Promises, Promises (HTTYD × Reader)

Cracks in the Shell

A/N: I went back and changed y/n's parts from I to you and edited the first chapter. Thanks Victorian_Spider for encouraging me to stick with it! Guess you'll just have to wait a few mores chapters to see where it leads. Also go check her stories! They are awesome!

Hiccup's POV

I must have passed out without realizing it because the next thing I knew the sun was cutting through the icy ceiling, creating a prism-esque effect on the walls. Every color known to man painted the walls and the floor, mesmerizingly swirling on the rocks. For a moment, the grogginess of sleep made me forget where I was, forget all of what happened the previous day. Panic made my heart race. I sprang awkwardly to my foot.

Stupid me!

I fell over. I probably would've hit my head if Mom hadn't been there, watching me like a hawk. She was slender, built like me, but stronger than she looked. She smiled brightly, her hand cupping my cheek, as she eased me down to the floor. I pressed into her touch, closing my eyes thoughtfully. Then the moment passed.

Quickly tying my peg leg into place, I scanned the space again. Last night, it had been a little cramped with three fairly large dragons and three people all huddled around the campfire. Now Cloudjumper, Zyphur, y/n, and Toothless were all missing. The place felt almost empty, though I knew they wouldn't be far. But that didn't stop me from wondering. Where are ya, bud?

As if hearing my thoughts, Mom said, "They wanted to let you sleep in. Y/n had chores to do and Toothless needed more of a chance to explore. I told them I'd send you along later. Y/n also said something about setting up a surprise for later."

Smiling gratefully, I kissed her cheek, making her eyes widen in surprise, and raced out the tunnel, grabbing an apple on my way out. It was still sinking in that I found her. We had a lot of catching up to do, almost twenty years worth. But right now I needed to find y/n. Her words echoed in my mind as I ran.

"I tried to get them to see reason. I tried Hiccup's version of peace." It hadn't worked, but she's not me. Maybe I could still...

"I can't do this on my own." I'm here, y/n. You're not alone, not this time, never again.

"I can't- I won't let this war make him like me." What did you mean, y/n? What's going on? How did they hurt you?

I rounded a corner, following the same path I had the previous night. The nest opened up before me. I marveled at it again. The size of the space, the colors and shapes of all the different dragons, the majesty of the Bewilderbeast, everything that inhabited the island astounded me. Vanir was a paradise compared to Berk, well old Berk anyway.

"Y/n! Toothless!" I called out, searching eagerly for them.

Clad in a brown tunic and green leggings with a leather belt around her middle, y/n looked up from a patch of dragon nip. She had been wrestling with a Scuttleclaw hatchling, batting it playfully with her hands and rolling on her back so it could pounce on top of her. I heard the musical tinkling of her laugh and breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully she would be in a good mood, at least good enough to talk about what happened. I needed answers and I didn't want to drag them out of her. I could tell that she had been through a lot already.

"Down here!" She answered as she waved to me, trying to push the big-headed baby off. "Helix, buddy, stop. I can play more later."

She gently pushed the little guy off, sitting up with her hands on her legs. Groaning, moving slowly, stiffly, she forced herself to her feet with both arms. I breathed another sigh of relief, that quickly dissipated when I saw the pain in her green eyes. My pace slowed as I approached her, almost as if I was approaching a wounded animal.