"It doesn't take twenty minutes-or two people for that matter-to grab a gallon of OJ from the trunk of the car," Hiccup said with a sigh.
"Should I-look out the window?" Astrid asked him quietly. He could tell she was edgy, and he felt bad she was trapped between their walls.
They'd been sitting in silence for the last half hour. Hiccup had been holding a bag of frozen peas to his aching forehead and cheek. He debated for a fraction of a minute, then nodded to Astrid.
She leaned back against the couch, and she edged the curtain over a little bit so that she could see outside. "They are standing at the back of the car. Looks like they are talking."
"Just talking? Or-" Hiccup wanted to saying "fighting." But he didn't. His father's temper often took over the best of him. He'd been worried-and wondering-if Katherine had seen this side of him at all. Perhaps at work, or during a court room appearance. Katherine was a petite woman. Astrid was small, but Katherine was much shorter. He'd often wondered if Katherine could put up with a man over six foot, with a ton of muscle, with a big attitude.
"Just talking it looks like," Astrid replied to Hiccup.
"Okay," he said. It was a relief to know.
Hiccup's thoughts were overpowering him. He wanted Astrid to go home, but he knew that was not possible. Not until around eleven. Her father trusted him and had asked permission for her to stay with them for a little while. He wanted his own time to gather his thoughts on the whole matter...and perhaps shake off the flashback he'd had.
Why had he had it? He wasn't sure. The conditions of it all weren't even the same. He hadn't fallen down a full story. He'd been pushed down to the floor. He hadn't had someone beat the snot out of him before. And, it was outside, not inside. These thoughts were rolling through his head.
"Hiccup, you're shaking-" Astrid's voice was so quiet he barely heard her. If she hadn't touched his hand prior, he probably wouldn't have noticed she had been talking to him.
"I'll be all right," he said, pushing a smile past. "Promise."
"Still-" was all she could say.
Suddenly the door opened again, and once Mr. Vast and Katherine were past the dividing wall, they approached the living room. No gallon of orange juice was in sight. Of course, it was an excuse to go talk to Katherine without their ears leaning in to hear.
"So, kids, tell us what happened," Mr. Vast said. Katherine sat down in the chair, while Mr. Vast remained standing. The look in his eye told Hiccup this was going to be like a deposition. He'd seen the look before from his childhood. He'd be sitting in his father's office, reading a book while he interviewed multiple clients. Or, he'd be sitting in the waiting area waiting for hours before he and the parties would emerge from the conference room. He had the same cold look.
"Well-" Astrid started. Hiccup felt bad for her. She was being put on the spot. And, he was half expecting his father to lose his temper in the next five minutes...if they were lucky. "We were leaving-and Brad pushed Hiccup into the stairs."
"Okay-" His father's tone again. In such short sentences it wasn't enough detail for his father.
"Brad was waiting in the hallway between the double doors," Hiccup said now. "When we went to leave through the second door, I was pushed into the stares. He-he made motion to grab Astrid-or, well, it seemed to be. I stood in front of her. Both of us trying to talk some sense into him."
"Go on-"
"Stoick," Katherine's voice said gently. It had it's own tone to it. It was as though she was reminding him to stay calm.
"I pushed Astrid out of the way so he couldn't get her. He'd hit me a few times-I-" Hiccup trailed off. A sudden thought occurred to him. Would he get in trouble to actually attacking Brad. He didn't even put a scratch on the guy. And, Astrid slapped him once in the face-
"Hiccup-"
His father pulled him back. "Um-I-He had a hold of Astrid's arm, and I hit him."
He thought he could hear a cricket in the room. Perhaps. No. But the room was so quiet for a long, agonizing ten to fifteen seconds.
"You hit him?" Mr. Vast asked Hiccup.
"He had a hold of Astrid's arm-"
"He did," she said. "And, at one point I slapped him in the face for pushing Hiccup."
Through his one good eye, Hiccup saw Katherine's eyes raise up.
"So-then what happened?" Mr. Vast asked.
"Brad pushed Hiccup forward-and he went through the door and onto the pool deck. There were still adults in there. Two of them restrained Brad. Until the cops came-"
"And how did you two not get tied up with the cops?" Mr. Vast asked. "I'm surprised the facility and one of the cops didn't give me a call. Or-Astrid, does your father know what is going on?"
Astrid slowly shook her head. "No. He's-" She seemed beside herself for a moment. "He's doing an undercover operation at home right now."
So, she knew what was going on with her dad. He'd seemed so secretive. Hiccup felt he should have known what was going on with the comment "...the boys are coming over to my house to watch the neighborhood for a few hours..." Why hadn't Hiccup picked up on that?
"I still don't understand why I wasn't called," Mr. Vast said. He turned to Katherine. "Do you think I should have been notified?"
"Stoick-" she began, but stopped. "I think they only time the facility needs to notify you of an incident like this is if Hiccup needed to go to the ER-"
"I still may have to take him-"
"No, Dad," Hiccup said. "I'm fine-" He didn't want Astrid to worry. And he didn't want to go to the ER...again. He was tired of being a regular at the hospital.
"You don't know that, Hiccup."
"How many scuffles did you get into at my age?" Hiccup asked.
"I've had my fair share-you on the other hand-"
Hiccup's jaw clenched. His one stubbornness-that his father swore over and over again came from his mother-was going to show. "Dad, I have a busted lip, a sore jaw and I know I am going to have a black eye. Outside of that, I will be fine. I've been through worse-and you know it."
Silence hung in the room at that.
"Astrid-let's-uh-I forgot bread for the grilled cheese-let's go for a drive." Katherine rose quickly, and Astrid followed promptly. It was obvious that the girls were growing uncomfortable with the discussion. Hiccup was sure that Astrid felt like a thorn in someones thumb. With a quick glance at Hiccup, she followed Katherine out the door.
Silence hung in the room again. Mr. Vast hadn't sat down. He was starting to pace.
"Dad, stop," Hiccup said, grabbing the bag of frozen peas off of the cushion beside him. Soon they wouldn't be any good to use as an ice pack. They were mostly thawed, and dripping down his hand and arm.
"You've never been in this much trouble, Hiccup," Mr. Vast said, his volume increasing just slightly. He continued to pace.
"Dad, I did not insinuate this. That was part of the reason the facility let me go. Why they didn't call you, I don't know."
"Why didn't you call me?"
Hiccup remained silent for a moment. "Dad-" He paused. "I had an episode-"
Mr. Vast looked at him a moment, his expression softening. "Again?"
"It was different this time," Hiccup said. "I-I can't explain it. But, when they told me we could leave, we left. I just wanted to get home. I had blood still coming out of my mouth, and-"
"Speaking of 'blood', and 'mouth'- any of your teeth get knocked out?"
Hiccup shook his head. "No, my teeth are fine."
Mr. Vast's hands went to his hips, and on cue, Hiccup heard him sigh heavily. He was easing up a bit.
"Dad-I'm sorry I didn't call you. I'm sorry that I have disappointed you-"
"You think you disappointed me?" Mr. Vast asked him. Hiccup didn't speak. But, he couldn't meet his father's eyes, which was hard for him to admit. He always liked keeping eye contact with someone. "This was not your fault. I know that. I don't think you started this."
"I've never been a fighter," Hiccup said.
"I know you haven't." Mr. Vast came around the coffee table and took a seat next to his son. He touched a finger under Hiccup's chin, forcing him to look at him. Lowering the bag of peas, Mr. Vast took a good look at his swollen cheek. "Keep icing it. Looks like he hit you pretty hard."
Silence hung between them again.
"You said that Brad attacked you out of no where?" Mr. Vast asked.
"He apparently has this huge crush on Astrid," Hiccup said. He glanced away. "She helped him with a paper. And, he does have her number. Guess he thought she sent him kissy faces, and a lot of other texts-and he fell for her."
Mr. Vast narrowed his eyes at his son. "Does that sound like Astrid to you?"
Hiccup shook his head. "Dad, I think he was trying to make me jealous and scare me away."
"Have you seen these messages?"
"No," Hiccup said. "And, I am not interested in seeing them in all honesty-if they do exist. It really isn't my business-"
"Hiccup, you just had your face punched in by this guy. You don't think it's not your business?"
"I'm not gonna pry on Astrid. It is what it is. I can't change it. She's been here with me through a lot here lately."
"Hiccup, you-you don't love her do you?"
Hiccup felt himself freeze up. His internal organs felt like butterflies. His shoulders tensed up. Honestly, he didn't know. Warm, fond feelings came to him when he'd get a text from her. Each morning she would text him, telling him "good morning" and he'd respond back. She always asked him how he'd slept. Good or bad. She wanted to know. He felt as though she cared for his well-being. And he knew he cared about her's.
"Do you love Katherine?" Hiccup asked.
"We aren't talking about me," Mr. Vast said. "We are talking about you and Astrid."
"No, Dad. Tell me-do you love Katherine?"
His father's cheeks went rosey in embarrassment. "I-I think I-have a fondness for her."
"In what way?" Hiccup asked him. "Seriously-when you think of Katherine what is the first thing you think of?"
"Well-I-" His father was silent. "She was there for me when I felt the most alone."
Hiccup knew what his father was talking about. With being an only child, and his mother gone, and no living grandparents, his father was alone in taking care of Hiccup. No siblings, no distant relatives. Mr. Vast had been alone since Hiccup's mother left.
"Dad, I know when I fell, Katherine was the one you confided in. And, and I know you did't mean to fall for her."
Mr. Vast glanced at Hiccup, and agreed with a nod of the head.
"It happened. And, that's what happened with Astrid and I. I just-happened to be stubborn enough not to listen to you that night. And, somehow, she's been by my side since." Hiccup rolled up the sleeve to his hoodie, revealing the pink scar that stretched down his arm. "I didn't go looking for this relationship. I didn't ask to be a part of her life. Somehow, we just click. And, I don't know if I am in love with her. But, I know I care about her."
Silence again, before Hiccup spoke.
"Dad, I trust her to know that he isn't talking to Brad behind my back. I've never seen her physically talk to the guy. And, I am in NHS, too. Mr. Bryce asked me months ago to tutor some of the guys in math for my service credits and because of my PT, the bus and all I turned it down. Astrid-I think she picked one of those up. I don't know. But, it all makes sense to me. At least-for the most part."
"What doesn't make sense to you, kiddo?" his father asked.
"Why when I fell today-why I would go all panicky when the whole situation was different."
Mr. Vast sighed. "Why do retired service men hear MedFlight and their brains change gears-putting them back in the war?"
Hiccup glanced over at his father.
"Your doctor is right. You have some form of PTSD. And, perhaps we need to look into options of treating it."
Hiccup sighed. "Dad, I'm okay right now. I-I kinda of just-shut down."
"Well, it's something we should talk to Kim about, son." Mr. Vast stood up and moved back around the coffee table and across the room. "I see you haven't gotten your crutch out yet."
Hiccup glanced down at his legs. He actually hadn't changed out of the damp clothes he'd been wearing. He barely noticed now that they were wet.
"Leg isn't too bad," Hiccup said. "New prosthetic seems to be helping a lot."
Mr. Vast nodded. "Now, would you want to help your old man make some chili?"
Hiccup could tell they were done discussing the matter for now. And, he was thankful they were.
...
After dinner was done, Hiccup settled himself onto the couch. He was beginning to feel the soreness setting in more. He actually took another pain reliever.
"You are going to kill your liver," Astrid said to him.
Hiccup shrugged. "Hey, all things considering the only time I take something is when I can't stand it anymore. I learned a long time ago to manage pain before I end up sick over it."
Astrid shook her head. Hiccup could see her flipping through her phone now.
"Did you dad ever text you?" Hiccup asked.
"Hmmmm?" Astrid took a moment to take in what he had asked. "Oh, yes. He did. Asked if we were both all right, and I told him we were for the most part." She winced a little bit as she took a good look at Hiccup's face. "All things considering."
"Battle wound," Hiccup said, and she gave him an annoyed smirk.
"Here," she said, moving herself closer to him, handing him her phone. "These are the messages-"
"Astrid, I don't need you to show them to me-"
"No, I want you to see them. I was telling you the truth-"
"Astrid, no," Hiccup said, pushing her phone back to her. "I believe you, okay. Brad's always been-kinda delusional like Snotlout can be. Ya know? Perhaps, I don't know. He just kind of lost his mind for a moment."
She sighed at him. "There's seriously, like, a dozen messages on here. And, for the most part, it's about meeting times. And, yes, I did tell him 'Good morning' once. But, it was telling him to not forget to bring his rough draft-"
"Astrid-" Hiccup said, giving her a small laugh. "It is what it is, milady." He shoved the phone out of his general direction. Eventually he pulled the phone from her hands, she looking hopeful he'd take a look at what she was talking about, but instead he sat it down on the coffee table. "I don't care about Brad, all right?"
"I just want you to know the truth," Astrid said.
"I know the truth," Hiccup said. "I don't need the proof."
He put an arm around her and pulled her close to him. She seemed to have loosened up a little bit due to this.
"Astrid, I believe that since you were willing to fight with me, that it was true. And, even if it was true, the past is the past. You are here now, and I'm here with you...unless you decide you want out."
"Don't say things like that," Astrid said to him. "I don't like that...that, self-doubt. Hiccup, I'm here with you, and I don't plan on going anywhere, okay?"
"Astrid, we've only been together-what? Two months? If that?" Hiccup tried to think about when the accident happened, but he could't remember. His mind was drawing a blank.
"I don't care," she said, and she leaned closer into him, forcing his arm to drape around her in a tight squeeze. "This is where I want to be at. With you, with Katherine and your dad. This-This right here is my ideal Saturday night."
"Well, my ideal Saturday night is minus a fist fight," Hiccup said.
Astrid shoved his ribs with her elbow, causing him to wince. She immediately regretted it, hearing him gasp a little bit to catch his breath.
"I'm sorry!"
"I'll live," he said, choking on his breath for a second. He gave her a wink.
...
This was not how I foresaw the ending but this is the end of this fic. Thank you to everyone who have been following, reviewing and keeping me going. There are days I feel as thought my writing is getting stronger, and the creativity pour from my fingertips. Tonight was not one of those nights, but I always like a good father/son talk with Stoick and Hiccup.
Thank you again! I need some ideas for a new fic, so if anyone wants to send me some ideas, I might take them into consideration :)
