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“Um… I’m not sure,” Hiccup said, scratching at the back of his neck.
“Too many memories?” Viggo asked.
“Too many bad ones,” Hiccup responded. He didn’t exactly have a good connotation with Maces and Talons anymore. How could he? Even though the man before him had changed immensely, it didn’t change what he’d done in the past.
Viggo sighed. Using his arms, he moved his wheelchair away from the table.
“Wait,” Hiccup said. He looked down at the board set out on the table. He knew Viggo was often bored, especially when he didn’t get the mental stimulation he so craved. Hiccup was often good at providing that for him. “We can play.”
Viggo turned back to him, smiling. “Well, have a seat then.” His wheelchair was back at the table.
Hiccup sat, and together, he and Viggo set up the pieces for the game.
They were in Hiccup’s house, trapped inside during a blizzard. Stoick had gone to the Mead Hall before the storm had started, and was probably holed up in there with some of the other Berkians. Hiccup and Viggo were alone, save for Toothless, who was snoring contentedly by the fire.
The war with the Dragon Hunters, Krogan, and Johann was over. They were living in a time of peace now.
And Viggo got to enjoy that peace. He’d barely survived the injuries he’d sustained during the attack on Krogan and Johann’s base, but Hiccup had refused to let him die. He’d dragged him out of there, and with the help of Fishlegs and Gothi, Viggo had pulled through.
Except he was paralyzed from the waist down. Hiccup had invented a chair for him, one that had wheels, so that he could move around freely. The problem was that Viggo wasn’t used to his disability yet, and often still craved what he once had.
But the chair gave him freedom, and he was terribly grateful to Hiccup for that. He’d come to visit before the storm, and now here they were, setting up a Maces and Talons game together.
“You know,” Hiccup began, “I never saw myself playing an actual game of Maces and Talons with you.”
Viggo chuckled. “It’s something I’ve been hoping for. Though, our big game of it was rather interesting.”
Hiccup couldn’t help but snort at that. “That’s one way to put it.” He gestured to Viggo. “Do you want to go first?”
Viggo waved a hand. “You go first.”
So, scrutinizing the board, trying to come up with a plan, Hiccup made his first move.
Viggo cracked a smile, and made his.
And then Hiccup got a sinking pit in his stomach. His mind went back to the war with Viggo, all the things he’d lost or almost lost, the people and dragons who had suffered…
Yet here he was playing a game with the man who had caused it all.
Taking a deep, shuddering breath, Hiccup made his next move. His hand was trembling slightly. He hoped Viggo hadn’t noticed.
Except he had. His gaze was on his hand, his eyebrows raised.
“I’m fine,” Hiccup answered the silent question. “It’s… a lot.”
Viggo nodded, stroked his beard. “I suppose it’s a lot for me as well. I did lose, well, everything.”
Hiccup swallowed back his guilt. Was Viggo angry with him?
“I’m not angry with you, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Viggo said, making his move. “Our war was inevitable.”
“Was it?” Hiccup didn’t like the thought of that, that war was inevitable, that it would always happen, in some way.
“Well, I believe so,” Viggo said.
Hiccup sighed. He placed his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands, staring at the board. Viggo was already pulling some clever moves, but Hiccup was sure he could think of something.
“Do you… ever miss it?” Hiccup asked, making his move. Hopefully Viggo wouldn’t see what he was planning. “Your old life?”
Viggo looked down at his legs.
“No, no!” Hiccup cried, flailing his hands. “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant! Gah, I’m an idiot!”
“It’s all right, Hiccup,” Viggo responded rather calmly. “I do miss my old life on occasion. There are things I don’t miss about it, of course, now that you’ve shown me how to trust dragons and, well, people.” He shook his head. “I’m sure the gods will have a hard time deciding where I go when I die.”
Hiccup didn’t find that funny, but Viggo was laughing as if he’d made some sort of joke.
“Do you… miss Ryker?” Hiccup knew he was getting into dangerous territory here, but he was honestly curious. Viggo never talked about him.
“Not always, no,” Viggo replied honestly. He made his move, and Hiccup tried not to groan. He was figuring out his strategy. “But, sometimes I really do. He wasn’t very good at banter though.”
“No, he wasn’t,” Hiccup agreed. He could feel Viggo staring at him, but he didn’t meet his gaze. He was instead studying the board. He had to come up with a new strategy, and fast.
“Do you miss it?” Viggo asked.
“Miss what?”
“Your life before dragons.”
“No,” Hiccup responded honestly. He truly didn’t. Yes, it had cost him greatly to live with dragons, and he’d run into a lot more trouble because of that, but he wouldn’t give it up for the world. He wouldn’t give up Toothless for the world. “Even with all the trouble that comes with them.” He glanced over at Toothless with a happy smile. “I love him too much.”
Viggo nodded, and Hiccup moved a piece.
The rest of the game was filled with senseless chatter, instead of more serious topics. The wind shrieked and howled outside, and Hiccup was left wondering how much snow there would be when he managed to open the front door.
Hiccup made his last move, then looked at the board in astonishment. Had he… just beaten Viggo Grimborn at Maces and Talons? He looked to Viggo to see if he’d noticed, to gauge his reaction.
Viggo let out a small laugh, clapping his hands. “You did it, Hiccup. You win.”
“I… win.” Hiccup couldn’t help but be shocked. Yes, he’d defeated Viggo in the war, but actually winning this game against him, especially when the beginning had been so fraught with strife and heavy conversation, he was surprised. This was Viggo’s game, not his.
“You seem surprised,” Viggo noted.
Hiccup ran a hand through his hair. “I guess I am.”
“Do not underestimate yourself, Hiccup,” Viggo said. “Ever. That path leads to stunting of the mind.”
Hiccup just mutely nodded, unsure of what to say. He’d won.
Viggo looked towards the door and the howling wind. “I suppose this storm isn’t going to let up any time soon,” he said. “Fancy some tea?”
“I would love some.”
So, leaving the board as it was, with Hiccup the victor, the two of them went into the kitchen to make tea.