SEVENTEEN

"I'm worried about him, Gobber," Stoick said as he poured hot water into his friend's mug. Gobber had come round to watch the game but the sombre mood had permeated the house so that even the sight of Berk Vikings smashing the Meathead Marauders and their vicious Quarterback, Sjur 'the Skullcrusher' Mickelsen being stretchered off with at least two broken limbs hadn't cheered them up. "He seems...broken." Gobber sipped his steaming coffee, adding another four sugars to the pre-existing three and gave a happy sigh.

"Ah-that hits the spot," he murmured. "Mebbe he's just still feeling under the weather..." Stoick sat down heavily, the reinforced chair creaking alarmingly under his considerable weight.

"I don't think so," he murmured. "After the fire, when he lost his leg, I was really worried. It was a terrible blow for a young man with his whole life ahead of him-but he coped with it stoically."

"Aye-to his Dad," Gobber noted sagely. "But to ole' Gobber, he was able to share his hopes and fears, his instability and his phantom pains. And all those questions. Though the ones about sex had me blushing..."

"Gobber!" Stoick said, his face appalled...and then he looked stricken. "He talked to you about those when he just told me he was alright? Why?" Gobber sighed and tapped his prosthetic hand on the table, the weird thud unnerving.

"He's a sensitive lad," he murmured. "And yuir not the most empathetic of fathers, Stoick." The larger man's eyes widened.

"I..." he mumbled and then he sighed. "Val was the one who connected with the boy," he admitted. "She always seemed to know what she was thinking. I-I always put my foot in it."

"Better not say that to the boy-he'll feel worse," Gobber pointed out knowingly. Stoick sat back and groaned.

"See?" he sighed. "I thought he was alright..."

"Stoick, the lad loves ye dearly and ye have been all he's had since his Mom died," Gobber reminded his friend. "But he knows ye wanted a bold, brave son so he wouldn't want tae burden yer with his troubles. So when he lost his leg, he put his best face on and did everything he could to push on as ye would expect."

"Except he was suffering," Stoick sighed.

"Tae be fair, ye were away a lot and I got tae spend a lot of time with the laddie," Gobber explained. "And don't beat yourself up over it because ye had to do what ye did tae earn a living for ye both. Hiccup understood. And he understands-though I suspect he'll be happier now yuir at home more."

"I'm the worst father ever," Stoick sighed. Gobber sipped his coffee and absently added another couple of teaspoons of sugar.

"Except ye noted he was down," he said.

"His friends have visited every day, especially that lass of his-but he seems no happier," Stoick murmured. "And she has spent all her time with him. Yet he remains in his room, he barely eats and he is almost monosyllabic. He only comes out to toilet Toothless and walk the dog in the yard." Gobber sipped his coffee and gagged.

"How many sugars did you put in this?" he asked in an outraged voice. Raising an eyebrow, Stoick inspected his friend.

"Three-just as you made me promise," Stoick sighed. "You know you added seven more after you got the drink?" Gobber scowled and then sipped his coffee again.

"It's na bad," he commented and took another long pull. "Look, ye know that Spitelout burst in and accused Hiccup of deliberately harming his cousin. Ye know how he took that-because the knowledge he had hurt someone badly, even by accident, would really trouble Hiccup." Stoick nodded.

"He was raised to be a good man," he admitted. "But his cousin and uncle are anything but. Do you think they have contacted him?"

"That Spitelout is like a wolf-and he'll go for the kill like one," Gobber condemned, draining his cup. "That was a fine cup, Stoick!" The flame-haired man raised an eyebrow.

"Really? How could taste the coffee amid all that sugar?" he asked dryly. Gobber rested his cup down.

"I'll have ye know my palate is as discerning as any in Berk," he replied proudly.

"Low bar," Stoick murmured. "You think that Hiccup is being threatened by Spitelout?" Gobber looked up, his blue eyes wary.

"It's possible-but only you can find out," he sighed. "The lad will open up to you. I think you're the only one he can trust." Rising, Stoick rested his mug on the table.

"That's another thing," he sighed. "School tomorrow-and the doctors have forbidden him from driving for two weeks. We've taken away his independence and that means he has to rely on you or me to fetch him from school. He can't leave when he wants."

"Which he may want to," Gobber admitted. Stoick smiled.

"I hope he understands that I am proud of him, that I love him," he murmured. "And because I believe in him. I believe in the man he is becoming. The man he is."

"So do we all," Gobber sighed and rose, heading for the kettle. "You go tell him that for a start and see what he says, Stoick. I'll mek ye another one while you talk to the laddie." Nodding, Stoick walked up the stairs to Hiccup's room and gently knocked on the door. There was a pause before Hiccup absently asked him to come in-but the young man was slumped on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his arm flung across his face. But when he saw his father, he sat up, his face alarmed as Stoick gently sat on the edge of the bed and rested a hand on Hiccup's hunched shoulder. Close to, Hiccup still looked very pale, the huge bruise on his forehead obvious. And his emerald eyes were unhappy and wary.

"Hey Dad," he murmured as his father pulled him close.

"Son," he murmured. "It's okay. I am here. And while you have me, nothing will hurt you."

But Hiccup just bowed his head.

"I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I've let you down. I'm not the son you wanted..." Stoick pulled the young man into a warm, powerful embrace, feeling Hiccup relax against him.

"Son, no father could be more proud than I of the man you are," he murmured, feeling Hiccup's arms wind around him. "I know much is upsetting you. And I know your friends have been keeping you company. Please trust me as well and let me protect my son." Closing his eyes, Hiccup allowed himself to feel protected and wrapped in his father's embrace and slowly, his despondency lessened. Stoick sighed. "Tell me what's upsetting my son."

oOo

Arriving at school on Monday was different, because his father dropped him off, as he hadn't since he was a young Freshman. His bruises were evident and as he walked in through the doors, a silence fell over the students. Every eye fell on him and he felt himself almost cringe before forcing himself to walk slowly up the hall, the students parting to let him through, though a breeze of whispers followed him.

"Bastard."

"Liar."

"Murderer."

"Thief."

"Cripple."

"Useless."

"Why don't you leave?"

"Why don't you die?"

"Go kill yourself!"

He put his head down and walked through, being jostled by a few daring students until he reached the back. An elbow jabbed at his side and he stumbled, resting a hand against the wall before made his way up the little flight of four stairs to his locker. And then he wearily opened the door.

"Hey!" The voice was like an angel and he looked up to see Astrid's bright blue eyes, concerned as she saw his drooping shape. He managed to raise a wan smile.

"Milady," he greeted her. "I have never been so glad to see you in my life."

"Bold words, Haddock," she told him with a smile.

"Hey-mine was nice," he pointed out. "Unless you want to be called Hoffy?"

"Okay Babe," she smirked and walked close, pecking a kiss on his cheek. "You looked like you could do with an urgent friend."

"Or even a non-urgent one," he admitted. She rested her hand on his, staring into his eyes.

"You okay?" she murmured.

"I've changed my email address and disabled my Berkbook page,' he murmured. "I'll send you the new email in case you need it." She smiled gently.

"I've got everything I need in front of me," she told him as he felt his heart flutter.

"So cheesy?" he suggested as she smiled.

"You have this effect on me," she admitted. "But I wouldn't have it any other way..."

"Much as I hate to break this up, Mr Haddock has an appointment with Principal Queen," Mr Grimborn said sarcastically, appearing around the corner. Hiccup visibly tensed.

"I-I have, sir?" he managed as Astrid glanced from the teacher to the alarmed Hiccup. Grimborn nodded.

"I regret so," he said. "You know the way." And he turned away as Hiccup lost all his colour.

"Oh Thor," he breathed.

"Babe? Are you feeling okay?" Astrid asked, concerned. He shook his head.

"She's heard," he breathed. "And she's going to suspend or expel me. Snotlout is going to steal my High School Diploma from me and Prom and Graduation and-and everything..." But she took his hands.

"No," she said firmly. "I am coming with you. And I will fight to stop this farce stealing anything more from you!" Taking a small breath, he smiled, feeling the butterflies in his stomach recede a little.

"Then I am in safe hands with Valkyrie Astrid on my side," he sighed as he slammed his locker door closed and headed off with her at his side.

oOo

The students watched them divert off along the passage towards the Principal's Office and immediately, conversations started breaking out. Most of the chat was that Hiccup was going to be suspended or expelled for his 'attack' on Snotlout. Few people even bothered to recall that he had fallen down the stairs, merely repeating the line that Hiccup had been the one making the push on poor innocent Snotlout.

In a knot of Juniors, a skinny awkward raven-haired boy looked up uneasily. Gustav Larson knew that Snotlout wasn't innocent and knew he wasn't blameless either. As a fan of the jock, he had been devastated when the stocky Quarterback had been revealed as a bully, when he had spectacularly shown his true colours on the video. But everyone was acting almost as if that hadn't happened-when the whole thing was filmed-and instead they were all believing Snot and Atali's versions of the fall. Atali and Mindy hadn't been there-and neither were any of the jocks. In fact, Snotlout shouldn't have been there either-a fact which troubled Gustav and apparently, no one else. Why would Snotlout be all the way at the top of the school, the full length of the building from where he was meant to be, just in time to be pushed down the stairs by Hiccup? It didn't make any sense.

"So what do you think will happen to Hiccup?" he asked his friend, Bottfly. The boy was awkward, bug-eyed and rather rotund but he shrugged, inspecting his phone. Another friend, Frode (or Fanghook) Dagonby, looked up.

"He'll probably be suspended," he said. "I heard Snot's Dad put in an official complaint, demanding he was kicked out."

"But that's not fair," Gustav protested. "Snotlout can still Graduate and get a Diploma. Why should Hiccup have to lose his?" The other two looked at him as if he had suggested an inappropriate act with a chicken.

"Are you serious, man?" Fanghook asked him. "He injured Snot and lost him his frickin' career! He took his future away! It's only fair that he has the same done to him."

"Yeah-that's called Justice," Bottfly added superiorly. "I can see why you were looking for tutoring." Gustav nodded unhappily. He had requested Hiccup to tutor him on History, Math and Politics/Modern Government because he knew the auburn-haired Senior was pretty much the smartest person in the school and he had always been very patient whenever any more junior student had informally approached him for help.

Funny, Gustav thought to himself. How no one remembers that but they all jump on the bandwagon for something which isn't true. Which I know isn't true. He heard the bell ring and slammed his locker, then unconsciously patted the phone in his pocket. His friends headed for their first class but he paused. Fanghook looked back.

"You okay?" he asked. "You'll be late!" But Gustav shook his head.

"I got something I have to do first!" he said and dashed off. Bottfly shook his head.

"I swear he gets dopier by the day," he murmured and scampered off to his first lesson.

oOo

Hiccup was bouncing his intact leg out of sheer nervousness as they sat outside the Principal's Office, his mind in turmoil. Every second since he had toppled down the stairs had been a nightmare, his life collapsing and now he feared that he would lose his schooling on top of everything else. And he cursed himself, the Gods, everything that he couldn't recall exactly what had happened so he could clear his name.

Astrid took his hand and slid her fingers between his, the contact reassuring him a fraction. Her presence, her insistence on coming with him had at least made him not feel so alone-but the walk into school had been horrible and he had almost turned round. Except he couldn't because he would have been forced to call his Dad to come back and pick him up-and he couldn't bring himself to heap that humiliation on top of everything else. His Dad would push on through this and he knew in his heart that Stoick would expect him to-even though he had been so kind and reassuring the previous evening. Hiccup hadn't told his father what he was going through-how could he? How could he shame his father by letting him know what people actually thought of his only child? That he was the most despised and hated student in the history of Berk High?

"Hiccup? Would you come in?"

He started, for he had drifted off into a reverie and the tall shape of Principal Queen had appeared at the door, inviting him in. He glanced over to Astrid and seeing the look in his eyes, she had nodded.

"Astrid may come in as well, if she wishes," she conceded.

"I do wish," Astrid had replied firmly and got to her feet, helping Hiccup up. She could feel him trembling through the grip on her hand which had tightened at the appearance of the Principal. And then they walked into the office.

Principal Mala Queen's office was a calm space, the walls a pale blue with certificates displayed on one wall. Her desk was a modern steel and glass design and two comfortable leather chairs were placed opposite, which the two teens anxiously sat in. The woman swept her cool green gaze over the two nervous students, her calm face serious. She was dressed in a black blouse and pencil skirt, always professional and she leaned forward, clasping her hands on the blotter in front of her.

"I have a problem," she said without preamble. "And it relates to the incident last week."

"Um...which one?" Hiccup asked quietly. She blinked, for she had forgotten that there had been an earlier incident. She sighed, mentally reviewing the two incidents. Put together, the picture could look even worse for Hiccup if you believed the Jorgensens.

"Your fall," she explained. The young man gulped.

"I-I really can't recall anything," he explained hastily. "I mean I have tried and tried. I wracked my brain all weekend and it's just...blank..."

"I believe that is not uncommon after a head injury," the Principal assured him calmly.

"I saw everything," Astrid put in as the Principal stared at her. "Please, Principal Queen-whatever Snot is saying is false!"

"He claims he was deliberately pushed down the stairs by Hiccup, leading to a career-ending injury," the Principal told her evenly. "His father is insisting that I expel Hiccup for the 'attack'..."

"That's ridiculous!" Astrid exploded. "There was no attack! Snotlout shoved Hiccup and as he fell, Hiccup grabbed at anything to stop his fall-and as Snotlout was closest, he caught him and they both went down."

"I'm afraid that makes no sense," the Principal commented. "It is no secret that Simon loathed his cousin-the unsavoury video of his assault on Hiccup was proof of that. So why would he be there at all unless he was lured there by Hiccup?"

"He said...I don't need anything off you, Useless-especially not you trying to protect me!" Astrid replied, frowning as she recalled the words. The image had flashed back to her so many times since Hiccup had fallen, seeing it in slow motion, hearing the thud as his head hit the rail and his limp, unconscious body sprawling across the steps.

"And what might Simon mean by that?" the Principal asked.

"The guys were getting a lot of abuse on Berkbook," Hiccup replied tonelessly. "Trolling. Some of the things were hateful. So Fish and I made an appeal for people to treat them fairly and not be so cruel to them." He shrugged. "Yeah, that really worked..."

"And you suspect that your cousin may have been enraged that the person he bullied was still trying to help him?" the Principal asked pointedly as Astrid stared at him. He hadn't shared the revelation with her. He sighed.

"I honestly can't remember," he reminded her. "But ask Fish. The appeal is up there on the website for all to see. It was ten minutes before the start of class..."

"Enough time for Snot to sprint up to Geography to confront Hiccup," Astrid pointed out firmly.

"Principal Queen-is there any video footage from the hall cameras?" Hiccup asked quietly. She nodded and shrugged.

"It isn't especially helpful," she admitted, turning her computer screen round and clicking on a link. It was clear that she had been reviewing it prior to the meeting. The two teens watched as the angle showed the students walking up the stairs, the shape of Snotlout waiting, lurking at the top. Hiccup walked slowly up, the throng of students scurrying round his thoughtful shape. And then, when he got to the top and started to turn to the right, he suddenly fell backwards, arms failing and grabbing Snotlout. The stocky boy flew off his feet as the fall played out, landing on the stunned shape of Hiccup and then bouncing down the stairs and out of view as Hiccup sprawled unconscious.

"Oh," Hiccup said. He didn't know what to think because the whole time was a blank and seeing himself falling was an unreal experience. But he could see the shape of Astrid standing at the top of the stairs with Heather, both looking horrified and then they ran forward as the Principal froze the clip.

"So you can see, the camera angle doesn't demonstrate the contact or resolve the central question," she explained.

"Though it does show that I couldn't have pushed Snotlout," Hiccup pointed out. "I mean, my cousin's story has changed as this has gone on. First I grabbed him out of a malicious, deliberate attempt to injure him. Now I apparently was the one doing the pushing. Next I'll be after him with a machine gun!" He gestured to the screen. "What I can see is that I fell and I was grabbing for anything to stop my fall. Snotlout was closest. Why was he closest? He hates me and certainly wouldn't be waiting there to give me a big hug! Why was he there at all? He doesn't take Geography-especially not AP Geography."

"And why did he fall so easily unless he was unbalanced anyway-such as if he was leaning forward from shoving Hiccup?" Astrid asked. "Snot is a heavy, powerful guy. He should have been able to save himself and Hiccup under normal circumstances."

Nodding slowly, the Principal stared at the two teens facing her. Both had raised good points for which there was no answer.

"His father is still extremely unhappy that his son was injured and has lost his future career and wants the person responsible to pay for this action," she told them.

"When it was clearly an accident that Hiccup grabbed him?" Astrid asked.

Then there was a knock on the door. Sighing, Principal Queen looked up.

"Come in!" she called. There was a pause. "COME IN!" she called more loudly. The door opened and Gustav's scruffy head poked round.

"Can I come in, Miss Queen?" he asked. "I know something."

"I am pleased to hear that, since you have been at this school for almost three years," she deadpanned. Gustav entered obliviously.

"I saw what happened," he said brashly. The Principal stared at him, her eyes widening. Astrid frowned.

"Couldn't you have come forward sooner?" she asked but the younger boy shrugged.

"Hey-I was seeing all the hating Hiccup was getting and Atali and her gang were all very keen to see him destroyed!" he revealed as the Principal frowned and began to make notes on her blotter. "Especially after she posted that video telling everyone to hate and ignore Hiccup and Astrid! I didn't want to go up against everyone in the school. But it's wrong that Hiccup could get kicked out for something he didn't do."

"Wow. Glad to hear that," the auburn-haired teen said dryly. Gustav sighed.

"You were always the kindest to me, even before you became one-legged," Gustav told him. "And you agreed to tutor me. I'm not the smartest and I need to graduate so I can help Mom keep the house. And I always kind of admired you because you carried on even when you lost your leg and remained the same person. It was everyone else that changed. And I never understood why you had to be treated badly just because something bad happened to you."

"Nor do I," Astrid added. Gustav nodded and then fished his phone out of his pocket.

"I was filming for my VA Project on 'Hall Life' when it all happened," he admitted. "I got everything." Then he thumbed the video on and they all stared as they saw Snotlout waiting, staring at his phone and clearly furious. Then he looked down the stairs as Hiccup walked slowly up, clearly distracted. Shoving his phone in his pocket, Snotlout stepped forward, snarling the exact words Astrid had quoted at his unsuspecting cousin. At the same moment, he leaned forward as Hiccup turned towards his class and gave a huge shove. Taken by surprise, the tall teen toppled backwards and his flailing hand snagged Snotlout's arm as the stocky teen tried to pull back, coming off his feet and flying through the air. The fall was displayed in its entirety, along with Astrid's run forward and the subsequent events.

"How did no one cotton to that you were there?" Astrid asked in surprise.

"No one ever notices me," Gustav sighed. "I'm kind of invisible. But when I heard what was going on, I was kind of scared. But not any more because I saw how horrible everyone was to you today. And you didn't deserve it. So I've uploaded it to BerkBook so everyone can see and judge. I think Fishlegs will make sure everyone sees..." The Principal looked at the younger boy and nodded.

"Thank you, Gustav," she said calmly. "You have prevented a real miscarriage of justice from occurring. And you have highlighted a real problem within this school. Some people-Atali, for example-have been stirring up trouble and leading mass bullying against Hiccup for something that was clearly not his fault. It is also clear that Simon lied about the incident in a malicious attempt to harm Hiccup when Simon himself was the one responsible for the accident in which he was hurt. To push another student down the stairs is a reckless and extremely dangerous prank that cannot go unpunished. And those who have sought to take advantage of this and harm others as a result also have to learn a lesson."

Hiccup looked up, his eyes suddenly bright with relief.

"Thank you-for believing in me," he said. Astrid squeezed his hand.

"Never a doubt, Babe," she murmured.

"And thank you, Gustav," Hiccup said gratefully. "I'll tutor you in whatever you need!" The younger boy gave a huge grin.

"Thanks, Hiccup," he said gratefully. "Can I message you?" The older boy nodded as the Principal smiled.

"I will of course need to speak to Mr Jorgensen and explain that his son has been significantly economical with the truth and in fact, the person who should be facing sanction is Simon, not Hiccup," she said. "And Gustav-I will write to your mother and explain that you have done exceptionally well. You have been very brave and honest in coming forward and helping a fellow student. I will also make a note on your record to reflect your good conduct." The boy grinned even more.

"Really?" he asked and then punched the air. "A-Gustav!" And then he realised where he was. "Sorry,' he mumbled.

"And we're done here," the Principal said, fishing out late slips. She signed them and then handed them to all three students. "And if you experience any more grief, Hiccup-I want you to come to me immediately. I will not tolerate this kind of conduct in my school. It's clear some people have been behaving extremely badly and that is about to change." She leaned forward and pressed the button of the intercom. "Phlegma-can you send for Atali Winger and Mindy Mayder? I need to speak to them urgently."

As they walked out, Hiccup caught Astrid's hand. Gustav glanced over, gave a thumbs-up and ran off the class, leaving the two seniors to have a moment together as Hiccup turned to stare into Astrid's eyes.

"Thank you," he murmured. "For believing in me and never giving up. I know I can deal with anything if I have you." She grinned.

"And bad news for Atali," she said with a certain hint of satisfaction. He grinned.

"When Queen Bees fight, it's to the death," he murmured. "But Atali may just have committed suicide." She stretched up and kissed him.

"She took on the wrong girl," she murmured. "Now maybe, things can get back to normal."