I have a poll up with regards to possible future chapters, PLEASE VOTE! I ASKED NICELY! :D
"Calm, calm, find your happy place. No, don't do that. Find somewhere non-violent and calm, just think of that. Like, uh... uh..." Vadik faltered.
"Toothless's cove." Alastor suggested helpfully. Ingrid scowled at them both and lobbed her axe. Thankfully, away from any living creature, although the two boys couldn't help but feel sorry for the practise dummies she had lined up. "What happened this time anyway?"
"Oh, the usual thick idiots, you know how it is." Ingrid stomped on the handle of a war hammer, snatching it from the air and hurling it straight across the arena. It smashed through target boards and gave a resounding crack against the stone wall. Vadik handed Alastor a shield, keeping his own up before his face. Alastor took a minute to get a proper hold on his shield, eventually hefting it up and propping it on one of the barrels. "When did Mum say Dad will be back?"
"Um... she didn't, but... she went to look for him."
"Who's looking after Aloe then?"
"Fishlegs and Heather. I think they quite enjoy having a non-troublesome Haddock in the house." Vadik smiled. "Quite a rarity if I'm frank with you both."
"You're not Frank, you're Vad." Alastor frowned. "No, wait. I just got that. Ignore that." Vadik grinned cheekily. Alastor had been a little flustered and confused the past couple of days, but no-one really knew why. Although Gobber seemed to have something to do with it. Alastor sighed. "I think I'll head home now, I need a lie down."
"You sound like you've aged fifty years in the last twenty-four hours." Ingrid teased. Her brother just hummed, waving to his Nadder. "You alright, bro?" She felt his forehead just in case.
"'M fine. Tired. I am not cleaning any of this up though." He gestured at the mess she had made. Vadik clapped him on the shoulder.
"I'll handle things here. You go and get some kip, mate, you look like you could use it." Alastor nodded his thanks blearily, scrambling up into the saddle. "He's got that look." Vadik observed happily as soon as the other was gone. Ingrid raised a brow, sharpening her knives against each other. "You know, that totally mystified look when there's a girl involved." This didn't seem to register with her, so he tried again. "That daft look your dad does when your mum's around."
"Oh. Wait... Al can't have a girlfriend!"
"Not gonna lie, but if I was a girl, I wouldn't mind a bit of that." Ingrid snorted and then slapped his arm.
"Vadik!" She scolded. "That's my brother you're talking about, leave him alone!"
"He's adorable though! I just want to squidge his face, he's so... squidgy."
"He's not squidgy, he's... I can't believe I'm having this conversation with you. Leave my brother alone; squidgy or not, Alastor is not going to appreciate being called adorable."
"But he's the only one I can call adorable without having my head ripped off or a six year old clamped to my leg. I know she's only little, but Aloe can definitely pack a punch. Nearly fell down the stairs the other day."
"Yeah, she told me." Ingrid snickered. "Ah, she's a good 'un."
"Because she tried to kill me?"
"Partly."
"That's just... really inconsiderate, why do I even bother with you half the time?"
"Uh, that's pretty obvious, you muttonhead. I am the most fun you are ever going to get out of Berk."
"And you still won't help me get a dragon."
"Tough pigeon."
"Surprise, surprise." Astrid muttered to herself. "I knew I'd find you here!" She called as she landed. Toothless beamed gummily and bounced towards them, chortling merrily. He accepted a scratch under the chin from Astrid before engaging his best friend in a game of tag. Hiccup was sat at the edge of the cliff, legs dangling over the side.
"What took you so long?" He smiled crookedly as she took a seat next to him. His arm went around her waist and she placed her head against his shoulder. "I think we should run away more often." He mumbled into her hair, planting a sweet kiss atop her head. Astrid let a smile tug at her lips.
"Maybe. I quite enjoy the peace and quiet."
"You don't get much of that back on Berk."
"But I like the hustle-bustle too." She continued, rolling her head to look up at him. "Can't say the same about this though." Running a finger along his jawline, over the stubble. Hiccup chuckled and squeezed her playfully. "It looks better from a distance. Like the rest of you."
"Oh, rude!" Astrid shone an angelic look his way, shifting as to play with his hair. Hiccup's gaze travelled over her face, determined to formulate some kind of response, only to dim without inspiration. She tied off a braid and let him fall forward against her shoulder. "I am growing this beard." He defied. Astrid curled her lip distastefully. She still couldn't imagine him with one. He laughed softly, envisioning her response. Astrid squirmed as his breath tickled her neck; his arms went around her and he fell back, mere inches from falling over the edge with her. She could feel his heartbeat against her own, trying to evade any stubble-plagued kisses and plummeting to her death. Laughter rumbled through him, warming her face. "I'm not going to let you fall. I'm not mean like you."
"Mean?" She protested, secretly satisfied at the disappearance of his smile and the look of terror in its place. "I am mean?"
"You've shown traits on occasion." He mumbled apologetically. "I swear, I meant it in the most endearing way-"
"Little bugger! Stormfly!" She called. The Nadder rolled to her feet, standing to attention. "Catch!" And with that, Astrid rolled them both off the cliff. The dragons hollered in alarm and raced after them, both diving off regardless. Astrid pushed herself away from Hiccup, cheering and laughing. Stormfly swept under her, chirping with relief. A shadow rockected past them, Toothless's locked tail causing him distress. Hiccup just stared up at Astrid, highly unimpressed with his arms folded. Toothless managed to catch his rider at the last second, by the one remaining leg, beating his wings to stay airborne. He cooed at his human and then roared up at Astrid, displeased.
"That was one of those traits I was talking about." Hiccup said casually when they regrouped. Toothless growled at Astrid. "Easy, bud." Hiccup soothed. Astrid leaned against Stormfly, watching her husband comfort his Night Fury. "She's just a big meanie, yes she is, we don't need to worry about her, no. We'll beat her in a race any day."
"Ooh, is that a challenge, Haddock?"
"It is indeed, milady. But we'll understand if you're not up to it, what with being second best and all." He grinned slyly as her competitive streak erupted.
"Challenge accepted. First to the Edge wins."
"And the loser?"
"Well, he'll have to get rid of that gods-forsaken beard to start off with."
"Hey, don't put that in air quotes, it's a working progress. Loser has to grant any three requests of the winner, and none of that asking for more requests business, you nearly killed me then too."
"It wasn't like you were moving a mountain."
"Bloody felt like it."
This is a filler chapter for now, I need to bridge some time until the actual idea chapter that'll go back to Ruff and Tuff. Don't forget to vote!
