(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
Hiccup took a deep breath, trying to lock away his emotions tightly in the back of his mind.
If he was really going to do this…if he was going to make this devil's bargain, he knew had to think logically. He needed to table all of his feelings for the moment, making sure that whatever he agreed to would be the best possible outcome for both his loved ones and himself. Not just today, but from here on out.
He needed to be strategic, to make a decision with his head and not his heart.
If he was going to become part of Viggo's forces, he didn't want to be just a weapon that was locked away when not in use. He wanted whatever bits of freedom he could bargain for, and whatever semblance of a real life that he could still claim for himself.
More than that, he wanted to ensure that he wasn't binding himself in a way that prevented him from looking out for his loved ones in the future…especially if Viggo ever went back on his word.
Guess this is it.
Hiccup reluctantly approached the bars of his cage, grasping them tightly in his hands. The cold of the metal bit into the palm of his right hand, grounding him in the moment. He couldn't help wondering if perhaps he was only trading physical bars for metaphorical ones.
Before he could speak, a strange cry broke through the clearing. He tracked the sound back to his mother, who was screeching out a sort of garbled, incoherent war cry. It made his head hurt.
What in Thor's name was she doing?
A deep thrumming sound filled the air as Cloudjumper swooped up and over the treeline. The Stormcutter's four wings buffeted the poachers below with forceful bouts of air, causing them to break formation and scatter.
The dragon hovered in the air for a few more moments before dropping down heavily between Valka, Stoick and the poachers they faced. Cloudjumper roared loudly, one set of wings lifting up and making the dragon look bigger and more threatening than ever.
She'd called her dragon, Hiccup realized. The understanding between rider and dragon was strong enough that she'd been able to summon the Stormcutter with a war call in their hour of need. It was incredible to consider, making him wonder once more just how many ways a dragon could be trained.
A small burst of hope ignited in Hiccup's gut. Perhaps their situation wasn't quite as dire as he'd assumed. Having a dragon on their side would be a big help.
Wait.
Hiccup quickly retreated to the back of his cage, peering out into the woods. "Stormfly?" He hissed, hoping the Nadder hadn't gone far from the camp and would recognize his voice from their previous encounters.
There was a faint rustling sound followed by a series of muted thuds. In a matter of seconds, the blue dragon emerged from the woods, fixing a curious gaze upon him.
"Hey girl," he greeted, keeping his voice soft and welcoming as he tried to coax her forward. He stretched his arm through the bars, beckoning her closer.
Stormfly had bonded with Astrid – that much had been abundantly clear when they'd shown up at the nest. He hoped that if he could show the Nadder that the viking girl was in danger, then perhaps the dragon would get her out of the line of fire.
The Nadder approached him slowly, sniffing at his scaled fingers with clear interest.
"That's right," he said, reaching up to scratch her chin. "We're not so different, are we?"
Stormfly cooed in response, leaning into his touch. He took advantage of the contact to steer the dragon's head, maneuvering it so that she was looking out at the campsite. Remembering what he'd learned about Nadder blindspots from his mother, he angled Stormfly's face so that an eye was focused on were Astrid lay.
"Think you can save her?" He asked hopefully, trying to stay confident in his assumption that Stormfly would be able to infer what he wanted.
Stormfly huffed, head tilting a bit as she considered the scene. Then, without warning, she darted off into the camp.
Hiccup watched with wide eyes, startled by the sudden movement. He'd hoped the dragon would help, but he hadn't expected her to go charging in with such zeal.
"Well alright, then…"
Stormfly's abrupt arrival drew the attention of several men, who turned their weapons on her in alarm. The Nadder wasted no time when she spotted the blades, throwing a round of spine shots at them in a sweeping arc. The spines whipped through the air like organic daggers, striking a few men through the shins and startling the rest to a stop.
She screeched, barrelling through the disoriented men as she made her way to Astrid.
"Get that blasted Nadder!" Viggo's voice cut through the commotion, no longer sounding calm or collected. His carefully polished demeanor was cracking, real frustration and anger bleeding through.
With that realization, the hope in Hiccup's chest bloomed just a little bit bigger. If they were making a dent in Viggo's iron composure, it had to mean something. Clearly he had not been expecting dragons to come to Hiccup's aid.
The the poachers themselves were recovering quickly – adapting their strategies with practiced ease. Fighting dragons was in their wheelhouse, much to Hiccup's dismay.
"...find the dragon root, quickly."
Cloudjumper roared loudly, drawing the brunt of the attention as as he set fire to a row of tents.
Hiccup tried to track the man in the crowd, but he couldn't find the leader amidst the sea of poachers.
Where the Hel did he go?
A squawk brought his gaze back to Astrid, who was now being roused by a persistent Stormfly. The dragon was nudging her companion rather insistently with her snout, making a chattering racket as she did so.
Seeing Astrid rise to her feet on her own accord lifted a heavy weight off Hiccup's chest. She was okay, he realized with relief.
Thank the gods.
"Stormfly?" The blonde asked in confusion, rubbing the impact point on her head. A bruise was already blooming on her temple, spreading into her hairline. She groaned, leaning one hand against the dragon's flank. "What's going on…oh gods, the key!"
Astrid's blue eyes quickly sought him out, and he noted that they were a little unfocused as they attempted to latch onto him. It wouldn't surprise him if she was concussed after the blow she'd taken – she'd need to see Gothi as soon as possible.
"They're over here!" He called, gesturing for her to come to him. He pointed to the spot in the grass where he could still see the glint of metal. "I can't reach them!"
Astrid took off with a series of unsteady steps, bracing herself against Nadder as she moved. Her face was pinched in clear pain, but her eyes burned with determination as she made her way towards him.
Seeing her struggle, Hiccup wished his plasma blast had done more than singe some hair. Viggo deserved to nurse a few burns for the pain he'd inflicted.
"Argh!"
The clearing behind them exploded with sound, startling Hiccup and sending his heart skyrocketing. His jaw dropped as he watched Spitelout and Gobber lead what appeared to be the majority of Berk out of the treeline and towards the assembled poachers in one large mass.
They'd all really come for him?
Astrid had said they would…but it was one thing to hear it – another thing entirely to see it with his own eyes.
I'm one of them. The words he'd once spoken to his mother resurfaced, ringing truer than ever in that moment.
With the arrival of Berk's forces, it soon appeared that the tide had shifted. There were now more Berkians than poachers, and the already crowded campsite became a sea of dueling bodies. Hiccup couldn't keep track of what was happening, eyes flitting from blade to shield to fist as the men raged against one another.
Smoke filled the air from Cloudjumper's blasts, adding a hazy layer to the already dim setting.
Astrid reached him at last, wincing as she bent down to search for the key.
"A little to your left," he called, trying to narrow down her search.
"Got it," she said triumphantly, wobbling as she stood. She hastened towards the cage, making quick work of the lock and swinging the door open.
Hiccup wasted no time escaping his prison, savoring the feeling of the leaves crunching beneath his boot.
At last, he was free. She'd done it – she'd saved him.
On impulse, he reached out and grasped Astrid's waist, pulling her close to him and kissing her with all that he had. It took a minute for his mind to catch up to his actions, and he broke the kiss with a sheepish smile.
"Sorry – probably not the best time for that, huh?" He said, feeling his face flush. He could hear the clang of metal just feet away, a stark reminder of their dangerous situation. He wasn't sure what had come over him and he felt compelled to explain. "I just wanted to thank–"
Astrid grabbed him by the tunic, pulling him back against her and kissing him with equal force. For a second, Hiccup wondered if perhaps he was the one who was concussed, swearing he could now see starry spots in his eyes.
Her face was a deep pink when she broke the kiss, but she had a self-satisfied grin stretched across her face. "You're welcome," she whispered breathily against his lips before releasing her grip, "but, Hiccup…promise me something?"
"Anything." He'd go to the ends of the earth for her.
"This is the second cage we've had to break you out of this year," she pointed out bluntly, a challenging spark in her eye. "Just promise me there will be no third."
Hiccup laughed, agreeing easily. "Deal."
"Looks like we're a little late ta th' party," remarked Gobber, taking up a position by Stoick's side.
"Just glad you made it," admitted Stoick gruffly, allowing the blacksmith to fend off the latest attacker. He took advantage of the cover to locate his fallen weapon, wiping blood from the handle and securing it in his grip once more.
SCREECH!
Stoick flinched, raising his weapon instinctively at the Stormcutter's cry. It took a moment to remember the dragon was on their side, and he refocused his efforts on the real threat.
"Taste Jorgenson steel," shouted Spitelout, slamming a hammer into a poacher's teeth. Without turning, he yelled back to Stoick. "Did ya find the boy?"
Stoick rubbed his wrist across his eyes, clearing the bleariness from his vision as he surveyed the scene. It was easy to spot the cage, and to his relief – it appeared to be empty. If all had gone as planned, that could only mean one thing. "Astrid's got him," he determined, impressed by the lone warrior's success.
Spitelout grunted in approval, moving deeper into the fray. They were making progress, forcing the enemy into the center of their campsite. If they could just get the group surrounded, they could force a surrender and this could all end quickly.
"Fall back!" A sharp voice commanded.
What? Stoick's blow faltered, taken aback by the order. It wasn't the viking way to flee a fight so early, and he hadn't expected the poachers to take such a cowardly route.
"Retreat!"
All at once, the enemy men abandoned their positions in the fight. In a wave of movement, they took off towards the far end of the campsite with startling efficiency – heading towards the path that led to the sea. The whole thing was too smooth, likely planned and practiced.
They hadn't been on the island long…had Viggo really made such a thorough contingency plan? Who was this man?
Before following his men, Viggo turned back towards Hiccup. Stoick couldn't make out the words that were spoken, but whatever he'd said had clearly been unwelcome. Hiccup frowned deeply, taking a large step back to put distance between them. At the same time, Astrid moved in front of him, taking on a defensive position.
Viggo merely inclined his head, then raced into the trees.
"They're escapin'!" Gobber yelled, charging after the poachers with his weapon raised.
Stoick's feet felt nailed to the ground, trepidation taking root as he watched the men disappear into the trees. The sea wasn't far…and neither were the enemy ships.
No…
Normally, a retreat would be a welcome surrender...a sign of victory, even…but these men now knew about Hiccup. If the secret left the island, it wouldn't be long before there was no secret left to keep. If they escaped Berk, they'd be stealing away the only semblance of safety he'd been able to offer his son.
Hiccup's life would never be the same.
Stoick took off with a new sense of purpose, ignoring the burn of his muscles as he forced himself to run as fast he could manage through the trees and towards the sea.
"...not the end – in fact, I'd wager our story has only just begun. In time, you'll come to see why you must accept my offer. You'll even want to…but until then, I'll be waiting."
As Hiccup watched the crowd disperse into the forest, he couldn't shake the echo of Viggo's parting words from his mind. He'd seemed so sure of himself, as if he knew something Hiccup didn't. As if joining forces one day was inevitable.
It was likely another mind game, intended to unsettle him further – and if so, it was working. The man's unflinching confidence had shaken his own.
"No!" Valka's sharp scream drew his attention.
His mother was crouched low beside Cloudjumper, pulling an arrow from where it punctured one of the great dragon's wings. She'd lost her helmet at some point in the shuffle, and he could see lines of anxiety on her face as she examined the discolored point of the arrow.
Poison, his mind supplied as he remembered Valka's last encounter with the group's arrows.
Recalling her pallor and weakness fighting the poison, he knew how important it was to act quickly. His mother had experience with it, but from what he'd gathered, she'd always been the ill one – the one needing a healer's attention. Who knew how differently a dragon would react to such a poison?
Well…there was someone who likely would know, he realized.
"I need to borrow Stormfly," he told Astrid with new urgency, nodding towards the Nadder at her side. "Cloudjumper's been poisoned."
Astrid blanched, nodding her head. "Stormfly," she called out, summoning the dragon to her side with ease. With some additional prompting from Hiccup, she was able to corral the dragon towards where Valka crouched.
His mother looked up at their approach, eyes stormy.
Hiccup nodded towards the Nadder without preamble, "Take her – quickly. Go find Mala, we'll stay with him."
He'd offer to go himself, but he'd never actually learned the location of the queen's island. It had to be Valka.
His mother needed no further encouragement. She took a short moment to press her forehead against Cloudjumper's face, murmuring a few short words of comfort, "I'll be back as soon as I can."
Then, she strode over to Stormfly, greeting the dragon in a brisk but respectful manner. The Nadder looked to Astrid, as if seeking her permission.
The blonde nodded in encouragement before pleading, "please, Stormfly."
The Nadder huffed and then lowered a wing, allowing Valka access to climb aboard. With a few strong pumps of her wings, the dragon took off into the air, soon disappearing up into the clouds.
Hiccup looked around the now quiet campsite, taking in the eerieness of its emptiness after all that had happened. There were a few bodies scattered on the ground – those who had not survived the clash. He tried not to look too closely at any one of them, but he found his eyes were constantly drawn back to the morbid sight.
To the deep red that stained the earth.
They were enemy men, but it could have easily gone differently. Had Spitelout taken any longer to bring the reinforcements in…it could've been his father lying in the dirt.
Hiccup was suddenly overcome with the need to know that Stoick was okay – that he'd survived. He couldn't shake the memory of the exhaustion he'd seen on the chief's face, and knew such weakness could be detrimental in battle.
"Astrid…I need to find my dad," he said slowly, eyes darting to the injured Stormcutter. He couldn't just leave his mother's dragon in this state, but what if his father needed him? His father had been there for him in his hour of need, he couldn't bear to think he'd fail to return the favor.
"Go," offered Astrid with no hesitation, nodding towards the woods. "I'll watch over Cloudjumper until Valka returns."
"You're hurt–"
"Occupational hazard," she waved it off, drawing her axe. "I can handle myself. Go."
Stoick watched the enemy ships head out into open water with deep sorrow in his heart.
They hadn't been fast enough to catch the men in their escape from the isle. Even with Berk's best sailors…they wouldn't stand a chance of catching up now. They'd have to waste precious time getting back to their own docks, and by the time they got out on the water, the poacher ships would be long gone.
They'd saved Hiccup…but, they'd still failed.
Despite his best efforts to keep Hiccup's secret confined to the safety of the island, it appeared that fate had other plans for the youngest Haddock. The poachers had gone, and they'd taken the knowledge of Hiccup's curse with them.
The secret was no longer a secret. It would soon spread through the archipelago like a wildfire cutting through dry brush – bringing with it a series of consequences that Stoick didn't want to consider.
His boy would face a future where everyone knew exactly what he was – that could no longer be avoided. Even if some came to accept his cursed state, many others would not. He'd heard the words of the poachers, painting Hiccup as some sort of demon or devil. With such men telling the narrative, it was likely the truth would put a target on his son's back…one he'd be stuck with until the end of his days.
It was a burden that Stoick had hoped to protect him from.
"Dad?"
At the sound of the familiar voice, Stoick turned over his shoulder.
Hiccup emerged slowly from the treeline, his thin frame bathed in moonlight. With that eerie grace of his, he moved to stand beside his father's side in a few smooth strides.
The Haddock men regarded each other in silence for a moment before Hiccup threw his lanky arms loosely around the larger man.
"I'm so glad you're okay," he said, voice cracking with emotion.
Stoick's heart constricted at those heartfelt words. It was a reminder of what really mattered in that moment. Losing the secret was a small price to pay in order to have Hiccup back, safe and sound.
"You too," he murmured, pulling the boy into a tight hug.
Things were about to change for Hiccup – Stoick didn't have the power to stop that, but he was determined to ensure one thing never did: he would give his son a safe home, one where he always knew he was loved – whether he was dragon, boy, or something in between.
Hiccup knocked lightly on the Hofferson door, stepping back as he waited for an answer. It was late – far too late for him to be making a house call, but he hadn't been able to sleep. He'd been too busy worrying about Astrid.
His mother and Mala had made great time on the back of the Nadder, returning in just a few short hours. They'd dismissed Astrid on arrival, taking charge of treating Cloudjumper and shooing away anyone who got too close.
Hiccup had wanted to speak with Astrid before she left, but his father had been adamant in steering him back home. They'd spent some time at the ocean's edge, recovering from the stress of the day, and Hiccup had taken note of the dark bags under Stoick's eyes. He didn't have the heart to fight his father on the issue, knowing how much his capture had weighed upon the man.
Then he'd laid frustrated in his nest of furs for an hour, mind unable to be quieted despite the silence of the night.
He needed to see her.
The door swung open, exposing a bleary eyed Ingrid Hofferson.
"Hiccup?"
"Oh," he blinked, startled by the woman's appearance. He hadn't considered that her parents might open the door, but now he felt foolish for not taking that into account. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Hofferson–"
To his surprise, Ingrid stepped forward and rested a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Hiccup," she assured, "I understand why you're here."
"You do?"
Ingrid nodded, squeezing his shoulder. "You've been through an ordeal," she reminded him. "It's normal to feel shaken by a battle like that – we all do. After what happened, I'm certain there will be very little sleep to be had in Berk tonight. We're all reliving it, trying to make peace with the bloodshed."
She dropped her hand back to her side, shaking her head. "It's hard, and I wish I could say it gets easier with time…but it doesn't. I've found that sometimes what you really need after a night like this is a little reassurance to quiet your fears. I assume you've come to check on Astrid?"
"...um, yeah. If that's…if that's alright."
Ingrid nodded, stepping back and holding open the door. "She couldn't sleep either – won't stop asking about you, actually."
Huh?
Hiccup's incredulity must have shown on his face, because Ingrid laughed. It was a familiar sound, showing where Astrid had inherited her own. "Does it really surprise you that she's as taken with you as you are with her? She addressed the whole tribe for you, Hiccup. You should have seen it! The way she was talking…she would have attempted to take on that whole operation herself if she had to. I know my daughter...she wouldn't do that for anyone else."
Oh. While flattering, he wasn't sure he deserved that.
"Not to mention," continued Ingrid, narrowing her eyes slightly. "You've got her riding dragons , of all things! We'll need to discuss that, when things have settled more – I need to know what prompted all that. But for now…just know, you've certainly made an impact on her."
Hiccup tried to wrap his mind around that revelation as Ingrid escorted him to a room in the back of their home. Inside, Astrid sat hunched over a small table, hands clasped tightly around a cup of water.
"Hiccup?" She asked, quickly pushing to her feet when she saw him standing in the doorway.
"I'll be in the next room if you need me," said Ingrid, stepping away to give them some privacy.
Hiccup stepped forward, eyes drawn to Astrid's injury. The bruise was darkening, turning a mottled mix of colors. "How's your head?"
"Honestly? Feels like I was kicked by a Gronckle," she remarked dryly, pressing a few fingers against the tender spot.
"Sorry," Hiccup winced in sympathy, closing the gap between them. He tilted her face, examining the damaged skin more closely. To his relief, there were no scrapes or cuts, just the bruise itself. "Did you get a chance to see Gothi?"
"Did you?"
Fair enough. "I'm not concussed," he argued.
"Yeah, well I wasn't shot out of the sky and locked in a cage for days."
Hiccup had no good answer for that retort, only humming in response. "At least I heal fast," he reminded her, knowing that her own injury would take far longer to disappear. The bruises he'd sustained had already faded to faint outlines and would be gone by morning's light.
Astrid reached out, grasping his mismatched hands. Her voice was unsteady as she told him, "yeah, but…you really had me worried. I really thought…I mean, they're dragon poachers… I wasn't sure what we were going to find... "
Hiccup squeezed her fingers, "I'm okay," he assured gently. "You don't have to worry about me."
"Hiccup, I always worry about you."
"I don't know if I should be flattered or insulted by that," he snarked back, arching an eyebrow. "I'm not entirely helpless, you know."
Astrid released his hands, reaching up and punching him lightly in the shoulder, "Shut up," she said, voice growing serious. "You know I didn't mean it like that. I worry because…because I don't know what I'd do without you. I worry because…well, because I love you, Hiccup."
Hiccup's heart stuttered to a stop.
"I love you," she repeated, more adamantly this time.
"I love you too."