A/N: Hi :) Enjoy!
Silverleone - Oh, yes! Valka will no doubt be full of righteous, motherly fury lol. I don't think giving Hiccup a timeout will suffice anymore, unfortunately.
malachib871 - My most staunch supporter ;))
STOICK'S POV
The boy had only been in my presence for a few minutes, but I was already itching to pull out my hair in pure frustration. His fear was obvious in the way he stood as far from me as possible and the way his gaze flickered constantly between the door, his feet, and my general direction. However, any hope I might've had at using his discomfort to my advantage was dashed when it became clear that he possessed an unflinching determination to see his goals through. It was an impressive sight to behold; if he lived in the village I'd probably be giving him a congratulatory slap on the back or a few words of encouragement to 'keep up that attitude!' After all, strength was valued above all other aspects of a true viking's character, and his well of fortitude seemed to be overflowing if the last few hours were any indication.
That being said, I really should have expected his unrelenting stubbornness. It tickled the miniscule portion of my brain where the most ridiculous idea had begun to take root ever since my conversation with Gobber the previous day, and I could almost hear the memory of Valka's voice as clearly as if she was whispering in my ear: "I pray to the gods that this child isn't a stubborn ox like his father!"
My heart clenched with an old, familiar pain, and I viciously wrestled down any other wayward thoughts. There was simply no world in which my wife and son still lived, and I refused to let mere coincidence lead me down a path of no return. I'd already grieved once. I couldn't do it again. I would focus on the facts.
I was being presented with the first glimmer of opportunity to end the war, and I'd be damned if I let it go to waste. It grated on my nerves that the one offering such an opportunity was an insolent, dragon-hugging, wild child, but I was willing to accept it as my only option.
As the boy's words truly sank in and two distinct paths were set before me, there was nothing I could do but curse the gods' ironic sense of humor and reluctantly entertain the notion of allying myself with a bloody dragon.
"I'm listening."
Hiccup blinked. Then blinked again. "Wha—Really?" He exclaimed, half excited, half wary. He looked so very young when he wasn't glaring daggers at me. I sat back, gesturing impatiently. He took the cue instantly, much more eager to oblige when he was getting his own way. Typical. "I have a plan. Well, sort of a plan. Really it's more of a hunch—"
"Stop rambling and sit down before you fall down," I interrupted, nodding toward the seat directly across from me. His lips clamped shut, eyeing the chair like it was seconds away from leaping to life and attacking him. "That wasn't a request," I added warningly. His fingers twitched nervously, and his teeth pressed against his bottom lip with so much force I was surprised he didn't pierce the skin, but he slowly acquiesced to the brusque order. Only when he was settled into an awkward perch on the very edge of the seat did I motion for him to continue.
"Um, the plan—hunch—requires the help of you and your…" He squinted thoughtfully, searching for the proper word. "...vikings," he finished lamely. I raised an eyebrow, curious as to why the term tribemates seemed to escape his vocabulary. Another odd quirk to add to the dozen others. "You need to make the Alpha angry, draw it out. It shouldn't be too hard. Vikings have a talent for that sort of thing." His smile was amused yet bitter.
"That's your big plan? Piss off the giant?" I grunted, shaking my head. "And when the army of dragons comes out to attack us? What then?" I pressed.
Hiccup leaned forward eagerly. "They won't attack you! That's the whole idea!" He insisted. "If you distract the Alpha, even for a moment, it will lose control over the other dragons. Once you draw it out, it'll be too focused on you to try and ensnare the dragons again. An Alpha needs full and complete concentration to control an entire army," he explained, sounding suspiciously knowledgeable about the subject.
"So, in other words, you want us to be bait," I drawled. Hiccup's sheepish expression was the only confirmation I needed.
"That's where Toothless and I come in!" He said quickly, as if I was supposed to be comforted by that idea.
"What makes you think you and your beast could possibly defeat this Alpha?" I retorted incredulously. Night Furies may be fearsome creatures, worthy of sending a shiver down the bravest man's spine, but they certainly weren't the size of a mountain.
I wasn't prepared for the easy smile Hiccup directed at me, confident and proud and not containing the barest hint of doubt. "We haven't failed a mission before; why start now?" He shrugged.
Mission?
I frowned, contemplating Hiccup's extremely vague and not entirely awe-inspiring plan, while those quirks continued to pile up at the back of my mind. There was definitely something about this boy that I was longing to figure out, but it didn't necessarily seem like the type of thing relevant to the here and now. My questions could wait, loath as I was to leave my curiosity unsatisfied.
"Let me be clear," I began, my tone firm and unyielding so Hiccup would take me seriously as not only a battle-hardened warrior and chief, but also as the man who was currently in control of the kid's freedom, "The only reason I'm even entertaining this entire conversation is because it's my duty to protect my tribe and to look out for their best interests." I folded my hands together as I leaned forward. Hiccup narrowed his eyes warily, hands gripping his thighs until his fingertips turned white. "Sometimes, I have to consider…unfavorable decisions in war. This would be one of those times. I don't know you, nor you me, but I do believe your intentions are honest. You'd be a fool to publicly declare yourself a sympathizer for dragons if you weren't loyal to your cause." I paused, waiting to see if he would have any response to that statement, but Hiccup merely watched me with a careful gaze, so I continued, "So here's what's going to happen. We're going to go back to Berk and stock up on supplies. You're going to take that time to heal, because you're of no use to me as you are—" Hiccup's eyes flashed with indignation and I could've sworn a low growl escaped through clenched teeth, but I ignored it— "…and when the time is right, you will take me to the Alpha's nest, and we will destroy it."
Hiccup lifted his chin. "And Toothless?" He said expectantly. I stared at him for a moment, contemplating his earlier argument. He seemed to sense where my thoughts had gone, as he hurried to add on sharply, "There is no deal unless he is freed. I don't care if the whole Archipelago burns. You will never find that nest without me, and I'm not lifting a damn finger to help unless you give him back to me. No more chains." Despite his steely tone, I could detect the layer of anxiety underneath. He truly cared about that Night Fury so much that he would forsake the lives of everyone else just to protect it. His dedication to its safety would be admirable if it weren't so deplorable.
I ran a hand over my beard absentmindedly. "I need proof it won't bring harm to my village," I answered finally, practically dragging the words forth. They were almost a complete agreement to his request, and I hated this impossible position I'd been put in with a fierceness that had my other hand clenching repeatedly into a fist.
Hiccup frowned. "What kind of proof?" He asked hesitantly.
"You said it obeys your every command, aye?"
He gave a slow nod.
"Let's see if you can control it as well as you believe. Better we risk ourselves than everyone on Berk," I reasoned, though I knew the words rang hollow. After all, if the dragon wanted, it could destroy our ship and then go on to raze Berk to the ground. But it was still safer to test out the dragon's obedience here, where we had a chance to capture it once again without too much loss of life if things went wrong.
Hiccup shrugged, all too nonchalant about the prospect of a wild dragon flying free once more. "Fine. He'd never harm any of you against my wishes," he insisted, the hint of an amused smile tugging at his lips.
I was just about to ask him what would happen if he did wish us harm when Gobber's noisy entrance stilled my tongue. I raised an eyebrow when he dropped two bowls of hastily-made stew on my desk and stepped back, crossing his arms.
"There we go! Eat up, Hiccup!" He slapped a hand down on the boy's shoulder encouragingly, and Hiccup flinched so violently that the solid chair rocked back, teetering dangerously for a moment before gravity righted it again. His breathing was frantic, all traces of defiance having completely fled. He stayed perfectly still as he stared at the food, almost as if he thought we'd cease to sense his presence there at all if only he remained silent and immobile. My gut twinged uncomfortably at the odd behavior, and I shared a bemused glance with Gobber, who had immediately taken a step back after Hiccup's reaction.
Feeling a rare bout of sympathy and no small amount of awkwardness, I nudged the bowl closer to the kid, clearing my throat. "You should eat. Keep your strength up," I suggested, trying to sound as non-threatening as possible.
Like frost melting off the grass with the slow rise of the sun, Hiccup's muscles loosened one by one until he was able to take in a deep breath and grab the stew, studiously avoiding our gazes. He sipped at it cautiously, but soon enough he was reminded of his hunger and all but inhaled the bowl's contents, his eyes darting around like he expected someone to swoop in and steal the food right from under his nose. When he finished, I didn't miss the longing glance he sent toward the second bowl that Gobber had placed in front of me, so I graciously pushed that one over to him as well.
"I already ate," I explained, though he didn't seem to care as he snatched up the second helping without complaint. I turned to Gobber, feeling ridiculous for watching the boy eat. "How long do you reckon before we reach home?"
Gobber nodded at me gratefully for the change in subject, his posture perking up again and a cheery smile overtaking his features. "If the winds hold steady as they are, we should get there by late afternoon tomorrow," he announced. Hiccup's gaze flicked up briefly at that, but he said nothing as he proceeded to devour the stew. "Any idea what you're going to tell the people when we arrive?" Gobber asked.
I grimaced, not looking forward to the slew of questions that would likely be thrown my way as soon as the tribe set eyes on the Night Fury. "The truth, I suppose," I answered grudgingly.
"Which is…?" Gobber hedged.
Hiccup set down his now-empty bowl and twisted in his seat to face Gobber. "Toothless and I are going to kill the Alpha, and you and your army of humans will help," he declared.
Gobber mouthed humans? to himself in utter bewilderment, while I spluttered to counter Hiccup's assertion. "That is hardly how I would describe this partnership! In fact, it's you helping me. You said it yourself—we're the ones with the army," I pointed out with a huff. Hiccup looked sideways at me with an expression of obvious doubt, but he wisely didn't argue.
"That's…good, I suppose," Gobber ventured. "That you've decided to work together, I mean. The tribe will be happy to hear this wasn't a wasted trip."
I snorted mirthlessly. "Oh, aye, they'll be bursting with joy when we show up with a Night Fury in tow."
Hiccup beamed, his eyes lighting up in a way I hadn't seen since his arrival on the ship. "You said you'd free him! Can we go now?" He pleaded, practically bouncing in the seat. I took it as a small blessing that he was even asking instead of storming out the door to remove the chains himself.
Gobber gaped. "You what?"
"It's the only way he'll agree to show us where the damn nest is!" I said defensively, throwing a hand out toward Hiccup in annoyance, who merely rolled his eyes.
"I told you he won't hurt you! What more do you need?" He complained.
"Forgive me if your word alone doesn't fill me with confidence," I retorted sarcastically.
"Why would I lie?" He asked with a tilt of his head, like the very concept was baffling to him. It was such an innocent gesture, so juxtaposed to the darker, nearly vicious side of him he'd shown previously that I deflated before the argument could escalate.
"It doesn't matter. Let's just…get this over with," I sighed, rubbing my brow tiredly.
Hiccup's grin returned, and he shot to his feet, almost instantly regretting the action as all his weight was put on his bad leg. He winced and quickly leaned against the chair for a moment, then stubbornly steeled his spine and continued towards the door with a gentle limp. He whipped open the door without waiting for permission, clearing expecting us to follow as he exited the room. I let the door swing shut behind him, looking helplessly to my friend.
Gobber was still staring at me in disbelief. "You're going to release the dragon from its chains," he reiterated.
"Apparently so," I grunted. It was silent for a few seconds.
"Well, then, Chief…after you," Gobber said at last, swallowing thickly and gesturing for me to walk out ahead of him.
I pushed past him without another word, already regretting this.
TOOTHLESS' POV
I lay stretched out on the deck with my head resting between my paws as I stared morosely at the small den Hiccup had disappeared into. To the casual observer, I probably looked perfectly at ease, like I was back home in the nest, sunbathing on a wide, flat rock as I was prone to do. The only thing that gave away my agitation was the occasional twitch of my tail and the narrowed set of my pupils. I was trying my best to stay calm, for Hiccup's sake, but the constant movement of humans around me was doing nothing to soothe my frayed nerves. I didn't miss the furtive glances they kept sending my direction, waiting for the moment where I'd break free and go into a frenzied killing spree. The thought was tempting, my blood singing at the idea of putting these pesky humans in their place. How dare they steal my boy, then proceed to chain me up like one of their pets? The sheer audacity was staggering. I was a Night-wing! I was meant for the air, never to be controlled by even a Water-Giant, let alone by these lesser beings of soft flesh and weak senses!
But, as much as I might want to tear apart this ship and let it sink to the bottom of the ocean, I knew Hiccup wouldn't approve; in the end, all I really wanted was to make him happy. So that meant going along with whatever insane plan he'd cooked up this time, whether I liked it or not.
I exhaled a heavy breath through my nostrils, taking a deep satisfaction in the fearful squeaks it elicited in the vikings closest to me. The wait was agonizing. Normally I wouldn't worry so much over Hiccup's well-being, as I knew perfectly well that he could handle himself just fine without my help, but it was different now. He was hurt, unable to fight with his usual prowess, and it almost felt as if I'd been jolted back a few years to when he was young and vulnerable. The level of protectiveness I'd held for him hadn't diminished in the slightest as he'd grown, but at least nowadays I could be comforted by the fact that he could look after himself if we were ever separated; however, with his injury now clearly hindering him, I couldn't help the irrational urge to shield him from even a hostile glance.
A squawking dragon far overhead knocked me out of my musings, and my gaze flickered upward in absentminded interest. The humans wouldn't have heard the sound, but even from a great distance I could see the familiar shape of a Spike-tail passing by, no cares in the world except where to find its next meal. I looked on jealously as it slowly faded from view, wishing I had freedom of the skies as well.
The sound of a door opening had my gaze snapping downward, and my heart soared when Hiccup walked into view. I jumped up immediately, the chains jangling loudly with the movement. I automatically gave him a once-over to make sure he hadn't been harmed, but the pure excitement he was exuding distracted me. Despite not knowing the cause of his shift in mood, I purred in shared delight, practically wiggling with impatience as he approached.
Love-of-mine happy? I crooned through closed jaws as soon as he was in earshot, using the more basic dragon-tongue. It was the language the ancient dragons used before they evolved enough to cast their thoughts to one another, made up of all the sounds one associated with dragons: a growl, a shriek, a hiss, etc. They all had their meanings, limited as they were. Hiccup could understand and, for the most part, reciprocate, as he was raised in the ways of dragons, but his mother was as deaf to the ancient tongue as any other human. It was just another reason Hiccup was special and could never be lumped in with the likes of these vikings.
Hiccup nodded vigorously, lowering himself onto his hands when he reached me. I ducked my head to rub against his own in greeting, pulling away only to sniff along his armor. He smelled of the sea and sky and my own scent as usual, with only a trace of nervousness.
*They're going to free you!* He claimed, glancing over his shoulder at the two large vikings that had followed him out of the den.
My ears flipped up, half in elation, half in suspicion. *Free me? Why would they do that?*
Hiccup grinned mischievously. *I might have told them you obey my every command so that they'd feel more inclined to let you go.* He admitted shamelessly.
I couldn't stop the snort of disbelief that followed his words. While I gladly let my boy take the lead in most situations, since he was capable of a cleverness and forethought that far exceeded my own, I would hardly call the power balance between us uneven. I listened to him out of trust, not blind obedience, of which he was well aware. I suppose that's why he found the lie so amusing.
*And that really worked?* I remarked, eyeing the Alpha viking neutrally. He was pacing slowly back and forth with a crooked finger pressed to his lips, deep in thought.
Hiccup shrugged, settling back against my chest and picking uselessly at the metal encircling my leg. *Guess so.* He tilted his face up, and I blew the hair out of his eyes with a soft breath. *But we need to convince them you aren't a danger to them, so I really do need you to do what I say.* He implored, his pleading tone the only reason I didn't feel affronted by the request. *No…aggressive behavior.* He stammered, unsure.
*I think they know perfectly well how aggressive I can be.* I reminded him.
*Yes, well…no more.* He said decisively, attempting to sound stern. *They won't even begin to trust us unless we ease their fears first.*
*I quite like them being afraid of me.* I countered lightly, chortling quietly when that earned me an annoyed slap to the chest.
*Toothless!* Hiccup whined.
*Okay, okay, I'll let you boss me around.* I acquiesced with an eye roll, nuzzling at his temple to soothe his irritation. His grin returned, which made the easy capitulation worth it a thousand times over.
The Alpha stepped closer, abruptly ending our private conversation. I straightened, fighting down the instinct to defend my hatchling against a threat. I thought of the many instances in the past where I'd been faced with Valka's disapproving gaze at something I'd done; my attempts to subvert her wrath generally involved wide eyes, ducked ears, and a submissive posture. It rarely worked on her these days, but the Alpha didn't have her years of practice in resisting the look.
I let my pupils widen until there was little green left to my irises, flattened my ears so they were nearly out of sight, and lowered my head so he had to look down at me. For the added touch, I released a bird-like croon, full to the brim of innocent submission.
The Alpha stared at me, wide-eyed and frozen with disbelief; his companion was no better off. I waited with very little patience, hoping they'd fall for the act and take off the stupid chains before I snapped.
"He's…sorry! For, you know…yesterday," Hiccup spoke up, standing up and resting a hand just above my nose.
"Sorry…" The Alpha repeated, dumbstruck.
*Sorry?*
*Hush!* Hiccup retorted, his expression unchanging as he pretended he wasn't having a conversation in his head.
"That's…nice of him," the shorter viking muttered, eyebrows furrowed suspiciously.
"He's a good dragon," Hiccup responded, more sharply than he'd probably intended. He shifted his focus back to the Alpha. "You have to free him. Our deal," he all but demanded, nodding toward the chains. I held up a paw, presenting them with a visual reminder.
The Alpha scowled, looking between us like he'd caught onto our game, but he waved off the other viking. "Go get the keys, Gobber," he ordered, full of reluctance.
His friend hesitated for only a moment before conceding with a resigned, "As you say, Chief."
Hiccup watched him go below deck with obvious anticipation, his fingers curling against my scales. I lowered my paw, pressing my body weight into him just enough to provide comfort without knocking him off balance.
The Alpha looked thoughtful again. "I've never seen a dragon act like this," he admitted, appearing disgruntled at his own honesty.
Hiccup glanced at him in surprise, like he hadn't expected to be addressed in the silence. "That's because all the dragons you've met have been under the control of another. At least the ones who've attacked your village," he explained softly, sadly.
"Why isn't this one under its influence as well?" The Alpha questioned, gesturing vaguely at me.
Hiccup smoothed his hand over my scales affectionately, his fingertips brushing the restraint that kept my jaws shut. "Toothless is a Night Fury. Night Furies can't be controlled by any Alpha species."
"So…that's why it has to be this dragon that fights the one in the nest," the Alpha concluded, sounding almost disappointed that he would indeed need our help to fight the upcoming battle.
"Yup. Pretty much. I guess it's a good thing we're on your side, huh?" Hiccup's smirk was gleeful as he patted my head. The red-headed viking sighed, dragging a hand over his face.
His two-limbed companion chose that moment to return, dangling clanking pieces of metal on a finger. "Who wants to do the honors?" He said cheerfully, either not sensing the mood or ignoring it.
"I've got it!" Hiccup declared in a rush, knowing full well I wasn't going to tolerate anyone else touching me. He sprang forward without preamble, snatching the gleaming objects out of the man's hand despite his startled protest.
"Now hold on…" The Alpha trailed off with a frustrated huff when he noticed Hiccup had already succeeded in removing one of the chains from my legs. I remained as still as possible, not wanting to slow the process in any way, though my muscles began to bunch up with pent up energy as each chain dropped to the deck with a thump.
When Hiccup finally tugged off the muzzle and threw it to the side with a satisfied grin, I took in a deep, preparatory breath. He backed up a step, already knowing my intentions, while all the other vikings on the ship watched warily, hands resting on their weapons.
The roar I let out shook my bones and carried into the wind, full of power and relief. I rose up on my hind legs, stretching my wings and flapping them a few times for good measure, ignoring the startled shouts of the vikings.
"Calm that thing down!" The Alpha commanded angrily. I let myself fall back onto all fours, rounding on him with a curious gaze. The fury I'd felt for him previously had fluttered away with the rest of my tension, replaced now with mild interest. It was an odd thing to be captured and released by the same human. Especially a viking such as the strong, prideful one before me.
Hiccup shuffled in front of me, blocking my path to the Alpha. His hands were held out placatingly to the humans. "It's alright! He won't hurt you! He's just excited!" He said defensively.
I wriggled my claws, scoring shallow scratches into the wood, letting a new, playful vigor fill me up. Bored with the conversation of humans, I leapt onto the railing, running along on perfectly balanced legs until I reached the end of the ship. I hopped up a few levels, bracing myself on the very edge that overlooked the vast expanse of water in front of us. For a few moments I perched there, inhaling the multitude of scents on the breeze, most of them familiar, but some not. The wind whispered against my wings, cajoling me into flight, but I kept them resolutely furled. Hiccup had said we needed to stay with the vikings, so that's what we'd do.
Perhaps we could take a flight later, though… Just for the exercise.
P.S. —Do dragons have paws...? Idk, I'm going with it.
P.S.S. —Next chapter they finally arrive on Berk! Nothing is written yet so I have about as much of a clue as to what will happen as the rest of you!
