Okay so I know I still have a few stories to write, but I'm getting there. ^^; Anyway, I'm finally uploading this, I've had it done for a while now, but I'm putting this out there because one; in celebration of the new HTTYD movie coming out! I can't freaking wait! And two; I want to see what you guys think of my version of a modern AU for HTTYD. It's my first HTTYD story, but I think I've done a pretty good job. :D Unlike other AU's I tried to really hard to stay with the story, but just make it modern. There's still dragons cause you can't take them out! XD But anyway Please tell me what you guys think. I've been working on this for a while now. I have it prewritten so I'll upload ever week or so. So here we go, the first chapter, which was hard to write!

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Green eyes popped open to see a dark bedroom. The alarm was still going off so he leaned over onto his side and slammed his fist down on the machine stopping it at once.

My name is Henry Horrendous Haddock the third, but you can just call me Hiccup. Great name I know, it's kind of a long story. My real name was my grandfather's name and my father wanted me to be just like him. My grandfather was a general in the army and everything a red blooded American should be; strong, brave, confident, a born leader. My father inherited all this from him and more and he wanted me to follow in their foot-steps.

Unfortunately, I didn't.

Hiccup moved the covers off of his body then went get out of bed, but his foot got caught in the blanket and he fell out instead.

I'm a klutz. Have been ever since I could walk. I've been weak and little my entire life and I can't even lift a couple of bricks over my head. I know how pathetic I am and I'm reminded of this every time I see my father. He always looks at me with this disappointed scowl like someone skipped the meat on his sandwich.

Hiccup sighed and forced himself to get off the floor and ready for school.

I've tried everything I can think of to get on his good side, to try and get a congratulatory nod or maybe even a 'good job son', but it's always a shake of the head and the disappointed scowl. My father is a man of tradition and old thinking. You see, believe it or not we have Viking blood. That's what my father wants me to be; a strong, brave Viking. On a side note my uncle, Spike or Spitlout, don't ask, told me once that when my father was a baby he popped an alligator's head clean off its shoulders with his bare hands. Do I believe it… yes I do. Anyway, the Viking thing is also where the wonderful middle name comes from. My father's name is Stoick. I kid you not… it was my grandfather's idea.

Hiccup now dressed and ready, walked down the stairs and out to the garage where his car was waiting for him. So he got in and drove to school.

It fits him, at least in my opinion, even when he's happy, he hardly ever smiles. In all honesty I think it's because of my mother; Val. She passed away when I was five and ever since then… things just haven't been the same between my father and me, but it's not… that… bad. Oh who am I kidding? My father is a four star general who is never around because of his job, but I also think it's because he just can't handle my failures that always seem to happen. Then again it's alright. I've grown used to my own company. It's somewhat helped my school life.

Pulling into the school parking lot, Hiccup sighed and turned off his engine. Grabbing his backpack and preparing for another day of torture he forced himself to get out and walk into the school.

This is Berk Academy. Its twelve days north of hopeless and a few degrees south of freezing to death. Apparently we students think better when we're frozen. Among other strange things about us, for some odd reason Berk has had a tradition to give all the students and teachers nicknames. Which kind of explains the name Hiccup. When I first came to this school, I had the hiccups for an entire week and was granted the name Hiccup. It's not the worst name they have, according to Viking tradition; a terrifying name scares away gnomes and trolls even though they don't exist, but I always thought their charming Viking demeanor could do that all on its own.

Hiccup walked down the halls of the school towards one of his classrooms. "There ya are lad!" That would be Gordon Belch or Gobber. He is my father's best friend and right hand man. He works for the government as their weapons specialist. He also happens to be one of the best mechanics in the world and the school's mechanic teacher. I've been his apprentice ever since I was little… well littler. "Where have ya been?"

"Sorry." Hiccup said placing his apron on. "I woke up late this morning. I promise I'll get them finished today."

"See that you do." Gobber told him, "We have a demonstration today and we don't want a repeat of last time!"

Hiccup rolled his eyes. His designs always failed or just plain didn't work, but they weren't that bad. Hiccup was an inventor and he tried his best to invent different weapons and devices for his father and the army, but they always found a way of not working at just the wrong moment. Now he was working on repairing some of the weapons that had been used at the testing grounds.

The seventeen year old worked in Gobber's shop for about an hour before the school bell rang for the ten minute mark and that was when Hiccup just happened to look up.

A group of teenagers then appeared all talking to each other as they walked down the hall and Hiccup watched them somewhat enviously.

They would be the populars. That would be the twins Rebecca and Tristan otherwise known as Ruffnut and Tuffnut for them both being the toughest in the school, not to mention the craziest. Francis or Fishlegs for his tiny legs I'm guessing, at least compared to the rest of his body. Then there's my cousin; Scott or Snotlout and honestly I don't know or care to know how he got that name. Then… Astrid. I realize this is a bit pathetic, but I've had a crush on her since I first saw her in second grade.

Yeah I know, pathetic.

"Hiccup!" Hiccup sighed as he was dragged back into the classroom.

"Oh would you let me out!" Hiccup said. "I need to get to class."

"You still have a few minutes, besides I wanted to let you know that your father was on his way home!" Gobber said as he changed his interchangeable hand to his welding tool.

"Oh great!" Hiccup said sarcastically as he put his things away.

"Now come on, Hiccup it's not that bad." Gobber told him coming to stand in front of him, "He just wants you to stop being all of this." He finished.

"But you just pointed to all of me." Hiccup said somewhat miffed.

"Yes! That's it! Stop being all of you!" Gobber said with a smile.

Hiccup narrowed his eyes trying to look tough, "Oh…"

"Oh yeah."

"You, sir are playing a dangerous game." Hiccup warned half serious, "Keeping this much raw… Viking…ness contained! There'll be consequences!"

Gobber deadpanned, "I'll take my chances." He then shoved Hiccup into the hall, "Now get to class."

Hiccup sighed and made his way to his locker.

One of these days I'll make something of myself. I'll prove to everyone that I can be tough and be the kind of man my father wants me to be.

Hiccup's face was suddenly shoved into his locker and snickering came to him. When he finally freed his face, he was then yanked onto the ground where he landed harshly. The hall suddenly exploded into laughter and Hiccup felt the familiar rush of embarrassment. There standing above him was the gang; Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Fishlegs, Snotlout and Astrid.

Hiccup knew from experience that it was his cousin, Snotlout who had pushed him. Snotlout was the star football player, the most popular boy in school and could very well lift his own weight if not more. Unfortunately, he also happened to be Hiccup's personal bully.

"And here we thought you couldn't get any dorkier." Snotlout sneered making everyone laugh again. Hiccup failed to notice that the only two people who weren't laughing at him were Fishlegs and Astrid. Fishlegs merely looked uncomfortable and Astrid just looked board.

With his ridicule done, Snotlout led the group away from Hiccup, but not before pulling his books out of his locker making them land and scatter on the floor.

..::-::..

Chemistry was one of his favorite classes, but with the news of his father coming home, he couldn't focus. Which would explain why all of a sudden one of his beakers caught fire. Hiccup didn't notice until there were several screams and water was suddenly thrown in his face. Startled awake he fell out of his chair making the screams stop and laughter arise. Then the fire alarm went off.

"Alright, everyone outside!" The teacher said and the students did as they were told.

Hiccup looked at his teacher then took in the scene as he was walking out. Astrid was breathing hard and had a bucket in her hand before tossing it away. The beakers were black and the counter was also wet. "What is wrong with you!?" she snapped getting angry. "Someone could've really gotten hurt!"

"Miss Hofferson, please." The teacher said as they finally got outside and everyone noticed him, "Mr. Haddock, what happened?"

"He happened." Snotlout said, making the whole school laugh. Even some of the teachers started laughing, but they did their best to hide it. Hiccup saw right through them.

That was when the principal walked over, "What happened!?" she snapped. Seeing the sopping wet Hiccup, she sighed, "Never mind." Looking at the boy she asked, "Do you need to go to the nurse's office?"

Hiccup scowled and shook his head, "No, I'm fine."

"Alright, but I think I'll have Gobber drive you home." She said glaring slightly at him as the rest of the school snickered and glared at him as well, as Gobber walked up to them.

"Once again the great Hiccup pulls through for us!" Snotlout said not able to help himself. "And here we thought we might get a normal day! Thanks for messing up again!"

"You're welcome. That's what I was going for." Hiccup answered sarcastically before walking away with Gobber.

Gobber was kind enough to use Hiccup's car so the boy didn't have to walk to school the next day, but it was still so demeaning. Luckily the ride home was relatively quiet until they came to a stop in front of his way too big house. Gobber sighed, "Hiccup-"

"Gobber please, don't start." Hiccup said interrupting him as he got out of the car. Gobber ignored him and followed him to the door. "I know what's going to happen. He's going to look at me with that disappointed scowl like always. Excuse me waitress, I'm afraid you brought me the wrong child. I ordered an extra-large boy with beefy arms! Extra guts and glory on the side! This here, this is talkin' fishbone!"

"Now you're thinking about this all wrong, it's not so much what you look like; it's what's on the inside that he can't stand." Gobber said trying to make him feel better, but Hiccup just stared at him.

"Thank you for summing that up." He said sarcastically.

"Look," Gobber went on, "The point is, stop trying so hard to be something you're not."

"I just want to be one of you guys." Hiccup answered sadly before going into his house.