Alone Together

Sneaking Around

"Let the auditions begin!"

-_:Break Line:_-

Hiccup had been led by an older-looking woman into a semi-spacious room. It had a distinct feeling of dampness, but besides that, it was much better than his room at Berk. Wait...Berk?

Looks like your already starting to get some random memories back, came Toothless's disembodied voice in his head. Hiccup was still confused on what exactly he was supposed to do in this audition, and why he would audition to being an assassin in the first place. Unfortunately, he had no idea. Should I even do the audition? Hiccup asked Toothless.

I don't think you have a choice, and if you really did want to do this audition, then you must've had a reason, Toothless's reply helped Hiccup clear his head a bit, and he was starting to lay down on the small bed located in the corner of the room when the same woman from earlier burst in. 

"What are you doing!?" Hiccup asked, startled out of his thoughts.

"First of all, here's your new clothes, the bathroom is right there," she pointed to a door located a few feet away from where Hiccup was standing, "I'll be your maid throughout this audition, though I'll have to report to Ruby if I see clear evidence you killed someone, but if you do your kills cleanly and don't get blood on the floor...well...let's just say I can turn a blind eye to a few drops-but no dead bodies inside the room!" She added the last part almost as an afterthought.

What-The-Thor?!

It's an audition for an assassin. What did you think?

Well I thought it would just be a showcase of skills or something. Not KILL EVERYONE ELSE.

I guess you have a point.

Throughout the exchange Hiccup tried (and mostly succeeded) to keep a straight face, and the woman seemed mildly impressed. When looking closer, Hiccup realized she wasn't that old whatsoever. She seemed to only be a few years older than him.

"There's going to breakfast tommorow at 7. Everyone's required to attend, by the way, I'm not allowed to exculsively help you, but you may want to lock your doors tonight," saying this, she closed the door and stepped out, leaving a dumbstruck Hiccup staring after her.

-_:Break Line:_-

Tuffnut slowly snuck back through the darkening forest. He was still thinking about the dragon, It hadn't attacked him or snarled when he got close. Dragons were supposed to be bloodthirsty mindless creatures that didn't think and only killed. As he emerged from the forest line he nearly ran into Astrid. Tuffnut jumped back, surprised to notice Astrid did the same. She had a face that suggested that he wasn't the only hiding something.

"Hey Astrid. What are you doing here?" Tuffnut's voice sounded too mature, even to his own ears.

"What are you doing here?" Astrid said, effectively dodging the question with one of your own.

"Well, I asked you first so..." he stopped at the murderous glint in Astrid's eyes, "I was just taking a walk through the forest-you know- getting some fresh air," what would she do if she found out what he had really been doing, "Anyways, I'm just going to uh...get going-yes!" Tuffnut felt the weight of Astrid gaze on his back and he quickened his pace towards the Thorstan household.

-_:Break line:_-

Astrid stared at Tuffnut's retreating back. He and his sister usually acted odd, but this was different. First of all, he was alone. Second of all, he sounded much to serious, and the Tuffnut she knew wouldn't get scared by one of her murder glances. Astrid decided to do a little investigation. It probably wouldn't bring up any results, but it would hopefully be effective in distracting her from her current predicament. 

Slowly retracing Tuffnut's footsteps she came to a solid wall of stone. Getting here wasn't easy- Tuffnit hadn't made his tracks easy to follow - another reason to be suspicious. Astrid ran her hands over the impossibly smooth stone, circling the wall and wondering why Tuffnut would be here. She didn't go around the rock long enough the find the opening located on the opposite side, and she didn't feel the four eyes watching her suspiciously. 

-_:Break Line:_-

Hiccup was sleeping, immersed in a dream. Disjointed memories came flowing and the most disconcerting was the fact that Hiccup was sure some of those memories definitely weren't his. His dream presented him with images of flying whilst dodging catapults and flying axes. Hiccup felt extreme sorrow, but sometimes he couldn't tell whose it was. Just as he was about to dive over the side of a great mountain while an army fought below him, he woke up.

Wake up! WAKE UP! Toothless's voice was panicked. There's someone here with you, inside the room!

At those words Hiccup froze. His breathing quickened. He couldn't hear anything, but he decided to trust Toothless nonetheless. 

You should have a knife somewhere...yes in those pockets you have. Pull it out.

Hands shaking, Hiccup obeyed. The knife felt wrong but right in his hands. Hiccup could feel the rough handle and one of his fingers rested on the cold sharp metal that could kill. He felt a shiver run through him, maybe I am a killer.

Now as the adrenaline coursed through him, Hiccup could hear impossibly quiet footsteps. They slowly moved towards him, and a stray beam of moonlight lit up the metal in his assailent's hands.

When I say 'go' jump up and stab whoever this is.

Stab?

Do you want to die a pacifist killing me in the process or do you want to live? 

The figure came closer, and Hiccup tensed.

GO

Hiccup sprang up and drove the cold hard metal through the figure's chest. There was a sharp intake of breath from both sides before the body slumped to the floor, lifeless.

Shit, shit, shit, SHIT! I just killed someone! This is the audition?!

He suddenly remembered the maid's last words, "I'm not allowed to exculsively help you, but you may want to lock your doors tonight". Hiccup had locked the door, more for privacy rather than safety, but the window had been unlocked. Hiccup walked over to it.

It was slightly open, and the sounds of a scream came from the distance.

A/N: 2 answer any questions you might have: 

1. How was Hiccup not dead if he was having a long conversation with Toothless?

The conversation was happening in his mind, so technically the convo happened at the speed of thought which would mean the conversation was under a second long- or something like that.

2. Tuffnut/Astrid romance?

Nononononono. Def no. (not being sarcastic or anything, no tuffstrid, you have my guarantee)