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The sound of metal clinking and gears tinkering against each other echoed through the undecorated hut, boxes of packed items stacked neatly against the wall with labels messily carved into the half-rotten wood. Dust shifted in the air, metal particles soon joining what wood musk and mold spores filled the atmosphere, Fishlegs had nearly completed rebuilding a saddle for his beloved gronkle.
He half-heartedly glanced at the retired saddle to admire his work- he was no craft-man like Hiccup or Gobber, but he knew what was comfortable for him and wanted to prioritize that. His hands traced the stitching that lined the rim, feeling as the amateur lines drag across the side.
"Hey Fishlegs have you seen- woah hey did you make that saddle? Looks sleek, how long did it take?" A voice boomed into the room, devoid of any awareness on the volume, heavy footsteps following close behind. Fishlegs immediately recognized Snotlout, but the compliment caught him off guard.
"Oh! Haha yeah, Meatie's old one was poking her and I was starting to get sore even after short flights so I thought I'd put some tender-love-and-care into a new one!" Fishlegs rambled, hands moving in circular motions as he described his thought process.
"Hey wait- what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be packing for the flight home?" He cocked his head in a curious way, watching as Snotlout traced the stitching just as he had done just seconds before the loudmouth barged in.
"Ehhh I'm done basically! Wanted to see if you needed any help but.. seems you've got it covered." Snotlout shifted to lean on the table as he spoke, elbows digging into grainy wood as he began picking at dead skin collected around his fingernails.
Fishlegs had observed that as a common trait with Snotlout- any chance his hands weren't messing with something else they were picking at any loose skin.
"Well, if you REALLY wanted to, and I mean REALLY, you could definitely carry that largest one to the docks for me, it's just got parts from my rock collection- you know theres some stuff in there you might really like! I found this one piece of agate that was kinda- oh wait. Sorry you definitely don't wanna be listening to this do you- just that box if you'd like to help is fine." Fishlegs began twiddling his thumbs as his face flushed red, Snotlout wasn't much of a listener and hated listening, and Fishlegs felt guilty when he rambled to someone who clearly didn't wanna be listening.
"Oh no wait you got me curious! Cmon show me." Snotlout backtracked, fixing his posture as his became more interested in the idea of looking at cool rocks. Another thing Fishlegs had noticed, Snotlout's posture sorta depends on how invested he is into the conversation.
"Oh, Okay! Well..." Fishlegs hauled the box off another table, prying open the nailed lid with ease and tossing the now useless lid into a pile of things he needed to ask Hiccup to recycle for him.
(Little known fact: the Ingerman family are naturally strong. Fishlegs especially! He got it from his father.) (*not canon)
Fishlegs pulled rocks out and began sorting them based off size and type, pointing out the reasons behind the different formations on some of the rocks, etching crystallization clashing with less compressed minerals, Snotlout watched.
But he wasn't really watching the rocks, he was watching Fishlegs's hands, and how they tenderly carried the rocks, careful not to pick them up with too much force or set them down too harshly.
His hands traced the blueish whiteish stone of a gem he couldn't remember the name of, ears tuned in to how there was a slight croak behind some words Fishlegs said.
"-and it only forms when theres enough humidity, its funny to think about how gems grow kind of like plants!" Fishlegs was halfway through a thought when Snotlout focused back in on what was really happening.
"I think it's cool actually! I dunno, I know I'm not big on this kind of stuff but it's cool to try and learn anyway. I think you're pretty cool- I mean the rocks. The rocks are cool. I mean you are too but I kinda-" Snotlout shut his mouth before he made it worse, pushing his fingers between his eyes in embarrassment.
Fishlegs let out a chuckle, a darker shade of pink washing over his already rosy cheeks.
"Was that a compliment? From you?" Fishlegs spoke through soft giggles, watching as Snotlout looked away in embarrassment.
"That is NOT what that was I'm leaving put your stupid rocks away and I'll help you carry them down." Snotlout grumbled as he quickly turned around, nearing the exit to Fishlegs's hut. He gulped down his shame and looked over his shoulder, looking at Fishlegs. His face was still more pink than usual.
"I will, thank you for listening to me ramble!" Fishlegs picked up volume with a clear smile in his voice as Snotlout stomped away. Fishlegs hoped the grump had heard him.
Snotlout sulked away from Fishleg's hut, not wanting to admit he really did compliment the other- it just wasn't supposed to slip out.
"Stupid Fishface."