30. Meetings end.
Stoick sat there for a moment and glared away anyone who was too close. About who he wanted to ask about was no secret to the ones at the table, but he wanted to keep it with them, he didn't want any gossip going around the village. Especially considering that the topic of Hiccup was all but banned in the village and it was his fault. The last time he mentioned that he had a son was the failed attempt of finding him, and as much as he didn't want to admit it, it was his only attempt of finding him, it was born out of rage, and didn't even get off of Berk.
He was angry when Hiccup left, very angry, so much so that mentioning his name made his blood boil. Seeing any of the boy's failed inventions, any of his sketches, the inside of the forge made him angry. Blowing up at anyone who dared to speak about his son was the worst thing he could have done when Hiccup left. His anger deleted his son from the village. The tribe, fearing Stoick's rage, got rid anything that could remind the Chief of him, or in some cases (Gobber) hid everything out of Stoick's sight.
It took close to a year for Stoick to understand that Hiccup was not coming back and by then it was far too late. By then, many had forgotten Hiccup had even existed. The regret he felt when he thought about his mistakes made it hard to breathe.
The pair sitting in front of him was his only viable option on any information, he only hoped that he wasn't too late.
"You have traveled a lot, I assume?" He asked, the 'demons' nodded simultaneously, they were content to let him speak. Stoick took a deep breath. "I have to ask, have you encountered a teenage boy about five years ago, by any chance?"
"We have encountered many teenage boys in our travels, which one are you talking about?" Storm asked with a raised eyebrow, Hiccup quietly sighed, he didn't appreciate how little information Stoick gave, if he didn't know that Stoick was asking after him, he would be lost.
"He is about five feet tall, auburn hair, very skinny – almost sickly, green eyes, large ears, one leg – the left one gone – like yours. Oh, and he was probably riding a dragon, a Night Fury." Berk's Chief answered, giving quite good information. But truly the pair had no intentions of revealing where Hiccup was, Hiccup had his obvious reasons and so did Storm. She wasn't about to betray her brother, and she hated people like Stoick.
"Not ringing any bells so far, what was he like?" Storm questioned, with the intent to stump Stoick. She knew full well that he hadn't known Hiccup enough back then to give a comprehensive description of what kind of character Hiccup was. After all, Hiccup had told her that his father was largely unsupportive of his inventions, that he looked at Hiccup with disappointment more than love, that Hiccup had started hiding who he truly was before the Green Death debacle and there wasn't enough time to reconnect with his father before he left.
"Sarcastic, loyal, respectful – " Spitelout was about to interrupt Gobber, who had started describing Hiccup, but shut up after receiving twin glares from Gobber and Stoick, " – shy, reserved, determined. A true friend to those who deserved it, a true menace to others. Didn't have a mean bone in his body."
"He likes to draw, he is very creative on a piece of paper and in the smithy. Puts other before himself most of the time, but disregards any advice or concern when he sets his mind on something, he is quiet and weak. He left because of some petty argument. His name is Hiccup. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III."
"Never seen him," Hiccup was quick to state, after all he didn't lie. For about two years after leaving he didn't have a home, he didn't have any access to a mirror, so technically he hadn't seen himself.
"I have," Storm answered, all eyes turned to her, even Hiccup was surprised that she gave them that answer. "Once, long ago. Haven't seen him since he helped me."
"Where?" Stoick quickly asked, jumping up from his seat.
"The island I once held home." Her voice was resigned, she had no intention of betraying Hiccup, but making sure Stoick knew he had fucked up when he made Hiccup leave.
"Where is it?"
"Destroyed. And let me make myself clear, even if I knew the boy you described I would not tell you," she growled, it was impossible to miss the bewildered and hurt look that took place on Stoick's face. "He saved me. He told me what you did and I will never forget how you hurt your own son Stoick. The boy you described has no ill feelings towards you, but that doesn't matter because I hate you enough for both of us."
Storm stood up and Hiccup followed suit, her eyes were set in a hard glare as she leaned over the table, getting in Stoick's face. Hiccup couldn't really believe that Storm had snapped, but he understood why she did, when Hiccup had described Stoick the description hit close to home for her. No one at the table could believe that the calm woman had snapped.
"You are a man that has chased away your own son, your tribe ridiculed him for all of his life and you did nothing to stop it. I hate you with everything I have. Men like you disgust me and know nothing but hurting others," she let out a humorless chuckle, shaking her head. "You don't even see how you were the final reason he left. You kept saying 'is', 'likes', 'puts'. Do you really believe that your son would be the same person as when he left?"
She stood up straight and shook her head again. Her eyes filled with hate, her stance tense. She continued.
"You didn't even try to look for him. A man like you doesn't deserve a son." She bit out and promptly left the table. Hiccup hurried after her, leaving the shocked trio behind. The storm outside had started up again, almost like the earth sensed Storm's own feelings.
As the Meade hall's doors shut behind them Storm ripped off her helmet. She harshly wiped her eyes, she was crying. Hiccup placed a hand on her shoulder and turned her into his embrace. She sobbed a couple of times before she talked, she did it so quietly that Hiccup almost didn't hear it.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. This isn't about me," she sobbed once more, Hiccup tightened his hold. "It's way harder for you, you shouldn't have to deal with me!"
"No no no," he gently lifted her head from his shoulder where she tried to hide her tears. "You have nothing to be sorry for. C'mon, let's get out the rain." He gently placed her helmet back on her head and led her towards the academy. He needed to get her to talk before she buried her feelings deep inside herself and it would be better done inside a safe place, with their whole family together.
