Hey everyone and welcome to the 25th chapter of Hiccstrid On The Edge! I am going to finish everyone's requests for sure, but please let me know if you want more chapters after that! Leave me ideas! This heart wrencher of a chapter is from a friend of mine. (Will be rated 'T')

- A chapter where Hiccup and Astrid are captured together and are forced to watch each other be tortured and while they are in the same cell, they can't touch or they will be punished.

Okay so I love it. It's intense I know, but I will leave it on a cliffhanger to let you chose what happenes. If you want a part two of this, please let me know and tell me if you want it a happy or sad ending!

You all thought This Is It (chapter 7 & 8) was bad... just wait.

Chapter 25: Behind Your Eyes

Hiccup's P.O.V

The human body is amazing. It can endure so much pain, yet still have the ability to show affection. It can be burned and scarred, and thrown around like a sack of corn. But through it all, it can heal. It becomes stronger with each beating. The body can show so much about a person, however, it is not the gateway to what's on the other side.

Humans cry. A common fact, although it is yet to be deciphered how or exactly, to the root, why. But the tiny droplets of water are much less an emotion, and more of a portal. An entrance to what hides behind. To the root of why. Tears are the gateway to what hides behind eyes. True emotion, directly connected to the brain.

The human brain is even more astounding. It can be abused, tossed around, and can have all known morals flipped around in an instant. Yet, it can still tell right from wrong. Still find the positive in the gloomy reality. And it can recognize and express love through so much hate. The brain and the heart think separately with almost every decision. It is only on one occasion do they think alike. They alone can guide one through separate problems. But together, it seeks only one thing. Even at the most desperate times, the mind truly only desires one thing. Love.

And through all the secrets about ourselves that humans are still in the dark from, this I know for sure.

Astrid's warm body curled up, her nose pressed against the center of my chest. I could feel her soft breath tickle my skin, sending little waves of chills up my back. I scooted down, until we were both submerged by the thick wool blankets that shielded us from the blizzards outside.

My poor hut shook on its stilts from the beating winds and thrashing clumps of snow that coated our vision in a blur of white. But inside, we were warm. Her leggings rubbed gently against my pants, in her attempt to squirm upward to meet me face to face. The tiniest smile tugged at her lips. Her fingers ran across the thick layer of muscle that lined from my stomach to my chest.

"Who knew a talking fishbone could have such muscle?" She whispered, she voice barely a breath. A sweet laugh escaped her throat, it too hushed from the roaring storm outside. I responded with kissing her nose. Her thumb brushed against my skin. The touch was like electricity. It sparked at her finger tips, and spread like wildfire through my veins. No feeling silk or satin, furs or scales, could compare to the skin on skin contact that left you fighting for more.

My eyes opened the thump, thump in my ears started to fade as screams became clear. It was screams of pain. Not physically however. It was shrieks of fear and emotional pain. Both sounds were distinctly different. Another thing I have recently learned about the human body.

"No! No! Leave him alone please!" The words were broken into bits from heavy breathing and more screams. I now realized that the new shrieks were going from me.

I almost couldn't feel the pain that now engraved into my malnurished stomach, as the howls of pleading echoed right through me.

"Enough! Ready to talk yet?" A sinister voice spoke clearly, almost nonchalantly, but you could hear the irritation that burned into his voice. His men turned, their blackened, toothless grins almost sounding as sickening as they looked.

I felt a dry sob stick in my throat as I became dizzy once more, the darkness swirling.

"Not on your life." I huffed out. My chest heaved, breathing becoming more and more of a struggle. I flinched, trying to squeeze my hands through the rough ropes that cut my circulation.

"Looks like it's on your life. Or... hers." He chuckled. He was actually enjoying this! His head turned and the men turned, lashing the whip against the ground for effect. My head bolted upright.

"No! No you stay away from her! You want me, not her! Do your worst to me!" I bellowed, not sure where the strength was coming from. I later realized that it was my heart and head thinking as one.

Two men grabbed her arms, tugging her roughly out of our cell. She gasped in pain and shock. Her lasting amount of strength was used to fight the men that grabbed her waist so tightly she couldn't wiggle free. One of them eyed the other with a disrespecting, nasty grin and sparked fear of what they might just do to her. So help me if they put a hand on her! One of the men raised his eyebrows and glanced down at her his thoughts goin beyond just whipping. They ripped off her shirt. I screamed.

"No! Please take me not her! Nooooo!" My voice was silenced by a smack and an earth shattering scream. While I could not see her clearly, I could hear her.

"No! Stop!" I pleaded. Begged. But it was ignored with another's smack! Astrid screamed again and I could see her in the shadows as they hit her with steaming hot whip. Again and again.

I burst forward, ripping the rope to shreads as the chain holding my leg strained as I came forward in attempts to shield Astrid from the bloodied whip. Strength like that, both mind and body only came once. But that unison between heart and mind, destroyed all consequences.

The man chuckled. "Oh Hiccup..." he hissed. His nose was the only feature on his face not shadowed by the light. It then came to me who he was. Johann.

"Your love will get you killed." He spat. He motioned for the men to release our ropes, allowing us free... well free within our confinement. He knew. He knew my love for Astrid. And Astrid's love for me. He used it against us in a form beyond brutal.

Astrid lurched forward trying to grasp me. Touch me in anyway possible, just to express that she would protect me. Just to express that she also needed to be protected, even if such a thing would never come out of her lips. Johann hissed again, smacking the whip against the bars from his elevated viewing spot. We were in our custom made torture arena. The true torture wasn't supposed to be the things that caused blood and burns.

"Touch him, and you will learn exactly what is worse than death!" She froze and tried to contain her anger. Or perhaps fear. Fear that fueled her raging fire. Johann turned and strode out, his footsteps echoing softly. As soon and his men left, following him like lost puppies, Astrid collapsed. She stretched forward, until her chain was tight. Her body was weak and thin. She shivered with fear and pain and cold. They had ripped her shirt to shreads, whipping her body raw and bloody. Her undergarment still clung to her chest tightly, the white wrapped cloth splattered with blood.

"Hiccup." She wheezed out. I let a groan leave my lips, as my strength to tough it out disappeared. I sat up groggily and crawled over to her. My chain clinked together as it too became tight. On our knees, Astrid's trembling fingers wrapped around mine.

"You need help." She chuckled her head hidden beneath the covers. I lifted the blankets causing a rush of cold air to swarm in. She squealed with laughter as my hands tickled her torso.

"You need to quit being so beautiful." She blushed and rolled her eyes at my dorkness.

"Dork." She whispered as my hand traveled up her side, her pale skin getting gosse bumps from my touch.

"Yeah but I'm your dork." She smiled in response and leaned in until our lips just barely touched. It was the kind of kiss that left you longing for more, but left you in a daze. She pulled away, her eyes bluer than the ocean. I wasn't done. I crashed my lips into hers, her body jumping slightly at the surprise. Her hand ran through my mess of tangled hair. My hand softly tightening my grip on her waist.

Her hands visibly shook as she tenderly placed her finger on my raw skin screaming in pain as the cold air stung the open wounds. Tears welled up in her eyes as I failed to hide my wince.

"What have t-those m-monsters done to you?" She whispered in a trembling voice, that hurt me more than any lash to the chest. She had been through twice the pain as blood owed from her sides and her skin blistered with white burns. I took her fingers, now damp with my blood, and placed the over my heart. Maybe it was because I wanted her that I was still living, breathing to protect her. Maybe it was because I wasnted to make sure I still had my Astrid to protect.

"I'm sorry." I puffed out in a husky voice. She shook her head furrowed her eyebrows. She muffled a please don't as she bushed her thumb against the one patch of skin on my chest that wasn't red.

She sighed and tried her best not to cry. I had never seen her so vulnerable, but they were so close to breaking us. She exhaled shakily and spoke tremulously.

"My mother told me a story. Long ago, before I could understand what love was." She paused, looking me in the eyes. She was searching behind them, looking for a silent answer to her silent question.

"About the sun and moon." Astrid's voice lowered to a calming whisper. I wanted to close my eyes and listen to her peaceful voice. As an escape from the hell we were living in. Maybe that was why she was telling me a story. To ease the pain for both of us. Maybe she was telling it to mean so much more. I nodded for her to continue, the growing giddiness of it meaning so much more.

She but he really lip and glanced around the darkness of our moldy, crumbling cell. Again she breathed, which was a difficult task now, and continued.

"The sun and the moon revolved around the lives of Vikings in every island. While both lived in coexistence, the moon was always overlooked. Everyone loved the sun. He would let their crops grow, and would bring light, happiness, and warmth to the lands. With the sun, days never ended and people were so happy."

She stopped. A single tear rolled down her cheek. I reached forward, wiping it away with my thumb. I whispered for her to continue, shoving my painful groan down my throat again. She glanced around again, nervous that they might find us touching each other again. Last time...

"The moon, however was never seen, as the sun would shine too brightly. But the moon soon fell in love with the sun. She loved that he created life. However, she felt that he would never care for someone who meant nothing to the world. Little did she know, that he loved her. He loved that she was quiet and represented hope that remained unspoken." Her voice quivered and I wondered if in some way, she meant us.

"The sun soon grew sad, as he could not see his beautiful moon as she sat in the background watching, as he brought life to the world." I squeezed her frozen fingers.

"You're freezing." I whispered as I clutched her fingers in my hands. She chuckled and slid further under our mountain of blankets. She curled up into my chest, her face nuzzled into my neck. I kissed the top of her head and slowly unraveled her messily weaved hair. It soon came loose in waves between my fingers. I fait her hand press softly against my stomach, in attempt to warm them up. I brushed my hand down her arm sending a shiver across her body.

"You're not making it much better." She laughed lightly, kissing the tip of my chin.

"He decided that he did not want to be the spotlight, as he wanted his moon to shine through. But she was not as outgoing as he was and came to the life altering decision."

She gulped and leaned her forehead against mine.

"The sun decided that he had to die everyday just to let the moon breathe." A little gasp hitched in my throat. It caused my heart to deflate and burst all at once. I knew that behind her eyes and gently story, that she loved me more than anything, it also meant she was willing to sacrifice herself so I could live. My body ached, not with pain, but with longingness. She slowly started up again.

"The moon was grateful. She now was able to hold the spotlight, lighting the night ever so slightly, just enough to light the path of those who dreamed. And every night, from the million broken pieces of the sun, he would watch his beautiful moon shine, slowly being put back together one star at a time to set the day once again. By their love, he would die every night just to see her rise. And by their love, the stars would come together to fix him again each morning."

Her voice was hushed my her silent sobs, her chest heaving for air, ribs cracking under the pressure. My face became wet with tears of my own as I looked up and into her eyes. Those eyes. At night, they reflected entire galaxies and carried a light, 100 times the sun. I looked at her. That light was dimmed to a melting candle. Even at the most desperate times, the mind truly only desires one thing. Love.

Sobs shook my body as she was just out of my grasp from holding. I wanted to be free again. I wanted to see her smile and laugh. I wanted to kiss her as if the world was ending. I wanted to share my bed, never to be cold again. Johann did this on purpose. He did this to destroy our moon and sun. He did this to destroy our hope and the light that we shared.

But like the sun and moon, our shattered pieces would always mold back into love.

Look at Hiccup throwing some philosophy at the beginning! Anyway, sorry it's so violently depressing, but I wanted some Hiccstrid angst that left you handing on a branch. Let me know if you want a part 2! Until next time,

-Daisy