Hiccstrid: An American Love Story

Chapter 26: Valka

I've been in Los Angels 11 days now. It's nothing like I've imagined. I thought I would go on a tourist spree with Fishlegs but instead I got integrated in the city. I met Astrid. And realized love is bittersweet, but I don't care I've had more fun these 11 days than I have in my 24 years of living. I never had a real childhood and as a teenager my life was pretty planned out for me.

I walked past a bunch of dancing bars. One of them in particular caught my eye. It was one of those that doesn't look like much on the outside but you can tell there's life and booze on the inside magical.

My parents met in one of those bars. Surrounded by happy dancing couples and jukebox music. My dad always told me he had never sweated so much. He was so dehydrated that he rushed to the bar and chucked a huge bucket of beer. And that's when he saw her. My mother. With beer in his beard he went over and asked for a dance. She, to his surprise, said yes. Together they choose a song from the jukebox and got up to dance. My father told me that once the song was finished he knew he wanted to dance with this girl for the rest of his life. 

I always wanted the same kind of love. To look in the eyes of a girl and know she's the one. Now. And forever.

I turn away from the bar. People are laughing but I don't want to join in. Because as beautiful and lively the place is. There's always the dark corner no one goes to.

My parents love story ended like is started; very suddenly. My mom was in a car accident and there were no time for goodbyes. We left California shortly after her passing. My father could no longer be in the streets they once enjoyed. But I still remember my mothers sweet voice:

"Hiccup what are you doing!"

"I'm learning to fly so I can fly far away from here" the little 6 year old boys voice was like an angel trying to find it's wings.

"But Hiccup you can't reach the sky until you've tried being grounded" Valka's voice was calm despite her fear for her child falling of the roof.

"But mom the world is not fun, I just want to fly away" his head was turned to the sun and was only a few steps away from the edge.

"But Hiccup if you live in the skies you'll miss your time here on earth" Valka stood down on the ground in front of the house trying to talk her son out of flying away.

"Mommy why can't I be a bird?" His tiny voice almost cracked as he spoke. His arms were spreader out like wings and if it wasn't for gravity he would be long gone.

"Because you have to be older, it's one of those things you won't understand until you're older" the boy waited for a minute before replying.

"Why's that mom?" He looked down to see his mothers beautiful green eyes comforting him as he was standing high above the ground.

"Because you have to see the world before you can decide if you want to leave it" Hiccup looked out towards the horizon. The water was so beautiful reflecting in the sun.

"I too want to fly away sometimes" his mother continued "but then I remind myself of all the wonderful things life has to offer".

Her son felt her love streaming from the ground and up through the roof. It was like the wind carried her embrace telling the boy everything would be okay.

"The birds have their freedom but we have each other, we have all this" the little boy smiled at her and she smiled back.

"So come down from there"

the little boy took some steps back before yelling: "I'm coming mom".

And with those words he jumped off the roof sure he would land safely in her arms. He, without a shadow of a doubt, trusted the fact that she would catch him. He floated trough the air before finally landing. But not in her arms but on the ice cold ground. And with a scream he closed his eyes.

That's also the story of how I broke my leg. For years I had to sit in a chair. I still have a large scar as a trophy for my stupidity. But I remember my mothers sweet voice telling me that everything would be okay. As a kid I was bullied a lot but my mom was always there for me. She was my best friend through the hard times.

I continue to walk towards my cousins apartment building. All this thinking about my mom makes me miss her so much. My dad never stepped foot in Los Angels again after the accident. He thought it would be too hard. Which is weird why of all the places in the world he choose to send me here, Los Angeles, my childhood city.

The doorman greets me kindly "Hello Mr Haddock good walk around town?".

"Yes, nice with a little air" I reply. I give him a smile before disappearing into the elevator. The time felt weightless as the lift started going up. I finally made it to his floor and the elevator opened up to reveal his living room.

"Hey Hiccup, check this out" Snotlout grows a glass in the air and catches it again with his other hand before pouring in some whiskey, he added some more ingredients and put it in a shake. With one shake it was done. He pour it in a glass and pulled out a smoke machine. He filled the glass to the rim and gave it one stir and topped it off with an orange peel .

"Waow that's a very extra way to make an old fashion" I reply and walk over next to him at the bar.

"His new bartender kit came so he's been playing around with it all day" Fishlegs takes a seat beside me and hand me a whiskey on the rock.

"I can make a better drink that that" splurges Snotlout.

"I like it simple" I say and take a sip of my classic whiskey. But it just gave me an idea.

"Hey, but talking about old fashioned" Snotlout looks up at me. You can see he's been spilling a lot while practicing his moves.

"Why not invite Astrid and her friends up here for a drink?" Fishlegs looks up after hearing my proposal.

"Yeah could be fun" he replies and turns to Snotlout. This is his place after all we need to make sure he wants to.

"I am you already know them Snotlout" but even though he knows them he doesn't look too convinced.

"Yeah but I haven't really hung out with them since I dropped out of UCLA and started working for my dad" He looks down at his glass.

"You guys seemed to hit it off at Caña Bailar" I say and lean on his bar.

"Well" he takes a sip while thinking. He puts his glass down with a clink and finally turns to me.

"Sure why not"

That's the backstory of Hiccup and Valka. As much as I wanted to include Valka in my story I think it gives it more charisma with her being the reason they left LA. The beautiful thought of a young Stoick achieving the American dream and meets the love of his life all in the same state, I really liked that. But this couldn't all be puppies and rainbows so I made Valka's death the reason why they left. But it gets better because spoiler alert Hiccup will meet the love of his life in LA. But their ending is still unclear.
Stay tuned!

Spoiler for next chapter:

"I don't know if I should name this drink after you or my sims character"