As Henry prepared breakfast, he briefly considering asking the young girl how she liked her eggs even though she would probably be grateful for having a meal at all.
A horrible thought entered his mind then. He might need to get her out of the house before he could bring Alex over, but how was he going to go on about it? He couldn't just kick her out on the streets again after saving her life.
He set the pan with the omelet on the dining table along with a plate and then nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned around to find the homeless girl standing in the doorway, wearing nothing but the towel he had provided for her.
He really hated to admit it but this girl turned out to be insanely beautiful underneath all that grime and dirt. He felt himself drawn to her.
This thought, however, also caused him uneasiness. His son Alex was nearly nine years old and this girl could hardly be much older than fifteen or sixteen at best. She was only a child and here he was leering at her like a creepy old man.
Clearing his throat and forcing himself to look away, he motioned for her to take a seat.
He could sense her hesitancy and distanced himself slightly. "Eat," he said, gesturing over at the food. "I.. um.. will try to find you something to wear," he muttered with a nervous chuckle. "Sorry about that."
The girl nodded and sank down, starting to dig in her food rapidly. When Henry returned to the kitchen she had finished up the entire omelet. She looked sheepish, staring down at the empty plate longingly. Henry realized he would need to find her more food.
"When was the last time you ate?" he asked after passing her a grey sweatshirt, some woolen socks and his ex-wife's old yoga pants that he had found lying around.
"Two nights ago," she mumbled her answer, her voice was quiet and hoarse from the cold she had been exposed to. "It was a half-eaten apple.. I think."
Henry opened the cabinets and fridge, searching for more to offer this girl and luckily found a package of instant mac and cheese. He popped it in the microwave oven and then turned to her as she fumbled with the sleeves of the sweatshirt he had given her. "This will take a few minutes. You should go and get dressed in the meanwhile."
The girl nodded and complied. A moment later she returned to her safe space on the chair now fully dressed. He placed the heated up meal before her and she began devouring it instantly. Hissing slightly over getting burned on the tongue but not slowing down because of it. She had been starving for days.
Henry checked his phone and then watched her for a moment. He needed to pick up Alex and was unsure of what to do next.
He couldn't just leave a stranger alone in his house.
"I need to go and get my son Alex from his mother," he said with a sigh. "Would you like to join me?"
It wasn't as if she had any real choice. He held all the cards but he wanted to ask nevertheless even if only just for show.
The girl bit her lip but gave him a slow, uncertain nod.
Henry gave her one of his son's old jacket which fit her petite frame perfectly. The shoes were, however, a problem. He had put her boots away to be washed so she ended up in his really oversized extra pair.
"Alright?"
The girl nodded and followed him outside to the car. She sat down in the backseat, looking slightly afraid and pensive.
Henry started up the vehicle. "What's your name?" he asked, hoping to calm her nerves with discourse.
"Astrid."
"It's a very pretty name," he said, smiling at her through the rearview mirror. "Suits you."
She didn't respond and instead lowered her eyes down to her lap.
"My name is Henry but you can call me Hiccup."
They arrived at their destination within a half-hour.
Henry paused before opening his door. "Just wait here, I will be back again soon," he said.
Astrid couldn't do anything but nod.
AN: Thanks for all the feedback :)
Astrid looks like a slightly younger version of RTTE!Astrid.