Revive and Confidence

Astrid felt revived.

It was Sunday 10am when she woke up and it felt like her life had reset. She started her morning by stretching her arms and back while still one her back, her eyes still closed and a big smile on her face, she was surprised that she knew how, and thankful. After the stretch she opened her eyes, her smile still on her face. This has been the longest continuous smile she has ever had since, well she couldn't remember the last time she smiled so long. She got out of bed and went for her contacts. When she counted them and saw her bag she remembered she was still in Hiccup's house.

She put one her glasses and put on a fresh shirt, still wearing the bottoms she wore Saturday. She exited the room and saw the sleeping big black mass that was Toothless. She was afraid at first, maybe Toothless would maul her if she woke him up, but she bent-down and reached her hand out (curiosity had killed the cat). "Good morning, big guy." Astrid whispered. Toothless' eyes shot open as Astrid started to pet him, he looked like he was going to growl and bite at her, but then his eyes actually met hers and the big wolf, okay he wasn't actually a wolf but he might as well be, ended his aggression and got up and started licking Astrid, first her hand and then her face. It wasn't playful or mean, it was like he was trying to clean out a wound. (Satisfaction brought it back). She then pulled Toothless into an embrace. "Aren't you the sweetest, your just an over-grown puppy aren't you." She whispered into Toothless' neck. "I don't think Hiccup should know about this, he already hates me there no reason for him to hate you." She continued and kissed the left side of the mutt's face.

Toothless turned to look at her in the face. "You're a good boy. Yes you are." Astrid said in the high pitch cutesy way people are know to say 'who's a good boy/girl, who's a good/girl, yes you are, yes you are' to dogs as her smile returned as she rubbed and pet the huge beast. She could feel the happy puppy's panting. Hiccup must not tell Toothless that's a good boy as often as he should, Astrid thought to herself. "I am going make breakfast, could you wake up Hiccup?" Astrid asked as she let go of Toothless.

Toothless nodded and trotted to Hiccup's room and was going to open the door himself, but Astrid opened it for him. She kept her right index finger in front of her mouth, as people do to gesture to others to be quite either for a short while or on a particular thing and closed her right eye. Toothless seemed to get the message that Astrid wanted to have Hiccup surprised. Astrid then strolled into the kitchen. She decided to make some scrambled eggs, there were plenty of eggs, some pieces of ham, some milk and some graded cheese. She also took out two oranges and some more milk to drink. She was surprise by how easy it was for her to find everything she needed, like Hiccup had to keep things in a way for when someone with her mind-set would come to this house, that's when she noticed the picture, Hiccup must have been 4 or 5 at most and he was happy, smiling with his mouth open and he was on the shoulders of a mountain of a man, the man hand a big, braided red beard, kept his hair knotted in the back, she knew of the man, "STOICK THE VAST IS YOUR FATHER!" Astrid shouted at the tops of her lungs as she turned to face Hiccup's room.

"Ouch. I am losing my hearing by itself, shouting like that is not helping." Hiccup deadpanned as he arrived into the kitchen, he was using his crutches. "I told you last night my father owns Haddock Industry and he's the district superintendent, who else fits that bill?" Hiccup asked, Astrid knew it was rhetorical and elected to not answer, giving the sardonic prick an amused scowl. Behind Hiccup Toothless was barking at Hiccup telling him to move. It was not until then that Astrid finally realized that Hiccup was not only going deaf but his left leg was gone, well just below the knew joint, but still half of Hiccup's leg was gone. Astrid didn't need a mirror or anyone to tell her that her face was pale and her eyes dilated in horror and her mouth slightly agape.

Hiccup followed her gaze to his leg, first panic came across his face as the blood left it, but the panic subsided, he had already panicked due to the finding out of his enviable deafness Friday night, he was already the weakling here might as well go all the way, his pitch started out akin to the anexity of Friday night "Yeah, I am so useless that I lost my leg. Interesting story, you see, I was taking Toothless out for a walk, just at the beginning of summer and I see this blonde divine beauty jogging, training for track, and this beauty has been a b... well I really shouldn't call her that because to do so would insult female dogs, but you get the idea. So I turn off my hearing aids because I didn't want to hear" As Hiccup continued the fear and anxiety of being found out concerning his lacking limb vanished; it was somewhat therapeutic to state what happened, to admit it not only to someone else but to himself, "for a while and I took a minute to throw daggers through my eyes at her and then Toothless starts pulling hard at me and before I could register I was pinned, I had fallen and hit my head, my lower left leg was crushed, and was under the rear tire of a car, there was a crash, obviously and they had to amputate right there. Here's the kicker they had no means to sedate me. I was going critical due to the stress of the crushed leg and the amputation in process on my heart and blood-loss from the destroyed veins and arteries from the crushing of my leg and the amputation and I didn't paused out until the amputation was complete." Hiccup said as he moved to one of the two seats at the table and sat down, there was slight smile on his face as if a weight had been lifted from him.

Astrid was able to regain her composer after a few seconds, just in time to return to the breakfast she was making. She knew whom Hiccup was referring to as the 'divine beauty', herself. She remembered that day, not so much what happened to Hiccup, she was a least a block or two away, but she remembered people talking about someone getting ran-over. However like most people, she failed to connect the disappearance of Hiccup over the summer to the crash. "I am so.." she started, she was thankful to be facing away from Hiccup, she was not going to cry in front of him.

"I have only my self to blame, Astrid." cut her off, dejectedly. He too was thankful to face away from her, he had not told her everything and he was starting to feel like he should. He was so confused and frustrated. "I know that story was not what you expected to hear first thing on a Sunday. Thanks for hearing it." Hiccup turning to Astrid, remorse for his misplaced wrath on his face, his eyes down, a weak smile on his face.

"It's okay. I made some scrambled eggs, with ham and cheese. We also have oranges and milk, for breakfast." Astrid said looking over her shoulder to Hiccup, she had a slight look of pity towards someone, the sadden eyes, the paleness from loss of cheer, etc. She gave a slightly stronger smile to lighten the mood.

"Thanks. I hope it's good." Hiccup said challengingly, he gave a partial smile, much like the one he gave when he challenged Astrid to the Vs.

"Prepare to be sniped in the taste buds, noob." Astrid smirked, her pupils constricting as she focused on finishing the meal as she accepted Hiccup's challenge.

"2 for 2, Hofferson." Hiccup said as he leaned back into the chair after eating the breakfast Astrid made, he was much happier to have lost this time a smile on his face. Astrid stretched out both her arms and made a 'V' with the index and middle fingers on both hands, her eyes closed and a big toothy smile on her face. "Seriously, you're going Nixon." Hiccup chided playfully as he leaned forward seating in the chair properly. Astrid only lowered her arms and shut her lips as she continued to smile with her eyes closed.

Woof. Toothless 'said', the big guy was happy at the scene as his tongue hanging out as he panted indicated. He got a slight scowl from Hiccup as if Hiccup was calling the Toothless a traitor. Toothless just snorted at the scowl Hiccup sent. Hiccup dipped his head in defeat. Astrid's eyes were still closed and her smile still on her face.

"Anyway, you are a great chef." Hiccup said as he regained his composer and started stacking the plates and the forks used so that they could be brought over to the sink in one go.

Astrid snapped out of her smile, her eyes opening and her smile lessening. "As long as Gobber doesn't find out, I'll cook for you as much as I can this week, if he finds out you're last meal will be the means I kill you." She said taking the dishes into the kitchen to clean them off and was about to get the sink ready to wash all the dishes, including the glasses they drank from and the skillet she used. Her threat while said cheerfully, Hiccup felt that she meant it.

"We have a built in dishwasher, it just to you left." Hiccup informed her, Astrid then placed all the dishes into the dish washer, never having had one before she guessed that the cutlery went into the basket on the bottom, the glasses went face down on the top and the dishes and skillet went on their side on the bottom. She looked over to Hiccup with a face not unlike a lost puppy's clearly not sure if she got it right. Hiccup nodded to indicate that Astrid did get it right. She gave small uncharacteristic 'yea' and jumped in the air happy, she was not sure why but she just felt like leaping into air with joy. "Why wouldn't you want Gobber to know?" Hiccup's voice brought her back to the present.

"I like to cook, don't get the wrong idea, I am no 50's house-wife, but when I cook I enjoy doing it and to make it my profession would just just destroy the joy I get from it, and I only do it when I'm happy. If Gobber finds out he'll 'promote' me from waitress to cook." Astrid answered as she retook her seat. She her arms crossed as she leaned back, she never shared this part of her life, not even her father really know about it.

"So what is your shift at the Meade Hall?" Hiccup asked, his head tilting to the right slightly as his faced constricted in confusion. All Berk's teenagers had their first job at the Meade Hall, well most, the other place for Berk teenagers for their first job was the Belch Forge, the town's all-purpose repair shop and smith, both managed by Gobber Belch.

"Wednesday through Friday, after school to like 8pm," Astrid answered as she removed her arms from in front of her to her sides, she was at first confused that Hiccup knew the restaurant she worked at, her right eyebrow raised, her head tilted to the left.

"I work at the Forge, myself, Monday to Wednesday nights about the same time." Hiccup answered. "I am unofficially Gobber's apprentice." he continued with a slight grin as he leaned back, clearly he was trying to impress Astrid, but why, Astrid was not sure, was he trying to pick a fight.

"You work, why?" Astrid asked as she leaned forward turning her heard slightly to the right, her eyes slightly narrowing, to her Hiccup was well off. He may not have been living in opulence as she originally believed but still.

"If I don't, I'll drive myself crazy. I can't keep playing my games forever and while I like draw..."


Hiccup was confident

"If I don't, I'll drive myself crazy. I can't keep playing my games forever and while I like drawing the dragons I visualize, I have to do something productive. " Hiccup answered, while it was not the ballsy resolute 'f-u because I am done with this sh!+' gale he had when the two first exchanged words when assignment was given or an 'I am better than you' deal, nor was it overcompensation not unlike Snotlout's blustering, but Hiccup was clearly confidence. Like he was trying to subtlety impress her, like he was saying without actually saying that he was the best...

"Are you trying to impress me?" Astrid asked, Hiccup returned his focus to her. She was not amused, or so Hiccup gathered, her left eyebrow raised her head leaning in but turned slightly to the right. A slight smirk on her face for having deflated his ego.

"No and yes." Hiccup said, he was resolute as he sat up and began to get up, he was acting like he had both his legs, just as he was about to left his right leg, Astrid dashed around the table and caught him.

"What is with you, and not you but all men? Are you purposefully stupid!" Astrid spoke to him clearly irate, but it was more of a mother's concern over her child doing something s/he shouldn't due to the chance the action would injury him/her then Astrid's usual bully anger. Her face was red from the fury, her eyes dilated and her nostril flared a little. She then put Hiccup back into the chair. It was only than that the two realized that Astrid actually held Hiccup to her chest and Hiccup noticed she was not wearing a...

"You're not wearing a..." Hiccup started to say was his face went crimson and his eyes dilated and than constricted and dilated again, but he never finished his sentence as he knocked out of the chair by the back of Astrid's right hand coming into contact with the right side of his face. He could see the anger boiling in her face as she realized that she had held him to her chest, but something was off, it was not the 'I!HATE!YOU!' anger he was familiar with, this looked like she was confused and his presence was only making things worse, but he did not register any of that until after he was on the floor. While he mentally registered what happened he did see Astrid run out of the kitchen towards the stairs and the guest room. Hiccup was able to turn himself so that he could get himself up and back into the chair. "What is with her? She makes me breakfast one minute and the next she slaps me across the face like that." Hiccup said as he rubbed his chin, his eye narrowing as he squinted at what happened.

He looked to Toothless for an answer, the hound only tilted his head to the right and leaned it back as if he was saying 'Seriously, I barely understand you 5 times out of 10 and I live with you and we are both males, do you honestly think I would understand her.'

"Sorry about that, I know I promised to stop bullying you." Hiccup turned to face Astrid she was leaning against the way, her head down in shame, her arms crossed in front of her, but for some reason Hiccup sensed that it was not her usual 'I am the best and brightest, Useless' demeanor, it was as if she was trying to provide a barrier between herself and something, but what, what can possibly inspire any degree of fear in Astrid Hofferson, weren't the Hoffersons known for their fearlessness?

All these contradictions, not only around Astrid but for his own life. Astrid was the last person he would share either of his secrets concerning his physical state with and yet he did just that, well the first one was sort of a result of an accident, but still. And he feeling both exposed for being powerless and yet relieved for having come clean about his physical faults. In addition he taught Astrid how to pown even him in one of his best games and while he was glad she was enjoying the game and playing so well he could not help but hate that she sniped him right out the gates. As for Astrid, first she comes in as if to manipulate him, then she goes … well like a cornered injured animal. Then yesterday she like trying to make peace in addition to competing the project, even asking for forgiveness and sawing her own weakness and yet she made a jab of his well chosen pun. And today she makes a meal for and even helps him when he fell only to smack him across the face knocking him onto the floor like she was some sort of... no she is a tsundere and now she acting like she's afraid of him. Hiccup couldn't take it, he thought he could let the bridge be built on its organic schedule.

Enough was enough, if Astrid was going to stay here any longer then she was going to have to come clean, why did she slap him like that, why did she bully him over the last year and a half, everything, Hiccup thought as he got his crutches and began heading out of t he room. The look in his eyes narrow with resolve. "You know what, I cannot do this, I thought I could be a host, that I could be more tolerable but I just can't. I feel nothing but resentment towards you. You made my life miserable for no reason, both as the direct and indirect cause for the better part of the last two years. You have to compete with me at every level in the only area in society I can shine and all you say is because its a matter of survival, and now my best... well only friend is taking your side. Traitor," Hiccup directed the last bit to Toothless who was now positioning himself to between Hiccup and Astrid. "You have until 6pm to either pack-up and get out or tell me why you had to come here and why you have taken upon yourself to be my bully for the last year and a half. I am calling the police at 6:01" Hiccup then passed Astrid, he was trying to get away before he... "And here's the real kicker, I have a crush on you, I like how you stand for what you believe in, that you don't take any nonsense, how gracious a winner you are, those adorable azure eyes of yours, your cute face, your bravery, your strong presence, your aura of possibly being sweet and kind and the vibe that you and I are very similar, each hiding something from the rest of the world, among other reasons and I have been crushing over you since the first day of high school. That's why I stopped so long that day, I was tormented by my hatred of you and my crush on you. I am really messed up, I hate you and I have a crush on you." Hiccup said as he traversed to the stairs heading to his room, his confidence gone, he was angry, at Astrid, at himself, etc and he was scared. 'WHAT?! WHY AM I TELLING HER THIS? WHAT AM I SAYING?!' The right side of his brain screamed, clearly being emotional, the left side calmly and calculatedly asked in response 'why not? Maybe she can help resolve all... this and maybe there can be some closer.' Hiccup wanted to scream both in horror and in anger. His mind couldn't take it any more. He was done with this nonsense, one way or another.

"Wait." Hiccup heard Astrid say, it was not a command, it was a request. "I have something you should see, would you turn around." Astrid's voice sounded like it was shaking, not quite the stutter from Friday night, but still it lacked Astrid's characteristic resolve.

Hiccup took his time to turn to face Astrid, rolling his eyes as he did. Muttering to himself as to why he had to turn around and why Astrid couldn't just tell him, his face red with annoyance, his nostrils slightly flared, his pupils narrow. When he finished turning...

Author's Note:

Ain't I a sticker?

Yes, yes I am.

I just cliff-hung.

I took the liberty to make Gobber both the manager of the restaurant Astrid works at and the Forge. I also took the liberty to have Hiccup work at the forge. Astrid's work schedule came from my co-respondents with Rumbling Night Cutter so that I know what Rumbling Night Cutter had planned/conceived for the story so that I have a point of reference as I continued. It's worth noting
I do share what I write with Rumbling Night Cutter, I may be the legal guardian of the story now, but I like the input from the birth-parent.

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