"New chapter when i was back" i said, "Shouldn't be more than a month and a half" I said, now, almost 5 months later I update. As you can see I'm a very organised individual.

But, I am focusing most of my attention to my main story because it's so close to being done. So prepare for another long (Not as long as the one just passed) wait while I finish that story and then get to this and my other stories. XD

Without further ado

House Hunting

So apparently she wasn't very good at video games. Or he was perfect at them, one of the two, she didn't even care anymore. It was an adequate distraction, just enough to get her mind off of the fact she was hiding out in a random house with some random guy playing some random game because if she stepped outside and was seen by the wrong person she could be shot and killed.

So much for a distraction.

She stretched back and sighed as she lost yet another race, Fishlegs had enough decency not to choose a genre with violence, she'd had enough of that already. Astrid liked the larger man, despite meeting him in an absurd situation and being rather uncomfortable in said situation. This was a man she hardly knew, though he did seem just as uneasy, although he was trying his best to be a decent host.

She sighed and covered her head in her hands. What happened to her life? A week ago it was normal… Enough. However, all of a sudden everything went haywire. Why her? What the fuck did she do? What was happening to her? Everything just occurred so fast, she's not sure she knows how to handle it. She wishes her uncle was here. Oh god, her uncle.

He must be tearing himself up right now, surely he'd know it's something bigger than just bringing him down right… Was it? Surely. Surely there was something bigger going on here, they wouldn't go to all this effort to kill her just because she was the last living relative of a political leader with some nerve. So why, why try to kill her? Was it something to do with her parents death? Was it the fact that she bruised their egos when she wasn't killed the first time? Was it because- oh fuck it, she'd probably never learn. Only now did she realise she had tears in her eyes. She forced them back, violently, now was not a time for weakness. Fishlegs as it seems had already picked up on it. Damn it, she had become soft hadn't she.

That's what she gets for working an office job.

She all of a sudden had tissues by her side and used it to clear what water escaped. She gave the tissues back in gratitude. Fishlegs was silent, she realised he was at a loss of how to comfort her. Just as much as she was in a random house with a random guy, he had some random girl who was being hunted by some random terrorist organisation in his house.

Then again, that's' what he gets for being friends with Night Fury.

She shook herself out of her depressed state and decided focussing on it would not help her. She had to think positive, as cliche as it sounds.

"So what now?" She asked, mostly to Fishlegs, but also to herself. She fiddles with the hem of her borrowed shirt, well, it was basically a dress given it was lended (stolen) from his mother.

"We wait for Night Fury to come up with something" He answered. It was the best he could give, he had considered renting her an apartment or hotel but he wasn't exactly the richest, and she was willing to bet Night Fury couldn't either due to lack of funds, or to the risk of his identity, he had to put his real name on the paperwork after all.

She gets it, she really does, the secret identity. If he was known, everything he loved was at risk, if she was captured or tortured she wasn't sure she'd hold up enough not to spill his identity. He was smart in that aspect. She sighed again.

"And I'm sure he's doing great with that." She muttered sarcastically.

-0-

So. Where to hide Astrid?

What were the chances he'd find something? Hopeless probably, but then again, literally just driving around town was not helping. Unsurprisingly the woman behind him seemed to be somewhat pissed at his lack of direction or speed. He pulled into another lane to let her pass. ignoring her glare as she overtook him…

He couldn't just hide her in his house, that wouldn't work. Despite it being a fairly large house and rarely inhabited, no, it would just lead straight to his identity, for example there are medals, photos and shit about policing everywhere. His father is kind of a nut when it comes to this. He even has an old riot shield hung on the wall. Whats up with that? What were they? Vikings? He's getting distracted... Evidenced by the fact he'd stayed at the lights well after they'd turn green, jolting when the horns of other vehicles sounded behind him.

So. Where to hide Astrid? His thoughts are just going in circles now aren't they. No not really, because now he was thinking about the blonde girl who was probably going to have a hard time these next few weeks… months… maybe years. Shit he was in over his head wasn't he? What was he even doing? Fighting the world by himself? What good could come with it? He was bound to slip up someday. He opted to push those thoughts aside to avoid falling into a self destructive thought pattern.

He let his thoughts drift back to Astrid. She seemed nice enough, for someone who he barely knows. She handled herself far better than most people would… She had done a lot better than the time that girl who was so distraught with her situation had tried to cling herself to him when he was trying to reason with her captor, and also that guy who started crying and huddling himself in the corner instead of like... Getting out of there. Yeah, she did a lot better than them… It wasn't surprising however, After all she was strong willed… And resilient… Also clever, brave, sassy, fiery, cute… Cute? he didn't say that. Okay, he thought it, but he didn't mean it like that!.. Okay she was cute, but like in an objective way. Can someone even be objectively cute? They can now.

This was about the moment he realised there was heat in his cheeks and figured that it was not because of the temperature… Damn. Why did he always crush on people that were completely out of his league? (Not to mention off limits. You don't seduce your civilians, why? Well it's in the non-existent Vigilante work ethics booklet, section four, paragraph twenty something, second edition).

Someone just stop him, someone ram his car from somewhere and put him into a coma so he doesn't screw up anything else… Given his concentration on driving at the moment that wasn't too farfetched. Hiccup forced thoughts about Astrid as far as he could and forced himself to concentrate on where she'd have to live.

He was unsuccessful for the better part of an hour.

He did figure out something however, that being… He did not actually have much of a chance here... Well accommodation of a hotel or an apartment was ruled out due to questions from his father and, or the possibility of someone seeing her and figuring her out, he couldn't just hope a liveable but conveniently abandoned building was just lying around somewhere. It's not like he could hide her at Fishlegs place forever or his house or anybody else's hou- wait.

Wait… Yes. That could work.

Hiccup knew the perfect person willing to house Astrid. There was just a few complications he'd have to deal with but he could wing it. Totally.

Well it was the best option he had.

-0-

Tuffnut was kind of sort of extremely maybe definitely confused with everything right now. For starters, finding out where the masked Vigilante disappeared to was proving impossible. Going over traffic light and speed camera footage proved almost fruitless. Well, besides a couple...

That's how they ended up in this parking lot. They found the girl's car in some random public car park in the middle of the city, locked, as if they were just attending a movie or something. The catch? It's been there for an entire night and half a day now. He was willing to bet they wouldn't come back for it any time soon.

Second, something was up with his sister. He didn't always pay attention to her, but her anger was always duly noted… She was mildly to moderately pissed. The kind of pissed that he rated 'punch any annoyance in the face' on the 'Ruffnut anger' scale. But that was usually the cause of him. He'd done nothing. Well, He hopes.

It's not like Snotlout could ever piss her off. His flirtatious attempts were rarely if ever used on her and if they were she found it amusing and if he didn't know better he might say she even enjoyed it. But no, he had no clue as to why she was pissed.

"I am so fucking done with this. This guy just leaves the car here and then disappears, hostage and all. It's hopeless! we have bigger fish to fry, like who tried to kill her in the first place." She ranted to the air.

"In case you forgot, some CIA secret agent like company took over that case being it was a little in the terrorist zone, idiot." Tuffnut replied without thinking, as usual. Because had he been thinking, he would have remembered the 'punch the annoyance' part.

She grabbed him by the front of his shirt and was completely intent on punching him in the nose, However, thankfully for him and unfortunately for Snotlout. He walked in at this moment, very, very smug. She completely forgot about Tuffnut as she dropped the front of his shirt (And him, rude) with a growl as she quickly spun on her heels and put distance between her and Snotlout, grumbling.

Tuffnut dusted himself off and stood up. Okay, so Snotlout for the first time in... A long while had managed to piss her off. Reasons? He would probably find out. Snotlout's smug face was the first clue. His straight to the bragging way of talking was the only other needed.

"Guess who got laid last night." He sang, swaggering in with all the bravado conjured from the jock within. Ruffnut scowled and Tuffnut shrugged.

"Wow man congrats, only took you twenty two hundred times." Tuffnut ridiculed, Snotlout huffed at the jab and turned to Ruffnut for support to finally notice her less than adequate mood.

"You okay Ruffnut? Looks like someone put tea in your coffee." Snotlout questioned, Tuffnut was pretty sure that was not the correct analogy, but seeing as it still technically worked he'd let it slide. Tuffnut would be pissed if someone put tea in his coffee. Ruffnuts frown deepened as she sighed.

"The ten minutes, legit the ten minutes I leave the club to hit up the atm you ditch me because the first chick in a million actually was stupid enough to go home with you? You left me without a damn ride!" Ruffnut snapped. However, when she put it like that it did kind of seem like an offer he couldn't refuse, it was rare for that to happen.

"You could have at least text me you were leaving or something." She said, anger dissipating to what Tuffnut assumed was pity in the resignation of her voice. He too could see where the pity came from. Snotlout wasn't about to admit it but he was getting kind of desperate.

"No, it's not because it's one in a million or whatever she was just… finally to my standard." He defended. Even though nobody bought it.

"Do you even know her name?" Tuffnut asked cynically. Snotlout's silence was an answer enough, a one night stand. Not a name nor a number to go on. Tuffnut was not sure whether Snotlout preferred that or not. There was a lull in conversation as neither twin continued and Snotlout had become lost in thought. Ruffnut finally changed the subject.

"So anyway, back to the case we're supposed to be working on." She inclined, anger still evident but more subdued.

Snotlout shook himself out of whatever had seized him.

"So what do we have?" He responded, Aware of Ruffnut still giving him daggers every few moments.

"Well, we have the car in this parking lot which we know he left us on purpose. Given the 'Sorry for stealing the car' note, but other than that. Nothing." Tuffnut answered. There wasn't much else they could do, they could move the car to an impound lot but that was about it.

"Wow… Well That sucks. I'd been hoping for something interesting." Snotlout bemoaned. Leaning against the wall.

"I find it funny he left a sorry note, Like the police force essentially hate him, what's he got to gain by being sorry?" Tuffnut snorted.

"The guy isn't exactly doing anything malicious, he just takes the law into his own hands." Ruffnut shrugged. The conversation ended when Tuffnuts phone rang, he pulled it out and blanched when he read the contact.

"Umm. Hello Stoick, to what do I owe the pleas- Oh, Okay, Sure thing dude. Why can't I call you dude? But I call everyb- Sorry sir, Yes sir. Understood. Thank-you, goodbye." Tuffnut finished as the call hung up on him.

"So what was that?" Snotlout hummed eyebrows raised.

"Well. There's a situation on Luktuk street and we're closest to the scene, car theft." Tuffnut explained.

"So do we leave the car here or…" Ruffnut trailed off.

She wasn't met with an answer as the two were already approaching their squad cars, she groaned and rushed off to join them.

-0-

Fishlegs received the text just as Astrid finally got the hang of 'Thorza Motorsport - Thirteen'. He paused the game bringing her out of the zone as he descended the stairs to what she assumed was sneak Night Fury up to his room.

A minute later he shuffled back into the room, Night Fury following close behind. There was an awkward silence as Night Fury relayed the plan.

"I have someone that has a big property just out of the city. You'll be safe there. He doesn't have to know, but I'll probably tell him anyway." He continued and both Fishlegs and Astrid furrowed a brow.

"Wait Hi-Night fury, I thought the whole point was that people don't know" Fishlegs responded, Night Fury laughed

"Yes but Fishlegs, you know who I am talking about right? He could arrive at any time..." He responded, Fishlegs thought for a moment and then hummed in agreement.

"Good point." He conceded. Astrid was still confused.

"Wait what is going on?" She finally asked almost combusting in curiosity. Figuratively of course.

"Well let's just say that if he catches you on his property and he does not know who you are and why you are there there will be… He doesn't take to strangers kindly." Night Fury answered. She frowned and gestured her hands out in irritation.

"Then I'll be sneaky? If word of my location gets out not only my life's in danger but the person you're talking about and your identity I would presume." She explained when Fishlegs coughed.

"Trust me Astrid, This is not someone you want to even attempt 'sneaking' around." He replied, She just sighed and threw her hands up in defeat.

"Fine whatever, can I at least know his name?" She asked Night Fury nodded after a short silence.

"I suppose. His name is George, but he's known as Gobber. Gobber the belch." He answered simply, she was really beginning to question their odd choice of nicknames but people were weird, She was going to binge watch Jurassic park because dinosaurs. Everyone was different.

"Okay, so, when do we leave?" She inquired and Night Fury simply gestured towards the stairs.

"Right now" He responded eagerly.

"Well, Right, I'll give you guys some cover, Umm, Astrid it's been lovely having you here, I hope I was a good host despite the circumstances and- oh what am I saying, Goodbye and good luck you two." He rambled and then raced down the stairs to catch his mother's attention while they snuck out.

There was another silence as they waited for a signal to give them the all clear. There was a blatant raised voice from Fishlegs that rose up the stairs that gave them their cue. They snuck down the stairs as quietly as they could.

They had no time to bid him goodbye as he kept his mother busy with questions about what was for dinner and had she heard of this new game that he wanted and other trivial things. They raced out to Night Furies car, a unique vehicle she would try not to take note of to get a step closer to his identity.

-0-

Hiccup was quick to hide everything in his car that was personal enough to lead to his identity before he arrived. He couldn't have her figuring out he was… well. Hiccup now could he? Could he? No, of course not.

He started the slightly overpriced sports car his father got him for his eighteenth birthday… They were rather wealthy but nothing like, too flashy. He tried not to broadcast the fact that he is unintentionally copying batman by being a rich superhero but well... Cut him some slack it's not like he didn't have a choice! He'd choose the most generic car any day. Because he can't drive as Night Fury very often in a sports car it would narrow down who he was way too easily. This also ruled out his squad car for… Obvious reasons.

He avoided traffic lights like the plague as they drew near the outskirts of the city. Astrid hid down in the back while Hiccup had replaced his Night Fury mask with a motorbike helmet to quell other drivers suspicions. (Mostly, He'd still look like a fucking moron though) He's just glad Astrid is so respectful of his identity to not ask questions like; 'why does she have to look away while he is switching his helmets' or 'I'm hidden in the back anyway why are you so paranoid'. Then again, If she thought that was paranoid she had clearly never met someone like Gobber.

The drive lasted a scant hour as they approached the property owned by both him and his father's long time friend. Gobber the belch. The property looked like something out of a horror movie, Old abandoned looking fence, many warning signs including; 'Trespassers will be shot' right down to; 'Death to the boneknapper'. Despite the decayed look of the house in the distance and just before the old beaten track that functioned as the driveway there was a main gate was that was surprisingly automated, and required a code.

This was Astrid's new home… Hopefully. He drove up to the gate and let Astrid's dismal first impressions of the place humor him. It reminded him so much of… Well anybody who had ever been here for the first time.

They had reached Gobbers 'Holiday House'.

-0-

Night fury got out of the car and approached the number pad. He got out a phone and called a number, Astrid watched on curiously form the car. Should he not know the code given as he knows the person who lives here? Maybe they were not that close. 'Gobber' she presumes picked up.

"Hey Gobber hey Gobber, uh, yeah hey. Now I know you're still in the city and you're going to hate me for telling you this on such short notice but I need to crash, Okay, Someone I know needs to crash at your holiday house so we're going to need the code." He finished, She tuned out the conversation as she took in more of her surroundings.

There was a large field that was dominated by long grass and the occasional tree on the east and west side of the property followed by the house on the north side and them situated at the south. It could have been a decent place in it's prime but given the run down look of the house she didn't have too many expectations. Well it was better than being killed for existing.

The vigilante finally seemed to get the code as she was shaken from her thoughts by the sound of the large metal gate opening in front of them. He re-entered the car looking a bit flustered. At her questioning look he elaborated.

"Gobber wants to meet you. Which is going to be hard for me… And my identity so I spent the last half of that call trying to convince him to not call me by my real name and to just accept the fact that I'm hiding my real face so I promised to fill him in on what's going on later and also explain why my father doesn't know." He shared, She nodded in understanding as he'd probably have to spill who he is, hence his flustered state.

What Astrid was not yet aware of is that his flustered state was not due (mostly) to his impending questioning, but because Gobber had successfully snagged the juicy piece of information that she was a 'lady friend'.

-0-

Hiccup calmed himself down from the phone call well enough to focus on the task at hand, and also prepare a very good alibi for when Gobber arrives, or just go with the truth he's not sure yet. Gobber was very paranoid, hence why he made this place look abandoned just to have almost every security system known to man installed and not to mention have a very nice looking interior. Ex-government sure did have it's perks.

However, considering Hiccup did not have Gobbers hand, eye or urine (Remember, almost every type of security system). He had to have Gobber disable it remotely, so unfortunately for them if the apocalypse did come at the most inconvenient time of right then they wouldn't have much in the ways of protection.

He parked the car in the ragged looking garage and exited the car rather distracted as he made his way to the front porch, Astrid tailing not far behind, the car flashing its indicators at the remote lock of the door. He jogged up the couple steps that lead to the front door and put in the second code Gobber had given him, ignoring the three other scanners at the same entrance.

Astrid looked on behind him seeming rather confused at the extensive security measures for such a place. He did agree that it did seem a little extensive even for a high security mansion. I mean Gobber even boarded up all the windows. But as he opened the door and went into the unlight interior and flicked the switch he presumed Astrid would now understand why.

-0-

Astrid looked into the building absolutely perplexed and in awe. This place was, in a word, fancy... In two words? Very fancy. Everything in here looked rather pricey, the only criticism she could make is that the place was a bit dusty but regardless the interior alone looked like it was straight out of the villa the outside must have been in it's prime.

When she entered in behind Night Fury she looked at all the windows, boarded up so nobody could see inside. The man who owned the place made well in making it look like there was nothing of value here. She turned to the vigilante who was still very amused with her surprise.

"So he made the outside look like shit to… Hide everything in here?" She inquired, Night Fury shrugged and gestured around.

"Pretty much. You thought I was rich when you saw my car but no this guy… Now he is rich, but like I said he is also paranoid, and he does not trust you an ounce so he will be here in about an hour to meet you, probably interrogate you, and me. So that will be fun." He answered. She nodded in understanding as she went into the next room and much like the entrance was just as flashy.

She took her time wandering from room to room, admiring the stylish design of pretty much the whole place, there was a pool table in the back, a lavish dining room and kitchen, expensive chinaware and a massive television, the place was deluxe. eventually however she made her way back to the kitchen where Night Fury was looking through the dismal cupboard supplies.

"Well I'll have to get some food for us and everything but everything else should be in order." He notified and she quirked a brow.

"Wait you're staying with me?" She asked moving over to lean on the bench as he closed the cupboard door.

"W-well yeah I mean just for a little while, whilst you settle in, who knows how long you might be here while Fishlegs and I work on everything else. But patience is the key and we promise to get you back to your normal life as fast as possible." He supplied and one of the words bit at her memory, just the way he worded it... But she ignored the feeling as she sighed.

"I see. It's just a little hard to believe my life turned upside down so quickly you know." She remarked quietly. He went to scratch at the back of his neck awkwardly and she found it a little endearing but she was quick to shove it back down. She quickly changed the subject.

"But hey at least you're working on it, The police force seemed more interested in taking you down than the people who actually attacked me." She added shrugging with her hands up in a gesture of comparison.

"Well they handed it off to the Berk Intelligence Agency to look after it so they are technically perfectly free to chase me" He answered and she frowned.

"How did you know the BIA were looking into it?" She questioned and he backpedaled slightly. Unsure of who was taking care of her case herself.

"Well I just kind of presumed so, It's more their thing, like, large scale terrorist attacks on office buildings doesn't sound like something you're regular police force would take care of." He reasoned. There was a small silence as they stared at each other slightly, well. She was staring into heavily tinted glass where she could see her own reflection more than him but same deal.

"Well, Gobbler or whatever his name is will be here shortly so you need to think of a cover and I need to figure out what I am going to do with my new life as a fugitive." She burst out suddenly. The silence that had crept up on them dissipated and he hummed in acknowledgment.

"Yeah I should really get onto that." He mused. However to their luck or lack thereof. Their time was up as they heard a vehicle revving up the driveway. And from a peak through the cracks in the windows she could see that a black hummer had pulled up just behind Night Fury's car and there was sure to be a very interesting conversation or two ahead of them.

-0-

The seas churned with what seemed like it's own fear at the man aboard the ship that was anchoring in the secluded dock. The night was cool but the men waiting for the leader of this vessel to appear were sweating at the mere thought of what this man had done in the past.

This man was a war criminal and carried out genocides on his own terms many times... A solid ally for the army that was being created, The Red Death would be pleased, but this was still a very black hearted and cruel demon that resided on that ship. And when he appeared with no weapons and a black trailing cape there was no doubt the man could still kill a man with no effort at all.

He stepped onto the platform and gave the men posted to greet him a once over and grunted in what seemed to be disapproval. He made no move as he was then assaulted by a loud and obnoxious voice.

"Oh-hoh man it's really him, Drago. I've heard so much about you and I have to say, Big fan, Very big fan. How many people have you killed personally? Two thousand? Three? Whose even keeping count!?" The man raved, Drago stared at him, expressionless.

"I am keeping count of my own however, very personal, I've killed seven hundred and thirty six but hey, have to start somewhere. Anyway, Names Dagur, leader of one of the most intimidating and ruthless gangs that grace the world, the Berserkers at your service." The man- Dagur finished. There was a brief silence as Drago remained expressionless as more from the island came to greet or observe this foreign addition to their ranks.

"Hah, Silent, I like this guy!" Dagur burst and then began to laugh maniacally. Another voice cut in, a smooth and eloquent voice quite a foil to Dagur who was still cackling to himself.

"Apologies for the impertinence and forwardness of Dagur, he is eager but still rather inexperienced. I am Vigo, Leader of the Dragon Hunters, And I assume you would like to acquaint yourself with the Red Death?" He questioned hand extended in greeting, Drago finally spoke, unmoving.

"It is rather disrespectful for a host not to greet his guest upon arrival. I expected more." Drago articulated. Vigo nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"Yes I completely understand but the Red Death does not show himself to those who are not principal. If you may, I'll lead you to him. Drago, See to it that his ship is unloaded properly" He finished and Dagur glared at him but brightened up in an instant.

"Sure sure, not a belonging out of place!" He yelled after the groups retreating form.

"Prick" He muttered when nobody could hear him.

Dagur considered killing the more well spoken figurehead. But he himself would be killed for his treachery. It was amazing that a place filled with malevolent people could follow orders enough to band together, the Red Death was a powerful ruler after all.

However, before the Red Deaths rise to power he had run into powerful adversaries that tried to stop him with good intent, Dagur briefly wondered if anyone would try and stop them now. It did not really matter however, because a man with enough influence to band together small but deadly gangs, mercenaries and criminals from around the world in a cartel that would be enough to scare any government agency let alone the mere city of Berk.

Because I have to have everything massively embellished don't I. A cartel of criminals to form an Army? Like, Geez. Can't just be a mob boss could it, No, Had to be incredibly massive.

Well. Hey, Things are going to happen though, I can promise that.

Also apologies for all the breaks between perspectives. I had trouble with this chapter if you could not tell. But I'll get back into the swing of things soon.

~Dragonbow117.