Lucian stepped out first, holding the door open as Ariel followed, Simba cradled carefully in her arms. The cub blinked against the daylight, tail flicking lazily as he settled against her chest.
Just a few steps from the house, leaning casually against a nearby tree, was Hiccup.
Arms crossed. One foot hooked against the trunk.
Very clearly waiting.
When he spotted them, his brow lifted.
"…You guys done?" Hiccup asked.
"That's not—" Lucian started immediately. "It's not what you think it is."
Hiccup nodded, straight-faced. "Sure. Sure it isn't."
Ariel made a small noise and shifted Simba slightly, avoiding eye contact.
Lucian sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "Simba bolted for the table, knocked over a bottle, the floor got slick, and I went down trying to grab him. She tried to help. We both lost balance. That's it."
"Uh-huh," Hiccup said, pushing off the tree. "Classic."
Lucian pinched the bridge of his nose. "You came in without knocking."
"Lucian," Hiccup said patiently, eyes flicking toward Ariel and then back to him, "you had a complete stranger on top of you."
"That is not helping my case," Lucian muttered.
Hiccup smirked, then waved a hand. "Anyway we have a situation."
Lucian straightened immediately. "What happened?"
Hiccup's expression shifted, the humor draining out of it. "When I got to the cove… Toothless wasn't alone."
Lucian's posture stiffened.
"There was another Night Fury," Hiccup continued. "Bigger than Toothless. The one you pulled out of the Northern Market."
Lucian's eyes narrowed. "…It followed him."
Hiccup exhaled through his nose. "Or more likely, it followed you. And Toothless is… excited. Like really excited."
Lucian exhaled slowly. "Alright. Show me."
_____
They moved quietly through the familiar path, feet careful against stone and grass. The air grew cooler as they climbed, the sound of wind echoing faintly below.
At the ridge overlooking the cove, Hiccup dropped into a crouch. Lucian followed immediately, Ariel lowering herself beside them with Simba held close.
Below them were two dragons.
Toothless bounded in wide, energetic circles, skidding across sand and hopping excitedly, his chirps echoing through the cove. He darted around the other dragon like an overgrown hatchling.
The second Night Fury stood calmly near the waterline.
It was massive. Sleek black scales gleamed faintly in the light, wings folded tight but powerful, its presence heavy and commanding. It watched Toothless with slow, deliberate movements, head tilting slightly as if indulging the smaller dragon's excitement.
Lucian studied it closely.
"…It's calmer than I expected," he murmured.
Hiccup nodded. "Yeah"
Ariel leaned forward slightly. "It's beautiful," she whispered.
Simba shifted in her arms.
Lucian barely had time to register it before—
"Rrrh."
A tiny, high-pitched roar slipped from Simba's throat.
It echoed.
Down in the cove, both dragons froze.
Two heads snapped upward at the same time.
Toothless' eyes lit up instantly.
He chirped excitedly and leaped straight up, hopping toward the ridge. He looked back at the larger Night Fury, then back up at Hiccup and Lucian, bouncing in place like he was calling it over.
The larger Night Fury lifted its head slowly, gaze locking onto Lucian.
The air felt heavier.
Hiccup swallowed, then glanced at Lucian and Ariel. "…Well. That answers whether they noticed us."
Lucian exhaled once. "Yeah."
Hiccup rose carefully to his feet. "Let's go."
Ariel hesitated. "Now?"
"Toothless is inviting us," Hiccup said. "If we wait too long, that might change."
Lucian nodded. "We should go."
They descended along the narrow path Hiccup used countless times before, careful not to rush. The closer they got, the more Lucian could feel it, the sheer presence of the larger Night Fury pressing against the air itself.
When they finally reached the bottom, the distance between them and the dragons was still wide enough to breathe.
Toothless bounded toward Hiccup immediately, skidding to a stop and chirping loudly, tail whipping back and forth. He glanced back at the other Night Fury again, then nudged Hiccup insistently.
The larger Night Fury remained still.
Watching.
Lucian stepped forward slightly.
And the cove went quiet.
The dragon's head tilted, luminous eyes fixed on Lucian. It took a cautious step forward, then another, slow, deliberate, ready to retreat at the slightest wrong move.
Lucian felt it immediately.
Not through sight or sound, but through the quiet pull in his chest. A tangle of emotions that weren't his own—wariness edged with curiosity, restraint wrestling with instinct. The dragon was deciding whether something before it was danger… or something else.
He swallowed, then slowly raised one arm, palm open. He closed his eyes, forcing his breathing to steady, pushing every trace of fear down and letting calm take its place.
'I'm not a threat.'
The Night Fury shifted.
One careful step forward then another. Its claws barely made a sound against the floor as it leaned in, nostrils flaring. Warm breath brushed over Lucian's skin as the dragon sniffed his hand, then his wrist, inhaling deeply as if memorizing him.
Lucian didn't move.
Seconds stretched.
Then, slowly, the dragon's eyes slid shut.
Its head lowered. The smooth, armored ridge of its forehead pressed into Lucian's palm.
He opened his eyes, a soft smile breaking across his face as his fingers curled slightly against the dragon's scales. The Night Fury pulled back only to begin circling him, movements fluid and soundless. It sniffed his shoulder, brushed past his back, dipped its head close to his chest as if listening for something unseen.
Lucian could feel its curiosity shift, deepen.
Then the dragon stopped.
It turned away from him, presenting its broad back and folded wings. After a pause, it glanced over its shoulder, eyes bright, almost impatient.
Lucian blinked once.
Twice.
"…You want me to—?" Lucian murmured.
He stepped closer, meeting the dragon's gaze. Whatever he saw there—approval, invitation, certainty was enough. He placed a hand against its side and climbed up, settling carefully between its shoulders.
The response was immediate.
Without warning, the Night Fury launched upward.
"WOAH—!" Lucian shouted as the ground vanished beneath them. He clamped his arms around the dragon's neck, pressing close as the wind tore past them. "I'LL BE BACK!" he yelled toward the shrinking figures below.
In seconds, they were gone, nothing left but rushing air and the echo of wings.
Hiccup stood frozen, staring at the empty sky.
He exhaled slowly, then set his hands on his hips. "Huh," he muttered. "That… happened."
Turning, he looked at Ariel and offered a crooked smile. "Well. Guess it's just you and me now."
He extended his hand. "I'm Hiccup."
She hesitated for half a second before lifting her own and tapping his palm from the side softly, uncertain, like she was afraid she might do it wrong.
"I'm Ariel," she said at the same time, her voice light and polite.
The contact made a small pat sound.
They both froze.
Hiccup blinked, staring at their hands for a heartbeat longer than necessary.
"…Oh," he said.
Ariel slowly pulled her hand back, fingers curling toward her chest as realization dawned a little too late. "Was that… not what you were doing?"
Hiccup let out a quiet laugh, rubbing the back of his neck as he turned slightly away. "No, no—it's fine. That was just—yeah. Different."
"…Sorry," Ariel added quickly.
"Its alright" Hiccup said. He laughed softly, rubbing the back of his neck as he turned away and murmured. "Awkward... "