The Dragon Games (HTTYD AU)

Twenty Seven - Stoick

Hiccup stared into the horizon, eyes straining. He didn't relax. He couldn't relax. Not here, not now. He clutched the scrolls tighter.

Toothless was breathing fast, having laboured breaths. His wingbeats were sluggish but determined.

Both rider and dragon held fire in their eyes.

Berk appeared up ahead.

"We're almost there, bud," Hiccup said, almost unbelieving. He glanced back. Still no sign of Alvin. "Is it too much to hope that the changewings finished him off?"

Toothless grumbled slightly.

"Yeah, thought so."

As Berk grew closer and closer, Hiccup felt cold claw at his stomach. He was banished. He would be breaking that rule. By all means, he should be executed.

Hiccup's expression hardened.

They shot over the coast, ignoring the startled cries of a few early risers. The warm rays of sunrise made the island glow, but Hiccup didn't have time to appreciate the beauty of it.

Alvin was coming.

"Is that Stoick's boy?"

"My, wasn't he banished?"

"What could possibly-"

He couldn't make out the rest of the exchange. He didn't want to.

Toothless landed heavily outside his house, collapsing onto the floor.

Hiccup sighed, petting him. "You did so good, bud. I'll be right back."

Hiccup paused, face to face with the door. He'd already broken banishment by being here. But now he had to face his father.

Astrid and Snotlout are still fighting, somewhere. Alvin is coming.

Hiccup knocked on the door. There was movement inside.

Footsteps.

The creak of the door.

Hiccup's heart thundered in his chest.

"Son?" Stoick breathed. His cheeks were sunken, large eyebags darkening his face. He looked...

"You look awful." The words escaped before Hiccup could stop them.

Stoick's gaze hardened slightly. "You... you shouldn't be here."

"I - I know, dad. But-"

"You have to leave." Stoick made to shut the door, but Hiccup blocked it with his foot.

"Dad, you have to listen-"

"There's no time! They'll execute you if-"

"I know!" Hiccup snapped. "I know the risk. Listen to why I'm taking it."

Stoick shrunk in on himself. He exhaled once, twice. Finally, he met Hiccup's eyes. "Okay. Speak, son."

Hiccup swallowed. "I got the evidence. I went back, and, well, there's papers! They have Alvin's unique handwriting and, they're, um, oh just look at them!"

Stoick took one of the scrolls from Hiccup's outstretched arm with a feather-light grasp. His eyes widened. "The others?"

"All the same," Hiccup confirmed, passing them over. "All Alvin's hand."

There was a tense pause.

"Do you... do you believe me now?"

Stoick's eyes were glassy. "I always believed you, my son."