The Contract

21: Hunting Fury

Twenty One: Hunting Fury

It was complete insanity but as Astrid felt Hiccup's lips meet hers, all she could do was kiss him back. He was the most remarkable man she knew and once she had gotten past his whip-smart sarcasm and hard exterior, he was sassy, funny, brave and brilliant. He was her match and she didn't want him to go to jail...but she knew she didn't want to lie to him either. So she had revealed that she knew his name and made him a very simple bargain in return: find her middle name. And since she was officially a civil servant, her name was listed on the Archipelago website as working in waste management and disposal.

His warm hands slid up her sides and a shiver ran through her: she was ticklish, though she had carefully never revealed that to her colleagues. Hiccup filled her senses, his warmth and closeness making her feel safe and wanted and her heart was galloping in her chest when she finally pulled back, gasping. She blinked, seeing his eyes slowly open and a smile lifting his lips.

"Whatever happened to a simple handshake?" she asked him breathlessly. He chuckled.

"You wanted me just to have shaken your hand?" he asked sassily and she shook her head urgently.

"Thor, no..." she replied urgently. "But you should have waited for me to ask..."

"Then why didn't you ask?" he teased her.

"Ah-hem..."

They looked up-to see the tall shape of a powerfully built and very tall man with short red hair, cool hazel eyes and a scowl. His name badge read 'Hello, my name is THROK' and the pair leapt apart.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his deep voice suspicious.

"Honestly?" Hiccup asked him, weighing him up. "We're here..."

"...to see the Eruptodon!" Astrid cut in and Hiccup stared at her.

"Hey! Was about to be really genuinely honest!" he protested...but Throk walked briskly to the desk and dialled a number.

"Could you come to the Oasis urgently? We need the Great Protector!" he said and hung up, then looked back at Astrid. "Take a seat," he added, gesturing to the waiting area. Hiccup stared at him.

"You are aware that the Secret Service is trying to kill us?" he asked incredulously. The man nodded curtly.

"You will be safe here," he assured the pair and vanished round the back as Hiccup stared after him as he sat down.

"Care to explain?" he asked pointedly but Astrid gave a small smirk.

"Hey-you don't like me being the one with a mystery?" she teased him and he scowled.

"I have no problem with you having a mystery-as long as I know what it is," he said perfectly reasonably and she sniggered.

"Jealous," she muttered.

"Am not!"

"Am too!" she retorted and the pair suddenly broke out laughing. "Gods, we sound like the twins," she added and he caught her hand.

"However this turns out, I am grateful for everything that you've done," he told her honestly. "Really-I couldn't have done this without you...and if we do get out of this alive, I will ask you out." She gave a wide smile, squeezing his hand.

"While of course, I shouldn't go out with a wanted criminal, if you guess my name, you'll have a clean slate so I will be able to say yes..." she suggested to him. He huffed.

"You know...you got to know what my middle name started with," he reminded her.

"And your middle name was utterly weird," she riposted.