It was raining today but Hiccup wouldn't know it.
For the longest time he could remember he had been bedridden. His life was fleeting, hanging by a thin rope. He didn't know if he went to sleep tonight, he would wake up again tomorrow.
Hiccup had been at the mere age of fifteen when he had been diagnosed with two rare type of cancers. The treatment started immediately, so for the next four years he was isolated from the rest of the world. He either spent all his time in a hospitable or indoors where he would be safe. The chemotherapy weakened his immune system and made him very vulnerable to infections. Just getting the common cold could have fatal consequences.
While other teens his age were getting their first kisses and reaching other milestones, Hiccup was missing out. His parents of course attempted to help him out the best they could, buying him all kinds of electronics and video games to occupy his time. But it still didn't cease his yearning for normalcy.
There was one good thing that came out of this misfortunate state though. His divorced parents found their way back to one another. It was a small happiness in the midst of all the pain and sickness. At least his short lived life would have counted for something.
Hiccup had been allowed to go home at the end of this week, a decision he had taken himself. He didn't have control over much in his life but at least he could choose how to spend his last moments alive.
-,-
Astrid Hofferson was studious, dedicated and well disciplined. She worked, trained and read till her eyes grew bleary. Sometimes she would even spend her free time on extracurricular activities to gain extra credit for her application. In other words, there was no time set aside for mindless fun. In her world such a thing didn't exist. In order to accomplish something in life and be successful, making some sacrifices was essential. So what if she missed out on having friends and going through all the high school experiences? It was all worthless in the long term.
What mattered was the future, not the present.
So when Astrid ended up failing on one of her exams, having been too overconfident about the final execution, her entire world suddenly turned upside down.
At first, she was in deep shock, followed by immediate denial.
It had to be a mistake. Astrid Hofferson simply didn't fail. It wasn't in her nature. She told herself that nearly every day, pretending like the event had never occurred.
Almost a full week later, she finally to started to accept her failure, causing her to dwell into depression for the first time in her life.
It wasn't noticeable at first. Neither to her, nor her parents. But she slowly began to realize how much less motivated and confident she had become. To the point she was beginning to give up on dream of getting into Harvard Medical School.
All because one lousy class.
Feeling herself starting to suffocate in the library she worked in during her pastime, Astrid ventured outside and lowered down on a bench nearby.
Next to her sat a lanky guy in a baseball cap and large Beatles hoodie, smoking.
Astrid payed him no mind until the wind suddenly shifted and the smoke began gathering up in her direction. She scrunched up her nose and coughed.
"Do you mind?" she spat at the boy next to her. He gave her a funny look and then shook his head, still taking drags from his cigarette despite her complaint.
She tapped her foot impatiently, eyeing him in disgust. "You do realize this stuff can give you cancer, right? Or are you one of us those brainless idiots who thinks smoking makes you look cool?"
He turned to her with a smirk which looked more like a sneer if she was honest. "You do realize you don't have to sit here, right?" he retorted. "Or are you one of those judgemental bitches who thinks berating others will make you feel better about yourself?"
Astrid gaped at him. "I'm not a bitch!" she shouted, feeling her cheeks heat up with anger.
"Could have fooled me," she heard him mutter before taking another drag. Astrid curled her fists and stood up before him, trying to look intimidating.
"Listen here buddy, you don't know me," she seethed. "I was only trying to give you some helpful advice but clearly you are past listening. If you want to continue sucking on that cancereous stick then go right ahead. I really couldn't give less of a fuck."
The guy now looked more smug than ever.
"You were trying to help me even though you couldn't give less of a fuck?" he laughed at her. "Nah, I think you were only trying to help yourself."
Astrid folded her arms across her chest, throwing him another glare. "I'm leaving," she declared, grabbing her bag up from the table next to the bench.
"Be my guest," the guy called out after her. His green eyes watching her with amusement.
Astrid took a few steps forward but then halted. She turned around and rushed back to where he was sitting, dropping her belongings back in place.
"You know what, I have changed my mind. I'm staying. You don't own this place," she retorted with a scowl. "If anyone should be leaving, it's you."
The guy didn't budge and instead stretched out his skinny legs in front of him. Silently daring her to make her next move.
Astrid stared at him for a while before sinking down on the far end of the bench, folding her arms over her chest.
Two could play this game. Astrid Hofferson wasn't anything if not stubborn.
-,-
Astrid returned home late that evening and it didn't go unnoticed by her parents.
"What took you so long?" her mother asked her just as she entered through the front door. Astrid didn't answer, looking more sullen and morose than she usually would.
Her mother remained persistent and nosy but Astrid kept tight-lipped. "I'm going to bed," she said at last and headed upstairs.
Once safe inside the tidy space of her bedroom, Astrid sank down against the door. Her heart throbbing with an unusual new feeling.
What was happening to her?
-,-
Hiccup couldn't pry his mother's hands off of him even he tried to. "Mom, I told you I'm fine. Stop worrying for no reason."
Val, unconvinced, laid a hand across his temple and gasped. "But you are burning up, sweetie!"
Hiccup coughed. "It's nothing, I promise I feel fine," he said.
It didn't matter how many times he tried to reassure her, his mother was going to end up calling the ambulance. Hiccup decided to snatch the phone out of her grip.
"Hiccup!" his mother scowled. "Give me my phone back now."
Hiccup placed a calming hand on her shoulder. "First you have to promise me you will stop overreacting," he shouted. "The last thing I want is to waste more time waiting in the ER. I just got out of there, mom. And we agreed to do things my way from now on."
Val shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes, "I'm not going to risk putting your life at stake! What if you go to bed now.. and don't wake up again? How can you ask your mother to just be fine with with it?" her voice cracked.
Hiccup dropped the device down on the nearest surface, which happened to be the dining table, and then pulled her in for a hug.
His hoodie quickly became soaked in her tears.
"At least I will die in my own bed then," he whispered. "And I will die knowing it was something I decided for myself."
His mother eventually nodded and Hiccup stepped back from her embrace. "You and Dad could help me make my bed though," he cracked a smile at his father as he joined them. "My arms are kinda sore."
Val placed a hand on her son's fragile face. "Of course, sweetie."
-,-
The guy with the cap and hoodie sat on the exact same spot when Astrid passed him by.
Last time, they had ended up staying for hours, neither willing to be the first one to leave. In the end, they were ushered away by the property's owner. He had wanted to close the gates around the area and kindly asked them to fuck off. They both had been stunned by this occurrence and had cracked up afterwards in spite of themselves. Which of course was followed by awkward silence and a wordless goodbye.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Astrid decided to close the distance.
"Is this seat taken?" she asked him with a smile, her heart racing at the anticipation of his reaction.
"I don't own this bench, remember?" he shrugged, pulling out a cigarette to smoke.
Astrid bit her lip but decided to give in. She sat down beside him, not too close but also not as far away as the night a few days ago.
"You really don't have a care in the world, do you?" she attempted at small talk. "I mean, I have seen you sitting here by yourself, smoking God knows what, for the past week now. Don't you have school?"
He paused. "I guess I'm too cool for school," he smirked, eyeing her with curiosity. "Why the sudden interest? I thought you couldn't give less of a fuck."
Astrid closed her eyes momentarily. Of course he had to bring that up again. Well, why wouldn't he? She had stated it out loud after all.
"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I had a bad day. I know that's no excuse for snapping at you the way I did but.."
He blew the smoke directly in her face, making her eyes water up. Astrid remained still.
"What's your name?"
"Astrid."
He stared at her with intent now as if there was some familiarity between them.
"Aren't you going to tell me your name?" she asked with a nervous laugh, feeling slightly uncomfortable under the heat of his gaze.
He paused, averting his eyes, before uttering at last, "It's.. ah... Hiccup," he almost stumbled over the word, no longer appearing as confident he was just a moment ago.
Astrid raised an eyebrow. "That's.. your actual real name? Did your parents really name you Hiccup?" she chuckled.
"What, you have something against my name now?" he retorted in feign offense. "And here I thought we were finally getting along."
"No!" Astrid spoke up quickly. "It's just very... unusual. But it suits you!"
Hiccup tipped his head back and laughed.
It was then she came to notice how vibrant his green eyes were behind that dull appearance.
-,-
A/N: I was writing a new chapter for Friends With Benefits when I suddenly felt the urge to write this AU. This story doesn't in any way follow the plot of "Me Before You" but it does however share some of its themes.