This is a purely hiccstrid story that I'm playing around with at the moment. Don't worry, I'm still working on Lost and Found, but I've been quite sick for the last few weeks and my brain is refusing to co-operate. Plus chapter 12 is kicking my butt. As soon as I can, I'll get the next update for you all. Thank you so much for your patience!
In the meantime, you can check this out if you want. Just be warned, updates will be sporadic and random.
Frank held his ground. His ripped and bloodied shirt showed the bulging muscles underneath, tense and ready for whatever was coming his way next. He had no other weapon now, apart from his clenched fists. Three mercenaries surrounded him, their evil grins showing they thought he was done for. Frank waited, his lip lifted in a silent snarl.
He didn't have long to wait, the three abruptly lunging at him, ready to finish him off. But Frank had other ideas. Dodging the first, he delivered a smashing blow to the solar plexus of the second man causing him to stagger sideways and collapse, suddenly winded. Whipping around on his heel, Frank swung his leg, catching the third man solidly in the knee. The damage was immediate, as the man yelled in pain and crumpled to the ground. That left only one man standing.
The first man.
Frank's eyes narrowed as they slowly circled each other. His opponent was a big guy and wouldn't be as easy to dispatch. Frank cracked his neck and flexed his fingers. He hadn't come this far to stop now. This would just be another challenge to overcome on the way to his prize.
With a vicious yell, the mercenary charged him. Frank waited till his enemy was almost upon him, then dropped his shoulder. He used the other man's momentum to fling him backwards over his shoulder, towards the ground. If Frank thought that was the end of it, he was soon corrected. The other guy rolled and bounced back on his feet.
"Impressive," sneered Frank. "But not enough."
Swiftly picking up a heavy rock beside him, he spun with it as if he was a discus thrower, launching it towards the other man with deadly accuracy. The rock struck the mercenary across his forehead, jerking him backwards. It took a moment, but then Frank's last enemy slowly crossed his eyes and fell to the ground with a solid 'thump'.
"Timberrrr," murmured Frank, giving a mock salute to the dead man.
Feeling cocky at the outcome of the fight, he went to stride over the fallen men and keep moving forward. Till he noticed the shrubbery ahead of him had moved. Unnaturally so.
His trained eye found the shadow within the plants. The Stealth Gang.
They had found him.
Like a shot, he resumed a defensive position, but it was already too late. A gloved hand appeared out of the shrubbery with a short knife, flinging it precisely towards him. Frank almost didn't see it, but the glint of the blade alerted him to its presence, flying through the air towards him. Then…then….
Hmmm.
Frank crossed his arms and tapped his foot in annoyance. "And then what, Hiccup?" he asked impatiently.
The blade hung frozen in mid-air between them, its final destination still undecided.
Hiccup frowned. "I don't know…how about you dodge the knife and it hits an unseen enemy behind you…..Or maybe you're not fast enough and it sticks into your arm. What do you think?" he asked.
Frank threw his hands up in agitation. "How would I know? You're the famous author. I'm just a figment of your imagination," he complained.
"Well you're no help then," said Hiccup, sitting back from his computer.
"Hiccup? You in here?"
"Yeah Fishlegs. I'm in my study. Come on in. There's a knife being thrown at Frank right now, and I don't know if the Stealth Gang are going to injure him or the other guy behind him," Hiccup called back. He walked out of his study to find Fishlegs standing frozen in the middle of the kitchen, completely startled and searching frantically for the dangerous people Hiccup had so casually said were in the middle of a serious fight.
Hiccup chuckled at the sight. "I'm in the middle of writing for my latest book," he explained.
Fishlegs sighed and dropped his shoulders in relief, planting the large glassware dish he was holding on the kitchen table.
"You and your books. You had me worried I was about to be jumped by knife wielding ninjas," he complained. Indicating the container on the table, he told his friend, "Mum sent this up for your dinner tonight."
Hiccup's eyes bulged at the amount of food. "Tonight? That will last me all week!"
Fish shrugged. "She's worried you're wasting away up here all by yourself."
Hiccup smirked. "I'm not by myself. I have the dastardly duo and Toothless to keep me company."
Fishlegs sighed in a long suffering fashion. "Those crazy animals don't count. You need people too."
Hiccup grinned. "You're here. You're a people, aren't you?"
Fish gave him a dry look. "Hiccup, you know what I mean."
"I'm perfectly happy here on my little hill, Fish. Besides, with all these characters running around in my head, how can I be lonely?"
Fishlegs gave him an odd look. "You could get locked away as a lunatic for saying less than that," he warned.
Hiccup laughed. "Fishlegs, thank you, but I'm fine."
"You don't look fine. I can see the dark bags under your eyes. You look exhausted," says Fishlegs, peering thoughtfully at his friend. He headed for the kettle and turned it on.
Hiccup stretched out his arms and yawned, "Yeah…I woke up at four am," he said sleepily. "I had a burst of inspiration so I had to get up and write it down before I forgot it. Then I got carried away and kept writing."
Fishlegs frowned, then grumbled, "It's a surprise you're not still in your pyjama's then." He pulled down two cups from the cupboard, and set about making tea for the both of them.
Hiccup grinned guiltily. "I was…until I had to go feed my girls. It's a bit chilly outside in PJ's, so I had to get dressed."
Fishlegs noted Hiccup's usual attire of turtle neck sweater, beanie and corduroy pants. "Well, good thing for chickens then," he mocked.
Hiccup gave a lopsided grin, "Yeah. They've been laying really well this week. You'll have to take the extras home to your mum. I won't get through them all." He walked over to the counter where the eggs were stored in bowls. He pulled a container out of the cupboard and started putting eggs in it.
Fishlegs turned suspicious eyes on two Siamese cats laying curled around each other on the couch. "You mean to tell me the twins haven't been annoying the chickens lately?"
"Yeah," Hiccup chuckled, glancing over at the cats with exasperated fondness. "Ruff and Tuff had a little incident the other week, and they haven't been game enough to go back ever since."
"Yet…." said Fishlegs in a warning tone, knowing full well these two felines couldn't help themselves when it came to finding mischief. "So what happened? It's not often those two get their just desserts."
The kettle finished boiling, so he poured the hot water over the tea bags, letting it infuse for a moment before wringing them out and disposing in the bin. He brought the cups to the kitchen table as Hiccup picked up the sugar and a spoon, nodding thankfully to his friend when the steaming cup of tea was placed before him. He sat down and chuckled at the memory while he stirred in the sugar. "You know how I had to completely wrap the chicken coop in wire to keep them out…"
"Yeah," said Fishlegs, taking his own seat.
"Somehow, they managed to find a way in. But the girls didn't take too kindly to the intruders and chased them around the coop, pecking them all the while. When the twins couldn't find a way out, they panicked. By the time I found them, they were hanging from the top of the cage, crying their lungs out, with a bunch of angry chooks waiting on the ground for them.
Fishlegs laughed at the image, disturbing the two cats on the couch. They gave the men a disgruntled look, seeming to know they were being talked about.
Hiccup grinned, sipping his tea. "Needless to say, they haven't been game enough to go anywhere near the chooks ever since."
"Well I'd say lesson learned, but knowing those two I'm sure it won't last long."
Hiccup laughed. "I'd have to agree. I don't know how they do it, but they are constantly in trouble. I seem to be rescuing them at least once a day. Even Toothless can't keep up with them."
At the mention of his name, the black and white border collie lifted his head and raised his ears. Getting up, he walked over to Hiccup and placed his head on the man's lap. Hiccup gave him an absent-minded pat and Toothless slumped back on the floor at Hiccup's feet with a loud sigh.
"So, on the subject of troublesome cats…has the postman started delivering again?" Fishlegs asked, blowing the steam from his cup.
Hiccup pulled a face. "No…not yet. It took an awful lot of fast talking and a promise for an autographed book to stop him putting in a complaint to animal control. I doubt he'll ever be back after the last time the twins ambushed him. They frightened him so much he fell off his bike and dropped his deliveries in the mud."
"So how do you get your mail then?" asked Fishlegs.
"I have to go to town and ask for it at the Post Office," admitted Hiccup.
Fishlegs chuckled. "Well, at least it gets you out of this house and talking to real people."
Hiccup gave him a wry look. "I wouldn't know about that. I always seem to get old Miss Beacon. She's always got a sour look on her face as if she ate a few dozen lemons for breakfast. And the way she stares at me over her glasses. I feel like I'm back at school getting detention," he complained. Both men shuddered at the image.
Hiccup drained his cup and stood up, drawing the attention of Toothless and the cats.
"Well, I'd better get back to work. This book isn't going to finish itself," said Hiccup. He walked over to the counter to pick up the container of spare eggs while Fishlegs finished his cup, putting it in the sink with Hiccup's.
"Here's those eggs for your mum," said Hiccup, handing them over.
"Thanks, Hiccup. I know she'll appreciate them. Knowing her they'll come straight back here in the shape of a quiche or a cake or something," said Fishlegs, taking the eggs.
Hiccup grinned. "Your mum does know I can cook for myself, doesn't she? Well, I used to be able to…I haven't had much practice lately with all the food that gets dropped at my doorstep," he said with a twinkle in his eye, indicating to the food Fishlegs had delivered earlier.
"Yeah…but you know she loves to cook. Plus I did tell her last night that I was coming to see you this morning," said Fishlegs.
Hiccup was mildly surprised. "Oh? What about?" he asked curiously.
Fishlegs looked apologetic. "Uh…my boiler broke again."
Hiccup sighed, "I'll come and look at it for you, but I don't think that ancient monstrosity can be repaired anymore."
Fishlegs shook his head. "No, you're right. I've already ordered a new one. It's coming tomorrow."
"Then why the guilty look?"
"Uh…the boiler may have leaked through to the spare room and damaged it."
"Oh…sorry to hear that. Would you like my help to repair it?"
Fishlegs nodded, "I would, thank you. But I have another problem."
Hiccup raised his brows. "Another problem? Boy, you sure are having a bad week."
Fishlegs hesitantly told him, "It's just that my cousin is due to arrive soon. She was meant to stay with us for a few weeks."
Hiccup asked, "And…..?"
"I need to find somewhere else for her to stay," Fishlegs told him with a guilty look.
Comprehension washed over Hiccup. "And I suppose you want her to stay here?"
Fishlegs pleaded with him, "It's only for a few weeks. She won't be any trouble. Astrid's a lovely girl."
Hiccup's pursed his lips together as he thought about it for a few moments. No guest had stayed at this house for quite a few years, but Fishlegs knew that. He wouldn't have asked him to do it without a good reason. Plus he did owe the man a lot of favours.
"I guess it can't hurt. How old is she?" he asked.
"Er…nineteen."
"Nineteen! She's still a kid!"
"She's a very mature nineteen year old."
Hiccup groaned and thrust his hands through his hair. "You want to send a nineteen year old girl to live here with me? Why do I suddenly feel like a dirty old man?"
Fishlegs snorted. "Hiccup, you're only twenty-nine. That hardly qualifies as old."
"To you maybe, but to Miss Beacon and all the others in Berk who feel they need to be my moral compass…I'll never hear the end of it!" said Hiccup in exasperation.
Fishlegs waved his hand dismissively, "Hiccup, I think you're being overly dramatic about it. I talk to them all the time…they don't say anything like that to me."
Hiccup stared Fishlegs dead in the eye. "That's because your dad wasn't the last Mayor of Berk. They all expect me to be like him….Plus you still live with your mum."
"That was cold," complained Fishlegs.
"Sorry Fish. I didn't mean it like that," apologized Hiccup.
"That's okay. Anyway…will you let Astrid stay here?" Fishlegs asked hopefully.
Hiccup thought of all the possible consequences, then shrugged. Since when did he start living according to other people's expectations? He had always been different. Why stop now?
"Sure Fish. She can stay here," Hiccup relented.
"Great!" he said in excitement. His gaze then softened towards his friend. "I'm glad you decided to help. You'll see…this will be a good thing, learning to interact with real people again. Maybe you'll finally be able to move on from what happened."
Hiccup glanced at him sharply. "I'm fine, Fishlegs. I have everything I need right here. What else could I possibly want?" he asked, a hidden edge to his voice.
"A life, Hiccup. You need a life," said Fishlegs softly, not deterred at all by his friend's reluctance. "Anyway, I'm picking her up tomorrow afternoon. We'll pop in and see mum first, then I'll bring her straight up here. I'll see you then. Bye!" he added cheerfully, heading out the door now that his business had been conducted.
"Yeah, bye."
Hiccup stood brooding for a moment, then remembered something.
"I hope she likes cats!" he yelled out the door towards his disappearing broad friend. He turned towards the two Siamese sitting up on the couch, fully awake now and staring at him, their slightly slanted clear blue eyes giving them both a mischievous look.
He shook a warning finger at them, "You two had better behave while Fishleg's cousin is staying here…or I will end up with the record for the shortest visit by somebody else's house guest."
The cats merely blinked at him, one stretching its mouth open wide in a huge yawn.
Hiccup rolled his eyes, "Glad you find this all so stimulating."
Turning towards Toothless who had been sitting beside him, he said, "Come on Toothless. Frank is waiting for us to decide on his fate."
The man and his dog walked into the study. "So what do you think? Should the knife strike him or fly past him?" Hiccup asked the collie. Not surprisingly, he never got an answer.
