Muahaha I am on a roll! Two back to back updates! I should stay up until 3:00am writing more often that's when the plot bunnies emerge, apparently. Enjoy!

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Kili silently stared out the window at the small rooftop garden. He had never seen anything like Laketown before, and it was fascinating to watch the people make their way from place to place in their little boats and canals. It surprised him that a little garden like this one could even grow on a town that was in the middle of a lake, but they made it work. It was a very pretty sight, yet, it made him sad that he could only watch the birds chirping on the window sill, and the merchants shout their freshly caught fish of the day. Even though Oin said his hearing was only partially gone, it still felt like he couldn't hear anything at all today. He found that his hearing still yo-yoed, still went up and down; sometimes he couldn't hear a thing, others times he could hear just enough to get by. Today it was in the middle, he couldn't hear his fingers snapping, or clapping, but if he spoke loud enough he could hear the tiny whisper of his own voice. It was enough to keep his hope from dying completely, but not enough to really be useful. He thought about earlier that afternoon, when Thorin and Fili had been yelling at each other. That had been a rare moment where he could barely hear them, and he had been able to understand what they were saying. He felt bad for Fili, he didn't realize that Fili held so much pent up anger for their uncle. Fili always seemed so grounded, it was hard to watch him unravel like that. Kili was thankful that Thorin had understood, it had been his greatest fear that Thorin would find out and be angry, or worse, leave him behind. It was such a surprise when Thorin started using iglishmek. It made him feel hopeful that they would get through this, and that he would be able to at least see the Lonely Mountain.

Kili then saw a movement out of the corner of his eye, and turned his head to see his brother walking towards him, two cups of steaming tea in his hand. Fili put the mugs down on the table, and then motioned to the chair, asking if he could sit. Kili nodded, and then sat up straighter in his nook.

Fili smiled then spoke and signed, " How are you feeling?"

Kili hesitated before answering, he knew Thorin wanted him to continue speaking, but he also knew his voice sounded different. It made him feel self conscious, even around his brother.

"I am feeling better. How are you? I know this morning was rough for you." Kili answered, speaking out loud and signing the signs he knew.

Fili shrugged, "I'll be fine. Thorin and I have some things to talk about when this is all over, and we have conquered Erebor." he said/signed.

"Im glad you two will finally be able to talk."

"Me too."

"Fili?" Kili asked

"Yes?"

"You know you can always talk to me, right? I may not be able to hear, but that doesn't mean I can't listen." Kili said with a smile.

Fili returned the smile, "And the same goes for you, brother. That's why I came to talk to you, actually. Can you tell me —?" he asked

Kili furrowed his brow, he didn't understand the last part at all.

"I didn't understand the last part. I'm sorry." he asked

"You dont have to apologize, Kili." Fili answered

"Can you tell me what happened with the elves?" he repeated.

Kili then froze and closed his eyes. He had spend a long while trying to rid himself of the terror that he went through when he was under interrogation with the elves, but the terror, and the pain he had felt was still all too real. He still felt panic whenever someone touched him, he felt fear whenever he couldn't understand someone and somewhere deep down inside him he knew it wasn't his fault but he was still scared to even think about what they did to him.

He jumped when he felt Fili's hand on his arm, and he stared into his brother's concerned face.

"Are you alright?" Kili read his lips, understanding them only because he had been asked that same questions a hundred times in the last two days.

Kili started to nodd, but then he remembered Fili's fight with Thorin, and how much pain Fili had been in because he simply didn't tell Thorin he was suffering. Kili stopped, then shook his head slightly from right to left.

"No? Can you tell me?" Fili asked, leaning in closer.

Kili could feel the subtle buzz of anxiety in his chest, caused by his brother's hand on his arm. Why did he feel like this? He knew it was Fili, and he knew his brother would never harm him yet he still felt scared that he was going to get hurt. He winced as the memory of an elf guard twisting his forearm in that very spot, causing pain to shoot up his arm and into his chest.

Kili quickly moved his arm out of Fili's grasp and tucked it under his chest. Immediately he felt his chest loosen, and the anxiety die down. So this was how he could control it, by not letting anyone touch him. Ever. But then he looked at his brother's confused face and felt his heart drop. He would have to explain it to Fili, to make him understand that none of this was his fault. But how could he when he could barely hear his own voice?

Kili sighed, "I'll…I'll try to tell you….but…" he winces as another memory of fear and pain flashes up, this time an angry elf face snarling and backhanding him. Hard.

"It hurts." Kili finished, looking away from his brother's face in shame. He was supposed to be a dwarfish warrior, he was supposed to not let pain get to him, but it was so hard when he was this scared.

Fili nodded he took his hand away and started sighing, "It's alright, you dont have to tell me everything. Just the basics. I can only help you if I know whats wrong." he paused, and then asked, "Does it hurt you when I touch you?"

Kili paused, and tried to form a sentence that would describe how he felt and make sense to his brother. And one that he could form in iglishmek. It was easier said than done.

"Your touch….reminds me of their touch….and it makes me….scared." Kili finally answered, looking up at his brother and hoping that FIli would understand.

Fili just nodded, so Kili continued;

" Not just your touch though, anybody's touch. Like Oin today when he was examining me, it reminded me of them. I couldn't understand what they were saying to me. Their lips moved so fast. And they hurt me. They didn't understand I couldn't hear them, even though I tried….I tried so hard to tell them but they wouldn't listen." He said.

And even though he barely hear his own voice, he felt a little bit better, just because he had told Fili what had happened.

Fili nodded, "You are safe now." he said and signed

"No one is going to hurt you ever again."

Then Fili opened up his arms, and looked at Kili. Kili realized that Fili wanted to give him a hug, but was waiting until he said it was okay before he did. Kili never felt so grateful for his big brother in his entire life. He leaned into Fili's open arms and hugged him tight, breathing in the familiar smell of his brother.

Fili was talking, Kili could feel the vibrations in his chest. But he didn't care what he was brother was saying, all that mattered was they he was there.

Kili pulled back from the hug and put his hand on Fili's collarbone.

"I can feel your voice, when you speak." he said.

Fili smiled, "See? You'll always be able to understand me in one way or another. I am your brother, we're connected deep down in here." he said, putting his hand over Kili's.

Kili smiled back at his big brother. This was the Fili he remembered, the strong one that was always there for him. The emotional, fragile dwarf he had seen earlier when Fili had been arguing with Thorin was almost gone, but not quite. Since he had lost his hearing, Kili had noticed that he was able to pick up on emotions just based on facial expressions. With no sound, face and body movements seemed clearer to him. Like now, even though Fili was smiling at him but Kili could tell that his brother was still not totally okay. The smile didn't reach his eyes, making him look tired and sad.

Kili reached out and touched his brother's cheek.

"Now that we know that I'm going to be alright, please tell me about you. Are you okay?" he asked softly.

Fili's smiled faded, but he just shrugged.

"I'll be fine, little brother. Don't you worry about me." Kili read.

"You can talk to me…."

"I know. I'm sorry, Kili. I just need some time to process this on my own. Don't worry, I know I can come talk to you." Fili answered

"I'll always be here for you." Kili said and signed.

Fili nodded and blinked back glassy eyes.

"I know."

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Thanks for reading! Please review, they help so much!