He is about to talk to her. He has already made that decision. He is. He really is. Just… not now. Maybe tomorrow. Or a day after that. When he will have a good ocasion, why ruin it with a bad time?
He is not scared. Not at all. Not a bit. Why would he be? Nothing to be scared about. Just talking to his best fri… best human friend. Just confessing his undying love. Nothing big.
Or maybe he should just kiss her? She would know what he means by that.
He would like to kiss her, sure, the picture is very appealing and he likes to imagine it when he has nothing else to do. Or when he has. Or when he really should focus on something else. Well, he likes the idea. Of being close to her, embrancing her, playing with her hair. Or not, she wouldn't like him to mess her braid.
He would very much like to play with her unbraided hair. He has never seen it. How long her hair even really is?
He thought about the worst thing that can possibly happen a lot. She will tell him he has misinterpreted her signals and she does not want him to be anything other than a friend to her. That would be awkward, and probably a bit… painful, but not that bad, taking into consideration, that they have already been at this point once. Not exactly this point, it was never spoken between them, but they were, at the beginning of their friendship. It was clear she was not into him at all and he was very much into her. And it was awkward. But not very bad awkward. Just… casual awkward. He is willing to take risk of getting back to that considering how much there is to gain. Smelling her hair. Kissing her. Spending nights holding her waist. Not having to make up stupid excuses to spend time in her company. Telling her every day that she is the smartest and most beautiful person he has ever met and he always wants to be with her.
He probably is very obvious with his state, because his dad lately was asking how are things with Astrid. Gods, that was embarassing. Anyway, if he is obvious, she never seemed to mind that, so…
He used to think that things will never change and he is sentenced to a lifetime of pretending he is fine with the situation, but some time ago he noticed, that she is… closer to him than she was. It was small things, touching his arm, hugging him, holding his hand, worrying about him more than about any other rider in a way, that gave him hope. She probably isn't such a hopeless lovestruck as he is, but maybe she has some feelings for him that are a bit romantic?
It's worth taking a shot. She is worth a shot. She is worth anything. And they already are quite good friends, so she will probably break his heart gently, if she is about to do that. He doesn't think Astrid would take some sick pleasure in hurting him or making fun of him, that's just not her. She takes pleasure in hurting people physically.
Also, maybe he was misinterpreting her all the time and that times when she kissed him a few years ago weren't part of her punishment and reward system, but just kisses. He has never seen her kissing anyone else. And she was disgusted at a sugestion that she might ever kiss Snotlout. Meaning she was not disgusted by kissing him. Because she has done it. With the free will.
Maybe she did have a crush on him all this time? Maybe hitting him and making it all punishment and reward was an excuse?
Or maybe he was overanalyzing it like everything in his life.
That's why he decided to do one adult thing in his life and just ask her whether she wants to be his girlfriend. Her feelings are potentially mutual, there is a chance…
It wasn't much he wanted from her. Just… her whole life. But hey, she can take his in return. It is hers anyway.
He could wait for her to do something about it, that was tempting, but that would mean he is scared. And he is not. The future chief is not scared of telling a girl he likes her.
He will do it. When he will see her. Or maybe tomorrow he would have a better occasion. She probably would not like him talking about these things when there are other people around, or when she is tired, or he is tired, or when they are fighting, or doing something, or something.
Worst thing that can possibly happen is losing that potential mutuality forever. Nothing big.