Hiccup and Astrid

memories part 3

"..."Ob course you were,"
you answered anyway.  
"Your mom brought you here to play almost every day until she died."..."
Astrid looked at Hiccup with guilty eyes,
"I was too harsh on you"
"I'm not completing the story"
"Please go on"
"First, promise me that you won't do this again"
"Do what again?"
"Cut me off"
"Okay, I promise"
"As I was saying...
With that pronouncement, you shifted out of my arm and walked to the water barrel and lifted the scoop out of it, taking a long drink.  "I'b so thirsty," you announced, wiping the corners of your mouth.
I glanced away and saw the large battleaxe displayed predominantly on the wall. I recognized it with a small smile.    The Hofferson's had commissioned Gobber to craft it for your twelfth birthday. I had eagerly hovered around the master blacksmith offering my services in any way possible, though I had only succeeded in angering Gobber enough to get kicked out of the stall altogether for the afternoon.
"HIccub?" I turned to see you standing at my elbow.
"Hey.  Astrid.  Hi.   Um." I was suddenly confused and unsure. my original plan – Get Astrid Home – had been completed, and now I didn't know what I should do. I noticed your eyes drooping even as you lifted a hand to rub across your ever-dripping nose. I thought of the old days, the ones when my mother was still alive, and the things she would do when I didn't feel good.  It was long ago, but I was pretty sure she would have sent me to bed right away.  "You should, uh, you should probably get to um, you know, bed?" I winced at the last word, expecting another attempted blow.
You sighed and glanced around.  "You're probably right."  But you remained stationary, wavering slightly on your feet.  Suddenly you grabbed hold of your arms and shivered.  "So cold."  This was followed by another round of coughing.
I frowned and looked at the hearth that was still burning strong.  The room was actually quite warm.  "All right," I sighed to myself as I took your arm and maneuvered you to the stairs. I stood behind you and placed a hand on each elbow.  
"One at a time.  You can do it."
"Why wouldn't I be able to do it?" You scoffed over your shoulder, even as your boot toe caught the rise of the next step and you pitched forward.
"That's why,"
I told you dryly as I caught your arms and steadied you. we mounted each step in tandem, though you managed to ascend the rest of the way without incident.  
"Have you really never been sick before?"
I asked as we reached the loft.
"No,"
You said with what I suspected was a moan of frustration.    It was…adorable, and I felt my stomach flip in response.
"I guess you're human after all,"
I whispered with a small smile, though if you heard me, you gave no indication, and since I was still dangerously close to the stairs where one light shove could send me tumbling backwards, I counted myself blessed by the gods.
"That's my room,"
You said pointing in a vague direction.   
"I should probably…"
"Yeah.  Um, I'll just wait out here, you know, in case you need, um, help, I mean not that you need help help, but if you fall or get hurt, or Ragnarok comes, or…"
"Shut up, Hiccub,"
You said and wandered into your room.
"Right, shut up, Hiccup!"
I hissed to myself. my face was flushed and I raked my hands through my hair violently as I paced on the landing. I couldn't believe the situation I was in.
You were sick, that was what was important, you were sick and vulnerable and I was the only one here to help you. I allowed myself a small chuckle of victory as I imagined Snotlout's face if he ever found out.  Not that he would ever know.  No, I had no intention of ever speaking of this to another living being, if I hoped to keep all limbs firmly attached to my body instead of being forcibly removed by a very large axe. I would carry this to my grave..."
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To be continued...