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CHAPTER FOUR – half dragon

He sat underneath the window of the kitchen, listening to his parents' conversation. He had bathed so he wasn't covered in blood anymore; however his back still throbbed painfully. He leaned against the wall, attempting to hide his new limbs.

"Don't you think this explains quite a lot about the boy? All the strange bits about him are much more understandable-"

"My boy isn't strange." Astrid hissed warningly at Fishlegs.

"I didn't mean any by it, I just- you've known since you found him that he was...different."

"So was I." Hiccup interrupted.

"Yes but I don't think you'll ever sprout wings dad." Leif was also in there? This irritated Drayko, but he gritted his teeth into silence and kept listening.

"What are we going to do? The boy's definitely not human-" there was a silence; Hiccup must have silenced his friend.

"...it's not like he's done anything violent to anyone, and we don't know if anything else might happen. But for the time being I think we'll-"

A door slammed open.

"You can't send him away!" screeched a girl's voice.

"Hush Tofa, this doesn't concern you." an older woman said, probably her mother. Swatting noises followed by running toward where Drayko guessed where his father was.

"Please don't send him away, he's still normal Drayko, the only thing new about him is his wings! It would be heartless and cruel just to banish him for that!" her voice came out as a strangled whisper.

There was a long shocked silence.

"Tofa, I'm not going to banish him." Hiccup said with a laugh. "I've decided that he should stay in a cottage in the village, it's only got one floor and it's a wide space. He has wings, after all, large wings that could do some damage to a house, as well as him. I think it would be best for him to have a lot of leg room until he gets full control over them, and after all, he is my son, it will take a bit more than sprouting extra limbs to make me banish him."

Drayko let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and slowly crawled away, but Fishlegs' comment made him halt, a chill going down his spine.

"What about the other villagers? You know how some of them are. You can't protect him from the old ways and their followers forever."

A sigh.

"I know, hopefully it won't be very bad. We'll just have to wait and see, but as for tonight, just let him sleep. The boy deserves some peace before it starts." There was another silence that followed Hiccups words, until he said; "well, have a safe trip home." Shuffling and the door closing with many 'goodbye's' signalled Drayko to get back into his room.

He ran to the side of the house. His room was on the second floor, this was never a problem. He climbed effortlessly to his window and quickly jumped into bed, pretending to be asleep just in time as his parents came in. They walked over to him. He felt his father rest a hand on his head. "g'night son." He whispered before walking out. His mother giving him a quick peck on the forehead.

A few minutes passed and Drayko was slowly entering that dreamy world of sleep when his door suddenly squeaked open, then closed. He kept his eyes open but didn't move. The edge of his bed moved and the covers were pulled over someone else. Drayko quickly turned, staring into brownish green eyes.

"Remember when I used to do this when we were kids?" Leif asked and he crawled closer. "Yeah, but that was only when I had a particularly bad day, or when there was a thunder storm." Drayko replied. Leif breathed a silent laugh. "Don't you think today was a particularly bad one? If not today, then tomorrow, when you'll have to face the entire village. I'm sure Gareth will have quite a few things to say to you." as he spoke his younger brother frowned, unable to let himself cry over something so small, but the green-eyed brother knew more than most. It was times like these that made him thankful he got his father's brains.

He knew that his younger brother was dying inside, because for years all he ever wanted in life was to be utterly normal, maybe even invisible. This tragic turn of events must be killing him. He was simply amazed at how strong Drayko managed to be, sure he was good at pretending to be happy, but Leif caught and analyzed every little twitch and movement Drayko had ever made when looking at himself, or when Gareth had said something he, himself had known to be true.

He wrapped his arms around the younger Viking, pulling him close, and started to stroke Drayko's hair in an attempt to calm him. The blond boy stiffened, but soon relaxed, sobbing silently. After a long time the boy's sobs turned into long, deep breathing. Leif finally let himself too fall into a deep sleep.

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Drayko woke up with a pounding in his head. I shouldn't have cried so much last night, he thought as he contemplated even getting up. He glanced to the right, examining the room. Leif must've left, because Drayko was completely alone now. He sat up in bed. The blond rubbed at his eyes. Something flapped behind him. ...oh right, he glared at his wings, so that actually happened. He grudgingly stood and walked downstairs.

"Morning Drayko." His mother set down a plate of his regular, raw meat, on the table before stalking off somewhere. He sat down beside his brother, who sat next to the kitchen window. Silence stretched between the two. Drayko ate quickly, though not on purpose, he didn't really want to face the day, but of course no matter what happened in his life, time wasn't just going to stop for him, and it would be ridiculous to assume so, however preferred the idea may be.

After his plate was cleared he got up, but paused before completely leaving the room. "...thanks." he whispered to his brother before leaving. He would be forever grateful to Leif; he often teased him, but he knew when to be serious, and also knew when to let things be. The fact that he didn't bring up the times when Drayko had broken down to his emotions meant a lot to him. Leif was truly his best friend.

He opened the wooden door to a world that seemed cruelly bright and cheery. Children who played by the nearby store stopped and stared at him, fear and curiosity undaunted upon their innocent faces. His face slide into a deep frown as he walked down the road passed curious eyes and the like. That is, until he was tackled by Fishnut.

"Why didn't you tell me about this before?" the light-brown haired boy exclaimed as he grabbed his friend's wings. Drayko let out a yelp. "Don't touch them!" Drayko hissed as he quickly got up off the ground. "I only got them yesterday. They're sensitive." Drayko hissed through clenched teeth as he dusted himself off. The twin didn't look too concerned about that. They continued to walk through town toward the arena.

"Do you think you have any more dragon-like things or tendencies?" he asked the blond. Drayko shrugged. "As if my physical body isn't bad enough, I've also got to have something mental going on too?" he drawled sarcastically. Fishnut rolled his eyes as they walked into the arena, where Tofa, Gareth, two of the younger students (Bandie and Anemone) and Leif (he must've taken one of his damned short cuts again) awaited them.

Gareth snorted when he caught a glance of Drayko; however Tofa and Leif walked over to meet them. The two younger students only stared.

"You okay?" Tofa asked tenderly, resting an arm on his shoulder. He smiled. "I'm fine, as you so cleverly pointed out before, I'm a boy, and I've got to be strong. A bump in the road like this doesn't bother me at all." Out of the corner of his eye he saw Leif shuffle slightly, but other than that he showed nothing other than his cocky smile.

"So back to what I was saying," Fishnut pointed out haughtily, "Have you ever smelled sweetgrass before?" he said while grabbing a little bag.

"Fishnut would you just leave him alone." His twin hissed. He glared at her. "I'm just curious." He said, but he did stop moving. He glanced at Drayko as if to ask for permission. The blond nodded. The light-brown haired boy smiled and grabbed out a handful of light coloured grass. "What happens to dragon when they smell it?" Drayko asked cautiously. "They often just roll around in it; I think it's like catnip to them." Leif explained as Fishnut held out his hand. "Here sniff." Stated Fishnut.

Drayko sighed and leaned toward the plant and sniffed. Immediately his eyes went blurred, a smiled crept across his face as he rubbed against the object the wonderful plant was resting in. A surprised noise and the plant moved away, that's not what I want... thought Drayko as he followed the unbelievably sweet smell, holding onto the branch-like thing holding the grass. He felt a growl- no, a purring rumble, deep inside him as he licked the grass-holding object.

"Drayko!" the voice made him open his eyes, he hadn't realised he'd closed them. He looked at his surroundings and noticed he was on the floor, on top of Fishnut, who was trying to pry off Drayko's arms, which held his friends arm that held the plant. "w-what?" he stuttered. He got up off of Fishnut, giving his friends a look of confusion.

Fishnut laughed nervously and got up. "I guess that's means yes to the sweetgrass. I wonder what other things effect you, do you like eel?" Drayko shuddered involuntarily. "No I hate eel, awful things. They smell horrible and they look just...wrong." he shuddered again. "Hmm..." said Fishnut, "wonder if you-"

"Sit down you lot." Gobber stated as he wobbled into the Arena. Everyone walked over, Fishnut rather glumly, and sat on a wooden bench provided. "Due to an unfortunate accident, we'll have to put off our flight off island." A group sigh followed his words. "By 'unfortunate accident' you do mean Dragon-boy don't you?" Growled Gareth. Gobber frowned but ignored it. "Today, you'll be testing you're communication skills with dragons. It always makes it easier when you can understand the body language of drag..."

Drayko was trying his best to pay attention to the lesson but something shiny kept grabbing his attention. He chanced a sneaky glance to his side to see a shiny thing on the bench directly beside him. He quickly looked back to Gobber, but the shiny light twitched and he glanced back to it with his eyes. He looked back and Gobber but was really actually staring at the light. He slowly moved his hand toward it, a smile playing on his lips.

He quickly caught the light, but it moved. This time he turned his head completely to look at it. It was now resting at the edge of the bench. He frowned, looking back to Gobber, trying to talk some sense into himself.

You are not a dragon, just leave that shiny...playful...pretty...he shook his head, which you do not want to catch, alone.

But as he thought, he turned his head to look at it again. He moved his hands slowly, as to not scare it away. A playful growl trickled out of his mouth as he pounced onto the light, but it moved again. He moved to catch it again. It moved, again. He began to chase it until he blindly rammed his head into the side of the bench he had unknowingly left.

He looked up, rubbing his throbbing forehead, to see that the entire class was staring at him with wide eyes. Heat crept up his face as Gareth began to laugh.

"What are you doing boy?" Gobber asked, taking a careful step forward. "N-nothing." He quickly sat back on the bench and placed his hands in his lap. "I just...saw something." He whispered to no one in particular. "freak." Whispered Gareth between hysterical chuckles.

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Drayko walked home in a kind of dull state of mind. The events of the day were getting to him. He only looked up when he heard two people arguing in between two shops. He hid in the shadows, watching as Fishnut came into view.

"I-I'm sorry!" he choked.

"Just don't do it anymore. He's not a damned animal, he's your friend. Treat him as such." Hissed the voice of Drayko's older brother. "You know how he gets; if you keep doing stuff like this you'll be no better than Gareth."

Fishnut and Leif were silent for a long time.

Leif sighed, walking into view he smiled at his friend. "Go home, sorry I blew up at you, just...don't bother him okay?" the younger boy look liked he had just been spared a very rough spanking and ran down the hill to his home happily.

Drayko stepped into view when the brown haired boy was out of sight. Leif's green eyes widened in surprise as he saw his step brother. "Oh, hello Dray, what're you doing out so la-"

"I don't need to you bully our friends into submission Leif." Drayko interrupted. The older boy smiled apologetically and walked over to the younger boy cautiously. "I just wanted to tell him that it obviously made you mad to have so many...connections to the dragons." He chose his words carefully.

"I'm not ashamed to have these...similarities with them; it's how people treat me because of them that bother me." Drayko hissed. He meant it; he really believed that being a weird half human half dragon hybrid would be great, but he would prefer to be completely human- if only the others wouldn't think him to be a beast or monster because of some birth defect.

Leif wrapped his arm around his brother's shoulders. He wisely said nothing as they walked home together.

"He was the one who shined that light on the ground and made you hit your head you know." Leif stated before they walked inside their home. Drayko chuckled softly. "I figured that was why you were going to beat him." Leif gave him a jokingly hurt face. "I may threaten our friends into submission but I would never beat them..." he flicked Drayko's nose, "...much. You're it." He ran upstairs before his brother even knew what had happened.

"Hey!" Drayko shouted as he ran after the strawberry blond. When he got upstairs the other boy was nowhere to be seen. A door creaked to his right; he burst into the room only to be attacked from behind and pined to the floor.

"Give up?" whispered Leif. Drayko squirmed and laughed. "Never!" he announced.

"You asked for it." From the tone of his voice Drayko was able to tell he had his signature smirk on his face. The blond felt the older boy move, lifting his vest and shirt to get at the pale skin underneath.

Drayko's golden eyes widened. "No, no, no, no, don't do that." Leif chuckled with a tone of evil as he lifted his arms. He began to tickle his brother, who started to squirm and flail. "S-stop it-" Drayko giggled. "For g-god's sake, you're n-nineteen years old!"

"And you're seventeen, but you're still laughing aren't you? Aren't you?" Leif chuckled as he kept on with the torture. He flipped over onto his back, trying to push his brother away. "You know, there's still one thing that Fishnut didn't check." He chuckled. "Wonder what'll happen if I..." he reached his hand toward Drayko's neck. "You know what'll happen!" Drayko pleaded.

Leif pressed his middle finger into the soft skin under Drayko's chin. The blond gave a happy sigh and went limp, making the occasional whimper. Leif stood, knowing that his brother wouldn't be up and about for a few minutes.

Granted it had scared him the first time he had accidentally caused this anomaly, but eventually he had gotten used to it. Drayko however remained as sensitive as ever, which would be convenient when Gareth finally bites off more than he can chew, or rather, when he pisses off something that can bite and chew him.

He lifted his brother as if he was a damsel in distress, or princess style if you will. He walked soundlessly into the boy's room and laid him on his bed. It always made him feel a little unnerved, because Drayko looked like he had blacked out, until he made a noise and moved. However he did know that Drayko couldn't remember much from these little episodes.

He smiled down at the blond, thinking about how happy he had been when he had learned he had a baby brother, and how innocent those feelings had been. He brushed the hair from Drayko's forehead and leaned in close. He gave a whispered chuckle. "I think I care for you much more than I should little brother." He hummed and he kissed the boy's forehead.

He stood, looking down at the blond. "Dream well, Dragon boy."

LONG CHAPTER IS LOOOONG

Okay I've got a mission for you, readers- SHOULD THEIR BE SOME BROTHERLY LOVE GOIN ON? (It wouldn't be very brotherly though because they aren't even in the least bit related so really what I'm asking is if there should be some Leif/Drayko goin on?) I know I know, SHUT UP IMAJI, TOFA CALLED DIBS ALREADY. But don't worry- I already have a plan and plot. It's just I don't necessarily NEED Leif/Drayko, but it would help with more conflict (not that I don't have enough already, but more conflict makes for a better read.)

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