They, with the Dragon Wings • HTTYD

Chapter 19 | halfway

A/n: while the readers gender isn't specified, because I know most of my audience is AFAB, it's alluded they gave an AFAB body, but no gendered language is used so they can be read as a girl, non binary, trans masc etc.

The rest of the trip shouldn't be much longer, having passed the halfway mark this morning. The army had actually been quite helpful, allowing Hiccup to copy their maps to expand his, explain all the known dragon species in the area and exchanged some weaponry tips. They were known for their shield techniques, forming almost a wall around themselves with their shields so they could advance without anything hitting them. Definitely a technique that Hiccup would be taking back to Berk, they could defend their land very well with something like that.

It was time to set up camp for the night though, likely the last one before making it to the city. The army was very efficient, working together to get tents up within minuets, horses tied to posts, food cooking and working in shifts to let some of them rest and some of them keep watch on the surroundings.

Notably, the area wasn't far off from a lake. One with a little waterfall and rather clean water. Perfect spot to wash away the sweat and dirt that had built up over the past few days of walking in the heat and getting tossed around by dragons during their playtime break. While the Romans were no strangers to casual nudity and public baths, as was just their culture, the Vikings weren't. Vikings were indeed a clean people, but it was more of a private affair. You? It wasn't uncommon, Ectacos did have bathhouses, but it was typically separated by sex. And since the army were all men? Yeah you weren't keen on stripping off in front of them.

Unsure of the customs where you or the Vikings came from, they decided to let you take the lake to yourselves for a while to clean up. They'd stay working on food, letting you have an hour or so as needed. You and Hiccup let his mother go first, seeing as she was the oldest and matriarch of the group here. Then you offered Hiccup go next, but he insisted you do and sent Toothless with you to keep watch and make sure no one was being a creep nearby.

Toothless was one smart dragon, even if he had a habit of trying to chase light reflections and got goofy off dragon nip for fun. He knew when he was given the guard order, he had to be on high alert. So he sat by the banks of the lake, watching the area intently, making sure no one snatched your clothes or towel hanging up off the tree branches. And making sure no one got too close to the lake. He even seemed hesitant to look over his shoulder at you himself, despite literally being a whole dragon and having zero interest in someone as humanoid as you, even with your wings.

Getting all that grime off felt great, and you knew the actual baths in the city would be even better. Warm, with proper soap and incense burning. But for now, a clean little spring would do just fine.

"You're locked on aren't you Toothless?" You snickered, watching his ears twitch at every little sound.

He gave you a little growl of approval, is if saying yes.

"You can have a little splash too you know? You're completely black, you must get quite hot in the sun all day" you said.

He glanced over, debating weather to let his guard down a little and roll around in the water a bit to cool off, or to stay locked in.

"Come on buddy, I don't want you overheating"

You watched his tail twitch, wagging with excitement the thought of getting to splash around a bit. But Hiccup did tell him to keep watch... and he always listened to Hiccup. Then again, he would still be watching you, just from in the water too.

Damnit he wasn't made of stone.

He pounced up, jumping into the water making a splash that knocked you off your feet into the water. You couldn't help but laugh watching him dip in and out, shaking his wings like a bird in a bird bath and wading around, getting every inch of himself nice and cool. It must feel so nice for him, after a long day of walking in the sun, all those black scales attracting the heat.

"Woooaaah! Big splash!" You snickered.

He nudged some water at you, playful toothless grin and waggy tail. He was just like a tamed dog sometimes, he just wanted to play and splash around. And when he was feeling more sleepy he'd turn into a cosy cat who just wanted to curl up somewhere warm and nap. Giving him a scratch by the ears, he responded with a satisfied growl and wing flutter. He always had liked that spot, he'd practically beg Hiccup for ear scratches each morning.

"You're the goodest guard dragon! Yes you are!" You smiled.

He responded with a lick up the side of the face, making you groan in faux annoyance.

"Arrrgh! Dragon spit, thanks for that... good thing I'm already in the water"

Suddenly he perked up, hearing something nearby. His ears twitched, and he locked onto something in the tree line that surrounded the spring. Before you could even react, he was out of the water and back on the shore, wings out to hide you from view.

"Woah, look at you all big and protective! Don't worry it's just me"

Oh thank gods- just Hiccup. You knew that voice anywhere. Toothless lowered his defensive stance a little, giving his rider a nose nudge to tell him to get lost and wait until you were done.

"I know I know, I'm just telling (y/n) the foods cooked. You got that (y/n)?!" Hiccup called out.

"Yeah! I'll be there in a minute, thanks!" You replied.

Toothless continued to gently nudge him away, standing his ground guarding you.

"Damn ok! Demanding lizard, I'm going!" Hiccup said.

You just laughed, seeing his feet- well, foot, behind Toothless wings stumbling as he was nudged away. Once you were dried off and re-dressed, you walked up to Toothless and had him come back with you, assuring he was a good boy and did a great guard job.

"Well done, you're an expert guard dragon" you praised, scratching his head and earning a satisfied purr like noise.

Sometimes you considered taking Toothless for yourself, he was the best damn pet dragon ever. But you couldn't do that to Hiccup, and you were pretty sure Toothless would simply die without Hiccup too. They were inseparable that duo.

"Even your own rider got told to get lost, you take your job seriously huh? I appreciate that" you muttered.

Although in truth... maybe in the future you'd not mind a nice relaxing bath with the dragon obsessed rider...

"Between you and me Toothless, next time you can let him pass. He'd blush so hard he'd look sunburnt, and quite frankly, I'd love to see that" you snickered.

You wondered just how much human speech dragons could actually understand sometimes. Because you could have sworn that look on the dragons face was something along the lines of 'I got you'. Like he was a very literal wingman. Maybe he just wanted to keep you around because he liked you, and getting his rider set up with you was a sure fire way to do that. Either way, you had a feeling Toothless had your back here.