IV. In which there is a kiss
"I really need to shoot something." Tauriel growled. "We have arrested how many men? And had to let each and everyone go?"
The day after the police operation at Mirkwood Tower that funny little lawyer Bilbo Baggins had gone off with the company of Thorin Durinson. The next day Azog had sent one of his orcs with a judge's writ to release the Spiders from custody. Tauriel had been furious but there was nothing she could do. She should have stayed in bed that damned night and not arrest a dozen dangerous men she had to set free only 48 hours later.
A little smile curled on her lips. Well, she had at least been heavily flirted at.
"What is it?" Legolas eyed her curiously.
„Nothing," she answered quickly. „I was just thinking I always feel the need to shoot something if things don't work out the way I planned. Do you think I have an anger management issue or something?"
He chuckled. "Yes, you do. And if I didn't know you so well it would greatly concern me. But as it happens I feel the urgent need to shoot that disgusting Bolg right in his good eye. Did you see how that orc looked at me? He licked his lips."
Legolas shuddered slightly. Not from fear she knew but from disgust.
Azog's second man was indeed repulsive. Big and bulky with the little hair he had left combed sideways over his balding head, one eye blind, his nose that had been broken in the past sat like a flat snail in his fat face. There were rumours that he sexually harassed his employees, but no one had ever filed charges.
"Someday I will meet him in court. And I will slay him. For now pretending to put a bullet in his head must do."
Legolas opened the door to the corridor widening into several cubes with targets lined in a row.
"Tell me again why we are going to a public shooting area instead of the police hall?"
She shrugged. "I don't feel like being watched."
"Why not? You never miss. Besides, you will be watched here as well. We are not alone."
He gestured to one occupied area, where a man with ear defenders on his dark hair was adjusting his target.
"I just don't want to see someone of the forces. Not after I failed so miserably and had to let those Spiders go."
"You didn't fail."
The man pushed a button and let his target move back as far as the machine would allow. It was a difficult shot from that range, demanding good eyesight and a steady hand, a shot not easy to accomplish. Deafening bangs rang through the hall and when the electric buzzed and the target appeared in front of them again, Tauriel whistled in appreciation. The target that mimicked a human form sported one shot in the centre of the head, another one where the heart would be.
Legolas turned around and his features darkened.
"Did you know he was here? Did you lure me here to meet that obnoxious dwarf?"
She blinked.
„Who?"
Then it dawned upon her. That man was Killian Durinson.
"No. Of course not. You want to leave? Fine. We leave."
"Fine!" Legolas fumed.
Having seen or sensed them Durinson swirled around and dropped his Bow & Arrow at his side. He pushed the ear defenders from his dark locks and beamed.
"Hi!"
"Hello. And good-bye." Legolas turned his back, and Tauriel shrugged apologetically.
"I didn't mean to scare you off mate," Kili said, his tone friendly but a mischievous sparkle lightening up in his dark eyes. "Not everybody can be as good as me. One has to practice. And be content with what one can do. Simple as that."
"Pardon me?" Legolas eyed him with content.
"Just sayin'. It's not a shame not to reach my level. I've been shooting since I was a kid."
"You are a kid."
"Am not. But never mind. I can teach you one thing or two about shooting if you like."
His lips twisted into a vicious smile.
"What would the likes of you know that I do not? After all I am tutoring the freshmen at police academy in techniques."
"That's exactly my point, dude. Shooting a gun is not so very much about technique. You have to sense your target, you have to feel the way the bullet will fly. See with your heart not with your eyes."
He flashed a sassy smile and lifted his gun to shoot without even bothering to give the target a second glance. He hit right in the head again, not exactly between the eyes this time but unsettling close.
"Shooting is not about showing-off," Legolas snarled. "It is a serious business."
"Whatever you say. I am sure you would never think of showing-off big time."
"I do not…" Legolas inhaled deeply. "Why am I even talking to you?"
"Why indeed?"
Kili stepped round him light-footedly to face Tauriel.
"Like to shoot with me? Friendly competition? Winner gets a kiss?"
Legolas choked on something and gasped for air. Kili patted him on the back good-naturedly and rather enthusiastically. Legolas knees buckled and when he finally could breathe again he made a move as if to strangle the other man.
„Yes," Tauriel said quickly. "A competition. Not sure about that kiss though."
"Oh?" Kili watched her closely. "Why not? Just a little kiss among friends."
"We are friends?"
"We can be. Don't you think? We just have to get to know each other. Besides, shooting is more fun if you run a competition."
"Agreed. Legolas, come on. You like to compete."
Kili eyed the tall blonde wearily.
"I am not kissing him when I win."
"You won't be the winner," Legolas assured grimly. "That will be me."
"And I will most definitely not letting you kiss me should you really be so lucky."
"What if I win?"
Both men looked at Tauriel.
"You kiss whom you want to kiss," Legolas stated.
Kili smiled a wide smile and winked at her. "Fine with me."
They set up the target. Tauriel picked up her Bow & Arrow, placed the ear defenders on her head and took aim. Hitting a target from this distance – that was easy. And her bullets, seated closely together in what was supposed to be the chest of a human form, proved her point. Kili and Legolas too were hitting bulls eye with ease. They proceeded to further distance but still their aim was as true as before. Next round the target was moved even further back.
Legolas placed his projectiles neatly in the head and the heart. Tauriel mimicked him. When Kili's target came back she couldn't help but laugh out loud.
His bullets had perforated the head in what looked like a smiling face.
He grinned, obviously delighted that he had succeeded in making her laugh. Legolas just glared at him.
"Not funny, dwarf."
"Of course it is, Leggy. And don't call me that."
"Why not? Didn't you just call me Leggy? Whatever for?"
"Your legs look like those long, wobbly spider ones. Something wrong with your hearing, mate? As well as with your manners?"
"What would you know about manners?"
"My mother would beat them into me if I were as rude as you, dude."
"Rude? Says the imp who is calling me names. My legs are not wobbly."
Tauriel rolled her eyes. "Are we shooting or are we exchanging niceties?"
"Want to shoot a face as well? How about his sour expression?"
Kili made a face that was a fine imitation of Legolas, who huffed indignantly, lifted his pistol and fired a series of shots in rapid succession. Kili cringed when the target came back showing bullet holes all over the groin.
"You are really no fun at all, Leggy."
"Shut up and shoot, dwarf."
Kili growled but complied.
Then it was Tauriel's turn again. Kili beamed at her in open admiration.
"Brilliant! Where did you learn to shoot like that?"
"I taught her." Legolas looked down his perfectly shaped nose.
"To be honest, you didn't," Tauriel confessed. "You were just so much enjoying yourself teaching me that I didn't have the heart to tell you the truth. I could hit bulls eye when your bullets would make yellow at best."
"No way. You are making that up!"
"It is the truth. I am sorry, brother."
Kili's eyes flashed. "Brother?"
"Of course. Legolas is my brother."
"I. Am. Not. Her. Brother."
"Right. Step-brother. His father took me in when my parents were killed. We grew up together. Even if we are not related we are the closest thing to siblings. Aren't we, Legolas?"
The blond grunted and missed to hit the centre.
"Siblings." Kili smiled ridiculously. And missed too.
„So," Kili said, eyes flashing. "I gather Tauriel wins?"
"The competition is not over yet."
"What do you want to do, Leggy? We have shot at each target from every distance. We can shoot blindfolded for all you like but still Tauriel will be better than the two of us. She wins. And gets to kiss whoever she wants to."
Legolas looked at her.
"You can always peck me on the cheek, you know."
"Yes, I can always do that."
Tauriel returned his smile and Legolas relaxed visibly. Kili just stood quietly. And when she approached him, a little nervous she had to admit, he looked at her with the tiniest of smiles on his lips.
It wasn't awkward at all. She bent down a little, he reached up a little, his fingers touched her cheek ever so lightly and then embedded themselves in her hair. When their lips touched, soft and warm, a tingling sensation seized first her lips, then her skin, slowly spreading all over her body until locating itself further down in a very delicate and of late rather neglected area. Who would have thought?
Her lips parted by themselves, her tongue searched for his and was welcomed, the touch playful and teasing at first but soon getting more demanding. His grip in her neck strengthened, his kiss deepened, and Tauriel pulled away with a start. That had gone too far. She merely had allowed herself that little kiss they had agreed on. Just to know what it would feel like to kiss him, if his lips were as soft and sweet as they looked. Snogging had not been part of the plan. Although, dammit, it had felt good. Made her want more.
She tried to ease her exited breathing and calm down her racing heart that beat so loud she was sure everybody around her had to go deaf. Kili on the other hand didn't bother. He was panting visibly.
"Wow," he said.
Tauriel felt herself blush when Kili's eyes, intense like ember, didn't leave her.
"What?" She finally asked, a little more gruff than intended.
"Will you spend the night with me? No. Damn. Evening. I meant the evening. Meant the other as well, to be honest. But what I really meant to say was: Will you have dinner with me? A date? Please?"
"That is not a good idea."
"Why not? I am no criminal should you think that. Come on, you know my record. I haven't done anything… big. I am nice. Really."
"I am sure you are. But that doesn't change anything. I am still who I am and you are who you are."
Kili looked at her pleadingly. "Give me a chance?"
"I can't."
Maybe it was the tone of her voice or the look in her eyes or maybe the realisation dawned upon him that if she was Legolas' step-sister she was Thranduil's step-daughter too. As Thorin Oakenshield's nephew he couldn't possibly get involved with her without at least awakening old animosities or even causing open conflict. Which it was that made him draw back she had no idea. But Kili's shoulders slouched and he lowered his gaze. He stepped back.
"Can we leave now?" Legolas gave her an icy look and turned towards the door.
Tauriel followed him but simply had to look back at that handsome face before leaving.
Kili smiled slightly and shrugged.
Yes, it could have been something.
