Chapter 14 – Can't See Straight

This chapter is based on the song Can't See Straight by Jamie Lawson. I'd love if you'd give it a listen! :D

Shoutout to my co-author, Christine. We have both really been waiting for this chapter and it's here!

Enjoy!

Astrid was glaring daggers at her father and Viggo as she stomped over to them, fists clenched, heart beating fast, her face growing red with anger.

She opened her mouth, but her dad spoke first, "Astrid! How is Prince Henry doing? Such a pity the boy didn't win...what a crazy accident that was."

She didn't believe his façade, "What've you done, dad?"

Ragnar's face scrunched up in fake confusion, "What do you mean?"

"I mean...I know it was you. And I know that Viggo here is somehow involved," she glanced over at Viggo whose smug grin made it seem as if he was enjoying the current conversation, "What have you done?" She asked again, and for the last time.

There was silence, the two older men exchanged a glance, "I did what was necessary."

Anger rushed through her as she clenched her jaw and stared at her father, but she couldn't explode. Not here in the middle of the palace grounds, surrounded by people of all ages. She took a deep shaky breath, "This was just a game dad. It was supposed to be fun and a good time for the kids. And Hicc...Henry could've been seriously hurt. Did you even stop to think about that?"

"Of course I did, Astrid. I'm not a monster," Astrid scoffed at those words, "We never thought that his horse would be that spooked by those tiny animals," he looked over at Viggo, "When Viggo overheard him say that, we figured the horse would just stop, not throw him off."

"You were at the race!" Astrid exclaimed, speaking to Viggo, "I knew I'd seen you before," she turned her attention back to her father, "What did you do? Hire someone to keep an eye on us?"

Ragnar shook his head, "Just on Henry," he pointed a chubby finger at her face, "You weren't supposed to be involved in any of this-"

Astrid glared at the finger, "Oh, so this is somehow my fault now?" She interrupted.

He continued, "The day you and Prince Henry went out to that cafe together is when this whole plan was thrown off course."

Viggo spoke up, "Your father asked me to keep an eye on Henry, try and find something out about him that could help get rid of his title. He never wanted you to get involved in this."

She whipped her head to glare at him, "I really don't care about anything you have to say."

The shorter man held up his arms in defeat, an annoyed look crossing his face. He didn't seem to enjoy being talked to in that way, especially not by her, "Fine, then."

Astrid crossed her arms, turning back to her father, "Why'd you do it?"

"Which part?"

She rolled her eyes, "All of it, dad. The spying, the mice...everything."

"After finding out what happened at the cafe, I knew I had to get involved."

"You were already involved. You've been involved in every single thing that I do, but you've never taken it this far. I want to know why, and I want to know the truth."

Ragnar's nostrils flared as he crossed his arms, father and daughter giving one another matching glares, "Your inability to carry out your duty has now led to this. It is not my fault that you let your heart intervene."

"Are you even hearing yourself right now? You did all of this today because of some crush you think I have on the Prince?" Astrid asked, "And so what if I did like him? How would that be such a bad thing?"

Ragnar looked at her in disbelief with wide blue eyes like she had just told him the most horrible news, "The Haddocks are not good people, Astrid. They essentially stole this land from us," he gestured around him, "And now Henry just gets to come in here and steal the title from you? The title we all thought was going to be yours. This was our chance to change our family's future, win back what was supposed to be ours."

"That's all you've ever cared about. Money and power and fame. And what you've shown me today is that you'll do anything to keep all of that. You know, if you spent your time getting to know Henry instead of focusing on what happened in the past, you'd see that he will make a great leader one day."

"What are you saying, Astrid? This life...this is what we've always wanted."

She took a step closer to him, "No, dad. It's what you always wanted. You've never once in your life asked me what I wanted."

"What do you want then?"

She scoffed, "All I'll say is that I never wanted to be a part of this little scheme, yet you've somehow dragged me into it. Now Henry thinks I've done this and I have to go and fix your mess." Astrid turned to leave, but her father grabbed her arm again for the second time that day. She glared at it, wanting nothing more than to break it so he'd learn his lesson about grabbing her in that way again.

"You'll ruin everything."

"Let me go. I'm serious, let me go. Right now." She hissed.

Ragnar didn't like the look in her narrowed eyes, so he released her arm, watch her whip her head around, and storm away from him. He was surprised when she stopped and turned back around. He was hoping that she'd changed her mind.

Astrid walked straight up to Viggo, the frightening look of fire still bright in her eyes, "And if I ever see you again, spying on me, or the prince, or the king or anyone, I will personally make sure that you will never be able to step foot in Berk again," she glanced down at his short legs and smiled, "Literally."

Viggo gulped, he knew she was serious. As she walked away, she didn't take one more look at her seething father. She'd deal with him again later. Right now, she had something else more important to do than continuing to yell at him until her mouth was dry and her throat was raw.

She had to try and convince Hiccup that it wasn't her. And the more she thought about him not believing her, the more nervous she became. Her heart was pounding and her thoughts were racing as she searched for any sign of the young prince.

She spotted him sitting on the edge of the fountain in the middle of the garden. It was a serene spot with the round shrubs, bushes of purple flowers, and the sound of slow trickling water. Hiccup was sitting there with his head in his hands. Astrid figured this whole image would be a perfect painting and leave the viewers wondering what had happened to the poor soul sitting there by the fountain. And only the painter would know.

So that meant Astrid was the painter here. She knew why he sat there looking so gloomy. She knew it was because of her.

Being the audience seemed like a much better deal.

She was walking towards him now, slowly, still thinking about what she'd say. How she was going to fix this. What would happen if she couldn't fix it.

Then he looked up at the sound of her approaching. He shook his head and started to get up off the edge.

"Wait," Astrid called, "Please...just...wait."

She heard him sigh, but he sat back in his spot.

He only sat back down because he was still so dizzy and knew he didn't have any ounce of energy to try and outrun her at the moment. He figured he'd just have to sit here and listen to what she had to say.

Astrid took a seat on the edge of the fountain, but left a reasonable amount of space between the two, "Hiccup, I didn't do this."

He turned his head. His eyes were still full of fire and pain as he glanced at her, "Yeah, you've said that already."

"It was my dad, all of it. He asked some man to spy on you, try and get some information about you that'd make you look bad. He was there at the race and heard you mention that Toothless was scared of the mice," Astrid explained, "Pretty sure he was at the cafe that day too. He's probably the one that called the press."

Hiccup turned his head back away from her and stared at his hands as he picked at the skin around his fingernails. He obviously wasn't too convinced.

Astrid huffed. She was frustrated because she didn't know what to say. She didn't know how to convince him and she wasn't used to feeling this way. She was usually great with words. She knew how to talk her way out of things, but this was harder. She wasn't sure why but figured it had something to do with being worried about losing him.

"Hiccup, I would've never betrayed you like that. I would never go to my father and tell him the things you've told me."

He was still picking at his fingers, the skin around his nails turning red. She watched his jaw clench and his lips press into a hard line.

"This whole thing with the mice today was so ridiculous. You have to know I didn't do it. I was with you all day and -"

He whipped his head back around, closing his eyes when the pain in his head throbbed by the sudden movement, "I don't care about that, Astrid. What's done is done."

She was taken back by his tone at first, never hearing him sound so aggressive before, "Then why are you so upset...if you don't care?" She asked him hesitantly.

He narrowed his eyes and looked at her so gravely that she knew he meant every word of what he was about to say, "Because every touch and conversation and every feeling I've had with you and for you was so real for me. I was never pretending."

"Neither was I," Astrid replied just as stern.

He sat there, searching her blue eyes, looking for any signs of a lie, "And how do I know you're telling the truth?" He asked.

"You don't," she started, scooting closer to him absentmindedly, "You're just going to have to trust me."

He closed his eyes and sighed, "I really want to."

"And why can't you?" she asked a bit harsh, "I've told you nothing but the truth."

"Because none of it makes sense." He spoke, lanky arms flailing around him as if he was suddenly tired of holding it all in.

"Well, it makes sense if you know my father well enough. I honestly should've seen this coming -"

Hiccup interrupted her, "No, I mean because it doesn't make sense for you to…" she saw a faint blush creep up to his cheeks, making the pattern of his freckles stand out, "have feelings for me."

Astrid felt her lips turn up into a soft smile, "Why is that so hard to believe?"

"Because look at me," he looked down at himself and then back up to Astrid, who could've sworn that she saw a small grin creep up on his face as the two made eye contact once more, "And then look at you."

"Hiccup…" she sighed.

"I'm no prince. I'm awkward, I'm lanky, I almost puke every time I have to give a speech, and I came here and stole this job from you..this job you've always wanted. You have every reason to hate me." Hiccup blurted out so quickly that Astrid almost didn't catch it all.

She felt herself scoot even closer to him, their legs almost touching, "When I was told you were coming here to rightfully take your crown I expected to hate every single thing about you. I was angry because you were able to just waltz right in here and claim this title that some people spend most of their lives preparing for. So, you can imagine just how taken back I was when you show up with all of your Hiccup charm and make me feel everything but hate."

His green eyes were wide and focused on her so intently as he listened to every single word. It was the look no one has ever given her before. The look that made her reach down and grab the hand resting in his lap and intertwine their fingers together, "You've turned my life upside down, Haddock. But in a good way...in a way that I don't completely understand yet."

Hiccup looked down at their hands and admired how her long fingers fit perfectly with his, "What about me made your life turn upside down?"

Astrid sighed softly, took her free hand and gently pulled his chin towards her so that he'd look into her eyes. Her hand rested on his chin for a moment as she spoke, "Your smile. Gap-toothed grin and all," her hand fell back down into her lap, "How when you look at me with those bright green eyes, I feel safe. I feel comfortable to be myself. The way you listen to my every word so intently...just like you're doing now."

She chuckled and beamed at him before continuing, "The way you tease and joke. And how your snarky comments make me want to punch you, but I just can't help but laugh. And you're awkward, sure, but it's something about you that I love. You wouldn't be Hiccup if you weren't just a little bit of a dork."

And then he laughed. It was short and gone way too soon but it was a sound that Astrid was afraid she'd never hear again. His dorky chuckle made her smile grow wider and then she felt her bite her lip as she watched the amusement reach his eyes, "And how I feel like I can trust you because I have a really hard time trusting people. But there's just something about you that makes me feel like I can open up. Like back on the beach, I would never have told you that if I didn't at least..trust you."

She felt Hiccup squeeze her hand gently, "I know."

This response took her by surprise, "You do?"

Hiccup nodded, remembering how he felt sitting there on the beach with her and how much those feelings have grown since then. How even through all the confusion, she still somehow made him feel these emotions that he always read about but never actually experienced. He didn't even think they were real until she started looking at him the way she was right now. Her radiant blue eyes gazing up at him with so much fondness it made his head spin so much he couldn't tell if it was from his fall or because of her words.

"I shouldn't have been so quick to jump to conclusions. I should've stopped to listen to you, but I've been so confused about...this…" Hiccup trailed off.

"You don't have to explain," Astrid spoke, "And I'm sure my father's stupid scheme didn't help any."

"It really didn't."

"But, Hiccup, I meant everything I said just now. I was never pretending."

The corners of his mouth turned up into a smile, "Thank you, Astrid."

She peered back down at their still intertwined fingers and how she noticed Hiccup rubbing small circles on the back of her hand with his thumb. It was soothing and made her wonder, "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure." He said, a tad cheerful.

"Have I turned your world upside down too?" Astrid asked him shyly, cursing the heat she felt rise to her cheeks.

And he started laughing. She wasn't sure what she expected him to do, but she really didn't expect him to burst out into a fit of chuckles.

"Really glad you find this so amusing." She deadpanned, ready to remove her hand, but he held onto it tighter.

"Astrid, you've turned my world upside down and right side up and everything else in between."

"So...that's a good thing? You're starting to confuse me here…"

"It's good. Really good," he started, "I'll find myself looking at things that are blue, like the sky or the ocean, and realize they aren't near as beautiful as the blue in your eyes. And your laugh, God, I want to spend the rest of my life making sure I get to hear that every day," he paused to smile at her and noticed the tint of red resting on her cheeks, "And you're so strong. You actually may be the strongest person I've ever met because you aren't afraid to speak your mind or stand up for yourself. But I can also tell that you'd do anything for someone you love...you'd do whatever it takes to make sure they were taken care of even if it meant you had to give up some of your own happiness to do so."

"That's something we seem to both have in common," Astrid stated. She always took pride in being strong, so strong that most people never saw anything else, but Hiccup did. He saw every bit of her. He's seen her put up her walls and witnessed her letting them down too, but he still managed to look at her the same way.

"Guess it is," he nodded, "Can I ask you something now?"

"Guess that's only fair."

"What're you going to do about your dad?"

She paused, not expecting this question in the slightest. It took her by surprise and she had to sit there for a moment and ponder her answer because even she didn't know herself, "I don't know yet. I'm going to do something, but I just...I just need time."

"You don't have to go through it alone."

"I know, Hiccup, thank you. But...I want to. I want to figure this out on my own. This is something that I need to do by myself."

"I understand, but I'll be here...if you need me."

And even after all the events that happened today, she knew he meant that.

There was silence between the two, both replaying the things they each confessed about one another. Astrid smiled at just how this situation had turned in a way she didn't see coming. An hour ago he was looking at her with the most disappointed scowl and now he was fondly gazing at her. She felt more excited than in the split moment where she thought she'd won the race.

She broke their hands apart and reared her fist back before striking a playful punch to the prince's shoulder, "That's for not believing me." Astrid laughed, but her chuckles were cut short as she heard him gasp and then before she knew it he was no longer sitting next to her. She heard him fall right into the water behind them.

The water was cold and it quickly brought Hiccup out of the daydream he was in only moments ago. He groaned and spit out the dirty water that made its way into his mouth. Realizing what happened, he looked up at the blonde who was bent over in a fit of laughter that made her stomach hurt, "Really glad you find this so amusing." He repeated her words from earlier.

She wiped at the amused tears that were making their way down her face, "I'm...sorry," Astrid apologized between giggles. She held out her hand to pull him out of the water, "Here, I'll help you out."

Between the tears, she couldn't see the mischievous smile spread across his face as he grabbed her hand and before she could pull up, he yanked her down. She fell in the water, landing right on top of him. Her laughter ceased and as she raised her head to look him in the eyes, Hiccup thought he was going to get slapped, but the blow never came. His arm was wrapped around her small waist and her face continued inching closer to his. He could see the water from her soaked hair trickling down her cheeks and could feel her warm breath on his face.

Hiccup felt his eyes close, expecting to feel her lips against his but the touch never came. Instead, he was met with a face full of cold water and the laughter started up again as she continued splashing him.

The two sat up and kept it going until the laughter died down and the silly game got boring. As they helped each other out of the shallow fountain, they both took in one another's drenched appearances.

"Well...how are we going to explain this one?" She asked while wringing out her hair.

"You can just blame it on me and my fabulous coordination." Hiccup replied cheekily.

"Right, good idea. Anyone who knows you well enough probably won't be too surprised."

"Thanks a lot, Astrid." Hiccup deadpanned.

She watched him shake the water out of his hair. It was so much longer when it was wet and it hung down over his eyes. He kept pushing it out of the way as he began wringing the water out of his jacket.

"Are we okay?" Astrid asked randomly.

He stopped his current task to look up at her. She held her breath waiting for his answer and released it when he smiled that gap-toothed grin, "Yeah, we're good."

She took a few steps toward him, closing the distance, placed her hands on his still soaked chest and pressed a kiss right on his reddening cheek, "And that was for everything else."

It was just a moment, a fragment really, but it was in that moment, they both felt as if they were supposed to be together.

Do y'all hate me anymore? Hehehe

Did you all catch the references from both Princess Diaries 2 and How to Train Your Dragon? ;)

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this story so far. It makes me really happy to read them and hear that you all are enjoying it.

We've finally made progress and I'm just so excited. Let me know what you thought about this chapter!

See y'all next time! :)