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Astrid didn't get it.

The twins had never been the kind of people to share…anything.  When they were younger, they would fight to first blood over whatever they could get their hands on.  Be it a slab of ribs from dinner, or a cool looking rock found down by the beach.

But here they were, sitting on either side of Hiccup and watching him like he might try to run.  The skinny Viking caught between the two of them didn't look scared, or angry.  He didn't really have an expression save for amused exasperation when Ruff poked half of her venison on his plate and Tuff filled his goblet.

"Hi Astrid."  Hiccup smiled at her and she shrugged, setting her plate down and sitting across from the trio.  Tuff watched her suspiciously until it became apparent that she wasn't any kind of threat and went back to eating.  Ruff ignored her as if she didn't exist.

"Hi Hiccup."  Astrid poked at her potatoes, slightly burnt from the fire.  "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."  Tuff leaned over suddenly and licked a stripe up the side of his freckled cheek.  Hiccup yelped and swatted at him, hissing out something under his breath that had Tuff grinning like a lunatic as he went back to his food.

"Uhhh…why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"  Hiccup asked, scowling as he scrubbed at his cheek.  He froze suddenly, turning very slowly to look at Ruffnut who was smirking at him.  Hiccup turned back to Astrid who was watching him curiously, moving one hand under the table and coming back up with Ruff's.  He fingers entangled with his.

"This."  She gestured to the trio and Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"You just gestured to all of us."

"Exactly.  Are they blackmailing you?  Are you trapped?"

"How on Midguard could they blackmail me…and how could I get trapped by them?  Shut up Tuffnut."  The twin to his right pouted at the loss of a potentially filthy joke.  The twin to his left smirked and nudged Hiccup with her shoulder.

"But…I don't understand."

"You don't need to understand anything Astrid.  I honestly couldn't even attempt to explain it to you."  Hiccup said pondering her words.

"Eat fishbone."  Ruffnut's throaty voice left no room for argument.  "You keep losing weight and you'll blow away next time you take Toothless out."

"I'm not losing weight.  Stop pinching me Tuff."

"You are losing weight."

"I am not."

"Yes you are.  Last month I couldn't feel your hip bones when I was-"

"BALDUR'S GATE!!  I HAVE TO GO…"  Astrid half shouted, fleeing from the table in such a rush she forgot her platter.

"What's her problem?"  Ruff asked, reaching across the table to grab the leg of chicken Astrid had left behind.  She took a bite, chewed, made a face and passed it to her brother who fell on it like a starving wolverine.

"I have no idea."

"Ew, Tuff, swallow before you talk."  Hiccup made a face, picking up his venison and taking a big bite out of it, chewing noisily for Ruff's benefit.  She rolled her eyes and smirked, stealing a slightly charred potato from Astrid's platter.

"Heh.  She's probably still a virgin.  Snotty wouldn't know what to do with her if he got her alone."  Ruff snarked, sharing a predatory smirk with her brother.

"Or maybe she just doesn't want to think about the three of us in that sort of situation."  Hiccup remarked calmly, taking a sip of water from his goblet and finishing his goblet.  "I'm pretty sure it would be like thinking about my father and Gobber."

"Oh ewww."

"WHY WOULD YOU EVEN SAY THAT!?!?!?!"

"Exactly."  Hiccup pushed his platter away, stood, and smacked the twins across the back of their heads before he walked away smirking at the shouts of mock outrage.