Chapter Text
Krogan wandered the Northern Markets looking for one man in particular. He knew he was here. His ship was down at the docks. He was the only man who could get him the information he needed about a pesky one-legged runt.
Just as he was considering checking the tavern, he spotted him coming out of an alley. He calmly walked over to him, cutting off his path.
"You aren't an easy man to find," Krogan greeted once he got close enough to the man.
"How might I be of service, kind sir?" The man offered. "Perhaps a new cloak to help fight off the winter chill."
"Cut the crap," Krogan threatened. "I know who you really are, Trader Johann. Just like you know who I am."
Johann looked around before straightening and narrowing his gaze. "Are you trying to blow my cover?"
Krogan gripped his shoulder, pulling him in closer. "I don't care about your stupid cover. I care about information."
"Ah yes, I heard the rumors of a particular bounty going, shall we say, awry," Johann replied with a sneer. "I believe you were warned about the boy and told not to stray from the instructions."
"Drago would have paid more, and you know it," Krogan stated, letting go of Johann's shoulder. "It is not my fault that the rogue rider showed up."
"No, it's not," Johann agreed. "It's mine. Had I not used my sources to inform the rider you were going through her territory, the Haddock pest would have wound up dead. Viggo needs him alive. Now because of your pride and greed, we have more problems to take care of."
"I will take care of it. For now, I need you to head back to Berk and get me information on the boy," Krogan ordered. "I need to prove to Drago that he and the dragon are valuable resources for his dragon army."
Johann laughed. "Drago doesn't want them for his army. He wants to kill them. He'd probably sell the Night Fury to Grimmel. He'd make the pest watch as his precious pet is gutted before killing him himself."
Krogan huffed in frustration. "Well, I can't go back empty-handed."
"No, you can't." Johann nodded. "Tell you what; if you join the Hunters, I'll feed Drago information about the boy. But if you step out of line even once, I won't be as lenient as your boss when it comes to letting you keep your head."
Krogan bit the inside of his cheek. It didn't matter what he chose. Either way, he lost his head. At least with Johann he'd get to keep it for a little bit longer. "Fine."
Hiccup woke up to the sound of someone walking up the stairs. He opened his eyes and saw that it was his mother.
"Sorry, Hiccup," Valka apologized when she noticed he was awake. "I was just trying to check on you. I didn't mean to wake you."
The Pride of Berk sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. "It's fine, Valka. Probably needed to wake up anyways."
Valka tried to pretend she wasn't upset with her son for using her name. "Yeah, you slept the rest of yesterday away, and most of today. Gothi came by and changed out your bandages while you slept. Write out that the continuous sleep was helping your body heal and not to worry. Also that the swelling on your, um, stump had gone down, so you should be able to have your... prosthetic back tomorrow."
Hiccup studied his mother. Despite everything, he still felt like he couldn't trust her. How did she know about the bounty hunter's ship? How did she know said hunter's name? Why show up now and not sooner?
He wanted to be elated that she was alive, but after everything he'd been through, he was having a hard time believing her presence was just pure chance. Someone was pulling strings, and he didn't know if it was her, Viggo, or that Drago character. Whoever it was, he was going to be their puppet.
"Where's Dad?" Hiccup asked, changing the topic, trying to keep things from feeling awkward.
"He's holding a Thing," Valka answered. "Explaining to everyone that I'm, well, that I'm not dead."
"And you didn't go with him?" Hiccup questioned, not sure how he felt about her being left alone in the house while he slept.
"I thought about it but decided to stay in the house in case you woke up," Valka replied.
"I can take care of myself," Hiccup stated, slightly annoyed. "Besides, I have Toothless. If something was wrong, he could go get help."
At that moment the dragon in question decided it was a great time to wake up. Toothless stretched and padded over to Hiccup, resting his head on his human's lap, letting out an appreciative croon.
"Hey Bud," Hiccup greeted, petting the Night Fury's head.
Valka watched the two interact, as more of her unanswered questions demanded answers. Answers she might never get. Especially if her son never trusted her.
"He's quite a lovely dragon," she pointed out. "You two must be very close."
"Yeah, we are," Hiccup agreed. "Many have said we make each other complete."
"I noticed he's missing a tailfin," Valka noted. "May I ask how it happened? Was it those Dragon Hunters?"
Hiccup bit the inside of his cheek. He hated telling this story. The guilt always came back. "Ah, no, during the dragon raid, I managed to shoot him down with a device I made. Found him later in the woods. I was planning on, um, killing him. Instead, I freed him. He tried flying away only to end up trapped in the Cove. I gained his trust and spent weeks making his first tailfin and saddle. We learned how to fly together as one."
Valka stepped closer to the duo, daring to hold her hand out toward Toothless. "I take it your father's initial reaction wasn't a good one?"
Hiccup shook his head. "No, but soon after everything changed. Now just about everyone has a dragon of their own."
More pieces to the puzzle that was her son fell into place. "Was the change after the Red Death?"
"Um yeah. How did you-" Hiccup began to ask.
"Stoick shared a bit of the story," Valka interrupted as she crouched down, placing her hand on Toothless's snout. "Don't blame him though. I pushed him for answers. He told me enough to give me an idea. You don't have to go into detail if you don't want to. Not if you're not ready."
"Maybe later," Hiccup said. "Let's take this 'getting to know each other' thing slowly, because I have questions of my own. Like, how do you know Krogan?
"He's a notorious dragon trapper with a superiority complex. Despite multiple fights, he always travels through my territory," Valka answered. "He believes he'll be the first to find the nest of rescued dragons."
"Will he?" Hiccup asked.
Valka chuckled. "No. It is very well hidden. The Alpha made sure of it."
"Do you need to go back?" Hiccup wondered.
"Eventually," Valka nodded. "But not right now. The dragons will be fine for awhile without me. They're quite a resourceful group."
For the first time since he met her, he felt a connection to her. He was beginning to understand why she finally stopped trying to come back. But part of him felt like if she had tried just one last time, things would be different.
"Are you hungry?" She asked, pulling him from his thoughts.
Hiccup nodded. "Yeah, I could eat."
"Excellent," Valka said. "Your father made some stew, so I'll just head back downstairs to get you a bowl."
She stood back up and headed down the stairs. Hiccup carefully pushed Toothless's head off his lap and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, setting his good foot on the floor. Using the bedpost for balance, he pushed himself up.
Toothless crooned worriedly, studying his rider.
"I'm fine, Bud," Hiccup reassured, placing a hand on the dragon's snout. "I just need to get something from my desk."
With the Night Fury's help, Hiccup hopped over to his desk and sat down on the chair. He started rifling through the mess. He knew it was here. He had put it up before he was kidnapped.
"Everything okay?" Valka asked as she reappeared at the top of the steps.
"Yeah," Hiccup sighed. "Just looking for something."
"If it's your spare leg, that girl, Astrid, took it after you fell asleep," Valka said, walking over to him.
"It's not that," Hiccup stated. "It's a notebook I've been working on. It lists all the dragons we've discovered over the years: a second Book of Dragons. I always carry it with me. I had put it on the desk before everything happened."
Valka set the bowl down. "Want me to help you look?"
The Rider shook his head. "Nah. Chances are either Dad or Astrid took it for safekeeping. I'll ask them about it later."
She slid the bowl closer to him. "In the meantime, eat up. I'll be downstairs if you need me."
Hiccup picked up the spoon. "Or you could stay up here? We can talk about your dragon nest. Or maybe more about Toothless."
"Ar-are you sure?" Valka asked, carefully sitting down on the edge of the bed.
Hiccup shrugged. "The house can feel pretty quiet and empty most days. Dad has been by himself for almost a year. When I am home, he's usually out chiefing or visiting an ally. Talking fills the silence."
"I can understand that," Valka acknowledged. "Living in a nest of dragons doesn't offer many chances for human interaction. Interactions I do have are usually of the violent variety when I'm freeing trapped dragons." She clasped her hands together and set them on her lap. "How about I tell you about the nest and you tell me about the Edge? I've heard your father and Astrid bring it up a few times. I'd love to learn more about it."
A week later, Hiccup stood between his parents watching Johann's trade ship come in. Once he was done helping unload the ship of everything Johann was giving them, he and the rest of the Riders were heading back to the Edge.
"I remember Johann," Valka noted. "Is he still as eccentric as I remember? Always had a new adventure to share. Told the most colorful stories."
"Trust me, Val, he hasn't changed," Stoick confirmed.
"Yeah," Hiccup agreed. "He's come through for us more than once over the years. Not always willingly, mind you."
Once Johann's ship was fully docked, the trader disembarked and walked straight toward them. "Master Hiccup! Oh, it is so good to see you. I heard about the bounty and feared the worst for you. Thank Thor you're okay."
"Hey Johann," Hiccup greeted. "Yeah, I worried for a bit myself. But everything turned out fine in the end. Um, more than fine actually. I take it you remem-"
Johann gasped as he turned to look at Valka. "Do my eyes deceive me? Valka Haddock, Chieftess of Berk in the flesh and blood."
Valka laughed. "Hello Johann. It is so good to see you again."
"How? After all this time?" Johann asked.
"Let's just say I was needed elsewhere," Valka answered. "I'm back now."
"This is such a joyous occasion," Johann announced, clasping his hands. "We must celebrate, and I have the perfect thing. Come aboard while I fetch it."
The Haddocks looked at each and shrugged before following. It was Johann, after all. What harm could his gift cause?