"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: Wow, this chapter was so hard to put together, but I'm utterly happy with the final result. I worked myself very hard today to update this friday. A little warning for language, though.
Enjoy! ! !
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Chapter 23: Denial.
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Needless to mention Hiccup had basically fainted in Toothless' arms at the mere thought of his father knowing. He was so used to considering academic and personal life as entirely different worlds that when he decided he didn't care if his classmates knew about him and Toothless, Stoick hadn't crossed his mind. Not even once.
But now it had, for his eternal damnation, the thought wouldn't leave his head.
- My father CAN'T know about this! He's gonna kill us! ! He's gonna kill me! ! OdinwhymusteverythinghappentouswhatamIgonnadoohgods…
- Hiccup, calm down- - -
- Don't ask me to calm down! ! It's my dad we're talking about!
Well, against that logic Toothless had no arguments.
Although it puzzled him still how Hiccup could be so fine with the entire population of BHS knowing and couldn't, on the other hand, digest the mere idea of having his father sharing in the secret.
The dragon boy couldn't agree more: why must everything happen to them?
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As if things weren't already complicated enough, the worst for Hiccup and Toothless came, naturally, once the rumor spread out of the limits of Berk's High School, and every student shared the juicy gossip with neighbors, cousins, workmates, random people walking by… and friends from the gym. A boy who attended an early class in Stoick's gym couldn't help but tell a friend in the dressing rooms, and that friend couldn't help but tell another friend, and so on. Bad news is the last of these "friends" couldn't help but spit out the truth when the pro fighters cornered him in the ring, and now they had one more reason, a huge reason, to hate the coach's pathetic son and the unbearable new favorite.
They were all eager to see them both cross the main door. Those losers wouldn't even know what hit them. That would be an epic way to have the coach finding out just how ashamed he should be of the talking fishbone he'd recently been insisting so much in calling "son".
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Toothless didn't need to step into the gym to find out the cruel plans of the pros. May the gods bless his draconian sense of hearing. He really wanted to go and beat the brains out of those gossipers, but he couldn't because: 1) he'd have to hit half the town, and 2) if he did so he'd only give himself away before Stoick sooner and in a worse way…
Odin, he and Hiccup were doomed!
Maybe it was better to just give up. He should walk in there, go up to Stoick and tell him all clear and loud: "I'm in love with your son and I'm not leaving him, so if you supported us that'd be great, but if you don't…" That's where his resolution stopped. If you don't… what? What was he going to do? What was he thinking he'd do?
No, Hiccup was right: they had to do everything they could to remain a secret from Stoick. But seriously, he was finding out sooner or later, now more than ever, wouldn't it just be simpler if he learned it from them instead of from some random Berk citizen on the streets?
Lost in these thoughts Toothless didn't notice someone had come out of the gym to take some fresh air. When his gaze met the other's, this boy burst out laughing.
- Hey, there, Toothless. Rumor has it that you and Hiccup boy hook up, if you know what I mea- - -
Before he was even done laughing, an out of patience Toothless had already pushed him hard against the wall, menacingly growling to him to shut up.
- You dare laughing again and I'm beating you so hard you won't laugh for a year. Get it? – Toothless gritted, his eyes piercing and venomous.
The boy nodded nervous and terrified.
- Now go back in there and tell everyone the same warning goes to them if they speak up. Get it?
- G-got it…
- Good. Now tell Hammerhead that I got fifty bucks for him if he's willing to do me a favor – Toothless let him go, and the boy basically ran and tripped and crawled inside.
Two minutes later Hammerhead was out of the gym with his worldwide famous grumpy face, a gesture Toothless wiped out of his face by showing him twice the money he'd been promised. All he had to do was keeping Stoick busy enough the whole afternoon so he couldn't focus on the fact his son and his son's friend were missing classes.
Incredibly enough, Hammerhead accepted quite easily.
Then all Toothless had left to do was making up a believable excuse to justify his escapade. What he didn't count on, is that he would get ridiculously nervous once Stoick came to talk to him, sent by Hammerhead.
- Toothless! Ya' late for trainin'! – said Stoick with a big smile that did nothing but increase Toothless' anxiety. The man was getting along with him really well, just as Hiccup had once mentioned, and here he was, about to lie shamelessly to him -Where's Hiccup?
- We're not… training today, sir- - -coach… We… Hiccup's not feeling well and I… took him home. Yes, that – "What a pathetic liar you are when it comes to this, Toothless. Marvelous".
- Whut happen'd t'him?
Stoick's honest preoccupation only made Toothless feel guiltier, but there was nothing he could do about it. A secret was a secret, and if lying was necessary to keep it, lie he will.
- He just… felt sick for no reason… But he's gonna be fine, he just needs some rest.
- Was goin' out with Spitelout an' Gobber but maybe I should go hom'…
- No! – Toothless shrieked, immediately regretting his overreaction and modulating his voice - No… I mean… That won't be necessary. He's fine, really. Feel free to go with your friends, Stoi- - -sir- - -coach. Well-I-better-take-Hiccup-home-don't-you-worry-about-him-sir.
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- Aaand that's when I ran away – Toothless confessed in utter shame.
He was sitting at the edge of Hiccup's bed, watching his boyfriend as he laid there with a bag of ice on his head. When Hiccup said he felt sick, he'd meant it.
- You really ran away? – Hiccup giggled, causing his head to hurt a bit - How can you be so afraid of my dad?
- Says the one who's terrified of him – the dragon-boy defended himself.
- Touché – he blushed -. But, you're half a dragon… he's just a human dad.
That wasn't true, no matter how much Toothless wished so.
- You mean your dad the world champion of box? Your dad the two-meters tall? Your dad the- - -?
- Ok, I get it. Relax… – Hiccup squeezed Toothless' hand gently. Then closed his eyes again ready to finally take a nap, when the story Toothless narrated finally caught up with him. His eyes snapped open - Wait. You told him to go to his poker night with Gobber? ? ? ! !
- Uh-oh…
Now the conversation was also catching up with Toothless he finally realized the huge mistake he'd made. Stoick made him so nervous that he hadn't figured out the exact words he'd heard.
- Toothless! ! – Hiccup squealed in panic. He jumped off the bed and literally ran around in circles trying to figure out what to do.
- Sorry!
- You gotta stop him! You have to stop him!
- What am I supposed to do? – exactly, what? He was just a terrified half dragon, after all. Shame on him.
Hiccup looked at him, desperation crystal clear in his expression.
- You have dragon skills: sabotage him! You can't let him talk to Gobber!
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There was a bunch of money in the center of the table, surrounded by empty cans of beer, wraps of snacks and nasty stain of sauce. The typical scenario of a poker night when you are an ordinary man playing with your pals, enjoying the first break daily life gives you in a long while.
- I add another twenty – said Spitelout, throwing his money over the table.
- Good game, huh? – asked Gobber, subtly leaning to his left to try and get a glimpse of Spitelout's cards. He received a growl in response and straightened up, coughing a bit to dissimulate his not-so-honest moves.
- Ya'll never change, Gobber – laughed Stoick, pulling his bucks out as well -. A'right, I'm in.
- I've a feelin' I'm gonna lose this… – muttered Gobber.
- Speakin' of loss, did I tell you I got robbed the other day? – mentioned Spitelout, suddenly changing his good mood into an irritated mask.
- Ya did? – Stoick was surprised he hadn't heard anything until then.
- Well, Jonah did…
- Whoa, ya called him for his name, ya're reaaaally angry with him – Gobber exchanged a compassionate look with Stoick. Poor Snotlout was doomed if his own father refused to call his nickname.
- 'Course I am! ! – Spitelout blurted - Where the hell in town was he? Someone broke the windows of the car and stole everything he could… When was the last time you heard such things happened in Berk?
- Yeah, thought our juvenile delinquents were a lil' bit more civilized – added Gobber -. Where did tha' happen?
- Jonah swears he went to the cinema with friends.
The way Spitelout said it, though, made it look as if that was the big fat lie Snotlout said every time he wanted to hide that fact he'd gone to smoke marihuana or something.
- And ya think he's lyin'? – understood Stoick. He knew that tone of voice of Spitelout's all too well.
- He's teenager, ain't he?
The curious thing is that Spitelout was always wary of the "going to cinema" because that lie was, in fact, his personal favorite when they were young and arranged fights against other classmates for money.
Stoick remembered those days as well, and he knew for sure Snotlout must have heard the story somewhere.
- Gobber, ya heard anythin' suspicious a' school? – Stoick prompted his best friend.
- Nothin' illegal – he guaranteed -. Snotlout's had trouble with the football team, but that's it.
Spitelout would have preferred to know his son was involved in the high school fight and gambling business than knowing his Viking reputation was not at its finest.
- What you mean "troubles with the team"? What's going on with the Vikings?
- Err… Nothin', nothin'… you know, they're just… having teenage trouble… Girlfriends, boyfriends and stuff…
Both Spitelout and Stoick spat their beers all over the table.
- Boyfriends? ? ? – gasped Spitelout, half drowning with the beer and half choking on his spit.
- Yeah, well… all Vikings are boyfriends to some girl, ain't them? – Gobber tried to amend, realizing he'd screwed up pretty bad.
It seemed to work, at least partially. Spitelout was quite easy to distract when you knew him.
- Not Snotlout, apparently – he said, a little disappointed.
- Well… neither Hiccup – whispered Gobber to himself. He remembered the bet he won to Cressida Cowell; cruel irony that the same money now laid in Spitelout's poker table.
- He's focus'd on football – argued Stoick, as if he hadn't listened to Gobber's words -. Sure he's got plen'y o' girls behind 'im an' likes playin' tha busy man. I us'd t'do tha same, remember?
- Yeah, maybe… Let me go get somethin' to clean this mess.
Spitelout stood up and went upstairs to the kitchen (taking his cards with him, just in case), since the poker and pool table were in the basement.
As soon as he left, though, Stoick turned to Gobber with a rather angry frown settled in his face.
- Whut tha hell d'ya mean "neither Hiccup"? ? – he imitated Gobber's voice in an offending tone.
- Ya heard me…?
- Hell I did! – Stoick admitted. He crossed his arms and raised a skeptical eyebrow - Ma son ain't good 'nough t'get a girl?
- That's not whut I meant, Stoick, actually… err… Hiccup's… quite a conversation topic amon'st girls these days… – if only Stoick knew what those girls said about Hiccup…
- For ya' information, Hiccup does've a girlfriend – announced Stoick with pride.
Now it was Gobber the one who splattered his beer on the table.
- Does 'e?
- Well, think so – Stoick shrugged, a little less furious than before -. He's been actin' weird for lon': 'is excuses are inconsisten' an' he's always watchin' his phone an' comin' home late. I think he start'd comin' t'tha gym t'impress her...
Oh, dear almighty Odin, give me the strength to burst this man's bubble and show him the reality in a way that doesn't drive him absolutely crazy.
- Riiiiiight… I'm sure that's whut happen'd… – and before Stoick could add anything else, Gobber raised his voice in a fake smile - So! You and Hiccup are in good terms now? Finally after so long?
Stoick sensed right away that his supposedly best friend was hiding something of gargantuan proportions, but for the time being he would let it pass, if only to make it clear that he and Hiccup were a family once again and this time in a definite, everlasting manner.
- Totally. Can't believ' I miss'd six years o' ma son's life.
- An' as your son you love 'im, right? Jus' the way he is, right? And you like 'is friends, right? Fishlegs, Toothless… You like Toothless, don't ya?
- O' course! Whut's all this? – Stoick was getting confused. Like, for real.
- Ya used t'be kinda disappoin'ed 'cause he wasn't exactly the son ya wan'ed – his friend justified.
- That's in tha past. I'm learnin' t'accept 'im just as he is.
- It's a good thin' you mention that, actually! – exclaimed Gobber as if he'd been waiting the entire night to hear something like that and finally pronounce the speech he'd been preparing all day long - What if I told you that Hiccup is more… unconventional than we all thought?
- He's a nerd an' tha opposite o' Viking. Already know that. Whut else could ya mean? – exactly, what? ? Somewhere deep inside, Stoick's mind began to connect the dots, but the rest of his brain and common sense were furiously denying that lining.
- Ok, err… Whut if I told you that I know he doesn't have a girlfriend?
Toothless, who was spying outside the house, hidden in the bushes, doing his best to keep track of the conversation in the basement, panicked. "No, you're not!" he thought. He'd start the fire-alarm before Gobber spoke more than he should.
- Yet – specified Stoick -. He doesn' have a girlfriend yet.
- No, he doesn't… And most likely won't…
- Whut? ? ?
The table trembled when Stoick smashed his fist against it.
- No, no, Stoick, lis'en – Gobber tried to appease -. I might be talkin' about som'thin' that ain't bad at all. It's… normal, sorta…
- Whut are ya tryin' t'say 'bout ma son? ? Gobber?
"Nothing! He's not saying anything!" Really, Toothless would set fire to a trash can before that question was responded. Trash cans always worked, didn't they?
- Want more beer? – came in Spitelout, a six-pack in hand and a big bag of potato chips on the other.
Stoick froze on his spot and didn't say a word. Gobber, on the other hand, was obviously relieved to talk to Spitelout instead of his cousin.
- Thought ya were bringin' somethin' t'clean – he said happily as he grabbed a handful of chips.
- Oh, right. Forgot about that… Be right back – Spitelout left again.
Now Gobber panicked too. Stoick wasn't taking the hints as good as he originally thought he would, and now Gobber realized he shouldn't be having this conversation. When did he think that revealing Hiccup's life was a good idea at all? Well, he'd been doing that for long, except that usually Hiccup's life didn't include any romantic issues, least of all regarding unconventional preferences in the love matter.
He earned his nickname because he didn't know how to keep his mouth shut when it came to speaking his mind. What few knew about him, however, is that every now and then, he did know how to keep a secret.
This was, contrary to what he'd thought, going to be one of those times.
- Hey, Spitelout, need some help?
- Ya ain't goin' anywhere, Gobber – gritted Stoick, setting in full box-fighter mode.
Gobber gulped. Toothless breathed in heavily, ready to fire…
Ringtone.
- Let Thor bless cell phones! – seizing his chance to get out of the basement, Gobber left in a second.
Sighing angrily but already planning a dozen strategies to corner Gobber and force him to talk, Stoick grabbed his phone and answered the call. Part of him suspected it was a trick from Gobber himself to distract him. Unfortunately that wasn't the case.
- Hello, Gerard – oh, damn it. Exactly what he needed to make his night.
- Ev'lyn.
- EvElyn. With "E" in the middle – she complained.
- Oh, sorry, forgot I'd hired spellin' lessons once a year – he snapped.
- Had I known you'd miss me so, I would've called much sooner – Evelyn summoned her hypocrisy.
Stoick really wasn't in the mood for that. He was tempted to cut the woman off, but he should at least figure out first the reason why she was calling so suddenly.
- Whut d'ya want?
- As a fact, the matter is what you want. I thought you'd like to know the exact day of my arrival. I'm moving to Berk in two days – she informed.
- Hiccup'll like t'know…
- Yes. I was thinking of personally calling him to- - -
- No need, I'll let 'im know – he interrupted.
- Oh, grow up and show some manners. I haven't had a nice day either – Evelyn replied in similar annoyance -. I just wanted to let you know. That's what families do, isn't it?
- Think so – mumbled Stoick.
- Alright. Then I believe I'll see you friday… If you want.
- Might have t'think 'bout it.
- Fine. Take your time. Lovely conversation, as usual. Good night, Gerard.
And she hung up.
By the time Spitelout and Gobber came downstairs screaming "Guess what? We ordered chinese!" Stoick passed by them heading in the opposite direction.
- Where you going? – asked Spitelout.
- We're gonna need more beer.
Summarizing, his best friend had insinuated his son might not be exactly interested in girls, the sour sister of the wife he'd lost was coming to town out of the blue, and he'd lost his gaming luck along with his money that night. Definitely Stoick was no longer in a proper mood, and, if only to ease the time for his friends, he drank more than he should and ate more than he should and he ended up made a grumpy mess.
What a lousy night.
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- I'm goin' hom' now – Stoick huffed after Gobber had gotten into his car and driven away (pretty much running away from him).
- Sure you can drive like that? – wondered Spitelout.
- Ya've seen me wors' than this. Hell I can drive a fuckin' car…
- Yeah, yeah, whatever.
Had Spitelout not been in similar conditions (he got overexcited with his good luck and continuous victories on the game), he would've insisted and had Stoick staying in his house that night and driving until the next morning when he was in better conditions.
But tonight that wasn't the case.
Stoick stumbled towards his pick-up, mumbling unintelligible curses every now and then. He'd tried not to think about it, but he couldn't get Gobber's insinuations about Hiccup out of his mind. Why had Gobber said all that? Why would he even think that Hiccup was like that in the first place?
It was true Stoick didn't know much about his son, but that was something he would've known, right? There was just no way that Hiccup… that he… No, just no. Life just couldn't be that messed up. His entire life Hiccup had been targeted for being different, for being smart, for being a dreamer. He'd been bullied and ignored, and many bad things had happened to him because of that, including being denied by his own father. He didn't need people around him to have another reason to disdain him. Some bastard had broken Hiccup's ankle for being a nerd. What would they do to him for being… even more different? They might send him to the hospital in a crime of hate, or even worse if he was caught alone… if there wasn't any friend like Toothless to stand up for him…
Things were already complicated enough; and just when they seemed to start getting better, this happens? No. Life couldn't be that unfair.
Life couldn't be that much of a…
- Bitch! – he groaned at the key in his hand, which refused to open the door of his car.
It took him six entire minutes to get the key into the door-lock.
"I can't let him drive like this" thought Toothless, sneaking out of his hiding spot and carefully approaching Stoick from behind.
If he had to show himself and completely ruin his spying secret mission in order to prevent Stoick from driving while drunk, he'd take his chances. There was no way Toothless would allow his boyfriend's father to risk his life like that.
When Stoick was trying to start the engine, Toothless appeared in front of the window.
- I don't think that's a good idea, sir – he said, serious.
- Get outta here kiddo! Ma car, ma rules – Stoick raged, and kept struggling with the key.
Toothless slid his hand into the car and took the keys from Stoick's hand.
- It's not a good idea – he repeated.
- Who tha hell d'ya think ya're? ? Gimme ma keys- - -
Then Stoick's brain slowly processed the information and realized exactly who was the boy standing before him.
- Ya… – he growled - YOU! !
Suddenly, with a speed no drunken man should have, Stoick was off the car and closing his fist around Toothless' neck, who managed to escape the grip by mere miracle.
- It all start'd 'cause of YOU! Ya an' tha' blasted woman… – he bawled, his eyes big and round with uncontrollable ire - No… no, no, no… Ev'lyn was later… It's always been ya… Ya an' ya' sudden frien'ship, comin' t'tha rescue… showin' up on chris'mas, comin' t'study a' odd times… Ya're after ma son… Ya almost trick'd me, but ya're after 'im…! !
- No, listen – Toothless tried to deny, that was certainly not the way nor the moment to have Stoick finding out the truth -, y-you don't know what you're saying- - -
- Ya're tha reason Gobber said all tha'… Ya're after ma son! !
- But why would it be wrong if- - -? ?
The boy couldn't even finish thinking the full sentence. Stoick launched against him with the strength of a raging bull. Had he not being the half dragon he was, he'd be seriously wounded by that tackle. But he could handle it; he could handle Stoick just as he'd handled Green Death. He was a Night Fury.
- Stop! I don't want to hurt you! ! – Toothless yelled. He wasn't fighting back so far, but if Stoick didn't get a hold of his wasted self he'd have to get him back into place one way or another.
- LIAR! ! Ya'll hurt 'im! Ya did a'ready! !
- STOP! !
Just when Toothless was standing and about to defend himself, Stoick punched him hard right in the face, knocking him down.
It hurt. The punch hurt in a way it shouldn't have hurt, confusing all of his senses because of the pain. Toothless couldn't stand up because he was abnormally dizzy, and when he took his hands to his face, he realized he was bleeding.
Stoick had injured him. How? Toothless had no brains to tell.
- YA STAY AWAY O' HICCUP! ! ! – screamed Stoick. Then he got back into the car, realized he couldn't drive away for he hadn't recovered his keys and ultimately decided to go back to Spitelout's house and knock until he or, more likely, Snotlout opened the door.
Toothless stayed behind, covering the left side of his face in pain.
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Another note: OhMyGods...
I'm not sure if I'll be able to post the new chapter next week, but I'll try my hardest to get back to the weekly update. If not, well, you know I only update on fridays.
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Let yourselves be seen in my DeviantArt! !
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Aaaaand Thank you very much for your reviews! !
Ancientathens, Musical Fangirl, Darkflower123, animelover56348,
AlexJohnD, AliceCullen3, violet flame, Kigen Dawn, Guest,
Ilmazzobro, Bubbles, Hotaru-chan, Toothless is best, Yuki, SuicidalxKitty.
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P.S.: Yuzuru Hanyu! ! ! 3
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