LOST BETWEEN TIMELINES: HTTYD (HICCUP x READER)

Chapter: 14

Gobber and the recruits are seated at the top of an abandoned catapult tower, toasting campfire food around a roaring bonfire. The atmosphere is lively, filled with laughter and the crackling of the fire. Hiccup, Y/n, and Leo join the group, finding spots among their friends.

Gobber, with a grin on his face, recounts one of his many dragon encounters. "...and with one twist he took my hand and swallowed it whole. And I saw the look on his face." He pauses for effect, then adds, "I was delicious. He must have passed the word because it wasn't a month before another one of them took my leg."

Fishlegs, always curious, leans in and says, "Isn't it weird to think that your hand was inside a dragon? Like, if your mind was still in control of it, you could have killed the dragon from the inside by crushing its heart or something."

Snotlout, full of bravado, exclaims, "I swear I'm so angry right now. I'll avenge your beautiful hand and your beautiful foot. I'll chop off the legs of every dragon I fight, with my face." He strikes a pose, attempting to impress Astrid. She rolls her eyes, unimpressed by his antics.

Gobber, chewing on his food, waves a hand dismissively. "Un-unh. It's the wings and the tails you really want. If it can't fly, it can't get away. A downed dragon is a dead dragon."

Hiccup, sitting quietly next to Y/n, hides his bittersweet realization, the implications of Gobber's words weighing heavily on him. Y/n notices his discomfort and gives his hand a reassuring squeeze under the cover of the darkness.

Gobber stands and stretches, signaling the end of his storytelling. "Alright. I'm off to bed. You should be too. Tomorrow we get into the big boys. Slowly but surely making our way up to the Monstrous Nightmare." He pauses, a playful, taunting grin spreading across his face. "But who'll win the honor of killing it?" With that, he hobbles off, leaving the teens to reflect on the day's events and the challenges ahead.

The fire crackles softly as the group falls into a competitive conversation.

Tuffnut, with an air of absolute certainty, announced, "It's gonna be me. It's my destiny. See?" He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a red dragon inked on his arm like some grand revelation.

Fishlegs' eyes widened as he gasped, "Your mom let you get a tattoo?"

Tuffnut smirked. "It's not a tattoo. It's a birthmark."

Ruffnut, rolling her eyes, shot back, "Okay, I've been stuck with you since birth, and that was never there before."

Tuffnut, without missing a beat, said, "Yes, it was. You've just never seen me from the left side until now."

Snotlout leaned in and quipped, "It wasn't there yesterday. Is it a birthmark or a today-mark?"

Leo, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up, shaking his head. "Tuffnut, you're definitely bluffing. That's clearly a made-up tattoo. I'd bet my favorite dagger on it." Y/n nodded in agreement. 

Hiccup stares into the fire, lost in thought. Y/n, sensing his turmoil, gently nudges him. "Are you okay?" she whispers, her voice filled with concern.

Hiccup forces a smile, "Yeah, just thinking." Sitting beside them, Leo pats Hiccup on the back, offering silent support.

Hiccup gets up and walks away from the group, needing some space. Astrid watches him as he leaves the bonfire, her eyes narrowing with curiosity.

Hiccup enters a small room at the back of the stall. It's covered in drawings of weaponry and scale models. He lights a candle and lays his sketchbook out on the desk, opening it to the drawing of Toothless. With a look of determination, Hiccup picks up a charcoal stick and re-draws the missing tail.