Still not working on this as a WIP yet. But I was debating what to work on this week with no comm-itments. And this chapter was like WRITE ME WRITE ME!

So here we are!

-HTTYD-

Haden blinked a few more times. His brain felt frozen in place.

"Wait. How do you know who this is?"

Astrid... or was it Lillian? He wasn't looking to know... one of the Hofferson twins asked. The doppelganger who knew his name shrugged.

"So your name is Haden?" Haden nodded dumbly "yeah... I realise this sounds like a ridiculous story plot point, but I think you might be my twin brother."

Haden shook his head, and finally managed to shake a few words out.

"Twin brother? I have a brother? A twin?"

The other him nodded.

"Yeah. Guessing our father was not as honest as mom was. They divorced about a month after we were born. Decided to take one each rather than argue custody."

Haden, still dumbstruck, found himself stepping forward. That was apparently unwelcome, as his long-lost sibling took an immediate step back. One of the other twins - Astrid, he guessed - stepped in between them.

"Slow down there biker boy. Hiccup isn't big on physical contact."

"Hiccup?"

Haden asked.

"Well, when we were born it was Henry. Hiccup is a nickname that stuck."

Lillian looked between them, then at Astrid, then back at the other two.

"What are the odds? We, identical twins, accidentally ended up dating identical twins. Who didn't know each other."

"I didn't even know I had a brother! Wait. You... do you know where our mom is?"

Hiccup - wow, that was a hell of a nickname, Haden though to himself - nodded slowly.

"I live with her. I uh... I guess I should call her. Wait. Are you still in touch with Stoick?"

Hiccup even knew about their dad. Haden didn't know anything.

"No. Bailed on him when I turned eighteen. Live with my best friend. Why?"

"I don't trust strange men. I doubt mom would turn down seeing you, but I don't want you going to tell him where we are. Uh. Anywhere I can make a private call?"

Hiccup asked Astrid. Astrid gestured briefly to the staircase, but then changed tack and pointed over to a door on the same level of the house they were on.

"Use the kitchen. If you close the door we can't hear anything. It's a big heavy fireproof thing. Lillian insisted."

That was said with a glare toward her twin, who simply grinned as Hiccup disappeared. Haden stared after him, mind still reeling.

"It's necessary! You are a hazard!"

His mind continued to buzz while they waited. How... if Hiccup and their mother knew about him, why hadn't they come looking? Sure, Stoick had been sparse on the details for Haden to use, but it seemed that Valka had been honest with Hiccup. And still... but then, maybe they only had names. Haden had moved a couple of cities away from Stoick, and maybe Valka hadn't known where Stoick went. Maybe they didn't know where to look? Maybe they..

"Haden?"

He heard his name and snapped back to reality, looking up to see Hiccup standing there with his phone still in his hand.

"Yeah?"

"Mom wants to meet you. Sorry to cut the whole... meeting Lillian thing short, Astrid."

Astrid and Lillian both waved him off.

"Hey, nobody coulda planned for this! Go, let Haden meet your mom. His mom! Wow. Wild. I'll call you tomorrow?"

Hiccup nodded, and leant over to give Astrid a kiss on the cheek. He was strangely angled, like he was trying to keep the rest of his body from touching hers. Well, Astrid had said Hiccup didn't like physical contact much. And Astrid smiled at him doing so.

"I'll be outside."

Hiccup said shortly, then turned and began to head to the door. Haden wondered if he was imagining it, or if Hiccup walked with a limp. He wasn't sure of much there and then. Except that he really wanted to go meet Valka!

Lillian squeezed his leather-clad shoulders, then stretched up and pecked a kiss on his lips.

"Go meet your mom. Let me know how it goes, yeah?"

Haden nodded before following Hiccup outside. Though he was sure they were the same height, and had the same thin, lanky build, Hiccup looked smaller and younger than Haden in his baggy clothes and that strange, guarded posture he had. He pointed to a car, and Haden just about remembered why he was holding a helmet.

"I came on my bike."

"I gathered from your get up. I need to talk to you first."

Despite being the one to ask Haden to get in the car, Hiccup seemed to lean as far away as possible from him when they were both in the front seats. Haden drummed his fingers on his helmet, fighting the urge to twiddle with the dials and switches for something to do with his hands.

"What do you need to talk to me about?"

Hiccup sucked in a deep breath, letting it out in a long sigh.

"Mom... she's been through a lot. Her health isn't awesome. She isn't terminally ill or anything, just needs a lot of support. So you have to be gentle with her. Physically and mentally."

"Okay?"

Haden said slowly, confused what Hiccup meant but figuring he might get some answers. As he watched Hiccup's fist flex and tighten against his leg, he caught sight of a few scars on the back of his hand, and saw his face twitch a few times before he turned back to Haden. It was the first time he'd made direct eye contact since they met.

"I just thought I'd make sure you know. I'm very protective of her. If you hurt her, the fact we're related will not protect you from me. Now get out and get on your bike."

Haden suppressed a shiver. He absolutely believed Hiccup. It was almost enough to make him second-guess going with him. Almost. Sure, if it were anyone else, Haden would probably be taking a bigger gamble. But Hiccup looked exactly like him (under all the ink, steel and leather, anyway), and their parents names were pretty damn unusual. It would have been a hell of a set up to learn everything, find a human who looked just like him, make sure they ended up dating the same set of twins and make the way they met seem totally accidental... just to lure him in.

Plus, Haden wasn't sure he'd pissed anyone off that badly. Maybe Stoick? But they'd been out of contact a few years by then. Any secret murder plots probably would have happened by then.

Hiccup started the car as soon as he saw Haden had saddled up and switched his bike on. Heart pounding harder than it ever had in his whole life, Haden briefly wondered if he should have asked for an address rather than rely on this peculiar man to lead him right...

But if he cared for their mother so, and she wanted Haden to make it there... realising he was in more danger of being left behind if he didn't pay attention, Haden fixed his eyes on Hiccup's car and began to follow. They wound their way out of populated streets into a more empty looking area, houses scattered along a long, otherwise empty road. One of the houses on their street was empty and dilapidated, and aside from a few cars and trees, there was little to be seen other than back garden fences and paved driveways.

Hiccup pulled up to one of them, and Haden eased his bike in alongside. As he took off his helmet and scrubbed a nervous hand through his hair, he took in the front of the building. It was a bungalow, so no upstairs. And there were both steps and a small ramp up to the front door. His mind raced as Hiccup led him to the door, the tension in Hiccup's shoulders visible even through his hoody.

"Take off your boots and wait here."

He said as soon as they were in the door, already removing his own shoes quickly. Haden obeyed silently, placing his boots next to the little row of shoes by the front door. There were strange marks in the carpet, parallel lines worn in over time. He forgot about them completely and his heart hammered when he heard a new voice, soft and lilting. Haden couldn't make out any words until the more familiar voice returned.

"Come through."

Hiccup's voice called out, and he went. It was lucky they had carpet, as he probably would have slipped and fallen over in his socks as he scrambled hastily toward the doorway. Hiccup stood close by, obviously keeping watch as Haden took in the first sight of his mother. He had a photo, sure, but she was in front of him now, real and living and breathing. Her red-brown hair had turned silver and she leant on a walking stick for support, her hunched posture hiding the fact Haden had heard she was a tall woman. And she seemed to share Hiccup's dress sense, her yellow jumper baggy and worn and overly long, scars just visible on the back of her hands where they peeked out from her sleeves.

But he saw his own face in hers, in the freckles and cheekbones and wide green eyes. Valka gazed back at him, obviously just as dumbstruck as him for a minute before she reached out toward him with her free hand, her voice breathless but still full of wonder.

"Haden? Is that really you?"

He nodded, not daring to move closer in case she was against touch too. He didn't want to scare her, though his body ached to go and embrace her, all questions forgotten for the moment as a smile crossed her face.

"Come here."

Haden's eyes flicked to Hiccup. He seemed a little surprised, but inclined his head briefly and Haden hoped that meant 'go ahead'. He was careful, tempering the urge to crush her frail form in his arms. Valka was not so gentle and held him as tight as she could, her cane clattering to the floor so she could use both arms to hold him. Tears stung his eyes as they hugged, and he was glad he hadn't bothered to do his make-up before he headed over to Lillian's earlier, certain he would have wrecked it as he sniffled.

When they finally parted, Hiccup was already there to catch Valka before she staggered. Haden bent down to grab her walking stick and held it out, receiving a warm smile from his mother in return as she took it and used it to help her stay up.

"You want to sit down?"

Hiccup asked. Valka nodded, and Haden watched how the two moved in practiced synchronicity to set Valka in the armchair behind her, her walking aid resting carefully at the side of it.

"Tea?"

Hiccup asked her, and she nodded again. He looked very unsure about leaving Haden there for a minute, but eventually seemed to resign himself to it. Haden did his best not to be offended. His thoughts had kept going in the back of his mind, and he had a sickening feeling about what those round, shiny scars were from, about why Hiccup shied away from touch and felt so strongly protective of Valka.

He didn't ask. But he wondered. Wondered if there was a very different reason the two had never come looking for him and whether there was something sinister behind the way Hiccup had said he didn't trust 'strange men'.

"You want a drink?"

Hiccup asked Haden. He nodded.

"Water would be great. I try to avoid caffeine this late in the day or I won't sleep."

Hiccup gave a short nod, then disappeared through another door. Valka continued to stare at him, and he stared back. With those awful suspicions in his mind, Haden was hyperaware of every small mark on her face behind the freckles. There were a few aged scars there, but Haden knew from piercings he hadn't kept that the face could scar quite easily - there could be innocent explanations for them.

"I see you like piercings."

Haden nodded.

"And tattoos. You want to see?"

Valka nodded eagerly, so Haden unzipped his heavy biker jacket and shrugged it off, spreading his arms out to show her the patterns that weaved their way down both sides. Then he turned and hiked his t-shirt up to expose his biggest single tattoo on his back, turning back just in time to see Hiccup had returned and was staring at him like Haden had grown a second head.

"Sorry. I was showing her my ink. I have some on my legs too, but I've only got boxers on under my leathers."

Hiccup gave a slow nod, placing a mug down for Valka and holding a glass out to Haden.

"Just odd to see... me doing that."

He said. Haden nodded.

"It's weird to see me wearing colour!"

Haden indicated Hiccup's dark green jumper.

"So... you like dragons?"

"Love 'em! Didn't you notice the bike?"

Hiccup shook his head. Always eager to 'show off' his handiwork, Haden gestured to the front of the house. The other two followed him as Haden stepped into his boots and headed outside, indicating the shape of the front of his motorcycle.

"I built this. It's what I do. Custom bike work. And here's the wings" he trailed his fingers along the shape along the side "and this is the tail."

"Huh. Another artist. Different medium, but still."

Hiccup said. Haden cocked his head.

"You guys are artsy too?"

"You have no idea."

Hiccup said, a cryptic note in his voice but he beckoned Haden to follow him back inside. Haden made sure to remove his boots again, then scampered after Valka and Hiccup. They both moved slower than he did anyway.

"This is mostly mom's work."

Hiccup flipped on the bathroom light and showed it to Haden. There were handrails and scuff marks on the floor, and a chair sitting in the shower cubicle. Haden had modified a few bikes for disabled people, and things like the marks on the floors were starting to add up for him. Then he looked properly at the walls, seeing an ocean scene with bright, colourful creatures 'swimming' along the walls, tiny details and vibrant colours...

"Wow. This is gorgeous!"

He spun in place trying to take it all in. They weren't done, and Haden realised when they led him through that he'd been too distracted to notice much of the living room. Everything was spaced wide - wheelchair access, he surmised when spotting two up against one wall - and the walls were covered in yet more art. Some were darker, with sharper edges and smudged charcoal in place of colour. Others had the same bright, colourful note the bathroom did.

"Both of you, huh?"

Haden eventually asked.

"Yeah. I prefer sketching to colouring, mom loves to paint. What about you?"

"I like to... make stuff, I guess. But I sketch and paint for work too, and I designed all my tattoos myself."

Lowered back in to her chair by Hiccup, Valka picked up her mug carefully and took a sip, surveying Haden for a minute.

"Hiccup told me you and Stoick aren't in touch now?"

"Yeah. He wanted me to be more like him. Politics and business and image... I hated all of it. We never got on all that well. And he didn't like to talk about you. I didn't even know I was a twin!"

Valka gave him a sad smile, then turned to Hiccup.

"Could you get me the photos?"

Hiccup nodded, and Haden watched curiously as Hiccup approached a painting on the wall, then moved it aside to reveal a hidden cubby. Weird, but Haden said nothing. He pulled out a small leather book, which turned out to be a tiny little photo album. He handed it to Valka, who beckoned Haden to come see.

"I don't have many as we separated so soon after. This is the two of you on the day you were born. Tiny things, both of you."

"The bigger one is you, I'm informed."

Hiccup said as he pointed out the slightly larger twin. Valka flipped through a couple of pages with photos of the hospital, followed by some images of two swaddled babies sharing a crib.

"What's that on the wall?"

Haden asked, seeing a strange circle with little segments in different colours. They were old photos taken on film, a touch blurry in places but he took in all the details he could hungrily. These were moments of his life he hadn't even realised were missing until then.

"Oh. I think it's a wheel of the year. Stoick was... well, I suppose he still is Pagan."

"Yeah, he still is. Oh, yeah, I do know you had a handfasting rather than a wedding. The only photo I had of you was from that, a relative had one laying around they let me keep."

Haden confirmed, a tightness forming in his chest when he saw a picture of he and Hiccup snuggled up tight together, their little baby hands touching. Sure, he understood the arrangement that had been made back then to some extent, but he was older now and Stoick had never told him. This bond he and Hiccup had shared was robbed from them both, and now his twin looked at him with wary eyes and seemed sort of afraid to even be near him.

"My boys... I can't believe you're both here now. I'm sorry I missed seeing you grow."

Valka said, her voice sad and her eyes damp. Haden ached with sadness himself, but he forced a smile.

"We're identical, you saw Hiccup growing up. Probably didn't look much different."

That won him a watery chuckle from Valka before she wiped a fallen tear from the plastic covering of the photos. There were precious few, but he treasured every little moment that was given back to him by that tiny little picture book anyway.

"So... no other siblings?"

Haden eventually asked. Valka shook her head, and a look Haden could only describe as haunted crossed Hiccup's face before he schooled his expression.

"No. I did remarry... but that's a tale for another time."

Hiccup's rigid posture had returned as he placed the photos away again, hiding them behind the painting on the wall. Haden could only imagine why they felt the need to hide something so special in their own home.

"I uh... I think I need to go home. Process all this. But I really want to see you again, if that's okay?"

Valka turned to Hiccup before she answered. For a heart-stopping second, Haden feared that Hiccup was going to say no. But eventually, he nodded.

"I could do with some time to process this too, to be honest. Leave me your number, I'll be in touch."

Haden scribbled down his mobile number, as well as the number for his shop - if he was busy at work, that phone was much louder and would get his attention easier. Hiccup folded the paper and tucked it into his pocket, then helped Valka up so they could see Haden out.

"You remember the way?"

He asked stiffly. Haden nodded. Even if he got a little lost, there was an app for that on his phone and he'd driven far and wide on his bike, so he was used to meandering along barely-travelled routes and always found his way home.

Valka hugged him goodbye, and Hiccup seemed reluctant to even approach him but eventually stepped up and held his hand out. Haden had some flashbacks to meeting colleagues and associates of Stoick's... but he pushed them back and stripped off his glove to reach out and shake Hiccup's hand. It was bumpy, rough and scarred from gods-only-knew-what. But it was warm, and it was the first time he'd touched his brother in over twenty years.

"See you around."

Something in Hiccup's face made Haden very curious, but it was gone before he could work out what it was.

"Yeah. See you."

-HTTYD-

Haden is having a wild old day... and he doesn't know the half of it when it comes to family secrets!

Had to remind myself this story does not contain Valcup/HadValCup haha. This one is all about the twincest! Or will be.

Anyway. Enjoy the reunion!