Chapter Text
It’s dinner time when Hiccup arrives in the dining hall. It takes him less than a second to spot his friends who were already gathered at their regular table. He was the last to arrive by the looks of it, with Snotlout and the twins sitting on one side while Astrid, Fishlegs and Heather sit opposite of them. It was honestly a miracle that all of them could still find time to gather during the evening like this and share a meal together, but despite their increasingly busy schedules they all make the effort to try and meet up. It wasn’t the same as when they were in high-school, where they would hang out practically the entire day after class was over, but they all were in agreement that the new arrangement was a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.
They were incredibly lucky to all be going to the same college, not every friend group was as fortunate as they were. So even though they didn’t see each other quite as often as they used to, the fact that they were still able to see each other at all, and so regularly too, was honestly quite amazing all things considered. Still, Hiccup can’t help but miss when their lives weren’t quite as hectic.
Tuffnut is the first to notice his arrival and he waves him over. “Hey Hic, over here!”
“He knows where we are, you moron. We sit here every day.” Snotlout says with an annoyed huff.
The girls shush the two of them for being too loud. Well... Heather and Astrid do. Ruffnut just encourages them to be even louder.
Hiccup slips in to the empty seat at the end of the table next to Astrid. She smiles at him in greeting and makes room for his tray. Hiccup smiles back and thanks her for saving him a spot. They didn’t always sit next to each other like this, but whenever they did it always made Hiccup happy.
“Hey there, stranger. How are things going?”
“Good,” Hiccup says while grabbing his fork and spearing some roasted broccoli. “Nothing much to report. I managed to finish my assignment and get some additional work done. What about you?”
“Mhh, about the same.” Astrid says with a shrug. “Though this essay is really kicking my ass. My professor is not making this easy on us.”
Hiccup nodded sympathetically and took a bite of his food. The course that Astrid was in has an especially demanding teacher and he doesn’t envy her for it. The professor wasn’t the worst one the school had to offer, but he wasn’t anyone’s favourite either.
“I have faith you can get it done. Nothing ever stops you.” And Hiccup means it when he says it.
“Oh, boo ho!” Ruffnut cries mockingly. “At least your professor is helpful. Mine’s had it out for me day one, and for no reason!”
“Didn’t you dump salt in his coffee on the first day of class?” Fishleg’s pipes up, glancing up from his book.
“Like I said, no reason.”
“Fishlegs, can you put that away? You’ll have plenty of time to study after. Right now just try to relax and eat.” Heather says gently, placing a hand on his arm and giving him a patient smile.
Heather isn’t normally so soft-spoken, but Fishlegs tends to bring out that side of her. The two were an odd couple, but they were a good fit for each other.
“Sorry dear,” Fishlegs says with a sheepish smile, but he doesn’t close the book. “I just want to finish this page and then I’ll put it away, I promise.”
“Ugh, I don’t know how you can stand to read after class is over. Let alone in the cafeteria.” Tuffnut complains loudly, sounding especially over-the-top.
“Some of us like to study believe it or not.” Fishlegs drawls, sounding noticeably unimpressed.
“Ah, studying can come later,” Snotlout says with a dismissive wave of his hand. “What I wanna know is what everybody’s plans are.”
Everyone turns to look at Snotlout as a group, a wide range of curious expressions among them. That sounds like an invitation of some sort.
Hiccup is the one to ask what they’re all thinking: “You got something in mind there, Snotlout?”
“You bet! There’s a party being held tonight and I’m thinking we could all go unwind. It’s been nothing but studying all week, we should all go let loose for a bit.”
Besides the obvious fact that they were in college and the entire point was to study, Hiccup finds that the idea isn’t exactly unappealing. He’s been to a handful of the parties on campus and while they aren’t normally his thing, whenever he’s gone with his friends in the past he’s had fun. They’re all freshman and were still getting used to life in college, but it was still early enough in the semester that they could afford to skip a day or two of studying to hangout. They each had their own idea of what was fun to do, but parties were some of the few things all of them could reasonably do together. Under different circumstances, Hiccup might have agreed to go but he already has plans.
“Unfortunately, I can’t.” Hiccup says with a shake of his head. “I was planning to go to chess club this evening.”
“Oh, whaat?” Snotlout groans, sounding notably disappointed.
Astrid casts Hiccup a questioning look, her brows pinching with something like concern in her eyes.
“That’s tonight?” Fishlegs says, finally closing his book and being drawn back into the conversation. “Isn’t it a bit late for the club to be open?”
Hiccup shrugs helplessly. “It was the time that was posted on the board. Viggo didn’t say why though.”
“Weird.” Fishlegs mumbles, setting his book in his bag by his feet.
“Maybe he had some sort of meeting.” Heather suggests before taking a sip of her water.
“Or maybe he’s on some secret mission for world domination!” Tuffnut proclaims, slamming his fists on the table and causing the cutlery on his tray to rattle. “Nobody with the name Grimborn can be up to anything good!”
“For once, I agree with him.” Astrid mutters under her breath.
Hiccup just rolls his eyes at both of them.
“What about the rest of you guys?” Snotlout asks, looking over to the rest of them almost pleadingly. “Don’t tell me you guys are gonna flake like Haddock here?”
Unfortunately for him, yes they were. Each of them gives some reason or other for not being able to go, ranging from the typical; ‘I’m busy’ or ‘I’m studying’, to just plain weird like the twins saying that they have to teach their chicken Pilates. They didn’t even have their chicken here at campus. Or at least, Hiccup doesn’t think that they do.
“You’re kidding me? So I’m going to be on my own?” Snotlout groans, his voice taking on an almost pitiful note.
“Afraid so.” Astrid says nonchalantly, lacking any sort of sympathy in her tone.
“Look on the bright side Snotlout,” Heather begins, already trying to appease him just to prevent him from whining. “Maybe you can take the opportunity to meet someone.”
The burly adolescent has been going on and on about his desire to find a girlfriend as of late, so maybe the party would serve as a way for him to finally find one. Though with someone of Snotlout’s ‘charm’, any girl that would find him appealing was likely to have questionable sanity. Then again, maybe the same could be said for everyone in their group considering that they all tolerated him.
“Yeah, but–" Snotlout starts only to scoff, he folds his arms and looks to the side grumbling. “Having a wing-man would at least be nice.”
“I thought that the ‘great Jorgenson’s’,” Astrid says with air quotes and a roll of her eyes. “Didn’t need anyone but themselves?”
“They don’t!” Snotlout puffs out his chest, looking proud. “But having others around to make me look good can help to draw out the babes.”
That prompts Astrid to launch into an outraged spiel about misogyny, only for the others to join in and add their two cents about the ethicacy of wingmen and picking up women. The conversation is more outrageous than serious, and Hiccup watches the group argue and interact with a fond smile while he eats. They were quite the unusual menagerie that’s for sure. People often looked at their group with bewilderment, astonished by the wide arrange of personalities in their weird little gang. They didn’t understand how such vastly different people could get along so well.
In all honesty, Hiccup could hardly believe it either even after all these years. If he’d been asked five years ago whether he would ever become friends with most of the people here, he would have thought he was being mocked. Yet here he was, hanging out with the very people who never used to give him the time of day. All of them now his close friends.
Hiccup never could have predicted it even in his wildest dreams, but life could be funny that way. Back in the day, it was just him and Fishlegs, the two of them being the only friend the other had for a long time. Yet all of that changed during the school camping trip in ninth grade. At the time Hiccup had dreaded it. He loved the outdoors and being in the wilderness, but the idea of being stuck at some remote retreat with his classmates and some of his bullies, had been a less than appealing concept. But looking back, Hiccup was incredibly grateful that he had gone on that trip.
It had been miserable to start like he knew it would be, with Snotlout harassing him and the twins heckling him. The amount of pranks that they pulled on him was nearly a constant barrage, and Fishlegs hadn’t been safe from the deluge either. The two of them had tried keeping to themselves and holing up together at their cabin for the most part to weather out the storm, just simply trying to survive the trip. It had worked for a time, but then during the second day at camp they had been split up during a team-building exercise mandated by their instructor. Fishlegs had been paired with Snotlout, and Hiccup had been paired with Astrid. Between the two of them, Hiccup had definitely gotten the better end of the stick but that didn’t make him any less nervous about who his partner was. He had been hopelessly head over heels for Astrid practically day one –almost every boy in their class was– and yet he was the one who had gotten partnered with her. It was simultaneously the best and worst feeling he ever had.
But it hadn’t gone great to start. Astrid was short with him for practically the entire duration of the exercise, getting impatient with his clumsiness and snapping at him more than once, which just made him even more nervous and clumsy. It had been a disaster to say the least, and Hiccup still cringes thinking back on how useless he had been. They had failed spectacularly, and Astrid had taken it out on him, snapping at him for dragging her down before storming off in a huff. Hiccup left shortly after to go be alone and to lick his wounds, embarrassed over how much of a buffoon he had made himself out to be.
He wandered off to the far end of the camp by the back of the storage shed to sulk, only to discover a finch stuck in a glue-trap. Hiccup had been so appalled by the find that he had completely forgotten his earlier embarrassment and dropped everything to help the bird. He’d been in the middle of rinsing the poor thing in water from the hose when Astrid rounded the corner and found him.
Hiccup will never forget how her entire demeanour had shifted. She’d been equally taken aback by the cruel trap that had been left out and without so much as hesitating, rushed to help him free the bird from the glue, her expression worried and her hands gentle. It had taken a lot of effort, but eventually they managed to soften the tacky substance enough to get the trap off. It had taken even longer to clean the glue from the bird, but by working together they eventually succeeded in washing everything off. For the rest of the day they nursed the bird back to health and when it was ready to fly, they released it back into the woods.
From that moment on, Astrid’s entire attitude towards him shifted and she never treated him the same way since. At the time Hiccup thought that it was just a one off thing, that they had simply shared a moment and once it was over Astrid would go right back to how she had always treated him. But when they parted ways for the evening, she had punched him in the arm, telling him not to go running off again before promptly kissing him on the cheek and saying that he did the right thing by helping the bird. Hiccup had stared at her, utterly bewildered and unable to say anything.
The next morning, Astrid came and found him during breakfast and sat with him. Which was already crazy enough, but what made it even crazier was that she stayed! Everyone had stared at them, dumbstruck at seeing the two of them sitting together and getting along. Suffice to say Fishlegs had several questions for him after breakfast that morning, and Hiccup had wasted no time in telling his friend all about what happened.
Then for the rest of the day, Astrid was with them and she kept coming back to hang out with them day after day. She carved out for herself a place in their inner circle and settled there like she always belonged there. It didn’t take long for her good friend Heather to join her and pretty soon she began hanging out with them as well. The brunette made a nice addition to their little group and nobody would have ever expected it, but her and Fishlegs got along swimmingly, and the two of them hit it off pretty much immediately. Absolutely no one was surprised when years later the two became a couple.
The looks they had gotten as all four of them took to spending time together at camp was downright comical, but none of them cared and they just continued amongst themselves as though nothing about the situation was strange. It had taken time to adjust to the girls presence, as both himself and Fishlegs could hardly believe that two of the cutest girls in their class had actually decided to buddy up with them. But eventually the shock began to wear off, and things settled into something pleasant and notably more relaxed between them.
Things continued that way even after they came home from camp, with each of them gravitating towards each other during lunch and even after school hours. His father had given him quite the look when he came home one day after school with not just Fishlegs in tow, but Astrid and Heather as well. At first Hiccup worried that his dad might have a problem with him spending time with two young girls, seeing as he was still experiencing hormones from puberty, but Stoick had taken a shine to them immediately. Especially Astrid, whom he respected the conviction and work ethic of.
Stoick wasn’t one to give out praise often, but Hiccup had been over the moon when his dad told him that Astrid was a good influence on him and that he should keep being friends with her. It was the most direct show of approval that he could have ever gotten from the man.
However, not everyone was as thrilled by their newfound friendship, and Snotlout was especially bewildered by the change. It had been no secret to anyone that he had a thing for Astrid, as he was constantly flirting with her and making comments in her direction back then. So when Astrid took to hanging out with Hiccup over him, it aggravated the other teen to no end. He became even more unbearable than before, knocking against Hiccup, shoving him and calling him names almost constantly.
Astrid was always there to defend him and she didn’t hesitate to knock Snotlout on his ass if he so much as tried to hurt Hiccup in front of her. Hiccup appreciated her willingness to defend him, but Snotlout’s comments that he needed a girl to protect him did sting his pride a bit, even when Astrid punched him for it. The bullying lessened somewhat after that initial confrontation, but Astrid wasn’t always around to keep the other teen off his back. So the shoving and the name calling would resume anytime Snotlout managed to catch Hiccup by himself.
The twins were often with him, the three of them a horrible posse that circled him like vultures, waiting to catch him when he was separated from the herd. Ruffnut and Tuffnut never seemed especially malicious towards him, but since Tuffnut and Snotlout were friends, and Ruffnut never went anywhere without her brother, the twins would partake in tormenting him just for the sake of it.
It had been annoying to say the least, and Hiccup still grimaces when he thinks about some of the things that the three would do to him. None of it ever got to the point of going so far that Hiccup felt scared for his safety, but it had still been unpleasant to deal with to say the least. The twins weren’t exactly nice with the pranks that they’d pull, and Snotlout was especially nasty towards him. Astrid and Heather both worked to defend him, and Fishlegs too when the bullying got too much for even him to bear, but the girls could only do so much to shield either of them.
In the end, the harassment went on for nearly an entire year, and no amount of detention or adult interference was able to stop the behaviour completely. But just when when Hiccup had begun to think that he’d just have to put up with it until graduation, things took a turn.
Hiccup had encountered Snotlout in the hall one day after class, distressed and furiously wiping away tears from his face. Upon noticing him, Snotlout had threatened to pound him if he so much as ever mentioned the fact that he caught him crying. Hiccup had been more surprised than scared by the whole thing, confused as to what could have made the other boy cry.
Hiccup’s compassion couldn’t let him leave another person in distress, even if that person was Snotlout, so he had taken a bold risk and asked what was wrong. Snotlout had been resistant at first, denying that anything was the matter, but eventually he caved and explained that his pet was sick and dying. The news itself had been surprising enough to Hiccup, who hadn’t been aware that the other teen even had a pet, but then he’d been downright appalled when he heard what Snoutlout’s father told him that morning – That he should just put the thing down and get a new one since it was now useless.
Looking back on it, Hiccup knows that he had made the right choice by offering to help, and even if it hadn’t led to the outcome that it had he would do it again in a heartbeat. Snotlout had been distrustful and wary, but Hiccup had insisted that he only wanted to help him and his pet, so eventually Snotlout agreed to rendezvous with him after school. Hiccup hadn’t known what to expect when Snotlout took him back to his house as the other teen had been acting quite secretive, but a tank with red-bellied piranha certainly hadn’t been it.
Hiccup would have thought Snotlout to have a dog, maybe a Rottweiler or a Doberman. But the pet that he had oddly suited him, and Hiccup got to see a different side to the other teen as he worried over his fish whom he’d affectionately named Hookfang. Once Hiccup had realized what type of animal he was dealing with, he had set to work trying to determine what was wrong. There had been no outward signs of poor health, but Hookfang had been lethargic and refused to eat.
It took some consulting with Fishlegs to figure out what was going on, but eventually they realized that the fish was suffering from an infection in it’s tooth. Piranha’s lose their teeth and replace them with new ones in a very unique way by shedding all of the teeth on just one side of their mouth before more grew back, that way they were never completely defenseless. But the infection had caused the shedding process to stagnate and Hookfang couldn’t eat without experiencing pain.
Once they figured out the issue, Hiccup had joyfully informed Snotlout only for his heart to sink when the other teen said that he, nor his dad, couldn’t afford to take Hookfang to the vet. So Hiccup had given Snotlout what money he had saved from his allowance so that he could get his fish’s tooth pulled by a vet. The other teen had been gobsmacked by his generosity, but Hiccup insisted that he take it and get his pet the help that it needed. The action left a profound impact on Snotlout and he accepted the money and left with Hookfang to see the vet that very day.
In the end it was an easy fix and Hookfang was back to normal and eating again almost immediately after. From then on, Snotlout never lashed out at him again, and a few weeks later even brought back the amount that Hiccup had given him. Hiccup had tried to refuse, but Snotlout wouldn’t accept no as an answer and had slapped the money in his hand, telling him that Jorgenson’s always pay back their debts.
From there, Snotlout became a lot more bearable, no longer trying to torment him at every opportunity that he got. The pranks from the twins came to a stop too shortly after, and the four of them were in awe when one day Snotlout came to sit with them during lunch. Astrid had been none too pleased, and neither were Heather or Fishlegs, but the blonde had been especially opposed to his presence. Hiccup had assured her that it was fine and Astrid had eyed the stocky teen distrustfully, but allowed him to remain. That didn’t stop her from threatening Snotlout more than a few times during the encounter though.
The twins weren’t far behind and they came to sit with them too, following their friend’s lead. At first it was weird, all of them hanging out together, but eventually the strangeness of it ebbed away and things just sort of fell into place. A sort of wordless truce was reached between the two groups and they settled into a rhythm of sorts, congregating everyday at school to just chill and enjoy each other’s presence.
It took time for the distrust and the resentment to fade, but Hiccup was the first one willing to extend forgiveness and over time Fishlegs, Heather, and eventually Astrid, all followed suit. From then on, Snotlout and the twins integrated themselves into the group and they all became friends.
After some more debate about some other ridiculous topic, pretty soon all of them had finished their meals and began standing one by one to take their leave, wishing each other goodnight. Heather links arms with Fishlegs and the two of them are the first to set off. They always made it a point to walk the other to their dorm when they could, and Hiccup honestly finds it to be pretty sweet.
Next the twins leave, both of them cackling mischievously to each other as they go, no doubt already plotting some mischief to get up to before the day was over. Snotlout follows suit shortly after, grumbling to himself about how his friends are unreliable before leaving him alone with Astrid.
Hiccup stands and picks up his tray, glancing at the clock on the wall to check the time. He still has about twenty minutes or so before chess club, but he’d rather head there now than wait around in the dining hall. Astrid trails after him, picking up her tray as well and following him to place them in the bin for dirty dishes near the exit.
“Mind if I walk with you?”
Hiccup’s eyes crinkle fondly. “Not at all.”
It wasn’t unusual for Astrid to come with him occasionally after dinner, but lately she’s taken to walking with him a lot more than she used to. Hiccup has a feeling he knows why though, considering that autumn was quickly giving way to winter and they were due to expect snow any time now. The threat of ice didn’t make for a good combination with his prosthetic and Astrid was likely worried that he might slip and fall. So she probably tagged along with him most days to make sure that he made it to the bus stop okay. But Hiccup doesn’t mind, he was always glad for her company.
Astrid holds the door for him and he can’t help but snort. “Isn’t that my job?”
“No.” She says firmly, but she’s smiling while she does. “Didn’t you know that chivalry is dead?”
Hiccup hums but steps through the door. Astrid follows after him, letting the doors fall closed behind them.
“That’s a shame, I like the idea of being chivalrous.”
“You gonna come riding in on your horse next time I’m in trouble then?”
“Nah, forget the horse. I’ll be riding in on a dragon. It’s much flashier that way.”
Astrid laughs, and the sound is real and genuine. Hiccup was always happy when he could make her laugh like that. He was always after the sound of her laughter.
“I should’ve known, you do have a thing for theatrics.”
“Thanks, I think the dramatic flair adds to my charm.”
Astrid shakes her head fondly.
“Ah, Hiccup.” A new but familiar voice cuts through the conversation and the two students turn to face the source. One with a smile, and the other with a wary side-glance.
Professor Grimborn was standing not far from them across the hall, hands clasped behind his back in that typical stance of his, a small smile playing at his lips. “I was hoping I might see you. Will you be at the chess club this evening?”
“Oh hi, Viggo! Yeah, I was planning on it!”
Astrid gives him a skeptical look that Hiccup catches in the corner of his eye and promptly ignores.
“Excellent. I shall see you later then.” The smile on his face dims somewhat when he glances at Astrid, giving her a curt nod. “Hofferson.”
Astrid merely nods back and doesn’t say anything. Hiccup elbows her lightly in the ribs and she grunts before glaring at him, rubbing the spot where he had just jabbed her. He simply raises a brow at her as if to say ‘don’t be rude’.
Viggo watches the interaction with a quizzical look before turning to leave without another word, not giving either of them a chance to speak up or for Astrid to apologize. Not that she would have anyways.
Astrid watches the man leave with a distrustful glare aimed at his back.
“Gee, subtle much?” Hiccup asks, giving Astrid a disapproving look. But she doesn’t acknowledge him, her gaze remains firmly fixed on Viggo.
“I don’t know how you can stand that man.” She mutters once he’s around the corner and out of earshot.
Hiccup suppresses a sigh. It was no secret to him that Astrid didn’t care for professor Grimborn, like at all. This wasn’t the first time Astrid’s made her distaste for the particular professor known, and he doubts it would be the last time either. But she didn’t usually do it right in front of the guy!
“He can be a bit harsh,” Hiccup concedes, understanding why Viggo’s attitude could be off-putting to some people but it wasn’t something that particularly bothered him. “But he’s a good teacher, I like learning from him.”
It was the truth, while Viggo may be a tough man to impress –one who didn’t believe in coddling his students– he was a skilled instructor who was good at spotting talent, and bringing out the full potential of those under his tutelage. Not everyone liked that style of teaching, and admittedly normally Hiccup didn’t either, but in this one instance it was different because he got along well with professor Grimborn. The man was as stubborn as Hiccup was but they shared a mutual respect for each other, one that people didn’t always understand, or often didn't even try to for that matter. Astrid being the main one...
“Yeah sure, that’s all well and good, but do you have to go to his chess club every week? You’re not his student anymore, you don’t have to spend time with him.”
While it was true that he doesn’t have to, Hiccup wants to. Viggo may not be his instructor anymore since he graduated from his class, but he feels an honest connection with the man that he doesn’t want to let fizzle out. From the moment that they met, the two of them had immediately been drawn to one another.
Hiccup still remembers when he had first met Viggo. He had just returned to school after being forced to drop out due to losing his leg. Recovery had taken nearly an entire year, but eventually Hiccup had finally been able to walk well enough to convince his dad to let him return to school and get his diploma. He had to retake the last grade to receive the remaining credits that he needed to graduate, but thankfully the college that they were all enrolled in had a program to help any students who still required their grade twelve.
Viggo had been the teacher that had been assigned to the class. It wasn’t his typical role at the academy as he normally acted as a business professor, but that year the teacher who usually instructed the class could no longer work and due to several different factors, Viggo was the one to fill the role. He had been a tough teacher, one of the toughest that Hiccup ever had in fact, but Hiccup had enjoyed the challenge that he presented. The man hadn’t been out to get him, he was just pushing him to do his best and Hiccup found that to be strangely motivating. He ended up graduating at the top of the class and with a near flawless record. Even his father had been impressed by it.
“I like chess.” Hiccup says with a shrug. “Besides, who else will play with me? You can’t stand chess; Heather and Snotlout have no patience for it, Ruffnut and Tuffnut would just start throwing the pieces, and Fishlegs is too nervous to play against me cause he hates losing all the time. The chess club is the only place I can go and actually have a decent game.”
Astrid makes a face. “So you’d rather play with professor Grimborn? I can’t imagine that’s anymore fun than playing with one of the guys.”
“We have interesting conversations,” Hiccup explains. As ridiculous as it is, he feels like he has to defend his choice to spend time Viggo. It isn’t like he needs Astrid’s permission, but he still wants her approval all the same. “It’s not like I’m going out and having coffee with him or anything, we’re just playing chess in the library.”
Astrid lets out an exasperated breath, blowing the hair from her eyes. Her bangs were getting long again. “I guess...”
“What’s your issue with Viggo anyways? You didn’t even have him as a teacher.”
“He’s...” Astrid’s nose wrinkles as she searches for the word before giving up with a groan and throwing her hands up. “I don’t know! There’s just something off about him! I get such a weird feeling when I’m around him.”
“Didn’t you also used to get a ‘feeling’ from me?” Hiccup asks dryly, recalling the time she used to think he was a creep back in grade-school.
“This is different!” She protests sharply, pointing a finger in his face. Hiccup only mildly flinches at it. “We were only kids when I thought that! I didn’t realize that you were just nervous around me! Professor Grimborn though, he’s... different.” She trails off with a distant look in her eyes.
“Maybe you just need the chance to get to know him better,” Hiccup suggests, managing to not cower when his best friend gives him a hard stare. “You never know, you might actually like him. He’s a good instructor, I’ve learned a lot from him.”
Astrid snorts. “Yeah, I doubt that. What I’ve gotten to know about him is plenty enough. My instincts about people are rarely wrong and I’m not about to ignore them now.”
Hiccup suppresses yet another sigh. Astrid could be so suspicious sometimes. It was hard to earn her trust, but Hiccup knew that under that rough and tumble exterior lies a very caring heart. She was a hard nut to crack, but she was fiercely loyal to those who finally managed to break through her shell. The only reason she was acting like this was because she was worried about him.
Hiccup didn’t necessarily understand why Viggo of all things worried her, but ever since his accident Astrid has become a lot more protective over him. That protectiveness could extend towards people too, not just situations that presented themselves, or admittedly the reckless things that he sometimes got up to. It was probably just her way of making up for the fact that she hadn’t been there to help him when it happened. Hiccup knew that Astrid felt a lot of misplaced guilt over the incident.
It could be stifling sometimes, but Hiccup appreciates that she cares enough about him to want to protect him. Even if what –or who– she was trying to protect him from wasn’t in any way dangerous, it was sweet all the same.
Hiccup gives a cheeky smile and nudges her. “We’re discounting me though?”
“Yeah yeah,” She rolls her eyes and swats his arm playfully. Hiccup laughs and rubs the spot, more than familiar with how she shows affection. “We’re discounting you.”
Hiccup’s chest feels warm as they walk side-by-side, hands occasionally brushing against each other as they travel down the hall.
“I take it Hofferson is not particularly fond of me?”
The question catches Hiccup off-guard and he blinks, looking up from the board at Viggo. They had been at this for over an hour and were locked in a pretty fierce battle of wits. “Huh?”
His professor laughs, amused by how invested he is in the game. His posture is relaxed as he sits across from Hiccup. Chess club was always on the slower side since it wasn’t the most popular activity among the student body, but today it was especially slow. Being held later in the evening than usual didn’t help the club’s already dwindling numbers, and even less students had come to play than normal. There hadn’t been enough people for everyone to partner up, so Viggo had deigned to play with him.
It wasn’t uncommon for Viggo to play every now and again, but usually he was too busy roaming the room while overseeing the students and giving out pointers. Tonight was slow enough that he could actually relax and play himself.
Hiccup was usually his opponent whenever he did decide to join in. The other students were typically too intimidated to go against him, too afraid to lose and risk looking foolish. Some especially hot-headed students would try to take a crack at beating Viggo, but to any of the regulars who came, they all knew that the head of the club was a nigh unbeatable champion. Very few people had actually managed to best him.
That being said, Hiccup wasn’t afraid to play against him though. He very seldom ever won, but Hiccup didn’t mind losing against Viggo. There was honour in losing against such a skilled opponent, and he always learned a lot from the losses.
“Your friend didn’t seem all too pleased to see me out in the hall earlier. I take it that she doesn’t like me?”
“Ah, yeah.” Hiccup cringes and rubs the back of his neck, feeling embarrassed on behalf of his best friend. “I’m sorry about that. Astrid is a bit distrustful of new people, but she means well.”
Viggo makes a humming noise and moves his pawn. “Does she think that I will do something to harm you?”
“Uh, to be honest I don’t know what she thinks,” Hiccup admits. He didn’t necessarily want to divulge Astrid’s private opinions but it wasn’t like he brought it up himself, Viggo was asking him. The man was clearly aware of how she felt about him, so it seems only fair that Hiccup at least try to explain her actions. Besides, Viggo was his mentor, he trusts him to keep what he says to himself. They’d had more than one deep conversation that’s proven that to be true. “Don’t take it personally though, she’s like that with everyone she meets at first.
“I see. It sounds like she’s quite protective of you.”
“She is. Ever since we became friends she’s always been looking out for me, but after my accident she’s sort of become like my body guard,” Hiccup says with a sheepish laugh. “She’s always got my back.”
“She seems like a good friend.”
Hiccup smiles, fondness for the blonde warming his chest.
“She is.”
If there was any way to describe Astrid, then it was exactly that. She was a good friend for sure. But she wasn’t just that, she was also a phenomenal person. One that Hiccup deeply admires and respects. She had been with him through thick and thin, serving as an anchor during some of the darkest times of his life. Hiccup could no longer imagine life without her, she was just always there, like a permanent pillar in his life.
The pair lapses into contemplative silence. It was still his turn and Hiccup takes a moment to consider what to do before finally moving his rook. It leaves his knight exposed, but Hiccup has a plan. He doubts that Viggo will fall for the trap, but he’s managed to swindle the man before, he could potentially do it again.
Viggo regards the trap he’s laid coolly, taking stock of his options in silence before suddenly saying: “I can’t imagine that she’s a very good student, however.”
The comment takes Hiccup aback as he hadn’t been expecting such an abrupt turn. It was so out of the blue that for a moment Hiccup isn’t sure what to do. He’s used to Viggo being blunt and speaking his mind, but what he just said makes Hiccups’ hackles rise a bit. He frowns and jumps to his friend’s defense.
“Astrid is a great student. She’s very smart and academic. She takes her studies seriously and gets A’s all the time.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that she does.”
Hiccup's annoyance deflates and now he's just confused. What exactly was Viggo getting at then? Was he insulting Astrid or not?
“Then what do you mean?”
Viggo smiles in that knowing way of his, like he was enjoying a private joke that only he was conscientious of. Hiccup stays patient and waits to be let in on it.
“The mark of a good teacher, Hiccup, is guidance. The ability to pinpoint a person’s strengths, no matter what they might be, and to help them reach their full potential.”
He reaches out and moves his bishop, taking Hiccup’s knight. He was engaging the trap, but his eyes are shrewd. He was alert and aware.
“The mark of a good student however, is humility. To be able to acknowledge that there is something to be learned even from someone who is less experienced than you, or from an individual that you do not particularly like or agree with. Which is something that, unfortunately, Hofferson lacks.”
“That’s a kind of harsh, don’t you think? Astrid may be a bit headstrong, but she’s a quick learner. She can think on her feet.”
Hiccup moves his other knight, closing in on the black queen. A powerful piece that needs dealing with before he can spring the trap.
“To be quick-witted does not make for a good student. I’ve had plenty of pupils who thought themselves to be clever, or some who even were yet thought too highly of themselves, but they were all poor learners.”
He moves his pawn to block Hiccup’s advance. Dammit.
“I’m sure there’s more to being a good student than just being humble though.” Maybe it was a bit presumptuous of him, after all Viggo was an experienced teacher and he wasn’t. But Hiccup finds it hard to believe that humility is really all it takes to be a good student like the older man claims. He’s never thought Astrid to be a bad one by any means, and he doesn’t like that Viggo was implying that she was.
Viggo doesn’t seem insulted by his questioning though and remains patient. “Such as?”
“Well,” Hiccup draws short, trying to think of qualities that could help someone be a successful pupil. He forgoes looking at the board for a moment to think. “Like being curious, or driven to learn. That has to count for something.”
“Having a desire for knowledge does not make someone particularly teachable either. It gives them a purpose true, but it does not open their mind to a new way of thinking.”
“Okay well, sure, being humble can probably help people to be less difficult, but if someone is still able to get the work done and shows that they understand the assignment, doesn’t that show that they’re able to learn?”
Hiccup sees an opening that he had missed earlier and moves to take it, leaving his pawn out to bait the queen.
“It shows that they are able to repeat the information that they know is required of them. It does not however mean that the lessons imparted onto them have, or ever will, sink in.”
There is only the briefest pause before Viggo is knocking his pawn over, taking it.
“But isn’t doing the work at all already a sign that they’re humble?” Hiccup points out, using his bishop to corner the queen. “If they weren’t then they wouldn’t bother to do it at all.”
“It is a sign of respect perhaps, but again, not a mark of teachability. It does not show that they are willing to accept influence.”
Hiccup frowns and finds that he doesn’t know what to say to that. Anything that he’s thought of to say, Viggo has had the perfect counter for it each time.
Just when he thinks he has the queen right where he wants it, Viggo is retreating, pulling out from the trap.
“I still don’t think Astrid is a bad student.” Hiccup mutters, less miffed about how the game was going and more so with the turn in conversation.
Viggo smiles then, an apologetic look on his face. “Perhaps phrasing it the way that I did was in poor taste. I did not mean to insult you or your friend.”
“It’s okay.” Hiccup says, feeling some of the tension leave his shoulders at that. He knew that Viggo didn’t intend to come across as rude, that was just the way that Viggo was. He could be quite honest, sometimes brutally so, but he never meant to cause offense. “I guess I just don’t see what you’re getting at with this.”
He moves his own queen out, hoping to at least chase the black one off so it wouldn’t be an issue later.
Viggo hums and considers the board for a moment before he moves his rook and leans back in his chair. Hiccup stares at the piece in bewilderment, it’s a move that he hadn’t been expecting.
“Then allow me to start over. The most common pitfall I see among my students is pride. Not just in the haughty ones, but in the ones who are quiet and insecure as well. Not because they overestimate themselves like their boastful counterparts, but because they have become so afraid to make mistakes that they allow it to paralyze themselves. They would rather choose to do nothing at all just so they can avoid feeling any sense of shame. The mere possibility of failure is enough to keep them from trying and in doing so, they close their minds to any new experiences, shutting off their ability to learn. All because they cannot let go of their own ego and risk failing at something.”
Hiccup glances up at the older man, his brows knitted together as he mulls over what Viggo is saying. He stays quiet and lets the man continue.
“In both cases, the root cause of the issue is the same. Both attitudes lack the ability to acknowledge that something can be learned so long as they put aside their pride to trust the instructions of another. Perfectionism, haughtiness, insecurity, they’re all symptoms of pride. Which are all flaws that I see in your friend as well.”
Hiccup frowns and thinks of Astrid and how relentlessly driven she is. She never lets failure stop her from doing anything. She was as stubborn as an ox and she could push through practically anything. Hiccup had always attributed that as the reason for her success. It had certainly gotten her this far, and she had the grades to prove it too. Hiccup doesn’t see how Viggo could say that someone like that made for a poor student.
“But wouldn’t having the drive to get better be a quality that makes for a good student? After all, caring about performing well is important to succeeding.”
“It would certainly help, but spite can only get one so far. Even if one were to force the matter, the same trap of refusing to listen would remain and the exact same mistakes would be made over and over again. The only way to prevent such a cycle is by accepting influence.”
“Okay, but surely grades prove that this isn’t always the case.”
“Actually, it doesn't. Because grades are not a reflection of a person’s attitude or what they think, it’s just an arbitrary number on a piece of paper. It’s actions that prove a person’s ability to learn and adapt, and overtime students that might have been able to brute-force their way through, will eventually hit a wall. I’ve seen it time and time again, once they’re out in the real world and they realize they can no longer bend the rules to their whims they struggle to find success. But if that’s not enough for you, your mere presence here proves me correct.”
Hiccup raises a brow at that, confused how that could possibly be the case. “How so? I haven’t done anything.”
“Oh contrare, my boy.” Viggo holds his hand out in a small sweeping gesture across the room. “You have. You are the only one who is willing to be my opponent.”
Hiccup pauses and glances around at the familiar faces that he’s grown accustomed to seeing in the club, and he realizes that Viggo has a point. He is the only one that dares to go against him. Not just now, but every time they sit down to play.
"It is humility that keeps you from shying away from the challenge. You are not concerned with your ego or your pride, so it keeps you coming back and leads you to getting better overtime. Unlike most, you're not afraid to fail."
Hiccup shrugs and moves yet another piece. “Maybe I’m just brave.”
“Oh, there is no doubt about that. But it takes much more than courage to face against someone you are sure you will likely lose against. It takes acknowledging the possibility of defeat. Or in other words: humility.”
The back and forth was beginning to shed some light on the matter, but Hiccup still finds himself confused on where this all was going.
“What’s your point, Viggo?”
“My point is this,” His mentor says, leaning forward in his chair to hold Hiccup’s gaze. “Pride is not what prevents shame, it is the cause of it. And if a student is prideful and always concerned with appearing intelligent, or is too stubborn to accept influence, then they will never truly learn anything. Only true humility can prevent feelings of shame and open the door for learning. That is the mark of a good student. Not grades, not work ethic, not drive, but their willingness to be taught even when they do not like who the lesson is coming from.”
Hiccup sits speechless in his seat, unable to think of anything remotely intelligent to say. That... made a lot of sense. He can’t think of a single counter-point to make. He still thinks Astrid is plenty smart, and a good student in her own right, but he sees where Viggo is coming at least.
And now that Hiccup stops to think about it, Astrid could sometimes be unwilling to listen. She was smart, she was really smart, but her stubbornness could make her difficult to deal with at times. She was relentless and driven, but when her opinion was made up about something she could get a bit of tunnel-vision. Hiccup never holds it against her since he could be quite stubborn himself, but between the two of them, Hiccup is definitely the one that was more likely to consider doing things somebody else’s way.
Hiccup is almost afraid to ask, but he finds himself wanting to know what Viggo thought.
“So then, where exactly do I fall under?”
Viggo smiles, and the look of genuine warmth behind his eyes surprises Hiccup. He knows that Viggo is fond of him, but the man scarcely showed it so openly like this. “You, Hiccup? You most certainly bear the mark of a good student.”
It was rare for Viggo to give such high praise and Hiccup can’t help but inwardly preen at his words. He smiles back at the man, feeling like he was the real winner even as Viggo moves his rook to trap his king.
“Checkmate.”
So it was. Hiccup isn’t even remotely disappointed. He’s come out of this with some new perspective and he’s happy for it. Viggo always seems to have a way of doing that to him whenever they get together to talk.
“Good match.”
Hiccup puts his hands to his knees and pushes himself to his feet, rising to shake Viggo’s hand as was customary in chess. Viggo accepts his hand with a small chuckle, amused by his insistence on the formality. Even though their games were only ever friendly and not a true tournament style match, Hiccup still feels that it’s important to have good play etiquette.
“Indeed. Will I see you again after the weekend?”
“So long as the club isn’t held so late again, then sure.”
“Ah, my apologies for that. I had to deal with some rather unpleasant business and it took longer than I had anticipated. It shouldn’t happen again.” He doesn’t elaborate further, but he doesn’t need to. The man was entitled to his privacy.
“No worries, I still had fun. I just can’t make a habit of staying up too late, I still wanna pass my exams after all.”
“Ever the pragmatist.” Viggo says it teasingly, but Hiccup can hear the approval in his tone.
It could be hard to gauge what the man was feeling based solely on the reserved manner in which he spoke, but Hiccup has gotten good at detecting the subtle inflections in his voice.
“Always.” Hiccup says with a crooked smile, before looking up at the time and wincing. Sheesh. He was cutting it close. “Is it okay if–"
Viggo is already standing and collecting the pieces. “Yes. I will handle cleaning up, you should leave so you can get some rest.”
Gratitude warms Hiccup’s chest and he nods. He feels bad for leaving so abruptly and letting Viggo put away the board himself. Normally they would sit and talk for a while after finishing a game, but it was a Thursday night and he has to get up early tomorrow. They both do.
“Thanks. Oh, and Viggo?”
The man pauses what he was doing and glances up at him, brow raised curiously.
“You definitely have the mark of a good teacher.”
The older man smiles softly but says nothing. Hiccup wasn’t put off by his silence however, he knows that Viggo isn’t the type of man that usually voiced what he was feeling. That was fine by Hiccup though, he just wanted to let Viggo know what he thought about him. Wishing his professor a good night, Hiccup takes his leave and heads to back his place.