Reviews reply :

To AJ : Thank you for your review ! About what you said concerning a spin off, sure ! As long as you credit me for The Lost Boy AU, you can write one. Please send me a link when it's done, I would gladly read it :D


Homecoming 3
(after Book 4)

Gobber ran all over the village to find Hiccup. He never knew where to find the chief exactly, making it a peculiarly exhausting trip for him and his old back. He had checked the shed, the Meat Hall, the smithy, the healer hutt but only had found Joke and Elska there, then finally Hoark told him Hiccup was in his workshop.

''Hiccup ! I've been up all night !'' He claimed as he entered the small building. ''It's just a first draft, I'm gonna be honest, it's brilliant !''

He got interrupted as Toothless suddenly peeked from behind the large workdesk, half of his face painted in green. The black-smith frowned in confusion before leaning on the side to look behind the desk. Hiccup was kneeling there, trying to wipe out the green mess his dragon had obviously done. There was a whole puddle of green paint and a lot of prints from the dragon, who was happily licking his face.

''Huh Hiccup ? What happened ?''

''What could possibly happen when you use dragon nip as paint ?'' The chief growled back. He had paint on his back and hair too.

''Why would ya do that ?'' Gobber argued.

''I didn't ! The twins tricked me ! I knew I shouldn't have asked them for help, they're always pulling pranks, they're worst than Joke himself !''

The blacksmith snickered at that, then Hiccup stood up, pushing Toothless away as the dragon tried to lick his hair.

''Anyway, you talked about a first draft ?''

Gobber beamed at that and showed him the script. Actually, it was not really just a first draft, because the more he was explaining it to Hiccup, the more details he was coming up with and adding to it. By the end of the presentation, the script was actually completely done. Gobber was so enthusiastic he didn't let time for Hiccup to make some review the blacksmith was already dragging him in the village and asking for people to work on the decorations for the pagent.

The following days were busy and, even if Gobber was managing the whole pagent preparations, Hiccup tried to keep an eye on it. When he finally managed to get a hold on the script to read it, Gobber was already making casting.

''Great news, chief. After exhausting casting, we found our Hiccup !''

''Yeah ? Gobber, actually, I wanted to ask you about the whole Hiccup character in the story, you know-''

''Hiccup ! Present yourself !'' Gobber barked.

Hiccup looked up to the in-building stage to see the actor coming up, already in costume. An oversized long-sleeved green tunic with as oversized fur vest, a pile of reddish sleeves packed on the head, came Tuffnut. He walked with his back straighter than usual but was hanging his arms and turning his feet towards the middle, making him walk awkwarldy.

''Tuffnut ?!'' Hiccup protested.

''Tuffnut, give us a taste !'' Gobber prompted, smiling broadly.

Tuffnut took a breath and opened his eyes to make them look round and oversized, then he took a high-pitched voice that made him sound ridiculous, slightly pinching his nose.

''Heh, a dragon is coming ! Aaaah, help me ! Help… huh… huh… Line ?''

''Me ?'' Gobber said.

''Right. Me !''

''Are you serious ?'' Hiccup tried, before being cut by Gobber.

''Great ! Now let's see you run away and fear !''

Tuffnut obliged and started to hop around, flailing his arms while making wipping sounds. Gobber laughed.

''Look at those knock-knees ! The split gait of a newborn lamb !''

''I do not run like that !'' Hiccup protested. '''Do I run like that ?''

Gobber smirked and looked back to Tuffnut, who was still acting.

''Which brings me to a bigger point, huh… I read the script, Gobber, and I have some notes. I'm not sure the character of Hiccup is coming through huh… quite as heroic as I was.''

Seeing Gobber didn't seem to listen, Hiccup closed the book and his shoulders saggered.

''I was pretty heroic, no ?''

''Oh mate, I think we got the just of it !'' Gobber laughed, elbowing Hiccup so hard he lost his balance and dropped the book.

''But that's not in anyway me !''

Joke arrived on the stage with a copy of the lines in hands, walking absentmindly towards Tuffnut.

''Hey Hiccup, I was just-'' He stopped as he looked up from the paper and noticed it was Tuffnut, then he looked around and spotted Hiccup next to Gobber, who was snickering even more.

''Are you serious ?!'' Hiccup groaned.

He pinched his nosebridge and Joke took use of it to wink at Gobber, who laughed even more. He loved to tease his husband, he just couldn't resist it. The casting carried on and Hiccup had no room left to convince Gobber out of taking Tuffnut as Hiccup. Next casting was now focusing on finding a Stoick. Even though it was obvious the blacksmith wasn't giving any credit or attention to any note Hiccup could have, he still insisted the chief was there to 'work' with him. Joke and Elska were also watching while the kids were with Eret and Astrid, shopping and taking care of the Night Lights and Toothless. Lumiverse, for her part, was chilling next to Joke, delighted by the few strokes he would give her between two actors autidionning.

Even Gorefrid had tried to impersonate their former chief but he was not good enough for Gobber's demand. The last performer they had seen was pretty mediocre.

''Better luck next time, Haggis. Nice effort.''

Hiccup was really getting bored and had started at least an hour ago to wonder what he could have done instead of being stuck there.

''Who's next ?'' Gobber asked.

''Fishlegs Ingerman, reading for the role of Stoick the Vast.'' Said viking anounced as he stepped in the middle of the scene.

Hoark used his shield to reflect light on the actor, whiel Fishlegs was getting into his rôle. His habit of hunching and his high-pitched voice was foresaying he wasn't really fitting the role, however he surprised them. When he started to recite the line, he straightened and and took a deep voice, so deep and so accurate he actually sounded like Stoick himself.

''If I don't return, know that all I am, all I do is for you, my precious Hiccup.''

''Wow…'' Hiccup breathed, before he leant towards Gobber. ''So, you're thinking what I am thinking ?''

''Yes I am. This isn't working.''

''What ? Not working ?''

''Yeah, you're right. I should do it !'' Gobber stood up and walked to the stage. ''No, no, don't try talk me out of it.'' He climbed to the stage and pushed Fishlegs out of the light, stepping in instead. ''I knew Stoick best.''

Hiccup rolled his eyes while the blacksmith cleared his throat.

''If I dun return, know that all I am, all I do…'' He stopped his lines as he started to cry. ''I miss him so much. I just need a moment.''

Hiccup sighed and looked over his shoulder to his husband and mother-in-law. Elska was grimacing with sympathy while Joke was facepalming.

''Ta-tadah, we're doomed.'' Hiccup sighed.

The following hours turned out more like torture than anything else, Gobber insisted to play Stoick's part in the show and he was repeating with the other actors, mostly Tuffnut, while the rest of the team was building the decorations, Joke helping out for the painting part. The actors had to stop on several occasions because Gobber would burst out in tears at random moments, wailing like a child sometimes.

By the time Astrid and Eret brought back the children, they were following the wails. Haldrik ran to Hiccup and hugged his thights since he was too small to reach him, then looked at the stage.

''Is uncle Gobber okay ?'' The boy asked.

''Yeah, don't worry Hal, he's just a bit emotive.''

''He looks like an overgrown baby.'' Zephyr smirked while Daylight was chewing on her boot.

''Way to represent Stoick the Vast…'' Eret mused out loud.

Astrid elbowed him in the ribs to hush him, making him jump and making their daughter laugh. He picked up his girl and found himself attacked by a grumpy Night Light who had just lost his chewing toy.

''I take it as the pagent isn't really progressing.'' Astrid hesitantly said to her brother and brother-in-law.

Joke winced as a reply while Hiccup sighed, running a hand on his son's head while the other was rubbing his eyes. Then he walked to the stage to join their cry-baby.

''Gobber, are you sure you're gonna be able to do this ?''

''I hoped it wasn't noticeable…''

''I know, it is, but… Gobber, think of the kids. We're doing this for them.''

''Aye, Hiccup, aye.''

If the chief had though this day was long, he was sure to think this about the following one. Black Plague Friday was always a pain every year, but this one was going to hold records.