Hiccup Haddock could hold his liquor. It was a talent he was proud of, and one that proved useful when booth girls dubbed him the responsible one for the evening. When both girls excused themselves to the restroom, he kept a careful eye on their drinks. When either got unwanted attention, he would place himself between the two to 'order a drink'.

The reluctantly proclaimed pet expert was deeply amused by Astrid's sudden femininity when she was drunk. He had harbored an honest crush on the girl, as did most of his classmates, but the romantic idea of her seemed to slip away as he listened to her bare her soul about a tv show he couldn't quite grasp.

An hour after it was officially the next day, Ray announced that it was late, and her brother had likely forgotten to eat their cats. The brunette hoped she meant feed.

" 'Ccup," Ray called ash she and Astrid forced one another down in attempt to stand up. "Getta cab and then ummm," she managed to stand and Hiccup helped her friend to her feet. "Getta home." Astrid nodded solemnly, as though Ray had shared some profound knowledge.

The boy walked behind them as the girl linked arms and loudly left the bar. Ray tripped nearly as soon as they left the building, and Hiccup rushed to help her up as Astrid doubled over, laughing.

It took almost twenty to guide the two into a cab, where they immediately fell asleep atop one another.

XxX

Getting Ruffnut into her house was the most complicated thing Hiccup had to do that night. She pushed him away as they stumbled across the lawn that led to her house and played dead at the foot of the tall steps leading to the door. Somehow he managed to get her to the doorstep, struggling to stand under her dead weight.

Taylor answered the door and took a minute, much to the near collapsed boy's annoyance, to laugh at the spectacle before grabbing his sister's arm and effortlessly slinging her over his shoulder, a feat that made Hiccup wince.

"Thanks, bro," Taylor snickered, tucking a five dollar bill into his friend's shirt pocket. Hiccup stood bewildered on the marble porch well after the door shut.

When he got back to the cab, Astrid had struck up a conversation with the driver about her boots, which she had removed and was showing the woman. Hiccup apologized shyly to the clearly amused cabbie as he helped his friend back into her footwear.

"Where to now?" The driver asked with a smile. It struck the boy that he had no idea where Astrid lived. Rather than risk the embarrassment of being ridiculed once more by Taylor, Hiccup came to a conclusion and told her his address.

The boy, when they arrived at his building, thanked and payed the driver, who was laughing as Astrid attempted to climb on his back, and complied to his friend's demands for a piggyback ride, as long as it would lessen the strife of getting her inside.

Toothless was at the door, mewling dejectedly as his owner sat Astrid on his bed.

Hiccup sat with his cat on his second-hand couch and sighed, grateful for the chance to rest as the blonde snored on away on his bed. "Today was weird, bud." he whispered to the cat as he laid down. Toothless mewed at his restless human as he curled up on the man's chest.

XxX

Hiccup was awoken by the squeaking of his bed springs as someone shot upright on them.

He sat up and turned to be greeted by his guest as she squealed, pulling blankets up to cover her fully clothed body, then grabbed a fistful of her hair and moaned.

The sudden noise and faded memory of the previous night and bringing someone home surprised the boy, who kept back and so, off the couch.

"What's happening, why am I here?" The blonde asked as her host emerged from the floor. "Tell me quietly."

"Uh," Hiccup tried to blink away his sleepy state and call the memory back to him. "I didn't know your address, so I brought you here instead? Sorry, was that wrong?" He asked sincerely, shooing away his cat as he led the groaning girl by the hand to his kitchen.

"Quieter." She scolded, her head down as she massaged her temple. Hiccup grinned, dropping a spoonful of coffee grounds into the machine and pouring in some water.

"Sorry," he whispered, leaning on the island as she took a seat on a bar stool across from him. "The most intimate thing that happened was that your highness demanded to ride on my back, so I think we're technically married in some countries, but it's cool." He grinned teasingly.

Astrid glanced up and squinted. "Ugh, you're too bright," she groaned, pushing him away.

Hiccup laughed and turned back to pour her a cup off coffee, then slid it to her.

Astrid popped a hangover pill into her mouth, wrinkled her nose and downed a mouthful of the drink, sticking out her tongue at the bitter taste. "So," she began, mostly to postpone drinking any more coffee. "Why do you live here?"

Hiccup shrugged, "I moved out of my dad's house when I was seventeen because I had a chance to open this place, but he was being really unsupportive. It was kinda stupid on my part. Honestly, we never got along."

"What, ever since your mom died?" Astrid scoffed, scratching at the handle of her mug.

"Yeah, actually." He grinned half-heartedly.

"Ugh," Astrid let her head fall onto the counter. "Why is your life a soap opera? I feel like I'm in a minefield."

"Sorry," He laughed.

"Should be." she returned, sitting back up and wincing as she took another drink. "Hate coffee." the blonde mumbled, running her fingers through her loose hair.

"So I noticed. Do you want sweetener? Ray made me buy some for the times when she breaks into my room to make coffee before lessons." Astrid laughed, feeling the need to apologize for her friend.

Toothless mewled at their feet, and Hiccup nudged him towards his food dish. "I think I might spoil him," he commented as the cat poked a button on a machine that dispensed food.

"I think it's cute," Astrid smirked, filling her coffee mug back up with creamer she had rooted around in his fridge for.

"Thanks," the boy ducked his head and opened the freezer. "Do you like waffles?"

"I don't wanna impose anymore than I have," she bit her lip.

"Nah, they're just frozen waffles, he shrugged, sliding a bottle of syrup onto the counter and tossing four waffles into the microwave.

The girl glanced around his kitchen for the first time. "This is pretty nice," she hummed.

"Yeah," the boy grinned, looking around with her. "This place used to be a church. They left most of their appliances."

"Cool," she replied, unable to think of anything else to say.

The two ate syrup-drowned waffles in silence, with the exception of Hiccup's constant and embarrassing recollections from the previous night. "Uh," the host groaned, glancing at the clock as he dropped paper plates into the trash. "We have classes soon. Want me to drive you? We should probably stop by your place to take care of Stormfly first."He held up a car key and grinned.

"Sure, I'll go get my purse." she smiled back. Within minutes hey were on the road, squabbling about music.

"My apartment is above Raven's Point. You know that little coffee shop?" Astrid told him, flipping the station.

"Stop it!" he almost growled, though his grin was lighthearted, he changed it back. "And yeah, that's actually where I found Toothless before bringing him home!"

"Awesome." she turned the channel back and stuck out her tongue. "And never."

When they arrived at her home Astrid fed and watered her indignant bird, who showed her displeasure by clicking nonstop until she got what she wanted. Before the classmates could leave again, she perched herself on Astrid's shoulder, rubbed her head on the girl's cheek, and flew off.

Hiccup smiled amusedly as Astrid conveyed her amazement and excitement to him as they walked down the halls. "She's never done anything like that before! I mean, she perches on me all the time, but only because she thinks I'm not paying enough attention to her. That was actually affectionate! Do you think she likes me?"

"Of course she likes you! You're-" he stopped short and hesitates, "Her owner."

Astrid elected to ignore his awkward pause and giggles. "I have no idea why I'm so happy about this," she flushes, holding open the door so her classmate can step outside.

"She's just usually so mean." Hiccup chuckled at that. "It's normal. Scott was overwhelmed when Fang was being affectionate for the first time, too. I was really excited when Toothless came to curl up with me for the first time. Pets are funny that way. It's nice, though." He grinned and held open his car door for her. "M'lady,"

Sorry! I meant to upload this yesterday, but my mom turned off the internet before I could... I hope you enjoyed it, though! Does it seem rushed? I might have gone too fast :/ Sorry, I was super sleepy..

Please drop me a line c: