Accidental Fiancé

16: HABS

Sixteen: HABS

"We've had a request for a live interview on the 'Ron the Viking Show'," Heather told the couple the next morning over breakfast. Hiccup had realised that she came over every morning so he had started making her breakfast as well as Astrid's porridge. Heather preferred bacon and scrambled eggs so she was hoovering her way through her plateful as she scanned her emails. "They've pencilled you in for the evening of Friday next week..."

"Can't do it," Astrid said flatly. "Away match on Saturday. Coach doesn't allow anything but Team Hotel the night before away matches. And that's a late programme. I wouldn't get home until midnight even if I was in Archi." Heather nodded. She had her own qualms about the request, for Ron the Viking was renowned as the meanest interviewer in the Archipelago, a man who ran his chat show by humiliating and taunting his guests usually to make himself look smart-and garner headlines of this show. Even with her preference for publicity to maximise the opportunity that the 'engagement' created, she wouldn't have suggested the show for her friend.

"I'll explain that to them," she promised. "Anyway-you have the match today, Ast! What can we expect?" The soccer player frowned.

"Visithug Vixens are pretty fierce," she admitted. "Last time we played, I ended up with stud-marks all down my leg. Their defenders are very determined."

"And you are even moreso," Hiccup said with a small smile.

"Team game, babe," she reminded him. "We have to be ready for their tactics-which tend to be really physical..." She glanced up. "I need to head in now-we'll have Team Talk and warm-up before the game."

"You can come to the ground with Dagur and I," Heather said to Hiccup easily. For a moment, she looked edgy and nervous before her cool mask was back in place. "And you'll be able to meet the other HABS."

"HABS?" Hiccup asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Well, you know how male soccer players have WAGS? Wives and Girlfriends?" Astrid asked him with an amused look in her eyes.

"Um...no. I was not aware of that," he admitted as she grinned.

"Well, we have HABS. Husbands and Boyfriends." He paused and then raised a finger.

"And where do fiancés fit in that acronym?" he asked teasingly.

"Lemme see-probably halfway between H and B," Astrid replied playfully.

"Actually, halfway between B and H is E, not F," Hiccup pointed out with a smirk. "F is closer to H."

"Which is as it should be," Astrid told him, rising to her feet and draining the last few drops of her fruit smoothie from her glass. She pecked a kiss on Hiccup's cheek before he could respond and then grabbed her hoodie and bag, heading for the door.

"Good luck, Ast!" Heather called after her as she opened the door.

"Good luck, Milady," Hiccup called. She grinned.

"I'll need it," she smirked and slammed the door. Immediately, the smile fell from his face and he rose and quietly cleared away Astrid's plate and glass, running hot water to wash them up.

"You know you don't have to do that," Heather told him, watching him closely. He shrugged.

"Don't contribute much more, to be honest," he said dully, scrubbing the bowl thoroughly. "I mean, I'm just here for eye-candy, aren't I?" Heather laughed and he turned round. "So what's funny?"

"Oh my Thor-you think you're arm candy? You should see the specimens in the HABS box," she chuckled. "I know Dagur is super-thrilled you're going to be there because I think he's really lonely when we go to support Ast."