Promises, Promises (HTTYD × Reader)

Finding Hiccup

Your POV

Out on patrol of the dragon hunter territory, you spotted a familiar black shape. He was soaring just above the clouds, his rider laying on his back, screaming angrily and waving his fists at the sky. You waved at Cloudjumper, who was flying on your right flank to cover your weakened side. You pointed up. He rose just high enough for Valka to break through the cloud cover.

Always has to make a dramatic entrance. Like Mother, like Son.

You smiled, fondly remembering the recon missions you had been sent on. So often you had found that Hiccup and his friends had already dealt with the problems you were tasked with. But does he know about Drago? Does he have a plan? Cause I've got nothing. And Valka keeps telling me that we have to protect our own, but does that include Berk?

A shout of frustration broke you out of your questioning thoughts. "Oh come on, Dad! Really?" You smiled at the sound of his slightly nasal voice. Close, but not quite. Gods, he's gonna love this.

You stayed back as Cloudjumper sunk back below the clouds then shot up in front of Toothless with Valka still perched on his shoulder. Anticipating her pulling Hiccup out of the saddle - it was the move you used to free the Singetails from Krogan's men after all - you stood up on Zyphur's wing, ready to jump if necessary.

You heard Hiccup scream in protest as Clawlifter plucked him from the saddle, saw Toothless plummet towards the icy waters below. Hold on, bud. I'm coming. No long ice baths for you.

Watching his descent and making some mental calculations, you raced up Zyphur's wing and swan dived toward Toothless. You pulled a cord on your left leg and two wings snapped out across your shoulder blades, slowing your descent. Dipping your head, you accelerated your descent.

"Toothless!" You screamed as he broke through the thin layer of ice. You saw him breach twice more before he started to sink. Come on! Come on! You pulled the wings in tight with a flip of a switch. You never regained full use of your right arm after that cursed arrow and another more recent incident, so you redesigned your rig to act more like a glider. The stiff bar bumped your still healing injury, but you managed to keep your mind focused on your friend.

Toothless gave a garbled shriek as you hit the water. Quickly, you pulled yourself into the saddle and slammed your foot into the stirrup. You clicked the pedal like you'd seen Hiccup do a million times and with a few flaps of his dark wings, you were back in the air. Attaboy, Toothless! See? I got you.

You leaned close and whispered, "Come on, T. You are not going to want to miss this."

His eyes widened in recognition then you zoomed off after Hiccup and Valka.

oOo

You guided Toothless through the rocky glacial tunnels of Vanir. What was once vibrant and lush on the outside, now appeared barren and desolate, held together by the Bewilderbeast's icy blasts. Yet it's beauty laid far beneath the cold coating, accessible only by those few who knew how to navigate the labyrinth. Not counting the dragons, only two people could successfully reach the center of the mountain. Well two that were still alive, anyway.

Your mind split. Half of you watching the treacherous pathways through the nest, the other half focused on distant memories. The faces of your family, the dragons you had befriended, all of the lives that were lost on that dark night. More images flashed by: the twins causing pranks and playing with Chicken, Fishlegs geeking out over the new information that you added to the Book of Dragons, Snotlout complainin about girl drool on his back, Astrid sparring with you on Dragon's Edge, Stoick trying to be the father that you lost, and Hiccup... being the brother that you wished to protect from everything the world had thrown at you. Tears slid silently down your cheeks. You never told them how much you cared for them, always trying to be strong, always pushing the emotions away when they became too much to bear. You deeply regretted it, but, like Valka, you had put the dragons first. You swiped the tears away as you neared your destination.