Behind the mask

Misjudged

Astrid's hangover lasted until the afternoon, long after her friends had left her to sleep it off. Ingrid had been sympathetic because talking to her friends had confirmed that Astrid had been an innocent party in the whole affair...while Hiccup had ended up as her knight in shining armour. When he had limped downstairs, still supporting his painful ribs, both Astrid's parents had thanked him warmly and made sure he had a good breakfast and some decent painkillers to help him after his ordeals.

Blushing, he had mumbled that it had been nothing and had swiftly gone out to see Toothless, who had been overjoyed to see his friend. The skinny black dog had bounced and raced around and Stormfly had been almost as bad...so the boy had taken them both out for a walk, wrapped up warm and gritting his teeth as they pulled on the leads. He was very bruised and sore but both needed a good walk and Astrid was out of the picture. So he walked them carefully to the park, wincing as Stormfly pulled and jerked on his broken ribs before they got to the park. There, he let them off the leash and allowed them to race and play for a while as he watched them and caught his breath.

In a way, he was relieved because at least Astrid's friends knew and she wouldn't feel so bad about bitching about him at school. He hated it-but it was making Astrid uncomfortable and he hoped that would stop. He sighed and scuffed his boot in the snow: he wasn't naive enough to imagine they would give him the time of day any more than they had on Friday. And then he glanced up and saw Savage and Dagur walking towards the playground. He ducked down...and then his head snapped round as he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"What are you doing down there?" Fishlegs asked. Hiccup overbalanced and ended sitting in the snow, staring up at the husky boy. He sighed and his shoulders sagged.

"Avoiding Dagur and Savage," he admitted. Fishlegs frowned.

"Why?"

"They don't like me," Hiccup admitted. "And after last night, not really up to dealing with them..."

"Well, they're heading this way now..." the bigger boy told him and Hiccup groaned.

"Thank you, Thor," he sighed. "Like my life wasn't complicated enough..."

"Fish-man...what are you..." Savage called and then he paused, his mean eyes narrowing as he saw the sprawled shape. "Ah-hah! You've found us a little fun..." Hiccup scrambled to his feet, backing away.

"C'mon, guys!" he protested. "I'm just sitting here in the public park...I have every right to be here..."

"Not if we say you don't!" Dagur threatened him. "Now where's your damned dog?" Hiccup blinked.

"Dog? Dog? I don't have a..." he began as barks grew closer and Toothless and Stormfly raced up and began bouncing around him. "Okay, I may have a dog I'm walking...or two..." he rambled. "Not that it is actually any business of yours..." Dagur immediately lurched forward...but both dogs growled, teeth bared and backs arched in protection of the battered auburn-haired boy. Savage backed up a couple of steps.

"Er...Dagur...this isn't the best idea..." he suggested as the other boy scowled.

"Call them off!" he protested as the dogs advanced. Hiccup shrugged.

"Maybe you should I don't know... GO AWAY..." he said firmly. Toothless growled louder and advanced. "Now?" Hiccup said and they backed away, then turned and ran. Toothless barked but didn't leave his master's side. Hiccup grabbed his collar and scratched his head affectionately as Stormfly zoomed around...then returned to him.

"They're both yours?" Fishlegs asked curiously. Hiccup gave a wry smile.

"Um...no..." he murmured. "Toothless is mine..." He gestured to the elegant Berkhound. "Stormfly is Astrid's dog..."