(A/N) Finally back to updating! Also thanks to some reviewers, I happened to notice my grammar is NOT as good as it could or should be. Therefor in these next few chapters I promise I am working to improve it!
Hiccup and Astrid played basketball for quiet a while. Once five PM came around they were both exhausted, sweaty, and hungry. "Here, I got lunch incase we were out late." Hiccup pulled some sandwich supplies out of the leather bag he got for Toothless, handing it to Astrid.
"You sure?" Astrid asked, not really wanting to use Hiccup for his money. Hiccup smiled warmly, laying a hand on Astrid's shoulder. "It's fine Milady. Really." Astrid smiled, playfully nudging Hiccup in the ribs for being such a gentleman when they both knew he was a normal, sarcastic, 16 year old racer in reality.
Astrid and Hiccup made their ham and cheese sandwiches, sharing a bottle pop and lightly joking to each other. Hiccup watched as Astrid's face lit up when she joked around, and he secretly wondered if he'd ever get the chance to ask her about her home situation. The questions were eating at his mind and soul, but that was less painful than the thought of bringing Astrid down when she was in such a cheerful mood.
"So...wanna go walk by the lake? I'm sure the dragons would have the time of their lives getting some easy catches." Hiccup offered, standing up from the bench they had been sitting on. Toothless perked up at the mention of food, smiling his adorable night fury smile.
Astrid smiled to, taking Hiccup's hand. "Sure, that would be nice." Hiccup and Astrid walked to the docs over the lake, their dragon following close behind. They passed by the flowery meadow nearby, and took in the view of the forest the nearly circled around the entire park.
Toothless and Stormfly imediatly flew closer to the water. Hiccup and Astrid sat on a bench over the water. Hiccup lightly wrapped his arm around Astrid who leaned into his hold. A bit of fear encased Hiccup's mind as he thought about why he decided to come here instead of continue playing.
"Astrid...can I ask you about something?" Hiccup asked and Astrid looked up at him quickly. Her eyes were a little afraid, her expression slightly confused. Hiccup took note of her facial details, and knew Astrid had taken her own mental notes about the seriousness in his voice.
"Why were you so afraid when Will came looking for you?" Hiccup asked. For a moment, Astrid remained completely silent, the only sounds being the dragons catching their lunch. Hiccup squeezed her hand in an attempt to encourage the conversation, and Astrid sighed, her body relaxing a bit.
"I tried to stand up to him yelling at my mother. Of course I got hurt for protecting someone I loved. The most hurtful thing is my mom didn't care one bit. It's infuriating." Astrid balled her hands into fists. Hiccup quickly grabbed her hands, rubbing his thumbs over her knuckles. Astrid relaxed a bit to his touch.
"What do you mean he hurt you? Astrid the situation is starting to become physically abusive." Hiccup said gently, his hands still holding hers. Astrid chewed her lip, refusing to make eye contact. "You don't think I know that? Hiccup I can't turn Will in. My mom has said it herself, if I wind up making him leave because how 'rude' I am to him, then she won't bother even looking at me. I already lost my dad, I can't lost her too."
Hiccup moved his hands from Astrid's hands to her shoulders. He lightly rubbed the tension there, making Astrid relax and let her guard down a bit. Hiccup smiled, knowing she felt safe enough with him to let this happen.
"I get that. What about my first question?" Astrid looked down at her forearms, before slowly undoing her armbands. On both her forearms, just below her wrist, Astrid had purple-blue bruises. The bruises were large, and obviously made by a mans hand do to the shape.
Hiccup imediatly became worried. That worry was soon clouded by sadness. After that, the emotion of anger over took Hiccup. He protectively moved his hands from Astrid's shoulders to her waist, pulling her close and laying his chin on her shoulder like he usually did when trying to comfort both Astrid and himself.
"Astrid I can't let this go on." Astrid tried to yank away, but Hiccup held her firm. "Hiccup I'm not letting you rip my mother away from me!" Hiccup could hear Astrid's voice crack, and he imediatly let go. Rather than letting her stand up though, Hiccup pulled Astrid into a tight hug. Astrid buried her face in Hiccup's leather armor he wore on his tunic, taking a shuddering breath.
"I've been through worse Hiccup. Take school for example. You know how many fights I've been in right? It's just...it's different now. In my own home, with my mom who won't stop it. I know my mother is letting another man hurt me, but I just...I can't just let her go. I can't lose her too. I-I feel torn."
This exact conversation reminded Hiccup of a situation he was in just a few nights ago. Him and Jacob were talking and despite not realizing it at the time, Hiccup was torn between accepting the loss of his father and letting his foster dad in. He didn't want to lose his dad and wished to stay in the past. At the same time though, Hiccup was setting himself up to get hurt in the future.
Similar to how Jacob had soothed Hiccup, Hiccup was not going to give up on Astrid. "Fine, I won't tell. Let me make sure you're safe alright? Why don't me and Toothless sleep near your house. No one needs to know, but if Will tries to pull something, I'll be there to intervene."
Astrid nodded, a smile gracing her lips. "What about your parents though? What will they say?" Hiccup waved off the question, smiling warmly down at Astrid. "Eh they're used to me flying off. So...it's only evening. Want to go do something other than just sit here?"
Astrid smiled, hugging Hiccup closer. She thought of something, and pulled out a leather notebook she kept. "What's that?" Hiccup asked, curiosity managing to take over as he realized a fellow classmate kept a journal to.
"I have different dates and stuff in here and..." Astrid flipped to a page in the book titled 'dates to do' an odd title that only she understood. Tracing her finger across the paper, Hiccup realized what Astrid had planned for today.
"It's not really a big thing to most, but once a year I take something to my uncle Fins' grace. You know, so it's not covered in wilted flowers and molded notes." A small sad smile covered Astrid's face, and Hiccup attempted to comfort her.
"That would be a fine idea." His tone was quiet. "Is the gravesite near?" Astrid pulled up a map on her phone, pointing to an unnamed destination. It was a gravesite for downed soldiers or their families, but had no real name.
Hiccup suddenly sucked in a breath, but was able to regain his composure. Astrid saw through the fake smile though, and imediatly became worried. "What's wrong Hiccup?" Hiccups sighed, losing the brave face. "Nothing it's just...that's the same grave sight my father, a soldier of course, and my mother who was his family were..." Hiccup trailed off, and Astrid squeezed his hand.
"Maybe you could leave something to?" Hiccup pulled out of her grasp, his expression and the mood of the situation changing drastically. "It's just...Well I haven't exactly visited the sight ever since..." Astrid got what he meant event though Hiccup refused to finish the sentence.
"Well there's a first time for everything. I'm not going to push you into going Hiccup, but I know from experience that this could potentially help you. I can tell it's still not an easy topic for you to talk about." Hiccup craved the gentleness in her voice, and was more than ecstatic he had a friend like Astrid.
"I...Sure, I'll go with you." Astrid could hear the hesitation in Hiccup's voice, but something in her told her that this was something Hiccup would be happy he did. Things like this just took time, as with all difficult life situations.
(A/N) There you go! To those reviewers who take note of how I write, could you please tell me this chapter has any real progress? Also I took note of how some of you wanted me to not separate the chapters into separate days as much so I made sure not to do that here. You're amazing! (Realized I was using your, and You're wrong to.)