"Hey!" Tuffnut snapped suddenly, seeing Snotlout vault himself onto Hookfang's back. "Where are you going, subject?" he asked haughtily.
"Ha!" Snotlout scoffed. "You may be in charge of this island, but you're not in charge of me."
"Ah, ah!" Tuffnut warned, advancing slightly. "Respect the crown," he admonished, gesturing angrily to the helmet atop his head. "Don't make us get ugly." The threat in his tone was not by any means veiled, but Snotlout was not by any means impressed.
"That ship sailed a long time ago," he called back, grinning smugly. Ruffnut couldn't help it; she saw the opportunity, and had to take it.
"Ugly!" she repeated in an obnoxious shout, punching her brother on the arm, features alight with laughter. But Tuffnut only looked more annoyed. He cast her a quick glare, rubbing his arm where she had hit him, and then turned his anger on Snotlout once more.
"Clearly, we'll need a dungeon," he intoned aggressively. Ruff was too busy grinning evilly at Snotlout to notice right away, but Tuff's hands had balled into fists. He advanced toward Snotlout menacingly, glowering, but before he had taken two steps, Hiccup was there.
"Okaaaay!" he interrupted pointedly, swiftly moving into position between Tuffnut and Snotlout. One hand was lightly holding Tuff back, the other stretched out in Snotlout's direction. "Let's all just take a breath and calm down," he reasoned. The last two words were addressed specifically to Tuffnut, and as Hiccup spoke, he actually shoved Tuffnut back a little bit. Ruffnut, noticing the movement, looked over, surprised. Had Hiccup really just forcibly moved her brother? Knowing her twin, there was no way he would take that lying down, not from anybody. She watched him carefully, waiting for him to shove Hiccup back, or start yelling even louder than before. But, to Ruff's utter amazement, he did none of those things.
His hands were still balled in fists at his sides, his features were still marred with annoyance and displeasure, and yet... he was standing perfectly still. His glaring eyes were fixed on Hiccup as he spoke about getting the claim stone authenticated, but Ruffnut recognized that her brother was simply glaring because he was upset; he wasn't mad at Hiccup. In fact, he seemed to be... Was he listening to him? All previous experience with her brother would speak to the contrary, but Ruff could not deny what she had seen. Hiccup hadn't shoved Tuffnut roughly or antagonistically or anything, but still he had pushed him a step or so backwards, and Tuffnut had stayed there.
As much as Tuffnut complained about Hiccup being a "tyrant", and as much as he had proudly proclaimed his defiance in the face of authority, Tuffnut's action (or rather, lack thereof) had proved what he would never, ever admit: Tuffnut Thorston respected Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III.
As the group dispersed, and Hiccup went off to send a message to Berk about the claim stone, Ruff watched her brother appraisingly. He had cooled off now, and had gone back to admiring their "namey rock". He grinned hugely at it, completely unaware of his sister's startling epiphany. Ruff wondered if he even knew what she had only just realized. If she told him that he respected Hiccup, would he himself be surprised? Oh, sure, he would deny it immediately, with lots of scoffing and apparent indignation. But she knew that inwardly, he would question it, and would soon realize that she was right. And he would be surprised; Ruffnut would bet her helmet on it. Respecting Hiccup was something like being able to reach the items on the highest shelf in your home. The change happens so slowly that you never notice it, until suddenly you do, and you wonder how you ever missed it before. It's a bit startling, realizing that you've grown, but pulling that mug or bowl or shield right off the shelf just feels normal.
Respecting Hiccup's authority (to some extent), paying attention to him (again, to some extent), and acknowledging him as... well, as a leader - why did it all seem so natural? Had they in fact grown? Not in height, but in maturity?
The excited squawking of a chicken brought Ruffnut out of her thoughts, and she watched as Tuffnut turned and scooped up his chicken eagerly.
"Chicken!" he exclaimed. "You've come to see our Namey Rock!"
Maturity, indeed. Ruffnut grinned to herself. She must've eaten something funny that morning.