Hello guys! Here you have another chapter, maybe it's a little short but whatever.
For the ones also following my 'Modern college AU', I'm sorry if it's taking long for me to update but I had a terrible writer block with that story.
Hopefully chapter 9 will be out in the next few days.
Thank you as always for your support! I'm glad you like reading 'That's for everything else' as much as I enjoy writing it!
-Clary Chase
"Thanks for coming"
Valka's voice was tired and her green eyes were circled and worried.
Astrid shrugged.
Toothless had awaken her knocking on her window with a message from the woman in the middle of the night.
"He won't listen to me. He just stands there watching the statue. I see him shiver. He's wearing nothing but his vest. I don't want him to catch a cold. I thought maybe he will listen to you"
Astrid looked over at Hiccup who was sitting on the grass under his dad's statue.
His green tunic was way too light for the chilly night.
He was still, almost like the statue.
"Thanks for calling me" she said taking the chief fur cloack from Valka "I got this. You can go get a little sleep. You look tired"
The woman smiled "I'm glad he has you" she said, then squeezed her shoulder and walked away.
Astrid took a deep breath and started to walk towards Hiccup.
She gently placed the cloak on his shoulders and for a moment he tensed. Then he relaxed realising it was just her.
She carefully sat beside him, brushing her shoulder against his.
"My mother sent you here" he said.
It was a statement, not a question.
"We wouldn't want the chief to get a fever or a cold, you know?"
"Aren't you going to ask me if I'm okay like everyone?"
"Nah. I know it would be a stupid and useless question. It would only piss you off"
"You know me so well" he smiled, but still didn't look at her.
She glanced up and her lips curled up in a smile "This is awesome" she said looking at the statue.
He nodded "It is"
"It looks just like him"
She felt a knot in her stomach. Stoick had been such an important figure in her life in the past five years, always supporting their choices as a couple.
He always said he would have wanted to see them married and have little Hiccups and Astrids run in his house.
Now he would have never gotten the chance.
"I just wanted to escape for a while"
She looked at him wide-eyed "This isn't really escaping, you're still in Berk. And in the main square, even" she said "Besides, escaping from what?"
He shrugged and she could see the thousands meanings of that simple gesture.
"That house. It reminds me of him. My mother. She cries faintly at night when she thinks I'm asleep and I can't hear her. And my duties... I think" he sighed and shrugged the cloak off his shoulders "I don't deserve this"
"Hic-"
"I don't!" he snapped, finally looking at her.
His eyes were narrowed and sulken.
"I will never be like him. I'm nothing like my father. I will never be a good leader. I wasn't born for this, Astrid. You probably know it more than anyone else"
She scooted closer until their knees touched. Her barely covered foot collided with his metal leg and she shivered.
"You don't get the point of it, Hiccup" she said softly brushing brown bangs out his eyes "You don't have to be like him. At least not in the way you act. You'll be different, you'll lead us in a different way because you're own person. You have to do things in your way"
"Well... some already say-"
"Screw them" she said sternly "Whatever they say. Don't listen to them. Just listen to this" she placed her hand on his chest and felt his steady heartbeat under her palm "I already told you, right?"
He smiled lightly and she tugged the cloak back on his narrow shoulders.
"Your father wouldn't want you to be like him. He would just want you to lead Berk in a fair way like he did"
He leaned his head on her shoulder "I just... I don't know if I'm ready. It's a lot to take in"
"I know, babe. But you're not alone in this"
She kissed his temple and he relaxed against her body, his lips brushing against the crook of her neck.
He suddenly coughed and she shoved him away "Here! You caught a cold!"
He rolled his eyes "It's nothing. I'm fine, you just-"
He sneezed and her glare intensified "You stupid son of a-"
"Don't finish that sentence"
She grabbed his shoulders roughly and pulled him up "When will you learn to be less reckless?" she asked softening her tone.
He smiled crookedly "Probably never. Thank the gods I have milady to keep my feet on the ground"
"Literally"
He laughed but the sound died in another cough.
She rolled her eyes and snaked an arm around his waist "Let's go, you big baby"
Please review and let me know if you like it!