Hi friends. I'm posting this because I'm stumbling over What the Water Gave Me. I'm also really ill, and I don't think I'm going to finish the chapter any time this week. So, here's the first in the collection.

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It was months in the making. After that initial kiss when Hiccup woke up, Astrid would occasion reward Hiccup with kisses. Usually when he did something right, such as Snoggletog and Thawfest. Then there were days where his leg throbbed painfully, and while he leaned forward to clutch it, she would wrap her arms around his shoulders and press kisses to his cheeks in an effort to soothe his ache.

Astrid always treasured the contented smile and unbridled blush that crept over his face after they parted. She got a sick satisfaction that she was rendering him drunk with just a simple action.

In the last few weeks, however, she was becoming more daring. While the young man was casually strolling through the village, she would snag his arm and drag him between two buildings, where she would push him against the wall and kiss him roughly. After she got her fix, she would pull away, narrow her eyes in disgust and storm off. Hiccup would slide down the wall in a pool of love-sick content.

She didn't smell like he had always imagined, like a fruity-flowery-girly smell. Her scent was something much more spicy, with a bite to it that cut through the air. Every time he got a whiff, goosebumps would stand up son his skin.

He probably smelled like fish.

Her lips we're something to savor. He had never kissed someone else before, but he knew no one tasted as good as she did. It too was spicy, but also sweet. Much like a fine wine.

He probably tasted like fish.

All this added up to him wondering why in the world she picked him of all village dwellers.

The first time she attacked him it, it took him a full ten minutes to realize that there was something wrong. By then, she was gone and didn't want to be found.

It happened a few more times, and every time, she would sneer at him and sometimes even shove him away. It was starting to worry Hiccup. After all, if Astrid was mad at him, would he lose her friendship? Would he lose...whatever this was?

The only thing to do about it, was ask her. How good of an idea that was, he wasn't so sure. How to bring it up? He couldn't just casually ask, "hey what's with the anger and the kissing?" And he certainly couldn't ask her while she held her axe.

That would mean certain death.

Fortunately for him, the perfect time came much quicker for him then he anticipated. Lost in thought, he made his way to the forge. Astrid spotted him, and like a viper, she shot out and snagged him by the back of his shirt.

She pulled him into an alleyway and roughly shoved him against the wall. He didn't even have a second a breathe before her lips were on his, silencing all thoughts in his brain.

She pulled away and he stared at her in reverence, smiling widely. What was wrong again? Didn't he need to say something to her?

Astrid frowned hard in displeasure and slapped him soundly across the face.

That knocked him out of his reverie. "Hey! What was that for!?"

She rolled her eyes and made to leave, but he grabbed her arm at the last second.

"Come on, Astrid! You can't just kiss me and then slap me for no reason!"

She huffed and looked at him flatly.

"If I was stupid, tell me! I don't know these things!"

"You should. It's obvious." She snapped.

"W-what is it with you lately? You don't make any sense!"

"I make plenty sense! You're the dumb one!"

"Me?! I don't know what your talking about! If I did something wrong, tell me! Be blunt, because I can be oblivious to things! I am not a mind reader!"

She inhaled deeply and held her breath as she looked at him. He began to see a hurt in her eyes that he had never noticed before.

"What's wrong, Astrid?" He cooed.

She sighed, her shoulders sinking. "Why...?" She started, then stopped. "I kiss you. And lately it's been more often then before."

"Yeah..." He rubbed his arm and licked his lips.

"So...do you not like it?"

"What? No! I mean, yes I do! Like it, that is...I mean, I don't mind it..." He tried to play it cool.

"Then..." All of her aggressive behavior had dissolved. "Why don't you kiss me back?"

Oh.

Oh.

Oh dammit.

Hiccup swallowed hard, and took a deep breath. How to answer her without sounding stupid? How to even begin?

"Do you not like me?" She badgered.

"Wait, I do…"

"Then is it my breath? Or do I smell bad?"

"No! Gods, you smell amazing!" He slapped a hand to his forehead. He was just digging a deeper and deeper hole. "Okay, um…" He grasped her upper arms, but then he realized that was a sign of holding her at bay. He sighed and skirted his fingers down her arms to take hold of her hands. "Astrid." He stated, looking int her eyes.

Her soul piercing gaze was too much and he looked away, blushing. "I um…it's not you, it's me."

"What?"

Crap. "Er, I mean…you didn't do anything wrong. I just…" He bit his lip. There was no way to put this lightly. "I adore you, Astrid. Every time you kiss me, I just…freeze up, because I can't handle it! How could a beautiful, wonderful, woman like you want to kiss a skinny twerpy guy like me?"

Astrid was looking much less hostile now, and very sympathetic.

He let go of one hand and scratched the back of his head. "And…well, I guess I was afraid of messing…whatever this is up. I mean I…I really like you. Like really really." His ears burned. "But I messed it up anyways…"

"Prove it." She snapped.

"W-what? Prove what?"

"That you like me." She put her hands on her hips. "After all, actions speak louder then words."

Hiccup grew quiet for once in his life, and tugged on his tunic in despair. What was he supposed to do? He was never good with girls. He already admitted that he cared for her.

"I knew it." She shook her head. "You have the guts to ride a Nightfury, but at the thought of kissing a girl, you shit yourself."

There was the prompt! She really needed to be more clear on these things.

"Honestly Hiccup, we're getting no where, and it's only a matter of time before—…"

He silenced her. Her back was pressed hard against the wooden wall, his body holding her in place. One hand cupped her face and held her still, while the other wove fingers between her own.

His lips were soft and smooth, just like she had come to love, but they moved. They nipped clumsily at hers, stumbling and learning as they went. His skin buzzed with excitement.

Suddenly, his actions became more bold and desperate. His lips parted as his teeth and tongue teased her mouth sinfully.

Where had this Hiccup come from? Never would he have done something so scandalous. Not that she was pushing him away or anything. In fact, she was urging him on, her hand tangling in his hair and her throat vibrating with groans.

Finally.

"H-Hiccup?" A shy voice asked from the end of the alleyway.

Rats. Oh well, nothing lasts forever. The young man didn't respond, as he was likely too busy to notice.

"Hiccup!" They called again.

Hiccup pulled away just enough to speak, but his lips still grazed hers. "Not now Fishlegs!"

"B-B-But your father is looking for you!"

"Not now! A message needs to be conveyed!"

"He's coming this way! And if he finds you like this…"

"Oh for the love of—!" He pulled away fully with a loud smack. "Okay! Okay…" Then he sighed. A smug smile came over his face as he surveyed his handiwork.

Red face, swollen lips, droopy eyelids, and a uncontrolled smile. All symptoms of one who had been thoroughly kissed.

"I'm sorry," he simpered. "We'll finish this later, okay?"

She nodded dumbly.

"I love you." He whispered, letting his tongue flick out against her nose before taking off down the alley.

"Oh…sweet…freya…" Astrid whispered as she slid down the wall.

That had been completely unexpected. Hiccup was unpredictable. She thought she knew him, but then he pulled stunts like this that threw her for a loop.

He had unleashed such a fervent longing, it must have been boiling up inside for a long time. He said he loved her, after all. When they did get around to meeting up later, he'd probably be a mess about it. Which would be cute, if not a bit annoying.

He smelled like smoke, and iron with a musky undertone. Overall, very pleasant, and very arousing.

She probably smelled like sweat.

He tasted like smoke too. Like he breathed fire himself. It was spicy and biting and hot, her tongue still burned.

She probably tasted like salty sweat.

Astrid took a long, withering breath to calm her heart slamming against her chest. Her little Hiccup had become a man. She giggled.

He said a message needed to be conveyed.

Message received.