Eventually, Hiccup and Astrid start to pull apart, looking into each other's eyes as they both smile hesitantly at each other. Neither quite lets go of the other, her arms lingering around his neck while his hands rest upon her hips.
"Are you okay…?" the girl asks hesitantly, watching him with a worried gaze.
He nods, smiling warmly at her. "I couldn't be happier," he tells her with heartfelt sincerity. "Are you alright?" He asks, furrowing his brow.
She smirks at his question and chuckles. "I'm fine," she says. Hesitating for a moment, she quickly adds, "Hiccup, I'm sorry I threatened you with…" When her boyfriend puts his fingers to her lips to silence her, she blinks in surprise at him, furrowing her brow slightly. He grins at her.
"It's okay," he answers, "you were scared…"
Pulling his fingers from her lips, she frowns and shakes her head resolutely, "but you only wanted to know because you were worried about me. Just because I was scared didn't give me the right to…"
Sighing in frustration, Hiccup cups her face in his hands, leans in and silences her with a kiss. Astrid squeaks in surprise against his mouth, hesitating for a moment before reluctantly going along with it, her eyes slowly closing. The moments slip by and soon she starts to kiss back more passionately. As he rubs his lips against hers sweetly, she feels the tension slowly start to leave her. Their tongues dance playfully for a while before he pulls away, then rests his forehead against hers, both of them keeping their eyes closed.
"Tell you what," he whispers, stroking her cheeks lovingly. "I'll forgive you if you forgive yourself." She smirks as he asks, "deal?"
Lifting her head to look at him, she watches him for the moment it takes him to open his eyes and stare back at her. She smiles at her lover, nodding.
"Deal," she says happily, her lips curling more at the look of joyful relief on his face.
"I love you, Astrid," Hiccup tells her warmly.
"I love you too," she answers, leaning in for a quick, fleeting kiss.
After a moment's silence as they stare at each other once more, Hiccup says reluctantly, "we should probably go join the others now…"
With a sigh, Astrid nods. "Yeah," she says. She hates pulling out of his arms, but her hand immediately finds his to hold. Smiling widely at him as she turns to go, she falls in beside him as he starts to walk forward.
When he limps alongside her, she stops dead in her tracks, watching him with a shocked expression.
How long has he been limping? How could she have missed that?
"Hiccup, what's wrong with your leg?" she asks urgently, turning to face him as she pulls him to a stop with their joined hands. Quickly she looks him over for any sign of an injury. Had he been shot when they fled, or was this his stump bothering him again?
Sighing heavily, he shakes his head. "It's…nothing, Astrid," he protests, his words making the blonde frown. "I just…irritated my leg when we ran from your father, that's all…"
Astrid's eyes fly wide open at his words, memories suddenly flooding her mind of him hobbling around for weeks on his crutch after their first intimate meeting on their secret island, unable to wear his peg leg.
Before he can get another word in edgewise, she barks at him, "Hiccup, get your weight off that leg, now!"
The boy blinks in surprise at her sudden command and hesitates. "Astrid…" he starts to protest, but his words only draw a deeper scowl out from his girlfriend.
"I mean it, dammit!" she barks loudly at him, squeezing his hand in hers and taking a threatening step closer, her voice carrying in the open space. Hiccup winces at her vice like grip and steps back accordingly, though he realizes he can't get away with her holding onto him. He glances with concern over to where the other teens had gone and only sees the five dragons milling about, but none of their friends. Off in the distance at the tree line, he can make out Ruffnutt and Fishlegs, the two gathering wood for the firepit. By the looks of it, they stopped what they were doing at the sound of her voice and are now watching them from afar.
"HEY!" his girlfriend yells, punching him on the shoulder with her free hand and so drawing his attention back to her. "I'm not kidding, weight off that leg!"
Grunting in pain at the blow, Hiccup finally follows her order, lifting his peg leg off the ground. To keep his balance, he's forced to put his hands upon her shoulders. For some reason, he's surprised when she puts her hands on either side of his waist to help steady him. Her grip is firm, yet affectionately tender.
"How badly does it hurt?" she asks sternly, though her voice has a deep undercurrent of heartfelt concern. She watches him sharply for his answer. Under her intense scrutiny, he suddenly feels compelled to be honest and stop downplaying how he feels.
"It…burns when I put weight on it," he says in a defeated tone, looking down, "and it was…throbbing towards the end of all our running…" Astrid scowls all the more at his answer, sighing heavily.
"Okay, you're not walking on it again today, that's for sure," she says firmly. After watching him for another moment, she then turns her back to him. He almost loses his balance as she moves, but quickly grasps her shoulders again to keep himself on his one foot.
"Hop on," she says expectantly.
He blinks in shock, his jaw hanging open. "Astrid…" he starts to protest, but she looks back over her shoulder with a warning glare.
"Did you want another punch?" She asks, "because as Thor is my witness, I will not hesitate…!"
With a defeated sigh, Hiccup answers bitterly, "FINE." His girlfriend scowls again, but says nothing. She looks forward as he wraps his arms around her neck, gripping firmly.
"You ready?" he asks in a grumpy voice.
"Jump on," she says without hesitation, sounding just as annoyed.
Hiccup sighs again, then readies himself and jumps with his one good leg while gripping Astrid tightly about the neck. Without missing a beat, the girl catches his legs as he grips them around her waist. Both teens grunt and grumble as she hefts and shifts him into a more comfortable position while he fidgets on her back. After they both find a position that's more or less comfortable, she starts walking over to where their dragons are gathered, carrying him resolutely.
The trip is a short one, no more than thirty paces, but it seems like a mile to Hiccup. His cheeks burn as he feels the indignity of being carried around like an invalid. Not that he doesn't want his girlfriend to help him, of course. He's actually thrilled that she cares for him so much.
He just wishes it wasn't something so fundamental and demeaning as walking that he keeps needing help with.
Astrid stops as she reaches where their reptilian companions are lounging. "Is this where we're going to set up camp?" she asks.
Hiccup looks around. They stand in the middle of a rather large, flat expanse of rock, an island of level surface in a sea of otherwise craggy and even sharp stone formations.
"Yeah," he says, "this is probably the best place."
Without another word, she lets his legs down, but turns around to face him as soon as she hears his one boot hit. "Leg up," she commands him, not even giving him the chance to do it on his own. Her boyfriend scowls at her but obeys, lifting his peg leg slightly off the ground. To balance himself, he again keeps his hands on Astrid's shoulders. As he waits for her next command, he glares irritably at her.
"Okay, let's sit you down," she says more gently, gripping his waist and slowly starting to lower herself. Hiccup sighs but obeys without dispute, easing himself down at the same pace while leaning heavily on her. Astrid flicks her gaze back and forth between watching his foot and looking at his face, her expression a mixture of stern command and deep concern for him.
After a few moments, the two are sitting on the rock facing each other, alone except that they are surrounded by the five dragons of the group. Fishlegs and Ruffnutt can still be seen off at the tree line, gathering firewood. The sound of the waves crashing against the nearby shoreline can be heard in the gap of words as the sun slowly makes its way towards the horizon in its late afternoon procession.
"Okay," she says, slowly withdrawing her hands from his waist as he removes his hands from her shoulders. Watching his face intently, she hesitates and then says, "I…want to look at your leg, Hiccup."
Frowning at her words, he pauses for only a moment in surprise, but then shakes his head, his cheeks turning red. "No way," he starts to protest, but she cuts him off.
"Why not?" she asks bitterly, glaring sternly at him again.
"Because, it's…" he pauses, his expression scrunching up in awkward embarrassment while he tries to find the words, "it's…kinda private…"
"Seriously?!" she asks in disbelief. "Hiccup, I've seen your cock!" A small part of her giggles inside as he looks at her in shock and blushes a bright red at her words as his jaw drops open, but she's too angry with him right now to pay that any mind. Instead, she presses on. "Hell, I've stroked your cock, put your cock in my mouth and made you cum all over my face…! A few times!" Her boyfriend gets all the more squeamish at her words and her volume, blushing furiously while glancing nervously over at where Ruffnutt and Fishlegs are gathering firewood.
He's almost certain they didn't hear her.
Maybe.
"Look," she says, exasperated, turning her attention to his fake leg, "you don't really have a choice in this. You're hurt and somebody needs to look at it." He opens his mouth to protest again, but she keeps talking while investigating the straps that hold it in place. "Since we can't go back to Berk to have Gothi do it, I nominate myself." As she finishes speaking, she proceeds to start unbuckling his leg, frowning bitterly.
Hiccup tries to come up with an argument to her point, but finds himself unable to do so. With a sigh, he resigns himself to doing nothing more than watching her work. He even leans back, putting his hands on the cold rock they sit on so he can lift his leg slightly for her.
As she undoes the last strap, she hesitates, glancing up at him.
"Should I…just…pull it off?" she asks with an uncharacteristic uncertainty. He lifts an eyebrow at her, so she adds awkwardly, "I mean…will it…hurt…if I…just pull it off…?"
He grins at her, feeling appreciative at her concern and amused at her sudden change in demeanor. "It should be fine," he tells her, so she hesitantly grips his leg and gingerly starts to pull. "If it hurts when you pull it off, then I'm in pretty bad shape." At his words, she looks at him in alarm, quickly letting go of his leg as if it were hot to the touch.
He chuckles at her anxiety, smirking and shaking his head. "Go ahead, Astrid," he tells her, "I don't think it's that bad."
Giving a small sigh of relief, she smiles sheepishly at him and then starts to pull his leg off in earnest. As she does, he realizes that he's glad she's doing this. It feels comforting to be looked after, even if he is nervous and insecure about her seeing his stump. In spite of his discomfort, the intimacy of sharing this part of himself with her makes him feel closer to her than ever.
For her part, however, she's too stressed out by removing his leg and worried about how hurt he might be to feel much of the connection that her boyfriend feels right now. She watches intently as the leather coupling falls away to reveal his bare stump, a few inches of flesh exposed below his shortened pant leg. The end is somewhat gnarled, a series of scars and wrinkled flesh from how he lost that part of his limb. Not knowing how it looks when it's healthy, she nonetheless surmises that the angry looking redness and heat rashes that she sees all over the bottom of his stump aren't good signs.
Still, at least he doesn't seem to be bleeding. She remembers him describing that as part of his last injury from back on their island.
Glancing up at her lover, she makes eye contact for a moment, hesitating as she reaches forward to touch his stump. He smiles encouragingly at her, so she looks back down at the bare bottom of his leg and places her fingers upon his flesh. At her touch, he jumps a little and gasps, so she quickly pulls her hands away.
"Did I hurt you?" she asks urgently, looking at him again with concern.
Shaking his head, he explains, "No. Your…fingers are cold, that's all."
She chuckles and smirks at him, meeting his gaze as he grins playfully at her. Shaking her head ruefully, she looks back down at his leg and touches him more firmly, ignoring when he jumps again at her apparently chilly touch.
"Does it hurt when I touch you?" She asks again, pressing her fingers more as she feels about, trying to assess how badly he's hurt. Part of her feels like she doesn't know what she's doing, but she reminds herself that she's no stranger to wounds. Surely this isn't all that different than any other part of the body that can be rubbed sore or cut and made to bleed.
Again he shakes his head, closing his eyes as he answers. "No, it…actually feels good," he explains wistfully, his lips lifting into a slight smile. She lifts her gaze briefly to look at him with a smirk as she continues to feel his leg. "How does it look to you?" he asks, not knowing how she just looked at him, his smile growing as she continues to touch him.
"Like you've irritated it by pushing yourself too much," she answers in a chiding tone as she returns her attention to his wounded flesh. He opens his eyes to look at her with an annoyed glance.
"I didn't really have a choice about that, you know," he reminds her. She sighs, nodding.
"I know," she admits in an apologetic tone. "I guess we should be thankful that it's not any worse…" He grunts in agreement.
After a few moments of silence, she speaks again. "Well, you're not bleeding, but it…definitely looks raw and chaffed. You've got to stay off your peg leg, probably don't even wear it…at least until tomorrow."
HIccup sighs, "this could be a problem…"
"I know," she answers hastily and with an undercurrent of worry as she looks back up at him with a concerned gaze, "but I don't know what else to do…"
Furrowing his brow thoughtfully for a moment, he sighs and then asks her, "could you go get my bag from Toothless' saddle?"
Looking at him with a measure of confusion, the girl hesitates for only a moment before she nods and gets up to do as he asked. Walking over to Toothless, she smiles at him and talks pleasantly to the sleek black dragon as he gets excited at her approach. Taking a few moments to stroke and rub his head, laughing softly as the dragon leans into her appreciatively, she then moves to untie not only her boyfriend's bag but also the bedding that he brought with him and the two dead rabbits as well.
She walks back over to him, then sets the bedding and carcasses to the side while she puts the bag down in front of him. Hiccup takes the sack, opens it, then rummages around for a few moments before pulling out a smaller leather pouch.
"What is that?" Astrid asks, furrowing her brow.
"Something Gothi gave me for my leg," he explains, pulling it open, then holding it out for her to see.
Taking the pouch, she looks inside briefly only to pull her head away quickly. "Ugh!" She grimaces, holding the bag out for him to take back. "It stinks! What is it?!"
Chuckling, Hiccup answers as he takes it back, "it's a cream she gave me to apply to my leg to help it heal and stay healthy."
Frowning, she looks at the bag suspiciously, "I think it's turned sour, babe…"
Smirking, he shakes his head, "no, that's what it smells like all the time." Astrid looks at him in disbelief, causing him to smirk all the more. "Yeah, that's what I said at first…"
"Is that why you weren't wearing it?" she asks, scowling as he dips his hand into the bag.
Glancing up at her as he measures out a large dollop on his fingers and then starts to apply it to his stump, he answers, "partly. I also just haven't needed it since Gothi said I was healed enough to use my leg."
Astrid watches quietly as he smears the stinky cream all over the end of his stump. "Well, at least you brought it with you," she comments quietly. He looks at her briefly again, smirking at the look on her face.
Nodding, he answers, "yeah, it'll help me heal faster tonight, that's for sure." With that, he reaches into the larger sack and fishes around before pulling out a couple of white rags. Seeing Astrid eyeing what he does, he explains without being asked, "bandages. This should help protect it, and help with the stink."
Nodding, she looks down at his leg, looking at it thoughtfully. "You missed a few spots," she comments critically. He shrugs as he starts to fold up the bandages, readying them to apply while also cleaning his hand in the process.
"Best I can do. It's difficult when you can't see it," he comments indifferently. The girl frowns at his answer, flicking an annoyed glance at him before studying his stump again.
When Astrid reaches over to take the leather pouch from where he left it next to him, he blinks in surprise. "What're you…?" he starts to ask, but then falls silent when she opens the bag. Watching with a measure of amusement, he grins when she hesitates as the smell wafts over her. His girlfriend then grits her teeth and dips her hand into the pouch, frowning bitterly when she scoops out some of the strange paste.
Hiccup's smile sweetens as he watches her apply more of the medicine to his stump. He can't help but shiver at the feel of her applying the cream, which feels cool to his skin. She doesn't hesitate to smear the medicine all over his wound, in spite of his reaction or the stink.
"If you're going to do it," she mutters as she very diligently applies the portion she took, "you should do it right." Hiccup watches her with an adoring gaze, smiling warmly at the sight.
After a few moments, she appears satisfied with her work. Glancing at her boyfriend, she holds out her other hand. He furrows his brow in confusion, but when she frowns and snatches the bandages from his grasp, he chuckles in understanding.
After she wipes her hand clean as she saw him do, she sets about applying the folded bandage to his leg. The girl wraps his stump with meticulous care, studiously applying the cloth so it covers the exposed flesh beneath his pant leg.
Again, Hiccup feels very close to his girlfriend as she tends to him so affectionately. He silently whispers a prayer of thanks to every God he can think of for putting her into his life like this.
When she finishes her work, tying off the clothe bandages, Astrid nods approvingly. "That's better," she says with satisfaction, taking one last look before she lifts her gaze to his again. When's he sees the adoring look he's giving her, she hesitates.
"What…?" She asks, furrowing her brow in uncertainty as to what's on his mind.
Smiling, he reaches out to grab her behind her neck, pulls her to him as he leans in, then presses his lips to hers. Astrid coos in surprise at first, but quickly surrenders to kiss him affectionately. They linger, enjoying the intimacy of the moment, pleasing one another sweetly with tender caresses and playful tongues.
"Yuck! What's that smell?!"
Ruffnutt's loud, irritated voice causes the lovers to smirk as they reluctantly end the kiss. Resting their foreheads together, they chuckle together for a moment, then glance into each other's eyes before they finally turn their attention to their returning friends.
Halvar grumbles at the banging on his door. He had finished his work early on this fine Thursday afternoon, and had no interest in seeing anyone else until at least later on Saturday.
"What d'ya want?" He snarls as the pounding continues. Throwing open the door, he opens his mouth to curse the fool that dared disturb him, only for the words to die upon his lips.
"Thorsten!" He barks in shock, his tone immediately becoming more subservient and respectful. "What brings you here…?"
Glancing his faithful lackey over, he comments, "We're going to go fishing."
Halvar blinks in surprise. Fishing wasn't something that Thorsten usually did. True, they had gone a few times over the years, but it wasn't something that either of them were particularly eager to do. Hunting was a more typical activity.
"We…are…?" He asks hesitantly, uncertain as to his friend's motivation.
"Yes," Thorsten replies sternly, his tone indicating a severe lack of patience. Blinking in surprise, Halvar hesitates for only a moment more before he quickly steps out of the door, nodding his readiness.
The larger man hesitates for only a moment, looking the other over before he nods curtly and turns to lead him towards the docks.
As they make their way through the village, Halvar finally works up the courage to ask, "why are we…?"
Glancing over his shoulder for a just a moment, Thorsten considers his friend a moment before snorting in amusement. Wrapping his arm around Halvar's neck, he leans in as the two walk and whispers, "I have my reasons…." The smaller man furrows his brow in deep thought As his friend smirks at him. Releasing his grip on Halvar, Thorsten continues walking without missing a step.
Furrowing his brow in confusion, the toady asks, "Why…?"
"I will reveal all when there are fewer ears," Astrid's father intones quietly in a dangerous voice. "Save your questions for after we have cast off. But first, I we have to do something…"
Sensing that his well being depends upon his silence, Halvar says nothing more. He and Thorsten make their way through the streets of Berk towards other houses.
Rangvaldr enters into the audience chamber to meet with Stoic with far less formality than his original visit. He is not announced, nor does he have any men accompanying him. He merely approaches the Hooligan throne, watching the large man that sits atop of it with silent consideration.
"Have you considered my chief's offer?" he asks, lifting a brow.
Stoic regards the other man silently, a considering gaze upon his brow.
"I have," he tells the herald simply.
After a few moments' silence, Rangvaldr asks cautiously, "and…do you have an answer for him…?"
Furrowing his brow, Stoic pauses for a moment, finalizing his decision in his mind.
Then he gives his answer.
