A/N: Thanks to all the people who reviewed the first chapter and as promised here is Astrid's POV. I said before I apologize in advance for any grammatical/spelling mistakes you might find but please have in mind that English is not my first language. Hope you enjoy it and constructive criticism is always appreciated! ;)

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

AXE TO GRIND

- Two-Shot -

"Quite a performance!" Tuffnut mocked as he passed by. "I've never seen anyone mess up that badly. That helped." Snotlout added with a snort.

"Thank you, thank you. I was trying so..." Hiccup replied apparently unfazed by their comments. Well he has been dealing with them since I can remember so this mustn't be new. I glared at Snotlout and Gobber actually did him a favour by hitting his head because I was planning on doing much worse.

I watched Hiccup leave with Gobber by his side and I frowned to my axe. Truth to be told I kinda like that boy. Sure, he's a complete screw-up and just managed to mess up the work of an entire village but still. I can see he's just trying to help and it actually breaks my heart seeing his father being so tough on him all the time. Maybe if he gave him a chance Hiccup would prove him wrong.

"That guy is such a loser." Snotlout scoffed, "Well it's getting late. I'm going home for the night..."

I got up and rested my axe on my shoulder. I could use some sleep myself plus I was tired of spending so much time with the idiot that has a pea-sized brain and goes by the name of Snotlout. I sympathise with Fishlegs and can handle the twins (as longs as it is in small doses) but Snotlout has a special talent to get under my skin.

"See you guys tomorrow." I told them and received a few goodbyes in exchange.

"Do you want someone to walk you home Astrid?" Snotlout proposed following me, "It's pretty late, you know?"

"I am well aware of that thank you." I stopped on my tracks and looked at him, "And I don't need escort. I'm capable of defending myself."

"But babe..."

I let out a loud grunt and poked his chest with my finger, "Don't you dare 'babe' me or I swear you won't live to tell the tale!" I said in a lower voice, the one I use when I want to intimidating and respected.

"Hm... Right!" Snotlout laughed nervously, "See you tomorrow Astrid!" He said and walked away rapidly just so he wouldn't give me the satisfaction of making him run away afraid.

"Idiot..." I muttered under my breath and could help but roll my eyes. I just wanted to get home and get some sleep.

My mother woke me up little after dawn. She had important news she needed to tell me. Apparently after cleaning the mess last night the Chief gathered all the Vikings at the Great Hall and they decided to go look for the dragon's nest to end this pest once and for all. The thing is they'd need every capable Viking they could find to go on that dangerous quest thus leaving the village defenceless.

That's where we came into action: they were going to train us at last! I couldn't contain myself and squealed with happiness. I know that's not very like me but I've been dreaming about this moment since I can remember.

I couldn't sleep after that. I put on my clothes grabbed the fresh baked bread my mom had made for breakfast and headed over to the twins' house. They're a bit dense but I really like them and find them fun to be with also Ruffnut is the only girl my age around this town so I only have her to talk when exciting things like this happen.

They were standing on their porch when I reached them.

"Have you heard the new?" I couldn't help the excitement on my voice, "They're gonna let us start training starting tomorrow!"

"Yeah! Our parents just told us, it's going to be so awesome!" Ruffnut replied and they bumped their heads to show their happiness.

"We should start training today." I suggested, "That way we'll have a good head start tomorrow morning."

"As long as I get to destroy and kill stuff, I'm in." Tuffnut smirked in agreement.

I nodded and looked at my axe. If I wanted to start training I should get it properly sharpened... "You guys go get Fishlegs and Snotlout and I'll meet you later, I have to sharpen my axe first." I told them and waved goodbye.

I enjoyed going to the forge! And I assure you it has nothing to do with scrawny boy that works there as an apprentice... Oh no! I only like to check out the weapons they make and play around with them... That's it.

I hardly even notice Hiccup's presence there. He usually just keeps quiet and stays in his corner working. His brows are always furrowed in concentration as he chews on his bottom lip and mutters things under his breath when he's unpleased with his work. I actually find it cute when he's all worked up with his... Things. I guess that's the proper way to say it but as I said I hardly notice him!

It only took around ten minutes to get there and as I walked in I noticed that neither Gobber nor Hiccup noticed it. They were too into their conversation and I could swear I heard Hiccup mention my name but I didn't manage to hear what he was saying.

"Hey, can I get this sharpened?" I asked loudly so they could hear me. They both looked at me at the same time.

Hiccup's eyes widened and he just stared at me slowly reddening. I blinked confused, was he saying bad things about me and thought I had heard him? No... He never speaks hill of other people he's just to good. Well if he wasn't saying bad things it must have been good ones.

"Astrid!" He blurted out as usual, "Hi, Astrid. Hello there. Welcome. What can I do-"

Before he could finish his sentence I threw my axe at the table in front of them. I actually don't know for sure why I did it but well it's done... Maybe I just wanted him to shut up.

"Hey! My manly apprentice here will service all of your needs." Gobber told me pushing Hiccup towards me and receiving a glare in return, "I have to... go... get... some... I'm just gonna go outside." He excused himself with a nervous laugh and grabbed some nails on the way. For what he needed them for and why I couldn't tell but it wasn't my business.

Hiccup mimicked his mentor's nervous laugh and shook his head. "Gobber..." He said as if he was apologizing.

Hiccup is kind of cute when he is nervous. He was slightly flustered but it was probably due to working so close to fire and in such a hot place, the freckles dotting his cheeks bones and nose gave him a babyish look but it went well with his personality and his deep green eyes as always were full of wonder and innocence. Not that I actually noticed it...

You see we've known each other since we were babies but despite not really talking we know... stuff... about each other I guess. For once I know he's a gracious loser and that he doesn't gloat about his accomplishments and that is a breath of fresh air as Vikings tend to be well a bit conceited. I like that about him.

I tried to maintain a serious face as I took the axe from the table where it shouldn't have been thrown it at in the first place. He looked at me expectantly waiting for me to give it to him. It's not that I don't trust him, I'm aware he's a good blacksmith but that axe was my mother's and she had given it to me when I was admitted to the fire patrol last year. I really cared for it but I had no choice since Gobber had left the scene so I dropped it on his hands and he followed it to ground. I suppressed a laugh I guess he wasn't expecting it to be that heavy.

"Okay, razor-sharp battle axe, coming right up." He chirped his face red.

"Careful! That's my mother's." I adverted as he started to pull the axe towards the sharpening stone wheel. He nodded and reddened even more.

I took the opportunity to take a look around the forge. I wanted to check their new weapons so I stopped by the weaponry wall taking a close look at the swords. I like swords though my axe is my weapon of choice. I like how light they are and how easy they are to use when used properly of course.

"So, I saw you guys on fire patrol last night. Looked like a good time." Hiccup said. I was taken aback, he never actually started a conversation between us so that was a new.

"Yeah, I didn't get burned, though." I replied with a sigh and kept looking through the swords finally choosing and picking one up to try it, "It's only fun when you get a scar out of it."

"Yeah, no kidding, right? Pain. Love it." I cocked an eyebrow at his reply I didn't take him for someone who enjoyed pain that much. I discretely eyed him from the corner of my eye. "Yeah, I would've been there too but... Uh... I was out downing a Night Fury." He proceeded.

I heard him talk about it last night but no one believed it. I highly doubt it seeing how he managed to mess everything up but until proven wrong I decided to believe him.

"So yeah, pretty busy." He nodded sharpening my axe.

"Really?" I asked him trying to show him that I was interested and that I actually believed him. Maybe if he gave me more details I could help him prove he was telling the truth, "Where-"

"No, it got away..." he cut me off, well my chances of helping him went down the drain, "But... Hm... It won't be back anytime soon, believe you me."

I nodded silently and decided to check out one of the swords on the top. There was this table blocking my way so I ended up having to bend over the table to reach it.

"Yeah, you know, this apprentice thing is just my, sort of, on the side... Hm... I'm mostly here to bulk up and lift some iron and stuff... Become one with the steel." He kept on going but to be honest I didn't think it was working for him. He had been working there since I can remember and he continues scrawny.

When I finally reached it I understood that it wasn't one of my brightest ideas... I had to ask my mother to make me some new clothes, I had outgrown mine... I blushed furiously and hoped Hiccup didn't notice my slip up.

I straightened myself and decided continue my tour. Two steps forward I found a door I had never noticed before and decided to check what was behind it.

"N-no you're not actually supposed to... Uh..." Hiccup called out and followed me but he was too late, I was already in.

It looked like some kind of office and the walls and desk were covered with sketches of the strangest gadgets you can imagine.

"What is all of this?" I questioned him curiously turning to look at him.

"Oh... Hm... Those? Nothing. Just some stuff I'm working on." He rubbed the back of his neck. I looked back to the drawings. I had never seen anything that amazing, I wondered if he was as talented at drawing other stuff like he was at drawing those 'weapons'. "It's just... Confidential upper level development I can't really talk about it, so..."

"'The Mutilator'." I picked the closest sketch and read its name out loud.

"Yes, yes. Basically it uses twin-weighted counter-levers to launch crisscrossing blades in four different directions." He replied from his working area.

"How do you hold it?" I questioned him cocking an eyebrow trying to understand it.

"Well you don't. You shoot it." Hiccup explained me.

"Oh, well..." I picked up a kind of portable catapult and played around it, "I'm more of an old-fashioned 'take it down with an axe and then lop its head off' kind of girl. It's kind of the Viking way, right?" It shot and I decided to set it down so I made sure I didn't break it.

"Go Vikings." He replied unexcitedly as I exited his office.

Suddenly I remembered the reason I was there sharpening my axe. We were going to start training with dragons! He should know by now, his father was the village's Chief. If Hiccup started his training maybe he'd be able to please his father at last.

"I can't wait to get started tomorrow. We finally get a chance to show 'em what we've got. I am so excited!" I told him feeling more at ease now.

"Yeah... I'm so excited for you." Hiccup nodded obviously pretending to know what I was talking about. How come he didn't know?

"What, you didn't hear?" He shrugged in response. "They're pulling men to crew the ships"

He stared at me in confusion. I assumed he knew. Apparently his father hadn't told him anything... That he was leaving and that they were starting their training. Maybe he didn't know because his father wasn't going to let him train... I felt bad for him.

"And you're happy because... you... uh... like to wave goodbye?" He asked.

"No, stupid." I couldn't help to roll my eyes at his comment. I grabbed a small dagger from a nearby table and touched its tip. "They need replacements to defend the town." I set it down and walked towards him as I saw him finish with my axe. "We start training in the morning! We'll be fighting dragons!"

I couldn't help but smile.

"Astrid!" Someone called me from the door. I turned to see Snotlout and the rest of the gang waiting for me, "You coming to practice with us or what?" the first insisted.

My smile faded and I turned to Hiccup. I was actually enjoying spending this little time with him. I held out my hand so he could give me my axe back. Hiccup obliged and I tested it switching it between my hands. It felt different... My brows furrowed.

"This feels different." I stated eyeing suspiciously. What in hell had he done to my axe?

"Oh... I rebalanced it. Tightened it up." he quickly replied, "Uh... Finessed it. We're a full service outfit in here."

"Thanks." I told him embarrassed for believing he had something to it.

"Sure." Hiccup shrugged.

I gave him a little smile. Yeah he was cute and nice... His eyes shined a little brighter and he seemed to be taken aback from my gesture. Maybe I need to relax a little so people won't think I'm an aggressive person. I don't want Hiccup to think that about me... Uh... Not that I care actually.

Oh but I did care and did notice... I took a glance at his lips and imagined what they'd feel like when I kissed them and looked him in the eyes and wondered how they'd look like when he was looking at me feeling like I feel when I see him sometimes...

I turned my back without saying goodbye. I needed to clear my head. Fast!

"I hope I get some serious scars out of this!" Snotlout said louder than necessary once I reached them and I was pretty sure he only wanted to make Hiccup jealous. By being his cousin he probably knew he wasn't going to be allowed in the trainings and wanted to push his buttons.

"I know, like a jagged one across your cheek!" Ruffnut butted in as e started walking away. "Yeah, or right through my eye!" Tuffnut agreed as excited as she was. I nodded in agreement and followed them to the woods.

Once the distance was safe I glanced back and watched Hiccup sit by one of the tables and lay his head on his arms. He was probably sad he didn't know about anything I had told him and I felt bad for ruining his day if that was the case.

I suppressed a frown and sighed. This caring thing had to stop very soon but I didn't know how...

A/N: This took a little bit more time than expected but here it is! :) Hope you enjoyed it!