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[Hiccup's words fall on deaf ears. They seem so quiet and far away to Newt while his mind races; focused entirely on just going to find Hiccup and missing the fact that the other was right there.

He throws the door open and only winces when the chill immediately hits him. He should have grabbed his coat. Boots. He needs to find Hiccup. Newt doesn't falter much before he's taking steps out into the frigid night in just pajamas. The frozen cobblestone against bare feet stings, but he ignores it. Pain has been something he might have grown quite accustomed to, so a bit more wasn't a problem.

Sorry, Hiccup. You're just gonna have to chase after him.]

[Chase he does. He makes it to the front door, several feet behind Newt still, when Toothless shoves the prosthetic at him with a worried rumble. Cursing quietly, he fumbles it on, and then jogs to catch up with him, replacement leg a little wobbly where he hasn't secured it just right in his haste.

It's frigid out. Still, it's not as cold as Berk's so-called Devastating Winter, and so it doesn't slow him down any, despite his night clothes being thin and his foot being bare. No doubt it's colder for Newt, stumbling out into the layer of snow that still covers the ground in just his pajamas.] Newt, babe-

[He sounds breathless from the cold and the awkward jog when he finally catches up, reaching out for his wrist to anchor him, halt him gently.] Newt. Where are you going? [Toothless is somewhere between them and the open front door, warbling worriedly, but Hiccup's attention is on his Bonded. Soft, he continues,] I think you had a nightmare. Hey. Are you- Can you hear me? [Oh gods, is he still trapped in it? Sleepwalking?]

[Hiccup can feel the sharp jolt of fear when the other grabs his wrist. How he tries to jerk his arm away from the other. It does stop the magizoologist though and he whips around to see who is stopping. Flight or fight response strong in his veins.

And maybe that's enough for him to let everything come back into focus. A moment before recognition shows in his eyes as he takes the other in. Where were they? What had he been doing-] H-Hiccup? [His voice comes our hoarse and cracked.] I- Where are we? What- [It had been a dream hadn't it? Hiccup was never in danger.

It was just his mind being cruel.

And now they're out in the winter chill in the middle of the night because he had ran out in a panic. Ah bugger.]

[He lets go like he's been burned the moment he feels that tang of fear, the way he jerks like he's terrified. He was still trapped in the nightmare, if not physically then mentally. The last thing Hiccup wants to do is scare him, but he stops, thank the gods, instead of continuing on his path to- wherever he had been going.

Hiccup's breathing is coming a little harder now, in soft little icy puffs, his green eyes wide with concern and hurt. Hurt for his- his partner. His relief is palpable when Newt says his name, and that's all it takes for him to move in closer, drawing him into his arms like he wants to keep him warm.] Yeah, it's me. It's me, everything's okay. You just suddenly- took off out the front door. [He manages a shaky little smile, pressing his cheek to the side of Newt's head.]

You had a nightmare. [He murmurs, soft and reassuring.] It was just a bad dream. Everybody's safe.

[Newt buries his face against Hiccup's shoulder. He can ignore the biting cold at the moment because it's far less painful than how his heart constricts and the thought of the other-] I thought- [Hiccup's screams still echo in his ears.

It makes the Brit sob.] It felt so real. Your screams. I wanted to make sure- make sure you weren't... [Gone. hurt. He doesn't know. He just needed to see Hiccup.]

[Hiccup clutches him close, moving a hand to the back of his neck, threading his fingers soothingly through the hair at his nape. It's a breath of relief that he's stopped, that he hadn't gotten far enough to wander out past the Bright Wall at this hour. He thanks Odin's wisdom that he moved in with Newt; what would have happened if he hadn't been able to catch up to him?]

It was just a bad dream. [He murmurs again, nuzzling against the side of his head.] We're fine. Everything's fine. I'm right here. [Right here, blessedly not out at the forge. He lets a small smile curl his lips, and he says with a hint of warm teasing affection,] I've been sleeping on your couch remember? You didn't have to come all the way out here.

We should head back inside, though. You have to be freezing.

It's hard...to tell what is a bad dream and what is real recently. [When your dreams, at their core, are based around recent experiences...

It's hard to tell if it was something that had happened or just something his mind created.

But hearing that Hiccup is fine is relieving. Even if he can still hear Hiccup's screaming in his mind.] I forgotten. I just- I wanted to make sure you were alright. I don't want you to suffer as some of us had. You don't deserve it, really. [He hasn't noticed the biting cold at all. It hasn't really registered in his mind because he's just happy to see Hiccup safe.] Right, yes. I suppose we should go back inside. I apologize.

Yeah, I know. [He says softly, an exhale of breath given shape, lips moving against Newt's hair. Their breaths both come in soft white clouds and the air is frigid around them; Hiccup holds Newt just a little closer as if to share his own radiant fire-mage warmth.]

You didn't deserve it either. [He says, kissing his hair.] But it's okay. I'm fine. You're fine. All the creatures are fine. [He hopes it helps to repeat that, everyone is safe. He can say it as many times as Newt needs, just wanting him to feel at ease enough to rest again.]

You don't have to apologize to me. I mean it. Now let's get you back to bed?

We're all fine... [He repeats it and it seems more about Newt saying it to convince himself than to try and convince the other. Hiccup didn't need to be told what he already knew anyways.]

Right, right. Back to bed. [His steps are uneven and careful as he navigates the frozen ground with bare feet.]

Yeah. Yeah we are. [And he thanks the gods for that nearly every morning. It still hits him once in a while how close he came to actually losing the man who would become his- his partner. His boyfriend. The most important person here to Hiccup. It's even worse for Newt, he knows, especially when he has night terrors; this one seems to have been especially bad.

Hiccup is steadier as he leads them back toward their home, keeping his arm around him as support. He stays that way until they get to Newt's room and he sits him gently down on the edge of the bed with a little kiss to his forehead.] You're probably freezing. Let me get you a hot rock for your feet.

[Hiccup can feel the sudden panic and the way the other so quickly grabs his hand. The way he grabs the other's hand to stop them from leaving and then immediately letting go when he realizes what he had done. It had been unconscious, but he didn't want Hiccup to leave. He knew the other wouldn't be far, but he can't help still being shaken by his nightmare.]

Uhm, right. Sorry. [He folds his hands over his lap and keeps his gaze down.]

[That panic that isn't his own rises uncomfortable in his throat, and he freezes when Newt grabs his hand, in the middle of standing up straight to go fetch a hot rock. He lets go quickly, but Hiccup doesn't move, turning to look at him a little better. He must really be shaken this time.

That's the main reason he offers, in a soft voice,] I don't have to leave if you don't want me to. I can... I can stay. [The bed is big enough for both of them, and he'll warm up quickly next to Hiccup, who runs hot these days.]

[He wants to say no. Wants to assure the other that he was fine.

But that isn't really what he wants to say at all and he's fooling neither himself nor Hiccup at this point that he was fine.] I-I'd like that. I really would. [And maybe his voice cracks just a little bit.

He hadn't realized just how much it had affected him; how touch starved he had become.]

Then I'll stay. Scoot over? [He says softly, his smile small but warm. With that decided, he sits on the edge of the bed and bends over, leaning down to unhook his still-precariously-attached prosthetic. Sometimes he sleeps with it on (more accurately just forgetting to take it off, usually), but not when he's sharing a bed with someone, conscious of the way the moving metal parts might pinch skin if he rolls over wrong. Setting it next to the bed where he can reach it easily, he lifts up the blankets and waits for Newt to settle first.

In a quiet voice, after a few minutes, he asks,] Do you want to cuddle? [He's not opposed. Far from it. But he's been told what kind of sleeper he is by Astrid - he splays and he spoons and occasionally he drools and that might be a little much for the other man right now.]

[He doesn't typically share any of his personal space with anyone. It isn't the same as waking up with a herd of mooncalves surrounding him or Greg curled around him or some other creature that he had adopted. Hiccup wasn't some beast he was caring for.

Newt doesn't think about any of that though. He thinks more about how warm the other is and the comfort of just having him by his side. It was, well, nice.

He doesn't answer Hiccup, but immediately tucks his head under Hiccup's chin; curled up against the other. A man so tall, but manages to make himself seem to small. Hiccup probably doesn't need a verbal answer with the other tucking himself against him like he is.]

[He slides himself under the blanket alongside Newt, opening his arms the moment he pushes his way into them and wrapping around him. He'll definitely take that as a yes, and he only shifts them around to make them both comfortable, settling with an arm around Newt and a leg tucked between his, pressed as close as possible.

Hiccup doesn't have to worry about him being cold still after this. His own breathing slows, and he nuzzles his nose just briefly against Newt's curls. He murmurs softly into the quiet, shared intimacy between them,] Try to get some sleep.

[Hiccup can feel Newt's hands gently cling to the front of his shirt as the Brit buries his face against the viking. His breathing slows and he seems to be more at peace at least.

His voice is quiet and tired.] You too. You must be tired... [Says the man who seems to be quickly dozing off.]

[Newt relaxing against him helps Hiccup relax, exhaling softly and settling in, tangled up with him as he is. He only moves to tug the blanket a little farther up to their shoulders.

He says softly, starting to fade himself,] I will. I'll be here when you wake up.

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