Rumors abound.
Chapter Twelve
That evening, the gang ran into Hiccup on their way up the stairs to the Great Hall. Astrid walked on ahead without a word. Ruffnut had a sneering remark readied on the tip of her tongue –hey, see-Hiccup-and-sneer was a built-in reflex – but the expression on his face as he turned to watch Astrid made her hesitate.
She was horrified the very next second. Odin, was she getting soft? To actually feel sorry for Hiccup?
'Hey cousin, heard that you chickened out in front of the witnesses last night,' said Snotlout loudly.
Ruffnut was quickly halted by her idiotic brother as he pulled her to a stop. 'Wait. This I gotta hear,' Tuffnut grinned.
Hiccup just stood on the stairs, saying nothing and flushing scarlet as Snotlout waited, grinning widely. 'So I guess Astrid hates your guts even more now, huh? No wonder she's avoiding you like the plague!'
'Astrid does whatever she wants,' Hiccup said nervously.
'Technically, just because no one witnessed it, it doesn't mean Hiccup didn't…' Fishlegs began.
'Thank you, Fishlegs. But please don't finish that sentence,' Hiccup flinched.
Tuffnut and Snotlout burst out laughing. 'Oh Odin, you really didn't. Couldn't get your act up, huh? Or were you too small? Gods, I'm ashamed to be related to you!' Snotlout doubled over, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes. 'You're such a wimp,' he shoved Hiccup down a step. 'You're such an embarrassment. You don't deserve Astrid,'
'I know I don't,' Hiccup said quietly, and left without another word.
Ruffnut shoved Tuffnut away and headed up to the Great Hall. Once inside, she made a beeline for Astrid, sliding into the empty space beside her. It was still a shock to see how different her friend looked now that her hair was tied differently, but that was counter-balanced by the familiar stern expression, the steady grip on the axe. Astrid was still Astrid.
'So how did last night go?' she asked straight out, beating around the bush was not Ruffnut's way. 'The guys were just laughing at Hiccup for chickening out in front of the witnesses last night,'
She saw something fleeting in Astrid's eyes. Was it shame? Anger? Maybe a bit of both. 'They have no right to say that. What did Hiccup say?'
Ruffnut shrugged. 'He left without saying anything. So? How did it go?'
Astrid hesitated. She looked around cautiously, as though afraid of being overheard. 'Keep it a secret?' she whispered.
'Sure,' Ruffnut said. Astrid stared at her sternly. 'Even from your brother?'
Ruffnut smirked. 'Especially from my brother. C'mon, tell,'
'Okay,' Astrid took a deep breath. 'Hiccup didn't touch me last night,'
It was during situations like this that Ruffnut wished her brain would work faster. How did one respond to something like this? 'Oh…' she blinked rapidly. 'You mean, he… really couldn't… do… it?'
'No. nothing like that,' Astrid said hastily, and flushed. 'He just… he could tell I didn't want to, so he didn't force me,'
Oh. Oh. Ruffnut didn't know what to think. Did that make Hiccup chivalrous? Or did it make him a wimp? 'That's…. nice… of him,' she said cautiously, then frowned. 'But how did you get away with it?'
'Hiccup sent the witnesses away, told them he couldn't… you know… in front of people watching. Then he cut himself and bloodied the furs. They came to inspect the furs this morning, and seemed to think the blood was my…' Astrid was definitely blushing now, turning quickly from pink to red.
'That's clever,' Ruffnut said; it was the best she could come up with.
They were interrupted as the boys came over; Snotlout strutting, Tuffnut sniggering, while Fishlegs looked like he'd rather be someplace else.
'So Astrid, how did my cousin do last night?' Snotlout grinned. 'I hope he wasn't too much of a disappointment,'
Only Ruffnut knew Astrid well enough to see the fury in her eyes. Astrid got up, knocking over her cup, and shot Ruffnut a look that said play along.
'No, he wasn't. In fact, Hiccup was amazing last night. He far exceeded all my expectations,' Astrid declared, loud enough to be heard by the entire hall. Then she stomped off amidst dumbfounded gazes.
Snotlout looked like a fish, gawping and gasping. Her brother blinked stupidly. Ruffnut rolled her eyes at them. 'You guys are pathetic,' And for the second time in her life she grabbed Fishlegs by the arm, and dragged him down to sit beside her on the bench. 'At least you are decent. Just sit here and don't talk to me,' she snapped at him, and reached for a plate.
Hiccup… well. She was right about one thing; he was decent. Sometimes, that seemed to make up for a lot of things.
