Set after Blindsided but before Shell Shocked.
REQUESTS PLEASE xxx
***
"Ruff, Tuff. Look out!" Hiccup warned as they dodged several dragon hunter arrows.
"Everybody, to the clouds. We need to regroup." Hiccup ordered. The riders all darted straight up.
"Okay, Heather. You and the twins take the ship on the left. Astrid, Fishlegs. You take the right. Snotlout and I will handle Viggo." Hiccup explained.
***
"Coming in, hot!" Snotlout cheered.
"Toothless, plasma blast!" Hiccup commanded. The Night Fury lined up the perfect shot.
A faint sound shocked the dragon to his senses and he immediately darted in the opposite direction.
"Woah! Toothless, what are you doing?!" Hiccup tugged at his dragon's saddle in an attempt to steer him back on course. The Night Fury was having none of it and just shook it off.
They dove in just in time as a hunter shot a large harpoon at Astrid. Luckily Toothless hit it at the perfect angle, causing it to bounce off, leaving both him, Hiccup, and Astrid unharmed.
The group managed to sink the remaining ships before heading back to the Edge.
"Everybody okay?" Hiccup checked.
"I think so," Fishlegs confirmed. "Is Toothless okay?"
"I don't know. That's not like him." Hiccup thought, petting his dragon's head as the other riders landed.
"It looked like he was trying to protect Stormfly," Fishlegs stated.
"No, I don't think that's it." Hiccup said.
"Well, they do say that a dragon's behavior is a reflection of the rider. He must see how you protect your friends, so he thinks it's his job to protect his." Fishlegs noted.
Toothless raced to Astrid and Stormfly and began nuzzling the blonde's side.
Stormfly let out a squawk and darted towards Hiccup.
"Actually Fishlegs, you might be on to something!" Hiccup realized.
***
Later that night.
***
"Hiccup, it's late." Astrid groaned as he led her and Stormfly to the arena.
"I know, but I need to test a theory." He told her. "And, I can't do that around the others."
"Okay, let's get this over with." Astrid yawned.
Hiccup cupped his hands over his mouth and let out a whistling sound.
Smidvarg flew over the arena with the gang and blasted into the pit several times. Just as Hiccup predicted, Toothless jumped over Astrid and Stormfly sheltered him.
"I knew it!" Hiccup gasped.
"Knew what?" Astrid wondered. "Can you stop being so cryptic? I'm too tired for cryptic Hiccup."
"Fishlegs was right. The dragon's behavior reflects on their rider. But they aren't protecting each other." Hiccup explained. "You and I have been extra protective of one another since we got together. Toothless and Stormfly have clearly picked up on that and they are following our instincts to keep the other safe."
"Okay, so what do we do now?" Astrid yawned.
"We test theory number two."
"Ugh!" Astrid groaned dramatically. She really wasn't a night person. Hiccup, however, was. Astrid preferred mornings.
Hiccup rolled his eyes and walked Astrid back to her hut before turning to leave.
Stormfly hopped in front of him, preventing him from reaching his hut.
"Stormfly?!" Astrid gasped.
"It's okay." Hiccup reassured. "Theory number two."
Stormfly scooped Hiccup up by the short and carried him into Astrid's hut. Toothless did the same to Astrid.
"Care to clue me in on theory number two?" Astrid wondered.
"Looks like they want us to stay together. That way it's easier for them to protect us both." Hiccup gestured as Toothless laid in front of the, now closed, door.
Astrid let out her fourth yawn.
"Looks like your staying here tonight then," Astrid stated, shoving Hiccup onto the bed. The blonde wasted no time, kicking off her boots and curling up under the fur blanket. She draped her arm over Hiccup's stomach and nuzzled into his chest.
"Astrid, what are you doing?" Hiccup wondered. They had never spent the night together. Not alone at least. And Hiccup was definitely nervous, to say the least.
"Protecting you." She muttered before finally falling asleep.
***
