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There was a heavy feeling in Hiccups' chest as they landed at the clubhouse. He felt like he could cry at any second, but with Fishlegs and the rest of his friends injured, he had to keep it together.
He was the only one left unharmed, just the way Viggo wanted it. They had just been messing around on a nearby island. Everyone wanted a break from work, and Hiccup couldn't say no, especially when Tuffnut pulled his puppy-eyes trick.
It was a peaceful island, green grass, clean air, and a nice and fresh lagoon (without the leeches this time), it was almost too good to be true.
Everyone was enjoying themselves until the hunters showed up out of nowhere. They started attacking from left and right, leaving no time for the riders to get to their dragons, who were spread across the island doing their own things.
Toothless however, stood by Hiccup's side, he sent out an SOS call before Hiccup got on him and signaled him to start blasting.
The others had been fighting in hand-to-hand combat until their dragons showed and shot their fire, but even then, there were more hunters than they could take.
The fight lasted twenty minutes too long, with everyone almost being chained up and shipped to Viggo. Luckily for them it seemed like the hunters wouldn't dare touch Hiccup, so he and Toothless fought off enough of them to allow enough time for the others to get to their dragons.
“What was that!” Snotlout yelled when they got in the air, making their escape. “I'm not sure, but my guess is Viggo sent the hunters there for something on that island and we just happened to be there,” Hiccup couldn't think of any other logical explanation.
He didn't see Viggos' flagship anywhere once he got a better view from above, which means it was just the hunters, and Viggo wouldn't have known they would be on that island on that day.
“What could he possibly want from that island so badly,” Snotlout was frustrated, the one time he got to relax he ended up with new bruises and what he was pretty sure was a sprained ankle.
“Rocks for Gronkle iron, the fresh water from the lagoon, plants that could be important for recipes. That's all I can think of right now, my head is killing me,” Fishlegs rubbed the back of his head, he was pretty sure he got a concussion from the hit to the head the hunter gave him.
“Whatever it was, I hope those hunters aren't planning on going to the edge next,” Astrid sighed, exhausted. She took a few good hits and got a pretty decent-sized cut on her arm. It hurt to move from all the new bruises she must have, but she didn't show it.
“That would like, really suck,” Ruffnut slumped on Barf. Her nose was actively bleeding; she wasn't sure if it was broken, but it definitely felt like it. The cloth she pulled from her saddle bag was covered in blood. She had to breathe from her mouth, which wasn’t fun.
“Yeah, I don't think I wanna see another hunter for a month, man, I don't want to see one ever again,” Tuffnut was also slouching, he had taken a blow to his stomach which made him want to throw up right then and there.
His ribs also hurt, a lot, he was having a hard time breathing. He swore he heard bones crack. Despite that, he also felt nauseated, he might end up throwing up after all.
“I don't think we have to worry about them coming to the edge, not unless Viggo orders them to. Right now we're gonna get back to the clubhouse and get you all fixed up and in bed, and yes that means you too Astrid and Fishlegs.” Hiccup ordered, he felt so much guilt for being the only one left unharmed.
He wanted to curl up on his bed and cry, but that wasn't an option right now. Instead, he steadied his breathing and led his riders back to the edge.
So here they are, at the clubhouse, basically falling off their dragons. As soon as everyone was off, Hiccup sent the dragons to the stables to rest and eat so he could focus on his team.
“Let me see that gash on your arm Astrid,” Fishlegs was already trying to help everyone's injuries, but Hiccup wasn't going to let him do anything with a possible concussion.
“Nope Fishlegs, I'll take care of the gash on her arm while you sit down and keep ice on your head,” Hiccup was already smashing up a block of ice for Fishlegs.
“Hiccup, I can still help,” Fishlegs tried, he didn't want to just sit around and be useless. “No, buddy, you need to rest and I'm perfectly able to tend to everyone's injuries, I think I paid enough attention in Gothi’s classes to know what I'm doing,” Hiccup handed Fishlegs a cloth filled with ice.
“Now sit, that's an order,” Hiccup said sternly but gently enough that Fishlegs knew it was just out of love, he sighed and listened.
Everyone else sat around the clubhouse tending to their own injuries as best as they could until Hiccup got to them.
“Astrid, let me see your arm, m'lady," Hiccup went over to Astrid, who was having trouble keeping herself upright. “It's not that bad, I'll be fine,” Astrid tried.
“Mhm, nice try, go sit down, you'll need stitches,” Hiccup ordered, Astrid sighed and rolled her eyes.
Snotlout was struggling to walk, he gave up and sat on the floor. “Snotlout, I'll check your ankle after I stitch up Astrid,” Hiccup said, wasting no time, he soaked a cloth in warm water and cleaned up the blood from Astrid's arm, she rasped at the pain
Snotlout rolled his eyes at his cousin, “I'll be fine,” he said, stubbornly. “I still have to check you,” Hiccup replied, he grabbed the needle and thread, and Astrid mentally prepared herself for the pain.
“Alright m’lady, this might hurt a bit, tell me if you need a break,” Hiccup didn't want to do this, it made his stomach squirm knowing this would hurt her, but he had no choice. “I'll be fine Hiccup, just do it,” Astrid just wanted this over with.
With a deep breath, Hiccup began slowly stitching her up, she didn't show any sign of pain, which made Hiccup feel better.
He finished stitching her up and sighed when it was over. “That wasn’t so bad,” Astrid said, looking at the stitches.
“Well, im glad it didn't hurt you much,” Hiccup replied, packing away the supplies. “Put some salve over it if it hurts at all,” Fishlegs said, he had been sitting at the table watching the whole thing, ice still held to his head.
He was impressed with Hiccups work. He didn't know Hiccup was so good with this kind of stuff, or that he could be so gentle and patient. It was unlike him to be so gentle for sure, but he's always had patience with his riders, that's what makes him such a good leader.
“Yeah, I'll grab some salve for everyone, Thor knows you're all gonna need it,” Hiccup knew that after all the major injuries were taken care of, the bruises were going to need to be treated.
“Okay, grumpy, off with the boot, I need to check that ankle,” Hiccup stood with his arms crossed and an eyebrow raised as Snotlout muttered curses under his breath but listened to Hiccup and took off his boot.
Hiccup crouched on one knee and inspected his ankle. He moved it around and didn't feel any broken bones, just some bruising and swelling.
“I don't think it's broken, just sprained. Try not to walk on it for a while, I'll get you some ice and help you back to your hut when I'm done helping the twins,” Hiccup informed him.
He barely gave Snotlout time to respond before he rushed over to the twins, he heard bones crack and saw blood, not mention he could hear their breathing from across the clubhouse.
The twins had found a corner to cuddle in until Hiccup got to them, Tuffnut lay his head on his sister's chest while said sister was still nursing her bloody nose.
“Alright you two, let's check you over,” Hiccup said crouching down to their level. “Do Tuff first, he's breathing like he's the one with a bloody nose,” Ruffnut could not only hear her brother's breath but she could also feel it, which she knew couldn't be good.
“Am fine,” Tuffnut said between breaths, “Fine, huh?” Hiccup raised his eyebrow, “Yes, better than ever,” Tuffnut said with shaky breaths. “Well, how about I check you over anyway, love, just to be sure,” Hiccup knew he had to be gentle with the twins, or they would disappear somewhere without warning and take care of their injuries themselves.
Tuffnut let Hiccup check him over, he felt along his ribs, and sure enough, there were at least two broken. The rest are most likely bruised.
“You got at least two broken ribs, the rest bruised, I can give you some ice and salve for any other bruises, and then you need lots of rest,” Hiccup ruffled his hair, and Tuffnut groaned, he did not want to deal with broken ribs right now.
“Let me check your nose, love,” Hiccup moved on to Ruffnut, she let him inspect her nose wanting to be able to breathe from it again.
“I don't think it's broken, but a little swollen, ice for you to,” Hiccup diagnosed, Ruffnut let out a sigh. Hiccup stood up to address the whole group, everyone looked tired and worn out, which made his heart ache.
“I'll help you all get back to your huts and bring you whatever you need, no training until everyone is back in shape,” Hiccup announced, going over to help Snotlout up.
“Well thank Thor we get a break from work,” Snotlout said, relieved, but he knew His cousin wouldn't make them work with injuries. He'd probably just make them sit through meetings about the next plan to strike Viggo. Thor knows Hiccup is going to want revenge.
Astrid is going to have a lot on her hands stopping him from going after Viggo himself. “Yeah don't get too used to it, it's back to work as soon as you're all healthy again. We need to find Viggo,” Hiccup started, but Astrid quickly stepped in.
“Here we go again,” Astrid stood with her arms crossed staring at Hiccup. “Hiccup, we’ll focus on finding Viggo when everyone is better, for now everyone including you needs to rest,” Astrid said, putting a hand on Hiccup's shoulder.
Hiccup sighed, “Yeah your right, you all deserve a break,” he said, trying to calm down. Astrid gave him a kiss on the cheek, to which Snotlout rolled his eyes.
“I'm gonna go check on the dragons,” Astrid wanted to make sure Stormfly wasn't hurt, and she missed her dragon.
“Yeah go ahead, have Toothless meet me at my hut," Hiccup didn't like to go too long without Toothless by his side.
Astrid nodded and went on her way. “I can help Snotlout get to his hut, Tuffnuts' gonna need your help,” Fishlegs offered, he needed to do something to not feel so useless.
“I can walk just fine on my own guys,” Snotlout said angrily, he tried to take a few steps to prove his point and immediately fell back to the floor screaming in pain.
The twins burst out laughing, but Tuffnut quickly had to stop from the pain it caused him. “Do it again,” Ruffnut said, still laughing.
Snotlout sat up with his arms crossed, face flushed, he muttered curses at the twins.
“Yeah, sweetheart, I think you should just let Fishlegs help you,” Hiccup said, looking at Snotlout with a small smile, the twins' laughter was contagious.
“Whatever! Stupid Hiccup,” Snotlout mumbled, both Fishlegs and Hiccup rolled their eyes. “Come on Snotlout, let's go,” Fishlegs said, helping Snotlout up and walking him out of the clubhouse.
Hiccup turned to the twins, who were still cuddling, like they were going to be ripped from each other's sides any second. It made Hiccups chest hurt to see the twins look so down and in pain.
“Come on Tuff, let's get you to bed,” Hiccup reached out a hand to Tuffnut, who took it hesitatingly. Hiccup pulled him up and Tuffnut had to stop himself from screaming in pain.
“I know, love,” Hiccup put Tuffnuts arm around his shoulder as he kept one hand on his waist, he could see the pain on Tuffnuts face.
Tuffnut leaned his head on Hiccup while they waited for Ruffnut to get up. She got up slowly, she was really starting to feel tired and sore from the fight.
“Come on you two,” Hiccup walked them back to their hut slowly. He helped them get into bed and get comfortable. He washed the dry blood off of Ruffnuts nose with a warm cloth even though she said she could do it herself.
He set up a bunch of pillows for Tuffnut so he could lie comfortably on his back, and he promised to be back with salve for their bruises and willow bark tea.
They thanked him but still had to throw a few jokes in about how Hiccup was taking care of them, because they wouldn't be the twins if they didn't joke in a time like this.
When he was finally done, he went to his hut where he found Toothless waiting for him, but so was Astrid.
He let out a sigh as Astrid came up to hug him, “It's not your fault,” she said as she rubbed his back, and suddenly, the floodgates opened and the sobs escaped his lips.
They settled on the floor leaning against Toothless as Hiccup cried into Astrid's chest and she played with his hair, and when he was finally done, he felt the weight lifted off his shoulders.