TWENTY TWO:
The rest of the week settled into more of a routine. Snotlout remained a presence in the Hallway, his crowd of hangers-on diminished but-as Tuffnut pointed out-there were always kids lonely or stupid enough to want to listen even to someone of Snotlout's faded glory. What was telling, though, was that Eret, Thuggory and the rest of the Football team blanked him, even when he attended practices 'for support' and to offer unnecessary advice. The Coaches watched the interaction but they allowed him to continue to attend, since they had been asked by Spitelout and they hoped that peer support for the injured team member may help him with his adjustment to not being a team member any more. Stubbornly thick-skinned, Snotlout ignored their blanking of him and continued to pretend he was still one of the Team.
More and more eyes turned to the remaining members of the 'Queen Bee' club and Heather, Astrid and Ruff stepped up as leaders of the year. Astrid, especially, had won a lot of admiration for her decisive actions and compassion in the 'Staircase Incident' which had showed her true leadership qualities. A number of younger girls had approached her timidly and asked how she had learned to care for the injured students and how to react in a crisis, and she had honestly explained how she had gathered the information. She spared time for anyone who wanted to ask for advice and was garnering a lot of admiration for her style as well. Heather was more relaxed and mirrored her friend's support for younger girls. She was a little more sparky and her witty and dry remarks won her a lot of friends. Ruff was Ruff-idiosyncratic and smart, devoted to her brother and friends and a demon with hair, make-up and completely off-the-wall styles. And there was definitely a section of the female population of the school who wanted a role model who wasn't conventional and idolised the female twin.
Hiccup, Fishlegs and Tuff remained who they were, offering tutoring and following their own interests-though they relished time with their friends. Fishlegs had asked Heather out on a proper date to the pizza and they had a wonderful time over a vegetarian pizza and six orders of garlic bread. Hiccup had also tried a date with Astrid, choosing to take her to the latest 'action' movie where they had managed to grab a back-row pair of seats and split a large bucket of sweet'n'salty popcorn. They had tried to lose themselves in the story but every so often, they would pick out something from the production that they recognised from 'Son of Odin' and they had started giggling. Especially when in the final climactic scene, there were some major continuity issues with the heroine's hair style that changed three times during the course of the action. There had been various shushes and looks but they had tried to smother their laughs.
"You remember how Helga the hairdresser was so anal that every hair was in the same place?" Astrid had whispered. "She was obsessive about her polaroids…"
"I wouldn't know since all I had to do was the 'dragged through a battle backwards' look, which I use every day anyway!" Hiccup replied with a grin, scooping the few remaining kernels at the bottom of the bucket. She swatted his shoulder.
"It looks good on you," she murmured. "Unlike that ridiculous 'do' they have for Mr Hero here…"
"SHHHH!"
They shared a look and smothered another giggle, snuggling close for the remainder of the film. But afterwards, they had walked out, hand in hand and Astrid had looked thoughtful.
"What do you think they'll say about us?" she murmured. Emerald eyes flicked over to inspect her troubled face.
"What do you mean?" he asked, already guessing.
"Will they be laughing at me, pretending to be a Valkyrie?" she asked him softly. He stopped and forced her to look into his face.
"Astrid-I can say without hesitation or any fear of contradiction that you ARE a Valkyrie. Really. There was no one there who would disagree, no one who wasn't blown away by your performance. You were amazing-as you are anyway, just wanted to get that in for the record-and you were so good that Dane-not Finn-insisted on bolstering your part because you had such screen presence." He reached up to cup her cheek. "These guys are professionals. Your Uncle's Production company, Fearless Films, has a hatful of awards and they wouldn't jeopardise a multimillion dollar production just to make you feel good. They wanted you because you were so good. And soon the entire world will see what I and they saw: that Astrid Hofferson is the Valkyrie!"
And then he leaned forward and kissed her passionately, his lips moving urgently over hers and his hand cupping her cheek. She melted into his body, arms sliding around his neck and hanging on until she had to pull back, gasping for breath. Her eyes were soft with surprise and delight.
"Wow," she murmured. "That was…intense." He smiled.
"Not so bad for one-legged skinny Viking," he murmured softly. "Too much?" She pecked a quick kiss on the cheek.
"No-precisely enough for me!" she told him smugly and twined her hand around his. "Now I believe that you owe me a hot chocolate…" He chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I knew it-you only go out with me for your chocolate habit," he sighed.
"Which you created," she pointed out as they headed for the car park where Stoick was waiting to collect them. "Did the crime-you gotta do the time, Babe…"
"And that would be my pleasure," he smiled as they headed home.
The next week flew past as well and Hiccup, Fishlegs and Tuffnut asked the girls to come with them to 'the Muttonhead's Bar', a favourite venue for the Seniors that regularly had live music, open mikes and karaoke. Astrid knew that Hiccup was planning something because he was twitchy and anxious but she knew that it wasn't anything bad. She trusted Hiccup implicitly not to hurt her-but she was curious. Yet all three boys were close-lipped and the girl found herself curious and a little frustrated. But her mother was very philosophical.
"When a guy you're going out with is planning a surprise, it means he's putting a lot of effort into it so you owe him to accept it as the special gift it is," she reminded her. "Hiccup is a genuine young man and he is obviously planning you a special surprise."
"When a man plans a surprise for a young woman, she clearly means a lot to him," Finn piped up from the other side of the table, his lips lifted in interest at her tone. "Though I think you already know that." Astrid nodded. "Just consider-you have taken him for some amazing surprise trips-and as a result, he has been in a movie and met people that he would never have imagined he would have the opportunity to. This is his attempt to treat you to a similar surprise. Do him the honour of allowing him to surprise you-and take it in good grace. Because one thing I can tell you-someone like Hiccup Haddock doesn't come round every day." Ingrid was nodding in agreement and Astrid sighed.
"I know," she sighed. "But I hate people having secrets. Because over the last few years, secrets have usually meant people doing something mean to me…"
"Honey, Hiccup would never harm you," Ingrid assured her. "And I want a detailed description of what he does…because then I can rate him against how well Ivan did. Your father was a sap when he wanted to be and he was a great one for the romantic gesture." She smiled. "Treasure surprises because you never know when life will throw you a curve ball." Astrid shrugged.
"Had too many of those already," she murmured. And then she smiled. "But sometimes they also give you good surprises…" Her blue eyes flicked up to inspect her uncle, the similarity to his dead brother making his heart ache. "Thanks. I guess I'll just have to work on my patience…"
"Not your strongest suit, my love," her mother murmured, rising to hug her-then dragging Finn into a family hug. "Just be ready to punch him in the arm if he messes up." Astrid smiled then.
"I can do that," she smirked.
She was ready an hour early for when Hiccup picked her up to take her for the date, carefully dressed in dark blue slim-fit jeans, sparkly white camisole top and a loose azure silk blouse over with strappy gold heels. Her hair was loose over her shoulders, two thin braids trailing back from her temples and joining at the back. Hiccup was in his skinny black jeans and a dark red shirt, his hair as untameable as ever and a bright smile on his handsome face.
"Your chariot awaits, Milady," he smiled as he escorted her to his car. Being able to drive again had been a huge relief and had made organising the surprise so much easier-especially since the owner of the Bar-Ack Ack-was a close friend of Gobber who had been more than willing to help Hiccup treat his girlfriend. And his friends had been happy to help in the planning. So Astrid smiled and clambered in, watching him shift into gear and pull away safely, his eyes focussed and face set. A small flutter of warmth ran through her chest: the decisive and determined Hiccup was one she saw less frequently but he was an attractive and appealing prospect. His eyes flicked briefly over to her.
"What?" she asked.
"Is everything okay?" he asked her, looking back at the road. "You're inspecting me like I've grown another head…which I'm sure I would have noticed…" She smiled.
"I'm just interested at what you've got planned," she admitted. "I'm sorry I've been grumpy…because surprises haven't usually been good ones recently. But I trust you…and I've never had a boyfriend plan a surprise for me before…" Hiccup smiled then, his eyes twinkling.
"I hope I don't disappoint then," he murmured. "Wow. No pressure. At all!" She smiled at the instinctive sarcasm.
"You know…I don't think you will," she murmured as they pulled into the car park and stopped. "Because you've planned this as carefully as anything your Dad did for Berk or Finn for Fearless Films…"
"Because when you care for something with all your heart, you put everything into it," he told her, switching off the engine. "You ready?" She nodded, suddenly the eager girl. She bounced up and down in the seat.
"Yes please!" she grinned and scrambled out. She grabbed his hand and almost hauled him in, pausing at the doorway as she gazed into the Bar. Of course, she hadn't ever had any reason to come before, with her formerly outcast status and lack of friends and she paused. The decor was average, with wooden walls and a scrubbed floor. There were Berkian sheep and yak pictures on the walls, framed photographs of friends of the bar-including a huge smiling picture of Stoick and Gobber, clanking tankards of mead -and various Viking motifs. But the wooden bar was clean and well-maintained and the stages were set up and ready. Tables and booths were filling up and the twins, Heather and Fishlegs were already ensconced at a six-seater booth with two places ready. There were wings, potato skins, nachos, melting cheese bites, cheesy jalapeño bites and a pitcher of cola waiting-though the twins' faces were already smeared with extra-spicy chicken wing sauce.
"Hey guys!" Fishlegs called and the couple sped over, sliding into their seats and tucking into the treats. Astrid nudged Hiccup who saw Gobber sitting on a stool at the Bar, winking and waving a tankard of mead. Beside him was a very short, hairy man who was explaining something patiently to a much larger man with a long blond beard and a simple expression on his face and Mr Shepherd, the Zoology teacher. At the Bar, a blond man with a full blond beard was rolling his eyes and debating with his customers. Mr Shepherd was complaining in a high pitched voice about the sheep-roaming laws in Berk to anyone who would listen. Gobber winked again and then turned back to join the discussion. Hiccup rolled his eyes.
"I asked him not to come," he mumbled. "Ever since Dad let slip about the plans, I knew he would turn up. Oh Gods…" He grabbed a handful of Nachos and downed them, then glanced at his friends. "Ready?" Tuff winked.
"I think the Meatlug wants to go first," he commented as Fishlegs blushed scarlet. Hiccup smiled, his mouth quirking up to one side.
"Fish?" he asked and the husky teen nodded.
"If you don't mind…" he gabbled. "I don't mean to muscle in…"
"Though you could do, big boy," Ruff noted teasingly.
"Fish-you're my friend and I am more than happy to stand aside for you to go first," Hiccup told her as Astrid gently punched his arm.
"Hey!" she hissed teasingly.
"It won't impact on your surprise at all, Milady," he assured her gently. "In fact, it may improve it…" Pouting, Astrid grabbed a jalapeño bite.
"Oh…kay…" she conceded and then smiled. "Besides, I have never heard any of your guys in action. I didn't even know you played…" Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck and looked self-conscious again.
"Well, couldn't really publicise it, what with being an outcast," he admitted. "And we usually practice in Tuff's basement-which is soundproofed for safety. It's only really for fun but we have done a few open mikes on quiet days." He glanced around. "This is our first time playing when anyone we know has been around…" She squeezed his hand.
"You know, I'm sure you'll be excellent," she reassured him as Fishlegs rose, drained his lemon and lime (he avoided cola as he worried about the effects of caffeine), and walked purposefully to the karaoke stage. He lifted the microphone and glanced over at the table, his blue-green eyes locking on Heather.
"Um…hi…" he said self-consciously. "I'm singing this for a very special girl. Um…this is for you, Heather." And he gave another small wave as the music started. And then he launched in, his voice deep and perfectly on pitch. "Quiéreme mucho, dulce amor mío…"
Heather's mouth dropped open in a small 'O', shocked at the beautiful rendition in flawless Spanish of the song. Fishlegs stared into her eyes the whole time he sang, having memorised the words, his expression genuine and devoted. Finally, he dropped to his knees as his voice wavered on the final note. Astrid checked and saw tears running down Heather's face at the gesture and as Fishlegs finished, the raven-haired girl was up on her feet, racing to jump the husky boy and pepper him with kisses.
"Yes-I'll be yours," she whispered as she kissed him. He grinned.
"I am always yours," he said as Tuff and Hiccup rose and made their way to the instruments, Tuff pulled on a headband to keep his dreads out of his eyes while Hiccup tuned up the electric guitar and Fishlegs reluctantly disentangled himself from Heather, giving her a kiss and then moving to the keyboard. Clearing his throat, Hiccup stepped up to the mike and smiled.
"And now…thanks for indulging us…" he began.
"Yeh welcome, laddie!" Gobber shouted from the bar as his friends cheered. Giving a pained nod, Hiccup looked over at Astrid.
"Milady-this is for you," he said and nodded. The first notes rang out and Astrid frowned: she was not familiar with the tune but sat entranced as Hiccup launched into the song.
"This summer there won't be a cloud in the sky
I'm so made up I feel I could take off and fly
This summer we've pulled all the sheets off the bed
I'm so happy I can't get you out of my head
This summer I am so in love with you…"
Astrid found her lips stretched into a huge grin. The tune was infectious, the images it evoked magical and he just kept smiling as he sang. Every foot was tapping in the Bar as the band wound up towards the finale.
"I see the helter skelter lights
And hear the music in the breeze
And when we're skimming stones tonight
It feels so good that you're with me
This summer there won't be a cloud in the sky
I'm so made up I feel I could take off and fly
This summer we've pulled all the sheets off the bed
I'm so happy I can't get you out of my head
There's no reason to ever feel lonely again
This summer I am so in love with you…"
Smiling, Hiccup nodded as Astrid began to clap. But they instantly started again, Hiccup's voice beautifully singing the words of a familiar tune.
"I sit and wait. Does a Valkyrie contemplate my fate…?" he began as Astrid gasped.
"Personally, I think it's sacrilege," Ruff grumbled, finishing the cheesy melts. "Angels is a classic."
"But I'm a Valkyrie, not an angel," Astrid pointed out.
"Same difference," the female twin grumbled, scooping more nachos.
"Not really," Astrid told her, grabbing a couple of wings. "More axes involved in Valkyries."
"And you'd know," Ruff conceded, taking a wing herself and licking her fingers to make sure she got all of the sticky sauce.
"They really are very good," Heather murmured. The other two nodded.
"Tuff and his friends spend more time playing than gaming, to be honest," Ruff revealed. "I think he likes the image of being a destructive force of nature-and his instincts in explosives are pretty awesome-but he really really likes pounding the skins." She sighed. "Hiccup is really good, you know. He's very artistic-which he tries to hide because he worries that his Dad wanted a buff Viking son-but you can see he really pours his heart and soul into it."
"You know-I think Stoick has learned to be proud of the amazing son he has," Astrid murmured, her eyes fixated on the lean shape playing and singing with such passion-but she knew the song was only for her. This was his surprise, his thanks for giving him the chance he had craved to be her friend. And honestly, she was transfixed, the melody soaring on his guitar solo as they wound up the the final chorus. There were tears in her eyes and she was so entranced she missed the two shapes taking up a booth two down from theirs as Hiccup launched into the final repetition.
"And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call, she won't forsake me
I'm loving Valkyries instead."
He smiled, his eyes glowing and lips lifted in a smile that was solely for Astrid. Her smile was blinding as she led the cheers and whoops for the performance. Hiccup managed a shy smile and Tuff waved his drumsticks in the air before he began to pound the drums once more. Hiccup smiled as he plucked another chord.
"She's my friend…unto the bitter end…" he sang, his voice dominating the room. Ruff nudged Heather.
"I love this," she murmured, waving to Ack for more Nachos and drinks. "The 'Live in The City of Lights' version of New Gold Dream. Tuff lives for the drums in this."
"And Snotlout looks like he's swallowing a lime," Heather interrupted nudging the others. Sure enough, the new shapes in the two-person booth were Snotlout and Mindy, sitting next to one another with some awkwardness, both nursing colas with self-conscious expressions. But Snotlout kept glancing up at his cousin with envy and bitterness as the music dominated the room. The place was getting crowded and everyone was swaying to the beat, several dancing along. Ack spun through with a full round of drinks and another huge plate of snacks.
"They'll need them after their turn," he said. in his deep voice. "I knew they were doing a set and they never disappoint! Takings will be good tonight after this!" And he grinned. Suddenly, Astrid rose and whispered an urgent question into his ear. Frowning, Ack nodded and winked at her.
"I'll set it up for you straight away, lass," he said and scooted off.
"She's my friend until the bitter end…she's my friend until the bitter end . Ah she's standing there with me, the siren and the ecstasy…be my friend…until the bitter end…"
"You okay?" Heather whispered as Astrid smiled.
"I'm not a brilliant singer but I can't let this go without a reply," she smiled. "Obviously not as practiced but equally as sincere…"
"I'm coming home and I say…I'm coming home and I say…with your New Gold Dream…with your New Gold Dream…I'm coming home and I say…I'm coming home and I say.." Sweat was pouring down Hiccup's forehead as he played as if his life depended on it. The patrons were cheering, Tuff was pounding the drums for all he was worth and Fishlegs was playing the synth with ferocious concentration. Then Hiccup looked into Astrid's eyes as he sang the last line. "Be my friend…until the bitter end," he said. "My love…" And then the music wound down, the tune ending to thunderous applause. Even Mindy was clapping-though Snotlout was sitting with a face like thunder and arms folded angrily across his body. Astrid was on her feet, launching to wrap her boyfriend in a huge hug and kiss him very firmly.
"Always," she whispered. "Now I've got a response for you." He gaped, switching off the amp as she sashayed to the karaoke station and clicked on the tune that Ack assured her would be available and had lined up for her as he promised. Another familiar tune started pounding away as the blonde grinned at the surprised Hiccup.
"I got chills
They're multiplying
And I'm losing control
'Cause the power you're supplying
It's electrifying…" she sang.
His jaw dropped as she carried straight on to the female part of the first verse, beckoning him forward to join her in the chorus.
"You're the one that I want
You are the one I want
Ooh ooh ooh, honey
The one that I want
You are the one I want
Ooh ooh ooh, honey
The one that I want
You are the one I want
Ooh ooh ooh, the one I need
Oh, yes indeed…"
The Bar was in an uproar, cheering along as the couple went through the second verse taking the traditional parts. But as the last chorus came up, they faced one another, hands on each other's waists and sang to each other. Astrid's cheeks were flushed with exhilaration and Hiccup was grinning. They finished to cheers and another kiss before finally, they sat down. Fishlegs pushed glasses of soda into their hands.
"You need them," he said, bright red himself. "That was awesome. Astrid-you have an amazing voice!"
"Good amazing or dogs-howling-to-be-spared-from-their-pain amazing?" she asked him, still panting and taking a deep gulp of the ice-cold drink.
"Definitely good amazing," Ruff told her. "And the pair of you sizzled!"
"See?" Astrid told Hiccup smugly.
"I do not sizzle!" he protested, wiping his forehead.
"Smoulder, maybe," Heather teased.
"Lukewarm at best," he grumbled. Elbowing him gently and snagging a nice hot cheese and ham potato skin, Astrid gestured to the crowd.
"I think they would beg to differ, Babe,' she murmured but his eyes drifted to the two shapes in the far booth.
"Not everyone agrees," he sighed, seeing Mindy snap a few words at Snotlout. The stocky boy snarked back and everyone winced, looking away at what was clearly a rapidly-developing argument.
"It's not your fault," Tuff commented. "He's been complaining about you since they arrived. It's his problem and he has to deal with his own issues."
"Hiccup-that's not your problem," Astrid told him, turning his face back to look at her. "Babe-this was the most amazing, magical surprise and I would never have guessed that I would be serenaded by my brilliant, amazing boyfriend and his band. It's…beyond amazing. I-I just don't have the words. But I have one answer. Yes. I will be your friend-to the bitter end…and beyond. We've wasted enough time." And she kissed him again-just as Mindy stormed past. The twins nudged each other and sighed, seeing Heather and Fishlegs snuggled together, obviously sharing a tender moment as well.
"It seems not everyone is getting their happy ending this evening," Tuff murmured. Ruff nodded.
"Not every song has a happy tune," she sighed. "And it looks like Snotty hit the wrong note."
A/N - Acknowledgements:
'Quierome mucho' Songwriters: Gonzalo Roig / Agustin Rodriguez Bonnat.
'This Summer' by Squeeze, lyrics Cliff Difford/Glenn Tilbrook
'Angels' is written by Guy Chambers and Robbie Williams.
"New Gold Dream' Written by: Charles Burchill, Derek Forbes, James Kerr, Michael Joseph Macneil
'You're the One That I Want' written by Johan Farrar
All rights remain with their copyright holders. All are worth a listen!
A/N 2: The comments about the hairdo in the movie are based on 'The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.' Seriously-watch Mina's hair in the final confrontation with Dorian. Oops!