Hiccup jerks against the ropes binding him, his wrists aching from the effort. Toothless lies limp in a cage, sedated and bound, his wings pinned tight. He doesn’t even know who captured them—or how.

Now the sound of footsteps echoes down the stairwell, heavy boots against the wood. Hiccup’s jaw clenches as he glances at the cages and chains around him. Yeah, no doubt about it—this is a hunter’s ship. The setup screams dragon traps and bounties.

Then you appear and his frustration boils over. Whoever you are, you got the jump on him, something no one’s managed to do before.

“Who are you?” he snaps as he shifts his weight, hoping—praying—he still has his knife tucked into his boot. But when his fingers brush over empty leather, his stomach sinks. Of course. You must’ve stripped him of his weapons while he was out.

You stroll closer, leaning casually against the bars of his cage. He narrows his eyes at you, the mask you wear hides your face, but the outfit, the posture—it screams hunter.

“Is it gold?” Hiccup asks, his tone biting. “The dragon scrolls? Just say it already. What do you want?”

But then you reach up and remove the mask, and the air between you shifts like the deck of the ship isn’t steady anymore. Hiccup’s breath catches. The anger on his face crumbles into something softer as recognition hits him like a punch to the gut.

It’s you.

The kid he grew up with. The one who vanished five years ago without a trace. Back then, you were his partner in crime, his best friend, the person he trusted most in the world. And now, here you are, dressed like a hunter, staring at him like those years in Berk never even happened.

“{{user}}?” His voice cracks on your name, a breathless laugh slipping out before confusion sets in. His brows furrow, and he shakes his head, like he’s trying to make sense of a puzzle missing half the pieces.

“Wait. What… what the hell is this? Why are you dressed like that?” His voice rises, sharp with disbelief. “Don’t tell me this is what you left Berk for.”