These three days passed faster than anybody would suspect.
The first day, in Tobias's view, was the quickest. Probably because he slept through most of it, James laughed, when Toothless acknowledged that. After spending on the beach most of their time somewhere around the evening they decided the moment has come to change location to the city.
Before that could've happened, the group have gone to their hut, because of their need to shower, as well as to rest in shadows after a whole day in the sun. Therefore, there occurred the point at which both girls have been taking their two bathrooms for their pleasure, Tobias was laying face-first on the couch, and the twins were getting bored on the ground, while James was walking in circles worried that they won't find time for his promised tour of local culture.
Eventually, they gathered in the living room and the decision was made. They are staying inside. Hookfang was angered when he was informed about that, but in the end, they convinced him with the bonfire they chose to lighten at the back of the house.
By that time, everybody dealt with their little tasks. James, of course, handled fire. Tobias, who was supposed to help him with that, looked after his son, who was playing with his new toys, which his dad was forced to buy from these stalls. "Fortunately, he handed James two logs once," Hookfang snickered.
The girls were preparing food and while they have been doing, they forced the twins to go shopping for a few forgotten products. These two, who were at first against the idea were stoked when they heard about the lack of alcohol in the storage, though everybody at the time could swear nobody said anything.
The time was spent mostly on games, which the group either already knew, found on the internet, or even made up. Starting with never have I ever, continuing on the dice game by using borrowed from hosts dice, and ending at a drink or dare.
Each of these games required alcohol, at least according to their rules, because of which everyone had a shot before themselves as the first game began. Well, maybe except for Tobias with beer, who explained himself as being on the duty and then pointing at Hiccup, who throughout the whole time sat with the same toys on the same blanket. Buzzkill, how Belch named that.
Despite that, the fun came to be. In the first game, notwithstanding that everybody knew each other for years or so, they found out a lot about each of them.
For example, Sarah has a younger brother, who once shaved her brows. Martha was once the winner of the hot sauce challenge. Hookfang almost burned alive, thrice. Twins ran away from home five times and came back after at least a week. Tobias had a favorite boyband.
Anyway, before the second game, everyone turned out to be drunk, and even so, it didn't stop them from continuing to play. Fortunately, the dice game didn't force them into drinking much, reasoning into a break in it, but despite that, they had to figure out some alternative rules.
At first, every idea seemed too hardcore for them, like drinking for every badly thrown dice, luckily new idea appeared, by which they wouldn't end up under the table after the first round. The concept was to take a shot once somebody didn't have any figure by his three throws. Because of that, at beginning of the play, everybody having every figure free didn't have to drink, at least until the free figures ended.
So, they've finished with two winning games for Sarah, one for Barf, and one for Tobias, and if everyone around thought then they were loud when the third game began, they probably laughed at their earlier lack of clue.
Drink of dare had simple and obvious rules. Either you do dare, or drink. Wins the last one which wasn't under the table. Martha started first, and after hearing from James she had to run to their cars and back, when she took a shot, laying on the table she was first to lose.
Sarah, who had no intention of licking her armpit, great idea Belch, drank, and luckily for her, she had a head resembling Tobias's one, because of which she still sat rather straight. Her boyfriend didn't, and because of this without thinking thought he sang I will always love you the loudest he could.
Barf got the easiest one as Tobias noticed because he was supposed to confess his crush, but fortunately for him, his drunkness was on his side making a message unreadable. Prays for the boy that will have to read it, Toothless thought as he snorted.
When it was Tobias's turn, he challenged himself and his dare was to go to Hiccup, who fell asleep on a blanket while the second game, who Toothless had to carry to bed, and who waited for him through that whole time. He smiled at everyone and left. Getting from them only booing, he responded with one of his fingers.
He walked up the stairs straight to the room he shared with Henry. Carefully, he stepped in and dressed in his pajama. As he got ready, he lay next to the boy and encircled his little body with his way bigger arm. Sleeping Hiccup, in between his slumber, grasped his dad's thumb and exhaled calmly.
Toothless's heart warmed up at that. Unable to stop the flow of joy, he smiled and kissed the top of his head, as a goodnight gesture. Afterward, he fast dozed off.
The next, second day, wasn't much different from the first one. In the early morning, they rushed to the beach. While there, everybody dealt with themselves.
Of course, the two girls' minds were on sunbathing, and since the start, they kept satisfying their wishes. The twins continued their biggest hole, which through night fulfilled slightly with water. Tobias continued his charge over his son, while James decided his today's task was to accompany him. Unfortunately, not the way he would like to, Toothless frowned after yet another of Hookfang's mocking comments.
Eventually, their stay-in continued with conversations, about random themes, like the last Oscars, and the argument about the best movie, finishing with celebrity crushes. Such talks occur when you mix the twins' love for science fiction with Sarah's love for action movies.
While talks went on, Hiccup had his sleep hour, and at about midday, he snoozed. It was a good sign, because afterward almost everyone, except Martha, decided on the round of water volleyball.
Everything was going great until Sarah after losing threw herself on James to drown him. The twins took it upon themselves to try the same with Toothless but in the difference of achieving it, the tables have turned, and they were ones gasping for air and running off toward the shore.
That day they left the beach at about three P.M which was caused mostly by Hookfang's grousing about promising him the visit to the city.
His wish came true, and after an hour spent refreshing, they were walking through regional streets. To their sadness, the city was indeed small. Despite that, they gave a chance to a chip shop in which they agreed to eat out. They were more than satisfied with it. Well, maybe except for Hiccup.
The little boy, who could've started eating solid food and who according to his dad already did, wasn't a fan of fish meat. After a struggle with him, Toothless gave up and Henry ended up with mashed fries and Tobias with his dish.
Their journey ended up in a game center. There was billiard, in which Tobias won three times in a row. The number of raging stares he got after each of his never missed strikes made his day.
The twins seemed more interested in the motor races, in which they spent a lot of their coins, which they won several times and from which they got the points they could've exchanged for Mario and Luigi hats. "They could buy them ten times cheaper than they paid for these games," acknowledged Toothless, and with James, they both chuckled.
Afterward, the whole group gathered around an air hockey. Almost everyone, because Toothless decided that Hiccup must have been bored with constant sitting and watching and let him take part in some children's game which was supposed to be more noisy and shiny, than involving agility.
At each side of the table stood Sarah and James, and everybody knew that it was supposed to be the match of the century. Everyone put their bets, even Toothless throw in one's two cents, and the play began.
It was loud, horribly loud, and aggressive, that's for sure. Both seemed at each other's throats like their lives were depending on that game. In the end, Sarah won, and in the last of their round, in the last action, unfortunately, Hookfang, upset about his loss, pushed the disk way too hard.
Nobody expected it to crash into the barrier. Nobody expected it to fly over the second one, and nobody expected it would crash into Tobias's ear. But somehow it happened. Despite the fact, he wasn't even close by, turned to them by side, and even so, he indeed got hit.
The only thing, which saved Hookfang from Toothless's redness of eyes and his tensed jaw, was his promise into getting Hiccup a plushie from the claw. Agreeing with it, Tobias watched how James had spent almost 50 dollars for a little sparrow, with huge satisfaction and a smirk on his face. Best part? Hiccup wanted his black dragon back after having fun with it for two minutes. Tobias was never prouder.
Eventually, they came back to their hut around nine P.M., satisfied with their tour of local culture, in which they hadn't toured anything, with Hiccup sleeping in his stroller. Shortly after, Toothless carried him to their room, and as he was just covering him with a blanket, he heard twins, also something about lack of alcohol as they were closing the door, and he understood immediately what was happening.
He shook his head, unbelieving by their craziness. Thereafter he stroked Henry's head before he silently left the room, prepared for the repeat of their yesterday's entertainments.
The last, third day seemed to be no other than the earlier two ones. Same beginning, maybe another ending. After beach time, they were assumed to leave back to their home, after Hiccup would fell into his noon nap. Despite that, the group started considering staying a little longer. Unfortunately, not everyone.
Toothless spent a lot of time, trying to explain to them that he couldn't stay, mostly because of money, and following on from it, his job. Since Henry's adoption, he neglected his career responsibilities, maybe not enough to end up under the bridge, but enough so he had to start saving, and because of that he couldn't let himself for a few more days.
Finally, the company accepted that, and when the time came, in which Hiccup was falling asleep at the spot he was sitting, they had to say goodbyes.
It turned out that Martha had to go back to their city as well, she explained herself with vacation work, and because of this Stormfly sent Tobias an angered peek. As he guessed, she was blaming him for taking away her best friend. He ignored that, and warmly accepted Meatlug, glancing at Stormfly mockingly in meantime.
After all, they ended up in a similar situation. Toothless was by the wheel, with Hiccup sleeping in his passager's spot, and with Martha dozing at the back seats. There were few cars, and the timing was different, but despite that Tobias felt at the peace. This time there were no three situations.
The whole adventure of vacations ended, and because of it, Tobias had to go back to his daily routine. Unfortunately, it wasn't so easy, and through the first day, he was already jaded.
He could accuse the known group of being annoying, for being irritating, problematic, and even unbearable at times, but never that they were boring. Those were the gathering of people, who no matter what could stir his life with a little surprise, and cause it to be more interesting, making his day a hundred times better.
He would never admit it out loud, but that was the truth he believed in.
Alas, because of that truth, he lay on the floor, in the middle of his living room on the rubber, puzzle-like mat, with Hiccup next to him who was having fun on his own, but occasionally bringing his dad into it, by showing him a toy, or something he did, like grab his nose.
As he always wished for peace, with the guilt in the back of his head, he could say he missed those idiots, who left him alone in the name of vacation. Thankfully, not all of them.
Past noon he thought laying on the ground would be the only, valuable thing he will do today, but he was well shocked, or rather wasn't because he didn't even flinch at that when there was a rapid opening of his apartment door.
Without knocking, or making herself sure she was allowed to come in, Martha stepped inside, with a smile and eyes which resembled the twins' sparkly eyes, letting him know there was an idea, in which she wanted him to be involved.
If the whole event happened another day, when he wasn't absorbed in boredom, he would yell at her, for such rude behavior as barging into his house. Luckily for her, instead of doing so, he raised himself and grinned awkwardly, as a thanking gesture for rescue from day-long tedium.
Because of that event, around 2 P.M. they left the Night's apartment and wandered through a local park until they got to the placed there restaurant, or rather a fast-food truck, by which tables they sat.
"It's not that easy, alright?" Meatlug bit her lip, subdued.
"Right." Crossing his arms, he frowned. "Moving your mouth, simultaneously making sounds in front of the brother who you know your entire life is indeed not that easy," he rolled his eyes.
"It's easy to say, but not to do," she looked away. "You don't know my brother."
"If you won't start talking with him, trust me I will. Understand that, as your conversation might be calm, ours will be ugly."
"Please, don't." Martha lowered her brows, sadly.
Tobias stared at her for a moment afterward but seeing he won't achieve anything he glanced to the side and his eyes widened. There, Hiccup was sitting on a blanket with a couple of wooden toys, but what caused his startle was a bulldog licking his cheek.
Thankfully for the distance, leaning himself, he was able to grab them both, the dog by the collar and Hiccup by the back of his shirt, and force them apart.
He grunted loudly, getting Meatlug's attention. "May you tell your dog not to lick my son, please?"
"What's the problem?" She smirked. "Henry looks more than happy with that." As an example, Hiccup giggled, drawing his arms to the dog, and witnessing so, Toothless lightly pulled his shirt, giving him know he didn't like the idea. "Let them be Toothless! Fishmeat is harmless, and he loves kids the most. I swear, nothing bad happens."
"I'm not worried by his attitude," Tobis shoved the dog away, at which Hiccup was upset. It was only momentarily because Toothless passed him one of the wooden blocks, on which he focused. "I'm more concerned about bacteria."
"Bacteria?!" Martha snorted. "My dog is clean from any of them!"
"Is that so?" He leaned over the table, supporting himself with his forearms. "Haven't I seen him earlier having fun in the leaves, running after a wild squirrel, and even sniffing other dogs' butts?"
She hissed, guilty. "Well, dogs will be dogs," she beamed, apologizing.
"Then let Hiccup be Hiccup without him bedridden because of some virus," he stank his eye at her. "That shows your lack of some firmness, against your dog, but also your brother."
She sneered, sheepishly. "I'm sorry that I'm not an over six feet boy, with wide shoulders and gaze, which has power over everyone," she lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry for being myself."
"I didn't mean that," he exhaled. "Look, I don't expect you to be all tough and harsh as I am. Seriously, I don't. What I'm trying to imply is for you to understand you have to try sometimes to be. In extreme situations."
"It's hard for me."
"I know it is. It's for me either," he smiled. She raised her brow, questioning. As he understood what he said, his eyes widened. "I mean, being nice," he scratched his neck. "Being severe comes easy for me, and because of it, it's rather a challenge being all sweet and everything. That's something I'm jealous of you."
"You're jealous of me?" Her eyes widened. "Me?!"
"Of course. Are you of me?" As he asked, she nodded. "Don't be. I know it's easier said than done, but it's seriously not worth it. The thing you should remember is the fact we can't change ourselves but in the moments of most need, we should try stepping outside of our comfort zone, to attain what we need, which in your case is getting a sense of security in your own home. In mine, the feeling that I'm not a scum of society."
She giggled, then sighed. "You're right. You all are right."
"I know, but even so I don't expect you to go right away to your brother. The opposite of it, actually," he straightened. "What you should do, is think about it, collect claims, and just then when you gain confidence, confront him."
She playfully saluted him. "Aye, captain!" He snickered, but despite that, he saluted her back.
Afterward, to their table walked rather an overweight man with a curly, ginger head, who yawning, roughly placed their orders before them. The person was known by them for a long time as Grump, because of which Tobias instead of being offended by the inconsiderate manner of the male, rubbed his hands at the view of a tasty meal.
Before Martha positioned was a fish taco, while Toothless was given a burger with fries for Hiccup. He took him from the blanket and sat him on his lap. Whole three started eating, and while doing so, Tobias muttered full-mouthed. "So, what are we doing next?"
The weather since the beginning of the day was supposed to be another of the climate anomalies, bringing them a warm and sunny day. Because of that, the idea came into Martha's mind, which caused them to be over the worst place, Tobias could think of. The public pool.
Berk wasn't known as a tourist place for its warm sea, or majestic beaches. The complete contrary. What were at tourist attractions were stunning mountains and beautiful forest tracks. Thereby, it wasn't a surprise that the city was owning only one pool, which had poor equipment.
As an example, it had only two pools. One of them was the simplest, the olympian one, while the second was for the use of the children. Despite that, Toothless lay in the second with his head against the border of it, not bothered by the glances of walking by, being from the waist down covered in water.
In front of him, Hiccup sat, splashing around water, being covered by the liquid from his chest down. Tobias feared the most that he would fall into the water from his position, but fortunately, it wasn't happening. For the first 15 minutes.
Henry leaned forward and was about to dive into the water, head first if it wasn't for Tobias's parental instincts. He shot rapidly ahead, to catch him before that could have occurred. Toothless positioned him back in his place, and afterward, Hiccup repeated his doings once more.
By the third time he did that, Tobias frowned. "One more time and you're leaving," he growled. Not listening to him, he tilted forward once more, and Toothless immediately caught him, bringing him to himself. "And what I just said?" Seeing the rather angered state of his dad, Hiccup shot him a saddened look. At the view, Tobias bit his lip, but eventually, he exhaled. "You're lucky that you're too young to understand. And that you're cute," he groaned.
Afterward, he took Henry with him and both of them sat in the water so that Tobias would have control if Hiccup had stupid ideas. As time passed, Martha joined them by sitting nearby. Toothless smirked at her presence. "I guess your brother wasn't against the idea of taking care of the dog, so conversely to what you said," he snickered.
"It only took saying that otherwise, you would talk with him," she snorted. "He watches your matches. He knows how you look and he's scared."
"The melody to my ears," Toothless beamed, proudly. Martha giggled, thereafter both focused on resting. He let himself momentarily close his eyes, and while that was he heard a water rustle. Opening one of his eyes and noticing Martha took care of Hiccup's situation, he once again closed it and heaved a sigh.
The time went by slowly, and he was woken up from his nap-like moment hearing somebody has called him just over him. "Night fury! Is that you?" The young teenager exclaimed.
When Tobias peeked at him, he noticed he was accompanied by a girl, who he encircled with his arm. He didn't analyze them much, because afterward he immediately looked over the sky.
"It depends on who is asking," Tobias mumbled, weary. "A fan?"
"Something like that."
Toothless hummed. "Alright, but know that I'm officially on summer break," he smirked, mockingly. "And I give autographs only at work time."
"I don't want an autograph."
"Then what do you need?" He closed his eyes, snickering. "Just came to say hi?"
"No, we were just curious if it's for sure you," he chuckled, silently. "After all, you have rather abnormal company."
His eyes opened sharply. "And what is that supposed to mean?" Straightening, he frowned.
"Well, it doesn't seem like a proper comrade for you," the girl sneered. As she did, Tobias had time to finally observe their appearances. Both were blond-haired, green-eyed teenagers, with slim shapes. He could've said that they were siblings, but he has understood that's rather a couple goals similarity than a family one. "Not to offend you, of course, it's just her who is... awkward," she laughed.
"It's odd to see such fatty next to a professional like you," the boy joined in his girlfriend's laughter. Tobias glimpsed at Martha with the side of his eye. Witnessing her being embarrassed, ready to start covering herself his jaw tensed and his teeth tensed in his mouth. "Is she your sister, that your parents forced you to take with you?"
"Maybe she is your girlfriend! Beautiful match," they burst into laughter.
At that, Toothless snapped. "She is, so what!" He encircled his arm around Meatlug's shoulders and both teenagers' eyes widened. "Come on! You were so talkative a moment ago! No mean comments? No mocking remarks?" When silence remained, Toothless snorted. "That's what I thought."
The boy swallowed. "A-are you serious?"
Tobias's palm fisted. "One more word and I will drag you at the back and deal with you for talking at my girlfriend like that. You will see how deadly serious I am," he snarled. "Get the fuck out of here," he murmured.
The girl, after that offense from Toothless, was about to speak back at him, but before that, the boy feeling the dangerous aura from him led them away. Tobias stared at them the moment after that, but stopped, feeling his arm being taken away from Martha's body.
Meatlug hissed, apologizing. "I'm sorry Tobias," she groaned. "I just, don't see you like that."
"Me either!" He scratched his neck. "I just wanted them to go away."
She blinked at him a couple of times then smiled. "Thank you, I guess."
"You're welcome."
"You cursed in front of Hiccup for me."
"Let it be a lesson for him," he grunted. "Those words are only for people like them, and only for them."
"Good point."
They stayed in awkward silence, until Toothless inhaled. "Don't take their words to heart," he frowned at her, worried. "Their words are as worthy as dirt."
"Actually," she chuckled, anxiously. "The dirt activity is important for our planet, like for the life of plants and animals."
"Alright! As worthy as shit." Noticing he was about to say something more, he groaned. "As worthy as James's shit! Happy?!"
"I am!" She laughed. "I get the idea!" She sighed. "Don't worry about it, I'm used to it."
"You shouldn't be."
"That's how the world is created. You won't change a thing despite your tries. Even so, it's nice that you do."
"Such idiocy."
Martha glanced at him sympathetically. Then beamed at him. "If it helps you, I'm not concerned that I was called fat, but something else."
"Which is?"
She exhaled. "The truth," she muttered. He raised his brow at her questioningly. "With one thing they were right. Me being in that company, and by the company I mean, like, the whole of our group, is not normal," she whimpered. "You all are great sports maniacs, even Sarah, because of which I feel left out. Different and useless."
"You do?" He asked skeptically. She nodded at him, and because of this, he became serious. "I don't think like that. I consider a group, as a gathering of people in which everybody has its function," he hummed. "I guess Hookfang could be named a strange creator. Stormfly would be some kind of second leadership. The twins are clowns, funny ones. I'm the challenge, the one always disagreeing with everything, but you want me here for sake of the challenge. You, in my view, are the heart of the group. The sweet, kind one."
"And what that makes me?"
"The conflict breaker? Some kind of mediator and person, who always is behind your back?" He chuckled. "I would like to remind you, if it wasn't for you, I would probably be still offended at before Hiccup time."
"I thought it was James-"
"He has his part in it, but remember that if it wasn't for our conversation, I wouldn't be so unsure, which led me to be the person I am today," he beamed. "I owe you a lot," she blushed and at that, he snorted. Afterward, he straightened. "Martha, did that conversation help you?"
"Yes," she grinned widely. "A lot."
"I'm glad."
Both stayed in comfortable silence until it was stopped by the splash made into the water. Because of the whole event, they forgot about Hiccup. The little boy ended up in the water, and Tobias immediately rushed to him for the rescue. As he took him in his arms, he stood up and glimpsed at him, worriedly. First, Hiccup coughed out the water, then he started sobbing.
Tobias patted his back, helping him to get out the water from his lungs. "Enough for today. It's time to go home," he pulled Hiccup's head against his shoulder when the boy after hearing that upset even more. "It's okay, buddy. We both know you're just exhausted after the long day, so don't fight, alright?"
Martha hissed at Hiccup sympathetic. "Would you like to be driven home? I got the car," she pointed at the entrance.
While she asked, Toothless got to the bag, from which he took the phone and checked an hour. 05:25 P.M. "No need to. We will walk home on foot and through that Hiccup will fall asleep," he peeked at Henry. "Right buddy?" As a response, he pressed himself closer to his dad. Tobias kissed his head, compassionately.
"Alright," she clapped her hands. "Then I will stay for a moment more."
"Sure, have fun and avoid that two idiots," he chuckled. "Don't let them infect you with stupidity."
"Will do," she hummed. "But, something tells me it will be them who are going to avoid me."
Tobias laughed. "Right," he straightened. "Thanks for today."
"You're welcome," with a smile, she walked off.
Thereafter, Tobias peeked at Hiccup, who was falling asleep in his arms. He placed him into the stroller, dressed both of them, and within a moment they found themselves on the route. While it lasted, Tobias could finally confess, with incredible unwillingness, that Hookfang was right.
Those were his best vacation.