For the whole of the next day Hiccup actively and earnestly avoided Jack. Every time the two teens eyes met, Hiccup didn't show annoyance, but rather pure hatred. At first the brunets hostility hadn't fazed the prince. It had no reason to. Not talking to the boy had been all he asked for. However soon he found himself wishing to hear Hiccup's sarcastic remarks, not catch his irritated glances. Plus, the death glares he was receiving sent chills down his back, but most importantly, he was bored.

"Hey Hiccup," the prince said unnaturally enthusiastic as he crouched by the sitting Hiccup. "How has your day been?"

Hiccup didn't look up from his drawing, he just closed the book to stop Jack from peering at it. After what seemed like an eternity, Jack tried again.

"If this is about yesterday, you need to forget it," he continued, "It was nothing and you overreacted." Jack had hoped what Hiccup would say after that particularly stupid line would go along the lines of:

"Gee, Your Majesty. Your right, as always. I was a stupid idiot for involving you in my petty insecurities, only for you to not have my head on a stake. (Jack couldn't do that even if he wanted to, Princes had to abide by law too, you know). However can you forgive me? I only hope worshipping you for the rest of my life is payment enough."

Jack was more than shocked when Hiccup only got angrier. Face red and teeth clenched so much his jaw hurt he leaned in as he looked Jack straight in the eye. Jack could feel his breath.

"If you think this is nothing, you have got the wrong idea," Hiccup hissed. Glaring at the prince a last time, he stood and walked away to leave, before Jack grabbed his wrist. Hiccup stared down at the pale hand before looking up at the person the hand belonged to, disgust etched on his face.

"Then tell me why it's nothing," He didn't sound dismissive. Hiccup narrowed his eyes, studying the teen in front of him.

"Why should I?" he asked, simultaneously yanking his hand from Jack's grip.

"So I can understand what I did wrong?" Hiccup waited. He expected Jack to laugh in face and tell him it was a joke. As if he would care. However, Jack continued to stare expectantly at the boy. He gave in.

"This book is my personal belonging, Jack. Only 3 other people, have my permission to look inside of it, one of which is a dog and the other is dead," when the prince's expression change to one of confusion, he tried a different approach. "Imagine laying out all your secrets, feelings, faults, all the things no-one should look at, and some jerk gives his opinion on it."

Oh, now Jack saw why Hiccup was so upset. "I guess, I shouldn't have done that." The brunet let it go, he supposed that was the closest Jack would ever get to an apology. There was a silence, then:

"Do you care about anyone else but yourself?" The question took the blue-eyed boy by surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"I meant have you ever done something for someone else or put their feelings into consideration."

Jack had the decency to look ashamed.

"How do people even like you? Do you even have friends?"

He didn't but neither did Hiccup. And then he was angry. How could Hiccup lecture him about friends, when he didn't have any himself.

"What about you?" the anger surprised Hiccup, "I've never seen you around people willingly before. I've been with you almost a week and not once has someone showed a liking to you. Everyone around you thinks you're a failure." It was true, but it didn't mean it hurt less. Especially the failure bit.

"That's what it means?" He muttered.

"What?"

"My name. It means failure, mistake. I'm a hiccup." Now it was Jack's turn to be surprised. He had never heard of someone naming their child a mistake.

"That's not..."

"My dad took one look at my premature body and declared I was made wrong." He continued bitterly. "That's a nice reminder to grow up with."

"Maybe, it was something else. Have you ever asked your father."

"No. I already know. I don't want to hear it from him." He paused, the dryly laughed, "I don't know why I'm telling you this. As if, His Majesty, would care for my troubles." And with that he left.

Jack didn't believe a word he heard. He knew Hiccup wasn't the most built person he had met, and there was a big difference between what Stoic looked liked and what Hiccup looked like, and if he was being honest Hiccup had probably made a lot of mistakes, but there was no way any parent could give the meaning of their child's name as 'mistake'.

Hiccup was sitting in the main room, trying to come up with what kind of dragon the old rocking chair, that sat in the corner, would be. The book was on his lap as he stared at it, but he couldn't concentrate. An hour ago when his father came home, Jack had gone straight to the man. He tried to pretend he didn't care, he was probably congratulating the man on the way he named him. He instantly regretted telling the prince about one of his biggest insecurities.

Hiccup sighed. He couldn't draw when his mind was so pre-occupied. He instead opted for a walk. As he went to find his shoes, he heard his father call his goddamned name and flinched. He hesitated, then sighed again before answering him. The gruff man emerged at the door to the main room, a somewhat pensive look on his face.

"Son, we need to talk."

The younger brunet scoffed, "about what?" The remark only made him frown deeper.

"Jack told me about how you felt."

"Of course he did," Hiccup muttered, "It's nothing." He had hoped to end the conversation, but of course not. The gods hated him.

"It's not nothing. Do you really think you're a mistake? He looked Hiccup in the eye, voice firm and sincere.

"So what?"

"You're my son, not a failure!"

"Are you sure about that?," Sarcasm dripped from his voice.

"Why would you think you're a failure?"

"You can't answer a question with a question," Hiccup countered.

"Your stalling." Stoic said harshly. "Tell me," he continued, his facial expression softening.

"You called me Hiccup." His voice was stained and the brunet really didn't want to talk about it.

"You need to tell me more than that."

Hiccup looked down, fists clenched, "It means mistake."

It felt like someone had poured a bucket of water on Stoic. For the 17 years of his life, Hiccup had misunderstood his naming story, so much so, he believed his existence was unwelcome.

"Hiccup, look at me," Stoic stepped closer, trying to get Hiccup to understand, "Me and your mother had wanted a child for years-"

"I guess I wasn't what you expected." Hiccup added cynically.

"No, you weren't what we expected. You were better. Listen, your mother was having trouble getting pregnant, we were ready to give up. Finally, the gods answered our prayers. When she found out about the tiny you growing in her belly she did the best she could to get you ready to enter the world.

"Even when she got sick, she wouldn't let you go, despite everyone saying she should abandon you. The day you were born..." Stoic put a hand on Hiccup's cheek, gently rubbing his thump over it. Hiccup couldn't help but relax under the touch. "I could feel the joy radiating off her, even to this day. Her smile would have put the sun to shame that night. She laughed, tears rolling down her cheeks and falling unto yours, repeating 'They said I couldn't do it, they said I should give up'. When I asked her what we should name you, she hiccupped. She tried again, but it was the same response. She only laughed harder, saying it was what the gods wanted." He laughed gently, a soft longing in his eyes.

"You were so small and frail, I thought I would break you when I held you, but you in my arms made my world complete." He looked down again and Hiccup saw the longing was gone, just a tender love. " I'm sorry I didn't tell you early son, I made you think you were worthless."

"It's okay," Hiccup answer, he felt lighter. Even if all his insecurities towards himself hadn't magically disappeared, a giant worry that had weighed him down was gone. Plus, it felt nice talking to his dad about his mother, something they didn't do often, "The only thing you should apologise for is naming me after a bodily reaction."

Stoic laughed softly, "I guess."