Kili felt a difference in Fili the moment they walked into the house. In Spain Fili was the real Fili, calm, relaxed, fun loving and witty. Fili in Spain was the perfect lover and boyfriend, because Kili could never call the state when they made love as him being his brother. He was so fun and adorable that instead of hundreds of drawings of Spain, he had two full notebooks of a happy Fili, a Fili so happy and fun like never before.
But now it felt different. The moment Fili walked in the smile was replaced with the fake one. His eyes were no longer happy, but instead he could see resolve and stubbornness in them. As if Fili had made the final decision about something. And Kili soon found out about what, the moment he tried to kiss him when they sat down again to work, he felt the pain of rejection. Fili's face became pale and his eyes shone with anger. Then he whispered the words Kili prayed never to hear.
"Don't you ever do anything like that again." Fili spoke firmly.
Kili just gazed at him with pain in his eyes. "Back home we're back to the hate?" He asked saddened.
"That was just a moment of madness, a moment of weakness." Fili spoke through clenched teeth.
"And you do not welcome any madness or weakness in your life..." Kili summed up grimly. "So I'm just a weakness to you? Our love is just a burden?"
"What love?" Fili asked in a tensed tone. "You were just there to relive the tension."
"So I was just an easy fuck?" Kili asked on the verge of breaking down.
"It's not like we really fucked." Fili noticed clearly indicating why they didn't do it fully.
"You're a heartless bastard." Kili just told him with spite in his voice as he ran to his room to cry his heart out.
Fili sat there for a moment trying to ignore the huge pain he felt in his heart, but this had to be done. Things had to be set back in the right perspective. The madness had to end, and the heartache couldn't last forever. There was no fucking way this heartache would last forever. Because if it did it would mean his heart was right after all... that Kili was the only love for him.
The next days blurred in a phase of pain for both of them, they were no longer talking, the only thing making them sit down together was the project. They were slowly finishing, both pouring all their love into the project. It was slowly clarifying and the last rooms were the most passionate and interesting.
Thorin supervised them with a smile taking in the exotic and original project both boys were preparing. He had never seen such a daring design for a hotel, and glancing at the sophisticated project he felt thrilled it was created by his own nephews. The result of the experiment proved to be more than satisfying. They boys proved they could cooperate, they proved they could work together, but the stunning project was proof they were both extremely talented. He had his decision already, but he wanted to set one more test in front of them.
He called the board meeting at the deadline of the project. He invited all the important directors like Gloin, Oin, Dori, but also his design department members. The projects they were doing were now so lifeless he was actually considering firing all of them and giving the next projects to Kili and Fili. But he knew that was unrealistic considering the fact that the boys still had to finish school.
As Kili and Fili were facing the meeting, with the task to convince nearly twenty people to their project, it was Fili who took the lead. He felt it as a challenge, and his people skills gave him the strength to show their project and explain why they did it that way.
"According to research customers want to stay in a neutral background." The director of the design department clearly felt threatened and attacked the unprofessional project prepared by two teenagers.
"What research?" Kili suddenly asked taking the floor for the first time. "After reading seven surveys my conclusions are opposite to yours. People want to stay in an friendly environment. They want to relax and switch off completely feeling comfortable and cosy. I'm not sure in how many top class hotels have you actually stayed in, but we have experienced many." He easily referred to the status of their family. "And we feel most comfortable in a cosy environment. This design is not about a job or making money. We designed a hotel in which we would both like to stay for our holidays."
"Since this hotel belongs to our family we wanted to show what he think is class and style. We wanted to show what makes us relax and feel comfortable, and when showing some of the design to our friends we were assured any of them would prefer to stay in this kind of setting." Fili supported his brother immediately.
"The design is stimulating in a Spanish oriented style, giving the guests a feel of Spain in any part of their room. Starting from the wallpapers to the bathroom. It's the epiphany of comfort." Kili added supplementing his brother's speech.
"What about the price of commissioning?" The director of the design department asked. "Most material and patterns presented would have to be custom made."
"And that would make the hotel unique. All the patterns are copyright, hand drawn by Fili." Kili indicated it was his brother who drew them. "The cost does not exceed the budget for the last hotel, we already contacted several manufacturers who are more than willing to produce them at reasonable prices."
"I have made my decision." Thorin interrupted the interrogation. "I love this project, and it's much more than I thought capable from my boys. We will do it, and as head of the design department you Mrs. Kendell will be responsible for seeing the project done." The woman just grinded her teeth clearly irritated. "And if you don't think you are capable, I will point another person in your department to take over." The woman lowered her head and did not reply for a longer time. Finally Thorin made the call. "Mr. Lindir you will take responsibility for this project and you will personally see it done." He made the final call before the woman could protest.
"With pleasure Mr. Durin." The dark haired man replied with a smile. "It's a magnificent project." He added clearly very pleased with the silent promotion.
"The meeting is herby dismissed." Thorin told them firmly and guided both boys out.
"I'm very proud of both of you!" He told them the moment they arrived at his office. "You did a remarkable job." He glanced at the boys, but their faces did not show happiness but relief. "I hope in the future you two will be able to cooperate together, as we already discussed two afternoons a week are mine. You will come to the office and do any set task."
"Yes uncle." Kili's head was hung low.
"As you wish uncle." Fili added calmly but without eagerness.
"The project you did really proved you both have artistic taste, the one good thing you could inherit from your father. I hope you will also prove you got some things from me as well." Thorin continued. "Madrid needs more work, and you will take part in the last phase choosing the last details, but with my team." He told them. "You may go home for today, have some rest you both deserve it."
"Thank you uncle." Kili replied timidly.
"Let's go." Fili urged him to leave. He signed deeply as they left the building.
"Could you drive me to Tauriel?" Kili asked him gently.
Fili just glanced at him and nodded. "What's the address?" He finally asked. Kili told him and they drove in silence.
As they arrived Fili couldn't take the silence anymore. "I don't hate you." He finally told his brother tenderly.
"We'll never be able to be friends." Kili noticed grimly sitting in the car.
"Let's just not be enemies." Fili noticed coldly trying to ease the huge pain he felt.
"I'll never be your enemy." His brother noticed sternly and got out of the car trying to hide his tears.
Fili's heart fell seeing Kili cry as he ran to Tauriel's home, but there was nothing he could do to ease his pain. There was no way they could continue on the path they started in Spain.
Kili felt like running, he rushed into Tauriel's house, the last few days were the most painful in his life. He had no idea what Fili wanted, but it was evident he didn't want him. He rejected him so deeply that Kili felt suffocating. Today's words just added to the ashes in his mouth.
Tauriel wasn't at all surprised to see him, but seeing his tears she simply guided him to his room. The moment she realised he loved painting she gave him a room in her house where he could paint out all his troubles. He silently grabbed his paints and without a word began pouring out all the pain. Seeing him so focused she didn't have the heart to ask what happened, she knew already Fili rejected him.
"It's funny how everyone praises Fili's art, but the real talent is Kili." Her father startled her. Thranduil liked taking a look into the art room where Kili would spend most of his time in their house.
"One day he's going to be famous." Tauriel added confidently.
"I've been thinking. Elrond is going to visit us after Christmas, make sure the best ones are out." Thranduil told her.
"You mean Elrond Rivendell from Rivendell Galleries?" Tauriel asked with a smirk. "I didn't even know you know him."
"It's an old friend I recently came in touch with. I have to think of my future son in law." Thranduil added with a smirk. "Especially since my son is officially gay."
Tauriel glanced at him surprised. "You know about that?"
"Of course I do." Thranduil noticed sternly. "Anyway since you're stubborn we might as well assure that your boyfriend goes somewhere."
"You're the best!" Tauriel kissed his cheek.
"Don't tell him, if Elrond doesn't like his art no harm will be done to his pride." Thranduil noticed.
"I know dad. Thank you." Tauriel assured him.
They both glanced at the red portrait slowly emerging from under Kili's swift moves. It was Fili, but the image was so dark and so gloomy Tauriel felt shivers come down her back. That kind of mood was just what pushed her to slash her writs just two years earlier, and she would do everything to keep Kili safe.