Hiccup's Return

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First off, this was inspired by a DeviantArt drawing by user Jenni41...specifically, the picture titled "Hiccstrid Hug for Axon." Basically, I saw it and made up a reason for them to share a hug during RTTE (since the picture looks like it's from that). I don't know Jenni41, but she's an awesome artist. If anyone does know her, please thank her for creating such a cute, inspiring drawing for me:)

Secondly, I'd say this takes place after Part 1 of Season 3. I know we're gonna see this particular event in the future (well, one aspect of it), but this is just my personal take. It won't ever be canon, though, so don't look too deeply into it.

...

Astrid plopped down against a rock and sighed. Hiccup had left a week ago on a solo search for Dagur and his armada, and still had yet to return. She'd made him promise to be careful before heading out, but the fact that he hadn't showed up back at Dragon's Edge - even to re-supply - was worrying her.

"Hey Astrid, can you tell Ruffnut to get her own hut?" Tuffnut asked as he approached the blonde. "I don't think I can live with her and her smelly fish oil hair anymore." He wrinkled his nose.

Astrid set her lips in a firm line. "Well, you're gonna have to find a way," she snapped.

"Wow, someone's cranky," Tuffnut laughed.

Groaning, the blonde jumped to her feet and sprinted to her hut. She was done. Done with her friends' trivial problems and unnecessary comments. She had bigger things to worry about. Throwing herself onto her bed, she allowed the tears that had been bottled up inside of her for the past few days to flow from her eyes. She was a Viking. A Viking and a tough girl. She never cried. That is, except for the instance when she'd thought Hiccup was dead after the Red Death attack. And the time when Hiccup had ditched her to take Heather out for a ride on Toothless.

Hiccup. That boy always seemed to open up a whole new side of her. An emotional, mushy side. An almost shameful side at which she wanted to cringe, but also couldn't get enough of.

Still moist-eyed, Astrid stepped over to the nearby window. Outside, she saw the twins headbutting one another, Snotlout and Fishlegs bickering about who-knows-what, and no sign of Hiccup. She knew that she needed to pull herself together and go be the leader she was supposed to be in her best friend's absence, but she just couldn't bring herself to do so.

...

Two days later, the blonde found herself sitting on her bed and sulking. Sunset had passed a long time ago, but she hadn't even bothered to change into her nightgown yet. After all, what was the point? She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. She was far too worried for that.

Knock, knock.

Rolling her eyes, Astrid slipped off of her mattress and trudged over to the door. It was probably just one of the twins coming to complain; no one else would be visiting her at that hour. That is, nobody except for the young man who was soon revealed.

"Hiccup! You're okay!" she exclaimed as she engulfed the auburn-haired Viking in a tight embrace. He smelled like sweat and spoiled fish, and rugged stubble adorned his chin. However, Astrid didn't care. She was just grateful to have him back alive.

"Of course I am," Hiccup responded. Smiling weakly, he returned the hug. "I mean, I did get a few scrapes and bruises, but it's nothing serious."

"You know, I'm pretty sure your definition of 'nothing serious' is a lot different than mine." The girl gently pulled away from him. Upon analyzing his face, she noticed a gash in his forehead that was half-hidden by his hair.

"Astrid, it's nothing." The auburn-haired Viking scratched Toothless, who was standing beside him, on the head as he shied away from his friend's gaze. "It could've been a lot worse."

Astrid sighed. "Come on in. I'll clean it out and bandage it for you before it gets infected."

"I already cleaned it out."

"With what?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Water," he responded hesitantly.

"Water? That won't do anything. I swear to Thor, you're such a mutton-head sometimes."

Hiccup walked through the doorway, Toothless trailing behind him.

"Sit down." Astrid motioned to a chair by her fireplace. "I'll get my things."

He plopped into the offered seat and waited. When he saw the blonde returning with a rag, a bowl of ointment, and a bandage, he cringed. He knew this was going to hurt.

"Alright, let's see," she said. Pushing his blood-crusted hair out of his face, she dipped the rag into the bowl. "Come on, don't be a baby," she scoffed playfully as she noticed him wince.

"I'm not," he insisted.

Astrid applied the salve to Hiccup's wound. She noticed tears welling up in his eyes, and knew instantly that the sting of the medicine was stronger than usual. "You really should've cleaned this out right away. With something other than water."

"I didn't have any ointment with me."

"Well, bring some next time." She took the bandage and wrapped it around his head, fastening it securely over the gash. "Keep this on overnight. I'll check it in the morning. Are there any other injuries that I should know about?"

Sighing, he rolled up his right sleeve to reveal an angry red scrape on his forearm. A large, dark bruise was set beneath it.

"What kind of mess did you get yourself into?" asked Astrid. She started to rub ointment onto the scrape.

"Dagur's men attacked me," Hiccup explained. "They beat me with their fists, then got out swords and axes and threatened to kill me. They almost did, but Dagur happened to come in at just the right moment and stopped them. He said they weren't allowed to murder his little brother because Heather and I are all he has left."

"But I thought your dad said Heather isn't your sister, which would then mean that Dagur isn't your brother." She raised an eyebrow.

"I know he told me that, but Dagur seems pretty certain that we're both his family. Maybe my dad just didn't feel like explaining everything to me. Or maybe Dagur's either mistaken or more insane than I originally thought. I don't know. But I do have a feeling that someone's hiding something from me. I'm just not sure who it is or what he's hiding."

"Well, the whole situation does certainly seem off," she agreed.

"Yeah. I should probably look into it more sometime soon." Yawning, he pulled his sleeve back down over the bandage that Astrid had just fastened.

"Well, whatever you do, don't go after Dagur again without backup."

"Astrid, if you're thinking of coming with me next time -"

"That's exactly what I'm thinking," she interrupted.

Hiccup shook his head. "No. Dagur won't let anyone kill me, but I know for a fact that he won't care what happens to you."

"I can be careful."

"Yes, but...if anything...if anything would happen to you, I'd never forgive myself." He lifted his tunic to show Astrid a deep scratch on his side.

"Why? I can be responsible for myself." She helped him lift the garment over his head. It was then that she realized how thin he had grown in his absence. He'd always been on the smaller side, but now he was too small. Too small to the point that his ribs were starting to jut out from his freckled skin.

"I'm aware of that, Astrid." Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck. "It's just...I don't know what I'd do without you."

She applied salve to his newly revealed injury, then grabbed another bandage. "Why, because there wouldn't be anyone to make sure your battle wounds are cleaned out properly?"

"Well, that and..." He chuckled nervously. "And the fact that I couldn't talk to you anymore...or...or hug you...or...yeah..."

"Hiccup," she prompted.

"Y-Yeah?"

She tied off the bandage. "Do you like me?"

He gulped. "Uh...um...I have a pretty bad bruise on my back, too." He turned around.

"I guess I'd better bandage that, too," Astrid decided upon eyeing the purple mark. "Just to help cushion it." She paused. "But seriously, do you like me?"

"Of...of course. You're my best friend. Why...why wouldn't I like you?"

She quickly wrapped the bruise. "You know what I mean, Hiccup."

The auburn-haired Viking twisted back around to face her. "Well, erm...do uh...do you...do you like me?"

With reddening cheeks, Astrid pushed her bangs out of her eyes. "Um...uh...yeah. I erm...I do."

"Really? Are...are you sure? Because you...you don't have to." He slipped his tunic back over his head.

"I...I know I don't, you dork. And you better believe me when I say that I wouldn't lie to you about this."

A huge grin sprawled across Hiccup's face. "In that case, then, I'll go ahead and admit that I uh...I like you, too." He rose to his feet - well, foot - and took a step closer to the blonde.

"Don't be shy, babe," Astrid said. Smiling, she wrapped her arms around him, taking care not to squeeze too tightly for fear of disturbing his injuries.

"Babe?" he repeated questioningly.

"Yes, babe. You like it?"

"I um...I could get used to it," he concluded. "Milady."