Work Text:
What if Viggo is actually the first to fall asleep at that campsite? He doesn’t have to worry the way Hiccup does, because Hiccup probably can’t sleep because he genuinely believes Toothless has been poisoned.
So, Hiccup sitting up by the dying fire, watching Viggo sleep and wondering how such a monster can look so different vulnerable like this. And then he’s staring at his scar. His guilt complex kicks in. It doesn’t matter that Viggo is his enemy and that it would have been so much easier for him were he actually dead: he still feels guilt.
Hiccup is wondering if all he’s good for is getting others hurt or killed.
He can’t help but look at that scar, and then look at Toothless, who he believes is actively dying.
All this pain and suffering for himself and others because he shot down Toothless and refused to kill him. And now Toothless was going to die a painful death anyway.
Was showing Viggo the same mercy and letting him sleep actually a mercy? What if he were to do it, to kill the beast where he lay?
Anger wanted him to do it. Righteous anger.
But Hiccup can’t make himself reach for any sort of weapon. He does move closer to Viggo, and finds himself reaching a hand out to touch the ruination of his face.
No. He pulls his hand back. It wouldn’t be right to touch his scar like this, not at all.
He stays up for a long time staring at it though, guilt building itself a good, thorny nest in his chest and stomach. And all he can think, looking at a monster like this…
I did this.