Gaining Respect 14

The one thing that annoyed Astrid more than anything else was when Hiccup got into "New Dragon" mode. Sure it was cute seeing him all excited and bouncing about, especially now that the Skrill allowed him near it – her – but it was as if the rest of the world faded away around him. Mix Fishlegs into the mix and there was no way to get his attention back but now with Dagur thrown in the mix and Astrid would lucky if she ever got Hiccup's attention again.

The entire group had decided to walk or in Tuffnut and Ruffnut's case fly low and safely out of Dagur's reach while Tuffnut continued singing no matter how many times Stoick told him to shut up. Snotlout rolled his eyes and stayed close to his uncle, not wanting to get caught up in the two nerds and Berserker's excitement. He could never keep up with them.

Even though they and the majority of the dragons and riders were walking, couldn't contain his enthusiasm as he walked around the Skrill, noting the way it walked almost exactly like a Monstrous Nightmare and trying to guess its total measurement while Fishlegs chattered away on the other side as he tried measuring the creature's length. All the while Dagur was darting around Hiccup asking questions and relaying his people's knowledge with the same amount of excitement as the other two. Hiccup would giggle and jot this new information in his new journal – thanks to Fishlegs keeping an extra with him at all times. He sketched quickly, his focus completely on Stormstrike to the point that he would trip now and then and Dagur, Stoick or Astrid would scramble to catch him, seeing the tumble coming long before the young heir.

"You are too into this," Dagur teased even as he looked over Hiccup's shoulder to see what he had written or drawn and grinning like a child on Snoggletog. They were nearing the beach now and the Berserker ship wasn't far from land. Dagur was anxious to see his uncle and show him that the Skrill was indeed his and had come back to him. There was no more proof they were bonded then by the way Stormstrike had rushed to save his life.

"Wait until I start designing her saddle," Hiccup responded with a goofy grin. "I can't believe how calm she is." He reached out carefully and ran his hand over her head. She didn't spark or growl which earned a pet from Fishlegs as well.

Dagur only grinned and stole the journal from Hiccup to flip through it. In such a short time Hiccup had already gathered a lot of information. "Not bad, Hic. You could almost be an art-BAH!" He did a double take as a snowball hit him in the back of the head. His eyes narrowed as he turned to face whoever dared to throw anything at him. "Did you just hit me with a snowball?"

Everyone, including Stoick, stared at Hiccup wide eyed as he formed another snowball. He gave Dagur a cheeky grin, as if daring him to do something about it. Snotlout smartly stepped out of the line of fire and behind Hookfang while the twins got higher in the air. Tuffnut had stopped singing in shock of seeing Hiccup strike out first at Dagur. Astrid just seemed at little at awe while Fishlegs couldn't decide between hiding behind the Skrill or making a run for Meatlug.

Hiccup only grinned smugly as he threw a new snowball up and down in one hand. "You going to give it back?" he asked, his other hand out for his journal.

"Nope," Dagur teased as he closed the book. "Think you can take him, Hic?"

"Oh I'm pretty sure I can," Hiccup teased. "We're on even footing right now." He gestured to Dagur's injured leg.

"Hiccup," Stoick warned, moving to intervene.

Dagur tucked the journal into the back of his pants before kneeling down to scoop up some snow. Before he could stand and form a perfect ball though he was hit in the face by another snowball and Hiccup was laughing at him. He gave a low growl as he wiped the snow away and glared at the smaller boy.

"Three days stuck in a cave with you…this is therapy!" the Hooligan laughed, nearly doubling over.

"Therapy hey? You and Toothless weren't exactly a picnic to be with either," Dagur shot back as he threw his snowball at Hiccup.

"Hiccup, that's enough, son. I thought you two worked through…umph!"

The was a round of gasps as Hiccup ducked out of Dagur's way and accidently left his father open to the approaching snowball when Stoick went to grab his arm. Now the mighty chieftain of the Hooligan tribe was wiping snow off his face and beard and giving a none too friendly glare at the young Berserker who had thrown it.

"Oops…" Dagur breathed as he stepped back.

"Dagur," Stoick began with a low warning growl.

"Oh no…" Fishlegs whispered, backing toward his dragon.

"Ah…Dad, it's my fault," Hiccup began only to receive a snowball in the face from his father and a hearty laugh.

"FREE FOR ALL!" yelled Snotlout as he began belting snowballs in every direction.

It a matter of seconds all the teens were grabbing for snow and whipping it at each other. Snotlout got Fishlegs and Astrid while Astrid got Hiccup twice and Hiccup had to defend himself from both her and Dagur who was laughing like a madman along with Tuffnut who decided to conquer his fear and join in. Ruffnut did as well and Stoick was forced to duck and dive to avoid being hit but he threw almost as many snowballs and got hit by easily just as many. And of course the dragons had to get into it and try throwing snow about or just rolling around in it like Toothless. Stoick couldn't remember the last time he laughed so hard or heard Dagur laugh at all. Even Hiccup was laughing uncontrollably as he turned his focus to Toothless who was tail whipping snow at him and Dagur.

"Okay, okay!" Hiccup laughed as he tried escaping the barrage of snow coming at him from all directions, Astrid, Toothless and Stormfly teaming up on him only for Dagur to get in a few lucky shots as well. "I give! Dagur can keep the book!"

He rolled over in the snow until he was laying on his belly much as the other were, many laughing and absently throwing snowballs back and forth. By the time they were done the Berserkers had already beached and departed their ship, Harold leading them. Hiccup, froze where he was, almost expecting them to attack but they seemed more focused on Dagur or at least Harold was. The man walked bristly to Dagur who stared back at the man with surprised wide eyes before schooling his face and taking on the appearance of the fierce Berserker chief he was.

"What took you so long?" he snapped at his men, his voice crisp and commanding as he glared at them. "You best have a good excuse for making me wait. I'm not a man known for my patience, Commander."

"Of course not, sir," Harold answered as he neared, his gaze just as steady as his nephew's while the men behind him were already shifting about nervously. But he caught the glimpse of mischief in the youth's eyes and knew that the anger he was displaying was only a cover. He looked over his shoulder at the men following him. "Ready the ship and stoke the woodstove. Vorg, have some furs brought out."

The ship's captain and fellow sailors hurried back to the ship as ordered while Harold continued on to his nephew. The moment the other Berserkers' backs were turned Dagur's mask fell and he gave his uncle a gentle smile before stepping forward and letting the older man hug him. "I'm sorry, uncle," he murmured, pressing his cheek against Harold's shoulder.

"Sh…Dagur, it's not your fault," Harold soothed, combing his fingers through tangled and filthy red hair. "But you ever pull a stunt like this again I swear I'll strip you chieftain hood and flog you myself."

Dagur only chuckled and hugged him back. "I missed you do. Besides, I'd take your legs before you could flog me."

"Don't get cocky, boy." But despite the reprimand he pressed his lips to the boy's temple. "Just be happy your aunt doesn't know about this. She'd fillet you before either of us have a chance to stop her."

Dagur only nodded and laughed before pulling away and half dragging Harold to see Stormstrike. Stoick joined them by the dragon to discuss the meaning of having such a dangerous dragon and plan out a new peace treaty.

Hiccup let them be, not really wanting to get dragged into the political side of things just yet. It had been a tiring few days and all he wanted was to relax and have a little fun even if it was cold outside. Still, he was happy just leaning against Toothless.

At least until Astrid punched him in the arm. "Hey! Ow…what was that for?" he demanded as he shot her a glare and rubbed his arm.

"That's for making me worry," she said as she sat in the snow next to him. Then she leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss. "And that's for being a friend to Dagur. I never thought I'd ever see him act so…normal."

"Yeah, well I think he just needed someone to believe in him and be a friend…and brother," he answered, still rubbing his arm. He looked at her, watching the way she smiled at Dagur and the way he nuzzled Stormstrike. "Maybe if I hadn't screwed things up on Dragon Island we could have helped him find Stormstrike sooner. I think they really are meant to be together and with training they'll be a formable pair."

"You sure you want that?"

"No, but the Berserkers are our allies and we have to trust Dagur to remember we're his friends."

"He still should be caged," Astrid argued.

Hiccup shook his head. "No, I think he's been caged too long. I think what we're seeing is the real Dagur, the one I remember from when I was real young."

"I don't remember him being anything but crazy."

But Hiccup did. He remembered a time so very long ago he once thought it only a dream or wishful thinking. But he remembered when he was very young and Dagur would play with him much as he did just a short time ago, with snowballs or wooden figures their fathers had made him. Of warm hugs and bright smiles and jokes Hiccup never understood. And the way Dagur would protect him – even after he went a little loopy - was all the actions of an older sibling. No wonder he thought of them as brothers. Dagur always acting the role of a pesky older brother. But it was a long time ago, nearly a life ago. Actually a lot of the bad things that used to happen to him, the way his friends once bullied him for being different seemed like a life time ago. Yet none of it mattered anymore. He had friends, he had an older brother – sort of – and a girl he adored.

He smiled warmly at Astrid, thankful for everything that had come to his life all thanks to the dragon they were leaning against.

"What?" Astrid asked when he simply stared at her.

"I'm just wondering how hard you're going to bunch me," he answered, his voice soft and just above a whisper.

"Why would I…" She fell silent as he pushed his lips against her. It was a chastised kiss, just the pressed of lips but it was the first Hiccup initiated and made it all the more special. She leaned into it and kissed him back.

"Wait, Hiccup has a girlfriend?" Dagur yelled from where he was in astonishment. "This is seriously not fair! First he rides a Nightfury, defeats Red Death and gets a girlfriend? Why am I the last to be informed?"

Hiccup and Astrid jumped apart and tried to look innocent but Hiccup couldn't help a nervous giggle as he shrugged. "You asked about dragons not whether or not I was dating," he pointed out.

That only led into friendly taunting and teasing before Dagur was wrapped in a fur by his uncle and had ordered his men to find some leather or canvas so Hiccup can either patch the tailfin or build a new one, refusing to leave the island until he knew Hiccup and Toothless could make the flight home. After that the two tribes only grew closer as Hiccup and Dagur took turns visiting each other, especially once Dagur had a suitable saddle that kept him from being severely shocked whenever Stormstrike called upon lightning – although some of his wardrobe had to be altered…he received one of Hiccup's first flight suit designs. They truly became like brothers and if a rival tribe attacked one the other was sure to stand by their side. Of course that didn't mean Dagur didn't tease or pick on Hiccup from time to time but Hiccup had learned how to hold his own and could give as good as he got but that would be a story for another time.

fin