A Hiccstrid one-shot for you guys this evening! Thank you again for all of your support, and I hope you enjoy!
.oOo.
The air was crisp, cold and bitter, but a real exhilaration of the senses. It was like a wake-up call from the universe, telling Hiccup and Astrid to admire the world as they took flight.
And admire the world was all they could do. Just soaring below the clouds, the view of the mountains and hills and valleys beneath them was breathtaking. White spread for miles, overcoming the green and vast amounts of colour which had lay there just months before. The trees were bare, thick brown branches a contrast to the pale shimmering snow. The entirety of the island glittered, and as fresh snow fell, they flew away, leaving that world of magic behind to discover a new one.
"Woo hoo!" Hiccup yelled as Toothless did a barrel-turn through the sky. That cold winters morning, him and his betrothed had deemed it a great idea to go out for a flight together, to finally capture the beauty of the world surrounding them.
The sky was emitting beams of pink and orange and yellow as the sun rose in the sky, changing the shade of blue which built the sky to light rather than dark as it changed the archipelago from night to day.
With the reoccurrence of Dragon Hunter attacks becoming far more frequent, the pair had barely found time to relax together. Each had been holding breath which had finally been cleared from their lungs and the cobwebs cleared away within seconds after days of forming and growing stronger.
It was Snoggletog, and although it rarely seemed like it these days, they were still teenagers. They still had to live life to its fullest and cherish the last moments of their childhood before all of the strong responsibilities for adulthood began.
"Watch this!" Astrid shouted, laughing as she glided high into the air, Stormfly climbing higher and higher until she couldn't anymore, before they flopped back down towards earth, screaming battle cries and dying of laughter.
It was freezing, the temperature baltic and on the verge of the temperatures within the waters at the island of Freezing-to-Death. Any remainders of the breath they had been holding definelty washed out by this point, as the moment Astrid struck the ocean, she felt all of the oxygen inside of her be sucked out of her lungs.
Immediately resurfacing, Stormfly came to be at the same level as Hiccup, and Astrid leapt onto Toothless, who crooned his head at her, tongue flying in the wind with far less grace than he was. She then plonked herself down behind Hiccup.
"Why, hello there m'lady. Care to join us on this fine fli- aaargh!!!" Hiccup yelped in cold as Astrid threw her arms around him, unable to breathe at the hilarity in his reaction.
"I do, in fact, care to join you," She shook herself a tad dryer, and cuddles in close to Hiccup as Stormfly circled around them, just happy to be out in the open air.
As she leaned in close, Hiccup could not den the fact that she was beautiful, her braid loosening with the water, and soft beach waves beginning to fall out. Her eyes sparkled like the snow around them as she laughed, and her pale complexion made her one with the winters beauty around them.
She is my winters beauty, Hiccup thought lovingly as he turned back to face the snowy white clouds and bright horizon far in front of him.
After a moment or two, Astrid leapt to her feet once more, and climbed back onto her won dragon.
"Where do you think you are going, m'lady?" Hiccup inquired, a cheeky tone in his voice.
"I am challenging to you a race, Dragon Boy. Last one to that island in front of us has to babysit the twins all week."
"Babysit?" Hiccup laughed as he thought of the Thorston twins, ages with them, and yet so immature that they need 'adult' supervision at all times. He applied a fake thinking face to himself before speaking up. "Alright, you're on!"
But before he had even said that,Astrid was off, yelling 'sayonara sucker!' into the wind as she zoomed ahead. Hiccup shook his head in laughter and determination before joining her, urging Toothless onwards towards the mysteries which lay in front of them.
"Well, well, look who it is!" Hiccup shouted below him as he flew upside down over Astrid, their hair brushing against one another's, as the Nightfury zipped ahead, overtaking the cocky Deadly Nadder.
Toothless zoomed onwards as fast as lighting, which was fitting as he was the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself to be fair.
"Let's win this Bud," Hiccup scratched lovingly under his dragon's chin, and he warbled in return, before all focus went back onto the race.
As the island came into view, Hiccup could see terrible Terrors singing from the bare branches, the snow which was falling on top of them not fazing hem one jot. There was a river running down the centre, its stream and ripples forced to stop by the sheet of ice which covered it. The island wasn't vast, which meant it took no time at all for Hiccup to decide for himself the perfect, most winter-y, romantic spot on it to land.
And just moments later, he did just that, winning the race and taking the title of 'best flyer' once again.
Toothless flopped into the snow as Hiccup dismounted, and began rolling around in attempts to recreate the nw angels which he had see the children of berk make. Hiccup laughed as he climbed up the tree which he had landed under and he sat on a branch, brushing the snow away in preparation for his betrothed to come join him.
Astrid jokingly grouchier climbed up beside him and stared into hiccup's eyes as he stared out towards the sea.
His tousled brown hair was gorgeous, and Astrid wanted nothing more than to run her fingers through it and make him hers. His smile would light up the world, as it hone even brighter than the sun. Settling herself down, she lovingly gazed at Hiccup and satisfied herself by wrapping her arms around his waist once again, though as she was dry now, it did not make him yelp.
"So, would you say it's fair to call me the winner?" Astrid twisted his arm around at his remark, and he jumped and fell from the tree in pain, Toothless getting a shock as he flopped onto his belly. "Okay, okay!" He rubbed his arm, before shaking his head and beginning to climb the tree again. "You win! You always win!" They both laughed, and cuddled in together as they watched the last few minutes of the sunrise.
"Though technically I did still win," Astrid punched him playfully on the arm, and he grabbed her by the shoulders and drew her into a kiss, wrapping his arms around her as he did so.
"You're so handsome, you know that, Dragon Boy?" She twisted a stand of his hair round and round, until it was a coil of beauty in his head, before she began to braid that small section.
Hiccup turned to face her, and she clasped her hands in her lap in anticipation for what he was going to say.
"We may be betrothed, and we may be boyfriend and girlfriend, but i think it's time I properly told you this,"He took a deep breath. "I love you Astrid Hofferson. I love you more than anything on this planet and I have absolutely no idea what in Thors name I would do without you."
Astrid beamed at him, and kissed him once again. When they drew away, she lightly tapped him. On the nose and responded.
"I love you too, Dragon Boy."
And the two sat and stared at the sunrise, watching as blue overcame the rainbow array of colours which had been there seconds prior, satisfied with themselves.
Because it was on that Snoggletog, that Hiccup and Astrid finally knew that they loved one another more than all of the beauty that the world has to offer.