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iceprincessviviane · 3 years ago

Text

Eyes in the darkness

Paring: Yandere!C!Technoblade x BookwormEnchanter!Female!Reader

Type: Romantic (Technoblade is yandere). Trilogy - part one. Next part.

Warnings: swearing, possessivness, yandere, angst, injury, sugestive content, threats, blood, silly jokes created by me.

Summary: Technoblade was watching Y/N for some time, trying to stay in the shadows. Unfortunately voices and thoughts won against the logic and he want her now on his side forever.

Author's note: Inspiration from a lot of things, but especially: Hades and Persephone, Beauty and the Beast. This used to be oneshot, but I changed my mind, ut will be trilogy. English isn't my first language, so sorry for any mistakes.

Words in red colour are Technoblade's voices.

Words in blue colour are Y/N thoughts.

Y/N didn’t know when was the last time she ran for her life. Probably during one of the pillagers attack on the village or maybe in the Nether. But none of them was that type. Now she was being chased by something way much more dangerous than besties. At the moment, she’s being followed by the Blood God himself. Despite the aching and pain of her muscles and her throat feeling dry from gasping for air, Y/N was still asking herself how did on earth this happen?

~*~

Y/N always loved books and reading, she came to Smp two weeks after Foolish arrival. Actually her friendship with him leaded her here. They exchanged the letters and she was interested in staying somewhere for a while. After some time, she decided to come. Her divine friend already started to build his summer home and had few buildings done. She stayed there for few couple of days, they decided to build something for herself. She already have met most of Smp members including Dream Team, Bench Trio and rest, but owning home, place for stay was good idea. Sometimes Y/N liked to be alone. Eret allowed her to build something behind his castle, it was always nice to have someone close.

It took time before she ended house, it was cozy one with big field in front, farms, cellars and most important - library with enchanting place. It was huge, biggest part of the house with plenty of regals and reading spots. Y/N loved to spend there time and collectin more books or texts. Foolish had a lot of ancient scrolls or manuscripts and liked to share them with her. They could spend hours discussing about their favourite ones.

Books caused that Y/N met Phil, because he was the second person on the Smp, which had great collection from centauries. Shark god took her at trip to Tundra. Y/N was excited to meet such person and nervous too. Happily, everything went all right, Technoblade wasn't that time in home, so they had chilling conversation. Winged man was very curious about her skills and enchants. Of course during his travells and lifespan he met enchanters, but didn't paid much attention to them. Now, he could meet one in chill ocassion. Their three had a lot of talking, giggling and being wholesome. Phil promised to borrow more interesting books and Y/N said, that she can give some enchantments.

When Technoblade came back he immediately felt, that Foolish was there with... someone else... someone new. It smelled like pine and old paper, very nice. Phil told him about visitors and Y/N, he ignored it a little bit, but voices... voices liked this smell a lot.

'So strange.' 'Which woman can smell like that?' 'Where is she living?'

}*{

Y/N was peaceful person with no intention to harm anybody, staying in her place. She stayed in positive relations with almost everyone, providing needed enchantments and helping caused, that a lot of members were friendly to her. Y/N liked to hanging out with Bench Trio, although they were sometimes so chaotic. Usually she went mining with Ranboo, when it was needed, cutting trees with Tommy for his buildings and staying in Snowchester with Tubbo. That is why she came with almost everyone, when Tommy and Tubbo were in Dream bunkier fighting with him. Discs were just items, but... Dream's obsession, it was dangerous and teenagers were her friends. After that a lot of things changed. Putting him into Pandora's Vault was meant to protect them, but she was getting cold shivers each time she looked at black walls of prison. Knowing that everyone could be locked there...

After Egg's influence grew stronger she tried to find some infromations about it and how could ghe possible defeat it, but that took time. Foolish and Phil were so helpful handing their ancient texts, to make research. Suddenly with crimson vines everywhere, Smp became less safer, at least she felt it that way. More members were busy with their business and stuff, they finally could do them, when Dream was locked. For example Foolish agreed to build big mansion for Tubbo and Ranboo, which got platonical marriage and Tommy started his hotel. Meeting Michael was so wholesome and funny, little zombie piglin started to like her and at each visit she read him fairy tales and stories.

Y/N decided to not think about bad sides of Smp, just being busy and tried to help, if someone needed it. Before Doomsday wandering around could be dangerous, especially for La'Manburg citizens, because Dream and Technoblade were unpleasant for them. Now she enjoyed visiting almost everyone everywhere. After a few visits, she could tell that something was wrong, Y/N couldn't tell what, but it was almost like being watched, blaming Egg and vines was her answer for that, but actually why? Why did it do that? She would never joined their side. Never ever. Sometimes she spotted the Phil's corws, but that wasn't a s surprise, birds were telling him a lot of informations around the Smp. Easy way to know almost everything.

}*{

Y/N was heading to her house, stepping at Prime Path. In opposite direction she spotted Quackity, slowly walking by from prison direction, which was surprise. She smiled softly to him and he smiled back.

"What's up?" Big Q asked when got closer to her.

"It's good I am coming back home, need to eat and get some nap, and you?"

"I... ended some buisness." His face stiffened and his look became more serious.

Y/N nodded little unsure about his changed emotions. Suddenly she spotted that his sleeve is covered in fresh blood.

"Are you hurt?" She asked worried.

Quckity looked at his shirt as surprised as she and frowned, he checked axe which hanged down from his belt.

"I guess so then, but I don't know where did that come from."

"Let me take care of this." Y/N suggested with warm smile. "My home is closer than Las Nevadas."

After a few moments he nodded in agreement. They together headed to her place. Weather started to become stormy, dark cloud covered the sun, threating to start raining.

Then went inside, but when she was closing door, feeling of being watched hit her with dubled strength. House was in the spine forest, but fenced and had a gate. In filed were some farms, trees and small garden, but everything seemed to look normal. Big Q sat on the couch in living room and Y/N brought bandages, water in bowl and even healing potion. He rose sleeve, wound wasn't long, but deep, something cut his arm, probably weapon.

"It doesn't look good, but you will be okay." She said after looking at cut.

"Good." He sighed with relief.

"What did make it? Do you have an idea?"

Big Q looked dead in her eyes and remained silence. Of course he knew what, but he didn't even noticed the wound before leaving the prison. Well, someone will pay for this.

"Maybe working at Las Nevadas, you know... I am still building there." He spoke after a while.

"Oh... ye you have right, but be careful next time." Y/N suggested and started to work on cut carefuly. Starting on cleaning, then gently bandaged it.

"Thank you." Big Q said after seeing the results.

"No problem, just don't walk around with untreated wound." Y/N giggled softly.

He stood up and moved his eyes on windows. Black clouds didn't go away, even became worse.

"I will go now, weather is getting worse, I want to be in home before storm." Big Q said with soft smile.

"Of course, see you next time."

After he left, big storm came, darkness fell upon the Smp, rain and wind were too strong, for coming outside. Y/N decieded to take a chance and nap. She baked some cookies and sit down on a couch with another book, which Phil borrowed her. Only the torches gave light, sometimes thunderbolt stroke and filled room with unatural blue light. Drops hit hardly, making loud sounds, but Y/N was too much into a book. Two hours has passed and slowly night was coming. She moved eyes to meet clock, yep that was supper time, put the book away and up, Gods thr storm didn't let go. Y/N watched for a while outside, then go to kitched. She grabbed blanket and wrapped it around her posture, damn there were cold.

Again feeling of being watched kicked in. She was alone at home, that was sure thing. Outside was deep dark and behind the windows was the wall of the water. Y/N bite her lip and shook head, it was just her imagination, a feeling which stayed for no reason after putting Dream into Pandora's Vault. She took an kettle and suddenly was seeing something in the corner of the eye, something red and unusual in the spine forest. Her figure frozen when she moved back eyes. Deep in the dark, around sprouce trees in the line of forest, Y/N spotted pair of shinning, red eyes, high above the ground. They were locked at her figure.

'This has to be spider... or something else...'

Right after this thought, ceature turned back and disappeard in the darkness, cold shiver went down at Y/N spine. What was that? And why it was here? At least she was safe in home...

}*{

'More.' 'Training is boring, let's find someone to fight.' 'We demand blood.'

Technoblade sighed and stopped, voices today were very, very loud. That was why he decided to train, but during it, they became even worse. He hid sword and walked into home. Phil wasn't here today, he had to do something, but didn't bother to tell him what it was. Blade went back to home by his old path through the forest. His training place was near the cottage, but still hidden from common people. All members of Syndicate knew where it was. First of all he need to take shower. When cold water touched his skin, he felt like even his bloodlust became less, quiet hiss left his lips. He earned some chafings this week. Next, he changed his clothes to common and made a cup of tea, then sit in the kitchen. Immediately his thoughts went to Y/N.

Somehow voices were acting diffrent around her and he even found himself acting that way. They were focused around Y/N and he was more calm, like just her pressence was comforting him. Technoblade remembered their first meeting, it was common day, when someone knocked on the door. He opened it and rose his eyebrows in surprise, outside was standing fragile woman, without any armor and only with trident on her back. They shared awkward eye contact, when suddenly she introduced herself as Y/N. Of course he saw her couple of times, but it wasn't officialy. Y/N has known who was he for sure, she swallowed hard and looked down with shyness. Phil yelled across the room, that she could come in. Ah yes... she loved to read books and his old friend was borrowing her them a lot. Technoblade again felt the spine and old papers smell, for him, it could stay here forever. After short visit, Y/N took books, gave back book of enchantment and left.

Techno's curiosity has increased, when he heard about her more. She was peaceful, friendly soul, completly opposite of him, maybe that was, why he felt so... diffrent around her and voices too. Piglin hybrid enjoyed watching her from the distance, in the shadows, but lately... lately it wasn't enough. Now he wanted to breathe at Y/N scent, holding her close and pressed soft kisses at forehead. He was under voices pressure so long and now his salvation was so close. But what would he make it? As longer he has thought of that, a diffrent ideas came to his head. She was delicate creature, he had to get plan at all. Techno knew almost everything about her: hobbies, traditions, friends and fighting skills. Phil told him a lot about enchanters, they could make enchanting books after years of studying and had magic talent sometimes. As they knew, Y/N could enchant books at any spell, so she had to studied a lot. Technoblade sighed and grabbed his cloak, time to keep an eye on few things.

'Let's not go quietly!' 'Let's go quiet as grave...' 'Blood for the Blood God!'

}*{

That was busy week, Y/N could only one time saw Foolish and Phil, but whole Smp seemed a little bit diffrent... luckily she was able to go on mining trip with Ranboo and Eret visited her with a couple of books, which were about Smp. Now was afternoon and sun slowly started to set, she was heading to her house, where waited for her snow fox, which she found in Snowchester. Cute, little ball of fur stole Y/N heart immediately. When she finally stepped inside, Snowflake - that how she named it, ran into her squeaking high.

"What happend my little one?" She knelt down and pet it's head.

Fox looked at her with big brown eyes and squeaked once more, then jump into her arms.

"Oh oh oh... are you afraid of something?" Y/N hugged Snowflake and looked around. Everything in home seemed normal, door was closed, in a field same, animals were quite nervous, but everything was good. She frowned and stepped inside, then put fox into basket with small blanket.

"I will bring you some berries, you will like it for sure." Y/N smiled gently.

Unfortunately, she didn't have any at this moment in home, Snowflake was there only for three days, so she couldn't make berries farm so fast, because she had to set up a space. Luckily, she lived around coniferous forest, so didn't even hesiatate, Y/N just grabbed backpack and went outside. Sun was lower in the sky, but still it was warm and brightly. Birds were humming quietly and around was quite quiet. Berries bush weren't so far, she founed some, but in order to make supplies, decided to find more, then plant them around the house. It would spared the time and work.

"Y/N." She heard deep, lazy voice and immediately turned at it's direction.

The Blade was standing under big sprouce tree with satisfied grinn on his lips. Eyes locked on Y/N figure, which completly froze at the sight of him. She have never been with him alone, in tundra always Phil or Ranboo were around, now it felt... strange and risky, she still remembered what happend to La'Manburg citizens.

"Technoblade." Y/N spoke softly, being careful to not crack her voice, despite building feeling of fear. She noticed, that piglin hybrid under his royal, crimson cloak was wearing armor, probably not his best one, but still enough to win fight. Part of hair made into bun, rest were freely in his back and shoulders. From his belt was hanging netherite sword and netherite axe was sticking out from behind. She spotted, that his weapons were a little covered in blood, same as his sleeves and parts of shirt. He was killing monsters right? Or just hunting? Uncomfortable, awkward silence reminded between them, only forest noises distrubed it from time to time.

Voices were too loud today, too agressive, too greedy, killing monsters and pillagers wasn't enough, Quackity has already tasted his steel, well he deserved that after showing up in Y/N home. He had so much fun with him, but after that he needed some rest, comfort and calm. That is why without even thinking too much Technoblade went straight to Y/N house. He hoped, that everything will change, that he finally will has some break from voices, violence and killing. Of course he liked his way to be... but yes sometimes, you have to make a nap.

"Are you wounded?" Y/N asked quietly breaking the silence. After all, if he needed help, she would help him, without hesitation.

Technoblade's grinn became more sinister, he put hand on sword hilt and slowly tilted his head on right side.

"This isn't my blood." He said without caring at all.

"Oh, that's good then..." Y/N whispered, but he could hear that.

Piglin hybrid studied her posture, she had only trident at her back, backpack in left hand, no armor, no more weapons. Poor little girl, that's not how you are going outside your home, she was literally unarmed in his eyes.

"So... what are you doing here? Alone? In the forest?" Technoblade asked and moved closer to her.

The way he spoke these words, made Y/N shiver inside, outside, she grabbed her backpack harder. Surely there was nothing to worry about, she has never done something wrong to him or Philza, she wasn't dangerous or wanted to has any power. Techno is probably just passing by. Suddenly he was so close, now she could for real see the height diffrence, for the gods sake, her head reached around his breastbone. Y/N looked up only to meet piglin hybrid's burning gaze.

"I... I was collecting berries for my snow fox. Something scared her, so I thought that she will calm down after getting some and I ran out of them..." she suttered and swallow hard.

"How sweet." Technoblade commented and his smile widened.

"So... you are just passing by?"

"Not really."

Sudden grip on her chin caught Y/N off guard. Technoblade forced her to look straight into his eyes. His face stiffened a little bit, she hissed quietly, when claws touched harder gentle skin. Then she realised... Blade's eyes were red and she heard, that it could glow in darkness. Her skin became pale and pupils widened. It was him, that time during a storm, he was watching her...

"What are you doing?" Y/N asked quietly, without any clue, what was going on.

'She is so innocent.' 'We love her scent.' 'Let her know.'

"I have something to tell you." He leaned and immediately her scent hit him harder, resisting to take deep breath wasn't that easy.

"What excatly?"

"I was watching you for a while Y/N. Belive me or not I found that interesting, because your pressence is calming for me, I can fall asleep while listening your voice and push away my violence behaviour, when you are around." He stroked her cheek by his thumb and smiled haughty. "I am always getting , what I want and I want that so badly, you can't even imagine."

Y/N shook head and made few steps back, leaving his grip, couldn't belive what she just heard. That's impossible.

"I don't know what to say... I can admit, that I had strange feeling of being watching but... I blamed the Egg..." She looked deep into his eyes, trying to put everything together. "What do you mean, you are always getting, what are you want? How am I suppose to understand that?"

"Listen sweetheart, we can do this in two diffrent ways: good or bad. If you choose first one, fine politely you will go with me. Second way? Well I can be very convincing, when I want to." Technoblade frowned.

None of this options was good for her. Y/N sighed and her shoulders dropped. She couldn't do anything literally...

"Come on princess. I can take care of you, I promise, you will be happy." He gave her his hand, but gripped sword hilt harder.

Y/N always avoided the conflicts and argues, never has started any, that was easier and better way to live. She could take care of her interests, powers anf friends by being supportive or neutral. Technoblade's behaviour made her shiver and feel sick, there was no guarantee that he will keep his words, even if it were sweet and promising. Y/N knew that fighting him was pointlees, he were ten thousand better than her, she didn't even have armor or second weapon. But surrender just like that? Without any resistance? She always was determinated, miss 'you can always find a way, solution'. Not a chance.

"I think I have better option, which lay in the middle." Y/N smiled gently.

"Well, tell me then." Technoblade rose his eyebrows with curiosity.

With one smooth move, she put backpack on and immediately started to run. The Blade's pupils widened, he burst out laughing.

"It will be funny."

She has known, that she needed to lose him in forest. Going to home wouldn't help, because door or gate couldn't stop Blood God. Lost him and then ran away from Smp, at least her current living location. Y/N realized that she couldn't even ask for help anyone. Probably Technoblade would come after her friends, helpers, so that was it. Y/N versus The Blade, she was on her own.

'How did she dare to run away from us?!' 'Chase her, catch her.' 'Faster, faster, faster!'

It seemed like running away from Tommy for fun, came in handy and long trips with Ranboo caused her to move fast through forest. Y/N nimbly jumped over obstacles and avoid rocks or roots. Her pace wasn't the fastes, but she could hold it for pretty long time. She wasn't thinking a lot, just tried to run away as far as she could.

'Don't look back, don't look back, it will make you slower.'

Hiding could be good idea, but not now. As long as he was close, she couldn't stop at all. Breaking through the forest was only hearing noise, soon, she heard her heavy breathing. Heading to unknown direction wasn't so wisely, but Y/N had no choice. After a few minutes, she stopped to catch breath. Around was sudden so quiet, cold shiver went down at her spine. Too quiet.

"Already tired?" Technoblade's voice surprised her from left side.

She turned head, just to see him leaning against the tree. In his right hand he held sword, didn't even look like he was running.

"You can't outrun me little one. A lot of people tried, now they are dead." He aimed sword at her. "We can end this farce here. I am not mad, honestly, you made me smile a little bit."

"You will have to catch me, if you want me going with you." Y/N said and then continue to run away.

"Oh I will princess, that's what predator does to the prey."

Y/N started to feel really tired, muscles aching, throat dry from gasping for air, hair dispelled and cheeks red. She ran for a while, but now had to stop. Technoblade immediately appeared in her field of vision. He was walking carefuly, but still looked intimidating.

"Don't come closer!" She released a cry.

Piglin hybrid stopped about eight meters away. He leaned sword against the ground and looked at her with curious gaze.

'Here she is, our reward.' 'Let's finally take her with us.' 'We like that sound.'

"I think, I just caught you." A little grinn appeared on his lips.

She looked straight into his eyes. Her gaze full of fear met a calm and determination. Y/N didn't even want to think what would happend, if he fulfilled his desires. Gods sake, she was free human being, none could take her freedom, she didn't ask for this. In an act of desperation, with the last of her strength, she used her powers. Feeling of warm through fingers and energy drained from her veins, but then burning light. In Technoblade's towards direction flew literally fireball, but he was too skilled for this. He made a dodge and looked at Y/N with mix of proud and shock. She dropped to her knees, struggling to stay conscious, despite the pain at her whole body and tired mind and unclear vision. Technoblade immediately was with her, he knelt down and support her, by putting arm around her waist. Y/N leaned back against his chest, fatigue prevailed over reason.

"Enough for today princess. You run out, if you will keep resisting." He whispered calmly.

"Please, please... please I don't want this, I want to go home." Her voice was cracking, tears strimming down at her cheeks.

"Hush darling, everything will be all right."

Technoblade's body radiated warm, his tone suddenly was so calming and sleepy. She wanted to close eyes so badly, but still fear was too big.

"You are safe, nothing can hurt you I promise."

After this words Y/N gave up and lost consciousness. Sun went down and shadows became longer and darker.

}*{

Phil careful closed the doors, then walked quietly down. Technoblade sat in kitchen with cup of hot tea, he immediately looked at his old friend, his eyes were worrying.

"Y/N is good, she lost consciousness, because was too tired. You said that, she used her powers."

"It was literally fireball, but I dodge that easy."

"Well, now we know about her powers at least... interesting, what you are going to do, when she wake up?" Phil asked and sat in opposite site.

"I know, that you are not glad about this, but I will figure this out. She won't cause any troubles." Techno's voice became deeper.

Winged man sighed and looked at his friend. He knew what he was going through, when voices became louder and demanded blood, each moment of silence or when they were quiet, Technoblade cherished and tried to make it worth. Phil couldn't be angry or mad for his friend about that deed, but... he was torn.

"Come on spit it out. I can see that you want to tell something important." Piglin hybrid said slowly.

"We were through a lot of shit, we know each other for almost ages and we blew up the nation for gods sake, kidnapping isn't the worst thing you have done, but..." Phil started and looked at Techno. "I wish you best and everything good, but I don't know how will I act around. Y/N has come to me for books, we were talking about stuff, I gave her cookies and tea. How will I explain, that I am supporting your decision? And I am always on your side." Phil said aloud his worries.

"I will give her time to get used to. After certain amount of time Y/N will understand." The Blade was lost in his thoughts.

He was so greatful of his friend statement, but still a little bit unsure. This case shloudn't affect on their relationship or Phil's life. Honestly Technoblade belived that his pressence will comfort Y/N at least, as he said they were close and enjoyed each other company.

"Someone will notice her disappering. What then? And Ranboo is visiting us a lot." Phil sighed a little.

"I've got this, trust me."

"I trust you with my own life." Winged man nodded.

}*{

Sunlight kissed her skin gently, when it showed up on window. Y/N felt softness under herself and on her back. Quiet sigh left her lips, when she opened eyes. In the room was very bright, but for sure it wasn't her room. Immediately cold shiver went down at her spine. Still weak, she tried to lift herself, because she was lying on stomach. Bed was big, with good beddings and pillows.

"Don't move, you are still weak." Technoblade's voice was soft, but loud.

Y/N bite her lip and then lifted head. He was standing near the bed and observing curiously, looking completly diffrent. White, linen shirt and high waisted, leather trousers, hair braided tighly. In this version he was... more open and accessible, not so scary.

"Where am I?" She asked slowly and rolled at her back with quiet hiss. Muscles still hurt and throat was dry.

"In my house, in tundra safe and..." He cut off, while noticed that Y/N is trying to get up. "What did I say?" He stepped closer and sat on bed.

She sat unsure on mattress, just to met Technoblade here, he gripped again her chin, as in the forest and forced her to look at him. This time it was more gently.

"Darling please..."

"You can't take my freedom!"

His eyes darkened immediately and Y/N regreted her words. She swallowed hard, when Blade looked deep into her eyes.

"Of course I can and I will, if you don't behave good. If you didn't notice, you aren't chained or tied, but pretty comfy in my bed." He said slowly with threat in his voice. "Think about it."

Technoblade released her and got up. She looked down thinking about situation, yes he didn't tied her, but still it wasn't good case. Y/N just wanted to be free, do stuff which she want and meet friends. Maybe Smp wasn't perfect, but still now it was her home, there were a lot of wars or argues, but she still had house and persons which she cared about and this was mutual, now everything was unsure.

"I am just afraid... " Y/N whispered quietly.

"As I said earlier you are safe here, you are safe with me. Nothing can hurt you." Techno grabbed bowl with soup and came back. "Here, eat, you need to recover."

"Thanks." She smiled weakly to him, took bowl and started to eat slowly.

'Good girl.' 'She will behave for sure.' 'We can teach her a lesson.'

Y/N was napping for the rest of the day, Technoblade gave her one of their books, so she wasn't bored. Probably tomorrow or next day she will stand up.

The sound of closing doors, caused her to closed book and put it away. Piglin smiled gently and took off his shirt suddenly. Y/N eyes became big.

"Wait wait wait..."

"Calm down princess, I am just going to sleep, nothing else." Technoblade smirked for her panic.

"So... where shloud I move?" Y/N asked looking around the room.

"Nowhere. You are staying here with me."

Immediately her cheeks went slighty red. She looked at him curiously. His pink skin seemed gentle from the distance, a lot of scars marked his chest and arms. Some of them little, some of them large, the biggest one was through both sides of chest. Technoblade released his hair and came closer. Y/N moved to make him some space. He laid down, she followed his steps but remain distance.

"Goodnight." She said and turned back from him.

"Goodnight sweetheart."

He blow up torches near the bed and silence fell upon them. Not even a five minutes passed, when Y/N felt sudden grip on her waist. She froze, Technoblade hugged her and pressed kiss on her shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Quiet whisper left her lips.

"Snuggling and cuddling." He whispered softly.

Y/N couldn't help, she giggled quietly. Techno took this as premission, her back touched his chest and second hand slowly stroked her hair.

#c!techno x you #dsmp fandom #dream smp #philza #c!technoblade x you #c!technoblade x reader #c!techno #yandere dream smp x reader #yandere dream smp x you #yandere #c!yandere!technoblade #yandere technoblade x reader

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batwritings · 4 years ago

Note

dom eret that fucks their s/o in front of a mirror to show them how pretty they are because they were talking about being insecure and he continuously praises them

~🦝

I would absolutely die if this happened, ngl. Enjoy~!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"You look absolutely stunning," Eret hums against your shoulder. Their hands are all over you as the fuck into you from behind. One hand is held on your jaw, forcing you to watch what goes on in the mirror before you.

"So beautiful," he hums, kissing along your neck. She makes eye contact with you in the mirror and smirks. "And all for me, aren't you darling?" You shudder at the devious look Eret sends you through the glass.

"Yes," you sigh, your hips jerking when one of his hands trails down to your sex. "Only you Eret." Nimble fingers start to stroke and touch your most sensitive areas. Your head falls back to their shoulder and instantly the pleasure is gone. Before you can whine, Eret pulls your hair to make you face forward.

"Eyes here pet," they coo meanly. "You need to see how gorgeous you are while I fuck you senseless. That's an order. Understood?"

You let out a loud moan when the pleasure on your sex returns. "Yes my king," you cry, pleasure becoming borderline overwhelming.

Eret presses a kiss to your cheek, trailing them down along your jaw. "Good pet," she hums, nipping at your skin. "So good and obedient for me."

All the pleasure and praise mixing in your head has you cumming in a matter of minutes. You let your head fall back against Eret's shoulder as you peak, crying out for them. He bites roughly at the juncture of your neck and shoulder, filling your aching hole almost instantly.

As you're panting through the post-orgasmic haze is when it dawns on you. Your head snaps up in time to see your dom smirk at you from over your shoulder. "You noticed did you?" he says with that low voice.

"Please, I didn't mean it," you mutter, panic setting in slightly.

"Colour?" she asks quietly, pressing a gentle kiss to the area just below your ear.

You give a tired smile, thankful they were giving you an out if you weren't up for it. You nod despite this, mumbling "green," in return.

Eret smiles sweetly back at you before nipping around the bitemark they left. "I know you didn't pet," she hums, thumbs rubbing over your nipples gently. You whine softly at make eye contact with him through the glass.

"But you did cum without permission. That, my dear requires punishment."

#bat writes #anon response #🦝anon #eret smut #mcyt smut

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condorclaw · 4 years ago

Text

Waiting.

It's what Sam Nook was the best at.

The large mechanical creeper spent his days standing outside the towering structure of the Big Innit Hotel, keeping watch for potential customers, or potential troublemakers.

"Don't you ever get tired of standing here?" Jack Manifold had asked one day after a hostile confrontation between the two employees.

The answer was always no. Sam Nook never got tired of guarding the hotel. The task was never as boring as his peers made it seem. In fact, it was an exciting experience.

Sam Nook had been downloaded with the basic information of every server member, learning their names, heights, and basic personality traits with ease. However, the simple information couldn't compare to all he had noticed while speaking with them himself.

They all had their own stories to tell, and their own experiences to share. While standing guard, sometimes somebody would stop to speak with Sam Nook. Regardless if it was out of pity or for a genuine conversation, Sam Nook appreciated the gesture.

Captain Puffy would tell Sam Nook tales of her adventures, going into great detail when describing the scenery. It gave Sam Nook a thirst of adventure, making him feel like he was actually experiencing the harsh waves of the sea or the burning rays of the sun.

Eret regaled Sam Nook with history stories of their home. They would especially emphasize the horrible bits, including their traitorous actions as a leading cause for so much pain. Sam Nook could tell Eret still felt guilt after all this time, so as soon as Eret would finish their stories, Sam Nook offered the king a hug, which was gladly accepted.

Ranboo and Tubbo didn't have as many stories to share about the past, preferring to discuss what was happening in current moments. It was how Sam Nook became so fine-tuned to the social dynamic occurring, able to recognize specific actions relating to specific causes.

Even Sam himself would stop by frequently, checking up on his creation and making sure that Sam Nook was at tip-top shape. Sam Nook appreciated these check-ups, wanting to perform at his very best for his tasks. As Sam would make adjustments, he would tell Sam Nook small things about his life, and revealed quite a bit that he kept hidden to his other friends. Sam Nook swore to never tell anybody else unless Sam gave him permission. It was the least he could do for his creator.

Even though he was surrounded by such a colorful cast of characters, Sam Nook always looked forward to one in particular:

The big man himself, TommyInnit.

Tommy was loud and brash. He was young, yet experienced with conflict and war, masking it behind crude jokes and fragile confidence.

According to most others, Tommy was annoying and often unwanted. He was the source of problems and too impulsive for his own good. Sam Nook had occasionally heard mutterings of people wanting to ignore him or just shut him away somewhere. To an outsider, it sounded like Tommy was just some rabid stray animal who couldn't be caught.

But Tommy was more than that, and Sam Nook could see it firsthand. Tommy was passionate, loving to show off his accomplishments to his friends and being proud that he was the one able to do them. He took pride in the little things, and would frequently hype himself up when requested to perform tasks. Sam Nook was surprised at how quickly Tommy was able to get hotel materials, the boy being quite passionate to finish the build.

Outside of hotel work, the two had nice conversations. Tommy would curl up at Sam Nook's side, watching the stars in the sky and venting about his feelings. Tommy would always deny it whenever Sam Nook would bring his words up after that point, but it did warm Sam Nook's circuits to know how much Tommy trusted him to tell the robot these things in the first place.

After all, Sam Nook was built to be Tommy's guardian, and he took pride in that.

So Sam Nook was fine to wait.

Waiting.

It was a lovely day, with animals gathering in groups to scrounge for food. The sun was shining as bright as ever, and the few clouds in the sky twisted into funny shapes.

Sam Nook activated his cameras, taking a couple shots of the gorgeous scenery. He mentally stashed the photos away in a specific directory, one meant for Tommy.

Ever since Tommy had become trapped in Pandora's Vault, Sam Nook found himself recording his surroundings every minute of every day. Tommy was missing so much being trapped in a gloomy place, so Sam Nook was determined to show him everything he missed.

As Sam Nook stashed away his last photo, he heard the faint sound of arguing. Turning his head 90° to the left, Sam Nook spotted Jack Manifold speaking to Tubbo, the two deep in some sort of conflict. Ranboo was towering over the two, but remained quiet, listening. The enderman spotted Sam Nook gazing in their direction, giving a nervous wave and a shrug of confusion. Sam Nook returned the wave before shifting his head back forward.

It felt like there was a lot more aggression since Tommy was gone. Normally the kid was so blunt that it made it hard to argue against him. He wasn't always right, but he could end conversations quickly when they weren't worth having.

The heated discussion only got worse as minutes stretched on, Sam Nook catching bits of it, but remained still. It was only the final shout of "FINE!" that caused Sam Nook to look over once more.

Jack Manifold passed in front of Sam Nook, his teeth clenched and his eyes narrowed as he made his way to the entrance of the hotel.

"WHAT BUSINESS DO YOU HAVE HERE, JACK MANIFOLD." Sam Nook questioned as the hotel cats started gathering by the robot's feet.

"Relax," Jack Manifold snarled, rolling his eyes. "I'm just doing a bit of redecorating. If Tommy doesn't like that, then he can tell me himself." Before Sam Nook could formulate a response, Jack Manifold had gone up the ladders in a hurry.

Sam Nook let out a huff of steam, focusing his attention on some of the cats that wandered around the hotel. Jack Manifold wasn't a good employee. He was only focused on keeping the hotel to himself, which didn't belong to him. It belonged to TommyInnit, as much as Jack Manifold tried to deny that.

Thankfully, Tommy was scheduled to be released in a few days. The news had initially made Sam Nook upset when Sam had told him, but Sam Nook immediately cheered up at the thought of Sam being with Tommy. Sam liked Tommy a lot, Tommy wouldn't be alone!

So Sam Nook was fine to wait.

Waiting.

It was a stormy day, rain pouring down from the sky, almost as if the clouds were crying. Sam Nook didn't understand why it had to be such a gloomy day. After all, Tommy's first days out of prison should be happy!

Sam Nook hadn't seen Tommy once since the boy was scheduled for release, but that didn't worry him. Tommy was probably very busy reconnecting with all his friends. Eventually he'd come see Sam Nook.

The sound of Sam Nook's own shuttering cameras snapped the robot out of the slight daze he was in. The image was lovely, with red and white flowers spread all along the grass at the side of the path. Sam Nook didn't understand where these flowers were coming from, but they were very beautiful. He could only imagine Tommy's reaction to the gorgeous plants. Tommy would pretend to hate it at first, but would later go and water them all himself.

Out of the darkness of the rain, Sam Nook saw Ranboo and Jack Manifold emerge from one of the buildings. The two didn't appear to be engaging in conversation, and appeared rather sad. They continued walking until they stopped at the gates to the Big Innit Hotel, Jack Manifold opening them slowly.

Ranboo gave a slow wave to Sam Nook, who gave one in return. Ranboo had changed over the last few days. His normally colored eyes were slightly duller, and in his jacket pocket, a purple flower peaked out. Sometimes the enderman's hand would go to it, lighting stroking the flower's petals as if it were a pet.

Sam Nook was very curious about it, but there was still time to ask Ranboo about it in the future.

The more urgent concern was Jack Manifold, who was approaching the front of the hotel. Sam let out a few clicks, shifting his trident in his hands threateningly. Jack Manifold had been vandalizing the hotel lately, and Sam Nook wouldn't allow him to do it again.

Despite all the other times Sam Nook had threatened him however, Jack Manifold looked up at Sam Nook, looking weaker than ever. His eyes were glazed over too, and his form was drenched with rain. When he spoke, his words were soft. "Sorry, Sam Nook. I broke something yesterday. I'm just here to fix it."

In shock, Sam Nook didn't even reply to Jack Manifold as he climbed up the ladders. Jack Manifold was a liar sometimes, but that there had been the honest truth. It didn't make sense. Why now?

"Sam Nook."

The robot turned quickly, coming face-to-face with his creator. Sam's green had paled, and his armor no longer looked as shiny as it once had. It worried Sam Nook too, but Sam knew what he was doing. He could take care of it easily.

"HELLO, AWESAMDUDE. WELCOME TO THE BIG INNIT HOTEL."

Sam flinched at the hotel's title, perplexing Sam Nook even more. Did he not like the name? He was the one who chose it, though.

"Don't you get tired, standing here?" Sam asked softly, his voice hoarse. "What if Tommy-"

"I COULD NEVER GET TIRED OF MY JOB, AWESAMDUDE. IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO WORK ALONGSIDE TOMMYINNIT AT HIS AMAZING HOTEL. WHEN TOMMY COMES BACK, HE WILL BE VERY HAPPY."

Sam shut his eyes, his fists clenched at his side as if he was in pain. There was silence between the two for a couple of seconds.

"Yeah," Sam croaked out, tears starting to well up in his eyes. "He'll be very happy with this. Thank you, Sam Nook."

Sam Nook had never felt happier. Tommy would be very happy with his hotel, and together they could beat out the competition! Sam was right!

"THANK YOU, AWESAMDUDE. PREPARE FOR THE BIG INNIT HOTEL TO RULE THIS SERVER."

Sam nodded slowly, his mouth open, with only short puffs of breath coming out. Exhaling, he looked up, gave a polite bow to Sam Nook, and departed. Jack Manifold left shortly after Sam as well, only giving a quick farewell to the robot.

The sky may have looked like it was crying, but that didn't change Sam Nook's mood. The sky was crying out of joy, surely! The server couldn't wait for TommyInnit to return to his hotel, and neither could Sam Nook.

So Sam Nook was fine to wait.

#totally not thinking about sam nook nope #dream smp #c!awesamdude #c!ranboo #c!jack manifold #sam nook #c!tubbo #c!tommy #my writing #my post

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the-tubbo-admisitration · 4 years ago

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The Tubbo Administration

In the morning everyone noticed how tired their president looked but no one really cared, he wouldn’t care if they were ill.The only person who seemed to care was Tubbo, rushing about to make sure Schlatt was ok and able to attend to his duties. The people saw King Eret that day, he’d made sure that both Schlatt and Tubbo were doing alright, some of the citizens noticed how he looked around at everyone like he was trying to read them- like he was searching for something.

A week later and Schlatt had slowly grown weaker, there were bags under his eyes when he ordered George to release Niki. His breathing was heavy when he’d done so much as walk around for a bit, people began wondering what happened. But no one really had any clue, it was like he’d just gotten ill, why would it be anything else?

Then there was Tubbo, he’d risen above his station and gone above and beyond for L’manburg. He did everything Schlatt couldn’t and allowed things Schlatt didn’t, everyone was happy to take orders from him, he was such an honest and sweet kid. Niki was quite vocal about distrusting poor Tubbo but luckily he had a lot of citizens quick to jump to his aid. Tubbo knew this and spent a lot of his time thanking people for their help and patience.

He was currently watching George and Punz repairing the bridge after a creeper had blown part of it up. He sat on a fence with his little clipboard, filling out paperwork for the president, he swung his legs lazily as he watched. “So are you both doing alright? No complaints?”

George chuckles a little at that.”I didn't think we were allowed complaints.”

Tubbo frowns softly and lowers his clipboard slightly. “George...I didn’t know you were that upset, we can arrange a meeting with the president if you’d like?”

All eyes were on George now, annoyed at him for upsetting Tubbo. George’s eyes went wide, realizing that Tubbo took him seriously...was he serious? Schlatt would never ask for complaints, Tubbo was just a sweet kid like that- and George had upset him. He took a step backwards, raising his hands slightly. “Hey hey, it’s ok, I was just joking don’t worry!”

The panic was clear in George’s voice and Tubbo tilted his head slightly, blinking a little longer than usual- just a second of closed eyes before a sweet smile appeared on the second most powerful person in L’manburg. “Oh, oh it’s ok George, I didn’t realise it was a joke.” He giggled, the sound carrying along the bridge and making a few more heads turn. Tubbo hopped off the fence, tucking his hands behind his back and watching a bird fly over before looking back to George. “Don’t you think it was a bit mean though?”

George glanced around, no one stood in defense of him, no matter what he said he was the bad guy, he just sighed and took a step back, hanging his head. “Yes...it was rude of me, I’m sorry.”

When he looked back up, Tubbo was right next to him, a hand on his arm. “Well you do seem genuinely sorry, I won’t tell Schlatt don’t worry.” He smiled brightly like he was sure George would be grateful, but George wasn’t even aware that telling Schlatt was even on the table- but he supposed that was an oversight on his part- not deception on Tubbo’s- it made sense for him to report to the president.

So he nodded, murmuring a thanks before turning and continuing to work on the bridge. He saw Tubbo smile in the corner of his eyes, but it wasn't a normal smile- more so one Schlatt would have then Tubbo. George paid it no mind though, he was probably just imagining things.

Some few hours after this, Eret had come to visit- instantly being greeted at the gate by Tubbo, who smiled brightly up at him. Everyone could see that Eret already considered Tubbo at least a student if not a son, it was obvious in the way that Eret spoke to him that he felt Tubbo was in need of a father figure. It wasn’ too far of a stretch to assume Tubbo saw him as some sort of mentor- constantly asking Eret about what it was like to be a king, about how royal succession differs from presidential succession, the whole lot. Niki made sure to state how it sounded like Tubbo wanted to be next in line, no one seemed to see the issue with that, he was a good kid and there's nothing wrong with trying to get a more stable position.

“Oh come on! You can’t possibly believe this! You’ve got to be-”

“Is something wrong Niki?” Eret asked, suddenly behind her, he was frowning and rather annoyed that his friend would say that kind of thing about poor Tubbo. He didn’t believe Niki would be that rude without due reasons, maybe it was a misunderstanding.

Niki turned to look at him, seemingly startled. “Oh! Eret! Yeah something is wrong, I think Tubbo is using your position to his advantage.” She says it so matter of fact that for a second Eret doesn’t think it sounds stupid, only for a second. Because before Eret can respond he is interrupted by a tiny sigh from behind him,Tubbo.

He was standing just behind Eret, fiddling with the pen and clipboard in his hands. He looks close to tears and is looking anywhere but Niki and Eret. “Do you really think that..?” His voice is small and shaky, almost highlighting the fact that he’s just a kid, everyone’s breath hitches- no one wants to see Tubbo cry.

Niki looked panicked, taking a step back and glancing around. “Well uh, I-” She pauses, frowning and clearly planning what to say before she pauses, Eret knew that expression; she’d just realised something. “Hold on a minute; you know what I think of you Tubbo. You’ve always been aware, don’t try and trick Eret like that.” She frowns at him and crosses her arms.

There is a moment when it’s almost silent, aside from some whispers confirming that Tubbo had known since the war. Eret looks at Tubbo, he wants to trust the kid but Niki had been his friend for a long time. He really doesn’t want to believe that Niki was telling the truth.

Tubbo had frozen in place, looking up at Niki with wide eyes. The clipboard fell out of his grip, clattering to the ground quietly- but in the quiet air it was deafening. Eret was staring in Tubbo’s eyes, he saw genuine fear in those eyes and it hurt so much- then something changed; something flickered in Tubbo’s eyes, something Eret couldn’t place. Then tears welled in Tubbo’s eyes, he clenched his fists and his face screwed up, everyone in the vicinity could see his shoulders were shaking.

Niki didn’t know what to do, did she get one up on him? What was happening? Tubbo had never reacted like this before and Niki wasn’t sure if it was good or dangerous. She took a step back, glancing around and meeting Fundy’s eyes, he looked just as scared as her, his ears down and tail under his legs.

Tubbo then exploded at her- tears streaming down his face. “IT DOESN’T MEAN IT DOESN’T HURT!! I USED TO THINK YOU WERE SO COOL BUT ALL YOU DO IS HATE ME!! I DON’T KNOW WANT I HAVE TO DO TO PLEASE YOU!!! WHY DO YOU HATE ME?!?!” He screamed, leaning forward just a little, everyone could see his expression and everyone was hurt by how stressed out he looked.

If Eret sided with Niki in that moment, he felt he'd have to give up his crown. He pulled Tubbo into a protective hug, stroking his hair and trying to reassure him. He knew all eyes were now on Niki and used that as a cue to usher Tubbo away from the crowd, still keeping a hand on his shoulder.

When they got to Schlatt’s office, the man himself was waiting outside. “I heard yelling, what happened?”

#dream smp #the tubbo administration #tubbo #tubbolive #tommyinit #tommy #wilbur soot #nichachu #jschlatt #schlatt2020 #schlatt #the eret #eret

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halcyonyy · 4 years ago

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvVbaLINHk0&ab_channel=SAD-ist

(spoilers of the animation under the cut)

pog animatic. just wonderful. “Dawn of 16th” animation. this is why everyone should respect artists. this is an analysis of the video linked above. scene one: wilbur talks to tommy. a very plain, and simple scene. yet you can see and feel the way that wilbur’s tired, he knows what he’s gonna do. scene two: the bench and the scenery so many damn memories. and how the sun rises as the camera angle moves back. no dialogue, but one that’s somehow impactful just from the art alone. and then there are shots of a broken and torn down place, and underwater reminding us that they are in fact going to destroy the place. scene three: dream talks to eret; tubbo and quackity this scene is very well known amongst the fandom. somehow, mcyt artists manage to make dream look threatening when he’s just in fact a lime colored block man with a blob man on it. “what do you think gives you power?” the choice of words sad-ist uses is great. i love how it doesn’t immediately start off the war, they choose to build it up first. and the music! the music choice is just fantastic. and the way dream said “is it your crown? is it the fact that you’re king?” he says it in such a way that he sounds calm and composed, he knew what he was about to do.in the middle of dream’s monologue, it cuts to quackity and tubbo looking over lmanberg. quackity isn’t wearing a suit, he isn’t on the side of schlatt. tubbo looks bandaged up, reminds us that he was just murdered in public by technoblade not too long ago.

“if respect is the only thing protecting you from a knife at the back, respect is nothing right?” dream may be homeless, but he has power. he doesn’t need respect, all he needs is for the people to fear him in order for him to be in control. scene four: tommy and tubbo talk “have you noticed that from the beginning of this, before wilbur, before everyone, just with those discs, no matter what happens here... it’s me and you versus dream.” while tommy talks, the scene cuts to the declaration of independence, wilbur in his lmanberg outfit, everyone in their lmanberg outfit, a scene of those discs being handed over, a destroyed lmanberg, dream and techno, all of those things did happen. the first war, the rise of lmanberg, it’s all in the past now.

what tommy says to tubbo is true and looking back at where we are now in the story, it hurts to hear it. dream knows that tommy and tubbo are stronger together, that’s why he’s doing everything in his power it keep it that way.

scene five: the festival the festival is over, everyone knows what happened in it. but it’s still very important for this part of the story. and the foreshadowing of philza minecraft as birds fly by. the festival, where the pogtopia v manburg war truly ignited.

scene six: the vault in this scene, pogtopia follows techno into his underground vault which he’s kept secret for so long. where he plans everything, the last moment for him to think. the last moment where techno was on pogtopia’s side, when they were last truly allies. he buffs them up, helps them, only to bring them down in the end. and the shocked reactions given by pogtopia, they didn’t know what was coming for them.

scene seven: “manburg, pogtopia, who cares?” a short, but important scene. the badlands could be seen helping pogtopia at first but what their allies didn’t know is that they’ll only be helping the winning side. they aren’t on pogtopia’s side, they aren’t on manburg’s side, they were on the winner’s side.

scene eight: the button “the thing that i built this nation for doesn’t exist anymore, it’s over.” wilbur, standing there, where the button. one press of it and everything goes boom. it’s over, he’s tired, he’s gonna get what he wants. if he can’t have lmanberg, then no one can. and then phil... phil appears last minute to try and convince wilbur not to do it. not to blow up the thing he built for, with every last bit of sanity left in his mind. scene nine: the war you can see colorful explosions from the rocket launchers, buildings coming down on itself. a war. the war. they take down the opposing side, you can see tubbo smile knowing lmanberg will be there’s again. how tommy is the one fighting dream, not techno.

scene ten: the camaravan the anti-climactic “ending” where jschlatt has a stroke. “you know if i die, this country goes down with me” somehow, schlatt predicted the future. tubbo become president, sure the beginning of his term was fine, but things started to come downhill again. another festival where this time, tommy’s wilbur and tubbo’s schlatt.

scene eleven: the government techno was so adamant on taking down the government, he unintentionally helped bring it back up. and in that moment, techno knew what he had to do. he was the one betrayed not the other way around. [click here for why]. scene twelve: the fallout as techno feels betrayed and fights back, wilbur and phil talk in the button room. everything has been leading up to this moment, the destruction of the nation he once built. phil trying, but inevitably fails. “it was never meant to be” and you see history repeating itself right then and there. a government formed only to be taken down. wilbur mirroring eret as he cries and pushes the button. then phil protects one of his sons from the blast as the other watches as lmanberg falls to the ground. “do it phil, kill me” that’s it for him. wilbur begs phil to kill him and in the end he does... dream laughs as the fallout happens.

scene thirteen: the withers and now, techno does his deal in the destruction. he summons 2 withers to tear the already blown up and messed up place that once was manburg. “you want to be a hero tommy, then die like one.” is such a powerful line, in the midst of chaos, there is opportunity there is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonger warfare ----- i might have missed a few scenes but that’s what i got so far, feel free to add more stuff if you want.

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bigenderbeanofficial · 4 years ago

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Dream SMP AU pt.1

Wilbur Soot:A New Development

“This is ridiculous man!” I shout across the lab's parking lot. Schlatt shrugs, fixing his tie, walking forwards to close the gap between us. “Schlatt, I already told you, this land isn't for sale. Now get off my property you jerk,” I growl as he reaches me. The most noticeable things about the arrogant man in front of me were his mutton-chop facial hair, and the large ram horns growing out of his head. The result of DarkStorm radiation.

“I want this land, Soot. And I'm going to get it. Just give me the deed and we won't have any more problems, yeah?” He explains, taking a whiff of his cigar like this situation meant nothing to him. A frown spreads across my face as I adjust my circular wire glasses. Fiddling with my lab coat’s sleeves, I sigh, staying quiet. “Listen Wilbur, I could pay you a lot of money for this place. Alternatively, I could get it for free, along with all of your research,” he smirks, extinguishing his cigar. I narrow my eyes, tucking some of my chocolate locks under my maroon beanie.

“You're bluffing. I've hired nobody new, there's no way a mole's made their way in,” I defend, trying to hide the uncertainty edging in my voice. Schlatt walks around me in a circle, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

“People can easily be swayed by money, Wilbur Soot. Not all of your men are as strong, rich, and powerful as you. Some of them are weak,” he replied, smiling like this was a game. I mean, it did make sense, slightly. My radio crackles and I hear a slightly muffled voice.

“Hey, Dr Soot? Calculations are showing we have thirteen minutes until this month's DarkStorm. This is Eret, over and out,” he informs me before cutting the transmission.

"Well Schlatt, as much as I'd like to stand out here and argue with you, I have to get inside. Unlike you, I'm not going to be caught dead in a DarkStorm and see what it does to me. Your antlers are looking fine though,” I say, turning on my heels, walking away from Schlatt and towards the laboratory.

"Hey! One, they're horns. Two, thanks for the snarky compliment. And three, watch your back, I'm getting this place one way or another!” Schlatt shouts, his voice fading away as I went further away from him and closer to my lab. The uncertainty I felt earlier was back, what if Schlatt was right? What if there really is a traitor among my team?

I grab my spray-painter like mask out of my black backpack, putting it on. I secure it, the light yellow mask was a problem, but it was necessary. I open my phone, clicking ‘alert’, sending a signal to every device on the continent, telling them to get the heck inside. Typing in the six-digit code, the thick metal door slides open with a whoosh. When the door closes, I quickly hope that everyone in the lab had their masks on like protocol. I pull a red lever with much difficulty, grunting. I hear the carbon monoxide containers hiss from inside the walls, followed by the thundering sound of the fans. At least the system wasn't damaged in all of the sandstorms. Nothing like the world ending. Fantastic.

I hear a loud bang, and then silence. This month's DarkStorm was here. I secure the cool metal door, before pausing as I hear a thump against the door. Strange. I opened the door, quickly shutting it as a young woman tumbles inside. The short, blonde woman looks up at me, her mouth forming a small ‘o'. Scrambling for the hanger covered in masks, she grabs my leg.

“I… I think I'm okay,” she whispers softly, blinking. I freeze as I look at her face. Flora was blossoming from her left eye socket, trailing down to her neck. Shaking my head to refocus, I toss a pink mask to her.

“No, you need to wear it. The air is pumped full of CO, it's the only thing that lets us keep light around in DarkStorms. It's literally poison, put on the dang mask so you don't die,” I argue with her, anger etching my voice.

#dream smp au #dream smp #alternate universe #my writing #writers on tumblr

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shipmistress9 · 5 years ago

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FTLOAP - 41: Don’t Let Me Go

Fandom: HTTYD

Theme: Hiccstrid - Medieval-style AU - Romance - Angst/Hurt/Comfort

Summary: Reduced to little more than a stable boy, Hiccup, despite his noble birth, has few prospects for more in life. But when he meets a girl who came to look at the horses, being a stable boy might not be enough anymore. Together, they have tough choices to make and great risks to navigate if they want to survive and be together.

Rating: Explicit

FF-net - AO3 -

Discord-server for discussions and questions

Part 1: Prologue; Chapter 1; Chapter 2; Chapter 3; Chapter 4; Chapter 5; Chapter 6; Chapter 7; Chapter 8; Chapter 9; Chapter 10; Chapter 11;

Part 2: Chapter 12; Chapter 13; Chapter 14; Interlude 1; Chapter 15; Chapter 16; Chapter 17; Chapter 18; Chapter 19; Chapter 20; Chapter 21; Chapter 22; Chapter 23; Chapter 24; Chapter 25; Chapter 26; Interlude 2; Chapter 27: Chapter 28 ; Chapter 29 ; Chapter 30; Chapter 31; Chapter 32; Interlude 3; Bonus 1; Chapter 33

Part 3: Chapter 34; Chapter 35; Chapter 36; Interlude 4; Chapter 37; Chapter 38; Chapter 39; Chapter 40; Interlude 5

Alpha/Co-author: @athingofvikings

. – * – _ . o O o . _ – * – .

AN: Yay, we're back again! Thank you all for your patience.

This chapter... I'm going to say a little more at the end, but just this: It didn't turn out as I imagined it since last summer. But due to reasons, I had to change things, leave things out, or right out ignore entire points, so, yeah... I just hope it's still good enough.

As for the title... This too changed many times over the past year. I was never in a situation where I wouldn't have a title, it was more like I have too many that would fit. Up until last week, I was sure it would be Your Arms Are My Castle from Cascada's Every Time We Touch. But, well, things changes. A lot! So now it's from Don't Let Me Go - Acoustic by RAIGN. With the theme I Only Want You from the Castle TV-show as the underlying soundtrack... probably...

. o O o .

Hiccup reacted without even a heartbeat's hesitation. Without a doubt, that scream had come from Markor, and there were few reasons why he would scream like that. And none of them meant anything good.

Before anything else around registered in his mind, Hiccup rode Cassie to the side. A nudge of his heels and she was galloping freely past the general chaos of frightened horses and confused men, and towards the direction of the scream. He was so focused on getting there as quickly as he could that it took him a moment to notice Eret riding directly in front of him, and then to remember that him rushing to the Princess's aid like this might draw unwanted attention. But right now, none of that mattered, not when Astrid was in possible danger – and with Eret around, he even had a valid excuse anyway.

The sounds were coming from a small copse of aspen trees, and Hiccup directed Cassie to it. As they approached, he spotted Astrid quickly, her colourful dress standing out starkly against the muted browns and greens of the forest, even though she was covered in dirt, grass, leaves, and twigs. Thankfully no reds, though. She wasn’t moving as if injured, just impeded by her dress, as she crawled over the ground in a hurry towards–

His breath caught in his throat as his eyes followed her path and instantly took in what had happened. Markor was lying on the ground as well, and as Hiccup watched, was trying to get back on his feet, even as more cries of pain came from him. But Hiccup didn’t even need to take a closer look to know that, with an injured leg like that, the gelding would never stand again...

The realisation made new pain shoot into his heart, and not just for Astrid's sake but also for his own. Behind his mind’s eye, the months Hiccup had spent with the horse rushed past him in a heartbeat; how he’d first met the late yearling upon his arriving at the stud farm, how they’d built a bond of trust and friendship that had only grown stronger when Hiccup had trained him to be gifted to the Princess, and that first meeting in the stables months ago where rubbing down the gelding together had brought him and Astrid closer. All that were happy memories, memories Hiccup treasured – and now, there was no way to save Markor...

"Swanja, don't," cut Eret's voice into his mind. He'd dismounted Crusher and was already at her side, holding her back from the reeling horse. "Don't get any closer, he might hurt you."

"B-but I have t-to help him," she sobbed. "Please, I... let me..." She was fighting against Eret's arms around her, trying to get past him, but he wouldn't let her.

"We can't help him anymore," he implored. "Not with an injury like that. You know that, Swanja. All we can do now is end his suffering. Please, let me–"

"No! No, please no! You can't do that, please!" she wailed. However, she stopped fighting Eret, and as Hiccup dismounted, she turned and clutched at Eret’s tunic, her knuckles standing out white against the dark red fabric, and as he wrapped his arms around her, she sagged into his embrace and started to weep.

Hiccup just stood next to Cassie, watching it all with a sense of painful hollowness in his chest. He wanted to push his cousin away, to be the one to comfort her. He wanted her pain to go away, to distract her or offer her something to make it easier. But none of that was possible. It wasn't his place to hold her in his arms, not anymore, and there was no way to lessen her pain. His eyes flickered back toward the injured horse, and the lump in his throat grew even bigger. He knew what they had to do, and the sooner the better. But that didn’t mean he had to like it.

Hiccup glanced back at Eret just as his cousin cleared his throat and gave him an indicative nod. He knew that Eret would have done it himself, having spent his entire life around horses. But with Astrid still holding on to him as if he was all that kept her together he couldn't move, and they both knew that Hiccup knew what to do well enough, too.

With a curt nod, he took a dagger from his riding pack, hid it in his boot, and approached Markor, humming and with his hands raised to calm him at least a little bit. "Shh, it's okay, boy. It's okay. Calm down." The words came automatically and without him even thinking about them. He couldn't think right now anyway, could only function. He had a task to do. With the soothing noises and the familiar hands on his head, Markor soon calmed down until he lay still with only the occasional low whinny. For a minute, Hiccup kept stroking his fur and talked in a low voice, further calming the large horse while his left hand reached for the hidden dagger. It was done quickly, just one well-placed movement, and only a few heartbeats later, Markor lay entirely still.

Behind him, he could hear Astrid cry out again and Eret's low whispering, but in that moment, neither of that truly reached him. Instead, the words from his dream suddenly echoed through his mind again.

“You can hold your beloved in your arms again. But first, you will end the life of someone dear to her.”

Hiccup's breath caught in his throat as he stared down into Markor's lifeless eye, at his own hands covered in blood. Could this be it? Was this what the Goddess had meant? But how?

Slowly, he shook his head. He'd thought he'd have to kill someone who was in their way. He’d struggled for hours whether he could do that, whether he could become a murderer just to be with her again, and whether he'd even still be worthy of her if he did. His mind had conjured up one scenario after the other in which him killing someone who was about to stop them might be acceptable, self-defence, but they all had felt hollow and surreal.

But now that he thought about it... that hadn't been what the Goddess had said. She hadn't said that he'd ‘have to kill someone to be with her’. No, she'd only said that ‘he would end a life before he could hold her again’.

A low sob escaped him and he slumped down until his head rested against Markor's. "I'm so sorry," he gasped into the still-warm fur. "You didn't deserve this." But none of this was about what anyone deserved, the slightly more practical part of him realised. Markor's death hadn't been a condition for their happiness, just something that would happen before they could hope again.

But still, he found himself wishing it had been something else. It wasn't that he wanted Eret or Daniel or anyone else to die – but he hadn't wanted Markor to die either, and even though he understood that it made no logical sense to blame himself, he felt guilty nonetheless. Foresight was a painful gift indeed...

Hiccup had no idea how long he'd knelt there next to Markor's still body. He wasn’t paying attention to what was happening around him beyond the assurance that Eret would care for Astrid, so he flinched when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

"Hey, you better get up," Dagur muttered in a gloomy voice. When Hiccup looked up, a hint of confusion in his empty eyes, he added, "We're all heading back. And Uncle Osmond decided that Swanja is to ride with you."

From one breath to the next, Hiccup's heartbeat accelerated from barely there to a stampede. "What?" he gasped, his eyes unerringly darting to where she was still hiding from everyone against Eret's chest.

"Don't ask me," Dagur replied with a shrug. "She was about to ride with Eret, but there was something about not giving advantages, and... I don't know, but this is what the King decided."

With his mind reeling, Hiccup struggled to stand back up onto his legs, and stumbled as his left cramped. Only Dagur's quick reaction kept him from falling again.

"Careful there. And... can I give you a bit of free advice?" He waited, and when Hiccup didn't object seemed to take that as agreement. "First, you should be careful. I know that she wouldn't mind the touch of a friend, but they’re all looking for something to discredit Eret with. You better make sure not to touch her more than absolutely necessary, or this all might turn into an even bigger mess. And second... well... you might want to clean up before you go over there."

Dagur gestured down at his hands, and when Hiccup’s followed the gesture, he found them still covered in red. Mechanically, he nodded. "Yes… Yes, I'll..."

"There's a stream over there," Dagur pointed helpfully. "But you better hurry, we're all just waiting for you."

Hiccup nodded again, then staggered in the direction Dagur had indicated, quickly finding the stream. The water was cold, but it felt good after the heat of Markor’s blood, and he cleaned his hands as best he could, not wanting to upset Astrid further by letting her see any traces. That done, he headed to where the others were waiting for him. Upon Eret's sign, he mounted Cassie then made room for Eret to lift Astrid up until she sat in front of him. And only then did the full weight of what was happening truly hit him.

She was going to ride with him? The whole way back to the castle, the entire two hours? And he wasn't to interact with her in any way, let alone touch her? How was he supposed to do that, when all his heart, mind, body, and soul longed for was to hold her close and never let go of her again?

With his entire body trembling, he led Cassie until they rode in the centre of the group of guards assigned to them. The stern looks the men gave them only reinforced Dagur’s warning – they wouldn’t treat any breach of decorum lightly, not in Astrid’s currently brittle state. So he was careful to keep his arms in an awkward half-bent and raised manner, holding Cassie’s reigns without touching Astrid – even as the mayweed scent wafting from her hair made him dizzy and he had to fight the urge and longing to hold her tight at every single second. Again and again, he kept reminding himself that this wasn’t the right place to do so, not with so many people watching them...

–and not without knowing how she feels about me, he realised with a start. It was two weeks now since they’d last talked of some sort, one week since she’d at least moved on a little and had turned to Eret for comfort. For Hiccup, last night had been a turning point, the realisation that he couldn’t simply give up on them and the revelation that there still was hope… But that didn’t mean that she felt the same.

“You can hold your beloved in your arms again.”

Holding her in his arms… Wasn’t that what he was doing right now, in a way at least? Was this all the Goddess had referred to? Had Markor died just for him to spend this last ride with her?

A shiver ran down his spine and he choked back a sob as a spark of desperation rose inside him. Was it possible that he’d deceived himself like this, that this ride was all they would ever get? But no, that couldn’t be. That hadn’t been all the Goddess had said. She’d also said that there was always hope, that he only had to do what came naturally to him, and that he would hold his prize in his arms if he did the Gods’ work – whatever that would be.

He would have to hold onto that thought, or he would lose his mind.

However, the question about how she thought about him was burning at the front of his mind, especially as her face was nothing but a stony mask with rivulets of silent tears running down her cheeks. He wished he could ask her or even comfort her in any way... but that wasn’t possible. Not now, not when they were surrounded by so many people, with so many eyes watching them intently for any slip-ups.

And thus went the ride; Hiccup felt every moment as they blurred together like grains of sharp glass under his bare feet, each one distinct and painful, yet identical to the others, as they stretched on and on... He didn’t even try to distract himself from the thought of how the only thing separating them was their clothes and a finger width's space between them, knowing that that would be futile anyway. With every step Cassie made, they swayed and shook, just a little but it was enough for her shoulders to brush against his arms or for her hair to tickle at his neck every now and then. It was wonderful and agonising at the same time, being so close to her and yet unable to do or say anything. All he could do to ward off the rising desperation in his heart was to focus on his love for her, on the warmth and tenderness and comfort, and try to send all those emotions through their bond, hoping that they might reach her…

… and to pray for a miracle, for a chance to talk to her – before it was too late.

. o O o .

Astrid felt as if she would break apart at any moment now.

No, that wasn’t true. She’d already fallen apart. It was only her well-trained mask that followed Tuff through the corridors and to her rooms, while inside she'd already crumbled into a million tiny pieces.

This day… she’d looked forward to and dreaded it at the same time. The ball tonight with her unofficial choice was supposed to give her comfort, stabilising her in the path she’d taken. But the closer the day had come the more simply thinking about it, about renouncing everything that had been between her and Hiccup, had seemed impossible. And the ride… The ride had been a gift from Eret to her. It had been meant to be at least a tiny bit of freedom, of doing what she loved amidst this entire mess. Contrary to what she’d told her father, she had been looking forward to spending a few hours on Markor’s back, even with knowing that the pace and the company would be annoying.

But now, the ride had turned into her worst nightmare, and within only a few short moments everything had changed. Thuggory approaching her and his stallion snapping at Markor who'd already been skittish all day. Him shying away from any stallion had happened so often before and she’d always known how to rein him in again. But today, with her heart and mind being entirely somewhere else and with the cursed side-saddle having given her less control, she hadn’t been fast enough – hadn’t been good enough. She hadn’t been able to keep him calm, Markor had run away from his attacker, and the only thing Astrid had been able to do about it had been holding on to him as best she could. Then she’d lost her balance as the broad back beneath her had suddenly dropped. She’d fallen, landing painfully on the ground, and that scream…

It had all happened so fast and she barely remembered anything of what had happened afterwards, but that sound… Never in her life would she be able to forget that scream.

When they reached her chambers, Astrid barely registered how Tuff warded off any questions his sister tried to ask her. Instead, she stumbled past her maidservant and… she didn’t even think about where to go. It seemed inevitable, like there was only one place to go, one object that could soothe her in her current state.

Unable to hold herself on her legs any longer, she slumped down into the chair in front of her desk. Her fingers were trembling when she opened the lid to her treasure chest but still didn’t waver as they reached for her trusted music box. The familiar tune would help her, it always did. She just needed a few minutes to pull herself together again, just watching the tiny dancer for a few rounds. Surely, this would centre her enough to, somehow, survive the ball and everything attached to it.

Taking the music box out of the coffer and getting it started happened without her even having to think about it. But even as she was doing that, her eyes had fallen on another object in her box, a simple object that was still able to stir up new emotions inside her whenever she looked at it: the wooden carving of a horse that looked so much like Markor and that Hiccup had given her – as a reminder.

Astrid’s entire body shook as she fought to keep her feelings locked deep inside her. She couldn't let them loose, not ever, or she wasn't sure whether she would be able to contain them again. But...

Markor – her beloved horse, Eret's gift, the witness to those first hours she'd spent with Hiccup, the tiny grasp of freedom her father had granted her – was dead! Nothing could return him to her. She would never see him again, never hear his happy snort when she came to visit him, never again feel the warmth of his fur beneath her hands or the simple comfort they could give each other when he playfully rubbed his nose against her chest. And she hadn't even been able to say goodbye.

A desperate sob tore itself from her throat at that realisation, of how utterly insurmountable it was to retrieve what was lost forever. How was she supposed to pull herself together enough for the ball? It was only an hour or two before she would have to be presentable and face all those men again. It felt impossible, and she wasn't sure whether her soothing music box would be enough.

On the pure reflex of having done the same motion countless times before, she reached out to shake the music box as it approached the usual sticking point in the music – except that it didn't get stuck.

Because Hiccup had repaired it.

With wide eyes, Astrid gazed at the music box, at the tiny dancer as it twirled in time with the unfamiliar tune. She could feel it as the last dam insider her cracked at that moment. All she got out was a weak whimper before the flood wave of sorrow crashed down on her, drowning her in all those memories and emotions she'd tried to lock away forever.

Hiccup.

She'd forbidden herself to think about him. For roughly a week now, she'd tried to convince herself that she was okay, or would be at least. That she could be happy with Eret, could live a life other than at his side. But she'd been deceiving herself, she now realised – and probably had known it the entire time.

Even when she'd tried to focus on talking to Eret or had found some form of comfort in his closeness, she'd still been so aware of Hiccup, of where exactly he stood or whether he was in the same room at all. Even without her help, her eyes had wandered through the room only to glide over him in passing, never lingering but unable to stay away from him either. Yes, she'd been a fool… but it had taken this day to realise it.

Losing Markor had hurt like nothing else – and still did – but in a strangely different way, the ride back to the castle had hurt just as much. Hiccup had been so close! His warmth had radiated toward her even without him touching her, and his breath on her neck had sent pleasant shivers down her spine. It could have been perfect; she'd just needed to lean back a tiny little bit then she could have basked in his embrace, could have imagined his love and comfort around her like a blanket. She could have imagined that there was still hope for them.

But there was no hope.

Hiccup had made it clear that, no matter how much they both might long for it, there was no way for them. He'd given up. And no matter how desperate she still might be for there to just be something, his behaviour today had proven that nothing had changed. He hadn't even made a single attempt at talking to her or holding her; not even a hug or the comforting words of a friend. Just silence and distance despite the longing she thought she'd felt thrumming through their bond.

It was then when she broke down for real, half-draped across her desk and with the melody of the music box taunting her until it ran out. She cried, harder and more abundantly than even during the nights before. Markor was lost forever and so was Hiccup and their future. Over and over her mind circled around the same thoughts, unable to find a way out.

She couldn't go on any longer. Markor was dead. Her future with Hiccup was lost. And yet, every fibre of her being still longed for him, his warm embrace, his sweet kisses, and the ease and comfort of simply being with him. She needed him like she needed the air to breathe. She couldn't go on any longer…

. o O o .

Astrid stood at the head of the big ballroom, hidden from everyone by a thick curtain. She only dimly recalled how she’d gotten here; Ruff had eventually shaken her out of her stupor and whispered the only words that still held some meaning.

For Eret.

Her own life had no worth to her, not anymore. All she still could do was help to make her best friend's life easier. It was only a small comfort, but it would have to be enough. It was all that was left to her. So she'd let Ruff make her presentable; she'd gotten her hair and makeup in order and had dressed her in the most extravagant outfit Astrid had worn so far; the bust had a beautiful intricate pattern of different shades of blue, ranging from dark midnight to a rich sky blue, while the skirt was made of countless layers of the lightest silk she'd ever seen, floating around her like a cloud of nearly white light blue. Her silver swan coronet and a pair of silken dark-blue gloves that reached up to her elbows completed her appearance, and under different circumstances, she probably would have complimented the exquisite handiwork of the dressmaker.

Now though, she simply stood there behind her curtain, apathetically waiting for her sign to join the celebrating crowd. She could hear them talking and laughing, and there was music too, many couples certainly dancing already.

A part of her wanted to charge into the room and scream at them all; how could they celebrate on a day like this?

But, of course, to them, nothing bad had happened today. Nothing but a small accident with no casualties except for a dumb horse. Nothing serious. Nothing but exciting gossip on this day of socialising and forming bonds. There was a reason the invited guests had also brought their daughters, after all; with so many eligible noblemen looking for a bride, her unofficial choice tonight would certainly discourage some of those who'd been courting her, enough so that they might turn their attention to other young noblewomen instead. Hers wouldn't be the only betrothal that would soon be celebrated.

Astrid was torn between hating having to wait here and dreading the moment she would have to step in front of the crowd. People would expect a decision from her – and she wasn't ready! How could she ever be ready to renounce their divine connection? But all too soon, the music paused and with a whispered "It's your turn now, milady. Make me proud," her governess shooed her out of her hiding place. If Astrid had possessed the energy, she would have wanted to scratch the woman’s eyes out for her words. But as it was, all she could do was mutely take her place at her father's side, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest, and she felt dizzy as all eyes in the room turned toward her. She was sure that the King said some important-sounding words, announcing the next dance to be ladies' choice with only implying the deeper meaning of her choice, but she didn't hear any of it.

Slowly, as if in a trance, she took the couple of steps leading down from the dais to the dance floor. She couldn't hear anything over her blood rushing through her ears, could barely see more than blurry faces swimming in a sea of meaningless colours. And then, even those were gone, and even though she could feel her body moving on, the scene playing out behind her mind's eye was another.

“One day, we will dance together,” he promised, murmuring against her skin. “I’ll come to you, open and for everyone to see, and ask you for a dance. Maybe they would stare and wonder, but it won’t matter. There will be only you and me. Forever.”

Astrid chuckled at his mellow words, even as the picture they painted was a beautiful one. “What makes you think you’ll be the one to ask?” she replied, and turned her head to seek his skin with her lips. “Maybe it’ll be ladies’ choice. I’d walk along the line of waiting men, not seeing any of them, only you…”

A hiccupy sob tore itself from her chest before she could hold it back and recompose herself. Oh, how she wished those words from what seemed to be another life could become reality.

Without her help, her eyes landed on his and for the first time in days stayed there as she kept walking along the line of watching people. And what she saw there nearly broke her all over again. She saw his longing that found its echo in her own heart, saw his love and warmth just like she felt it all thrumming in her chest. She had no doubt that he'd remembered their conversation about dancing together just now too, knew that he wanted it to be real just like she did.

But that was impossible. This wasn't about what they wanted anymore, and never had been. There was no hope for their dream of a shared future, and indulging in this wish of at least dancing with him this one time would only cause problems, possibly even his death.

There was no hope...

She'd almost reached him before she managed to squelch those thoughts and turn her eyes away from him. It was lucky, really, that Eret would stand right next to him, or people would have wondered why she'd come here in the first place. With her last strength, she turned her head, her hollow eyes finding those of her friend. Her hand reaching out to him was only half asking him for the dance; the other half was seeking something to hold on to as the entire room started to spin around her.

She felt as if she was falling; when Eret took her hand, when he led her back into the middle of the room, even when the music started and they began to move in time with the melody. She was falling, falling, falling, and not even Eret's arms around her were able to hold her anymore. The whole room around her was spinning faster and faster, and not just because of their dancing. Everything around her was nothing but a blur – except for one single face amidst the crowd, the only face she would always find, no matter what. He was moving, walking away from the dancefloor and the crowd and toward the large glass doors that led out into the garden. Before he left her sight, however, he turned and their eyes met once more.

And the way he looked at her… sadness and pain mixed with desperate longing, the same turmoil of emotions she was feeling too. But there was also something else, something more, another emotion she couldn’t quite name right away. It took her another moment or three, time in which he slipped out of the room, before she understood. And when she did, the sensation of falling and of the world around her spinning too fast became even worse.

Hiccup had looked disappointed.

As if he’d hoped!

It was all too much... Astrid couldn’t take any more, and from one moment to the other, everything around her turned black...

. o O o .

Astrid awoke to a mild headache, a bitter taste on her tongue, and the room still spinning around her. It wasn’t as bad as before though, which was good. She blinked, trying to clear her head and remember what had happened. But after walking past the waiting men, there was nothing.

The room around her was only dimly lit by a small lamp somewhere to her side. It wasn't her bedroom that much was clear, but it took her a moment before she realised where she was: in one of the smaller parlours that were attached to the ballroom and that usually provided space for people to talk more privately. Someone must have brought her here, after…

"Are you feeling better, milady?"

Astrid flinched at those words – she'd thought she was alone – but it was just Ruff who leaned over her, concern clear on her face. Instead of an answer, Astrid tried to sit up, groaning, and only managed when Ruff took hold of her hand and shoulder to help her up.

"Careful, don’t rush it now. You’ve been out for about twenty minutes. Here, drink this and give yourself a few minutes before you get up." She handed her a glass of watered wine, but also placed her other hand on her shoulder to keep her from standing up.

Astrid accepted the glass gratefully and took a careful sip. She could practically feel how her body absorbed the liquid; had she eaten or drunk anything at all since breakfast? She couldn’t remember. After a minute or so of silence, she asked in a weak voice, “What happened?”

Ruff watched her with a concerned grimace. “You fainted during your opening dance with Eret. He caught you – which, granted, wasn’t too hard with you already being in his arms, I guess – and directly brought you here. I’m a little impressed, actually. Another man would have gotten annoyed at this grand moment – your first official dance as nearly-betrothed – getting interrupted. But he acted more like an apprehensive mother hen; it got so bad that I sent him away to fetch… whatever I was thinking about at that moment. Tuff is guarding the door, so you can rest here until you feel better. He won’t let anyone in for now.”

Astrid nodded mutely and slowly sipped her wine, her lips twitching into something like a faint smile at Ruff’s words. She wondered how Tuff would react if the King himself demanded entrance – not that that was very likely – and was fairly sure that her warder would even try to keep him away if he thought it necessary.

As she drank, memories of what had happened before her blackout slowly came back to her though, even if only in fractions. The sensation of falling, and a single face in a sea of colours with an impossible expression on it. He’d made it clear that there was no hope left for them, no chance of ever being together. And yet, he’d been disconcerted when she turned to Eret after all. He still hoped!

“I need to talk to him,” she murmured, startling Ruff when her words broke the silence between them. She placed the glass on a low side table and pushed herself up onto shaky legs, her eyes darting to where another set of doors led into the gardens, before Ruff could hold her back. She couldn’t let anyone hold her back now! If there was even the tiniest bit of hope left for her and Hiccup, then she had to take it.

“Wait, wait,” Ruff tried to interfere hastily. “Who do you mean? Eret? I can tell Tuff to call him in, no problem. No need for you to–”

Astrid interrupted her. “No, I don’t mean Eret.”

She didn’t elaborate, just threw her maidservant a desperate look. Ruff had witnessed her crying into her pillows night after night; she had to know who she was talking about. And she clearly did. Astrid could see the understanding dawn in her eyes. Her hand on Astrid’s shoulder tightened, and for a second, it seemed as if she would hold her back, would call Tuff back in and whoever else might be waiting for her to come back to her senses. One witness, and Astrid sneaking out into the night would become impossible. But then she drew her hand back and gave her a tight nod.

“Go. Do what you have to; Tuff and I will buy you as much time as we can.”

Astrid swallowed, touched by Ruff’s words. She’d never doubted the twins’ loyalty to her, and after learning that they’d known about her sneaking away but hadn’t told anyone, Astrid had begun to understand that this loyalty was stronger than she’d thought. But only now did she realise just how deep in really went. She would have to find a way to thank them later. But for now, all she could do was breathe a heartfelt, “Thank you,” before slipping out into the night. The cool air bit into the skin of her bare upper arms; maybe it would have been more prudent to take some form of cloak with her, but she didn’t care. She had no idea how much time she would have; she wouldn’t waste what she had with something that trivial.

Logically, she should have been worried whether Hiccup would even still be out here or how she was supposed to find him among the ample labyrinth of hedges and flower beds and bushes and trees. But somehow, she knew exactly where to find him; it was just like it had been in that first night, Eret’s accolade, when some inner sense had told her where he was at any moment. Maybe it was the separation that had let their bond intensify like this or it was the Gods’ interference that guided her, she didn’t know – but she also didn’t care. All she cared about was that she could feel how she got closer to him with every step or turn, that it would only be a matter of a few more heartbeats, until–

She stopped dead in her tracks when she reached an opening amidst the hedges and spotted him standing at the other end, only a handful of steps away from her. So close and they were entirely alone out here. This was exactly what a part of her – the part that still was and always would be his Astrid – had longed for ever since he’d fled from the armoury almost two weeks ago; the chance to talk freely, to be just them again.

But now that it was here, she didn’t know what to do or say. He’d clearly noticed her arrival; his shoulders had visibly tensed and, surely, he had felt her approach just like she had felt him, too. He didn’t react though, didn’t say or do anything, and for a moment, Astrid feared she might have read too much into that moment of shared desperate looks. What if she’d been wrong, if nothing had changed? She wasn’t sure whether either of them would be strong enough to live through another meeting like their last one.

So she stood still, eyes fixed on his hunched-over figure and uncertain what to do, before she reminded herself of something she’d learned during the happy months she’d spend with him: that she could ask him everything, that with him, she didn’t need to hold back. She only hoped that was still true.

“What just happened in there?” she blurted out before she could overthink again.

At first, she thought Hiccup wouldn’t respond though, his shoulders only growing even tenser. But eventually, he did react, if not as she’d hoped he would.

“What do you mean?” he asked in a low, nearly inaudible whisper. His back was still turned toward her and with a breeze rustling the twigs around them, she shouldn’t have been able to understand him. But right now, she would’ve picked out his voice amidst a thunderstorm.

“I mean… I mean the way you looked, right before you left. Wha-what was that supposed to mean?”

Hiccup grunted out something like a harsh and unamused laugh before he finally turned his head to look at her. It was dark out here, the lights of the castle barely reaching them, but she could still see that his eyes were hollow and tired. “I know I suggested it,” he murmured. “But… it’s so hard to watch you two together. I’m sorry that I’m not strong enough; I didn’t mean to let you see this. You… you should go back, I’m sure everyone is missing you already.”

And what about you? she wanted to demand, but kept herself from blurting out those harsh words. They weren’t necessary, she didn’t doubt that he was missing her too. But that wasn’t the point.

“That’s not what I meant,” she replied instead, her voice gentle and soothing, if a little weak. If he only felt half as brittle as she did, then harsh words wouldn’t help right now. “You looked… disappointed, as if you’d expected me to do something else. And I… I just…” she trailed off, again unsure of what to say.

Hiccup turned a little more, eyeing her with the intensity she’d missed dearly. “You… what?”

“I… I need to know what you were thinking,” she added. “Please…”

There was an uncomfortable pause in which nothing but both their breathing was audible, his getting heavier by the second, as if he was struggling with some inner fight. Then he sighed, his shoulders slumping, and he gave a weak nod. “You’re right,” he murmured. “For a moment, I thought… I thought you’d come to me instead. I know how stupid that was, given everything that happened, but–” he paused, shrugging helplessly– “I guess I was hoping for a miracle, for this nightmare to end. I just… I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Astrid could do little but stare at him as her mind tried to work through his words. Oh, they were simple enough and she knew what he meant, had felt the same. But there was one thing he’d said, one single word that threatened to make everything around her fall apart again.

“You’ve… You’ve been hoping?” she gasped, her knees going weak.

Hiccup obviously understood the implication and met her eyes with a clear look. “Yes.”

For the second time this night, the whole world around her was spinning. Everything she’d done lately – giving up her dreams and giving in to the expectations placed on her, accepting the thought of becoming Eret’s wife and trying to find comfort in that fate – all that she’d done based on one single fact: that Hiccup had given up and that there was nothing she could do either. That there was no hope left for them. But if that wasn’t true, if Hiccup still hoped…

The feeling of spinning got worse, as if she might pass out again at any moment. This was too much. The day had been too much, worse than any before, and the thought that she might have given up too soon... She was falling again, idly wondering whether hitting the soft grass beneath her would hurt or whether she’d even still feel the impact – but it never came to that.

From one heartbeat to the next, she was suddenly caught in an embrace she’d thought she would never feel again. His warmth and closeness washed through her like a healing wave that made her whimper helplessly. It felt so good. Weakly, she huddled closer against his chest, seeking more of what she’d missed so desperately: His warmth, his scent, his closeness, the feeling of rightness and security he always gave her. She didn’t say anything for a while, only basked in it all until the world stopped spinning and her mind became a little clearer again.

“I thought there was no hope left for us,” she eventually mumbled against his chest. They were both back on their feet now, but still entangled in a tight embrace with one another. Her arms wrapped around his waist to hold on to him. She never wanted to let go of him again.

“There is always hope,” he seemed to mumble into her hair.

Her mind went blank for a moment. No. She must have misheard him. Her mind was playing tricks on her, taunting her. “What?” she gasped out and turned her head until she could look up at him. She needed more than just words, needed to see it for herself.

Hiccup looked at her as well, a mixture of soft adoration and desperate longing in his eyes. “‘There is always hope’,” he repeated and loosened his hold around her to brush a few loose strands of hair out of her eyes. “That’s what the Goddess told me.” He paused, hesitantly licking his lips. “I… had another vision last night,” he explained upon her confused look. “She visited me in my dreams and, among other things, told me that there’s always hope. That… that I would only have to do what comes naturally for me and then we can be together.” He shrugged self-consciously.

Astrid leaned her forehead back against his chest as she tried to grasp what he’d just told her. She wanted to believe him, only the Gods knew how much she wanted. But did she dare to do so? She took a minute to try and make sense of it all, all whilst holding on to him as tightly as she could. She wanted it to be true, wanted to be with him for the rest of her life. But could she rebuild her hope based on nothing but this? Could she give in to the growing longing that was about to burst through her inner walls and tear down the brittle construct of another life she’d build over the last week? Did she even have a choice?

“Are you sure it wasn’t just a dream, just wishful thinking?” she asked, her voice close to breaking. His heartbeat was thrumming in her ear as her hands tightened in his tunic at his back, desperate to believe it as well but also afraid of renewed pain. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to endure that.

“Yes, I’m sure,” he eventually murmured, hesitantly, and when she looked up again, he had his face averted, chewing at his lip in thoughts. “It’s a… a long story. Not something to tell you now. But yes, I have enough reason to believe that it wasn’t just an ordinary dream. She told me things, knew things that…”

He trailed off when she began to tremble uncontrollably, keening, and his arms around her tightened until he was almost crushing her. It still wasn’t enough. In that moment, as the emotional tide she’d tried to hold back burst through her and washed away every reasonable thought left, she only wanted him to hold her tighter, closer, until they were merged together, inseparably.

For a few minutes, neither of them spoke. They didn’t need to. For now, it was enough to just hold each other, to be this close again after a separation that had lasted for far too long. Again, Astrid was basking in it all, his warmth and comfort, in the reassurance and safety she felt radiating from him. But it was so much more intense now compared to earlier as it came with the hope that their suffering might be over. She was amazed at how simple it was, at how easily they clicked back together. The torn pieces of her heart slid back into place, the edges reconnecting as if nothing had ever happened. She was back in Hiccup’s arms and, for this moment, everything was perfect.

But she knew that reality couldn’t be warded off forever. Even with how good and right it felt to be with him again, they couldn’t stay out here in the cool gardens forever. Sooner rather than later, she would have to get back. People would start to look for her, if they hadn’t already; Ruff wouldn’t be able to appease them for much longer. She had to get back to the ball before someone noticed her absence, had to get back to her mask, to playing her part. She had to get back to become Eret’s wife.

She sobbed as this realisation hit her. She loved Eret, as her friend and her brother, she really did. But the idea of actually marrying him now that new hope for her being with her soulmate had taken root inside her…

“I can’t do this,” she whispered weakly. Hiccup tensed up and made attempts to pull away from her, but she wouldn’t let him and instead clung to him with all the strength she had left. “I can’t go back in there and pretend anymore,” she elaborated instead. “Not when this is still possible. Please, Hiccup. What can we do?”

“I-I don’t know.” He sounded incredibly brittle, vulnerable. “All I know is that there must be a way, but I don’t know what it is. Nothing has changed there. But… but I will find a way through this!”

His words, muffled into her hair, did little to calm her. Without a doubt, it was soothing to know that they were on the same page again. But he was right; nothing had changed. There still was no way out for them, and their time to find one was limited. Not marrying Eret after tonight would cause some turmoil, but it would pass. Her choice at the ball hadn’t been binding, after all. But that left them only two more weeks until that choice would become official, until going back on her word would cause a great amount of trouble, no matter how close the Houses Hofferson and Jag’r were. But if they couldn’t find a way...

“Take me away from here.” The words were out before she could think about it. It didn’t matter that they’d talked about that option before, didn’t matter that, logically, she knew it was insane. It was the only solution she could think of.

“Astrid, that’s–”

But before Hiccup could say any more, object to her idea as she expected, she cut him off with a quick shake of her head. She wasn’t sure whether some part of her had thought this through before or whether she was making it up as she went, but from one second to the other, the idea was in her head, crystal clear and simple.

“Not right now,” she clarified. “We have a few days to plan ahead. When we choose the right moment, some busy time over a longer hunt, for example, it could take up to an entire day before someone notices I’m gone. We can pack provisions to last us a few days and then we can hunt and live off the forest until they give up. There’s no need for us to stick to taverns and inns where people can easily find us. We can stay away from the roads, travel through the forests and fields to avoid search parties, at least for a while. It’s possible, I know it is.” And if someone finds us, she added mentally. Then they will have to get through me to get to you. Out loud, she added, “And once we’re free of any hunters, we can go somewhere safe, build that simple home we saw. I’m sure you can find work wherever we go, be it working with livestock or as a mechanic, or maybe even as a blacksmith’s apprentice. And I can learn how to cook, I’ll take care of our home and raise our children. I know it won’t always be easy, but together we can do it. Please, at least consider it.”

Hiccup had listened to every word she’d said, quietly and without interrupting her. She had fully expected him to do so or to object now, to come up with some logical reasoning why that wouldn’t be possible. But nothing like that happened. Instead, he lifted one hand to cup her face, his thumb gently caressing her cheekbone.

“I wasn’t going to turn that idea down,” he said in a low, hoarse whisper, his eyes fixed on hers. There was a sincerity in them, a determination that she hadn’t seen there before. “If I’ve learned one thing from these past weeks, then it’s that I’m ready to do everything to not lose you again. Even something as crazy as eloping with you.” His lips twitched into something of a smile despite his somewhat sad expression. “But you’re right, that won’t be easy. I’ve lived on the road for long enough to know how hard it can be, how cold the nights can get and how merciless hunger can become. And we wouldn’t even simply live on the road, but on the run; that would make everything so much harder. So let’s keep that as a last resort, okay?”

Smiling, Astrid relaxed a little more. “Okay,” she breathed, smiling. A ‘last resort’ was good, a backup plan, the assurance that nothing could separate them. It was hope. However, there was one thing she needed before she could go back, one more assurance. “Just... promise me one thing.”

“Everything!” he replied without hesitation, a weak chuckle vibrating through his chest. “Whatever you want, Milady, the answer is yes.”

Oh, it was so good to see and hear and feel him like this again, so light and free, with at least a spark of confidence. Astrid wanted these minutes with him to never end. She knew that they only had a little time left though, and she didn’t want to waste that. This was important to her, important for her sanity. “Don’t let me go,” she pleaded. “Not ever again. Whatever happens, there’s no giving up anymore.”

Pain sparked up in his eyes at the reminder, but it disappeared almost instantly and got replaced by burning sincerity. “I won’t let go,” he vowed. “Not ever again. Whatever happens, I will fight for us.”

Him wording his reply exactly like her request before made her smile turn a few shades warmer and softer, and with a sighed, “Thank you!” she rested her head back against his chest. She would have to go back any minute now, but until then, she wanted to soak up as much of his warmth and closeness as she could. She was sure that she would need it.

The minutes stretched though, and every time she felt as if the moment to part, at least for now, had come, she found another reason to stay just a tiny bit longer. Like how much she’d missed his scent of leather and sunshine, how good his fingers felt as they caressed her bare upper arms, or how much the even sound of his breathing calmed her. Gods, she’d missed him so much! Being here with him now after all the pain of the past weeks, it almost felt like a dream in itself, like it was too good to be true. But it was true; it had to be with the cool breeze slowly getting uncomfortable through the thin fabric of her dress and with the distant music of the ball echoing toward them no matter how hard she tried to tune it out.

She was about to retreat, for real this time, when some unexpected sounds made them both flinch. No, not unexpected, not really, but… but… Astrid felt panic rise inside her as the noises, footsteps and the low whispering of clearly more than one person, came closer and closer to where they were ‘hiding’ – in a separate clearing, yes, but still in full view should someone enter.

Shaking with the old fear of getting caught, Astrid’s eyes darted around over the hedges and scrubs. She was looking for a place to hide, making a step backwards – or tried to, at least. Hiccup’s arms around her didn’t loosen to let her move away; on the contrary, it felt as if he held her even tighter.

“Hiccup, what… Let me… I need to hide!” There was panic in her voice now as it was in her eyes as she looked up at him, pleading, begging him to–

“I won’t let go,” he whispered urgently, something like frantic desperation gleaming in his eyes. “Not ever again…”

For a moment, her fear grew even stronger as she tried to struggle free. They mustn’t be found like this, in full view of whoever might happen upon them and tightly entangled, without leaving any doubt about the nature of this meeting. They had to part, to hide, had to pray and hope that whoever was coming in their direction wouldn’t spot them. It would only make everything worse.

But then, she remembered her own thought from earlier. ‘Then they will have to get through me to get to you.’ In an instant, she stopped struggling and sought his eyes with her own, sought confirmation. Her hand landed on his chest, over his heart, at the same moment as he touched her in the same way, and they shared a short but decisive nod. If necessary, they would fight every battle for each other, for their right to be together.

All of a sudden, she felt incredibly light, with all fear and worries having evaporated in a heartbeat. This was where she was supposed to be, where the Gods had placed her. Where she belonged. It wasn’t even a choice when she stretched then, her free hand moving up to curl around his neck, and pressed her lips to his. It was inevitable, the only logical thing to do.

Hiccup didn’t even seem surprised, welcomed her even with a soft sigh that sounded as if an incredible weight had been lifted off his soul. And Astrid felt the same. The moment their lips met it was as if she could breathe freely for the first time in a long while, as if she’d been drowning and now had broken through the surface again. She’d meant for this to be a gentle kiss, one that spoke of reconciliation and reassurance. But after only one heartbeat, it became something else, something more. Reconciliation turned into reconnecting, reassurance into the promise that they would never deny their love again. Their lips and tongues moved together, more eager and demanding after the long break, just like their entire bodies thought more contact, clutching and pulling. Hiccup’s hand curled around the base of her head, and for once neither of them cared that he might ruin the intricate pattern of her braids. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered to them except each other.

Maybe it wasn’t the powerful connecting of their first true kiss, not the meeting and melding of a thunderstorm and a flood wave. But it felt like so much more, like the force of nature brewing between them had finally reached its full power, ready to strike out at whoever dared to get too close. At that moment, with them clutching at each other and with their moans and their gasping breaths mingling between hungry mouths, she felt invincible.

And not even the footsteps behind her coming to an abrupt halt and the whispering turning into stunned silence could change that.

. o O o .

So, yeah... This last scene didn't turn out as I always imagined it. In my mind, it always was a highly emotional and tragic scene, still a reunion, but not as hopeful as it is now, but more one that happened by luck. Ah, well. It now is as it is. And I'm still kinda happy how it turned out, even with aaaall the things I had to cut out because they didn't fit to how the story had developed anymore or wouldn't work with these characters at all.

I hope it was still satisfying enough...

Next chapter

#FTLOAP #For The Love Of A Princess #Hiccstrid #Fanfiction #hiccstrid fanfiction #Romance #Angst #hurt/comfort #medieval au #Hiccstrid Medieval AU #hiccstrid royal au #royalty au #Hiccup and Astrid #httyd

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crazyviking · 6 years ago

Text

Heated Race

Hicca smiled as she felt the roar of the wind rush against her body as she and Toothless flew through the clouds. It felt so good to be up in the sky once more, to feel free of everything and not have a worry in her heart. Flying with Toothless was her favorite thing to do. But they were not flying alone today. Below them, flying at a decent speed was Eret and Skullcrusher. The once dragon trapper was now learning how to fly a dragon on his own and by the looks of it, he had a long way to go. Hicca smiled as she leveled Toothless down; coming up beside Eret as they flew to some sea stacks ahead.

"Hanging in there ok Eret? Would be a shame if you were to fall off into the ocean…again." Hicca teased as she stole a look at him. She couldn't help but stare at his muscular body, how it flexed as he gripped the saddle reins, how she could make out all the scars and burns that ran along his skin. She stared at his face, loving how he bit his lip when he was nervous, how his hair got a bit wild from the winds that tore across his face. She could feel her face grow hot beneath her helmet and cursed herself for it. It was just not fair, why did he have to be so good looking at this moment. Hicca soon snapped out of thought when she heard him speak.

"Hey that only happened once and memory serves me you were the one who knocked me off in the first place." His eyes darted at Hicca, trying to see beneath her helmet.

Hicca smiled to herself as they flew on. "Your own fault for not holding on better, come on let's see how good you've gotten, race you to the sea stack over there. " Hicca pointed to a very large stack, it had a few trees on top and looked big enough for the two of them.

Eret looked to where she was pointing and nodded as she smiled. "Prepare to be amazed milady." And with that Eret shot off, he and Skullcrusher flew at a speedy pace, moving much faster than before.

Hicca was shocked to admit he had gotten a lot better, but not as good as her and Toothless. Hicca nudged Toothless and together they shot into the sky over Eret, it would be easy to beat him but Hicca wanted to tease him a bit. She had Toothless fly down over Eret just a bit above his head; as soon as she saw him turn to looked around for her she flipped Toothless over and handed down before him. She smiled as he didn't notice her. "Too slow handsome." She cooed out as she brushed her fingers along his neck, causing him to jump out of surprise. Hicca laughed and together she and Toothless took off into the sky and ahead of Eret.

Hicca could hear Eret cursing at her for her little trick. She didn't care as she loved to mess and tease him. It was too easy to get under his skin at times. It only took a few minutes to reach the sea stack. Hicca had gotten there way before Eret could. She slides off Toothless and removed her helmet, her long braided hair flopped down along her shoulder as she looked to the sky for any sign of him. She smiled as she saw him coming in for the landing. With a loud thud, Skullcrusher was safely on the ground once more, he let out a roar as Eret hopped off from him.

"That good lady was a dirty trick to pull on me. " He spoke as he moved toward Hicca, pointing a finger to her as his amber eyes stared at her.

Hicca couldn't help but blush a bit from him, those eyes always made her heart fluttered. "Who me? Why Eret son of Eret, I don't know what you mean." Hicca moved back from the taller man, grinning the whole time.

"Oh you may be the greatest dragon rider but I bet I can easily take you in a sword fight. Face it without your dragon you won't stand a chance." Eret grinned at Hicca, he was baiting her into a fight and it was working.

Hicca smiled as she pulled out her dragon sword, extending the blade and pointing it at Eret. "Well, then we'll just see who the better Viking is then. Come on Eret, show me those sword skills you just love to brag about so much." Hicca looked over at Toothless and Skullcrusher before they started. "Don't worry buddy, me and Eret are just having a friendly sword fight, why don't you and Skullcrusher go catch some fish while you wait." Hicca gave her best friend and reassuring smile and watched as the dragon smiled back at her and hurried along with Skullcrusher as they took off into the sea. Hicca smiled s she watched Toothless take off, she loved the way their new tail worked so well. But her attention soon turned to Eret, she smiled as she watched him pull out his own blade. "Ok Eret son of Eret, show me what you got."

Hicca hated to admit but Eret did have skills, she found it hard to get in close, the strong man was able to grabble and toss her around with ease, his movements were quick, his attacks strong and not once did he ever underestimate her. But Hicca still smiled as she was able to get a few moves over him, how she was able to duck and roll out of his reach, how her sword held up to his strikes and was able to trip him up, how she never backed down and never let him push her around. Hicca was so glad for all those sparring lessons with Astrid now.

"Not bad, I must confess I didn't think you would be….uhh… so good at fighting." Eret panted out as he pushed Hicca away from him. He panted heavily, his body covered in a hot sweat. He wiped his face as he looked at Hicca, his amber eyes shining in the setting sun.

Hicca huffed as well, her body felt so hot from the sparring match, her leather clung to her body it a sticky sensation. She huffed once more as she raised her sword up again. "How about you give up and I'll go easy on you." She smirked as she smiled at him, her eyes looking him over, loving how his body glistens in the sunlight; she bit her lip as she shook her head to forces. She had plenty of time to ogle his body on the way home. "Come on then, let's see what other tricks you got up your sleeve. Hicca moved to Eret, their swords clashed as they struggle to push other back, Eret was stronger but Hicca was used to having bigger people throw their weight around at her. It looked like neither one of them would budge until Eret did someone unexpected. Without a word he forcefully kissed Hicca, right on the lips and held it there for a few seconds.

Hicca was shocked, as her mind went blank. Suddenly she felt Eret pushed her back and pinned her to the ground his face mere inches from her own. Hicca watched as he smiled at her. "How that for a trick Hicca?" he smirked at her as he held her down.

Hicca just stared up at Eret as she felt overwhelmed with shock, he had kissed her, he had kissed her to just make her drop her guard and pin her to the ground. Hicca felt anger, outraged, pissed off but most of all she felt so aroused by it all. She wanted to punch him but most of all she wanted to feel that kiss once more. So without a word, she leaned her head up quickly and pressed her lips to his once more. Hicca moaned into the kiss, she wanted Eret to see what a real kiss was like, not something dry and quick but moist and hot. Hicca moved her lips against his, feeling his body tensing up from her kiss. She suddenly thrust her hands upward, throwing Eret off and onto his back, Hicca rolled with him, straddling his lap as she looked down at him, her hands pinning his above his head. Her face felt like it was burning but she didn't care, she stares Eret in the eyes and smiled at him.

"I got a better trick." Hicca couldn't hold it back any longer, she had teased Eret, pushed his buttons, doing everything she could think of to show him that she was interested in him. But that kiss had done it for her; she didn't care about traditions or the proper way to go about things. She wanted Eret son of Eret and she was going to have him right now.

Hicca sat up as she brought her hands to her armor, she began to undo straps and buckles, sighing happily as she felt her armor loosen and soon fall from her body. She shoved the leather chest plate off last as she felt the cool wind blow against her sweaty body. She was in a simple wool shirt now. She smiled as she notices Eret blushing heavily while staring at her. No dought shock to see such a large bust bulging out on her chest. Hicca merely smiled, he wasn't the first man to be surprised by them nor would be the last. Hicca soon leaned down and began to kiss Eret once more enjoying the taste of his lips once again. She could still taste the hint of berries on his lips she moaned aloud as her hands cupped his face to hold him steady. She nibbled at his lip as she felt his strong large hands move along her waist. She moaned aloud, letting him know to keep going. She wanted to feel him touch her all over; she wanted to feel Eret explore her body with those big strong hands.

Minutes rolled by before Hicca broke the kiss, she panted along with Eret as she took a minute to acquire air. She wanted more and from what she could feel beneath her legs he wanted just as more as well. She bit her lips as she suddenly stood and pulled Eret to his feet. She pulled the Viking's head down to hers once again, kissing him forcefully as she pushed him back against a tree. She couldn't stop the fire that was burning in her belly now, she wanted Eret and she was going to make him want her just as well. Hicca parted her lips from Eret's, watching as his eyes followed her. She inched her way down, dropping to her knees as her hands gripped tightly around his trousers. She could see the bulged form against the fabric, seeing it stain along with it. She looked up as she gave him a harmless smile. She had always wanted to try this. Hicca moaned out as she jerked Eret's trousers down, watching as his cock spring up to greet her. It was hard and thick and it was curved to the side a bit, she could make out the fat veins that ran along the shaft as she felt the heat roll off from it. She was pleased by what she saw. Hicca pushed her hair back as she gripped Eret's shaft, she moved her hands along it, stroking it softly as she brought her lips to bear on the head. It had a salty taste to it, like saltwater in a way. Hicca moaned as she brought more if it into her mouth, hearing Eret moan out from it. She soon began to bob, sucking back and forth as her tongue and lips moved all around it. She coated his cock with her spit, allowing her hands to stroke it with ease. She was starting to enjoy herself when she felt Eret's hands grab at her head. Hicca gasped a bit as she felt Eret pushed her down on his cock, his hands gripping her hair as he tugged her back and forth. It was clear he wanted more and he wanted it to go faster. Hicca moaned out as her cheeks burned. If Eret wanted more she would be more than happy to give it to him.

Hicca arms shot out and wrapped around Eret's waist, she clung to him as her mouth devoured his cock, slurping and sucking at it like it was a tasty treat. She pushed deeper and deeper until her lips met the base of his cock. She smiled to herself as she had just taken his whole cock in with little trouble. Her moans vibrated against his shaft, his gripped tighten even more until Hicca could hear him moaning out in protest. Hicca began to pull back but before she could she felt a hot wave of sticky cum invade her mouth and throat. Eret was cummed from her lips alone. Hicca took a moment to gather her thoughts as she felt Eret's cum roll around in her mouth; the taste was very salty but a bit sweet as well. Her lips were still sealed over his cock; his hands slacked as she looked up. His face was so red, his eyes still locked in with her own. Hicca moaned once more before she swallowed all she could, let only a bit of cum leak from her lips and onto the ground below. She smiled as she hand stroked his cock a few more times. "Take me." She spoke in a commanding voice to him, she wanted more, so much more and by the looks of his cock so did he. Hicca stood up as she began to strip away the last of her leg armor. She shook her hips a bit to help get them off. Soon she was wearing nothing on her body expect her simple green tunic shirt. She smiled at Eret, watching as his eyes followed her. She turns her back to him as she rested her hands on the hard oak tree, her pale ass shaking at him, inviting him to come to her. "Take me Eret." She spoke as she spread her legs before him.

Hicca didn't have to wait long, no sooner had she said the words that Eret had come over to her. She could feel his body press up against her backside, his cock throbbing between her soft ass cheeks. Hicca had to bite back a moan from his touche; her pussy was soaked as it dripped down her thighs, her body trembled with anticipation, her mind abuzz of lust and desire as she felt his hands once more explore and move along her skin. She couldn't wait much longer for him, but thankfully she didn't have to. Hicca felt Eret, push into her suddenly, she shouted out a gasp as she felt his cock slide into her warm moist folds. He was so thick and hard, she could make out his whole shaft inside her. There was a bit of pain but that was all gone by the time he pushed his way all the way up to his base. Hicca moaned as he paused, letting her get to feel every inch of his cock inside her, how it curved a bit to the left, rubbing up against her inner walls. It was such a snug fit, so tight inside her. Hicca flexed her own muscles, squeezing down onto Eret as she looked back at him.

"Come on Eret, show me what you got." She teased at him, hoping to get a rough rise out of him. Eret merely smiled at Hicca, his voice returning to him once more. "Careful what you wish for Hicca." He spoke out as she suddenly grabbed at her ass tightly before pulling back only to slam his hips hard back into her.

Hicca screamed in a blissful surprise as she felt Eret take her, he moved his hips slowly but each thrust was as hard and forceful as the last. Hicca moaned aloud as she felt her body burn hot with pleasure as she was pressed against the tree bark, to feel Eret pound into her, to use her so forcefully and rough, she was going mad for it all. Hicca began to move her own hips as well, moving them along his cock, meeting his own every time he thrust and slammed into her. She smiled as she heard Eret moan out, his body picking up speed as they continued on.

"Oh you are one naughty woman Hicca, I would have never guessed you would be such a dirty lass." Eret shouted as his gripped Hicca's ass more tightly, forcing her hips to move back to meet his own.

Hicca responded with sounds of lustful moans as she stole a glance at him, she smiled as she smooched her lips at him. "Oh you love it, you love it when I tease you Eret, and you love me being this way for you. Now come on and show me just how much of a Viking you really are." Hicca soon felt Eret meet her challenge when his hand suddenly slapped at her ass. It hurt but with the mix of pleasure and lust coursing through her body the pain felt good to her, she moaned out for him to do it again, to strike her harder. She was soon rewarded with several more sharp slaps to her rear, to feel her skin burn with pain as her body was assaulted with pleasure. Hicca couldn't help but lose focus of her surroundings, to feel her body respond to the bit of pain and pleasure done to her. She could feel it all building up inside, like a huge wall holding back the tide. It would not hold nor did she want it to, she wanted Eret to break it down and flood her mind with the burning lustful desire and pleasure.

Hicca lost track of time and the number of times she had climaxed as she felt Eret assault her body with his cock over and over, never pausing for rest or even to slow down. She had lost her voice so long ago, even if she wanted to something she couldn't for the pounding lust had drowned out any words for her to speak. Hicca could hear Eret panting aloud, his body was moving quicker, his voicing growing out her name, he was about to cum once more, lucky for him so was Hicca. Hicca felt their bodies moving as one, as though their desires for one another had linked up and responded to one another. Hicca gripped the tree tightly, her legs felt like burning iron, about to give way at any moment. She moaned and pushed into Eret, wanting him to cum and soaks her insides with his seed. She wanted him to cum in her, to plant her womb with his child. She didn't care about the consequences, she only wanted him. Hicca suddenly felt her wall break, to feel the overwhelming feeling of pure pleasure wash over her body like a great flood. She could only scream in joy as she drowned in her joy. Hicca soon heard Eret scream as well, his cock throbbed madly as she could feel his cum rush into her body and pour deep within her womb, Hicca could only moan shakily as she enjoyed the hot warm feeling of his seed invading her body, she would surely get pregnant from it, there was no doubt about it. She felt her body giving way, falling back into Eret's arms as they flopped down onto the hard ground. Hicca could only smile as she felt his arms wrap around her body, holding her close to him as the dying sun basked them in its warm light. They went out to fly and ended up doing so much more, Hicca would have to take Eret out flying more often if he planned to stay around.

#lemon #HTTYD #gender bender #Hicca #eret son of eret #fanfiction #naughty vikings #old fanfic #edited #hope you all like it #leave some feedback

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chiefhiccstrid · 6 years ago

Text

Moira | Chapter 3

A Princess Diaries AU.

Summary: Hiccup Haddock always thought he knew where his life was heading. That was until his father showed up after twenty-one years to tell him he is the heir to the small country of Berk. And figuring out how to be a prince is hard enough without having to deal with the developing feelings he has for Lady Astrid Hofferson, who is also trying to steal the throne out from under him.

A/N: Chapter 3 is done! Finally! It took a lot longer than I expected and is also a lot longer than I thought it was going to be. This chapter has a mix of silly and serious, but NEXT chapter is the one you and I have been waiting for. I really hope you all are enjoying this so far because I’m starting to think I’m doing a horrible job on it, but I promise it’s about to get much better. Hope you all enjoy chapter 3!

Also, thanks to @drchee5e for helping me get through this. I got stuck some and she helped me brainstorm and push through! So thankful to be collaborating on this with you. You all should check out her fics as well cause she is crazy talented.

Previous Chapter | (Just finding out about this fic? Read Chapter 1 here.)

Read on AO3

Chapter 3 - Into the Great Beyond

When Hiccup walked into his father’s place that afternoon, he was happy. He was in a good mood not because he was having to sit through another boring lesson, but because he had just taken his fundamentals of engineering exam and he felt good about it. It was also his very last exam and now all he had to do was wait for final grades and walk across that stage.

He decided to ignore the other thing he had to do for the time being, which was making the decision on whether to be Prince of Berk or not.

He expected his father to have another ridiculous lesson planned, so he was surprised when he walked in and was greeted by a man and woman who were both wearing the same stylish black outfits that hung all the way to the ground.

The blonde woman immediately started touching his cheeks and the red-headed man began pulling at the ends of his hair, “What’s going on?” Hiccup asked, frozen in his spot in the middle of the grand entryway.

Gobber and Stoick walked in and chuckled at the frightened look on the boy's face, “This is Mala and Throk, two of the best stylists back on Berk.”

Throk stuck out his hand, “Nice to meet you, Henry Haddock,” Hiccup took the man’s hand, nodded his head in greeting, and turned back to his father.

“Stylists?” the king’s son asked.

“A prince’s look is one of the most important parts. Even if you aren’t able to act the part that well, if you look the part then people will forgive you for a lot of things,” his father explained while stroking his long red beard.

“There is a very cute face underneath the bushy eyebrows and oversized hair,” Mala spoke.

“Oversized hair?” Hiccup touched his auburn locks and scrunched his supposedly very hairy eyebrows in thought. He didn’t think his hair was oversized.

“Henry Haddock, follow me,” Mala grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the back of the home where she sat him down in a swivel seat that you’d see in a hair salon. They quickly snapped two photos of him and then Throk pulled out a notepad.

Hiccup was a little frightened because these two people that were about to get close to him with scissors seemed to take their job very seriously. He was scared that he was going to end up looking like something out of one of the Star Wars films.

Mala walked around him and then placed her hands on his face, pulling at his skin in a way it should not be pulled, “Complexion is good, freckles are cute. Eyebrows need major trimming,” Mala picked up one of his hands and inspected his dirty fingernails, “You also need a manicure.”

Hiccup’s eyes widened at the word manicure. She was not coming near his fingernails with a color of any kind, “No manicure. Absolutely not.”

Mala ignored him, but Throk answered, “By manicure, she just means cutting and cleaning them, sir.”

“As long as you don’t plan on coming near my fingers with some ridiculous color. And don’t call me sir. Henry or Hiccup will do just fine.”

Throk looked confused at the last name he mentioned, “Hiccup?”

“It’s a nickname I’ve had for years…” Hiccup was about to explain the story behind it when Mala cut him off.

“Work now. Talk later. We have to shave this scruff. This nice chiseled jawline should not be hidden behind hair of any kind. And speaking of hair, we have to cut this,” she ran her hands through his hair and grabbed a chunk of it between her fingers. Throk was scribbling all of it down quickly.

“Ouch…” Hiccup winced when she tugged a little too hard.

Gobber walked in then and sat in one of the other chairs in the room. Hiccup looked at him curiously, “I wasn’t about to miss this.”

“I’m glad you find this amusing,” Hiccup rolled his eyes. “Are you really going to let them cut my hair? I’m actually quite fond of it.”

Throk let out a loud guffaw, “You like this mess?” Hiccup ignored him.

“Sorry, lad. My hands are tied,” Gobber chuckled.

Hiccup was about to share an unkind thought with his father’s assistant when Mala pulled his glasses off his face, “Henry Haddock, do you own contacts?”

“Well...yeah, I do, but I don’t like to wear -” Hiccup started, but his sentence was cut short when Mala snapped his glasses in half and dropped them in the trash can beside her.

“Now you have to wear them,” Mala said and spun his chair away from the mirror so he could no longer see his reflection. It didn’t matter though because everything was blurry now.

“I can’t believe you broke my glasses.”

“I can’t believe you’d hide those beautiful green eyes behind them,” Mala said.

Throk began combing his hair while Mala began plucking his eyebrows. Hiccup would flinch every time he felt a hair pull free from his skin and it left a horrible burning sensation behind.

It took the rest of the afternoon for the stylists to work their magic, he had heard Throk say at one point.

When Stoick walked into the room, the stylists had two of the photos they took earlier placed in front of his face.

“Sir, this is what your son looked like before, just an ordinary boy. Now, I give you...a prince,” the two removed the photos to reveal a clean shaven and newly trimmed Hiccup. Stoick nodded in approvement and Gobber’s mouth hung open.

Hiccup had yet to see this new look and hoped he still looked at least somewhat the same. When Mala and Throk walked over to the king is when Hiccup took the chance to swivel his chair around and take a look in the mirror.

He didn’t think he looked horrible. In fact, he actually thought he looked good. His hair had been trimmed enough so that it no longer hung over his eyes or made his head look bigger than it was, but it was still on the longer side. His eyebrows were no longer bushy and the green in his eyes was now more noticeable. His clean-shaven face made him look younger. And his nails weren’t covered in a ridiculous color.

It wasn’t a drastic change, but it was enough for someone who knew him well to notice.

“You two did a great job. Thank you,” his father shook both of their hands. They walked out of the room looking proud of their accomplishment.

His father strolled over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, “You like it?”

“It’s actually not that bad,” Hiccup admitted and stood up from the chair causing his father’s hand to fall off his shoulder.

“I had Eret put a box in the car that is filled with new clothes. Nice button up shirts, nice pants, some new shoes, and a couple of suits,” Stoick explained.

“So, you’re dressing me now?” Hiccup asked his father.

“Henry, you cannot wear what you are wearing now out in public. It’s fine when you’re just around the home, but it is not acceptable in public,” Stoick gestured to his wrinkly graphic t-shirt, jeans with a hole over the knee, and his muddy Converse. It was all he ever wore. “If you decide to come back to Berk with me, everyone will know who you are and as ridiculous as it is, a lot of people focus on what we’re wearing.”

Hiccup let out a long sigh, “Is there anything about me that you do like?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m saying, you’ve changed everything about me. How I stand, how I walk, how I eat, how I look, and now how I dress. Is there anything you wouldn’t change?”

Stoick stood there staring at his son who was waiting for an answer, but Stoick couldn’t think of one. The king wasn’t sure if he didn’t have an answer because he was taken by surprise with his son’s question or if it was because even after three weeks, he still didn’t know his son at all.

The silence was Hiccup’s answer, “Thought so,” he said and walked past his frozen father.

Hiccup wasn’t mad, he was...disappointed. He walked past Gobber who looked up from the papers in front of him, “Leaving so soon?”

Hiccup didn’t slow down, “Yeah, Gobber. I have to get out of here,” he walked out the front door and when it shut behind him he finished what he was saying even though Gobber could no longer hear him, “I have a lot to think about.”

Stoick watched the door shut, “There’s no way he’ll agree to be the prince after that,” he placed his fingers on the bridge of his nose. He felt a headache coming on and closed his eyes.

The Kings assistant walked towards him, “May I say something?”

Stoick opened one eye to glare at his friend, “You’re going to say it anyway, so why ask for permission?”

“Good point. You have to stop focusing on Henry the Prince so much and focus on your son. You have this chance to finally be a father and you’re spending all your time worrying about whether or not he’s going to be a good prince or if he will even decide to be one at all,” Gobber placed his hand on the kings shoulder, “So, just for once put that all aside and be the boy’s father.”

***

When Eret pulled up the driveway to the ranch, Hiccup noticed a familiar car in the driveway and even though his vision was blurry he could still tell who was standing next to it. Fishlegs. His childhood friend.

“Where would you like me to put the box?” Eret asked after he parked the car.

Hiccup already had the door open, “Just put it on the porch. I’ll get it.”

“It’s pretty heavy,” Eret commented.

“I’m stronger than I look,” Hiccup tried puffing his chest out, but it did no good.

Eret tried to hide his smile but nodded and did as he was told anyway.

Hiccup walked up to his friend who was leaning against his car, “Hey,” he extended his hand, ready to perform their secret handshake, but Fishlegs just stared at it with his arms crossed.

“Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in three weeks. And I just thought you were busy with finals like the rest of us, but then when you didn’t show up at our usual post-finals celebration spot I knew something else was up,” Fishlegs explained.

“My dad’s in town,” Hiccup reminded him.

“I can tell you’re hiding something else from me,” his stocky friend narrowed his eyes at him.

“Let’s talk inside, okay?” Hiccup began walking to the front door and Fishlegs followed him. The boys stepped over the box of clothes, not even bothering to carry it inside.

Valka was in the kitchen washing dishes and she smiled at the two friends, “Hello, Fishlegs.”

“Hi, Ms. Haddock,” he greeted.

Valka put the dishes down and looked at her son, something was different, “I’m guessing Mala and Throk got ahold of you?”

Hiccup paused in the kitchen, “You know them?”

“I met them once before. They are very interesting people.”

Hiccup nodded in agreement.

“You look good,” Valka smiled gently at her son.

“Thanks,” he returned the smile.

Things were finally getting back to normal between Hiccup and his mother. He could never really stay mad at his mother for too long. She was the one person he loved most in the world and after a couple of days of the silent treatment, he missed her. The two apologized to one another and the tension in the home was finally gone.

Fishlegs walked in front of his skinny friend and looked at him closely, “I knew something about you looked different.”

His stocky friend scrunched his nose, a thing he did when he wasn’t too fond of something, “What are you thinking?” Hiccup asked.

“I’m wondering what happened to my best friend. You know the one who used to laugh with me at the people who looked like you do now?”

“And how do I look?”

“Like someone who gets up early to comb their hair and put on cologne,” Fishlegs crossed his arms. One of his favorite things about Hiccup was that he didn’t care about what he looked like. He could roll out of bed and go anywhere sporting his messy bed head without a care in the world.

“And that’s a bad thing?” Hiccup asked.

“It’s not you.”

Hiccup looked into his friend's eyes for a moment before walking around him and towards his bedroom. Fishlegs followed his friend and shut the door behind him. Hiccup moved his rolls of blueprints off the chair so his friend would have a place to sit. Hiccup remained standing.

“My dad showed up three weeks ago,” Hiccup began.

“I knew that already.”

“Well, he came with some pretty unbelievable news…” Hiccup started, “And you can’t tell anyone, okay?”

“Who am I going to tell, Hiccup? You’re the only person I hang out with. Just spit it out already.”

“Right. Well, my father is the king of the country Berk. And since he’s the king, well...now I’m the next in line after he retires.”

“You’re kidding,” his friend said.

Hiccup shook his head.

“Shut up! Dude, this is so cool. Have you known about this your whole life? I can’t believe you haven’t told me about this. This is huge.”

“I didn't know. I knew nothing about it until my father showed up.”

“So, does this make you a prince?”

“It technically does, but I haven’t agreed to anything yet. That’s why I’ve been gone. My father has been giving me these prince lessons probably hoping I’ll fall in love with royal life and agree to it. But I have to decide by graduation if I’m going back with him or not. I have a lot to think about,” Hiccup explained and sat down on his bed.

“What is there to think about?”

“There’s so much. First, I would have to leave Melody and move to Berk. And then what about becoming an engineer? All my hard work would just be for nothing. I would have to leave my whole life behind,” Hiccup said.

“I seem to remember you telling me that the second you were given the chance to leave this small and boring town, you would do it. So, why is this any different? There’s nothing and no one tying you down here. So, here’s your chance,” Fishlegs reminded him.

His friend was right, there were so many times he would dream about leaving his hometown and traveling the world because this small and hot place never really felt like home to him.

“This is different. I feel like I’m being forced to do this by a man who wasn’t there for me in the first place. Why would I give up my whole life for him?” he asked both his friend and himself.

“You just told me they are leaving the choice up to you, so are you really being forced?” Fishlegs mentioned.

His friend also had a point there too, but a part of him still didn’t feel like giving his father the satisfaction of agreeing.

And then as if Fishlegs heard his friends thoughts, he said, “And if you won’t do it for your father then find something or someone else to do it for. Do it for yourself, maybe?”

Hiccup looked at his friend, “Elaborate?”

“I mean, you have this opportunity to get out of here and do something with your life that most people will only ever get to dream about.”

“But this isn't just a summer vacation, Fishlegs. This is my whole life we’re talking about here. I agree to this and my whole life is planned out for me,” Hiccup said.

“Your whole life is planned out for you here too,” Fishlegs reminded him and Hiccup looked at him questioningly, “You’re going to graduate, get a job, probably get married, have a kid or two, and then die.”

“Wow, you’re just a cup of cheer, aren’t you?” Hiccup added, sarcastically.

“I’m just telling you like I see it. You can either choose to stay here and get a job that will probably be boring to you in a year. Or you can agree to it and have a job that is not only going to be different and throw crazy challenges at you, but that also makes a difference in people’s lives at the same time.”

Fishlegs stood up and walked over to sit next to his friend on his bed, then placed his large hand on his small shoulder, “It’s the great beyond and it’s calling your name, Hiccup.” Fishlegs used his free hand to gesture to the world out in front of them.

Hiccup turned his head and smiled at his friend. He knew he was right and going into the great beyond made him excited, but there was still a part of him that didn’t want to do it. And maybe it was the fear of change that was holding him back or maybe it was the distaste he still felt for his father. Either way, those really were selfish reasons to not agree.

***

Hiccup was in the middle of his last lesson with his father when Gobber interrupted saying someone from Berk was on the phone asking about things for the ball next week. His father left to deal with the incompetence of his staff, as he muttered on his way out, which left him and his father’s assistant alone in the room.

“Excited about graduation tomorrow?” Gobber asked, breaking the awkward silence that was hanging over the both of them.

Hiccup shrugged, “I guess so.”

Gobber could see the uncertainty and stress written all over the boy’s face, “Still not sure what you’re gonna tell your father, huh?”

Hiccup took a deep breath before answering, “I keep making this pros and cons list in my head, but it’s not helping because I keep asking myself if I really will make a good prince. I’m no leader. I never have been. Just thinking about public speaking makes me hyperventilate.”

Gobber chuckled and Hiccup looked at him curiously, “Sorry, lad. I’m not laughing at you, but it’s funny because I remember having this exact conversation with your father when he was unsure about becoming king or not.”

This got Hiccup’s full attention, “He didn’t want to be king?”

“He knew if he decided to be king he would also have to give up a lot of other things he wanted to do.”

“What changed his mind?”

“I told him to stop thinking about himself so much and start thinking about others. The people of Berk needed him to become king and giving it up would’ve been selfish of him,” Gobber explained.

“Is that what you would tell me?” Hiccup asked, curiously.

Gobber shook his head, “One thing I already know about you is that you are not your father, which is why I won’t tell you the same thing that I told him all those years ago. I would tell you that if you won’t do it for your father, do it for someone else.”

Gobber was the second person to tell him that and Hiccup didn’t ignore that fact.

“Like your mother, do it for her,” Gobber finished.

Hiccup scrunched his eyebrows in confusion, “My mother? She hates all this stuff.”

“Well, I heard about your all’s financial troubles and how she was going to have to probably sell the ranch…” Gobber trailed off when he noticed the confusion upon Hiccup’s face.

“What?”

“I’m - I’m sorry, lad. I...I thought you knew,” Gobber apologized.

Hiccup felt many things in that moment.

Sadness. He was sad because he grew up on that ranch. It was where he rode Toothless for the first time. Where he chased a bunch of chickens in the fields when he was a child. It was where he lost his leg. It was where he went when he was upset and even when he was happy. It was where he spent most of his time.

Anger. He was mad because his mother didn’t tell him. She hid it from him. It was just another important thing that she lied about and hid from him.

Fear. He was scared because the ranch was all his mother had. What would she do now? Where would she go?

Then Stoick walked into the room and saw the look on his son’s and his assistant’s face, “What happened?”

Hiccup came out of his thoughts and back to reality, “Did you know about mom having to sell the ranch?” he asked his father who was still standing in the entryway.

Stoick nodded, “She called and told me yesterday.”

“Well? Are you going to help her? Help us?” Hiccup harshly asked his father.

“I offered. She wouldn’t let me. She’s stubborn, and she always has been,” the king answered.

Hiccup stood up from his chair, “I’m going home. I need to go home.”

Stoick was about to protest because he wasn’t done with his lesson yet, but he took one quick look over at Gobber and was reminded of their conversation from the other day. Stoick had to stop thinking of Hiccup as just another person who worked for him and start thinking of him as his son.

“Okay,” Stoick nodded, “Gobber, go get Eret.”

The short man got up quickly and called over his walkie-talkie, “Eret! Get the car ready,” before he hopped around the corner, leaving father and son alone in the large room.

Hiccup began to follow the direction Gobber went when his father placed a hand on his shoulder, “I tried to help her. I really did.”

Hiccup looked up at his father for a split second before brushing his large hand off his shoulder and walking out of the room. The king had been looked at that way once before, more than twenty years ago. Eyes full of heartbreak and betrayal staring back at him. It still hurt just as much as it did back then.

***

Hiccup walked into the front door. He spotted his mother sitting over a bunch of books at the dining room table. A glass of red wine sat next to her and her fingers were tangled in her hair.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Hiccup said. The quietness of the room made him sound a lot louder than he actually was.

Valka turned around quickly, startled by her son’s presence. She looked at the watch on her wrist, “Hiccup! I didn’t think you’d be home so soon.”

“Why didn’t you tell me you were having money problems?” Hiccup asked again, his eyes narrowing at his mother.

“How did you….your father,” she sighed and looked down at her lap.

Hiccup clenched his fists, “How much more are you hiding from me, huh? You lie about who my father is, who I am, and now you hide something like this from me?” Valka stood up from her chair and walked towards her son, but Hiccup took a step back, “I thought we told each other everything, mom. I never kept anything from you. Not ever.”

“I know. I just thought I was protecting you.”

“I’m not a kid anymore.”

Valka nodded and looked down at her bare feet, not able to look her son in his eyes, but she could still feel him staring at her. It was burning a hole in the top of her head, “I know that….I’m sorry,” her voice cracked.

“So, it’s true? You’re having to sell the ranch?”

Valka nodded, not able to reply. Her throat was growing tighter by the second and she knew the second she spoke, the tears that prickled behind her eyes would begin to flow. She always tried to never cry in front of her son. She never wanted him to see her cry.

“What are you going to do?” Hiccup asked.

She shook her head but still remained silent.

“Why won’t you answer me?”

Valka looked at her son now, silent tears flowing down her cheeks.

Hiccup’s heart broke. He had only seen his mother cry once before and that was the day he woke up in the hospital. They were happy tears then. These tears, however, were full of pain, sorrow, and shame.

He closed the distance between them and pulled his mother into his arms, holding her close as the tears continued to spill over her cheeks.

“I’m going to fix this, mom,” Hiccup promised. “I won’t let anyone take this place away from you.”

Valka broke free of her son’s hold and looked up at him. She wiped away the tears that were still falling, “I can fix this. Don’t worry. I can fix it…” she kept repeating.

Hiccup shook his head, “Mom. You’ve done everything for me. You’ve always made sure I had what I needed. You were always there for me. Now, let me return the favor. Let me help you.”

Valka looked at her son, who now stood taller than her. He wasn’t the little boy that used to run through the forest looking for trolls anymore, he was all grown up. And she was so proud of him.

Her stubbornness and need to fix everything herself dissolved away the second she saw his determination, “What are you going to do?”

Hiccup took a deep breath. He knew exactly what he had to do.

***

Graduation was boring. God, was it boring. Hiccup sat in the small and uncomfortable chair in the midst of hundreds of other students he didn’t know watching them cross the stage and receive a piece of paper. A piece of paper that defined four years of hard work.

The second his name was called, however, Gobber blew one of those obnoxious noisemakers that drew all the attention to him. His father came too and he stood from his seat as his son walked across the stage and shook the president of Melody University's hand.

His mother wrapped in a large hug the second they all reunited after the ceremony, “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, mom.”

Gobber crushed the skinny boy into a hug that lifted him off the ground, “Gobber...can’t...breathe…”

The man laughed and set the boy down gently, “Sorry, lad. Did you hear me cheer for you?”

“Gobber, I’m pretty sure all of Melody, Georgia heard. The next county over probably heard you too,” he said and saw his father chuckle out of the corner of his eye.

“That was my plan,” Gobber looked very proud of his accomplishment.

Stoick walked over to him now and patted him on the back as gently as he could, but Hiccup already felt a bruise forming between his shoulder blades, “Proud of you, son.”

Hiccup smiled up at his large father, “Thanks.”

They all went back to Stoick’s place for drinks and a celebratory dinner. During dinner, Hiccup could feel his father’s eyes on him, making sure his dining etiquette was correct. He ignored his father though and tried to act like he couldn’t hear his father clearing his throat whenever he’d pick up the wrong spoon or slouched too much in his seat.

There was an awkward silence after dinner and everyone sat wondering the same thing, what was Hiccup’s answer going to be.

Gobber, as always, was the one to bring up the subject first, “So, what’s next for you, lad?”

Hiccup looked over at his father’s assistant, then his mother, and then finally made eye contact with his father, who for probably once in his life looked nervous.

Hiccup made his decision last night but had kept to himself until this very moment, “I’m going back to Berk with you,” Stoick breathed a sigh of relief, “But on one condition, Toothless comes with me.”

“Toothless? Your horse?” Stoick asked.

“Yes. My horse comes with me or the deal is off,” Hiccup crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair, enjoying the look of horror on his father’s face.

“And how in the hell do you expect me to get a horse all the way to Berk?” Stoick asked his stubborn son.

“That one’s on you,” Hiccup grinned mischievously and then turned to his mother, “Will you come with me?”

Valka reached across the table and held out her hand, Hiccup placed his hand in hers and she squeezed it gently, “I’m going to stay here. You know I can’t leave Cloudjumper and this is where I belong. This is home for me.”

Hiccup nodded and frowned, “Are you sure?”

Valka smiled, “I’m sure. I found where I belong and now it’s your turn.”

Hiccup nodded, understanding, “How many days until we leave?”

“We need to be on the plane in two days,” Stoick replied and then looked at his assistant, “So, you have two days to figure out to get a horse from here to Berk and I suggest you get started.”

Gobber’s eyes grew three sizes and he quickly stood up from the table, knocking his water glass over in the process, “I’ll get right on that,” the man looked at Hiccup and smiled, “I’m really glad you agreed to come back with us. You’re going to love Berk.”

Hiccup replied with a smile.

“Yes, thank you, son,” Stoick said and raised his glass.

“Oh, I’m not doing it for you,” Hiccup raised his glass in the air and then finished the last of the champagne in his glass.

#good lord that was long #hope you all enjoy it!!!#i think i am more happy with the last half than any other part of it #hiccup #gobber #stoick #valka #eret #hiccstrid #hiccstrid is in the next chapter just FYI #princess diaries au #moira #httyd fic #httyd fanfiction #stef writes

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tysonrunningfox · 6 years ago

Text

Open Flames: Part 9

Someone help this boy, please. Or talk to Hiccup, Eret. I’ve never given you that advice in my life. Just talk to Hiccup, he’d get this one.

Masterpost

I don't mean to take a nap. I especially don't mean to take a nap outside, head pillowed on Bang's tail in the clearing behind the chief's house. I don't really notice that I'm taking a nap until I'm waking up, familiar sooty fingers on my cheek. I open my eyes to Fuse leaning over me with a concerned expression, fingernails scratching gently in my beard.

"Is it later?" She asks, debating whether to sit down next to me or not and I interrupt the decision, wrapping a sleepy arm around her waist and pulling her down against my side. Her head smacks a little too hard into my shoulder and I flinch, but if anything, the twinge makes me sleepier and I rest my cheek on her hair, shushing her gently.

"Just a few more minutes."

"Eret," she smiles through a stern tone, hand firm on the center of my chest as she sits up. "You didn't leave."

"I know," I sound whiny accidentally and clear my throat, "we don't need to talk about that when we could sleep."

"We do need to talk," she thumps my chest with her palm and I sigh, opening my eyes and staring at the sky. Perfect blue, small puffs of clouds drifting in front of a too bright sun. Bang's scales are a perfect cool pillow and I almost roll over and capture Fuse again because there's only so much fight anyone could put up against napping right now.

"Yeah."

"About earlier."

"I know," I huff, reluctantly scooting backwards to prop myself against Bang's tail. I rub my eye with my knuckle and Fuse curls into my side a little more conventionally as my hand finds that waist that's not quite familiar. Close, but new. New enough to wake me up with an uncomfortable lurch from drowsiness. "Yeah."

"You stayed," she sounds disappointed this time but not with me, and I squint down at her, seeing mostly shiny strawberry blonde.

"I did more than stay."

I kind of asked Fuse to marry me. In a weird, roundabout fuck-the-chief way, but still, I asked her. And she didn't only not say yes, but she started crying, and it hurts in a way I don't want to deal with. I know it shouldn't hurt this way because she loves me and she says it and she feels so good curled against my side. So good and comfortable and familiar, and the more I rub my fingers over her waist, the more this feels like how it's supposed to be. Bang is adding to it somehow, his eternally cool scales under my head and shoulders while the sun is warm on my face and again, I consider diverting this into naptime.

Or, you know, something else. If we weren't within sight of the chief's back door, that would be a distinctly more definite consideration.

Wait, can you do that when the girl is pregnant?

I frown involuntarily thinking about the fact that Rolf definitely has a book with that information in it. I'm not asking him and if I ask Fuse, she'd probably ask him. Not directly, or anything, but--well, if we were married, I could ask married people what you do about stuff when your wife is pregnant. It stings in that still fresh scrape of a wound and I bite my lip.

It was kind of a proposal. I suggested going and getting married. I thought about it. I figured it out, I half planned what our house would look like and I liked thinking about that, so much. But it wasn't real, necessarily. It's not like I asked Tuffnut. I didn't save up any silver or anything. I have no money, I don't think. I kind of just put all my money into that jar Aurelia collects coins in and ask her for it back when I need any. I definitely didn't negotiate with my parents.

It was a fake proposal, wasn't it? I can deal with that.

"Eret," Fuse sighs, heavy, her flat tone faltering at the edges as her fingers curl into the front of my shirt, one finger dipping into the V of it and stroking the edge of a fireworm scar.

"You know I wasn't actually asking you to marry me or anything, right?" I laugh, surprisingly convincing because Fuse lifts her head and stares at me, blue eyes narrowed. "It was just...you know, a concept. An idea. Not a real, typical proposal or anything."

The pause drags out like a Whispering Death using my nerves as a shield to bore into solid rock, silent and painful. Fuse sighs suddenly, tucking her face into my neck with a little too much force, her lips disproportionately gentle against my skin as she talks.

"Good."

My heart drops, the vision of a house that's ours depicted in a similar mental artistic style as my parents’ house in its prime disappearing to mist. But it's a relief too, because Fuse's entire body relaxes as she leans into me, her stomach warm and solid against my side.

"Yeah, I was just wondering where we were going to put a baby, so I said some hasty things." It's a joke. They don't feel hasty. They don't feel as slow as the chief and my mom wish they did, but they definitely don't feel hasty.

Fuse doesn't get the joke because she relaxes further, one leg sliding over mine as one hand slips under my shirt to brush against the edge of my scars.

"Babies are small," I try to continue my streak of good luck, "I'm sure we'll find like a corner or--"

"You didn't have to stay because of me," she sound disappointed again, weirdly, but not in me, also weirdly, because she starts kissing my neck again, determined, the hand against my scars splaying slightly. "Especially while you're gone fixing this." There's a harshness in her tone that accompanies teeth on my collarbone and I don't really know how to argue, especially because everything she's saying is true. She's at least factually correct and her hand is moving up as her mouth moves down and I nod.

"Shouldn't take too long." I'm not really sure what I'm talking about after the last few weeks, but it doesn't matter that much. Not now.

"Either way." Fuse grins sympathetically and I close my eyes.

Making Fuse a new vest is kind of fun. Not only because it's a project that no one else has input in but because I get to sit in Smitelout's comfortable stool in front of the fire, stretching leather and stitching along my charcoal marks, focused on only one thing at a time. Fuse doesn't think she needs a new vest, of course, she just keeps saying how she's supporting me and not asking for anything. I guess this is for me more than for her. And that's fine, it helps her anyway.

And it has the dual purpose of calming me down, at least until the chief shows up at the forge window, knocking on the counter in a dorky way that made me laugh before he betrothed me to some random princess. It doesn't matter that Elva is nice, I still flinch when I see him, feeling sixteen and unprepared. There are some kinds of unprepared that my knife's weight against my leg doesn't help.

"Hey chief, Smitelout isn't here right now," I sit up, rolling my shoulders and stretching the stitch sore fingers. "She said she'd be back whenever I was done."

"Sounds like her," he leans on the counter. His face is cautious, but just enough to feel vulnerable and I stab another careful stitch through the leather in my hands, checking the strength before going again.

"What do you need?"

"You, actually," he looks at me with that uncomfortable blend of understanding and assessment and I shift in the chair. "I was just with Aurelia, she got a message from Arvid, something about dragon trappers."

"Oh?" I sit up straighter, "really?"

"Yeah, he found something," the chief shrugs, shoulder bouncing under old, soft leather armor. "That's what Aurelia told me to tell you, I didn't pry too much further."

"I should go talk to her," I fold the vest carefully over my arm and stand up, "thanks for the message--"

"What are you making?" The chief stares at the folded leather and I shrug.

"Vest."

"For you?" There's no feeling in it, like he's asking for me to fill in self-incriminating gaps and I grit my teeth and shrug.

"Maybe it'll fit. How's Mom?"

"You live with her occasionally, you tell me."

"She seems...healthy." I joke like I haven't been avoiding her. I've been avoiding everyone, really, except for Fuse. And villagers, of course, just...family. As much as I feel like I need advice, I don't want it.

"New vest for Fuse?" He raises an eyebrow, leaning elbows on the counter like he expects me to talk to him. I hate that I kind of want to, I hate remembering how easy it was even a few months ago. We were ok, weren't we? That's almost worse than the other changes.

"Yep," I nod, "I can finish it later."

I hate that he wouldn't be a bad person to talk to about this, all things considered. He knows what it's like to have a child with someone he's not married to. He knows how the relationship is with said child after they didn't grow up under his roof. I hate that all he'd do is tell me to get married and I'd have to admit that it's the only path forward I'm seeing, which will sound like agreement instead of understanding.

"Ok, I get it," he shakes his gray head and laughs, a bit sheepishly, "you don't want to talk to me."

"Yeah, I don't." I lie with a shrug, my face carefully flat like Aurelia keeps trying to show me. I'm not good at it, not like she is, but the chief gives me a tired shake of his head.

"I just wanted to tell you again that I'm proud of you for deciding to stay here this week." He says it like a compliment but it doesn't feel like one, knowing I've got to go talk to Aurelia.

"Yeah, great choice that was, considering Arvid found trappers without me and now I have to go get a message from Aurelia about it. She worries about him like she forgets he's a giant man with a giant sword as soon as he's out of sight." I scoff, cleaning up the needle I was using and probably putting it away in the wrong place. Whatever, Smitelout is going to yell at me later no matter what. "If I'd been there, maybe I could have done more than send a message."

"You haven't even seen the message yet."

"I know it's probably about something I should have been there for."

"You can't be everywhere at once," the chief sighs like he knows how true it is and I think of the vest in my hands, made to expand without my help or presence.

"I know."

"Can I ask why you decided to stay?" He can't know anything but I feel cornered anyway and frown at him.

"You can, but I don't see what it'll get you." I roll my eyes at him and it doesn't budge his concerned expression. That pisses me off, because somehow, no matter what I do or don't do lately, he's completely immovable. He won't get mad at me or react to me or make me chief and it makes me want to push him, but that's a sixteen year old answer to the problem. I sigh and decide on a scrap of the truth, "I guess I just kind of freaked out a little bit. It won't happen again."

"Oh, don't be so sure about that," he reaches through the forge window to pat me on the shoulder and I let him. Maybe I'm feeling a little sympathetic knowing there's some theoretical child of mine on its way. I'd hope that even if I mess up as much as the chief has, they'd at least let me awkwardly shoulder thump them.

Oh Gods, I've been so worried about where to put a baby that I haven't even really dug into how to not mess one up as it grows up. That's something I definitely don't know how to do.

"I guess that's fair, I am good at finding new things to freak out about," I clear my throat and try not to look at his face too hard. The clueless, disconnected expression of parental concern with no idea as to the gravity of my situation is frankly terrifying. I start flipping through everything Arvid and I ever got away with and everything the chief doesn't see and know about me and Stoick and Aurelia and my blood feels cold in my veins.

"Anything I can help with?"

"Nope." My eye twitches a little and I blink hard to stop it, "just a normal...freak out, not really your department of expertise." That feels a little mean to say but makes me feel better too, because I did stay when I thought Fuse was mad at me. Maybe that's a tiny step in a different direction from the chief's footsteps. Then again, I'm already on a different path because he was already chief when he was my age. And I'm not going to be chief until I fix whatever Arvid found and Fuse is thinking about being chief's wife and I don't have time to go back around that bend right now. I clap, bringing myself back to attention as much as the chief. "I should go talk to Aurelia, then."

"I'll walk that way with you," he narrows his eyes at me even as he smiles, a surprisingly authentic imitation of my mom's mind reading expression on his face, "I've got to go check in on something anyway."

"Something's not quite my name, but it's close," I try to brush him off, shrugging a stiff shoulder as casually as I can. "I'm fine, I just need to go figure out whatever Arvid's message said." While not telling Aurelia that Fuse is pregnant and also that I've realized that I'm probably just as doomed to be a dad like the chief as I am to have red hair or be scrawny enough to get confused for Arvid's toothpick. "It'll be fun."

"Have you been having any of that?" He jokes, falling into step beside me, and I ignore the sudden urge to whistle for Bang. I don't actually want to get to Aurelia's house faster today and I also don't want the chief to see me avoiding him as I take a few laps around the island before getting back to work. Especially when he raises his eyebrow and I wonder if he happened to look out the back door that afternoon I decided to stay here. But he wouldn't keep quiet about that, and even if he did, Mom would get it out of him and there's no way she'd keep quiet about it so I divert him, holding up the half-finished vest.

"Uh, yeah, I'm sewing."

"Right, sewing, your favorite past time," he rolls his eyes, looking pointedly at my arms, "I should pick up a needle more often."

"It gives you lots of time to think," I say honestly, hoping that it's enough to convince him to go away. And that makes me think of the kid I haven't met yet, Fuse's eyes as disinterested in talking to me as I am about the chief right now and my heart stutters. Worse, the chief seems to get the dismissal and decide, for some reason, that today is the day my stubbornness is to be heeded instead of argued with.

"Well, if you want to talk about it--"

"I'm still squatting in your house, remember?" It comes out a little bitter and I force a laugh, "I know where to find you."

Aurelia writes off my twitchiness with alarmingly little interrogation as she explains what Arvid found out. Letters are coming into the island from somewhere other than the main dock and that means that the trappers not only know about the current, but they know they're being monitored. Arvid is planning to stay another week to wait for me and as much as I don't want to go, I'm a little relieved that we agree I shouldn't fly out early because waiting for the next shift change is less cause for alarm.

That means I get time to talk to Fuse about it, at least, and she nods, steely and committed to the concept even as I want her to beg me to stay. Or not beg, I don't want her to feel like she has to beg, but ask? Maybe? Because I can't decide to stay, not now, but I also can't even think about leaving her alone in this without my throat feeling tight and we still haven't talked. She has the new vest, at least, and that makes me feel better, but I don't understand how she can be so confident. Or worse, maybe she's not and she's not telling me because she thinks it would make me stay, except that doesn't sound like her. I can't start questioning that now.

And it's not that Fuse can't handle herself, of course she can, of course I know she can. I just can't stop thinking about something going wrong and no one knowing. As amazing as it feels to see that this is all real, it also just keeps reminding me how real it is. Women die from being pregnant and not just having the babies, I know that much.

If Arvid were here, I'd tell him, honestly. I could trust him to keep it relatively quiet and keep an eye on Fuse. I'd probably only get a few bored looks about getting married, finally, at long last, and he probably wouldn't go out of his way to make me feel bad about Fuse rejecting the idea of a proposal to maybe get married somewhere else. But he's not, because I was dumb enough to send him when I shouldn't have because I should be on that island and this problem would be solved already and--No.

I exhale, hitting my head against the nearest wall a couple times and leaning against it.

I know the answer. It's just going to hurt a bit.

“Are you ready to go?” Aurelia asks without looking up when I push her front door open an inch and peek inside. It’s easier to stare at the redecorated wall than have her read my mind before I get the words out.

I thought lying about this for so long would be harder, honestly. I wonder if I should ask Fuse if I should tell Aurelia, but if she said no, how could I leave without anyone knowing enough to help her if something goes wrong? And I trust Aurelia. I’ll tell Fuse when I get back, she'll forgive me. This is a forgiveness situation, not a permission one. I'm quoting Fuse quoting her dad there, so I don't see how she could see issue with the logic. It’ll be fine. Everything is going to be fine.

“Uh...almost,” I step inside, stuffing my hands in my pockets and nodding at a map of the archipelago hanging on the wall. “That’s new.”

“You’re being weird,” Aurelia looks up, eyes narrowed. “Why are you being weird?”

“I’m not, I just...I like the map.”

“I’m not mad about you sending Arvid anymore,” she rolls her eyes, “I’m sorry, I just--I’m not used to you pulling rank on me like that, but of course, you get to. And maybe it was better that he was there instead of you, I’m not sure you could have caught this without escalating.”

“Why is everyone so sure I escalate everything?” I frown, scuffing my boot on the floor.

Telling Aurelia is the right thing to do, she can watch out for Fuse while I’m gone and keep things calm and it’s all going to be ok. I just can’t figure out how to say it. Pregnant. I don’t think I like that word. It sounds so final and serious and doesn’t leave room for me to be happy about more Fuse in the world because it also means I’m going to be a father and I don’t know how to do that.

Hel, Aurelia is the one person who might understand my logic on that one. She’s also the chief’s child and while he hasn’t been dangling chief in front of her for four years, they haven’t always gotten along as I can attest first hand. They’re like Mom and Arvid, honestly, their entire relationship changed when she moved out and he couldn’t nag her about dragons all the time.

If only she were as understanding about the fact that I'm also not a husband.

“You came here to talk to me, why don’t you spit it out so that you can go pack? I’m assuming you haven’t packed yet.”

“How much do I really need to pack?” I pat the knife on my belt, “I should be good, given my reputation for escalating.”

“I don’t really have time to chat right now, so if you aren’t going to tell me whatever it is you came here to tell me, I’d like to get back to work.” She’s not kidding and I momentarily feel bad about what I’m about to drop on her. I hardly ever notice how tired she looks, but right now I’m just going to add to the dark circles under her eyes and I’m apologetic in advance.

It’s for Fuse. She needs someone looking out for her while I’m gone and worse than that, she doesn’t think she does. I can trust Aurelia to slide food under her nose three times a day and make sure she doesn’t go blowing stuff up without backup.

“I have to tell you something.” I get the words out and pause, gesturing in front of me and looking for the next piece.

“Ok, what is it?”

“It’s...don’t freak out.” I bite my lip, crossing the room and sitting down in the chair beside her, wringing my hands together on the table.

“Why would I freak out?” She raises an eyebrow, “what did you do?”

That makes me laugh, a tired, nasal laugh that I probably should have held in, “it’s only partially something that I did--”

“Thor’s beard, I know that tone, you found another warlord didn’t you?” She starts shuffling papers around, reaching for what looks like some kind of inventory. “How do you keep doing this? It's only been a few months--”

“It’s not a warlord.”

“Ok, dictator, pirate king, invader, conqueror, whatever this one is calling themselves--”

“It’s not a warlord,” I flatten my hands on the table and look at them instead of at Aurelia. “Or, you know, maybe it is. In about twenty years after I’ve been a horrible father.”

“What?” Her eyes bore into the side of my head and I turn slowly to face her, wincing in anticipation of her reaction. “Fuse is pregnant?”

“Kind of? Well, not kind of, definitely. She’s definitely pregnant. It’s starting to show, like, her stomach I mean. Obviously.” I bite the inside of my cheek to shut myself up and it only works temporarily because Aurelia is staring at me with inexplicably silent judgement. “I expected you to react. To say something or something.”

“That’s why you wanted Arvid to go, isn’t it?”

“Well...yeah,” I wring my hands together, “and I really don’t want to go now, but if it’s this tense I don’t see a way around it and I just need someone that I trust to know, alright? In case something goes wrong or--”

“Nothing is going to go wrong, I’m on it,” she nods, setting her small, cold hand on mine, “you’re--I know you hate hearing this, but you’re going to have to marry her now, you know that, right?”

“You’re right, I do hate hearing that.” I bite my lip, “but I know. I know you’re right and we’re going to have to get married but I can’t even think about that right now because I’m freaking out about the fact that I have to leave and I’m going to keep having to leave and I’m so worried I can’t think straight.”

"Have you brought up getting married somewhere else?” She asks innocently, like a reminder, and my heart drops into my stomach like a heavy, hot stone.

I could tell her that the concept wasn't so much rejected as vaporized, but I can already imagine the pity in her face and I think if she directed it at me, I'd crack.

“Not yet."

"What are you waiting for?" She rolls her eyes and I shrug.

"I’m not chief yet. I’m not even chief, how am I supposed to be a father? I’m never going to be chief if I drop this peaceful solution halfway through because this entire thing started because the chief thought I couldn’t do anything peacefully.” I stand back up and start pacing, yanking at my hair like it could help me think some way through this. It's more true than I want it to be. "And if I get married and then become chief, I'm always going to feel like the chief just made that decision because I did what he wanted as opposed to him actually thinking I can do it."

“Ok, but what does that have to do with Fuse?”

“Nothing,” I sigh, “it has to do with me.” Or it would have nothing to do with her if I'd been smart enough to say 'Christians' instead of Elva. Or maybe even then, it's not like Christians could make me chief, not without a lot more drama.

“Yeah, and there's a new deadline on you figuring it out. I'm just saying.”

“Trust me, I know.” I look at all the ways she looks like the chief and try to count the differences. His eyes but she narrows them differently. His mouth but a different frown. “It’s not important now, I guess. I have at least a week to think on it.”

“I don’t think there’s much to think on,” Aurelia shakes her head in fond annoyance and if I were feeling more mean and less exhausted, I’d tell her how much that particular motion looks like her dad. “Or I guess you already did the thinking. Or the lack of thinking. Whichever gets your girlfriend pregnant.”

“Lack of thinking,” I nod to myself, “definitely lack of thinking.”

“Does Fuse know you told me?”

“Nope, she doesn’t want to tell anyone either.”

“Have you asked why?” Aurelia raises an eyebrow, “because if it’s about your marriage hangup--”

“No, I haven’t asked why. She hasn’t really seemed up to it, honestly, she was throwing up and sleeping all the time and now she's catching up on work like...well, her. And it’s a challenge to get her to stop working and eat under normal circumstances, you know how she is.”

“So you want me to monitor and feed your pregnant girlfriend while not letting on that I know she’s pregnant.” She nods to herself, looking remarkably like Mom accepting a challenge. That gives me hope. “You owe me.”

“Yeah, I do.”

“And congratulations, by the way.” She twirls her braid around her writing stick, half thinking and half dismissing me. “Future dad. Gods, it’s weird to think of you as a dad.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

Hey, at least Future Dad is guaranteed to take significantly less than four years to drop the modifier. I think I already like it more than Future Chief.

#open flames #eret iii #festerverse #feret #fuse thorston #aurelia haddock #tbh festercup has finally won my whole heart #who is this man #i love him #also aurelia and eret talking makes me want to sleep for 9 years #and fuse #the boy is tired #fuse #thirsty thorston #my girl

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astridthevalkyrie · 8 years ago

Text

Here Comes the Groom: Chapter 2

Hiccup has ten days to convince Astrid to marry him, or both of them could meet a fate worse than death. The good thing is that he has all of Berk by his side, ready to help. The bad things is, Astrid hasn’t been friendly with him for over a year and very much hates him.

Day 2

Prologue Day 1

That day, Hiccup felt himself being shoved around more than he had been for a good few years. It seemed all of his friends had advice, Ruff had told with him a wink that Astrid was nervous too, since the two had not gone anywhere alone for such a long time. Then, she stood in front of him, with her hands on her hips.

“Open your mouth.”

Hiccup shook his head stubbornly. “I am not having kissing practice with you.”

“As if.” Ruff snorted. “Eret and I are in a very committed relationship with each other, thank you very much.” She quickly went on before he could argue that Eret was terrified of her. “And by the way, if I did want you to practice with me, you would have to, seeing today is my day. I own you for a day, Haddock.”

“You don’t own me!” he squeaked as she got a devious gleam in her eye. “Ruff, please just tell me what to do. How it goes with Astrid depends on you.”

“Exactly,” she muttered, and smirked. “Open your mouth. This is the last time I’m asking nicely.”

Her hands already had him pinned against the wall by the shoulders, and Hiccup was terrified as to what she would do if he didn’t obey. If this was nicely…

Hiccup opened his mouth. Ruff raised a bottle, and then sprayed something in his mouth, making him gag. She let go of his shoulders, and Hiccup doubled over on the floor, his eyes watering. She had sprayed quite a lot.

“What was that?” he choked out, looking up at her as she cackled. “Ruff, what was that?”

She cooed at him, helping him up and pinching his cheeks. “Poor thing. That, my sweet little chief -” he resisted the urge to point out he was taller than her - “was something to make your breath smell good. When ya smooch, ya need it.”

“Oh for Thor’s sake,” Hiccup sighed, exasperated. Now that he wasn’t choking on whatever she had put it in his mouth, he had to admit it tasted pretty good, but still. “I’m not kissing her today, Ruff.”

“But you might.”

“I’m not going to.”

“But you might.”

“But I won’t.”

Ruffnut grabbed the front of his armor and pulled him down until he was eye level with her. “But you might. Don’t play this game with me, Hiccup, I always win. Now here’s what you’re going to do.”

Hiccup pouted.

“Do you see anything?” Astrid asked behind him. He shook his head and her grip on his waist loosened.

“I was talking to Toothless.”

As Toothless seemed to laugh at his expense, a small smile spread across Hiccup’s face. Their easy teasing was one of the things he missed most about their relationship. It had been so easy to unwind around Astrid, especially when she had started relaxing around him too. So many days on the Edge, hand holding and kissing and teasing as they planned together.

He missed her more than he cared to admit.

They landed, and the first thing Toothless decided to do was throw them off his back. The minute Hiccup left the saddle, he had to groan to himself. Now his dragon wanted to join in on the matchmaking? Toothless never threw him off, so this was obviously a ploy.

And it worked, of course. Hiccup grunted as he hit the floor, and then shrieked lightly as Astrid followed right on top of him. He had a small memory of the time he had caught her when she was blind, but that time, he had been on top of her and she had not seen exactly how close they were.

Now, she was on top of him and saw perfectly just how close their lips were to touching.

Hiccup stuttered a little, a blush forming on his face, starting at his cheeks and deepening when a piece of Astrid’s hair fell loose on his cheek. She seemed pretty mortified herself.

They both got up with awkward coughs and she tucked her hair behind her ear. “So, think we’ll find a new dragon here?”

“I can hope,” he said, and they started walking, Toothless trotting behind them, warbling and putting his snout under Astrid's hand. She laughed.

“Missed me, huh? I missed you too, buddy.”

When she wasn’t looking, Hiccup mouthed “suck-up” to his dragon and was rewarded with a whack of a tail.

As they walked, it was surprisingly Astrid who started the talk up. “So…”

“So?” he implored.

“Have you seen the strategies I left for you a few days ago?”

He scratched the back of his neck. “Oh. Yeah. I did. They were good. I take it Eret helped too?”

She nodded. “He’s only been an advantage to Berk.”

“Do you think him and Ruff will ever -”

“No way.” A smile broke out on her face. “I mean, okay, maybe. But she needs to give him his space, and he needs to give her a chance before that happens.”

“What about ‘Lout and ‘Legs?” He crouched down to get a plant sample, and Astrid stopped next to him, taking some water from Toothless’s saddle.

She chugged down quite a bit before answering. “I think they have a better chance than she does with Eret. They’re both really sweet towards her. Like you were.”

Right away, even before another damn blush could form on his face, her face looked regretful. Her entire stance changed, and she pressed ahead.

Again, silence, and finally Hiccup broke it. “How have you been doing?”

“Okay.” She shrugged, running her hand over the bark of a tree. “You know, as okay as I can be. There’s a lot more work that there was when we were kids. Defending Berk, well, I’ve always wanted to do that.”

“You have always done that,” he said, and she smiled. How brilliant her smile was he had forgotten, or he had just never noticed in the first place.

“How is your mother?”

Well. Yours?”

“Still feral.”

Another smile graced her lips, followed by a small laugh. “You must be loving it, then, dragon boy.”

The old nickname, one that he hadn’t heard from her in a long time, was fresh. They really could have been teenagers again, wanting to see the world and fighting together on dragonback.

“As must you, milady.”

It was a stretch, but nothing changed, either she hadn’t really registered it or she was actually fine with it, which was what he hoped.

Astrid stopped suddenly, and she put a hand up, stopping them. “Do you hear that?”

He shook his head, bewildered, and then all of a sudden she turned around, ran towards him and knocked him down. His stomach had the daylights punched out of him with Astrid’s force.

There was a swoosh above them, and then he felt Astrid stiffen. She stood up, and then finally saw what it was.

In front of him was a Triple Stryke. Astrid’s fists clenched - he took a step back. “It’s okay, we can train it.”

“With what sound?” she snapped, glaring at him. “I - I don’t have…”

Spines.

Her face seemed to crumple, as it did every time Stormfly was brought up. Hiccup quickly shouted for Toothless as the Triple Stryke made to shoot again. The Night Fury blasted the other dragon, as his rider picked up two sticks.

And then Astrid snatched them from him. He did not stop her. She had trained the one they had on the Edge while she was blind, so of course she could do it now. She beat the sticks together, and the Triple Stryke stopped attacking Toothless and looked around wildly. Toothless backed away, understanding what was happening.

Astrid beat the sticks again, while Hiccup cursed his luck. They just had to have a repeat of what had happened the day their romantic tension had threatened to explode in him.

He was snapped from his thoughts when he heard Astrid’s small sigh. The Triple Stryke’s nose was pressed against her palm.

“Nice job,” he said, walking up to her, and noticing there was a stray tear on her cheek. She swallowed, wiped it off, and then nodded.

“Thanks,” she muttered gruffly, and then started walking the other way. She wasn’t really going anywhere. He knew she just wanted to hide her face. Toothless cooed, and that seemed to spur the newly trained dragon to run after it’s trainer.

Astrid laughed softly when it pushed under her hand again. She stroked the top of it’s head, but did not turn back to look at Hiccup.

It all kept coming back to Stormfly. Of course it did. Did Astrid even remember why he had been mad at her, or was it just all his fault?

“Let’s get going, then?” he asked, suddenly filled with horrible nostalgia, “we still have a lot of the island to see.”

Astrid finally looked at him, and she nodded. The Triple Stryke followed, staying near her the whole time.

They got through the rest of the island quickly, but quietly, and it was only the dragons’ occasional sounds that were heard.

#httyd #hiccup #astrid #toothless #ruffnut #valkyrie stories

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shipmistress9 · 6 years ago

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Lessons In Dancing And Dreaming - 11 (Last chapter)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!

Here now, the last chapter of this silly little rom-com-story. Have fun :)

. o O o .

Just as Hiccup had hoped, the dance was still in full swing when they arrived at his grandfather’s old barn. Sure, they were late to the party, but they weren’t too late. Actually, he considered their arrival to be perfectly timed. Not so late that their appearance would be overly noticeable in an already mostly empty barn, but also not so early that everyone was sober and paying attention to the rather unexpected combination.

Because, surely, they made an odd pair. He looked just like his usual lanky self, too long and thin, limping slightly, his hair in its usual mess, and with clothes that had looked fine earlier, but were dusty and, after repeatedly riding his bike, wind-blown and quite untidy-looking. And then there was Astrid, beautiful as ever in that deep blue dress that hugged her curves perfectly, her golden hair in a simple yet elegant braid that was hanging over her shoulder and hadn’t really suffered from wearing a helmet. And with his bracelet on her arm.

Sure, probably nobody but him really noticed that one, but it still meant a lot to him. Yeah, maybe getting her such a piece of jewellery as a birthday present had been a little too much considering that they’d been just friends this morning and he didn’t know how or where they would end up, relationship-vice. But he’d still bought it. Or rather, composed it. It was a simple gold chain with a couple of charms that weren’t dangling off the sides but were linked into the chain directly. One was a minuscule guitar, the other a stylised bow and arrow, and the third a blue crystal, surely no valuable stone but matching Astrid’s eye colour perfectly. And she’d liked it. Had even thrown her arms around his neck to hug him and kiss his cheek in her joy.

His skin where her lips had touched them was still tingling.

As was his hand that was holding hers as they entered the main dance room and looked around for their friends. Eret and Dagur were the first to notice them, nearly identical grins spreading across their faces as they spotted them. Eret was handing Dagur a note as they came over, and a small part of Hiccup worried what exactly had been the wording of their bet this time.

“So, you made it after all,” Eret greeted them with a smirk. “Didn’t think you’d still show up here.”

“Oh, shut up, Eret,” Astrid rolled her eyes good-humouredly. They were still slightly red Hiccup knew, but in the dim light in here that was barely noticeable.

He looked around the room as Astrid swatted off more teasing comments by Eret and Dagur, knowing that she was well able to handle those. He spotted Tuff at one table at the side of the room, dancing the chicken dance on top of it with a cheering crowd around him, and he also saw Ruff pulling Scott into their direction. But those were all of their friends he spotted. Sure, he hadn’t expected to see Justin here — but where were Heather and Cami? He owed them both hugely.

“So, you made it after all,” Ruff cheered as she reached them, using the exact same words Eret had used too. “We were taking bets, you know? I said you’d still come here and not directly jump into bed with each other.”

Oh, so that had been their bet? Hiccup inwardly applauded their confidence, even as his ears turned a burning red. Not… that he hadn’t thought in that direction… But that definitely wasn’t his goal tonight. He wanted to be with Astrid, and not simply get laid.

“You guys are horrible,” Astrid snorted. If this topic affected her in any way, she didn’t let it show. Instead, she now looked around too, and frowned. “Where’s Heather? I need to punch her. And then thank her.”

Eret and Dagur shared another grin, just as Ruff began to cackle. “Oh, that was another bet,” she snickered. “As cute as you two are and as glad as we are that you finally made it, you weren’t the only ones pining mutually. Although, I don’t think Cami was actually pining for that long. Subtlety isn’t really her thing...”

Astrid seemed genuinely baffled as she looked from one to the other. “Cami and… and Heather? Really?” Her eyes met Hiccup’s, but he just shrugged. That didn’t come as that much of a surprise for him. Ruff was right, after all; by no means could anyone call Cami subtle.

“Yep, really,” Dagur chirped, clearly approving of his sister’s choice. “After Hic bolted out of here like a madman, Cami didn’t really waste much time.”

“No, certainly not,” Ruff agreed. “They left not much later, after Scott here—” she indicated toward a very drunk Scott who didn’t seem to register much of his surroundings anymore, “—commented on how their behaviour wasn’t very public-friendly and that he quite liked the show.”

“I…” Astrid began, obviously still a little stunned by this revelation. She peeked up at Hiccup, cheeks burning. “That makes my incorrect assumption all the more stupid, right?” She asked sheepishly. Judging by the looks they got from everyone around, they had no idea what she was talking about, but Hiccup thought it best not to dwell on it anyway.

“Doesn’t really matter anymore,” he said, shrugging, which earned him a grateful smile from the blond Valkyrie who still held his hand. Even now, he still could hardly grasp how that had happened.

“Okay… how about we see what’s left of the food? Because I’m pretty hungry, and I don’t think I want to stop dancing once we started.”

Hiccup nodded at her suggestion. It sounded like an excellent plan.

. o O o .

Hours later, Hiccup still could hardly comprehend how he’d ended up here, holding Astrid in his arms and swaying with her in time with the last chords of the music. They had danced properly earlier in the night, so Cami’s lessons and the whole misunderstanding hadn’t been for nothing. But by now, her head rested comfortably on his shoulder, his cheek on her hair, and their arms were wrapped around each other’s bodies as they simply enjoyed their closeness.

His leg was aching after being up and about nearly all day, but he couldn’t bring himself to say anything, didn’t care, accepted the pain gladly as stopping to dance would properly mean to leave and say goodbye. Because no matter how many insinuating comments their friends had made over the course of the night, he didn’t intend to spend the night with her. What he wanted was a proper relationship with the girl of his dreams, and he wouldn’t rush and ruin it.

But eventually, the night had to come to an end. Eret and Dagur were long gone already, and Ruff and Tuff had dragged a pretty much knocked out Scott toward a taxi, discussing what weird story they were going to tell him in the morning or whether simply drawing stuff onto his face with a permanent marker was enough fun already. Both he and Astrid chuckled at their ideas, then she threw him a regretful smile.

“I think we ought to leave too,” she said, eyes cast to her other hand resting on his chest. “Will you drive me back home, or should I see whether I can catch a taxi? It’s… not exactly on your way.”

Hiccup took her comment as the subtle hint that it was, driving her home, but not staying. He nodded. “Of course I’ll drive you home.”

Once back at her uncle’s house, he stowed away the spare helmet back into its compartment, then simply placed his own on the seat as he escorted her to the door. She definitely noticed it, threw him a smile, then once again took his hand and leaned against him for the short walk toward the entrance door. When they reached it, she hesitated for a second, then quickly stretched and placed a peck on his cheek. “Thank you.”

Slightly stunned by the renewed and very welcome contact, Hiccup could barely do anything but grin like a lunatic. “What for?” he asked. If anything, he was the one who ought to thank her, after all. For making this dream come true.

“For not giving up, even when I was such an idiot and didn’t even bother to call our date off. For explaining, for putting up with me, for making this day so wonderful after all, for…” she trailed off, biting her lip as she glanced up at him. All of a sudden, her gaze was weirdly intense. There was a fire in them that made Hiccup’s breath hitch. But before he could react in any way, she reached for the collar of his shirt and hauled him down to kiss him once more.

On the lips.

With her hands buried in his hair.

With a low groan, he gave in to her demanding mouth, her tongue stroking his before he could even comprehend what was happening. His hands curled around her waist and back on reflex, pulling her closer as their kiss intensified. Her low moan could more be felt than heard, rumbling through both their bodies, the screech of an owl in one of the nearby trees the only noise as they thoroughly explored each other’s mouths.

When they parted, Hiccup was dizzy with lack of oxygen and his head filled with her. Slowly, he opened his eyes again to look at her, the gleam in her eyes even visible in the near darkness of the night.

“And that was for everything else,” she murmured, oddly shyly smiling up at him.

“I… I could get used to that,” he muttered stupidly, but she didn’t seem to mind, her smile growing a few shades brighter.

“Good night, Hiccup,” she whispered, and stepped away from him, slowly yet far too soon.

“Good night, Astrid,” he replied. “See you soon.”

Once again, she flashed him a brilliant smile before the door eventually closed behind her. Hiccup took a moment to gaze at where she’d disappeared, then return to his bike.

On his way back home, he felt lighter than ever before, and once he lay in his bed, he contemplated for a moment to text his friends, to thank them. Cami for her incredible help, and Justin for convincing him to ask for that help in the first place. But Justin would be long asleep, and Cami… Well, Cami surely was otherwise occupied too.

Chuckling quietly to himself, he let himself drift off into slumber, looking forward to seeing Astrid again soon, as more than just a friend now, and dreaming about a future with her at his side.

. o O o .

There, it's done. :) I hope you enjoyed this silly little story, I certainly enjoyed writing it.

But now, here's a question: There's one epilogue to this story, but it's not completely written yet. The question is now: Should I leave it a T-rated epilogue or turn it full M-rated? Or do two versions and do both? What would you prefer?

Anyway, I'd be very grateful for feedback ;)

(Link to the full story in a reblog)

#LIDAD #Hiccstrid #Hiccstrid fluff #fluff #rom-com drama #fanfiction #hiccstrid fanfiction #Modern AU #Modern Hiccstrid #HTTYD

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tysonrunningfox · 7 years ago

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Bad News

This is one of the last 3 chapters of this like...what I told myself I had to do to call it finished. I edited through the rest again today and like...I’ve worked up to the next week for like three years. And this is totally going to get buried by rtte but I’m not really operating on the idea that those two things have the same people paying attention to them so I’m keeping as close to on schedule as I can anyway. (This didn’t feel like a valentines chapter so I gave it an extra day)

Tumblr | AO3

It’s too early to be awake after a long, mostly sleepless night when someone knocks at the door. Or at least I think it’s someone, because it sounds more like a hollow metal ball than it does a hand. I wait a moment for someone else to deal with it but Mom doesn’t appear and Aurelia doesn’t come bounding down the stairs so I wrap my blanket around my shoulders and trudge over there, not bothering to put away my glare as I open it.

It’s Ingrid with what looks like breakfast that she mercifully didn’t cook and I reach out and grab a roll, biting into it and miming shutting the door in her face.

She reaches out and stops the door with her bad hand, that metallic sound ringing out again, and my eyes widen when I actually look at her fingers.

There are three metal fingers where yesterday there was blank space, a leather holster covering half her hand and attaching to a latch around her wrist. Another leather strap is around the base of her thumb and when she moves her hand away from the door, I can see that each finger has two carefully wrought, ratcheting joints.

“Let me see that—”

“Good morning to you too,” she pushes past me, stepping on my dragging blanket with a muddy boot and setting food on the table like she owns the place, even though I don’t think she’s ever been here. “Did you sleep out here?” She pats Bang’s head with her good hand—I mean her flesh and bone hand, and wrinkles her nose at the rumpled blankets on the floor.

“Bang won’t fit in the upstairs bedrooms.” I shut the door, “and can you please show me that?”

“What?” She holds her hand in front of her, reaching up and bending the fingers with her other hand. They hold whatever angle she puts them at and she grins, a shadow of her old confidence in it. “You have to be more specific.”

“Your hand, obviously.” I shove the rest of the roll in my mouth when she holds it out in my direction, dropping the blanket to hold it in both my hands.

“I brought you breakfast to be nice, you could at least chew it.”

“Where’d you get this?” I turn her hand over in mine, looking at the way the leather strap crosses her palm, holding the three metal fingers carefully in place over what’s left of her own. The clasp around her wrist is freshly oiled, the gronckle iron pounded thin and pulled smooth to make it lay flat against the strap. It’s stitched into place with what looks like sealskin thread, so that it won’t go slack when it gets wet and the fingers move smoothly with tactile little clicks.

“Smitelout made it,” she scoffs, “charged me about half my savings for it but hey, I’m not going anywhere else to spend those now so…”

“Smitelout made this?”

“Yeah, she said my axe was wrong for lefty wielding and it’d be a pain in the ass to change it so—”

“So she made you a hand?” I let go of it and she takes it back slowly, staring at it the whole time with a weird, almost content look on her face. “That’s a lot harder than switching a balance on an axe.”

“She did say that the next time she kicked my ass, she wanted me to be at my best so I couldn’t use this as an excuse,” Ingrid plops down into my normal chair, kicking her feet up on the chief’s table and picking up a piece of bread. “As if. But whatever her motives, I mean…I can swing an axe again. It’s a little slippery on the down stroke but maybe if I wore a leather glove or something…”

“That’s…that’s great.” I don’t know what else to say so I sit down across from her and pick up more food. “Does Arvid know you’re here?”

“Nah, he’s still asleep.”

“Well he’s off watch duty for the foreseeable future,” I take a bite and she rolls her eyes.

“Aren’t you the one who left me alone at the Ingermans’ last night so you could go make out with your girlfriend?” She wiggles her eyebrows at me and I blush. “And I don’t need someone to watch me, squirt, I’m fine—”

“You’re not fine.”

“I’m close enough,” she nods, like she’s telling herself more than me. “Closer now.”

“Did you and Spitleaf work things out last night?” I ask, because she really does seem better. Not good, not even normal, but better, and I know Spit was always good for her.

“We talked. Kind of.” She shrugs, “I don’t think it’s something that can be worked out and I told her that and she seemed to understand even if she wasn’t happy about it. I just—I’m busy, right now, with getting back into fighting shape and keeping you and Arvid from making fools of yourselves. Oh, and keeping Dad company. I’ve got a lot on my plate, I need to focus on that.”

“So, you’re not together anymore?”

“There really is no keeping you from making a fool of yourself, is there?” She says a little more sharply than I think she intends to.

“I’d say that’s largely true.”

“Does that mean you embarrassed yourself in front of Fuse?” She grins, “tell me everything.”

“What? No,” I huff, “I’m not telling you—did you do this with Arvid? Ask him all the sordid details—”

“No,” she snorts, “he’d just lie and give way too much information, frankly.”

“So then why ask me?”

“Because that’s not the face of a little brother with gross things to tell me,” she points at me with one neatly extended metal finger.

“Oh, shut up.”

“Stoick incoming!” Aurelia calls down the stairs seconds before Stoick sprints down them, tiny bare feet smacking the floor as he runs around the table to shout ‘good morning’ at Bang and nearly crashes into my chair, catching himself on my shoulder. He frowns at Ingrid.

“You must be Mom’s other kid.”

“Ingrid Hofferson,” she holds out her hand, her right hand, all the fingers extended, “nice to meet you.”

“Whoa!” He doesn’t shake her hand, grabbing her fingers instead and pulling hard enough that I reach out to stop him.

“Gentle, bud.”

“Sorry,” he grins, like he knows he’s cute enough to get away with it and honestly, he is, “cool hand!”

“Thanks, it’s new.”

“Mine aren’t,” he holds up his hands for her to see and Aurelia finally makes her way downstairs, braiding her hair over her shoulder.

“She’s not even my real sister and she brings me food,” Aurelia looks at me pointedly as she grabs breakfast and sits down. I huff, combing through my hair with my fingers and trying to reclaim the tie tangled in it.

“You didn’t ask me for food.”

“I didn’t have to ask Ingrid for food.”

“You got off of the wrong side of the dragon this morning,” I roll my eyes and Stoick finally drops Ingrid’s hand, satisfied that he knows how it works enough to leave it alone.

“She doesn’t have a dragon,” he reminds me, rolling his eyes with far too much intention for someone that young.

“Just a saying, bud.”

“Did you know that Eret looked exactly like you at your age?” Ingrid leans down a little bit to talk to Stoick and I wish again that she’d been here to help me when I was first getting used to him, “he burned down the forge though, you haven’t done anything like that, right?”

“No,” he shakes his head, “Mom would be so mad.”

“She was,” Ingrid nods. “You didn’t get to ride Bang for what? A week.”

“She said I wasn’t supposed to.” I wonder if I’m being a horrible role model when I look and Stoick and continue, “I did it anyway.”

“I always knew I was the good kid,” Stoick sighs and shakes his head at me and Ingrid laughs. Even Aurelia snorts at that one, even though I know it’s not quite a joke to her. “Can I play with Bang?”

“Of course, dude.” I almost regret saying it because as soon as he runs away and starts whispering secrets to a dragon on the other side of the room, both my sisters look at me like it’s a little disappointing how little I’ve embarrassed myself today.

I’d like to think that last night is enough for this lifetime but mostly I’d like to not think of last night in front of anyone, including myself, honestly.

Well, the bad parts of last night. And even the bad parts weren’t bad, per say, they were just uncomfortable because I was out of control and Fuse noticed and made me think about things I haven’t in a long time. And even then it was different, it was…incestuous, yes, but otherwise innocent. I didn’t want to be like Arvid, not really, I wanted it to be some romance from the stuffy section of Fishlegs’ library. And it’s not that I’d be opposed to a little more romance with Fuse, that’s not what I was so enthusiastic about last night.

I try not to think about her saying she was flattered or her shoving me back onto her bed like she really wanted me there. Last night, I had enough trouble holding back the idea of what might have happened if I’d stayed. I’m not sure how I feel about it and I don’t want to have that revelation with both my sisters staring at me like they’d love someone to advise.

Surprisingly, Aurelia cracks first, and just in time too because I can feel Ingrid reading my mind.

“I think Arvid is mad at me, has he said anything to you?” She asks me but Ingrid by extension, hesitant for a second like she’s not sure she can.

“He doesn’t have conversations with me that don’t start with asking if I’m ok,” Ingrid shrugs, “but he hasn’t seemed mad.”

“He doesn’t talk to me unless he wants a brawl,” I laugh before remembering yesterday, like that important embarrassment just got buried under the chronological next until this moment.

The good news is, I’m not blurting this one out because the only thing worse than my brother marrying my sister is being the one to ask her for him.

“He hasn’t said anything to you?” She asks again, nose twitching like she smells something suspicious and I shrug.

“He asked me if Ingrid is ok.”

“If no one asks me that ever again it’ll be too soon,” she huffs, kicking her feet back up on the table and freezing when Mom walks out of the bedroom and sees her.

“Feet.”

“Sorry.”

“What brings you up here?” Mom walks up to her and hugs her even as Ingrid makes a show of rolling her eyes. She notices Ingrid’s hand and looks at me but I just shrug, because I don’t know how to silently communicate that Smitelout has been hiding both her talent and smidgen of compassion remarkably well for someone who’s so loud and annoying all the time.

“I brought breakfast,” she gestures at the basket on the table, “and I wanted to see how last night went because Eret left the Ingermans’ to hang out with his girlfriend.”

“Fuse Thorston?” Mom turns that disappointed in dating look I’ve only ever seen her give Arvid on me for the first time in my life and it practically stings. “She’s your girlfriend now?”

“She’s not my girlfriend.” I shrug, and it’s true, because we haven’t said anything like that and she doesn’t want to get married. I just occasionally kiss her in her room on her bed and feel really…happy about it. That’s all.

And, you know, I’m currently trying really hard not to remember how her hip felt under my hand or how good she smells.

Not that I’m going to tell my mother that.

This is the first thing I’ve ever had that I really can’t tell Mom, isn’t it?

“Maybe not in so many words, but he does realize that she is in fact a girl.” Aurelia isn’t upset enough about Arvid not to join in.

“I’d wager that he might even think she’s pretty.” Ingrid pokes me irrationally hard in the arm with one of her metal fingers and that’s probably why Smitelout did it, to torture me from yet another angle.

“Well, maybe he should think about making decisions based on pretty,” Mom gives me that look again.

“Who’s pretty?” The chief walks out of the bedroom and Ingrid blinks at him for a second, alarmed like she never is. I realize it’s the first time she’s seen it, Mom and the chief so casually together like it’s not completely absurd after a lifetime of Mom and Dad. The chief puts his hand on Mom’s back and reaches for some bread. “Good morning, Ingrid.”

“Uh, hey Chief.”

“So, who’s pretty?” He kisses Mom on the cheek like that much is obvious, and I look and Ingrid and shrug. She’s a little pale and I don’t blame her, honestly.

“Fuse Thorston is, in Eret’s humble opinion,” Aurelia looks at me, daring me to argue with her and I know that’s a trap.

“I told him to think twice about decisions made on pretty.” Mom looks at the chief like she wants his support in whatever her problem is with talking about Fuse and the chief gives her a look that makes me feel surprisingly vindicated.

“I’m not sure that’s great advice, Astrid.”

“I’m just saying—”

“I get what you’re saying, Mom.” I leave it at that, because I do, because I’ve made decisions based on pretty and that led to following Aurelia around like a lost fireworm.

“You’re being respectful, right?” The chief narrows his eyes at me and it’s almost authentically stern. I laugh. “No, really, Fuse is a great girl—”

“You’re being serious?” I laugh again, waiting for him to stop and say he’s just joking with me or something. Because that’s another face that Arvid got, the ‘am I going to have to clean up your romantic mess’ face. I always got the go-get-‘em face with the bald implication that I would fail. This is a better new face. “You think I’ve got enough of a chance to be disrespectful?”

“She’s a good kid.” He reiterates.

“I know, chief. I’m not—I’m being respectful. Or whatever.” Or at least most of me is.

I did leave last night. I stopped as soon as it went further than I expected it to. She was the one following me out and talking about stuff and things and making me blush. And putting things in my head that probably should have already been there, but now that they’re new, they’re a lot harder to avoid.

“Glad to hear it.” He nods, still fatherly but a little less annoying than usual. “Also, get dressed, there’s a report of a Thunderdrum attacking some boats up north, we should go before it moves on.”

“Now?” I frown, “I’m not done eating yet.”

“Bring it with you.”

What the chief didn’t tell me at home is that the Thunderdrum was described as covered in flaky, white scales and that it’s nearly half a day’s flight north. The chief and I spend the better part of three days cruising around at low altitude looking for it. I have to physically bite my tongue a few times to keep from telling him we should go East, towards the sick dragon island, but having him on my side won’t help us now anyway so I don’t bother. That and it feels like laying out breadcrumbs for him to come find the plan we’ve managed to keep underground for this long.

“It might be about time to give up,” he shouts over the cold wind on our way back to Berk mid-afternoon on our third full day of searching. “It must have moved on from here, if it attacks any more ships, we’ll hear about it.”

“Thunderdrums don’t attack for no reason, it must have felt threatened.”

“Or it was old and sick,” the chief lets that hang for a minute and I look at him. He’s staring pointedly ahead. “Sea’s looking pretty empty these days.”

“I know that,” I pat Bang’s head urging him faster to keep up with Toothless’s easy gliding, “so are the forests.”

“I wonder if it’s some sort of disease,” the chief slows down and he’s still not looking at me, more thinking out loud and hoping I’d rather have answers than fight with him. Maybe I’d feel different if I didn’t think I already had the answers, but I’d rather get home than fight. “If it is, there has to be a cure.”

“What if they’re just dying?”

“Or going somewhere else,” he looks East like he’s been thinking about it this whole time, “maybe someone needs to bring them back.”

“If they want to leave, I don’t see how bringing them back could help anything.” It’s true but it feels like diversion too, because we’re so close and the problem should solve itself. I’ve got to believe it will, because otherwise, I don’t know what I’m going to do. All I know is that it feels wrong out here without dragons, too quiet, too still. Like I’m existing after the end of something.

“I don’t know,” the chief shakes his head and looks at me, a nostalgic smile pulling at the corner of his mouth and making him look older than he usually does, “maybe it’s because it’s a Thunderdrum. I always kind of look for my dad’s, I guess.”

“Could they really live that long?” I pat Bang’s head again and he warbles like he’s offended at the suggestion.

“I’ve seen them so big that there’s no way they could fly anymore. We know they become mostly aquatic after fifty years or so but…I don’t know. I hope so.” He sighs, “maybe I just like thinking parts of him are still out there.”

I get the feeling he’s talking about me. The comparison gets heavier every time I hear it and I clear my throat.

“How—how did he die?” The question falls out, clumsy, too loud over the dragon-less waves, “I know it was—you know, Toothless, and you told me when, I just—”

“Toothless was under the control of an alpha. My dad jumped between us,” he looks down at his hands, “we glamorize it for the plaque but…it was what it was.”

“He saved you,” I nod, thinking that through. It’s an instinct I understand better after Ingrid. Not that I didn’t understand it before, but there was always an element of heroism to it. I understood being the hero, taking the brunt, but always with something on the other side.

Spitleaf didn’t stay and Ingrid’s forever damaged for it. I would have stepped in front of that axe in an instant, but she wouldn’t have wanted me to.

Maybe sometimes, leading is making the hard choices for everyone else, but most of the time, it’s making the hardest one for yourself.

“He didn’t think twice.” The chief looks at me strangely for another second before clicking at Toothless. “Come on, let’s get home, I’m about numb from being in the saddle two days straight. I’m finally getting old, I guess.”

“I think that started a long time ago,” I joke because I don’t know what else to say and he laughs because I get the feeling he needed a joke.

In a way, the last couple days have been a slice of what was normal for so many months. Sure, I didn’t drop all chiefly duties while helping get Ingrid re-settled, but I can’t say they were an all day, every day activity anymore either. And even though it’s not as much work as when I was doing it alone, I’m itching for a break. Not that I even know what I break is these days. I don’t know what I even used to do when I had all that free time.

The good news is that the blasts of cold, salty air keep me from thinking too hard about Fuse, at least while we’re actively flying. The rest of the time, at home, Aurelia talks my ear off about how Arvid is acting strange and I help her hack through a few of the more difficult treaties she’s working on. It all has the feeling of filling time when I should be doing something else, something important. The next day, I take the first chunk of freedom I can get when the chief asks me to check in on the second round of dam repairs while he has a secret meeting that I largely suspect is with Arvid himself.

The dam looks like it’ll hold this time and it better because the next thing the chief wants to try is bracing it with a metal substructure, and that might lead someone to discover just how low the store of scrap iron is at the moment. Smitelout’s doing a decent job of hiding the lack of pile but if anyone really went looking for it they’d notice. Most of it is finally shaped into shells that Fuse should be filling and…

Fuse. There she is.

Thinking about her makes my hands itch. And my chest feels tight. And I think about her hair and her room and the way she kissed me with so much intent, like she’d been thinking about it even more than I had. How she didn’t get mad at me when she had every right to and how it felt like the edge of something new but in a good way this time. A way that makes all the nervous energy swirling around my head at the thought of her feel more like a promise. Like something resembling intent.

I almost wonder what I could get away with, but it’s different, it’s more wondering what would happen if I didn’t stop her. If she got to kiss me in private all that she wanted to.

Now, I might be a bit dense and damaged in this department, but I also grew up with Arvid as my older brother. And somehow, I can’t stop thinking about the brushed red patch on Fuse’s neck from my stubble and the way she kept running her fingers through my hair and it would almost be easier if she’d been offended. Hel, if she’d been anything but flattered. Because I’m a bit flattered that she let me that close to her. I’d kind of like to flatter her more.

Bang and I get to the edge of the village and I should go back to the chief’s house to hear the news about Arvid and Aurelia and figure out what he wants me to do next. That would be the right thing to do, but it’s hard with all these half thoughts about Fuse in my head, and I think about heading to her house to see if she’s there. Maybe no one else would be.

And like all of the other women in my life, Fuse must read my mind, because as soon as I land she appears out of seemingly nowhere, running up to me and grabbing my arm. She yanks hard enough to pull me off of Bang and I stumble a couple of steps to catch my balance.

“Nice to see you too.”

“I have to talk to you.”

“Yeah?” I can’t stop the dopey grin spreading across my face even though I know it can’t possibly do anything good for me in this situation.

“It’s serious,” she starts dragging me towards her workshop. “Come on.”

“Ok,” I catch up to walk beside her and she drops my arm, chewing on her bottom lip. “What’s wrong? Are you ok?”

“Why wouldn’t I be ok?”

“Because you look upset—”

“Keep your voice down,” she looks around like she’s checking if anyone heard, remaining mostly silent until we get to her workshop. She lights the lone candle on the counter inside and shuts the door behind us, ignoring Bang’s pathetic croon at being out of my sight for even a minute. “I talked to Spitleaf last night—”

“Is she ok? I know Ingrid broke up with her—”

“Why would I talk to her about that?” She shakes her head, “I was asking her about the dragons because she’s been way further out than either of us and apparently there aren’t any left on the mainland. Like, at all. And that’s why she and Ingrid got attacked, dragon leather’s selling for its weight in gold.”

“Dragon leather? That’s barbaric.”

“It’s disgusting,” she shakes her head, “and it’s worse, they flew past the island on the way back and what she described? There must be twice as many dragons there now, and she said she didn’t see any babies but some of them weren’t old.”

“So, it’s spreading.”

“It’s spreading and—and I don’t…” She looks at me, hands limp at her sides and I lean back against the counter. She rarely looks helpless and her eyes feel like a physical weight adding to the looming one on my shoulders.

“And people are going after dragons now. So that means…” I wave my hand at where Bang is surely crouched outside the door, “places with dragons are in danger too. And people with dragons.”

“That’s what it sounds like.”

And I can’t help but think about her encountering people like the ones who hurt Ingrid. I should have protected Ingrid in the first place, that’s what chiefs are supposed to do. I’m not going to let the same thing happen to Fuse just because she’s out on some dangerous adventure I prompted her into. Maybe she doesn’t even need to be there, maybe I can help the dragons and know that she’s safe.

“Is there a way to do this with less people?” I try and wrap my head around the whole of what Fuse just told me, of the fact that even leaving Berk with a dragon right now could be seen as an invitation for trouble. The fact that what happened to Ingrid isn’t an isolated incident and that it could happen again, so easily.

“Like less people in the air? Because I think I need everyone helping me build if it’s—if we need to rush it this much. Because if hunters are hurting the dragons, we have to get them out of there.” She looks at me more rigidly than she has in a while and I realize she’s pushing the timeline herself without asking me. That’s a relief, honestly, because I don’t want to ask for more from her when she’s already doing so much.

“Agreed. But what do you thing? Could we do it with less people flying out there.” I look at her face, slanted with shadows from the flickering candle. It makes her looks softer and that makes me feel more determined. “Like, could it be staged in phases from a single dragon?”

“It’s too heavy for a single dragon, let alone a dragon with two riders.”

“What about a Thunderdrum with one rider?” I regret getting there so quickly as soon as I do, because her brow crumples and her nostrils flare and I don’t think I’ve ever seen that brutally irritated face directed at me. She looks me up and down like she doesn’t quite recognize me and maybe it’s closer to fury than annoyance.

“You can’t do this alone.” It’s an insult, not a plea to come along, and I realize I made a mistake with a significant potential to be fatal to people she doesn’t like as much as me. I inadvertently stepped between her and her bombs. “You don’t know how to prep the charges, you don’t know—”

And if me standing my ground here keeps her safe from some crazy dragon hunting barbarians off island, well, this is my soon to be vaporized rock to die on. Fuse is quite the blast to jump in front of but I’m not letting anyone else get hurt.

“You could teach me. I could learn, it could be fun—”

“No.”

“Fuse—”

“No, I’m going, and if you won’t help, I’ll find someone who will.” She crosses her arms and looks past me, eyes flicking briefly to my face like she’s assessing the impact of her words.

It’s not small. It stings like a burn, a burn I don’t want to ice because I want to use the pain to remember not to touch that again. She’s the one person I’ve managed to keep on or near my side through all of this and to think that I’m messing that up now, so close to the end when everything’s only getting more dangerous and difficult. I bite back a bitter surge of exhaustion and sadness and pride that makes me want to tell her to go ahead and try. But it’s Fuse, and she’d take me at face value, and that means I have to make my face value higher. It has to say what I’ll always want to say and not what I want to say now, when I’m scared of how different it’s going to be out there when we leave.

It might be loud with barbarians instead of quiet without dragons and again, I don’t know how I’m handling all this change.

“You just said it yourself,” I look at my feet, boots muddy from examining the dam and then being dragged to her shed. Maybe I can only have one person with me at a time and now that Arvid’s finding some resolution to his slow swing back to my side, I have to scare Fuse off. “Just having a dragon is looking for trouble—”

“And if it finds us,” she picks up a clay jar from a shelf above her workbench and shakes it at me, not quite threatening but enough to make me worry if she’ll still even like me after all of this.

“What if it’s not enough?”

“I have dozens of those.”

“What if those aren’t enough?” I snap, “we don’t know what we’re going into and I can’t—I can’t stand the thought of something happening to you, alright?” I throw my hands up and sigh, “ever since I thought of it, I can’t stop. Just—me not being able to do anything about it and…”

“You’re trying to protect me?” She cocks her head, hair shining in the sunset light leaking around the door. The candle makes it bright enough not to trip over her but not much more than that and it makes it feel later, like we’re existing in the twilight of this big plan more than we are in today. “I don’t need you to.”

“Neither did Ingrid, until she did. Neither did anyone until…until every decision I made started to impact all of them.”

“You can’t decide anything for me,” she’s quiet like she’s trying to comfort me and I try to feel that. I try to feel the strength that’s always made her someone I could lean on when no one else was standing up straight. She’s the one tree in the forest still standing after a microburst or a timberjack tantrum and I try to let myself believe it.

“I just…I don’t want you to do anything stupid for me that gets you hurt.” I gesture at her, at the way she’s standing, Hel, the way she’s just existing there. Calm and furious and controlled, beautiful and dirt smudged, uneven braids and tangled hair. “I’m not worth that.”

“That’s not your decision to make either.” The corner of her mouth twitches and I want to wipe the smudge of soot off of her chin. I want the dragons to come back, I want none of it to be real and more, I want it not to sit so squarely on me. “Plus, it’s for the dragons. It’s only for you in a secondary way.” That’s almost a joke and I get that she’s trying to cheer me up on my level, even if it’s hard for her. I almost ask to go blow something up but she continues. “Who protects you? If you’re so cut up protecting everyone else, who’s protecting you?”

I shrug, “I don’t know, some chiefly aura that’s kept the chief alive all these years?”

“He’s missing his leg.”

“Yeah, but he survived.” I sigh, “and given he’s still alive even with all this messing with my family of all people, I’m just hoping it’s strong enough to be genetic.”

“That’s stupid.”

“Yeah, but it’s what I’ve got.” Part of me wants to ask her to protect me, but she’s right, I can’t decide anything for her. She can’t decide anything for me either though and that means she can’t stop me from doing everything in my power to keep her as safe as possible. To keep everyone as safe as possible.

“You still think it’s right for the dragons, right?”

“I think if it’s not, it won’t matter. I think they’re going there to die and whether they want to do it under or on the island, it’s happening.”

“And if doing this could make it better for them—”

“We do it. Obviously.” I look at my feet, “I think it’s time to tell the chief though. Not about the dragons or any of this,” I gesture around her workshop, “but…but if people are hunting dragons and they’re the people that hurt Ingrid…”

“We need to be ready for that too.” She nods, “especially because we have an alpha here, dragons should stick around longer than anywhere else.”

“Huh,” I nod, “I always forget about that.” I look back up at her and sigh, “start working on how to do this with three. Arvid might want to stay back if it’s this dangerous, or Aurelia might want him to. I don’t necessarily hate the idea of that anyway.”

“You, me, and Smitelout?” She doesn’t put any special emphasis on herself and she’s almost daring me to bring it up again.

“Yeah, and…and I should set up the interior charge, the one in the volcano on that lip?” I ask to make sure she understands and she looks like she’s going to fight for a second but seems to abandon that idea. She sighs and almost cautiously rests her hand on my cheek, like I’m the thing in this shed most likely to blow up if handled improperly.

“Ok, I’m not sure there’s room for two of us down there anyway and I can’t lift the baffle as well by myself.”

“You stay in the air, over the water, and hit the lava flows.”

“I don’t need you to protect me,” she says again, gentler this time, “you don’t have to.”

“Maybe that’s why I want to,” I lean my face against her hand, trying to find the right words, “because…because it feels like the only thing I can’t mess up.”

“There’s a lot you can’t mess up,” she leans onto tip toes and kisses me on the other cheek, “not that you haven’t tried.” She doesn’t object when I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her in to a hug, my chin fitting almost too neatly over her shoulder.

“I’ve got to go talk to the chief, don’t I?”

“Yeah,” her breath is warm even through the shoulder of my shirt and I must smell like salt and murky dam water but she doesn’t seem to care. I squeeze tighter before I have to let go and feel her heartbeat against my chest. “And I’ve got to start packing up everything.” She sighs and pulls out of the hug, slowly, like she doesn’t really want to. “That’s my least favorite part. I build all these bombs and it looks like so many until they fit into a few saddle bags.” She taps my chest with the back of her hand and takes a step back, “three people, right?”

“Three people.” I’m suddenly tired, just thinking about what I’m about to have to do, and I push away from the counter, finding a tired smile for her. “Next time when you come find me, it should be good news, ok? You’ve got to at least alternate or it really starts to wear a guy down.”

“Good news,” she nods, “I’ll try and remember that.”

“Ok, I’ll let you know how it goes.” I kiss her on the forehead again and it almost feels like habit, like the good kind of habit that I want to keep. “I’d say wish me luck but—”

“You don’t need it.” She nods at me and I get the impression that’s a nicer version of her saying I don’t have it but well, that’s the last thing I need to remember right now.

#eret iii #festerverse #ingrid hofferson #aurelia haddock #stoick ii #fuse thorston #feret #they are cute even if it's not like blaah #hiccstrid #because it does occur #they do act kind of couply

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