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

63; Attempted Distractions

-Hayden's Nightmare-

There was nothing but smoke and fire, he could barely breathe while trapped within as he called to his squadron and told them to evacuate and get to the jeeps. They ran out asking if he was okay given he was dangerously close to an asthma attack from the smoke and running around, he didn't answer them-just told them to keep going and he'd be right behind. They had been infiltrating on of the enemy bases in a search for the leader of the army, it was high class mission and used all of their stealth skills to check behind doors, walls, and behind them. After two hours, Theo had reported smelling gas, one of the Specialists went to check a door-as soon as he cracked it open, there was a massive explosion which knocked them to the ground to avoid. The specialist died having been caught in the blast first, two people whacked their heads pretty good and were dizzy. Everything after that became a chaotic mess to get everyone out safely.

"Everyone out! Immediate evacuation of the building!" Hayden ordered them, they began to make their way out but it only got worse-more explosions and gunfire. His squad had twenty-four people right now and a good handful of them were privates who had been cycled in to replace people who had died a few weeks back. Hayden should have expected as much, it being a trap to ambush them-well he wasn't dying here and neither was one anyone else. Hayden was carrying the dead soldier over his shoulder while running behind the rest of the group, Theo and Dylan were leading them out, firing if need be. Two other soldiers were helping the two who had hit the wall hard and couldn't focus on their own. They could see the exit ahead of them, "Get to the jeeps!" Hayden called up to them. Everyone got out as Hayden was shoved into the wall hard, before he had time to recover there was an enemy on him and the two began to fight.

"Where's the Major!?" Hayden heard someone call out.

"Major Haddock!" Theo called.

"I'm...good, Holgerson-just go!" Hayden forced out as he punched the soldier in the face to get him to back off for a minute.

"Do ya need help!?" Theo asked him, Hayden couldn't answer as the soldier lunged at him again-forcing him to the ground with his hands around Hayden's neck. Hayden coughed hard feeling the air escape his lungs at the tightening feeling of his windpipe being forcibly closed on him and he couldn't reach his gun which had gone flying when he was tackled. Hayden's hands fell to the soldier arms, trying to pry them off before he blacked out from lack of air. Hayden gasped out as his eyes began to roll into the back of his head, it was getting darker around him as he felt his body weakening and he couldn't find his strength to fight back-finally everything went black.

-End Hayden's Nightmare-

Hayden awoke with a start as he sat up in his bed, panting hard-trying to catch his breath. He looked around to find himself in his bedroom after his eyes adjusted to the darkness around him. He was...safe, in his bed and safe. Hayden put a hand to his neck-he could still feel the tightness of a pair of hands there trying to choke him out-he could feel himself in a cold sweat when his hands touched his forehead feeling the slight wetness there. Hayden got out of bed and went to the bathroom which was just outside of his room and across the hall from Jasmine's, he flipped on the light and started the cold water from the faucet. He cupped some in his hands as he bent over and splashed his face slightly-rubbing it to calm himself down, he turned it off and stood there looking into the mirror at his reflection.

Another nightmare from his time doing tours-this one had been from their second time in Iraq just before saving his mother and himself when they were POW's. Hayden knew he'd blacked out from being choked by the enemy soldier but right before he had-he'd heard a gunshot go off. When he woke up an hour and thirty minutes later, he found himself laying in medical with Theo and the rest of Strike One around him-Anderson, Boggs, Greenhalgh, and Evans too. Hayden confessed he thought he was dead, but Theo said that when Hayden never answered after he'd asked if Hayden needed help, they rushed in to find out what was going on. They saw Hayden being coked so Theo shot the soldier while Dylan and Ethan got him out, then Theo grabbed the body of the soldier who had died from the first explosion. Theo had saved his life or he would have died in there. Hayden noticed something as he looked in the mirror now-marks around his neck which looked like hands had been there. Had he...had his own hands around his neck when he was stuck in the nightmare, he'd woke up being able to barely breathe and the feeling of being choked was there. He was alone in his room, what else could explain it?

Hayden heard a door open as he looked over to see Jasmine there, "Hayden?...It's...three in the morning, what are you doing up?" she asked him while rubbing her eyes.

"It...got a little hot in my room so I came in here to cool off. Go on back to sleep, Jasmine..." Hayden told her lightly. She smiled and nodded as she went back into her room and closed the door while Hayden looked back into the mirror. So the reason he woke up feeling like he was choking was because subconsciously he'd started choking himself during the nightmare. Hayden sighed as he dried his face off then left the bathroom-returning to his room and laying down although, he never did end up falling back to sleep. It always happened this way after receiving the medals he did at the last award ceremony a month ago. He'd been home for three months now, the nightmares and flashbacks never seemed to stop. Of course it never failed that at least once a day or during the night he would re-see Anderson's death and as soon as he was alone-he would just hit his knees and cry.

Being he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, he just turned on his nightstand lamp-grabbed his notebook and pencil, beginning to write in his journal. Something he'd started a while back, writing down every nightmare or flashback he had since being taken out of active duty. Hayden hated how it felt, the constant pains in his chest, the headaches, the nightmares and flashbacks. He might be back home but in his mind he was still fighting a war with death and pain all around him. It was 4am when he stopped writing, then he just laid awake until 5am where he got up again and went for his run.

(Later That Day)

As Hayden had promised Avery when he got back from deployment and had more time, they would start planning their own wedding officially. Hayden didn't have to be at Fort Dreki right now, there was no dragon training or wrangling to be done. In fact, the Fort Dreki base in Berk was working on starting up a new program for Hayden to lead. Something where he would wrangle wild dragons, care for them, train people in the arts of bonding, training, and riding. It was supposed to be an all around school for lack of a better word and it would be built outside the base and Hayden would end up owning it but the military would pay for it and anything needed for the dragons. This place would be the main school, but others would be built on other islands and run by people that Hayden picked to do the job and if they needed help, they would call for him. It would be pretty sweet once it started: an all around care and training facility? What could be better, Hayden loved working with dragons.

Today, he was meeting his fiance, mother, sister, and friends in town because they'd be going over more wedding details. That date had been set for the May-which was five months away, when it would mark their five years of being together since they'd gotten together in May of 2018 when Hayden had come home after eighteen long months in Afghanistan the first time on the twenty-four hour pass. "Jasmine! Are you ready, we were supposed to be there like five minutes ago!" Hayden called to her.

"I'm coming right now, I couldn't find my shoe..." Jasmine mumbled as she came out of her room-hoping on one leg while getting the sneaker on. Hayden sighed and shook his head, he was pretty much her guardian even though she was over eighteen-but since she didn't want to go home, or hold an apartment herself, Hayden gave her the option to stay with him which worked out since Theo was living with his fiance and new daughter, Alyssa while Theo and Olivia were planning their wedding to take place in a month or so and of course Theo reminded Hayden that he was his best man still.

Hayden and Jasmine now mounted their dragons and took to the sky to meet with Avery and the others. A lot of the plans had been taken care of already, they were getting married in the park that way their dragons could be a part of the ceremony too. The cake had been chosen, music was in the works, Avery had picked her dress too. Most of what was left was center pieces, food, favors, table settings, colors, vows and ring exchange vows, seating charts, ceremony itself, Avery's dress fittings, Hayden's tux rental but Avery suggested him wearing his green and blacks-he was hesitant on this. He didn't want his medals on display, not when he felt like he didn't deserve them. There wasn't a whole lot left to do. The guest list was one of the first things finished so they could start sending out invites but it was going to be a small gathering of family and friends.

Their flight wasn't long, maybe fifteen minutes with their speed as they arrived at the location where the others were waiting. Hayden and Jasmine had their dragons land and they dismounted. "There you are," Avery hugged him lightly.

"Someone couldn't find her shoe," Hayden stated hugging her back.

"Well you're here now so lets get comfortable and get started." Valora chuckled slightly. They had chosen to meet in the park, the area where they'd be getting married. It was a peaceful little place with a stream and bridge-which is what they'd be getting married on. Well right at the base of it facing the tables and guests, Avery would be walking over it with her father guiding her. Today they were going to try and get as much planned as they could. After everyone sat down, Hayden's mother pulled out the notebook with a pen to write things down.

"Well I suppose we should start with confirming the wedding party," Camille looked to Avery and Hayden.

"My side is set. You, Camille as maid of honor. Then Jasmine, Heather, Rachel, and Olivia as bridesmaids. And my father is walking me down the the isle. That leaves you babe," Avery looked to her fiance now. Of course they'd have to start with something he hadn't even really thought about yet. Olivia bonded well into the group since she was considered one of the girls who had a soldier overseas in the military-when her and Theo started dating, Avery, Rachel, and Camille all got pretty close as friends. It was weird too: Avery was Hayden's fiance, Rachel was dating Ethan, Camille dating Dylan, and Olivia was engaged but soon to be married to Theo. Heather was with Felix, and Seth was getting closer to Jasmine and had already been warned by Hayden to watch himself or he'd knock him right out.

"Haven't really thought about it. I know the groomsmen but haven't chosen best man yet," Hayden replied calmly.

"Well you need one son, Why not pick Theodore or Seth?" his mother offered lightly. Because he hadn't already narrowed it down to one of the two.

"I know I need one, Mom. In case you forgot, I had my best man picked as soon as Avery and I got engaged..." Hayden reminded slowly as they all looked at him sadly now, they knew what he was talking about. That he'd picked Anderson first and right away without thinking about it. Hayden sighed as he pulled out his phone and called Theo, "Hey Theo, what are you doing right now?"

"Relaxing at home with Alyssa since Liv is working til four. You home or at the park with the girls?" Theo asked.

"Park with the girls. Save me so I'm not the only male here," Hayden chuckled as Avery smacked his arm lightly.

"I can be there in twenty minutes bro," Theo chuckled slightly.

"Please do," Hayden told him, after a few more seconds-Hayden lowered his phone, "He's on his way. I'll ask him when he gets here, As for the rest it'll be Seth, TJ, Felix, Dylan, and Ethan as groomsmen." Hayden stated.

"Well now that's settled. Hayden have you decided if you're renting a tux or wearing your formals?" Avery asked him.

"Do you really want me to wear my formals that bad?" Hayden asked her, she nodded with a wide smile. "Then I'll wear my green and blacks for you." She kissed his cheek happily-he might of hated wearing them because of his medals being pinned there but if Avery wanted him to wear them for their wedding then he wouldn't deny her, how could he? He wanted to make this day perfect for her, even if it wasn't for himself because his mind was completely shattered beyond repair right now and probably would be for the rest of his life.

"Another thing off the list. See that's two already and we've only been here about ten minutes." Camille giggled slightly.

"You two chosen your special dances and song yet?" Rachel asked now.

"Traditional dances seem fine to me. I'll be dancing with Mom, Cami, and I guess my mother in law?" Hayden stated.

"I'll be dancing with my mom, dad, and your dad." Avery mentioned afterwards, "And we didn't pick songs yet, still filing through them all. Hayden has a vast collection." she chuckled.

"You know I like my music babe," Hayden shrugged to her.

"And you haven't picked your first dance song yet either right?" Jasmine asked next, Avery and Hayden shook their heads.

"We're working on it, we'll have it sorted out before the wedding." Avery said smiling lightly.

"Well let's move on to colors then, you chose the Viking theme-still strange but hey, it's your day so knock yourselves out." Valora smiled.

"Well Viking age had a lot of browns, reds, blacks, a little green too." Hayden pointed out.

"What if we did a combination of them all?" Camille offered now, "Hayden could probably sketch it out right now, he's always got his drawing stuff on him." she added afterwards. Hayden rolled his eyes as he reached over to Toothless's bag and pulled out his drawing pad, pencil, then a small pack of colored pencils. He flipped to a free page and started drawing right away.

"We doing square or circle tables?" Hayden asked.

"I think circle would be better, more elbow room. Your father and I have some folding ones put away in the shed, they can seat a comfortable ten people. And we have...how many people coming again?" Valora asked curiously.

"Well we've got my parents, you and Gerald-that's four. Samuel and]] Melody would make it six. The wedding party itself makes up ten people, Maria, Liam, Brenna, Hayden Fury, Lexi, Isabelle, Olivia, Alyssa...Um...who else?" Avery asked looking to Hayden now.

"Shaw, Palmer, Sanchez, Katie and her son, Max," They looked at him curiously, "Katie was Lennox's girlfriend, Max is his son-born after his death..." Hayden sighed, "Also invited Gobber, Matthews's sister and parents, then Tarelto's brother and mother. Oh, Ramirez, Amunsav, Summer and Samantha too. That's...thirty-four, plus you and me makes thirty-six." Hayden continued staring at his notebook still drawing out the tables with each one having a different set up of the colors in question.

"You and Avery will have your own table though, a small rectangle one. So for the remaining thirty-two, I think four tables should do it." Valora mentioned, after she did, Theo landed with Phoenix and Alyssa in his arms-who fast asleep.

"There ya are," Hayden smiled putting his stuff down and going over to greet his friend.

"Had to pack her bag, couldn't find the pacifier." Theo chuckled as his dragon relaxed in the grass while Theo got off.

"No worries bud, glad you made it. Gettin weird being the only guy among the girls," Hayden patted his back and led him over towards the blanket to sit down and relax.

"You know I got your back bro, we been in way too many situations where we've needed each other as back up." Theo chuckled as Hayden nodded while pulling the notebook back into his lap to keep drawing, "What ya working on?" he asked soon after.

"Color combinations for tables and décor..." Hayden mumbled.

"Greens, blacks, reds, browns, and silver? Viking colors?" Theo asked, Hayden nodded. "Why not do few shades of brown, silver, and red tangled streamers on the bridge and trees-then black table clothes with green napkins, then silver utensils, and folding chairs?" he offered, Hayden looked over at him with wide eyes.

"That's...fuckin brilliant! I can't believe I didn't think of it myself, you just saved me an hour of drawing!" Hayden exclaimed.

"See, ya did need me after all." Theo smiled wide.

"Always gonna need ya. We been stuck together for six years man, but that's not why I asked ya to come," Hayden told him as Theo arched a brow at him curiously, "Will you be my best man when I get married?" Theo's eyes widened a bit but he smiled.

"I'd be honored, Lieutenant Colonel." Theo nodded.

"Alright, don't get all mushy on me now. And don't call me that, we ain't on base right now..." Hayden smiled back as the two fist-bumped then looked towards the rest again.

"So we've covered...wedding party, special dances with songs in the works, wedding party, and now colors and table settings. What's next?" Avery asked.

"By the way babe, forgot to tell you...I asked Brenna and Isabelle if they'd be flower girls and then asked Liam to be a ring bearer," Hayden said softly.

"Awe, what a neat idea..." Avery smiled nodding, "So next would be," she trailed off now looking around.

"Seating chart?" Jasmine offered now.

"Well I just assume keep all families or friends together. Hayden and I have our own table and each of the guest tables seat ten a piece. Thirty-four divided by four is eight and a half. That's how many we put at the tables, grouping family and friends together the best we can. Not gonna be easy with the uneveness." Avery mentioned. "Idea babe?"

"Table one can be my parents, your parents, Gobber, Camille, Jasmine-then my uncle and aunt. Table two can be Seth, Ethan, Dylan, Heather, Rachel, Felix, TJ, Ramirez, and Amunsav. Table three can be Sanchez, Shaw, Palmer, Theo, Olivia-Alyssa in their arms, Summer, Samantha, Lexi, and Isabelle. Table four will be made up of Maria with Hayden Fury in her arms, Brenna, Liam, Ray, Liz, Katie, Max, Tea, Dan, and Starr." Hayden remarked calmly.

"How did you do that in your head?" Valora blinked.

"You're talking to the guy who has led every mission for Strike One and Alpha Fire since first deployment by giving us our positions. Hayden can do anything in his head in seconds flat." Theo chuckled now.

"So true." Heather giggled. Hayden only shook his head as they moved onto the next topic which was vows and ring exchange-it was decided that they would use traditions vows for both because it was easier to do. Next they chose food which was the basics: bread, salad, crackers, cheese, fruits and vegetables for a starter-then for dinner it would be stuffed chicken breast with mashed potatoes and corn. Finally for dessert it was the obvious wedding cake then some little treats such as brownies, cookies, pastries. They stopped at some point for lunch, they were hungry and so were the dragons. After that, they managed to get a lot more done too as far as covering the ceremony itself of how it would go-after that they decided to call it a day because Rachel pointed out that Hayden looked exhausted, and he kept falling asleep against Toothless.

Everyone went back to their houses, Avery said she'd talk to him later because she was going out for dinner with her parents for her father's birthday. Hayden didn't mind, honestly he was tired but doubted he'd be able to sleep a wink with his nightmares acting up as much as they were. He knew he should be happy he was getting married in five months, he was happy but that didnt mean he wasn't still destroyed inside his mind: the one place his family and friends couldn't see and if they ever did, it would scare them to death. Even with all the things going on to keep him distracted such as his own wedding plans, Theo's wedding coming up just after the new year-it wasn't enough to keep him from remembering the horrors of war.