Needs a Title
Author: emocezi
Title: Needs a Title
Wordcount: 3394
Rating: R for naughty language.
Disclaimer: I do not own How to Train Your Dragon nor do I make a profit from this work of fiction.
A/N: Talking with a friend and it spawned this. Enjoy.
Snotlout and tuffnut had been the best of friends ever since Tuff had punched Lout in the face for stealing his crayons in kindergarten. They were practically joined at the hip, and where Snotlout was, Tuffnut wasn't far behind him.
There was only thing about Snotlout that Tuffnut couldn't stand. The perpetual tag-a-long, also known as his baby cousin Hiccup. The boy was only four years their junior, but to a couple of ten year olds, having to drag a six year old around with them was akin to the deepest pit of hell.
They tolerated Hiccup because his father paid them for keeping his boy out of trouble, and because Tuff's twin sister had threatened to pound them into the pavement if they ditched the kid. Ruffnut thought Hiccup was adorable. Scruffy brown hair, a bucked toothed lisp, and big green eyes.
At ten years old there wasn't much Snotlout and Tuffnut could do that Hiccup couldn't, so let's fast forward a few years. Lout and Tuff are both eighteen and in their last year of high school. Hiccup, still a perpetual tag-a-long is fourteen and still in Junior High. Snotlout is Quarterback and dating the head cheerleader, Astrid Hofferson. Tuff was captain of the soccer team and trying to figure himself out.
XxX XxX
Astrid had announced that he parents were going to be out of town for the next week, and that she had an Uncle that had offered to buy her a couple of kegs. That's all it had taken for the word to spread throughout the graduating class. Plans were dropped and a party was designated at Astrid's house on Tuesday.
It was easy enough to pick up Hiccup, drive him to the mall and ditch him there with enough money to see a movie and grab a bite to eat at the food court. He would never tell his father where they were, Lout had threatened him enough times that the skinny brunette knew where his loyalties lay.
XxX XxX
"Tell your dad-"
"And I'll never walk again. Yeah yeah, unlock the door." Hiccup muttered, fifty bucks in his pocket and a sneer on his face. Snotlout popped the locks on the backdoors and Hiccup climbed out, heading for the mall entrance, not bothering to look back and wave goodbye as the car peeled out of the mall parking lot. Sometimes he wondered why he still let his father believe that Snotlout was a good person.
XxX XxX
The movie had let out at nine thirty, add in the ten minute wait for public transit, the half hour bus ride, and Hiccup got off at his stop at quarter past ten. Fifteen minutes before his curfew kicked in.
He walked to the crosswalk, pressed the button, looked both ways and started across the street. Everything happened so fast. The bright flood of headlights, the screech of rubber on cement, pain like nothing he'd ever felt before. Someone was screaming, and then everything faded to black.
XxX XxX
Snotlout was snickering at the drunken idiot he called his best friend. Tuff was trying to balance a half empty beer bottle on his head and it kept tipping, showering him with fermented grain.
His phone was buzzing, and Snotlout wondered how long it had been ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket, wincing as the caller ID read Stoick and gingerly answered the phone.
"Where are you?" Stoick sounded like he'd been crying, which was strange as hell.
"At a movie with Hiccup."
"My boy is in the hospital. Where are you?" Snotlout's fingers went numb, his booze addled brain instantly clearing.
"W-what?"
"Where are you?" Stoick took a breath and Snotlout knew his Uncle was close to breaking down again.
"I-I'll be there in ten minutes." Snotlout snapped his phone closed and stood, terror making his knees weak. If there was one conversation he didn't want to have with his Uncle over the phone while he was surrounded by drunken fools, it was this one. He took a breath and grabbed the bottle of beer from Tuff. The blonde started to protest, but one look at Lout's face and he sobered up.
"Hiccup's in the hospital. I don't know what happened, I don't know how he is, but I need to go."
"Oh fuck. I'll come too." Tuff stood, wavering a bit as his body protested movement.
XxX XxX
"Uncle Stoick?" Snotlout approached the man carefully. Stoick reminded him of a bear at the best of times, huge and grouchy. He often wondered how the man had fathered someone like Hiccup.
Stoick looked up, his eyes bloodshot, tear stains on his cheeks. His lower lip quivered once before he pressed his lips together.
"Where were you?"
"I..just."
"Don't give me excuses boy. My son is in critical condition because of your need to be cool. Now where were you?" Snotlout was saved by a tired-eyed doctor walking into the waiting room.
"Mr. Haddock?"
"Yes." Stoick was on his feet, waiting for the news.
"These next few hours are going to be critical. Your son crashed a couple of times on the table, but he's got a strong will to live. His left leg was crushed below the knee and we had to amputate." The Doctor paused before continuing. "Both his left shoulder and elbow were dislocated. His collarbone was broken in two places and he suffered massive brusing on his left side. No broken ribs but his pelvic was fractured and he has a few fractures on his left femur. He also suffered some slight swelling to his brain and a small fracture to his basal skull. Any lower and he might not have made it."
"But he's alive?"
"We're keeping him under heavy sedation so his body can heal without any added stress. You can see him but he won't be able to hear you." As Stoick followed the doctor, Snotlout sunk into a chair.
"Are you okay?"
"I almost killed him. I did this."
XxX XxX
Three days after the hit and run Hiccup was moved from the ICU to a private room. He was still under heavy sedation but his condition had improved enough to pronounce as stable.
Three weeks after the hit and run and Stoick got a call from the hospital telling him that they were bringing Hiccup out of his induced coma.
XxX XxX
"W-where am I?" Hiccup blinked, the room slowly coming into focus. There was an annoying beeping that sounded far off, like an alarm clock underwater. His father was sitting beside him, crying openly, something Hiccup hadn't seen since his mother had passed away. "Dad?" Why was his voice so rusty?
"Hi there Hiccup. My name is Doctor Fury." The doctor smiled, white teeth gleaming against ebony skin.
"Why am I in the hospital?"
"You were involved in a hit and run three weeks ago. Do you remember anything at all from the accident?" Hiccup shook his head, shock on his features. "You had quite the head injury, so memory loss is par for the course." The Doctor took a breath, setting his clipboard down and sitting on the side of Hiccup's bed and the brunette groped for his father's hand. This couldn't be good. "You had extensive injuries, most of which we were able to repair with little difficulty."
"What-what happened?" Hiccup's mouth was dry from fear, and he realized with sudden clarity that he couldn't feel his left foot. "Oh my god. My leg."
"Yes. Unfortunatly that was the one part of you that was beyond saving. I'm so sorry for what you have to go through because of one idiot. I'm not going to sugar coat this and tell you that it's going to be fine. You have a lot of hard work ahead of you, and you have two choices. You can whine and complain and stay in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. Or you can get fitted for a prosthesis, take physio and learn to walk again." Doctor Fury smiled again and tugged up the leg of his slacks, showing off his own prosthesis. "I bet we can get you on two feet again in less then a year. You've got a lot of heart."
XxX XxX
Snotlout kept pacing just outside the door. He felt like he was going to barf. Two months after the accident and this was the first time he'd been to see his cousin. He hadn't let anyone know he was coming here, not his parents, not Stoick, and not Tuffnut. This was something he had to do on his own.
Hiccup was just inside this door. All he had to do was push it open and go talk to his cousin. But how could he, when this was all his fault. If he hadn't ditched his cousin, if he hadn't gone to that party. If only's ran rampant through his brain until he had to stop and press his head to the wall, near to hyperventilating.
The door suddenly opened and Snotlout looked over to see a dark skinned man in a lab coat watching him.
"You must be Snotlout. I'm your cousin's doctor. He's in physio right now, getting fitted for a prosthetic leg."
"What are you doing in his room if he's not here?"
"Getting his surprise ready." The doctor motioned him inside, and Snotlout followed, partly out of curiosity, and partly because he didn't want to be in that stupid corridor anymore. There was a flat screen set up just beyond the bed, a PS3 and an XBOX360 hooked up, with a veritable mountain of games for each resting on top of the dresser.
"Why are you doing this for him?"
"Because he reminds me of me." The doctor patted his left leg and smiled. "He's gonna be mad for a little while. Mad at himself, mad at you, mad at the driver of that car. Mad at the world and what he perceives God to be. But all that mad will go away one day and he'll realize that there's no one to blame. Just be patient with him." Doctor Fury glanced at Snotlout and rested a hand on his shoulder. "And don't beat yourself up. This sort of thing happens. Wrong place at the wrong time."
"But..."
"But nothing. If he hadn't been hit by that car, you would have kept ditching him at the mall while you went to pick up girls." Snotlout flushed and the Doctor chuckled. "He's talkative once you get him out of his shell."
XxX XxX
Tuffnut had fled to his Uncle's house in France for the summer, and there were times Snotlout almost wished he had taken his friends offer to stay in Europe. Hiccup hated his face, threw things every time he came to visit. Refused to talk to him, and Snotlout was getting sick of all the little tantrums his cousin would throw.
He kept talking to Doctor Fury, and he figured out pretty quickly why Hiccup was acting the way he was. It had nothing to do with having a short temper, or being mad at his situation. Hiccup pushed himself to his limits every physiotherapy session, and he took his helplessness out on his cousin.
Once Snotlout understood where the aggression and anger was coming from, it became easier to deal with. Though there were definitely days when he felt like yelling and throwing things back at his younger cousin.
XxX XxX
To: tuffluv@hotmail.com
From: thelout@hotmail.com
Subject Physio and stuff
Hey Tuff,
I haven't talked to you in forever, and it's partly my fault. I need to get another international calling card soon.
Hiccup's doing awesome. He can walk for half an hour before he needs to take off his metal!foot.
Anyway, I hope your doing good. I'll call you next week.
Snotlout.
XxX XxX
Tuff read over the email, pausing before hitting reply. He wasn't quite sure what he wanted to say back to his friend. But he figured Snotlout had a right to know that he had decided to stay in France for a few more years.
XxX XxX
To: thelout@hotmail.com
From: tuffluv@hotmail.com
Subject Cordon Bleu
Sup Lout,
It's good to hear about your cousin. Is he still being a jerk to you?
I was talking to one of my Uncles friends last week, the one I told you about that teaches Cordon Bleu, and he said that if I liked cooking as much as I said I did, I should come check out the school.
I did, and I loved it.
Uncle said that if it's what I want to do, then he'll pay for my tuition and give me a place to stay as long as I'm still learning. I know it's kind of sudden and all, but I've never felt this right about anything. And stop rolling your eyes at me, I'm not being a girl you fag.
Anyway, I've got some things I need to pick up so I'll talk to you when you call.
XxX XxX
To: tuffluv@hotmail.com
From: thelout@hotmail.com
Subject:Hiccup
HE'S TALKING TO ME AGAIN!!!
Oh, and he's back home finally. He's pretty much fully mobile again and it's only been ten months. He's got a cane that he uses on rainy days, and we all tease him about being an old man.
But he's talking to me again. Actually talking, not throwing stuff or yelling at me. It's nice to have my cousin back.
How's school doing? Are they teaching you how to properly tie your good little housewife apron properly? >D
XxX XxX
To: thelout@hotmail.com
From: tuffluv@hotmail.com
Subject: Stfu
If anyone here would be a good wife, it'd be you.
And I don't wear an apron, I wear a smock.
Also, good to hear about Hiccup. He's a good kid and he didn't deserve two fuckup's like us ruining his life. Tell him I'm sorry for taking so long to say I'm sorry. : )
XxX XxX
To: tuffluv@hotmail.com
From: thelout@hotmail.com
Subject: Oh...my...god.
Dood...
I'm dating Astrid again, and she was over for supper last night. She kept telling Hiccup that she could set him up with one of her friends who had some weird gimp fetish.
Hiccup's gay. He yelled it out in front of the whole room and stomped off. I thought Uncle Stoick was going to have a heart attack. His face went purple.
It's not like I care. Got all my fag practice with you that sounded totally gay didn't it? Fuck it.
XxX XxX
To: thelout@hotmail.com
From: tuffluv@hotmail.com
Subject: Didn't see that one coming
Read subject line.
Swallowed entire bagel from shock.
Must go give self the Heimlich.
XxX XxX
To: tuffluv@hotmail.com
From: thelout@hotmail.com
Subject:
Hey, your sister told me your coming home next month. How come you never told me?
Do you need me to pick you up from the airport or something? I can totally do that for my best bud.
This is awesome, I can't believe your finally coming home after four years. Can you speak French now? Are you all snooty and shit?
XxX XxX
To: thelout@hotmail.com
From: tuffluv@hotmail.com
Subject: Mon Ami
I speak passible French, but I know all the good swears.
If you don't pick me up from the airport, I'll have to listen to Ruff bitch the entire way home about why I never bought her presents from Paris or some shit.
I'll call you with my flight info. Can't wait to come home.
XxX XxX
Tuffnut was nearly limping as he walked out of the gate and into the crowds that made up the main area of the Vancouver International airport. The seats in an airplane were not made for people taller then six feet.
Grey blue eyes scanned the waiting area for Snotlout, but instead landed on a bored looking brunette with a cardboard sign that held his last name. Tuff's eye brows rose and he wondered who this was and how much Snotlout had paid him. He walked forward, stopping just in front of the smaller man and smirking.
"You're my ride?" The brunette looked up at him, half horrified.
"Ew."
"Excuse me?" The brunette sneered up at him and Tuff had a sudden burst of clarity. "Hiccup?"
"Well you seem as slow as ever. Apparently France didn't help with your brain disorder."
"Hiccup?"
"Yes. Hiccup." The smaller man nodded slowly, as if encouraging a small child.
"But your " Tuff held his hand out, indicating that Hiccup was taller then he remembered. He received a bland look for his troubles before the brunette shook his head, rolling his eyes and muttering something about Snotlout owing him.
"Come on moron, let's go get your bags. Lout got stuck at work, guess who won the lottery." Hiccup twirled his finger in the air as he stalked forward, the movement amazingly normal for someone with a prosthesis. Tuff had to admit he was impressed though the tight jeans Hiccup was wearing might have had something to do with it.
XxX XxX
"So you're what...nineteen?"
"I'm twenty."
"Oh. So what are you doing now?"
"I've got a degree in physiotherapy. Figured I should help other people out, let them know I get what they're going through."
"Oh...that's cool."
"Living in Europe for four and a half years and you've still got the vocabulary of a macaw. I'm actually impressed."
"HEY!"
XxX XxX
As it turned out, Snotlout hadn't gotten stuck at work, instead he'd been planning a WELCOME HOME bonfire/barbeque for Tuff's return at the private beach their family owned. Hiccup had been sent to pick up the guest of honor as Snotlout had guessed Tuff would be too flustered to say two words.
Flustered wasn't quite the word to describe it, and when Snotlout turned to find his best friend making cow eyes at his distracted cousin, there was a burst of initial protectiveness.
"No."
"Huh?"
"Off limits Tuff."
"What, no."
"Yes. Off.Limits."
"But..."
"Off limits. Go hit on someone your own age."
"What if he hits on me?"
"He won't." Snotlout's jaw dropped in horror when Tuff marched around the bonfire to where Hiccup was conversing with one of his friends. "THAT WASN'T A DARE!!!"
XxX XxX
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Hiccup glanced upwards, raising an eyebrow at the look on the older man's face. He looked back at Fishlegs who was watching with interest, as if this could possibly be a gay German drama where the main characters have spontaneous sex on any available surface.
Hiccup smirked suddenly, signing something to Fishlegs that had the other boy laughing silently.
"What was that?" Tuff asked as they walked away from the main fire.
"Sign language."
"Thanks, I know that. What did you say to him?"
"Nosy much? It's a private conversation."
"Oh." Tuff pulled on one of his dreads, a nervous habit he'd never gotten rid of. "So, listen." Suddenly Tuff wasn't his cocky, confident self under the sarcastic bland gaze of the little boy who'd grown up very well.
"Oh for fuck's sakes. Seven sharp tomorrow night. You do dinner, I'll do movies."
"What?"
"You were attempting to ask me out? Or did you lead me all the way out here with the intent of playing Who's the better killer?"
"No, I mean yes. To the date, not the killing."
"I'm getting worried about your mental health. You didn't eat any uncooked meat in Europe did you?"
"Shut up you midget."
"You're not doing a very good job of wooing me. I thought the French were supposed to be the most romantic people on the planet."
"I'll give you romance." Hiccup snickered, dodging Tuff and racing down the beach, cackling as the taller man gave chase, tackling him into the surf.
Further up the beach Ruff looked on with Snotlout, watching their respective family play in the water like children.
"Well...at least Tuff's too stupid to break his heart." Ruff said after a few moments. Snotlout was struck speechless with the horror of things you should never see when Tuff finally caught his cousin and kissed him obscenely enough that Snotlout could see tongue from thirty feet away.
"Excuse me, I have to go gouge out my eyes."
"Don't be such a baby. They're totally cute together." Astrid remarked, having found a pair of binoculars from somewhere and was now watching the heated make out session like a hawk.
Title: Needs a Title
Wordcount: 3394
Rating: R for naughty language.
Disclaimer: I do not own How to Train Your Dragon nor do I make a profit from this work of fiction.
A/N: Talking with a friend and it spawned this. Enjoy.
Snotlout and tuffnut had been the best of friends ever since Tuff had punched Lout in the face for stealing his crayons in kindergarten. They were practically joined at the hip, and where Snotlout was, Tuffnut wasn't far behind him.
There was only thing about Snotlout that Tuffnut couldn't stand. The perpetual tag-a-long, also known as his baby cousin Hiccup. The boy was only four years their junior, but to a couple of ten year olds, having to drag a six year old around with them was akin to the deepest pit of hell.
They tolerated Hiccup because his father paid them for keeping his boy out of trouble, and because Tuff's twin sister had threatened to pound them into the pavement if they ditched the kid. Ruffnut thought Hiccup was adorable. Scruffy brown hair, a bucked toothed lisp, and big green eyes.
At ten years old there wasn't much Snotlout and Tuffnut could do that Hiccup couldn't, so let's fast forward a few years. Lout and Tuff are both eighteen and in their last year of high school. Hiccup, still a perpetual tag-a-long is fourteen and still in Junior High. Snotlout is Quarterback and dating the head cheerleader, Astrid Hofferson. Tuff was captain of the soccer team and trying to figure himself out.
XxX XxX
Astrid had announced that he parents were going to be out of town for the next week, and that she had an Uncle that had offered to buy her a couple of kegs. That's all it had taken for the word to spread throughout the graduating class. Plans were dropped and a party was designated at Astrid's house on Tuesday.
It was easy enough to pick up Hiccup, drive him to the mall and ditch him there with enough money to see a movie and grab a bite to eat at the food court. He would never tell his father where they were, Lout had threatened him enough times that the skinny brunette knew where his loyalties lay.
XxX XxX
"Tell your dad-"
"And I'll never walk again. Yeah yeah, unlock the door." Hiccup muttered, fifty bucks in his pocket and a sneer on his face. Snotlout popped the locks on the backdoors and Hiccup climbed out, heading for the mall entrance, not bothering to look back and wave goodbye as the car peeled out of the mall parking lot. Sometimes he wondered why he still let his father believe that Snotlout was a good person.
XxX XxX
The movie had let out at nine thirty, add in the ten minute wait for public transit, the half hour bus ride, and Hiccup got off at his stop at quarter past ten. Fifteen minutes before his curfew kicked in.
He walked to the crosswalk, pressed the button, looked both ways and started across the street. Everything happened so fast. The bright flood of headlights, the screech of rubber on cement, pain like nothing he'd ever felt before. Someone was screaming, and then everything faded to black.
XxX XxX
Snotlout was snickering at the drunken idiot he called his best friend. Tuff was trying to balance a half empty beer bottle on his head and it kept tipping, showering him with fermented grain.
His phone was buzzing, and Snotlout wondered how long it had been ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket, wincing as the caller ID read Stoick and gingerly answered the phone.
"Where are you?" Stoick sounded like he'd been crying, which was strange as hell.
"At a movie with Hiccup."
"My boy is in the hospital. Where are you?" Snotlout's fingers went numb, his booze addled brain instantly clearing.
"W-what?"
"Where are you?" Stoick took a breath and Snotlout knew his Uncle was close to breaking down again.
"I-I'll be there in ten minutes." Snotlout snapped his phone closed and stood, terror making his knees weak. If there was one conversation he didn't want to have with his Uncle over the phone while he was surrounded by drunken fools, it was this one. He took a breath and grabbed the bottle of beer from Tuff. The blonde started to protest, but one look at Lout's face and he sobered up.
"Hiccup's in the hospital. I don't know what happened, I don't know how he is, but I need to go."
"Oh fuck. I'll come too." Tuff stood, wavering a bit as his body protested movement.
XxX XxX
"Uncle Stoick?" Snotlout approached the man carefully. Stoick reminded him of a bear at the best of times, huge and grouchy. He often wondered how the man had fathered someone like Hiccup.
Stoick looked up, his eyes bloodshot, tear stains on his cheeks. His lower lip quivered once before he pressed his lips together.
"Where were you?"
"I..just."
"Don't give me excuses boy. My son is in critical condition because of your need to be cool. Now where were you?" Snotlout was saved by a tired-eyed doctor walking into the waiting room.
"Mr. Haddock?"
"Yes." Stoick was on his feet, waiting for the news.
"These next few hours are going to be critical. Your son crashed a couple of times on the table, but he's got a strong will to live. His left leg was crushed below the knee and we had to amputate." The Doctor paused before continuing. "Both his left shoulder and elbow were dislocated. His collarbone was broken in two places and he suffered massive brusing on his left side. No broken ribs but his pelvic was fractured and he has a few fractures on his left femur. He also suffered some slight swelling to his brain and a small fracture to his basal skull. Any lower and he might not have made it."
"But he's alive?"
"We're keeping him under heavy sedation so his body can heal without any added stress. You can see him but he won't be able to hear you." As Stoick followed the doctor, Snotlout sunk into a chair.
"Are you okay?"
"I almost killed him. I did this."
XxX XxX
Three days after the hit and run Hiccup was moved from the ICU to a private room. He was still under heavy sedation but his condition had improved enough to pronounce as stable.
Three weeks after the hit and run and Stoick got a call from the hospital telling him that they were bringing Hiccup out of his induced coma.
XxX XxX
"W-where am I?" Hiccup blinked, the room slowly coming into focus. There was an annoying beeping that sounded far off, like an alarm clock underwater. His father was sitting beside him, crying openly, something Hiccup hadn't seen since his mother had passed away. "Dad?" Why was his voice so rusty?
"Hi there Hiccup. My name is Doctor Fury." The doctor smiled, white teeth gleaming against ebony skin.
"Why am I in the hospital?"
"You were involved in a hit and run three weeks ago. Do you remember anything at all from the accident?" Hiccup shook his head, shock on his features. "You had quite the head injury, so memory loss is par for the course." The Doctor took a breath, setting his clipboard down and sitting on the side of Hiccup's bed and the brunette groped for his father's hand. This couldn't be good. "You had extensive injuries, most of which we were able to repair with little difficulty."
"What-what happened?" Hiccup's mouth was dry from fear, and he realized with sudden clarity that he couldn't feel his left foot. "Oh my god. My leg."
"Yes. Unfortunatly that was the one part of you that was beyond saving. I'm so sorry for what you have to go through because of one idiot. I'm not going to sugar coat this and tell you that it's going to be fine. You have a lot of hard work ahead of you, and you have two choices. You can whine and complain and stay in a wheelchair for the rest of your life. Or you can get fitted for a prosthesis, take physio and learn to walk again." Doctor Fury smiled again and tugged up the leg of his slacks, showing off his own prosthesis. "I bet we can get you on two feet again in less then a year. You've got a lot of heart."
XxX XxX
Snotlout kept pacing just outside the door. He felt like he was going to barf. Two months after the accident and this was the first time he'd been to see his cousin. He hadn't let anyone know he was coming here, not his parents, not Stoick, and not Tuffnut. This was something he had to do on his own.
Hiccup was just inside this door. All he had to do was push it open and go talk to his cousin. But how could he, when this was all his fault. If he hadn't ditched his cousin, if he hadn't gone to that party. If only's ran rampant through his brain until he had to stop and press his head to the wall, near to hyperventilating.
The door suddenly opened and Snotlout looked over to see a dark skinned man in a lab coat watching him.
"You must be Snotlout. I'm your cousin's doctor. He's in physio right now, getting fitted for a prosthetic leg."
"What are you doing in his room if he's not here?"
"Getting his surprise ready." The doctor motioned him inside, and Snotlout followed, partly out of curiosity, and partly because he didn't want to be in that stupid corridor anymore. There was a flat screen set up just beyond the bed, a PS3 and an XBOX360 hooked up, with a veritable mountain of games for each resting on top of the dresser.
"Why are you doing this for him?"
"Because he reminds me of me." The doctor patted his left leg and smiled. "He's gonna be mad for a little while. Mad at himself, mad at you, mad at the driver of that car. Mad at the world and what he perceives God to be. But all that mad will go away one day and he'll realize that there's no one to blame. Just be patient with him." Doctor Fury glanced at Snotlout and rested a hand on his shoulder. "And don't beat yourself up. This sort of thing happens. Wrong place at the wrong time."
"But..."
"But nothing. If he hadn't been hit by that car, you would have kept ditching him at the mall while you went to pick up girls." Snotlout flushed and the Doctor chuckled. "He's talkative once you get him out of his shell."
XxX XxX
Tuffnut had fled to his Uncle's house in France for the summer, and there were times Snotlout almost wished he had taken his friends offer to stay in Europe. Hiccup hated his face, threw things every time he came to visit. Refused to talk to him, and Snotlout was getting sick of all the little tantrums his cousin would throw.
He kept talking to Doctor Fury, and he figured out pretty quickly why Hiccup was acting the way he was. It had nothing to do with having a short temper, or being mad at his situation. Hiccup pushed himself to his limits every physiotherapy session, and he took his helplessness out on his cousin.
Once Snotlout understood where the aggression and anger was coming from, it became easier to deal with. Though there were definitely days when he felt like yelling and throwing things back at his younger cousin.
XxX XxX
To: tuffluv@hotmail.com
From: thelout@hotmail.com
Subject Physio and stuff
Hey Tuff,
I haven't talked to you in forever, and it's partly my fault. I need to get another international calling card soon.
Hiccup's doing awesome. He can walk for half an hour before he needs to take off his metal!foot.
Anyway, I hope your doing good. I'll call you next week.
Snotlout.
XxX XxX
Tuff read over the email, pausing before hitting reply. He wasn't quite sure what he wanted to say back to his friend. But he figured Snotlout had a right to know that he had decided to stay in France for a few more years.
XxX XxX
To: thelout@hotmail.com
From: tuffluv@hotmail.com
Subject Cordon Bleu
Sup Lout,
It's good to hear about your cousin. Is he still being a jerk to you?
I was talking to one of my Uncles friends last week, the one I told you about that teaches Cordon Bleu, and he said that if I liked cooking as much as I said I did, I should come check out the school.
I did, and I loved it.
Uncle said that if it's what I want to do, then he'll pay for my tuition and give me a place to stay as long as I'm still learning. I know it's kind of sudden and all, but I've never felt this right about anything. And stop rolling your eyes at me, I'm not being a girl you fag.
Anyway, I've got some things I need to pick up so I'll talk to you when you call.
XxX XxX
To: tuffluv@hotmail.com
From: thelout@hotmail.com
Subject:Hiccup
HE'S TALKING TO ME AGAIN!!!
Oh, and he's back home finally. He's pretty much fully mobile again and it's only been ten months. He's got a cane that he uses on rainy days, and we all tease him about being an old man.
But he's talking to me again. Actually talking, not throwing stuff or yelling at me. It's nice to have my cousin back.
How's school doing? Are they teaching you how to properly tie your good little housewife apron properly? >D
XxX XxX
To: thelout@hotmail.com
From: tuffluv@hotmail.com
Subject: Stfu
If anyone here would be a good wife, it'd be you.
And I don't wear an apron, I wear a smock.
Also, good to hear about Hiccup. He's a good kid and he didn't deserve two fuckup's like us ruining his life. Tell him I'm sorry for taking so long to say I'm sorry. : )
XxX XxX
To: tuffluv@hotmail.com
From: thelout@hotmail.com
Subject: Oh...my...god.
Dood...
I'm dating Astrid again, and she was over for supper last night. She kept telling Hiccup that she could set him up with one of her friends who had some weird gimp fetish.
Hiccup's gay. He yelled it out in front of the whole room and stomped off. I thought Uncle Stoick was going to have a heart attack. His face went purple.
It's not like I care. Got all my fag practice with you that sounded totally gay didn't it? Fuck it.
XxX XxX
To: thelout@hotmail.com
From: tuffluv@hotmail.com
Subject: Didn't see that one coming
Read subject line.
Swallowed entire bagel from shock.
Must go give self the Heimlich.
XxX XxX
To: tuffluv@hotmail.com
From: thelout@hotmail.com
Subject:
Hey, your sister told me your coming home next month. How come you never told me?
Do you need me to pick you up from the airport or something? I can totally do that for my best bud.
This is awesome, I can't believe your finally coming home after four years. Can you speak French now? Are you all snooty and shit?
XxX XxX
To: thelout@hotmail.com
From: tuffluv@hotmail.com
Subject: Mon Ami
I speak passible French, but I know all the good swears.
If you don't pick me up from the airport, I'll have to listen to Ruff bitch the entire way home about why I never bought her presents from Paris or some shit.
I'll call you with my flight info. Can't wait to come home.
XxX XxX
Tuffnut was nearly limping as he walked out of the gate and into the crowds that made up the main area of the Vancouver International airport. The seats in an airplane were not made for people taller then six feet.
Grey blue eyes scanned the waiting area for Snotlout, but instead landed on a bored looking brunette with a cardboard sign that held his last name. Tuff's eye brows rose and he wondered who this was and how much Snotlout had paid him. He walked forward, stopping just in front of the smaller man and smirking.
"You're my ride?" The brunette looked up at him, half horrified.
"Ew."
"Excuse me?" The brunette sneered up at him and Tuff had a sudden burst of clarity. "Hiccup?"
"Well you seem as slow as ever. Apparently France didn't help with your brain disorder."
"Hiccup?"
"Yes. Hiccup." The smaller man nodded slowly, as if encouraging a small child.
"But your " Tuff held his hand out, indicating that Hiccup was taller then he remembered. He received a bland look for his troubles before the brunette shook his head, rolling his eyes and muttering something about Snotlout owing him.
"Come on moron, let's go get your bags. Lout got stuck at work, guess who won the lottery." Hiccup twirled his finger in the air as he stalked forward, the movement amazingly normal for someone with a prosthesis. Tuff had to admit he was impressed though the tight jeans Hiccup was wearing might have had something to do with it.
XxX XxX
"So you're what...nineteen?"
"I'm twenty."
"Oh. So what are you doing now?"
"I've got a degree in physiotherapy. Figured I should help other people out, let them know I get what they're going through."
"Oh...that's cool."
"Living in Europe for four and a half years and you've still got the vocabulary of a macaw. I'm actually impressed."
"HEY!"
XxX XxX
As it turned out, Snotlout hadn't gotten stuck at work, instead he'd been planning a WELCOME HOME bonfire/barbeque for Tuff's return at the private beach their family owned. Hiccup had been sent to pick up the guest of honor as Snotlout had guessed Tuff would be too flustered to say two words.
Flustered wasn't quite the word to describe it, and when Snotlout turned to find his best friend making cow eyes at his distracted cousin, there was a burst of initial protectiveness.
"No."
"Huh?"
"Off limits Tuff."
"What, no."
"Yes. Off.Limits."
"But..."
"Off limits. Go hit on someone your own age."
"What if he hits on me?"
"He won't." Snotlout's jaw dropped in horror when Tuff marched around the bonfire to where Hiccup was conversing with one of his friends. "THAT WASN'T A DARE!!!"
XxX XxX
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Hiccup glanced upwards, raising an eyebrow at the look on the older man's face. He looked back at Fishlegs who was watching with interest, as if this could possibly be a gay German drama where the main characters have spontaneous sex on any available surface.
Hiccup smirked suddenly, signing something to Fishlegs that had the other boy laughing silently.
"What was that?" Tuff asked as they walked away from the main fire.
"Sign language."
"Thanks, I know that. What did you say to him?"
"Nosy much? It's a private conversation."
"Oh." Tuff pulled on one of his dreads, a nervous habit he'd never gotten rid of. "So, listen." Suddenly Tuff wasn't his cocky, confident self under the sarcastic bland gaze of the little boy who'd grown up very well.
"Oh for fuck's sakes. Seven sharp tomorrow night. You do dinner, I'll do movies."
"What?"
"You were attempting to ask me out? Or did you lead me all the way out here with the intent of playing Who's the better killer?"
"No, I mean yes. To the date, not the killing."
"I'm getting worried about your mental health. You didn't eat any uncooked meat in Europe did you?"
"Shut up you midget."
"You're not doing a very good job of wooing me. I thought the French were supposed to be the most romantic people on the planet."
"I'll give you romance." Hiccup snickered, dodging Tuff and racing down the beach, cackling as the taller man gave chase, tackling him into the surf.
Further up the beach Ruff looked on with Snotlout, watching their respective family play in the water like children.
"Well...at least Tuff's too stupid to break his heart." Ruff said after a few moments. Snotlout was struck speechless with the horror of things you should never see when Tuff finally caught his cousin and kissed him obscenely enough that Snotlout could see tongue from thirty feet away.
"Excuse me, I have to go gouge out my eyes."
"Don't be such a baby. They're totally cute together." Astrid remarked, having found a pair of binoculars from somewhere and was now watching the heated make out session like a hawk.