RTTE canon-verse after the events of Shell Shocked Pt.2

After they defeated Viggo, the Dragon Riders head back to the Edge. However, Astrid and Hiccup are still at odds with them not keeping their relationship outside of the battlefield. Just like all relationships, they sometimes have problems. Can Heather and Fishlegs help their best friends make amends before they break up? Hiccstrid with relationship problems, expect some drama!

This Changes Everything

Just after dinner, the clubhouse at Dragon's Edge echoed with a lover's quarrel between Hiccup and Astrid. Even though they made up at the volcano earlier, and even shared a passionate kiss, the couple were still mad at each other for the small intangibles that nearly costed them their lives. The rest of the riders didn't dare intervene since no one was tough enough to separate these two than themselves.

"YOU COULD'VE BEEN KILLED BY THAT DAMNED SHELLFIRE!" Astrid roared, waving her axe violently towards Hiccup.

"BUT I DIDN'T! HOW MANY TIMES DID I TELL YOU THAT ITS BUSINESS AS USUAL IN THE BATTLEFIELD?!" Hiccup retorted, igniting his fire sword. The riders knew this was a dangerous situation and hope it doesn't escalate any further.

"Hiccup, I'm your girlfriend! DON'T YOU APPRECIATE THAT I CARE FOR YOUR WELL-BEING?! DON'T YOU REALIZE THAT I COULDN'T IMAGINE A WORLD WITHOUT YOU!" the blonde continued with her rant, tears building up in her eyes.

"For Thor's sake Astrid, this is so un-Astrid like of you! Being vulnerable and putting our relationship first before the mission! And don't get me started with getting yourself held at axe-point by Viggo!" Hiccup shouted. The other riders gasped at that line. Normally Hiccup was a calm, level-headed person but now, he more resembled Dagur when he's gone insane.

"Looks like the 'brother deal' with Dagur got him all berserk." Tuffnut commented, while stroking his beloved Chicken.

"You're not wrong," Ruffnut added, "It's so not Hiccup to lash out like this, especially on Astrid." Suddenly they heard a loud crack that made everyone freeze in their tracks. Astrid had punched Hiccup square in the nose, resulting in it bleeding. The former felt guilty at punching her boyfriend, while the latter thought otherwise; the fire in his emerald orbs piercing through Astrid's sapphire ones.

"You know what, if this is how you wanted to solve problems, then I'm better off without you!" Hiccup shouted, mounting aboard Toothless while still holding onto his bloodied nose.

"Fine! I don't need some stubborn man in my life anyway!" Astrid fired back.

"Guess you never loved me for me after all." Hiccup scoffed and flew off before he could hear his girlfriend's reaction. Astrid then mounted aboard Stormfly before flying back to her hut, furious but hurt at Hiccup's last words.

The rest of the riders were still awestruck at the drama that unfolded before retiring to their huts. The twins were a bit skeptical at Hiccup's outburst, Snotlout was still convinced it's because of his 'gambling problem', and Dagur was worried for his brother being alone, who knows if there are still dragon hunters lurking about. Only Heather and Fishlegs remained in the clubhouse, wondering how to fix this issue.

"We have to do something." Heather eyed her boyfriend, "They've only been together for a couple of months and it couldn't just end like this."

"I know! It's not normal for Hiccup to lash out like that." Fishlegs agreed. "So, what's the plan?"

Heather told Fishlegs about their plan to get Hiccup and Astrid back together before sunrise. It's already the evening, about a few hours before midnight, so they have until midnight to bring them back on the Edge and make amends. Fishlegs headed for the blonde shieldmaiden's hut while Heather and Windshear took off to find Hiccup.

"I think I know where he is girl." she told her Razorwhip and guided her towards the other side of the island.

Hiccup was sulking at his usual escape spot, which is a cliff on the other side of the island. Toothless watched his rider tend to his nose and purred sadly at him. Despite being a dragon with no idea how human relationships work, he provided company where Hiccup needed it most.

"I know bud, we love each other but sometimes fights happen and you gotta think of a way to solve them." Hiccup sighed, scratching the Night Fury's chin when he heard a thump and someone clearing their throat. He turned around to see Heather and Windshear right behind her.

"Oh, it's just you Heather. How'd you know where to find me?" He was a bit confused; no one else except Astrid or Fishlegs knew about this secret spot.

"Let's just say when Astrid toured me around, she mentioned you going here when you're upset." she smirked. Hiccup looked at her with an 'I see' expression on his face. There was a long silence before the raven haired rider broke it.

"So, what exactly happened back there? I want a full recap." she pressed on. Hiccup opened up about how he wanted to keep his relationship with Astrid a secret to the other riders and how he wanted them to see them as just best friends still. He also mentioned how Astrid suddenly became overprotective of him, being worried at even the simplest of things. Heather listened to him intently and wasn't afraid to give him some tongue-lashing if required.

"Hiccup, that's a blast from a Shellfire! Of course, she'd be worried as hell!" Heather retorted.

"But I've had a lot of near-death experiences before that! I didn't see her get worried as much as she did today." Hiccup growled. Heather sighed at her friend's stubbornness and tried her best to keep her composure.

"Because she's your girlfriend now. When you were still friends, she'd get worried but only to an extent. Now things between you two are different, well, in terms of having a label." Hiccup didn't say anything, so Heather continued on her explanation.

"I know you're ticked off because she worried about you first before the mission on hand. That's just who Astrid is, selfless and would do anything to protect all of us, especially you." she pointed at Hiccup's chest. The auburn haired man glared at Heather, but he knew she was right.

"When Astrid and I were stuck at that damned ship hearing the explosions from the Shellfire, she was terrified for you. That's when I knew she wasn't fearless anymore." Heather continued.

"R..really?" Hiccup stuttered.

"She became fearless because of you, Hiccup. Her whole world revolves around what you two do together as a team, because she LOVES you!" the Berserker rider pointed out. At this point, Hiccup felt bad for hurting Astrid emotionally. She was tough on the outside but that wasn't the case with her emotions, especially if it involves him.

"I'm a muttonhead, sis." he sighed, looking at the ground. That earned him a punch in the shoulder. "Ow! What did I do?"

"That's for hurting my best friend's feelings, brother." Heather smirked, before pulling Hiccup in a warm sisterly embrace. "And that's for calling me sis." While her hugs were nothing compared to Astrid's, Hiccup appreciated this little show of support and even the impersonation.

"Thanks for keeping me in check." he smiled.

"Don't thank me yet," Heather smiled back, "We better get back to the Edge. I'm pretty sure Astrid's worried sick about you."

At the same time Heather was giving Hiccup the relationship pep talk, Fishlegs came into Astrid's hut to check on her well-being. She had been crying from what the stocky Viking observed. Normally, he'd leave this type of talking to Heather or Ruff, but since the former is with Hiccup while the latter's on outpost duty, he decided to take this matter on his own hands being Hiccup's best friend.

"What do you want?" Astrid hissed, wiping the tears off her cheek with the back of her hand.

"I just wanna know how you're holding up." Fishlegs said, concerned for his friend. Before Astrid could reply, she was overcome by her tears once again. Fishlegs patted her back to console her; he wasn't an expert in comforting someone, but he tried his best.

"I…I don't usually get hurt through words Fishlegs. But when he thought I didn't really love him broke me." Astrid whimpered. The stocky dragon rider wrapped his arms around his friend as she sobbed through his tunic.

"You know Hiccup didn't mean to say those at you." he spoke softly. When Astrid looked back at him, she had this look of worry, guilt and anger in one.

"I know that. It's just, I failed him Fishlegs. I didn't keep my promise to not have our relationship get in the way of our battles." Astrid started to write something on a piece of parchment; once she's done, she gave it to Fishlegs before mounting aboard Stormfly. "Give this to him when he returns, I'm going out to think about some things."

"Where are you going?" he asked concerningly.

"Hiccup will know." Astrid replied before she and Stormfly set off towards Thor knows where.

When Hiccup and Heather returned, everyone gathered along the clubhouse. Ruffnut told them that Astrid had left without a note in her hut which would inform them where she was heading. This worried Hiccup and although he was still upset with his girlfriend, he knew that he needed to find her before some leftover dragon hunters come and get her.

"I swear! We've checked everything in her room, not a tiny lead where she might've gone." Ruff shrugged. Tuffnut nodded in agreement as well as Chicken.

"Alright Ruff, thanks for trying. I'll look for her myself." Hiccup replied as he headed for his girlfriend's hut. He tried his best trying to find a note or some kind of lead that would lead him to Astrid when his stocky best friend came into view.

"Hey Fishlegs, can you help me find some sort of note that Astrid might've left?" he asked. As the auburn haired rider continued his search, the note in Fishlegs' pocket felt heavy. Should I tell him the truth? he wondered.

"Hiccup," Fishlegs started, pulling out the note. "She gave this to me." Hiccup picked up the note and read it:

Dear Hiccup,

I'll be at the beach if you still want to talk. I'm sorry for everything today and if you don't come, then I'll assume that you're breaking up with me. I love you Hiccup, might as well tell it before it's too late.

Astrid

She loves me? How did that happen? Hiccup thought; he knew exactly where this beach was, on the western side of the Edge where they went swimming several months prior. He was just about to leave Fishlegs in charge of the base when they were greeted by a distressed Deadly Nadder at the doorway.

"Stormfly? What are you doing here, where's Astrid?" Hiccup calmed the dragon down. Stormfly squawked loudly as she lowered her wing to let Hiccup ride her. Toothless and Fishlegs stood dumbfounded as the Nadder took off without further notice.

A few minutes later, Stormfly had finally landed on the beach. Hiccup saw a lone silhouette in a sitting down position. He came closer and noticed Astrid had been crying, her face covered against her axe. She turned around and saw the auburn haired man standing behind her.

"Look who finally decided to show up." Astrid said nonchalantly. Hiccup didn't have time for her stubbornness but he also knew that he was to blame for their prior actions.

"Astrid," he started nervously, "I'm sorry about earlier. I never meant anything I said back there and when I realized that words could do more damage to a person than just punches, you were gone." Astrid stayed silent so Hiccup continued on.

"You and I have been through everything together, milady. And I'd be the greatest muttonhead of Viking history if you're breaking up with me. I know, I was wrong too but that doesn't change the fact that I love you." he finished, cheeks blushing a bright red.

"Oh babe," Astrid's heart melted at his confession. She pulled him in and crashed her lips on his. Any doubt about the strength of their relationship was erased when they kissed and ran their hands across their bodies. They wanted to stay in that moment forever and when they pulled out, Astrid gazed at Hiccup lovingly, the fire in her eyes had died down.

"I love you too, Hiccup." she blushed, kissing his cheek.

"Astrid, promise me that whatever you're feeling, you have to tell me. If you're happy or mad or you wanted to punch Snotlout, just tell me alright?" Hiccup said seriously. Astrid chuckled at the last one.

"Of course Hiccup. You're my boyfriend and you deserve to know what I'm feeling. And I'm sorry for not listening to you earlier." She snuggled against Hiccup's chest as they stared at the reflection of the moon against the still waters of the beach.

"They're right, this relationship of ours changes everything." Hiccup whispered, stroking his girl's blonde hair.

"And I wouldn't have asked for a better boyfriend."