YAY CHAPTER 1! I hope you like this.

LONGER CHAPTER because enter two characters!

I do not own Merida or Hiccup or their franchise. I'm merely a fan girl

Review answers will be at the ending author's note.

Her boots squeaked as she walked in the pub. There were several people inside, mostly men. All eyes were on her. Her soaked form gained weird looks from everyone. Merida, as cool as she was, she ignored them and went to get a seat on a high stool before the bartender. Her hand reached for the few coins she was able to grab and presented them.

Since she has never been to a pub, she didn't know what there was.

"..Whot cin I get with this much coins?" She asked with a deep voice.

A rather large man the bartender was. He turned from fixing some glasses and mugs to face Merida. He eyes her from head to toe and thought she was weird... for a guy at least, but nevertheless weird. Despite having the awkward deep voice, it was acceptable as a man's. Such talent.

The bartender's eyed her coins. "Two pints." He replied.

Merida, disliking beer, shook her head, "..Whot about non alcoholic?... Juice? Milk? Water?"

"Well if it's juice ye want.." the man took out a large mug, "Five."

She nodded, "Juice it is." Besides, she thought it was better anyway.

"What flavor?"

"...Apple." Her favorite.

Soon, she got her first mug. The thunder roared above them. It seemed like the rain wouldn't stop until sunrise came. The pouring became much more evident and louder than earlier that it required people who were sitting right in front of each other to nearly shout their words. It was not until half an hour later that the rain had slightly calmed. Still pouring, but not hard enough to cause such noise like earlier.

The bartender went to the back and groaned and cursed aloud. Merida stretched her neck to see what was happening. Grumbling could be heard, then more swearing about a leaking on the ceiling. Dragging sound of some empty container could be heard then more grumbling. When the bartender was going back, the redhead didn't even change the curious expression on her face to hide the fact that she was curious about the ruckus.

The bartender saw her and didn't hesitate to say something. It was like he knew what she was thinking.

"Leaking on the ceiling and wall. Been like that for a while." he said with an unamused look on his face.

Merida merely blinked nonchalantly, "An' ye ne'er got it fixed?"

"Lad, 'round 'ere, ya don't have time, especially as a bartender with very little help. My nephew is always away and I have no money to spare for a repairman."

She raised an eyebrow, "Not even with a lot of customers?"

The bartender looked at her as if she came from some other country. "Where were you brought up?" It was rhetorical. "I have to pay for my electricity bills, liquor and delivery. No money to spare." he said as if that was the last thing he was going to say to her.

Moments passed and no words were exchanged. The whole while, Merida was actually thinking whether or not to help the man without charge. She was taking a lot into consideration. It was good to help people, but then, never do something you're good at for free. Also, this could be her starting point where she could strive. This could be that chance... and she was going to take it. And since she wasn't really into money, she thought of something better.

"Ah'll fix it fer ya." She nodded coolly at the bartender, who turned and looked at her in surprise. Merida continued, "But on one condition..."

The bartender raised an eyebrow, as if to tell her to continue.

"Ye give me a place to stay fer a few nights. Say, 2." she said with all seriousness.

The man snorted, "Now? With this storm? I doubt you can even climb to the roof to fix the hole there."

Merida's lips tightened, "I've done this before, old man. Give me yer toolbox an' ah'll do the rest."

Maybe half the reason why the bartender gave his toolbox and some wood planks were to see if she really could. Besides, he really needed that hole fixed. It took the lass a while to fix it but she came back in one piece. Soaking, but no injuries.

She went to where the leak on the ceiling was supposed to be located and grabbed a dry rag and pressed it against the wet wall and ceiling. There were no leaks anymore. The bartender seemed amazed.

"Well then." He huffed, amazed and amused. "You sure proved me wrong, laddie."

"It won't last forever, but it should give ye a few days to look fer something that cin seal it permanently." She said as she rolled her sleeves further up her arm.

"..I still don't have the money.." he mumbled with a frown to himself.

She let out a soft exhale through her nostrils, "Ah cin do it fer ye but as long as ye get me at least a quarter sack of cement an' include breakfast an' dinner fer mah stay."

The man seemed to be taken aback but if he didn't want to loan and sacrifice money, then he would better take Merida. "Fine. What's your name, lad?"

Name? Oh no.

"...M.. Mark." she adjusted her cap.

"Alright then, Mark. I'll show ya to your room after closing up."

And so the man did. He introduced himself as Gobber. No last name. He showed her to her room and told her it wasn't used in a while since his nephew left. She could also use his smaller clothes since the boy had grown out of them. Merida was thankful that she found a good soul.

The redhead woke up the next day to do what she was supposed to. As requested, she got the cement. She proceeded to work after breakfast and it so happened that while she was taking a break, a man sat beside her and called for Gobber. At first, she didn't mind him but when Gobber introduced the man as the nephew he was talking about to her, she looked at him and kindly nodded at him then shook his hand.

There were talks between the relatives until it somehow got to where Gobber's nephew mentioned of needing help or an apprentice. That time, Merida had finished her break and went back to work.

"Ah'll get back to work now. Thanks fer the meal, Gobber." She went outside where there was a ladder and a bucket of cement for her to cover the hole. She was halfway done, making sure she left no gaps.

The nephew came out to see the fix his uncle mentioned. "How much are you paying him?" he asked Gobber.

The man replied with a smirk, "A few nights of stay, breakfast and dinner."

"He's homeless?"

Merida almost winced at the word. She hated to admit it but, she really was homeless. That thought made her determined to apply for some heavy duty jobs or at least something like repairs. Before she knew it, she was done and went down.

"Tha' should fix yer roof. Shouldn't have anymore leaks." She smirked at Gobber.

"Thanks, lad." The man grinned in appreciation.

The nephew looked at her, "I didn't quite catch your name, sir...?"

"..Mark." She replied monotonously.

"Mark. Yes. I'm Hiccup." he grinned, hinted with slight apology, knowing she heard his question about her being homeless. "I don't mean to offend but, knowing you don't have a job, I could offer you one." He tried to use less offending words and sentence structure, but he was awkward about it because he wasn't sure if he really didn't make her all that offended.

She raised an eyebrow. "..Whot job?"

"Helping me with my work, or be my apprentice."

"An' whot work are we talking about?" Her arms crossed over her flattened chest.

"Electrical work and some of..." he gestured to the now fixed room, "That."

"How much are ya gonna pay me?" she asked straightly, which made the two men laugh. It made her turned red. Did she say something wrong?

"W-whot?..." she mumbled.

"Nothing." Hiccup shook his head. "Well, if you do well, we'll split the pay I get in half. Fair enough?"

Because she was desperate to get a living, to get and manage her own life, she nodded. "I'm in." she held out her hand to Hiccup and shook hands with him.

It didn't take too long for the two to get along, seeing that they shared common interests like gunslinging and horseback riding. Merida learned that Hiccup was going to leave soon and was just dropping by to give his uncle some of his saved money to help out with the payments.

She thought that it was nice of him to do so. Even if he was struggling, he was still willing to share what he had. It inspired her more to work hard, and thought that maybe she could repay these men's help for her once she has gotten a better job. If she would get a better job.

Merida frowned at herself for thinking such a negative thought. Of course I will! She told herself.

Hiccup settled a few more things with Gobber before inquiring if she wanted to go with him already. She agreed to do so.

"Mark! Ya might want to bring along Hiccup's old clothes. I have no use for them." Gobber said, pointing his thumb at the stairs.

Hiccup let out a small laugh. "You still have them?"

"I didn't have time to clean up your room, runt."

Merida didn't stay long enough to hear the two men exchange passionate insults and name-calling because she hurriedly got the clothes and packed them in a sack bag and threw it over her shoulder. She went down and found the two laughing. Probably some reminiscent talk, she thought with a shrug.

"A'richt, a'm ready." she nodded at the two.

They exchanged goodbyes and left, riding a carriage to where Hiccup stayed.

Merida looked out the window. They were heading further away from her place. Good. More freedom. It was good that she was beginning a new life but a new problem has emerged.

Her blue eyes rolled to the side to look at her companion at the corner of her eyes.

How was she going to be able to hide her identity from him?

End

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disguise mericcup . tumblr . com (take away the spaces)

REVIEW/COMMENT REPLIES:

Dreaming-fantasy-girl: THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH

Norse King: Wow, really? COOL! Haha, guess what animal Toothless is. –wink wink-

Lol: Hope you liked this one

Dialga213: Haha I hope this made you happy now that you know more :D

Cjupsher: Which picture? The comic? If you're referring to the comic, yes. If the cover for this fanfic, yes. Haha