it's a stupid name, but hey. what better name for a one shot, possible two-shot if people want the second part that i set it up for, revolving around street racing? i posted it here and on tumblr, so you can go check it out there under "skinnyjeans-bigdreams" on tumblr. which it took me ages to post because for some reason my computer is being really slow. woo. now, onto the sass fest that i'm not even sure i got in character, since yes i was aiming for a more confident hiccup in front of his competition. but enjoy nonetheless.

Car engines revved. The noise echoed around Astrid, but she wasn't paying attention. Her blue eyes were focused on the entrance to the lot. Blood was pounding in her ears, drowning out the heavy beat of the music playing at the starting line. She surveyed the crowd around around her. Most of them were once her competition. Their fancy, high end sports cars didn't come close to the power instilled into her precious Stormfly by Fishlegs. She was one hell of a car. Tonight, it was important like she performed like one.

The blonde spent the past two years dodging the police and earning herself a name amongst the young, rich racers. Near the beginning of her career, they laughed at her. "Sit pretty and let the real men do the racing, Blondie, your little blue Nadder could never match up." Underestimation was their greatest weakness, and her biggest asset in her earlier races when she didn't have all the techniques mastered. It made seeing their smug faces fade when she was already waiting at the finish line sastisfying. The street racing world was rough, especially in Berk City, and she came out on top.

After she destroyed Hiccup Haddock, son of Berk's favourite mayor. Racing legend.

Her high school best friend, until she moved across the city and has to transfer.

His name wasn't threatening, but Astrid knew his car was. She'd witnessed it in action, weaving in and out of other cars with practiced finesse. It was an unknown model. The beast the audience dubbed "Night Fury" was a Frankenstein's Monster of fast vehicles. It was aerodynamic and almost invisible except for the glare of headlights gleaming across the sleek black exterior. There were no fancy extras attached to Hiccup's car that you saw attached to the others, like neon lights or racing stripes. His strategy was to go incognitio. It worked. Him and his Night Fury hadn't lost a race since they began.

There was a first time for everything.

"Nervous?" A familiar, almost raspy female voice came for the other side of Stormfly's hood. Astrid turned to meet the knowing smirk of Ruffnut Thorston. It had been the twin's fault she'd got roped into racing. Ruff and Tuff had dragged her to one race- the rest was history.

"Me? Nervous?" Her eyes narrowed, "I don't get nervous." Her murderous glare dared the other blonde to argue. She earned a shrug as Ruffnut glanced down, playing with the end of her braid.

"Good, because he's here."

Astrid almost jumped at the squealing of tires that followed Ruff's words immediately. A black shape, barely noticeable except for the street lights shining off it, swerved into the lot full of people. An applause started out, whoops and hollers for Berk's prized racer. The man himself, the one standing between her and victory, stepped out of the shiny black car. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach when she caught sight of his surprisingly charming face in the darkness, and she convinced herself that it was her nerves acting up in the face of the biggest race of her career.

Hiccup looked a lot more goofy when she knew him at fifteen. Back then he was all freckles and goofy, gapped tooth grins needed to charm old ladies. Apparently, that little boy had grown up.

He was a lot taller in now, ditching the oversized hoodies for a leather jacket. He was almost handsome, that stupid floppy hair falling into eyes that looked black. He was scanning the crowd for something. For her, she realized.

"Good luck." Ruffnut cackled, hollering over her shoulder as she stalked off to stand with her brother and their identical light green Zipplebacks. Astrid didn't need luck, she had nothing to fear from Hiccup or his car. He was just like every other guy she raced. She could see it in the relaxed line of his angular jaw and the laid back posture he had while he leaned against his car. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his jeans, far too carefree to know how dangerous she really was. He should've known better. She caught the smile that danced across his lips when he spotted her. She wanted to wipe it off his face and replace it with terror as he approached her. Terror would suit him far better.

Considering she was going to crush him like a bug.

"Hofferson?" Astrid recognized the nasally tenor that greeted her, although she has expected it to deepen since the rest of him had changed.

"Haddock," she responded, her voice calm and callous. His eyes hovered on her for a moment, before they jumped to her car. He reached out to run his fingers over to roof.

"Your Nadder lives up to the hype. She's a beautiful car."

"She's pretty, but she's tough. Don't underestimate me- ah, her- us." She cleared her throat and glanced away, at the crowd instead of his smug smile.

"I've heard a lot about you, M'lady," he drawled out, his voice bordering on mocking. "You've changed."

"Good, so, you're here to forfeit then?" The tight-lipped, sarcastic smile she shot him spoke for her. He couldn't win. She was strong. Hot. Unstoppable. She leaned her body back against Stormfly's front door, arms crossing against her chest. He laughed.

"You think I'm joking?" She asked, lifting her eyebrows and rolling her eyes.

"Everyone here is waiting for a show. It wouldn't be fair of me to forfeit and ruin that," he shrugged, still grinning at her, "don't you think?" His arms motioned animatedly to the crowd around them. Excited voices buzzed, gossiping and placing bets. She couldn't make out any of the words.

"Don't get too upset when I damage your pride then. I gave you the opportunity to surrender."

Astrid loathed the crooked, goofy, familiar grin he gave her. His teeth glinted yellow in the dim street light. "You say that like I've already lost."

"You practically have," her hand found it's way into Stormfly's door handle and she swung the door open with an audible click. She sank back into the comfortable leather seats.

Hiccup leaned down to continue their conversation, his forearm resting on the exterior of the car above their head. His eyes were greener than she remembered, churning with curiousity, and maybe even respect.

"Why are you out here?" The cocky tone had faded from his voice, leaving only interest, and possibly concern. An old friend checking in on you after a parent's death.

Astrid felt uncomfortable. Those eyes were too recognizable, reminding her of the clumsy, sarcastic little boy she'd once told everything too.

She responded, running her fingers across the steering wheel. "I could ask you the same question. You don't need the money, or the fame, you have both of those, beloved son of Mayor Haddock. Why do you do it?"

"I guess you could say I'm a bit of an adrenaline junky," the smile he gave her was nostaglic as he pushed himself away from her door, back to the confident young man he now was. He tipped his imaginary cap to her. "See you at the finish line."

She cracked her knuckles, her foot sliding into position on the gas pedal. "Yeah, I will," She called at his retreating figure, "and Haddock? Prepare for the hardest race of your life."

She heard him laugh as he turned to her, walking backwards towards his car with a saluate and a wink.

"I wouldn't expect anything less, Hofferson."