My Hope
Author: Nightstar Fury of Nightstar Productions.
Rating: M for Mature.
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Dreamworks HTTYD or Dreamworks Dragons. I also don't own any of the songs I may use.
23; Caught.
{Astrid's POV}
Since the day Hunter came home from the hospital, we'd had no idea what he meant by saying he'd make Toothless a new tail. It just...wasn't possible, was it? He wanted to get started on it right away but his parents and even Heather were on his case about relaxing this week because of his leg. Needless to say, Hunter wasn't pleased with not being able to get right to work but he did follow the rules because he didn't want to mess up his leg anymore than it already was, seeing as it was being held in place by metal plates, screws, and bolts. I know me and my friends were generally extremely curious about how Hunter would make Toothless another tail. We honestly thought maybe the crash messed something up in his head where now he thought he could do the impossible. We were very worried for our friend.
I used the chance I could that day he got home to remind him that I loved him, or rather had fallen in love with his emerald green eyes and since the day of the races before we knew he was Shadow, I had a feeling that it might have been him because I knew Hunter's eyes well. I saw his face turn little shocked too: obviously he had yet to figure out if he returned my feelings or not. I knew the answer was probably no, for that Olivia girl had his heart first and she hurt him badly. I knew even now two years later he was still recovering from all that. I felt bad for him. I wanted him to be able to forget her and no longer feel that pain but what could I do? I was useless here. Hunter spent most of the first week out of the hospital drawing in his notebook, possible tail designs I assumed.
But now on the second week, he had to return to school so he didn't fall too far behind. As expected, he had a mountain of make up work to do but he didn't care so much as it was pretty easy for him to get done. Due to him being on crutches, he was allowed to leave class 5 minutes early so he didn't get trampled by students and Heather was allowed to leave class too so she could help him out, it was either her or Damien who were in most of his new classes. We wished Hunter was still in ours but when that whole -not being his friend anymore- thing happened, he transferred out so we wouldn't run into one another but evidently he transferred to college prep courses so they were hard too and he liked a challenge.
All of us would try and go to Hunter's house after school and help him out where we could. In Dragon Training at school, Hunter helped out Gobber by calling fly patterns or mistakes we made in our flying since he couldn't fly. Damien now worked with his Gronckle, Shattermaster and left Shocker at home since having a Skrill on school grounds during a storm wasn't exactly a good thing: that and Shocker was attracting too much attention from other students who wanted to get closer.
Yes, it was great to have our friendship back. I loved having Hunter and Heather back-it was like things were normal and complete again. Yes, it felt good indeed. And more exciting, it was now Friday so Hunter was getting his air cast today! His father was taking him right after school for it, this meant he wouldn't need his crutches anymore. All of us were excited as well because Hunter's 18th birthday was next week and we were planning something for him. Nothing big, just something between friends. Some soda, chips, and a cake. We couldn't wait to surprise him, although he hated surprise parties.
Now sitting in school, there was still ten minutes left of the day. We knew Hunter would be leaving in five minutes though, Damien or Heather too. The rest of us were going to meet at Hunter's house for 4pm when he would be arriving home in his new cast and we all had a feeling after the hugs and cheering was out of the way, he'd be getting right to work on Toothless's new tail, which all of us wanted to see happen. I couldn't wait, I knew Hunter was inventive as shit so this would be fun to watch. I just hope he didn't hurt himself more than he already was.
{Hunter's POV}
I wanted the next five minutes to pass quickly. Heather would be coming to my class to help me get to dad's office so we could go to the doctor to get this annoying cast off. But I was keeping it for memories, all my friends signed it and parents too. Heather had helped Hope sign it with some washable paint: no way I could just ditch it! It was my forever memory that my friends stood with me even in all the bullshit that happened. I seriously loved my friends and no one knew this yet, except Damien-but if I managed to build Toothless a new, working tail...I was going to keep racing. If my friends are willing to deal with press and shit, then so could I. I loved to race and so did Toothless. No way we could stop just because some people have nothing better to do with their lives.
Damien knew because he was holding my spot for the world-wide race in June. I was technically named the winner of the race for the island league races for Berk because that Changewing rider wasn't a member of the Berk league and I was closest to the finish line before the crash. But since I said it was my last race, it went to the runner up which was Damien who had the power to pass it off and he admitted to me that I was the one who deserved to race the worldwide race so he'd hold my place until I was healed and got Toothless's tail fixed. Damien was definitely one of my best friends and I really owed him for being my friend when the others stopped briefly. Damien was fully integrated into the group now. One of us for sure. He even said he was staying for the rest of the year when his school on his island was repaired.
I had the best friends in the world. I loved them all but perhaps there was one who held more meaning to me than the rest. And that was Astrid. When she first told me she loved me, I didn't know what to think or do. I still kind of didn't: I only rejected her then because I was hiding Hope and my racing. If she had been my girlfriend she would of found out fast and everything I worked to protect would be gone. I still didn't know how I felt about her but I knew things were already different and I felt something for her that I didn't with the others, so there had to be something there, I just needed to figure out what it was. "Hunter, you're free to go," said my teacher, Mr. Remiresu. I nodded as I got out from the desk, got my bag on my back then made it out of the classroom where Heather was waiting for me.
We made our way to Dad's office before the bell rang and the halls crowded with students. Right as we were leaving, we saw Astrid and Damien waving to us as we got outside then into Dad's car. I rode shotgun while she took backseat. Finally this thing was coming off!
We'd been called in pretty quick, thankfully. They cut the cast off, took a new set of X-Rays and then while those were being looked at, I was sitting on the bed thankful to see my leg again. The cut cast was near the chair that Heather was sitting on while Dad stood against the wall, waiting for updates. Then the doctor returned. "Well Hunter, you're leg is healing nicely. It's almost completely fused again: I'd say another two weeks and you might be good to go," the doctor smiled.
"Really?" I asked surprised. This was only three weeks after the crash: maybe the break hadn't been as bad as they first thought.
She nodded, "So I'd liked to see how you walk. Try without the cast on-just give me a feel for how it feels...pressure, pain, weak..." I nodded putting both feet on the floor, my right first then left before I stood up to balance myself. I took a breath before taking a step. Yeah, it hurt a little but it was manageable and it felt weak still but as long as I didn't move really fast, I could handle it. There wasn't any pressure though-that had to be good. "Scale of 1 to 10, how is the pain?"
"Four," I replied.
"Good! And how about weakness?" she asked next.
"Not bad but I assume it's weak because I've barely been on it for three weeks," I answered.
"Well honestly, I see no reason to air cast it! We want to bring back mobility and if you can manage this, then the stronger your leg becomes again. I will advise a brace for a few hours a day, though that doesn't have to be all at once but we want to generally work our way to you walking on your own without anything for support. You get to keep your crutches, should you feel you need them. And the brace, try to use a few times a day for support. You don't want all your weight on that leg just yet," the doctor informed me.
We tried a few out. She had me wear the braces to see how they felt as far as mobility went-then I had to take a few steps to see how it felt for walking. After the 4th one, we had one that worked perfectly. I could walk in it, bend my leg, and walk almost completely normally. I had a slight limp but that was fine with me. "Alright, I think you're all set Hunter. We'll see you back in two weeks to see if that leg is healed or not," the doctor said. After all that, we left the hospital and began the return home.
(Haddock Household)
It was about 3:50 when we arrived and as they'd promised, all my friends were there. Boy, were they shocked to see me not wearing the air cast at all! We all sat down so I could explain what the doctor said to me about gaining back strength and mobility. I was glad I could hold Hope without needing help anymore: it had been hard to take care of her since I needed the crutches to walk but now I didn't need help. It felt good to be able to do it on my own again. Once all the celebrating the no air cast was over, as I planned to, I went right to my small workshop outback and began working on the ideas I had for Toothless's tail. I had a bunch of different materials to work with. My friends were all there watching me too-strange but I didn't mind so much. They'd never really seen me work on something so complicated before. Building a working dragon tail? Pfft, they had to think I was crazy.
But that was the fun part. I was crazy enough to attempt something like this. I tried a lot of different things but nothing seemed to be working, that and I was kind of distracted wondering about what it was I felt for Astrid. I knew I liked her but I didn't know if that was friendship like or the other type of like, the kind that could evolve into love. My friends literally just sat in chairs and watched me work for almost two hours. I had the radio going, I even sang along to a few of the songs. I talked with my friends while working, and Toothless stayed close since I had to try it out on him but nothing I did made it so he could fly on his own. And that's when it hit me. He couldn't fly on his own: nothing I ever did would make it so he could fly himself because his original tail had bones in it.
Now that the tail was gone, the bones couldn't regrow. I was Toothless's rider so maybe I had to be the one to control the tail. My eyes widened: why hadn't I realized it sooner!? However, as soon as I had the idea set, I was summoned for dinner and my friends had to leave. Also, Mom and Dad didn't want me pushing myself too hard on my first day with no cast so I was told to give it a rest for the night. That was fine, I was kind of hungry now that it was about 6ish. I had dinner with my family, gave Hope a bath and settled her into bed with a story, then cleaned up her toys with help from Heather. When Hope was asleep, I decided I needed a shower too so I took one then relaxed in bed doing more drawing to Toothless's new tail and also making a list of materials I would need. I couldn't wait to get started.
(Middle Of The Next Week; Hunter's Workshop)
Now it was Wednesday. I wasn't wearing my brace right now. Heather was inside with Hope, Mom was still working and Dad was at a school board meeting for all the principals of the Berk school district. They wouldn't be home until at least 7pm: right now it was about 4pm. Damien, Shaun, and Travis had gotten detention and I still have no idea why. It was an ESD which stood for Extended School Day and they had to stay from 2:30pm to 6:30pm. It sucked: I'd never had an ESD myself but I heard how boring it was.
Eric and Rylee were on a date, and I believed Fredrick was working his part time job until 8 tonight. I had no idea what Astrid was doing as I kind of wanted to talk to her. Over the last few days since that doctor's appointment, I'd been trying to sort out my feelings and I knew for sure now that I liked her. She was smart, beautiful, funny, and amazing with Hope. I'd watched her while my leg was in a cast: she would sit on the floor and play with Hope. She even changed her a few times when Heather was busy. Astrid was incredible: she treated Hope like a daughter almost or at best a very special...unrelated type of niece. I did like Astrid and I was willing to try a relationship with her, after we talked. She had to understand that it would have to go slow and this was trial period. I didn't want Hope getting attached if Astrid and I didn't work out for whatever reason.
I was working in the workshop, I had a small forge there. Call me old fashioned but I wasn't paying for pieces I could make myself. I realized in order for me to actually fly Toothless, I had to be the one to control his tail fin so I needed a way to do that and ride him. The solution: use a foot pedal attached to the saddle I used when riding him in races. I'd been at this since school let out and picking Hope up from daycare. It was hot with the forge and I'd removed my shirt as I was now covered in sweat, I would definitely need a shower after this was over. Most of the tail was done, I had a black piece of leather as the tail itself then thin metal bars acting as the 'bones' for the tail to change positions. I was working on the connector rod now.
{Astrid POV}
After I finished my homework, I was pretty bored so I decided while the others were busy or working, or...in detention, that I'd go to Hunter's and Heather's for a while. I had a car so why not? I grabbed my wallet and keys as I headed out then drove to the Haddock house. Arriving a short ten minutes later, I was greeted by Heather who was holding Hope. "Hey Astrid," she smiled.
"Hey, hope you don't mind me coming over but I was really bored," I smiled back.
"Of course it's fine. Hunter's out back, working on the tail still. He's been banging away for 20 minutes," Heather laughed. We'd all seen the failed experiments over the last week or so.
"So you're babysitting then?" I asked her. She nodded.
"He doesn't like Hope in the workshop when he's working with the forge," Heather chuckled.
"Fair enough." I shrugged now. Heather handed me a towel and I blinked curiously at her.
"Can you take that out to him for me? He asked me for it like ten minutes ago but I forgot until now," Heather asked. I nodded to her and headed out back...and sure enough I saw him in there, banging away. He had his headphones in and was working on a long piece of metal with a flat end that had a hole in it. He didn't see me standing there but I saw a lot of him. He was shirtless, sweat pouring down his face and chest. Gods he looked so hot! I never noticed he had a 4 pack abs before now either. Was it bad I just wanted to grab hold of those muscles? 'No Astrid, Bad! He's not even your boyfriend. He's one of your best friends! Behave yourself!'
Finally he stopped and wiped the sweat from his brow then began looking around for the towel- I assume the one he asked Heather for. I took a deep breath and walked in taking him by surprise.
{Regular POV}
Hunter finished the piece, the final one to complete the tail. He put the hammer down and smiled proudly of his work then began looking around for the towel he'd asked Heather for. Not more than a second later he saw the forge door open wider and in walked Astrid. Hunter blinked a few times seeing her standing there looking at him while he was dripping sweat and shirtless before her. Hunter saw that Astrid was wearing light blue jeans, a light long sleeve shirt that covered the back of her hands and palms, her hair in a braid that draped over her left shoulder like always. In this moment, he saw how beautiful she really was and his heart began to race. Hunter's music was currently paused being the end of the playlist as the two just stood there.
"Um...here, Heather...asked me to bring it to you," Astrid said a little nervously. Stepping closer to him, Hunter accepted it from her as he wiped his face and chest with it. 'So hot and built...If that's him shirtless I wonder what he'd look like below the belt, probably toned legs and a firm...' She stopped herself realizing she was now wondering what Hunter looked like with nothing on below the belt! 'No, bad Astrid, STOP OGLING HIM! He is your best friend! Bad Astrid, BAD!' she begged herself.
"Thanks..." Hunter replied slowly: Astrid nodded. They were only a few inches apart from the each other. Now the two just stared at one another, Hunter's green eyes meeting her blue ones and they locked on: at their sides were their right hands that touched lightly and slightly intertwined their fingers. Astrid was blushing softly and Hunter couldn't help but smile. Right here, right now he knew that he didn't just like Astrid. He loved her. His heart didn't race like this for anyone else, not even Olivia. He loved Astrid and he wouldn't dare try to fight those feelings. Hunter's left hand rose from his side and placed a finger under Astrid's chin to draw her in closer to him. Her heart beat rapidly as she closed her eyes, and Hunter closed his leaning in and then...
"Dada?" Both teens froze in their actions hearing the voice belonging to Hunter's daughter, Hope who just caught them about to kiss one another.
