Hiccup and Astrid

long time ago part 2

Then stoick memories brought him back to the time when his son was about twelve years old.
....
"Argh! Yah!" Snotlout grunted loudly, checking to see if Astrid was watching him be manly in his opinion. Unfortunately, his show-offy wooden sword moves did not catch her attention like he wanted it to. Oddly, her gaze was fixed on Hiccup.
Angry with frustration, Snotlout rammed the wooden sword straight into Hiccup's ribs. He was grinning widely and puffing out his chest when he saw the wimpy boy buckle.
Hiccup doubled over, his two hands clutching the area of which the sword had poked him. He felt a sudden dampness reach his hands. Looking down, he saw that he was bleeding.
Coughing, Hiccup stood.
"I've got to go," he said, and began to limp away. Snotlout was obviously relishing in his discomfort. But that macho-ness soon disappeared when he saw Astrid stand.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Snotlout said, with a tinge of threat in his tone. Astrid just looked at him, and turned away, leaving him there baffled at her actions.
"Smooth."
snorted Tuffnut, with a hint of amusement.
Stoick watched his son scramble up the hill from a window at the top of the house. Of course he wanted his son to toughen up and fight accordingly with wooden swords, but Snotlout had obviously played the unfair card. Absentmindedly he turned, just in time to see his son push the door open with a blood-covered hand.
"Son? Are you alright?"
Stoick crouched down to get a better look.
"I'm fine, dad," said the young Hiccup.
"Bandage it up and I'll be back out there, fighting with wooden swords." His voice was drenched with sarcasm and he reached for the roll of cloth.
"Let me have a look." Lifting his son's tunic, Stoick saw that it was a minor cut, but a major bruise. Dropping the hem, the man stood.
"I don't think you'll be able to fight with Snotlout for now," started Stoick.
"What? But - but I've got to 'toughen up', like you said! I won't be able to do that if I'm stuck inside -"
"Hiccup," sighed Stoick. For once, the twelve-years old Hiccup realized how tired he was.
"Just trust me on this."
"Fine." his son mumbled. Grabbing the roll of cloth from the shelf, he slipped upstairs to his room.
Astrid hurried away from him, that uppity brat who was named Snotlout , she couldn't believe he had actually hurt Hiccup! Really, she didn't care for Hiccup at all, but it hurt to see him hurt, and watch Snotlout suddenly become happy.
It was a bit too much. The sight of blood, the horrid, mocking laughter coming from Snotlout, and to watch Hiccup limp away, clutching his wound which was dripping blood cells.
Just too much.
Sighing, Astrid reached and large stone and stumbled over to it. Leaning with her back against it and holding her head in her hands, why hadn't she just stood up for Hiccup? Why the heck was she denying things? Why was she feeling this way?
Hiccup woke the next morning with a sharp pain in his side. Blinking slowly, he reminded himself that he was brutally stabbed by a wooden sword. Okay, not brutally, but you know what he meant.
Rising from his stiff bed, he dressed and slipped downstairs to see that his father was not home. Sighing, Hiccup pulled open the door and headed out. Time to toughen up for his dad, injury or no injury.
"So you're back, huh?" Snotlout scoffed.
He picked up a shield and another wooden sword from the rack off to the side. Steadying himself in a defensive position, Snotlout grinned.
"Let's see what you're made out of, wimp."
They began to swing, Snotlout heavily and Hiccup poking swiftly, nearly touching his opponent. Gritting his teeth, Hiccup took one more swing and knocked out the sword from Snotlout's hand.
Lowering his own sword, Hiccup was breathing heavily. Snotlout had a bewildered look on his face, as if he did not process in his brain that someone like Hiccup had managed to swipe that sword away.
"Fine. You win."
The rest of the children watching looked on in confusion, since Snotlout didn't give up that often anyway.
"But,"
and then the crowd relaxed. They knew he wouldn't leave defeated.
"In order to say you're really brave,"
sneered Snotlout,
"You've gotta confront someone." Hiccup furrowed his brow. What did he want now?
"You have to.. kiss Astrid on the cheek! Yeah!"
Snotlout truly grinning now, knowing that Hiccup wouldn't dare touch her.
Hiccup looked over at Astrid. He watched her get up, with her regal posture and confident stride. Soon she was standing in front of him, with a playful glint in her eyes. But behind that glint was a pinch of worry. Hiccup looked at her intently, wondering why she was worried.
Was it because of Snotlout's dare? Or was it something else?
"Come on, wimp," groaned Snotlout with impatience. "Hurry!"
Smiling softly, Hiccup returned his gaze to Astrid. He whispered softly,
"You don't mind, do you?" Astrid just looked at him back and murmured,
"Not really." With this response, Hiccup leaned closer
And pressed his lips to her cheek lightly.
Astrid flushed, not expecting a swift movement. Actually, she predicted it would be more awkward. Hiccup pulled away, his own cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Without a moment of shyness, Astrid grasped Hiccup's hand and started to pull him away from the crowd.
Snotlout just stood there, mouth slightly open, in total shock.
Stoick watched from that high window, watching his son successfully battle, and confront a female. Of course, 'confronting a female' wasn't the exact way to put it, but Stoick was proud.
Proud to realize that someday, somehow, he would be watching those two with a priest.
___________________________________
Done