Chapter Text
Hiccup arrived at the academy somewhat behind the others, having had to return for the crate he had promised Gobber he would take up. He did not expect the others to have started their actual practice for the day, of course, but he did not expect most of them to be sitting or standing aside while Snotlout and Anna squared up in the centre of the floor.
Frowning, Hiccup put down the crate at the doorway to the academy, and watched as well. Snotlout adjusted the fists that Anna was making, then gestured to her feet, probably saying something about her stance. Which was, of course, perfectly good.
Elsa, looking mildly concerned, was standing next to Astrid, who was clearly failing to suppress a smile. Hiccup walked quietly over next to them and folded his arms. “What’s going on?” he said in an undertone.
“Snotlout is teaching Anna how to punch,” said Astrid brightly, without looking around.
Considering that Anna had been able to throw a punch from the first time that she and Hiccup had even met, he was about to ask whether he was missing something, but he stopped with his mouth already open as it slotted into place.
“Let me guess,” he said, after a beat, “he’s been flirting with her again this morning.”
For a given, particular to Snotlout, value of flirting.
“Yup,” said Astrid. She was already sounding like she was going to enjoy this.
All innocence, Anna asked Snotlout to check the grip of her hands again, and looked at him with doe eyes as he puffed himself up and did so. At least Snotlout could throw a decent punch, Hiccup would say that much. He wouldn’t end up teaching Anna anything bad, or going against what she had already learnt.
“And he’s falling for this even though he’s seen her use a shield and a crossbow.”
“ Yup. ”
There was no helping some people. Hiccup decided against intervening, shook his head, and watched as Snotlout readied up in his stance opposite Anna - being sure to point out to her where he had his feet and how he was holding his shoulders. He did not point out how he was puffing out his chest.
Then Anna punched him in the face.
There was an almighty crack, and Snotlout staggered back, all form forgotten, with an expression that was more surprise that anything else. Then the pain kicked in as blood started to drip from his nose, and he doubled over with a groaning sound. The twins started sniggering, and Astrid looked rather too pleased with the situation as well.
“How was that?” said Anna brightly.
Snotlout looked up, disbelief written over the half of his face that he was not currently hiding behind his hands. He made a rather indistinct noise that nevertheless managed to be a question.
“The guards taught me,” she said.
“Sounds like you hung out with those guards a lot ,” said Ruffnut from the sidelines, managing to put a whole lot of suggestion into a simple sentence.
Anna rolled her eyes. “I lived nearby, didn’t have many people my own age to socialise with. They treated me like… a little sister.”
“Why would you teach your sister to fight?” said Tuffnut, with a curl of his lip.”They just beat you up.”
Ruffnut casually clapped him round the back of the head. It may or may not have been related to what he had just said.
“Maybe I looked cute and charming,” said Anna, shrugging. She turned back to Snotlout. “Round two?”
“All right,” said Hiccup. This had probably gone on for long enough now. He stepped forward, gesturing for Anna to lower her fists. “Come on, Snotlout, let’s get you something to staunch that with. Everyone else, how about we do some actual work today, hmm?”
He was intending to look annoyed with Anna, he really was. But when he looked at her, she winked, and it was rather hard to after that.