Fourteen: Public Enemy

Wakefulness returned to Hiccup accompanied by a host of sensations that were in no way as promising. He was sitting, slumped forward in a very hard metal chair, his arms were tied to the metal arms of the chair and his ankles were also fastened to the legs. It was cool and there were at least two people standing just in front of him. He blinked owlishly and lifted his head, a pounding headache making thought rather difficult but his head cleared instantly as he saw the two men facing him.

The similarity in their features told him they were close kin-probably brothers. Both were powerfully built and taller than Hiccup, though the slightly shorter one was a little less massive. His dark brown hair was cropped close and his beard was neatly manicured, framing a cold and calculating face. His cold chestnut eyes flicked over the unimpressive shape of the prisoner. The larger man was very tall and muscular, his head shaven and beard a mere stripe on his large chin. There was a poorly-concealed air of violence around him and he inspected Hiccup like a cat approaching a favourite toy.

"If you would...?" The slightly smaller man's voice was smooth and cold, perfectly enunciated and almost devoid of accent. The larger man nodded and punched Hiccup across the face. Head snapping round, Hiccup grunted in pain and felt his vision cross for a moment before things resolved back into the depressing view of his captors.

"Wh-what?" he mumbled thickly. The smaller man folded his hands behind his back and inspected the young would-be agent.

"I am afraid conventional wisdom dictates that any interrogation begins with establishing who exactly is in charge of the conversation," the man said smoothly.

"Who...?" Hiccup murmured, frowning and trying his bonds. The larger man punched him again and he sagged. The smaller man raised a hand, the index finger up in a silent command.

"I am afraid you weren't listening," he said in a disappointed tone. "I am Viggo Grimborn, leader of the Hunter Clan. My brother, Ryker, is rather enthusiastic in enforcing my will. I would advise not to test his patience." Hiccup blinked again, feeling blood smeared on his chin and his eyes fixed on the man's cold face.

"Why am I here?" he asked. Ryder bunched his fist and hammered it into Hiccup's middle and the younger man almost doubled up, feeling as if every molecule of air had been squeezed out of him. The big man grabbed a fistful of auburn hair and wrenched his head up as he struggled for breath.

"You are here because a colleague asked us to find out what you have been doing," Viggo said calmly. "It was suspected you would attempt to see the Commander and you were tailed until an opportunity arose to capture you-and your lovely companion."

"Astrid! Where is she? Is she...?" he demanded, his eyes flicking to inspect Viggo. Ryder punched him in the face again and he groaned, gasping as the big man wrenched his head back and closed a hand around his neck.

"You don't speak unless you're told to do so," Ryker growled, his deep voice very menacing as the grip tightened. Hiccup was barely able to draw breath, seeing the man inspecting him in a very unsettling manner.

"Where-where's...the fun...in that?" Hiccup choked out, trying to process what was happening.

"Please...give me a reason, boy," Ryker sneered, his face twisted in anticipation. The grip around Hiccup's neck tightened while his other hand tugged harder on his hair. Hissing in pain, Hiccup grimaced as the man slowly moved his head closer as he breathed into Hiccup's ear: "Please...and I will enjoy making you scream..."

"Ryker," Viggo warned in a bored voice, "while I am fully cognisant of your proclivities, I want him able to answer questions. You can rape him in your own time." Hiccup felt a jolt of fear shoot through him at the words and his green eyes widened. Ryder leaned closer, his lips almost touching Hiccup's ear.

"You can rely on it," he whispered and Hiccup swallowed anxiously, pulling back as far as he could. As the big man reluctantly drew back, Hiccup could see Viggo smiling cruelly.

"Where is Astrid?" Hiccup demanded thickly, tasting blood. His eyes locked onto his captor's, a flicker of defiance hardening his emerald gaze. "I'm not saying anything else until you tell me." For a second, Viggo's coolly aloof expression wavered.

"Your pretty companion is in our custody but she is unharmed...for now," Viggo told him. "Though that state may change..." Hiccup's brows dipped in a scowl.

"Don't," he hissed and Viggo leaned close.

"That is really in your hands, Hiccup," he taunted the younger man. "You know, it might be amusing to see how brave you are when Ryker is hitting the girl...or maybe if you have to watch him do something even more intimate...?" Stiffening, Hiccup stared stonily back.

"What colleague?" he asked. Viggo gave a small smile.

"You see? He is paying attention...just not enough," he sighed and Ryker's fist punched into his middle again. Sagging, semi-conscious, he allowed Ryker to haul him up. "I'll ask the questions, Hiccup Haddock," Viggo continued, his voice growing colder. "I want to know how you knew to get out of the AI6 building and avoided being killed? How you evaded Dagur DeRange when the man is the most lethal assassin in the Archipelago. Where you have been hiding?" He brandished the com that Toothless had given him for the mission to rescue Snotlout. "And where did you get this Tech?"

Hiccup stared at him, feeling the pressure in his scalp increase. He whined in pain.

"This is where you answer!" Viggo prompted him impatiently and Hiccup grimaced.

"Um...you know Amazon? Or was it eBay? Amazing what you can get online and..."

He was expecting the punch that hammered into his middle but his vision did grey and sounds went echoey as he felt his consciousness waver. He heard Viggo growling and felt a couple of open-handed slaps that jolted him back to reality.

"You'll find I am regrettably lacking in a sense of humour, Hiccup," Viggo told him coldly. "Try again." Hiccup gave a small cough and grimaced.

"Pretty certain it was Amazon," he mumbled. Viggo's eyes rolled and he nodded.

"You must enjoy this," he sighed as Ryker punched the prisoner again and this time, Hiccup did sag, semi-conscious for a long moment until his head was dragged up and Viggo leaned forward, his hands on his knees as he peered into the dazed emerald gaze. "I am beginning to lose patience, Hiccup," he said. "I am unsure why you are being so stubborn. After all, the remaining agents of AI6 don't want you. Your family doesn't want you. You have no friends...except perhaps the pretty blonde? And the service believes that you are in fact a traitor-and responsible for the destruction of the building."

Hiccup's head jerked up and his eyes widened in shock.

"N-no..." he murmured. Viggo gave a cold smile.

"Oh yes," he said with a cruel arch of the eyebrow. "You miraculously survived the explosion that killed hundreds. You are the only person who visited the origin point of the explosion. Your disciplinary record is...appalling. You attempted to deceive the service..."

"Heather...is your agent..." he realised. Viggo's face remained deadpan but Ryker gave a low chuckle.

"Oh, he's smart as well as pretty," he commented. "I'm looking forward to spending some time with him." A shudder ran through him and he whimpered.

"Makes...one of us..." he mumbled, earning himself another hard slap.

"So who gave you this?" Viggo snapped, brandishing the com again.

"Can't tell you his name, but I thought he was working for the Holy Odin Mission on Niflheim Street..." Hiccup lied. This time, Viggo punched him himself and Hiccup sagged back in the chair. Immediately, his rage was concealed once more, his mask back in place as he snapped his hands behind hi back and paced away from the sagging auburn-haired shape. He sighed.

"I was hoping you would be more reasonable," he said to the prisoner and nodded. Ryder leaned forward and tore the front of his shirt open, buttons popping all over the room as they exposed his pale, very faintly freckled chest. The big man grinned, running a thick finger down his chest before tearing his sleeves open, shoving them up to his elbows. "But now...this is going to have to get unpleasant."

Hiccup stared into his cold face and took a shuddering breath. He had no idea why he was being targeted, though the news that somehow he had been framed for the explosion was both unsurprising-given his miserable luck-and incredibly worrying. He would be a marked man-and though he was trembling and he was already aching all over, his head was pounding and stomach churning, he was determined not to play along. Maybe he could learn something from their questions...but something told him that the longer he defied them, the longer he deferred spending any time alone with Ryker. And the longer he kept Astrid from their clutches.

"You really have no idea what unpleasant is," he groaned. "Bring it."

oOo

"They didn't come back?" Toothless demanded, his green eyes narrowing as he inspected the twins and Fishlegs as they sat around the table in the safe house. Fishlegs had cooked a spectacular breakfast and everyone was replete to the extent they had completely forgotten to check their friends were back safely. At the jet-haired man's sharp words, they all looked mildly uncomfortable, though the twins were noticeably less concerned than the hacker.

"Oh Thor, oh Thor, oh Thor..." Fishlegs whimpered. "This is very bad!"

"Hey-he's a badass," Tuff reminded the Dragon calmly.

"His ass is extremely bad," Ruff confirmed with a broad grin.

"H will do fine," Tuff added cheerfully. "Hey-maybe he's off with Snot and they're all having a cool time..."

"Hiccup doesn't get on with his cousin," Fishlegs pointed out quietly. "Snotlout has been vile to him since I knew him. He ruined all his dreams of being an agent and has no insight whatsoever into his own hopelessness as an agent or that his actions have hurt others and almost destroyed HQ. And something must have happened because if Hiccup said he was coming back, he would." He paused. "And Astrid won't have anything to do with Snotlout. She clearly loathes him." Toothless inspected the husky man and nodded.

"Kinda picked up on that myself," he admitted dryly. "Could they have returned to his apartment?"

"It was pretty trashed," Ruff admitted. "Even by Nut standards..." Toothless frowned and nodded.

"Okay," he said. "Fishlegs-with me. We'll check the apartment. You two-go to Blessed Freya and see if anyone knows where Hiccup, Astrid or Snotlout are." Predictably, they whined in protest.

"Do we have to? That is SO boring," Tuff whined.

"Yeah-no destruction at all..." Ruff agreed. "Toothy, maybe we could..." The Dragon gave a low growl in his throat at the unwelcome nickname, his eyes glittering with annoyance.

"I don't know how he puts up with you imbeciles," he commented shortly. "Look-if we want Hiccup and Astrid back, we have to piece together where they were and what happened."

"As long as Dagur didn't happen," Fishlegs said gloomily. The Dragon give a thin smile.

"I have my own men on him," he revealed. "I know he doesn't have them. Now move out. They've already been gone twelve hours. Loki only knows what trouble they're in."

oOo

Astrid had quartered the cell so she knew every irregularity in the concrete floor and cold rocky walls but it was really of no help because it seemed to be fairly escape-proof. Her frustration was building and she balled her fists, aching to slam them into someone or at least something...but the small voice in the back of her mind reminded her that all that would achieve would be to injure herself. Breathing heavily, she dropped to a crouch in the middle of the cell and calmed her breathing, rolling her shoulders to force the tension out.

What would Hiccup do?

Her eyes snapped open. It was such a ridiculous thing to think that she had to consciously remind herself that, contrary to popular belief, Hiccup was the best agent she had worked with. He was bright, smart, decisive, adorably self-effacing and sarcastic...and she shivered. Gods, it almost sounded like she liked him. And then she groaned. Of course she liked him! He was her friend, a man who had saved her life, who was caring and brilliant and who clearly had a crush on her without any hope of it being requited. And she hated Eret and Snotlout and all of those self-important agent types-but Hiccup treated her like an equal and like a real person. He had the worst luck on Midgard and he had been utterly heart-broken that his father had rejected him...but even then, he had noted Dagur...and Heather.

She rose and walked slowly across the cell. The fact that Heather-who Astrid had looked up to-seemed to be playing for the wrong side had thrown Astrid, but she trusted Hiccup. There was no mistaking the license plate she herself had seen and it unfortunately fit with the inconsistencies they had noted in Heather's story and behaviour. And with a groan, she wondered how much damage Heather had caused over her time in AI6 and she rested back against the wall, staring at the door. They had to get out of here-as soon as she found Hiccup. She had woken alone so she had no idea if he was in another cell, another part of the building or if he was maybe back in the funicular railway cab and she was the only one targeted. Shaking her head, she dug her fingers in her hair and sighed.

What would Hiccup do?

She shook herself. He would certainly looked at things differently to her so she paused and dropped to a crouch again. There were no ducts...but there was a panel on the far wall. She rose and inspected it, tapping it lightly. It was definitely hollow and all she had to do was prise the panel away and...what? Find a maintenance duct? A drain? A tunnel? She sighed. Then her head snapped round as she heard steps approach. She turned to the door as it was dragged open and a shape was tossed in, the door slamming before the body even hit the ground.

It was Hiccup.

Eyes wide with concern, she saw him impact the ground hard and lie still, limbs sprawled unconsciously, the shallow breathing making her heart clench in concern. She brushed off all her prideful qualms about being worried about him simply because she was a Hofferson and should be focussing on being an agent...but that ship had sailed thanks to that mutton-head, Snotlout, and she and Hiccup were partners in disgrace-but he at least had apologised and been a friend to her, supporting her and comforting her when she bemoaned her frustrations. She dropped to her knees and slowly turned him over, wincing at the welts over his face and the horrible bruises on his body. He had been beaten badly, his familiar features scrunched in pain and cheeks and eyes swollen with bruising. His auburn hair was tousled and there were scratches and cuts on his arms and chest.

Tenderly, she cradled his head in her lap and gently combed his hair off his face with her fingers, softly stroking his battered face. His brows furrowed and he gasped, emerald eyes fluttering as open as they could through the bruising.

"NO!" he gasped, flinging his arms up to protect himself. She leaned forward so he could see her reassuring face.

"Shh, shh...it's me, Hiccup. Easy, easy..." she soothed him gently. Trembling, eyes wide with fear, he glanced up and saw the familiar beautiful face and the tension left him. He gave a shuddering sigh.

"As-Astrid," he mumbled, shaking harder. Grimacing, he clutched his shaking arms against his middle, trying to move onto his side so he could curl up.

"What happened?" she asked gently as he managed to get onto his right side, burying his face in her lap as he curled up as tight as he could.

"The H-Hunters h-have us," he groaned, his split and bruised lips muffling his words. He nuzzled harder into her lap and she stroked him gently, the gentle pressure on his scalp soothing his shattered nerves. "V-Viggo and R-Ryker G-Grimborn..." His teeth were chattering as he slid into shock and Astrid pulled him a little further into her lap, stripping off her jacket and wrapping it around him.

"Easy," she soothed him, stroking his hair lightly but he shook his head, his brow furrowed.

"N-no..." he murmured hoarsely. "W-working with H-Heather..." He swallowed. "They-they're b-blaming m-me for the explosion....s-saying I-I'm a t-traitor..." His voice was thick with despair. Astrid's eyes narrowed.

"Heather!" she growled. "She would have done that. And that means...she knew about the explosion. She was warned-but when you survived and asked her where she was...she knew you could be a danger."

"M-makes....sense..." Hiccup mumbled, nuzzling into her lap. He was still shaking but it did seem to be lessening with the warmth and comfort. She felt a jolt of sympathy for him: whatever had happened to him, it must have been horrible.

"And it may explain why your father refused to see you-if Heather told him you were to blame," she mused gently. He stiffened and she stroked his face determinedly. "So we're wanted," she added and he sighed.

"I am," he mumbled. "You may be safe..." She looked around the cold cell in the middle of the Hunter's stronghold.

"Ya think?" she asked ironically and with an effort, he cracked an eye open.

"Um...didn't come out as I planned..." he managed in an embarrassed tone. She bent forward and pecked a quick kiss on the side of his head.

"What did they ask you?" she asked gently and he closed his eyes tightly.

"Why we're alive, who we're working with, where the coms we had on us came from," he mumbled. "I-I don't think I was very helpful..." She pressed her hand against his swollen cheek and irrespective of the pain, he pressed into the tender touch.

"Then we need to get out of here before they come back and try again," she told him gently. "And I have a plan..."

oOo

"No sign of them here," Fishlegs concluded, looking around Hiccup neat apartment. The windows were shattered from gunfire, there was a hole in the wall under one of the windows and the door was burst in. Toothless stared at the interior and his eyes widened.

"This is it?" he murmured. "I thought all the agents had AI6-sponsored accommodation..."

"Except Hiccup," Fishlegs sighed. Aimlessly, the Dragon inspected the half-eaten pizza and shook his head. Then the com buzzed and he flicked the channel open.

"Hey dudes-it's us," Tuff said unprofessionally. "Look, at the hospital it seems they wouldn't let H see the Commander. Seems the Head Honcho has disowned our own little H and they're saying he was responsible for HQ blowing up. That he planted the bombs and is a traitor!"

Fishlegs' eyes widened in shock. "What?" he squeaked.

"And we didn't even point out there was only one bomb, that it was a Zippleback and that H hadn't a clue about demolitions," Ruff added. Eyes narrowing, Toothless motioned and Fishlegs immediately flipped his computer open, chubby fingers dancing lightly over the keyboard as he settled at the table.

"Really?"

"Well, maybe a bit," Tuff confessed and Toothless face-palmed.

"Get to 'Bread-Making Vikings' and we'll meet you there," he ordered. "And try not to steal anything!"

"We make no promises," Ruff called and ended the connection. Toothless sighed and ran a hand through his jet hair.

"They'll have tails," he muttered and Fishlegs nodded, still accessing the security camera footage of the last night and seeing the tall shape of Hiccup leave the hospital, his head down and shoulders slumped, with Astrid holding his hand and talking softly to him. Leaning forward, a hand resting on the back of Fishlegs's chair, they watched as the young couple walked down the hill towards the funicular and then Hiccup dragged them back into he alcove-as they spied the two shapes talking nearby. Automatically, Fishlegs switched cameras and identified the two people-as Dagur and Heather.

"Isn't she one of AI6?" the hacker gulped. Toothless frowned.

"Apparently not," he commented. "Track all three..." Huffing, the husky blonde man followed Dagur to his car and Heather to hers-though he tracked her back to her apartment. But Hiccup and Astrid headed to the funicular and entered the cab, unconscious of a bulky shape clambering onto the back of the cab. Toothless gestured to the screen and they watched the intruder burst the door in and shoot the pair. At the bottom, they two were manhandled into a dark car and driven away, followed all the way down to the docks and a Thunderdrum flying boat. The dock cameras tracked as they were loaded on board-before the plane floating back and then the propellers spun into life, carrying the plane out before accelerating across the waves and soaring up into the night.

"Registration HTR-21VG," Fishlegs noted down. Toothless tapped his shoulder.

"Good man," he commented. "So we know they're off the island and prisoners. We need to get the twins and then we'll have to go after them."

"We?" Fishlegs squeaked. The Dragon gave a too-broad grin, teeth gleaming in his tanned face, his eyes sparkling maliciously.

"Oh yeah," he said cheerfully. "You're with me all the way. And you're the only chance they have!" Glancing around the wrecked apartment, Fishlegs looked like he was about to protest before his round blue eyes locked on the smashed flatscreen.

"Fine," he huffed. "I mean he did save my life and get us out of here and he is my best friend. Can we go back to my apartment so I can feed my dog and my plants?" Rolling his eyes, the Dragon nodded.

"Let's just hope they can stay alive until then," he commented.

oOo

The door of the cell jerked open and Ryker swaggered into the room, his cruel eyes locking on the shape slumped in the corner. Hiccup lifted his battered face, his messy auburn bangs hanging over his face. Wary emerald eyes inspected the big man who swaggered over to him.

"Where is she?" Ryder growled. Tilting his head very slightly, Hiccup fashioned a small smile...that faded into a gasp as the big Hunter grabbed him by the throat and wrenched him to his feet. Hiccup grimaced.

"I think she went out for Chinese," he choked as Ryker threw him back against the wall, sliding to the floor. "Owww...might have been pizza..." His words cut off with the kick that hit his side and he tried to curl up, but the big Hunter grabbed him by the hair and pulled him close.

"You know what my brother said?" he hissed. "You answer and I may go easy on you..." Hiccup took a couple of gasping breaths, his body pressed back into the wall. "Otherwise, I am gonna break you..."

"Everyone is a critic," Hiccup sighed as Ryker dragged him up to his feet and pressed a kiss to his mouth, causing Hiccup's eyes to widen in horror, his remaining strength put into a desperate attempt to push the big man away. Then something hit Ryker and knocked him sideways.

"Get your Gods-damned hands off him!" Astrid snarled, her fists bunched. Ryker's dark eyes crinkled with sadistic amusement.

"Oh, this is gonna be fun," he chuckled as he tried to straighten up-but before he could, three hefty kicks in very rapid succession slammed into his chest and then she threw herself round, both feet crashing across his face. He staggered in shock as she spun one last time, the rock she had retrieved from behind the panel being used devastatingly to crash into his skull. He spun once and crashed to the floor like a felled oak.

For a long moment, Astrid stood glaring at him, breathing hard with her fists clenched by her sides. Hiccup gave a sigh of relief.

"Um...thank Thor you're not that mad at me," he commented.

"I reserve this for bad guys," she growled at him and he rubbed the back of his neck somewhat nervously.

"Um...technically, I am one of the bad guys. Declared traitor and all that? So bearing that in mind...um...please don't beat me up..." She turned to him and there was a brief, tender expression in her eyes before she smirked and hauled him to his feet.

"Already been beaten to it," she reminded him. "Now we could sit here and wait for him to wake up-or we could escape!"

"Um...the second one would be better," he admitted and allowed her to help him to the door. She paused, leaving him hanging to the wall as she sneaked out. There were sharp exclamations and the sounds of several blows before she collected him and they weaved their way through the four unconscious guards on the floor. They grabbed coats, helmets and guns and managed to locate their personal possessions in the office. Hiccup sighed with relief as he retrieved his little black night fury.

"Any idea how to get out of here?" she asked him and he grimaced.

"I presume we're on Hunter's Isle," he murmured. "We need transport and to get out of here." She paused and grabbed his hand pulling his securely down the corridor. Steps were approaching as they vanished through the door into the garage. Astrid stared at the vehicles on offer.

"That one," she murmured. "You know I go off-roading?" A small smile tilted Hiccup's battered lips and his emerald eyes twinkled.

"I do now," he admitted tiredly. "Can we go? I really really don't want to spend any more time with Viggo or-especially-Ryker. Please?"

They scrambled into the nearest Land Rover and Astrid floored the gas. There were shouts and the zing of bullets as they smashed through the garage doors and roared away from the base...