Chapter 10

Astrid awoke slowly, letting out a small groan as a hangover headache hit her full force. Tightly pressing her eyes together, she tried to eliminate any light that might creep past them. Which would only add to the pain she was feeling right now. As she laid in the bed allowing the pain to flood her brain so did the memories of last night, her violent dream, Hiccup waking her up and the two talking about some of her past.

Slowly Astrid pried her eyes open, letting light flood them in small doses. As her vision cleared Astrid was met with a sight she had only ever experienced after a night fueled with drugs or alcohol. A sleeping male body lying next to her.

This time though nothing that she would regret in the morning had happened. No, all the two had done was talk until the early hours of the morning; Hiccup telling her stories of his childhood. All funny and light hearted, exactly what the two needed after such an intense night. After that the two then drifted off to sleep beside each other. Hiccup being a perfect gentleman the whole time. Insisting that he sleep on top of the blanket, instead of under. Just because he didn't want to take advantage of the situation.

Gods, definitely a perfect gentleman. She thought.

Astrid let her gaze skim over his sleeping features. She spied the dusting of freckles that spread across his face some covered by his unruly auburn hair, took in the long lashes resting on his freckled cheeks, dropping down she looked at his two thin lips parted in his sleep. Taking it all in she honestly couldn't remember a time she had seen someone so peaceful.

After drinking in all his peaceful features Astrid dropped her gaze down again, this time gazing at Hiccup's neck. Which was now sporting very distinctive purples bruises.

Bruises that encompassed his entire neck.

Bruises that she had put there.

Astrid felt a nauseous feeling hit her stomach, completely unrelated to the amount of alcohol she had consumed the night before. She had hurt him. Just the thought sending bolts of pain through her system. Surprisingly the bulk of the pain seemed to originate in her heart.

Slowly Astrid shifted her arm until her right hand ghosted gently over the abused flesh. "I think I was wrong about you." She said as her fingers continued their exploration. Only pulling them back sharply when Hiccup shifted a bit under her touch. She let her hand hover for a moment until she knew he was still asleep, before moving it back towards him. This time dropping it onto his cheek instead of his neck. Her thumb rubbing minute circles.

"You're not the weak the one, Hiccup…I am." She whispered her confession to his unconscious form, giving his cheek a last rub with her thumb before letting go completely. Astrid let out a sigh, then turned away and slid out of bed to get ready for the day. As she walked to the bathroom, clothes in hand, she turned back to look at Hiccup still sleeping in her bed.

Her blue eyes turned as cold as ice as she thought about those that were out to hurt Hiccup. Someone who she now considered a friend. A new flame of protectiveness flared up in her, one that had not been there before. A feeling that she only held for a very small number of people who she actually cared about.

No one will ever hurt you Hiccup…not while I'm alive at least. She vowed, meaning every word, as she turned away from him and went into the bathroom.

. . .

Astrid was sipping her second cup of piping hot coffee when Hiccup came walking down the stairs and into the kitchen. Their eyes meeting briefly before Astrid's dropped down to see that he was wearing a hunter green turtle neck today. Nothing about the outfit would seem off to anyone, seeing as how Berk's fall had already left and had quickly turned into winter over the last two weeks. But Astrid knew the real reason behind the fuller coverage. The purple bruise that sat just bellow the fabric.

Hiccup watched as Astrid's narrowed gaze stayed fixated on his neck. He knew what she was looking at, past the thick fabric. To be honest when he first saw the hand shaped bruises wrapping his neck this morning in the bathroom mirror, he had been shocked. He felt the pain last night, saw his vision turning black as Astrid continued to squeeze his neck but seeing the result of the whole event made it that much more real. How close he had come to death. At the hands of his bodyguard no less.

And yet, even with the bruises and pain he didn't blame her at all. If anything he was sort of glad it all happened. If he hadn't stormed into her room last night, after hearing her cries, he would have never seen that side of Astrid or learned some of her past.

Now more than ever he was determined to help her, to be her friend–possibly more if she let him–or as Dr. Seaclaw said, make her a human again. He would stop at nothing less.

Putting on his best smile Hiccup decided to put any guilt out of Astrid's mind and show her that no matter what he didn't hold last night against her. "Good morning Astrid. Ready for our first day back?" He walked straight towards the coffee maker that she was perched near.

His question seemed to break her out of her trance as she brought her gaze back to his eyes and answered him. "I suppose, though I was enjoying not having to dress up as Astrid Anderson for a bit. Leather and combat boots are much more my style then…this." She gestured to the black skirt and flowery blouse that she wore under a bright red pea coat.

Hiccup chuckled at her reasoning, though he thought she looked lovely in the outfit he too was starting to like Astrid Hofferson's clothing choices better than her under cover persona. They just seemed to fit. Leather and combat boots were just so…Astrid.

"You know I was thinking of getting myself a leather jacket. I saw one recently with all these buckles and straps across it. And a red dragon shaped patch on the shoulder. Not gonna lie, it was pretty cool." Hiccup said walking past her as he headed toward the front door. Travel mug of coffee in hand.

Astrid cocked an eyebrow at him, giving him and obvious once over as she did. "Can't see it. Especially whatever you just described." The two walked around their respective sides of Astrid's SUV before climbing in.

"Are you saying I can't pull off leather?" He asked looking slightly offended.

"That's exactly what I'm saying. Some people are just leather people and well…Hiccup you're just not." A grin spread across her face as he gave her an obviously pout and slumped over in the seat. Glaring out the window he began muttering about cruel blondes as the two left the house and headed for school.

. . .

They walked into the classroom to a chorus of cheers and greetings. All their classmates excited to see the duo finally back from the injuries they sustained from the "gas explosion".

"Hiccup! Astrid!" The teacher walked up to them and clapped a hand on Hiccup's shoulder. "I was wondering if we were going to see you two before we break for Snoggletog." The two smiled at the older man, "no way we would miss out on finals, sir. Not even a ca–gas line explosion could do that." Hiccup shot Astrid a quick look as she cocked an eyebrow at his almost slip. He shrugged and mouthed a 'sorry' as the two made their way to their desks.

Soon class was in full swing, both paying attention and doing their work. Well school work for Hiccup and whatever Astrid was typing on her laptop. Probably government reports of some sort.

"Alright, gentlemen and…Astrid...have a good day." The class chuckled and collected their things. Astrid turned to Hiccup and saw he and two of his classmates were talking. She gave a small smile, happy to see him engaging more and more.

He deserves the happiness. She thought as she walked up to the three men. Placing a hand on Hiccup's shoulder she greeted them, "hey guys, Hiccup I'm going to head to the bathroom. Be right back okay?" The question had hidden meaning for the two. Unbeknownst to the two men present it was not just a simple question but a request for Hiccup to not leave the room by himself until her return. Otherwise risking his safety and anyone that happened to be around him.

Hiccup nodded knowingly as the three men watched Astrid walk out the class door before two sets of eyes turned back in his direction. "So have you asked her yet?" Fen asked while Olaf nodded his head in agreement. The two seemingly bursting with excitement waiting for the answer.

Hiccup's eyebrows furrowed as a confused look crossed his face. "Asked her…asked who, what?"

"To be your date for the Snoggletog Eve dance. You know only the biggest event during the winter in Berk." They both looked at him as if he had lost his mind. "I mean you will have to be there anyways considering who your Dad is."

Hiccup could have slapped himself for not remembering the event. Though considering the last few years it's not a surprise. In the past he had loved going to the dance, seeing everyone dressed up, dancing with his friends. But after his Mom disappeared the event became less fun and more anxiety filled for him. Generally he would just spend his time now leaning against a wall and people watching. Though this year would be different in many ways.

With his anxiety waning and Astrid now around this year proved to be very different.

"Wait, my date?! Wh-why would you think I-I would ask her that?" He stuttered out.

They both shrugged. "Well she is your girlfriend isn't she? The way you two are always together and everything." Olaf gestured to the door, "she just told you she was heading to the bathroom and to wait for her. That's stuff girlfriends do, Hiccup."

Hiccup stare wide eyed at the pair. Not having any sort of come back for the behavior that they assumed was for romantic reasons. What do you say to explain that?

Oh yeah, no, she's just around me all the time because someone's trying to kill me. Not for any other reason, no matter how much I wish that wasn't the case. He shook his head at his sarcastic thoughts, knowing there was no way he could or would ever say them.

"Um, guys were just old friends. N-nothing more." He said trying to sound convincing of the lie that they were nothing more than friends. As far as Astrid was concerned at least.

Both men stared at him, skeptical looks on their faces. Fen opened his mouth about to respond when the topic of their conversation came strolling back into the classroom. Saving Hiccup from anymore of their interrogations.

"Oh would look there, Astrid's back. Well I've got to go, bye guys!" Hiccup quickly stepped around the men and grabbed ahold of Astrid's hand practically dragging her from the classroom behind him.

Olaf and Fen watched the pair, both turning to the other the moment Hiccup and Astrid left the room, "they are totally dating." They said simultaneously and turned back to the now empty doorway.

. . .

Hiccup had been unusually quiet on the ride back. Well unusual for the Hiccup now, maybe not so much for the Hiccup she had first met who was terrified of his own shadow. Astrid glanced again over to his tense form and furrowed her eyebrows. She debated saying anything but friends told each other their problems, and since they were friends now…

"Okay what's up?" Hiccup's head snapped over in her direction, clearly having been lost in his own mind.

"Uhh–nothing–wh-why do you ask?" She cocked an eyebrow not happy with his response. She spied a small parking lot to the right and pulled the SUV over into it. Putting the vehicle in park and she shifted in her seat to face him.

"I know I'm new to this whole having a heathy friendship thing. The few people I do call friends are just as fucked up as I am. So generally, I would never ask but what we have," she gestured between the two, "is different. So spill, what's up?"

Hiccup couldn't help but smile at her description of their newly founded friendship. Different. I like different.

"Okay, okay…so Olaf and Fen might have reminded me about a certain upcoming event–"

"The Snoggletog Eve dance?" Astrid said cutting him off.

"Wait…you knew?!" Astrid glared at him unapologetically. "Okay dumb question, of course you knew, you're Astrid. Anyways I have to go, like every year."

Astrid nodded. "Obviously, I'll be finalizing the security plan this week. Since your Father will be there, security will be high. I mean the only way it could get more stringent would be if the president was there but he never goes. Is that why you're so worried, are you afraid something will happen?" She asked hopefully starting to understand his strange behavior.

"Well honestly, I hadn't really thought about someone trying to kill me there, so thanks for that…"he trailed off now thinking about his possible impending doom at the dance.

"No I was–uh–um wondering if you would-would come with me?" His eyes darted nervously from her incredibly blue eyes, then to his lap and back.

Furrowing her eyebrows, Astrid observed Hiccup's strange behavior still not understanding the purpose of it. "Hiccup, of course I'll go with you," his eyes brightened upend widened, "I go everywhere with you, it's my job." The brightness that had just been there seemed to dim a bit before Hiccup was able to cover it up with a smile that didn't quiet reach his eyes.

"Oh–of course, as my–uh–my bodyguard…" he said as the two fell into an uncomfortable silence. Astrid watched him carefully, wracking her brain trying to figure out why he was acting the way he was. His deflated posture, eyes focused on nothing in particular, he was acting as if she had just rejected–

Her eyes opened wider as the reality of what was happening hit her like a ton of bricks, he wants me to go as his…even after everything…damn it Hiccup.

"Hiccup, did you want me to be your date? For the dance?" Hiccup instantly went pale and ridged before easing up a bit and looking back at her. His hands ringing nervously in his lap.

"Uh–well I-I thought that since, you know, we would be going together anyways…that–that we might just go as–uh–as…dates?" Uncertainty bleeding through his words.

Astrid stared at him for a while, looking like she was in the midst of a heavy mental debate. Until finally a small smirk spread across her face. "You know I've never had a date before. Just undercover missions posing as someone's date."

Hiccup's eyes widened so much that he was sure his eyeballs were about to fall out of his head, "you? How can you not have had a date before? I mean," he began gesturing to her entire body, "you're you?! It's makes sense that I've never had a date b-but not you!"

"Hiccup, you just gestured to all of me. And well, I guess my lifestyle never quiet gave me the opportunity." She shrugged, not seeing the big deal about it.

Staring at her for a few more minutes Hiccup realized that if he was going to ask her to be his date he should do it properly. Shifting some in his seat, so that he was facing her, he began. "Astrid Hofferson, would you like to accompany me to the Snoggletog Eve dance as, my date, Astrid Anderson?" He paused, "just as friends of course." He quickly finished. Hoping he didn't screw it up to badly.

Astrid didn't make him wait long, knowing every second that went by would kill him. "Okay." Her answer was short and to the point just like her and Hiccup expected nothing less. Flowery speech wasn't her thing.

"Okay?"

"Yes, I guess I wouldn't mind having you be the first guy I ever went on a date with." Hiccups grin grew wider.

"It's a date."

"It's a date." She repeated as she put the vehicle back into drive and the two finished their trip home.

Thought this chapter could do with a bit of lighter material since the last was much heavier. Hope you liked it!

As always thank you for all the feedback it means a ton!