A small one-shot about platonic Fishstrid. Hints at Fishtrum (Fishlegs and Tantrum) and Thugsrid (Thuggory and Astrid), because we need more awkward love lines for these two. Mixing the universe of movies with the universe of books.
“I give up!” Fishlegs sighed wearily and squeezed the book he had just thoroughly examined between the dusty spines of its brethren. “We've been wandering around this library all day, and we haven't found anything! Not a single mention of the Hidden World!”
The echo of his disappointed exclamation was lost in the maze of bookcases. There was a graveyard silence in the Meathead Public Library, which, combined with the darkness and cold, made this place really creepy.
“Ugh... you're right, Astrid – Hiccup is trying in vain. There is no Hidden...” turning around, Fishlegs gasped. Too loud for a place where it is desirable to keep silence.
Fishlegs' frightened gaze was riveted on the crumpled piece of paper that Astrid was holding in her hands. The torch cast light on the wide grin on her face, while the blue eyes of the warrior slid over the lines with genuine interest.
“Give it back!” Fishlegs whined nervously, but Astrid dodged with a laugh. Fishlegs' thick fingers grabbed the air.
“It fell out of your pocket. Tantrum O'Ugerly, then?” she waved a piece of paper teasingly between her fingers.
Fishlegs' plump face began to be covered with spots, and Astrid was ready to swear that the reflections of the torch had nothing to do with it.
“It's none of your business!” he muttered, wringing his hands and looking around as if someone could hear them. The precaution was completely unnecessary – divided into groups, the riders scattered throughout the Library and had no idea how to find each other. “Return it immediately!”
“It's too late to be nervous – I already know your little secret,” Astrid chuckled and returned the piece of paper to him. “Are you aiming to marry the Uglithug's Princess?”
“It's not true!” Fishlegs was indignant, returning his secret back to his pocket. “It's just… Just... a tribute to royalty!”
“Not a bad excuse! I think her father will like your poems,” Astrid teased, but when she noticed how his face stretched, she laughed again: “I can keep secrets, don't doubt it!”
“You'd better be able to,” Fishlegs remarked coolly. “Otherwise, everyone will accidentally notice what looks you cast at the heir of the Meathead… I can't remember his name… Thuggory, isn't it?”
Fishlegs didn't have time to enjoy the effect, as Astrid roughly grabbed him by the collar.
“If even one living soul finds out about this...”
“Guys!”
Fishlegs and Astrid turned their heads sharply.
“I found it!” Hiccup announced solemnly, tired, disheveled and extremely pleased with himself.