*listens to I Knew You Were Trouble as I write*

"I cannot believe we're breaking into an orphanage."

"I know," Hiccup said with a grin, "it's so great! You're becoming just like me!"

"Shut up."

Astrid shivered, hurriedly shoving the key into the keyhole and making her way in. In her haste, she stumbled a little and Hiccup's arms wrapped around her waist from behind and steadied her. His warm breath hit her neck and her eyes widened. She hurriedly pulled away, thankful it was dark. Her cheeks were on fire.

"You're welcome," Hiccup mumbled, but it didn't sound as teasing as it should have.

Whatever. They were on a mission.

Hiccup jumped over the counter, and smirked lightly when she did as well. "So where are the files?"

Astrid didn't respond, kneeling down to the last drawer in the cabinet. A part of her wished it was locked - this was wrong. But she had been curious about Toothless for far too long, and Hiccup was only urging her on. This could help them help him.

Them? She meant her. Hiccup wasn't staying after a week. He was going to go back to doing whatever the heck him and his hooligan self did after school.

Maybe she was being too harsh on him.

With all the new stuff pushing it's way into her life, Astrid hadn't had as chance to sit back and really think. Especially about Hiccup. Because she didn't want to think about him. Or how he challenged her in new ways. Or how he got along with the kids and she saw a different side of him every time he played with them. Or how he had shown concern over her empty stomach today.

She didn't want to think about that, because she was terrified she was developing...a crush on Hiccup Haddock.

And Astrid felt uncomfortable even thinking about it because she wasn't some idiot. Every girl thought that they could...change the bad boys, but that only happened in movies. Then again, maybe Hiccup wasn't really a bad boy? Maybe that's why it was so realistic in her mind.

Maybe later she could think about her stupid feelings. Right now, she just wanted to hurry and get what they wanted.

"There," Hiccup murmured, and she pulled out the file. It read 'Nigel Fury.' Astrid put her hand on the file, but hesitated. She wasn't supposed to know. There had to be a reason for that.

"We don't have to," the boy next to her whispered suddenly, and she looked at him in surprise. He looked her in the eyes and continued to speak in a low voice. "Jokes aside, Astrid, don't read it if you don't want to. I - I shouldn't force you into it."

Damn. So much for not thinking about her feelings.

"No. We're doing this." She took a shay breath, and put the file on the counter before opening it.

Hiccup and Astrid both gasped sharply.

The first thing there was a picture of Toothless, except it was the most horrifying thing Astrid had ever seen. Some of his hair was matted with blood, there were many scars running down his face, and his eyes were wide and bloodshot. She trembled a little, as she felt Hiccup's fist clench a little.

"What the hell?" he hissed.

At the same time, they reached for the papers, splitting them to read them. It was a lot of information, but it did sum up to one thing: abusive parents. The police had found him one day and brought him to the orphanage before arresting his parents.

Astrid's heart hammered. This was why he was so quiet. This was why he had gotten so upset when Hiccup struck her. This was why he had pulled her away - if Astrid was the first person to treat him gently, he wouldn't want her hurt.

"That poor kid, gods." Hiccup shook his head, his jaw set and a furious look in his eyes. "How do you do that to a child? How do you...how could anyone…"

"They just do," she whispered, and her own unpleasant memories sprung to her head, making her head hurt even more. It was so messed up. It was so horrible. He didn't deserve it. She hadn't deserved it. No one deserved that.


Maybe it was wrong, but Hiccup hadn't felt as bad about hitting Astrid with a basketball than he did about making her see this. She cared about this kid, dammit.

And he knew, from the sick feeling in his gut, that he was beginning to care too.

Not just for Toothless, even. All of them. It had only been a few days and he was starting to care about them like an older brother. Just today he had Stormfly on his shoulders after one complaint of her feet hurting.

Caring hurt like hell right now. Hiccup felt a little dizzy, and he reached forward and closed the file, breathing heavily.

A tear slipped down Astrid's cheek.

"Hey," he murmured, reaching for her - in two seconds he was hugging her just like he had been a few days ago. "It's okay. He's safe now. And you've been great to him."

She slowly - hesitantly - slid her arms around his neck, hugging him back. "I know. I just...I know what that's like."

"W-what?"

Hiccup's mind flashed back to what he had seen from her window. Astrid's mother hadn't hit her, but she hadn't exactly looked to be the kindest person in the world either.

"My mother used to...nothing as bad as what he went through, mind you." She shook a little, and Hiccup's mind wheeled at this new revelation. Abuse was abuse, no matter the level of intensity.

And he had slapped her. Hiccup mentally winced. Gods, this girl was really changing everything.

As they stepped out of the orphanage, the cool breeze wasn't as soothing anymore. It was eerie, and their silence didn't help matters.

"I should go," Astrid mumbled, pushing her bangs behind her ear, "thank you for the burger, Hiccup."

She was walking before he could offer to give her a ride home, although she did turn around for a few seconds to say quietly, "I'll text my friends tonight about everyone hanging out together."

And she was off. Hiccup held the handle of his bike, the weight of the night finally catching up to him. His stomach was full, yet his body felt empty, giving him a weird nauseous feeling. He simply wanted to sleep.

"Hey, brother."

For fuck's sake, he did not want to deal with Dagur right now.

"I just realized, this is an orphanage. We should totally throw rocks at the window and scare the brats in there. Good idea, right?"

Irritation bubbled up inside him, and Hiccup turned to Dagur, snapping. "No, that's a terrible idea, because those kids didn't do anything to you."

Dagur looked shocked - and a little mad already - but Hiccup wasn't done.

"And don't call me your brother." He got on the motorcycle, scowling. "We never were, an never will be, brothers of any kind."

It was only when he was a good mile away did Hiccup realize how bad this could be. Not only for him, but for Heather too.

And Astrid, who Dagur thought he was dating.

Fuck.