Eight: Reversal

His eyelids fluttered and wearily cracked open in response the the insistent shaking.

"Wake up, Hiccup! You need to wake up now..."

His brow furrowed and as consciousness began to properly kick in, so did the pain: his head was still pounding, his face was stiff and sore, his body hurt, his ribs jagged pain every time he took a breath. Unthinkingly, he whined in pain, curling up and resting his hands hard against his battered body.

"Wake up, Hiccup," Astrid insisted and her hand gently rested against his head. He painfully forced his eyes open again, gritting his teeth and looking up into her concerned face.

"Astrid...?" he gasped and she gently stroked his face.

"Who else?" she smiled. "Are you okay?" He tried to move but everything was hurting and the bits that weren't, were aching.

"Never better..." he lied. She read his discomfort and sighed.

"Liar," she murmured gently, seeing him cringe as he slowly levered himself upright. "The Chief wants you. The Meatheads are leaving..." Hiccup grimaced and slowly got up, legs unsteady and he sighed, then realised he was still in the leather vest Gobber had made him.

"Astrid-what happened?" he murmured.

"You won," she reminded him, a hint of pride in her voice. "You defeated Thuggory and defended Berk's honour." He blinked and a frown furrowed his brow.

"Which is why I feel that a dozen Vikings have trampled on me?" he checked. She nodded.

"You were amazing," she reminded him cheerfully. "Now let's head down for the harbour and see them safely off the island." He nodded and staggered. Instantly, she was at his side, steadying him and helping him down the village, through the Plaza and down the ramps to the docks. The Meathead ship was preparing to set sail and Stoick and the rest of the welcoming party were standing ready to see them off. Hiccup was astonished to see Stoick's face light up as he limped up-and even more as the Chief rested his arm proudly across Hiccup's shoulders.

"Here he is," he boomed. "The Hero of the hour. The Pride of Berk!" Mogadon's expression was sour enough to curdle milk as Hiccup shuffled his feet.

"Um, thanks," he said self-consciously. "I...um...I just did what was needed to protect our own." Stoick stared at him in shock and then grinned.

"There's the rest of the ceremony to complete," Mogadon growled bad-temperedly and his son walked up, his chin black and swollen from the punch. Hiccup guessed he still looked worse, even though he was the winner of the fight. Thuggory was in his black leather armour, a black bearskin cloak falling from his shoulders as he faced his conquerer. But his eyes flicked to the blonde standing by Hiccup and bowed.

"I acknowledge my defeat and the courage and skill of Berk's Heir, Hiccup Haddock, and his prior claim to the hand of the Shield Maiden, Astrid Hofferson," he announced. "The better man won." He bowed and backed away as Hiccup took a shuddering breath and looked embarrassed. Stoick looked at the young woman and Astrid lifted her chin.

"I acknowledge the results of the disagreement and accept the verdict," she announced clearly. "And I choose Hiccup. He is my only choice." He blushed and dipped his head. The Chief felt a small tug of amusement at the embarrassed response but noted Snotlout's eyes narrow in obvious jealousy. No matter how well Hiccup had behaved and conducted himself as Heir, Snotlout would be determined to make his life miserable once things reverted to normal. And while his choices had limited what he could now do for the young man, the least he could do was prevent the backlash harming Astrid...or trapping her in any sort of unwanted arrangement. Hiccup had risked his life to protect her from Thuggory: Stoick would protect her from Snotlout as well.

"Then depart as allies, Mogadon, Thuggory," Stoick announced, the edge to his tone adding I know what you were planning. The Meatheads filed onto their longship and waved and then they pushed off from the dock, furled their sails and pulled away as the wind took them home. Stoick snorted and turned to Gobber.

"Thank Thor that's done," the blacksmith commented in relief.

"And they are some of our closest allies," Stoick added. He turned to his son. "Well done, Hiccup. Excellent work." The young man smiled thinly but realised that this was effectively his dismissal.

"Always happy to help, Chief," he said, biting his lip against the urge to call the man 'Dad'. For a few brief minutes the previous night, he had felt closer to his father than he had since he was very small...but he could already see Spitelout moving towards the Chief, reminding him that Spitelout's son, not Stoick's was the official Heir-and Hiccup had to go back to being nothing and no one. "I'll go fetch my things from your house." Stoick nodded as Spitelout leaned closer and with a brief look where his emerald eyes betrayed the desperate hope his father would ask him to stay, he turned away.

Snotlout's eyes were already trailing him as he limped up the village, narrowing as they watched the occasional villager greet the auburn-haired young man with a smile or nod.

"Don't get used to it, Useless," he muttered under his breath. "There's only room for one Heir in Berk."

oOo

He remained in the forge for the rest of the day, his things moved back into the workshop. Astrid's trunk and possessions were gone, relocated to her new home, but their absence made the small space look even more desolate. Gobber made him sit and man the hatch while the older man put his energies into hammering away at the heated metal, singing 'I'm a Viking through and through..." really badly. Hiccup managed a smile, even though the singing was dreadful, because for once, Gobber was cheerful, in a good mood and sober.

"Well, I've got my axe and I've got my bludgeon and there's a dozen Outcasts locked in me dungeon, I'm a Viking through and through..." Gobber yodelled and Hiccup winced. "Ah-ye think yer can sing better than old Gobber, laddie?" There was a twinkle in the blue eyes and Hiccup grinned painfully.

"Um, never even though that Gobber-but my head is pounding from where I was trying to wear Thuggery's fists out with my face," he admitted with a shrug.

"Oh, a critic are we?" Gobber teased him. Hiccup grimaced.

"I believe there are dragons howling on neighbouring islands at the singing, Gobber," he replied and the blacksmith sighed, hammering the iron once more. The he paused.

"You know he has to do this, lad," he said more gently and Hiccup glanced up, frowning.

"What?" he asked softly.

"Go back to how things were," Gobber told his apprentice sympathetically. "He can't become the father he should be to you. He can't keep you in his home. He can't call you 'son' or express his pride in how well you acted. The choices he made lost you all of that." Hiccup stared at him.

"But why?" he asked breathlessly.

"Hiccup-you aren't his son-not any more," he said in an embarrassed voice. "He can't throw everything into chaos just because you...."

"Because I wasn't useless," Hiccup said in a dead voice. "So no matter what I do, I can never be forgiven. He's given away everything...and though he acted like my father...the moment they leave, he drops the act and I'm nothing again? Gods, Gobber-even Mildew gets more respect around here than me-and I am his son. No matter what some stupid declaration says, I am his son. I look like my dead mother. I'm a stubborn as he is. I recall all he told me on Chiefing. And he even said he was proud of me." He screwed his eyes closed. "I agreed to help him because it protected all of you...but to go back after being treated like a normal person for a few days is no thanks. In fact, it's...cruel." Gobber turned round and limped over to him, wrapping an arm around the shoulders and squeezing.

"Hiccup-he can't show it-but you did what he and certainly Snotlout couldn't do," he said thoughtfully. "He is proud of you. He just can't show it." Hiccup groaned.

"If just one other person treats me a like a human, it would be better," he murmured. "But Hooligans never think, do they?"

"Not frequently," Gobber admitted. "Come on, lad. Yer need tae eat..." He shrugged then stumbled to his feet.

"Yeah, I could eat," he admitted, feeling hollow in the middle. Gobber clapped him hard on the back and he almost pitched onto his face. "Oww..." he yelped, his ribs badly bruised from the kicks and Gobber gave a sheepish grin as the battered face shot an exasperated look at his mentor.

"Come on, laddie," Gobber encouraged him. "We need tae build yer up..." Hiccup straightened up and limped alongside as they slowly made their way up to the Great Hall. The noise level dropped as they entered and Hiccup instantly felt self-conscious, dipping his head and hunching his shoulders. But with his neater hair cut, new clothes and smart leather vest, Hiccup knew he looked different to the scruffy shape he had been and eyes were on him, not all of them friendly. He quietly walked to the table, serving Gobber and himself generous plates of yak stew and bread and watched as Gobber was beckoned over to sit by the Chief. Hiccup stared after him, seeing a single seat and the hostile glares of the rest of the Council-then turned away, his emerald gaze flicking from table to table before seeing a gap on the table where Astrid and Fishlegs were sitting. Cautiously, he sat down by the husky young man.

"Mind if I...?" he murmured and Astrid grinned, nodding.

"Of course," she said and her eyes flicked over to Fishlegs, asking the question. The husky young man looked up, his round face surprised. He had been friendly with Hiccup a long time ago, when they were young boys but as Hiccup had failed to grow and his innate clumsiness and lack of confidence had isolated him, Fishlegs chose popularity. In with the rest of the kids his age-Snotlout, the twins, Astrid-Fishlegs had dropped Hiccup and largely ignored or teased him ever since.

"Fine with me," the larger boy said, his voice a little nervous. His blue eyes and short blonde hair were pretty typical for a Viking of Berk but he was heavily built with shortish legs, a round face and a generally easygoing personality. Astrid knew he was very bright, with an encyclopaedic knowledge of dragons, but he tended to go along with Snotlout and the twins to avoid becoming a target. But he paused and looked over at the lean, battered shape of the acting-Heir and cleared his throat. "What you did for Astrid was pretty brave-and you fought really well. It was really impressive that you beat him-and I doubt Snot could have done that."

Hiccup chewed his bread and then scrutinised Fishlegs carefully. "Thanks," he managed warily, then turned his emerald gaze back to Astrid. "And thank you," he added. She looked puzzled.

"For what?" she asked. "I mean, I should be thanking you! You got my home rebuilt-when no one would for months-and then you saved me from Thuggory and gave me a choice." She smiled. "I chose you, remember?" He sighed.

"You are your own woman," he said heavily. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to, Astrid. All I want is for you to be happy."

Her spoon dropped with a clatter and stared at her, hearing the faint yearning in his voice-but also defeat. Azure eyes were wide as she stared at him and breathed hard. Was he rejecting her? Did he truly have no interest in her? She blinked. No, his tone and his words indicated he had harboured feelings for her for a long time-feelings which he was certain were unrequited. After all, he was the most despised and ostracised man in the village, the person with the lowest status. She had heard Snotlout joke that some of the yaks had higher status that Hiccup the Useless-and he was probably right, if she was honest. And he had been so pathetically grateful when she had called him a friend... He doesn't want to lose my friendship, she realised.

"Maybe I could be happy promised to you?" she suggested and his eyes jerked up to look at her, wide and shocked. He was already shaking his head.

"Er...Thor, no," he murmured. "You do realise that will give you the status of...probably a thrall? You're a Shield Maiden-or going to be-and I would never ask you to give up on your dreams. You are far better than me, Astrid. I'll do what I have to so you can be safe." She reached over and took his hand, thumb gently stroking the white knuckles.

"Hiccup, let's make a deal, okay?" she said softly. "For the moment, I am promised to you. And if I desire to break that off, then I will ask. But until then, I am your promised. So don't think you can get rid of me that easily..."

"No-other people will do that far more efficiently...and here they come," Hiccup said tightly as footsteps closed.

"What in Thor's name is HE doing here?" Snotlout demanded furiously, seeing the lean shape at 'his' table. "Get back to your place, Useless! No one wants you here!"

"Actually-I did," Astrid said sternly, her hand gently resting on Hiccup's. Snotlout stared at her for a long moment, his jealousy warring with his natural fear of her violent nature: after all, she was a far better warrior than he was. He decided to ignore the transgression.

"Do you think you're suddenly one of the gang, Useless? That pretending to be me makes you have any worth?" Hiccup stiffened.

"I have worth," he said tightly, staring at the table. "I defeated the Meathead Heir in combat. I doubt someone worthless or useless could have done that!"

The twins stared at him in shock: they rarely heard him fight back and now he had, he had made a pretty good point.

"Go tell someone who cares!" Snotlout sneered. "Go back to sleeping Gods know where. Go back to having no family, no name, no friends, no one to care. All you can do is bang metal in the forge, Useless..."

"...and save this island from the treachery of the Meatheads and, of course, the stupidity and incompetence of Snotlout," Hiccup retorted. The black-haired young man stared at him in shock. "You realise that the Chief could never introduce you as his Heir? You are too stupid to know anything or understand the slightest bit about diplomacy, protocol or negotiation. I understand them all-because I was trained all my life. And I'm not as stupid as a rock."

"You think I need all those..." Snotlout sneered and Hiccup stared at him, rising slowly to remind him that the outcast looked down on him.

"You do," Hiccup breathed, "because they were itching to get me out of the way-because they knew when the Chief did die and if you were Heir, Meathead would conquer us in less than an hour." For a moment, Snotlout glared at him, though his face betrayed his uncertainty. Then it closed again.

"Get off my table," he snarled. "Or do I have to throw you off?" Hiccup grabbed his plate.

"No," he replied tautly. "Neighbour's just gone downhill." He nodded to Astrid and Fishlegs and then turned away. Astrid immediately rose but Snotlout grabbed her arm.

"Where do you think you're going?" he demanded and she shook him off, her eyes blazing with rage.

"To sit with Hiccup!" she spat.

"Uh-huh," he told her, shaking his head. "You're sitting with me, Princess, since we're getting married!"

"When Helheim freezes over!" she growled.

"I think you weren't paying attention, sweetcheeks," she taunted her. "When the Meatheads left? You were promised to the Heir?" She glared-and then suddenly gave him a pitying expression.

"Oh no-it's you that weren't paying any attention, Snotface," she taunted him back. "I said I chose Hiccup, not the Heir. So I am promised to Hiccup! And no one else." His face grew puce.

"Then...I'll invoke that Heir Privilege thingy!" he said urgently, his eyes narrowed. They very clearly said: You WILL be mine. But she was adamant.

"Oh no-that has lapsed on Berk-but Hiccup used it against the Outsiders," she told him. "They weren't to know one way or the other. And their only source of information was someone so mutton-headed he didn't even know it was a thing" He glared at her. She smiled smugly. "Anyway-he used it when he was the Heir-and once promised, even the Heir thingy can't undo that!" He gave her a death stare in his rage as she grabbed her plate and cup and stalked to the furthest table where Hiccup was sitting, hunched up. There was a pause and the scrape of a chair-and Fishlegs got up and followed her, not daring to meet the eyes of the other three. Snotlout stared after them, his face beet red and boiling with rage.

"If that's how he wants it? Fine," he said darkly. "I can play dirty as well. I always get what I want!"

oOo

The others had left a while before and Hiccup was still sitting in the Great Hall with Astrid. Fishlegs was boring them both with dragon facts and the pair had shared a couple of glances that had expressed their pain at the choice of subject matter. Then Hiccup finally interrupted the husky blond boy.

"Not that it's not astonishingly fascinating, Fishlegs, but can I ask why you're here?" he asked cautiously. The big guy smiled.

"It's Dinner time," he said happily. Astrid huffed opposite him and Hiccup swallowed carefully.

"I mean here? At this table?" he asked. Fishlegs frowned, his big and open face confused.

"Sitting with you," he said as if it was obvious.

"Again-why?" Hiccup probed gently. "I mean-it was when we were-ten? Eleven? Around then when you basically abandoned me as being small and weak and not worth being friends with." He paused and saw the other guy blush. "You have ignored me for years-apart from the odd insult. So why are you suddenly sitting with us, chatting away like old friends?" Fishlegs paused and his eyes locked on Hiccup.

"Apart from the obvious fact-that we are old friends," he said, his voice offended, "none of the others were at all interested in me or my dragon facts. No one listened to a word I said. All they were interested in was causing trouble, getting whatever they could-often not fairly or legally-and bigging up Snotlout. Oh, and thinking of ways to torture you."

"Thanks." The word was laced with sarcasm.

"You know I only went with them to stop myself being bullied as well?" Fishlegs asked him. Hiccup stared, his expression cynical. "Well, before I grew...but then, you were an outcast and they were just to violent and mean and-and why are you not giving Astrid all this grief?" Hiccup gave a small smile.

"She has been kind to me for some time," he said in a very quiet voice. "About the only person who has treated me like a human for a couple of years." Astrid blushed at the sincerity in his tone and Fishlegs stared at her.

"Really?" he squeaked. "But you're...you're..."

"I'm what?" she snapped.

"Popular. Respected. Well thought-of!" he explained. "And if people knew you were being kind to Hiccup..." The threat was implicit and the auburn-haired boy groaned.

"Everyone would treat you badly as well..." he realised and he covered his face with his hands. "Thor, this isn't going to work, is it?"

"It might," she said firmly. "Because you have shown a lot of people you aren't useless. You beat the Meathead Heir in front of the village, Hiccup. That is pretty cool. And Hooligans sometimes notice acts of courage-which that certainly was. But anyway-I am your friend and I'm not going to blank you."

"Nor me," Fishlegs said and they both stared at him. "What?"

"Are you sure what you're saying?" Astrid checked. "The other three won't be happy..."

"And they won't bother me either," Fishlegs pointed out, gesturing to himself and self-consciously acknowledging his very large size. "They're cruel and mean. You've been nice-I know you weren't that interested in the dragon facts but I am just so fascinated and at least you were kind enough to hear me out, instead of interrupting and making fun of me. And-and I would really rather be your friend than theirs. Even if it means they call me names and look funnily at me." He paused and mumbled: "They do that anyway."

Hiccup looked over at Astrid, his gaze conflicted. He had been very hurt by the way Fishlegs-who had been a good friend when he was much smaller-had just dumped him, leaving him essentially friendless. But that the other young man was arguing to be his friend had an air of unreality that made him feel disorientated. And he wasn't that guy who bore a grudge or was cruel to other people because he knew how vile Snotlout and the twins could be-along with some of the bigger kids they had hung out with. He shuddered: he could understand why the younger Fishlegs wouldn't want to face Dogsbreath, Muttonface or Lars the Stupid, a boy whose parents were so massively dumb they imagined the name "Lars' was enough to scare away gnomes and trolls. The joke had been that a scary name wasn't needed because Lars was already a troll: certainly he was huge, stupid and violent but he was certainly someone to be avoided-as Hiccup knew to his cost.

He nodded. "Okay, Fishlegs," he said after a long moment. "But being a friend doesn't just mean standing back and nodding when people pick on your friend. It does mean acknowledging that I exist and maybe even offering me some help. Can you do that?"

Fishlegs looked into the emerald eyes, reading Hiccup's worries that the other guy would renege on the friendship as he had once before-and he nodded.

"Yes," he said. "I'll be there for you when you need it. And I am sorry. I was an idiot."

"Yup. Complete mutton-head," Astrid commented cheerfully. Hiccup nodded and the husky boy rose.

"Thanks," he said. "I won't let you down..." Then he smiled, gave a little wave and scuttled off. Hiccup glanced around: they were almost the last people in the Great Hall. With a sigh, he rose to his feet.

"Shall we?" he asked and Astrid smiled, strapping her trusty axe across her back and walking self-consciously alongside him as they emerged into the cold night. They were silent as they walked down to the main part of the village, though Hiccup stole a handful of glances at the beautiful young woman, her eyes sparkling and face glowing in the moonlight. They finally stopped at the door of her new house. He could see smoke curling from a fire in the hearth and rays of orange light escaping under the door. She smiled.

"You know you're welcome to stay, rather than in the workshop," she told him. His eyes widened in shock and he started.

"Um...what about your reputation?" he asked in shock. She stared into his bruised face and smiled gently.

"I owe it to you anyway-otherwise, I would be betrothed to the Meathead Heir just to deprive our island of our Shield Maiden," she reminded him. "And you shared your home with me, even though you had practically nothing..." He rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously.

"Um...but I thought we'd established no one left a friend to freeze outside," he mumbled, blushing. She gently pressed a hand on his scorching cheek.

"Hiccup-you are welcome anytime, okay?" she told him earnestly. He nodded with a little smile.

"Thank you," he said. "You know, I may take you up on that when the weather gets colder..." She rolled her eyes at his stubbornness, their breath already coming in clouds and the grass already frosty.

"Anytime," she repeated and then turned into her house, closing the door. He stared at the wood for a long time, smiling gently, then turned away, heading down the Plaza towards the forge. He knew Gobber had headed out with the Chief, which usually meant that they would drink long into the night and sleep up in the Chief's House. He would have the forge to himself tonight.

Tiredly, he made it to the building and smiled: the fire was low and banked, meaning there would be a small amount of heat and he was seriously considering curling up by the fire. It was a very cold night, for all his bravado, but staying with Astrid was unthinkable...because he didn't want her ruined by any rumours or gossip.

Hands grabbed him and hauled him round the back of the forge, concealed from view. The hand covering his mouth prevented any cry for help-not that there was any to come. He thrashed and fought but there was nothing he could do as the twins dragged him further away from the village, back towards the cliffs-and the stocky, cross-armed shape of Snotlout. Hiccup fought desperately, seeing the naked menace in his cousin's face. Snotlout stared into the wide emerald eyes, reading his fear.

"Surprised?" he sneered and Hiccup shook his head, gasping as Tuff's hand was taken away, the grip tightening on his arms ferociously.

"Nothing surprises me about you, Snot," he said, breathing hard. He knew Snotlout was lazy, stupid, self-centred, vain, brutal, vicious, violent and completely ruthless.

"Are you scared?" his cousin sneered. Hiccup stared into his eyes.

Of course I am. Because I know what's going to happen. Oh Thor, please let me live.

"What are you planning, Snot?" he asked roughly. Snotlout gave a nasty smile.

"You remember when you messed up my chances with Astrid in Dragon Training?" he menaced. Hiccup took a shuddering breath.

"Um...actually, you managed that all on your own without any help," he pointed out, straining against the twins. Ruff elbowed him in the side and he hissed in pain, his bruised ribs jabbing pain through his tense body. Their grips on his arms were so tight his hands felt numb and he knew there would be bruises.

"Do you remember what happened when you messed that up?" Snotlout hissed. Hiccup stared into his face and shook his head. He still got nightmares...

"Don't," he breathed softly. "Snotlout...please...this doesn't solve anything..."

"It reminds you that there is only one Heir to Berk and that you don't sass me, you don't answer me back and you don't imagine you're anything other than nothing!" Snotlout hissed. Hiccup knew what was coming; knew no matter what he did, he would be badly hurt...and no one would see or hear anything, out here beyond the limits of the village.

"Could nothing have dealt with Mogadon and beaten Thuggory? Could you?" he asked. Snotlout's eyes narrowed. "Precisely what I suspected!" Hiccup added sassily. The grips tightened around his arms and he steeled himself. He had just guaranteed it was going to be as bad as they could make it.

Then Snotlout pulled back his arm and hit him.