a bit.
"Yeah I remember, you wouldn't shut up about it. Olivia her name was right? You get to see her again while on leave?" Hayden asked.
"Never got to tell ya what happened since you were...all in your depression...I ain't...a virgin no more, told her about getting shot and she...was all over me." Hayden laughed with him.
"No shit huh? Told ya the bullet wound stories will get ya laid man...Had a lot of women all ova me in the bar with Ritka, Matthews, Lennox, and Tarelto. Left behind a lota broken hearts when I said I was taken already...Good for you, one more thing to celebrate. I'll sneak the alcohol this time bud." Hayden chuckled.
"Didn't even...tell ya the best part yet. We're...engaged and she's...pregnant, seven weeks along. Gonna get...married after the baby is born...Want you to be my best man, Haddock." Hayden's eyes widened a bit more. Theo was gonna be a dad!? And he was engaged?
"I appreciate that bud, should be a position you give someone you trust, like your brother or something..." Hayden told him.
"Shut up you modest dumbass..." Theo chuckled now as Hayden was confused, "Since the day we met, you been my best friend, Haddock. I don't trust anyone more than I trust you brother." Oh Hayden could of cried hearing that, then he heard the chopper and kept himself together.
"Well how can I deny my brother then, I'll be there, Theo...But you gotta hang in there if ya wanna make it to the alter." Hayden told him.
"Chopper is here...Hey, Anderson..." Theo said.
"Just take it easy there, Holgerson. We got ya now. Hey Haddock, good work. Even hours away, you just saved your whole team from going down...Flinvor sprained her ankle, and the older twin of the Lanviks took a good whack on the noggin, was barely hanging to consciousness. You saved them all...You're one hell of a soldier, proud to fight with ya any day. I gotta get these guys to base, I'll update ya." "Anderson told him.
"I'll be waiting," Hayden said as he put the radio down with a sigh.
"Are you okay son?" Valora asked softly.
"I'll be fine, they are out and alive, it's something to be grateful for at least..." Hayden turned his attention back on his father. "My point in our conversation is that I could deal with you not being proud of me, I accepted that the day I got on the BCT bus for Fort Dreki. I stopped caring if I pleased you or not...I knew what I was doing was right, and it still is. My job, that you hate...saved your wife and brought her home. I understand you were afraid for my life, but this is my life to live, Dad. You can't protect me forever, children are meant to be freed to live their own lives. I'm still going back there in two weeks and I'm still going to keep fighting because I'm needed. Even on leave right now, my team knew who to call for help when they were in trouble and I got them safety without physically being there-that should show you how capable I am. Sure I've been shot about ten/fifteen times, stabbed once now...but I don't care. It's part of the risk to being a soldier who protects the people he loves most. I'm not asking you to be proud of me anymore because it doesn't matter to me but I will ask nicely that you understand, just once please understand the shit I do and why I do it..."
"I'm sorry, Hayden...I really am sorry. I didn't mean any of the hurtful things I've said to you. I meant what I said in that letter to you, I am proud of you. I always have been and always will be. I was just afraid to lose you like I'd lost your mother. Hearing you became a POW, we heard it twice and I just couldn't bear that thought of you being gone. You're my only son and I love you. I'm sorry I've never shown it or acted like it...I didn't mean the things I said about your friends...I know how much it hurt you to lose them...I had no right to say anything about them...I saw the hurt just now when you heard Theo was shot...I saw the fear in your eyes...I held that same fear with you took that bullet for me, I love you and I'll do anything to have you forgive me..." Gerald said softly with almost tear filled eyes.
"The only thing I need for you to do...is to support me like the others do. Camille, Avery, Mom, Seth, Aunt Mel, Uncle Sam, TJ, Felix, Rachel...All of them are scared for me too, but they support me nevertheless. They all feel the fear of losing me, but they support me anyway because they know why I'm doing what I'm doing. You can hate me, yell at me, not be proud all you want, just support me, that's all I ask of you." Hayden told him.
"I support you, Hayden. I'm proud of you too, and I love you son." Gerald told him, Hayden put out his hand as Gerald took it while Hayden pulled him to his feet.
"I wasn't going to forgive you but hearing Theo was shot, it reminded me that we all only have one life to live and I'm not going to spend mine being mad. I wouldn't want end up dying and having you think I hated you. Life's too short to be anything but happy. So I forgive you, and I love you too, Dad." Hayden said, the two just hugged one another tightly as the girls sighed in relief. After a minute the two pulled apart smiling, "Now...if no one minds. I'm exhausted and need sleep. Comin with babe?" Hayden asked looking to Avery She nodded and moved beside him as they went to his bedroom and laid down. Hayden heard from Anderson, everyone was alive and being treated right on base for their injuries, after he knew they were all okay, he kissed Avery deeply before finally letting sleep take him for the night. Everything had worked out, and he was much happier than when he showed up. Now he could enjoy his next thirteen days home with family, friends, and his girlfriend.
