9
Coming to, Shock and Dread
Hiccup and Astrid came to.
Each coming to as the smelling salt was held to each of their noses by Fishlegs, one in each of Fishlegs' hands.
"What the... that stinks. What happened?" Astrid and Hiccup said in unison as they came to at the same time, their eyes squinting as they turned their faced away from the center of the space above the couch, Hiccup to his right, Astrid to her left, ironically the two were back to back facing away fro the TV.
"In short, Tuffnut suggest that the reason Astrid bullies Hiccup is because of sexual frustrations, and that it is the same reason for Hiccup's own dislike of Astrid. Tuffnut and Ruffnut then revealed that they knew of your secrets, acting like the secrets were common knowledge and made suggestions on what you two should consider doing." Fishlegs answered as he help the two to set up properly, as the two now faced the TV. There was a look on his face that Hiccup knew to mean 'why didn't you tell me?', slightly puffy lip with a faint quiver, eyes dilated as if to draw the answer out. Hiccup said nothing, what could he say.
"Sorry for fain..." Astrid started, turning to the twins, her face still red but slowly lowly returning to its natural shade. She pupils returning to their natural dimensions. She wanted to change the subject, more for Hiccup than herself, but still this was highly uncomfortable for her.
"I'd faint too if two individuals that acted like utter fools more or less called me out on a secret and act like my secret was common knowledge." Ruffnut cut her off, only Tuffnut was not shocked at how empathic Ruffnut was, yet neither of the twins broke from the game, it was not Halo anymore, it was a new game call Dragon Tamers, actually one of Hiccup's favorite, they were playing in two player mode, the two were actually surprising good, well to Astrid's eyes, Hiccup and Fishlegs were better but they knew it was best played by four. "As to why you never told me and Tuff, I get it. We're loose cannons that are liable to blab about anything."
"I am not, I am going to blab...Well not in this case, but normally I blab." Tuffnut chimed in, the before saying the last bit after a pause 'looking' over what he just said, his eyes focusing at the space between them, his mouth slightly agape and after realizing what could be inferred he stated the last bit to correct himself and turn back to the game.
"Anyway, its okay to need glasses, besides they make you look smarter..."Ruffnut turned the attention back from Tuffnut and decided to complement Astrid, well that or at least start a list off with her and Tuffnut, her eyes still on the game. It was an attempted olive branch, well the best Ruffnut could offer at the time.
"Deceptively less threatening." Tuffnut added, taking the verbal hint, however lacking in his earlier tack. Astrid glared at the back of Tuffnut's head and while he brushed the back of his head to get the feeling away, he didn't take his overall focus off the game in front of him.
"Cuter" Ruffnut listed following her twin, Astrid shifted her glare from Tuffnut to Ruffnut, and while it was clear that Ruffnut felt a similar burn in the back of her head, but she did not rub, instead she shock her head a couple of times, still like her twin her main focus was on the game.
"And... and... and... okay I got nothing else." Tuffnut tried to continue, but realized too late he could not. While still focused on the game, Tuffnut then address Hiccup "The same deal for your leg Hiccup, just to let you know. Well about why you never told us, as for how the leg looks on you, for some reason it gives you a more tough guy appearance, like you've already paid your dues and no one has anything on you deal. Sure most people have scars, but you got something so much more epic. Now why you didn't tell Fishlegs about your leg, well lets remember that time when Ruffnut admitted to him to burring Snotlout alive. It was all over the news in less than 10 minutes." Tuffnut called everyone attention to Fishlegs and his tendency to spit out secrets. Fishlegs moved around the couch nervously, his face a little pink in embarrassment as the fact was called out.
"I almost went to 'juvie' because of that." Ruffnut pointed out clearly still a little sour about the matter. Neither Astrid nor Hiccup could truly empathize but they both know that if one twin was not present the other would cause more trouble because there wouldn't be the back and forth of how 'cool' or 'awesome' the act would be or debating on the how to preform the action or the action itself thus causing the two to frequently miss the moment. "By the way you should consider changing brands of hearing aids to Fox-Ears, they blend in to the ear better." Ruffnut then called attention back to Hiccup's secrets, this one was his longer kept hearing loss. Hiccup's face again went deep red, his eyes dilating, however he surprised to not be as phased by Ruffnut's announcement as he was when Astrid picked up the hearing aid up from the floor after it fell out Friday night.
"And they self adjust. Well not always, but you won't have to adjust them as often, even as your hearing is failing." Tuffnut added, it was like both twins knew everything. Hiccup didn't know why but the twins knowing of his failing ears was not the blow to his psyche he expected it to be. Or maybe because Astrid already know his secrets made Fishlegs and the twins finding out was not as bad, maybe if people knew of his handicaps...Hiccup couldn't compute this topic anymore. He needed to change subjects.
"How do you two know all of our secrets?" Hiccup asked as he put his right hand to his forehead on his and started to rub it. The question was also on Astrid's mind, but under her stoic appearance dread crept in her marrow, if Ruffnut and Tuffnut figured out all of Hiccup's secrets and that she need to wear glasses/contacts...what if they could figure out about...about...about..., Astrid's brain just... stopped, it just wouldn't not work, not unlike a broken vinyl record.
"We're highly observant, how else do you get away with all our projects" Ruffnut answered, every one know what she meant, the twins while often miss their chances, the few times their 'plans' went through it is impossible to prove that they in fact did it, legally... there was the 'close call' when Ruffnut revealed to Fishlegs she buried Snotlout alive for two hours, but the confusion was the only evidence and it was weakly circumstantial at best. Her main focus never left the game.
"And how else would they be as EPIC!" Tuffnut shouts as he left his hand into the air after having his character deliver a critical hit which destroyed the opponent granting him the kill and bonus XP. It was in deed an epic shot, well strike he was referring to both the strike and the historical actions of himself and his twin. Everyone was impressed by the kill blow and the timing of Tuffnut's word choice. Ruffnut was ticked that she didn't make the kill but she was too impressed with how the boss exploded to truly focus on not getting the kill. Fishlegs was agape, it defied all his meticulously collectedstatistics, Astrid and Hiccup were blank.
After a second Astrid's brain was able to finally reset."So Eret and Camicazi don't have a problem with either of you two slacking?" Astrid asked as she returned to the normal way shedealt with the twins, calling them out. Hiccup rolled his eyes, while Astrid's attention was on the twins. Yes he had limited 'control' if that was the right word, over the twins, but he knew better than to call out their academic short comings, the two are actually very smart, its just a matter of knowing the area the two shine and pointing them in that direction. Calling the twins out on their lack luster in traditional eduction is not going to help her make headway with them.
"Camicazi said she call me to edit and go over our skit, its the decapitation of Louis XVI, and I am Louis." Tuffnut said as he and Ruffnut continued the game. The two were getting ready to play the next level, the narrowing of their eyes indicating that they have played to this point but haven't gotten past this one yet, Astrid could literally taste their focus on the upcoming level.
"Eret wants to do a little know rebellion from the 1000's or something like that in Scandinavia, our scene is when the leader of the rebellion rallies the followers of Thor to drive his Christian brother, whom was the king, out. We more or less have a similararrangement as Tuffnut and Camicazi." Ruffnut said as the level started and the two began to go 'button-mash' on their controllers. To Astrid it looked like the two were going to make, her eyes dilating and mouth slightly open in awe, but Hiccup and Fishlegs only dipped their heads in slight sadness, it wasn't that the two couldn't beat this level, but this was meant as a four person game and this level proved it, something the twins don't seem to get. Hiccup pushed the pause on Ruffnut's controller and looked at the two, his eyes normal, the slightly red of his checks, it was his 'stay' command and the two stopped playing and stayed like a couple of well trained dogs.
"I am so glad I have Ms. Fierce, we just have three papers which even added together are less than what Mr. Treacherous has assigned." Fishlegs commented a little to gladly, breaking the focus from the twins and their revealings, the twins turned to face Fishlegs along with Astrid and Hiccup, all four giving off a faint growl at the injustice of Mr. Treacherous' teaching that Fishlegs just had to call out. "Um..I am going..um to... um.. feed Toothless." Fishlegs said nervously as he began to leave the living room, mostly taking sidesteps until he could get into the kitchen, all eight human eyes glaring at his in wrath, following him every nanometer of the way. Toothless trotted behind Fishlegs happy to be fed and glad to have a face saving reason to not be there and to be mentioned again after no-one really focusing on him since Ruffnut's part-bear Q & Fishlegs' incomplete-A.
"So you two know my glasses are real, Hiccup and I have... feelings for each other, Hiccup lost his leg and is going deaf?" Astrid asked trying to see just how much the twins were able to uncover, internally she was praying that the two were not able to divine her home, if that word is even applicable, life, assuming that word as also applicable, her eyes narrowing, her face squinting as she took a seat on the right side of the couch. Hiccup sat on the left side, after getting two additional controls set up one for him and another for Astrid. Hiccup may have forgotten how observant the twins can be, but they cannot know something like Astrid's life at her house, not unless they actually been there and the two would have told him, most likely off-handed and by accident, that they were there.
"You ask that question like there is something we are missing." Tuffnut answered his face constricting and narrowing as if he was insulted.
"Are we missing something?" Ruffnut asked looking at her twin, slightly perplexed and confused, her head tilted to a little to the left.
"How can we, we gone over everything" Tuffnut said after looking up to the ceiling with his mouth open going over the facts. After saying it the twins compared notes, just to make sure, ignorant of the nonverbal dialogue between the other two in the room. Astrid looked at Hiccup, as if to plea that he does tell about what she confessed to him, her face pale with terror. Hiccup's calm face indicated that if the twins find out it was not from him, directly or indirectly.
"She was just curious as to how your minds work, say how about we show Astrid the ropes of the game." Hiccup said normally, well with a slight bit of annoyance that comes from the twins' frequent interpenetration of what he says but with the twins it was normal, breaking the twin's concentration. The two then gave their signature semi-evil grin, as if this time they were going beat the level and maybe show-up Miss Perfect.
"But I want to play." came an overly excited Fishlegs from the kitchen as he re-entered the living room, Toothless wolfing down his meal, it was not the slightly re-refrigerated meat he preferred, it was the dry kibble, but it was still good.
"You can be Astrid's adviser in character construction and basic game mechanics, for this level. I think Ruffnut and Tuffnut are still ticked about you mentioning your AP World History Class and may back-stab your character, I know I am tempted to, so you playing right now is unadvised." Hiccup said turning to face Fishlegs, his expression calm, his head tilting a little to the right clearly trying to indicate that he already sized-up the scene and gave the means for the best outcome if Fishlegs got involved and what would likely happen if Fishlegs may face if he goes too far.
"Okay, first off, Tuffnut's and Ruffnut's characters are the team tank and glass cannon, Hiccup is usually the team's stealth player, so Astrid, you should go for the healer, now just to let you know healers can cast spell much like the 'glass cannon' and other arcane magic users, they can repeal undead and they have access to weapons and armor like the 'tank' and with more hit points than the stealth character, they actually have the best 'damage to hit point' ratios out there. So let's build you a cleric, got name you would like to use?" Fishlegs asked as he sat to the right of Astrid and began to help her construct her character. He was clearly bubbling with excitement.
"How does 'Stormfly' sound?" Astrid asked as she took her controller in hand, she looked that the twins with her 'So you think you're going to show-up together, how cute.' smirk as her eyes narrowed in focus.
Hiccup felt dread.
Not for himself, but for Astrid. Something in his gut told him that if Astrid returned to her house she was not going to live past Saturday. It was now 9pm, Fishlegs and the twins left for their homes two hours ago. Hiccup noted that Astrid really enjoyed playing Dragon Tamers, and she made one kick-butt valkyrie-type healer, which worked very well when combined with Tuffnut's fully armored tank style warrior, Ruffnut max-damaging glass-mortar style magic user, Fishlegs fact finding jack-of-all trade-type bard and/or Hiccup's own surgical precise nearly instinct kill sneak-attacking, lock-mastering rouge. Astrid had gone to bed, in fact he just shut the guest bedroom door having checked on her and she was sound asleep, a smile on her face, she was truly an astrid (divine beauty) as she slept. If it weren't considered creepy, Hiccup could spend all night just watching her sleep and be perfectly fine in the morning, in fact he would do that for the rest of his life if he could. He had to call someone concerning what Astrid father did to her, the police, no they only had his word and he was unsure if Astrid would cooperate. Gobber, no, while he would believe Hiccup and try to do something, he was not going to be much help, but not from a lack of trying. Stoick it was, as much as Hiccup did not want to, Stoick was the only one that would believe him (Hiccup) and could do anything about the matter. He went to the garage, where he would often metal sculpt, it was somewhat therapeutically. He picked up the house phone and dialed his father's cell phone number.
After one ring "This is Superintendent Haddock." Stoick answered, he was wide awake, and while he was not expecting a call, he was stoic as ever.
"Hey Dad, its me. Before you say anything, I have a few things to tell you. First, in my AP World History class, I was partnered with Astrid Hofferson, you know my main academic rival. Second, she's spending the week here, because of the project and because..." Hiccup paused he was not sure what he can say or how but after a second "She's abused by her father. The third thing is that she knows of my... hearing and leg." Hiccup said into the phone, his resolve some how held.
"That's a pretty bold accusation, that Mr. Hofferson bets Astrid. But you are many things, a liar is not one of them. How long will Astrid be staying?" Stoick's voice was very stoic, but something was there, like when they learned of Hiccup's failing hearing. Hiccup didn't know he could possibly hear the subtle yet honest concern now, but there it was. Hiccup grinned a little as he heard his father. Hiccup never thought this conversation would go so well, but it was going well
"At least a week, Dad. I am terrified, not for myself but for her. I am afraid that if she goes back she will not make it to Sunday morning. I don't know what to do. I know this is masochistic of me, but I have a crush on her and maybe she and I can have a relationship, but..." Hiccup's resolve gave out, he fell into the seat he had next to where the house phone for the garage was, which happened to be at the desk where he worked on the designs for his sculptures and other engineering ideas he had. Tears were starting to form around his tear ducts, his eyes squeezing tight, his head dipped down as he leaned forward and his breath was forced to keep from breaking into a full cry. The dread was so much it actually was causing him physical pain in is chest, it was not an anxiety attack, it was in his heart.
"I'll be on the next flight home. Son... you did the right thing opening our home to her, trying to conceive her to stay longer than a week and for calling." Stoick paused for a second and Hiccup could hear Stoick take a breath to gather himself for what he was about to say, as if he said it wrong or didn't say it, things between the two would never be resolved. "Hiccup..."
Author's note:
And Cliffhanger...
I have to keep your interest some how and cliffhangers, while not always under that name, are a tried and true means to do just that.
Sorry for the delay, Real Life is a... well you get the idea. Oh if you can check out my own fan fictions, I recommend reading the Star Fox Fan-fictions first, just to get an idea on how I have progressed as a writer, but if you don't care for Star Fox, well then just read How to Date and its one-shots.
And also check out Rumbling Night Cutter's works s/he is still working, my personal favorite being the Guardian Night Fury/Ghost of the Night Fury story line, the Pet Day one-shots are a close second. Well in all fairness this is after Rumbling Night Cutter put The Feeling's Mutual up for adoption, before that The Feeling's Mutual was my favorite...neither here nor there.
So Read, Review, PM. Hopefully Real Life won't be as much of a pain in composing Chapter 10
Foxmorgoth out