Hiccup was planning something.

He was on his way back to the shop, holding a bundle wrapped in brown cloth. It was raining, which was an advantage, as most people were huddled up inside with their fires going full-blast, and the town was almost empty. As he passed Snotlout's house, he noticed a lone Gronkle hiding in the shadows of the overhanging roof, pressed against the warmth of the walls with its eyes closed in bliss, sleeping despite the chatter coming from the window above its head.

Hiccup tightened the string around the bundle and tucked it further inside his vest, holding it firmly against his abdomen. He grinned quietly to himself when he thought of the expression on –

"Astrid!" he yelped, sliding in the mud and almost falling on his behind when the blonde appeared in front of him. She was wrapped up warmly in a large brown coat oiled with something that kept the raindrops from soaking in and instead sent them sliding down and dripping to the ground.

Astrid smiled in greeting, but her eyes almost instantly narrowed with suspicion at the object Hiccup was hastily trying to hide from her. "What are you holding?"
"Holding? Nothing," Hiccup's eyes darted everywhere, avoiding Astrid's face. "Not a thing. Nothing at all."
"Hiccup," Astrid warned. She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head. "Show it to me."

It wasn't a request. It was a command.

"B-but it's not…" Oh, gods. Hiccup swallowed and almost smacked himself in the face. His lying was terrible. There had to be something he could do to distract her. He was about to comment feebly on the weather when she continued speaking.

"Why are you hiding things from me?" Astrid's eyes changed from demanding to hurt. "I thought you said you could tell me anything."
"I said that?"
"Yeah you said it. Last week. When you told me about the crush you used to have on Ruffnut when you were three, and the time you –"

"Okay, alright, gods, you're so demanding! I will show it to you."

Astrid smiled triumphantly and waited.

Hiccup paused, rain dripping from his hair and nose, and gathering on his eyelashes. He shouldn't be standing in the middle of it like that, but from his fifteen years living in Berk, he was just about used to it by now. He had caught every virus the village could hold, and besides, his immune system was starting to get better. All that flying around to other areas was doing him good.

"I will tell you," he continued, "tomorrow."

Astrid glared at him.

"Tomorrow, I promise!" Hiccup nodded. "Yeah. Because… it's a surprise. And it's not ready."
For a moment, her eyes lit up. "Is it… for me?"

"Uh…" darn, she was going to ruin this. "No. No, but it… involves you. Partially. So…"

Again, Astrid's face fell, and Hiccup kicked himself. Gods, now she was upset. He hated it when she was upset. He did anything he could to keep her otherwise. Ever since the whole dragon thing last year, things between them had been a lot better than during childhood. She had a bit of a habit of kissing him on impulse, but there wasn't anything serious going on between them. They were friends. Good friends. And yes, he did like her. He had liked her since he was twelve.

"Uh, Astrid…" he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand, which unfortunately sent a cascade of cold raindrops down his spine, making him squirm uncomfortably.

"Yeah?" Astrid's tone was dull now, but she met his eyes nonetheless. He loved that about her. She was always looking people in the eye.

"Uh, will you… Do you want to meet me tomorrow? For a fly?"

That got her attention. There was nothing she loved better than flying, especially if it involved Hiccup. "Sure."

"Cool. I'll see you then. B-bye Astrid."
Astrid smiled and disappeared into the rain, leaving Hiccup to let out a breath he had been holding for what seemed like a lifetime. He glanced down at the bundle and continued walking.

That was close.