Chapter Seven
A/N: This is basically just a Hiccstrid chapter. I'll honestly say nothing much plot-wise happens here, just fluffy, romantic goodness! Enjoy~
In response to...
InfinitiumAce: Lol, sorry about your hopes and feels. And yeah, I feel like the only times Astrid would be 'girly' or emotional would be in reaction to a Hiccup-related event. But I try to maintain some of that toughness most of the time. And don't worry, you'll get plenty of Hiccstrid in this chapter XD And yes...yes they do need a bigger boat XDDD
NightFury999: Thanks, I'm glad you liked the change in POV :)
A random surprise: Thank you! I'm glad you like it and enjoyed my attempt to give everyone mini-heart attacks XD
Yondaime Namikaze: Good, I'm glad it didn't sound funky or anything. :D And yeah, you'll get your fill of Hiccstrid (hopefully).
Breyannia: Haha, I feel like that's a pretty accurate portrayal of what he's probably doing XD And we'll see just how rude his wake up call shall be...
Dragon rider xox: Great! I'm glad you're enjoying them :D
FictionalMe888: Cool :D I'm glad you didn't find her OOC :)
When their ship arrives on Outcast Island and Stoick sees for himself that his people are safe and Alvin hasn't turned against them, he release a deep sigh of relief. Sailing into port, he is immediately greeted by the weary but cheerful faces of his tribesmen. The villagers look tired and eager to return to some kind of normalcy and the arrival of their Chief is a huge comfort to them.
But it's Alvin who is standing on the docks, waiting for them to land. He smiles through his scraggly beard, dark eyes shining in something akin to amusement. "Ahh, Stoick!" He calls over the roar of the waves. "It's about time ya' got 'ere! Had me worried there for a while...thought you'd gotten yerself caught or somethin'..." Alvin snickers to himself and steps back, allowing the other Chief room to jump off the boat.
"Well, Alvin, as you can see, I'm here now." He pauses for a moment before adding, "Thank you though...for allowing my people to take refuge here."
Stoick's former friend nods, still grinning to himself about something. That's when Toothless manages to limp onto the docks, wincing at every step. The voyage was rough on him and he'll need to sleep this off for a while. Which seems to remind Alvin of something.
The Outcast's expression darkens and he leans in closer to Stoick. "Did 'iccup...?"
Stoick shakes his head, not wanting to allow that thought to linger for any longer than it needs to. "He's fine." He assures him as he turns toward the ship, where he finds his son asleep on one of the benches. "Hiccup," Stoick calls as he reaches over to shake his shoulder. "We're here."
The boy's eyes flutter open and he yawns, offering his father a questioning look before he seems to register where they are. "Oh..." He grumbles, bracing his good arm against the bench and pushing himself up. But the movement sends jolts of searing pain through his shoulder and he flinches, eyes squeezing shut.
Seeing Hiccup's pain, Stoick reaches out to help him up. He takes his son's hand and pulls him to his feet, effortlessly lifting him over the side of the ship and onto the dock.
"Thanks, Dad..." Hiccup mutters as he finally regains his balance enough to stand on his own two feet. When Stoick releases him, he wavers slightly but doesn't fall, much to his satisfaction. But then...his eyes narrow when he notices who he's standing before. "Alvin..." He greets suspiciously.
"Ah, 'iccup!" The Outcast Chief booms as he raises a hand to smack Hiccup on the back...only to hesitate after receiving a warning glare from Stoick. "Oh, right..." He chuckles. "I almost forgot yer lit'le mishap."
Hiccup opens his mouth to say something, when he hears the sound of footsteps clunking down the dock in their direction... Turning carefully, so as not to jar his wound, he finds Astrid stalking toward him. With a rather intimidating look on her face. Her eyes look a little glassy, as if she were about to cry...but of course, Hiccup knows that can't be true. Vikings don't cry, after all. But she's still got a certain air about that says there's definitely something wrong.
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third!" She barks as she finally closes the distance between them.
"Uhh..." His eyes grow wide, a sudden instinctive fear growing within him from hearing her growl his full name like that. "Hi, Astrid...umm...what are you-" He flinches as her hand shoots out, sure that it's meant to connect him his arm. He can only pray that she hits the correct one...
Oddly enough, however, he doesn't feel her fist make contact with any part of his body. Instead, there's a sudden pressure around his good shoulder and, fleetingly, he realizes she's taken ahold of it. His heart skips a beat when he recognizes this motion... And surely enough, he stumbles forward as she yanks him toward her.
When their lips meet, however, all the familiarity is gone. His heart flutters dangerously fast and his face heats up. Astrid's other hand cups his cheek, while the first remains locked firmly on his arm...and he can't help but simply melt. This kiss is different, he realizes distantly. There's no real urgency about it, like there always seemed to be before.
This kiss is slow and soft and lingering...warmth seems to blossom in every inch of his being and when they finally pull apart, it takes a moment for him to realize there's now space between them and he should probably open his eyes now. When he does, he's greeted by a slight smirk on her face and a glimmer in her blue eyes he doesn't ever recall seeing before.
He returns her smile, although his feels goofy even to himself. He's sure his face is probably too red and he's wobbling slightly, still a little off balance from his injury but now a bit swimmy-headed as well. But he's convinced the swimminess has nothing to do with the blood loss...it does, however, have everything to do with the girl standing in front of him.
Only now does Astrid release his shoulder and lower her hand from his cheek, her smiling broadening to one more of relief and unabashed joy. "It's about time you got here." She says quietly. Her tone, while almost scolding and motherly, is entirely conflicted by the slight trembling of laughter in her voice.
"Sorry." Hiccup replies slowly, his brain still fighting to return to its normally functioning state after having been the equivalent of mush for about five seconds there. "We got uh...held up." He explains coyly.
Astrid nods and her expression suddenly shifts to an ornery one. "Well I'm glad you finally decided to join us. It's about time too." She teases as she takes in his battered form, barely on his feet, and wrapped up like a mummy. But all the while he's grinning like an idiot, as if he's totally forgotten what kind of condition he's in. It's enough to almost make her laugh. "But you should probably go lay down before you fall down." She offers, extending her hand for him to take.
And Hiccup accepts it gratefully, not entirely convinced he'd be able to walk very far without some kind of assistance. She wraps her other arm around his waist to help him and, for some reason, that just gets his heart pumping again. I need to take it easy... He reminds himself, although he still can't push that dumb smile off his face. It was quite the welcoming committee though...
While Hiccup is lost in thoughts of Astrid, said girl turns to Stoick and smiles confidently. "I'll take him to a tent so he can rest." She tells the Chief, who nods and watches them go.
"Come on, Toothless!" Hiccup calls back, knowing his dragon will need to sleep too. But the Night Fury is looking back and forth between his Rider and Astrid, a suspicious look in his eyes. Hiccup frowns at him and shakes his head. "Let's go, bud. I'm sure it's not much further."
With an annoyed snort, Toothless stands up and limps after them, his ears folded back and his pupils mere slits as he tries to determine what exactly he just witnessed...
Meanwhile, Stoick and Alvin are standing on the docks, watching the two teens...'reuinite'. And as Hiccup and Astrid walk away toward the tents so he can rest, Alvin suddenly laughs to himself and shakes his head, earning a quizzical look from Stoick.
"That girl...Astrid." The Outcast begins. "She reminds me of your Val... Just a stubborn mother-hen."
And Hiccup's father nods. "Well, you're right about that." He agrees. "But at times like these, Hiccup needs someone like that. He can be...reckless."
"Ahh, believe me, Stoick. I know how reckless your boy is." Alvin jokes with a shake of his head...although it goes over flat and earns him a glare from the other Chief. "Eh, lighten up!" He grumbles. "You and yer boy're safe, aren't ya'?"
"Yes, we are." Stoick nods, extending his arm to Alvin. "And for that, I can't thank you enough. For protecting my people...and my son. Again."
The Outcast leader hesitates, staring at Stoick's outstretched arm for just a moment...before he accepts it, shaking firmly as a smile crosses his face. "Oh c'mon, don't get all mushy on me, Stoick." He mutters, earning a chuckle from the other man. I suppose for now, this truce is alright. No point in causing another war just yet...
A/N: Slowpoke09 message me and cleared up Toothless's weight. Apparently it's published in a book or something (even though I literally SCOURED the internet and came up empty). His weight is roughly 1,700 pounds!
Thanks, Slowpoke09! :D
