He knew the next part of his mission was going to be far harder-because he was facing someone who wasn't a relative, a brainless self-absorbed school bitch or a muscles-for-brains Dagur follower. Mr Grimborn was the smartest and coldest teacher in the school, a man who could probably see through walls and sense BS at a thousand paces. And he never backed down...so the only option was to trap him, because Hiccup wouldn't let him persecute Astrid as he had been persecuted himself.

He slipped his escorts and headed for the teachers' lounge before his courage evaporated, his heart in his throat. He paused, checked his phone and got ready, then knocked on the door and asked for the teacher. Mr Grimborn slowly emerged, his cold brown eyes assessing the wary shape facing him.

"Why are you here, Haddock?" he asked smoothly. Hiccup faced him seriously and swallowed.

"I want to talk about Astrid Hofferson," he said. Mr Grimborn smiled, an expression that didn't reach his eyes.

"Ah, the lovely Miss Hofferson," he commented. "Her last paper was most disappointing." Hiccup took a deep breath.

"We both know it was much better than mine...and I got a B+," Hiccup told him seriously. "Why was her paper marked down?"

"I'm impressed," Mr Grimborn said, his tone hardening. "I wasn't aware you also had a degree in Middle Viking History?"

"Congratulations," Hiccup replied too quickly. "I've done enough to knows that work deserved more than a bare pass..."

"And yet a C is all she gets...or is going to get," the teacher told him coolly. Hiccup stared at him in shock.

"You mean you're going to mark her down, no matter how excellent her work is because Alvin wants to get back at me?" Hiccup asked, his heart sinking. Mr Grimborn's cold eyes narrowed.

"I can't think why he would bother," he said. "You are just a troublemaker..."

"Maybe you could behave like a professional and mark the work submitted, not what Alvin tells you to do!" Hiccup said wearily.

"He's in charge and if Miss Hofferson is so stupid as to throw her lot in with you, then she deserves to be treated like the fool she is!" he snapped. Hiccup stared at him.

"Reconsider," he said softly. "She doesn't deserve this."

"You know, I'll decide what mark she gets..."

"But you don't. Alvin does!" Hiccup snapped.

"He's in charge, not you!" Grimborn growled. "And I'll do what he tells me to. So your little friend can kiss her grades goodbye, no matter how much you whine..."

"You know this won't go away," Hiccup said. "She actually had people who care for her and will fight for her."

"Unlike you, I think, Mister Haddock," the teacher sneered. "I doubt anyone cares enough about you to intercede..." Hiccup flinched.

"You may be surprised," he murmured.

"I doubt it...since Mr Treacher had told me everything!" Grimborn sneered. Hiccup backed up. "You worthless little ragamuffin! You should have starved on the streets...but someone took you in. You were insubordinate to your step-father...but I won't tolerate this insubordination. You are expelled from my class."

"This is wrong..." Hiccup replied, his voice toneless.

"Well, who can you appeal to? Your step-father wants you and your girlfriend to suffer...so no one is going to listen." He paused and turned back to the door. "And tell Miss Hofferson now she's expelled as well!"

"No!" Hiccup blurted out. "You can't do that! She's done nothing wrong! Please...punish me all you want...she doesn't even know I'm here...but please don't expel her from your class..." There was a pause and Mr Grimborn turned back with a triumphant half-smile.

"Well then, this is your fault for interfering!" he sneered. "I'll leave you to explain that you're the reason she's been kicked out of my class. Now, I must be going...I have classes..." And the door slammed behind him.

Hiccup stared, almost unable to breathe for anger and hatred and utter despair. All he had done was harm Astrid...and she would rightly blame him for what had happened. How could he fix this? Who could help him?

"Fishbone."

His blood ran cold and he slowly turned to see Savage, Dogsbreath, Thuggory and Madguts behind him. He had slipped his escorts to see Mr Grimborn and now he was isolated. He backed up a step.

"Hey, guys," he said with forced brightness. "Dog...that nose is healing up great! Savage....the eye's gone down good and Thuggory..."

A fist crunched into his middle and he almost fell...but Savage and Madguts grabbed his arms while the others took his crutches.

"This time you aren't getting away," Thuggory said menacingly. "We've got somewhere where we won't be disturbed...and we can have that chat..."

Helpless, knowing he was alone and that he could scream blue murder without a single teacher coming to help him, Hiccup struggled without hope.

"Guys...please...you don't have to do this!" he begged. Thuggory gave a nasty smile.

"Oh, but I think we do," he smirked as they dragged him away.

oOo

The door slammed, the turn of the key a quieter sound followed by the muffled echo of steps as they left the room. Locked in, battered and trembling in pain, Hiccup stared at the door and gently pressed his hand against it. It was firm.

Avoiding thinking about what had just happened, about how badly it had gone, he fumbled for his phone, seeing the screen riven by a crack.

"Thor...just for once, please help," he muttered and gently unlocked the phone: the screen lit and he gave a shuddering sigh of relief. He switched off the voice note and stared at it for a long moment...then sent it to Astrid, Fishlegs...and Martin. His hand was trembling with pain as he hit SEND. Then he switched to messaging.

THEY GOT ME. LOCKED IN MAINTENANCE CLOSET SECOND FLOOR. HELP.

He stared at the words for a long moment until the screen dimmed and then his thumb hit SEND. They would all get the notification but they had classes: he had no idea if anyone would come. And there was one more message he sent to Heather and Snotlout before his battery died.

DOG AFTER ASTRID. SHE'S IN DANGER. DON'T LEAVE HER ALONE.

oOo

Astrid was in Study Hall when her phone vibrated and she smiled, seeing a message from Hiccup. There was a voice note attachment and she slipped her earbuds in and clicked play.

She froze as she heard Hiccup's encounter with Mr Grimborn and the disastrous outcome. Her lips lifted in a smile as she heard his plea and she sighed at the rejection, knowing her father would fight for her rights and get the ban overturned. But then she froze as she heard him ambushed, heard the blow and him being dragged away...and then she was frozen and unable to stop herself as she listened to the rest. Unable to move, unable to switch it off, she heard...everything...blows, kicks, punches, threats...and screams. She stared blankly forward, tears sliding down her cheeks until the memo finally ended.

She stared down, looking at the puddle of tears pooled by the phone and then gently pulled her earbuds out. She swiped her face dry and grabbed the phone, texting Heather as she threw her books into her bag.

HICCUP IN TROUBLE. MEET ME SECOND FLOOR.

She rose and dashed from the room, heading for the stairs...but Heather and Snotlout met her on the way and stopped her, dragging her beside the lockers and restraining her until the others could arrive.

"Let me go! He's in trouble!" she hissed.

"I know," Snotlout told her sternly, "But he warned us as well. They're after you, Astrid!"

"I heard!" she said angrily. "I heard everything that happened. We have to rescue him!"

"I'm coming!" she said determinedly.

"Oh no you're not," Snotlout said flatly.

"He's hurt!" she argued desperately.

"And you getting hurt won't help," Fishlegs told her, arriving.

"I'm going!" she insisted. Snotlout paused and looked round the others.

"Astrid-you're with me," he said decisively. "Heather-you're with Fishlegs, Ruff-try to keep Tuff in line, can you? And Cami-go with Eret!"

"Awww, can't I..."

"No, Ruff!" Snotlout said with a sigh. "Come on-and stick together!"

Without a word, they all sped up the stairs in search of their friend...

oOo

Hiccup had drifted into a painful stupor, curled in the closet, his phone cradled against his chest. Everything hurt, his broken leg most of all and he was worried they had broken it again...or worse... Here, alone in the dark, he didn't need his mask. He didn't need to be sarcastic or brave or sulky...he could be who he was under his brave facade. He could be the boy who had a dead father, rejected by his mother, abused by his stepfather, beaten up by his former friends at school...and afraid for himself and the girl he loved. He felt alone and powerless and scared...

He grimaced and changed his position slightly, then heard steps enter the room. He stiffened in fear that it could be Savage and the others..but if it was his friends, he needed to let them know where he was, that he needed help. And he had to take the chance...

He pulled his right leg back and kicked the door...then again...and again...

The steps closed and Hiccup banged his fist against the door. He screwed his eyes closed, praying to Thor that he would be rescued, that-just for once-he wouldn't be thrown to the wolves to cope alone. That his friends would come and he might feel...safe.

There was the mumbling of voices...and then the click of the key turning. The door wrenched open. A blonde shape leaned over Hiccup and he blinked, his eyes screwed up against the sudden light.

"As-Astrid?" he croaked, squinting.

"He's here!" a voice said. Hiccup blinked and shielded his eyes, relief and disappointment mingling in his chest.

"C-Cami?" he groaned. A tall shape leaned over him.

"He's a mess," Eret said.

"Love you too..." Hiccup croaked. "Is Astrid safe?" Eret leaned forward, handing the crutches to the girl, then grabbing Hiccup and hauling the battered boy up. His legs buckled and the Footballer braced him, holding him up.

"Fine-she's with Snot..." he assured Hiccup. The auburn head sagged.

"This can't go on," Cami said seriously and Hiccup gave a dry, painful laugh, wincing as he moved. Eret's arm tightened around him.

"No, it can't," he said slowly, taking a small, limping step. "I need the hospital...leg..." He paused. "And then I end it."