Eighteen: Into the game

"Are we all clear?" Toothless asked, looking around the room. They were in the main suite, with Snotlout unconscious on the bed, snoring drunkenly after unwisely downing Ruffnut's killer cocktail. The twins were sitting on the bar with the rest and the dragons ranged around-except Tuff who was helping Astrid get ready. Hiccup was perched on the windowsill, trying to be inconspicuous.

"I've got control of all the cameras and access to the security system, if required," Fishlegs said, his fingers dancing over his computer keyboard. Iggy had located him a second computer and he had managed to network them so he was feeling much more at home. "Heads from all syndicates and firms are here as well as at least half a dozen island First Ministers. And your friends from Hunters' Isle..."

There was a thud as Hiccup hit his head back against the window. "Just perfect," he muttered. He was now dressed in a white dress shirt, black dress pants and even patent black dress shoes that Toothless had improbably obtained. A bow tie was fastened lopsidedly at his neck. With his tousled dark auburn hair and shining emerald eyes-and his bruises carefully covered by concealer-he was looking very sharp, though the defeated slump of his shoulders partially ruined the effect.

"We need you and Astrid to penetrate the Casino and see if you can get close to Alvin," Toothless said.

"That may be awkward since Astrid hates my guts now," Hiccup noted.

"She doesn't hate your guts!" Ruff commented easily. "She's just mad because you behaved like every sexist pig on the face of Midgard and ogled that other woman when she was trying to defend you to Eret!" Hiccup face-palmed.

"I am so dead," he groaned.

"Focus," Toothless growled. Hiccup had shown a lot of chutzpah and intelligence at times interspersed with a very uncertain young man who was struggling with pretty much every relationship he had. But a pair of emerald eyes flicked up and he nodded.

"Alvin is planning something on the 17th," the young agent said heavily. "AI6 is gone and no one believed me anyway. Snotlout heard nothing and...why is he asleep anyway?"

"Severe alcohol poisoning," Hookfang growled in a disgruntled voice. "He drank that lethal mixture Ruff made! And he's still breathing! That's the most surprising thing. Him hearing nothing isn't-he never shuts up and NEVER listens!"

"And Eret has to be assumed as working for the wrong team," Hiccup added. "And he's a far better agent than me. He'll anticipate everything we do. He can finger us to Alvin. And he already despises me..."

"Then he's the fool," Astrid said from the doorway. Hiccup glanced up-and gaped. Astrid was standing tall on very sparkly killer heels, her slender outline sheathed in a narrow-strapped dress of azure silk, the shimmer of the material altering very interestingly as she moved her toned shape. The neckline was low enough to emphasise her chest while her blonde hair was swept up into an elaborate knot on the top of her head, coiled locks framing her face. Long diamond earrings hung from her ears. Tuff had highlighted her eyes with the smallest hint of bronze and a tiny flick of mascara, the lightest of foundation, powder and blusher emphasising her beauty. Hiccup rose slowly to his feet, his emerald eyes wide with utter shock and awe as Tuff appeared behind Astrid, giving a wild smile and a double thumbs-up.

"Um...wow...you're beautiful," he mumbled, blushing. There was an sharp intake of breath as Fishlegs and the twins cringed, recalling Astrid's aversion to compliments. She stiffened...and then she walked predatorily forward, staring at him, her face very stern. And then she punched him hard in the shoulder. He whimpered and clutched at the point of impact. "Owww!"

"That's for ogling that girl in the gym!" she snapped and he tried to back away but she grabbed the front of his shirt and hauled him close, slamming her lips onto his with as much determination to another chorus of gasps and oohs. Hiccup gently raised a hand to press against her cheek for the aeons-long ten seconds of the kiss before she finally pulled away.

"Um...wow?"

"And that's for everything else...including the compliment," she murmured, staring into his completely stunned eyes. He stared back goofily, completely beyond speech. "Um-Hiccup? Hallo?" She waved a hand in front of his eyes.

"Oh Thor-you broke him," Fishlegs commented as the twins began to laugh.

"He can get us out of a collapsed building without a flinch but when the girl of his dreams kisses him-he loses the power of thought!" Tuff sniggered.

"Hey-you never had the power of thought!" Ruff shot at him.

"True, Butt-Elf but I never let that hold me back," he replied happily.

"Wass goin' on..." a slurred voice mumbled from the bed as Snotlout raised his head. Astrid cast him an irritated look, then grabbed Hiccup and kissed him again. Snotlout promptly fainted. Hiccup finally blinked and sighed.

"Um...thanks?" he murmured.

"Sorry," she murmured back, leaning close. "I didn't mean it. About not meaning it. I really do mean that you are cute-because you are and I know you don't have much experience with women do you?" He shook his head, blushing.

"Nope. No girlfriends. Only person I ever asked laughed in my face-and that was back in the Freshman year of High School. Rest of the time, I was a social leper. A complete repellant to the opposite sex. Yup." She rested her hand gently on his scorching cheek.

"This doesn't mean we're engaged or anything...but you are pretty hot in that outfit, Hiccup," she told him softly, eyes trailing up and down his tall, lean shape. "And you are a really interesting guy. And I actually do like you...as long as you keep eyes front, mister!" He nodded frantically.

"Um, eyes only on you, Milady," he mumbled.

"Well that won't work," Toothless commented, rolling his eyes. "This is serious. You need situational awareness, not dopey gooey-eyed lovey dovey nonsense..." Hiccup sighed.

"Thank you for summing that up. Maybe you should send the twins?" he suggested.

"We're already going as waiters," Tuff reminded him. "And the other dragons will be in the Casino, by the slots, watching out for any problems."

"Like this," Fishlegs said in a worried voice. He turned his screen and displayed a picture of Hiccup, marked 'WANTED-TERRORISM'. Everyone crowded round the screen as Fishlegs read the newsflash on ANN-the Archipelago News Network.

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock, 21, a former employee of AI6 has been identified as the person responsible for planting the bombs that destroyed the AI6 building in Berk City on the 11th, killing hundreds. Estranged son of the Commander, he is described as extremely dangerous and should he be sighted, Archipelago Special Service operatives should be called. The public are advised not to approach..."

"Oh Thor," Hiccup groaned.

"Archipelago Special Service? That means..." Tuff thought.

"ASS," Ruff sniggered.

"Unfortunately, they're completely lethal and ruthless," Toothless commented. "They'll take you down without hesitation."

"Thank you, Heather," he muttered as he slumped onto the chaise longue. Astrid sat by him and held his hand. She looked at him and grinned.

"You've got lipstick all over," she told him, gently wiping a smear from just under his bottom lip and he managed a small smirk.

"That would be down to you, Milady," he said gently. Then he reached over and handed her the sparkling evening purse. "This is for you." Her eyes lit and she took it with a smile.

"Why thank you, good sir," she smirked as he gently guided her hand to a hidden catch.

"This releases a small dagger," he told her quietly, deftly tucking it back in once it had clicked out. "This catch gives you a mini-stunner..." The small plastic device snapped out of the concealed holster and he refolded it and tucked it back in. "Ten shots in the clip-one will bring a full grown man down in three seconds."

"Really?" she asked and he nodded.

"The bottom is reinforced with titanium steel so can be used as a bludgeon if required." He demonstrated then flipped the purse open. "And a Stinger mini-revolver in the pocket. Just in case." Her eyes popped wide.

"That's so sweet," she said and he flushed.

"Um...it was what I used to do...and I don't think I was completely hopeless at that..." he mumbled. Her hand tightened around his.

"And it's a beautiful bag as well," she smiled. "Get your Tux: it's showtime." He rose cautiously, still very bruised and slipped on his white Tuxedo, fastening the button and brushing it down.

"Um...is that okay?" he asked, suddenly realising everyone was staring, with the females gaping.

"Hot, hot, hot," Ruff commented as Astrid rose and slid her arm through his.

"Mine," she purred possessively, accepting the ear-com that Meatlug handed her. "Fish-you will look out and monitor telephones. Make sure we know if ASS are coming."

"While we see if we get into the room where that meeting is happening," Hiccup sighed. The twins rose and followed as Hiccup held the door open. "After you, Milady." She smiled and flounced out, hips swinging with Hiccup walking alongside. The twins bumped heads then wandered off down the back stairs, hoping to infiltrate the kitchens. But they had barely left when Iggy burst in.

"T-we have a major problem," he exclaimed and the dragons all stared at him. "The mission is going to be pulled."

"What?" Meatlug gaped. "We've not had any word..." Iggy sighed and stared at his friends. They wouldn't like the news.

"T-the Red Queen's arrived."

oOo

The casino was plush, deep red carpets thick underfoot, the lighting bright enough to make the place look sumptuous but not so bright there wasn't an ambiance. Every table was highly polished and the green baize was pristine. The dealers were all women, immaculately garbed in the deep green cocktail dresses that seemed to be the uniform of Bertha's Casino while waiters in black circulated soundlessly, trays sweeping drinks and snacks in to keep the customers at the tables and spending. Hiccup glanced up, hearing a roar from the Craps table. It was a game he didn't understand so he knew it was wise to avoid it. Emerald gaze sweeping the room, he noted that the Roulette wheel was also well patronised, crowds of eager punters leaning forward, placing bets and chinking cocktails when they won. Over to the far side were a selection of Poker tables, each playing a different variant of the game. Those tables were more sober, the players concentrated and varying piles of chips evidence of their success.

Hiccup calmly walked to the cashier and handed over the card Toothless had given him in. "Eight hundred," he said evenly, "for a start." The cashier's face stretched into a completely insincere smile at the new player and she slid the chips efficiently over, a mixture of small and larger value tokens. He nodded, slipped them quietly into his pocket but flipped a small denomination green chip back to her with a wink then turned back to Astrid, who was scanning the room.

"Over there," she murmured, her arm slipping through his as they made their casual way to the Blackjack table. As far as Hiccup could tell, it was an entry-level game for a gambler and as a novice, he wanted to get his bearings before they tried to get into the exclusive Asgard Suite. Chivalrously, Hiccup held the chair as Astrid perched and then he sat beside her, setting down a handful of chips by his place. He handed Astrid a handful as well and smiled to the dealer, who was eyeing him up hopefully. She was a small dark-haired woman with an upturned nose and freckles and she gestured to the pair as her hand trailed down to the shoe.

"Place your bets," she said in a pleasant, low voice and Hiccup smiled.

"What's the table limit, miss?" he murmured and she grinned.

"A hundred per hand-two hundred if you split," she answered easily. He had passed the first test. A stocky bald man with jug ears and a bushy moustache huffed and played with his chips as the teller slid her hands over the shoe. "Place your bets," she repeated and the bald man immediately bet fifty dollars while Hiccup bet ten dollars and Astrid eagerly threw down twenty in chips. The dealer dealt the cards face up and Hiccup gently stared at his card: a five. Not a great card so he kept his face as neutral as possible while Astrid smiled her eight. The teller gave a bright smile and dealt again. The bald man got an eight to add to his four then nodded, tapping the table. The dealer nodded, flipping out a ten, making 22. Bust. The man snorted and drained his cocktail, waving to the waitress for another. Astrid got a seven and nodded, tapping the table and picked up a three. She shook her head. The dealer motioned her hand horizontally over the cards, indicating she wanted to stand and Astrid mirrored the action. Finally, Hiccup watched as she dealt him a six. He shook his head but tapped his finger lightly and the dealer dealt him another six. He shrugged, waving his hand over the cards to indicate he was standing and was unsurprised as the dealer dealt a queen and slid out a ten.

"Twenty," she announced, her eyes flicking over the remaining hands. "The house wins," she purred and collected the bets. Astrid huffed.

"Does that happen a lot?" she asked and Hiccup nodded.

"Statistically, the house always wins," he replied. "Or what would be the point? In every pack of 52 cards, there are 16 cards worth ten-the ten and all the face cards. Aces can be one or eleven. You aim to get as close as you can to 21 without going over which is a bust. If you are closer than the house to 21 without busting, you win. If you tie with the house, you bet is rolled over to the next hand. House has to reach seventeen or more before she can stop. Twenty one wins unless the house gets twenty one as well. Ace plus ten value card-twenty one with your first two cards or blackjack-always wins unless the house gets blackjack as well."

Astrid stared at him: she hadn't guessed he was a gambler but he gave a small smile. "Um...basic general knowledge?" he suggested and then sighed. "Okay, Gobber used to play cards horribly badly at Snoggletog when I was small...before I became the pariah I am now. I kind of learned the rules-because I was always the dealer. Well, I was the only one sober enough to deal by the time they got the cards out..."

"Drinks?" a waitress asked brightly, her gleaming smile and bright blonde bob highlighted by the bright illumination.

"Vodka-martini, shaken, not stirred," Astrid ordered calmly and Hiccup raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Yes-always fancied one. You know-you always hear it on the movies and...well, it's supposed to be cool," she hissed.

"It'll be dry," he murmured. "Very very very dry."

"I'm a viking-I can take it," she smirked and he ghosted his hand across hers.

"I know you can," he agreed. "I, on the other hand, am a total lightweight. Virgin Pillager please." The waitress gaped and blushed.

"A what?" she gasped and he grinned lopsidedly.

"Ginger beer, lemonade and honey," he told her. "A Pillager is those-minus the honey but with a large slug of mead and a Akvavit."

"Isn't that a Ravisher?" she asked in shock.

"No, a Ravisher is mead, vodka and gin with lemonade and lingonberry syrup," Astrid cut in. The girl gaped.

"That's an Eirik the Red!" she snapped.

"Eirik the Red is lingonberry syrup, mead, vodka, gin and akvavit," Astrid told her smugly.

"Where are you from?" she asked suspiciously.

"Berk," Astrid retorted. "You can't even make a simple drink?" The waitress scowled and nodded, stamping off.

"And how did you know all those drinks?" Hiccup asked her curiously, his emerald eyes sweeping over her poised shape. Astrid gave a confident smirk.

"I have spent a lot of nights out with my girlfriends working my way down the cocktail menu," she told him and he gave a strained smile. Nights out with friends was something he really wasn't familiar with, teased and ostracised at school and in the Service. "Didn't know the Virgin version though." Hiccup shrugged.

"Um...had to go to a do with my father before Mom died," he admitted quietly. They had needed to play as a normal family so young Hiccup had been roped in-though as he was already working towards joining the service, he had come willingly and done whatever he was told. Though afterwards, Stoick had criticised him for not finding out more as he circulated-even though the boy had even fifteen and wasn't even an agent... "She made sure I didn't get wasted..." They placed their bets and played another hand: Hiccup lost again but Astrid was paid for a 19. Sitting back, the auburn haired young agent watched the huge shape of Alvin and his lieutenants walk through the Casino an be ushered into the private suite at the back. He glimpsed the shape of Tuff through the doors, a tray balanced on his arm before they closed. A long glass of an amber coloured liquid was slid in front of him, with a generous amount of ice and slices of kumquats mixed in. He lifted it and took a sip: sweet, thirst-quenching and non-alcoholic. He nodded as Astrid grabbed her drink and took a sip.

"Urgh!" she complained, almost spitting it out and waving it under the waitress's nose. "That is foul! You could clean a set of knives with this!"

"It's what you ordered," the waitress said smugly and Astrid scowled, her eyes seeing Hiccup bite his lip.

"If you dare say 'I told you so' I'll make you drink this thing!" she threatened, waving the olive on a stick that had been floating in it in his face and seeing his eyes widen pleasingly. Satisfied, she handed it back to the waitress. "Can you put this in a long glass with a lot of lemonade please?" The girl sniggered and walked away, muttering about 'dumb blondes'. Hiccup gripped Astrid's wrist before she could chase after the waitress and leaned close.

"Focus, Milady," he murmured. "We're just playing a few nice hands of blackjack. Nothing to get stressed about..."

"Have you tried counting cards?" Fishlegs piped up over their earpieces and Hiccup sighed as he turned back to the table-to see the dealer had changed. In her place was a pretty blonde with wild blonde locks, a far more expensive deep teal cocktail dress that barely corralled her buxom chest-clearly only by some major feat of engineering. Her bright blue eyes swept over the auburn-haired young man and the fiery but beautiful blonde at his side and he realised she was the girl from the gym. Instinctively, he tightened his grip around Astrid's wrist.

"Ow."

"Hiya, cutie," the dealer said in a lazy and familiar voice. "You can tell your friend over the earpiece we don't take kindly to card counting. Lotsa places will just break your legs but here at Bertha's we're much more civilised." She leaned closer, giving him a definite eyeful of her cleavage. "Here, we just break kneecaps."

"EEEP!" Even Astrid managed a small smile at Fishlegs's panicked squeak over the com.

"How-how is that different?" Hiccup asked, eyes wide and aware Astrid was elbowing him. The dealer grinned broadly.

"Kneecaps are smaller," she said. Astrid pulled her arm free and grabbed Hiccup's drink, taking a long sip. "And don't worry, blondie-I'm not after your very cute little hunk of red-haired innocence. Though he is scorching in that Tux. No, I'm here to play a little blackjack."

"Are we going to win?" Astrid asked in a tight voice.

"Hel, no," the blonde said. "The House always wins." Then she smiled. "You just won't lose."

They played a couple of hands and Hiccup realised that she was slick, efficient and cheating, pulling out the exact cards she wanted, not what was next in the shoe. Astrid received her modified vodka-martini and deemed it acceptable and Hiccup gave the waitress a generous tip because he knew she was annoyed by their unusual drink orders. Then the dealer dealt Hiccup an ace. He stared into her eyes and saw her wink.

"Wanna up your bet, honey?" she suggested and he pushed another hundred dollars by the card. Smiling, she turned over the knave of spades. "Blackjack. You must have a lucky face, sweetie." Then she dealt herself a hand: the ten of clubs and the ace of hearts. "But so've I. Push." Hiccup stared at her and nodded, feeling Astrid lean against him.

"What's she up to?" she murmured as Hiccup sipped his Virgin Pillager.

"Either cleaning me out or setting me up," he murmured as the blonde dealer dealt him another ace. He casually bet another hundred, seeing his pile of chips severely diminished. Calmly, the ten of hearts was laid over his ace.

"Blackjack again, honey," the dealer grinned. "You are lucky. Maybe you should try your hand at poker?" He managed a nonchalant shrug as the dealer calmly bust with a 3, a 9 and a king. "Treble bets and blackjack pays three to two." She carefully counted out a suitable number of counters-and slid over an oblong hand-sized chip in gold, marked 'Pass to Asgard'. "I think a man such as you-with his beautiful companion-should be sent to the home of the Gods." She jerked her head to the door of the private suite and the two huge bouncers guarding the way. Hiccup pocketed the chips, took the invitation and offered Astrid his arm.

"Shall we, Milady?" he asked, sliding the dealer a generous chip. She smiled knowingly back at him as she laid her hand over the chip, her eyes trailing after the young couple as the headed to the door to the Asgard Suite. Then she turned to the other player and shrugged.

"Sorry, hon-this table is now closed," she said and walked confidently away. Astrid peered after her as they reached the door and were waved into the Asgard Suite.

"Who is she?" she grumbled and Hiccup gave a small smile.

"Cameron Switcher," he said as the door closed behind them. "Agent VA3."

oOo

Toothless reached the Lobby at a flat run, acid-green eyes wide with shock as the huge shape of the Red Queen swept in, flanked by an honour guard of four burly men of the Nadder clan, their grey skin coats buttoned up to their necks and spiky helms covering everything except their remote blue eyes. The woman was close to seven feet in height, her rugged face with small grey eyes and long titian locks familiar. Her armoured steel jacket and full length skirt clattered as she moved and the light picked out the scarlet tattoos on her broad flat cheeks. Skidding to a stop in front of her, he bowed low.

"Majesty," he said respectfully, knowing the others were cowering in the lift. The Red Queen was the most dangerous and vicious of all the dragons, known for executing anyone who crossed her and barely tolerant of the eclectic little team Toothless had surrounded himself with. She curled her lip with barely-concealed anger and motioned him to stand up.

"Is he here?" she snapped, her voice hoarse and gruff. He nodded.

"He is already in play," he reported. "We have..."

"Change of plans," she growled. "Snafflefang's vision has changed-because we have received an offer. I am here to negotiate the terms of our alliance with Alvin."