Chapter Text
"Get out of here as soon as they let you," Hiccup whispered. "Don't stay."
"We can't leave you," Astrid hissed back. "What, you think we'll let you just give yourself up like that?!"
The Outcasts had caught the twins, then Astrid, then Fishlegs and Snotlout. Hiccup had come to negotiate... or so Astrid had thought.
"It's the only way," Hiccup replied. "Trust me, Astrid, please. It's me they want, so if I give them what they want, they'll let you and the others go."
The Outcast supervising their brief talk was starting to get suspicious. Astrid pulled Hiccup in close and whispered in his ear. "We're going to come back for you. No point in trying to stop us."
Hiccup chuckled, and she could hear the nervous edge to it. "Yeah, I kinda thought so."
"Oi!" Alvin shouted from across the craggy clearing. "Finish yer socializing and come talk terms!"
Hiccup broke their embrace and gave her a smile. It was confident on the surface, but barely concealed fear flickered underneath. "I'll be fine. He doesn't want to kill me."
"I hope you're right," Astrid said. She hesitated, then leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "We'll get your dad and be back as soon as we can."
"Thanks," he said. "Don't worry, Astrid. This is how I protect you guys. It's what a good chief does." He turned away and marched across the clearing. "Terms, Alvin? Simple: let my friends go and you have me."
Astrid could see Alvin's eyes light up clear across the clearing.