A/N: off to some awkwardness. Thnx Iridescent Thilbo Bagginshield for constant and lovely reviews.
The day climbing over the hill was difficult for Bilbo. Not so much for the strain of it, but for his wildering emotions. It was hard to be alone with Thorin, he was rendered speechless. It was the only way to prevent his tongue to stray into the forbidden.
Thorin climbed and jumped with ease looking relaxed, he even smiled few times looking around as pleasant memories are surrounding him. The more Thorin smiled the more Bilbo frowned keeping himself together.
He must stay in control, not to babble out his inner thoughts, not to give in to impulse. His impulse was to hug Thorin as hard as he can. Bilbo shook his head chasing away indecent thoughts which followed the first one. The hugs were common for dwarves, but what followed was just not becoming of a respectable hobbit.
Bilbo felt exposed in their solitude. No one could see them, no one could judge Bilbo, but Thorin would know, as he remembered the kiss and the rejection. The thought of that made Bilbo sad. His thoughts were silly and will never be granted so it's a good thing he can keep them in silence.
As they descended towards the shelter Bilbo was partly proud of himself, it was going well, they'll soon be surrounded by other dwarves and that was enough to keep Bilbo controlled. It looked promising, he was strong, but then they entered the cave in which they should spend the night.
The cave was just a perfect little space, round and ornamented, it was obvious some dwarf took his time and decorated it in the past, maybe even Thorin himself. There was a place for sleeping, a squared high ground which was perfect for shedding some grass on it and lay as it was a bed.
The look of it made Bilbo really sorrowful, he just missed his bed and his home, and most of all he ached for Thorin, his presence in this small space was just overbearing. Bilbo sat on the edge of the squared bed made in the rock and felt as his heart will break, he had troubles breathing.
"Maybe we can have a fire tonight," Thorin's strong voice returned Bilbo to reality.
There were practical things to put his mind too. A fire and maybe a bed, just to console himself. Thorin will surely just lean against the rock again as a true dwarf never really sleeping.
Bilbo took his time gathering the wood and the grass, he didn't hurry to get back to the cave and Thorin's presence, but soon the sun was too low and he hurried back. To be stuck out here in the dark was worse than withstanding some pain in his chest.
When he got back Thorin was sleeping as expected, leaned against the rock with his weapon in his lap.
Bilbo moved around quietly and lit the fire on the spot which looked as a fireplace. He worried about the smoke but there was a crack in the rock above and the smoke went out. The fire was warm and made Bilbo smile after a long while frowning.
After that, he proceeded to make a bed for himself. Some softness and warmth will be a consolation enough. Soon, the bed was ready, the fire was cracking, but Bilbo hesitated in lying down to sleep, he felt strangely, exposed, alone. There was no snoring of other dwarves, everything was so quiet.
Bilbo looked out, the sun was finally setting and the thick darkness will soon be upon them. With that thought he went back to the fire to put some more wood into it, to make it last longer. He placed a final branch just to realise there is a movement behind him. He turned around quickly but it was only Thorin.
Thorin got up and stood at the entrance to the cave looking at the last piece of the sun on the horizon.
"There is such loneliness around us," Thorin said quietly.
Then he extended his hands and supported his weight on the solid rock looking as the burden of the world is upon him. Bilbo hesitated just for a moment, but he never was the one to be careful and step back, then he crossed the distance between them and just hugged Thorin leaning on his back letting his arms press into him knowing he can't crush him, that he's just like rocks around him, unbreakable.
Off the ledge, we go.