=Normal POV=
{The Cove}
The two teenage lovers jumped on the backs of their dragons and flew right to the cove, knowing full well that Gobber was telling Stoick all about what he thought he heard take place in the side room of the forge. Reaching the destination, Hiccup and Astrid landed then hugged and kissed one another, laughing through the whole thing.
"I can't believe it worked!" Astrid exclaimed.
"Me either, I thought for sure it might fail," Hiccup replied as he twirled her in his arms, then against him once more as they tried to calm themselves down from the excitement.
"Your plan worked perfectly, babe," Astrid said softly as Hiccup had his hands planted firmly on her waist while Astrid's arms were around Hiccup's neck, resting on his shoulders as they were smiling at one another, then shared another few kisses. Hiccup could only smile; the plan actually had worked out the way he hoped. Hiccup's plan after having that awkward conversation with his father was for Astrid and him to make everyone believe something was going on when it wasn't. Hiccup and Astrid six months ago started messing around with foreplay, something Hiccup learned about in some of their travels. Hiccup and Astrid knew they couldn't have sex; it was against the laws and traditions of the Tribe, especially because Hiccup was Heir to the throne of Berk.
Places beyond the Archipelago had other forms of intimacy without it there being any intercourse, and that what Hiccup and Astrid were partaking in to keep to the laws they were forced to follow. Sure, they could break them, but face exile from their Tribe. Hiccup and Astrid found an alternative that no one would expect, or believe, and probably frown upon if they knew that the two lovers had ways of giving one another pleasure outside of having sex. Hiccup and Astrid knew that no one would understand or approve of what they were doing together, so they decided to come up with a plan for a cover story. Hiccup and Astrid were never doing anything of concern, but that's how everyone took it. Of course, there was somethings that happened outside of their control but happened to work out well.
Hiccup and Astrid weren't using foreplay any of the times they were caught; it was them being caught in awkward positions while training. Though Astrid and Hiccup had been dating for two years, one of the conditions in her marriage stipulations was that the man she married had to be able to beat her in a fight. It was written back before Hiccup and Astrid were a couple, and it couldn't be changed. A few had come to try for Astrid's hand, and all had failed. Astrid was a warrior, and Hiccup loved it about her. Hiccup and Astrid wanted to get married, and even though she was the bride-to-be so to speak, her rules couldn't be changed so for Hiccup and her to marry, she had to lose a real fight to him. Easier said than done when he wasn't much of a fighter and Astrid was one of the best fighters on the island.
It would be against the rules for her to train him out in public, they would call it cheating and an unfair fight. Therefore, Hiccup and Astrid were training in secret, however, if they were caught or seen by someone, it looked like something completely different. That was their plan. Training to Hiccup could beat and marry her without anyone knowing they were training. To anyone else, it looked like something sexual, and they would undoubtedly go to Stoick about what was seen. Hiccup was expecting an earful when he finally got home, but for now, he just wanted time with Astrid.
"You really think I can beat you?" Hiccup asked her as they were sitting by the fire Hiccup had made to keep them warm.
"Well, I'm teaching you how to fight, babe. I think you stand a good chance; it all depends on how you fight when we actually do it," Astrid shrugged with a smile. "You believe that this will be enough for them to start a marriage contract for us?"
"I don't see how it wouldn't be. It's written in your contract stipulations that whoever you marry has to be able to beat you in a fight. If I can do that added the fact they know we're in love, I'm sure my Dad will seek out your parents and make mention that I was able to beat you, and we've been together a while so why not just let us get married," Hiccup replied.
"I hope so," Astrid sighed.
"Hey, don't worry. It'll be okay," Hiccup put his arm around her shoulders, then lifted her chin and pressed his lips to hers for a moment. After a few seconds, he pulled back, and they touched their foreheads together.
"How much trouble you think you're in with your dad?" Astrid asked.
"Thor only knows. It'll be all right, he knows he can trust me. I told him he has nothing to worry about," Hiccup reminded.
"So, how much time do we have?" Astrid wondered while using her finger to trace circular patterns on his green tunic top.
"Well, we skipped out on dinner so how about we scare us up some food, eat, take a moonlit flight, then maybe…have a little fun before we go back? I don't know about you, but I think all that training deserves a little reward on both our parts," Hiccup chuckled.
"Oh, I believe that we can figure something out to relax us before we go home," Astrid giggled some before they kissed again, then got up as the mounted their dragons and prepared to head out to the sea to get some fish with the net. Hiccup kept a healthy supply of everyday things in the cove for them to use on the nights they planned to stay out later to indulge in a bit of fun before returning to their homes.
{Later that Night}
After the two of them pleasured one another, they returned to the village as Hiccup walked Astrid home. Hiccup kissed her deeply, them agreeing to have their fight at the end of the week when they knew everyone would be in the village square for Stoick to give updates and announcements as he did every week.
"Goodnight, Hiccup," Astrid yawned while moving to the door of her parent's house.
"Sleep well, Milady," Hiccup replied as she smiled and entered her house. "I don't think she'll ever know how much I love her, bud," Hiccup said to Toothless with a shake of his head and gave a light chuckle. "Come on, let's get to Dad's. Odin only knows what he'll have to say," Hiccup got on Toothless's back as they took to the sky and flew to Stoick's. Upon arriving, Hiccup and Toothless went through the front door. Stoick was sitting in his seat with a less than pleased look on his face. "Uh, Dad, are you okay?" Hiccup asked.
"Where have you been, Hiccup?" Stoick inquired.
"With Astrid in the cove; we decided to go on a date," Hiccup replied.
Stoick closes his eyes and gives a snort, then half chuckle following. "Of course, you were with Astrid,"
Okay, Hiccup didn't really like how his father worded that. "Well, yeah, Dad. I mean, she's my girlfriend," he stated.
Suddenly, Stoick stands up and throws the mug of mead that had been in his right hand off to the side angrily. "Hiccup, what were you and Astrid doing in the cove? It wasn't just a date for you to be coming back this late and in such a good mood!"
"Dad, I-I-Astrid and I caught a few fish and stayed in the cove talking. That's it," Hiccup said, a little afraid of how angry his father was.
"Stop lying, Hiccup," Stoick warned.
"I'm not lying, Dad. What is the matter? Are you…mad that I'm spending so much time with Astrid?" Hiccup wondered.
"I'm furious that you two are having sex, and you're lying to me about it!" Stoick yelled now, and it forced Hiccup to take a step back.
"Dad! Astrid and I aren't having sex! I swear it!" Hiccup defended himself quickly. Great, so they were back on this again.
"Hiccup!" Stoick stepped forward.
"I mean it!" Hiccup said louder this time.
"Don't you take that tone with me, boy! We stood in this same room two months ago, and you swore to me that you were keeping to the laws and traditions of this Tribe; that you weren't doing anything you shouldn't be! You promised me that I had nothing to worry about!" Stoick boomed, towering over his seventeen-year-old son now.
"And you don't!" Hiccup responded.
"Then why have I gotten complaints from more than half the village about you two being caught in situations that say otherwise!?" Stoick glared.
"How the heck should I know! All Astrid and I have done make out a few times behind a building, or sometimes sneak out of the forge to go flying. That's it," Hiccup informed.
"Really? That's the answer you want to go with?" Stoick asked.
"Well, gee, Dad. I don't exactly know what you've heard, so how can I tell you otherwise!" Hiccup narrowed his eyes.
"It doesn't matter, Hiccup! The point is that everyone in the village believes you two are having sex and coming to me about it. Now, tell me the truth!" Stoick demanded.
"I AM!" Hiccup yelled back, becoming angry himself. "Why won't you listen to me?!" he tried.
"Because you're lying to me! You're having sex with Astrid, and afraid to tell me!" Stoick answered.
"I'm not afraid to tell you anything! Astrid and I are NOT having sex, Dad!" Hiccup attempted again.
"STOP LYING TO ME!" Stoick put his hands on Hiccup's arms and shook him hard, which actually scared Hiccup a little.
"Da-Dad…I-I'm…n-not," Hiccup forced out. Stoick held his arms tighter, and Hiccup winced a bit. "Let…go. You're hurting me," he said quieter.
"Tell me the truth, Hiccup!" Stoick ordered again, refusing to let go.
"For the love of-," Hiccup didn't even get to finish the sentence before Stoick's hand released Hiccup's left arm, but only to smack Hiccup across the face. The force alone made Hiccup hit the ground a few inches from the spot he'd been standing in. Hiccup looked up at his father in shock; in all the years they had problems with one another, Stoick never struck him, and now he had because Stoick was convinced Hiccup and Astrid were having sex. Toothless moved to Hiccup's side and tried to help him to his feet, warbling with worry for his rider and friend.
"I can't believe you anymore, Hiccup. There is too much evidence and too many witnesses against you, now just tell me the truth, son. Yes, I'm going to be furious about it. You swore to me you weren't having sex, that you respected the laws and traditions of this Tribe. And it was all a lie," Stoick said quieter. "I had been so proud of you, for all you've accomplished in two years, and now it seems meaningless because you're still no Viking," Those words are what made Hiccup's eyes widen, then he gasped in shock. "I should have realized that you'll never change," Okay, that one hurt. A lot in fact.
Finally, Hiccup closed his eyes and stepped back from his father. "And neither will you," Hiccup said coldly as Stoick looked at him quickly. "Wow; here I thought you actually trusted me," Hiccup scoffed a bit looking off to the side. "You know something, I spent all my life trying to earn your trust, to get acceptance from the village, and make you proud, Dad," Hiccup paused as Stoick's eyes soften and widen slightly at his son's words. "I know what the villagers told you, but I swear on my life, on Mom's grave even…that neither of us has broken Tribal Laws or Traditions. Do you seriously think that just because I'm in love with Astrid that I would throw away everything I risked my life for?"
"Hiccup…" Stoick began, but Hiccup cut him off.
"I know I'm not your average Viking, Dad. I'm a hiccup, a runt. I know I've always disappointed you, so I guess that's why you're this way right now. Just like when I told you I shot down a Night Fury, and you didn't believe me? The village was your concern. When I was in the ring and had Hookfang relaxed. Remember that? I told you that we didn't need to kill dragons; you set Hookfang off and almost got me killed because you didn't want to listen or believe what I was saying," Hiccup continued as Stoick slowly began to feel guiltier about how he approached this situation.
"You want another example? How about the fight with Red Death because you didn't want to listen to me? And because you disbelieved me and didn't trust me, you risked everyone's lives, and it cost me my left leg to right your mess of taking everyone to that island and almost getting them killed!" Hiccup yelled angrily as his fists tightened. Stoick flinched a bit, lowering his gaze to the floor. "Despite all that, you told me you were proud of me and apologized. Even since then; all the apologies you said, all the times you've claimed you are proud of me, that you loved and trusted me," he paused as he let his fists go and sighed. "I can see that was all meaningless,"
"Son, I-I didn't mean to upse-," Stoick began as Hiccup's head raised up.
"Upset me? I'm not upset; I'm hurt! Every single fucking time you refuse to listen to me, refuse to believe me; I. Get. Hurt. You just grabbed my arms and demanded I tell you the truth about something that never happened! You…slapped me because you're so convinced by the words of others over your own son! And the worst part about all this is that I feel like it's two years ago, where you threw me down in the Hall and told me I wasn't a Viking and that I wasn't your son! You don't even know how much that hurt me that day; to lose the Tribe, Toothless, and you. Gods, I'd never felt so depressed in my entire life. I actually contemplated killing myself, because I felt like there was nothing left to live for because I had lost everything," Hiccup said, which shocked Stoick to know.
"Hi-Hiccup, I-I'm…sorry, son. Please, it's alright. Just…calm down, and we can talk about this," Stoick tried softly to reach for his son. Hiccup backed away.
"Don't fucking touch me. I can't believe you anymore, and thanks for making me feel that low again!" Hiccup yelled before jumping on Toothless's back, and his dragon knew what to do. Toothless glared at Stoick with a snarl, and then he pushed open the door and took to the sky. Stoick raced out, worried for his son's well-being and mental state now. However, Toothless was already gone and hiding with the cover of the night sky.
"HICCUP!" Stoick called out loudly. Hiccup heard him, and he didn't care. Tonight his father hurt him badly, and Hiccup wanted to get as far away as he could. Stoick was so ashamed of himself; he never knew how much he hurt Hiccup back then, and now he'd done it again. Maybe worse than the first time, all because he didn't listen to and trust his son when he was telling the truth. Stoick knew that now, because right before Hiccup turned to get on Toothless, Stoick saw tears in his son's green eyes. If Hiccup was crying, he was not lying, but he was hurt and Stoick officially hated himself for what happened tonight.