"Modern myth".
How to train your dragon, Toothcup.
By: Sinattea.
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Disclaimer: Cressida Cowell owns the book series, Dreamworks owns the movies. I own nothing but this AU.
Note: So I am super officially on college now. I hadn't slept for like three weeks in a row. This story is of course going on, but I hate to say that homework has to be a priority for obvious reasons. Don't kill me! (T-T)
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Warning: lots of snaketonguing on this chapter too, and the references from the original story/dream this fic is inspired/based on are coming into play.
Read, enjoy, review! ! ! !
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Chapter 32: Proof.
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He wasn't sure if he actually expected any of them to say a word; still, Hiccup did feel kind of disappointed when they didn't. Not even when Toothless went full human again to ease the task of carrying him along.
Everybody moved as if immersed in some sort of trance. Every now and then they would look at each other and have brief conversations through their weary eyes, but Evelyn seemed to intimidate them enough not to get too distracted. They just did as she told them to, when she told them to. She had them putting out whatever flames remained and cleaning the viewpoint as if it were a crime scene. The fact that she kept the gun in her hand also helped, of course. How would they dare doing anything if not obey? It wasn't like they'd give in to their massive fear and confusion if that meant defying the paranoid lady.
Once at the manor, after they helped take the "evidence" out of the car, and Toothless to his bedroom, Evelyn had everybody sitting in the living room while she locked every door and window and activated the security system.
- You don't move, you don't talk. Stay – she commanded, as if she were talking to trained dogs.
Hiccup couldn't believe his aunt was talking to his friends like that.
- You shouldn't… I mean, they… They've helped us this far! – he exclaimed.
- They shouldn't be here in the first place! – the woman snapped at him, turning on her heels. Her furious anguish was crystal clear on her face - I told you to take them away! This could be the most dangerous thing that's ever happened to us and I will not have them meddling in it! Dean's life, secret, and everything he represents could be at stake right now! They are not to be trusted!
Hiccup wanted to say something, but he couldn't interfere in his friends' favor when he had Toothless' welfare to worry about. "Later – he kept saying to himself -. You can fix things later. You can apologize later". He followed Evelyn upstairs, to Toothless' bedroom.
They got the dragon-boy in the jacuzzi's bathtub and cleaned his wounds with almost boiling water; they had to wear gloves, for their own safety.
At least Toothless was conscious… sort of. He walked on his own (stumbling, of course) to the bathroom, and removed his ragged clothes with no help, but he wouldn't open his eyes. He would nod to Evelyn's occasional questions of "does this hurt?" or "do you feel this?", but he didn't open his eyes and he did not talk at all. Hiccup feared he might be in a shock too deep to recover…
- Tell me exactly what happened – Evelyn urged her nephew, cold and angered.
Hiccup described what he'd witnessed as detailed as he could: Green Death breathing fire, injecting himself and then mimicking Toothless' half-dragon appearance. How the guy had lit up a cigarette with his own fire and how Hiccup didn't have the time to send his friends away because it was necessary to be with Toothless in time.
She listened attentively, not making a single question. Yet. Eventually, her anger diminished until it completely disappeared. Of course Hiccup wouldn't have reacted any other way, and especially not her way, in a situation like that: he'd reacted out of love. Maybe if he had taken his friends and left, Toothless wouldn't have mustered the strength to make it through until Evelyn came to his aid. She didn't mention any of this, though.
They kept nursing the boy, the water tainted red rapidly, making it look like it was some bubbly wine of sorts.
Hiccup froze when he realized Toothless still had the huge, gruesome scar on the lower part of his back, right above his left hip. When Evelyn saw it, her face bleached.
- It's from the night Toothless lost his tailfin – Hiccup quickly explained to her -. I… I didn't know he still had it.
The woman sighed in slight relief: so it was not a recent wound.
- I thought it would've healed by now.
- Don't think it will… – came Toothless' tired voice, shaky, almost asthmatic. He still didn't open his eyes -. My tailfin isn't growing back, this is how I reflect it as a human…
- Dean! – Evelyn exclaimed - Tell me what happened! This kind of wounds I've never seen before…
- Eel… – the boy managed to mumble - He attacked me with eel… venom…
Evelyn's face lit with comprehension. She left the room and extracted a bunch of syringes and vials from the fireproof chest where Toothless kept his prosthetic tail.
- That explains why he's so weakened. This is his medicine, for the allergy; it's specifically designed for him – she explained to Hiccup, as she filled the syringe and made sure there wasn't air in it -. We're using ten doses and then you'll have to dragonize. Do you hear me Dean? I seriously doubt you can take this amount of drug as a human.
Toothless nodded, his eyes firmly closed.
Now that he understood the actual wounds were worse because of the allergic reaction, Hiccup realized that Toothless didn't open his eyes not because he didn't want to, but because he couldn't do so: his face was too numb and swollen for that.
Evelyn, with the perfectly steady pulse only surgeons possess, stuck a needle too big for a regular human on the boy's arm, pulled it out, refilled the syringe, and repeated the process. After the first four shots Toothless seemed to deteriorate out of dizziness, making Hiccup wonder, for a moment, why Evelyn didn't apply the injections to the dragon shape. When the woman couldn't pierce the boy's blackening skin for the seventh shot, he got his answer: "Dean, I need you to breathe and relax. We're almost done". Of course, a needle, even one that size, would never be capable of piercing the scales layer of a Night Fury. She would've required a sword for the task; and a quite sharp one for that matter.
Once the woman put away the medicine, Toothless sank on the water and resurged as the Night Fury. Evelyn emptied the dirty water and filled the jacuzzi again (it was of course big enough for a dragon Toothless' size to comfortably curl up in, like a cat on the sink), this time with boiling water indeed. The whole place filled with vapor like a sauna in less than a minute. Toothless started licking and breathing fire on his wounds to heal himself.
All the time Hiccup kept both hands on the dragon's forehead, petting him soothingly. "You'll be better in no time – he silently promised -. And all of us will be here for you".
That included the gang members. And Hiccup was sure he'd heard Astrid and Snotlout's voices freaking out a couple minutes ago.
- I have to go with my friends – he muttered, side-glancing at Evelyn, wary of her reaction.
She twitched her lips, but didn't reply.
- I gotta talk to them- - -
- You'll be wasting your time, Jay – she didn't even look at him.
- They'll understand.
- Not for long. I promise – was that a promise… or a threat?
Hiccup didn't want to find out at the moment. He'd prove her wrong. He'd find a way. His friends could be trusted. He wanted to trust them! So did Toothless, that he knew.
He planted a quick kiss on the sleepy dragon's muzzle and left.
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When Hiccup stood at the top of the staircase, he could easily listen to the discussion downstairs. They were going on about how crazy all that was and how it was impossible and how they should be stuck in some kind of weird dream. Astrid's voice was pretty loud, as well as Snotlout's and Fishlegs', but sometimes they just were too fast for Hiccup to understand what they were saying.
Despite everything, sometimes they did sound kind of excited. Hiccup hoped it wasn't just his imagination, though, because right now he really needed a good signal.
- This is just so freaking crazy! – Fishlegs was yelling, although he was using the kind of voice he only reserved for movie teasers or the release date for the new book in his favorite saga. Well, at least one of them was certain to be excited.
- What the hell did you put in those sandwiches – Snotlout yelled -. This ain't real, we're all fuckin' high right now.
- Guys – called Aura.
Hiccup walked into the living room and they all went quiet immediately. They didn't seem as shocked as they were in the woods, but still they were the personification of what being freaked out meant.
In a heartbeat all eyes were on Hiccup and they were demanding for an answer.
Hiccup took a deep breath and secretly prayed to Odin and whatever gods he could remember. This wasn't going to be easy.
He studied their expressions to try and figure out the perfect words for each of them. He couldn't figure out anything, so he decided to go for the safest approach. He turned to Ruffnut, who kept rubbing her knee absentmindedly, while exchanging looks with her twin.
- How are you? – Hiccup said. Well, considering the girl had a bad knee, the question wasn't that dumb.
Everybody seemed to hold their breaths for a second.
- Waitin' to wake up – Ruffnut finally replied, somewhat lightheaded.
- Did Toothless really…? – Fishlegs tried to speak next to her.
Hiccup quickly dragged a chair and took place right in the middle of the semi-circle his friends posed.
- I'm explaining everything, but guys, you have to promise- - -swear, that you will keep his secret – he stated, his voice more mature and authoritative than he ever thought he could make it sound.
- So we didn't imagine any of it… – mumbled Astrid. Hiccup shook his head in negation, and the girl had to rest hers on her hands.
- Now she's got to pay me – sniggered Tuffnut into his twin's ear.
- You swear we're not going mad as fuck? – said Snotlout.
Now that Hiccup paid attention, he was the one who looked freaked out the most.
- This is real, and you can't tell a soul. I want to trust you… We want to.
- Toothless… – Astrid began.
- He's a Night Fury, isn't he? Literally – Fishlegs finished.
- Yes.
- Like the ones from the…? – Aura mumbled.
- Yes.
- I love that book – she whispered, looking at Fishlegs.
- How long has he…? – Fishlegs prompted.
- Always.
- And how long have you…?
- Since we met, basically. We kind of started dating because I knew… and thought it was pretty awesome – Hiccup added more to himself.
- You've kept this secret all along? – wondered Astrid. Hiccup shrugged - So you…? That saturday night, when you took him to my house, blood-covered… You were…?
- Yes.
Well, odd enough, but a whole bunch of things made much more sense now, as senseless as the whole situation may seem like.
- What… what happened there? – insisted Astrid, now that things were beginning to make sense she seemed determined to connect each and every dot together.
- There's people after Toothless… – Hiccup mumbled, his voice a slight tone of distress - After his dragon self, anyways.
- Dragon self?
- Yes.
- Like… what happened to Green Death? – Snotlout asked -. That was…
- Creepy – Tuffnut complemented.
Hiccup almost lost his breath for a second. Well, that was… a complicated subject.
- I don't know how Green Death did that. He's not like Toothless – he guaranteed -. Toothless was born like this, but Green Death… Somehow, I think the syringe…
He had to stop himself right there. He wasn't sure at all what had happened at the viewpoint, everything had been so fast and so confusing; those were things that were never meant to be… He couldn't really explain anything just yet.
- Evelyn's right – he sighed, defeated -: this is really bad.
- Who is Evelyn? – Fishlegs wanted to know.
- The creepy woman with the gun? – Ruffnut shivered.
- She was just a little paranoid, she's not always that bad – Hiccup attempted to defend, to his very surprise.
- Who is she? She's much more than just Toothless' tutor, isn't she? – the way Fishlegs looked at his best friend while making those questions didn't allow Hiccup to say anything but the truth.
- Well, basically… You could say she's Toothless' guardian, and… family. Sort of. She's helped him since his parents left him. And she also happens to be my aunt. My mom's sister. Small world, huh?
- Your aunt? ? – Fishlegs gasped. How come he had no idea of that?
- Yeah…
- Does that mean your dad…?
- He doesn't know any of this – Hiccup quickly clarified -. He knows Evelyn takes care of Toothless, and that's it. You are basically the first ones ever to find out this.
- What the hell did we get into? ? – Snotlout mumbled.
- Toothless' life. It's hard – Hiccup simply said, cold.
- That's why he acts like such a jerk to everybody else, isn't it? He tries to keep people away because of this – understood Fishlegs -. And for the first time he felt he could trust in people. And here we are, his friends.
- Thanks to Hiccup – Aura conceded -. He'd still be a jerk to everyone, including us, if not for him.
The alluded boy merely shrugged when Aura looked at him. That bit was true, but it wasn't up to him to either confirm or deny so. Most of the questions his friends were asking, and would ask, had to be answered by Toothless himself.
- But now we are friends, and both can trust me, Hiccup. Always – promised Fishlegs.
- Me too – added Aura, timid. The girl then glanced at the other guys, until Astrid stepped forward.
- This is crazy. Just… crazy, capital C. But what the hell – she blurted -. You guys are my friends. I'm in, whatever this is.
- This is the creepiest thing we'll ever get involved with – mumbled the twins, excited -. In. So in.
- Snotlout? – Hiccup prompted, his heart stopping to a halt at the idea of having his own cousin turning his back at them. Luckily, Snotlout had no intention to do that, although he wasn't exactly excited to get involved.
- I have no idea what's going on, but… you're my people. And I don't want to give in before Green Death ever again. Damn it, I'm in.
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A couple minutes later, everyone was still immersed in their thoughts about how much their lives were about to change. It was revelation too big to be digested just like that.
- So Toothless is… a half-dragon?
- Yes – Hiccup nodded before his best friend's question.
- This is so awesome! ! ! – yelled Fishlegs at the top of his lungs. Aura giggled seeing how he was oh so excited, and everybody else was rapidly joining the mood -. I know a dragon! An actual dragon! This is not a book, not a videogame, this is the real life! ! How epic is that? ?
- And the… wings and the… tail things… Does he do that a lot? – asked Tuffnut, a little bit jealous because Toothless had a tail. The lucky bastard! He could type and hold the lemonade at the same time!
- Well, yeah… I guess.
- So… that means you've actually made out with a flyin' reptile – smirked Ruffnut, annoyingly goofy smile hanging from her lips. Astrid and Aura, against their will, snorted. All the boys went blank. Hiccup blushed hard.
- No…t in full dragon form…
- Stop! Too much information… You sure I'm not high? – Snotlout insisted.
Ruffnut went straight to him and punched him in the stomach.
- That felt real enough for you? How can you not be excited with the most insane thing ever? Is weird as fuck, I give you that, but come on! It's awesome!
- And how did Toothless take it? – Astrid felt the need to ask - Us, knowing…
- I didn't really have the chance to talk to him about it…
- He alright? – wondered Tuffnut.
Well, that question remained to be fully answered.
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Evelyn stayed next to the jacuzzi, absorbed in her thoughts. This was getting out of hand, and there was no way she would let things that were out of her control be. This was a lot of people, and she knew better than trusting. She and Toothless hadn't stayed alive all that time by trusting random strangers. She'd have to fix that. The sooner, the better.
Is was time to use them. For the first time in two years, they would be released from their silver cage and do what they were meant to with no restrains. All she needed was a bit of Toothless' blood, and the bathroom was completely stained with it.
She stood up from her spot, ready to take what she had to and leave, but Toothless opened those big dragon eyes and stared at her, knowingly. He shook his head in utter disapproval.
- I'm doing what has to be done. Never mind if you or Jay do not agree with my methods.
The dragon shook his head again, the look in his eyes imploring her not to do it.
- This is a risk I'm not taking. I'm wiping them off, it's the only way.
"No, it's not" Toothless said with his eyes.
- What do you want me to do? Just… let them roam at large? As if they'd keep quiet!
"Yes, they will".
- No, Dean. Either you let me do this… or we leave Berk.
Toothless froze. Evelyn seemed hurt, yet satisfied, believing she'd won this argument. Toothless simply looked down, sad, and then he fixed his look on the roof beyond the bathroom door. Although confused at the beginning, Evelyn knew Toothless wanted her to see something there. She opened the door completely and studied Toothless' bedroom.
When she noticed the Night Fury painted on the ceiling, she suddenly felt like crying: Toothless only painted that symbol on the places he considered a home; he'd only painted it twice before, and he'd chosen to paint it one more time there, in Sunstone.
- When I painted it on the attic, I really wanted Berk to become my home – Toothless murmured, going hybrid only to speak those words; he was too exhausted to keep that form for long -. Now I have Hiccup, and for the first time ever I have friends. Berk is my home.
- Oh, Dean… That's exactly why I have to wipe them, so we can stay here.
"There is another way" said the green eyes once again.
- But…
"Please".
- Oh, Dean…
"Please".
Evelyn gritted, defeated.
- Fine! – she exclaimed - One month. They have one month to prove me they deserve your trust. Otherwise I'm wiping their memories off. And this is my final word on the matter.
Immediately after that, Evelyn went downstairs and faced the group of youngsters waiting on her living room, too busy with their own conversation to notice her presence until she spoke, pointing an intimidating finger at them.
- All of you, out of my house. Now! – she startled them - You dare speak a word of what you've seen, and I will know where to find you – she only concealed herself to speak at Hiccup -. Jay, you should go home too, your father must be worried.
- But Toothless- - -
- I'll take care of Dean – as soon as it'd softened, her voice went harsh again, denoting exasperation -. Now get them out of my sight before I really unlock the gun!
- Ok, guys, time to go – Hiccup prompted his friends.
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Lucky thing he did own a copy of the key, and had taken the precaution to memorize the security password, just in case Toothless wasn't as fit to go open the door as he'd claimed to, which of course was the actual case, but Hiccup knew it was more out of anxiety than anything else. He was to take a huge leap of faith, the biggest of his entire life. Hiccup was nervous too.
Evelyn was at the hospital performing surgery, she shouldn't be showing up anytime soon; that was the only reason why the gang agreed to go to Sunstone again.
Hiccup asked his friends to wait in the living room (next to the pool, by popular demand, now that they have noticed it), while he went upstairs to make sure everything was ok with Toothless. "There's always the chance that he's not really ready to see you, guys" he reminded before leaving, and it was a good signal that his friends seemed rather disappointment at the possibility.
He delayed a little before knocking, not that he had to, Toothless of course had heard/smelled him coming long ago. A shy "come in" was heard. Hiccup opened the door.
Thank the gods, Toothless looked way better now than when he last saw him. The bruises were nearly healed, and though he did have a couple scratches across his face (a particularly big one on his left cheek), the only thing that remained really noticeable was the reddish tone the inflammation gave to his skin. "Stupid allergy", Hiccup heard Toothless mumble more than once as his still swollen fingers attempted to handle objects.
- Need any help? – Hiccup offered, concerned.
- No, I'm fine, it's just… Argh – he dropped the ointment he'd being trying to apply on his burnt hands -. I… I can't handle this.
Ultimately Toothless let the flask hit the floor and helplessly watched it crash. Hiccup didn't need any extra explanations to know what the metaphor stood for.
- There's no need to be nervous – he quickly said, as calming as he could sound -. They took it pretty well, really… They're even excited about this.
- I'm sorry. It's just that… the last time, and only time, I ever told someone my secret they… they sold me up to the Hunters. I had to leave England, maybe forever… – the black-haired guy didn't dare look Hiccup in the eye as he confessed this - I mean, I want to tell them, but…
No questions asked, Hiccup simply walked up to Toothless and hugged him, tight.
- Hey, I'm here. Everything will be ok. Remember they did keep the secret of you and I. I know we can trust them. You just have to trust me, ok?
But it wasn't enough. Toothless said it so low it couldn't even qualify as a whisper, but still Hiccup managed to figure out his words: "I'm scared…"
Ok, now Hiccup was getting worried for real. He knew this was going to be complicated from the beginning, but he didn't really expect to witness Toothless crumble like that before him. He hadn't seen the dragon-boy that bad since… well, since he'd lost his tailfin.
- It's like a bad dream… all over again… Like those nightmares I used to have about you getting hurt… They all started like this…
- Toothless! – he had to make him react, somehow.
Before the boy could get really lost in that hopeless, panicked train of thought, Hiccup pulled him by the shoulders and kissed him, hard. It was the only way he could figure out to brainwash him at the moment, and thank all the gods that Toothless seemed to positively respond to the stimulate. In a couple seconds he'd forgotten all the appalling doubts and overwhelming fears, and everything his mind was focused on was the body gently pressing against his own, for the kiss had turned so deep they somehow ended against the wall.
It was an interesting wake-up call, Hiccup pinning him against the wall…
- Feeling better now? – the freckled boy questioned. Toothless half-smiled.
- Sorry. I overreacted, didn't I? It's the medication… I'm kinda dizzy, and paranoid…
He dedicated some last seconds to feeling vulnerable, before getting a hold of himself for good and straightening up. He was alright, everything would be alright.
- If you don't want to do this yet, we don't have to. I just need to know you're gonna be ok – insisted Hiccup. Toothless shook his head.
- No, let's do it now. The sooner, the better. I'm fine, Hiccup. Thanks – he kissed the other boy's forehead gratefully -. They already saw me, anyways, it's not as much confessing as it is explaining, I don't really have to prove myself. I can take it from here – he promised.
- You sure? – Hiccup lifted both eyebrows, slightly skeptical.
- Yeah.
As a proof of his change of disposition on the matter, Toothless held Hiccup by the hand and lead him outside the room, towards the stairs.
- So… where should I begin? How much do they know already?
- From the beginning would be a good idea. It's better if they hear the story from you.
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Another note: The cruel irony is that I had over half the chapter ready during the vacations, but then I got like super sick and couldn't finish and edit the chapter before school started. And then, school happened.
I love my college, though. Aaaand I get to spend a lot of time with the boy I like. ^^
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But that's not what you want to hear about. Sorry.
The next chapter is in production, of course, but I'm afraid I can't tell when it will be posted. Feel free to PM me anytime you want should you have any questions on the matter. :-)
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Thanks a lot all of you for your reviews and your blessed, blessed patience! ! !
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Seriously people, I lovedore you all so very much! ! I now have over 600 reviews! ! :D
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P.S.: Do you know anyone who could actually beta a Drarry fic of mine? It's an AU with a strong Battle Royale feel. Anyone interested? ?