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Hiccup waves goodbye to Astrid, Fishlegs, and the twins as they fly off into the sunset. They’re going to Berk to visit their families, and Hiccup opted to stay behind, and Snotlout, ever-loyal, opts to stay behind with him. It’s not like either of them want to see their families, anyway.
Snotlout sighs with relief, clapping Hiccup on the shoulder and beckoning him into the Clubhouse. “Thought they’d never leave, huh?”
“Hm?” Hiccup says absently, following.
“Sometimes you just need a break from the chaos,” Snotlout clarifies, with all the attitude of a wise old man, and none of the knowledge. Hiccup rolls his eyes fondly. “You do realise that you’re, like, an entire half of the Edge’s chaos, right?”
“Excuse me,” Snotlout says indignantly. “You’re at least a third. You’re very chaotic when you want to be. Think: dragon flight suit. Dragon flight suit two. Dragon flight suit three-”
“Okay, okay, I get it,” Hiccup chuckles. “Fine. A third.”
“Thank you. Now help me set this place up- we are having man time,” Snotlout declares proudly, and Hiccup grimaces at the phrase. “Uh- man time?”
“We’re having the manly version of a sleepover, dumbass,” he replies, like it’s obvious. Hiccup snorts. “You- you really shouldn’t say stuff like… man time. It sounds- I don’t know what it sounds like, but I don’t like it.”
“… Shut up, Hiccup.”
Hiccup shoots up, gasping for air, and he immediately feels hands on his shoulders. “Hey,” Snotlout says softly. “Hey, you’re okay. You’re alright. Breathe slowly, Hiccup. You’re okay.”
“I’m okay,” Hiccup repeats, breathing heavily. “I’m okay.” It takes a minute for him to calm down, and when he does, the fear sets in and he shivers so violently he thinks he might explode. Snotlout places a hand on his back, draping a blanket over him. “Do you… do you wanna talk about it?” he asks, and Hiccup nods, grateful for the verbal prompt. “It was- it was, th-this one was bad.”
“Really bad?” Snotlout confirms. Hiccup lets himself fall into the other’s arms, nodding. “I- he- he killed you,” he whispers, and he feels Snotlout stiffen. “W-who?”
“Viggo,” Hiccup says, his shivering getting worse. “He- and- oh G-Gods, Snotlout, he m-made- he-”
“Okay,” Snotlout says softly, pulling Hiccup into a hug. “You don’t have to talk about it. Hiccup, that wasn’t real. I’m right here. We’re right here. It wasn’t real.”
“It felt so real,” he says in a small voice. Snotlout hugs him tighter, and after a moment, Hiccup whispers, “Sorry.”
“What for?” Snotlout demands sharply, pulling back. “You don’t have anything to apologise for.”
“For ruining… man time,” Hiccup says. Snotlout gives him a wry smile. “I thought you told me not to call it that.”
“What can I say, it’s catchy,” Hiccup shrugs. Snotlout shoves him playfully, and they sit in peaceful silence for a few minutes.
As he feels himself drifting back to sleep, he grabs Snotlout’s arm. “Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re important to me,” Hiccup says seriously. “Really… really important.”
And he can’t be certain, but he thinks he hears Snotlout say something similar in response before he passes out. If the extra pillow under his head when he wakes up is anything to go by, Hiccup’s probably right.