Symphony of Shadows HTTYD Hiccstrid

75. Distraction

A/N: Hi guysss! There's some...spicy thoughts towards the end of this chapter so please consider skipping if you're like really young:) I'll try to post the next chapter next Thursday around 10pm but I can't 100% promise. Life. Ugh.

"I take it you're not gonna say goodbye?"

Astrid's voice was free of judgment as they walked towards their dragons. Hiccup just shrugged.

"I don't think they really care if I live or die. And if they do, it's too late. I rather not waste precious flying time on useless arguments."

Astrid didn't question his choice.

It's better this way. We'll start again—together.

The reality of them leaving Berk for good reminded him far too much of his own mother's choice to vanish off the face of the world.

No. This is different.

He'd been just a baby. Innocent from any sins. His mother had chosen to leave the perfect life behind in search of what—ice dragons? He wasn't upset that she'd chosen the dragons over him, it was that she'd been able to do it so easily. Without a second thought. Zero hesitation.

Hiccup first thought of leaving Berk when he was eight-years-old.

The other kids were throwing rocks at him. Hiccup ran as fast as he could until his lungs were burning but he wasn't quick enough. Orm, the ring leader of the older kids, tackled him to the ground, knocking the breath out of Hiccup's lungs.

"You think you're gonna be our chief?"

Orm spat in his face, his hands grabbing a fistful of Hiccup's tunic.

"You'll never be one of us, much less be chief!"

The other kids joined in, Gods he hated them. He couldn't wait for the older kids to start dragon training and finally leave him alone. Hiccup knew if he moved or said anything now, they'd all pile in beating him. It was best to play dead and let them grow bored.

The faint memory no longer bothered him like it once did. Hiccup waited to feel the hate unfurl in his gut like a familiar friend. But—nothing.

There was no anger towards those who'd stomped into him until he felt like the dirt that he lay in. Only resignation. He didn't care about it anymore. Maybe there was a faint sadness in what could have been, but Hiccup mourned it all a long time ago. It was time to savor a new feeling—hope.

Hope for a different world for him and Astrid. For their children. And then their children.

Hiccup pulled Astrid in by her waist and laid a sweet kiss on her cheek.

"I'm ready to go when you are, milady."

She blushed and pressed a swift peck on his lips.

"Then what are we waiting for?"

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From high up in the sky, it was easy to see how small Berk really was.

And how gigantic Valka's dragon was. It let out a commanding roar and all the dragons stood to attention. Hiccup and Astrid guessed that there own dragons where already out of range by the time that the dragon rallied his troops. Thank Odin.

"I guess we're not the only ones leaving."

Astrid motioned to Valka, who had once again donned her odd suit and led her brown, four-winged dragon with a staff.

She wondered if Valka had reconciled with Stoick but by the looks of Valka's exit, she doubted any real progress had been made. Rumors spread around the village about their marriage. Some said that they blamed each other for their son's fate far too much to make up. Others said so many years in the wild had made Valka cold—her once beating heart frozen to ice. Astrid didn't know what to believe.

"Does the new island have a lagoon like the last one? I'm pretty partial to having one, babe."

Hiccup smiled.

"I didn't really have that much time to explore with the love of my life in her time of peril."

Astrid smacked him in the stomach.

"Hey! For your information, I could've made it out by myself."

He snorted in reply and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in with a squeeze as she giggled.

"Yes, you were making your grand escape which I so rudely interrupted."

Hiccup flapped the visor of her helmet down and tickled her sides until she slapped him away with the biggest smile on her face. He kissed her on the cheek as he pulled away and went to saddle up. Both of their dragons watched, bemused by their riders antics together. Toothless gave Stormfly an obvious sidelong look.

Why haven't they mated yet?

Stormfly chortled and bopped her head in response.

Humans. Always have their silly rituals.

Astrid slid into her saddle and smiled at their dragons playful attitudes. Her shoulders were loose—free from the suffocating pressure of Berk. They took off into the sky and Astrid watched as what used to be her entire world disappeared beneath the clouds.

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The flight was long and grueling and the cold air pierced through her suit. Still, she'd rather fly through Niflheim than repeat the horrors of the last month.

"Are we almost there, babe?"

Hiccup sat up from his forward leaning position and even though he was already hers, it made Astrid want him all over again. The dark silhouette of his suit enhanced his lean build, and she loved the way the black of his mask made the his beautiful eyes shine.

It'd been so long since they'd last been passionate with each other...in bed. Too long. Her cheeks heated. Despite their obvious devotion to each other, they still hadn't...done...it. A part of her knew it was because was scared. Stories circulated between girls in the tribe with hidden whispers. Ruffnut had told her about her first time, how it had hurt so bad her toes stayed curled the entire time.

Astrid had heard of other things too like blood. Was it really that scary?

Was she ready to find out?

It didn't help that every time Hiccup smiled and pulled her into him a warm rush flooded south and her skin felt like it was on fire with the need to touch him. She squeezed her thighs together, but that never did anything to quench her urges.

Hiccup turned and her mouth watered when he flicked his visor up and leaned back to answer her question.

"Almost, my love. It shouldn't be too far from this chain of sea stacks over here."

Her hands longed to sink into his hair-

Across his body...

She was crazy. It was like her thoughts were no longer hers—they all belonged to him. This wasn't an unfamiliar feeling. It happened when Hiccup's kisses made her dizzy or his touch turned heated.

But this felt...different somehow.

Like she was willing to take a risk. Any risk. Just to be close to the only person she could say had her heart.

She wanted him to have all of her.

A towering peak came into view and for a second she was distracted by its sheer beauty.

"Welcome home, baby."

Her distraction was very short lived.