#hiccuphaddock

Hiccup woke with an intense and unmistakable throbbing in his head; he felt like someone had taken a war hammer to his frontal lobe. He tried to lift his arm to check his head, but that made him aware of just how stiff and painful the rest of his body was. He let out a grumble as he managed to force himself to sit up, running his hands around himself to try and figure out what was going on. He could feel rough cotton fabric as well as soft, fluffy furs, instantly he recognised his own bed. But that confused him. How was he in bed? He racked his aching mind back to try to remember what happened. He remembered going out into the woods… he remembered taking some notes about toothless… he remembered taking another test flight- Ah. Now he remembered. He’d used a saddle chain that was too thin, and it had snapped mid-flight, sending him hurtling off the dragon’s back and onto the forest floor.

That certainly explained his aching bones. But… didn’t explain how he was in his bed?

The answer came soon enough, though, as the soft and gentle scent of Lemongrass tea met his nose. Only one person on Berk made Lemongrass tea that smelled that good. And his theory was confirmed as soon as he heard her humming her soft little song.

As he pealed open his eyes, he couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her.

Y/n hummed her usual song; he knew the lyrics by heart, given how often she sang it while walking the woods and hills. She was barefoot, of course, as he’d only known her to wear boots in the coldest of snowy winters and even then only when going outside. She wore an underdress that had once been white but had now turned faded and greyish like a cloudy sky; the skirt of the underdress danced around her ankles, heavy with the fabric’s weight. Over the top of it, she wore a thick blue dress with a square neckline just under her breasts and a large bow at the back where she’d tied it together, the fabric dotted with embroidery of flowers and pixies. Over the top of her dress, she wore a leather corset vest laced with blue ribbons on both the front and the straps. She wore a matching blue ribbon woven into her long hair, since she’d never cut it in all the year’s he’d known her.

She moved with an ethereal way about her, almost like everything she did was a dance. She went to the roaring fire and pulled off a pot from the hearth, pouring a large cup of her fresh Lemongrass tea. Something about the sight of her just made him feel so warm and comfortable. Many of the elders of Berk used to call her a lost child, claiming that she was strange and complicated, knowing things she shouldn’t. They used to claim that she had wandered too far into the woods, and that a fae child had, in fact, been returned to them. Which was, of course, absurd… but some part of Hiccup couldn’t help but believe it.

“Good Morning, sweet fae girl.” He cooed, “Have you come to whisk me away into the woods and make me your husband?” he teased,

Y/n laughed, “Would if I could, Hiccup. But I am sure you don’t need my help getting lost in the woods.”

“Maybe because you're beckoning me out there? Changing the paths on me?” he continued to tease,

She rolled her eyes and sat down on his bed, offering him the tea, which he took and sipped happily, “Remind me to leave you battered and broken in the woods next time.”

“I’m only kidding. Thank you, Y/n.”

“You’re welcome, Hiccup.” She smiled as she stood and kissed his temple, “I should start charging you, you know. The number of times I drag your sorry butt home.”

“I am very accident-prone,”

“You’re clumsy and reckless,” she reminded, as she sat down and returned to working on mending some of his clothes,

“True… where did you get those?”

“Around your room,”

“Have you just been brewing tea and fixing my clothes while I was sleeping?”

“Yes,”

“Humm… you really do wanna make a husband out of me,”

“Do you want me to fetch your father?”

“No.” He gulped, “Y/n, please tell me you didn’t-”

“Calm down, I haven’t said a word to him.”

“Ohh… good… thank you,”

“I am not foolish, I know your business is a secret from your father.”

“You know nothing of my business,”

“I know you like sneaking out into the woods, to visit your… pet.”

All the colour suddenly drained from his cheeks, “You… you know about-”

“Yes,”

“How?”

“It’s rather amusing, you think you can hide anything from me.”

“I… I didn’t think it was that obvious.”

“It isn’t, to anyone but me.” She laughed, “Calm down, it’s our secret.” She smiled, resting her hand on his chest,

“You promise?”

“Cross my hearts,”

“Thank you,” he nodded, “You really are too good to me,”

“Shhhh, rest.” She told him as she took the tea away and tucked him in,

“I didn’t mean to get myself hurt, you know, I just… figured the chain would hold.”

“Well, what do we say about failing?”

“That we learn from it,” He nodded, “And… that I’m sorry for worrying you,”

“You’re forgiven, just promise you’ll be more careful next time.” She smiled,

“Cross my hearts.” he cooed,

“Good,” She chuckled, kissing his forehead, “Besides, whatever shall I do for a husband if you lose a fight with a tree?”

“I wasn’t losing… I was… recalibrating my flight plan, mid-ride.” he chuckled, “And maybe your husband feels he can be reckless, knowing you’re always going to be here to patch me up.”

Y/n laughed, “If you want more attention, ask for it. Don’t hurt yourself just to get some love.”

“But you always take the best care of me when I’m hurt,” he pouted, “Speaking of which, my back is really sore… and my shoulders… and… maybe a little lower too?” He smirked,

“Mhm?” She raised a brow,

“So… you think you could help me out with that, my little fae girl?”

Today was spent patching up the riders after a grueling training session and a few accidents (mostly Snotlout) and we make conversation as they tell me the new things they've discovered when they went adventuring a few days ago.

My huge cut had - thankfully - been steadily healing, the riders taking turns in making sure I wasn't doing tasks I wasn't supposed to. A few weeks since the incident and I could finally start walking around my hut with much, much caution.

Taking this opportune moment of reprieve, I'm sat at my front porch, admiring the view of the sea and horizon off in the distance. I sipped quietly on my drink while wrapped in a blanket, the birds chirping and soft swaying of the trees my only company.

...That is until strong gusts of wind caused by a familiar midnight black dragon landed on my front yard, along with his ever-familiar rider in tow.

"[Name]! I come bearing new entries to my journal, along with snacks of course."

Right. Ever since my injury, Hiccup had made it some sort of tradition to come and talk to me about things he discovered while out on adventures or simply reading up and researching on subjects he thinks would interest me.

He reasoned it as him hoping I wouldn't feel too lonely even though the other riders visiting routinely (which I soon figured out was coordinated by Hiccup thanks to a slip of the tongue from Tuffnut) had given me plenty of company since then.

Hiccup took his seat beside me on the porch swing, making himself comfortable. Offering the other half of my blanket and he takes it with a smile, scooting closer to me.

Initially, I seemingly wasn't quite receptive of this tradition he had started; lack of responses, barely any indication that i was interested in whatever he was talking about. But the dragon rider hadn't exactly let it affect him whatsoever. He continued coming regularly, and talking enough for the both of us.

"Hiccup." I spoke, softly and quite mellow, but it had stopped his rant completely as he turned to look at me.

I raised my head to look back at him, my eyes slowly dragging over his features. sweat beaded faintly across his brows as he also searched my face of any indication of emotion. He gulped, the action quite apparent, "Yes?"

"Are you doing all this because you feel guilty?" I questioned, my voice devoid of any accusatory tone, yet it made him flinch slightly in his seat, "If you are, then you shouldn't be, because I already forgive you."

He pursed his lips and brows furrowed as he continued to keep his eyes on me, clearly displeased despite my words. I felt a warmth slowly settle on my hand, looking down to find his hand grabbing onto mine.

My heart beat quickened, a soft yet steady heat creeping up onto my cheeks. For a moment, it had felt like we were suspended in time, the universe letting us have this moment that we've needed.

"Even if you have forgiven me," he paused, his body turning to me and gripping my hand tighter, "I can't." he whispered, a soft tremble in his voice as I watched his eyes gloss over.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." he almost weeps, his voice crackly and tears turning his eyes glossy. "I shouldn't have talked to you like that. Been so - so caught up in my emotion that I just had zero regard for how you were feeling to how I was saying it." his voice shakes slightly, and my heart crumpled at the emotion.

Gently setting aside my drink, I reached to hold his hands with both of mine, softly rubbing my thumb along the natural contours of the back of it. My throat felt tight, that same burning feeling in my eyes coming back, but I steeled myself and my voice to be able to say what I needed to.

"Hiccup.. I understand, I really do." my voice had felt so fragile, like glass, about to break if more pressure is applied to it. "In the time I've spent by myself these past few weeks, I've come to a certain understanding and acceptance to the situation. and it's okay," I squeezed his hands, "I'm okay."

He subtly shakes his head no, one of his hands breaking free from mine and drifting to my wounded abdomen, past the hem and underneath my shirt. Hiccup was quiet but his touch spoke more than his words tried to convey. My breath hitched at the action as he continued with his ministrations, yet his expression more spaced-out. I'm not sure what it was exactly, but I could tell he was heavily contemplating something in his head.

Despite the gauze barrier, I could feel the heat of him emanating through it. It allowed that familiar warmth to bloom in my chest once again, the same warmth that only he seems to be the cause of. It had felt entirely too intimate to consider it as something friends do which only raised so many more questions and confusion in my head.

This wasn't normal for friends, right? Is this something he normally does with the others?

I gulped down the lump in my throat, the thought of him doing the same thing to a certain blonde-haired viking setting an uncomfortable feeling in my gut.

Before I could voice out any of my thoughts however, my eyes widened and cheeks warmed considerably once I felt his touch travel to my cheek. It was soft, almost feather-like, and comforting. His eyes glowed beautifully, the orange sunset reflecting onto his green eyes, effectively enchanting me with how beautiful it looked.

He kept his eyes on me, seemingly waiting on a sign on how I felt about the current predicament. seeing no protests from me, he continued on, now essentially cupping my face with both of his hands. His piercing eyes never left my face, flitting between my eyes and lips.

"Hiccup..."

"Hiccup!" a familiar voice cut through the silence and the trees, dispelling the intimate moment in an instant. I hurriedly moved away from his clutches, picking up my forgotten drink, as Hiccup nervously fixes his hair and clothes.

Astrid appears on the path in front of my hut, lax features and usual demeanor indicating that she didn't see whatever just happened between Hiccup and I. "There you are! Figured you would be here." she spoke, walking closer towards my porch.

Hiccup laughed, notably a little more breathless than when he normally is, yet Astrid doesn't bat an eye or pick up on it. Admittedly, I spaced out as she rambled on, the scene before still playing over and over in my head.

Hiccup's soft touches was still practically branded onto my skin, with how I could still feel the heat of his touch despite him being on the other side of the seat we were on. His actions had only made me more confused, swirling thoughts trying to reason why he did what he did yet none of them made sense.

What was that? Was he...

I shook away the thoughts as I come back to consciousness back in time. "[Name], I hope you don't mind that I'll be taking this guy with me for a little bit. I need his help on a few things regarding training." she spoke.

I nodded, plastering a small smile on my face but I turn to look at Hiccup, silently torn on wanting him to stay or letting him leave. His gaze was on me, searching my face but perhaps my features weren't translating my desire well, because he turns to Astrid and smiles, "We can go, we were just finishing up anyways."

My heart cracks just a tiny bit, that same feeling that I felt a few weeks ago leaking through the cracks of my resolve little by little. But I force the smile back on my face, standing up to bring my drink back inside, the atmosphere now leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

They gather their things and leave side-by-side, and I also turn and huddle back into my hut, missing the longing look Hiccup held to my disappearing figure.