Summary: You know when word spreads around, and eventually the original message gets scrambled up?

Tell a tale, add a tail

"Hey Fishlegs. Have you seen Hiccup?"

Fishlegs didn't even look up from his absorbing book – a dangerous task while walking, but he was experienced at this sort of multitasking by now.

"Nope, sorry Astrid."

Astrid sighed deeply, shaking her head at no one in particular. "Well, if you do find Hiccup please tell him I'm looking for him. I really need him to check on Stormfly's new saddle."

"Okay."

Soon after, Fishlegs happened upon Snotlout rushing around by the docks, a basket of fish in his arms.

"Hey Snotlout. You seen Hiccup? Astrid was looking for him, she said something about needing him to check her saddle."

Snotlout merely shook his head and shrugged, not even slowing down. "I'm meeting up with Tuff in the stables, so if Hiccup's there I'll let him know."

Tuffnut was already at the Dragon Stables long before Snotlout arrived, since he was the one on cleaning duty that day. Snotlout carelessly dropped the basked of fish – some of them fell out – and gave out a loud yawn.

"Here's the fish for the dragons," Snotlout said. Tuffnut only grunted a thank you of sorts and continued to sweep the floor, focused on his task because he wanted to get it done as soon as possible.

"Yeah, you're welcome," Snotlout deadpanned. Then he remembered something about Fishlegs, and asked Tuffnut whether Hiccup was around.

"Nope, haven't seen him," the male Thorston replied absent-mindedly.

"Well, I'm gonna go flying with Hookfang – have you seen the weather? –, so if you see Hiccup tell him that Astrid wants him to check on her saddle."

"Astrid. Hiccup. Saddle. Got it." Tuff grumbled back.

Snotlout made a big show of stretching and yawning some more.

"It's a beautiful day to be out flying; why anyone would ever want to be cooped up inside a dark, smelly –"

Something wet and slippery connected with Snotlout's head, knocking his helmet to the ground. Tuffnut, broomstick held up menacingly, was just about ready to toss another fish at Snotlout. But the dark-haired Viking ducked, grabbed his helmet, and made off before Tuff could steady his aim.

"Yeah, you better run for it!"

"Not running, flying!" Snotlout obnoxiously called back, his voice already distant.

Eventually, a frustrated Tuffnut finished his duties and, tiredly, dragged himself all the way from the Academy back to his house. He plopped down at the table for half a mug of ale and some bread and cheese.

His sister arrived in the meantime, carrying a basket of laundry with her, and Tuffnut took the opportunity to remind her she needed to take Barf and Belch to Gobber for a check-up.

"Why does it have to be me?" Ruffnut complained, setting the basket on the floor near the fireplace, "I've been doing errands for mom all day."

"Because it's Barf's breath that smells really bad and he's been grumpy. Since he's your half of our dragon, you're the one who has to take him," Tuffnut reasoned.

"Ugh," groaned Ruffnut, "Fine then, I'll take him. But I'll check if Gobber's at the forge first. Don't want to wake up Barf and Belch for nothing."

"Oh, wait up," her brother called as she was leaving, "do you know where Hiccup is? Astrid wants something about a saddle with him."

"No idea," Ruffnut answered with a shout, already outside. When she got to the forge Gobber was there alright, heavily beating away at a red-hot piece of iron with his prosthetic hand, now converted into a weighty hammer.

"Hey, Gobber!" Ruffnut yelled over the sound of metal clanking on metal.

"Aye, lass!" He replied, his movements never stopping.

"Are you free today?"

"Eh?"

"Barf. Needs. Dentist!" She yelled back slowly.

"Jus' give me ten minutes!" Gobber yelled back.

"Thanks!" Ruffnut said, and before going back out she added, "If Hiccup comes by, tell him that Astrid wants a saddle from him!"

"Eh?!" it took Gobber a couple of seconds for the words to sink in. He figured he'd misunderstood what Ruffnut had said, so he stopped hammering and looked around; but she was already gone.

Gobber finished up his work, and when he was done he began to gather his favourite dentistry devices. Hiccup arrived in the meantime, scurrying about all over the place as if he were looking for something.

"Oy, Hiccup. Where've ya been all day?" Gobber asked, drawing the words slowly and purposefully. Hiccup was so distracted he didn't even notice the forewarning, suggestive tone of his mentor's voice.

"I just went for a long flight with Toothless after lunch today," Hiccup replied hastily from within his office as he scrambled around looking for something, "and I kind of lost track of time because I found this really cool thing... Anyway, the problem is I forgot I'd promised to help Astrid out, but I need to find something first…"

Hiccup continued to mumble to himself as he rummaged through his workbench and shelves absent-mindedly, opening and closing several small flasks and jars, smelling them, making an occasional sour face at one or another.

Gobber took the opportunity to corner his apprentice, standing directly in front of the passage from Hiccup's small office to the forge. This was going to be interesting.

"So, speaking of Astrid, I've heard something very strange…"

– – – – /\\ – – – –

By the time Hiccup managed to find Astrid, he was all but out of breath from half-walking, half-racing around Berk TWICE, clutching a little flask of leather oil nervously in his sweaty left hand.

"Hiccup! There you are," Astrid greeted with a smile and a small wave, "I've been looking for you!"

But Hiccup just marched up to her and thrust the small container into her hands; his expression unreadable, ears and cheeks a sunny shade of pink, eyebrows knit together over darting green eyes.

"Um... thank you?" Astrid said, unsure. She cocked an eyebrow at her boyfriend; he looked like he had a fish bone stuck in the back of his throat.

"Hey. Are you okay?" she asked out of concern, in an oddly sympathetic voice she. Hiccup just nodded – in a way that screamed he wasn't quite okay. Astrid sighed, knowing him all too well.

"Just spit it out. What is it?"

Hiccup was clearly struggling with something, that much was certain – his body language was all over the place. His arms wouldn't stand still, his fingers drummed onto the palms of his hands, and he was making that adorably silly blowfish face that he always made when he was edgy or unsure.

He glanced around tensely, to check if there was anyone around to hear him, before leaning over to Astrid.

"Yeah, uh… so… what's this thing about," he cleared his throat, searching for the right words, "you wanting to… um… straddle me?"

END

Don't even ask, I have no idea what this is okay? xD

And, yes, I know I switched "tale" with "tail" :p