Author's Note: Yooooooo, it's meh, Moon! =D Welcome to another chapter of "Sticks and Stones!" =D Man, I still can't belive how long this one-shot collection is...it still holds my longest story title, and I'm just so proud of this one-shot collection. =)
*Claps hands together* Anway! Here's "Come Fly With Me" (pssst...hey? The title of this one-shot collection is from a song...an HTTYD song...can ya guess which one...? =)). A nice little Hiccstrid one-shot to satisfy all of your Hiccstrid needs. =D I hope you guys enjoy it!
Summary: Astrid is still worrying about Heather, so Hiccup takes her out on a flight above the clouds. (RTTE.)
Come Fly With Me
Astrid wasn't one to worry, but after watching her best friend take a huge risk for her and the Dragon Riders left her feeling more anxious than she would have liked.
Astrid Hofferson wasn't one to be nervous. She never liked the anxious, worrisome feeling. Not one bit. It left her feeling fearful, and she didn't like the feeling of fear either. Worry interfered with her head, and it made it harder to focus on what she was doing. Her axe aim would be off, her mind would drift, and she couldn't stop thinking about whatever she was worried about.
Heather was taking a huge risk spying on the Dragon Hunters for Astrid and the other Riders. After recently discovering that Dagur was her brother, she had flown off to "think about things." Astrid and Heather had grown close, and Astrid even considered her as a sister, so she was rather sad to see Heather leave after sharing a bond through their similar interests and personalities.
But in between the time Heather left Dragon's Edge and the time that the Riders were captured by Ryker and his crew, Astrid and Heather had conspired a plan to try and gain some inside information on the group of Hunters. Since Heather had relations with Dagur—and he was convinced that she was just as berserk as he was—she decided that she would "join" him and the other Dragon Hunters and act as a spy, getting as much information that she could and report back to Astrid so that she could tell the other Dragon Riders. Astrid knew that it was a dangerous plan. If Heather got caught, she could have been captured or worse, and Astrid did not want to find out what "or worse" was.
Heather was insistent, however, so Astrid decided to agree to the plan. It had gone along smoothly, and Astrid had extra knowledge on the Dragon Hunters that not even Hiccup had. The only thing that Astrid didn't like about the plan was that she couldn't tell Hiccup what Heather was really doing. It was only when he had almost shot her out of the sky back when they were on Glacier Island that Astrid told Hiccup the truth. She felt terrible; the look on his face was one that she wouldn't forget. Hiccup relied on her, and Astrid had never felt so guilty. Hiccup had forgiven her though, and Astrid was glad that he understood why she didn't say anything. At least, she hoped he did.
Since that day on Glacier Island, Astrid had been a little more on edge. Hiccup was the only one who noticed it; the other Dragon Riders assumed that it was just Astrid being her usual, feisty self, but Hiccup knew otherwise. Astrid was worried about Heather, and to be frank, he was too. Hiccup knew that Heather spent most of her life on her own, and he wished that she would come and join him and the other Riders on Dragon's Edge. But the raven black-haired girl was adamant to spy on the Dragon Hunters, and Hiccup knew that it was probably the best and only way that he and the other Dragon Riders would get information about where the Hunters would strike next and plan ahead of them.
Of course, that didn't mean that Hiccup wasn't anxious about Heather. At any moment, she could get caught, and he knew that Astrid knew that too. Hiccup had never seen her so worried, and he wanted to do something to ease her nerves. Astrid had come through for HIccup multiple times, and the young viking wanted to do the same to her in return.
Hiccup walked into the dome with Toothless following him at his side. Astrid was setting up targets to practice her aim with her axe. The Hofferson acknowledged Hiccup with a small smile.
"Hey, Hiccup," she greeted. "What's up?"
Hiccup shrugged. "Nothing much. Just thought I'd stop by and see what you're doing."
"Eh, I'm just practicing with my axe," said Astrid. She twirled her favorite weapon in her hand and got ready to take aim. She then flung her axe at the target on the left, and it hit the center with perfect precision.
"Nice shot," complimented Hiccup.
"Thanks," Astrid said. She walked up to the target and yanked the axe out. "So, what brings you here? I know you didn't just come to watch me practice."
Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah…well, I came to ask if you've heard anything from Heather at all."
Astrid shook her head, and Hiccup noticed her grip on her axe tightened almost imperceptibly. "I haven't heard anything from her in a while. I guess the Dragon Hunters are staying low for the time being."
Hiccup nodded, and he watched as Astrid hurled her axe at another target. Her aim was a little off, so the axe blade did not lodge itself in the center, but off to the side. Astrid frowned as she went to retrieve her axe. Hiccup sighed.
"I know you're worried about Heather," he began. Astrid turned to face him, and she slung her axe on her shoulder. "So I came to help you take your mind off of things."
"Hiccup, I'm fine," Astrid said. She placed her free hand on her hip. "I may be worried about Heather, but I know she'll be fine." The Hofferson's sapphire orbs glittered with uncertainty, and her voice was laced with hesitation.
"But you don't know for sure," said Hiccup slowly.
Astrid shook her head. "No, I don't. But I know she'll be fine," she said. "Although…I can't help but worry about her. What if she gets caught? What if something happens? We wouldn't be able to get to her in time from here…"
"Astrid, I promise that Heather will be fine," said Hiccup reassuringly. He placed his hands on Astrid's shoulders. "And if something happens, we'll get to her faster than a Night Fury."
Toothless warbled behind them, emphasizing Hiccup's statement.
Astrid smiled and she placed her hand on Hiccup's shoulder. "I know we will. And I know she'll be okay, but I wish I could take my mind off of that threat for a while…"
Hiccup thought for a moment, and he looked up into the sky where the sun was just beginning to set. It hadn't reached the horizon, and the sky was striped with pink, purple, and orange. The young viking smiled.
"I think I know what you need," Hiccup said. He led Astrid over to Toothless. "How about a flight? Just the two of us."
Astrid placed her axe aside. "I don't know, Hiccup. I kind of want to finish up here first…"
"Come on, Astrid," said Hiccup with a smile. "You look like you could use it."
Astrid tapped her foot and looked up at Hiccup, who was grinning dorkily. Astrid shook her head and laughed lightly, knowing that Hiccup would probably start begging her to fly with him if she said no.
"Okay," she said at last. "But let me go and get Stormfly—"
"You could ride with me on Toothless," Hiccup interrupted a little too hastily. Astrid pretended not to notice the flush that had dusted itself on Hiccup's cheeks. Toothless chortled behind him.
Astrid smiled and patted Hiccup's shoulder. "Let's take to the sky."
Hiccup climbed onto Toothless' back and Astrid slipped behind him. Hiccup clicked his prosthetic into the saddle and the three took off into the beautiful sunset. Astrid could feel all of her worries leave her the moment they reached the clouds. The wind was soft and comforting; Hiccup's presence was also alleviating. Astrid wrapped her arms around him and gazed around in wonder. Flying was something that she would never tire of, and the slow, harmonious flight that she and Hiccup were taking above the clouds reminded her of their first flight together on Toothless. While that one was definitely better than this one, Astrid still took pleasure in the slow, relaxing flight.
Hiccup had noticed this too. Astrid's posture was more relaxed, and she reached out her arm to touch the pink clouds that were drifting by. The Haddock smiled, and he patted Toothless' head so he could fly higher. Toothless complied to Hiccup's silent request, and he flapped his wings and flew higher into the sky. Hiccup felt Astrid lean against him.
"Thanks, Hiccup," she said. "This really helps."
Hiccup smiled. "No problem, Astrid. And if you really need to take your mind off of whatever, or you just feel like taking a flight, you can come fly with me any time."
Astrid grinned. While she was still a little worried about Heather, she wasn't as much as she had been before. Hiccup was right, if Heather did find herself in trouble, they would come and get her out of it.
But in the meantime, Astrid took bliss in the flight that she, Hiccup, and Toothless were sharing together.
Author's Note: Hiccstrid, Hiccstrid, gotta love da Hiccstrid. =D
Hope ya all ejoyed this one-shot, and I'll see ya in the next one-shot, drabble, arc...yeah. Whatever comes next. X)
Until the next chapter!
-BeyondTheMoon1203