hey bud.

“Ha - c’mere - no, wait not that way, you’re tangling it more,” Robin laughed, reaching out to try and turn him in the right direction to unwind the lights. “How did this happen?”

“Oh, hey bud.” Hiccup slowly shook his head, and shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I was trying to get them on this tree, and then next thing I know I’m tangled. I can’t even walk.” Everytime he tried to move his arms, the lights would constrict around him. 

“I have no idea what I’m doing…” Hiccup sighed, his entire body tangled in bright lights. 

“I’ll tell you– you’re doin’ a pretty good impression of a Christmas tree. Here, let me help you.” He picked up the end of one of the lights.

“Uh..Well thanks.” Hiccup mumbled, trying to untangled himself. “I just thought it would add some cheer..If I hung some lights on the trees outside.” 

“So you weren’t trying to get into holiday themed kinky shit?” Jamie eyed the sight in front of her, pausing on her way to get a drink. “Hate to break it to you buddy, but you’re not making it easy to believe.” 

Hiccup turned bright red when the stranger began to talk to him. He lifted his arms up, trying to get himself out of the tangle of lights, but only ended up making it worse. “Uh. Uh no. No. I’m..Just..” He mumbled, looking down at his wrapped up body. “I was trying to..Decorate..” He admitted, looking over to a tree that was outside the cabin. 

Hiccup looked at the book in her hands, and sighed in relief. But panic welled inside him as he heard her speak about his talent. “Uhm. Yes. That’s..Mine.” He said slowly. “Thank..You.” 

Hiccup swallowed hard, wanting nothing more than to disappear. He didn’t understand how the man in front of him couldn’t sense how uncomfortable he was. . “I..Well..No. I just...Sketch..Stuff...I guess.” He mumbled, looking down at the ground. Panic was coursing through his veins. What all had the man before him seen? 

“Not so fast,” he said, holding the sketchbook out of Hiccup’s reach. “What do I get in return?”

Hiccup jerked back, almost as if he had been slapped in the face. “Wha..What do you mean?? What..Do you want?” He questioned, staring at the book. He didn’t have anything to offer, the only thing in his possession was the book, his prosthetic leg, and maybe a few cents that were laying around in his room. 

Hiccup nodded his head, and opened the door. “I mean, the animals wouldn’t..But I can almost promise that it’s in there. It’s the last place I remember having it.” He explained, holding the door open for her. “Just..Be careful..It’s late, and I’m sure the animals are all sleeping...Well..Maybe not the nocturnal ones, but the others will be.”

Hiccup clutched his fist to her response, and spun around. He stopped dead in his tracks, his nostrils flaring from frustration. “If you’re going to be so sarcastic, then don’t bother.” He said through clenched teeth. Without another word he turned back around, and started walking. This was a serious matter, and her sass and attitude wasn’t needed, in his opinion. 

“Hey, no problem! Man, I wish I knew how to draw like that.” Roger said, letting the book go. Hiccup seemed quite eager to get it back into his possession as quickly as possible – probably because he wanted to keep drawing, or something. That would make sense. Someone of Hiccup’s skill-level probably never stopped! “Where’d you learn?”

As soon as he had his hands back on his possession, he felt slightly better. But new panic was building in his chest. How much had the man before him seen? Had he seen the different sketches of prosthetic limbs that were tucked away in the pages? Or even the sketches he had done from his memories. Hiccup gulped down air, and shruggued. “Thanks..Th..Thanks. I uh...I just..Taught myself. I guess.” 

Hiccup looked at the book, and felt his cheeks turn a deep red. While it was missing, he was hoping that no one would actually look in it. “Y...yeah..That’s it.” He chewed on the inside of his cheek and reached out to grab the book. “Th..anks.” He mumbled. 

“You mean this?” Leroy held up a leather bound sketchbook, waving it slightly. “This what you’re looking for?”

Hiccup narrowed his eyes, trying to focus on the object, before a rush of relief ran through him. “Oh, oh yes. That’s it.” He began to close the gap between him and the man, reaching his hand out.