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[indent] Steven took a small step back, sort of laughing with Hiccup before replying, [color=ed145b][b]"I-I really [i]am[/i] sorry about that, I just- Y'know. The shouting, and- Big.. [i]Dragon,[/i] I just.. Yeah."[/b][/color] he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, not really sure what else he could say beyond that. There wasn't [i]really[/i] anything he could say unless he wanted to keep repeating himself, which.. He didn't. So he stayed silent. Awkwardly. Because that was the type of person Steven was. Awkward, and weird, and.. Apparently throwing the punches first and asking questions later.

That's what felt awful, honestly - he prided himself on asking questions first and whacking people later, but lately he's ended up hurting people without meaning to. First it was when he pummeled Jasper literally into the dirt in a forest not too dissimilar to this, then it was when he'd shouted at Volleyball and Pearl in the Reef, then venting his stupid frustrations and his feelings to Cactus Steven, and then Cactus Steven hurt all the gems before Steven was capable of pulling his own head out of his rear end, and now he's started off on the wrong foot with Hiccup and his- His freaking [i]DRAGON,[/i] how in the [i]world[/i] is this dragon a reality?! The guilt was just [i]barely[/i] overridden by his joyful, boyish curiosity about the creature. He was used to seeing aliens when he was off-world and liberating colonies and such, but- But this is a whole [i]other[/i] sort of giddy excitement! Like, childhood-wish-fulfilment sort of giddy excitement! Who doesn't love giant winged lizards, man?!

A grin formed on Steven's face as he looked at the still-wary Night Fury. The dragon had such big, thoughtful eyes - eyes full of [i]secrets and wonder[/i], he was sure! - and funny little ear-like appendages on his head that moved to follow Steven's movements- Well, until they couldn't, obviously, and the creature was forced to move his head to watch Steven with those big ol' eyes instead. As Steven continued to walk around the dragon and just take everything in - the jet black scales, the rounded-off spines along his back, and the cool artificial tailfin that he can only assume Hiccup made - the light bounced off the dragon's head in such a way that made Steven wince. There was already a lump starting to form on the poor creature's head. [color=ed145b][i]Once again, [b]good job,[/b] Steven. You done messed up.[/i][/color]

He glanced over to Hiccup, briefly, before licking the palm of his hand and going to place it over the injury. He needed to at least try, right?

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