To The End - A Tuffnut Love Story (HTTYD)

14. Breaking the News

"I didn't do anything to him," Iris yelled back, "what are you talking about?"

"Yes you did!" Ruff sighed and began to explain in irritation, "he came home last night like a dragon who had way too much dragon nip, and all he would say was your name. The thing is, he's still out of it today."

Iris felt her cheeks redden as she asked defensively, "well, what do you want me to do about it?"

Grabbing her by the arm, Ruff dragged Iris over to their home. Sure enough, Tuffnut was standing, staring at a wall with a smile and lidded eyes.

"Wow, uh," Iris began, "what did you try already?"

"Everything," Ruff insisted in annoyance, "no amount of pain is waking him up."

Iris smiled crookedly and questioned, "did you try anything not involving pain?" As she said this, she picked up a bucket of water and spilled the entire thing down his face.

Immediately Tuff shouted, "ah! Wet! Why am I wet?" He then noticed Ruff staring at him and smiled wide. He collapsed onto her, hugging her arms against her body. "Sister! You won't believe what happened to me last night, it was like a dream," he stopped again, upon noticing Iris.

"Iris!" He shouted and stood back up. He then hugged them both into him, "my two favorite people in the whole archipelago."

Ruffnut pushed his forehead vilolently, "get off of me, would you?"

"Oh, sorry sis," Tuff let them both go and continued to speak with enthusiasm, "I'm just, feeling so many feelings. I must do something big and..feelingy, about it."

"Tuffnut, please," Iris called for his attention, "calm down."

At these words, the twin finally got a hold of himself. He took a deep breath and sat down. Ruff looked from her brother to Iris in disbelief. A wide grin spread across her face when she asked, "are you a nut whisperer?"

Iris laughed loudly and shook her head. Since Tuffnut was done with his moment, the three decided it was time to go to breakfast; they were all starving.

***

"Haha, Snotlout!" Snotlout shouted as he finished the training excercise with Hookfang a few days later. He turned to Iris with lidded eyes, "what do you think? Impressive? Hah, I know it was."

Iris raised her eyebrows and responded sarcastically, "yeah, impressive; you managed to miss every target but one."

The other riders laughed at this, but Snotlout only smiled, "but that one was amazing."

Hiccup rolled his eyes, "aright, Snotlout, you need to work on your aim," he paused and mumbled under his breath, "as usual."

"Hey, I heard that," Snotlout was infuriated.

However, before things got ugly, Iris stepped in front of the heated viking with hands on her hips and an irritated face, "don't."

Snotlout immediately backed down, "of course, anything for you."

Ruff and Tuff walked over to the two. The sister leaned in towards Iris and whispered with a half grin, "hey, thanks for getting him off my tail."

Tuffnut, however, gave Snotlout an angry glare. Snotlout smiled devilishly, "come on, Tuff, don't take it so hard. I'm just a more obvious choice." He then took Iris's hand in his.

"Hey, hands off!" Tuffnut punched Snotlout in the jaw and laughed as he went down.

When Snotlout sat up, dizzy from the impact, Iris smirked, "sheep will grow wings and breath fire before you're my 'obvious choice'." She turned to Tuff and latched onto his arm, smiling up at him.

Snotlout looked from Tuff to Iris and spoke, his swollen jaw altering with his voice, "woah, what?"

Ruff looked equally shocked as she asked as well, "what?!"

Astrid gave Iris a look of pure surprise as she walked over to them, "when did this happen? And, why?" She thought for a minute and quickly added, "actually, I don't want to know."

Then Fishlegs' voice came within earshot, "awe, how sweet!"

Iris laughed a bit and Tuff's face turned red. Astrid shook her head and smiled, "well, as long as you're happy."

And they were. Iris let go of Tuff and punched him in the chest with a playful look on her face. He flew backwards, but sat up with an even bigger grin than before, "she totally gets me."

Hiccup gave the fallen twin a look and announced, "well on that note, training's over for the day."

Iris looked to Ruffnut with a pitiful smile and teased, "I guess Snotlout's all yours again." She then raced over to Tuff and helped him up. "How was that?" She asked him.

"Great," he told her with an excited smiled, "and you're definitely getting stronger." Arrow walked over to them and nudged Iris harshly so that she fell over.

However, Tuff caught her and stood her back up. Iris look at the wraith with annoyance, "what was that for?"

The dragon clicked a few times and Iris rolled her eyes, "no, that's not something dragons do; other wise we'd all be dead."

Tuff raised an eyebrows, "uh, what'd she say?"

"It seems like she's picking up on the whole 'loving violence' concept," Iris explained. Arrow gurgled as if to laugh. Iris sighed and scratched the dragon's head, "you're lucky you're my sister."