My Hope
Author: Nightstar Fury of Nightstar Productions.
Rating: M for Mature.
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Dreamworks HTTYD or Dreamworks Dragons. I also don't own any of the songs I may use.
22; He'll Fly Again.
Everyone was happier now that they were friends again. Hunter promised to never lie again and his friends promised they'd be more understanding if Hunter couldn't hang out for whatever reason but now that they knew the truth behind his sudden disappearances and phone calls, it was easier to know why he couldn't do something. They all adored Hope: she was a very well behaved little girl after being raised by only her father. A lot of questions arose while Hunter recovered in the hospital: what if Olivia ever tried to contact him again deciding she wanted to see Hope? But Hunter only shook his head in a disappointed fashion. His friends could tell he really didn't like talking about Olivia much and they could only assume why-so out of respect for Hunter, they didn't speak about her any more. The last week had been hard as Hunter had to stay in the hospital a full six days to make sure his leg was secure and would heal properly.
But his friends-even if not all together-would still come to visit him. Astrid came every day after school: she would sit with him and Hope who was always sitting in his lap playing with her toys while either Violet, Samuel, or Heather were not far away if Hunter needed help though he managed pretty well on his own. During the last two days or so, he'd been practicing with the crutches for when he got out and could go home. They had moved Hunter from the emergency room to a regular room after the first day but the doctor who was in charge of his leg's healing progress ended up going on a vacation so unfortunately he couldn't be released until that doctor came back. It had been fine by him as he didn't mind the time off to just relax for once. Today however, the doctor was back so he was going home in a little while and he couldn't wait to be there and see his dragons again.
Hunter checked the clock now: it was 2:15pm which meant his friends were getting out of school and his father would be picking Hope up then coming to the hospital to pick him up and take him home. He couldn't wait for he missed his house and bed and he hated hospitals, having never been hurt this badly during his racing career. Honestly, he missed it already: he only stopped racing to protect his family and friends from press and crazed fans. Even though everyone knew the truth now, it would matter because he gave racing up so his reign of winning every single race in the Berk league was over. Damien would be top racer now with Shocker so people should leave Hunter and Toothless alone... maybe. But right now Hunter was still the only person in the world who had a Night Fury so that would draw attention all on its own anyway. A knock on the door brought Hunter from his thoughts.
"Come in." Hunter said and the doctor walked in smiling softly.
"Hello Hunter. How are we feeling today? Ready to go home?" The doctor-who he'd come to know as Sylvi Svendsen-asked when she entered and shut the door behind her before checking his vitals.
"More than ready." Hunter replied to her with a nod.
"Alright, I'll get your discharge paperwork going. That way it'll be ready when your...father, you said comes for you?" Sylvi asked.
"Yeah. He texted me about ten minutes ago saying he was leaving the school and picking up my daughter, then coming here. So about 15-20 minutes," Hunter shrugged.
"I'm going to be prescribing you Percocet, 10mg that you can take up to two times a day but never more than three. They do last a good while. Try to be off your foot as much as possible for the next two weeks or so-you can use your crutches, but still try your best not to be on it a lot. Keep it elevated when you're sleeping and stay on your back if you can. Oh, and come back if there is any problem at all. After two weeks, we'll move you into an air cast that you can walk around on without crutches but still try to keep the walking as minimal as possible," Sylvi explained gently.
"I understand doctor. You told me this last night when you returned from your vacation," Hunter chuckled.
"Of course, silly me. I'll go start your paperwork." She then exited the room as Hunter leaned back and closed his eyes. Finally he was going home. Another knock and he glanced towards the door as Damien walked in with Astrid and Heather behind him. Heather was first to greet him with a hug but was still careful.
"Hey big brother, ready to go home?" Heather asked.
"So ready...I miss my bed," Hunter replied, smiling.
"How's your leg feel?" Damien asked.
"Fine fight now but that's probably the drugs talking..." Hunter chuckled, Damien chuckled back: it was good to have the old Hunter back. The change was easy to see now that his secrets were out: he didn't have to be secretive so the Hunter everyone loved and remembered showed through more.
"Toothless and Strykeout are anxious to see you. I told them this morning you were coming home today," Heather giggled.
"I'm anxious to see them too. I haven't seen Toothless since last Saturday," Hunter sighed. He still felt bad: Toothless lost his tail fin because of Hunter revealing himself and sparking up jealousy in other racers in the other leagues. He felt like it was his fault. Honestly he was a little depressed about it because Toothless could never fly again due to of Hunter's choice. Astrid noticed Hiccup's distant look in his eyes and she wondered why he looked so disgruntled all of a suddenly. Wasn't he just really excited to finally be going home after a week in the hospital?
"When do you get to come back to school?" Astrid questioned softly. She still loved him deeply but after all this, she knew Hunter probably hadn't had time to even consider the thought of liking her back. For now, it wasn't important: Hunter was okay- he had a broken leg but he was alive and happy. That was all that mattered to Astrid right now: they could talk about feelings-if any-later on after he healed or got settled again.
"Hopefully Monday after the weekend is over. I'm sure I've missed a ton already..." Hunter sighed a bit. Heather, Damien, and Astrid frowned: they knew he had too. He had been out Monday through Friday, a full five days of work in every class and with it being the end of January, finals were right around the corner in May. We were all planning something for Hunter's 18th birthday which was in a month at the end of February. Hunter was a leap year baby but they didn't care at all about all that: he was still a year older to his friends. And Hope's birthday was in April so that wasn't too far off either.
"Well, we would have brought your work home for you but...you take different classes now." Damien shrugged.
"It's fine. I'll catch up next week. Not like the classes are a challenge for me," Hunter replied then sat up, flipping the covers down and trying to get up.
"Need some help?" Heather asked.
"You gonna help me in the bathroom sis? I'm honored." Hunter teased her as he reached for his crutches and got up.
"NOPE," Heather said quickly, "That one is all you. Oh, but we stopped at our house first and got you a change of clothes..." she added as Astrid chuckled a little. Damien got the bag of clothes and helped Hunter by pushing the stand that had his IV on it into the bathroom after Hunter, then closed the door for him. After ten minutes, they heard the flush and Hunter came back out, dressed in a simple pair of baggy sweat pants, a long sleeved shirt and one shoe on. He sat on the edge of the bed, leaning the crutches up against the side beside him just as Samuel came in with Hope.
"Dada!" Hope giggled happily reaching for her father, Samuel brought her over and Hunter took her right away, kissing her nose and nuzzling her almost.
"Hi, Princess. I've missed you." Hunter smiled.
"Dada...Home?" Hope tilted her head slightly to her father.
"Yes, Daddy is coming home today." Hunter replied to her. She cheered and hugged him tightly but her kicking around hit Hunter's leg and he yelped in pain slightly.
"I sowwy dada." Hope whimpered so Hunter faked a smile.
"I'm...okay. You didn't mean it...just be careful okay...don't want me to be here longer, right?" Hunter asked her. She shook her head and laid her head on his chest as the door opened and the doctor returned to the room with the discharge papers. Astrid smiled softly: the bond between Hunter and his daughter was not only strong but absolutely adorable and Astrid just couldn't get enough of it.
"Well, I have your paperwork right here, Hunter. I just need your Dad's signature and I can send you home," Sylvi smiled widely. Samuel handed Hope to Heather as he signed the papers and handed them back to the doctor. "You're all set. We'll see you back in two weeks to put the air cast on. Remember what I said-stay off that leg as much as possible!" Sylvi reminded him sternly.
"Got it, Doc. Thanks for everything," Hunter smiled as he got up slowly and used the crutches again. He swung his left leg back and got his balance before smiling. "I'm ready," Hunter said now. All of us were smiling as we exited the hospital room and made it towards the elevator to get down to the first level where Samuel and Damien had parked. Heather and Astrid left with Damien while Hunter was in his father's car along with Hope and following right behind Damien's car. After a 15 minute drive, Samuel's car pulled into the driveway and right away, Hunter noticed who else was at his house: his friends and mother. They were all standing outside waiting anxiously as the car stopped and Hunter got out slowly and carefully.
"WELCOME HOME, HUNTER!" the group cheered together. Hunter couldn't help but smile: he really did have the best friends in the world-and this just proved it. They had all come to his house to welcome him home after he'd been stuck in the hospital for six long days.
"You guys are the best!" Hunter smiled as Samuel stood beside him, holding Hope.
"Dada, hold?" Hope asked.
"Give Daddy a few minutes, baby...I have to get inside first," Hunter leaned over a little and kissed her cheek...and she giggled. "And I have to see Toothless, and Strykeout..." Hunter added as he made his way towards the back yard where the stables were. As soon as he came into sight, the dragons bounded towards him happily-though they slowed as they got closer and licked his cheeks. "I've missed you both too," Hunter said smiling. Shaun and Eric brought over a chair for him to sit down in while the rest did the same, all sitting around as he scratched both of his dragons under their chins. It was now that Hunter caught sight of Toothless's tail for the first time and his smile faded to a mixture of concern and sadness. "Let me see your tail, bud..." Hunter told Toothless, who adjusted himself so his tail would be in Hunter's lap now.
"It healed just a few days after the crash. I've been coming over to check it..." Damien told him. Hunter didn't reply: he just rubbed his hand along it slowly. The others looked sadly at Hunter-they knew it had to be bothering him.
"You lost your flight saving my life, Toothless...I'm so sorry." Hunter closed his eyes as Toothless turned again and nuzzled Hunter's face.
"It wasn't your fault, Hunter..." Astrid said now.
"Yes, it was. If I hadn't...revealed myself to everyone at the race then that Changewing rider wouldn't have come onto the track to take me out of the race. It was jealousy, and that rider wanted to take a shot at me. That shot at me caused me to fall, and Toothless lost his tail fin saving me...That fall could have killed me if it weren't for Toothless. And here I get away from all that with just a broken leg. I can still walk but Toothless..." Hunter trailed off sadly, "He'll never be able to fly again and that is my fault. I'm sorry, bud...I'm so sorry."
The others sighed: they knew they wouldn't be able to change Hunter's mind about how he felt on this one...and listening to how he explained it, it did sort of seem like his fault. They couldn't argue with him for Hunter was stubborn-more stubborn than any of them on their own or combined. The dragons laid down by his legs softly while Hope wandered out of Samuel's arms and towards Hunter who picked her up and set his daughter in his lap while she laid on his chest yawning. "So...you're really done racing?" Travis asked.
"Yeah...not like I could without Toothless anyway..." Hunter replied.
"That's not true- you have Strykeout." Eric pointed out.
"No...you don't understand. Toothless is my bonded dragon guys. I only had Strykeout because I was hiding Toothless...Strykeout is a good friend, yes, and very loyal to me but I couldn't do that to Toothless, race with another dragon," Hunter replied.
"Why did you stop racing at all? We didn't care that you did!" Shaun stated.
"I stopped to protect you all. No more press or anything..." Hunter said.
"Hunter, we told you it was fine by us," Samuel added.
"You could have kept racing," Heather nodded.
"And what about them? Or my daughter...I'm not going to subject her or them to the constant harassment. I want her to have a normal life..." Hunter kissed the top of Hope's head softly.
"So that's why you said what you said that day in training...about maybe Shadow keeps the mask on so no one would know who he was because he wanted a normal life outside of the spotlight," Rylee said with a finger up. Hunter only nodded.
"I liked to race. It was fun and a way for me to take care of Hope. But I didn't do it for the spotlight or fame and the fame wasn't even really mine-it was all for Toothless because he's the only Night Fury seen anywhere in Thor only knows how many years! Now that he can't fly, it just wouldn't be the same. That and after I hid it from you all...it just didn't feel right to keep racing and like I said...I can't anymore. Not without Toothless..." Hunter explained.
"Well, if Toothless still had his tail fin, would you race again?" Astrid asked.
"I already said I wouldn't. It doesn't feel right to keep racing knowing I hid it all from you," Hunter repeated.
"We didn't mind, Hunter. Honestly, I had a feeling it might be you after that race we went to where you and Damien went one on one," Astrid giggled slightly.
"Wait, how could you of possibly had a feeling it was me?" Hunter asked, now looking to her closely.
"Because your eyes that showed through the mask. I...fell in love with those emerald eyes of yours, Hunter. And when I saw them on Shadow. I don't know...it just clicked that there was a possible connection. I meant, same eyes, secretive, you somehow had the food poisoning that day..." Astrid shrugged a little.
"Huh, guess I gave away more than I planned," Hunter smiled a bit. He'd almost forgotten that Astrid loved him: this was something he needed to think about too. Sure, Astrid was a great friend but them dating? He didn't know how that would go and honestly, right now he didn't have feelings for anyone. He'd been pretty closed off in the love department except for family and his daughter.
"Well Hunter, I wouldn't care about the press. I can ignore them. All of us can, it's not hard...you loved racing and we came to the race last week to try and convince you not to quit...but then everything happened and here we are now." Astrid said.
Hunter shrugged. "It's too late now. I already left and even if I wanted too...I won't race without Toothless..." Hunter rubbed his Night Fury's head who crooned in response.
"So...do you still want too? Knowing now that we don't care you hid it from us or the press thing?" Rylee questioned.
"I guess I do. It was always fun but...can't now, so might as well let it go," Hunter closed his eyes now.
"Where's Toofy's tail, Dada?" Hope asked.
"He...lost it, baby. He got hurt like your Daddy did." Violet said softly.
"Can't da doctors fix Toothy's tail too?" Hope asked.
"They can't fix it, Princess. Toothy's tail isn't broken like my leg, his tail...is gone," Hunter tried to explain to his toddler.
"Dada, you fix it?" Hope tilted her head to the side. Hunter sighed a bit.
"I wish I had the power to, little one," Hunter closed his eyes again and the group could all see how much it hurt Hunter to know Toothless couldn't fly again and his tail couldn't be fixed so easily.
"But you always fix everyting, Daddy. You make new tings all ta time. Can't you make Toofess a new tail to fwy wiff? In the hostable, I saw a guy in the hallway who wost his weg but da doctors made him a new one. Can't you do dat for Toofess?" Hope asked. A few of us chuckled: the imagination of an almost two year old! Hunter began to shake his head then stopped, freezing for a moment. They all watched him suddenly lift his head and look at Toothless's missing tail fin, looking at it calculatingly. "You always know what to do, Dada...you always find a way to make tings okay...make Toofess okay again..."
It almost broke the hearts of the group to listen to Hope ask Hunter to fix Toothless's tail, to make things better when they all knew full well it just wasn't possible. But then they saw Hunter's lips curve into a small smile. "Hunter you're not...considering this are you? Fixing Toothless's tail? It's impossible. You can't...fix his tail, you said it yourself. It's not broken...it's gone," Heather said.
"I know that. True I can't fix his tail..." Hunter said as Toothless lifted his head now curiously. The rest of the group looked at Hunter like he was crazy. Hunter grinned. "Hope is right...if the doctors can build fake legs...why can't I build Toothless a new tail?" Hunter smiled down at Hope now as her eyes widened with excitement. "Don't worry, Princess, Daddy will fix Toothless and he will fly again." Hope cheered happily as Toothless jumped around excited as well while the rest of the group just stood there, not entirely sure what to make of what Hunter said. He was going to build Toothless a new tail?!
