HTTYD: You Don't Know the Meaning of "Nice"? (Hiccstrid)

Chapter 47

Astrid's P.O.V.

I looked at my clock to see that it was 5:30. I threw the blanket off me and got up before going to my desk. I pulled my dad's letter from the drawer and read it for the 100th time.

Astrid,
Your mother and I want to apologize for everything. We would really like to apologize in person, but all we know is that you live in Berk and work at the Dragon Wing. If you're as interested in meeting us as we are you, please meet us in front of City Hall on the 30th. If you want us to stay out of your life after, we will. We just ask that you give us a chance.

Your father, Sven Hollerkey

I put it down and rubbed my forehead. I put it back in the envelope and stuff it back in the drawer before going to my closet and putting on my running clothes. I then write Hiccup a note, telling him that I went on a run and was going straight to school, before sticking it to my door. I grab my bag and put my hair in a pony tail as I walked down the stairs.

At school

I went to the locker room and turned on a shower before washing my body to get the scent of frozen sweat off. When I'm done, I dry off and change before wrapping my hair in a towel. I put the towel I used on my body in the hamper before going to my bag to see a text from Hiccup.

H: Hey, want me to bring you some breakfast or something?

A: No, thank you. I'm not very hungry.

H: Bagel? Muffin? Left over pizza?

A: No, Hiccup. I'm fine. 

I put my phone away and put my bag on my shoulder before going to my locker. I looked at a clock to realize that I had the school to myself for an hour yet. I put my bag in my locker and leaned my back against the door with a sigh.

"What to do, what to do," I mutter as I look up and down the hall. Suddenly, I heard a crash from the commons and went to the lunch room to see a man dressed in black tripping over chairs. "Hey, who are you?! The school's closed!" I shout and he froze, looking at me and turning my blood to ice. I was about to run to call someone but I heard a click before screaming in agony. I felt the bullet tear my skin open and it felt like it shattered my shoulder. I fell against a pillar as the blood spilled from the hole, my muscles flaming, my mind fogging, voice shrieking. Suddenly, something snapped over my mouth, muffling my screams.

"Here's what's gonna happen, *****," a deep, menacing voice sneers in my ear as the barrel of a gun is put to my temple, "You're going to stay quiet. I'm going to break what I want to break. And when people start showing up, you're not going to tell them anything. Got it?" His voice was soft on the last sentence but I couldn't respond with anything more than a pained cry. "Good," he hissed before walking down the hall. My eyes started drooping as my body became numb. When they opened again, Hiccup's wide eyes were staring at me worriedly.

"Astrid?" his voice echoed in my ears. "She's awake!" he cried and next thing I knew, people were swarming me, pushing him back as he shouted protests. Someone shined a light in my eye before everything went black again.

One hour later

I woke up in a white room, a steady beeping sounding on the edge of my vision. I looked at my injured shoulder to see that it was wrapped in a bandage that wasn't white. "She is my girlfriend! Let me through, right now!" a voice screams from the hall.

"I'm sorry, sir, she can't see any-" the second voice is cut off when Hiccup bursts through the door and runs to my bedside.

"Astrid!" he cried as he grabbed my hand and pressed it to his lips

"Ow! Ow, ow! Bad one, bad one!" I cry and he quickly releases it for me to gasp in relief. He wrapped me in a gentle hug, burying his face in my hair as he caressed my head. I wrapped my good arm around him as his ragged breathing filled my ears. "What time is it?" I sigh in slight pain.

"10:00. You've been out for over an hour," his voice was hoarse and quiet. It was now that I notice how different this embrace felt from all the other times he's done it. Not just because he was acting on impulse...there was something wrong. Hiccup felt far. As if something happened that dimmed his image of me.

"What's wrong?" I ask after a pause. He pulled away and cupped my cheek before looking me in the eye. His gaze was troubled and he looked like he wanted to do something I wasn't ready for.

"I'll tell you when you're better. I think you have enough on your plate as it is," he whispers.

"Tell me now. I can take it," I tell him.

"You sure?"

"You know what I've been through...most of it--I can take it," I repeat.

"Okay. That shooter...he..." he took a deep breath as he rubbed my hand comfortingly, "He raped you." I stared at him before realizing that there was an unpleasant feeling running along my body. "When I found you, your pants were at your ankles and slightly wet," he continues.

"Huh..."

Saturday

I get back on the job on Monday, Hiccup brought me home yesterday afternoon. Right now, I was laying in bed, staring at the ceiling as I layed on my good shoulder. It was 9:30 and I still haven't gotten out of bed. I've been at this for an hour now. Suddenly, a knock sounds at my door. "Astrid? Are you awake yet?" Hiccup's voice calls softly.

"Yeah, come on in," I called before he opened the door and walked toward my bed. He put his hands in his pockets and a soft smile played on his lips as he gazed at me. I looked up to see his eyes covered in light sorrow.

"You okay?" he asks, standing at my bedside and brushing my bangs behind my ear.

"No," I groan, burying my face in my blanket. I heard him sigh before my bed rocked as he gently rolled over my body and layed behind me. He wrapped his arm around me and I pushed myself to his chest. "I don't wanna leave my room," I whined, tears welling in my eyes.

"Why not, my little warrior?" Hiccup asked after tenderly kissing my neck.

"Because every time I leave my room, something happens. And it's always bad. I should just learn to stay in my place," I say as he rests his chin in the crook of my neck.

"That doesn't mean you can stay in your room. But, I'll admit, I'm worried about something else happening to you, too. So, can you promise me something?" he asks softly, his breath tickling my ear.

"Depends what it is," I say as he lets his finger softly skim my shoulder, making the skin tingle.

"Promise that you'll leave your room this weekend, but not the house unless I'm with you," he orders gently.

"Do I have to leave my room?" I ask.

"You can't stay in bed all weekend, Astrid," he says, making me sigh.

"Okay, fine," I whisper before he kisses my neck and stands up.

"Meet me downstairs in 30?" he asks and I nod before he smiled at me and he walked out.