Accidental Fiancé

21: Cooking and Conversation

Twenty-One: Cooking and Conversation

Toothless drank two whole bowls of water, polished off two tins of tuna-flavoured cat meat and then curled up against Hiccup's chest, leaving the man in an agony of anxiety. The little cat was filthy and was so exhausted that he didn't even stop to clean himself, so Hiccup had gently sponged the mud off him and brushed his thick black fur until it was shining and fluffed up. Little paws extended, Toothless cracked open half an eye and purred until he drooled.

"It's okay, buddy," Hiccup murmured as he wrapped an old sweater around the little cat and carefully moved him into his cat carrier. Toothless was so exhausted, he didn't even have the energy to protest, fidgeting into a tight fluffy ball and making sure his nose was buried in his tail. Fastening the carrier, Hiccup rapidly packed his bowls, his spare litter tray and a travel bowl. He rammed a few pouches of food, a bottle of water and a couple of tins of premium meat in the backpack and zipped it closed, before dialling Heather.

"We're heading back to the airport," he told her. "Can you get us three seats on the next flight-two humans, one cat. And have some cat litter and food delivered to Astrid's apartment please?"

"I'm not sure Ast will approve," she warned him but Hiccup was firm.

"He comes or I stay with him here," he said determinedly. "Bella tried to kill him, Heather. He was trapped in a cage and left there to starve."

"Oh Thor," the girl said and then paused. "It will all be waiting for you when you arrive. I'll sort the tickets out now." She paused. "Glad you found him okay," she added and rung off.

"Okay-my sister has been replaced by an alien," Dagur commented, eating the cheese on toast that Gobber had helpfully made for both the men. Admittedly the toast was burnt at the edges and the cheese was more rubbery than a sheet of latex but Dagur was gamely trying to eat it anyway and swallowing Gobber's super-strong and utterly horrible coffee. Hiccup was just fussing over Toothless.

"Don't worry-once she claps eyes on Toothless, she'll fall in love wi' him," Gobber admitted. "He is the cutest cat on the planet...though the spirit of a small panther inhabits that fluffy wee body. Bella is the only person he's never taken to. Her, he hated..."

"Smart cat," Dagur commented. "I've never met her and I already hate her."

"Which says a lot for my abysmal taste in woman," Hiccup said downheartedly, gently stroking Toothless's fluffy tail. The cat unconsciously flicked it out of reach.

"Everyone is allowed one mistake," Dagur reminded him. "Look at Astrid. That Dag the Destroyer...lying two-timing ass..." Gobber chuckled.

"Yer know, I think both of you were due a decent partner and I'm glad you met up again with her, laddie," he said genuinely. "Yer Dad and me never liked that Bella and we can see she was doing terrible things tae yer. We're so glad...and yer Dad is even starting to talk about Grandbabies..." Hiccup felt shame and guilt curl through him and he sighed.

"Way too early to think about that, Gobber!" he protested. "Thor, Astrid is a professional sportswoman and she's not going to interrupt her career at her peak just so Dad can buy that mini-Viking sleep suit that I heard him muttering about at Astrid's Mom's birthday!" Gobber looked instantly guilty.

"Ah...yer heard?" he said guiltily. "I just think all his colleagues and the other Mayors are starting tae talk about their grandchildren and he feels left out...can't blame a man for hoping..." Hiccup sighed.

"I promise that the there is some news, you two are going to be the first to know," he promised as Dagur peered at him calculatingly. "Now would you be able to do us a favour and drive us to the airport? Dagur's over the limit and I need to keep an eye on Toothless. I'll call the Car Rental company to arrange collection..." Gobber smiled, his teeth welded together by overcooked cheese.