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Chapter 9: Father and Son

Hiccup jumped back, startled, as a large mass of green and red dropped down directly in front of him. In his shock he nearly shot a plasma blast as he shrieked with a sound that sounded more like a roar. The animalistic sound caught him off guard because for some strange reason he expected to hear is own slightly cracking voice instead of the deep threatening growl that tore through his chest. He'd scrambled back a few feet and now had his back against a rock, in an attempt to distance himself from the strange new threat that had invaded his privacy. It had all happened in a matter of seconds and before he knew it, his teeth had pulled back into his gums, and he could feel a hot mass building in his throat. But just as he was about to release the heat outward and toward his new enemy he felt it catch in his throat, nearly choking him, as he finally saw who had landed randomly in his face

Stoick pulled himself into a standing position, his hands raised in a sign of surrender. As if trying to show Hiccup that he meant no harm. It reminded him of how he'd first approached Toothless, with caution and respect. It felt strange to be on the receiving end of the gesture, to be treated like a dangerous animal.

Slowly Hiccup uncoiled himself from his defensive position, and allowed his shoulders to relax slightly, as his father approached. He coiled his tail around his claws neatly, almost like a cat, but remained distant, not attempting to move any closer to the man. His eye's softened slightly but he remained vigilant and kept his guard up, ready to defend himself in case the chief got any funny ideas.

Stoick, reading the young dragon's body language, stopped short and let his hands drop slowly back to his sides. He watched as his son's eye's looked him up and down cautiously, as if he didn't know what to make of him. It hurt him deeply to known he'd caused that look to appear on Hiccup's face. But now wasn't the time to think about what he'd done wrong, now it was time to set things right, and it had to start with him. He'd always been the problem, he always used to think it was Hiccup, but it had been himself all along. Hiccup couldn't help who he was, he was just Hiccup. He was as free spirited and inventive as his mother, and every bit as stubborn a Viking as himself. Hiccup would forever be Hiccup, even if that meant he was now a dragon.

"Hiccup" Stoick's voice was deep and loud, like thunder, even though he was still panting slightly from the run. The volume caused Hiccup to flinch and raised one claw while leaning away, almost as if he was considering running again.

"Hiccup…please…please don't run." Hiccup froze with shock. His dad, Stoick the Vast, had just said please! Never in his entire life had he heard the word come from his father's lips. Just what was going on here? He carefully scrutinized Stoick's face to see if it was some kind of illusion, or trick, but he felt his heart tighten when he saw the guilt and hurt reflected in the man's tired greenish grey eyes.

Once again allowing himself to relax, Hiccup felt his guard drop as he waited curiously for the chief to continue.

"I'm…I'm sorry, f-for everything, I know I haven't been the best father to ya." Yet again, Hiccup could feel his eyes widen to round saucers as another word he'd never heard from the proud chief came tumbling off his lips. He was Apologizing? The idea of it sounded so strange to him. He and his father had a strained relationship to say the least, he never imagined or even dared to hope that he'd hear these much needed words from the rough man who'd raised him.

But just as Hiccup was starting to wrap his head around the bizarre scene playing out before him, Stoick opened his mouth and cleared his throat and began speaking again.

"I know I've done wrong by ya. I can't change what I've said or what I've done. But I want ya to know that I…..I Love ya son. I can't lose ya again." Just how many times was his father going to throw him through a loop? Not even before Stoick had discovered that Hiccup was a screw up, he'd never used such words of endearment towards him. He felt the word echo in his ears, and suddenly he felt the ice that had long since covered his heart, in regards to his father, melt away. This was what he'd wanted all along; it wasn't glory, money, or even power, just to know that his father, despite everything, loved him. That alone was enough.

"I know ya must hate me, and I don't blame ya for it. I Understand if ya don't want to see me anymore just please…please don't go where I can't see ya, where I can't protect ya. I need to know you're okay."

Hiccup couldn't believe what he was hearing. His father thought he hated him. Had he hated him? No, he'd been disappointed in him definitely, but never he felt hate towards Stoick. He was his father; regardless of how proud or stubborn he could be, he still raised him. He had always loved his dad, nothing had ever changed that. Not even when Stoick had disowned him. He'd just want His father to see him for who he was and accept it, without trying to change him or give him a disappointed scowl.

Hiccup opened his mouth to tell his dad as much but what he'd intended to be words came out as a weird warbling growl like sound. Damn it! Why out of all times his dad could have decided to develop a conscience it had to be when Hiccup didn't have the ability to speak, just great.

Not noticing Hiccup's inner struggle, Stoick continued to unload all of his guilt.

"This is all my fault, if I'd just listened to ya before….Ya wouldn't have…and ya wouldn't be….I'm so sorry." Stoick had to look down as he swallowed passed the hard lump that had formed in his throat. He knew Hiccup had to be ashamed of him, and why not? It hurt to think that his son might not want to live with him anymore, but if it meant keeping Hiccup in the village, then he would had to learn to preserver.

Frustrated, Hiccup watched helplessly as his father started to shake and ball his large hands into tight fists. He knew that this was hard on his father. He was a man of pride and dignity. To have to drop all of it and practically prostrate himself before his own son and admit to his own sins was probably one of the hardest things he'd ever done. But his voice could no longer reach Stoick, he'd been forever silenced, just like his father had always wanted.

Desperate for some way to communicate with Stoick, he gazed up into the sky, as if some miraculous object would float down and solve all his problems. No such object appeared, however, he did spot a familiar black shape watching them from the edge of the cliff. Toothless watched curiously down at the pair, waiting patiently for the reconciliation between father and son to end. Realizing that Toothless probably didn't follow Stoick into the cove because of his tail, Hiccup felt the wave of guilt return to him. But with that guilt came an idea.

Slowly rising to his feet, Hiccup walked over to his father. Upon closer inspection he could see deep purple shadows hanging like curtains underneath his tired eyes. His beard looked like it hadn't been combed or washed in days. The once fiery red strands of hair were freckled with a fine ash, and many large knots could be seen throughout the tangled mess.

Hearing the sound of approaching footsteps, Stoick raised his head and was slightly startled to find Hiccup standing not but three feet from him.

Hiccup met his father's greyish/green eyes with his own toxic green ones, and slowly he felt his lids drop. Crouching down slightly, he nudged Stoick's hand until the chief hesitantly placed it upon the young dragon's head. Willing his father to understand, he pushed into the hand, his nose crinkling slightly with the mental effort he was putting in to send his silent message.

Gently Stoick uncurled his fingers and spread them out over the smooth scales on his son's head. The texture was strange, almost like a fish but more like the small lizards he often caught in his backyard as a child. He had always thought that because dragons were basically giant reptiles, that a dragon's skin would feel cool, but was surprised with the subtle warmth radiating from beneath the scales. He watched as the light danced along the smooth surface and turning the dark black scales and deep green.

Taking his eyes off the scales he looked into the pair of green irises that were watching; waiting patiently for him to react. Finally, taking the silent queue, he turned and asked the question he was nervous to give voice to.

"Does this mean ya forgive me?"

The only response he received was in the form of a nod as the large head of the dragon bobbed up and down under his hand. A large smile broke out across the chief's face, and before he could stop himself, he enveloped his, no longer small, son into a warm bear hug.

"Thank you Hiccup"

Hiccup froze as his dad's large arms wrapped around his shoulders and squeezed gently. When he was really small, and his mother had still been around, Stoick had given him such hugs, but only on special occasions. I t had been years since he'd felt this comforting warmth, and only until now did he realize just how much he'd missed it. Sure he used to practically crush him with his strong arms, but it was a gesture that made Hiccup feel like he was cared for. Now his father's hug was gentle as if he was scared he would hurt him.

Hiccup could feel Stoick shift awkwardly, as he still hadn't returned the gesture. Since he no longer had arms that could perform such a move he opted to do something he remembered Toothless doing to him once before. He craned his head down and over the chief's broad shoulder and used his chin to push the large man harder against him, deepening the hug. To which the chief responded with practically crushing him as his arms constricted tightly around him, however, not wanting ruin the moment he didn't move away.

After a few long seconds, the two separated and regarded each other with looks of such relief that they hadn't been rejected that it made them realize just how scared they both had been.

Awkwardly clearing his throat, Stoick rolled his shoulders, and with it the expression of the chief returned to his face.

"Now, we should get going, it's nearly noon." Stoick said, returning to his authoritative tone, but with a softer pitch than usual.

Suddenly the problem he'd been pondering, before his father had come flying in out of nowhere, returned with full force. Desperately he gazed around for something he could use to convey his predicament to his dad. His eye fell on the same stick he'd used to draw Toothless many months ago, laying just a few feet away from them. He ran towards it and grabbed it between his teeth before returning to his father's side. Stooping over, he began to sketch letter into the soft sand. Slowly a few letters became a word, and a word became a sentence.

Steeping back, he admired his work, glad that he'd somehow made it legible. Writing with your teeth for hands was difficult. Gesturing with his head for his father to look, he took a step back so Stoick could see.

Written in the dirt was "I can't fly, I'm stuck."

Stoick looked at his son in disbelief, and before he could stop himself, let out a full, hearty laugh.

A/N: I really enjoyed writing this chapter, it practically wrote itself. I was having fun playing around with Hiccups inability to speak. As always I greatly appreciate all the reviews, favs, and follows, It really helps me out a lot. Next chapter we get to see Hiccup struggle with learning how to fly, I can't wait. So until next time bye,bye

-Tsuchihana