(Super proud of that chapter title)

Previously:

Hiccup and Toothless continued on the battle, but Hiccup was so caught up on what Evil Strange had said that he was being reckless and rough on the battlefield, it wasn't until he realised that he could have gotten Toothless killed that he snapped out of it. He confessed that he wasn't sure if he was going to return to New Berk given the chance, because he didn't want to face no one being there. Etc etc, you get the gist.

Alternate title: Battle Had Enough Bloodshed, why Add More With This Game?
Other Alternate title: Hiccup gets a little too philosophical (I'm writing this at 2 am)

Refer to the previous chapter for Peter's recollection of the recent events

Now:

Being back in the tower feels both good and bad. Good, because we're not fighting for our lives and are finally able to relax. Bad, because we're not fighting. Turns out, if my body isn't moving, my mind is. And there's nothing I can do to stop the barrage of thoughts from invading my mind. What if he was right? What if they're all gone? What if they're injured? What if they need me? What if Astrid is hurt? What if she's dead? Can I really consider going back if she's dead? Staying here would be better. The idea of our world being nothing more than a memory, what once was, hurts... but the idea of going back to destruction hurts a thousand times more.

I look around the room as everyone settles, food and drinks being passed around. These people aren't so bad. They're...different. But they've shown us kindness, in their own sort of way. Tony didn't have to take us to the tower, or make sure I got medical treatment, in fact he probably had every right to ship us off to some kind of prison. Spider-man didn't have to speak to us with kindness and listen to me talk about dragons. Even Yelena didn't have to speak to me about the stolen "Mac and cheese" or pockets. But they all did. And it's not much, probably the bare minimum, but if they can at least tolerate us then maybe they could warm to the idea of us staying permanently?

Toothless and I aren't the type to just sit and watch as danger unfolds, but we're not necessarily the type to go searching for it. Well, we weren't. I know there's parts of myself that have been damaged, the peacekeeper in me chipped away so thin that maybe the only reason I want to stay is to cling to whatever could loosely resemble peace. Or maybe staying represents violence... I know these guys aren't strangers to battle. Maybe the need to keep moving within me is the real reason I want to stay.

A nudge from Toothless brings me out of my thoughts, and I blink down at him, grateful for the distraction. "Hey, bud." I smile, scratching his head. He purrs, leaning into my hand, then curls around me and flips over, asking for a belly rub. I oblige, chuckling softly. The tension fades from my body as the minutes pass by. I can tell Toothless is relaxed, too. He is going to be so hungry tonight. He always eats so much after a battle. Granted, our scuffles with trappers and hunters don't really compare to the aliens and robots we just fought.

I sigh softly, leaning against his side after we both settle. His saddle is off, laying in the corner of the room next to my armour. A few things will need some repairing, but it's nothing that can't wait a while. My next idea is to rebuild the tail he can control, if Tony will let me use the lab again.

I look around at everyone as they set up the game, a lot of them having a drink in hand— some clearly some type of ale, while others hold mugs—much like the hot one Bruce (he was the big green guy in the battle, turns out) passes me that he calls "green tea". It's quite nice and is helping to relax me, actually.

My side is still aching, pretty badly at that, but when we visited the doctors upon leaving the battle they redressed they wound. I wanted to take more painkillers but they explained what overdosing is, so I'll have wait the pain out until it's safe to take more painkillers.

The twins and Barf and Belch soon come sit by us, much to Toothless' chagrin. He wouldn't mind it, if it weren't for the fact that Ruff and Tuff are a little too excited about Loki and can't hold off from rambling. "I warned everybody," I shrug after a few heads turn our way when they only increase in volume. "I said they should never meet."

"And why is that, Viking?"

I glance up to see Loki walking by, having fetched himself a drink. His tone is casual, curious.

"You really don't know what they have in store for you, do you?" I ask, amused. "Because you are a never going to get a moment of peace now."

Loki looks almost offended. "I think I can handle two love struck fools."

"Don't underestimate them." I warn him with a shake of my head and a small smile. Loki walls off, unbothered. I shrug. His funeral.

I turn and watch in amusement as Tony, Yelena, Natasha and Clint set up the game, and soon begin arguing over it. These people really do love to bicker, huh. But hey, I'm used to it by now. Things don't exactly go smooth sailing with the gang, after all.

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" Natasha exclaims.
"Hey, if I have a plane then I reserve the right to fly between airports!" Clint defends himself.
"We're two seconds into the game!" Yelena gives an exasperated groan. "You have no airports."
"Well I don't need airports to fly!" Clint defends himself again, holding up a miniature model of an aircraft—much like the 'quinjet'—and moving it halfway across the game board.
"Yeah, yeah. You come near me and I'll shoot you down." Tony insists. Clint laughs.
"What? You and your dog?"
"His name is Bingo and you leave him out of this." Tony snaps half-jokingly.
"Whatever, Clint. Just move your plane back." Natasha roles her eyes, having finally selected her piece. Its a duck, much like the wooden ones my father used to carve—except way smaller. Yelena has a token of her own, some kind of ship. Clint messes around for a few seconds before obliging and moving back to the start.

"No cheating. I'm watching you." Tony waves his finger at them, then touched his glasses. "Friday 's gonna snitch."

"I'm not going to cheat!" Yelena gasps dramatically, before returning a stack of small paper to its pile.

Toothless' POV because this chapter is way too short without it

I don't understand everything that man said to Hiccup, but I got the gist of it, and it horrified me just like it did Hiccup. Our people, our dragons, our lives. Gone. Nothing angers and saddens me more than the thought of our people hurt, or my mate. I know I would do anything to protect them all, in a heartbeat. Just like how I would lay down my life for Hiccup without hesitation. But that's the thing. While I'd rather not be doing it, I have no issue with turning to violence, not when it comes to defending those I love.

I haven't ever felt a lot of guilt for hurting the enemies we've fought, I am a dragon after all. But Hiccup is different. He's always been more receptive to changing peoples minds, and he's always been racked with guilt for harm he's caused—even if it was the right thing to do. There are only a few times I've seen him act stone-hearted. When we fought Drago on Berk is one of them. Another would be a few years ago when Berk was attacked by Krogan and Stoick got hurt. Other times include any time Astrid was—or could have been—hurt. Seriously, he's so protective of his mate even though she's the alpha in their relationship. It's funny. To be fair, though, I do anything my mate wants me to.

Hiccup has always been a man of the people, and a man of the dragons. He's fought hard alongside me to achieve a life where dragons and Vikings can co exist in harmony. To have this ripped away from him so cruelly and pointlessly is what has driven him to his current point of anger. Because now my best friend is stone hearted. Stone, icy, numb. I don't know how I can help him, because I know he blames himself. I know that there was nothing we could have done to prevent this, I know that the man could have been bluffing, I know that it is not Hiccup's fault, and I know it is not my fault. But I can barely convince Hiccup that he does not, in fact, ruin everything he touches, so how am I supposed to tell him his heart is cold and needs to warm up again? I will not leave his side, that is the only thing I can do. I will not allow him to shut me out, because I know him well enough to know he thinks himself to be useless. But he is my best friend, my rider, my kin, and I will not leave him. I will not forsake him even when he forsakes himself. I will fly to the ends of the earth for him, and whatever he chooses to do— stay, return— I will join him.

Hiccup's POV

I continue to lean against Toothless as we watch the game start, both amused by their antics.
Surrounded by this... group of people— group of new friends, Teammates perhaps— I just, I find myself start to slow down and start to feel at ease. Despite the aches in my body, the fatigue after the fight, and the strange sense of homesickness and grief hammering at my heart, I smile. Because if I don't go back, if I stay here for good, then these people wouldn't be the worst to have in my company.

Even in all this chaos, the bickering amongst the group (and the occasional swing nearly thrown, in which it becomes evident that this game isn't as family friendly as you'd like to think) as the next few minutes pass by, I really can't help but fully relax. I let the stupid bickers and the banter consume my focus, any nagging dark thought snuffed out by the present.

I do, however, see somebody move out of the corner of my eye. And when my curiosity gets the better of me, I turn to see Spider-Man slowly pulling his mask off. My eyes go wide, and I nudge Toothless about five too many times to get his attention so he, too, can watch with unmasked anticipation with me. I know he's a kid. He has to be, I'm sure of it!

(Get it? Unmasked? Heh. I'm hilarious)

I know what it's like to be young, doing things you probably shouldn't be doing. I bet that's how Spider-Man feels sometimes (sure, befriending dragons is a little different than swinging around the place fighting crime, but the disapproval or lack of belief from older people is still the same. Kind of). He mentioned sometime around when we first met that he has a secret identify for a reason. This is a big deal for him.

"I can't say my real name, secret identity and all." He'd said. "It's nothing personal, I don't tell anyone." I'd let it go, considering I'd only just met the guy (and on icy terms, too). So does this mean he's decided he can trust everyone? That's got to be the reason, why else would you not want to say who you are?

Spider-man pulls the fabric off his face. The room goes quiet, the chatter dying down as everyone's eyes become drawn to the face of a young boy, looking no older than I was when I met Toothless.

Nobody speaks, a few mouths hanging open in shock. A few knowing smirks— I guess I wasn't the only one who knew he was young. He starts looking a little nervous, shifting his weight from left to right.

But then Natasha smiles.

"Welcome to the Avengers, Spider-Man."

Aha there we go we have something that loosely resembles a chapter. And no, the story is not over yet! Stay tuned.  I know this chapter does a lot of the same things the last Hiccup chapter did, with same kind of thought process, but I refuse to break my Hiccup-Peter-Hiccup-Peter chapter pattern so fight me 😤💅

I will probably return and edit this chapter because there's bound to be errors and it's 2:30 am so I can't be bothered right now.

As always, I'll see you next chapter with Peter's POV.