Shake It Off

A/N: This is based on two separate and true events. I'm not sure if you'll find it funny or not… I've tried to portray these events as accurately as I can, but it really is one of those you-had-to-be-there things. At any rate, I hope you enjoy it!

"What exactly are you eating?"

Audun looked over at Hillevi, who was frowning at him questioningly. He grinned and held up the food in his hands. "It's a spicy chicken sandwich," he explained.

Hillevi eyed it warily. "How spicy is it, exactly?"

Audun shrugged. "I don't think it's too bad. But I like spicy things, so I'm afraid I'm not the best judge."

Hillevi hummed in contemplation, still gazing at the sandwich. It did look pretty good…

Audun chuckled. He knew that look. "Would you like to try it?"

His friend shrugged and took the proffered sandwich, continuing to eye it warily.

"Careful, Hillevi," Alva spoke up. "Remember what happened last time you tried something spicy? I thought you were going to copy Daydream and burst into flame."

Hillevi shot a glare at her friend as her Monstrous Nightmare perked up at the sound of her name. "I'm sure I can handle it," she replied stiffly.

Alva held up her hands in surrender. "Have it your way."

Hillevi rolled her eyes and then returned her gaze to the sandwich in her hands. She studied it for a moment longer, and then she leaned forward and took a small, experimental bite.

For a second or two, there was no sign for Audun or Hillevi to tell what she thought of it. She stared straight ahead, her face blank and expressionless.

Then her chewing slowed.

Her expression – or lack thereof – didn't change, but it was clear that the spices were starting to register on her tongue. Her jaw slowed, slowed, and then stopped moving altogether. And still no change came to her face. Audun raised his eyebrows.

Then Hillevi, still staring ahead at nothing, reached out for her cup of water. Her movements were smooth and calm, not a twitch to indicate that she was in any kind of discomfort. She took a deep draught from her mug, lowered it, and handed the sandwich back to Audun. "Um…" she said. "It's a bit too hot for me."

Audun struggled for a moment, and then he burst into laughter. Hillevi blinked and, for the first time since she'd taken the bite, her expression changed. Her eyes widened and her face twisted in confusion. "What?"

"I'm sorry," Audun gasped, still chuckling. "It's just…your face was priceless!"

Hillevi frowned and looked over at Alva for an explanation. Her friend merely shook her head and sighed.

"You had this totally neutral expression on your face," Audun explained, still laughing a bit. "It's like you were off in your own little world. And then your chewing slowed down, and you didn't even blink! I swear I could see the gears turning in your head as you realized that the chicken was actually spicy! I could tell the exact moment you thought, Oh, this is hot! and your features didn't change one bit! It was amazing!" He covered his face with his hands and kept on laughing.

Hillevi raised one eyebrow. "Glad I could amuse you," she remarked dryly.

Either Audun didn't pick up on her tone or he ignored it. "And then," he went on, "you reached out for your water, again without batting an eye! It's like you were a zombie or something, I don't know…" He seemed to realize Hillevi wasn't laughing. His smile slipped a notch. "It…it was funny!" He looked to Alva for support, but she merely continued eating her meal and said nothing.

"If you say so," Hillevi said after an awkward pause.

Audun shrugged, feeling his cheeks go pink. "One of those you-had-to-be-there things, I guess."

Hillevi just shrugged and picked up her spoon. Audun took a bite of his sandwich. It really wasn't all that hot, he figured. But he didn't dare say that aloud.

"Hmm…" Hillevi said after a moment, considering her soup. "Needs some salt."

She reached over for the salt shaker, but she misjudged the distance with her hand and accidentally knocked it over, spraying a stream of salt across the tabletop.

Hillevi sighed with irritation as she stood the shaker upright again. "Perfect."

"Don't forget to throw a pinch over your shoulders," Audun remarked.

Hillevi blinked. "What?"

Audun motioned toward the spilled salt. "According to superstition, you're supposed to throw a pinch of salt over your shoulders when you spill it. Wards off bad luck or something like that."

Hillevi raised her eyebrows. "You really believe that?"

Audun shrugged. "Couldn't hurt, right?"

He soon discovered just how wrong he was.

Hillevi sighed. "I suppose." She reached out, took a pinch of salt, and tossed it over her left shoulder. "There." Then, almost as an afterthought, she added, "You said shoulders, as in plural. Does it have to be both?"

Audun shrugged. "Not sure. Could be. I suppose to be safe it's best to do both."

Hillevi nodded and reached out for another pinch.

Her hand bumped the salt shaker again and sent it toppling over once more.

For a moment, the span of a heartbeat, all three friends stared down at the fallen shaker. Then Audun let out a snort of laughter, and Hillevi's nostrils flared. She picked up the shaker and set it upright one more time, hitting the table with a little more force than necessary. "Screw it," she said. "If I have bad luck, I'm blaming you, Audun."

Audun was trying to cover up his laughter and didn't reply.

"Come on, Hillevi," Alva said, leaning into her best friend with a wide grin on her face. "You just gotta shake it off!"

Hillevi glared down at her. "Did you really just say that?"

"Nope," Alva said, sitting up and pointing at Audun. "He did."

"Huh?" was Audun's brilliant reply.

"You!" Hillevi cried, leaping to her feet. "It's all your fault!"

"Wha…?" Audun scooted his chair back and stood up. "Hillevi, what are you…whoa!"

Daydream burst into flame, and that was the only cue Audun needed. He sprinted for the door, Hillevi and her Nightmare hot in pursuit, leaving Alva behind them, roaring with laughter.

At a nearby table, Hiccup and the other dragon riders witnessed this little scene with raised eyebrows. "Um…" Astrid looked over at Hiccup. "Should we try to help him…?"

"As many times as he's dragged me into his messes?" Hiccup scoffed and crossed his arms. "Not on your life. He's on his own this time."

A/N: Never a dull moment with these guys… XD Hope you enjoyed that!