Third person POV
"Can you walk, brother?"
"I can. It's fine."
"Right, what do we do with these thugs?"
"Hufft… There's no way we're bringing them along. They're massive. Not even Birta can carry them."
"You're right… How about we tie them to the tree and return in the morning?"
"Sounds like a plan. Go check that sack they were carrying. I'll take care of these men."
That's the chattering Hiccup heard from the outside world. Indeed, he was tied on his legs and arms and inside the said sack. It was not long until he heard footsteps approaching him.
Honeymaren loosened the knot on the opening and opened it. Inside, he found a man, tied and had his head covered with another bag to blind him.
"Oh god. Are you okay?" The Northuldran asked. Carefully, she removed the bag from the Viking's head to reveal a tired and desperate face. Hiccup had his mouth sealed with a piece of cloth wrapping around his head. Its tight bind was paining him as he had a recovering wound by his cheek.
"Oh you poor thing…" Honeymaren commented. With haste and yet carefulness, she undid the bind around Hiccup's head.
"Blegh–" Hiccup spat off some saliva that had accumulated on his tongue. "Thank you… my hands and legs, if you please."
"Of course," Honeymaren said. She stood up and pulled the sack away, letting Hiccup out in the process. Seeing that his hands were tied with a rope, Honeymaren got to it quickly.
While undoing the knot, Honeymaren thought about getting to know about this man. "You got a name?"
"Hiccup. Hiccup Haddock," the Berkian replied. "Yourself?"
That name rang a loud bell. "Hiccup Haddock? Aren't you friends with Elsa and Queen Anna?"
Hearing the question made him raise a brow. "I see that my name has spread. Um, yes, I am."
"Oh my. Whatever could have happened to you? Why were you kidnapped by these guys?" Honeymaren asked, finishing the knot on Hiccup's hands. She went over to his legs and was shocked to see the prosthetic leg. "Oh, prosthetic."
"Yeah… Not the prettiest sight, is it?" Hiccup scoffed. "So which story do you wanna hear first? How I got the prosthetic or how I got kidnapped?"
"Uhm, the latter," Honeymaren answered as she started undoing the knot.
"It would be rude to not know my saviour's name, though," Hiccup raised his upper half to see Honeymaren better.
Honeymaren was silent for a second, not getting what he meant. "Oh, my bad. I am Honeymaren. I am also fond of Elsa and Anna."
"Honeymaren…" Hiccup repeated. "I'm sure I've heard of that name before…"
In the dark, Honeymaren blushed. The thought that Elsa had shared her name and possibly their relationship was embarrassing. "Umm… maybe it will come back later."
"And I am Ryder."
Hiccup looked up to his right to see the other Northuldran in the scene. Right next to him stood a reindeer, curious to see who Hiccup was. Ryder knelt down on his knee and gave Hiccup his hand for a handshake.
"Nice to meet you, Ryder," Hiccup smiled and returned the handshake. "Thank you so much for rescuing me. Does the reindeer have a name?"
"Oh you're welcome, mate. She does. She's Birta," Ryder gestured at his reindeer, who slightly nodded at the Viking.
"Back to the question," Honeymaren exclaimed a little louder to bring attention to her. "What happened to you, Mister Hiccup?"
Hiccup scratched his hair. "Well, I guess I have to start from…"
The Viking started his tale all the way from New Berk. While explaining, the trio agreed to multitask with packing up to ready themselves to leave. Right when they were about to leave, Hiccup cut himself when he saw his kidnappers tied to a tree.
"Wait. These guys. We can't leave them. They will escape," Hiccup alerted.
"Oh they won't, pal," Ryder said and gave the Viking a pat on the back to reassure him. "My knot is the best in Northuldra and has never been undone by anyone except myself."
Knowing very well that the statement was inaccurate, Honeymaren checked the knot his brother made to make sure. It was decent, but she grabbed some more rope from Birta to add some more.
Hiccup once again reminded, "No, Honeymaren, we can't leave them here. We need them to lead us to Therondia's ship."
"Therondi–what?" Honeymaren asked. "Hiccup, neither of us can physically carry them all the way to the kingdom. There's still quite the distance we have to cover from here."
Seeing the reasoning, Hiccup clicked his tongue. "Hmph… Very well. Where are we, exactly?"
"Several clicks away from the kingdom, by the fjord," Honeymaren answered, finishing the knot. "We'll be there by dawn. By the time we get there, we can request to send some men and proper horses over here to immediately fetch them. I've made sure the knot is extra well done."
Hiccup found the proposal agreeable. "Sounds good."
"Alright," Ryder exclaimed. "Let's continue from where we left off."
The newly founded gang embarked once again. With Hiccup as a new company, they were now more entertained by his tale about the background of his kidnapping.
As it was a sensitive story, Hiccup explained his story slowly, not wanting to crack under pressure. Ryder, Honeymaren, and even Birta noticed it. At one point, Honeymaren told the Viking that he could share the story on another day. However, as Hiccup had just been rescued, he insisted that his saviours had to know.
Since Hiccup took his time to explain the story, the gang covered quite the distance under their consciousness. This also consumed quite a lot of time. Little did they know, a tiny hint of dawn was ready to welcome the day on the far east. The trees along their path were thick enough to not reveal the time of the day to the gang.
"When I sensed that the ship was finally moving, I readied myself to time my jump. I wanted to make sure that my jump was not detected by anyone. Thankfully, I remember that Arendelle has a mechanical watergate that they lower every time a ship enters the bay. It's a very loud mechanism so I thought I could use its noise to cover my escape."
Hiccup explained and took a pause to take a breath. During the pause, the Northuldran nodded their heads in approval.
"Good tactic," Ryder commented. "Did you make the jump?"
"I did, yeah. Not a single Therondian noticed me. And Bruni," Hiccup ended it with a proud, though rather forced, smile. "Well, somebody did notice me in the end."
Honeymaren raised her brows. "Who did?"
Hiccup cleared his throat to continue. "So, I made the jump and dove underwater to stay hidden. I swam to the watergate and held onto it as the guards brought it up again. After it finally rose to the top, I made my way to the right end of the gate. However… an Arendellian guard spotted me. And shot me. With an arrow."
The twist shocked the Northuldrans. "OH MY–" They both spoke in unison.
Hiccup continued, "But it's alright! Once they recovered my body–"
"Your body? You mean you drowned?" Honeymaren asked.
"I did, yes. Butttt, General Mattias recognized that it was me. Once he did, he took me to a doctor right away," Hiccup answered.
"Goodness me…" Ryder commented, scratching his hair in both fear and amazement. "You've been through a lot, Chief."
"You can say that," Hiccup nodded. Right after that, he looked up to a familiar sight ahead of him. "Oh, we're here."
The pack arrived at an opening of the path. With the lack of trees, light naturally made their way to reach them. It was the sight of the Arendelle kingdom. They apparently stood on a hill that allowed them to see the entire region. Because of this, they were greeted by the beauty of Arendelle in all its glory. Peace definitely defined the moment.
"Well… I'm sure they're looking for you now," Ryder said. "Best we keep going."
"How the hell is he gone?! Did nobody see any intruder?"
"I don't know! But we must send a team to search for him now before he's too far!"
And that ended the brief argument between Elsa and Anna. The servant who was tasked to look after Hiccup broke the news to Anna when she was still snoring in her bed. Safe to say, the queen was shocked to death upon hearing the news. The sun had just risen and this was the last news Anna wanted to hear for the day.
The Arendellian sisters rushed to spread the news to the guards. For the next course of action, Anna decided to hold a meeting to arrange search and rescue teams and their routes, and that was what she commanded to her guards.
Naturally being the first to arrive in the meeting room, Elsa and Anna took their seats on the long table. Since it was early in the morning, it took some time for them to show up.
"We're wasting time…" Anna impatiently tapped her foot on the floor. "Oh no… I really do hope he's okay…" She stressfully pressed her hands against her temples. Her mind began to simulate all kinds of terrible outcomes that could be taking place at the moment.
"Calm down Anna…" Elsa softly said. "We will find him."
"What if we don't?" Anna casually countered. Naturally, Elsa found it odd.
The big sister held her little sister's cheeks and turned her face to meet hers. She looked at her with a stern expression. "We will find him, Anna. Focus on what is, not what if."
Anna very much received the message. Her sister wanted her to focus. "O-Okay…"
Elsa let her sister go and crossed her arms. Soon right after, some guards entered the room. The last man to enter was General Mattias himself, who was finishing his button on his shirt. "Y-Your Majesty!" He called.
"Mattias," Anna replied, not even bothering to address his title. "Apparently, there's been an infiltration," she sharply stated. The general caught that.
"M-My deepest apologies…" He placed a hand on his chest and bowed down. From the hand he had on his back, he took out a map and laid it down on the table. "We will search for him right away."
Other guards simply circled the table to have a better look on the map. They all stared at the royal sisters to wait for them to start the meeting.
"Right," Elsa began. "Gerda mentioned that the room was barged in by at least two people, judging from the mess they left. Hiccup must've put up a fight before being taken away."
"Two people…" General Mattias said. "I was going to say that they could've taken a boat, but we leave no patch of water unpatrolled. They must've walked."
"But how far could they have walked?" Anna asked.
Elsa shook her head, not knowing an answer. "We can't be sure of that… Let's just assume he was taken as soon as… who last left his chamber?"
"Well… it could be me…" Anna answered. "I'm not sure if anyone else came."
"What time did you pay him a visit?" General Mattias asked.
"Um… It was–"
"QUEEN ANNA! QUEEN ELSA!"
Everyone in the room turned to the door to see one guard by the name of Kimi. He looked exhausted, as if he had just run a marathon.
"Chief Hiccup… He's here!"
Anna deeply gasped.
"Where?!" She asked.
"By the gate!" He answered.
Immediately, the audience in the room rushed their way to the gate. They took a run in the hallway, descended the spiral staircase, made a left, and a right, through the castle main entrance, across the yard, and out the castle gate. Anna looked right and left and saw nobody even resembling a Hiccup Haddock. There was just the empty bridge that connected the village and the castle.
"W-Where…" Anna was almost out of breath. "Is he?"
Elsa was also confused. "Hahh… Mr. Kimi? Where is he?" She asked the same question.
"Um, guys?"
A familiar Berkian voice sounded from behind the crowd, specifically from inside the gate. From behind the wooden gate itself walked out Hiccup. He was followed by Honeymaren, Ryder, and Birta the reindeer.
Anna did not even notice that Hiccup was not alone. She was so focused on him so she jumped on him with open arms and, apparently, teary eyes. Hiccup barely had the time to anticipate the incoming 'attack.'
"W-Where have you been?!" Anna asked, her voice muffled as her face was buried in Hiccup's shoulder. "Who t-took you away?"
"My bad, my bad everyone…" Hiccup slightly chuckled at the queen's unqueenly attitude at the moment, especially in front of many eyes. He wanted to let go but he physically could not. Thus, he grew the courage and embraced the hug back.
However, not long after, Anna cried even more. It shocked Hiccup and everyone else. The Viking could feel his shoulder becoming more damp than ever. "I-I-I woke up to the news o-of you missing! Do you know how shocking that was? Especially early in the morning like this?" Anna explained, all while her face was hidden.
The crowd 'aww-ed' at the embarrassingly cute but yet very much human reaction. Elsa jumped in and caressed her sister on the back. "There there, Anna…" she softly spoke. Then, she whispered, 'Anna, there are people watching.'
"I DON'T CARE!" She exclaimed.
"HAHAHAHA!"
This made everyone laugh. In sympathy, of course.
Anna finally pulled away to meet Hiccup's face. Hers was red and puffy. "You have some explanation to do!"
'Finally, this is my cue,' Hiccup mentally thought. He kept one hand on Anna's arm and glanced at the crowd. "Yes. Soooo… I was taken by two Therondians. They kidnapped me right not long after Queen Anna checked on me last night. I was put unconscious and in a large sack and tied on my hands and feet."
The news earned some gasps by the audience.
"Where are they now? How did you get away?" General Mattias stepped in with his question.
"Well… if it hadn't been for the kind Northuldrans right here," Hiccup gestured at Honeymaren. "I would've been taken away."
Anna turned to Honeymaren and Ryder, whom she never noticed were there the whole time. "You guys!" She called out. "How did you–Did you guys–?"
Anna could not even compose the right question as she was so relieved that they were in the right place and the right time to save the day. Luckily, Ryder noted that, and proceeded to explain, "We were actually travelling to the kingdom, when we noticed two fierce looking men. They didn't even bring a torch to see where they were going. Luckily, I spotted the sack. And its movement. Sacks aren't supposed to move, right?" He asked sarcastically.
"Then? What did you do after seeing that?" Elsa asked.
"We attacked them," Honeymaren casually answered. "Well, Ryder initiated it first."
"And where are these two men now?" Anna asked.
Honeymaren pointed north with her hand. "Tied to a tree by the path that spans from here to the end of the fjord. Maybe around ten clicks from here. Unless they have somehow escaped, you won't miss them." She turned to General Mattias, "We need to send people to get them. Now."
"On it," the general replied with a sure tone. "Those who are not on duty, follow me!"
Before leaving the crowd, the general turned to his queens. "Your Majesty, I'll be taking my leave."
"Dismissed," Anna replied.
With that, the general and at least ten men left the scene. Others who were on duty returned to their posts, leaving only the Northuldrans, the Arendellians, and the lone Berkian.
Silence briefly filled the air.
"Well that settles that," Honeymaren broke it and jumped on Elsa from behind, hugging her. "How are youuu?~"
"Ahahah, Honeymaren…" Elsa 'returned' the hug by holding onto her arms. "Not in front of the others, pwease…" she uncomfortably glanced at her sister, Hiccup, and Ryder.
Hiccup eyed the duo, becoming curious. "Are you two…"
"They are, Hiccup," Anna confirmed.
Hiccup rounded her mouth. "I see."
"Well you're not the only one with a date, Chief," Honeymaren sarcastically responded, which Hiccup did not understand well.
"Umm… You kinda are, Honeymaren," Hiccup said. Right after, he immediately turned to Ryder. "Well, do you have a significant other?"
The question hit Ryder hard, but he tried his best to keep it to himself. "Nope."
Hiccup then turned to Anna and asked the same thing, "What about you?"
Anna frowned at him and crossed her arms. "No Hiccup, I don't have a boyfriend just yet."
Hiccup very much noticed the emphasises on some of the spoken words. He took it that it was a sensitive question. "Okay…"
As Hiccup turned back to both Honeymaren and Elsa, they gave him the same frowning expressions.
Honeymaren whispered to her lover, 'Elsa, he can't be this dense.'
'Unfortunately, he might very well be. Though they have been very, and I mean, very intimate for the past couple of days,' Elsa replied in the same manner.
Hiccup was drawn curious by the whispering. "What are you guys talking about?" He asked innocently.
"Breakfast!" Honeymaren abruptly announced. "Let's have breakfast."
"HOaaamm…" Ryder yawned loudly. "And sleep after that. Or I can just skip to sleep, actually."
"You can go to the Olsen's Inn right away, brother. I'll fetch you later," Honeymaren said, as she entangled her arm with Elsa's.
Right as Ryder was about to excuse himself, Elsa cut in, "Come on, Ryder. We have a room in the castle. Birta can even come in!"
"No can do, my queen," Ryder said, taking Birta's harness along to the town's direction. "Besides, I have some business in town to take care of. See ya! Let me know the updates of those Thronedia guys!"
With that, after mispronouncing the name "Therondia," Ryder and Birta left.
"Oh well. Let's have breakfast," Elsa invited while looking at Hiccup.
"Let's," Hiccup replied. He turned around to Anna who was in her own world while staring blankly at nowhere.
"Anna," he called.
The queen looked up, almost like she was surprised. "Present!"
"Let's have breakfast. It will be a while until they retrieve those thugs," Hiccup invited.
"Um…" Anna scrubbed a spot on the ground with her shoe nervously. "Actually, can we have breakfast, with just the two of us? Perhaps in your room? I wanna talk about something."
Hiccup was taken by surprise to the request, but he politely accepted. "Of course."
'Oh crap, what do you think she wants to bring up?' Honeymaren whispered to her partner mischievously.
'Hmm… I think we'll learn about it soon enough,' Elsa whispered back.
Anna's POV
I had thought about it for a while, but that question and, especially, its answer, were the catalyst.
My heart finally took over my course of action and decided it was time to confess. It was purely out of selfish reasons, I must admit.
First, of course, there were the feelings. I did not fall in love with Hiccup on the first sight, per se. We started off purely as friends. We could only meet each other whenever he would visit our land. I was never allowed by my father to visit their isle because it was a dangerous trip. Thus, we naturally met each other seldom.
He would always strike me as a fascinating person, despite hearing a lot of experience of being bullied in Berk. He had crafted gadget and gizmos aplenty, varying from most useful to the most useless. Kind of the nerd, one could say. But in a good way, obviously.
They then befriended the dragons. Their visitations became more frequent thanks to the dragons who helped with shipment. Hiccup would always drop by with Toothless and I was so grateful for the flights he took me on.
With more frequent visits and him literally giving me new perspectives on the world around me, I started to catch feelings. I noticed how he had matured as a person, how smart he had become, how even more sarcastic he had developed, how manlier he turned out to be. If someone were to ask me about my type, I would not know the answer. However, Hiccup Haddock the Third was… someone I happened to love.
Another reason for my sudden call for confession was… the current circumstances. I had a feeling that both of us, no, ALL of us, were going to an adventure soon enough. We had not exactly talked about it yet, but I could feel it. And whatever adventure we were going to go, it was going to be life-threatening.
Therondia slaughtered the Berkians. Lives were lost that night, and nobody could tell how many. Judging from Hiccup's description, it was safe to assume that they were not going to spare a lot. This was the kingdom that I was going to face. Hiccup was going to face an old enemy who sought revenge. Lives were going to be at stake.
I was ashamed to death to have signed a treaty with that kingdom. I was too naive. To think that Arendelle had become partners with a kingdom that colonises others…
Because of this, I thought that we would not have much time left to be together, assuming the worst case scenario were to take place. Neither of us wanted to be separated by death, of course, and I was damn sure that I was going to do everything within my power to save Hiccup and the remaining Berkians. But, it lingered inside my mind for a while.
"Anna."
I chinned up. "Yes?"
"Here's your food."
I looked down to his hand where he was holding a plate of sandwich. I accepted it into my possession.
"Man, you really are still sleepy, aren't you? You've been staring blankly for a while now," Hiccup commented.
Only by then did I realise that we were in his room, sitting by the table near the window. Apparently, I took my seat without even knowing that I did and he had prepared all of our food and drink.
Hiccup sat down across me. I took a bite of my sandwich to feed my brain and prepare myself mentally. However, before I could even do that, Hiccup broke the silence.
"So… what is it you wanted to talk about?" He asked, taking a bite of his own sandwich.
I was not ready to jump into that topic just yet, so I decided to stall. "Uhm… Were you harmed? By those guys?" I grabbed my glass of water to fidget it.
"Hmm… When those guys came into my room, I did put up a fight," He explained briefly.
"You did? How did they barge into your room, exactly?" I asked.
He took a small bite of his bread. "Once you left, not long after, someone knocked on the door. I opened it and… the rest is history."
"Tell me, how did you fare?" I asked again.
"Well… some fists and kicks were thrown, but one guy managed to immobilise me by choking me," he explained. I cringed at the used method. It was at this moment, too, when I realised something was off on Hiccup's neck.
"Oh… Is that the choke mark on your neck then?" I pointed at his neck.
"There's a mark?" He asked, feeling his neck with a hand.
"There is."
"Oh well… Another mark onto the pile," he said, ending it with a sarcastic chuckle. I was not amused by this.
"Don't say that…" I looked away.
I did not earn a response right away. There was a brief pause as I was looking away to the floor. Then, he said, "Something's bothering you, Anna,"
Well, Hiccup was right. It was me. Me was bothering me.
"It's nothing," I looked up and noticed the concern drawn on his expression. "Where do you think the Therondian ship is right now? If those two have been sent by them, they surely must have docked somewhere."
"Hmm… It's just a wild guess, but maybe at the end of the fjord? I factored the time they took to get to here. But I don't know," Hiccup said. He then pointed his index at me. "You know the lands and waters around here. Where do you think they've docked?"
That question was meant for him, and was meant to stall. I did not necessarily think of an answer, so I took my time. "Hemm… Um… Maybe… By the end of the fjord?"
Hiccup stared at me while sipping his drink briefly. "We'll know about it soon enough."
Once again, none of us spoke anything. My attempt to stall the conversation was failing. Although, to be fair, I did not plan this at all. I did not know how I was going to bring it up. There was only the intention but not the plan. Should I save it for another time? Should I come back later with a well devised plan?
Yet again, as my train of thoughts were passing, Hiccup shattered the silence. "So… How long has Honeymaren been going out with your sister?"
He had to bring up this kind of topic.
"Hmm… just over a year, I think? It has been a year since Elsa became a permanent resident in Northuldra," I answered.
Hiccup scoffed a little. "Well, they certainly seem happy."
I shrugged at that statement. "They certainly don't mind a little PDA."
"Well, Honeymaren doesn't. I don't know about Elsa," he responded.
I blew a raspberry. "She's not resisting much, either."
"You're right, haha…" He ended with a fake laugh.
This conversation was at its driest point. I could feel it. This was the time to make things more lively, or Hiccup would just walk away to go on with his life.
Hiccup looked down to his half finished sandwich. He was about to get another bite when something inside of me ignited. My heart suddenly regarded this as a chance. The brain was kind of confused by the proposal, but my muscles were already engaged. I moved without an order from my brain, out of reflex, one could say. What did I do?
I reached him across the table, lifted his chin, shut my eyes, and planted a kiss on his lips.
"Mm?!"
I wanted it not just a peck. Therefore, I pressed my lips against his and kissed him once more before pulling away.
My eyes peeled open to the sight of his own confused, yet shocked eyes. A gasp escaped his mouth when our faces were still close to one another. He was blushing a lot, though I was sure I was, too.
I returned to my seat and covered my face in embarrassment. "I'm sorry Hiccup… I had to," I excused myself in a muffled voice.
"Anna… I…"
I opened a gap between my fingers to peek at him with just one eye. We caught eye contact and he immediately looked away while crossing his arms.
That was a cute reaction.
We remained silent for a few seconds. Since I was the bold one, I thought I had to keep that theme going.
I uncovered my face and cleared my throat. "Hiccup… I um… have had…"
Hiccup looked up to me, nervously waiting for each word.
I resumed myself, "I have had… feelings for you… for a… while… now…"
My face immediately heated up after I finished that statement. I could not help but giggle, too. This was by far the boldest I had ever become.
"I… see…" Hiccup replied. "Uhm, for how long… have you… felt this way?"
I scratched my head. "Hmm… several years?"
His green eyes bulged at the answer. "Really?"
"Yes, really," I assured, nodding.
"Oh…" Hiccup looked away again.
This was the time. I ensured I sat upright and proud. I looked at Hiccup with a serious look and took a deep breath. Hiccup noticed my movement, looking back at me curiously.
"... I love you, Hiccup."
At an instant, the Viking's face grew even redder. Hiccup very much noticed this and faced elsewhere to hide it.
I would be lying if I said I was not enjoying the Viking's embarrassment.
Without looking back at me, Hiccup responded, "You look so serious, Anna, as if you're about to scold me."
"That's because I am," I said. "I'm serious... Do you share my feelings?"
Once again, another pause. I merely waited for a response by staring at him and fidgeting my glass of water.
Not long after, he turned to me slowly, but his eyes had not met mine just yet.
"Anna… I appreciate your effort to… show… your… um… feelings," he said.
Hiccup finally looked up to me. "Will you… give me some time?"
A tiny bit of myself was disappointed. My selfish side wanted an answer right now. Deep inside I wanted to be more selfish and made him become my love partner. However, that was not me. It was a fair answer and I was going to treat him fairly.
"O-Of course! You have all the time in the world," I answered.
"Thank you," was his response. Hiccup then turned away again. This time, I saw a hint of emotion. He looked upset. Or stressed.
"Hiccup… do you hate me? I'm sorry that I had to kiss you–"
"No, no!" Hiccup quickly turned back to me. "It's fine. You're okay. I'm okay. Everything's okay. I could never hate you."
The reply relieved me a little.
"I just need some time to process everything and… compose a… proper response," Hiccup said.
"That sounds so formal," I responded.
"You're fine with formal, right?" He answered. "For someone like you and your background…"
I nodded. "I'm fine with formal. Let's consider this as a matter between two countries."
Hiccup laughed at it. I was glad that my joke landed okay-ish.
We were silent once again. I took it that it was my time to leave him and provide some privacy. Thus, I picked up my plate and my glass and stood up.
"Well, I'll be taking my leave. Again, take your time, Hicc," I excused myself. He followed me by standing up as well.
"Right, right… Again, thank you Anna," Hiccup said. I did not quite catch what he meant by that.
"For what?"
"For… mustering up the courage to reveal your feelings!" He ended it with an awkward chuckle. "It must've taken a lot of time to braven up."
"Yeaaah… it did take some time, eheheh…" It did not. I did not even have a plan.
"Come here."
Hiccup invited and opened his arms for a hug. I was caught by surprise, but I very much welcomed it. I put away my plate and glass and hugged him.
I wanted to use the opportunity as efficiently as I could. Thus, I buried my face in his shoulder once again and caressed his back. His left hand reached for my hair to stroke it gently and his right one on my back. Drawn by his physique, I tightened my grasp on him. He was lucky to not see me smiling like a dork.
We embraced each other for a good while before letting go. That was when I noticed the warm smile on his lips. The lips that I smooched. What?
The Viking and I held a staring contest that lasted for a few seconds. I took my loss and grabbed my plate and glass again. "See you later," I excused.
"See you," Hiccup responded.
With that, I left the room, feeling giddy with butterflies in my stomach.
Please kindly review :) it's what keeps me going with this story. Thank you.