A/N: The Dis chapter!
I am sooooooooooo sorry for the massive wait you guys!
I was sick for 3 weeks, so have literally been drowning in uni work as a result -_-
Thankyou so much for sticking with me this whole time, and a huge thankyou for all the faves and comments, you guys are the best :D
Theres no way I'll ever abandon this story- I'm having way too much fun haha
...and I guess I should probably thank my beta- who is pregnant btw! How exciting is that XD
"-not been eating again? You're so scrawny!"
Thorin winced as the woman opposite him pinched his cheek, face stuck somewhere between a scowl and grimace. She gave a little tug on the teen's face, eyes narrowed.
This must be Dis…Bilbo supposed, flinching as she levelled her brother with a particularly dark glower. Her wavy black hair was pulled back into a loose braid, chocolate eyes glittering dangerously as she glared down at Thorin.
While she looked a lot like Kili, and Bilbo could see traces of Fili in her face, the woman seemed to have a quiet presence about her, a level of tempered ferocity her sons would never possess.
"I thought we'd been over this- training is all well and good but not if you overdo it. Stop skipping meals."
Thorin appeared to be attempting to make himself smaller, shrinking in on himself in a way Bilbo had never seen him do. Feeling a small wave of amusement, the boy cast his eye about the room curiously. Behind the pair, Fili and Kili gave a little wave to them, standing to the side and apparently enjoying the show.
Bilbo shifted to wave back, but as he raised his arm Frerin stilled the movement just as quickly, hand snapping out to grasp the student's wrist.
He glanced up at the instructor in surprise, as the man shrugged back minutely, eyes steadfast on his siblings.
"Best not attract her attention just yet; my dear sister is a little…well, you'll find out soon enough," Frerin whispered, sheepish smile in place. Bilbo raised an eyebrow at the blonde, turning back at the sound of Thorin's weak reply.
"Dis-"
"Do we need a repeat of last time?"
Thorin's face drained of colour, and he shook his head mutely. Behind him, Kili dragged a finger across his throat theatrically as Fili bowed his head in mourning.
Bilbo couldn't help but wonder what last time meant, but promptly decided perhaps it was better not to know, especially considering how tense Frerin had gone beside him.
"N-no, I'll uh, I'll make sure I attend meals…" he trailed off, face still ashen as Dis narrowed her eyes. She stared at him suspiciously for a beat, fingers still clamped around his cheek.
"Good to hear. Well then, with that out of the way," she trailed off, releasing his face. A second later she threw both arms around the teen with a surprising amount of force, all but crushing him to her.
"You look so much older already!" Dis exclaimed, voice abandoning the growling quality and taking on a much shriller tone. Bilbo stared in astonishment at the switch, and Frerin sighed in relief.
"How have all your studies been going? Improving? Have you still got that brooding thing going on?" she asked rapidly, as Thorin attempted to pull back out of her firm hold, face smothered in her coat.
"Mmmph," he managed, and Dis rolled her eyes, letting him pull back to hold him in front of her. The teen gasped in a greedy breath as she shook her head at him.
"Oh Thorin, are you still doing that weird majestic sulking thing? I thought you'd grow out of that by now, how are you ever going to get a girlfriend at this rate?"
"Dis, seriously?" he spluttered, face flushing once more.
"Or a boyfriend, I suppose-"
"Dis!"
"Well you know we don't care- oh stop being so immature you two!" She growled at the twins, Fili and Kili attempting to stifle their laughter with little success. Bilbo couldn't help his own grin while Frerin's shoulders shook as he attempted to remain as silent as possible.
"I mean, you're probably old enough now for the talk-"
"Frerin's here!" Thorin blurted, and the blonde stiffened, freezing all movement like a startled deer.
Slowly, Dis turned to Frerin as Thorin quickly backpedalled, hiding behind the twins as subtly as possible.
"N-now sister, have I ever told you how lovely your hair is looking lately?" he stammered, both palms held out in surrender. Dis glared at him, and Bilbo attempted to step out of sight.
"Don't think I don't know about that shack thing you call a house out in the woods!" she snapped, and Frerin rubbed a hand across the back of his neck sheepishly.
Bilbo's eyes widened as he recalled the dilapidated cabin from earlier, dust clinging to the windows and one side of the wooden veranda rotted through. At the time, he had assumed no one had lived there in decades.
"Well, I did say it was a fixer-upper," he began, taking half a step back.
"A fixer-upper? Its practically derelict."
"Work in progress. Besides, look on the bright side," Frerin trailed off, and Dis narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"Bright side?"
"Meet Bilbo!" he exclaimed, seizing the teen by the shoulder and giving him a little shove towards the brunette. The teen stumbled forward a couple steps with an undignified squawk.
Dis paused, glancing down at the auburn haired boy in surprise. Bilbo twisted the sleeve of his jacket nervously. Glancing around subtly for help, the twins both shot him a wink as Thorin shrugged.
"This is Bilbo Baggins, he's my-" Frerin started, as a throat cleared sharply from the back of the office.
Bilbo jumped, spinning around as a familiar figure rose from an armchair by the fireplace, the soft snap and crackle of the flames the only sound in the now silent room. A sinking sensation tugged at his insides as Bungo crossed his arms, the golden glow of the embers sharpening the contours of his face.
"Bilbo, take a seat," he ordered, voice almost monotone.
"Yes Father," he mumbled obediently, crossing the room and keeping both eyes trained on the marble below his feet. He could feel the confused gazes fixed on his back like a lead weight, certain they belonged to the three youngest Durins.
Unseen, Dis and Frerin shared a look, the former raising a questioning brow. Frerin smiled, shrugging softly.
"I'm sorry; I didn't see you back here," Bilbo murmured, perching on the edge of the leather seat. To his right, his father sunk down into another armchair. A glass of amber liquid was clasped in his left hand, the contents swirling slowly.
He never drinks…Bilbo realised, mesmerised as the amber caught the glow of the flames.
"Clearly," Bungo replied drily, as behind them the Durin's continued, their voices filling the room once more.
"How is…how is the shire…?" he asked hesitantly, as his father took a sip of the liquid, a small grimace twisting his lips.
"I wouldn't know. I've been on several business meetings lately."
Bilbo made a small sound of acknowledgement, staring down at his hands clasped in his lap. The sound of the Durin's laughter and teasing drifted over, and Bilbo couldn't help the small smile that graced his lips.
Bungo sighed, and Bilbo's smile slid from his face. Timidly, he glanced up as the man ran a hand through his hair, placing the empty glass on the coffee table.
"I…uh, I hear that your classes are going well," he continued, voice hesitant. Bilbo blinked up at him in surprise, gaping for a moment before scrambling to reply.
"Erm, yes. Yes I suppose. A lot of the classes are pretty similar to what I'm used to, so…" he trailed off awkwardly.
Bungo simply nodded, staring into the fireplace once more.
"Ah, Dis you are looking lovely as always," Gandalf greeted, stepping through the wooden doors almost silently as the others greeted him in turn.
Bilbo twisted around in his seat, catching a pair of dark blue eyes watching him curiously. Thorin quickly glanced away, scuffing a shoe against the ground in obvious feigned casualness. He felt a wave of amusement, before he remembered the older teen was still upset with him.
I really am going to need to talk to him about everything, he thought to himself in resignation.
Sighing, he tuned back into what the others were talking about, his father having gotten to his feet once more and nodding to the grey teacher stoically.
"You're late," Bungo observed, and Gandalf merely smiled.
"A Gifted is never late, Bungo Baggins. Nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to," he replied, eyes twinkling again, and Bungo's face took on an expression of tired amusement.
Shooing Bilbo from his seat with a soft smile, the elder man sank into the leather with a bone weary sigh as the teen stood behind his father's seat. The teacher rested his staff beside the chair, and Bilbo cast a worried glance at the gnarled wood so close to the embers.
Reaching across the small coffee table, Bungo poured himself another glass, raising a brow at Gandalf in question as he did so.
"Ah, no thankyou Bungo, I'm afraid it has been far too long," he responded, smiling softly, "and perhaps I am getting too old for such things, unlike yourself."
Bungo glared down into his glass, downing the liquid in a smooth motion.
"I haven't touched a drop since Bilbo was born."
Bilbo glanced down at him curiously as Gandalf made a small sound of surprise.
"Surely not! Why, I still remember that summer festival where we stol-found those fireworks," he recalled, and Bungo's lips slipped into a small smile. Casually, he poured himself another glass.
"I remember. Too old to drink but I bet you still smoke that pipe of yours?"
"Would you deny an elderly man his comforts?"
Bungo sighed, shaking his head. Bilbo watched in fascination as the man downed another glass.
A knock sounded from the doors, and Frerin opened them to reveal a staff member carrying two platters of food. What appeared to be her twin (or clone, Bilbo amended, considering where they were) wandered through behind her, placing a platter on the coffee table beside them.
Gandalf reached across for a new bottle, and Bilbo decided to leave them to it, wandering to find Kili and Fili muttering together.
"-no way! I'm telling you, that's like number six by now," Kili hissed. Fili shook his head, flicking his brother in the centre of his forehead and dodging Kili's half-hearted swing in retaliation.
"Nope. Definitely closer to seven," the blonde shot back, eyes widening as he noticed Bilbo and hurriedly elbowing his twin in the ribs. Ignoring the brunette's indignant grumbling, Fili smiled brightly at his friend.
"Bilbo! What's up?"
"Uh, what's closer to six or seven?" Bilbo questioned, raising an eyebrow in suspicion as the twins stiffened.
"Hmm? Whatever are you talking about, Boggins?" Kili asked innocently, as Fili adopted a confused expression.
"Are you feeling alright?" the blonde asked, resting a hand across Bilbo's forehead. Shaking off the hand with a huff, the auburn haired teen shook his head with a sigh.
"Maybe you should have a seat? Are you feeling faint?" Kili continued, voice filled with mock concern. Bilbo rolled his eyes, giving up on whatever the two had been talking about.
"Actually, I still haven't eaten so I'm going to-"
"Thanks for earlier, star pupil of mine," Frerin chimed in, throwing an arm around the unsuspecting boy's neck. Bilbo stared longingly at the platters of food around the room as the instructor steered them away, the twins following on either side.
"Thanks for what?" he asked after a moment, and Frerin blinked down at him in confusion.
"Why, for being my decoy of course! After Thorin threw me to the wolves like that- my own little brother- I was utterly unprepared. Your heroics and sacrifice will not be forgotten," the blonde continued solemnly, head bowed.
"Um, ok? What sacrifice?" he asked distractedly, and Kili and Fili shook their heads in sympathy.
"Poor soul doesn't even know what he's in for," Kili whispered pityingly, and Fili tsked.
"Oh, poor sweet naïve young cricket," Frerin murmured, shaking his head sadly, "now we're going to have to actually introduce you to Dis. Which means she'll know who you are," he clarified, as Bilbo's expression didn't seem to change.
"Oh, ok," he said easily, reaching out for the tray of small sandwiches beside them. Frerin shook his head again with a sigh, walking further into the room with a dramatic flourish.
"Just ok? Maybe he is sick…" Kili murmured to Fili, his twin nodding in agreement.
Bilbo's fingers brushed the crust of the closest sandwich before he was tugged away, letting out a small whimper. Mistaking the whimper for one of fear (rather than a cry of starvation), Frerin patted him on the back sympathetically.
Feeling a familiar heated glare, Frerin untangled his arm from his oblivious student, settling for resting a hand on the youth's shoulder. Casting pale blue eyes across the room, Frerin almost snorted with laughter at the look on his little brother's face.
Scowling darkly from his place beside Dis, Thorin grit his teeth at the sly wink the blonde shot him as he casually leaned closer to Bilbo, the latter too busy practically ogling a distant platter of sandwiches to notice.
Despite his rage, Thorin couldn't help the twinge of fondness in his chest at Bilbo's expression.
Frerin's teasing expression turned pensive suddenly, eyes narrowing in thought as he stared fixedly at his brother. Slowly, a wide grin curled over the blonde's lips. Thorin scowled, turning back to his sister (the lesser of two evils, apparently) and resolutely ignoring the Cheshire grin behind him.
Bilbo Baggins; the gift that keeps giving, he thought in amusement, still eyeing his brother's stiff shoulders across the room.
Someone just found a new hobby~
Still grinning smugly to himself, Frerin cast his eye among the group. The noise had once more reached a respectable level (which, he could admit, may be a tad too loud for some), as everyone took the time to relax.
His gaze paused on the pair by the fire, the crystal glass filled with amber glinting in the soft light as the man raised it to his lips. Raising his eyebrows, Frerin elbowed his student none too gently.
"Say, Bilbo? Just how much has your old man had to drink now?" he asked curiously, and Fili made to clamp a hand over his brother's mouth.
"Nine now!" Kili exclaimed, dodging his twin.
"Kili!" Fili chastened, "we weren't supposed to mention that…and he's up to ten," the blonde couldn't help but add, flushing somewhat sheepishly under Bilbo's unimpressed stare.
"That's what you were counting."
It wasn't a question, and Fili flinched as Kili glanced down at his shoes guiltily.
"He has been putting it away," Frerin mused, and Bilbo tensed.
"He never drinks," he shot back, barely keeping the defensive note out of his voice. Frerin made a small sound of acknowledgement, pale blue eyes sliding back to the armchairs by the fire.
Bilbo couldn't help the feeling of unease as a slow grin stretched over the man's lips.
"Ok, let's say we liven things up a bit, kiddos!" he said exuberantly, rubbing his hands together. The twins leaned forward in interest.
"I bet he'll spill his drink before Elrond arrives."
Bilbo stiffened as Fili and Kili made identical sounds of protest.
At least someone has some tact, he thought to himself with a huff, as Kili resolutely shook his head.
"No way- they're only little glasses, it'll take way more than that!"
Bilbo narrowly held himself back from face palming, settling to glare irritably at the trio instead. Frerin shook his head, tapping a finger against the side of his nose with a wink.
"I know good stuff when I smell it, and he's having it straight."
Bilbo felt the first stirrings of exasperation churn through his chest as the three continued to sort out their bets.
In the corner of the room, Bungo poured himself another drink, completely unaware of the current conversation. His first drink since Bilbo had been born, apparently, and he couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt and indignation on his father's behalf.
Sure, the man left a lot to be desired as a father, and yes, he was rather cold at times, with a decidedly short fuse where his son was concerned…
But he's never been a drunk.
"-slurring, if he's already had ten it'll only take-" Fili began.
"I bet my father does neither!"
All three broke off abruptly, glancing at the smaller teen in surprise. Bilbo felt both fists clench at his sides, mouth set in a firm line.
"I bet he's not affected at all!" he added hotly, missing the spark of approval in Frerin's eyes as the auburn haired boy glared at the three.
Fili and Kili shared a look, seeming to converse without words for a moment before smiling and holding out their hands in tandem.
"You're on!"
A/N: Feel like I should add a sorry for the fillerish chapter- that said, im almost done ch 11 which is shaping up to be pretty decent.
What do you think of Dis so far? Let me know what you thought :)