My Hiccup 12
It took time and a lot of persuasion, especially for Gobber. He didn't want to drop Hiccup from the pirating program, he liked having the boy with him but he couldn't bear yelling at him for things Hiccup was obviously incapable of doing. The only thing the child could do was sword fight and that was only because Snotlout so "helpfully" pulled Hiccup out of the water during a water rescue challenge they were paired up for and "accidentally" yanked Hiccup's right shoulder out of place. Injuries were not a reason to stop practise unless the victim was unable to walk, unconscious or dying so against his better judgement he made Hiccup participate and used his left hand. And load and behold Snotlout was right. Hiccup was much better with his left hand and could hold his own even against his cousin or worse, Dogsbreath. But Gobber caught the little smirk on Snotlout's face as he watched his younger cousin go up against his friend and while Hiccup was fighting against greater odds he was deflecting each blow and for once not getting hit. For a little terror it seemed Snotlout did care about Hiccup in his own twisted way.
Stoick was ecstatic. He let Hiccup pick out his own sword and had the boy build his first shield, positive that this was a sign that Hiccup was finally adjusting to the program. Hiccup shyly accepted the praise and the new sword and awkwardly took them to his room but not before flashing Gobber a look that clearly said "tell him".
Now Gobber was used to giving parents bad news and that he had to drop their children. There was usually lots of yelling and arguing and Stoick was bond to do the same if not worse but Hiccup clearly didn't want to be in it and Gobber was not going to force him.
"So…ah…you know how we talked about Hiccup's performance in the program?" he started, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
Stoick gave a wide, toothy grin. "He's doing much better. I don't know why either of us didn't pressure him to use his left hand during practise."
"It's probably because we were trying to get him to want to be part of the program and become part of a group. Problem is, Stoick, he doesn't want to."
"Of course he does," Stoick laughed as he walked around the room in search of an old dagger he wanted to give his son to go along with the new sword. "If he's good enough with a sword he could enroll with Flashburn's Sword Fighting School and become a Master."
Gobber rubbed his brow. "Stoick…"
"It'll be perfect! I became a Master there and now my boy's going to follow the family tradition." Stoick turned on his heel and jabbed the air with one large finger. "Val was a Master, remember? She was so beautiful with a sword, all grace and style. Never could harm a dragon but let an Outcast touch our shores and she'd take their head no questions asked."
Gobber shook his head. "Stoick, you need to listen."
"She'd be proud of him."
"Of that I have no doubt," Gobber finally agreed before sighing. "The problem is, he's still not passing his other courses."
"Bah, he'll catch on. He's only been in the program a year and a half…"
"I'm dropping him from the pirating program!" Gobber suddenly yelled just to get Stoick to shut up and listen to him. Luckily it had the shock value it needed and Stoick stopped to look at him. "I told you many times that he's struggling and he's tried telling you. He's finally found his niche but it came at the cost of dislocating his shoulder. He had no other choice but to use his left hand."
"Accidents happen. It wasn't serious and you popped it back in place. He'll be fine."
"I have no doubt of that. Stoick, he's miserable. Let him drop out. He can apprentice for me and continue his studies with Old Wrinkly. The rest the stuff…pirating and such…I can teach him privately. It'll be no different than when I usually care for him. Old Wrinkly can have him while I train the others then he can come to the forge and help me and I can teach him."
Stoick just stared at him, confusion, anger and hurt written on his face. "What?"
Sighing, Gobber sat down and rested his elbows on his knees. "Stoick, please don't be stubborn about this. I'm doing what's best for Hiccup. You can order me to keep him as my chief but as your friend I'm going to tell you exactly where to stick that order."
The younger man gaped at him, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "I need to talk with Hiccup."
"Let him be," the older man insisted. "Come sit down before you fall down. It's not so bad. Hiccup will still get all his training just privately."
Stoick let out a breath he was aware of holding and slowly made his way to his arm chair. He took several deep breathes to compose his thoughts but he couldn't wrap his mind around letting Hiccup drop out of the pirating program was unheard of. If the boy thought he was having trouble making friends with the other kids now it'll be only worse if he was given private lessons. On the other hand Hiccup was the future chief of the Hooligans and entitled to certain privileges. And as Gobber's assistant he would be working to help the tribe. Plus with Old Wrinkly's help Hiccup would be better with ship building as well as help him perfect his swordsmanship.
"Alright," he said finally with a deep defeated sigh. "Alright, if you think this is best for my boy. I'll allow it but I want him practising with that sword and working on his Rudery lessons."
"He's never going to pass Rudery or Bad Spelling but I'll work with him on everything else," Gobber promised. He reached for his friend's hand and gave it a tight squeeze. "It's going to be alright. He's just a little different…and if I recall a little different isn't always so bad."
The Hooligan chief squeezed his eyes shut, a small rarely seen shimmer of tears along his lashes as he thought of Valka. It lasted only a moment before he shook his head and a gentle smile lifted his lips. "Aye, different is not so bad. He'll still make a great warrior and future chieftain."
"And he can still attend the lessons I teach at the Great Hall…if he wants. I'm not going to keep pushing for him and Snotlout to get along. It's not working."
"So I've noticed. So I'll let Hiccup be you apprentice. He likes building stuff anyway and this might help use up some of that abundance of energy he has." He gave a small laugh. "Blacksmithing is a useful trade. It did me a world of good apprenticing for your father."
"That it did."
"And Hiccup will learn to fashion his own weapons as he gets older."
"Much older."
"This could work."
"I'm pretty sure it will," Gobber agreed, eyeing the loft above where he was sure he had seen a curious little face peering over the edge. He grinned widely. "But maybe we should ask Mr. Hiccup what he thinks."
"YES!" he yelled happily in his loudest voice before giving an eep and covering his mouth. He lay on his belly on the floor of his loft bedroom and looked over the edge down to the kitchen and living area where he could hear everything the grownups said. It was rude to eavesdrop but since Gobber had already told him what he planned to talk to his father about it wasn't really eavesdropping was it?
His father met his gaze and the frown on his lips said it all; he was in trouble again.
With a sigh he got to his feet and went downstairs. He kept his gaze on his feet, scuffling one foot over the worn wooden floor as he stood before his Dad. He hated when his Dad was angry. Stoick the Vast had a big voice and sometimes he forgot just how big it was compared to Hiccup's.
Stoick studied him for a long time, his frown deep and menacing, his bushy brows drawn together into one and the lines on his forehead and under his eyes very deep. Hiccup kept his head down. "Son, we've talk about you eavesdropping on my conversations, haven't we?"
"Yes."
"What do you have to say?"
Hiccup looked up with a perplex look on his face. "There's no wall on my loft so it's kind of hard not to hear what you're talking about even if I'm across my room at my desk."
That was not what Stoick was expecting him to say.
"So can I start working for Gobber tomorrow?"
Said blacksmith desperately fought not to laugh at the child's boldness. "It's okay with me."
Over the years Gobber and Hiccup got good at tag teaming Stoick and while the chief was good at dealing with villagers who tried such things he still stumbled when it came to his son and best friend. He gave Gobber and glare then looked at his boy who gave his most angelic look possible. He pointed a large finger at Hiccup's nose. "No more eavesdropping, understood?"
Hiccup gave a curt, military style nod.
"And you…" Stoick started, turning the pointing finger on Gobber.
His old friend smiled sweetly.
"Argh! I'm starting to rethink about you teaching him at all."
Hiccup's eyes grew wide. He launched himself at his Dad. "No! No, you have to let me be his apprentice or I'm going to be stuck with Snotlout the rest of my life!" he pleaded as he scrambled onto his father's lap with his best puppy dog eyes at full blast. "Please! If you love me the way a father's supposed to love their son you'll let me apprentice for him. PPPLLEEAASSSSEEE!"
Now Hiccup's begged for things before but never like this. He looked as if he might burst into tears if Stoick didn't agree right then and there. The chieftain debated between pushing the child off him and sending him to bed and handing him over to Gobber and declare Hiccup his now and forever. Of course in Gobber's mind Hiccup was his already so that wouldn't have mattered any. Still this particular move was a new one on Hiccup's part.
"Alright! Alright!" Stoick relented, something had hardly ever did. "You can be Gobber's apprentice…as long as you continue your studies with both Gobber and your grandfather."
Hiccup's head bobbed up and down excitedly.
"And finish your chores here."
Another bob up and down.
Stoick regarded him with a stern face before finally smiling. "I knew there was a bit of me in there somewhere," he chuckled as he ruffled his son's hair. He gave Hiccup a tight hug and rested his chin on his head. "Alright, Gobber. He's all yours." Taking a deep breath he gently pushed Hiccup off his lap and shooed him toward a free chair. "Now, I'm going to be gone for a few days. There's a gathering of chieftains to discuss the dragon menace. We're planning a joint venture to Helheim's Mist to find the nest."
"Do you think it'll work?" Gobber asked. He learned forward in interest.
"I don't know but it's worth a try and this will be the first joint effort the twelve tribes have done since Grimbeard the Ghastly. We have to do something, Gobber."
The blacksmith nodded. "Well don't worry about our boy here." He reached over and patted Hiccup's slim shoulder. "I'll take good care of him."
"That's what I'm counting on." Stoick grinned at his boy then nodded toward the loft. "Now up to bed, you, and no more eavesdropping or I will have a wall installed up there. Stick a pillow over your head if you have to."
The boy made a face but headed back to his room without argument. He wasn't about to stop eavesdropping, even though he knew it wasn't right to do, he just had to be more careful and maybe a little sneaky or as Fishlegs said, cunningly clever.
Stoick shook his head. "He gets more and more like his mother every day," he told Gobber with a laugh.
Tinkering with his prosthetic arm Gobber gave a little shrug. "Oh, I don't know. He's more a wild blend of the two of you. What time are you leaving?"
"Sun rise. I'm taking a small crew this time. I shouldn't be gone more than a day or two." He raised his mug of mead. "And with luck we'll finally find the nest and rid ourselves of dragons once and for all." They clunked their tankards together and drank to the idea of finally being dragons free.
Neither knew just how much this meeting of the chiefs was going to change Stoick and the war against dragons or how it would affect Hiccup.
