"Is there anything about that man that isn't perfect?" Ruffnut gushed to herself as she watched Eret entertain a couple of kids outside his hut. "I mean.. look at him! He is perfect."

"Are you still crushing on him, even after what happened with Heather?" Astrid reminded her.

"They hooked up, so what?" Ruffnut retorted. "I'm sure he is over her by now. It's been months!"

Astrid shrugged, pulling petals of the flowers she was holding. "If you say so."

Ruffnut continued to stare dreamily at the handsome, hunky man. "I just wish he would give me a chance for once," she mumbled more to herself than anyone. "What do you and Heather have that I don't?" she sighed.

Astrid raised an eyebrow.

Ruffnut realized what she had just said and then cleared her throat awkwardly. "Uh, it's obvious that he likes you," she grumbled. "Like every hot-blooded male in the Archipelago."

Astrid blinked before bursting out laughing. The whole idea sounded ridiculous in her head. Ruffnut huffed, crossing her arms in offense.

"Wait.. are you serious?" Astrid asked after a moment, wiping the corner of her eyes.

"Of course I am serious Hoff, why wouldn't I be?" Ruffnut grumbled. "It's so easy for you to laugh it off but it would be a dream come true if Eret looked at me the same way he looks at you."

Astrid groaned. "Ruff, he sees me as a sister, nothing more! Please don't make this into something it's not."

"I'm not!" Ruffnut sighed. "He.. told me."

Astrid remained sceptic. "I find that hard to believe. Why would Eret just.. tell you something like that?"

Ruffnut shrugged. "He was drunk and.. admitted to his heart's darkest secret?"

Astrid shook head. "Well, whatever the truth is.. I personally don't see him as anything more than a brotherly figure."

Ruffnut smirked. "But you got to admit he is hot, right?" she prompted.

Astrid scrunched her nose in disagreement. "Not exactly my definition of hot."

Ruffnut gaped at her in mild offense. "How can you say that?"

Astrid shrugged. "He is not my type."

It was Ruffnut's time to laugh now. "Since when do you have a type Hoff?"

"Since I realized what I find attractive in someone?"

"Which is?"

"The unconventional, unassuming and caring kind," she confessed. "I like good guys. Nice guys. With freckles and a healthy dose of sarcasm."

What had attracted her to Hiccup had been his heart and his ability to see the good in everyone, including his worst enemies.

He had been the only one able to see the good in dragons when no one else could. See past their exterior and find a connection. When Hiccup stood up for Toothless in the cove Astrid realized for the first time how pure and noble he was at heart. He didn't flinch away from a challenge when he believed it was for a good cause. He stood up for it.

What's even more, Hiccup made Astrid a better version of herself. He showed a different way of living. He gave a taste of freedom and freed her from her burdens.

As a shieldmaiden, Astrid had promised herself never to fall in love but Hiccup had still somehow managed to make her fall for him. He wasn't like other guys with the typical brawny look and attitude. If Astrid was honest, she had never really been attracted to guys of that kind. She preferred a much lankier appearance.

So not only did Hiccup ignite new feelings within her that made her feel like a girl but he also made her realize she inclined towards the unconventional type.

"But guys like that are so.. boring!" Ruffnut protested. "Even Heather got bored with Fishlegs in the end and hooked up with a bunch of hot Beserkers.. and not to forget Eret!"

"Well, I'm not Heather, and don't you dare call Hiccup boring," Astrid scoffed. "He is anything but boring. In fact, I wish he was a little boring so I could sit down and catch my breath for once."

Ruffnut started laughing, making Astrid sock her.

"Ow!" she yelped and rubbed her arm. "You really love that fishbone, don't you?"

Astrid held back a smile. "He always had my attention, even back when he used to annoy me. It has always been him. For me, at least."

"Maybe you should tell Eret that then," Ruffnut chuckled. "So he will stop thinking he has a chance with you and I can finally get him," she finished off dreamily.

Astrid rolled her eyes. "Tell him yourself."

l-l

I had this in my drafts since forever and decided to polish it a little. Hope you guys like it.

((Rant time: I have been seeing so many stories where Hiccstrid's dynamic is copied over to other couples and it is a real pet-peeve of mine. The dynamic between Hiccup and Astrid can't be copied and pasted over to characters that are not Hiccup and Astrid. It's their specific personas, what makes them who they are, that created that specific Hiccstrid dynamic. Hiccup and Astrid are not going to behave the same with other people as they behave with one another. The nicknames, gestures, banter, teasing and overall chemistry belongs to their relationship. I really hate reading Astrid braiding some other guy's hair or some other girl behaving exactly the same as Astrid would with Hiccup even though she is not Astrid. What Astrid and Hiccup are to each other has had a very long and very specific development. They are not going to have that exact type of carefree, playful relationship with anyone else.))

Anyway, so.. should I continue this? If so, what do you guys want to see happen next?