Tomorrow
Astrid awoke several hours after her fight with Hiccup. As her eyes scanned the area she immediately saw she was in her room. And sitting next to her bed was Ruffnut.
"Well hey there sleeping beauty. Have a good nap?" she said cheekily.
Astrid threw her a withering look as she tried to remember what happened. She remembered fighting Hiccup. She remembered punching him punching her in the stomach. And then everything went black.
"Hiccup totally knocked you out," Ruffnut informed her as if sensing her confusion.
"What?" Astrid asked finding her voice.
"Yep. Totally knocked your lights out. And in front of the entire village," she said matter of factly.
Astrid processed this information and then released a mortified groan. The whole village had seen her lose. And to Hiccup. Not even that, she hadn't even been a match for him. All it took was two attacks to beat her. He hadn't even needed his swords. Anger fueled by embarrassment bubbled up within her.
"Where is he now?" she asked lowly.
"Probably the great hall. Its night time now," Ruffnut said with a shrug.
Astrid got out of bed and stomped out of her room. Leaving the house she immediately set off for the great hall with Ruffnut following behind her.
Everyone in the great hall was enthusiastically talking about Hiccup's victories. They were amazed by how well he could fight. No one would ever question if he could hold their own against them anymore. Stoick was prouder than ever. He bellowed in laughter as he bragged about his son's amazing combat skills.
Seated at the riders' table, Hiccup smiled to himself. He was proud of his skills and glad he could show people how far he'd come. But he didn't brag or join in the conversations about his victories, he was content to let the other people talk and remain humble. Currently he was sitting next to Fishlegs as he was adding things about the Japanese dragon to the Book of Dragons.
"So the Mizuchis can make it rain?" he asked inquisitively.
"Yep. Their saliva attracts water so when a group of them drools on a cloud they make it bigger until it bursts with rain. Raijin however, when working with his flock, can actually make cloud with his breath," he explained.
"That's amazing!" Fishlegs said as he wrote what Hiccup had said. "And each of the dragons have a king?" Fishlegs said looking up.
"Yes. There's Raijin, the Mizuchi king. Otojin, the Aoi king. Suijin, the Manda queen. And lastly Hojin, the Karyu king."
Fishlegs nodded before recording it. "So do the dragon kings divide territories?"
"Yes. Raijin and his flock mostly stick to the north. Suijin lives along the eastern coast. Otojin stays in his mountains in the west and Hojin keeps to his volcano in the south," Hiccup replied.
This went on for a few more minutes as Fishlegs kept asking questions about the Japanese dragons. Then they were interrupted. "Uh oh," Tuffnut said drawing their attention.
"Don't look now cuz, but I think you're about to be killed," Snotlout said with a smirk while motioning with his head toward the entrance to the great hall. Hiccup glanced over to see and very angry looking Astrid marching toward him.
Hiccup sighed. Just like he'd thought. She wasn't happy. He stood up and walked over to her. Once they were directly in front of each other Astrid looked up into his eyes and glared.
"So, that was a good fight. Very good. You're really skilled. I thinks it's safe to say that we're both incredibly good fighters and leave it at that," Hiccup said in an attempt to quell her anger.
It didn't work. Astrid tensed before throwing a jab at his face. But to her utter disappointment Hiccup reacted quicker. With his left hand he caught her arm by the wrist and stopped it in its tracks. Astrid growled before yanking her arm free and throwing another punch. But once again Hiccup stopped her attack with a block. She then tried to kick him but he blocked with his legs.
With a snarl Astrid advanced on him. Throwing punches and kicks that Hiccup seemed to easily read through and defend. Everyone in the hall watched in amusement. Astrid was way too quick to anger. But it seemed as if someone was actually skilled enough to withstand her wrath.
"Hold still," Astrid shouted in frustration.
Hiccup furrowed his brows at her. "Hold still so you can hit me?" he asked in disbelief at her demand.
"Yes," Astrid spat at him. If she could just hit him one time.
"Fine," Hiccup said standing up and dropping his battle stance.
Astrid raised an eyebrow at him. Was he really just going to let her hit him? She looked at his relaxed demeanor and his arms hanging at her side. After a moment of deliberation she advanced on him and threw a punch.
But Hiccup stopped her once again. Grabbed her arm firmly he then grabbed her by the front of her tunic with his free hand before whirling her around and slamming her back against a pillar in the great hall. Astrid winced in pain as her head hit the wooden pillar. She opened her eyes to glare at him but stiffened when he slammed his hands on either side of her head. She looked into his eyes and her own widened at the intense look he was giving her.
Hiccup stared into Astrid's eyes. He kept his face neutral as he evaluated her. Her blue were captivating. Like they'd always been. But she was still so hard to understand.
Astrid tried her best to fight the intense blush forming on her cheeks at Hiccup's close proximity. He was so close to her she could feel his breath on her face. Then he started to inch closer. Her eyes widened in uncertainty and her heart hammered in her chest. Was he going to kiss her? Apart of her was terrified at the thought of him stealing a kiss. But another part of her really hoped he would.
But before he could close the gap and press his lips against hers he stood up straight and took a step back. They held each other's gaze before Hiccup tore his away and made his way to the great hall exit. Astrid watched him go bewildered. She placed a hand over her chest to slow her racing heart. She really thought he was going to kiss her. And she was a little disappointed he hadn't.
"I challenge you to a fight Hiccup," she blurted out. Hiccup stopped and looked over his shoulder at her. Her inner warrior replacing her embarrassment with pride and determination she locked eyes with him. "Tomorrow. You'd better be ready," she growled out.
Hiccup looked straight ahead and released a gusty sigh. This is what he was afraid of. Now she was determined to fight him until she won. And of course his pride and honor as a samurai wouldn't condone him purposefully losing. Even to get her off his tail.
"Alright. High noon. The kill ring. I'll be there," he said firmly. With that he continued on his way and out the door.
Astrid smiled to herself. She was going to beat Hiccup. She was going to get him to take her seriously. With a plan formed in her mind she scanned the room until she saw Gobber. She walked over to him, intent on asking him a little information on samurai.
Meanwhile, Hiccup was at the forge. Gobber had given him permission to use it whenever he wanted. He started up the bellows started collecting iron pieces. If Astrid was intent on fighting him he was going to make sure he had a full arsenal to match her.
At high noon the next day Astrid was standing in the old kill ring. She was waiting for Hiccup to arrive. The village had gathered to watch her fight Hiccup once again. They were eager to see the young people fight. Astrid as confident she could beat Hiccup today. After talking with Gobber last night she'd learned that samurai apparently didn't use shields.
She figured that using a shield would throw Hiccup for a loop, so she had one on her arm. The crowd suddenly perked up as Hiccup strolled into the arena. They stared intently at what he had in his hands. Hiccup had predicted Astrid would go to Gobber for help and would learn that samurai didn't uses shields. So he'd spent nearly all the time before the fight preparing his answer.
A large, wooden, iron studded samurai style war bludgeon known as the Tetsubo. Everyone looked at it in amazement. Even Astrid was surprised. Slinging it over his shoulder he beckoned her to come at him.
Now in the hands of the burliest samurai the Tetsubo was a devastating weapon. But in the hands of Hiccup, a Viking, who was bigger and stronger than most Japanese men…that poor shield didn't last two swings before it was useless.
Then to put icing on the cake he broke Astrid's sword, revealing the use for the iron studs. With her defenseless and with no weapon she'd lost the match. But with a growl she challenged Hiccup to a fight the next day.
This time Astrid came armed with a spear, Hiccup came with a pole arm of his own. A Naginata. With the blade's incredible sharpness he slashed through her spear's shaft, wining him the match.
The next day she called him to a knife fight. Armed with a dagger against his Tanto they swiped and stabbed at each other before Hiccup wrestled her to the ground and had his knife at her throat.
Not willing to admit defeat she challenged Hiccup to a purely hand to hand fight. Underestimating how much he'd grown and learned he beat her with his fighting style consisting not only of strikes, kicks, and chops, but grapple holds, locks, and throws.
People stopped showing up after a while. They simply let the young pair have at it.
And though it seemed like they didn't nothing but fight and argue, it was progress. It was more than they'd done together when they were kids after all.
The villagers smiled to themselves as Astrid walked alongside Hiccup, muttering and swearing that she'd beat him one day while Hiccup sighed and groaned and wish she'd stop challenging him.
Viking courtship was a strange thing.
But it wasn't uncommon for a couple to bond through fighting.
"What do you mean no!?" Astrid yelled out.
"I mean no. I'm not fighting you today. I'm taking a break today," Hiccup said firmly as they walked through the village.
"But I was gonna challenge you to a sword fight," Astrid said in protest.
"Then go fight someone else. I'm sure some in the village would love to fight you," Hiccup said before he walked away from her. Astrid watched him walk away. He wasn't wearing his armor today. Hiccup had been in the village for three weeks now and sometime took his armor off. She assumed that meant he was comfortable enough to feel it unnecessary. That seemed like progress.
Hiccup seemed to be integrating himself back into the village. He had his old job as Gobber's apprentice and he'd eat with the riders during meal times. And through shadowing him Astrid had come to spend a lot of time together with him. She liked it.
And she loved to fight him. Fighting Hiccup was such a rush. His style was just so strange and foreign, but she couldn't deny its effectiveness. And honestly it felt as if her own technique was improving through fighting him. Her reflexes seemed to be improving and her technique became more refined. But she still couldn't come close to beating him. And to her frustration he still refused to use his swords against her. She wanted him to fight her with all he had.
Narrowing her eyes at his back her eyes were suddenly drawn to the little object resting to her right. It was an apple. Flicking her gaze between it and Hiccup's back she smiled mischievously. Then she swiped it up before hurling it at his back. It flew through the air and her aim was true. But as it was about to hit him he whirled around and in a flash sliced it in two. The two halves flew past him harmlessly.
Astrid gasped in amazement. She still couldn't believe how fast he could draw his swords.
"Would you like to try again milady," Hiccup called out jokingly. Astrid growled at him before grabbing more apples and hurling it at him. Hiccup smiled and drew his black sword before he began slicing at all the projectile she sent his way. Astrid kept throwing them in quick succession hoping to hit him at least once. But Hiccup kept splitting them in two with one swipe.
With her last apple she threw it as hard as she could. But with a smile he simply stabbed through it with his Katana. He stood up and pointed it at her proudly.
"I win," he said as he stuck his tongue out at her.
Astrid was about to tell him off when a figure other right caught her attention. She glanced to her right to see and very irate village women looming over her with her hands on her hips.
"I hope you were planning to pay for them apples lass," she said sternly.
Astrid blinked in surprise. That's when she realized she'd just thrown a whole bunch of this women's apples from her cart and at Hiccup. She smiled sheepishly and blushed in embarrassment. She looked to Hiccup for help only to find him nowhere in sight.
Astrid cursed inwardly before sighing in defeat. Turning to face the women she looked up into her eyes. "How much do I owe you?"
Astrid walked through the village in search of Hiccup. She'd just paid for all the apples they'd wasted by herself and was annoyed he hadn't attempted to chip in. Stalking through the village in search of him she stopped when she heard a crunching sound. She glanced to her left to find him sitting on a barrel, eating an apple with an amused smile on his face.
Narrowing her eyes she stomped over to him. Standing directly in front of him she put her hands on her hips and looked at him expectantly.
"Hello there Astrid. Want some?" he said holding out the apple to her.
"How come you didn't chip in?" Astrid demanded.
"I didn't throw those apples," Hiccup said looking innocent.
Astrid glared at him reproachfully. But his smile made her anger fade. It was kind of funny if she thought about it. With a sigh she took the apple from him. She sat on a barrel next to him as they watched the villagers come and go.
"I'm going for a flight off the island tomorrow," Hiccup aid breaking the silence. Astrid looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "I already cleared it with my dad. So he wouldn't send a search party after me. Wanna come?" he asked her.
Astrid mulled it over. He was probably going to look for some uncharted islands. He'd showed her his map project and she had to admit it was interesting. Plus it would allow them to spend time together with just the two of them.
"Sure, why not?" she said with a shrug.
Hiccup smiled widely. "Great. It's a date then," he said.
Astrid eyes widened at what he'd said. A date? Them spending alone time together. Just the two of them. Yeah…that was kind of what a date entailed. She blushed lightly at the thought. She and Hiccup were going on their first date. She couldn't wait for tomorrow.
Staring down at the apple in her hand she raised it up to her mouth and took a bite. She bit into the spot where Hiccup had bitten into it.
"You know in Japan we'd call what you did an indirect kiss," Hiccup said suddenly.
Astrid nearly choked. She coughed and tried to regain her breath as Hiccup chuckled to himself. She glared at him before looking away shyly. She flushed and smiled to herself.
Maybe soon they wouldn't be indirect. If their date went well at least.
With a happy smiled she continued eating the apple. Savoring the fruity goodness and wondering what tomorrow could bring.
Dedicated to guest reviewer T.N Happy birthday! Hope you like this chapter and sorry it is kind of short and not super exciting. But if you have a request for a Hiccstrid fluff scene submit a review and i'll consider adding it to the story.
Some Hiccstrid fluff