Toothless gazed at Hiccup. They were at their cove, lazily enjoying the sunlight.

Hiccup had brought his sketchbook and was drawing in it, occasionally looking over to where Toothless was lying. Toothless was certain he was drawing him and had it not been for his mind being occupied by other thought, would have stuck a majestic pose.

But no, he had more important things to think about. Such as hugs.

They were a foreign concept to dragons, but something humans often engaged in. They would wrap their front paws around each other and hold the other close. It was a suffocating and restricting practice in dragons' eyes, yes, straight-up dangerous in fact. But the humans seemed to enjoy it, they always smelled very happy after.

Hiccup would also hug him sometimes and wrap his front paws around his neck. At least that was what Hiccup had called it at his questioning croon, but it seemed a bit different compared to the human hugs. A bit… One-sided.

Toothless wanted to properly hug Hiccup. He wanted to show him just how much he loved him. But he was a bit unsure how to go about it. Well, he could only try.

Standing up, be trudged over to where Hiccup sat on the rock. Hiccup made a greeting sound followed by a questioning one. Toothless nudged his arm and kept nudging until Hiccup stood up.

Satisfied, he sat back on his hind legs and raised his paws in the inviting gesture he had seen humans make. He even made a sound to convey his intentions.

Yet, Hiccup only stared at him. His smell made it clear he did not understand at all.

Toothless made the inviting sound again and Hiccup hit his paw against his other paw and made a sound in response as if finally getting it. Toothless was happy and excitedly wiggled a bit when Hiccup came closer, only to feel his paws scratch at his stomach.

That felt good. He purred by instinct but then recoiled with a disgruntled warble. That was not what he had wanted!

Frustrated, he put his paws on either side of Hiccup and tried to bring him closer. What he ended up doing was completely lift Hiccup off the ground, something he had never imagined possible with his paws. Hiccup seemed just as shocked as Toothless and squirmed around in his grip. Toothless immediately released him. And Hiccup, being a few feet off the ground, yelped and stumbled a bit as he hit the ground.

Once he regained his balance, he mumbled something with a glare at him, clearly displeased.

Toothless's ears flattened against his head, but then he got mad that Hiccup was mad at him. All he wanted was a hug, it wasn't his fault he didn't understand him.

With a huff, he turned around.

After a while, Hiccup walked around him and said something. Toothless turned his head away. Then he heard a phrase said often enough he had a general idea of its meaning–

"Are you pouting you big baby booo~"

He did not like it, he had an inkling Hiccup was ridiculing him. Though he did like the attention... He glanced his way and answered half-heartedly. How was Hiccup going to make it up to him?

"Oh, you're going to play it like that? Hm~Then how about a fish?"

He snorted and looked away, he wasn't that easy to buy.

"Then a flight? Ehm, belly rubs?"

No, he was still mad at him. In fact, his frustration only grew more and more with Hiccup's guesswork. He had said it loud and clear, how could Hiccup still not see that he wanted–

"I will give you a hug then! Oh, ah, well, I guess you wouldn't want that…"

A hug! Hiccup had said a hug! Human tongue was difficult to decipher, but he was certain that was the word for it.

Toothless eagerly turned towards him. Yet, Hiccup seemed to have already moved on, his head lowered and his lips moving in thought.

He warbled loudly at him. He was going to get that hug!

Hiccup seemed startled by his reaction and looked at him in puzzlement.

"Wah-what? Ehm… A hug?"

Toothless went down and nudged him with his head to show him that was what he wanted.

"Well, okay then. You know, bud, sometimes I just can't figure you out. But a hug it is."

Hiccup put his arms around him just like he always did when Toothless received a hug, but this time Toothless lifted his own paws to respond.

He placed one on his back and carefully pulled Hiccup closer. He seemed startled by his action, but only slightly. Receiving no protest, Toothless lifted his other paw to Hiccup as he leaned backward, and lifted him off the ground as he had earlier.

This time he did not drop him and cradled him close to his body.

Pressed tightly against Hiccup, he felt how his chest rose and fell, and even felt slight vibrations from his beating heart. This was a hug. They had finally hugged. Finally hugged for real. His chest purred loudly and the draconic equivalent of a sigh left Toothless's lips as he lowered his head to rest against Hiccup's neck and soak in the heat of his body. Dragons had higher body temperatures than humans but his heat was still noticeable and comforting.

Hiccup made a small sound as his body settled into the hug as well and Toothless somehow felt even more happiness swell in his chest. This would probably be considered a rather long hug by human standards. The ones he observed had ended after a few seconds, still, Toothless could not bring himself to let him go.

He had not thought it would feel this good. It made no sense. They were both defenseless like this. If something attacked they would be torn to shreds before they could even separate this tangle of limbs. Yet, he didn't feel anxious or restricted. Not the tad restless. Instead, he was strangely relaxed. It was warm, soft, comfortable, and, foremost, safe.

Toothless crooned.

Yes, it felt safe.