Warning: Implied non-consensual sex mentioned in this chapter! Don't like skip the second to last conversation!
Chapter Seven:
I slipped into the forge, grabbing my old apron from off of the hook that it was still sitting on despite the years that have passed since the last time I was here. "Can I help out in here Gobber?" I picked up the heavy hammer that I used to work on my inventions, and to make Astrid's original axe.
"Yeah... sure thing Hiccup." Gobber waved me off, before going back to making whatever it was that he was making.
Mr. Hofferson walked up to the forge right then, holding his own axe in his large hands. "Gobber, I need my axe sharpened."
I hurriedly set my hammer down, turning to face my future father-in-law. "I'll do it Mr. Hofferson."
"Ah...Hiccup... I didn't realize that you were here." He shifted nervously, before handing the heavy axe over.
I bit back a grunt, noting that it was probably a good thing that I had superstrength or else I'd be in mega trouble seeing as I am now used to the lighter weight of Gronkle Iron. I placed his axe against the giant stone we used for sharpening weapons, grinding it against it to sharpen the blade... only for my phone to go off once again. Only this time instead of playing a song about letting dogs out, it played a vastly different one. 'Sometimes I get in my own way, I need someone to say, 'Hey what are you thinking?' Your words, they're always right on time...' I hurriedly yanked my phone out, slamming my finger on the answer button, before just as quickly slamming it down on the speaker phone, my hands were a smidgen busy at the moment after all. "Hey babe..."
"Daddy? I can't find Momma." A cute, small voice trembled over the phone, I froze at that, shock briefly slipping in for about half a second.
Shifting just slightly, and ignoring the weird looks everyone was giving me, I picked the phone off of the table, moving it closer to my mouth. "Uh...Hiccstrid sweetie, if you don't know where Momma is, why do you have her phone?"
"I was playing a game on it." Of course, Astrid and I both had a selection of kid friendly apps on our phones for her to play with.
"Okay... do you see anyone that you know around? Like say Auntie Ruff?" I crossed my fingers that the calmer of the two twins was close enough to help Astrid's three-year-old daughter.
"Um... yeah Auntie Ruff is here." Silence fell as she supposedly put Ruffnut on the phone.
Sure enough next thing I knew was that Ruffnut's voice came over the phone. "Um, Hiccup? Why did Hiccstrid just hand me Astrid's phone?"
"Because I need you to help her find Astrid. Can you do that for me? I'm kinda busy sharpening Mr. Hofferson's axe." I mentally crossed my fingers that Ruffnut wouldn't mention something about me being engaged to Astrid over the phone...
"So no one has been able to find you because you've been busy playing nice to your future-father-in-law?" Ruffnut casually announced.
I could feel myself turning bright red, even as I reached over, fumbling with my phone. "Bye Ruff!" I clicked off of the conversation, shoving the phone back into the my pocket. Spinning around, I shoved Mr. Hofferson's newly sharpened axe into his hands. "Here... I'm gonna go die now." Why Ruff Why!? Slipping into the corner of the shop that was my old thinking spot, I burrowed my head into my arms.
I have no idea how long I sat there dying from embarrassment before Gobber came over and poked me in the shoulder. "Ya okay there Hiccup?"
"I'm fine...just fine." I peeked out from under my arms to look up at him. "Any reason why you're bugging me?"
"Trader ship just pulled in. Thought you might wanna see what's on board."
I shrugged at that, quickly hauling myself back onto my feet. I knew that Berk was getting a lot of traders that Mala trusted...and thus I trusted them. Besides that, if memory served correctly Lalou was supposed to be arriving in Berk soon with a new shipment. Moving through the village, I scanned the area, noting that everyone appeared to be heading to the docks. Briar noticed me and pulled away from Valka, running up to me.
"Hiccup!" I quickly scooped her up, placing her on my hip like I've done with Hiccstrid millions of times.
"Hey Briar..." My voice broke off upon noticing that Mr. Hofferson appeared to be talking to Dad and Mr. Thornston. Somehow... I knew that they were discussing the whole Ruffnut announced over the phone my intentions to marry Astrid. Times like this I wondered why I ended up with enhanced hearing.
Dad turned to me, a frown on his face. "Son... if you get someone pregnant outside of marriage you're supposed to marry them before the kid is born."
"I'm not actually the father. I removed him from the equation." I tried my best not to scowl at the mention of... yeah no. I'm not even gonna even think about it. "I've been helping Astrid raise Hiccstrid. Hiccstrid is also positive that I'm her father and Astrid has decided that we will not correct her, ever."
Dad seemed taken aback, though Mr. Hofferson huffed at what I said. "Why did you do that? Why not let the guy marry her? Obviously they liked each oth..."
I cut him off, not letting him finish that thought. "No. Trust me. Astrid and Hiccstrid both are a lot safer with him gone." I didn't bother clarifying that, slipping past them to see if I couldn't spot Lalou.
Apparently there were a couple of different traderships at the docks today, neither of which appeared to be the Roaring Star. Though the one on the left did seem familiar. I'll have to check that one out first. Moving to the ship I wasn't expecting Johan to be there, selling goods to my old tribe. Anger immediately surged through me as I made a fist, moving to stand next to one of the giant boulders that was at the docks. "You!"
A/N: Techrex: Hmm... that could be his own ringtone for his own phone.
Toothless Lover 13: He'll get there eventually. He kinda has a wedding to plan as well as a tribe to watch over.
Also I do not own the song, again. The ringtone this time is... one of the songs from the Disney sitcom Austin and Ally. I forgot which one though. Oops. Disney owns it!