Chapter Three: Can I? May I?
Over the next couple days Astrid and Hiccup met in the park for an hour to let the dogs play. Hiccup generally started sketching and Astrid would ask simple questions, but both of them seemed to be avoiding talking about anything more than simple day to day things. But after a week Hiccup was getting curious and decided to engage in more exciting conversations.
"So?" Hiccup said as Astrid sat down after letting Stormfly off her leash. The dogs licked eachothers muzzles before chasing each other around with happy barks. Astrid smiled and sat down next to him "So? Is that really how your going to start a conversation Hiccup?" She asked playfully. Hiccup blushed and shrugged. Astrid was….a lot like he imagined she'd be; sweet and funny with a roughness that suited her.
"Hey it was to break the ice! Anyway we've been hanging out each evening but I don't even know what your going to school for, or where you work." He said with a smile which Astrid returned. "Oh so that's what you were doing? I thought you were just saying you liked to sew" She said teasingly which made Hiccup laugh. "I'm in college for criminal justice studies, Stormfly and I are going to be a K-9 Unit with the BAU." She said with a smile. "And I'm currently working at the police dog training academy as a handler." She said and flashed him a smile. "And you?" She asked leaning back against the bench and lifting her face t the sun
Hiccup couldn't help but notice the way her hair shone in the sunlight, or how her eyes were the color of the sky, or how peaceful she looked staring up into the heavens. She was as beautiful now as she had been un school. Well maybe she hadn't been the prettiest girl in school, she'd been a bit gangly and she had been known as a tomboy; but she had been beautiful to him.
"I'm in school for engering and design. I work for a company now that once I graduate they plan on giving me a position where I can invent products for production." He said grinning happily. "I'm also taking art classes, I always enjoyed them and it helps with drowing out the designs." He said stretching his arms above his head. Astrid watched a little mezmorized. Hiccup was wearing a muscle shirt today with some dark wash jeans. She'd never seen him in shorts before.
He'd gotten a lot stronger than when they were kids and she could help the little thrill that went through her at seeing the muscles of his arms ripple and shift as and stretched and twisted. She liked the look of them, and she was positive that he'd be just as muscled elsewhere; and that thought had her swallowing. "Hiccup do you work out?" She asked suddenly, and the second the words left her mouth she started blushing and looked away.
Hiccup laughed and she couldn't help but look over, he had a nice laugh; deep and resonating. "Well I had to. After…..well after my leg I had a lot of physical therapy and once that was over I never wanted to feel that helpless again. I've spent a couple years now building up some muscles, that way I can't be tied up again." He said and there was a smile on his face the whole time, one that lifted the corners of his eyes.
Astrid looked at him surprised at how easily he shrugged off the incident. She looked over at the dogs and sighed. "Wow, I mean I never thought I'd hear you say something like that and smile. I mean if it had been me I would have been…..I don't know just not here. You are so strong Hiccup." She said turning to look at him. Hiccup seemed surprised and then smiled and blushed.
"So would you….I mean we could….That is….." Hiccup started nervously and Astrid watched him with a happy smile. "Would you like to have dinner with me? I know a little café we can sit outside with the dogs." He said twiddling his thumbs nervously. Astrid felt her heart jump and her smile grow, they may have just been getting back to knowing one another; but she couldn't help the fact that when she looked at him all those old feelings surfaced.
"I'd love to Hiccup." She said as he looked up at her with the biggest smile she'd ever seen. They sat and talked for a while longer, laughing over old times and talking about their future; but when Toothless came over and whined Hiccup knew it was time for food. "You ready to grab something to eat?" Hiccup asked standing up and hooking Toothless's leash onto his collar. Stormfly padded over and sat next to him pushing her body tightly against his.
Hiccup laughed as he watched the dogs, Astrid having trouble hooking Stormfly because she kept moving her head to rub noses with Toothless. "Do you think dogs can fall in love?" Hiccup asked watching the two canies and then looked at Astrid and blushed. Astrid smiled and gave him a funny look, "I think they can, but I think they build on the feelings of those they're attached too." She said simply and then blushed even more than Hiccup as she realized what they said.
They walked side by side as they made their way to the café, Toothless and Stormfly walking right ahead of them sniffing the air excitedly. Once there they sat down and had a simple meal as the dogs laid in a pile at their feet. They laughed and had a nice time a couple times Astrid even caught Hiccup watching her here and there. It made a small amount of heat fill her stomach knowing he was watching her.
Astrid wasn't a stranger to dating, she'd been a fairly popular girl in school and that hadn't changed in college. She'd had several serious relationships, all of them had ended horribly and turned her off to dating all together. She hadn't dated anyone in a year, yet here she was across from this guy from her past; a guy she'd liked. With Hiccup this seemed easy, he was funny and lighthearted. He took her jabs and gave his own in stride, never skipping a beat or letting her words hurt him.
He laughed so easily, and there was a softness to his features and his manners that made her feel safe and secure. She watched him as he went inside to pay, someone almost ran into him and Hiccup ducked and helped to keep the guy on his feet. As he was paying a waitress walked over and started flirting with him. Astrid watched interested as Hiccup politely paid and walked away from the girl who was basically daring him to strip her.
Astrid didn't bother hiding her smile as Hiccup came back outside. "Can I walk you home?" Hiccup asked taking Toothless's leash from Astrid. Astrid smirked and turned sliding her arm through Hiccup's with a laugh. "I don't know do you have the ability to?" She asked teasingly. Hiccup looked surprised at the fact she was holding his arm but then laughed. "Rephrase. May I walk you home?" He asked pulling her arm tighter into his. Astrid smiled and nodded giving his arm a squeeze. "I'd like that." She said softly as they started to make the four block walk to her apartment.
