This is an idea brought up by fan and reader "Dargur", and I've decided to make it into a story for him. It takes place after the events of "When Lightning Strikes", and be prepared for plenty of Hiccup and Toothless comfort and friendship. Hope you like it, and please be sure to review, favorite, and follow!
~Traumatized~
Another night, the dragon hoped for Hiccup's sake, he wouldn't be tormented again.
Toothless was worried for his rider's well being. It had been several weeks since Hiccup had suffered a potentially fatal lightning strike when it came to defending him from Mildew's lies and to stop the idiotic sheep he'd stirred into a mob from having the dragon banished.
But it come at a cost, Hiccup in an attempt to prove the metal was the cause of the lightning, got struck and fell into the sea. Breaking free from his restraints, Toothless dove in after his rider and saved him. Luckily, Hiccup had survived, keeping his other leg, but yet, the Night Fury felt something was off about the Viking, he seemed uneasy whenever a passing storm would come, usually staying close to the dragon when it did lightning.
Storms now seemed to greatly upset the boy. He recalled finding Hiccup underneath his bed when another storm had come through the island, feeling his heart break seeing the boy like a trembling child begging for his mother to come and comfort him.
"Oh, Hiccup, look at what that disgusting human has done." Toothless let out a low growl, seething with anger at Mildew's actions, nearly causing his best friend to be killed.
He got his recompense, sure. But for Toothless, it's unforgivable to harm his human friend! He wanted to kill Mildew for it, but he kept himself from doing so, knowing that for all the old man has done, revenge isn't the answer and blackens the soul. The Night Fury would be no better than the sick and twisted Viking he desires to rip apart. Still, the thought of anyone harming his Hiccup, wasn't something he could let go of.
Seeing Hiccup sleep, Toothless patiently waited for the inevitable to come. He would only join his friend in peaceful slumber when the trauma had left, when Hiccup was breathing easy and no longer in a panic. He'd stand by and comfort his dear friend, staying close by and ensuring that nothing haunts his dreams.
Toothless rose from his bed, slowly creeping over towards the sleeping Viking's bed. Hiccup slept, at peace. So intelligent, innocent, and kind unlike many in the human's tribe, Hiccup had suffered enough, he didn't deserve these mental scars burned into his mind. Letting out a soft croon, Toothless used his paw to better cover the slumbering human in his blankets.
"Sleep well, my friend. Sleep free and at peace." Toothless softly crooned, watching over the human, keeping an eye on his breathing.
So far, things seemed to be in the Viking's favor for a goodnight's rest. Toothless hoped beyond hope that he would remain like this, but sadly, the gods always seem to have other plans in mind for the mortals.
Hiccup began to groan in his sleep, pulling the covers over his head on instinct. Toothless's horns perked up at this, seeing the human already begin to experience another nightmare. He whimpered, muttering words in his sleep that the Night Fury couldn't pick up on.
"Stop! He's suffered enough!" Toothless snarled, roaring as he couldn't stand watching the human suffer.
It worsened. Hiccup began thrashing around in his bed, screaming as he brought his arms out as if to reach out for something or someone. Toothless grabbed the blanket with his teeth and pulled it off to prevent it from smothering the teenager. Hiccup's screams and whimpers echoed throughout the room, with the poor Night Fury's heart breaking at the scene before him.
"TOOTHLESS! NO, STOP, MILDEW!" Hiccup pleaded from his nightmares, reaching out as if he were fighting against someone.
Mildew?! The accursed scum now poisons the boy's nightmare?! Toothless's eyes narrowed at the mention of the name, but he let go of his fury when he could see tears coming down the Viking's cheeks.
"DON'T!" Hiccup uttered, choking back a sob. "PLEASE DON'T HURT HIM!"
He didn't know the nature of the nightmare, but at this point, he wasn't gonna let it reach it's conclusion! Hiccup tossed and turned violently in his bed, as Toothless licked and nuzzled the boy's face, hoping to break him free.
"Wake up, Hiccup! WAKE UP!" Toothless begged for his human to wake him, comforting him as best he could. "It's okay, I'm here!"
Taking extreme measures, he used his tail to pull Hiccup free of the bed, taking hold of the boy in his upper legs, using them as arms as he cradled the boy close. He kept Hiccup close and felt the boy snuggle into him, clinging onto the dragon as he whimpered.
"I'm here, Hiccup. Please break out of this!" Toothless whined, continuing to nuzzle the teenager's face.
Finally, Hiccup awoke. Panting and looking around the room frantically, he found himself face to face with the Night Fury. Not sure if this was still a dream, he hugged Toothless tightly, sniffling. The Night Fury closed his eyes and let out a soft purr, holding the Viking close as a sense of relief filled the room.
Toothless continued purring, to calm and soothe the terrified boy that's hugging him. Slowly, Hiccup's breathing began to ease and he began to relax, calming down in the safety and security of his dragon buddy.
"Bud, thank the gods, you're here!" Hiccup breathed, hugging the dragon tighter.
"I'll never leave your side, Hiccup." purred Toothless, melting the worries away from his best friend. His poor human.
Slowly, very slowly, Hiccup and Toothless separate from their hug, with Hiccup getting back onto his bed. Loyally, Toothless stands close by, allowing the human to pet him and ease his fears some more.
"I don't know what I'd do without you. Thanks for putting up with a pathetic, terrified hiccup like me." Hiccup replied, as Toothless crooned and nuzzled the boy's chest.
Leaning down, Hiccup hugged the dragon's head gently. He knew Toothless would smack him with his horn for thinking of himself as so lowly, but Toothless gave a sympathetic croon and nuzzled the teen, as Hiccup closed his eyes and just savored the moment with Toothless.
Even in the face of adversity, Hiccup still had Toothless. He couldn't thank the dragon enough for being his best friend, for caring about and loving him when his whole village had all but abandoned him, thinking nothing of him but a burden to the tribe. Toothless on the other hand, thought the world of him, loved him and saved his life on more than one occasion.
"Your nightmare?" Toothless crooned, wanting to know what had upset the boy.
"It's bad, Toothless. Bad." Hiccup whispered, looking up at the ceiling. It was quiet, it was just them here. "Mildew, had the village chain you down, he made sure I couldn't intervene, but he forced me to watch..."
"Watch?" Toothless questioned, his horns perking up at that.
"Yes. Banishing you from the island wasn't enough, he decided to appease Thor by offering you as a sacrifice." Hiccup mumbled, shuddering as he recalls the horrifying event in his mind. "The mob went along with it, but Mildew knew that it was a lie, he was gonna do it to make me suffer. Out of spite."
Toothless's eyes widen at the revelation, so this was the nightmare? But what he heard next almost brought the dragon to tears.
"He brought me to you and then drew a sword. I screamed, but he smirked and brought the sword down..." Hiccup gulped, as he was interrupted by the dragon grabbing him, letting out a yelp.
Toothless embraced the human in a tight hug, wrapping his front legs snugly around the human's body. Hiccup quickly returned the hug, holding on for dear life, feeling his best friend gently nuzzling his head. But it almost seemed like Toothless was crying.
"Toothless? Bud?" Hiccup responded, snuggled in the arms of his dragon. He felt Toothless tighten his hold on him.
The dragon faced him, looking teary eyed himself. Hiccup wanted to comfort the upset Night Fury, but Toothless leaned down and licked the boy's face. He tightened the hug even more, nuzzling the Viking's head as he crooned softly.
"That won't ever happen, Hiccup. It was a dream, I'm here and he can't hurt you. I won't let him." Toothless growled, as Hiccup placed a caring hand on his snout. "He won't lay a hand on me, I promise you that."
Knowing the context of the nightmare, Toothless put his feelings aside, taking the priority of comforting the human he loves into his paws. He looked over at his bed and then back at Hiccup, slowly trotting over towards his bed.
"Bud, my bed's over there!" Hiccup remarked, confused.
Laying down on his bed, allowing Hiccup to join him. He kept his arms protectively wrapped around the boy, as he gives a gummy grin and made a couple of warbles to get his message across. Hiccup smiled, cuddling into the dragon's embrace and basking in the protective warmth he felt off the Night Fury's scales.
"For tonight, you're sleeping with me, Hiccup. I don't want you to have another nightmare, you've endured enough pain." Toothless crooned, as he felt Hiccup holding one of his paws.
The book may address him as the unholy offspring of lightning and death, but he wasn't. He's no monster. The true monster was Mildew, even garbage was more tolerable in comparison to that fool.
Hiccup emerged from the lightning strike uninjured, but it had left behind scars. Scars that Toothless would purge from the Viking's mind, heal and mend them and ensure that he never suffers from another nightmare. He licked Hiccup, purring softly as he snuggled the boy close.
"Mildew, Thor, the whole village, they won't separate us, Hiccup. I'll erase those scars, make sure you never endure another nightmare for as long as I'm around. I promise to be with you in your dreams and protect you even there." Toothless swore, firm in his convictions to protect the human. "I'll heal what the lightning did to you."
"Oh, buddy, you don't need to trifle yourself with that." Hiccup attempted to change the dragon's mind on that.
"You're not a burden, Hiccup. You're just as important as any other, and you're my best friend, I'll take care of you." Toothless purred, giving him another lick. "What happened in your nightmare will not happen."
"Thanks, bud." Hiccup responded, nodding as he smiled, rubbing the dragon's chin and enjoying the purr that came from his buddy.
Getting comfortable, Hiccup felt his eyelids grow heavy, as he yawned and snuggled into the dragon's warm embrace. Toothless crooned softly, doing a bit of a dragon lullaby to ease his human friend into a peaceful slumber.
"I'll comfort you and protect you always." Toothless promised, seeing Hiccup peacefully fall asleep. "Sleep well, my friend."
Giving Hiccup one last caring lick, Toothless cradled the sleeping boy like he were his own child, before soon succumbing to the call of sleep himself. Hiccup's breathing calm, as the Night Fury felt content to sleep knowing he's eased the Viking's trauma.
The end.
Well, Dargur, hope you like what I've written and enjoy this wholesome gift. Be sure to leave me a review, enjoy the feedback! My last story of 2020, wishing my readers and fans a Happy New Year, and I'll see you all in 2021!