Title; Our Little Secret
Pairings; Hiccup/Astrid
Rated; M for Mature
Disclaimer; I do not own the HTTYD movies or series!
9: Forgiveness
Two days later and Hiccup was still sick with a stomach ailment, and cold; Gothi had confirmed that on day two when Stoick asked if he'd let Gothi take a look at him to find out what was wrong. At first, Hiccup said no, and by dinner after seeing his father's worried face, he asked if Stoick would get Gothi for him. Stoick sent Gobber to get the village elder and healer since he was the only one who could translate the old woman's runes. Now, on day three of the combined illness, Hiccup was actually at his dad's house again since all the hammering and heat of the forge wasn't helping him get any sleep to get better. Stoick's house sat high on the hill near the woods entrance and Great Hall, so it was hushed and perfect for him to rest up. Perhaps, what shocked Hiccup the most is when he heard Stoick say that Spitelout was in charge until Hiccup was better because his son needed him more than the village did. Hiccup was both astonished and impressed by the action.
Hiccup despised being sick because he couldn't do anything but lay in the bed or use the bathroom to relieve himself. Being a hiccup, his immune system wasn't the best so he got sick easy and he would get it harder than anyone else. Hence why someone who wasn't a hiccup would have been over this illness already, and he was not. Toothless was laying on his slab of rock across from the bed where Hiccup laid in; there was a barf bucket by Hiccup's bedside and a tall cup of water too. Each time Hiccup had a puking spell and stopped, Stoick would switch out the full bucket with an empty one, then clean out the used contained and ready it to change in if Hiccup threw up again. Hiccup missed spending time with Astrid and his friends; he wanted this sickness to be over so he could get back to doing what he loved to do.
Hiccup was laying in bed on the main level after having just woken up from a long nap. Hiccup could smell that his father was cooking, probably something for lunch. Hiccup attempted to eat breakfast, that ended up in the bucket not more than twenty minutes later. As Hiccup woke up, he shifted a bit and groaned; thankfully some of the nausea had faded, and he might be able to eat since he was hungry.
"Son? Is that you?" Stoick asked as he came down the stairs.
"Yeah…" Hiccup replied.
"How are you feeling?" Stoick inquired.
"Less tired than before, nausea fading, little hungry," Hiccup answered.
"Ah, that's good then. Want me to cook ya up something light?" Stoick wondered.
"Maybe not…right away. I'll give my body some time to wake up first, then we'll see. I'd rather not start puking again," Hiccup said.
"Alright," Stoick nodded as he checked my forehead. "You're still warm," he pointed out. Hiccup pulled the covers off and moved slowly to get off the bed, but it wasn't so easily done. "Son, what are you doing?"
"Trying t-to…get up," Hiccup said while struggling to make his body do what he wanted it to do. Of course, the attempts failed as he plopped back down. The only reason he was trying to get up was so he could use the bathroom; it was typically something everyone did upon waking up, but Hiccup wasn't asking his father to help him.
"What for?" Stoick asked.
"J-Just to stretch a bit," Hiccup told him; he would be all right for a bit until he woke up more.
{An Hour Later}
Yeah, now he had to go badly. Stoick was cooking something for lunch and Hiccup was still feeling weak. Unfortunately, he might have to suck it up and ask his father to help him to the bathroom. Suddenly, there was a knock, and Astrid poked her head in to look around. Hiccup had never been happier to see her there.
"It's good to see you awake," Astrid smiled.
"Seeing you has made me feel better," Hiccup told her. Stoick came in now.
"Astrid, I said no visits until Hiccup was no longer sick," Stoick reminded.
"Sorry, Chief. Berk has unexpected guests, and Spitelout tells me you're needed to handle it," Astrid said.
"I made it clear that my son is my priority right now," Stoick informed.
"Dad, it's okay. I'm not going anywhere while you're gone for a bit. You can't neglect your chiefly duties for me. Astrid can watch me for a few minutes," Hiccup said, desperately hoping his father would leave for just fifteen minutes. Hiccup loved that his dad was trying so hard, but that was just it; too hard. Hiccup felt trapped as if his father thought he wasn't able to do anything on his own.
Stoick sighed. "I don't want him out of that bed. I'll be back, and if you…need anything, Hiccup,"
"I know, just yell or send Toothless," Hiccup nodded. Stoick grabbed his helmet, then walked out of the house.
"Trying to ditch him for a bit?" Astrid giggled.
"Gods, just five minutes of being awake without being asked how I feel or if he can get me anything," Hiccup sighed out heavily.
"Well, at least you can't say he doesn't love you. I don't think I've ever seen him stop being Chief just to take care of you," Astrid shrugged.
"I know he loves me, Astrid, but he's smothering me. I honestly think I'm still sick because he won't let me out for fresh air. You heard what he said, not out of bed," Hiccup muttered. "Anyway, now that he's gone, can ya give me a hand?" he added.
"With what? Escaping?" Astrid smiled as she walked over.
"My stomach isn't up for a flight to attempt that, otherwise, yes. No, can you help me get to the bathroom, please? I've been holding it for an hour because I didn't want to ask Dad," Hiccup stated.
"You poor thing. Why didn't you want to ask him?" Astrid wondered.
"There's asking your dad if he'll rub your back to soothe nausea, and then there is asking your father if he'll take you to the bathroom because you're too sick and weak to do it by yourself. You tell me which sounds more awkward, babe. I know him too well, Astrid. He wouldn't stop at taking me in there; he'd stay and make sure I didn't fall or start throwing up again. And ya know, I'm not a kid anymore, so I just don't think that is anything he needs to be around," Hiccup said.
"I suppose I understand; the older we get, the less we want our parents seeing us," Astrid nodded as she helped Hiccup up, then put his arm over her shoulder before walking to the main level bathroom. "You sure you're gonna be okay in there?"
"Yeah, I'll be all right. Thanks, Astrid," Hiccup kissed her cheek while holding the door frame to support himself.
"I'm out here if you need anything. You know I don't care if I see," Astrid then closed the door to give him some privacy. Five minutes later, Hiccup opened the door and came out as Astrid took over supporting him again. Of course, at that moment, Stoick came back.
"I was only gone ten minutes," the man sighed heavily.
"Don't worry, Dad. Astrid isn't trying to spring me free or nothing; I had to use the bathroom, and my legs didn't want to cooperate with me, so she led me over to it, and now we're going back to the bed," Hiccup explained.
"Ah, alright then. Thank you, Astrid. I'm back now, so best hurry along before you get sick," Stoick smiled. Astrid got Hiccup to the bed and then she kissed his cheek before leaving the house. "So, up to trying to eat something?" he asked.
"Maybe some bread; I don't want to push it," Hiccup said. Stoick nodded as he grabbed the knife and began slicing a few pieces for Hiccup. "Thanks," he said when Stoick handed him two pieces to start with. "So, Dad. I was wondering about the other day when you rubbed my back. What made you do it?" he wondered.
"Oh, that. Well, before you were born when I got sick, your mother used to do it to me. I suppose seeing you so ill, I thought about what she might do in the situation," Stoick admitted.
"Huh," Hiccup took another bite. "It…really helped pass some of that nausea, so thank you," he smiled.
"You're welcome. I know I haven't been the greatest father to you, but I do love you, son," Stoick said softly. "I'm sorry about everything that happened. I should have trusted you," he looked down.
"I know you do, and I guess I was a little hard to deal with growing up; being different and all," I shrugged.
"Hiccup, your different ended the war between dragons and humans. You being the way you are changed everyone for the better, and we've got friends with one another and dragons that can never be broken. You made us stronger as a Tribe, son, and I know that one day, you will make a great Chief. I can't say you'll make me proud because I can't be any prouder of you than I already am," Stoick said as Hiccup's eyes widened.
After hearing that, Hiccup couldn't just leave the man hanging. Right that Stoick had been laying on the care factor pretty hard since three days ago when Hiccup got sick; Hiccup could see how sorry his father was about what happened six weeks ago. Hiccup smiled finally. "I'm sorry I got so upset with you that day, Dad. It was heated, I said things I shouldn't have when you were only doing your job as Chief to make sure laws weren't being broken,"
"No, Hiccup. You told me that you and Astrid weren't having sex; I didn't believe you because of everything the village had been telling me about situations they caught you two in. I guess I just got caught up in what they were saying and I knew they wanted me to say something you. All your friends heard the fight, so I assumed others in the village were doing the same. I didn't want them thinking I was giving you special treatment just because you're my son. It was a mess, and I'm sorry for it all," Stoick closed his eyes, feeling ashamed of what transpired.
"Well, it didn't help that Astrid and I do get ourselves into some odd situations when we make out. I get what you were saying, about being a teenager, and feelings taking over. It is a bit tricky to control, but we always stop before it goes too far," Hiccup admitted.
"And I'm very proud of you for doing that, son. I'm…only so hard on you because I don't want you making the same mistakes that I made," Stoick sighed.
"What do you mean?" Hiccup wondered, now very curious.
"Well, yer mother and I as teenagers got caught in a few…perdicaments. We were about ten years apart in age difference too. I was Chief when I met her, she was about eighteen or so. We fell in love right away, and just between us, son; we broke a few rules ourselves. Your mother and I had sex before our wedding, kept it a secret from everyone, but my father somehow new and sat me down the same way I did with you. My dad promised to keep my secret; then on his deathbed, I swore to one day make sure my son didn't do what I did, that I raised him to follow the rules and be the best he could be," Stoick said.
"I understand," Hiccup said as he looked up a bit. "Don't worry, Grandfather Squidface, he's keeping his word," Stoick laughed a little. "Anyway, Dad," Stoick looked at Hiccup now, "I just wanted to say thanks for taking care of me the past few days. I've…loved the extra time with you since we lost a lot back in the day. Also, I forgive you for everything that happened,"
"Oh, son. Thank you, I promise I won't hurt you again. I'll always listen, and try to keep my temper under control," Stoick said.
"All I need you to do is be my dad, not my Chief," Hiccup smiled.
"I can do that," Stoick replied with a nod. Hiccup was about to lean forward to hug him when he fell into a coughing fit. "Alright, easy now," Stoick said. When the coughing stopped, Hiccup held his stomach and then put a hand to his mouth. Stoick grabbed the bucket and placed it in Hiccup's lap just in time before he threw up three times. Hiccup panted a few times as Stoick took the bucket away from him. "It's time for you to get some more rest, son,"
"For once, I agree with you," Hiccup nodded as he laid back down, and Stoick covered him up some. "Hey, Dad?" Stoick looked at him. "I'm happy you're here,"
"And here is where I'll always be if you need anything at all. I don't want you to be afraid to come to me if you have a problem or need to talk. Now, off to sleep with you," Stoick said. Hiccup closed his eyes and drifted off as Stoick relaxed before starting the cleanup.
{End of the Week}
Thank the Gods; he finally felt better! Hiccup woke up without a single ache or nausea, he wasn't tired and just wanted to get outside and enjoy the sunshine! Hiccup told Astrid yesterday that he felt better, but was going to play it safe and stay in one more day. Astrid and their friends were outside the door as Hiccup raced to get outside.
"Hiccup, where ya going?" Stoick asked.
"U-Uh, outside?" Hiccup said. Stoick checked his forehead; no fever and he wasn't pale anymore plus Hiccup had been able to keep down all three meals the day before.
"Alright, go on. If you start to feel sick again?" Stoick began.
"I'll come right home. Thanks, Dad. Come on, Toothless!" Hiccup called as Toothless bounded over. Hiccup was on his back instantly as they raced outside and took to the sky. Stoick stood at the doorway smiling as Gobber came over.
"Back to normal is he?" Gobber asked.
"Hiccup will never be normal, Gobber, but he'll always be my son," Stoick replied as he watched Hiccup flying around with Astrid and his friends/cousins. Hiccup had finally forgiven him, and he would never hurt his son again for as long as he lived.
