Wrong, wrong, wrong. Everything is just wrong.
Astrid dismounts Stormfly with a little too much fury, knees almost buckling as her feet hit the ground hard. She grasps onto her saddle to keep her balance as her dragon growls with concern. Thankfully, no one sees her fumbling efforts, and she pats her dragon as she squashes down pangs of embarrassment.
She's just about to coo, reassure Stormfly that she's alright. Her dragon could almost make her forget her anger. But a familiar shadow circles overhead, drawing closer, and she feels the momentary softness for her dragon eroding into an edge.
Toothless lands nearby, and Hiccup's sat astride him looking smug—too smug—Astrid is too competitive to congratulate him on the win. His win, which should have been her win, undeniably.
"You nearly knocked me out of the sky, cutting me off!" she snaps.
Hiccup's grin falters. "You really think I'd do that? Give me some credit, here, Astrid. I was having some fun."
She turns away, fuming, pretending to busy herself with nothing at all.
"I didn't know I was supposed to show restraint in a race," he says, dismounting as well.
She squares her shoulders, resolved to pull away should he touch her. "The black sheep was clearly mine. Then you have to go pull that stupid stunt. I guess winning races are just that important, huh?"
"No. But they are to you."
She whips around, armed with a sharp rebuke—but he's grinning again, pointing to the baskets and the sheep bleating helplessly therein. The animals are being tallied, the crowd is cheering, and that is unmistakable black wool in her basket.
"Wait." She scrunches her eyes closed. "Did you—?"
She's declared victorious for all of Berk to hear, and her boyfriend just stands there so insufferably pleased with himself. It's maddening. And adorable.
Her temperature rises, and she's glad her pale cheeks are colorfully painted to mask the red erupting beneath. She feels foolish, but only a little. Hiccup is no less reckless for being romantic.
She gives him a soft, backhanded swat to his shoulder. "I hate you," she mutters.
He cannot stop smiling. "No, you don't."
