Astrid's footsteps echoed around the room as she paced, a deep frown on her face. You winced as Eadwulf sewed up one of the bigger scratches you'd received.
"You need to be more careful." Astrid said in a clipped tone. Eadwulf simply hummed in agreement.
"That's a bit, ah, pot calling the kettle black, isn't it?" You countered. Astrid stopped, back to you. "We all know what we've signed up for, Astrid. We all know the possibilities of how this ends. And we all know it'll be worth it in the end."
"Do we?" She asked quietly. She turned quickly and came to kneel in front of you and Eadwulf, a hand on yours and his knees.
"If we keep working with Ikithon like this…" Astrid trailed off, eyes stuck on yours mostly sewn up wound. You lay a hand over hers.
"We only have to put up with him til we can kick his ass out and get you in his spot." You pat her hand. "Easy peasy."
Easwulf snorts out a laugh, shaking his head. He finishes with the needle, wraps the wound, and then throws the things to the side. He rests an arm along your shoulders and uses his other hand to hold Astrid's hand.
"Easy peasy." Eadwulf repeats. You snort a laugh yourself and lean against him. Astrid rolls her eyes but squeezes your hand.
"Ikithon has it coming, I'm sure. But we've gotta place nice with him for now." You say. "He could send us somewhere nicer though." You gesture to the delapidated farmhouse you were taking shelter in.
"We'll watch each others' backs, like we've always done. We'll stay together, safe." Eadwulf said. Astrid stood and then flopped across both of you, a rare moment of her dropping her mask of rigidity.
"I can't loose either of you." Astrid murmurs against your shoulder.
"And you won't." You promise, pressing a quick kiss to her temple and you see Eadwulf do the same. Astrid hums sadly in response.
Hi! Could I ask for some headconons of yandere Astrid with a female darling who isnt exactly "cooperating" ?
❝ 🐲 — lady l: Here it is, anon! I hope you like it and forgive me for any mistakes! ☺️🩵
❝tw: toxic relantioships, unwilling!reader, mention of punishment.
❝🐲pairing: yandere!astrid hofferson x female!reader.
Astrid would be furious with your rebelliousness. She can't understand why you're so reluctant to accept her, her love for you. Astrid understands that she can be a bit harsh and even controlling of you, but it's because she cares for you, because she loves you, and it frustrates you that you can't see it.
She'll try to fix it quickly, nip the problem in the bud so it doesn't spread. Astrid likes you to be submissive to her, allowing her to care for and protect you, and she'll make sure you stay that way. While she teaches and encourages you — for your own safety — she still prefers you to depend on her entirely.
She understands why you're not being cooperative, but understanding doesn't mean she accepts it. Astrid is a warrior and firmly believes in discipline, that discipline is the key to everything, and when you don't cooperate with her, she will act harsher and even crueler.
Forcing you to train to exhaustion, until your legs give out and you fall, only for her to be the one to catch you. She'll make sure you know she'll always discipline you.
Astrid wants to be your knight in shining armor, the person who will always be there to protect you. She may even put you in dangerous situations to be the one to rescue you. Like making you deal with a more violent dragon, only for her to finally show up and rescue you.
She sees you as a damsel in distress, her damsel in distress, and she will always, always be the one to save you. Astrid will make sure of that.
But your refusal to listen to her, to obey her, destroys Astrid's plans to have you completely dependent and secure, and this infuriates her. She'll try to talk to you at first, to try to understand your side, but the truth is, Astrid doesn't want to hear it. She doesn't want to know; she asks just to give the impression she cares.
Astrid doesn't want to hurt you, but she will if necessary. She has no problem using brute force against you, and like it or not, she's stronger than you and has more training. But she'll make sure not to leave too many marks; she doesn't want to traumatize you too much.
She'll isolate you even further, especially from the other knights. If any of them try to help you or anything like that, Astrid will push them away, even physically fighting if it comes to that. You won't get help from anyone, especially with your bad behavior.
Astrid thrives on hearing you praise her, feeding her ego, and she'll always reward you when you do. But when you fight her and have the audacity to respect her, punishments will follow. She'll punish you, mainly, by isolating you from everything and everyone. Only she and, of course, Stormfly will have access to you. And if you also have a dragon, she'll try to separate you from it. If you're good, you'll get your "freedom" back.
Astrid will make you more cooperative, in one way or another. For better or worse, you'll become what she wants you to be: her damsel in distress. She likes to be the one to care for and protect you, and anything that threatens this fantasy of hers — including you — will be dealt with swiftly and brutally.
Hiccup and Astrid teamin up to drop things for you to pick up so hiccup can stare at The fat ass and Astrid can look down your shirt
this post is 18+, minors dni.
this is all very ooc but i'm envisioning darker versions of them teaming up to bully you and push you around <333 maybe you're all working at the forge or you're helping them wrangle some loose baby dragons and they're just bullies... it starts with them directing you somewhere/redirecting you away from them with a hand on your shoulder, nudging you in a different direction but after twenty nudges you start wondering if they're just looking for excuses to push you. you're feeling a little disadvantaged here, because they keep giving each other these looks as they're herding you around and playing hot potato with you. eventually they close in on you and you're trapped between them while they start fighting each other to have you all to themselves.
while were here and the creative juices are flowing, might i add Astrid x fem!reader 😛
at each others side since you could remember, till the lines of friendship, girlhood, and romance all begin to blur till it drives you crazy
she's always thrown punches for you, and you the same. growing up both dreaming of being warriors. and families that have fought together for centuries
but she leaves, off to the edge to fulfill her duties with the rest of the riders. well, the riders that know what theyre doing
Astrid taught you everything you know about ridding and left you with a monstrous nightmare of your own, and flew away faster then you could blink. and you are left behind on Berk trying to understand why you feel so betrayed?
it's always been you two, under the little warmth Berk summers bring braiding each others hair. seeing who can climb the highest on the rocks, swim the farther, wrestle the hardest. you pushed each other to your best, and no one can replace her.
and maybe some months later when she's back in town for the summer, enjoying a few rare days off, you catch the way the sun shines in her hair. the way her eyes seem to glow. the smooth movement of every muscle that flexes under her worn clothes.
and suddenly the betrayal makes so much more sense. she's more then just a friend, she's your other half. and you're doomed to look for her in her absence, trying to replace something that you can not have alone
and perhaps she tells you all about the edge, giggling ear to ear while her head is in your lap as you play with her hair. in the quiet of your own home
"can you believe Stoic wants me to marry hiccup?" she snorts
and your hearts drops, "will you?"
"no, i cant." is all she says, getting up and wishing you a goodnight, slipping into your bed like you used to as kids
and the next day you wake to her arms wraps around yours, face pressed into your back while she begs you not to go. till her pleads turn to tears. and your hands softly cup her face while she cries. that she cant do it anymore
"im so sorry. " is all she can say. muffled between tears, and its so unlike her to be anything but sure of herself it breaks you
"for what Astrid, for what."
"for loving you," she whispers, picking her head from your hands as she tries to leave. putting her clothes over her pajamas in a rush, trying to evade you
but you cant let her, not after that. "Astrid, i think ive loved you since the first time you taught me how to swing an axe," hand out stretch while she tried to get a boot on, now frozen
"i haven’t been the same since you've been at the edge." you continue. "im not used to being without you."
and she puts her boot down, looking up at you as she bites back a sob. "dont lie to me."
"why would i ever lie to you?"
she sits back down on your bed, while you sit beside her, a hand on her knee. "i dont know why we're like this, its so-wrong." she sighs.
"maybe its fate."
"maybe."
"i think if we werent ment to be like this, we woudln't be here in the first place."
she gives you a look, "you really belive that? look around us, the chief wants me to marry his son, you have your own line of suitors. what else can we do?"
you give her a soft smile, intertwining your hands. "all i know is that id have you. and we’ve done it all together no? we'll figure it out."
"we have. all ive ever known is with you." she mumbles softly, tightening the grip on your hand.
"then we can do this."
she smiles at you, a real smile that makes her eyes crinkle and shine. "we can." pressing a chaste kiss to your lips as your face erupts into flames
and you really do believe it. you can do anything with her by your side
Should I write a fic for httyd (Astrid) or kpop demon hunters next. I’m torn cause I have an idea for the httyd one but I also watched kpop demon hunters today and that shit was so good. 😫
Pl Please and thank you, if not please ignore this. A request for Hiccup x reader, it can be placed in the first movie when there is the training against dragons, specifically the scene of Astrid scolding Hiccup with that dialogue "....our parents' fight will become ours" and reader defends him, reader (she does not understand dragons but she respects them and is interested in them but only she knows that), and defends Hiccup verbally to Astrid, just a small discussion, from then on Hiccup is interested in reader because she defended him and because reader is not afraid of dragons in the training, which is strange because she never attacks him directly but it is like driving away a beast and generates interest in him.
THE GUARDIAN ANGEL
pairings « hiccup haddock x f! reader »
✎ When you quietly hold your ground during dragon training—never striking first, only observing—Hiccup takes notice. You're the only one who treats dragons with a strange, distance, and when you defend him during a heated clash with Astrid, he starts to wonder if he’s not as alone in his thinking as he thought.
【warnings; none】
Ash clung to the air, dense as flour, stirred by each step across the rugged ground. A fine coat of soot blanketed the arena like dust on forgotten parchment, and the scent—smoke, scorched rope, and something faintly sulfuric—settled stubbornly in your clothes. The roof above, a precarious structure of chains and stone designed with a singular purpose: to imprison dragons, and prevent their flight, groaned and clanged against one another as the deep wind swept through the cavernous space.
Gobber’s voice bellowed through the dusted air: “Today, we teach you how to not die! Keep your limbs, keep your pride, and maybe—maybe—you’ll live to see dinner!”
You tightened your grasp on the leather strap of your borrowed shield with rigid edges. It smelled like someone else's sweat and fire—ripe, acrid, and unmistakably used. Have you not any shame, oh, how you wished you could pinch your nose without looking like a complete amateur. After Gobber’s ‘I believe in learning the job’ you’d completely lost hope in finishing the academy training with the Deadly Nadder tailing your butts to destroy you with its spontaneous bursts of poisonous spines wherever it could fly. At least he had the time to explain that shields matter more than a sword.
“hey–Hey, you know I just happened to notice the book had nothing to do with night furies.” You hear a cranky voice just a wall behind you, assuming it was Hiccup, likely addressing Gobber. A Before you could react, a sudden burst of fire struck the wall—a Nadder’s blast—searing through the wooden wall and lighting up the space. The impact revealed your silhouette, exposed and clearly visible through the scorched gap.
“Today, it’s all about attack! Now get ye’ lots and butts movin’.”
You took off running, swatting at the small flames that clung to your clothes. Heat nipped at your sleeves as you pushed forward, doing everything you could to stay ahead of the Nadder. Sharp talons scraped against the wood behind you, and you heard the distinct whir of spines being fired. You ducked instinctively, heart pounding.
“Nadders are quick and light on their feet.” Gobber peeked from above. “Your job is to be quicker and lighter”
Easier said than done.
Turning a corner too fast, —only to slam into Fishlegs with full force. The impact sent both of you staggering, arms pinwheeling for balance, but managed to regain balance just in time. You managed to stay in your feet, just as a cluster of razor-sharp Nadder spikes thudded into your shield with a metallic crack. Others peppered the ground where you had stood seconds ago.
You would’ve been at peace if Gobber hadn’t insisted on training you, calling you a “wee lamb” that needed to transform into a “goat.” You’d been sleeping soundly, deep in the comfort of your blankets, your body relaxed and still. The world outside had faded away, the early morning stillness wrapping around you like a warm, quiet cocoon. Then, next thing you know your legs were up and high, snatched by his prosthetic hook.
“I’m really beginning to start questioning your teaching methods.”
“So do I!”
You sprinted ahead, putting more distance between yourself and Fishlegs, hoping to draw the Nadder's attention elsewhere. The dragon’s growls echoed in your ears, but you kept your focus on the creature's movements, looking for any sign of weakness, any gap in its defense. You had to figure out its blind spot.
Ahead, you spotted Astrid and Snotlout, their bodies low to the ground sneaking away from the spined dragon. They were working their way around the Nadder, trying to avoid being noticed. Just as you were about to make your move, Hiccup arrived, his figure appearing in the distance.
Astrid glanced over at him, quickly waving for him to crouch. “Get down,” she murmured, the command almost sounding like a scold. Hiccup, however, was still going on about the Night Fury, oblivious to the urgency around him. Astrid peeked her head over the edge, her eyes scanning the Nadder’s movements, watching for any sign that it had walked away from their direction. Once the coast was clear, Astrid moved quickly, rolling her body to the other wall alongside Snotlout and you.
Behind you, Hiccup tried to follow suit, but he wasn’t as quick. As he rolled, the weight of his shield caught the ground, sending a sharp scrape through the air that made everyone flinch. His eyes widened in mild panic as he scrambled to regain his balance.
The sound didn’t go unnoticed. The Nadder, its eyes scanning the area, whipped its head toward the noise, its focus shifting immediately from you to the others. In an instant, it let out a ferocious screech and surged upward.
“Don’t worry, babe, I got this.” Snotlout’s voice was as confident as ever, though you couldn’t quite tell if he was talking to you or Astrid––not that it made a difference. His grin was wide, almost too wide, as he swung his mace, aiming for the Nadder with all the flair of a showman.
But the moment the mace left his hand, it veered off course, flying wide and completely missing the dragon. It sailed past the dragon’s side. Way past. The Nadder didn’t even flinch as it soared past, instead charging straight toward them, its eyes locked on the three of you.
You turned to him, unimpressed, giving him a long, deadpan stare. “Really?”
He blinked, then raised a hand as if that explained everything. “The sun was in my eyes, [Name].” Before you could even reply, the Nadder reared back and spewed a burst of fire. “What do you want me to do? Block out the sun? I could do that, but I don’t have time right now.”
Hiccup stood in place, still distracted, flipping through the pages of the dragon manual and pointing out something to Gobber. “They probably took the daytime off, right? Like a cat—’”
“Hiccup!” you barked, but he didn’t take notice. The Nadder roared and charged again, this time lunging straight for Astrid.
“Hiccup!” Gobber called out
“Hiccup!” Astrid shouted too, her voice laced with both panic and fury. She sprinted across the shaky remains of the training structure, the Nadder crashing after her, claws tearing into the wood as it climbed with terrifying speed. You watched from below, tense, trying to find an opening to help—but everything was collapsing too fast.
“Look out!” you yelled.
She lost balance and fell—straight onto Hiccup, knocking them both to the ground with a heavy thud. The air left his lungs in a wheeze, but the worst of it wasn’t the impact—it was the sharp clang that followed. Astrid’s axe, still tightly gripped in her hand during the fall, drove straight into the rim of Hiccup’s shield. The metal bit into the wooden frame and lodged itself deep, the two now stuck together awkwardly.
“Ooh, love on the battlefield,” Tuffnut snickered, elbowing his sister as he peeked over the edge of a half-crushed platform.
“She could do better.”
You wanted to help, but the Nadder was almost free from the stacked pile of wood, its claws scraping against the debris as it struggled to get out. Every second counted.
"Let—let me... why don’t you—?" Hiccup stammered, trying to talk to Astrid, taking off her hand from squishing his face. He was still holding onto his shield, clearly trying to make sense of the chaos, but Astrid wasn't having it. She leaped forward, eyes locked on the Nadder, now fully freed from the pile of wreckage. Panic surged through her, and she pushed her foot onto Hiccup’s face with an unceremonious shove, yanking the axe from his shield with a sharp jerk.
Before Hiccup could react, Astrid was already swinging the axe, driving it into the Nadder’s advancing form. The force of the blow knocked the dragon back, sending it reeling. The sheer power in her movement was enough to force the Nadder to hesitate, if only for a moment, as it tried to regain its footing.
Ignoring your weapon, you threw it aside, the clatter barely registering as you focused entirely on the dragon. You rushed forward at the same time, your own fists raised, staying close to Astrid as the Nadder snarled, its fiery eyes narrowing. The tension in the air was palpable, the ground would be shaking with each step the dragon took if it didn’t have light feet.
You stepped forward, standing firm in the Nadder's path, trying to get its attention. No weapons. Just your instincts. You weren't going to fight this dragon with blades; you had to be smarter.
"Hey, hey!" you called, voice steady despite the adrenaline flooding your system. The Nadder’s head swung toward you, its eyes narrowing.
The dragon was close now, its massive, scaly head turning toward you, its nostrils flaring as it caught your scent. You raised your arms, palms open, trying to appear larger, more intimidating. You shouted, not out of fear, but to be heard above the mess.
“Get away from them!”
The Nadder snarled in response, its tail flicking to the side as if it might strike you. But you didn’t flinch. You couldn’t afford to. In a matter of speaking, you weren’t exactly the type to fight dragons. They intrigued you—fascinated you in a way that made it hard to see them as mere enemies. You weren’t one to simply engage in a battle with something you didn’t understand, especially when their behavior wasn’t entirely rooted in malice.
You knew this was a high-risk situation, but you weren’t about to make things worse by provoking it further. Your eyes stayed locked on the Nadder as you slowly approached, hands up, keeping your posture calm and open. The dragon’s fiery gaze met yours, and for a split second, it seemed to hesitate, assessing you, its growls softening.
This wasn’t a fight—it was a standoff. And you weren’t going to fight if you didn’t have to.
Hiccup was still laying down to the ground, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he watched the scene unfold. The Nadder was on the offensive, its spines raised, ready to strike. The rest of the group was scrambling, trying to keep the dragon at bay with their weapons, but you... you weren’t doing what everyone else was.
A few tense moments passed. Then, with an almost reluctant grunt, the Nadder turned, its body coiling as it began to retreat, its fiery breath dissipating into the air.
You stood still, watching it leave. Only when it had fully backed off did you allow yourself to exhale, the adrenaline of the encounter still buzzing in your chest.
"You didn’t even use your weapon," Astrid said, her voice sounding a bit more incredulous than usual as she caught up with you. Her eyes were still wide, likely processing what had just happened.
Gobber, who had been watching the whole exchange from the sidelines, let out a low whistle of approval. "Well done, Astrid and [Name]." His gravelly voice was full of respect, and that made you feel a little less on edge.
Just as you were about to pat Astrid on her shoulder, however, her focus changed—badly—to Hiccup. Her eyes burned with frustration, the fire in them hard to ignore. “Is this some kind of a joke to you?” she spat, her fists clenched at her sides. “Our parents' war is about to become ours! Figure out which side you’re on.”
Hiccup shrank back slightly, fiddling with the strap of his tunic, his voice faltering. “I was just—”
“No, you weren’t,” Astrid interrupted, her voice sharp, her eyes narrowing as she stared down at him. “You never fight back. What happens when that hesitation gets one of us burned alive, huh? What if it’s me? Or him?” She jabbed her finger toward Snotlout, who looked momentarily offended, furrowing his brow at the gesture.
“Hey, hey, calm down, Astrid. Leave him alone.”
Hiccup looked up, surprised. The words weren’t directed at him—they were directed at Astrid, but somehow, they wrapped around him like a shield. You gave him a hand and helped him get up. His breath caught in his throat as you stepped forward, standing between them with an easy, almost casual determination. You were standing up for him. He wasn’t used to that, especially not from someone who he had never tried to make a conversation with. Now, you and Hiccup weren’t close, nor were you friends. but something about the situation made you act.
Astrid whipped her head toward you, her frustration evident in the tight line of her mouth, though now there was a flicker of confusion mixed in with the anger. “What? You’re going to defend him now?”
You nodded, standing your ground. “He’s trying to figure things out, Astrid. You don’t have to push him this hard. We’re all under pressure, but that doesn’t mean you get to tear each other apart.”
“And it’s not like we asked the Gods to give the responsibility of our parents to us,” you said, your voice a little more strained than you intended. Hiccup looked up at you, his brow furrowed, his hands still clasped tightly in front of him. He hadn’t expected that response. Neither had you. It just slipped out.
“Eh, she’s got a point there, lass.”
Astrid’s eyes flicked to you, her jaw tight. But she didn’t say anything. With a sharp exhale through her nose, she turned on her heel and walked off, boots striking the ground with clipped steps. The others followed in silence—Snotlout tossing a last glance back, Fishlegs adjusting his belt awkwardly, Ruff and Tuff muttering to each other but keeping close behind.
None of them looked at Hiccup.
Only Astrid’s shoulders stayed tense as she disappeared around the corner of the training paddock. Her anger wasn’t aimed at you—you could feel it in the way she hadn’t met your eyes. It was Hiccup she couldn’t even look at.
You didn’t stay behind like usual. Not today. You threw your gear over your shoulder, kept your head down, and started walking away—off the academy grounds, past the watchtower, and down the slope that led toward the cliffs. You thought of catching some fresh air in the woods, they normally have great scent due to the petrichor after raining.
“Hey—wait, [Name]!”
You slowed slightly but didn’t turn. You could hear him fumbling behind you. The voice was familiar—uncertain, hurried—but you’d recognize Hiccup’s anywhere, nervous, a little hoarse and scrawny like the cry of a newborn yak. You heard his boots scuff as he jogged to catch up, the unevenness of his steps telling you he wasn’t used to chasing people down. His voice always sounded a little too big for him, like he’d borrowed it from someone braver.
He reached your side, a little out of breath, one hand holding the strap of his satchel as if it might anchor him. “You—uh—you left kind of fast.”
“Food won’t wait for me,” you said, not breaking stride. The excuse slipped out easily, but it was a half-truth at best.
Hiccup hesitated, looking ahead before speaking again. “Why... why did you defend me?” Hiccup finally asked. He wasn’t sure if he even wanted to hear the answer. Part of him thought he didn’t deserve it—he hadn’t earned it. He’d been a disappointment to so many already.
You glanced at your back. His expression wasn’t angry or accusatory—just... confused. Tentative. Like someone standing on a frozen lake, unsure how thick the ice really was.
“You didn’t have to do that,” he said. “Back there… with Astrid. I mean, she wasn’t wrong. I mess things up. All the time.” There wasn’t self-pity in his voice—at least not the performative kind. It was just fact, spoken plainly. Like he’d memorized that line after hearing it too often.
“Don’t think of yourself badly, Hiccup.” Hiccup looked down, brow furrowed. He kicked at a pebble near his foot, watched it skip across the path.
“You’re brave,” you added, your voice softer now. “Not in the way people like Astrid think of it. But in your own way. The kind that matters.”
He blinked. For a moment, he didn’t seem to know what to do with your words. Then he laughed under his breath—a short, awkward sound, more surprised than amused.
“I don’t feel very brave,” he murmured.
“Most brave people don’t,” you replied.
“Thanks,” he said finally, quietly. “For saying that. For... being there.”
From that evening on, Hiccup started sticking closer than ever, almost as if he’s your second shadow.
At first, it was subtle. He'd show up early to group meetings, always managing to sit beside you even when the others rearranged themselves chaotically. He'd offer to carry an extra pack, pass you a flask of water without asking, or stand just a step behind you when tensions with the others ran high—as if your presence somehow steadied him.
Then it became impossible not to notice.
You’d turn a corner in the stables and there he’d be, scribbling in his sketchbook but glancing up the moment your heels hit the stone floor. He trailed you during patrol shifts under the pretense of wanting “extra field experience,” and at mealtime, his tray would somehow always end up across from yours. You never called him out on it. You didn’t need to. And strangely enough, you didn’t mind.
Whenever you were out in the field, testing your own methods—fast, unorthodox, bordering on reckless—Hiccup’s eyes never left you. Not once. While the others braced for dragon fire or fumbled with their shields, he’d be watching you, his gaze locked in quiet awe, trying to memorize the way you moved, how you timed your shifts between evasion and precision, like you were dancing with danger rather than dodging it.
You called him out the third time it happened.
“You’re gonna get torched if you keep staring like that,” you snapped, yanking him behind cover after a Nadder’s blast barely missed his leg. “Keep your eyes on the dragon, not on me.”
At first, the others teased him for it. Snotlout made howling noises every time Hiccup moved to follow you, and Ruffnut started keeping an imaginary tally—“That’s ten sightings today, folks. At this rate, he’ll be part of [Name]’s shadow by next week.” But Hiccup didn’t rise to it. He didn’t deny it, didn’t make excuses. He just gave them that sheepish smile of his and kept doing what he was doing.
i want to do girly things with astrid :( i have no idea how you'd procure acrylics and a uv lamp on berk but let's suspend our disbelief here for a second and imagine doing her nails.
maybe you're new to the village, maybe they found you on a distant island and you make trips to berk to see everyone once in a while. either way, she's still getting to know you, and she finds herself inexplicably drawn towards you even if you're not doing anything special. She notices that your nails are painted but they're long, too, impressively long for someone who rides dragons. Her own are chipped and broken from Stormfly's overeager love for fetch, and you notice her face slightly darkened in concentration as she stares at your hands.
"Astrid? Are you okay?" You ask, your voice gaining the blonde's attention. Her eyes widen slightly and she nods, a little too fast, a little too sure.
"I was," She admits, almost sheepish, "I was looking at your nails. They're so long."
"Oh, they're fake." You laugh, showing off your set of acrylics, "I actually did them myself."
She knows people can get them done, but that's not exactly high on Berk's list of priorities. She's painted her own a few times but it comes out so badly that she usually removes it before anyone can see. Before her brain can formulate the thought that she wants you to do her nails for her, you're offering, 'if you want, I can do yours too?'
She nods, a strange daze over her that Astrid is not typically prone to. You smile, and the daze thickens, and now she thinks she knows what's going on. She likes you, and that could potentially be a very troubling thing for her.
"It's a long process." You warn her, "At least an hour, more depending on the designs you want. Is that okay?"
"That's fine." She nods, eager to please, but only after she agrees does she realize that you'll be holding her hands for at least an hour. Suddenly she's thinking of intricate designs, ones that will take you ages.
You both prefer the sanctuary of the sunny meadow you're chatting in, and Stormfly races around with your dragon, keeping themselves occupied. You take her hand and she feels her heart pounding in her temples, eyes honed in on your fingers carefully clutching her own.
"I'm going to buff your nails first," You explain, "And the nails are gonna be really long at first, but we'll cut them down to whatever size you want. Okay?"
"Okay." She nods dutifully, her blonde hair fraying from its lazy braid and flopping over her eyes.
"Oh!" You laugh, a melodious sound that Astrid thinks might be the prettiest she's ever heard. You reach out, still keeping Astrid's hand in your own, "Here. I can braid too, y'know. After this I can tie it back for you."
"Okay," She hums along as you tuck it behind her ear, despite knowing she can braid her own hair well enough, "Thanks. I think it's cool, that you can do all this stuff."
"I like doing it for people," You shrug, now concentrated on her nails, which gives Astrid the freedom to stare at you, to comb over every inch of your face, "I like giving people something special to look at."
Astrid thinks you are something special to look at. She keeps conversation with you going as you dutifully buff and prep her nails, finally gluing on large acrylics that you cut down to her specifications. Filing them gets dust everywhere, and Stormfly sends it flying into the breeze with one snort of her massive snout. You laugh at the dragon together, and Astrid reminds herself not to be too brash around you- not yet, not until she can be sure it won't offend you.
If Snotlout could see her now he wouldn't recognize her. She's nothing like the sharpshooting spitfire she's known as, she's weakened, starstruck, bashful as you take her hands in your own. Later you'll laugh at her quips, snickering into her shoulder to muffle the sound as Tuffnut sulks, but now she'll admire you.
Her nails are cured quickly but she lets them rest regardless, and you kneel behind her to braid her hair. You take the pesky strands that obscure her vision and twist them into one braid, peering at her face from the side to ensure there's no stragglers.
"Wait." You hum, neck craned to give you a view of her face, "I missed one."
She feels your breath on her temple as you carefully grab a strand of hair from her forehead, a small one that's tough to braid because of how quickly it ends. But you work it into the braid anyways, and she feels tingles erupt down her spine when you rake your nails through her hair and down her back. If you notice her shivering, you're kind enough not to say anything about it, and you begin braiding the smaller strand into the rest of her hair as part of one of the three sections. When it's done, you secure it with the hairband that had slipped out before, wrapping it one more time than she thought was possible just to ensure it wouldn't go anywhere. It's a style she's never worn before, but she hopes she'll have the pleasure of letting you do it again.
"There. Fresh hair, fresh nails," You grin, scooting around to her side and settling in on your knees, "Let's just hope Stormfly doesn't bite them off."
"She might try," Astrid muses, watching her dragon playfully pounce at yours, "How long do these last?"
"A few weeks. I can either fill in the gaps or take them off for you," You glance shyly at her, "Or I could do a new set? I don't mind, y'know, redoing them whenever they grow out."
A monthly nail date, Astrid realizes, she has the opportunity to sign up for a monthly nail date with you.
"I can teach you axe-throwing." Astrid blurts, and her cheeks redden at the stunned silence that follows, "I mean, if you're going to be sharing your skills with me, I- we can... I'll show you-"
"That sounds perfect," You beam, hesitating nervously for just one second before darting forwards to peck against her flushed cheek, "A set of nails for a round of target practice."
She can do that, Astrid thinks, she can so do that. She can sidle up behind you and correct your form, holding your body to hers and breathing against your ear. She can do that, a set of nails for a round of target practice.
Was This Vacation a Mistake? ~Crazy Rich Asians( Astrid x black! fem! reader)~Part 4
Parts: 1 2 3 4 5
Summary: Finally back home, you resume your life as a professor but find yourself still thinking about Astrid and the events of the vacation. Lucky for you, someone comes to spare you of any grief you still had.
Word Count: 2.4k
Tag List(I added folks were commented and enjoyed) : @madeleinecamilanightwood16, @ladydragonpurplefire,
Author's Note: Here's part 4 guys. Sorry this has taken so long. I'm going to try and end this fic this year within the next three chapters. Thank you for reading as always. And if you wanna be added or removed from tag List, let me know.
Classes finally started back, normalcy followed and that was all I could hope for. Everything that happened in Singapore is still there, how can I even try to forget it that fast? Rachel promised to speak about it whenever yet she had her own issues to deal with.
Apparently, she called it off with Nick after the debacle in his homeland; the entire situation has had me torn. I'm sure they'll talk it out, or take a long enough break to figure something out. Or maybe it was my fault, I shouldn't have even gone on the trip in the first place and Rachel would have been engaged right now. Nick's family would love her and not turning up their nose at me, her random Black friend.
I know, I shouldn't think like that. Rachel will nag me about it if she saw me here in my office frowning down at a student's paper. My red pink has marked it enough, perhaps a break is in order.
A soft knock rapped at my door. A student perhaps, Rachel would have texted or called if she needed something.
"Come in," I said, eyes still steady on the page.
A clack of heels and the clack of the door shut follows.
"What can I help you with?"
My pulse quickened at who's in my office now. From the heels I suspected an international student and their fancy abundance but here Astrid was dressed in a low cut white top, black blazer and high rise jeans. Her hair was pulled up and her shades sat on her head.
"I had to see you," she said, smiling softly. "How have you been, darling?"
I stood up, put away the paper I was grading and rushed toward her.
Astrid met me halfway, embracing me gently like I was made of glass, like she did when she first hugged me at her house a few weeks prior. It got firmer once she caressed my back, resting her chin down on my shoulder.
"Everything OK?" she whispered. "Nick's been worried."
"No, he shouldn't be," you groaned. "He should focus on himself, did he send you all the way here? W-What about Cassian?"
Astrid frowned. "Did I come at the wrong time? Cassian has the best nannies looking after him, and I wasn't going to be here long. Was my coming here not what you expected, wanted even?"
I caught the twinge of sadden edging in her voice.
"Y-Yeah, it's unexpected but it's not that I wouldn't want it," I tried explaining through burning cheeks. "You being here is great. I think it'll help."
Astrid stepped back, studying me and my office around us. Everywhere her eyes swept caught me with enough self consciousness to scold myself to clean a bit more around here, take some books back to my apartment sometime during another holiday.
"Your office is quaint, reminds me of you," Astrid said, stepping over to a stack of books I had on the cover of my desk that's stuffed with loose papers. "I bet you've read these dozens of times over, dissected them to bits for classes, yeah?"
I just nodded as our eyes met again.
"Yeah, mostly during undergrad and downtime between semesters now," I said. "I usually just read what the board signs off for my classes and short stories for my kids to tear into during discussions. Rachel and I had a little book club during our mfa time here ages ago."
Astrid chuckled. "Ages?"
"Seven years, give or take, ages to me considering where we are now."
"And where are you both right now, y/n?" Astrid said, crossing her arms.
"We're fine," I said a little too quickly. "Rachel just needs her time, and I-I don't want to mess up things more."
"She'd like to know how you're doing."
"Why? Did she beg you to come here?"
"Of course not. Y/N, are you truly all right?"
I bit my lip; that's a simple but loaded question. Astrid's concentration on me wasn't helping with me being entirely truthful either.
"Not really, no," I admitted.
"I'm so sorry, darling," Astrid said. "Do you have plans or classes for the rest of the day?"
"Well, I have another half hour of office hours."
"Have they really be in and out of here as of late, dear?"
Astrid stepped back over to the door, peeking from under my blinds for some sort of added measure.
"Ok, I guess my office hours are over today," I said, returning to my desk to push the paper I was grading back into my folder. "The rest of my schedule is clear. Did you have something in mind, Astrid?"
"Let me get your mind off of things, let me take you out?"
My face flushed at her words; she doesn't mean what I think she means, right?
"A-Are you asking me out, Astrid?"
"I don't know, if I say yes will that convince you?"
....
Is this a date or not? I didn't ask, yet the feelings were still there--deep in my stomach, my hands barely worked once we got to the restaurant--a chain not too far from campus.
Astrid even pulled the chair out for me, an act of common courtesy right? Rachel's not here and I can still detect her incredulous stare, hopelessly shaking her head--she'd believe it to be more. Should I text her? No, she needs space, I need to focus on this myself.
"Have you decided?" Astrid said, peeking over her menu. "Or do you need more time?"
"No, I'll have the grilled chicken club sandwich with a side of Mac and cheese."
Astrid nodded. "Great, I'll have the salmon and potatoes."
The waitress returned, took our menus and orders, and deposited our drinks at our sides.
Alone now, our eyes keep meeting and I need to try and not make it as awkward as it already is.
"So, do you usually do chain restaurants when you visit the states? Do you visit the states often?"
"Sometimes I visit when Nick is here and he's with Rachel," Astrid explained. "Not often but they have character to them. Not a lot of them have good options but their fries are a guilty pleasure of mine."
I giggled. "Really? Why didn't you order any?"
Astrid shrugged. "I wanted to try something different. Do you prefer chain restaurants? Or do you like something more lower scale? Higher scale, maybe?"
Her eyes swept to me once she said higher scale, smiling to spread the beauty mark on her face magnificently.
"Oh, I'm much more lower scale," I chuckled. "Still a struggling college student at heart but I'm not cheap as I used to be--I'm not cheap at all but--"
"Darling, I get it," Astrid said, laying a hand over my own. "Although, I hope I can give you a taste of that higher scale."
I wanted to draw back, not voluntarily but a knee jerk reaction; she's saying those things again and it's making me feel amazing. I know she means them but I'm not sure why I feel like she doesn't. Astrid's not like those ignorant people back in Singapore, not like the family who ridiculed you and Rachel. I don't even know if she likes women in that way, perhaps she is and I'm overthinking all of it. Maybe I should have contacted Rachel.
"Y/N? Are you all right?"
I decided to be honest and said, "No, not really. But I don't want it to ruin the night, or our time. We don't have to discuss it anymore, at least not right now."
Astrid started for a moment, thinking before nodding. "Of course, darling."
The waitress soon returned with our food, placing it in front of us before retreating to another table swiftly. My sandwich looked fine, Mac and cheese too but the taste wasn't terrible--not good, mediocre, nothing on Kraft or even what they fed us during grade school.
Astrid must have noticed my displeasure, frowning behind her bite of salmon. "Do you not like it?"
"It's not that good, but I'll manage."
"Do you want to replace it? I can tell the waitress."
I flushed, inching into my seat subconsciously, holding my fork tight. "Astrid, it's all right. I can just eat it."
"Why? I want this to be a great experience with amazing food," Astrid explained. "You deserve it, so why can't you let me do this for you?"
Do I really deserve it? I have been feeling shitty since the vacation in Singapore, since Rachel and Nick's supposed split and since--since I couldn't get over being singled out for something I can't control and shouldn't feel ashamed of being: Black. Black American for that matter.
And here Astrid is being so caring and genuine, willing to spend time and money on me; she does feel more for me more than Rachel or Nick's friend--I'm not entirely sure if it's romantic but there's something more here. I hope I'm not reading this wrong.
"Y/N? Whatever you decide, I'll do it for you," Astrid declared.
"Sure, you can order us some fries. Is it all right if we share?"
Astrid smiled; I could have sworn I saw a hint of red peak through her face.
. . .
After some amazing fries and some superb ice cream (thanks to some convincing from Astrid, flashing another smile and heavy eye contact).
She's even more convincing when we're sharing an Uber, laughing lowly at a joke I told. It wasn't that funny, well at least when Rachel's heard it but she's heard it a thousand times; something minuscule about an old job I had, something dry, something existential. Astrid's laugh though, how close she is and the contact--arms brushing mine due to how smaller the car is or for the fact that she's nudging me--or how she pays attention. I can't look at her without smiling which leads to more of the attention.
"You have a wonderful smile, has anyone ever told you that?" Astrid admitted. We finally got back to my apartment, still talking.
I invited her in without thinking, holding her hand so she doesn't trip over the hitch in the last step going up my floor.
"I think my mom told me before? Lots of times, maybe an ex boyfriend, maybe?"
Astrid scoffed, nudging me gently with her elbow. "I'm serious. Every time I see you, there's something new. Something that amazes me."
I pushed the door open, locking it fast as we both rush inside.
"Are you sure you're serious," I said, leaning against the door. My heart is pumping fast, hyper-like all in my ears. "What's with these things you've been saying?"
Astrid tilted her head. "Y/N."
"You have a child! You divorced someone--you're loaded and gorgeous, and I-I'm--"
"You're a beautiful woman I'm having a great time with," Astrid said, finishing my sentence before the words could come out. "Is my being a divorcee an issue?"
She asked the question with an air of humor and walked away from me, finally giving me a chance to breathe from her intoxication. At my bookcase by the wall that sat ways from the threshold to the kitchen, Astrid's attention swept over it, placing a finger up to the spines of the concealed books.
"No, of course not. I-I that's not an issue. Astrid, I-I-"
Everything's hot, burning, my face especially and I can't speak anymore.
"Darling," Astrid's in my presence again, worried.
"Is it OK if we talk more? If I can ask you more things?"
She nodded and I led her to my tiny sofa across from the bookcase, plopping down on it together; our eyes met yet again.
"Ask me anything, darling," she said. "Anything."
"Well, being divorced doesn't matter," I explained. "I just wanted to ask if you, um."
Sexuality is her business, anyone's personal business that they can choose to tell or keep to themselves. Yet she's here asking me and granting me the chance to get to know her better; I can show her a piece of me that I've only shown to the people closest to me.
"Tonight you were very touchy, encouraging and just overall flirty tonight and I--"
Astrid took my hand, slid so close that our thighs now touched. "And?"
It's obvious. So obvious or I'm just idiotic; Rachel would slap me over the head if she could.
"I-I'm bisexual, my liking includes guys, women, gender nonconforming people and everyone in between and around that umbrella," I explained. My hands couldn't stay still, Astrid saw, tightening her grip and rubbing her thumb over my knuckles. "And I-I'm into you Astrid--it seems like you're into me so, do you like women too or not?"
Astrid giggled. "Darling, I've been flirting with you since Nick and Rachel brought you home. I can tell this is a deep issue to you, so yes. I've married a man before, had boyfriends but I fancy women too. Dated a few in university but--that's not important right now. Y/N I'm mad about you too."
I'm giggling now too. It's an organic head-high, almost doubled over with stomach cramping and mouth hurting. Astrid followed in, hands high now: at my arms then shoulders and to my face; I wonder if she can feel the heat radiating from it and noticed how my laughter stopped.
It just happened. I didn't speak, neither did Astrid. Our lips met.
