Breathe

Hiccup gasped and stumbled back from the large saw, clutching the wound and desperately trying to stem the blood flow.

"Hiccup, it's-oh gods, that's-that's bad." Astrid stuttered, bending down and resting a shaky hand on his shoulder. "Hold on, Hiccup!" she called before dashing over to a pile of rags beside the forge fire pit, hurriedly grabbing them along with the fresh bucket of water. Hiccup watched her through have open and blurry eyes, hoping that she'd hurry so the blood would stop gushing... gods so much blood...

"Here." She soothed before dropping on her knees beside him. It was only at that moment that he realized he must've slipped to the floor, and for a moment he sat there, puzzled on how he hadn't noticed it before.

"Your hand." She reached out and grabbed his right wrist, causing him to flinch and cry out from the pain. "Shh..."

Hiccup couldn't help it, he began hyperventilating. The pain was blinding and all the blood was making him panic. He couldn't feel his fingers anymore, only the sharp throbbing pain that pulsed through his hand and up his arm, numbing it.

"Hiccup, calm down!" Astrid shouted above his heavy and gaspy breathing. "Calm down! Breathe Hiccup!"

Hiccup closed his eyes and clenched his jaw shut when he felt something wet press against the deep laceration, and he couldn't help the whine that escaped his throat. Once again he picked up the heavy and panicked breathing, his mind hazy and not fully there in the present moment. The only thing he could focus on was the pain and the blood... everything else sort of faded out.

"Hiccup!" Came an echoey voice somewhere through the tunnel of his mind. He blinked and tried to find it's source, but was unable to due to the bleary landscape of watery colors. Great, he was crying.

"Hiccup, breathe! Come on, babe, don't-"

What was wrong? he thought drowsily. Did something happen?

"Hiccup, look at me!"

Where was she again? Hiccup blinked, his vision clearing somewhat. The pain stabbed again and he whined pitifully, slouching a bit against the wall of his hut.

"Sh, I know it hurts, just-hold still."

Deep breaths again. Gods, it hurt... Why was the room spinning? What was that sound- almost like a saw against wood. Was that his breathing?

"Hiccup! You're hyperventilating again... Hiccup, pay attention! Stay with me, babe, stay-"

Mhm, she called me babe. Hiccup smiled dreamily at the blurry object before him, trying to pinpoint exactly where she was. The sawing sound continued as the pain raced up his arm and into his chest, effectively knocking the air right out of his lungs.

"Please... stay with me, Hiccup." Her voice was coming in clearer now, good. His hearing was returning to full strength. He blinked a few more times, his vision clearing as well.

Astrid's expression was one that clearly stated panic, her eyes wide and a bright beautiful blue while her hands were smeared in blood- gods, his blood- and the blood... it was everywhere. Not just on her hands but on her skirt, her leggings, her shirt- he was getting it all over her. How could one hand bleed that much?

She smiled when she saw him respond to her gaze and voice, so she refixed her attention on the deep cut in his hand. He followed her gaze, and gave another gasp, both from the sight and from the feeling of her dumping more cold water over it. Hiccup was positive he saw white amidst the flesh as well, which made his dizziness return.

Astrid grabbed a clean rag and pressed it tightly against his wound, making him jerk forward and let out a small scream of agony. The world spun out of control and the only sound he could make out was the heavy pounding in his skull, and the gaspy wheezing of his breath which huffed its way out of his lungs.

"Breathe, Hiccup! Look at me-" he felt a hand grab his chin, forcing him to look back into her crystal blue eyes. "...Breathe, Hiccup. Calm down. It'll be fine, okay?"

Hiccup nodded, taking in slow and shuddering breaths. She was right, it would be fine. She was always right... right? Astrid was never wrong...

"Good..." Astrid leaned forward and kissed his forehead softly before withdrawing quickly, continuing the care of his hand. "It's going to need stitches." She murmured. "Um... a lot of stitches..."

"Th-That b-bad..?" Hiccup wheezed, a sudden wave of fatigue washing over him.

"Yes... but I'm sure Fishlegs can take care of it." Astrid whispered, almost to herself more so then to Hiccup. She grabbed more strips of rags, winding them around another wad that was pressed tightly against the open wound. "Okay, let's get you over to Fishleg's hut."

She bent down to help him stand, one arm going under his should blades while the other went to grab his good arm. He stumbled to his feet, nearly tripping right back into the saw that had inflicted his painful injury.

"Woah, careful-don't forget to breath, Hiccup." Astrid's voice was calm, nice and relaxing. It helped to steady him and keep his mind off the pain and wound, and the fact that there was bone showing underneath that bandage.

"I-I'll tr-try..." he stuttered, finding it hard to talk. "H-h-hurts..." he mumbled, hoping afterwards that she hadn't heard it.

"I know, you'll feel better soon I'm sure once we get you stitched up and in bed." She reassured, pulling him closer to her side. "We'll get you fixed up in no time."

He smiled weakly, trying to find a snarky reply but none coming to his exhausted mind. Finally he just went withe the option of leaning his head against her shoulder, letting her guide him out of his hut and into the sunset evening.

*sighs* ANOTHER ONE-SHOT!

My mind: WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME? KAT ARE YOU LOSING YOUR TOUCH?

Readers:... Kat... you sorta lost it... like... A LONG TIME AGO. XD

Anyways, yes another one-shot. I really enjoy writing them!

This was another prompt on tumblr, the prompt being "Look at me- just breathe" so I hope this turned out alright...

Ahem, anyways, I should get to bed, I'm too tired to write anymore tonight...

So, tootles!

-Kat (FanWriter02)