~Oh this is the night, it's a beautiful night~
~And we call it bella notte~
~Look at the skies, they have stars in their eyes~
~On this lovely Bella Notte~
On the outdoor section of a fancy italian restaruant in Berk couples listened to the musicians sing, setting a romantic atmosphere as lovers held hands, stared into each other's eyes, and just enjoyed that wonderful euphoria that came with being in the presence of the one you loved.
And a distance away on the roof of a building two people were fighting.
Fury was engaged in a one on one fight with a super with the ability to turn her skin into a living organic metal. Coupled with her nearly impervious skin came increased strength in all her extremities, making her a match even in his battle suit. The woman wore a skin tight suit of some kind of silvery almost metallic looking material. She also wore boots of the same material, only the heels was thin and ended in a wicked barbed spike. Her face was obsured by a hood and a cowl, only letting out her long black hair which her wore in a thick braid over her shoulder.
Her name was the Steel Dragon. She was neither hero, or villain, instead she flirted somewhere in between.
"I like this song. Don't you?" she asked coyly after falling back against the edge of the building. She glanced back, looking down at the all the lovers and sighing wistfully. A flash of purple made her roll and cartwheel to the side, showcasing her extraordinary agility as she avoided Fury's plasma blasts.
"No. As a matter of fact I don't," Fury said seriously. He stopped firing at her, glaring underneath his helmet as she grinned at him from beneath her cowl, eyes twinkling in mirth. "Now I want the chip you stole from Haddock Industries," he demanded.
Dragon stood up, tapping her chin in thought. "Let me think about that." She suddenly bent her legs and leapt. Fury followed her as she jumped high above his head, higher than any normal human could. And then she came down with her arms cocked back. Fury planted himself before she came down on him.
They crashed through the ceiling, dropping down a few floors before their fight continued. Fury had her in a head lock as they grappled, his suit's strengthing matching her super strength. She growled as she threw herself forward, managing to flip Fury over her shoulder and onto the floor. He rolled out of the way as she punched the tile floor where his helmeted head had been, fist easily smashing the tile and sinking into the floor.
She pulled her fist free and stood up before throwing it forward to punch him. Fury caught her fist with his before grabbing her wrist and then her other arm and whipping her around to slam her into a wall. She laughed in exileration, staring into his helmeted face.
She and Fury had a...strange relationship. They had a sort of cat and mouse game always going on. She'd steal something, he'd chase. They'd fight. She'd get away but return what she'd stolen. She'd sometimes help him fight the Outcasts. Only to dissapear, sometimes with part of the Outcast's foiled heists.
Their fight ended as Fury ensared her with a bola. He took a step back as she slumped down to the floor.
"These are new," she said curiously. "Kinky," she teased as she strained against them.
"Enough games Dragon. The chip."
"Is on it's way back to Haddock Industries as we speak," she revealed. "Should arrive sometime tomorrow. Good old express shipping," she added.
"So you stole, just to give it back?" Fury asked her in confusion.
"I wanted your attention," she said with a shrug. Suddenly her face became serious. With a grunt she strained against the bolas before they snapped, falling to the ground before she stood up. Fury took a step back and got into a battle stance.
"I'm leaving Fury," she revealed.
Fury visibly tensed in surprise. His scanners read her pulse and heart rate. Indicating she wasnt lying. "Oh," was all he could say. He dropped his stance and stood up. An awkward silence hung in the air between them. Fury looked to the ground. A strange sense of dissapoitment and sadness was settling on him.
"Yeah," Dragon said quietly. She leaned back against the wall. "I just thought I should tell you."
"Why?" Fury tried to say non chalantly. "I'm happy to have one less criminal running around my city. No more of these little mind games with you."
"Mind games?" she asked in confusion.
"You know...the flirting and stuff."
She stared at him before cocking her head to the side. "Who said those were games?"
Fury looked up and at her in surprise.
She stared back at him, neither knowing what to do or say. Before Fury could form any words an alert inside his helmet went off. He was getting a police report somewhere downtown. Shot fired. An officer down.
"I guess this is it then," Fury said. "Alert downtown. I gotta-"
"See you later hero," she whispered to him. She approached, stopping to stand before him before leaning in. She kissed him through her cowl, eyes closed, before pulling away and then leaping through the hole in the ceiling they'd created.
The next day Hiccup walked through Haddock Industries, and following him around was a reporter. Her name was Heather. And she'd come to interview him, the new owner of Haddock Industries, about where he planned to take the company. Hiccup was eager to share what he could with her, telling her excitedly how he wanted to change the world.
Heather, the young black haired, woman had been good company during her stay in Berk to interview both him and write about Berk's new hero, Night Fury. They paused for a coffee break, he offered her a cup that she accepted with a smile and a blush. They took a seat across from each other. Hiccup took her in.
She was about his age, a few inches shorter, and by his opinion, very pretty. She wore thick squared spectacles that Hiccup thought made her look cute. She blue jeans and a black shirt and a heavy brown coat with silver patches on its shoulders.
"So Mr. Haddock, how does it feel to know your company is about to become the forerunner of the technological world?"
"Damn good," Hiccup said. She chuckled in amusement as she typed on her tablet device. Hiccup found himself drawn to her. She was witty and funny and daring. She had dreams of going around the word, writing stories as a freelance journalist. With the supers beginning to come back, and with heroes like Frost, Limelight, and Night Fury on the rise there were so many to tell.
She suddenly stopped typing before setting down her tablet. She took her coffee in hand and took a sip. Then she lowered it to her lap, holding it between her hands and staring at it.
"So...I'm leaving tommorrow Hiccup," Heather revealed out of the blue.
Hiccup stiffened up, setting his coffee down. "Oh," he said in response.
"Yeah," she muttered.
"Well I've enjoyed our interviews Heather. I hope you can write a good story," Hiccup said to her honestly.
"Me too," she said with a nod. With one last smile she stood up and grabbed her tablet and purse. "Guess I'll get going."
"Do you want to go out tonight?" Hiccup blurted out. He and Heather stiffened surprise.
"Like one last interview?" Heather asked.
"I was thinking more like a date," Hiccup clarified. "I know it may be bad to mix business and pleasure. But I like you."
Heather stared at him like he were crazy. He was a billionaire. He had models and entrepreneaurs throwing themselves at him. She was just a starting journalist, so far below him in social status it was almost comical.
Hiccup looked up at Heather, watching the indecision dance behind her eyes. He held his breath, hoping she'd say yes. He liked her. More than he'd liked someone in a long time. And the only one who could grab his interest...that didn't run around and steal things.
"I don't have anything fancy to wear," she began.
"I don't care," Hiccup said quickly as he stood up. "I think you're pretty enough as it is." She blushed a red in embarassment.
"Ok. Sure," she said with a nod.
Hiccup smiled wide. He told her about a nice restaruant he wanted to take her to. They agreed to meet there. Hiccup felt an excitement he hadn't in years. As soon as she left the he danced happily on the spot.
He went home, washed, dressed and and waited until driving himself into the city. He stopped, buying a bouquet of roses for Heather. Even if tonight didn't end with anything he just wanted to do something nice for someone.
He arrived at the restaruant, and he paid for an extra nice spot with a glorious view of the city. He requested some fancy wine and waited for his date to arrive.
And he ended waiting all night. For the first two and a half hours he was still hopeful. Then into the third hour he started to have doubts. He drank some wine, glancing around at the other couples as came and went. His hopes began to sink as the fourth hour rolled by. He checked his phone for messages and texts.
As the restaurant began to close Hiccup swallowed deep and stood. He left the rose at the table and went to his car. He sat there, staring out the window. Anger and embarassment spike within him as he slapped his hand down on the steering wheel several times before he screamed out his frustration.
When it passed he drove himself home, feeling stupid, as he entered his big and empty home where no one was waiting for him.
Years later...
Hiccup stared at his newly completed battle suit. It was silver and reminiscent of Knight's armor, but also inspired by someone else.
Suddenly arms wrapped around his neck. He felt a soft pair of lips press into his neck, making him smile.
"It looks good Hiccup," Merida said as she looked the armor up and down before them.
"Thanks."