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Home and Away
Hiccup stared disbelievingly after Astrid, having seen her reaction to his stump. His stump, of all things. Ignoring his terrible timing for jokes, mediocre physique, and inability to speak without some form of defensive sarcasm, the thing the gods decided to reveal to his newest, attractive employee was the source of his major fears and insecurities.
"God damn!"
He punched his pillow in frustration. All the caretakers knew – Ruff and Tuff, Snotlout, Eret, Fishlegs, and even Gothi and Gobber knew. He had planned to keep it a guilty secret until he knew she was staying longer than a couple weeks.
New staff didn't like the park. His utter pride and joy, and people apart from his fanatic few didn't see the teamwork or effort everyone put into making sure the animals were okay. It was hard work, and it wasn't a glamorous position. The twelve hour shifts were torture, and Hiccup took on more work than sometimes even he could handle. His father used to do the night shift with Hiccup, but that was a good couple years ago, when the park ran smoother than it did now. The animal side of things was always fine, though. The business area...
Hiccup groaned and fell back onto the bed, shuffling a little at the uncomfortable bunching of covers. The latest office worker had quit around a month ago, insisting the workload was too much for one person. So what if everything was in paper format? There were piles needing sorted, and Hiccup only nosed in there once a month to half heartedly sort things out. That's why he hired the office lady. The fact he couldn't remember her name made it slightly worse.
When Stoick informed him years ago of his intention to sell the park and use the money for Hiccup's university fees, he had been shocked at Hiccup's adamant decision. To not do the Animal Orthetic and Prosthetics course, and run the park in his father's stead. Stoick had been furious at Hiccup throwing away his future – Hiccup had been livid at his father giving up on his own dream. But together they worked it out, and Hiccup took over the National Exotic park under Stoick's not so gentle tutelage as soon as he left high school at 18.
Toothless, ever tuned to the moods of his master, crooned and nudged his stump, licking the base and making Hiccup spasm and retract his legs. "That feels awful, bud. All over-sensitive, you know?"
Toothless just chirped in reply and offered a comforting rumble at Hiccup's tone. Grinding his teeth, he rolled himself round and grabbed his cream from the side of the bed, applying a thin layer on the worse of the puckered scar on the stump.
Astrid saw it. And freaked out.
Hiccup's mood plummeted further. It always came back to her. The mysterious, blonde, headstrong Astrid. Couldn't she have been less attractive? Why couldn't she be ugly? Pretty woman made him stutter or act like a sarcastic prick. Seeing her stand between a wolf and a loaded gun (tranquilliser, but still) had caught his attention more than he realised. But romance was not something Hiccup liked to entertain, even if there was someone in the world who liked sarcasm, clumsiness and missing limbs.
Ever adoring, Toothless purred at his self deprecating expression and nudged his other leg with a paw. Hiccup smoothed his fingers through the panther's head, feeling the warmth and movement under his fingers. "All we have to do, bud, is find a blind woman who is equally clumsy, animal obsessive and not fond of two feet. How about it?"
Toothless flicked his tail, not overly impressed at the selection criteria.
The next two weeks that passed were surprisingly uneventful for Astrid, given her fears that she would be kicked out by a humiliated Hiccup for invading his privacy. But Hiccup treated her just the same, if slightly more detached than he did before, and she was grateful for the chance to redeem herself. She couldn't help but notice his familiar clanking walk though, and thought back to the empty space of his left foot. Memories of the shack made her resolute to be nothing but helpful and useful. No more stammering, unsure Astrid. She was a warrior. She would prevail and excel.
Toothless was an unexpected surprise to life at the park. After she got over the whole domestic and loveable panther spiel, she had grown rather fond of the overly large black cat. He certainly didn't act like a normal panther. Hiccup told her in a serious voice that the park would close and Toothless would be taken if anyone outside the park knew. So Astrid kept it close to her heart, feeling like she could be trusted, and protected it with a fierceness.
That attitude carried over her workload, and eventually saw her straying to the office when she was meant to be working the counter, constantly organising the masses of piles that needed sorted. After a confusing and silent conversation with Gothi, she assumed she had been given permission. So she properly began to organise the entire office, depending on her scant years of business modules to do so.
University had ground to a halt while Astrid had been searching and applying for new jobs, and resulted in a call from her Module Co-ordinator unsure if she was still on the course or not. Astrid explained the situation – made redundant, needed new job, etc – and she had been given an extended deadline for her Master's project. It was thankfully a couple months away, leaving her with a small amount of time to get her shit together. She still felt guilty though. Her lies about loving animals and having the experience to work with them started to make her panic at the idea of actually having to feed lions. But she would deal with it when it comes – as soon as her probationary period was up and they couldn't just fire her on the spot.
Working on reception meant she didn't have to stay until the evening handover like the others. Usually one other person stayed later to help Hiccup get the animals fed and sorted, along with a barrage of cleaners that arrived after closing to ready the park for the next day. The other Caretakers left around six though, all exhausted and ready for bed. But Astrid began to offer her help in the evenings, determined to stay and earn that little more. It didn't hurt that the first time she offered – which also was the first time since the incident that they had been alone – Hiccup had thrown her such a look of surprise she physically restrained herself from smiling.
"Don't bother – you go home and relax." He urged. The basket of fish he was carrying slipped from his fingers and landed with a wet splat on the floor. Several trout splashed over the rim and sloshed over Astrid's boots, resulting in a very pale Hiccup.
"I've been in reception all day, I want to be outside." That was at least partly true. Her desire to be around fresh rather than poorly conditioned air was rather strong, as was her need to pack in the extra hour here and there. Her desperation hardened her voice into an order. "Come on. Give me a job." They both bent to collect the fallen fish, both wrinkling their noises at the strong smell.
"Alright, bossy boots. Or should that be...fishy boots?"
She told herself later that slapping Hiccup in the face with a fish wasn't the funniest thing she'd ever seen.
Nor was the open mouthed astonishment at her hauling up the fish and waltzing away with a harrumph of disdain at his reaction.
Astrid bit her lip so hard she heard herself squeak absently in pain. The voice at the other end of the phone stayed silent, awaiting her reaction.
"So...you're saying no?" She questioned again, like her landlord would tell her a different thing the second time. Every year she suffered through phoning her landlord and asking him to keep her yearly rolling contract. Every year he had said yes.
"You didn't pay the rent last month, Astrid." He sounded tired. "Now you're asking me to delay this month as well. I can't do that, then renew your contract."
"I just need a bit more time." Astrid loathed the fragility of her voice, high and thin and close to breaking. This couldn't be happening just under a month of starting at the park. "Payday is around the corner, I can pay double-!"
"Legally, you're breaking your lease by not paying. Please find another place – just give me last months rent when you get paid, and I'll keep the deposit."
"Look, Mr Magowi..."
"Astrid." He interrupted her gently. "I'm sorry, but no. I won't be renewing your contract. End date is two weeks from now."
Astrid licked her lips to moisten them, trying to scrape out an answer through her dry throat. Her lip hurt.
Work with the threat of homelessness somehow made the long hours stretch and convolute into minutes and seconds. The entire shift saw her drinking cup after cup of coffee to stay focused, to stay determined. She even overstayed after work, unwilling to go home and start packing her things. The evening handover came and went, and Astrid volunteered to help Gobber out by finishing up the canteen duties for the day.
"Thanks Astrid. I'll save some pie for you tomorrow!"
After finishing the last pan, she flopped down on the table and burrowed her head in her arms. So much for making it on her own. She imagined her dad waggling a finger at her, disapproval etched on his face. So much for proving she could do it without his help.
The temptation to call was slowly driving her nuts. They never got along, especially after Astrid's mother left to pursue her own career. That drove a wedge between them that couldn't be fixed, and neither of them bothered to try repair it. Her father was too set on his own car business, and Astrid just wanted out of the suffocating net that was his enterprise. His announcement that she take over, be some sort of pretty figurehead face of the company, was the last straw. She packed a suitcase of old clothes and left while he shouted at her from his office, roaring at how she owed it to the family. Astrid hadn't even turned. She raised her middle finger as she stormed away, unable to resist a parting shot. "What family?"
What family indeed. Whatever close relationships university offered her, she pushed aside in favour of success. The A+ on most papers solidified her determination to be the best, excel. The girls in her first year dorm, terrified of her temper and bored reactions to their girlish jokes, retreated their offers and left her alone. As soon as she could, Astrid got her own flat and worked part time in the bar next door, anger still pulsing through her veins at her father's audacity. Three years of being independent and having an inner fire of icy steel left her coarse but eager to please, contradicting normal conversations. Orders conflicting with a guilty wish to be nicer. The bar made her redundant last month due to a forced closure, leaving her desperate for whatever job offer came first. The park was an unexpected lifeline that came before all others.
A gentle hand touched her hair. Astrid's eyes flickered open heavily, realising with increasing awareness that she had probably fell asleep on the table. For a sleepy moment, Astrid thought it was her mother stroking her hair, and sighed a little when the petting stopped. But then she heard Hiccup clear his throat somewhat awkwardly, and Astrid bolted upright with a speed not unlike a soldier snapping a salute.
"Hiccup!" She demanded his name harshly, like it was his fault she fell asleep. Then she felt guilty at the flash of hurt on his face, and lowered her face into her hands to rub the sleep from her eyes.
"I'm sorry, you startled me." She mumbled through her fingers. "I was just sitting here before catching my bus home – I guess I fell asleep."
"What number do you get?" Hiccup sounded worried, enough that she slid her fingers apart to frown at him.
"Sorry?"
"What bus do you get?" He pressed. "I think it's too late for buses. It's around 11.30 now."
Astrid made a mental note to slap whatever deity she had previously praised for giving her the canteen. It sure was making shit decisions. "I'll just walk home."
"Astrid, it's not safe to walk on your own." Hiccup's face unsettled her before she recognised the expression. Solemn. Hiccup was serious. No teasing glance or mocking grin – it was like he had gotten a hold of her lost determination and was utilising it against her.
"I'm a big girl, Hiccup." She couldn't help the irritation that followed her voice, swinging round and pushing herself off the bench. "I'll be fine. It's not that far a walk."
"We're out in the country, Astrid!"
"I'll have coffee, I'll be fine."
"Wait!" His hand caught her sleeve and she froze, looking up at his close proximity with a shock of unease. Something in her face told him to let go, and she retracted her arms to safely fold them around her middle.
"You can stay in the Warden hut." He suggested, his voice sounding suspiciously high. "I changed the sheets this morning – I won't be using it since I'm on night shift. You...you're welcome to sleep there."
Astrid stared like his words had formed patterns in the air. The offer was tempting, disturbingly so. Better than walking alone back to her flat, and lying in the dark under cold covers. Still...
"Will Toothless sleep on me?"
Hiccup snorted and threw his head back, laughing hard with genuine mirth. She hadn't seen him laugh like that, ever. It made her mad, and she punched him in the shoulder to make him stop. Stupid.
"Ow, okay! Not unless you ask." He finally managed, rubbing his sore arm with a grin. "If you wanted snuggles, Astrid, you need only ask."
Astrid stared, somewhat shocked despite herself. That had been entirely too suggestive coupled with his following wink. Hiccup's eyes widened at her silence, and he held up both hands in apology.
"With Toothless!" He choked out. "With the cuddly, hug-loving panther!"
The second punch was to his face.
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