The Gentle Sniper
Chapter 36: Feuding and Other Matters Part Two
A/N: Haven't got anything to say to last chapters review's, so let's just get to the chapter itself.
…
The hardest part was not thinking about it.
"Just a little bit more. See if you can take one more step and then we'll call it a day." The physical therapist said, standing at the other end of the room.
It was always so easy to say that, wasn't it?
Fishlegs stood in the center of this wide and vast room presently, crutches clutched underneath his arms so tightly his knuckles turned white.
His forehead appeared sweaty and the shaking in his whole body was evidence enough he was tired.
But learning to walk again, or using the crutches was not the hard part for Fishlegs, no.
The hardest part wasn't thinking about how this all happened in the first place.
Fred 'Fishlegs' Ingerman didn't know if those images playing in his mind were motivating him or becoming the bane of his entire recovery.
The sounds of the gunshots, the feeling as the bullets entered his flesh and then broke through the bones in his knees, his screams…
…The way the ground felt so cold. It was just like the operating table before he went under.
The look in Mildew's eyes as he fell to the floor, vision blurred from the pain and how he hated looking up at someone he could say he knew; the way the image swiftly contorted to the bright lights above the table he lay on, and unfamiliar faces half-covered with surgical masks as consciousness slowly slipped away from him.
"You can do it, Fishlegs," Heather, from behind him, standing by his wheelchair, offered up a few words of support.
Fred had wanted to look back at her, but knew he'd fall if he turned his head.
So, instead, shakily, he began reaching forward with one of the crutches, attempting to take another step.
Fishlegs' face turned red with all the effort, and he seemed like he was holding his breath just trying to gather the strength to push forward.
However, if he wasn't breathing, he wasn't going to accomplish anything. The physical therapist saw this and motioned for Heather to come up behind him.
It wasn't until he let go of the breath he was holding onto, and the crutch's foot was set down on the floor in the same spot it was in just before, that Heather collected him back into his chair.
Fishlegs, clearly frustrated, brought the crutches together and laid them over his lap, off the floor. He panted, tired.
Yes, he was tired; he was tired of the way he could never just cross the room.
He'd been in worse situations before, had survived an IED and getting captured and scarred for it, but a few measly steps was beyond him.
"You've made some progress, but I think we need to call it a day. We'll try again tomorrow, yeah? And do remember to breathe whenever you take a step, Fred," The woman smiled encouragingly as he offered up words of kindness, before uttering, "Excuse me," and leaving.
"You'll get 'em next time, babe," Heather tried, gently, a warm sway in her voice.
The girl leant down by her lover's cheek and gave him a chaste, and comforting kiss.
Fishlegs decided to say nothing. At least with Heather around, the memories had gone for the time being.
Rubbing his head with one hand to soothe the ache that had sprung up there, she gripped the handles at the back of the chair and began to wheel him out.
"We'll get 'em next time." Heather then said, in a show of support.
"I'm not so sure," Fishlegs responded at last, glancing her way with a forced smile. "But thanks anyway, Heather."
She smiled back with relief. "Anytime, babe," and kissed him on the cheek again.
"Ah, young love," Hiccup chimed from where he had been watching in silence, standing with one foot pressed up against the wall behind the duo. "How cute to see youngsters fall in love."
Fishlegs snorted as the pair looked back at Hiccup. "Don't you have someone of your own to see? Why are you still here? This isn't the first time I tried to walk with these damn metal sticks, in case you've somehow forgotten."
"Stop trying to get rid of me. It's a bad omen," Despite saying this, he pushed off the wall and headed towards the nearby automatic door. "But fine, I'm going. I can tell when I'm not wanted. Better luck next time, amigo."
"Thanks," said Fishlegs.
"Tell Astrid I said hi when you get there," Heather called out, and Hiccup shot her a thumb's up from beyond the room, just before the door slid shut again.
It was then that Heather's phone started ringing. "Hello? Uh, hey Chief? How can I help you? Uh huh… uh huh… alright, we'll be waiting."
"What was that?" Wondered Fishlegs.
"Trouble," said Heather, "C'mon, we're leaving. There's someone we need to rendezvous with."
…
"Well the good news is her hearing has greatly improved, seemingly overnight. She is no longer unaware of the volume of her voice, and is, as a result, speaking normally."
The doctor, a bespectacled man, head reaching Hiccup's shoulders and no more, then hesitated, taking a couple of steps back from Hiccup.
"The bad news…?" The soldier prompted the doctor.
"The bad news…" the shorter man hesitated again with a sigh.
"She has Tinnitus in her right ear."
Hiccup groaned into his hands, then glanced at the other man. "Permanent? Or will it come and go?"
"It's too early to say at this point… I'll get her discharge papers for you."
"Thanks…" Hiccup muttered as the doctor all but ran down the hall, clearly eager to be away from Hiccup.
Sighing again, he looked to the window providing a view into her hospital room, then headed for the door.
As Hiccup sat beside her on her bed, she quickly sat up in bed and smiled at him. "Well hello there, man blessed by Baldr in the looks department."
"That's an interesting compliment, milady. Want to get out of here?"
She nodded, at once drawing back the bed sheet, then shifting her legs over the side to put her shoes on as Hiccup stood up again.
As she finished, he picked her up, to a surprised squeal from his girlfriend. "Hiccup!" She exclaimed, half amused and half annoyed, swatting at his shoulders and back when he slung her over his shoulder. "This is undignified!"
"If you kick your legs, it'll look worse. So I recommend you don't."
"You'll pay for this later," she huffed, punching his left shoulder.
"Aww, and I was just about to suggest we have some fun at your place later. Guess that's off the table then…"
"Hey… l-let's not be hasty…"
Hiccup stopped walking. "Wait, that worked? I was joking…"
Astrid's cheeks heated with embarrassment, though Hiccup couldn't see it happen. "Uh…"
Hiccup's brows raised, though Astrid couldn't see it happen. "As flattering as this may be, Astrid, how badly do you want me? Too much, I'd say…"
"Hush you," she bit out, her blush deepening. "Don't blame a girl for getting bored. Hospital is not exactly an exciting place, you know."
"I hear you. Moving on, do you want to go see Heather for a bit? Fishlegs is learning to walk with crutches and Heather will be here when she gets a break from work, which is soon apparently, according to him."
"Yes please," Astrid commented. "In the meantime, can you fetch me my headphones from my house? The ringing in my ear is driving me crazy. I'll give you my keys."
"Sure, but while we're talking about the ringing in your ear-"
"I know I have Tinnitus. I was the one who told the staff about the ringing in my ear of course, when a nurse came to check on me," Astrid interjected. "It being Tinnitus is the only thing that explains why it hasn't stopped yet."
"Good. I don't need to explain it to you then. How bad is it by the way?"
"Annoying. I can live with it; it's not quite painful, but I hope it is the sort to come and go, rather than be there all the time. Least it's not as bad as it was yesterday," she mumbled.
Hiccup set her down and gazed into her eyes. "Well that is better than the alternative, but I wish you didn't have Tinnitus at all."
Astrid rose on tiptoes and leaned in close. "Thank you," she murmured against his lips.
"For what?"
"For being you. My ex wasn't one for being nice like you. It means a lot that you are."
He embraced her tightly then, pressing his lips to the crown of her head, his heart soaring at her words.
"Believe me, milady," He whispered. "There is nothing I'd rather be, than myself."
She felt her nod against him. "How did you do it?"
"Do what?"
Astrid pulled back, then glanced around. Hiccup followed her gaze to a pair of nurses further down the hallway but coming their way. They waited in silence as the duo passed them by.
It was only after they were gone that she answered him. "That mission, where you had to kill those two soldiers? How'd you do it, and manage to be this… sensitive. This… kind."
"By not thinking about it too much. Just getting it over with - like how people deal with Injections, I guess."
She grimaced. "That is a bad metaphor. I think I get what you mean, but it is a bad metaphor."
He shrugged helplessly, grimacing in turn. "Well I'm not sure how else to describe it, Astrid, so I guess it'll have to do."
"Fair enough. I wouldn't know how to explain it in your place either," she sighed, then glanced down the hallway. When she looked back at Hiccup, her expression was one of determination mixed with anger, but not directed at him.
"On second thought, forget about the headphones. Can you take me to my place instead? There's something, or rather someone, I need to deal with."
"Who?"
"Sven Fårehyrde."
"Well that's convenient," said Hiccup. Noting her face turn from an expression of angry determination to confusion, he added. "This way milady. There's something at my place you ought to see."
Blinking as he took her right hand in his left, she wondered what he meant to show her as he dragged her along.
Following Astrid getting discharged, a brisk walk along the hallway to an elevator and then out of the hospital, followed by a motorbike ride across Berk and a traversal up a few steps past a door and into a certain bedroom later, she had her answer.
She didn't know what to expect in regards to her answer, but a file wasn't what she expected; least of all a file with Sven's name on it.
"He's an Outcast sympathiser, huh? Well then, that's good to know. Where did you get this?" Astrid inquired, as she kept on reading.
"From the DDIS."
"You seem to be quite well connected," she stated, once she had finished reading a few moments later. "The DSIS, DDIS, army, the Jaeger Corps and the BPD. Do you know people from the Frogmen corps as well? Maybe even the Royal family or the Prime Minister herself?"
"I have actually met the Prime Minister and her son. I did bodyguard duty for a little while."
"No way," Astrid deadpanned.
"It's true. It's why I was in Copenhagen; where I just so happened to meet my mother who I found wasn't dead after all."
More blinking occurred on Astrid's part. "I don't believe you, but that's too specific to be a lie… alright, what did the Prime Minister's house look like?"
"Big. I'd say it's about as big as the old Haddock lodge, but with two wings?" Hiccup mumbled, staring up at the ceiling as he tried to recall the appearance of the Marienborg.
"Um, there were two large halls attached to the main bit of the mansion, a garage big enough to fit a limo; right next to a bedroom filled with bunk beds and a shower room in the bit where I stayed. The other wing hall thing was for the maids and the butler who worked there, I think. Oh, and there was a guard kiosk in front of the building, not far from the road."
"So if I were to look down on the building, would it have a trapezium shape?"
"Yes… I think," shrugged Hiccup. "Let's go with that."
"Alright," Astrid managed to hold a smile for a few seconds before it faltered. "Got any ideas how to handle Sven? I'd think to go report him to the DSIS or the chief under normal circumstances, but I think I'd screw up your evaluation task if I did that."
Hiccup nodded as she continued. "I also don't want to go to the chief or the commissioner, tell them about Sven and bump into him when I leave, possibly tipping him off in the process that he's in trouble. What do we do?"
"You leave that to me. He knows you. He doesn't know me or know that I know about him. So I'll deal with him and nothing will go wrong," said Hiccup.
In response, Astrid placed her hands on her hips. "I've got a better idea. You find him, talk to him to keep him busy and while he's talking to you, I'll arrive and put him in handcuffs."
"Isn't that illegal, without having a reason to arrest him?"
"He was there when I got abducted and did nothing to help, so no, I don't think it's illegal."
His partner shook her head, leaving Hiccup to reluctantly concede. "Alright, we'll do it that way. Tell me when."
"Tonight, or tomorrow at the latest. Before that though, there's somewhere I want to go."
"Okay. Where to, milady?"
Astrid smiled coyly, her eyes sparkling with mischief; biting her lip as she took his hands in hers and gazed at him through her eyelashes. "My house. Beyond that, well… you'll see."
Hiccup blinked at her sudden change in demeanour. "I think I already see…"
…
Bekker raised an eyebrow at the pair standing beyond the open door of her hotel room.
More specifically, the pair of love bites that marked them, with one present just below Hiccup's ear and the other that was present on his girlfriend's neckline.
"Hey, blame her, not me. She started it," Hiccup stated before Bekker spoke.
The redhead eyed the blonde who looked entirely unrepentant, her lips twisted in a smirk and face framed by tousled hair.
Bekker smiled in turn. "Whenever you feel the urge, give me a call."
"Stop lusting after my girlfriend Bekker. We've got a job to do, which you agreed to help me with."
"Doesn't really qualify as a job, Haddock, but fine. I'll be out in five," she announced, then shut the door.
"Who names their car Stormfly?" Bekker later exclaimed, gazing at the light blue Suzuki Swift.
"Me," Astrid replied, an edge entering her voice as her smirk vanished. "Get in."
Bekker didn't dare press the issue and did as ordered.
The ensuing car ride was one of silence for the first minute or so until Bekker got sick of it. "Tell me more about these people," she requested of Hiccup.
Astrid answered instead. "They work in the harbour and apparently are world record holders of longest reign of silence, or so my partner told me."
Hiccup chipped in. "That's right. It's all you need to know for now. The rest will likely come out soon, in the form of angry tears and gnashing of teeth."
Bekker laughed. "On your part or theirs?"
"Theirs," Hiccup looked back at her as he said it, eyes narrowing. "I should kick you out of this car for those fighting words."
"Anytime, babe," she replied.
He snorted, then turned to look ahead again. "Taking a leaf out of Kai's book I see."
"Mhm."
"Who is Kai?" Inquired Astrid with raised brows, her eyes flitting between Hiccup and the road.
"Work colleague, milady," he explained. "She and others were there at the Marienborg."
Astrid made a noise of understanding as Bekker piped up again. "You told her about that?"
"Of course," said Hiccup, looking her way again. "Honesty is important."
His eyes dared her to object.
"Designated driver, what is your normal job?" Bekker inquired.
"I'm a police officer. Now don't you talk about me like I'm not here. That's rule number one in this car. I also don't like your insinuation that I'm unable to keep my mouth shut."
"I meant no offense," Bekker said quickly
Hiccup snorted. "Yeah, because that would ruin your chances of getting into my girlfriend's pants."
Astrid giggled. "Oh believe me, babe. Her chances are looking slim. Particularly after you got into my pants earlier, and of course because I don't swing that way."
"Shame," Bekker mock-sighed. "We could have had something special, you and I."
Hiccup smiled fondly and Astrid laughed lightly, both having noticed Bekker's tone. "I think I'll live with that development," the blonde declared, before looking at Hiccup consideringly.
"Although…"
"Unlikely," said Hiccup, catching onto her meaning. "Unless all parties involved are in agreement - which includes you, milady - it's not going to happen."
"I'll take that as a maybe pending further discussion," Astrid replied.
…
The scent of fish and saltwater permeated the air around them, with the gentle rocking of boats and creak of wooden planks joining the fray as three individuals traversed the jetty, Astrid's car parked behind and to the right of them, at the end of the paved road that had brought them here.
Astrid moved in behind Hiccup as a fisherman approached, nodding his thanks at her before he was gone. She then resumed her position beside Hiccup, with Bekker stepping closer to him after the fact.
"So what boat belongs to them?"
"Which boat are we looking for?"
Astrid and Bekker exchanged a glance of mutual surprise and amusement at being in sync.
"You spoke first, so you go first," said Bekker.
Astrid nodded with a smile, then looked to an equally bemused Hiccup, who had stopped walking. "Okay. So what boat is theirs?"
"That one," He indicated, pointing at the next boat along.
It was painted black all over and seemed to be well maintained. There was currently no sign of life as it slowly rocked from side to side.
And emblazoned clearly on the side nearest to the trio, in gold cursive writing, in contrast to the black that enveloped the rest of the vessel, were three words.
The Nameless Husk
"That name sounds ominous, doesn't it?" Commented Bekker.
"A bit, yeah," Hiccup agreed, before clapping his hands together. "Let's see if anyone's in right now."
So Hiccup started forward, and it was then that Astrid's phone started ringing.
"Hello?" she answered, as Hiccup and Bekker - the latter having passed Astrid by - glanced back at her before the former continued on his way and the latter proceeded to admire the scenery.
"Astrid, where are you right now?" Sigrid responded with a note of urgency in her voice.
"At the harbour. Why? Is something going on?"
"It's looking like the Outcast riots all over again. Except the Haddock and Berserker clans are involved. Get Hiccup and yourself to the Great Hall."
Astrid needed no further prompting, her eyes wide and face paler than normal. "We'll be there in ten."
Hanging up then, she called out. "Hiccup!"
"Yes?" He called back, standing before the door of The Nameless Husk.
"Remember the Vorg incident?" She asked, still shouting.
"Yes!"
"Well if we don't leave now, you could be Vorg!"
"Shit!" she heard him curse, just as the door of the boat he was standing beside, opened.
"You come all the way here to curse on my doorstep?" Inquired Mr No-Name, amused despite his present company, as indicated by twitching lips that threatened to break into a smile.
"Sorry sir. We'll be going now," said Hiccup.
"Good," the man muttered, brows dipping. "Don't come back here. You ain't welcome."
Once the door was slammed shut in his face, Hiccup turned around and looked to his companions.
"Well there goes my chance at reconciliation. The Outcasts better have a good reason for rioting. Better than before, at any rate," he murmured darkly.
"Alright, who's Vorg?" Wondered Bekker.
"We'll explain as we leave. Let's move it, people!" ordered Astrid.
…
"Just how bad are things right now, Sigrid?"
At the question sent her way by her (she hoped) future son in law, Sigrid could only sigh. "Okay for the moment, sort of… but that could change. I was informed that the police officers who patrol over by the soap factory had rocks thrown at their cars, so they were recalled. There is also this," she added after a pause, reaching into a pocket.
She placed a folded up sheet of paper on the table, then slid it across the oak surface towards Hiccup, with Astrid and Bekker - the latter of course being someone Sigrid had only just met - flanking him on his right and left respectively.
They were for the moment alone in the great hall, their faces cast a rustic orange by the lighting in the large room.
His face became concealed by shadow almost fully as he looked down to unfold and read the paper that came his way.
Once done reading, he looked at Sigrid and snorted. "Illegal detaining my ass. He had his people abduct Astrid. He's not innocent in this."
"I know," Sigrid fully agreed. "But the Outcasts seem to think otherwise about Alvin's arrest."
"Yeah. So what are we going to do? Anything besides lying low until things calm down?"
"Nothing else," Sigrid replied with a slight smile. "Don't go near the Soap Factory, and don't go out after dark if at all possible. Johann's orders. That said, you kids have fun. Nice meeting you, Bekker."
The redhead in question inclined her head, then stood up, followed by Hiccup. "Sigrid, was it? Nice to meet you too."
"What about Heather?" Asked Astrid. "Is she safe?"
"Safe and sound back home with her brother," Sigrid confirmed. "We asked the DSIS to send an escort and we have some of our people keeping an eye on them as well," Sigrid replied.
"Good," Astrid nodded, satisfied, then rose, turning to the others. "Let's go guys."
Returning to Hiccup's apartment, bar Bekker, who they dropped off at their hotel along the way, Astrid turned to Hiccup once the door was shut.
"So, wanna continue where we left off?" Said Astrid, smiling coyly at him.
"Uh…" Hiccup looked around, spotting an envelope stuck in the letterbox in his apartment door, out of the corner of his eye. "Oh! Look, a letter. Saved by this white envelope."
Astrid laughed before punching his shoulder. "You could have just said no, babe," said she, giving a fond eye-roll.
"Now where's the fun in that," Hiccup countered, as he opened the envelope. "Now what's in here? I don't see an address."
Said envelope was found to contain a picture of a sloth, hanging from a tree branch, gazing lazily at the camera that had taken the picture.
Hiccup blinked numerous times. "A sloth picture?"
"Yeah, that is odd. There's something written on the back as well," Astrid announced, stepping a little closer for a better look.
"H.C. You know where to find me," she read. "Well I sure don't. Who is this person and what is H.C?"
"I'm not sure," Hiccup admitted, before his eyes closed for a brief moment, then opened them again as he shook his head. "No, actually scratch that. I am sure. It's someone from back when I was in training as a Jaeger. Her callsign was Sloth, hence the picture."
Astrid nodded. "And about you knowing where to find her… where would that be?"
"H.C - Hela's crest. She enjoyed doing black ops missions, particularly killing people. She'll be waiting there."
"So you'll be seeing some insane woman in a graveyard? I'm coming with you."
Hiccup objected at once. "You're meant to be lying low."
"So are you. Also this could be an ambush."
Hiccup shook his head again. "She wouldn't have sent a picture of a sloth to me if that were the case. She wanted me to know she's around. This is her way of saying she wants to talk without being overheard. So if she notices you there, things could get worse. Not to mention, if she knows where I stay, she'll have been watching for long enough that she could have killed me already, if she really wanted to.'
Astrid's shoulders slumped, and she looked so helpless that Hiccup didn't hesitate to caress her face, stroking her cheeks before kissing her defeated expression away.
"So… what do we do then?"
"You wait here, I go talk to her and we decide how exactly to deal with Sven tomorrow. Okay?"
She didn't reply, so Hiccup pecked her on the lips again. "Okay, milady?"
Her arms wrapped around her neck to bring him closer as a small smile formed on her face. "When did you get so persuasive, babe?"
"I'm a man of many talents. Thank Cami for all the practice I got."
"Will do, later. But I think I want some more convincing before you go," she murmured.
"Mmph!" Was the sound uttered by Hiccup as their lips were forcefully mashed together by an eager blonde.
Or rather a more desperate blonde than eager, as Hiccup felt her tremble against him and her arms around his neck strengthened their hold of him.
"Hey," he whispered, when her grip loosened a tad and he was able to pull away a little. "What's wrong Astrid? You know I'll be fine…"
She sniffed. "Will you? Every time we've separated lately, something has happened. First being abducted, then shot at… what if this Sloth person you know will hurt or even kill you now? They've tried to hurt me, so what if it's your turn?"
"I once survived an IED in Afghanistan," he told her. "So I think I can handle one person, especially since I know who I'll be meeting with."
Astrid sniffed again. "R-really? You survived an IED?"
"Fishlegs and Eret did as well. But enough about that. Let's go watch Better Call Saul for a bit. Nothing saying I have to be on time."
"I'll get the full story about the IED out of you someday," she declared, her eyes filling with mirth.
Hiccup pulled back a step. "Welcome back, milady," he smiled, then scooped her into his arms, kissing her again before once again parting lips and gazing at her.
"It's been a few years since I've suggested this or done it with anyone, but Netflix and Chill?"
A pause followed by vigorous nodding on Astrid's part was all the answer he needed.
…
Standing at the entrance to Hela's Crest, gun in hand, under an overcast sky with the sun no longer in sight, stood one Hiccup Haddock.
Thor, Odin, Loki… why are you all like this? Hating me is one thing, but why did you let Astrid get involved in that world?
Sighing, Hiccup looked around, in equal parts hoping and dreading to see his old colleague leaning against a gravestone in front of him.
But seeing nothing, he sighed again and began to creep forward.
He found the person he was looking for, standing at the center of the graveyard.
"You know, all this shit is eating away at my girlfriend. It took me quite a large chunk of today to soothe her inner turmoil."
The woman before him, with short black hair ignored his words for the moment, instead exhaling cigarette smoke as she admired the orange sky caused by the setting sun. Only then did she register his presence
"Hey, Snow Cub," she murmured, regarding the man in a black leather jacket, denim jeans, the beret he owned that identified him as a Jaeger and his USP-9 in a holster on his left hip. "You've got less hair than I remember, but your voice is much the same," she noted.
Hiccup let the barest hint of a smile show as he observed her, noting her black coat that had been opened to reveal a grey t-shirt, jeans and boots just like his own. She was seemingly unarmed, but Hiccup knew better.
"Let's cut to the chase," she sighed, when Hiccup made no effort to return a greeting. "I have a message from Kasper."
"Kasper, huh. So you've got bored of the Jaeger's then, Anja."
Anja simply shrugged, then exhaled another draw of smoke. "Kasper Hendegaard wants to make a deal - you lie low and don't interfere with the Outcasts, and he won't hurt your friends. Same goes for the DDIS and DSIS, police and the military."
"Bold of him to think I can control any of those organisations."
"You have ties to each of them. You can certainly pass the info along."
"And if I pass his message along but they decide to go after Kasper regardless?" Hiccup asked as Anja started forward and moved past him.
She kept walking as she answered him. "Nothing will happen to you. As for your associates, all bets are off. So I suggest you convince them to do nothing, for their sake."
So that's how it's going to be, Kasper?
Hiccup addressed Anja one last time. "Anja, be a dear and pass along this message to Kasper: cause the death of any of my friends, family or Astrid, directly or otherwise and it'll be war. Ending with him sleeping with the fish or some other suitable punishment. If he wants to talk more on this subject, he can find me at Johann's bar."
A little while later, Hiccup entered the bar in question. Glancing around, he was glad to spot Silent Sven at the end of the bar surface, huddled on a bar stool with some brand of beer in his hand.
But he ignored the man for the moment, and instead approached Johann.
"How likely would you be to allow me to make a team of professionals for the DDIS; one consisting solely of Jaeger's and assigned the task of dealing with Drago level threats wherever and whenever they appear?"
"Drago level threats?" Johann prompted, eyes filling with mirth before his expression became neutral like mere moments prior. "I'll float the idea along. The DDIS happens to be a democracy. There is very little I can influence directly."
"For better or worse."
"Indeed. Now, can I get you anything?" Johann prompted, with a not so subtle to his left, where the slightly plump form of Sven was sitting.
"Yes, I noticed," Hiccup deadpanned. "No drinks. I'll be leaving soon anyway. Is the bathroom empty?"
"I'll check."
As Johann headed off, Hiccup approached Sven, dealing a punch to the back of the head.
Hiccup had purposefully slowed his left hand however, looking less like a proper punch and more like a drunken swing.
His follow up strike however, floored the man, toppling him from his barstool, making him groan as he hit the floor, the glass of beer in his hand slipping from his glass, the liquid spilling over his clothes.
A few patrons glanced over, but quickly dismissed the scene as a typical drunken brawl.
By this point, Johann had returned. He looked down at the groaning man who had made a mess of himself, then at Hiccup. "The bathroom is empty. Leave him in a stall. Someone will pick him up soon."
"Alright," said Hiccup, then grabbed the man's legs, with Johann grabbing his arms before they made their way down the stairs to the bathroom.
"Apologies I believe are in order, on behalf of Bob the sled," said Johann.
"I'm not the one you should be apologising to. Astrid is the one with Tinnitus in her ear."
"But you are someone she trusts a great deal."
"I haven't told her about what you do. To her, you're just a barman."
This surprised the man, if his expression was anything to go by. "Really?"
"Mhm. But onto more important things. An old colleague made contact with me recently. Turns out she's involved with Kasper. He wants nobody I know to do anything about the Outcasts - DDIS, DSIS, police or the military. So, any ideas on what to do?"
"We need to find him."
"Yeah. But I have a strange feeling he might show up here one day. Just a hunch, I guess."
"Well I will take note of your hunch. A hunch is better than nothing at all."
"Good. You're getting better at this."
"Don't patronise your boss. It's bad manners."
"Hush you, and pick up the pace. We have places to be."
"Once we're done, I want a description of this old colleague of yours."
"If you don't already know, I'm not telling you. She's all mine."
Within moments of returning home, Hiccup found himself embraced tightly by a certain blonde.
"You're okay!" Astrid exclaimed against his torso.
He kissed her forehead. "I told you it would be fine, so stop worrying."
"Don't think I can stop, when it comes to you," she mumbled into his chest. "You're going to give me grey hairs."
"Well I have some good news to tell you, so let's talk about it in the living room, milady."
Nodding against his chest as her impromptu hug ended, she looked his way then kissed him.
"I love you," she murmured against his lips. "Gods, If I lost you, I don't know what I'd do."
"I love you too, and I know how that feels. I'm sorry I worried you, milady."
Finally pulling back, she looked him up and down before smiling. "I think the beret makes up for it. It suits you a lot. But what is this good news?"
"Come on. To the living room," said Hiccup, taking her hand in his and leading the way. "You'll find out there."