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

16. Help Will Come

"You've no idea what that means to me, Hiccup," Viggo breathed, smiling weakly at the younger man.

But Hiccup didn't respond. He simply began to help Fishlegs make some herbal tea for Sessa. Once it was made, Viggo snaked an arm under Sessa's shoulders. Helping her to sit up, he spoke gently, "you'll be back to yourself soon, Sessa."

Fishlegs handed Viggo a cup of the liquid, his eyebrows raised as he muttered, "it is Sessa."

Exchanging a look with Hiccup, the brunette boy hardened his expression, "I'll send for Heather. Probably not Dagur, though...I don't think he'll be as forgiving as us if he sees Viggo."

"Plus, Viggo has the skrill," Ruff piped in with a sly grin, "Dagur would not like that."

Viggo paid no mind to those talking around him. He lifted the cup to Sessa's lips as she leaned lazily against his chest. She gulped the tea down in small sips. But it wasn't the tea that helped her feel better. Hot air brushed against her face with every breath Viggo took; it felt as if he was breathing life into her. And perhaps he was.

Now standing further away from Viggo and Sessa, Hiccup watched them with a curious gaze. "Are we really going to trust him to stay here while Sessa heals?" Fishlegs asked.

Hiccup was astonished by the care Viggo took in helping Sessa. He watched him speak to her softly, patiently having her drink the tea. The heartless dragon hunter they'd know him as for so long was gone, no doubt. "Yes, we are," Hiccup responded firmly. And that was the end of that.

He walked over to a trunk in the back of the clubhouse and got out another yak-fur mat. He handed the large bundle to Viggo, who took it hesitantly. "..You can sleep here tonight," Hiccup offered, "keep an eye on her. If anything happens, you know where to find us."

Viggo felt his heart squeeze, strangled by guilt and regret. The fact that these dragon riders were helping him, after he tried so many times to break them down. Just like when Lilith showed him trust for the first time, Viggo found himself in awe and unimaginably grateful. He gave Hiccup a meaningful nod, then the dragon riders left.

Ruff and Tuff stayed on watch for the rest of the night, popping in on Viggo every now and then with random and unnecessary questions. But just before dawn came, Sessa was beginning to feel stronger. She still laid on the table, but pushed herself into a sitting position. Viggo was sitting in a chair at her side, making sure she was safe. He wanted to be there the instant she'd need him.

Viggo smiled a bit when he saw Sessa's black eyes wide with awakeness. "My, feeling better already?" He asked slyly.

Sessa didn't respond. Of course, that was normal in most cases, but something seemed off about her silence at this time. Smile fading into a serious look, Viggo questioned, "what happened to you?"

The image of giant red eyes flased across Sessa's vision, and a feeling entered her heart that she'd not felt in a long time. Fear. The truth of her situation began to ring in her mind like out-of-tune wind chimes. And although the fear was uncomfortable, she was glad that she felt it; it was proof that her emotions could be strengthened once again. Proof that there was still a chance for her, and for Nightshade.

Sessa swung her legs off the edge of the table and stood. She spotted an abandoned fireplace in the back of the building. Chilling winds from the gaping entrance sent goosebumps over her skin. Noticing her shiver, Viggo stood as well. He placed a hand on the center of her back and began to lead her toward the fireplace. There, he laid out the fur that he was given to sleep on and had Sessa sit on it while he started a fire. Since the dragons were resting, he did this by hand.

Sessa watched sparks fly and grow into flames. She watched Viggo's hands work with flint stones as she thought deeply. If she ever wanted to be herself again, her true self, she'd need to change everything. So when Viggo sat beside her and the fire began to crackle, she told him everything. She told him about how she talked to the titan wing, how she lost her soul, how she was living off of fragments of other peoples' beings.

Viggo found himself engrossed in her story. Emotions poured from her like he'd never seen before. He found it ironic that she seemed most alive while telling him how unalive she truly was. And when she'd told him everything she could remember, he watched her look down at the ground with fearful eyes.

"..I don't want to be like this, Viggo," Sessa told him in a soft voice. She looked toward the entrance and frowned. "But I'm afraid that, if I take much more from Nightshade, she will die, even if I live."