AUTHOR'S NOTE AND DISCLAIMER:

We (as ever) don't own these characters. Word of warning, this chapter contains slight abuse. Please review :)

Astrid's POV (a couple of juxtaposed events)

The park is a large one - lots of run down equipment but a nice pond which adds a lot to the space. Wow, I sound like an interior designer. Anyway. I wait next to it, watching the fish. Before long, Hiccup arrives from a side alley.

"Hey!" I say. "You ok? How are you're lot about, you know, the roof?"

"Mm, my Dad's not too impressed." he replies.

"He's the Co-Mayor isn't he?"

Hiccup nods dolefully. "Yep."

I wince. "I owe you one for helping to catch Stormfly. Sorry it ended up like this."

"That's ok."

"Anyway, so what have your folk said about punishments? I'm not allowed out the house for a year unless it's for school and have to do a ton of extra 1970's work from one of Dad's old books." I say mournfully.

Hiccup responds by saying "Nothing yet. Dad's still being Mayorly but he's mad at me - that or he sat on a bee when he answered the phone."

I smirk. "Nice."

This is so much better than being at home seeing as my dad currently hates me. My mum is going to be even worse.

"Should we do this again tomorrow?" he says.

I respond enthusiastically. "Sure! But I'd better go before mum gets home. Good luck with your family!"

With that, I get up and head away. 5 mins after I slip into my room, my mother arrives. Curse it. I have to open my door to the parents who seem very unimpressed with my escapade.

"What were you thinking, you brat?" Mum yells.

I have no chance to reply under the onslaught of fury. I'm cowering away when a resounding slap hits my face and I reel back, nearly crying. It caught my eye and it is going to swell up - I'm sure of it. Good thing I'm not in school for a bit. Teachers seem to panic when you arrive with a facial injury. And I know that she just wants the best from me. That night, I cry myself to sleep.

Book Hiccup's POV (honestly and truly screwed)

I scramble back up the wall and into the garden. Just as I'm about to clamber back into my bedroom via the window, I catch sight of my Dad's car in the driveway. With my Dad standing right next to it. Pointing a very very very angry face in my direction. Oh no, I'm screwed. I'm honestly surprised that I can't see fire pouring out of his ears, he's that angry.

I gulp. You would not like my father in a temper. I half consider going back down the wall and along the disused footpath to my treehouse. Oh holy Thor and Woden in the halls of Valhalla, I am absolutely, utterly, incomprehensibly, well and truly, screwed. I climb in through my bedroom window, feeling my father's furious eyes burning into my back. I get into my room and lean against the wall breathing heavily. This day has gone from bad to worse, and it's not even lunch. Before I can compose myself and think about the utter direness of my situation, an impossibly loud shout comes from downstairs, they possibly even heard it two streets away.

"HICCUPPPP!", my father's screaming voice comes up and through my bedroom door. Oh suffering scallops I think I really am in trouble now! The sound of Dad's heavy footsteps clumping up the staircase confirm my predicament. I listen as the stomping footsteps make their way from the stairs and down the hallway. The feet land heavily on the floorboards, sending little tremors along the wooden panels. He stops outside my door, not bothering to ask me to unlock it, he simply pushes the door of it's hinges and strides into the room. I cower in the corner, my father is extremely frightening in a temper.

"HICCUPPPPPPP!" he bellows, as he makes his way to my side of the room in a single stride. He picks me up by the scruff of the neck, and without warning, slaps me directly on the face. I let out a cry of pain as he drops me on the floor like a rag doll. Dad continues to bellow in my face, but I don't really catch the words, I'm pretty sure it's along the same lines as the lecture Mr Gardener gave me earlier though. This is the third time today I think don't you think I've heard it enough times already?

I curl up into a ball and hide myself in the corner. He continues to bellow at me, shouting abuse for being such a hopeless child. Telling me I should have been more like him, yelling so loud the whole building could have been shaking. He slaps me again, and I can tell it's going to swell up, badly. I let out a small sob, which only makes my father angrier. Not good. He turns around and growls at me for being such a stupid, ignorant brat, then kicks me in the shins. A hiss of pain escapes, and he kicks the other shin. This time, I suppress any noise, but a silent tear rolls down my cheek.

My father turns and walks away, slamming the door and clicking the lock in place. Slowly, I crawl into bed, my face is stinging and my legs ache, there's definitely going to be some pretty big bruises by the morning. It takes me several hours to finally drift off to sleep.

END NOTE:

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