As Astrid supported Hiccup home (Toothless was unsettled by the changes he too had noticed, and couldn't bear staying for company), she questioned whether what she was about to do was right. Maybe he was more confident now, and would be less anxious? No, there was a difference here. Not caring about anything was a big step off from just being confident.
Once he was back in bed (where it would be most comfortable), she began her half-scripted attempt to fix Hiccup with her yelling. If she could get even a shadow of the man she once knew, she could help him.
"I can't believe you, babe! I have been waiting on you all day after filling in for you, and what do I get in return? What kind of a chief are you?!" She mocked anger to provoke him. Unfortunately, where she expected a breakdown of tears or anxiety she was met with something she never could've prepared for. He was yelling at her.
"Look, I've only been back for a day, Hofferson," he never called her that. "I don't know what made me sleep so long but Thor almighty I sure am paying the price." The flustered chief quickly raise the back of his shirt in example, before returning his merciless gaze.
Merciless. That was it, she had figured out what wasn't in Hiccup anymore. Though he obviously couldn't remember, he had had to kill a man. Apparently his subconscious wasn't gonna let that go down easily. She composed herself enough to continue before he could think up more to say.
"Who do you think you are, Haddock? Just because you kill a guy-" she looked up in time to see what she'd been searching for. Hiccup, truly her Hiccup, was lighting up the face and replacing it with the most unholy expressions of understanding, shock, and sorrow imaginable.
"I- I killed a man?" He sounded like the lost fifteen year old he once was. Astrid nodded in concern, hoping this had been the right thing to do. Darkness again, and he was out cold.
Waking up, Hiccup first noticed Astrid at the feet of his bed. Everything seemed dark; perhaps Inge had been out longer this time. He remembered all that he had learned, the good and the bad.
"Why did I-?" He turned to his worried lady.
"Babe, you were only being a chief." His eyes drifted down to her arm. He understood why he'd done it, and suddenly it all came back to him. Hiccup accepted the memory and pulled in his girlfriend for a hug.
"Thank you, for everything," he muttered into her shoulder. He pulled away and smiled.
What would he do without Astrid?
Reviews are definitely appreciated at this point, it'll be helpful when this is remade. I am done with this version, with kind of a quick tie-up, but hey! You gotta take the good and the bad when writing, huh? Anyway, I'm gonna possibly dip my toes into the dead!Hiccup and "What if Hiccup had run away?" AU's (does the second one have a shorter name that I don't know of...?) soon. Happy Snoggletog, and other holidays!