"Can you tell us what these are?" Astrid asked, sliding a small stack of pages across the tabletop, in the boy's direction. Hiccup sat next to her, eyes not breaking contact with the teenager sat opposite from them.
Hiccup had been somewhat surprised at the mundanity of the boy when they met. The boy was nearly a culmination of any high school jock you'd see in a B-rated teen movie, complete with a blue and gold letterman jacket. Patches of different sports he'd participated in lined the sleeves and chest. His hair was dark and short, making it easy to read the expressions on his face, a feature Hiccup knew Astrid was grateful for.
The boy took a moment to scan the pictures, the pair could see his eyes widen a bit after reading their contents.
"Uhh, they're messages I sent to Jasmine." He said, hesitantly. Looking back up and between the two agents.
"Those are messages you sent to her the day she disappeared. Monday? If I'm not mistaken." Astrid said, sounding as intimidating as she possibly could.
"Yeah, so what about them?" He asked, sounding genuinely confused.
"You and Miss Vega almost never communicate, at least according to what she told us last week, when we interviewed her in this very room." Astrid leaned forward and rested her arms on the table as she continued. "We have her contact history, and we can confirm this ourselves. So why did you decide to message her that day? I mean, it's one hell of a coincidence, don't you think?"
The boy's brows narrowed, "You think I had something to do with her going missing?"
Hiccup glanced at his partner before he jumped in, "In these very messages," He said, gesturing to the papers that lay on the table between them. "You told Jasmine that it was only a matter of time before something like this happened to Debbie, that you were surprised that it even took this long. Then you go on to call her a slut, when Miss Vega tried to defend her friend, you resorted to sending her very-" Hiccup paused himself, clearing his throat before the next part. "Revealing screenshots of Debbie."
Derek stayed silent at this, eyes low, not meeting the two adults before him.
"Derek, all we want to know is what happened on Monday." Astrid said, sounding a little more compassionate. "What made you message her in the first place?"
He looked at them then, sighing before finally giving in. "When I got to school, Jasmine was a complete fucking mess. I don't know what happened between Debbie's disappearance and then, but, she was clearly upset. My friends and I were passing her in the hall, and one of them thought it would be really smart to make fun of her for it." He shrugged. "I don't remember exactly what he said, but, she was pissed.
Then she came after me. Me! I hadn't even said anything. But started talking all this shit about how it was my fault Debbie was gone. We got in a yelling match, when someone said the teachers were coming to break it up, my friends and I snuck out before anyone got there…" He then began rubbing the back of his head, clearly hesitant to continue.
"Mr. Levy, I know we're scary FBI agents." Hiccup started. "But we aren't going to reprimand you for doing stupid teenager nonsense, we're here to find two missing girls. Tell us everything you did, it won't come back around, I promise."
Derek was silent for a few more moments, then continued. "Well, we all went to one of my friend's houses. Had… a few drinks." He chuckled. "I-I don't know, I wasn't feeling like myself, so I started messaging Jasmine to get back at her."
Hiccup looked to Astrid, who was still eyeing the suspect before them.
"What happened between you and Debbie Stirling?" She finally asked. "We're aware that you two started dating back in the late summer, but every piece of evidence we've collected so far has painted you as the jackass who dumped her."
Derek laughed again, holding up a hand to gesture with. "Look, you guys have it all wrong, alrigh-"
"We have evidence from numerous sources that show you and her had some sort of fallout." Astrid pushed. "Those photos you sent to Jasmine is nothing but proof of what we've interpreted so far."
"You guys are crazy!-"
"Why did you break it off with her?"
Derek stood from his chair, nearly shouting at the agents. "She dumped me! Alright?! I went through her phone when she wasn't looking, and saw that she'd sent all those photos to some random guy! He was saying all this shit about, 'wanting to see every inch of her.' I screenshotted the photos and sent them to myself as proof in case she tried to deny it, when she found out I did what I did, she told me to fuck off!" The boy took a deep breath, calming himself, then plopped back down in the seat.
Hiccup and Astrid were taken aback by his action, but ignored his outburst in an attempt to process the information.
"When did you screenshot those photos?" Hiccup asked.
Derek shrugged, "I don't know, maybe a month or so ago. That's the last time Debbie and I spoke to each other."
Astrid quirked a suspicious brow at Hiccup, the turned back to the boy. "We have a warrant to search your phone, Mr. Levy. We just need to see when your last contact with Miss Stirling was."
Derek threw his hands up in mock-submission, then reached in his pocket. "Fine, you can see for yourself then. I had nothing to do with this!" He said, unlocking his phone and sliding it across the table.
Astrid picked up the device and went straight to the contacts, upon finding Debbie's number, she looked at the last date of messages sent. He was telling the truth.
She then handed the phone to Hiccup, letting him see the result, "The other guy she was speaking to," Astrid questioned. "Was it on an app called Telegram?"
"Uh, yeah that sounds right, I think." Derek replied.
"Did she talk about him at all? Anything?"
"Pfft, no. She barely looked at me after I caught her cheating."
Hiccup nodded to his partner after finishing with the phone, then handed the device back to its owner. "I think we're just about done here Mr. Levy. Thank you for your cooperation."
Derek shook his head, "Just… Just know I had nothing to do with either of them, alright?" He said, emotion just barely slipping its way into his voice. "I know I can be an asshole, but, I wouldn't do anything to hurt them."
Astrid began packing their equipment, "You're free to go now, Mr. Levy." She said. The boy then stood, trying to make himself seem as little as possible while exiting the room.
When the door closed behind him, Hiccup picked up the copies of the messages Fishlegs had made them. Sifting through, he landed on the page containing the photos of their victim. Ignoring the provocative nature of the photos, there was something that was still swirling in his mind.
"Every inch of her." He repeated from Derek's earlier words, Astrid stopped packing and gave him a questioning look. Hiccup laid the papers down once more before continuing, "This guy, Rosko, wanted to see every inch of her. If this really is some sort of organization, don't you think there's something procedural about all this?"
"Like… he needed to see her body for some reason?" Astrid questioned. Hiccup shrugged.
"It's just-" He sighed. "All this evidence is pointing to something. The pictures, gaining her trust, the receipt from a casino known for being the hotspot when it comes to criminal activity."
Astrid took it all in, keeping her eyes low. Her voice was soft when she spoke next, "Well, if we found out anything, it's the reason why Jasmine was so eager to believe who she was talking to was really Debbie."
Hiccup looked to her with a quirked brow, she continued, "She was in an emotional state after that day, with all the fighting and pain of losing a friend. Hell, I'd probably fall for it too." She said as she finished packing the items, slinging her messenger bag over her shoulder. "Let's go."
The agents got the usual strange looks from people in the hallways, though it wasn't between classes this time, making the glances easier to dismiss. As they reached the edge of the building, they were able to view the outside scenery from the large glass doors. To their utmost pleasure, it had begun pouring rain while they were in the interrogation.
"Perfect." Astrid sounded, shoulders dropping at the sight. Hiccup could barely make out six feet in front of them, forget the parking lot. "You didn't happen to bring your umbrella, did you?" She asked him.
"Um, I think I left it at HQ." He admitted.
She sighed, "Alright." They then both stepped outside the doors, still covered below the vast canopy in front of the main entrance, they stepped to the edge of it.
"You're some badass FBI interrogator, and you're afraid of a little rain." Hiccup said with a smile, bunching up his jacket best he could to cover himself.
"I'm not scared of it, I'm just not used to it."
"Uh huh, you're not scared." He said, becoming very still. "So, you wouldn't be opposed to racing me to the car."
"Wha-"
"Let's go!" He exclaimed, tapping her on the shoulder as he ran past her form and into the rain. Astrid wore a shocked expression for a brief moment, then hesitantly began to run after him. "Hiccup Haddock! You're insane!" She yelled over the downpour. Water soaked through her outerwear, hair becoming heavy as she continued to stride towards the crowded vehicles of the blacktop. Trying her best to keep the messenger bag she wore tucked under her arm, shielding it from the water. She nearly tripped as she reached the parking lot.
"Ah shit!." Astrid heard over the rain, as she got closer to where her vehicle was parked, she saw Hiccup's form furiously tugging at the door handle. "You didn't unlock it?!"
When she saw this, she laughed maniacally to herself, then slowed her pace to a walk, still about 10 paces from the car. Ultimately deciding that taking on the water was worth watching her partner in misery as he was.
"You're evil!" He yelled at her, she laughed, loud enough for him to hear this time. Though the rain clouded her vision, she saw the evident smile painted across his face, eyes slightly hidden through the the dark, wet hair that now fell over his face. As she made it to the driver's side door, she took the keys from her pocket and held them up for Hiccup's viewing, like an owner showing their dog a treat. He shook his head, still giving her a devilish grin.
She finally showed him mercy, pressing the button that unlocked the car. The two hurriedly got inside and slammed the doors behind them, panting after the long run. Both looked as if they'd just been submerged, water soaking into their hair, and all articles of clothing. Hiccup took a few moments to look around through the car windows beginning to become thick with mist, and with no context, he began to lightly chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Astrid asked, still catching her breath.
Hiccup shook his head once more, "I'm just imagining the kids that happened to be looking in our direction." He said, pointing back to the building. Through the gray downpour, she saw a row of small windows lining the building next to the pathway they just ran down. Clearly connected to a multitude of classrooms.
"Oh my Gods." She said, letting her head fall into her hands with embarrassment. "Good thing we left our mark as the professional FBI agents."
"Hey, if I've learned anything in my twenty-three years, there are two things you can never count on. Weather, and Snotlout's ability to read social cues."
"Why does that not surprise me?" She asked sarcastically, taking the messenger bag from her lap and twisting her body to place it in the backseat. As she did this, Hiccup noticed she became very still, hand still extended into the backside of the vehicle.
"What is it?" He asked.
She said nothing, just fumbled around her arm as she moved to pick up something. Gingerly, she pulled a sleek, black umbrella from the backseat. The two stared at the object belonging to Hiccup, then they met each other's eyes. Astrid's mouth still slightly agape.
Odin himself could likely hear the pair's laughter from his throne in Valhalla.
oOo
"So then! Tell me all about it." Gobber demanded enthusiastically. The man was currently sitting at Hiccup's small dining table placed on the one barren wall of his kitchen, he looked so large compared to the little wooden thing.
Hiccup had driven home that night to see the mechanic's truck parked in his driveway, identical to how it had been the week before. With all the field work he'd been doing over the past eight days, he'd had no time to return the man's messages. So Gobber, taking the situation upon himself as per usual, decided to pay another visit.
"It's… nice finally having something to do." Hiccup responded, putting away dishes he'd left out that morning. The loud clatters had attracted the attention of Toothless, who'd jumped on the counter in front of his owner. Hiccup smiled, scratching him under the chin.
"Yeah yeah, but wha' about the details? Ya' get into any Bond shootouts or murder mysteries?"
"You know I can't tell you about the specifics." Hiccup said, glancing over his shoulder at the man. "I could lose my job."
"Ahh, come on!" Gobber exclaimed, "Wha' do you think I'm gonna do? Run off, spouting yer' top secret stories to every one of my clients or somethin'?"
"Yes, Gobber, that's exactly what I think you'd do." Hiccup replied, picking up Toothless and giving the man a very accusing glare. "That's what you did the time I told you I'd lost my virginity."
Gobber's laughter boomed through the little house, he slapped his hand on the table from pure amusement. Hiccup, however, being the source of the embarrassment, was far from amused. When his unimpressed glare didn't falter, Gobber opened his mouth to speak, still fighting off laughter in the process.
"Ah-ha-ha, can ya' really blame me?! I was just proud of ma' boy!" He said, gesturing wildly to Hiccup. Then, Gobber's voice suddenly got less harsh. "Well, if yer' not gonna talk about work, how is it going in that department?" He asked, blinking his eyes rapidly in mock-attraction.
Hiccup rolled his eyes, "Same as the last five-hundred times you've pressed me about it, Gobber-"
A noise suddenly interrupted the men's conversation, Hiccup instantly recognized it as a light knocking at the front door. Toothless jumped from his owner's arms, running towards the source. Hiccup stood still for a few seconds, wondering who on Earth it could be.
"Ya' didn't tell me yer' expecting visitors." Gobber accused, staying seated as Hiccup eventually moved past him, walking towards the front door.
"That's because I wasn't, and… even if I was, you're not exactly an expected visitor yourself."
"Fair enough."
As Hiccup made it to the door, he steadily grabbed the knob and opened it to reveal the person in question.
"Astrid?"
He stood dead in his spot at the reveal of the individual, she wore a small smile on her face. Still dressed in her issued jacket, her hair had gone from somewhat untidy that morning, to full on puffy and wild from the rainwater it took on during their misadventure to the car. One of her hands hid something behind her back, out of Hiccup's view.
"Uh, hey!" She said, trying to sound as friendly as possible. Though, something about her demeanor implied a hint of nervousness. "I don't mean to show up unannounced or anything, but I was on my way home and, um, you left this in my car… again."
Hiccup's eyes widened as she pulled his umbrella from behind her back. He laughed.
"Oh.. Oh, Gods, Astrid. You didn't have to come all the way here just to give me this." He protested, taking the object from her hands.
"It was on the way, really, it's no big deal." She replied shyly, fiddling with what remained of her braid. "I also, um, wanted to give you something else too."
Hiccup's look of confusion was soon shut down by her next actions. She suddenly stepped close to him, slid her hands up his chest to land on his shoulders, and pressed her lips against his.
His eyes grew wide, brain ceasing to function for the first few moments of the kiss. But after the haze of shock faded, he melted into her lips. He dropped the umbrella to the side, eyes closing and hands finding her slim waist. Time suddenly went still, the only sensations he registered was the feeling of her soft lips against his, and the thumping of his erratic heartbeat within his chest.
After a lovely eternity passed, she pulled away from his mouth. Leaning back slightly, but close enough to still be encompassed by his embrace. The light Hiccup would momentarily see within her blue eyes was brighter than he'd seen thus far. A sweet, innocent smile shone on her face between crimson-turning cheeks. Hiccup wasn't sure what his expression read, but he also didn't know if any expression could possibly portray the joyous feeling that pulsated through his chest. Astrid blinked a few times, then stepped away from his embrace, awkwardly brushing hair from her eyes as she glanced to her car.
"I-I should get going."
Hiccup must've looked completely awestruck. But without hesitation, he quickly nodded.
"Okay." He replied, voice shaky.
"Bye, Hiccup." She almost laughed, then turned to head off, walking awkwardly fast towards her car.
Hiccup wasn't sure how long he stood there after he waved to her driving away, but when he snapped back to reality, he allowed himself to smile. Truly smile. Still processing the situation, the man closed the front door softly, then turned and rested his back against it. Eyes closed, repeating the events in his head. When he finally opened them, the first image he was met with was Gobber, standing still in the archway of the kitchen, blank expression on his face.
Hiccup had all but forgotten the man's presence until just then, after a few moments of silence, the large man suddenly shook the house with his voice.
"IN THE NAME OF VALHALLA! From my lips to Odin's ears!"
Hiccup felt his cheeks turn hot as the man laughed in joy, giving him a scowl and shaking his head, he then looked to his black cat; who had been sitting on the side table mere feet away from the front door, no doubt witnessing the whole situation. Toothless blinked large eyes at his owner.
"Oh, what are you looking at?"
Didn't have much time to edit this, so I apologize for any mistakes I missed. The past week I've had finals and moving out of my dorm, so it's been really crazy. Hopefully the Hiccstrid development was gradual enough for this chapter, and it didn't feel forced. Also MAJOR story announcement... I have good news and bad news.
Bad news:
I'm leaving for Army Basic Training tomorrow morning, I'll have no access to the internet for about 80 days, and I wont be able to continue this story until at earliest October of this year. I'm really sorry to all the readers, I tried to get as much of it completed as I could before leaving, but it's been an insane semester on it's own.
Good news:
This story is NOT over! I will not abandon it. I've completely opted out of going-nowhere fanfics before, and I care about this one wayyy too much to simply do that. If you're interested in continuing reading this story when I update it in October, I recommend following it.
I tried to leave you guys on a happy moment, and I want to thank all of you who've read this far. I really appreciate it. See you in October :)