Modern AU Prompt: Person A, used to be a very sociable person who suddenly isolates himself from the world after a certain event that no one really knows. Person B, is hired by Person's A father to convince, befriend, find out about his problems so he can start connecting back to the world. As the two get to know more about each other, they slowly grow attached and develop feeling for each other. But there are issues holding them back and uncertainties they need to overcome.

A/N: Hello there guys! IntrovertDragon here presenting you another Modern Hiccstrid story. This one though will be a short story ranging from 4 to 5 chapters.

A little bit of warning, there will be things that will be a little bit vague, It's intentional to sort of give the readers room to ponder about the story or backstory.

Remember, I'm still new to this writing thing and English is not my first language. Also, I'm still doing some experiments on my own with the writing style so feedback are really appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD.

Chapter 1

.

.

"You're still here? Seriously... you can leave, just leave." Hiccup groaned, pulling the blankets to cover his face trying to ignore the unwelcome presence of another human being.

"Uhm... Sorry but I can't do that." Astrid said, politely - with her practiced brightest smile and enthusiasm.

"Oh I'm sure you can - you have two functional feet and my door is very excited too meet you right now." Hiccup answered, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Okay Astrid. Breathe... act patient you're working right now - be professional - remember this is your job. You signed up for this...

Astrid stood up straight after letting out a sigh to introduce herself. "My name is Astrid Hofferson, a college student and I'm her-"

"Yes... Yes... you're here to Help me, Strange-person-whom I-never-met" Hiccup cut her off, emphasizing the 'Help me' part.

Astrid could feel her brow twitching and her face slightly lose composure. Okay... nothing out of expected. Patience.

Astrid raised her shoulders, letting out a sigh. "Well, I'm glad that you are already aware of my incoming visits so we can start working on getting you better." Astrid flashed her bright smile once again.

Hiccup still on his bed, sits-up straight to look at her obviously annoyed with her presence. " I'm telling you, This is not the first time my father tried to get me outside, socialize, and go to college like a normal 20 year old boy usually do."

Astrid was about to open her mouth but Hiccup raised his hands to interrupt her, He stood up from the edge of his bed, walking towards his desk to grab something. Astrid watched him curiously as he seemed to be writing something on a piece of paper. Once he was done though, He walk towards her standing and presented her a pay cheque.

"It's not gonna work, so stop wasting your time... So here's the deal whatever you signed up with my dad I can pay you double." Astrid glared at his direction, then glared at the cheque on his hand - she thought about it for a second, she really needed money that's why she took this weird job. But her pride won't allow that, there's no way she's just gonna give up and It's not part of her dictionary to lose or back out to a challenge.

How dare he! Who does she think Astrid is. If you wanna play that game.. so be it, She's just done acting polite.

Astrid slapped his hands with enough force sending the cheque flying somewhere in the room. "Listen, I just want to get this job finished as much as you do so we can both live with our lives, so why don't you work with me here. As much as I need that money and how tempting it is to just leave seeing how you're not really making things easy... I don't take shit from people, so I'm afraid I have to decline the generous offer."

Hiccup appeared surprised with her sudden change of attitude, looking at her incredolously, with mixture of amusement and disbelief then shrugs. "Fine... suit yourself but you, Miss are playing a dangerous game..." His playful tone even struck more of Astrid's nerve.

"I'd rather take my chances..."Astrid rolled her eyes, walking around his ridiculously large room. She looks around to looks for something like a old toy, picture, or anything she can use as a leverage to get Hiccup to start taking and open up to her so she could start working on his case and get the hell out of his place even if she had to drag this Hiccup outside by herself. But she knew she is just annoyed and would rather settle this properly and plus, his employer or father won't allow that.

"You can stay here forever if you want, just don't go on snooping on my things and disturb me from my work or whatever..." said Hiccup, flopping down on his couch turning on the television.

"-And stay out of my computer desks..." Astrid ignored him, She noticed something sticking out under one of the computer desks in his room.

It was a picture. Jackpot!

Astrid picked it up not heeding Hiccup's warnings about snooping. She tapped the picture a couple of times in her palm, rubbing the surface with her thumb too see it clearer as the picture was old and quite dusty.

It was a picture of a skinny, lanky boy in his early teens wearing a tuxedo and a bright gap-teethed smile. After she was finished looking at the picture, she felt like something is missing in the picture when it came to her it was torn in the middle... violently torn actually. She looked around the floor hoping to find the other half and surprised that it was actually on her feet.

"I told you not to-" Hiccup warned her again but it fell on her deaf ears.

She picked it up removing the dust quickly, more excited than she admits to see the other half. It was a picture of a beautiful girl with wild strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes, She noticed the girl was wearing a extravagant gown and a homecoming queen crown, She smiled at the picture, somehow reminded of her highschool days.

Then it came to her that it was a Prom Picture when she connected the picture like a puzzle piece and it came to her the lanky boy and the homecoming queen were actually holding hands.

Someone grabbed her shoulders making her yelp a little, she turns around and suddenly frozen in place when she saw Hiccup eyeing the picture(s) in her hand, emotionless. For some reason seeing how his face suddenly paled and how deeply lost in his own thought Hiccup looked was heart-wrenching and made her feel a little guilty.

"Hiccup...?" Astrid asked, cautiously.

"Please... leave." Hiccup muttered weakly, his voice tight.

"Hiccup, you can tell me, I'm here too help..." Astrid answered back, treading lightly.

"Give me that." Hiccup snatched the picture from her hand crumpling it which made Astrid winces.

Astrid swallowing thickly - decided to try once again, not understand why though she insists on trying. "Hiccup...I ca-"

"-I don't need your help." Hiccup answered shortly, his voice sharp.

Astrid knew she's pushing her luck seeing how Hiccup is on the edge of snapping. "Try me. You know I'm a good listene-"

"-Can you do me a favor and just leave me fucking alone!" Hiccup snapped, voice freezingly cold.

Astrid was silenced, frozen in place taken a back by Hiccup's outburst. She really should leave right now... she's overstepping her bounds but her feet refuses to listen to her during that moment.

"Why can't everyone see that I don't need help!" Hiccup's voice weaker, but not any less intense.

"My life is fine... I have money to live for the rest of my life and I don't exactly have any problem with having friends and I don't really need physical friend, I can do what I want in this room, where I could actually be myself and just do things that I actually want and lov-" Hiccup's voice falter he doesn't finish the sentence.

Hiccup now looked at her in the eyes. "Those partying stuff, malling, hanging out or whatever 'Living the life' and luxurious shit the Kardashians or whatever shitty stories the Television are showing people nowadays." Hiccup pointed to the glass wall gesturing the 'outside world'.

"It's not for me!" Hiccup turned around his back facing her, fist clenching tightly, closing his eyes, taking continuous deep breathes. Astrid can't help but notice how heavy his slumped shoulder looked like from behind.

Hiccup faced her again, his face appeared lost and distant. "I-I'm sorry for snapping at you... I didn't mean to... It's just that-"

"-Nevermind... I just need sometime alone... you can stay if you want but just don't bother me." Hiccup said apologethic heading back to his bed hiding under the temporary comfort of his blanket can provide.

"It's fine... I was overstepping my bounds...sooo, I'm sorry too." Astrid said, meekly still recovering. "I probably should go..." She muttered weakly but she doubt that Hiccup heard her. Just before she exits the room, she notices the crumble picture on her feet. She looked back at Hiccup, then picked up the crumpled picture digging it into her pockets before she left the room.

As soon as Astrid left the room, She let out a long drawn sigh before heading towards stairs to make her way out of the mansion. Stoick looks at her sadly- She shood her head, bowing her head before she headed home to think about everything that just happened.

.

.

Astrid groaned twisting on her bed clutching tightly her 10-years-old-blue-dragon-stuffed-toy she named Stormfly, forcing herself to get some sleep. She seriously needed to sleep, But her brain decided to keep on processing things that she couldn't possibly hope to get even a wink of sleep. She still has her daily training tomorrow morning with the upcoming tournaments and after that she has 5 hours of boring lecture and then after class she has a part-time job.

Oh yeah... a Job she was not sure anymore. A very weird Part-time Job - Even if it involved things like convincing some spoiled 20-year old brat with a weird name Hiccup to go outside the house, But the pay was really good and who is she to question blessings given to her so she went ahead and took it.

When Astrid took this job though... it was supposed to be some easy job, Like how hard it is to convince a people to step out of their home.

But the moment Astrid stepped into the room... she was surely not expecting things to be like this. Well... first of all is this place even qualified to be a room? It's basically almost as large as her home and it's like whoever-she-is-supposed-to-convince has everything planned out for ragnarok or his whole life.

She expected it to be a dark messy room void of life like the ones they show on television. A room infested with trash bags, instant noodles stack everywhere, can or bottle of soft drinks and beer on the floor and a horrid smell most of all.

Instead, the room was really bright - ceiling filled with multiple rows of LED lights plus the natural sun-light coming from the glass walls, the room was air-conditioned making the temperature adequate and the environment in general has a chilling atmosphere. There is a music playing in the background but not too loud for the whole neighborhood to listen... Well it's not like they have any neighbors when you are living in a mansion like house.

There are multiple televisions playing as if updating himself on the news of the so-called 'Outside World'. He also had his own miniature kitchen set with everything on it... from a granite counter and a oven machine.

She noticed certain corner of the room with everything covered in a dusty white-tarp but she didn't pay too much attention to it. The place has it's own fridge, and surprisingly a Tread-mill, a Stationary Bike and some weights, dumbbells she guesses for his physical therapy - as she was informed that her client was a amputee.

But that was not the problem and no one really figured out why this guy suddenly stop going out and start shutting himself out for months now. Stoick told her that his work requires traveling and lots of business meeting and he was usually outside the town so she knows just as much as his father does about this case. According to Stoick, His son used to be a sociable the last time he seen him and never really stay put in one place always out hunting for something to do.

Last but not the least, she was once again proven wrong when she expected Hiccup to be sulking somewhere in the room with nothing to do in life... something like those she watched on a Japanese documentary before, Hikikomori or Reclusive adults - something like that.

But when Astrid slowly and cautiously walked into the center of the room she didn't expect Hiccup to be actually busy multi-tasking talking to someone on his phone tucked between his ears and shoulders while he appeared to be working something in his ridiculously futuristic computer. He occasionally spinning his computer chair moving to another computer then another.

She also didn't expect him to be quite on the skinny-side... no offense but his father is quite a large man. Astrid basically already had her own image of what Hiccup would look like based on his horrible name and his father's appearance. He had a overgrown hair that was sporting a messy pony-tail that could definitely use some hair-cut and he was wearing a green sweater that looked soft, clean and comfortable not some over-sized rag not qualified to be called a shirt which was not washed for a long time.

Hiccup didn't seem to notice her enter the room until she yelped loudly when she felt something nudge on her legs. It was just a dog... Odin! He even had his own dog! At least she assumed it was a dog. She never saw anything like it before, the creature was around the average size of a dog, it had a black furry skin and bright green eyes that showed some intelligence - looking at her with it's head tilted.

That's when Hiccup shifted his computer chair to her direction before his face paled, slapping his hand on his forehead groaning, muttering something she couldn't hear. He mumbled a apology to whoever he was talking with on his phone. Then he stood up from his chair crossing his arms looking at her with confused, disbelieving eyes. He shook his head violently, rubbing his temples, heading toward his bed stumbling a couple of times and proceeds to sleep and completely ignore her existence.

Then the next thing, she didn't know it was his cue to make her leave then he was asking her to leave him and... Things went sour with her snooping around.

It was just a part of her... Everytime she entered a place or barges in, she just took over things with her commanding presence - classroom, court, sports field. It always worked for her - She's Astrid Hofferson.

Well not this time... But it did somehow, sort of, it just had a different effect. Astrid remembered Hiccup's reaction earlier because she seemed to hit a sensitive subject.

She couldn't help but notice something with the weird way Hiccup reacted when he first noticed her presence. He looked pained, confused - a little out of sorts then all of a sudden heading for his bed - he must have mistook Astrid for a different person - come to think of it the girl in the picture sort of had a blonde her like though not golden blonde like her and blue eyes surprisingly which she had as well.

Astrid grabbed the damaged picture on the desk beside her bed turning on the lamp and stares at the picture, She can't help but wonder what's the story behind the torn picture. Hiccup looked so young and different back then, and yet he looks so bright and his green eyes full of life... The picture looks old and according to Stoick, it's only been months since he last came out of the house.

The girl must've been someone important to him... It might be the key she needed for Hiccup to open up and get her job done.

-Wait a minute. Is she still seriously thinking about going back there... to Hiccup and convince him? Convince him go out of his room and help him out when he blalantly said to her that he doesn't need help.

She should just take up his offer, get payed twice and they can go on mind their own business. She needed the money right? Unfortunately, she's not that low or desperate to take someone's money when she knew that certain someone needed help maybe he just doesn't see it for himself yet.

Why was she even thinking about this now... as far as she's concerned she has bigger problems in her hand, like the reason she needed the money in the first place, to pay for her college or she might as well end up like Hiccup, who's a dropout but for a completely different reason she hasn't find out and needed to figure out soon.

Although her agreement with Stoick assures she will be compensated fairly regardless of the outcome... Her pride wouldn't just allow her to take money on something she didn't work for or failed to finished.

Astrid finally decided, she's going to take this as a challenge, finish the job and she's not gonna lose to Hiccup.

.

.

The next day she was surprised when Hiccup greeted her. Sarcastically Greeted her when she entered the room as if he was not expecting her to come.

"Afternoon, M'lady. Where have you been?" Hiccup greeted from his couch, his arms stretched wide his 'Dog' on his side helping itself with Hiccup's popcorn while watching a movie on his ridiculously large television.

Astrid raising a brow at his weird behavior... completely different from yesterday. Atleast it something she can work with, It's a start she guess?

"Good Afternoon to you too Hiccup." Astrid greeted back, trying to act casual.

Hiccup paused the movie, standing up in front of her scratching the back of his neck. "Erm... about yesterday - I'm really sorry for snapping at you. It's just that you know..." Hiccup sighed, pausing attempting to open his mouth a couple of times.

"You're just doing your job... and I don't know what came to me yesterday." Hiccup looked away sheepishly. "So I'm sorry again for yesterday..."

Astrid was really taken a back by this different Hiccup. If she was being honest it was partly her fault for pushing him too hard to get him to talk, She was actually the one who snooped on her things and went on with his business and here he was genuinely apologizing.

"To be honest... I was overstepping my bounds too and about the picture it was obviously a sensitive topic...and I kept on pushing." Astrid admitted, lowering her head.

The tensions was awkward, her eyes glances on everywhere but Hiccup, Her eyes lands on the paused movie, It was Avengers and she probably knows the movie like the back of her hand recognize those characters from everywhere.

"Is that Avengers you're watching?" Astrid randomly blurted out.

Hiccup looked at her weirdly before he answered back. "Oh.. yeah it's the third sequel it's not actually out yet but I know someone from Marvel and it's not really piracy I sort of have some contribution to the movie as well-"

"-Really!? You mean that's the third Sequel! As in the the one to be shown next year!?" Astrid answered excitedly, genuinely interested, immediately clamping her hand to her mouth, she had to mentally slap herself for showing too much excitement. How can she not though? It's the movie she's been waiting for years and it's no secret from her friends how she nerds out when it's about Avengers.

She heard Hiccup snickered, feeling annoyed that Hiccup was laughing. "What!? do you have any problems with me liking Superhero movies?"

"Nothing, you just like you just got your early Snoggletog Present." Hiccup commented, amusedly.

Hiccup still looking at her, incredulous. "Okay... Erm- I mean I didn't expect that you would actually be a fan of Avengers."

"Yeah... me too." Astrid said a little embarrassed. "It's a funny story... how my bestfriend's boyfriend basically just influenced me and my bestfriend then it just happened."

"Cool." Hiccup answered shortly shrugging. "Reminds me of someone I used to know..." Hiccup muttered weakly. Astrid felt like she was not supposed to hear that last part.

(Pregnant Pause)

"So... I was just starting - only a few minutes in the movie - You wanna watch with me and Toothless? I'm sure he doesn't mind replaying the movie." Hiccup offered.

"Yes, please!" Astrid beamed, once again letting excitement get to her. Hiccup snickered once again, She threw a punch in Hiccup's arm playfully immediately pulling her hand regretting her action. She was about to apologize but Hiccup seems be fascinated by her action and doesn't mind it at all.

"Sheesh... woman watch the violence." Hiccup joked slightly shrugging his shoulder, he politely moves to the left side of the couch gesturing to the right side offering her a space.

Astrid was surprised at how natural Hiccup handled the situation. A small thought entering her mind pondering if it had something to do with the woman in the picture but was immediately buried by the anticipation of being able to watch Avengers.

To prevent herself from hopping in excitement, Astrid walked slowly making her way towards her spot on the right side of the couch. Plopping down the couch greeting the dog on the center of the couch with much energy. Hiccup offered him a bucket of popcorn which she gladly takes, she thanks him and Hiccup nods back in response.

When Hiccup finally plays the video, The Avenger's Icon appeared and Astrid can't stop rubbing her palms with too much vigor trying to contain her excitement.

"Just tell me if you need anything els-"

"-Sshhhh! Quiet Down!" Astrid silenced him weakly, her eyes unmoving completely focused on the Movie.

Unbeknownst to her, Throughout the entire Movie, Hiccup couldn't help but look at her every time she claps excitedly, cheer at the superheroes especially when she called Thor her 'Babe'. His eyes was filled with mixture of longing and amusement as he watched the movie with her or rather watched her, It's been a while since Hiccup had a content smile on his face, Astrid was just so persistently, cheerfully infectious that he can't help but be happy just being with her.

Unlike any other of those who tried to Help him. Astrid was different... she didn't run off with the money like the others did. She's also the first one to comeback for the second time even if Hiccup had practically snapped on her and drove her away. Maybe, He could get used to that.

Okay, so honestly how was it? As you guys noticed I've been writing only one-shots so far and It's been a while since I last wrote a multichap story so I decided to give it a shot again. This will be a short-story somewhere from 4 to 5 chapters. I'm still working on the chapters maybe a weekly update if I don't experience and writers block or sorts.

For those who are following me: I am forever grateful that you guys like my work. So I decided to try my best to post one-shot a week(No guarantees but I'll do my best to meet it.) So if you ever have some Ideas preferably Hiccstrid, feel free to send me a message and I might work on it. :D

Anyways, I got some couple Ideas in my mind for now and I curious which one would you like to see next.

1. Modern Reincarnation AU set in College Life.

2. CEO Astrid and Secretary Hiccup it's a bit of a humor/drama where they don't really have any official relationship then Hiccup sends a resignation letter and things happen.

3. Notice me Senpai! AU. (PLEASE DON'T KILL ME) Ruffnut dares Astrid to read some Shoujo Mangas and let's just say Astrid finds herself in a similar situation in one of those cheesy romantic japanese teenagers stuff when she meets a mysterious senior named Hiccup.

4. A world where everyone knows about the Perfect Royal Engagement of Prince Hiccup and Princess Heather. They are like a Real Life fairy tale lvoe story, even Astrid had to admit she's shipping them and she mets this mysterious guy (OF course it's Hiccup.) who seems to disagree with her and things go on from there.

The list could go on but I feel like these are the ones that I could work on at the mean time. Remember feedbacks motivate the author, so Review, Follows or Favorites are really appreciated.