Author's Note: Hello, everyone and welcome back to another edition of "Sticks and Stones!" =D So, Hiccup's sarcasm is...hilarious. But sometimes, he uses it as a defense mechanism or to hide how he's really feeling. I guess this one-shot kind of goes along with "Put On a Show" but post HTTYD 2. =)

Also, I have to respond to this review because it made me laugh. XD RainyRaven9: I made pasta come out of your nose? Wow, I feel like I really accomplished something! XD And, yeah. I update like the wind. X) I try to keep my posting schedule consistent so you guys don't have to wait a while for a new chapter. =) Also, I do virtual school and I try to get my work done early so I have time for writing/posting in the evening, which I manage to do pretty well. =D Don't feel ashamed of yourself, though! Schedules, school, work...they get in the way sometimes and that's okay! =) As long as you update your story every once in a while, no matter how long the wait for a chapter is, you're completely fine! =D

Annnyyyway, here's "Don't Hide Behind Your Sarcasm!" I hope you guys enjoy it! =D

Summary: Hiccup's sarcasm is a notable feature about the young viking. Sometimes, it gets him out of trouble, or gets him into it. Other times, he uses it to hide his true emotions, which is why Valka is concerned for him when he begins to act dry. (Post HTTYD 2.)

Don't Hide Behind Your Sarcasm

Hiccup's sarcasm was one of the most notable traits of the young viking. It was something that was a part of him. One of those many things that made Hiccup, well, Hiccup. He never went a day without using his sarcasm. His dry humor sometimes got him out of trouble, or it would get him into it. Back when he was still overlooked by his village, Hiccup's sarcasm was irritating to most. But when he defeated the Red Death and earned the Berkians' respect, his sarcasm wasn't always known as annoying or aggravating. Some now found it humorous depending on the situation that they were in. Others came to accept that it was a part of Hiccup, and they didn't pester him much about it. Astrid said that she found Hiccup's sarcasm rather amusing, but she sometimes wished that he wouldn't revert to it when it came to hiding his emotions.

Being Hiccup's mother, Valka felt that she should know everything about her twenty-year-old son. Hiccup had told her everything that she had missed. He told her how the Berkians shunned him and when he first met Toothless. He told her how he had constructed his dragon's tailfin, defeated the Red Death with the help from his friends, and all of the adventures that he and his friends had shared together with their dragons and how they saved and discovered new dragon species all over the archipelago.

And Valka had listened to everything her son told her. She watched as Hiccup grew excited when it came to talking about dragons, old adventures that he had shared with his friends all leading up to the recent battle with Drago. Valka absorbed everything that her son told her, and she felt that she knew everything about him in just that short amount of time. But she couldn't help but feel guilty that she wasn't there for Hiccup all those years. She had abandoned him, thinking that he would be better off without her when he suffered through all those years of being shunned by his village. Overlooked by his father. Teased by kids around his age and even his own cousin. Valka knew that Hiccup forgave her, but she still felt remorseful, and she made a promise to be there for Hiccup and make up for all of those lost years. Starting with getting him to step out from his defensive wall of sarcasm.

Astrid—the wonderful, amazing girl who Valka had soon found out was Hiccup's girlfriend and betrothed—had talked to Valka about Hiccup too, and Astrid seemed rather pleased to finally know her betrothed's mother. Valka was fond of the Hofferson girl, and she could tell that she and Hiccup were perfect for each other. Astrid loved Hiccup, which was why she came to Valka, concerned about Hiccup's recent behavior.

Astrid wasn't the first to notice Hiccup's change in demeanor. Valka had seen it too. Astrid had told Valka that Hiccup often hid his emotions, something that she wished that he wouldn't do so much. Astrid told Valka that he had gotten better at talking about how he felt when he needed to, but it seemed that after Stoick's sudden, unwanted death, Hiccup had reverted back to hiding his true feelings.

Valka was just as dejected as Hiccup, and the young chief had suffered from nightmares after the battle, watching Stoick get shot by that plasma blast almost every night. Valka had been there to comfort him, but when morning arrived, Hiccup would put up a barrier, a barricade between himself and those who wanted to help him. Valka could tell Hiccup needed help. She could tell that he was hurting. Hiccup couldn't even mention his father without looking broken. Hiccup needed help. He needed comforting. But whenever Valka asked if he wanted to talk, he would say that he was fine, but Valka knew that he really wasn't.

Hiccup used his sarcasm and dryness to hide his true emotions, and Valka decided it was time to break the wall.

Valka sat on a chair at the table, tapping her finger against a cup of tea that she had in her hand. She was waiting for Hiccup to return from his chief meeting. Valka tried her best to go with Hiccup to every single one, but that day, she was busy with keeping the baby dragons under control and preventing them from destroying any of the newly built buildings.

After some time, the front door creaked open and in stepped Hiccup. He looked tired, and Toothless slipped in front of him. The Night Fury looked exhausted. Now that Toothless was the alpha, that meant he had to go around and make sure that other dragons weren't causing any trouble. Hiccup and Toothless were both chiefs. They were both alphas, and Valka was proud of them both, but she could see that they were both still trying to adjust to their new roles and were currently worn out from all of the running around the village and making sure things were going smoothly.

"Hello, Hiccup. Toothless," said Valka. "How did it go at the chief meeting?"

"It went late. Again," replied Hiccup with a small roll of his eyes as he walked inside. He shut the door behind him and Toothless, and the Night Fury immediately flopped into a corner and curled into himself, promptly falling asleep. Hiccup laughed.

"He's tired," he said. "Toothless spent most of his time chasing after rogue baby dragons."

Valka smiled. "Poor thing. He probably wants a break."

"Yeah," said Hiccup. "I promised him a relaxing flight once I get the time to."

Valka watched as Hiccup stepped inside and sat down on the couch. Valka took the spot next to him. She didn't know what to say or what to do. She knew she shouldn't blatantly say that he should open up a little about his father, especially since he was wounded on the inside, but she knew that Hiccup needed a little push, but she decided to take things slow.

"So, what did you talk about at the meeting?" asked Valka.

Hiccup shrugged. "Just the usual stuff. Home repairs, food storage, keeping an eye for Drago…nothing new, really."

Valka nodded. She placed a hand on Hiccup's shoulder and said, "You're doing a wonderful job, Hiccup. Your father would be proud of you."

Valka saw Hiccup stiffen. The young chief nodded.

"Y-yeah…he would…" he said. Hiccup then stood up quickly. "I…I'm gonna go and turn in."

"Already?" asked Valka. "Aren't you hungry? I made—"

"N-no, I'm fine," said Hiccup. "I'll…I'll be upstairs." With that, Hiccup walked up the stairs and to his loft without saying goodnight. Valka placed her cup of tea aside and followed Hiccup, upstairs, knowing that he wasn't getting ready for bed. She walked up the stairs and entered Hiccup's room, where he was sitting hunched over a pile of papers at his desk. Hiccup was scribbling across the pages, trying to distract himself from what he was really feeling.

Valka walked over to him and said, "Hiccup, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," Hiccup replied. "I'm fine."

"No, you're not, dear," said Valka. She stood by his side. "Tell me what's going on. Do you want to talk about it?"

"Oh, sure," Hiccup said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. "That'll make things so much better."

"Hiccup."

The young chief shook his head. "I-I'm sorry. I just…don't feel like talking…"

"You've been holding in your feelings for too long," said Valka. "I know that you miss your father and—"

"I'm fine, Mom," said Hiccup emphatically. Valka could tell that he was lying.

"Hiccup, please," said Valka, almost pleadingly. "Talk to me. I want to help."

Hiccup shifted where he was sitting, debating whether he should tell his mother everything that he had been feeling since his father's death. Debating whether he should tear down that wall of dry, emotionlessness, and sarcasm that he had held up for weeks on end. Hiccup closed his eyes and let out a sigh Valka crouched in front of him, caressing his cheek with her thumb.

"Hiccup, what's wrong?"

Hiccup looked up at his mother, his green eyes flickering with sadness. "I just…I…" Hiccup chewed his lower lip. "I-I miss dad…"

"I know," she said. "But it's more than that, isn't it?"

Hiccup sniffed. "I don't know what to do. Everyone's expecting for me to have the answers, everyone's relying on me, and Dad was always there to help me when I was stuck and I…" Hiccup looked down. "I just want him back…"

Valka pulled Hiccup into a hug as silent tears ran down the young chief's face. Hiccup had become chief of Berk at such a young age. He was only twenty, carrying the entire Isle of Berk on his shoulders. Carrying his people and the dragons on his shoulders. It was a heavy burden, and Hiccup felt like he had to do things on his own quite often, but he didn't have to. He had help.

Valka pulled back and ran a hand through Hiccup's hair. "I know you miss your father; I do too, and I know it's hard…and it will take some getting used to, but you have people who can help you. You have me, Astrid, your friends…" She lifted Hiccup's chin. "You don't need to hide how you're really feeling. Holding everything inside isn't good. You don't have to carry your burdens alone."

"I…I still miss him…" Hiccup said.

"I know you do," said Valka softly. "But talking helps. Taking a day off if you have to helps…You can always come and talk to me if you need to. It does help sometimes."

Hiccup nodded. He chewed his lower lip. "I'm sorry about kind of snapping at you earlier…I was just…"

"It's okay, Hiccup," Valka said. She squeezed his shoulder. "I know you've been going through a lot. You need rest."

"Sleep does sound pretty good right now," Hiccup said. He yawned and he stood up from his desk. "I think I'll go to bed now."

Valka stepped aside and allowed Hiccup some room. Once he climbed into bed, Valka blew out the candle for him and placed a kiss on his forehead. Hiccup fell asleep soon afterward and Valka headed downstairs, realizing how much she had missed Hiccup during her time with just the dragons. She realized how much Hiccup had changed since he was a baby, and now he was a young man. The chief of Berk.

Valka went to her own bedroom and sat on her bed for a short amount of time. Hiccup needed guidance. He needed help. And even though she knew she wasn't Stoick, she was going to help him the best she could.

He was her son after all.

Author's Note: Mother/son bonding. Love it. =)

I hope you guys enjoyed this one-shot, and I'll see you guys in whatever comes next for "Sticks and Stones!" (Hint, hint, it's an arc! =D)

Until the next chapter!

-BeyondTheMoon1203