MY TRUE HERO

(A How To Train Your Dragon Fanfiction)

by: Astrid Camicazi N. Hofferson

Summary: Hiccup Haddock has been Astrid Hofferson's bully for as long as she can remember. She despises him for everything he's done. But is he truly the bully who always wanted to hurt her, or is there more to him than meets the eye? (MODERN AU)

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON.

A/N1: This marks the final part of the story. I'm not sure if it'll meet your expectations, but I hope you'll enjoy it as much as the first two. Enjoy! :-)

A/N2: English isn't my first language, so I appreciate your patience. Constructive criticisms are welcome!

A/N3: Mild language and depictions of violence lie ahead. Consider yourself warned.

- HTTYD-

III

FAST FORWARD

-ASTRID-

I AM ASTRID Hofferson, nineteen. I live in Berkshire, but I just recently moved into an apartment in Dragon's Edge. I am currently in my first year at Archipelago University as a psychology student. My life in the past three years has been full of ups, downs, and surprises. I've learned a lot during this time, like that you don't always make the perfect decisions in life. But the thing that I've learned the most during those years is that you should not judge a person by merely looking at his deeds because there's always more than meets the eye, and what I am saying is based on my experience.

Most of the people here at the university are enjoying their lives because, as you know, you only live once'. Some are enjoying their time with their friends by going out and attending parties, like my roommates Heather and Ruffnut and her twin, Tuffnut. But not me. I prefer to study so that I can achieve my dream of becoming a psychiatrist one day, and who knows? I could be a professional medical doctor only if I wanted to. Other students have relationships with other students. Me? I don't. Not after what happened during my first relationship three years ago. I thought that he was the perfect guy for me, but he wasn't.

Flashback

Three Years Ago

Hiccup left me dumbfounded. I don't know what to think or what to say. I wanted to believe him, but I still have doubts about it. But what if he's just making it up to make me feel guilty? What if he doesn't want to see me happy, which is why he is saying some things to make my boyfriend look bad? What if...? I shook my head and went home.

I usually do my homework, eat dinner, and go to sleep early. But tonight, I did not. What he told me earlier somehow had an impact on me and got me thinking. What if it's true? What if it's all a sham? What if...?

My deep thoughts were quickly cut off when my phone started ringing. I looked at the screen to see who was calling.

'Snottykins'

Right. Should I answer it or not? Should I confront him now? Nah.I decided to answer the call.

"Hello?"

"Hi babe! I'm surprised that you're still awake. You're not usually up this late. Anyway, what's up?"

"I'm good. I'm just finishing some homework in Algebra. It's a bit hard, you about you? What are you doing up this late?"

"I just can't sleep, babe, because you are constantly running in my mind, and I just wanted to check on you. It's fine to know that you're doing well, and I am positive that you could finish that homework in no time! Anyway, see you tomorrow at school, babe! Love you. Bye!"

"Bye. I love you too."

Then the phone call in my sixteen years of existence have I gotten so confused! I'm starting to have trust issues with my boyfriend and with the people around me. But I cannot just give my final verdict without further evidence. Aghhh! Maybe sleep can help with the confusion. I hope that this is all just a dream, or maybe a nightmare, and that tomorrow everything will be back to normal.

The next day

It is five o'clock in the morning, and the sleep has effectively helped me to clear my thoughts about yesterday. I immediately went out of bed, fixed it, and prepared for today's class.

It's six o'clock, and I'm leaving our house to go to school. My class is at seven, but I always wanted to arrive early at school. I was about to leave the house when my mom said that she wanted to give me a ride to school today, and of course I accepted it. Our house is a twenty-minute drive from school; hence, we arrived at six twenty in the morning. My mom dropped me off in the parking lot and bid me goodbye.

I started walking towards the entrance when I saw my boyfriend and his friends talking in the parking lot. I was about to approach him when I heard that their subject was me. Out of curiosity, I decided to hide behind one of the cars that were parked near them to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Dude, how's your relationship with Hofferson going?"

"Yeah, you've been together for some time now. Have you already done it?"

"And when are you going to ditch her? Don't tell me you are already falling for her, do you?"

"Well, our relationship is good as long she won't notice that I don't really love her. But will she? Because you know? She's head over heels with this piece of beauty. We haven't done it yet, but I'm sure we will sometime soon. And I'm not falling for her. You know that everything's a dare, right? When I get what I wanted, then I will ditch her."

So, Hiccup's right! Snotlout is just playing with my feelings, or, in Hiccup's words, he's just using his evil tricks on me! Damn that bastard!

I cannot just let this slide. I know that I must do something about it! Out of impulse and without thinking, I went out of my hiding place and beat the crap out of Snotlout.

"HOW DARE YOU TOY WITH ME, SNOTLOUT! DAMN YOU TO HELL, YOU FRICKIN' BASTARD!" I yelled at him with all my might while I still continued to beat him up with my heavy bag. His friends did not stop me because they could see that I was very furious at their friend right now, and they knew that it wouldn't be wise to feel my wrath.

I stopped beating him a couple of moments later. I am very tired. It's like I have used all my strength to unleash something that I thought I was not capable of. I dropped my bag and picked him up by his collar.

"Now, start explaining why the hell you did that to me, I demanded. "I trusted you, Snotlout, and this is what I get!"

Snotlout, bruised and beaten, instead of being scared of me and pleading for my mercy, just gave me a mischievous smirk and a chuckle.

"You know what? It's very simple. You are too gullible, babe," Snotlout said, full of confidence despite being in pain.

"Don't you ever fucking dare to call me babe again!"

"Sheesh... you are so fiesty. Don't be mad at me, Hofferson, because I'm just telling the truth! The fact that your head over heels for the Snotman gave it away. I mean, it would practically be a crime not to take advantage of it. You are too blinded by your feelings for me that you haven't seen the truth! Haha! Jokes on you!"

I dropped him and hardly kicked him in the abdomen before I left him and his friends.

As I started walking away from the parking lot, tears started to form around my eyes. Like I told Hiccup yesterday, I wish I wasn't blinded by my anger and became much more observant. If I had, I would have learned about the truth earlier, and none of this would have happened. But there's nothing I can do about it. There's no point in crying over spilled milk. But I still do. Hofferson doesn't cry. They don't show that they're weak. What's wrong with me? Perhaps it is just because I am just a human after all. A human who isn't perfect. A human is prone to errors. And a human who could get hurt.

I stopped in my tracks when I was nearing the school's front door. I let out an exasperated sigh as I wiped off my tears.

'Okay Astrid. Just calm down and put on a good show. Act as if nothing had happened. Everything would be all right.'

I continued walking and went inside, pretending as if nothing had happened. I went to my locker to get some things before going to class.

As I entered my homeroom, I tried to look for Hiccup so I could talk to him, but I did not see him in his usual seat. I asked Fishlegs, one of Hiccup's friends and a fellow classmate, if he knew where Hiccup was. At first, he seemed confused about what I was asking him, but he just told me that...

"Well, as of today, Hiccup just transferred to Raven Point Academy. His dad wanted him to transfer into RPA because it provides the best education in the vicinity. I didn't know why he would want to immediately transfer into another school right in the middle of the school year. All he just said was he wanted to make his dad happy and also because of some personal reasons."

"Is that so?" I asked.

"Yeah. Fishlegs nodded. "Wait a second. Why are you asking me anyway? You hate Hiccup in the first place, don't you?"

"It's none of your business anymore, Fishlegs, I deadpanned.

He looked at me and gasped as if he realized something.

"

Maybe you are the reason why Hiccup transferred schools in the first place!" Fishlegs pointed out.

I did not answer his question. Instead, I gave him a shrug and went into my seat.

Fishlegs might be right. I must be the reason why Hiccup went to Raven Point Academy. I must have hurt him so much that he cannot stand seeing me anymore.

oOo

They say that every action has its own consequences. It can be either good or bad, and everyone should face the consequences that would befall them because of their , I just did. I got called to the principal's office by Miss Mala Wing, and news flash: I just got suspended for beating Snotlout. Turns out, the muttonhead told his dad, Spitelout, about what I did, and his dad brought it up to Miss Wing's attention.I don't have any regrets about it. What I just did to him serves him right. I might be suspended for two weeks, but on the plus side, he's also gotten an hour of detention after school hours for the rest of the year because I countered everything that he did to me for the past few years. Jokes on him! Now who has the last laugh?

End Flashback

See? He isn't the perfect guy that I thought he was.

Anyway, I've been wanting to see Hiccup since it's been three years since I last saw him. I wanted to talk to him and tell him everything I felt. I wanted to say sorry for everything that I've done to him, even though he already forgave me way back when. I thought that my apology back then wasn't enough. I am thinking that there might still be a chance for us to become friends or something more than that, but only if I'm lucky, especially now that I have developed some crushes on him.

"Hey, Astrid. Heather snapped me back into reality by waving her hands repeatedly in front of my face.

I looked into my surroundings to see that I was still in the university cafeteria. Right, it's still breaktime.

I shook my head and sighed before I looked her directly in the eye.

"Are you okay?" she asked worriedly. "You are spacing out again, aren't you?"

"No, no. I'm perfectly fine, Heather," I said as I forced out a smile.

"Astrid, I know you aren't. I've been talking to you and you are clearly not listening to me. You are spacing out lately and you only do it when you are thinking about something. Astrid, if you have a problem, you know that I am always ready to listen and to support you," Heather said as she gently squeezed my hand.

"You know what, Heather? Our flaxen-haired friend is just stressing out because of one person," Tuffnut said in a matter-of-fact tone as he popped out of nowhere like a mushroom, bringing a tray of food along with him.

We almost jumped into our seats and clutched our chests due to the sudden shock.

"Geez, Tuff! Can you please don't scare us like that? I told him.

"Yeah, you nearly gave us a heart attack," seconded Heather. "Wait a minute, who is this person you are talking about, Tuff? And how come you did not tell me about this, Astrid?"

Heather eyed me with intrigue, putting me in the hot seat.

"I don't know what Tuffnut is talking about, I replied as I averted my gaze away from her.

Tuffnut put his tray on the table and took a seat on the opposite side from where we were seated.

"Sheesh, A! Don't deny that you are still thinking about Hiccup," he said.

'Dammit, Tuff! Would you please shut your mouth up?'

"Hiccup?" asks Heather, arching a brow.

"Yeah, Hiccup. Her nemesis turned out to be her hero and later on became her crush!" Ruffnut said. Like Tuffnut, she just popped out of nowhere.

"What's wrong with the both of you? You're just showing up without further notice? Did you just emerge from a pentagram?" I said with a sarcastic tone.

"Nope."

"Ruffnut, you are such a copycat," said Tuffnut.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'm not."

"You are."

"I'M NOT!"

"YOU ARE!"

"WOULD YOU TWO PLEASE SHUT UP?" We both shouted at the twins to stop their useless fight.

The twins shrank back into their seats.

"Why haven't you told me anything about him?" Heather brought us back to the topic and then almost went hysterical. "I thought I was your friend!"

"He's not that important," I said.

"What are you saying that he's not important?" Tuffnut said with a teasing tone.

"He is important for the fact that you are still thinking about him, and he causes you stress. My Thor, stress isn't good for you, Astrid. You wouldn't want gray hair to replace your silky flaxen hair, would you?" says Ruffnut.

"Of course not! And I'm not thinking about him! I'm just thinking about my thesis!" I spoke.

The twins broke into laughter.

"Seriously, A? You are not a good liar."

"And please, thesis? Hahahaha! Really? Who gives thesis this early? I don't think so. What a lame excuse!"

I gave them a deadly glare, shutting them up.

"Okay, you still haven't answered my question, said Heather, who is getting very impatient with every passing moment.

"Like I said, Hiccup is, Ruffnut said, but was quickly cut off by Tuffnut.

"Astrid's crush and former n-"

"I know! I know!" Heather said. "But I wasn't talking to both of you. I'm talking to Astrid here. Now Ast, start talking."

I sighed. It looks like I have no choice at all. Heather's putting me between a rock and a hard place. But well, it's actually my fault in the first place for not telling her. I thought that the whole hiccup issue' wouldn't be brought up ever again. Thanks to the twins, who opened up the topic. They've been my friends ever since, so it's impossible that they wouldn't know that. Sometimes I've been wondering why I'm friends with those two.

"I don't know where to start. But the twins are right. Hiccup is my crush from high school and also my former so-called 'bully, when in fact he's not. Our story started way back during our elementary days..."

oOo

I have told Heather about the whole story and my reason for not telling her anything. She understands my situation, as expected from her.

She said she was sorry for being harsh on me earlier. To my surprise, the twins apologized too. But I forgave them. The issue was resolved, and everything went back to normal. We enjoyed our breaktime until it was time to go to our respective classes.

Time has passed, and it's time to go home. I'm walking alone back to my apartment. You might be wondering where my friends might be, right? We should be going home together if it weren't for the stupid party they're going to after class. They've invited me to come along, but of course I refused.

So, yeah. I'm here, walking alone, enjoying every step of the way back home. I was just three blocks away from my apartment when it poured hard.

"Really?" I complained as I looked up at the sky.

I immediately checked my bag for an umbrella. Shit! I forgot mine, and I don't have anything that can protect me from the rain; besides, I'm already soaked.

Instead of going back, I ran.

I arrived at a pedestrian crossing, still running. I stopped midway because of a loud honking sound coming from my right. I turned in that direction when I saw a truck running towards me. My world suddenly stopped; it's like I cannot do anything. And then something happened in a short span of time. I thought I was going to die, but someone saved me from grave danger!

"Astrid?" The stranger said once we were both safe.

'Wait, how did this guy know my name? '

He brought me into a shed across the road. He put his umbrella down and pulled his hoodie off, revealing his face.

The man's around my age. Skinny or lean and lanky, if I say so myself? freckled skin, shaggy auburn hair, and the deep forest green eyes that pierce into my soul! There's only one person I know who has those characteristics! It's been three years, but he still hasn't changed.

"Do you still remember me, Astrid?" He asked me.

"Hiccup..." That's the only thing I can say.

No matter how many years have passed, Hiccup's still there during the times when I've needed him the most. Hiccup is there behind my back to save me when I am in trouble. Hiccup is still my true hero.

'It's now or never, Astrid,' I thought as I smiled at him.

THE END

-HTTYD-

A/N4: That's all for this fic! I'll leave the rest to you and your imagination, dear readers. What do you think will happen next? If you enjoyed this update, share your thoughts, or even theories, by leaving a review! See you in my next stories! Until next time, stay safe, everyone. :-)

First Published: June 27, 2020

Updated: February 20, 2024