Fifty Six: Like father, like son
Hiccup's hands tightened on the steering wheel as they sped onto the road, a hand reaching down and playing with the preset and traction settings. Astrid was glaring into the wing mirror and seeing the lorries skid onto the road and roar after them.
"Are they serious?" she asked angrily. "This isn't the wild west or one of those bad thriller movies! They can't just chase you around like they own the place!"
"I suspect technically, he does…well, the land we were on," Hiccup said grimly. "And as for thinking they can do this…well, I believe he did this to the Senior Priest of Odin, who opposed his development here…and before that, to my parents."
She stared at him.
"Like father, like son," he added grimly. "I am meant to die in a tragic car accident-no doubt due to my recklessness in driving a performance SUV in the snow and showing off to my girlfriend…and the mangled wreckage will hide any signs we were shoved off the highway by two huge Thor-damned trucks!"
"Except you know what they are after-and you have me," she said and frowned, then extended her hand. "Give me your phone!" He flicked a surprised look at her.
"Um…hands kinda full right now," he said, accelerating. She frowned then unfastened her safety belt and leaned across him. "Hey!"
"Eyes on the road, mister!" she said firmly, hand dipping into his coat pocket and freeing the smartphone. "Look-yours has a better camera and…well, everything than mine! So let's use it!"
"For what? Calling for help?" he asked, glancing in the rear view mirror. Against reason, the trucks were closing. She straightened up.
"You're right," she said determinedly. "Viggo doesn't like being put under the spotlight. He works in secrecy and manipulates from the shadows. But you are casting the harsh light of scrutiny on him and it's exposing his actions!"
"Not that you're not incredibly poetic, Astrid, but what are you planning?" he asked her as she crawled out of the front and into the back, determinedly peering through the back window.
"What's the code for your phone?" she asked.
"Um…what do you…?" he began.
"HICCUP!"
"00-02-29," he said automatically and she put the number in, accessing the camera and filming the chase. She carefully photographed the license plates, any livery and got images of the drivers as they careened down the hill, speeding through intersections and narrowly missing a tractor and a whole trailer load full of dung. "I'd feel happier if you were strapped in," he told her as she thumbed in the passcode and uploaded the photos to BerkBook.
"You'll just have to make sure that you don't crash us," she said tartly, watching the images slowly upload. Out here in the countryside, there was only one bar and the internet speed was really slow.
"May not have much of a say, to be honest," he admitted as they slowed for a corner-and there were a huge crunch and a jolt as the nearest lorry slammed into their rear fender, Hiccup panicked and floored the gas, the wheels skidding and car slewing on the slippy road. Astrid gasped and Toothless whined in fear as he calmed himself.
Easy, Hiccup. They're relying on you. They've got bulk and momentum and though we're faster, we can't use it as much because the road is slippery. But we do have better roadholding and we can take them where they shouldn't be able to follow.
He glanced in the rear view mirror at the anxious blonde on the back seat.
"Hold onto your ass!" he warned her.
"Rather hold yours," she murmured and then blushed. "And I said that aloud, didn't I?"
"Oh yeah," he smirked. "And my ass and I may hold to you it one day…but for now…this may get bumpy…" And with that, they skidded left and roared down the Breakback Road, the narrow and steep lane that headed for Svartalfheim Road just the intersection with Maelstrom Crescent. It was a road that skimmed a very steep slope and switchbacked down from the hills and he knew it well. The snow still lay thick but he was sure now, emerald eyes hard and focussed as he shot down the track, knowing every bend and bump in the road.
"You and your ass better not get too smug-because they're following!" Astrid yelled, twisting round and snapping pictures with his phone.
"Really? Boy, these guys really don't like me…because this road is way too narrow for a truck!" he called back as the first truck slammed into their rear fender. again They jerked forward and Hiccup had to slam on a right lock to avoid a tree. "And that was mean!"
"Yeah-well, don't complain to me!" Astrid retorted as they swerved round another corner. Toothless whined and pressed against her as they spun round a corner and then skidded, a wheel glancing over a yawning drop before they shot forward. Hiccup flinched, glancing down the slope and seeing a familiar tree to his left…the same one scarred by the impact of his parents' car. Grimly, he jerked the wheel and they shimmied back onto the very narrow road. The first truck sped after them, half-mounting the slope but the second swung wider and with a crunch, the black truck toppled sideways and rolled onto its side, jammed against a thick spruce.
"Gotcha," he murmured.
"Hiccup-did you see?"
"I saw," he said grimly. "But we still got one on our tail!"
The following truck rammed into their rear once more.
"And he's in a hurry," Astrid said, hugging Toothless firmly.
"But he's not as manoeuvrable," Hiccup told her evenly as they accelerated away, slaloming fast and opening a small lead as they slowed for the final narrow portion of the road…only to see the truck ram through the branches after them.
"Has no one told him that?" she asked as they burst onto Svartalfheim and skidded towards town.
"We need people," Hiccup told her urgently. "Think, think…where will be open now?"
"Loki's Mall!" Astrid said suddenly. "They advertise they're open until eight on New Year's Eve. 'The last place you want to shop this year!'"
"And there will be people there…witnesses…" Hiccup said, throwing the car into a right and then slamming his brakes on. The lights were red…and cars were zooming across the carriageway. Glancing over her shoulder, Astrid gasped.
"He's coming…" she noted and Hiccup looked in the rear view mirror.
"And he's not slowing down," he breathed. He means to slam us into the oncoming traffic-and let physics take its course. His foot hovered over the gas pedal as the truck closed. Miraculously the traffic stopped-even though their light was red. But the truck was too close and he could see the determination in the driver's eyes…so Hiccup floored the gas and they leapt forward, swerving to miss a small car jumping the lights and speeding over the road towards the brightly lit haven of the Mall.
But the truck wasn't giving up-as it barrelled through the traffic to a cacophony of horns and screeches as the Jeep skidded into the Mall parking lot and raced towards the brightly lit building. There weren't as many people around as Hiccup had hoped, the majority of cars clustered near the entrance. Skidding, they sped towards the door and glancing over his shoulder, he realised the truck was still racing at them. Astrid was kneeling on the back seat, getting great shots of the Hunter Developments marking, the license and even the driver's face-but Hiccup had skidded to a halt and was leaping out, whistling Toothless-and then he looked back.
"ASTRID!" he yelled and lunged back in, grabbing her and hauling her out, feeling her fight as she snatched her bag and continued to film until he hauled her to the entrance-and the truck crunched into his car, tossing the Jeep into the air and landed crumpled on its side. A score of people turned and watched as the truck circled and turned back at the teens-but they were in the entrance to the Mall and half a dozen cameras were filming. Immediately, the driver turned away and sped out of the parking lot into the dusk, leaving the shaking teens and shaken dog watching.
People crowded round them, checking they were okay and the police and an unnecessary ambulance were called as Astrid phoned her Mom and Hiccup made sure the last pictures were uploaded and emailed to Hoark as well as the video. But his eyes drifted back to his car, the last gift from his father-wrecked and a write off. It was his last means of independence and is was gone.
I'm sorry, Dad, he thought numbly. I-I don't know how I can get up to Raven Point to stop him now. And I lost the car. I-I can never hope to afford the repairs.
He felt Astrid's hand grasp his tightly, feeling her trembling and he wrapped his arms around her, feeling her hug him. Toothless was pressed against his legs, whining.
"Thank you," she murmured. "You saved my life. You were…awesome…"
"Only for you," he mumbled. "You and Toothless are all I have left-and I wasn't letting them take you away from me." He hugged her tighter as the first sirens began to sound. "I'm not allowing him to take anything else away from me." His voice grew more determined. "We'll stop him. I promise."
oOo
It was mid-evening when Marta was allowed to collect them from Berk Police Station after they had made their statements, handed over copies of their videos and pictures (Hiccup refused to allow his phone to leave his sight) and attempted an e-identity photofit of the drivers. While they were waiting, Hiccup had texted Agent Throk of the ABI and sent him the videos with a précis of the chase and the fact that they had only just escaped destruction. And that they had license plates, pictures of the livery and the drivers. And he also really hoped they would stop the police messing up the investigation…through incompetence or deliberate interference.
But Hiccup was wracked by trepidation when Astrid greeted her mother and he stood while she was hugging her daughter, squaring his shoulders and anticipating the recriminations for his driving. But Marta turned to him, seeing him wary-and then she pulled him into a hug. Shocked, completely thrown, he allowed himself to be hugged tightly, eventually relaxing.
"Thank you," Marta said honestly. "For saving my daughter." His eyes widened.
"Um…I thought she was in danger because of me," he said quietly. "She went with me up to Raven Point and I am sure those men were after me…"
"And I wouldn't have let her go if I didn't trust you," Marta pointed out. "I knew you would do everything to protect my daughter. And you did." He quietly nodded.
"I did what Dad couldn't," he admitted softly. "But…I don't think they'll give up, Mrs H. They don't like losing and they don't like witnesses."
"Then you better come home with me tonight," Marta said with a smile.
"But Gobber…" Hiccup began and then sighed. His godfather was out with his friends at Thor's Bar, the drinking hole they frequented and spent every New Year at since they were old enough to officially drink. And, of course, Hiccup was far too young to go to the bar but he hadn't wanted Gobber sitting at home, miserable because he was missing his friends as well as his best friend, Stoick. So he was looking forward to spending the New Year alone with Toothless and a cheap microwave pizza or just a can of beans. He paused as she smiled.
"I will phone him, if you want," she volunteered. "Because I think you need someone there for you…and I'm volunteering…" He stared at her.
"But it was my car…I was supposed to protect her…" he mouthed as Astrid took his hand.
"And you did," she reminded him. "Look, Hiccup-the fact he's tried so hard to kill you, despite all the witnesses, means you're getting to him! And now I have someone to spend New Year with." She smirked. "And your cute dog…" Toothless's ears pricked up.
"Thor, he just knows when you're talking about him, doesn't he?" he groaned. "I-I…"
"We can drop by your home and collect you an overnight bag and then you're coming with us," Marta decided. "No arguments." Emerald eyes glanced at the determined shape of Astrid and smiled.
"Thank you," he managed as she hugged him.
"No one should be alone," she said.
oOo
In fact, Fishlegs, Anna and Kristof all came round as well, for they were all back in Berk and keen to see their friend so Marta cheerfully laid on fizzy drinks, pizzas, burgers and baked potatoes for the impromptu party. Toothless had a wonderful time stealing food off everyone and sitting in every lap available. And Hiccup was helpless with laughter at his antics whenever anyone refused to hand over food, using every ounce of his cuteness to wring treats out of the others.
"I'm so sorry," he apologised. "I think being starved much of his life has made him an awful scrounger…"
"But he's so cute!" Anna laughed, being licked by the grateful Toothless who had just managed to get half a burger off her.
"And come the New Year, he'll be the size of a house!" he groaned. "Bud! Settle down now!" And the dog cast him a regretful look and then came and curled by his legs, his tail wagging gently. Astrid sat on the arm of the couch by Hiccup and glanced at him, As the others chatted, she saw his eyes drift to the window, seeing the snowflakes swirling and just gazing into the darkness.
"You okay, babe?" she asked him, resting an arm around his shoulder, then feeling him lean against her. He shook his head slightly.
"Somewhere out there is a man who wanted us dead," he sighed. "A man who wanted to kill me. Maybe the same man who killed my parents. And I know he will try again. You…you should stay away from me…because I don't want anything to happen to you!" She leaned her head down to rest her cheek on the top of his head.
"Babe-on Christmas Day, you said you loved me," she reminded him. "I know you probably didn't mean to say it…though you did give me a Betrothal Necklace…"
"Thor-I'm never going to hear the end of that," he mumbled, closing his eyes.
"…but I think I love you as well. So I'm not going anywhere, no matter what. So you're stuck with me, Hiccup Haddock-and we will face this down together!" she told him as he sighed and his lips stretched into a smile.
"I really don't deserve you," he admitted.
"Probably not-but you got me, babe-so let's celebrate New Year together," she whispered and he craned his neck to look up into her eyes.
"Thanks, Milady," he replied.
"OOOH!" Fishlegs squeaked. "It's five minutes. Do we all have New Year wishes?" They all nodded and grinned.
"The Championship with my girls," Astrid said seriously. "I want it for us, not just me…"
"Ivy League School," Fishlegs admitted. "I just hope I get in…"
"Engagement," Anna and Kristof said together and laughed as the other stared at them in shock.
"And getting into Archi College together," Kristof added. Then they looked at Hiccup.
"A large part of me wishes for the people who treated me like dirt, who abandoned me an persecute me and made my life miserable…and the people who killed my parents, cheated me out of my home and my inheritance and are crooked and selfish and evil…that part wishes for them to all experience the misery they inflicted on me but tenfold," he said and then took a deep breath. "But I know my Dad would not approve of a son who wished for that and, to be honest, would I want to be the person who wishes such horrible things on others?" He shook his head. "So I will say what my father would have: that I wish for justice to catch up with them and then deal them the penalties that the Norns say they deserve."
He saw Marta nod approvingly and felt a tiny flutter of warmth at her affirmation. Astrid smiled up at him as the countdown began.
"FIVE-FOUR-THREE-TWO-ONE…HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
"Happy New Year, Hiccup," Astrid said as she turned to him even as the others began to sing 'Auld Lang Syne'. He gently cupped her face in his hands.
"Happy New Year, Astrid," he whispered and kissed her to the sounds of fireworks.
