My Hiccup 35

Despite Hiccup's increased popularity with not only his tribe but just about every tribe in the Archipelago and not all of it good, he tried having a relatively normal life – if having a dragon for a best friend and training a group of rider how to work as a team could be called normal. But that was next to impossible. When not dealing with Outcasts or worrying about Berserkers, Hiccup often had to break up fights amongst his friends or dragons and think of ways to keep the peace much as his father did with the villagers. He had to listen to problems and found ways to fix it and by the end of the day often felt more tried than he did battling Alvin. He and Toothless would come home exhausted and cranky, grab a bit to eat if they hadn't ate with the other riders at Mead Hall, and go to bed with barely a "hi" to Stoick.

At first the chieftain worried that all this was too much for the boy, after all Hiccup barely had anything to do with chiefing since he was a small boy and now he was leader of a group of teens riding on the back of dragons against foes much larger and greater than them that thrived on killing their enemies, children of not, something Hiccup could never do. Even at his angriest Hiccup always pulled back before allowing someone to die. On more than one occasion Stoick had been tempted put an end to dragon riding and return things back to the way they were – minus the dragon war. But he knew he couldn't. It would break Hiccup's heart to lose Toothless. They were tied at the hip, two sides of one coin and Stoick was sure that if one was to die it wouldn't be long before the other followed. That thought gave him chills at night and sometimes he found himself waiting up much earlier in the morning than normal to check on the two, especially after Alvin and his men managed to capture them only a few short weeks ago. He knew Alvin would stop at nothing to learn how Hiccup trained dragons but as he had learned he couldn't ban the dragons from flying, he couldn't keep Hiccup and Toothless out of the air. So he had to trust in his boy and his Nightfury to take care of each other when Stoick could not and that was becoming increasingly impossible. Hiccup simply couldn't stay still, he never could and Stoick had to accept that.

But Hiccup was stressed out a lot of the time, always worried about whether or not he was teaching the others the right stuff with the dragons and pouring over his notebooks and everything left to him by Old Wrinkly. He mumbled to himself a lot as he tried to come up with ways to stop Alvin and keep the Outcasts off Berk. At one point he even considered making a rescue effort to get Mildew back who had betrayed him than helped him escape only to get caught. Stoick dashed that one. There would be no attacking Outcast Island. Mildew was most likely dead by now. Alvin rarely kept prisoners for long unless they were of some importance to him and while Mildew and Alvin had history it wasn't enough for the Outcast chief to spare the old man's life.

What disturbed Stoick the most though was that his son was no longer the happy go lucky boy who, although always fighting to prove himself, had a big smile and bright dreams for the future. The only time Stoick even saw a glimpse of that boy was when Hiccup was alone with Toothless and simply playing together. He was still full of sass and sarcastic remarks and imitated people near perfectly but he almost always looked tired or on edge but never slept in like he once did. He was up early, made sure all the dragons were feed if they hadn't gone hunting on their one, and cleaning stalls whether it was Toothless's or not – not that Toothless ever slept in his stall. He was dedicated to caring for the dragons and proving they were friends. He also tried looking after Mildew's farm. The boy worked more hours than Stoick it seemed and no amount of talking made Hiccup listen to reason.

"And here you feared he was nothing like you," Gobber teased as they watched Hiccup and Toothless fly by on the way to the Academy for the four or fifth time that day, the other riders flying behind in a V formation. "There's no doubting he's your son now. Workaholics the both of you."

"Aye, but I'm starting to miss MY Hiccup. Some days I don't even see him," Stoick grumbled as he leaned against the forge wall at stared after the teens and their dragons. "You remember…the one that never listened and searched for trolls rather than fishing. Now he's netting fish to make sure those beasts are fed every day." He gave Thornado an apologetic grin and reached down to scratch his near flat head. "Nothing personal, Thornado."

Gobber paused his work on a Deadly Nadder's tooth. "Wasn't that the Hiccup you used to complain about all the time?"

The chief grunted in response.

"Well if it makes you feel any better I'm worried about the boy, too. When's the last time you saw him smile? I mean really smile?" He tapped the new metal tooth in the Nadder's mouth then undid the strap holding its head in place. "Alrighty, you're all done, boy. Off with you now." He laid his tools on the table and wiped his hand on his dirty trousers.

"Too long," Stoick admitted with a sigh. "It seems only Toothless can make him smile…if they not both exhausted and dragging themselves to the loft. Yesterday I found them out cold in the barn and had to carry him home. I thought I might have to carry the dragon too!"

Gobber chuckled. "Have you talked to Astrid?"

"No. When she's not with the riders she's training with her mother. But she doesn't seem nearly as exhausted."

"Snotlout?"

Stoick glared at him for even mentioning his nephew. Snotlout and Hiccup were getting along much better but Stoick still did not trust him with Hiccup's safety, not completely.

"No? Fishlegs?"

"Ah…Fishlegs is as concerned as I am. He's the one who brought it up actually." He stared off toward the academy. "The lad's working them all to the bone. Training exercise after training exercise."

"Hmm…reminds me of a captain that used to train his troops day and night," Gobber pointed out as he leaned on the wall next to his friend. "Stoick, I love Hiccup, you know I do. He's been like a son to me since the day he was born. Sometimes I notice things you don't. That's why you made me his guardian, isn't it?" He waited a moment until he had his friend's full attention. "The boy's scared, Stoick. He's frightened. He was captured by Alvin, torn away from his only real protection; Toothless, and locked in a cell for days with little food. We all know what the Outcasts are capable of and how they often treat their victims. If he wasn't your heir and the Dragon Trainer, they would have killed him and devoured his flesh…or worse."

Stoick didn't want to think about the "or worse". He'd heard of the things the Outcasts did with the captives they didn't kill or make join them. He never wanted to see his son in that situation.

"He's just trying to protect the others," Gobber continued. "Despite the way they used to treat him, Hiccup is very protective of each of them, even Snotlout. He doesn't want to see any of them get hurt."

Stoick let his breath out slowly. "I can understand that, Gobber, but he's going to end up hurting himself at this rate. He needs to take a break."

"Oh…now listen to who's giving advice about taking breaks. When's the last time you took a break? One that lasted more than five minutes?" the blacksmith challenged when Stoick gestured he was taking one right now. His face brightened. "That's it!"

"What's it?" Stoick snapped as he turned to stare at his excited friend.

"Hiccup needs a break and you need a break…"

"I'm in the process of building new walls to protect against attack," Stoick objected, seeing where Gobber was going with this.

"You're both taking a vacation!" Gobber announced, waving off Stoick's objection.

"No, I'm not. Hiccup is."

"We'll get a council ruling on it."

"That's mutiny."

"Gothi'll agree it's a mental health issue. Healthy chief and heir make for a healthy tribe."

"Gobber…"

"Yes?"

"Don't you dare."

Gobber gave Stoick a cheeky smile and the chief knew it was a lost battle before his friend even contacted the rest of the council or Gothi. Gobber would not rest until he made sure father and son got some much needed rest and relaxation. And as much as Stoick hated to admit when his friend was right he had to when Hiccup wandered in their hut late that night looking even worse than he had since losing his leg. Hid tunic was torn and hands bandaged up as well as one cheek and one shoulder hung, the arm appearing useless. Stoick didn't normally worry about a few scraps, that was normal for a warrior or even a dragon trainer but this was way above the usual.

"What happened to you?" he demanded, crossing the room in six long strides.

His boy blinked and looked up. "Uh…oh…yeah…hand to talon combat. Astrid's idea."

Stoick stared at him in shock. "Hand to talon combat? Toothless did this to you?" He glared at the guilty looking dragon behind his son. The Nightfury's hung his head and backed away from his rider knowing he was in trouble.

"No…Hookfang actually. We switched dragons for it. I guess Snotlout and Hookfang are used to playing rougher than Toothless and I do." He gave a large yawn. "Toothless and Hookfang ended up in a fight and well…I got mowed over." It was said in such a matter-of-fact way without even a hint of amusement or laughter. Not at all like his usual self. It could be because he was tired or he might be hurt worse than what showed on the outside.

Stoick took Hiccup by his good arm to the table and lifted him onto it in order to get a good look at his injuries. It took the two of them to get his vest and tunic off without injuring his right shoulder more. The shoulder was dislocated but the arm wasn't broken so Stoick popped it back into place. He had to commend Hiccup, the boy didn't cry out like he would when he was little, he merely grunted and squeezed his eyes shut. The other injuries were mere scratches and nothing a bandage couldn't fix. "Astrid's a bright girl, Hiccup, but ideas such as this can get someone killed. If any of you actually had to fight a dragon one on one none of you would win in a hand to talon fight. That hand would be gone and so would your head. If she argues that then point her in my direction and I'll set her straight."

"And five minutes later she'd be chasing after me and saying you're unreasonable…again," the boy mumbled and he fingered a bruise on his hip.

"Again?"

The boy looked up, paled slightly and then acted as if he said nothing.

Stoick breathed in through his nose and let it out slowly. He was not going to lose his temper over something so foolish. Hiccup was already over stressed and now injured he didn't need a lecture to top it off. "Well it's a good thing you and Toothless are home. We need to talk."

"What did I do?" Hiccup asked automatically.

One side of Stoick's mouth curled in a grin as he rubbed salve over his son's bruises. "Nothing that I know of…and I knew everything that happens on this island." He raised a brow in playful challenge hoping to catch a glimmer of a smile pass over Hiccup's face but the child only looked tired and irritable. "Alright… Looks like Gobber's right."

"About what?"

His father eyed him for a minute then nodded to himself. "We're going on vacation."

Hiccup just stared at him, his face blank except for the tired bags under his eyes. Then he laughed but he wasn't the joyous sound Stoick had hoped for but a hollow version of it. "Vacation?" he asked before shaking his head. "I don't have time for a vacation. There's too much to do. The riders and I aren't even working as a team yet. There's target practise and getting everyone to work together with their dragons and learning when to let the dragons lead. Then there on battle on the sea practise and Astrid's right…we need to know how to fight without our dragons to protect us and I'm horrible at that. I can't even throw her. I can't throw anyone. I can't go anywhere until Berk is safe from Alvin."

Stoick felt much the same way but seeing his son in the state he was he knew it was time they took a break away from all the chaos that seemed to surround them since they made peace with the dragons. "Berk will be fine for a week without us. We leave in the morning."

"What? No… Dad, I can't. We can't. What if Alvin…"

"Gobber's rebuilt the armory and Spitelout has been strengthening the catapults. Everything will be fine while we're gone and Astrid can lead the other riders for a few days. She'll have them whipped into shape for you."

"Or killed."

It was unsettling to hear his boy speak so harshly of the girl he had a crush on pretty much from the time he could walk. It only proved how tired and worn out Hiccup was. "I'm sure they'll be okay. Have you had dinner?"

Hiccup nodded but Stoick could tell it was a lie. He was looking a little thinner than usual which was not a good sign whatsoever.

"Right then. Go get some sleep then pack a bag. I want to be off by dawn."

Hiccup gave a pitiful moan then hopped off the table and stomped up the stairs, his metal foot clanging all the way and across to his bed.

Stoick rolled his eyes. "Teenagers," he grumbled. He glanced at Toothless as the Nightfury stared up the stairs debating between following his boy or giving him time to vent. "I hope he doesn't give you this much trouble," Stoick teased as if reading the dragon's mind. He thumped down on his chair and went back to craving the wooden duck he had been working on before his son came home. "I'll be happy whenever puberty finally ends and he's an adult. With luck he'll be more reasonable by then."

Toothless bleated an agreement and curled up by the hearth. He had been trying to get Little Freckle to relax and have fun for weeks with no success. Ever since the Outcasts had captured them Hiccup had been on high alert and preparing for the worse but truth be told, Little Freckle was not a warrior and was much more fun to be with when he was relaxed and full of smiles. Maybe a vacation was just what they all needed.

. . .

The next morning Stoick expected to see Hiccup packed and ready to go. He had awoken early to get last minute issues dealt with and make sure that the council knew exactly what was going on – even though Gobber had already contacted everyone the night before. So when he returned he thought his son would be waiting and ready to go. Well Hiccup was awake but was already gone with Toothless. It didn't take a generous to know where he was so Stoick didn't rush after him. He took the time to pack his son's saddle bags then connected them as well as his own to Thornador's saddle, locked up the hut – Gobber had a key if he needed to go in for reason – then headed to the Dragon Academy.

Sure enough his boys were there with the other rider already working on whatever training session Hiccup had come up with which looked like a mixture of aerobatics and target practice. Stoick left Thornado at the entrance and strolled into the arena. No one took notice of him at first, he visited quite often, sometimes only to watch. So no one thought to warn Hiccup when he came right up behind his son.

"Alright… Tuff, Ruff, you two need to start working as a team and quit fighting amongst each other. If the Outcasts attack who have to work together. Barf and Belch are one dragon, you two need to think as one," Hiccup instructed, his hands on his hips.

"Uh yeah, does that include…" Tuff began, looking toward Stoick.

"Yeah, maybe turn around and listen to your own…"

"Guys, we don't have time to argue about this," Hiccup continued, oblivious to his father being there.

"Hiccup," Astrid tried while Snotlout tried gesturing with his head toward his uncle.

Only Fishlegs thought to try something else. "Uh…hi chief," he said loudly in greeting.

Hiccup jumped and whirled around. "Dad?" he yelped before letting out an indigent cry as he was suddenly flung over his father's shoulder. The world was suddenly upside down and all he could see was his father's backside and feet.

"I believe this belongs to me," Stoick joked giving Toothless a wink and nodding toward the exit.

"Dad! Put me down! We're training," Hiccup objected, trying to kick his way free only to have his father tighten his hold, especially over his metal foot that could do some real damage if Hiccup put his mind to it.

"No, they're training; you're on vacation until further notice. Chief's orders." He chuckled merrily as Hiccup continued squirming and trying to break free. It was useless of course. Stoick's grip was like iron and not one person or dragon would dare try to stop him.

"Wait," Tuffnut called. "If he's on vacation does that mean we're on vacation?"

"No!" Hiccup yelled.

Stoick paused for a moment. "Astrid's in charge, ask her."

The girl in question grinned brightly and the other kids groaned in despair. Hiccup instantly stopped struggling and flopped against his father's back. He had lost this battle but at least he knew the riders would continue training without him. There was nothing he could do to stop his father from making him take a vacation, especially with Toothless taking his Dad's side. Stoick flew Toothless while Hiccup sat behind him and Thornado followed close behind. It was the first vacation they took in years and it was going to be their first real father/son time together in a very, very long time.