Hiccup trailed his eyes over the streamlined form of the dragon stretched out across his floor. He'd taken to drawing Toothless while the dragon slept. It was the only time he could catch him being still for more than a few seconds.
Fishlegs had tried to explain to him how every little curve and angle helped boost Toothless' amazing flying abilities. There was too much math involved in that explanation. Hiccup wanted to capture those angles and curves in a way that was easier for him to understand.
He'd positioned the lantern perfectly just as Toothless' breath evened out. The dancing light brought out every little scale perfectly, and he was more careful than usual with the way he smudged the charcoal across the page. Looking back and forth from the dragon to the paper, he'd check several times before drawing a single line.
When Toothless rumbled softly in his sleep, Hiccup immediately paused and look up. He watched, enraptured, as the dragon shuddered, muscles tensing rhythmically down his sleek form.
When Toothless stilled again, Hiccup re-wet his lips and glanced back down to the drawing. Suddenly, it looked pathetic and lifeless compared to the living, breathing version laying just feet away from him. Exhaling slowly, he closed the sketchbook and set it over on the nightstand.
"I don't get it," he whispered, leaning forward to stare him over intently. "How did somebody like... like me, end up with you?" Toothless crooned quietly in his sleep, arching his wings above his head, and Hiccup smiled.
Quietly, he slid to the floor, biting his lip as he found it harder than expected to balance on only two hands and a knee. He glanced to the metal leg propped against his nightstand, then sighed and slumped to the floor.
His shifting was enough to rouse Toothless, who blinked one eye open to peer at him, pupil dilating instantly in the light. His expression immediately went from mild annoyance to worry when he saw Hiccup sprawled across the floor, smiling awkwardly at him.
"I was going to try and sleep by you," he explained. Toothless grunted in understanding and shifted over to him, rolling over to pull the lanky boy to his chest. He then pushed his nose tightly against Hiccup's forehead and snorted, ruffling his hair.
Hiccup snorted back softly in amusement and scratched at the dragon's neck, listening to that playful rumble die down to a soft purr. "Thanks," he muttered.
Toothless gazed at him thoughtfully, before he laid his head back down and closed his eyes. After a moment, he grimaced and opened them again, blinking up at the still-lit lantern. Hiccup followed his gaze and paled.
"Oh, no, not again-" Toothless spat a small ball of flame at the lantern. Hiccup winced as it fell to the floor and shattered, enveloping the room in darkness instantly. "Toothless!" he hissed, trying to push away to try and salvage the remains.
The dragon grumbled shortly before pulling Hiccup closer and folding his wing over both of them. Almost immediately, Hiccup stopped fidgeting. "Fine," he mumbled quietly, "I'll just make a new one. Again. In the morning."
Toothless squeezed him a little, and Hiccup quickly got the point and shut up. Toothless chirred in approval and curled closer around him.
Within moments, the dragon's breathing evened and slowed, his quick descent into sleep aided by the warm little human clutched to his body. Hiccup listened, letting the solid thrum of the sleeping dragon's heartbeat soothe him to sleep as well.