When I Come Back

Different

Astrid

"That's completely fine with me. You don't need to wear a dress or change your hair to look beautiful." with that said, Hiccup leans in and gently presses his lips against mine. 

    When we kissed, the smell of him filled my nose, I wrapped my arms around his neck, ran my fingers through his fluffy hair, and by each passing second, he pulled me tighter against him.

   This kiss was something that I've wanted for some time. I just didn't truly realize it until it happened. I also realized that kissing him was absolutely addicting. 

    Eventually, we both had to stop and catch our breath. 

"Look at that, there really are kisses that exists without punches." he says with a smirk. 

   At that I playfully punch his arm, still expecting some sort of reaction, but all he did was soften his smile. 

"Wow! No flinch? No 'ouch'? No rubbing your arm to relax the muscles?" I was surprised. The Hiccup I knew would be rubbing his arm and glaring at me.

   Hiccup just shrugs, "You just lightly punched me."

"Oh so that's it? I just didn't punch you hard enough." I say, bringing my hand back, ready to release the pain.

   Hiccup chuckles, "No! That punch was plenty."    

   I smile, content with myself. 

***

"Do you feel different?" I ask, while we casually walk through the village.

   He looks over at me and shoots me a confused look.

"I mean, how you are now compared to how you were when you were fifteen." I explain.

   He takes a deep breath and takes a quick look around, as if he was trying to gather the right words visually. "I only feel different when people look at me unlike how they used to and treat me like I'm some sort...."

"Like you're some sort of dream viking?" I knew where he was going with this. 

   Hiccup sighs heavily, "Yeah, something like that."

"Is that a bad thing?" Most vikings strive to have people look at them that way.

"I was already being treated differently after we killed the Red Death, but everyone still saw me as the useless little boy in the back of their mind. I could see it, but now it's different." he inhales deeply, "Now they look at me like I've fulfilled some great prophecy and I'm here to save the island."

   I step in front of him and stop him from walking, "You were never useless." 

   For the first time since Hiccup got back, he looks at the ground and hangs his head low, "You know I was."

   I lower myself to his eyesight so that he has no other choice, but to look at me," You were always important. You were always brave, smart, creative-"

   He shakes his head, "Astrid. I'm fine. Everything is fine."

"No! It is not! You need to know that-" he covers my mouth with his hand. 

"We can talk about this later alright?" I nod my head to his request, "For now, let's get some chores done." 

***

   After hours of chores, shared duties, and interactions the dinner horn finally sounded. 

"I'm exhausted." I exhale as I sit down at our usual table. 

"From the work or this kiss?" Tuff asks, before taking a huge bite of chicken.

   Hiccup and I both snap our heads up and look at the Gang.

"What? You really think that someone wouldn't see?" Ruff asks.

"Wait!! What!?" Snoutlout exclaims, but is quickly ignored.

"Yeah. You guys were right in the open." Tuffnut agrees.

   Hiccup and I both exchange a look, "Erm..." he has no idea what to say. 

"Hiccup! You're trying to steal my girl?!" Snotlout wrongly accuses.

"What!?" Hiccup throws his signature confused look.

"Snotlout!" the rest of us all say in unison.

   Stoick comes up to our table, "Hiccup, Astrid, I wan the two of you to stay afterward and help clean everything up."

"Chief?" he looks back around, "What about the little warriors?"

"I can work with them today." Heather offers.

"Actually, why don't you and Hiccup work with them together today?"

***

   After the day's work is done and the village is winding down, the Gang and I all go to Hiccup's hut and play games.

   We started with Truth or Dare.

"Alright, I go first!" Snotlout exclaims. 

"Fine! Go!" Tuff yells.

   Snotlout brings his fingers to his chin in thought, "Hmmm....Astrid! Truth or Dare?"

"Dare." I always say dare, but I really should've said truth.

   A devilish grin finds its way onto Snoutlout's face, "I dare you to kiss me."

   I notice a quick glare from Hiccup, but it left as soon as it came. 

"No." simple answer. 

"Astrid takes the first drink!" Fishlegs exclaims.

   When someone doesn't answer truthfully or completes a dare, they then have to take a drink of Meade. So I take a swig and we continue.

   Within the hour Hiccup and Snotlout don't have shirts on, Tuff set his pants on fire, my hair is completely down, Ruff has her head inside Barf's mouth, Heather is drunk, and Fishlegs is spilling all of his life's secrets. 

   Eventually, everyone clumsily walked home, leaving me with Hiccup....a  very shirtless Hiccup.