A/N: This is my first ever HTTYD Fanfic, and was actually quite a struggle to get out. I'm looking at perhaps expanding this into a multi chap story, depending upon the response I get, so if you could be lovely and leave a review and let me know what you think, that would be fabulous. If I do expand this, it will feature elements from the first movie and the Dreamworks Dragons TV series, so there could be spoilers for both. Thank you, and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Since my homework is not ash, let's go ahead and assume I don't own Toothless.

Toothless had always known his human was fragile and required protection but he never doubted his own ability to provide that until the day Hiccup got sick.

It started small, as most things do; while walking to Gobber's workshop early one morning, Hiccup somehow managed to trip getting out of bed, walk into his doorframe and into every single person they met along the way. This was not entirely unusual, given Hiccup was prone to bouts of clumsiness, particularly since the addition of his metal leg. Beyond a deep, chuffing dragon-laugh, Toothless took no notice of his rider's incidents and the day carried on as normal.

And like a weed left unattended, the problem grew until it could no longer be ignored. Days of stumbling, collisions and rubbing at his forehead as though he were trying to scrub something away descended into disjointed rambling, alternating hot and cold spells until finally one morning Hiccup just didn't get up. The sun rose, and Hiccup did not; the village awoke and began their day and Hiccup did not, no matter how much Toothless nudged and crooned. His skin is pale and sweat soaked, far too hot for a human and his skinny chest rises and falls in rapid, shallow breaths.

The window is open and despite the heat of his skin, Hiccup shivers and moans pitifully. His covers are strewn on the floor; Toothless carefully drags them up over his boy, nudging them in around his sides so that the chill air won't get in. Fear slides icy fingers along his spine, for this is not a wild Dragon to be frightened away by a show of teeth, talon and fire. Nor is it Snoutlout, who can be convinced to leave Hiccup alone by a liberal application of a narrow eyed glare. This is nature; mercilessly ravaging his boy's body, an enemy Toothless cannot fight or scare away, a battle in which he cannot participate. This is more terrifying than watching Hiccup falling into the blistering flames of the Red Death's destruction, of knowing he would lose his entire world if he was not fast enough. This is watching Hiccup suffer, and being helpless. This is worse than the thought of never flying again, when he'd been stuck in that thrice-damned cove and looking at a future devoid of the sky.

"Hiccup? Sweet baby Thor in a thunderstorm, you aren't still sleeping?"

The voice is familiar, as is the light tread of boots on the stairs and Toothless has never been so overjoyed in his life. Blonde hair and blue eyes and Toothless is a Dragon but Astrid has never looked so wonderful. He cannot bring himself to leave Hiccup's side, but he croons a greeting, and perhaps it is the way he is pressed so close to the bed he is almost sitting on it, or perhaps it is the fact that Hiccup does not stir at the call of his name, but Astrid covers the distance to the bed in a heartbeat.

"Hiccup!" She presses her hand to Hiccup's forehead, and he seems to rouse a little at the touch, but the moment is soon gone and he subsides into fitful sleep. "He's burning up. We should get Gothi, and Stoick." And Astrid sounds as frightened as Toothless feels; Astrid who laughs in the of danger, or screams at it and attempts to bash it with the nearest weapon. Toothless looks between Astrid and his boy, trying to still the thumping of his heart through sheer force of will. A Dragon is fearless and strong, and he is no hatchling to whimper and cry.
But Hiccup is his best friend, the other half to the soul Toothless never even contemplated having, and he smells like death.