Eight: Complicated

Hiccup faced the guns pointed at him and slowly raised his hands, his emerald eyes still glittering with anger at the ambush he had just escaped. Adrenaline was surging through his veins like the most potent drug and he felt on edge, as he always had during a firefight but he knew he had to remain cool and in control. He had known this was dangerous when he came up with the plan but for these idiots to imagine that he had anything to do with this...

"Alvin! You moron! tell your goons to lower their guns! He saved me!" Heather was on her feet and shoving the huge man aside, her green eyes blazing with anger at the stupidity of the situation. "Have you spoken to my brother about what's going on?" The man's scarred face twisted, his bushy beard moving as he chuckled.

"He doesn't trust your little pet bodyguard, Heather and he's pretty pissed you didn't come back when you were ordered..." he scoffed.

"I'm not one of his mindless thugs," she snapped, drawing herself up and glaring at the big man. "I am Heather Oswaldson! Now lower your weapons! He was with me the whole time and had nothing to do with the ambush. We were isolated outside my apartment building-clearly they were watching me. So who is the issue, Alvin, and why are they after me?" Hiccup sighed.

"You're Dagur's sister-which is a pretty dangerous thing to be, considering his line of work," he pointed out.

"Shut up!" Alvin snarled.

"Cool your jets, Al!" he shot back, a small smirk lifting his lips. "You wanna hear who the shooters are? Or do you want to just bolster your tiny little ego?" The man growled and his huge fists clenched but Heather glared at the thugs and the guns lowered. "They all had Meathead license plates and were all top of the range SUVs with bullet-proof glass and armour plating. Four men per vehicle, all armed including automatic weapons. Someone really doesn't like your brother..." Heather flipped her braid over her left shoulder and her lips tightened into a thin line.

"What's he done now?" she growled. "Odin Almighty-why can't he just behave like a civilised human being?"

Because he's a rabid dog who should be put down like the monster he is, Hiccup thought, lowering his hands and watching her. She paused and looked pointedly at him.

"Come on," she snapped irritably. "You're supposed to protect me. So come on-bodyguard. We need to speak to my brother!" Controlling his face with an effort of will, Hiccup smiled pleasantly at the Berserker thugs and retrieved his weapon, flipping on the safety and holstering it expertly before walking after Heather. But as he followed, his hand brushed the gun and he flipped the safety off once more. If he faced Dagur, he may get one shot, one single, solitary chance to avenge his wife and son...and he wanted to be ready to take it.

No matter the cost.

oOo

Both Toothless and Fishlegs had tracked the chase and the subsequent massacre on the plentiful CCTV cameras of Berserk. Fishlegs had been shocked and amazed at Fury's efficiency in killing all the Meatheads who had tried to ambush them while Toothless leaned forward, his eyes dark with concern.

"He's angry," he murmured as the husky agent looked at him.

"That was...incredible," Fishlegs commented as Toothless removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

"We both know he was a Black Ops sniper," he revealed with a sigh. "Meaning he has a perfect weapons rating and has been sent to a variety of hellholes and war zones in the service of his country..."

"With you at his side," Fishlegs added quietly with insight. Toothless nodded.

"But usually he's icy and in control," he said thoughtfully. "He was furious. It may make him sloppy." The agent stared at the other man and didn't reply: to his inexpert eye, the ruthless dispatch of the unknown gang attackers had looked very controlled and efficient. But there was clearly something else they weren't telling the agents-and it related to Dagur. He opened his mouth to ask a question when Toothless's phone rang and he stared at the screen-and then he turned away, accepting the call.

"Yes? No, Mr Haddock is currently in a business meeting and is unavailable for the next several hours. May I take a message?" he asked in a very business-like voice. He paused and then his face grew grim. "No, Mr Haddock is very clear that all life-sustaining and life-prolonging measures should be continued. As soon as he is able, he will come but until then, you must continue. No, I am aware of the prognosis but Mr Haddock is adamant. Continue all measures. I will speak to him as soon as he is available. Thank you."

Fishlegs stared at him in shock.

"Should I be concerned?" he asked mildly as Toothless stared at the phone.

"No," he said quietly. "Just the day we all knew would happen-at the worst possible time." He paused.

"Can I help?" the husky agent offered and Toothless sighed.

"Unless you have a long term cure for being shot in the head and remaining in a coma for two years, then no," he said grimly. "I can't tell Fury because he would be conflicted. But this is his chance to finally get his revenge. He has given up everything for this...and it may cost him one more thing."

"What's that?"

"The chance to say goodbye to his father."

oOo

It was with an immense sense of disappointment that Hiccup faced Dagur through a giant screen as the siblings argued over the video link. The hugely magnified shape of Dagur's scarred and angry face filled the screen as he yelled at his sister. Heather was yelling back and the 'bodyguard' remained in the background, hoping the man wouldn't connect the supposed ex-Valhalla Squad member with the man Dagur supposedly murdered two and a half years earlier.

"Of all the stupid irresponsible ridiculous childish selfish..." Dagur growled.

"SELFISH?" Heather retorted angrily. "Okay, let's talk about selfish. Let's talk about deliberately ruining my career plans so I have to be embroiled in your illegal activities. Let's talk about oppressing and murdering people just to gain more power to bolster your pathetic little ego which translates into me being imprisoned in the Compound because everyone else hates you so much I am a damned target!"

"I'm doing it because it is our heritage!" Dagur shouted.

"And I'm trying to make a better future...if you'd stop messing up my life," she growled. "You know I wanted to do family law-and you and Dad wrecked that. And now, like it or not, I'm embroiled in some damned gang war when all I want to do is stop that illegal redevelopment on the south side of the city." There was an annoyed huff and Dagur rolled his eyes before shrugging. And then his thick brows dipped.

"You know, sis-I think we can negotiate," he said smoothly in the deceptively sane voice that haunted Hiccup's nightmares. "I can ensure you are able to stop that development and will personally help...if you stay in the compound and lend me your bodyguard to help deal with the Meatheads..." Head snapping up in shock, Hiccup stared at the enlarged image, his eyes narrowing.

"What did you have in mind?" Heather asked, crossing her arms. There was a pause.

"He's Valhalla Squad, isn't he?" the gang boss said and Heather nodded. "So he can infiltrate them and kill their leader. And if he does that, he can have anything he wants!"

There's only one thing I want, you rabid sonova bitch-to put a bullet between your eyes! Hiccup thought, controlling his face. But he took a deep breath and nodded.

"All I want is the honour of meeting you," he said clearly. "And to become one of your men..." Dagur leaned closer to the camera and his horribly distorted face filled the screen.

"Oh, that happened when you walked through that door at my sister's side," he said coldly. "Okay, Hanson. You got a deal! You kill the Meatheads and I will thank you in person!" Forcing himself to nod, the hitman smiled.

"Okay-so what do we know about them?" he asked.

oOo

Astrid had tuned out Snotlout's incessant whining by the time they returned to the city limits of Berserk and by mutual agreement, they parked the truck in front of the police station and calmly walked away, vanishing into the rush hour foot traffic. As they rounded the corner, Snotlout looked over his shoulder and frowned.

"Won't they trace it to us?" he asked and she silently rolled her eyes, wondering how he had ever qualified as an agent.

"Registered to Dagur's fake company," she reminded him sharply as they headed up the long avenue towards the centre of the city, walking a straight line through the commuters who headed determinedly back to their homes in the suburbs. Snotlout was already complaining about his feet and she felt a headache beginning to throb behind her eyes as they rounded the corner towards their hotel...

...to find it cordoned off by the police, with yellow tape and a couple of police units taking names and asking for witnesses. Azure eyes narrowing, Astrid rapidly scanned the scene-then hauled Snotlout on as he began to protest and ask what was happening. They managed to get round the corner before she slammed him against the wall and leaned close.

"Shut. Up..." she growled as he cocked an eyebrow overconfidently.

"Babe," he smirked. "Can't keep your hands off of me, huh?"

"AAARGH!" she yelled and punched him in the middle. "You mutton-headed half-troll! Those were automatic rounds from a mid-calibre weapon! The hotel was attacked-and we aren't getting in. We need to find if Fish is okay..."

A finger tapped her on the shoulder and she spun, gripping the finger and bending it back as she forced a lanky man in a Stormtrooper helmet to his knees. A snub-nose .22 Sif pistol levelled at his head.

"OW!" the man protested. "Look, Fury never said anything about being attacked! This was not in the deal!"

"How dare you...what?" she snapped and glared at the man. A woman of similar build with long thick blonde braids emerging from a saggy brown beanie shook her head.

"And we were told the guy was the dumb one," she sighed. "Easy, spitfire. My idiot brother may look like a Stormtrooper but he fights like a weedy girl. Your friend is safe. He's with our hacker." There was a brief pause and Astrid lowered her gun.

"Your hacker," she repeated, her eyes scanning the odd pair. "You're Fury's friends?"

"Bingo! Told you the girl would be the smart one," the female said smugly as her Stormtrooper brother scrambled to his feet. "Yup. He doesn't trust You Archipelago Intelligence types. Thinks you wanna put him in prison for about three centuries..."

"Two...with time off for good behaviour," Astrid corrected her dryly. "And your hacker..."

"Is the reason why none of us appear anywhere on any search..." the woman explained. "I'm Ruffnut and the idiot in the Stormtrooper helmet is my weedy twin brother Tuffnut..."

"The chicken is not amused," Tuff said firmly.

"Come with us and we can reunite you with your friend-and we can fill you in on what's been happening..." Ruff said cheerfully.

"Well, hello gorgeous," Snotlout said with a wink. "You mean you wanna fill in the Snotman on who shot up our hotel..." Pale grey eyes looked over at Astrid.

"Yuck," Ruff said. "Does he really think that will ever work?" The blonde agent nodded.

"But to date, no one has ever actually fallen for it," she commented dryly. "I mean, somewhere out there, there may be some woman so stupid, desperate and blind she may think Snot is a good prospect..."

"Hey Princess-you're just jealous that I'm paying attention to this beautiful babe...but there's plenty of the Snotman to go round..."

"Ugh!" both women said together as Tuff pulled his Stormtrooper helmet off.

"Nope-they both hate you," he pointed out. "Now-this area is actually dangerous and I'm not paid to get killed for no good reason."

"You're not getting paid at all," his twin pointed out as they slid into the alley between the two buildings. Astrid and Snotlout followed them. "This is for Fury. Thor, he's as focussed as a laser sight and is definitely going to get himself killed if he's not more careful." Astrid inspected them closely and realised these were Fury's friends, people who knew who he truly was and would risk their lives to help him. So perhaps they knew his name...and could help them finish the mission.

They headed through alleys, backstreets and along the canal to the sounds of Snotlout moaning that his feet were hurting and he didn't deserve to have to put up with all of this...much to Astrid's irritation and she wondered for the thousandth time how come he ever qualified to be an agent. Then she sighed and followed him, memorising the route and realising they were heading for the worst part of town, finally arriving at a motel which looked like it was on there verge of being closed down for health code violations. The sign flickered as Astrid walked past and they headed unerringly up to the upper level to a room with a crooked '23' on the door. Tuff began a series of knocks, then pauses, then further knocks.

"I swear to Odin, one of these days I am going to shoot you if you don't stop messing around!" a voice yelled from inside the room. There were steps and then Fishlegs ripped the door open. His eyes widened and he gave a small smile as he saw his fellow agents.

"Come in-before Toothless kills you," he said happily and ushered them in. Tuff instantly threw himself onto the couch and then had a scuffle with Snotlout who was trying to do the exact same thing. Astrid swept her keen gaze over the room and sighed. It was a single motel room with the desk cleared and housing two computers, additional screens and extra equipment-with a kettle, electric ring and microwave set up neatly on the floor. Fishlegs was gesturing to the deeply tanned, raven-haired man with acid green eyes. She nodded a curt greeting.

"Toothess, I presume," she said briskly and he eyed her up.

"Special Agent Astrid Hofferson," he replied calculatingly. "The smart one. I see what Fury meant. Impressive." She folded her arms and inspected the man. He was poised, self-confident and just a little mocking, his drawl an affectation because she had heard the same voice yell in exasperation at Tuffnut...though from spending ten minutes with the male twin, she could understand the sentiment.

"I should have guessed that Fury couldn't be such a successful assassin without a back-up team," she said evenly. "And it is reassuring that the man can dial down his sarcasm enough to allow anyone to get close."

"Hey-Fury is a great guy when you're not some asshole trying to put him in prison for three hundred years!" Ruff retorted as Snotlout glared at her.

"Should be four hundred-since he's a conscienceless murderer," he growled. "He should be locked away for ever..."

"Wow-glad to see the spirit of rehabilitation and mitigating circumstances is alive and well in the Archipelago, Snotknee," a familiar voice said as Hiccup appeared at the door, walking in and swiftly slamming it closed.

"Fury!" Toothless gaped. "What happened? I thought we had you embedded!" The man collapsed back on the bed and groaned, throwing his arm across his face.

"So did I...but there is a complication," he admitted, closing's eyes wearily.

"The Meatheads-and I don't mean Snot," Astrid put in.

"Ha ha-very funny, babe," the stocky young man sneered.

"You okay, H my man?" Tuff asked, lying down next to Hiccup and the auburn-haired man stared at him.

"I knew you were the Stormtrooper," he commented, "though not quite got the hang of inconspicuous..."

"Hiding in plain sight," Tuff said with satisfaction and laced his hands behind his head-and helmet. "No one would suspect me as being covert surveillance."

"Well, not of the 'covert' part, in any case," Hiccup noted sarcastically. "Anything on the newcomers?"

"A few hits and a drive-by shooting," Toothless reported.

"They've just raided the Skrill's Prey Bar and shot it up," Fishlegs piped up.

"Yadda yadda-we did that as well," Snotlout scoffed in a bored voice, folding his arms as Astrid leaned forward, catching the edge to the husky agent's voice.

"Fish?"

"They killed everyone-execution style," the agent explained quietly. Hiccup sat up immediately, his emerald eyes narrowed and he was up in one movement, leaning over the husky man's shoulder, eyes focussed on the screen.

"Well, the hotel was shot up by Madguts the Mincer," Ruff reported and Hiccup stiffened, his eyes dark with concern.

"What?" he muttered. "Not the Meatheads?"

"Nope-we can all recognise Madguts," Ruff said firmly as Hiccup shook his head.

"This makes things...more complicated," he said in a thoughtful voice. "I know Madguts-and he knows me. There is no chance I could infiltrate his organisation without him recognising me."

"The perils of being popular," Toothless commented, pulling his glasses on and peering at the screen.

"Wait-the Head of the Murderous Syndicate is here?" Astrid asked him in surprise.

"Guess they must have assumed that the false challenge you made to Dagur's supremacy with your fake 'Meatheads' muscling in on his territory was pathognomonic of a diminution of Dagur's authority to the extent that the Murderous Syndicate were emboldened to make their move," Tuff said from the bed. Everyone paused and stared at him and Ruff asked over and ripped the stormtrooper helmet off. then cuffed him around the head

"OW!"

"Who are you and what have you done with my brother?" she demanded as Astrid stared at Hiccup.

"Why are you here? You mentioned a complication," she reminded him and he nodded.

"If I am to get to meet Dagur, I need to prove myself-and kill the leader of the invaders," he said grimly. "I was hoping to infiltrate but..." Astrid nodded.

"You worked for him and he's met you before...so you can't get close as you'd be picked," she murmured. "Can I help?"

There was a pause and the twins and Toothless stared at her.

"No-I absolutely forbid it!" Snotlout said unwisely and Astrid strode over and punched him without hesitation.

"You do know infiltration involves patience, quick-thinking and acute situational awareness?" Toothless asked her. She nodded.

"I am a Special Agent," she reminded him.

"Not really impressed by the performance of the Secret Service so far," the man commented. Astrid frowned.

"Look-you set Snot and I up as would-be gang members...so maybe we should exploit that and make contact with Madguts," she suggested.

"Hey-I never agreed to anything..." the stocky agent protested.

"Better and better," Ruff commented.

"We should be able to arrange a meeting with him and offer to join forces..." Astrid suggested.

"Oh...bad move..." Toothless murmured. "He's insanely paranoid! He won't take you up on that...except to ambush you..." And then Astrid turned to Hiccup and the flash of big blue eyes sent a chill of recognition through him. For a second, he could only stare at her, his expression stricken-and then his laconic mask was back in place.

"Would that give you the shot you need?" she asked him directly. He stared at her and arched an eyebrow.

"You realise he may kill you on sight before I get a clear shot!" he warned her. "His men are the worst of the worst..."

"Except Dagur," Astrid reminded him. "And he has to be dealt with..." Suddenly he leaned close to her, so close she could feel the warmth radiating off his lean shape.

"How dirty are you willing to get on this mission, Special Agent?" he asked her in a low voice, the rough edge sending chills down her spine. She stared boldly into his green gaze.

"Dagur is the worst scourge to the face of the Archipelago," she said calmly. "He's ruining hundreds of lives. We just liberated a group of girls he was...exploiting..." And she was rewarded by a tightening of his expression.

"So you're willing to help me to murder a man?" he asked her sarcastically. She frowned.

"Madguts the Mincer is wanted for multiple counts of murder, extortion, drugs offences and prostitution," she retorted and he smiled lopsidedly.

"And you're a Special Agent for the Archipelago," he reminded her. "You're supposed to arrest people, not just kill them." She crossed her arms and smirked.

"That's right-that's why I engaged you to do it," she said smugly. "Because all legal means just haven't worked and the man has turned and killed so many agents that he has to be stopped. He is a threat to all of us." He leaned closer and stared deep into her eyes.

"So are you prepared to authorise his murder to end Dagur?" he asked her sardonically. She took a deep breath.

"By whatever means necessary..." she murmured, recalling the terrified faces of the women. "Yes." And then, unexpectedly, he smiled.

"Good answer," he said. "Okay, T-what have we got on their location...?" But before the man could speak, Fishlegs looked up and raised his hand.

"Before we start, isn't there something you need to let him know about?" he suggested, earning himself a glare. There was a stony silence and Hiccup inspected the man closely and then swung his green glare to Toothless. There was the faintest hint of betrayal.

"Toothless?" he murmured. There was a pause and then the man sagged, a sigh shuddering through him.

"The hospice called," he said softly. "It's time. I've told them to continue but...there isn't anything more to do."

"How long?" The words were emotionless.

"Any time," Toothless said. "But it will be today."

And he and the twins hated themselves when they saw the flash of pain, dark and boundless in those familiar green eyes, saw the tightening of the man's jaw and knew that he was bracing himself for the loss of the last person he loved. They had been with him through everything and all of his friends knew what this would do to the man. So Toothless bent down and tossed him a set of keys.

"Go," he said. "We'll be here when you get back."

oOo

Hiccup didn't even recall the drive, knowing only it was too fast and he broke pretty much every traffic regulation he could in his desperation to get to the isolated nursing facility. He cut people up, blasted through gaps that were barely there and slewed up the gravel drive, parking haphazardly and sprinting into the facility, the headlamps still on. He arrived at the desk.

"Stoick Haddock," he said grimly. The receptionist looked up and there was sympathy in her eyes.

"He's in room..."

"Got it!" he said and ran on, heading along the familiar corridor, his breathing burning in his throat as he rounded the corner and headed up to the open door.

But in the room, still and quiet, Stoick Haddock lay on the bed, his tubes and drips removed, his eyes closed and skin washed of all colour. There was a fresh vase of bright yellow flowers on the bedside table in the room, the white voile curtains pulled back to allow the last of the warm evening light to stream into the room-but there was no signs of life. Hiccup paused at the door and his eyes widened.

"No..." he breathed.

Stoick looked as if he was asleep, his shrunken face slack, his grizzled red hair neatly brushed off his face and his magnificent braided flaming red beard the only colour left to the man. His white lips were slightly parted, as if he was asleep and his powerful hands, now wasted, were gently resting on the crisp white sheets. His son slowly walked forward and clasped his hand: it was as limp as it had been since the shooting but now it was cold. Quietly, Hiccup raised it to his mouth, gently kissing the cold flesh.

"I'm sorry, Dad," he murmured. "I let you down. I wasn't here as I had promised, as I should have been-because I was focussed on my revenge, on the only thing left I could really do for you, for Cami and Sam. But it meant I missed the last moments with you."

Though the man I knew and loved left me two years ago, when that bullet destroyed every hope of you ever wakening and reassuring your son you loved him. That you were proud of him. Though I know you're not proud now.

"And though I know you're now at peace, now with Mom in Valhalla-and with Cami and Sam-and I know it's selfish...but I wish you were still here," he said softly, closing his eyes. "Because you being gone means I am finally, truly alone. No family. Nothing. He's taken everything from me and all I did..." He took a ragged breath. "All I did was my duty, following the orders I was given by the President. And I'm...so...sorry...but I miss you..."

A sob choked his voice and tears slid down his face.

"I-I just wish I could be the son you wanted," he choked out. "I can never be the man you were. How-how can I possibly be that great, that selfless, that respected? I-I did my best to be the soldier, the warrior you wanted...but in the end, I caused your death." He dropped to his knees by the bed and pressed the cold hand to his face. "And I promise...I will avenge you, along with my wife and son. And then I'll join you all...because I can't see myself getting out of this one. Just wait for me, Dad. I'll-I'll s-see you soon."

And then Hiccup Haddock, the peerless assassin Night Fury, broke down and wept.