A/n: Emerald has been Cumberbatched's idea. Happy reading!

Toothless hovered nervously over Hiccup, watching as he tossed and turned under his sheets. A strangled cry from the chief had woken the night fury a few minutes previous, and now he was watching Hiccup's nightmare unfold, completely powerless to stop it.

Hiccup... he crooned, pawing slightly at the Viking. Hiccup shifted away from the gentle touch, whimpering slightly.

This was not an unfamiliar sight to the dragon, but it never got easier to watch. Hiccup had suffered from nightmares for months after losing his leg, and the nightmares he experienced now were brought on by Stoick's death. Stoick's death that had been caused by Toothless. Hiccup losing his leg in the battle: also his fault.

And now nightmares. Again, Toothless had caused his rider this distress.

"Dad..." Hiccup whispered, tears brimming in his closed eyes as he curled in on himself. Suddenly he jerked forwards, letting out a choked shout as he woke up.

Hiccup? Toothless tried again, tentative this time as he watched the emotions flashing on his riders face. At the dragon's concerned call, Hiccup's eyes flashed with fear for a moment. Are you okay?

"I - I'm fine, bud," Hiccup reassured, voice wavering slightly. Toothless didn't bother to call him out on the lie, instead opting to pull the Viking up into his wings. Hiccup relaxed into the dragon's embrace, mumbling slightly. "Sorry for waking you up..."

Toothless snorted. You know that doesn't bother me, he scoffed. I should be the one saying sorry... he continued sadly, a twinge of guilt hitting him at the memory of what he did.

"You have nothing to apologise for," Hiccup insisted. It was a conversation that they had every time Hiccup dreamt of his father's death, and it always ran in the exact same circles, "I should've got out of the way."

I should've fought the alpha's control.

"You couldn't have."

So it was the bewilderbeast's fault.

"No, it was Drago's fault." Hiccup reminded him sternly. He sighed; the conversation had run its course now, leaving them open to a new one. "So, how are the dragons? Still want that nest?"

Yeah, Toothless jumped onto the new topic, But it can wait for a while, I think. Most dragons are just getting used to being around so many Vikings. It's a lot different to only having one looking after you.

"I can imagine," Hiccup nodded, stifling a yawn. "Sounds like you're... pretty busy..." he murmured, eyelids drooping as he started to fall back to sleep.

Toothless watched as his rider drifted off, staying awake for a while longer to check that he wouldn't have any more nightmares before he allowed himself to slip into a dreamless sleep.

"Hey, Hiccup!" Ruffnut called, banging on the door to his house. Hiccup had promised to go riding with them this morning, but he hadn't shown up at the arena. "Open up!"

Quickly losing patience, Tuffnut yanked the door open. The others entered slowly, noticing how quiet the house was.

"Maybe he went out without us..." Fishlegs theorized.

"No, he'll be here," Astrid told them, heading over to the stairs, "He'll be in his room." Astrid disappeared upstairs as she spoke.

"Hey, find anything?" Snotlout yelled after her. He was shushed as a reply, and crossed his arms in indigence. "Hey, I'll -"

"Shut up!" Astrid hissed, her head popping down to look at the other riders. "Come look."

Snotlout shrugged and followed her command, closely followed by the others. They were led to Hiccup's room. "I don't get it."

"Stupid," Ruffnut scoffed, "It's supposed to be cute. He's cuddling Toothless!"

Indeed, Hiccup and Toothless lay on the floor, rider using his dragon as a pillow while the night fury draped his wings loosely around the other. Astrid smiled at the scene, closing the door quietly on the two. "Let's leave them to sleep," she decided.