(HTTYD) To Protect Its Own

Between Father and Son

Stoick POV

I heard loud thumps coming from the roof, dust trailing down to the ground. I forcefully opened my eyes, yawning loudly and stretching my arms. I scratched the side of my face as I wait for my vision to clear out. Where are the loud sounds coming from? I stood up, stretching my back, feeling the muscles contracting and loosening. I'm not as young as I used to be. Tiredly, I went out of my room, my eyes popping out when I saw Hiccup over the cauldron, seemingly cooking something. He didn't turn to look at me, tasting his dish with the ladle before nodding appreciatively.

"Good morning, dad." He finally looked at me with a smile before filling up bowls with the soup and placing it on the table. I waved awkwardly as he motioned for me to come over to the table. The fish stew was delicious and I complimented him for the meal. He said thanks in return and placed bread in the middle of the table. Then, he sat down across from me and we both ate in silence. Nothing can be heard except the clinking of spoons and silent slurps.

I was the first to break the silence. "When did you wake up?"

"A while ago." He said in a curt voice, quickly finishing the stew. He set his bowl on the table, turning back to the cauldron. He held a ladle in his hand and gestured to me. "Seconds?"

I shook my head. Hiccup responded with a shrug of his shoulders and hanged the ladle back. Again, thumps were heard on the roof, quickly followed by a stomach growling. I looked up to the roof in confusion, but then Hiccup quickly stated, "Thanks for the message from Trader Johann."

"No problem, son." Hiccup smiled in appreciation before picking up the cauldron of stew and placing it on the wooden floor. He whistled a unique tune and I wondered what he was doing. "Hiccup what are y-"

"BREAKFAST TIME, BUD!" Hiccup opened the door and as if rehearsed, the dragon bound inside, perched like a cat and stopping before Hiccup. The dragon was grumbling and drooling a large amount before the smell.  "Oi, stop drooling, would you?"

The black dragon stopped drooling, but it looked at Hiccup with the biggest, pleading eyes a Viking could dare put his eyes on. I never knew a dragon's eyes could be like that. Hiccup rolled its eyes before gesturing to the cauldron. I stifled a laugh as the dragon face-splat into the stew and minutes later, licked the cauldron clean. The dragon lay on its back before it let out a large burp, making me grimace. I wasn't the only one who was disgusted as Hiccup gagged.

"Gosh, bud! Warn your pal, won't ya?" The dragon just grumbled in laughter, giving a smug smirk. Hiccup shook his head in exasperation. The black beast nudged Hiccup with a playful growl, before resting on the floor beside him. Hiccup looked at me, then to his dragon, Toothless and opened his mouth. "So dad, I realized you haven't been formally introduced. Toothless. Dad. Dad. Toothless."

I looked at Toothless and he looked at me with the most indifferent glare, which made me irritated. Why is this black beast so bitter when he looks at me? Hiccup saw the exchange and laughed before playing punching Toothless. "Toothless, you shouldn't glare at people like that." The dragon humphed and looked away from me. Hiccup looked at me with an apologetic expression and shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry, he is very distrustful, especially Vikings."

I said nothing. It was still unreal to see my boy interacting with the dragons so carefully, but yet so easily. It was an awe-inspiring sight when I saw Hiccup, my son, tame that Nadder before my very own eyes. He was a strong man as well as he endured the pain well as the Nadder slammed into the wall, his stubbornness clearly showing through. It seems that was the most prominent trait he inherited from me. I studied Hiccup's features: his long hair in a braid, the scar on his brow, and his eyes, strong and experienced. He has grown strong and where was I?

"Hiccup, so how did you meet your dragon, Toothless?" Hiccup showed a reminiscing smile before looking at me.

"I'm sure I told you, dad." My eyes furrowed at when Hiccup said that. Hiccup probed more as he waved his around to emphasize his next statement. "He was the dragon I caught with the bola, remember?"

My eyes widened as I recalled the memory. It was blurry, but I did remember that was the day when he also burned a house down as well. I should've listened, but I didn't and I can recall the heart-broken expression my son gave me when I refused. I can hear the slight clash of metal to wood and I glanced at his prosthetic foot. I had been curious about his leg the minute I noticed and I worried of what could've happened that he had to lose it.

"Hiccup, what happened to your leg?" Hiccup raised his leg and pointed at it in question.

"Oh, this?" He stood up straight, his hands reaching up to his chin in thought.  "I lost it to a dragon called the Red Death." He bumped his fist against his other hand, seemingly reaching to a conclusion and looked at me.  "She was controlling the nest you were trying to find, I think?"

"YOU'VE been to the nest?!", I shouted while standing up from my seat. Hiccup recoiled in surprise and nodded quickly. I sat back down, contemplating his words for a moment and then came to a realization. "Is that why there haven't been raids for these past years?"

Hiccup was silent, his expression solemn, and nodded. "But I have to admit. I really didn't do it for Vikings." His eyes didn't waver from mine when he said that, so I knew he wasn't lying. He looked at Toothless, whose eyes were closed and seemingly sleeping. Hiccup laid his hands on the dragon's head, causing its eyes to open slightly. Hiccup smiled for a mere moment before looking back at me with a conflicted expression. "I did it for them." I didn't take me longer than a minute to know he was referring to the dragons.

"It wasn't their fault." He looked out to the village from the open window, his eyes reminiscent. "The Red Queen was a cruel leader. The dragons did what it need to survive. Even if it meant stealing." He stopped for a moment before adding one last phrase. "Or killing."

I clenched my fists on the table and contemplated on his words. Reaching to a resolve, I awkwardly stood up and coughed into my hand. "I feel like I owe you an apology, son."

Hiccup's eyes widened, violently shaking his head back and forth. "No, it's ok-"

I interrupted, silently cringing toward my awkwardness and patted Hiccup on the shoulder in silent approval. "Let me finish. I haven't been there for you like how a father should. And that's my fault."

"If I just listened to you, then you may not have to run away all those years." Hiccup gave me the first genuine smile aimed at me and I smiled softly as well. 

"Thanks, it means alot to me." He pulled in for a hug, in which I returned. After all, my son has come home to us finally.

"Anytime, son."

Note: This chapter is DONE!!! So, for the next update, I won't be able to do that by the end of this week unfortunately. The new update will be there by the following next week due to the fact that I have AP's (RIP MY SOUL). I hope you understand and I promise to give you the next update. Again, thanks for the readers who's still reading my book and I hope to still have you by the end of this book. Please vote and comment (I love the feedback you give me) and if you ever see a mistake, please tell, so I can quickly fix it. Thank you and I hope you like this update! >.<