8So I started writing this in the last hour of a longer work shift than normal, after a long weekend, on the first day of classes...so let's just say I was tired and that's why I started writing this instead of keep going with FTDATT.
The last few hours of the flight back to Berk were both some of the best and the worst there was. Hiccup thought of that as the C-130 he was in started to descend upon Bork Air Force Base. As it turned out, Camouflage was from Bazerk, a small town about fifteen or so miles north of his hometown of Berk. In fact, he was a descendant of its founder. Just thinking about the man who had saved his life made him grip Dagurs dog tags tighter and look over at the flag-draped wooden box that he was being transported in on his final trip back home.
Home. That one word had the ability to stir up so many emotions in him. His parents, who didn't want their only child to sign up to go fight when he had a deferment as a university student but were still proud of him. Astrid, his girlfriend since junior year of high school and one of his lifelong friends. All his friends, the ones he had known since what seemed like forever. Fury, his very stubborn pure black stallion that he had helped raise since the horses birth. All good emotions for sure, but he also felt some dread due to the stories he had heard from some of his fellow soldiers who had rotated back home. Being ignored, shunned, spat on, called names, and sometimes being downright attacked. While the small town of about one thousand residents had given him a hearty send-off and had been promised a hero's return, he was slightly wary of what type of greeting, if any, he would receive.
Hiccup was interrupted from his thoughts by the lurching of the plane as it landed and started to decelerate on the runway. Once Hiccup felt the plane come to a stop and heard the whine of the four turboprop engines lessen he unstrapped from his jump seat and grabbed his kit. Lining up with the rest of the soldiers that were on the transport for rotation home. However, instead of marching off the loading ramp once it was lowered, the whole contingent stood at attention as the honor guard walked up the ramp and took positions next to the five flag-draped caskets that had been flown back with the men. Watching one casket, in particular, Hiccup tracked the men as they picked up the caskets and carried them off the plane.
Once all five caskets had exited the plane the rest of the men still inside were allowed to march off the plane. Once off the plane, Hiccup stopped at the bottom of the ramp and followed the caskets to the hearses into which they were loaded to be taken to their hometowns for individual memorial and funeral services.
"Hey Hiccup, you doing ok?" Toothless, his oldest friend and battle buddy, asked him as he noticed the man almost zoned out. The man in question looked over at his friend who had his hand on Hiccups shoulder
"Ya, I'm fine Tooth. Let's go home," Hiccup said as he looked over to where the family of the returning soldiers were allowed to stand. Toothless looked at his friend for a second, knowing that things were as fine as Hiccup tried to make it seem, the deployment having affected Hiccup worse than it had him. Both spotted Snotlout standing in the crowd in a Berk Police Department uniform and walked towards him.
"Hey Snotlout, still playing dress up I see," Hiccup quipped to his cousin when they got closer.
"And I see you are still hanging around with that troublemaker," Snotlout replied, the two standing face to face for a few seconds before they both broke and hugged each other tightly. After a few seconds the two pulled apart and Snotlout turned to Toothless and the two also embraced in a hug.
"So where is everybody?" Hiccup asked once the hugging had ended.
"Still in Berk, I was just sent to pick you two up and take you back to town." Snotlout replied, "Now if you would follow me, the car is over this way." The two soldiers followed him over to where his squad car was parked. Once the three were seated they took off for the short ten-minute drive from the Bork Air Force Base to Berk. As they approached town they noticed a distinct lacking of people but an overabundance of American Flags.
"Hey, Snotlout, where is everybody?" Hiccup asked as they started to enter the outskirts of the town of Berk. Snotlout didn't respond as he kept driving to the center of town. Hiccup and Toothless shared a look but stayed quiet. They soon came to the Town Hall, which had a simple but rather large sign out front that said 'Welcome Back Hiccup and Toothless'.
"Well, this is where I drop you two off." Snotlout said as he came to a stop at the curb outside the Town Hall.
"You not coming in with us Snotlout?" Toothless asked as the man in question didn't get out of the car with them.
"Nope, I'm still on duty and need to do some patrolling." Came the response.
"Well then, have a fun time patrolling." Hiccup said as he shut the door.
"Oh you know I will. Nothing like patrolling nearly empty streets," Snotlout muttered as he shifted the car into drive. "See you guys later."
"Well that was a little odd," Toothless commented as they watched the car drive off.
"It is Snotlout after all," Hiccup responded, "He has always been slightly off. Now let's go see what the town has waiting for us."
"Lead the way," Toothless said as they picked up their bags. With that, the two men walked to the front door of the Town Hall and shared a look before pushing it open. What they saw on the inside shocked them.
"WELCOME HOME!" The shout from almost half the town nearly deafening the two men who were surprised by the verbal assault. Before either of them had time to respond, Hiccup was attacked by a fast-moving blond.
"I missed you so much," Astrid said as she quickly attached herself in a hug before Hiccup had time to react. Being slightly taller than her, and because she had burrowed her head into his neck, allowed him to rest his chin on her head.
"I missed you too, Milady," Hiccup whispered back to her as they were simply content to rest in each other's arms for the moment. After a few moments, Hiccup looked over to Toothless to see he was in a similar situation with his girlfriend, Luna.
"Well, this was a pleasant surprise." Hiccup said as he looked around at everybody who had assembled to welcome them home. "Well don't stand around on our account," Hiccup called out, noticing everybody was still standing around, and with that their welcome home party started. Sometime later turning the party Hiccup found himself along with Toothless, their girlfriends having both had left their sides for a moment.
"Are you going to do it?" Toothless asked Hiccup, eyeing his friend.
Hiccup patted his left pants pocket, "I got it right here and planning on doing it when she gets back." Toothless nodded at him before disappearing as Astrid reappeared.
"So how have you enjoyed being home?" She asked as Hiccup pulled her over to the dance floor where a slow song had started.
"It's been a lovely time, but there is one person I don't see that I expected too," Hiccup said as they danced.
"And who is that darling?" Astrid asked him as the song was ending and Hiccup twirled her around.
"My fiance," He said. Slightly shocked, Astrid saw that Hiccup had let go of her and was down on one knee, open ring box in hand. Everybody else had stopped what they were doing and were watching the couple.
"Astrid, would you do me the honor of being my wife?" Hiccup asked her.
"Yes," Astrid said, joy extremely evident in her voice as Hiccup proceeded to slide her new ring onto Astrid's finger. Astrid quickly fell onto Hiccup in a hug and the two soon started in a passionate kiss as Hiccup lifted them both up to a standing position.
Hey guys, so I could have kept going but I have been nursing a headache for most of the day and can't seem to focus. Hope you enjoyed this cause I couldn't get it out of my mind.
Semper Fi,
Thearizona