Behind the mask

Something in return

Ingrid's words rolled around Astrid's head for the whole weekend and she realised uncomfortably that her Mom was right. And though she reasoned that giving Hiccup a home was pretty generous, she had to admit that her parents had done that...and Hiccup had given up a lot to make sure Astrid wasn't really impacted in any way. She recalled how he left ten minutes before she did so he could make it to the next stop from her house, how he accepted being generally bad-mouthed and sneered at by the girls and had still continued to tutor her...and walk her home.

She smiled. In fact, the best part of the day was the quiet time when she could walk away from school, drop the act and meet Hiccup round the corner, walking alongside him and telling him about her day. And he had been calm, philosophical and sometimes very insightful when he had spoken. He was someone whose opinion she valued...just not enough to actually acknowledge he existed outside of the home. And then she groaned and ran her fingers through her hair. That sounded horrible.

It was horrible. And she was too much of a coward to change it.

But she did owe Hiccup...for getting her away from the fight, for landing him in trouble with everyone when she told Mr Treacher who had started the fight, for the party, for walking her home that night, for tutoring her, for saving her on Friday, for punishing Lilah and Savannah...

She worked steadily through her homework on Sunday, making sure Hiccup was okay because he had been badly beaten and he had been quiet and reserved. Something had altered and she wondered if the girls had said anything to upset him. But she knew he deserved better...and as she recalled his words, a plan began to form. There was something that she could do for him-and she could put it into action tomorrow.

oOo

Monday was cold and snowy, the wind icy and damp. Being Berk, everyone just got on with things, wrapped up warm and carried on with life as usual. Hiccup wrapped up warm and left before Astrid raced down for breakfast, walking slowly along the icy sidewalk. Astrid had been quiet all weekend and he wondered if she was embarrassed that her secret had gotten out. He hoped that wouldn't mean she would want him to leave...because she had heard the girls talk and knew that she was afraid for her popularity. He hunched his shoulders as he walked: it was a bitter morning and even his new coat wasn't keeping the cold out. But he quietly stood at the bus to and got on when the bus arrived, walking past Astrid to take a vacant seat at the back. He sighed. It was going to be another one week.

He was subject to more mutters and curious glances than he was comfortable with...but Dagur, Savage and Thuggory were as welcoming as ever and Hiccup was slammed aside, hissing as he hit the door of his locker.

"I hear you missed a chance to get Astrid laid!" Dagur hissed.

"What's it to you, Dag?" Hiccup snapped, his emerald eyes glittering. "You want Visithugs laughing at Berk? Coz I don't!" Dagur slammed him back again.

"What's so great about Berk?" he sneered and shoved the skinny boy back again, before sauntering away. Hiccup grimaced...and then found a hand offered the help him up. He glanced up...to see Tuffnut standing by him.

"You okay, man?" he asked and Hiccup grimaced.

"Just peachy," he said sarcastically but accepted the hand and allowed himself to be hauled up. "Thanks." Tuff gave him a thoughtful look.

"No sweat," he shrugged and wandered back to his locker. Hiccup stared after him and then headed for his first class. He needed to speak to Miss Sylvester-because he had an idea how to give Astrid something in return for her kindness. So he found the teacher preparing the lesson and he approached her hesitantly. What he was about to say was so outrageous and insane he couldn't see it working...but it was the only way-definitely the only way-to give Astrid what she needed. The teacher looked up and her eyes crinkled in a smile.