Happy Hiccstrid week, everyone! Monday through Sunday of next week is the official Hiccstrid week! YAY! I'm going to TRY and post a chapter of I've Got You every other day for the occasion (stressing on try).
Alright! Your chapter...
So... Do You Like Him?: Astrid and Heather have a girl talk about the Hiccstrid relationship. Meanwhile, a certain someone just happens to be walking by and hears the entire conversation.
Requested byyyyyyyyy... endoplasmic! Thanks so much for requesting, Endo, and I'm sorry it took so long to do! I had trouble with it, but with the inspiration of Hiccstrid week, I think I've got it!
Anyways... enjoy your chapter! :-)
So... Do You Like Him?
Astrid was surprised by a knock on her door. It was nearing nightfall, and Astrid had just gone to her hut after training for a few hours. She was worn out and surprisingly ready to just go to sleep... until this mysterious knock. Who was it? Hiccup? No... he never came by this time of night... Fishlegs? Snotlout? Ruffnut? Tuffnut?
Astrid got to her feet and padded over to the door. She had been sitting on her bed before. She now opened the door, wondering who it could be.
It was none of her previous guesses.
It was Heather.
"Oh!" said Astrid, surprised. "Hey, Heather!"
She was still getting used to the fact that Heather was now a Dragon Rider. Of course, she was thrilled and all. It was nice to have another girl around, as Ruffnut... well, she very rarely showed her girly side. And would certainly never talk about some subjects that... interested Astrid…
"Hi, Astrid," Heather greeted. She held an axe in her arms. "I just wanted to return your axe. Thanks for lending it to me."
Astrid flashed a smile. "Sure. What are friends for?" She accepted the axe back in her hands and turned it. "Hey, do you want to come in for a bit? I'm so tired, but I don't want to fall asleep before it's dark. You can keep me awake."
Heather laughed. "That'd be great. I'll do my best."
Astrid stepped aside so Heather could come in. She propped her axe up by the door, then came over to the table where Heather was sitting.
"So," said Heather. "What d'ya want to talk about?"
Astrid rubbed her temples, yawning. "Hmm... um... battle plans? Strategies? Weapons?"
Heather suddenly smirked. "I have a better idea."
Astrid's brows knit in confusion. "What? A new attack formation?"
"No… how about..." She fought off a girlish giggle. "Hiccup."
Astrid realized what Heather meant, and glared playfully. "Heather... like I said before... we're... we're just friends."
Heather's eyes twinkled. "Sure, sure, sure... whatever you want to think..."
Astrid, to her dismay, felt her cheeks flush. "It's the truth... anyways, what's with you and Fishlegs? Do you guys, you know, plan on... starting an open relationship?"
It was Heather's turn to redden. "Oh... well, you know how it is," she said casually. "We don't have much time to talk about the battles and everything else going on..."
Astrid lightly punched her friend. "You need to take charge, Heather! Go tell him how you feel!" She smiled. "Fishlegs really likes you. I can tell. He's never looked at anyone that way before... not really..."
Heather chuckled, though it was more of a thoughtful kind of thing. "You think so?"
"Trust me," said Astrid, squeezing her friend's hand. "I know so."
Hiccup swallowed nervously. He was standing outside of Astrid's door, about to knock. He planned to ask her if she wanted to go on a flight... a recon flight, but still a flight, nonetheless. So why was he so anxious? He'd never quite been this way before... his cheeks were hot, mouth dry... yet his hands were clammy... was he sick or something?
"...about... Hiccup?"
Hiccup froze upon hearing his name. The sound came from inside Astrid's hut, yet it wasn't Astrid's voice. It sounded more like... Heather. But what was Heather doing in Astrid's hut?
"...we're... we're just friends," came Astrid's faint voice.
"...re, sure, sure, whatever you want to think..."
Hiccup took a step back. He shouldn't be listening in on this. It was Astrid's business what she talked about... but they were talking about him. So didn't that entitle him to overhear?
And, plus, he couldn't quite drag himself away from the door. So he crept along the wall to a window that showed inside Astrid's house. Astrid and Heather sat at a nearby table, chatting. Heather seemed sort of embarrassed about something, and Astrid was speaking comfortingly to her.
"...really likes you," Astrid was saying. "I can tell. He's never looked at anyone that way before... not really..."
"You think so?"
"Trust me. I know so."
Hiccup watched as the two girls grinned at each other. Then Heather leaned back, a smirk plain on her face as she twirled a tiny dagger she had pulled out. Did that girl ever not have a weapon?
"Astrid… you've been avoiding the conversation," she said to Astrid. "Hiccup. Go on."
Astrid gave a slightly strained laugh. "There's nothing to—"
"Oh, come on, Astrid!" said Heather, slightly exasperated. "It's clear to anyone who looks."
"I... Well, Heather... This is how I've viewed it these past few years..."
Heather's eyebrows raised, and she put her knife away. She looked ready to hear what Astrid had to say. Hiccup, too, wondered what his fellow Rider would state about him. Hopefully nothing bad.
"I've kissed Hiccup four times," she began, folding her arms. "Four times, since the beginning. They... they were all me, though. He never made a move to kiss me. I always had to step up... and when we hug... I just feel like he doesn't know about... well, us. Like he thinks we're just friends."
Hiccup felt his heart pang. Was that really what Astrid thought about all of that? The only reason he hadn't kissed her himself yet was that, one: he had thought that she might sock him for showing any romantic interest (seeing that every time Snotlout tried to show his 'affection' for Astrid, he was either punched, kicked, or thrown into something), and two: he wanted that moment to be perfect. And that particular moment hadn't come up... yet.
"I'm sure he doesn't think that," said Heather.
Astrid shrugged, though it was half-hearted. "Maybe. Just... it's been slow, you know? First, Hiccup had to get used to having friends, as we... well, we shunned him his whole life until Toothless came along... and that..." She sighed. "That is one of my biggest regrets in life."
Heather patted her friend's hand. "We all make mistakes, Astrid. It's okay. It's in the past now."
"But it's not okay," Astrid argued. "I don't know why I ever went along with the other kids. Even when I saw Hiccup's exterior of ignorance falter. Even when things got out of hand, I just… watched." She shook her head. "But... anyways, after Hiccup got used to having friends, I tried to have him view me as his closest human friend."
Heather nodded. "And you are."
"Yeah," said Astrid. "I guess. And I love being close to Hiccup."
Hiccup's cheeks flushed, and he thought, I love being close to you, too, Astrid.
"And finally, we have to get used to us all being a team," said Astrid. "It was difficult at first, as everyone had their own individual ideas, but with Hiccup as leader, it's all worked out." There was pride in her voice that made Hiccup grin. If only he could thank Astrid for that compliment personally... of course, he shouldn't have been listening in the first place.
"So... do you like him?" Heather asked after a moment. "Like, really, really like him."
Astrid played with her fingers for a few seconds, then looked up and met Heather's eyes.
"Yes," she said, so softly that Hiccup almost didn't hear it. "I really, really do."
The Dragon Hunters could've attacked right then. The world itself could've ended. But Hiccup's dopey beam would surely not leave his face for a long, long time.
"I knew it!" laughed Heather, causing Astrid to chuckle along. "So, say something, Astrid!"
Astrid shook her head slightly, still smiling. "No, no... I just... I'm worried that Hiccup knows about how I feel about him, but wants to stay in the friend zone."
"Pshaw," Heather waved off. "That's ridiculous. Of course Hiccup wants more than that! It's so obvious!"
Astrid laughed. "How do you know so much about romance, anyways? Because I don't know a thing."
Heather's expression darkened for a moment. "Being alone for so long... well, I've grown to have to watch things. I study different behaviors and can pick up when they change. And, Astrid..." She smirked. "Every time Hiccup speaks to you, there's this light in his eyes. A light that was missing before he saw you. And he always smiles when he looks at you—and he does do that. He glances at you more times than I can count."
Hiccup's neck burned.
"You do, too...," Heather added slyly. "Whenever he's not looking…"
Astrid blushed. "You see that, do you?"
"Every time."
"Why am I not surprised?"
The girls giggled, and Hiccup wanted to chuckle along. His heart felt very strange. Strained, thumping hard... he also felt guilty for listening in on this obviously-supposed-to-be-private conversation. However, he was stuck now. He had heard everything, so there was no point in leaving just yet...
"But, seriously, Astrid," said Heather, looking indeed more serious. "Sometimes, you have to tell him about how you feel. Or... or you'll regret it your whole life." She looked pained, to Hiccup's confusion. Had she had a past, tragic romance?
However, understanding flashed in Astrid's eyes as she leaned forward and squeezed Heather's arm. "Dagur."
Oh.
Heather nodded, sniffing. This surprised Hiccup. He had never seen Heather this upset about her brother. Or anything else. She seemed very tough like his death hadn't bothered her. Apparently, she had just been hiding her feelings. "Y... yes. But... we're not talking about me right now." She glanced up from her lap. "We're talking about you. And Hiccup. We're talking about..." She spread her hands. "Hiccstrid."
Astrid burst out laughing. "Hiccstrid? Really? Then what are you and Fishlegs? Heathlegs?"
"Hey!" grinned Heather. "Don't judge. It's true!"
"Which one?" Astrid teased.
Meanwhile, Hiccup felt more flustered than he ever had before. It was one thing for he and Astrid to share a moment, and quite another for them to actually have... have a name. But he strangely didn't disagree with it. It actually felt nice to hear that he and Astrid had such a close relationship as to have a name together. If only he could tell Astrid that... Guilt gnawed at his insides. I shouldn't be listening to this… He knew that. And he also knew what he had to do.
His mind made up, he tore himself away from the window and walked over to the door. He could still hear the girls chatting, but blocked his mind so he wouldn't hear them.
He then stepped up on Astrid's porch and very loudly knocked on the door. The talking ceased immediately, and he heard chairs scoot back. Hiccup waited, slightly nervous.
Astrid was the first person to appear, and she stumbled back when she realized who was at her door. Hiccup grabbed her arm to steady her.
"Hiccup!" she said, grasping the door handle. Hiccup released her forearm. "Hey."
Heather came up behind her, obviously holding back a fit of giggles.
"Hi, Astrid," Hiccup greeted. "I was wondering if you'd like to take a flight with me tonight."
Astrid's mouth fell open. Heather ducked her head in an attempt to hide a snort, nudging Astrid. Hiccup watched this all while feeling very uncomfortable.
"Um..." Astrid regained a calm expression. "Sure. That would be great. Thanks, Hiccup."
Hiccup smiled at her. "Of course. It's exactly what I want to do tonight."
Now that Hiccup knew what Astrid thought about him, he was going to try and start a relationship. He had been worried this whole time that Astrid was the one who wanted to stay in the friend zone. However, now that he had learned the truth, he wanted to do all he could with it. Because he didn't just like Astrid. He loved her.
And some time in the future, he would admit to her that he had heard that conversation. But not today. After all, they had a long life ahead of them to sort out things like that. And Hiccup couldn't wait for it to get started.
Special thanks toooo...
thepurplewriter333, FanWriter02, phieillydinyia, Guest (#1), katurdi, Layla (Guest #2)annnddddd Guest (#3)! YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST! :D
Also, quick thing, but I'm wondering—every time I post a new chapter, the reviews for each chapter go down. So, I'm just wondering: are you guys still liking this? Should I back off, or am I just being stupid?
A note to Guest #1: I know that Vikings didn't have fancy couches like the ones we have now, but I'm pretty sure I've seen some comfortable seats in the series like couches. Also, I'm pretty sure that in the HTTYD book series, there were couches. But if I am wrong, I'm sorry. Please just accept it for the sake of the story. :-)
And another note to Layla, Guest #2: If you make an account on here, I can private message you and tell you probably almost anything you need to know about FanFiction! Thank you for your kind words. They really made my night! :D
Alright! Long author's note, I know... I should probably end this now. Thanks so much for reading! I love your reviews, follows, and faves! YOU ARE ALL SO AWESOME. THANKS. See you HOPEFULLY in two days! Bye! :D