Symphony of Shadows

32. Crossroads

One minute the girl of his dreams was kissing him and the next she was running away. He tried not to take it personal but Odin was it hard. Had he kissed her poorly? That couldn't have been the reason why, she had the biggest smile on her face. He wished he had savored that moment for far longer. Now he might not ever see that smile again. Had he scared her off? Was all hope lost? He prayed to the gods that it wasn't so. He'd just got her back, he couldn't stand to lose her. So, the only option left was to follow her.

Hiccup shouldn't have been surprised at her mobility given her injury but Thor she was fast. He wasn't out of shape by any means yet Astrid had his stamina beat. His peg leg wasn't any help.
"Astrid!"
Hiccup tried to call out to her but it was no use so he kept on dashing through the evergreen underbrush. The forest was so dense that he struggled to keep track of where she was. Astrid was just a blur as he tried to stay on the right path. He was so focused on keeping his eyes on her that he stupidly tripped over a fallen log. His world spun as he unceremoniously came crashing down. Idiot. He was an idiot.
"Gah!"
He fell on his hands and pain shot through his arms as he landed. Hard. He cursed his clumsiness and tried to stand but only managed a couple of steps before he fell again. Something was wrong, his arms hurt but he could keep going. His legs were fine, he hadn't hurt them in his idiotic fumble. The gods had given him that small mercy, at least.

Hiccup looked down to see what the issue was and cursed under his breath when he saw his new prosthetic boot twisted completely sideways. That explains it. Unfortunately, it also meant that he couldn't keep up with Astrid. Fuck. He put his depressed feelings aside and took his boot off to reveal a mangled foot. He was glad it wasn't his real foot. The fallen log had twisted it around. He truly had the poorest luck. It took him a couple of tries to twist it back around but he eventually straightened it out. He heard footsteps and his head swiveled towards the direction. His startled gaze was met by Astrid's disappointed one. His brows flew up shock and he almost forgot that his shoe was off, leaving his prosthetic exposed. As happy as he was to see her and know that she hadn't run off, he still had an identity to protect.
Hiccup fumbled with the boot as his heart leaped into his throat. She seemed distracted but he didn't want to chance it.

He slipped on his boot and stood, wiping his dirty, scraped hands on his tunic.
"Hey, uh, Astrid, what happened?"
Her eyes looked far away and he thanked the gods  she hadn't seen his slip up. He had to be more careful.
"There was a Berkserker in the woods and he saw us. I tried to get to him before he got away for good but...he's gone, Hiccup. I'm so sorry."
It pained his heart that her voice broke as she apologized. It wasn't her fault, not at all. He had been the careless one, not her. Hiccup placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, if anyone was to blame it was him. He was the one with two secret identities after all.
"Don't be. We didn't know that Dagur had more men hidden away. It's not fair to blame yourself."
The concern in her eyes waned just a bit and he could see the earnest fatigue that she so desperately tried to hide.

"I know, I know. Still, I should have caught him."
"Astrid, you're injured and you just fought off a Berserker squadron. Any lesser viking wouldn't even have been able to run at half the speed you dashed to find him. Odin knows I wasn't able to."
The corners of his lips tugged upwards at his honest self deprecation. She smiled in response and shook her head in disbelief.
"Do you not have to run away from dragons as a field researcher? I've seen a newborn yak trot faster."
Hiccup's ego was slightly bruised but he would take all the insults in the world just to see her smile.
He snorted, "You haven't seen me at my best. I need, um, a warm up."
She jeered half heartedly, "I don't think a warm up can help with your coordination."
"Very funny, Astrid."
She smirked playfully but quickly sobered as the realization of the incoming future hit her. He could see the moment it did in her eyes, the guarded and weary expression that clouded over the previously jovial one. He would be lying if he said he wasn't distressed about it either. Everyone back at Berk would know that the chief's son was alive, hells everyone in the archipelago if Dagur was involved. He always ran his mouth so it wouldn't be a surprise. The anonymity Hiccup cherished for years would be gone in a matter of days. He didn't know what to do. Would he go back to Berk? No, he couldn't just sweep the past few years and his best friend under the yak fur. He didn't want to know how Stoick would react to the news but he could guess it would be with great disappointment. He was definitely looking forward to that...not.

Now it was damage control time and they would have to part ways. As much as it pained him to leave Astrid, it was necessary for the both of them to regroup and determine the full extent of the situation. Maybe they would get lucky and Dagur would brush off the information. Or maybe not. Damn it, he hated that his future rested on the whims of that deranged psychopath.
Hiccup sighed and gave Astrid a longing look, the last time he'd be able to see her before his world went to yak dung. Even when his life was falling apart, his heart skipped a beat when he looked at her. He wouldn't give her up easily, no matter what the future had in store for him.
"Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye. For now."
She nodded but the sadness in her expression was obvious.
"I guess so."
An awkward tension lingered as he debated whether he should hug her or kiss her goodbye. They had already kissed so it wouldn't be invasive, right? Yet again, was this a good time? His mind was arguing against his heart when the blond viking in question punched him aggressively in the shoulder. The pain was immediate and he winced as he felt the blow. What the..?
"Ow! What was that for?"
Astrid could barely suppress the smile on her face. He loved to see it but wished it didn't have to be at the expense of his shoulder. Ow.
"That was for tripping in the woods like a newborn lamb."
"Hey! I can't help that the tree was there-"
Before he could finish his sentence, Astrid grabbed his tunic and yanked him forward. She gently brushed her lips against his in a tender kiss and he felt deeply dismayed when she pulled away.
"And that was for everything else."

He wanted to ask her to stay, that they could figure it all out together, just the two of them. He knew it was illogical but what was logic if not the basic fundamental truth that he wanted her? Wanted her more than he wanted air to breathe? The words died on his tongue as she gave him one last smile and turned away to stealthily make her way through the forest. Back to Berk. Gah, he ran his hands down his face in frustration. What in Odin's name was he going to do now?