Hadrian sits atop the chain dome of the Academy. His hand wrapped around the chain link while he gazes out at the sunset. The clouds a soft pale rose that slowly bleeds into a pink and orange blaze. Slowly surrendering itself to the night.
"Hadrian!" Hiccup calls.
Hadrian looks behind to see Hiccup crawling up the dome on Toothless. The Night Fury's eyes a hypnotic ice green shimmering against its scale black skin.
"Hey." Hadrian shyly replies.
"Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you." Hiccup says as he dismounts the dragon and crawls his way level with him.
"Just, enjoying the sights." Hadrian replies as he returns his gaze to the sunset. "I can't count on my fingers the numbers of sunsets I've missed, and I don't want to miss any more of them."
"And you won't." Hiccup promises, placing a hand on Hadrian's shoulder. "I kept my promise didn't I?"
Hadrian chuckles, a soft and humble tone that sounded for foreign coming from his lips. Hiccup looked to him in surprise, even a little scared by it.
"Can you believe how far we've come?" he asks.
"I know. It's weird." Hiccup agrees. "I mean, a couple years ago, you were a part of me, then you wanted to kill me and take over Berk . . ."
"You better be making a point with his." Hadrian says.
Hiccup laughs. "But now, we're, friends."
"It's weird."
"You're not having second guess are you?" Hiccup suddenly asks.
Hadrian laughs. "No, it's just, I never thought I'd make it out of that place. So dark and cold. Nothing had a purpose, everything was just there. And now," he brings his hands forward, turning them over and over. "I have my own skin, my own blood, my own thoughts. And this world is in color." He adds for amusement. "It feels like a dream."
"But it's not."
Hadrian nods. "But it's not." He repeats. "I'm awake and I'm alive. I know what I believe inside."
"And now it's your time." Hiccup says.
Toothless buds between them and coos nuzzling Hadrian's cheek. He chuckles as he pats Toothless' snout.
When Hadrian looks to him, Hiccup feels warmth pool in his stomach as Hadrian's eyes have melted into a pale emerald with a pupil. His hair had faded off into a muddy brown, instead of black, thought feathery texture still swayed at the slightest breeze. His black and leather chained ensemble was replaced with something more suitable for this New Hadrian.
A short-sleeve navy-blue tunic with black pants. The neckline dipped down and crosshatched in X's at his chest. He didn't wear any leather gauntlets or a helmet, and that's what made still resemble Hiccup despite their much different physical appearance.
For the past week Hadrian's been living in the village, he still claims to hear the screams. Feel the ash, and he'd wake thrashing just as Hiccup did during his week of recovery Goathi examined him and declared him stable but traumatized. With Hiccup's therapy and welcoming nature, soon the nightmares calmed, but didn't case.
They both know they'll never officially go away. And still none of them have said to one another that they're safe.
Hiccup still goes to Grandmamma for training, but now it seems he's gaining more control and experience. A newfound confidence that powers his will to try harder.
"Come on," Hiccup says. "we need to move. Gobber's cooking his Berk-famous mutton with dressing."
Hiccup and Hadrian slide down while Toothless happily hops down, taking up the front as they walk towards the village.
Stoick couldn't accept Hadrian as a son but Hiccup didn't mind. The idea of being, step-related seemed, odd. Hadrian was so independent and strong, adding a stubborn father and an admittedly know-it-all brother seemed, out of his element. And it wasn't that Stoick was holding a grudge, but it was just a mutual thing.
The villagers were wary about him given his past, some, still give him dirty looks based upon that. But Hiccup cleared enough with the village to at least accept him. Hadrian knew the costs of coming to the village, moving in. But he still walks with a head held high.
Upon reaching the Great Hall, the scent of cinnamon, freshly baked bread, and spiced meat seeped to their noses, causing their stomachs to growl. The music from the musicians washed over them, building and falling, the melody mimicking itself, then starting over. The Berkians raised a toast to the vanquishing of the dreaded demon Lilith.
The thick gold-and-red Hall lay stretched before them. Thick velvet draperies spilled from tall walls, like motionless crimson waterfalls. The smell of perfume and wine mingled with the scent of the rich food. More red-and-gold-lined draperies hung suspended from the vaulted ceilings. A warm fire crackling in the pit. Gobber was singing some celebratory songs while Mulch and Bucket handed out plates of food.
The table was covered with an elaborate feast. A whole roast pig with an apple stuck in its mouth. A standing rib roast with little paper puffs on the top of each rib, sat next to a mangled-looking goose covered with chestnuts. There were bowls of gravies and sauces and creams, rolls and breads, collards and beets and spreads Hadrian couldn't name.
As they weave their way through the crowd of people, shoulders were grabbed and shaken in joy, handshakes were passed and kisses were bushed with the women. It didn't take long for them to accept Hadrian into the village.
Stoick was laughing with Spitelout and Mulch as the boys approach. "Ah, Hiccup, Hadrian, please join us."
Hadrian takes a seat, while Hiccup fetches a plate. Hadrian nervously taps his fingers along the mug. "Hadrian," he hears Stoick say.
He pops his head up to see Stoick sit down next to him. "Listen, while I know we haven't had the best connection, I just want you to know, that I am forever grateful to you, for saving my son."
Hadrian stares at him before speaking. "It almost feels like the other way around. I'm grateful to him for saving me"
Stoick places a hand on Hadrian's shoulder. "He said you were the only one who understands him. The only one who can connect with him on levels, I, we didn't know existed. And despite everything you've done, what you could've done to Hiccup, you saved him. You helped him. And for that I am grateful." Hadrian smiles. "And while I know I can't accept you as a son, please know I think of you as my own."
"Thank you, Stoick."
Hiccup returns with two plates filled with as much food as he can carry. As Stock raises another toast, Hadrian looks up from his turkey leg and elbows Hiccups. "Hey. Check it out."
Hiccup looks and nearly chokes on his mutton.
It was Astrid.
She was dressed in folds lace and a pair of pale blue flats. The thing was vintage and frilly. It had a lace overlay, a sweetheart neckline, and a poofy skirt that frills out and falls to just below the knees when she stood. It was nothing she would have ever picked out herself – almost too pretty, with the royal blue satin ribbon that tied around the waist. Her hair was in a beautiful braided updo.
Heather was over on the other side of the hall, conversing with a few Vikings, and standing with her parents. The dark green velvet dress she wore hugs her upper body and falls in graceful lines to her ankles. Black lace panels shimmer between the skirt's folds, and black ribbon laces up the back. For the finishing touch, her hair is in a waterfall braid that falls forward a few curls.
Hiccup gets up and walk's toward Astrid who seemed more self-conscious if not uncomfortable as she flattens her skirt.
When Hiccup reaches her, she keeps her head low to hide the pink on her cheeks.
"I feel like a prissy." She mumbles.
"You look, absolutely beautiful." He says.
She looks up and smiles.
Leaning down, Hiccup connect their lips in a gentle kiss that still ignited a fire through Astrid' chest.
Parting, Hiccup softly speaks. "Please remember, that it will always, be you."
Astrid clamps her lips together to hold back a goofy laugh, then stands on her tiptoes and presses a kiss against his cheek. Linking their fingers together, they take a seat as the men join in Gobber in a sing-along.
Hiccup gazes around the Hal, his hand with Astrid' Hadrian sitting next to him, and Fishlegs and the others talking and waiting among their dragons.
They say if you dream a thing more than once, it's sure to come true. Hiccup dreamt of Hadrian so many times. And now, he's real. He's his friend, his brother. While I've been plagued by nightmares and demons, given a destiny I never thought I'd be able to manage, I've pushed through ti with the help of friends and families.
The thing about nightmares is sooner or later you always wake up.
As Hiccup raises a mug in toast, Hiccup lets the hops inside him flare and seep into his secret places until it's completely overtaken him; like black poison.
And he lets himself believe, for the first time, he's finally woken up from his nightmare.