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       "But, I Lost Myself..." (ch.11)

      Hiccup suddenly jerked his head up towards the entrance of the cave, flinching to stand, body tensed defensively. Tuffnut whipped up too, straining to push himself up on his arm, almost afraid he wouldn't be able to defend his little viking if needed. Gobber came hobbling into the cave, waving his hook about and barking about both of them being foolish. His Nadder hovered near the cave's archway, its yellow wings pumping powerful gusts of wind across the aged stone. Toothless was flying around behind the Nadder, calling out for Hiccup as he circled in the air.

       Tuffnut groaned, dropping back against the rock heavily as he relaxed another time, putting the back of his arm over his eyes with a tired sigh. The skittishness Hiccup had around everything was going to have to stop; he couldn't have the little boy looking scared every time something moved. Every time he did Tuffnut got all worked up and ready to fight, which only made him tired and slightly pissy when he found out it was just a gust of wind or Astrid passing by that had rattled the little boy.

        "I'm in here, Toothless, everything's fine!" Hiccup stood up and waved his hand as Gobber knelt by Tuffnut, skimming over the twin's wounds. The Night Fury roared back, causing the Nadder to crow in response too, making the beast shake its giant blue head. Hiccup fell to Tuffnut's side again, helping Gobber left him to his feet, keeping him off his shattered ankle.

       "Yer lucky yah didn't lose tha damned thing, boy." Gobber grumbled, using his hook to hold Tuffnut up by the back of his belt. The blonde snarled in reply, looping an arm around Hiccup's shoulder more for comfort than support.

      "Aww, we all could'a matched." Tuffnut snapped, being moved on his bad leg doing NOTHING for his already rattled nerves.

        Hiccup wrapped his free arm around Tuffnut's narrow waist, his fingers curling into the strength of the bared muscles. The boy's hitching pants and pained groans made Hiccup's skin tingle and crawl, causing him to pant softly too, his mind racing at the feel of Tuffnut's solid body pressed against his. "H-hurts...gotta stop..." Tuffnut almost dropped face first into the ground. Gobber released him and Hiccup yelped, struggling not to lose his hold on the boy.

       "You can't stop, Tuff...Toothless and I gotta get you home..." Tuffnut opened his eyes, a bead of sweat rolling into the corner of one as he looked up at the grimacing boy supporting him. He nodded soundlessly, forcing himself back up with his good leg and forcing air into his searing lungs as they hobbled forward another few steps.

        "Get outta here yah useless beast, let tha other through." Gobber shooed his Nadder away, making the thing gurggle and crow before it backed off the edge of the cave's entrance, hovering in the air. He and the dragon had formed a deep bond, but it had alot of quirks; them bickering and fighting almost as much as Ruffnut and Tuffnut being one of them. Toothless flew in almost immediately, as if he had been waiting on the opening, the Night Fury shaking its head while folding his wings at his side. He snorted, clouds of dust and pebbles bellowing up around his face as he eyed the hurt boy and his little master. He opened his mouth, cooing at Hiccup while he and Gobber struggled to get Tuffnut up into the saddle and strap him down.

       "It's fine, boy, it's fine...He'll be just fine..." Hiccup swung up behind Tuffnut and sighed, wrapping his arms around the lithe boy and grabbing hold of the reigns, resting his chin on the blonde's shoulder weakly. "Thankyou, Gobber...We'll meet you back in the village." Hiccup glanced over his shoulder at Gobber, who was waving him off with his hook and grinning, the Nadder crowing for its rider near them. Toothless tore out of the cave at breakneck speed, sending a jolt of pain through Tuffnut and making the twin grimace. Hiccup winced too, jerking on the anxious dragon's reigns to slow him to an easier pace, patting his side as he did.

        Eventually Tuffnut sighed, dropping his cheek against the top of Hiccup's head, making the boy blush and look up at his panting companion. "Isn't it the other way around normally?" He smiled lightly, trying to take the blonde's mind off the pain in his dangling leg.

       It took him a moment, but just when Hiccup didn't think he could or would reply, Tuffnut let out a quiet snort. "Yeah...I'm supposed to save YOUR ass, dork." Hiccup sighed, slumping ever so before smiling to himself.

        "I guess we'll call it even, since I got you into this mess." He glanced up at Tuffnut as he said this, seeing that the boy was almost lost to an unconscious sleep again.

         "Oh no, you still owe me...You just wait, Hicca. You just wait..." The twin sighed emptily once again, traces of his mischievous grin fading from his lips as he slipped into the empty abyss once more. Hiccup smiled lightly, nuzzling into the stronger boy before pushing Toothless just a little faster, listening to Tuffnut's measured breathing and slow heartbeat as he did. He wondered why some part of him, the part of him that had accepted the strange relationship he had suddenly formed with the Thorston twin, prickled in excitement at the mention of more favors to be returned.