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Chapter 9 – A Night to Remember
The sky was already blanketed with a shimmering veil of stars as Thor looked at Astrid, a gentle smile curving his lips.
"Astrid... it's time for us to go," he said softly. Before she could react, he effortlessly scooped her up into his arms like a princess.
"Put me down!" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of surprise and embarrassment, her cheeks flushing red with heat.
"Nope," Thor replied firmly, not slowing his stride in the slightest. "You're far too tired to walk on your own."
"But... people are going to see us..." she muttered, burying her face into his chest, as if hoping to hide herself from the world.
Thor laughed, a deep, genuine sound that warmed the air around them.
"Aren't you a powerful Viking warrior? Why are you getting shy all of a sudden?"
"This is different..." she mumbled, her voice muffled against the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.
Thor glanced around. The village was already winding down for the night. Windows were closed, torches were being extinguished, and the occasional murmur of voices drifted from behind wooden doors. With a subtle whisper of his power, Thor urged the breeze to stir and the twilight to deepen, nudging the last of the lingering villagers indoors.
"Relax... there's hardly anyone outside now," he reassured her, his tone calm and comforting as they arrived at the doorstep of her house.
Gently, he set her down on the ground, his hands lingering a second longer than necessary.
"Until tomorrow, Astrid," he said warmly.
"Goodbye..." she replied softly, her voice barely above a whisper, eyes still wide and heart fluttering as she watched him walk away.
But then, unexpectedly, Thor halted. He turned swiftly and dashed back to her, his expression intense.
He stopped right in front of her, locking eyes with hers.
"What is it?" she asked, a note of confusion in her voice.
"I forgot something," he said simply. Then, without hesitation, he leaned forward and kissed her.
The kiss was tender and deep, carrying all the emotions neither of them had dared speak aloud. His hands rested gently on her waist, while hers instinctively wrapped around his neck, fingers tangling in his hair as if to keep him close a moment longer.
Time seemed to pause. The cool air, the distant sea breeze, the faint sounds of the village — all melted into silence. There was only them.
When at last their lips parted, Thor gave her a soft smile.
"There. Now I can leave."
With that, he activated his power, disappearing into the night like a flash of lightning.
Astrid stood frozen for a moment, touching her lips in awe, her eyes wide with wonder. Slowly, a smile crept across her face — a smile filled with warmth, confusion, and happiness. She turned and stepped inside, her heart beating faster than in any battle she had ever fought.
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Thor arrived home still feeling the echo of Astrid's kiss on his lips. He opened the door and was greeted by the sight of his father, Stoick, and Hiccup already seated at the table, enjoying their evening meal.
"You're finally back," Stoick said, not looking up from his food.
Thor chuckled as he joined them, the smell of roasted meat and warm bread grounding him in the comfort of home.
"So," Stoick asked with a curious glance, "how was your day?"
"I spent most of it helping Astrid train," Thor replied, trying — and failing — to hide the contentment in his tone.
"And I was stuck in the forge with Gobber," Hiccup said, letting out a dramatic sigh before chuckling. "Learned a few new tricks, though."
Their conversation flowed naturally. They talked about training, about weapons, about village news and minor rumors. Every so often, Thor would drift off for a moment, replaying the memory of that kiss over and over in his mind. Hiccup noticed, but didn't say anything. Instead, he just smiled quietly, amused by his brother's silence.
Laughter filled the small dining area. It was one of those rare, peaceful nights — the kind they all secretly cherished in a world often full of dragons, duties, and danger.
Once dinner was over, Thor stood, thanked his father, and made his way toward the small cabin behind the main house — the one he had claimed as his own, where he slept with Shiro.
The cabin was warm and quiet. Shiro, his draconic companion and partner, was already lying down, her luminous eyes blinking slowly as she watched him enter.
Thor removed his armor piece by piece, placing it carefully beside the bed. He slid under the fur covers and opened his arms. Shiro didn't hesitate. She immediately snuggled against him, her powerful form gentle and comforting. The scent of lightning and embers clung to her scales, mixing with the earthier scent of pine from the forest.
She buried her nose into his chest, releasing a contented hum — almost a purr — that vibrated through them both.
Thor stroked her hair with slow, thoughtful movements, his eyes growing heavy with sleep. But his thoughts remained active, spinning in circles.
"Good thing there's no law around here that says you can only have one wife…" he mused inwardly, a smile forming.
He paused, glancing down at Shiro's peaceful expression.
"The only problem… will be explaining to Astrid that my other wife is a dragon."
He let out a soft sigh, half amusement, half anxiety.
"One thing at a time," he told himself. "For now… I just want to sleep."
And so, embraced by warmth, silence, and the stars above, Thor drifted into sleep — his dreams filled with kisses, fire, and the soft rhythm of a dragon's breath.
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