Toothless dozed lightly.
In his half-awake state, he listened to Hiccup's breaths and felt himself sway along as if they were gusts of wind. Breath in. Breath out. Swayed left. Swayed right.
This peaceful lull was broken when the once calm wind grew stronger and more erratic. He was thrown side to side, up and down. Ultimately he could not fight it and was forcibly pulled awake.
Toothless blinked a few times as he groggily raised his head and looked around. The loft was calm, empty. There was no storm in sight. He did not know what had pulled him from his sleep, but then he heard it, the tiniest of whimpers.
Then another.
His eyes shifted to the bed. Hiccup. He blinked once more then pushed himself up and trudged over. Even as he made his way there he could already smell it, fear, panic, sadness. And his steps quickened, his sleepiness all but evaporated.
In an instant, he was there, and Toothless cooed as he stopped by the bed. Hiccup had his back towards him and when he didn't receive a response, he moved forward and looked down at the small human.
Hiccup's eyes were closed, and he was hunched into a little ball. Beads of sweat dotted his pale forehead and his brows were as wrinkled as the blanket clutched desperately in his fists.
Toothless felt something in his chest and recoiled a bit, taken aback by the sensation. It was as if his heart had been squeezed. Hiccup usually seemed so big, even to the point Toothless forgot he was not a dragon, but without his bold personality, he was suddenly so very small and vulnerable.
He looked back at Hiccup just in time to see another pained whimper escape his lips. He wasn't moving around or trashing, but laid completely still as if frozen, as if trapped in the dream. Toothless needed to save him. Bring him out.
He lowered his head and gently nudged him. When that only got a whimper out of him, he moved up and licked Hiccup's face and called out to him.
Hiccup woke with a startle that amounted to nothing more than a twitch. He immediately sat up and vacant eyes searched the room, still lingering in the dream. It was first when he saw Toothless that light returned to them. "To-Too– Toothless…"
He all but collapsed back into the mattress. His body was exhausted. The movement seemed to have taken all out of him, or perhaps it was the relief, Toothless couldn't tell.
He warbled softly in reply and licked Hiccup's face, and Hiccup let him. He didn't complain like he normally would. Instead he wrapped his heavy arms around Toothless's head and pulled him closer. Something like a choked whimper left his throat as he did.
Toothless felt his heart being squeezed again. He wanted to tell him it was okay, that he was okay, that he was safe now. That he wouldn't let anything happen to him, wouldn't let anyone harm him; That he would completely tear apart anyone who even dared try.
He wanted to tell him how much he loved him.
But he couldn't. And he had never before felt so frustrated by the fact.
In the end, the best he could do was purr. Purr to show his affection, purr to show safety. Purr to express his love. And Hiccup understood. He always did.
He didn't say anything, only squeezed Toothless's head harder. But Toothless knew, just like Hiccup knew. They had never needed words amongst themselves, and they didn't need them now.
They stayed like that for a long time, pressed tightly together. But eventually Toothless felt Hiccup's arms loosen and they began to slip. Hiccup seemed to be doing his best to hold on, to stay awake. But he was so exhausted. He didn't want Toothless to go, he was scared to fall back asleep. And Toothless knew.
Hiccup gave a weak protest when Toothless pulled back, but he didn't leave, he would never leave. He climbed up on the bed the best he could and laid down, his head resting partially on Hiccup's chest. Hiccup mumbled something as he shifted to make himself comfortable and wrapped his arms around him again.
Then they looked at each other. The world around them was quiet, the only sound the occasional crackle of the fire downstairs. Green eyes gazed into green.
Hiccup was fighting hard to keep his open, his brows were furrowed and his eyelashes wavered. Toothless cooed. It was okay, he could fall asleep, he was here now.
But Hiccup just slowly shook his head and furrowed his brows even more. He opened his mouth as if he was trying to put words together. Then closed it and looked away.
Toothless quietly warbled a question at him.
"I-I just…" His voice wavered and he cleared his throat. He then looked back and met his gaze. His eyes had barely contained tears in them. He swallowed.
"B-bud… I, I will protect you."
Hiccup nodded as if to prove it and his eyes narrowed in determination. It caused the tears to spill over and trail down his cheeks, but Hiccup didn't seem to notice. He briefly squeezed Toothless in his arms.
"I will protect you," he repeated louder as he gazed into his eyes.
It was probably supposed to sound more steadfast and reliable, but his voice was wavier than earlier and full of tears.
Toothless lifted his head to look down at the small human; His small human. His small, tiny human who had just vowed to protect him. He didn't know what to do. His heart ached as if someone had beaten it black and blue, yet it burst with emotions. Emotions that grew with each passing heartbeat.
He moved forward almost on instinct. And gently pressed his forehead against Hiccup's. It was only for a beat, then he pulled back, just a little, and opened his eyes. They trembled as they deeply gazed into Hiccup's green ones.
Toothless cooed.
He would protect him too. He would always protect him. He would rather die than bear to live in a world without him.
Hiccup looked into his eyes and stroked a hand over Toothless's cheek. He then bent forward and planted a kiss on him.
"Yeah, I know bud… Me too."
He sniffled and looked away as he brought up his hand to wipe away his tears. They had stopped but Hiccup's face was still wet.
Toothless moved to help and Hiccup made a surprised sound, then spluttered something close to a laugh as he was drenched in saliva. Once he deemed him clean, Toothless stopped, and Hiccup wiped it with his sleeve, half a glare and a smirk on his face.
It gave Toothless an idea.
"Actually I— Gah!" Hiccup yelped.
Toothless had laid back down on Hiccup's stomach and purred as strongly as he could. Hiccup squirmed under him. Finally he could not hold it in anymore and burst out in laughter, "S-stop… Toothless… Hahaha…"
Hiccup's nose was scrunched up, and he laughed so hard he had to gasp for air. Toothless's body lightened at the sound and he flashed a smug smile as he looked up at Hiccup. He knew all his weaknesses.
"I-I…whaha… give up, I give up…" Hiccup panted.
Toothless stopped and laid down properly. He feared he had gone too far due to how tired he looked, but then Hiccup gave a small smile and moved his arms back to hug Toothless close.
He purred. He had toned it down, but never stopped. He did not think he was capable of stopping right now. Hiccup closed his eyes and hummed in kind, not in irritation or protest, but in comfort. He then moved one hand and stroked Toothless's head. Each enjoying the other's presence.
Like that they laid there.
Hiccup's chest, which had erratically moved up and down, gradually slowed, as did the hand patting his head. Toothless glanced up at him. He was unsure if he had already fallen asleep, but then Hiccup squeezed him and mumbled, "I will never let you go, ever…"
Toothless's eyes narrowed and he warbled quietly.
He was fine with that.