*author's note: thank you for all the kind reviews! I hope you'll enjoy this new, very much delayed, chapters.
Remember, if Dagur/Hiccup is not your thing just close this story. Also this fanfic is not beta-ed so forgive me for any errors.*
Part 8
Snotlout sneezed loudly and shivered in the cold air, clinging tightly at his wool mantel.
Hiccup turned and frowned at him under his own hood. Snotlout could actually feel the reprimand in that expression.
"What? Am I also not allowed to sneeze?" he asked loudly opening his arms in disbelief.
"Snotlout, quiet!" Hiccup hissed and kept on walking in the middle of that busy market street. The dark haired viking shook his head and resumed his observation of the merchants and buyers around the area.
The plan was for the two of them to search for the hunters discretely in order to try and interfere with whatever scheme they had planned with Johann's ship and goods. Toothless and Hookfang were waiting in the forest at the edge of the market, ready to sprint in action in case of any problem. Same old, same old.
Finally Snotlout met a malicious gaze in the middle of the crowd, quickly moving away from them. "Oi" he whispered to Hiccup and pointed in the direction of that suspicious movement.
They both moved to follow the guy as fast as they could while keeping a low profile.
After a few minutes of their pursue, they arrived in a secluded alley.
"Are you sure he turned in here?" Snotlout asked looking at the dead end in front of them. Nothing in sight with the exception of crates lying around "It doesn't seem possible, there is no one here. Maybe they are hiding in the crates...?"
"I think this could be a trap"
"Very smart Hiccup Haddock" a sneering voice came from behind them. They were of course Viggo's henchmen, too many for them to fight. Before they could call out for their dragons for help, they were hit on the head from behind and both of them fell unconscious in the hand of their enemies.
Hiccup was gradually regaining consciousness. The first thing his mind registered was the cold, dump and uncomfortable pavement he was sitting on; then the strangely warm surface he was leaning on. He could hear voices, still faint to the mind slowly waking.
He pressed his head in that comfy support and sighed happily, he vaguely thought he could smell a familiar scent.
That made him wake up immediately with a gasp, wincing for the pain hammering at his head.
"Ah look, the boss is finally awake" Hiccup could now hear Snotlout clearly but he was too busy staring at the viking he had been leaning on while he was out cold.
Uneven fiery hair, tattoos, scars, vibrant eyes, strong muscles. Yes, everything checked.
"Dagur" he breathed out, shocked at that unexpected presence.
"Please, if you begin to kiss I'm going to be sick" Snotlout added after the two had stared long enough at each other, cheeks blushing brightly.
"What happened?" Hiccup diverted his gaze to take a look at the underground cell they were in. They were bound to the wall behind them by iron rings fastened at each of their neck.
Hiccup's hands were also bound "Hey, why am I the only one to have my arms bound?"
"Because you are a sneaky one" Dagur snorted, and with reason since he knew better than most "They brought you here unconscious, they are waiting for Viggo"
"And what are you doing here?" Hiccup asked pointedly while he tried for the chain's resistance. Keeping himself occupied was good also to avoid the other gaze, it wasn't a situation where they could just talk about what had happened.
"Guys please, let's chitchat later. Hiccup, how do we escape from here?"
"How do I know Snotlout? I am still thinking!" Hiccup exclaimed "Maybe if someone had not been so stupid to follow blindly a suspicious guy leading us right in a trap-"
"You were also there, you could have told me something, you are the brain you cannot expect me to-"
"I can't keep up with all signs you leave for everyone to alert them that we are around!"
"What are you saying? YOU had the brilliant idea of hiding under a mantle BUT leaving your prostethic leg out in plain sight!"
Both of dragon riders were glaring at each other.
"He has a point" Dagur nodded mostly to himself. When Hiccup turned his outraged look at him, Dagur just hold his hands up in surrender "I mean, how many vikings got the same prosthetic leg as yours?"
Hiccup puffed in defeat. They were right, he had overlooked a lot of details.
"Alright, let me think" he conceded, as he studied their possibilities. Viggo's men had took their weapons and put them right outside the cell but they couldn't possibly reach so far. They sat close to each other so maybe one of them could help him out of his hands restriction for a start.
"Actually I have a plan" suddenly Dagur told them as he relaxed against the wall behind him. Since both of the dragon riders were looking at him with the same dubious look, he snarled "Oh alright then, do as you please, see if I care"
Snotlout throw a glance at his leader. He was silently asking him if they should actually trust his plan. Hiccup just shuggered "What were you thinking?"
"They took our weapons but I still have my armour" he smirked devilishly and Hiccup found himself blushing again, if ever slightly.
"How is that helping?" Snotlout asked confusedly but he was the only one unaware of all the implications hidden in that simple observation. And their silent blushing every now and then didn't help at all.
The hooligan's heir nodded and cleared his voice "Ok, let's wait for the right moment. Snotlout get ready"
*
Snotlout was still hollering with laughters as they descended from the night sky toward the waiting crew at the Edge.
Everyone welcomed them back with warm smiles and tight hugs. They had been so worried when they couldn't find a trace of them for those few days that they had already planned a rescue mission. Even Astrid was so relieved to see them safe that she tightly hugged Hiccup whom, after a second of surprise, had returned the hug.
Dagur eyed them but kept his distance, sharing soft words with her sister. Heather had jumped him when he saw him back with the others, nearly crying in relief.
In front of a roaring fire, Snotlout filled in on what had happened. About the brilliant plan Dagur had set with the courtesy of Hiccup's tinkering; the daring escape right in front of the bewildered face of Viggo and Ryker and, obviously, his massive role in all that.
"Too bad we didn't find any new dragon lens in the commotion" Hiccup sighed at the end of the tale.
"The only important thing is that you are all safe and sound" Astrid smiled and gazed over Dagur with a hint of sadness "All of you"
"Yes. And now I think I will sleep for a week" Snotlout yawned stretching his arms.
Slowly but surely everyone scattered all over the base to their respective beds. Hiccup was still sitting next to the warm and crackling fire when he called out for Dagur who was going away with Heather.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?"
The redheaded viking looked like he was about to run again from that confrontation but his sister pushed him in his direction and hurried off in the night without a word.
Grinding his teeth, he nervously he sat again next to the younger male, eyes fixed on the dancing fire.
Hiccup silently studied him to try and guess his thoughts about their situation but the other wasn't giving out any sign he could detect.
"Listen, I know it's not easy to talk about this" he began, testing his reactions carefully. Nothing.
"You know, talking usually requires at least two people. Please give me some reaction at least"
Hiccup was looking at the redheaded viking figdeting in his seat as he tentatively opened his mouth to speak.
"This...this is..." he began but couldn't finish his sentence. Hiccup waited a few seconds more then, when it was clear that the other was having lots of troubles getting his thoughts in order, he added
"It's kind of strange seeing you " he licked his lips while finding the right word. He couldn't just blurt out 'scared', the warrior probably could get very upset from that word " so unsettled".
The Berserker snorted at that "How you are so calm about it?"
"Probably I just had more time to think about it" Hiccup just shrugged.
Dagur's eyes darted from his friend to the fading fire and then to the silent surroundings, restless.
"About it? About...us?" he asked, chuckling nervously, his voice one octave higher than normal.
"Yes"
"Doing..."
Hiccup inhaled patiently "Yes"
"And what do you think, exactly?" the berserker was now giving the taller male all his attention. His brows were furrowed in clear confusion but he seemed very eager to listen to him.
"Right now you are the one having more difficult thinking of the situation. What do you think about it?"
The berkian couldn't just express his mind, not right away. He knew the other was in a delicate state of mind and could be easily influenced, that's why he wanted to focus their conversation on him instead.
"Whatever this thing is Hiccup, it's" the Berserker gesticulated wildly trying to find the right flux of thoughts" it's unnatural" he ended, twisting nervously his hands, enough for red scratches to appear on the rough skin.
Hiccup was taken back at those words; they were the last thing he could expect coming from the redhead.
He frowned, he felt somehow hurt and had to take a few seconds to recover "Unnatural uh" he repeated, rolling the words on the tongue. The same tongue the other had fought so passionately with his own just a few days prior. "So was riding a dragon some time ago".
At that statement Dagur opened his mouth a few times but nothing could come out of it. Hiccup could notice a faint blush on the aquiline nose, and had to pout not to smile at that involuntary bodyly reaction. He wasn't so naïve after all.
"That's all you can think of?" he asked again, waiting for something more they could work on.
The other had curled up silently, clearly agitated.
When it was clear that the discussion wasn't going anywhere, Hiccup decided it was enough and sighed "Either way it's okay Dagur" he spoke softly.
"Thank you for saving us" he stood up and very slowly he moved to embraced the muscular form, a gesture very much alike to the one the Berserker used to give him full force; as soon as his arms touched the older viking, however, he felt him tense up even more.
Hiccup said nothing as he let the hug linger a few more moments, then finally detached himself from the stiff form of the other male.
"Why is it that you look disgusted now that I just hug you?" he asked after looking at the other's face reaction, a bitter smile on his own lips.
He watched closely as the redhead's irises became small like pins at that question, and in that moment he knew that Dagur had understood.
Hiccup didn't need any reply, not really; he knew perfectly well the answer to that question Dagur himself had asked him not a long time before. It was the same as his own.
He was conscious of his attraction and was viciously fighting against it.
"Good night Dagur" he told the other, defeated.
Without any other comment, Hiccup turned his back to the now dying fire and the shadowy figure whose intense gaze he could feel on him, following his every step.
"Hiccup"
He didn't stop, there was nothing else they could talk about.
"Hiccup...I..."
"Try to rest" he just added while urging himself to keep on going as fast as he could.
He couldn't go very far however because suddenly the night exploded in fiery colours and loud noises.
He felt himself pushed to the ground from an unknown force and his ears managed to hear for the last time Dagur shouting his name in all that maelstrom before everything turned completely black.
*author's note: thank you for all the kind reviews! I hope you'll enjoy this new, very much delayed, chapters.
Remember, if Dagur/Hiccup is not your thing just close this story. Also this fanfic is not beta-ed so forgive me for any errors.*
Part 8
Snotlout sneezed loudly and shivered in the cold air, clinging tightly at his wool mantel.
Hiccup turned and frowned at him under his own hood. Snotlout could actually feel the reprimand in that expression.
"What? Am I also not allowed to sneeze?" he asked loudly opening his arms in disbelief.
"Snotlout, quiet!" Hiccup hissed and kept on walking in the middle of that busy market street. The dark haired viking shook his head and resumed his observation of the merchants and buyers around the area.
The plan was for the two of them to search for the hunters discretely in order to try and interfere with whatever scheme they had planned with Johann's ship and goods. Toothless and Hookfang were waiting in the forest at the edge of the market, ready to sprint in action in case of any problem. Same old, same old.
Finally Snotlout met a malicious gaze in the middle of the crowd, quickly moving away from them. "Oi" he whispered to Hiccup and pointed in the direction of that suspicious movement.
They both moved to follow the guy as fast as they could while keeping a low profile.
After a few minutes of their pursue, they arrived in a secluded alley.
"Are you sure he turned in here?" Snotlout asked looking at the dead end in front of them. Nothing in sight with the exception of crates lying around "It doesn't seem possible, there is no one here. Maybe they are hiding in the crates...?"
"I think this could be a trap"
"Very smart Hiccup Haddock" a sneering voice came from behind them. They were of course Viggo's henchmen, too many for them to fight. Before they could call out for their dragons for help, they were hit on the head from behind and both of them fell unconscious in the hand of their enemies.
Hiccup was gradually regaining consciousness. The first thing his mind registered was the cold, dump and uncomfortable pavement he was sitting on; then the strangely warm surface he was leaning on. He could hear voices, still faint to the mind slowly waking.
He pressed his head in that comfy support and sighed happily, he vaguely thought he could smell a familiar scent.
That made him wake up immediately with a gasp, wincing for the pain hammering at his head.
"Ah look, the boss is finally awake" Hiccup could now hear Snotlout clearly but he was too busy staring at the viking he had been leaning on while he was out cold.
Uneven fiery hair, tattoos, scars, vibrant eyes, strong muscles. Yes, everything checked.
"Dagur" he breathed out, shocked at that unexpected presence.
"Please, if you begin to kiss I'm going to be sick" Snotlout added after the two had stared long enough at each other, cheeks blushing brightly.
"What happened?" Hiccup diverted his gaze to take a look at the underground cell they were in. They were bound to the wall behind them by iron rings fastened at each of their neck.
Hiccup's hands were also bound "Hey, why am I the only one to have my arms bound?"
"Because you are a sneaky one" Dagur snorted, and with reason since he knew better than most "They brought you here unconscious, they are waiting for Viggo"
"And what are you doing here?" Hiccup asked pointedly while he tried for the chain's resistance. Keeping himself occupied was good also to avoid the other gaze, it wasn't a situation where they could just talk about what had happened.
"Guys please, let's chitchat later. Hiccup, how do we escape from here?"
"How do I know Snotlout? I am still thinking!" Hiccup exclaimed "Maybe if someone had not been so stupid to follow blindly a suspicious guy leading us right in a trap-"
"You were also there, you could have told me something, you are the brain you cannot expect me to-"
"I can't keep up with all signs you leave for everyone to alert them that we are around!"
"What are you saying? YOU had the brilliant idea of hiding under a mantle BUT leaving your prostethic leg out in plain sight!"
Both of dragon riders were glaring at each other.
"He has a point" Dagur nodded mostly to himself. When Hiccup turned his outraged look at him, Dagur just hold his hands up in surrender "I mean, how many vikings got the same prosthetic leg as yours?"
Hiccup puffed in defeat. They were right, he had overlooked a lot of details.
"Alright, let me think" he conceded, as he studied their possibilities. Viggo's men had took their weapons and put them right outside the cell but they couldn't possibly reach so far. They sat close to each other so maybe one of them could help him out of his hands restriction for a start.
"Actually I have a plan" suddenly Dagur told them as he relaxed against the wall behind him. Since both of the dragon riders were looking at him with the same dubious look, he snarled "Oh alright then, do as you please, see if I care"
Snotlout throw a glance at his leader. He was silently asking him if they should actually trust his plan. Hiccup just shuggered "What were you thinking?"
"They took our weapons but I still have my armour" he smirked devilishly and Hiccup found himself blushing again, if ever slightly.
"How is that helping?" Snotlout asked confusedly but he was the only one unaware of all the implications hidden in that simple observation. And their silent blushing every now and then didn't help at all.
The hooligan's heir nodded and cleared his voice "Ok, let's wait for the right moment. Snotlout get ready"
Snotlout was still hollering with laughters as they descended from the night sky toward the waiting crew at the Edge.
Everyone welcomed them back with warm smiles and tight hugs. They had been so worried when they couldn't find a trace of them for those few days that they had already planned a rescue mission. Even Astrid was so relieved to see them safe that she tightly hugged Hiccup whom, after a second of surprise, had returned the hug.
Dagur eyed them but kept his distance, sharing soft words with her sister. Heather had jumped him when he saw him back with the others, nearly crying in relief.
In front of a roaring fire, Snotlout filled in on what had happened. About the brilliant plan Dagur had set with the courtesy of Hiccup's tinkering; the daring escape right in front of the bewildered face of Viggo and Ryker and, obviously, his massive role in all that.
"Too bad we didn't find any new dragon lens in the commotion" Hiccup sighed at the end of the tale.
"The only important thing is that you are all safe and sound" Astrid smiled and gazed over Dagur with a hint of sadness "All of you"
"Yes. And now I think I will sleep for a week" Snotlout yawned stretching his arms.
Slowly but surely everyone scattered all over the base to their respective beds. Hiccup was still sitting next to the warm and crackling fire when he called out for Dagur who was going away with Heather.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?"
The redheaded viking looked like he was about to run again from that confrontation but his sister pushed him in his direction and hurried off in the night without a word.
Grinding his teeth, he nervously he sat again next to the younger male, eyes fixed on the dancing fire.
Hiccup silently studied him to try and guess his thoughts about their situation but the other wasn't giving out any sign he could detect.
"Listen, I know it's not easy to talk about this" he began, testing his reactions carefully. Nothing.
"You know, talking usually requires at least two people. Please give me some reaction at least"
Hiccup was looking at the redheaded viking figdeting in his seat as he tentatively opened his mouth to speak.
"This...this is..." he began but couldn't finish his sentence. Hiccup waited a few seconds more then, when it was clear that the other was having lots of troubles getting his thoughts in order, he added
"It's kind of strange seeing you " he licked his lips while finding the right word. He couldn't just blurt out 'scared', the warrior probably could get very upset from that word " so unsettled".
The Berserker snorted at that "How you are so calm about it?"
"Probably I just had more time to think about it" Hiccup just shrugged.
Dagur's eyes darted from his friend to the fading fire and then to the silent surroundings, restless.
"About it? About...us?" he asked, chuckling nervously, his voice one octave higher than normal.
"Yes"
"Doing..."
Hiccup inhaled patiently "Yes"
"And what do you think, exactly?" the berserker was now giving the taller male all his attention. His brows were furrowed in clear confusion but he seemed very eager to listen to him.
"Right now you are the one having more difficult thinking of the situation. What do you think about it?"
The berkian couldn't just express his mind, not right away. He knew the other was in a delicate state of mind and could be easily influenced, that's why he wanted to focus their conversation on him instead.
"Whatever this thing is Hiccup, it's" the Berserker gesticulated wildly trying to find the right flux of thoughts" it's unnatural" he ended, twisting nervously his hands, enough for red scratches to appear on the rough skin.
Hiccup was taken back at those words; they were the last thing he could expect coming from the redhead.
He frowned, he felt somehow hurt and had to take a few seconds to recover "Unnatural uh" he repeated, rolling the words on the tongue. The same tongue the other had fought so passionately with his own just a few days prior. "So was riding a dragon some time ago".
At that statement Dagur opened his mouth a few times but nothing could come out of it. Hiccup could notice a faint blush on the aquiline nose, and had to pout not to smile at that involuntary bodyly reaction. He wasn't so naïve after all.
"That's all you can think of?" he asked again, waiting for something more they could work on.
The other had curled up silently, clearly agitated.
When it was clear that the discussion wasn't going anywhere, Hiccup decided it was enough and sighed "Either way it's okay Dagur" he spoke softly.
"Thank you for saving us" he stood up and very slowly he moved to embraced the muscular form, a gesture very much alike to the one the Berserker used to give him full force; as soon as his arms touched the older viking, however, he felt him tense up even more.
Hiccup said nothing as he let the hug linger a few more moments, then finally detached himself from the stiff form of the other male.
"Why is it that you look disgusted now that I just hug you?" he asked after looking at the other's face reaction, a bitter smile on his own lips.
He watched closely as the redhead's irises became small like pins at that question, and in that moment he knew that Dagur had understood.
Hiccup didn't need any reply, not really; he knew perfectly well the answer to that question Dagur himself had asked him not a long time before. It was the same as his own.
He was conscious of his attraction and was viciously fighting against it.
"Good night Dagur" he told the other, defeated.
Without any other comment, Hiccup turned his back to the now dying fire and the shadowy figure whose intense gaze he could feel on him, following his every step.
"Hiccup"
He didn't stop, there was nothing else they could talk about.
"Hiccup...I..."
"Try to rest" he just added while urging himself to keep on going as fast as he could.
He couldn't go very far however because suddenly the night exploded in fiery colours and loud noises.
He felt himself pushed to the ground from an unknown force and his ears managed to hear for the last time Dagur shouting his name in all that maelstrom before everything turned completely black.