First story on Fanfiction, so be nice. Hopefully, you'll have as much fun with this as I did while writing it. Story not completed yet, but I will try to keep it timely if anyone is interested in it. If not, it will still appear anyway. I don't own any HTTYD characters, except my own OC's. But they are fun to play with...
The young man was minding his own business, driving down the highway in his semi-trailer, listening to his favourite music, when suddenly a female voice crackled into his thoughts.
"Breaker, breaker Night Fury. You got your ears on?"
Hiccup grinned. He grabbed the CB and spoke into it. "That's a big ten-four, Stormfly. What's your twenty?"
"You're in my sights, and I'll be at your back door soon."
Hiccup paused to turn and wave out the window before answering, "Well, you'd better smile and comb your hair, cause you are about to go down!"
"Oh, for the love of Benji! Are you serious?"
"Sorry my sweet! I just passed him, and Smokey had his sights set on you! I'll meet you at Sheila's Diner."
"You're paying!"
Hiccup just laughed and left his girlfriend to deal with a speeding ticket.
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third, was a third generation truck driver. He came from the small township of Berk, where the main occupation was transport. His father, Stoick the Vast, ran the largest trucking business this side of the state line. Hiccup worked for him occasionally, but he preferred to freelance, working long haul loads. Whenever someone needed a specialist driver...they called for Hiccup. He was renowned as an excellent trucker despite his seemingly young age of twenty four and missing left foot. (That had been claimed in a truck accident in his teens.) But he'd been taught by the best...his father.
Hiccup hung with the mad trucking crowd that he'd grown up with at Berk. There was Astrid, his long-time girlfriend, also known as "Stormfly". Then there was Fishlegs, his best friend who was also known as "Meatlug" for reasons that involved an incident with a load of cattle. The others were Snotlout, aka "Hookfang", and the twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut aka "Barf and Belch" or the "Zippleback Twins". Hiccup himself had the handle of "Night Fury". Although they sometimes called him "Toothless" when they wanted to stir him up. Which was fairly often.
Other truckers referred to the group as the "Dragon Riders" due to the fact that all of them had dragons painted on the sides of their prime movers, courtesy of Hiccup. Another of his many talents. His dad's best friend Gobber, (don't ask about the name...its origins had long been buried in the depths of history) ran the mechanic shop where Hiccup had spent a large proportion of his youth. Apart from knowing how to strip and put back together a diesel engine in his sleep, he could also panel beat and air spray paint designs. The Dragon Riders had long had an obsession with dragons, (funnily enough) so it had been a natural progression to have dragons painted on their cabs. Hence the name of the group...
It had also been a natural step that they were constantly caught up in pranking each other. They had been doing that since they were in nappies and it hadn't stopped when they started driving. It seemed the pranks just got crazier and more insane as they got older. As soon as you said 'Dragon Riders' in any of the popular truckie haunts, everyone would shake their heads and smile. The group were infamous for their antics, and all who professed to maintain a measure of sanity knew to keep away from them. Although people still loved to tell the most outlandish Dragon Tales about them. (pun intended) But no one would ever doubt the ability of the group to drive, especially Hiccup.
Hiccup was wearing his usual loose, faded blue jeans that hung dangerously low on his narrow hips, and a ripped blue singlet over his lanky, tall frame. His messy auburn hair brushed the tops of his shoulders, too short to tie up, but long enough for his girlfriend's fingers to wind themselves through it.
He was leaning up against the counter of Sheila's Diner as he chatted to Sheila, the owner and head waitress, when she gave him a nudge and rolled her eyes towards the door. Hiccup turned and his face lit up with a huge grin when he saw Astrid walking in. She was dressed in cut off denim shorts, a sleeveless button down shirt tied off at her waist, and open at the top exposing the tank top she wore underneath. Her long legs went all the way up to there, and her blond hair spilled down her back in a single braid.
Hiccup paraded over to her, with his hand over his heart and a cheeky grin, "Where have you been all my life, beautiful lady? If I could have just one kiss from such a maiden, I would die a happy man!"
She rolled her eyes at him, shifting her gaze to the middle aged waitress behind him who was shaking her head and chuckling at them. "Do you believe this?" she called out in disbelief to Sheila, indicating to the grinning fool in front of her.
Sheila put her hands up. "He's your problem, not mine," she said laughing as she walked away.
Astrid turned her attention back to Hiccup who was now kneeling before her, his arms spread out wide. "Ah! What a magnificent golden temptress, to gaze down on a mere mortal man such as me. May I request the forbidden joy of your lips upon mine, to satisfy my very soul and warm my heart forever after?" he asked her, making her giggle.
A couple of patrons who were at the counter watching the display with raised eyebrows could be heard muttering to each other. "Five bucks she sends him flying. Doesn't that young fella know who he's talking too?" The other man responded, "You're on! Ten bucks she kisses him."
Astrid pretended to frown at him, but was finding that rather difficult as he puckered up and waggled his eyebrows at her. She had to keep stifling her giggles at the ridiculous faces he was pulling.
"Why would I want to kiss such a man as yourself?" she questioned him, arching an eyebrow.
"Well, because I'm devilishly handsome of course. And a really good kisser," he added, tongue very firmly in cheek. For emphasis, he puckered up again making kissing noises.
The first patron murmured, "Yep, my money's safe! She's really gonna flog him after that one!" The second patron snorted.
Astrid heard and decided the man needed to loose. But not yet.
"You forgot highly conceited," she deadpanned to Hiccup still on his knees, looking up at her in adoration and expectation.
"But of course, m'lady! Thank you for pointing that out for me!"
"And you really expect me to kiss you? Right here? In front of everyone?"
"Yes! My life would be worth living if you would grace my lips with yours. Otherwise I might die, a sad and lonely shell of a man," he wiggled his eyebrows at her again.
"Yep! That man's got a death wish for sure!" said the first patron as his companion laughed.
Astrid ignored them. She pretended to sigh heavily. "Well I guess I can't have your death on my conscience. Just one kiss, though!"
She stepped closer to him as he watched her keenly. The first patron gasped in shock, while the second stuck out his hand. "Pay up!"
Astrid took hold of either side of his head, while he placed his hands on her thighs. She leaned forward, then gently and lovingly kissed his waiting lips as he returned it eagerly. When she released him, he flopped his six foot three lanky frame down flat on the floor, his arms spread wide and a huge goofy grin on his face. "My life is now worth living," he declared with a contented sigh as Astrid giggled.
The first patron was in shock, "Do you think I'd get that lucky if I tried that?"
"Not unless you were her boyfriend," came the knowing answer.
"What?"
"Get up you dork! You're blocking the doorway," Astrid told her foolish boyfriend, giving him a nudge with her toe. Sheila called out from behind the counter, "I just mopped this morning! Get your sweaty body off my clean floor!"
Astrid pulled him to his feet, not able to stop giggling at his antics while Sheila laughed at them in the background. Hiccup stood up and pulled her close, his arms wrapping loosely around her waist, as she wrapped hers around his neck, gazing up at him adoringly.
"I think I need another one of those," he growled at her.
She raised an eyebrow but said nothing as he claimed her lips once again. "Get a room!" Sheila snidely sung out to the pair. "Or better yet…get a truck cab!"
The young lovers separated, both blushing madly. Their hands remained connected as they strolled to an empty space at the counter, amidst applause from the surrounding crowd. Hiccup happily received a few pats on the back from total strangers, congratulating him on pulling such a stunt and getting away with it.
Sheila sauntered over, smiling broadly at the two. "Not often we get dinner and a show round here!" she teased.
Astrid smacked Hiccup's shoulder but he was unapologetic. "Happy to oblige!" he told the waitress, while directing a huge smile to his girlfriend. Astrid just rolled her eyes at him. "You big doofus! Only you would do something like that!" she complained, but not really upset about it. They often spent long periods of time away from each other, but when they would meet up again, he would always do something embarrassing but endearing. And usually crazy too! But she was used to that now….mostly.
Sheila pulled out her pencil and notebook, her hair in disarray around her face. "Usual love?" she questioned Astrid. "Yes, thank you Sheila."
"And I'll throw in an extra blueberry muffin for you," Sheila told the young woman. She winked at Hiccup. "For the show!"
Hiccup complained, "Hey! Where's my muffin? It was my idea!"
Sheila patted him on his hand, "You are the muffin, love! The stud muffin." She hurried away from them, laughing her head off as Hiccup pouted after her. "I still want a blueberry muffin!"
"We'll see!"
Hiccup gave a lop-sided grin as he turned back to the blonde beside him. "She loves me, you know! I'll worm that muffin out of her yet!"
Astrid patted his cheek, "You just keep telling yourself that!"
He just t'sked and rolled his eyes at her. "Such confidence in my prowess!" he complained light heartedly.
Astrid shook her head and giggled at him. "You're prowess is fine! It's your ability to convince Sheila to give you a free muffin that's in question!"
"Thanks, I feel so much better now," he deadpanned.
"By the way, you're paying for my food," she told him.
"Not that I'm against it, but why?"
"For not telling me that speed trap was there."
He snorted. "Like you didn't use your feminine wiles to get out of it, anyway."
"Hey! I'll let you know when it comes to truck driving, that I'm as serious as the next person..."
"That would be me," he interrupted.
She humphed, "Well, maybe I should reconsider who I stand beside then..."
"You'll regret that comment!"
"Maybe, but as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted..."
"By the serious person."
"Where? Anywaaay...I'm serious when it comes to driving trucks, but can I help it if the police happen to feel the need to let a small thing like an accidental increase in speed slip past their notice?"
"You flip that golden braid of yours over your shoulder, and flatter them with your sweet talk till they don't know which way is up, and they are practically begging you to forgive them for pulling you over," he retorted.
She grinned at him. "Jealous?"
"Very. I can't even get a free muffin, and you just waltz in here with your long legs and pouty lips and suddenly a blueberry muffin gets offered to you, even after I did all the work!"
"Ha! Why don't you flash your long legs and pouty lips..."
He pouted at her.
"...There! That's the one! Try not to look so constipated...And see how many muffins get offered to you!"
He flicked his longish auburn hair in a girlish manner. "Did I do it right?" he asked, striking a feminine pose, pretending to be coy, his hand held behind his head, and his left leg stuck out at a supposedly alluring angle.
Astrid almost fell off her stool from laughing so hard.
"Oh my goodness, Hiccup!" she gasped. Whatever else she was going to say, was lost as Hiccup earned a wolf whistle from one of the passing male patrons. Hiccup immediately resumed a more masculine stance and glared at the intruder, who only grinned and blew him a kiss. This time Astrid did fall off the stool, rolling on the floor as she laughed even harder.
Hiccup grumbled, "What would your policeman friend say if he could see you now? Not so captivating while you're rolling on the floor, are you?" He grumpily extended a hand to help her up, although he practically had to drag her back up as she was still laughing.
She sat back on her seat and managed to choke out between laughs, "Hiccup...you're supposed...to stick out your...real leg! Not your false one!" And she bent over the counter as a fresh wave of insanity overcame her.
Hiccup's mouth twitched up as he glanced down at his prosthetic metal lower leg. "What? I thought a bit of bling was all part of the appeal?" he asked innocently.
She shook her head at him, trying to contain her mirth, as her sides were starting to hurt. "No, my sweet misinformed 'girlfriend'...metal legs are not sexy!"
He pouted petulantly.
She leaned forward mischievously, "Although...on you, I'll make an exception. You definitely know how to make it work in your favour!"
He grinned back. "Are you trying to tell me I'm sexy?" he fished.
She stood up and leaned herself into him, making his breath hitch as she wound her fingers through his hair at the back of his neck. She breathed into his ear in a husky sultry voice, "You know it." She turned to pass her lips close to his, and he instinctively closed his eyes and puckered up, ready for a kiss that never came. He opened his eyes in confusion to see her pulling away from him and sitting back on her stool with a teasing grin and one eyebrow arched at him.
"I'll even buy you a muffin!" she told him saucily.
"Tease!"
Astrid only gave him a wicked smile and blew him a kiss, which he gratefully caught and grinned back.
"I still think a bit of bling is the way to go. Worked on you, didn't it? And I'll hold you to that muffin too, miss!"
"You'll be paying for it anyway," she reminded him.
He groaned and rolled his eyes. "Somehow, even when I win I still manage to lose! How is that even possible?"
"When you're with me, you're always going to lose! And don't you forget it!"
"When you're with me, I've already won, m'lady!" he returned.
Astrid blushed but her delighted smile spread wider. "Smooth, Hiccup!"
He kept his gaze on her as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Only for you," he promised.
They were startled by the sudden arrival of two blueberry muffins being plonked down in front of them by a grinning Sheila. "You two are so sweet it makes my honey pancakes taste sour! You both win a free muffin. Now eat up before I change my mind and put it on your tab!"
And with that, she was gone.
Hiccup indicated to his muffin in triumph and began to tuck in with gusto, as Astrid chuckled and shook her head. "You are incredible!" she began. "And you accuse me of sweet talking! I think you've been holding out on me, Haddock!" she told him, as she turned to her muffin in delight.
"Neff doff fa kin," he muffled into his food.
"Can we try that in English?" she asked him wryly.
He chewed and swallowed his mouthful of moist cake. "Never doubt the king," he told her more clearly.
"As soon as the king appears, I'll make sure to remember that."
"Ouch!"
As they tucked into their pre-lunch dessert, Astrid began filling him in on their friends' where-abouts. She had been in contact with them on the road, and they were all expected to meet here at the diner about the same time. Which was great news as they didn't get that chance too often.
Hiccup's stomach growled and Astrid looked at him in surprise. "Are you still hungry?" she asked.
"I'm a growing boy you know," he defended.
"Oh pff! You probably didn't eat any breakfast...again! Have you ordered yet?"
"Of course! But this place has the worst service in the world, and a man would probably starve to death before he got fed!" he complained loudly as Sheila whipped past them. Sheila only rolled her eyes before ignoring him.
"Are you okay, Sheila?" Astrid asked the older woman in concern.
"I'm sorry Astrid love, I'm a bit rushed at the moment. I'll get your order to you shortly," said Sheila, puffing a few loose stands of dishevelled hair from her face as she rushed off. Astrid called down to her friend, "Can I come and get it instead?"
"That would be great love," called back Sheila in relief. It wouldn't be the first time Astrid had hopped behind the counter to help out. In fact, all of the Dragon Riders had been behind the counter at one point or another. Although the twins and Snotlout had overstayed their welcome and created more chaos than they had solved. They had been banned from ever stepping behind the bar again. But Hiccup, Astrid and Fishlegs were always welcome. Not that Snot and the twins ever really complained. They would usually sit at the counter and noisily demand the others serve them. Until Astrid threatened them of course.
Astrid walked down to the servery door and pushed it in with practised ease, ready to collect her and Hiccup's order.
"Hey Al!" she greeted the large beefy man with the eggflip in his hand.
"Hey Astrid!" he returned her greeting cheerily, waving the implement at her. "How's that boyfriend of yours?" he asked cheekily.
She grinned back, "Still hanging in there!" she replied.
"You know, I expect that wedding invitation soon," he laughed at her as she blushed a little.
"Now why would you expect that?" she bantered at him, raising an eyebrow. "Do you want to do the catering? I wouldn't want to put anyone through this vile stuff you call food," she told him, tongue firmly in cheek.
"Can't be that bad...you lot all keep coming back here and taking over my kitchen!"
"Only 'cause the cook can't handle the pace!" she answered breezily.
He laughed heartily at her. "You'll keep!" and went back to his cooking. Astrid quickly searched along the servery bar and collected her order and Hiccup's. Pushing against the small door with her hip, she forced her way through, holding their plates up high. She walked behind Hiccup sitting on the bar stool at the counter and plonked the two plates down in front of him.
"There you go, sir!" she told him cheerily. "I expect a ten dollar tip for that service!"
He laughed and placed his hand on her upper back, sliding it down lightly till it rested firmly on her waist. "Thank you m'lady!" he told her with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Ten dollar tip? Bit steep isn't it?" he queried, lifting an eyebrow.
She placed her hand on his shoulder and twirled his longish auburn hair between her fingers, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "Oh, the service doesn't stop here," she breathed suggestively. She was very pleased to see him blush and squirm in his seat, his hand gripping her waist a little firmer.
She stood up straighter and gave his shoulder a shove, "Now eat your food like a good boy," she commanded, giving him a wink. His hand left her waist as he mock saluted her, "Yes ma'am!"
But before Astrid had a chance to sit down on the seat beside him to eat her own burger, a tap on her shoulder caused her to turn around. She was immediately confronted with an oversized, pot-bellied, tattooed biker with a leather vest and a lecherous grin. (Not stereotyping or anything.) "Hey honey," he growled. "How about you leave that loser and come over here with a real man! I'll show you what a good time really is," he declared, attempting to slide his thick arm around her waist.
Hiccup immediately started to rise, his face black as thunder but Astrid pushed him straight back down. "I've got this," she told him firmly. He sat back down but his heavy frown remained.
Turning to face her unwanted admirer, Astrid gave him a sickly sweet smile. "Oh sugar, you want a good time?" she questioned, her hand deftly removing his arm from her waist, and taking a hold of his fingers.
"Yeah!" he said eagerly, focusing on the dazzling blonde before him.
"But I was already with my friend here," she pouted at him, pointing to Hiccup.
The biker waved his hand to dismiss Hiccup who frowned more. "He doesn't matter. He's only a stick. I can take him out anytime. You need a real man! Like me," he boasted.
"Oh? Is that so?" said the blonde with a thin dangerous smile. That should have been his first warning.
"What any help, babe?" asked Hiccup.
"Nah! Let me have my fun first," she reassured him.
She suddenly gripped the man's fingers and bent them backwards, causing him to howl in pain and lean forward. As he did, she brought up her knee to smash in his groin, making him drop to his knees gasping in shock.
"Now?" questioned Hiccup.
"Yeah, okay. You can have a go too," she said, stepping back from her handiwork.
Hiccup quickly followed up with a rock hard punch to the man's jaw, sending him crashing backwards to the ground. He leaned over and growled at the man, "Don't you ever think to touch my girlfriend like that again! Next time you won't be so lucky," he spat.
The young couple fist bumped before turning to resume their seats. Al was right behind them, picking up the downed man by his vest and dragging him out of the restaurant. He dumped him outside with a warning to never set foot through their doors again. The man groaned and dragged himself away as Al came back in and grinned at his two favourite customers. "Nice teamwork! You sure you're not getting married soon?" Both blushed as they high-fived him. "You'll be the first to know," promised Hiccup with a grin.
The young couple settled in to their seats when Astrid leaned over to whisper in his ear, "I love it when you go Commando on me," she giggled.
"What? Cause no one expects a walking fishbone to pack a punch?" he teased.
She ran a hand appreciatively down his shoulder, giving his bicep a squeeze. "Oh no! You're no fishbone…and you certainly can pack a punch," she raised an eyebrow at him playfully.
He blushed again, and turned back to his burger.
They had almost finished by the time Snotlout walked in through the door. Snot was a short, muscular man with jet black hair under his black cowboy hat. He wore black jeans with his favourite jacket over one of his ridiculous t-shirts that he liked to collect. Today's version read "Truckers have more fun." Which could maybe be true.
"Hey Sheila! Did you know there's some bloke crawling around outside?" he yelled.
Sheila bustled over, pushing loose hair out of her face. "Yeah, I know. That was the handiwork of your H-team here," she indicated towards Hiccup and Astrid.
"Aww man! Did they beat up somebody again? And I missed it?" he complained.
"Yes you did. Now, would you like your regular order?" she asked him, pencil and notebook in hand.
"Yeah, that would be great. With a side order of Oo la la…How fabulous are you looking today babe," he flirted and winked at the waitress.
She rolled her eyes at him. "I'm old enough to be your mother. Now sit down and wait for your food and see if you can keep your hands to yourself while you're waiting."
Astrid and Hiccup snorted into their food as Snotlout turned beetroot red and sat down.
"Everyone's a critic," he mumbled.
Always up for suggestions on how to improve. Thanks for reading!