Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD.
This is a song-fic. I'd like to give this type of story a try. Please don't "eat" me! Enjoy. The song "Home" written by Drew Pearson and Greg Holden, performed by Phillip Phillips doesn't belong to me either.
Toothless' Point of View
The sun was warm. Fire was warm. But most pleasant kind of warmth was the one that my Rider provided. My whole definition of warmth changed when Hiccup decided that we should spend time alone in the cove a few times a month when we would "have conversations" and bond, like good old time. He did all the talking, but whatever my reply was, he always understood. This time, he gave me a special talk.
Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
Hiccup's soft soothing sweet voice went straight into my soul as the lyrics retold our journey to an immortal bond. The relationship between him and me was unique. Vikings were able to bond with dragons now, indeed, but they could never look at us like Hiccup did. No rider could look at his or her dragon and see what Hiccup saw when he looked at me. Right from the start, it was a big risk for both of us as we recklessly threw our lives into each other's hands or in my case, claws. It was wrong on every level, but it never felt more right. We tossed logic aside as we blindly follow our hearts, we leaned on one other as our souls leaded the way.
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
I, a Night Fury, different from other dragons, was a creature of solitude. I was never meant to have friends. My home was the sky. That was all defied when this kind, scrawny Viking shot me down from my territory. He re-defined "home". He showed me happiness. He lighted my world on fire though he couldn't actually breathe fire like me.
Third person's Point of View
The singing boy and his dragon lost in their own worlds, unaware of uninvited audience. Hiccup's friends' curiosity got the better of them; they knew he loved spending time with Toothless to fly, but not at this time of the day, when the moon replaced the sun. Snotlout wanted to comment, but was shut by Astrid. The twins for once were quiet, but once in a while they smacked each other in the heads or chests, and then shush one other. Hiccup's drawing ability was already discovered after the battle with the Red Death when they ran through his designs, but never did they expect something like this. Vikings only sang when they were very drunk, and the lyrics never made any sense. This song sounded so warm and beautiful, but no-one missed the sadness hinted in every note. Toothless rested his head on Hiccup's lap dreamingly, purred in delight at the melody. The rider absent-mindedly stroked his scale fondly while singing.
Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Aforementioned rider chuckled mirthlessly at his own words, made Toothless and the other teens jump. The chuckle sounded scary. Hiccup quickly calmed his scaly friend down by petting him soothingly.
"It's alright Toothless; my mind's just wandering around unpleasant thoughts."
Astrid raised her eyebrow as they saw the Night Fury nudged his Rider seriously, but Hiccup went on with the song even Toothless had broken away from his trance.
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home…
Toothless gave a low humming, growls and croons rumbled quietly in the cove. Hiccup giggled at his friend's attempt to copy him, his emerald green eyes sparked with joy, unlike when he chuckled. Said friend cuddled him gently with his strong big front legs, shook him lightly as to expect whatever inside of his mind to fall out.
"Oh you childish reptile, I know it alright. You love me too much to not care."
Another affectionate growl.
Snotlout frowned and thought this was ridiculous. This was none of his business, why did he have to watch this lame scene at first place? Hiccup was weak to have to depend on a pet too much like that. Meanwhile, Astrid and Fishlegs' eyes widened at the sight of Toothless gestured at his tail and wings, at Hiccup, at the sky and mimic Hookfang. His giant orbs bored into Hiccup's meaningfully, as if the dragon was trying to scan his soul.
"You want to know why I did what I did in the race a few months ago." – stated Hiccup calmly.
'Thawfest.' – whispered Fishlegs, as the whole gang recalled what happened in that epic race, where they thought Hiccup was supposed to be the winner. This time, Snotlout's attention was back at the pair.
"Huh, that fishbone was a loser. What else is there to know?"
"Well dude, you've got to admit you nearly lost!" – Ruffnut pointed out, receiving a glare.
Their discussion was interrupted as Hiccup sighed heavily, rubbing Toothless' face slowly.
"Is it that important to win, Toothless?"
The blacksmith got a light nod for the answer, he just beamed.
"Then Toothless, you did win."
Fishlegs held his breath at the statement, while Snotlout rolled his eyes and scowled.
"Everyone knows that you're wiser, more powerful and definitely faster than Hookfang, Toothless. You don't need to prove it anymore. The loser is I and I alone." – Hiccup explained gently, like a teacher to a student.
Toothless didn't accept that explanation, growled annoyingly, shook his head and whimpered. His claws slammed into the dirt, he pointed his head at Hiccup. You could have won. That was what the dragon tried to say.
"Yes, so isn't that enough, boy?"
Toothless bared his teeth and gave Hiccup an intense stare.
"Alright, alright you useless reptile, I'll give you a straight explanation."
Settling on his hind legs, Toothless looked at his rider expectedly, like they were having a conversation over a cup of tea. Hiccup just rolled his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I threw the race, Toothless. I was the one who told my father to choose it as the last round. I was desperate to show him that for once, I could be his pride, the child that he always wanted. I was never surer that victory was in our hands and claws."
Hiccup stopped for a while, now standing up and walking around the dragon slowly. His eyes never left the dragon's, begging him to understand. Toothless threw him a soft croon, encouraged him to continue.
The gang listened intently though Snotlout was very confused and angry, why was Hiccup talking about it like it was just a set-up that Hiccup let him win? Astrid already knew the truth, but she wanted to hear this version, since Hiccup never lied to his best friend. Except from Snotlout, all of them felt a twinge of unsettled feeling in their guts at Hiccup's desire to prove himself to his father in front of everyone, and ended up in doing the opposite.
"At the moment when we were so close to victory, Toothless, I looked at Snotlout's face and saw his desperation and fear along with disbelief, that he couldn't believe he would lose to a useless fishbone. Before the race, I heard his father threatening him that if he didn't win, there would be consequences."
Snotlout's jaws dropped. Hiccup… witnessed that? The others stared at him with wide eyes that drove him insane, but he was speechless at what Hiccup was saying.
"Think about it, Toothless. I've already told you about how I was always a failure, a mistake in everyone's eyes. And guess what, I've lived with that for my whole life that I've got too used to it, it couldn't affect me any longer, being a disappointment in my father's eyes. But Snotlout, he's completely clueless about such feeling and condition."
Toothless roared furiously, so his rider gave up glory because he pitied his foe? Oh for Odin's sake, he was too sweet for his own good! The Night Fury pinned him down the ground and let out a growl, but his claws that made contact with Hiccup's skin was gentle, just strong enough to prevent him from standing up. But his rider fiercely looked at him in the eye and said:
"I might be the miserable one Toothless, but I won't let anyone else has a taste of something horrible like what I have, that's just too low. Toothless, because of me being who I really am, I became your friend and the first Dragon Rider. I won't throw that boy away, not at any cost!"
The dragon backed down, looked at his rider with new emotions. Surprise. Disbelief. Awe. The uninvited audience's jaws dropped at the new outburst. Hiccup actually let Snotlout win! Snotlout was begging that this was a dream, that he won because he was stronger, not because Hiccup was.
"You cherish that boy who foolishly took your flight away but didn't kill you because of whom he is and whom he wants to be, Toothless. Well, during Thawfest, that boy was literally forgotten and replaced by a rude brat who saw nothing but himself so before it was too late, that boy came back and kicked some sense into my mind!"
Toothless didn't react for a few seconds and then launched himself on Hiccup, licking his face fiercely. He understood now. Hiccup did what he did because he was Hiccup. It was simple.
"So are we good now?"
Toothless licked him more, tail wrapping around Hiccup's small and fragile frame carefully to settle down. They were good. Hiccup felt much better that he could share his mind with his best friend.
Fishlegs, Tuffnut and Ruffnut along with Astrid looked at Snotlout.
"Stop staring at me! That wimp didn't want to win, so what?"
Trying to deny the fact that he actually lost, Snotlout found himself overwhelmed by his conflicting mind. The others just looked at each other and back at Hiccup, who was now promising a new song for Toothless.
"What happens here stays here." – Astrid said firmly, daring anyone to protest. They didn't want to ruin Snotlout's reputation or make his father looked at him differently. That was what Hiccup wanted, to leave things in their normal way.
"But you got to admit, Toothless is a cool dragon! He has a proper conversation with Hiccup!" – Fishlegs said in wonder thoughtfully.
"Well, he is Hiccup's mount. What else do you expect?" – Tuffnut said.
"Night Furies can't release toxic gas like ours, duh!" – Ruffnut whacked Tuffnut.
"Yeah, but he has plasma blast and super speed!"
"Will you two stop it?" – Astrid scolded.
Silence immediately ruled, and Hiccup's voice was the only thing that flowed smoothly like a white cloud in the air.
You gotta scream until there's nothing left
With your last breath
So here I am
Here I am
Make them listen
'Cause there's no way you'll be ignored
Not anymore
So here I am
Here I am (x2)
Another song. Another side of Hiccup. Another unique trait revealed. More respect for the unordinary Viking of Berk. With silent agreement, the teens left Hiccup alone with his dragon, retreated to their houses. Maybe, just maybe, someday they would be once again grateful that Hiccup was strong enough to be different.
A/N: I just need to get it out of my head. The second piece of song was Here I am (Camp Rock Soundtrack). Both are my favorite and suit Hiccup quite well. This might become a story with many chapters if you like. I'll write more for readers who ask. Thank you and enjoy.