"Modern myth".
How to train your dragon, Toothcup.
By: Sinattea.
.
.
Disclaimer: Cressida Cowell owns the book series, Dreamworks owns the movie. I own nothing but this AU.
Note: So I was going to post this yesterday night, friday night, but then my mom arrived from work like super late and super panicked because she had to prepare this speech for this big event she had today, and she asked for my help, and I couldn't say no! So I left the chapter the way it was and got down to work and helped her with her speech, and today spent the day spoiling her because she's worked so hard and she deserved it.
That's why the chapter is one day late, but late is better than never, righ?
Read, enjoy, review ! !
.
Chapter 29: Sunset.
.
.
It was a peaceful friday at Berk, as peaceful as its (in) famous weather allowed it to be.
School was normal; teachers, exams, discouraging the bullies with clever indifference, cheering friends, nothing the gang hadn't handled a gazillion times before. It was actually a nice friday, with lasagna at the cafeteria, and the announcement that the students committee was already planning the year book for the seniors and organizing a small voting to pick the theme for the prom.
Astrid invited everyone for a coffee after class, but Aura couldn't join in because she had study session with the mathletes, while Toothless had to start packing his stuff to move out of the tenement house. Hiccup wasn't going either, but in the end, he and Toothless decided that it would be nice if he got that coffee and joined Toothless and Evelyn later.
By the time Hiccup arrived at the tenement house, with a bunch of brownies in a paper bag, Toothless and Mrs. Evans were already saying their goodbyes, while Evelyn waited on the car.
- I'm going to miss you so much, boy – the old lady cried as she hugged Toothless like any embarrassing grandma would.
- Don't worry, Mrs. Evans. I'll still drop by for a visit every now and then.
- You could come every day and it wouldn't be enough. This house isn't going to be the same without you. Who will drink tea with me now? Who will watch the soap operas with me?
- I never watched soap operas with you – Toothless reminded the woman, amused -, and we'll drink tea every time I come. And you can still call me whenever you need to carry something heavy.
Mrs. Evans pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and dramatically cleaned some imaginary tears.
- Looks like it's not a good moment to say "Hi, I brought brownies" – Hiccup stepped up, smiley.
As soon as Mrs. Evans saw him, she redirected her tight hugs towards him, making Toothless giggle uncontrollably.
- Hiccup! Now that Toothless is leaving you won't come to visit me either!
- Don't say that – Hiccup said, slightly out of breath. Toothless' giggle turned to laughter -. We promised you to help with the garden during the summer, right?
- Oh, I will miss you so much, boys – she spread her arms and hugged them both (or struggled them, more likely).
- You've been saying that for half an hour! Can we please go now? – Evelyn snapped at Mrs. Evans from the car - Please, you are going to see them next week, we have that dinner. It's not like they will be gone forever.
Toothless rolled his eyes: the soul of the party, as usual.
Then they let go of Mrs. Evans' affections and got on the car.
.
.
- You made the best choice by moving here, Dean – said Evelyn as she led the guys upstairs, to the room she had destined for her protégé.
Both Toothless and Hiccup were carrying boxes (Toothless the heaviest ones, of course), as they walked behind the echo of Evelyn's high-heeled boots. She helped dragging a suitcase with one hand and a bunch of keys on the other.
- I'm pretty sure you will enjoy it – the woman added.
- You keep talking about what I will and will not do and I might change my mind and go back with Mrs. Evans – the dragon-boy growled.
- Well, looks like somebody is in a bitter mood – Evelyn raised an eyebrow -. Good thing you're here, Jay. Mind using your sweet charm to soften Dean's animosity?
- My sweet charm? ? – sniggered Hiccup - And what exactly is that?
- Whatever it is you do to turn his dragon-eyes into a lovebird's – the lady winked.
Halting to a stop, both Hiccup and Toothless looked at her wide-eyed, their cheeks turning bright red. When she chuckled, they looked away in shame, avoiding eye-contact between one another, and then Hiccup hiccoughed once, which made Toothless giggle adoringly, much to his further embarrassment.
- That's exactly what I was talking about. Now, shall we?
Finally, after going all the way up to the third floor (which felt like a fifth because the ceiling in that house was freaking tall, especially in the first floor), Evelyn stood before a big wooden door and used a pretty iron key to unlock it.
- Here we are. I hope you like it, Dean.
Then she opened the door to a room as big as Hiccup's house, with glass-stained windows, balcony, home theater, and door-to-roof shelves ready to embrace whatever books, postcards or maps Toothless wanted to place on them.
- You have a full bathroom just for you; no closets or dressing room because I know you think they're a waste of space so you have a wardrobe right there and a fire-proof chest over there for you to keep your prosthetic tail and other important belongings – she said, her voice sounding perhaps too upbeat -. I hope you like the chimney; there's plenty of natural light during the day, but you know there's no darker than the forest night and I thought the chimney would help. You can even practice your aim with it because it's all stone… So – her enthusiasm died in a heartbeat, a fade of nervousness taking over -, do you like it?
- Wow…
- Well, Hiccup does – mumbled Toothless, looking at his boyfriend.
- I wanna move in – Hiccup said, goofy smile on his face.
- Whoa! I don't think we're ready for that big step – Toothless joked.
- Not with you! With her – Hiccup replied mischievously.
- That would be great. Maybe later Dean will want to move in with you – Evelyn pretended to play along, tainting her words with a perfectly subtle hypocrisy. Why couldn't Dean just let go? It wouldn't kill him to say he liked the place. It wouldn't hurt him to like it for real. She sighed -. This is too much. You already made this choice, Dean, there's no going back, we have to make this work. Here, these are your keys, now do with this room whatever you please. I'll be in the kitchen if you need me.
She crossed the door and slammed it behind her. Toothless swallowed a taste of guilt.
- Well, I don't blame her – murmured Hiccup -. You definitely don't look as enthusiastic as you were in my house the other night. Not even close to it. You wanted to move in, remember?
- Yeah… I'm just… trying to digest all this.
- Wouldn't it be easier to digest with a smile? – Hiccup held his boyfriend's hand, taking him to the bed to take a seat - Come on, you can tell she put a lot of effort in this. You said the rest of the house was not your style and she made this place completely different just for you.
Toothless let Hiccup sit him on the edge of the bed, where he could look down on him and reprimand him properly. If it was Hiccup the one to do so, honestly Toothless didn't mind being scolded.
- I'm being silly, am I not? – Toothless said.
- Yes. But it's a big change, so I'm ignoring it. But only today – Hiccup replied with an affectionate smile -. Now, let's go. We have lots of unpacking to do.
.
When night came it was Stoick himself the one who arrived at Sunstone to pick Hiccup up, which was an excellent signal of how much he was trying to completely take in their relationship in the best of terms. The man even saluted Toothless quite nicely, and gave Evelyn a short "hi an' bye" before driving away.
Now it was just Evelyn and Toothless, alone in the big manor.
There was nothing to be done but go the kitchen and have dinner as normal people would.
- Whoa, salmon… – mumbled Toothless, once he took his place at the table and saw the plate before him.
- I know you love fish, so I thought: fancy fish it is.
- You actually… cooked? – Toothless didn't know if being amazed or worried.
- Are you surprised?
- Shocked, more likely. And… a little bit scared? – he said, trying to sound light.
- If it turns out to be poisonous, trust me, that wasn't the intention – Evelyn responded in an attempt to play along and lighten the mood, but her voice wasn't convincing enough to make it work.
They started eating in the most awkward of silences, the clattering of the cutlery piercing their ears mercilessly.
- So, uhm… – Toothless began to speak after a while - I noticed the room looks a lot like the one I had in London.
Evelyn dropped her fork, taken with her guard low. She didn't actually expect Toothless to notice the little details.
- You always said you like that room.
- I did – the boy assured.
- And now you're here, four years later.
- And now I'm here…
Another long, long moment of very awkward silence.
Evelyn cleaned her lips carefully with a napkin, and drew a timid smile.
- You know, I'm finally starting my job at the hospital next week. Means you'll have the house for yourself for most of the evening.
Toothless tried to imitate her polite gesture.
- Well, I don't think you'll be that busy: it's a small hospital.
- Can I tell you a secret? – the woman leaned in and lowered her voice, in the same playful manner she did when Toothless was a child - I'm nervous for my new job. I'd been working in the same hospital my entire life. Sure, I was called to other hospitals to perform surgery, but I always had my office in the same place. This is… new, and…
- Frightening? – Toothless completed - Because you are leaving everything you've known till now?
- Yes – Evelyn responded in a gasp.
- I know what you feel. I really liked living at the tenement house.
- Dean, if you don't feel comfortable here, you can always go back – she said to him without really looking.
- You don't mean it…
- I do. I will pay the rent if that's what you want – she promised -. I know you think I only want you to live here so I can control you, but really that's not my intention. Do you remember when I told you on the phone that things would be changing for good? Before I came to Berk?
- Yeah. That's actually why I decided to move in.
- Really? – Evelyn's eyes lit up with hope.
- I do like the room. And the house. It's… nice – it felt so weird to say; Toothless had to drink a sip of water afterwards.
- Do you mean it's "perhaps too nice"? – she quoted, noticing the boy was still not sure of how he felt about the house.
Toothless couldn't help but realize Hiccup was right: he was giving Evelyn quite a hard time, though it was obvious she really was trying to set things right, more or less like Stoick was trying with Hiccup.
- That's not what I meant. I may be giving you the wrong impression, but I'm not angry – Toothless guaranteed -. I guess I was just… tense, to be facing big changes again. And then you go like that with Mrs. Evans and I thought "Fine, I'm taking it against you".
- Oh, Dean, please. She's not upset. I recognize that was very rude from my part, but she's not angry – Evelyn spoke in her defense.
- Because Mrs. Evans is good as honey! She doesn't even know how to say "no" to you – and everybody knew that was a fact. Funny fact.
And suddenly the ambiance lost all tension and it did feel like the kind of dinner normal people would have.
- Oh, you'd be surprised how many times she said "no" to me when she thought I was being very intrusive on your life with my questions for her – Evelyn exclaimed, entertained -. Remember I had no idea about Jay until I saw you two on your bedroom…?
- I swear it was not what it looked like! – Toothless yelled, his tanned skin turning bright red - He just stayed for the night, nothing happened!
- Ew, Dean. I don't need to know if it did or didn't happen – Evelyn faked to be freaked out in a playful mood.
- Oh, but you always love to have too much information about my life! – Toothless played back.
- That's not true! – she insisted.
- Carlisle! – Toothless said for all argument. Evelyn took a couple seconds to follow the train of thought until she finally caught up, covering her face in shame.
- Dear god, Carlisle…
- Bet you repressed that memory – teased Toothless with a triumphant expression.
- Wiped it, more likely… – she conceded.
She burst out laughing, and it wasn't long before Toothless joined in.
- We're going to make it work – the lady said.
- I'm beginning to believe we will – Toothless smiled.
.
.
Next morning Stoick left Hiccup on Sunstone early (as the boy asked and insisted), much to Toothless hysteric delight, who welcomed him with a hug that made Mrs. Evans' seem meaningless, and a kiss once Stoick had driven away.
- So, how was your night? – mumbled Hiccup once he and Toothless parted lips.
- Surprisingly, I slept… all night.
- Hello, Jay – came in Evelyn -. You arrived early.
- Yeah, I convinced my dad – the Haddock boy grinned.
- Good to hear that. So I take it you guys are going to work on the room the rest of the day?
- Yeah, that's the plan – nodded Hiccup.
- Your plan – interfered Toothless -. I got something slightly different in mind. With my experience as a bellboy you should know I'm a professional in getting rooms ready in, like, minutes.
- Sounds like we'll be done soon.
- That's my plan – Toothless winked -. And then we can go flying.
The boys exchanged excited looks with one another, completely forgetting Evelyn was there.
- Let's hope the rain stops by the time you're done with that room – said Evelyn, bringing them back to the real world where she was present and they had things to do -. Jay, did you already have breakfast?
Since the answer was a big fat "no", they gathered for a small meal and then the boys got upstairs to work on Toothless' messy room.
They weren't even done when the weather finally calmed down and the sky cleared up. Forgetting everyone and everything, the prosthetic fin was pulled out of the chest and wrapped around the dragon's tail.
- Alright, Tooth! You ready?
Hiccup checked the straps of his harness to secure they were firmly on place, and then nodded to signal Toothless everything was in order. The Night Fury curled his mouth in a triumphant dragon smile and swiftly closed his wings. They dived through a thick mass of white clouds while twirling, and Hiccup screamed at the top of his lungs, enjoying the experience as he hadn't enjoyed anything in a long time. Well, maybe that feeling was only comparable to what he felt when Stoick said he accepted their relationship.
Fifty meters before hitting the ground, Toothless spread his wings and flew straight forward, the tallest treetops shaking before the strength of his flapping wings. A bunch of scared birds and Terrible Terrors flew out of the shaken trees, and Toothless let out a devilish draconian smile.
- That was wicked – Hiccup kicked the back of Toothless' head, but the dragon ignored him happily.
They hovered above the tree tops, keeping their eyes wide open to spot any dragon and creature they could find. After a couple minutes Hiccup swore he'd seen a tree do some strange movements, which could probably be a Changewing, and they landed to investigate, finding out it was a Changewing, but one that didn't want to be seen. They took off and continued their search, meeting a small group of Hideous Zipplebacks taking a nap at a clearing, and a Gronkle in mid-air that seemed hurried and troubled enough to be looking for a runaway baby.
In the end, they found a comfortable-looking spot up a mountain cliff, with a wonderful view of the ocean of trees and a marvelous glimpse of the real sea in the horizon.
They landed and Toothless immediately went hybrid, slipped inside his pants and let Hiccup remove the prosthesis. The dragon-boy stretched out his wings and opened his arms as he stepped at the edge of the cliff, inhaling in delight the smell of pine and dirt the forest had to offer.
- It's a beautiful place – said Hiccup, hugging Toothless from behind (a difficult mission when he still had wings) as a subtle way to pull him away from the edge.
- It's not prettier than our cove – differed Toothless, turning around so Hiccup could hug him properly -. Though it has a prettier view… No, wait, I have the same view back at the cove.
- Are you crazy? You don't have an ocean view back at the- - -Oh, you're looking at me – Hiccup realized after he saw Toothless' sarcastic expression of disbelief. His cheeks blushed highlighting his freckles, and he got a serious attack of hiccups.
Toothless smiled adoringly and cupped Hiccup's flushed face in his hands.
- You're adorable – he said, and before Hiccup could complain or breathe or think, he kissed him, passionately, the kind of passion that makes you forget what your own name is.
Hiccup for sure forgot. His name, his age, where he was; nothing existed but Toothless' lips avidly claiming his own, and his tongue sweetly intoxicating his mouth.
It was one of those kisses that were so amazing they felt like a first kiss; they actually had a lot of moments like that.
When they pulled apart, there was this bedazzled smile in their looks, and they couldn't keep their eyes off each other.
- Let's stay here and watch the sunset – Toothless suggested.
Hiccup agreed with a charming giggle. They sat under a mossy tree, Hiccup taking place between Toothless' legs, arms, wings and tail embracing him.
The sky slowly tainted with every imaginable shade of orange, red and purple, the clouds turning dark pink and the sea soft red. It was like being inside of a painting.
It was perfection.
Hiccup sighed contentedly and was able to see the white cloud of breath in front of his face.
- It's getting cold – he signaled Toothless, slightly worried -. You should put on a sweater.
- With wings? That won't fit – Toothless mumbled with the voice of a stubborn little kid.
- Then humanize.
- But we're so comfortable now – Toothless pouted -. I'm gonna hug you tighter and that's gonna keep me warm – he resolved.
Hiccup said no more, he simply deposited a kiss on the back of Toothless' hand and continued watching the lovely sunset.
When some brave stars timidly began shining through the veil of clouds, Toothless suddenly kissed Hiccup's neck and nuzzled the tip of his nose against the boy's earlobe.
- Hiccup? – he murmured. This was the moment, he had to say it, he wanted to. He felt it.
- Mmh?
- I love you.
The world stopped moving at the sound of those three words; time froze, and stars shone brighter. Hiccup's heartbeat turned into a crazy galloping horse in less than a second, and his senses were somehow more awake, more aware of every single detail of the world around him, of every detail of Toothless laying next to him.
He turned to look at his boyfriend with big, glowing eyes, and Toothless repeated, locking their gazes together with more intensity with each and every word:
- I love you.
And then a second transformed into eternity when Hiccup replied in a whisper.
- I love you too.
.
.
Being the easiest, most comfortable way to reach the city, Berk's Train Station was always a busy, dynamic mess; with Berk's active ecotourism there was always a new contingent of visitors arriving or leaving.
That day was no exception.
As Hiccup and Toothless shared a moment that would mark their lives forever, a train arrived punctually at Berk's station, the last arrival of the day. A security agent watched her clock with relief, she dealt with this people and she was free to go home; finally. It was a pity that Europe was no longer the safe place she grew up in; nowadays even the smallest cities had to worry about drug-smuggling and terrorism. Blasted world.
At least her job was easy, she and her inseparable dog encountered trouble twice every five months or so. Though sometimes she found herself wishing some criminals got Berk in their GPS if only to get appreciation for her work, and maybe a raise.
The train's doors opened and a small group of people descended. Some elder couples, a bunch of mountain-hikers; the usual stuff. Her dog didn't smell anything particularly interesting in them either, given he was playing with a soda can someone hadn't gotten into the trash can when playing improvised basketball.
But then she couldn't help noticing the young man.
He was wearing black sunglasses, in freaking Berk. It was like wearing a freaking red anorak in a mexican beach. Odd.
She kept an eye on him as he got his bags from the luggage wagon; he put his orange coat away because apparently freezing Berk wasn't cold enough for him. Plus, he carried a metallic case.
Ok, she couldn't take it anymore. There was something strange in this man and it was her job to find out what. She walked up to him and called:
- Excuse me, sir, may I see your ticket?
Right away she felt ridiculous for calling him "sir"; once face to face it was obvious this guy was way younger than her. He had evidently just hit his twenties, couldn't be older than twenty three; and he was taller than her, and outrageously muscled. The woman felt like watching at a wall with sunglasses.
- My ticket? – he said in a mocking voice, as if thinking "couldn't come up with a better excuse?"
- Yes.
The young man pulled it out of his pants pocket and handed it to her.
- Reason of your visit to Berk?
- Personal.
She studied the ticket carefully, yet found nothing suspicious; it was just another plain, regular, normal ticket.
Then the dog started sniffing the metallic case, and the young man startled a bit. The security agent noticed right away, and looked down at the case, seeing for the first time how it read "VAMU Pharma" in black letters on the front.
Suspicious as it was, however, the dog wasn't alarmed but intrigued with its content. There was no barking or growling, just mere curiosity.
Still.
- May I see the content of your case? – she commanded.
- Sure – the young man gritted, using a key hanging from his neck to open it.
Inside there were at least two dozens of amber glass vials, and a syringe, all with the "VAMI Pharma" legend on it.
- How do you explain this? – there, her instinct never failed.
- I'm diabetic – he replied immediately.
- Really?
- Here's my medical prescription if you don't believe – the guy got a file from inside the case as well.
- Yeah, I'll check it. Come with me, please.
She lead the young man to a room where other security agent joined her.
- We'll take a sample of your medicine and have it tested – she said.
- These ain't drugs.
- The tests will tell us – she challenged.
But then, by the time the other agent got the results, all her suspicions were thrown overboard.
- And? – she asked.
- Negative. For every test – her partner said.
- What? ? No way! !
- I know, right? – he mocked her - It's not heroine, morphine, liquid cocaine, hardcore chocolate…
- Ok, I get it. Cut the crap. It's not drugs.
- Nope.
- Oh, but I was so sure – she lamented -. He behaves so… weird. Are you sure it's not drugs?
- I'm afraid it's just insulin – he said.
- But it's a lot of insulin…
- He must be very sick – the other agent insisted.
- Damn… And what about steroids? ? There's no way a diabetic can have those muscles!
- Err, nope. You have to let him go. His papers are in order too.
- Ok, ok. Just another day in Boringland – oh, she was so frustrated. She would definitely need a beer after this. Stupid tourist -. Go tell him he can go.
- You should tell him, so you can apologize…
- Why would I apologize? I'm just doing my job. Right boy? – she told the dog - We're doing our job. You tell him.
- Fine, but you'll owe me a favor – the other agent gave in.
When the agent met the young suspicious man, he was smoking his second cigarette.
- You can't smoke in here.
- Sorry – the guy pressed the cigarette against his pants to turn it off, which convinced the security agent that when his partner said this guy's behavior was more than odd she wasn't exaggerating at all.
- So? – the young man prompted, rudely.
- Everything's in order, you're free to go.
- Good – he took his case and walked away.
- Enjoy your stay in Berk – the agent yelled, as it was protocol, before the guy was out of sight.
- Oh, I will – the young man grinned, removing his black sunglasses -. Hell, I will...
.
.
.
.
Another note: They said it! ! Oh my gods they said it! ! I'm so happy right now! Like... FEELS! ! !
Bet you didn't see that coming! Did you?
.
So it's really late and I'm really tired and I want to eat something (you know, midnight snacks. Squirrel likes them) before going to sleep, and I won't be updating the reviwers list today. I will tomorrow. Pinky promise.
Still, I love you all and thank you from the very bottom of my heart from each and every review. You know who you are! !
.
Light, Guest, Mayanderson99, animelovernewbie, Hi Mr Whale,
AliceCullen3, The dragon1010, He-who-runs-into-walls,
Kigen Dawn, lia, violet flame, Emerald Snape, Musical Fangirl,
AlexJohnD, BigBabyBooDragon, Mimi,
.
.
You've already spent at least five minutes reading this chapter...
Go on, you can use five extra seconds for a review.