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

18. Telling Everything

"I expect you'll have more than 'a few' questions," Viggo suggested. He stood next to where Sessa sat with a hand on her shoulder.

"You've no business knowing mine," Sessa responded monotonously.

Hiccup scrunched his eyebrows inquisitively. "Actually, we do," he spoke carefully, "you don't have to tell us your life story; but as long as you're here, there are some things that need to be cleared up."

It definitely wasn't something she wanted to do. But that's exactly why she knew she needed to. With a deep breath, Sessa responded calmly, "..okay."

Just then, another voice entered the room. "Hiccup, just wanted you to know, I think you're insane," Snotlout stated casually.

Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Yes, I'm aware, Snotlout."

Turning toward sound of the new voice, Sessa saw two more blue clouds enter. Two more souls. Snotlout's felt vaguely familiar from when she rescued him. The other one felt foreign. "And, for once, I have to agree with Snotlout," a female voice added.

"I know, Astrid," Hiccup responded I with impatientience.

But Snotlout was easily swayed out of his seriousness when he spotted Sessa. A smile crept across his face as he walked over to her and leaning on the table, "Sessa, right? Cool name. You know, we know Heather, too. She's a dragon rider, but she lives on Berserker Island now."

"I don't care," Sessa replied coldly. Truthfully, she did care a bit, but she didn't care that it was Snotlout who was talking.

Astrid couldn't help but smile in amusement as Snotlout's grin crumbled. Crossing her arms, she teased, "maybe this won't be so bad."

It wasn't long before the twins arrived. Lastly, Fishlegs entered the clubhouse with Heather. Sessa found it interesting that, although she'd never seen souls in this way before, she knew exactly which one was Heather's. It drew Sessa in more than the others, and the blue whisps whipped a bit more violently. But once everyone was inside, Hiccup closed the large entrance. The room darkened into only orange and red fire glow.

Finally, Sessa could see again. She stared at Heather across the table. The girl she'd once known had grown into a beautiful woman. And she stared back at Sessa with just as much awe. For a moment, nothing was said or done. Then, Hiccup began to ask questions. Their discussion lasted the entire morning. Sessa found herself talking more in a day than she had in a whole year.

Viggo told the dragon riders about his rescue and how he's been saving lives with Sessa. And Sessa told about the condition of her soul. She left out most of the details, and avoided some prodding questions. But she knew that telling these people would help them to trust her. And trust could lead to bonding. Bonding was something she needed desperately to survive. She'd never realized it before, but finding out her truth made everything seem so opposite.

"Huh..." Fishlegs muttered after Sessa explained her situation, "I've actually read stories about this, but only with dragons. I didn't know humans could take souls, too."

Snotlout rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically, "of course you've heard of this before."

"Fishlegs, is there any way to..uh, I guess..help?" Hiccup asked, unsure what word to use.

The larger viking thought for a moment, then spoke hesitantly, "well, I can understand what the titan wing meant by a dragon soul not being able to support a human. It makes sense, considering how different we are from dragons; it must be the instability causing Sessa's sudden weakness."

"But we know that already," Heather reminded him.

Fishlegs frowned, giving Sessa a look of pity, "..I don't think there's anything we can do."

Sessa was taken aback by his sorrowful gaze. She blinked, "I'm not asking for your help. I'm simply telling you what needs to be told." She glanced at to Viggo at her side for a moment. "I already know what needs to be done..I just need to figure out how to do it."

Viggo gave her a small smile and took her hand into his. This, however, made every set of eyes in the room widen. Snotlout's jaw dropped dramatically as he put his hands on his helmet, "what?! You two?!"

Confused by his outburst, Sessa gave him a judgemental look and asked, "yes?"

"You're dating Viggo?" Tuffnut wondered aloud, "now that, is not what I was expecting."

Sessa shook her head. "No, I'm not," she corrected with an eyebrow raised.

Viggo felt his heart ache. But, he pushed that down. "Indeed; Sessa simply needs soul, and I'm the only willing supplier other than Nightshade," he explained as if it were no big deal.

But Hiccup could see through Viggo's professional voice and cunning grin. He saw the sadness in the x-hunter's eyes, and his theory was finally confirmed; Viggo was, in fact, in love with this soulless woman. He couldn't help but empathize with him. For the first time ever, Hiccup began to truly believe that Viggo was changed. And with that, came the sproutings of trust.