Just a quick author's note: For anyone following this story it will be updated on a very inconsistent basis. Since I'm splitting my time between this, my Gustav Larson story, and RL don't expect regular updates. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to read!
On with the show.
Spring 1943 – The South Pacific
Lieutenant Herman "Hiccup" Haddock landed his new Grumman F6F Hellcat easily on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hooligan. He and the plane were a new transfer to the carrier group and still needed to report to his escort carrier and new squadron leader. But first he'd been ordered, no, commanded to report to the commander of the carrier group first.
It was unheard of for a naval aviator to report to the group commander. But not if said commander was none other than Admiral Stoick Haddock, Hiccup's father.
After his fighter was taxied to a holding spot on deck and he drew out all of his post flight checklists, Hiccup saw no more reason to put off the meeting. He made his way to his father's office using the directions provide by the deck officer and miscellaneous crew along the way.
Eventually he found himself outside the Admiral's door. Honestly he had no idea what his father could want to speak to him about. With a knot in his stomach and full of trepidation, Hiccup knocked on the bulkhead. "Enter," said a gruff voice with a slight Scottish brogue.
Stoick looked the same as he did four years ago. Red hair and beard neatly trimmed and combed with maybe a little more silver at the temples and chin. Not a hair out of place and not a speck on his khaki duty uniform. Were as Hiccup's hair was mussed from his flight cap and he was still in his flight clothes and harness that were wrinkled from sitting in the cockpit for so long.
He could already see a frown forming as the Admiral's eyebrows came together. "Herman," his father said by way of greeting. "It's been a long time."
"Four years, sir," Hiccup said thankful his voice was steady.
"Aye," and Hiccup could have sworn he saw something that might have been regret flash across the older man's face before being replaced with cool professionalism.
"Well, you're here now," the Admiral said as if that would erase the last four years.
"Sir," Hiccup interrupted. "Just why am I here? Sir." He knew he was being insubordinate, but it had been a long flight and he just wanted this uncomfortable meeting to be over.
"No reason. Just a father wanting to see his son. You've done well for yourself." Stoick almost sounded proud.
But Hiccup didn't want his father to be proud of him for this. "If you can call being good at killing 'doing well' for myself."
"Herman…" his father began and Hiccup just did not want another fight right now. Fighting the Japs was enough.
"Admiral," Hiccup interrupted again. "If there is nothing else I still need to report to Commander Davis and hopefully get some rack time in."
"Of course Lieutenant," and Stoick matched Hiccups professional tones. "Dismissed."
"Sir," and Hiccup gave a proper salute and left.
The officers' mess hall was nearly deserted. It was well past the dinner hour for the day shift and evening shift was already on duty. So Hiccup had the pick of places to sit, if not eat. Corned beef hash from fresh from a can tasted pretty much the same as hours later.
He was pushing the gray brown meat around his tray when someone suddenly sat down next to him. Not like on the same side of the table with space between them, but literally right next to him on his left. Practically in his lap.
Surprised Hiccup looked over at the blond man to tell him to respect personal space when a new body sat down on his right. Just as uncomfortably close. Hiccup quickly looked right to see a womanized version of the man.
"Do you mind?" snapped Hiccup as the pair leaned in.
"No," they said together.
"You must be the new guy," the woman purred at him.
"Are you gonna eat that?" said the man.
"Just who are you people? How about giving a guy some breathing room?"
"Don't mind the twins," a new voice advised. "They're always like that."
"And you are?" Hiccup glowered.
"Sorry, I'm Lt. Junior Grade Walter Ingerman, call sign 'Fishlegs'. And these are LTJG Tommy and Ruthie Thorston. Call signs 'Tuffnut' and 'Ruffnut' respectively or just 'the twins'."
Hiccup was stunned by the recitation. These were some of his new squad mates. He'd only had a moment to glance at the file Commander Davis had given him, but the names sounded familiar. Before he could even think of introducing himself, Lt. Ingerman continued.
"And you are Lt. Herman Haddock, call sign 'Hiccup'. Newly assigned to Dragon Squadron and the new leader of Black Wing. You have 13 kills qualifying you for Ace statues and the son of Admiral…"
"You can stop now Fishlegs," said a fourth new voice as a stocky black haired man sat at the quickly filling table. "I think he knows who he is
"I know Snotlout. But I memorized his file. The one Commander Davis gave us and…"
"Yeah, we know Fishlegs," interjected a woman's voice as a fifth person sat down at the now full table.
Hiccup was now boxed in with the twins on either side, Fishlegs in front and to his right. The man Fishlegs called Snotlout to in front and left and the new, (and Hiccup couldn't help but note) stunningly beautiful blond in-between them and directly in front of Hiccup.
Even though she hadn't said much all the others seemed to defer to her. It didn't seem like an accident that Fishlegs and Snotlout had left the space in front of him open. They'd left it open for her.
"Lieutenant Astrid Hofferson. Lt. Hofferson to you," she said haughtily.
"You're all Black Wing?" Hiccup guessed. He may not have finished the paperwork he'd been given but who else could they be.
"That's right," Hofferson said with hostility. "And I should have been Black Wing Leader. Not some wannabe hotshot who's only here because his Daddy pulled some strings."
"Ah, Astrid I don't think…," Fishlegs started to say before getting cut off.
"Can if Fish," said Hofferson without looking away from Hiccup.
"Look," Hiccup tried to reason with her but was unable to keep the annoyance from his voice. "I'm just following orders. My orders say to report to the USS Berk and join Dragon Squadron as Black Wing leader. That's it. So if you have a problem with that Lt. you can take it up with Commander Davis. And for your information I could give a flying flip what my Father wants. My transfer was put in by Davis and approved by Fleet Command. That fact that the Admiral of this carrier group is my father has absolutely no bearing on my being stationed here." And without waiting for a replay Hiccup stood without another word and left the mess hall.
He could feel the eyes of his new wing on his back as he made his way to the squad's barrack and hoped that being assigned to Dragon Squadron wasn't Fleet Commands idea of a joke.