Tuffnut Thorston X Male Reader

Title: Cave Love

The faint light of the setting sun barely reached the depths of the cave as you leaned against the cool, damp wall, letting out a deep sigh. Your dragon had gotten spooked by a sudden collapse of rocks, and before you could react, you and Tuffnut had both ended up sliding into this tight cavern. The opening had sealed behind you with a pile of rubble, and now the two of you were waiting for the other dragon riders to find and rescue you.

“Well, this is cozy,” Tuffnut said, his voice echoing slightly in the enclosed space. He was sprawled out on the ground, using his fur vest as a makeshift pillow. Despite the situation, he seemed surprisingly relaxed, his usual goofy grin plastered on his face.

“Cozy isn’t the word I’d use,” you muttered, running a hand through your hair. “More like cramped.”

“Cramped can be cozy,” he quipped, shooting you a playful look. “I mean, think about it. No distractions, no dragons sneezing on you, and no Ruffnut breathing down my neck. Just you, me, and this… very damp cave. Romantic, right?”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at your lips. “If you say so, Tuff.”

He sat up, brushing some dirt off his hands before scooting a little closer to you. “You know, caves are sacred to Vikings,” he said, his tone mock-serious. “They’re places of bonding, of connection. It’s where legendary friendships—and maybe even legendary romances—are forged.”

You snorted, shaking your head. “You’re making that up.”

“Am not!” he protested, clutching his chest in mock offense. “It’s Viking tradition. I’m pretty sure it’s in the Book of Dragons somewhere.”

“Uh-huh. Sure it is,” you replied, leaning back against the wall. But despite your teasing tone, there was something about his words that made your chest feel warm. You glanced over at him, his blond hair messy and streaked with dirt, his face illuminated by the faint glow of the moss on the cave walls. For all his antics, there was something undeniably charming about Tuffnut.

“You know,” he said after a moment, his voice softer now, “I’m glad it’s you I’m stuck with. Ruff’s great and all, but she’d probably be trying to fight the walls by now. You… you’re different.”

Your heart skipped a beat at the unexpected sincerity in his tone. “Different how?” you asked, keeping your voice light to mask the sudden flutter of nerves.

He shrugged, his gaze dropping to the ground. “I don’t know. You’re just… easy to be around. You don’t make me feel like I have to be someone I’m not. I like that.”

The warmth in your chest spread, and you found yourself smiling despite the situation. “I feel the same way about you, Tuff. You make everything… fun. Even being stuck in a cave doesn’t seem so bad with you here.”

His head shot up, and for a moment, he just stared at you, his blue eyes wide. Then, to your surprise, he grinned—not his usual mischievous grin, but something softer, more genuine. “Wow,” he said, leaning back on his hands. “I didn’t think anyone actually liked me for me. I mean, besides my dragon, and he mostly likes me because I feed him.”

“Well, I’m not your dragon, and I don’t need to be fed to like you,” you said, your voice steady despite the rapid beating of your heart.

Tuffnut blinked at you, his grin slowly fading into something more serious. “You really mean that?”

“Yeah, I do,” you said, holding his gaze. “You’re a good guy, Tuff. You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

He looked away, his cheeks tinged with the faintest hint of pink. For a moment, the cave was silent except for the distant dripping of water. Then, he turned back to you, his expression uncharacteristically earnest. “You know, if we get out of here alive, I think I’d like to… I don’t know, spend more time with you. Just us. No dragons, no siblings, no distractions. What do you think?”

Your smile widened, and you reached over to squeeze his hand. “I think I’d like that too.”

The sound of distant voices echoed through the cave, signaling the arrival of the other dragon riders. Tuffnut’s grin returned, his usual playful energy bubbling back to the surface. “Looks like we’re about to be rescued. Too bad… I was starting to like our cozy little cave.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “Come on, Tuff. Let’s get out of here.”

As the two of you stood and prepared to meet the others, you couldn’t help but feel that, even after you left the cave, something between you and Tuffnut had changed. And for the first time, you were excited to see where it might lead.