Chapter 9: In which Hiccup faces lies and truths

"Hey cuz!"

The familiar voice of the most obnoxious person in the village made Hiccup groan. He didn't have time for whatever nonsense Snotlout had probably spent a week planning. He had a gorgeous wife to get home to!

"What do you want, Snotlout?"

"Just some premium cousin bonding time."

The smirk on his cousin's face told him otherwise.

"If this bonding time consist of you punching me in the stomach and saying 'opps, my fist slipped' then I'll pass."

Snotlout slung a beefy arm over Hiccup's thin shoulders, the weight uncomfortably dragging him down. The salty, sweaty smell radiating from Snotlout curled his nose. He hadn't been this physically close to his cousin in a long time and it was rather alarming.

"I promise, my fist won't slip."

There was no way in Hel Hiccup believed that line, but he couldn't exactly escape the secure hold Snotlout held him in. Every time he tried to pull away just a tiny bit, Snotlout would tighten his arm, the bulky muscles budging against the back of Hiccup's neck. He was stuck and at the mercy of his much stronger cousin.

Snotlout veered him through the village then in the direction of the well-beaten path that led to the forest. Alarms clanged loudly in Hiccup's mind. Nothing good could come of entering the forest in the company of Snotlout.

"Hey…um, cuz," the friendly endearment left a gross taste in Hiccup's mouth. "What exactly are we going to do in the forest?"

"Just talk." A chill ran up Hiccup's spine. Snotlout's tone was eerily chummy. He squeezed Hiccup against his bulky form making it difficult for the smaller boy to breathe. "We don't talk enough…cuz."

Though he couldn't see his face, Hiccup could tell Snotlout was enjoying tormenting him. Hiccup didn't think his older cousin had the brains to be sly and devious. Who knows, he may have had help planning this stunt. Whatever he had in store, Hiccup had a feeling it was going to hurt. Bad.

As soon as Snotlout loosened his hold, Hiccup broke free and made a mad dash back to the village. Instead of being safely several feet down the path, Hiccup found himself being yanked backwards by his fur vest. The air knocked from his lungs as his back collided with the ground. The impact would surely leave a nice, purple bruise. He groaned, regretting not fighting harder to get away from Snotlout before the larger boy dragged him into the cover of the trees and away from witnesses.

"Do you know what really smacks my yak?"

Here it comes. The real reason Hiccup was led to the slaughter. Snotlout stood over him, meaty fists planted on his hips.

"Just because you're the 'Chief's son', you get first dibs on the hottest girl on Berk."

Hiccup's insides burned. He would never use his status as the Chief's son to get anything he wanted, especially another human being. "Snotlout, don't run your jaw about things you have no clue about." He tried sitting up, but Snotlout pressed a boot into his stomach, digging his heel into the soft skin.

Snotlout jabbed a thumb toward his hairy chest. "I'm the most awesomest Viking on Berk, Astrid should have been mine."

Hiccup snorted, sardonically. "I have an inside source saying that wouldn't of happened."

Snotlout glowered down at him. "I have news for you, Useless." Hiccup knew it was a matter of time before the hurtful nickname was flung in his face. "Astrid is only playing nice because she has to. When we're in dragon training, all she does is complain about you."

The words smacked Hiccup like the painful sting of freezing water to the face. "You're lying."

Snotlout leaned down, his boot squeezing the contents of Hiccup's lunch threatening to come up. "Am I? She says she has to babysit you to keep you out of trouble because your useless butt doesn't know how to stop destroying the village."

Hiccup gritted his teeth as anger flooded his whole body. With the adrenaline from his spiked anger, he pushed Snotlout's foot off his stomach and jumped to his feet. The larger boy looked surprised for a split second but recovered quickly, his mouth forming a wicked smirk.

"You're gonna fight me, cuz? Hey, I'm just the messenger."

Hiccup knew Snotlout was only trying to rile him up. To plant doubt in his mind. But another part of him deep down was believing that doubt. What did Astrid say about him behind his back? She'd never let on that she was discontent with their situation, but she could be hiding her true feelings. Thinking back on his father's words, Astrid was basically set up as a full-time babysitter for him. Chained to him for life. Maybe she was miserable underneath the friendly exterior.

All his thoughts jumbled into a messy pile that blinded his senses. Hiccup charged at Snotlout, swinging a fist at the other boy's face. Snotlout knew how to fight. He used his brawn to caught Hiccup's fist and yanked his left arm behind his back. Hiccup cried out as his shoulder twisted painfully.

"You're so dumb, you can't even throw a punch with the right fist," Snotlout laughed in his ear.

Snotlout kneed Hiccup in the back, sending him sprawled on the forest floor. His face hit the ground, sliding over a tree root poke out the dirt. Pain exploded in his cheekbone, trumping all the other hurts on his body.

Hiccup squeezed his eyes tightly. He barely registered the laughter above him. He didn't want to move. There was no use trying to fight Snotlout again. The other boy seemed to think the same.

"Great talk, cuz!" With that sarcastic sneer, Snotlout turned to leave.

Hiccup pushed up on his skinned elbow. He brushed fingers over his cheek and found blood gathering at the burning scrapes. His physical hurts were nothing compared to the fierce ache that flooded him. Doubt had been planted and it was growing like a consuming weed.

It was dark by the time Hiccup slunk his way back home. After Snotlout had mercifully left him alone in the forest without any further tormenting, Hiccup had taken the long way back to the village to avoid meeting up with his cousin again.

The trek back gave him plenty of time to mull over the doubt Snotlout had planted. His harsh words churned in Hiccup's head and roiled in his stomach. He really thought he and Astrid had started to become friends the last few weeks. They still had a long road ahead before they moved into any type of intimate relationship – if ever, but Hiccup had hope they'd grow closer in the weeks and months to come.

Babysitter. The word left a burning in his chest. It made sense, really. He'd been such a thorn in his father's side the older he grew. Stoick had placed him in the care of Gobber to give him something constructive to do and keep him in one spot. That move had given him full access to useful materials, which aided him in even more destructive projects. Stoick couldn't keep track of him, and neither could Gobber nowadays.

Being responsible for a wife would tie him down and that's just what it had done. He looked forward every day spending time with Astrid, but did Astrid feel the same? He'd thought that maybe, just maybe, she did. The smiles shared over the firepit. Her interest in his drawings. Her excited laughter when he bested her in weapons sparring. But now, with doubt planted, he wasn't so sure. What if she did look at their marriage as a lifelong babysitting job?

The front door's hinges creaked sadly announcing his mood as he entered the house. He blinked at the sight of Astrid standing just outside the door's swing. They're eyes locked for a long moment, both seemingly surprised to see one another.

A gasp drew in passed Astrid's lips. Hiccup hadn't bothered cleaning his cheek where several long scrapes ran from his jaw to cheekbone. The area was dirty and caked with dry blood and probably appeared worse than it actually was.

Without preamble, Astrid grabbed his chin, turning his face to the side to examine his cheek. "What happened to you?" she demanded, as if she already suspected the cuts weren't caused by mire accident.

Hiccup released a frustrated breath. "Premium bonding with Snotlout."

Astrid's eyes flicked up from his cheek. "Why did you let that muttonhead do this?"

Hiccup's shoulders bounced once, and he settled for a flat, sarcastic response instead of the embarrassing truth. "Well, y'know, I felt sorry for him because I knew he couldn't handle all this raw Vikingness."

Astrid fixed him with a darkening glare. She knew better than to believe that. "I'm gonna kill him." She spun around and reached for her axe on the hook.

Hiccup jumped in front of the door. "No, you're not."

"Yes, I am, Hiccup."

"You're not my guardian, Astrid." He was going to say babysitter, but the word made him want to sink into the ground. "You don't have to keep an eye on me. You don't have to take care of the bullies in the yard."

Astrid was taken aback. She lowered her hand. "What are you talking about?"

Hiccup's frown drew his whole face down. "My dad wanted you to marry me to keep me out of trouble and make sure I don't screw up."

"Is this some yak dung Snotlout fed you?"

"You complain about me during dragon training."

Astrid crossed her arms. "Yep, definitely Snotlout's yak dung and it stinks up to the high hills. You really believe I do that?"

Hiccup glared sharply, the hurt feelings winning over logic. "Evidence points to it."

"What evidence? Lies from Snotlout's yap?"

Hiccup gave a slight nod of his head to one side. Snotlout's words were the only 'evidence' he had. The rest was all a build up from doubt and fear.

A low roar rumbled in Astrid's throat as she threw her arms down to her sides. She nabbed the ties of Hiccup's tunic and yanked him to her. Their lips collided, a squeak of surprise emitting from Hiccup's mouth into hers. He didn't have time to think. He didn't have time to react. He stood there ridged with her lips pressed onto his.

Just as his brain was beginning to compute what was happening and his stiff features began to relax into the kiss, Astrid departed. His half-lidded gaze lulled somewhere at her ear, his brain trying to catch up to the action that had played out.

Astrid untangled her fingers from his ties. "Despite whatever you're thinking, I'm on your side, Hiccup." His eyes met hers, a fierce resolve set on her face. All doubt had suddenly fled, and Hiccup was in awe of the girl in front of him. "Not because someone told me to be, but because I choose to be."

She spun on her heel, shoulders squared high. "Don't forget it."