Age 17
Hiccup's height wasn't something Astrid really thought about—until now.
For as long as she could remember, they'd been roughly the same height. She'd grown used to it. She liked them being so close in size. It was comfortable. Still, she had to admit she was enjoying his recent growth spurt. Even if it added a few inches to his height. Hiccup was still skinny, but you couldn't call him a fish bone anymore. He had muscles now and broad shoulders. She really liked the shoulders.
Especially since he'd ditched the yak pelt vest for a new leather fly suit.
Granted the suit was a work in progress, but she liked it.
A fact that was probably written all over her face as she watched him double check Toothless' gear before their morning flight. Stormfly's saddle was much simpler than the Night Fury's. Astrid had been done in under a minute. When she'd turned around, Hiccup was bent over, checking the shoulder strap on Toothless' other side. Astrid leaned against her dragon with a smile, expecting her boyfriend to turn around and comment on the sudden quiet. But he hadn't. Instead, Hiccup continued to adjust all the straps and buckles that made it possible for Toothless to fly.
Storm Fly shifted, grumbling and flexing her wings. Astrid reached up to pat her chin. "Shh, girl. They're almost done."
The dragon huffed, thumping her tail against the ground. She quieted as Astrid scratched her neck, leaning into her rider's hand.
"All finished, bud," Hiccup said, patting Toothless' head. "You guys ready to go?"
Another girl might have looked away when Hiccup turned around. A different girl might had blushed and pretended like she hadn't been ogling her boyfriend. Astrid was not that girl. Well, maybe her cheeks reddened a little, but she didn't drop her gaze. This had always been her territory. Besides, any kind of open admiration always flustered him and Flustered Hiccup was Adorable Hiccup.
Only he didn't act flustered. Hiccup looked down at himself and then back at her with raised eyebrows. "Like what you see, milady?" His flirting had definitely improved over the last few months.
"Maybe," she said.
He grinned and swaggered over to her—since when could Hiccup swagger? Astrid was still processing this development when he wrapped both hands around her waist, pulled her into him, and kissed her.
That was a first.
In all the time they'd been together—this last year that they'd been official and the stretch of time when they'd been more than friends—Astrid had always been the one that kissed first. She hadn't minded or found it odd. She was the more confident one in their relationship. Hiccup had never seemed quite sure of where they stood. At least, until now.
Maybe it was the fact that their one-year anniversary was coming up and she hadn't run yet. Or it could be that over the last few months he had to refit his peg leg every other week. Whatever it was she liked this new confidence. It was surprising, but she liked it. A lot.
Hiccup did not read her hesitation as surprise. Ever the gentleman, he let her go, rubbing at the back of his neck. He stepped away. "Sor—"
Astrid laced her fingers behind his neck, pulling him close again. She definitely liked the height difference. "Was that it?" she asked.
"What?"
"All that set up deserves more than just a peck on the lips, don't you think?" Pulling him even closer, she asked, "Why don't you give me proper kiss?"
He did. However, it was anything but proper.
A bit shorter than my last one. Inspired by something someone said about that last kiss in the movie. They pointed out that Astrid didn't seem at all surprised when Hiccup grabbed her and kissed her, which probably meant he did it on a regulur basis. And that got me thinking, so when was the first time he did that? At what point in their relationship did he feel secure enough to be the one that initiated a kiss-in everything else, Astrid is always the one to kiss him. But I'm sure y'all have already figured all of that out.
Hope you liked it. More is coming, just not sure how fast.
