HiJack (Corpse Bride Au)

Chapter 1

Hiccup raced down the hallway, trying to fix his green tie on the way. He could hear his father shouting his name to get him to hurry up.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," Hiccup huffed, jumping into the carriage his father waited in.

"You're a mess," his father commented.

"Sorry," Hiccup mumbled, patting down his brown hair that went slightly passed the tips of his ears. "Why do I have to do this anyway?"

"Because it's good for status."

"You know they just want more money," Hiccup sighed.

"They are a high standing family and it will benefit us both," his father said sternly.

"I don't even know the girl, what if I don't like her?"

"I doesn't matter, you two will be married."

Hiccup sighed and stared out the window as the carriage bumped up and down across the cobblestone roads. The old buildings passed by slowly as the horse pulling the carriage moved at a slow trot. Looking at his father Hiccup knew he didn't resemble him much. His father, Stoick, was bigger built and looked very intimidating with his burly beard and mean look. Hiccup knew his father could be gentle, but he rarely was. Being the head of the town meant that he didn't have much time for his son. Hiccup was tiny in comparison. He had thin arms and legs and barely had any muscle surrounding his small frame. He knew people in the town laughed at him from behind closed doors about how he will never live up to his father's legacy.

This marriage was supposed to help Hiccup gain his own status rather than hiding in his father's shadow. After all, Lady and Lord Hofferson were upstanding people and anyone to marry their daughter would definitely be seen just as admirable. The only reason their family was probably agreeing to marry off their daughter to some pathetic looking boy is that they were running out of money and the head of the town would have plenty to spare.

Hiccup sighed once again as the carriage came to an abrupt stop, almost flinging the small boy off of his seat. Hiccup quickly scampered out of the carriage and waited for his father to squeeze his way out of the small door. He followed behind his father to the large doors and knocked loudly.

"Be sure not to embarrass me," Stoick said firmly. "First impressions are everything."

Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck nervously. If things didn't go well, Hiccup was afraid of how his father would react. If a desperate family didn't even want to deal with Hiccup, there wouldn't be much hope after that.

A short butler opened the door and the two of them stepped into the house. It was big, Hiccup noticed, but empty. A few framed portraits of past family members hung along the corridors and a lone piano sat in a corner full of dust.

"Presenting Lord and Lady Hofferson," the butler suddenly announced, echoing through the halls. A sharply dressed man and woman walked down the large flight of steps and came to a stop at the bottom.

"Pleasure to meet you," Stoick said in the nicest tone of voice he could muster.

"And to you," Lord Hofferson said, but Hiccup could see the small look of disapproval as his eyes landed on Hiccup. The Lord sighed heavily and started walking towards a different room. "We have many things to discuss."

Hiccup watched as the adults talked their way into a different room. He didn't want to follow. He didn't want to hear the Hofferson's concern with marrying their daughter away to someone like him. He looked around the empty room and found himself sitting on the piano bench. He stared at the keys. It amazed him when people played the piano so flawlessly. Hiccup found himself to be too clumsy with the notes and it always sounds like he tries too hard. His father told him to stop since he could never play it beautifully.