Found again (HTTYD FF)

★44★

The rest of the day passed like water and, compared to the morning, it was a bit quieter. Before any of them knew it, they were curled up with their dragons in their borrowed cave, sleeping peacefully. Hiccup sat on the edge of it, watching them. Though he was exhausted and his eyelids were falling closed of their own accord, he didn't allow himself to fall asleep. He wanted to spend as much time with the Vikings as possible while they were staying in the nest. They couldn't stay there forever, they had to go back to the village in a few days.

Hiccup was slowly beginning to wonder what the solution to this might be. He wanted to spend time with his friends and his newfound family. However, he couldn't just leave the nest. They needed him. And he was home. Safe.

He leaned his head back against the ice wall. Toothless wasn't with him - probably sleeping in their own cave. Or he was watching from afar, keeping an eye on him even though he didn't have to.

He could take turns. A few weeks living in the nest and a few weeks on Berk. It could work. The only question was for how long. He wasn't going to fly from the nest to Berk every now and then, or vice versa - it would be pointless and take a lot of time and energy. Toothless would definitely disagree.

That reminded him - whatever he came up with, he'd have to get the Night Fury's approval. He couldn't bear to be separated from his brother, even for a day. Sometimes, though, it was great that there was so much room in the nest and they could each sit in opposite corners, sulk, and make up again the next day. But all the while they both knew where the other was, that he was safe, that he was under the watchful eye of the whole nest, that he was just sitting on the other side of the ice cave, silently complaining that the other was so far away, even though he didn't want to see him at the moment. So whatever he comes up with has to work for Toothless, or it won't work at all.

He doubted his ability to come up with something before his friends went home.

He closed his eyes and tried not to fall asleep as he dismissed one idea after another until he ran out of ideas and had no choice but to sit and just be.

It took several long minutes.

The sound of quiet footsteps snapped him out of his half-sleep - no, he wasn't falling asleep. Apparently he wasn't the only one awake at this time of night. He watched her until she came up to him and sat down - so close that Hiccup had to fight the urge to flick his tail away from her.

She didn't say anything. And so they sat in silence for a while. Hiccup listened to her steady breathing and regular heartbeat until it almost lulled him to sleep. It was one of the most pleasant silent moments for him. But then he resolved to speak at last.

"I'm sorry, Astrid."

Astrid just continued to be silent.

"I shouldn't have... I should have explained it to you right away." He felt Astrid nod, so he continued. "I-it's new to me. I didn't even know I could do something like that until recently. You were falling and the Nightmare was after you, trying to kill you - I didn't even realize what I was doing. I'd never shift in front of you like that. Not on purpose."

"You'd rather keep it to yourself." Hiccup was silent. "Another secret."

"I-"

"You can trust me, Hiccup," she whispered.

"I know."

"Then why the secrets? What's stopping you from just telling me? It'll be easier for me - for us - to help you if something happens or goes wrong. But not if we believe half-truths and lies. We can't- we won't work as a team unless you really join in. We have to trust each other."