Oh look! An actual new chapter! I hope you enjoy it, while I slink away guiltily…

(I almost named this chapter "Drama Queens", because that's really what we're witnessing here.)

Chapter 16: Requirements

For four days there was nothing.

Though Astrid was starting to feel as if her every waking moment was consumed with training. Either combat training with Jack, or flying Stormfly with Hiccup. When she wasn't training, she was at school.

On Tuesday, she was eating lunch with Hiccup and Rapunzel at one of the picnic tables when Jack came up to them.

The weather was almost too cold to be eating outside. But the sun was out, so they were putting up with the cold. Rapunzel had made lunches for all of them, and she pulled Jack's from her messenger bag as he sat down next to her.

"Thanks," he said, though he didn't open the container. Instead he leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the table as he closed his eyes. His hood was pulled low, but Astrid could see the tips of his bangs peeking out beneath the fabric. Hair that was currently white. At least for a moment – long enough for her to be sure what she saw – before it darkened to brown.

He opened his eyes.

"Someone needs to come with me to this thing tonight," he said, voice dark.

Astrid started to ask "what thing?", but realized Hiccup was asking the same thing. (It was kind of nice not to be the only one looking for answers for once.)

"The Hans Westerguard thing," Jack said. His eyes flickered to blue, and frost started to furl across the table. He grimaced, griping the edge of the table so hard his knuckles turned white. "We just watched a video of a recent appearance in class, and I barely kept from freezing the room over."

"Can't you get out of it?" Astrid asked, taking of bite of the chicken salad sandwich Rapunzel had made for her.

"I tried," he said. "But this is the same professor who made me reread the book because I disagreed with him in my essay. We're required to attend, and write yet another paper on his glorious quest to rid the world of costumed maniacs."

"The more you talk like that, the harder it will be to control yourself," Hiccup said.

Jack groaned. Then took a deep breath, and finally opened the contained Rapunzel had handed him.

"Thanks," he said again, this time with more sincerity.

"You're welcome."

"This is why I told you not to go into a social science," Hiccup said.

"I should have listened," Jack muttered, snapping a carrot stick with his teeth. "But it's too late to change, so I need someone to come tonight and stop me from doing anything stupid. Like stick Westerguard in a block of ice."

Astrid thought that might be a gift to society, actually.

Jack looked at Rapunzel (to the surprise of no one) but the hope flickered out of his eyes. "You're going to that book signing."

"I promised Belle I would be there," she said apologetically. "I can't cancel on her."

"It okay," Jack tried to assure. Though he looked worried as he turned to Hiccup.

"What time is it?"

"Seven-thirty. Help me, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, you're my only hope."

"You're really desperate if you're using Star Wars to get me," Hiccup said, while he and Astrid both snickered.

"Obviously!"

Hiccup's grin didn't fully fade, but he did grow more serious. "I have to do some work in the lab, so I'll meet you here." He looked at Astrid. "Wanna come?"

No, she didn't, actually. Listening to Westerguard talk about how mutants were a menace to society did not sound like a fun way to spend an evening, thank you very much.

But she nodded. "Sure."

"Great," Jack said, sarcastic and unenthusiastic. "It'll be a teambuilding activity."

#

Merida scoffed when Jack brought it up at the house.

"If I want to know how much people hate me, I'll read the message boards, thanks" she said, rolling her eyes as she lay back on one of the couches with a magazine. "Besides, someone's gotta patrol."

"At least you have a choice," Jack muttered, washing the glass he just used for orange juice. He was already tense, probably trying to hold back his powers. He had traded his normal hoodie for a black leather jacket, and a black beanie to keep his hair covered. "And I keep telling you not to wear that shirt on campus."

Merida lowered her magazine, and glanced down at her shirt, which had the Braveheart shield emblazoned on the front. Astrid recognized it as the ones that were sold on campus, out of the trunk of some kid's car.

"No one's figured it out so far," she said, turning attention back to her magazine.

"You wouldn't wear it so much if Eret hadn't given it to you."

"Shut up."

Astrid, who sat on the floor with Toothless, quirked an eyebrow. But Jack didn't bother with a comeback. At any other time, he probably would.

A moment later Rapunzel came out of the hallway. Her knee length purple dress was made of a soft fabric that flowed with her movements, over a pair of dark grey leggings, and a lavender suede jacket. Astrid couldn't help but feel a bit envious at how Rapunzel always looked so effortlessly put together.

Jack's gaze was certainly appreciative.

"I have to go." She hesitated as she went into the kitchen. "Are you sure you'll be alright?"

"I have Hiccup and Astrid," he said, though he sounded as though he were trying to convince himself as much as her. "What could possibly go wrong?"

"I hate it when you say that," she said, reaching out to touch his arm. She cocked her head to the side as she ran her fingers over the leather of his jacket. "This brings back memories."

"I've been having a lot of those lately."

Rapunzel looked ready to say something else, but her phone chimed. Something that happened often enough that Astrid knew the sound of her text alerts.

"I have to go," she said again. "I'll see you tonight."

"Yeah." He watched her go with doleful puppy eyes, staring after her even after she had vanished down the hallway, and they had heard the garage door close behind her.

"What's Westerguard's deal, anyway?" Astrid asked later, as she and Jack drove back to the college.

"He's from some rich family over in New England, but I guess he thought his trust fund wasn't enough." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "He went looking for some rich girl he could marry for her money, and he found Elsa's sister, Anna. Since their parents did a great job of royally messing up their kids, Anna was so desperate for love she didn't think twice when Hans' proposed a week after they met."

When Astrid glanced over, she saw that some of his tense annoyance had been replaced with frustration. He had pushed his beanie back to run a hand through his hair.

"When they went to tell Elsa about the engagement, she freaked out and lost control of her powers. Not as bad as last week, but still bad. Anna said Hans called off the engagement after Elsa nearly killed him. He vanished for a while, then resurfaced on the New York Time's Best Sellers list with his anti-vigilante agenda."

"Still no sign of Elsa?" she knew Jack's search efforts had been halfhearted. But he had been searching, when he wasn't training her.

"No," he scowled. "And that's starting to worry me."

They pulled into the parking lot adjacent to the auditorium. The event was open to the public, and the public was obviously interested, judging by how many cars there were.

"You picked a great time to become a vigilante," Jack said. "In the middle of a hate campaign."

Astrid rolled her eyes… but he had a point.

She spotted Hiccup sitting on the surface of a picnic table, talking on his phone while he waited for them. But he hung up as he got down and came over to meet them on the sidewalk.

"My mom says hi."

Valka had been on Berk for the past few days.

He fell into step between them, and Astrid felt their arms brush.

"You okay?" he asked Jack. His voice was lowered as they walked past a cluster of students.

"I'm wearing my contacts just in case."

Astrid took that to mean "no".

The glasses he wore around campus were pointless, since they probably did nothing to help hide his identity, and when she asked he had admitted there was nothing wrong with his vision. She suspected he just liked the look. So the brown circle lenses he wore now were just to cover his irises if he lost control and they turned blue.

Inside, the auditorium was already filled with the buzz of conversation, more than half the seats already taken. Astrid recognized a few people from around the campus. A couple waved or nodded to Jack, and it seemed safe to guess they were from his class.

They slipped into the back row of seats, close to the door they had come through.

As soon as they sat down, Jack hunched in his seat, feet braced on the empty chair in front of him. Astrid didn't exactly feel enthusiastic either as she settled in next to Hiccup. Despite the talk about Black and Westerguard both leading hate campaigns against the Big 4, she hadn't expected there to be this many people. The space wasn't exactly small.

She looked around, her eyes landing on a dark haired woman who stood by the wall. Tall even before the six inch heels she wore.

"Hey, Jack."

He lifted his head from the sulk he had been wallowing in. "Yeah?"

"Isn't that Serphina? Or whatever her name is?"

Jack followed her gaze… then ducked back down into his seat. "Yup. That's her."

Trying not to be conspicuous, Astrid looked back curiously.

Seraphina was dressed in a green and black dress suit that even Astrid could tell was expensive. Her long, wavy black hair was left down, but no doubt still carefully styled. She was regal and intimidating, like a Roman statue, though "beautiful" wasn't the first word that came to mind when you looked at her. (And she did look exactly like the kind of woman who had pulled Jack's ear when they were younger. Actually, forget "when they were younger". She probably still might.)

"Why is she here?"

Jack shrugged.

"She tries to keep her distance from anything that might connect her to her father, but she still stays informed," Hiccup said.

Jack waved, in a silent 'what he said'.

"Does she know who you are?" Astrid asked.

Hiccup nodded.

Glancing back again, Astrid's throat clenched when Seraphina turned her head, and her gaze landed right on her. She faced forward quickly. Heart pounding. Though she wasn't entirely sure why.

"Yeah, she has that affect," Hiccup said, laughing a little.

"Was her dad that scary when he was…?"

"Emily's not scary – she's just intimidating," Jack said. "And he was always terrifying."

Astrid risked another glance back, and saw Seraphina talking to a short, portly man with golden blond hair. Well, she was speaking, while the man responded with sign language.

Jack looked back. "Sandy. I wasn't expecting him."

"Who is he?"

"He's—" Jack stopped, lowering his feet as an older woman came to take a seat in the chair in front of him. "Tell ya later."

The woman glared at him as she sat down, her powder scented perfume causing Astrid's nose to wrinkle.

A couple minutes later the blond man came over to them, signing something to Jack.

"Hey, Sandy. Sure."

Sandy smiled as he took the seat next to Jack. Within a moment they were deep in a conversation Astrid couldn't begin to understand, since Jack started signing rather than use his voice.

"One of Jack's hidden talents," Hiccup whispered to her, slipping his phone back in his jacket pocket.

"The surprises don't seem to stop lately," Astrid whispered back.

Hiccup laughed under his breath. "Welcome to our world."

"I'm getting the impression it's a lot bigger than I thought," she admitted, glancing back at Sanndy. "Who is he?"

He leaned over to whisper in her ear: "The Sandman. From the Guardians."

Astrid jolted. "The—" She stopped, lowering her voice back to a whisper. "The Guardians? Are you guys part of some superhero union?"

"Didn't we tell you? There's a twenty dollar a month union fee."

She smacked his shoulder, though she couldn't help but return his grin.

"No," he said, rubbing his shoulder. "I wish. They offered Jack a position, but his infatuation with Rapunzel made him stay with us. They help us out with resources from time to time." Something flashed in his green eyes. A memory, she suspected. Probably not a good one. After a moment, he shook it off.

"A lot bigger than I thought," she murmured.

Before anything more could be said, the lights overhead dimmed, and conversation through the auditorium faded away. On stage, one of the projector screen at the back of the stage lit up. Astrid recognized the footage immediately. After all the times she had watched it, it was impossible not to.

It was the fight that had gotten her here. The fight against Gothel outside City Hall. Just as Hiccup and Toothless arrived on the scene; moments after they had flown over her head outside Starbucks.

Jack and Merida were back to back on the ground, moving in practiced synch to hold off Gothel's cohorts. Now that she knew the two, she could only guess they set aside their differences when they were on the field.

The fountain froze over when one of the thugs pushed Jack too close to it.

She kept expecting – hoping – that the video would cut off. As she watched a punch knock Jack to the ground – and felt both him and Hiccup shifting uncomfortably in their seats – she really didn't want to see what was coming. She hadn't watched it since she had started spending time at the Haddock house.

When she had asked, while they were working on the basement, Hiccup had told her that the mechanics of the saddle had malfunctioned, and his prosthetic had become detached.

The camera hadn't been on him when it happened. It had been on Merida, as she slammed her elbow into a thug's solar plexus, before using the same arm to nock an arrow. Until there was a scream from the onlookers. Then the camera jerked upwards.

Tearing her eyes from the screen, she looked down, for Hiccup's hand. Without thinking, she took it in her own. He turned his head to look at her, momentarily surprised. But he didn't seem to question the touch. Instead he squeezed back, and letting their hands rest between them.

The warmth of his calloused fingers comforted her. A solid reminder that he had survived the fall. He was alive. And he was right next to her. It distracted her from what was happening on the screen. Which she knew well enough to play out in her mind's eye.

This was the first time she had held hands with anyone. In complete defiance of the tomboy she had always believed herself to be, her heart fluttered as the situation hit her. That thought was more than enough to mull over until Toothless's roar rattled her ribcage. Startling her enough she looked back at the screen.

The video cut off there. And she perfectly understood Jack's huff of annoyance. They had shown everything except the fact that the team had successfully gotten Gothel back into custody. Above the stage, the lights came back up, revealing Hans Westerguard behind the podium.

Hiccup snickered in response to something Jack muttered to him.

"Good evening," Westerguard said. His suit was immaculate, his red hair neatly combed back. As with every time she saw him, Astrid got the sense he was trying to convince the whole world he should be taken seriously. "I'm glad you all could be here."

Astrid clenched the hand not wrapped in Hiccup's, wishing she could try one of her improved punches on Westerguard's face.

"For years I've talked about the dangers of these vigilantes on our society, and it's nice to finally be listened to."

Jack groaned. Loudly. As he slumped further into his seat in obvious misery. The woman seated in front of him looked back with a disapproving glare (which he didn't seem to notice), but Sandy patted his arm sympathetically.

"Specialists have talked about how they encourage violence; that their taking the law into their own hands promotes anarchy. And I agree. That is all true. And dangerous. But if that is all we focus on, than we're ignoring the heart of the issue."

"Spare me," Astrid muttered.

Hiccup squeezed her hand, and she glanced over to see him smiling.

Oblivious to their frustration and annoyance – and clearly enjoying the platform a little too much – Westerguard went on.

"Mutation is a messy topic—" if it was possible, Jack slouched lower in his seat "—one that no one really wants to discuss, other than what might have caused it. Evolution, radiation, an act of God… I don't know. I first because aware of this issue when I became engaged to a girl whose sister had ice powers. That engagement didn't last."

The story Jack had told her in the car on the way there.

"I'm not sure what scares me more. Someone who can control ice, and create a storm like the one we experienced last week, or someone who rides around the city on the back of a dragon. A creature that – according the legends – was feared for its violence and greed. A monster."

She could almost feel Hiccup's annoyance through their joined hands. It almost made her laugh, though. Especially when she remembered the way Toothless purred when she scratched under his jaw, or the way he pranced over to Hiccup.

Even Stormfly. Once Astrid had gotten past the dragon's hostile appearance, she had realized that the Nadder was an absolute sweetheart. Sure, the dragons could bare their teeth when they were mad. But so could any dog. True, most dogs couldn't breathe fire… but still.

"In the past few years, these so call 'supers' have become a part of our lives. We ignore them as much as we can. When I arrived here at the college today, I saw a girl wearing a Braveheart tshirt."

"Merida," Jack muttered.

"Embracing these vigilantes is the most dangerous—"

Astrid tuned him out.

Jack was visibly struggling – but Sandy seemed to be doing more good than either she or Hiccup. The man signed to Jack frequently. Though he and Hiccup did lean over to whisper to each other several times.

Hiccup didn't let go of her hand, so she could feel every time something Westerguard said made him tense. She would squeeze his hand, and he returned the pressure with a grateful smile.

Finally, after almost an hour, his seemingly endless tirade (Astrid couldn't even figure out what his point had been) came to an end, and he asked if there were any questions.

Jack made a move to get up, but Hiccup grabbed his wrist.

"Don't do anything stupid," he hissed.

Sandy rested a small hand on Jack's other arm.

Before Jack could say or do anything, movement on the stage caught all their attention.

Seraphina Typhan walked onto the stage as if she owned it, her head held high. In her stilettos, she was taller than Westerguard.

"I have a question," she said, though it seemed more like she was commandeering his stage than simply asking a question.

Hans almost fumbled with his microphone. "M-Miss Typhan. What an honor to have you—"

She waved him off. And Astrid couldn't deny that she liked the woman's style.

"Tell me, Westerguard. Your basic suggestion is to capture and cage the Big 4. Never mind that they're human beings, with certain legal, and God given rights."

"That's—"

She waved him off again. "So tell me. Once the Big 4, and the Guardians, and every other hero team, are off the streets, how do you propose dealing with the likes of Drago Blüdvist? Or Pitch Black?" The way she said the name demanded attention. And the auditorium seemed to fall silent. "Local authorities have proven all but useless against them. The one time the National Guard, or the army, made it here, they hardly did much better."

"It doesn't seem as if they did much good against them in last month's prison break."

Astrid's fist clenched. But Hiccup squeezed her hand.

"No one even knew the prison break happened until the penitentiary got their communications back up. True, the four did fall for the distraction." Jack was glowering at her. "But what about every other time?"

Westerguard didn't seem to like the question, judging from the way he bristled.

"The Big 4 showed up on the scene long before this so called 'Nightmare King'. For all we know, he wouldn't have shown up if not for the Big 4."

"That may very well be the stupidest thing I have ever heard," she responded. "And that's saying something, considering what I put up with in a day. But I want to know if you have a solution. Since you claim to be an expert."

The expression on Westerguard's face was priceless. He clearly wasn't used to being challenged.

And she didn't let up. " Drago Blüdvist's Bewilderbeast leveled almost ten city blocks before Jack Frost and Braveheart killed it. After every other attempt had failed to do anything more than infuriate it. Mor'du doesn't even seem to want a prize – just a fight. Not to mention every other petty villain they've dealt with in the past half-decade. You mentioned Miss Arendelle, and the events of last week. When the police tried to intervene, Jack Frost still protected everyone from that ice monster, even while he was bleeding on the ground. It seems the Big 4 are the only defense this city has against these maniacs. Who are the real threat you seem so keen to overlook."

Hiccup and Jack both seemed to be enjoying this. Even Sandy nodded approval.

"Are you saying we should let these freaks run free?" Hans asked. He gave it a good attempt, but couldn't come close to the sheer presence of Seraphina on the stage.

"There are a lot of types I wish I weren't running free in the streets," Seraphina said. "But you don't see me campaigning for them to be rounded up and caged. And, freaks or not, they seem to be the only hope this city has. If it weren't for Pitch Black and the others, I agree, we might not need the Big 4. Though street and gang violence are down approximately twenty-seven percent in the past five years."

"That would make sense," Hans said. Obviously scrambling. "But you're assuming that the Big 4 are heroes. How do we know they're not as bad as any of the others? They just haven't had time to set up their own regimen."

"Oh, for Heaven's sake!" Seraphina cried, exasperated. "This past summer was almost silent. All the Big 4 did was stop petty thieves and pull children out of the road. If that's their 'evil regimen', then I'm all for it!"

Astrid may have thought the Big 4 were freaks, or pests, before she had met them. But even she had never thought they were trying to take over the city. That was ludicrous.

"Have you read my book?"

"Yes, I have," she said. "I wasted seven hours of my life on your book. And I found it to be the most vulgar, sycophantic posturing I have ever had the displeasure of reading. You have proposed a hackneyed solution that is the equivalent of destroying your white blood cells to rid yourself of the symptoms of a cold. As a business woman, if someone presented me with such a halfcocked scheme, I would laugh them out of my office."

She walked away from Westerguard, across the stage, without giving him a chance to respond. The spotlight followed her, sparkling off the diamonds in her necklace and earrings. On her way down the steps, she handed the microphone to…

Astrid and Hiccup both looked at Jack's empty seat, then back to where he was taking the mic gleefully. Neither of them had even noticed that he had stood up.

Jack didn't waste time. "I just wanted to say that I hate the book. Miss Typhan put it perfectly. It's a whole lot of posturing to cover up the fact that the Snow Queen – as you call her – wouldn't let you marry her sister because she knew you were just after Anna's inheritance. Your whole campaign is petty and childish."

He dropped the mic, and followed Seraphina up the aisle.

Hiccup gestured, and Astrid stood up from her seat. She, Hiccup, and Sandy, followed the other two out of the auditorium.

#

Jack wasn't entirely sure why he followed Emily Jane out. Maybe old habits die hard. And he had been thinking a lot about the past lately. Since his thoughts/dreams had been consumed with it while he bled. He was feeling more favorable to her than he had been in… a long time.

Their last few encounters had been tense, to say the least.

He was aware that the others followed them out, but focused on Emily Jane. The cool night air was blissfully sweet as they strode down the sidewalk. Coming to a stop where her driver was just pulling her black Mercedes-Benz up to the curb.

Emily Jane turned to him while the adjusted the leather gloves she had just pulled on.

"Don't say I never do anything for you, Jackson."

He nodded. "Thanks for coming."

"That had nothing to do with you," she said. "But he's become a pest that I have no patience for. Not with everything else that's going on."

"Still. Thank you."

She turned her grey gaze on him… and after a moment, her expression softened. "I'm glad you're alright, Jackson. When I saw—" She took a deep breath, and seemed to decide that what she had been about to say would have been too sentimental for her public image. Or just for whom she was. She had never been overly affectionate. "We've been through more than most people can ever imagine, you and I."

"Does this mean we're friends again?"

She nodded. "Yes, I think it does."

"Amazing would getting stabbed will do for your life."

Emily Jane scoffed. "Honestly, Jackson."

She turned to the others. "Sandy, I would appreciate if you would have Nicholas call me tomorrow. I can't understand how that man is so difficult to get ahold of."

Sandy signed back that he would, and wished her and Jack a good night before walking away.

She turned to the two standing a couple feet away. "Hiccup, I wish you the best. Do try to keep Jack under control."

"When you figure out how, let me know," Hiccup said. "But, thanks."

"This is Astrid," Jack said, feeling he should make some kind of introduction when Emily Jane turned her gaze on the blonde. "Astrid, Seraphina-whatever-she-calls-herself."

"Really, Jackson."

Astrid inclined her head in greeting, and Emily Jane did the same.

"It's an interesting world you've stumbled into, Astrid," she said. "Try not to get lost."

"Thanks. I think."

After wishing them a good night, she slid into the back seat, and the driver peeled away from the curb.

"Well, at least the night wasn't a total waste," Hiccup said, while they started across the parking lot. "I have a feeling we're going to need every ally we can get before this is over."

"Ain't that the truth," Jack muttered.