They call me the Commander

101 Moons - Pt.2

Hiccup had somehow managed to persuade Astrid to let him work instead of going to bed.

He was sewing together various pieces of leather, fixing his working outfit from where it had been slashed by the blades of hunters.

His chest tightened and he struggled to breathe. He maybe might need to go to bed, but this needed to be finished. And so did the fireproof tail, the singe mark on Toothless' saddle, and-

Hiccup burst into a fit of gasping coughs, falling onto the ground. He tried to stand, but it was if his legs were made of jelly.

The coughs didn't stop, and they only got worse. His body started shaking violently and he let out an involuntary groan.

He covered his mouth with his hand, trying the smother the coughs and catch the blood that dribbled out of his mouth. He didn't want Astrid to hear him, and fuss over him, making him feel like the useless boy he used to be.

He struggled to his knees, gasping for air. It was like someone had their hands around his throat, suffocating him. Blood was splattered on the floor and his face.

A wave of nausea hit him hard, and fatigue swept over him, giving him the sudden urge to lay on the wooden floor and sleep. He hauled himself up on his feet, still taking gasping breaths. All the items in his vision started to swirl and sway ,so much so, that Hiccup lost his balance and fell upon his knees once again. He let out a chesty cough, and it rattled his whole body.

He bowed his head and wrapped his arms around his stomach, doubling over. If he stayed as still as possible, it would get better soon, right?

Wrong.

Blood was on the collar of his shirt after dribbling down his face. He struggled to breathe, and his eyes were watering. The coughs that pained his throat made it no better.

Still on his knees, he leaned against the far wall, his breathing shallow. The pain was like living Helheim. He slowly and painfully wiped as much blood from his face, onto his tunic as possible. It was no use, as the more he coughed, the more blood splattered the floor and himself.

The door opened and Astrid popped her head in.

"Hiccup!, Lunch is ready, come a - Oh, gods!" She swung the door open and knelt beside the coughing, spluttering and blood-covered Hiccup.

Hiccup lifted his head, revealing a bloodied face. "H-hi." He rasped. His hair was sweaty and his emerald eyes didn't sparkle.

"What on Midgard happened to you? Actually, stuff that, let's get you to your room. Can you stand?" She took his arm, ignoring the warm blood that splattered his sleeve.

"Don't... know." He struggled onto his feet and one step sent him crashing to the ground once again. Inga came into the room. "Aunty Astwid? Are you coming to eat lunch wif us? Aunty Astwid? What's wrong with Mister Hiccu-"

"He's not feeling very well, can you stay with him whilst I get your daddy?" Astrid asked.

"hmm... 'kay." Astrid rushed out of the room and Inga sat beside Hiccup.

"What's wrong uncle Hiccup?" she asked, big eyes shining.

"I- wait. Uncle Hiccup? Why?"

"Coz," she wiped her nose on her sleeve. "You're gonna marry Aunty astwid, right?"

Despite the unbearable pain, Hiccup smiled, laughing quietly.

Astrid came back into the room with Fishlegs in tow.

Hiccup Haddock! Why on earth are you smiling?! There is nothing funny about you almost dying!" Astrid snapped.

"pfft, 'm not dying."

"The blood, discoloration of your skin, and other symptoms evidently say otherwise, this is like no sickness I've ever seen before."

"We can discuss the curse later, just help me here. Inga, could you go to your mum and eat lunch?" Hiccup rasped.

When Inga rushed out of the room, Fishlegs burst. "Curse?! No one told me about a curse!"

The husky Viking picked up Hiccup and his head lolled to the side. At least he'd stopped coughing. Hiccup was lain on his sheepskin and he groaned.

Fishlegs went back to the doorway. "Tell me when he's well enough the explain all-this-stuff-that-I-need-to-know-but-he-does-not-tell-me."

When Fishlegs was gone, Astrid sighed. "You are so unlucky, I don't know how you're still alive after all this blood you've lost over the years."

Hiccup could only mumble an incoherent reply.

"You don't have to speak, save your energy." She replied.

Hiccup's eyes fluttered closed, but he didn't, and couldn't, sleep.

Astrid put the bloodied cloth on the ground, surveying the trembling man in front of her. He was quivering violently and his breathing was uneven, but at least he'd stopped coughing and hacking, and there was no more blood.

"Over there," Hiccup raised himself -still shaking- into a sitting position. He pointed to one of his closets. "Get another tunic, the blood on this one's drying." Astrid pulled a long-sleeved red tunic from the top section and tossed it to Hiccup, resuming her spot behind him. He tugged the shirt towards him and yelped. Astrid gave him a questioning look.

"Just sore."

He pulled his bloody tunic off and scrunched his nose at it. He threw it on the floor and took the new one in in his hands again.

Astrid put her fingers on his lower neck, and his muscles tensed under her touch.

"Astrid? What are you doing?"

She rubbed circles on the base of his neck, massaging the taut muscles. He sighed.

"Actually, keep, keep doing that. Whatever you're doing."

Astrid moved her fingers to his shoulders and squeezed and released his shoulders.

"What are you doing? It's magic." He moaned, tilting his head forward. Astrid giggled, her laugh like spun gold in the air.

She lifted her hands to his head and ran little circles with her fingers. Hiccup dropped the tunic and closed his eyes.

Eventually, Astrid found herself running her hands through his auburn hair.

"What is it with you and my hair?"

"It's so sooooooft..." Astrid sighed.

She gasped.

"What is it?" Hiccup asked.

"I knew there was something missing about you! You haven't got any braids in!"

Hiccup groaned.