Hear No Evil || ×TatoTheDestroyer×

×NINETEEN×

The waters were fairly still as you glided over them. You saw a small boat come into view, recognising Eret at the front. Was this really his plan? He should have at least consulted you to make you aware of what exactly he had in mind. "Hiccup?" You called quietly. He was too focused on the boat, and you felt a twinge of hurt and...jealousy? Why would you be jealous that...oh. You wanted his attention on you. That's why.

You couldn't hear what Eret was saying, but you did get him excited as his men began firing bolas at you both. Luckily, this time Hiccup and Toothless had avoided being hit. But he landed on the boat! Not wanting to seem suspicious, you landed beside him. Astra seemed uneasy. She's never really like humans, other than you. And the Berkians, after realising that they all cared for dragons, like you. "And here I was, worried we'd turn up empty handed." Eret said, slight relief in his voice as he held a dagger out towards Hiccup. "Nope," he said, "it's your lucky day." You looked at him confused as he held out a hand to tell you not to grab your sword that was strapped to your back. "We give up!" He said, hands in the air, surrendering to these trappers. Astra let out a whine, and you turned to sooth her. She was really uncomfortable with this.

Eret looked just as confused as you were, however. Hiccup dismounted and made his way over to your side, helping you dismount. "Mi'lady." He says, with a small, goofy grin. You fight the urge to smile or roll your eyes, and let him help you down off Astra. "That's two Night Furies," Hiccup says, stroking Toothless' snout, then Astra's, "and two of the best dragon riders west of lucktuck, and the best dragon whisper known to mankind." You shove him, but he regains his balance quickly and continues to lead you to their holding cell. "What the hell!" You whisper-yell. "Shhh. I got this." He says reassuringly, lacing his hand with yours after you get inside. "Toothless, Astra, stay." He commands gently. "Ah, yeah, the dragons don't really care for cramped spaces, so they'll stay up there with you. They won't be any trouble." As soon as he finishes, Eret's men pull out their weapons and both Night Furies jump and take a protective stance, growling and baring their teeth. Hiccup pops back up through the gate. "Unless you do that. You know, wooden boats, big ocean...how is your swimming?"

"Not very good." One of the trappers answer. Hiccup lifts up his sword, the blade popping out and igniting. He then pulls back the blade saying, "Oops! Almost forgot—can't have armed prisoners!" He willingly hands over the weapon to one of the trappers. "Hiccup..." You say quietly, tugging on his arm. "I don't think this is a good idea." He briefly jumps down into the cage and cups your cheek with a hand, looking into your eyes and leaning his forehead against yours. "Trust me..." He leans forward, lips barely millimetres from yours until the sound of Zippleback gas being released from the sword reaches you both and he pulls back with a apologetic gleam in his eyes, and pops back up through the gate. "Just what every dragon trapper needs. One end coats the blade in Monstrous Nightmare saliva, the other sprays Hideous Zippleback gas." He slowly starts ducking back into the cell. "All it takes is a spark and..." He quickly ducks down as an explosion goes off, pulling you close and keeping you pressed against the wall to protect you from the blast, his face inches from yours. He then goes back up. "Yeah, there you go!" He tries to hold back back laugh at the blackened trappers, who are in a state of shock. "Once they see you as one of their own, even the testiest dragons can be trained." He explains, as Astra and Toothless quickly become playful and start chasing a few embers as they scatter and fall to the floor.

You pop up through the gate, watching as Astra starts nuzzling Eret. You hold back a laugh. He rushes to grab Hiccup's sword and throws it off the boat, only to have Astra race off the boat to fetch it and bring it back every time he threw it away. "What game are you playing?" Eret asks coldly, pointing a finger at Hiccup. "No game, we just want to meet Drago." Eret throws the sword again and Astra goes to fetch it again. "Why?" Eret presses, growing annoyed at the fact Astra keeps retrieving the sword. "Because I'm going to change his mind about dragons." Eret and his men start laughing, and Asta drops the sword at Eret's feet. He looks at her wide-eyed. You come up from behind Hiccup, an arm sneakily wrapped around his torso to use him for balance. "He can be really convincing." You add. "Once you've earned his loyalty, there's nothing a dragon won't do for you." Hiccup explains as he strokes Toothless' snout. Eret laughs, as if Hiccup was the funniest man alive. "You won't be changing any minds around here."

"I can change yours." Hiccup says with confidence. You look at him. You can't be— "Right here, right now." He pulls a lever and Toothless' prosthetic tail opens. Eret looks, brows furrowed. Hiccup gets out, you quickly letting go of him so he can do so. "May I?" He asked, gesturing to Toothless before being swept up by a dragon. You jump up, worried and rush to Astra, mounting her and launching into the air. It's until you realise that Hookfang grabbed him that Astra calms and you stop, mid-air. "Dragon riders!" Eret announced, his men readying their bolas. Toothless climbed up the mast to demand his rider back, before he too realised Hookfang had snatched him. "Put me down, Snotlout!" Hiccup yelled, less than impressed. He ignored as Hiccup pressed further questions and Snotlout turns to Ruffnut, flirting with her. She dry retched, before she and her brother avoided bolas, her eyes landing on Eret. Almost instantly, she starts falling for him and admiring his body. It's your turn to dry retch.

Hiccup breaks free of Hookfang's grip and uses his flight suit to glide back to the boat, using the sail to land safely. "What are you guys doing here?" He asked, confused. You and Astra hover above the boat, the trappers quickly moving from underneath you. "We're here to rescue you." Gobber announces, Grump landing on the boat and almost instantly falling asleep. "I don't need to be rescued!" Hiccup argues, before falling silent as Stoick shouts "Enough!"

Hiccup freezes on the spot, wide-eyed. Astra lands and you dismount, rushing to his side. "Well, didn't you just pick the wrong ship, aye?" Eret asks, as Stoick walks past him and ignores him. "I am Eret," he continues, "son, of Er—" His voice muffles as Stoick pushes him aside, hand in his face. He falls beside Grump, standing quickly only to get hit on the head by Gobber and stuck under Grump. He wheezed under the crushing weight, "Get this thing...off me..."

"Anyone else?" Gobber asks, and the trappers shake their head and back up a little. "You, saddle up. We're going home." With Stoick's attention on Hiccup, you use the chance to mount Astra. Astrid comes up to your side and tugs on your arm. "Don't." You sigh and look at the blonde girl. "Astrid, please. Trust me, as your friend. I'm not leaving Hiccup on his own to do this." She opened her mouth to say something, but quickly shut it and gave you a nod, before backing up. You catch part of Stoick's story, eyes widening when he revealed that he was the only Chieftain to survive the tragedy. "Men who kill without reason, cannot be reasoned with." He concluded. Hiccup backed up and headed to his dragon. "Hiccup!" His father said, in a warning tone. "I'm still going to try." He mounted Toothless. "This is what I'm good at. And...And if I could change your mind, I can change his too." Stoick shook his head. You and Hiccup made eye contact, and you nodded at him. "C'mon," you said softly, taking off with Hiccup taking the lead. Astrid jumped on Stormfly, wanting to follow but Stoick held her back.

And so now, yet again, you both had flown off, ignoring your Chief.