28. A break in the storm

Toothless almost crashed into the metal doors of the cage, he stopped just in time and jostled Hiccup in the saddle. The rain was getting even worse and getting inside was the only thing that was on their mind, they rushed into the cage, leaving the doors ajar. Shaking off the excess water like a pair of wet dogs they made their way deeper into the space, Toothless laid down, tired yet overall unbothered, Hiccup was calm, a little bit too calm. He took off his cloak and armor so it could dry off the best it could, the familiar movements occupied his mind for a while, until he was left in his everyday attire.

Hiccup nudged Toothless awake so he could remove the dragon's riding gear. Toothless grumbled in annoyance, but let the man do as he wished. Hiccup laid the gear next to his armor, then found his blanket and snuggled up with Toothless, he laid awake waiting for Storm and Shadow.

It took about fifteen minutes for them to return, both were soaking wet, Storm closed the doors on the still horrible weather covering them in darkness. Shadow opened his jaws giving them some low light, Hiccup took his forgotten candles and silently gestured for Shadow to light them. Storm leaned on the wall as she removed her armor, while Hiccup technically could've kept his on, Storm can't. After a storm she made sure to always take off every piece of armor as it still held onto the electricity from the lightning and touching it without protection came with an unpleasant shock. Storm took off Shadows saddle, and she went as far as removing her prosthetic. Shadow gladly took off her gloves so she wouldn't have to touch the electric fabric.

Storm picked up her blanket and hoped towards Hiccup, he silently let her sit next to him and cuddled up with her. Shadow laid down farther away from them, still high-strung after everything he could randomly spark sometimes and that could hurt the other three without protection.

No one spoke, the candles flickered with their dying light, the air felt heavy. The light died, in the darkness the deep breathing of the dragons was the only noise if only for a moment. The humans weren't tired, Storm was simply still full of energy and Hiccup's mind was running a mile a minute.

"I think…" Hiccup sighed, swallowing down his nerves, "I think we-we may need to leave when the weather clears up." The statement hung in the air around them, Storm hummed in understanding, she didn't interrupt his thoughts.

Hiccup's eyes darter around in the dark, trying to find something to focus on, yet finding nothing. He took comfort in the fact that he couldn't see Storm's face and his imagined disappointment on it, he didn't register her silence, everything was hitting him at once and he hurried to justify his statement.

"As-Astrid saw Toothless, it's-it's just a matter of time before my father knows… before the whole tribe knows and I-I just can't… take that…" he nervously wrung his hands together, the darkness that brought him comfort seemed to suck his bravery away. "If they know I'm… me, they'll hate me, they'll drive me away, I won't be able to help them."

"Nah."

"Wh-what?"

"You told me yourself: I'm done running. You won't run, this is just your nerves talking."

"But Astrid-"

"Won't say anything. If she still is even half the person you fell in love with, she will talk to you first. After all she didn't say anything all those years ago when she saw Toothless, why would she say anything now?"

"Because she grew up? Because Stoick deserves to know that his run-away son is right under his nose?"

"Because you want her to tell everyone so you don't have to keep anymore secrets, because it's eating you up from inside?"

"Storm…" Hiccup's felt his eyes welling up with tears, the distress in his voice evident. He felt like his world was crashing all around him. Storm's arms enveloped him in a tight hug, his head rested on her shoulder as his tears fell. Everything was catching up to him, the possibility that he would have to face his father and tribe, to face his choices, was too much for him.

"Let's see how it turns out first, okay? Then, if you want to leave, we will."

"Thank you," he whispered, he felt drained. He fell asleep to the harsh sounds of the outside weather and Storm's steady breathing.

Storm held Hiccup while he slept, he was emotionally drained, and she knew that. This uncertainty he was facing was taking a toll on him. Storm hoped from the bottom of her heart that Astrid was still as stubborn as Hiccup made her out to be, finding out what Astrid knows was a priority to Storm. Storm would do anything to keep Hiccup a secret at this time, he was clearly not ready to be known, and he would hate himself if he left Berk in its time of need.

The morning brought a lull in the storm. Hiccup woke up to voices outside the doors, he blinked away his sleepiness and confusion arose in its place. He looked around the space, light filtered through the gaps in the doors, illuminating the space with low light. He rose up from his cocoon of warmth, tucking Storm in with his blanket. He petted Toothless and Shadow on his way to his armor, he kept an ear on the voices outside, trying to figure out who they belonged to.

"They're okay, may need some more food though," he finally recognized Fishlegs' voice, he slowly put on his armor at the same time trying to figure out what he was doing there. If Fishlegs was there, the others were probably near, that meant Astrid was there. Hiccup spared a glance towards the heap of blankets that contained Storm, she was between their dragons, Shadow had moved next to them in the middle of sleeping. He smiled at the sight and readied himself to open the doors, he needed to face the light.

It was bright, but as Hiccup stepped out outside and saw only Fishlegs, Snotlout and Eret, he felt a little lighter. The trio weren't paying attention to him, even though he wasn't trying to be quiet.

"So who's going to get the food? I'm preoccupied." Snotlout said as he kicked some rubble on the ground.

"With what?" Hiccup asked startling the three. They stared at him as he shrugged not understanding what the big deal was.

"Where did you come from?" Eret asked.

"My mother," he answered raising an eyebrow. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Checking on the dragons," Fishlegs answered. "They seem fine, but we don't know how long the break in the storm will last and keeping them comfortable is a priority."

"Like, six barrels of fish and a good pile of rocks would hold them off until the storm passes all the way, or just let them out, they'll find their own food and they'll be back here before the rain starts up again," Hiccup stated, he turned back to the cage he was staying in, he needed to get Toothless back in his gear and sneak him out to get some food.

"Hey, wait!" Snotlout yelped, "Chief wants to move your meeting to as soon as possible, so if you could get your ass to him that would be great," he said with a satisfied grin.

"I think he would rather use the light to make sure the village is intact," Storm said, she was walking towards them, her hands working skillfully to fasten her armor back into place, she nodded at Hiccup as she passed him. "Which you should be helping with, oh great heir." She mockingly bowed, making sure to keep eye contact with a clearly uncomfortable Snotlout as she passed by on her way to the other cages. She opened them and the dragons inside crooned, the light waking then from sleep.

"But he said as soon as – "

"There will be another break in the storm," she rolled her eyes and crossed her arms as the dragons bumped into her in thanks for letting them out as they exited their enclosures. "Making sure the village is okay seems like a better way to spend this time versus talking about shit that can wait for another day."

"How much longer until the storm passes?" Eret inquired, tilting his head in question.

"I don't plan on passing," she smirked at the annoyed look that crossed the ex-trappers face. "I rode out yesterday and we'll have three to four more breaks until it's gone for good, plan on riding out now to check again." She gestured behind them to Shadow, who was back in his saddle waiting for her.

Hiccup had snuck Toothless out while Storm diverted their attention. She patted Eret's shoulder as she passed by.

"I'll lock up the dragons when they come back." She jumped up on Shadow and took off without a moment's notice.