Healing Hearts
Rated; M for Mature
Pairing; HunterXAmy(HiccupXAstrid)
Author; Nightstar Fury
Disclaimer; I do not own anything HTTYD related-not the movies, shows, shorts, or series. I also don't own any of the songs that I may or may not use in the story. Everything belongs to it's original artist or creator!
21; You Protect Me, I Protect You
{Hunter's POV}
The time was now 8:15 pm: I was two shots, a beer, and soco and coke deep in alcohol. Had to admit I was feeling pretty good right now but still very deep in through about everything. I had a gin and tonic in my hands now, I was zoned out and slightly listening to my friends talk. Stories about what they'd been up to, fun times, couple of our friends who passed away after I left, or, was removed I should say. Amy was sitting beside me listening to the stories, she seemed entertained by them and Toothless was at my feet-very much awake and keeping an eye on me. I was sitting in the chair slightly hunched over with me arms on the table, drink in one hand as I stared calmly and silently.
"Hunter?" I heard someone say my name so I lifted my head slightly and glanced over to where it came from: Cassandra.
"Yeah, Cass?" I replied.
"You okay over there? Been quiet for the last half hour or so," Cassandra asked.
"Just relaxing. I'm usually taking inventory this time of night at work," I shrugged to her.
"Well good, you need to relax. That's what tonight was all about," Glenn laughed as did the others. I pulled my phone out and opened one of the apps on it, it brought up a screen that allowed me to see six different areas of a building. Perk to being the assistant manager was that I could watch cameras from my phone and I had yet to check on everything.
"What'cha doing?" Daniel asked.
"Making sure shit at work is good," I replied checking each one individually. I could see the each behind the counter, through the aisles, and the back area with the fridges. I also had two cameras each for the pumps outside. While lifting my drink to take another sip from it, but stopped seeing something on screen and put the drink down and looking closer
"What's up?" Timothy asked curiously. I knew that Kathryn and Brady were working tonight and he always gave her a hard time as far as flirting and what not. While watching I saw him eyeing her up from the side and behind, trying to touch her arm and her moving away, basically telling him to stop. I'd warned him once before to leave her alone, when she backed up and he followed her-I had enough. I pulled up my contacts and pressed the one for work then put it on speakerphone-I was still watching cameras while calling, thankfully it wasn't really loud in the bar tonight being it was Monday.
"Fuel Stop," Kathryn answered.
"Hey, Kat. It's Hunter, everything good there?" I inquired while still watching, I saw her put her hand over the phone and push Brady away again.
"Ev-Everything...is just fine, Hunter. Slow night," Kathryn replied shakily.
"Kat, don't lie to me." I said firmly. It was silent a moment, "Tell me the truth. I can't help you if you don't tell me what's going on,"
"He won't stop touching me. I've asked him a hundred times since 5:30 pm to stop." Kathryn stated to me.
"Get his ass on the phone right now." I demanded. I watched as she put it down and went to get Brady, he came out and lifted the phone.
"Hey Hunt!" Brady greeted.
"Cut the shit. I know what you did, I was watching cameras from my phone. She told you to stop touching her and you didn't listen, that's sexual harrassment. Offense punishable by law if she presses charges. I warned you once before not to do it again. No warning this time, you're terminated. Clock out, get your personal belongings, and get out of the building now. You have five minutes or I'll call the police myself," I stated firmly. He didn't say anything more, I watched him put the phone down and grab his bag from under the counter then leave through the side door, get in his car and drive off. Kathryn picked the phone back up.
"I can't...be here by myself...and what if he comes back?" she said with worry.
"I'll call Gabe to come in and help until third shift starts at midnight. He won't come back, I told him I'd call the police. Take a few breaths and sit down with some water. I'll be watching cameras the whole time, you're safe. I promise, soldier's honor." I hung up and then I sighed heavily putting the phone down after sending a text to another employee and sucking back the rest of my gin and tonic. Even when I wasn't at work...I was working.
"You sure you don't want a drink, Amy?" Heather asked with a smile.
"One won't hurt you, stop worrying so much. We know you have class and that's why you're hesitating. Hunter has class tomorrow and he's had two shots, a beer, soco and coke, and just finished off that gin and tonic. He's gonna be hungover as hell tomorrow morning," Cassandra giggled.
"Pfft, so much faith in me. I'll have you know I get drunk almost every night, and rarely allow myself the hangover in the morning. I've got a fix-it-all cure," I chuckled.
"Please wise leader, inform us..." Daniel stated.
"Water bottle before going to sleep. In the morning: eat a piece of bread, take a hot shower, eat another piece of bread, drink a can of sprite with two aspirins. Be good as new within the hour." I enlightened them.
"Huh, never tried that before. And you don't throw up at all?" Heather said, I shook my head no.
"See, you're good, Amy. Hunter has the hangover cure, have a little fun with us since you're here and your...obvious bodyguard isn't gonna let anything happen to you," a few of them chuckled.
"Very funny guys. I'm not her body guard, just a good friend." I remarked.
"Yeah, Hunter. Good friend who marched right up to that guy and said: keep your fucking hands off my girl, the proceeded to take a beating, and throw him against the wall and tell him to stay away from, and I quote 'my girl' again." Cassandra reminded, I put my hand up to protest but shut my mouth. She had me there. I didn't care what I'd referred to Amy as, I wasn't gonna let those scumbags have their way with her.
{Normal POV}
"Well, I say she has to at least have one drink with us girls. It's nice having another female friend among us," Heather smiled.
"I-I don't know...I've never drank before..." Amy said. "And I didn't bring my wallet, only my ID." she added with a slight blush. Hunter chuckled as he got up and moved to the bar and ordered something else, he returned three minutes later with a beer for himself and set another one down in front of Amy. "What's that?"
"Sex on the beach, girl drink for you." Hunter sat back down and sipped his own drink.
"But...I didn't order a drink?" Amy told him.
"I know you didn't. I ordered it for you when I got mine. Just try it will you. It's fruity, you'll like it. Trust me, have I ever given you reason not too?" Hunter asked her, she shook her head as he motioned for her to try it. Amy lifted it to her lips and tried a sip.
"Wow...that's actually really good. What's in it, tastes like fruit punch." Amy asked looking at him now.
"It basically is only with alcohol in it. Sex on the beach is made with: Vodka, Cranberry juice, Peach schnapps, and Orange juice." Hunter said with a smile.
"Well, that's fine and dandy, Hunter, but I just told you I didn't bring my wallet with me..." Amy reminded.
"It's on me, just shut up and enjoy it. Geeze, stop being such a worry wart. You're safe here," Hunter sighed some.
"How do you know?" Amy asked.
Hunter opened his eyes and looked at her now, "Because you have me to protect you, stupid." Hunter stated firmly. Amy blushed a deep shade of red as Hunter chuckled, "You're really cute when you blush," that only made the blush worse as Hunter sipped his drink again.
"So, our of curiosity here...what are you drinking?" Cassandra asked.
"This. It's called a Godfather Made with Scottish Whiskey or Bourbon and Amaretto," Hunter replied.
"Never heard of it," Glenn said.
"Really? I love it, really strong and tastes amazing." Hunter shrugged a bit as he saw his phone light up with a text from Gabe: Kat goin home, she was throwin up when I got here -Gabe. Hunter opened the message and typed back: She driving herself or getting a ride? -Hunt. After a second or two another message came in. Her bro getting her -Gabe. Hunter sighed some before replying with: Tell her I said feel better. Thanks, Gabe. See you tomorrow night, -Hunt. He put the phone in his pocket after that and continued to drink.
"Oh! I love this song. Come on, Heather! Wanna join, Amy?" Cassandra squealed getting up and grabbing Heather's hand. Amy shrugged as she put her drink down and joined them in the open area now dancing with them to LMAFO's Party Rock Anthem. The guys looked over to watch the girls enjoy themselves, Hunter smiled softly watching Amy dance with Heather and Cassandra.
"Why don't you go talk to her, Hunter..." Axel suggested.
"What for, doesn't change how I feel about the arrangement." Hunter said.
"For starters, you're staring at her like a lovesick puppy who just got his balls snipped..." Daniel stated as his friends began to laugh and Hunter turned his head shooting a glare at him, "Sorry," he said quickly.
"Ignore the drunks," Sam sighed.
"Go talk to her because you love her and you're making yourself miserable with her not in your life," Eric sighed.
"Yeah, I am miserable without her. Pretty sure I started drinking more after I told her I was walking away to protect her. At least she's safe, that's all I care about." Hunter replied.
"There's no reason for you not to be happy, Hunter. Especially after all you've been through, even with all you told her about your past...she's stuck by you because she loves you as much as you love her. You know this is eating at you and you want her in your life as your girlfriend," Timothy told him calmly.
"I want her safe, I'll give all the happiness in the world for that..." Hunter sighed finishing his drink quickly and got a little lightheaded from it. Maybe the alcohol was starting to get to him, he'd had a lot tonight and in only two hours.
"Lad, you can keep her safe and be with her. Just look at what you did earlier when she was in trouble, that guy called you out on not really being her boyfriend and you still called Amy your girlfriend, you threatened him for just touching her wrist. You could have easily told him to screw off because if a girl says no then it's no. But you didn't, your protective instinct kicked in and you made sure she is now safe the rest of the night. You had no hesitation in calling her your girl, and reacted as soon as she was touched." Axel reminded.
"And as I told ya before...the safest place she can ever be is with you. Stop fighting your feelings, Hunter. Let yourself be happy, you deserve to be." Glenn added. Hunter closed his eyes getting one of his cigarettes and putting it between his lips, he got up with a sigh.
"I need to think..." Hunter finally said before heading for the exit of the bar, once outside they saw him light the tip and leaned there against the window to smoke.
"He knows he wants to be with her, he's just scared she'll get hurt. He feels like he can't love because of what happened with Chloe. Not saying he's worried Amy would kill herself, but at the same time he feels anyone who gets close to him now will get hurt some way or another. In example, Hunter started falling for Amy and she for him. Her father found out and raped her over it, Hunter feels like it's his fault and he's still trying to protect her from a distance..." Sam stated.
"He's stubborn and hardheaded is what he is," Daniel mumbled.
"But he always has been," Timothy added. The girls returned after the song was over and Amy looked for Hunter, Glenn pointed outside to where he was standing with a cigarette between his fingers. He was out there a good ten minutes, and then they saw a girl standing with him and smiling, lightly touching his shoulder to rub his arm.
"Who is that girl with him?" Heather asked.
"Don't know, never seen her before. She must know him though, bein' awfully friendly." Eric stated. Finally, Hunter walked back in and the girl was following him: black hair and hazel eyes, more on the brown side though.
"For the love of Thor, will you leave me alone!" Hunter grumbled making his way back to the table.
"Aw, come on baby. We haven't seen eachother in forever," the girl tried.
"Well I didn't break up with you to spend more time with you, Becca," Hunter remarked now and she clung to his arm.
"You're not still mad about what happened are you?" the girl, known as Becca now said.
"Damn right I am. You cheated on me as soon as you found out I was missing a leg after we had sex and came down from the drugs. Your words exactly, can't believe I slept with a half a man the next morning after we woke up," Hunter stated, now it made sense to them. This was clearly an ex of Hunter's from when he was doing all those illegal things he mentioned.
"I didn't mean it...it just took me by surprise is all...I-I was high when I cheated on you. I'm sorry, you know I love you." Becca insisted.
"You can go fuck yourself in the deepest pits of hell. I don't love you," Hunter said.
"Oh, so cold...Where's the bad boy I used to know who down for anything. Come on...I got some ecstacy on me, let's go have some fun. You know you wanna let go and relax like you used too...or maybe a joint? Those were your favorite..." Becca smiled.
"Hunter...don't you dare, you what will-" Axel began, but Amy stepped in and placed herself on Hunter's arm-linking her fingers with his.
"I'm sorry, maybe you didn't hear my boyfriend clearly. He said to leave him alone and go fuck yourself," Amy said gently. Hunter's eyes widened a bit and looked at her. What was she doing? Becca put her hands on her hips now and laughed.
"Honey, don't step to me. You're not on my level," Becca retorted.
"Heavens no, sweetie. My Mama didn't raise no cheating slut," Amy responded as Heather and Cassandra highfived one another.
"How dare you call me a slut, you don't even know me." Becca said.
"How dare you make advances on my boyfriend when he said he didn't want your ass," Amy countered.
"Please, I doubt you please him like I did..." Becca said.
"You mean with drugs that enhance your pleasure senses? You must have been pretty bad if you needed that to make him feel good. Difference between you and I, is that I can make him happy without drugs. Oh, and not to mention also...if he were any happy at all with you, he wouldn't have left you, would he have?" Amy said as Hunter's friends gasped in shocked at what she said but smiled never the less. "Come on, babe," she began to pull Hunter towards his chair. Becca grabbed Amy by her braid and got her off Hunter.
"Amy!" Hunter said with worry, however, he was shocked to see Amy fling her head back and hit Becca in the face. Becca released her hair as Amy brought her elbow up and got the side of Becca's face and then crouched down and used her leg to sweep Becca on her back.
Amy now stepped over Becca, a leg on each side as she grabbed a fistful of Becca's hair and brought her up towards Amy's face, being faced with narrowed eyes. "You're right, I'm not on your level-I got one all my own," Amy remarked. "So why don't you step back because you got no game to play here in the big leagues." Amy added. "Last warning bitch. Stay the fuck away from my man. We clear on that?"
"Y-Yes...crystal clear...I'm s-sorry..." Becca whimpered out.
"Good. Get fucking lost," Amy said releasing her and stepping back, Becca rushed out crying. Amy slowly faced Hunter who was staring at her with wide eyes.
"What...the hell was all that?" Hunter asked.
"Earlier...you didn't hesitate to call me your girl and get beat up to save me. And just now...I didn't hesitate to call you my man and kick a bitch's ass to save you. You protect me, I protect you...I thought that's what people in love do," Amy said softly. Hunter's shocked face remained as Amy put her head down, Hunter lifted it again with his hands cupping her cheeks.
"I love you," Hunter said to her.
"I...love you too?" Amy replied a little unsure with how to respond to his words. Without warning, Hunter moved one his his arms around her back and pulled her close against him. Hunter leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a passionate, deep kiss that she melted into. His friends gasped, but smiled nevertheless. Hunter broke the kiss a minute later and smiled at her.
"So...still wanna do this...being together thing? Because if you do...I'd really like to be able to go to school tomorrow with you as my girlfriend, Amy. I'm sorry for the last five weeks of ignoring you. I was scared you would get hurt because of me, but I realized that the only way I can really protect you is if I'm with you. Will you have me?" Hunter asked her.
Amy wanted to cry, the tears formed but didn't fall. "I will, Hunter..." Amy replied hugging him tightly, Hunter breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her back.
"You brought back a side of me I thought I lost, Amy. You make me feel the happiest I've haven't felt in a long time, a light in my dark life...I'll always protect you, I swear that on my life." Hunter said gently.
"I'm only safe when I with you, in these arms." Amy smiled. Hunter kissed her again as his friends began clapping for them. Finally they got him to see the truth and he gave into his feelings, they could see how happy he was right now. They knew there was still a lot going on in that head of his, but this was a good start to helping him recover slowly.