There was always something peculiar about the way the leafs of autumn closed off from their trees and made their ways through the wind. The shortening of days, the declining of sunlight, the chilling of the air; it was the year's warning to begin preparation for the long winters to come. What stood out to you among all else was how short the lifespan of a leaf was, and how time had the final say in when it was time to part from its energy source. There was no choice in the matter, the trees only do what they have to in order to survive the winters. That was to cut off from everything holding back it's survival rate. You watched trees, studied them. You observed how effortlessly they let go of their leaves in order to keep on going, even though they spent so much time raising the leafs. It was eerie, to be quite frank. It was dark, but you understood that it was necessary. A lot of people don't understand that, though. Having to put yourself first among all others, because this was a game of survival. Sometimes you just have to accept that the company of others may not always push you forward, it can hold you back.

How did this dwarf, this dazed, stubby, filthy, little man somehow make his half-beaten ass end up in your residence was beyond you, but it certainly could not be ignored. You almost felt responsible for him after your bizarre idea to revive him. You only wanted to get back at orcs, but now he has only become a burden. Your burden. The days were getting hazier, colder, shorter. A filth hung among the forest that left only the unwanted of this world. It was disorderly and unusual and you absolutely wanted no part in it, but you also wanted to figure out what the initial cause of it all was. Then there was this dwarf.

"Eh, erm.." Bofur began as he lift himself off of the table, only the flinch and quickly return to his position.

Now it was you who was staring at him. You had absolutely no idea what to do. Out of everything you had planned out in emergencies, you never imagined the possibility of having to nurse a dwarf back to health. Wait, that wasn't even one of the options.

"I owe you."

"What?"

"Let me enunciate. I. Owe. You."

You squinted, "I heard you. You do not owe me."

"No, really," he said as he reached for his hat and pressed it against his chest as he bowed,"I owe you my life."

"Or at least what's left of it," you mumble. What on earth could he possibly do for you that would be of any suffice? The color of his face drowned out as he quickly began to fumble his hands.

"W-whaddaya mean, left of it?"

Crap.

"Bad choice of words, I only mean that there is little you could do for me considering you are badly wounded."

He looked down, around, back down, then struggled to make eye contact with you.

"I can't go back out there...not yet, anyway. I cannot abandon them, though..." His voice trailed off as he began to ponder with panic.

"Are you trying to propose that I babysit you until you are able to travel?"

His head shot up before you even finished your sentence.

"No! I mean yes..or no. But considering you were the one who brought up the proposition, I guess I couldn't exactly say no to she who saved my life," his frown turned into a half smile. Oh god, why did you speak?!

"I was asking a question, not inquiring."

"Ah yes, but you see you were in fact hinting towards an inquiry that I myself did not suggest, so therefore I accept your offer."

You couldn't even respond to that. Both he and yourself knew that saving him couldn't have been all for nothing. Now that you thought about it, though, it wasn't the worst idea to have somebody do all the dirty work during the winters.

"Fine. I accept your allegiance of your life to me..until fulfilled."

He saw your game, and you saw right through his. Surprisingly enough, he didn't even complain. With a nod of his head, he began to open his mouth to speak until you interrupted him, "Dwarf," you growled sternly.

"It's Bofur."

"Indeed, dwarf."

"Ah, I suppose that I am one of those. What wish you to say?"

"I may have saved your life, but I am still an elf and you are still a dwarf."

"Nothing these eyes couldn't figure out."

What fitting humor. You should've let him die.

"I have a question, Kiev."

You slightly lifted your head at him, signaling for him to speak.

"Are there many elves that are as divine as yourself?"

You squinted your eyes like you were reading the smallest print, but with anger and confusion. Strange way to read, but it fit the description.

"Stop that."

"Stop what?"

"Your...your, tenderhearted comment."

"Oh, so you think I'm tenderhearted? I'll take that as a thank you, love."

"Do NOT call me love."

"Why? Do you like it too much?"

"Dwarf."

"Yes, love?"

There it was. The blood rushing to your cheeks as you try to figure out just what the hell this guy thinks he's trying to do.

"You should lay down, and let me stick that arrow right back into your sorry little-" you cut yourself off. Did he just...wink at you? No, you cannot let your guard down. Not this time.

"You must REALLY wish to die in here, don't you?"

"I'll die happily, i suppose."

He won't give up. Time to shut him up, "I have two options for you, small imbecile. Keep talking and die, or shut up and rest for the evening."

"Ah, I'd love to sleep, now that I think about it!"

"There is a hammock that you may use," you point to a dark end of the room with an aged hammock filled with old hay and leathers. Bofur tried to get up, but once again he struggled to move himself from the table.

"I'd love to get there, but I don't think I can walk. You may have to carry me there yourself."

"If this is some sort of joke, dwarf, you'll wish that arrow killed you before I do..."

He shrugged, you groaned. You dragged your feet as you unwillingly closed towards him. "Wait, look at me," he told you.

Whatever it was that compelled you to listen, you still don't even know. You raised your head and met him eye to eye with a cold face.

"Your eyes are beautiful."

In that moment, for the slightest fraction, you went cold. You lost your train of thought and just stared back at him, desperately wanting to question his antics and why he chose to flower you with compliments. He was a dwarf, and you were an elf.

You snapped out of it, though. You grabbed him by his waist and threw him over your should, an 'oof' wheezing out of him.

You laid him next to his hammock and turned around to reach the second climb of your tree, where your bed awaited you. "And where exactly do you reside in your sleep," Bofur called after you.

You turned around and smirked at him, "far away from the likes of you." As you stumble upon your bed in disbelief, you froze and began to reflect on everything that just happened to you in the last hour. It was almost surreal, but then you managed to give out a little laugh. You'll wake up and he will have run along. He is only trying to mess with your head.

"Goodnight, Kiev." he called up to you.

You groaned, but you also couldn't help but to smile. What a cheeky little bastard.