Secrets Revealed

Chapter 2

Astrid pounded on Fishlegs's door until he opened it. In a matter of minutes standing before her, was an oversized teen wearing nothing. Not a shred of clothing was on Fishlegs.

Astrid recoiled and covered her eyes. "For the love of Odin put of some trousers Fishlegs!"

" Oops, sorry, Astrid, " the Gronkle lover apologized as he scurried off to find some pants.

Astrid made her way in, being careful not to look at Fishlegs until he was covered.

"I was just getting ready to take a bath," Fishlegs explained. "I am not like Snotlout, who struts around naked in his hut."

Astrid gagged at the thought of that and decided not to ask how Fishlegs knew that. Probably bad timing, like now.

Fishlegs put on his trousers and looked over at Astrid. "What can I do for you?"

Astrid looked Fishlegs in the eyes before sitting down at his desk "Hiccup."

"What about him?" Fishlegs wondered.

"You've known him longer than all of us, so I know you know him better than most. Almost better than me," Astrid rambled.

Fishlegs gave her a worried look. "Yeah, I know him pretty well. Before we made peace with the dragons, I was his only friend."

"Then maybe you can explain why he hides his injuries. Or why he has medicine bag in his hut at the ready," Astrid said.

"He's had the medicine bag since he lost his leg. Gothi and Stoick insisted that he keep one. Most amputees deal with phantom pains. As for hiding injuries, he tries to, but is usually caught trying to take care of them himself, Snotlout, the twins and I have caught him more than once," Fishlegs explained. "I take it he was injured in that horrible island?"

Astrid nodded. "His ankle was swollen and bruised. He had bruises running up his arm and side. He had this ointment to numb the pain. He screamed when I put on his ankle."

Fishlegs sighed and pulled up a chair and sat across from Astrid. "Hiccup is trying to be tough. Plain and simple. He thinks if he can move about and act normal, his body will forget the pain and heal whatever is injured. Hiccup once walked around for an entire month with untreated broken ribs. If Gobber hadn't gotten him to Gothi's when he did, we wouldn't be here. Ever since he was maybe seven, Hiccup would hide his injuries. Play them off as nothing major. He made that numbing cream when we're about ten. I helped him. I gather the ingredients and he makes it into a paste that sits out until it is as smooth as a newborn yak."

"How come I've never known this before," Astrid wondered

"He doesn't want anyone to know," Fishlegs answer.

"But you, Snotlout, even the twins know," Astrid pointed out

"Only because after a mission, back when Alvin was still evil, Hiccup was hurt very badly. I'm talking broken ribs, fractured ankle. He had taken a very nasty fall. He was lucky to be alive," Fishlegs stated. "All four of us had decided to check on him since Stoick was holding a council meeting. He played it off like he was hurt, but he was. We took turns caring for him whenever Stoick wasn't around. After he was better, We made a pact to check on him after every mission of we see him tumble even the slightest."

"Where was I during this?" Astrid asked.

"You had been on vacation with your family," Fishlegs remembered. "Snotlout had been heading towards Hiccup's hut when he saw that you were already there. He figured you had everything under control and went to bed."

"Why does he try to hide?" Astrid wondered.

"Pride," Fishlegs said simply. "He has too much of his father's pride in him. Stoick would walk off any injury no problem, claiming pain is only a weakness. Hiccup grew up on that philosophy. Pretty sure if his mother was still around, she would have made sure that didn't happen. Give it some time and Hiccup will eventually get it through his head that asking for help is okay. He'll come to understand that pain can also be a strength."

Astrid sat silently taking all this new information in. Eventually, she got up, thanked Fishlegs for the insight into one Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third and left. She climbed on to Stormfly and flew back over to Hiccup's hut.

Inside Toothless was watching over his rider, with a concerned look on his face. Astrid climbed the stairs to see what was wrong and what she saw shook her to the very core.

Hiccup woke up with his blanket over him. He sat up and scanned the room. Astrid was gone and Toothless was watching him, worriedly.

"I'm fine, bud," Hiccup stated trying to put the Night Fury at ease. He moved to grab his leg, but Toothless was faster.

The black dragon quickly grabbed the prosthetic and tossed it to the bottom of the stairs. He looked back at his rider, feeling pleased with himself.

"Really Toothless?" Hiccup groaned. "What was that fo-..."

Before Hiccup could complete his thought, he doubled over in pain and fell to the floor. His vision tripled. Then it septupled. He turned over on to his back and gripped the fur rug beneath him as his body convulsed.

The last coherent thought to run through Hiccup's mind was. Knule*.

Author's Note: Knulle means fuck in Norwegian or very loose translation of the word. 

Sorry, I took so long to get this up, I haven't been feeling my best these past weeks. I've been to the ER twice for the same problem. I've also been working long hours while feeling like complete utter crap. Hopefully, I'll post the third chapter in a few days

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