The following morning found Fili up with the dawn and pacing the floor nervously. He'd never resigned from a position before; the only other employment he'd ever held was with Erebor and he'd simply never gone back there! He'd rehearsed what to say a hundred times but it didn't make the blond feel any better about the situation.
And of course there was the matter of leaving Kili alone. Fili knew he couldn't just bring Kili with him to the railroad, especially on the day he planned to quit; but Fili was hesitant to leave the boy alone, even for the morning. Despite what Dwalin had said, that there wasn't much effort being put into investigating Thranduil's murder, there may have been witnesses, someone who had seen the pimp entering the boardinghouse or who knew of his intentions that night. There was still the possibility, however small, that Kili could be linked to his death; and the thought made Fili very uneasy about leaving him. But he saw no other option presently and decided to leave immediately after resigning and come straight home.
Giving his resignation turned out to be easier than Fili had feared. Of course, his superior was not at all pleased about the extremely short notice, and he wasn't happy about losing such a dedicated employee with his extensive railroad knowledge. But Fili had explained that he had urgent family business that must be tended to abroad immediately and his manager had eventually understood and wrote Fili an excellent letter of recommendation for his next position.
It wasn't exactly a lie. Kili was family, chosen family, but closer to him than Thorin had ever been. And in recent months the occupants of the boardinghouse had become family as well, leaving for Europe early would remove suspicion from them, keeping his makeshift family safe. That's what mattered.
When Fili arrived back at the hotel he was passed in the hall by a very disgruntled looking barber who had just left Fili and Kili's room. Upon entering the room, he found a rather distressed looking Tauriel but no Kili. This instantly made Fili very nervous.
"Miss Tauriel, good afternoon. Where is Kili?" Fili asked, taking off his overcoat and glancing around the room for any sign of struggle.
"'m in here," came the muffled reply from the water closet.
"This morning Dwalin told me to bring the hotel barber up for Kili. The less he looks like himself the better, he said to me. So I brought the barber and he cut Kili's hair and well," Tauriel trailed off, motioning to the door of the toilet.
"Kili, what's wrong, my darling?" Fili was at the door in an instant, trying the handle only to find it locked. "Did the barber nick you with his scissors? Are you hurt, my love? Please tell me you're ok."
"He's fine," Tauriel waved her hand dismissively, beginning to grow annoyed with the situation as her only break was nearly over. "He's worried you will love him less now that he looks different."
"Kili, is that true?" Fili heard an unintelligible grumble from behind the door and took that as assent. "Nothing could make me love you less! Certainly nothing as trivial as a haircut. Please open up, let me see you, dearest."
Tauriel shook her head in frustration, promised to come back after her shift was over, and slipped out the door quietly. It was for the best, Fili would likely have an easier time coaxing Kili out if they were alone.
"Kili, it's just you and I now, please come out. I promise it's just a haircut. It changes nothing," Fili said softly, leaning his forehead against the door. When he had thought just moments ago that Kili was missing, the blond's heart had leapt into his throat; even now as he calmly talked Kili into coming out of the toilet, Fili could feel the elevated rhythm in his chest trying to return to normal.
He heard the latch click and stepped back to allow Kili room to open the door. The brunet stepped out with his head down, he slowly raised his eyes to meet Fili's and when he did, the other's breath hitched. Gone were the stringy, untamable locks of an orphaned teenager; now all that was left were closely clipped waves of mahogany framing a handsome face. It was the handsome face of a young man that was gradually filling out into adulthood; no longer gaunt and angular, but defined and well-shaped. His new hair was parted on the side and swept away from his face, ends just barely grazing his high shirt collar; he no longer looked like a child, he was now a modern young man. It was the finishing touch and he was breathtaking.
"Oh, oh Kili," Fili breathed, taking Kili's hand and pulling him close. He reached up and touched those short locks, curling slightly on the ends now from the lack of weight. "You look very handsome, my darling."
"I do?" Kili asked with uncertainty, as if he couldn't possibly believe such a thing. "But-but it was long when you met me and it was long when you fell in love with me. And…and sometimes when we…make love you tug it. And sometimes you curl it around your fingers. I-I thought you would be mad that it was gone."
"Your hair isn't the only thing I love about you, silly," Fili replied with a smile. He pulled Kili into a hug and cupped the back of his head with one hand, running his fingers through the newly shorn strands. "I think it suits you very well and makes you even more beautiful than before."
"You mean it?" Kili asked quietly, reaching up to lace his fingers with Fili's.
"Of course I mean it; I would never lie to you. Come here," Fili pulled Kili to the bed, laying them both down and wrapping the boy in his arms. They spent the afternoon sharing sweet, lazy kisses and gentle touches. Fili did not push Kili to make love, afraid that he was still too fragile from all that had happened. But he showed the brunet just how much he loved his new hair, weaving his fingers through it to scratch his scalp and giving the occasional gentle tug just to show he still could.
/
It was late in the evening when Fili went downstairs to order their dinner and settle up the bill for their stay. Kili was feeling better than he had in days. The haircut seemed to have taken more weight than from just his hair, his spirit felt uplifted as well, thanks in no small part to Fili's encouragement. Tomorrow they would leave for London and Kili was beginning to feel as if he was actually transforming from a street waif into a gentleman like Fili. The thought made him smile softly to himself.
The knock on the door was unexpected but it didn't frighten him. Kili assumed it was either Fili having forgotten his own key, or a porter with their dinner trays. He opened the door without hesitation but did not find Fili or a porter. A tall, imposing figure all but filled the doorway; he was nearly as large as Dwalin but carried himself with a haughty, righteous air that Dwalin lacked. His ebony hair was streaked with silvery grey, as was his manicured beard. And his eyes, despite their cold, calculating stare, were the mirror image of Fili's.
"You must be Kili," the man said in a deep, throaty voice that made the boy shiver. He pushed into the room without invitation. "Do you know who I am?"
"You're Thorin Oakenshield," Kili replied quietly, still standing by the open door in shock.
"I am," Thorin said simply as he looked Kili over with a critical eye. "I can see why Fili and the pimp were so taken with you, Kili. You are…quite lovely."
"Wha-what do you want?" Kili tried to make his voice sound strong but it came out as a whimper. He was frightened, as frightened as he had been when Thranduil had walked through his door. This was the man who had sent him to prison; he was richer and more powerful than Thranduil and he had found them the day before their departure. Kili felt that if he had anything in his stomach he might have thrown up.
"I wanted to finally see the little whore that has caused me so much trouble," Thorin's voice was as cold as his gaze.
"I'm not a whore, n-not anymore," Kili managed, still standing by the open door, seemingly unable to move.
"No, not anymore, you're not," Thorin said darkly, his blue eyes never leaving Kili. "But you would have been once more, if the pimp hadn't been so greedy. I should have known he would make a mess of things."
"The…the pimp?" Kili asked in confusion. "You knew about Thranduil? No, y-you told Thranduil where to find me! Why? Why would you do that?" Kili felt his blood turn to ice in his veins. It felt like every hair on his body was standing on end.
"To get rid of you, of course, you little fool," Thorin replied simply, as if it were obvious. "You came along and ensnared my nephew, my heir, with your charm and your wiles and you ruined everything! Fili's future was all carefully planned out and perfect until you took him from me!"
"N-no, I didn't! He…he said you made him leave!"
"Because of you! He chose you over his destiny!" Thorin's face was reddening and he stopped, taking a deep breath to compose himself before continuing. "That's where the pimp came in; he was only supposed to steal you so Fili would come to his senses and forget you once you were gone. But he was greedy, demanding money from Fili as I hear it. I suppose that's why Fili chose to kill him."
"No, F-fili didn't kill him! You have it wrong! I killed him! He attacked Fili, he was hitting his head against the floor, he was going to kill Fili! So I…I strangled him," Kili's voice trailed off, admitting it out loud, to this cold, empty man; somehow it made him feel better, stronger. He had killed Thranduil to protect his beloved, suddenly it all made sense. Tauriel's words from days ago came back to him; we fight for what's ours.
"You? Do you honestly expect me to believe you killed the pimp?" Thorin's look was incredulous, bordering on amused.
Somewhere in that disbelieving look, Kili found his strength. Thorin no longer frightened him; Kili could and would fight for what was his.
"Believe it or don't believe it, but it's the truth. And I'd do it again to protect the man I love," Kili stated firmly, surprised by the defiance in his voice. "Why are you here, Mr. Oakenshield? To thank me for saving your nephew? You're welcome."
Thorin smirked mirthlessly at Kili's words and brought forth the small leather bag he was holding. "No, I'm not here to thank you for anything, you little tart. I'm here to offer you money," he set the bag on the table and opened it, revealing stacks upon stacks of greenbacks. "Twenty thousand dollars, a fortune for someone like you. You'd never have to sell your body again; you could do whatever you pleased. My only condition, leave New York tonight and never see Fili again. Let him come back to the life where he belongs and forget about this little tryst," Thorin waved his hand dismissively.
"This isn't a tryst, Mr. Oakenshield," Kili replied, not bothering to look inside the bag. "Fili loves me as I love him and I won't leave him for any amount of money. You insult our love by even suggesting it. I think you should leave, sir, I don't want your money." He turned to the side and gestured toward the open door.
Growling in anger, Thorin snatched up the bag from the table and strode toward Kili. "He'll grow tired of you eventually. Do you honestly think a man like Fili Durin will devote his life to whore like you? He will cast you out at some point and you will regret not taking my offer!"
"Even if he does grow tired of me and cast me out, Mr. Oakenshield, I will never regret not taking your money," Kili said simply, resolutely. "You have overstayed your welcome, sir. Please leave or I will ring for assistance," he gestured to the bell pulley on the wall.
Thorin huffed and shoved past Kili, bumping the boy against the door on his way out although there had been plenty of room.
Kili took a deep, calming breath, his whole body trembling. Bilbo would be proud of his manners and well-spoken words. Fili would be proud of his bravery. For the first time in his life, Kili felt like a man. He smiled despite his quivering lips and allowed his knees to finally give out, sinking to the floor in a relieved heap.
/
When Fili came back not long after, he found a naked and eager Kili waiting for him in the bed. Fili hardly had time to strip off his jacket and waistcoat before the brunet was pulling him into bed and kissing him with vigor.
"I don't know what's gotten into you tonight but I certainly like it," Fili gasped as Kili attacked the buttons of his trousers. The brunet didn't give a response, just pulled him in for another deep kiss as he pushed at the offending garment. Fili chuckled and removed his trousers, climbing on top of Kili.
He was surprised again when the brunet slithered out from under him and pushed Fili onto his back, straddling Fili's hips.
"Our dinner will get cold," the blond reasoned before Kili sank down onto his erection. Clearly, his lover had prepared himself while Fili was downstairs.
"Let it get cold," Kili replied breathlessly as he took in the entire length of Fili's cock. "I need you right now, just like this." He rolled his hips and began a slow rhythm of rocking back and forth on Fili's lap.
The change in Kili's demeanor in such a short time was drastic, from worrying over a haircut that Fili might not like, to riding him like Kili had been born to do only that was quite a turnaround. But Fili could hardly focus on what may have brought about the change; Kili was hot and tight around him, his dark eyes alit with passion and something else. It was confidence. And it was more erotic to Fili than anything Kili had ever physically done.
Some of you might be disappointed with Thorin's final appearance but for the story and his character it was realistic and I couldn't see him behaving any other way.