No Matter What
Rated: M
Pairings: Hiccup X Astrid
Disclaimer; I do not own How To Train Your Dragon, but I do own the rights to my OC characters!
Chapter Twenty-One
~Author's Note; I should have mentioned it last section, but the song Astrid sang was To Love You More by Celine Dion. However, the version she sang was done by a young woman named Charice Pempengco. This girl rocks at performing Celine songs, and I love her voice. So if you'd like to check out how Astrid's song was based on, go to Youtube and type in Charice Pempengco with David Foster-To Love You More & All By Myself. Honestly, it's impressive. Anyway, onward with chapter 21!
=Hiccup's POV=
I did not imagine that I'd get so mesmerized by Astrid's voice. I actually had Camicazi stop touching me so I could pay attention. Towards the end, I reached the stage as Astrid got closer and was blown away by her performance. Astrid chose a song called To Love You More by an artist named Celine Dion. The dilemma with a song like this was that very few people could pull it off because of the high pitched, long-held tones someone needed to hit. I realized at the end that Astrid's starting dedication was to me. I understood that she liked me, and used the song to reveal her feelings. I was shocked, and impressed by it. As I saw her walking away, I recalled what she said about hoping for a chance to love me like I deserved to be loved, to be happy. Astrid had been with me as much as she was able to help pick up the pieces of my broken heart after Camicazi, and I never told Astrid how I felt because I was scared to get hurt again. However, the song gave me all I needed to cast the fear aside.
I got on the stage and stopped Astrid, shocking her when I grabbed her hand, then turned her to face me. When the crowd started shouting kiss like how it happened at the wedding; I wasn't running away this time. I kissed Astrid softly, and that spark burst into a flame. Now, Astrid and I weren't a couple, but I intended on asking her before the night was over. At the moment, we were still on stage with her laying her head on my chest after I told her that I liked her too.
"We should get down now," Astrid mentioned and I nodded to her as I held her hand and we walked off stage, then back to our seats.
"You got one hell of a set of pipes, girl," Dahlia mentioned with a smile as I saw Astrid put her head down a bit.
"Thank you," Astrid said.
"Seriously, that was amazing, Astrid. I did not know you could sing; much more like that," I informed.
"I'm…a massive fan of Celine Dion, and it was always a dream of mine to see one of her concerts live, and hopefully get a chance to sing with her," Astrid smiled.
"Hey, uh, where's Cami?" I wondered.
"Well, after Cody, Thuggory, and I held her back from running on stage to stop you from kissing Astrid, she left," Eret stated.
"I should go talk to her," I sighed.
"Hiccup, no. Okay? Camicazi is playing you like an instrument. The day you passed out flying on Toothless, Camicazi saved you because she'd been hanging around the base, spying. One of the others leaving earlier in the day saw her and texted me. Camicazi has been waiting for her moment to get back into your life," Thuggory said. What? "And I bet my life that she's outside the lounge, waiting for you to come out so she can continue to weasel her way in," When Thuggory put it like that; I couldn't exactly say he was wrong because it sounded exactly like something Camicazi would do.
"And I've seen her at the park with a guy, making out while Stormfly and I were on our way to work," Astrid said lightly with her hand on my arm, then showed me a picture from her phone. "I only took it in case she tried to pull this shit with you,"
"That's the guy I found her in bed with. I had a feeling something wasn't right," I muttered. "I don't know if I should mad at her for doing it or myself for believing the act. Either way, I'm putting a stop to this. Now," I said as I held Astrid's hand, then headed for the exit. I knew the others were following us, wanting to see how this moment went. Getting outside, I saw Camicazi standing there. As soon as she saw me, she tried to run forward, but I snapped my fingers as Toothless got up and blocked her.
"Hi-Hiccup?" Camicazi asked in a choked voice, shocked at the action.
"Enough, Camicazi. I don't feel like hearing more excuses, or lies out of your mouth," I turned away from her. "Just go. We're done here; it's over, for good," Camicazi stood in tears and shock. "As for you, Milady," I looked at Astrid. "Up for a late dinner, so maybe we can talk a bit about these feelings we have for one another?"
Astrid blushed a little, then nodded to me. "I'm starved after that song; I didn't really eat before coming here," Astrid shrugged.
"Really? You're calling her what you always called me, and you're not even dating?" Camicazi remarked.
"The milady thing is something I've always done to a pretty girl; it wasn't a pet or nickname for you," I rolled my eyes. "See you guys later," I added as Astrid and I began to walk away.
=Normal POV=
Camicazi hated it! First Astrid beats her at singing, now taking Hiccup away!? No, she wouldn't stand for it. Camicazi pointed her finger at Astrid as Mimic fired a blast towards her, but last minute, Hiccup moved into her place unaware of the acid blast heading for him. Astrid looked back to wave to her friends, and saw what was aiming for Hiccup. Instinctively, Astrid let go of Hiccup's hand and pushed him away from her, then she jumped back as the acid landed. Hiccup looked at the acid, Astrid, then Camicazi and Mimic. Astrid glared as she marched over to Camicazi.
"Alright, that's it!" Astrid stated while standing right in front of her.
Camicazi shoved Astrid back. "Get out of my face, Hofferson,"
"Why do you insist on hurting him?! Are you that fucking desperate? You had no problem hooking up with other guys while he was away. You didn't want him then, why now!?" Astrid demanded.
"I made a mistake! Everyone does it; I'm sure you're no saint either!" Camicazi yelled now.
"Perhaps not, but at least I own up to mine and learn from them! You, on the other hand, just keep telling lies and doing the same thing that lost you Hiccup in the first place! I've said it to you once, and I will tell you again; I will not allow you to keep hurting him," Astrid shot back.
"I'm the liar when you said back in July you weren't trying to take him away?! And here you are, the same place as me, and look who he kissed! I almost had him back, and then you ruined it!" Camicazi growled.
"And if you loved Hiccup like you claim to, and were meant to be then you wouldn't have fucking cheated on him for six god damn months while he was DEPLOYED!" Astrid screamed at Camicazi now, making Cami take a step back at the anger.
"You wouldn't even know Hiccup without me!" Camicazi countered, still in tears.
"It doesn't matter. I do know him, and I am in his life as a friend or more for as long as he desires it to be so. Everything that happens in this life, happens for a reason. So it goes without saying that if things happened this way, then it's supposed to be this way! You need to grow the fuck up, and take responsibility for what YOU did! Nobody made you be unfaithful to Hiccup, that was your choice on a foolish assumption that just because he was busy fighting in the war didn't mean he cared any less about you! Do you want a little truth? I've had a crush on Hiccup since Senior Year, but did I pursue it? No, because you were my friend, and I couldn't do that to you. I haven't been trying to take him away, Cami, it's just how things worked out. These are the consequences of your actions, now deal with them like an adult!" Astrid scolded.
The area was quiet; the friends in shock of Camicazi picking a verbal fight with Astrid, and then getting schooled. Astrid stared at Camicazi for a moment, then she turned to walk away. Camicazi narrowed her eyes as she stepped forward and pushed Astrid into the brick wall of the building. Astrid hit hard, the stopped a minute before pushing herself off of it and turning to see Camicazi there, glaring at her.
"What the hell is your problem?!" Hiccup asked angrily. "Astrid, are you alright?"
"Yeah. I'm fine," Astrid replied as she checked her lip for blood, thankfully, she found none. Casting her eyes to Camicazi, she faced her once more. "That is twice you have put your hands on me when I've done nothing to you. If you do it again, I will be far less forgiving. Consider this your last warning to back off,"
"I'm not afraid of you," Camicazi stated.
"Camicazi, that's enough!" Hiccup stated.
"You're taking this way too far," Heather mentioned softly. "Astrid's right. You chose to cheat on Hiccup, and he is free to be with whomever he wants,"
"Just leave Astrid alone; attacking her isn't going to make Hiccup come back to you," Thuggory stated.
"You stay out of this. If you hadn't left her then she wouldn't be going after my boyfriend," Camicazi argued.
"Thuggory and I broke up on mutual terms, Camicazi! Thuggory still had feelings for his ex at the time; that woman is now his girlfriend again. And I had the crush on Hiccup. Thug and I together we decided that it wasn't fair to be together when we weren't giving all of our heart to the other one," Astrid informed.
"I'm not your boyfriend anymore! I want nothing to do with you!" Hiccup yelled.
"Nothing you do is going to bring Hiccup back, Camicazi. Accept it, and move on," Eret remarked. Camicazi looked at the others, seeing everyone not pleased with her behavior. Finally, Camicazi threw herself at Astrid, punching her in the side of the mouth, then yanked her to the ground. Camicazi tried to climb over to keep attacking, but Astrid stopped her hands, then kicked her off. Astrid stood up panting, then she removed her coat, and shoes while throwing her hair up in a messy bun. Next, Astrid brought hands up to defend herself.
"Oh, you want to fight me now?" Camicazi taunted.
"Cami, stop this!" Ruffnut demanded.
"You attacked me first. Anything I do from here is self-defense," Astrid stated. Camicazi went after her again as Astrid used her back arm to deflect Camicazi's punch, then the front one to push her back. Camicazi went again as Astrid twirled herself and Camicazi nearly lose her balance. Astrid pushed her down as Camicazi turned over to look at her.
"Camicazi, that's enough!" Hiccup yelled at her. Camicazi went after Astrid, tackling her down and punching her repeatedly, but Astrid kept her arms up to block as many as she could. Finally, Astrid used her elbow to hit Cami in the cheek and make her back off to the point Astrid could lock her leg around Camicazi's, then roll her onto her back. Astrid grabbed a handful of Camicazi's hair and pulled her to her feet; Camicazi got a hold of Astrid's hair while the two went at it. Astrid was merely trying to defend herself from Camicazi's assault. Camicazi grabbed at Astrid's shirt, and when Astrid pulled away, it came off. However, the first thing anyone noticed was Astrid wearing a sports bra, and she was revealing a two-pack of abs.
Camicazi charged once more, but Astrid had more than enough of this petty fighting. Camicazi ran for Astrid once more. However, Astrid dropped into a crouch as she span an out-stretched leg and knocked Camicazi on her ass. Cami quickly recovered as she got up and went to punch Astrid again, but Astrid turned herself, avoided the strike by letting it go by the side of her head. Astrid grabbed Camicazi's wrist, then arm before throwing the woman over her shoulder so she'd land on her back. Astrid pulled Camicazi up, the shoved her into the wall while using an arm at her throat to keep her in place. "Give it up because you don't stand a chance. I'm trained to fight MMA style. Now, I'm gonna let you go, and if you make one more attempt to attack me, I'm going to immobilize you, and then teach you a lesson. Do we understand one another?"
Camicazi forced a shaky nod as Astrid removed her arm and stepped back. Astrid bent over while walking to get her shirt, and then Camicazi charged from behind. Astrid turned and kicked Cami in the side to make her bend, then used her elbow to hit the back of Camicazi's neck. Astrid picked Camicazi up and threw her into the wall again. "Stormfly. Immobilize!" Astrid commanded. Stormfly whipped her tail, only firing enough spines to pin Camicazi in place to the wall so she couldn't move. Astrid grabbed her phone from her purse as she opened the dial pad, tapped a few things, and then put it on speaker phone as it picked up.
"911, what is your emergency?" asked a male voice.
"I was just assaulted outside of Singing Stars Karaoke Lounge by one of my friend's ex-girlfriend, and would like to press charges," Astrid stated.
"May I have your name please?"
"Astrid Hofferson," Astrid said. The line was quiet a moment.
"You know I have to inform your father about this, don't you?" the man replied.
"Yes. You can tell him I'm okay and have my attacker immobilized and conscious, also that I'm safe," Astrid told him. Astrid was put on hold as she looked at the others, who were in shock of what she was doing. Yet, they couldn't blame her.
"Miss. Hofferson? Your father has given strict instructions for you to stay put, and he's on his way with two officers to deal with the matter," the dispatcher enlightened.
"I copy those orders," Astrid said, and then hung up as she faced Camicazi, who now looked terrified. "I warned you that I was going to teach you a lesson if you persisted," she stated. "And in case you are all wondering what that was all about; my father is Chief of Police," she added before pulling her shirt back on, then coat, and shoes. Hiccup wasn't sure what to say; he just watched his ex physically attack Astrid, then get out on her ass, now facing assault charges. Hiccup was disappointed in Camicazi and impressed with Astrid. However, he assumed with all this tonight, they might have to wait to talk. Hiccup didn't mind though, he expected Astrid would want to go home and get some rest since the night was just about over once this was handled. For now, all they could do was wait for the police to arrive and pray to the Gods that this never happened again.