"Modern myth".
How to train your dragon, Toothcup.
By: Sinattea.
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Disclaimer: Cressida Cowell owns the book series, Dreamworks owns the movie. I own nothing but this AU.
Note: Happy Holidays everyone! ! I really hope you're all spending a much beter time than I am. Family utterly sucks and internet here also sucks, but oh well... I had to update as a present and also because you guys deserve it.
Also, Snaketongue talks in this chapter so, well, you know the usual warning.
Read and enjoy! ! !
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Chapter 18: Surprise.
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- Hiccup, you're biting your thumb… – Fishlegs noted, bringing the brown-haired boy back to reality.
And back to school, now that the winter break was over and it was time to return to BHS's hallways.
With a pale blush Hiccup cleaned his finger on his sleeve and crossed his arms to hide his hands. He hadn't noticed he'd been biting his thumb, the last time he'd been nervous enough to do that was on his first day of school, when he was like five years old. He felt like a retarded, and on top of that he stuttered and hiccupped when he spoke.
- Sorry, I'm just… you know…
- You're worried to death that Toothless might not join us in our senior semester. I know – Fishlegs finished the sentence.
The first thing both of them had done when arriving early at BHS was finding each other and quickly catching up about their respective holidays. They haven't seen each other since Toothless' surprise party and one would think they had a lot to talk about, but it really wasn't that much considering they did keep in touch through the wonders of text-message and e-mails. Therefore Hiccup went straight to the point of Toothless' last chance and just how worried he was about him… failing. Fishlegs, being the good friend he was, decided to focus on Hiccup's dilemma and wait with him outside the main entrance, in the cold, expecting to catch a glimpse of the black-haired boy.
Fishlegs sighed and watched as his breath drew a tiny white cloud in front of his face.
- Uhm, Hiccup? Your thumb… again.
- My hands are so numb I didn't even feel it. Odin, I have to stop this, I'm not five anymore! – Hiccup reprimanded himself - Do you see him?
- Nope – said Fishlegs -. Now I'm also worried for him.
- He said he'd called me after the exams! And I haven't heard a word from him in the whole weekend!
- Hasn't he…? – Fishlegs wondered. Hiccup shook his head energetically, knowing exactly what his best friend was referring to.
- No. Mrs. Evans promised she'd let me know if he disappeared of the house again, and since she hasn't notified me anything I'll assume he hasn't.
- So basically his landlady is spying him for you – Fishlegs joked in a fake accusing tone - You sound like a stalker, you know?
- I'm not stalking him! I'm his boyfriend – Hiccup's voice high-pitched, his ears turning red and his lips pursing in a pout. Well, if you do think about it some of the things Hiccup (and Toothless) did sounded a little bit like stalking (like following somebody home or sneaking into someone's bedroom), but only if you put them out of context.
- Stalker overprotective boyfriend – Fishlegs specified, teasing further.
- Shut up!
Hiccup wasn't even done talking when one loud hiccough echoed in his throat. Fishlegs couldn't help but chuckle, snort and then laugh. The brown-haired boy threw his arms in the air and gave up, although not before cursing Fishlegs that one day, not far away in the near future, he'd be twice as "overprotective" to Aura.
Then they kept gazing at the flood of students in search of any sign of Toothless.
Suddenly, something tickled Hiccup's ear: a soft breeze of warm breath along with a whispering voice.
- Surprise – there was a sensuous mutter.
Hiccup turned around with his face pale, eyes wide in shock, and Fishlegs released a quite undignified scream.
- Damn! Sorry. Did I scare you two? – Toothless apologized right away.
- Of course you did! ! – Fishlegs complained - How did you…? When…? You're like a ninja!
- Sorry.
Looking rather ashamed of himself, Toothless tried to hold Hiccup's hand as a salute, but the other boy didn't let him.
- Don't touch my hand! I was very worried – he snapped, very upset.
- Sorry, I know I should have called you, but I forgot.
- You what? ?
- I-for-got – Toothless spelled, clear and slow -. Spent thirteen hours locked in a classroom with those exams, who knew Mrs. Cowell had a sadistic streak? Then I had to cover my last double shift at the hotel, which sums another twelve hours to my stressful and sleep-deprived day – he justified -. When I got home I fell asleep on the couch and suddenly it was monday morning and Mrs. Evans was yelling in my ear that I was gonna be late.
- That's awful, mate – Fishlegs sympathized.
Hiccup let out a heavy sigh and looked at Toothless with different eyes.
- And… what happened with your exams?
- Why don't you see by yourself? – Toothless held a piece of paper in front of Hiccup's face, and handed it to him, his face as indecipherable as if it were made out of stone - My school-schedule.
With a wary expression Hiccup's olive-green eyes studied the paper, reading carefully the words printed on it. In the last second his expression transformed into a perfect mixture of surprise and hope.
- You're in all my classes!
- Each and every one of them – Toothless grinned, his bright-green eyes even brighter with all the pride swelling up his chest. He'd made it! They'd made it! Those two days of cramming to death together had been worth each and every single second.
- Toothless! ! That's great! ! – Hiccup exclaimed, incredibly happy, and literally jumped into the taller boy's arms and hugged him. A bit sheepishly, perhaps, since they were in public, Toothless returned the hug.
- So, we're all graduating together? – Fishlegs inquired, raising one eyebrow in a complicity gesture.
- Damn yes we are! – Toothless confirmed.
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Naturally, as it is to be expected, many things changed in that semester, and it became obvious since the very first day that the change would be drastic. First of all Professor Cowell gathered everyone in the auditorium for the official announcement of her new rank as "Principal". She cut the budget for the athletes and redistributed it to improve the artistic and scientific clubs (because the athletes didn't need new uniforms for every season and final game), and most of them, mainly led by Astrid, agreed and cheered, though the mathletes, if we have to be honest, cheered louder. She announced that there would be cultural fieldtrips, that a new school theater would be built, and that she'd start a school bus program to prevent the morning traffic.
The more Principal Cowell spoke, the clearer it became that the Sanders' reign of terror was over. Particularly when a rumor spread through the students by the time the meeting finished.
- You gotta be fuckin' cheatin' me! – Snaketongue's voice boomed through the hallway, and everybody stopped to listen to her because it was known everything she considered worth shouting was actually big news -. Fuckin' listen up everyone! The Sanders left town! Those fuckers ain't comin' the fuck back! ! Green asshole Death isn't fuckin' coming back to BHS! ! ! We're fuckin' free people! Fuckin' free! !
- She can't be serious – muttered Fishlegs, open-mouthed.
- She sounds pretty serious to me – said Toothless, dedicating a meaningful look to Hiccup that revealed his dragon senses detected nothing but the truth in Snaketongue's voice.
- Call me old-fashioned if you like – intervened Aura, who had joined them earlier in the auditorium -, but I wish she didn't use that language.
- Don't worry, she'll graduate this year and you won't have to put up with her anymore – solaced Fishlegs with a smile.
Then, not far from them down the hallway, Astrid's unmistakable voice sounded. She was walking towards Hiccup and his nerdy friends, accompanied by the whole basketball team and Ruffnut, and they gossiped as if they were the common popular girls and not the sportive, smarter girls.
- Green Death's gone? That's amazing news to begin this new year with! – she said.
- This makes Dagur the new bully in charge? – wondered Ruffnut.
- We can handle Dagur – Astrid guaranteed -. Oh… Hi Hiccup! Hope you had a happy christmas.
- Uhm… well, yeah, thanks… – Hiccup stuttered, somewhat disconcerted.
- Happy New Year boys! – added Ruffnut, arching her eyebrows in a teasing and meaningful way to Hiccup and Toothless, who couldn't help but blush. And then she just walked by with the rest of her peers.
- Did Astrid Hofferson just say "hi" to you? – muttered a nerd whose jaw was almost sweeping the floor.
- I think so – responded Hiccup, shifting uncomfortably -. But it's no big deal, really…
The other nerd almost got a hard attack at the "no big deal" part.
- And I think that's just the proof: the Sanders effect is over – said Toothless, but there was something strange in his eyes, uneasy and wary, as if he, of all people, couldn't believe that Green Death was gone.
It was way too perfect. And he couldn't be that lucky, now could he?
Somewhere deep inside of him, a tiny voice whispered endlessly that he really couldn't.
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If anybody asked Hiccup, however, he would also say that he couldn't believe in his own luck, though his worries were no longer related to Green Death and his endless bullying. They were more about Hammerhead and how close he was to become Hiccup's personal bully.
- He's going to kill me – Hiccup muttered, watching as the other boy punched a sack with anger.
- You're gonna be alright, don't worry – Toothless encouraged with an honest smile. He knelt in front of Hiccup and helped him wrap the bandages around his hands and knuckles -. It's just practice. We both think you're in need of it.
- You and who else?
- Well… your dad – Toothless said as he fit the gloves in Hiccup's hands with delicacy. He tried really hard not to be affectionate with Hiccup when in the gym, but sometimes he couldn't help but melt around him, especially when Hiccup had to step on the ring trying to look like a man when he was, by all means, still a boy. It was just insanely cute for Toothless to resist.
- You two get along quite well…
- You think so? I feel he just tries to hide the fact he's watching me, like, all the time.
Toothless had to give a second thought, however. He and his boyfriend's father getting along? Was that even possible? Lucky him, his cell phone rang with urgency, saving him the headache of going deep into the idea.
- It's Evelyn – he sort of gasped -. Sorry I can't see your first practice fight, I got to take this.
- I know. It's alright – Hiccup understood.
- Punch him hard.
- I-I'll try.
Odin, Hiccup hated his luck so much in that moment. Not only he found himself forced to stand punching and kicking on a daily basis (even though now that Green Death was gone those were supposed to stay out of his routine), but now Toothless wouldn't be there to hold his back if things got nasty.
Well, he didn't have the right to complain. He knew perfectly what he was getting into from the very beginning. Ever since school started Hiccup couldn't help but think at least twice a day that he wanted to quit the whole fighting issue, but if he wanted to really be capable of standing for Toothless he couldn't be anymore the scrawny little nerd he was.
He had to try, for Toothless, but also for himself. He really didn't want to be anymore the little nerd everybody picked on.
He stood up before Hammerhead, his guard up.
- Ya ready son? – Stoick asked. Hiccup nodded seriously - A'right, but take it easy, ya both. Slow speed.
- Where are you going coach? – Hammerhead exclaimed in the very second Stoick walked a step away, as if he found the lack of attention very bothering.
- There're people tha' wan' information. Ya understan', right? Be back in a minute.
- B-but… but…
Stoick turned his back at the boys and walked away. Hammerhead's jaw dropped, incredibly upset.
- Guess we're stuck with each other, huh? – Hiccup said, trying to sound upbeat.
Bad idea, Hammerhead seemed to go crazy. He yelled and charged against Hiccup like a raging bull. When Stoick said Hammerhead had anger management problems, he meant it, but you couldn't figure out how serious he was until you saw the guy lose absolute control.
Hiccup, however, didn't panic. He kept a cold mind and simply walked aside when the hammer head tried to smash against his skinny chest. Hammerhead fell face-first to the ground and started blurting some incomplete sentences about the injustice of the world, why nobody paid attention to him and how he just hated everything and everyone.
- Looks like your opponent isn't fit for fight, eh fishbone? – came the mocking and threatening voice of a pro. Hiccup turned around to meet six giant fighters staring down at him -. Don't worry, fishbone, we'll give you a fight. Who wants to play with the punching sack?
- I'm in!
- Why don't you grab him and I hit 'im hard?
- Looks like the coach will be busy for long. I say we can beat him all.
- We'll show you, fishbone, that this isn't the place for losers like you – continued the leading pro -. You may be the coach's son… we're going to show you we don't give a damn about it.
For a second, in the blink of an eye, Hiccup could have sworn he was surrounded by an army of furious Green Deaths. All the pros had the same look full of disgust, pleasure and hate, as if they were watching a bug and couldn't wait for the glorious sensation of smashing it.
Had he been before one single opponent, Hiccup would've tried to fight, if only to prove himself he had the guts to try; maybe with his actual knowledge and a lot of luck he'd made it. But standing before six angry pros, Hiccup had no option but to hide his head between his gloves and shoulders and resist the beating as stoically as he could until it was over. Pray Odin it ended soon.
The first three punches, for Hiccup's amazement, didn't hurt, but the fourth was actually an upper-cut that impacted deep in his torso, right between his stomach and lungs, causing him to lose his breath and energy in a second.
His sight went blurry. He thought it wouldn't take long before he hit the ground.
- Stay away from him! ! – he heard Toothless' voice like a fading and distant echo.
And immediately he knew he was safe, though that didn't make him feel any better. Toothless kept coming to save him, like he was some damsel in distress (oh, ironic fate), and no matter how hard Hiccup tried, it seemed like there was no way he could ever be the one standing up for the ones he loved.
Toothless had pulled back one of the pros by the neck of his t-shirt and before the others could react the dragon boy had already pushed that pro into unconsciousness using the same pressure-point he'd once used on Hiccup. Two other pros tried to grab him but Toothless simply slid between their hands as water, fast as only he.
Then his instincts went wild. They've been trying to hurt Hiccup, his Hiccup, out of nothing but boredom. Well, Toothless was about to give them the entertainment of their lives.
The brawl was more intense and prolonged than the one occurred in the school, because these were bullies who actually knew the proper way to fight, and they knew how to get each other's backs and how to avoid a punch coming right at their faces.
What they didn't know is that Toothless was merely playing with them. Moreover, he was showing mercy: he didn't use his dragon strength, and he fought at half speed. Mainly because he didn't want to behave like a beast in front of Hiccup, not again, and that helped him stay in control, his dragon self tightly leashed in a safe corner within himself.
Nonetheless, even with his heightened skills carefully hidden, Toothless still had what it took to beat six pros down in what could be considered a short period of time. Who would have thought that Evelyn's paranoia and all those lessons of fencing and training inspired in "Karate Kid" would come in handy one day.
There was already a crowd of students enjoying the show gathered around the ring, screaming and making bets.
Just when he was about to deliver the final blow, a mighty fist seized his wrist and stopped him mid-air. Toothless was so filled with adrenaline that his senses went paranoid and he interpreted the meddling hand as a new enemy. Maybe the guy he'd knocked out first had recovered from the fainting and was ready to help his comrades. So Toothless turned on his heels and delivered a punch with his elbow… that the other person easily blocked with the forearm. A left hook, a side-kick, jab, cross, back-fist, Toothless delivered a fair amount of amazingly executed punches and finally defeated his opponent, whose strategy was completely defensive.
Two seconds later he realized it was Stoick, the coach, Haddock the one whose butt he'd just kicked.
No surprise, Toothless' heart stopped beating, and he covered his mouth in shame. Hiccup went up to him sputtering half-questions, half-accusations of why he didn't listen at least one of the ten times he yelped that it was his father and not somebody else. They both looked at Stoick with fear and shame, and Toothless couldn't help but think of how absurdly he'd just ruined the whole "You and my dad get along quite well", and how Stoick would now hate him forever and hunt him down till death if he ever found out about Toothless' true relationship with Hiccup.
The whole gym had gone silent; no one seemed to remember their bets anymore.
Stoick's nostrils flared as he commanded all of his students to go back to their respective trainings. Then he focused all of his attention on the persons standing on the ring.
- Who start'd it? – he demanded to know.
Suddenly Hiccup's shoes had turned into the most interesting thing in the universe.
- They did! They started it! – yelled Hammerhead, pointing at the pros whining for their bruises -. It's always them! ! They think they own this gym, those- - -! – and he proceeded to describe the pros with a colorful variety of adjectives.
- So they start'd it… – Stoick muttered, dedicating a fulminating stare to the pros, who immediately ran away; even they knew better than messing with a world champion. Then Stoick glared at Toothless, pointing at his chest with a thick and threatening finger - an' ya play'd along…
- Well… I… sir- - -coach…
Toothless had never wished for the earth to swallow him alive, and he was sure this wasn't going to be the last time, but certainly it would always be the time he wished for it the most.
And suddenly, when nobody expected something like that to ever happen, Stoick burst out laughing incredibly hard, and Toothless choked on his own words.
- Tha' was amazin' boy! Where did ya get those mov'ments? – exclaimed Stoick, unbelievably excited.
Toothless and Hiccup exchanged a shocked look, and the black-haired boy couldn't help but blush and scratch the back of his head sheepishly.
- I… uh… watch a lot of Jackie Chan movies?
- Ya're way over ev'rybody in 'ere! Ev'lyn wasn' lyin' at all I see. From now on ya'll be trainin' exclusiv'ly with me, apparen'ly I'm the only good opponen' for ya, eh? – Stoick patted Toothless' back really hard and encouragingly, this time managing to almost strike him down, because the dragon boy was totally confused.
Hiccup was the one to settle the situation down.
- Are you serious dad? – he asked, his voice sounded more high-pitched than intended, but at least there were no hiccups this time.
- O' course! Ya' frien's got lots o' potential! It'll be great!
- Sure – agreed Toothless, shifting awkwardly from one foot to the other, still baffled.
- Don' worry, Hiccup, he'll still help ya, but the real trainin' is fin'lly startin' seriously – Stoick clapped his hands together somewhat viciously; a sadistic smirk suddenly appearing on his face -. Let's see how much resistance ya really got, boy. Down! A hundred push-ups.
- Beg pardon? ? – a wide eyed Toothless muttered.
- Two hundred! ! – Stoick exclaimed.
No matter how confused he felt, that was a language Toothless could perfectly understand, and a second later he dropped himself on the floor and started counting. Hiccup couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Toothless get a taste of his own chocolate.
- Come on Tooth! It's only two hundred push-ups! – he mocked in revenge.
- Someone's not flying today… – Toothless muttered - Nine, ten… Or tomorrow… Fourteen…
- Hammerhead – Stoick called, his evil smirk widening noticeably -, get ya' angry butt over 'ere an' remin' Hiccup whut we're here for before 'e starts enjoyin' 'imself too much. Practice time, son.
Hiccup's smile vanished in the blink of an eye and this time it was Toothless the one to chuckle.
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Naturally the next day both boys had an aching body and whimpered in pain at every step. It took them ages to reach the cafeteria, and by the time they did most people were already gone. They lay down on their usual table so suddenly they looked like puppets whose strings had been cut loose.
- What's wrong with you guys? – wondered Fishlegs.
- Hit by a bus – grumbled Toothless.
- Yeah, and the number plate read ST01CK… – added Hiccup.
Fishlegs chuckled a bit and decided to eat a bit of pudding to dissimulate.
- Rough training, huh? – he said with as much sympathy as he could muster (well, there was a good reason why he never went into sports, after all).
- You've no idea… – Toothless panted - When did he turn my two into a three hundred?
- Think it was after you said "Ouch" out loud – Hiccup recalled.
- He's a complete psycho! …Was I that maddening with you?
- If it makes you feel any better, my dad's worse… Not that much, though.
- Are you guys going to eat or what? – interfered Fishlegs, offering a bit of his pudding to them, because they hadn't even bothered in lining to buy their meals. Good decision, though, 'cause they arrived so late there was anything else worth to buy and eat.
- That is if I can move enough to chew…
This said, Toothless successfully managed to eat a spoon of pudding, not that pudding represented too much of a chewing challenge, of course.
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They've decided to escape into their cove as soon as they got out of school; they needed some time for themselves, and in the air troubles seemed less… well, troubling. That particular day Hiccup even took a small cooler with him, filled with raw fish for Toothless (his total favorite meal when turned into the Night Fury).
- Are you sure you can fly? – the boy asked as he finished to adjust the straps on his harness.
When Hiccup said that comment, Toothless, in his dragon form, dedicated him the best "dude, please" look ever, rather offended that he doubted his flying skills.
- I didn't mean it like that! I just thought that, you know, with my dad's new training and everything it'd be a little painful. That's all.
Then Toothless licked Hiccup's face in what could either mean "don't you worry, mate" or "you're cute when you're worried", or both, and invited him to climb on his back and get ready for a great flying session.
Hiccup conceded with a smile. A minute later they were soaring through the skies as if they owned the place.
They hovered above the clouds and spiraled down drawing a blue hole in the gray shadow extended over Berk. They even followed and outran a group of big birds in an incredibly funny improvised race.
Then Hiccup's cell phone came into the scene, scaring the hell out of both him and Toothless. His hands somewhat numb Hiccup tried to pull it out of his pocket and found himself unable to hold the tiny device, that bounced and slipped off his hands and plummeted down.
He and Toothless watched the phone fall for a couple of seconds, before the dragon folded his wings and dove straight towards it.
Hiccup didn't have the time to release a scream, he had to focus in catching his phone as soon as Toothless was close enough, and with a lot of effort, he did before it was too late to answer.
- Hey, dad – he gasped in the phone.
- Hiccup's tha' ya? Whut's with ya' voice?
- I was… running… I'm alright, dad… So, what is it?
- Where are ya? Can barely hear ya with all tha' noise – said Stoick.
Of course, Toothless' wings, and the wind. Hiccup covered the speaker with his hand and whispered to Toothless' ear.
- We have to land, like, right now!
Fortunately they had lost a fair amount of altitude when diving and quickly enough Toothless landed on the closest, tallest tree they could find.
- Hiccup?
- Oh, yeah, I was… trying to make it to the arcade before Fishlegs, we made a bet… the loser puts today's coins… What is it dad?
- Nothin', I just came home early an' kinda worri'd 'cause ya weren' here. So, a' tha arcade with Fishlegs?
- Yeah, where else would I be?
- Ok, jus' makin' sure of it. Say hi t'Fishlegs an' tha others for me.
- Sure, dad… Wait! What others? – but Stoick had already hang up the phone.
Hiccup's face went blank. What others had Stoick meant?
Toothless looked at Hiccup, utterly curious, and flew down the tree to make his way back to the coven, where he immediately adopted his hybrid form.
- What was that? Is everything ok with your- - -? – his voice trailed off.
Hiccup stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed at some specific point right behind Toothless, who swiftly looked around to find out what had captured the brown-haired boy's attention so intensely.
They never got the chance to discuss Stoick's matter, because there was a little surprise waiting for them not far from the lagoon within their cove.
Well, many little surprises, to be precise.
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Another note: Suspenseful ending, isn't it? ^^
But you'll have to wait three weeks to know what comes next. I need a break to write the upcoming chapters, I'll try my fastest, I promise. Hold on!
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And, once again, endless thanks to:
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Ancientathens, stuart. tozer. 5, donalgraeme,
animelover56348, Hi Mr Whale, AlexJohnD, Hotaru-chan,
AliceCullen3, Ilmazzobro, Splendidguy44, spikedash115.
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Go to my DeviantArt if you find the time! ! ! ;-)
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