AN: As much as I wish I did I don't own these characters: (I just borrow them occasionally.
Chapter Twenty Six.
Dragging himself from the bath, Thorin dressed quickly as soon as he was able, throwing on his clothes haphazardly over his wet skin. As he walked through the gauzy drape, his own mouth fell open at the sight in front of him.
Bifur and Nori stood hand in hand in front of nearly the entire company. Thorin rubbed his eyes and looked again. Yep he decided they were deffinately holding hands, his jaw dropped even further as he caught sight of a deliberate bite mark on Nori's neck. His eyes widened as they took in the fact the thief had his hair streaming down his back. He looked around and his surprise was pulled up short at the fond expression on the company burglar's face. That Bilbo had Kili gripped by the ear, and Ori had Fili's hair in a warning grip, merely pushed his surprise further back. Thorin shut his mouth straightened his shoulders and strode forward, heedless of the wet hair dripping down his back or the cloths clinging to his damp skin. He smiled warmly at the two, "Congratulations to the two of you." They grinned back at him, then Bifur dragged Nori away from the group, to a quiet corner. Thorin looked around and stepped back automatically at the pissed off look on Bilbo's face. He was not disappointed.
"What the hell were you all thinking, if you were thinking at all?" he hissed. Without waiting for a reply he slapped Kili round the back of the head and ignoring the pout from Bofur and Thorin's uncles walked away from the group and detouring by his bag, towards Nori and Bifur. Thorin couldn't hear the words said but they were obviously words of congratulations as Nori enveloped the smaller man in a hug and Bifur clapped a hand on his shoulder gesturing widely. Thorin ignored his company for now and watch his burglar interact with the two. There was a wistful smile on Bilbo's face as he offered the two something. Thorin couldn't see what it was and suddenly he felt like he was intruding. He turned with a frown to the rest of the company. "Well?" he demanded, "anyone want to answer Bil...Master Baggins' question?" he paused and met Ori's eyes. "Anyone except Master Ori?" they looked to their feet ashamed, he sighed, and "I am surrounded by idiots. Master Ori if you could release my nephew I would be most grateful, go to your brother." He waited until Ori scampered off, his manly squeal reaching back to them all, " Fi, Ki your mother brought you up better than that. Balin, Dwalin, Oin Really?!" he snapped, "Bombur, Gloin you two found your One you should know better than anyone here. Dori, he's your brother be happy for him, Bofur same about Bifur just replace brother with cousin." He shook his head. "Tell me it was just the shock and you don't actually have any objections?" they all shook their heads and started talking at once. Thorin sighed again, "I hate you all," he muttered under his breath and caught Kili look at him sharply. "Ki next time squeak so I can bathe in peace!" Kili merely shook his head and grabbing his brother ran to offer apologises and congratulations to Nori and Bifur. Slowly the others followed suit.
*** When Bilbo had joined the newly bonded couple he had offered them a small gift. It was traditional in the Shire and he didn't know what else to do. Nori stared at him as Bifur fingered the two tiny pieces of delicate filigree metal work. As the older dwarf turned it over in his hands realisation dawned and he looked sharply at the hobbit. Bilbo merely raised his hair and showed of the ball and hoop through the fleshy part of the centre of his ear, before dragging his finger to the pointed tip. Any words Nori or Bifur might have said were drowned out when Ori tackled them, Bilbo watched as Ori welcomed his new brother. When they were joined by the rest of the company Bilbo left quietly, making his way silently to Thorin's side. "Master Oakenshield?" he whispered, looking at the new couple, "What would dwarfen culture dictate I get a newly bonded couple?" he turned to look at Thorin at the dwarf's intake of breath. He raised an eyebrow at the dumbstruck expression on the king's face, "Oh don't look at me like that, I've been trying to learn some of you culture, you're all just so damn secretive," he huffed, crossing his arms defensively over his chest. Thorin nodded, and just like that Bilbo relaxed. "Sorry" he muttered, "so what can I get them in your customs?" He eyed Thorin's wet unbraided hair, "Now you know Balin filled me in on the whole courting, flirting stuff you do and it's way too confusing for a simple hobbit like myself." He pushed on watching Thorin out of the corner of his eye (eyes that Thorin noticed were currently a pale turquoise colour), "Bofur filled my in on your Ones or as much as he can tell an outsider. He didn't volunteer I asked, and coerced and bribed to get that information," Bilbo paused as Thorin opened his mouth and raised an eyebrow again when the king merely closed it again and gestured for Bilbo to continue. With a huffed laugh that saw Thorin raise his own eyebrow he did, "I never asked about this sort of thing. Never thought I'd need it, most of that lot," Bilbo gestured to the company, "except maybe bar Ori, are too dense to see what's under their own nose. I've given the two of them a hobbit courting gift, I probably shouldn't have, I'll get hauled over hot coals at home for that if I ever, you know, make it home or they ever find out about it. I'm not planning on telling but I suppose if we make it through I will be inviting some of the company to treat my house as their own. No I don't know who so don't look at me like that." This last was said in response to Thorin pouting. "Now are you going to answer my question?" he looked Thorin in the eye waiting. Thorin seemed to be studying him. "Okay," the dwarf rumbled, "I'll answer that one if you answer one of mine."
Bilbo stepped away and looked at the dark haired dwarf carefully. He mulled it over. "hmm, okay, but I get to decide what question I answer. I assume you have more than one by now." Thorin nodded, and Bilbo grabbed his wrist to pull him away from the terrace, noticing as he did the dwarf hadn't replaced his bracers. Thorin bit his lip as the long, hot fingers closed on his skin and followed obediently not asking why he couldn't just ask and answer there and then. Bilbo stopped them by an alcove and flopped to the floor, letting go of Thorin's wrist as he did. He looked up at the king, just as Thorin sank down beside him, stretching his legs across the opening and leaning against a pillar. Thorin cleared his throat. "A gift?" he asked and Bilbo nodded watching him carefully. "hmmm," rumbled the dwarf, "we tend to go for something hand made," he paused watching Bilbo brighten, "not normally food, but something material. Maybe something personal, depending on how well you know the people." He looked carefully at Bilbo, taking in the hobbits sparkling eyes and happy smile, "I take it your gift covered that then, so you don't have to try and make them something while we travel, I do want to know what you gave them you know," he teased, "but I don't want to waste my question. Will you answer one now or will you chose to mull them over and answer later?" He gave the hobbit the option, "You know your own people seem to be as secretive as my own."
Thorin bit back a groan of lust as Bilbo flashed him a grin, he couldn't stop the goose bumps that rose on his skin as the hobbit settled next to him eyeing his hair again. "I suppose we are," agreed Bilbo, still watching the red sunlight reflecting off wet strands of hair, "Like your people we have reason to be though," he smiled wistfully, "It would be easier if we didn't have these secrets." He shrugged at Thorin's questioning look, "Less fun, but easier."
Thorin chuckled next to him and rested his head against the pillar. "How about I ask some of what I want to know and you can decide then." He held up a hand, "give me your word you will answer one of them." Bilbo entwined their fingers and Thorin marvelled at the contrast at the colour of their skin, his subconscious revelled in the simple touch nearly making him miss Bilbo's nod. "Fine," he smiled softly at the hobbit, curling his fingers around the long, slender ones. "Question one. Do the colours of your tattoo mean anything?" he paused and looked at Bilbo who just smiled. Thorin sighed and reached a finger to tap the hobbits nose, "You are a pain. Fine. Question two. Do you have more than one tattoo or piercing," he cocked his head at Bilbo, "would asking where if you do count as more than one?" Bilbo shook his head and Thorin grinned, while Bilbo rolled his eyes pinching the skin on the inside of Thorin's captive wrist. The dwarf gasped in surprise and lust before glowering at the hobbit and hoping he didn't catch it. "Fine," he grumbled, "you know about our One's, so Question Three is do hobbits have a set One?" Thorin ducked his head, suddenly unable to meet Bilbo's eyes, "Related is Question four, is erm…physical…erm oh dammit. I don't know how to put this." A gentle hand pushed his chin up and he found himself looking into forest green eyes, the hand in his tightened and the hand on his face stroked his stubble gently. Thorin took a deep breath and looking into those eyes continued, "Question Four. Do you have physical relationships before you find your bonded? By physical I mean more than the hugs you share with my nephews or the joking you have with the company. I mean Kissing and more." He could feel a blush creeping up his cheeks, but the hand on his jaw made him push through. "I have never found my One, so I don't really know what else there could be so erm, would you indulge me by answering what else there is if you do have and if you do do anything?" The hand slid into his hair and he stopped talking and breathing for a second, before it resumed its place on his jaw, "Right I was rambling, a tip on dwarfs, this is classed as physical outside a relationship," he saw Bilbo's eyes widen and cursed mentally as the hobbit went to pull away, "Hey it's okay," he choked out, "you must be uncomfortable with the lack of physical interactions between none family members, I mean you are a member of my company so if it makes you feel more relaxed, besides my nephews have already adopted you…"the hand on his jaw wrapped around his mouth physically shutting him up. He met Bilbo's eyes again and noticed the panic was gone. Bilbo raised an eyebrow and Thorin felt his blush deepen. "Right," he muttered, forgetting Bilbo's good hearing, "rambling. This is your fault." He gulped as another eyebrow was raised. "Right, Question Five. This is random I know and I sound like a tween, Do you find any of the company physically attractive?" He paused and examined Bilbo's face, the eyes were the same colour, Thorin sighed, the hobbit had an excellent mask. He wondered briefly how much of what the company knew of the hobbit was an act. "Final question I promise," he chuckled, unconsciously leaning closer to Bilbo's warmth, and tilting his head to whisper in the other's ear, "How much of yourself have you let us know?"
Bilbo gasped silently as Thorin's warm breath ghosted across the sensitive tip of his ear. He was confused. The questions Thorin asked, mainly related to him rather than hobbit culture, even the questions about a bonded and relationships seemed focused. He turned their still clasped hands and turned his head so he was nose to nose with the dwarf. He knew his eyes were a dark green colour, and after Thorin's stunt with his ear they would be flecked with navy. He understood Thorin was being far too lenient with his physical contact with the company, he also knew the dwarf was way outside his comfort zone with how he had acted today. He remembered his promise in his dream and turned his head to look at the setting sun. "Can I answer later?" he whispered. Thorin's hand tightened on his before he felt the dwarf nod next to him. Bilbo rested their entwined hands on Thorin's thigh and felt the dwarf's breathing pick up. "You don't have to humour me you know Master Oakenshield." He sighed, "With the physical contact," he waggled their hands slightly, "push me away at any time. Ori and your nephews have blurred the lines of where your people's physical contact boundaries lie." He felt Thorin stiffen next to him, before the dwarf seemed to force himself to deliberately relax.
Thorin's subconscious wanted more than the contact he currently had, hell his conscious thought wanted more than he was getting, but he knew he couldn't deal with emotions. Not the ones he needed to let himself accept Bilbo as his One, yet even as he denied the bond he could feel it forming. He forced himself to relax against Bilbo's side. He had pushed the hobbit away and still the smaller man was by his side. It had to mean something. Yet at the same time Thorin realised it could mean nothing to the hobbit. Belatedly he realised he should have perhaps focused his questions better. He relaxed his grip on Bilbo's fingers and pushed to his feet, "We best get back," he rumbled down at the still sprawled hobbit, "Ki and Fi might have blown something up." He reached down a hand to help Bilbo to his feet. He was surprised when the hobbit accepted, and grasped his wrist trailing his fingers over the sensitive skin. He was even more surprised when Bilbo answered, "They won't blow something up. No-one's annoyed them today." Thorin grinned at the hobbit by his side and they wandered back to the company's quarters.
Bilbo left Thorin's side when they reached the company and so missed the look Kili threw at his uncle. A look that had Thorin wanting to run and hide. Fili drew his attention back and Thorin shook his head glad they had gotten over what ever had been wrong earlier in the day. He couldn't deal when they didn't talk to each other it was unnerving. Thorin shook himself and went to talk to Balin.
Bilbo was helping Bombur with the meal, apologising profusely for not being there to help from the beginning. He forced Scribe down, ruthlessly stomping on the side of him that wanted to play match maker with the rest of the company. Bombur started talking about his children and Bilbo joined in with vigour, laughing slightly at Bombur's impression of his oldest. He was just glad Bombur wasn't like Gloin and carry pictures around with him. In fact the dwarf had told Bilbo he didn't need a painting he carried their images in his head and his heart. Bilbo had found it rather poetic and cooed. Between the two of them the meal was soon ready and after Bilbo had helped serve it up he retreated to a shadowy corner with his portion. He had meant to think things over but he found himself eyeing Thorin speculatively, growling at himself he shovelled the food down and caught Ori's eye. The scribe gleefully left Dori's company, leaving his older brother with a thoughtful Bofur. He plonked beside Bilbo, "Tonight?" he hissed. Bilbo looked up and met his eye. "Tonight." He agreed a devilish smirk gracing his features as he turned to gaze across the room. Ori followed his line of sight, and a grin spread across his own features. Across the room Fili and Kili shifted uncomfortably where they were talking to Oin. Yet when they looked up, Bilbo and Ori were talking over Ori's knitting again.
While Fili and KIli might have missed the grins, Dwalin hadn't. The grin on the hobbit's face had him panicking, he'd seen it on that innocent face when Bilbo had gone after the two elves. The grin on Ori's face distracted him from that lone of thought. He felt heat rush to his cheeks as he stared at the young scribe. That grin did things to him. Things that Dori would kill him for if he ever found out, the thief brother would just laugh at him. Dwalin looked down ashamed, he shouldn't have thoughts like this for anyone but his One, the figure who had visited him in his dreams last night. Resolutely he pushed the thoughts away and turned back to the conversation he'd been having with his brother and king. Balin was arguing a point with Thorin, the same point he'd been arguing since before dinner, "Balin," Dwalin interrupted, "I need a drink." His brother looked at him, and grinned, "I've just the thing." Dwalin grinned back. "It's not that stuff from Master Baggins' is it?" he begged to Thorin's confusion. Balin laughed outright, "Hell no!" Thorin raised an eyebrow. "The hobbit can drink" the brothers chorused, sounding eerily like Fili and Kili.
Strangely as soon as the bottle was brought out the rest of the company crowded around. Balin merely laughed and dug through his pack unearthing more alcohol. Bilbo politely refused and left the group to sit on his bed roll. Ori followed him like a puppy and soon their giggling had caught the attention of Fili and Kili. "OI!" yelped Kili, "not without us you don't." Fili surged to his feet and rushed across to join them, Kili snatched up their mugs as he joined them. The brothers collapsed in front of Bilbo and Ori holding a mug out each. They all met each other's eyes ignoring the rest of the company, "So what" chirped Bilbo smirking, innocently at Fili. "Game," sung Ori innocently, smirking at Kili evilly. Fili and Kili looked at each other then back at the two Scribes. They cocked their heads, "Are we," continued Fili with a challenging eyebrow. "Playing" finished Kili with a huge grin. Bilbo and Ori waved several bottles and glasses in their faces. The hobbit and knit wearing dwarf looked at each other before turning innocent faces to the brothers who gulped. "I never!" chorused Bilbo and Ori.