Expert

It was a rare sunny day in Berk and Astrid couldn't remember the last time it was this warm. It was at least a few degrees pass uncomfortable outside, even by lofty vikings standards, but as bad as it was she realized that the inside of the forge was several times worse. Knowing that Hiccup could be just as stubborn as any viking, she took it upon herself to make sure that Berk's latest hero didn't overwork himself while still recovering from serious injury. At least that was the excuse she gave to anybody who would dare ask.

Unfortunately for Astrid's good mood what she found outside the forge was one of the more annoying changes to come from Hiccup's new status, his female fans, and today's group just happens to included the most tenacious one. While most of the girls had enough sense to be intimidated by the ax wielding viking, Ruffnut just didn't scare as easily.

Astrid approached the group gathered by the window making no attempt to quiet her steps. Usually just being in the general area was enough to send Hiccup's more skittish fans running, however it seems the girls were too preoccupied with ogling the young man hammering away at some piece of iron to notice her presence.

"If you're not out of my sight by the time I count to three I'm feeding you to my dragon," Astrid growled, after losing what little patience she had.

Most of the girls didn't bother checking to see who was behind them, the tone was unmistakable, nor did they bother waiting for the first count, they just started running. Pleased with herself Astrid now turned her attention to the only one left.

"Hey Astrid, nice job getting rid of those idiots," Ruffnut said quietly, "I mean Hiccup can get real focused when he's working but even he can't miss all that giggling for long."

"What are you doing here?" Astrid asked, making it clear with her tone that any answer would be the wrong answer.

"Oh, just enjoying the view," Ruffnut answered, unaffected by the implied threat, "and you should too, just keep your voice down."

Put off balance by the invitation Astrid couldn't help but shift focus and take her first good look inside the forge. What she found immediately left her cheeks burning. It seems the heat had been too much for Hiccup and he decided to work without his shirt. While the blacksmith's apron provided him with adequate protection it did little to hide his back and arms from any passerby walking by the forge.

Ever since that first flight on Toothless weeks ago Astrid knew that despite Hiccup scrawny appearance he wasn't nearly as weak as he looked. There was some strength in his small frame, not a lot but it was certainly there, it was hard to miss considering how tightly she held him while afraid for her life. She just didn't realized how good his back would look glistening with sweat or how hypnotic the movement of his muscles could be as he hammered away at some stubborn piece of iron. She kept watching as the boy pounded away oblivious to his audience, and her mind began to wander, thinking of the next time she could get her hands around the boy.

"I guess all the time in here has done that boyfriend of yours a lot of good," Ruffnut suddenly said, violently taking Astrid out of her day dreams, "there ain't a lot of meat on his bones but what's there looks good enough to eat."

Suddenly remembering where she was and more importantly who she was with, Astrid decided she has had enough, if threats don't work then she would just have to handle this the viking way. She grabbed the other girl and started pulling her away ignoring any protests and only stopping when the forge was out of sight.

"Hey what's the big deal?" Ruffnut complained.

Astrid only glared in response.

"You really need to learn to share you know."

"Share?"

"Well other than Hiccup the boys in Berk comes in one size, and a girl needs a little variety in her diet."

"Would you stop talking about him like a piece of meat?"

"Nah not meat, more like candy, sweet delicious eye candy."

"Would you..."

"So is he any good with his hands?" Ruffnut suddenly asked, "I bet he is."

"What does his hands have to do with anything?" Astrid asked, surprised at the odd change of topic.

"Just curious."

"Well he's a good smith and artist, but he still can't wield a weapon to save his life," Astrid answered, although unsure why she bothered to respond at all, this chat has been very odd and while she's been off balance since the start, now she was just lost.

"I'm not talking about that."

"Well what else would he be doing with his hands."

Ruffnut just looked at the other girl and waited until realization dawned on Astrid. She was really surprised how long the wait turned out to be.

"Oh," Astrid finally said, "why would you even ask that?"

"That's not important right now," Ruffnut said, "what's important is how that just flew over your head."

Without an answer Astrid just resorted to glaring again. She was really good at glaring.

"Spent too much time training to be the perfect warrior didn't you," Ruffnut guessed, "not enough time listening to your folks explain the facts of life."

While Astrid wouldn't quite put it as bluntly, Ruffnut wasn't all that far from the truth. When she was younger and she had asked her mother why she bled when she hadn't been wounded she only stayed long enough to understand that she wasn't dieing, then she ran off to continue training. While she did manage to pick up the basics over the years, maybe it was about time she finished that talk.

"Oh man I'm right aren't I?" Ruffnut asked, barely able to hold in her laughter, "you and Hiccup are just too perfect together, he's probably too scared to do anything and your just clueless."

Astrid wasn't used to being laughed at, in fact she doesn't recall it ever happening before. She was simply too good at what she does to warrant such a reaction from others, and on the rare occasion that she does make a mistake, no one was ever crazy enough to call her on it. While unused to the feeling she didn't take long to realize she didn't like it and responded the only way she knew how.

"Ow, you hit me."

"And there's going to be more of that if you don't shut up."

"Hey, does that mean your going to kiss me next," Ruffnut asked, completely ignoring the threat of further violence, "cause we should go get Hiccup first, I'd bet he'd love to see that."

"No he won't," Astrid protested, "he's not like that."

"Oh Astrid, poor naive little Astrid, off course he is."

"No he's not."

"Hiccup may just be the unmanliest viking in Berk but he's still a man, well a boy anyway, and they all pretty much think alike."

"That's where your wrong," Astrid countered with the same amount of certainty she would have if asked whether the sun will rise tomorrow, "if there is one thing about Hiccup I'm sure of is that he's not like everybody else, we wouldn't be here today if he was like everybody else."

"He is when it comes to this," Ruffnut replied undeterred by the other girls impassioned defense of her boyfriend, "don't let the nice guy thing he's got going on fool you, nice guys are the ones that surprise you the most."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"All I'm saying is one day they're nice, the next day they're bringing out the rope and asking if you'd like to be tied up."

"You're insane."

"Well yeah, but that doesn't make me wrong," Ruffnut said while producing Hiccup's sketchbook from her pack, "here I got proof , took it while he wasn't looking."

Astrid stared the sketchbook feeling torn, not really sure what to feel about such an invasion of privacy. On one hand she trusted Hiccup, on the other hand Ruffnut really sounded like she knew what she was talking about.

"I'm willing to bet there's all sort of naked drawing in here, probably mostly you," Ruffnut insisted, "maybe we'll see what sort of kink he's into."

Astrid's cheeks warmed at the thought of Hiccup drawing her, however before she could think on that too much she began to notice Ruffnut's growing frustration with the sketchbook. Her curiosity finally overwhelming her she approached the other girl and tried to get a look at the contents. What she saw was page after page of various design schematics, not a single naked woman among them.

"I can't believe this, its all weapons and saddles and other junk," Ruffnut exclaimed, "the one guy in Berk with any artistic talent and he hasn't got the guts to draw any decent porn."

"So much for your proof," Astrid said while grabbing the book, not really trying to keep the smugness out of her voice, "I'm taking this back and your leaving, go do something productive for once."

Surprisingly Ruffnut complied, apparently feeling deflated after being proven wrong.

Once satisfied that Ruffnut was not returning Astrid headed back to the forge. She entered and found Hiccup just where they left him, still working, still pounding away. After taking a moment to enjoy the view she called out to the boy to get his attention and while it took several attempts she eventually got him to turn around.

"Astrid! Hi Astrid!" Hiccup said surprised, "what are you doing here?"

Astrid didn't answer, she just grabbed Hiccup by his apron and pulled him in for a quick kiss. At least that was the plan, the boy seemed to have plans of his own when he held on to her refusing to let her pull away quite so soon.

"What was that for?" Hiccup asked when the kiss finally ended, "not that you should feel like you need a reason."

"That was just for you being you and proving me right."

"I don't get it?"

"Here," Astrid explained as she handed over the sketchbook, "Ruffnut stole it and she was sure it would be full of lewd drawings. I told her she was wrong."

"I see," Hiccup answered suddenly feeling nervous.

"Look I'd love to stay but I need to go home and have a talk with my mother."

"What about?"

"Oh it's nothing, just a long overdue talk but maybe tomorrow we could go do something."

"Sure, I'd like that."

The couple shared another quick kiss before Astrid turned to leave. When Hiccup was sure that the girl was out of earshot he turned to the dragon sleeping in the corner.

"Come on Toothless wake up, I need your help."

Hiccup only got a snore in reply.

"Come on you useless reptile, I need you to help me burn a bunch of sketchbooks before Astrid or Ruffnut finds them.

The End

Authors Notes:

Years ago I tried my hand in fanfiction writing cause I was bored and between jobs, now I'm in the same situation and giving it another try, and boy I haven't improved at all. Depending on how long I stay bored and unemployed this may turn into a series of unrelated one-shots or parts of larger stories that I will never write.

So where did this story idea come from. While reading HTTYD fanfiction I just started wondering where did kids even learn about human sexuality in the days before the internet, mass media, or even print media. I'm no ancient history buff but I figure parents explained most of this stuff. So the idea is born, Astrid is too busy perfecting her reverse somersault to listen to mom, Hiccup due to being a sad lonely boy with artistic talent amasses Berks largest porn collection and Ruffnut gets to make fun of them. This was a long way to go for a stupid joke, I hope somebody is amused. By the way capturing Ruffnut's voice when all she did in the movie was argue with her brother is hard, I have no idea how she'd sound in a civil discussion.