Rotten To The Core (Hiccup x Reader) [Feat. The Big Four/Multi-crossover]

6 | the end of the beginning

You didn't even bother to close the silver door when you bombarded it while marching in your adopted mother's office. Luckily, no one was with your mother at the moment as she was typing away at her computer, not even bothered with your rude entrance. Her reaction wasn't like downstairs where everyone was either surprised or scared. Some of them were curious with what your problem was but didn't bother to ask. Most would rather not receive your anger so they stayed out of your way.

She didn't even lift her eyes as she said, "I assume you're here because of the new position I have given Elsa."

"Great," you started, "then, I can go straight to the point." You walked up to her desk just as briskly as you barged into your mother's office. "You know that only I have access to new recruits' files. Why did you give them to her?"

"You're not the only one who can access them," she finally looked up at you but the facial expression stayed the same. It seems like she was prepared for this conversation as she added, "I can as well and since you've been stressed dealing with Pitch lately, I handed off the job to Elsa." She interrupted before you could get a word out from your gaped mouth, "I trust Elsa and you should too. She is your teammate and she only wants the best for you after all."

After a moment of silence, you took all the information in. Something from this conversation sounded awfully familiar, then it clicked in your head. "She talked to you, didn't she?" When you received silence, you groaned, "This was her idea from the beginning!"

"Well, not necessarily the part I gave her permission for the recruits," your mother hummed.

"She still wants me to slow down!" you exclaimed frustrated, "You can't listen to her, Mother!"

"—But she's not wrong," your mother stood up. The dimming light from the sunset gleamed her hair and from the stress of the conversation, the sunlight made her hair look like it had more grays. "You are my only child, and I don't want to see my daughter destroy herself or be controlled by her work."

"I'm your only child because you can't have children, remember, Fairy Godmother? You only accepted me because of the magic that was woven into my being. I was too dangerous to be left alone without training," you snapped. The look on your mother's face showed how appalled she was and how you have crossed the line. You would have some disagreements every once in a while but this time was one of the worst.

"I've accepted you as my own because you had no where to go, child. You had no memory when I found you," she retorted.

"That's another thing; why is it that you and Elsa want me to work on who I am when I don't know what I am?" you sighed with exasperation.

The question made your mother solemn for a minute. Her eyes that was once burning with anger held complete sympathy the next moment. This was the most you had ever expressed yourself in the twelve years she took you under her care. Most of the time, you would be talking about work or the day you had, but not about your personal feelings or the nonexistent past that haunts over you. You assumed your mother was preparing herself for the day when you would finally question her. She walked around her desk to lay a compassionate hand on your shoulder as she whispered, "Even if you did know what you are, it doesn't define who you are." She wrapped her arms around your shoulders and laid her chin on your shoulder as you felt her caress your hair. The words she whispered hit a delicate cord in you but you couldn't recognize the tune. You knew whatever advice she has given you was important, so you held each word to your heart, but you couldn't understand the meaning behind them. Instead, you continued to listen to her as you returned the embrace, "You are my own. I have watched you grow into the woman you are today. You're curious, hard-working, kind, playful when you want to be, and attentive. You had made friends within your team and out of it as much as I hate to think about that troublemaker, Eugene, but they look out for you when I couldn't. We just want what's best for you and that's to give you a chance to live your life."

"But I don't know how to live my life," you mumbled, "I don't know if I ever will."

"Nonsense," she pulled away to hold you at arm's length as you gazed towards the ground in between yours and your mother's shoes, "I'm sure you know how, it just takes you to realize it."

"The only thing I know is how to work," you argued, "if I'm not allowed to work, I wouldn't know what else to do."

Her hand stopped you from rambling as it touched your cheek and she raised your head up to look into her eyes. "That may be so, but your line of work includes compassion for others. It is rare for others to have that trait. You never stop showing it to those who need it but yourself. One day, you will learn to have that kindness for yourself."

You were hesitant but you nodded, hoping one day you'll understand what her words meant. For now, you just wanted to be in your mother's comforting arms just like when she found you over a decade ago.

That moment was short lived when you were suddenly ripped from her arms and a bright light consumed your vision. The ringing in your ears made you realize an explosion happened right next to you. The dust made you cough and made it hard for you to open your eyes completely. When you managed to blink the debris away, you could see large chunks of concrete from walls and floors being disseminated. You coughed once more and the faded echo of the system's alarm was coherent finally. You can faintly hear the panic that was happening downstairs as more rumbles sounded from beneath you. You would have rushed downstairs even with your drunken form if it wasn't for the concern for the mother figure in the room.

"Mother?" you called out in a raspy voice. When the small squeak left your mouth, more coughs came up from your lungs as you tried to stand. "Mother, where are you?" There was a small groan to your left and your head jerked in that direction. There was a pile of debris where you guessed the explosion was closest to and where you heard the noise. You prayed you wouldn't have to find your mother underneath it all despite your weak legs moving on their own to move around the pile. You gasped when you came around to the hollow part of it where a bloodied hand laid limp out of it.

"Mom!"

Word Count: 1188

Status: UNEDITED

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Would you have done differently?|