Hiccup and Astrid

Nightmares

Fearless Astrid hofferson.
That was her name, but how she could do this.
Astrid was in her hut that night.
She didn't know why, but there was something unnerving about the dark.
She was a warrior, a Viking. She wasn't afraid of anything.
Well. Hardly anything.
The nightmares had started about a week ago.
She'd wake up, sweating and panting, eyes wide as her lips still echoed with the scream that she'd uttered time and time again in her dream.
Hiccup...!
He was falling. And she couldn't catch him.
She'd curl up underneath the sheets and her eyes would grow wet from the horror, the terror that came from her own mind. Why did her imagination have to betray her?
Of course, she'd never tell anyone about the dreams. She could imagine what everyone would say if they did; You're losing your nerve, Astrid! You need to get your act together, you won't be able to fight if you're scared!
And telling Hiccup? Looking weak, in front of the person she cared about most?
...No. Just no.
That's why she hated the dark that period of time. It meant sleeping, and sleeping meant the fear always came flooding back...
"... Astrid?" She barely heard the whisper in the dark but it made her stiffen, bolt upright and furiously wipe at her eyes.

It was Hiccup.

"H-Hiccup? Oh, what do you want, I was..." Astrid stopped, surprised as she felt her bed go down with an extra weight.
"I heard you crying..." She heard him pause and she took an sharp intake of breath, ready to deny it, tell him anything but the truth- "But you never cry. Something's wrong... Tell me?"
It was his tone of voice that made her start crying again. Soft, gentle, never harsh; only worried and... loving.
Oh, he was so alive.
The next thing she knew, she was curled up in his arms, telling him everything in quiet mumbles, almost embarrassed... and he understood. He held her close and stroked her hair carefully, lying by her side.
He reassured her and comforted her, something which no other person in the world would have done. Even her parents would have just told her that she was losing her nerve, but Hiccup...

...He was different.

After that, she was never scared of the dark again. Maybe it was the warmth that she always felt when he lay next to her, holding her tight. Maybe it was the fact that his breath, warm and soft, always gently tickled her hair or ear whenever his mouth was close.
Or maybe it was just the fact that Hiccup was always there with her, holding her hand and fighting the nightmares back, becoming her shield against the shadows.
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Sorry if it's too short...