Free (HTTYD)

15: Fifteen

[early update!!

just a reminder, Hiccup has both legs. i'm stating so bc i thought about it and decided he didn't defeat the Queen, but rather the dragons turned on her on their own somehoW

and an fyi this probably sucks but 🤷🏻‍♀️ i'm too happy at the moment to giveth frocks]

When Hiccup woke the next morning, the happy-go-lucky fuzzy feeling hadn't left. So what if someone found out his identity when he swore no one would? He was glad it was Astrid and not Gobber or someone else like that. As much as he loved the old man, he didn't love him in the way he did Astrid.

He didn't love Astrid, per say, but he was very close to being able to say he did.

He strolled out to the main cavern of the nest, where he spotted Toothless at a distance playing with baby Scuttleclaws. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, momentarily freaking out since he'd forgotten that the Berkians were there.

"Oh," was all he said, voice raspy. The single word had been loud enough for Toothless to hear, and the Night Fury came running across the glen, gliding in a wobbly manner over the small chasm separating him from his rider. He offered Hiccup a gummy smile, which the auburn-haired male replied to with one that had teeth.

"Hey, Bud!" He gave Toothless a scratch on his sweet spot under his chin, walking past him with the Night Fury falling into step beside him as he oversaw the Vikings with their barricades and weapons, heaving and all that.

It looked painful up close.

"Hey!" When he turned around, he was met with a fist lightly to the shoulder. Astrid had been the one to call to him, running to him on foot as Stormfly was busy flying the last of the cannons and large crossbows up to the shooters. "How ya been?"

He smiled from behind his helmet. "Good, milady. You?" A ghost of a grin appeared on her face at the nickname he'd given her.

"Good. Could be better, but Stormfly is helping without me, so I've been running around and checking up on everyone." She twirled her axe in her hand, the handle twisting in her skilled and calloused fingers.

"You could always borrow Toothless if you wanted." Said dragon gave Hiccup and incredulous look before glancing at Astrid and back to Hiccup. It wasn't that the dragon didn't like Astrid-- he was quite fond of her now-- but she didn't know how to operate his tailfin.

"I don't know how to operate his fin, though," She replied, and Toothless seemed to huff in agreement, as he was just thinking that a moment ago.

"I'll teach you," Hiccup leaned forward slightly. Astrid raised a brow.

"The Great Dragon Conqueror teaching me his ways? This is almost too good to be true," She said in a mocking manner, nudging him with her elbow. "That sounds good," She followed with, more serious about it now. Hiccup chuckled slightly.

"I'll catch you later and you can go on a test ride," he nudged her back playfully.

Before she could respond, Snotlout came up and startled them both. "What's got you two all buddy-buddy? Babe, are you replacing me with this guy? He could be fifty for all we know with that helmet of his," He smirked. Before Hiccup or Astrid could work up a snarky reply, Fishlegs' shriek filled the area.

Now on high alert, Hiccup mounted Toothless and the pair bolted toward the source with Astrid sprinting behind, Snotlout and the others behind her. It came from the beach.

"Fishlegs! What's wro-" Hiccup stopped talking as he took in a shuddering gasp. The horizon was darkened with the dots of what looked to be hundreds of ships, some blotting out part of the rising sun as well. They didn't appear to be advancing much, but they were close enough to see the vast array of warriors on their docks.