He was having a peculiar sense of deja vu. Group of angry vikings? Check. Z surrounded by said group of vikings? Check. The only thing that distinguished now from then is his exhaustion and the fact that he's still on the dragon's back. If someone were to ask why he was still in the dragon's back, he'd tell them that he's clumsy and jumping off of something, or someone in this case, that he had to climb to get on, around sharp and pointy objects waa a bad idea.
"Hiccup?" Aaaaand things just got awkward. He turned in his temporary seat to face his father. Stoick was standing behind Z, close to the dragon's tail, shield in one hand and sword, must have grabbed the nearest weapon, in the other. His stance was slackened, confusion evident across his face. Thanks to Z's large body, his stoic image remains unshattered.
"Uh, hey, dad." He gave a small wave and a wilting smile.
He looked very conflicted at that particular moment. Which is understandable, he is sitting on the back of a supposed enemy. That confliction disappeared quickly as his steely gaze returned. He took a couple of steps back, then ran and jumped onto the base of Z's tail.
"Nope." He had next to no time to prepare for the jarring transition from stationary to mid flight. The only thing that kept him seated was the convenient placement of Z's upper wings and his desperate grip on the dragon's feathers. Which, why does a dragon have feathers? He didn't think they needed them. Though, judging by how they look, it was probably to help keep the dragon warm. Which was another thing, dragons breathe fire, why would it need to have something to keep it warm? Oh look, his dad managed to climb his way to him. This will be interesting.
Once he was within hugging distance, he decided to try lightening the mood a bit. "So, dad, how's the village?" Oh, that's a new look. He doesn't think he's ever seen the weird amalgamation of 'I'm so done with you right now', 'this is not the time', and 'we're on the back of a dragon and you're asking about the village? Now?'. Though maybe that last one was just him projecting.
Stoick simply blinked then spoke, "Don't worry son, I'll get us through this." He cringed inside, possibly outside too, at those words. He truly believes that they're in danger. Well actually they are, if his father decides that killing a dragon in mid air, while on its back, is a good idea.
"About that…" Hiccup started, only for Zaerkrox to interrupt.
"I'm feeling a significant lack of stabbing, so I'm going to assume you're talking it out pipsqueak?" There was a short pause. "I'm also feeling a significant lack of energy. So, uh, hold on?" That was when he felt the shift. His stomach lurched as their direction took a dive. The clouds looked nice today. White. Gentle. As if they would hold you close should you get near them. He sent a short prayer to the gods and held on to his father, who now had his arms wrapped around him.
Through the cracks of his father's arms he could see trees zipping by. He could also hear the snapping and breaking of branches as they fell through the forest. Maybe at one point, he would have wondered what falling would feel like. Considering he's already experienced that, and didn't like it, he was very keen on not doing that again. At least he had his dad this time.
Just as they were about to hit the ground, Z bumped them into the air, twisted around, grabbed them, and pulled them into, what he will now and forever dub, a dragon cocoon. His legs held a firm grip over them and his wings covered whatever else was exposed. While that didn't help in terms of the very painful impact with the ground, he's pretty sure that prevented them from being cut to shreds by whatever debris came from their landing and subsequent travel by dirt surfing. Judging by his father's grim, and also pained, look, he realised that too.
When they finally came to a stop, they collectively decided to take a moment to reorient themselves. Z was the first, slowly opening his wings and releasing them from his near death grip. A groan escaped him as he did, and he couldn't help but agree. It felt like someone stuffed him in a barrel then rolled him down the rockiest hill imaginable, and all he had to deal with was the impact. He felt incredibly sorry for the dragon, and eternally grateful at the same time.
Something that could not be said about his dad. While he was content with agonizing next to Z, his father had picked him up and placed him against the furthest tree he could from the dragon. He looked torn between starting there with him, and finishing off the dragon. He thought he picked the former when his father picked up a rather menacing looking rock, but was pleasantly surprised when he returned to his side and carefully sat down next to him.
A thought came to him, one that sort of had him nervous, but with no one around for his dad to be chief, he decided to go with it. He rested his head against his dad's arm, getting a small jolt from him, hoping to have a small moment of his time. He was pleasantly surprised when the arm lifted and brought him closer. It was a rare thing to simply be a family with him, him being the chief and all, and this moment made the aching soreness quite worth it.
The spell was broken when the grumblings of his scaly friend could be heard. His father nearly jumped to his feet in preparation for whatever attacks he thought would come. He watched as Z turned over onto his belly and slowly raised his head. Four eyes blinked opened and lazily skimmed the surroundings. Something that creeped him out because he was fairly positive that each eye was looking in a different direction. He suppressed a shiver when all four eyes suddenly locked on to him. They shifted up when his dad stepped in front of him, malevolent rock at the ready. Z narrowed his eyes, but did nothing else.
After a while of intense staring, Z let out a sigh and let his head flop to the ground. "Just my luck. Used too much magic around some pointy object waving maniac." He let out a small growl as he closed his eyes. "Well, get on with it. It's going to take you a while to get through my scales with that rock of yours."
Hiccup wasn't exactly happy with his friend's sudden giving up, but judging how his dad was just shy of eager to finish the job, he had more pressing matters to deal with. He got up on shaky legs, using the tree as a crutch, and quickly put himself between his father and his friend. He didn't think it'd happen, but he was glad that it caused his dad to pause.
"Move aside." He couldn't tell if his father was shocked, his gaze taken to his namesake, but he could definitely hear the chiefly tone used.
"I won't let you hurt him." Not when he saved them. Not when he knew they were completely wrong about dragons. Z was proof, albeit not the best, but his dad didn't have to know that bit.
"That is a dragon, Hiccup." His father stated as he tightened his grip on the rock. "We have to kill it, before it kills us."
He shook his head. "He saved us, dad. He could have let us fall, or knocked us off at any time, but he protected us instead." He could see his father thinking, but that stubborn viking demeanor was rearing its head again.
"A trick so it can finish is off itself." He started as he began to approach.
He had to quickly step back to keep him between the two, the distance towards his friend decreasing at an alarming rate. "Look at him dad! Really look at him. Does he really look like he can finish us off?" He said as he shifted his eyes between his friend and father while he moved backwards. "Do you really think he would go through the effort to save us and leave himself in a vulnerable position, just to trick us and kill us later? He's not even fighting back!" He had resorted to shouting, which normally would lead to nowhere, but calmly reasoning with his father would be like politely asking a rock to move. Luckily, his father stopped, but he knew he had very little time to persuade him. He had an idea on where to start.
"If he was as horrible as you think, I would already be dead." That got his full attention. "When I was seven, after being used as a punching bag by Snotlout and the twins, again," that got a twitch out of him, "I escaped into the forest. Somewhere I needed to go to be alone and away from the pain. While I was there, I found a small stream occupied by the very being we've been at war with. And guess what happened?" He didn't give his father time to answer and continued on. "He talked to me. It was weird, and aggressive, but he talked to me. You want to know something else? He never hurt me, which is more than what my own people could say."
His father looked surprised for all of a second before it disappeared into a scowl. "A one time mercy."
"But it wasn't! Just last week when it was thought I was snatched away to never be seen again, I was returned." He wasn't going to mention the time he sought the dragon out. Yet. "All he did was take me to one of his friends and bring me back. Why would he try to kill me later if he's introducing me to friends?" He was getting bold, standing up to his father like this, but if it meant his friend did not succumb to a very painful death, then so be it.
"Treachery breaks a man the quickest." His father was remaining steadfast in his hate. Hopefully, the events of today would help persuade him.
"Then why would he kill another dragon for me?" He could see the disbelief in his eyes at that. He probably thought it was a territory thing, and it just looked like he was protecting him. Or something ridiculous like that. "Earlier today, when he took off with me again, we ran into a hostile dragon. One I'm sure he could have avoided were I not there. Instead, he killed it to make sure I was safe. If he was really as horrible as you think, would he do any of that?"
His father finally looked conflicted, his eyes danced between him and Z. Eventually he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them. All hope drained from Hiccup, he knew that look. It was the same one he gave him when his father wasn't truly listening to him. He didn't get much of a chance to react as his father shoved him to the side and stomped up to the dragon. Just as he was about to begin something he knew would be a very painful experience for Z, a tail shot out and wrapped around his legs. Stoick had just enough time to realize his legs were caught before he was yanked to the ground and found himself trapped under a four eyed glare. Stoick's body was pinned under Z's, and Z had used both of his forelegs to pin his dad's. Z was breathing heavily, as if he just sprinted across half the world, but looked like he recovered enough to not be bludgeoned to death.
Zaerkrox let out a growl, only got it to cut short with his eyes wide in surprise. He looked over to him, and a noise akin to a chirp escaped from his throat. When he gave his friend a confused look, he watched as his friend released a groan and flopped his head onto the ground. Again.
He was more surprised that the dragon was keeping his father easily restrained than the fact that he was no longer talking. His dad, however, was less appreciative of that feat, if his grumbling and cursing was anything to go by.
Eventually, the curses stopped and Stoick seemed resigned to his fate. If only physically, his eyes still held a fiery determination. As it were, he wasn't going anywhere. Silence befell the three of them. Z no doubt asleep, his father probably thinking of the many different ways to kill Z, and him without a clue as to what to say.
Unusually, it was his father that broke the silence. "So, about this dragon."
The calm and steady voice left nothing for him to discern, leaving him quite nervous as to how he'd respond. "It's not much of a story. I met him accidentally four years ago. Pretty sure he was going to uh… kill me at some point, but something changed his mind. Two weeks ago I met him in the woods again. This time I came prepared and…" His father's continual flat gaze was starting to make him sweat. "Uh, drew him." That got a raised eyebrow. He wasn't going to think what that meant. "After that, last week he took me to see one of his friends. He wanted me to draw them, as I did for him. And today he wanted to show me an island full of lightning. There was a Skrill… he killed it." He felt… disgusted with his friend, still, but he understood why he did it.
When he made no motions to continue, his dad closed his eyes for a brief moment. Once they opened, he redirected his attention to him. "This is grounds for treason, son. I should disown you and throw you to the wolves." He looked to his father with a betrayed and hurt expression. "But, no one has died by your transgressions, nothing destroyed either. As long as that remains true, you'll not be punished." He let out a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground, the sting of tears threatening to spill rimmed his eyes. "However, I cannot, and will not, prevent people from attacking… it." He sent a glare towards the still sleeping dragon. "We're at war Hiccup, and I will not confuse our people when we need to be level headed. A chief protects his own, remember that."
He was simply thankful he wasn't being outcast, or worse. And that Z could keep coming back. To a bunch of angry vikings, but back nonetheless. "Now, get this dragon off of me."
He would, really, if he could. But Z was a dragon, and he had scrawny arms. So moving him was impossible. Z was also asleep, and he didn't think there was anything he could do that would wake him without him getting burned. "I don't think I can, he's asleep."
Stoick rolled his eyes. "Then move him." Hiccup just gave him a look. "Right." His father then took a deep breath, and with a surprising show of strength, lifted the dragon up enough for him to slide out. He could only look at his father in awe. He just lifted, regardless of how long, a dragon and made it look easy! He knew his dad was strong, but that was absurd.
"Now, if I'm not mistaken, we're still on Berk. Just on the other side." He stood up as he spoke, stretching his back once on his feet. He looked towards where the sun was beginning it's descent towards the horizon, then where he assumed the village was. "Plenty of time to make it back." He turned his attention on him, and continued, "Let's go son. I'm sure your… friend can handle himself." He wasn't wrong. Not many creatures want to mess with a dragon, even a sleeping one. That didn't stop him from looking back with worry until the dragon was obscured by trees.
The walk back was uneventful and quiet. They didn't say anything, other than his father's occasional warnings of holes or hidden roots. He must still be wrapping his head around a not entirely hostile dragon… or simply had nothing to say. Either was a good guess at this point. Eventually, though, they reached the village. It was close to sundown and he could see some of the villagers running around, armed.
His father continued on without pause, causing him to run to catch up, and approached the nearest viking. Which happened to be Gobber, who was currently wheeling a barrel full of weapons… somewhere.
"What's going on?" He had a feeling his dad already knew the answer to that, but he probably asked from habit.
"Ah, Stoick." The man turned to face them as he spoke. "We were jus about ta send a group ta go search fer the chief. You should join em, it'd certainly help." He could feel his father's flat gaze from behind him, and he couldn't blame him either. Gobber definitely had his moments. "Ah, chief! There ye are. Guess we can call off tha' search." He continued as if his previous comment was never made. He turned around and began wheeling the barrel back to wherever he originally got it.
"That… was something." His father merely nodded his head and continued on. For all of two steps, afterwards he turned and faced him with both a stern and caring expression. It was different, but more welcome than the disappointed scowl he used to get after messing up.
"Head home, Hiccup, this will take a while." He didn't argue as he turned towards their house and walked away. In fact, he was quite grateful. The day had been a long and exhausting one, and he was eager to finally lay down and forget everything.
And that was what he did. The moment he reached his bed, he was lost to the world.
and I do believe that's the last angst/drama chapter I have in store for a while. now I can get to why I made this story. Z flying through canon and turning it into confetti. hope you enjoyed.