A/N: Happy Valentine's Day everyone.
4:
Graduation Day.
He smiled, thumbing up the picture of the pair of them on Valentine's Day a few months earlier at the Great Hall. Astrid had reserved them a table and they had enjoyed an intimate dinner by candlelight, serenaded with violins and surrounded by hearts of all shapes and sizes. They both looked happy and Hiccup had given her a little ring with an aquamarine on it. It wasn't an engagement ring but it was a promise that he would always be there for her and she had accepted it with complete delight.
He swiped the photo across the screen and his eyes accidentally fell on the images from his Senior Prom. His face fell and he stared at the desolate shape staring forlornly back at him. Somehow, from the high of Valentine's Day, things had managed to slide catastrophically. He blinked and sighed.
He had been right. Just when he began to imagine something good would happen to him, everything collapsed around him. How quickly his life had fallen apart-and none of it was his fault.
Senior Year.
Somehow, he had survived. He had passed all his exams and papers with flying colours, accrued more than enough points to earn his Diploma and ensure all those he had tutored passed as well. Cami had withdrawn from his tuition for a week but had then reluctantly resumed the sessions. Their friendship, though, hadn't survived the revelation and he found her bitter and angry towards him.
Cami had thrown herself at Snotlout, who had happily resumed his flirting and had been astonished to be invited out by Cami for Valentine's. She had ruthlessly flirted with Snotlout in front of Hiccup and the auburn-haired boy had felt sorry for his cousin, for he had known that she was using Snotlout to get at him. Yet, improbably, they had remained together and Snotlout had been very happy to win the girl. Hiccup had continued to tutor others in need, lead the engineering club and had won a scholarship to Archipelago University for the Engineering Programme. He had also participated in a fundraising effort by volunteering to be pelted with custard pies and had raised the most out of any of the students. Cami alone had paid for ten pies and he knew he would never want to see a custard pie again but he also knew the orphans the money would help were worth his efforts.
As Senior Prom closed, he had become worried. Cami had outed his relationship with Astrid on BerkBook and he had found himself and her fielding all sorts of hateful comments that he really couldn't understand. Many people harked back to Astrid's humiliation at her own Senior Prom and started to suggest that maybe it was because she was two-timing Erik with Hiccup rather than Erik's own decision to remain firmly in his closet. The comments that she must be desperate to consider going out with him were hurtful and some students had even suggested his mother had died rather than have such a disappointment as a son. His mood had spiralled down and though Stoick had tried to help, he had withdrawn so only Astrid could reach him. And she had needed to come round and blast vitriol and fury at the trolls via his account, knowing it wouldn't help but would make her feel better. And then she had blocked them, reported them for abuse and closed down his profile, refusing to let anyone hurt him any more. She had also launched a verbal attack on Cami, blasting the vengeful woman with reams of brutal truth that had also turned the tables in the battle.
But enough damage had been done that Hiccup found himself isolated except for the twins, Fishlegs and Heather, all of whom had many other things competing for their attentions. Ruff was now dating a Senior named Throk from the High School in neighbouring Wington. A tall, humourless and athletic guy, Throk was the opposite of Ruff but she seemingly adored him while Tuff grumbled and bitched but acted as chaperone on every date (sometimes very covertly). Fishlegs and Heather had decided to go to the same College and were already discussing whether or not to get married after High School or during College and at times, seemed completely oblivious to everyone around them. So despite everything he had done at the school, all the students he had helped and all the additional activities he had participated in, he had never felt more alone. He walked the hallways to whispers, eyes on him and when Thuggory and his friends had shoved him aside or tripped him, there had been a ripple of laughter or at least a murmur of approval.
To make things worse, his Dad had gone ahead and proposed to Bertha Bogthorpe on Valentine's Day. After a very short pause, she had said yes, making his father incredibly happy but casting Hiccup into even more distress and uncertainty. If they married, Cami would become his stepsister and how would that work? They weren't speaking and she had made it plain that she now hated him for not wanting to be her boyfriend. And while he had been at fault for maybe not telling Cami he wasn't interested, in his mind, he hadn't even contemplated she was treating him as a boyfriend simply because it had never even occurred to him. Cami was an old friend and he already had a girlfriend in Astrid: Cami being his girlfriend had never even been on his radar and he had no practical experience to recognise the signs. And the fact he had specifically asked Astrid to be his girlfriend also confused him: how could Cami be disappointed when she had never asked?
Of course, when he tried to speak to her to explain this, she had cut him off, yelled or walked away. He had written her a letter which he suspected she had destroyed, texted her and emailed and sent a message via BerkBookChat. Whether she read any of them was debatable but he really couldn't do any more-especially since she was now in a relationship with Snotlout, which she gloried in rubbing his face in. Not that the minded at all, which he suspected annoyed Cami further, but it made for very difficult atmospheres when his future stepmother came over. He had tried to explain to her and while Bertha had been exasperated, his explanation and his obvious inexperience with dating had persuaded Bertha, at least, that there was no malicious intent on his part. Being socially awkward and inexperienced wasn't a crime.
But there was still the conundrum: what would happen after Stoick and Bertha married? Hiccup assumed that the pair would move in together and he knew as well that it was probably going to be in Stoick's house, which was a magnificent mansion that was the hereditary home of his family and from which he would never move. Ambivalent scarcely started to describe how he felt about it, for Bertha would change things, removing the echoes of his dead mother that he had clung to so assiduously. Things were not moved and carefully replaced after dusting, there were always candles on the mantle and pictures of the family everywhere. Bertha was a strong personality and he knew that his father would want to forge a new home with his new wife-but in doing so, he would strip away some of the precious last echoes of Hiccup's mother that he didn't want to lose.
And of course, they would all be one big happy family under one roof, right?
Hiccup knew that was very unlikely. Cami wasn't talking to him and his cousin would be round all the time. He could envisage himself becoming a ghost in his own home, pushed aside by the vivacious Cami and Snotlout, who always had to be the centre of attention. Stoick had always liked his cousin, a sportsman just as the Mayor had been in his youth and Hiccup's own athletic deficiencies would be magnified. Skinny, sarcastic and smart, he was very different to his Dad and he could see them becoming more distanced again…
His only hope was Senior Prom, because he had asked Astrid to come with him. He was completely anxious because he knew how upset she had been at her own Prom and he wondered if she still wanted him after all the trouble that Cami had caused. She had told him several times that the two-person Prom he had given her after she arrived at his house had been infinitely better than the real thing…but Hiccup desperately wanted her there at his side at his final Rite of Passage as a High School student. He wanted some good memories of the Senior Year.
Seeing how much it meant to him, Astrid had agreed, no matter how reluctantly. She was working in a Diner to earn money and had confirmed her enrolment at the Archipelago University in Berk for her degree to start in the Autumn alongside Hiccup but he could sense there was something troubling her. Money would always be tight for her and her travelling to her tournaments for her kickboxing had used more funds than she had wanted. Hiccup was well-off for his father was rich and his mother had left him a very generous legacy as well as his college fund which he wouldn't need as he had won a Scholarship: he was more than happy to help Astrid. The problem was that she didn't want to be helped. Fiercely independent and proud, the only time he had offered had resulted in a furious argument and her storming off. So though he knew she was worried, he was concerned that there was nothing he could do to alleviate her anxieties.
In truth he knew she was very worried about the costs of the gown. He had pointed out she had a perfectly good gown which had led to her rounding on him in anger because she had already worn it to her own Prom and it was obvious that he just didn't understand. So he had tried to explain that he didn't care if she arrived in a bin bag held together by duck tape because she was beautiful and he loved her whatever-but she had snapped that it was because she was being judged by everyone else, especially since Cami's attack. Especially if Cami was going to be there, looking beautiful in a brand new gown.
Sometimes, Hiccup wondered if women were an entirely different species because he really had no clue what he had done wrong this time. So he had suggested that she have her existing gown altered and even offered a couple of sketches to show how it could look. After huffing and scowling, she had glanced at the sketches-and then she had pretty much kissed all coherent thought out of him.
"Those are amazing, babe," she had murmured to the dazed Hiccup. "Thor, that's the smartest thing I heard of." He sighed happily.
"Am I forgiven for being an uncomprehending muttonhead?" he mumbled.
"Completely," she assured him, kissing him again. He smiled.
"I know someone who could do the alterations as well," he offered, still relaxed.
"Who?"
"Tuffnut."
"Your forgiveness is withdrawn," she said shortly as she sat up abruptly. He whined at the loss of contact.
"C'mon! That's not fair at all!" he protested. "Tuffnut is crazy, sure, but he's also an expert at textiles and an amazing tailor. He made four gowns for a fashion show this semester to raise money for burns victims…admittedly several of whom he caused with his rather lethal fireworks display for New Year…but the point is, he's incredible."
"It's unbelievable for sure," Astrid snapped. "Didn't he paint himself orange and cover himself in feathers then nest on the top of the Town Hall for three days until he was forcibly removed by the fire department during his Sophomore Year?"
"Yes-but that was as the result of a bet he lost," Hiccup explained, sitting up as well. "Thorston Challenge, no less! If he messes it all up, I will replace your gown. If he succeeds, you will have a unique gown that no one else will have." She shrugged.
"I get to beat him up if he messes up," she added.
"I'll make sure not to mention that to him," Hiccup deadpanned. "Not really motivational."
"It may be," she huffed, though her lips were smiling. "But I will defer to your knowledge of your friend." Then she leaned closer to him. "I trust you, Hiccup,' she whispered before she kissed him again.
Tuffnut had been overjoyed and had come round to Hiccup's house when asked to measure up Astrid. He had suggested a couple of minor changes, carefully and reverently taken charge of Astrid's precious Prom Dress and had headed out, promising to have the dress back in plenty of time for the big day. Astrid had hugged the male twin, causing him to blush and then kissed Hiccup as well for his brilliant idea. The only fee Tuffnut had asked was a picture of Astrid in the Dress for his portfolio.
The big day had dawned and Hiccup found himself getting more and more nervous. He had watched the school be transformed for the Prom and had heard how his friends and classmates were ready for the experience. But Astrid was growing more and more anxious and finally confided in him that she had been trolled again online so Hiccup found his temper rising at the implication that she was being treated badly once more.
The only bright spot was that Tuffnut had delivered with a stunning asymmetrical single strapped azure gown with a sleek silhouette and diamanté detailing over the bodice. His jaw had hit the ground as she arrived at his house with her Mom and had stepped in through the door. She looked stunning, for Tuff's dress was beautiful and her golden hair was swept up into a gorgeous asymmetric bun. Hiccup had bought her a statement crystal necklace and earrings which glittered in the sunlight and he handed her a white corsage that she accepted with a brilliant smile. He looked very sharp in a skinny fitting black suit with white shirt and black tie and a white buttonhole.
Hiccup had greeted her with a kiss and had looked stunned.
"You literally look like a goddess," he told her. Eyes widening, she blushed slightly and then swatted his shoulder.
"You don't look so bad yourself," she told him. "In fact, I think I may be going with the most handsome guy there!" His emerald eyes sparkled and then he bowed his head.
"Actually…I think you are alone in that,' he sighed. "My friends wouldn't miss if I vanished and not even my Dad has bothered to be here." She saw it then, the pain in his eyes-because Stoick was over at Bertha's house and was there for the Prom pictures with her daughter rather than his own son. The action had hurt Hiccup worse than he could have expressed, that his father had chosen Cami over him because to him, it presaged what would happen when their families formally joined.
I'll be a stranger, an outcast in my own home, he realised and blinked back the burning in his eyes. And then he felt a hand gently touch his cheek and he realised that Astrid was talking to him.
"…babe? Are you with me?"
He blinked, shaking his head.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"You kinda zoned out on me there, babe," she told him urgently. Sighing, he chewed his lip.
"Dad's not here," he told her. She blinked and glanced around. "He told me this morning he was going over to Cami's house to be with her Mom for the pre-Prom thing. And obviously I can't go because Cami hates me. So he chose her over his own son for my Prom." The pain in his voice tore her heart.
"You should have told me," she whispered as she tightened her arms around him. He took a shaky breath.
"You told me your Mom was going out tonight because she knew you would be with me," he whispered.
"She could have cancelled," Astrid told him gently.
"But why should your Mom be put out because my father can't be bothered to do anything for his own son?" Hiccup asked wretchedly. "He's chosen Bertha over Mom and now he's choosing her daughter over me. Why should I even bother?"
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock!" she scolded him as his eyes widened.
"How the Thor did you…?' he mumbled.
"Never annoy a Hofferson woman," she reminded him. "We find out everything we need. Including your embarrassing middle name."
"I'm doomed," he sighed.
"No-but I'm mad," she told him firmly. "Hiccup-we are doing this because you wanted to do this one Rite of Passage for High School. But you don't have to go. If you want not to go, we can book into a restaurant or diner or even just get a pizza." He looked up.
"I wanted to go with you," he sighed and then swallowed. "I want to go with you," he repeated more firmly. "I'm sorry. I'm just being pathetic and needy. I shouldn't be surprised-Dad has already shown that he prefers her to me. But I'm not letting her steal my Prom like Erik stole yours."
"In fact, I am really hoping that I can go to Prom with the man I love this time," she told him softly. "I want to stand by you and have our pictures taken and have that Gods damned dance together! But if you don't want to, I won't." He managed a wan smile.
"We're going," he said firmly and then he forced a smile. "But we'll get a picture first. Like last year-you and me." So once again, they had pictures taken using the timer on his phone and he smiled-but not quite-as he stared at the camera. Yet when they headed out, via the taxi he had ordered, Hiccup was anxious. He was here with the woman he loved who looked beyond beautiful…and already things had started to go sideways. But as her hand tightened on his, he knew that she was worth fighting for, that she was the one thing he was truly proud of from High School. That amazingly, amid everything that had happened, she was with him.
The School looked amazing in the evening sun, banners and decorations brightening the red brick exterior. Arm in arm, they emerged and headed through the familiar corridors towards the School Gym. Hiccup supposed that he should be reminiscing about the happy times he had experienced as he walked through the school at the end of his High School career but all he saw were points where he had been tripped or shoved or punched. That corner where he had been ambushed and yelled at until he dropped to his knees. That alcove where they had sneered that he wasn't a proper person now he had lost a leg. That doorway where they had told him his Mom died of embarrassment. He shuddered.
"You okay, babe?" Astrid asked, leaning towards him. They were garnering some surprised looks which he was steadfastly ignoring.
"You know, I can't recall one single place on this route where something good happened to me," he told her quietly.
"I can," she told him and paused, gesturing to a locker to their right. "That's my old locker. Where you first spoke to me. Where I first met my lesser freckled Hiccup." He managed a small chuckle.
"Where I thought you were amazing but I knew you would piss off my bullies," he amended. "But being tripped down the stairs never ended so well for me because I ended up with your friendship."
"Good answer," she told him as they arrived at the Gym. One of the popular Seniors, Ragna Solvag, checked their tickets and stared at them before nodding and waving them in. Hiccup glanced around, seeing a green and white theme in the banners and decorations. Tuffnut was acting as DJ so there was currently some thrash metal track playing, though Hiccup knew he had promised to play a more suitable selection when the dance really got going. Drinks and snacks were laid out on tables along one side and there were seats scattered along the walls. Astrid glanced around with interest while Hiccup saw people he had spent most of the last four years with who were studiously ignoring him. So they queued up for their official Prom photo and the couple made sure they had their pictures taken formally and kissing before heading properly into the Hall.
Ruff was already commanding the dance floor, her thick blonde hair piled in a giant bun on the top of her head, her strapless olive silk gown in real danger of succumbing to gravity as she bounced around, arms straight up in the air around the stiff and serious tuxedo-clad shape of Throk. To Hiccup's eye, the tall man looked incredibly uncomfortable but there was a slight smile on his face and he just nodded. Who was he to doubt how affection worked? If his friend was happy, then so was he.
As he glanced around, he saw Heather and Fishlegs, whispering furiously, both holding a plastic cup of some fruity punch that almost certainly had been spiked by someone or more probably several someones. Heather was sleek in a silver classic fitted gown, her raven hair loose over her shoulder and green eyes glittering with happiness. Fishlegs was in a rather large black tux with a silver bow tie and cummerbund straining around his thick middle. Hiccup blinked for there was a very small solitaire gleaming on Heather's left hand. He was just about to walk forward to congratulate his friend when he saw an unwelcome shape beat him to it, her face cracked by a grin.
Cami was confident in her flouncy deep blue gown, sapphires gleaming at her throat and her make-up expert. Trailing behind her with what was definitely a beer in his hand was Snotlout, classically dressed in black tuxedo, white shirt, black bow tie and huge grin. And she made a huge fuss of the couple, congratulating them while casting half an eye to Hiccup. Astrid tapped his arm and handed him a cup of the punch and he sipped it then grimaced.
"This is really alcoholic," he coughed as Astrid took a sip and nodded.
"I think there may be a trace of fruit juice in this alcohol," she choked. He sighed.
"I'm sure the football team think this is amusing," he added and sighed. "I ought to go talk to Fishlegs and Heather. They look like they've just gotten engaged and Fish is one of my oldest friends…" Astrid paused and heard an edge to his voice.
"You've never really talked about him," she commented, putting her 'punch' on a seat. He sighed.
"We used to be really close…until Heather arrived," he admitted. "He was smitten straight away but couldn't say a word to her-and I encouraged him to speak to her because I hated the idea that he would miss out."
"That was kind," she told him.
"He was my friend," he stressed. "But what I didn't expect was that my nerdy, botany-obsessed friend who I used to game with on the weekend or sit with at lunch would become totally obsessed with Heather. Pretty much to the exclusion of everyone else. I mean, I text him and he may answer a week later! He spends every weekend with her, most evenings…they even holiday together. And the horrible thing is that she's really nice and one-on-one she's great to talk to. But when they're together, it's as if everyone else has disappeared. So I pushed him to follow his dream and basically lost him as a friend because he ghosted me."
"Oh," Astrid said, talking a deep breath. "I really don't know what to say. That's a kick in the guts."
"And then some," he sighed. "I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. I was just recovering from losing my Mom and my leg so I guess I probably drove him away by moaning or being needy…"
"Hiccup-I can honestly say that you are not moany or needy!" she told him firmly. "Thor, getting you to admit anything that's worrying or upsetting you is like pulling teeth."
"That's a mental image that I could have done without," he replied automatically. "Is that part of your training as well?"
"Kicking them out, not pulling them," she replied smugly and then she stiffened. "I cannot believe it." Her voice had fallen to a low hiss and he stiffened as well, hearing the anger in her voice. Slowly, he turned-to see a tall, handsome, powerful shape in a classic black tux, white shirt and black bow tie combination. The man had his thick raven hair tied back, his dark caramel eyes smug and tattoos covering his prominent chin.
"Erik," Hiccup murmured, looking back at Astrid. Her eyes were wide with betrayal.
"What the Loki is he doing here?" she hissed. "Did you…?" But he shook his head frantically.
"I had no idea!" he gabbled. "Look, I would never have come if I knew he was here, let alone have brought you here. I know how bad he made you feel." But Astrid was looking around and she saw a number of pairs of eyes flick between the pair of them.
"I…understand," she murmured and then she frowned. "At least he's finally being honest…" And she gestured, for Erik was laughing and joking with Thuggory, Hiccup started.
"That's who he was crushing on?" he gaped. Astrid nodded.
"Yup," she said bitterly. "I have no idea how he got into our Prom but he was there with the other Football players, rubbing my face in the fact that he and Erik…"
"And all the while, I could have known that Thug was being an ass as camouflage as well," Hiccup murmured. "I could have…" And then he stopped. Thuggory was a horrible bully, a cruel and selfish guy who had made Hiccup's life miserable and who had injured him countless times. And now, Hiccup found out he could have had the means to devastatingly injure his tormentor if he had asked the question…or if Astrid had told him. He blinked. It wasn't his fault, wasn't ever her fault. She had done the decent thing, respecting the bargain she had made and not revealing his secret. He chewed the inside of his cheek. Though there was a large part of him that would have loved to ruin Thug's life or at least compromise his enjoyment of the Year, he knew in his heart that he wouldn't have done it. Revealing something so personal was a pain and an injury that was unforgivable. He wouldn't have let Thug take that from him as they had taken everything else.
Then he suddenly realised that Fishlegs was walking towards him with an embarrassed look on his face. Heather was looking similarly uncomfortable but Cami was looking triumphant. Snotlout looked conflicted and Erik and Thuggory were walking forward as well, their eyes cruel and calculating. Instinctively, Hiccup pulled himself up to his full height and faced them, feeling Astrid tense at his side.
"You've done a nice job with the decorations," he said as an opening gambit, his eyes fixed on Fishlegs' face. Fish and Heather were on the organising committee and he knew they had worked hard for this to be a success.
"Thanks…" Fish said, his voice very self-conscious. Hiccup smiled and carried on.
"You know, I really wish you and Heather every happiness," he said. Fishlegs blushed.
"Um…what?" he gabbled. Hiccup gestured.
"Your engagement," he explained honestly. "Congratulations. To you both."
"Oh. Um. Thanks," the husky man said, snatching an agonised look at his new fiancee. Heather gave an embarrassed look as well.
"Thank you," she revealed. "Fish was very romantic. He never told me he was planning to propose when he came over for the Prom." Hiccup smiled.
"He always was a thoughtful guy," he commented, seeing a blush rise up Fishlegs's neck and cheeks, all the way to the tips of his ears. And then he sighed. "But I am absolutely certain that you all didn't come to surround us just so I could offer my best wishes. So what's going on, Fish? You are supposed to be one of my best friends: the least you owe me is a straight answer." To Hiccup's eye, it almost looked as if Fishlegs was going to faint but Heather took his hand and squeezed and he seemed to rally. He nodded.
"It…I…there's a problem," he admitted. Hiccup felt himself stiffen and Astrid grasped his hand.
"There is?" he offered. Fishlegs nodded but Cami couldn't resist any longer.
"It's her," she spat.
"Her?" Hiccup asked, his voice hardening. Cami had been his childhood friend and he regretted the loss of her friendship because he hadn't reciprocated her feelings…but now, he was wondering how fast it was possible to hate someone. Because he guessed he was about to set a new record.
"Astrid," Cami confirmed, her tone smug. "She can't come in here."
"What?" Hiccup asked, his voice hard now. He turned to Fishlegs. "And since when was this a problem, Fish? You knew who I was bringing as my plus one!" The husky guy's blue-green eyes widened.
"Um…did you?" he asked faintly. Gritting his teeth, Hiccup nodded.
"I told you when I bought the tickets. I've been telling you about Astrid-my girlfriend-all year. And pretty much everyone in the year knows Astrid is my girlfriend, courtesy of Cami, who couldn't handle the fact I was with her long before she ever moved back to Berk! So why is this a problem now?"
"Because she's banned from ever coming to Prom here again!" Cami snapped.
"Yeah-after her unprovoked attack on Erik last year!" Thuggory sneered. Astrid balled her fists, seeing the two men holding hands.
"It wasn't," she began but Erik lurched forward, his face cruel.
"You cheating bitch!" he sneered, stabbing an accusing finger at her face. "You were with this one-legged runt even when you were with me! And then you try to blame me? Why would we want you at the Prom when you're violent, angry and selfish! You ruined my Prom last year and…"
Astrid took a gasp, the sound between a bitter laugh and a sob.
"You are the most hypocritical bastard on the face of the planet!" she spat and turned. "But I won't ruin your precious Prom. It's not like you ruined mine!" Every eye was on her now and she was cringing at the humiliation. And then she fled. Hiccup turned but she had shoved her way through the ring of Seniors and Hiccup turned, his eyes flashing with rage in his pale face.
"Touchy!" Cami sneered as Hiccup turned on her.
"SHUT UP!" he roared in her face, causing her to cringe back. Then he rounded on his friends. "And you-what the fuck do you all think you're doing here? I told you that I was bringing Astrid to the Prom about a dozen times and if you didn't hear, it was because you were too selfish and involved in yourself to bother listening to someone who was supposed to be your friend! To someone who was the person who persuaded you to even talk to Heather in the first place! So why did you sell me the ticket in the first place? Why did you let me bring her here and then humiliate her in front of the whole year? There were plenty of opportunities to speak privately or even just not let us in. Instead, you went out of your way to humiliate Astrid-and me!" Fishlegs cringed back and Heather opened her mouth-and then shut it under his withering glare.
"Sorry," he whimpered. Then he spun to advance a pace on Cami, who backed away. Hiccup had been a goofy, kindly friend and she had been hurt by his rejection of her but she had never expected herself to be intimidated by him. Yet facing him now, she found herself frozen.
"And you-I'm sorry I didn't want to be your girlfriend. But you never asked. You assumed. And there is a saying that if you assume, you make an ass of you and me. And you certainly made an ass of yourself because I was already with Astrid. You never asked me anything about myself-you just assumed I had no one and presumed I was yours. I asked you not to come around without invitation and you ignored it and turned up anyway-without ever being invited. I never saw you as a girlfriend because in my mind, that position was already taken. You never asked about a relationship and I certainly never asked you. So I wasn't your boyfriend, I was just a friend. So you overreacted and cut me off completely. And then you launched some vicious vendetta that humiliated me and Astrid. You libelled us. You encouraged people to troll us. You were a vicious bitch and I am sorry our friendship ended like this-but you should stop glorying in others' misery. One day, it will all come back to bite you on the ass. So SHUT UP and stay away from me. And that means my home. You are NOT to come round-ever. And I don't care if your mother visits, you are NOT welcome. IS THAT CLEAR?"
She backed away and nodded.
"Yes, Hiccup," she whispered. Taking a deep breath, he turned to Thuggory and Erik, his brows furrowing deeper as he took a pace towards the two buff jocks.
"Oh, this should be good," Thuggory sneered. Hiccup glared into his face.
"Oh it is-because I no longer feel any guilt in telling everyone what you truly are," he hissed, the memory of Astrid's desolate voice urging him on. "Coward. Liar. Pathetic little boy!" His tone was vicious.
"Oh, you are just…"
"You have bullied and abused me for years," Hiccup told him. "You and your equally cowardly and inadequate buddies Dogsbreath and Meatfist. Cowards, all of you. All bullies are cowards and you three are shining examples! You never go for someone your own size. You never attack someone who can fight back. You slunk away like kicked dogs when Astrid kicked your pathetic asses! And you are a coward for pretending you're straight when you and Erik have been in a relationship for two years!"
There was an audible gasp. Hiccup looked around.
"You heard me!" he said louder. "Thug and Erik have been together for two years. Which includes all the time he was supposedly with Astrid. Astrid who knew and kindly agreed to act as his girlfriend to camouflage Erik because he was too much of a coward to admit his sexuality. Not that there is anything wrong with being gay at all-except Erik thought it wouldn't fit his image of always being the perfect Football Star and jock! Erik who enjoyed being seen at parties with his beautiful girlfriend and then abandoned Astrid as soon as he arrived for his covert boyfriend, leaving her surrounded by people she didn't know or like all so he could maintain his pathetic charade. Astrid and I became friends in September and she was clear I couldn't be anything more as she already had a boyfriend. So I was happy to be a friend. You know how many of her kickboxing tournaments he went to? None. Nil. Zip. Nada. Precisely zero! And yet you made him your Prom King despite him being the most self-centred boy on the planet! And by the way, it was Erik who ruined Astrid's chances of having a real boyfriend and a Senior Prom by using her for the image and then leaving her as soon as he got his precious Prom picture done. He never even danced with her at her Prom. Not even once!"
There was another gasp.
"So he ruined Astrid's chances until he left school when she and I finally could get together. She came round to see me on Prom Night when she left here last year. She was humiliated and heartbroken because Erik stole her Prom. When he danced with the Prom Queen, having danced with his boyfriend all evening and Astrid not at all, is it any wonder she lost her temper and gave him what he deserved?" There were murmurs now, eyes looking less hostilely at him and more at the two young men still smugly facing him. "And now, he has the gall to get her thrown out of MY Prom because he wants revenge. MY Prom, not his! So he's ruined my Prom and hers because he wants revenge. Thuggory has ruined most of my time at the school and now he and his friend ruin my Prom. And I really should have expected it-because, to be honest, all of you have been selfish, blind and callous. You have seen me being bullied and treated badly by Thug and his friends for years and you did nothing. Shoved about, tripped, my lunch spilled, my work ruined, humiliated, taunted…and not one of you said 'enough'. Not one of you for FOUR DAMNED YEARS stood up for what is right. So I am doing it-not for me, but for my girlfriend because that is what a real boyfriend does! Helheim, even the people who purported to be my friends did nothing. And now they are colluding with this cowardly bastard to ruin the last thing I do as a student, save Graduation. And that's only because none of you have the power to interfere with that."
"A pretty fantasy," Erik said. "But I still think that you were the one she was betraying me with…" Hiccup lurched forward until he was about six inches away from Eret, quivering with rage.
"So how many of her tournaments did you go to?" Hiccup hissed. "None. I went to them all-because she asked me. Because she wanted someone there. And a boyfriend-even a decent friend-would come. But you never did. I even went to the Archipelago Cheerleading Competition that Berk came second last in-and I was one of only three supporters. Not one of the Football Team those girls bust their asses to support bothered to put in an appearance-but I did because Astrid is my friend. I helped her with her English. We helped each other with AP Math. I came over at Thanksgiving-no sign of you. Ditto Christmas and New Year. Astrid had never brought a guy home before I came round by the way. Now don't you think that's weird-unless you were just a sham? And she'd never had a date because you never took her on one. EVER! We only started dating after her Senior Prom when she definitely dumped you! You used her and wrecked her Senior Year and denied her the chance to do things like have a proper boyfriend and a decent Prom. And don't think I and half the school didn't overhear you guys laughing about her. Calling her stupid and angry and awkward and out of control-when she gave up so much to cover for you because you begged her to help you! I don't know why you chose her but you are the most wretched and parasitic scumbag I have ever encountered!"
Erik gaped because every hit was true and there were audible murmurs now. His mouth worked soundlessly as he glanced at Thuggory, who was equally dumbstruck. Distantly, Hiccup was aware that Tuff had changed the music to 'the 1812 Overture'. Everyone flinched as on the track, a cannon fired. Hiccup gave a humourless smile-and then did what he had wanted to do for a year: he punched Erik full in the face. The wounded man bellowed but before he could get up. Hiccup followed up with a kick that laid him out. Enraged, Thuggory rushed forward-straight into a powerful kick that threw him back onto his ass. And before he could recover, Hiccup punched him out, a brutal blow that broke his nose and left him slumped over his friend. Then he straightened up, breathing hard. Behind the two prone young men, Dogsbreath and Meatfist visibly backed away.
For a few minutes of insanity, he hadn't been that nice guy, the easy mark, the pushover. He had outed the full details of the relationship of the two men who had hurt him and his girlfriend so much, he had yelled at his supposed friends and his entire year and thrown all of Cami's hypocrisy back in her face. Most astonishing of all, he had finally punched out his bully.
He felt amazing.
But Astrid was still gone.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled out the precious Prom tickets and ripped them pointedly in half before he spun on his heel and walked out of Senior Prom without a single regret.
A/N: Just in case there was any confusion, Erik's sham relationship was problematic only because he was unkind and thoughtless to Astrid who had agreed to help him. And he was cheating on Astrid NOT vice versa. He and Thug were already out when Hiccup revealed full details of how long it had been going on simply to counter allegations that Astrid was cheating on him). I understand many people do not want to reveal their sexuality for a large variety of reasons and that is fine as everyone's circumstances are different-but please don't deliberately hurt others in the process. Be kind.