hhhh so have you guys seen the HTTYD3 deleted scene where Hiccup finds a lil bird? I hope so, because this one shot is based on that scene

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Stoick was surprised how fast pretty much every single person in the village knew about his and his son's short trip to the woods.

Word that the son of Stoick the Vast adopted a small, injured bird instead of killing it got around pretty quickly and the chief heard whispers about himself, but mostly about his son. Hiccup had always been different, from the moment he could crawl his mind was different that the other kid's and definitely a lot different than his own.

His son reminded him painfully of his dead wife. With a heart of pure gold, maybe sometimes keen to making poor decisions. He loved him, though. With all his heart.

The whispers Stoick heard about himself, he didn't really mind, but he did indeed mind those about his son. People saying he was weak and small, not a real viking.

Those words stung.

Especially the other kids in Hiccup's age liked to make fun of him for being so un-vikinglike. Not buff, or tall, but skinny and short, without much muscle. He did make up for his lack of strength with his brain though.

He was a smart kid, Stoick knew that very well. Hiccup was the kind of kid to question pretty much everything around him. It was one if the many things the viking chief adored about his son, the fact that he won't just buy every story he's told, but question said stories and things.

It was a week after they adopted the small bird, and since Stoick had to attempt some chiefly duties, he left his young heir with Gobber, who was working in the forge that day. Stoick knew very well that the forge can be dangerous, especially for a small child like Hiccup, but he trusted Gobber to take care of his son.

Of course, Hiccup took the bird with him to keep an eye on him. „He's my responsibility after all," he had said as he put the bird into a small basket stuffed with grass and a small bowl filled with water.

Stoick wasn't sure if his child was aware of what the other villagers were saying about him, but it didn't matter as long as he was happy with his own choices. Stoick was proud of him either way.

As he dropped off his son at the forge, though, Hiccup said something that worried the chief a bit, „dad, why do the other people say I'm not a real viking?" He asked, holding his father's hand and the basket with the small bird inside.
„Snotlout said that I'll never be a viking if I don't man up..."

The chief sighed and stopped walking, crouching down to meet his son's height, „you... you're just different, son."

„But why is being different a bad thing?"

„It isn't son, don't listen to what the others are saying, and especially not Snotlout," he reached down and put a hand over his son's heart, „you're better than them anyway."

Hiccup smiled at him then, his eyes shining, „I won't, dad."

Levering himself to his feet again, Stoick took his son's hand and continued walking to the forge. He dropped his son off, telling Gobber he'll be back to pick him up in the evening.

So to keep the young heir busy, Gobber gave him wood and a knife, telling him to carve whatever he wanted out of it. Hiccup smiled widely and took the knife and wood, immediately jumping on the stool and putting the basked with the bird on the countertop. Gobber smiled to himself as he fixed another sword, hearing the boy have a conversation about wood with the bird.

About three hours later there were steps to be heard, and Gobber looked up to see Sven Hofferson put a small, damaged axe on the countertop. Gobber chuckled as he saw his daughter standing next to her father, her hand holding his. „The axe needs sharpening again?" He mused earning a nod from the older Hofferson.

„She's going to be the best warrior this village has ever seen, I'm telling you Gobber," he said proudly, releasing his daughter's hand and putting his hand on her shoulder, the sky blue eyes of Astrid shining as she smiled. „Anyway, could you sharpen this axe for us real quick, Astrid wants to continue her training."

„Sure thing Sven," the blacksmith said and carried the axe to sharpen it.

Hiccup looked up from his work as he heard Astrid's voice. He admired her a lot. Like, a lot.
She was amazing, amazingly talented with the axe and overall the best warrior he's ever seen. He wished she was his friend, though. They rarely ever talked and when they did it was her telling him to get out of the way when they learned some Berkian history with Gobber or weapon techniques.

Yes they were very young, but they were vikings. Weapons are a part of their lives.

So as Hiccup watched from his spot, silently admiring the way Astrid's father's eyes shone with pride, he didn't notice said girl walking up to him, jumping up on the counter top and sitting down on it.

„So it's true," she said, „you did adopt a bird instead of killing it."

Hiccup dropped the knife and piece of wood, and let out a quiet squeal.
„I-i... y-y-yes I-I did.." He stuttered leaning over the basket and looking at the bird.

Humming, the blonde girl did the same, „that's pretty cool actually," she stated, making Hiccup's head shoot up, his eyes widening in disbelief.

„W-w-what? B-but Snotlout said-„

„Hiccup, he's Snotlout don't listen to what he says," she said and offered the bird a finger.

The young heir was baffled and looked down at his hands. „It's cool that you didn't kill it. It deserved to have a chance to fight for its life."

„I guess.."

Astrid jumped off the counter top when her father called her „you're different Hiccup," she said „but that doesn't have to be a bad thing."

Hiccup smiled dreamily as she grabbed her axe and took her father's hand and walked away.

He looked down when he heard a little squeak, to see the bird looking at him with wide eyes,

„what are you looking at?"

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Idk