Too long… much too long.

A Ruffnut To Crack

Chapter Nine - The Way I Felt

I knocked twice on the door of the Thorston residence and waited patiently, my heart was pounding faster than a drum as the door opened and revealed the blonde beauty I was so enamoured with.

"Evening Milady, are you ready for tonight?".

Ruffnut smirked as she pulled me in for a kiss, for a tough-as-nails viking she kissed tenderly and it never failed to make me weak at my knees and this was putting into consideration my seasoned sea legs from sailing for so long. "I missed you Al, and I can't wait for tonight, just come in and sit down, I won't be too long." I smirked as I stepped into the familiar living room of her house and made myself comfortable, she went quickly upstairs. I had been sitting for two minutes before Tuffnut walked into the room.

"Al!" He shouted, I stood up and shook his hand and did our routine head butt, which I had gotten used to, honestly it didn't even hurt anymore.

"Tuff." I said with enthusiasm. "Always a pleasure, do you and Fishleg's remember your roles for tonights surprise?".

Tuff laughed. "S'alright, its all good Al, I actually listened the second time you explained everything."

I curved a smile as he said this, his quirks and short attention span amused me greatly. "Good man, and thank you, I really mean this Tuffnut, thank you for helping me out with this, I know this is your sister, but she really makes me happy."

I always wondered how Tuff felt about me and Ruff because he never said anything good or bad about what we both shared, I wondered if he cared or not. Tuft shrugged. "You're a good guy, and you're part of the Hooligans, I trust you to be kind and respectful to her, not because of what I'll do if you don't, but what she will do."

We both stood silent before bursting out laughing, I'd get my beating first hand from Ruffnut if everything went badly before Tuff would have a chance to throw any punches. "True, my friend, true, Im happy you approve of this."

Tuff nodded. "Of course I do, now can we run by what I do again? I forgot." My smile turned to a look of irritation as he said this.

"Gotcha!." Tuff then yelled. I smiled again, he really was a muppet, but a good muppet.

Ruffnut then came down the stairs from her room, with a small rucksack. "Im ready," She chirped happily as she walked to the door. "Come on lets go."

I patted Tuffnut on the shoulder and said. "See you later buddy." Tuff winked as Ruff pulled me out of the door. I couldn't wait to give her the surprise I had in store for tonight.

(—)

It took around 20 minutes to walk to the historic hollow where Hiccup had first befriended Toothless and it was time for me to leave my own mark of history on this beautiful patch of lush, green land. I set up the small picnic that Hiccup helped me prepare, it consisted of cooked fish, beef sandwiches and a few apples, there was even some iced cake that Stoic had made, he claimed that it was the only food he could never burn as the recipe was written by Hiccups mother, and he makes sure every cake it made as perfectly as she would have always made it, that thought always made me smile.

My parents back in England had a similar sort of recipe for their own cake which was superb tasting and easier to make, me and Gerald always loved to take it with us on voyages when we sailed together, I realised I had been daydreaming when Ruffnut nudged me gently in my side.

"Al, come on Im starving, lets eat." She said all too eagerly, I famed myself for my appetite, but this girl had me beat hands down in the scoffing department, between the two of us and in less than 5 minutes we had eaten all the sandwiches, the fish and the apples, I asked if we could save the cake for later, that of which she agreed to do.

It was getting late as I knew the surprise would soon be hovering overhead. "Ruffnut Thorston." I said with an air of confidence. "Do you have any idea of how much you mean to me?" She smiled as she put her head on my shoulder.

"We've talked about how we feel before, silly." Ruff said teasingly. "But I never get tired of talking about it again, especially in that charming accent of yours." Now it was my turn to blush, I never got much in terms of compliments about my voice, I was from North-West England so our accents can be considered rough around the edges, at least to other Englishmen.

"I can't listen to yours without melting either my dear." I was using every classy compliment I could think of, crikey what am I doing? Alexander, she already cares for you, and the surprise is here!

"Ruffnut, look up." I said quickly, we both looked up into the evening sky as a Zippleback and a Gronkle flew overhead, they started to breath their fire, Tuffnut used Barf and Belch to make a shape as Horrorcow used her fire to make the shape bigger.

While I was initially worried about how this would turn out, I was relieved as Ruffnut feasted her eyes on a giant, pink heart made of dragon fire. I think I could see tears in her eyes as she threw her arms around me and gave me the strongest, most vice-like hug I had ever been given, I gave her the same strong hug back, I felt her voice in my left ear as she whispered. "No one has ever made me feel as happy as you Alex, I love you so much." It made me feel content to hear her speak those words as the giant sky heart remained in the sky slowly fading.

"That giant heart may fade, but my love won't Ruffnut, I love you too, I want you to never forget that." I had never meant something more than what I had just told this magnificent viking angel, she was mine and I would never let her go.

We didn't go back to our respective beds that night, we ate half of the cake, we just stayed lying on our picnic blanket, curled up in each others arms, I woke in the morning while Ruffnut was still fast asleep, she looked so innocent when she slept, as opposed to when she was awake, so I picked her up in my arms and carried her from the hollow back to her house, Tuffnut took her off me and put her to bed. "I owe you so many flagons of mead Tuff, Fishlegs too." I said with a giant smile.

Tuff grinned evilly at the thought of all the mead he could drink. "Later dude, but for now she needs rest, and so do you, I'll see you later."

I nodded. "Likewise." As the door closed, I walked slowly to the dragon training arena, Neptune was sleeping soundly in his cage, I stroked him gently on his nose as he woke up, he seemed happy to see me. "Hey buddy, hope you are doing ok, I took the other half of the cake out of my satchel and let him snap it up greedily, he purred in response. "Saved that other half just for you, now come on, you need to stretch your wings." I unlocked the cage and climbed onto his back, when we started flying together I used vocal cues to help Neptune with his direction and attack. "Neptune, up!" I said sternly as he shot out of the arena and into the air.

As it was early morning, the sun had just began to rise and I must say, the view never got old, I fell in love with it over and over again, one more great reason to get up early in the morning, Neptune enjoyed the morning flying we did as much as me, we did it for an hour or so before we touched back down in the arena. "Neptune, land!" This time he landed with more panache, and I even kept my balance, I jumped off his back and patted him on his side. "You learn faster than I do Neptune, I hope a place in the stables gets built soon, I don't like leaving you in here." Neptune purred again as he went back into his cage. "Just be patient bud, it won't be too long." I left the arena and went back to the chiefs house for some breakfast, hopefully not black and charred, why Hiccups mother didn't write a breakfast recipe as well, then maybe Stoic would have more incentive not to cremate the fish….

Im back, and Im not going anywhere…..