Behind the mask

Nowhere

He'd remained angry all the way to the bleachers out in the cold before the magnitude of what had happened hit him. The only teacher who supported him, the only class he actually enjoyed...lost in a few moments of anger because he was still boiling from seeing Alvin. He swallowed and stared back at the school-even the sight of Alvin squeezing his huge bulk out through the window of his office didn't lift his spirits. Because he had lost so much more.

He buried his face in his hands and breathed deeply, trying the calm himself before running his fingers through his hair. Without Art, he had nothing worth attending school for. And he wouldn't be able to get away and rescue his Mom...unless he quit school, worked every hour Odin sent doing whatever he could to afford the tiniest apartment in Berk which he could offer to his Mom. But by then, Alvin would have turned her against him and he would be all alone.

He stared across the field, seeing a freshman class head out on a run and sighed. He would prefer to leave school again...but first, he needed to find out who told Alvin who had started the fight...before Dagur made good his threats. Then he pulled out his phone and rang his mother: she had been coughing a lot during the morning. After two rings, she picked up.

"Hey, Mom-how are you?" he asked gently. There was a pause and he heard a muffled cough.

"Hiccup! I'm fine darling  *cough*just fine," she said, her voice hoarse. He sighed.

"Mom-you're not," he said gently, his worry making his stomach flutter. He could hear the roughness in her voice. "Look...I've got a couple of free classes...so tell ya what. I'll phone Dr Bjoernstrom and we'll get you checked out this afternoon."

"I'm *cough* fine, darling," she insisted. 

"I'm making the call, Mom, then I'm coming home to collect you," he told her firmly. There was a pause.

"Darling-you shouldn't waste your school time..."

"Mom-nothing's as important as you are," he told her. "See ya soon." Then he called her MD and made an appointment, making sure to carefully check the cost of the appointment and any tests and prescriptions. He had already reached the car park by the time he had finished and paused by Alvin's car, glancing around...then cautiously prising off one of the tail lights and breaking the bulbs. He carefully reattached the cover and smiled as he walked away. 

He made it home with a significant portion of his savings in his pocket and found his mother sitting at the table. She was looking pale and thinner, her voice raspy from the cough. Her dulled green eyes brightened as saw him and he raced to her, horribly guilty that he hadn't properly seen her for a few days because of his own troubles. Dumping his bag, he hugged her fiercely and felt her arms tighten around him. He could feel the bones through his hug and immediately felt concerned. When she coughed, it shook her whole body.

"The taxi's arriving in five minutes," he told her gently. "I'll get your coat, Mom."

"You really don't need to..." she began but he turned to face her, taking her hands in his and locking his green eyes with hers.

"Mom-I don't have an MD and I can see you're not well," he told her gently. "Please...it would make me feel a whole lot better if you would see the doctor...just to check you out. Please?" She swallowed and coughed again.

"Only if you try to get on better with your father..." she said determinedly and he bit back the instinctive response. Hating himself, he nodded.

"I will for you," he sighed and she smiled.

"All I want *cough* is for you two to get along," she sighed.

"But you must come now," he said quietly and fetched her coat, then led her out to the waiting taxi. Every time she coughed, he watched her closely, seeing her body shake and he found her hand, holding it tenderly. For a moment, she smiled and his Mom was back but then she hunched up again, coughing. He watched her worriedly as they pulled up by the offices and he led her in. He insisted on coming in with her to the doctor, sitting worriedly by her and listening as she owned up to how long her symptoms had been going on for, the pains she had never owned, the weight loss even she acknowledged...and he watched the physician scribble the details down. Dr Bjoernstrom was a sandy-haired man with kind hazel eyes and he listened to Valka carefully, then asked Hiccup to wait outside while he examined her. Finally, he came to his verdict.

"You should have come to see me as soon as you became unwell," he scolded her lightly. "I'll need a radiograph and you need a course of antibiotics..." She gave a weak smile.

"I hadn't realised," she murmured. "My husband reassured me I was getting better."

"Mrs Treacher-I think it's plain that you are not improving," he said sternly. "You need rest, antibiotics and warmth. I am glad I have seen you today. Now we'll perform your radiograph..." Hiccup waited as she had the test, various blood tests as well and then was issued a prescription. Finally, once his mother was given a list of strict do's and don'ts, he attended the desk and paid the bill, taking almost all the money he had taken out. There was just enough for the taxi home...so he took her home, cursing himself that he couldn't afford to treat her a meal as he had planned, because he just didn't have enough money. Once home, he made sure she took her meds then put her to bed, watching over her until she went to sleep. And then he grabbed his bag and slowly walked to the Forge. Gobber greeted him with a concerned expression.

"What're ye doing here, laddie?" he asked, wiping his face and swearing grease all across his big furrowed brow. Hiccup sighed, opening his locker and stowing his bank card again.

"I think we both know the answer is not attending school," he said sarcastically. He slammed the locker closed. "Mom's ill." Gobber frowned and inspected the boy in front of him. Most of the time, he managed to maintain a really good front but Gobber could tell he was really worried. 

"How bad?" he asked. Stoick had been his best friend and he had been the best man at Stoick and Valka's wedding. He knew the boy had promised to protect her and that his ability to do so was limited her new husband.

"Bad infection," he sighed. "She's on the right meds now but if Al finds out...he may stop her taking them. I made her promise to take them...if I promised to 'get along' with him..." His expression said it all.

"And she doesnae know he beats yer?" he asked. There was a stiff pause.

"Yes," he said quietly. "She knows. But...I think she's scared, Gobber. Scared that if she angers him, he'll hurt her or me or both. Scared that he'll throw us out and we'll be penniless. Scared...scared that I will leave her alone and leave Berk and she'll have nothing..." The mechanic stared at the boy and saw him sag.

"So what'll ye do, lad?" he asked: Hiccup stiffened and then gave a sigh.

"What I promised," he said in a low voice. "But no one made Alvin promise...so I...I may not be around so much...because I have no idea what he'll do when he finds out I took her to the doctor. But I need this job, Gobber. Gods, I couldn't need it more..."

"Don't worry, laddie," he said. "Yer job's here as long as yer need it..." Then he threw a huge hug around the lean shape and Hiccup hugged him for a long moment. "Yer Dad would be proud o'ye..." Hiccup flinched.

"He'd be ashamed I allowed it to happen," he murmured. "But I'm not Stoick the Vast. I can't stop Alvin...I can only try and protect Mom from him."

"Laddie...if ever need help, if you are in danger...call me!" Gobber promised him and his green eyes showed his gratitude. "I will always come." Hiccup pulled away with reluctance and turned to the door, dropping to a knee by Toothless, who licked him solemnly.

"Thanks, Gobber-and keep an eye on Toothless, will you?" he asked softly. The mechanic nodded as the boy rose, waved and then headed out. And though he really didn't want to...he headed back to the school.

Alvin was waiting for him, his dark eyes calculating as the tall shape walked into the building just in time for detention. As soon as he cleared the door, the Principal grabbed his arm and dragged him towards the detention room but the boy struggled slightly and the man stopped, glaring at the defiant shape.

"Where 'ave yer bin?" Alvin growled.

Hiccup took a deep breath, accepting that whatever he said he was in trouble. So he may as well say nothing. He just hoped his Mom would feel better soon.

"WHERE?" Alvin snarled.

"Nowhere," he said.