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“Hey,” Astrid says quietly, sitting down next to Hiccup, “how are… how are you doing?”
“Hm?” he replies absently. She sighs. “Snotlout said- uh, you were having a… a hard time, with- coping.”
Hiccup’s hand moves without his consent, and his drawing suffers for it. He clears his throat, refusing to look at her, even though he can feel her eyes boring into his skull. “Uh- uh, what… what did he… say?”
Astrid pulls her chair closer to his desk, practically forcing her head in his face. “I think you know, babe.”
He doesn’t answer. She puts a hand on his shoulder. “You know you can talk to me about anything… right? I love you, so much. And- and, if you need support, we’re all here for you. All of us.”
Hiccup nods, and Astrid stands up and leaves.
Hiccup manages to catch Snotlout later that day as they’re walking in opposite directions. “Hey-!”
“Oh, heeyyyy, can’t talk right now, see ya later!” Snotlout says, walking faster, and Hiccup grabs him by the wrist. “Nope. You’re not getting away that easily-” he lowers his voice and leans in- “you told Astrid?!”
Snotlout groans, letting Hiccup drag him behind a post. “Look, I’m sorry, just- you clearly weren’t, like- fuck, Hiccup, I don’t know. I care about you. And Astrid does too, and- and we all do. All of us. And you- you don’t seem to care about yourself, and I was the only person who knew, and you need… help.”
Hiccup laughs incredulously, shaking his head. “Thor, Snotlout, I don’t need- I- I kept your secrets for years, and I placed my trust in you and you… you betrayed that. And now I don’t know if I can trust you again.”
Snotlout sighs. “I’m- I don’t get why you’re upset. None of us would… judge you, or anything. I’m pretty sure some of us could… relate, to some extent, even.”
“It’s not about that,” Hiccup hisses. “It’s about how I- I told you something about myself, that I didn’t want other people to know about, and you- you told people. I don’t know how I can make it more clear.”
Snotlout sets his mouth in a straight line. “Fine. Let me know when you’re ready to acknowledge the fact that you can’t do this alone.” He storms away, and Hiccup is left there, secretly hoping he’ll turn back.
He doesn’t.