Astrid froze as another thump hit her Edge cabin's door. Don't. You know it's not Hiccup. He's not coming back for another two days.
With Dagur defeated and the rest of the Archipelago's minor villains on the run, everyone had enjoyed the relaxed schedules. Less patrols, no new weapons needed, no enemies to track down or treasures to find… it was nice. Boring, sure, but nice. It gave Astrid plenty of time to work on her axeing form, and she'd gone back to Berk a few times to visit her parents. The twins had started learning how to properly cook from Fishlegs, Snotlout was incessantly T-mailing one of the girls from Defenders of the Wing…
Then there was Hiccup. He'd gone back to what he did before they found the Dragon Eye- exploring the Archipelago and beyond for new dragon species to train and study. And of course, being his annoyingly nomadic self, he wouldn't take anyone with him. And he would leave at the weirdest times- this time it had been almost three in the morning, with nothing but a quiet knock and a note left at her door and in the Clubhouse to inform them he wouldn't be back until the next Thorsday. Which was in two days. Astrid sighed, rising to her feet and setting her thin blanket to the side. The wooden platform she used for a bed was frustratingly uncomfortable at the moment- maybe she'd sand it down with one of Hiccup's weird rough blocks tomorrow. Between that and the pattering of rain on the steeply arched Gronckle Iron roof, she didn't think she was going to get much sleep. Being a light sleeper's great when we're under attack by an enemy tribe, but not so much for normal nights.
She sighed and padded over to the small stove in the corner of her room, being careful not to wake Stormfly- her Deadly Nadder. A soft flick and a few pieces of wood later, the small stove was alight, a match being the only thing needed to set the Monstrous Nightmare gel-soaked wood ablaze. Maybe some of Fishlegs' tea will help. Usually Astrid would power through sleepless nights like this… but she had patrol tomorrow, and a training session with the twins, and she hadn't slept much the night before either. She'd cheat just this once, she decided. What was it, chamomile? Whatever it was, the slowly brewing tea smelled good.
The rain was easing up a little too, she realized. Maybe I can go for a walk? Dousing the small flame in a bucket of sand, she glanced at her spiked blue and yellow dragon. Stealth is my thing. I got this.
Astrid sipped on her quickly cooling mug of tea as she walked, moon shining bright overhead. Her footfalls made soft, wet sounds in the grass. She played with her hair as she strolled, avoiding the undergrowth illuminated by dimpled moonlight. It was peaceful out here, other than the occasional sounds of some animal in the forest around her- a dragon or other smaller animal.
Only it was getting louder.
Astrid froze, setting her mug against a rock and balling her hands into fists. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Left my axe in my hut. Her ocean blue eyes searched the shadows warily. I don't know that whatever it is will be aggressive, but if it is I need to be ready.
Louder. Now Astrid could tell where the sound is coming from, her sharp ears picking up a fainter sound underneath. It… it sounds like it's dragging something. She backed herself against a tree, rough bark scraping her back through her nighttime clothes. So probably aggressive. An animal with its dinner, maybe. Sounds like a dragon. A sharp scrape sound, like a claw grating against a stone, confirmed her suspicions. Astrid found herself slightly relieved. Unless it's some sort of wolf, it's trainable.
If only Hiccup were here. She could see him now- analyzing, sharp emerald eyes lighting in the darkness at the prospect of a new challenge to take on, a dragon who needed training. It would be a piece of cake for him. I can manage.
A moment later a roar met her ears- a very familiar one at that. Astrid flinched as a purple blast exploded above her head, sending light down in a flash through the thick oak and maple leaves.
She knew that blast.
"Toothless!" Pushing off the tree behind her, Astrid rushed forward. Hiccup's back! She thought, a relieved smile coming to her face. And here I thought he'd end up trapped or kidnapped on some new-
Wait. What was on the dragon's back?
Astrid stepped forward, struggling to understand the silhouette in the darkness. There was a strange lump on top of the Night Fury's back, she realized as she was circled. And he's pacing. He looks nervous. Right on cue, Toothless jerked his head at the motionless form on his back, shining eyes glowing desperately in the darkness. "What is it, Toothless? Where's Hiccup?" Astrid forced the scenarios playing out of her mind, stepping forward. Toothless instinctively pounced away before letting out a very human sigh and stepping forward. His scaled, darker-than-black flanks were heaving like he'd been bolting through the forest.
"Let me see, Toothless. What's wrong?" Astrid stepped forward, pausing when Toothless flinched. What on earth had him so antsy? Had he found something? Someone?
And where was Hiccup?
Astrid was growing impatient. Taking a deep breath, she slowly inched forward, keeping her eyes locked on Toothless' much larger, timid ones. "It's OK, buddy…" She reached out and brushed the form-
Hair.
What?
Her fingers jerked back of their own accord and she gasped, rushing forward and ignoring Toothless' mrow of concern. "Toothless, light!" The bewildered dragon obeyed, casting a purple glow from his mouth that illuminated them just enough-
For Astrid to clearly view something dripping from Hiccup's armor.
She sucked in a breath, panic flashing for a moment before her rational side kicked in. "Oh my Thor." Leaping onto Toothless' back, she straddled Hiccup in her lap and felt for a pulse, breathing a sigh of relief when she felt one- faint and thready, but there. God, his legs are ice cold. She jammed her foot into Toothless' gear. Made for Hiccup's prosthetic, it pinched, but it was manageable. "Go, Toothless, go! To the clubhouse!"
The wind rushed past her ears as they took off, Astrid switching his tail's setting as they raced for the biggest building on the island. "Plasma blast!" She ordered, making the correlating sign with one hand and gripping Hiccup's prone form in the other. "That should wake them up." The echoes of hut hatches slamming open confirmed her theory- not that she particularly cared. Her eyes were glued to Hiccup, and she used her free hand to brush his soggy bangs out of his face. She couldn't tell how pale he was in the moonlight, but it didn't look good.
"Just hang in there, Hiccup. What happened to you?"
———————————————————
Astrid watched Fishlegs rush around the clubhouse frantically, one hand intertwined with Hiccup's. The teen had blinked the sleep out of his eyes- and then jolted awake when he saw Astrid laying Hiccup's unconscious body on a blanket on the floor of the clubhouse. Astrid hadn't been able to answer any of his crazed questions- Where'd you find him? What happened? Did something attack him? Wasn't he supposed to be out exploring?
In the light from a hastily started fire, they'd finally taken a closer look at the young man. Astrid's eyes once again trailed his body- gashes covered his torso and arms, bleeding and swollen. His leather armor had been cut away, and his sopping-wet undergarments, and Fishlegs had changed him into a clean, older, light green tunic that he'd clearly outgrown. Bandages were clearly visible under the thin fabric- so were his newfound muscles. Astrid, however, was more worried about his fever. Flushed cheeks met horribly with his pale skin, and the same paradox was in the temperature raging through his body. Hiccup's still-wet skin felt like ice against Astrid's hand, yet when she pressed it to his forehead she found he was burning up. It was incredibly uncomfortable. No human should be that hot. She thought.
"Fishlegs, I think he's waking up!" Astrid gripped the teen's hand harder as he blinked groggily.
"Hey there, dragon boy." Hiccup watched through half-lidded eyes as she motioned to a larger Viking behind her- was that Fishlegs? He guided several other blurry forms out of the room.
He could see a mix of emotions written on their faces- worry, relief, fear, confusion, and exhaustion. "…'ey…" He shifted and groaned. Astrid was leaning over him at once, adjusting the blanket over him and the one serving as a pillow at his head. "Are you OK? What hurts?"
"…'s th's a dream?" Hiccup slurred, letting his head roll to one side. Astrid shook her head, noting how he had to strain to swallow. "No, you're back on Berk. Toothless brought you back." What happened? She desperately wanted to ask. But there were more pressing questions. "Now tell me where it hurts."
Hiccup shook his head weakly. "Nah… 'm fine…" Suddenly alarm flashed through his fever-glazed eyes and he shot up, one arm wrapped around his midriff. "Astrid- I need-"
"Fishlegs! Bucket, now!" She reached a hand out to grab the incoming pail without looking, thrusting it roughly under Hiccup's sharply angled chin as he heaved up whatever he'd been eating for the past few days. Astrid looked away in discomfort- it wasn't the sound or sight that got her, it was the smell. That and knowing it was Hiccup hurting. Once he was finished his eyes rolled back in his head and Astrid managed to catch him before he faceplanted, laying the young Viking back out on the floor and grabbing another blanket when he curled into a ball, arms wrapped around his stomach. She laid the thin fabric over his shoulders, brushing his forehead again. Was it just her, or was his fever going up?
"Ast'd…" He slurred, eyes sliding half-open. Said shield maiden shushed him gently, wrapping both of her hands around one of his- beneath the many callouses was a deep chill that made her veins run cold. "You're not fine." She scolded, tempted to smack him to get her point across. Don't. He's already injured. "Fish and I have to know if one of your wounds got infected, so you have to be honest with us." She bit her lip. "Please, Hiccup."
He sighed, rolling his eyes and wincing as the small movement tore at something. Every. Little. Movement. "Ok.. fine. My stomach… feels… like it's being… torn… by… Changewing acid…"
"And?"
"And…" Hiccup's eyes drifted closed again. "And… everything stings…"
"Hiccup! Hey!"
"Tired…"
Astrid shook his shoulders hard, fear sparking in her ocean blue eyes. "Hey! I know you're tired, but you gotta stay with us!"
"Trying…"
"What else is wrong with you?" Astrid's voice was gentler now.
"Headache… and… I dunno…" Astrid huffed, growing more worried and impatient by the second. "Hiccup, you– you're literally roasting. Also bleeding." He blinked confusedly at her. "So… that's why it's hot in here…"
Good gods, he was barely coherent. "Hiccup, please!" Astrid cried, resisting her instinctive desire to shove the already suffering teen. A rattling cough shook his frame. "So… cold…"
"Fishlegs, did he tell you enough?" Astrid called over her shoulder to the heavyset Viking. He came rushing over, hastily flipping through a book on medicine. "No, not really! I mean, that could be anything! Food poisoning, infected bites or scratches, some dragon's hunting mechanism…"
"So how do we find out?!" Fishlegs winced at Astrid's harsh tone and she softened. "Sorry, Fish. I'm just… really worried about Hiccup."
"Understandable." The empathetic young Viking replied, if with a hint of hysteria in his voice. "If you can try to keep a level head, it would help all of us- especially keeping Hiccup calm."
"Hey, can we come back in yet?" Tuffnut's voice broke into their conversation. "NO!" Astrid snapped, only to receive a frantic look from Fishlegs. She winced, mouthing a sorry.
"Any chance you would reconsider?" Ruffnut called, followed by Snotlout's voice- "It's really storming now! Let us in, you muttonheads!"
Fishlegs and Astrid shared a guilty glance. They hadn't even heard the renewed sounds of rain and thunder. "Alright, let them in." Fishlegs rushed to the doors and heaved them open just long enough for three bedraggled, wet Vikings to pull themselves inside.
"Well, look what the dragon dragged in." Astrid snarked- just as a dragon burst in. All she saw was a flash of deep, shining black scales and then Toothless had shoved her out of the way and begun sniffing Hiccup warily, frowning and growling at the coppery smell of blood still clinging to his frame. Hiccup coughed again, weakly, and Toothless wrinkled his nose.
"Toothless, you can't be in here!" Astrid got nothing but a momentary death glare before the Night Fury resumed his pacing vigil of his rider's form. "Hiccup's sick, Toothless. You have to give him some space. We can't have you getting sick too." Astrid was actually mostly worried about him accidentally hurting Hiccup, but there was also that. Fishlegs, however, shook his head. His charcoal tapped, leaving little black marks on the thin sheeted paper in his medicine book. "I don't think that's entirely accurate, Astrid. If what I think happened is what actually happened-"
"Think isn't helping us right now, Fish!" Astrid shot back. "What's wrong with him?"
Fishlegs froze. "I… based off the scratch and bite marks all over him, I think it was wolves."
"And how do we treat it?"
Fishlegs' hesitation was a bit too much for the stressed shield maiden. She groaned, dropping her head into her blood and mud-stained hands. "Tell me you know, Fish." Came a desperate, muffled sound.
"I-" Fishlegs stopped, kneeling and setting his book down on the dusty floor before laying a gentle hand on Astrid's shoulder. She flinched but didn't pull away. "I'm sorry, Astrid. But we can only do so much at the Edge. We just… we can keep his fever down, and try our bests to keep his cuts and bites clean, but the rest is up to the gods."
Astrid's gaze suddenly burned twin holes into his. Tears shone glassy in them as she replied, waving her hands maniacally. "What if- Fishlegs, how do you even know he's gonna wake up?! I can't get him to respond anymore!"
Fishlegs was at his friend's side in an instant, the others for once keeping a respectful distance in the back of the Clubhouse. A meaty hand grabbed at Hiccup's wrist- feeling for a pulse. It was fast, shaky, erratic. "He's lost too much blood, Astrid." Fishlegs replied, voice barely above a whisper. "I… if he's infected with something…"
The implications were clear.
Hiccup could die.
And there was nothing they could do about it.
Surely that's not true. Astrid reasoned, pressing her stained hands to her head in an attempt to block out the desperate, panicky thoughts rampaging in her mind. There has to be something I can do.
"If– sorry, when he wakes up all the way, that's when we'll know he's safe."
Astrid's insides were freezing. This kind of panic… gods above, it reminded her too much of that day with the Red Death.
Her hand found Hiccup's forehead- the skin around it was cold and clammy, but he still possessed a raging fever. There. Something I can do. She stood, racing for the entrance and pushing past the other three riders. "I'm gonna break that fever if it's the last thing I do."
The door slammed closed, shutting out the brief sounds of thunder and pouring rain.
The others stood motionless- until, eventually Snotlout stepped forward. His normally gruff, abrasive tone was different. Surprisingly gentle. Almost timid. "Is… can I help, Fishlegs? Not that I want to help you, of course, but…" It seemed he couldn't muster his usual angry facade.
Fishlegs glanced up, surprised. "Uh- no, not really." The other Viking slumped, prompting a new response. "I mean, you can help me get some soup going." Lightning flashed above them, sending out a boom that made everyone present flinch. "And twins, can you run and get us some blankets and things? I think we should stay in here tonight."
The two nodded and raced off, uncommonly serious.
Everyone was worried.
Snotlout wordlessly motioned to Hookfang, who relit the dying embers of their fire. "So… Fish. Do you have a recipe? 'Cuz I totally don't need one, mine's way better…"
Fishlegs held back the urge to snort. He knew Snotlout was trying to help- Don't be snarky.
"Yeah, I have one that has some herbs in it. We can use yours, of course, but I think mine would be better."
"Yeah, of course it would." Snotlout's words, surprisingly, weren't as bitter as one would expect. "Mr. Botany. Alright, pull your stupid paper out and let's get to work."
Yup. Still Snotlout.
Fishlegs breathed a chuckle to himself and set off across the room, flipping through a few books before he found the one he wanted. He brought it back over, setting it in the fire-light to read it off to Snotlout. They poured over the recipe for a few moments.
"Ok, yarrow, oregano, sage, and black pepper. Snotlout, do we have that?"
"Lemme check." The burly Viking came back moments later, arms full with several jars of herbs. "We don't have yarrow, but we have the others."
"Alright, that'll work. Now, let's see…"
"Oh." Snotlout leaned forward, arm brushing Fishlegs' for a moment as he pointed to the booklet. "You forgot one."
"We haven't had lemon in a while, but-"
Snotlout disappeared once again, reaching into a small box labeled 'keep out or be snotted' in his own scrawly handwriting. Fishlegs gasped when he pulled out a small, round yellow fruit. "Where did you find a lemon?!"
"Hooky and I stole some from Defenders of the Wing Island a while back, I put some salt on them to keep them ripe."
Fishlegs made a small twist of his lips, nodding. "I didn't know that worked. Cool." Snotlout's face was priceless- he clearly hadn't expected to be complimented. "Y-yeah! Duh! I can't believe you didn't know that, fish-face." He busied himself following the recipe, cooking the garlic and herbs in fish fat and spraying lemon juice in when it got hot enough. Fishlegs found himself strangely drawn- it was a rare sight, after all. Snotlout in a kitchen. That reminded him of another thing the tough-shelled Viking didn't often speak of.
"Hey, Snotlout?"
"Hm?"
"How's the sewing going?" Snotlout glanced up, so shocked that he dropped the spoon into his bowl of aromatics. He scrambled around for a split second to reorient himself. "I don't sew, Fish face! Come on! Who gave you that stupid- dumb- ugh!"
"You told us…"
"When would I say such a stupid thing? I don't say a lot of stupid things! Well, I do, but not-" He sighed, deflating. Caught.
Fishlegs smiled. "You told us when we made the dragon armor, remember? You sew, Snotlout. And you sing- surprisingly well, actually, for both of them."
"Ha!" Snotlout's laugh came out forced and sharp. "As if I would ever be good at anything so girly."
"You are though, I'm just saying. I've always been a little lonely being the only one who could carry a tune, and I can't even sing, just play little tunes on a couple instruments- I'm really jealous of you, Snotlout!"
"Yeahwellyou'renottheonewithastupidflippingreputationyouhavetoALWAYSKEEPUP-" Snotlout lapsed into a series of unintelligible mutters, turning half-away from his… friend, he supposed.
Fishlegs' voice stopped him in his tracks. "Well… I think it's pretty awesome. And you know it's unique, for a Viking to have any sort of musical talent."
"Yeah it's stupid-"
"No it's not. Now come on." Fishlegs cast a glance at the motionless form behind him, darkened by the deep flickering shadows coming from the only source of light in the room. "As long as we're quiet I think it's fine."
"Huh?" Before Snotlout could protest, Fishlegs had pulled out one of the stools and plopped onto it, producing a small set of wooden pipes from the folds of his leather jerkin. "Now, I only really know two songs, and I think one of them is so annoying it would wake up dragons on another island." Snotlout snorted- he knew they were both thinking of the same crass two-limbed Viking pounding away in the forge. Well, I've got my axe and I've got my mace-
"Ok, so, which one are you going to play?"
"We're going to sing the only other one I know how to. Now come on, join in." Fishlegs took a massive breath, cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk, and began to play.
Snotlout recognized the tune immediately. He'd never heard his dad sing or dance to it… but he was about the only Viking who hadn't. It was used by couples, mostly- as a proposal, as a way of saying 'I love you', as a greeting when one or both came back from war.
He'd never heard it because his family was shattered.
He'd never sung it because not a single girl on the island would take his grubby hand.
So why shouldn't he give himself one chance?
It's just Fishlegs. If he tries to spill all I have to do is whack him in the face with a stolen axe. Or tell Hookfang to set him on fire.
"I'll swim and sail on savage seas, with 'nare a fear of drowning- if you would promise me your heart and love me for eternity…"
Fishlegs beamed through the whistles of the pipes, giving Snotlout an encouraging nod. The burly Viking stood, placing his helmet on the table. And let it all out, in a smooth, deep baritone so different from what usually came out of his throat. "My dearest one, my darling dear, your mighty words astound me. But I've no need of mighty deeds when I feel your arms around me-"
Astrid quietly closed the door to the Clubhouse, wringing out first her nightgown and then her soggy, almost-non-existent braid. What had she just walked into? The pounding rain setting an even beat by which Fishlegs was playing, piped notes swirling around the room and mixing with a velvety, low voice that was coming from Snotlout of all people- plus the firelight casting flickering shadows in a small ring around the two…
And the song they were singing? That only made it more strange. And somehow more beautiful. Astrid never, ever saw Snotlout be anything similar to emotional.
She moved to quietly set her bucket of cold water on the floor, intending to store this memory deep in her mind for a pep talk (or tease) later- only to be interrupted by a hoarse moan. "Hiccup!" She yelped, rushing forward as the music cut off. Snotlout was blushing like mad- probably from being caught doing something 'girly'. "What the-"
"Oh, no!" Fishlegs was beside himself with guilt. "I didn't even check on him, I-"
Astrid skidded to the floor at Hiccup's side, ignoring the splinters leaving little cuts in her bare knees. "He's shivering, Fish. Bad. And- it almost looks like he's having a nightmare." She was right- the young Viking was sweating buckets, breathing harshly and turning about like he couldn't find a comfortable position. Every once in a while he let out a gritted moan. Astrid grabbed her bucket and pulled out a small rag, soaking it in the melted snow she'd gotten from the top of the island and placing it on Hiccup's burning forehead. That seemed to do nothing- Hiccup only thrashed harder, sending the rag slipping off his face. "Oh, Odin…" Astrid gasped, holding the teen's arms down as he convulsed. "Fish! Come help!" Said Viking was there in a flash, glancing around worriedly. "I- I, uh- he's- we-"
"Chill, for Thor's sake." Snotlout mumbled, coming up and awkwardly patting the larger Viking's shoulder. "You're a nerd. You know literally everything about everything."
Fishlegs felt a little calmer after that, actually. He's right. I do know what to do. But it's Hiccup and it's scary and-
Breathe. His jerkin rose and fell a few times before he responded in a much calmer tone- "Ok, here's what we do. We have to get him to stop moving or else he'll rip his sutures out, and we also have to get him warm. So…" Astrid pressed her lips in a thin line.
"So what?!"
"Remember when you guys cuddled for body heat way back when?" Astrid groaned, hands curling into fists even as they pressed Hiccup's arms down. She'd resorted to straddling him at this point, trying to be careful of his wounds but also keep him down. "It wasn't-"
"Doesn't matter!" Fishlegs yelped, not willing to get back into that argument. "That's what you're gonna have to do now, unless you want Toothless to squash him." The black dragon perked his head up from the far corner of the room, green eyes shining from the shadows. Astrid froze for a moment; Fishlegs knew just how to prod her. "I mean, unless you want me to warm him up-"
"Ew!" Astrid and Snotlout yelled in unison, almost loud enough to drown out a crack of lightning. Astrid paused for just another moment before shaking her head and sliding under the blanket she'd thrown over Hiccup's shoulders minutes earlier. "There. Happy?"
"I'll be happy when he's safe, Astrid." Came the stoic reply. "Now. Snotlout and I will finish the soup and you watch Hiccup while we wait for the twins to get back, OK?" Astrid nodded, stiffly pulling the shivering, groaning teen closer to herself. "Fine. Hurry up, will you?" Fishlegs resisted the urge to wink, or smirk. "Yeah, sure, Astrid."
"She's totally enjoying that." Snotlout whispered as soon as they began pouring the other ingredients into their pot of now-melted fat. "Mhm." Fishlegs replied- his tone was soft, distant, like he wasn't really paying attention. He was, in fact, much more worried about his lifetime friend. If he rips out his sutures, or loses any more blood…
Realization hit him like a brick.
We could lose Hiccup.
Astrid was thinking the same thing as she pulled Hiccup's ice-like frame closer to hers. This felt so wrong, with him in a tunic and her in nothing but her nightgown. And Snot and Fish right there. But… if it helped…
Astrid brushed the sweaty bangs out of her leader's closed eyes, placing the cool rag back on his head as he slowly began to calm in her embrace. Soft music started back up in front of her, punctuated by the pattering of rain and the twins' distant footsteps, returning from their search for provisions. The words, although she couldn't sing, flew straight from her thoughts.
I only want your hand to hold, I only want you near me. To love, and kiss, to sweetly hold, for the dancing and the dreaming… Astrid's hand snaked down and found one of his, still violently shaking. Through all life's sorrows and delights, I'll keep your laugh inside me. I'll swim and sail on savage seas
with 'nare a fear of drowning…
Just as she drifted off, she swore she felt Hiccup's hand squeeze hers back.
———————————————————
Astrid woke early, with a jolt and the instantaneous feeling that something was wrong. She wasn't in her hut, she was-
In the Clubhouse. Relaxing, Astrid pulled herself into a stretch. But that feeling was still there…
Last night had been strange. She'd found Hiccup in the woods- Hiccup! That's what it was! He was still right next to her, groaning softly every few moments. Her hand brushed one of the bite marks on his arm and he hissed. She pulled it away. He's still feverish. But I think he's better than last night.
He stilled for a while, and she stayed there, not willing to wake him up. Hiccup needed to rest, she knew.
Where were the others? Astrid glanced around, slowly disentangling her arms from underneath the skinny Viking. The Clubhouse was deserted- a stab of guilt raced through her. She couldn't tell, but it felt late. Later than she should've slept. Stupid brain letting me sleep in… I did need it though. And that was the best sleep I've had in a while.
Did it have anything to do with her closeness to Hiccup? That she refused to let herself answer. Well, I'm up now. Quietly, she stood, intending to make her and Hiccup some breakfast- or maybe she should just heat up some leftovers. That would be a better idea. Anything to keep herself busy, because she wasn't going to worry, she wasn't going to let herself succumb to the roiling emotions that had encompassed them all last night–
Only a weak hand on her arm stopped her in her tracks. She turned back- Hiccup was lightly grasping her elbow, glazed, dull green eyes staring into hers so differently than what she was used to. "A…Astrid?" He murmured raspily, letting his eyes slide shut again as his hand fell limply to the floor. "Don't… leave…"
Astrid sighed and crouched next to him. "You need to get some food in your stomach, Hiccup."
"Can't- sorry…" His cheeks turned a pale shade of green at the mention of food and she sighed, rubbing his thumb between her fingers. "It's OK. At least try to drink some water?" He nodded softly, still not opening his eyes. "Water sounds… good…" The relief in his tone was apparent. Astrid nodded and stood again, pulling her hand from his with reluctance. He's exhausted. But… he does sound better. Once she'd gotten them both a mug of water she sat back down next to him, helping Hiccup sit up and drink the water. Once again, he winced as her hand brushed his wounds. I need to change those wrappings.
"Hiccup, don't go back to sleep, OK?"
"T'red…"
"I know." Astrid helped him lay back down before rising to her feet. Her footsteps barely made a sound on the hollow wood. "I have to change your bandages, OK? Just stay awake."
No response. So she continued, a little louder. "Hiccup, you're not falling asleep on me, are you?!"
" 'fcourse not, m'lady…" Came the mumbled reply.
"Yeah, sure." Astrid busied herself grabbing several packs of clean white wrappings and some of the same ointment they'd put on Hiccup's wounds earlier. "Good, 'cuz then I'd have to punch you."
"Punch… a wounded… man… very smooth, Ast'."
"Shut up, dragon boy."
Intelligible muttering met her ears, although she was sure she caught 'Great Thor' in there somewhere. After a moment of silence, Astrid knew she needed to start a new conversation or risk him lapsing back into unconsciousness- "Hey, Dragon Boy."
"I have a… name… Astrid…"
"Oh, you mean Princess Outpost?"
A long, drawn out groan sounded from the other side of the room. She scoffed- so dramatic! "You know you like Dragon Boy."
"Dragons aren't the only thing I think about, Astrid…"
"Oh, yeah, sure! The great and mighty Dragon Conqueror has time for his lowly human vessels!"
"I do…"
"You've said that a thousand times. What I really need to know is what happened to you, Hiccup." Here her teasing tone melted into something more heartfelt. "When Toothless dragged you back here, and you weren't moving, and you were freezing cold… it was actually terrifying. Can you see that? Do you even know how that feels?"
Hiccup snorted. "I guess you forgot… about… the Buffalord thing…"
Heat flashed under Astrid's skin. "Well-"
He had felt the same way, hadn't he? Scared to death for her, feeling helpless, praying to Odin and every other god they knew that she would make it through the night…
"I'm… I'm sorry I put you through that, Hiccup."
"Wasn't… your fault…" Came the instant reply. "Could've… told me… though."
Astrid let a small smile reach her lips, turning back to her work. "I could say the same for you. Now tell me what happened."
Hiccup shifted, wincing. "I dunno… Toothless and I-" His mumble broke off as said dragon suddenly burst awake, pouncing on Hiccup and covering him in spit. "Toothless! Stop it!" Hiccup gasped, smiling even though in reality he probably felt like screaming as his wounds burst into flames. "Ok- bud-"
Astrid was on the dragon in a second, pushing him away with all her might and crouching next to Hiccup. He panted harshly, struggling to catch his breath. "Are you OK?"
"Yeah… just- gimme… a minute…" Astrid whipped around to scold Toothless, but upon seeing the dragon's guilty expression decided against it. He hadn't meant to hurt Hiccup…
Astrid turned back to her leader. "Here. I got what I needed."
"No… 's fine…"
"Hiccup, it's not fine!" Astrid motioned to his face. "You wince every time you so much as breathe, and you scared me last night, OK? If I don't change those wrappings your cuts could get infected, and nobody wants that. So stay."
" 'm not… not going anywhere."
What is it with the sarcasm? Astrid huffed, a small smile playing on her lips that quickly faded as soon as she began cutting through the stained white fabric under his shirt. With surprisingly minimal pain, his wrappings were redone and everything was quiet. Astrid brought the water flagon to his lips. "Here. Drink. And then tell me what happened."
It took Hiccup a rather long time to relate the adventure he'd been on, what with all the groaning and almost falling asleep. But eventually Astrid got the gist: he'd been out exploring an incredibly small island just off the edge of his current map, where he'd run into a large pack of wolves. Toothless had gone off to hunt, and by the time he got back…
And then, apparently, Toothless had fished him out of the lake and dragged them back home.
Astrid hissed, grabbing Hiccup's hand. "All of that happened?!"
He winced. "A little loud."
"Sorry." Astrid made an attempt at lowering her voice, although it didn't accomplish much. "Promise me you won't go out on your own anymore?" Hiccup shook his head. He was already starting to fall asleep again. "N… No promises."
"Muttonhead."
"M'lady."
"Idiot."
"Yaknog Queen."
"Princess Outpost."
"Blondie."
"Dragon Boy."
"Mrs. Jorgenson."
Astrid let out an indignant screech.
"Oh… y' prefer Mrs. Haddock?" Hiccup smirked. How was he this darn sassy, even exhausted and hurting? Astrid clenched her fists, resisting the urge to punch him with everything in her. "Very funny. I'm gonna go—"
Just then Fishlegs and Snotlout came in, barrels of fish slung over their backs. When they saw that Hiccup was awake, Fishlegs dropped his satchel and rushed across the room. "Hiccup! You're awake!"
"Tuffnut, did you get the burdock root?!"
"I thought you were supposed to!"
"WHY DO I–"
"I GOT IT, SHUT UP!" Ruffnut screeched, chucking the offending gnarly root at Snotlout's head. "Now let. Me. Sleep. Please." Turning to Hiccup, she muttered, "These two kept me up all night. Also, I'm glad your not dead, that's great for us."
"ME TOO!" Tuffnut called, trying to wrench the club-shaped root from Snotlout's hands. "Imagine Snotlout being in charge."
"Ast–"
"I would be in charge." She finished, rolling her eyes. "Obviously. Now can we focus?"
"Never." Four voices answered simultaneously.
Fishlegs spun on his heels, rocking back to smack Astrid in the leg without standing up. "You realize what this means, right?"
She stared at him for a moment. The excitement in his eyes meant it wasn't something bad…
"If– sorry, when he wakes up, that's when we'll know he's safe."
Her eyes were not pricking with tears. She decidedly did not feel the urge to jump up and down like a little child getting their first axe on Snoggletog. Nope. Never.
She was happy, though.
"GROUP HUG!" Someone yelled, and Hiccup yelped as five bodies crashed into him, the dragons joining to make a massive pile. It wasn't until he started begging for air that they let go, Snotlout trailing behind Fishlegs as they debated the best way to use burdock root and the twins chasing Chicken around Hookfang's tail.
"Good morning to you too." Hiccup huffed, voice barely above a whisper. Everything was tinged in yellow, and too bright, but the sense of relief he felt outweighed his discomfort. Gone was the fear that he wouldn't make it home. This was home. With his friends, his new family.
And Astrid was right there to sass whenever he got bored!
Yup. That was… that was it. The full extent of feelings there. Yes.
A/N: This is another one I got finished at like midnight, but whatever. I hope the ending is OK! I didn't do a lot of research, to be honest, so feel free to call me out on that! Also I know that's not at all how hypothermia works but this draft is OLD and I was dumber before lol
Love you guys, God bless!
-Grace
