Work Text:
They'd done it. The Submaripper was free. The diving bell was winched steadily out of the water, excited cheers and hollers sounding out across the now calm sea. At Astrid's command, Snotlout and the twins worked the winch, pulling Hiccup's diving bell steadily towards the surface. Meter by meter, it rose. Any moment now and Hiccup would be back with them on the deck, joining in the celebrations.
That moment never came. A boulder sent flying by the Hunters' catapult crashed into the winch, snapping it and sent bell started sinking once more. Toothless leapt after the chain, grabbing it in his maw and digging his claws into the wooden deck of their ship. The rough metal of the chain sliced up the inside of his mouth, and the splintering deck scratched at his paws, but he couldn't stop it. The chain flew overboard, taking the Night Fury with it.
The weight of the bell dragged him down fast, and in mere moments they reached the ocean floor. The pressure at this depth hurt Toothless' ears, but he didn't care. He had to save his Hiccup! He swam to the window, their fearful gazes meeting through amber. Water seeped in around the viewport, and Toothless knew his time was limited. Making his way to the side of the damaged bell, he fired a desperate blast at where its opening met the ocean floor. When nothing changed, he quickly moved around behind it, grabbing the chain in his injured mouth once more. He tugged, but it was no use. "No!" he cried. The damn thing wouldn't budge!
Another blast. More frantic struggling to free his Hiccup. Nothing worked. So much guilt and fear welled up in the young dragon as he met Hiccup's gaze once more. He placed a paw next to the amber viewport, moaning, "Hiccup, I-"
Shaking his head, Hiccup pleaded, his voice muffled, "Toothless! Go!" He put a hand on the amber. "Save yourself!"
But Toothless can't. He won't. He won't leave his Hiccup to die alone. He'd never be able to forgive himself if he did. "No, Hiccup… I won't leave you," he said with a mournful croon, butting his snout against the window and nuzzling it as though it were his rider.
Hiccup's gaze softened, and he nodded sadly. "I know, bud." His voice is so soft that Toothless could barely hear it. He looked over his shoulder, taking in the rising water level inside the bell, then looked back at his dragon. "I wouldn't leave you either," he affirmed, his voice wavering as he's pushed up by the torrent of salt-water. He took a deep breath and let the water overtake him. He kept his eyes open, ignoring the burn as he leaned closer to the window.
His other half did the same, pressing his forehead against the barrier and rumbling a soft, wordless reassurance that he would stay here until the end. His Hiccup wouldn't have to die alone. Each second that ticked by felt like an eternity. Hiccup's lungs pleaded for air, air that would never come. He didn't notice his eyes drifting closed as his vision grew fuzzy. He didn't know how much time had passed, but he knew, in his last moments, that he had to use the last of the air in his lungs to say one final thing to his dragon. "I love you, Toothless. I'm sorry."
"I love you, my Hiccup…" the dragon whimpered softly. Hiccup must have heard him, for a small, fond smile graced his face as the human's eyes drifted shut for the last time.
Some instinctual part of Toothless told him that he had to save himself, that he had to surface. His own lungs were burning now, and his thoughts were growing hazy. But he didn't care. Call him selfish, but he didn't want to live in a world without his rider. His other half was gone, and soon, he would be joining him. He could only hope that in whatever afterlife exists, they would meet again.
A stream of bubbles escaped his maw and water filled his lungs as his eyes closed for the last time.