Chapter Text
Thinking things through was never really his strong point. Action happened pretty quick, with little thinking involved. It was a skill of his. That didn't mean that he didn't think of anything ever. It seemed he thought a lot over the past few months. His thoughts seemed to revolve around his twin sister's new......what was he, again? Oh, well.
And he had initially thought that Snotlout and Fishlegs' competition for Ruffnut's attention and affection was pathetic. He wasn't sure if that was worse than watching Ruffnut try and fail to woo Eret or not. He could admit that Ruffnut was kind of shallow that way, she wasn't interested in anything other than Eret's physical appearance. Poor guy.
His other thoughts wandered to Hiccup and Astrid. He wasn't overly thoughtful or sympathetic, but the whole 'losing a parent' thing kind of itched at him incessantly. When Stoick the Vast had died, he and Ruffnut had done something that they hadn't done since they were babies. They had cried. Actually mourned the death of someone else. Someone that they loved and looked up to, even if they weren't related.
In short, Tuffnut Thorston II was worried about Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III. Well, that was a first, he thought with a frown while pretending to be more interested in a few pebbles on the ground. Perhaps going to see Belch and Barf in the stables would help him clear his mind. If not, Barf's gas surely would, and that was just the kind of thing that he needed right now. Ruffnut knew where to find him, if she even cared to notice that he was gone. The separation anxiety had been bad when they were younger, and while it was still there, it wasn't near as strong now.
As he made his way to the stables, he ran into Hiccup. "Hey, Tuff. Heading to the stables?" The blond Viking nodded and forced a smile. "Gotta feed Belch, ya know?" Hiccup nodded, the two men heading toward the dragon stables in companionable silence. Right before Ruffnut barreled into her brother, causing yet another squabble between the twins. At least some things never changed.