Chapter 8: In which Hiccup sees too much

Hiccup had held a flame for Astrid Hofferson for years. He never realized life was easier when she was unattainable, and he could admire her from a distance.

He snuck a glance over his shoulder as Astrid returned to their bed. So much was left unsaid. How could you tell someone you barely knew that you longed to hold them? To feel their skin under your fingertips. To intertwine their hand with yours. To press your lips against theirs.

He returned his gaze to the sketches currently littering the desktop, seeing them but not really looking at them. He couldn't concentrate any longer. His focus had been diverted to the beautiful girl who chose to share a bed with him. He tapped his pencil a few times, debating whether he should join her.

Hiccup wasn't sure how many minutes had ticked by as he was lost in his head. Finally, he pushed away from the desk and blew out the candle. He carefully walked the short distance to the bed and crawled underneath the furs. He stared out into the darkness, his inner self still debating.

The urge overcame him. He rolled over to face Astrid. Her back was to him and for a brief glimmer, Hiccup's courage won the debate. He stretched a hand to her, his fingertips longing to caress the dip of her waist. He could feel her warmth as he drew closer. His heart nearly beating a hole in his chest.

A deep breath exhaled as Astrid's back rose and fell. He froze, his fingers barely a hair from her waist. Hiccup's heart thumped deafeningly in his ears. He swallowed hard, his courage depleting like air knocked from one's lungs.

Hiccup withdrew his hand. He rolled over to face the darkness once more.

The heavy workload tied him to the forge. Hiccup scowled down at the sword grinding sparks like tiny fireworks. Gobber was busy with dragon training, leaving him to sharpen and repair every weapon that had been piling up over the last few days. Hiccup had made it a habit since before the wedding to watch Astrid during the training sessions, to cheer her on as any respectable spouse should do. But he was stuck at the grinding stone to catch up on his work and lunchtime couldn't come quick enough.

When the thought ventured into his mind, Hiccup still couldn't believe Astrid was his wife. His wife. Some days it was as if they were on an extended first date, the awkward dance of getting to know each other. Then there were times when being with her felt like home. When they cooked together or talked while sitting around the firepit in the evenings. There were times when it was as easy as breathing to be around her. Those small, comfortable moments Hiccup looked forward to.

The noisy ruckus of the dragon training students echoed through the village. Hiccup's face broke out into a smile. They were headed to lunch. He threw off his apron, missing the hook as it plopped onto the dirt floor. Hiccup dashed back, nearly sliding onto a knee as he snatched it up and righted the apron on the hook.

He broke free of the forge, scanning the village for Astrid. He found her walking with the other teens toward the Great Hall. A little aggravated that he had to approach her while she was following along with the group, he pushed passed it to catch up to her.

"Astrid!"

Astrid glanced over her shoulder. She paused, and surprisingly, the other teens stopped as well, glaring at him as if he ruined their day.

Hiccup ignored them. "You wanna go home and I'll warm up some stew for lunch?"

Astrid's lips parted slightly, and it was immediately clear she wasn't up for the offer. "I was actually going to eat lunch with the others in the Great Hall."

Hiccup's shoulders drooped heavily as if a yoke had been placed upon him. "Oh."

"Come with us."

His eye caught the movement of Astrid's hand at her side lifting to reach out to him, but she stayed her hand before it could reach too far.

Hiccup glanced over her shoulder at the hijinks that was going on between Snotlout and the twins while Fishlegs watched, nervously touching his index fingers together. Astrid would be his buffer, she'd promised him that, but the uncertainty on his face made it obvious that he was still uncomfortable with the idea.

Hiccup shook his head. "Maybe next time. You go hang out with your fellow dragon slayers. I'll see you tonight."

He turned and strode away before Astrid could respond. Her hand stretched toward his retreating back and her mouth hung open, silent. He walked with his head hanging, dejected, back to the forge. The appetite that had been present was now gone.

Two weeks. Just two weeks they'd been married, and it honestly felt more like a lifetime. Hiccup was no closer to touching Astrid than he was on their wedding night. He wouldn't dare try, though he'd been tempted multiple times. No, he would wait for her to take the lead. Since they had no say in arranging this marriage, he owed her that chose.

Hiccup climbed the stairs to their bedroom, a little bounce in his step. His mood was light after Astrid had taken interest in some of his sketches the night before. Some sketches were of dragons, others were of random places in the village. He didn't dare show her his dragon slaying concepts. Those would be for later when he finally proved he could kill a dragon with one.

Astrid's eyes lit up and she'd commented how talented of an artist he was. Just that comment alone made Hiccup's heart soar.

"Hey Astrid, do you want some-" Hiccup froze. His hand clapped over his eyes before he saw too much. "Astrid, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to walk in and see you…it wasn't on purpose!"

"It's okay." There was a pause, words unspoken that hung heavy in the air then, "You don't have to leave."

Hiccup stood there in the doorway, his gaze still safely behind five digits.

"You can drop your hand, Hiccup."

He slowly let his hand fall to his side. His eyes widen at the sight before him. Astrid's skirt was gone, leaving her tights to shape the curve of her hips that usually were hidden. The chest bindings covered the most revealing parts of her torso but exposing a nice view of her upper chest and stomach.

Hiccup doesn't know where to start as he gazes at more of her than he ever imagined he'd have the privilege to see. He swallowed so hard it embarrassingly echoes through the room. His eyes finally make their way to her face. Her cheeks were glowing, and he suddenly felt guilty for staring.

"If we're going to live together, we need to get used to the fact that we'll see each other in a state of undress sometimes." Astrid tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears, averting her gaze to the floor for a second. "I mean, we can't tiptoe around each other for the rest of our lives, right?"

"Right," was all Hiccup could muster. He cleared his throat, trying to find his voice. "Thank you-" he gestured at her awkwardly, "for trusting me with this."

Though her cheeks were still toned pink, Astrid smirked, "It's your turn next."

That suggestion caused Hiccup's own cheeks to flare up and heat traveled to a place he really didn't want to reveal at the moment with clothes on.

Astrid chuckled at his flustered state as she pulled on her shirt.

Another barrier had been knocked down. Another uncomfortable situation had been somewhat dissolved.