Recovery
Hiccup opened his eyes to Bolin staring at his missing appendage. "Didn't Mako teach you it's not polite to look at deformities?" Hiccup asked, Bolin immediately backed up from the bed, "Whoa! Sorry, sorry, sorry! I didn't know-" he started, Hiccup waved him off, "Dont worry I was kidding, stare away." he said. Bolin nervously rubbed the back of his neck, "It's just... I've never seen anything like that before. It's not something you see everyday, ya know?" Bolin said, Hiccup nodded, "Yea, I get that. But it's just a leg, it could be worse. It could be both my legs, my arms. Hell it could be my life." he said, Bolin gaze fell to his leg, (stump? Whatever.) "Yea, I guess when you put it like that, but still it's like, out of everyone to lose a body part, I would never guess you!" Hiccup looked at him with a deadpanned expression, "And who, pray tell, would you expect to have lost a appendage?" he asked, Bolin merely shrugged.
(Line)
"Mom, please it's fine." Hiccup said as Lin put yet another pillow under his stump. "Hiccup, Katara told me to keep it elevated so that your not in pain." Hiccup smiled, "I said I was uncomfortable, not in pain. In fact the only thing that hurst is my back from bed sores." he said, shifting his back, Lin rushed to his side, "Just relax, I'll-" "Mom! I'm alright, I can handle it." he said, turning onto his side. Lin sighed, "I know, but with your...condition, it's not like you can go for a jog around the compound." Hiccup groaned, "I know. And I can't say how much I appreciate you doing all of this." Lin smiled, "I'm your mother, it's my job." she said giving Hiccup a sad smile.
Before the two could converse anymore a knock at the door brought them back to reality, "Come in." Hiccup said, the door opened to reveal Asami hiding something behind her back, "How's the conquering hero doing?" She asked, Hiccup smirked, "Great, I think I've counted all the threads in the sheets, along with memorizing the pattern on the ceiling." he replied sarcastically, Lin smacked his arm. Asami grinned, "I had a feeling about that, so I bought these for you." she said, pulling two crutches from behind her back. Hiccup sat up and swung his leg over the side of the bed, "Yes! Oh thank you, I can finally get some feeling in my good leg." he said taking the crutches from her, Lin stood, "Are you sure? I don't want you pushing yourself." she said. Hiccup grinned, "I did hop my way over to Korra when I woke up didn't I? I'll be fine." Lin still looked unsure, "If I feel winded or anything I'll sit down, and you can take me back here. Okay?" he bargained. Lin sighed in defeat, "Let me help you up."
'Walking' out the door of the infirmary, Hiccup shivered a little as the brisk winds of the South Pole hit him. Adjusting to the light, he saw the the airbending children where playing in the snow, Tenzin and Pema where cooing Rohan, Mako and his brother where off sparing, Toothless was eating his fish, and Korra was nowhere to bee seen. After a few steps, Hiccup stopped at the base of the steps, "Are you alright, do you need to rest?" Lin asked.
Hiccup chuckled, "Nah, I'm going for a stroll." he said stepping forward. The kids stopped playing and rushed over to Hiccup, "Hiccup! You can walk? I didn't know that you walk again. I thought you-" Ikki went on. She stopped when she saw the missing part, Meelo swatted at the air below his stump, "How are you doing this trick? Can you teach me?" he asked, Hiccup sighed, how would he tell them? Jinora stayed silent with a sad look on her face, she finally spoke, "Does...does it hurt?" she quietly asked. Hiccup shook his head, "Not at all." Ikki perked up at this, "Oooh, do you wanna race? We can go as long as you want. What about to that door and back? Or to Toothless and to the door and back? Huh? Huh? Huh?" she asked. Jinora gave her sister a look, Hiccup patted her head, "Don't worry guys, give me a few days and I'll take ya."
As Ikki continually questioned Hiccup, Tenzin and Pema approached, "Hiccup, are you sure you should be up?" the monk asked, Hiccup groaned, "For the hundredth time TODAY, Y-E-S." he said. "I'm going for a wal- a limp, around the place." he said catching his mistake. Toothless bounded over to his master, giving Hiccup a idea, turning to his mom he said, "I can manage on my own, I'll call Toothless if anything happens." Lin really, really didn't want to leave him alone, but with his dragon with him...
"Alright fine, but if your not back in a hour I'm coming like it or not." Lin said. Hiccup shrugged, "Fair enough."
(Line)
Hiccup limped towards the village in search for Korra. "Please be here, please be here, please be here." he repeated, Toothless looked at him oddly, Hiccup saw and raised a hand in defense, "Hey, if she's not here, she's at home, and if she's at home that means her parents are with her. Fallow me?" he asked, Toothless gave him a 'Your pathetic.' look, "Hey I want to keep the one leg I have left, thank you very much. I mean I glimpsed at the guy, he is HUGE! The guy could snap me in half like a toothpick. With one arm!" Hiccup said.
The dragon merely rolled his eyes, "Fine, but when I'm in the hospital with broken arms, leg, ribs, and neck, well see who's right." Hiccup said, continuing into the village. He found Korra, but she was currently being hit on by two residents of the South Pole. Hiccup smirked, Sorry guys, your wasting your time. Hiccup thought. Korra looked ready to fall asleep when she spotted Hiccup. Excusing herself from the two, she rushed over to him, wrapping him up in a hug. "Thank the sprits your here. They won't stop hitting on me." she said in disgust.
Hiccup smiled, "No problem, besides what kind of boyfriend would I be if I don't save you from fanboys?" he asked. Korra smiled as the two began to 'walk' away when they heard from one of the men, "Didn't know that the Avatar had a thing for cripples." Hiccup stopped dead in his tracks. He didn't see his injury as that, but he was crippled, that was a given, but the way he said it cut deep.
He wanted to send a rock between the man's legs but also realized something, Korra heard that too. Oooooooooh, that is really bad. Hiccup thought. Noticing that Korra had begun walking back to the pair, "You guys really should start running now, just warning ya." Hiccup called behind his shoulders.
The man who said it had three broken ribs, a fractured arm, six teeth knocked out, a cracked pinky, a dislocated shoulder, a black eye, split lip, twisted ankle, and a broken nose. Korra walked away smirking to Hiccup in awe, I must never, EVER, piss her off. Hiccup thought as she gingerly wrapped her arm around his waist, "I-I-I-I-can walk." he said, a small bit of fear in his voice.
Korra leaned into him more, "I know." she said smiling slyly, Hiccup caught on to the idea quickly, "You know, I think my lips may be sore." he said leaning closer to her. Korra locked her mouth with his, Hiccup cupped her cheek, not realizing that was that was the hand on his crutch.
Korra is fairly strong, but she didn't expect Hiccup to fall ontop of her. So she did let out a small squeal when the two fell down into the snow. Hiccup was covered in snow along with Korra, after looking at each other, they burst out laughing. After picking themselves up, Hiccup having help, they began to make their way back to Katara's hut, Hiccup looked at Korra, the young woman had stood by him through thick and thin, "Hey, if I ask you something, will you be honest with me?" he asked, Korra nodded, Course." she said.
Hiccup looked down, avoiding her gaze, "With me in my...condition. Have you ever...theoretically speaking... thought about..." Korra grabbed his chin in her hand, "Talk already." Hiccup took a breath, "Have you thought lately of breaking it off, because off...you know." Korra looked shocked, "Why in the world would you think... Hiccup, I would never leave you just because your missing a few parts." she said, agitation clear on her face, "When I say I love you, it means I'm committed to this." she said gesturing between the two of them, Hiccup clasped her hand in his, "I love you too. And I'm sorry. I just need to hear it." he said, Korra sighed, "Yea, I suppose I would say something like that too...but with less stuttering." she said smirking. Hiccup rolled his eyes.
Approaching the compound, Hiccup saw that Korra was wanting say something, "I spilled my guys already, your turn." he said mockingly, Korra stuck out her tongue at him, "Well since we're leaving the day after next and I don't think we'll be down here for a while..." she said, Hiccup made the keep going gesture, "...I was thinking...aw the hell with it, my mom and dad want to meet you." Hiccup's eyes went wide with fear, Shit, well at least I can rub Toothless's nose in it. he thought, trying to see the bright side of the situation.
Korra waved her arms, "It's not like they want to kill you or anything!" Hiccup gave her a look, "Speak for yourself! I already lost one body part I'm not losing another." he said dramatically, Korra gave him her famous pout, Oh no, no no no, not thaaat. Hiccup wined in his head. "Alright! I'll do it, but you owe me. Big time." he said ponting a finger at her. She merely smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek.
(Line)
Hiccup entered his temporary room to find a package. Opening the box, he saw everything that he needed to begin his project. At the bottom of the box was a note,
Hiccup,
The metal was easy to find, I hope you know what your doing.
With love,
Katara
Ps. One young man came in today with a LOT of injuries. Korra wouldn't know anything about this...would she?
Hiccup smirked, his Nanna rocked.
(Line)
Hiccup looked at his new 'leg', he had gotten the idea as soon as he saw the damage but bringing the design to life was the hard part. He knew that the prosthetic would have to simulate the muscles of the leg, so a spring was added so that moving up hills and such would come much easier. Another problem was shape, he had to make the meal bend at one point to replicate the ankle. He also had a 'foot' part, so that he wouldn't have all his weight be on a metal peg leg.
"Alright. It may not be pretty but it gets the job done." he said to himself. Toothless sniffed at the foreign object, "Bud it's fine, I'll try it on tomorrow and surprise everyone." he said, putting the prosthetic under his bed.
(Line)
Hiccup fastened the straps into place as he attached the leg. Looking to Toothless he took a breath. Slowly standing up he looked down to see the leg still holding up under his weight. Toothless gives him a nod of encouragement, Hiccup tentatively takes a step forward. Losing his balance he fell towards the floor, before he could connect with the floor, Toothless moves his body out catching the teen.
"Thanks buddy." he said, Toothless nods in response. Trying again, he doesn't slip, after another he still doesn't fall. Taking his hand off of Toothless's head, he takes a few more. Looking at his friend, he can't help but let out a whoop, jumping up and down he smiles like he won the lottery.
(Line)
Korra kept looking at the door, Hiccup had told her that he could make his way the to the house himself but he still wasn't there. Senna couldn't help but smile at her daughter's anxiousness, "Honey I'm sure he'll be here. Just relax." she said, before Korra could respond a kick at the door called their attention.
Hiccup nearly had a heart attack when the door opened, but relief washed over him seeing Korra in place of her dad. "Hey Hiccup, for a second I thoug-" she stopped herself, "Where are your crutches?" she asked, curious look on her face. Hiccup darted his eyes downward, Korra fallowed his gaze and saw his new leg.
"Hiccup...that's... " Korra was speechless, her boyfriend had built himself a new leg, "I wanted to surprise you and everyone else." he said. Korra smiled and wrapped her arms around him, "Consider me me surprised, now come in! You'll freeze if you stay out to long." she said leading him inside.
Korra led Hiccup to the living room, where he was greeted by Tonraq and Senna. "Mom, dad, this is my good friend Hiccup." Korra said, gesturing to the young man at her side. When Tonraq rose Hiccup's heart stopped, he rose a hand, "Nice to meet you Hiccup." Hiccup quickly grabbed the hand and gave it a shake.
"You to sir." Hiccup managed to say, the man gave a hardy chuckle, "Call me Tonraq." the man said. Hiccup sighed in relief, Thank you! Thank you sprits. Hiccup thought. The woman walked up him next, "Nice to finally meet you Hiccup, Korra's told us so much about you. I'm Senna." she said, pulling the young man into a unexpected hug. He graciously returned it. Okay she was right I was wrong. he thought as they say down to eat.
(Line)
Sitting on his bed, Hiccup reflected on the evening. Tonraq and Senna treated him like family, after dinner had concluded, Korra gave him a peck on the lips and said mockingly, "Told you so." Hiccup couldn't help but smile, Only Korra. He thought laying down and drifting off into sleep.
AN: You guys HAVE to know what's next. Sorry I haven't updated in a while I've been watching Breaking Bad after school when I get home and that's usually when I do my writing. To Any fans of the show, 'It was at was at first simple chemistry, thank you to all those who made Bad so good.'
Back to the subject, I can guess you all know what happens next. After that I'll get started with book 2. Btw I KNEW THAT UNLAUQ WAS EVIL! So far every main villain has been a waterbender, Amon, waterbender, Tarrock, waterbender, Tahnno, Dick waterbender.
As I must repetitively say: Don't forget to fallow favorite and REVIEW!