I sincerely apologise for my absence. My degree is entirely soul crushing and has really been causing me problems. My creative mojo has been basically non-existent. I am really really trying though! I just hope this chapter is up to standards you all expect.
Chapter 9 – The Night and the Furies
"No way."
"Yes way! Count me in!"
"Come on Fish! Rosie knows and she's all for it!"
"Nuh uh. Back in college it was one thing… But now…"
"Come on Fish, you'll be among friends! We can get the girls to join in a bit since you don't want a proper boys night… It'll be a laugh." Hiccup tried to persuade. Snotlout was already high-fiving Tuff for the genius idea.
"Yeah Fish… You've got to do it! Come on… It'll be great fun!" Tuff enthused.
"What'll be fun?" Astrid asked as she walked in carrying a dish of chilli, nachos, and a bowl of rice for the boys. They'd all gathered at Stoick's house (who was due back early next morning) for a boys night in – a few beers, food, general chat and the occasional game of poker. Hiccup usually hosted as Stoick's place was bigger and had more space for them to pass out if they wanted.
"We want to resurrect the Night and the Furies!" Snotlout exclaimed proudly.
"The what?" Astrid asked laughing. James had dropped her back about two hours ago and she'd then begun making food for the boys.
"It was a band we all made." Fishlegs said, sounding mortified as the others all laughed loudly. "Back in college. Hiccup was lead singer, Tuff and Snotlout took turns on guitar or bass and drums and I did keyboard or drums if Hiccup was only doing vocals, Tuff was guitar and Snotlout was bass or vice versa." Fishlegs groaned and gratefully took a nacho from the dish Astrid held.
"No way?! You guys were in a band?!"
Hiccup held up his hands with a smile and looked modest. Tuff and Snotlout were absolutely beside themselves.
"Were you any good?!"
"Oh honey… We rocked." Tuff said, waving a casual hand. Astrid chuckled. Fish shook his head in despair as Astrid set down the dish on the table for them.
"I'm not doing it."
"Oh Fish! I think it sounds great!" Astrid coaxed. He shook his head still. Hiccup's arm slid around her waist as she stood beside him, an arm now around his shoulders.
"She's right Fish, it'll be such a laugh!" Hiccup agreed. "James has agreed to host a private event so it'll only be with friends!"
"And the friends have probably mostly seen it before." Snotlout pointed out. "So it's pretty much just Astrid who would be new…"
"Yeah come on!"
"For Rosie?" Astrid said. "She'd love to see it. Would be a little tribute to your history together. And you could dedicate a song to her and sing one yourself!"
The others all looked at him and did the most puppy eyed expressions they could muster.
"Please? For old times? For Rosie?" They all queried.
Fishlegs grumbled and groaned but finally…
"Oh alright then. We can resurrect the Night and the Furies." There was a loud cheer from the others and a great deal of high fiving. Fishlegs couldn't help but grin and laugh.
"Oh this is going to be so awesome! We get to be there right?" Astrid asked.
"Definitely. You can even do a bit of song and dance if you like."
"Yeah! It would be so much fun! Get them joining in! Plus we know Astrid can sing… And Heather ain't bad. My sister can't sing for shit though."
"Oh she's not that bad Tuff." Snotlout said.
"I hate to say it but he's got a point. Ruff doesn't sing." Fishlegs agreed.
"She hates it. She doesn't mind dancing though. That she'll do. But if not, she can record it."
"Definitely get a range of stuff going. Some just us. Some us with the girls dancing. Some with us and the girls singing…" Hiccup was already planning. Astrid knew that expression. He was in that frame of mind. He had a hand on his chin and a thoughtful expression. Full planning mode.
She couldn't help smiling. She was growing far too familiar with that expression. But she quite liked it. It was classic Hiccup.
"I think I've got plenty of ideas. We better start planning for rehearsals." Hiccup said.
"That can come tomorrow. Tonight is chill time. And I want some of this chilli before Fish eats the lot!" Snotlout said.
"Does smell amazing." Tuff admitted hanging over the dish and taking a huge exaggerated sniff.
"Tastes great too." Fish agreed.
"She's great isn't she?" Hiccup chuckled pulling her close by the waist with a chuckle. Astrid kissed his head.
"That she is." Tuff said without looking up, taking a mouthful of rice and chilli. Fishlegs was watching Hiccup and Astrid closely. Hiccup was smiling up at her with a look Fishlegs couldn't remember seeing. It was almost like the look when he first got together with Carly, but different… There was something more to it. She was smiling back at him with a similar expression. Her eyes just seemed to sparkle, like they were full of stars.
"You need to eat too Hiccup." She insisted.
"I will. Hey did you…"
"Toothless is already fed and back at your feet to sleep." Astrid finished for him. "I know what I'm doing Hic, I've got it sussed by now!" She teased.
"Alright alright!" Hiccup laughed as he took a nacho smothered in chilli. "Thank you." He mumbled through a mouthful. Astrid wiped a little chilli off from around his mouth.
"You're messier than Toothless sometimes!" Astrid laughed. "Fish, you want another beer?" She asked looking up at him.
"Hmmm… Oh yeah please." He suddenly noticed his empty bottle. Astrid slipped out of Hiccup's hold and took the empty bottle.
"Coming right up. Anyone else?" Snotlout and Tuff had finished theirs and Hiccup quickly downed the rest of his.
Astrid reappeared a moment later with fresh, cold beers from the fridge for each of them. They all expressed their gratitude as they took them. Fishlegs watched carefully the interactions between Hiccup and Astrid. She was back in his hold after passing out the bottles of beer.
Fishlegs had been encouraging Hiccup to think about settling down with Carly… But now… He wasn't so sure about that advice.
The Hiccup he saw here… It was different. He was relaxed, comfortable. He had a beer in his hand (which Fishlegs knew he preferred to a coke or some fancy wine Carly insisted on decanting for hours before drinking), his half wolf slumbering at his feet (well foot) and his arm around the waist of the girl Fishlegs knew was the living form of his dream girl. He hadn't seen Hiccup look this content in… years. Tuff and Snotlout were beside him with poker cards and nachos, laughing madly with him and Astrid. It was like one of those moments in a TV show… where everything slows down and the sound goes and you just see the movements. The way Tuff and Snotlout cried laughing, holding their bellies, the way Astrid smiled and held onto Hiccup, the way his hand gripped her waist and the way he laughed, the light in his eyes, the crinkles as he smiled.
This was Hiccup happy. It was Hiccup as Fishlegs remembered him from their youth. This was his best friend. Full of dreams and ideas and great grand plans.
Poker was a laugh. Money changed hands more times than they could count and plenty of beer was consumed. Astrid was in the kitchen washing up dishes as the boys continued laughing and talking with the volume steadily increasing. Astrid chuckled to herself. They certainly amused her.
"Need any help?" came a voice from the doorway. Astrid turned to see Fishlegs standing there.
"Nah, you're alright Fish. You go have fun, I've got this." She told him with a grin. But he came over anyway, grabbing a tea-towel to start drying the increasingly tottering pile of dishes.
"It's fine. Besides, can't have you breaking all Stoick's dishes."
"Well, thanks." She said. For a moment they cleaned and dried dishes in silence. Astrid was unsure of what to say, glancing at him she could see his brows were slightly furrowed.
"Is everything alright Fishlegs?"
"You like him don't you? Hiccup. I can tell." She didn't know the best way to respond to that.
"I'm not going to do anything about it Fish. He's with someone… and I am not that kind of girl. So you don't need to worry."
"That's not what I asked."
"I know, but I'm going to reassure you before you start questioning."
"I wasn't going to. I've seen the way he looks at you."
"You and everyone else. If you've got something you want to say Fishlegs, just say it. Let's not beat about the bush." She said, turning slightly to face him and leaning one arm against the sink.
"Ok then… I know you like Hiccup. And I know he likes you. The way he looks at you… I've never seen him look at anyone like that. The Hiccup sat out there laughing… I haven't seen that Hiccup since college. It's not a coincidence that he's come out of his shell since you turned up."
Fishlegs sighed and took a breath. Astrid raised an eyebrow, unsure of exactly where this conversation was going.
"I've been encouraging Hiccup to settle down, thinking it was best for him. But now I'm realising, everything Hiccup is, everything he wants, he can't have if he settles with Carly. I can't believe I'm actually going to say this but… don't give up on him. You're good for him. I didn't want to think it because he is with someone, they've been together for ages. But now I know, that doesn't make it right. And if Hiccup has a chance to be happy, to do what he wants to do, I want him to have that. And if you make him happy, then I hope you'll stick around."
That was not what Astrid had been expecting Fishlegs to say. She'd expected him to tell her to back off, that she was causing problems and should just stop.
"You… you want me to stick around? Even though Hiccup is still with Carly?"
"I don't think cheating is right…"
"Nor do I, don't worry."
"… But you being around is going to force Hiccup to make a choice. And it means he'll have to choose whoever makes him happy. And I have a feeling that might be you."
"I err… I don't know what to say Fish. That's not really what I expected from you…"
"He's my best friend. I want him to be happy. Just promise me something Astrid…" She raised an eyebrow and waited. "Don't break his heart?"
"I'll do my best. Believe me, I don't want to hurt him." Fishlegs nodded and continued to dry up. Neither spoke again for a few minutes.
"I should get back to the others if you're alright again now."
"Yeah, thanks for your help."
"No problem. Astrid… I meant what I said."
"I know."
"Ok guys, you ready? Let's try this again… one, two, three!" Hiccup called as they struck up the music again.
"Wow, check you guys out!" Astrid laughed as she walked in wearing her running lycra. "Sounds great!"
"Thanks! We rock!" Tuff called over the music.
"Can I check out the playlist?" Astrid asked picking up a sheet of paper with a list of songs on it. Hiccup couldn't keep his eyes away from Astrid. Something the others could hardly fail to notice. Tuff nudged him in the ribs.
"Eyes up Hiccup!" He teased.
"Is Hiccup staring at me again?" Astrid asked, without looking up from the song list.
"Yup. But so is Snotlout." Fishlegs pointed out as he tried to fiddle with the sound systems.
"Not my fault! That running stuff leaves little to the imagination!" Snotlout protested.
"Hiccup doesn't need his imagination!" Tuff laughed which Astrid agreed to shamelessly.
"Right, I best go shower up before I completely disrupt this rehearsal." Astrid chuckled standing up. Toothless appeared by the door to say hello but didn't venture into the loud room.
The rehearsal went well and the boys were all quite excited to get to the real deal, but they had something else on their minds as they packed away. Their bets regarding Hiccup and Astrid were all just a bit of fun… they were in jest. But there was a seriousness behind it all.
Tuff and Snotlout in particular were loving having the old Hiccup back and were anxious to know if they could expect this Hiccup to stick around for a while.
"Hiccup…"
"What…? I know that tone. Go on. Ask whatever it is you're all bursting to ask. Let's get it over with."
"When you ditching the bitch?" Tuff asked less than delicately.
"Does Astrid make you happy?" Was Fishlegs's question at the same time.
"Are you going to stay fun Hiccup?" Snotlout asked with them.
Hiccup took a moment to try catch what each of them had said.
"Ok… Tuff… I don't know… I don't know what I'm going to do about the Carly thing. Fishlegs… I don't know… She doesn't make me unhappy… I guess yeah maybe she does. Snotlout – I hope so. I much prefer being like this to being miserable and boring and not seeing you guys."
It was hard to know what to say. He didn't really know where things were going or what he was going to do. All he knew was that he had work later, Toothless needed walking, and Fishlegs Bachelor party was going to be amazing.
The others didn't seem overly satisfied with his replies but they didn't press the matter. For now. He knew it was only a matter of time.
After they left Hiccup sighed heavily and called to Toothless ready to go for a walk.
"You ready bud? Come on."
"You guys going for a walk?" Astrid asked as she walked into the living room in one of his shirts. Hiccup tried to keep his eyes on her face.
"You, I take it, are not joining us?" He replied, taking as little note of her lack of clothing as possible.
"I won't right now thanks. I'm on the late shift at the bar tonight. You're working late too aren't you?"
"Yeah, I start at six."
"I'll get dinner ready for when you're back" Astrid assured him, stretching out on the sofa.
"You don't have to."
"Sure I do. You won't eat else. Or you'll get one those crappy microwave subs with no nutritional value in it. It's not a problem, just make sure you're back by five."
Hiccup laughed softly and sighed, there was no use in arguing with her. He leaned over the sofa and kissed her head.
"Thank you. I promise we'll be back in time."
"You better be. See you later boys." She smiled up at him and his lips met hers for a second. He closed his eyes and smiled as he pulled away.
"See you later Astrid."
The bar was packed on Saturday night two weeks later. Hiccup laughed as he greeted old friends he'd not seen for years. Fishlegs was beaming as he walked around through the throngs of people. Tuff and Snotlout were setting up the stage with some help from James.
"You guys ready for tonight?" He asked.
"Hell yes! It's going to be the greatest show on earth!" Tuff exclaimed proudly.
"We've got the girls joining in at points too! It's going to be amazing!"
"Best get you boys on stage then! You grab Hic and Fish and I'll introduce you all."
James climbed onto the raised stage beside the bar and took to microphone.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! Welcome to Fishlegs's and Rosie's bachelor and bachelorette party! Tonight I it is my privilege to introduce to you your musical entertainment for the night! Resurrected for one night, and one night only (unless Tuff has his way) I give you the Night and the Furies!"
There was a huge roar of applause and cheering as Hiccup and the others made their way onto the stage. Rosie stood at the front whooping loudly and laughed excitedly as she watched them.
"Good evening everyone! As James said, we are the Night and the Furies and tonight we're going to raise the roof! We're going to kick it off with our cover of Lawson's Brokenhearted!" Hiccup called to the crowds as they struck up the music.
Astrid stood behind the bar with James, grinning across at Heather and Ruff who stood watching from the sidelines. Tonight promised to be a night to remember.
At the back of the bar, Carly slipped in quietly, a frown on her face already.
"You're not the girl I used to know,
How the hell did you get so cold?"
Hiccup began to sing and the crowds went absolutely wild. Carly did not approve. Hiccup did not behave like this anymore. It was wild and loud.
"Hey girl look at what you started!
Playing with love got you broken-hearted
I thought you were all I wanted
All good since the day we parted
Now the tables turned
Lessons learned
You got burned yeah,
Hey girl look at what you started
Playing with love got you broke, broken-hearted."
Hiccup actually looked briefly her direction as he sang and made eye-contact. But then he just grinned and continued. Carly could see Astrid dancing behind the bar. What was SHE doing here?
"We're a million miles apart,
Tell me why you sold your soul?
Cos now you are the lonely one
Since you let your colours show
Oh baby it's long way home, home!"
Was he talking about her with this song?! How dare he! How pathetic! She felt so angry!
Tuff came forward to take over the mic for the 'rap' bit. And he did look at Carly.
"Yeah it's funny how the tables turn,
See I used to go for you but I was not your main concern,
Burn I had to let it burn
Expect the unexpected
You never know what you learn,
never know what you do,
Or what you get in return,
See life is like a mission you only get what you earn,
But you were getting attention you really didn't deserve,
But now we're feeling vicious,
I kicked the bitch to the curb,
And you have been booted,
But that's just how we do it,
If I had a remote then you would be muted,
But ask me how I feel, I don't give a mass of two shits!
Ha!"
Did he just raise two fingers directly at her?! Hiccup then came back in to finish the song and everyone was going absolutely wild. Carly really did not like this. Girls were screaming at Hiccup which was definitely not on. And he seemed to be enjoying it!
"Thank you all! Ok, we're going to do another Lawson one for you now, this one took a bit of practice to get the theatrical bit right! This is Juliet!"
The boys began to play and Astrid danced onto the stage wearing a crimson wig with a killer red smile on her face.
"People stop to turn and stare
Everywhere she goes
Dollar signs and crimson hair
She will steal your soul
Set her sights on billionaires
All she wants is gold
She is straight up rock and roll
I'm telling you she knows"
Astrid danced around the stage, between the boys. Her moves were seductive and she touched them all. Astrid passed Fish, dancing in front of him with her back to him and as she moved away his face was white with red lip print on the side of his mouth. She then moved over to Snotlout, dancing in the most seductive way she could as the boys played.
"Nobody does it like Juliet
Juliet, what you do to me
The way she does it is criminal
Physical and it's killing me
Not denying these allegations
She know oh oh oh ee oh oh
Nobody does it like Juliet
Juliet, you are haunting me"
Astrid left Snotlout with a white face and red lip print on the corner of his mouth too. He continued to play the music but he looked out of it. The drama was on and Astrid began to dance her way over to Tuff.
"Pulls you with her perfect smile She know oh oh oh ee oh oh
Pretty soon you're done
One more sucker pays the price
Thinking you're the one
Many men have tried and failed
Captured by her hold
Stay away from Juliet
You will lose control
She know oh oh oh ee oh ohs"
She danced with Tuff and then left him white faced too. Three boys down. One to go. Everyone thought it was fantastic. But Carly could see where this was going and she didn't like it. Not at all.
"Nobody does it like Juliet
Juliet, what you do to me
The way she does it is criminal
Physical and it's killing me
Not denying these allegations
She know oh oh oh ee oh oh
Nobody does it like Juliet
Juliet, you are haunting me"
Astrid approached Hiccup. The last of her 'victims'. But she had to work this one harder. Hiccup stopped singing to focus on her and the others carried the song.
"She know oh oh oh ee oh oh
She know oh oh oh ee oh oh
She know oh oh oh ee oh oh
She know oh oh oh ee oh ohs
1 2 3 4"
Hiccup suddenly sang again but Astrid didn't leave him. She kept dancing around him. His face now white as the others
"Nobody does it like Juliet
Juliet, what you do to me
The way she does it is criminal
Physical and it's killing me
Not denying these allegations
She know oh oh oh ee oh ohs
Nobody does it like Juliet
Juliet, you are haunting me"
Then Astrid kissed his white face leaving her red mark and all four boys fell to the floor leaving Astrid to blow a kiss to the audience with a wink.
The performance elicited a huge round of applause and a great deal of screaming and whooping. Carly did not join in. She did not like this one bit. Especially that very obvious kiss mark on Hiccup as he stood up with the others. She glared in their general direction and continued to lurk in the back.
The boys performed several more songs on their own and then the girls came to join in a bit more.
Astrid performed Mika's 'Big Girls' for Rosie and she and Heather sang 'Take a Hint'.
Carly's disgust only grew as Hiccup and Astrid performed a couple of duets together from Disney movies including High School Musical's 'Breaking Free' (which made a lot of people laugh and cheer) and 'You are the Music in Me' and Tangled's 'See the Light'.
Astrid then sang 'I need a Hero' solo before Hiccup joined her to sing another duet as Rosie and Fishlegs's danced together. Rosie's favourite movie was Aladdin and so Hiccup and Astrid sang 'A Whole New World' together so the happy couple could dance together. Carly felt sick. But everyone else cooed and 'awwed' at it.
Carly eventually left. Too angry to stay.
Heather approached Hiccup as he got a drink from the bar.
"Hey Hic. Everyone loved the show."
"Yeah they certainly seemed to. You girls rocked." Hiccup complimented as he took his drink gratefully.
"Thanks. It was so cool to see you guys perform together again. Rosie is already asking Fish if you can be the band at the wedding!"
"Haha! Well I don't know about that, but we'll see. Maybe for Rosie we can do a bit."
"You and Astrid made a few people cry with that rendition of a Whole New World. Tuff was not the only one! Definitely do that one at the wedding!"
"It is Rosie's favourite."
"It is. And you and Astrid did it so beautifully… Speaking of…"
"Heather do we have to go there?" Hiccup asked with a groan.
"I'm just asking."
"Well can you not? Everyone asks."
"Maybe there's a reason for that. Listen Hiccup…" He groaned and Heather flicked his ear. "Don't groan, listen. We only ask because you seem happier lately. I know things are a bit messy and complicated with Carly but still. I don't need you to answer this, at least not yet. But you need to answer it for yourself." He looked at her.
"Alright fine."
"What do you really want, Hiccup? Because if being with Carly isn't going to give you what you want and need, then is it right? You're happier lately… you spend time with us, your friends, you drink and laugh, you spend more time with Toothless… You just seem more like you. So you need to ask yourself – what do you want? And who is going to make you happy?"
The smiled at him, placed a hand on his shoulder and walked away to join a laughing Astrid leaving Hiccup standing there to think about the questions he'd been trying not to answer.
