Chapter 14

Not So Fireproof

POV: Hiccup Haddock

The good news: We had managed to catch enough fish to have a good sized dinner on a flat, rocky beach. The bad news: I was singed all over. That, and Toothless regurgitated another half of a fish for me. "Uh, no thanks. I'm good," I said, gesturing to my own fish on a stick, cooking over a fire.

Suddenly, a flock of three or four Terrible Terrors came down, looking to steal what food they could. One snatched the fish head that Toothless had regurgitated. Another tried to steal it from the other. This resulted in an amusing face-off which ended with one launching a jet of fire at the other.

While this was happening, a fish popped up from the pile and began to move away. Toothless watched with a confused expression until it was revealed that a Terror was behind it. Toothless caught hold of the fish with his mouth, resulting in a brief tug-of-war with the Terror, which Toothless won. Swallowing the fish, Toothless did an odd throaty sound that sounded similar to a chuckle.

Offended, the Terror puffed itself up, attempting to look threatening. I hear the hiss that signaled a fireball, but just before the Terror spat it out, Toothless spat a small fireball of his own into the Terror's mouth, causing it to inflate with heat and then immediately deflate. Toothless watched it walk dazedly away with an amused grin.

I laughed at this spectacle. "Not so fireproof on the inside, are you?" I chuckled. I threw it a fish. "Here you go." The cat-sized dragon took the fish and swallowed it whole, quite the feat for such a small dragon. Then the dragon did something I would never had predicted: It walked up to me and curled up next to me.

"Everything we know about you guys… is wrong!" I realized out loud.

HtTYD

I sat at my desk in Gobber's stall, fiddling with my pencil. I had come to draw some modifications for Toothless's saddle, but my thoughts had distracted me. 'We're fighting a war that we don't need to be fighting, with a race that doesn't even want to kill us. Also, what side am I on in all of this?' Astrid's comment still burned inside of my brain. Distracted, I didn't notice my dad come in until he made a noisy entry into the room.

"Dad!" I said, jumping up in surprise. "You're back!" I raced to cover the drawing of Toothless, which were strewn all over my desk. "Uh, Gobber's not here, so…"

"I know," he said sternly. "I came looking for you."

"You- you did?"

"You've been keeping secrets."

"I- I- I have" I said weakly. 'Had he discovered me and Toothless somehow?'

"Just how long did you think you could hide it from me?" he asked sternly.

"I- I don't know—" I began.

"NOTHING happens on this island without me hearing about it."

"Oh?" I was getting more and more scared by the second.

"So… Let's talk… about that dragon."

All color drained from my face. He knew. "Oh, Gods. Dad, I'm so sorry! I was going to tell you, I just didn't know how to—" Suddenly, Stoick began laughing, and I don't mean just chuckling, I mean full-blown laughter, like I had just said the funniest thing in the world.

"You- You're not upset?" I asked, thinking that he had gone mad.

"What? I was hoping for this!" he said, and continued to laugh.

"Uh… You were?" I was confused beyond belief. Why did he want me to befriend a dragon?

"And believe me, it only gets better! Just wait until you spill a Nadder's guts for the first time! And mount your first Gronckle head on a spear! What a feeling! You really had me going there, son!" He smacked me on the shoulder, sending me into the wall.

'Of course. Dragon training. I should have known.'

"All those years of the worst Viking Berk has ever seen!" he continued, happier than I had seen since, well… ever. "Odin, it was rough. I almost gave up on you!" I grimaced at the irony of it all. "And all the while you were holding out on me! Oh, Thor almighty!" He pulled up a stool and sat down. "With you doing so well in the ring, we finally have something to talk about."

We stood in what felt like that most awkward time of my life (although that was taken by my conversation with Astrid in the stall). I opened my mouth, trying to tell Stoick about Toothless, but thought better of it.

"Oh…" Stoick said, disappointed. "I- I brought you something. To keep you safe in the ring." He held up a horned helmet and handed it to me.

"Wow…" I said, at a loss for words. "Thanks." I put my hand on the helmet, feeling the cold steel.

"Your mother would have wanted you to have it," said Stoick. "It's half of her breastplate," he added.

I took my hand off of the helmet. My conversation with Astrid suddenly seemed a lot less akward.

"Matching set," said Stoick, tapping his own helmet. "Keeps her close, y'know? Wear it proudly. You deserve it. You've held up your end of the deal."

This last comment brought all of the guilt festering inside me to the surface. My mind, racing for an excuse, picked the first option. "I should really get to bed," I said, faking a yawn.

"Er, yes! Good! Okay! Good talk! See you back at the house!" Stoick said, getting up to leave.

"Thanks for stopping by! And for the… Uh… breast-hat," I said, coughing the last part.

"The hat," corrected Stoick. "Well… er… good night." With that he squeezed through the door, knocking over several objects in the stall and leaving me to my even further confused thoughts.

My Deus Ex Machina senses are tingling... No notes! Now review this!