The Gray Area (1/2) - A Viggo Love Story (HTTYD/RTTE)

5. All Black

Fallen pine needles crunched under their feet as the two people and their dragons entered the evergreen forest. Viggo took in their surroundings to find a few things standing out. There were many places where the needles were bedded down, and brush had been cleared well before their arrival. "You must come here often," he stated, coming up beside Sessa.

"It is one of my many outposts," Sessa told him in a professional tone, "you will come to know them all, if you find yourself capable of sticking around."

"And why wouldn't I be capable of that?" Viggo gave her a sideways look, hoping this question would prod some information about her mysterious life.

However, Sessa was just as smart as Viggo and knew exactly what he was doing. But she found herself telling him anyways, "the work I do, is not easy. Nor does it pay, or reward." Then, seizing the opportunity, Sessa added as if it were nothing, "people who stay close to me often end up dead." It was the last thing she could think of to try and scare him off, to test if fate truly wanted them to stick together.

But Viggo wasn't frightened. "Perhaps," he admitted formally, "but without you I'd be dead already; I am indebted to you."

Sessa was impressed by his determination; perhaps it wouldn't be so bad to have him stay with her. She sighed internally and pulled her face mask down, letting it hang around her neck. Viggo peered down at her with a smile, unable to get over her beauty. He only wished he could see her in the daylight. But sadly, that would never be the case.

As they approached a cave in the side of a grassy hill, Sessa stopped. She leaned against the outside of the entrance and pointed inside. "Change."

So Viggo entered the cave and changed his clothes. He found himself with an assortment of shirts, vests, and pants, wondering how in Thor's name she'd grabbed all of these things without him noticing.

Thankfully, Viggo was able to find an outfit that fit him properly. He looked down at himself after dressing, satisfied with his choices, then exited the cave. He stood before Sessa and asked, "is this dark enough for you?"

Sessa looked him up and down as if trying to find something to tell him he'd done wrong. Finally her eyes landed on the spiked shoulder plates, the only things he'd kept from his former outfit. Scrunching her noise, Sessa gave him a look as if to say, really?

Looking down at his left shoulder for a moment, he wondered allowed, "what is it with you and my shoulder plates?"

Sessa only shook her head; at least they were a dark metal. She then found her eyes traveling to his arms. They were almost as pail as her own, but three times the size in muscle. Realizing that she was admiring him, Sessa pushed off of the entrance that she leaned on and turned away from Viggo. As she surveyed the surrounding woods, she felt her face grow hot, and it shocked her. Was she actually blushing?

In attempts of clearing her thoughts, Sessa called back, "I'm going to gather wood."

Viggo walked up beside her and offered, "allow me to help."

For the first time in a long time, Sessa felt flustered. But she pushed that feeling down and accepted the handsome man's help. She'd need to learn how to work with him eventually, anyways.

They stayed at work until the light of dawn began to shone, then walked back to the cave in silence. However, Sessa stopped at the mouth of it. She stared out at the horizon where the sun would soon be. Viggo set his bundle of wood down and went back to stand beside her, "I suppose you've never seen a sunrise."

Sessa shook her head in response. And she stood in the entrance for as long as possible before having to go back into the shadows. Without a word, she began to make a small mountain with the sticks. Nightshade shot it with a small blast, and the fire was made. Sessa sat on the ground and stared at the flames.

"What do you know of the sun?" Viggo asked her as he sat at her side a couple feet away.

Sessa was slightly shocked by the question, but refused to show such a reaction. She replied simply, "I know that it is round, firey, and dangerous. And that is all I care to know."

But Viggo didn't stop the conversation. "It's warm," he explained, "like this fire, but less harsh; and brighter than lightning." Sessa turned to look at him, watching his expression as he spoke. "Something often taken for granted," Viggo frowned, "it is the means of all life..even your own."

Sessa felt a warmth spread through her body. Though she was unsure why, she let it happen. Even when she laid down to sleep, that warmth remained; she liked to imagine that it was similar to the warmth of the sun.