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

23. Close to You

Viggo's heartbeat sped up and his chest clenched tightly in both joy and uncertainty. He frowned a bit at Sessa and spoke in an uncharacteristically nervous tone, "I..I don't believe you know what you're saying."

Not picking up on his state of desperate hope and anxiousness, Sessa met his eyes with a firm look, asserting, "but I do." She looked back out of the stables to where Hiccup and Astrid now sat together on the edge of a platform. "Being here, among so many people, I am well supplied with soul...even if it is unstable to have such a variety in my body," she began to explain, "but the more I feel, the more I enjoy being so close to you."

Viggo couldn't find his words. Sessa had, without even knowing, just confessed her love to him. What in the world was he supposed to say? Noticing his silence, Sessa met his gaze again with her own nervous eyes. "Is that not good?"

Finally, he was able to speak. Viggo smiled in amusement, "it's not good, nor is it bad. If it's how you feel, in your heart, there is no right or wrong."

"..Really?" Sessa questioned almost suspiciously. When Viggo nodded, she relaxed her expression.

Viggo chuckled lightly as Sessa fidgetted awkwardly infront of him. His smile twisted into a look of astonishment, however, when Sessa stepped closer to him. Her body now an inch from his own, she leaned her forehead against his chest. Viggo couldn't help but find it adorable how little she knew about how to act on her feelings.

With a heavy sigh, he wrapped his arms around Sessa, pulling her completely agaisnt him, assuming that was what she wanted. And he was right. He felt her back rise and fall with a single deep breath and smiled. Viggo heaved, "now, what are we going to do about your missing soul?"

"I don't know.." Sessa responded, her own arms wrapping around Viggo's back, "when I am this close to you, I feel fully alive. But then, we part..." As she said this, Sessa let go of Viggo. She frowned as her core began to feel empty again. Feeling defeated, she walked over to Nightshade and pet her.

Viggo followed her example and went to check on Lilith, who laid just beside the devilish dervish. The skrill purred softly as her rider stroked her smooth scales. Sessa dragged over a basket of fish, and the two began to feed their dragon's in silence.

Now that Sessa was feeling emotions so often, Viggo was able to read her better. He looked over at her while tossing Lilith a fish. He saw something much softer when he looked at her now. What was once a hard closed shell had opened, revealing a sensitive middle. It wasn't what he was expecting at all, but it only strengthened his feelings for her.

After feeding their dragons, the two left the stables and made their way down to the beaches of Dragon's Edge. There, Lilith and Nightshade stretched their wings and began to play in the sky. Sessa sat in the sand with her legs out in front of her, propped up by her arms. And when Viggo sat beside her, they clasped hands once again.

Viggo frowned in worry, "you're skin's as cold as ice."

"It always is," Sessa reminded him, taking a look at her paper-white arms.

"I mean colder than usual," Viggo pressed on. As if cued by his words, Nightshade landed beside the two humans. She laid down with a groan, breathing tiredly.

Sessa let go of Viggo and crawled over to her dragon. The devilish dervish lifted her head and looked into Sessa's eyes. There was an aged look about her, as if she were decades older. "Nightshade..?" Sessa spoke anxiously, touching her hand to the dragon's snout. Nightshade closed her eyes and gurgled lowly.

"She's losing energy," Viggo observed. When Sessa heard this, her stomach twisted. She looked at the handsome man over her shoulder, fear in her eyes. But Viggo remained calm. He spoke firmly, yet his tone was caring, "come here, Sessa." He held a hand out toward her from where he sat, "you need to pull from my soul right now. I'm afraid that touching Nightshade may only make her worse."

Sessa nodded, immediately scurrying back over to Viggo. The sand moved around them in a small wave as she pressed her side into his. Both watched as Nightshade immediately began to look and feel better.

Just then, Lilith landed as well to check on her dragon friend. The two dragons nuzzled each other with care before curling up together to enjoy the night from the ground. Sessa sighed a bit in relief and turned her focus back to Viggo. His arm was latched around her back and waist, squeezing her against him gently.

Feeling her core begin to fill, Sessa was surprised at how much more feeling was in this touch. She brought her knees up, then slanted them to fall over Viggo's outstretched legs. But she found herself wanting to be even closer.