Archive of Our Own ^beta

A comfortable silence, early in the morning, light creeps in the windows of the hut, draping across the furs, lighting skin, gentle snoring. Two bodies in the bed, one resting his head on the other's shoulder as he sleeps, chests touching.

Dark lashes flutter open, icy blue eyes adjusting to the light, his gaze landing on blond hair, a gentle smile, he cards his fingers through his loves hair.

"Hm"

"Wake up"

"No.."

"Come on Tuffy we gotta get up"

"Jus..a little longer.."

"Astrid isn't gonna wait forever"

"Don't care.."

"I'll make your favorite for dinner"

"Yak chops?" Tuff's head raises, looking at his lover. "And that sweet bread?"

"Perfect" Snotlout breathes, carding through Tuffnut's hair again. "Want help braiding your hair today?"

"Yes. Please" Tuffnut smiles at him, leaning forward to peck his lips.

Tuffnut slipped off the bed with a stretch, Snotlout sat up and watched him, a small smirk as he reached out to give Tuff a love tap on the rear, earning a surprised yip and glare. "I'll get you back for that."

"Wouldn't doubt it" Snotlout grins.

"You'll enjoy it too much" Tuffnut huffs.

"Maybe I will" Snotlout stands, popping his back in the proecss of stretching.

Both look at their shelves, a whittled wood Barf and Belch, and a Plush of Hookfang, "wonder if they miss us" Tuffnut mutters.

Snotlout takes his wrist and pulls him closer, taking his chin in hand to look into his eyes, "Barf and Belch miss you. I know they do, just like I'd miss you"

Tuffnut leans into his hand, looking down and back into his eyes, "Hookfang probably looks for you every morning, like he used to. I know I couldn't be away from you long, especially now, but if I had to I'd wait as long as it took"

Both lean in for a kiss, its not awkward, or quick and small, but loving, experienced, a dance long practiced over years. Their relationship had bloomed after the dragons left, seven years since they left, five years since Snotlout and Tuffnut had the courage to make that leap, most let them be, some however..

Snotlout rested his forehead against Tuffnut's after they parted, "now lets get ready"

They didn't know that was one of their last mornings together, Hiccup and Astrid called to meet with most of Berk's council, gold was low, trades were low, Gobber suggested selling weapons, Ruffnut some of the pelts she hunted for, Fishlegs offered some of his books he'd written from his studies.

Snotlout would be Berk's merchant, to establish a trade route and bring in gold so New Berk could flourish.

"I'll wait for your return" Tuffnut smiles to his husband.

"I'll count the days" Snotlout kissed his lips.

Tuffnut stood at the dock, watching the waves. A day, a week, a month, three months, he should've returned by then, four months, five, six.. a year, and a year turned to two.

Tuffnut woke every morning to sit at the dock, then to his duties, to feed the chickens, keep the hut tidy, keep Snotlout's stuff clean and ready for his return. And a hobby he picked up of telling stories to the children of berk. To return to the dock until the sun went down.

He had gone on the route Snotlout had taken more then give times, he scoured the islands Snotlout was supposed to have gone to, he held hope still, not a day passed he didn't wait.

For ten years.

Many tried to tell him to stop, that Snotlout was gone, but he didn't listen, not to Hiccup, not to Astrid, not to Fishlegs not even Ruffnut could disway him from waiting.

He would wait, and not a soul could stop him.

Gobber sat next to him one day, the elder patted his back, "the waiting, I know how it can get, somedays it feels hopeless, others its all you can do.. hoping he returns, I'm not going to tell your to stop, but you need to take care of yourself, he'd want that at least"

Tuffnut could only look at the older man, his beard had gone sliver a while ago, he was thinner but still Gobber, Gobber still looked at Stoicks statute everyday, Tuffnut understood him. He gives Gobber a tiny nod, earning another pat on his back.

Tuffnut himself was thirty nine, wrinkles setting in his features, his bones ached even worse now, creaked more often then not. He honestly tried his best to care for himself, but he couldn't bring himself to do the basics.

He watched Gobber hobble away, but didn't move himself, turning his gaze back to the water.

Day by day, he could only think of his husband, he felt in his heart he was alive, Snotlout was alive and No one. No one would tell him otherwise.

Tuffnut would still curl up in their bed, clutching something of Snotlout's, hoping just to smell his scent that had worn out years ago, but memories kept it alive.

He missed him so much it hurt.

One day after all his work was done he went to sit in the same spot, the wood worn down, when Gustav stops him, "hey! I'm going into the woods, you look like you could use the exercise"

Tuffnut cocked a brow, "is that supposed to mean something?"

"Or are you to old for a walk?" Gustav grins.

"Who are you calling old" Tuffnut marched up to him.

"Well. Come on, old man." Gustav started walking with a shit eating grin.

Tuffnut glared but started walking, he was out of shape, he kept having to stop to breathe, the whole time Gustav let him take the breaks, let him catch his breath.

"I'm not going to tell you to stop waiting for him" Gustav suddenly said, "you loved him.. err- Love him. When my father passed away my mother immediately moved on, another guy every other month, I started to resent her for it, but.. I grew up, I learned love is different for everyone, My mother needed someone with her. You and Gobber.. even Stoick waited for Valka. Its who you are I guess"

Tuffnut looked at him, brows furrowed "When did you get so wise?"

"Well for one I had alot of teachers, and two I grew up" Gustav grins. They headed back into the village.

Tuffnut and Gustav come up to the dock, when Tuffnut spots something in the distance, something small in the water, like planks of wood floating in the water, and.. a person!

Tuffnut doesn't even register what they look like, and dives into the freezing water, Gustav shouts but he doesn't listen, Tuffnut barely knows how to swim, he sucks at it, but he gives it his all because something is pulling him.

He paddles like its his life on the line, nearly inhaling water, his hair sticks to his face, his fingers and toes feel like ice. But its all worth it.. he reaches the plank they're on, and grabs onto it, hoisting himself up a bit.

He nearly freezes, nearly breaking into tears, or screaming, infront of him is the man he has been waiting for, instead of what his body instinctively wants he reaches forth and pulls him closer, checking for a pulse like Gothi had taught them when they were younger.

Tuffnut's heart leaps when he feels a pulse, Snotlout is Alive.

Tuffnut isn't quite sure how but he started pulling Snotlout toward the dock, his horrible swimming skills managing to keep both of them a float.

"GUSTAV! ITS SNOTLOUT! GET- GET EVERYONE!"

Gustav takes off as Tuffnut pulls Snotlout onto the dock itself, Snotlout was so cold, Tuffnut himself was freezing he couldn't imagine how cold his husband was.

The first to rush to the dock was Valka, who actually brought a fur blanket, "Gustav said he was in the water!"

"Thank you" Tuffnut was grateful, he ripped Snotlout's icy and tattered shirt off, and his pants, he couldn't care about the decency, not when Snotlout was so cold. He immediately swaddled him in the fur, and held him.

When the others arrived they helped him take Snotlout up to Gothi, who had Tuffnut lay with Snotlout for the body heat. Tuffnut looked at his scruffy face, how thin he had gotten, he could see the fight Snotlout had put up to get back, "I waited" Tuffnut muttered and kissed his cheek.

Tuffnut slept in Snotlout's recovery bed overnight, for the first time in Ten years he actually slept.

When daylight came it was a comfortable silence, early in the morning, light crept in the window of the hut, draping across the fur blanket, lighting skin, gentle snoring. Two bodies in one bed, one resting his head on the other's shoulder as he sleeps, chests touching.

Dark lashes flutter open, icy blue eyes adjusting to the light, his gaze landing on blond hair, a gentle smile, cracked lips, "I can finally stop counting.."