"They had your roll," Mr. Vast said to Hiccup, pulling the narrow container from the grocery bag and setting it down on the table in front of Hiccup.

As if on command, Hiccup's stomach gave a massive growl. His father met his eyes, and he smiled.

"Judging by that sound, did you even eat today?" Mr. Vast asked, pulling out his own California Roll.

"I did - but honestly the school pizza was not anything to write home about today."

Not only did Mr. Vast produce the sushi containers, but he also pulled out two large bottles of Fruit Punch Gatorade, and a package of Oreos.

"Man, Dad, you brought home a feast!"

"For bachelors, maybe." They shared a laugh, and then his father asked him if he wanted a fork or chopsticks.

"Chopsticks, please," Hiccup said, repositioning his school supplies so that they could make room for the food.

Hiccup noted the light mood his father seemed to be in. He took this as a good sign. His mind jumping to the conclusion that his father had placed cameras around the house was obviously his anxiety-ridden mind overreacting.

After settling down and opening up their food, they both began to eat.

Silence sat between them for about two or three rolls, then Hiccup said, "Work was busy, I assume?"

Mr. Vast nodded, not making eye contact with Hiccup. "It wasn't bad until my client walked in. She had an emergency."

"Warrant Wednesday?" Hiccup asked.

His father shook his head and glared at Hiccup, only to receive a smirk in return. "Out of all of the hours you spent in my office, that is what you picked up on?"

"And DUI Mondays."

His father rolled his eyes in response.

"So was your customer in because of a warrant?" Hiccup asked.

"Hush," Mr. Vast said.

"Ha! So it does stand true."

"How's your sushi?" his father asked him.

"Delicious. Avocado is fresh, as always."

"So," Mr. Vast said, after swallowing all but the last two of his rolls. "I received an interesting email today around four o'clock."

"Okay," Hiccup said, taking in a deep breath. His father was preparing him for what he was about to say.

"It appears as though you have detention - " Hiccup's chest constricted " - with Mrs. Morton tomorrow morning at seven."

Hiccup glanced up as his father, looking at him and waiting for a reaction. "Honestly, you seem pretty calm about this."

Mr. Vast shook his head. "Honestly, I was not calm at first. The email came from the student portal as high emergency. I thought it was odd. The only time I received those was when you were home with the flu your sophomore year and you'd missed a lot of school. It obviously caught my eye, and when I saw that she scheduled you for detention I was flabbergasted."

"So, looked further down the email and it said your detention was for being tardy. I emailed her back - "

"Dad, you didn't?" Hiccup said.

"I did. She said you arrived to class more than five minutes late and gave no explanation for why you were tardy. She did say you apologized to her, was courteous and took your detention without retort." His father took in a breath. "So, what happened?"

Hiccup debated for a moment whether to tell his father what had actually happened. Then, he decided on a version of the truth.

"My prosthetic was giving me some issues."

"I see," his father said. "And, you didn't explain this to Mrs. Morton?"

Hiccup glanced up at his father, meeting his eyes. "Dad, can we drop this? Let me take my detention, and continue on?"

He watched his father run his tongue along the bottom of his jaw as he attempted to get out any lose food from his bottom teeth, then their eyes were no longer meeting each other's.

"Okay," his father said. "Can I ask you something, though?"

Eye contact was established again.

"Is Astrid giving you a ride?"

Hiccup nodded.

"Okay." Mr. Vast glanced at him again. "You didn't think I would find out, did you?"

Hiccup shook his head, and he abandoned his last roll. "I didn't know you'd get an email." Since Hiccup had never had a detention his whole high school career, he had no idea his father would be informed of this.

"Did you take your meds?"

Hiccup nodded in response.

"Which was why you were asleep earlier…" Mr. Vast was connecting the dots in his mind. "Okay. You - you know you aren't in trouble right?"

A small smile came up at the corner of Hiccup's mouth. He'd known judging by his father's calm demeanor that he wasn't in trouble. While they were talking on the subject, he thought he'd come clean on another matter. "If I tell you Astrid was in my room for maybe five minutes earlier, would I be in trouble?"

Mr. Vast chuckled. "No, but you know my rule."

"She was just helping me get settled, Dad."

A nod came. "I know, and I gather that now that I know what is going on. Thank you for telling me that she was in there briefly. I know it couldn't be helped."

"It probably could have, honestly. But, it just made it easier - "

"Probably safer, though, too, since you took your meds."

Hiccup knew that his father was no dumby. He could connect the dots pretty easily. He was pretty good, after all, at seeing multiple perspectives of things.

"You have yourself a good lass, kiddo."

Hiccup met his father's eyes. "I don't know how."

Mr. Vast swallowed a drink of his Gatorade. "You think you aren't worthy of her?"

Hiccup laughed, but honestly he had to stop himself from tears welling up in his eyes. "I don't like feeling vulnerable." This. This was the number one reason why he didn't want to fight Mrs. Morton's detention. The last thing he wanted to do was describe to a bitter woman, who he already knew didn't believe students after all the years of being lied to and broken down, what was happening. This was the same woman who didn't want to accept a late paper from him when the school portal had been down, and he'd had the flu. He'd take a detention without fighting, but he wouldn't take a zero for having the flu nor a way to get her his assignment in on time.

"I know," Mr. Vast said.

"I've - I've been able to take care of myself for a long time, Dad."

"I know, and I'm sorry - "

"No, no, it isn't that." Hiccup could see the sincere apology forming on his father's face. He didn't want him to feel that way. "I just don't like asking for help."

"I know. But, Hiccup - "

"Or pity."

"I know, I know, son. Astrid helping you all the times she does isn't because she takes pity on you, you know this, right?" Hiccup returned a shrug. "She cares about you. She wants to make things easier for you if she can. Same with me. Your teachers - Mrs. Morton would probably understand if she knew the circumstances."

"I didn't have my crutches with me." The visual reminders had kept him out of trouble from receiving detention in the past. The crutches were a big trigger. Without the prosthetic, the school had been kind, for the most part. The teachers didn't bat eyes most of the time when he was on crutches, and was escaping to classes early before the crowd started at bell. Without the crutches, he was just a normal student. And, that was what he wanted to be. Deep down, he was okay with receiving the detention. Outside of he having his back pack with him permanently now, he could walk just like everyone else could most days.

"Remember that day when your principal and that - cockroach of a counselor were hounding us about you missing too much school? And, you showed them what you were dealing with?"

"Can we not bring that up?" Hiccup asked. He face palmed. "That was entirely embarrassing."

"I know," Mr. Vast said. "People don't completely understand until you educate them. Just keep that in mind. Something to think about tomorrow during your detention."

"Jeeze, are you giving me homework now?"

His father stood, now with an empty container. He indicated to Hiccup if he wanted him to take his container, but Hiccup shook his head. He wanted to finish his last roll. "No, just something to think about. Okay?"

The next morning, Hiccup arrived at the school with crutches. He did not have his prosthetic with him. After Astrid came over and he was not ready just yet, she deemed it better if he for-go his extension for the day.

"It isn't that bad," she said, after he'd let her inspect what damage was there. "But, I'd give your skin and limb a rest today, just in case…"

After wrapping his leg and securing the end of his jeans, they left the house. Astrid surprised him with biscuits and gravy from McDonalds for breakfast, and then she walked him to his detention. He was five minutes early. She kissed his cheek, told him she would see him at lunch, and left him outside the classroom door.

He took a deep breath and made his way inside. Mrs. Morton glanced up from her desk when she heard him come in. She was standing, leaning over a few stacks of papers she had spread about. She gave him a weak smile, and gestured to his seat. There was a piece of paper sitting face down.

"Good morning, Mr. Vast," she said.

"Good morning," he responded, giving her a small smile.

"Do what you can before the bell rings. If you have any left just tuck it away and bring it with you to class later today."

He nodded to her, and turned over the paper once he'd settled and pulled out his pencil. It was a cross word puzzle. He glanced up at Mrs. Morton, who was busying herself again with papers on her desk. Amusement went through him, and he began.

The cross word puzzle was actually about their reading assignment that very day, he came to find out. Students from first period were coming in briefly and dropping off their belongings in their seats. He ignored them, and continued on with the cross word puzzle. He completed it within ten minutes. It hadn't been a very difficult one.

Mrs. Morton noticed moments later that he had completed it.

"Hiccup, you may go. Just bring that back to class this afternoon, okay?"

He nodded to her, and started making space in his book bag for the cross word.

"Just as a heads up, in case you would like to work on it during your study hall, the words you found, you will be asked to define them and write each definition out. That is today's assignment for class after you read the assignment listed on the board."

Hiccup noted to start reading on page 394 of his book if he had a moment, but his study hall would not be until just before last period.

"Thank you," he said. He gathered up his back pack, and stood up on his crutches. As he made his way out, Mrs. Morton stopped him. "Yes?" he asked when he turned back to her.

"In the future, if you would, please let me know after class what may have held you up from being on time, please."

Hiccup sighed, knowing full well his father had emailed her. That was the only explanation as to why she was being this considerate, he thought. He nodded to her, and proceeded out of the classroom.

Hiccup hadn't been expecting a surprise appearance from Brock. With he being on crutches, he was free to leave classes five minutes early to avoid the students. It had turned into an unspoken rule after the first time Hiccup showed up on crutches that year. Of course, most of the teachers he had already had him from the year prior. They knew his situation and when they saw him on crutches they knew it wasn't a day for the prosthetic.

He'd left class early to head towards lunch and had stopped to use the bathroom and wash his hands. Hearing footsteps coming into the bathroom, he hadn't thought twice. When he looked up from washing his hands, Brock stood behind him leaning against the wall. Dread went through Hiccup instantly.

But, also anger again. His smart comments, he knew, could get him into trouble. There was no question there. Brock had a short fuse, he'd gathered. He needed to control himself if he wanted to escape without being hurt.

Then, Hiccup remembered he was on crutches. He was even more vulnerable now than before. He couldn't plant an extra foot on the ground to support himself. The crutches were stable, but that wouldn't help if he needed his hands and arms in any way.

"Hi, Brock," he sighed.

"Today you really are the Tripod," Brock said. "I heard your crutches coming down the hallway - and I slipped away so I could come talk to you privately."

Hiccup reached for a paper towel to wipe his hands, but instead Brock slid over and stood in front of them.

"Did you talk to Heather?" he asked.

Hiccup nodded, nervously wiping his hands on his jeans instead. "She is coming to the game. But, I have to tell you. She's coming with her new boyfriend - "

Hiccup was thrown off guard when he felt a punch go across the right side of his face. Then, he was against the wall of the first stall. The only reason why he hadn't fallen was because Brock held him upright.

"I am tired of your smart ass comments," Brock said to him in a very forced, hush voice.

Their eyes met, and Hiccup bit the inside of his lip to keep from yelling.

"You are getting what you want," Hiccup said in almost a whisper. "She is coming to the game. She will be watching you play in the semi-finals."

"Her boyfriend is coming, though."

"I cannot help that!" Hiccup said. "Get a grip, man, I cannot keep a grown woman from - "

Another snap to his cheek. At this very moment, this was the first time Hiccup actually felt terrified. Brock had chosen the moment well. No cameras, no one would be walking the hallways, more than likely. And, with the classes about ready to change over, people would be least likely to ask for a pass to go use the bathroom.

"Get the guy away from her," Brock said. "So I can talk to her."

Hiccup narrowed his eyes at him. "No - "

Hiccup was prepared for the right fist, and he ducked. However, the left caught him by his shirt and pushed him back against the wall. The sound of his head and body hitting echoed through the bathroom.

"Find a way," Brock said. At that second, the bell rang. He dropped his grip on Hiccup, and retreated from the bathroom.

With the bell sounding and Hiccup free from Brock, he hobbled his way into the first stall, abandoning his crutches that remained leaning against the sink. He reached his hand up towards his face, feeling just how tender it was. He winced when he realized his skin had broken on his cheekbone, leaving a trace of blood on his fingertips.

His heart raced. He leaned forward, hugging himself as he thought of what to do. If he left the bathroom now, he'd be lost in the crowd of people. No one would have noticed the red mark on his face, their hungry bellies being their eyes towards the cafeteria. Then again, with his crutches he would have to cautiously maneuver himself around walking legs and moving bodies. No, he would stay put until the bell rang. No one would think anything of him getting to lunch late - no one accept Astrid.

Once the bell rang, and no one was within earshot walking, Hiccup stood and shakily made his way out of the bathroom. Bracing himself, he glanced into the mirror. Sure enough, his face was beginning to swell, and he had a one inch cut on his cheekbone. After using the sink as support, he reached for his book bag, and his crutches, and took in a deep breath. Finally deciding on what he needed to do, he made his way towards the main office, walking in and seeing one of the secretaries.

Mrs. Bond, who was actually a mother to one of last year's graduates, was on the phone when he came into the office, and he could see the look of concern on her face as she was wrapping up a telephone call with a parent.

"…Yes. Yes. I will make sure they are aware they need to take the bus home today. Yes, okay, thank you, have a good day." She hung up the phone with haste and raised her eyes to meet Hiccup's. "Hiccup, what - "

"May I call my father?" Hiccup asked. "I - I slipped on my crutches in the bathroom, and fell against the edge of the sink."

"Are you all right?" she asked, coming around the other side to look at his face.

"Yeah," he said, giving her a weak smile and trying to wave her off. "I - honestly just need to go home. Clean myself up. I have PT later on and - "

"I will call your father - let me get you an ice pack at least - "

While he sat in the office, purposely placing himself in a chair in the far back so no one would see him waiting as they walked by, he held the ice pack to his face. He wondered if the secretaries or the principal may have been worried about possibly being sued. Mrs. Greene, the principals actual assistance, came over to him and asked him if there had been water on the floor. He assured her there had not.

"I just lost my balance," Hiccup insisted. He'd made eye contact, and gave her a half smile to reassure her he was all right. It was taking all he had to hold it together. "It happens."

Katherine showed up, of course. When their eyes met, she looked concerned.

"Oh, honey," she breathed, reaching her hand up to his chin to get a better look at his face.

"Where's Dad?" he asked her.

"He had a pre-trial at eleven. When the school couldn't get a hold of him on his cell phone they called the office. And, when the secretary answered, they transferred them back to me."

"So - he doesn't know, right?"

Katherine looked at him. "I don't think so."

"Good," he breathed. "Can we leave, please?"

She nodded, went to Mrs. Bond, who handed her the clip board to sign Hiccup out of school for the remainder of the day.

"Are you his step-mother?" Mrs. Bond asked her. Hiccup knew she was questioning the last name on the clip board.

"I have authority to sign him out," Katherine said, avoiding her question, and placing a hand on Hiccup's shoulder. "You can confirm if you need to." She was expressing her claim towards him by the tone in her voice.

Mrs. Bond confirmed that she saw Katherine was able to sign him out of school. His father had signed a paper at the beginning of the school year, naming Katherine as the only other person that could sign Hiccup out. With that, she asked him if he had everything he needed, he confirmed, and she helped him out of the school.

During the time, Hiccup could feel his phone vibrating in his pocket. He knew it was Astrid trying to figure out where he was at. After Katherine positioned the crutches in the back of her orange Subaru hatchback, he placed the back pack on the seat with them, and then took a seat in the passenger side of her car. He continued to hold the ice pack up to his cheek.

Katherine didn't pry any further, which Hiccup was grateful for. Instead, she asked him if he was hungry, to which he shook his head that he wasn't. Instead of driving Hiccup home, she brought him to her house.

"If you don't mind, I would rather keep watch over you. I have a few things I can do from home. Again, is that okay?" she asked.

Truthfully, all Hiccup wanted to do was go home, but he would have to agree, since he "fell" it was probably best if he went with Katherine so she could watch over him.

"I don't want to make a fuss," she told him once he'd settled down on her couch. She clearly was nervous, and very worried. She kept pacing and trying to find something to do for him to be helpful. "But, can I clean this up a bit? Please?"

Hiccup nodded. "Will you do me a favor - cancel my PT appointment?"

He saw her shoulders drop. "Hiccup - "

"I - I can't do anything today without my prosthetic," he insisted. "I honestly didn't think about it until just now, and - " He was struggling to not to let his emotions take hold of him. "Please."

She nodded. "Okay."

"And - can we not tell Dad about this?"

She hesitated. "Let me clean you up, and then we can talk about it, okay?"

While Katherine was gathering up the First-Aide kit, Hiccup felt his phone buzz inside his pocket. He knew he needed to respond to Astrid. He pulled it out and looked at her text messages.

11:15 AM - ASTRID - Where are you?

11:22 AM - ASTRID - Hiccup, are you all right?

11:23 AM - ASTRID - Babe?

12:15 AM - ASTRID - Tuff just told me he saw you leaving school with Katherine…..

Hiccup sighed, and typed her back.

12:17 AM - HICCUP - Yeah, I will explain later. oxox.

He knew how to keep her from worrying too badly. The "kisses and hugs" seemed to always ease her up in some way, especially when his text were with no explanation, much like the one he just sent her.

Katherine returned, and sighed again as she looked at his cheek. "You'll for sure have a bruise - "

Hiccup nodded.

"Let me see - " She began rooting through the messy kit, trying to decide what would be best to use on his tender and broken face.

"Did you cancel my appointment?"

"Let me get this taken care of first, okay?" she asked. He could tell she was doing her best to keep calm. "Astrid is so good at knowing what is best to use on certain things - "

"She did take that class on first aide," Hiccup responded.

Katherine nodded, and found a sanitized wipe. "This is probably going to sting - "

"Nothing I cannot handle." He'd been through worse pain. A little sting wouldn't cause too much discomfort.

She cleaned the area, noting that the gash wasn't that deep, then placed antibiotic cream over the wound.

"I don't know whether to let that breathe or put something over it - " It was then that she could see her hands shaking.

Hiccup placed his hand over her's, making her pause. Their eyes met, and Hiccup tried to give her a reassuring smile.

"I'm okay, Katherine," he said gently. "Take a deep breath. It's just a scratch."

"Baby, this isn't just a small cut - You are already turning black and blue - " He believed her.

She went on to ask the same, simple questions that Mrs. Bond and Mrs. Greene had asked. "Was there water on the floor?". "Are you sure you hit the sink?". "Did you pass out, possibly?"

"Katherine," Hiccup said, forcefully yet calmly. "I promise you, I did not pass out, and there was no water on the floor. It's simply clumsy me on crutches."

She sighed, and seemed to accept this answer. "Okay."

It was at this point, he heard Katherine's front door open. He let out a breath, counted to three, and looked up into the eyes of his father. Mr. Vast was, to Hiccup's surprise, overly calm. His hands were in the pockets of his dress pants, and his tie was still tight from the pre-trial. He didn't come and smother Hiccup, or demand answers to questions. He simply glanced at his son from six feet away, and put his head down.

For a moment, Hiccup couldn't look at his father. His straight mouth indicated that he was mulling over something. Hiccup felt shame hit him, not only for lying to them, but also for appearing as though he wasn't strong.

"Looks like that sink took a nice swing at you," Mr. Vast said, finally.

His chest constricted. He nodded.

"Sorry I couldn't come and collect you," Mr. Vast said. "Katherine, thank you. Can you do me a favor, and go back to the office? I can lock up, if that is all right."

Panic hit Hiccup then.

"Uh, Dad - "

"Stoick - "

"Katherine - "

This was strange. Why was his father dismissing Katherine. Hiccup noticed he wasn't looking at Katherine at all. He simply held his head down, and asked her again if it was okay if he would lock up once he was done talking to Hiccup.

Hiccup sensed that she knew he was possibly going to implode. He knew very well she'd seen his father do this more than once at work. His father was good at holding it together around people - most of the time. But, if he thought no one was around it came out.

She nodded. As she left the room, he reached for her hand, kissed her cheek, and came and sat down beside Hiccup.

"Let me see," Stoick said, gently taking his thumb and holding Hiccup's head still for a moment. He winced a little. "Yeah, you've got yourself another nice shiner. Didn't split your lip this time, though…"

Hiccup narrowed his eyes at his father.

"The school called me after Katherine collected you. I missed two of their calls, but I got the third one. They were concerned that you had a concussion - but at the time the nurse was not available to take a look at you. They wanted me to let them know that you were all right."

"Dad, I just fell - "

"I've heard that one before."

Hiccup narrowed his eyes at his father, who stood up, went to the kitchen, and returned with a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a dish towel.

"The school also informed me that they watched video footage of about the time they thought you'd fallen in the bathroom…"

This caught Hiccup's attention.

"I think they were trying to figure out what exactly might have happened to you. They told me about two minutes after you entered the bathroom, someone in a varsity jacket entered after you, spent maybe two minutes in the bathroom, and then left. Five minutes later or so, you emerged, with that cut on your face."

"Dad - I fell - "

"See, I do not believe you. And, right now, I don't think the school believes you. The problem with the footage is, with where the camera is sitting, it's hard to see who actually entered the bathroom after you and left before you. All they can tell me is that it's a kid with a varsity jacket."

"Dad - "

"Why are you lying to us?" Stoick's voice was raised, and he was up on his feet, pacing. "I want to know the truth. I want to know who did this to you, son."

Hiccup's body shook when his father took a stand. He didn't meet his father's face. Instead, he turned away, and said, "Dad, I fell in the bathroom."

"Is that going to remain your story?"

Hiccup sighed, and nodded.

"Who are you covering for? Why would you cover for them, Hiccup?"

Hiccup's head dropped. "If I tell you, it's just going to get worse, Dad."

"So, someone did do this to you?"

Hiccup sighed, and turned his head away.

"Hiccup, tell me, please."

He shook his head. "I've dealt with bullies before. It'll go away eventually."

Mr. Vast was back at Hiccup's side again. "Why are they giving you a hard time?"

"Dad, please just drop it."

"No," was his father's response, and he actually hit the coffee table with an open palm, startling Hiccup.

Hiccup bit the inside of his lips, gathering everything up inside of him, then he turned to face him. "I'm not a plaintiff. You are not cross-examining me."

The words took his father back for a moment. "Hiccup, I am asking you this as your father. I want to protect you, and the only way I can do this for you is if you tell me who cornered you in the bathroom and did this to your face."

Hiccup shook his head. "Dad, if I tell you why it happened, and he gets in trouble for it, it will only get worse. It isn't just him. He's the main one, at the moment, but this doesn't go away until they decide. So, please, let me deal with this. I'll handle it. I just could not let Astrid see me like this."

"Hiccup - "

"Please. Let her believe that I fell."

"We can't do that."

"Please." Hiccup sighed. "Let me have some time to sort through this, okay?"

"Hiccup, I am begging you - "

"And I am telling you that I am not going to tell you his name. Not until I sort through this, okay?" Hiccup let out a breath. "So, please, quit pushing me to tell you."

A moment passed by, and Mr. Vast sighed. He ran a hand through his hair, disrupting the clean-cut.

"Astrid - "

"She doesn't know." It was the last words from Hiccup's mouth before he eased himself back on the couch, and shut down.