Runaway reader x hiccup haddock

Not bad of an outcome

The gang huddled together on the living room couches, basking in the warmth that emitted from the flickering flames in the fireplace. It was lit by the on-duty Terrible Terror after it noticed their presence. Their own dragons goofed around or snuggled against their riders feet, blissfully ignorant of the seriousness of their conversation.

After the 'red substance that wasn't Y/n's' incident, they had split up and explored the grounds as usual, some even went to see how the new dragons were, but the incident kept lingering at the back of their minds. So like anyone who wanted answers to their questions, they came back and gathered with others who were in a similar state of mind, theorizing together what it could be and how it got on you. It may have been obvious of what it was, but that didn't stop them from coming up with different (crazy) theories.

"Ooh, I got it. I bet she was having a boar fight, and that was the blood from her most victorious defeats." Tuffnut said proudly, almost imagining himself rather than you being the one in the picture.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you Tuffnut, but I've never been a fight with a boar before. For entertainment purposes, at least."

The group's attention were immediately drawn to the figure that stood behind the main couch. The You were still rubbing the tiredness out of your eyes while Midnight, who was yawning, gets startled awake by a very excited Toothless.

You've already changed out of your suit into a fresh set of clothes and your hair is newly braided, you looked every bit of a normal person. It would have been hard for anyone to believe that you have committed a massacre just a few hours earlier.

"Are you ok?" Hiccup stood up walked over to your side, he was still worried that there were any contribution of your own in the blood on your armor. You smiled reassuringly and nodded, before deciding to address the main problem.

"I know you have some questions." You addressed the group. Yes, you were listening in. You weren't upset, people have the right to discuss about things whether it's in private or in someone else's living room, but you also have the right to listen in if they're not keeping it down themselves.

"I'm sure you know what the red substance was and the real reason why it was on me. I will answer your questions with honesty but only the ones I'm comfortable with, I promise I'm not trying to scare you, I'm just here to lay out all my cards so you can decide whether I'm still a good choice of an ally."

As a front, you presented yourself to be aloof and disinterested, almost nonchalant about the seriousness in the issue, but in reality, you can hear your heart pounding in your ears, your hands clenching onto your trousers until your knuckles turned white, you were grateful that the couch was tall enough to obscure it.

You were afraid.

Afraid of how this conversation would go. You have expected this when you realized who your guests were, and had practiced the speech mentally as the days go by.

It's a habit you have developed over the years to always prepare and be ready to school yourself to display exactly how you need yourself to, to put on a mask that hides your true plans and weaknesses from foes, it's what allowed you to survive.

But it also serves as an addicting shield for unwanted emotions. Sometimes even if you have anticipated every possibility and planned ahead for it, doesn't mean it would always be pleasant.

You hide behind a shield of your own making. Hiding behind a mask of coldness or a convincing smile. Midnight knew this better than anyone, so she rubbed her snout against your side to ease your worries, disguising it as an act of playfulness.

You almost flinched as you feel someone taking your other hand, but you relaxed when you glanced down to see Hiccup gently taking your hand in his, and you squeezed it slightly to show your appreciation.