Ze Great Camicazi

Sword Fighting Practice at Sinister Roman Fort Sinister Part II

Camicazi and Hiccup stumbled up on the beach. They had been shot at by Romans during their getaway, nearly capsized by huge waves, and had been attacked by a flock of Terrible Terrors. They were sore and weary, but victorious. Camicazi started hopping around, dancing a victory jig. "Okay, Hiccup, now you HAVE to admit that girls are WAY WAY better than boys and always have been! My idea was BRILLIANT!"

Hiccup snorted. He was pulling the Hopeful Puffin up onto the sands. "Dream on, Sunshine!" Camicazi drew her sword. "Who are you callin' Sunshine?!"
"You!"
"I am not!"
"Are too!"
"Not!"
"Are too!"
"NOT!"

"Not what?" Both kids slowly turned around. There, with their arms crossed, glaring at the children, were Bertha and Stoick. "And what are you doing with that boat?"

Hiccup shrank back a bit, knowing he was in trouble. However, Camicazi didn't know the famous temper of Stoick the Vast. "Oh, we just burgled a bunch of gold from the Romans and escaped with our lives!" Stoick's face was slowly and steadily turning red. He remained silent, attempting to control his anger. "Daddy, we did do it! See, I've got-" Hiccup was about to pull out the laurel wreath, but Stoick grabbed Hiccup's arm. "It's not like the last few times Daddy! I really-"

"STOP! Just... just stop. Every time I let you out of my sight you go and do... this!"

"But Dad, I-"

"Hiccup, just go home. I'm disappointed in you."

Hiccup flinched as if he had been struck. "Yes, Daddy." That was the last time Stoick heard his son call him "daddy." Hiccup turned around and stumbled away. He would not cry. He would not cry. He wasn't that pathetic yet. "A chief feels no pain... A chief feels no pain..." The mantra his father had drilled into his head didn't help. He still felt the sting of rejection. (Ooh, Stoick! You're totally in for it now! bwahahaha!)

---

Stoick turned back to see Bertha and Camicazi gaping at him. "What?" Bertha sighed. "Stoick, you were too hard on him. He just wants to make you proud. Besides, having an overactive imagination isn't a crime. He is only six, after all. How is anyone supposed to respect him if all you do is tear him down?" Stoick was surprised. He had never thought about it like that.

Camicazi couldn't stand it any more. "But he wasn't lying! LOOK!" She drew out a Roman coin with Caesar stamped on the side and held it up to Stoick's nose. Stoick paled as he realized something.

He had been wrong.

And now he had to apologize.

---

A knock sounded on the door. Hiccup ignored it, staying in his position sobbing on the bed. His father didn't LISTEN! To his own son! Hiccup had never lied to his father in his life! Maybe he should just leave. That way, his Dad wouldn't have to put up with a disappointment of a son. No, running away would make his mother sad when she was watching him in Valhalla. Hiccup couldn't disappoint BOTH parents.

The knock came again. "Hiccup? I know you're in there. Can I talk to you?"

"GO AWAY!" Hiccup immediately regretted it. What he really meant was, 'stay with me,' but it came out the other way. More than anything, Hiccup wanted his father to hug him and tell him that he loved Hiccup. Gobber would understand what he meant, but Gobber wasn't here. Besides, if he were here, Gobber would take his father's side and tell Hiccup not to judge Stoick too harshly. Hiccup didn't want to hear that right then.

"Hiccup, you don't mean that." Hiccup was floored. His father... paid attention? "Please let me in." No answer.

"Fine, I'll talk through the door. Hiccup... I was wrong. Camicazi showed me a Roman coin. And... I shouldn't have scolded you like that. I love you, son, and I'm proud of you. Will you... will you let me in?"

The door slowly swung open, revealing Hiccup standing there, eyes red, hugging himself. Stoick scooped him up and hugged him. "I'm so sorry, son. I'm a terrible father. I'll try to listen more often."

Hiccup tearfully looked up at his father. "No, Dad. You won't listen to me. But that's okay. I-I just want you to try."

---

Three months later, Stoick still didn't listen to his son. However, he never told Hiccup that he was disappointed in him again.

A/N: So... how have I been doing? I got zilch feedback. I really, really want to know if I've been doing a horrible job. This is my least liked story so far, with only 1 view and no comments. I would love to know how I'm doing. Could some response be my birthday present? It's my birthday today! YAAAY! I'm fourteen!