Without really thinking, Bilbo threw the cup at the dwarf who easily dodged it and watched it shatter against the opposing wall.
"Get out!" Bilbo shouted, "Get out of my house!"
Bul observed the splatter on the wall for a moment before turning and looking at Bilbo curiously.
"I'd heard Halflings love the company of others," He mused, "Am I wrong?"
"I-said-get-out!" Bilbo growled, "Get out now or I'll ~"
"Let's have some tea, shall we, I'm quite parched."
To his surprise the dwarf approached him as though he were an old friend and Bilbo raised his fist to strike him; easily deflected, Bul twisted the hobbits wrist so violently that Bilbo yelped in pain.
"Don't be rude," Bul said softly, and violently thrust his knee into Bilbo's groin; the hobbit dropped to his knees and struggled to ignore the pain and reclaim his breath.
"Is this how you treat the others?" Bul demanded and kicked the hobbit so hard in his side, it sent Bilbo flying into the wall.
Knowing some of his ribs were broken, Bilbo lay limply watching as Bul got onto his hands and knees and crawled over to him like a hunting serpent, stopping inches from his face. Bul smiled sweetly and cocked his slowly to observe the wounded hobbit.
"I'd like a cup 'o tea," Bul repeated softly, "and 'o bit of civil conversation, please. Do ye think ye can manage that? I've much to do tonight and I shan't have ye delaying me with yer tantrums. Do ye understand?"
Bilbo moaned, tears burning his eyes and wondering about many things, yet he nodded and watched Bul rise to his own feet again.
Bul jerked Bilbo up by the collar of his robe, "Are ye wishin' Bofur was here with you now, lad? Do ye regret throwin' him out?"
Bilbo, his face red with anger and pain, finally managed to take a breath and asked:
"What have you done to him?"
Bul smirked and shrugged. "Nothin' as of yet, I'm saving him for last. Ye got yer legs back yet?"
Bilbo nodded and the dwarf released him. "Set up a tray will you?" Bul asked, "I'd like to speak with you in that lovely den of yours."
Ignoring the pain Bilbo went about setting up a tray; all the while watching Bul, watch him, out of the corner of his eye.
"Lovely china," Bul observed as Bilbo finished the preparations, "Is it very old?"
Turning, with the tray in his hands, Bilbo said nothing and waited; Bul smirked again and nodded his head before extending his arm.
"After you," He offered, "don't trying anything funny."
PART TWO:
When they settled in the den, Bul waited until Bilbo had poured himself a cup of steaming tea, before sipping thoughtfully from his own cup and observing the pale hobbit in the fire light.
"I'm really not surprised yer the one who finally claimed Bofur's heart," He said after licking his lips, "He's always fancied the pretty ones. Plus, you are rather tough, I'm sure he got off when he saw you stabbing at me with that little needle of yours in Erebor."
Bul rolled his shoulder then; the one Bilbo had wounded all those years ago, and sighed before sipping his tea again.
"Never," Bul confessed, "Did I ever expect to bear a wound I would feel so sharply when the weather was cold. I could actually understand Bofur's pain, when I saw him hobblin' about with that cane the other day."
Bilbo turned his cup in his hand, staying silent, and still trying to ignore the pain in his side. Where were Bofur and the others? Had he harmed Sada?
"No," Bul replied curtly, and sipped his tea again.
"What? I didn't say anything," Bilbo replied, and he started to drink from his cup as Bul started to speak again.
"As I said earlier, I haven't done anything to any of them yet," the dwarf explained, "As I said I have many things I must do. That does include Bofur's death-yours-and Nori's. But Sada…she's quite a beauty isn't she?"
Stopping just short of drinking, Bilbo dropped his cup back into its saucer. "You're disgusting!" He dared to hiss, and was not startled when Bul chuckled softly.
"How can…how can you be so cold and cruel?" Bilbo demanded, "Why are you so determined to ruin so many lives?"
Bul finished his cup and set it on the tray; sinking comfortably in his chair and making an upside down 'v' with his long fingers, he said: "You know why. Bofur no doubt has told you some things."
Bilbo set his still full cup on the tray that sat between them on the table and huffed.
"He said you would wait to take your revenge," He replied, "That you wanted to give him the years you suffered back to him. So here it is, right? He lived in peace for a year and now…you're going to make sure he cannot have any more of it."
Bul nodded.
"When I'm done with the lot you," He explained, "I'll show him the things I've done before I finally rid myself of him. It makes me sad, honestly, I often thought of Bofur as my son. I've thought of how I might make him feel as heart broken as I was the day I realized he'd betrayed me."
Bul looked at Bilbo then, his eye gleaming with pleasure. "If it's any consolation," He breathed, "I intend to have him watch as I take you from him."
He watched then, as Bul clenched and unclenched his hands before shaking his head hard with a grunt.
"Pour me some more tea!" Bul gasped, "Not…f-feelin' well!"
Bilbo inhaled deeply before shaking his head.
"Sorry," He started, "But Nori explained, with the amount of poison that's in the tea itself, another cup would finish you."
"Wha…" Bul started, but his body stiffened suddenly and he mewled loudly before falling limp.
His glazed eye stared wide in surprise as it watched Bilbo rise to answer the rapid knocking at the door.