"Give him the dragon." Hiccup demands.
He found his father sitting at the table with several papers scattered all around it, a fire crackling on the hearth.
"No." Stoick replies. Snapping the paper in his hand for emphasis.
"Come on, Dad. Training his own dragon will make him responsible or something, and he'll, he'll feel proud of himself." Hiccup says.
Stoick sighs. "Here it comes. All your psycho babble. This isn't about psychology, this is about discipline. And I'm not going t reward bad behavior."
"That sure sounds like psychology to me." Hiccup says.
"No, dragon."
Meanwhile, little did the two know that Hadrian had snuck out of the house through the skylight of Hiccup's room.
He now stands in the arena, in front of the massive cage where the Skrill continues to thrash and roar. A wicker basket on his back. The dragon continually pacing back and forth only to find each and every aspect of whatever plan he has to be vanquished.
For a while, Hadrian just stands and stares at the dragon. Then he takes cautious steps forward until he's standing directly in front of the cage. Arms folded, the Skill only stares at him momentarily, then he sneers and goes back to thrashing at the rock at the back of the cage.
Hadrian snarls I return, slaps the wicker basket to the ground and kicks it over. Piles upon piles of sheep meet spill over along with some fresh fish he traded with Bucket and Mulch. The dragon licks his lips and Hadrian walks away. He hears the dragon shift to the front of the cage, but stops when he hears a slight bang against the door.
Turning back, his heart nearly sinks at the sight of the dragon slipping I's tongue out to try and snatch the meet. He whined and tried but it was torturously out of reach.
Soon the dragon cries and retracts, sinking back into the cage. Hadrian looks to it, then away, closing his eyes, sighing.
As the dragon was circling to lie down, a slab of meat plops near his hind legs. It looks to the meat, then to Hadrian, who's now sitting cross-legged in front of the cage.
The dragon approaches the slice, sensing a trap. But the hunger Hadrian can hear roaring in his stomach overpowers him, and he gobbles the slice. For a while, this is how they spend time. Hadrian tosses him slabs of meat, waiting until he's done, then tossing him the next one. They do this until the entire basket is empty.
As the dragon licks it's talon, Hadrian speaks.
"Not fun is it?" Hadrian asks out loud. This catches the dragon's attention and stops to look at him. "I know the feeling."
The dragon sneers.
"Seriously, I do. I mean, I'm sorry that this happen to you, and I know how you feel. Feeling, trapped in such a, condense place. Nowhere to run, nowhere to fly."
He now has the dragon's attention. It has ceased its sneering and only stares at him. Fixated on him, his words.
"No, freedom. To do what you want, to have, control over yourself instead of having people tell you what to do." Hadrian goes on. "Yeah, it sucks. And I know this sucks."
The dragon launches forward into the front of the cage, Hadrian thankfully stepping back a few steps. It wasn't out of spite, like he was trying to get him, but to tell him, 'If you understand then let me out!'
Hadrian only stares at it, swallowing thickly.
"I promise I won't hurt you." he whispers.
The dragoon roars again and walks to the back of the cage, the octave in his roar reduced down to mimic a whine. Hadrian walks back up to the front of the cage, resting his hands on the iron bars.
The dragon slashes at the stone to no avail. A final snarl as it looks to him. the crimson of its eyes glowing in the dark.
Hadrian takes a deep breath.
"Fate has been cruel,
And order unkind.
How can I have taken you away?"
The dragon stops and stalks towards the front of the cage. Keeping a distance from it, it raises its head, sighs.
"The blame was my own,
The punishment yours.
The harmony's silent today."
The dragon had completely stopped and was listening intently. Guess music really can sooth the savage beast. "That's right." Hadrian whispered.
Slowly he reaches a hand through the cage bars. He continues on.
"But into the stillness,
I'll bring you a song.
And I will your company keep,
'till your tired eyes,
And my lullabies,
Have carried you softly to sleep."
Hadrian's fingertips had just braised the nose when the dragon, when it suddenly roars and lunges forward, Hadrian leaps back, gasping as he stumbles to the floor. The dragon rattles the cage doors and gives off a guttural coo.
Hadrian stands and brushes off his pants. "Sorry boy, that was my fault." The dragon huffs and starts to settle in a circle to sleep. Hadrian sits down in front of the cage door, leaning against the door.
"I know you don't trust me yet," he whispers. "But you will."
He watches as the dragon circles and circles until it finally sets down with a finished huff. Yawning, its mouth exposing serrated teeth. As Hadrian rests his head against the metal door, he closes his eyes and dreams of flying over the village.
A grip on his shoulder startles him. Hadrian's eyes shoot open with a start and realizes it's morning. He looks up to find Gobber standing over him. Hadrian swallows back a flood of explanations as he squats down.
"Maybe you should wash up." he says. "Someone might think you slept on the ground all night." He looks around, averting his eyes from Hadrian. Hadrian smiles and chuckles softly. He nods and pushes himself to his feet and makes a jog for home. As Gobber watches him take off, he can't help but smile and shake his head. "Chip off the block." He mumbles.
That afternoon, Hiccup came upstairs to collect Hadrian to head to Gobber's.
"Hey Hadrian, ready for Gob-" he stops when he sees Hadrian sleeping in bed.
Hiccup looks to him, tilting his head slightly to the side. Having the unprecedented opportunity to study him.
His torso exposed, he lays on his front, the muscles of his back contracted seemingly perfectly as his arms are angled to where his hands are tucked under his pillow. His breathing heavy and even, releasing a soft sigh as he shifts his head. His lovely face looks younger, relaxed in sleep. His sculpted, pouty lips are parted slightly, and his shiny clean hair a glorious mess. How could anyone look this good and still be legal? It's temping to reach out and touch him, but like a small child, he's so lovely when he's asleep.
So Hiccup smiles, and chuckling softly walks across the room and pulls the drapes of his window shut. Their color casting him in a soft buttery glow.
Quietly shutting the door behind him, Hiccup stalks back downstairs to find Toothless. Hiccup pressed a finger to his lips, calling for silence. "We should go."
For the rest of the day, Hadrian spent it trading at the market for sheep meat. Any catching he did, anything he caught or shot, he brought to the market.
Now lying in bed, he waited half an hour after the house had gone still before waving off his covers and changing into an old tunic and pants. Pulling on his hunting boots, and snatching his burlap sack, he sneaks out of the skylight across from Hiccup's bed this time. Doing a steady jog up to the Academy, he slowly proceeds to the cage holding the Skrill.
He walks up to the front and tosses the slab of meat inside. The dragon takes it and huffs.
"That's it, bud."
He keeps this up for the next week. Sneaking out between dawn and twilight to the Academy, buying pieces of butchered meat, and slowly working his way to where he could feed the Skrill by hand through the bars.
Then one night, he decides to try something different. As he approaches the cage, he pulls the lever opening the cage.
The gate to the Academy closed.
The Skrill raises its head, eyes wide with surprise.
"Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth
Through cloud,
and through sky,
and through space.
Carry the peace and the coolness of night
and carry my sorrow in kind."
The Skrill rises from its sleepy positions and coos.
"Hey boy." Hadrian whispers. He stands at the very epicenter of the Academy. Slowly he raises his arm, his hand holding a slab of sheep meat. The Skirll huffs gently. "You want it?"
The Skrill huffs, its arms twitching to step outside the cage boundaries. Sensing trickery.
"Well, you're gonna have to come and get it." Hadrian softly speaks. "But you'd have to trust me to do that, wouldn't you?"
After a moment of silence, the Skrill first places one foot out, testing like a toddler would test water before swimming. Hadrian keeps his arm raised, still as a statue as the Skrill steps out with its other hand. Then it slowly emerges from the cage. Hadrian readies himself for any sign of treason as the dragon nears.
The dragon stops within a few feet of Hadrian's hand. Then with one more step, it leans its head in towards the meat. After a few official sniffs to test for authenticity, the dragon slurps up the meat, licking Hadrian's hand. Hadrian smiles, and manages to gently stroke the dragon's snout. It lifts its head to see sniff his hand again and Hadrian laughs.
As he lowers his hand, the dragon nears closer waiting for more. "That's enough for tonight."
The dragon lowers his head and huffs. Hadrian softly strokes its snout. Guiding back to the cage, Hadrian lifted the lever and the doors shut.
"See you tomorrow."
The next day, Hadrian tries his best to stay awake as he flies on the back with Toothless and Hiccup. They were sent on a search-and-rescue on a cargo weapon that's three days overdue.
"Do you remember their last coordinates?" Astrid asks.
"They said they were heading west." Hiccup replies. "Hadrian, do you have the map?"
There's no response. Hiccup suddenly feels a pressure on his back. He looks behind and sees Hadrian leaning against him, eyes closed in sleep, backs pressed to one another. Hiccup sighs in aggravation and reaches and pulls the map out himself. Tossing it to Fishlegs, he tells him to read the map. He looks back at Hadrian and gently shrugs his shoulder. Hadrian's eyes flutter open and he rubs one eyes with the back of his hand, yawning. He takes a deep inhale.
"Are we there yet?" he asks.
"No, you just dozed off." Hiccup says. "You've been sleeping a lot during the day Hadrian, you not getting enough sleep?"
"In a way." He confesses, turning around to face Hiccup.
"Having more bad dreams?" Hiccups asks keeping his gaze ahead.
"Not really. But -"
"Hiccup!" Fishlegs interrupts. "There's the ship!"
Hadrian peers over Hiccup's shoulder and sees another ship, a slightly bigger ship, docked next to the ship with the weapons. "It's the Beserkers!" Hiccup says. "Astrid, take Snotlout and the twins and distract them, Fishlegs, you and I will then guide the ship away and retake any inventory they might've take.
"What about me?" Hadrian asks.
"What do you want to do?" Hiccup asks. He looks to Hadrian and smiles.
Hadrian smiles back, and without a word, he pushes to stand on Toothless and as the dragon swoops in, he jumps down onto the ship. Drawing his sword, he smiles as the men advance. "Beserkers! Capture this tyrant for Dagur the Deranged!"
Hadrian blocks a soldier's sword with the middle of his blade, pushes off and spins, knocking aside another oncoming baled and punching the men in the face. Astrid with Snotlout and the twins, set the sail of the Beserker ship ablaze. Hadrian parry's with another soldier, pushing off his eyes unknowingly looks to sail. His heart skips a beat to see the Skrill sketched onto the sail.
"Hadrian!" Astrid yells.
Snapping from his gaze, he backflips onto the dragon carved bowsprit. Landing on the wooden snout, Hadrian drops and swings under as an axe sticks into the wood. Gaining momentum, Hadrian swings around the snout for a couple circles before releasing, flipping midair while throwing knives over the crew.
Landing on the main deck, he quickly jumps behind the mast as arrows lodged into the wood. As soldiers advance, Hookfang releases a fire wall. Above, Hadrian can hear Snotlout chanting, "Snotlout! Snotlout! Oy! Oy! Oy!"
Hadrian looks at the fire, and a shadow looms over him. He looks and ducks just as a blade of a sword whistles over his head and slicing into the wood. As he drops, he kicks the man's legs out from under him. Hadrian quickly runs up and stats to climb the ratlines up to the crow's nest. As he reaches the top, he leaps off and Fishlegs catches him as the twins ignite the rest of the ship.
"Nice job Hadrian."
"Thanks, how's the ship?" he asks.
"They thankfully only managed to steal a couple swords and at least four daggers." Fishlegs says.
"Why would they need weapons?" Hadrian asks.
"Well, that's for us to figure out."
They pull the ship near a small island and dock. The dragons frolic through some tall grass while Hiccup and the others talk to the crewmembers. Hadrian meanwhile took a look through the inventory of weaponry.
"So what happened?" Hiccup asks.
Helbert, a man with blonde dread locks and a beard braided don to his chest, explains how the Beserkers had cornered their ship on intending to steal their inventory. One sleeve of his tunic had been rolled up just past the elbow where his forearm had been bandaged from a slash from a sword.
"Seems like they're trying to intervene on our weaponry." Hiccup theorizes. "Decrease the number we have and our metal."
"Well, after his play with that fake mechanism, he seems to be drawing more on the offensive." Astrid adds.
"And there still hasn't been any sign of Alvin?" Hadrian chimes.
"None." Says Hiccup.
After Dagur had stolen the Skrill from Alivn's arena, the alliance they had was easily severed. Both men fought and Dagur allegedly executed Alvin by electrocuting him kin the water. There's been no sign of him since, but Hadrian and Hiccup know better than to count him out.
Alvin's not that easily disposable. After a few more quick exchanges, the teens help the ship sail back out n course and fly back to Berk.
As they glide along the vast ocean, Hadrian looks around and examines the dragon and their riders. He explores his memory and remembers Hiccup talking about a bond that both dragon and rider need to have, along with experience. And it was something so obvious, that he was nearly jealous.
"Hey Hiccup." He says.
"Yeah?"
"Would you mind if we went to the sea stacks?" Hadrian asks.
Hiccup looks to him in curiosity, slight bewilderment and a sense of a trap. Hadrian only raises his eyebrows, waiting for his answer.
Hiccup smiles and pulls on the grips of Toothless' saddle. "Hey guys, head on back on your own. Hadrian and I are going to the sea stacks."
"Will you be okay?" Astrid asks.
"We'll be fine."
With a flap of Toothless' wings, they turn and fly off to the sea stacks.
The towers of rock dotted themselves along the shore. They mimic bits and pieces of the nearby cliff with their layers of stone and grass tops. Far below them, the waves leaped at the rocks, hungrily licking at the flat face of the stack.
Hadrian immediately gets off and paces towards the edge of the stack. "So what's this about?" Hiccup asks.
Hadrian's silent as he hears the wind across the plain. A sound so strong it practically calls his name. It's wild like the river and warm like the sun.
"Hadrian?" he turns to face Hiccup.
"Look, promise you won't tell your dad." He first says. And Hiccup nods, flattening his lips, knowing this is something serious. "I've been going to the arena every morning and seeing Lightning."
Hiccup's face turns slightly pale and he swallows back words of shock. "What have you been doing, exactly?"
"Just going to visit him and feeding him meat." Hadrian says. "I've been going every morning waiting for him to trust me."
Hiccup looks to Toothless and places a hand on the hip, the other tracing over his mouth.
"Are you upset?" Hadrian asks.
"No, this isn't really the time for me to give the lecture on sneaking away and seeing a dragon." Hiccup says. He smiles. "I'm actually proud. You're becoming more like me every day."
"Okay look I know you're mad, but there's no need to be vicious." Hadrian teases.
"I'm serious. I did the exact same thing after training years ago." Hiccup assures.
"So you won't tell?"
"I promise." Hiccup smiles. "So, how's the progress?"
Hadrian smiles back, "I'd rather show you."
That evening, the two boys sneak to the Academy after hours. Hadrian told Hiccup about hoe he just started to let the SKrill out of the cage and feeding it directly from his hand. Hiccup and Toothless agreed to stay outside of the arena, in knowing that the Skrill might get defensive at the sight of more than one person.
Hiccup now watches as Hadrian closes the gate to the arena. He carries a wicker basket with small bits of sheep meat. He sets it down and wanders over to the lever for the cage. There's a slamming in sound and the doors slowly creak open. Their high-pitched squeal a call of distress.
Hadrian goes back over to the basket, and waits. Slung over one of his shoulders, is a harness Hiccup had been designing to fit a Skrill. Thankfully since leather doesn't conduct much electricity, this should make the dragon easier to ride. At least until Hiccup can find a suitable ad comfortable material that completely subsides the electricity.
After a few moments of quiet, Hiccup is stunned when he sees the dragon emerge from its cage and crawl its way towards Hadrian. Hadrian extends out a hand, and carefully approaches the dragon. Once he feeds it a slab of meat, he strokes along its neck and smiles.
"You're such a good boy." He whispers.
The dragon slightly huffs as it goes for the basket. It knocks it over and rummages through flesh and a stomach Hadrian added when he learned of a recipe made in the Highlands. The dragon coos and gobbles up a large slab, swallowing it whole.
Hadrian steps in front of the basket and kicks it aside. "Okay, now, I'm gonna to try something new." He whispers. "Okay?"
He rounds to the front of the Skrill. He carefully pulls it off his shoulder. The harness itself was made of the same leather Hiccup uses for the other dragons, only this one has two open-hole screws that are attached to ropes strewn with rubber. Also the saddle has rubber soles where Hadrian can allegedly stand, since riding straddle-style may not be possible with the Skrill's wide neck and spikes.
The dragon huffs as it sees the harness. It's red scales glittering in the gauzy moonlight, sending a ripple of red and gray over its skin.
"Okay, good boy." Hadrian strokes its neck again.
Slowly, Hadrian raises the harness and slowly starts to drape one end around the Skrill's neck. With it being directly behind its neck, he softly whispers 'Good boy' to keep the dragon calm. He manages to get one side across, however wrapping it around was the real challenge. Like Toothless' saddle, it wraps around the dragon's neck for security. Hadrian himself hated the feeling of tight collars. A feeling of suffocation always labored his breathing, which is why he never wears turtleneck tunics.
Just as he goes to fully secure the notch, the dragon jerks and roars.
"It's okay, it's okay. Shh." Hadrian tries to coo. "It's okay."
But the Skrill jerks back from him and bucks its head trying to get the harness off. It floats up and billows down, but the dragon doesn't stop. He runs back over to Hadrian and leaps up on its hind legs.
"Hadrian!" Hiccup yells.
Hadrian instinctively turns around and the beast's talon on its wing slashes down. Hadrian screams a sharp cry of pain as he skips along the stone before settling on his stomach.
"Hadrian!" Hiccup yells.
Immediately, Hiccup and Toothless jump down through the steel bars. Toothless goes and dominates the Skrill into seeping back into its cage while Hiccup goes and helps Hadrian. His back muscles contract, his teeth grit, tears cutting down his face. The fabric of his tunic is slashed and his blood plasters it to his shoulder blades. Small scratches scatter across his face and arms from the sharp braises he did on the stone.
"Oh my. . ." Hiccup breathes. "Come on, Hadrian."
Hadrian forces himself to stand despite any slight movement he makes with his arms, the stinging pain worsens to the point he gets a brief headache. The growling behind them draws their attention. They both look back and see Toothless backing the Skrill back into his cage. The Skrill is grunting nervously, he peeks over Toothless and tries to see. Toothless gives one final roar before the dragon draws back. Whipping his tail, Toothless triggers the lever and shuts the gate.
"Come on Hadrian. We need to get you to the house." Hiccup says as he tries to support Hadrian's chest.
Hadrian groans as he pushes to his staggers on his feet. He blinks and tries to suppress the many cries of pain desperately wanting to escape his lips. Hiccup holds him with one hand on his chest while he uses the other to tear the rest of his tunic to avoid having the fabric plaster to his back and clotting. Warm, slippery blood stains his hands.
They stumble back to Gobber's workshop, where Hiccup leaves Hadrian in the back room while he and Toothless hustle back to the house. Hiccup knew his father was away at a meeting about Dagur, so he grabs Hadrian's burlap sack and unceremoniously stuffs inside all the medical herbs and medicines and gauze he had.
He and Toothless hurry back to the shop in minutes. Hiccup rushes into the back room where he finds Hadrian standing facing the back wall. The rest of his shredded tunic scattered across the floor in bits and bloodstained. He has his palms pressed flat to the wall, his fingers clawed into the wood, seething through his grit teeth at the pain.
"Hadrian." Hiccup says.
Hadrian looks over his shoulder and his eyes beg Hiccup to help him. Hiccup nods and drops the bag, rummaging through it until he pulls out a cloth, wets it with water in a bucket in the shop.
"Okay Hadrian, I'm going to clean your back. This might sting a little." Hiccup says. Hadrian nods.
Hiccup carefully approaches Hadrian, his palms still flat to the wall. His breathing slowing as he preps himself. Hiccup tentatively dabs at first, and Hadrian briefly tightens before relaxing. Hiccup tries to hold his food as he begins to wipe away the crimson. Its rusty smell infection his senses. He clamps his mouth shut and focuses on trying to get Hadrian better.
As he begins to wipe, Hadrian winces, but keeps himself steady. Hiccup gingerly places a hand on Hadrian's shoulder and guides his hand around the gash and along his muscular torso. The heat from the day gave his back a festering flesh odor. Hiccup has to wrench out the rag a few times before Hadrian's back begins to resemble its normal color.
The blood is still seething out, but with Hiccup having cleaned most of it away, it doesn't seem that bad. But he's still worried Hadrian's lost too much blood.
"How's it look?" Hadrian asks.
"Not bad, now that it's clean. Hiccup says. "Toothless." He calls over.
The Night Fury pops his head up and approaches.
"Okay, I'm gonna have Toothless lick your back until I break up some horsetail." Hiccup says.
"What for?" Hadrian asks.
"Night Fury saliva has great healing properties, and the horsetail will help will help with the bleeding and pain." Hiccup explains.
Hadrian sighs and takes a seat on the stool while Toothless licks away at his back. He cringes at the feeling of the dragon's forked, slimy tongue, but soon the pain in the scar eased. As Hiccup broke and smashed some of the herb, he looks to Hadrian and Toothless. Toothless doesn't stop until he feels he has to. Hiccup gives his dragon credit for having enough decency to not leave and gobble down water.
Soon Hiccup has the herb stirred and churned into a smooth medicine ointment. He pours it into a small pot and brings it to the back. By now Hadrian's injury looked like a jagged lightning bolt on his back. He turns and sees Hiccup approaching.
Hiccup gives him a shy smile and places the bowl on the desk. "Okay, I'll spread it along the scar and then we'll take you back home. It should be dry by then and you can take a bath."
"Any reason you can't use your 'special powers'?" Hadrian smirks.
Even when he's down he has a way to keep swinging.
"Because, I'm advanced in fighting, not healing, yet." Hiccup retorts.
He dips two fingers into the balm and begins to smooth it over the scar. Hadrian hisses between his teeth before the pain vanishes. The effect of the herb nearly magical, erases the pain immediately, and leaving behind a cooling sensation.
Hadrian sighs in pleasure. He peers over his shoulder. "Thank you, Hiccup."
Hiccup smiles and continues this until the entire gash is glistening with the ointment. He wraps Hadrian's back in gauze, pressing it firmly so the bleeding stops. Hiccup advises Hadrian to stay sitting as he begins to sweep up the shred remains of Hadrian's tunic. Disposing them to the fire, Hiccup gives Hadrian a bowl of mutton and some warm yak milk.
As Hiccup's at the anvil, sealing the pot of the ointment, he notices Hadrian roaming around the shop, a distant look on his face.
"Hey Hadrian, you okay?" he asks.
Hadrian lowers his head. "Apart from being embarrassed, I'm starting to think this is all a waste of time."
"Hey, don't say that." Hiccup says, making his way over to Hadrian. "these things take time, Hadrian. Berk wasn't built in a day."
"It just feels like I'm running in a circle." Hadrian says as he leans against a counter of swords.
"Things will pay off. I promise. You're doing great." Hiccup says. Hadrian looks to him and Hiccup's hear sinks when he sees the emerald green start to fade, literally watching him lose hope. "Please, don't give up. After what I've seen tonight, he was just nervous."
Hadrian forces himself to give Hiccup a smile, knowing deep down he's right.
"Come on, let's get you home." Hiccup says.
They make it back to the house, and a pink slice in the sky tells Hiccup dawn is approaching. Rosy streaks are breaking though in the east. Hiccup sets Hadrian in his bed and he dozes off almost instantly, resting on his stomach. His back glistening like it's been dipped I dew.
Toothless follows Hiccup back to his room. Hiccup plops on the bed, petting Toothless' ear as he nudges his hand.
"If this is just the beginning, then we've got our work cut out for us." Hiccup says to Toothless.
Hiccup yawns and after cleaning of his hands, he changes into a clean night tunic and readies for bed. As he checks on Hadrian one last time, he sighs with relief to find him actually sleep. The wound already starting to show sign of healing. With Hadrian in bed, Hiccup nestles beneath his blanket and lets the night claim him.