Chapter 6
Present day
"Astrid you just went out with someone in the upper echelons of the Hooligan Mafia!" The thought had churned around in Astrid's head all day. Even now she was mindlessly stocking the shelves while thinking about it.
'The Hooligsan mafia…' she remembered hearing something about them on the news but that was years ago. All she knew was that crime decreased. Many small gangs had been driven out and people had been breathing a sigh of relief at the dropped crime rate.
She just couldn't fathom Hiccup… her Hiccup… being part of the mafia. 'Wait… did I just claim him?' Astrid pondered again, somewhat perplexed. The date had gone really well… extremely well even. He was a gentleman through and through. He even had someone return her car for her that morning. She'd vaguely remembered handing Hiccup her keys when he promised her he'd do it.
She'd been really drunk and normally wouldn't have done that but wouldn't ya know? That morning as she was leaving for work, intent on catching her bus, when she saw her car waiting for her with a burly man standing guard next to it.
"Uhm… hello?" Astrid could remember saying.
"Miss Hofferson, your keys. Mister Haddock wanted to ensure you had your mode of transportation. He sends his regards and laments not being able to return it to you personally but some business came up this morning." The burly man said while handing her her car keys with her very recognizable pink pompom keychain nonchalantly.
"Thank you?" she replied with both uncertainty and suspicion but the man had just walked to the car parked behind hers and left after handing her the keys.
"That was… odd," She pondered and kept pondering the whole morning scenario in her mind as she clocked in, waved at her work friends, and went to check the assignment sheet.
"Looks like both of us are on clean-up duty. At least it isn't inventory day," Eddie said, leaning over her shoulder to look at the roster.
"By Thor Eddie! Don't do that. You'll give me a heart attack!" Astrid growled before lightly punching her colleague's arm.
"Be grateful. Jess is stuck stocking the shelves again. I swear Trunchbull has it out for her." Eddie whispered.
"And she'll have it out for us if she finds out we've been calling her that behind her back," Astrid hissed. "So pipe down Eddie,"
"Yeah, yeah…," Her colleague dismissed Astrid's concern. "That's not what I'm here about. The date… spill… we all need details."
"Later…" Astrid rolled her eyes. "I'll tell both you and Jess during lunch. Now scoot. I need to get the mops from the utility closet." she muttered while motioning for Eddie to let her pass.
Work passed by at a slow pace for Astrid that day and when she walked out of the store the tiredness could be seen on her face. She had just about reached her car when her phone rang in her purse. Checking the caller ID she saw that it was Heather.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Hey Astrid, you just got off your shift right? Think we can meet in the coffee shop across from my precinct?"
"Yeah, sure," Astrid answered, totally unsure why Heather was calling her out of the blue.
Given the congested traffic, it took Astrid about ten minutes to arrive at the coffee shop. Thankfully her job location and the precinct Heather worked at weren't too far apart.
Upon entering the shop she immediately spotted Heather, still in her uniform, in a corner booth away from the windows. "Heather, what's going on?"
"Look, I don't have much time," Heather muttered as she took out a file from her standard-issue jacket and placed it in front of Astrid. "I did some research on your man."
"Heather, what the hell?" Astrid hissed.
"Don't give me that look." Heather retorted. "You're all starry-eyed right now but given who your date was… I thought you should know what you're getting yourself into at the very least."
"We had one date, Heather,"
"Just read the damn file, Astrid. I have to get it back at the end of my break." Heather tapped the folder on the table. "You're my friend. I care about you and Damian and I'll support you if you want to continue to see the guy but you should at least know what he's capable of."
Astrid opened the folder and Heather sat there patiently, sipping her lukewarm coffee while waiting. When Astrid was done she flipped the thick folder closed but kept her hand on it while staring at the table. Heather said nothing as she wanted her friend to think it through.
"Are any of these proven?" She then asked while looking Heather straight in the eyes.
"No. Everything is alleged. Gambling, loan sharking, bribery of public officials…. Murder. We've got the Hooligans on nothing." Heather confessed. "The DA has been trying to make a case for years but he's being shot down by higher-ups. My boss also seems to think that the Mayor is in their pockets. However, we have no way to prove it. These guys are meticulous."
Heather stared at her now quiet friend and then said "Look, I didn't show you this to stop you from seeing this guy. If he ends up making you happy then so be it. I won't object. I at least want you to go in with more information than you had. I got burned by my partner because I didn't know him that well. Now I'm stuck with that bastard's debt all because I was oblivious to all the signs. I can't see one of my best friends dive headfirst into a relationship like this without fully knowing what she's getting into."
"I… I need time to think about this," Astrid answered as she stood up. Honestly, she didn't know what to think. Reading that Hiccup was the son of the current Don of the Hooligan Mafia was something else. And according to the report he'd been becoming more influential over the years as his father was set to retire. The Hooligans were described as a rambunctious but tightly-knit group. They would close ranks as soon as they felt a threat.
When Astrid left that cafe her heart and mind were in turmoil. She decided to check her phone when she was back in her car only to find a text message from her infamous date himself.
Good afternoon Astrid. I had a lovely time on our date yesterday. Would you be willing to join me at this lovely Bistro I discovered a few weeks ago?
She looked at it and thought for a minute, maybe it was five, though the concept of time escaped her a bit before she typed her reply. There is something I need to talk to you about. I prefer it to be private.
I see. Hiccup had replied. There is a place I know. I'll send you the address.
With that, Astrid leaned back against her headrest with a sigh. Just what had she done… Heather's words from their previous conversation spiraled in her mind. Was she really doing this? Was she really going to confront her possible suitor with the facts she knew? Most likely yes. She'd probably already dug her grave by mentioning to Hiccup that they needed to speak privately.
Three years and 11 months ago
"Edelweiss… Edelweiss… Every morning you greet me…" Astrid sang from the cell she'd been placed in. "Small and white… Clean and…"
"WILL YOU SHUT UP BLONDIE!" Was shouted from the cell opposite Astrid. She looked up to see a very gruff-looking woman seated there glowering at her.
"It's not so bad," She retorted.
"It's not the song. It's your singing!" The other woman shot back. "I would sooner dive into a boar pit slathered in honey than hear your offkey singing."
"Now that was uncalled for," Astrid muttered.
"Honey, even my brother serenades his chicken better. You'd have his chicken running into KFC with that voice."
"My name isn't honey. It's Astrid," She shot back only to be met with a side-eye.
"Fine, how about Fiddler on the Roof then?" she suggested.
"Thor strike me down now," The other blonde muttered.
"Well if you don't want to hear me sing then let's talk. You know my name. What's yours?"
"Ruffnut," The other answered happily, glad that no more screeching would be coming from Astrid. "What are you in for?"
"Assault and battery," Astrid deadpanned.
"No way! Same girl!" Ruffnut exclaimed. "Boyfriend?"
"Nope. Just some wannabe punks at a bus stop."
"Wait, are you that umbrella lady?!" Ruffnut asked. "I overheard some of the beat cops mention it when I was being processed."
"Most likely," Astrid blinked as Ruffnut gave a hearty laugh when she confirmed it.
"Hofferson, you're free to go," A female voice uttered as the officer approached the cells.
"What about me Heather?!" Ruffnut questioned.
"I think the answer is quite simple Ruff. Especially since you're on a first-name basis with at least half the precinct and probably judges." Heather commented.
"But that's not fair! How come Astrid is getting out and I'm not?"
"Maybe because the thugs she beat up are too scared to admit that they lost to a pregnant woman wielding an umbrella." Heather deadpanned to which Ruffnut pouted but then perked up.
"No worries. My bro or cousin will spring me eventually." She gave Astrid a thumbs up. "Keep the good fight going girlie,"
"Please don't encourage more violence!" Heather groaned.
AN1: The next few chapters will be really interesting LOL
AN2: For those asking about the Lese Majeste spinoffs. I haven't forgotten about them. It just takes time to plot everything out as all 3 spinoffs will intersect at certain points. I would rather not have any plotholes open.