Twenty Four: The Bearpit
It had been an interesting week, with the fallout from the Valkyries' first defeat of the season vying with the dissection of Bella's interview in the papers and news outlets. Heather had been bombarded with requests for interviews and responses but Astrid and Hiccup had been determined that there was only one show they would go on-and that was the same vehicle that Bella had used to attack them. Ron the Viking had got his wish: Astrid was booked for the following week.
But in the mean time, Astrid had found herself in the unfamiliar and very uncomfortable position of being attacked-though her friends and teammates stood up for her and her previous good works and image provided her with some protection. Hiccup had no such protection and the tiny number of abusive letters and death threats had become a flood, such that Heather and Dagur were opening and dealing with them all, ensuring that anything really sinister was forwarded immediately to the police. He was suddenly discussed in gossip columns and chat shows and everything they said was an assumption, plain wrong or horribly undermining and the young man didn't even recognise himself from the person they were discussing. Hiccup had to move his runs to early in the morning or late in the evening because he was being abused on the streets and a couple of guys had tried to attack him-or chase him. He hadn't shared the bruises from the Shivering Shores match with Astrid-though she had seen him limping after a couple of runs-but Dagur had been very supportive and had casually handed him an ointment that he found really useful for strains, bumps and bruises…just in case he overdid it on his runs. And the experiences had stirred up everything he had endured with Bella so his sleep was riven with nightmares and he felt muzzy and jaded every morning.
Throk had checked the interview and was certain there was a legal recourse if she repeated the claims. Some of her allegations were very much 'he said-she said' issues but others-such as the theft of Hiccup's money, the destruction of his Dragon statues and the ring were all provable. The attack on Toothless was proving more difficult to link to her, though Hiccup was determined to try. And when Astrid's plea to her family for videos of her Mother's birthday had yielded hours of footage of every moment from every conceivable angle, the soccer star was finally sure they could defeat Bella.
Friday dawned and the day dragged, broken up only by Astrid's practice, Dagur's self defence lessons and a very long time taken making sure they were ready for their appearances. Staring at his reflection in the mirror, Hiccup had wondered what he was doing.
Bella will win. She always wins-and I'll lose everything again…
But he had Astrid on his side. Astrid who was fierce and clever and determined. Astrid who had refused to give him up. Astrid who had accepted his ideas and who had told off Heather because she had assumed Astrid would dump him. And now things were cool between Astrid and Heather because Astrid had chosen him.
He really messed everything up.
"Coming, babe?" Astrid called and he stared at his reflection one last time.
You can do this. You aren't alone any more-you have Astrid. And that is worth everything.
"On my way, Milady," he said as he emerged and was met by her smile on seeing his serious expression. She absently brushed an invisible speck off his shoulder.
"I'm proud of you," she said in a low voice. "And I know this will work. She may have caused us both some annoyance…but she can't hide what she is…not any more."
"I hope you're right," Hiccup sighed. She took his hand.
"I know I am," she said.
oOo
Astrid and Cami were deadly serious as they pulled up to the television studios, the nondescript two-storey blocky building marked only by a small sign. But Cami unerringly stopped at a covered door at the back which looked almost like a goods entrance and switched off the engine.
"We're here," she said grimly. "I'll stay. I've no idea how long this'll take but I've wanted to punch out Ron Bergstrom for about four years so if you need that doing, call me. Honestly. Anytime. I'm your woman." Astrid leaned forward and smiled.
"Thanks, Cami," she said thoughtfully. "I want you to come in. Heather and Dagur will be there but I think we need everyone we can get." Hiccup nodded.
"And no one can swear like you," he added. "And I suspect we may need that expertise…" Astrid nodded as the girl unfastened her seat belt.
"Only because I don't trust that snake," she admitted as they climbed out and Astrid grabbed Hiccup's hand, leading them through the door and meeting the studio assistant who was there waiting for them. Katya was a very slim white-blonde wearing a thigh length patterned orange dress with deep blue leggings and navy blue pixie boots. She smiled brightly, checking them off on her clipboard and swiftly taking them to make-up where Astrid refused to allow them to do anything other than apply a slightly smudge of eyeshadow over her vibrant azure eyes. Defiantly, she flicked her own transparent powder over her flawless skin, refusing to let them slap foundation on and alter her appearance. Hiccup shook his head and just allowed a light dusting of powder to avoid 'shine'. Refusing any more interference, Astrid stood up with a smile and followed their minder to the Green Room, where they sat down with a variety of drinks and snacks. Cami had already headed for the audience and their minder, Katya, headed off with a smile, leaving them alone.
"So…the Green Room," Hiccup murmured, looking around. A flatscreen displayed what was on the channel being broadcast now and another showed exactly what was happening in the studio. The room was lined with extremely comfortable chairs with tables strategically placed laden with the drinks and snacks. "Question-why is it pink?"
Astrid started giggling. The walls of the green room were indeed painted a deep fuchsia pink and there was nothing green in the room except for an apple in the fruit bowl and, of course, Hiccup's eyes.
"You know, babe, I think you ought to ask," she chuckled. "But maybe not Ron…because you need to be careful what you say to him. He's mean and loves scoring points at the expense of the guests. Be very thoughtful in what you say." He looked at her and nodded. Astrid had a lot more experience with this life than he did and he filed her advice carefully.
"Okay…but he's going to be grilling us over Bella's interview last week, isn't he?" he said quietly. She nodded.
"Keep your cool, be honest but don't say 'yes' when you mean 'mmm'," she said carefully. "And where Bella is concerned…don't let him bully you."
Like she did. And the Football Team at School…
"I'll try to be careful," he promised. She smiled and her fingers laced with his.
"Just remember I'm here with you-and we have a few surprises of our own," she reminded him and he smiled-just enough to warm her heart and make her feel that she needed to protect him…from Bella and from anyone who wanted to pick at Hiccup and undo whatever she had managed to repair in their time together. So she took his hand and smiled as Katya returned and took them to the doors of the studio. The music was playing and there were cheers from within. The red light was on but Katya slid the door open and they slipped in the back, beyond the cameras as Ron 'the Viking' Bergstrom grinned broadly and spread his arms as his audience cheered wildly. They were swiftly fitted with microphones as the opening music played and the audience cheered wildly. Hiccup saw Heather, Dagur and Cami on the front row, clapping but looking concerned as Ron urged the audience on.
"Welcome, warriors!" he bellowed smugly. "Ron the Viking here! And we have a star-studded show for you tonight! Last week, we featured the explosive interview with scorned woman Arabella Harsem, who claims she was abandoned by the man who is now engaged to Soccer Superstar Astrid Hofferson. This week, we have the woman herself-and the cheating swine who seems to want to have his cake and eat it. Give a big Viking welcome to Astrid Hofferson and Hiccup Haddock!"
He gestured towards the two guests and Katya pushed them forward. There was a mixture of cheers, applause and more than a few boos and hisses that had Hiccup staring at the audience before walking alongside Astrid, their hands entwined. Astrid smiled and offered Ron her hand and the man took it, grimacing as he felt the fierce grip. He smiled falsely and shook Hiccup's hand as well, ghosting the limpest and briefest handshake ever before gesturing to the couch. Smiling and nodding, the young couple sat tensely side by side. Astrid was stunning in the aquamarine 'Team' Astrid' dress with a simple silver chain around her neck and high heels in silver while Hiccup was looking very sharp in the newly-cleaned skinny single-breasted charcoal grey suit with open-necked blood red shirt, a pair of black boots on his feet. He unbuttoned the jacket as he sat and swallowed nervously as he flicked a glance at Astrid, but she was already smiling benignly, her eyes glittering and tossing her long blonde hair.
"Okay-we are very fortunate today to have the Archipelago's Golden couple, the story that has been splashed over the media over the last few weeks which represents the fantasy of the Captain of the Soccer Team falling for an ordinary joe who she knew from school!" Ron announced. The big screen on the set behind the couch and showed pictures of Astrid on her various Soccer guises followed with pictures of the couple. "Astrid Hofferson and Hiccup Haddock are our guests this evening!"
There was applause-mixed with a few boos.
"So…Hiccup…" Ron said and glanced at the camera with a wink. "What sort of name is Hiccup anyway?" The auburn-haired young man gave a self-deprecating smile.
"I'm from Berk where our Viking ancestors believed a hideous name would scare off gnomes and trolls," he explained. "So…in their wisdom, my parents decided…Hiccup! I mean, it didn't help that I was a scrawny runt until I was about sixteen and when I grew, it was only upwards. But those are the breaks." He shrugged and heard few 'awws' from the audience. Ron's eyes hardened slightly and he realised that he had handled the question well…and the host hadn't liked that.
"So how does it feel like to have two beautiful women fighting over you?" he asked rather sneeringly and Hiccup felt a frisson of anxiety tighten his stomach.
"So far, I haven't seen any fighting," he admitted. "Look-Astrid was my best friend in High School and she left two days before Graduation to join the Valkyries." He sighed. "She lost touch and I was heartbroken. It took a couple of years to even regain the confidence to go out-and when Bella asked me, I was flattered. We sort of became an item and we did move in together…but contrary to what she said, I never asked her to marry me. And never would. I wasn't happy with her…I hadn't been for years. And though I supported her like a good boyfriend, I never loved her."
There were 'oohs'. Ron frowned.
"And the child? You are the father of her unborn child?" he asked pointedly. Cringing inwardly but knowing this question had been coming, Hiccup looked him directly in the eye.
"There is no child," he said quietly. "She's on birth control and I always use condoms anyway. I mean…we haven't…for a long time. But more importantly, she has been using the 'I'm pregnant' line every time she wants to get her own way or embarrass or shame me in public since shortly after we started dating. She's been saying she's pregnant for the last two years, Ron. So unless she's an elephant or a blue whale, I'm not convinced. In fact, until I am present for the scan and birth, I can't believe her."
"So you're not engaged to her, you're not the father of her unborn child and you met and asked to marry a girl you hadn't seen for about four years in one meeting!" Ron sneered. "Wow. You're a pretty untrustworthy guy!"
"Hey!" Astrid snapped. "That is untrue and unworthy of a Viking, Ron!" He opened his mouth. "And I'd know because I'm a Valkyrie!" There were cheers and Ron scowled.
"Interesting you choose to wear blue, Astrid," he sneered. "Since you're the scarlet woman! Enticing away another woman's fiancé…"
"I'm disappointed," she said dryly. "Because I would expect the Archipelago's most respected interviewer to actually do some homework. They were never engaged-and Hiccup was looking for a way out. The relationship was their business but it was very clear that he wasn't as invested as she was. And you know that wouldn't have lasted."
"It certainly didn't when you stuck your nose in!" Ron taunted her, dropping all pretence of niceness. She smiled pleasantly as there were hisses from the audience. The screen behind them displayed the tearful shape of Bella from the previous week's show, haltingly telling of her devastation when her 'fiancé' abandoned her. Astrid grimaced.
"All I did was bump into him at the airport and see if we could catch up," she said with forced calmness. "He booked the table and we went out for a meal to catch up. And when I asked how he was, if he had anyone in his life, his answer was…no one special…" Hiccup blushed as the audience hissed again. But Astrid was determined to be honest and use the truth to undermine Bella's lies.
"So he proposed to you straight away? Wow…he really saw a meal ticket!" Ron sneered as Astrid growled in her throat. Hiccup squeezed her hand.
"I have my own job and my own life as well," he interrupted. "Look, Astrid is the most amazing woman…"
"Rich," Ron butted in smugly.
"Beautiful, fierce, kind, intelligent…and funny," Hiccup said. "She's the most amazing person to be with. She is the same person I knew at School, the same person who was my best friend and I…I love her."
"Pretty fast work considering you only just met her," Ron sneered but Hiccup leaned forward slightly.
"No," he said calmly, the sincerity in his voice obvious. "I was in love with Astrid while we were at High School, all through Junior and Senior Year and I was going to ask her out at Graduation…but she had already gone by then. When we met again, she was still the person I recalled…even more confident but just as warm, as kind and as interested in what had been happening with her old friends."
"Who she had forgotten," Ron accused her. Astrid sighed.
"Actually, my manager is one of my closest friends and I have been in contact with my family…but I don't have much free time to dash back to Berk and just hang around," she admitted. "But when I ran into Hiccup…it was just…fate…"
"Well, it was fateful for poor Bella," Ron cut in, glancing at his audience. "Am I right?" There were boos again from the audience. "She was distraught to be humiliated and abandoned so cruelly…" Astrid's brows dipped in a scowl.
"Actually, she dumped him at Mom's birthday party when it came out…after haranguing him in public…" She flipped out her phone and displayed the video her cousin, Jonas, had sent her when she had requested any videos of the reveal. The cameras projected the images onto the screen behind them while her microphone captured the angry voice of the scorned woman.
"You know, I knew you were a worthless, useless, spineless article but how dare you think you can humiliate me like this?" Bella yelled on the screen as Hiccup flinched at the memory. "Engaged? What the Helheim were you thinking?"
"I-I…" His stammering voice was scared. Astrid squeezed his hand warmly, seeing his head bow in shame. Funny how she hadn't recognised it before but it was obvious now..
"Of course-you don't actually think, do you?" Bella snarled. "I told you not to speak to that women and instead, you lie to me and go out with her…and now this? What did you do? Just stare into her big blue eyes and go "I wuv you-please marry me…because I'm so utterly goddamned pathetic…?"
"I-I didn't…"
"And childhood sweethearts? Where did that come from? You told me you never had a girlfriend before! What else haven't you told me?"
"I-I h-haven't ever h-had a g-girlfriend…I-I…"
"And you were a virgin when we first got together…not that you're anything but a disappointment now,"
"I-I'm s-s-sorry…"
"Hiccup-I need to speak to you." Astrid's voice was confident and clear, cutting through the scene that the cameras were displaying to the whole TV audience as well. Ron was looking angry but also seemed to be thinking furiously. It was clear he had planned to undermine the 'Golden Couple' but his trump card seemed to have not been telling the whole truth…
"I'm not finished!" Arabella's voice was furious.
"I think you are for the moment," Astrid retorted. "And keep your hands off me!"
There were gasps as she lowered the phone.
"Not really the performance of an experienced gigolo or confident two-timer, is it?" she asked Ron and the man scowled, the sympathies of the audience finally swung back towards Hiccup. People who had felt deep sympathy for the high-voiced, timid and wronged Bella were swiftly reconsidering their position at the sight of the raging harpy, rending the young man to pieces in public without any qualms about humiliating and shaming him in front of all his friends and family.
"Maybe it's time to hear from the woman herself!" he suggested, "Welcome back-Arabella Harsem!" This time, there were all boos as the woman walked back in, her hair loose and a demure dress of dark navy sheathing her voluptuous form. She kept a forced smile on her face though Hiccup could tell she was furious. It took every ounce of will he had not to cringe away and keep his head up, facing her. Ron the Viking rose with a sickly smile and ghosted a kiss on both cheeks before gesturing for her to sit next to Hiccup. He stiffened and his eyes widened. He edged away as she sat elegantly, spreading her skirts and casting him a triumphant look. Ron shook his head and adopted a sympathetic expression.
"So how are you, Arabella?" he asked in a gentle voice. She gave a brave sniff.
"I'm coping…despite the horrible lies Hiccup has been telling…" His head snapped round and he stared at her in shock.
"Bella-you wouldn't know the truth if it came up and tapped you on the shoulder," he told her with surprisingly firmness. She batted her eyelashes, her blue eyes wide and hurt.
"How could you say that, Hiccup?" she asked in a high pitched voice, feigning vulnerability that certainly wasn't hers. "You were so horrible, abandoning me in that Hall and not returning and…"
"And you know that's a lie, Bella?" Hiccup told her with more confidence than he felt. "There was a video of how you reacted at the party-and everyone saw you weren't the helpless little girl." He took a shuddering breath. "Not that you ever were."
"How can you say that when we were so in love?" she asked him, still pretending to be the wronged little woman.
"We were never in love," Hiccup told her tonelessly. "You saw me when I was in University, vulnerable and stupid and a meal ticket. I was on the fast-track to finish my degree in two years and already had a placement arranged at Berk Aero-which would certainly lead to a good job-and honestly, how many Haddocks are there on Berk? Just me-the Mayor's son…and perfect meal ticket."
The audience gave a chorus of 'woos'.
"That's so mean!" she whimpered, pulling out a tissue and dabbing her eyes. Astrid noted she had been made up with far too much make-up by the staff at the studio, making her features more harsh. Hiccup shook his head.
"Bella-I'm an engineer in Berk Aero and you have us in an unnecessarily and frankly ridiculously expensive one bed apartment in the trendiest end of town," he said. "You don't work. I have very little left of my wages when I have paid for the apartment and everything else you demand. And then you emptied my bank account when I left you…"
"Such horrible lies…" Bella sniffed. Hiccup sighed.
"No lies. And this time…I went to the Police," he told her quietly though there was sudden silence in the studio. "I told them everything. And there is a digital trail, in case you didn't realise. They can tell which computer, where and when the transaction was done, Bella. And since I was in the air between islands-and unable to access my accounts when it all happened, they know I was robbed." She stared at him. "And they know by who."
"You OWE me!" she snapped, her pretence falling away. "Who else would want you? You are pathetic-you know that? And letting you touch me…gods, I felt sick! But it kept you where I wanted you. You're mine…and I have a ring…"
"Which you bought yourself the day after I left Berk," he told her. "There was one bid on V-Bay that came through the day after I froze my accounts." He gestured. "There was a picture with the receipt after all…and the account name…" She hissed.
"You know, I think you forget what you are!" she sneered. "You're nothing. And she'll dump you like the trash you are when she gets bored of you. She left you before-she'll do it again. And I won't pick up the pieces of the wretched remains this time! And you deserve to be destroyed for your stupidity!"
"No, Bella," he said quietly. "I deserve more. I deserve not to spend my life being called 'useless' and 'nothing'. I deserve not to live in fear of your temper, accepting being harangued every time you have a bad day. I deserve not to have more scars than a man my age should ever have. You isolated me, you destroyed my possessions, you broke me…and when I met Astrid…she saved me."
"YOU. ARE. MINE!" Bella screamed and lashed out with her fist, the punch catching Hiccup across the face and slamming him across the table. He curled up, trying to scrabble away as she grabbed the water jug and smashed it viciously over his head. He slumped back as she grabbed his arm and hauled him up, throwing him a few steps back. He collapsed onto his knees as the audience sat shocked, motionless. Ron was sitting frozen, his jaw hanging open. Casting around, Bella grabbed a shard of glass from the smashed jug and raised it over Hiccup. "And if I can't have you, no one will!"
But someone moved forward, a blue blur in the edge of her vision, snapping her wrist back to disarm her-and then cracking a punch across her face that threw her over the table and at Ron the Viking's feet. Screaming and howling like a Berserker, blood streaming down her face from her nose, she scrabbled to get at Astrid, who was standing fiercely by Hiccup, her fists bunched.
"DIE!" Bella yelled as a shape lunged forward and Dagur grabbed her in an arm-lock, lifting her off the floor. Kicking and screaming and cursing a blue streak, she strained to get at Astrid. "I'LL KILL YOU, YOU SMUG BITCH!'
"Stay away from us, you deranged munge-bucket rat-dropping bitch child of a half-troll!" Astrid snarled, his fists raised protectively, but Dagur gave a professional nod and hauled her away with some difficulty as Astrid dropped to her knees by Hiccup, pressing a hand to his head, which was bleeding from the impact of the jug. He was breathing hard, his eyes dazed and he was hunched and curled up as much as he could.
"Th-thanks…" he breathed as she leaned close.
"You okay, babe?" she whispered as he swallowed and shook his head.
"S-sorry…I-I think…I may need…stitches…" he mumbled, the microphones catching his halting words. He leaned towards her and she reached forward and kissed his cheek.
"It's okay, babe," she whispered. "I am here…and when I saw her hit you…I wanted to kill her. No one hurts my Hiccup."
"Y-your Hiccup?" he murmured, chancing a look into her determined face. She smiled.
"You're mine, babe," she reminded him.
"W-wow…and I thought s-slavery was outlawed in the Archipelago…" he mumbled. She pressed her hand to his cheek and he pressed into her gentle touch.
"You look after me and I look after you, Hiccup," she reminded him softly. He swallowed, blinking muzzily.
"B-but why?" he asked faintly. "I-I mean I have a psycho ex-girlfriend…and I am useless…you-you can do so much better…" She leaned in and kissed his cheek again, his confession to Ron rolling around her mind. She smiled.
"Because I love you," she said. His breath hitched and then his head flopped against her shoulder as the audience gave a loud chorus of 'AWWWWW'. Ron looked up and saw the couple, reading genuine affection and realised that there was no currency in attacking people who had proven their affection and he wondered how he could step back from his interview with Bella and his championing of someone who was clearly an abusive partner. He turned to the camera.
"Wow-I think we need to get our breath back," he announced. "We'll be back in a few…after these messages…" The lights on the cameras snapped off as Ron sagged back in his chair and Hiccup's hand tightened on Astrid's.
"I think I'm gonna pass out," he breathed and then collapsed against her.
A/N: I have been a guest on a TV show in the UK-and yes, the 'Green Room' was pink!
