Chapter 11

Heather entered the precinct lockers for her midday shift and deposited her duffle bag into her space before shutting the locker door. The hinges creaked while she grimaced.

"Hi," A voice said which startled her out of her thoughts.

"Uhm, hi..." Heather replied as she looked to her left to see the new hire from yesterday greeting her. "I didn't see you there,"

"Don't worry. I'm used to being invisible," the new detective joked.

"You made quite the impression yesterday though Detective Johnson," She looked the woman up and down noting that she had no uniform on but instead sported a hoodie and jeans.

"Mala, please," she corrected.

"Heather," The other introduced. "I'm Patrol,"

"Vice," Mala stated. Heather hummed as the clothes now made sense.

"Ah, I was wondering where you'd be placed,"

"Not my first choice. I used to work homicide in LA," The other woman shrugged while bending down to tie one of her shoelaces.

"What brings you all the way to Berk?" Heather then asked curiously. LA was definitely bigger than Berk. It struck her as odd that a Homicide detective would give up life in a city where she could get a promotion much easier.

"You know, this and that. Things just didn't work out in LA. I decided to transfer." Mala just shrugged. "Figured I try my luck up north.

"I know this and that," Heather nodded. "It's nice to see another female. I'm getting tired of the others avoiding me like a plague,"

"How come?" the other questioned.

"It's a long story. You'll probably hear about some of it when your colleagues tell you to avoid me,"

"I like to judge a person's character for myself," Mala quipped.

"I'm not getting my hopes up just yet. You'll see soon enough," Heather remarked with a raised brow. "Word of advice, keep your head down in this town."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just a piece of advice!" Heather stated. "I don't know how you did it in LA but here the only person you watch out for is yourself."

"This town can grow on you but it can also drag you down into its filthy underbelly,"

"That sounds like a line out of a Noir film," Mala remarked.

"Think what you like," Heather said as she turned towards the door to leave the locker room and to get on with her shift. "If you don't want to believe me that's fine but don't say I didn't tell you so,"

As Heather stepped out of the locker room, leaving the new detective with more questions than answers, she could feel the stares of her colleagues as she made her way to the briefing meeting. It had been two years now and still, her colleagues held a grudge, but what was she to expect in this godforsaken city? It screwed her over more than once.

She kept her head high as she walked into the briefing room. With a nod to her Sergeant, she then took a seat in the back while waiting for the meeting to start.

Meanwhile, Astrid was being fed premium meat from the charcuterie board Hiccup had prepared. They were snuggling together on a plaid cloth, a picnic basket to the side, and two half-filled wine glasses in between them. Damian had wolfed down one of the Caprese sandwiches before going to play in the playground that overlooked the hill Hiccup and Astrid had settled upon.

"That boy has too much energy," Astrid commented as she watched her son try to climb up one of the slides.

"Remember when those slides were made from metal?" Hiccup laughed. "I think I burned my butt off on those,"

"Kind of," Astrid mentioned while looking away slightly.

"Hmmm," Hiccup commented as he had just stuck a grape in his mouth.

"I guess I can be honest with you Hiccup," Astrid mumbled. "I didn't really have that much of a childhood. It was mostly studying and going to the extracurriculars my parents wanted. I don't think I've ever really been on a slide." she confessed "Isn't that a hoot?" she proceeded to laugh in a self-deprecating manner.

"Do you want to try it now?" Hiccup asked which totally caught Astrid off guard.

"Huh?" was all she could utter.

"The slide... or the swing. Do you want to have a go? I could push you,"

"I couldn't possibly," She started to protest.

"Why not?" Hiccup questioned. "There isn't a rule that only kids can sit on a swing. To be honest with you, I would still jump into a bouncy house whenever I get the chance,"

She looked at Hiccup and tried to imagine him just bouncing around in a bouncy house. To her, it seemed somewhat laughable. Hiccup was a successful businessman, with some 'alleged' underworld dealings under his name. He was a man she'd seen with muscle following behind him respectfully and even an advisor. And here he was claiming that he'd jump into a bouncy house if the situation allowed for it.

"M'lady," Hiccup said, extending his hand as he stood up. Astrid grasped it as he proceeded to help her up. "Your fun awaits," He smiled as he led her to one of the metal swings on the playground. Astrid sat a bit hesitantly at first but then started to enjoy herself more as Hiccup pushed to get her to swing a bit higher. She let out a gleeful laugh as her some of her hair whipped in front of her face and her sundress skirt fluttered about. When she finally stopped the swing to catch her breath she leaned back against Hiccup's chest which had been a steady support behind her.

"Mommy you went so high!" Damian exclaimed as he came running to his mom near the swing.

"Yes, mommy did," Astrid laughed and hugged the boy.

She turned back to Hiccup still with a smile "You know... There's this place with a ball pit I know,"

Meanwhile, on a rooftop not far from the park a lone blonde stood observing the trio with a pair of binoculars. "This is Slim Shady calling Bride of Grendel, do you copy, over," Came over the walkie-talkie next to the woman. She picked it up with quite an annoyed look before answering "Tuffnut, we seriously need to talk about your codenaming skills,"

"Yeah yeah, whatever sis. Seems the date's going well so far."

"Hiccup asked us to be extra security Tuff, not commentators on his date," Ruffnut just rolled her eyes.

"Come on, don't be like that sis! Even Ryker is invested!" Tuffnut said over the walkie-talkie.

"Ryker watches the Bachelorette... Of course, he's invested." Ruffnut just rolls her eyes now even though she knew her brother couldn't see it.

"Where are you anyways?" she then asked while looking around the park with the binoculars. "It wouldn't do if any of Grimmel's goons got too close."

"See the old lady near the park bench with the blue stroller?"

"Yeah," Ruffnut focussed on the person her brother mentioned. She frowned and looked again before grabbing the radio and yelling "TUFFNUT ARE YOU SERIOUSLY DRESSED AS AN OLD LADY?!"

"It's the perfect disguise for a park!" Tuffnut retorted. "Besides, could you imagine any goons' faces when an old lady tackles them?! and the boss did say to give him and his date space. Also this stroller is great for holding weapons," Ruffnut just groaned at her brother's antics before going back to her surveillance.

"Well grab your granny bridges Tuff, looks like the boss and his date are cleaning up to go to another location. You think he's gonna offer it to her now?"

"Rodger Dodger. I'll make my way over to my bike," Tuffnut stated over the radio.

When Hiccup and Astrid had exited the park the car was waiting for them. Hiccup's driver took the picnic basket from his employer and dropped it in the trunk while Hiccup opened the door of his jet black vehicle for Astrid and Damian. The town car's backseat was quite spacious and Damian glanced out the window as the city speeded past.

"Bring us to the address I previously gave you," Hiccup told his driver who just nodded while Astrid looked confused.

"Just a little detour M'lady. I promised you a surprise today right,"

"You had mentioned that though I confess it kind of slipped my mind," she responded.

"Mommy look! There's a granny on a bike!" Damian suddenly exclaimed which caused Astrid and Hiccup to turn towards the lane of traffic the boy was pointing at.

"Damian it's not polite to point even if that old lady is riding a Harley," Astrid admonished.

Hiccup too was looking at the woman in the next lane over, first, he was perplexed, and then recognition dawned on him. "Tuffnut what the hell?!" He said mostly out of breath.

"Did you say something Hiccup?" Astrid questioned.

"No... nothing. Excuse. Me I have to make a quick phone call." He stated while pulling out his phone from his pants pocket.

"Mommy, when you're that old are you gonna ride one too?" Damian asked innocently while Hiccup was calling Ruffnut.