"Astrid?" He called out.
Astrid froze and for the first time in her life she felt like fleeing instead of fighting. But with a silent exhale, she steeled her features and turned with a beaming smile as she replied happily to the man, "Hey Hiccup!" Oh that was good! Good job me!
"Hi Astrid...um, what are you doing here?" He questioned.
Well, way to burst my happy bubble there, "Your mother said you wouldn't be in the Great Hall tonight, so she had me bring dinner to you." she said, trying to keep a smile on her face. From the corner of her eye, she could see Toothless near the fireplace watching her and Hiccup with his wide green eyes. She could tell from the way Toothless' ears were twitching that he knew Astrid was acting strange.
"Oh, well thank you, but I'm not hungry. I still have a lot to do."
Her smiling cheeks began to turn to concern as she saw how lethargic he looked. He had no energy to move his always wailing arms, he didn't smile at her and from the way he was leaning on the stair railing, which she knew his left leg was bothering him. She could not help but take a step away from the front door towards him. "Is there anything I can do?" she asked. She had missed spending time with Hiccup. She missed his warmth, his sarcasm, his ideas and even the way he smelled, like warm leather and wood. But with her leading the construction and him being Chief, they rarely ever saw each other.
"No, I am good. I got everything under control." Hiccup stated as he turned around to walk back up the stairs.
"Huh!?" She exclaimed softly.
"What was that?" he questioned, turning back around.
Never one to beat around the bush she told him, "You don't have your braids anymore."
Hiccup's right moved up to pat down his hair, "Oh those? I took the out because mom was stating how it was important to look-
"Like a Chief?"
"Yea, like a Chief, especially since I am Chief now."
"Oh," was all Astrid said in reply as she tried not to show how upset she was at his revelation. She loved seeing those braids in his hair, it made her feel even more connected to him. Those braids announced to the rest of Berk that he was hers and she was his. But their just braids right? No need to be upset over hair Astrid.
But Hiccup knew her facial expression too well, "Are you upset?"
"Oh no, your mother is right, you need to look professional."
"I gotta go Astrid, I still have stuff to finish up before the next council meeting tomorrow morning. I guess I'll see you around, thank you again. " Hiccup announced, not even bothering to say goodnight, hug her, kiss her or even ask her how she was even after not seeing each other often.
"You're welcome. Goodnight Hiccup." She turned around as well, hearing Hiccup already ascend up the stairs. She felt Toothless' large head press against her back a worried coo was voiced. "Hey, will you tell him I really miss him." She softly whispered to Toothless. She could feel him nod against her back and with that she opened the door and left.
Alone. Tired and angry. Astrid felt like she needed to go into the forest again, but she knew her body would not take another intense sparring session, with all the construction work she has to do tomorrow. So there she lay, with her legs dangling over the edge of the longest port dock Berk had. The wind was gently blowing and the stars twinkled brightly overhead. It was so peaceful, they she forgot all about Hiccup and his braids or the way Valka was acting as chief. A scowl etched onto her face as she remember the way her father spoke of how intelligent Valka's ideas were during their meetings. Her mother could not stop talking about how wonderful it was to have her best friend back and Astrid hated it. Valka was gone for over 20 years, and Hiccup forgives her with wide open arms and the village accepts everything she says, they literally appeared to be bowing down at her feet. Then there was Hiccup, who she understood was so busy trying to get the Chief business under his belt that she felt invisible to him. When he walked past the construction zone, recording data and talking statistics with Fishlegs, he would not bother to check on her or ask her about the construction himself. Her father and Eret seemed to be his personal messengers. Stormfly especially was getting lonely without Toothless to play with and even though it felt like everything was settling down on Berk after the war, she just felt completely lost. However just as she was about to get up to go home, she saw a black figure fly overhead, a night fury cry was heard and so was Hiccup's excited Whoop as a purple plasma blast was shot. Astrid was about to call out to him until she saw another dragon zoom past her. She tried to blend in with wood beneath her. Cloudjumper flew over her with his powerful wings and with Valka on her back. Her laughter echoed off the water and entered her ears. Astrid laid there motionless, her envy and madness was making her bitter and she was soon filled with the need for another sparring match, even if she knew she needed to rest.
In just a few weeks time, all the construction from: new homes, stables, feeding stations, shops and much more was officially done. Astrid could finally tell the the builders and the dragons that they could finally rest, Berk was now complete. Astrid was excited she could finally sleep in and her mother was making a celebratory dinner tonight filled with her family's' favorites, there was even yak butter parfait with her name on it at home. However the rest of Berk was now excited and bustling throughout Berk in preparation for the incoming clans in 1 week. Despite the short notice, everyone was ready to have guests, see old loved ones and have a reason to throw a huge celebration for the village hero and chief.
It was just after dinner and her mother had packed two yak butter parfaits topped with fresh berries for Hiccup and Toothless. The sweet smell of the desserts entered her nostrils and despite having two for herself, she hoped Hiccup would share. After all there was a lot of merriment throughout the village. With Stormfly beside her, hoping to see her best friend, they walked up the hill to Hiccup's house. Just a few feet away from the front door, Stormfly gave a soft squawk and was shuffling her feet. Astrid new from her body movement's that Cloudjumper was inside and not Toothless. Stormfly was still nervous of the newest dragon that stayed in her best friend's home. Maybe she was just feeding off of Astrid's irritated energy when she was around Valka and Cloudjumper and thus felt weary about him. Toothless did not seem to mind their newest family members, in fact he loved having Cloudjumper and Valka around. But the distance between Astrid, Stormfly and him and Hiccup was just growing bigger and bigger and he didn't know what to do. Toothless was not the type of dragon to use his alpha abilities to make Cloudjumper and Stormfly get along.
"Okay, let's hurry and find Hiccup before these get in my stomach." Astrid gently stated, trying to soothe Stormfly as they turned around. Astrid was just about to go the forge, since smoke was still coming out of the chimney when Stormfly suddenly zoomed past her towards Berk Hill. Astrid squinted her eyes to see two silhouettes staring out onto the ocean. Her two favorite silhouettes. Thank God Berk Hill was on the outskirts of the village and that they could have the privacy she so desperately wanted in order to kiss her boyfriend properly.
After making sure the parfaits wouldn't be tossed everywhere in the basket, she sprinted up to Berk Hill. Stormfly and Toothless were already off into the forest to play tug of war with the fallen trees, when she reached the top. She smiled at them and then at Hiccup who was beaming at her as she finally stopped before him. But standing there before him, after weeks of barely seeing him, talking to him or touching him made her nervous, but she would not dare show it.
"Hi Hiccup!" She exclaimed.
"Good evening Milady," Hiccup happily replied.
"My mother made some yak butter parfaits. I thought you might like some. There's one for Toothless as well." She opened up the basket and gave a relieved sigh upon seeing the parfaits still intact and delicious to eat. She took one and gave it to Hiccup, who was sitting down on the grass.
"Oh my, thank you!"
"You're welcome, go ahead, I already had two."
"Mmmm these are so delicious and fresh berries! So sweet."
"I know." she said and sat down beside Hiccup, however a few inches away from touching him. She was weary on how he would feel with the physical contact now that he was Chief and had to be professional.
"I think I am going to eat Toothless' portion, especially since he's not here." He chuckled taking a bit out of the second parfait.
Astrid couldn't help but laugh out loud as she pictured Toothless was his sad eyes once he realized he missed dessert. "Don't worry I'll just get him some fresh salmon and cod later." She giggled to herself.
"I really missed hearing that." Hiccup boldly announced, his parfait finished and he was now staring at her with soft green eyes.
Astrid felt her cheeks warm up and felt embarrassed for blushing in front of him. It's been weeks since they had more than a few seconds alone together and she felt like they were just beginning to date again. After all, after the war, Hiccup did not initiate any physical contact and there was always someone nearby them now that he was Chief. Was he not allowed to show affection towards her in public not that he was chief?
"I, I missed you." She softly spoke, fearing someone, his mother most likely, would come up and tell her she had to go back home.
"I missed you too, but I am finally getting the hang of being Chief and my mother and I are getting along super well. It was as if she never left! We have so much in common and though I miss my father, she is especially helpful with the Chief business." He announced excitedly, his arms flailing around him as he spoke.
"Oh, that's great!" Astrid said, her voice lacking her usual enthusiasm as Hiccup failed to notice the change in her tone and continued to talk. He talked about the upcoming weeks and how he now felt confident enough to meet the other chiefs, especially with his mother by his side, he'll do just grand. It was all Valka, Valka, Valka, and though Astrid was not the overly jealous type, she felt heartbroken at the topic of their conversation, their one-sided conversation at that. Astrid tried to put a smile back on her face and act like she was happy at their growing bond, but it's been weeks and all she wanted was to have Hiccup hold her, go on a flight together and heaven forbid them, kiss him senseless.
Hiccup continued to talk about his mother, his discoveries of Cloudjumper and the new dragon species. The more he talked, the more Astrid deflated but continued to smile and nod at appropriate times.
"Did you know Cloudjumper has the-" He quickly spoke
"The construction went well everyday, even the Twins were eager to finish it, keeping their pranks to a minimum." She cut him off.
"Oh well that's great, but did you know this new dragon species with a long, pelican like mouth can fly backwards?"
She sighed, and gave up. She began to rise and dusted off the stray grass from her bottom when Hiccup stopped talking and noticed her leaving.
"Astrid! Are you leaving now? I was just about to tell you about this other species." he proclaimed, getting up as well...still failing to see the sadness in his girlfriend's eyes.
"I am tired Hiccup. It's been a long few weeks. A good rest is all I need." She stated, trying to clear her face of emotion knowing how well he was able to read her. But this time he did not fail to read her eyes, and she watched as his smiling face began to scrunch up with confusion.
"Why are you upset?"
"I'm not upset! I'm just tired!"
"Astrid...I know you, just-"
"I'M FINE HICCUP!" She yelled, moving away from him as he began to step closer.
"No...just tell me." He softly whispered trying to soothe her. But it's been weeks and her emotional bottle was about to pop.
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" she yelled again, as she tried to go around Hiccup to pick up the basket.
"I am not leaving you alone Astrid."
"Yes, you can! and you will! You did it before, you can do it again."
"What are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about?" She scoffed at him, her composure breaking, her anger and bottled emotions were exploding. "You! I am talking about you! You send my father when you want talk to me, you never contact me about anything other than construction. You never seek me out, ask how I am doing, or anything Hiccup! Plus every time I ask if you need help, you always brush me off!"
"I, I have not been that distance!" Hiccup yelled back, not wanting to believe what she was saying.
"Oh yes and when we are together, you never want any physical contact, I haven't even hugged you in weeks or even flew together!"
"It's unprofessional!"
"Says who? YOUR PERFECT MOTHER!? I DON'T BELIEVE THIS! She's been gone for over 20 years! Times have changed! Your father was okay with us being together in public. I wanted to help you, to make sure you were okay, but you were always with her! You did not need me, you had your mother. "
"That was before I was chief! and my mother is not perfect! But she at least knows what to do!"
Astrid stopped fuming and watched Hiccup as he fury and hatred were beginning to show upon his face. She took a step back to create some distance, but Hiccup took a step towards her. She was unable to read the emotions changing across his face as he continued to step closer and closer.
"THAT'S RIGHT I DID NOT NEED YOU! I HAD MY MOTHER! She helped me become Chief! She explained to me the rules, the obligations, responsibilities and how to act like a chief because my father is dead! Her husband at that too! She was there when I had nightmares, when I grieved, when I was too busy with my chief duties she made sure everything was okay, and what did you do? NOTHING! My father is dead and I had to pick up the pieces, I had to take on a job that I did not want in the first place! I never saw you there for the past month either Astrid! You never came to me! I thought you cared about me, but I guess not, for it was my mother! MY MOTHER! who helped me with everything, Not you! and now that I am finally sleeping, eating and getting the hang of being Chief, you spring this on me? Me, with so many dragon and people problems that could fill the sky, problems that you would never understand...because, because you're busy mooching with Eret! Maybe the rumors are true and the only reason why you dated me was because I was going to be Chief…" He fumed, pulling at his hair while staring at her as he tried to calm down his breathing.
But as soon as that last sentence left his mouth, Astrid could not help it, her fury was unleashed and she walked towards him and SLAP! Astrid knew that if she punched him in the face she would not stop herself from punching him over and over again. But with the slap and the way his head snapped back, she felt oh so satisfied at his stunned silence and the red swelling that began to rise on the left side of his face. One slap will do.
Even though she felt better after her slap, she could not help the tears that welled into her eyes at his accusation. The guy she loved thought she only loved him because he was going to be Chief? She never felt so vulnerable before and so alone. People in the village really thought that of her? After all she did for them and they spread rumors about her and Eret? Eret!? Astrid quickly turned around and sprinted down the hill away from the basket and him.
"Astrid...I didn't mean it…" He whispered trying to grab her as he saw her eyes glisten with unshed tears. He knew he should not have said what he said. It was all anger and madness. He had to stop her and fix the stupid problem they had before she went home. He sprinted after her, thanking the gods for his long stride and the years of working out with Astrid. He caught up to her and quickly grabbed her right arm.
She stopped running when she felt his strong grip on her wrist. She soon began to struggle to escape his grasp because she did not want Hiccup to see the tears that flowed down her face.
"LET ME GO." She seethed at him.
Hiccup tightened his hold on her wrist and grabbed her other hand to make sure she didn't flee or try to strike him. He sternly looked at her, willing her to understand and listen, but she would not stop her struggling against his hold and he gave another forceful tug at her wrists to stop her movements. "STOP!" he yelled.
Astrid stopped moving and looked up at Hiccup's distressed face. The pain in her wrist was beginning to become unbearable and she could not help but see the angry, frustrated emotions portraying on his face. The tone he used during his rant, when he yelled for her to stop stuck in her head, echoing in her ears. She had never heard him used such an angry on anyone before, it was foreign and she couldn't believe it came her lovable, sweet Hiccup. yet, with the way he overpowered her, and the emotions on his face, for once in her life Astrid was very Afraid of Hiccup.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! The story is coming along greatly and I just wanted to warn you guys that I might not be able to post next week because I have 3 exams back to back. So I wish you all a wonderful Halloween, Happy friday and have a great weekend! Thank you for reading, and please review! I am open to everything :D