Fem Hiccup Oneshots (Mostly Hiccstrid)

Wednesday's Laundry

I did get some inspiration from Friends for this chapter so some of the dialogue may be recognisable. By the way Ash is Astrid. All the other characters besides Hiccup and Astrid remain the same gender. This takes place not long after the first film.

A gentle orange glow was cast on the Great Hall, as the sun set. Inside the colossal, thick, wooden doors, the hall was alight with life. A sea of heads was visible, as the vikings were packed onto each table like sardines. Deafeningly loud, a large chorus of voices echoed off the walls, creating a constant buzz of noise.

The riders were seated at a particular table, off to the left; smaller than most, and often disfavoured by the larger vikings whom preferred to sit closer to the blazing logs in the center of the hall. It was around the end of dinner, when many had finished their meal, or were still downing mead - too early for drunks.

Ash watched intently as Hiccup prodded a piece of chicken with her fork, before skewering the flesh and chewing contentedly. Glancing up, he noticed the others all meekly staring down at the scraps on their plates.

"So... uh... What are you guys all doing tonight?" he questioned, feeling a twinge of disappointment at their uninterested expressions at his pitiful attempt to start up a conversation. Fishlegs was merciful enough to continue the sad exchange, "Why? Did you have anything interesting in mind?"

"No. No. Nothing exciting. I was just wondering if you guys could come up with anything."

All of a sudden, Tuffnut shot up in his seat. He flailed his arms animatedly, back erect. "OH! OH! I KNOW! We should try hot lava swimming! No! We should use Gobber's catapult to throw flaming boulders! Wait! No! Let's fly through Typhoomerang fire!"

A scoff sounded to his left, as Fishlegs glared at Tuffnut with a condescending manner. "That would never work. Although a Typhoomerang's fire is hollow, it only reaches a maximum width of 4 feet, whilst a Zippleback's wingspan is at least 12 feet." He finished, crossing his arms and regarding Tuff as if he had just said 1+1 was 3.

"Yeah! No way am I doing that!" Snotlout piped up.

"Aw, why? Is our little Snotty scared?" Ruffnut cooed, clearly all too happy to rile up the burly boy and add some life to the once dull table.

Snotlout frantically waved his hands, "No!" Backtracking, he puffed out his chest with false arrogance and proudly announced, "The Snot doesn't get scared! I... I just think it would be too lame."

"IT WOULD BE EPIC!" Tuff shouted with enthusiasm, slamming his fists against the tabletop.

"Doesn't matter. It would never work and..."

Ash rolled his eyes. He had become very skilled at tuning out the arguments that he was all to familiar with, within the group. Boredly ignoring  the rest, Ash shifted his attention in favour of the tiny brunette by his side. She too, stared at the squabbling teens, monotonously.

"What about you?"

Hiccup turned, a smirk appearing on her face and voice brimmed with sarcasm, "Oh... big glamour night. Yep. Stuck doing laundry for my dad."

Ash couldn't help but laugh at her cynical tone. "Is he not capable of doing his own laundry?"

"You'd think."

Suddenly, an idea sprang to mind, making him smile widely. "Why don't I join you there?... I mean, it's better than what Tuff has planned." He hated how nervous his voice sounded. Ash Hofferson was never nervous.

Hiccup's eyes widened with surprise; her face stayed stature for a second, before she gained control of herself. "Um...," seeming unsure of what to say for a moment, "sure!" She pronounced cheerfully. Popping the last piece of bread in her mouth, she rose from the table. Hiccup spun round, breaking off from the group, a sprightly spring in her step. "So I'll see you there!" She called over her shoulder, exiting the hall through the giant doors.