Happily Never After

Part 2

Part 1B: Acceptance

Berk, 1996

"HICCUP!!! CUZ!! Wakey Wakey!" Was shouted as a short muscled man banged on one of the dorms' doors. Several people shot the man looks of irritation but none were paid any mind.

"What?!" Hiccup, looking every bit like the sleep-deprived college student should, wrenched the door open. "Snotlout what the Hell! It's 7:30 AM!"

"And you have an 8 AM design class," Snotlout deadpanned. "You should have already been up. Now let me in, I need to use your computer,"

"I'm seriously thinking of skipping but then I know I'll have the post-skip depression," Hiccup sighed, stepping back to admit his cousin entrance to his dorm before going to rummage in his tiny closet for clothing. "Why do you even need my computer?" Hiccup asked as Snotlout proceeded to sit at Hiccup's desk where a bulky white monitor was hooked up.

"Because your dorm already got Internet cuz! And I'm too lazy to drag myself to the library this early in the morning. It's all the way across campus,"

"Of course you are," Hiccup rolled his eyes as he picked out a black band T-shirt. His roommate was in the other bed under two blankets totally knocked out. Only a hand stuck out that had given a slight twitch upon Snotlout's boisterous entrance. A 27-hour caffeine-high study session would do that to a person.

Both men cringed when the dial-up noise played over the speaker and Snotlout instinctively turned it down before logging into AOL. "Your screen name is CasaNoVahUnk21?" Hiccup asked as he looked over his cousin's shoulder.

"Like you're one to talk DragonSNack44," Snotlout shot back only for Hiccup to slap the back of his head.

"Oye!" Snotlout grumbled but then proceeded to check his mail. "Hey, you want to go to this LAN party that's being hosted this weekend?"

"Snotlout I have three open projects," Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"Oh come on! A bit of Battle isle should loosen you up!" Snotlout insisted.

"I think I'll pass Snot," Hiccup shrugged. "Maybe next time. Now if you're done I have a class to run to,"

"You are such a party pooper!" Snotlout uttered.

-0-

Berk, 1999, New Year's eve

"Wakey wakey Cuz!" Snotlout shouted as he yanked the comfy blankets off of Hiccup. It's New Year's eve. Get up! Let's celebrate!"

"Snotlout how did you get into my apartment?!" Hiccup questioned groggily while sporting disheveled hair.

"Aunt Valka gave me the key, Duh!" Snotlout said as if that was obvious. "Besides, what apartment! You live in a penthouse suite! Cuz you got it made!"

"You're annoying you know," Hiccup rolled his eyes before stretching.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Snotlout uttered before he dramatically opened Hiccup's walk-in closet. "Now let's get you ready to hit the streets! Who knows, maybe you'll meet a nice lady,"

"Oh my Thor not you too!" Hiccup groaned. "Mom sucked you into her matchmaking scheme didn't she?"

"Who? Aunt Valka... nope... no sireee... though you have to stop moping Hiccup," Snotlout responded. "You should meet someone, have a nice time. Who cares if you're Markless,"

"Every person I dated cared Snot," Hiccup just rolled his eyes. "And it's not just dating, even professionally, not having a soulmark, when that news gets out people just.... They look at you completely differently. You wouldn't understand,"