It felt like hours to them just standing there as everyone stared in disbelief except Stoick and Calder who already knew. After 10 minutes, Astrid finally stood up from the chair she had been sitting in and stepped closer to Hiccup. Fishlegs and Tuffnut backed up a little. Astrid didn't look shocked anymore, she looked upset and mad. This was a different reaction than when she'd found out about him being Fury. That was a moment where he had saved her life and didn't have a choice. This time he did, and he chose to wait to tell her something this big until her birthday.
Hiccup was prepared for it, he didn't blame her if she left him for this. Hiccup didn't move from his spot, he was only looking at her. It was to silent, he wondered what she was possibly thinking about. It was killing him to know, finally she closed her eyes and turned her head from him sadly. She couldn't believe it, Hiccup was Strike this whole time. Astrid's eyes filled with tears now. "Y-you've been...You're Strike?! Why wouldn't you tell me sooner, like maybe when we got together, Hiccup! Really, after everything we've been though, how much trust I put in you...you hide this from me!" Astrid screamed at him, Hiccup didn't flinch, he expected this. "How long, Hiccup? Or should I even call you that. Maybe it's Fury...or Strike now I guess. I don't even know what I should call you..." Astrid asked in a hurt tone. She didn't look at him.
"Since I was 8. That Christmas song you heard me sing is what started my career. Fishlegs and Tuffnut were my only two friends and they joined me the first time to the studio, the producers heard us singing together and that's how we formed Fire Storm. Our earlier work was sealed away because we were kids. Fire Storm went public when we started Jr. High and were 12." Hiccup told her calmly.
"And you didn't bother to tell me...I see how much you trust me now..." Astrid fought back the tears. Hiccup knew this could happen and he already planned what to do incase it did. He sighed now.
"I never wanted to lie to you about this or being Fury. But me being Strike was far more complicated than you understand...It's not that I didn't trust you, I was protecting you from that celebrity lifestyle." Hiccup sighed as he backed up a few steps with his eyes closed. "I don't expect you to be calm, or not upset about this, Astrid. You can hate me all you want, you can even leave me. Just know I am sorry that I kept these things from you. I'm not going to explain myself...I did what I felt I had too. Yes. I am Strike from Fire Storm, as well as I am Fury the Dragon Racer. I'll leave you alone from now on. You have that look in your eyes. The one you had for Eret, one of hate. Just know I love you and I will never forget the time we had together. I won't ask your forgiveness. I don't deserve it after this. You'll never know how sorry I am, Astrid...Goodbye..." Hiccup said softly as he handed Tuffnut his microphone and walked off the stage.
"Wait...where are you going..." Asked Ruffnut.
"I'm done. Fury is done. And now, so is Strike." Hiccup said, no one expected that answer. Even Astrid looked up towards him now. Hiccup had his head down and eyes closed.
"Hold up Hiccup...You never said anything about not being Fury or Strike anymore if this went badly..." Fishlegs said suddenly looking at him.
"Personal choices to withdraw from both. I won't ask you to understand them. The only reason I hid who I was for so long was to protect the people I care about most so they wouldn't have to get sucked in to the crazy life style, where they can be a target for news crews, constant gossip and rumors that aren't true, never having a moments peace...I didn't want people I loved dragged in to that. Which is why we hid with the masks and face paint. Secrets out, it's over and I'm done." Hiccup said as Toothless crooned coming beside him now.
"But Hiccup...You can't just...leave us..." Tuffnut said now.
"Its clear Astrid doesn't want to be with a liar, who she feels doesn't trust her..." Hiccup looked away now, "Without her, I'm nothing more than a loser." Hiccup said.
"You're not a loser, look at all you have!" Anna said now.
"You mean, all I HAD remember? Toothless and I are leaving tonight." Hiccup said firmly. "I was a loser before Astrid and I got paired for this project...People only started noticing me when she was in my life. With her gone, what do I have? Nothing because I'm nothing without her." Hiccup said.
"Y–you're not making any sense!" Astrid yelled at him finally. "You didn't need me for people to notice you! All it would of taken was a phone call, right? Just like you said! All you had to do was announce you were Fury and Strike, and the son of Stoick the Vast and you would of had it all, Hiccup!" Astrid told him angrily.
"And tell me what's the point of being on top, all the money in the world if I can't share it with you, Astrid!" Hiccup yelled back now, she took a few steps back. What was he talking about. "I knew this would happen...I knew it. Which is why I wrote this song so you'd understand where I was coming from incase this happened. Tuff, play track 16 on the CD in the stereo..." Hiccup told him. Tuffnut nodded and went to find the track as Hiccup backed up on to the stage again when the music started. They only watched and listened.
"There's a lot of talk about me. People lining up to meet me. I'm on the verge of celebrity. So what you think about that?" Hiccup started keeping his eyes on her. "I've got friends in high places. Louis Vuitton suitcases. Look at all their pretty faces...So what you think about that?" Hiccup watched as Astrid crossed her arms over her chest and looked away.
"So why do I feel like it's all just a show?" Hiccup sang out as the music picked up as Astrid slightly turned her head to look back at him. "You make me wanna shut it all down, throw it all away. Cause I'm nothing if I don't have you." Astrid's arms dropped slowly now listening to him.
"What's the point of being on top, all the money in the world, If I can't blow it all on you...So, send the cars back, put the house on the market. And my big dreams too...Because it's all so clear. Now without you here, I'm the loser of the year." Hiccup closed his eyes now as the music calmed a little. Astrid didn't believe what she was hearing from him, he was singing this alone without Fishlegs or Tuffnut. This was truly a song he made on his own, just for this situation. Had he known she'd react like this? Being upset that he hid he was also the lead singer of her favorite band.
"I'm at a party in a mansion. There's a lot of high fashion. And I'm cooler than I've ever been...So what you think about that?" Hiccup sang looking at her again. Astrid's eyes started to widen as she was beginning to understand. "I'm livin' life in a fast lane. I've got fridge full of champagne. And I'm hanging out with Lil' Wayne. So what you think about that?" Hiccup walked off stage now towards her, she backed up a little.
"So why do I feel like it's all just a show?..." Hiccup sang out again. Is that how Hiccup felt, that all this was just a show? Something for his amusement. "You make me wanna shut it all down, throw it all away. Cause I'm nothing if I don't have you. What's the point of being on top, all the money in the world, if I can't blow it all on you. So, send the cars back, put the house on the market. And my big dreams too...Because it's all so clear. That without you here, I'm the loser of the year." Hiccup sang stopping in his tracks before her now, a very serious look in his forest green eyes. Astrid understood now, Hiccup was giving up the band, and being a dragon racer because now that his secret was out people would be all over him and she wouldn't be at his side anymore. Hiccup didn't want a life without her in it.
"I'm the loser of the year..." He said slower as the music slowed considerably. "I can try real hard, I can try to pretend. That all these dreams make any sense, without you. But that just ain't true..." Hiccup sang, his eyes were softer now looking at her. She was right. He was saying that nothing was worth him having if he couldn't have her apart of it.
"I thought these things would make me forget...About you and me, but you're stuck in my head. I'm a loser, If I lose her." Hiccup sang as he back flipped on to the stage as the music picked up again. Astrid felt guilty, it was tugging at her heartstrings listening to what he was saying. He never told her because he didn't want her to get stuck in the crazy celebrity lifestyle. He'd told her that before the song started. He was only trying to protect her. Hiccup knew losing her tonight that he no longer had a desire to sing or race because he felt that it was costing him her. He was willing to give it all up.
"You make me wanna shut it all down. Throw it all away. Cause I'm nothing if I don't have you. What's the point of being on top, all the money in the world, if I can't blow it all on you." Hiccup sang to her as Astrid felt tears pricking her eyes.
"You make me wanna shut it all down, throw it all away, 'cause I'm nothing if I don't have you. So, send the cars back, put the house on the market, and my big dreams too..." He paused, there was pain in his eyes now as Toothless pressed his nose to Hiccup's arm softly.
"Because it's all so clear. That I need you near...And it's all so clear...Now without you here, I'm the loser of the year..." Hiccup sang as he lowered the microphone again and climbed on Toothless's back opening his tail. Hiccup felt like he had nothing left to protect with her not wanting to be with him. That wasn't true though, Astrid didn't want him to leave. She loved him, she was hurt he never told her until now but she understands why he did what he did. Astrid watched as Toothless turned and opened his wings preparing to take off, she was losing him because of her own stupid mistake of snapping at him before knowing the truth behind it. She forgave him easily for being Fury, but why? Because he saved her not caring who found out. Why did she feel differently about this, him being Strike. What made her so upset about it, not that she had the right to be seeing how upset Hiccup was of how she took the reveal of his major secret.
"Loser of the year. I'm the loser of the year. Loser of the year." Hiccup finished as Toothless let out a roar and started flying in to the darkened sky above. "I'm nothing without you, Astrid. Being a famous dragon rider or racer, and a famous band member...means nothing without you in my life. You're still the only woman I love, and will ever love. I'm sorry..." Hiccup said as Toothless zoomed off out of sight. It was quiet again, most eyes on Astrid now who was only staring at where Hiccup had just been. Calder came up beside her now, it didn't take long for her to just turn and cry in to his chest, he wrapped his arms around her protectively almost.
"It's alright Astrid...It's alright...Ssh..." Calder soothed her.
"Its not...God it's not alright..." Astrid cried now then turned from her father and looked at Stoick with tears in her eyes. "I–is he...really leaving for good?..." She asked in a broken voice.
"Seems that way..." Stoick replied sighing.
"Stop him! You have to make him come back!" Heather said standing beside Astrid now.
"I can't kids...I'm sorry. Hiccup is 18...he's legally free to go whenever he wants too..." Stoick said sitting down in a chair now and covering his face with his hand. Astrid fell to her knees now.
"I–I didn't want him...to leave..." Astrid sobbed now.
"You didn't exactly tell him not too..." Eret remarked now with his arms crossed over his chest. She looked up at him.
"I don't need this right now, Eret..." Astrid snapped at him.
"I'm just saying...it shouldn't of taken you by surprise..." Eret stated now.
"How could it not! He was...How could I of ever guessed something like this?...Him being...Strike of all people..."Astrid asked getting up and getting in Eret's face now.
"Astrid, really? Come on! You're a lot smarter than that!" Dagur said now.
"All the signs were there..." Snotlout added.
"I–I don't understand..." Astrid said now looking at the 3 of them.
"I think what they are saying is that when you sit down and think about everything since you met Hiccup..." Heather began.
"It adds up..." Heather finished.
"Exactly." Eret said now. Astrid sat down trying to figure out what they meant. "Think Astrid...think about it all..." Eret added to her. Astrid closed her eyes thinking back to the day they got paired with him, at the café talking about dragon racing, how he pushed off that Fury wasn't that great and he didn't see what people saw in Fury. Then at his house for the first time and she found out he was Stoick's son and finding out he was a major fan of Fire Storm. That certainly made sense now. Astrid gave a half smile remembering Hiccup showed her 'Play It Again' for the first time, that's when her eyes widened. That was right, Hiccup had access to a song that no one else did. He even knew when it'd be released.
Astrid's mind took her to when Hiccup gave her the front row ticket, saying he had to work and couldn't go. He was singing that night, as Strike. He had no purpose for a ticket and being a band member they always had extra tickets to give people close to them. Astrid remember the first dragon race, Hiccup saying he was sick and couldn't go but she had to. It was because he was racing. "Oh god..." She whispered out.
"You remember, don't you?..." Tuffnut asked her now.
"I do...Oh god, I do! The concert...That night him saving me from you..." Astrid said looking at Eret now.
"You texted him after I called you, right. That's what you told me, telling him I was going to be there...He told you not to worry because there was security everywhere..." Eret added.
"He told me I'd be safe the entire time because I was front row...He gave me the ticket so I could go...and he could still watch me...He knew you were there because I'd told him...he purposely...That's how Strike knew I was in trouble with you...When he saw me on camera...and then pulling me on stage to sing that song with him...Oh god it was him the whole time...he was always there watching me...The times we sang together...He knew...every song perfectly and always changed his voice so I wouldn't hear it..." Astrid's eyes widened.
"Astrid, you knew all along...you knew it every time he tried to cover up something big that to you seemed off, but you figured there was no way possible it'd be true so you pushed it in the back of your mind...but now that you know it's true...you're not mad at him at all, you're mad at yourself for not seeing it sooner...Realizing you were right." Fishlegs said to her.
"He's still your Hiccup...Whether he's Fury or Strike...he's always been your Hiccup, your hero because no matter who he was acting as...he was there for you, you just didn't see him." Heather said putting her hand on Astrid's shoulder now.
"You're right...It's always been him...and always will be...I–I have to...get him back...W–where would he go!..." Astrid said standing up now quickly.
"Um hello, he left on the back of his dragon...Fastest dragon known to man and blends in with the night sky...No way you'll find him." Dagur replied. Astrid's heart sank in to her stomach now.
"Astrid...call him..." Calder finally said.
"He won't answer...you saw how upset he looked at my reaction...He said he was going to leave me alone...H–he left on his own..." Astrid cried softly.
"Aye, that may be true lass but...Doesn't he always come when you need him the most?..." Gobber asked lifting a brow. Astrid's eyes widened. That was completely true! Hiccup always came when she called needing him. She knew what she had to do now. Astrid pulled out her phone and quickly pressed Hiccup's name in her contacts, she put a finger to the other's so they'd be quiet. He always told her she was a good actor, time to see it pay off. She started getting herself worked up with tears and making herself sound scared and panicked. The phone connected on the third ring.
"Astrid?..." He asked.
"Hiccup! Something...happened, I'm scared, alone...please...I need you...please hurry, Hiccup! Please..!" Astrid pleaded to him.
"Don't move, I'm coming right now! Just hold on..." Hiccup said quickly, his tone full of worry. Astrid hung up making it look like the call was cut short.
"Quick, shut the lights off and hide..." Astrid ordered. Stoick flipped all the lights off making it look dark in the house as Astrid stood outside in the backyard. She had to make herself look alone after all. Hiccup dived in on Toothless in minutes, as soon as they landed Hiccup jumped off and ran to Astrid who was holding herself on the ground crying hard with her head down.
"Astrid! Thank Odin...When the phone cut, I thought someone grabbed you...What happened! Are you alright? Did someone hurt you?...Talk to me!" Hiccup said quickly. It was then that Astrid lifted her head with a smile as tears still fell down her cheeks as Hiccup had a look of utter confusion on his face. Astrid grabbed his cheeks and pulled him close to her as she locked lips with him in a passionate deep kiss. It held a moment before Astrid pulled back. "Astrid, what's going on...You said...something happened to you!...And that you needed me!" Hiccup said quickly looking at her now.
"Something did happen...You left." Astrid said softly staring in to his green eyes with her blue ones.
"I–I don't...understand..." Hiccup trailed off looking at her now as the house lights flipped on and everyone came out smiling at the sight.
"I reacted the way I did because seeing you as Strike...I thought I didn't know who you were anymore...but once you left...I was alone and I felt...scared with you gone. I realized that I've known its you all along, because I'm not scared or alone when I'm with you...I just didn't see the signs. You're still my Hiccup no matter who you are...Whether you're Strike, Fury, or just plain old Hiccup...because you were always there for me, you were just hiding, trying to keep me safe any way you could. I feel safe and unafraid with Fury, and Strike. Just like I do when I'm with you, Hiccup. You always came to my rescue as any of them...And only my Hiccup would come as fast as he can when I need him. I called because I needed you...Here with me. I love you, no matter who you are..." Astrid explained gently to him with a loving smile.
Hiccup was shocked hearing this, she scared the life out of him by making him think something was wrong like her being hurt or in trouble, just to get him to come back? She couldn't of just called and asked him to come back, she had to make it so dramatic? Hiccup stared in to her eyes, how could he stay away from her when she wanted him around, wanted him in her life and he wanted the same. Hiccup stood up pulling her to her feet with him. "First off..." He began with his hands on her shoulders now, "DON'T YOU EVER SCARE ME LIKE THAT AGAIN! I was ready to let Toothless start blasting people...And secondly..." He calmed down as he pulled her in to a tight embrace, kissing her deeply. She melted in to it right away with her arms around his neck. "I love you too." Hiccup whispered softly against her lips.
"Sooo...not to be the one who kills the incredibly romantic moment here but...Does this mean you're going to stay and continue being Fury and Strike?..." Ruffnut asked them.
"Fury, yes...as for Strike...that depends on who here plans to tell everyone they know..." Hiccup asked as he held Astrid close to him.
"No one will say a word...What happened here tonight will stay between us. That's a promise." Heather said as the other's nodded.
"Then I will continue be Strike. And as for you..." He said looking at Astrid now with a smile. "It's still your birthday for another 2 hours, and I promised a live performance by Fire Storm...That being said...Stone. Spark..." He paused as they got big smiles on their faces. "Lets hit the stage. It's show time." Hiccup grinned. They all cheered rushing to their seats in front of the stage as Hiccup, Fishlegs, and Tuffnut all got ready quickly in their outfits and made their way back on to the stage. Strike standing center. "Sorry about that intermission guys! Now we're back and ready to go! Let's get this birthday bash started! Hit it boys!" Strike said pointing to them as they music started again. The night couldn't of been better, they partied, danced and sang until 1am before everyone left and returned home. One thing was for sure it was the best birthday Astrid had ever had and one she would never forget as she fell asleep in the loving arms of her strong, smart, kind, caring, famous dragon racing singer boyfriend's arms with a happy smile on her face.
