As Hadrian sets down the plate of eggs and toast, Toothless sneaks over and licks off one slice, quickly crawling away. Hadrian approaches back and sees the missing piece, looking to Toothless gobbling it up.
"Okay, guess it's a half-sandwich day." He says sitting down.
Hiccup comes down the stairs as he shrugs on his leather vest.
"Hey Hiccup."
"Hey Hadrian, how's it going?" Hiccup asks as he approaches the table. "You like your new home, make new friends?"
Hadrian and Toothless look to each other than to Hiccup. "What's happening right now?" Hadrian asks.
"I'm befriending you. Sort of." Hiccup answers. "I read a book last night. Some of it."
"Maybe if you'd read it to the end, it would've said we don't need to do this." Hadrian retorts.
"Oh come on, Hadrian. You just got moved into the village, I'm still practicing magic while trying to maintain sanity at the Academy. And I just want to make sure you're doing okay."
"Hiccup, I'm fine. I promise. The only thing we need to worry about is my hunger." Hadrian shoots Toothless a glare and Toothless licks his chin. "I swear I've lost five pounds on the new Toothless diet."
As Hadrian goes and dumps the rest of his finished breakfast in the sink, Hiccup shrugs on his satchel. "Oh which reminds, listen I know I haven't been around much for dinner since you've been here,"
"Fine with me, upsetting for you but go on." Hadrian chimes in.
"There was a big project at the Academy, but it's over so I promise you, I will be home tonight and we are going to have the best dinner to celebrate your three week anniversary of living in the village. Yay." Hiccup says.
"Hiccup, just so we're clear, you are dating Astrid right?"
"Come on Hadrian, don't you ever just want to fly? Feel the wind through your hair?" Hiccup persuades.
"Hiccup, I'm fine. I don't need a dragon. Besides, let's face it. None of your dragons really suite my personality." Hadrian says as he gazes around at the dragons of the Academy.
"Well unfortunately Hadrian, the only dragon I thin would work would be a Night Fury." Fishlegs states.
"But Hiccup already owns Toothless." Hadrian reminds.
"And besides, I've already put him through enough back when my Dad was looking for a dragon." Hiccup adds as he scratches the Night Fury's ear.
"And Hiccup and Toothless have the closest relationship ever, I doubt he'd be willing to ride with me." Hadrian adds.
"Well, I can think of one other dragon." Fishlegs says.
"What?" Hadrian asks curiously.
Hiccup's eyes widen. "Fishlegs no."
"It was just a suggestion." He counters.
"The last time we found that thing it didn't exactly want to be friends." Hiccup reminds.
"But the match might be perfect."
"We're still talking about a dragon right?" Hadrian chimes in.
"Look Hiccup, if your dad thought the Thunderdrum was his dragon, maybe this could be another match." Fishlegs anticipates.
Hiccup sighs in aggravation as he rotates, conjuring a response. "Hiccup?" Hadrian asks.
"There is one dragon . . ."
"I don't know about this Hiccup." Hadrian says as they gaze at the dragon frozen in ice.
"We'll never know until we try, Hadrian." Hiccup assures.
"Who is that, riding my Skrill?!" Dagur yells. "Capture him!"
"No! No! Leave him alone!" Hiccup screams as he's forced to his knees by Beserker guards.
Hadrian's wrists were bound above his head, his shirt torn away. He struggles to stand as his toes were the only thing touching the ground. He hisses from another lash against a raw, bloody slab of meat that used to be his back.
"No!" Hiccup shrieks, tears running down his face.
The stones beneath Hadrian are wet with his blood. Hiccup nearly lost it as he saw tears stream down Hadrian's face, teeth grit so hard they might crack.
Dagur looks to him with a grin the hideous parody of mirth. He raises the whip again.
"No!" throw himself forward, struggling to get free of the guards holding him in place.
Hadrian's eyes flutter open and they lock with Hadrian. Hiccup cries and screams as the Skrill thrashes against the guards.
All Hiccup could do was say he was sorry. Mouth it as Hadrian looked to him with pleading eyes. Tears running down his face as the whip slashed at his back.
Something desperate and dark awakens within Hiccup, biting through his stomach like bile.
Hiccup bites at one guard's hand, sinking his teeth into the flesh. Jerking his head to the side, he rips the skin and droplets arc through the air. The guard releases him and Hiccup slams the heel of his foot into the other. Using his free hand, Hiccup gropes for his knife in his belt.
"Look, Hadrian, you're my firmed now. You're stuck with me no matter what." Hiccup remembers.
"Funny thing is, I do like it." He replied.
"I promise I will protect you. Whether you like it or not. I will protect you."
Hadrian's body goes slack.
Hiccup's eyes glow white and he lets out an ungodly howl.