Disclaimer : Dreamworks owns everything

AN: I don't know where this is going to go. Bare with me.

Chapter One :

A blonde woman exited her apartment building, watching the morning sun rise into the sky. The cacophony of sirens, horns, and people talking along the street filled the air as the city awoke. And everyday, he would be right there. Right at the corner of her apartment building, sitting around the corner of the alley way, sipping from a straw sticking out of a paper sack. She didn't condone drinking, in fact she despised it after it caused her father to become an alcoholic, and causing her parents to get divorced. Her mother had won custody of both children, Astrid and her little brother, Aiden.

She was in the prime time of her life, in college and employed at a small restaurant called 'The Forge.' The man who owned it was jovial and polite, with a thick scottish accent and a long mustache done in braids down his chin, reaching his chest. Astrid's day was a set routine, go to college, learn in class, go to work, and then go back to her apartment.

Astrid had never spoken to the man in the alley, but they adopted a nod as greeting whenever she went to or came home from work. He was often dressed in a green hoodie, with a brown blanket wrapped around him as a makeshift cloak, and wore old dirty and tattered blue jeans. His mess of greasy auburn hair grew to his shoulder and his green eyes never lost their brightness, despite his situation. A coal black and shaggy furred dog sat on his left leg. They shared a second blanket, draping down from his left shoulder over the dog's back, effectively covering the dog's entire body save for the head.

Every other morning she would bring out a sandwich or leftovers from last night's dinner and leave it on the ground next to him in the morning before he awoke. The dog would open it's green eyes and stare at her as she did so, but not once made a move against her, just shift closer to the man. He also had this notebook, which was always pressed up against him, like he was hugging a teddy-bear. Whenever she got too close or within arm's reach of the journal, the dog would growl and she would back off.

This morning would be the same, except he spoke to her as she placed the tupperware down a few feet away from him. His voice was hoarse, thick with pain and grief. "Th-thank you, Miss." The dog nodded as well, understanding of the man's words.

"Astrid." She replied, not really thinking about it. Her voice was melodious.

"Huh?" He tilted his head, matching the dog's motions but with a tear stained face and red-rimmed green eyes.

She finally got a good look at him. Maybe if he'd shave and get a haircut, he'd be rather handsome. "My name, Astrid." She recognized him from somewhere, but from where?

"T-thank you, Astrid." He responded, she swore she heard him murmur 'divine beauty' under his breath.

She stood up straight, and checked her phone. "What's your name?"

He mumbled something. "What was that?" She asked.

"Hiccup." He stated, a little louder, then gestured to the black furred dog beside him. "And this is Toothless."

She failed to stifle a giggle. "Hiccup, Toothless? What kind of names are those?" She asked lightheartedly.

He took a sip from the papersack. "Not my real name, of course. I-I was born with the hiccups, and Toothless got his teeth knocked out." Hiccup said, a weary smile formed on his lips. She narrowed her brows, clearly seeing teeth inside of Toothless' mouth. Whatever, maybe he's insane.

Astrid checked her phone again. "Sorry, Hiccup, but I've gotta get to work, nice meeting you."

He smiled at her, and waved his hand. "It's no problem, I don't want to be a burden. Nice meeting you as well."

After her classes and work, she made her way to her apartment, passing the familiar sight of Hiccup and his dog in the street lamp's light. This time however, it looked as if he was teaching the black dog how to play blackjack. The dog was smart enough to raised his paw just high enough to see his face down card, and not tip it over. Toothless padded the ground with his right paw, signalling for Hiccup to 'hit' him, and Hiccup slid another card face up to Toothless. The coal furred dog huffed and groaned. "Struck out again, huh Bud?" Toothless nodded. Hiccup flipped all the cards over, revealing a 7,3, and an ace for Toothless, and an eight and a king for Hiccup. "Wait a second, Bud, you won!" He began to laugh as the dog tilted his head and then gave a barking laugh.

Astrid smiled at them, even in poverty they were happy with each other. "Man's best friend, huh?" She spoke aloud, alerting them of her presence.

"Well… Yeah, when he isn't hiding my pencil." Hiccup said, rubbing Toothless behind the ears.

She laughed. "Where does he hide your pencil?" He shrugged, causing her to laugh more.

They watched Toothless trot away, and she then noticed that the dog was missing it's left hind leg. "Where you goin', Bud?" Toothless hopped onto a knocked over trash can, then climbed up on top of a dumpster, and then went to a window sill. He trotted back, holding a mechanical pencil between his teeth. "So that's where you've been hiding it? You know I can't get up there even if I tried." The dog grinned.

"What do you mean?" Astrid asked. Hiccup froze, not meaning for that to slip out. Oh man, if Astrid knew about it, then she would stop bringing food, and treat him like a monster, oh crap oh crap oh crap. That means Toothless wouldn't have food. That means his only friend would starve. "Hiccup?"

He turned back to her slowly, unconsciously scooting away. "Y-y-you d-don't want t-to know." He whispered.

"Hiccup, I want to know." She said, moving closer to him slowly.

She watched as he fished out something from his pockets, and tossed it to her. Landing in front of her, she saw it was a pair of dog tags attached by a string. "I-I l-lost m-my leg… in A-afghanistan." He whispered. She read 'Haddock, Hayden H. - Night Fury Squad - AB Type - Catholic -.'

"Oh." Was all she could say.

His voice sounded like he was on the verge of tears. "I-if you want to leave me alone… go ahead… People always treat me like a monster when they find out I lost my leg." He broke down, pulling his knees to his chest.

She approached him and crouched down in front of him. "You're not a monster." Astrid stated firmly, pulling his chin up to look her in the eyes. His normally bright eyes were dulled. "What's in the past, is in the past. You can't let it hold you down."

"I-I don't want it to be my past anymore…" He whispered sullenly. "G-goodnight, Astrid." He broke away from her, crawling a few feet away up against the wall and pulling the blanket over himself.

Astrid had to force herself to go upstairs, back to her apartment, and finally succumbed to sleep after a few hours of lying awake on her bed.