A Changing World
Act 2
Chapter 24: The Final One
…
"You and Astrid should get a tattoo each. Something like, 'Property of Astrid' and 'Property of Hiccup'," suggested Yang.
"You think so?" Hiccup put down the half-finished saddle he was making for Yang's dragon, Ying. "Alright. Where should I put a tattoo then?"
They were in the forge, with Toothless and Ying frolicking outside, Ruby and Junior busy at the RD warehouse and Astrid had decided to stay home after throwing up again, earlier on that same morning.
"On your arm. Makes most sense to me. "It would be easy to hide. And easy to show off."
"I'll consider it, Yang. Any word from Weiss on when that video we made will be uploaded to her Infohunt account on the CCT?"
Yang shook her head. "She hasn't said anything concrete to any of us. It took Ruby ordering her to say something to reply with, and I quote 'soon, you complete dolt. Now stop messaging me, Ruby. And tell everyone else to do the same, for the love of Oum."
"Yep, that's Weiss alright."
"While we're talking about things that still seem a long way off, when is your wedding going to happen?"
"We haven't planned anything for it yet," Hiccup admitted. "I guess because we're kinda already living like a married couple, we're not in a rush. I don't know. But since you brought it up, I'm wondering where it should happen here or back on Berk."
"Berk sounds like the best option," decided Yang, before elaborating. "Vale has nowhere that's open, Mistral and Atlas are far away and probably quite expensive, and I don't think Vacuo has much of anything since it's mostly desert."
"Good points there, Yang. I'll be sure to pass them along to Astrid as well. Now, do you want to play matchmaker for a certain Schnee in our group?"
Yang quirked an eyebrow. "You have someone in mind?"
"No, but I was thinking we could find someone for her. Maybe someone on team SSSN. Who knows?"
"As good an idea as any, I guess. Invite her and team SSSN to a bar in Mistral at some point and we'll see what happens."
"Sounds like a plan. Now, I should get back to making your saddle."
"Good idea," Yang agreed.
…
One week later
The door to Glynda's former house was blasted open, waking the occupants, who scrambled out of bed for their weapons, not having time to put on any clothes as the intruder stomped through the house.
It wasn't long before their bedroom door was similarly thrown open and Yang entered, to find two guns aimed her way and the edge of an axe coming to rest below her chin.
"Talk about being prepared," she joked, noting their lack of clothing. Then she grimaced. "Please put on some clothes."
Hiccup sighed, putting his pair of hand axes down as Astrid followed suit with her axe. "Yang, why are you here?"
"In short, to get you two married."
Hiccup and Astrid exchanged a glance, then the latter spoke. "Out! We're getting dressed. Wait downstairs for now."
"Can do," said Yang, more than eager to leave.
Now dressed, the trio were sitting in the living room downstairs. "Alright, explain, in full," instructed Hiccup.
"Ruby has been bothering me with how she'll be a godmother or a maid or whatever at your wedding, for the past week. I can't take it anymore, so here I am, ready to take you to Beacon so you can get married, Ruby can shut up and I can get some decent sleep."
"Okay, how did you find us?"
"I asked Ozpin, then flew here on Ying. He's in on my plan."
Hiccup blinked. "Duly noted. Also, you know my parents might not be happy if we get married without inviting them."
"Then tell them I gave you no choice in the matter. It's mostly true after all."
"Hmm. What do you think Astrid? Do you think we should do this?"
"Might as well, if Yang has everything ready, already." Astrid paused. "Do you?"
"Well there's Ozpin to officiate, but that's all I could do without Ruby noticing. I was thinking you could do a proper wedding later, and make everyone else think it's the real thing."
"Well if Ruby doesn't know we're married, doesn't that defeat the purpose of trying to get her to shut up?" asked Hiccup.
"Oh, I intend to tell her. Just not anyone else."
"You better tell her that this was all your idea. We had no part in planning this at all."
"Yeah, yeah, I will. Now c'mon. Let's get you two married."
…
They were now in Beacon's auditorium, standing on the stage when Yang arrived with Ozpin in tow.
He looked at them and sighed. "I see Miss Xiao Long has gotten to you both, just like she persuaded me to officiate for you."
"Yeah, she did," the pair echoed.
"Well, let's get started. I have rings in my pocket and a marriage certificate for you both to sign in my office after we're done here," said Ozpin, after crossing the room and stepping onto the stage in front of them.
They both looked back at Yang, then asked in unison. "How well did you plan this?"
"Quite well. I'd have to, or this wouldn't be official," Yang replied.
Then Hiccup looked at Ozpin. "You never told me you could do marriages."
"You never asked. And if you're wondering how Miss Xiao Long figured it out, she found out by asking me who married her father and mother."
"I… wasn't, but that explains it," muttered Hiccup.
"Alright, I think I shall begin, using the abridged version of the vows since you know each other well. So, Astrid, do you promise to love Hiccup unconditionally and do everything you can to support him?"
"I do," she said, without any hesitation.
"Do you promise to be there for him in good times and in bad?"
"I do,"
"And lastly do you promise to always make sure you make time for each other and have fun?"
Astrid smirked deviously at Hiccup. "I do."
"Great," Hiccup groaned. "You just had to encourage her, didn't you Ozpin?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, prompting Hiccup to whisper into his ear.
"Oh. Well, go easy on your husband to be during sex, Miss Hofferson."
"I can promise nothing."
"I thought as much. You're on your own, unfortunately, Hiccup."
"Thanks, you were a great help," Hiccup drawled.
Ozpin simply chuckled and continued with the vows. "So, Hiccup, Do you promise to love Astrid unconditionally and do everything you can to support her?"
"I do."
"Do you promise to be there for her in good times and in bad?"
"I do."
"And lastly do you promise to always make sure you make time for each other and have fun?"
"I'll do my best to survive that stuff."
"Very good." Then Ozpin handed them their rings. "Put those on, kiss, and I'll see you in my office when you're ready to sign your certificate."
"See you there guys," Yang added before she and Ozpin left.
"So I guess I'll have to call you Astrid Hofferson Haddock from now on, Milady," said Hiccup, as they put on their rings
"Yeah, it'll take some getting used to, but I like it. I like these rings as well."
Hiccup looked at his own. "Do you? These are just bands of gold."
"I like that it's simple. Leaves room for you to add designs later on."
"Fair enough. I already have an idea in mind for later. For now, though, let's go sign that certificate Ozpin mentioned."
Hiccup started walking towards the lift at the back of the auditorium but stopped when Astrid grabbed his arm. "Aren't you forgetting something, Hiccup?"
"What?" he queried as she approached.
"This," she said before she kissed him.
When they pulled back, they were breathless, but after a moment, Astrid spoke. "I expect a repeat performance from back in Mistral, Mr Haddock."
"I'll do my best, but don't blame me if I can't keep up, Mrs Hofferson Haddock."
"You've been doing good so far," she replied, then headed for the lift, purposefully swinging her hips as she walked and hiding her smile, knowing his eyes were on her rear.
…
"SURPRISE!" came the combined shout from Ruby, Yang, Weiss, Jaune, Ren, Nora, Ozpin, Cardin and team CFVY, who had been waiting in Ozpin's office for Hiccup and Astrid to arrive.
"What are you all doing here?" they exclaimed
"Surprising you. What I said about Ruby was a lie to get you here and married," revealed Yang.
"Huh, well it sure worked. But why do it like this?" asked Hiccup.
"Because we all agreed that you deserved to be married. You both like each other a lot, so we decided to help you with the final step," said Ruby. "It was Nora and Yang's idea by the way. Also, I want the record to show that I only mentioned the whole becoming a bridesmaid thing to Yang more than once. I swear on my love of chocolate chip cookies."
"Really? It must be serious then," Hiccup, Yang and Weiss responded in perfect sync.
"What? I can be serious sometimes!" Ruby protested.
"Sure thing, Rubes," smirked Yang.
"I hate you, Yang."
"Oh, I know you love me, sis."
Weiss rolled her eyes at that. "Hiccup, Astrid, sign the certificate and we can get back to doing other things."
"I second that," said Jaune.
"This way, newly married couple," added Ozpin, gesturing at his desk.
"There we are. Now, Ruby, you're the head bridesmaid, Weiss and Nora are also bridesmaids, Yang, you're the godmother and Jaune, you're the best man," said Hiccup. "Now if you'll excuse me, I think Astrid and I deserve to celebrate. See you tomorrow Ruby."
"See you then, Hiccup," she replied.
"Now then Milady, c'mere…" soon everyone was watching him as he picked up Astrid in a princess carry and headed for the lift, his wife giggling as it happened before Hiccup leaned down to kiss her after hitting the button for the ground floor and the doors began to close, wolf whistles courtesy of Yang and Nora heard but ignored by the pair, lost in their own world.
"And then there were three," muttered Jaune. "So, Ruby, Weiss and Yang, when are you going to find someone?"
Following that, Ruby made a face that was one half disgust and the other half disinterest while Yang simply shrugged, before grinning broadly upon noticing that her teammate turned CEO had turned as red as her sister's hair. "Oh ho ho, do tell weissy~"
"Weiss has a boyfriend now? Oh, her heart is melting~" Nora chimed in, her voice becoming as melodic as Yang's had just a second before her.
"You're making it out to be more than it is," Weiss muttered, still blushing. "And I don't see how it's any of your business."
"So, Weiss, is that video we made ready yet, or do we still need to wait?" asked Ruby, purposefully moving the conversation along while frowning at Yang and Nora, silently daring either of them to inquire further, which Weiss was thankful to her for.
"Oh, it went up on my Infohunt account last night, and I've gotten some people interested in it," the Atlesian girl smirked before she was met with deadpan stares from everyone bar Ozpin. "What?"
"You couldn't have told us that sooner, Ice Queen?" asked Yang.
"I'm telling you now, alright?" said Weiss. "Now you can all stop asking me about it since it's up."
"You got it, Weiss," said Ruby. "Now, let's watch the video."
…
Once back on the ground floor, Hiccup put Astrid down. "There you go Milady,"
"Thank you for all that, now, we're going home, and we're not leaving our bedroom until I say, babe."
"Sounds like a plan, Milady," Hiccup replied, and the pair walked hand in hand out of Beacon, approaching their waiting dragons for the short flight back home.
"But you know, I think it would be good if I engrave something into our rings at some point."
"What would that be, babe?"
"Proof that you own me, and I own you."
Astrid smiled at her husband. "Well I think that statement is true at this point, so go right ahead. After we spend some more time alone together that is."
Hiccup smiled back at his wife. "Alright. To Vale, Milady."
Reaching their dragons, Astrid looked at Hiccup as a thought came to her suddenly. "Do you think Taiyang and Qrow are having a hard time dealing with Viggo?"
"I don't know. The thought just came to me right now, for whatever reason."
"Well don't Milady. As you seem to be in the mood, I have a certain black book that might interest you."
"Oh, don't you know it. Race back to Vale?" she asked, once she and Hiccup had climbed onto their dragons.
"Do you even need to ask, Milady?" before nudging Toothless's flank with a foot, prompting him to launch himself into the air.
"First one there gets first pick from the book!"
Astrid rolled her eyes playfully at that statement before urging Stormfly to follow.
…
A/N: And cut! That's a wrap!
I'm finally done with this.
Thanks to everyone who has come along for this ride, like my beta reader - Lives2DieAgain - who has been a great help despite his busy schedule.
Now I can focus entirely on my other story.
Until I get around to finishing the next chapter for that,
Silvolde out.
