Life As We Know It

Rated; M for Mature
Pairing; Hiccup & Toothless(Tallon)
Disclaimer; I do not own anything HTTYD-related. Everything belongs to its original creator.

64)

=Hiccup's POV=
(8/30/2019-10:15 pm)
(Archipelago; Isle of Berk)
(Hooligan Village; Great Hall)

I didn't hold back. I didn't feel like I should have to when my father had multiple warnings not to hurt me again. Evidently from a lot of people. Drake's story revealed that Alvin, Gobber, Heather, Dagur, and Mala were all in on telling Stoick to just let me be happy. Gobber's warning was more like Toothless's, though. I expected nothing less to be honest. I said what I did to my dad, and now everyone knew I'd bee with Toothless for almost three years, that we were betrothed to be married as human, but mated as dragons, and that we'd been having sex for well over a year. I had to admit that despite feeling really crappy about this whole thing; it felt good to have it out in the open. I think a lot of people still don't quite believe Toothless and I are together, but whatever; I wasn't hiding anymore. I never should have in the first place, and I never would again. I love Toothless with my everything, and I'm gonna make sure the world knows it before this night is over. However, this whole thing had to be dealt with first. Right now, everyone is still in shock of all I revealed and that I stated I could not and would not forgive my dad this time.

"Yo-You won't forgive me?" Stoick finally asked, swallowing hard.

"I can't forgive you." I repeated firmly, trying to stay strong. Unfortunately, I really wanted to run away and lay down. I couldn't, though, because of my dad's trickery; I'm now Chief of Berk and can't leave the island until I sort all this out. Of course, knowing all this was not improving my mood or emotional state at the moment. "Now, as I began with, be quiet. Since you went ahead and made me Chief; I've got way too much work to do in figuring out how to get out of all this so I can go back to living my life. The one I built, and wanted. That you selfishly stole from me." I remarked before turning against Toothless and he kissed my forehead.

"You feel warm…" Toothless said.

"I told you all this was stressing me out, and you know I don't respond well to stress of this magnitude…Especially with a migraine…" Hiccup muttered.

"I know. Let's go rest, love. We can take care of all this tomorrow morning, or even after lunch. I want you to be okay first. That is my priority at the moment." Toothless stated. "We've done enough for tonight. Everyone knows your father is showing that he should have stuck to his original name of Stoick the Vindictive over Vast. And you've clearly asserted your new position as Chief. Everyone knows where everyone stands right now. It's enough for one night; you need to rest or you're, and its not to be mean, gonna be useless to do anything if a migraine has you down. So let's be done with this for tonight and pick it up tomorrow. It's been a long enough day, no need to drag it out." He informed gently, looking into my eyes and stroking my cheek lightly. I couldn't help but smile and lean into his touch; he always had the right words.

"Alright." I gave in. Toothless was right; I was done for today. I was Chief now, no one was going to argue with me. Perhaps I'd feel better enough to deal with this in the morning. I really prayed so. "Everyone go home," I ordered.

"Yes, Chief." Most replied and got up to leave their areas. My modern friends did the same, hoping I'd be okay and feel better. Also to let me know if I needed anything or they could help.

"What of him?" Gobber asked, motioning to Stoick. I looked at him, seeing his ashamed and saddened face.

"All other things aside; he tried and intended to kill my mate. Attempted murder is a punishable crime, and he will face trial before the council and me at a later date. For now…" I paused. "Prison hold." Anyone who hadn't left the hall yet, stopped and stared at the shock that I just ordered my own father to be held in a prison cell until trial was held regarding what he did. I didn't care. I couldn't forgive this, and my father needed to face his crimes against me and Toothless. I'd deal with it another day; I needed to lay down and sleep. I was exhausted, despite having slept most of the day. "I want guards on him, and place him in the Gronckle Iron cell. I know he's strong enough to pry the regular cell bars apart on his own."

"Yes, Chief." A few guards stated, bringing Stoick to his feet and hauling him off.

"The rest of you know where your stay areas are…Uh…Toothless, what of your family?" I inquired.

"We're taking refuge in the cove caves. We're fine, Hiccup. Thank you. See you tomorrow morning?" Drake asked.

"We'll let you know, Father. It depends how Hiccup feels." Toothless stepped in as Drake nodded.

"Understood. Goodnight." Drake said as he led himself and other children out of the hall and heading towards the cove. With the Great Hall cleared out, I sighed as Toothless pulled me against him and we shared a kiss before heading to the docks and our boat. After using the bathroom, and changing our clothes; we both laid down on the bed and I know I fell asleep almost instantly.

. . .

(8/31/2019-6:00 am)
(Hooligan Village Docks; Hiccup & Toothless's Boat)

My internal clock for waking up between 6 and 7 am seemed to hit fast after falling asleep knowing I was Chief of the Hooligan Tribe. I groaned as I put a hand to my head and sat up slowly, trying to focus. It was still dark outside as I could see from one of the cabin windows near the bed. I stayed still trying to gage how I felt. Fatigue wasn't bad thanks to all the sleep yesterday, but I was still emotionally drained and the migraine was still happening, but low on the pain side of things.

"Good morning, love." Toothless said as I looked back at him as he sat up and kissed my cheek. "How do you feel?"

"Emotionally drained, still have a migraine…But it doesn't hurt like yesterday. Probably just gonna take some meds, shower, and hope that gets rid of it before it has a chance to get worse than it is now." I said softly. "Really don't want to deal with all this today…"

"I know, Hiccup, but we have to. I can get my answers any time from my dad and siblings. What your father did, was unforgivable, and that needs to be addressed if nothing else. And then we need to figure out how to remove you as Chief. I don't know how your laws work for that thing. I know what you said that the tribe could call for a vote to remove a Chief if they don't make the requirements written in your laws and traditions for the job. But after knowing what your dad was willing to do…I don't think they want to get rid of you and it seemed they took to knowing about us well." Toothless informed.

"Loving someone of the same gender isn't a crime; it's just…Rare, I guess. Their only concern will be if I give them a next in line; taking a wife can be overlooked as with a woman, it would be that we eventually had kids. Without the marriage, and knowing I'm with you; they'll want to know what happens. In the likely case…They'll vote in a new family to assume the throne. The Haddock line would end with me." I said lightly, thinking on the matter.

"Let's not consider everything right now. We only just woke up. Let's get up, showered, and dressed; then to the hall to eat. We can work out the rest later, or in a couple days. We still have to wait on responses from our friends on what they plan to do since some are related to Chieftains here." Toothless reminded. "Obviously there can't be a lot of in and out with the barrier. And we expect it will close again once we pass it to get to Norway."

"You know the one thing I want to understand is how your family is human. I thought that was exclusive to you when we went into Norway, and somehow held coming back here." I looked at him, trying to figure it out.

"Maybe it's just how our species responds to crossing. If they're using modern names and understand the advanced customs beyond the barrier; I have to only assume that they've been there too." Toothless replied.

"Guess we have to ask them. But for now…Let's just get ready to face the day. Dealing with my father is first…I really don't know what I should do. I know what I said yesterday, and maybe he was right about not meaning what I said. I was mad as hell, and hurt at what he did…I just didn't want to be around him. Now that I've slept and calmed a bit, still hurts, but…I don't want to send him to Outcast Island as a prisoner. I don't have much to worry about with him out of power over the tribe…" I sighed.

"Regardless…He was willing to go to such awful lengths to make you do these things. That can't go unpunished, Hiccup. The tribe will look to you to see that a member of the tribe faces their crimes. He was manipulative, cold, demanding, vindictive, and willing to kill me to make you marry Ragna…Not that it would have been any kind of legal because of our status together." Toothless responded as we got out of the bed to start our day.

"I know. I just don't know what punishment would be enough to cover this." I admitted.

"We'll think of something, don't worry." Toothless lifted my chin up and kissed me lightly. "I love you, Hiccup."

"I love you too, Toothless." I hugged him tightly.

. . .

=Normal POV=
(8:00 am)
(Hooligan Village; Great Hall)

Two hours later; Hiccup and Toothless were in the Great Hall before the tribe had come, but now they were all there. Including Stoick. He wasn't shackled anymore, but being guarded by two people close by. It was weird for Hiccup to be sitting in his father's place at the Chief's Table; he didn't have an appetite, but knew he had to eat. This was going to be another long day and he needed to be awake and at his best to handle it. His migraine was still there, mostly on the left side of his head, but it wasn't out of control and beyond painful like yesterday. Hiccup was thankful for that much.. The room was quiet, other than light conversation. Hiccup wasn't talking to anyone, and he had his head lowered while thinking on how to do any of today. The first situation would be what to do with his father. Hiccup knew he couldn't send him to Outcast Island; that was cold, even for him. And he wouldn't stoop to his father's level of petty. Hiccup didn't want his father hurt or thrown from the tribe; he just wanted him to understand that what he did was wrong, and extremely hurtful to his only son.

Gods, there was so much he had to do suddenly and it's why he didn't want to lead the tribe. As soon as his father was dealt with; Hiccup needed to find a way to get out of being Chief. It's not the life he wanted to live. Yes, he knew it was a great honor to be a Chief, but that isn't what Hiccup was all about. Being Chief gave him power, status, anything he could ever want. But it didn't make him happy, and that is what made all the difference. Hiccup had power, status, and everything he could ever hope to have, including happiness in Norway. Hell, just being with Toothless brought him that feeling. Hiccup liked simple, and being Chief wasn't anything easy. Hiccup couldn't eat anymore; he was too stressed out and upset still. Hiccup ended up pushing his plate away and laying his head down on his arms, not looking at anyone anymore. He just wanted this over. He wanted to go home, to Norway.

. . .

(9:00 am)

If Toothless didn't know any better; Hiccup ended up falling asleep after only eating a little bit of his breakfast. Hiccup hadn't moved at all since putting his head down, so Toothless had the theories that Hiccup's migraine got worse, or he actually fell asleep. And he was still like that, so Toothless wasn't sure what he should do; wake Hiccup up or take him back to the boat to rest more? If he fell asleep this easily, then he had to be tired. Things needed to be handled, and then Hiccup could rest.

"Perhaps time to wake him, Toothless. We need him to go forward in things regarding the matter from yesterday." Mogadon stated to Toothless.

"I'm awake…" Hiccup raised his head slowly; it was clear he was exhausted and not in the mood for any of this. But one thing about Hiccup was that he'd do what he absolutely had to right now as Chief. Even if he hadn't wanted to become it; there was work to do and only he could do it.

"Are you okay?" Toothless asked softly.

"Aside from the indefinite betrayal I feel because of my own father, the ridiculous bad mood, and throbbing headache that is becoming a migraine again…Yeah, perfectly fine, babe." Hiccup remarked sarcastically as Toothless sighed a bit. He knew Hiccup wasn't angry at him, but the whole situation could make anyone like this and Hiccup was the victim of it all. "I'm…Not mad at you, Toothless…I just want to be done with all of this…And go home."

"Then let's get it done, together, and get back to our lives." Toothless offered with a light smile of encouragement.

"Dealing with dad first…" Hiccup replied. "We don't need everyone for this," He paused. "Spitelout."

"Yes, Chief Hiccup?" Spitelout responded respectfully.

"Send the tribe off to get to work. Not everyone needs to be wasting their day watching all of this get taken care of. Keep the Berk Council and Chieftains with their Heirs or Heiresses here. And the group of modern guests, and Toothless's family, please?" Hiccup ordered.

"Right away, Hiccup." Spitelout moved to address the tribe. "Hooligans, get to work on your normal daily routine. Members of the Berk Council, leaders, their offspring, modern guests, and Toothless's family are to remain. Order per the Chief." He called. It took some minutes to happen, but soon everyone other than who Hiccup requested to stay was out of the hall.

"Shut the doors, guards posted outside to keep anyone lingering away and on track." Hiccup stated. Spitelout snapped his fingers as guards exited, shutting the doors on their way out; then taking their posts to make sure no one hung around to find out what was happening. "The first thing I want handled is Stoick's trial. I don't honestly think there's need for one, everyone saw what he did and heard what was said. He had full intention to kill Toothless if I refused to marry Ragna."

"Even though the marriage would have been completely illegal anyway." Gobber pointed out.

"And had Toothless returned later and discovered the event taken place; the truth would have come out anyway." Drake sounded from a darker corner of the room; he stood close with his other offspring.

"So the majority vote is that he's guilty of manipulating his own son into becoming Chief, trying to marry him off, and attempting to kill me." Toothless rolled his eyes.

"No arguments here about it. Shocked, and ashamed the man we've had as Chief for so many years would do such a low, dirty thing to his own son." Sven remarked; he was a member of the council along with Gobber, Mulch, Bucket, and Spitelout.

"I have to agree." Mulch nodded. "Sorry, Stoick. I'm with you on a lot of things, but this…It was wrong, and I didn't believe you were capable of being so unfair or cruel…Heartless even. To force your son to take the throne without consulting him first, and apparently knowing he didn't want to do it?"

"You could have claimed Snotlout; he is your nephew by marriage to Valka, who was Spitelout's younger sister. That would have been just as legal as Hiccup being Heir and taking over. And as goof as Snotlout is, with proper direction; he could make a very good Chief as Spitelout ran the village well in your absences before." Gobber informed. "You knew Hiccup didn't want to be Chief; he said it on multiple occasions in Norway to you."

"Stoick shouldn't be the only one facing punishment; he clearly had help from UG, Gunnar, and Madguts." Viggo informed. "None of us ever heard any of this."

"Assuming also that they knew we wouldn't go along with it." Mala added in firmly.

"Other Chieftains are not my problem, nor my territory to deal with. At most, I can dissipate alliances with their islands for their actions against me since I was Chief before these things were done. Regardless; it's a matter for another time. Stoick is a member of the Hooligan Tribe, so I will address that as it falls in my jurisdiction to punish accordingly. I allowed you to stay for this as he the former Chief, and it's easier than sending you home and informing you of his fate later." Hiccup remarked.

"A fair and wise decision." Drake said calmly. "I like the way you think."

Hiccup didn't say anything to him; that was the next matter. Maybe. He wasn't totally feeling great enough to handle more things. But this with Stoick had to happen now. "The Barbaric Archipelago falls in the territory owned by the Kingdom of Denmark, all of which is under the rule of Queen Margrethe the Second…Should we follow Archipelago sentencing, or Denmark?" Toothless asked Hiccup now.

Hiccup considered the question a moment. "We follow our own sentencing to crimes." Madguts stated.

"And I might be inclined to go along with such, but the Archipelago is also known to the rest of the world as the Faroe Islands, an Archipelago, which is defined as a group of islands." Hiccup informed, pulling a folded paper from his satchel and opening it up to reveal a world map. "This is the world we live in. Where we are…Is right here." Hiccup pointed to the Faroe Islands. "And this group of islands is owned by the Kingdom of Denmark, so is Greenland, which is Northwest of us. Denmark sits down here, between Norway and the United Kingdom." He explained, showing each place he mentioned.

"You were told once before that just because you're Vikings who don't leave the Archipelago Boundaries doesn't mean that the rest of the world doesn't know people reside here. Most don't come here because its technology dead zone, and no one charts unknown waters. Unless you're from here. Like me and Hiccup, or Johann, and other traders." Toothless stated. "This Archipelago is owned by the Queen of Denmark, but you are mostly left alone because she understands your way of life and as long as it's not causing trouble; she won't step in and allow you to continue living the way you do."

"And no one really knows about the dragons either, but that's because they change upon exiting the barrier." Cort, Toothless's brother, said with a shrug.

"So you've changed upon crossing as well?" Toothless asked.

"Of course. How do you think we caught on to the modern names?" Drake stated.

"Figured you overheard things here and decided to go along with it, which is not your style given how we left things all those years ago, Father." Toothless snorted.

"Okay, we can touch this subject later!" Hiccup remarked firmly. "Good Odin above, I don't need the bickering!"

"Sorry, love." Toothless said gently. "I told you years ago that my father and I have never seen eye to eye and it's why I left."

"Stoick needs to face his crimes of intending and trying to kill you…This is not the time to be arguing with your father." Hiccup added looking at his own father as Toothless nodded to him, understanding that this was serious. "I should follow Danish Law and imprison you for six years for pre-conceived ideas to kill him, and the attempted murder itself. Hell, it should be worth more than six years. In some countries, this would be worth twenty or more years in prison." Hiccup saw Stoick tense up in fear. "And Viking Laws are harsher. However…" He paused. "I will settle for something easier that should give you time to think about what you did, and maybe ask yourself if it was worth it." Hiccup stood up straight, his fingertips on the table as his father faced him. "Fourteen days in prison, Split up, along fourteen days of community service. One week straight in the prison, two weeks community service, then you serve the remaining fourteen days. You will be guarded at all times. You will be let out for breakfast, and returned to your cell after dinner. In case that wasn't clear, you still spending those two weeks in the prison through the night. We call this a probationary period, and will discuss the matter at the end of your sentence." Hiccup explained.

"Consider yourself lucky because what you did is worth exile from the tribe." Hiccup stated after a few moments. "I don't think you're bad, Dad. I believe at one time or another; you were a very smart, loving, and respectable man. Somewhere after losing mom, you lost all that. Lost your way. You lost yourself." He continued as Stoick looked at him. "I issued a firm and fair punishment to give you all that time to maybe figure out where you went wrong, and bring back what was lost. What I've done is give you a modern sentence which is considered an alternative to years of prison time, but still punished for the act and then plenty of time to give back, think about what you did, and hopefully…Change yourself into a better person. We'll revisit this in one month's time. Your sentence starts today. Seven days, he stays in the Gronckle Iron cell and the guards are to follow standard prisoner protocol."

"Yes, Chief." Replied the council.

"Good." Hiccup said, motioning with his head for them to remove Stoick. "Take him."

Without another word being said, everyone still in the hall watched as Hiccup's facial expression never changed while Stoick was brought to his feet, re-shackled, and taken out of the hall to the prison hold. When Stoick was out of sight, with the doors shut once more. Hiccup glanced around for a moment before closing his eyes. "That's enough for the time being. I have things to check in the village, and then will pick this up after lunch. Possibly dinner, pending results of other things. Dismissed." Hiccup stood straight as Toothless did the same, and stayed beside him. Hiccup opened his eyes and headed away from the table, Toothless following, as they exited together.

"I know it's foolish to ask…But are you alright?" Toothless asked once they were heading down the Great Hall stairs.

Hiccup never looked at him. "No." He responded.