This is my first HTTYD story. I hope it's all right, I liked it anyway. :)

Chapter 1

It had been but six short months since the island of Berk learned the real truth about dragons, since the "queen" of the dragons had been taken down…and since a young boy had become a hero.

Said boy was currently sitting on a stool in the forgery, tinkering away at a new version of his prosthetic leg. He had already built and tested several prototypes, trying for one that was strong, yet light and comfortable, and so far was having very little luck. Hiccup was an extraordinarily bright boy, his mentor Gobber often bragged about his talents; proud that Hiccup's ideas surpassed his own. Hiccup, however, was growing very frustrated, that no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't find something that was actually comfortable and functional.

He stared at the prosthetic before him, it's metal and spring body for the leg and foot, the padded cushion and fur top for his…nub. He gave a sad sigh as he placed it on his leg, slowing standing up. His best dragon friend was lazing in the corner near the fire, and lifted one eye open, following Hiccup with a cautious watch. Hiccup took a few slow and cautious steps, pleased with the cushioning. He attempted more weight on the leg.

"Well… it's not so bad.." he took a few more brave steps, when suddenly a pain like fire tore through his leg. He fell forward with a yelp, catching himself with his arms just in time. Toothless had hurried over, looking to his friend worriedly.

"I'm okay… I'm okay…thanks bud." He patted the head of the large reptile who had helped him back to his feet, sitting on his stool once more. He threw the contraption back on the table, looking at the belts he had used to connect it on his leg.

"This is never gonna work! I'm so stupid!" he slammed his fists to the table, a flash of bright red catching his eye. He gazed to Toothless's tail, frowning with thought.

"Well I wouldn't exactly say stupid." A teasing voice rang out from the door, sending Hiccup into a jump once more.

"A-Astrid! Hi.. Hi Astrid…Hi.."

The blonde girl before him smirked, sauntering over to his table.

"I think we covered that. Are you okay? I was walking over and thought I heard you yell."

"I'm fine. Just working on turning myself into the metal man." He waved at the prosthetic, sighing in frustration.

"Hey, I think that's one of your best ones yet!" she smiled encouragingly, placing a hand on it to examine it. "I see you started using the belt idea like with Toothless' tail."

"Now if It'd just stop falling on my face." He went back to tinkering with the springs that played his ankle, brow furrowed.

"Hiccup… this is all new, you can't expect to be perfect at it right away. That's why Gobber built you that crutch you know, for you to learn with."

"Yea yea…now it just needs it to stop hur-.. I-I can always just become the village clown again. We know I'm awfully good at that." He managed a smirk, looking to her silvery-blue eyes.

"You don't have to do that you know.."

"Do? Do what? I'm not doing anything."

She sighed, hanging her head.

"Yes you are. You do it all the time when something is bothering you. You get sarcastic and just close yourself out from everyone."

"I don't do that."

"Hiccup, I've known you for years. Yes you do." She placed her hands on her hips, staring at him. What she said rang true. Even when they were small children, if anyone picked on him, which was quite often back then, he made sarcastic remarks, or closed himself out, staying quiet, not sharing any words with anyone.

She realized somewhere as they grew older that making fun of him wasn't right, that maybe he didn't deserve it, and that maybe he just needed a friend. But her stubborn Viking pride hadn't allowed her to do that. She stayed back instead, letting the others tease and jeer, but never saying anything herself. It had only been in the past months she let herself really open up and express just how she felt about him, and her feelings grew more and more with each passing day.

He stopped what he was doing, slowly placing the tools back down onto the table, his hands resting there. He kept his eyes away from the blonde girl next to him, breathing a heavy sigh.

"I just don't want to disappoint anybody. That's why I don't let anyone know when my leg hurts… or when I just want to scream out in pain..or cry. I feel like if I show them that I'm weak that they'll all just think I'm…useless."

"Hiccup…no one would think that. You're a hero, you saved us all."

"Hah-some hero. I lost half my leg."

"That doesn't make you any less of a hero Hiccup." Her voice was sharp, gaining his eyes to look in her direction. "We know…we know that how we treated you in the past was wrong, and we are all sorry. But you are not useless Hiccup. Just look how far you've come!" she motioned to his leg, his eyes moving to the contraption resting on the table.

"Yea…real far." He rolled his eyes, wiggling a finger in mock celebration.

"I know your father's really proud of you." He only shrugged, not responding. Slowly she reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder. "And…I'm really proud of you."

"You are?"

"Of course I am! Look at everything you've done Hiccup. You're the first Viking to ever ride a dragon, a Night Fury! You taught us that we were wrong about dragons, and you saved us from the Red Death. And, you've come so far since then…with your leg, and…everything." She blushed lightly, and Hiccup knew she was referring to his newfound confidence with people, and with her. He reached up, placing a hand over hers to give it a light squeeze.

"Thanks Astrid.." he sighed, lowering his hand as he looked back to the new leg in front of him. He heard the sound of wood dragging against wood as Astrid pulled up a stool next to his, sitting down.

"D-does it hurt?" she placed a gentle hand on his knee.

"Sometimes. It's not as bad as it used to be. It gets the worst at night...when I'm trying to sleep." He was both surprised and grateful when he felt a smaller, smooth hand taking his own. Astrid was rarely one to show her affection, granted she was getting more open with it as time went on, and he was glad for the times she would display her affection for him.

"Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"I didn't want to worry you."

"Hiccup, you have to know by now that you can tell me anything."

The boy smirked, shaking his head.

"I guess I'm still getting used to that fact."

"Well get used to it dummy, 'cause it's not about to change anytime soon. Now come on, I came here for lunch and I'm ready to eat."

Hiccup chuckled softly, setting about putting the leg on. Astrid had waited until he was set before sending a sharp punch into his arm.

"That's for keeping secrets" Hiccup smirked, knowing full well what was to follow as she pulled him into a deep kiss, her hand still curled into his collar as she pulled away, her voice soft.

"that's..for everything else."

Slowly the two made their way out

Well, what do you think? :) Oh, and if anyone is wondering, when I mentioned Astrid's reluctance to tease Hiccup, it came from a scene in the movie when all the other teens are making fun of him Astrid is just sitting back on a rock, with a rather sympathetic look on her face.

RxR please :)