Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews and follows! This fandom really is such an amazing little corner of the internet. Now, without further ado, sexy Hiccup!

Chapter 4

Astrid

They found Freyja flowers and brought them back to Fishlegs, who insisted on treating Stormfly himself.

"You know, training with Gothi and all that," he said. "How was the flight?"

Astrid shrugged.

"Like any other flight," said Hiccup.

At this Fishleg nodded rapidly, and Astrid's gaze narrowed. Legs was nervous.

"What's up with you?" she asked.

"Nothing! Just gotta get this to your dragon," said Fishlegs, snatching the leaves and nearly running away. "See you tomorrow!"

In the morning, Astrid found Fishlegs talking with a concerned-looking Stoick and Gobber in the mess hall.

"Is this about Stormfly?" she asked, barging into the conversation. "Is she doing worse?"

"No! Of course not," said Fishlegs, hopping from foot to foot. "Much better today. Just discussing the potential of infection in other dragons, you know, especially in other nadders since I've observed—"

"Yes, yes," Stoick said, raising a hand to silence the boy. "You should get back with Gothi to plan for such a spread."

"Right, chief," squeaked Fishlegs before disappearing.

Astrid turned to leave, but Gobber spoke.

"I've been meaning to ask you, lassie," he said. "Could you come around the forge this morning? Hiccup's been helping me with some new axes, and I'd appreciate hearing your opinion."

"Sure," Astrid said.

"Good, good," he smiled, revealing his gleaming, metal teeth.

Moments after she finished eating breakfast, Gobber appeared to drag her across the village.

"Are we in a rush?" she asked.

"Oh, you know, gotta make sure the weapons don't need tweaking before Hiccup makes a whole mess of 'em."

Heat blasted over their bodies as they entered the forge, and Astrid could hear the deep groans of Gobber's dragon somewhere in the back. They ventured further in, and the clanging of hammer on metal stopped.

"Did you finally bring a—"

Hiccup rounded the corner and stopped speaking when his eyes landed on Astrid. His bare chest and arms gleamed with perspiration. After seeing him at the hot springs, Astrid had gathered that Hiccup was built enough to swing the giant hammer currently gripped in his left hand, but now she knew.

"You ruin my shirt, and instead of bringing a new one, you invite the village to come gawk at the fishbone," Hiccup said. "Gee, thanks, Gobber."

Astrid shook her head without thinking—because "fishbone" he most definitely was not—but Hiccup didn't seem to understand what she meant. She hoped he also thought her flushed cheeks were from the heat of the forge.

Hiccup turned and gestured for them to follow.

"Not sure why these were so urgent, but they're nearly done," Hiccup said.

"Just make sure the lass tests them," muttered Gobber before slipping away. "I'll go grab that shirt."

They came upon a work table littered with weapons. Hiccup browsed them for a moment before picking up an axe and thrusting it in Astrid's hands.

"Give it a throw," Hiccup said, pointing to a wooden post.

Trying to block out the image of shirtless, sweaty Hiccup standing behind her, Astrid widened her stance and held the axe above her shoulder. Flinging it forward, it spun across the room and landed with a thwack, deep into the wood.

"Not bad," she said, turning to smirk at him. "Let's see what the fishbone can do."

She yanked the axe out of the post and tossed it to Hiccup. He copied the stance she had taken and soon the weapon was sailing back into the same spot she had hit.

"Why did I need to test these out?" she asked, retrieving the axe.

"Who knows what goes through that crazy old coot's head," said Hiccup.

"Well, whatever you're doing, it's working," Astrid said, laying the axe back on the table and sneaking a glance. "Good luck with the crazy old man."

"Yeah, uh, thanks."

He absentmindedly began fiddling with his hair, and Astrid looked away to avoid holding his gaze—or worse, staring at the rest of him.

"I should get going," she said.

"Right—of course," said Hiccup, sounding relieved. "You do that."

She hurried out of the forge, relishing the cool morning air that seemed to slap her face. For a moment, she considered actually slapping herself, but putting distance between herself and Hiccup the shirtless wonder was helping. Tearing some trees to shreds with her axe would probably help, too.

Feeling better already, she turned towards the forest.

Hiccup was acting like his usual dorky self, despite the strange couple of days they'd spent at Berk. Astrid wouldn't let it get to her either.