Son of the Chief

Being able to eat his fill for the first time in his life, Thrawn didn't stop eating until all that was left was bones and scales. How his small body manage to hold all that meat was a mystery to Stoick, but no more than anything else regarding his son.

Swallowing the last chunk of dragon meat, Thrawn let out a contented sigh as his bloody hands rested on his stomach. His tattoo's gradually stopped pulsating he rapidly digested his meal. After basking in his feeling of fullness, he stood up with his body brimming with power, standing straight with perfect stability.

Turning around, he set sight on his father, taking in the image of the burly man and emotionally saying. "Dad..."

"Son..." Stoick responded, before quickly moving towards his boy and picking him up into a hug. "I'm glad you're okay."

"I'm sorry, dad..." Knowing how much he must have worried his father when he was eaten, Thrawn apologised.

"It's okay, son. I'm just glad you're safe." Stoick said with relief, before placing Thrawn down and staring at him sternly, a firm grip on his shoulders. "Now, tell me what you're doing out here in the first place?"

Remembering his plan to escape, looked away guiltily, but answered truthfully. "I was trying to leave the village..." This shocked Stoick and his grip tightened, as if to prevent him from leaving. Thrawn didn't care about the slight pain from the hold and looked at his father, firmly stating. "I won't go back to that hole."

Looking at his child, Stoicks expression became complicated. He knew that Thrawn being locked in his room was no way for him to live, so he couldn't blame him for wanting to leave, but... At the same time, he couldn't stand the thought of never seeing his son again.

That's why... "Thrawn, I promise, no one will lock you away." The determined father spoke, a deadly gleam in his eyes. "I'll make sure of it..."

Thrawn looked at him unsurely. He believes what his father is saying and also doesn't want to leave his family, after all, he has dreamed of meeting with his brother in person for his whole life, but... Now, deep inside, he has another dream... To be free and explore the world.

Staring at his father's determined eyes however, the determination to keep their family together, despite his yearning for freedom, Thrawn decided he could postpone his departure for the future.

While hiding his discontent, Thrawn nodded. "I believe you, dad. I'll stay with you and Hiccup..."

His words immediately relieved Stoick, prompting him to release the grip on his sons shoulders, instead choosing to lift him up and carry him. 'I promise son, I won't let anyone get in my way again.' The mighty Chief swore in his heart.

Letting his father carry him, Thrawn didn't say anything else. Instead, he simply cast a longing gazed out into the night's sky. 'Someday, I will leave this island and explore the world. I'll find the reason for my curse.' He swore to himself, before turning his sight to the many bodies of the dragons that were taken down by his father and the others, a predatory glint passing over his icy blue eyes. 'And... I will eat everything that gets in my way!'

While both father and son made their vows, no one else was the wiser, nor would they be prepared for dangers that would await them should they stand in their ways.

They were then silent for the rest of the journey to their house, but that just gave Thrawn time to observe everything in his surroundings, his eyes shooting around inquisitively.

---

Returning home, Stoick and Thrawn were met by Gobber, the peg legged Viking that forges all the wares for the village. "Ah, there you are, Stoick. About time, now if you'll excuse me, I need to check whether my home has been burnt down." He had already put Hiccup to bed and was waiting for his friend to arrive. Before leaving to go check on his forge, he made a joking comment, but with an uncomfortable tone behind it. "Oh, by the way, you'll need get somebody to clean. I tried my best, but I'm better making a mess than clearing it." Then left.

Upon stepping into their home, Stoick carefully lowered his son to the floor, casting a glance at the blood stain trail leading outside, then to his son who was devoid of injury and looking around their home curiously.

For Thrawn, being inside their home was no different to being in a strangers. All he had ever known was cold, darkness and walls made of barely smoothed rock, so being anywhere else was a new experience for the young boy and he wasn't able to focus while trying to escape. He couldn't even walk.

Seeing his son looking around like a lost lamb, Stoicks felt a pang of guilt for what the boy had been through. "Well, uh, son..." He fumbled out, not knowing how he should interact with his own child. Out of a nervous habit, he removed his treasured helmet that once acted as a breastplate for his wife, thumbing the added horns for some form of comfort.

Retracting his gaze from surveying his supposed home, Thrawn turned to his father, who seemed even more lost than he was.

Him being locked beneath their house, even with his great maturity, made their relationship... difficult, to say the least. What is there to talk about? Their distain and/or anger towards the bastards they share a village to? The fact that all the pain and suffering could have been avoided if they'd just fed him some damned dragon meat?

There wasn't much that could be said at this moment that would make the discomfort they felt disappear. That's why, after a few minutes of awkward silence, Stoick gave his son a pat on his back and said. "You must be tired after all that's happened. You can stay in my room and bed until we have one is built into the house for you."

'Weirdly... I'm not.' Nodding his head despite his thoughts, Thrawn didn't even feel like he needed a bed with how he was happy to sleep on the floor, it was something he did frequently in the hole just to stay near his puke bucket, but he decided against informing his father of such details lest he be lectured about taking care of himself. The irony wasn't lost on him.

Thinking about it for a moment however, if their home would have to be restructured, why not just make a new house for him? Preferably, with some distance between him and everyone else, as he feels a rather deep animosity toward them for what they put him and his father through. Besides, they will probably be happy to not have him so close.

"Dad, can I live in outside of the village?" Thrawn asked, failing to withhold his distain for the village in the process.

Hearing him and the tone of his voice, Stoick looked at him with concern. Whether its because of what his God's blessed son could do with his power to never die or, more likely, is worried about losing his son. "No. Absolutely not. What if something happened to you?" The grown man fretted.

"What could happen to me..." Scoffing at the idea, Thrawn stated while looking off to his side, where a trail of blood lead from the basement stairs to the door.

Halting his next words, Stoick also looked at the bloodstains again, his expression a mixture of sorrow and concern. He wouldn't deny that his son could survive even on his own, but he still worries. What if he gets trapped and is to weak to escape? What if someday there is something that can harm him and he doesn't recover from it? Just seeing him be eaten by one of those damned dragons had given the large man the fright of his life.

Turning his gaze back to Thrawn, Stoick tried to dissuade his son. "Son, I know you won't necessarily get hurt, but it's still too dangerous. There might not be anything that can harm you now, but we don't know if there might be something in the future. I need you close by, somewhere I can be sure you're safe."

Thrawn however, was not satisfied with this and snapped. "That's no better than keeping me locked away again!" His anger seethed into his voice as he all but shouted. "It makes no difference if I'm inside that hole or this stupid village, it's just one big cage and I want out! I don't want anything to do with it, with those people that want to lock me away and kill me for no reason!" In his frustration, droplets of water gathered at the corners of his eyes, stopped from falling only by the rage and indignation that dwells inside him.

Taken aback by the sudden outburst, Stoick saw just how detached from the village his son was. How, when the village and the Vikings within was even mentioned, the anger and spite for them both was covered only by the tears of helplessness that his son was shedding.

'If this goes on, he'll be swallowed by his hatred... and then the village...' Thinking more like a chief, Stoick knew that if something wasn't done, his son might lose himself and seek revenge on the village. Part of him wishes to help his son take revenge, but the another tells him what was drilled into him by his father. 'The needs of the village come before myself.'

Having to decide between what was best for others, what is best for his son and what is best for himself, Stoick had quite a conundrum. Hate and fear had already sowed themselves into everyone's heart, it wasn't likely that it would fade anytime soon.

Still, wishing to keep his son close by, but with enough space for him to get comfortable with his new lifestyle. Stoick had too little parenting experience to come to a foolproof solution, so he took to one of compromise. "Look, Son... I can't leave you to live alone like an outcast, it will make our divide greater than it already is." Thrawn went to voice his dissatisfaction, but was swiftly shut up when Stoick continued. "But... Your Grandma Gothi is getting older, and living on a mountain isnt easy for her. She could benefit from having someone around to help her..."

"Grandma Gothi...?" Thrawn muttered thoughtfully. Gothi is one of the few people he actually knows, being the village wise woman, she had been the one to check on his condition every so often and she would always look at him with sadness... Yet, there was always a glint of hope for some reason. Nodding his head in agreement, though it wasn't exactly what he wanted, it was better than nothing. "I wouldn't mind helping Grandma Gothi."

Releasing a weary sigh, Stoick nodded his head as well. "Good. Good... I'll see too it tomorrow in the village meeting. You go to bed, you need your sleep." He told him, giving his hair a ruffle, not minding the grime and blood. "I'll have a bucket of water and a rag ready tomorrow for you to wash yourself in."

Thrawn rolled his eyes at his father's statement about sleep, but knowing it's out of care, says nothing. Only nodding his head with disinterest at getting washed, before making his way up stair, without the aid of a wall this time.

Stoick watched his son climbing the stair and inwardly sighed. 'I hope he learns not to hate them in time...'

---

After the talk with his father, Thrawn went to his father's room to sleep, but couldn't sleep even when he wanted to and before he knew it, so much time had passed that it was morning already. He could hear the voices of the villagers talking to his father downstairs, so he got out of the bed and made his way out of the bedroom.

Being careful not to make much noise, he opened the door and crept his way to the top of the stairs to listen to their conversation.

"What are you gonna do, Stoick, the village wants to know." One of the men at the door spoke with a gruff voice.

It was immediately followed by an irritating, higher pitched man's voice. "That little monster can't remain-"

*Bang!* Stoick slammed his fist on the wall of his home, a dangerous look appeared on his face as he looked at the man. "Call my son a monster again and I'll tear you limb from limb. You got that, Spitelout!" He then passed his gaze over the rest of them, each of them shrinking their neck in fear. "For years, I listened to you and kept that boy locked beneath this house. But, not once has anyone been sick after being near him. SO KEEP YOUR DAMN MOUTHS SHUT ABOUT MY SON!!"

Stumbling back in shock from their Chiefs booming, wrath filled voice, they each looked at him with fear. They had never been on the recieving end of this side of their Chief, making them realise that he had been pushed too far. The look in his eyes was like that of the dragons they had fought, the ones that had been captured or lost any hope of escape, willing to completely give up on their own life and focus solely on killing those in their sight.

Seeing that any opposition was squashed, the red haired man growled out through gritted teeth, shocking them with what he had to say. "This discussion is over, if you have a problem with it, then challenge me!" He said and turned around to enter his house, looking back with one eye and finishing what he had to say. "Otherwise, get to work and fix the damn village."

Heads down in fear, unable to look their Chief in the eye, each of the villagers dispersed in a hurry. Once they were gone, Stoick went inside his home and slammed the door before beginning to pace around the room in silent fury.

At the top of the stairs, Thrawn watched as his father worked to control his rage, feeling that his thoughts from the night were warranted. 'I'm never going to be wanted here... I don't belong here.' He said internally to himself, but seeing how his dad was going so far to be able to keep him at his side, Thrawn didn't want all his sacrifices to go to waste by just leaving. He sighed to himself as he tucked his legs into his chest. 'What am I supposed to do anyways... Even with my curse, I'm still just a kid and don't know anything about the world. I'll just have to listen to Dad and stay... For now.'

*Creak* Before he could delve any deeper into his thoughts, the only other door upstair opened with the creaking of the hinges and immediately drew his attention.

When the door opened, Thrawn saw a boy his age with brown hair and green eyes. The boy was busy rubbing his eye tiredly and didn't see Thrawn, who was staring at him emotionally with this being the first time he's seen him, his brother. "Hiccup..." The name escaped in a whisper.

Just barely hearing his name, the brown haired child finished rubbing his eyes and looked ahead, where he saw a boy with light brown hair and bright blue eyes. He stared at him in blank confusion, before tilting his head to the side and asking. "Who are you??"

When he said that, Hiccup saw the boys eye visibly dim and a sad expression overtook his previously glimpse of happiness. Hiccup immediately felt like he had done something terrible and a pit formed in his stomach.

Being greeted like a stranger by his own twin, Thrawn felt dispirited. He couldn't blame Hiccup, they had never actually seen eachother before, it's not like he himself knew it was his brother based on look's. But, the blame could be put on the village from his point of view and that exactly what he did, furthering his hatred for them.

Shaking his head, he looked at his brother with a downcast expression and told him. "I'm Thrawn, Hiccup... Your brother..."

Hear this, Hiccup's eyes widened as he looked into his brother's eyes, quietly uttering. "Thrawn..." Then, his eyes lit up with happiness and he shouted again while jumping at his twin. "Thrawn!!"

Hiccup dived at Thrawn, who was shocked by the sudden outburst and fell backwards. Realising that they were going to fall down the stairs, which were right behind him, he quickly covered Hiccup to protect him and then began tumbling down.

There was a series of loud thuds and the muffled scream of Hiccup, immediately getting Stoick's attention as he shouted in concern and rushed over. "Hiccup! Thrawn!"

Quickly arriving, he went to pick them up, but froze as he saw Thrawn's neck bent in an unnatural way and knew that it was broke. Seeing the lifeless face on his son, he knew the scene would haunt him for nights to come.

"Hiccup!" Realising that Hiccup was also aware of the situation, he quickly grabbed him to stop him from looking, but surprisingly his first born had a relentless hold on his brother as he cried.

"NOOO!! Thrawn! Thrawn!!" Seeing his brother's neck, Hiccup cried knowing it was because he jumped at him, cried over what he'd done.

Stoick continued to try and get him to let go, but they were both interrupted by a sudden gasping.

Only a few seconds had passed, but Thrawn's neck had somehow shifted into place and he immediately took a sharp intake of air. With a lingering sensation of his neck being broken, Thrawn lifted a hand and held the area while staring at the ceiling.

At this point, Stoick saw that Thrawn had been revived again and felt relieved. Hiccup, with tears pouring from his eyes, although not understanding what happened, was just as relieved as his father and hugged his brother tightly.

After a moment of adjusting from his revival, Thrawn took in his surroundings and remembered what lead to his death. He quickly sat up and asked with panic. "Hiccup! Are you okay!?"

Unfortunately, his concern lead to an unexpected outcome. "Waaaah! Thrawn!!!" Hiccup began crying his heart out, leaving Thrawn to look at his father in confusion, only to be wrapped in a big hug from him as well...

Sitting still while being held, Thrawn was incredibly confused by their reactions, but couldn't help enjoying the contact with his family. 'This isn't so bad...' He smiled slightly, happy to be with his family.

(Not real sure where I'm taking this...)