Setting: post-HTTYD 3
Zephyr Haddock is often teased by her friends as 'a girl in a man's body'. Just like any insecure teenager, she goes to her mom to have a little girl talk. I had this idea on how would Hiccstrid deal with their kids when they reach their teenage years and how they'd handle their problems and insecurities; in this case, it's focused on Astrid and Zephyr's mother-daughter bond. (A bit OOC but I still tried to make it as canon-ish as possible)
Girl Talk
"Oh look y'all, it's Zeph the man-girl!"
"Why does she bother in using bindings when there's nothing to bind? HAHAHA"
Zephyr Haddock, the 15 y/o daughter of Chief Hiccup and Astrid Haddock, had had enough of the constant teasing she gets from her friends about her non-feminine like figure. From her 'walking stick' build to her still sporting a 'man chest' when other girls her age already started to wrap breast bindings, it was too much for a girl to handle. Normally, Vikings are tough, emotionless souls but in New Berk, the chief often told the villagers that it's alright to let loose of your emotions as it makes them more human; he himself as a prime example. Zeph often gets teased by Justin Puffnut Ingerman, the son of Fishlegs and Ruffnut Ingerman; he's a stocky built teen, which he got from his father, and had the classic Thorston antics to pull, obviously attributed from his mother.
Today in particular, Puff's teasing had crossed the line, telling the auburn-haired teen that she 'ought to put Viking helmets under her bindings' to make her chest bustier. The rest of the group gasped at Puffnut's remark; he never joked about someone to the point that they were genuinely offended. Zephyr ran away towards her home, tears already overflowing from the brim of her eyes.
"What a coward." Puff hissed, "So much for the heir of New Berk." That comment prompted his cousin, Ashley Thorston, daughter of Tuffnut and Matilda "Macey" Thorston, to punch him square in the face.
"What did you do that for?!" the stocky Viking replied, clutching his bloodied nose. "Hold on I gotta take a-" he passed out before he could continue.
"Just because she's not as buff as us, yet, doesn't mean we can make fun of her!" she ranted at the rest of the group.
Fearing another fit of rage, the group split up, Puffnut included. She almost raged just as her father did 15 years ago when his 'beard' got sliced in half during a raid on Grimmel the Grisly's dragon trapper armada. The blonde Viking turned towards the direction where Zephyr had gone, feeling bad for her best friend. I should go follow her in case. she thought.
Zephyr lay in her bed, crying her eyes out through her pillow, hoping that no one would hear her. Haddocks and Hoffersons don't cry, we're the leaders of Berk, Dad always said. She feared that Hiccup would disown her for being a crybaby, just like his own father did to him when he was her age. If only we had dragons and lived the way Mom and Dad lived at the time. Just then, someone was knocking on her door.
"Zephyr? Are you there, darling?" the muffled call of Astrid echoed through the door.
"Come in." she sniffed.
The door swung open and Astrid saw her lovely girl sobbing, judging by her tear stains and the reds on her eyes. Instinctively, the chieftess wrapped her protective arms around her daughter as Zeph cried against her tunic.
"Hey what's wrong?" Astrid cooed, rubbing her hand on Zephyr's back.
"It's…it's that fucking Puffnut, Mom!" the auburn-haired teen whimpered, "He said I'm too flat to have bindings!"
Her tone of voice broke Astrid's heart; when she was Zephyr's age, she also dealt with people teasing her about her flat chest, and now her own daughter was facing the same prejudice as she had all those years ago. She can handle from getting burned by Deathgripper acid or being sick with the Scourge of Odin, but if there's one thing that Astrid couldn't take, its her loved ones being hurt emotionally, especially her princess.
She continued to stroke her daughter's auburn locks and whispered sweet nothings to Zeph. Being a mother certainly brought this loving, protective side of hers she used to only show to Hiccup. Now I understand what Mom must've felt like when she and Hiccup met again in 20 years. she muttered to herself, pertaining to her mother in law Valka. While her mother did give her pointers on being a great mom, Valka too that to a whole 'nother level that she secretly thanked the old woman for.
Wiping the tears of Zeph's freckled face, which she inherited from Hiccup, Astrid knew she had to give her daughter the girl talk she deserved.
"When I was your age, your Aunty Ruff and Uncle Tuffnut would often tease me for my chest." she started, "I threatened to slice their limbs off with my axe, but your dad would always keep me at bay. He kept telling me that he didn't love me because of my body; he loved me because of who I am."
"Mom, would you go to Uncle Fishlegs to scold Puffnut?" she pleaded, pulling a dragon pout face that almost rivaled that of Toothless'.
"I'll tell him and Aunty Ruff about his behavior. He reminds me of your Uncle Snotlout when we were still living back on the Edge." Astrid chuckled at the last line, reminiscing their days back on Dragon's Edge.
"Did he tease you as well?"
Astrid rolled her eyes. "All the time, especially when your dad and I started dating."
"Oh, please tell!" Zeph requested, curious as to how her mom and dad met.
"Alright then. So as long as Dad doesn't barge in." the older blonde smiled. She loved her daughter's curiosity for things, a trait definitely Hiccup-esque.
Hiccup arrived home after a tiring day of chiefing. He and Eret had to deal with people complaining that their articles of furniture have been stolen; it was stupid of him to deal with it in the first place. Nevertheless, he was a bit surprised when his younger son greeted him instead of Astrid.
"Where's your mom?" he eyed the blonde boy, a blonde version of himself.
"She's in Zeph's room." Nuffink Haddock shrugged, "I heard they're having those girl talks again."
Acknowledging the reply, Hiccup made his way up to his and Astrid's room to change clothes. Once he slipped on his signature red tunic and brown pants, he headed for Zephyr's room and lay an ear against the door, overhearing the mother-daughter conversation.
"So, don't feel bad for yourself that you're a late bloomer. Although I have no doubt you'll grow into a fine young woman. One day, darling, someone's gonna love you for who you are, not just your body." Astrid added.
"Just like you and Dad?" Zephyr pointed out. Her mother nodded.
A while later, after a round of storytelling and giggling, someone knocked on the door. It was Hiccup, telling the girls that dinner was ready and Nuffink had started complaining what's keeping them so long.
"Uhm, dinner's ready. Are you two done yet?" Hiccup's voice echoed through the door.
"We'll be down in a second!" his wife replied.
Dinner time was very important for the Haddocks as it enabled them to have a discussion and telling of each other's respective days. Nuffink shared his experience of forging his very own sword over at Gobber's place, Hiccup told his usual chiefing duty and whatever stupid problems he and Eret had to resolve, and Astrid shared about Heather's surprise visit and how she was shocked that no dragons lived on New Berk anymore.
"How about you, my princess? What were you and Mom talking about earlier?" Hiccup eyed his daughter.
She looked at her mom first, then back to Hiccup. "Just girl talk, Dad. I never thought Mom being an amazing pep talk giver."
"Believe me, she's the best." The chief recalled that fateful day 15 years ago, when Astrid convinced him that his life didn't revolve around Toothless alone.
But you know what, I am the person I am today because of you. You were the bravest, most stubborn, most determined knucklehead I know!
Astrid smiled at her husband's remark as she gazed into his emerald orbs; it's as if she and Hiccup were talking through their minds. She turned around and looked at Zephyr, the girl that was essentially a combination of herself and Hiccup, and she loved her unconditionally. Hopefully, that would mean more girl talks in the future, as just like Valka and her mother told her, a mother's love is unending and all out.