*****Stoick's POV****

After Gobber's little speech on how to be a better father, I walked back to the house. I will make things right with Hicca.

Chiefly duties be damned.


****Hicca's POV****

I woke up to the sound of my dad's footsteps echoing around the house.

Weird, he's usually out in the village by now. What's he doing still home?

I heard his thundering footsteps come closer to my room, and soon there he was, banging on my door in a very annoying and loud way.

"Hicca get up! You're spending the day with me." With that demand, he went back downstairs.

…..What?

I hurriedly got dressed and ran downstairs. I was greeted with the sight of my dad in the kitchen making- I peered around his shoulder and was greeted with the sight of black… things. I'm guessing he heard me because he turned around and smiled at me.

What does he want? I thought wearily.

"Hiiiiii Dad. How's it going? Why aren't you out and about, you know helping the island and it's problems?"

"Well funny story that is. You see I got up earlier than the norm and decided to start my rounds then. But as I was walking, I saw the forge light on. I went towards it and heard Gobber singing." At my sympathetic wince, he chuckled.

"Yea he's a bad singer. Anyways, we spoke about different things until the sun rose. Then I came back here and decided that I want to spend the day with my daughter, doing what she likes." Clang

At that last part I dropped the cup I was about to use and it crashed to the floor. As soon as dad heard the clang, he stood up.

"No don't get up, I got it. There's nothing to do." I said while hurrying to pick it up off of the floor.

"So…. You want to spend the day with me?"

"Mmhmm."

"Oh. I mean sure but it'll be boring, I just sit around and draw." Shoot, I didn't want him to know about my drawing. Too late now.

"You draw?" He sounded shocked. This caused me to turn around to face him, breakfast forgotten.

"Well yeah, I don't just sit around all day doing nothing. With the rest of the village saying I'm an outcast, what else would I do?"

"Oh, that makes sense."

"What?"

"That you draw." I stiffened at his tone.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing it's just that you're not like the other teenagers. So it's not surprising that you do something that the others don't."

"Well, that's rude. But I guess it makes sense…" I trailed off, offended.

"I didn't mean to be bu- HICCA THE KITCHEN IS ON FIRE!" At this, I whirled around and saw that he was right. There was a giant fire coming out of the kitchen. After staring in shock for a moment, I snapped back to reality with a very fitting shout of "OH MY GOD!"

The fire was spreading and was getting closer to me and dad. So I attempted to pick him up out of the chair which he did but then he did something I didn't expect. He picked me up, ran to the door, threw em outside - ow - and before he could run out as well, a big chunk of wood blocked the doorway. I saw him mouth I love you and after that, I couldn't see him anymore.

"Dad!" By this time people from the village had seen the smoke and Austen came up running to me.

"What happened?"

"The kitchen caught fire, but that doesn't matter. Dad's still in there!" I managed to get out those two sentences, but right after, I began to sob, legs giving out under me.

I felt his arms go around me and heard him shout:

"Okay, listen up! The chief is still in there. He can't get out due to the wood blocking the entrance. I need 5 strong men to help me." All of the men lifted their hands.

"Okay, I need Bucket, Gobber, Spitelout, Mulch, and… Yo Fishlegs! Let's go! You're the fifth man I need." At this Fishlegs pointed towards himself, causing Austen to nod.

I heard a 'yes sir' from each of them and through my tears saw the six of them run towards the house, that by this time was completely aflame. The five of them, Austen directing, managed to lift up the wood that seemed to be resistant to fire or something because that was the only thing not aflame. I saw Austen run inside the house and after a few silent moments, save the grunting of the five men from keeping it up over their heads, a shadow came into view. The shadow of a large body. DAD! If I looked close enough I could see Austen supporting him and helping him walk. They walked outside into the sun and when they were away from the house, the five men dropped the log and surrounded dad, and Austen, who were both now lying on the ground, motionless. Oh no.

I ran through the crowd, elbowing and pushing my way through until I saw the happiest sight I could see at the moment. My dad was being supported by Gobber and Austen by Fishlegs. They were both breathing, but only Austen was conscious. Gothi was looking dad over and after a few weird motions, she turned to face me with a smile, and a nod.

"He's okay?" I whispered with a smile on my face. At her nod, I ran towards Austen and gave him a body-tackle hug. "THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU." I was crying again, but this time tears of joy.

His arms surrounded me once again and I heard him whisper, very softly, into my ear "Anything for you." I pulled back with a surprised look on my face and saw a secretive smile on his face. I smiled back and stood up. I held out a hand for him.

"It's been a long day and I'm pretty sure that you're tired after being a hero."

With a short chuckle, he nodded and stood up on his own. He looked back at my house, or what was left of it and said with conviction. "Until your house it back up, you're staying with me." Then he grabbed my hand and stomped towards his own house with me in tow. In an attempt to distract myself, I started talking. "You know what, I'm pretty sure that someone that just went into a burning is not supposed to be this strong and capable right after."

He ignored my comment and instead opted for opening his front door and leading me to his room. He pushed me onto his bed.

"Go to sleep, you've been through a lot today." This caused me to look around his room and seeing no other beds, I asked: "Where will you sleep?"

"On the floor." He said in a 'duh' voice.

"No way, you're the one that went into a burning building, I'll sleep on the floor."

"I can't let you do that Hicca."

"Fine, then we're both sleeping on your bed." That sentence slipped out before I could stop it and caused me to blush beet red.

"Fine. We'll both sleep on my bed." He walked around his bed and down on the other side. After a few awkward moments, I relaxed and fell into a dream-like state. The last thing I felt was the bed shifting and who I'm guessing was Austen kiss my cheek. Then I truly fell into a deep, wonderful sleep.


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~Night Fury's Avenger