Okay, so I've been dead for a really, really long time.

Anyway, I was inspired to write again by an old long-time favorite of mine, a story that shall not be named by TysonRunningFox who has since made fics after the story that shall not be named which was SUUUUPER good! I've never really written fics with the HTTYD characters, but I figured I'd give it a shot because I'm a sucker for hiccstrid and also I just want to see if I can still write LOL

That being said, this is a modern AU and the premise is that everyone works at the same restaurant and that's where they tend to interact the most as they have different friends groups at school. I lowkey might try to get rid of the whole kitchen thing if it becomes unnecessary, but I don't know, it seems like an interesting gimmick.

I hope you enjoy! I definitely had a lot of fun writing this and fleshing it out, just like the old times :') I was, like, in my early teens when I was first dabbling with this stuff and I'm 22 now, so let's just say a crap ton of time has passed.

Astrid absent-mindedly flips a burger on the flat-top grill. She stares at the lone ticket hanging on the rail above the hotplate and sighs.

Only one more hour.

She doesn't get a chance to internally whine more about hating her job before somebody jabs her in the side. She yelps and instinctively jumps at the surprise.

"God, Hofferson," a stocky, dark haired boy chides, "you are just so easy."

"Fuck off, Ross," she retorts, "You're actually so annoying."

"Okay, okay, my bad," he laughs. He meanders down the cooking line back to the 8 burner stovetop he typically resides at, idly flipping some vegetables in a saute pan. Weird, the gas isn't on.

Astrid returns her attention to the burger patty searing on the grill and decides that it's high time she actually does her job. She finishes up the order and retreats to the prep table to take a long drink of water from her blue water bottle. She wipes her mouth on her bicep and returns to the cooking line.

"You know," Ross begins, scrubbing the wall next to him without looking at her, "There's supposed to be a new kid coming in tomorrow to test drive the kitchen."

"Oh? Do elaborate." She gets down on one knee and begins to furiously scrub the front of all the cooler doors underneath the cooking line. "How old is this kid?"

"Uhhh, probably around our age. High school still, but I'm pretty sure they said he was graduating this year? I guess that would make him the same age as us."

"So, he's not a kid kid, then."

"Well, I guess not. What, did you think we were hiring another sixteen-year-old?" he chuckles, almost maniacally.

"Oh, god, do not mention Gustav. That kid gave me the creepiest vibes. I swear not a day went by when I didn't catch him staring at my ass."

"Well, I mean, you can't blame—" He was cut off by a dirty rag smacking into the wall next to him with enough force to jiggle the wooden cutting boards on the cooking line.

"Oh, you're such a pig, Snotlout." She spits the demeaning nickname at him like it's a weapon.

"I know, I know, I'm sorry, I was just messing around," he says meekly, surprisingly genuine. He finishes scrubbing the wall and turns around to face the tiny blonde girl that almost took his ear off.

"Anyway," Astrid sighs, standing up, "the new kid?"

"Look," Snotlout defends, seeming worried that she was going to let another wet, disgusting rag loose at his face, "that's really all they told me. I don't even know the guy's name."

"What about Ruff?"

Snotlout raises his hands in a display of innocence. "I think Tuff asked, but she was still very adamant about not working 'with the peasants'."

Astrid scoffs. "What the hell is that supposed to mean? I'm out here making money, what is she doing?"

Snotlout just shrugs and turns to begin scrubbing down the stovetop.

New cook? Or maybe a prep cook. I don't know, maybe somebody who can maybe make this place a little more bearable. I mean, I would hope so. Do we even need another person? Fishlegs already got his schedule cut so he's only in on weekends now. Doesn't make sense. I swear, these new owners are going to make me quit. Maybe they're gonna try to move Tuffnut to the line?

Almost on cue, the long-haired blond boy in the dish pit that was being abnormally quiet bursts into spontaneous song. "SING US A SONG YOU'RE THE PIANO MANNN, blah blaha dudhd duhd udh udaaaaa, DUH DUH DA DAD AD—"

"Yo, Tuff! You're hurting my brain, bro," Snotlout hollers from the other end of the kitchen.

"You just don't appreciate true art!" Tuffnut fires back, mostly joking, grabbing the dish hose and using it like a microphone.

The exchange devolves into abstract insults and borderline homophobic remarks and Astrid does her best to tune it out. Boys can be so annoying sometimes.

Tony "Tuffnut" Thorston is an interesting character for sure. Astrid swears that she's seen him show up to work so baked that he was taking clean dishes and putting them in the dirty dish pile while singing the same section of a song on loop. She never did find out if he was actually high or just a moron. Probably just a high moron.

He's the third of four night shift kitchen workers, the others being herself, Dalton "Fishlegs" Ingerman, and Ross "Snotlout" Jorgensen.

She takes a second to laugh at herself. Nicknames really are such a thing in this kitchen. Although, she doesn't really have her own nickname. They did try, but she made sure that nothing ever caught on. Nicknames just aren't her thing and that's okay. Everyone has a special story about how they got their nicknames, but they were not going to pin one of those ridiculous things on her. Not a chance.

A gruff voice with a heavy scottish accent calls from the food window, interrupting the heated conversation between the two meatheads, "Alright, you're all done!" The large man slaps the hotplate playfully and beams at them before walking away.

She wishes Fishlegs was here. He's always somebody that she can actually have conversations with. The two other boys usually spend the entire shift either talking shit to each other or talking about the girls that work in the front in not-so-flattering ways. She assures herself that her peace of mind whilst at the workplace will return come tomorrow night, when Fishlegs shall grace the kitchen with his presence once more.

There's also this new mystery guy she can't stop thinking about. It's been ages since there's been anybody new in either the front or the back. It's actually a little crazy how long she's really known these people. She doesn't really know how, but somehow every single person working in this kitchen has been in or is currently in school with her to some degree. She shakes her head, reflecting on her seemingly awful luck and begins closing down for the night.

The cold, evening air stings her eyes as she walks to her car in the near darkness, flanked by both Ruffnut and Snotlout. The only illumination on the hard asphalt is a lone, flickering lamp.

She's actually pretty thankful that they're here every night to walk her to her car. Well, they're not really aware that that's what they're doing, as their cars are both parked next to hers, but it's still a comfort nonetheless.

The three walk in silence until they reach the cars where bid their final goodbyes for the night and hop into their respective vehicles.

Astrid finally arrives home and she's so unbelievably happy to be met in the entryway by an incredibly excited yellow lab.

"Hi Stormfly!" She grins and gives the dogs many loves. "There's my girl!"

Stormfly chirps happily, tail threatening to fall off from wagging so hard. She's so excited that her wagging is causing her whole body to wiggle in the most adorable way.

Astrid gives the pup one last pat on the head before heading up the stairs and into her room.

It's not much inside, but it's cozy. Space enough for her desk, a medium sized dog bed, a dresser, and on the side opposite her bed is a closet with sliding mirror doors. Her friends always complain that there isn't a TV in here, but Astrid honestly could not care less about a TV in the room.

She tosses her work bag in the corner, then flops down on top of her bed and pulls out her phone to find 4 missed messages from one Dalton "Fishlegs" Ingerman.

7:39 PM - Me: did u know we're getting a new hire tomorrow? Tbh i didnt even know we were looking for people i wouldve tried to get ruff in here lol

She pauses at the memory of her best friend Rachael 'Ruffnut' Thorston calling the job 'peasant work.'

It's manual labor, sure, but peasant work? Come on now. I'm worth more than that.

She returns her attention to the screen.

7:40 PM - Fishlegs: No, I didn't. Do you know who it is?

7:41 PM - Me: no snot wouldn't tell me shit. I mean i doubt he has anything to tell anyway, but yea

7:41 PM - Fishlegs: Haha yeah. Well if you find out, let me know?

7:49 PM - Me: roger. K closing now ttyl

8:58 PM - Fishlegs: Psssst

9:02 PM - Fishlegs: Hey astrid

9:06 PM - Fishlegs: Pssst astrid

9:07 PM - Fishlegs: I found out who's coming in tomorrow and you're not gonna believe me. Text me when you can.

What the hell, how does Fish always find out things before I even have a chance to look.

She types a hurried response.

9:10 PM - Me: ok who

She sets the phone down on her side-table and rolls out of bed to shut off the light. She's halfway back to her bed when the phone buzzes. She jumps under the covers and opens the new message.

9:10 PM - Fishlegs: Do you perhaps remember a Harley Haddock? From middle school, I'm pretty sure. He was in our grade, but I feel like he disappeared after 6th grade or something.

Astrid flashes back to vague memories of a smaller boy with messy, auburn hair. Super-nerd material. He pretty much had zero friends, but his dad was an important person for the city or something. He would always try to talk to her and try to make small talk and stutter over nearly every word. It was probably some of the most pathetic attempts to make friends that she had ever witnessed. It almost made her feel bad. Surely he can't still be like that, right? Also, he had a girl's name. That's never a good sign.

9:12 PM - Me: i mean, yeah i remember him. He always tried to like talk to me and get in our group or something. Kind of a weirdo. That was a long time ago tho so idk

9:12 PM - Fishlegs: Well, that's who's coming in tomorrow. Also, it's his DAD that's one of the new owners of the restaurant.

9:12 PM - Me: wtf i knew they were changing ownership but HIM? Please tell me thats not the only reason hes even getting the job.

9:13 PM - Fishlegs: Look I don't know much, seriously, maybe he's not even that bad.

Surely they didn't have to stick this 'Harley' at their location. There's like four other locations he could have been assigned to.

9:14 PM - Fishlegs: Also, you're going to be the one training him. LOL

9:15 PM - Me: wtff that's so unfair. Why me? Can't ross do it

9:15 PM - Fishlegs: Nope, Snotlout just put in his two weeks a couple days ago. He is on his way out. :D

9:16 PM - Me: ? what nobody tells me anything s2g

Astrid sighs and puts her phone down. She swears up and down that she's going to get a new job by the end of the month. This place is too stressful to work at, and now she's going to have to deal with some creep nerd kid.

A small whine from her door draws her attention and she gets up to open it. Stormfly cheerfully walks in and goes straight to her bed in the corner.

Astrid can't help but smile at the pup. She playfully dives onto the floor to give Stormfly some more love and realizes that she's still in her disgusting work clothes, and decides to properly get ready for bed.

A few minutes later, she's pacing her bedroom, toothbrush in mouth, when her phone buzzes yet again.

9:20 PM - Fishlegs: Look, maybe it won't be that bad. I mean YEARS have passed, do you really think he's going to be the same person? That's not realistic, people change haha.

She exasperatedly shrugs to nobody in particular and furiously types a message in reply.

9:20 PM - Me: still. Idk why i have to train him. Why cant you do it? I literally just don't have the patience to work with a new hire right now.

9:20 PM - Fishlegs: Like it or not, you're the most qualified person that works nights right now. Especially since I'm not scheduled during the week anymore. Gobber said it's on you.

She makes an annoyed huff and tosses her phone onto the bed before heading out of her room to the bathroom to finish brushing her teeth. She spots her sleepy-eyed father in the hallway just entering her parents' bedroom and gives him a small wave.

"Goodnight, honey," he stage-whispers.

Astrid smiles at him as best she can with a toothbrush in her mouth and hums goodnight back to him. He grins right back at her and proceeds into the room, closing the door behind him.

Upon returning to the dimly lit bedroom, Astrid doesn't even bother to check to see if Fishlegs replied to her last text. She plugs the phone in and sets it face down on the night table.

Moonlight beams down into her room as she snuggles in for sleep, still fretting about the coming day. She's immediately met with the stressful fact that she had forgotten to finish an essay before slipping to bed.

Ugh, I'll just do it in the morning. Or during class.

Going to work immediately after school is annoying enough as it is, but she is definitely not looking forward to training anybody named Harley Haddock.

Eventually, her internal complaining is drowned out by the metronomic ticking of her alarm clock, and she slips into an uneasy slumber.

Okay so the indenting looks a little weird on here, so I hope it's not all messed up on the actual website. If it is, I might just skip indenting when I write the upcoming chapters. I'm actually in love with this idea and I'm doing the crazy thing of (gasp) writing down ideas when they pop into my head so I don't forget about them!

I hope it wasn't super boring, and please let me know what you think if you do make it this far! :)

Take care now,

~Fawn