Boy from Berk

7 • Stoick is Stubborn and Hiccup is Pissed

"Wait, wait, wait..." Stoick said, stepping back.

Everyone looked at him.

"H-How can you be so sure?" He asked quickly.

We all looked at each other, then back at the chief.

"I mean, he's right." I said. "It could just be a coincidence."

Gobber stood beside his friend and said something we couldn't hear. Stoick took a deep breath in and looked back at me.

"My son..." He said quietly before wrapping me up and a bone-crushing hug.

"Oh dad- that's great and all but I would like to live-" I said breathlessly.

He pulled away and put his hands on my shoulders, smiling down at me.

I weakly smiled back at him, then slowly turned away, staring at the pond.

Astrid walked up to me slowly.

"Hiccup, what's wrong?" She said, taking my gloved hands in hers.

"I just... I don't belong here, Astrid." I said quietly.

Stoick walked up beside Astrid and looked at me.

"Then how can we change that?" He asked seriously.

Astrid let go of my hands and stepped away.

"You wouldn't understand." I muttered.

Astrid and Stoick exchanged glanced then looked back at me.

"Try me." He said.

I looked up and sighed.

"Promise me you won't freak out." I said after a moment. He nodded and I turned around.

"Come on out, Toothless." I said, looking around the cove.

A second later, the Night Fury was slowly creeping toward us.

My dad reached for his axe but Astrid stopped him quickly.

"Dad, this is Toothless." I said, turning to face him. He didn't look very happy.

"Care to explain?" He asked gruffly.

"Toothless is my-" I paused. "Toothless is my best friend."

"Best friend?!" He repeated loudly. "It's a dragon!"

I looked at him seriously.

He sighed and massaged his temples. "Hiccup, they're our sworn enemies."

Toothless snarled and wrapped his tail around me protectively.

"Dad, Toothless has been with me my whole life." I told him, placing my hand on the dragon's head.

"Hiccup, are you even hearing me right now?!" He yelled.

"Are you even hearing me?!" I yelled back.

Everyone was silent for a long time. My dad and I stared at each other angrily while Gobber and Astrid looked at each other nervously.

"Dad, can you please just listen to me?" I asked pleadingly to break the silence.

He sighed and shook his head.

"I don't want to hear another word of it." He said before storming off.

Gobber was about to follow but he turned around and looked at me.

"Come to the village in the morning, lad." He said before walking away.

When Stoicknand Gobber were gone, I yelled in frustration, throwing my hands up in defeat.

Astrid walked over to me and led me to the pond.

We sat down, quickly joined by Toothless, who wrapped his tail around us both.

"I just wish he would listen." I said.

Astrid nodded. "I think it's been a really overwhelming day... For the both of you." She said, putting her hand in mine.

"No, he's just-"

"Stubborn?"

I blinked at her and she smiled.

"At least now I know where you get it from." She said.

I smiled and squeezed her hand lightly.

"Thank you for helping me." I said.

She looked away. "You would've done the same for me."

"You've only known me for like three days." I chuckled.

She looked up. "It feels like I've known you my whole life."

We both stared into each other's eyes for a moment, blue locked on green.

Then she looked away and cleared her throat.

"So, what now?" She asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Your father wouldn't listen to you and if you don't do something about it you're going to lose your best friend." She explained.

I sighed and stared at the water in front of us.

"So what are you gonna do about it?" She asked again, looking at me.

I looked at her and shrugged.

"Probably something stupid." I smiled.

She smiled back and punched my shoulder.

I jumped and rubbed the place where her fist had hit.

"Why, Astrid? Why?" I winced.

She threw her head back and laughed.

"You're an easy target." She replied.

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