Behind the mask

Desirable

Word got out about Hiccup's new status as the richest student in Berk High. He supposed he should have expected it because Astrid had to tell her friends and though Heather was discreet, Cami and Ruff certainly weren't-but what he hadn't been expecting was the fact that he changed overnight from Hiccup Haddock to the most desirable male in the school.

It had actually been really awkward on Monday morning, walking in with Astrid when girls he didn't know and who wouldn't have even glanced in his direction the previous week were now calling 'Hey, Hiccup!' and batting their eyelids at him. He had looked startled, embarrassed and then smug, giving them all a wide grin.

"Ladies," he purred and there were definitely a few giggles at his response. Astrid brought him back to Midgard with a bump when she punched him hard in the shoulder.

"Eyes over here, mister!" she snapped.

"Owww!" he whimpered. "Why is everything violence with you?"

"Worked, didn't it?" she smirked and he smiled back.

"Yeah, though I may need to invest my fortune in some anti-Astrid armour...maybe something in leather..."

"Hmm...I'd really like to see this something in leather," she admitted, pulling him towards her and kissing him. He very tenderly returned it with a satisfied smile.

"Pretty sure that's detention," he murmured, "as well as highly territorial behaviour, Milady..."

"And you calling me 'Milady' isn't?" she teased him. He grinned.

"Hey-going out with the most popular girl in school means I know how lucky I am...and that isn't going to change just because I'm no longer penniless," he assured her. "But I may have a little fun..." She looked up at him with concern.

"What sort of fun?" she asked suspiciously. He heard the edge to her voice and realised she was jealous. He leaned closer to her.

"Astrid, I love you," he said gently. "Literally with all my heart. And I'm not about to suddenly dump you for some bitch who would have not even given me the time of day yesterday. But I think if people are so mind-meltingly shallow as to suddenly want to be with me because my bank balance now has six figures, then maybe it's time for payback..." She looked at him with dismay...and then forced herself to recall that she hadn't spent all this year and most if the last couple being sneered at pretty much all of the student body.

"Just...be careful," she sighed, her hand rising to rest on his shoulder. He pulled her close, his grip gentle on her waist.

"I'll try to be...but don't get upset," he murmured. "I'm not turning into an ass. Promise. Cross my heart and hope to-"

And then he stopped, the pain flashing through his eyes once more. He pressed his face into her shoulder for a moment and she hugged him fiercely. "It's okay, babe," she murmured. "I'm here for you. I'm always here." He nodded wordlessly.

"You know I couldn't manage without you?" he mumbled. She smiled.

"Hmmm. I had guessed," she said softly.  "Now come on. I doubt Mildew is gong to swoon over you like the gold-diggers!"

Lunchtime was equally awkward, with girls crowding round him and all called to him to try to entice him to sit with them. Worse, Lilah had plopped herself deliberately in Astrid's seat just as she was about to sit down...and Hiccup had given her a small smile and rose, pointedly spinning to haul his fuming girlfriend  to a pair of spare seats where he sat her down and slid in beside her before anyone else could interfere.

"This could get annoying," he admitted, stabbing a fry on his fork. Astrid munched angrily. 

"I am going to kill her," she spat and Hiccup shook his head.