Berk Island, home of the hairy hooligan tribe.
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III isn't a viking like the rest of his village.
Even at the tender age of six, Hiccup still obviously lacks when it comes to the being-a-proper-viking department. Hiccup was born early, and he thinks he has to suffer for it for the rest of his life.
His friends - you see, not really, they're not his friends, but he still likes to think they are his friends - started to use his physical weakness against him. His cousin Snotlout especially.
Hiccup had a friend once, he was nice. They used to play together.
But Winter came, and the cold took his friend away.
On some days, he could hear the villagers speak of him. Wonder if he would survive the cold. His father, Stoick the Vast, O Hear His Name And Tremble Ugh Ugh, would silent them if he did hear them. He would tell them how Hiccup is going to grow someday and be the strongest of them all.
Hiccup's previous heartbreak at being used as a bet between the villagers turned into pure delight at his father's words. Hiccup loves his dad. He really does.
His giant father can take on any dragon! He can punch a dragon in the face and wrestle it in the Arena and come out of the fight unscathed. Hiccup feels proud to have a father like him.
Someone with a good reputation. Someone vikings all across the archipelago fear and respect. He's the son of one of the best chiefs Berk has ever seen and will ever see.
But still, even if his father silences the villagers and tells the tribe that their fear is absolute nonsense, he still dresses Hiccup with extra heavy coats, made out of bear furs. And on the extremely cold and rough nights, his father would make him sleep in his bed, wrapping his furry cape around them along with the extra blankets.
Hiccup didn't mind, he liked sleeping in his father's arms. His dad has massive arms that can keep the cold and nightmares away. And whenever he hugged Hiccup, Hiccup felt safe and warm, knowing that nothing will dare to get to him with his father close.
So it became a routine.
Then, it became a tradition.
And then, it finally turned into a common occasion.
Whether it's during the harsh Winter's nights or not, Hiccup would sneak into his father's bed downstairs without an actual reason. Some nights, his dad will wake up and ask him what he's doing awake, Hiccup would be as blunt as possible; I missed you and his father, the invincible Stoick the Vast, the man who could crack mountains, would melt and lift up the covers.
On other nights, Stoick won't wake up, and Hiccup just jumps on his father's sleeping form and climbs under the covers. His father would wrap his arms around him with no thinking. Like it's an instinct engraved into him. Somehow his giant father doesn't crush him with his massive arms.
Hiccup slipped downstairs, his steps light and smooth. His father's snores coming from his room made Hiccup giggle quietly, throwing a hand over his mouth to cover it. He was still giggling as he made his way into his father's room, finding him asleep on his wooden bed.
His giggles must have woken his father up, for the man came awake with a disgruntled snort. Hiccup bust out laughing as his father made weird faces while wiping his hands down on his face. Stoick turned to look at him with his usual smile, even if he looked gruff and dishevelled from sleep.
"Son," Stoick called softly, offering Hiccup a hand. Hiccup practically leaped from his place and climbed the huge human boulder that's called his father. He sat on his shoulders, hands gripping his father's beard tightly.
"Take it easy on my beard, son," Stoick chuckled hoarsely. Hiccup huffed, still giggling as he flipped over Stoick's head and into his lap. Upside down.
"Peek-A-Boo!" Hiccup exclaimed with all his childish glee and excitement. He burst into giggles once more just as his father let out a hearty laugh.
"Someone's energetic," Stoick said with a tired but fond sigh.
"The Sun is almost up!" Hiccup said earnestly, sitting in his father's lap properly.
"The Sun will be out in four hours, Hiccup," Stoick said gently, resting a hand on the child's head.
Hiccup removed it from his head to look at it. He inspected it thoroughly, comparing his tiny hand to his father's large one.
"I'm small," Hiccup said, putting his palm against Stoick's.
"One day, you'll grow," Stoick reassured, sliding his hand from his son's to gently cradle his chin. "And you'll be the strongest of them all."
Hiccup giggled as his father tickled his neck, letting out screams of delight once Stoick started using both of his hands to tickle him in all of his weak spots.
"No Dad no!" Hiccup said with tears in his eyes, still laughing. He tried to kick his way through his cruel torture - in his opinion - but Stoick let out a battle cry and held him down as firmly as he could without breaking his small son's bones.
"Who's Dad?!" Stoick said in a fake angry tone. "I'm a dragon! And I'm here to tickle you to death!"
"No no!" Hiccup kicked and screamed, still giggling despite it all. "No tickling!"
"I only tickle naughty children who don't listen to their fathers!" Stoick said in the same tone as before, continuing to tickle him.
"I do listen to my dad!" Hiccup protested as passionately as he could with the continued assault.
Stoick stopped tickling him abruptly, raising one hand to his chin, pretending to think. His other hand still held Hiccup in his place.
"Hmm," Stoick hummed, looking from side to side as if deep in thought. "The father doesn't think you listen!"
With that, he let out another fake roar and started tickling his son again. Hiccup laughed again, still kicking wildly.
"But dad!" Hiccup whined. "I promise to listen!"
"Especially when I tell you to stop throwing the fish we freshly got from the sea into the water?"
Hiccup shook his head but then quickly yelled his agreement when Stoick tickled him once more. Even when Stoick let go of him, Hiccup still giggled, listening to his father's loud booming laugh as well.
He can't believe some people would fear his dad or say he doesn't smile. Hiccup's dad is always smiling and laughing! Hiccup never saw him without his smile.
When their laughter died, their smiles were still present on their faces. Hiccup raised his arms in the air, making his father chuckle but comply to his wishes in holding him in his arms.
"Now, how about we get some sleep," Stoick said gently, giant arms holding Hiccup securely.
Hiccup snuggled closer, nuzzling his face in his father's beard. Stoick laid down with Hiccup still in his arms, and covered both of them with the blankets once more.
"Goodnight dad, I love you," Hiccup yawned, shifting one small hand to put it over his father's protective ones.
"Goodnight son," Stoick replied with a hoarse voice. "I love you too."