Chapter 2
Fall leaves crunched under the boots of the six young adults as they made their way home from the last of their classes. All of them chatting easily amongst each other; all except the thin Auburn haired young man in the middle, who wore a pensive look on his face. Brows furrowed in deep concentration he almost missed his cousin trying to get his attention.
"Cuz…Hiccup!" Snapping to attention Hiccup looked over at his shorter Cousin, Snotlout. "Sorry, sorry, what were you saying Snot?"
Giving an obvious eye roll Snotlout started talking again, "I was asking you if you know why your Dad called a house meeting with all of us? Like should we be prepared to get yelled at or what?"
Furrowing his brows again, "honestly, I've been trying to come up with an answer to that exact question all day. I–I mean it's been months since we had an incident like the explosion in the basement." He glared at the male and female twins of the group who in turn gave each other a high five. "So in my mind there's nothing negative that he could come down on us for."
The largest man of the group raised his hand in a timid fashion wanting to give his input, "Hiccup if I may, since the house does belong to your Father, maybe there is some sort of repair work that needs done on it and he is calling us together to inform us." He said in a very matter of fact way, looking pleased with himself as a pretty raven haired women beside him gently squeezed his hand and smiled up to him.
Running his hands through his hair in a nervous fashion Hiccup smiled at the pair, "maybe Fishlegs. This whole thing just seems way out of the norm for my Dad. Not that I don't love seeing him but why meet with all of us?" He emphasized by motioning to the whole group.
Suddenly the male dreadlocked twin started bouncing up and down and waving his hand in the air. "Oh, oh, pick me, pick me. I have an idea!" He kept waving wildly as Hiccup shook his head and rolled his eyes before turning back to the blonde male. "Yes, Tuffnut?"
"Ok ,so what if you're Dad is calling us all together to tell us he is getting us a hot tub! I mean it all makes sense!" Tuffnut said enthusiastically as Snotlout jumped next to him and grabbed on to his arm, "I can picture it now, think of how many more girls we'll have over! Tuff you're a genius." The two men exchanged a high five while everyone else in the group shook their heads at the two men's antics. The girls of the group muttering about sexist males.
Slapping his forehead before turning back to the men, "what–what women are you two mutton heads talking about? The only two women ever in our house are, Ruffnut and Heather…and that's because they live there!"
"Yeah, Yak for brains! Even a made up hot tub won't get girls to date you two!" Ruffnut yelled at the two now deflated men.
"Shut up Ruffnut and you know what Hiccup that kind of thinking is why you've never had a girl friend cuz! Can't see the opportunities that are right in front of you!"
"Opportun…what are you talking about Snotlout?! Thor, help me." Hiccup covered his face with both hands and shook his head. "Snotlout, I could bet my life that my Dad is not giving us a hot tub. It's more likely that–" Hiccup abruptly stopped talking as the group rounded the last curve in the sidewalk and the old historic home came into view.
There parked directly in front of the large old home was an unmarked work truck, that had equally unmarked men unloading boxes off of it into their home. The group curiously walked past the men carrying boxes, watching their swift and efficient movements only to run into another worker standing on a ladder on the porch of the house. This one wasn't moving boxes but rather working with some electrical wires hanging out of the ceiling.
Carefully side stepping around the ladder Hiccup led his friends inside only to find more of the same, men moving boxes and others installing something around the windows of the family room. "Umm Daaaadddd?" No response. "Daaadddddd, strange men in our house, need information…NOW!" Hiccup looked around for his noticeably absent father. Thankfully only moments later he heard the distinct heavy footfall of his father coming from the kitchen towards them.
"Hiccup! How are you son?" His larger than life father's face split into a grin at the sight of him. Closing the gap quickly Stoick swept Hiccup into a bone breaking hug and spun him around.
"D-aaa-ddd…can't…breath…" he managed to squeak out with little to no air. The interaction between them causing everyone in the room to laugh, even the random men installing electronics.
Putting his son down, Stoick straightened his clothes a bit, "sorry Son, you know how I get." They both simultaneously rubbed the back of their heads in the same nervous fashion. Causing more laughs to come from the other occupants of the house.
After the laughter died down, one of the men working in the room stepped up to the Hiccup and his Father, "General Haddock Sir, we're done with the installation and the boxes have been moved into the spare room. Is there anything else sir?" The man stood rigid in front of his Father waiting for further commands.
"No, that will be all. Thank you for your quick work. Can't be to safe nowadays." He said in his commanding yet friendly General tone shaking the mans hand at the same time.
The group watched as the workers left, leaving them alone in the living room standing in an awkward silence. Snotlout nudged Hiccup's shoulder indicating that he should be the one to question his Father. 'Cowards' he glared at him before turning to his Dad.
"Sooo wh-what's going on Dad?" Hiccup motioned around the room as he asked the question.
Taking a deep breath before letting it out Stoick nodded as he looked at his son and the rest of the young adults, "sit. We have a lot to talk about." The group all quickly moved to sit on the couch and various chairs all except Hiccup who chose to stand. "Hiccup, please. Sit." Stoick told him from his standing position in front of the group.
Shaking his head, "no thank you, Dad. I have a feeling I'll just end up standing anyways, might as well cut out the extra steps."
"Alright alright. So to start this off, there are no cameras inside, only sensors around the doors and windows. The cameras, do surround the entire exterior of the property so if you don't want something seen by me, I would suggest you do it inside." He told them in a formal matter of fact tone. Very much like he would if he was speaking to his Soldiers.
Hiccup was glad in this moment that he hadn't sat down because he would have been currently springing to his feet in outrage. 'Cameras? Sensors? What was his Father thinking?!'
"Dad! Why on Midgard would you do that?" Hiccup asked as he waved his arms around wildly. "You know this is a very safe part of town. Do you not trust us or something? This is a complete invasion of privacy Dad!" He instantly began to pace still ranting endlessly until his Father's commanding tone cut through the room and stopped him in his tracks.
"Hiccup, stop!" Hiccup stared directly at his Father knowing the tone of his voice was one that you listened to. A tone that he didn't use often, unless something was very, very wrong.
Stoick wasted no time and cut straight to the point, "there is a threat to your life, Son." He told him face etched with worry and fatigue. For a brief second showing all present how much this information truly affected him. And if Stoick Haddock was worried than everyone should be worried.
The thoughts in Hiccup's mind seemed to race even faster at this new piece of information. 'A threat? Who would…why would they…' Hiccup thought as he stared blankly ahead.
Stoick took yet another deep breath and started again. "I was informed of the threat yesterday, Hiccup. I can't give you any details, just know that I am doing everything possible to stop the ones responsible for this threat…but until then, things are going to be a little different around here." Stoick looked at all the young adults in front of him.
"In addition to what we did here, there will be...extra security measures taken when you are away from the house, Hiccup." His slight pause broke Hiccup from his thoughts and caused him to narrow his eyes at what his Father had just said.
"…extra security measures? Daaadddd? What did you do?" He took a few steps towards his now noticeably nervous Father frustration starting to prickle at his senses.
"You have to understand Hiccup, I love you and I just want you safe Son. That's why the best decision was–". The sound of the door bell ringing interrupting his Father and causing everyone to whip their heads in its direction.
Hiccup saw his Father's eyes widen and move his head in the direction of the door and immediately he knew that whatever stood on the other side of that door was what his Father was describing as "extra security measures". Moving quickly Hiccup raced to the door, determined to find out first what exactly his Father had planned without his consent.
Practically ripping the door open, Hiccup opened his mouth to give a piece of his mind to this so called "extra security" when he was shocked silent by a pair of piercing ice blue eyes. Feeling his breath stolen from his lungs Hiccup had to physically pry his eyes away before he fell completely at their mercy. Ripping his eyes away he let them wander for a moment and he found the rest of the person standing in front of him equally as shocking. From her long blonde hair pulled away from her gorgeous face in a braid, to her thin frame that donned a pair of tight black jeans, combat style black boots and a long sleeve v-neck red top covered in a black leather jacket with a fur collar. To put it simply she was the most beautiful women he had ever seen.
And he was standing in front of her mouth gaping open like a fish. 'Damn it.'
"I-I, uh um…" Hicucp felt his Father's large hand grasp his shoulder and give it a not so gentle squeeze before he greeted the Goddess standing before him properly.
"Captain Hofferson, its good to see you, please come in." Stoick maneuvered his catatonic Son out of her way so she could enter the house. Giving a quick nod she entered, "thank you General Haddock it's good to see you again. I apologize for not saluting sir, I thought it would be better to avoid for the time being."
Stoick nodded absently, "best to just call me Mr. Haddock than, I'll address you by your first name." Giving a slight shake to Hiccup, breaking him of his trance, before gesturing slightly to him, "this is my son Hiccup." Blues eyes slid critically over the lanky auburn haired man, who fidgeted nervously under her gaze.
She glanced over his lithe form covered in a long sleeve green shirt and puffy brown vest to his slightly baggy brown pants over a sturdy pair of boots. Effortlessly moving her eyes back up to his face she glanced over his slightly gaped teeth, to his un kept auburn hair and finally she found herself staring in to his green eyes, eyes that some how perfectly matched his green shirt. 'Odd.'
After sizing him up quickly, she based all the information from his file and the few moments she had been in his presence and came to one glaringly obvious conclusion about who Hiccup Haddock was.
Weak.
Between his thin yet appropriately proportioned frame and the fact that the man could be distracted and flustered so easily by a pretty face. Made him an exceptionally easy target to kill, if not by brute strength than by mental deception. Finally she concluded that this job was not going to be an easy one, especially if the threats were as credible as her uncle stressed.
'Meaning this babysitting job is going to be a bigger pain in my ass than I thought. Thank Thor, I brought my good stash of whiskey.'
Taking a deep breath Astrid extended her hand towards him and Hiccup quickly grasped it in his surprisingly calloused yet gentle grasp. 'Odd again.'
After waiting a few moments for Hiccup to say anything Astrid realized that when she grasped his hand she somehow made him go brain dead, again. Internally sighing she realized she would have to speak first in hopes it would jumpstart his brain again.
"I'm Astrid". 'Straight and to the point.'
He continued to stare for another moment until a nudge from his Dad finally snapped him out of it. "Hey! Hi, Astrid. Hi, Astrid. Hi…Hi." He paused to stare at her again, earning him another hit from his Father. "OH yeah, I-I'm Hiccup...obviously." He pulled his hand away and chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck. Her eyes narrowed at his introduction, 'clearly not to the point.'
"Son why don't you go back and stand next to your friends, so I can introduce Astrid properly." Hiccup nodded dumbly and shuffled towards his friends who all stared at him with puzzled expressions due to his odd behavior.
Stoick walked the short distance to stand before the house occupants, followed dutifully by Astrid. He spared a glance at the regimented Soldier beside him and then over to his Son and his rag tag group of friends and he had to wonder how such polar opposites would stand living together. 'Maybe some of Astrid's discipline will rub off on them. Despite the ugly circumstances this might turn out to be a good thing.'
Clearing his throat and getting everyone's attention, "I would like to formally introduce Captain Astrid Hofferson. She's been in the Berk Military since she was 15 and is a highly decorated Soldier. Someone you could all learn a thing or two from." He turned to look directly at Hiccup, "and she is the extra security measure I was talking about. So now until the foreseeable future she will be your round the clock bodyguard."
That seemed to shake Hiccup out of whatever love struck fog that had seemed to invade his brain. Never having been subject to it before, he wasn't quite sure.
"B-bodyguard! DAD! What...WHY?!" He waved his hands wildly around. "I have school and other stuff! What i-is she just supposed to follow me around like, like a puppy or something?!" He began rapidly pacing again, a bad habit he had but considering the information he had been delivered today, one that he didn't see ending anytime soon. It was only when he heard what sounded like a growl coming from beside his Father did he stop and lock eyes again with Astrid's ice blue ones. Only now instead of enchanting and beautiful like before they were narrowed and deadly and looking straight at him; making him feel like prey about to be slaughtered. 'Oh...Thor…'
"A...puppy?" She was able to squeeze out between her clenched teeth. Her vision beginning to fade to red as she stared at the auburn haired idiot who had just insulted her. An insult that would have cost him his life or at very least a limb if he wasn't the General's Son. 'I'm gonna kill him myself! Save the damn assassin the trouble.'
She was only broken out of her murderous thoughts by the thunderous laugh of the raven haired male who once was sitting on the couch but was now standing beside Hiccup. "CUZ! You got a girl bodyguard, like you're not even–", Snotlout was never able to finish because instead of taking her anger out on Hiccup, which she considered not a good idea with his Father and her Commander standing in the room, she took her anger out on his loud cousin. Delivering a swift punch to his face that left him dazed she quickly picked up his body and flung it over her shoulder throwing him directly in front of Hiccup. Where she then took a booted foot and dropped it on his neck before locking furious eyes with the gobsmacked gaze of one Hiccup Haddock.
"Puppy, huh?" She emphasized by adding some pressure to Snotlout's neck before finally removing her boot and moving just as swiftly as before back to his Father's side. Who like everyone else in the room had a look of pure shock written all over his face.
Hiccup slowly turned his attention away from the terrifying blonde and to his beaten Cousin who was currently letting out a few coughs and trying to breathe. "H-hicc-up."
"Ye-yeah, Snotlout," he asked wearily.
"I-I…think…I'm in love." He barely finished before passing out cold on the floor. Hiccup's gaze raised back to cold blue ones and all that was running through his head was, 'and I think I'm dead…'
So I hope you liked chapter 2! Like my other stories this one will be a mix of drama, romance, with a healthy sprinkling of humor and angst because I can't write a completely heavy fic. Though there will be some chapters that are almost completely angst/drama.
Alright, so I had a question about Astrid's rank so let me address that. Pretty much throw away all real world knowledge about the military other than maybe the names of the ranks and structure. I mean Stoick is the General of Berk's military (the only one btw) and he is essentially the Vice President of Berk. Also in this story Berk's military serves as their police force as well as a fighting force for large wars and missions abroad and you can join up at 15. Which is when Astrid joined up hence her higher rank (Berk Guard are only officers). See pretty much made up the whole thing to suit my needs in the story. So like I said let most of your accurate military knowledge go and hopefully enjoy. I'll try and explain enough in the story so there hopefully shouldn't be any confusion.
Thanks for all the reviews, favs and follows!