Disclaimer: I do not own How to Train Your Dragon, all credits goes to Cressida Cowell and Dreamworks.
So this is my attempt at making a AU fan fiction for this franchise and it is my first work published in a long time. I love this franchise and seeing it end just felt like a stab in the heart.
I tried my best to do my research. Apparently, an Asian like me isn't educated much on American customs and lifestyles from the 1920s, so I would appreciate some pointers and criticism for this work and I will try my best to edit and further hone my skills better for the further chapters and my further works. Thank you.
A humdrum day—dull skies with the fear of humid rain, the typical August Sunday. Everyone had brought their umbrellas, boots ready to fend off the muddy sidewalks and suits and dresses prudently dragged across the streets, from dull colors to the brightest and glamorous fashion of this roaring generation. Smoke scattered from anywhere anyone could see, from belching cars to unkept factories, everyone was hellbent on keeping their head down and noses covered from the intensive smell. This was another side of the vigorous west, across the Atlantic and met by the sea—New Jersey. A little later, the day was almost at its conclusion as the sun sets on the horizon, or so the foreign man thinks, blatantly aware of the Americans obsessive nature with balls and parties in hotels almost every night and getting zealously drunk. Laughter almost fills the entire room before they get kicked out because of the riot they had caused. It had happened before, or so he read on the paper. However, as much as the thrill and fashion he had encountered in this strange land as his journeys have compelled him, ostensibly it is not the interest of such foreign man.
He had seen it all unfold. Before coming to the vast land of America, he had studied the art of being an American. Coming from the northern lands of Europe, with much limited access from the outside world, it was expected to experience a great deal of culture shock and so he studied. First and foremost, he asked, what the hell was a flapper? He'd bequeathed about fifty shillings to help him understand such woman. Secondly, who was F. Scott Fitzgerald? Every one seemed to be entranced by his writing prowess, what did he wrote that proved so influential of sorts? Third, and the most shocking, why was alcohol banned in the United States? From where he came from, mead was their foremost specialty and they had exported mead (along with other kinds of alcoholic beverages) in several parts of Europe and America. He had read the local paper about it—that American distributors were going to cut off their alcohol trade with his homeland which caused a bit of a downfall on his homeland's export income—ain't that dainty? He remembered seeing his father in rage and disappointed at the Americans and did his best to keep the mead business alive and luckily, parts of Mexico and the other Latin American countries agreed on being trade partners. He studied them all and left despite the numerous pleads not to—this was a part of his dream, but now, he was beginning to resent that.
Of course, American English was something he was not used to. He grew accustomed of the British English after having spent there for about almost two years in between late 1918 and mid-1920. It was little after the first World War had come to an end and his art paid homage to those who fought fiercely in the war and his art had granted him a lot of fortune as his art was exhibited on a London gallery in Southbank along a few other artists. He was proud and returned to Berk with great pride and the desire to have more than what he had and so, when Viggo Grimborn offered to bring him in America to exhibit some of his best works and new ones, he took the offer, however, it was at a great cause of heartbreak and extreme anxiety. Many Americans scoffed and insulted his name, believed that he was an Englishman (because as it was as he depicted in his passport), but commemorated his work greatly and earned a lot of profit for his wonderful art but what had happened next was a dim memory. He had not much account whatsoever on what happened on that certain night, but one thing instilled on Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III's distorted memories was that—he now knew flappers.
He tucked his artworks and placed them carefully on his tired and delicate back, strapping it securely with rope then, he grabbed his basket full of paint and brushes. And so, his journey started as the sky became a bit dim and a few drops of rain began to pour. He walked towards a huge bridge that connected New Jersey and Manhattan and finally, another bridge towards Brooklyn. And it was pouring hard and dim when he arrived at a small, barely built house on the squatter's area. He had pieced that house together on his own, which involves a door made from large thin sheet of galvanized iron framed with left over chunks of wood that served as his door, the foundation made from old and crumbling red bricks and large sheets of galvanized iron as the walls and his roof. The little house was held together by six thick, long wooden posts, planted firmly on the soil with a little cement so it wouldn't topple down during the worst storms. Inside, adjacent to the door was the putrid bed, taken amongst garbage of a nice subdivision. In the center of the house is the fireplace, enclosed by rocks. The left space served as his art studio and in that house, he would make the loveliest paintings and sketches that he had seen from his numerous travels, but some of which were of the memory of Europe and most especially, Berk. His best paintings were the one he inspired off of Berk's scenery, and they were the ones that brought him his fortune however, one night, it all came crashing down. When he came to, after being purposely drunk, he found his works gone and later on, sold without his foreknowledge and none of the profits were given to him. He even caused such a ruckus in his drunken state and he was even tossed out of the hotel he stayed in. He realized he had been swindled by the man whom offered him to go to America to exhibit and sell his works—Hiccup had been furious, but much more remorseful.
When Hiccup got to the house, a few locals have greeted him. They were hostile to him at first when he moved in and even attempted to break down and sell his car and its parts or steal his paintings so they can sell it on their own and almost successfully did so but, to his luck, someone defended him and managed to convince the people to back off. Later, Hiccup offered a lending hand on fixing their poor and broken houses before the harsh winter about almost four years prior and so most of them had come to respect and pity the man. The man entered the house and carefully unstrapped his paintings and let them lean on the wall. Hiccup loved the kindness of the few people in the meagre part of town. Some say, that they were bleak and cruel but the man found a few of them misunderstood and is even more kind than those who had everything in life. Later on, as Hiccup brought out his tray filled with paint—most of them cheap and improvised—a figure came scurrying and knocking on his small door, making the most eerie noise that Hiccup loathed but endured. Hiccup sighed and unlocked the huge lock and pulled the chains binding the door close and pushed it open, hearing an eerie noise from the big old hinges that Hiccup stole off from another house in the suburbs. He peeked his head out, finding a drenched man in his best clothes—a white polo with worn out brown slacks and worn out suspenders. His shoes, dirty and old and his newsboy hat was the only thing shielding him from the rain.
"Have you got no coat?" Hiccup eyed suspiciously, "The rain is pouring damn hard and you're in your best clothes. What is the matter, Jack?"
"Come on, Hiccup! Follow me. I found something of which you might be interested on" Jack eagerly commanded him.
"No, I told you, I am not going with your stupid, little ventures again, Jack" Hiccup snapped, his brows furrowing, "Besides, the last time I did, it almost cost me my whole savings"
"It won't be like that, Hiccup!"
"That was the same thing you said when you got me roped into smuggling some alcohol from the pier and almost got caught by the cops"
"Awe c'mon—I promise you, this is nothin' like that!" his sultry voice laughed.
"I remember that those were your exact words when you and Eugene involved me in your newsie business and then things started spiraling out of control and it almost cost me my car"
"That was four years ago! And besides the car was stolen, remember?" Jack argued, but Hiccup's frown didn't budge and so he huffed, "No, I guarantee you, my friend—there will be no such encounters ever again" Jack replied, his eyes gleaming with fervor.
"Where is it that you're planning on taking me exactly?" Hiccup asked.
"A little underground bar on the other side of Brooklyn—"
"You bastard!" Hiccup hissed.
"It's been a tiring week and we could all use some booze" Jack replied, "We were hoping you'd come too"
"Who's we?"
"Well, it's me, Eugene and hopefully you'd come too"
Hiccup didn't know why exactly but he did come along with Jack and Eugene to the bar that night. They walked to the train station and swindled their way to buy themselves tickets that would bring them to Sutter Avenue at Canarsie. They were drenched in the rain and people were eyeing them in a very critical manner. As the journey went on, the rain had finally ceased and at least their clothes were starting to dry. They stood at the farthest corner, trying to avoid disrupting any person in the train and just chatted about their tedious day. Hiccup wore a white long-sleeved polo with khaki colored pants and his newsboy hat sitting still on his head, hiding his wild auburn hair and around his neck was a grey colored scarf that he brought from Berk. It wasn't his best clothes but it was ordinary enough to be able to blend in and not be suspicious and Eugene was wearing his usual white polo, khaki pants and suspenders, topped with a vest, his long auburn hair swaying freely. The three of them moved in the most rustic manner, especially Hiccup. The three of them became friends, after Jack and Eugene valiantly defended him from his own neighbors who tried to rob Hiccup of his left riches and this further strengthened after Hiccup had offered to help fix their respective houses about two years prior. The two newsies at first, didn't know how to approach a man that once lived in luxury but after Hiccup confided with them his story, the two both grew comfortable in Hiccup's presence and became his friends.
"I hope to meet a smarty in there" Eugene laughed.
"Aye, so am I, or just a skirt could be nice—those flappers can be saps and we'd be damned in a second" Jack muttered, "But what about you Hiccup?"
"I'm already 34, and no longer a bachelor" Hiccup chuckled, "I might just be on a toot"
"Yeah, and you look old with that beard" Eugene commented.
"At least, I don't look like a bearded woman"
They hopped off the train as they got to Sutter Avenue and just beside the train station was an apartment building, big and mundane. Red and grey bricks make up a five-story building and glass windows are all lit up, noise coming out from a few windows, suggesting that there were a few gatherings with different occasions currently happening. Jack quickly ran up to the alley beside the building and there lay a basement door. Jack opened it and ushered for Hiccup and Eugene to hurry inside. They were met with a dark stairwell, the faint sounds of chattering people and the faint smell of booze and alcohol. They cautiously climbed down the stairwell and found the smell and the sounds to be louder and stronger. Hiccup saw all the people inside, not a lot but most of the tables were full of people—men, women, of many different ages and ranks. Smoke from tobacco cigars all harmonized in the air and there was a jazz player sitting by the counter, playing the guitar effortlessly, hitting those riffs of sheer complexity with the greatest of ease and professionality. Hiccup loved the environment that he was in. All were relaxed—a different kind of reality, a reality that he somehow wished he would've got.
The smell of alcohol was different, it felt very familiar. Hiccup sniffed the air and amidst the tobacco, wine and whiskey was the nostalgic smell of home—of Berk. He couldn't quite put a finger on it why this place reminded him so much of home when he remembered Berk never had any sort of place like this. He sat with Jack and Eugene at a nearby table, far away from the bar, and remained dazed for some time, letting Jack and Eugene talk with each other for a while before they shook him awake. Jack just laughed at his friend's bewildered face and offered to go to the bar to get some drinks.
"Alright, might as well as be useful" Hiccup muttered.
They passed by the jazz player and headed towards the bar. There was no one in the bar and so they waited for someone to slid inside. The two men leaned on the counter and watched the people mingling and drinking, but all Hiccup did was scrunch his nose up on the sight, "I never wanted this—all I want is to get home to Berk and maybe just commit on being a train engineer—at least there, my degree was worth something" he muttered, "I never imagined myself in these places because I knew I won't be—I mean, I am always the "mister fishbone mechanic" and everyone here is a royalty"
"Not all—I'm just a newsie" Jack answered.
They both chuckled. Jack Moore was a carefree spirit, happy and always playful, despite being poor and already 30. It wasn't an odd occurrence that he'd be running with his entire body was covered in snow or rain. His auburn hair and lanky figure were matching Hiccup's, but what made their stark differences was their faces. Jack had a round face with cerulean eyes to boot, while Hiccup had a defined jaw, freckles and emerald eyes. One might see them as distant relatives at least. Jack met Hiccup when he came into the squatter's area with a beaten up and dirty car. Jack watched him build his little home from pieces that were left lying around or from a land fill not too far away from their place and pitied him. Who he was and whatever he had gone through was not good and so when the neighbors tried stealing all his possessions, he stopped them, reasoned with them till they backed off.
"Is Mr. Fjordsworth paying you enough?" Jack asked.
"A few dimes—the biggest he had managed to reward me was about two dollars and that was last year" Hiccup answered, "And whenever he couldn't pay me because apparently the shop didn't have much customers, he'd give one or two loaves of bread instead"
"I came by the shop earlier and I didn't find you there"
"I was in New Jersey, trying to sell a few paintings" Hiccup said, "Mr. Fjordsworth gave me a day off—I assume that he couldn't pay me off today so he gave me a day off instead"
"And did you manage to sell your paintings?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, one bourgeoise man bought a painting and paid me well with five dollars" Hiccup smiled.
"How much do you have now?" Jack asked.
"About seventy dollars? I didn't have time to count now" Hiccup replied.
"I heard that the ticket to sail to London was about a hundred dollars" Jack said, "I do hope you earn it all before the year ends"
"Well that is if Mr. Fjordsworth pays me enough" Hiccup chuckled.
"Have you even considered finding a different job?" Jack asked.
"What do you think I've been doing all these years?" Hiccup furrowed his brows, "But apparently, they are looking for those who were raised here, was educated here or some known place in the world or they would need someone, young and built, not this—" he gestured to himself, "—this old fishbone. I mean, I should be glad Mr. Fjordsworth gave this old dog a chance"
They managed a laugh again. Jack's eyes scanned the room, trying to find a girl he fancies—at least for the night. Jack was a natural flirt of the women, especially when he sells newspapers every morning. His features reminded him of someone—someone he missed dearly. How many years has it been? Hiccup began to ponder—he left for England back in 1918, after the first World War and returned almost two years later, only to leave again a few months after that. She was still babe—still mewling and bawling out day and night, he could barely sleep but he treasured it. When he returned from London, she was already walking, her auburn hair vibrant and her cerulean eyes gleaming, the words she sputtered, Hiccup couldn't help but coo at the adorable little lass in his arms. He had missed it—her first words, her first steps. Hiccup thinks she might have forgotten about him already. It has been almost seven years—his little Zephyr.
"I miss her—I miss my daughter" he sputtered.
Jack looked at his friend pityingly, "You'll get home one day—just paint your way home" he said, patting his friend's shoulder.
"I don't know, she probably has forgotten that she had a father in the first place" Hiccup muttered, "The last time I saw her, she was still a little babe, barely remembering things"
Jack just gave out a sigh. Hiccup looked up, eyeing the view in front of him again, trying not to tear up in remembering his daughter whom he never got the chance to be the father. He imagined her sleeping tight on a wooden bed and a warm blanket draped around her which was sewn out of the soft cotton of a sheep's hide, barely thinking about her father, not remembering his name, his face. He sniffed, trying to withheld brimming tears in his eyes. Jack stayed quiet but he was watching his friend cry in remorse, wishing to have been able to help with a ticket home, but no matter how much he earned, it was only enough, sometimes less, for his little sister.
Hiccup watched the people drink and smoke their worries away. There was not much of voluble chattering. The bar was almost quiet, if not for the clanking of glasses and the soft jazz playing on the small platform. It seemed like all the people here only came to relieve themselves from their stress. It is even amazing how this place has been well-hidden from the police with the people inside. Later on, the bartender nudged them, asking what they want to drink. Hiccup didn't need a second to think about what he would drink and answered the old man almost immediately, "Mead"
"You're a strong fellow" said the old man.
"Yeah, I've been through a lot of harder things, old man" he answered.
The old man nodded and went ahead to get him a big glass of mead. Jack ordered himself and Eugene some regular scotch and got their glasses first. After some nudging, Hiccup managed to get Jack to go ahead and return to their table. Hiccup wanted to be alone, at least, with his mead. He had some spare money with him right now and all was supposedly for his ticket home to Berk, but being such burdened man, he decided to spend his little profits today for a big, tall glass of mead.
He was already finished with his second glass of mead when he finally decided to return to the table. With one swift turn, he gave the old man the last of his money for one more glass. The old man was amazed on how Hiccup was able to hold it together and not wobble like a wasted man and gave him another glass. Hiccup was almost drunk already though. He has not tasted mead in quite a few years already and his body forgot the feeling of mead coursing through his stomach. Hiccup was already on his way back to the table when he noticed a woman wearing a navy-blue straight dress and blonde hair tied into a messy side bun talking to his friends. She had a small figure, tall, but not as him and she moved gracefully, settling down their glasses of scotch on the table. Hiccup didn't notice that there were waitresses here, he thought they were just flappers going around—he didn't notice the tray that was in her hands.
As he got closer, the woman's voice came into earshot. He was bit drunk and so it was possible that his mind was tricking him already but he was not getting scotched by that illusion. The voice has a resilient tone, but still sweet and gentle—waitresses were supposed to be that way, he thought. It never left his mind that it was familiar, he knows that voice but he remembered—he was a bit drunk, maybe really drunk even but, he couldn't distinguish it. As he got to the table, Jack and Eugene greeted him and he greeted back with a dreary greeting. His nasally voice became a bit slurred and he smelled a bit battered with alcohol too. Hiccup settled his tall glass mug down the table and scooted over.
"Oh yeah, Hiccup, we met this nice fine lady here, she actually works here as a waitress—where'd she go?" Jack frantically wrung his head, searching for the woman they had been talking to just now.
"I don't know—she just left" Eugene answered, turning his head around also, "Maybe someone called her?"
"Who?" Hiccup asked.
"Oh, just the loveliest lady I've seen in ages" Eugene piped, obviously lovestruck.
"I wonder if she likes brunettes" Jack chimed.
"With my charms, of course she will" Eugene confidently smirked before Jack smacked him on the face.
"It's so nice that you have caught yourselves a lovely woman" Hiccup intercepted, "However, I fear that you will fight over her and might ruin your friendship"
"Always so formal, old man" Eugene teased, "Well, how about you, Hiccup? Any girl you fancy?"
Jack swatted him in the head, "You idiot! He has a wife!"
"Oh c'mon—it is only for a night" Eugene pursed his lips together.
Hiccup couldn't answer that. He was already beyond fancy. Hiccup met the girl of his dreams when he was still young—at the age of five. He first saw her at their little elementary school back in Berk. She was very cute, very smart, very confident and that earned her the favor of the teachers. Hiccup was at that time, a cute little stick but was always in the teachers' bad eye. He was always causing trouble but always unintentionally. After a day at school, he would run to the forge at the other side of town to meet with his mentor and godfather, Gobber, who would teach him machinery and forgery. Every day, for fifteen years, he would dismiss himself early from everyone's sight to go to the forgery. Hiccup was already known as a screw-up and the son of the chief minister and his skills in art, literature and science made him more known in the small academe back in Berk. The girl wasn't his friend, but he was very much in love with her since the beginning—every young boy was, but she only saw him as a rival in academic excellence. She was determined to get ahead of him and earn her honor. It was either her or him who taught the younger kids in their class and it seemed to do her satisfaction and honor.
Women in Berk never faced the same discrimination as did most countries in the world. They were treated as equals as their Viking ancestors before them and Hiccup respected that, respected her and was willing to give up his high stature, that he never guessed he'd have, for her to take her place. She was suspicious though and followed him one afternoon after school and found him at the forge, fixing a machine, she had been caught by Gobber and after a talk alone in the woods, they became friends.
Their friendship became stronger. She supported him in his dream of being an artist whilst he supported her in joining the army. She stopped schooling after 8th grade and at that time, she was only 15 and immediately studied to becoming a physician before joining the army in 1913. Whilst he continued his education and earned a degree in Engineering. Even though they were apart, they were inseparable, they were unstoppable. However, Hiccup hid his feelings from her for a long time and even took both parents and Gobber to urge him to court the girl and ask for her hand in marriage. It felt like a dream for him—starting a new adventure with his lovely wife. She was the one who urge him to travel to London after the First World War, promising him that she could manage taking care of their daughter and wait for his return and he chased his dreams. When he returned, it was exhilarating—telling all about England, the wonderful world outside Berk but he promised not to leave anytime soon for their daughter but unfortunately, Viggo Grimborn approached him with the most seducing offer ever—to go to America. Astrid Hofferson-Haddock didn't know what to do, didn't know what to say when that eccentric man entered their home.
"Hiccup… what are you thinking?"
"I know I promised, but I can't just turn down an offer that grand, Astrid" Hiccup answered, "This is my chance to fulfill my dreams"
"I normally don't stop you, but this America… it'll take a long while, more than London and I'm afraid that Zephyr might not grow up with a father" Astrid muttered, "I should be happy but then somehow, I don't like it that you're leaving… I mean, America—my gods"
Hiccup stood up and cradled his wife's shoulders, kissing her sweetly on her cheek, "I'll return back to you, hopefully in three years time… I promise. I'll tell you all about America when I get back"
Astrid sighed and tore away Hiccup's arms away from her, "You better or I'll get there and drag you back myself" she threatened, but as much as her strong façade prevailed, there was a bit of hurt in her voice.
"You know I love you with everything I have, right?"
"Yeah, yeah, me too" she answered tiredly.
Hiccup watched as his wife disappeared into the room. He remained outside for a few minutes, thinking about the opportunity that was offered to him by Viggo when he felt something tugging at his foot. He looked down to see a black Gordon Setter sniffing his foot. He smiled and crouched down to pet the dog, "Hi Toothless" he greeted, "Were you hearing our conversation? Do you think that I'm making a good decision?"
The dog left and followed inside the room. Hiccup sighed, "You too?"
"My wife was beautiful, smart and stubborn. She had me wrapped around her finger every time" he chuckled, "I remember telling you about my wife and daughter, have you forgotten that?"
"I wasn't really paying attention" answered Eugene.
"That was, I remember, because you were eyeing a brunette from a distance" Hiccup grumbled.
"We haven't even seen a picture of you wife and daughter, but I feel like they're very beautiful" Jack said.
"They are" he answered.
"Hiccup, you mentioned your wife is a past tense—did something happen?"
"Well, as much as I love her with everything I have—"
"Well, that's not a lot" Eugene teased.
Hiccup scowled at the obnoxious man, "As I was saying, as much as I love my wife, I doubt she loves me still after I so horribly left her for America—I mean, it's been seven damned years" he admits with a sad sigh, "She deserves a much better man than me and I have a feeling that she did find one"
"Don't be too pessimistic, Hiccup—I mean, you don't know anything, yet" Eugene said.
"But, better brace myself for the worse"
Eugene reached his hand over a sulking Hiccup and tapped his shoulder, "Hey, don't sulk, Hiccy—everything will be alright in the end"
Hiccup sighed, "Look, I appreciate the words Eugene, but I just have to face the truth the even if I did manage to get home, I might not be accepted anymore there, but that is fine with me, as long as I'm back home than here"
Another hand patted Hiccup's shoulder and it was Jack's. He managed to return their comforting gesture with a smile, ever so slightly small. He stared off in another direction, trying to avoid the sympathetic looks his friends had given him. As he stared off, he found himself eyeing the bar that he just returned from. There was a woman in the bar, currently pouring a dink for a woman wearing a yellow dress, her attire looked so fancy for such a bar and her make up was smudged a lot, seeming like she had been crying. The woman giving her the drink donned the same features as the woman serving his two friends earlier. Now he had got a glimpse of her face and the familiarity of her face slapped his face. His eyes furrowed as he studied the woman further. Round face, cerulean eyes, small round nose, pale skin. She had a bit of eye shadow, matching the color of her dark blue straight dress. The long sleeves were a bit loose, and the sash around her waist formed her slim figure. He knows her.
Hiccup was awestruck and quickly sat up from the table, his eyes were glued on the far counter surrounded amongst a lot of people. His body was paralyzed in shock, unable to do so much as a step, so much as a breath. Jack and Eugene watched in worry for their friend as he stood like a mad idiot, staring at the counter.
"Hiccup, what are you staring at?" Eugene asked.
Hiccup shook his head, looking back at Eugene's worried glance. He quickly excused himself from the table and went for the bar. He pulled his hat down, covering his face a little bit and sat on one of the stools, near the working waitress. So that was why her hair was oddly familiar, why her voice struck a chord in his heart. He never drank his third mug of mead and he wasn't drunk—or at least, he hoped he wasn't. It would be embarrassing to think that his wife was currently working at the bar, pouring alcohol for the other guests.
He cleared his throat and leaned in towards the counter, "Now, why is a beautiful dame like you doing in a dump like this?" he asked.
She only spared him a short glance but returned to pouring some bourbon on the glass. She gave it to the woman who was patiently waiting for her—assuming—fourth shot of bourbon. She was a strong woman. The blonde woman behind the bar simply gave a little smile towards the woman, "Don't think about your husband's infidelity, Mrs. Phillips" she muttered.
Hiccup huffed. The woman was definitely ignoring him. He lets out a loud sigh and playfully knocks on the table, "Alright, if you don't feel like chattering"
She eyed him curiously. He was about to leave the bar when she lets out a chuckle, stopping him on his tracks, "I'm sorry if I'm being hostile towards men" she answered, smirking towards him.
Hiccup looked back at her and lets out a doting smile, blushing a bit under the shadow of his newsboy hat, "Alright—then, if I can, let me help you relieve that hostility" he sat back again on the stool, "Tell me all about it"
"Tell you about what exactly?" she asked, resting her chin on the palm of her hand.
"Well, certainly your hostility towards men have some sort of background—I mean, you don't have to… I mean, you don't—I meant, I don't want to persuade you into… into telling me if you don't—"
The woman's laughter filled the air between them, "You don't have to get familiar with me" she answered, "But okay then, if that's how you want to play it"
"Okay" he said.
The woman poured a glass of scotch into a glass and gave it to the man who asked for it. Hiccup watched her work, eagerly waiting for her to answer, "Fellow done me wrong" she answered whilst finishing pouring the drink.
"Oh, really? This must be some fellow, I perceive?" he asked again, "Let me guess—a bit robust, rich? Maybe, an alluring man? With a girl like you, surely, you must have some sort of standard"
She settled the glass in front of the man who returned to his table as soon as she handed him the glass, "No, not really" she answered, "He's a bit—no, he's not like that at all"
"Seriously? What have you landed yourself with? A notorious criminal?" he asked.
"He's not so bad—I mean, a little tongue-tied and very stroppy" she answered, "He's very stubborn—like I could hit him with an anvil and he'll still be a hard-headed arse"
Hiccup felt his heart sank at that, but he kept on, "Oh really? How have you landed yourself with such a man?"
"All my life, I have been surrounded by his presence on the small town we both lived on" she told him, "At first, I was a bit hostile to him because I was hellbent on getting my honors at the academy and he was smart too, but then, something changed, I guess? I saw how determined he was to meet the expectations of his father, determined to fix a machine and actually help out around town with his innovative mind and so I became his friend. We were foolish teenagers going on exploring on the thickets together and we'll get lost on forests for about hours on end and one time, we ended up landing ourselves on a cove that we called our own"
Hiccup remembered that day. It was a misty day in Berk, and everything was cold. Hiccup was sketching a wolf from a far, different from what he had seen before. It was white with piercing green eyes. It was drinking on the stream and Hiccup took the opportunity to sketch the scene in front of him. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a hand grabbed his shoulders and he shivered in surprise. He looked up and saw Astrid crawling beside him, "What are you sketching?" she asked.
"Aren't you supposed to be in the army camp? Training or whatever it is you're supposed to do there?"
"I was and if you have forgotten, I wrote you that I was granted to take a weekend vacation and I returned just now and went out to find you" she answered.
"That explains the camouflage suit" he chuckled.
"Anyways, what is it that you're sketching that you have to hide behind this giant log?" she asked.
Hiccup pointed towards the stream where a white wolf was standing beside the stream. Astrid lets out a breath, fascination painted all over her face. Hiccup smiled at the sight of Astrid fascinated with a white wolf, fondness washing over his face. However, his trance was cut when Astrid nudged him and pointed towards the stream, "The wolf ran, Hiccup!" she said alarmingly, "C'mon, let's chase it down!"
"What?" Hiccup was already getting dragged up by Astrid and they started to run, following the direction of the wolf, "We can't chase down a wolf!"
"Isn't this fun, Hiccup?" Astrid was clearly ignoring Hiccup's concerns.
"Probably, if we weren't chasing a damn wolf!"
About a few minutes of running, they still couldn't find the wolf, especially with the misty fog that covered their path. For sure, they were convinced that the wolf was long gone, long faraway from where they were. The couple suddenly fell down the steep little cliff, screaming out each other's names whilst finding something to grab onto. It didn't take long before they landed on the ground with a loud thud and the groaning of pain came thereafter.
"Where are we?"
"Deeper in the forest" Hiccup groaned from a distance.
Astrid was the first to get up. She found herself covered in mud and hair disheveled. She took off the tie in her hair and let it down, slapping away some twigs and soil that got stuck up. She looked around, searching for Hiccup, but she couldn't find him because of the thick mist. She called out his name, frantically swinging her head in every direction. Using her instincts, she carefully walked around the area, trying to find him but what met her was another fall, but this time, she fell into the water—deep water.
"Astrid?" she heard Hiccup's voice.
"Yeah?" she answered.
"Where are you?"
"In the water!"
"The water—ah!" then there was another splash, not far from Astrid.
Astrid swam in the epicenter of the ripples. She found Hiccup resurfacing from below and she greeted him with laughter, "Where in the world did we end up ourselves in?" she laughed.
"Maybe a sinkhole?"
The woman cleared her throat and Hiccup was brought out of his trance. He looked at the woman who was drinking a glass of scotch for herself. He didn't know how long how had he been out of reality and blushed faintly out of embarrassment, "I'm sorry, was I out long?"
"Only a few seconds enough to pour myself a glass" she answered, "You seemed to be thinking of something—may I ask what?"
"Nothing necessary" he answered, "I'm just processing your story in this sober state. Please, continue"
He urged the woman to continue, and she did just that, "Well, we married eventually—"
"You say that like it's a bad thing"
"Not really, but it was rather a long wait—well, not that I was rushing into things, but I was ready, as long as he was" she explained, "We were both a little over 24? I guess. What I do remember was that, it was winter and the town gathered to celebrate it like it was the biggest occasion there is, but anyway, we had a child about a year later"
"He was hesitant of marriage?"
"Yes, for a while—since it was indeed a big responsibility and we were often away from each for long periods of time. After we finished education" she said, "I was an army doctor and he was a train engineer, but he would often tell me that he sometimes hated that job and let's not forget, the first World War happened and we tried to keep ourselves out of the ordeal with our neighboring countries and so we were idle for a few years and kept no trace of us anywhere in the world"
"Where are you from?" Hiccup asked.
"I'm from Berk, a little archipelago west of Norway and only few people know of its existence" she answered, "As an army doctor, I was made to stay at the camp if ever there were some bastards who will try to conquer our archipelago, but we were not worth it, and I'm thankful for that"
"Norway remained neutral, as I have been told" Hiccup answered.
"And that, we were thankful. If it had escalated, I'm sure they would've tried reaching Berk" she answered, "But anyway, back into the topic at hand—I promised myself that I would never leave my daughter so I left the army after serving for five years and built my clinic just beside our home but my husband had other plans and pursued his career as an artist and established a name in London. He left when my little Zephyr was a few months old and returned when she was over two"
"That must've been hard"
"Not really—my husband will send back letters" she answered, "Some were brief and informative and some were long"
Hiccup sighed, "That's a bit pathetic"
"He was" she nodded, "But it didn't bother me at all. I supported him in his career and greeted him wholeheartedly when he came back"
Hiccup rose a brow, pretending to be intrigued, "So why are you here?"
"The story's just getting there" she said, "Be patient"
Hiccup chuckled and mumbled an apology to the woman. She gave out a smirk towards him and finished her glass, "Well, a little while after he returned, he promised me not to leave again—at least, not for the meantime, but I never would have known that meantime meant only a couple of weeks. A man came into our house, finding my husband, his name was Viggo Grimborn, a businessman who took interest in my husband's work. He wanted to be partners, he promised my husband that he will make him a famous artist and he swindled him away to America—here in this big lump"
Hiccup clenched his fists, remembering how Viggo had his friends beaten him and stole off the profits that he made. It was painful, how he was thrown outside the hotel he stayed in, out to the cold and public where he was seen by everyone and humiliated, stripped away with the honor he had tried his best to achieve. His canvas and paintbrushes were thrown after to his frail and beaten body. He limped to his car, apparently, it did not seem worth taking and drove away. He journeyed for miles during the first three years, trying to search a place to hide himself in self-pity, scrapping for food and sleep-deprived, afraid of being robbed again. He vaguely remembers his journey to Brooklyn but once he got there, he felt a bit safer. He found a small poor urban community that he could call his second home and for four years, he had stayed there, trying his best to earn a ticket back to London so he could sail back to Berk.
"And then?" he managed to croak out.
"He promised to return after three years, and so even though it was painful to part again, I did and after three years, I waited but he never returned, never sent a telegram, never even wrote" she answered, "I asked myself if something bad had happened, if he was in danger or something and after six years, I made my resolve to come here with a few people and we would try to search for him but we needed to earn a living and so I've been working in this illegal bar, slinking in some of Berk's infamous mead to keep the business alive"
"Oh? Who are your other friends?"
"I'm here with a man named Eret Eretson—he was my husband's co-worker back when he was still engineering trains" she answered, "But he ain't here right now, he has gotten himself a nasty cold"
That man, huh? He must be at least almost 40 now. Hiccup chuckled.
"Also, I came with Simon Jorgenson, his cousin—he's currently at the pier, I think, smuggling the alcohol" she answered nonchalantly, "He owes my husband a beating considering the way he left me, his family, the town and his—"
"I suppose your damned husband must feel threatened by now" Hiccup chuckled.
The woman chuckled and took another sip from her glass. She settled the glass down on the counter and her smile was quickly replaced by a frown, "It was hard leaving my children behind though… I do hope they're doing well" the woman murmured.
"C-children? Y-you mentioned only one child" Hiccup stuttered, shocked by this revelation.
"Well, a few weeks after my husband left for America, I found out that I was carrying a child, a boy—Nuffink is his name" the woman answered with a fond smile, "Every time I would look at him, he reminds me of his father"
It was silent for a while. Hiccup clutched his white polo, his hands sweating and red from not hyperventilating, not fainting, not even panicking, even the slightest bit. Hiccup needed to keep cool, he had to, for his own sake also. This woman in front of him must be a dream.
It was dreary. The bar, the place, America—he found them all the drearier as he continued to step on its soil. He couldn't stand it anymore and was slowly becoming mad. This place, this secret, illegal basement—all cement and clay walls, blinding yellow lights and the smell of cigar and tobacco unfurling in the air. Hiccup hated it. He stared at the woman who was pouring herself another glass of alcohol and downing it after it filled the glass. She seemed to be the only one who kept making the place a bit lively. She was bright in his eyes, and it was not just the light and his sober state, she was brighter than life with that stubborn will of hers to find her missing husband for seven years.
"Aren't you angry at him or something? I mean he left with two children to raise, you're alone and you raised them with—what? You're still a physician, right?"
"I am and again, I am—he is a bastard and he deserved a good beating from his heartbroken parents and me, and the whole town really—but, somehow, I got this feeling that he got himself into trouble that he never caused" she answered, "You see, knowing my husband for so many years, I happen to know that getting involved into trouble was his best talent, whether intentionally or unintentionally"
Hiccup laughed. He nodded, "That's flattering"
"It was hilarious though, how he would stress himself over the problems he had not caused" she laughed.
Hiccup groaned, "Now that is not a nice thing to say about your husband"
"But he's my husband!" the woman laughed, "He might have got in a lot of troubles but there was not one where I would not throw myself in to help him get him out of it"
He was amazed at this woman's love and loyalty. There were no words to describe this woman other than the perfect woman to ever befall on the Earth as he perceived her to be. Hiccup watched her down another glass of alcohol, getting flustered as she seemed to be enjoying the talk that they were having but, Hiccup knew it wasn't supposed to be that way. That woman in front of him was not Astrid—she was only an illusion. He pinched himself, yelping at the irksome pain of his skin, he mumbled a curse and prayed that no one had seen him pinching himself, all the more embarrassing that would be. But of course, a little deed doesn't go unnoticed, especially with the woman in front of him.
"Pinching ourselves, are we?" she giggled.
Hiccup dismissively pretended not to hear her teasing and briskly settled his arm on the table and rested his head on his palm, "Well, if you're such an angel, why are you working here? In this dump?"
"It is the best place to lay low. Me, Eret and Simon got in trouble when we entered the country" she revealed reluctantly, whispering softly so only Hiccup could hear it, "Apparently, no one in this dumb country knows what Berk is"
Hiccup remembered in the same predicament. Viggo reminded him to forge his passport, stating that he was an Englishman instead of a Berkian. Hiccup chuckled at the woman's story, "Well, I almost had the same predicament. Vi—my former partner told me to forge my passport and state that I come from England rather than Berk"
"We smuggled our way in and found work here. I once planned on continuing my physician work here in the meantime but seeming that they won't take me as some sort of physician or even grant me a job as nurse since I have "false identity" then, might as well work at an underground bar"
Suddenly, Hiccup couldn't take it anymore, "I'm sorry this happened, Astrid" he mumbled.
Astrid gave out a sigh when he broke off the act, "I know you are… I mean, look at you—what happened?" she asked, "Tell me"
Hiccup sighed, shaking his head, "It's a rather pathetic story, really" he answered, "I'm surprised you even bothered finding me after I so horribly left you because of my ambitions to make it big in America"
"Like I said, you might have got into lots of trouble but there was not one where I would not throw myself in to get you help out of it" she answered, "We're married, we share a life, we devoted ourselves to one another and I don't intend on backing out on my word"
There was no way he believed that this was happening. Hiccup stared at Astrid, not being able to force himself to believe those words. He had been certain on Astrid abandoning him and their marriage as he had abandoned her all those damned years ago but then again, he thought to himself, that it was not Astrid-like at all. If there was anything he learned from his wife, is that she is determined, stubborn, fiercely loyal and strong. Of course, she would not give up on him easily. Suddenly, he questioned his self-worth. He lowered his head, suddenly finding the dull cemented floor interesting.
Infallibly, he did not deserve any of this, he did not deserve her.
A hand met his chin and his head was lifted to face Astrid's. He briskly averted his gaze but she just gently bowed his head so his gaze could meet hers, "How dare you think that I should just leave you after all that we've been through? And don't you dare tell me that me coming here to find you was a mistake or a waste of my time" she said sternly, "All of the sacrifices I went through and you think I would just give up on you on the end? I believe that you are capable of thinking that I am not low of a person such as what you think"
There were unshed tears shimmering from the bright yellow lights. She pressed her fingers onto his cheeks, and bit her lips, stopping herself from quivering, from shedding a tear. Astrid lets out a deep sigh and a tear managed to slip past her eye, "I did not quit being in the army, let you go to America, waited for six years, raised our children on my own only to leave them with Finley and Rafaela, to come here without much knowledge of American customs and traditions to find you, work in this illegal establishment at night and unsuccessfully try to find you during the day for a year for you who thinks that I have abandoned my husband just because he clearly got into some trouble to lose all his possessions and remain poor for the last seven years"
"I'm so sorry, Astrid" he apologized again, "Clearly I have thought wrong of you and for leaving you for America. I swear, I'm doing my best to earn myself a ride back to Berk, I've been working at a mechanic shop and I sell my paintings to earn money to go home, to go home to you, to tell you that I'm sorry and explain what happened, even if you won't take me back anymore. I don't care—"
"Yeah, you bastard, well now that I'm here, you owe me an explanation on how this happen"
Hiccup grimaced at the thought of reliving those moments but he swallowed a big chunk of saliva down his throat and sighed, "Well, when I came into America, me and Viggo were having great progress, travelling across the country for the first few months" he started his story, "I showcase my art to small galleries and auction some and earned at least five-hundred dollars. One night at the hotel we were staying at, it was before the exhibit at the gallery—it was my biggest break. It was one of the largest galleries in the area and a lot of people have heard of my works during that time. He took me to the hall and got me a few drinks, maybe they were drugged because I don't remember what happened but they said I created such a ruckus and when I got sober, they threw me out of the hotel with my painting equipment and a few of my belongings and so I attempted on pleading to Viggo about my current situation and remembered the exhibit and headed there with haste but I found him showcasing my artworks in the gallery in his name and auctioning them off. I confronted him about it but he played off as if he didn't know me and ordered me to be thrown out of the gallery and his men had me beaten up and left for in an alley. Later on, I learned that he claimed my profits from the previous exhibits"
"Oh, Hiccup" she mumbled.
"I was left with my paint, a few clothes and my Oldsmobile car and I traveled until I found a place here in Brooklyn, at a squatter's area, I suppose I blended in perfectly with the crowd. I tried finding a job but without any left identity than my passport, I couldn't really apply to jobs and I wasn't qualified for anything given that I am a foreigner from an unknown country. I was robbed of my car and the money that I had left and now it's a miracle that I got a job at a mechanic's shop, but I'm barely paid at all with a few dimes and in my spare time, I paint and sell them, hoping for a little profit" he finished, "That's all there is to it—I'm sorry that you suffered because of this"
"Hiccup, this was not your fault, you have nothing to apologize for" Astrid replied sternly, "This was all Viggo Grimborn's doing—you've been played by that man and you suffered for long enough. Now, I'm here to take you home"
"Thank you" he muttered.
"Hey Hiccy! You've been gone for too long!"
Hiccup turned his head around to find Jack and Eugene approaching him. Astrid gave out a smile, remembering the two men from earlier when she served them some shots. She realized that these two men became Hiccup's friends during his unplanned stay at Brooklyn and she felt relieved and thankful. The woman immediately pulled out two glasses and filled them with scotch and handed it over to the two brunettes and winked at them, "On the house, boys—just a secret between the three of us"
"Yes, babe" Eugene chirped, gladly taking the glass from the counter and downing it in one go, "Nothing beats malt scotch, just like nothing beats your beauty, my beautiful dame"
Hiccup lets out a scowl, "Back off, Eugene" he said.
"Oho—seems like our dear Hiccy met someone fancy tonight" Jack laughed, "But, what about your wife?"
"She is my wife" Hiccup answered.
Jack sputtered on his scotch and Eugene turned a bit pale with embarrassment. The choking sounds was enough to gather the attention of a few people inside the bar. Hiccup admits that it was a funny sight, seeing his two obnoxious friends become flustered and confused. Hiccup stood up from the stool and Astrid left the counter and approached the two men hand in hand.
"Jack, Eugene—meet my wife, Astrid Hofferson-Haddock and Astrid, meet my very insufferable friends, Jack Moore and Eugene Fitzherbert" Hiccup ended with a huff.
"Wow, I really love you too, Hiccup" Eugene retorted, "To think that I speak high of you to my other newsie pals and you call us insufferable? It hurts my feelings, old man"
"And that is why I called you 'insufferable' in the first place" Hiccup huffed out, "I am not an old man—I'm only 34!"
"Really? Because the beard kinda gave me the wrong impression" Eugene teased.
"Again with the beard" Hiccup grumbled.
Eugene Fitzherbert was a robust man, built and tall. He liked to tease people, Hiccup particularly. One thing very evident from Eugene was his tendency to flirt with just about most women in Brooklyn. But then, he is very compassionate and supported Hiccup during his numerous attempts in landing a job and often threatened to beat up those who underestimate his friend's qualifications. Eugene was strong enough to carry both Hiccup and Jack, which shot a huge gaping hole in both men's egos, and this fact was proven during one of their shenanigans where they were chased by cops for smuggling alcohol from the pier. Eugene was faster in running than the two men and so he carried them both over his shoulders and ran. He was sporting tan skin, having work in construction in most of his early days and auburn locks, same as Jack's and Hiccup's. He had a defined jaw with a growing stubble and coffee eyes. One can mistakenly claim that Hiccup, Eugene and Jack were cousins.
He heard Astrid stifling a laughter from beside him, covering her mouth with her hand whilst she turned away to conceal her face from Hiccup's line of sight, "Oh really Astrid? You think this is funny too?"
Astrid looked at Hiccup and removed her hand from her face and revealed a bright smile, "I admit, I was surprised about the beard and almost didn't recognize you earlier"
"You're not answering the question, Astrid" he grumbled.
Astrid laughed again, but this time, she did no effort to conceal it, "I'm sorry but seeing you with a beard really did throw me off at first" she admitted.
"Even your wife didn't like the beard, dear Hiccy" Eugene laughed, "Oh, what to do now?"
"Not a word" Hiccup growled.
No words followed as they settled on the table the three men sat on earlier and this time, Astrid joined their little group and it took a while for the silence to disperse with Jack's endless inquiries. Astrid was patient and willing to tell what actually transpired between her and Hiccup and their little life back on Berk to what happened during the seven years while Hiccup was stuck in America. Hiccup found himself staring at Astrid as she told her story again and this time, to the two men in front of them. Her eyes were glistening still, like how it was so many years ago, it was still the bright cerulean he had come to stare into a thousand times. She seemed to be thinner than the last time Hiccup saw her. Her cheeks evidently lost the fats it had when they were young, her arms were a bit thinner and her collarbones became more evident and formed. Her hair was also different, for one, she lost the bangs that she donned when they were young, another was that, it appeared to be shorter than the usual waist-length she maintained. Hiccup noticed the thin bun on her head, suggesting that she had cut it short some time ago. He scooted closer towards her and slid his arm around her waist and felt Astrid shudder a bit at his touch but she immediately felt comfortable and leaned onto him with a smile.
Hiccup noticed that Astrid gained a little weight on her waist but he immediately thought that this might be from conceiving two kids and the effects of aging already taking an effect on her. But she was still fit and slim, just not like how it was before. He remembered that his wife was also 34 years old, same as him. He was only older for a few months—his birthday being February and hers being December. He had admitted that his age had granted him to be less skinny than he was when he was younger so it didn't surprise him that his wife was facing the same symptoms.
The two men in front of them were cooing. Hiccup realized that Astrid was telling them about their children—Zephyr and Nuffink—and he hadn't been listening. He was too pre-occupied thinking about how much Astrid changed throughout the years that he failed to listen to his wife telling all about his two children. Jack and Eugene were looking at a creased photograph of supposedly Zephyr and Nuffink. Hiccup felt being nudged by Astrid and he looked at her, "What?" he asked.
"Don't you want to look at our kids?" she asked.
"Hiccup! Nuffink takes after you a lot" Eugene laughed, "This lad better not turn like you though"
"Zephyr reminds me of my sister but she looks like a great combination of Astrid and Hiccup" Jack chuckled, "How old is she again?"
"She is already nine" Astrid answered, "And Nuffink's seven"
Hiccup gulped. Nervousness suddenly overtook him. The thought of missing out on the lives of both his children and failed to become the father that he was supposed to be scared him. He suddenly felt like the worthless and useless runt he was as a kid. If only I had stayed, Hiccup thought, loathing himself with every breath. His children needed a father, and he had failed to be the father they needed. Zephyr was already nine for gods' sake! She is slowly becoming a young woman and he was absent to it all. Nuffink never even met his father. He lived seven years without feeling the love of a father, without the guidance of a father. Hiccup felt guilty and it was slowly consuming him.
"Hiccup?" Astrid called.
Hiccup blinked and stared at his wife's worried gaze. He turned to Jack and Eugene who was also looking the same. He let out a sigh and dismissed them, telling them that he was fine. Eugene handed the picture to Astrid who handed it to Hiccup, "Our children, Hiccup" she pleaded, shoving the picture to his hands.
He reluctantly took it and looked at the black and white picture. Zephyr and Nuffink sat on two chairs, smiling widely. Zephyr had her thick hair braided with the all too familiar fringes framing her face. Hiccup found her resembling her mother when she was at that age. She was dressed in a blouse, a skirt, boots and had a small sling bag across her small body. Nuffink however, had untamed hair, a toothy grin and a slimmer face than Zephyr. He was dressed in a tunic with his coat draped around his waist. He wore pants that were obviously too big for him and boots that fitted his tiny feet. Hiccup could see the resemblance with him. He looked painfully similar when he was wee little boy who was still being carried by his burly father on his shoulders. Come to think of it, how was his father and mother? How was Toothless, his pet dog? How were his friends back home?
He was brought out of his trance when he felt Astrid's finger wiping something off on his cheek. He didn't realize that he had already shed a tear whilst looking at his children's picture. Hiccup smiled, looking through his children's features again and found more resemblances of himself and Astrid on his children, "And you said you left them with Finley and Rafaela?" he asked.
"Yeah—I mean, it's not so bad and the two seems to love being with their Uncle Finley and Aunt Rafaela so I entrusted the two to the couple until we return"
"I hope Trevor is not staying with them or else I fear the worst for our children" Hiccup lets out a nervous chuckle.
"The twins love them dearly, so does Simon and that was why he was so inclined on coming on this journey" Astrid laughed, "You weren't setting a good example on his niece and nephew, he says"
"Like he is any good example himself" Hiccup grumbled.
Astrid laughed again. Hiccup looked up to see Jack and Eugene chuckling at his little remarks. Hiccup handed the picture back to Astrid but she only shoved the picture back to Hiccup's and keenly smiled at him, "Keep it, for the time being" she said, "You'll need it more than I do"
"Thanks Astrid" he responded, kissing her forehead. He took one last glance at the picture and pocketed it.
"Aren't you two a sweet couple?" Jack teased.
Hiccup returned a glaring stare towards Eugene and Jack who just laughed at his reaction, "He's such a lover boy, we never knew" Eugene grinned.
"C'mon Hiccup, you gotta teach me a thing or two on how to catch the dames before you leave us—I mean, Mrs. Haddock here is such a beauty! You're lucky, Hiccup" Jack piped up.
"Oh right, Hiccup! I'll have to take you to Simon and Eret so we can discuss how we can slip ourselves out of the country" Astrid said.
Hiccup looked at Astrid and then at Jack and Eugene. He admitted that it will be hard saying goodbye to Jack, Eugene and everyone he met at the squatter's area. It had been like a second family to him for those seven years that he had stayed there and now that he knew his time in America will come to an end and he'll have to return home soon. He admitted that it pains to leave them behind while he resumes his old life back in Berk. He just nodded in reply and he can hear Jack and Eugene erupting into cheers. Astrid was smiling at him and tackled him into a hug.
"I really missed you, you know" she mumbled, "It was hard without you"
"Wow, I never took you as a romantic" he chuckled before he received a light punch to the gut, "Don't worry, I'm here now. I'll be the father that Zephyr and Nuffink needs"
When they broke away from the hug, Hiccup found Jack and Eugene were currently gathering their belongings and arranging their polos.
"I'm sorry to ruin the party but we've got to go" Jack said, "We're getting up very early tomorrow and well, we can't let the police catch us so we must leave with many people still trudging around the streets or else we'll be caught"
"That's reasonable" Hiccup replied, "Well, M'lady, do you want to come with us?"
In a flash, Astrid's smile dissipated. She glanced at the counter of the bar and back at the three boys, "I can't yet, I'm sorry… I'm being paid to be here and I can't leave just yet" there was a slight quiver in her voice but it was gone as her face pulled an apologetic smile.
"I'll wait for you" Hiccup volunteered.
"No!" Astrid exclaimed, albeit a little bit louder than intended.
"Why?"
Seeing the confusion in the faces of the three men, Astrid gathered her composure and was able to regain her lady-like stance. She grabbed the glasses from the table and stood up, followed by Hiccup, "I'm sorry that it had to come out like that, but I simply mustn't leave yet, and you heard what your friends said, you need to return while there are still many people out. It is still nine-thirty, you can make the last couple of trains" she explained, "Hiccup, I'll see you tomorrow, we must discuss how we are going to get home with Simon and Eret. I'll meet you here at Sutter Avenue at exactly nine in the morning, don't be late!"
Hiccup smiled and planted a kiss on Astrid's cheek before he headed for the staircase, followed by low farewells from Jack and Eugene as they caught up to Hiccup. Astrid watched them as they trudged up the staircase and out of the basement before vanishing her smile. Her expression became cryptic as her lips were sealed tight and her eyes lost the radiance as it had just earlier. She sauntered back to the bar, settling the glasses at the side. She placed her hands on the counter, bowing her head down with a long sigh, Oh, Hiccup. Why must you show up now out of all times?
Later, a man, shrewd and cunning with his herringbone suit, approached the bar, his black oxfords making faint clicking sounds against the cemented floor. His tall shadow hovering over Astrid's figure, making the woman aware of the presence of the man. The woman raised her head and didn't exactly seemed faze by his intimidating gaze. His thin grey hair, styled slicked back, his eyes furrowed, his hands, clutching his long black cane, adorned with little gold pieces on top. He opened his mouth to say something by Astrid lowered her head, uninterested in what the man had to say.
The man hit the ground with the cane, loudly enough to gather attention. Astrid huffed and straightened her posture, "What do you want, Mr. Gaspenvelt?"
"My dear Astrid, what do you think you're doing? Engaging yourself with those three impoverished men and letting yourself be kissed and touched by even one of them?"
"He is my husband, Mr. Gaspenvelt" Astrid answered.
"So, I see" he replied, nodding, "But you will continue to work for me, right? You, Simon and Eret will, yes?"
Astrid gritted her teeth and clenched her fist. If she hurts him now, she could kiss her life goodbye. The old man laughed, his gruff voice ringing through the air, "The reason why you are in this country is because of me, and you agreed to that you will do as I say as long as I want you to, yes?"
His face curved into a menacing smirk, "You will be continue working in this bar, serving banned alcohol, while Simon will import opium and other drugs into this country and Eret will continue manufacturing booze in the factory and when the day comes that you attempt to escape, I will make sure that the American Government will be after your tail and have you arrested for violating their laws, clear?"
"Yes, Mr. Gaspenvelt" she answered.
He turned to exit the bar, but he stopped midway, looking over his shoulder and back at Astrid who currently had her hand rested on her hip and the other hand resting on her nape, looking as every bit of troubled as her cerulean eyes depicted. He spoke again, this time, the volume a little higher, "And please, Mrs. Haddock, call me Mr. Grimmel"
Reviews are much appreciated.
- ybarra