The bell surrounded Tobias's ears while he pressed the button, positioned by the closed gate. Within a moment the entrance was opened when he confirmed his identity to an entry phone. Stepping inside it he observed a little garden, between whose trees were swings and plastic fun houses with a little smirk.
Eventually, he moved into a building that had its place just next to the flora through half-glass doors. There, he was welcomed by the warmth, the noise of laughs, and happiness. Walking straight through the corridor he passed any met-by door until he stopped in front of one of them.
After pushing the handle of it, he went by it and smiled more brightly at the sight inside the room. The woman, who was only slightly older than him with platinum blond hair and sharp, emerald green eyes, shook a jiggling, black, dragon toy, chuckling with the accommodation of a high-pitched, sweet giggle.
Peeking at the source of the second laugh, he beamed at the notice of his son, laying on his belly, attempting to grab a mentioned toy. Finally, he knocked on the wood of the door, notifying everyone nearby about his presence and the two pairs of eyes glanced in his direction.
Hiccup, whose eyes widened happily, squealed the same joyfully while crawling to him, with his stomach pressed against the ground. Instead of coming forward, Toothless kneeled low, awaiting the boy, until grabbing him into his arms, when he got a reach to do so.
Kissing his tummy a couple of times, Tobias achieved to make Henry laugh. "Hey, buddy? Did you miss me? Because I did. A lot," he chuckled when Hiccup grasped his nose, attempting to move him away from his tickling spot.
Sniggering, he let himself be pushed away and the same woman, who was entertaining Henry moments ago, giggled. "Good afternoon, boss-,"
"Windshear, don't call me boss."
", two of us had today rather a good day, if I had to be honest. Not to be rude, but anytime soon you'll be useless to him."
"That's nice you think so," Toothless glared at her while the young woman smiled at him, innocently. "Well, if so, then tell me, what have you been doing?"
"Nothing out of common," she patted the space on the ground next to her, and grumbling Tobias sat there, situating Hiccup in between them on the ground. "In the morning we got some play time and went outside with the rest of the group, after that he got a nap and here we are," she pointed at the room around them.
"If it wasn't for me, he would have died from that routine," Tobias snickered while Windshear rolled her eyes at him. "So, nothing's new?"
"Nothing," she shrugged, narrowing her eyes at him, smirking. "However, I'm interested in what's new with you?" She straightened and her eyes shined with excitement. "How was the first day of school after the vacation?"
"It was good," he grunted, helping out Hiccup, who began climbing his bent leg. "Better than I have expected. I've got new teachers, and while I was worried it wasn't a good idea to change classes in the last grade, I am only more convinced I did a good thing."
"I wouldn't if I were you," she groaned, gritting her teeth. "I won't ever understand how you can withstand Hookfang on daily basics."
"Who said you I can? Those are just terrible lies," he shivered disgustedly, while she chuckled. "I guess that I got used to him after this whole vacation and constant visiting. Actually, not only him but everyone, overall."
"It's good to hear your group doesn't split up."
"They are like some kind of resin," he messed Hiccup's hair when the boy sat up straight on his own, causing him to grimace. "Only it changed into amber, is attached to the skin, and isn't removable without a bloody work."
"You don't know how pleased I am to hear your relationship didn't change at all," she tsked, and Toothless squinted his eyes at her, before leaning over Henry, who demanded his attention. "I must say that I'm pretty shocked by the improvement you did with him through vacation."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, even this!" She pointed swiftly at Hiccup, who crawled the same way he did at Toothless's entry. "When he learned that?"
"What were you thinking?! We were training for the whole time, weren't we, buddy?" Tobias gazed at Henry, who glanced at his daddy at the sound of his nickname, just so to return momentarily after to the object, which was a jiggling toy on the ground, that occupied his focus.
"If so, what have you two learned? Do you have some interesting tricks?"
"First of all, he's my son, not a toy. Second of all, we did, some," Toothless moved closer to Hiccup, and grasping him, he snatched a toy from him, receiving upset whines. "I'll give it back, but before that, you have to show Weronika how good you are at crawling," he mumbled to him and positioned him on the ground.
On it, Hiccup gazed at his daddy, blinking at him wide-eyed. Glimpsing so, Tobias forced his stomach upright from the ground, keeping it up with his hand. When Herny's stare remained, Toothless placed the black toy a little farther in front of him and the boy understood the assignment, immediately.
After the older man let go of him, Hiccup crawled forward swiftly, just to fall on the ground at the target. Instantly, Weronika clapped her hands, while the little boy glanced at her and beamed.
"Bravo, Hiccup! Clap with me, I know you can!"
As a response, Herny sat up carefully, before clapping, cooing in meantime. Afterward, he gaped at his daddy, who clapped himself, grinning. While everybody stopped, Hiccup got in his crawling position and rushed into Toothless, impacting lightly into his leg, causing both of them to giggle, while Windshear's corner of mouth lifted.
"Hiccup is just adorable. Like, the most adorable in the world."
"I know," Tobias took the mentioned boy into his arms and nuzzled his nose with his. "It's my little, tiny, cute buddy, without whom I would kill a human, already."
"I don't doubt," she loosened, leaning her chin on the arm supported on her knee. "He's my favorite here and I know that I shouldn't have favorites, but I can't help it."
"Once, the receptionist confessed he's his favorite, too."
"Onto your place, I would hire him some bodyguard. Anytime soon, and some people will attempt to kidnap him," she hummed and snickered. "Heck, even I am willing to take on doing it."
"Don't you even think of it," Toothless pressed his cheek to Henry's one. "My Hiccup."
"I know," she sighed, soundly. "Also, I don't want to see him sad after talking him away from his favored daddy," she gaped at them for a long moment, before furrowing, curious. "How is that?"
"How is what?"
"Well, how is being single, teenage fatherhood for you? Is it hard?"
"I would have lied if I said it was easy," Tobiad hummed and let Hiccup climb his shoulder, gripping him, cautiously. "The hardest was the beginning, I guess."
"Sarah's told me," she sniggered, wrinkling her nose, mockingly. "You were a total wreck. Her words, not mine!" She flinched, noticing how Toothless frowned.
"I wouldn't say wreck, although there is a shred of truth in it," he encircled his hands around Hiccup's middle, while the boy sat on his shoulder. "However, there was a tiny positive in that situation. I didn't leave the house."
"I know you're a total introvert, but why something does tell me that there is more of the truth behind it?"
"Because there is," Tobias bent forward, allowing Hiccup to travel onto his back. "Truthfully, I hated the walks we had the most."
"Why would you?"
"It's not related to me, or Hiccup, weather, time, none of that, but society."
"Oh no," she pouted, tilting her head. "Did the grandmas catch you on illegally owning a child?"
"As a matter of fact, yes!" He growled, keeping Hiccup, who leaned on the back of his head. "In the beginning, when he was about three months old, these monitoring ladies, that have their spot just under my building, were amazed, at how great brother I am. After explaining to them I am his father, there is no day when I'm able to get out of home without judging glares."
"They must think Hiccup was some kind of accident," she tsked and hissed when Herny glanced at her, after the sound of his name. "Don't listen to me, honey. You are your daddy's miracle."
"Of course he is!" Toothless shook his shoulders and Hiccup giggled, loudly. "I can't believe some people might think of my beloved son like that."
"Well, but you can't be surprised about that. After all, it's not common for a teenager to adopt a child and it's only more frequent for them to be pregnant with one," she brooded, glancing at nodding Toothless. "Also, if that's much of a problem, why won't you say to them that he's your brother? That would get you from a lot of problems."
"Maybe it would, but Hiccup isn't my brother. He's my son," Tobias raised his chin, to glance at Hiccup, and glimpsing his head over his face he kissed his neck, causing the infant to giggle. ", and I'm not ashamed of him."
"You two are just lovely together, aren't you?" She smirked, widely. "Now, tell me, what's Hiccup's biggest flaw? Spill it, we both know there must be something, come on!"
"Biggest flaw?" Toothless mumbled while Henry made an effort to climb his daddy's head, covering his eyes in meantime. "He's clingy, but like, terribly clingy," he got the little boy out of him and held him in his arms. "You are daddy's tiny cuddly, aren't you, buddy?" He murmured and Hiccup laughed after being tickled by Tobias's nose.
"Aw," Weronika crooned, sweetly. ", but that's adorable, actually."
"Very," he snorted, rolling his eyes. "As far as it's nice, it's also troublesome. For example, when Hiccup was four months old he hadn't been like that yet. I could've left him here in the nursery and gone to school, however, it changed with time. There came a time I got hundreds of notifications each day. I'm lucky he got used to that place because otherwise I would be screwed."
"Fortunately, he got used, and I'm glad it happened by my side," she beamed and he returned the favor, grinning.
Afterward, noticing that Hiccup snuggled himself into his shoulder, Toothless straightened, standing up. "We should head home. I would prefer to have a chance to eat dinner before putting him to sleep," he glanced at his watch and dug through his pockets.
Glimpsing so, Windshear stood up and waved her arm, disagreeing. "You don't have to pay, Tobias. As I said, Hiccup is my favorite, and besides, your friends are my friends, Sarah is like a sister to me, I can't take it, anymore."
"Windshear, we had a deal. You're taking care of underaged Hiccup and I give you extra money," Toothless narrowed his eyes, shoving the cash into her hand. "As your boss, I don't want to hear any complaining, even about payment, got it?" He winked at her, and she nodded, smiling thankfully.
"Alright," she walked them off to the door, and before they could've stepped outside its frame, she waved her hand, lightly. "Bye, bye, and see you soon."
"Bye," Tobias smirked, and grasping Henry's arm, he forced it to wave at her back, resulting in the boy's grin. "Bye," he whisper-shouted for Hiccup. Eventually, shooting her a last glance, he stepped outside the door, disappearing behind it.
It was around six p.m., when Tobias sat by the coffee table, with his computer on, finishing one of his newest work projects. Nearby him, Hiccup sat on the rubber, puzzle carpet, while his attention focused on the wooden toys beside him.
From time to time, he would crawl to his daddy, each time in a different style, just to peek at whatever he has been doing. All of those times Toothless took him, and placed him in his lap, so the boy had a view of the laptop screen.
Fortunately, these events didn't interrupt his work, because it was only moments later when Hiccup was getting bored with the bright screen and whined to get back to his earlier spot. The sounds of clicking on the keyboard mixed with the noise of Hiccup's cooing and striking wood against wood, foretelling another, peaceful evening.
Eventually, when it got darker in the room, Tobias flinched, while the racket around fell silent, suddenly. It was well known that loudness was better than silence, always, he glanced over the laptop and fretted at the sight before himself.
Hiccup, whose arm froze in the air, gazed somewhere before himself, with his eyes widened, and visibly shivering. Immediately, glimpsing the infant's eyes swelled with tears, Tobias saved his work within two clicks and after closing the device, he hurried to Henry, kneeling in front of him.
Tilting his head at him, Toothless frowned concernedly while Henry ignored his presence, or at least didn't spot it. Thereupon, Tobias bent over him, appearing in his view range. The movement succeeded in its purpose, because Hiccup gaped at his daddy, blinking at him, terrified.
On the note of that, Toothless pulled his hands out to him, and Hiccup leaned into them, sinking into his daddy's chest while he brought him closer. Shushing, Tobias rubbed Hiccup's back, rocking gently.
"What's up, buddy?" He whispered gently, putting his chin on top of his son's head, and embracing him tighter. "Is something wrong?"
In response, Hiccup turned his head to the side, and staring forward, he snuggled closer into his dad. Curious Toothless glanced where Henry was looking and glimpsed the window, covered by the tiny drops of rain, and the view behind it of the trees' leaves jerked by the wind.
"Bad weather, isn't it?" He rattled Henry, hoping that would've loosened the little boy, but in contrast to that, he tensed only more. "It's only rain, buddy. You saw it, already. Don't be afraid, it's o-," he jumped startled and the same did Hiccup at the sound of the thunder close by.
Instantly, Henry panted and then cried out, loudly. At the sight, Tobias hissed and shushed the little boy more, who only sobbed, hyperventilating. While Toothless pressed Hiccup's face in his shoulder, simultaneously stroking his hair, the infant calmed out, slightly, gripping his dad's shirt, tightly.
"Everything is fine," Tobias whispered into his ear and kissed Henry's temple. "It's just a little storm. It'll pass soon," he squirmed his eyes at Hiccup, detecting his uncontrollable breathing. "Easy, buddy. Easy," he cooed at him, swaying himself. "I'm here. Daddy's here, and he won't let anything harm you. Even the storm."
Gaping at him, Toothless took notice that because of the one, weather occurrence, Henry became almost unrecognizable from his daily self. While every day, Hiccup's smile seemed to never fade away, at the exact moment, he was the most horrified that he was in a long period.
The last time he saw him so scared was the day he laid his eyes on him for the first time, he recalled the day, that happened more than a half year ago, and his heart fastened. Why does Hiccup react so badly to the storm? Did his son gain some kind of trauma that he didn't notice earlier?
Instead of panicking, he avoided it by inhaling soundly, before focusing on soothing Hiccup, just to distract his mind from bad thoughts. "It's okay, buddy," he exhaled, shakily. "Everything is fine, look," he stepped closer to the window and at that moment Hiccup hyperventilated, bending backward, away from it. "It's only the weather, Hiccup. There is nothing to be afraid of."
Abruptly, the lamps that enlightened the room turned off, and Toothless sighed before Henry burst into a loud, scared cry. The power went out, now, Tobias narrowed his eyes, accustoming them to the darkness.
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm still here," he patted Hiccup's back, reminding him about his presence and the boy squeezed himself into him. "I'll take care of it, don't worry," he took the phone out of his pocket, and with the built-in flashlight, he brightened up some of the surroundings.
Afterward, he moved toward the kitchen, and digging through cabinets he grabbed three candles, also a gas lighter. Subsequently, he came back into the living room and sat on the couch, rather heavily. Gazing at Hiccup, he frowned sympathetically, noticing his uncontrolled, calmed down sniffing, and kissed his head.
Further, he positioned him at his shoulder's side, so his hands were free from the infant's body weight. Carefully, he ignited the candles one by one, and succeeding in it, he shifted placement on the couch with Hiccup, laying his back against the corner's back and straightening his legs at the whole sofa's length.
At the movement, Henry made himself comfortable at the top of his daddy's chest, while the man rubbed his back, gently. They remained like that for a long moment and most of that time Toothless spent on his phone, while Hiccup loosened himself, playing with Tobias's bulge on the shirt, occasionally peeking at whatever was on his dad's phone.
It was about eight p.m., when Henry began blinking, exhausted. Instead of attempting to fall asleep, he did the complete opposite, fighting the urge to doze off. After a few of these repeated situations, Toothless put down his phone and sat up, securing Hiccup against himself.
He should've slept for an hour now, he furrowed guilty, before directing himself into their bedroom. Inside, he placed Henry on the bed, causing him to sob, upset. Messing his hair, Tobias kneeled on the ground before the bed and took out from underneath the bed's pillow two pajamas, belonging to both of them.
Eventually, they were ready to sleep and Toothless lay down on his side, staring at Hiccup, who sat straight and unwilling to lie the same way his dad did. Gritting his teeth, prepared for the cry, he pushed Henry to the side, and as he predicted, happened.
"Easy, Hiccup," he shushed the boy, encircling his arm around him. "It's time to sleep, buddy," he brushed his brown, thick hair from his forehead, grinning. "Come here, cuddle with daddy."
In response, Henry gazed at him, with his eyes teared up and a red face, before snuggling closer to the older man, curling against his chest. Once he did that, Toothless beamed, embracing the little boy with covers and hugging him, comfortably.
"Don't be scared of anything," he whispered into the infant's ear. "I love you, Hiccup, and I'll be always here for you."
Consequently, he stroked his head, in meantime observing how Hiccup's eyes were giving up on staying awake until they closed, exhausted. Witnessing so, Toothless heaved a sigh, relieved by the fact his baby dozed off. Even so, instead of standing up, just to continue his unfinished work, he remained in the spot.
Unable to move, he stared at Hiccup, at his raising body with each inhale, at his fisted hands on his shirt, listening to his breathing, cooing, and heartbeat. No matter how bad it'll be, one thing won't ever change. He will love that little child, always, he rested his head on the pillow that was right over Henry and kissed his head, gently.
He'll be the most precious thing to him, always, Toothless acknowledged, and within that thought, he closed his eyes, falling asleep in instant.