Every Rose Has Its Thorn – A HTTYD Fanfiction

There was a distant rumble of thunder that loomed ever closer like some slumbering beast just waiting to wake up. The sky was a dull grey and as miserable as the atmosphere was in the city of Berk.
Hugo 'Hiccup' Haddock stood in the hulking shadows of his father, Gerard who was more commonly known as Stoick and his mentor, Craig Gobber beneath a huge black umbrella. He tugged at his tie. He hated formal dress occasions, but funerals were the worst, they were the absolute worst. Especially when it was for a man like Finn Hofferson. Finn Hofferson had been a great man, a brave soldier, fearless. Finn had been loved and respected by all he met and to Hiccup at least, it seemed so wrong that such a good and kind man could have died.
The rain kept falling and still the priest carried on talking over it. Hiccup was hardly even listening to a word he said now, his mind wandering elsewhere.
There were so many people here, not surprising really considering how popular Finn had been around here. There were people from the local stores, general residents of the city, staff from the schools, and of course the marines. A group of them had come to the funeral to pay tribute. They all stood there, looking so serious and morbid. Hiccup didn't think too much of them but he'd never been one for fighting. Still, it was nice of them to pay their respects.
Finn had always taken great pride in the young marines he helped train and the brave men he'd fought beside. He'd always been very proud of those young men, and he had great pride in his city and country. He always said he fought, not to stop others, not because he hated them or their beliefs, but simply to keep his home safe, to protect the things he loved most.
And the one thing Finn had always loved most, always been most proud of, was his niece – Astrid.
Hiccup glanced up to look at the beautiful blonde that was Astrid. She was in Hiccup's class at school and Finn was right to be proud. Astrid was not only beautiful, but talented. She was brilliant in all her subjects, though perhaps a little weaker in the sciences and mathematics, phenomenal at sports and exceedingly popular. He watched as she stepped quietly forward to lay a single rose upon the coffin as it was lowered into the ground. Even with all the rain, Hiccup could make out tear tracks on her face, not that she'd let anyone see her cry.
She straightened up and stepped back from the hole in the ground where the coffin now lay. She wore a simple black dress but it fitted her beautifully. She complimented it with her own unique style by wearing boots with it. She also had a shawl draped over her shoulders that covered her head as well. Even on this sad occasion, she still looked beautiful.
Her father, Alric Hofferson, stood under a black umbrella like the one Hiccup's father was holding. He extended an arm to embrace his daughter but she stepped away from him, even though it meant getting wet. Astrid said nothing and showed nothing on her face as she stood listening to the priest carrying on talking. After a few more moments they began shovelling dirt back over the coffin.
Hiccup had never seen the appeal of being buried under six foot of dirt to rot in death, but others certainly did. He stood in respectful silence as Astrid and a few others covered the coffin with dirt. Once it was buried, Astrid stood again, she wiped her eyes with her shawl but she still showed no sign that she'd been crying. Hiccup's father squeezed his shoulder which was meant as comfort, but it just reminded Hiccup of his father's presence.
They remained standing there to watch the gun fire and see as a marine folded the flag and passed it to Astrid. Her hands shook slightly as she took it, but she stood steady as rock and fearless as her uncle as she took it from them. Then she turned on her heel and walked purposefully towards the black limo provided by the funeral service to take her and her father to both the funeral and the wake. Her father hurried after her but she didn't even glance back. Hiccup sighed.
"Come on son, we'll see her at the wake." His father spoke for the first time since this morning when he asked Hiccup if he'd done his teeth. They returned to their own black car with Gobber and followed the limo to the city hall where the wake was to be held.
Nobody spoke much on the way, Hiccup was dreading it. What was he supposed to say to her? How do you talk to someone who has just lost someone they love? What do you say to them?
There's nothing you can say. He could still recall his mother's funeral six years ago. He'd been only eight years old then but he remembered hating having to talk to people when all he wanted was to be alone and cry. He had no idea how Astrid might respond or how she'd want people to be.
They arrived at City Hall far too quickly for Hiccup's liking. There were even more people at the wake than had been at the funeral. The only reason they'd gone to the funeral was because Hiccup's father was the Mayor of Berk and because the family had once been very close to Finn.
"We'd best offer our condolences." Gerard said as Gobber nodded. "Hiccup, why don't you go talk to Astrid, she's in your class." He said as if this meant Hiccup had a clue what to say. Whilst it was true that they were in the same class, he'd never managed to get the courage up to talk to her casually, and when they did speak he always got tongue-tied. And now, now his father wanted him to go and talk to her, at her uncle's funeral?! Gobber nudged him, and Gobber's nudges always sent him stumbling forwards and coming close to face planting the floor.
"Git' on with ye lad. She was there for you now go repay the favour." He said and Hiccup walked away sighing. Like he'd ever forget that.
Gobber had been busy consoling his father leaving Hiccup standing by the grave crying. Then she'd come over. She never even said a word, she just took his hand in her own and squeezed it. She didn't once let him go all that day. Then when it came time for her uncle to take her home, she looked reluctant to leave him. She didn't give him that pitying look everyone else did, she was just real and sympathetic and understanding. He hadn't wanted her to go but when she did, she hugged him goodbye.
It was the only time she made contact. He gulped as he approached the grieving blonde.
"Thank you." She said quietly as another mourner offered their condolences. Hiccup stumbled over his feet stopping clumsily in front of her.
"Ummm..." He stuttered as she stared at him with blue eyes glassy with tears she refused to cry.
"Oh, hello Hiccup." She said her voice softer than usual. Everyone called him Hiccup, something to do with him being a blip or a 'hiccup' in the system or plan. He didn't know what but his cousin had called him it back when they were kids and it stuck. It was not affectionate but he didn't care. He tried to make his mouth form words.
"Ummm..."
"It's really nice of your family to come." She said glancing around the room. "He'd be really touched." Hiccup raked his brain for words he could say. Any words would do. "So many people turned up... And I don't know most of them. But they all seem to know me. I feel like I hardly knew him at all." She sniffed slightly. "Even the marines, their tribute was so nice. And the things everyone said were wonderful." He could hear the words catching in her throat. He wanted to say something or do something to comfort her, but his mind was blank. "Everyone keeps saying how sorry they are and asking how I am. It's such a stupid thing to say. I mean, I lost Mum... But that was different. I was barely old enough to even know she was my Mum. I didn't really miss her... But this... This hurts. Really badly." Words. Any words Hiccup thought desperately. "I mean, I'm trying so hard to be strong, but it's just so difficult." He shifted awkwardly on his feet wondering what to do. "I know I don't have to, I've cried obviously, but I try and keep it private. I don't want everyone knowing and fretting or asking questions." She sighed again. "Thanks for listening Hiccup. And for not asking stupid questions." She placed a hand on his upper arm, rubbing it lightly as she spoke and giving him a light squeeze before she walked away "Thank you." And with a small smile, she was gone.
She'd smiled. It was the first genuine smile he'd seen since the death. And he caused that! He couldn't help but feel happier in knowing that he made Astrid Hofferson smile.

Astrid felt a little better, somehow talking to Hiccup had helped ease the pain she was feeling. She'd not felt the pain ease once since she first got the news. She remembered it a s clearly as if it had happened just yesterday.

Astrid was sat at the breakfast bar in her kitchen trying to do her homework as she ate her dinner of microwave pizza. She hated chemistry. She could never get the equations right. She glanced between her notes and the text book trying to figure out the answers. It was late and she was exhausted hardly able to focus but this was due in tomorrow so she had to finish it.
She tried to maintain focus and succeeded for about another hour when there was a knock at the door. Half past midnight. Who would be calling at this time?! She wandered over to the door and peered through the grimy windows to check who was there. She was not dealing with another of her father's 'associates' . Through the grime she could make out fluorescent jackets with black and white checks on them. Cops. Great. What had her father done now? She opened the door with a heavy sigh.
"What's he done this time?"
"Are you Miss Hofferson?"
"Yes I am."
"Is your father not in?" It wasn't about him? This was unusual. She shook her head.
"No, he's out tonight. Why what's happened?"
"Miss Hofferson, I'm afraid I come with really quite bad news."
"Oh no. Just, give it to me straight." The officer looked rather stunned by her casual attitude.
"Miss Hofferson, I'm here about your uncle." She felt her stomach sink. Her uncle? He never did anything against the law, in fact, he'd often talked about joining the police force, what could this be about?
"What about him?"
"There's no easy way to say this..."
"So just say it."
"Miss Hofferson, I'm afraid your uncle is dead."That. Right then. That was the moment that her heart snapped. She might have thought it was some sick joke if she hadn't seen the look on the officer's face. It was like someone had plunged an ice cold knife through her gut. She felt a sinking feeling, something cold and agonising as her heart ripped in two.
"Miss Hofferson is there any..."
"Just go... Please. I, I need to be alone."
"Miss Hofferson..."
"Please! Go!" She yelled as the tears began burning. The officer looked even more shocked but he left as she requested. She shut the door and leaned against it, shaking. She turned and walked away, trying to keep it together. She made it as far as the table littered with chemistry homework before she screamed and broke down crying. She shoved everything to the floor and yelled as though she were being murdered. The pain was so excruciating she felt death might be kinder. Less painful. She screamed and cried until she could scream no more, and until the neighbours woke up and called the cops. It was pain like she'd never known and no one could ease it. No one understood. Astrid had never felt more alone.

The following weeks at school had been torture. She wouldn't let on much, but pitying eyes followed her everywhere. Her father was even more intolerable and even less of her work made sense. Of course her teachers let her off because of the emotional strain, but Astrid hated the pity. Because no one did understand. And even here, surrounded by people, Astrid felt alone.

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