Hiccup paced, groaning and rubbing the bridge of his nose at 10 PM on a weeknight. His mother stood up from the couch, - he had invited her over earlier - and grabbed his shoulders, stopping her son in his tracks.

"Hiccup, calm down. I'm sure he's okay," Valka assured him and squeezed his shoulders before dropping her arms to her sides. "Besides, it's not the first time he's wandered off for a whole day."

Hiccup sighed before sitting down on a high kitchen isle chair. "I know, I know but he always comes home before it's dark," He said and gestured to the window over the kitchen sink facing the front yard and the driveway.

"True that. He does wear his collar though so I'm sure you'll get a phone call or a text-" Valka was interrupted by a text alert from his phone.

The screen lit up on the coffee table and Hiccup jumped off the chair, almost marching over to the small table in front of the couch and grabbing the phone off of it.

Looking at the notification, he opened iMessage and let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "Someone's found Toothless," He said as he quickly typed back a reply to the person, wondering where he was and when he could pick up that asshole of a cat.

Valka chuckled and gave her son a, "I told you so," look before wandering off to the bathroom.

Getting a reply back within seconds confirming the address and a picture of his beloved cat, Hiccup pocketed his phone, slipped his shoes on and told his mother he'd pick up Toothless before grabbing his car keys and exiting his house.

Once in the car, he pulled his phone out and typed the address into Google Maps. "Fucking cat walked five miles?!" He exclaimed while looking at the directions his phone showed. Hiccup shook his head before backing out of the driveway and down the road to pick up that Thor forsook cat.

People around him often asked him whether he actually loved his cat or not. Hiccup was always confused at such a weird question and when people told him, "You call him such weird names," or, "I don't know, I wouldn't call my pat a sucker or an asshole," and Hiccup always rolled his eyes, having to explain that his relationship with the black feline was like two brothers annoying each other every second of every hour of every day.

He loved that fluffy goofball very much, there was no doubt about that but as with all pet owners, the little creatures always find mischevious things to do and Toothless had earned his, "Asshole," nickname. That cat had done more bad than good and Hiccup swore he would go gray before turning 25.

"You have reached your destination," The GPS said and Hiccup pulled over, looking around for the right house number. He wasn't so surprised to find the only alight house in the neighborhood to be the right one.

Pulling the handbrake, Hiccup got out of the still-running car and walked up to the respective house, ringing the doorbell. A female voice was heard talking on the other side of the door. "That must be your owner, right?" He heard before the door unlocked and revealed a blonde woman.

For a second, his breath left his body because of her appearance but he quickly shook himself off and noticed that troublemaker cat of his behind her. "Toothless, how many times have I told you to not wander of?" Hiccup asked and gave his cat a look that meant he was neck-deep in trouble, - not really but he liked to make him think that.

"Toothless, huh? I was wondering if such a sweet cat really was named Asshole," The blonde joked and reached out her hand with the intent of shaking his.

Hiccup took her hand and shook it, both of them introducing themselves at the same time. After a small laughing fit, the two introduced themselves to each other properly. "I'm Astrid, nice to meet you," She said and gave the tall stranger a smile. "Hello. I'm Henry- well, it's actually Hiccup but you can choose," He said and shrugged, realizing their hands were still conjoined and pulled away. "Nice to meet you too. Sorry for the circumstances, that little devil loves to wander off," He told her before watching Toothless try to sneak past them.

Hiccup quickly bent down and snatched the cat from the ground, the creature making a strained noise at the sudden motion upwards. "oh, no, you're not going anywhere anymore. You'll be under lockdown for at least a week," He told the cat and said furball groaned audibly.

Astrid chuckled and reached forwards to pet the cat. "Poor kitty," She said, trying to look sad but a big smile was breaking through in the process. Hiccup smiled, his finger running over the top of one of Toothless' front paws, happy to have his cat back.

"I don't want to stay too long. It's late and the car is running," Hiccup said, hesitantly excusing himself. If he had to be honest, he wanted to get to know that young woman better but there were other times for that.

"You're right," Astrid said and backed up, giving both of them a smile. Hiccup almost walked off before he paused and looked at her again. "Thank you for keeping him safe until I came, I appreciate it so much," He told her and gave her a grateful smile.

Astrid nodded, "You're welcome," She said and watched him walk to the big car at the end of her empty driveway and opening the driver door, letting Toothless crawl into the car and lay down on the passenger seat.

Before he got into the car, Astrid spoke up. "Oh, and, Hiccup?" She questioned with a smile. He turned to look at her and gave her the smile back. "Yeah?" He asked. "Anytime you need someone to take care of him, you can text me, - if you want to, of course. I might've grown just a little attached to that cat," She said and a blush spread across her cheeks and nose.

"I definitely will. Thank you again," he said before half bowing and getting in the car.

Astrid waved at him and watched him drive up her road to the turning point and blink his headlights at her when driving past.

...

Hiccup answered his phone, a very familiar person calling him. He didn't even let her say anything before speaking up. "He's there again, isn't he?" he questioned and getting an "Mmhmm," Back in reply. Hiccup groaned, "I'm on my way, I'll be there soon," He said as he walked outside, getting in his car and starting it.

Hanging up, his mood was kind of 50/50. First of all, Toothless had been very creative and not only run away once but three times a week, every time ending up with Astrid calling him to inform him that Toothless was with her. Again.

On the other hand, he was kind of grateful cause by the third time, Astrid had invited him in for coffee and a small snack. That had later on become a thing they did every time Hiccup had to pick up that darned cat and they had gotten to know each other a lot, - obviously, that's what happens when seeing each other multiple times a week for months.

Hiccup pulled up, road memorized long ago and parked on her driveway, casually getting out and walking up to the door. Knocking three times, he acknowledged his presence and then stepped inside, welcomed by the sight of Astrid sitting on the floor and playing with Toothless.

He walked over and plopped down beside her, watching the black ball of fur playing with a feather toy the blonde was holding.

Turning his gaze onto her, he lifted his hand and brushed away a blonde strand covering half of her face and leaned in, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I think Toothless wants us to move in together, don't you think?" He questioned.

"I agree," Was her only answer before she sealed their agreement with the touch of their lips.

(A/N: Opp, that end- Didn't see that coming, did ya?)

- Toothless_NightFury1.