The Hero's Return

Chapter 23 - A Beautiful Day

"No-Not co-cool, man." Snoutlout said trembling, as his voice echoed the empty hall. Under him was a bucket of warm water and around him was an even warmer coat just help him combat the almost freezing temperature. "Why did you left me there?"

"You still only don't know?"

"Yes. What do the three of you mean anyway?" Snoutlout asked. "I told you what I think about Ruffnut didn't I? I think her as one of us. Pranking with Tuffnut, stealing Gobber sheep and picking on Fishlegs whenever he said something nerdy."

"Are you saying that you think that Ruffnut is one of the boys?" Tuffnut's voice rung out questioningly. Once, he saw Snoutlout almost timid nod of his head, Tuffnut immediately exclaimed with an expressive tone. "Poor Ruff, I finally understand how she felt."

"You should have seen Astrid this morning, the look she had in her eyes." Hiccup quickly added.

"I know what you meant, Hic, I saw the same look when Heather dropped me off here." Fishlegs also stated emphasized the distraught they felt and only imagine that Ruffnut could have experience. 

"What? What are you talking about?" Snoutlout yelled angrily.

"I can't tell you, stuff like this need their room to grow, I cannot explain to you everything. Otherwise, I would have done my sister a disservice." Tuffnut simply answered as he continued to hold his head high.

"Tuff..."

"Wow..."

"What? When it comes to, you know, it will find away."

"Then can I at least have a hint? or anything at all." Snoutlout almost begged while sitting in the massive bucket of warm water.

"Think Snout, why would Tuffnut bother you time and time again?" Hiccup asked almost hopefully.

"Now that you mentioned it, she did seem to bother me a lot more than she was otherwise, why is that?" Snoutlout asked himself and for the first time, he fell into deep contemplation. 

Seeing it, Tuffnut, Fishlegs and Hiccup almost exclaimed with excitement before exited the massive hall in order to leave Snoutlout alone with his thought. With every minute passed Snoutlout seemed to be enlightened by the possibility. There was just a lonely Snoutlout, screaming at himself wondering what was going on. 

His mind cast him back to the recent reaction between him and Ruffnut, the jokes that were exchanged between the two of them, the laughs that the two of them shared and the times that Ruffnut bothered him and he allowed it. In fact, thinking back, he realized that he and Tuffnut were almost always seen next to each other. "No... NO. NO. NO." Snoutlout screamed as he abandoned the bucket of warm water and the fur coat and chased after the others.

"Stop! Stop!"

"What is it Snoutlout?" Hiccup asked quietly, however, the moment that Hiccup and the other two turned around, the three of them stared on in shocked.

"I know what all of this is about."

"Um... Snout-"

"I know, I finally realized. Ruffnut liked me. She actually like me. And this morning, oh god. This morning, she even put on that flower too... I need to apologize. I need to go over there now." Snoutlout almost monologued to himself before dashing toward Ruffnut at breakneck speed. 

The moment that they saw Snoutlout dashed toward Ruffnut's house like that, Hiccup, Fishlegs and Tuffnut could not felt the happiness that they had hoped for, instead, their face almost drained of colors as they followed him. However, to their astonishment, the love-filled Snoutlout was to fast, he bolted through the snowy pathway faster than anything that Hiccup could have expected.

"Ruffnut, open up. I have something that I need to say."

"What is it?" Ruffnut's voice echoed out, urging Snoutlout to state what he needed to.

"Okay, I wanted to say that I am sorry. I might have gotten used to the face that I had bonded with you so much and I didn't see it sooner. I know that I not be as sensitive as Fishlegs to understand everything that you are feeling or I am as glamorous as Hiccup that showed Astrid and treated her like that, but I know that I care for you." Snoutlout poured his heart out, as he waited for a response.

The moment that the others showed up, they looked on in horror and breathed nervously. They wanted to drag Snoutlout away from the door, however, the moment that they heard Snoutlout heartfelt confession, they were so moved that they could only hope that everything would turn out fine.

"Thank Thor, Snoutlout. I thought that I had to come over to make you understand." Ruffnut said almost tearfully as the door swung opened to reveal an emotional Ruffnut, a smile Astrid and a proud Heather. However, and just like the other feared, they almost screamed instantly showing a fearful look on their face.

"What's wrong?" Snoutlout asked quietly.

"What's wrong? Snoutlout, where are your pants?" Astrid yelled and both her and Heather inverted their gaze. However, Ruffnut did not scream or yell, she just winked at Snoutlout flirtingly causing Snoutlout to blush red.

"Ruffnut! How could you do that in front over everybody like that?" This time, it was Heather that screamed her emotion for everyone to hear. 

"Oh Heather, I thought that you already used to Astrid and Hiccup, plus, you and Fishleg flirted with each other all the time. So, let me have some fun."

At that very moment, the cold of the winter breeze hit Snoutlout as he began to shiver. The cold ate at his skin, causing him to shiver uncontrollably. "Um... I will be back."

"Hurry up." Ruffnut yelled at the running Snoutlout, who was running across the snowy island in nothing but his undergarment. Attracting attention and laughter everywhere he went, yet, he did not care. All that Snoutlout cared was the blissful feeling that had swallowed him whole.