It's nine o'clock the next morning. Hiccup rises to see Hadrian's bed vacant. He goes to the bathroom and sees steam seeping through the crack in the doorway. It stretches its fingers out and up the door, silently whispering foreboding secrets. Hiccup raises his hand, but he hesitates as he goes to knock. But he does a triple tap.
"Hadrian?" he calls through the door.
Hadrian sits in the tub, up to his nose in water. Arms folded across his chest, knees bent, he lets the steam seep into his pores, numb his mind and limbs. He closes his eyes.
"Hadrian?" he hears Hiccup call again from behind the door. "You okay?"
Hadrian wants to answer him, but for some reason couldn't bring himself to rise up and open his mouth. The amount of effort for it seeming too great. This morning as he woke up, his back was sore and the pain seared through him in a flash whenever he would turn right of left. The bleeding had stopped, but the overall stench of failure has seeped into his very skin.
He woke up this morning and could smell it all over himself. He drew himself a bath, but even after soaking in it since seven o'clock, he still feels permeated with its foul stench.
"Well, I've got to head out to the Academy, I've left your medicine on the table along with some fresh clothes." Hiccup muffles through the door. "Please stop by."
Hadrian turns his head to face the door and takes a deep steady breath. Then he hears the soft sound of Hiccup's feet padding away from the door and down the hall. He stays there until he hears Hiccup's front door bump shut. He grips the edge of the tub and slowly pulls himself up. Every movement his muscles made mimicked having each tissue in his body rips. He peers over his shoulder and looks at the damage of the scar. It had healed remarkably quickly, but with the blood clot, it still hurts to rotate his spine.
After five more minutes, Hadrian decides to scrub himself and rinse off. Walking out of the bathroom, he goes upstairs to find a new tunic and pants, just as Hiccup said.
Dressed in less than a minute, he heads downstairs to find a plate of eggs and milk next to a small vial containing a lime green liquid. He eats the meal in silence, then holds his nose as he takes a shot of the medicine, quickly to rinse it down with two glasses of milk. It made Hadrian glad he never gets sick; he hates taking medicine.
After applying another payer of ointment to his gash, he heads to Gobber's shop. Hands tucked in the pocket of his pants, he plays over Hiccup's words from last night.
Don't give up yet. Things take time. Berk wasn't built in a day you know.
Hadrian sighs as he follows the smoke of Gobber's chimney. Walking in, he was the only one there, but there was evidence that Gobber had recently been there. Scattered bits of an old knife, the anvil with recent small flecks of ember slowly fading on the metal, and a fire crackling with coal in the hearth.
Looking around, Hadrian decides to occupy himself with organizing the wall of his daggers and knives. He had just placed a dainty curl-tip knife on its hooks when a knock came to the door.
"Hello?" a dainty voice called.
Already knowing who it was, Hadrian chuckles and walks out to the front. He comes to find Heather leaning against the doorway, arms folded and a casual look on her face.
"Yes ma'am can I help you?" Hadrian teases.
Heather looks to him, "I need a blacksmith, know where I can find one?" she smiles and laughs.
"So, what do you need?" Hadrian asks.
"Eh, just out shopping for groceries and thought I'd stop by." She says.
"Well, unless you brought food, beat it." Hadrian kids.
"Oh how very hospitable of you." Heather exaggerates by placing hand on her chest.
"I've got some spare food in the back. Want some tea?" he asks.
"Please!" Heather smiles as she enters further in and props herself on the counter, folding her legs.
She watches as Hadrian places the kettle on the hearth. It's amazing how things have turned out. About a couple years ago, he scared her nearly to death. His smile was always so intimidating, his glare the very definition of death with its icy jade stares. Their fire hatred suppressed behind a cold wall of psychotic. Then he became the horrid slave of Jolene or Lilith, his face nearly half missing, his body decked in black and chains, the hope of his eyes gone. Now he was here, wearing a tunic and pants just like any other Berkian, serving Heather tea.
Before all this, Heather never would've imagined they'd be like this. So close and casual instead of scared and intimidated. At first she didn't want anything to do with him, but now, she tried to visit him whenever he was free. She's still grateful he separates her visits from the other hundreds of admirers in the village, unlike them, he usually looked forward to visits if she could make it.
As he hands her a mug of tea she asks. "So, I've been meaning to tell you, the strangest thing happened earlier one morning. I was sleeping, and I heard a noise from outside." She takes a sip of her tea.
Hadrian keeps his head down as he takes a large gulp.
"You know what I saw?" she slyly asks.
Hadrian's heart triples in speed, he pretends to act normal. "Mmm! How do they make this tea so good with no sugar it's crazy!"
"Someone running up the front path." Heather continues. Hadrian stop mid-sip and his eyes flick to her. "Someone who looked and awful lot like you . . ."
Hadrian sighs and drops his shoulders. He places the cup on the counter behind him. "Heather, he needs me. I had to go and see him."
"Who?"
"Lightning. The Skrill in the Academy." He says, his eyes looking out in the direction of the path to the Academy. She follows his gazed, and he gets up and walks near her. He places his hands on her shoulders. "Please don't tell, Heather. Please."
She's baffled by the looks of pleading in his eyes, but she smiles. "I know I haven't been here that long but, I've seen Hiccup study and examine every page of the Book of Dragons enough that he could see pictures on the back of his eyelids." She says. "And I dare say, you love dragons even more than he does. Or at least this one. But I don't want you getting into trouble with Stoick."
"Heather," he releases her shoulders and holds his hands in prayer form. "If you could just see him-"
"I know, Hadrian." She interjects. "But please remember, he doesn't belong to you, yet."
"Not yet." He echoes. "Promise you won't tell? You and Hiccup are the only people I've told."
"I promise."
Later that night, Hadrian climbs out of bed and slips his feet into his hunting boots. He stalks down the steps and through the front door, carrying a single slice of a sheep's stomach in his burlap sack. Doing a steady jog to Gobber's workshop, he ducks into the back and room and retrieves the harness and saddle.
Reaching the Academy, Hadrian uses the crowbar he stole from the shop and jams it under the closed gate leading into the arena. Pumping it up enough for him to slip through, he flattens on his belly and slides under. He snatches the bar and carefully lowers the gate down. He turns and looks to find the Skrill's head up at attention at the noise. Hadrian hangs the harness on the wall.
"I'm here again Lightning." He says.
The Skrill shifts to standing. After the initial slicing on his back, Hadrian learned to take it slow. He approaches the cage carefully and tosses two slices through the bars. The Skrill walks up and licks them into its mouth.
"If only they could understand. Then they'd know why I had to come." He whispers.
The Skrill approaches the cage door. It coos and huffs. Hadrian extends a hand through and manages to brush his fingertips against its snout. Hadrian lightly laughs as he pulls back and tugs on the lever.
Hadrian steps back until there's a safe ten feet of space between them. He lets the Skrill roam around a bit before he pulls out another slice for the burlap sack he now keeps strapped around his waist. He gives a soft whistle to catch Lightning's attention. The Skrill approaches and Hadrian keeps his arm extended out, his hand fisted in case he needed to quickly draw back if needed.
As the Skrill sniffs, he slowly uncoils his fingers. The dragon's tongue licks it off with one swipe and swallows it whole. His tongue flicks against Hadrian's palm to make sure he didn't miss anything. Hadrian smiles as he wipes his hand on his tunic and stepping back as the Skrill sniffs for more.
"Not yet," Hadrian says. "You have to earn it."
He fetches the harness off the wall and slowly approaches the Skrill, who is now giving a guttural growl.
"It's okay. It's okay." Hadrian whispers.
He takes another bit of sheep in his hand, and places the harness on the ground then stepping back. The Skrill cocks its head to the side, sensing a trap, but the meat seems to have caught his attention enough that he realizes he needs to do something. Lightning approaches the harness and Hadrian continues the praise of 'Good boy'. He sniffs the harness and Hadrian tosses a little bit of meat to him. The dragon accepts it and Hadrian steps closer.
With rewarding him with sheep meat, Hadrian is pleased as Lightning soon grows more comfortable to the point where Hadrian now holds it casually in his hand. Hadrian gently strokes the Skrill's neck as he steps to his side and readies the harness.
"Okay, here we go." He whispers.
He manages to drape it around the Skrill's neck but just as he was about to button it, the Skrill jerks back and almost excitingly grunts and coos. It crawls around the arena and even rears on its hind legs, but Hadrian didn't really feel so threatened. Then is suddenly roars and scatters around the arena.
"Lightning, calm down." Hadrian says trying to keep his voice a whisper. "You'll wake the whole village."
The dragon huffs and circles around Hadrian. "Come on."
The Skrill approaches him grunting nervously.
"Good boy. Good boy." Hadrian reaches up a hand and pets its snout. "Good boy."
Hadrian keeps to having Lightning grow used to the saddle, using the bits of sheep as a reward.
The next night they try it again. Hadrian decided to keep Hiccup at home since he wanted to have one-on-one time with Lightning to establish that bond he keeps talking about.
Hadrian slowly wraps the strap around Lightning's neck. He nervously coos.
"I'm just gonna try this saddle. Nothing to be scared of." Hadrian calms.
Hadrian wraps the first strap of the saddle around but keeps it loose, as he goes for the second Lightning flinches back. Hadrian pulls off the saddle and strokes its neck.
"It's okay."
Through the time span of a few hours, he tries again and again, keeping his patience intact. He manages to secure one strap, and rewards Lightning with praise and food. The process takes time, but Hadrian's not willing to give up yet.
"Okay, let's try this again." He says after what feels like the hundredth attempt. He wraps and secures the first strap to the Skirll's neck. "Good boy!"
Finally, he secures the second strap. He laughs and smiles as quietly as his excitement can. "Good boy. See? This isn't so bad."
He decides to feed the rest of the sheep as his reward. He walks around the perimeter of the arena letting Lightning get used to the feel of the saddle and harness on his neck. Guiding Lightning back to the cage, he removes the harness and shuts the cage door.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Hadrian whispers.
That night, Hadrian jogs back to the home, making sure to quiet his steps as he nears Heather's and Hiccup's home. Climbing through the skylight opposite of Hiccup's bed, Hadrian poises on the ledge and makes sure to shut it silently.
He plops on his bed and rolls to his side. He was smiling so wide it mimics a grimace. He softly laughs at the progress he made. Hiccup was right, not that he'd ever give him the satisfaction of course. And with a contended sigh, he falls asleep.
The following morning, Hadrian was delivering a sack of oats to Silence Sfinn's farm. Lugging it over his shoulder, Hadrian navigates his way through the Plaza. People bustle and trade fruits and textiles, examine weapons and test the freshness of butchered meat.
"Hadrian!" He turns and sees heather jogging towards him, her braid whipping back and forth as she comes up. "Hey!"
"Hey." He echoes. "What's going on?"
"Mm, nothing much." She replies smiling. "May I walk with you?"
"If you can keep up."
Looking to Heather, her satchel draped across her torso, she's smiling and seems in a more good of a mood than usual.
"You know, call it a man's intuition, but I'm getting the sense you're possibly stalking me." he says.
"What? No."
"Oh you just so happened to come across me in the Plaza?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact." Heather retorts. "I'm here shopping with my mom for textiles for my dress."
"What dress?" he asks.
The dirt road gives way to the mud-caked cobblestones of Sough Edge. The fetid, rotting smell of trash heaps lies ripe on the afternoon at, and the few people who are outside of their miserable dwellings scuttle along the streets with their eyes on their feet.
"The dress for my birthday." Heather says. "I'll be turning seventeen this year."
"Oh well happy birthday." Hadrian smiles.
"Thank you. She had to go shop for some needles and thread. And after standing outside for two minutes I got bored."
As they pass a tent selling jewelry, a couple of girls manning the tent smile and flirtatiously wave. Hadrian half smiles back and salute to them with his pointer and middle finger. They giggle and smile as he passes.
"So, think you're fitting in yet?" Heather teases.
Hadrian chuckles. "Please, they're just girls."
"Girls, who are obsessed with you. I swear most of them must have shrines of you in their room." She jokes.
"Well that's, disturbing." Hadrian says.
They drop off the oats to Silence Sfinn and return to the village. After moments of silence as they cross the bridge leading to the Academy, Heather chirps up. "You ever think how weird it is that we never like, special dances here on Berk?"
"What?"
"Like a day where people get all dressed in fancy attire and dance around the floor with a big feast on the table." Heather exaggerates.
"Sounds nice, but too formal."
"But wouldn't it be great if we did something like this?"
"We'd have to dance." Hadrian says.
"We can learn." Heather counters.
"I'm not one for dancing." Hadrian dismisses.
"And the girls would wear these beautiful dresses," Heather says, a far off look in her eyes as if she's imagining it.
"What village did you come from?" Hadrian pesters. "But you do make it sound so grand." He goes on, shrugging his shoulder in false excitement.
"It would be grand." Heather impends.
Hadrian smiles. "And we could go together." Says Heather. "Just think of it."
They pause their waling and as Hadrian's about to reply. Someone suddenly shouts. The tone frantic. "Hadrian!"
They both look up and find Fishlegs hovering with Meatlug. Hadrian has to shield his eyes from the glare of the sun. "What's up?"
Fishlegs lowers Meatlug. "Hiccup wants to meet you at the Cove. It's important."
While Fishlegs takes Heather home, Hadrian makes his way to the woods. He's practically memorized the route to the Cove, so much he could navigate it at night. Nervousness boils in his stomach as he tries to think of what could be so secretive, Hiccup wants to meet at the Cove.
Hadrian vaults over a moss-covered log and down a small hill into the Cove. Toothless was the first thing he saw and Hiccup sitting on a rock near the pond. As Hadrian drops to the dirt, their heads pose in attention. Hiccup nervously smiles, and the dread in Hadrian's stomach pools more.
"Hey." Hiccup greets.
"What's up?" Hadrian asks.
Hiccup hesitates, fidgeting with his fingers. He sighs in aggravation and turns away. He runs his finger through his hair and mumbles to himself before turning back. He claps his hands together.
"Okay, I don't want you to freak, but," Hiccup's words get caught in his throat. He swallows as Hadrian advances. "I've heard my dad's been in contact with Dagur."
Hadrian suddenly can't breathe, and his ears roar. "What?" he whispers.
Hiccup gestures him to sit down, Hadrian sits on the rock without question. Hiccup sits next to him and crosses his legs.
"This morning, I overheard my dad talking with Gobber about Dagur. I couldn't hear much, but I heard the words Dagur, mission and Skrill." Hiccup counts off his fingers.
Anger replaces the fear Hadrian has and he fists his hands to keep from shouting.
Hiccup notices. "Now, now I wouldn't get too wound up, yet. Maybe he's thinking about keeping the Skrill here, and attacking Dagur with it."
"You're a terrible liar, Hiccup." Hadrian's voice is deep.
"Well I like to think I'm good since I've managed to keep my secret about Toothless form dad for a while." Hiccup retorts.
Hadrian rests his elbows on his knees, his head dropped. "He's not going to get Lightning." Hadrian doesn't look up at Hiccup when he speaks, but he remained motionless.
Anger flows through his veins as he thinks about Stoick and Dagur trading a mere dragon for a stupid alliance Dagur could so easily break with a lightning bolt to the village. How is Stoick so stupid?! Doesn't he know what Dagur could do if he ever got his hands on another Skrill?! Stoick was lucky enough that hiccup froze the other before Dagur could unless two invading fleets on to Berk. Hadrian clenches his fists and gets up and starts walking around the Cove to calm himself. As he comes back around, he remains standing, staring out at the water.
"But that's not the reason I wanted to see you." Hiccup chimes. Hadrian's eyes flick to him. "I actually wanted to see how your boding time's going with, Lightning."
Hadrian stares at him, and Hiccup swallows a lump of regret as Hadrian remains quiet.
Finally he turns to fully face Hiccup, "Meet me at the Academy, tonight."