As I Lay Dying: After the riders return to Berk in celebration of Hiccup's 19th birthday, Hiccup ends up getting deathly ill on his birthday eve, with an unknown sickness and an even more unknown chance of survival. Will he survive, or will the Friend of Dragons be lost forever? For the birthday girl... katurdi!
Aaaaaaaaannnd I'm back! *streamers explode* You all miss me? Huh? *everyone avoids my eye* *sniffs* Okay. Yeah. I see how it is… *clears throat* Anyways, I'm here on this lovely day to bring you another long, Hiccup!whumpy one-shot! It's written as a happy birthday to my good friend, and fellow FanFiction writer, katurdi, (if you haven't read her stories, then you better get to it right after reading this because she's awesome!). SO HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUDDY! *tackles you*
Well, without further adieu, I bring you sickcup!- one of my very personal favorites, by the way :P-, and, well, I hope you'll all like it! *waves* Also, this is set BEFORE Blindsided. I repeat- BEFORE BLINDSIDED. JUST TELLING YOU IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING. :)
Astrid knew something was wrong with Hiccup the moment the riders landed on Berk's docks. She first noticed how tightly he gripped Toothless's saddle in his hands as he climbed off the dragon, and then the way he slightly stumbled when his feet met the ground.
"You okay over there?" she asked, sliding off of Stormfly in concern.
Hiccup gave a weak smile and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah. Just tired from the flight."
Astrid found herself nodding. It made sense- the flight to Berk from Dragon's Edge had taken thirty-two hours, and the riders had had next to no sleep during that time. Of course, Hiccup would be a little out of it. They all were.
"Ugh, yes! We're finally here!" Snotlout complained from up on top of Hookfang. He stretched his arms, letting at an over exaggerated yawn. "That took forever. And all just for Hiccup's birthday… hmmph, why couldn't all of Berk come over to the Edge instead of the other way around?"
"Because," Astrid explained impatiently, "all of Berk couldn't fit on Dragon's Edge. Besides, Hiccup wanted to be with his dad on his birthday. Right, Hiccup?" She looked over at the tired teen, who let out a painful sigh.
"Yeah."
Astrid furrowed her brow, walking over to him. She touched his shoulder in support and met his eye. "Hey, is anything wrong? You were quiet most of the ride here."
Hiccup shrugged. "As I said before, I'm just tired… and anyways, we better go let Dad know we're here. Then we can get settled in, and-"
"Hiccup!" Stoick suddenly interrupted him, coming down the walkway of the docks. His eyes were shining, and his beard bounced in a cheerful rhythm aligned with his footsteps. "You're finally here!" He approached the riders and patted Hiccup on the shoulder. "Happy birthday, son."
Chuckling weakly, Hiccup looked comfortable. "It's not my birthday yet, Dad. Tomorrow is."
Stoick nodded, not even faltering. "Of course, of course…" He looked over at the other riders, cocking his head. "I suppose you're all tired from the trip, then!"
"Tired?" Tuffnut perked up, leaping off of Barf and Belch. His eyes were oddly bloodshot, and he wore a wild grin. "Nope, I'm not tired a bit chief! I'm ready to go and have some birthday fun! Whoo hoo! It is my birthday, right?"
Ruffnut rolled her eyes, still staying on the dragon. "Excuse that idiot. He decided not to sleep at all on the way here-"
"So he's a bit delirious at the moment, Chief," Fishlegs cut in, squirming from Meatlug.
Stoick smiled. "I see nothing has changed. Well, except my son becoming nineteen, just about a full man!" He chuckled again and patted Hiccup on the back.
Hiccup then gasped in pain, clutching his stomach at the chief's hard touch. Everyone's heads swerved in his direction with alarm, all pairs of eyes wide. "Hiccup…?" Astrid started, coming forwards to check up on him again. "Are you all right? What's hurting you?"
Hiccup's eyes were still shut tightly, but he managed to shake his head in disagreement, arms dropping to his sides. "I'm fine," he croaked. "Just a little airsick from the ride, I guess…" Toothless rumbled from beside him, almost as if in apology.
Stoick took his arm away from Hiccup's back, greatly concerned. "Son, we might want to take you to Gothi, just in case."
That made Hiccup shoot open his eyes, and he scowled. "N-no, it's oka-" He broke down into a coughing fit, each hack sounding painful and deep as it traveled through his scratchy throat.
Stoick pounded Hiccup's upper back, murmuring, "Let it all out, lad… just let it all out…"
"Wow, cuz, that sounds pretty bad," Snotlout pointed out as he rubbed Hookfang's neck in a soothing way. "A trip to see Gothi does sound pretty good."
Hiccup stopped coughing for a moment to give the other boy a pointed look. "N-no," he wheezed. "I… I… I don't know w-what's come over me… it should g-go away soon, though, w-whatever it is… I know it…" He started to cough again, now doubled over in pain.
Astrid sent a worried look at the chief. We need to get him seen by Gothi. Now, she mouthed.
Stoick nodded in a silent agreement, helping his son stand up again. "Come on, Hiccup… let's take you home to get some rest."
Hiccup blinked slowly like he didn't comprehend what was going on. "M' fine, though…"
"Oh, hush, you." Astrid hurried over to Hiccup's side, using her right arm to help him start to walk back towards his hut. "You're sick, Hiccup. The flight here is probably what did it. You were just pushing yourself too hard, and…" She trailed off, a new thought coming to mind. "Hiccup, it did just come on the flight, didn't?"
The young man coughed again. "Y-yeah. 'Course…"
But his words were full of doubt, causing Astrid to sigh in disapproval. So he had felt sick before they had left the Edge. Why hadn't he told anyone? It was extremely dangerous to be flying for over thirty hours while feeling ill. Who knows? He could have collapsed along on the way to Berk, and then where would he be?
"Don't worry, Hiccup," she assured him, helping him limp alongside the worried riders and Stoick. "You're going to feel better in no time. By tomorrow morning, I bet you'll be up and running around with Toothless all day."
Hiccup smiled drowsily. "Y-yeah… I bet so…"
Astrid nodded in agreement, but deep in her heart, she wondered if any of what she was saying was true. Hiccup had just gotten sick all of the sudden- out of almost nowhere. Whatever illness he had contracted wasn't good at all.
She just prayed to the gods that Gothi would have something to help.
Hiccup moaned from his spot on his bed, shivering all over.
Biting her lip, Astrid continued pacing the room as Gothi, Stoick, and Gobber inspected the sick teen. All of the other riders- Toothless included- had been told to wait outside, but Astrid had fought her way in Hiccup's old room. She was too worried about his sickness to listen to any of Gothi's Thor forsaken rules, and of course, everyone knew just how handy she was with the axe.
But the sudden transformation of Hiccup one minute being fine, and the next lying in bed, terribly ill, severely unnerved her.
But she shouldn't be worried, she told herself. It was just another sickness. One that everyone soon got better over a nice warm pot of soup or a day curled up in bed with their closest family and friends beside them. She paused, footsteps coming to a complete halt. Right?
"...doesn't look good," Gobber muttered, reading Gothi's runes from the floor aloud. "She says she's only seen one sickness like this before in her life, and… let's just say that it didn't end well."
Stoick's face tightened in worry. His gaze floated from his son and then back to Gothi before he had the courage to give a nod. "Tell me, then."
Astrid noticed how hesitant Gothi looked to share, but the old woman still shook her head and started to scribble in the sand again. When she was done, she gestured to Gobber to translate. The blacksmith cleared his throat nervously and began to read the words. "She says... Hiccup has come down with a rare sickness called 'cinodia'. It's a type of illness that starts in your chest- which explains Hiccup's coughing- and eventually goes down… until it… it…" He swallowed. "Until it reaches the heart."
Astrid couldn't hold in the gasp that came flying out. "What?"
Hiccup groaned, rolling over in bed. He coughed again, whimpering. "H-hurts…"
Stoick clutched his son's hands with a firm ferocity as his face turned a pale white. "You're going to be all right, Hiccup. We'll make sure of it," he whispered, words shaking slightly. His son might be dying. Oh Thor, please, no... "Gothi says she had a patient before with this type of illness-"
"And it didn't end well," Gobber cut in. When Stoick glared at him, the old blacksmith shrugged. "Just sayin'…"
"Gothi, what's the cure?" Astrid demanded as she walked up to the old woman standing beside Hiccup's bed. "How can we save Hiccup?" When Gothi's face fell, and she shook her head, Astrid didn't understand. She only grew more desperate. "What's the cure, Gothi? We can't just sit here a-and let Hiccup die! What's the cure?"
"Astrid." Gobber's voice was very soft from above her, sounding afraid to go on. "There isn't a cure. It's either the sickness passes or… or…"
"Or it doesn't," Hiccup suddenly filled in, along with another cough. "But guys… I'm-I'm going to be fine. I'm sure of it." He swallowed, chest heaving. "J-just in case, though… I-I-I want to talk with the other riders."
Astrid glared, knowing what he meant. The shock of his unknown survival was slowly sinking in, and she was too afraid to accept what was happening just yet. "Hiccup, you're not saying goodbye to anyone! There's still a chance of you getting better, and-and we don't even know if you have this cinodia sickness. It could be something else!"
Hiccup closed his eyes, stifling another bout of coughs. "I want to talk with them…" His voice was weak and almost begging. "Please."
Astrid, breaking at the sight of the boy she had long admired and loved in a state like this, finally nodded. "Okay." She sighed, walking over to the Hiccup's bedroom door. How were the others going to take this? She could almost imagine all their reactions… Snotlout would say he'd get better in no time, but secretly be worried and not want to show it. Fishlegs would probably have a panic attack, and either faint or start murmuring, "Oh my Thor," for the next hour. Ruff, she assumed, would have some sense of sorrow at the possible loss of her good friend, but Tuff… she held back a smirk. With his current delirium, he'd think it was all some prank and start making those stupid jokes of his.
A sudden pang filled her heart. If Hiccup didn't make it, what would become of them all? He was the glue that had held them together all these years. The one who made sure they all followed the rules, trained them for battle, and was their closest friend and leader ever.
Hiccup…
With one last sigh, she shook her head and opened the door.
Toothless rumbled sadly for the umpteenth time as Hiccup coughed again.
It was already evening out, and his condition wasn't getting any better. Not better at all. His slight fever had risen much in the few short hours in which the riders had arrived on Berk, and it was now climbing at a dangerously high rate.
Gothi didn't have any treatment that could help the suffering teen, so everyone decided to help him old-fashioned and use cold cloths to keep his fever from getting any higher.
Toothless moaned again, placing his large black head on Hiccup's shivering legs for some sort of comfort. Hiccup's eyes opened a little bit, and he managed a tired smile. "H-hey, bud. Sor-sorry about all… this."
The Night Fury blinked, snuggling in closer. Hiccup laughed. "Th-thanks, buddy…"
Astrid crossed her arms from beside the two, leaning against the wall. She looked over at Stoick who was hustling in the room with two buckets of cold water at his sides. "I'm back," the chief announced, allowing Fishlegs to close the door behind him. "Berk knows what's going on now, and they…" He cleared his throat. "They all send their support and wishes of Hiccup's recovery."
Once he was done speaking, Hiccup started to cough again, grimacing as his heart pounded quickly. He felt terrible. Sore, achy, feverish, it was all there. He wished for some kind of relief as the coughs worsened, but none came. The bursts just got more violent, more painful. And then, he realized, he couldn't breathe. His lungs pleaded for oxygen, yet there was nothing.
"Can't… breathe," he gasped, sitting up in bed while clawing at his throat. He was going to die like this. He was sure of it.
Stoick's face drained of color, and one of the buckets of water in his hand dropped to the floor in a loud crash. "No." He raced over to Hiccup's bedside, pushing Gothi out of the way. "Son!" He grabbed Hiccup, pounding on his back in an attempt to clear out whatever was stuck in his throat.
Astrid covered her mouth in horror, and from nearby, Fishlegs fainted. The twins caught him before he could hit the ground, but the larger boy's body weight eventually dragged them all down to the floor with a thud. Snotlout tried to help them up, but Astrid was too terrified at the hyperventilating Hiccup to join in.
"Breathe, Hiccup, breathe!" cried Stoick, his pounds getting harder.
"Stoick, stop. Let Gothi do it!" Gobber protested and gestured to the determined old woman beside him.
The chief, giving a panicked grunt, handed wheezing Hiccup over to Gobber who then bent down next to Gothi with Hiccup cradled in his arms. Gothi narrowed her eyes and motioned for the blacksmith to hand Hiccup to her. Gobber, with much skepticism, did so, and Gothi wasted no time in wrapping her arms around Hiccup's back and chest as the boy slowly slid to the floor.
She squeezed again and again as the boy's chokes grew louder until with one final pump, he, at last, coughed out a chunk of mucus that had been clogging his throat. Hiccup panted heavily, heart pounding as he slumped against Gothi.
Gods, everything hurt so much…
There were arms pulling him up, panicked voices yelling his name. He felt himself being laid back down into his bed with care that could only come from his father, and then a buzzing sound filled his ears.
"Hurts," he choked out.
Pain filled his chest. His throat. His head, his temple, his neck. Everything.
And with one final wheeze, the world blackened around him, leaving only an empty void of solitude behind.
"His fever's not getting any lower…"
"It should with all these wet rags we've been using!"
"Yeah… but Gothi said it-it was a deadly illness. It's supposed to be different."
"I just wish it wasn't..."
"Me either."
Astrid. Dad.
"Come on, cuz, wake up. It's almost your birthday, after all. We're all worried about you..."
"Ugh, I wish it was my birthday."
"Oh, shut up."
"You shut up."
"No, you shut up!"
Snotlout. Tuffnut. Ruffnut.
"Is the lad doing any better, Chief?"
"No, Gobber. He's not."
Why do I feel so… bad?
"Oh, Hiccup… please wake up…"
A squeezing of his hands. Cold fingers brushed against his hot cheek. It felt good. He wanted them to stay there, but they soon moved away. He felt lonely. Cold. Then hot again. There was a sharp pain in his chest. Whispers battled to get inside his head.
"I think I saw his eyelids flutter!"
"Really, Fishlegs?"
"Yeah!"
A pause.
"No. That was just a shadow."
"...oh."
Astrid. Fishlegs.
The names were becoming more familiar now, and he swallowed, determined to say something.
"H-h…"
"He's trying to say something!"
"Hiccup! Hiccup, can you hear me? It's your father!"
He was grabbed by two large, hairy hands, and they started to shake his arms.
"H-hi…," Hiccup managed out, unable to do or say anything more.
"Hiccup, talk to us…"
"Come on, open your eyes."
Astrid. Dad.
But I can't, he thought anxiously, using all his strength to try to open his heavy eyelids, only to come to no avil. I can't do it. I'm too weak. Like I always am… A fit of coughs burst from his throat, and he couldn't control them as they deepened.
"Oh no, Hiccup!"
"Stay with us, lad! Stay with us!"
"You can do it…"
The voices faded in and out of existence, and Hiccup coughed more. He burned all over. Everything ached.
I want Toothless, he suddenly thought, a strange yearning filling him. Toothless was the first person- well, animal for that matter- who ever understood up. If Toothless was here, everything would be all right.
"T-Toothless," he slurred and felt himself going limp again. "I want Toothless…"
Unconsciousness claimed him.
All through the rest of the night, Astrid never stopped holding Hiccup's hand. His bursts of consciousness were always short lived and unfocused, but she still wanted to be there- right there- the next time he awoke.
If he ever woke again.
She swallowed, stroking Hiccup's sweaty brown locks that rested beside his burning skin. "Hiccup," she whispered, voice breaking. "Don't leave me like this. You can't leave me. I won't let you." And with a tear trickling down her chin, she wrapped him up in a tight hug, finding herself sobbing.
No! Astrid Hofferson never cried. Never. Not even in the face of death. She couldn't be sobbing. It was unorthodox.
She only sobbed harder.
When Astrid awoke the next morning, she found the room she was lying down in was silent and abandoned. She lifted her head from the floor groggily, covering her mouth as she yawned. Where was she? When had she fallen asleep? And why was she on the floor?
What happened?
A rush of memories then winded her, and she abruptly got to her knees. Hiccup. The sickness. Him choking. Passing out. His fever rising. Wanting Toothless. Her crying. She blinked, slowly standing up. If Hiccup was sick, then where was everyone right now? Shouldn't they have been taking care of him?
Unless…
"No."
He can't be gone, she thought, swerving around to look at Hiccup's bed in the room. He can't be-
She then saw Hiccup sitting up in bed, smiling over at her.
..alive?
"Hiccup?" she gasped, stumbling over her feet to reach his side of the bed. "A-a-are you okay? What happened? Did your coughing and fever go away?" Toothless rumbled tiredly from the other side of the bed, and Astrid then noticed him for the first time. She gave a nod of acknowledgment, and the dragon huffed back.
"Yeah, I-I'm okay now," Hiccup grinned. "I feel really sore though, and tired." He gestured to his chest. "It feels like a herd of dragons ran over me..."
Astrid let out a dry laugh, sitting down on the edge of his bed. "Close enough." She pursed her lips, still confused. "But-but where is everyone? Why was I asleep on the ground? All I remember is taking care of you through the night as your fever got higher…"
"I guess you did a pretty good job of taking care of me, then," Hiccup chimed. "You must have worked yourself into exhaustion, I guess. I only woke up a minute before you did, so I don't really know what-"
The door suddenly slammed open, and in came Stoick, Gobber, and the rest of the teens. "Hiccup!" the chief boomed, rushing forward to embrace his startled son. "We just came back from telling the village you're all right. Your fever broke a little over an hour ago."
Hiccup grunted from his father's tight hug, but he didn't really mind. It actually felt nice. Comforting. Safe. "No wonder I feel so weird," he murmured after a moment. "I think I almost died last night."
"What was it like, H?" Tuffnut asked in excitement from the doorway while Ruff nodded eagerly beside him. "Did you see a bright light? Did you go into it? What happened after that?"
Hiccup grimaced, shrugging. "I honestly don't really remember anything about last night, Tuff. Just feeling really sick…"
Stoick released his son, pulling away with a smile. "Well, you're all better now, lad. And I, for one, couldn't be more relieved of that. I…" He paused, seeming to age ten years in just a few moments. "At some times, I didn't think you were going to make it..."
"Who, me?" Hiccup smirked and waved him off. "Nah, I always manage to get by."
Astrid crossed her arms, glaring. "Really, Hiccup? You almost die and then you joke about it?"
Hiccup blinked, his green orbs gazing up at her as he tried to think of a reasonable excuse. "Milady, I-"
Astrid punched him and felt satisfied with the crack that came after. "That's for almost dying on me. And joking about it as well," she huffed. Toothless chortled in agreement, lifting his scaly head from Hiccup's covers.
Hiccup yelped, rubbing his soon-to-be-bruised shoulder. "Ow!" Everyone in the room chuckled, and he rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah, sure. Laugh at the recently dying boy. That's really supportive, guys."
"Really?" Ruff asked, confused. "I thought we were just being mean."
Tuffnut cut her off and shook his head. "Shh! He's not supposed to not that…"
Hiccup sighed again. "Gee, thanks…"
Astrid, allowing a small smile to come to her lips, grabbed the boy by his shirt collar and pulled him up so that he was only inched away from her face. She gave him a quick kiss on the lips before releasing him, clearing her throat.
Hiccup looked stunned for a moment, and then he blushed, unable to hide the grin spreading across his face.
"Oooooh," Snotlout teased. "We got two lovebirds in the room. How sweet!"
Astrid sent him a death glare. "Shut up."
"Shutting up," Snotlout said weakly, backing away.
Hiccup coughed, looking up at them all after an awkward pause. "W-well… um… thanks, guys. I can't repay you all for helping me last night. I… I actually thought I was going to die until you stepped in. You helped me not give up." He looked over at Toothless, then the Riders, his father, Gobber, and finally Astrid.
He smiled.
"It just shows that you can always count on family."
"That you can," Stoick agreed, giving one last pat on Hiccup's shoulder. Then he clasped his hands together, grinning like a red-headed madman. "Now, if I remember correctly, it's somebody's birthday today. And it's our duty to celebrate him like any proper Viking village would."
"Oooh ooh!" Tuffnut cheered. "Is it my birthday? Please tell me it's mine!"
Fishlegs rubbed his creased temple as if getting a headache from the other boy's ranting. "Tuff, for the last time, it's not your birthday. It's Hiccup's."
"And celebrate him we will," Gobber chimed in, proudly rubbing his chin. "We've been setting up decorations for the last few days, and it'd be a shame to let them go to waste. And I'm in the mood for a good party."
Hiccup shrugged in agreement, sliding his legs from out under the covers so that they now rested on the floor. "Let's go, then." He shakily stood up and sighed when he saw that he had no shoes- er, shoe- on. "Who took my shoe, guys?" he demanded, exasperated with the irritable prank.
Silence.
Then a slight chewing from the other side of the room.
Everyone's heads swerved in the sound's direction, where they saw Toothless munching on an oddly shaped object. The dragon stopped chomping for a moment to let out a judging snort, before resuming his meal.
"Gah- Toothless!" Hiccup groaned. "Why would you… oh, gods…"
Astrid couldn't fight back the burst of giggles that came floating out of her, and she doubled over in laughter. "H-he wants you to ride him," she managed out through her burst of chuckles. "He doesn't want you w-walking, so…"
Toothless nodded eagerly, and he lept on Hiccup's bed with an over-excited grin.
"You know, sometimes I feel like the dragon is out to get me," Hiccup grumbled, limping over to Astrid.
The blonde laughed. "Well, if he is, he's doing a pretty good job of it."
Hiccup scowled. "Oh, hardy har har… happy birthday to me."
Astrid grinned, leaning in to quickly kiss him on the cheek. "Yes, Hiccup," she stated once she had pulled away. "Happy nineteenth birthday to you. Congratulations, you're alive!"
Dazedly, Hiccup cocked his head. "For some weird reason… I feel like this is going to be a good birthday. I mean, sure, I almost died last night, but that was hours ago." He chuckled, looking about the people he cared for most standing around him. Satisfied, he nodded. "After all, it is another day."
Astrid leaned into him, finally at peace. "For once, Hiccup," she murmured, "I couldn't agree more."
And so the new day began, bringing much more promise than any of them could have wanted in the world.
*claps slowly* Yep. Kind of lousy-ish ending, I know, but I'm too tired to go back and add more too it. It's a LONG one shot (for me, anyway) after all. *coughs* Hope you all liked the sickcup! I enjoyed myself (probably a little too much) writing it, but I hope it paid off!
Love you all so much, guys. Have a wonderful night (or morning, depending on where you live), and I can't wait until the next time I see you, incredible folks. *waves* Now, I'm off to work on the next story I've been neglecting. Tehehe… until next Hiccup!whump one-shot!
Happy reading!
-thepurplewriter333