2nd Chapter

It was already dark and raining heavily, when the plane finally landed on the Main Airport. The lights of city were glittering in pools of water all around, shining brightly in darkness like little suns of every color. It was beautiful, yet strange for Bilbo. It was complete opposite of what he was used to. City was alive all the time, even at night - while village was peacefully sleeping in complete darkness and silence.
He sighed and looked at man on driver's seat.
He must have taken a taxi, since he didn't have a damn clue, where exactly his house located is or how to get there by bus. Glóin just gave him an address of a flat that was supposed to be his place. And even that was a mission impossible to obtain, since the man was easy one to anger if you didn't understand something that was for him 'too easy'. He whined silently and rubbed his eyes.

Just few more minutes, Bilbo and you'll be there, it's going to be fine.

"Tired?"
He looked up at driver, who was smiling at him. Man looked friendly and more like a simple kind guy - maybe with just a little wilder brown hair. Bilbo forced himself to smile faintly and nod.
"First time in big city like this?"
"Well... Yes. The village I lived in was... smaller? Smaller and more silent. This is kind of scary." Bilbo admitted as he watched land behind window.
"Don't worry. I was shocked too when I moved. But I got used to the fact that here, you are on your own. No one is going to help you - everyone have their own problems - no space for those of another people. You have to fight for your living, you can't mind other's needs." They passed by some luxurious houses with great gardens and big statues. "Those are the luckiest - good job, money, fame... The life is simple for them, don't you think so?"
Bilbo sighed.
He started to be more and more worried if this was good idea. Man next to him was right. There is NOTHING for free in this world.
The streets were getting darker. Nice houses disappeared and were replaced by complexes of little buildings with many of windows. TAXI stopped next to one of buildings.
"Here we are, lad."
"Thank you. How much it is?"
After man said him a prize for ride, Bilbo's eyes almost popped out of his head. What?! It was just 20 minutes of driving and he wasn't billionaire!
He frowned and took out wallet, placing money to driver's awaiting hand. Man just smiled and nodded, hiding money in his pockets.
Bilbo stepped out of car and stretched. Night was cold but it was fine - at least air was fresh. He turned around so he could take a luggage but suddenly...

Why is that man leaving ...?!

"H-hey... wait!"

"Sorry ladie, just fighting my way through this life. I said you. You cannot mind other's needs!" Driver smiled as he was speeding up, waving at horrified Bilbo, who was completely stunned. "Take it positively! At least I've left you your wallet! Good luck!"
And...With these words… he was gone.

With. .

And he said "good luck" to him - right after he stole his luggage.

Young man just gaped after car that disappeared behind a corner with open mouth.

This is a bad dream.

***

At least you don't have to drag your things upstairs on 5th floor.
'Yes. I wouldn't have to if the fucking elevator was working!'
But it isn't! So!
'Bilbo why are you talking to your mind? Something is wrong with you.'
You don't say!
'See? I'm talking about this. Eh…'

Auburn haired man huffed and shook his head. It was ridiculous. This situation. All that happened (and was about to). Last few stairs and he got to nice looking wooden doors with number 13 on it. He sighed and took out envelope with keys in it - last thing that Gandalf gave to him.
(Bilbo didn't understand how they got to him so quickly after he talked with Glóin but whatever. Gandalf was a strange creature.)
He put keys to keyhole and was about to open the door...
When suddenly they opened on their own.
A man with strange hat and broad smile was standing in front of little man.
"E...Excuse me?" Bilbo felt his hope that everything will be alright to fade.
"Oh. You must be our new flat mate! Mr. Baggins, right?" He asked cheerfully and stretched a hand towards him. "I'm Bofur. We were waiting for you!"
"W…we…?"
"Me and my brother - Bombur. Nice to meet ya. "
What was his surprise, when auburn haired man started to laugh! Hysterically and loudly laugh with an expression that spoke for itself.

He was completely done.

***

"Is he okay?"
Man with strange hat – Bofur was his name if Bilbo remembered right – was looking at his new flat mate who was sitting in a corner, hugging his legs and talking to wall, from time to time erupting into nervous laughter.
Bombur was peeking over his shoulder with curious face, eating some snacks he had in hands.
"I think he needs help…" he muttered as he stuffed himself with another. He jumped up in surprise, when Bilbo suddenly stood up with angry expression.
"No…No… I don't need help! Gandalf will need one if he doesn't put things right!" he snapped. "Just wait. I should stay where I was. My life was nice until that …. That… Nah! This is…. Ridiculous!" Bilbo waved with his hands and almost kicked down a vase with flowers.
"Ho-ho, calm down lad!" Bofur caught it quickly and sighed. "I'm sure there is a way to solve this problem-"
"Yes… YES! There is! I'm going to call him immediately and ask him for refund. I'm going back. NOW." Bilbo grabbed his phone and stated to search in his contacts, ignoring two surprised faces. He dialed the number.
"Bilbo Baggins!" Gandalf picked it up almost immediately. "It's nice to hear from you so soon! Have you arrived safely?"
"I DID NOT." Bilbo snapped into phone, angrily.
"Oh, calm down young man. Is something wrong?"

Another person telling him to calm down.

"Wrong?! Something?! EVERYTHING!" Auburn haired man snapped. "In flat that was supposed to be mine live two people! A taxi driver stole my luggage, wishing me good luck! There is no way I can be calm! What else is coming?! I want to go back, Gandalf."
There was a loud sigh on the other side of phone.
"Dear friend, I'm sure there must be some mistake. I'll immediately call Glóin about this, we can fix it. " Man mumbled. "There's no need to rush things. You've just arrived!"
Bilbo frowned. Well… even if his journey was an epic fail until now…
"Okay. I'll give this another – but last chance!"

"WHAT?!"
"Looks like Glóin's brother Óin… Uhm… changed your data."
"What does that mean?! Wait. No. You don't have to tell me. I'm leaving. Enough." Bilbo shook his head. After Gandalf called Glóin, he immediately contacted Bilbo again. The news weren't pleasurable, not even a bit.
"You can't be angry at him. He has some serious issues with his hearing, it's not entirely his fault. He didn't mean to do any harm to you. "
"I- I don't care. Just… please… Pay me a plane ticket back to my village and we can forget this."
There was a silence on the other side of phone and then:
"It's not possible."
"What, why?!"
"We have limited budget for people that are just starting to work for us. We usually expect that they stay long enough to earn enough money on their own. I've already paid your place in flat and your plane ticket here. So it means your budget is empty – for now. "
Bilbo bit his lower lip.
"So it means I have no other choice than to stay…?"
"For now that's the only option."
Young man sighed. If he thought back and tried to decide what was his most horrible day in life - this one would aim for the first place - unrivaled. He rubbed his eyes.
"So... When do you expect me in office?" He asked with defeated voice.:
"Actually... When Óin mixed up datas, your job had changed too. Tomorrow at 8:45 you are expected by... let's see... Oh, here is a name... Durin's family in their house. As a babysitter."
Bilbo almost fainted - once again - and in one day. He grabbed the edge of a table.
"No. Gandalf. This is not funny."
"Of course it's not, I'm not joking. I'll send you an adress so you can find your way there. Be on time." Old man said and sighed. "I'm sure that in 4 or 5 months you will have enough money to return back to your village. Until then I will try to fix Óin's mistake but I can't promise you anything. For now, good luck and take care, mister Baggins."
"Gandalf - wait..." Too late. Gandalf hung up.
"Awesome..." Bilbo muttered and placed phone onto table, whining silently. Bofur smiled at him with compassion and Bombur offered him some cookies.
"Eat lad, it's good for nerves."
Bilbo took sweets and sighed with defeated face.
There were 2 most important things he learned during last 48 hours:

1) Never, NEVER believe to people that just randomly appear in your life -they are dangerous and probably going to fuck up your life.
2) Everything bad can be worse.

To be continued...

Notes:

Thank you very much for reading the second chapter.
I hope you enjoy at least a bit. Feedback would be lovely. :'3
And I'm sorry for all the mistakes you can find here. I don't have a BETA and I'm not native speaker.
Thank you, once again!
P.S.: This story is also posted on AO3 under the same name, if someone would be interested! n_n