Thirteen: Hand luggage
The brandy definitely took its revenge as Hiccup spent the rest of the evening feeling like death warmed over, his head pounding and stomach rebelling. But he had still managed to boil some pasta and throw together a feta and pesto salad to accompany it between sipping water and swallowing aspirin because he didn't want to let Astrid feel he was utterly useless.
After scolding Hiccup gently for being ridiculous in thinking she would ditch him for upsetting Dagur, she had shared the meal with him and made a point of showing her enjoyment at what he had cooked. Wearily he had pushed the pasta around his plate and slumped at the table as she unsympathetically but gently poked fun at his incipient hangover. And all the time, she ignored the brief but desolate window into his world, not sure what to say or how to tackle it-especially while Hiccup was feeling so rough anyway. So she opted for treating him as normal and settled by him on the largest couch so they could watch the smash hit drama series 'Viking Raiders', a programme that harked back to their Viking heritage. Astrid was a huge fan and even through his pounding head, Hiccup had cheerfully watched her enthuse over the latest storyline-about a kidnapped Chief's daughter who was almost as feisty as Astrid herself.
"I can't believe Ana-Marit would have let Jonas and Oddvar get away with that!" she protested as the end credits rolled. "I would have grabbed that axe and cut them into little pieces!"
"Hmm…do your fans know their hero is a violent axe-wielding would-be Viking warrior maid?" he teased her. She gently punched his shoulder.
"Violent? Me?" she teased him as he clutched over-dramatically at the point of impact.
"Agh! The pain!" he groaned. She snorted.
"You know that Eric the Brainless wouldn't tolerate such a wimp on his crew!" she teased him and he huffed.
"My Viking name would be Hiccup the Doesn't-like-to-be-hit!" he retorted and she burst out laughing.
"Thor, that's terrible!" she replied, eyeing him up thoughtfully. "Hiccup the Wimp?"
"Hiccup the Hungover?" he suggested. "And what about you?" She smirked.
"I'm Fearless Astrid Hofferson!" she reminded him and snuggled against his shoulder. "What's on next?" He checked the onscreen guide and groaned.
"Guess My Vegetable," he read and they both burst out laughing. For some reason, the show had been running for twenty years straight in the Archipelago and was a well-loved icon of the schedules…but though Hiccup had sat through it numerous times with Stoick and Gobber, he still couldn't get the point. She grabbed the controller and switched the television off.
"I think we both need an early night," she suggested and he nodded.
"Thanks," he said tiredly-but she bounced up onto her knees and stared into his face, making sure that he was paying attention to her.
"But no more thinking I'm gonna axe you for any disagreement with anyone-Dagur, Heather, Cami, me-because if there is an issue, we talk about it," she told him seriously, hoping he would get the message. "Hiccup-you are helping me…just remember I am here to help you too! Anything you need, anything you want to talk about…I'm here." She rested a gentle hand against his cheek. "And no more getting this drunk, okay? It worries me you saw it as the only way to cope…"
He gently leaned into the touch and then sighed.
"I know," he admitted. "And…it won't happen again, Astrid. I promise." She pecked a kiss on his cheek.
"Sleep well, Hiccup," she said, getting up and heading for her room. He watched her go, longing aching in his heart.
"Sleep well, Astrid."
oOo
He was sluggish and muzzy in the morning, suffering a headache as Astrid bounced around cheerfully, racing through her morning exercises because she had a photo shoot in the late morning and had dispensation to be late for group training to attend. Bleary, Hiccup drank three black coffees and made scrambled eggs for himself, though Astrid had stuck to porridge, before his brain had clunked slowly into gear.
"Photo shoot?" he mumbled.
"Yes-we're redoing the shots of those outfits that sold out so quickly from 'Team Astrid' so we can update the website and the publicity using the new photos as well," she explained. "And Heather will be there as well so it shouldn't be too boring…" He forced a smile on his face-because he had promised to support her as a fiancé would be expected to do.
"I need to stop in the Post Office and the Bank anyway," he admitted and she smiled.
"We can do all of those-after Dagur has put you through your paces," she said smugly as he stared at her plaintively.
"What?' he gabbled. "I thought we decided not to do that yesterday?"
"Nope," she told him firmly. "We decided I would be here to stop Dagur getting too enthusiastic!"
"And stop me getting thrown through the window!" Hiccup protested. The door opened and the bouncing shape of Dagur bounded in, a huge smile on his face.
"I would never throw you all the way through the window!" he corrected Hiccup, still grinning. "Sister! How are you?" Astrid grinned and gave him a huge hug as Hiccup rose to his feet.
"About yesterday…" he began but Dagur threw a huge hug around him as well.
"Brother! I am so sorry," he announced happily. "I was way too touchy when I should have realised that I was coming on far too strong. I just wanted to make sure you were safe as soon as possible and I probably came across too full on!"
"AIR!" Hiccup gasped, writhing in the ferocious bear-hug. Dagur released him, looking sheepish, as Hiccup coughed and choked, gasping for breath.
"Um…sorry about that," the buff man apologised genuinely. "I was just so pleased you were willing to forgive me…" Hiccup cast him a mildly jaundiced look as he gasped for air.
"You were only trying to help," he conceded as he straightened up. "But I'm not a fan of violence. I-er-was beaten up at school and sorta got an allergy to being hit…" Dagur cocked an eyebrow.
"Look, brother-after I've trained you, no one will be able to hit you!" he said confidently. "Right, Ast?" The blonde smiled brightly, her eyes trailing over Hiccup and praying he would trust her enough to talk to her when he wasn't drunk. Or maybe Dagur could suggest how to tackle it?
"You're a good teacher," she acknowledged and seeing her at ease, he forced himself to relax and walk forward.
"Okay, Dagur-go ahead," he sighed as the other man eyed him, seeing the long sleeves and the auburn-haired man's reluctance to be touched or hurt, even as part of training.
I know your secret, he realised with a pang of regret. And I'm here when you need to talk, brother.
oOo
After an hour of being shown how to break various holds and how to easily throw even a larger assailant such as Dagur, Hiccup had relaxed and accepted that what was being shown was going to help protect him. And though he didn't want to ask how they could be used against someone with a vase or hair straighteners, he guessed he could improvise. Somehow, it made him feel a bit more empowered.
Cami drove them to the Post Office where he collected his passport, which his father had couriered over to Archi Island and then to the bank, where he had collected his new cards…even though there was pretty much nothing in the accounts. He also lodged a complaint that his accounts were fraudulently accessed and filled in the paperwork in the hope that he could reclaim some of his money. He didn't want to ask Astrid to take him to the Police Station since they were running late for the photoshoot but he resolved to get Cami to drop him off later…because there was something in him that was desperate for Bella not to win. And if that meant humiliating himself in front of the police-especially if Astrid wasn't there to witness…then he would do it.
Once they reached the studios, Heather impatiently whisked Astrid away after parking him in a seat while they primped and preened the blonde, getting her ready for the shoot. Her beauty was enhanced with the lightest of flicks of powder, a hint of eyeshadow enhancing her bright azure eyes and her long blonde locks elegantly styled around her face. And then Heather had slumped in the chair by Hiccup, checking through her emails as the photographer had started to snap pictures, barking orders which Astrid had dutifully obeyed.
Watching the photo shoot, Hiccup found himself becoming increasingly uncomfortable. Sure, Astrid was absolutely stunning and the popular-and three new-dresses from the 'Team Astrid' line were gorgeous and flattered her lithe form perfectly but the photographer was asking the blonde to pose…inappropriately. Astrid was eager to get the shoot over but she was professional about everything she did and dutifully got into the poses she was asked to, fixing a smile on her face and obeying the man.
Hiccup shuffled his feet and wondered what he could say. It wasn't really his place, since he was only a fake fiancé-but Astrid was his friend and she had asked him to accompany her. And yet…he would be a bad friend if he let her make a horrible mistake when he could have spoken out. So he stood up and walked forward, deliberately interrupting the shoot. The photographer-Piers Rasmussen, one of the rising stars of Nordic Photography-looked up and huffed, his blue eyes narrowing at the tall auburn-haired shape.
"Astrid? Can I have a word?" Hiccup asked. She frowned and looked over at Piers.
"Time is money, darling," he said sarcastically. "But I suppose I could interrupt my packed schedule because your hand luggage wants his ego stroked." Hiccup frowned and his resolve hardened, turning to look into the familiar azure eyes.
"Hiccup-is it important because…?" she asked him, her tone slightly exasperated.
"Well, as your fiancé, I want to ask you one simple question," he said sarcastically, daring her to reveal their deception in front of the huffing photographer. She scowled, biting her lip against reminding him of the agreement. "What is your image?" She stopped.
"Well-soccer star and captain of the Valkyries," she said simply.
"So family orientated, role model, wholesome?" he pressed and she nodded.
"Of course," she retorted. "You know I…"
"Then you really need to look at these pictures," he told her firmly as Heather walked forward, her concentration disturbed by the pause in proceedings.
"Hiccup, I think you need to remember…" she began, frowning at him in irritation.
"That my job is to support and look out for Astrid," he cut in, eyes glittering. "Look at the pictures-because I think I'm the only one who has been watching…" Huffing Astrid stalked forward and glared at Piers.
"Show me!" she demanded. "The sooner we get this over, the sooner we can finish this. Without any more interruptions…" Casting Hiccup a very nasty look, the photographer smugly thumbed back the shots on his camera and displayed them to the blonde.
"There!" he said triumphantly. "Every one a work of art."
"But maybe not for a ten year old audience," Hiccup sassed back as the first image clicked up.
But Astrid was gaping and Heather, peering over her shoulder, stared in shock. The images were all extremely provocative, sexy and suggestive. Most were art shots of Astrid and though they featured the dresses, none of them were a pose that anyone would want their daughter to emulate-and certainly couldn't be displayed on billboards all over the islands. The blonde stared at her manager in exasperation and then at the photographer.
"Delete them all," she said firmly. "All of them are wholly unsuitable. Gods, I look like a porn star in half of them. What on Midgard were you thinking?"
"I was thinking I was the photographer and that you were the client," Piers sneered.
"And you were thinking wrong," Astrid told him flatly. "You took the contract and agreed to the specifications-a photoshoot for my new 'Team Astrid' line. And that means I am in charge and have the final say. And the contract you signed specifies that the images should uphold the values and image of Team Astrid. So delete them all and do them again!"
The young man stared at her. Rising star he was-but Astrid was Archipelago Celebrity Royalty and it had been a huge opportunity to push his career to the next level. His ego was hugely bruised by her criticism but he had to admit that he wouldn't want his younger sister, Miken, seeing or emulating any of them.
"I don't have time…" he began and she scowled.
"Then I will find another photographer," she told him firmly. "Your choice…" Glaring at Hiccup, who looked away, he made a show of deleting the images and then nodded.
"So you want powerful, attractive, role model…" he said, trying not to capitulate.
"And suitable for a ten year old girl to have on her wall without her mother having a fit," Astrid added firmly, snatching a glance over at Hiccup-and seeing him withdrawn, sitting in the furthest corner of the studio, trying not to attract attention. Then the shoot restarted and this time, Heather and Astrid were paying attention. From his viewpoint in the corner, Hiccup could see the images and gave a small smile. It didn't matter that Astrid was irritated at him: at least he had upheld his part of the bargain in protecting her.
When the shoot was done and Astrid had approved the images and chosen her preferred ones to be forwarded to the agency for the publicity for the new line, she looked around for Hiccup, who seemed to have vanished. Smiling her thanks to Piers, she headed out in search of the auburn-haired man and found him sitting outside the studio, staring across the car park. Wordlessly, she sat next to him.
"I owe you a huge thank you," she said without preamble. "Those shots were horrible. I can't believe I didn't notice what he was doing…" He sighed.
"You were concentrating hard on the positions and following instructions…and, to be honest, you looked like you zoned out there," he noted. "But I wouldn't be much of a friend if I let you waste your time and risk your reputation…" He paused. "There was this woman when I was coming here, at Berk Airport Information desk. I didn't have any ID because Bella had my wallet…but she let me collect the tickets because she recognised me from the paper. Her daughter is one of your fans. I-I wondered if you could send her a photograph or something as thanks for letting me collect the ticket?"
Astrid stared: his cheeks were scorching with embarrassment at the admission and his eyes were downcast and she wondered again why every mention of his longtime girlfriend just made him appear depressed.
"What's her name?" she asked and he blushed harder.
"I didn't get the girl's name, just the Mom's. Elsa Larson," he admitted. "Um…you don't have to…but I just thought it would be kind…" She rested her hand on his arms and felt the tension in his muscles.
"And you were right," she reassured him. "Just as you were right in there."
"I just thought: would Elsa want her daughter seeing this?" he said quietly. "And the answer was 'definitely not'. Nor would I, I think…"
"Nor me-and I was in those pictures!" she giggled. "Thanks, Hiccup." Then she leaned forward and pressed a very small kiss on his cheek. "You're a great friend." Then she rose and headed for the car, leaving the young man touching his cheek, which was bright crimson with the fiercest blush he had ever experienced. In fact, he would probably self-combust-which would be a relief because he really didn't know what to do.
He was in love with Astrid. He always had been and though this was his best dream, it was also a bit of a nightmare, for she definitely didn't feel the same. And when it ended, he would be bereft and heartbroken-as he deserved. As Bella said he deserved. As everyone would think, for letting Astrid Hofferson go. Maybe then, he could just go and live in a cave for the rest of his life and never speak to anyone again who knew who he was and what he had lost.
Yes, he was in trouble because spending time with Astrid just made him love her more. Every moment with her, every little gesture-even that brief, amazing kiss that she had probably already forgotten, along with the others…meant everything to him.
He loved Astrid Hofferson.
And thanks to their deception, to the fake engagement they were pretending, she would never know.
