That Look (Hiccup x Reader)

104: Ruff Transition

"Okay, so there's five of you?" I asked the Titan Zipplebacks.

The dragons were eating a bunch of Defenders and Vanaheim fruit that I had brought them. Spike was eyeing it but I had packed him salmon so he was busy eating that. Having spent years with Barf & Belch, I had learned that Zipplebacks appreciated the finer things in life. So keeping them calm was pretty easy.

"Okay, noticeable differences." I muttered and stared at my sketchbook and then the dragons. "More and longer spines, descending in patches down the back. Tail fins. Horned wings. So, overall, the dragon is bigger and more aerodynamic."

Hrungnir waddled around and struggled to eat from the fruit pile. I hadn't intended to take him with us but Meatlug was looking at him like he would be a pretty tasty rock dragon. Not that Fishlegs would ever let that happen, but it worried me as there were lots of wild Gronckles on the Edge. His sensory training was going okay. He wasn't very confident but the crashing into things was now a rare occasion. Our current challenge was moving targets. It was very hard to be a blind dragon in a non-blind dragon world.

"I thought I'd find you here."

I turned and saw Hiccup walking in the cavern. He sat down next to me on the blanket I sprawled out on the ground and kissed me.

"Titan Zipplebacks?"

"What gave it away?" I asked sarcastically.

"Probably the Titan Zipplebacks." He responded and leaned on me affectionately.

"What do you want?" I questioned suspiciously.

"We're all going to Wingmai-"

"No thanks." I shook my head and went back to drawing.

"Come on, why don't you like them?" Hiccup whined and snatched my sketchbook from me.

"I like them just fine. What I don't like is flying through a thunderstorm and having my fiancé being ogled at." I said honestly. Then making grabbing gestures with my hands to get my book back.

"If I can tolerate your popularity on Defender's Island, you can tolerate mine on Wingmaiden." He persisted. Grabbing my hand instead of giving me my book, and pulling me up. "Besides, it's just because they've never seen men before."

"Unless they're baby snatchers, they must have." I grumbled, resisting his pulling. "Procreation only works one way, unless they're secretly frogs. Point being, they've seen a man before. How do we know they're not secretly one big harem?"

"That's ridiculous." Hiccup told me and instead of dragging, decided it would be easier to carry me out.

"You will rue the day!" I threatened.

"I'll take my chances."

* * *

We flew to Wingmaiden Island, some unhappier than others. Snotlout grinning like an idiot and me dealing with secondhand embarrassment, despite not even being there yet. Hiccup must have noticed this, because he spoke up when we were almost there.

"All right, gang, when we get to Wingmaiden Island, I want everyone to be on their best behaviour." He told us, taking time to stare at Snotlout while saying it. Snotlout rolled his eyes but said nothing.

"Hiccup, we've made a chiefly decision." Ruff interrupted.

"O-Okay." Hiccup stuttered. "But you're not a chief, so -"