Where I Belong
Author: Nightstar Fury
Rating: M
Pairing: Hiccup/Astrid
Disclaimer: I don't own the HTTYD movies, or any of the HTTYD series such as Riders of Berk, Defenders of Berk, or Race To The Edge.
I'd Be Honored
Two weeks since the day Toothless and Hiccup because official members of the Hooligan tribe and they both loved it. Hiccup's now routine consisted of waking up around the time Stoick did, they'd both eat at the house and talk a bit about whatever came to mind even if it was Stoick not sure how to handle something in the village, Hiccup would offer ideas if he could. After that, Stoick would leave to start his duties was Hiccup and Toothless took a morning flight around the island to watch sunrise before Hiccup rushed to the forge to help Gobber out with anything he could. Sharpening, building, inventing. Around lunch time, Hiccup met up with Astrid and their friends in the hall where they'd eat and Toothless would get about 30 fish to himself which was cool with Stoick because Hiccup sometimes went out with the fishers and used Toothless to bring in extras.
The second half of Hiccup's day would involve him with his friends, telling them stories of the rescues he did with his mother, then sometimes it was just him and Astrid. Hiccup really liked her but what couldn't you like about her? Astrid's name alone meant Divine Beauty which she definitely lived up too, she was also incredibly smart, funny, and strong. Hiccup wanted to ask her out on a date but he also didn't want to ruin their friendship. Gobber had told him to go for it, even Stoick said that he'd never know if he didn't try. He didn't know what to do about it, he wanted to ask her but he'd never done something like this before so who could really blame him for being nervous? He'd only been among people for about ten weeks roughly and there was a lot to get used to still. Not to mention, he still wanted to know about who he was but he figured he could do that soon after he was more settled in.
Hiccup was currently working in the forge, fine tuning Inferno. He was aiming to make it smaller, better to use in combat if needed. There were a few dragons who remained on the island which Stoick didn't mind, the dragons weren't hurting anyone and more often than not they helped out too. There were four who were around all the time playing with Toothless while Hiccup working. Those four included: a Deadly Nadder, a Monstrous Nightmare, a Gronckle, and a Hideous Zippleback. The Nadder was white bellied, blue back with a red/purple color on the wings, then yellow and blue along the tail where the spikes were. This dragon was also female according to Hiccup when he was informing Stoick. There was a female Gronckle, brown with some faded pink spots along it. The Nightmare was male, red/black body with white underside. Finally the Zippleback, male, was green/yellow with red spots along it.
"So, have ya asked her yet lad?" Gobber's voice cut through his concentration, Hiccup looked up confused them realized he meant if he'd asked Astrid out yet.
"No," He sighed heavily putting his tools down, "I want too...I just don't know how."
"Just say right out. Ask her to join yew for supper, I'm sure Stoick wouldn't mind." Gobber suggested.
"What if she says no?" Hiccup looked away.
"I doubt that, she's always hangin round ya so there must be something she likes." Gobber snickered, Hiccup blushed slightly. "Go on and talk to Stoick. I'll let ya off early today." Gobber smiled, Hiccup nodded and rushed off to find Stoick while on Toothless's back because it was a lot easier to search from the sky. After 10 minutes he spotted him near the docks and landed with Toothless.
"Greetins to ya lad, what brings you by?" Stoick smiled to Einarr as he faced him now.
"Well I uh..." Hiccup tried not to sound super nervous although he was, "I was...wondering if...maybe I could have...Miss Astrid over for dinner at the house tonight?..." Hiccup rubbed the back of his head looking at Stoick.
"Oh I see, a date is it?" Stoick asked, Hiccup nodded to him slowly trying to hide his blush. "Of course ya can son. I'll be at the hall tonight anyhow."
"Thank you, chief!" Hiccup said excitedly rushing off with Toothless to find Astrid, he'd ask her first then rush back to the house to make sure everything would be perfect for tonight. Gobber was right, and so was Stoick. There was no way she could tell him no. Astrid always hung around him, and was always smiling too so there had to be something there. Flying overhead he spotted her carrying some heavy buckets of water so he landed and took the stick from her and put it across his shoulder to carry.
"You're a...life saver." She panted with a smile.
"Just trying to be helpful so...Where these going?" Hiccup asked.
"Just to my house, the water pump in the kitchen is broken." Astrid told him, Hiccup nodded as they walked together with Toothless following.
"I could...probably fix that for you. I do fancy myself a kind of fix it guy on Berk, Mi'lady." Hiccup chuckled some, and her blush didn't go unnoticed by him either.
"Mi'lady?" Astrid questioned.
"Well you are a young lady, beautiful at that. You live up to your name indeed." Hiccup responded, she blushed deeper now.
"But...isn't what you said kind'a...referring to me as your lady?" Astrid asked him.
"You are my...lady friend, aren't you?" Hiccup answered.
"I suppose that's true." Astrid replied as they reached her home and he placed the buckets down on the table near her mother who bowed her head gratefully. Astrid's father came out from kitchen wiping his brow with a rag.
"Ah, hello there Einarr. What brings you by?" Asked Colby, Astrid's father.
"Astrid was struggling with the water so I offered my help sir." Hiccup replied with a bow.
"Such a kind young man." Replied Helga Hofferson, Colby's wife and Astrid's mother.
"Just doing what I can. Want me to take a look at that pump while I'm here?" Hiccup offered to the Hofferson parents.
"You can give it a shot lad." Colby said leading Einarr in to the kitchen now. Astrid sighed softly as she watched with her mother behind her.
"You fancy him, don't you sweetheart?" Helga asked.
"He's amazing mom...Look at him. Dragon rider, inventor, artist, blacksmith...What isn't there to fancy about him?" Astrid replied softly.
"Well, you're not the only one who has an eye on him my dear. I'd make a move soon if you want to be with him, I certainly wouldn't mind having him as my son in law." Helga giggled as she then went back to preparing things for the evening meal. Astrid just watched Einarr work on the pump, he was laying on his back looking all around the object. Her mother was right, everyone female of age to date wanted Einarr as theirs but he never showed an interest in girls so they felt he'd just reject them. Astrid felt this way too. She leaned on the door frame for ten minutes as Einarr got the pump working fine again.
"Many thanks, Einarr." Colby said with a hand on Einarr's shoulder, and Astrid saw his smile brighten, it made her heart pound.
"No trouble at all sir," His eyes turned on Astrid now with the same smile that made her go weak in the knees. "I'm...off early from the forge, Astrid. Would you like to take a walk with me?" Astrid nodded her head to him as the two headed out the door, Toothless crooning happily and nudging Hiccup's arm as if to push him to ask.
"Nice day, huh?" Astrid asked.
"Oh yes, beautiful." Hiccup replied to her, nervous to ask. All he had to do was ask her to join him for dinner at his and Stoick's home, that was it. Why was it so hard! There was silence between them now while they walked. 'Just do it, Hiccup. Just ask her straight out to join you for dinner, don't be a coward. You ride a Night Fury for Odin's sake.' With his mind made up, he took a breath and stopped walking to face Astrid who stopped when she saw he had done so.
"Are you okay?" Astrid asked.
"Yeah, I'm great...I wanted...to ask you something." Hiccup replied gently to her.
"Okay, ask me then." Astrid giggle a bit.
"I was...wondering if you'd like to...maybe, possibly join me for dinner tonight?" Hiccup asked her.
"Don't I always eat with you in the hall anyway?" Astrid replied smiling.
"No...Well yes you do but...I meant...in mine and Stoick's house," He saw Astrid's eyes widen a bit, "As in...Just us."
"A-Are you...asking me out on a date, Einarr?" Astrid responded a bit stunned at Einarr's question. He wanted to have her over for dinner, at his house? Just the two of them?! Her heart was racing in her chest, was he asking HER out on a date tonight? Astrid really hoped so.
Hiccup gathered his courage now and nodded to Astrid with a smile. "Yes I am, Astrid. I am asking you out on a date to join me for a dinner for just us at my house tonight." Hiccup answered. "So...Will you join me for dinner this evening? Say just after everyone goes to the hall for dinner themselves?"
"I will. I'd be honored to join you for dinner tonight, Einarr." Astrid responded. She was so excited, Einarr just asked her out on a date! And she accepted, this was her chance to be with him. After all, he had to of liked her a little to be asking her out on a date right? Still, Astrid wouldn't rush anything. It was still only one date, she would have to drop hints she liked him too so he'd know how she felt about him. But none of that mattered right now! She had a date with Einarr tonight and in only three hours! She could hardly contain herself.
"Great, I'll see you just before sunset then?" Hiccup asked.
"You will, Einarr. See you tonight." Astrid smiled as she rushed off to tell her mother that Einarr asked her out for dinner at his house, just the two of them too! As soon as she was out of sight, Hiccup threw his fist in the air with joy. She'd said yes! Now there was a lot of work to do, Hiccup jumped on Toothless's back and took off towards Stoick's and his house to start cleaning things up and preparing dinner, thankfully he was an exceptional cook. Unlike his mother who couldn't cook to save her life. Hiccup was so happy, maybe tonight he'd be able to tell Astrid his feelings for her but then again he wanted to wait. Just to see how things went between them. He couldn't wait!