Dinner was pretty peaceful, but Hiccup's mind was on how he and Toothless were going to pull off Stoick wanting to meet Tallon, who was really Toothless as a human. It was the backstory they created three years ago, just in case someone had found out what they were doing. And apparently, Astrid was the one who found out during a fly over the house and saw Hiccup being intimate with a black-haired male. Hiccup admitted to having sex with a male to deal with sexual urges and avoid getting some random girl pregnant, not that anyone on Berk would have volunteered or agreed to have sex at random with him. Or maybe they would because he was the heir and if a pregnancy happened, they would automatically wind up being his wife and later on, chieftess to the Hooligans. Regardless, Hiccup was grateful that his father never asked inquired if Hiccup was the one taking it in the butt, or giving it. There used to be a thing about that dousing masculinity if you were the one taking it while with a male. And Hiccup really never expected his father to be so cool about everything, except for wanting to meet the man Hiccup was having sex with and wanting to offer him a place in the tribe. That's what Hiccup now had to figure out.
"Dad, Toothless and I are gonna head out for our night flight," Hiccup told his father once he'd finished eating.
"Alright, son," Stoick nodded. "Will you be home…Soon, or should I expect you much later?" He wondered.
"Won't be late, still kind'a tired." Hiccup reassured. "I'll let you know when my friend comes back, okay?"
"Got it, son. Have fun," Stoick smiled.
Hiccup quickly got out of the hall with Toothless and jumped on his back before the Night Fury darted into the sky and they went right to the cove. Upon landing, Hiccup got off and headed right into the cave. Toothless got the nod from him that it was safe and he went to human form, then joined Hiccup in the cave as well and the door was shut after Hiccup got the lantern going. From outside with the door closed, you wouldn't see any light coming through. The door literally looked like there was no cave at all with how well Hiccup blended it into the rock's natural colors.
"You know what I'm going to say, Hiccup…" Toothless began.
"I do, and I don't want you to say it," Hiccup remarked. "Dad said the arrangement with my friend could continue until I get married,"
"Hiccup, he wants to meet Tallon and offer him a place to live as a member of the Hooligan Tribe…" Toothless reminded firmly. "There would be no way to pull that off, he'd want to know why every time I'm around, Tallon isn't. And then the opposite, why is Tallon around and not Toothless. The Night Fury who literally never leaves your side…"
Toothless had a point there. "I could tell my dad that Tallon and Toothless don't get along…So whenever Tallon is with me, Toothless hides away, or whatever…" Hiccup suggested.
"I don't know, Hiccup…We're already risked this arrangement once. Thank the Gods that you never moaned my name, or Astrid would have found out…" Toothless said.
"We'll be more careful…I could even tell my dad that I remade your automatic tail and…You're off looking for your family." Hiccup offered.
"That means I stay human with you in the village. What it there's a fight, or problem where I need to be a dragon…I can't just…Transform back. Everyone would figure it out." Toothless countered.
"Toothless, I don't know. Okay? I just…I don't want this to stop until we really have no choice." Hiccup sighed.
"Hiccup, we're really close to not having a choice here." Toothless told him. "I don't want to stop either, but…We're risking a lot by continuing it. I wouldn't see a problem if your dad didn't want to meet me, rather, my human form…But he does."
"We'll lie to him, make it seem like we stopped doing things. I'll say you took off to explore more of the Archipelago, and we stopped the arrangement. Then we can…Go back to sneaking around," Hiccup said.
"If your dad ever found out you lied to him, he'll get angry with you. Don't lose his trust over this, Hiccup. Not over sex with me…" Toothless told him.
"I don't want to lose this! It's the closest we're getting to being together…At this point, I'm ready to tell him the truth that you have a human form and we're in love," Hiccup remarked.
"Even if you did that, Hiccup…You have to consider that your tribe may not accept the information. The council might forbid it, even the other chieftains…They may start breaking peace treaties, start wars…And even if they didn't do that, you still have to become chief, and have an heir. You would have to sleep with a woman eventually. And I'd understand why it had to be done, but still," Toothless said. "Are you prepared for that?"
"I could manage one time-," Hiccup tried.
"And what if you didn't get it the first time, Hiccup? What if there had to be more to achieve pregnancy?" Toothless argued gently.
"We could time it right. I know when the fertile window falls for a woman, it's like…A week or so after their bleeding cycle. Dad told me…It's also in the book that weddings were planned for that time, so that when the couple goes on their honeymoon; they return with the news of pregnancy." Hiccup countered. "We could make it the first time, and I could handle doing it with a girl once…I could think about you, and be fast," He added.
"Hiccup, think of how it will look on you if you do this…How the tribe would look at you?" Toothless mentioned softly.
"Then…I'll invoke self-exile and leave with you." Hiccup stated.
"What's that?" Toothless asked.
"It's me casting myself out, self-exiling from the tribe in your own terms. It could be…Unfairness to the person, not treated right. Some have even done it out of love and being told they couldn't be with someone they loved. In the cases of arranged marriages, where they might not be given a choice to do what they wanted. Members are the ones who usually use it when an heir about to take over picks who they want to marry. Usually, the girl isn't given a choice…But if they exile themselves from the tribe…They can't be touched. They do have to leave the island, and never come back unless they ask the presiding chieftain, in such case, they would have to perform some tasks or prove their worth to be there to come back." Hiccup explained. "It's something else I came across in the book of laws for all Viking Tribes…"
"Are you prepared to exile yourself from the Hooligans, Hiccup…As their heir, soon to be chief?" Toothless questioned. "You would have to leave, you couldn't come back to see your father, friends…Anyone."
"If it means I get to stay with you, free of judgement…Yes, I am. I was gonna runaway once with you. Because, at the time, harboring a dragon on Berk while we were at war with them was worth being cast out or even killed. It was treason…And I was ready to run off with you to avoid anyone knowing the truth. I figured we'd leaving during a raid, make it look like I got taken…" Hiccup told him. "It's always been you and me, Toothless…Those people didn't give a damn about me before you came into my life and I learned all those dragon training tricks, till we stopped their war…" Hiccup added. "You were the first one to accept me as I am…Give me a chance, trust me…" Hiccup looked down.
"Hiccup…" Toothless grabbed his hands. "Look at me…" Hiccup looked at Toothless now. "Does it really mean this much to you? That we keep up this act, to basically be together?"
"It does…I love you, Toothless. I feel more for you than I ever did for Astrid." Hiccup admitted.
"Toothless sighed. "I just want you to understand the risks if we continue this. What could happen if we try to play this off as we have,"
"I do understand this, Toothless. I understand and I'm prepared for whatever comes our way, as long as you're with me…I can face everything." Hiccup told him.
"Then alright…" Toothless said. "We'll give it a couple weeks and then I'll turn human and meet your dad as Tallon…Now, are we having me take his offer to be a member of the tribe, or telling him I'll stay where I am on Dragon Island and continue to visit? Because if I stay as a member of the tribe…Dragon Toothless has to stay gone for a while. And everyone might find it really odd that you're not super upset over losing your dragon…" Toothless stated.
"Might be easier to continue things if we tell him you want to stay on Dragon Island. We could mention there's a couple other human friends of yours there, that you exist like a small group who hate tribal conditions and what not…But ask permission to still visit to see me? That would allow for you to still be Toothless in the village, but when we go on flights, we could come here and do our thing…" Hiccup said.
"Alright, that's what we'll do then. But we're going to have to be careful, Hiccup…Astrid already knows you're having sex with someone. I'm sure she's going to want to either hang with you more, or keep an eye on you…" Toothless informed.
"Then we'll be careful…If we have to, keep things to our standard morning or night flights." Hiccup suggested.
"Okay," Toothless nodded.
"We're gonna have to get you some clothes…" Hiccup stated. "And I'll worry about it later," He leaned forward and kissed Toothless deeply. Of course, Toothless only smiled and returned the action.
. . .
Just about two weeks had passed. It was August 20th, a Tuesday around breakfast time. It was the planned last night during the flight that today would be the one they let Stoick meet Tallon. Hiccup got a couple sets of his clothes to give to Toothless as he'd be human for a few days and staying in the village. Hiccup and Toothless planned for Toothless to leave the house and go into the woods, making it seem like he was using the bathroom, but then Sharpshot, Hiccup's little green Terrible Terror messenger would fly into the house with a letter from Tallon that he was there and letting Hiccup know. Then it would go from there to bringing Toothless into the village to meet Stoick as Tallon.
"Go on, bud," Hiccup opened the door to let Toothless out. The Night Fury darted into the woods as Hiccup went over to see his father at the table. "Morning, Dad,"
"Hello, son," Stoick greeted while going over some papers. "How was your night?"
"Uneventful," Hiccup chuckled. "How about yours? You got home late,"
"Ah, just handling some business that ran later than expected." Stoick smiled. "So am I ever going to meet this…Partner you have?"
"Soon…I don't get warnings when he's coming, just…Shows up and sends me a letter that he's arrived. We…Pass messages back and forth with Sharpshot," Hiccup stated.
"I got it," Stoick nodded.
Just then Sharpshot came into the house and landed on Hiccup's shoulder. "Hey, Sharpshot…" He smiled. The dragon held it's leg out and Hiccup saw a note there; he grabbed the rolled up paper and then unrolled it to see the letter from Tallon. "He's here…" Hiccup told his father.
"Excellent!" Stoick beamed. "Have him come to the village?"
Hiccup nodded and wrote a small note back before giving Sharpshot a fish to scarf down, then sending the dragon off. "I told him to meet me at the forest's edge…" Hiccup said. "Should take him about half an hour to get here…Why don't you start your chiefing, and when he arrives, we'll find you?"
"Alright, son," Stoick smiled and then soon headed out of the house as Hiccup took a deep breath.
Thirty minutes passed before Hiccup exited the house and spotted Toothless hiding behind a tree in human form, and dressed. Hiccup smiled and motioned for Toothless to come over to him.
"Ready?" Toothless inquired.
"As much as I can be. I told him to start his chiefing, and I'd find him when you came…He hasn't asked about Toothless yet, but the last he saw him was going out for the bathroom. As for why he's still not back, I suppose we can say he's keeping your dragon company in the cove for now. We'll play it off your dragon is very shy to new people," Hiccup informed.
"Alright," Toothless nodded. "Let's do this then,"
"Okay. If I'm not wrong…Dad usually starts his things with the village by going to the docks first, then the farms…" Hiccup led Toothless into the village quietly. The walk was interesting, a lot of people stopped what they were doing to see who it was, but no one really knew. Hiccup found his dad leaving the farms. "Dad…" Hiccup got his attention.
"Hi, son…Is this him?" Stoick asked.
Hiccup nodded. "Dad, this is…Tallon Raseri. And Tal…This is my father, Stoick Haddock, chief of the Hooligan Tribe on Berk." He introduced.
"Pleasure to meet you, Chief Stoick," Toothless bowed his head.
"Likewise, Tallon. Hiccup has told me that you're living all on your own over on Dragon Island. And after learning about what's been happening between you two, I'd like to offer ya a place here as part of the tribe." Stoick offered lightly.
"That's very kind of you, Chief Stoick, but I'm afraid I'm not completely alone on Dragon Island. There were some other who came not long after I did and we sort of have our own little pack going. We all left home trying to escape large groups and being held down by…Rules and traditions." Toothless replied. "Thank you for the offer, but I'll stay with the rest. I'm happy to come visit, though." He added.
"Aye, of course." Stoick nodded. "It was nice to meet you, Tallon. Please, stay tonight for dinner with everyone."
"D-Dad, no one knows who he is…" Hiccup interjected.
"We can just tell everyone he's a friend you met a couple years ago that washed up on Berk and have stayed on contact after he moved to Dragon Island. No one has to know he's the person you're sleeping with." Stoick informed.
"Except that Astrid does know…" Hiccup argued.
"And I've sworn her to secrecy, son. And she only told me to protect you…If anyone else had seen, except maybe Gobber, the entire village would be in a fit over you having sex with anyone before marriage. Astrid came to me to protect you, so I'd confront you about being more careful…She doesn't want to see you get in big trouble. She was only being a good friend." Stoick informed. "Astrid won't say anything to anyone about who Tallon really is to you."
"If you're sure…" Hiccup stated.
"I am, now…Run along with your friend. When he visits, I won't make you do training. You've seen how I do things for a couple weeks now, I'm sure you get the gist of checking in around the village and helping where ya can." Stoick said.
"Yes, I do…Pretty easy. I'm more unfamiliar with meetings and problem-solving for the village." Hiccup informed.
"We'll find some opportunities to tackle that." Stoick reassured. "Oh, where is Toothless? Not like him to be too far from you."
"Oh, he's in the cove with my dragon, sir…My dragon is very shy, not fond of villages. Toothless keeps him company when…Hiccup and I are together." Toothless stated lightly.
"Ah, of course. He's a good dragon like that," Stoick laughed. "Well, go on and have yer fun, whatever it may be. I'll see you for lunch, son? Dinner?"
"No promises on lunch. I want to show Tallon around, but definitely for dinner…" Hiccup stated.
"Sounds good. See you boys then," Stoick headed off.
When Stoick was out of earshot, Hiccup sighed in relief. "Thank Gods…" He sighed out. "See, nothing to worry about, Tooth,"
"We'll see how that goes when Astrid inevitably decides to come talk to you and ask if I'm the guy you were sleeping with. Cause she does know, and maybe she can't tell anyone else, but she can still speak to you." Toothless warned.
"I'll cross that bridge when I get to it…But hopefully she'll just mind her own. I swear, it's always her…" Hiccup mumbled.
"What do you mean…?" Toothless wondered.
"She's the one who found me about to run away with you three years ago. She almost ran off and told dad too…Now, she actually did catch us and told him…" Hiccup explained.
"I warned you doing it during the day in your room with the window open was a bad idea," Toothless stated.
"We'll keep it to the cove from now on." Hiccup nodded. "It's the safest…Or maybe still in the room, but later at night with the windows closed."
"Whatever way, we just need to be careful, Hiccup. I'm trying to keep this up with you, but any more slip-ups and we're looking at a major problem. Like if you ever moan my name loud enough to be heard…I think, to be on the safe side, when we're in the village you should use my name as Tallon…"
"Okay," Hiccup nodded. "Come on…Let's make it look like I'm showing you around."
Toothless nodded and walked with Hiccup through the village, letting him explain the buildings and whatnot. Toothless played along with looking curious and asking questions. The two would chat and laugh. Everyone wondered who the male was, but wasn't sure how to approach and ask. All they knew was that Hiccup seemed really happy with him, so they didn't want to bother the males. Toothless and Hiccup weren't sure if they were hooking up tonight because they assumed once Tallon was introduced to the tribe, everyone was going to want to talk to him and ask questioned about his life. The two would never be able to get away for some fun, and if they bailed at random, Hiccup was sure his father would be hounded for answers on why the boys needed to be off on their own. Any of the riders could follow…It was safer to not assume or plan for something until they could be alone without any suspicion.