Into the Archipelago(HTTYD one-shots)

This Is It

song goes with hiccstrid in general but also my story ;D

This is it. Today is the day. No more putting it off. I'm finally gonna tell her. I'm gonna tell Astrid I like her. I don't know why I'm so scared. We've kissed, hugged, she's held my hand before. We explore together; just the two of us. We are each other's compliant and comforter. We are best friends. So why is this so hard to do?

I rub my eyes and slide out of bed. I dress, listening to Toothless stretch, from across the room, and head out of my hut. I glance over at Astrid's hut, but it seems empty, so I head to the club house. When I arrive, the whole gang is sitting down to breakfast, chatting amongst themselves. My chair beside Astrid is still vacant, awaiting my presence, and it makes me smile.

"Hey, Hiccup. I relogged the number of dragons on the Edge this morning like you asked," Fishlegs says as I sit down in my seat.

"Uh, thanks, Fishlegs. I appreciate it," I tell him, my eyes quickly flitting to Astrid, beside me. She doesn't notice as she shovels food into her already full mouth.I can feel my hands already starting to sweat, my stomach knotting up, vomit rising in my throat. I feel like I just drank a gallon of yacknog. I have to tell her. We are nineteen. I'll wait till the others leave though.

***

Since no one really had plans, we spend all morning in the club house. Everyone finally gets up, calling their dragons, and walk out. I stay seated, readying myself. Astrid pushes her seat out, standing. "Stromfly!" she shouts.

I jump up, grabbing her arm. "Astrid, can I talk to you for a second?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Sure," she says, facing me, crossing her arms.

"Um... heh..." I say, rubbing my neck, and running my hand through my hair. "it's just that, i wanted to tell you...." I trail off, my words lodging in my throat. She quirks up an impatient eyebrow at me, shifting her weight over her left hip. I begin panicking, knowing I'm cutting into her axe throwing time. "Heh... It's-- It's a really funny story. You see I--"

"Oh my gods, Hiccup!" she interrupts, giddily. I break out into a wide grin, glad I don't actually have to say the words since she's already figured it out. "Heather's back!" she squeals, her cheeks tinted a bright pink from smiling so hard. I don't think I've ever made her smile like that. There was that time she was trying to keep me from noticing Toothless after he ran away on Snoggletog, but that wasn't my doing; that smile I mean. I didn't cause it. She may have smiled after I beat the Red Death, but I'll never know. "You were trying to stall me, so that she could surprise me, weren't you?" she asks.

"Oh, um.... yeah. Yeah, I was," I answer, forcing a smile and scratching my head. She shakes her head at me, smiling, before sprinting past me out on to the landing platform. My face immediately drops and I sigh. "That could have gone better," I tell Toothless. He grumbles at me, and I roll my eyes. I brush my bangs back on my head, going out to greet Heather since everyone is huddled around her now.

"Hey, Hiccup," she says, noticing me.

"Hi, Heather," I respond, letting my bangs flop back on to my forehead.

"Oh, Astrid. Do you want to go for a fly? Windshear and I didn't get much flying time during the month we were away," Heather asks.

"Yeah, of course," she answers. "Stormfly! You wanna come? It could be in place of our search of new land today," she tells me.

I freeze in place, surprised by her asking for me to join them during their girl time. I catch her avoid Heather's eyes, hiding under her bangs, her only visible eye peaking at me, awaiting an answer. "Oh, um, yeah. That works," I say giving her a small smile.

***

"Hey, how about that one?" Heather shouts, pointing to an island.

"Actually, Hiccup and I already explored that one, but we can check it out again. Maybe we missed something," Astrid says, as we turn the dragons in that direction.

***

I follow a few paces behind them, listening as they talk about weapons and battle tactics. I keep quiet, not sure if I'm supposed to join in the conversation, or if I'm here just so Astrid doesn't feel bad for ditching me and our usual randevu for Heather.

"Oh, guys! I think I found a cave. Lets go check it out," Heather announces, pushing through the foliage.

"Hey, Astrid. Hold on," I speak up, catching her elbow as she begins to follow after Heather. "there's something really really important that I need to tell you real quick," I say, a sense of urgency in my voice.

"Ok," she says, glancing at the spot Heather disappeared through.

"It's just that it's-- it's hard to say," I tell her, trying to ignore the fact that she's only halfway paying attention. "But, I've wanted to tell you for a long time, actually."

"Guys! come quick!" Heather calls from a ways away.

"She found something, come on!" Astrid cheers, grabbing my arm and pulling me through the foliage. She lets go pretty quickly, hurrying off. I throw my head back, groaning. This is impossible. I'm never gonna be able to tell her how I feel. It's inevitable. I swear.

***

I stand sweeping up the stables, the light from the torches flicking around the room. Everyone else had gone to bed, but I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep. I had failed twice today at trying to express my love for Astrid. That was enough rejection and embarrassment to last me the rest of the week. May as well get something useful done.

"Hey, what are you still doing up?" she asks, leaning against the door frame.

"I should ask you the same thing."

She smiles, coming to stand in front of me. "You weren't in your hut. I was worried about you. You've kinda been acting weird all day."

"No... no I haven't," I argue, averting my eyes.

She doesn't seem convinced. "What was it you wanted to tell me?"

The question catches me off-guard,and I straiten up, making eye contact with her again.

"Oh, that. Heh... well it was nothing. Uh... yeah, so, um... heh.. just forget about it," I stutter.

"Hiccup...."

"Alright, alright. I, um, I wanted to tell you I-- I like you, ok," I blurt out, staring at the ground for help. "More than a friend. It's more than that. I've felt this way for a long long time. Remember how I used to try to flirt with you?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I stopped after we became friends, and i didn't want to jeopardize that. I didn't want to lose you. I didn't know if you felt the same way."

"I like you too," she says, and I look up at her, surprised. "Hiccup, you're the only boy I've kissed and hugged and you're the only one I would honestly let do the same to me. I don't ever push you away when you touch me, unlike Snotlout. There's a reason for that."

I sigh, smiling at her, relieved by her words. "That's good to hear," I say. She laughs, stepping even closer, my heart about to explode out of my chest. She grabs the strings at the top of my tunic, pulling me down, her lips meeting mine. She pulls away, biting her lip.

"Does that prove my answer?" she asks, searching my face.

I shrug. "I don't know. Fishlegs seemed a little upset and embarrassed that one day. When we were sixteen and I wouldn't let you come with me to lead the Screaming Death away from Dragon Island. He said you told him that no one is kissing you on your lips. Ever. Is that still true?" She breathes a laugh at the memory. I crash my lips on to hers again, wrapping my arms around her waist. She throws her arms around my neck in response. I guess this proves that statement wrong. And I was worried for nothing.

Hey guys! Hope y'all liked it! Vote and comment!

Love,

hiccstrid_lover_98