"Hiccup..."
"You... you're the Banshee?!" Hiccup exclaimed. Kara cringed at his accusing tone and nodded. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was scared, no, terrified of what they'd do to me if your dad or any of the others found out!" Her eyes welled with tears. "You don't understand, I'm a freak and they'd kill me."
"But you didn't trust me?" Hiccup said, sounding hurt. Kara let out an exasperated huff.
"What was I supposed to do?!" She asked.
"Tell me!" Hiccup yelled. She rubbed at her eyes.
"I was so scared Hiccup... I'm scared..." She admitted, falling to her knees and holding her face in her hands. Hiccup was frozen, unsure about what to do.
"She lied to me... but she had every right, if I was a Banshee I'd never tell anyone. Not even now..." Hiccup knelt across from the crying girl. "She trusts me though, doesn't she? I mean, she told me her biggest secret... And... she's always protected me, and helped me..."
"Kara?" Hiccup said. She looked up with a sniffle, hands falling from her face.
"There she goes again! Ready to put off her own problems to help me."
"Stop doing that." Hiccup said. Kara looked confused.
"Stop doing what?"
"That. You keep putting off your problems to help me, and it's... it's not good for you."
"I know what is and isn't good for me." Kara replied with a frown.
"Not when it comes to me!" Hiccup said. "Whether it's good or not, you put yourself to the side to make sure I'm okay. Stop it!"
"What are you saying..." Kara said.
"That it's time for you to stop babysitting me, and worrying about what I'm feeling. How long have you been a dragon?" Hiccup asked.
"My whole life." Kara admitted.
"Son of a beiskaldi, Kara!" Hiccup exclaimed, shocking the girl. "You've been keeping this shut up for 15 years?!"
"Technically 13. I came to your tribe when I was two, remember?" Kara reminded him.
"Oh shut up." Hiccup said. Kara pursed her lips. Hiccup sighed. "I still can't believe you never told me."
"I told you now because now I know for sure that you won't slit my throat. Or make your dad slit my throat..." Kara admitted. Hiccup grabbed her hand and she looked him in the eye.
"I don't care what you are, you're still Kara." Hiccup said. Kara leaned forward and pressed their lips together. And then they were both taken out by a swarm of squeaking Terror's. They laughed.
Hiccup was lost in thought, his head laid of a desk full of Toothless drawings. Kara sat next to him, her head leaned on his shoulder. Suddenly, Stoick appeared in the doorway. Hiccup jumped and quickly covered up his desk, a now wide awake Kara snapping to attention and sitting on the desk.
"Dad! You're back!" He skirted the bench, blocking Stoick's view of Toothless, the prosthetic fin, and other drawings. "Gobber's not here, so..."
He struck an awkwardly casual pose, trying to cover up as much as possible. Kara helped out, gathering papers and putting them away.
"I know. I came looking for you." Stoick said.
"You did?" Hiccup asked, nervous.
"You've been keeping secrets." Stoick said. Hiccup's legs gave out. He slid, dragging the remaining table contents with him.
"I...have?" Hiccup stuttered.
"Just how long did you think you could hide it from me?" Stoick asked.
"I don't know what you're..."
"Nothing happens on this island without me hearing about it."
"Oh?" Hiccup said, glancing to meet Kara's eyes.
"So. Let's talk about that dragon. Blood drains from Hiccup's face."
"Oh gods. Dad I'm so sorry. I was going to tell you. I just didn't know how to-" Stoick started laughing. Hiccup stared, baffled. "You're not...upset?"
"What?! I was hoping for this!" Stoick boomed.
"Uh...you were?"
"And believe me, it only gets better! Just wait til you spill a Nadder's guts for the first time. And mount your first Gronckle head on a spear. What a feeling!" Stoick laughs and smacks Hiccup on the shoulder, sending him into the wall. Hiccup got back up, grimacing in the irony of it all. "You really had me going there, son. All those years of the worst Viking Berk has ever seen! Odin, it was rough. I almost gave up on you! And all the while, you were holding out on me! Thor almighty!"
Stoick grabbed a stool and sits. His massive frame nearly filled the tiny room.
"Ahhhhh. With you doing so well in the ring, we finally have something to talk about." Stoick said. There was a pregnant pause. Hiccup averted his eyes nervously. Stoick adjusted, awkwardly clearing his throat. After a long, uncomfortable silence...
"Oh, I... brought you something." He presented a horned helmet. "To keep you safe in the ring."
"Wow. Thanks. Hiccup accepts it, looking it over." Hiccup said sincerely.
"Your mother would've wanted you to have it. It's half of her breast plate." Stoick tapped his own helmet and smiled. "Matching set. Keeps her close, y'know. Wear it proudly. You deserve it. You've held up your end of the deal."
Stoick beamed with pride. Hiccup squirmed. He forced a yawn.
"I should really get to bed." Hiccup said.
"Yes! Good! Okay. Good talk. See you back at the house. We should do this again. I'm Great. Thanks for stopping glad I stopped by, I hope you by. And for the... the uh, like the hat. breast hat." They said, talking over each other to the point that their sentences garbled together.
"Well..uh..good night. To you too, Kara." Stoick left the room awkwardly, leaving Hiccup looking more burdened than ever. Kara grabbed his shoulders and he leaned against the desk where she sat with a heavy sigh.
"What am I going to do?" He groaned, covering his face. Kara hugged his shoulders.
"I don't know... We'll think of something."