Nearly a month passed of Hiccup healing and gaining back weight. Now, as the sun shown beautifully as it rose in the distance, it was finally time to go home. Snotlout had agreed to stay with Hiccup at his house until he was feeling better because the nurse advice him to be in the line of sight of another just in case.
"Alright Haddock. Ready to head to my car?" Hiccup smiled with a shrug, following Snotlout outside. He was on crutches because the cut on his leg-now stitched up a second time- was still healing after yet another dangerous infection. Hiccup hadn't managed to gain the nutrients he still needed, but insisted on going home. This mean that he had to take the feeding tube supplies home, paid by insurance and his father.
"Ready as I'll ever be. Hold these?" Hiccup held out his crutches while holding onto the side of Snotlout's truck. His cousin nodded, taking the crutches. Hiccup opened the passenger door, balancing on his right foot because his right leg lacked it's prosthetic to prevent sudden sparks of pain.
The drive home was mostly quiet, but Hiccup could tell something was on Snotlout's mind. After the two boys came to a stoplight, Hiccup couldn't take it anymore and slouched in his seat with his hands up. "Alright Snot. What's on your mind? Out with it?" Snotlout's eyes widened at the sudden command, but he nodded as the light turned green.
"There's two things actually. One is-as much as I hate to say it- I was wondering if Fishlegs could head over?" Hiccup's forest green eyes widened at the question. He personally took a liking to Fishlegs, Snotlout on the other hand...
"Fishlegs? Fishlegs Ingerman?" Hiccup's voice sounded beyond surprised and Snotlout rolled his eyes, grabbing a coke from the nearby cup holder. "Look...I'm failing English, Biology, and Spanish. The coach told me it was study with Ingerman or lose my place in the playoffs." Oh, that's what it is. Hiccup thought as his mouth formed an 'O' shape.
You see, why as Hiccup lacked the passion for sports in the family, Snotlout was head of the football team (next to Astrid) and loved the high school wrestling team similar to Tuffnut Thorsten, another one of Hiccup's more...distant friends. His sister, Ruffnut Thorsten, was on the girls cheer squad Astrid was on last year before deciding she liked the tomboy approach more.
"I get it. Sure, the more the marry-er. So...what about your second question?" "What question?" "Snotlout..." "Okay! It's more of a statement actually." Hiccup folded his arms, looking at Snotlout expectantly who chewed his bottom lip.
"Well...it's just you are aware that Astrid's only got three months to go right? I'm kind of worried about her. What if something happens? She's our star..." Hiccup knew deep down that Snotlout wasn't just talking about sports, and he sucked in a deep breath as the words hit him in the heart like knives.
With a shaky breath, Hiccup gripped the door handle and sighed. He played with a loose piece of the tape that held the rubber-like feeding tube in place on his cheek. "Sh-she'll be fine." Then with a more confident voice, he looked at the puffy clouds above. "She has to be."
Snotlout nodded, and they stayed quiet until they got to Fishlegs' house. The large boy with short blond hair, loose orange shirt, fur boots, and basketball shorts sat in the back end with a book in one hand, soda pop in the other. He looked up at Hiccup after finishing his most recent chapter in his book the rescue he was reading, and a confused look took over his features.
"Hey Hiccup? What's that on your cheek?" Fishlegs questioned the boy who raised an eyebrow. "We've been in the car for six minutes Fishlegs! You're just now noticing this?" "I was reading Hiccup! You know how I am!" Hiccup chuckled to himself, leaning his seat back so he could look up at Fishlegs from a slanted position. "That I do. So...you got the book I asked you about?"
Fishlegs rummaged through the big black backpack he had, pulling out a small comic. "Serpents heir, coming right up!" "Thanks!" Hiccup stole the comic away, holding the book above up to the light. He'd been dying to read the comic to one of his and Astrid's favorite movies.
"So..." Fishlegs started, unsure of himself. "About the tube on your cheek." Hiccup frowned, not making eye contact. "It's a feeding tube. All of my doctors have been telling me I'm underweight for years now. After going into that comma I'm sure Snotlout told you about after the accident, they said I needed to take something to keep my nutrients stable." Fishlegs nodded, looking at Snotlout who shrugged. The cousin glared in the review mirror, telling Fishlegs not to go any further. That what the relationship between him and Hiccup. 'No one can hurt or pick on my cousin but me.'
Fishlegs nearly yelped as Snotlout's glare caught him off guard, before nodding and leaning back. With the two boys reading in the back seat and Snotlout listening to Nickleback with his headphones while driving, they arived to the Haddock household quickly.
Hiccup got out of the car with his crutches, Snotlout grabbed the bag with the tube supplies and medication Hiccup was prescribed with. The three boys headed inside to be met by the playful barks of Cloudjumper. Hiccup shouted in surprise as he was knocked to the floor, the dog licking his face.
"Woah, woah! Cloudjumper calm down buddy! You can't damage that!" Hiccup pushed the dog off of him, wiping the saliva off the bandages on his cheek. He reached for his crutches, heading for the couch and sitting down. Not even a moment later though, he got a text on his phone.
Hey Hiccup! I heard you're home from the hospital today and was wondering if we could come over? We're still staying with my aunt, but she really needs a break and I want to see how you're doing. Dad's really worried too because he's been too busy working while you're gone.
Hiccup read Astrid's text with a warm smile. Mr. Hofferson had been working with his friend on houses at the same time he was working his original job. Ingrid had also started babysitting full hours. The two were trying to make money to pay for the supplies lost in their destroyed house. Astrid had also been selling little trinkets she'd been making with her wood burning skills.
I don't have any problem with you guys coming over. Snotlout and Fishlegs are going to be studying at the dining room table though. You don't mind the feeding tube right?
Wait...Snotlout and Ingerman?! Seriously!? Also you know I don't mind.
It's a loooong story.
Hiccup chuckled, telling Astrid he'd prepare dinner. He told Snotlout and Fishlegs who was coming and both didn't mind. He lay back on the couch, Cloudjumper curling up beside his foot. The dog sniffed the stiches in his owner's leg, but didn't both the wound.
With a smile, Hiccup closed his eyes and listened to the two boys at the table half bickering-half studying. He took out his phone and turned on one of his playlists, popping his earbuds in. With a sigh, Hiccup stared at the roof, trying to imagine what was to come in the future.