- Blacksmith Shop, New Berk.
Hiccup rested his elbow on the front counter as he smiled at the sight of a buzzling plaza. A Terrible Terror helped its chef roasted a rack of meat for the stall as a few kids were playing with many breed of fledgling.
"So, how was the first night together?" Gobber asked curiously.
"It was fine?" Hiccup looked at the man awkwardly, "A normal sleep.".
"Ah! You're no fun!" Gobber rolled his eyes.
"At least we've made progress!" Hiccup protested, but Gobber didn't listen.
The old man's focus was on the opposite side of the counter.
"Hello, Eret! What's the schedule today?" Hiccup asked.
"You will surely be all over the island today, chief." Eret laughed, "There will be a wedding in the plaza at 9. Then a naming ceremony for a new baby after lunch, and then the verification of a resident! The cartographer said he saw Toothless, and the dragons are building a nest in the village not far from the plaza.".
"Good! See ya there!" Hiccup smiled, and took off his apron.
Gobber's eyes remained on The Chief's Right-hand man as he bid his goodbye with a smile...
"Why don't you give it a try?" Hiccup asked after Eret was far from view.
"Give what?" Gobber avoided his eyes.
"You don't have to hide it, you know?".
He has been with his mentor all his life, and there were many women who came in, but Gobber never ever looked at them the same way he looked at the changed man who joined Berk after Stoick's death.
"I never hide Hiccup, I'm just accepting the reality" Gobber replied, "There's no way I could make this work.".
"You can, Gobber!" Hiccup insisted, "You're not alone."
He has seen plenty of Viking men staying together as lovers, sometimes even women, and women too!
"And you know how it ended." Gobber reminded him, "The tribe lost the respect for them the moment they put down roots. The relationship would never be official, no weddings, no vows before the gods, people would never see it as 'Gobber, a very talented blacksmith, warrior married to the love of his life, they'd see it as only a joke." Grump cooed sadly at his rider.
"It's just neighbor gossip, Gobber." Hiccup waved it off, "I'll find a way for ya."
He's a chief! He can make a new law!
"I don't need your pity, Hiccup." Gobber sighed, "I've lost an arm and a leg. I'll survive being single, it's not the end of the world, ya know?" he chuckled, and petted his dragon.
- Toothless's Nest, New Berk.
Toothless licked a rock that was the size of his head, and placed it at the edge of the wooden floor. Stormfly, and Hookfang helped him with the other rocks until the wooden floor was finally surrounded by rock except the empty spot for the door.
There were water breaks to keep them hydrated, and produce more saliva. Then snack breaks to keep their energy up before it turned into lazy breaks that they took turns in wall stacking. So by the time that the sun was going down… the wall was 1 meter high.
*Gotta go steal Snotlout's dinner now, see ya!* Hookfang left with a whoosh!
*Stupid, there's plenty of yummy left over from the wedding at the plaza.* Stormfly chuckled, *Wanna go?*
*No, I'm good. Some swim-hunting would be nice.* Toothless replied.
*Alright, see ya!*
*Bye!*
Toothless watched Stormfly fly toward the plaza, and then turned back to look at his nest. The Nest would probably take at least a week to finish. Toothless smiled at his achievement, he's made it quite far, with Hiccup, and his friend's help! And he did it without-
*Where's your tail?* Toothless quickly turned his head to the familiar sound, *Did your human take it away?* Luna asked, and offered him a large fish.
*No, I prefer the ground today.* Toothless replied, and ate the fish, *Thanks for the fish.*.
Then Hiccup, and Eret approached them with a 'Map-Making Man'. Toothless greeted them as Luna ignored them.
"Good evening guys!" Hiccup smiled, then turned to the 'Map-Making Man', "Residence confirmed, update it to the map.".
"Got it, chief!" the 'Map-Making Man' replied.
"Good, that will be it for today." Hiccup told his men.
"Thank you, chief." the 2 men said, and left.
"So how's your day, guys?" Hiccup asked, and Luna ignored him.
Toothless crooned, and apologized to his best friend on Luna's behalf. Then excitedly nudged Hiccup with his head toward his nest, wanting to share the progress to his friend.
"You want me to take a look?" Toothless nodded, "Sure, bud!".
Toothless, and Hiccup entered the unfinished nest with Luna watching closely. Hiccup looked around, and then stared out at the view from the entryway.
"Wow! A view any dragon would devour for!" Hiccup's eyes went wide as Toothless warbled next to him.
Toothless, and Hiccup left the nest, but kept their eyes on the vanilla horizon. Luna watched the human, and the Night Fury leaning against one another, sharing their relaxation after a long tiring day… Luna tilted her head in wonder.
"I have to go help Astrid set our unfinished kitchen on fire now." Hiccup let go of his best friend, "See you later, bud.".
Toothless gurgled, and licked Hiccup's face. Can't wait to get the nest done, so we could celebrate together! He thought as he watched his best friend leave.
*Not going with him?* Luna asked curiously.
*Nah, I think I might see him at the plaza.* Toothless replied, *Berkians always have an 'adult only feast' every midnight. We call it 'The Vikings Have Their Tea', but none of them really drink tea though.* He chuckled.
*I see, will you… bring me there?*
Toothless eyes went wide as the flashbacks of the feasts roared inside his brain. Frothy mead spilled everywhere. Vikings tossing Hiccup up in the air, Snotlout had a food fight with Hookfang, and the twin got hit with a turkey leg that their dragon threw at them. It was a fun party, he even got drunk for the first time the last time he joined them, but…
*No, I don't think so.* I'm not ready for war, Toothless thought to himself, *Wanna go for a stroll?*.
Luna didn't deny the offer. The two furies walked their way out of the village, surveying the area around curiously. Toothless wonder what else could this place offer since he's still new to this island. He missed Old Berk, but at the same time, ready to explore.
The Furies' ears twitched at the sound they caught from the tall grasses. Luna prepared to attack, but Toothless stopped her. Pushing away the tall grass, and found a young girl crying as she curled into a ball.
*Magnus?* Toothless crooned.
*Magnus? Who named a female Magnus?* Luna asked.
"Toothless!" Magnus flung herself around the alpha, and sob, "I played hide and seek with my friends, but I can't find them.".
Toothless held the girl, and warbled *Hush little Viking, don't you cry, or the Berserker will stab you in the eye. Don't let the enemy see you afraid, or he's gonna gut you with a rusty blade.*. The girl couldn't hear what he sang, but it seemed to make her laugh.
*Hideous lyrics, it's a mystery she didn't cry.* Luna commented as Toothless let Magnus get on his back, *Does a weird name come with a weird taste?*.
*She was almost Hildegard, actually,* Toothless smiled at the girl, *Let's find your parents.*.
*I'll need to have a word with her parents on How To Name Your Offspring.* Luna said as they left the forest.
He chuckled lightly, couldn't blame her, but at the same time, won't lie that when the girl was little, she looked like sticks bundled up in bacon.
*More likely with Gobber.*
Do you guys remember 'Vikings For Hire?', I love that EP. Ruffnut's Lullaby is a pure gem! Right next to 'Snotlout Snotlout Oi Oi Oi'!
Thank you so much for reading!
And special thanks to our pal, TheWangY for beta reading!