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Chapter Text

Hiccup is seven winters old when he hears that the heir to the Berserker tribe will be accompanying Oswald the Agreeable to the treaty signing. Hiccup hopes that Dagur is nicer than the rest of his own tribe. Hiccup has not been around too long, but he knows that he is a nuisance, not an asset. He spends most afternoons hiding from the judging eyes of adults and the painful interactions with other teens. 

He used to go and spend time with his Grandfather, Old Wrinkly, who indulged his questions and curiosity with a smile. But Old Wrinkly had been dead two years and Hiccup had to find new places to hide. No one else smiled at him really. He misses the warmth of his grandfather and his hearth as the old man told him stories and explained the world beyond the door of the hut, beyond the edges of Berk, and beyond the islands of the Barbaric Archipelago. 

Gobber smiles at him sometimes when Hiccup is allowed in the forge to spend time hiding and helping with small things. He has not been allowed to pound metal but he has gotten very good at using the billows and passing over tools as they are needed. He likes how warm it is in there. It is not as warm as Old Wrinkly’s where he had always been welcome and wanted. Even in the forge, there are times that he feels in the way and out of place. But at least he is not being hit, tripped, poked, stabbed, jeered at, laughed at, or sent face-first into the dirt and forced to swallow down tears for fear of his father’s disappointed looks.

So one could say that Hiccup was very hopeful that Dagur will be something different. Maybe nicer? Or at least ambivalent to Hiccup’s existence. 

Hiccup finds himself having a hard time keeping up with his father on the day that the Berserkers are scheduled to arrive. His ribs scream with each breath and his left ankle throbs, both gifts from the twins and Snotlout respectively. 

It makes Hiccup wonder what it would be like if he could build up the courage to sail off into the vast seas alone if he would have as much bruises and pain when faced with the freedom of the sea. But he would probably die pretty quickly. From dragons or other Vikings or knowing his luck, the ever distant Romans. Maybe all at once in the midst of a storm.

He shakes away the imaginative thoughts and takes a breath that hurts. But he keeps his face from showing it. He is used to hiding pain. His step wobbles for a second but he corrects it quickly. 

They stand on the docks, watching the ships of the Beserkers sailing to their shore. Hiccup tries to stand as straight as his father. But he feels like a speck beside Stoick the Vast. 

What title would follow his name when he got older?

Hiccup the useless?

Hiccup the runt?

He liked what Old Wrinkly had called him. 

Hiccup the Wise. 

He had not felt too wise, but Old Wrinkly had assured him that with all his questions, thoughts, and little invention ideas, he would become wise with time and a little more age. He had so hoped that his grandfather would be around long enough to see him have a title. But the man had been killed during a dragon raid and Hiccup had spent three days sobbing. And hiding. 

Hiccup is still mourning if he is being honest. He is not sure how he could stop mourning. He wonders how his father managed to not be constantly sad over the death of his mother. Hiccup was not as sad about her, because he had never really known her and-

He takes a deep breath and lets the pain ground him into the moment. The other chief is stepping off the ship. Behind him is a very bored-looking heir. 

Hiccup tilts his head a little to better study the heir as his name is announced as Dagur. Dagur’s hair is a brilliant fiery red that looks like it would spark and light up the nearby wood if given the chance. Sunlight glinting off of it reminds Hiccup of the warm fires of the forge. 

Hiccup likes fire. Warm, useful. A little dangerous, but manageable if you just know how. It is-

He hears his name and flinches back into focus. He needs to stop daydreaming, really he does. He is pushed forward a little by his father and hides a wince of pain from the world. He gives a respectful little bow to Dagur who looks like he was moments away from dying of boredom. Hiccup feels a rush of nervousness and has to keep himself from biting his lip. He is responsible for keeping the other boy entertained while the treaty is being signed. Hiccup was not yet considered old enough to be in the Great Hall during the negotiations. He hopes he can entertain the other. He had settled on taking Dagur to the places that Snotlout favored and a few that Hiccup liked.

“Er, hello.”

Hiccup wants to die. He stumbled over his first sentence. He is a disappointment to his tribe and his family name. Dagur looks him up and down and folds his arms.

“Hi.”

“Dagur…”

Oswald the Agreeable’s tone is full of warning and Dagur rolls his eyes in reply. Hiccup swallows and speaks up again, hoping to keep the peace.

“I’m supposed to, uh, show you around. Would you like to see one of the training areas?”

Not the dragon arena. Too dangerous. Hiccup is banned from that area till he is older. But there are many other places set up to throw axs and swing swords. Dagur gives him a considering look.

“Fine. Fineeeeeeeeeee . Hopefully, it’ll be more fun than staring at stupid paper or crashing waves.”

Hiccup silently nods. Maybe Dagur was more like Snotlout… Hiccup shoves the thought away. No. He is going to try and make a friend, by the gods. Even if Dagur is exactly like Snotlout, he is not vying for Hiccup's position as heir of Berk and so might be nicer to him like Snotlout is sometimes nicer to Ruff or Astrid. The adults start to head off to the Great Hall and Hiccup starts to lead Dagur to the training area. Hopefully, the other kids will stay away for a bit so that Hiccup has a chance to-

“Gods, my dad is so lame. I wanted to be there to see the dragon killing to get blood for ink.”

The ten-year-old Dagur huffs loudly interrupting Hiccup's thoughts. Hiccup looks up at him and takes a breath, a question escaping before his mind can trap it.

“Have you killed a dragon before?”

Dagur scrunches his nose and gives another huff.

“No. Not yet. But I've been on hunts for them before. I even caught one in a trap!! But my dad said it was too dangerous for me to get close and cut its head off.”

Hiccup finds more questions tumbling out as they keep walking.

“What kind of Dragon was it? What kind of trap worked on it? How did you bait the trap?”

Dagur looks at him with narrowed eyes and Hiccup finds a flush starting to stain his cheeks. He never could get his mouth to stay shut. It got him into too much trouble really. But the older boy starts to answer as they arrive at the training area.

“Deadly Nadder. And mackerel. It was a Beserker strangle trap.”

Dagur then starts to explain the trap while eyeing up the weapons and targets and Hiccup's hands itch to record the information. Dagur hefts up an ax, weighs it in his hand, and chucks it, getting a bullseye. Hiccup takes this bit of distraction to pull out his notebook and charcoal. He starts noting down what Dagur had said and trying to sketch out what the trap may have looked like based on the description that Dagur had given 

“It tried to scare us off by shooting its tail. And I got hit, but a little blood never stopped me bef- What are you doing?”

Dagur is facing him again and Hiccup feels his grip go white knuckle as he clings to his notebook.

“I… Well, I like to take notes.”

He explains lamely. Dagur scrunches his nose and leans over, looking at the doodle. Hiccup feels embarrassed. Stupid. Dumb. A normal Viking would just nod and be excited by the rush of blood that comes with a good hunt, not try to jot down the methodology!! 

“You wrote down what I told you.”

Dagur's voice is blank.

“It was interesting?”

“ You were paying attention to what I said!”

Dagur looks pleased and puffs up a little. He looks at the sketch of the trap and taps it.

“Give me a bit of rope and a few other supplies and I can show you the trap so you can draw it correctly. It doesn't really look like that and while I'm really really good at setting traps, giving a verbal artistic rendition of them isn't something I've focused on learning.” 

Hiccup nods eagerly and shows Dagur all the supplies that he asks for. Then Dagur grabs his arm and drags him into the woods to set up the trap. Hiccup barely feels the pain from his ankle and ribs as Dagur begins chattering excitedly about the trap and explaining how to set it up and all the different animals he had caught and the few unlucky tribesmen.

Chapter Text

Dagur had really wanted to be present for the treaty signing. He was ten summers old and ready to be a man! He knew one day it would be his job to establish treaties and allies for the Berserkers. Plus he had really wanted to see a dragon killed for blood ink. 

But his father had said he was to get to know the current heir to the Hooligan tribe to “prepare to be allies in the future” or something. Dagur does not fully remember. He had been so angry that he hucked an ax into the wall and stormed off. 

But honestly?

This is more fun than a stuffy Great Hall. Hiccup is hanging onto his every word and raptly watching as he shows how to make a smaller version of the Berserker strangle trap. The smaller boy draws a step-by-step example and shows it to Dagur for his approval. Dagur is supremely pleased. Very few people took his words seriously or gave him proper attention. Sure there were those who lauded him, just to try to get something later. 

But Hiccup isn't doing that. Or at least Dagur doesn't think so. And he had gotten good at sniffing out fakes and flunkies. The other had been embarrassed by his notebook and had paid detailed attention to what Dagur actually said. More detailed than what Dagur thinks a seven-year-old faking interest would.

Dagur decides that he quite likes this genuine admiration. Hiccup is his friend, he decides. And he feels a brief flair of viciousness cross his heart at the thought that Hiccup might have another. Well, if it came to it, Dagur would pull rank. Something that Hiccup has yet to do.

Honestly, Dagur had been expecting someone somewhat like him to be the heir of the Hooligans. Vicious and ready to defend their position from people who doubted them or wanted it for themselves. Maybe someone to brawl with.

But he likes Hiccup and his sweet curiosity that leads to question after question. Much preferable to a potential rival he would have to beat off like most kids his age back home. 

Hiccup's eyes light up like leaves catching the sun at a golden dawn when Dagur offers to let him practice making the trap and that possessive feeling licks back up across his veins. 

His friend. 

His. 

“We're friends.”

He declares as Hiccup is attempting the complicated knot. The smaller boy blinks at him with a puzzled look that lasts for just a moment before getting replaced with a warm smile.

“Okay! I'd like that. Friends.”

Hiccup rolls the word around in his mouth as if testing it on his tongue and Dagur tilts his head to the side. Hiccup grins, wide enough to show a missing tooth that should be a molar. Dagur smiles widely back, a wild laugh escaping his chest like the roar of a Monstrous Nightmare. However, Hiccup seems unfazed. Even shifting a little closer to Dagur. Which is… not the typical response to his laugh. It makes him all the more sure that Hiccup is meant to be his friend.

After he corrects the trap that Hiccup attempted to make and baits it, they shift away from the trap and hide nearby, settling in for the wait. Dagur half loves and half hates the waiting part of hunting. The anticipation! The boredom. But this time he has Hiccup. And Hiccup, after a breath of hesitation which was preceded by Dagur gesturing to his notebook, hands over the charcoal-laden book.

Dagur wants to see who else might have been important enough to Hiccup to record their words and draw pictures for. It's selfish and mean, but he wants to know who to punish for getting close to his friend. Hiccup looks half terrified when he starts at the beginning of the book. 

Dagur finds himself lost in the drawings that are everything from architecture and trying to solve why buildings stay up to detailed doodles of birds and their feathers with theories about their connection to dragons and butterflies. He is as gentle as he can be as he flips through, fighting hard to keep down the noises of awe, because they are still hunting. But it is so hard. He finds himself pausing on a drawing of a particularly intriguing invention that would let a person launch a bola through the air. There are a lot of crossed-through calculations and ideas for how to get it up and running.

Dagur looks up at Hiccup who is bright red again.

“I can't… I don't know how to make it work. I'm not strong enough for some of the crafting required to test my theories.”

Hiccup whispers and Dagur finds himself tilting his head.

“I could help.”

He murmurs, relooking over the design. Hiccup shifts closer.

“You'd help?”

Whispered awe. Dagur puffs up a little. 

“I'm strong enough too.”

Hiccup smiles brilliantly.

“I'm sure you are. Thank you.”

The sincerity and true thankfulness make Dagur feel like he could heft boulders for Hiccup to make him happy. Dagur keeps looking through the book, eyes feasting on the detail and the fact that no one else seems to have influenced Hiccup’s writing or art. It pleases him.

“Is your arm okay?”

Dagur blinks at the small heir next to him. Hiccup’s eyes are trained on the arm that had been cut by the Nadder two weeks ago.

“Yeah. Mostly. It bled a lot at first, but it's healing okay. I’ll probably get a scar out of it.”

Hiccup winces a little. Dagur is a little confused and reassures his friend.

“I want a scar Hiccup. Just to prove that I did something interesting .”

Hiccup's nose scrunches a little bit but the other boy does not press. It is nice to have someone be worried. Most of the people around him had barely reacted to his injury and then he had covered the pain with a wild cackle.

He keeps looking through the book with Hiccup giving whispered explanations for a while. He is interrupted by the telltale snap of the trap activating.  He looks up and grins wildly, hoping to his feet.

“We caught a rabbit!”

A rabbit dangles in the air, hindlegs stuck. The more it struggles the tighter the trap gets. 

Hiccup looks a little surprised and then smiles, rising to stand next to Dagur.

“I've never hunted anything successfully before.”

Dagur grins and slaps Hiccup on the back in the friendly way he had seen his fellow tribesmen do when celebrating. 

Except, instead of smiling, Hiccup falls to the ground and curls into a tight ball, a whimper escaping his lips. The other boy squeezes his eyes shut tightly, shoving a fist in his mouth that muffles a scream of agony. Dagur freezes. He had not hit that hard. Had he?

Tears wet Hiccup’s face, mingling with ashy paleness. Muffled sobs slip out, soft and barely there like mist from breaking waves. 

“Hiccup?”

Dagur crouches down.

“N-not your fault.”

Hiccup manages to stutter out, eyes still screwed shut. Dagur gently touches the other and rolls him to the side, earning a muffled groan of pain. He pushes up Hiccup's shirt as the seven-year-old continues to cry.

Fiery rage burns through his bones and his hand begins to tremble. Murder and bloodlust claw at his veins.

Black bruises ring Hiccup's chest like a sloppy tattoo, marking injury all over the ribs that shake and tremble with each gasping breath. Hiccup cringes away and makes another noise of pain that has Dagur's teeth grinding and his fists clenching. Hiccup's eyes open, widening with fear as the green shifts from dawn-filled leaf green to the green of an upset ocean green that is turbulent and breaking. 

“Who. Do. I. Need. To. Kill.”

Dagur snarls, his tongue barely operating as he chokes out each word and feels rage howl in his heart. Hiccup sobs. Dagur huddles down beside him, not sure how to comfort him. It is not something emphasized in his tribe. Sure he can fight and hunt, but comfort a sobbing friend? He has no idea.

Chapter Text

Hiccup's mind is lost to pain for a moment. Then embarrassment overtakes him. Here he is sobbing like some babe missing its mother. He is stronger than this. He has to be as heir to Berk.

But Dagur had seen him break down and even revealed the shameful bruise. He hides his face in his hands when he finds he can no longer take seeing the world through his water-filled gaze.

“I-m s-sorry.”

For breaking. For being weak. For ruining the day. Dagur shifts closer and slowly wraps his arms around Hiccup in what might be a hug. Hiccup stiffens but Dagur presses closer, warm. Like the fire that his hair looks like.

“I'm sorry,” Hiccup repeats, choking a little on spit and mucus, “for ruining things.”

Dagur snarls like a dragon. 

“Who hurt you ? Who hurt my friend?”

Hands touch him and he flinches further into the tree roots that layer the forest floor. He wishes that they would split the earth in twain and let him fall right in so that he could hide forever. How could he reply? How could he let it be known that he had not been able to defend himself? 

He bites down viciously on his lip as a pained noise fills the air. It takes a moment to register that the noise that is ripping apart the serenity of the forest is not coming from him. It shocks him into silencing his sobs as he opens his eyes to stare at Dagur who is making a heart-wrenching sound. It is so full of pain and sorrow. The older boy is clawing at the earth and staring at Hiccup with a dreadful hopelessness.

“How do I help if you don't tell me who to hurt you?”

Hiccup swallows.

“Do… do you have willow bark? Or know where some is?”

His own voice is like a tattered sail; uselessly shaking up and down and barely holding any strength at all.

It is a weakness to admit that he needs any medication. He had been doing so well but-

“I don't. But I know something else that will help.”

Dagur says, shifting to grab Hiccup. Hiccup flinches as he is lifted and propped up against the tree. Hiccup swallows and resettles, falling into baited silence, a little terrified still. Dagur brings the rabbit over to Hiccup after killing it and then promises to return. Hiccup nods slowly and Dagur bolts off. Hiccup takes a few deep breaths to try and bring the pain back down. He collapses into the tree and feels his ankle twinge. He hiccups and swallows again. 

Breathing feels like a chore and he wishes he could stop for a moment, just a moment to relax. But then his lungs would burn from needing to breathe. So he keeps breathing in and out through the pain. It feels like centuries pass and that the pain ebbs and swirls about his body.

The sound of footsteps has his eyes cracking open. Dagur arrives back with the bottom part of his tunic torn and soaked.

“I found cold water. It helps. Promise.”

Dagur starts wrapping the icy cold cloth around Hiccup’s ribs and Hiccup makes no move to stop him. He is a little stunned if he is being honest. While the movements are a little rough, Hiccup suspects this is as much softness as Dagur can manage. The movements are sure and true. The cold does feel nice. Hiccup takes a deep gasping breath. And then another. Dagur watches him for a moment but the lack of movement and action seems to get to the older boy and he starts creating a fire and skinning the rabbit skillfully. Hiccup silently watches for a little bit, hand moving to touch the wet cloth now secured around his chest. It is… nice. 

Were they truly friends?

“Thanks.”

He whispers. Dagur turns from the cooking meat to glance at him. The older frowns and grumbles, rubbing at his face. 

“You’re my friend. Mine . If you're hurt, I take care of it. The injury and the person that caused it. ”

Anger seems to be building in the other again and Hiccup wants to keep that fire from becoming an inferno. Time to distract!

“Do you often hunt?”

Dagur calms slightly as he addresses Hiccup’s question.

“Yeah. Dad goes off questing a lot and I get sick of fish pretty easily. So I go hunting by myself most weeks.”

“And you catch things every time?”

Dagur nods. Then the older boy launches into a thrilling explanation of a few of his wilder catches and Hiccup finds himself relaxing fully as Dagur grins and speaks. Hiccup softly asks a few questions and Dagur eagerly answers. Hiccup lets out a soft breath and blinks again in surprise Dagur passes over part of the cooked meat. He carefully takes a bite and smiles.

“This is perfect!”

Dagur puffs up a little.

“I'm really good at cooking. I can cook any meat.”

Hiccup hums. It is well cooked. Not raw. Not dried out. Just right in a way he had not quite managed on his own yet. He chews happily.

“Do you have other injuries?”

Dagur asks, eyes intense. Hiccup looks away, face staining bright red. 

“Yeah. My ankle. I- There was something that startled me and I stepped back on it funny. But it is fine! I was able to walk on it fine.”

“ You were walking around with ribs that look like someone pelted you with stones no problem. Which by the way, I still want a name , Hiccup.”

Not too far from the truth. Hiccup swallows as Dagur comes close again. He really does not want to give Snotlout’s name. It is just so embarrassing as heir to complain about the heir runner-up pelting him with pinecones and causing him to fall down a tree-root-laden hill. 

“Hiccup?”

Dagur is next to him again, as warm as before. Hiccup shakes his head silently. He has no voice. Dagur growls but then focuses on his feet.

“Fine. Ill figure it out later. And then they are dead. Which ankle?”

“L-left.” 

Hiccup stutters out, shaking a little with pain and cold. The rest of his body is starting to get cold. Dagur starts tugging on the boot and Hiccup lets out a scream that he muffles with a fist in his mouth. Blood drips from his knuckles with how hard he is biting down. Dagur slows down and makes soft shushing noises as he takes the boot off. Dagur hisses. And then whistles.

“You have a crazy high pain tolerance, my friend.”

His ankle which had been a little red this morning is now swollen and the size of an apple and about as red and shiny as one. Hiccup swallows again at the sight of it. 

“I… I had to be present today.”

He says lamely, voice a crackly whisper. Dagur smiles and him. The older boy bumps heads with him gently with a pleased hum.

“I'm glad you were. You did very good, Hiccup.”

Hiccup smiles a little at the praise, turning a darker red. 

“T-Thanks. I'm sorry for crying but-”

Dagur shakes his head.

“Dont care. I don't mind your crying. At least you have a decent reason to be screaming and crying. A lot of people don't. And don't say you ruined anything. I've had a great time today.”

Hiccup relaxes and shivers again. Dagur wraps up Hiccup’s ankle and then scoops him up with all of his things, stamping out the fire at the same time. Hiccup holds on tight, terrified of being dropped. 

“Dagur??”

He asks as he clings.

“We’re going back to the village. You have willow bark at home, right?”

“I don't want to bore you though… my dad said it's my job to keep you happy while you're here.”
Hiccup’s ragged voice grates on his ears as Dagur stomps through the woods.

“I want to see the chief’s hut.”

Dagur says a little snootily and Hiccup smiles, relaxing against the other’s chest.

“Okay. Yeah. I can show you the chief's hut.”

He covers a yawn, pain and crying having worn him down.

Chapter Text

Hiccup gives Dagur instructions to Stoick’s house, and falls asleep as soon as Dagur is across the threash hold. The poor tiny heir must be exhausted. Dagur deposits him in the large plush chair by the fire and stokes the flames. He looks around with some interest but really it's like any other hut. He had hoped to see some tinge of Hiccup on the space. Though he supposes that it is telling that there is no mark of the other boy anywhere in the downstairs.

Hiccup whimpers in his sleep and Dagur comes back over to the other after pileing the fire high with logs. The smaller is still shivering. Dagur frowns and fidgets a bit before shifting the sleeping heir around so that they are both on the chair. He props up Hiccup's leg and finds himself settling. Normally his brain would be a buzz with what he needs to do next or about how bored he is, but right now, as he shifts Hiccup into his arms and contently leans back in the chair, he feels peace. Hiccup curls into him and stops shivering.

Dagur wakes up when a bony elbow hits his grumbling belly. He blinks slowly, tightening his grip momentarily as his brain fights to wake up. Hiccup lets out a soft noise of pain and stops wriggling. Dagur yawns and loosens his grip slightly. But not enough to let Hiccup slip away. Hiccup's cheeks are red again.

“Can… can you let go? I don't think friends are supposed to s-sleep on each other.”

Dagur swallows down a snarl.l and keeps holding.

“Your other friends don't do this?”

He dodges the question in favor of asking his own that he has been dying to know the answer to since he decided that he wanted Hiccup as a friend. If Hiccup had other friends, he is not sure what he will do. The thought of anyone diverting Hiccup’s attention boils his blood. 

Hiccup looks away and picks at the fraying edge of his sleeve. The boy fidgets and breathes unsteadily. Dagur waits impatiently. Still not moving his arms. He is not going to let Hiccup go so easily.

“I don't… I don't really have friends… Not really.” Hiccup sucks in a sharp breath between his teeth and keeps speaking. “But my dad doesn't sleep on his friends! So let me go. Eer, please?”

Dagur feels a warm coil of satisfaction swirl across his spine and through his gut. No other friends. Their loss honestly if Hiccup is so genuine and open all the time. More attention for him! Which is satisfying. He likes having someone pay attention and admire him. He pulls Hiccup closer, careful of the bruises that stained his friend’s skin. Hiccup’s eyes go wide.

“Friends do sleep on each other. And you were cold. I didn't want you to be cold! What kind of friend would I be if I let you fall asleep shivering?”

Dagur argues as he bumps his head against Hiccup’s. Hiccup relaxes slowly.

“That’s… that’s fair.”

Hiccup stutters, voice very quiet. Dagur grins broadly, glad to have won the argument. His stomach grumbles again and Hiccup shifts. 

“Let's go get food Dagur.” Alarm then enters Hiccup’s eyes, mingling with fear.  “Oh! Oh no!! There’s a feast tonight. What time is it? Is it night?”

Hiccup panics, arms flailing violently. Dagur shushes him and shifts his arms to stop Hiccup’s arms from hitting him more. It is like holding a wriggling fish. Hiccup slows his movements, whimpering a little. 

“You are going to hurt yourself more . Take a breath Hiccup.”

Hiccup takes a breath. The smaller presses closer after a moment.

“S-sorry. For hitting you with my arms.”

“I don't really feel it. It's alright.”

Dagur states honestly, pressing his head against Hiccup’s, liking being close to his friend. He rarely is able to close to anyone. His father often kept him at arm's length, especially after he had lost his sister when he was five. Hugs were none existent. Shoulder pats and touches were almost nonexistent, except to direct him or try to reign him in. He misses the friendlier contact of his childhood before he screwed up. The love. The caring. He comes out of his thoughts as Hiccup pats his arm.

“Dagur? Can we go to the Great Hall? I'm hungry.”

This stirs him into motion. He gets up and hoists Hiccup along with him. The smaller heir holds on tightly eyes wide and grips tight.

“Woah! Uh… Dagur I can walk.”

“Not with your ankle swollen like that .”

Hiccup clings to him, hands fisting his tunic. Dagur hears the sharp swallow and stops his movement towards the door.

“I know. But… I don't… I don't want others to see.”

Oh. Oh. Dagur understands. He hated displaying any sort of weakness around his tribe. It would give people a chance to start whispers that he should not be heir and might even embolden someone to take their shot and have them attempt to take him out. He glances around and then deposits Hiccup back on the chair before gathering up some wood and cloth. He braces Hiccup’s ankle and digs through the shelves to find willow bark. He presses it into Hiccup's hand and the other quickly starts chewing on it. 

“I can provide support while you walk. Don't put your full weight on it. You’ll hurt it more and I don't want you to be in pain for longer than necessary.”

Hiccup nods and slowly stands up.

“I'm going to borrow one of my dad’s old boots to keep my foot from freezing off.”

Hiccup states, nodding to himself in a fashion that seems to imply an argument won. Dagur helps him hobble over to a chest full of worn-out clothing, likely kept around to be reused in some fashion later. Hiccup slips on a large boot over the brace that Dagur had put on his leg. Dagur ties it up so that it will not fall off midstep. Hiccup takes a deep breath and Dagur offers out his arm. 

“Ready?”

He asks the smaller boy.

“Ready.”

Hiccup gives a sharp nod and grabs on. While Dagur would have preferred to carry him, this is fine. 

Chapter Text

Hiccup is grateful for the help. So few people came to his aid that he sees every instance of help as precious. He takes deep, fortifying breaths as he leans against Dagur. The other has launched into another story about hunting and Hiccup asks any questions that come to mind. 

Dagur does not seem to mind the waterfall of questions that continuously tumble from Hiccup's lips. The older boy even puffs his chest a bit while answering them. Hiccup would much rather walk around with Dagur for hours than go into the Great Hall and deal with the attention of everybody. 

But they finally arrive at the Hall, where the feast is in full swing. Hiccup tightens his grip on Dagur for a moment, thinking about having to face the other children of the village. Dagur stops, his words pausing as he looks at Hiccup. Hiccup looks at the Great Hall, hand shaking ever so slightly. 

Hiccup finds himself trusting Dagur. The other had patched him up and looked after him, without a single tease about his tears. He takes a breath and a whisper slips from his lips, softer than a butterfly’s wing flap.

“I'm scared.”

Dagur stiffens and Hiccup flinches, thinking that he is about to be rebuked. However, Dagur just shifts closer and presses their heads together. Hiccup is not sure what the significance of the gesture is, but Dagur seems to like doing it frequently. Hiccup leans into it a little this time, starting to find comfort in the motion.

“You're my friend. I won't let anything happen to you without trying to stop it or extremely painful retribution being dished out.”

Dagur snarls the last bit, sounding every bit like the half-crazed Beserk warrior he has heard Gobber tell tall tales about. Hiccup gives a tiny smile, slowly coming to understand that violence is how Dagur shows a lot of his affection and friendliness. 

“Okay. I trust you.”

Hiccup murmurs in reply, truth filling his words like a rain-swollen stream. Dagur stands straight and proud like he had just been bestowed the highest of honors. 

“Then we go in. Together .”

Dagur’s voice is sure and full of strength and Hiccup finds himself borrowing just a little of that surety for himself. He takes a deep breath and ignores his ribs. His shoulders fall back and he stands straighter.

“Together.”

And they walk into the Great Hall, matching each other’s pace with twin looks of determination etched into their faces. Hiccup spots an empty space big enough for them both and they move to sit down. There is some food and a set of empty plates there, so they are able to immediately set about eating. 

Hiccup stokes Dagur into passionate storytelling once more, entertained by the way the other boy’s eyes dance like candle flames while his voice crackles and roars like a bonfire as story after story surges out. Hiccup half believes most of them and laughs when they sound too ridiculous to be remotely true. He finds joy in the fact that Dagur takes no offense in his quiet laughter that he had tried to muffle with his hands. 

In fact, it seems that Dagur is trying to drag more laughter out of him, increasing the absurdity of each story. Hiccup cannot recall a feast that he had enjoyed so much or where he was not counting down the seconds till he could slip away and avoid any embarrassment brought on by his own clumsiness or by the other children. He finds himself relaxing and eating more than he would normally, entranced by asking questions and having them answered in-depth and without the other person expressing bother. 

He leans into Dagur’s side as the night grows longer, laughing more freely as the torches have to be replaced and the fires restocked with logs. Hiccup finds himself sharing more of his strange ideas for inventions as Dagur questions and actually listens. Hiccup finds it a little addicting to be listened to. Dagur throws an arm around him, drawing him even closer. He is warm, getting very full, and sleepy contentedness washing through his system. 

Eventually, since they are seated towards the edge of the feast, there is no more food nearby and no drinks. Dagur gently squeezes him and goes to grab more after a long bout of reassurances from Hiccup.

Hiccup yawns and leans against the table, shivering ever so slightly. He finds himself eagerly awaiting his friend's return. He taps his fingers softly as he thinks of more questions to ask. Suddenly, an unwelcome presence arrives. Snotlout drops down beside him and slaps his back.

“Having fun hogging the Berserker heir to yourself all day?”

Pain fills Hiccup to the brim and he forces down tears as his ribs scream. His hands are white knuckle fists.

“H-he want-ted to spend the d-day with m-me.”

Hiccup haltingly whispers, desperate on each word to not accidentally sob. He hates how wobbly his voice is. How weak he is.

“Sure he d-did.” Snotlout mocks his stutter and jabs at Hiccup’s ribs with his elbow, “Who wouldn't want to waste their time with someone who can barely be counted as a Viking like you.”

Hiccup lets out a sob, losing the battle to the waves of pain. And then Snotlout is gone from his side. The speed at which it happened caused Hiccup to not fully register what had happened. But as Dagur rolls on the floor with Snotlout, punching and biting, Hiccup realizes that Dagur had yanked his cousin off of the bench to fight him. Hiccup is too full of pain and shock to move. His hands grip the bench, knuckles turning white as his eyes widen. Dagur is letting out a frenzied war call

Shouts fill the Hall and then Dagur is dragged backwards while Snotlout is dragged in the opposite direction. Dagur throws his blood-covered face backwards with an explosive cackle. Hiccup sees a deep bite on Snotlout's arm that the other boy is now whining about. Dagur’s laughter covers up almost any other noise. To Hiccup, it sounds like a victorious trumpet after a battle. The laughter is then swallowed by Dagur’s voice

“Don't touch my friend!”

Dagur screams. Blood-stained teeth flash as Dagur devolves into deep snarls. Other Berserkers hoist him away at Oswald’s orders while Dagur begins to scream and screech. He sounds like an injured and dangerous animal. Hiccup wants to reach out and comfort him, but his entire body is frozen and he hates himself.

Chapter Text

Dagur paces the ship cabin that his dad had locked him inside. His heart still is beating a rageful tune against his ribs.  He wants to cry, but he cannot cry. He punches the cabin wall. He punches it again and draws blood. 

Gah!

Dagur had gone beserk. Losing himself to the rage his island is famous for because someone dared bring pain to his friend. And he knows that pain had been brought on purpose from how that stupid kid had poked at Hiccup. His mouth feels itchy from the dried blood, but the satisfaction of causing such bodily harm while in the berserker rage licks at his gut.

Normally in his tribe, falling into such a rage was celebrated. Except this was a peace treaty event and his father said he had put the whole treaty at risk. 

How?? 

How had he put it at risk?

He had defended the Berk heir. His friend. 

A friend he was not going to be able to see for a long time if his father’s promise remained true that he would be locked in this cabin for the remaining week of their visit. They would not come back to Berk till the next annual treaty signing and he hates the thought of that long passing without getting a proper goodbye. Would Hiccup renounce their friendship? Would he-

A hesitant knock on the door startles him out of his thoughts. He hears something wriggling in the lock. Something that does not quite fit. The door then creeks open and there Hiccup stands with a thin piece of metal and a large grin.

“I've never picked a lock before.”

Hiccup says and Dagur rushes forward. He is careful when he wraps his arms around Hiccup, not wanting to hurt him more. Hiccup pats his back and then pushes on him.

“I brought stuff. To do, I mean. And some food. I don't want you to be bored. You’re my friend. No one has ever… well never has anyone… You stood up for me. Thanks.”

Hiccup smiles brightly at him. Dagur grins back.

“I will always stand up for you.”

Dagur swears and Hiccup smiles. Dagur then lets Hiccup go so that the smaller can drag his bag into the cabin. Hiccup offers a cloth to wipe his mouth and then passes him a roll. Dagur gets Hiccup to settle down on the bed, and then wipes at his mouth before taking a bite of the roll. Hiccup pulls out what appears to be an older notebook. Dagur is ecstatic to have his friend here. He settles next to Hiccup, arms wrapping around the smaller again. Hiccup leans against him after a moment. He asks questions about each page and doodle. Hiccup explains each, both slowly growing tired.

“Hey… Dagur…”

Hiccup pauses his explanation and Dagur looks at him. Hiccup’s eyes are a soft forest green again, and his skin is a much healthier color than it had been out in the woods. 

“Yeah, Hiccup?”

“Can I stay? To sleep tonight? I don't want to go back.”

Hiccup presses into Dagur’s side. Dagur presses their heads together and smiles happily. 

“You can stay forever .”

Hiccup smiles and gives a little laugh. 

“Okay.”

Hiccup presses back against him and starts talking again about his notebook. Dagur pulls him even closer resting his chin on Hiccup’s head. Hiccup ends up falling asleep against his chest, his mouth falling open with soft snores. Dagur puts the notebook to the side and tugs up the blanket. He finds himself feeling very relaxed. He would love to stay like this forever. Warm. Safe. Happy.

--

Dagur wakes up to the sound of loud voices and grumbles a little, nuzzling into the soft hair right under his nose. He cracks open an eye, irritation flickering through him like sparks from a torch. He would like to be left alone, thank you very much. He stares out at his father and Stoick the vast who are both looking at him and Hiccup. He grumbles and wraps his arm a little more securely around Hiccup.

“We are asleep. Go away.”

He snarls deeply. Stoick the Vast lifts an unimpressed eyebrow.

“My son needs to come home.”

“Hiccup needs to be safe.”

Dagur spits back, teeth flashing. He is not above biting a chief. Stoick looks offended. How can he be offended, Dagur is just stating the truth. And there is nowhere safer than right here with Dagur. Stoick looks about ready to argue. 

“Dad… can’t I stay? We’re building up ally b-bonds.”

Hiccup’s voice is gentle and soft, like a summer breeze swirling through the branches of leaf-laden branches. A yawn follows Hiccup’s words and the boy wraps his arms loosely around Dagur’s. Dagur is starkly reminded of how tiny Hiccup is. All the more reason for Hiccup to stay. 

Stoick softens fractionally and then sighs. 

“Fine Hiccup. If Oswald agrees.”

Dagur sends a look at his father. He is not entirely sure himself whether it is a threatening look or a begging one. Whichever it is, it seems to convince Oswald. His father nods and Dagur lets out the breath he had been holding. His friend gets to stay. Thank the gods above and below. Hiccup lets out his own soft breath, smiling a little.

“Thanks, Dad.”

Stoick nods and both chiefs leave them. Hiccup lets out a soft little huff as he shifts to a presumably more comfortable position. 

“Thanks, Hiccup. I would have said the wrong thing and my dad would have been pissed again.”

Hiccup gives a hum.

“Happy to help… friend.”

Dagur croons as warmth fills his gut. He is very pleased. 

--

The rest of the weeklong visit has Dagur still banned to the boat, but it is not too terrible for either boy. Dagur gets Hiccup's nearly undivided attention and gets to make sure that the other heals properly and watches Hiccup generate ideas. Hiccup gets a friend he can listen to and be listened to in turn. 

They develop a secret writing code to prepare to send letters back and forth and keep the messages from potential prying eyes. Hiccup takes great joy in trying to creating a cypher and Dagur takes joy in keeping up with Hiccup’s ideas.

Both are sad when the week ends and the Berserkers have to go back home. 

The two stand on the deck and Hiccup nervously shifts from foot to foot. 

“Im going to miss you Dagur.”

Hiccup can already feel his chest aching with loss.

“I'll see you in a year Hiccup.”

Dagur wraps his arms around Hiccup and they hug for a little bit. Hiccup steps off the ship and waves farewell until the ships are on the edge of the horizon. The year cannot pass fast enough.

Chapter Text

Hiccup bounces on his feet as they wait at the dock for the Berserkers to arrive. He is a year older and is very eager to see his friend in person again. They had sent piles of letters back and forth. Hiccup had slowly grown more honest about what life was like for him in the village. Though things were a little better since Gobber started letting him work more in the forge. But he still has issues with the other children in the village. 

Dagur had told him about his life on Berserk. The hunts, the fights, and the loneliness. Hiccup wishes he had been able to go to his friend but his dad was too busy with dragon raids and dealing with trying to supply the village to consider sailing to Beserk with Hiccup. So Hiccup had been ticking down the days on the calendar. 

As Dagur steps off the ship he looks at Hiccup. Hiccup feels a stupid rush of fear. What if the letters had been a lie? What if Dagur hates him now?? 

Then Dagur is rushing forward, halting right in front of Hiccup.

“Are you injured?”

Dagur asks, body shaking from restraining himself. Hiccup shakes his head, words failing him. Dagur whoops and lifts him in a tight hug, twirling him around through the air. Hiccup laughs joyfully as he holds on tight, not wanting to go flying into the sky or sea. Dagur then stops and holds Hiccup closer.

“I'm so so happy to see you!!”

Dagur just about shouts and Hiccup freely laughs again.

“I'm happy to see you too Dagur. I made something for you!”

He chirps up at the older boy while hugging Dagur as tight as he can back. Dagur holds him for a moment longer and slowly leans backward. 

“What is it? What is it??”

Dagur excitedly asks. Both are lost in their own world of interacting, ignoring the surprised looks from both villages. Hiccup pulls out a knife that he had forged. It is not the prettiest blade, or the most well-balanced. But Dagur’s smile lets Hiccup know that the older boy loves the gift. Dagur tests its weight and immediately attaches the sheath to his belt and tucks the knife away. 

The two then run off together to the forge, having already made plans for the week over letters. Hiccup grins as Dagur eagerly listens to him and they get to work on an idea they had generated in the last two months. They chat and laugh as they work, easily slipping into the comfortable feeling that they had the last time they had seen each other. It is nice. Hiccup feels more relaxed and safe than he had in months. The near-constant contact from Dagur makes him smile brightly and release how little he had human contact 

Dagur pauses and digs into the bag that he brought. 

“I forgot to give this to you!”

He pulls out a notebook and ink set. Hiccup’s eyes go wide as he takes the gifts from his friend. The notebook has the Berserker skrill pressed into the leather front of the notebook. Hiccup traces his finger across it and then presses the entire notebook against his chest. No one else had ever given him a gift like this. 

“Thank you, Dagur.”

Hiccup whispers clinging to the notebook with all his might.

“I'm glad you like it.”

“Like it? I love it.”

Hiccup smiles and Dagur grabs him into a tight hug. Hiccup hugs him back pressing close and just forgetting that his friend would have to leave at the end of the week. 

--

Dagur rolls his shoulders before throwing another ax.

“That one had too much weight in the handle to throw and swing comfortably. It was also tilted to the left while I was throwing it. ”

He comments to Hiccup as he picks up a new ax to test out. Hiccup had asked him to test the weapons he had made over the last year and give him feedback so that he could figure out what he could fix. Dagur loves being able to help and gives honest feedback for each weapon. Hiccup jots down each detail that Dagur gives him in the gift notebook that Dagur feels a great rush of pride seeing Hiccup use. 

Hiccup sits atop a barrel, jotting down what he said and ideas about how to fix the weight issues. Dagur gives his own opinion that Hiccup considers seriously and then chats about what aspects might be the leather and woodwork and what was needed to be changed in the metal design. 

Dagur weighs the ax in his hand, twirling it skillfully. Okay yes. He is showing off a little bit. However, he sort of likes how impressed Hiccup is by just about everything he does when it comes to feats of strength and knowledge about weapons. 

“Hey! You!”

Hiccup flinches at the new voice and curls into himself. Dagur recognizes the annoying nasally voice that squeaks like a rat since the kid has yet to develop a full voice. Snotface. Or something. Dagur turns, ax still atwirl in his hand, wondering if the kid is stupid enough to start a fight while he is fully armed. He shifts to the side to be standing in front of the barrel that Hiccup is sitting on. He snarls at the smaller kid who dared interrupt the precious limited time that he has with Hiccup. 

“What?”

Dagur shows his teeth, snarl filling that singular word.

“How can you want to spend your time with him? Hiccup the useless?? Hes lame! And I'm probably going replace him as heir soon.”

He hears Hiccup take a sharp breath, and feels rage crash though him.

“ I like his company. Hiccup is my best friend. Who else could I possibly want to hang out with?”

His grip on the ax is tight enough to cause the leather on the handle to bite uncomfortably into his palm. In the back of his mind he is recalibrating for the unevenness of its blade and too light nature of its handle. Snotidiot does not seem to be able to pick up on Dagur’s rolling anger that will soon crash against his stupid face, a storm with lightning and rain that could kill. 

“Me! If I beat you in an ax-throwing competition, you spend the rest of the day with me!”

Snotlame says snootily and Dagur is just going to cut to the chase and skip the silly stupid game and slice off the other boy’s hands. Hiccup then speaks up stirring Dagur out of his thoughts.

“And what does he get?”

“What?”

Snotlout looks offended that Hiccup had spoken. Hiccup hops up and comes to stand beside Dagur, hand gently placed on Dagur’s forearm as he tilts his head at Snotdumb. Hiccup’s hand is shaking slightly and Dagur knows from the letters that Hiccup is terrified of Snotlout and the pain that he brought near constantly. But here Hiccup is, standing with his back straight and his eyes aglow with challenge. The shaking is there, but it is not stopping Hiccup. Dagur likes the thought that his presence has lent his friend strength.

“What does Dagur get if he wins? If you are getting to spend time with him against his will if you win, what does he get when he wins? What would you even want Dagur? Since I know you’re sure to win.”

Hiccup turns his head and looks up at Dagur who grins widely. Pride swirls through him at Hiccup stating that he will win. Now he wants to win, just to prove Hiccup’s faith in him to be justified.  He lets the ax’s twirl slow as an idea hits him.

“I get to hang you by the belt off of the Great Hall and you don't bother me again this week.”

He growls out, Snotidiot rolling his eyes. 

“Easy. I can agree to that, cause I'm not going to lose. I'm the best ax thrower in the village.”

Hiccup’s nose scrunches in a manner that suggests to Dagur that Snotlame is lying. His friend then sighs. 

“We should get an adult to keep the loser to his word. I suggest Gobber.”

Hiccup says softly and Snotlout nods. 

“And you are going to convince him to judge!”

Snotdumb grabs Hiccup’s wrist and yanks the smaller forward. Dagur grabs Snotidiot’s other arm and twists it violently, causing Snotidiot to drop Hiccup’s wrist while yelping in pain.

“Don’t. Touch . My . Friend.”

He snarls, growling loudly. Snotlout whimpers like a coward. Hiccup touches his arm.

“Hey, Dagur, eyes on me. He let me go. We can go get Gobber now.”

Dagur drops his hold immediately and takes Hiccup’s offered hand. Is he acting like a tamed dog? Yes, a little. But he does not mind too much, given how much relief he had seen in Hiccup’s face. Snotdumb*ss quickly catches up, quiet for now, but eyes a little stary. Whatever. The only person whose admiration he wanted at this point in his life is Hiccup’s. Screw everyone else.

Chapter Text

Hiccup settles on the barrel as Gobber sets the rules of the competition. A few of the other kids in the village had come to spectate the event. Hiccup is fully confident his friend will win and honestly hopes that this gives Snotlout a chance at humility. Dagur hums as he weighs the ax in his hand and considers the target while Gobber finishes by promising to force both boys to uphold the result of seven ax throws. 

Hiccup half wonders what it would be like if adults would actually stop them from doing crazy things. But then, he supposes, it is part of what makes them Vikings. Dagur lets Snotlout go first, with Snotlout flexing for a moment and grandstanding before throwing the ax. It is just inside the third ring. Dagur then throws his ax, just a hairsbreath closer to the bullseye. The next round of throws occurs and it goes much the same as the first.

“Oh look at that, you almost beat me. Maybe next round.”

Dagur smirks while weighing his ax after yanking it out of the target. Snotlout snarls, angrily gripping his ax.

With that, Hiccup realizes what Dagur is doing. Dagur could be getting a perfect bullseye every time. Hiccup knows that Dagur is skilled enough to do so. But Dagur is not just doing the competition. He is playing with Snotlout’s mind. He looks at Dagur who gives a kinder smile to him and taps his nose. Hiccup laughs.

“Are you laughing at me?!”
Snotlout growls, clearly growing frustrated. Hiccup flinches, crossing his arms and curling into himself slightly.

“No? I'm laughing at a joke Dagur made.”

“He didn't say anything!!”

“I didn't have to. Hiccup is my best friend, of course we can share jokes without speaking. Now throw, Snotidiot”

Dagur smiles mockingly and Hiccup tilts his head silently. He is not used to this nastier side of Dagur. A dangerous wildfire that sparked bitterly and seared the unwary. It is mesmerizing and a little terrifying to know that Dagur can smolder into something darker and more painful. But… None of that is aimed at him and seems to only show when Dagur feels slighted. Hiccup never seemed to annoy him with the behavior that seemed to infuriate everyone else. So Hiccup is safe.

Hiccup likes feeling safe. 

Dagur stands close to him and gently has a hand on his shoulder as they both watch Snotlout throw. Snotlout gets a little closer to the bullseye, solidly inside of the third circle. Snotlout pumps the air.

“SNOTLOUT! SNOTLOUT! OI OI OI!”

Snotlout cheers. He turns to Dagur and grins.

“Beat that!”

That seems to push Dagur over the edge and the older boy stares Snotlout dead in the eyes as he throws the ax and hits the target dead in the center. There is an echoey silence where Snotlout’s eyes widen and Hiccup takes in a sharp breath.

And then Hiccup claps his hand and lets out a shout, kicking his legs to ring out against the barrel below. A few others in the crowd take up the cheers, but Dagur looks to Hiccup and Hiccup smiles at him.

“Amazing.”

He says sincerely. Dagur grins broadly.

The next round is a mere formality for Dagur to get the necessary four wins to end the competition. Hiccup grins, a little bit of nastiness climbing up through his gut.

“Now you've got to hang from the Great Hall Snotlout.”

Hiccup shows his teeth and Dagur croons as Snotlout stutters, cheeks red with humiliation. But a challenge made and accepted cannot be ignored, so Snotlout is hung by his belt and Dagur and Hiccup escape the crowd of Vikings who will find any excuse to to celebrate to slip off into the woods.

“You were great Dagur!”

Hiccup enthuses while sitting on a log and doodling an interesting bird he has just seen. Dagur hums and grins and he searches the creek for pretty or interesting rocks. 

“Thanks. I train a lot. I could probably train you in weapons. If you'd like.”

Dagur seems nervous at the end and Hiccup picks at a loose thread on one of his pant legs.

“I'm not too good with weapons. I always hurt myself trying to use them. Dad… dad doesn't like me handling weapons when it's not for smithing reasons or without a minder. I'd like to learn though.“

Hiccup bites his lip and looks at the treetops that sway in the breeze. The admission is shameful and embarrassing. And not something he had mentioned in all his letters. He bunches his fingers in the cloth of his pants leg. Wet wands touch his own fingers and Hiccup startles back into focus, floating thoughts sharpening.

“I'd be honored to help my best friend. Plus, you can then stab Snotidiot!”

Dagur states earnestly, leaning into Hiccup’s space. Hiccup laughs and shakes his head.

“I don't want to stab Snotlout. But if you think you can help me, I’ll take your offer.”

He knocks his forehead against Dagur’s. Dagur grins and then nods to himself.

“We’ll start tomorrow. Today we enjoy our victory!”

Dagur lifts up Hiccup, twirling him around. Hiccup is startled into laughing as he holds on for dear life as his legs swing through the air. He is glad that the notebook had been left on the log so that he does not need to worry about holding onto it too. 

“Okay! Okay! But no more swinging!!”

Hiccup yells shaking his spinning head as he is put back down on the log. Dagur smiles brightly at him, butting heads gently once more before returning to hunting in the stream. They chat back and forth about weapons that Hiccup might favor and other ideas. 

Hiccup, after finishing a drawing starts gathering wood and kindling. Dagur catches two fish and Hiccup starts a fire to start cooking the fish over. Hiccup watches with a half smile as Dagur cooks, resting his chin in his smudge-covered left hand. 

“We make a good team. We could definitely survive in the wild together.”

Dagur hums and grins, looking pleased with the idea. 

“You think?”

“Yeah. I'm good at remembering the safe plants and starting fires, and you're good at hunting.”

Dagur nods in agreement.

“We could make the perfect hut and you could draw while I hunted.”

They both pause and Hiccup lets out a breath.

“It would be a little sad not to have all the stuff from the village… like books and fresh paper.”

Dagur huffs.

“We’d figure it out, probably . Steal some books. Oh! Write our own!”

Hiccup snorts.

“I'm not writing books just so that I can read them back to myself.”

Dagur shifts to wrap an arm around his shoulder.

“Then read them to me while I sharpen the knife you gifted me.”

Hiccup laughs, enjoying the image of a false life running around with his best friend in the woods forever. But it is best not to indulge too much in a dream. Or at least that is what his father said. Old Wrinkly had always encouraged him to chase dreams and the inventions within, murmuring that the gods were speaking to him in that space in between life and death where dreams resided and Vikings could reach beyond their normal realm.

Chapter Text

Hiccup’s twiggy arms have a hard time holding even the smallest wooden sword for too long, but Dagur admires his friend for clearly trying. Hiccup had started out gripping the false blade in his right hand with far more embarrassing results. However, Dagur had commented that Hiccup should use the hand he uses to draw with charcoal should be used to draw his blade, and from there Hiccup had much improved. 

Dagur reassures Hiccup that his hammering in the forge and luging around materials would help his arms build the muscles they needed for a true blade. But for now they need to focus on footwork and learning certain moves. Hiccup gives Dagur his full attention and is genuinely trying, despite the frustration Dagur can see build in his friend.

“Let's take a break, I'm tired from just looking at you.”

Dagur says with a laugh.

“Well, you try lugging around something thicker than your arm and try to hold it steady in the air.”

Hiccup sasses as he passes the training sword to Dagur. Dagur snorts. 

“I can lift an adult broadsword with one hand, are you trying to challenge me?”

Hiccup plops down on a nearby barrel and groans. 

“No. Cause you'd win and then I'd owe you something and I just don't want to deal with that while I'm tired and hungry.”

Dagur straightens with a frown.

“You’re hungry? Why didn't you mention that before!? Let's get you something to eat. Hunting or Great Hall?”

Hiccup opens his mouth and his stomach rumbles like distant thunder.

“Great Hall… I don't think I can wait to catch an animal.”

“And your stomach would scare off the prey anyway.”

Hiccup's nose scrunches at Dagur's tease and for a moment Dagur is terrified that he might have messed up. But then Hiccup laughs and stands up to press into his side.

“You're probably right, Dagur.”

Hiccup's laughter is a lot like a flowing stream, bubbly and soothing. Dagur smiles and bumps their heads together as they start to walk to the Great Hall. As they go Dagur makes sure to laud Hiccup's progress with training making the other boy go red. However Hiccup says nothing to get Dagur to stop, so Dagur feels the urge to keep going. He smiles at Hiccup and pushes open the door for the two of them.

“You grab a seat, I’ll grab food, okay?”

Hiccup says with a tilted smile that has Dagur nodding. Dagur settles down at a table with a hum. He pulls out the knife Hiccup had gifted him, inspecting the tight wrapping of the leather around the handle, and admires the sharpness of the blade. It delights him.

He looks up as someone sits down beside him, expecting Hiccup. Instead, it is some girl who looks a little older than Hiccup. He had seen her around in the crowd during the ax-throwing competition.

“Teach me how to throw an ax like you do.”

Dagur scrunches his nose.

“No.”

He has no particular desire to interact with anyone else in the Hooligan tribe. Hiccup’s timidness and flinches were enough to turn him against them, even if he did not read between the lines of Hiccup’s letters to know that the other boy is loved by none in his own village. Hiccup had mentioned once a grandfather who seemed to love Hiccup dearly, but the man was dead. Leaving no one to care for Hiccup when Dagur is away.

She looks offended and every inch a petulant eight-year-old.

“You were teaching Hiccup!”

“Cause I like Hiccup. And I promised to spend my time with him this week. I don't want to hang out with you. Go away.”

She huffs and crosses her arms.

“That's not a good reason! Hiccup can't even hold a sword right!”

Her voice is annoying. He huffs and growls.

“Meaning that he needs a little training. And I'm more than happy to give him that training.”

Dagur scrunches his nose at the conversation. He is very irritated that he has to deal with her. He then spots Hiccup standing nearby, eyes on the girl and looking crestfallen. He grows more irritated. Jumping up, he slips his knife back into its holster, and then he wraps an arm around Hiccup.

“This conversation’s done. I don't help people who insult my friend.” 

Hiccup presses into his side, a whisper of thanks softer than the wind in the heights of trees. Dagur hates how all the pride and glow that had been hanging about Hiccup’s frame has disappeared. He would have to work to build that backup. He steers Hiccup outside and they end up eating while sitting on a low wall while watching yaks and sheep graze. Hiccup is quiet for a long time and Dagur finds that his mind is blanking on anything to say. He swallows awkwardly and huffs at himself.

He needs to figure out the right words to comfort his friend. But he has never been good at words. Dagur blinks as Hiccup leans against him with a soft sight.

“Thank you. For putting up with me.”

Hiccup sounds so terribly sad that it rips at Dagur’s heart. He pulls his friend even closer.

“How could you say that? Putting up with you ? You put up with me !”

Dagur huffs out, thinking of all his long ranty letters about his father and not being able to do so many things around Berserk while Hiccup’s letters often acted as a soothing balm to his rage. Except when he noted all the offenses of the Hooligan tribe against Hiccup. 

Hiccup taps Dagur’s knee and Dagur refocuses on him.

“I’m not. I like your company Dagur. You're nice to me.”

Hiccup smiles hesitantly. Dagur grins. 

“And you’re nice to me. We put up with each other and are nice to each other. A friendship destined by Valhalla.”

Hiccup lets himself get dragged closer to Dagur’s side and Dagur bumps their heads together. 

“Yeah. Valhalla.”

Dagur grins at Hiccup’s easy agreement.

--

The rest of the visit is full of Dagur avoiding the rest of the Hooligans with Hiccup and the two training and testing more of Hiccup's weaponry. Both get a little teary-eyed when the time for goodbyes comes. Hiccup holds tight, arms wound around Dagur like vines clinging to a tree in an attempt to reach where the sun shines and trying to take nutrients for itself. Dagur clings back just as tightly, promising up and down that he will be back next year and that the letters will be near constant from him.

Chapter Text

Hiccup shivers as they stand in the rain waiting for the Berserkers to land. At nine years old, Hiccup is more certain than ever that Dagur would be his only friend. But he found himself being disappointed by this fact less and less as time wore on. Right now, he barely notices anymore.

As soon as Dagur steps off that boat, Hiccup is dragging him straight out of this forsaken rain and back to his house, Hiccup thinks as he shivers in the cold. His room had evolved since Dagur had been there last and he wanted to show off what he could while this deluge kept him away from another secret he wanted to share.

He smiles widely as Dagur steps off the ship and he quickly makes a hand motion of a double tap to his sternum and a jerky circle with his pointer finger to let Dagur know he has no injuries. Dagur bolts at him and twirls him through the air. Hiccup laughs, warm despite the freezing rain. Dagur slips on a bit of mud and they tumble sideways into the ground with Hiccup laughing merrily despite the slight sting of pain that comes from hitting the ground. 

“Dagur…”

Oswald sighs and Dagur waves his father off while hoisting Hiccup up. Hiccup feels no embarrassment as he clings to his friend with a bright smile. 

“At least they seem to be getting along.”

Stoick says clapping Oswald on the back. Oswald sighs.

“After writing a novel's worth of letters, I’d hope they get along.”

Oswald’s words make Hiccup flush a little in embarrassment but he would rather be scorched by a Monstrous Nightmare than give up his letter writing to Dagur. Dagur gives a small warning growl and Hiccup knows it's time to divert his friend’s attention. 

“I have something I want to show you!!”

He states with a grin. Dagur immediately brightens and Hiccup is gently set on the ground. Dagur had grown better at being gentle over the last two years. Hiccup appreciates it. He entangles Dagur's hand in his and drags his friend through the driving rain, footsteps quick and sure. They cut through the village quickly and reach Hiccup's house.

Hiccup tugs Dagur up the stairs and shows off his room, the walls covered in sketches and ideas. Dagur shows a great amount of awe and Hiccup beams at each statement. They end up curled around each on the floor. They share ideas and Dagur messily scrawls on pages while Hiccup doodles on his own pieces of paper.  They chatter happily about ideas and happiness soaks into a room that Hiccup had spent so many hours of his life sobbing silently inside of. 

Hiccup notes that Dagur has to continuously push back his hair. Hiccup shifts a little bit and slowly begins to detangle the strands and slowly begins to weave it into a braid. Dagur does nothing to stop him, instead humming a little like the steady crackle of a burning log, and relaxing further. Hiccup tries off the braids, smiling at how they keep the front strands from falling into Dagur’s face. 

“This would be easier if it was longer.”

Hiccup notes with a soft huff as his hands fall and he curls up on Dagur's back. He tugs a fur over himself and Dagur as he shivers. Dagur hums gently.

“I’ll work on that.”

Hiccup smiles at Dagur’s words.

“Good.”

Hiccup says, pressing closer to Dagur’s warmth. He closes his eyes and listens to the vibrations that move through Dagur as the older boy talks about a fishing trip that got interrupted by a Scaldron. He yawns, the steady beating of the rain, the thunder's sweet rumbles, the warmth that enwrapts him, and Dagur’s voice sooth Hiccup’s mind and he ends up slipping into sleep.  

--

Dagur wakes slowly as the sun hits his face. He curls a little tighter around the person that he can tell is Hiccup. Hiccup smells of the forge. Tangs of metal and smoke. But also of pine and water. His eyes stay shut not wanting to wake up yet. Hiccup makes a soft snoring noise. Tiny, just like his friend. A small smile quirks across his face. 

He then realizes that Hiccup’s left hand is entangled with his right, fingers interlocking and holding on tight. His hand tingles a little from a loss of blood flow. Dagur hates the fact that they both will eventually have to let go. 

Not only just for waking up but just like every single year at the end of the week, he will have to let go of Hiccup for a whole year, relying on the steady stream of letters to know that his best friend is okay… that his little brother is okay. He had only recently had that term bouncing around in his mind as a title for Hiccup and had yet to broach the topic with Hiccup yet… but he feels like he cares for Hiccup more than a friend. And certainly more than Hiccup’s blood family. 

And he does not want to let go and have Hiccup get hurt or at risk while he is gone. 

“Dagur? What's wrong? Why are you crying?”

Hiccup’s words are sleep-encrusted but worried. Hiccup twists to face him, green eyes shimmering with concern. Their hands are still connected. It feels so stupid. He is twelve years old. He should be able to not cry over silly things that he knows that he cannot change.

“I- I don't want to leave at the end of the week.”

He whispers, wetness filling his voice. His heart weeps along with his eyes. Hiccup pulls their joined hands to his chest and breathes softly.

“I don't want you to leave. I feel so much safer with you here each year. But you have to.”

“Remember that conversation we had last year?”

Dagur asks. Hiccup gives a tilted grin.

“Yeah. But we need to build up a lot more skills before we go out into the wilds.”

It is not a no. It is not calling his idea stupid. It is just a soft redirection. Dagur takes a breath.

“Okay.”

They lay still for a moment, breathing softly.

“Hey, I still have something else to show you. It’ll get us out of the village and no one should bother us. Probably.”

Hiccup says with a chirp. Dagur takes a breath and then grins. 

“Heck yes.”

Dagur tries to smile, still aching a little. 

Hiccup reaches out with his free hand and hesitates for a second before reaching out and wiping his drying tears. His eyes close.

“I trust you Hiccup.”

Dagur whispers.  

“I trust you too. Do you need a minute? I can go grab everything we need supply-wise before we head out and come back up for you?”

He had never been given the option of respite. Dagur feels like he has been handed a flawless emerald, despite how casually Hiccup offers the time.”

“Yes please.”

A minute to collect himself sounds nice. Hiccup pats his head and then detangles from him.

“Okay. I'll be right downstairs if you need me and will be back in a couple of minutes if you don't.”

Dagur takes a few more deep breaths to steady himself. 

By the time Hiccup returns to the room, Dagur has his boots on and is completely calm and ready to go. Hiccup passes him a honey oat cake as they start to head out of the hut.

“Thanks. For the time.”

Dagur states. Hiccup smiles showing off the loose bottom canine that Hiccup had mentioned in one of his last letters. 

“Of course. Let me know if you ever need it again. Now! On to the thing I need to show you!”

Hiccup chirps and bounces up and down. Dagur grins and they walk out of the village into the woods. Dagur begins to hum as they walk and Hiccup grins. Hiccup starts to sing the tune under his breath and Dagur opens his own mouth to sing it loudly. 

“ Dragons in the deep, slither, crawl and creep. The peaceful lapping of the sea, may hide a deadly enemy. We pray the gods may guide our way. Return us to our homes someday .”

Hiccup’s voice grows stronger and they both find peace as they move through the forest.

Chapter Text

Hiccup smiles as they reach the cove and he tugs Dagur over to the rocky walls. He had spent a lot of his free time away from the forge here. And he had discovered something. His fingers push aside some thick hanging moss to reveal what looks to be a plain stone rocky outcrop. 

“Hiccup?”

Dagur asks and Hiccup gives a grin.

“I promise I didn't drag you out here to stare at a rock wall.”

Hiccup tugs up the chain that is around his neck, a stylized shoe that is the symbol of Vidar hanging from one end. He shifts a small stone and presses the symbol into the slot there. He had taken great care in replicating the keyhole to make a mold for his necklace. And it had all paid off. Hiccup presses and turns and then the entire rock face rumbles and a rock rolls to the side. Dagur perks up.

“Woah!”

“Yeah, I found this a few months ago and have been studying it. It seems a long time ago there was a sect of Vidar worshipers on Berk who used this as a secret shrine. And I've been cleaning and using it recently. I especially have been studying the door and fire mechanisms within. I store my favorite projects and pages here”

Dagur makes a crooning noise as Hiccup pulls him in. Vidar is the god of vengeance and resilience. He spots the discarded bits of leather from shoes that are piled about. Hiccup gives a smile.

“There are some carvings detailing the rituals they used to do here. And I've been doing them so that Vidar might not be offended someone like me is hanging out in his shrine…”

Hiccup twists his fingers in the hem of his tunic and huffs. Dagur huffs, tugs him close, and bumps their heads together with a soft noise.

“I think the god of resilience would favor someone like you. I'm also sure he knows how it feels to be less favored, given that his brother is Thor.” 

Hiccup flushes but feels assured. 

“Thanks.”

“Now! Ritual ! What do I need to do?”

Hiccup lights up at being able to share and quickly moves over to the hearth that holds birch logs. He sparks the fire and grabs a few of the leather scraps that are piled up. Most of these pieces are his, as he had been steadily gathering cast-offs for the last couple of months to be able to use.

“Sit over there, just for a little bit.”

He says to Dagur before turning back to the fire. He chars a bit of leather, whispering a prayer to Vidar, asking for strength and favor before turning to Dagur. He swipes his fingers through the warm charred part, his fingers blackening. He then makes a mark on Dagur’s forehead and places the leather into his friend’s hand.

“Cast it into the fire and become my brother in upholding the secrets of Vidar.”

Dagur goes stiff and a great seriousness falls over his body. Dagur nods and carefully casts the leather into the fire.

“Grant us resilience in the face of hardship. Grant us wisdom in pursuit of our vengeance. Grant us peace of mind when we succeed and live on or peace in death when our vengeance leads us there.”

Hiccup carefully says the words carved into the hearth by ancestors he will never know. Dagur’s eyes are respectfully closed. The fire crackles as the leather chars and smells of burnt hair. 

“The ritual is done. Here, so you can get in here too.”

Hiccup offers out a duplicate of his necklace and Dagur’s eyes open and he slowly takes it.

“Thank you… is brother only for acting within rituals?”

There is a weird note of hope there and Hiccup swallows. 

“I would not pressure you to extend it further…”

“But if I want you as a brother?”

Dagur asks and Hiccup glows a little.

“Oh.”

They smile a little stupidly at each other. 

--

The rest of the visit is spent in the cove or in the cave. Hiccup had stored targets and weapons of his own make in the cave and they test and train while merrily talking and enjoying each other company. For a few of the nights, they sleep out in the cave, swapping old Viking stories and personal anecdotes. 

On the last night, Hiccup is curled up on Dagur’s chest as they both lay in the cave. The stone is closed and Dagur feels relaxed and calm. He could keep Hiccup safe here. But tomorrow he would have to leave his little brother again. Hiccup lets out a soft noise.

“Normally I'm the one who is thinking loudly.”

Hiccup murmurs and Dagur gives a wild laugh that makes Hiccup smile. 

“I'm sorry. Just thinking about next year…”

“Well, next year I’ll be ten. And Dad said we’d return to the back-and-forth pattern that the treaty used to follow, with the signing happening on Berk one year and then on Berserk the next. So, instead of being sad that it's going to take a year before we see each other again, maybe… maybe we can focus on the fun we are going to have the next time we see each other.”

Hiccup beams a little and Dagur cannot help but smile in return.

“Alright, Hiccup. Let's plan for a super fun year next year!”

Despite the happy words, Dagur still clings tightly to Hiccup while they stand at the docks the next day. He feels wetness pressing into his neck and he has to force down his own sad tears. He grips tightly and murmurs quietly, too quiet for anyone else to hear. 

“Next year little brother. May the gods watch you in my stead and may I be able to take up watch over you once more in a year.”

Hiccup's hands tighten.

“Next year. Please please be okay till next year. I love you Dagur.”

The last sentence fills him with white-hot determination. He swallows deep and slowly pulls back. He presses their foreheads together.

“I swear.”

He can feel the eyes of his tribe, who are unused to him being affectionate towards anything or anyone. Dagur finally let's go. 

Hiccup waves to him the whole time the Berserker ship is in view and Dagur waves back, memorizing every detail about Hiccup's tiny form.

“You are quite taken with him, aren't you.”

His father's words are neutral. Dagur takes a deep breath. 

“He's my friend, father.”

“While important to be friendly with an heir to the chief seat in an ally tribe, I think it would be wise to recall that he may become an enemy. Or that he might not survive to adulthood. Runts don't tend to.”

Dagur snarls deep and low.

“He will. I'm looking out for him.”

“Those you look out for don't always end up surviving either.”

It is a jab about his sister. It hurts. They do not speak of her often. Just about as often as they talk about Dagur’s mother or the woman who was his stepmother for two years. 

He bares his teeth and growls.

“At least I'm not ensuring his safety with a five-year-old who just learned how to row a boat.”

He snipes back before taking a bit of rope and swinging over to the boat sailing alongside the flagship. He is not dealing with his father on top of leaving Hiccup today.

Chapter Text

Hiccup bounces on his feet as he spots Besrerk off of the prowl of their boat. They had spent the last three days sailing towards the island and Hiccup is excited to see his brother again. They had exchanged many letters back and forth, bringing each other comfort as they waited eagerly for the months and seasons to pass. Hiccup had kept up his sword practice and his work in the smithy and now can hold a sword for long periods without as much difficulty. And Dagur had written him telling him of the many hunts that he had been on during the year.

His dad makes a noise of surprise as Hiccup grabs a rope and leaps onto the dock. He tucks into a roll like Dagur had shown him last year in the cove, sprawling a little before recovering, and then springs up to his feet to see Dagur. He taps his sternum and makes a jerky circle with his pointer finger. Dagur rushes forward at the signal with a whoop and twirls him around in the air.

“There are so many things I can't wait to show you!! Like the armory and forge and the best camping spots.”

Dagur is already dragging Hiccup into the village while Stoick lands the ship. Hiccup works hard to keep up, grinning wildly as his friend keeps chattering. The whole village is staring, but at Dagur, not him. It makes Hiccup wonder a little but then he decides to ignore that. Let them think what they want. Dagur had him and he had Dagur and they were going to have a good week. 

They end up out in the woods fairly quickly, hunting down prey. Dagur cooks and Hiccup notes that the other's hair is much longer and braided rather messily.

“I could fix your hair for you if you’d let me.”

Hiccup offers and Dagur grins.

“Sure! I've been careful about my trimming this year so that I got rid of the split ends as soon as they showed so it would grow faster. Plus, in the Berserker tribe, hair past the shoulder means you're ready for your first dragon kill. And shows that you are able to survive and remain free. I'm almost there.”

Hair was important in the archipelago. Slaves had their hair cut short and children normally had their hair cut too, until around the age of seven, when they were then encouraged to grow it long. Cutting it symbolized rebellion and enslavement, and cuts close to the head with less than an inch of hair were even worse. Most Vikings, if they did not grow hair on their head showed it instead in their beard. To do neither was close to sacrilege. 

Hiccup carefully unbraids and rebraids it, calm coming over him as his moments grow sure. Dagur’s shoulder slowly falls and un-tensing. Hiccup had not realized how tense his friend had been. He ties off the braid and loops his arms around his brother’s neck. 

“Hey, Dagur… Are you okay?”

Dagur shifts so that he is holding Hiccup in his arms. 

“Yeah, I'm okay . Just… thinking about something my dad keeps bringing up. I’ll be okay. As long as you are okay.”

Dagur nuzzles the side of Hiccup’s head. Hiccup feels safe and gently taps Dagur’s arms that are wound around him tightly. 

“Do you want to talk about it Dagur? I won't pressure you, brother… but I want to make sure you're actually okay.”

Dagur huffs softly and nuzzles a little more. 

“He just… doesn't think you'll make it .”

Hiccup knows exactly what Dagur is implying. He flinches and then takes a deep breath. 

“Well… I'm not planning on dying any time soon. I'm strong enough. And you've been teaching me sword training and the forge work has also prepared me.”

“But I can't be there all the time. I can’t make sure nothing happens to you. And your village doesn't look out for you . My little brother could be taken from me !”

Dagur’s voice is slowly growing more and more frantic, hug tightening. Hiccup shifts so that he is hugging back and presses into his brother.

“I won't. I promise. Even if Berk is not looking out, Im looking out for me. And I have survived longer than anyone thought that I could.“

His eyes close and he hugs tight.

“I don't like it. I really truly don't.”

“Im sorry Dagur. I wish…”

Hiccup can not breathe life into his wish, afraid if he says it aloud, that it would never have a chance of happening. Not that it really had a chance of happening anyways. Both had responsibilities. They could not possibly run away together. 

“Yeah. Me too.”

Dagur seems to have read his mind, breathing softly and evenly as he nuzzles Hiccup’s hair. Hiccup feels a wave of sadness and lets it sit for a moment before pushing it away.

“Hey! Let's go look at more of the places you wanted to show me. I don't want to spend my time with you sad, 'cause I know I will be sad when we are apart.”

Dagur gives a softer, wetter laugh than normal and then gets up.

“Okay. I do have a few more places in the woods to show you.”

 --

The visit to Berserk is mostly uneventful after that. The two spend most of their time in the woods, training and chatting and simply enjoying each other’s company. Hiccup wraps his arms around Dagur fairly often and they fall asleep tangled together, both finding reassurance in the other's heartbeat.

Dagur stares up at the vast starry sky, arms tightly wound around Hiccup, his mind refusing to settle. He cards his finger through Hiccup's hair in quiet contemplation. They had two days left before Hiccup had to return home. And Dagur knows that there is no way for him to convince either of their fathers to let Hiccup stay. 

Dagur’s relationship with his father had soured more than ever, a feat he had been unaware could be possible. He thought he had already seen the extent of his father's irritation and dismissal. But his father brought up Dagur's mistake with his sister and blamed him for his mother's and stepmother's deaths. Dagur had managed to train himself out of reacting with sadness and despair. Sadly, it meant he instead reacted with ambivalence or wild laughter. Which was not necessarily an improvement.

Hiccup murmurs in his sleep. Maybe he could Hiccup to wear some sort of armor. While he enjoys his brother being easy to hug and soft, that softness could lead to spilled guts and gouged skin. He would ask Hiccup to consider armor tomorrow. Hiccup would probably come up with some sort of twist to make it more interesting. And hopefully would not say no.

If Dagur had it his way, he would wrap Hiccup up in armor and never let him go anywhere alone.

Satisfied with his solution, his mind lets him settle back into sleep.

Chapter Text

“Armor?”

Hiccup tilts his head while scratching out a doodle of a plant on Berserker Island that they did not have back on Berk. Dagur nods, looking hopeful. Hiccup takes a breath and closes his notebook.

“It would have to be lightweight and adjustable in size. I'm really hoping not to remain so thin and tiny forever.”

“It makes you easier to pick up though~ .”

Dagur grins and Hiccup rolls his eyes.

“I don't see that as an upside.” 

“I guess you wouldn't. I do though!”

Dagur chirps and they start walking back to the village that they both had been avoiding for most of the trip. They end up in the armory where Hiccup examines the different kinds of armor. He shakes his head at the metal armor. 

“I won't be able to wear this. I need flexibility and not so much weight.”

Hiccup states while taping a metal chest piece. 

“ Sooo chainmail is out of the question?”

Hiccup raises an eyebrow and Dagur huffs. 

“Alright alright. No metal. Even if it would protect your squishy bits.”

Dagur pokes him in the tummy. Hiccup bats his hand away and pushes on Dagur. Dagur lets him. It is the only explanation for Hiccup being able to push him back. Hiccup hums and pokes at some smaller leather armor next. It is a tattered set that seems to be cast aside due to irreparable cuts that seem to weaken its effectiveness. 

“Here, help me with this one.”

Dagur nods at Hiccup’s request and slowly lowers it over the smaller’s head. He pulls at strips and Hiccup shifts a little bit. 

“Hmm. Definitely too big. And heavy. I'm going to fall over.”

Hiccup states a little blankly as he begins to tilt backward. Dagur is quick to grab him and get him steady on his feet.  

“You okay?”

Dagur chirps as he takes the armor off.

“Yeah. Think there is anything smaller?”

“I'll go check!”

Hiccup relaxes on a nearby bench, tiredness biting at his veins. They had been trying on armor for a while and he had an idea of what he could wear. But anything he chose would have to be put on piecemeal so that he could get used to the weight. 

A man and a woman walk into the armory and Hiccup tries not to be noticed. Sadly, they do.

“Oh, you’re the Berkian heir. What's your name lad?”

The man asks and Hiccup tightly grips the bench underneath himself.

“Hiccup.”

His name was his and he would not trade it for another. But it did announce to everyone that he is a runt. The man raises an eyebrow while the woman gives a tiny frown.

“Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III.”

His full name does not roll easily off his own tongue and is not grand enough to cover up the disgrace implied by his first name. He takes a tiny breath.

“Maybe a runt’s what he needed.”

The woman says with a sharp smile that is not warming at all. Hiccup tilts his head a little in confusion as the man shoots her a look. 

“Watch your tongue they are both heirs.”

The man is frowning.

“I'm just saying he makes Dagur act half-normal for a Berserker.”

 The woman’s words are sharp and Hiccup wishes that he had enough courage to speak up. To tell her to stop.

“While true, you might not want to be so forward with the Berk heir.”

The man rolls his eyes and looks at Hiccup. Hiccup twitches. He does not like Dagur being absent. There is something wild about all Berserkers that rests beneath the surface, like lightning hiding inside of clouds before striking out. The woman leans forward.

“Shame we can't keep him and keep Dagur steady and focused.”

“I’m… I'm standing right here.”

His voice squeaks a bit. The woman gives another sharp smile and the man grabs her arm.

“I'm sorry for her. Got clubbed in the head by a Gronckle a year back.”

And they leave. Hiccup sits in silence for a little longer, reaching up to rub at his hidden necklace, hoping his brother returns soon. Dagur does and they get back to testing out armor. Hiccup cannot find it in himself to bring up the incident and keeps his mouth shut. He scratches out armor ideas and shows them to Dagur who nods. 

--

Hiccup takes a final look at Beserk from the cliff viewpoint Dagur had brought him to for the last night on the island. The island is nice enough. But he sort of feels the same way about Berk. The only parts of Berk he would truly miss if he left for good were his bedroom, the forge, and Vidar's secret shrine. He takes a deep breath and bends his head, feeling the warm strands of morning sunlight heating his hair. He whispers a prayer under his breath that he had learned in the shrine. Arms wind around his middle and tug on him gently.

“We don't need to be up yet.”

Dagur grumbles sleepily. 

“We should probably start-”

Hiccup starts.

“Shhh.”

Dagur tugs him back and Hiccup ends up and curls up on his chest, warm. Hiccups sighs. 

“You’ll burn your shoe cast offs while I'm gone?”

Hiccup asks, winding his fingers through Dagur’s. Dagur grips his hand tight, but not too tightly. They breathe as one on the cliff top, resting in the light of the rising sun, both reluctant to move and bring the visit to a close. 

They eventually have to get up and head down to the village and arrive at the docks. Hiccup tugs on Dagur and gets him to lean down. He whispers.

“Stay safe till next year, okay? I need you to be safe till next year.”

Hiccup whispers desperately. Dagur pulls him close and whispers his own response as his grip tightens.

“I will. I love you. Stay safe. Please.”

Dagur’s voice is like smoke from a fire, hard to catch and disappearing. 

“Okay. Love you too.”

Hiccup desperately whispers back. Eventually, both of their fathers clear their throats. Dagur grips harder as Hiccup loosens his own hold. Oswald clears his throat again and Dagur responds with a thick growl. 

“Dagur.”

Hiccup whispers gently.

“I know.”

Dagur sounds close to tears and Hiccup wishes that he had not said anything. Dagur takes a step back.

“Till next year Hiccup. Okay?’

Dagur states. Hiccup nods quickly.

“Next year.”

He clambers onto the boat after his father and stares at Dagur as they sail away, waving his arm. He needs to make something that will let him see farther so that Dagur can stay in sight longer. His heart twinges. A hand comes to rest on his shoulder.

“Hiccup… That boy seems very attached to you…”

Stoick’s words cause Hiccup to clench the railing.

“And I to him, Dad. He's my friend.” Hiccup then leans into the stuff he knows his father would like. “He teaches about weapons, how to fight, and how to survive in the woods. That's what we do every visit. Train. And hunt.”

His father makes a positive noise as Hiccup lists off things. 

“Still. Keep in mind he is from Beserk, not Berk.”

“They are our allies, Dad. And hopefully, for our sake, always will be. Berserker rage is scary.”

He says and gets a noise of partial agreement. His friendship is safe. For now.

Chapter Text

Dagur shifts on his feet anxiously as he notes that Hiccup is not there at the dock as they sail closer. The now fourteen-year-old Dagur had been hoping to show off his triple blue claw war paint to his eleven-year-old brother. He swallows deeply, fists curling tightly at his sides. He reaches up and rubs at the necklace that is underneath his tunic, worried. He starts pacing the boat as they pull up to the dock of Berk and he shadows his father. Snot*ss is standing beside Stoick with Astrid standing right beside him. 

“Welcome to Berk.”

Dagur barely hears Stoick, staring at Astrid and Snot*ss with a glare. 

“Where’s Hiccup?”

He hisses out, nose scrunching as he presses down on his anxiety and anger. The adults are moving away into the village already. Astrid frowns.

“We’re here to show you around instead. Hiccup can't.”

Astrid states, crossing her arms.
“We get to spend the whole time with you!”

Snotidiot chirps. Dagur can practically feel his father’s smile at the idea. Dagur growls deeply. 

“I'm not going to spend my time with you.” He snarls at Snotlout and turns to Astrid. “Where is he?”

His voice shifts into pleading at the end. He needs to find his little brother. Something in Astrid’s face shifts. 

“I’ll take you to him. But you have to show me ax tricks at some point this week.”

She states, arms still crossed

“But Stoick told us-”

“Shut up Snotlout, he’d sneak off to find Hiccup anyway. I'd rather prevent property damage. “

She threatens the boy and Snotlout folds like a wet blanket. Dagur agrees to the deal and she leads him to Stoick’s house. Dagur rushes up the stairs and finds Hiccup lying in bed, coughing and whining in his sleep. Dagur is immediately touching his brother’s forehead, hissing at the heat that he finds there. Astrid and Snotlout watch as he moves around and gets more furs for Hiccup and grabs water and medicine to put them on Hiccup’s side table. 

He looks at the two other kids who are standing a little stupidly and lost on the ground floor.

“I’ll train you when he’s well enough to get up and out of the hut. Now leave.”

Dagur says, forcing his voice to be neutral. Astrid stays for a moment and then drags Snotlout out. There had been something in that look. But he elects to ignore it, instead filling a small pot with all the ingredients for stew and hauling it upstairs along with logs to keep that fire high. Hiccup keeps shivering and coughing and Dagur just wants to make him feel better. He touches Hiccup’s forehead again and Hiccup’s eyes crack open.

“-gurrr?”

His name is slurred and Dagur gently smooths Hiccup’s sweaty hair.

“I'm right here.”

“Hug?”

“Alright. Budge over, I’ll help keep you warm.”

“Make you sick?”

Hiccup’s eyes shimmer sadly and Dagur shakes his head as he toes off his shoes and lifts up the furs.

“I don't get sick.”

He argues as he lays beside Hiccup. Hiccup twists and clings tightly to him. Dagur hums a gentle song, running his fingers through Hiccup’s hair. His friend falls back asleep and Dagur stares up at the ceiling silently. He hopes Hiccup is better soon, terror chewing on his heart like a wild dragon chewing on a sheep. Hiccup has to get better.

--

Hiccup wakes up for short bursts during the next two days. Not long enough to do more than sip a little bit of water or soup. Dagur worries, spending most of his time either pacing the hut, stoking the fire, or curling up beside Hiccup. He notes that Stoick only comes to check on Hiccup right before going to bed himself. The local healer does not come until the second day and just puts some weird slime on Hiccup’s forehead. 

Terror grows and grows inside of Dagur’s belly, chewing at his bones and mind. Hiccup is not getting better. His friend is sneezing and coughing up a lung. Dagur finds himself talking to the sleeping Hiccup, hoping that the shaky words are reaching his brother.

“I got my triple blue claw war paint this year. My hair got long enough and I got to slay a Deadly Nadder. It was a hunt all by myself.”

He proceeds to tell the whole story, detailing the trap and the fight, emphasizing the bits he knows Hiccup would have found interesting. His brother stays unresponsive as a tree, eyes closed and breathing labored. Dagur starts to whisper, and his words come out haltingly as he fights down sobs to finish the story.

He stutters to a stop as he finishes the tale and finds his eyes wetting. Dagur wraps his arms around Hiccup and cries into his brother’s hair.

“Don't leave me. Please don't leave me.”

He begs and pleads over and over, tears coming harder and faster as Hiccup simply coughs and those forest green eyes stay hopelessly and horribly closed. Dagur clenches his eyes closed and whispers a prayer.

“Please help him get well, please don't let him die. Vidar, please.”

Dagur drifts off to sleep as the tears wear him down. 

His dreams are full of him and Hiccup hanging out. Hiccup holds up one of his notebooks, one of the several Dagur had gifted him. Dagur settles at Hiccup’s laughter and voice. But there is something… a little off with Hiccup’s voice at times. It gets echoey, like they are back in the shrine of Vidar. 

“Dagur. You need to go to the shrine. Read Hiccup’s notes.”

Dagur blinks at Hiccup and then the world swirls back into a warm hunting trip where he and Hiccup are catching rabbits. Then it changes again.

He stands on a cliff, alone. Clouds and winds spin about him. A dragon with hundreds of wings that looks to be made of fire encircles him with its rope-like body. It is warm and a little terrifying but Dagur stands his ground.

“ ~You NEED to WAKE up!~ ”

A voice echoes throughout his head and he startles awake. He finds that Hiccup has stopped breathing. His brain goes into panic mode. He hauls Hiccup up and hits him on the back Hiccup gasps and chokes. Coughing causes mucus to fly from the smaller. Dagur feels a rush of relief and sighs. He piles up the pillows to keep Hiccup sitting up straight. Then his mind turns to his dreams and he ponders whether the gods had been trying to talk to him in the dreams. He looks through Hiccup’s books, eyes easily reading their written code. 

He finds something and gets to work.

Chapter Text

Dagur wraps Hiccup in thick furs and hoists a bag onto his back before lifting up Hiccup. He knows that no one will miss him till maybe tonight at the earliest. And that was a strong maybe. He moves through the woods quickly just one goal in mind. According to Hiccup’s book, there was an anti-chamber off the side of the main cave that he had found from reading more of the carvings and a few books that had been left behind. 

It was supposed to be a cleansing chamber. In the middle would be a raised platform encircled by two trenches. An outer one for fire and an inner one for water that would be turned into steam through some sort of weird pipe network that Dagur cannot pretend to understand. But if the water had certain plants put in it, it would help cleanse the airways. Dagur hopes he understood Hiccup’s notes correctly. 

He arrives at the shrine and enters the antichamber placing Hiccup down on the platform. He uses a bit of charred leather to get black soot to mark Hiccup’s head and hands with the symbol of Vidar.  He then starts piling up logs and kindling. He grabs the water skins and goes out to the little cove and scoops up the salty water. He fills up the moat after three trips and pours in the ground up leaves and roots. He takes a breath, starts the fire, and closes the chamber door. He goes over to the main hearth and starts burning cast-off leather bits, prayers tumbling from his lips as he rocks back and forth. 

Steam begins to coil out from the anti-chamber, smelling of salt and medicine. But Dagur stays where he is, whispering prayers as he rocks back and forth. The books from the shrine had said to leave the person in there for several hours. He pulls out a peice of wood and begins to widdle to try and pass the time. He is terrified. 

--

Hiccup blinks slowly awake, airways clear and mind sharp. He sits up careful, nose crinkling at the thick smell of smoke and burn leaves. He slides off the warm stone, pulling on the fur so that it drapes off of his shoulders. 

He is in the antichamber of the Vidar shrine. He steps acrrosss the warm ground, toes curling up on the stones. He steps over the steaming water and then over the smoldering embers. He takes a few deep breathes, feeling a little weak, but not sick at all. He stumbles out of the room and finds Dagur rocking back and forth in front of the fire, praying. Hiccup taps the wall, the sound echoing off the cave. 

“Dagur?”

He whispers. His brother leaps up and then clenches his hands; a fire held in place by a grate. Hiccup relizes what his brother is waiting for. He taps his sternum and makes a jerky circle with his pointer finger. Dagur rushes forwards, like a blaze fed fresh, dry fuel. He wraps his arms tightly around Hiccup and Hiccup presses into his brother’s hug.

“Im so glad to see you awake. I love you. Please dont leave me alone in this world. I cant handle it .”

Dagur whispers holding tightly. Hiccup swallows, throat tight at the idea that anyone would miss him if he died. 

“I’m sorry.”

“Its not your fault you were sick. Not your fault your village didnt take care of it.”

Dagur some how pulls him even closer and Hiccup has a little trouble breathing, but he refuses to say anything. He nussles his brother and holds on as his legs tremble.

“I love you Dagur. I love you. I wont ever leave you on purpose.”

Hiccup swears. They end up curled together in front of the fire. It crackles as the two rest together.

“Whats… Whats with the blue war paint?”

Hiccup asks, wanting to fille the silence with something. Dagur smiles and starts telling the story of his first dragon kill that had allowed him the right to wear the triple claw war paint. Hiccup smiles as Dagur grows more animated as he speaks. He hates the look of absolute fear that he had seen in Dagur’s eyes right before they had hugged. He hates being responsible for that. He hates how easily he falls ill. 

But…

Dagur had taken care of him and made sure that he got better. Had even looked through his notebooks and followed the instructions that Hiccup had written. 

Hiccup lets out a soft breath and curls into his brother, still listening to the story and asking a few questions here and there. 

--

Dagur gets Hiccup settled on a nearby barre, making sure the fur is well wrapped around his brother. It is their first day out of the cave and he is worried. But he had to complete his deat with Astrid. After Hiccup waves him off and gives him a look, he turns around to face Astrid. He takes a steadying breath. He does not want to teach her anything. But he had promised, and she had taken him to Hiccup. He twirls the ax that is in his hand and he tilts his head.

“So you said ax tricks, but Im not sure what exactly you want from me.”

Dagur breaths deeply once again. Astrid stands straight and points at the target.

“How do you so consistently hit the bullseye? Ive been practicing forever, but I still miss more than Id like.”

Dagur hums and then explains his method.

“My ax twirling isnt just for show. Im testing how the weapons weighted and what the air resitance is. And onces I adjust my throw for that, I hit the center almost every time.”

He throws the ax with a feral grin and is very pleased as it hits it dead center. A frown stains her face and she twirls the ax and then throws it. It hits just left of center.

“Now remember how it felt in your hand. Figure out what it feels like so that the next time an ax that is not perfectly balanced comes into your hand you can aim true despite it.”

Dagur states and he can practically hear Hiccup making notes inside of his head. She throws again and hits a little closer to bullseye. He gives a few comments about her stance and the way that she swings and where in the movement of her arm that she actually lets go. It is easier than he expected to instruct her. But, Dagur thinks that it is probably because all of the time he had spent training Hiccup and trying to figure out what words and observations whole help his little brother. She throws a few more times, consistency slowly coming to her throws. 

--

Hiccup knows that Dagur is a little disappointed that Stoick had not been more worried about him. Dagur had muttered as much several times. But Hiccup had gotten him to relax about it by the time it was time for Dagur to leave. But Dagur still swears up and down that if something happened like this again, he would be kidnapping Hiccup. Hiccup knows his friend is being serious. 

When Hiccup feels well enough on the second to last day, he dawns the armor that he had created and shows it off to Dagur to get an expert opinion. It does not look much like typical Viking armor. The chest is a vest that has an inner layer of leather with small iron plates stitched into place and covered by another layer of leather. It had been heavy at first but Hiccup got used to wearing it, and it is very warm. He had mostly used recycled pieces of old unusable armor to create it.

It offers good protection from slicings and disapates the strength of a direct blow. Dagur nods his approval and tells Hiccup that he needs to focus on arm guards next. Hiccup nods in agreement. 

Then, once, again they stand on the docks and once again they are saying goodbye. Hiccup is not sure he will be able to keep saying goodbye forever. It hurts them both so much each time. He needs to formulate some sort of plan to deal with this. He just does not know what. He presses a spyglass that he had created into Dagur’s and the older boy holds it reverently. 

He uses his own spyglass to watch Dagur sail away and the two stare and wave for a while, both eager for the next year to come.

Chapter Text

Dagur breathes deeply. He is now fifteen. Freshly fifteen. He had been sent into the caves of the Beserk mountain to complete the final ritual he needed to become a proper member of the tribe. Yes, he had earned his Strill claw strike across his eye from killing a dragon years ago, but there were things that were saved till a Viking survived a little longer to prove that they were worthy of the Besereker name. 

He had been sent up the mountain to a specific cave their tribe had used for this ritual for centuries with a pack of supplies to call on the gods. It smells strange and the walls glitter oddly in the flickering flame of his torch. He half wishes Hiccup was here, if only to not be stuck with his own thoughts. But, then again, Dagur supposes, that is probably the point. He sets up a small fire with all of the elements of the ritual added in the proper order. A flesh sacrifice for the gods freshly caught and several herbs to call for them. A thick smoke coils through the cave and he sucks in a deep breath, closing his eyes. 

Here he is supposed to find what god or spirit will be his guide. His hand drifts up to the necklace hidden beneath his tunic that holds the symbol of Vidar. Was it rude to wear one god’s symbol when asking for the one that might favor him to send him a vision? He cannot find it in himself to feel bad. He would never have agreed to leave it off. It is the main reason that he had not mentioned the idea of it. He had never told anyone about the necklace and never would. He takes another breath, his head feeling sort of foggy.

“Ah. Well hello there.”

Dagur blinks at the sound of an ancient-sounding voice. Dagur looks up to spot a man far older than his father, but still strong in body. His right hand is absent and the other has a glove and spear. Tyr. The god of war. Or rather, the formalities of war like treaties and justice. The ensuer of contacts and oaths. Not… not a typical god for a Berserker’s ritual. 

A warm chuckle follows this thought.

“No. But I seek you as my own and your people do carve my T on weapons like any other in the archipelago. But I am not the only one here to see you. You swore an oath to someone that is dearly loved by a friend of fine and I would much like to acquaint you.”

Dagur nods, a little lost at what he should say. They walk and Dagur realizes that they are on some sort of beach, with black and white sand mixing together underfoot while waves of sapphire blue crash against the shore. They come to a hut where Dagur opens the door to allow Tyr to keep his grip on his spear. The god smiles at him and Dagur feels like he has done something right. 

Another man sits within, eyes on a mirror that lays on the table. His hair is long and slightly unkempt. His fingers tap an uneven rhythm. On his feet are two interesting shoes whose soles look to be thicker than Dagur’s wrist and patched together from many pieces of leather.

“This is Vidar the silent. You and your brother wear his symbol. And your brother is his chosen.”

Eyes look up and pierce Dagur’s soul, they are a sharp blue that is seeking and seeking. The god of vengeance. The god of resilience. Dagur politely bends his head and then watches the god’s hands flutter through the air, moving this way and that. 

Tyr speaks.

“You have hardships coming, according to what the Norns have told us. But also joy. Stay resilient and keep your oaths.”

“Is… Is that what his hands said?”

Dagur asks, intregued. He knows that Hiccup would be obsessed if he found out there was a fully developed hand language. Vidar smiles and nods. His hand digs into a side pouch and a book Dagur cannot read is pressed into his hands. The nature of dreams makes the text of all forms illegible to Dagur. 

“Thank you.”

He whispers holding it to his chest.

“Keep your vow of brotherhood Dagur. Seek your justice and your peace.”

Tyr grabs his left wrist and taps it gently. It burns a little but what is left is a marking of Tyr, deep red with edges of green woven into the rune, showing that Dagur has been met by the god. The green reminds him of Hiccup’s eyes.

“I will. Will… Will you watch over Hiccup?”

He recalls how sick Hiccup had gotten last year, and how Vadir’s shrine had given him a way to save his brother. He now suspects that that dream had come from the god. Vadir picks up the mirror and shows it. It is no mirror at all, rather showing the mortal world. Hiccup is in Vadir’s cave screwing something into an invention of his. Dagur calms. 

“As best we can. But the gods cannot stop the will of fate.”

Dagur bends his head in understanding. He just hopes that it is not the will of fate to kill of his almost twelve-year-old brother. And then he is waking up. He blinks and coughs, crawling out of the cave into the light of a new dawn. In his bag, the book from his dream that he would keep hidden from his tribe. He had a lot to write Hiccup about and he can barely stand the fact that a little over half a year remains.

Chapter Text

Hiccup examines the mark that Dagur kept covered up with a brace. Hiccup had arrived at Beserk for the yearly treaty signing and Dagur had immediately pulled him to a secluded place in the forest to show off the new mark and elaborate on his letters. 

Hiccup hums with interest, tilting his head slowly. 

“Interesting! And it came with a dream?”

“Yeah. Apparently, Tyr and Vidar are close, so I got to meet both. Vidar likes you. And is looking out for you where he can, but no one can stop fate. Not even gods. So all he can do is try to soften the hardship.”

Hiccup swallows and then nods. It often feels like the gods hate him. So it is a little nice to hear that one seems to like him, even a little bit. He touches his necklace through his tunic. 

“Oh! And here. This is a gift from him. I've been memorizing the signs in secret, and am almost good with all of them. But I figure you'll probably get it in a week and if not I’ll just leave it with you.”

Dagur pulls out a book and hands it to Hiccup. Its pages are filled with hand movements and their meanings. Hiccup’s eyes go wide at having access to a new language.

“Old Wrinkly used to teach me languages all the time…”

Hiccup whispers. Dagur tilts his head and Hiccup realizes that he had never mentioned his grandfather much before. He takes a deep breath.

“Old Wrinkly was my maternal grandfather. He was one of the only people on Berk who… who listened to me.”

Hiccup tugs the book to his chest as he speaks softly. Dagur wraps an arm around his shoulders. 

“He taught you language?”

“Yeah, French, Latin, Italian, and a bit of several other things. He taught me how to play Maces and Talons, Fox and Geese, Checkers, and chess…”

Hiccup feels sad. He looks down at the ground. 

“Do… do you want to play Maces and Talons?”

Dagur softly tilts his chin back up.

It had been so long since Hiccup had been able to play. Hiccup nods eagerly and they go and find a board.  

As they play Hiccup talks a little more about his grandfather while they move pieces around. It feels nice to talk about the man after there had been nearly no mention of the man after his death. Dagur listens and asks questions about Old Wrinikly and it makes Hiccup’s heart warm to share the memories. He tells a story of how his grandfather had foreseen a storm and taught him how to ski through the thickest of woods. His grandfather had then made him a warm drink of warm water and ground acorns. He had not been able to drink it in years, it making him mourn anew each time he tried. But he thinks it might be nice to share with Dagur sometime.

Dagur loses fairly quickly, shaking his head with a wild laugh.

“I am terrible at strategy games.”

“But really really good with weapons and fighting! Strategy games just take a little training.”

Dagur smiles at Hiccup’s words.

“Sure, training helps, but raw skill is unmatchable. And you have raw skills.”

“Ah, like me and weapons. I don't have raw skills with those.”

Hiccup says with a nod. Dagur grins.

“But that doesn't mean you can't get better if you think I can get better at strategy games. So, you train me on maces and talons, and I'll train you in sword fighting.”

Hiccup grins. 

“If we ever run off together, I'll pack the swords and you pack the game board.”

Hiccup teases. Dagur reaches across the board, eyes serious and sharp, like the spark of flint against steal, ready to create a roaring flame.

“I would run away with you in a heartbeat. Just ask.”

The sincerity and matter-of-factness have Hiccup shivering.

“We… Cant… we both have responsibilities…”

But Hiccup is unsure. He almost wonders if his village would be better off without him. Even with his work at the forge, most days it felt like people only saw him as getting in the way. Dagur looks away, and Hiccup tightens his grip.

“I don't like how they treat you Hiccup. And I don't think my dad would mind me never being an issue for him again.”

Hiccup is immediately saddened by these words. But not for himself. He shifts over to Dagur’s side.

“I’m sorry. I wish… I don't hate the idea. And I’m not saying no forever. I also think… I think it might be better for Berk to have a chief they would actually respect and listen to. As it is… If my dad dies on one of his quests to find the dragon nest, no one would listen to me. Berk would fall into disarray.”

He looks into the middle distance. Dagur lets out a soft breath. 

“It's a similar story in my village. Most are looking to take my place and if Dad dies on one of his stupid quests to ‘discover the unknowable’, I'm going to be fighting off assassination attempts and direct challenges for months.”

Hiccup’s eyes widen.

“I thought that… I mean you're a model of what my dad thinks Vikings should be?” 

“And? Berserkers are all a little crazy, and we don't want weak chiefs. Heck, my father took the throne from someone else by force. And so to the man before him. The only reason that I’m heir is that someone has to be available for a fight to earn the throne. And I… I thought I was ready for that. But thinking of a life… away from that stress. With you? Don't tease me with it Hiccup.”

Dagur looks away and Hiccup’s eyes widen. Oh. it was something that they were both interested in seriously. He takes a breath. 

“Next year I will be thirteen. The first age of being given more adult responsibilities. If nothing has changed… We talk about leaving. And if we do, it will be in the dead of night, leaving from our cove.”

Hiccup whispers. 

“Little brother… Let me steal you from Berk. Don't make me send you back. Last year they almost led you to your death.”

Dagur turns to him and holds Hiccup’s face gently in his hands. 

“Give me one more year. One more year for things to change.”

“One last chance for Berk.”

Dagur gently responds and presses their foreheads together. Hot tears hit Hiccup’s face and Hiccup realizes that they are from Dagur. He reaches up and tightly hugs his brother. His eyes squeeze tightly shut as he truly considers the offer. Sailing off from Berk. Being free of the stares and responsibilities. Could they survive if they tried?

…

With Dagur at his side, probably.

“One last chance for Berk.”

Hiccup whispers back, fairly confident that Berk would fail. It had been failing for the last twelve years in his brother’s eyes.

Chapter Text

Hiccup runs through the village, desperately trying to get to the forge. His thirteen-year-old legs burn as he ducks and moves through the village. He had a role in dragon attacks that he was fully intent on filling. Helping keep weapons well kept and supplying empty, willing hands with sharp, deadly weapons. He sharply turns a corner, ducking beneath a fireball that explodes the hut behind him.

Hiccup desperately wishes his brother were here if only to feel a little more secure. His distracted thought costs him and he skids across some mud and falls as a Night Fury shriek echoes above and a bright purple light hotter than the sun explodes the ground behind him. He scrambles forward and gets entangled in a net that should not be there. Hiccup knew where all the defenses on the island were by heart. It is extremely important to remember to avoid this exact scenario. Everyone on the island knew better than to put nets where they were not supposed to be. Except… he knows some kids on the island who would definitely would put nets where they should not be.

A thick growl startles him out of his thoughts and has him working more desperately to detangle himself from the net.  He panics as a Monsterous Nightmare stalks toward him and he tries to yank his legs free. The dragon snarls and opens its maw. Hiccup whimpers and then the net yanks up and traps them both. Hiccup yelps as his left leg twists awkwardly and is pinned under the dragon in the net. The dragon shrieks and starts thrashing which would probably hurt more if not for the armor he had designed that is wrapped around his body. He can hear the twins' laughter and wants to punch them. Or cry. 

The dragon shoots a burst flame but the rope is thick and treated with water. It does not light up. Hiccup lets out a shriek and the dragon snarls and twists. It is now looking him directly in the eyes. Its eyes are bright and… maybe a little scared. Maybe it would skip eating him if he hot them both out. He pulls a knife and the dragon howls. 

“I'm cutting the ropes!! Gods I'm cutting the ropes.”

Hiccup's voice is full of desperation and he starts cutting wildly and the dragon quiets for a moment. Hiccup keeps moving the knife. The rope frays under the knife. He twists and cuts at another strand. His hands aches as he frantically keeps going. The dragon twists and bites at the areas that he had weakend and heats them up. 

Hiccup squeaks as the net breaks and falls. And then he screams as the weight of the dragon lands on his left leg. The bone shatters. The dragon startles and jerks back. It hurts. It hurts so bad. Hiccup hears Viking’s coming. The dragon reacts and grabs his left leg and tries to take to the sky with his leg in its jaws. Teeth dig into his flesh, and the weight of his body makes his already broken leg bend even further. He screams and then the dragon drops him as it is hit in the side of the head by a boulder. Hiccup lands on the ground, with the boulder landing on his leg as one final note of misery and pain to send Hiccup crashing over the edge into blacking out. The last thing he thinks of is his brother, desperately hoping that he will be able to wake again and wishing he had agreed to being stolen away by his brother.

–

Dagur paces. He normally got a letter from Hiccup every week. Every single week without fail. But two weeks ago they had stopped coming. The first week, he had assumed something may have waylaid the mail carrier. Or that Hiccup got a little sick. Or something. But the second week had sent him into high alert. He is terrified. He recalls Hiccup being sick two years ago and how little care his village had shown. Dagur begins secretly gathering supplies to set sail to Berk. He keeps sending letters, but now stating that he will be coming, and begging for any sort of response. He wants to ship out immediately, but Dagur knows that he needs to stock up on supplies. He would not be returning to Berserk. And he hopes that Hiccup is alive and able to agree to join him in running away. He eventually gives in and sends a message to Stoick. He gets no reply. A second letter. And silence for that one as well.

It has been a month and a half and he sails out in the cover of a new moon, guided only by stars as he steers his small boat away from Beserk. He does not glance back at his once home. While proud of who he is, and of what he can be, he is not unwilling to give up the name of Berserker. Hiccup needed him more than his tribe ever did. Plus… Oswald would be glad for the excuse to choose a new heir apparent. His words just a few months ago were not untrue. 

And so he sails forth into the darkness, prayers raised to Tyr to help him fulfill his oath of brotherhood and to Vidar that Hiccup might have resilience in waiting for him. The sea is calm as it gets in the archipelago and he makes good time. He sends up thanks to his gods and to Njord for keeping him safe. It would take him a week to get to Berk if this keeps up. 

 He distracts himself on the ship rereading all the letters that he had brought with him and rechecking over all the supplies. He had food, furs, forge materials, weapons, and so so many blank journals, ink, and sticks of charcoal. Dagur makes sure everything is nice and neat in the hold, and chests clearly labeled. He paces the deck, twirling his ax and looking to the horizon. He would reach his brother. He would.

Chapter Text

Hiccup wakes up in pain. He gasps and grips at his chest as the nightmare fades. He blinks at the dark room. The fire is dim, burnt down to embers. He shifts out of bed and freezes at the unusual clunk noise that greets his ears. He looks down and sees that his left leg is gone. He blinks and then shoves a fist into his mouth as a scream builds in his lungs and tears flood his eyes.  His leg is gone. His foot to his knee is gone. He had lost a part of himself and now it is replaced with cold metal. Cold icy metal where flesh should be. Could he even walk? Could he run?

He rises and falls forward as pain arches across his nerves in the stump and spirals up his spine. He bites harder into his fist, muffling himself as he lays curled on the floor. No one comes running at the sound of his body creating an almighty thump against the floor so Hiccup has time to recenter and rise again. It is hard, but no harder than walking normally with the bruises and breaks from his village decorating his skin. 

He slowly walks to his desk and collapses into his chair. He hides his face in his hands and mourns himself. If they had not thought him useless before… And look how they left him! No one was there when he awoke. Surely a sign… He finds himself dry of tears soon, eyes burning with dryness and throat aching with forced-down screams. He looks across his desk and sees a stack of letters, crudely opened and tossed aside. He sees his brother’s hand and wipes at his wet face and reaches. This is not how he recalls storing his letters…

Oh. 

These are new. He had missed weeks of his brother desperately reaching out to him, begging. And then saying he was coming. There is even a letter in plain text addressed to Hiccup’s father, begging for answers. And then Hiccup finds a second of these, handwriting messier than before, asking the same thing, though it has a secret note for Hiccup’s eyes, swearing that he was taking sail at the new moon. If the weather was good that would mean that Dagur would be here when the moon was in its first quarter. Hiccup looks out the window and curses the cloud cover. 

Hiccup takes a steading breath, and starts moving things. Most of his prized possessions were already in the cove. Just not his clothing or most recent sketches or notebook. Hiccup is careful to make it look like he has just straightened up rather than preparing to run. He is still on the edge but is leaning towards fleeing as Dagur seems to be asking. He heads downstairs and finds his father absent. He stumbles a bit on the stairs but he keeps going. The small heir takes all the medicine that he can find and tucks it into his room, squirreled away into a bag with his clothing. He hears the door open and shakily makes his way downstairs, movements now a little more sure from an hour of moving around the hut. 

His father looks up at the clunk-thud that is now the sound of Hiccup’s footsteps. 

“Ah, good to see you awake. We weren't sure it wasn't going to be a few more days. Come sit down at the table. You must be hungry.”

Hiccup sits down quietly, breathing through his pain. He picks at the meal as his father sits quietly and seems to stew over what to say.

“Look… I'm sorry that you lost your leg son. But I've been telling you to stay out of the way during dragon raids for this exact reason.”

Hiccup feels a fiery anger spark through his heart and soul.

“It wasn’t my fault.”

He whispers. His father looks at him. 

“You should have known better than to be trapped in a net-”

“That net was put there by the twins! Why lecture me? I was doing my duty of going to the forge along a safe route that they booby-trapped!”

Hiccup then bites his lip. He had just interrupted and yelled at his father. Stoick face gets stormy and a hand raises to signal for silence.

“Hiccup, they have already been spoken to and had to clean out the animal pens for a week.”

“A-a week? I lost my leg! Because of them!”

Hiccup feels like a dragon, spewing fire as his claws dig into the table. He flashes his teeth. The frown deepens.

“Are you questioning my decisions as chief? A mistake is a mistake.”
“I'm questioning your choices, yes!! Would you be so ambivalent if it was another in my place?”

Stoick’s face grows red.

“They had no intent of harming you. And you should have been indoors. Do not question me Hiccup.”

“Why not? You went through my letters while I lay prone!”

Hiccup finds the fire sparking and roaring, drowning out the pain and boiling any tears before they have the chance to wet his eyes. He feels the wood giving way to his fingernails. Stoick’s face twists.

“It is abnormal for allies to write each other so often, and getting nothing in return should have been a signal for him to stop.”

Hiccup snarls ferally.

“It should have been a signal for you to write him back and tell him what happened!”

“And alert Beserk that my heir was hurt?”

“Berserk is our ally! And Dagur is my brother! Hed never-”

Stoick rises and interrupts. 

“That is just about enough Hiccup. To your room. Your injury is making you unreasonable.”

Hiccup almost gawks at his father but instead pushes himself to his feet and storms up the stairs, false leg catching and sending spikes of pain that he denies himself the right to scream over. He would leave and hide in the cove. He would wait for his father to be asleep and then make his escape. 

Berk had lost her one chance. 

Chapter Text

Dagur had been in the cove for two days slowly preparing. He knows that there is a chance that Hiccup might not choose to come and had been psyching himself to go into the village to both find Hiccup and to get his answer. He is also terrified by the idea that Hiccup might already be dead. He takes a deep breath, trying to go despite his courage flagging. And then he hears a thunk-clink footsteps coming into the cove. He tenses, ready for a fight.  Anyone could have found a way safely into the cove. An ax is ready in his hand, weight reassuring against his palms.

And then there stands his brother. Paler than the full moon. Thinner than a sapling. Bags hang from his thin form, filled to the brim with things. The ax drops from Dagur’s hands as he hesitantly steps forward, terrified that this is an apparition. Some part of him hopes that it is as he sees his brother’s left leg has been replaced by wood and metal. What had happened to his little brother? What had he failed to protect Hiccup from? What had Berk failed to protect Hiccup from? Hiccup takes a few thud-clink steps forward and those normally brilliant forest green eyes are stormy green, with wet tears tracking down those horridly pale cheeks. Red rings Hiccup’s eyes, marking the pain that his brother is in. 

“I… I just got your letters tonight.”

Hiccup whispers into the void of space. It is timid in all the ways that Dagur never wants Hiccup to be towards him. Dagur staggers forward and wraps his arms around his brother. He is careful with his touch as he had not gotten the proper signal. But he had not been able to hold himself back from touching Hiccup. 

His brother is not whole. 

Berk had not kept his brother safe. 

Tears come warm and hot with his rage and pain. He weeps into Hiccup’s hair as his brother drops his heaving bags and starts to cling to him. Hiccup makes a soft sniffling noise and then sobs without ending into his chest, gripping his shirt tightly. Dagur absently worries over Hiccup’s lack of breathing in between each full-body sob. But then the thought is swept away with sorrow and mourning and pure relief at seeing his brother once more.

Then the smaller boy does something that Dagur had never seen him do. Hiccup tilts his head back and screams. It is a sound full of pain. Of mourning. Of longing. Of bitter, righteous anger that could not take it anymore.  Hiccup’s scream echoes off of the cove’s walls, filling the air. A voice for a thousand screams that Hiccup had kept entrapped in his lungs over the years. 

Dagur tilts his own head back and joins the mournful sound, screeching and howling like a wild beast over a father who had stopped loving. Over a sister who died because he was too young. Over a mother who fell ill. Over a step-mother who lost herself to morning after childbirth. Over a home that stopped being a home far far long ago. 

The cove rings with agony.

And their minds fill with the best revenge, stealing away any chances for once-called family to harm them again and snatching away any chance of the futures that could have been. 

--

Hiccup takes a breath and slowly silences his scream. 

“I'm glad you're here. Can… let's pack the ship Dagur. We sail north.”

“Alright.”

Dagur easily agrees and helps Hiccup put all the items he had brought with him onto the boat. All his notes, all of Old Wrinkly’s things that he had inherited, blacksmithing tools, scrap metal, and so much food and medication. They empty out most of the shrine, leaving the carvings and a new carving for anyone whom the god led to the place that had given them both respite. They spend the day in the cove, grabbing plants to store on the ship and double-checking everything else to make sure they had all they needed for sailing. Dagur had done a good job preparing and Hiccup makes sure to tell his brother as much. Hiccup ends up asleep on a warm rock while they wait for nightfall to sail off. Hiccup wonders if he will be noticed missing while there is daylight. 

They board the ship and sail out of the cove as night falls and the moon rises slowly to light up the water in a pale white glow. Hiccup watches his island disappear, a mournful rhythm tapping at his heart. Dagur gently wraps an arm around his shoulders and hums softly.

“ My mother told me, someday I will buy, galley with good oars. Sail to distant shores. Stand up on the prow, noble barque I steer. Steady course to the haven. Hew many foe-men. ”

Hiccup smiles a little at the familiar tune and slowly turns from his home… From his ex-home. He joins his brother in singing, forcing his mind from the pain of his heart and the pain of his leg to breathe and sing with his whole chest.

“ My mother told me, someday I will buy, galley with good oars. Sail to distant shores. Stand up on the prow, noble barque I steer. Steady course to the haven. Hew many foe-men. ”

Things would be okay. His brother is here. And they would be able to figure things out. Hiccup’s breathing evens out and he takes a seat on a nearby box as his stump can take no more standing. He would have to figure out a care routine to help keep the pain at bay. He had spent enough time in the forge with Gobber to know a thing or two about caring for amputated stumps. 

He finds the warmth of his brother, the crashing adrenaline, and the gentle rocking of the boat by the waves are all lulling him despite the pain arching up through his nerves. He closes his eyes and finds himself humming a different tune. A tune that Old Wrinkly had taught him. Hiccup finds that while he does not care if his father is proud of him, he hopes that Old Wrinkly is watching over him with a proud smile on his face. He hopes that they find happiness wherever they end up. It cannot be any worse than his life previous. And now his brother would never leave his side. His hand finds Dagur’s and grips it tightly, fingers interwoven like the roots of Yggdrasil.

Chapter Text

Hiccup’s a fitful sleeper. Dagur knows this. But it is worse now that he has lost his left leg. Hiccup slowly shares the story of how he had lost it over the days that they sailed northward. Dagur regrets not slaughtering the twins before they left. But they are beyond his reach for now. So instead he focuses on doing everything he can to soothe Hiccup's pain.

At daybreak he helps his brother smear an odd mixture on the scarred flesh and at midday he massages it gently to soothe it. At night he massages the red irritated skin and helps smear more mixture on it.  Hiccup sleeps a lot, body probably in recovery mode. Dagur is fine with that. He can stay awake enough for the two of them. 

He looks over the map he had stolen from his father and carefully navigates through the dangerous waters that would allow them to go further north than most maps from the archipelago went. But Dagur knows that the Northern Markets and many uninhabited islands are beyond the edges of the usual maps and they would make their home there.

He and Hiccup talk as they plot out what their next movements would be.

“I like the idea of going to the Northern Markets and selling stuff. But we need a home base so I can set up a forge. If we can be a day or two of sailing away that would be ideal.” 

Hiccup states as he sketches in his notebook. Dagur hums, rechecking their route and adjusting the sail a little as he adjusts the rudder.

“Alright. So the plan would be to sell stuff at the market to be able to buy whatever we cannot hunt or make ourselves?”

“That would be the ideal. I have some of the weapons I've created and a few other trinkets that people might be interested in. Plus all of my savings. But I'm not anywhere close to an expert blacksmith…”

“Your stuff is just as good if not better than Gobber. You said yourself it dulls slower and that resin mixture you made up that he refused keeps the handles from fraying. I also think your armor is great! Armor without looking armored?? And so light and durable? Never seen anything like it!”

Dagur chirps, trying to build his brother up. It works as Hiccup cracks a smile. 

“Thank you…”

“I know if you wanted to we could set up a shop. I’d even run the sales side so you don't have to deal with stupid Vikings.”

Hiccup laughs merrily at Dagur’s words and Dagur knows that he will be doing whatever it takes to keep his brother smiling and laughing. Seeing Hiccup frown is as unnatural as the seasons refusing to change. He adjusts the map and hums in consideration. 

“Well, there looks to be a small island surrounded by really jagged rocks. We’ll have to be careful sailing in and out, but a natural defense would be good.” 

Hiccup limps over to his side and nods. 

“Less likely that someone else would be living there. Maybe I can figure out a way to keep the boat safe…”

“We’ll just try to avoid them on our first go around.”

Hiccup nods.

--

Hiccup stirs awake as the ship jolts up and down. He finds himself secured to the bed in the hold, with straps that are easy to release. His metal leg is unstable in the face of the violently rocking ship. Hiccup notes that everything has been tied down and he assumes that his brother has done this. He wonders if he should go above deck… But he might just be a distraction… 

No. 

He hates the idea of his brother facing a storm alone. He swallows his fear, grabs a rope, and heads out. He ties one part of the rope around his waist and then lashes the rope to the mast and looks about. Rain reaches down from electricity-filled clouds. He spots his brother at the rudder cackling wildly as the wind shoves around loose sodden bits of hair making Dagur look truly wild.

Dagur the wild.

Dagur the fearless.

Hiccup notes the lack of a lifeline around his brother's waist. He ties a second rope around the mast, moves to the rudder, and starts tying a rope about his brother's waist. Dagur blinks and then grabs his shoulder. 

“Hiccup! What-”

“I refuse to let you face a storm alone!”

Hiccup snarls and the fire in his belly returns and he feels once more like a roaring dragon. He will not be sent away like he had been so often on Berk. Dagur blinks and looks at him anew. his brother smiles.

“Of course you do. Alright, I do need your help.”

Hiccup feels a surge of relief. How could he have doubted Dagur? Dagur had him tie up the rudder and then his brother adjusted the sail to be better fastened against the insistent tugging wind.

“Hiccup!! There is a big wave coming!! Hold tight!”

Hiccup closes his eyes tight and clings to the rudder, hoping his knots held true under the crushing wave. 

The wave hits.

Cold surrounds him, burrowing into his bones. He forces himself not to gasp and accidentally let in icy water. The water recedes, Hiccup gasps, and his grip gets a little shaky. Thunder booms and he whimpers.

Then he is surrounded by warmth and hands enclose on his, steadying him. Hiccup opens his eyes and smiles. His brother is here. Everything would be okay. 

The storm rages on around them, the wind screaming, the thunder pounding, and the lightning crackling fiercer than any forge fire. But Hiccup feels safe and happy with his brother wrapped around him, holding him in the face of the storm. 

Dagur whispers to him.

“Hiccup look. To the left, in the clouds.”

Hiccup looks and spots a shadow in the clouds. A dragon, wings beating in the clouds. Lightning seems drawn to it and Hiccup breathes.

“A Skrill.”

Hiccup whispers eyes wide. Dagur giggles.

“It's a sign.”

Awe and excitement fill his brother's words.

The dragon then shoots off on a bolt of lightning.

“I hope so.”

Hiccup murmurs to his brother.

Chapter Text

When the storm breaks, Dagur finds himself falling to the deck. He is… so tired. He had been awake for the past four days, to let Hiccup sleep safely.

However, it has now caught up with him. Hiccup moves about and shakily hefts him, barely pulling him to his knees.

“Let's get you changed and to bed big brother.”

“But someone has to watch…”

“I can. I promise. You can even sleep on the deck. Just change into dry clothes. So work with me.”

Dagur groggily nods his head. He changes and drags himself and some furs back onto the deck with Hiccup’s help. His brother quickly changes and darts back onto the deck. Dagur curls up on a crate with the furs, eyes fluttering shut as his brother darts about straightening everything and checking for damages. The sun warms him quickly and he drifts.

Hiccup touches his shoulder a little while later and Dagur stirs. 

“There’s an island a bit aways. Is it the one we were aiming for?”

“How long was I asleep?”

Dagur asks, cracking his back.

“A day or so.”

Dagur feels a rush of alarm.

“That long? Are you alright?!”

He checks his brother over and notes the slight sag in Hiccup’s shoulders. 

“I'm okay. Really. You were exhausted Dagur. I wasn't going to wake you until necessary. And now it's necessary.”

Dagur slowly nods, accepting Hiccup's words. He rubs his eyes, takes the spyglass, and checks the island that they are approaching against the map.

“That is it.”

Dagur says with a smile, hands off the spyglass. and stares out at the island. He truly hopes that this will be their home. As they get closer he hoists the sail and has Hiccup take over rudder duty as he stands on the prowl and looks at the water carefully for telltale signs of rocks hidden from view. They are lucky that the sky is crystal clear and the sea very calm. The gods are on their side and he sends up a small praise to Tyr for helping him keep his oath. 

He watches for altered wave movements and for rings of sea plants to indicate rocks. They move painfully slowly but safely reach the eastern shore of the island. They find a river that cuts inland and Dagur aims the boat into it. He ties a rope about its figurehead and hops off to begin pulling from the river bank.

“Can I help?”

Hiccup asks and Dagur calls back an affirmative.

“Keep the rudder steady as I pull and turn it if I say to. She rides high in the water so she should be able to go far enough inward that passing ships won't notice.”

Hiccup hurries to the rudder and follows the orders of his brother. Dagur takes a deep breath and pulls the rope. They get pretty far inland before the river begins to get shallow. He spots a cave up ahead and calls it out to his brother

“There's a cave! I'm going to prep her to be pulled ashore. You can sit down brother!”

He can hear Hiccup let out a breath of relief and Dagur immediately feels bad all over again for his brother staying awake for him. Dagur hauls the ship onto the muddy bank, high enough to avoid a fuller river being able to sweep it away. He ties it firmly to a boulder and then starts working to prep the cave. He notes that his brother had fallen asleep and started working harder. 

He carves out a space for a fire and brings in fur and the most valuable items to store in the back of the cave. He brings Hiccup into the cave and covers him with a blanket and fur. He then works on removing rocks and dirt and double-checking the cave for other entrances. He finds three anti-chambers, but no other way in. He shifts things around and then rechecks on Hiccup, who is still sleeping. 

Dagur starts up a fire and offers offerings to Vidar and Tyr before starting to cook a stew. He hums happily to himself. They are home. Sure it would take a while to fixe everything up, and Hiccup needed a forge but, they had arrived at the island safe and together. 

---

He wakes up to the sound of things being moved around. Beneath his limbs is fur and above him is rock. Ah, he is inside a cave. He stretches and yawns slightly. 

“Dagur?”

He calls slowly getting up.

“Oh! Hiccup! Good morning sleepy head~!”

Dagur helps him to his feet and Hiccup hisses in pain. Dagur frowns and scoops him off of the ground. 

“We’ve missed too many times of doing your medicine.”

Dagur huffs as he carries Hiccup outside. Hiccup would feel embarrassed by the bridal carry is his leg did not ache so much. He realizes that his cheeks are very wet and that he had been crying in pain. He lets the brother set him on a rock outside of the cave and takes off his prosthetic with well-practiced finger movements. He breathes deeply as Dagur rolls up the pant leg and gently massages the mixture of honey, spider webbing, and aloe into Hiccup’s scar tissue. Hiccup hisses and then relaxes. 

“Will… Will it ever stop hurting?”

Hiccup’s voice is very small. He had not meant to ask, but the fear bites at him. Dagur frowns softly as he cleans off his hands. He then grabs Hiccup’s hands.

“I'm not sure. A lot of the people who lost limbs on Berserk had them hurt less over time, but occasionally they said that it ached sharply sometimes.”

Hiccup swallows thickly. 

“You… you should stay off of it for a bit. I’ll grab some stuff that you can do while sitting still.”

Hiccup smiles a bit at his brother’s willingness to provide a way for him to still be useful.

“Okay. That is probably a good idea.”

Dagur sets him up with boxes to sort and has him doodle out a plan for the cave as he continues to haul boxes off of the ship. They chat back and forth about what they want out of their cave and what they are going to do to set up the rest of their home. Hiccup finds the pain fades as his mind focuses on the conversation. They have a few shared ideas and a few preferences. Hiccup ends up falling asleep while on the rock.

Chapter Text

“We need a clan and island name.”

Hiccup hums at Dagur’s words, relaxing in the cave. They had been their for a week, with Dagur carving out a hearth according to Hiccup’s specifications and marking the wall above it with the signs of Tyr and Vidar. It kept the smoke out of the cave through thin channels that Dagur had made. Hiccup is currently stitching up a patch in one of their many blankets.

“I don't know about clan name… but…”

Hiccup falls silent, a little terrified. Dagur looks up from where he ahd been sharpening the blade Hiccup had gifted him.

“Well? Go on!”

He smiles invitingly and Hiccup sighs. 

“Áræði; courage and daring.”

Dagur grins.

“I love it! And Bloodwrath for the clan name!”

Hiccup blinks and a startled laugh escapes him. Of course, Dagur would give them a violent clan name. Hiccup takes a breath and nods.

“Hiccup Bloodwrath is a fantastic name. I’ll gladly bear it.”

Dagur shifts closer and gives him a tight squeeze, smiling. Like the fire of a hearth, Dagur makes Hiccup feel at home. He bumps his head against his brother and yawns. He had started sleeping during the day less frequently, but he still had bone-aching weariness that haunted his movements. He does not think he will ever feel as strong as he once had. But he says nothing of that fear to Dagur, tucking away in the back of his heart. 

Dagur runs a soothing hand through his hair and gently takes away the half repaired blanket.

“You can fix this tomorrow night.”

“Mm kay.”

Hiccup murmurs tiredly curling into his brother as they lay down together. They never slept apart. It made nightmares easier on both of them to be able to immediately wake up and find the other’s heartbeat despite the encroaching darkness. He breathes deeply and closes his eyes tight, mind swirling over plans and ideas. They still had a lot to set up, but they had already done a lot in their first week here. One of the secondary chambers is full of bookshelves created from breaking boxes and stored all their combined books, notebooks, and game boards. That room also stored their food and salt. They had started a garden and a forge area but there is still work to be done on both those areas. He also wanted to make a moving rock door for the front of the cave before winter comes a blowing and they really needed a better docking system soon. 

It is nice to fall asleep with plans for the future that were not intruded upon by fears of having to hide from others in his village. No one on this island wanted to hurt him. 

--

It has been a month since their move and Hiccup has just completed the first ax in their forge. It was made from odd metal made out of a trap Dagur had found while combing the island in their second week for prey, dragons, and enemies. He had found neither of the last two and plenty of the first. Hiccup had not been able to melt it at normal forge temperatures.

But Hiccup has no normal forge, Dagur thinks, smiling to himself. 

It had a series of pipes and blessings all twisted throughout it, relying on birch wood, leather castoffs, and Monstrous Nightmare gel. Dagur had constructed it to Hiccup's exact specifications and they had done a ritual sacrifice of leather cast-offs and a fresh kill in the first fire of the forge. And ever since it has been reliable and so very hot. 

Dagur weighs the strange metal ax, smiling at how far his brother had come in weapon making. It is perfectly balanced and wonderfully sharp, and the handle is firm and soft against his palm.

“Perfect.”

“You mean it?”

Hiccup tilts his soot-covered face and Dagur grins.

“I wouldn't lie to you about weapons. All the knives you made in this forge were also perfect. I think we should go to the Market.”

“Oh… well… I don't know if just anyone can set up a stall.”

“Then we’ll do a scouting mission and figure out the requirements! We need to buy honey and aloe anyway.”

Hiccup swallows, and shifts nervously. His hands flutter a bit, a new habit he had started picking up while nervous. 

“-Scared.-”

Hiccup’s hands say. Dagur swallows moving his hands as he verbally speaks.

“It’s going to be okay. I’ll be stuck like sap to your side. No one will be looking for us there. And if they are, I’ll stab them.”

Hiccup relaxes and snorts.

“It's always violence with you.”

“You love it!~”

He sing-songs. Hiccup smiles softly and laughs.

“Yeahhh…  I sorta do. Okay. We finish installing our rock door today and then head out tomorrow.”

Dagur nods and takes a deep breath. Hiccup had already built the right mechanism to roll the door and Dagur had already installed it. They just had to add the giant rock Hiccup had been chipping down. He heads over to the giant rock and starts tying ropes about it so that he can haul it. He uses a series of pulleys and rope systems that Hiccup had created to help make heavier objects easier to move. 

--

Hiccup shifts side to side as they sail to the Northern Market. He is a little terrified. He had been honest with Dagur the day previous. He is scared. This would be the first time he would be around people other than Dagur in over a month. Dagur gently puts a hand on his shoulder.

“Like sap.”

Dagur reminds and Hiccup instantly relaxes. It is okay. His brother is right here. He turns and bumps heads with his brother. Dagur wraps him in a hug and nuzzles him. 

“It's all going to be okay.”

Hiccup’s hands move on their own as he speaks.

“Okay.”

He says with his hands and mouth. 

They arrive at the market and Hiccup takes a deep breath while tightly holding onto his bag. It is going to be fine. They were not even going to try to set up a stall today, just find out general information about setting one up. He tucks into his brother’s side as they dock and finish tying off their ship. Hiccup takes a deep breath and then another. It would be fine. He would be absolutely fine.

Chapter Text

Hiccup looks around, absolutely fascinated with all the things he sees. Yes, there is the typical Viking fare, with weapons and yak products galore. But there are also things from faraway lands, rare books, and many more gemstones.  Hiccup is beyond fascinated and ideas jump to his mind as his eyes dart around. He has to keep reminding himself to keep an eye out for tripping hazards. Dagur is bouncing up and down beside him and he smiles. His brother is just as excited as he is. 

They find the owner of the island, Rune, and Dagur initiates the conversation with Hiccup touching his arm whenever Dagur gets too enthusiastic. 

“Well, the cheapest stall is a small plot on the outer rim of the market. 25 gold coins. I’ll show you what it looks like, but if you don’t have anything to sell, I can't recommend even the smallest stall.”

“We do have stuff to sell! My little brother makes weapons and other nifty things. He made my ax!”

Rune blinks as Dagur shows off the ax and Hiccup’s cheeks turn red. Oh no. What if the man sees all the flaws? He had not managed to find a way to fully purify the odd metal. And-

“I didn't think anyone other than the Acumens had figured out how to melt and meld Gronckle iron.”

Oh. That type of metal had a name. Huh. His fingers start to move and he stops himself.

“Acumens?”

He whispers and flinches into his brother as Rune’s eye fall on him. 

“Yeah. You two must be very new to these shores. They're fairly famous as a dragon hunter tribe. They have made a lot of cages and weapons out of this stuff. It resists dragon fire. Which brings into question how you got your hands on Gronckle iron without knowing who they are?”

The man tilts his head and Dagur takes over with a bright grin.

“We found some sort of trap while fishing off our island. And Hiccup here figured out how to melt it down!”

“Do you only make weapons kid?”

The man seems to buy the story. Hiccup nods at the question and pulls out a spyglass. He holds it up to his eye to show how it should be used and then passes it over. Rune looks through it and hums.

“Very crisp. I've seen a few people attempt this, but end up with foggy vision. I think you might just be successful. Here, I’ll show you the plot. 25 gold a day and if you want it guaranteed for a certain day in case the place gets too busy that’ll cost a pinch extra.”

Hiccup nods his understanding as he takes the spyglass back and tucks it away. They are shown to the small plot, marked out by logs and Hiccup can tell there is just enough room for a table or two. Dagur hums to himself and Hiccup thanks the man quietly.

“Well, brother?”

Dagur asks with a grin. Hiccup grins back. 

“Next time. Let's just make sure to not spend too much this time so that we can afford it.”

Dagur nods eagerly and they start walking around again, this time looking for what they need. After getting honey and monstrous nightmare gel, Hiccup finds himself going into the stall full of books. He knows he does not have the money to frivolously spend on books, but he finds himself drawn to the bound leather and valium. He sees a text in Latin amongst the Nordic runes and he gently touches it, mind translating. A book of poetry. He senses Dagur behind him somewhere being a little bored but being kind enough to let him investigate. 

A hand gently taps his wrist and he startles.

“Do you know Latin laddie?!”

The volume is too high and Hiccup flinches back hands moving and Dagur comes to his side.

“-Yes! Sorry for touching!-”

Dagur growls low, but the man looks, delighted his own hands starting to move, though not as fluid.

“-Hello! You are handspeaker! Are you ????? .-”

Hiccup blinks at the last sign, which is a fist to the air, and then the sign for dragons. The man fingerspells out Acumens and Hiccup tilts his head and shakes it again.

“-No. We are Bloodwrathers-”

He fingerspells it out and then gives the sign he and Dagur made up, right hand over the heart with a trickle motion from the left down the back of the right, and then both hands turning to claws and jerking apart like a chest being ripped open. The man nods eagerly and Hiccup relaxes as they dive into a long and thorough conversation about books and the difficulties of getting good copies. They both mourn the time it takes to copy a book and Hiccup’s mind ends up whirling around the problem. The man, Tove, is quite interesting to talk to.

After a long time has passed, he realizes he has not been fair to his brother and that he shouldn't take up this man's time for so long if he will not buy anything. He hates burdening people and wasting their time. He apologizes for doing so and the man scoffs before pressing the Latin book into his arms.

“-But I can't p- -”

“-Visit again.-”

The man signs with a grin and Hiccup nods eagerly. He holds the book tight in aching hands as they go through weapons displays and find the rest of the supplies that they need, glowing a little. This had been a great trip. He vaguely notes a larger man with dual swords on his back glance at Dagur’s ax but his thoughts quickly are swept away. 

He starts sketching things down in his notebook as he sits on the ship. Dagur preps the ship and then plops down beside him. 

“Ooh! Looks like you have a lot to start on when we get home.”

Dagur croons and Hiccup grins. 

“I do. Let's get home Dagur.”

Hiccup tucks the notebook away and they start to sail off. Next time they would stay much longer. But this time their visit is cut short to keep them from being tempted to buy more than they can currently afford. As they sail, Dagur starts singing and Hiccup begins to sing happily with his brother, soul quite happy.

Chapter Text

Dagur helps Hiccup bend a branch back. Hiccup has finally created the bola launcher that his little brother had been designing for years. He helps finish putting all the pieces of the machine together and then Hiccup loads the machine. Dagur watches as it is aimed and lets out a whoop as it easily fires. It shoots true and the bola wraps around the rock that Hiccup had aimed it at.  

“Hel yes!! This is amazing Hiccup!”

He scoops up his brother and twirls him around. Hiccup laughs along with him as they fall into the dirt. Dagur runs his hand through Hiccup’s hair with a happy hum. He is glad they ran away. Hiccup looks so much healthier now, with a little weight coming to his brother’s bones. Plus all of the inventions that Hiccup made now that they were out here alone.

A self-regulating agriculture system for the garden so they did not have to haul water every day, many different types of traps for Dagur to test out, and the weirdest most interesting forge ever. They had found more of that weird metal washing up on their shores and Hiccup had crafted several lovely knives with their tribe’s symbol carved on the end of the hilt, the first of which Hiccup had given Dagur. 

Hiccup did that all the time. Everything that he made, he gave the first to Dagur. Dagur is honored by the practice and keeps everything gifted to him safe and treats it sacredly.  

“I’ll have to make a guidebook for how to use it and keep it functioning.”

Hiccup says as he curls up on Dagur’s chest.

“Yeah, most Vikings suck when it comes to learning new tools, a reminder or two would probably be useful.”

Dagur snickers and Hiccup pokes his ribs. 

“Don't be too rude about potential buyers, they might blacklist us as a seller.” 

Hiccup grins and Dagur carefully and playfully shoves him off. Hiccup playfights back, shoving at him and the two of them play in the dirt cackling and laughing as they go. Hiccup then lets out a yawn.

“Time to get you to bed.”

“Aww, but we still have a few more things to pack for the market tomorrow! And I need to make this thing’s manual.”

“Manual?”

Dagur scrunches his nose. 

“That's what I'm going to call the guide.”

Hiccup chirps and tries to wriggle away. Dagur stops him and hauls him up. 

“Nope. Bed. We need to keep treating your leg for another couple of weeks to help make sure it doesn't get inflamed or something.”

Dagur carries his little brother to the cave as Hiccup whines. 

“Aww Daguurrr.”

“Don't try that with me. To bed with you.”

Dagur chirps and Hiccup sighs sadly. 

“You win. I can't win any fights with you…”

Hiccup sighs and presses into his brother with a hum. Dagur gently puts him down in the cave and Hiccup starts undoing his leg. Dagur makes sure to be gentle with his movements and makes sure to stop whenever Hiccup winces. 

“One day you might, with all those fancy inventions you make.”

Dagur grins and Hiccup scrunches his nose.

“I’d never use my inventions on you. And… they all have fail-safes if anyone else is using them so we can counter.”

Hiccup says and Dagur grins. 

“Of course you wouldn't. Hey, a game of Maces and Talons before we sleep?”

He asks, not really feeling any love of the game but knowing that it meant a lot to his brother to play against him. 

--

Hiccup sets up his shop feeling a flash of nervousness. He hopes that they will be able to sell something. He adjusts one of the knives for the umpteenth time and takes a steadying breath. Dagur wraps an arm around his shoulders. 

“Hey, it's going to be fine. I'm going to do all the talking! Just sit down in the back and read or sketch okay? You don't have to say a word if you don't want to.”

Hiccup smiles and bumps his brother’s side. 

“Thanks, brother.”

He says with a smile. Dagur grins brightly, warm as a hearth fire and twice as welcoming. 

“Anything for you little bro!”

Dagur scoops him up and twirls him around. Hiccup holds on and giggles.

“Thanks, Dagur. You are the best.”

Dagur laughs as he puts Hiccup down.

“I know.”

Dagur puffs out his chest and Hiccup pushes at him.

“Go open us up. I got some work to do.”

Hiccup sits down on his stool with a small table in the back and gets to work on carefully grinding a piece of glass to make something that would make small things large. He quietly hums to himself and stops whenever he hears someone enter, not wanting to draw any attention to himself. He glances up a few times to see what kind of people visit. It is interesting to see the types of people interested in his stuff. Many he can tell have slightly different cultures than that of his birth island. Most seem to like Dagur’s energy and negotiating skills. Hiccup smiles to himself and shifts to working on sketches as he finishes the glass.

A man with a shaved head and two swords enters their stall and carefully lifts one of the spyglasses and glances through it. The man then approaches the bola launcher, which everyone had been avoiding due to it being pretty foreign-looking. 

“What is this?”

The man asks and Hiccup decides to watch a little more.

“Ohh! Bola launcher. It shoots out bolas at high speed wherever you aim it!”

“Only bolas? And how far?” 

Dagur pats the machine. His eyes light up as he happily shares about Hiccup’s invention. Hiccup smiles to himself. Dagur really did love weapons.

“It's designed for bolas. We haven't tried anything else. There's no way for me to guarantee the accuracy of anything else. And around 1,500 yards accurately, further if you're alright with missing. Though of course like a crossbow and a normal bow, you would have to account for wind and stuff.”

“Do you think this can be mounted to a boat?”

The man asks and Hiccup blinks at the idea. He had not designed with that in mind but… Dagur glances at him with a head tilt and Hiccup quickly moves his hands.

“-I would have to make adjustments. But yes.-”

Before Dagur can repeat what he said the man starts speaking to Hiccup directly.

“And would those adjustments decrease the range?”

Hiccup feels a bit of terror at the attention. Attention is not good. Back on Berk anyone's attention aside from Dagur’s and sometimes Gobber’s, leads to things he would much rather avoid. His throat closes up and it becomes a little hard to breathe. His hands shake as they move jerkily.

“-No.-”

Dagur shifts to stand in front of Hiccup.

“Look, if you want details, you're better off talking to me and not freaking out my brother.”

Dagur growls a little and Hiccup jumps up and touches his arm. They really do not need to make enemies.

“I’m okay.”

He whispers looking at the man who raises an eyebrow. Hiccup pulls out the pamphlet he had made and holds it out.

“Here, this has… more details about it.”

“So you made this?”

Hiccup nods and then shuffles back.

“But really, Dagur knows everything about it, and can show you how it shoots.”

The man slowly nods and then turns back to Dagur who is still very tense. Hiccup gently nudges his brother.

“Is this the only one?”

“Yeah, we weren't sure if anyone would be interested in it, especially at the price its at.”

“That being?”

“225 gold.”

Dagur says. The man hums softly and circles the machine. 

“Show me how it would load.”

Dagur is hesitant and Hiccup huffs and steps around his brother. Sure he is scared, but they had to sell stuff. And if this person liked the bola shooter it could mean more business which meant they could continue to buy the things that they could not make at home. He walks over to the machine and taps the barrel.

“Put the bola in here. Then pull this stuff back.” He pulls back the hammer, straining just a little. “Then click this after aiming.”

He pulls the trigger and it makes a satisfying twang noise. 

“Hmm. And can you guarantee that it will work? Hard to trust without an actual test fire.”

Hiccup can understand that and he looks to Dagur. Dagur sighs.

“We can give a test run this afternoon down at the docks by shooting into the sea.”

“Agreeable. I’ll give you 25 gold now as a down payment. If it works to my satisfaction, I'll pay you the rest this afternoon. If not, I'll want that back.”

Hiccup gives Dagur a look and Dagur agrees, still looking a little wary of the man. 

“Sure. We’ll bring it down before sundown.”

“And how much for the ‘spyglass’?”

“5 gold.”

“Sounds fair to me. Ryker Grimborn.”

The man holds out an arm and Dagur grabs his wrist with a threatening smile. 

“Dagur Bloodwrath.”

“And your brother?”
“Hiccup.”

Hiccup whispers with a small twitch. The man gives a polite nod to Hiccup and then pays the gold. Then he is gone. Hiccup lets out a soft breath.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah. I'm fine. Just… still not used to people.”

Dagur gently bumps their foreheads together.

“You're doing amazing. And I'm happy to throw down with anyone that bothers you.”

“Thanks, but we do not need to make enemies Dagur.”

“Yeah, I guess not.”

Dagur huffs and nuzzles his cheek.

Chapter Text

Dagur watches Ryker carefully. He dislikes anyone paying too much attention to Hiccup. It might end badly for Hiccup and he just refuses to let that happen. They had dealt with so much already. The man is reexamining the weapon before loading it with a bola, pulls back the hammer, and aims the machine. And then he pulls the trigger. 

Dagur spots Hiccup smiling out of the corner of his eye as the machine works flawlessly. Hiccup had spent the afternoon crafting instructions for how to mount the thing to a ship and still retain accuracy. Ryker turns to them with a pleased look.

“Here's the rest. Do you think you can make another?”

Dagur blinks and glances at Hiccup. His brother gives a tiny nod.

“Yes. But we won't be back here till the end of next month.”

Dagur states and Ryker gives a nod.

“Perfect. That will give me and my crew time to get used to it.” 

Ryker hands over a pouch of gold and Dagur weighs it carefully in his hand before giving a sharp nod. He and Hiccup go back to their boat where they had already moved all their goods. Their ship is locked with a special mechanism that would lead to harm without the proper key, meaning that all their goods and gold are safe. They go down below and Dagur divides the money evenly as he can three ways. One share for Hiccup, one for him, one for emergencies, and paying for the stall. They had made plenty to be able to sell again for three or four days at the end of next month if they chose. And it had gone pretty well, so they would be coming back. If Hiccup says yes.

“Do you really think you'll be able to build another one?”

“I'll build two. I've never had someone other than you be interested in my inventions before.”

Hiccup says starting to smile a bit. Dagur finds himself smiling.

“That's cause we were surrounded by idiots. People with brains can tell quality inventing when they see it!”

Hiccup flushes and shoves at him.

“Aw, stop it. Now! We need to get to sleep so we can wake up early and explore the market! I want to see if I can get my hands on a new book or a set of colored ink!”

“Alright, brother.”

Dagur agrees easily, knowing that if Hiccup asked him to steal Thor’s lightning, he would find a way.  He helps Hiccup with the medical salve and then both curl up on the bed. They refuse to sleep apart and Dagur would have it no other way. He blows out the candle, closes his eyes, and draws his brother close. Hiccup’s hands bunch up the fabric of his shirt with a soft murmur.

“I love you.”

“Love you too Hiccup.”

And then they slip off to sleep. 

When he wakes the next morning his mark of Tyr aches slightly. He blinks at it with bleary eyes and wonders what his god is trying to communicate. He silently slips out of bed and shifts to a small shrine that they kept on the boat. He places a hand on his mark and he closes his eyes. He gets no clear message and finds himself sighing a little. 

His eyes blink open as arms curl around him.

“Hey, Hiccup. Wanna see if any food stalls are open?”

“Yes!”

Hiccup chirps, looking very excited by the prospect. Dagur grins and figures whatever Tyr is trying to get him to notice will become clearer with time. He slips on his gear and they lock up the boat before heading to a stall that is selling oat cakes soaked in honey. Dagur is quite happy to see Hiccup smiling and happily chewing on the food. They walk through the market and when Hiccup finishes eating, he tugs Dagur to the book tent. Dagur sits in the corner, keeping an eye on things as Hiccup and the book salesman chatter on with their hands about books and rarities. Dagur is happy enough with the joy radiating from his brother. 

He pulls out a block of wood that he often whittles on while waiting for things. He was making the wolf that represents Hiccup in their tribe’s emblem. Hati, the wolf chasing the moon was represented on their sail in red. Dagur was represented by Sköll, who was painted blue on their sail. His carving skills are not the best, but he figures it he keeps trying, he will eventually be decent. He keeps half an eye on Hiccup but honestly trusts Tove. The man seemed nice enough. 

He registers that a lot of people pass back and forth infront of the tent but few come in. Tove pauses the conversation occasionally to make a sale, talking loudly to any viking that comes in. Must be partially deaf, Dagur figures. 

Ryker Grimborn walks in and gives a half-interested glance to Dagur and Hiccup. Dagur feels his hackles rise, but then as the man looks through the books, he relaxes. Tove seems happy to see the man and gives a greeting specifically to Ryker before returning to talking to Hiccup. Dagur stays a little more alert but slowly relaxes. 

The man selects a particularly old-looking book, goes to Vore, and moves his hands.

“-For ?????-”

The hand movement is unfamiliar, likely a name. It is the symbol for V mixed with the sign for thinking.

“-He will enjoy this! I have something set aside for him too. He prepaid.-”

Tove pulls out another book and hands it over while taking the money for the book that Ryker is buying. Ryker then turns to Dagur.

“Do you know how to throw that ax?”

The tone is nonthreatening. Dagur slowly nods.

“Yeah.”

“There's a throwing competition around noon today being held by Rune. Two gold to join and the winner gets half the pot. They move the targets each round. How far can you throw and be accurate?”

Dagur hums with some interest.

“Pretty far.”

He says noncommittally as if he had not been training each day to throw his ax as far as possible and still land a kill. Just in case he sees Oswald or Stoick coming in the distance. The further he can throw, the more time he has to scoop up Hiccup and keep running. Ryker raises an eyebrow.

“Well, I figured I’d let you know.”

Ryker then walks out. Dagur considers it. 

“You should join.”

Hiccup says and Dagur is stirred from his thoughts.

“Alright. I will.”

Hiccup grins brightly.

“I can't wait to cheer you on!”

Hiccup bounces and Dagur flushes just a little before puffing up his chest. Well, now he had to win. And no screwing around this time. His competitors were not some idiot preteen who made his brother cry. 

Hiccup finishes talking to Tove and purchases a book full of legends. They then head towards where the competition is being held, with Dagur tucking the half-finished wolf into his pocket. Hiccup shifts closer to him as the crowd thickens like fresh honey and Dagur wraps an arm around his brother’s shoulders but Hiccup does not ask to leave so he keeps moving forward.

Chapter Text

Hiccup’s eyes dart around at the crowd, marveling a little at just how many people are coming to watch the competition. Food sellers travel through the crowd, hawking their wares as they wind through the crowd like snakes through the roots of a tree. He catches a whiff of freshly roasted nuts coated in honey and hears the plucking of a few different instruments. It feels like all the noises and smells of the Northern Market have become concentrated in to one spot. Hiccup can taste the excitement of the crowd on his tongue as Dagur and he join the line of competitors buying in. Dagur has a ribbon tied about his left wrist to mark him as a competitor and they move over to another part of the crowd. 

Hiccup manages to find a barrel to perch on as a loud drum starts to ring out. The crowd settles into silence at the sound, excitement tinging the air as Rune steps forward. The man introduces the competition and all of the rules. And then it begins. Hiccup watches everything, analyzing each throw with fascination and thought. His eyes watch each weapon and consider the craftsmanship that went into them. Many looked like heirlooms. When Dagur throws, Hiccup lets out a cheer that rises louder than any other voice, whooping as Dagur hits the bullseye, which means his brother is still in. Each loser has their ribbon taken and they are forced to rejoin the crowd. Dagur meets his gaze and Hiccup gives a quick sign meaning luck. Dagur grins, eyes sparking like a wildfire and signs back love. Hiccup grins.

The crowd quickly falls into betting as they reach the third round and there are only five competitors left. At this time Rune has each person introduce their name so that those laying bets can put their coin on a specific name. Dagur says their clan name with such pride that Hiccup finds himself preening a little. That’s his brother! He lets out a loud whoop as Dagur finishes his introduction and he can feel his eyes, but he couldn't care less at this moment. His brother is amazing. Dagur passes into the fourth round with two others. And then the fifth with one other. And then Dagur is victorious. The crowd cheers and screams as drums ring out and feet stamp the ground. Hands slap together ringing out claps that echo back to the crowd, creating a thunderous roar that Hiccup knows Dagur deserves. He gives his own cheers while holding hands over his ears. Dagur accepts the reward and then makes a beeline towards Hiccup. The crowd watches on as he presses the pouch of gold into Hiccup’s hands. 

“What do you want to buy little brother?”

Hiccup blinks at the question and Dagur’s elated face. He gives a matching grin and moves his hands, knowing that he will not be heard over the din around them. 

“-Honey-covered oatcakes-” 

Dagur laughs wildly and nods, pulling him up and onto his shoulders. The crowd parts easily for them but Dagur takes little to no notice of them, instead just heading towards the oatcake stand. Hiccup smiles at the lady running the stall, leans over his brother's head, and pays for two oatcakes. Hiccup smiles happily as he bites into the food. It tastes like freedom and victory. He sucks on the honey and chews happily. He croons and Dagur pats his right leg, taking his own bites of oatcake. The crowd seems confused as they walk off singing and eating. But the Bloodwrath brothers are happy and in their own world of celebration. Where others might drink mead or lean into the cheers of the crowd, Dagur seems very happy to just be with Hiccup. 

-- 

When Ryker returns to his home island, he is unsurprised to find his brother nose-deep in sorting through deals and contracts while also working with their ledgers and maps. His brother ran a tight ship when it came to the Acumens tribes' trade and dragon hunting. It kept them out of starvation and poverty and elevated their status beyond what it had been back in their great-grandfather’s time. He sets about cooking a simple stew, knowing that his brother will be dead to the world for several more hours if left completely alone.

The dark circles under Viggo’s eyes whisper of far too many nights spent not sleeping in Ryker’s absence. He would have to remedy that. He always had to remedy it when he came back from a hunt that Viggo had not joined him for. Ryker moves about the chief’s hut, resetting it as he goes and restocking shelves with goods he had brought in anticipation of his brother’s distraction causing him to forget basic necessities. When the stew is mostly done he knocks on Viggo’s work table.

His brother slowly blinks like a man coming out of a dream or a soothsayer out of a vision. The second is the truer statement as Viggo is always looking to the future of any potential choice. And most of the time his brother is right about the potential outcome. 

Viggo’s frown deepens a little.

“I was attending to something, my dear brother.”

“And I am forcing you to eat. Hard to run a tribe from the grave.”

Viggo rolls his eyes but does get up. Ryker gives him a bow full of soup and both sit in chairs in front of the fire that Ryker had stoked.

“So, I take it the trip was successful?”

Ryker nods at his brother’s words.

“We were able to fulfill the contracts and sell any access at the Northern market. Even picked up a few interesting things.”

“Oh?”

His brother lifts an eyebrow and Ryker produces both of the books he got.

“Tove sends his regards.”

“Ah, thank you for picking this up, I did so hope he could get his hands on it.”

Viggo takes the books and looks over the one he had preordered. He then looks at the one that Ryker had chosen and gives a pleased smile that lets Ryker know he had chosen well. Good. His brother is such a picky reader. He then produces the spyglass and the small card of instructions that had come with it. 

“Here. Something else I picked up. Read the card before use. Apparently, you can really hurt yourself looking at light with this thing.”

Viggo hums with interest and scans the card quickly before raising the spyglass to his eye. 

“Oh, most fascinating. I can see a lot of use for this.”

“Then I should buy more the next time I go to the Markets.”

Viggo inspects the device from every angle and then gives a nod.

“Yes, I do think that having a few of these would make life much easier. But was this straight from the inventor or a trickle in from faraway lands?”

“From the hands of its maker. Who is also interesting…”

“Oh? How so?”

His brother tilts his head and scrunches his nose. Ryker hides a smile and lets out a small noise of consideration.

“I might find it in myself to tell you if you actually start eating.”

Viggo scowls at him, but curiosity wins against pride and his brother begins to eat. Ryker begins to talk about the two interesting brothers, not sparing a detail because he knows that Viggo can take even the smallest of things and find a way to twist them in their favor. And as he talks Viggo continues eating, which makes Ryker very pleased. He keeps his smile hidden.

“So you think they are worth investing in?”

Viggo asks at last and Ryker hums.

“I think it's worth keeping an eye on at the very least. The bola launcher has been very useful for capturing dragons without ruining hides. But I’d avoid crowding them”

Ryker says with a small shrug. 

“I'll keep a distance for now. But if they continue to be… interesting as you say, then, I think I will want to meet them.”

Ryker nods as he sees calculations begging to swirl in his brother’s eyes.

Chapter Text

Hiccup experimentally presses down a carved wooden block onto a piece of paper and then carefully separates the two. He smiles at the ink imprint and hangs the paper to dry. Now he would not have to write out instructions by hand each time! He grins happily. Now he just had to carve one block each time he wanted to make an instruction pamphlet. Or rather get Dagur to carve one. His brother has gotten very good at carving. He looks over at the wolf his brother had finished last week and smiles softly to himself. His brother is currently off fishing.

Hiccup hums softly to himself as he turns to his forge and begins working. His voice lifts up in song without really thinking about it. His hammer hits in time to the song and hot metal hisses in the water as it cools, an additional voice in his tune. He works the billows that he had modified and twists a knob that will release more Monerstous Nightmare gel. And then everything just seems to click, his movements sure and his voice full. Someone stands beside him silently and gently touches his wrist. His wrist grows cold as his mind narrows with focus. His eyes, slip closed. Song coils around him along with the water vapor created by cooling the metal. Voices he knows but does not know fill his ears and soul.

A hand touches his chin and his head tilts up to meet the eyes of a man whose hair is slightly matted. He knows who it is without having to be told.

“Vidar.”

Hiccup breathes out and the hand leaves his chin and begins to move.

“-So resilient my chosen is.-”

Hiccup flushes, ears full of the song that seems to expand around him with drums and trumpets entering into the tune. It is a song praising Vidar, made up of past worshipers who had already passed on. The lyrics are burrowing into his bones.

“-I try.-”

He signs back with a small head bend. 

“-None can accuse you of never trying. It is good to see you in the flesh my loyal follower. Keep your oaths and your resilience. I will always be at your side.-”

When the god’s hands are still, they return to holding Hiccup’s face. Hiccup knows if it was any other adult he would be panicking. But he feels utterly safe with his god who had chosen him. The lyrics shift and knowledge buries itself into his bones. There is a way to further refine the Gronckle iron that he had been working with, drawn from vikings who spent years trying to get revenge for dead kin; both from human and dragon kills.

He closes his eyes with a gentle sigh and then feels himself falling backward. 

He wakes up on the floor of his smithy. In his hand is a metal statue of Vidar and Tyr. He would place it in their shrine in the cave. He blinks slowly as he realizes that there is a cold spot on his wrist. Oh, a symbol of Vidar, red with green wound around it. He would have to tell his brother about the vision when he came back from hunting.

--

Dagur chatters happily with his brother as they set up their stall. Hiccup was able to make more weapons and interesting things by the end of the month and now they had a wider variety of stuff to sell, including game boards and jewlry. As they finish, Hiccup gives a tiny nod and settles down in the back, working on winding leather around the hilts of weapons. He starts with a sword, humming quietly to himself as his fingers weave the braid. Dagur smiles as his brother seems to lose himself and then Dagur turns and takes a breath opening the tent flaps to open the stall. 

They made quite a few sales that day, as it seems that the competition from last month has attracted the attention of many Vikings. Dagur happily talks about all of Hiccup's inventions and weapons. They also sell a few of the carvings that Dagur had made and he had not thought anyone would want. Hiccup was the one with skill! 

Dagur finishes making a sale and spots Ryker enter the tent. He still is a little wary of the man’s interest… but he had told them about the competition and bought the bola launcher. Ryker gives a polite nod before watching the two men he had brought with him. Dagur recalls them from the dock from last month. Ryker seems to be in charge of them. 

“Do you have another bola launcher?”

Ryker asks and Hiccup glances up. Dagur sees the spike of questions in his brother’s eyes and a smile marks his face. He moves to Hiccup’s side so that Hiccup might actually ask them, and gently nudges Hiccup. Hiccup’s hands start moving rapidly as he asks about the bola launcher.

“-Did it work okay? Does it need adjustment? Or repair?-”

Ryker looks to Dagur.

“Is it alright if I sit on your spare stool? I have a feeling this is going to be a long conversion.” Hiccup turns red and Ryker’s eyes soften just a fraction. “A long conversation that I very much want to have. I have a few questions of my own.”

Dagur feels a small flash of wariness that has him wanting to say no. But he takes a breath and nods; after he pushes the second stool a little farther away from his brother. 

“Yeah, sure. Touch him and you're dead though.”

“Dagur…”

Hiccup whispers and Dagur shrugs.

“I'm being nice, I'm giving him a warning first! No enemies being made here!”

Ryker lets out a laugh that soothes something in Dagur.

“Thanks, kid. I accept the warning shot.”

Dagur nods with satisfaction.

“Good.”

Then Ryker starts verbally answering all of Hiccup’s signed questions, voice remaining low and rumbling. Dagur keeps a close eye on things even as he runs their stall. Slowly, Hiccup starts whispering his replies and something in Dagur relaxes. 

His brother looks happy and Ryker has made no threatening moves. It is fine. Ryker ends up giving Hiccup a lot of information that his brother would not have been able to get by just testing it out on the island. And Hiccup gives some operational advice. Dagur sees Hiccup’s fingers twitch a bit, a sure sign that Hiccup has an idea that he wants to sketch out, but he is holding himself back. 

Ryker ends up buying another two bola launchers and five spyglasses with the men he apparently is in charge of buying a variety of weapons. Ryker pauses as the men step out. 

“If I was to put in an order for several more of these bola launchers for my tribe, would you be able to make them by the end of the month? Or is there a way to buy schematics?”  

Dagur cannot answer that. He looks at Hiccup.

“I… can make three. But no schematics.”

Hiccup states with a nod that seems aimed at himself. Ryker gives a smile.

“I understand. Half upfront? I don't want word getting around the Acumens are unfair in their dealings.”

Dagur blinks. Oh. Ryker was from the dragon hunters. He really ought to do more research into that tribe if they really are so famous in these parts. He probably should have put two and two together when Ryker started using signs that had made Tove ask them whether or not they were part of that tribe. 

Hiccup shifts a little and then nods.
“I'll have it done at the end of next month. Or will give your money back.”

Hiccup whispers and Ryker gives a sharp nod and leaves.

Chapter Text

Hiccup notices Ryker around the market on the days that they are not selling. He says nothing and tries to keep himself from being seen or talked to. Which is pretty easy. What is less easy is being able to maintain his position beside his brother and keeping Dagur calm about that fact. Vikings keep trying to get Dagur’s attention and pull him towards their shops and Dagur is slowly turning from a calm hearth fire to a wildfire ready to consume the next foolish enough to try and divert his attention. 

Hiccup decides to go for extremes as his brother growls at a merchant trying to pull him into yet another armor stall. He takes a breath, sends up a prayer, trips over the ground, and lets out a loud yelp as he falls. His elbows bruise along with his chest as he hits the ground. Dagur is immediately focused on him, hovering with worry. Hands and eyes check him for injury. And while it is embarrassing, Hiccup understands the necessity of his next action. He widens his eyes and lets his lip tremble from the pain. 

“Can you carry me? My leg hurts brother.”

He whispers, well aware of all the eyes. Dagur scoops him up and gives a scorching glare to all that send looks their way. They reach the edges of the market and come to a seat on a rock. Hiccup readjusts his prosthetic, checking it for damage and wear as he speaks.

“Dagur… Are you okay? Do… Should we not come to the market?”

He loved dreaming up stuff to sell here, but he could dream up things just for their island if he had to. Dagur jerks back a little, mouth opening and then clicking shut. His brother pulls him close, burying his face in Hiccup’s hair.

“I just get nervous. I like people admiring my talent and your talent! I just don't… I don't want to lose you. Not in a crowd. Not to someone else. And I don't like people trying to pull me from you!”

“But that's not what they were trying to do…”

Hiccup tries to reason, shifting so that his brother is curled up on his chest with Dagur’s face hidden in the crook of Hiccup’s neck. He unbraids his brother’s flaming red hair and slowly works through the few tangles in it.

“Don’t care. It's what it feels like.”

Dagur mutters, pressing closer. Hiccup croons, patting his brother’s head.

“Aw, Dagur. It's alright. We’re alright.”

Hiccup reassures, starting on a fishbone braid down his brother’s back, fingers looping carefully through the hair and pulling it as he goes. Dagur sighs, still a little tense. Hiccup knows his brother will not fully relax until they are back home on their island. He finishes the braid and pats his brother. He knows that they probably look very strange to any passerby but he knows that this position brings Dagur comfort. Hiccup knows that Dagur is covering up his chest, and all his organs. And his throat is mostly covered by Dagur’s head. 

Hiccup gives a little sigh. What a mess they are. Hiccup is terrified of people speaking to him and Dagur is scared of people taking him away from Hiccup. What a pair. He starts to sing softly, just loud enough for it to reach his brother’s ears. Dagur softly presses closer and Hiccup closes his eyes, absorbing the warmth.

“ My hearth, warm me when the world seems dark. Warm me with your loving flame. Warm me with a homebound spark. My hearth, warm where I ache. Warm where cold brings pain. Warm where the heart has its break .”

Dagur hums along.

--

The second day is less intense for the two of them. It seems that news had gotten around that Dagur did not like being pulled or pushed places. Hiccup is glad for it. He is not sure he could stand having his brother get upset again. 

They walk around looking at various stalls, fingers wound through each other like the roots of Yggdrasil. They whisper about the things they see and keep to themselves aside from making purchases or Dagur asking Hiccup’s questions to vendors. Hiccup occasionally spots Ryker in the crowds, with someone else Hiccup has not seen before but the thirteen-year-old decides to pay it no mind. Not his business. 

He happily chews on fresh bread that has cheese mixed throughout that just melts in his mouth as he and his brother watch a sword fighting competition. Hiccup leans against his brother as they watch the competitors go at it. Dagur keeps up a running commentary about what mistakes they are making and Hiccup giggles at a few of his brother’s wilder remarks. He chews, pressing the warm cheese against the back of his teeth.

Berk never had anything like this. Sure they had warm bread and fresh yak cheese. But rarely did they get very fancy with their food. The fanciest they got was soaking things in honey to add a burst of flavor. Or sprinkling on salt when something needed something a bit extra. But here… there are so many interesting foods that he plans to try and has tried already. Hiccup swallows the bread and takes a swig of the yak milk in a mug that he had. 

Hmm. 

They did not have any animals. Not that Hiccup thought they could handle goats or yaks, but a chicken or three might be a good idea before winter sets in and fishing and hunting gets harder. He spins the idea around in his head. Is there even a place to buy chickens here? It would be a little odd… Though he had spotted a chicken feed selling stall. And one that advertised about specialized breeds of animals. That probably included chickens. Maybe. He would have to consult Dagur before dragging animals home.

He snorts into his drink as Dagur makes another joke at the expense of a competitor. Hiccup shakes his head and presses closer to his far too silly brother.

Chapter Text

Viggo has to admit he is very intrigued by the inventions his brother bought from the Bloodwrath brothers. He holds the adjustable spyglass in his hand and raises it up to his eye, extending and twisting it to further extend his sight. And it works like a charm.

He had been quietly gathering information on the two brothers during their last trip while not approaching them. Rune had been quite thrilled about having them as a consistent vendor and happily shared that while the two do not seem to be interested in anyone else, they also did not cause problems that others did not start. Most of the vendors liked them, with the food vendors gushing over how cute and sweet they were and the weapons vendors murmuring about the knowledge both had about weapons. 

Tove had not been able to stop gushing about the smaller of the two brothers, hands almost blurring with the speed and excitement with which he tried to share. It seems that Hiccup had won over the old bookseller’s heart. And it seems that both are completely fluent in hand speech. 

Which brings Viggo to the question that he has not gotten a true answer to. 

Where did they come from?

In his tribe it is not abnormal for sixteen-year-olds to go out from the island, but never without an adult. And an even younger child? Never. He has a hard time even estimating Hiccup’s age, given how small Hiccup is. The kid looks like he had been starved and certainly acted like an abused child from both his own observations and what Ryker had told him. How had someone so young already lost their left leg? It did something strange to his heart to see such a tiny prosthetic and he knows that it is certainly impacting his brother with how Ryker uses their tribe name and Ryker’s own fame to get people to back off from trying to use aggressive sales tactics with them. And the rest of the market, or at least those Viggo knows are regulars and reasonable, had banded together to keep people from crowding the two after Dagur’s rise to fame in the ax competition. 

There is also the lack of information on any tribe or clan being titled Bloodwrath. Their name and emblem of Hati and Sköll were very distinctive and very much new to these waters.  

So who hurt these children?

Who abandoned them?

Who caused them to run?

And why does his mind refuse to leave the mystery of it all alone? The inventions are fascinating and the lack of answers makes his mind swirl. Ah, he had been quite bored lately. He would let his curiosity run its course and see where it took him. And keep his distance just a little longer like his brother advises. 

--

Hiccup adjusts a few more pieces to his smaller version of his forge. He wanted to be able to repair more than just handles while at the market. And… if he was being honest, he wanted to continue to work on projects while at the market. It would not let him make large broadswords, but he could definitely work on knives, swords, and arrows. He carves in prayers to Vidar and steps back with a bright smile. Its finished.

“Hey! Hiccup! The chickens- Ooh! That looks so cool!”

Hiccup smiles and then blinks.

“What happened with the chickens Dagur?”

“Welllll… They’re fine now.”

Concern swirls through him and Hiccup quickly heads out of his forge.

“That gives very little of the assurance you think it does.”

Hiccup teases and Dagur grabs at him.

“Hey! At least I told you they were fine so you're not as worried!”

Hiccup successfully dodges his brother and runs off. He is eventually scooped up and gives a small fight that is mostly for fun and shows. He then relaxes and sighs.

“Alright. You win. I'm not as worried what happened?”

“There was a fox that tried to get at them. But is scared it off and added a bit of smelly stuff to ward it off. And I have built some other barriers to any foxes that try to dig in despite the smell.”

Hiccup smiles and shifts to bump heads with his brother.

“You think of everything. Dagur the smart.”

“Oh ew. No. I'd much rather have some other epithet.”

“Ooh, fancy wordsss.”

Hiccup teases and Dagur gives a fake growl and starts play fighting with him again.

“I read a lot of the same books as you!! “

Hiccup kicks and tries to escape while laughing loudly and wildly. Dagur grins happily and smiles. Then Hiccup hits his arm against a rock and hisses in pain. Dagur immediately hops off of him. 

“Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”

Panic drenches each word that falls from his brother’s mouth.

“I hurt myself Dagur. It's just going to be a bruise.”

Hiccup is hauled up by his brother and just lets himself be carried. They always had medical supplies around. Even when wandering the Northern Market, they each carried some medical supplies alongside their coin purses. Dagur looks over the air and treats the bruise gently. Hiccup sighs. He knows that he is still more fragile than most Vikings his age. Living alone with Dagur did not change that fact. 

But the only time he really notices is when he is injured. No longer is it constantly pointed out to him. He sighs and taps Dagur’s arm. 

“Want to play Maces and Talons?”

He asks his brother hoping for a distraction. Dagur easily agrees and they end up curling up in front of the fire to play against each other.

Chapter Text

This was their fifth month coming to the market and Hiccup and Dagur had started to recognize most of the regulars. And since they always came during the last week, people started expecting them there and greeted them with the neutral familiarity of a wave cresting against the shore. While they both were careful when at the market, they had gotten a little more relaxed while there. He and Hiccup could go to separate stalls in the same row and then pair back up. They had now for the last two times run their stall on a slightly bigger and more expensive plot for five of the eight days they spent at the market. The larger area allowed Hiccup to bring his more mobile forge.

Winter was starting to walk in, with deadly winter still a few months away, so they would have to stop coming for fear of storms when deadly winter comes. But that is still a few months away. The cold had yet to become as biting as it could be and blizzards were still distant.

Dagur had gotten more information about the Acumens tribe, finding out that Ryker is the older brother of the chief. A chief whose name was Viggo Grimborn. They had yet to meet him.  The Acumens are very famous for their dragon-hunting and have their own regular stall selling skins and offering their services to hunt down rare dragons or clear out problematic dragons. He half wonders if it would have helped the Berserkers and Hooligans to hire them and then dismisses the thought. No one in the Barbaric archipelago would have agreed to that, too lost in their own desire to fight. He knows that he would have rejected the idea, but his judgment about what fights to choose is not the best. 

Dagur finishes setting up and hears Hiccup starting his forge in the back. He grins to himself and adjusts the harpoon launcher. He then starts selling as their first customer comes in. Sales go fairly well and they lock up for the night. He grins as Hiccup comes out with a soot-covered face and starts asking to go to the food stalls near the island’s competition area. 

“Sure. But let's clean off your face first.”

He gives Hiccup’s nose and cheek a quick scrub, easily ignoring the complaints and weakly batting hands. Hiccup lets out a whine but his face is now clean and Dagur smiles.

“Alright. Now! Food time!”

Dagur chirps and Hiccup curls into his side.

“Yeah, food time. Im sorta excited about eating something other than eggs and fish. No offense to your cooking Dagur.”

Hiccup says as their hands tangle together. Dagur gives a wild laugh that no longer gets as many stares as it had when they first came to the market. Mostly from nonregulars. It is sort of nice. Even back on Beserk he still had drawn stares all the time. But here… it is just a part of the sounds normal to the island. 

They purchase three pork meat pies and then sit down on the edges of the crowd to eat. Hiccup still does not eat as much as Dagur would like, but his brother does eat more than he used to. Dagur is sucking the meat juice from his finger, enjoying the light tang of vinegar and the heat of the meal in his belly as someone comes to sit near them. Ah, it is Ryker. His hackles fall a little even as he gives the man a wary once-over just to reassure himself. Hiccup gives a tiny wave but says nothing, mouth still filled with half-chewed food. 

Dagur keeps himself from snorting at how cute his brother looks while Hiccup has lost all decorum in favor of digging into the food. Dagur needs to learn how to cook a wider variety of items. But that would require the purchase of flour, the building of an oven, and creating unleavened bread to get a starter to feed. He scrunches his nose. It might be worth it before the winter to have something to do during the storms. Ryker then speaks.

“Up for a friendly spar Dagur?”

Dagur feels a thrill wind up through his system at the idea and has to shove it down. He has been aching for a half-decent fight. Sure, Hiccup trains with him and he trains alone but its not the same. He has not been able to fight since they left the archipelago. Not really. He knows that it feeds into how violently he reacts to people approaching Hiccup. Dagur is genuinely protective, but his hand might not always need to be reaching for one of his many many knives. 

Hiccup gives him a little poke to the ribs and a pointed look. Dagur bites his lip and taps the table.

“Maybe. Depends.”

 “Just hand to hand. No weapons. No blood. But I’d understand not wanting to.” 

Ryker shrugs and Dagur blinks as Tyr’s mark warms ever so slightly. He really really would like to fight.

“Alright. Hand to hand. Come on. I think I saw ring three open.”

There were rings marked by stones and fences sometimes used to compete or settle disputes. And given the number of Vikings around, they were also used for fun. Ryker grins and the trio moves after Hiccup finishes eating his food. 

Dagur sets Hiccup up on a nearby barrel and hands over most of his weapons so as to not accidentally pull one during a friendly spar. He does keep two knives in his boots and one hidden under his chest armor just in case something happens and he ends up actually needing a weapon. Ryker takes off his own two swords and sticks them in the dirt next to Hiccup.

“Think you can keep on those two laddie?”

Hiccup gives a nod and then bites his lip, looking like he wants to ask something but is holding back. Ryker speaks again.

“Yes, you can examine them. Just be mindful of the weight.”

Ryker softly responds and Dagur finds he likes the man all the more. Anyone who is nice to Hiccup when they do not necessarily have to be is always a good thing to him. 

They then enter the ring and face off against each other. Dagur enjoys the fight even as he gets slammed into the ground and bruises blossom like spring flowers across his skin. Hiccup’s armor does disperse the impact, but there is still enough impact to mark his skin. It is a fight, so he knows that some injury has to occur. He gets several good hits on Ryker, his knuckles splitting. Fighting Ryker is a lot like fighting a wood dummy. There is not a lot of movement from the man and each strike from Dagur brings a little pain back on himself. 

He gets knocked to the ground again, face first this time and he hits his nose. There is a bit of crunch and he hisses out pain and growls just a bit. A hand touches his shoulder and he flinches away as warmth flows down over his lip. He tastes the metallic tang of blood and ringing fills his ears as he pushes himself up and shows teeth. Hiccup suddenly is at his side and whispering.

“Dagur. Dagur it was an accident. Hey, let me check your nose.”

He lets his brother touch him and closes his eyes. His little brother is quick and careful, cleaning up his nose and then getting Dagur to pinch his nose to halt the flow. Dagur breathes through his mouth and opens his eyes as Hiccup curls tightly around him. Ryker is sitting down on the ground in front of him, looking apologetic.

“Sorry kid. I did not mean for that leg sweep to smash your face.”

Dagur huffs and pulls his brother closer. Hiccup presses into him with a soft vibrating hum.

“It was a fight. Injuries happen even in friendly spars.”

He says dismissively wincing with pain and sort of wanting to be left alone to let the embarrassment fade.

“Still. I am sorry.”

Dagur looks, really looks at Ryker. The adult is being genuine. No adult had genuinely apologized to him before. Especially not for hurting him. Dagur is not sure how to react, or if he should trust it or… But Ryker makes no moves towards them, nor does the man try to prompt a response. He just sits there calmly. 

“I…”

He swallows, growls at himself, and huffs.

“Thanks. I accept your apology. Don't feel any guilt, I should have caught myself before smushing my face.”

“And I should have been more careful. I offered you a bloodless fight and managed to spill your blood anyway. Would you allow me to make it up to you?”

Dagur hums and then adjusts his grip on Hiccup. Hiccup shifts, rechecks his nose, and applies a little more medicine. Dagur looks about and has an idea.

“Sure. alright. Buy Hiccup an apple tart and we’re even.”

Dagur declares with a nod. Hiccup makes a noise that might be a complaint but Ryker is holding out his arm already.

“Fair.”

Ryker states as Dagur grabs his forearm.

Chapter Text

Hiccup chews on his apple tart, enjoying the sweetness as his brother and Ryker get into a deep and long conversation about fighting moves. The sun is long gone and the moon has arisen, watching over the world. A soft wind winds around them as Hiccup covers up a yawn. He presses a little closer to his brother and lets his eyes flutter closed as Dagur wraps an arm around him. He nuzzles closer, trusting Ryker not to attack them 

He stirs awake when he feels movement around him. His brother is carrying him. The arms and warmth are familiar. Dagur talking with… ah that is Ryker’s voice. Hiccup readjusts himself a little, yawning and curling closer to his brother. Dagur coos at him and Hiccup is too tired to feel embarrassed. He whispers a half prayer and falls back asleep.

--

Ryker watches Dagur carry Hiccup towards the docks. The pair are cute in their own way. And he see how much they love each other with each interaction between them. It is rare to see such true dedication. And it makes him sure that he does not wish to be on their list of enemies. He had seen the mark of Tyr on Dagur’s arm exposed for just a moment during their fight. Hiccup bore the mark of Vidar on his. War and vengeance. Oaths and resilience. Deadly combinations.

He hates that the spar had gone wrong. But it seems that Dagur had fully forgiven him. The kid is not the type to be able to have casual and friendly conversations with those he genuinely dislikes. In fact, Dagur had asked if they could do it again some other time and he finds himself easily agreeing. Dagur grins and hikes Hiccup a little higher.

“So, kid, what does the face paint mean?”

He asks, head tilting a little as they walk. Dagur scrunches his nose and then holds Hiccup a little closer. 

“It…. It means I've killed a dragon all on my own.”

He says, a note of pride swirling up through his voice. Ryker lets out a soft, impressed whistle.

“That's quite the feat. I suppose Hiccup hasn't yet.”

Dagur shakes his head.

“I don't love the idea of my brother taking on a dragon alone… there are other ways to earn his mark.”

The tone sounds… decisive like a decision had just been made.

“I see.”

Ryker says, despite not really seeing. Dagur grins.

“No, you don't!~”

The kid sing-songs. Ryker snorts and smiles, glad that the kid feels safe enough to crack a joke.

“You're right. I don't.”

Dagur laughs shaking his head. Ryker gently bumps shoulders with the kid who smiles back. When they arrive at the Bloodwrath brother’s ship Dagur pauses for a moment. 

“Thanks.”

The kid states with a little frown. Ryker blinks in confusion.

“For what.”

Dagur huffs.

“You're half decent. Thanks for that. And... For being nice to Hiccup. And I guess for being nice to me.”

Ryker is caught off guard and then feels a flash of blinding rage on behalf of these two kids. 

“I… You're welcome Dagur. And if you need something, I'm at your service.”

Ryker gives a formal head bend. It was a bit much. But he truly means it. Dagur scans him and seems satisfied with what he sees. 

“Alright. I’ll let you know if we need you.”

Dagur says and goes back to his ship with his still peacefully slumbering little brother.

--

Hiccup gathers up logs and then snorts at his brother who had gotten entangled in his own trap.

“Want some help Dagur?”

“No! I'm fine!”

Dagur huffs, face a bright red. Hiccup laughs and spins on his good heel.

“Alright!~ Give a holler if you need help.”

Hiccup begins to walk off and then Dagur starts yelling.

“Hey!! No!!! HICCUP!!”

Hiccup quickly returns and helps his brother escape the net. 

“Gah, it seems the trapper’s trap trapped the trapper.” 

Dagur says and Hiccup shakes his head.

“Dagur, I will put you back in the net.”

“You wouldn't!”

“And you so sure about that because???”

“You love mee~!”

Dagur sing-songs, wrapping his arms around him. Hiccup smiles and bumps their heads together.

“I do. I love you more than heat loves flame.”

“Well, I love you more than the sun loves the sky!”

Hiccup giggles and shakes his head.

“It's not a competition Dagur.”

“Youre right. It's not. Because I would win!”

Hiccup is swept up by his brother and placed on his shoulders. Dagur gathers up the wood that they were accumulating for both the forge and to help them combat the coming deadly winter. Hiccup lets out another laugh as he rests his arms on his brother’s head. 

“Aliright fine! Lets just say we love each other a lot and in equal measure.” 

Dagur makes a show of hemming and hawing before agreeing. They make it back to the cave as dusk starts to fall and they hurry into their cave to escape the quickly cooling air. The rock slide shut smoothly as Dagur puts Hiccup down and begins to attend to dinner. Hiccup starts clearing up the mess of the day and rechecking their stores to think about what they still needed for when they could not leave their island. He comes back into the main cave and begins stitch work on his armor that needed slight repair. 

A thought hits him as he stitches after dinner and his stupid mouth will not leave the question in his head where it belonged.

“Do… Do you think they miss us?”

Hiccup bites his lip as Dagur looks up from his carving. Dagur swallows and looks at the statue of Vidar and Tyr. 

“I… I don't think my father does at all. Your dad… well I don't think he does either. Not by now. Enough time has passed for them to get over whatever show they had to put on for the tribe.”

Dagur’s tone is hemmed with bitterness, sparking white hot on some of the words. Hiccup slowly nods his agreement.

“Im not… I'm not sure I want them to miss us. I'm a lot happier now. With you I mean.”

Hiccup admits and Dagur grins brightly at him.

“Then we’ll just have to forget their names and memory! They certainly haven't earned a place in my heart.”

Hiccup smiles softly at his brother’s eager tone.

“Yeah… That's probably for the best. I certainly have no plan to go back.” 

Hiccup nuzzles Dagur gently and Dagur croons.  

“Good. I love you Hiccup.”

“I love you too Dagur.”

Chapter Text

Hiccup puffs out his cheeks as he considers the Gronckle iron that he had gotten his hands on. It is both a fascinating and frustrating metal. It is very strong, but can be riddled with impurities, with its creators seeming to have no method of getting out the impurities. On top of that, it had to be melted at a consistently high temperature that was hard to maintain. Hiccup had made a ton of modifications to his forge on Áræði that let it burn hotter than any forge on Berk had ever managed. And since that one dream, he had mixed in some offerings. It made any Gronckle iron that he melted down much purer. But he wants it to be more refined. He scrubs at his face with sooty hands, having just ended a session in his far smaller smithy located at the back of their shop in the Northern Market. There had to be a…

Water.

What if he did the quenching process differently?! With pressurized water pushed through a hose that cooled the metal in a different fashion. And maybe some sort of filtration system to keep out soot and other undesirables! He grins and starts darting about for supplies. It comes together quickly and he turns a few knobs on the small forge to get it to heat higher. Not as efficient as his one at home, but it will melt what it needs to.

He is quickly working on making a small dagger to test the technique on, and is pleased with the results as he starts to hammer the metal into the shape he wants. He hears a knock on one of the nearby work tables, his brother’s normal signal that he is there so as to not startle Hiccup.

“In a moment, I’m trying something new, Dagur!”

He chirps, adjusting the nozzle for the water and then working the modified billows to build up the water pressure for when he needs it next. Hiccup forgets that his brother might be waiting as he works, giving a final thought of if it was truly important, his brother would rouse him from his work, before fully losing himself in twisting knobs, hammering, billowing, and testing out his new water system. 

The dagger is a fairly standard design but far stronger and if Hiccup is not mistaken, definitely going to hold its sharp edges much longer than a standard blade. He holds it up to inspect it and gives a satisfied nod.

“Impressive. That metal looks far more refined than anything my village has managed.”

Hiccup startles and drops the blade with a yelp, nicking his hand and falling back towards his makeshift water tank. A set of arms catches him. Not his brother. Hiccup is not sure who it is. He vaguely recognizes it as someone who had visited the Northern Markets fairly frequently, often near one of their largest buyers, Ryker. Ryker who is standing at the edge of Hiccup’s little forge area that is divided from the main selling area by a bit of leather acting as a curtain. 

Hiccup turns bright red with embarrassment. He tries to speak but his vocal chords are deathly still. His hands shakily move as he looks up at the stranger.

“-Hello…-”

“That looks like a nasty cut, my dear, you should treat it. Do you keep medical supplies back here?”

The man asks and Hiccup nods. Hiccup is gently placed back on his feet and he scurries to the medical box his brother always kept stocked. He finds his voice as he goes, reassured just a little that Ryker is there.

“So, uh, sorry, for ignoring you! And how can I help you?”

Hiccup is not the strongest at interacting with customers. Most Vikings tended to favor and like Dagur’s more abrasive interactions. But Dagur must have gone to go get something if these men are back here. Ryker is nice enough for a dragon hunter though, so Hiccup’s eyes dart to him while speaking. But oddly enough, for a man who commanded others and took charge every other time Hiccup had seen him, Ryker looks to the other man and waits for him to speak. 

“I am Viggo Grimborn of the Acumens tribe. My brother here has been purchasing a lot of our weapons from you lately and I wanted to come and meet the mind behind them. I find many of you more inventive weaponry endearing and have a pet project I would like a second set of eyes on.”

Hiccup blinks and freezes mid-wrapping. The chief of the Acumens. He knows the name Viggo Grimborn from many whispers in the market. And the man likes his weapons?

“What was your favorite?”

Hiccup blurts out and then just about bites his tongue off. Stupid. But Hiccup normally just sells axes, swords, and Maces. Ryker was one of the few to buy Hiccup’s stranger weaponry. Viggo smiles and it is a lot like a smooth stone in a river bed. A little cold, but no cracks or faults present. And it could potentially warm if the water and weather allowed.

“I liked the bola launchers.”

Hiccup lights up. One of his earliest true inventions that he had been perfecting slowly but surely.

“Oh! Yes. Those are quite useful. Have they been giving you any trouble? I know the older models need a little calibration and beeswax to stay on target compared to some of the newer ones Ryker commissioned.”

Viggo’s smile warms a little.

“The written instructions that came with them were quite useful. I particularly enjoyed the step-by-step diagrams for those of us who bore of words.”

The last sentence is paired with a teasing smile and a glance at Ryker who rolls his eyes. Hiccup finds himself settling, soothed by the approval and the brothers’ interaction with each other. Hiccup finishes wrapping his hand as he replies.

“Oh good. I had hoped the doodles I did were helpful. They felt like such a flight of fancy at the time when I got Dagur to add them to the wood blocks for printing, and I didn't really put all the detail and time I could have into them…”

Hiccup scrunches his nose as he catches himself babbling. He closes his mouth with a click, and notes the odd look that enters Viggo’s eyes and then quickly fades. Shoot. He is going to annoy them with his talking and then he’ll never get to see the project that Viggo wanted consultation on. Which would be a shame, because it would be his first consultation, and maybe could lead to his first specialized request. At 13, it is a bit early in his smithing career to get a specialized request, but then again most 13-year-olds are apprenticed and not running their own forge. So really-

He bites the inside of his cheek to halt his flyaway thoughts and blinks hard to ground himself back in the room.

“Consultation?”

He squeaks out weakly and flushes deep red in embarrassment. At this rate, they probably will get annoyed enough to stab him. He had seen it done to another merchant who refused to give a straight answer. Which Vikings generally prefer. Straight and short and to the point, without wandering too far afield-

“Yes. I have an idea for a type of ship attachment, but I wanted to speak with an expert smith first.”

Hiccup preens a little at the implied praise and then takes a breath. Do not get too invested in the praise, people were always saying nice things to Dagur to try and get what they want out of him. He twists his fingers in his smith apron. 

“Uh, sure, I can take a look, but you might want to call on the blacksmith who comes to the Market from the Hysteric tribe. He makes some really good weapons and ship equipment. He definitely knows more about ships than I do.”

Hiccup rocks awkwardly, prosthetic creaking very softly. 

“But he’s not half as inventive.”

Hiccup turns bright red again and really wishes that he could stop getting embarrassed. 

“Okay. Alright. Err… I’m not used to consultations, to be very honest. I’m not sure…”

He tilts his head to the side as Viggo starts to look disappointed. He had heard Ryker mutter about his brother’s Maces and Talons obsession a little irritably in the past once or twice when in their shop. 

“Maces and Talons!”

His outburst startles both men and he fiddles with his apron.

“I mean, I’ll look at the idea if you play me in Maces and Talons. And if you choose to hire me to try and construct anything, like test models, then we’ll talk about prices.”

Hiccup ends with false confidence, fingernails pressing into his palms to indent crescent moons where there are no wrappings, holding tight to the steadiness in his voice. Ryker grins and Viggo looks interested. 

“Alright. I saw a metal set on my way in here. Did you craft that?”

“Yes, and we can use it to play.”

Hiccup says with a firm nod to himself and he marches out to go and grab the board. Dagur and he had played a lot but they had grown used to each other's play styles and Hiccup is eager to test out something new, especially because he could not show his face a the Meatheads' yearly tournaments. Too much risk of his father finding him.

Chapter Text

Viggo finds the game a surprising and very welcome challenge. When the boy had suggested it, it had seemed a little odd as a way to start a deal, but he had rolled with it as he knew that Hiccup likely had very little experience with business. And it was a good way to learn about a potential business partner. 

But now he is very much invested in the game and trying to win, mindfully setting aside any invention plans. However, he does continue to ask Hiccup questions, but these are more varied, about strategy and Hiccup’s design process. Hiccup’s stutter fades and smiles light up the child’s face as he talks, clearly preening under the interest and the compliments. 

“Hey Hiccup, I-”

Dagur walks into the back of the shop and then is immediately growly and Ryker and Viggo.

“Step. Away. From. My. Brother.”

His ax rests expertly in his hands and Dagur’s eyes flash. Hiccup’s eyes widen and the small boy tries to stand. Then Hiccup lets out a wounded noise and falls back into his chair. Dagur immediately is at his side. Hiccup is whispering while face scrunches up in clear pain. 

“Dagur, I invited him to play. Please…”

Hiccup's hands move in an unfamiliar symbol, tapping his sternum and then making a jerky circle in the air with his index finger. Dagur scoops him up and hugs him tight, glaring at Viggo and Ryker over the top of his head.

“You made Hiccup miss his medicine.”

The boy growls and Hiccup huffs and shoves at his brother.

“I would have forgotten it anyways. You know how distracted I get.” Hiccup's words lower to a whisper that Viggo barely catches. “Dagur… stop. This is not… there. They are not them.”

Dagur stills and sighs while bumping his head against Hiccup's. 

“Fine. You're right. But we're doing it now. So they have to leave .”

“But Dagur!!! I want to finish the game!!! Come on. They can stay. We trust Ryker.”

Hiccup's eyes widen and glisten like dew-covered clover leaves. Dagur folds immediately. 

“Fine. You win. But the second they do something-”

“You stab us. I think we've got the picture kid.”

Ryker replies and Dagur gives a half feral smile. 

“Good.”

Dagur then grabs the medical box that Hiccup had used earlier. Hiccup looks at Viggo and gives an apologetic look. 

“We’ll keep playing in a little bit. I just have to do this first.”

“By all means, attend to your medical needs first. Our game should not come before your health.”

Viggo says and Hiccup relaxes. The child then rolls up his left pant leg up and then detaches his prosthetic. There is a layer of cloth between the skin and the prosthetic. The child then removes the cloth to show inflamed scared skin. Hiccup hisses. Dagur huffs.

“How bad is it?”

“It's not the worst… But you are right. I do need to apply the medicine.”

Viggo looks away politely and takes note of his own brother’s slightly darkened demeanor. It seems his brother is no happier about the child having a tiny prosthetic and painful-looking stump. From the look of it, the initial cut had not been clean nor well treated afterward. It rankles something something in him. A child so clever to already have lost so much. A limb… 

From the corner of his eye, he sees Dagur apply some sort of salve onto the stump and Hiccup rewrap it in a new cloth. The prosthetic remains off as Hiccup turns back to the game and speculates his next move. Hiccup then moves one of his ships. Viggo hums at the move and then makes his own counter. Hiccup frowns in concentration and bites his lip. The kid reaches to the side and tugs Dagur closer. Dagur wraps around Hiccup like a moss over a ruin. Hiccup hums softly and considers the board, completely at ease with the teenager draped all over him.. 

--

Hiccup grins despite his loss. He holds out his arm. 

“That was a great game. Thank you.”

He genuinely enjoyed it. He had not had a chance to stretch his mind like this in a while. Viggo clasps forearms with him with a nod.

“It was a very enjoyable game. I really should be the one thanking you for the challenge.”

Hiccup flushes at Viggo’s words. He then takes his arm back and leans back into his brother. He knows that Dagur is uncomfortable with people being around while Hiccup has his prosthetic off. It makes it so that Hiccup cannot fight back as easily. But Hiccup does trust Ryker and Viggo has not made any threatening moves the whole time he had been in the tent with him. And his repeated statement of not needing to make enemies still is true. If they can be on good terms with the chief of a strong tribe… maybe the Acumens would be willing to help if the Hooligans ever showed up… 

He banishes the thought with a blink and a harsh bite to the inside of his cheek. He speaks up trying to think of anything else.

“I… we can talk about the idea you had. Do you have any references or is it just an idea?”

Hiccup pulls out his notebook, flips to a blank page, and signs to Dagur that he needs a charcoal stick. Dagur grumbles irritably but quickly grabs Hiccup a few charcoal sticks before picking Hiccup up and tucking Hiccup under his chin while coiling his arms around Hiccup’s chest. Hiccup presses back into his brother’s chest, enjoying the warmth. 

Viggo pulls out a small sheet of paper and Hiccup looks over the drawing. It appears to be some sort of ship with a reinforced helm. Hiccup taps his fingers against the table as he tilys his head.

“What are you trying to achieve? Knowing the intent of an invention can make it easier to design.”

Hiccup asks, nose scrunching just slightly. Viggo tilts his head and replies.

“I’d like the ship to be able to handle ramming without sinking. We’ve had a few incidents with Tidal class dragons sinking our ships.”

Hiccup bites the tip of the charcoal stick in thought.

“Well, we can't just slap metal on there and call it a day… That would unbalance the ship.”

They delve into a long conversation, going back and forth.

“I’ll go grab some food. For all of us.”

Ryker states as he gets up. Hiccup blinks and realizes that his stomach has started to grumble. Hiccup flushes red and smoothes down the page he had been sketching vigorously on.

Chapter Text

Dagur keeps a close eye on his brother’s conversation with Viggo which is stretching further and further into the dark hours of the night. The food Ryker had brought back, four bowls of warm potato and meat-laden stew. Dagur had to admit it was a good choice made by Ryker. But that does not fully excuse these two for cornering his brother alone. Even if Hiccup had agreed and looks to be having fun. 

Dagur makes sure to push Hiccup to continue eating while he works. His brother had a terrible habit of forgetting to do things while invested in an idea. His eyes meet Ryker’s as he shoves the spoon in Hiccup’s hand yet again and is a little surprised to see understanding empathy.  Ryker makes a small head motion towards Viggo’s bowl. Ah. It is nearly full. It seems Ryker understands the struggle of a distracted thinker sibling. Dagur gives a slight grin and nods his understanding. Ryker grins in reply.

Maybe the Grimborns are not too bad…

--

Hiccup preens under the praise for his ideas and finds it hard to call it a night. But he does have to sleep eventually and Dagur is starting to get a little grumpy. 

“Maybe… we can keep talking ideas tomorrow afternoon? Normally me and Dagur go down to watch competitions while getting supper. We can talk there? Or meet there and move to a quieter local since me and Dagur have to take down our stall tomorrow.”
Hiccup offers, feeling genuinely eager. He can feel his brother getting huffy and he slips his hand into Dagur’s and gives a gentle and reassuring squeeze. Viggo gives a look of consideration and then gives a tight nod.

“Tomorrow then my dear Hiccup.”

Hiccup grins. Then the two men leave and Dagur huffs irritably. 

“Why did you have to agree to meet him tomorrow Hiccup?”

“Because his idea is interesting and trying to make it a reality is fun. And I need a challenge every once in a while.”

“But that's our time! Like tonight was supposed to be our time!”

Dagur growls, looking away and taking his hand back to cross his arms. Hiccup feels the loss of Dagur’s hand starkly. His palm is so cold without the warmth his brother naturally radiated. He tries to take Dagur’s hand back and his brother turns further from him. Hiccup feels his eyes getting wet and he feels stupid.

“Dagur…”

“Why are you giving up our time? And letting them stay in part of the stall where they are not allowed! What if they did something?!”

Dagur grows angrier with each word and looks away from Hiccup. Hiccup feels a sob welling up and bites down on his knuckles to keep the noise at bay as he attempts to breathe through his nose. He shakily tries to speak.

“Dagur, you're not being fair.”

He whispers. Dagur still is not looking at him. Why will his brother not look at him? Does Dagur hate him? Like how Berk hated him?

“It's not fair you keep giving out what is supposed to be our time!”

Hiccup feels hot tears starting to slide down his cheeks and he cannot help but hide his face in his hands, feeling the wetness fill his palms. He is breaking down and has no idea what he can say to fix this. He had not thought what he was doing was bad! He was just having fun! Getting a chance to stretch his mind just a little more! But if it made Dagur mad, mabte it was not worth it. 

He lets out a keening noise and chokes out a sob. 

“Hiccup?”

Dagur still sounds a little irritated and Hiccup starts to cry harder.

“Hiccup, are you hurt?”

A hand touches his shoulder and Hiccup flinches. The hand is instantly removed and Hiccup feels a million times worse. He hears Dagur move to sit on the ground.

“Hiccup, please talk to me.”

All the anger is gone, replaced by worry. Hiccup continues to cry, stress wrapping around his chest and keeping him from breathing properly. He cannot draw deep enough breaths.

“I didn't mean to g-give up our t-time. I just… I assumed… I don't know… Don't be mad… at-tt m-mme.”

He runs out of air and starts panic gasping. He could not handle his brother being mad at him.

“Hiccup, Hiccup, breathe. Hiccup please.”

Dagur grabs his hands and presses them to his chest. Hiccup opens his eyes and tries to breathe.

“I j-just… I was-s having s-so much f-f-fun.”

Hiccup sniffles and grips his brother’s hands tightly. Dagur kneels before him. 

“Hiccup… I'm sorry… I just… I don't like the idea of sharing you or the idea that you could have been in danger while alone with them. I don't want to lose you.”

Dagur looks close to crying too. Hiccup takes a few stuttering breaths and slowly squeezes his brother’s hands. He starts trying to speak.

“Don't be mad. I can call off the meeting- I can-”

“No! You were having so much fun. And I just can't provide that kind of fun for you… which scares me.”

Hiccup can sort of get it. He swallows and forces words out.

“But no one can replace you. You know exactly how to train me without making me feel stupid. You keep me safe and remind me to apply my medication. You are my brother! Mine ! And you make me feel safe, secure, and valued. Just…”

Hiccup falls forward into his brother, knocking Dagur to the floor. Dagur shifts to wrap him in a tight hug. 

 “I love you Dagur.”

Hiccup hides his face in Dagur’s neck. 

“I love you too Hiccup. I'm sorry. I really messed up by saying anything.”

Dagur sounds genuinely distraught. 

“Better to say stuff than seeth. We’re Vikings. We have to complain or we would explode.”

Hiccup states. Dagur nuzzles his head.

“I guess that is true.”

“What if we stay an extra day? To make up for me talking to Viggo tomorrow?”

Hiccup says, wanting to make things better. Dagur hugs him tighter. 

“Only if you want to. And talking to the Grimborns is fine… just in the future I want to be there… at least at first. I really dont like the idea of any adult cornering me or you.”

Hiccup hums. 

“Understood brother!” 

Hiccup chirps and curls up on his brother’s chest quite exhausted.

Chapter Text

Dagur sticks close to Hiccup’s side throughout the day even as they move stuff from their stall to their ship. He is embarrassed by his emotional outburst yesterday and how he had hurt his brother, but he cannot help but want every second of Hiccup’s time. He had been forced to only see his brother once a year for so long that the idea of having to share even a second is a little awkward to balance in his mind.

But he would.

For Hiccup!

He knows his brother needs a challenge. Plus, it is not like the Grimborn’s would be able to see Hiccup more than once a month, and the rest of his brother’s time would be with him back on their island. So really, he still gets the most Hiccup time of anyone. And it is not like Hiccup was going to go around and declare someone family just because they flattered him or were more impressive in a Maces and Talons game. Hiccup had said himself that Dagur was irreplaceable. So Dagur would believe his brother.

Plus it had been a little cute to see his brother geek out over potential designs for a ship. He takes a self-soothing breath and then another. His mark from Tyr had indicated to trust Ryker. So he would trust Ryker and by extension trust Viggo. For now. But as allies, not friends. Allies can always turn into enemies if the conditions suited them. He can basically hear his father’s voice as he thinks and he hates it with an almost blinding rage. 

Ugh.

They finish packing up the ship and treat Hiccup’s leg. Then it is time to head off to get food.

“Hey… Dagur… I'm tired. Can you carry me?”

Hiccup never really asked to be carried, preferring to walk when he could. But Dagur hears something in his brother’s voice. Something… placating? No… Hopeful feels a little more correct to describe it.

“Sure, little brother. Shoulders or back?”

“Er… Front? Unless that's too much trouble.”

Hiccup looks away and then Dagur scoops him up with one arm.

“Nothing you ask of me will ever be too much trouble! If you’re tired I'll happily carry you!”

He chirps and Hiccup grins, arms wrapping around his neck.  

“My older brother, amazing as usual.”

Hiccup grins, pressing close. Dagur grins. He has his suspicions but he can put them aside if it means that his brother will be smiling. He wants his brother to be happy. And he knows Hiccup can handle himself. Hiccup had survived Berk. 

They arrive at the food stalls and Hiccup pokes his chest and they get chicken stew, filled with gravy, peas, and hard bread crumbled up. They settle at a table and Hiccup starts digging in humming to himself. His brother then starts talking to Hiccup.

“Do you think we have enough chickens and stuff for the winter?”

Dagur knows that Hiccup is just trying to get him to relax. Dagur takes a deep breath and then lets it out.

“I think so. Though, I did want to talk to you about making a small oven? I'd like to get several barrels of flour. And maybe dried fruit? And jams if we can find them. Everything else we have in spades back on Áræði.”

Dagur replies, fingers drumming against the table. Hiccup hums.

“I can make a small oven. Easy. But you’d have to learn to bake to pay me back.”

His little brother grins brightly and Dagur smiles back.

“Sure Hiccup. Anything for you.”

Hiccup looks pleased and takes a big bite. Dagur cannot help himself and he ruffles his brother’s hair. 

“Cute.”

“Hey! Dagur! Don't call me cute… I'm tough!”

“Cute and tough.”

Dagur says bumping his head against Hiccup and his brother laughs happily. Dagur relaxes, closing his eyes for just a moment. 

“Hey… Dagur, are… are we good? I know yesterday…”

Hiccup sounds worried. Dagur opens his eyes and shakes his head.

“We are good. We are brothers. Family. We are going to fight. But at the end of the day we are still together. And we will figure it out whatever comes up together.”

“Together. I like that. I hate the idea of being alone… I need you.”

Hiccup meets Dagur’s eyes and Dagur fully, truly relaxes for the first time that day. He had needed to hear that.

“I need you too.”

“Good.”

Hiccup sharply nods and then goes back to finishing his food. Dagur pauses and grins brightly before digging in himself. Let the Grimborns come and take some of Hiccup’s time. Dagur is the person Hiccup needs. Hiccup does not need them. He just enjoys the challenge they bring but Hiccup could live without them. 

Reassured of his place in the world, Dagur finds himself free of tension and presses gently into his brother’s side. He does not even growl a little as Ryker and Viggo come to sit down. 

“Greetings, Hiccup and Dagur.”

Viggo states and Dagur gives a nod of greeting while Hiccup eagerly smiles.

“Hello Ryker and Viggo!!”

Hiccup chirps while leaning into Dagur’s side. Dagur hums happily as Hiccup starts talking to Viggo about ideas for the invention and showing off the ideas he had sketched throughout the day. Ryker looks at Dagur and leans forward a little. 

“So how do you come up with your carving ideas?”

Dagur blinks at the question. Why ask him questions when Hiccup’s the one with interesting inventions? Ah well, it would not harm him to talk about it. He gives a shrug and starts talking.

“Normally it's whatever I'm thinking of at the time. A lot of times it's based on the gods and their exploits.” 

Dagur shrugs.

“I liked the Ferinr that you made a little while ago. Do you take commissions or is it an inspiration-based thing?”

Dagur blinks and puffs his chest up a little. 

“I can make just about anything. But you’d have to wait till the end of next month to get it.”

Ryker nods.

“Sure. Think you can make a Windstriker statue?”

Dagur tilts his head in thought and then nods. 

“Oh yeah. The wings will be a challenge but I can do it. But why would you want a dragon statue, don't you see them all the time while you're hunting?”

“Because I want to see what you come up with.”

…

..

.

Oh.

“Oh. Okay. Yeah, I can make that.”

They then fall into a conversation about weapons and weapon maintenance.

Chapter Text

Hiccup happily taps his notebook as he finishes a design and Viggo nods.

“I think that it can work, my dear.”

Viggo smiles, with it still holding a tinge of cold. Like a stone sitting on the bottom of a puddle, with just a bit of sunlight touching it through cool water.

“Want me to design some models or…”

Hiccup asks with a head tilt.

“I would appreciate it before trying a full-scale production.”

“You'd have to hire someone else for a full-scale production. I'm a smith, not a shipwright.”

Hiccup gives a small smile as Viggo nods. 

“That sounds good.”

Hiccup stretches a little, his back cracking. He winces a little as his leg twinges right where his prosthetic is connected to his stump. Dagur is immediately making noises of worry. Hiccup pats his brother’s arm gently to reassure him.

“With your stump treatment, have you ever considered applying Tide Glider saliva? It should cut down on the frequency of aches and reduce inflammation from prosthetic use.”

Viggo asks conversationally. Hiccup’s eyes go a little wide as he turns back to the man.

“Does… Does Tide Glider saliva have healing properties??”

It is new information to him and Hiccup finds himself fascinated.

“Yes. Fairly powerful healing properties. We can give you a few jars back on the ship.”

Ryker’s eyebrow goes up slightly and Hiccup blinks. Such a thing was probably hard to get safely and hard to get a lot of. Which means it is definitely above what Hiccup can afford for a twice-daily treatment. 

“That’s… probably going to cost a lot. I’m okay without it. The stuff we use now works well enough.”

 Hiccup looks away and starts cleaning up his notebook. 

“I think we can arrange for a special deal for a tribe that provides so much of our weaponry and gives us consultations.”

Dagur scrunches his nose.

“What's the catch?”

Dagur’s voice is wary and Hiccup cannot help but agree. There had to be a catch. He grips his notebook close to his chest. Viggo tilts his head ever so slightly. Calculating. The man seems to rarely do anything without a hint of calculation somewhere therein. It showed in his playstyle. Ryker fully looks at his brother, some sort of conversation passing between the two of them.

“Perhaps better deals in the future between our two tribes? And an agreement to consider future games of Maces and Talons?”

Viggo asks a crack in his stony exterior hinted at through his smile and soft tone. Hiccup scrunches his nose slightly. 

“Maybe… We can set up some sort of trade agreement?”

He sounds like his dad for a moment. Trying to chief. It makes him… well Hiccup is not entirely sure how to feel. So instead he focuses on his memories of diplomacy lessons with Old Wrinkly. His grandfather had always emphasized the need for everyone to come out of a deal feeling somewhat satisfied with the compromise. 

Viggo gives a pleased smile.

“A trade agreement would be welcome between our tribe and yours. The Bloodwrath’s weapons, inventions, and carvings are rather marvelous. And we make use of them quite frequently.”

“It would be nice to have a supplier of Gronckle Iron and Monsterous Nightmare gel at more favorable rates…”

Hiccup ponders for a moment. Viggo taps the table and Hiccup is brought back into the present. 

“How about, tonight we give you two jars on the house and then tomorrow we hammer out an agreement?”

“This saliva will help with Hiccup’s pain?”

Dagur leans forward a hint of eagerness there.

“Yeah, most of our tribe uses it to help with amputations.”

Ryker affirms and Dagur looks at Hiccup who matches his brother’s gaze.

“Hiccup.”

Dagur only says his name but Hiccup understands. This is a good deal. Hiccup gives a nod and looks to Viggo with a smile.

“Okay! We can make a more firm agreement that benefits both our tribes.”
“This sounds like the start of a lovely business relationship.”

Viggo states, offering his arm out and Hiccup takes it. 

--

Dagur can visibly see the impact of the Tide Glider’s saliva on Hiccup. His brother walks much smoother the next day, and even bounces a little more on his foot without the slight wince that always seemed to trail Hiccup’s expression. He finds himself grateful to the Grimborns for the gift. Which makes him all the more determined to make Ryker’s statue perfect.

That evening the four meet up again in the same location and smooth out the trade relationship between their two tribes. Dagur is a little grateful that neither of them ask about having some adult of their tribe officiate the deal. It seems that the two trust his and Hiccup’s word to uphold the contract without trying to get adults to step in and enforce it. Which would have been an issue because Dagur is the closest thing their tribe has to an adult. His mark warms and he can see Hiccup slightly rubbing his mark of Vidar. 

They finish while there are still large fires burning and food being sold. Ryker stretches his arms and looks at Dagur.

“Up for a friendly spar? I promise no blood this time.”

Dagur hears the hint of a tease. He pretends to consider it and then glances at Hiccup. Hiccup gives a nod. They had talked it over last night. They were going to trust the Grimborn’s. Not their whole tribe. Just them and if they broke that trust, Hiccup and Dagur would immediately break ties. So Dagur is going to trust that Viggo will not hurt Hiccup while he is busy sparing.

“Sure. Hiccup? All good?”

“All good. Go fight, Dagur. Hey, Viggo, ever play Army Ants?”

Hiccup holds up a deck of cards.
“I think so, but I think my tribe has a different name for it.

Dagur smiles as his brother becomes absorbed in setting up the cards. Ryker bumps shoulders with him.

“It looks like the two of them will be busy for a while. Ready to spar?”

“Yep.”

He nods. Then he gives Hiccup a tight squeeze and nuzzles his brother’s hair before trotting off to the sparing ring with Ryker.

Chapter Text

Hiccup brightly smiles as they finish tucking everything away. They had just returned from their last journey to the Northern Markets for the year. The weather is getting too stormy and cold to continue to sail out each month. So their most recent trip had been their last till spring came around to warm the world up. 

Both he and Dagur had delivered their commissioned items to the Grimborns and had received payment and adulation. Hiccup is quite pleased that Viggo like his small model ship and had agreed eagerly to tour the full-scale ship when it is built according to his specifications with three layers of oak wood for the hull. 

Dagur calls out to him, breaking him from his thoughts.

“Hey, do you think that we have enough wood stocked up or do we need more?”

Dagur gestures to the piles they have. Hiccup hums. 

“I think it would not hurt to have some more. Did we make sure the ship is properly beached?”

“Yep! Finished that this morning. Want to come with me to grab wood?”

Dagur offers a hand and Hiccup takes it.

“Yeah, I’d love to.”

They walk around their island chatting and gathering branches and logs, skillfully avoiding the traps that they both know are there. The island is well guarded by the treacherous rocks, but the traps on the island make Hiccup feel all the safer. Sure, they had never seen anyone else on this island. But if they could sail here, others definitely could. 

He hefts up his pile of sticks in his arms and bumps his brother’s elbow.

“Race you back home!”

He chirps and takes off running. He can hear his brother’s wild cackle behind him.

“Oh, you cheat! I'll beat you anyways Hiccup!”

The sound of footsteps thundering after him fills his ears and Hiccup lets free a laugh as he runs. And sure he is tripped up by roots here and there, but he is able to keep his balance and keep running. They end up at the cave and he is side-tackled by his brother. He bursts into laughter as they roll around on the dirt right in front of their home. Dagur draws him into his chest after a moment and Hiccup nuzzles into his brother’s chest and giggles. 

“We will have to clean up this mess you know.”

He says in between bouts of laughter. 

“Yeahhh.”

Dagur says with a snort, but neither gets up for a while. When they do get up they work together to clean up the sticks. 

--

Thick snow falls from the sky, white and cold. Every breath brings with it sharp stinging to the lungs and a reddening nose.

Stoick stands at the front of the Great Hall, watching the first great storm of deadly winter roll in. Gothi had told him it might keep them snowed in for a week. He frowns. 

He had done all the necessary preparations and now had a moment to think. He dislikes having time to think. It brings with it time to dwell on past failures. Like his lost son. He tries to steer his mind to another topic, but he finds himself dwelling.

Hiccup had gone missing after their conversation, but Stoick had not known to start looking until the next evening. He had found Hiccup’s room empty. All of the notes and drawings that had once littered the walls, gone. The trunk of Old Wrinkly’s books and goods under Hiccup’s bed that the child had screamed, cried, and pleaded to be allowed to keep after the funeral, gone. The studiously kept notebooks, with charcoal sticks and ink wells organized and sharpened, also gone. Things had also vanished from the forge. Every tool Hiccup had made and every weapon too. It is almost as if Hiccup had never lived and worked on Berk at all. It is a little sad how easy it would be to forget that Hiccup had ever been on Berk at all.

There had been a bit of a trail through the woods but it had been lost in a deluge of rain. He has his suspicions given the disappearance of the letters. Somehow Dagur had taken his son. He is not sure how. But he is sure. Those two were so tied to each other with their letters and refusal to separate during the annual treaty signing. It was sort of a wonder the Berserker heir had not snuck to their island sooner. However, Stoick had never thought that the two would run off…

Hiccup had been declared dead a month after his disappearance, as traditional. And Snotlout had been named heir apparent. Life went on. Gobber was the only one to cry at the funeral and still is the only one to ever mournfully point out Hiccup's absence. Stoick had no time. And the rest of the village had seeming let out a sigh of relief at the disappearance if they had any reaction at all. 

He frowns. Beseserk had come for their annual treaty signing a few months after that and Dagur had been absent. Oswald had said nothing about the absence other than introducing another young man of the Berserker tribe as the new heir apparent. That young man and Snotlout had immediately gotten into a fight that destroyed part of the training grounds and left both chiefs apologizing. But also laughing a little. 

Stoick closes his eyes and huffs out a breath. He turns around and enters his Great Hall. He has a tribe to look after and a future for them to secure. 

--

Oswald is glad that Dagur vanished and has no interest in trying to find him. It is slightly notable that the tiny heir of Berk also vanished. The two were likely out in the world somewhere together. Most likely dead. But knowing his luck, alive. 

He only hopes that he does not run into his kid while out questing. He would rather not deal with the headache of that.

Chapter Text

Hiccup giggles as he hides behind a tree, covered head to toe in furs and wool as he waits for his brother to pass by. The first major snow of the year had just blown through, leaving them stuck in the cave for three days. And now they are out and able to move around. So logically, the first thing they decided to do was a massive snowball fight. 

Snow clings to almost every inch of Hiccup, both from the sky and from being hit with snowballs. He shivers slightly and then jumps out and throws a flurry of snowballs at Dagur. Dagur cackles loudly and returns fire. Hiccup laughs as he is covered in snow, cheeks lighting up red from joy and cold. He runs forward and tries to tackle Dagur. Dagur catches him, spins him around, and pulls him close. Hiccup clings and begins to laugh all over again. 

“Dagur, we were supposed to be throwing snowballs.”

“And? I like hugging you more.”

Hiccup is tugged up to be tucked underneath Dagur’s chin. Hiccup hums and then shivers. They had been out here for quite a while.

“Let's get back home. Your nose is red and your lips are turning blue Hiccup.”

Hiccup shivers again and presses into his brother. 

“Okay. Sounds good. I can feel my stump freezing up and my toes falling off.”

He jokes.

“Oh no, the horror!”

Dagur gasps dramatically and starts carrying him home. Hiccup is happy to see the cave and gets out of his brother’s arms by wriggling. He smiles as he scampers in and starts stoking the fire. They still had some bread from Dagur’s baking session yesterday and a bit of jerky would go nicely with that. Dagur closes the door and collects their snow-laden clothes to dry in a corner of the cave. 

--

Viggo stands on the shore of his home, eyes gazing out at the ice-laden waters that crash against the stones that make up his home island. He breathes deeply and lets out a long puff of air, watching the vapor rise from his lips upwards. His mind turns to the Northern Market as he watches the ice crack and breaks against the larger rocks off the coast. Specifically, his thoughts turn to the two brothers that they had made a trade agreement with. 

He finds himself wondering if they are alright. The two were so very jumpy and very obviously alone. Hiccup was so skittish, yet brilliant. The inventions were fascinating and more intriguingly, they worked. He looks to the dock where the ship created according to Hiccup’s designs is floating on the water. It floats and it stands up against all sorts of bombardments. Boulder-class dragons would have a much harder time destroying the side of that ship. 

He walks across the stones, wind biting at his cheeks with bitter cold. Winter is heavy and all-consuming. They could not hunt during this time of year and had to wait for the weather to change to a shade warmer before setting sail again. And by then they would have several more ships built based on Hiccup’s design. He pauses as he hears the sound of footsteps on the stones behind him.

“Viggo.”

Ryker announces himself and they walk side by side along the edge of the water. Silence, aside from the whistle of the wind and the crash of the waves, drifts between them. Viggo is tired. Taking up the duties of chief after the death of their foolish father had slowly worn him down like the smooth stones underfoot. Winter was a respite in a way. No way to accept or fulfill contracts. No hunts to pursue or mysteries to chase. Yet his duties still remain numerous. Ryker helped shoulder some of them and allowed their tribe to survive. Viggo supposes that he would be more miserable with absolutely nothing to do. No duties would mean a great expanse of time to fill. And his mind, while oftentimes caught up in plans, ideas, and thoughts, was just as often caught up in complete and utter boredom that was nearly crippling if it were not for his duties. 

He draws his cloak a little closer as he approaches a guard tower. His brother keeps step beside him as they ascend. He stares off to the horizon as they reach to peak. A hand touches his arm.

“Do not lose yourself to your thoughts. Duties on Midguard still need attending to when you return from the heavens.”

His brother’s voice is even, but it is a joke. Viggo hums a little. 

“All would fall to ruin if I stayed thinking too long, and that would be such a waste of all my efforts that allowed it to be built in the first place.”

“Ever humble.”

Ryker snorts and Viggo gives a sharp smile.

“Ah, if I were humble, I doubt our successes would be so well known and would certainly not have led to more contracts. Come. The village awaits and a storm is coming.”

--

Dagur laughs as Hiccup shakes off the pile of snow he had just dumped on his brother. 

“Why did you even bring that into the forge?!”

 Hiccup says through chattering teeth, snow quickly melting. Dagur shrugs.

“I needed to let you know I was done making my experimental rolls. And I want you to home eat it.”

Hiccup tries to wipe off as much snow as he can before it melts into his clothes.

“But dumping snow on me?”

“Aww come on Hiccup, you have to admit it is a bit surprising and funny!”

Hiccup snorts and scoops up the quickly melting snow from the floor of his forge and flings it at Dagur. Dagur sputters and Hiccup dashes out of the forge. 

Dagur is hot on his heels and is yelling at him to get back there. They dash about in front of their home cave. Cold are turns their cheeks bright red and burns their lungs. Hiccup can feel the air cutting through his hair and it causes him to shiver a bit as he runs about.

Hiccup plops down in the cave not too long later, happily chewing on the fresh nut bread that his brother had created. Sure, it is a little uneven, and maybe could be cooked a little less, but Hiccup loves it and makes sure to tell his brother as much as he chews happily on his bread. 

“Gooooodddd.”

He says around another mouthful and Dagur pokes at his face.

“No talking with food in your mouth.” 

Dagur scrunches his nose and waggles his finger.

“No! I have to- mmph mmph.”

Dagur’s hand goes over his mouth. Hiccup chews and then raises an eyebrow, moving his hands while he chews.

“-I have to tell you how good it is while I’m eating! I will not be silenced.-”

Dagur huffs and takes his hand back, hands moving in reply.

“-Fine. Whatever.-”

Hiccup grins and presses into his brother’s side. Dagur wraps his arms around him and presses his nose into Hiccup’s hair. Hiccup lets out a laugh and pushes at his brother.

“Your nose is cold!” 

Hiccup complains, turning into his brother and winding his arms around Dagur, hugging him tight.

“Oh, I'm sorry. I'm not the one who decided to dash around outside before coming in to eat.”

“And I didn't choose to have snow dumped on me in my forge!”

Hiccup huffs.

“Touche.”

Dagur begins to run his fingers through Hiccup’s hair, gently getting rid of any tangles. They shift to a different position, with Hiccup lying across Dagur’s legs. It feels very nice to have his hair smoothed down. 

“Your hair is long enough to do a little braiding.”

Hiccup hums and grabs some more bread to munch on.

“Okay. Just don't tug too hard.”

“I would never hurt you on purpose Hiccup.”

Dagur whispers. Hiccup pokes his brother’s leg.

“I know.”

Hiccup replies earnestly. Fingers begin to slowly pull on the strands of Hiccup’s hair. He yawns quietly and settles further. Dagur begins to slowly sing and Hiccup whistles and hums along with his brother’s song.

Chapter Text

Dagur lets out a loud whistle and listens quietly. He hears a whistle, replies, and grins. He keeps moving through the snow and looks up in the trees. It is their second month of deadly winter and they were finding more ways to spend their time. Hiccup had made many spectacular things in the forge and designed several additional things to make when he was able to get more materials. Dagur had whittled several things and picked up bow practice. They both had taken up bird calls and Hiccup is currently up in a tree watching birds somewhere on the island. They ended up practicing bird calls and tweets on each other all day long to try to drive off the boredom. 

He spots Hiccup in an old ash tree. He clambers up and sits in a branch just below Hiccup. Hiccup grins down at him and moves his hands.

“-There’s a lot of birds.-”

“-There's no dragons.-”

Dagur replies and Hiccup whistles softly and nods in agreement. They silently sit and watch the birds flutter about. Many of the birds had migrated south for the winter. But many more were still here on their little island, singing merrily in the sunlight. 

Hiccup looks correct, sitting there in the tree, leaf-green eyes sparkling in the sunlight. Shadows of the trees dance across his little body’s form making him appear semi-etherial as the forest noises whisper about them both. Snow sparkles on the furs that drape across Hiccup’s form, blending him in even better with the surrounding ice-covered branches. The brown hair that peaks out from his hood is ruffled by the wind. 

Dagur knows that he does not fit in as perfectly as Hiccup does up in the tree. His bright red hair and larger form do not lead him to believe that he would fit into the mythical vision he currently is presented with. 

His fingers itch to carve. A little member of the Huldufolk, hidden in the branches of a tree, inspired by Hiccup’s watchful form. He sees how Hiccup’s eyes dart about, watching the birds and studying them. Hiccup whistles a perfect imitation and a bird calls back. His little brother grins silently for a moment before whistling again. A bird comes closer and sings back to Hiccup. The back and forth continues to a while and the carving becomes more detailed inside Dagur’s head and he thinks of a way to capture the feeling of the scene and the details therein. 

He lets out a whistle of his own as his fingers grow cold and Hiccup looks down at him. He gestures towards home, hating himself a little as he breaks up the ethereal atmosphere that surrounds his tiny brother. Hiccup nods and the two of them slip out of the tree. 

--

Yule is quiet. Well as quiet as it can be for an acting chief. Viggo sits in his hut after opening the festivities, quite alright with being alone with a book. The next two weeks were going to be rather rowdy and he is going to stick mostly to himself aside from the occasional joining of the multiple Maces and Talons competitions. He can hear the calls of his village outside and the playing of instruments in celebration of surviving this far into the winter. His eyes continue to move across the page as the fire crackles. A knock from his door has him looking up from the Latin text theorizing about the movements of the earth that had him currently enthralled. His brother enters and Viggo raises an eyebrow.

“Hello Ryker, I thought you would be participating in the festivities.”

“Not before giving you a gift for Yule.”

Ryker gives a small shrug and then holds something out. Viggo takes it and blinks at the wooden box. It has the Bloodwrath tribe’s emblem burnt into the side. He runs his fingers across it. 

“It's a puzzle box and there’s a prize inside. Hiccup designed it for me and Dagur carved it. Have fun.”

Viggo grins sharply as he immediately starts trying to open it, mind captured by the cleverness of the box. He hears Ryker leave but his mind is gone. 

He eventually has to leave the puzzle box alone to sleep and perform his duties. But he comes back to it over and over again. He makes a little progress as the days of Yule go on and can feel his brother’s self-satisfied grin. Privately, he admits to himself that this is one of the best gifts that his brother has gotten him in a while. Better than rare books or new dragon information. 

He solves it on the sixth day and smiles as he finds a small Auger shell. It would mean nothing to anyone else. But to him… it is a reminder from when they were younger and their father had first declared Viggo the heir to the chief seat. 

That had been a rather stressful afternoon where Viggo had ended up sitting alone on the rocky shore in the pale moonlight. He had been terrified that his father had just lost him his only ‘friend’. He thought for sure that Ryker was going to resent him for that. Ryker had come to him with a thick bear fur and had settled beside him on the shore after wrapping the fur about his shoulders. And they had a long serious conversation about how they would lead the tribe and keep them from ruin. Ryker had found an Auger shell among the stones and handed it over to Viggo with an oath to follow him loyally both out of love for him and out of love for the tribe. 

He smiles a little at the shell and quietly looks out his window before deciding that a walk would be nice. He ends up walking the shore and Ryker comes to walk beside him. Somehow knowing that Viggo would be here and would welcome his company. They walk in silence. 

Peaceful silence.

Chapter Text

Hiccup makes a pleased noise at the carving of a Terrible Terror that Dagur has gifted him for Snoggletog. Its eyes are sapphires and some of its scales are emeralds. Its mouth opened when its tail was twisted just right, revealing a hidden chamber for storing coins or any other treasure. 

“This is -amazing-!”

Excitement overtakes him and he shifts to hand speech. The longer they spent on the island alone together the more mixed up their language becomes. Random bursts of Latin and French have started to sneak in amongst the bird whistles and hand signs as they teach each other and find ways to fill their time. Dagur grins and hefts up the crossbow that Hiccup had designed for Dagur.

“Not as amazing as this!!” 

Hiccup grins as Dagur immediately goes out to practice shooting. Sure they could not do most of the festivities typically associated with Snoggletog. But they make their own fun. They shoot targets, play games among the trees, and hunt for washed-up treasures on the shores of their island. They dart about, building structures of snow and throwing handfuls of snow at each other. They end up back in front of their hearth, offering up sacrifices and songs to the gods that had chosen them before diving into food and sharing stories that were either shared between both their tribes or unique to where they were from. Hiccup falls asleep curled under his brother’s weight, fingers clinging tightly to his brother’s fingers. 

He stands on a rocky shore, staring out at an icy sea. A hand touches his shoulder and Hiccup turns to look and smiles at Vidar. 

“-Happy…-” 

The book had no sign for Snoggletog. Hiccup had made one up and says the holiday’s name as he makes the sign, which is the symbol for S waves across the face with the right hand while the left hand touches his right elbow. Vidar smiles and returns the greeting.

“-Happy Snoggletog, Hiccup the Wise.-”

Hiccup turns bright red at the nickname his grandfather had given him. Vidar gestures for Hiccup to follow him and Hiccup eagerly does. His hands move rapidly, giving his thanks for the help and just general chatting. Vidar happily moves his hands in reply. Hiccup vaguely notes that the shore has shifted to a little warmer and then sand underneath his feet. But he figures that this is all part of the strange god-dream-vision state. They enter a house and Hiccup spots his brother talking to another adult, who is missing a hand and has a spear resting nearby and must by Tyr. Tyr turns and grins brightly.

“Hiccup! So good to finally meet you. Happy Snoggletog.”

The man stands and offers his hand. Hiccup takes it and allows himself to be tugged forward. He settles next to Dagur at a table, who pulls him into a hug. The two gods settle near them at the head of the table. Songs ring in the background, echoey voices of past worship. 

“Welcome to our joint hall. We will be visited by our chosen soon.”

Tyr announces and the table and room suddenly grows and Hiccup realizes something. His eyes go wide and turns to Vidar.

“-Are we dead?-”

Fear makes his hands shake. Vidar gives him a gentle smile, cups his face, and wipes at the wet tears that drip down his cheeks. Dagur tenses beside him, letting out a small growl, but thankfully is not immediately throwing down with literal gods.

“You are not dead. Nor will you be anytime soon hopefully. You are merely visiting our halls.”

Tyr responds and Hiccup relaxes slowly. Vidar pats his cheek and then lets go, hands moving carefully.

“-We wanted you to have a little bit of a bigger holiday.-”

Hiccup grins at the words and leans into Dagur’s side. His brother immediately relaxes. The sounds of worship increase and shades appear at the table along with food. The dead nod and greet them as if their own and the feast begins, with warm smells filling the air. Hiccup gets swept up into songs and he grins brightly as his brother begins singing along with the crowds. 

--

Dagur wakes up very slowly the next day, feeling utterly calm and happy. It had been a nice feast. One of the most pleasant he had ever attended. At most there were thirty people in the hall, most far older than him and Hiccup. Stories had been swapped and advice had been given. He had been a little irritated with how touchy the gods were with Hiccup at first but then realized that both were just that touchy with all their chosen. His hair had been ruffled several times and his shoulder patted and squeezed repeatedly. It felt like hanging out with two proud uncles and a whole bunch of cousins. 

He pulls Hiccup a little closer to his chest and nuzzles his still-sleeping brother’s hair. It had been a really nice Snoggletog. He huffs slightly and curls a little tighter around his brother as he notes that it is cold outside of the furs. He would need to get up and stoke the fire soon. But he just wants to stay right here with his brother. He yawns and recloses his eyes. He does not fall back asleep but he stays settled. He nearly always wakes up before Hiccup. And when he wakes up after Hiccup, his brother very rarely leaves his side. He can count on one hand the number of times he had awoken without Hiccup within reach or still curled into him.

Dagur forces himself up a little while later, stokes the fire with more wood, and checks on the chickens. He starts cooking breakfast and puts it in a clay container with a tight lid before moving back to his brother. Hiccup is still snoring and Dagur tucks the furs a little more firmly around Hiccup’s tiny form. He runs his fingers through the brown locks of his brother’s hair. A comb is soon in his hand and he starts running it through Hiccup’s hair. He then begins to weave it in on itself, humming contently. He finds the song that he is humming is from the feast in his dreams. He smiles a little bit and keeps working. Hiccup makes soft, sleepy, content noises, pressing closer to Dagur while staying asleep.

Chapter Text

Hiccup stands on the prowl of their ship, leaning into the cutting spring wind. They were very low on supplies with absolutely no honey or Tide Glider saliva left, but the deadly winter has passed and spring is here. At fourteen Hiccup is ecstatic to get back to the Northern Markets and sell the things he had managed to make while on their island. He takes a deep breath and then lets out a yelp as he is picked up by Dagur and spun around. 

“Dagur!~”

He chirps out and then whistles sharply while giggling. Dagur nuzzles him and smiles happily. 

“Don't get lost in your head little brother, I need you to be ready when we hit the dock.”

“Yeah, yeahhh. I'm back to Earth.”

“Thank you.”

Dagur bumps his head against Hiccup’s and sighs. 

“Nervous Dagur?”

He asks, twisting a little and winding his arms around his taller brother. Dagur huffs and growls lightly. 

“Yeah. We have not been around anyone in so many months… I just don't want anything to go wrong.”

“Well… anything could go wrong.”

Dagur stiffens, pulling Hiccup tighter against his chest. Hiccup lets out a puff of air. 

“But we will be there together.”

Hiccup squirms and shifts so that he is no longer touching the ground and is fully wound around his brother. Dagur takes a few deep breaths and then lets go slowly. 

“Alright. Okay. alright. We are going to be fine because we are together.”

“Yep. Now get back to the rudder, I really don't want to hit that wooden dock.” 

Hiccup lets go and hops down from his brother to start prepping the rest of the ship for landing and calling out instructions to Dagur to let them land successfully. After tying and locking up their ship, now christened the Hopeful Puffin, they head off into the market to find Rune. Hiccup also wants to find Tove.

They secure and pay for their stall and then Hiccup drags Dagur along to help him find Tove. The bookseller is setting up his stall and gives Hiccup an excited welcome. Hiccup pulls out the book he had created during the winter, a copy of tall tales, and holds it out to Tove. Tove blinks and starts flipping through it. Hiccup then pulls out an exact copy. He had somewhat figured out a printing process to make books, but he could not make anything very long. Yet. He is still working out a better faster method.

“-These are exact duplicates!-”

Tove excitedly bounces and smiles brightly. Hiccup pulls out a small print block, the one he had used for the paper cover.

“-I call it printing.-”

Hiccup notes while Tove examines the block and books.

“-I… I know it might lessen the worth of the books - -”

Tove puts his hands on top of Hiccup’s cutting him off. And then Tove moves his hands.

“-At any moment these books could be lost forever. Some collections on the mainland and some libraries of the empire have copies. Maybe. But there is no guarantee. If I request a few copies of certain books, do you think you can do that for me? I’ll split the profit as I do with my book finders.-”

Hiccup nods eagerly, very much wanting to make more books. Tove presses a few into his arms and pats his shoulder with a bright smile. Hiccup thanks the man as best he can with his arms full. He looks at Dagur with begging eyes. His brother signs his thanks for him and Tove smiles with a small bow. 

-

Dagur grins as Hiccup finishes setting everything up and watches his brother settle in the back corner on a stool. Hiccup is working on a new piece of armor, stitching the metal pieces into place. Dagur starts carving a small wolf, humming quietly to himself as he waits for someone to enter their stall. 

As the day continues on they make several sales and are greeted by other regulars of the markets. While starting to wind down for the day and prepping to close, Ryker enters into their stall. Ryker comes to Dagur and holds out a jar.

“Here, Tide Glider saliva.”

Dagur blinks as he takes the jar and tilts his head.

“What's the catch?”

He asks, holding close the precious substance that aided his brother so much. But he has to hear the catch before he knows that he can keep it.

“Our business has been ‘mutually beneficial’ as my brother loves to say. We’d like to have a meeting with you today about shifting from being trading partners into allies. There is no requirement for you to enter an alliance. We would just like you to hear us out.”

Dagur shifts back and forth on his feet and glances at his brother.

“-We can hear them out.-”

Hiccup’s hands are quick and then they settle to rest on his armor work. Dagur presses his tongue against the back of his teeth and then sucks in air through his nose. 

“Fine. We’ll hear you out.”

“Thank you. Would you feel more comfortable meeting at the food booths or meeting on our ship? Either way, we’re providing the food.” 

Dagur does not even look at Hiccup as he answers.

“Food booth. And we can pay for ourselves.”

His offense is clear in his last sentence. Ryker raises his hands in a placating motion.

“But we are giving the invitation. It is traditional for the one offering ally talks to provide food. In fact it is seen as rude not to.”

The explanation is very patient and measured in tone. Dagur slowly un-tenses, offense slowly falling from his frame.

“Oh.”

He mutters. Hiccup comes to his side and grips his arm tight as he speaks. Hiccup’s voice is stilted, but calm.

“Thank you for the invitation. We accept it and will hear you out.”

“That is all we ask for.”

Ryker says with a small head tilt. Dagur takes a deep breath and shifts to pull his brother closer. 

“When do you want to meet us?”

He asks.

“Right as the sun is setting. An hour or so from now.”

Ryker replies. Dagur nods sharply.

“We’ll be there.”

Chapter Text

Hiccup presses into Dagur’s side as they approach the Grimborns. He takes a deep steadying breath, holding tight to the gift they had wrapped up. He knows that it is polite to exchange gifts with potential allies. And the Grimborn’s had already provided their gift for the exchange. They arrive at the food stalls and Ryker comes up to them, letting them know that Viggo has already gotten one of the many scattered tables; one further out from the center of the crowds. 

After getting food they arrive at the table. Viggo is sitting there with papers arranged carefully on the table. The man’s face looks intensely focused, stonelike in how little it moves and how cool his eyes are. Hiccup wonders how warm those features get. Do they always have a hint of chilly cold about them? Like a mountain, whose cap always has an edge of snow despite the warmth of summer. 

Hiccup takes a breath and then takes point. While nerves press against him, he is somewhat comfortable talking with the Grimborn’s. An alliance with them would be worthwhile, especially if they ever ran into issues. As Viggo’s eyes flick up to look at him. He offers out the gift to the chief, as he knows offering it to the highest on the hierarchy of a tribe. Viggo gently takes the gift as Dagur and Hiccup sit down at the table. 

The chief slowly unwraps the gift. A highly refined Gronkle iron knife that is sharp and well-balanced, with a dragon-carved hilt with rubies for eyes. Viggo’s eyes alight and there is a moment of a very pleased smile on his face. Hiccup finds himself fully relaxing. Good. He showed the Bloodwrath tribe’s worth. Viggo then slowly pulls all the papers together.

“I think that our trade agreement last year was very beneficial. I would like to continue it with the same terms. And add an alliance on top of it.”

Hiccup takes a small breath and folds his hands into each other.

“I think that we would greatly benefit from an alliance… but… Our tribe is rather small you see. It is very unlikely that we can provide aid if called upon, nor can we provide troops.”

“But you can promise not to sell your schematics to anyone else.”

Viggo leans forward slightly and Hiccup considers the deal. He knows that he could probably profit a lot from selling the designs for things like the ship. But having another tribe to lean on would be nice. What if they got badly hurt? What if someone harmed them? What if someone tried to strong-arm them into a bad deal? The Grimborn’s had offered favorable deals so far. He sort of trusts them to continue to offer favorable trades, a soft whistle passing from his lips. Viggo’s eyebrow raises slightly.

“Weapon schematics. And ship schematics. But if I invent… a really interesting door hinge or something? I want to still be able to sell that. And I would prefer you not resell my schematics…”

He ends with a warble and then clenches the table, knuckles turning white from his embarrassment. He really needs to cut out the bird noises. They have truly infected his speech. It makes him look like some sort of lunatic. Dagur ever so gently nudges his side and presses his head up against Hiccup. 

“Understandable. I can agree to that.”

Hiccup relaxes a little and smiles brightly. 

“Okay! Then yes. We would be interested in an alliance. But I want to see the terms written out, please.”

Dagur and he had talked it over before coming. They both agreed that an alliance would be nice but they would need to see the terms.

Viggo gives a slight nod.

“But of course, my dear.”

Hiccup relaxes, sagging a little into his brother. Dagur shifts and wraps his arms around him, warm and protective, like a fire in a hearth. He hears a small growl from his brother, but a small pat from Hiccup makes the noise lower. Viggo writes up a treaty and passes it over to Hiccup. Hiccup puts it between Dagur and himself and they both read it over. It is a very short and fair treaty.

Basically, the Acumens agree to come to the aid, with weapons or with resources, of the Bloodwrath tribe, as long as the Bloodwrath tribe agrees to only sell weapon schematics to the Acumens. Their agreement to sell to each other at reduced prices remains. He takes a breath and nods. He turns slightly to Dagur and his brother hums. It is overly fair to them and very much unfair to the Acumens. But if the Acumens are not going to negotiate for more, then Hiccup’s not going to press it. 

 “I'm alright with these, Hiccup.”

“Alright. Then we’ll sign.”

They both sign the document and pass it back over. Sure, Dagur could just sign for their tribe and it would be considered valid. However, Dagur had vehemently insisted before they came here that they both would sign because they both needed to make decisions for their joint future. Viggo signs it and then creates a duplicate for them all to sign all over again. Hiccup checks the duplicate, just in case, because while trusting, he still has an edge of wariness. 

“Well, now that that is settled, perhaps you would humor me with a game of Maces and Talons while we eat?”

Viggo asks and Hiccup eagerly nods. Viggo produces a playing board. Hiccup tilts his head as they start playing, only eating because his brother pokes at him and presses the pulled-pork-filled bun into his hand. Hiccup chews quietly as he considers his next move. His nose scrunches a little and he moves his chief. Viggo lets out a considering hum, tilting his head ever so slightly as his forehead furrows in thought. Hiccup smiles a little to himself at the concentration. It is a glimmer of something else like he is seeing the true nature of Viggo. Hiccup finds himself doing what he often does with the wildlife back on his home island, cataloging his observations mentally and creating a hypothesis about what he observes. He tucks his observations away to reanalyze when going to sleep that night.

The Grimborns and the Bloodwrathers make plans to meet the next afternoon after Bloodwrathers finish selling for the day.

Chapter Text

Hiccup bites into the smoked pork biscuit, tongue enjoying the burst of flavor from the onion and vinegar against the less flavorful barley bread. He and Dagur are waiting for the Grimborns and are eating their supper as they sit Hiccup yawns a little after his final bite, having exhausted himself with work attempting to figure out how to put weapons inside of a shield. Shields were simple to craft, but one that hid other objects and therefore had to open up? Less simple. He starts doodling as his brother picks him up and pulls him close to his chest. Hiccup curls slightly into his brother, humming to himself as he works through the problems.

“That looks fascinating.”

Hiccup jerks back into the real world, eyes blinking rapidly. He looks up at Viggo and brushes his slightly grown-out bangs out of his eyes. 

“-Thanks.-”

His hands move with his notebook sitting in his lap, his surprise having stolen his voice away. Viggo settles across the table from Hiccup and Dagur, with Ryker sitting beside him. Hiccup swallows and takes a steadying breath as his heart starts to slow.

“What is it supposed to do?”

“Well, I… I like the idea of having a shield that does more than just blocks. But it's a really rough idea. I'm not ready to share it yet. I'd like to work on it a little more.”

“I understand. Speaking of things to share, I do recall promising you a tour of one of the ships based on your design.”

“I honestly just want to see it survive some sort of attack and know that it works.”

Hiccup knows that Dagur wants to avoid going on the ships, as it would effectively corner them. 

“That can be arranged. We have a few captured Gronkles we can force to shoot at its hull.” 

Hiccup blinks at the idea and finds himself nodding. Back on Berk, they rarely captured live dragons. It was easier to make sure any downed dragon was killed if they did manage to down a dragon. And those that they did capture were used in the training arena, not for any else. But these hunters gathered things from the dragons. Like Monsterous Nightmare gel, Tide Glider saliva, and Gronkle iron. He sort of wants to learn more about their processes, if only to better understand the materials that he works with. Dagur makes his own noise of interest and they are getting up and heading to the docks. 

They go to a less populated area and Viggo orders the moving of dragons and one of the ships. Hiccup looks at the Gronkles and finds his mind flashing back to the night he lost his leg as they fire off at the boat. He sees the fire boulders hit the side of the ship and bounce off, but finds himself starting to slip mentally at the next barrage of fire.

Fire! Everything is on fire! A hut has just exploded while he runs to the forge. And! His legs are tangled up and he is stuck with a Monsterous Nightmare that is shooting hot crackling flames that snap and hiss and make his skin far too warm and he is screaming and crying for help. He is so, so scared that he will be burnt to a crispy ember by this dragon that looks just as terrified as he is. 

A song pierces the horror he is stuck in. Whispery-comfort directly into his ear. He hiccups and sobs and twists to press into the comforting warmth. It is not the stinging hot of dragon flame; rather the comforting warmth he has come to know is Dagur. His brother is here to keep him safe. His brother will protect him from the world. 

He finds himself slowly returning and finds he is curled up on the ground. His brother is curled over him protecting him from everything. Hiccup takes a gasping, shuddery breath. Words escape him, and he cannot even begin to move his hands to speak. A whine slips out of his mouth.

“I know Hiccup. But you're safe now. Nothing is going to hurt you while I'm here.”

Hiccup presses further into his brother and breathes in time to the steady rise and fall of his brother’s chest. 

It takes a while longer to be able to speak and a little longer while after that to convince Dagur that he really is okay. Dagur finally lets him sit up but keeps wrapped around him tight. It is comforting. 

Hiccup looks up and then feels a wave of shame as he sees both Grimborn’s sitting down nearby. Oh. He hides his face and finds himself crying anew as his cheeks glow bright red. 

“Many hunters get dragged into memory by dragon fire when they have lost limbs or friends to dragons.”

Ryker states and Hiccup swallows and peaks out. Ryker is not staring at him. The man is sharpening one of his swords. Viggo is looking off into the horizon. It makes it easier to relax to not have eyes on him. He feels a little less stupid at Ryker’s words. He moves his tongue slightly, mouth opening slowly as he takes a small breath. Words are slow and breathy as he clings tightly to Dagur.

“The last time I heard dragon fire… was when I lost my leg to a Monsterous Nightmare when I got stuck with it.”

The last bit is just a sliver of a whisper. Viggo’s mouth turns down into a frown, but his gaze is still on the horizon. 

“That wasn't your fault Hiccup.”

Dagur says, nuzzling his hair. Hiccup’s face is wet with tears and now more are falling. He presses back into his brother’s neck as he whines. He shoves his knuckles into his mouth and bites down, needing to get quieter. He feels like it is his fault. If it was not his fault, why did he wake up alone? There should have been someone there, if he deserved it, right? His brain feels oh so weak as it slips again. He hears Dagur speaking, but not to him.

“I’m taking him back to our ship. And he’ll probably feel super guilty in the morning, so…” Dagur takes a breath and then huffs, likely only saying what he says next just for Hiccup. “Please come see him so he can apologize and get over it. Or he’ll carry it around all day.”

“Alright Dagur. We will come early tomorrow.”

Hiccup hears Viggo reply. Then Dagur hefts him up, singing softly to him as he walks. Hiccup loops his arms around his brother’s neck and keeps his face hidden as he shudders and shakes.

Chapter Text

Dagur wakes up slowly and finds that Hiccup is already awake, and braiding his hair. Hiccup looks mournful as he works. 

“Brother?”

He whispers. Hiccup bites his lip. His little brother’s green eyes are glistening. 

“I messed up… I should have-”

Hiccup stutters out and Dagur interrupts. 

“Dragons hurt you, it only makes sense that seeing them in action again freaks you out. “

“But that will make me useless if we get attacked! And I embarrassed us in front of our new allies. What if they don't want to be allies anymore?”

“I doubt that Hiccup. Come on. Let's go to the stall. Let them tell you themselves .”

“It's… there's a thunderstorm. They might not come.”

Dagur can hear the pounding rain and the slight rocking of the ship.

“I'd be questioning their abilities if they let a little rain stop them.”

Dagur says with a roll of his eyes. Hiccup quietly concedes and sighs, leg likely hurting from the weather change. Dagur is gentle when he applies Hiccup's medicine and makes sure to massage his brother's scarred tissue a little more than usual. Hiccup lets out slow concentrated breaths and leans on him a little as they walk through the rain to their stall.

Dagur lights a few candles to help with light and the two settle under the tent as the rain beats a war song outside. He really does hope that the Grimborns will keep their word and show up. He starts carving something while Hiccup picks back up the armor that he had been stitching. 

Then Ryker and Viggo step into the stall. Dagur feels a flash of relief as his brother's shoulders sag. He offers up two stools to the men, shifting his own stool closer to Hiccup.

“Hiccup, if it is alright with you and your brother, I would like to discuss an idea that my dear brother and I had.”

Viggo opens the conversation, eyes barely flickering to Dagur before fully focusing on Hiccup. Hiccup's hands bunch up the cloth he has been working with as his knuckles go white. Dagur reaches out in response to his brother's distress, gently touching his brother's back. 

“Are… are you rethinking the alliance because of me?”

Hiccup sounds so horribly resigned and Dagur chokes down a growl, knowing that it is not what his brother needs at this second. Viggo frowns deeply and leans forward.

“Why would we ever do that?”

Hiccup makes a choking little noise and then his hands are moving. 

“-Because I'm weak. Useless.-”

Dagur cannot hold back the snarl and yanks Hiccup into a tight hug. He knows that is an echo of the Hooligan tribe speaking and hates it.

“Not useless .”

He growls, daring the world to try and challenge his words. Viggo speaks again, voice sounding much more careful and delicate as if trying not to shatter Hiccup with his voice.

“I think your inventions speak for themselves. I don't know of anyone else who can hold a candle to your accomplishments. Please do not degrade yourself so my dear. Fear from past trauma is not a weakness. But it is what I wished to speak about. My tribe has a few methods for trying to get over such things.”

Dagur tilts his head at the offer. If they could help Hiccup… It might be worth trying. Hiccup squirms a little in his arms, but Dagur refuses to let go. Hiccup sucks in air but says nothing. So Dagur speaks.

“Methods like what? I don't like the idea of stressing my brother.”

Ryker responds to Dagur.

“Some of it is just exposure and breathing exercises. A lot of men benefit from watching dragons fire while their ears are blocked, and then listening without being able to see the flame. It dissociates the noise.”

Ryker shrugs and Dagur can see the merits of the ideas. Hiccup presses into him a little.

“Can… would I get to see how Gronkle iron-making works?”

Hiccup whispers, ending with a soft chirp, and Viggo’s eyes alight. 

“I would love to show you. In fact, I think that would be an excellent method to help you.”

“Hiccup’s not going anywhere without me.”

Dagur tilts his head up just a little. Ryker grins, and it is a wild thing, like how a briar patch would look for a rabbit. 

“I would never suggest that he should.”

Dagur immediately relaxes. No threats here. Only potential help.

--

It is a little weird having thick muffs over his ears and muting sounds while standing inside a ship. It had taken a moment to convince Dagur to let them go into the belly of the ship. But he had convinced Dagur. And the willingness of the Grimborns to let them both keep their weapons had soothed his brother a lot too.

Hiccup’s arms are tightly hooked around Dagur’s left arm as he watches the dragons spit out molten rock. He watches how slowly the Gronckles eat. He feels a sliver of empathy for them as they are forced to eat more and more. But then he recalls how many times Berk had to rebuild homes and how lean some winters could get. He had a few distinct memories of being five and clawing for tubers in ice ice-cold dirt in the forest, desperate for food to survive the winter. The empathy fades to something easily ignored. 

He feels none of that overwhelming fear that he had felt the last time that he had seen this kind of dragon in action. He relaxes his grip on his brother, slowly relaxing. He lets out a soft breath. Viggo gently taps his shoulder and starts to move his hands once he has Hiccup’s attention.

“-Do you want to try taking off the muffs?-”

Hiccup shakes his head. He is a bit terrified that the noise would overwhelm him. Viggo gives a nod. They then have a signed conversation about the Gronckle iron making process, with Viggo letting him know about the ingredients and the hardiness of the metal. Hiccup is fascinated, mind already swirling a little with all this new information and how it could help him build more things.

Chapter Text

Hiccup and Dagur go and see the dragons three more times before their week at the Market ends. and the times they were not selling buying or looking at the dragons, they were spending with the Grimborns. Dagur finds himself looking forward to that joint time despite his reservations. Ryker makes a great sparring partner and a good conversationalist about traps and weapons.

Dagur grips the rudder, staring off towards the horizon, mind fluttering about. He lets out a small yelp as his brother suddenly wraps him in a tight hug. Hiccup nuzzles his chest and let's out a soft sigh and low chirp.

“I'm glad that we made an alliance.”

Hiccup murmurs.

“Me too… if… if…”

Words stick in his throat like mucus during a bad cold. He grips the rudder tightly and mentally gives a prayer to Tyr for strength. Hiccup hugs tighter with a worried but curious warble. Dagur breathes in through his nose and then out through his mouth, rolling his tongue along the tops of his molars.

“I never plan to leave your side. I don't plan on dying or getting really injured. I'll fight Wodin if I have to. But… if all fails… turn to them. They're… good.”

He swallows thickly and feels the wood of the rudder biting into his palms as he clenches even tighter. Hiccup lets out a soft whimper and then presses into him tighter. 

“Don't die Dagur.”

His little brother begs. Dagur turns his head and kisses the top of Hiccup’s hair.

“I don't plan to. I will never leave you alone on purpose .”

Hiccup relaxes and lets out a soft breath. 

“Okay. It’s just… I don't like thinking about it.”

“I don't like thinking of you dying either.”

Dagur admits, nuzzling Hiccup’s hair. He breathes slowly and relaxes his tight grip. 

“I love you Dagur.”

Dagur smiles and replies.

“Love you to Hiccup.”

--

Dagur twirls his wooden practice ax and blocks Hiccup’s sword. They dance around each other, wood clacking loudly as they train. Hiccup is a lot more steady on his feet than he used to be and Dagur makes sure to offer up praise just as frequently as correction. Hiccup glows and actually lands several hits on Dagur. Both have a few bruises by the time they wrap up.

“You're doing so well Hiccup!” 

Dagur chirps as he and his brother lay down on sun-heated rocks. Hiccup lets out a chirp and starts combing out Dagur’s hair. Dagur stretches out on the rock closing his eyes, content. He begins to sing softly as his brother detangles his hair. 

" Dragons in the deep. Faithful watch we keep. For dragon claw and teeth like stone, can splinter timber iron and bone. And with one sudden crushing blow, will send us to our deaths below. ”

Hiccup hums along, smoothing out Dagur’s hair across his back.

“It's so long! Almost to your elbows. It has some mud in it though. Can I wash it?” 

Hiccup chirps. Dagur hums.

“Alright, but I'm not getting off the rock.”

The older boy closes his eyes and he hears Hiccup move away and then return with a small accompaniment sound of swishing water joining the sound of his brother’s distinct footsteps of a clink-thud. 

“Flip over please?”

“Mm-kay.”

Dagur rolls over and yawns tiredly as his brother begins moving the wet comb through his hair. Dagur relaxes and finds himself starting to fall asleep.

--

Hiccup bounces excitedly as he heads to Tove’s stall. He has the newly printed books in a side satchel that he cannot wait to show Tove. He enters the stall and ignores all else while bouncing over to the man. Dagur comes in right behind him with a hum. He pulls out the copies of the books that he had made. More were back on the Hopeful Puffin. If Tove wants them. Trove accepts the books and immediately starts gushing over them. Hiccup had gotten Dagur to turn some of his drawings into carvings so he could print them in the books and it looks like Tove heartily approves. 

“Hiccup, did you make these?”

Hiccup startles slightly at Viggo’s voice. The man must have been in the stall already. Hiccup chirps and offers out two books that were duplicated to his ally. Viggo flips through bloth with eyes that widen slightly and then become very very pleased.

“-Delightful.-”

Viggo signs. Tove nods and moves his hands.

“-Isn't he clever? Hiccup,” Hiccup's name is indicated by the hand motion for H and then the motion for invent. “I have a few other books that I’d like copied.-”

Hiccup flushes in delight and Dagur nuzzles his hair with a smirk, giving a pleased whistle.

“-Okay. I have twenty copies of each of the six books you gave me last time. Want any repeats of those?-”

Hiccup asks.

“-Yes. For all of them.-”

Tove excitedly moves his hands around. Viggo makes a small noise and Hiccup turns to him. Viggo’s moves hands move fluidly.

“-Can I also hire you to make copies of books?-”

Hiccup swallows and tilts his head. Viggo likely had very rare books, given how delighted Tove was to talk with the man and some of the things Viggo had mentioned during their Maces and Talons games. He wants to see those books.

“-Yes.-”

He sorts out the details with both men. Dagur and he agree to meet with Viggo and his brother later and then cheerfully head to their own stall to prep everything for a day of selling. Hiccup’s mind is still abuzz with the prospect of doing more printing and he knows that he will definitely need to source a lot more paper in the future to be able to maintain it as a side hobby. He gets to work on his small forge, mind working on ways to make his printing process more efficient. His mind rolls over thoughts as he hammers and sharpens metal into the shapes that he wants. He hums and whistles to himself, songs of Vidar, some from Berk, some from Dagur. He finishes a few knives and plays with the idea of working on another adjustable spyglass.

Chapter Text

Dagur taps his foot to the beat as musicians hired by Rune begin to play near the rings and the food stands. They had finished eating and where continuing to hang out with the Grimborn brothers, in their normal pattern of hanging out with them after a day of sales. Hiccup’s fingers are moving in time to the steady rhythms, despite talking to Viggo. Dagur is struck by a thought. He had never really seen his brother dance. Not back on Berk or on Áræði. There is a small hint of longing in the corner of Hiccup’s forest-green eyes. Ryker says something, but Dagur is too distracted by trying to figure out how to help his brother. He knows Hiccup would not dance in front of others. But his brother's right foot is tapping. 

Dagur stands suddenly and picks Hiccup up. Hiccup yelps and twists to grip on him. Hiccup is still too light in Dagur’s opinion. That is an issue he will just have to keep trying to address. For now, he is thankful that his brother is still so easy to hoist up and carry. And that his brother trusts him enough to just sort of go with it.

“Are… Are you okay Dagur?”

Hiccup whispers into his ear as he wraps his arms around Dagur’s kneck. Dagur smiles softly that Hiccup’s first thought is worry for him. He nods, eyes hunting.

There.

As spot that is just out of sight but still close enough to hear the music. 

He gently sets Hiccup down on his foot and metal foot. Dagur takes his brother’s hands and slowly twirls him. Hiccup takes a second and then bursts into laughter as he steps a little quicker. They step in time to the music, both laughing and giggling as they half dance, half walk. Dagur spots Ryker and Viggo, who must have followed them. They sit down nearby, not interrupting. Dagur likes them all the more for that. The song ends and then a high flute begins to play with a much faster drum beat. The singer calls out loud and clear and Dagur spins Hiccup under his arm.

“ Across the heath, in the early morning glow. Birds pass on by, where may they be tomorrow. I follow the sizzling of the wings into the somber moor. Age-old songs resound from the haze .”

Hiccup lets out a small whoop as Dagur lifts him up by the waist and spins him before putting him back down to be able to keep dancing.

 “ Come and fly away with us. Let the wind carry you, far away from this place. Come and fly as high as you can. Let us chase the skies, in our dance.”

It sounds like a good part of the song for a circle dance, but it is just the two of them. But they both know the basics and do their best with just them. Two steps left, a step right, a kick right, then repeat all in time to the beat. Then Dagur finds one of his hands separated from Hiccup as Ryker joins their tiny circle. Hiccup giggles and smiles at Ryker so Dagur finds that he does not mind the man joining. They reverse directions midway through the song, the two younger boys smiling and the three stepping smartly. 

Viggo stays on the sidelines until Hiccup turns and offers the hand that Ryker had been holding to. Viggo then joins them and the four of them continue to do the simple steps, Ryker bringing in an element of raising up their arms with each kick. 

None notice the outside eyes watching on with deep interest. 

--

Ryker had enjoyed the dancing. Both because it let him see the Bloodwrath brothers in a much more relaxed state than they normally seemed to be, and because he got to see his brother do something a little childish for once. 

Ryker feels very justified in his belief that these brothers are good for his brother. Viggo spent time on many of the same things he had before, but now there was not just a hollow drive for business and tribe. His little brother’s eyes had grown a little dull over the last couple years until they had met the two Bloodwrathers. 

Viggo now pushed himself to come up with clever plans and potential ideas for inventions to ask Hiccup about, leading the Acumens to have more things and Viggo to be just a bit lighter. And Ryker can say that he quite likes Dagur himself, happy to have someone that will listen to training advice and who he can see a bit of himself in. The way that Dagur let Hiccup lead during alliance and business negotiations with those they knew and the way that Hiccup let Dagur take over if either felt that there was a threat was as fascinating as it was endearing. 

Part of him wishes that the two had been born to their tribe. If only to get rid of that haunted look that seems to follow them with each step and to rid them of all the scars that decorated them. Both sported quite a few from what he could see, not including the very obvious metal leg that was far too small for any reasonable man’s comfort. Then there were the mental scars. Hiccup had obviously been hurt by dragons, but also by people. Dagur’s fierce protectiveness had to have a root somewhere. And Hiccup reacted to his own tears and fear by trying to muffle himself with a fist inside of his mouth. Ryker had hated watching Hiccup cry after Hiccup’s strong reaction to the dragons’ fire. It was distressing to watch and not be able to help. 

Ryker wants to do more, but getting to much into their business would spook both brothers. Dagur would probably react with violence and Hiccup would likely hide away, with Dagur soon to follow after. To lose them now would ruin Viggo… and would ruin him too.

Chapter Text

Hiccup walks along the edge of the Market, humming to himself. Dagur is currently buying something on the other side of the Market. Hiccup had convinced his brother to let him look about for a special gem on his own, and Hiccup is happily searching for the piece he needs to complete his gift for Dagur. He liked making things and giving them to Dagur, even where there was no special occasion involved. 

Then he is grabbed from behind and dragged further from the Market by large unfamiliar hands.

Hiccup bolts away after kicking his would-be captor hard in the shin with his metal leg. He still recalls how to run like the wind from the ‘Hunt Hiccup’ days back on Berk. But at the Northern Market, he does not know of hiding places the way that he had memorized the hiding places back on Berk. Aside from his ship. 

But does he want to lead these men back to the ship where it will take him a moment to fumble with his key and twist it in its lock? 

Not particularly.

His metal foot snags on a dip in the ground and he goes sprawling. His chest smashes into the ground and his ribs bruise making air hurt to try and suck in. Now he does not have to consider the answer to his problem.

His pursuers come from behind and press him down. He twists and screams and bites. He lets his lock, feeling a wild heartbeat against his tongue as he tries to rip the arm apart that is grabbing him. Blood slicks his teeth as his jaw is forcefully opened and stuffed with a piece of cloth, causing him to gag. The blood is warm and full of metallic tang that has his stomach roles and bile swirls in the back of his mouth.

His face is punched and his hands are tightly bound together. His wrists are quickly being rubbed raw as he keeps struggling and kicking. One of the men snarls and yanks off his prosthetic, fracturing the wooden part in their haste. The pain of the splinters going into his stump makes him scream into the cloth. Then cold metal is against his throat, biting his skin which becomes warm from a thin trickle of blood that leaks out. His squirming stills as his heart continues to scream.

“Now, be a good little captive while we get the Grimborn’s attention. Or we’ll cut your your throat and end your life. We’ll have that redhead soon enough and won't need you for leverage.”

Dagur. Hiccup hopes that Dagur rips them apart. A blindfold slips over his eyes and is tied too tight, pulling against the bruise decorating one of his eyes. He finds himself whimpering quietly as his world goes dark and the pain feels all the worse with nothing else to focus on. He feels himself lifted and thrown onto someone's shoulder. His eyes drip wet tears into the blindfold as his bruises and cuts scream at him. 

He then hears muffled screeching that sounds a lot like Dagur. He whimpers as the sound of his brother’s struggle suddenly goes quiet before a muffled howl rends the air. Dagur then gets really quiet as cold metal presses against Hiccup’s throat again, just under the last cut, though this time no new wound is made. Hiccup lets out another whimper because he knows that his brother is only not fighting back because of him. And Hiccup hates that. His brother is a roaring fire that would burn and destroy his attackers, snuffed out because Hiccup got captured. He feels so weak and useless. 

Hiccup the Useless.

His eyes leak more silent tears and he slumps fully. 

--

Viggo feels dark angry rage licking through his bones. He snarls and he drops the note to the ground, still holding Hiccup’s prosthetic in his hand. He has some work to do if people think that they can kidnap and threaten his allies and waltz away scot-free with ransom money. He sucks in deep shuddering breaths trying to keep his rage from turning him into a fool. Ryker frowns and then lifts up the note from the ground. It immediately crumples under his shaking hand.

“Viggo?”

His brother is asking after a solution. Ryker always turned to him when they needed a throughout solution.

“I'm making a plan. We will be getting them back.”

The kidnappers better pray that they do not hurt those two brothers. Viggo would rip them to shreds and Ryker would disintegrate the remains.

“And make the b*stards pay?”

Ryker snarls angrily. Viggo gives a sharp smile that promises pain. 

“Oh yes. I have some things I would quite like to test out on them. But first I must plan. They did not give me very much time to collect together the wealth they want.”

He would get their little allies back safely. Unhelpfully, his mind swirls with memories of the time spent with the Bloodwrath brothers. While he did favor Hiccup a little more, both were smart and quick and were valuable allies to hold onto. And he can see that his brother has come to care about them greatly. Which makes sense given how easily Ryker had gotten along with them. 

And…

Viggo cares about them too.

Both had started getting calmer around them and he looked forward to seeing the two each month at the market, even planning contracts and sales to make sure that he could be at the Market when they were. There were few people that he was interested in speaking to so frequently. And fewer still that he would actively change how he approaches contracts and how he spent his time just to be around them more. He did not even do that for his brother.

His mind twists over what he needs to do. There was a trap to set and men to get into position. He is eager to get his dear little allies back. He takes a deep breath and he gets to work, ready to rip the kidnappers to pieces. He gently puts Hiccup’s prosthetic down and gets to work.

Chapter Text

Hiccup had passed out at some point from the ongoing pain and stress, and finds his body jerking awake as someone grabs his hair cruelly. His vision has been returned to him. Not that it means much, given how dark it is. He is hefted onto another shoulder and forces his body to stay limp. Squirming would not help the pounding ache arcing through his body. He forces down a whimper of pain. The world around him is dark with the shadows of night, with just a sliver of the moon shimmering down. Hiccup feels his stomach swirl with bile that burns the back of his mouth and the top of his tongue. They arrive somewhere lit only by torches, with no light from the sky touching here. 

Hiccup is dropped to the ground and the whimper escapes. His eyes water as he looks up and sees Viggo sitting on a chest. Alone. And there is Dagur also dropped down. Dagur is littered liberally with cuts, bruises, and dried blood. Dagur and Hiccup are yanked up by their hair and left to dangle. Hiccup lets out a howl in pain as the braids that Dagur so carefully wove are strained at the roots of his hair. A knife comes to rest under the first cut that is now crusty and dry. He watches as Dagur snarls and kicks out. He stares hopelessly as his brother is hit upside the head, knocking him out. Hiccup finds himself screaming against the gag and being forced to stand on the ball of his one foot. 

“I am less inclined to pay for damaged goods you know.”

Viggo’s voice is colder than ice. Hiccup finds his voice dying in his throat. That tone reminds Hiccup of a mountain, grand, but oh so stoney and cold. Hiccup feels fear spark in his chest. Damaged goods? Is… Is that all that all Viggo sees them as? 

Tears burn his cheeks. But he had gotten good at silent crying back on Berk, and no more sounds escape him. He bites down on the gag and closes his eyes not wanting to watch anymore. He knows where he is going when he dies and finds a touch of comfort in that fact. He really hopes that he will not die. He really really hopes that Dagur will not die. He breathes shakily through his nose as his scalp screams, wishing he could cover his ears.

“You got the money?”

The person holding his hair asks, voice dark and dangerous.

“Oh, I do. But how can I know you’re are not going to cause further damage the second I give you this chest?”

Viggo’s voice is polite but still mountainous. Hiccup opens his eyes a little and looks at the man trying to get a read on him. Nothing. Freezing like ice, unchanging like stone. Hiccup swallows thickly, throat moving against the icy knife. 

“We’ll give one to you when you show the inside of the box and then the other after payment.”

Viggo is still sitting and one of his hands touches his beard. 

“I see. A reasonable request to check the chest. Though I do take offense to the insulation that the Acumens do not reliably fulfill deals.”

Viggo sounds light, but it is still so impersonal. Hiccup shivers slightly and winces at the pain he brings on himself. He sees Viggo’s eyes narrow ever so slightly for a moment. 

Maybe…

Maybe he did care. He was here after all…

Viggo rises and opens the chest. There is gold piled high within and Hiccup lets out a whimper as his captor shifts position to get a better look and nicks him with the blade. Viggo straightens, eyes darker than midnight on a new moon, when Hati had managed to take his fill of the celestial body. His hands move, his right hand grasping his left wrist while his left hand forms a fist.

“-Safe.-”

And then there are arrows flying in and hitting the captors. Men surge out of the shadows as Hiccup is dropped to the ground. There is a small scuffle, but it ends very quickly. Hiccup wriggles in the dirt desperation starting to flare up. He had lost track of Dagur. He cannot see his brother. Where is his brother? 

Breathing becomes hard. Darkness starts edging in on his vision. Hiccup gasps and grows all the more panicked as the cloth in his mouth blocks air. Hands touch his head and he trembles and silently cries. And then the gag is removed.

“Hiccup?”

A voice. But not Dagur. Not Dagur !

“Dagur…”

He warbles, voice cracking. He looks up to Viggo, eyes wide. Viggo’s entire face softens.

“Hiccup, Ryker has Dagur. He is currently passed out, but we will help you both. Can… can I touch you to get off the other bindings?”

Hiccup hates the thought of anyone else touching him today… but… his mark from Vidar cools and he looks at Viggo’s eyes. They are brown. And while normally cold like creek stones, right now they are warm like a stick just starting to blaze. Hiccup looks away and then gives a nod.

“Okay. Please untie me.”

His heart trembles. Viggo hums as he unties his hands.

“No need to ask politely Hiccup.”

Hiccup pulls his arms to his front and pulls his legs up to his chin, biting his lip, sucking back a sob of pain at his raw slightly bleeding wrists.. 

“I would like to look you over for injuries.”

Hiccup whimpers a the kindness in Viggo’s voice. 

“Dagur.”

His voice cracks as his eyes flit about. He spots Ryker lifting up his brother. Ryker looks over, arms oh so carefully holding his far too limp brother. Dagur should be exploding with life, not lying limp. He looks dead. He is not dead. He cannot be. 

“I'm taking him back to the ship for medical care Hiccup.”

“Ship.”

Hiccup breathes out needing to follow his brother.

“I can carry you there, but I need you to agree to being checked over.”

Viggo negotiates and Hiccup takes a few deep breaths before he nods. Hiccup lets out a soft tiny cry as he is lifted up and his ribs and stump ache .

He watches as Dagur is carried in front of him curling slightly into Viggo to maintain balance.

Chapter Text

Hiccup watches Dagur lay limp in the fur-covered bed, worry crashing over him as Ryker starts washing the wounds. Then Viggo kneels in front of Hiccup with his own rag and bowl of water. 

“Where are you hurt? Are any of your bones broken?”

Viggo asks, not touching. Yet. Hiccup finds that his voice has been stolen from fear. But he had agreed to be checked over if Viggo carried him here. With trembling hands, he reaches down and rolls up his left pant leg. Viggo looks at his scared stump and lets out a soft string of curses. Hiccup whimpers as hands touch his scar tissue. 

“Sp-splinter.”

He whispers as his grip goes knuckle white against the chair. He wishes that it was Dagur inspecting the injury. Dagur was always his first choice for handling injuries.  Viggo’s hands pause but are steady and warm. 

“I have to pull the wood out Hiccup.”

Viggo's voice is low like Hiccup is a spooked animal. Which… feels like the truth. Hiccup is terrified. This is going to hurt so much. Hiccup swallows.

“It might be easier if he was lying down. I’ll put furs on your desk.” 

Hiccup hears movement but his eyes have clenched closed in anticipation of pain. He whimpers as hands gently lift him up and lay him down. His hands tangle in the furs down below him in fear. But it must be done. It would be worse for him if the wood stayed inside of his stump, infecting and stabbing at him. 

“I'm going to start pulling Hiccup. Take deep breaths.”

Viggo's hands are large and warm and his voice is smooth and rich like fresh honey. Hiccup gives a tiny nod and then his world explodes into pain. The stump still had so many active nerves and was so hyper-sensitive. And this is pure agony he shoves a fist into his mouth trying to mute himself as he knows calling attention while in pain does not end well. Blood cascades down into his belly, mixing with the blood he had drawn from his captor earlier. 

“Hiccup… You need to move your hand.”

Hiccup hears Viggo. But he cannot obey, teeth burrowing further into his own fist. The metallic tang is slick and gross against his tongue but better than screaming and getting found and having Snotlout kick his ribs.

“Ryker. I need you to hold him.”

Viggo's voice has retreated from softness back to ice but is still as smooth. 

“Alright. I'm done wrapping Dagur anyways.” 

Hiccup swallows down the blood, refusing to open his mouth to spit it out for fear of screaming. Ryker's voice then comes from behind.

“I'm going to grab your arms and torso Hiccup.”

Hiccup violently shakes his head, teeth cutting more jaggedly into his fist with the movements.

“We can't wait for his permission.”

Viggo's voice makes Hiccup shiver and keen hopelessly. A hand pries open his jaw and gently takes his fist out. Arms wrap around his torso and arms, pinning him. Hiccup hates being pinned by anyone other than Dagur. He knew that Dagur would always let him go if he asked. Pain flairs up through his stump, dancing along his spine and pressing against his lips as he fights to stay silent.

Then it is too much and he screams and screams, voice snapping and cracking. A hand finds his and Hiccup clings tightly to the fingers, pretending that it is his brother. They are too big, and not warm enough. But he clings to the illusion as pain claws him apart. 

He must have passed out at some point because the next thing he registers is a hand gently moving through his hair and damp cloth adorning his neck and stump. He whimpers. Viggo whispers to him.

“Hiccup can you hear me, my dear?”

Hiccup whimpers again, but gives a tiny nod.

“We need to check your chest.”

Hiccup lets out a keening noise and shakes his head. No. That would make him too exposed even if he did trust the Grimborns. His ribs ache terribly and his vocal chords feel rubbed raw. He sits up and curls his knees into his chin, shaking.

“Let me rephrase that my dear. I'm going to check your chest. I would rather have your cooperation, but I need to make sure that you have nothing broken in your chest before we let you sleep.”

Hiccup swallows. He understands. His stomach spins with bile.

“Let… Let me. Don't- don’t t-touch.”

Blood still slicks his mouth and he feels disgusting. But his stump feels better and the cut on his throat does not sting as much. He slowly takes off his fur vest. Then his fingers shakily touch the nots keeping his armor over his his chest. He swallows and gags a little at the taste of blood before he undoes the knots. He slides the amor vest off with a wince, feeling strange without its additional weight. He tugs on his tunic, having to carefully slip it over his head. He spots his chest, a black and purple mess that is far too small as his lungs flutter. His eyes flick away in embarrassment and cringes into himself and then whimpers in pain. Viggo leans forward.

“I'm going to check for broken ribs. That means I'm going to touch your chest my dear Hiccup.”

Hiccup licks his teeth and swallows as he bites down on his lip while nodding.

“I'm also going to ask you not to bite your fist again. We have wrapped it and I hate the idea of the salve entering your stomach.”

Hiccup nods and closes his eyes tight as a hand gently presses at his ribs. It hurts. It hurt so much but not as much as a broken bone should hurt. The hand moves and Hiccup tries to push his mind far away from here. He did that sometimes while in pain. Just go elsewhere mentally.

It works. A little. His mind is back home in the cave and Dagur is wrapped around him tight. His mind yanks back to the ship as his aching ribs begin to be wrapped with a damp cloth that is ever so slightly tight on his rips. He lets out a sob. Tears burn his cheeks and he just wants it to end. 

“Almost done my dear.”

Hiccup sobs louder and then cries out as the cloth pulls tighter on his ribs.

“DAGUR!!”

His ragged voice calls out to his brother. He wants his brother. He needs his brother. He wails and calls but Dagur does not come. The pressure recedes some and his howl dies. 

Someone lifts him up and puts him down on a bed. He feels the familiar warmth of his brother and hears Dagur’s steady heartbeat which always feels like a war drum calling out to the world that Dagur is ready to fight. Hiccup opens his eyes and sees the fiery red hair that he loves so. He tugs on his brother slightly and even in unconsciousness his brother knows just what to do. Dagur shifts and pulls him under his arm, curling over his torso and pressing his head to Hiccup’s neck. Protecting all his vital parts without putting too much weight on him. And so so warm. Hiccup nuzzles closer with a hum.

Chapter Text

Viggo watches the two brothers sleep wrapped up in each other, reminding him of the emblem that they had for their tribe. Hati and Sköll. Viggo clenches his fist and debates whether he wants to stay here or pay a little visit to their new captives. New test subjects. The screams that Hiccup had let out were heart-wrenching and made him want to go to war. He huffs, nails cutting into his palms with him snarling low. A hand comes to grip his shoulder. 

Ryker is growling right beside him. 

“They both have too many scars.”

Ryker rumbles, sounding ready to set the world ablaze. Viggo had not gotten a good look at Dagur’s scars, but he had seen so much of Hiccup’s that had been hidden by his layers. What kind of life had these children led to have skin with more lines than a world map? Hiccup looks like someone had thrown him down several jagged cliffs and tried to kick the life out of the kid. He had felt evidence of a badly healed broken rib while checking over the widespread bruises. Not to mention what he had noticed about Hiccup’s stump while pulling out the splinters and wrapping up the area. It showed obvious signs of being caused by dragon bite and that it had not been treated correctly afterward. 

He needs a list of all that had brought harm to his tiny allies, as many of those scars had been older than such a small child should have. And all of Hiccup’s attempts to cover his screams? It reeked of someone who knew that calling out for help would not result in help coming. That calling out for help would instead lead to more pain. The only person Hiccup had eventually called for was Dagur, reemphasizing the fact that the two brothers had no one else but each other.  He swallows thickly. 

“I know.”

He replies to his brother. He has no real solution. They only have the children's most recent tormentors. Who will be suffering dearly for the pain that they have inflicted…

Hiccup’s screams will likely haunt him for a while. He needs to replace the sound with screams of those who deserve to be screaming.

“I've been hoping to see the long-term impacts of Changwing venom being left to sit on exposed bone. And if there is a recovery for that sort of wound.”

He says offhandedly, mind whirling over all the little experimental things he wants to use to both torture and learn at the same time. It is not the first time that they had to punish those who impacted their tribe. But this feels so much more personal than anything they had felt in the past.

“I'll send a man to get you if they wake up. Go take a breath, Viggo.”

Ryker pushes him up and towards the door. Viggo blinks, realizing that he had been grinding his teeth. He needs to step out and do something. Normally his brother would be the one chomping at the bit to do something, but Viggo finds that he needs to take some sort of action. He gives a nod of thanks to his brother and steps out. 

--

Dagur wakes up slowly, head pounding like a Nadder is stamping on his skull over and over. He hisses and then finds that Hiccup is curled into him. He nuzzles Hiccup’s hair, instantly reassured by his brother’s presence. He runs his hands over his brother, swallowing down a snarl at his hand finds multiple bandages littering his brother’s torso. He pulls Hiccup closer and tangles their fingers. He then shifts so he can look around. 

Ryker sits beside the bed sharpening one of his blades. Dagur swallows as things slowly filter back. Seeing Hiccup bound and blindfolded and gagged and then when his own vision was returned, he saw Hiccup being yanked up by his brown hair. Then being knocked out. Viggo and Ryker must have saved them. 

“Did you pay?”

He has to ask. Has to know if they had been bought and if he has to search Hiccup for a slave brand. Ryker looks up at Dagur and their eyes meet in a shared understanding of his fear.

“No. Viggo laid a trap and we captured them. We are allies. We would never try to own you.”

Dagur relaxes and lets out a hiss as his head continues to pound. A mug of something steamy is held out to him by the man and Dagur takes it. He takes careful swallows of the strange liquid. It is thick and a little sour. He scrunches his nose. Ryker keeps sharpening.

“We had to dress both of your wounds.”

Dagur becomes aware of the bandages wrapped around his head and chest. He shifts back with his brother and growls loudly. 

“You touched Hiccup?!”

He pulls his brother closer, snarling. Hiccup grumbles a little in his sleep and nuzzles his chest.

“To dress his wounds and get the wood out of his stump.”

Ryker states calmly. Dagur’s eyes widen as he immediately looks down at his brother. 

“ Wood!?! ”

He hisses and yowls terrified. Ryker stands up and picks up Hiccup’s prosthetic from a nearby table. It is fractured in the wooden part and Dagur wants to scream. Instead, he starts rocking back and forth, clinging to his brother who is now in his lap as Dagur is sitting up. 

He failed.

He failed. 

He lets out a crackly sob and buries his face into Hiccup’s neck. He had promised to look out for his little brother and here Hiccup is, hurt by yet another person. He sobs harder as he rocks back and forth.

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Imsorry. Sorrysorrysorrysorry.”

His tongue swirls around the apologies, knowing that it is not enough. A hand comes to rest firmly on his shoulder.

“Dagur. Look at me.”

Dagurs head snaps up at the order from Ryker, teeth showing a little bit.

“You got your brother allies to help him. You did what you could against overwhelming numbers. Take a breath.”

Dagur whines and presses into Hiccup’s hair as he sobs, but he obediently breathes deeper. Hiccup stirs.

“Dagur?”

His brother whispers.
“Hiccup!! Hiccup! I'm sorry.”

He slips into heavy cries and Hiccup presses into him and shakily grabs his face. 

“No sorry. Not your fault.” 

Hiccup whispers eyes fluttering closed again. Dagur calms and finds himself lying back down. Ryker reaches out and rearranges the furs and Dagur peaks out at him as he wraps around his brother. He nuzzles into Hiccup, eyes growing heavy. He looks up at Ryker.

“Keep an eye out?”

“Of course kid. Get some rest. Hiccup and you will still be safe when you wake up.”

Chapter Text

The two boys had been in and out of it for a day. Viggo sits vigil when Ryker needs to sleep. Viggo is currently sitting at his desk, writing out some of his observations of the Changewing venom. He then feels eyes on him and looks up. Dark sapphire green eyes stare back. Dagur is awake, fingers petting down Hiccup’s hair. 

“Ryker said… That you captured the people that hurt Hiccup.”

Viggo can see the thirst for vengeance there. He puts his notes down and folds his hands into each other. Hiccup snoozes on, fingers clutching Dagur’s chest bandages.

“We did.”

Dagur pulls Hiccup closer, brushing hair out of the smaller’s face. 

“And… they won't hurt Hiccup again.”

“No. I don't suspect they will survive our ‘care’.”

Dagur relaxes.

“Good. Hiccup didn't deserve any of that.”

Dagur’s voice is a touch sad mixed with steely rage. Viggo nods.

“Agreed. He did not. And neither did you. I am sorry that it happened. And I promise they are paying for what they have done. I’ve expressed my displeasure to their chief and the Spiteful Scufflers’ chief has promised up and down that they were acting independently, but I am suspicious.”

Viggo states evenly. Dagur lets out a soft sigh and adjusts to be sitting up in the bed and leaning his back against the wall. Hiccup is carefully, oh so carefully, readjusting him into his lap and pulling the furs close again.

“Do you need any more furs Dagur?”

Dagur considers it for a moment and then nods. Viggo rises and sends off one of his men that is outside to grab a few more furs and pillows which he piles on the bed with the boys. He keeps his distance as much as possible, mind still recalling how terrified HIccup had been of being touched for help. Dagur is likely the same way. 

The redhead sorts the pillows and blankets around them like a birds nest. Pulling and tugging and tucking. Viggo watches as Hiccup shifts and curls around Dagur and Dagu begins to run his fingers through Hiccup’s hair. The boy begins to unbraid and rebraid Hiccup’s hair.

“I- Thanks.”

Dagur’s cheeks flush red and the boy does not look at Viggo. Viggo sighs and goes back to looking at his papers. 

“No need for thanks. We are allies after all.”

Dagur gives a loud swallow and then he whispers into the near-silent room.

“Still… You actually followed through. Not everyone does that.”

Viggo forces down a snarl at the reminder that whoever was supposed to be caring for these two had failed horribly and caused them not to trust. He takes a self-soothing breath.

“The Acumens always keep our word and the Grimborns doubly so. We will come if you need us.”

Dagur looks at him silently, judging and evaluating. The boy seems to find his response acceptable and gives a nod. 

“Alright.”

Dagur looks back down at Hiccup and keeps working on the smaller boys hair in silence. 

--

Hiccup chews on the barley biscuit, sucking on the yak butter and honey that soaks the fluffy bread. He had awoken wrapped up in blankets and his brother. He had been informed that two days had passed since the kidnapping. 

Hiccup licks at his fingers and giggles and Viggo’s nose scrunchs in slight disgust.

“Your manners could use a little work.”

Viggo says with a slight head tilt. But there is a teasing edge to his tone. Hiccup licks his thumb with a challenging smirk, earning a snicker from Dagur who is currently curled across Hiccup’s lap. Viggo rolls his eyes and Ryker laughs.

“Aw let the kid enjoy his food, brother.”

Ryker chimes in. Hiccup gives a happy smile as he is passed another barley biscuit to devour. He chews it and sucks on the bread, enjoying the flavors that swirl across his tongue. Viggo shakes his head, leaning back slightly.

“Fine.”

The Viggo tilts his head and looks over the two of them.

“How old are you two?”

The man asks and Hiccup blinks as he chews. Dagur makes a noise of consideration.

“Well… I guess since Einmánuður passed already… I'm about 17 and Hiccup is 14 winters. Right?”

Dagur looks up to Hiccup and Hiccup takes a moment.

“Yeah. that sounds right. You’re ancient Dagur!”

Hiccup teases and Dagur huffs, but does not retaliate. His brother is very worried by his injuries. Hiccup understands. His sides still ache a little and his stump has pangs that remind him that there had been big wooden splinters jammed up inside of it. Hiccup finds himself worried over the numerous bandages that are wrapped tight around Dagur’s skin. He runs a hand across his brother’s side and Dagur hums contently. 

They would have to leave soon. To get back to their island and to keep their normal rhythm. But it is a little bit nice spending so much time around the friendly Grimborns, despite the circumstances that lead to this time. Hiccup finishes eating, finding himself sliding into silence as Dagur, Ryker, and Viggo talk around him. 

He would need to make a new prosthetic. Sure he had his spare back on the ship, but it is never a good idea to go too long without a spare around. Plus this is a chance to test out that prosthetic he has been flipping around inside of his head for the last three weeks. He closes his eyes, thinking through the design again, fingers flexing slightly against his brother’s side. Dagur makes a low inquisitive noise. 

Hiccup responds with a calm little chirp, not wanting to take his mind off of his design. Dagur hums but does not push him for any more of a response. Hiccup finds himself starting to drift. He yawns a little and settles a little further against the wood behind him. His hand is shifted from Dagur’s side to be wound in hand. The size is familiar and the warmth is doubly so. Dagur. Hiccup flexes his fingers for a moment and tightens around it. The callouses are familiar and bring a warm sort of peace to Hiccup’s mind. Everything will be fine as long as he can reach his brother’s hands and feel it firmly holding onto him in return.

Chapter Text

Dagur smiles as Hiccup clambers down the tree that his brother had been sitting in for the last hour and follows him to the shore. His brother gives a perfect replica of a birds chirp and Dagur whistles back as the go down to the beach to search the sands for washed-up treasure before checking their nets for fish and items. A lot of metals wash up on their shores, and occasionally something of interest to Hiccup or Dagur. They had a few ancient swords and axes that they had found tucked away in a cave not too far from their own.

Hiccup moves easily showing no long-lasting impact of the injuries he had sustained two weeks ago. And Hiccup seems to have mentally recovered to… But Dagur is wary of letting his brother out of his sight right now. He does not want to lose him or see him injured. 

They pace the shore and gather interesting trinkets into the bags they both carry around. Dagur chatters and Hiccup responds, getting Dagur to crack into wild laughter. Then Hiccup's eyes go wide and Dagur is yanked down to the sand. Dagur looks over to Hiccup whose eyes are wide.

“Ship.”

His brother whispers, index pointing out to the ocean. Dagur looks out and sees a ship innocently passing by their island. Hopefully, no one saw them and the rocks will keep them from coming close. They crawl back into the underbrush and the two of them watch as the ship sails by. It has the mark of the Hysterics. Dagur hears Hiccup swallow thickly. Dagur grips Hiccup's should and turns him to face him as a thought crashes into him

“Hiccup. I need you to promise me something. If anyone comes onto our island, you need to take them out. No one can know we live here.”

Hiccup’s eyes go wide, terror there.

“D-dagur, I can't-”

“You can lead them into my traps or back to me or something, but I need your word that you won't let anyone leave this island knowing that we live here.”

Hiccup slowly nods, shaking. Dagur hates the idea of blood getting on his little brother’s hands. He hopes that Hiccup uses the traps or leads them to him over trying to kill anyone himself. Hiccup then tugs on his arm.

“I want to go home.”

Dagur nods.

“Yeah, probably a good idea to stick towards that part of the island. Lets go.”

They cross the island back to their cave home that is almost at the center. Their little island is covered in trees and a few places were fresh water springs from the earth and trickles across its surface. There are other caves sprinkled throughout the island, some more hidden than others and most they had explored or had marked on a map that it needed to be explored. 

Hiccup disappears into his forge and Dagur flinches a little at Hiccup not even looking at him before vanishing into the workspace. He had really freaked his brother out. But it was a promise he had to make Hiccup swear to. The potential dangers out weighed the hurt he did. But it does not make the pain of hurting his brother any less. He would need to make a really really good meal tonight. 

--

Hiccup cries into the forge fires. He does not want to have to kill anyone. He ends up curled beside the fires, hands too shaky to even try. He is not a warrior. Not a fighter. He makes things. He cries harder. Dagur is going to be disappointed in him when he fails and makes them both unsafe due to Hiccup's weakness. But Hiccup is not a real Viking. He is not. 

He sucks in deep deep breaths. His eyes squeeze closed. His mark tingles a little, comforting him against the pain. His brother did not mean to hurt him. But he does hurt and he hates himself a little for it. He closes his eyes and breathes in deeply the smell of burning and metal. He slowly opens his eyes and stares blankly into the distance.

--

Ryker cuts through another practice dummy rage simmering through his veins. He hates that they had to let the two Bloodwrath brothers sail off on their own after they were able to move. He pulls his sword back out and spins it slowly, growling and snarling like a beast. Those two are not going back to any adults. He knows that they are not. He had been around them enough times to have heard them mention someone else if someone else was in fact part of their lives. 

He really hopes none of those wounds get infected and kill those two. He pulls out another dummy, slashes violently across it, and spins his sword angrily before stabbing it again.

“Brother dear, I do hope you will tell me what that dummy said to you so that I might avoid the same fate.”

Viggo teases from behind and Ryker huffs. 

“Dummys don't talk.”

He rolls his eyes but sheaths his swords. 

“I know.”

Viggo rolls his eyes in reply to him. 

“I just… I don't like the thought of those boys on their own after that kidnapping.”

He punches the dummy, knocking its head clean off. A hand touches his shoulder and he relaxes. His brother knows him better than anyone else.

“We cannot press them. We have their trust. But that can be lost.”

Viggo responds. Ryker sighs slowly and looks to his brother.

“I understand. I don't like it. But I understand.” 

He shakes his head. He runs a hand over his head and puffs out air.

“Do you need something, Viggo?

 “I just wanted to ask you for your opinion on a contract.”

His brother never needed him to look at contracts. It was his brother's way of asking for company. He shoves the dummy into its storage and immediately follows his brother out of the training area. And after a moment of hesitation, he pats his brother’s back and sees some of the tension there fade away.

Chapter Text

Hiccup giggles as he rides on his brother’s back. They had talked a few times about things and then had set the whole matter of having to kill trespassers to the side. Right now they are just here to enjoy the Market. Hiccup spots Viggo and his brother and pushes off of Dagur. He grabs his brother’s hand and tugs him.

“VIGGO!! RYKER!!”

Hiccup calls, waving with his free hand. Viggo turns and smiles. He sees a flicker of relief in Viggo’s eyes. Ryker also looks relieved, giving a bit of a smile to both boys. 

“Good to see you in high spirits my dear. I take it that Dagur successfully took care of your wounds?”

Hiccup feels Dagur puff up in pride beside him. He grins.

“Yes, because Dagur is the best brother!”

Hiccup leans into his brother, sing-songing slightly while holding his brother’s hand tight.  Hiccup then swallows, looking down as he makes his request. 

“I was… I was hoping to see more dragons, to help with my fear?”

He looks up and Viggo is already nodding.

“But of course. The offer will always stand. Would you like to do that this afternoon?”

Hiccup glances at Dagur who nods.

“Yes, please.”

Hiccup says.

“Then we will see you this afternoon down at the docks.”
“I'll give you your book copies then too so neither of us has to carry them far.”

Hiccup states with a bright smile and Viggo bends his head slightly. 

“The perfect plan. See you this afternoon, Hiccup. Dagur.”

Viggo gives his brother a head nod and they all go their separate ways. Hiccup bounces a little. This time he would try listening instead of watching the exploding flames. He wonders how different it would be from listening to the sounds of his forge warming up. 

When they arrive at the dragon cages, Hiccup has Dagur tie the blindfold. While he trusts the Grimborns more than before they had treated their wounds, he still hesitates with some things. Dagur does not tie it too tight and grabs his hand and gives a gentle squeeze. 

Hiccup clings to his brother’s hand and takes a breath. He hears the dragon’s roar and then fire. He flinches and gets another hand squeeze.

He is fine. He is safe. He is not on Berk. 

Hiccup moves his tongue around his mouth, wondering if he could make that noise like how he had within birds. Focusing on that thought distracts him from any fear that he has. He moves his tongue as he listens closely, hearing different dragons as they slowly walk forward. He hears hisses, barks, and whines. The sound of a dragon prepping to fire, the whistle of flames escaping, and the crackle and snap of a maw closing around the tail end of the flame and capturing some of the smoke. Shakily he lifts his free hand and pushes up on the blindfold.

Hiccup stares directly at a pure white dragon that has sharp jagged claws meant for ice. It looks like Gothi’s stories about the Snow Wraiths that lived on ice-covered islands semi-distant from Berk. He stares into the blue eyes and is a bit surprised to see both anger and hopeless desperation. The creature takes in a sharp breath, the air filling with a strange crackling. It fires, but the chain keeps it far enough from the bars that there is no danger. Ice explodes against metal, a cold wave of air traveling further than the deadly projectile. Hiccup takes a small breath as the creature roars and flares its wings. The roar sounds like ice breaking and the crashing of a blizzard against the side of a house. He swallows but does not shake or crumble in fear. 

His eyes sweep around, slowly feeling more sure. He can handle it. Yes, he is still scared. Only a fool would not be scared given how small and weak he is compared to these creatures. But he is no longer breaking. His mind is staying with him. He takes another deep breath and looks up at his brother. Dagur gives him a grin and Hiccup smiles warmly back. 

--

Dagur slowly blinks awake on their boat. Hiccup is sitting up next to him making little noises. Little noises that sound like growls. Then Hiccup messages his neck and bends his head slightly while taking a deep breath. And then his brother sounds demonic, letting loose a roar that has Dagur flinching back, primal instincts clawing at him to grab a weapon. 

Hiccup coughs, licks his mouth, and rubs his neck.

“Horrifying.”

Dagur says, awe filling his tone. Hiccup jerks slightly and then flushes.

“Did I wake you?”

His little brother asks and Dagur shakes his head.

“No. How are you doing that? It sounds like a dragon was in the room with us!”

Hiccup gives a tiny grin. 

“Sort of like the bird calls. It's all in how you hold your mouth. I haven't been able to make a specific roar. I would need to spend more time around dragons for that. But here-”

Hiccup starts walking Dagur through the steps of warming up his vocal cords and then how to hold his tongue and push the air out to make a roar. It takes a few tries before he startles himself with a half-decent replica of a noise. He cackles in glee after a half second of shock. Hiccup giggles and grins as Dagur redoes the small roar. 

Hiccup nussles his chest and Dagur grins happily. 

“This is amazing Hiccup.”

“Thanks.”

Hiccup chirps back, hugging him. Dagur then hears his brother’s stomach rumble.

“Come on, let's get into the market. The food stalls are probably already open. And then we can set up our stall to sell stuff.”

“Sounds good. Honey-covered oat cakes?”

Hiccup asks hopefully and Dagur grins brightly. 

“Of course. Only the best for my little draconic brother.”

Hiccup snorts.

“I'm not a dragon. I don't wreck villages and starve Vikings.”

“True. But that's only because I appease you with offerings of oatcakes covered in golden honey to sate your bloodlust.”

Dagur chirps back, teasing. He is glad to see his brother smile. Hiccup laughs and shoves him.

“Don't let the Acumens know, it might break the alliance for you to be carting a big fierce dragon like me around.”

Hiccup puffs up like it made any difference and Dagur obediently fakes fear.

“Oh!!~ The horrifying Hiccup Bloodwrath!~ Known for its scalding tongue and evil wit. Spare my family, oh scaly one.”

Hiccup lets out a playful growl and then tackles him off the bed, causing them to roll on the floor as they play fight and laugh.

Chapter Text

Viggo is quite pleased with the copies he had received and he had put them into his tribe's library, collecting a few requests from his tribe to have specific books copied, all of which he passed to Hiccup. Hiccup had been ecstatic at the opportunity to see more unique books and promised to do his best to print them all despite the growing number of books he has been asked to print. 

Viggo is currently walking around the market, knowing that the two boys need their space to sell their goods but also knowing that they will meet up with the two this afternoon. He finds himself looking at a foreign board game and considering buying it just to challenge Hiccup.

“I hate that they are alone.”

Viggo startles a little at his brother’s words but knows immediately who he is speaking about. 

“Well, they do have allies now.”

He thinks of the 14-year-old Hiccup and 18-year-old Dagur. He had thought that Hiccup was much younger based on his stature and thinness. Finding out his true age had been a bit of a curse that made him think over the two far more often. 

“Allies that we have no idea where their home island is.”

Ryker snipes back. Viggo makes the purchase, trying not to show how much those words bothered him. 

“They do not know where our island is.”

He debates back and Ryker gives a satisfied smile that makes Viggo feel like he has stepped into a trap. 

“Then let's invite them. It would be good for showing Hiccup how much we use his inventions and give me a chance to convince Dagur to take up swords instead of that ax.”

Viggo frowns and scrunches his nose.

“And this has nothing to do with wanting to adopt them in some way?”

He accuses. Ryker shrugs.

“I think they would fit right in with the Acumens and if you're not going to provide an heir the more traditional way… the other tradition suits me just fine.”

Viggo huffs, trying not to feel the silly sting at the idea of his brother adopting the two on his own and therefore having a closer tie to them than himself.

“I don't think you should do that. It might scare them off.”

He argued, feeling heat stir in his stomach. Ryker shrugs.

“At least I'm willing to try brother. You're too scared to do anything.”

Viggo growls.

“Do not presume to know my thoughts.”

Ryker rolls his eyes.

“Of course not. One as stupid as me could not possibly realize that deep down you love the idea of the two of them running around our home. With Hiccup inventing at the forge and showing everything off to our tribe. Or Dagur laughing as he beats yet another person in combat before coming in for the night. You certainly are not enamored with the idea of each evening coming home to a full house and dinners with the two as you play strategy games with Hiccup and Dagur and I jeer and cheer from the sidelines. Or the thought you might want the numerous inventions that would surely help our tribe or the fierce fighting spirit that would lead people to victory if those two came home with us. That would be foolish to think.”

Viggo clenches his fist and grits his teeth. 

“Shut up.”

The thoughts were too tantalizing and he did not want to fall into his brother's trap and then scare off the two Bloodwrathers.

“Fine. But I'm not going to stop thinking about adopting two new brothers, whether or not you agree with me.”

The problem is Viggo might just agree with him. But now is not the time. At least that is what he must tell himself to keep himself from doing anything foolish.

“We can invite them. But don't go gifting any statues of Freya.”

He threatens. Those boys knew nothing of the Acumen's traditions and thus could be tricked into being adopted. If they were given a statue of Freya and held onto it for a week while other presents were presented, they would belong with the Grimborns, no going back. The only way to annul an Acumen adoption was to kill the adopter. And Viggo senses that if Dagur felt like they were a threat to Hiccup's happiness, they would be very dead. 

Given their tribe's wealth, power, and fame, Acumens’ adoptions were pretty widespread in who recognized and respected them. It would be more foolish to not respect them, as that would lead to a vicious bloody war. It had a few times in their history with the Grimborns' great great great grandmothers being one of the people adopted and fought over. 

He shakes off his thoughts as he sees Rykers far too-pleased smile and swears to himself to keep a close eye on his brother for handing away little statues. 

They meet up with Hiccup and Dagur down by the food stalls and fight rings. Hiccup and Dagur are currently in one of the rings. The smaller has a sort of ornate shield, clearly made of Gronckle iron. Dagur has a crossbow that looks like it has a few extra features tucked here and there. 

The bolts ping off of Hiccup's shield, clattering harmlessly down to the ground as the smaller raises it up and rolls around.

“Good! But you're leaving your right open Hiccup!”

Dagur calls out while continuing to shoot. Hiccup shifts his stance just a bit and then bounces the bolt of his shield in such a way it pings back at Dagur who is forced to jump away with a mad cackle. Ryker lets out a noise of appreciation and the two boys look over with matching grins. 

“Hey Ryker! Can you try hitting my shield with one of your swords? I think I refined the iron enough but I want to know for sure!”

Hiccup calls and Viggo is surprised to see Dagur nodding eagerly. Well… perhaps he should not be surprised. Dagur always supported his brother's inventive spirit. Ryker gives his assent and hops into the ring to do as the smaller asked. Dagur trots over towards Viggo and leans on the fence as he watches. Hiccup’s shield not only blocks the sword but also causes the sword to bounce back.

“Oh, fascinating.”

Viggo whispers as he leans against the fence. Dagur snorts.

“When is Hiccup not fascinating?”

Viggo hums and rests his chin in his palm.

“Truth.”

He replies as Ryker and Hiccup continue to circle each other and test out a few things with the shield.

Chapter Text

Hiccup bounces on his feet as Viggo inspects the crossbow element of his shield. 

“This is very clean work Hiccup. What other secrets does it have?”

“A few hidden knives and a grappling hook. And some stuff for me to know and foes to find out.”

He chirps, a whistle sliding across his words as he smiles. In the four weekly meet-ups since the end of winter, neither of the Grimborns had said about the brothers’ tendency to chirp and sound like birds. Hiccup re-collapses his shield and hooks it back over his shoulder with a grin. He looks over to Dagur who is currently grappling with Ryker in the ring. Hiccup gives a two-tone whistle and his brother immediately breaks off the fight.

“Yeah?”

“Food!”

Hiccup bounces on his feet with a bright hopeful smile. Dagur nods in agreement. 

“Perhaps you would be willing to come have dinner with us? Ryker and I were hoping to ask you both something, my dears.”

Dagur stiffens a bit and Hiccup pats his arm, right on the arm bracer that hid a knife. His older brother immediately relaxes and smiles. 

“Sure. But it has to be something tasty.”

Dagur scrunches his nose with a grin. 

“I've been informed that my stews are good. I have some made already.”

Ryker says with a proud head tilt that has Hiccup smiling. 

“Okay.”

Hiccup accepts after a quick glance to Dagur to confirm. They start walking towards the ships and Hiccup tugs gently on his brother’s arm. Dagur picks him up without Hiccup having to vocalize what he wants. Hiccup smiles happily as his aching stump is given a break from his prosthetic. 

They walk onto the ship and are soon sitting at the table with the Grimborns eating stew. Hiccup finds that it tastes very good and has to stop himself from simply sucking on the meat to hold the flavor longer in his mouth. He feels a little like an animal as he has to focus on using utensils. Dagur’s food is good. Really really good. But it was nice to try something new. And it seems that Ryker has access to flavors that they just do not have back on Áræði. He finds it harder and harder to maintain conversation as all he really wants to do is just devour and savor the meal. But he tries. For the sake of decorum and maintaining an alliance.

“Would you be willing to visit our home island?”

Hiccup freezes, spoon in mouth. The stew slushes around as his mind twirls over the thought, mind brought out of its reverence for the food.

Go to the Acumens’ island?? It is… well he is not against the idea. But he is not fully for it. It is something he can see going horribly wrong as much as he enjoys the two’s company. There is no guarantee that their whole tribe will be as friendly.  He is terrified of getting cornered and hurt like he had with Snotlout and the twins. Even with Dagur there the two of them against a whole dragon-hunting tribe??

“No.”

Dagur’s voice is firm and gives Hiccup something to latch onto and ground himself with. Viggo and Ryker look a little disappointed. 

“Why not?”

Ryker asks bluntly and Viggo gives him a strong look. Dagur huffs and pushes away his bowl. Hiccup feels bad for the soup. It is too good to get rejected so casually. Dagur could have kept it close… Okay yeah, he should not have skipped lunch in favor of working on drawings and then lied to Dagur about it. Hunger is making him a little crazed.

“Because. You might be our allies, but that doesn't mean we trust you entirely.”

Hiccup reaches out and touches Dagur.

“Maybe let's say it’s a not yet. We don't… I don't- It’s hard to trust with an alliance still so fresh. And while I am thankful that you saved us before and that does mean we trust you enough to come onto your ships and dine with you in seclusion, going to an island that you know better than Njord knows the sea while we know nothing about it is very…”

Hiccup sighs and puts the spoon in his bowl as he trails off. Viggo takes a breath.

“Then we will just have to keep working at it. The invitation to visit is always open, even if you do not sail in with us. Our whole tribe knows your emblem is welcome on our shores.”

Hiccup blinks at the invitation a little overwhelmed by it. Viggo then goes and grabs a map, pointing out where the Acumen’s island was in comparison to the Northern Markets. 

Hiccup pulls out his notebook and quickly makes a rough sketch of the islands location asking for what other directions they might need to arrive at the correct side of their island. Viggo gives the extra details with specific warnings against the east side of the island due to the sharp jagged rocks. Dagur asks about currents and if any tidal class dragons were common there, with Hiccup jotting down the information just in case. It felt sort of nice that the information is so freely given.

“That's not Norse. I've noticed that a lot of your designs have this script on it.”

Viggo taps the notebook. Hiccup hums.

“It’s our tribe's script. We are not allowed to teach you what it means.”

Hiccup says a little more firmly than he had initially meant to. Viggo gives a nod.

“I understand. My tribe has many of its own secrets we are not allowed to share with outsiders.”

Hiccup relaxes with a soft smile. It is nice that they are not being pressured one way or another. He appreciates that about the Grimborns. They are often given so much space by these adults who had helped them and allied themselves with his brother and him. 

He lets out a happy chirp as he finishes his drawing and notes. Dagur checks it over and nods in agreement that all the information is there. They spend the rest of the evening talking, playing Maces and Talons, and eating. Hiccup enjoys the time and smiles quite a bit.

Chapter Text

Viggo smiles as Hiccup moves another piece and skillfully avoids his trap in the game. The sound of the Northern Market surrounds them and it is highly relaxing. He scans the board, leaning forward to rest his chin in the palm of his hand. Hiccup gives a sly confident smile, a silent dare to beat him. Viggo raises an eyebrow and rescans the board. Hiccup had a trap somewhere, he is sure. He is just unsure where it is. He ponders the board. Dagur leans over to drape over Hiccup and pokes his brother.

“You've got him on the ropes.”

Hiccup snorts.

“Hardly. He has a good three pieces more than me.”

Hiccup’s words are true but that sly smile is still right there and Viggo knows there is something else going on with the board. Ryker hums.

“That's true, but numbers are not always anything. Or at least that’s what Viggo says.”

Viggo hums, flicking his eyes to Ryker, and gives a teasing smile.

“Oh, dear brother, please do not give our enemies my trade secrets.”

Hiccup laughs loud and clear, and Viggo likes the noise. It came more and more often and Viggo likes the smile that signals that Hiccup is happy and safe. He would like to hear it more consistently and can see why Dagur always looks so much softer when Hiccup giggles. Hiccup then speaks with a toothy grin

“As if I couldn't figure out your secrets on my own. I see you oft-”

Then Dagur and Hiccup duck down, hunching their shoulders and eyes going wider than rabbits stuck in a trap. Dagur takes his ax off of his back and his knuckles white as he clenches it. Hiccup is pressed into Dagur’s side, a low whimper slipping out. Ryker is immediately on alert and Viggo’s eyes snap around. But nothing has changed around them. Nothing obvious to the Grimborns. Hiccup and Dagur flinch as one and duck ever lower, now under the table out of view. Viggo leans down as his brother falls into a battle-ready position.

“Where is the threat?”

He asks the two boys. Hiccup’s mouth moves, but no sound comes out. His emerald green eyes swell with tears and he hides his face against Dagur. Dagur growls low, sounding exactly like a downed dragon, but his words slip out in a whisper.

“There is a man… here. He can't see Hiccup or me.” 

Viggo slowly nods. Someone from their past. Someone who had hurt them. The way these two boys acted left much to be desired when trying to figure out their background. Flinching away from people, covering up cries for help or of pain, and hyper-defensiveness. 

“Alright. Can you give me a description? We will help. We are your allies.”

Dagur’s eyes flick out to look at the crowd. There is terror there. Unbridled terror that has Viggo wanting to snarl long and low. He keeps the noise to himself, feeling that it would not help Hiccup who is shaking like a leaf. Hiccup’s voice whispers out softly.

“You won't… you wont let us be taken will you?”

Hiccup peaks out with desperation that makes Viggo feel a sudden urge to wrap up the two in furs and tuck them away from the harsh evil of the world. 

“Of course not, my dear. Let us help.”

Hiccup presses more into Dagur, whispering softly. Dagur takes a deep breath. 

“Only cause you're our allies. And you've helped before.” Dagur squeezes Hiccup as he begins to give a description. “He is a bit shorter than Ryker, but just as bulky. His hair and beard are long and red. He goes by the name Oswald the Agreeable. But don't let that fool you. He- he…”

Dagur’s eyes are wet. But the boy continues as he shakes, whisper slipping out.

“He's a Berserker. And a chief.”

 How had these boys gotten such a negative relationship with a chief? Unless… ah. Runaway heirs? Perhaps. 

Viggo had vaguely heard of the Berserkers. A tribe from the Barbaric archipelago, a geologic region to the south that he had little reason to journey to given the distance and that wall of near-constant storms. He frowns deeply mulling over the information for a moment before standing and speaking to his brother, giving a description of the man and a name. Ryker looks ready to hunt the man through the crowd, but Viggo grabs his brother’s arm.

“First we get the boys to safety. Then we get him banned from the market. Without being banned ourselves .”

He warns his brother Ryker shrugs off his hand and snarls. But then settles. 

“Fine. I'll grab some cloaks and they can come to our ship. So we can watch them.”

He snarls stomping off, clearly wanting a fight. Viggo wants a fight too. But unprovoked would mean that Rune might ban or financially penalize them or their tribe given that they are the leaders. 

Viggo keeps an eye out as his brother goes, hearing the two boys shift slightly under the table. Ryker comes back with cloaks and Viggo has half a plan formed within his mind. He passes the cloaks to the two boys. 

“You go back to the ship with Ryker. I am going to go speak to Rune.”

Dagur snags his arm before Viggo can move.

“It's not worth him knowing we are here. Oswald cannot know that we are here.”

Desperation rings out. More fear than Viggo had ever seen on the older Bloodwrather. 

“I don't plan on him knowing.” 

Dagur nods and slips on the cloak. He slips the other over Hiccup who seems to have been frozen. Hiccup curls into Dagur’s arm and the older boy hoists Hiccup up. They start off with Ryker and Viggo goes to go talk to Rune about getting Oswald banned from the market. It is bad for business to have someone who scared off one of the best sellers and who might lead those sellers to not return to the market. He cannot imagine the Market without the Bloodwrath brothers.

Chapter Text

Dagur is quickly following Ryker, holding his brother as his eyes peek out to sweep around the crowds. He hates the fact that his father is here. Was the man looking for Hiccup? Dagur knows that his ex-father is not looking for him. His father would have been glad the day that he left. 

He is so distracted by trying to be quick, running a soothing hand up and down his brother’s back, and trying to scan the crowd, that he does not do a good enough job watching where he is going. So when his eyes catch sight of Oswald in the crowd, the man’s own eyes scanning around, he trips and rolls on the ground, shifting so that he takes the brunt of the force as he rolls on the ground so that Hiccup is not hurt. His hood is knocked astray and his heartbeat screams in his ears.

“I heard from Trader Johan that you might be here but I did not want to believe it. But I had to check if only to return the Hiccup to his proper place as an heir at his home.”

Oswald growls, standing over the fallen teens. Dagur gets up and shifts Hiccup to be behind him, into Ryker’s arms, trusting the man. Dagur draws his ax and snarls back, dipping down into the dragon noises that he and Hiccup had been practicing. 

“Then you should not have come. Take your stupid quests to the south rather than to the north.”

Dagur spins his ax, quite ready to slice the man through, voice laden with a growl. He hears a small dragon screech behind him and knows that it was Hiccup. The sound had a faint tremor in it, showing his brother’s fear. Dagur strikes out first and is blocked just as quickly. He keeps the battle from shifting to a position where Oswald could touch Hiccup. The adult looks rageful and Dagur is doing his best to try and land a killing blow. The man adeptly blocks his blows. 

“How dare you steal an heir from an ally! Do you not think?!”

Oswald snarls sword clanging against Dagur’s ax. Dagur snarls back.

“I stole nothing that they would miss! No one wanted him but me! He’s mine ! My brother !”

Dagur howls in reply, hating that the words are true but knowing that they had to be said. Vaguely he hears Ryker snarl and Hiccup screech again. The crowd forms a circle around them, jeering unhappily at Oswald. Both combatants ignore the crowd's noises. 

“You almost brought our tribes to war with your carelessness!!”

“YOUR TRIBES!! NOT MINE ! NOT HIS !! I am a BLOODWRATHER AND! SO! IS! HE!!!!”

He howls and screams as he fights the man whom he had longed to be loved by. Who even now did not care that he had found Dagur alive and well but was instead focused on the “trouble” Dagur caused. Dagur hates him all the more. He would see him destroyed. 

But Oswald is a skilled fighter and both of them have Berserker blood pounding in their veins. Dagur goes berserk first, pairing his ax with a knife as he turns more rabid with his fighting, managing to cut a long thin wound across his would-be father’s arm. He snaps and snarls as the knife and ax are knocked away and he draws another two knives from his boots. He does his best to block the sword that is cutting like lightning through the air in movements he recalls training Hiccup in, but it gets through his defense which is muddled by his berserk state of mind. Hiccup’s armor saves his life and gives him a chance to keep fighting as Oswald's sword bounces off what looks to outsiders to be a cloth vest.

This drives Oswald into his own berserk state, with the man screeching and cursing. The sword moves faster than lightning, faster than wind. It slices across Dagur’s right cheek and bloodies his left hand. Dagur howls in reply and tackles the man, the two now fighting with fists and nails as they roll on the ground and scream. Blood sinks into the dirt, turning it into mud. It comes to look much like a battlefield, and perhaps if it were not in the streets of a market, the blood would have brought forth blooming flowers in a season's time. 

But for now, the muddy dirt cakes the combatants and Dagur feels none of the pain that he should as his heartbeat screams in his ears. Then his head is slammed, once, twice, thrice into the dirt, and his own knife, that first gift from Hiccup, is pressed to his throat while Oswald sits on his back, keeping him down. 

“You were always too taken with that runt. I should have known it would cause problems.”

Dagur squirms and growls and his braid is yanked. He feels the knife move to his hair and knows what his ex-father is about to do, and feels chills spiral up through his core before a horribly loud roar rends the air and Oswald is looking for a dragon. Dagur kicks his way free, but only manages to roll a little bit away before collapsing. Something is pressed into his arms and he blinks to find that it is Hiccup, pointing a bolt out of his shield's crossbow with a snarl. And in front of them both is Ryker, a sword in each hand.

“I think the kid has made it extremely clear that he is no longer your concern and neither is his little brother.”

Ryker’s voice is like a balm to his nerves. He would have been pissed if the man had stepped in at first, but now, Dagur is just grateful. His breath slowly evens out from the harsh pants that it had become.

“And you are?”

“His tribe's ally.”

Ryker states before engaging Oswald in a fight. His two Gronckle blades clang while slamming into Oswald’s own blade. The fight looks like a dance, with Oswald losing ground even as his blows retained their strong fury. Ryker snarls and jabs, drawing more blood from the man whose eyes are red with fury. 

Dagur pulls Hiccup closer, pressing his brother to his chest. Hiccup makes a soft worried noise and Dagur nuzzles his hair as he watches the fight with shaky breaths.

Chapter Text

Ryker is fighting to kill. He hates this man more than he has hated anything else. Even more than that dragon who had sliced open his brother’s neck. Because this man had hurt these two children in a place where scars do not bloom across the skin. The mind. And he is not convinced that the scars that do decorate both brothers’ skin are not from this man too. So he fights with all his strength and skill, reveling in drawing blood and angering the man into nonsensical cursing while his own mouth spat vitriol and hate. 

“RYKER!”

The only voice that could stay his hand rings out from the crowd that kept the combatants from tearing apart the market. Viggo has returned with Rune and a handful of guards that keep the peace at the markets.  Men step between him and Oswald, shields up. Oswald still tries to fight for a moment longer with animalistic screeching before taking several deep breaths and pointing his sword down.  There still seems to be something wild in the man’s eyes and Ryker refuses to look away even as his brother draws to his side.

“I must ask why everyone present thought that the streets of my market were the proper place for a duel? I do have rings set up for this you know.”

Rune’s voice is full of false friendliness, narrow eyes mostly looking at Oswald, who really is the odd man out. Everyone in these parts knew the Bloodwrath brothers and the Grimborns and their character. Oswald had no friends in this crowd, as attested to by the sneers and frowns. Surprisingly it is not Oswald that speaks but Dagur. The poor kid’s voice is shaky and breaking, but strong enough to carry. 

“He was trying to take my brother away and kill me.”

Oswald’s lack of denial makes the crowd’s displeasure grow louder. Ryker shifts on his feet, ready to slice apart the man.

“Hiccup belongs back with his tribe, not playing house with you out in the wilds. And I need to make sure that you do not try to come back and disrupt succession. The gods only know how you would lead the tribe to ruin with your flights of fancy and broken mind.”

Ryker snaps and tries to rush forward, stopped only by his little brother’s hand on his chest.

“If a fight is what you would like… whatever your name is, then you should have done it properly. How about this, as the Bloodwrather’s allies, we formally challenge you to a fight to the death in the ring. If you win, you get your life, and the decisions that you wish to attempt after that are up to you, with no step in from the Acumens. But if you lose, you forfeit your life.”

Viggo sounds calm. A calm Viggo is a deadly Viggo. His brother has a plan. 

“And why would I take that deal when I could just go about my business anyway?”

Oswald asks, wildness dripping from each word. Ryker bares his teeth and shifts backwards to be closer to the two brothers.

“I will have my guards kill you and that would be the end of this mess. I'm half tempted to do that anyways and save myself the hassle of having to get rid of a corpse from the middle of the island rather than the edge.”

Rune says, arms crossing and guards snarling. Ryker does not particularly care how the man dies, but a public humiliation by his own hand would be a more satisfying way to end the man's life than a group of guards running him through.  

“Fine.”

Oswald snaps. Viggo grins.

“Lovely. Ring four in, oh, let's say two hours. That will give all parties involved a chance to choose weapons, a champion, and a little rest. I do hope you know your way to the rings… whoever you are.”

The man frowns and straightens his back.

“Oswald, Chief of the Berserkers.”

“Ah, I'm Viggo Grimborn, Chief of the Acumens. I would say I'm pleased to meet you, but lying is not great for business.”

Ryker grins savagely at Oswald's little confused eye twitch. Viggo then turns and the guards form a thicker barrier between them and Oswald. Ryker half turns, watching till Oswald is going, and then turns full to watch his brother kneeling in front of the two brothers.  Hiccup has recollapsed his shield and is crying silently into his brother's chest. Dagur is sluggishly bleeding from many wounds and is shaking slightly, eyes wide and glazed. The kid looks like he is somewhere else.

Part of Dagur's hair hangs loose, having been partially cut from the braid. Dagur's hand slowly raises and touches the cut strands and one tear slips out. Viggo is softly speaking to both, but neither brother seems to hear. Ryker looks about and sees the oatcake seller hovering nearby. He walks to them and asks them to bring over some of their food, promising to pay. The oatcake salesperson gets a firm look on their face as they rush away. They come back with a ton of oatcakes coated in honey and two jugs of water. Ryker tries to pay. 

“No. Kill that man. I know you're going to fight him for those two. You already tried to kill him, and I appreciate that.”

She pats his shoulder and then starts shooing away the crowd. Ryker falls in love just a little with the kindness and then returns to the brothers with a clear goal. He sits down in front of the two and offer up the plate.

“Hiccup. Dagur. I have food.”

Hiccup quietly sniffles and then silently reaches out, and picks up an oatcake. He turns and grabs one of Dagur’s hands. It seems to ground a little Dagur and the older one takes the food and begins to eat. Hiccup takes another oatcake and starts chewing himself. Ryker settles on the ground and looks to Hiccup who seems the most responsive right now.

“Were you hurt at all?”

Hiccup shakes his head.

“Do you think you can walk?”

A tiny nod.

“Do you think Dagur can walk?”

Hiccup scrunches his nose.

“-Maybe.-”

Hiccup pokes at Dagur gently and then whispers into his ear. Dagur blinks and shivers. Those dark green eyes rekindle with life. Dagur finishes eating with one big gulp and then hauls himself and Hiccup up.

“I can carry you Hiccup.”

Dagur says in a clear firm voice. Hiccup looks to Ryker and gives a sharp nod. They move back to the ship. Dagur lets the Grimborns wrap up his wounds with treated bandages and Ryker hates that this is the second time that they had done this sort of thing. After dressing the wounds and the boys finish eating, Ryker kneels in front of Dagur.

“Let me fight for you.”

Ryker does not plead. But it is a near thing. Dagur looks away, hissing as air blows out of his mouth between his teeth. He then looks at Hiccup and then back to Ryker.

“Alright. Fine . I am… smart enough to know he's a better fighter than me and so are you. But you can't lose. You just can't .”

Dagur begs and Ryker hates it. This child should never beg him for anything. Not ever. He reaches out and Dagur takes his hand and grips tightly.

“I will not lose. I swear to you. In the name of Tyr.”

Dagur’s hand grips tightly. 

“You’re bound to that oath if you break it…”

“Niflheim. I know. But I won't be breaking it Dagur.”

Dagur then fully relaxes lets go of Ryker’s hand and rewraps Hiccup with that arm. Ryker turns to his own brother and preparations begin for the fight.

Chapter Text

Hiccup breathes in the moments of calm before they have to leave for the fight ring. He stays curled into his brother a little horrified. So much of their past had been loudly announced in the middle of the market. Even if Ryker won, there would have to be ramifications of this. Berk might come. He does not think they will. Prays that they will not. He is so so scared. He tries to distract his swirling brain.

“He cut some of your hair…”

Hiccup sadly touches Dagur’s now uneven locks. It was shorter on the left side due to where the knife had touched the braid.

“But not all of it. It just gives you a chance to figure out new ways to style right?”

Dagur says, pulling Hiccup into his lap, and pressing Hiccup to his chest. Hiccup can see that it bothers his brother. That his hair had come so close to getting so terribly short. Oswald had almost committed one of the worst things a Viking could do to another. He would have marked Dagur as a slave before killing him. Would have removed this hallmark of freedom and survival. Hiccup presses their foreheads together.

“Right. I’ll make some hair ornaments too. Everyone will want this style by next month and I'll refuse to make hair ornaments for them.”

Dagur lets out a timid wet laugh and rage fills Hiccup’s chest. He finds hate sitting heavy in his chest. He presses a kiss on his brother’s forehead and whispers thousands of reassurances of love and dedication, that Ryker would win and Hiccup would never leave Dagur’s side. Dagur runs his hands through Hiccup’s hair and takes a deep breath. 

Then all too soon it is time to go. Hiccup notes that a jar of… something has been poured onto the two blades that Ryker has just resharpened. Whatever it is keeps Ryker from sheathing the swords. Hiccup could walk, but knows Dagur needs an anchor right now so lets his brother carry him to their destination. Fear taps slowly at his chest and he sends up prayers to Vidar and Tyr that Ryker will win like he promised to. He hates the thought of Dagur dead and himself dragged back to Berk to be more miserable than ever. Tears burn his eyes but he stays silent as he nuzzles his brother's chest.  

They arrive at the ring. Hiccup glances around at the large crowd, finding many of their usual customers and people they buy from there. Tove gives the two a wave and pats the barrel he had been sitting on. Dagur goes over and sits down on it while still clutching onto Hiccup like a lifeline. Viggo and Ryker stand beside them for a moment and Hiccup finds himself reaching out. He touches Ryker’s arm and the man looks at him, eyes growing soft.

“Win.”

He whispers. Ryker reaches out and wipes the tears that are rolling down Hiccup’s cheeks. 

“I swear.”

Ryker firmly states and Hiccup nods.  

--

Viggo watches as his brother walks into the ring, calm and measured. The twin blades glisten slightly with the Changewing acid. Viggo had been experimenting with the substance for a bit, finding just the right mixture with other dragon’s spit to not negatively impact the sharpness of a blade while still having it burn and bite the skin in a way that discouraged healing and encouraged bleeding and pain. He had experimented quite a bit with those kidnappers before letting them die as an act of mercy. 

Oswald enters the ring, looking far less steady and calm. The patch-up job on the wounds is messy and obviously self-done. Viggo looks at the enemy blade and can see that while it is a fine blade, it is not made of Gronkle iron. His brother could shatter it if their blades struck each other enough times. Especially with the acid painting of the blades. He folds his arms behind his back to prevent himself from gripping the fence tightly with his hands. Viggo has every confidence that his brother would win. But a puff of nervousness presses into his lungs just like it always did when Ryker sailed off for hunting and Viggo stayed at home. 

The fight begins without much fanfare. A simple nod between opponents and then the clang of metal striking against metal. The fight is a whirlwind, circling the ring while the sunlight glints off of the three spinning blades. Viggo gives a vicious smile as Ryker draws first blood and Oswald screams as his skin sizzles.

“What sort of wicked galco are you?!” 

Oswald howls as he steps back and presses his hand to his still-bubbling side. Ryker spins both his swords and gives an ugly ferocious grin that seems to finally finally chill the foolish chief. 

“Less talking.”

Ryker moves with the speed of a Speed Stinger and Oswald is forced to block. And the tide of the battle changes. Oswald is always defending and moving away while Ryker’s strikes grow harsher and swifter. More cuts are sliced into the stupid chief’s skin, slowing him even further as his skin melts and burns. Viggo is pleased to see the man starting to flag in strength. The man becomes more animalistic, eyes taking on a red sheen. But that just makes him make more mistakes. Then Ryker hits the opposing sword just right and it shatters, bits of the blade scattering. 

Ryker shoves the man to the ground and pierces his chest with both swords. Viggo hears Dagur make a little noise and Hiccup suck in a sharp breath. Ryker yanks his swords back out and slices off the head to ensure the death sticks. No draugr of this man would come to roam. 

And no proper funeral. With no one that liked him on this island, Oswald will likely be dumped into the sea. Viggo could care less about the man's soul and turns to the boys. Dagur seems to be in a state of shock. Hiccup is gently running his hands over Dagur’s arms, eyes firmly turned away from the dead body.

“Let's get back to the ship, my dears. The danger has passed.”

Viggo says gently. Ryker returns, having wiped off his blades and sheathed them. The two little children remain silent, shaking and shivering. Ryker reaches out and lifts them back and starts walking with them. Viggo walks beside them.

Chapter Text

It takes a few hours for Dagur to come out of his hazy blankness. His ex-father is gone. He no longer needed to worry about Oswald stealing Hiccup because the man is now dead. 

Dead.

Dead. 

What a terribly terribly odd thought. The man is dead. He starts laughing. It is a wild wild laugh that echoes and makes his chest heave. Air filters in just to be forced right back out in a high laugh. He clings to his own skull rocks back and forth and laughs. Arms wrap around his torso but he can not stop laughing. He curls in on himself as his laughter starts to rob him of breath and pain starts arching through his lungs. He hears panicked voices but cannot understand them as his body continues to panic and laugh.

Then a sweet smell enters his nose and his laughter peters out. His lungs start to breathe far more evenly and he finds himself into being gently laid down. His eyes close and he sleeps.

--

Hiccup stays curled on his brother’s chest, monitoring. Viggo had gotten his permission before knocking Dagur out, but Hiccup is still so very worried for his brother. He swallows and unbraids his brother’s hair and starts trying to find a way to weave it all together.

“That might be easier if it was all cut to the same length.”

Hiccup stiffens at Viggo’s words and then reminds himself that the man is not from Hiccup’s homeland. That and both Grimborn’s and other Acumens had very very short hair. He swallows and keeps working.

“Short hair is… dishonorable. It is almost as bad as a slave brand.”

Hiccup shakily admits as he twists the strands in on each other. 

“So that man was trying to… unperson Dagur before killing him?”

Hiccup takes a breath.

“It… sure seems that way. But, the hair will grow back and he did not cut it all off. Things will be okay.” Hiccup says determinedly he then looks up. “Thank you. Both of you. Dagur would not have survived that fight and-”

He chokes and then starts crying horror hitting him anew at all that could have transpired. His brother could have died. He could have been dragged back to Berk. They would have hated him all the more for being a traitorous runaway. 

Arms encircle him and his back is gently rubbed as he is rocked.

“ The sky is dark and the hills are white

As the storm-king speeds from the north to-night,

And this is the song the storm-king sings,

As over the world his cloak he flings:

  "Sleep, sleep, little one, sleep;"

He rustles his wings and gruffly sings:

  "Sleep, little one, sleep." ”

Hiccup relaxes and breathes slowly, scrubbing at his face. Viggo then speaks.

“We are your allies. We would never leave you to fight that battle alone.”

Hiccup silently nods as he clings. He slowly tries to speak, but finds his voice broken. Viggo speaks again.

“We have your back if there is anyone else out there that  might bring you harm. I hate to pry at this moment my dear… but are there any other enemies that we need to be watching out for?”

Hiccup sniffles.

“Don't press the kid Viggo.”

Ryker huffs from his seat where he is recleaning and sharpening his blades. Hiccup shakes his head and swallows. 

“No- it's important… but I need Dagur.”

He whispers. Viggo sighs and then hums.

“Alright. You should sleep in the meantime. It has been a very long day.”

Hiccup nods, eyes already closed. But he cannot help but cling a moment longer, happy to feel safe. Safe. safe. 

What a stupidly tricky word.

Had he ever really been safe? 

With Dagur yes…

But for most of his life… no he had not been safe at all. He nuzzles into the chest that holds him. His mind drifts away as a song begins again, wrapping him up in safety.

His father had never sung him lullabies.

He had been so jealous of other children. They were what their parents wanted and therefore gifted love and attention. Their fears of the night met with song and rocking to sooth tears. He had learned oh so early on that if his father was awoken by cries, there was no song or loving rocking to soothe him. Words and insistence that he would feel better about the night if he would just become stronger. 

Maybe if dragons had not taken his mother, he would have had songs.

Maybe if dragons had not ended her life, she might have given Stoick the child he wanted.

He relaxes into the melody and falls asleep.

--

“Never took you for a singer.”

Viggo ignores his brother's words, gently laying Hiccup down by Dagur and wrapping the two in furs.

“The occasion called for it.”

He replies after a moment.

“But not adoption?”

“Do not test me right now Ryker. They are far too hurt to try and push such things on them right now.”

He hisses out, going over to a chest to pull out another fur, not satisfied with the number wrapping around the boys. 

Ryker continues.

“Ah, so we must wait for the next traumatic situation before you will reconsider. Or will that still not be the time either?”

Ryker sounds pissed. Viggo straightens and narrows his eyes at him. 

“What will you do if they flee from us too? What will you do if by pushing them we become to them enemies and they lose their only allies?? Who will they turn to? Do you think they would survive?”

He bites with his words and he can see they hurt Ryker. But his brother needs to think! Think!! He hates the scenario he had spoken about. 

“And are they surviving now? I cannot stand to see them passed out like this again! Can you?”

His brother bites back, fists curling. Viggo looks away. His heart cracks and bleeds.

“I don't want to.”

The whisper slips out. He sits down and then covers his face with his hands. He does not cry but his body feels so weary. So so tired. A gentle hand comes to rest on his shoulder. 

“I know you don't. I know you're examining it through all the angles. Let me know the plan when you've made it. You have always been the thinker out of the two of us.”

It is the only apology that will pass between them. But it means a lot to Viggo. He nods and takes a steadying breath.

Chapter Text

Dagur stays coiled around Hiccup as they speak to the Grimborns. Rather, Hiccup whispers and he shakes his head if he wants Hiccup to avoid something at first while he works up his ability to speak.

“So… as … Oswald said, we are both originally from other tribes. Dagur was the Berserker heir of Berskerker island, and I… I was the heir to the Hairy Hooligans of Berk.”

Hiccup’s voice wavers and he sips at yak’s milk. The weight of it in his stomach grounds him 

“I… We had a treaty signing every year. And every year we came to see clearer and clearer that we would be better off living alone together than surrounded by our tribes and isolated. I- I am a runt and useless to boot, so my tribe was eager to pound into my head that I was not a worthy heir. And Dagur was too amazing for his tribe to like him.”

Dagur snorts and pokes his brother’s ribs, silence easily broken in Hiccup's defense.

“Not useless. And I was disliked for my… wilder tendencies.”

Hiccup hums lowly. 

“Anyways, when I lost my leg to a Monstrous Nightmare due to some… stuff, and my father refused to communicate that info to Dagur, my brother came for me and we decided to go north. I… I really really doubt that Berk is searching for me. My tribe has a tradition of declaring the lost dead after a month. And whoever takes over after Oswald’s disappearance becomes clear will probably have no interest in Dagur either since he's changed tribe names. Which from what I understand of Berserk means you renounced your ability to challenge, right?”

“Right.”

Dagur murmurs, exhausted. His father should have remembered that. Or did and still wanted him dead. He nuzzles Hiccup’s hair with a soft chirp and gets a soft croon in reply. Hiccup then swallows and looks away.

“I… I know how it makes us look. Like we avoid responsibility. But I-”

“No. It does not. Not to us.”

Viggo cuts in and Dagur is relieved that someone is there to be kind to his brother when Hiccup refuses to be kind to himself. 

“R-really?”

“It sounds like your tribes were awful and did not deserve such bright sparks of life like the two of you. Would you like us to go to war against them?”

Ryker asks in a fully serious tone. Hiccup lets out a nervous laugh that dies in the face of the two stoic faces. 

“Oh, you… you mean that…”

“Of course. We care about the two of you.” 

Viggo says firmly and then Hiccup is crying. But not his normal stunted quiet sobs that are full of fear of being heard. Loud clear sobs that are both breaking Dagur’s heart and relieving it. 

His brother felt safe enough to truly cry. For the first time in front of others.

Dagur shifts and then nudges Hiccup forward. His brother needs a hug and Viggo needs one too. Viggo might be too polite to just reach out for it. He is willing to share his brother just this once. The two hug briefly and then Hiccup returns to Dagur’s side. Dagur rewraps his brother up and finds his eyes starting to flutter closed again. He can… he can trust these two enough to fall asleep in front of them. They would not let Hiccup be taken by anyone else. They had not the last time they had run into trouble and had to sleep on the Grimborn's ship.

And for now, he trusts that they will not take Hiccup for themselves. An unfamiliar hand gently shifts him to a more comfortable position to sleep. He peeks between his eyelashes to see Ryker’s hands silently retreat. 

--

Dagur and Hiccup spend a few more days than usual at the market, spending all of it with the two brothers. Rarely do Dagur and Hiccup stand without some part of their body touching the other, if Hiccup is not outright being carried by Dagur. They both keep scanning the crowds utterly terrified that something else will happen despite Oswald being so very dead. They get to spend a little more time around the dragons, and Hiccup makes several notes on their fires and weaknesses according to what he sees and what Viggo and Ryker tell him.

Hiccup is currently resting his cheek on Dagur’s sternum as they walk to their ship. They were leaving the Markets for home. There they would be able to relax completely with so many more defenses surrounding them. Dagur has recovered enough to sail and they would be off.

The two Grimborns had tried to convince them to come back to their home with them, and while trusting them more than ever, the two boys just wanted to be able to go home and relax in their cave and run wild on their island. Hiccup smiles as the Hopeful Puffin comes into view.

 He pauses and then taps his brother and gives a little gesture to the Grimborns. Dagur hums and then nods in agreement. Hiccup wriggles out of his brother’s arms and leaps onto the boat. He leans against the railing and croons at the two Grimborns.

“Hey! Climb aboard! I want to show you some of my traps!”

He says bouncing a little on his feet as he grins. Ryker clambers up first followed soon by Viggo. Hiccup smiles at both and points to the door. He is going to prove to them that the two of them are just fine alone. That they do not need to worry about the two brothers while Dagur and Hiccup are alone.

“It looks like a normal door! But it is secretly evil.”

Hiccup states, gesturing to it. He then tries the nob without the key and dances back as a dart shoots down and pierces the air where his hand had just been. He grins.

“We can turn that on from inside and from out here! It requires a key.”

Hiccup pulls out the symbol of Vidar that he had worn for so long. He turns it inside the door lock that is hidden by a small bit of wood in the doorframe. It then swings in easily. He then reaches in and flicks a lever. 

“That lever deactivates the tripwires on the stairs.”

Viggo looks fascinated and Hiccup shows off more of their traps. Not all of them. He is not that foolish. But a lot of them. He also shows off their food stores and sleeping quarters. Ryker and Dagur head back up while Viggo is investigating one of Hiccup’s final failsafe traps. Dagur trusted that Hiccup could use the ship as a defense if he actually needed it with Viggo.

“I do wish you would just come with us for a little while. Not forever, but long enough that I-”

Viggo trails off. Hiccup sits on the ground and sighs softly.

“We like our freedom. And I appreciate you keeping us safe. But we… Being alone makes us feel safer. Not that you're not trusted!  But we don't know your island or tribesmen as well as we know you, Viggo.”

“I just worry my dear.”

Viggo sits down in front of him, getting on his level. Hiccup is a little honored by that, used to everyone towering over him. 

“I'm sorry to worry you.”

“Not something to apologize for. I'm sure you often worry for your brother. Just- I would like to see you return safely. Look after yourself. And here, if anyone tries to give you trouble this will give them a bit of warning.”

Viggo holds out a leather band with the Grimborn crest carefully stitched into it. Hiccup slips it onto his left wrist.

“Thank you.”

He whispers.

“My brother is giving Dagur one too… but it is not a shackle my dear. Simply a signal to others that we are allies.”

Hiccup understands, bobbing his head.

“I’ll keep it on me at all times.”

He promises.

Chapter Text

Dagur shifts his weight just a little and then leaps to the next branch. He catches it and is very pleased with himself as he tests out the new method of getting around the island. Hiccup had been the first to start tree hopping, wanting to get onto trees that had no good climbable lower branches and figuring the only way was to go across. 

Dagur had seen that first jump and then insisted that they both learn how to do it, as it would be an awesome thing to add to hunting and fighting skills. Hiccup used it as a way to sneak up on him and pounce from on high, which delighted Dagur to no end. 

Right now he is trying to keep up with Hiccup who is trying to keep up with one of the songbirds of the island. It is a sort of fun game to play, avoiding weak branches and following the sound of the bird. Hiccup can jump along higher branches due to his lighter weight. But Dagur can jump further. Hiccup comes to a stop in an ash tree, hooks his legs on a branch, and then hangs upside down.

“It stopped singing.”

Hiccup pouts and Dagur settles on a branch right underneath him.

“Well, we were making quite a bit of noise in the last two trees.”

“It's not my fault those branches were dead inside!”

“It's your fault you jumped on them.”

Hiccup huffs at his brother, swings himself a little by his knees, and boops his brother's nose.

“Tu es incommodus.”

Hiccup replies sticking out his tongue before quickly sitting up and scurrying up the tree to avoid retaliation.

“Coward!”

Dagur jokingly calls up and Hiccup chitters at him. Dagur can tell Hiccup is amused that Dagur cannot follow. Dagur whistles and chirps in reply and shifts his weight so that he is lying down on the branch. Hiccup returns to a lower limb and lays on his belly. They both relax. Then Hiccup breaks the silence.

“I think… the Grimborns are nice and trustworthy.”

Dagur sighs. It is a conversation that has wound in so many circles that it felt a bit like the endless chasing of Hati and Skoll.

“I think they are nice enough for adults and I trust them not to hurt us on sight. But that means nothing for their tribe.”

He repeats his arguments. Hiccup's eyes shimmer like tree leaves shaking in a soft summer wind.

“But Viggo is chief and-”

“Your father was chief and did nothing to help you.”

Hiccup moves his hands while his mouth lets out a lethal-sounding growl.

“-Well we both know he did not like me very much, don't we? Viggo and Ryker actually care.-”

Hiccup punctuates the final part with a gnashing of teeth. Dagur lets out a sad trill of apology. 

“I'm just…” Dagur sighs. “I'm scared. What if they stop being nice when they know us? Really know us? What if their tribe attacks and they step aside to keep things politically smooth? My dad loved to do that sort of thing.”

Hiccup winces at the words and claws at the tree bark with his fingers before his hands move in reply.

“-Vidar says to trust them.-”

Dagur sighs.

“Let's sleep on it. Okay? Let me think on it till we head back to the market and I'll have the decision by then.”

Hiccup clicks his tongue and then nods his head. The conversation shifts into one about future projects and Dagur feels that all is alright with the world for now.

--

Hiccup sits on the sandy shore, toes dipped into the crashing waves. His eyes trace the horizon where a storm brews. Then from the waves rises a dragon in two legs that appears to be made of water. He is frozen in place as it sniffs at him and then settles against his side, the water that it is made of drippy against his skin. He runs his hand along the snout, frost clinging to his fingertips. The earth shudders and a dragon made of earth and lava curls on his other side, warm and steady. From the sky comes a third dragon, made of fire and storms in a long snake-like body with innumerable wings. The air thickens with electricity as it lands and comes to rest on his chest.

Despite these beasts surrounding him, Hiccup finds utter calm. He runs his fingers along each, fascinated by the textures and movements of their bodies that really were supernatural in nature. His eyes blink slowly as they nudge at his fingers and whispers stir from all around. Songs press at his memory and soul. 

“~Save the lost. Find courage to kill those who must die. Save those whose false God has chained them to death and despair.~”

The words make little sense and Hiccup tries to ask for clarification. He then slips backwards through the sand, body alighting on a small chair. Vidar is there, flipping through a book silently while Tyr sharpens his weapons. Hiccup glances about for Dagur and finds his brother absent. Ah well. 

“Tyr? Vidar?”

He whispers and the gods look at him. There is a speck of sorrow in each of their gazes. Tyr speaks.

“Keep your brother close. His father's appearance and death have shaken him more than he lets on. He has been reminded of the pain brought by the failure of the corrupted leader.”

“-Keep your resilience. Your heart must endure what the Norns send your way.-”

Hiccup silently nods, fingers flexing against his pants. He then touches the leather band on his wrist. 

“Will… can the Grimborns help?”

“Alliances change and evolve. Some are broken some blossom into more. The future remains murky, as all those involved have yet to arrive. That is all we know. I'm sorry Hiccup.”

And the one-handed man does look it. Hiccup shakes his head.

“To have any warning at all is better than none. I'll figure it out. I always have.”

Both gods smile and touch his cheeks.

Then he is waking up and has a hard time remembering the whole dream. Dagur is already up and prepping the ship to sail off to the Markets and Hiccup goes to help him.

Chapter Text

Dagur coughs and shivers. He had gotten sick in the middle of sailing to the Northern Markets. Hiccup had tried to take care of him and sail the ship at the same time, but had fallen ill too. And the illness seems to have hit his brother harder. Hiccup had not woken in two days, and in that time that they were both so sick, they had run afoul of a storm that broke their rudder and smashed their mast. They were now bobbing on the ocean, as useless as a fish with no fins. They would die out here if nothing was repaired. But Dagur can not get up the energy to leave the cabin, much less fix anything. So he curls around his brother and closes his eyes as he prays. Tears dribble out.

The heat of his brow burns at his mind and brings feverish thoughts. His brother runs hotter and is gasping for air as each minute slips past. They had run out of fresh water not too long ago and medicine had done nothing to tamp down this horrific disease. Dagur tries to think of something, anything that might save them. But nothing comes to his mind as his limbs shake and his brother breathes shallowly. 

How could they have survived so much just to perish here? 

He shakes and shivers.

How could he have brought his bother to ruin?

But he refuses to leave Hiccup alone. His brother had been cursed to wake up alone once. And if his brother gets to wake up again, then Dagur is going to be right there beside him. And if neither of them awaken again then they would sail to the gates of Helheim together. His stinging eyes close as his sweat-soaked hair clings to his nape. He pulls Hiccup close as he curls up under the slightly damp furs, determined not to lose his brother even if they journey to the land of the dead.

His brother makes a small nose and forest green eyes crack open to look up at him. Dagur pulls Hiccup closer and presses their foreheads together.

“I'm sorry Hiccup.”

It is all his fault. He had gotten Hiccup sick and now he and his brother would perish. If he had never gotten ill, never taken Hiccup from Berk… his brother might just have lived a day longer. Hiccup touches his cheek with a trembling palm and lets out a soft breath. 

“Don't be. What better fate than this? To be loved…”

Hiccup coughs, his lungs rattling horribly and Dagur can feel his brother’s heartbeat grow uneven.

“Hiccup… I…”

“Sing me something? I'm tired brother.”

Hiccup asks, taking one of Dagur’s hands and weaving their fingers together before bringing it to rest right above Hiccup’s heart. Dagur swallows thickly, throat aching from the mucus and coughing. But for his brother, he would do anything. He feels the boat rock on another swell of water and presses closer into Hiccup.

“Alright brother. Just a little song. And when we wake up we’ll be at the market and you can sell your weapons and I can sell my carvings.”

“Sounds nice.”

Hiccup says with a yawn, red-rimmed eyes already slipping closed. Hopefully, his brother will dream of nice things. Happy things. Maybe death will be more pleasant than life. Hopefully, it will be less painful. 

“ My hearth, warm me when the world seems dark. Warm me with your loving flame. Warm me with a homebound spark. My hearth, warm where I ache. Warm where cold brings pain. Warm where the heart has its break .”

Dagur sings and Hiccup drifts away into sleep. He keeps singing, even as his voice rasps and his eyes shutter closed. He can feel himself slipping into darkness and a part of him is alright with it, as long as Hiccup is at his side. Another part mourns what could have been before his brain completely goes blank, tongue stilling and letting the only noise that fills the cabin be wheezy breaths and creaking timber.

---

Dagur does not expect to wake up. So when consciousness slowly comes to him, he feels a bit startled. He reaches instinctively out for Hiccup.

Who is not there.

His brother is never not there.

He almost always woke up before Hiccup and could check on his brother. And they never slept apart. Memory of right before he fell asleep hits him like an avalanche and he leaps out of whatever strange bed he is in to go hunt his brother down. He is hit with a wave of woozy dizziness and colors swirling about, refusing to solidify into a room he can see.

“Get back to bed kid.”

Comes a rough voice he cannot place. Dagur growls and chokes out words despite his throat being on fire.

“Where is my brother?!”

“He's in bed. Like you should be.”

A hand starts to push him back and Dagur snaps howling like the wild beast his village always assumed he was on the inside.
“What did you do?! I need him!”

Like a fire needs wood or rain needs a storm cloud. He needs his brother. He cannot let Hiccup wake up alone. He tries to push forward and hands come to push him back. Dagur fights the grip that is trying to force him into the bed, bucking and bending, writhing and snapping. He claws with his hands, kicks with his feet, and finds flesh to bury his screaming maw into. He receives a grunt of pain from his attacker and a mouthful of blood for his trouble.

“For Hel’s sake Dagur, calm down. I’ll take you to your brother if you just stop fighting.”

With those words, Dagur instantly goes limp and lets out a piteous noise, whining low and sad. Tears are cold against his feverish cheeks.

“Please let me see Hiccup.”

He whispers, voice creaking and cracking from illness and abuse. He blinks his water eyes and finally, finally, registers who he had just been tussling with. Ryker. Oh. Ryker might just help. Maybe. Dagur shivers and shakes, sweat clinging to his skin in unwelcome pools created by sickly heat. Ryker hoists him up and Dagur finds himself being carried like a child. He had not been carried in so so very long. He… is not sure how to feel about it and chooses to wrap his arms around Ryker’s neck to bring him stability. He finds his head resting on Ryker’s collarbone, eyes falling to half-mast. 

Then he sees Hiccup laying in a bed, hand clenched around Viggo’s. Viggo is leaning against the edge of the bed asleep. 

At least his brother is not alone. Dagur would have preferred to be with him, but someone is better than no one at all. Ryker tugs on the layers of furs and slips Dagur in. Dagur immediately curls around Hiccup who shifts a bit to be holding his hand too. Dagur's heartbeat immediately settles and he nuzzles Hiccup's hair.

“Sorry for biting you…”

He breathes out. A hand starts gently smoothing the strands of hair that had come loose from his braid. 

“It is alright Dagur. Sleep.”

And Dagur does just that, eyes heavy and stinging.

Chapter Text

Ryker settles into a similar vigil to that which he held when his brother was healing from getting clawed in the neck by a Raincutter. He sits by the bed as the two boys sleep, going between tasks as time passes. From tending to the flames under the specially designed fire pot under the bed that produced medicine-infused smoke to stirring stew to sitting down beside the bed with a book. 

There were only so many words to say to someone who is unable to speak back due to sleeping or illness. Ryker found that books provided a nice script to let the person know that he is still present, still cares, without stumbling to try and find more words to use. He liked to read happy tales, that while having dips and turns, that he can pause and reassure the listener that it will all turn out alright in the end for the heroes, that they are just struggling for a moment. Just  a moment. But soon enough they would overcome that struggle too and get a happy ending. He takes care to pick up at the same place he left off with the story, giving a quick recap of the tale up to that point before going on.

And this is what he does for the Bloodwrath brothers as they rest in bed together. Viggo stays with them, and Ryker reads for his little brother too. Viggo works on paperwork while holding Hiccup’s hand tightly, rarely letting go. This sickness seems to have deeply rattled his little brother. It is odd to see Viggo react to something so strongly. Viggo frets over having enough medicine and plenty of food and water for when either of the boys stirs awake. He plies them with the stew and water when either is partially awake enough to let anything in. 

Hiccup awakens far less than Dagur. It worries Ryker, given how small the child already is. Dagur seems worried every time he wakes, gently running his hands across Hiccup and readjusting his brother before eventually going back to sleep. Hiccup drinks very little and eats even less. 

To say that it is a stressful week is an understatement. 

Ryker is just glad that their tribe can run fairly smoothly without both brothers being in the thick of it. All thanks to years and years of Viggo’s planning and their joint hard work.

So they wait for the boys to overcome the sickness. 

--

Hiccup wakes up slowly. His eyes felt like they were stuck closed, thick and gummy. His body feels so stiff. Like he had been dead and lying deep in a cave. He breathes deeply. And then coughs, struggling to sit up to try to clear his lungs. He is helped to sit up and he takes deep dragging breaths. His body is so weak and tired. When he stops coughing, he collapses against the person next to him. 

An arm wraps around him and he knows that it is Dagur. He presses into his brother and sighs tiredly. Waking up had exhausted him. He forces his eyes open and breathes so deeply. He is in a bed with Dagur. But he is not at home. No. There is Viggo, holding his left hand while Dagur clings to his right. And just a little further is Ryker holding a book loosely in his hand. His body is so heavy. He makes a soft chirp and snuggles into his brother’s side. Dagur begins crooning and nuzzling his hair. Hiccup can feel wet tears against his hair.  Hiccup tries to speak but just coughs again. His eyes start to slip closed. Dagur whispers something to him. Something that sounds so relieved. But Hiccup cannot make out exactly what it is.

--

Dagur recovers very quickly from being sick. He is able to move around and help take care of Hiccup in no time. And while wary, he does trust Viggo enough to leave his little brother with the chief and go fix their boat and give it some oars. He finds sleep evading him as he waits for his brother to fully recover, nervous but sure that his brother would be okay.  

But he spends most of his time wrapped up around Hiccup or training with Ryker who says it will make him feel better. It does feel nice to stretch out his muscles. Hiccup wakes up in spurts, sometimes lucid enough to talk but for most of them, Hiccup just makes a few noises and then slips back to sleep. It is a full week of Dagur being up and about before Hiccup is able to spend a full day conscious and Dagur is so so relieved. 

Viggo suggests that they sit outside in the sun for a bit and Dagur agrees. Hiccup is to weak to be able to walk so Dagur carries his brother. They settle on a bit of dirt out of anyone's way. Fur keeps them from having to lay in the dirt and pillows allow them to rest comfortably. Hiccup sighs constantly in the patch of sunlight. 

He begins to brush out Hiccup’s hair as his little brother plays a game of Maces and Talons. Hiccup’s mind seems to be just as sharp even as his body is weak. He weaves an elaborate braid in his brother’s hair and then he finds sleep coming to him. 

--

Viggo is soaked in relief that he had never felt so deeply and truly while he plays Hiccup in Maces and Talons. It is more than just a game really. It is proof that Hicup is alive. Watching Hiccup breathing and lying so still as healing mist and smoke curled up from the fire pot under the bed had made Viggo consider a life where Hiccup never woke up. A life where Hiccup died. He finds that he strongly dislikes the idea as he plays against Hiccup. 

He considers the conversations he had with his brother not so long ago. Viggo wants to be careful not to scare these two off. But adopting them… the idea is so much more tempting now more than ever. 

He would have to find two statues of Freya with his brother soon.

Chapter Text

Hiccup sort of likes being on the Acumens’ island. There are so many interesting books, the people are not mean to him, and he gets to play a lot of Maces and Talons! Dagur still seems a bit wary of it all, but no one attacks them! They are watched by the other members of the tribe but no one really approaches them except the Grimborns. That is alright with Hiccup. He would like to talk to them at some point… but when he feels stronger and feels less of the fear swimming in the pit of his stomach that never seems to truly go away even when he tries to reason with himself. 

Hiccup still has a hard time walking, so he is often seated in different places, sketching in his notebook, or playing different games. Most of the time he is either in the training ring sitting on a barrel watching his brother train, sitting on a fur and resting with Dagur, or sitting in a chair while Viggo completes chiefing work. All of it is interesting and causes him to doodle more and more ideas that he is planning to test out. 

On the fourth night, he lets Viggo flip through his whole notebook and explains the designs while he weaves his brother’s hair into multiple braids that he then winds the hair. The fiery red strands are as bright and gleaming as ever, soft to the touch. Hiccup likes being allowed to touch and style his brother’s hair, finding it to be a great honor. Ryker had offered two nights ago when Hiccup’s hands were still a little weak and Dagur had shaken his head, only wanting Hiccup for the job. 

The hut is warm and full of chatter, and Hiccup finds himself calm. Maybe one day he could see living a life like this, in a warm home with his brother that felt all the safer because it was more than just the two of them keeping an eye out. But Hiccup says nothing, not wanting to impose such dreams on people nice enough to save their lives more than once. 

Hiccup sort of hopes they will not need to be saved, but is glad that his brother and he had the Grimborns who had chosen to save them. He wonders if they can repay that sort of debt, with both Grimborns denying that there is a debt to be repaid. 

There is. 

Which… 

That is a little terrifying. To owe someone their lives three times over? It is lucky for them that the Grimborn seem to be their allies… their friends. 

He is hopeful that they will remain so. Hiccup is fairly sure that Berk will never come for him. But on the off chance that they do find them and want to make Hiccup pay for being a traitorous runaway or try to make sure he will not try to return to claim his birthright, it is nice to think that there are two adults who cared enough to do anything for them. It feels so unreal to think that any adult would actually try to help them. 

--

Hiccup is able to move about more steadily again. He is able to run about and immediately celebrates with a game of tag and a sharp chirp before running about the training area. Hiccup and Dagur end up rolling around in the dirt, play fighting. Dagur’s laugh is wild and relieved and Hiccup giggles as he attempts to win and his brother lets him pin him. They both startle a bit at the snorts and laughter that come from Ryker and Viggo. Hiccup glances down at Dagur and shares a nod with a shared look before leaping up and going in for a tackle of the men. Hiccup goes for Viggo and Dagur goes for Ryker. Viggo goes down, seeming to want to just play along with Hiccup, letting out false noises of pain as he bats at Hiccup’s arms to keep Hiccup from scoring and hits. But he stays pinned on the ground Hiccup appreciates 

Ryker and Dagur are in a much more real fight, with no intent to hurt behind any of the hits. Bruises sure, but no blood.  Hiccup grows tired and just drops himself down to be relaxing on Viggo’s steadily rising and falling chest. He would just roll off, but it feels safe enough to stay. Viggo does not seem like he will get mad at him for staying. A hand gently runs across his braid, and Hiccup hums lightly, still watching his brother as Dagur laughs and scuffles. His brother looks happy. 

Gods. Dagur looks happy.

Hiccup wishes that Dagur could look so happy and carefree all the time. 

Hiccup loves his brother and mourns the fact that neither of them were able to be raised by people who really cared. He hopes that he can be enough family for Dagur. But some part of him whispers that he will never be enough family for Dagur. That Dagur deserved more. Deserved someone who could look after Dagur because Hiccup so often needed someone looking after him.

He sighs and Viggo pats his side.

“Everything alright?”

“Yeah. I’ll be okay.”

He says, smiling as Dagur manages to pin Ryker and Dagur crows. Ryker gives a warm deep laugh as he lays in the dirt.

“Good job kid.”

Ryker says and Hiccup sees Dagur light up just a little bit. 

Maybe they can stay just a little longer despite Hiccup feeling better… Maybe another day or two…

Chapter Text

Dagur is…

Well given how much the Grimborns had done, he likes them well enough. But he is starting to get twitchy from being away from their own home so long and from all the attention being lavished upon them. 

At one point in his life, he would have sought it out. Now he knows that he does not need a caring adult around all the time to survive. 

So he is a little jumpy when the two Grimborns sit them down that night and say that they have something important to share. He sort of is worried it will be some sort of favor that they owe for them saving them both from dying of sickness while out at sea.

“We would like to adopt you and your brother as our brothers.”

Viggo says calmly. Dagur jerks away teeth flashing while he grabs the back of Hiccup’s fur vest and tugs his little brother up and back. He is so very pissed. This is too sudden. Too scary. Too terrifying...

“Is this why you brought our boat here instead of the Markets?! To try and trap us in some sort of- You don't even really want me !! You just want Hiccup! For his designs!”

Accusations come quickly, and they kill the flicker of hope that had rested in Hiccup’s eyes for just a second. Hope that Dagur is man enough to admit sent a spark of jealousy. He hated it just a little that Hiccup looked happier here than just with him. Would Hiccup leave him for the Grimborns?

But he also does believe his words. Dagur shoves Hiccup behind him and makes a quick sign to his little brother out of view of the Grimborns. He hopes that Hiccup will listen. Prays that Hiccup will listen. He then pulls his ax, ready to be a distraction. Ryker speaks, voice too calm.

“We want both of you equally.”

“Don't LIE to me. I hate it when adults do that!”

He howls and spins his ax. Both Grimborn’s have their eyes on him good. Good. He will buy Hiccup time.

“Ryker is not lying. We want to take care of you. Have our past actions not proven that?”

Viggo asks sounding for all the world like Dagur had hurt his feelings. But it has to be a lie! Who, other than Hiccup, would genuinely want him?? No one wanted him. Not really. They just wanted something from him. That is all. So he has to get him and his brother off of this island. This trap of an island that they had been dragged to while too ill to say no or resist. 

“You brought us here to make it harder to get away from you! To force us into saying yes! Well, it! WILL! NOT! WORK!”

He swings and is then fighting both brothers who just block. They do not fight back. Dagur silently notes that Hiccup is gone and mentally calculates how long it would take his brother to get back to the boat without being spotted and prep it for sea travel. He is so glad that he had gotten it repaired first thing while waiting for Hiccup to start feeling better. 

“This is not a trap!”

Ryker yells back as metal clangs against each other. Dagur snarls loudly and then roars like a dragon as he twists and thrusts. He slices Rykers left hand shallowly and kicks out Viggo’s legs. Then he is off like a bola from Hiccup’s bola launcher through the door, clambering the side of the nearest hut with the tree climbing skills he gained while following after Hiccup. He runs from roof top to metal rooftop, using momentum to help himself fling across gaps. He can hear yells filling the village and sees people heading for the docks. He needs to be there first. He gets within yelling range and screams at Hiccup.

“Sail!! I’ll swim.”

His brother hesitates and then undoes the rope morning the Hopeful Puffin to the dock and unfurls the sail. Dagur leaps down from the roof, rolling and dodging hands that try to stop him. One last check to his ax to make sure it is secure to his back, and he is at the edge of the dock.

He dives off the dock and powerfully swims through the salty water, gaining on the tiny ship. Hiccup tosses him a rope and then he clambers on. Then he pulls out the two massive oars he made while on the Acumens island to prevent what happened from ever happening again and dips them into the water to give just a little more speed. The other ships were not ready to set sail on the island behind them but it would not take them long. What the Hopeful Puffin had going for it was her tiny stature and quick build, aided by the pounding oars. He throws his back into it and pushes and pushes. Hiccup mans the rudder and they flee. Flee as night falls, flee as day breaks, flee as the wind stutters. Hiccup keeps an out behind them and calls out as their pursuers vanish across the horizon line. Dagur rips off the leather bracelet with the Grimborn’s symbol on it and chucks it into the water. He then keeps rowing, the action barely breaking his motions rhythm. They make it back to their island but Dagur refuses to stop until they are hidden in the center of their home. 

He collapses after stumbling into the cave. He lays as Hiccup moves about and 

“I… I think they might have been genuine Dagur.”

Hiccup breaks the silence between them for the first time in two days. Dagur snarls.

“Not talking about it.”

“But-”

“Hiccup, I don't want to lose you to another tribe. Please, just… can we talk about it later?”

Hiccup drops it and looks away. He nods quietly.

--

Dagur refuses to talk to much about it, instead focusing on prepping the island and hunting and fishing. Hiccup tries once or twice and then seems to have reached his own decision.

“When you can see that they are not the enemy and that not all adults are out to hurt us, we will talk. But I know you're in pain and I want you to be okay. So I'm not arguing with you right now and I'm going to spend some time in the forge. And if you would like to avoid the Markets for a little while… I guess I’ll be okay with that too. But we… I cannot be away from the world forever. And neither can you. So just…” Hiccup takes a deep breath and takes Dagur’s hands into his own. “I love you. I'm sorry you’re hurt. And no one can make you not my brother. You and I share souls even if we do not share blood.”

He kisses his brother’s brow and then leaves Dagur to think.

One day they would be okay. One day they can see adults and not fear them. One day his brother would not be afraid that everyone was trying to take Hiccup. Hiccup believes the offer of the Grimborn’s was genuine. But Hiccup also is starting to believe that it had been the wrong time for such an offer to come to them.