I remember laughing so hard at Astrid and Heather's boy talk. It kind of got me thinking: "What if Heather asked Hiccup that same question?" So, this is what I think it would be like.
"Well, that explains everything," Astrid said at last. "The reason for Heather attacking those ships, everything. Poor Heather, her parents. . ."
Hiccup nodded. "I know, what Dagur did was unforgivable. I can't imagine what she's going through. I mean, if I ever lost my dad or any of you guys, I-"
Astrid grasped his hand and smiled at him. "Don't worry. You won't lose me."
Hiccup grinned back at her. Suddenly, Astrid reached up near his ear and began gently pulling at his hair.
"Uh, what-what are you doing?" Hiccup stammered awkwardly. "C-can you not-"
"Oh, don't be a baby, I'm just braiding your hair," Astrid giggled.
"I-I'm not being a baby," Hiccup protested.
"Yes, you really are."
Hiccup felt his heart pounding against his chest. Astrid was touching him. She almost never touched him this intimately. It was exciting and almost terrifying. He really, really liked her. Every day, Hiccup found himself thinking about her. At fifteen, his crush had intensified, and now, after three whole years of friendship, it seemed to have grown so intense that her even looking at him or touching him slightly made him feel a violent surge of emotion. The emotion became so intense that his face became warm, and his cheeks turned bright pink. And this was happening now.
"Uh, uh," Hiccup stammered, embarrassed. "You don't have to- You don't have to-"
"Stop distracting me," Astrid interrupted. "This takes concentration."
"Does it now?" Hiccup jested, trying to diffuse the tension inside him. "So, I take it you don't have a lot of that if you can't braid and talk at the same time?"
Astrid slapped him in the arm. "Smart aleck."
"OW! Violent woman!" Hiccup groaned, rubbing his arm. "Why-why do you do that?"
"You started it," Astrid giggled. "You and that mouth of yours are always getting yourself into trouble. One of these days, you're gonna say something you can't take back."
"Oh, I never take anything I say back," Hiccup smirked. "Ow! Again? Oh, hey, really? Don't grab me! Oh, come on! A knuckle shine?"
Toothless laughed crooningly.
Hiccup squinted. "Come on, bud, help me out here. I'm being attacked by this crazy-ow, ow, why, Astrid?"
"Let's call it payback," Astrid responded, rubbing her knuckles hard into his scalp.
Hiccup tried to break away, but her grip was too strong. "Ah, hey! What are your fists made of, stone? Ahh! Stop that! A-Astrid, let go! Uncle! Uncle!"
Astrid laughed. "Say it."
"But I said it," Hiccup groaned.
"No, I want you to apologize."
"Shouldn't you be the one-? Ah, okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
With a chuckle, Astrid squinted at him. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"
Hiccup laughed awkwardly and rubbed his scalp. "I don't know. I just am. I mean, you're stubborn, too. Everyone's a little stubborn."
Astrid shrugged. "I guess so. I'm just wondering. You're so sensitive about me touching you."
Hiccup felt warmer. "Uh, yeah. I mean, I guess I'm a little, uh, sensitive about that. I mean, I've never really like people, uh, touching me. I just- I don't really like the attention."
Astrid nodded. "I understand that. So. . ." she began. "Does that mean you don't like me braiding your hair? Because if I'm getting too into your personal space-"
"No, no, it's-it's that at all!" Hiccup stammered nervously. "Uh, I-I don't mind it at all. I actually. . .I kind of. . .like you doing it."
Astrid raised an eyebrow. "Then. . .what is it?"
"Uh. . ." Hiccup began, passing a hand through her hair. "I just, it's- um, it's, uh-"
"Yes?" Astrid inquired expectantly.
They fell silent when their eyes met, blue staring into green. The whole world seemed to stop moving as they each took a step closer to each other. As he stared at her, he found himself drawing closer to her, and her to him. He could not stop himself. His body seemed to move on its own. He was a matter of inches from her now. . .
"Astrid," Hiccup started. "I. . ."
He was saved by a clatter. Turning around, he saw a girl with raven-black hair and green eyes.
Hiccup jerked away from Astrid, and she mirrored him. "Heather, h-hey! Didn't-didn't see you there."
Toothless growled disappointedly. Seriously? Now?
Hiccup squinted at him. Oh, stop.
"Did I come at a bad time?" Heather asked. "I can always come back later-"
"Oh, no, Heather," Astrid interrupted, waving her arm invitingly. "You need something?"
"Uh, yes, I was wondering if Hiccup could-"
But Astrid did not wait for her to finish. "Good, you ask Hiccup with help with whatever, and I'll get the axes!"
"A-axes?" Hiccup questioned.
"For girl time," Astrid explained, and she darted out of his hut.
Hiccup's eyes followed her as she left. He watched as her golden braid swished behind her as she ran. She was so graceful when she ran, like a doe. . .
"Uh, Hiccup?" Heather began, uncertainly.
Hiccup came out of his daze. "Huh? What?"
"I was wondering-" Heather held out her double-edged axe which was now separated at the center. "Could you maybe fix it? You don't have to if-"
"Oh, no, sure, sure," Hiccup said quickly, taking the two sides of the axe and bringing it to his desk. "Okay, the centerbolt's gone, but that's an easy fix. I think I have some spare stuff for this."
As he searched through his box of assorted nuts and bolts, Heather leaned against his desk. "Hey, I wanted to thank you again, for saving me."
Hiccup shrugged his shoulders. "Well, I wouldn't be much of a friend if I didn't. So, you and Astrid are training together?"
"Oh, yeah, she's a lot of fun," Heather smiled. "I could learn a few things from her. Her fighting, it's amazing."
"Well, Astrid's just an amazing girl through and through," Hiccup murmured, a smile spreading on his face at the thought of her.
"So. . ." Heather started, a curious smile on her face. "You two are a thing, right?"
The box slipped from Hiccup's fingers and clattered on the floor. Muttering "such a klutz" under his breath, he hastily began picking up the bolts that were now strewn about the floor.
"Sorry about that," Hiccup said quickly as Heather bent down to help. "I'm always doing that. I really don't know why. It's frustrating."
"It's okay," Heather giggled. "But, um, you didn't answer."
Hiccup froze for a moment. "A-answer? Answer what?"
"My question," Heather responded.
"Oh, yeah, yeah, um. . ." Hiccup bit his lip uncomfortably. "Wh-what was it again?" he asked, hoping she had forgotten it.
"If you and her were a thing."
"Wh-who?" Hiccup asked. "Her? You mean me and Ruffnut?"
Heather laughed. "Ew, no! I meant you and Astrid. If you two were a thing."
Hiccup chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "De-define, uh, 'thing.' "
Toothless rolled his eyes. Uh, duh.
Heather took a breath. "You know, a couple, boyfriend and girlfriend. Courting, that type of thing."
Hiccup laughed nervously as he put the box back on the desk. "That type of 'thing.' Yeah, hehe, no. We're-we're close, and we're friends, but-but no. We're just friends."
"Mm-hm," Heather said, cocking her head. "I've seen the way you two are together. I think there's a little more than friendship."
Hiccup rummaged in the box, trying to keep his shaking hands busy. "Wh-why do you think that?"
Heather shrugged. "Well, she's very relaxed and playful with you, for one. She's not like that around anyone else, not even me. I only get a bit of that. And the braids in your hair, I think those are from her. Girls don't braid boys' hair unless that boy's special. So, I think," she concluded, putting a hand on his shoulder, "you're her special one."
"S-special one? Oh, come on, Heather, no way," Hiccup scoffed. "As if. S-so she braids my hair. That's not proof of anything. I'm sure lots of girls who are friends with boys do that. Anyway, no, we're just friends. Seriously."
"Oh, don't tell me you don't like her," Heather giggled, giving him a playful shove.
Hiccup began fastening the bolt, but his trembling fingers made it tricky. "Yeah, of course I like Astrid, j-just n-not like that, you know?"
"I thought you said she was an amazing girl through and through."
"Well, yeah, I guess, if you like a girl who's witty, funny, brave, assertive, loyal. . ." As he continued, his voice became wistful and absent. "And who is kind, pretty, beautiful, has striking eyes and a charming smile and a great laugh. . ."
Then, noticing Toothless' smirk, Hiccup realized that he had said all that out loud, and he blushed. Oh, gods, why did I say all that? That's never happened before. I've always been able to stop myself. Why couldn't I this time? Oh, I'm so stupid.
"But-but, yeah, we're just, uh, friends," Hiccup ended, somewhat lamely.
Oh, yes, Toothless growled. Yes, that is very convincing. I'm convinced. She's convinced. Yes, we're all convinced. You're very persuasive.
Hiccup scowled a bit at his dragon. Stop it, Toothless.
"Mm-kay," Heather replied. "I guess I read too much into it, but you guys seemed close."
"Close, yeah, we're but not close like that!" Hiccup shook his head at her. "I don't think I'll ever understand people like you, Heather. I-I mean, the minute you say that you're friends with a girl, then you're, like, 'Oh, you like her? When's the wedding?' I mean, come on."
"Okay, okay, I'll stop trying to pry into your love life," Heather chuckled.
"Which, by the way, is non-existent," Hiccup added quickly.
"If you say so," Heather returned, tucking a wisp of hair behind her ear.
"I do. Say so, that is. Okay, all fixed." Hiccup handed her the axe.
"Thank you," Heather smiled. "You're a great friend, Hiccup."
"Uh, you, too, yeah." That was all he managed to say; he already felt too mortified about droning on about Astrid like a hopeless romantic.
Which he totally was. He sometimes felt sort of ashamed that he imagined all these different romantic moments of him and Astrid. If anyone knew how much he thought about her, he would be so embarrassed. He was already so sensitive about his crush on Astrid. But one thing Hiccup was not ashamed of was loving her. He could never regret loving someone as amazing as Astrid. . .
"Hey, Hiccup-"
"Gah!" Hiccup exclaimed and jumped back. Panting, he said, "Astrid, you scared me!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to," Astrid returned defensively. "So, Heather, you all set?"
Heather nodded. "Yep. Thank you again, Hiccup."
"Oh, by the way-" Astrid came forward. "Here's the whetstone I borrowed from you two days ago. I thought I'd return it-"
"Oh, no, you don't have to," Hiccup returned, gently pushing away her hand. "I want you to keep it."
Astrid raised an eyebrow confusedly. "But it's yours."
Hiccup smiled, brushing away the bangs from his forehead. "That's okay. I don't really need it. I have an extra anyway. Just. . .think of it as a gift."
Astrid's eyes widened. "A gift?"
"Yeah. Just to show that I. . .that I appreciate you and everything you do."
Astrid beamed at him. "You're so sweet."
Hiccup scratched the back of his head. "You don't have to say that-"
"But I want to. Because it's true. Thank you, Hiccup."
Then, Hiccup was taken by surprise by what she did next. Quickly stepping close to him, Astrid gave him a short kiss on the cheek. As she walked off, Hiccup kept his eyes on her until she disappeared. He thought that he heard Heather murmur, "Just friends, yes," but he was too wrapped up in what just happened. Astrid had kissed him. Slowly, his hand went to his cheek. He could still feel where her lips had touched his face. For some reason, Hiccup did not feel nervous or uncomfortable because of her kiss. Somehow, it made him feel at peace.
Dreamily, he sighed. "Astrid kissed me. . ."
Then, when he turned, Hiccup saw Toothless nodding slowly, a smirk on his face. But Hiccup did not seem to care at all. Humming dreamily, Hiccup sauntered out of his hut, oblivious to everything around him and lost in the memory of Astrid's beautiful face smiling at him.
THE END.
I'm gonna be honest. I think I portrayed Heather as kind of nosy, but then again, their feelings for each other are so obvious that anyone probably would have done the same.
I honestly really, really love Hiccup and Astrid's relationship. (It probably is also because I, like Hiccup, am a hopeless romantic. I feel you, Hiccup. I feel you.) They are probably one of the best fictional relationships out there. They are similar, but they aren't too different at the same time. They're perfectly balanced.
Hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading! P.S. Chapter nine of the Changeling should be coming soon.