A/N: Thanks for all the comments and reviews and favorites and random Tolkien-related conversations. I have the best readers ever! 3
This chapter contains some harsh language and a small Bagginshield moment. At times it might border on crack. Welcome to Esgaroth, dudes! ;)
...
Saturday November 2, 2019
Salt Lake City, Utah
...
They entered Salt Lake City with caution and trepidation, as big cities tended to bring big trouble. Around them, the marshlands and mudflats spread out for miles in all direction, broken only by the multitude of lakes that gave the area its name. Bilbo peered out the window as the Bronco pulled to a stop on the outskirts of town. He had come to discover that the larger cities were the worst- the haunting emptiness of vacant homes and offices, and the eerie silence that settled over the streets. Worst of all were the reminders of the lives once lived- a waterlogged photo album, an overturned suitcase packed with clothes, a teddy bear left in the rubble and speckled with what could only have been blood. Proof that mere months go, there were people living their day-to-day lives in blissful ignorance. Bilbo spared a thought for Ori and his brothers, wondering how their quest was going and hoping for their safety. He turned in his seat and looked back at the rest of the company. Dwalin and his brother shared a silent conversation beside him, mouthing words that only the other could understand. Bofur and his kin were wedged in the center bench, heads pillowed in their arms as they tried to sleep. The only one who seemed to be getting true rest was Thorin, who was stretched out against the luggage with his nephews wrapped around him and each other.
As if on cue, Kíli's nightmares started, the boy shuttering and whimpering softly in his sleep. Bilbo bit his lip; even though most mornings began this same way, his heart still ached every time the usually bright-eyed youngster cried out in his sleep. Fíli woke instantly and knelt at his brother's side, stroking his back and whispering nonsensical promises. He always seemed desperate to find something to comfort the younger boy, some way to chase away the terrors he couldn't see. Genuine relief eased the strain of Kíli's face and he opened his eyes, slowly blinking up at his brother. "Morning, Fee."
"Morning yourself," Fíli said softly, smoothing his brother's unruly hair back from his face. "Nightmares?"
"Dunno," Kíli shrugged it off, stretching his arms above his head with a yawn. "The car's not moving- did we run out of gas or find a sign or something?" Kíli's dark eyes danced with mischief as he poked his sleeping uncle in the ribs. "Wake-y, wake-y, Uncle Thorin!"
Thorin jolted awake, swinging his arms as if to ward off an attacker. "What?" Noticing Kíli's smirk he glared at he boy, though his look lacked any real venom. "Idiot! I should smack you upside your head for that!" His words were harsh, but there was amusement written in the lines of his face and his eyes regarded his nephews with a surprising gentleness.
Dwalin coughed loudly, drawing attention to the front of the car. "We're entering Salt Lake City. It might be best if we're all awake and on guard. There ain't an easy way to skirt the city, so we're gonna have to go straight through." Everyone shifted nervously in their seats as the car rolled slowly into the desolated metropolis.
The roads were laid out in a grid pattern, which should have made for easy navigation. Many of the streets were surprisingly dead-ends, stopped with heavy road blocks which forced them to drive a block or two over before continuing westward. "Why do I feel like we're being herded?" Bilbo asked, uneasily. "Most of these road blocks make no logical sense. But we're definitely being pushed towards the water."
Dwalin growled his agreement, "I was thinking the same thing, but we ain't got much choice." He maneuvered the car down a side street, turning again when they reached another road block. "Shit!" The car slammed to a halt at a make-shift gate. "What the hell is this?" Before anyone could answer, the doors to the Bronco were pulled open and they were wrenched from their seats.
"Welcome to Eagle Gate College- Lake Town campus! Are you dudes friends or foes?" The man speaking had dark hair and a soul patch, his t-shirt boasted a heavily muscled eagle logo that was mirrored on the clothes of his companions.
"Friends! We're certainly friends!" Bilbo stuttered out, holding his hands up to show he wasn't a threat. "I'm Bilbo Baggins and these are my friends. Thorin Oakenshield and his nephews, Dwalin and Balin... confound these introductions!" He fluttered his hands in hapless irritation. "It doesn't matter, now, does it? At any rate, we mean you no harm."
"Sweet!" The leader threw back his head and laughed. "You dudes need to come in and join the party! I'm Bard, welcome to Esgaroth!" He led them inside a large bunker-like building, which turned out to be a converted rec center. Manual gym equipment lined one wall, several men actively working out on the weight benches and elliptical machines. A collection of mismatched leather couches took up a large corner or the room, situated around what appeared to be the contents of an entire liquor store. A dozen people milled around on the couches, including two women in exceptionally short skirts.
"Whoa!" Kíli's eyes were huge. "This place is awesome!" Fíli smacked his shoulder with an open palm, wordlessly telling his brother to be quiet.
"What is this place?" Thorin asked, struggling to keep his face stoic.
"This is Esgaroth, bro!" Bard spread his arms wide and turned in a circle, proudly showing off his domain. "Best fraternity in Eagle Gate College- don't let those Dragons tell you otherwise!" A collective boo sounded from the direction of the couches. "All these dudes are part of the Personal Fitness Training program. Or, we were before the world got screwed."
"So, you escaped the plague," Thorin frowned slightly. "And you're planning on surviving by..." He trailed off, regarding Bard with a raised brow.
"Survive? Dude, are you an idiot? No one is gonna survive this shit." He laughed, a few of the others joining in. "But if the world's gonna end, we might as well send it out in style! Let's drink and fuck and be merry, bitches!" A resounding cheer echoed throughout the room.
Thorin gaped wordlessly, his mouth open in shock. "As lovely as that sounds, we really do need to be going," Bilbo pointed out, nudging Thorin sharply with his elbow. "We're on a tight schedule you see..."
"No, man! You gotta stay and party with us!" Bard drawled. "Just a couple days- it'll be epic!"
"I really don't think we can, though your offer is surely appreciated," Bilbo said with a sideways glance at his friends.
"Yo! Bard! Dragon assholes spotted out on the road!" The young man who spoke quickly slammed shut the heavy steel door and bolted it with a curse.
"Sorry, bros, looks like you're stuck here," Bard shrugged apologetically. "You don't wanna fuck with the Dragons."
"And who, exactly, are the Dragons?" Bilbo asked in irritation.
"Rival frat. Digital Design students who always try to steal our pledges during Rush Week," Bard glowered in the direction of the door. "They got pissed when we took all the booze, so they've been trying to flush us out of here. Asshats!"
Bilbo shook his his head, unable to wrap his brain around the situation. As bizarre as their journey thus far had been, nothing quite compared to being trapped in a converted gym in the midst of a turf war between rival fraternities. "Surely there has to be a way we can get out?"
"No way, bro, the only way out is through the front door and they'll be watching the streets." Bard shrugged, casting an appraising glance at the company. "Those douches will probably wander off in a day or two- they usually do. In the mean time help yourself to the booze and get coma'd."
"Er, yes, well, I do believe we'll try and get a bit of sleep instead." Bilbo crossed and uncrossed his arms absently. "At least myself and the boys, I don't suppose I can speak for the rest." He looked as though he was going to continue babbling, but Thorin stepped in a grabbed his elbow. Dwalin took a case of beer and the company moved to the farthest corner of the room, settling on the floor with the map spread out between them.
"What's the plan now, lads?" Balin asked softly, glancing around the room to make sure no one was close enough to hear them. "I don't fancy a fight with these Dragon folk, but I'd rather not be stuck here either."
Dwalin cracked a beer and took a long, noisy swig. "Well, we ain't going anywhere tonight, that's for sure."
Thorin stared down at the map, his finger lightly tracing over the path from Salt Lake City to the coast. "We're roughly 700 miles from our goal. If we're able to drive straight though we'll be there in a days time."
"But we never make the ideal time, do we?" Bilbo asked with a wry laugh. He rubbed a fist over his tired eyes and sighed, "700 miles means stopping for gas and that never goes well. Not to mention road blocks, dealing with goblins, pausing to sleep and eat, recovering from injuries..." He ticked off the points on his fingers, "And that doesn't even begin to cover time spent sitting in quarantines, or Protection Camps, or escaping from this ridiculous place! Plus, we've still got to expect to fill one more line of the prophecy along the way. The battle for Erebor."
The silence stretched for an uncomfortably long time, broken only by the din of the parting in the background and the occasional sound of beer being swallowed. Eventually Fíli breaks the quiet, "But we've still got time. Uncle, you said we had to be at the Valinor Corporation by the second week of November. We still have time, right Kíli?"
The younger boy dug into his coat pocket and pulled out his calender. The corners of the cover were dirty and bent, but he smoothed them with a quiet reverence. "It's November 2nd. We have over a week to make it." Kíli looked down at his hands, his hair falling to block his face from view. Tracing his fingers over the dates in his calender, he whispered miserably, "We missed my birthday."
"Oh, Kíli!" Fíli put an arm around his brother and pressed a kiss to his hairline. "Once we save the world we'll throw the best party to make up for missing birthdays and holidays and everything." He stroked his brother's back soothingly, ignoring the tears that gathered in his own eyes. "I'll make it up to you! I promise!"
"But it won't be the same, Fee!" Kíli's voice was slightly frantic, his dark eyes wide and damp. "It won't ever be the same. Not with how the world is now. Not without mom." He tried to pull back from his brother, but Fíli tightened his grip, his hands fisting into Kíli's shirt as he rocked them back and forth. Thorin moved closer to his nephews, silently rubbing Kíli's back and letting him cry himself out. Eventually Kíli stopped sobbing and his breath deepened as he feel asleep with his head pillowed against his brother's chest.
Fíli carefully settled himself back against the wall, his own eyes heavy and red. "He'll be fine in the morning. It's just been a rough couple of days is all." He brushed the hair back from Kíli's face with a sad smile, "A good nights sleep and he'll be back to normal." There was a fierce determination in his eyes that challenged anyone to say otherwise. No one in the company said a word.
...
Sunday November 3, 2019
Salt Lake City, Utah
...
Late night crept into early morning, but still Bilbo could not sleep. He sat against the wall, looking out across the room with his hands folded in his lap. On the far side of the building the frat boys of Esgaroth dropped off one by one to the affects of alcohol. In their own little corner of space, the rest of the company dozed fitfully, their heads pillowed on their arms, bodies tucked close together for safety, comfort, and warmth. Bilbo wished he could sleep, but there were too many thoughts racing in his mind for him to find rest.
He was so caught up in his musings that he jumped with surprise when Thorin sat down beside him. "Couldn't sleep?"
"No, not really," Bilbo shrugged. "I guess I'm not used to all this space. I sleep better in the car."
"Are you sure that's all?" Thorin's eyes were questioning. "You seemed to be thinking awfully hard about something..."
"I suppose I was." He sighed, "I'm not entirely sure I want to have this discussion. Not here. Not now."
Thorin quirked a brow curiously. "Everyone else is asleep. When will there be a better time than this?"
Bilbo frowned, but consented to the logic. "I just feel confused is all."
"Confused? About what?" Thorin turned so that he could regard Bilbo fully.
"Us." He draws the word out and leaves it to die slowly.
"Us?" It may have been a trick of the light and the shadows across Thorin's face, but Bilbo thought he saw the hint of a smile.
"Yes, well, it seemed that you might be interested in me... And Fíli certainly said that you were, but he's young so what does he really know... And then you kissed me, though the timing was all wrong, what with Kíli and the goblins... Then there was Mirkwood and you were trapped for so long, and we really haven't been alone since then... And I know you have more important things going on, like your family and the quest... I'm nothing special at all, and I completely understand if I've misread things..." His voice began to tremble and he had to force himself to continue, "I'd just like to know where we stand is all."
"Fíli told you I was interested?" Thorin tilted his head with an amused grin.
"Yes," Bilbo huffed. "Everything I said and that's what you choose to comment on?!"
Thorin's grin melted into a soft, comforting smile. "My nephew was right."
"He was?" Bilbo allowed himself to meet the other man's eyes.
"He was," Thorin nodded and twined their fingers together. "There is much more to you than meets the eye Bilbo Baggins. You treat the boys like they're your own blood and stand up to me when no one else will. There were times when this quest would have been over before it had begun were it not for you. You are exceptionally loyal and brave and kind. And beautiful..."
Bilbo felt himself blush and was thankful the darkness hid it. "You would have done just find on this quest without me..."
"No, I don't think we would have." Thorin reached out and traced his thumb over Bilbo's jawline. "Of all the things I expected to find at the end of the world, you were not one of them."
"And are you pleased to have found me?" He whispered, bravely moving so their lips were mere inches apart.
"Yes," Thorin breathed and kissed him. It was more hesitant than their first kiss, soft and questioning and lovely. It was everything Bilbo thought a kiss should be.
"This is everything I could ever want," Bilbo murmured against Thorin's lips, as he carded his fingers through the other man's hair. "Even with everything else, the good far outweighs the bad."
Thorin sighed his agreement and they gave up words in favor of putting their lips to far better use.
Time became meaningless as they shared kisses and hesitant touches in the stillness of the night. With the others asleep nearby there was no privacy, so Bilbo contented himself with trailing his hands over Thorin's broad chest and kissing his way along the heavily bearded jawline. Too soon someone in the distance stirred and they pulled apart with bruised lips and embarrassed smiles. Bilbo found the whole experience wonderful and heady and marveled over how much Thorin felt like home. There would be time for more once the world was saved and Bilbo let sleep claim him with a contented sigh and the feeling of Thorin's fingers entwined with his.
...
A/N: Please note that I don't hate Bard... and I don't think he's necessarily a bad guy in this story... but I already have a giant cast of heroes and needed something different. Also, I'm of the opinion that if/when the world ends that there are going to be some pretty bizarre situations and differing opinions on how to handle things. That being said- I'd love to know what you think of Bard and Lake Town so far (I handle criticism pretty well, so don't worry if you don't love him).
How will our heroes get out of Lake Town? Will Esgaroth be forced to fight the Dragons? Will Kili be back to his usual chipper self in the morning? STAY TUNED!