Author's Note: My gosh, Jack really outdid himself. It's snowing like crazy where I live, and the weather said that it won't stop until tomorrow. Outside, it's just blankets and blankets of white. I'm so happy. =D I can't wait to go out and chuck some snowballs at my family and make snowmen. XD

Anyway, welcome back to another edition of "Sticks and Stones!" =D I had a lot of fun writing this particular one-shot, and it is one of my favorites out of the ones that I've written. Hiccup and Snotlout's relationship is kind of complicated but since they're cousins, they still come around for each other when they need to. They are family after all! =)

I hope you guys enjoy this one-shot! =D

Summary: Hiccup and Snotlout are complete and utter opposites. But even though they seemingly despise each other, they do look out for each other when they need to. (RTTE.)

We're Cousins Whether We Like It or Not

Snotlout was annoying.

Correction: Snotlout was downright aggravating.

"I'm bored," whined Snotlout for the hundredth time that night. "And it's cold. So cold! I'm freezing over here!"

Hiccup turned to Snotlout who looked anything but freezing. But the Jorgeson boy hugged himself as if he were in the coldest region in the entire archipelago.

"Can I start a fire?" he asked Hiccup.

"No," whispered Hiccup exasperatedly. "Now will you please be quiet. We have now idea who's out here, and we don't want to drag anyone out toward our location."

Just the previous day, Astrid had returned from her nightly patrol and reported that she had seen some strange movement in the forest near the southern beach on Dragon's Edge. It was the farthest beach, meaning that whatever occurred on it wouldn't be able to become known right away, which was why Astrid was concerned when she spotted footprints littering some areas of the beach. She landed and investigated the beach some more and was able to spot some burned firewood, meaning that whoever was on the island had been camping there for a while.

Hiccup had taken action immediately. If there were Hunters spying on the Dragon Riders, that would mean any dragon secrets and important dragon eye knowledge was in danger. Hiccup didn't want the Hunters, Viggo, or Ryker to gain any information that they could use against the Riders or dragons. It was his turn to take patrol, but Snotlout had skipped his turn for looking around the island, which meant that the Hiccup had to bring him with him so that Snotlout could remake for his missed turn, which he didn't like at all.

Snotlout hated that Hiccup practically forced him to come out in the dark when he didn't want to. He wouldn't even let him start a fire! Snotlout was fed up with Hiccup telling him what he could do and what not to do, and he was beginning to grow really irritated about standing there in the dark with nothing to do and no warm fire. He was cold! He probably would catch hypothermia if he stayed out any longer!

Snotlout shivered and said, "Why don't we just leave? There's literally nothing out here Hiccup. There's just a bunch of sticks, stones, our dragons, and nothing but pure silence. This is a waste of time! I say we just go back to the Edge. Or you can make this better for me by letting me start a fire, so I don't freeze to death!"

Hiccup closed his eyes. He was starting to get really fed up with Snotlout's constant complaining and disregard for the Edge's safety. Hiccup wished that Snotlout would just open his eyes and realize that what they were doing was important and if they didn't catch whoever was lurking in the dark, the Dragon Riders, their dragons, and multiple other dragons that lived in the area would either get hurt or captured. "Snotlout, can't you please just be quiet for a couple of minutes?" hissed Hiccup.

"No! No, I won't, Hiccup!" snapped Snotlout in a tone that was far louder than Hiccup would have liked it to be. "You're not the boss of me! You think you can just go anywhere and do whatever you want and tell everyone what to do just because you're the chief's son. Well guess what, Hiccup? I can make my own choices, and I don't need you forcing me to do stuff that I don't want to do!"

Hiccup turned around to face Snotlout and he laughed dryly. "Seriously? You think that just because my dad is the chief that I can just tell everyone what to do? Snotlout, you don't do anything I tell you to almost all the time! You just care about yourself and half of the time we've been out here you've just been complaining and whining and not even focusing on actually watching the beach! I didn't force you to come out here; you had to come out here. You skipped your patrol, and that's not my fault!"

"Yes, it is!" shouted Snotlout. "If you weren't so bossy all the time, I wouldn't feel the need to rebel against you!"

Hiccup balled his fists and snapped, "For once can't you just put aside your personal needs and think about the safety of the Edge?!"

Snotlout growled. If that was how Hiccup was going to treat him, he didn't want to be anywhere near him.

"Fine," said Snotlout angrily. "If you think that I'm selfish and irresponsible, you probably don't want us here, right?"

But before Hiccup could respond, Snotlout was already storming off with Hookfang following not too far behind. Hiccup crossed his arms.

"Sometimes I just can't even with him," Hiccup fumed. Toothless warbled at his side and Hiccup looked down at him. "I know that he's a Dragon Rider too, Toothless, but he never thinks about anyone but himself most of the time. It's…it's annoying."

Hiccup looked out toward the beach and sighed. Snotlout wasn't just a Dragon Rider; he was Hiccup's cousin too. He really didn't know how they were even related. Most of the time, Hiccup guessed that Snotlout was adopted. They were complete and utter opposites and had almost nothing in common. Snotlout didn't even act as if he were related to Hiccup. For years he had made fun of the young viking and didn't feel the need to say sorry until later. Hiccup had accepted his apology (which didn't sound much like an apology, but Hiccup could tell that Snotlout was trying), but he still couldn't help but get somewhat irritated by his cousin's behavior. He was brash, loud, and extremely arrogant. Something that Hiccup didn't find nice whatsoever.

If there was one thing that Hiccup wished it was for Snotlout to actually act…less arrogantly. Sure, Snotlout had come through some times, and he had proven himself as a Dragon Rider too, but Hiccup sometimes (almost all the time) wished that Snotlout would think less about himself and more about others. It would make it a lot easier to cooperate with Snotlout, and possibly a lot easier to do important things like partnering up for patrol missions.

"I should probably go and apologize…" mumbled Hiccup. Even though Snotlout had drove him up the wall and wasn't being very helpful, that didn't give him the right to yell at him. Hiccup sighed and straightened out.

"We should get back, Bud," said Hiccup. "We'll trying finding whatever's out here another—"

Hiccup cut himself off when he heard a twig snap. He turned around just in time to see a club make contact with his forehead. The young viking fell to the ground and felt himself being hoisted up violently. He looked up to see the familiar, unfriendly face of a Dragon Hunter.

"Look what I found in the bushes," he announced to his fellow Hunter who was standing next to him. The second Hunter smiled evilly.

"Tie 'im to a tree," he said. "And we'll start getting information out of him."

Hiccup shuddered and his head pounded. He knew that whatever method the Hunters were going to use to try and get what they wanted from him, they weren't going to be pleasant.

And with Snotlout and Hookfang gone, he was alone with no one to help him.

…

Snotlout was fuming. He stomped through the woods, cracking twigs and kicking stones that got in his way. He grumbled and muttered about how Hiccup was too bossy, too demanding, and too pushy. Did he mention how Hiccup was bossy?

Hookfang watched his rider's behavior. He wasn't on Snotlout's side or Hiccup's side. The Monstrous Nightmare watched as Snotlout picked up a stick and hurled it as far as it could go. For some strange reason, this seemed to make Snotlout even more angry.

"UGH! Can you believe him, Hookfang? Just yelling and shouting about how I'm full of myself?" exclaimed Snotlout to his dragon. "He's so…so overbearing! He's the selfish one! He practically dragged me out here without my consent and forced me to sit in the cold. I bet that was his plan. He dragged me out here so he could freeze me to death!"

Sntolout kicked a large rock and pain shot up his foot. He recoiled instantly and began to hop around on one foot.

"OW!" he cried. He glared at the rock then continued his way back toward the Edge. Hiccup hadn't followed him, and Snotlout was glad for that. Hiccup deserved to be stuck by himself; he seemed to not want Snotlout around, so the Jorgeson did him a favor and left.

Snotlout couldn't stand his cousin sometimes. He was always seemingly the perfect one and he always got all the attention. Even when Hiccup messed up, he always seemed to have a backup plan and was able to pull the Dragon Riders out of trouble. Hiccup was always the hero. Hiccup was always the leader. Hiccup this. Hiccup that. Blah, blah, blah…

Snotlout grunted. He had no idea how he was related to the chief's son. He used to be known as a weak, scrawny boy who couldn't even lift an axe and now he was known as the Dragon Conqueror. The Dragon Master. The leader of the Dragon Riders and nothing less.

And what did Snotlout think about this? He didn't exactly hate that Hiccup had gotten most of the attention. After what he had gone through, he deserved it. Several Berkians would've been dead if it weren't for Hiccup and his quick thinking when it came to battling the Red Death.

But still, couldn't Hiccup at least try not to act so bossy all the time? Snotlout didn't want to get dragged out into the night, into the cold to stand around and what for some Dragon Hunters who were supposedly camping out in the forest near the southern beach. He didn't want to go along with Hiccup out of all people either. He wouldn't even let him start a fire to keep himself warm! If he had started a fire, he probably would've stayed to patrol the area, but no. Hiccup said no.

"Stupid Hiccup," grumbled Snotlout. "He's being so unfair! Once he comes back to the Edge, we're going to ignore him for an entire week, okay, Hooky? We're not going to listen to a thing he says and pretend that he doesn't even exist. Serves him right for what he did to us."

Yes, it sounded like the perfect plan. After a week of no communication with Hiccup, he would come running for Snotlout and beg for his forgiveness. He'll admit that he was being overbearing, bossy, pushy, and unfair and promise that he'll treat Snotlout with proper respect. He might even make it up to him by taking over his chores for a month. Snotlout smiled impishly to himself. It sounded perfect.

Hookfang didn't seem to like the idea. He didn't seem to like the little feud that was going on between Hiccup and Snotlout either. While he wasn't siding with either of them (as Snotlout would have been mortally offended if he did), he didn't think that the two should be arguing. They were opposites, sure, but the arguing was getting them nowhere, and the Monstrous Nightmare was beginning to feel as if something was wrong. He looked back toward the direction he and Snotlout came. Snotlout stopped walking when he didn't hear his dragon's footsteps behind him and turned around. Snotlout rolled his eyes and tapped his foot impatiently.

"Come on, Hookfang. We're going back to the Edge," said Snotlout. Hookfang turned back toward the boy and grunted, gesturing toward the direction of the beach. Snotlout shook his head.

"No, we're not going back for him," Snotlout said adamantly. He couldn't believe his dragon was suggesting that they go back! Wasn't he on his side? "He didn't want us there, so we're leaving him." Snotlout continued to walk away. "If Hiccup finds himself in trouble, he can get himself out—"

Suddenly, there was a scream, which cut Snotlout off. Snotlout felt himself falter because he knew that scream. And this scream wasn't one of happiness, joy, or triumph.

No, it was a scream of pure and utter fear, terror, and pain.

And that scream was Hiccup's scream.

Like a flash, Snotlout was in Hookfang's saddle. He ordered his dragon to run back toward the beach, and Hookfang complied with no hesitation. He could sense what his rider was feeling. Apparently, he was actually worried for Hiccup. And even a little scared.

"Faster, Hookfang," said Snotlout urgently. Hookfang began to go faster. "We need to find Hiccup."

…

Help.

He wanted help.

He wanted help so badly. He wanted someone to come and release him and get him out of the Dragon Hunter's grasp. But Hiccup didn't show any weakness. He didn't show any form of pain even after being punched in the face, even after being slapped until his cheeks burned. He didn't show any form of vulnerability…

Until he was kicked in the stomach. Hard.

And he screamed because it hurt. It hurt so much. He hoped that someone—anyone—had heard him, but he doubted it. Snotlout had left him. Toothless was knocked out cold and he didn't seem like he would be getting up anytime soon. The Night Fury was tied up in ropes and was muzzled, although Hiccup didn't see any point in muzzling him when he was unconscious. If the Dragon Hunters trusted their weapons, there wasn't any need to—

"Look at me, boy!" spat the Dragon Hunter that was interrogating him. Hiccup was pulled out of his thoughts, and he forced himself to look at the unpleasant face of the dark-haired Dragon Hunter. He hated him. He wished he could draw out inferno and scare him off, but he was tied up tightly to a tree and he could barely move. He could barely breathe.

"Where are the dragons?" the Dragon Hunter demands. Hiccup scrunched his nose at the smell of the Hunter's extremely rotten breath and didn't respond.

Much to Hiccup's displeasure, the Hunter stepped forward threateningly and asked again, "Where are the dragons? Where are you hiding them?"

Mustering up all of the courage that he could (and preparing himself for the immense amount of pain that was going to follow after speaking), Hiccup replied, "There aren't any dragons here. I told you that already. Have you even been listening to what I've—"

Another punch. Hiccup's vision blurred and before he could recover, another kick was delivered to his stomach. Hiccup gasped for air, which he found was extremely difficult to get since he was tied so tightly, and black spots began to invade his sight. Once they cleared, Hiccup could feel the cold, freezing metal of a sharp dagger being pressed to the side of his neck. Hiccup gulped and he felt himself shiver.

"I'm not going to ask again, boy," the Hunter said darkly. "Tell us where the dragons are or else."

Hiccup drew in a shaky breath. This was it. No help was coming for him and he wouldn't get the chance to apologize to Snotlout. Hiccup closed his eyes. How he wished that he hadn't yelled at him. Now he was paying the price.

Hiccup opened his eyes and was about to lie to the Hunter once again, when the strangest thing happened. There was a battle cry that sounded more like a crazed scream and Hookfang came charging out from the forest, blasting fire at whoever stood in his way. Several Hunters ran off to what Hiccup hoped was their ship with flaming behinds.

Hookfang swept his tail at three Hunters who were still standing on the beach and set himself on fire, which scared them off instantly. Hookfang roared and on his back was none other than Snotlout. Hiccup felt hope flutter inside him, and he had to admit that he was glad—no, relieved—to see him.

Only one Dragon Hunter remained, and that was the one who was interrogating Hiccup. He removed the dagger from Hiccup's neck and marched over to where Snotlout was sliding off of Hookfang, holding a small dagger (Where did he get that from? Hiccup wondered), and faced the Dragon Hunter, who had drawn a sword.

"Well, what do we have here?" asked the Dragon Hunter.

Snotlout didn't respond, instead, he went completely ballistic. He charged at the Dragon Hunter and slashed and sliced at him. The Hunter wasn't expecting this at all, but he was still able to parry with Snotlout's dagger. Hookfang blasted fire toward the Dragon Hunter whenever he got a clear shot. Finally, the Monstrous Nightmare was able to blast him near his hand, which made the Dragon Hunter drop his sword. He didn't have enough time to draw his dagger because Snotlout had already kicked him to the ground.

"Now, I'm only going to say this once," said Snotlout. "Don't. Mess. With. My. Cousin. Ever."

The Dragon Hunter sneered, but he made the smart decision and ran off to join the others. Snotlout watched as the Hunter's ship sailed away from the beach, and the Jorgeson knew that it would be a long time before they tried to spy on the Riders again.

Remembering that his cousin was still bound to a tree, Snotlout rushed over to Hiccup's side and sliced his dagger through the bindings, setting Hiccup free. The young viking would've fallen over if Snotlout hadn't caught him. He was surprised that Hiccup was still conscious. Multiple bruises littered his face, and a rather large knot was forming on his forehead, which Snotlout guessed was from some sort of club or end of a weapon. Hiccup's breathing was shaky and erratic, and there were small moments where Snotlout thought that he wasn't even doing so.

Hiccup managed to look up at Snotlout weakly and the Jorgeson caught the surprise that flickered in his green eyes. "Y-you…you c-came back…? After e-everything I said t-to you…?"

Snotlout rolled his eyes with a snort as he hoisted Hiccup up and began to walk back toward Hookfang, practically carrying the Haddock with him. "I couldn't leave you behind. Astrid would kill me."

Hiccup laughed feebly, and Snotlout was glad to at least hear something that meant that Hiccup was going to be okay. After a few moments of silence, Hiccup said, "I-I'm sorry, Snotlout. I didn't mean—"

"You can give me a proper apology once we get back to the Edge and you're all healed up," said Snotlout.

Hiccup nodded, and the two soon mounted Hookfang and took off back toward the Edge.

"Thank you, Snotlout," said Hiccup. "I'd probably still be tied up to that tree or dead if it weren't for you."

Snotlout shrugged. "It's no problem. You're my cousin, whether I like it or not, and it's practically my job to get you out of trouble."

Hiccup smiled. And although he didn't catch it, Snotlout was smiling too.

Author's Note: COUSINS FOREVER!

*Cough* That was super random...Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this one-shot, and I'll see ya all in the next one! =D

Until the next chapter!

-BeyondTheMoon1203