Hiccup’s hands and forearms were peppered with small burns and scars from many years spent working the forge. Callouses marked his long, industrious fingers; but he did not consider them noteworthy next to the mangled flesh of his left leg. Astrid saw them as beautiful and unique as his freckles: another thread in the fabric of what made Hiccup stand out. He denied any such appeal, trapped in the mind of an awkward fifteen-year-old. Scars were ubiquitous to a Northman’s hard living, but his were a novel tale of all he had learned and all he had done; how he had crafted a new world with naught but his talented hands and unwavering persistence.
Her lips traced the old wounds, lingering on the more prominent scars. She admired her lover’s tenacity in tempering Berk to his incredible vision. He responded only with polite confusion and humility, spouting jokes of his clumsiness and denying the strength of spirit even the minor scars represented.
“It’s only proof that my brain works too fast for my hands,” he said.
Astrid kissed his scarred knuckles. “No, babe. It’s so much more than that.”
If you haven't checked out my co-author @celtictreemuffin's posts for this story and her amazing mood boards, you're really missing out. Either way, have fun with the story!
After the absolute unbelievable fact that Hiccup somehow managed not only to board a plane with the wrong boarding pass. Somehow, managing then to fly to a completely different country than intended, he was feeling rather like a fool. Yet, in all of this craziness Astrid was asking if he wanted to stay at her apartment OVERNIGHT. He thanked the gods for this good fortune and decided not to give the “how” of it too much thought.
As they left the Boston Airport, Hiccup had the presence of mind to consider the lack of pajamas situation and buy a Harvard tourist t-shirt. He usually had a pair of pajamas in the corporate apartment in London, along with a few clothes and other toiletries, in case his luggage didn’t make it. This might have also accounted for the reason he forgot the lack of pajama bottoms.
Astrid directed Hiccup through the airport to baggage claim after his purchase. She grabbed her bag a sleek black case that had a novelty ax luggage tag.
“I guess I should be scared not to try anything tonight with an ax like that... uh that’s not what... what I meant was... uh nice luggage tag?” Hiccup said as he blushed deeply.
Astrid just smirked and replied, “don’t worry I’m a black belt. I can handle any untoward advances from men. Anyway, thanks for the compliment. I think…” she said with mirth “It was a gift from my Uncle when he visited Norway and it made him think of me, apparently.”
Astrid led Hiccup to where her car was parked and they got into her little red Toyota Corolla.
Lifting up the trunk to her car, Hiccup commented, “It’s a good thing I didn’t have any luggage other than my carryon. I’m not sure it would have fit in here.”
“If your luggage was here I think you probably wouldn’t have to worry about fitting it in my car. Considering that would mean you actually got on the correct plane and had somewhere to stay.” She laughed back at him. “Not that I’m complaining.”
“You aren’t... I mean, I’m glad. You are infinitely better looking and much more pleasant to spend time with than my cousin Simon,” he replied.
“Infinitely better looking, huh?” she teased, closing the trunk of her car and heading to the driver’s side.
Hiccup just stopped completely, mid opening of the car door, and stared at her while growing a lovely shade of scarlet.
“It’s okay, I think you are pretty cute yourself.” Astrid said as she started putting the keys in the ignition, looking expectantly at Hiccup to get in the car.
He quickly realized he had stopped moving all together and remedied the situation by sliding his tall frame gracefully into the seat. It also gave Astrid a perfect view of his butt, which she determined to be a very excellent one. She was going to have quite the challenge not touching it especially considering what close quarters they would be in at her apartment.
The rest of the car ride went by comfortably and before she knew it, Astrid was parking on the street in front of her apartment. She started to get a little bit of that butterflies in her stomach feeling about the idea of Hiccup in her personal space.
They were no longer going to be in public where she was, essentially, being chaperoned by thousands of strangers. As she grabbed the bag out of her trunk she nodded with her head in the general direction of her apartment. She considered the reality of what could possibly happen with this handsome man she had only just met that morning.
They walked up the steps to her apartment, which was in the North End of the city. She unlocked her door, declaring, “Home sweet home!”
Hiccup took in her home. It was a modestly furnished studio apartment with a bed and no couch. Hiccup gulped at the real possibility that tonight he could be sharing a bed with this beautiful woman. He quickly shook the idea out of his head, deciding he would offer to make a pallet bed on the floor and not think about Astrid in PJs a couple feet away from him.
“It’s nice! It has all that old-world charm with modern conveniences.”
“Are you trying to sell me the apartment? You know I already live here right?” She teased him.
Hiccup smiled back sheepishly.
“Yea, that totally sounded like something a real estate agent would say, but honestly it seems very you somehow.”
Not moments later, a big grey Irish Wolfhound came bounding to the door and instantly greeted Hiccup.
“Oh, sorry! I forgot to mention I have Stormfly… hope you aren’t allergic to dogs.” Astrid said apologetically.
“It’s totally fine. I love dogs!”
“It’s so strange, though. She never seems to like any guy I’ve ever brought here before. Not that there were a lot... just, she’s rather protective of me. I think she likes you, though.”
Astrid smiled in their direction as Hiccup squatted to Stormfly’s level, giving her lots of ear scratches as she returned, in kind, with loving licks to his face.
I have never been so jealous of this dog, Astrid thought.
Once they settled in for the evening, they decided to order Chinese takeout and just chatted about life and work. It was the best evening either of them could remember in a long time. It had been a while since both had felt that instant understanding from another person. Both, unknowingly to the other, were secretly hoping this wouldn’t be the last day they had together.
Finally, Astrid suggested they get ready for bed. It was only then that Hiccup realized he only had the novelty Harvard t-shirt, but no PJ bottoms.
Astrid lent him a pair of her leggings as a remedy, but he couldn’t tell if she really had no other option to offer him or if he was her own private comedy show for the night. He looked ridiculous. The waistband fit, which was lucky, but he was several inches taller than Astrid and the bottom of the leggings that were meant to hit at her ankles were now grazing his lower thighs. Not to mention, they had a rather feminine floral pattern on them, completing the look.
Hiccup stepped out of the bathroom where he had changed, to a roaring laughter coming from Astrid’s bedroom. Stormfly even seemed to be in on the fun, sporting a smile his direction.
“Ha-ha-ha laugh it up.”
“I think you look really cute! Tight leggings work on you. Really help enhance that cute butt of yours.” She circled around him appreciatively.
“Oh, so this was all a ploy to better ogle me?... I see how it is.” He replied sarcastically.
“It’s a prerequisite for all strange men I meet at Airports on the wrong flight and bring home.”
“Phew! Glad I passed that test, otherwise I’d be sleeping at the airport tonight.” He smiled widely at her.
He hadn’t realized she had gotten closer to him until she was looking up at him with this face of mirth and beauty and something else. An invitation to kiss her, perhaps?
Hiccup’s thoughts were quickly interrupted by a cold nose on his hand and Stormfly’s need for attention in that moment. It seemed to have broken Astrid’s concentration as well.
“Hi girl! Need more ear scratches before bed?” Hiccup asked in that baby voice all adults use towards pets.
Astrid took the moment to wonder what had almost happened and how much she really wished he had kissed her before Stormfly rudely stole the spotlight. She could hardly blame her she just wished she was getting a small percentage of the affection that Stormfly seemed to be getting in spades.
“So not to break you two up, but I was thinking about sleeping arrangements.”
Hiccup visibly gulped at that.
“I know earlier during dinner you offered to sleep on the floor. That seems unnecessary to me. I have a queen-sized bed, which’ll be big enough for both of us.”
“Uh... okay. If you’re sure... I mean, I know you’re sure or you wouldn’t have said… er… umm I’m just going to stop taking now.”
Astrid giggled at him with a bright smile that warmed his heart. He wished he could make her laugh like that every day.
They both got into bed staying firmly to their own sides and Stormfly decided to sneak in between them. Hiccup heard Astrid fall asleep first while his mind was churning through all the experiences of the day, seeing all the places where this could have not been the outcome to his evening. After a while, his brain seemed content to enter sleep mode and Hiccup fell asleep with a smile on his face.
Yay Stormfly's in this! Before you ask, no Toothless will not be appearing in the story, but our headcanon is that he's Hiccup's cat.
On another note, I'm am travelling next week and might not be able to post the next chapter. We'll try our best though:) Fingers crossed it all works out. Thanks for reading! <3
Me: *looking through Ao3 for a snotlout or Tuffnut fic*
Me: *in tuffnuts voice* Wait a minute its all just Hiccup?
Jokes aside, learn to tag your fics correctly people. Tagging every single character for a Hiccstrid Flower Shop AU where the other riders aren't even mentioned but for some reason are tagged. Not the way to do it.
