Last chapter!
A week had passed and Thranduil returned to his icy self. The only time he smiled was around Legolas, and even then they weren't as bright as usual.
He was in his room doing homework when Tauriel entered. She carefully sat on his bed, waiting for him to acknowledge her.
"Yes Tauriel?"
"Kili is taking me on a harbor cruise, you should come with us. Get out of the house for a bit." She suggested.
"I do get out of the house. Every Saturday when I take Legolas to the park." Thranduil replied.
"More than just that Thran. Hang out with people your own age."
"I'd rather not if it's all the same to you."
Tauriel sighed.
"I don't know if this will mean anything, but I'm sorry"
Thranduil turned to her.
"You were right about Smaug. Another girl told me he bet with his friends he would get me in bed by Prom. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you and for what he did to you."
"It's fine. Now you know what he's like."
Tauriel frowned, "It was still horrible of me. I did punch him for you. And kicked him in the crotch" She sent him a small smile, "He'll probably have a broken nose."
Thranduil chuckled slightly.
After a short silence, Tauriel continued, "I also wanted to thank you. For going to Prom, it really meant a lot to me. I just wish it ended better for you."
"You're welcome…and so do I."
Tauriel waited to see if he would continue, but when he didn't, she left the room.
She went downstairs where Kili was waiting for her.
"Is your brother okay?" Kili asked.
"No" She replied and walked out the door. Kili glanced at the stairs before following her out.
/
The next time Kili went to the Tauriel's house, it wasn't for her. Oropher opened the door and gave Kili a confused look, "Tauriel isn't here Mr. Dison."
"Yeah I know. I was wondering if Thranduil was home."
Oropher raised a brow, "He's in the backyard." He opened the door wider to allow the boy through.
"Thank you Mr. Greenleaf." Kili found Thranduil lounging on the porch swing. He was drawing something his sketchbook. Kili took a seat in a lawn chair and cleared his throat.
Thranduil looked up, "You're Tauriel's new boyfriend right?"
"Kili"
"Right." Thranduil nodded. "You do know that Tauriel isn't here."
"Yes, I came here to talk to you actually."
Thranduil sat up and raised a curious brow.
"It's about Bard"
Thranduil's expression hardened. "I don't want to talk about that asshole."
"I think you should hear me out. Let me explain some things."
Thranduil crossed his legs and gave the boy an expectant expression.
Kili cleared his throat nervously, "Well, when I first came to Middle Earth High I fell in love with Tauriel. Bilbo told me that she wasn't allowed to date. So I started pretending to tutor her in French to get close to her. She told me that she could start dating when you did so Bilbo and I started looking for a guy who would be brave enough to go out with you." He flinched when he saw Thranduil's glare. "We looked at a few guys, but they were all a bust. I saw Bard and I thought he was perfect. Unfortunately, he wouldn't do what we wanted just because we asked him to, so we decided to have Smaug pay him in the pretense of getting a date with Tauriel. When Bard's first few attempts at getting your attention failed, we started asking Tauriel for help. She provided some things you liked and we gave them to Bard."
"So it's true" Thranduil said.
Kili cocked his head.
"I was just a means to an end. You wanted a date with Tauriel and I was in the way."
"No!" Kili denied, "Well, maybe" He winced. "Even if it started out that way, I can tell you that Bard really cares for you. He was really upset when you started ignoring him."
"More like he was upset about the money he was losing." Thranduil scoffed.
"How can you not see that he cares about you?!" Kili jumped up from the chair. "He's been as heartbroken as you about this and you're being too selfish to see that! I know what we did to you was wrong and I am really sorry about that, but he really does like you." Kili was breathing deeply, attempting to calm his nerves.
"Have you finished your rant?" Thranduil asked calmly.
Kili gawked at the blonde, "Unbelievable." He shook his head and left the porch.
As soon as he was gone, Thranduil deflated. He curled up on the swing and cried.
An hour passed and Thranduil was still curled on the swing. His eyes were red and his cheeks tearstained. Oropher came out and sat on the swing, "Are you alright?" He carded his fingers through his son's hair.
"Does it look like I am alright?" Thranduil hissed.
Oropher's lip twitched into a half smile, "Not really, but I had to ask."
Thranduil sniffed wetly. He wiped the tears away and curled himself into a tighter ball.
"I'll take a wild guess and say the Prom wasn't a big hit."
"It was at first." Thranduil sighed, "It was perfect. And then I found out my date only went with me because Smaug paid him to."
Orophe's body tensed, "Did either of them hurt you?"
Thranduil shook his head.
Oropher relaxed and continued playing with Thranduil's hair.
"Shall I find Smaug and beat him to a pulp?"
Thranduil smirked, "No, Tauriel already did that."
"Tauriel did?"
Thranduil nodded.
"And what about your date? Shall I beat him instead?"
Thranduil frowned, "No, I just want to forget he exists."
Oropher sighed. "You know, Fathers don't like to admit when their children are capable of running their own lives. Especially when they are better at it then we are."
Thranduil looked at him curiously.
Oropher smiled sadly, "When your mother died, it broke me. I lost the love of my life and I didn't care about anything else. All I could see was an emptiness where she used to be and I couldn't get passed it." He turned back to Thranduil, "You however, were strong enough to move on. You did what I couldn't, you raised Legolas and Tauriel. And I am sorry that you had to do that when it was my job. You grew up too fast and by the time I realized it, it was too late to change anything.
You may look like me Thranduil, but inside you are all your mother. You have her strength, her heart. I've been pushing you to go to Stanford not just because it is my Alma Mater but so you can live your own life. I know you want to go to NYU so that you can stay and take care of Legolas, but you shouldn't have to do that. I am the father and it is my job to take care of my children. I've done a pretty lousy job if what happened to you is anything to go by, but I would like to make it up to you. Don't let obligation hold you back Thranduil."
"I'm not leaving Legolas. I refuse to abandon him. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to him and I wasn't there." Thranduil said.
"Then how about a compromise?"
"What kind of compromise?"
"You will go to Columbia instead of NYU. You will either live in the dorms or an apartment near campus. This way, you are far enough away from home to live your life, but still close enough to come back and visit."
"You've really thought about this haven't you?"
"I have. I won't let you throw your life away Thranduil. I wasn't able to save the rest of your childhood but I can save what is left of your young adulthood. So do we have a deal?"
Thranduil smiled, "Deal"
"Good, because I've already sent them a check and it would have been incredibly inconvenient if you didn't agree."
Thranduil chuckled, "Were you going through my mail? I didn't even open the other college letters. I only cared about NYU."
"Yes I noticed that. You did get accepted to Stanford, just so you know."
Thranduil huffed, "I am not going to Stanford Father."
Oropher shrugged, "Columbia is just as good."
Thranduil smiled and hugged his father, "Thank you"
Oropher hugged back, squeezing the other blonde, "You're welcome"
/
Thranduil was sitting on a blanket in the park. Legolas was playing on the jungle gym while Thranduil watched. Someone's throat cleared and Thranduil looked up to see Bard.
"Hi" The boy nodded in greeting.
"Hello" Thranduil replied. "Is there a reason for you being here?"
"I came to apologize" Bard said and sat down on the edge of the blanket.
Thranduil refused to look at him, "Apologize for what?"
"For hurting you"
Thranduil scoffed, "I think we both saw that coming."
"Thran, please believe me when I say that I am so sorry" Bard said. "I never meant to hurt you." His voice cracked slightly.
Thranduil looked at Bard and was reminded of what Kili had said to him. The boy in front of him was not the same one he had met before. Bard looked broken, his eyes dim and hair a mess. His clothes were plain and unkempt. He turned his eyes away and fisted his hands in the blanket.
"Please say something" Bard pleaded.
A tense moment passed, a tear fell down Thranduil's cheek and he looked at Bard with cold eyes, "I hate you"
Bard froze.
"I hate how you got under my skin, how you broke down my walls. I hate your persistence and how annoying you are. I hate that you made friends with Legolas to the point where he asks after you. I hate that you smell like motor oil and the way you smile. I hate it when you make me laugh and feel more alive than I have felt in a long time." Tears ran down Thranduil's cheeks, but he never looked away from Bard, whose cheeks were just as wet. "But most of all, I hate the fact that all of these things are what I love most about you."
Bard gasped, "Thran"
Thranduil nodded, his lips curling into a small smile.
Bard's eyes brightened and his own smile appeared on his face. He sprang forward and locked their lips. It wasn't perfect, salty with their tears and slightly awkward because of their wide smiles. "Thank you, thank you" Bard whispered against Thranduil's lips. "I am so sorry, I don't deserve you" He peppered kisses across Thranduil's face.
Thranduil pushed away, "You are forgiven" He smiled.
Bard grinned and pulled the other boy onto his lap. They kissed slowly and passionately.
Thranduil pulled back and gave Bard a stern glare, "But if you ever do something like that again I will kill you, bring you back and let my father kill you, I w-"
"Yes, yes of course" Bard mumbled and brought the blonde's lips back to his. He tugged lightly on the blonde locks eliciting a soft moan from Thranduil.
"Eww Thran!"
The two separated to see Legolas staring at them, nose curled in disgust.
"Go on and play Leaf, I'm a little busy." Thranduil waved the boy off.
"Gross!" Legolas exclaimed and ran off when Thranduil resumed their kissing.
Bard chuckled lightly, "We've probably scared him."
"Oh well" Thranduil he kissed him again. "I love you"
"I love you" Bard replied and deepened the kiss.
Well, that's it, a nice fluffy ending ;)
A little choppy in some places, but I hope everyone liked it!
Review please!