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━━ chapter two
chief hiccup

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     VALKYRIE sometimes felt like she was chasing after a ghost. It hurt her she wasn't even surprised Hiccup ran off. She suspected something happened: he was faced with some future responsibility that kept him grounded, and he took off for the clouds with Toothless hoping to be free. It was one of the downsides of having a husband with the fastest dragon in the Archipelago because he could be oceans away before she'd catch up to him. She took to the West, knowing it was uncharted territory for him so far. Zephyr drifted through the clouds, searching for his familiar scent. 

     She sat back in her saddle, wearing her flower crown, but feeling a little deflated than she had been before. She wasn't angry━gods, no, she wasn't angry. Valkyrie was far from angry with Hiccup because she understood why he did the things he did. But they were getting older, they had responsibilities━he had responsibilities. She tried to mention it to him every now and then, some lazy mornings when he had a smile on his face. But the smile would disappear quickly, and he'd come up with an excuse surrounding the forge or Toothless━ "Oh, I think Dad's calling me, love you..."

      Valkyrie couldn't overstep, because then she was scared he'd think she was like his father, but she also couldn't not say anything either, because that wasn't who she was. Hiccup was a good listener when he wanted to be. He held her words and her motivation to heart. But when he didn't want to listen? It was a lost cause. He wouldn't face it until it hit him face first and almost knocked him off his saddle. 

      Something must've happened in the time he went down for breakfast and left her to sleep in before the race, and the line-up at the start of the lap that caused him to bolt for the sea. Valkyrie couldn't be angry, because she knew whatever it was, it was upsetting him, and she ached when he was upset. 

     She's dealt with Hiccup's ways for five years, and she didn't expect anything different being married to him. But being a wife was harder than being a girlfriend, or a betrothed. It was worth it━of course, it was, she'd make the same decision again and again and again━, but marriage was never easy, especially when she was living with two stubborn knuckleheads who were way too similar than they'd like to admit. Oh━wait, no, she lives with Zephyr and Toothless, too, so that was four stubborn knuckleheads. And if she ever had children ... Gods, she'd be surrounded by stubborn knuckleheads.

     (Valkyrie sort of loved it, though, even if she wouldn't admit it. She never was one to shy away from a challenge). 

      Comfortable in her saddle as she and her dragon soared down near the ocean (he was looking for some nice tasting fish to boil up and eat to go), Valkyrie started to work on Toothless's flower crown. Her fingers were stained with scrubbing off the paint on her face with salt water, and there were still flakes on her cheeks; flower stems and petals not wanting to come off. She must look ridiculous, but didn't care too much. She'd be able to get it off properly in her wash tonight.

      If she was honest, she still wasn't used to it. Somedays she'd wake up and forget she was married, and she was still just a teenager in love with a boy she used to despise. Then, she'd feel him stir beside her, wrap her up in his arms like he couldn't believe it either, kiss her forehead and murmur, "Morning Milady..." in a groggy voice. Because it was so surreal, even now. Valkyrie has slept at his side back on the Edge many times since they had the space away from adults and rules of Berk to do so, but it gave a different giddy━but peaceful and homely━feeling to wake up together as husband and wife under the same roof, in the same bed, wrapped in the same covers with Toothless snoozing on his charred rock and Zephyr taking snoring at the foot of the bed, curled around them ...

      It was something special, that was for sure. Something she'll never get tired of. 

     (That's what made all the frustrations worth it).

     Valkyrie held up the flower crown into the sunlight to test the colours, imagining them against Toothless's scales when Zephyr picked up a scent.

      Windstrikers weren't of the Tracker Class they had discovered last year, unlike Skullcrusher, Stoick' or Stormfly, but due to their natural need to be with their own, their family, they learnt the scent of one another to find each other when separated since they had such small ears. It was a discovery Valkyrie made when she was younger after all the times Zephyr miraculously found her━especially back on Dragon Island when they had been separated, on other sides of the island. Zephyr learnt the smell of her, and Toothless and Hiccup because they were his family, and he was naturally drawn to be near them, to search for them. 

      They all used to think Windstrikers were vicious, dangerous dragons that could burn Vikings alive (and yes, they could do that), but they were also one of the most gentle and caring of the Sharp Class if not all species. 

     Valkyrie sat up straighter, attentive, "Found them, boy?"

     He turned them North-West and flapped his wings eagerly, as desperate to find Hiccup and Toothless as Valkyrie was.

     "Odin's Ghost," she murmured as they got further and further out; passing islands already discovered and searched recently. "How far did they get?"

     Valkyrie switched her position in the saddle, fixing her feet properly in the stirrups again as Zephyr squawked, agreeing with her. "Come on," she urged them to go a little faster, letting Zephyr take the lead. He took them to a blanket of clouds, drifting through.

     They came out to a crumbling sea stack. Val arched an icredulous brow, eyeing it as Zephyr kept a wide birth. There was a great big hole in the centre, big enough for a dragon.

     Or a Night Fury.

     Val's gaze went blank in annoyance as she slowly understood what happened. It all started with that damned Dragon Fly One back on the Edge, and now, she has had to tend multiple cuts, bruises, a gash or two, some fractured ribs, a broken finger━oh, and poor Toothless! She's had to make how many salves in just the past year for cuts? 

     Zephyr bounced happily as they neared a second sea stack overlooking a beautiful collection of yellowed, snow-tipped mounts, cliff-faces, stacks and long, slender forests. Valkyrie breathed a small scoff of awe, taking in the island as she and Zeph went to land. Another one ... another island. What did this lead to? New species? Whispering Death nests? Valkyrie could be sure a Typhoomerang would make that forest their home. 

      Looking out towards it, positioned at the edge of the sea-stack, Valkyrie saw Hiccup and Toothless. The Night Fury warbled, checking over his rider's shoulder at the map he continued to draw. Val smiled at the two of them, her annoyance falling away just enough to let herself feel a delight and relief to see them.

     Mischevious, Valkyrie drummed a quick pattern to tell Zephyr to stay silent as they landed. He held up his wings, feet setting down on the grass with a dainting touch and soft thuds.

    Hiding her grin and her laughter, Val swung her leg over and carefully lowered herself out of the saddle. Touching the ground, she picked her away towards her husband and his Night Fury, gesturing back at Zephyr to continue his quiet position.

     Avoiding sticks, rocks and grass patches, Valkyrie bit her bottom lip to keep in the upcoming hysterics. They didn't notice━she was so close and they hadn't noticed! Not even a quiver of Toothless's flaps on the back of his head. 

     Valkyrie's gaze sparked with amusement. She held out her arms, and like many times before, cried out, "Surprise attack!" and jumped on her husband.

     "AGH!" he let out, falling backwards ontop of her as she laughed, latching her arms and legs around his chest and torso. Toothless jumped up high, even more startled. He snarled, only to stop and realise who it was, and he broke out into a gummy smile. "Val!" Hiccup cried, struggling in her grip as he tried to look at her. She giggled, very proud of herself. She clung on tighter around his leather armour, nuzzling her nose into the crook of his neck amongst his aurburn hair and braids. "What are you?━Hey━!"

     Valkyrie gasped as the body of a Night Fury bounded around them, knocking them over. Toothless nudged Val multiple times with his snout, happy to see her. Hiccup managed to keep them from falling off, and Valkyrie was back to laughing, letting go of her husband to reach up and hug the Night Fury while he still struggled underneath. 

     He spat out grass and glowered up at them with handsome features. Five years had changed Hiccup quite alot━he had grown taller and now stood a head above Valkyrie (something in which he loved to tease her about, even if she socked him in the stomach lightly afterwards), with a face now lean and mature with some stubble tended to at his jaw. But he still was the same dork she knew back when they were fifteen. That hadn't changed. 

     "Get off," he grumbled to Valkyrie.

     She ignored him happily, sitting back and setting her legs across his back as she reached into her bag and brought out Toothless's flower crown. 

     He wagged his tail, dipping down immediately to let her set it on his head. Grinning, he bounded around them a few more times before racing over to greet Zephyr. The Windstriker squawked, finally happy to be vocal and the two best friends showed off their flower crowns to each other, bobbing their heads and jumping around. 

     Valkyrie smiled at them, happy━perfect for a Hiccup wanting revenge. He managed to sit up, wrap her arms around her and before she knew it, he had pinned her to his chest. It was her turn to struggle amongst laughter, trying to elbow him━but after the many years, he has learnt exactly how to keep her from getting the upperhand in playfights. 

     "Let me go!" she said through her giggles, trying to break free.

     "No way!" Hiccup pulled her closer when she stretched forward, keeping her arms secured as he went to attack her sides. Valkyrie grew flushed, cackling at the way his fingers tickled her. "That was rude! You're a rude person, Milady!"

      "I only reflect my husband!" she managed to shoot back and he gasped, horrified.

      Taking this chance, she reached forward, breaking free only for Hiccup to grasp his arms back out and take her by the waist again. "Oh, no━you are not getting away this time! Get back here━!"

      "I'm being attacked!" she shouted through her shrieks of laughter.

      "The fair maiden has fallen!" Hiccup stated dramatically, hoisting her up with strength he has gathered these five years━strength not many knew he held under his armour and lanky figure━placing her down beside him while keeping a tight hold. "What a tragedy! What a━ow!"

      Valkyrie managed to finally get back at him, squirming free a hand to pinch the exposed part of his neck. He smacked her hand away, scowling playfully and she smirked. 

     "So," she stated, leaning back on the grass and letting him return back to his map. She watched him for a few moments before turning her attention to a patch of fowers in the grass. She examined the petals. "Zeph and I missed you at the race this morning."

     "Eh," he shrugged, sketching out the mountains with a few lines here and there. "You know me ..."

     "Yeah, I do know you," she quirked a brow. "I also take it that the crumbling sea stack behind us was something to do with your new flight suit."

     Hiccup sent her a sheepish glance, "What flight suit?"

     Valkyrie rolled her eyes and picked the flowers out of the dirt. She sat up and sorted through them, picking away roots and leaves. "One of these days you're going to lose your other leg because of that flight suit."

      "I got Toothless," he told her, smiling slightly, "I'll be fine."

      Val sighed. Even if she tried, she couldn't stop him. "What happened, anyway?" she instead asked, holding a flower up to picture it in his hair. She didn't like it and so she searched for another, fingers sifting through the grass. "You were excited to race this morning." She found one she liked and picked it instead. "What changed?"

      "My Dad."

      "Oh, no," she said, far from surprised. "I slept in for once and you guys had an argument?"

      Hiccup rolled his eyes good-naturedly, shifting in his position so he could settle himself close to her, abandoning his map for the time being. She peered at him, brow arched with a flower twirling in her fingers. "Oh, you're gonna━" he rubbed her back gently, "━you're gonna love this." She hummed, letting him know she was listening as she checked the colour of the petals against his hair again. "I wake up, the sun's shining, Terrible Terrors are singing on the rooftop, this strange lady is in my bed━" she whacked him for that, "━I saunter down to breakfast thinking all is right with the world and I get ..." He pushed himself to stand. he handed Valkyrie his charcoal pencil as he did, and she finished off the sketch of the island━Itchy Armpit? That's what he named it?

        Meanwhile, Hiccup squared his shoulders to begin his story. "'Son'," he started, voice suddenly rough with an attempt at his father's accent. Valkyrie hid her smirk, dork, "'we need to talk.'"

      "'Not now, Dad'," Valkyrie cut him off, sitting back and shaking her shoulders as she impersonated him instead. Hiccup froze mid-gesture, staring down at her in surprise. "'I got a wholed day of goofing off to get started!'"

       Hiccup broke out into laughter, shaking his head. "O━okay, first of all━" he pointed at her and she giggled, "━I━I don't sound like that," she scoffed, disagreeing. "Who━What is this character? A━and second ... what is that thing you're doing with my shoulders?"

     "Oh, you mean this?" she bounced her shoulders up and down again, bobbling her head as he does when he talks. She caught sight of Zephyr and Toothless wrestling near some fallen trees. 

     Her husband smiled despite it, amused at the faces she made. "Yeah, that's━that's a really flattering impersonation. Anyway." He furrowed his brows and puffed out his chest again, looking absolutely ridiculous. "He goes ..." he started to march around her and she watched him, realising again and again she had married an idiotic dork of a Viking. "'You're the pride of Berk, son, and I couldn't be prouder━'"

     "'Awe, thanks, Dad!'" snickered Valkyrie, gesturing her hands wildly. "'I'm pretty impressed with myself, too!'"

     Hiccup couldn't help but laugh at her. "What━?" he motioned to her flying arms, "━When have I ever done that with my hands?!"

     She scoffed at him, bewildered. "What do you mean when have I ever━you just did!"

     "Oh!" he gave up and she laughed, winning once again. Valkyrie picked her new flower back up, continuing to bounce her shoulders and bob her head. Hiccup crouched down in front of her, "Okay, just━" he took her arms firmly, but with a loving touch. She met his gaze, lips trembling to keep her laughter in. She could count his freckles━Valkyrie has counted each and every single one at this point, all over. She loved them. "Hold ... still  ..." her husband leaned in, matching her pouting look with one of his own. "Very serious."

     She nodded, "Very serious," she mocked lightly.

     Hiccup couldn't help but smile at her; tender and full of love. Every time she saw it, it made her heart flutter, even now. Standing back up, he returned to his story and Valkyrie let him. Without interrupting, her gaze followed his marching figure, wanting to just stand up and kiss that stupid look off his face. Their dragons continued to play, chasing each other back and forth with a large branch. "'You're all grown up,'" he said, "and since no chief could ask for a better successor, I've decided━'"

     And like that, the point of this conversation finally hit her. Valkyrie gasped, shocked for a second as she took it all in. And when she did, her hands flung out with a exclaim of, "To make you chief!" Hiccup arched a brow at her, not expecting that reaction. "Oh my gods!" cried Valkyrie, scrambling to her feet in a hurry to turn to her husband with a gorgeous beam on her lips. "Hiccup, that's amazing━!" she threw her arms over his shoulders to hug him. He stumbled a little to catch her weight. Valkyrie squeezed him, purposefully placing pressure on the spring-coil of his suit to pop out the back fin. 

      Realising, he pulled away with an annoyed, "Hey!" 

     Valkyrie was back to laughing, at a high in her excitement for him. She didn't realise the slump of his shoulders as he rolled the fin back into his suit. "How many times, Val━I've told you! You can't do that, y━you're gonna wear out the spring coil. The calibration is very sensitive━" she nodded, knowing he wasn't really angry at her. 

     Something flung past her. Valkyrie cried out in alarm, knocked off her feet and right into Hiccup. The both of them fell down, grunting at the impact as their dragons paid no attention, continuing their game of chase and steal the large branch. 

     "You okay?" Valkyrie asked the young man under her. He reached back to pat her shoulder to say, yep amongst his pained complaints. 

      With a sigh, she sat back and pulled herself up onto her feet. Valkyrie tugged Hiccup up with her with a single heave. "Yeah ..." he muttered as she did, "so ... this is what I'm dealing with ..."

     Valkyrie couldn't help but start to think over everything. As she brushed off the dirt and grass from her husband's freckled face, she thought and even started to stress over all the responsibilities. Not just for Hiccup, but for her, too. "Well," she murmured, giving him a rub on the shoulder, "what did you tell him?"

     "I━I didn't," admitted Hiccup. "By the time he turned around, I was gone."

     Frowning over her thoughts, Val picked up the map and carefully folded it back into it's bindings. "Well ..." she said as she did, "... it's a lot of responsibility. The━the map will have to wait, for sure," she passed it over, wandering, "and I'm going to have to ask Astrid to fly Toothless, because the both of us are going to be busy ... and we need to start to think about children, because you'll need an heir, which means Zephyr is going to probably have to sleep downstairs or outside to make room, but ..." her words fell away, finally seeing the solemn look on Hiccup's face.

     Valkyrie pursed her lips, shoulders dropping. Hiccup hung his head, slipping his map into the pocket of his armour. "I━it's not me, Val ..." he sighed. Her brows lifted slightly, catching the pained glisten in his eyes. "All those speechings and planning and running the village, that's his thing."

      "This was always going to be your future, Hiccup," Val stepped up to him gently. He sighed, knowing she was going to say that. "You're Stoick's only child. You can't run from it forever."

     "I'm not running," he argued weakly.

      "Well, then, push back," she chose different words. When he just sighed again, turning away, Valkyrie took his hand to stop him. "Look, honey, I think you're missing the point. I━I mean━chief!" she squeezed his fingers, trying to make him see the absolute honour and trust his father was putting on him. The pride he held to step down early for his son to take over━something Hiccup always failed to see. "What an honour! I would be pretty excited if I were you ..."

      He slipped his fingers away, shrugging. "I━I ... I'm not like you," Hiccup told her. Val's lips parted, not sure what to say to make him feel better. He always doubted himself. Again and again, and she didn't know how to make him realise how capable he was. How strong, and intelligent, and perfect for the role of chief. He wasn't his father, but he didn't need to be. Just being himself was the best thing the village could ever ask for. "You ... you know exactly who you are, you managed to find that. But ..." he stepped towards the edge of the sea stack, slumped, "I'm still looking..."

      Hiccup picked up his helmet and sat down, hunched as he gazed out towards the world before them. "I know that I'm not my father," he reached out for his pencil, twirling it in his fingers. Valkyrie sighed sadly, "and ... I've never met my mother, so ... what does that make me?"

     She surged forwards to sit beside him, picking back up her flower she found and started to work it into a new braid at the nape of his neck. Valkyrie felt him turn towards her slightly, giving her room. She leaned against his side comfortingly as she thought of what to say. How does she say it? She wondered. How does she tell him? How does she express how much he has changed her, made her want to be a better person. How much she believed in him and loved him and how able he could be. No matter what he got them through, no matter how many times he's proved himself ... he still couldn't help but see the little fifteen-year-old no one ever listened to. Valkyrie still felt shame for how she treated him, but he made her realise he was so much more than that. Not because of Toothless, not because he changed or became this new, improved person ... he made her realise, and want to be better, and soon love him just for being who he's always been. 

      "What you're searching for?" she began, tying the stem of the flower into the new braid. It settled amongst the one she had given him in bed this morning. "Isn't out there, Hiccup━" she nodded to the vast stretch of land. He dropped his gaze to his fingers, still twisting the wood of his charcoal pencil back and forth. Valkyrie reached down and took a hand, pulling it up, linking their fingers and placing them both against his chest, right by his heart. He sent her a weak smile. "It's in here." 

      Val brushed some of his hair back, searching for a spot to make a third braid. "Maybe you just don't see it yet." Leaning in, she pressed a gentle kiss on his cheek. 

      Feeling something disgusting and slippery, she immediately pulled back, letting go of his hand. "Oh, gross!" she let out, wiping the dragon slobber off her lips. "Why didn't you wash that off? What is wrong with you ...?"

     Hiccup wasn't paying attention. He leaned forward, brows suddenly furrowed as he caught sight of something drifting up in the horizon. "Maybe ..." he murmured as Valkyrie continued to wipe her lips and tongue. "But, you know..." he knelt up to get a better look, "... there is something out there..."

     Oh, for the love of Thor, Valkyrie grumbled to herself. Doesn't he listen to anything? "Hiccup━"

     He just grabbed her chin and tilted it out to the distance.

     Valkyrie saw what he meant.

     Behind the front cliffs and in through a pass, a billow of smoke drifted up into the clouds. 

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    a/n: it's been a rough day, so this isn't edited, but i just wanted to get it out because httyd is just my comfort movie/tv series and so naturally these books are comforting to write. hope this makes ur days better, too <3

    (half of this chapter is just hiccyrie cuteness). 

     Should have a httyd ii design for val next chapter ;)