It was raining on the cold muggy Island of Berk. And rain, as cold and dreary as it was heralded only one thing. It was summer in the inner isles, or the nearest thing that could be possibly be described as such. Usually, that period was the one most welcomed by the people. A good heavy summer rain meant well nourished crops and plenty of animal feed, which was always good. The summer had brought them even better luck in the past; it had meant no dragon attacks. No one had ever figured out why until now, when the reptile population made up a good percentage of the Village's populace. In between the snowy spring and the chilly fall season was summer, midsummer it happened was the season of mating for dragons.

Wait, just let that sink in.

Dragon mating season.

That stretch of time when the all the flying lizards got together with other flying lizards of the opposite sex and for lack of a better word, mated.

While the discovery of this seasonal occurrence rattled the Vikings of Berk, it did not thwart any major proceedings of the people themselves. Sure the island was a bit noisier than they had gotten used to, and it was rather unnerving to watch the entangled dragons streak across the sky; but they'd dealt with worse. They were Vikings and to Vikings anything dangerous was merely an occupational hazard.

As the dubbed dragon expert in the village, it was Hiccup's duty to keep an eye on the roving beasts, well not really but it kept him out of the forge on such wonderfully wet days. From careful observation, even if dragon watching was still considered a geeky hobby, Hiccup had determined a few things about the scaled fliers in season.

One: The males of the species got extremely territorial.

Two: Male dragons fought amongst themselves and executed aerial acrobatics to impress potential mates.

Three: Dragons courtship took place in the sky.

All this information came down to one sobering conclusion Toothless, Hiccup's faithful friend, could not do any of those things. The injury that had first cemented the bond between them was also the fetter that bound him. By his very nature, the dragon was barred from joining the raucous posturing and aerial mating displays unless Hiccup was riding with him.

And he really couldn't do that.

It wasn't as if he didn't want to help Toothless. He just didn't want to get crushed by any stray wings or talons or even fall off to his death.

Once was enough.

So while the other draconic members of the village soared through the clouds and did such other things Hiccup did not care to think about during the soggy week, Toothless was left wet, grumpy and unsatisfied; all of which fell under the category of bad things for a dragon to be. He'd already blown a hole out of the meeting hall and set the rest of the building on fire without provocation, so Hiccup was drafted to lure the earthbound dragon out of the village, at least for a little while.

"Lucky me." he'd muttered bitterly, approaching the irritable beast.

Fish was the bait of choice; as it had already proved to be a great motivator where Toothless was concerned. He'd perched on the roof and was watching the sky with a mix of disgust and envy. Waving the slimy cod towards the brooding dragon unfortunately had no effect. He sniffed at it and looked away green eyes focusing back towards the sky. Hiccup tried again.

He called to the beast, but the sulking form ignored him. Taken aback, he frowned. It wasn't the first time Toothless had been stubborn and aloof, but his rider had been getting used to the happy 'smile' his dragon usually gave him. He knew for sure, despite those eyes trained on the sky that the unholy union of lightening and death didn't really want to fly. The fact he'd knocked the boy to the ground the moment he'd suggested it, was a sure indicator of that. Hiccup however, refused to let that stop him. He'd tried appeasement by offering the moody dragon scratch to the chin, but that had earned him nipped fingers when he'd gotten too close.

Since food and affection had failed so miserably, there was only one other alternative. He didn't like it, but he had to rely on fear. It was the only thing Hiccup knew that would get an immediate reaction from Toothless. More specifically fear for his safety. It had happened first with Astrid and then again with the Nightmare that was now Snotlout's favored mount. It wouldn't be right, but he had to get him out of the village. Retreating from grumpy dragon, Hiccup hobbled down towards the forest evaluating the only option left.

The trip to the cove took longer than usual but it gave him time to think of a way to apologize, which by the time he sank down by the cool water was no more complex than offers of affectionate scratches, lots of fish and plenty of night flying; that was if the Fury didn't fry him on the spot. His partner was going to be furious, but the village's safety came first, even before his own actually. Hiccup hated to admit it, but his father was right, protection was more than just the duty of a chief.

Trying not to think of what he was about to do, Hiccup gazed about the secret little abode and it brought back memories. A big black dragon's head breathing against his fingertips, the first time Toothless had come to him so unsure but willing. Kneeling over the swaying tail, tightening the fin against the dark scales, and their first flight. Happy thoughts curled through his mind like wisps of smoke before dissipating into flames of worry.

Toothless was being difficult and there was no telling how much worse it could or would get. As his dragon, and friend, Toothless was his responsibility and he had to deal with it. By Thor the Thunderer he hoped he could.

From the moment he actually looked, he couldn't resist a smile. The pair of pictures had been faded a bit by the weather, but were still there a proud testament to the relationship they had built. Hiccup prayed it wouldn't wash away like the picture, even under the storms they found themselves beneath. Laying a hand over the caricature he settled down again, and screamed in terror at the top of his lungs.

It didn't take long.
The undergrowth exploded in a flash of scales. Tree limbs, dirt and debris rained down in showers, littering the secluded sanctuary. Toothless rushed through the cove, white teeth bared as he dove for his boy; wings outspread to shield the teen. Covered in the great leathery appendages, Hiccup was shrouded in darkness. The dragon's breath was frenzied; from underneath the long limbs the Viking could see his head whipping back and forth searching for the invented danger. Lifting a hand to the heaving flank Hiccup patted the agitated dragon gently, Toothless gazed at him.

Worry was painted across the reptilian features and the Night Fury scented the air. Hiccup had made sounds of distress and he'd come to protect. But he knew now, there was nothing around, no creature that could have caused such terror. A displeased growl issued forth from the dragon's throat and he nudged the boy none too gently. Hiccup rocked from the push, but stood up. The grumpy noise was nothing; he'd heard it a thousand times in the process of living with dragons.

The flash of fire, now that was different, the sonic wail came before the flame and Hiccup dove for cover. Rolling unsteadily to his feet, his prosthetic creaking slightly the teen stared at the dragon.

"What was that?" Hiccup demanded in surprise, but then his metal foot was sliding out from under him in the mud. The fall he suffered however humiliating, was certainly nothing compared to the second blast of flame he barely avoided. Behind him a tree exploded outward, its flaming twigs extinguished themselves in the sodden dirt and scattered puddles.

Toothless was more than mad. He'd realized what the ploy had been for and he was advancing on his human, teeth bared as he inhaled again. As he'd been watching for this, Hiccup seized a rock from the dirt and lobbed it at the beast catching him across the snout, both surprising his assailant and stopping the unfinished burst of flame. Closer now Toothless snapped angrily, the low whine of displeasure and pain rolling into a screech of anger.

Hiccup rose to his knees, several miserable years of failed combat training telling him to flee, but when did he ever listen to anything reasonable? His groping hands dislodged another rock from the ground and the teen clutched at it. Hefting it up, Hiccup tossed the stone as hard as he could. The rock glanced off of a muscled shoulder and Toothless flicked his wings, spreading them wide as he stalked closer making himself appear even larger. The dragon's great black pupils had narrowed into slits and Hiccup was reminded of the first time they were in this position. It was a pity he didn't have any fish.

Dark claws sunk into the mud, and the dragon moved ever closer, his shadow nearly falling over the boy. His heart was racing in his chest and he needed to move, put distance between himself and the dragon that was out for blood. His options were dwindling by the second and smoke had begun trailing from those flared nostrils. There was no time left. He had to move.

The moment the boy tried to stand; Toothless leapt forward, a huge claw easily batting Hiccup to the ground as he reared up over him with a burst of flame. His ears lay flattened to his skull as he sank back to the ground, his body trapping and cocooning the trembling human beneath him. The soggy earth cushioned the boy's second fall but not very much, with his head swimming Hiccup peered up at Toothless blinking slowly. Those menacing teeth were much too close for comfort and it was painfully obvious that he wasn't going anywhere. He had to make amends or try, at the very least. Slowly, very slowly he reached up to brush a tenuous hand against the scaled jaw.

The unpleasant rumble did not completely subside, instead it shifted in tempo, and the dragon's eyes narrowed in obvious annoyance, rather than in pleasure as the hand slid over his scales. Toothless' great finned tail lashed once splashing water and soggy turf as his claws carved grooves into the ground on both sides of the prone human. Hiccup knew this, remembered it from their first encounter together. The fear was just as paralyzing as it had been before. Being pinned under an angry dragon wasn't even remotely pleasant and the boy refused to take it lying down.

Shoving a hand to the ground, Hiccup tore free a fistful of grass and dirt and shoved it into the dragon's sensitive nostrils. Surprised and displeased Toothless reared up with a screech, snorting and clawing at the greenery wriggling wildly. Pushing himself up from the ground Hiccup struggled backward only to find that his pants were pinned underneath the heavy claws of his angered dragon. A furious snarl and the heir of the Hooligan tribe decided in that instant that losing his breeches was much more preferable to losing his life.

Yanking open the clasp of his belt Hiccup Horrendous Haddock jerked, squirmed and slipped free of his clothing stumbling to his feet as the dragon landed heavily back onto the ground. Wings flared open wide and the dragon roared again pawing the ground his tail lashing furiously before slipping into a more aggressive position as he moved to attack.

Hiccup didn't move.

The ground shook beneath him at the dragon's approach, birds fled taking to wing, an incredible heat only a dragon could produce rolled past him in waves and the he felt very naked clad only in his shirt and woolen unders but still Hiccup refused to move. Toothless stalked forward, a stray incinerated blade of grass tumbling from his nostrils. The angry rumble was back and it brought a thin stream of smoke curling from the dragon's open mouth.

Fire struck the earth inches from his toes, Hiccup flinched, but stared back at the furious dragon.
That flame, like all the other blasts had been warning, a not so polite order to back off.
The teen still didn't move.

Soon Toothless was above him again, snorting angrily, curls of flame casting a dangerous glow to his numerous sharp teeth. Hiccup bent to meet the dragon's gaze. Toothless roared, furiously and lashed forward taking the Viking from his feet. This time Hiccup expected it and the impact didn't rob the breath from him. The ground made him shiver; it was cold, where the dragon that invaded his space was warm. Staring up at the slitted eyes he couldn't help but be angry as the whole situation was to help the beast currently holding him to the ground. Yes it's true that some things couldn't be helped, but a dragon sulking around the village was not doing any one any good.

All at once Hiccup reached up and swatted the dragon across the nose.

"I know you've got your reasons, but this is cruel even for you." He admonished.

He soon realized however, lecturing the angry dragon wasn't the best course of action. The growl morphed into another snarl and Hiccup swallowed nervously and hoped his friend wouldn't keep trying to kill him.

He saw him as a threat. It was then he realized what he'd been doing all along. What he'd been doing wrong. Toothless wasn't seeing him as a friend; the Night Fury was seeing him as a rival. He'd been looking for a fight the moment he'd entered their cove. And the fact Hiccup had challenged him had only made the situation worse. Slowly he dragged his nails across Toothless' chin, hoping the spot worked again to dispel some of his dragon's ire.

Still growling the dragon lowered his head, taking in the scent of the boy. Despite their friendship, as another male his odor was infuriating. The lower growl shifted into a more threatening sound and Hiccup tried to move again, but this time the dragon was going nowhere.

He lay back down, scared but knowing it would be easier to wait out the dragon's temper than face it directly. Usually such moods passed with a full day of flying and fish or just a well placed scratch. This time it was not the case and Hiccup was a little lost on how to proceed. The sensitive nose swept across his chest as Toothless tried to work out exactly what to do with him.

It didn't look like anything good.

Hand stroking the rough scales, Hiccup took a shaky breath and stared up into the piercing green eyes of his friend. He was in a mood, and no matter what he did antagonizing him was a bad idea. He had to make this right. Leaning up as best he could the scrawny human pushed his face against the warm snout and hugged the dragon's head close.

"I wasn't trying to scare you. What I did was wrong and I'm sorry." He whispered against the dark scales.

Toothless balked at first, rage still coursing through him but as Hiccup held fast the dragon began reacting differently. The dark wings began to droop, folding back against the scaled body. The angry sound faded, chased by a melodic croon that Hiccup felt rolling through him all the way to his toes. He sagged there; petting the wedge shaped head as Toothless seemed to purr, burying his nose into the human's shoulder.

He was still petting and scratching as the snuffling at his shoulder changed, a flick of his pink tongue and Toothless bit down hard. Teeth sliced through the woven fabric of his shirt, pierced the skin and the boy yelped in pain and shock. He squirmed again, attempted to drive the dragon away, to get him release, to just let go, but the Night Fury tensed over him its white teeth sinking a little deeper into his skin. He stilled instantly, taking shallow breaths as the ever present purr vibrated through his form.

Suddenly the dragon moved and Hiccup was forced to move with him. The dragon lumbered forward, half dragging the Viking as searched the ground. Stumbling along the heir almost lost his balance, but the firm grip on his arm kept him from falling.

"Toothless?" He cried unable to see anything beyond a flared wing and a dreary sky beyond. "What are you- Toothless put me down you useless reptile!"

But the dragon paid him no heed, maneuvering him with little more difficulty than a stick.

Hiccup's bare knees hit the dragon's muscular flank and he winced. Toothless finally stopped on a dryer patch of ground, and released him; Hiccup sprawled inelegantly in the muck.

Hiccup stared at Toothless, lost on what was going on in the dragon's mind; the reptile swayed slightly almost rhythmically and still he purred. Now the human could hear little else but that growing purr that shook him to the bone and it was beginning to drive him a little mad.

Another head butt pushed him out of the way and Toothless' heavily muscled tail coiled and lashed across the dirt, smoothing the ground in broad swipes. Satisfied with the state of the spot, the hum grew even louder. With no warning Toothless caught Hiccup again and pulled him to the path of earth.

A pointed nudge had Hiccup flat to the dirt and Toothless followed, looming over the teen.

The hum was unbearable; Hiccup clapped his hands to his ears but the sound continued. The dark nose pressed against his ribcage and the vibration rocked him to the core. Dizzy, sick and bit terrified he shoved at Toothless, forcing the snout away, shuddering in surprise. Undaunted the dragon moved back and shoved at his belly, the croon pouring through him again.

Slowly Toothless moved down over his body, scenting Hiccup's quivering frame, before pausing at the hem of his tunic. Naturally Hiccup panicked, angry dragon teeth on his shoulder was one thing angry dragon teeth at his nether regions was a different thing entirely. He jerked back and a lighting fast paw intercepted. A cuff across the chest and Hiccup was downed again wheezing in surprise. Toothless sniffed him again and then licked him from balls to bellybutton in one disgusting stripe.

Hiccup squealed in indignation, the slime seeping into his remaining clothes. Claws flexed against his hips and he quailed, suddenly aware of just what was happening. There was no more biting, no more flames. Toothless didn't think of him as a rival anymore. The black dragon pining him to the ground saw him as a mate. Maybe he never saw him as a rival to begin with; dragon courtship was violent, as much as he had seen of it. Toothless wasn't angry, males were used to a combative mate in the early stages; he'd played right into the dragon's instincts. He'd even submitted.

Oh Gods.

"Toothless? Stop." Hiccup tried, his voice suddenly cracking in his fear. The green eyes roved his body and the nearly nude teen suddenly felt dirty. Puffs of hot dragon breath, tickled his legs and he struggled again. This was so not happening, it couldn't happen; he did not want it to happen. He respected, trusted and even loved Toothless, but not enough to let him have his way with him. Flying was one thing; getting fucked by his dragon was something else.

And it was something he seriously did not want. He pushed, wriggled and struck at the dragon nosing against his chest, flicking a slitted tongue up under his clothes tasting his skin. It was slick and disgusting, the trails of fishy saliva cooling on his belly, seeping into his underwear, sliding down his thighs. He shivered and dragon sank down and rubbed over him, the dry scales soft and smooth sliding between his legs. He trembled, not ungrateful, but dreading what could only be coming next.

As if to underscore his dread, something hard and warm pressed into his thigh contrasting the cool scales along his leg. It shocked him to stillness as a claw snagged his underwear pulling at the offending garment. It was a nuisance, in the way, but not for long.

He caught the fabric and tugged, holding it to his body.

"No" he stressed, eyes pleading.

The dragon was not to be deterred in his goal and merely flicked a claw tearing the garment asunder, leaving Hiccup holding the scraps as he returned his gaze hungrily, looking far to smug for the boy's own good.

Irritated Hiccup kicked him, right in the throat eliciting an unpleasant grunt and what would be a bruise, it made feel a little better, at least until the dragon licked him again. This time the tongue stroked bare skin and Hiccup moaned. Surprise came with the realization that he found the alien touch enticing. Interested his cock flared to life under the caress eager for more, while he twisted futility. His traitorous body and dragon worked against him, dragging down his defenses. The exceptionally long tongue slid over his excited cock and he jerked gasping. The touch was exquisite and ironically so because it was a dragon making him rock and shift in pleasure.

Toothless bumped against his ass and he yelped, slapping the broad head.

"I-"

Whatever he was going to say was lost in the incoherent gasp as Toothless licked him.

It was so dirty, but the dripping tongue slid over him like he was a delicacy. The purring started again, as if the noise hadn't stopped and this time Hiccup knew what it was, what it meant. Toothless was calling him, demanding his submission. A part of him still wanted to fight, to not go through with this, this humiliation. If the others learned about what he'd done, the consequences would be terrible and he didn't know what they would do to Toothless.

The wet muscle was still probing at him demanding entrance and it didn't matter as much anymore. He jerked as the tongue pressed harder, wriggling at the puckered entrance pushing its way in. The stretching burned before the goopy saliva soothed the sting. Toothless' tongue dove further, widening the muscle weirdly, almost painlessly. Of all the times to learn some legends were true, dragon saliva really could numb pain. Under different circumstances he would have been elated by such a discovery, but not now.

There was a dragon tongue inside of his body. His mind railed against the thought as he could feel the flexing thing delving deeper. He tried to move away, pushing his feet against the dark scales, but the dragon lowered its head taking the failed escape for better leverage. Hiccup arched, as the tongue brushed along something different. He was sweating in the humid air, his body burning from the intimate contact and he flushed with shame, whimpering in the dirt.

It seemed to be a signal, as far as the dragon was concerned, he was ready for something much more intimate than the long flexible tongue. Hiccup choked out a moan as the dragon withdrew; fluid trickling from the tender pucker. After a few more laps along his rear and the dragon inched forward licking a path in his wake. Toothless snorted loudly nosing the teen roughly, urging his legs apart. The slitted tongue crossed over his belly and dragon slid against him, reintroducing that hard warmth to the space between his thighs.

Hiccup tried to move away, but teeth caught his shoulder and he stilled again, Toothless didn't want him to move and as much as he hated it he had to comply. The dragon maneuvered himself to take the boy and all at once his thoughts crowded his mind. He shook in the dirt, watching the green orbs catch and reflect the faint light of the sky. He could see himself in those eyes, and he looked terrified. Warm and blunt the dragon's phallus, pressed heavily against that spot beneath his balls, it hurt. The organ was large, far too large for place its owner intended to put it, but he pushed on, squeezing into the tight hole. With a guttural chuff the dragon was inside and Hiccup screamed.

He screamed and screamed, howling until his throat was numb and he tried to scream again. The dragon shifted inside, licking his chest and he realized there was no point to the carrying on like an idiot so he stopped screaming, took a breath and listened. Listened to the oddly pleasant purring and the rhythm of flared wings above them; he listened to the beat of his heart and painful squelching sounds his body made as he gasped.

It hurt, by Thor it was one of the most painful things he's ever felt, but there was something about the way they fit, tumbled in the dirt with wings to the sky that made him want to cry out with something other than pain, but he couldn't so he bit his lip till it bled and clung to the beast driving into him. There was a synchronicity between them, the lurid thrusts into pink flesh and the crack of thunder overhead. For the first time since he'd been thrown to the ground, Hiccup stared at the sky.

The clouds were back with a vengeance, threatening to pour water from the heavens any moment. The force at which Hiccup was lifted and crushed onto the hard dirt was almost enough to make him pray for the rain. He gaze flickered back to the dragon and suddenly it was harder to breathe. The push and pull of the inhuman cock stuck deep within him making him writhe in agony, his anguished cry a counterpoint to the dragon's pleasured growls.

The sharp pain that accompanied each thrust began to ebb; the dragon's assault on his body becoming than much more bearable each time the oversized penis pushed into him. Slowly, almost against his will, Hiccup rocked his hips up to meet the plunging erection. He felt like he was on fire, the searing cock pumped into his hole struck the spot again and he fucking keened. The ache filtered into a heady throbbing that bleed into him, Hiccup howled this time; hoarse, sore and burning with arousal.

Toothless bit again, sinking those sharp teeth into his shoulder as his tongue curled about the boy's throat tasting the skin, learning his pulse. He'd barely winced at this attack, so twisted was he, the rhythmic slide of their bodies rubbing raw the plane of his back, his legs thrown wide, sprawled over the muscular flanks. The dragon's rough underbelly scraped his swollen erection, as they rutted. Hard packed dirt slid across his shoulders as the dragon rode him as if Ragnarok was on the horizon. The hurt was practically gone in its place a sick pleasure, as Toothless jerked inside him. Hiccup came suddenly, body spasming around the dragon as his manhood spat stripes of white along mottled scales.

Just as suddenly the dragon stilled, own his seed spilling inside Hiccup as his climatic roar pierced the sky, scattering the numerous birds', mammals and terrible terrors who heard it. Toothless sagged in satisfaction, Hiccup groaned in surprise and pain, but mostly pain. He pulled away from the satiated dragon, the spent organ sliding out much easier than it had gone in. Spent the Fury barely moved and the boy had to wiggle to free himself. Finally out from underneath the dragon Hiccup sighed and sagged against him.

He was drained and limp against the scaled hide, leaking copious amounts of dragon spunk that stung the numerous cuts decorating his legs. Pushing away when he regained his breath, Hiccup wobbled to his feet, naked and cold. Toothless hissing softly at his movement, at his attempt to flee, but Hiccup didn't care. He was not about to cuddle. He was leaving in fact, going home as soon as he could locate the remains of his pants, and move without wincing.

A flash lit the sky and the summer rain began again rinsing the wounds even as the marks remained. Watching him, Toothless called out, a leathery wing lifted in invitation. Hiccup glared back, but on shaky legs he returned to the dragon's side. Toothless nuzzled him, pleased with his compliance and the angry sound shifted into a content trill. Tucking himself under the dripping wing the heir of the Hooligans ignored the gentle vibration of the warm dragon beneath him.

As angry and embarrassed as Hiccup was at the situation, the sounds of rain on the curled wings coupled with the warmth of the trilling dragon began to lull him into a light doze. He was hoping to wait until the dragon had fallen asleep to slip out to find the remains of his clothes, shaking his head he tried to stay awake, but to no avail. It was dark when he finally awoke bleary and sore, Toothless was tucked close, his tail curled possessively about the human like it was meant to be.

"You-" He croaked out over the sound of rain, searching his mind for something anything to say.

Nothing but the deep sound of a sleeping dragon greeted him; it was like a gigantic purring cat. Fed up with the whole situation Hiccup ducked out from under the wing and toddled through the cove, following the water filled grooves in the mud. They were everywhere gouged ruts caused by the uncontained fervor of dragon mid-coitus, the boy shuddered and the movement hurt.

His breeches were soggy when he found them, lying between two furrows of clawed ground. The wet fabric clung to his skin as he tugged then on, sliding painfully over his much abused lower half.

Hiccup turned to stare at the dozing dragon. He didn't know what to do, or even what to feel. Anger should have topped his list, but what Toothless had done was fueled by instinct not simply malice. Hiccup had met all the conditions, in a way he'd been asking for it. Shame curled low in his belly, he couldn't tell anyone about this; not that the chief's son had been mounted by his dragon? He might as well voluntarily thrust himself on his own dagger to avoid the disgrace.

He picked his way over the dark lump, shivering in the rain; with a few careful loops of the rope that worked the leather fin, the dragon was subdued. It wouldn't be painful, but the Night Fury would be stuck. That was all he needed to buy him the time to figure things out or plan the appropriate path to Valhalla. Either way Toothless wouldn't be following him anytime soon. Stepping through a puddle which now obscured the carefully drawn figures in the dirt, Hiccup left the cove and moved for the village, his limp more pronounced with each halting step he took. As the rain lightened with the rise of the moon, he heard the enraged cry of a downed dragon abandoned in the night. He looked back along the path, almost as if he could see what he was leaving, but he couldn't so continued on to the village bitterly wiping the water from his eyes.

The village was deserted as he entered, oddly quiet for this time of night; the villagers seemed to have vanished with the rain, probably safe and warm by their fires. The dragons however were huddled together under their roosts avoiding the weather all together. The reptiles were subdued by the downpour, the only thing that seemed to snap them out of their mating fervor. As he passed a roost, some of the dragons oriented on him, nostrils flaring. The closest, a Nadder of bright lavender chirped at him, before he knew it the rest joined in the chant. Of course they could smell it, even under the rain. Hiccup reddened and fled the echoing of dragon call fading as he left. At least no one human was there to see him as he limped home through the square broken and unsteady.

In the end he found he was wrong, there had been a witness, one who'd looked for him all afternoon. Astrid was soaked, sitting on his porch, damp strands obscuring her face as she watched him approach.

"Great Woden's ghost" she breathed aloud and rose to meet him. "What happened to you?"

"Oh, I just got into a little fight." Hiccup tried to shrug but his shoulders refused to cooperate. So instead he nodded at her before turning around and limping determinedly if not very slowly back down the stairs. He gave the dragon roosts wide berth as they strolled back down into the village.

"With what, a Frost Giant?" She asked incredulously, offering an arm to steady him. He shrugged it off and continued toward the center of the village. They walked in silence until the sky boomed with a roll of distant thunder. Over the noise however, Hiccup swore he heard an infuriated cry.

He balked at the imagined sound and Astrid shot him a worried glance.

"Hiccup?" She tried again, her tone commanding even as soft as it was.

"With Toothless." He replied acidly, surprising himself with the sheer bitterness in his voice. Fat droplets slipped off his nose to splash on his drenched shirt, he didn't notice.

"Want to tell me what happened?" She invited hopping over a large puddle. His attempt to cross the water was much slower and she looked even more worried.

He really didn't but Astrid had a way of drawing things out of him. It was part of her charm.

"I won." He muttered shyly casting an eye towards the ever present clouds. He couldn't see the moon anymore and he wasn't sure it that was a good thing or not.

"You won?" She sounded mystified, and leaned into his line of sight, reaching to touch him.

"I'm still standing aren't I?" Hiccup shot back suddenly furious and scared all at once. He turned away and stumbling over the stones. She caught him before he fell and frowned when he winced at the contact.

"Barely." She murmured and released his arm, following as he strode away.

His pace was easy for her keep, their shoulders nearly brushing, but he didn't meet her gaze nor did he seem willing to continue the conversation. Astrid ignored this and pressed further.

"So where is he now?"

"Ba..back in the cove." he answered stammering quietly. "We should leave him alone for a while."

"Are you sure?" Astrid wondered, "He's been pretty upset."

Hiccups quickly changed the subject shaking water from his hair "Where is everyone?"

Being ignored was not something Astrid enjoyed but she accepted the teen's reluctance this time.

"Meade hall, it was the only place that was quiet until it started raining."

It was obvious what exactly had been so noisy. Dragon mating was incredibly- He stopped the thought instantly and picked at the mud under his nails and the debris in his hair. The silence continued as the pair moved down the winding road and Hiccup stopped at bathhouse.

"I'm gonna go soak my wounds." He said, nodded towards the door.

"Want some help?" Astrid offered smiling gently.

"I would love some, but you probably shouldn't be anywhere near me when Toothless gets here."

He leaned against the doorframe, "He's gonna be mad."

Before she could reply he disappeared into the building, pulling the door shut behind him.

Luckily the baths were empty, so he didn't have to explain any of the strange scars or bruises.

The steamy room was slippery and with care, Hiccup moved towards the bench that lined the wall. Removing his clothes was a trial, his limbs protested each movement. He inched over to the inset pool and sat down at the edge. With care Hiccup leaned forward to tug off the prosthesis, his back twinging as he removed it and with care he set it to the side. Then he slid over the warm stones into the hot water, his body in utter agony. The heat hurt but he knew the water would soon soothe most of the injuries he'd incurred, but only the physical ones.

Now that he was naked and no longer shivering, Hiccup he could see the merciless handiwork of the dragon's claws. Bruises peppered his body like overgrown freckles, dark purple and tender. The bites along his shoulder weren't deep but they would scar, there was no doubt about that, the overlapping teeth marks made the wounds seem worse than they were. The dark red scars crisscrossing his hips stung as he slipped into the water, Hiccup blushed furiously staring at the long lines.

He knew what the scars meant, there was no denying it. He'd seen their like on other dragons; most animals marked their mates in some way. The bright stripes stretching over his shoulder and neck were Toothless' way of laying claim. He shivered in the heated pool and sunk lower. It would be painfully obvious; he knew he'd rather not resume his position of official pariah of his peers, especially not for something so deviant. The dragons knew the loud chattering had been proof enough of that. The scent would probably remain for while, a subtle warning to all rutting males. Hiccup buried his face in his hands; this day could not get any worse.

The door swung open and slammed against the wall, letting in a blast of cool air that drove Hiccup to seek refuge deeper into the warm water.

Apparently it could.

"You wanna tell me what's going on?"

There stood Astrid in a halo of torchlight glowering like a dire wolf. She slammed the door shut so hard Hiccup could feel his teeth rattle. Astrid advanced slowly, she looked furious, her hands flexing as if she wanted to punch him. The girl had probably waited till he was in the water and couldn't escape. Astrid was an exceptional hunter as well. He counted himself lucky she didn't have her ax, but not that much. Hiccup sunk even lower as if trying to hide. He was so deep she wouldn't be able to see the ugly scars mapped across his body.

"First Toothless is moody," She continued striding to the edge, "And now you as well, but your dragon is absolutely nowhere to be seen."

Clinging to the lip of the bath, he peered up at her too shocked to respond.

"And the only thing you tell me is that he will be mad? He's been mad since summer started!"

She leaned closer, the plait of blonde falling over her shoulder; she tapped a booted foot against the stone. "Don't tell me you made it worse."

Hiccup reddened and not from the heat. She was so damn perceptive, it was no wonder he like her.

"Well?"

The sound of a dragon crashing against the cobblestone outside saved him from answering. The water in the pool rocked violently at the impact. But Hiccup knew he was trapped, to either face Astrid inside or go out to face an angry dragon. A roar echoed through the streets, startlingly loud and miserable. The door shook under a tremendous force, probably a tail. It shook again and the hinges groaned. Staring at him, Astrid spun around and went to the door.

Opening it she received an agitated snort from the dragon. He barked, the soft calling sound, trying to get Hiccup to come to him. Astrid turned to gaze as him, but Hiccup didn't move.

Agitated Toothless rumbled again, Hiccup could see the pacing dragon just outside tail lashing, finless. Toothless sounded inconsolable. He tried nosing his way in but Astrid firmly shut the door in his face.

"What was that about? I know he doesn't like you out of his sight for long but that was, that was something else altogether."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Hiccup lied, looking away guiltily.

The dragon whimpered, the sound vibrating the building. The melodic croon returned, but this time it was haunting.

Painful.

Astrid glowered but instead of yelling she continued speaking. "My Nadder got that way once, remember? It was that time she grabbed my axe and broke my arm. She carried on for days, making that sound, like she was trying to apologize. Like she was sorry."

Hiccup didn't answer; his eyes were fixed on wood the creaking above him. Toothless was crawling on top of the bathhouse. Each slow step echoed across the room and Hiccup tried not to focus on it.

"The real question is, what did Toothless break?"

Hiccup wrenched his gaze away from the roof, his eyes landing on Astrid. She had a sympathetic expression, but her eyes pierced him.

Hiccup paused, bobbing in the heated water. Astrid did have the uncanny skill of getting directly to the point.

Were they broken? The mournful croon reverberated down from the top of the roof. Toothless was quite depressed, he sounded even worse than Hiccup felt. The water was slowly soothing the worst of the bruises and Hiccup looked down into the murky depths his abysmal reflection peering up at him. He looked tired and a bit pale, very much like a seasick troll.

Of course Toothless hadn't intended to hurt him. He only was doing what his nature told him to.

Hiccup twisted miserably in the water, his body throbbing as he moved.

"I dunno, us maybe?"

He pushed himself up to the edge and drying the stump briskly but gently and attached the prosthetic. Then he levered himself to his feet and heard Astrid gasp.

"Astrid turn around!" he ordered in a rather good imitation of his father and she nodded slowly spinning around. Embarrassed and sore, Hiccup limped over to his clothes. The pile was still soaked but slightly warm.

"It seems like he tried to break you." She muttered her eyes pointedly fixed at a guttering torch across the room.

"Can't get much more broke than I already am." He mumbled in reply sliding his still damp tunic on.

"You're gonna have to go out and you're gonna have to talk to him" She urged as the roof shook under the anxious claws of a pacing dragon.

He started to argue but a light punch caught him off guard, she did have a way with that. Then just as usually she pressed a kiss lightly to his lips. He tried to fight the smile forming, with no success.

"Go." She said pointing toward the door.

"This conversation-" He stammered but she interrupted.

"Is over. Now go!"

With no choice, Hiccup shuffled to the door and pulled it open, the sky was dark and he couldn't see Toothless until the dragon clambered down the side of the building, the false fin missing. Toothless slunk down to the path; he carried himself low, edging forward towards Hiccup. Cautiously he nosed the Viking and Hiccup collapsed. Pain lanced through him as he hit the stones and he yelled. Toothless was at his side instantly, churring with concern. Hiccup turned to stare at the apologetic dragon. Their eyes met, and Hiccup could see the guilt haunting the dragon's gaze. He was sorry.

Still soaked and sore Hiccup pressed his face to the wet snout. The hum echoing from Toothless was neither captivating nor haunting, just content.

Releasing the happy dragon, Hiccup bopped him across the snout.

"If you ever do that again, we are never going flying again, never." He warned. Toothless warbled and licked him. Hiccup sputtered as the licking continued until his hair was standing up like the most heroic Vikings and his hands were slimy.

"I hope he got it out of his system." Astrid said, leaning against the door frame.

"Yeah me too." Hiccup answered patting the large head resting in his lap.

"Gothi says dragons mate for life so we won't have this problem next year." Astrid told him looking up at the stars peeking through the curtain of clouds.

Hiccup blanched though she didn't notice and peered at the cooing dragon.

'You won't.' He thought glumly and scratched Toothless' cheek.