Astrid leaps into his counter; the twins, for once, are stunned into silence; Snoutlout grabs a steak knife and makes to threaten Toothless with it, but the panther gives him a look like, You really want to try that? and he backs down. Fishlegs is the first to ask a question, in a fairly normal voice. "Hiccup, why do you have a nonindigenous panther in your house?"
He tells the story, for the third time. It gets easier with each new audience—and this time, he makes sure there are no available phone chargers to hurl at him. Lindsay chimes in every now and again. When he finishes, they all blink at him. Again, Fishlegs breaks the silence. "Dude, +20 speed!"
No one's really sure why he's got such awe in his voice, but in no time they're cooing and petting Toothless, who is pleased: five new friends to spoil him.
Hiccup's day is perfect until he has to go take painkillers and kick his friends out.
It's mostly little stuff he misses. He and Toothless can't leap around and wrestle anymore; his leg is withered and sensitive and slow. Walking makes him feel ashamed, because he almost always needs the cane. He moved into the guestroom, because stairs are too much of a hazard to deal with twice a day. He misses falling asleep knowing that his last sight will be Lindsay's handprint that he focuses his eyes on as he drops off. He misses being able to move without pain, without thinking and clever maneuvering to avoid pain.
The hospital therapist says losing a leg is a lot of like someone dying. First, you're angry. Check. Before Lindsay practically forced him out of his room he broke several lamps and lay there hating himself. Then there's denial. Check. That's when he told himself he'd be fine and to get up and get out of his room. Then there's depression. Apparently, that's where he's parked. The therapist finishes by saying, "But your next stage is acceptance."
It was Lindsay's idea she come to physical therapy with him. He despised the notion of her seeing him sweat and fall and be weak, but she wasn't swayed. "I don't care, Hiccup. Always, remember?"
It's impossible to argue when she says something so logical.
The physical therapist tells him to try to walk to Lindsay, leaning on the bars when he needs it. Lindsay waggles her eyebrows. "I'll make it worth your while," she winks at him. He laughs. "What? I was being serious," she cries, mock-offended. He lumbers to her, gritting his teeth. She leans forward like she's about to kiss him, but lands her lips on his cheek instead.
"Hey," he protests.
"Maybe if you go again."
She grins at the therapist. "See? I told you I was motivational."
Eventually, once he can get around and is used to the metal where flesh was and when unhooking part of him before he sleeps seems normal, then he'll reach acceptance. Until then, he'll let Lindsay remind him, "Always." He'll let Toothless soothe him when he has nightmares of that day and that hot, blazing pain. He'll let his dad try to learn who is he is and how he likes his eggs cooked. He'll let them remind him, that somehow, someday, they'll all be okay again.
So, that was short. But there is more coming. You will definitely get a chapter tomorrow for Valentine's!