Roma
because I havenāt written any fanfic in literal years and quarantine has me missing merida and hiccup but also going outside, so hereās some fluff
Faded denim shorts, a loose prairie shirt that moved slightly in the gentle summer evening breeze. Her hair seemed a fire against the sunset behind her, it was impossible to tell whether the sparks were coming from her blazing curls or the sky that seemed to make her glow. Her sandals were dusty from the day's walking and it was tempting to run around barefoot, but that's risky in the middle of this city full of smashed glass bottles down alleyways and slightly strange men selling highly legitimate tourist merchandise.
He still couldn't believe that she was with him. Her, this burning, beautiful woman just passed her eighteenth birthday, a face littered with freckles and eyes brighter than a blue moon. She was everything he'd ever wanted and this tiny little holiday to Italy, although nothing extravagant, was making him fall in love with her all over again.
They'd been together nearly a year now, and god did that time feel both longer and shorter than either of them had realised. Now they had finished high school, their childhood was behind them and they were discovering the terrifying brink, that edge of the precipice that was adulthood, accommodation, loans, taxes and accounting. But for these precious three days, in this window between summer and the beginning of University, they had just each other in a tiny rented apartment in the middle of the city founded by Romulus.
"It's bigger in real life," he said as they looked up at the Colosseum.
"Probably built by slaves though." Merida's nose wrinkled. "You know how many people died in there just for entertainment?"
"Let me appreciate the building will you?" She grinned at him and he rolled his eyes, but he wasn't annoyed. He did it to annoy her, and he loved the smile she gave him when he did.
"You know I'm right."
"And I hate it."
"Hate you too." She grinned at him and wound her arms around his waist, pulling him close to her. His eyes widened slightly.
"We're in public -"
"I don't care."
"Of course you don't -"
"No one else cares, they'll never see you again."
Before he could retort, she'd pushed herself onto her toes and kissed him, and he found himself melting into her again. She knew she would win, and to be honest, he didn't care that she knew it. Sometimes it was just enough to be hers. Eventually, she drew away slowly, and he tried hard not to let his hands wander from her waist.
"I think there's a guy staring at us. To be fair, I think he's staring at you."
"Let him look, I don't care." She kissed him again, lightly this time. He sighed against her lips and could feel her smile. He knew her eyes would be shining if he looked. Part of him just wanted to keep this moment in time, preserve it somehow, so he would never forget the heady evening warmth of Rome's streets, the taste of Sangria on her tongue, the dust on their feet and the slight hint of sunburn on his shoulders.
They gazed up at the Colosseum, his arms about her waist as she rested her head against his chest, hearing his heartbeat slow and soften as the sunset continued to light the ancient ruins. It was enough just to stare. To be with each other in the company of the silent, expressive sky that bled the clouds scarlet as the sun retired for the night.
"Let's get back," Merida murmured into his shirt. "I need a shower".
"Same," Hiccup said quietly. But part of him just didn't want to move. She turned to face him, her eyes tired but smiling.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
This girl, this city, it would have a hold on his heart for as long as he cared to remember.
