Day 25 - One Step at a Time

Stoick had left the Great Hall in the middle of a long series of meetings so he could check on his son, but after scouring the house up and down for him, the blasted boy was nowhere to be found. He wasn't supposed to be out by himself while his leg was still healing– or what was left of it, but Odin knew that Hiccup listened about as well as a mule. Odin help him if he found him flying again so soon.

The chief was about to stomp downstairs and storm off in search for Toothless, sure he'd find the beast's rider with him, but then he heard the sound of voices coming from behind the house. Furrowing his bushy brow, Stoick thudded over to the window and tugged the shutters open.

"C'mon, you got this! You're the viking!"

Stoick blinked, taken aback to see Hiccup leaning on Spitelout's boy as he shuffle-limped forward. All of the teenagers were spread out across the back yard, creating an oblong circle around his son. Though he wanted to frown– Hiccup was under strict orders to only wear the prosthetic for a few hours at a time while his amputation was healing– but the sight was something Stoick had never seen.

"I'm letting go," he heard Snotlout announce, releasing Hiccup's elbow and taking a cautious step back. The boys had never been close, so seeing his meaty hands held out toward his cousin was almost startling.

For a few hobbling paces, Hiccup winced and struggled to maintain his balance on his new leg. If Toothless was around to lean on, one could hardly notice the boy's limp, but it was clear as day when he was forced to amble on his own. It often ended with Stoick discovering just how foul of a mouth his son had. Despite the other kids' encouraging words, after making it several feet, Hiccup stumbled. He yelped.

Stoick reached out his hand, as if there was something he could do from the second floor, but one of the Thorston twins was already grabbing his arm and holding him upright.

"It locked up again," the teenager growled with frustration. He glared at the metal appendage.

The other twin knelt by his side and tinkered with Hiccup's new foot. "I got it!"

Tilting his head in wonder, Stoick watched with a growing smile of pride. Hiccup had always been a little bit… different. He'd thought it would be something he grew out of, but the transition from skinny boy to gawky teenager hadn't come with any better social skills. The chief noticed as plainly as anyone how the younger teens ignored or teased him. But he never knew what to do, always thinking that if Hiccup stopped being different, then the kids would like him.

Stoick breathed a short laugh. Should've known better. He was his mother's child. It was almost ridiculous that it'd taken the chief so long to realize it. He sighed and tried ignore the pain in his chest at the thought.

"Hey, no breaks! You're almost there!"

"It hurts, you munge-bucket!"

"C'mon, Hiccup! If you make it to Astrid, she'll give you a kiss!"

"Shut up, Ruff!"