Here's another quick chapter! Still not a whole lot happening, but they boys are getting some much needed words from a certain redhead. I hope you enjoy!


Chapter 16

Listen

Kili

"What the-?"

Kili turned to see what was making such a horrible, sputtering, shrieking sound. It turned out to be the espresso machine, which was steaming wildly and spraying a good amount of water and espresso all over the counter and floor.

"Shit!"

"Wha's the matter, lad?" Bofur questioned, walking out of the back room and wiping his hands on a towel. "Oh!"

"I don't know what happened," Kili sighed, mopping at the mess on the counter with a rag. Considering that the machine didn't look like it was going to stop anytime soon, it wasn't doing much good.

"Here," Bofur laughed, setting his hand towel down. He approached the machine carefully, as if it were a wild animal, and then smacked the top of it with his fist quite powerfully.

Kili flinched back, giving Bofur wide eyes, but after a few moments realized that the espresso machine had stopped going crazy, and he ended up giving the older man a relieved smile. "Thanks, Bofur."

"It's nothin,'" he grinned, giving Kili his usual, friendly grin. His hair was in two braids, and since their shift had started it had become a little bit wild, strands of hair falling out and sticking out at strange angles. It only made him seem more amiable than ever. "This thing is a piece of junk. We've been needin' a new one for a while."

Kili washed his hands in the small sink they had up front and replied, "I'll let Bilbo know tonight. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to order one. But you know this means we won't be able to serve espresso for the rest of the day. If people want something strong they'll just have to deal with French Press."

Bofur shrugged. "To be honest, lad, I don't think most of our customers would notice the difference."

"I think you're right," Kili began, nodding his agreement, and was about to continue, but was interrupted by an all-too-familiar voice.

"Kili!"

"Tauriel!" Kili called back, without even turning to see who it was. She visited him often while he was working. A moment later he finished washing his hands and dried them on his apron, finally turning to greet the redhead. "Fair warning: our espresso machine is down."

A swift pout crossed her face, and she stuck her bottom lip out. "But I was supposed to get Leggy his White Girl drink."

"I'll make it with the French Press. Just for you," Kili grinned, before proceeding to pull the french press out from a cabinet. He didn't actually mind doing it but like to give his friend a hard time.

"Speaking of Legolas," he continued, "have you tapped that yet?"

"Ugh!" She burst into a fit of giggles, her shoulders shaking as she leaned against the counter. "No! Why do you have to put it that way? It's so crude."

Shrugging, the brunette gave her a sly look. "You two have been dancing around each other for way too long. Make your move, girl!"

"Why doesn't he?"

"Because he's under the impression that you think he's gay. Why would he?"

"He has a point, lass," Bofur added, giving her a warm look. "The boy is too insecure."

"Even you have noticed?" she questioned, clearly unaware that so many people knew about the two of them. "Are we really that obvious?"

"Yes," the men both replied in unison.

Tauriel looked at Kili for a moment while he finished making the drink. Using the French Press took quite a bit longer than pulling regular shots, but luckily, Tauriel was currently their only customer, so he wasn't in much of a hurry. After drizzling some vanilla syrup on top of the whipped cream, Kili popped a lid on the warm drink and passed it to Tauriel, just noticing judgmental look she was giving him.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing," she smiled sweetly. He didn't buy it for one moment.

"Tauriel, you've clearly got something to tell me."

She flipped her long, red locks over a shoulder and leaned closer to him. "Well, I have a suggestion to make, Mr. 'Relationship Counselor.'"

"I'll be in the back room. I should probably get a mop for this mess," Bofur said before pushing back through the swinging door, though Kili barely noticed. It was obvious that the older man had simply wanted to escape witnessing Kili get chewed out by the redhead, for which Kili was actually grateful. Anyone else (Ori definitely came to mind) would have loved to stay and watch.

"Oh?" Kili challenged, smirking. "And what might that be?"

"I suggest you take a dose of your own medicine, doctor. Because I know a certain blonde, whose losing his mind, and I'm fully aware that it's entirely your fault."

Kili eyes grew wider than they had in his entire life. There was no way that Tauriel could know; he hadn't confessed to anyone except for Ori, and surely Fili hadn't told her. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Like I would ever believe that. You should see your face."

Kili flushed and turned away from her, picking up his dripping rag to resume pushing the mess of water and coffee around on the counter. And, of course, it still wasn't doing any good.

"Kili, just listen to me."

He turned back around, an angry blush skimming his cheeks. He didn't say anything, but gave her his full attention.

"He didn't tell me," she spoke, leaning even further forward on the counter. She looked dead serious now, a small line creasing her forehead in concern. "I figured it out on my own. You think people don't notice the way you look at each other? Don't be so upset. There's nothing wrong with it."

"He's my family."

"You two don't share any blood. It's perfectly fine. And it's not as if you grew up together; you just met a couple of months ago!"

Kili sighed heavily and untied his apron before pulling it over his head and setting it and the rag on the counter. He felt suddenly exhausted and just wanted to go home. "So what's this suggestion of yours?"

"It's exactly what you've been telling me this whole time. You need to make a move. The boy is miserable - I see it everyday. He avoids talking about you, and he won't let me help him do anything. He just sulks around the shop, only speaking to his clients, and it doesn't help that he's going through withdrawal right now. He needs you more than ever."

The words hit Kili like a staggering realization. It had been a couple of weeks since Fili had quit drinking and the two had shared their first, real kiss. Since then they hadn't really done much. Things had gone back to the way they'd been before, and after about a week and a half it had even gotten to the point where they barely even spoke. There was a tense feeling hovering between them, and Kili had no idea how to get rid of it. He missed late nights with the blonde, watching him paint or draw, and most importantly, just talking to him. Since they'd met they had become close friends, maybe even more, and Kili hadn't realized how depressed he'd been feeling until now.

"I don't know what to do," he whispered. "I mean… I already did make my move, kind of."

"Kind of?"

"Well… we may have kissed."

Tauriel gave him a little smile and took a sip of the drink she was holding, instantly shuddering at the sweet taste, as if she had forgotten it was Legolas.' "Then I don't understand what the issue is."

Kili shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. He loved Tauriel to pieces, but she was honestly giving him a headache sent straight from Hell. "I don't know, either. One minute everything was great, and we were talking things out and moving forward in our relationship, and the next minute we stopped talking to each other completely."

"As confident as he seems, Fili struggles with social interaction. You have to go to him, and let him know that you still want a relationship with him. I think he's just insecure and trying to give you space. He's the type of person that doesn't like forcing himself upon people."

"He's not, though," Kili replied, looking back up at her. Sure, he could tell that Fili was a little bit insecure, but he definitely didn't think it went that far. Hadn't he made it clear that he shared the blonde's feelings?

"But he doesn't know that." She gave him a pointed look, one perfectly-shaped eyebrow arching high on her forehead. "You need to talk to him."

"I'll speak to him if you make a move on Legolas," he challenged.

"No," she shook her head, smiling knowingly. "You'll speak to him no matter what, because you care about him, but I'll still do as you ask and speak to Legolas."

"It's a deal, then," Kili grinned back, suddenly feeling more optimistic about the day. There was still time to fix things.

Tauriel held out her hand, and he grasped it in a firm shake. "Deal. Now, I have a couple more drinks for you to whip up."


Fili

"Fili, would you calm the fuck down?"

Fili turned to glare at Legolas, who was giving him a look that made it clear that he thought he had gone crazy. He didn't exactly blame him; after all, he'd spent the majority of the work day in a sulk. Half the time he was to be found dragging his feet, pouting over the most minor of things, almost to the point of crying. The other half of the time was spent in a rage, stomping about and saying mean, unnecessary things to anyone who crossed his path.

At the moment he wanted to hit something.

"Calm the fuck down?" he all but yelled, his hands shaking with pent up anger. "You want me to calm down? You calm the fuck down!"

"Seriously, Fili, come on," Tauriel interjected. She was sitting in the waiting area, at the front of the shop, with both of the boys, since nobody currently had a client. "You should sit down. Look at you! You're too angry to even come up with a good comeback!"

He nearly screamed, but instead bottled it up inside, causing his whole body to shake even worse. He clutched onto the reception desk, trying to steady himself. "Fuck! I just need a drink. I've never needed one so bad."

Tauriel actually had the nerve to roll her eyes, and Fili couldn't help but momentarily wonder if she was trying to help him or set him off. "Yes you have. You're just being dramatic. It's the withdrawal speaking."

"I hate you both."

"No you don't," they replied in unison, sharing a surprised smile.

The two of them made Fili want to pitch himself off of a cliff. How could they look so happy - so smitten - while he was spending all of his time alone, trying to fight against his addiction. Everyone had claimed that they wanted to help him, but where were they now, while his blood was thrumming with want and his head was spinning out of control. Where were they when he needed them most? A small voice in Fili's head told him that he was being stupid and selfish for even thinking such things, but he chose to shove it to the back of his mind and ignore it.

"Where has Kili been?" Tauriel questioned randomly. "I thought he was supposed to be helping you through all of this."

"He was," Fili replied, the words bitter against his tongue. "But I guess he decided that I'm a lost cause."

"Don't be stupid." Tauriel actually looked angry at him for a moment, as if she were offended that he would speak about either Kili or himself that way. Then she abruptly stood and said, "Come with me."

The blonde followed his redheaded friend to the back of the shop, where they normally worked on clients, and once they entered the small room she shut the door behind them and turned to give him a stern look. Fili couldn't actually remember ever seeing her look so serious before.

"Now, you listen here," she began, stepping so close to him that they nearly stood chest-to-chest. "You're attitude is going to get you nowhere. You know that Kili hasn't given up on you - none of us have - so what is your problem?"

He avoided making eye contact with her by staring at a piece of thread that was hanging down from one of the sleeves of Tauriel's green, cotton dress, and slowly took a deep breath before speaking. "It's the withdrawals."

"I know that. But that's not all it is. This has to do with Kili."

Fili just shook his head.

"I'm not stupid, you know. I see the way you two look at each other. When you're together, neither of you ever let the other out of sight, and I see how sad you look whenever you think he's not watching. I don't know if you two have talked about your relationship at all, but you need to work it out."

At that, Fili lifted his eyes to Tauriel's green orbs. They seemed to be staring right through him, as if she could read all of his secrets just by looking at him. "What are you talking about?"

"It's obvious you two like each other."

"That's absolutely ludicrous," he laughed, shaking his head nervously. How could she possibly know?

"Oh, shut up," she scoffed, grabbing him by the arm and leading him to sit down on one of the tattoo beds with her. "You two are so in love that it's nearly repulsive."

"No."

"Yes, you are, and you need to sort yourselves out."

"Tauriel, I really haven't got any idea what you are talking about. He's like a brother."

She snorted, which was probably one of the most unladylike things he'd ever witnessed her do. "Bullshit. Fili, please just tell me what's wrong."

For a few moments Fili simply looked at her, trying to decide whether she was setting a trap for him or not. Eventually his defensive wall came crumbling down, and he shook his head at her with sad eyes. "He doesn't want me."

"Fili, I can assure you he does," she spoke quietly, giving his arm an affectionate rub.

"I kissed him, you know," he blurted, almost regretting it. It was already out in the open now, though, so he continued. "That's what started this whole mess. I kissed him, and he didn't respond, so I panicked and fled to Legolas' place."

"And then you drank to get rid of the pain."

He nodded and ran a shaky hand through his hair, which was fairly messy and more than a little bit tangled. Since the withdrawal symptoms had taken hold of him, he hadn't found it in himself to do much other than get dressed in the mornings. "And then a couple of weeks ago he returned the favor," he continued, a light shade of pink crossing his face as he said it. The memory of it still made his entire body grow warm.

"And?"

"And it was great. And then nothing. We took a nap together the next day, and that was the end. We've hardly spoken since then."

Tauriel laughed, and gave Fili's arm a squeeze where she was still grasping onto it. "That's not such a big deal! You two are just in an awkward rut. All you need to do is talk to him about it. Tell him how you feel, and everything will end up being fine."

"I don't know, Tauriel. I feel like he might've changed his mind. He might not actually want me."

"Everyone wants you, Fili." She gave him a playful wink. "Including that gorgeous brunette. Stop letting your own insecurities get in the way, and dive right in, and take what you want."

"I want him."

"I know."

He finally cracked a grin at her. "I'll try. But my social skills aren't the best."

She stood back up, smoothing the wrinkles out of her dress, and gave him a kind face, her eyes twinkling in a way that reminded him of starlight. "They could be, if only you let them. Besides, he won't care if you stumble over a word or two."

"Thank you." Fili felt his rapid pulse slowing back to it's normal rate, and his desire for a drink ebbed away, if only slightly.

"Anytime, tiger. Now, I still have a while yet before my next client is due, so how about I go and pick us up some coffee?"

If Fili noticed the mischievous glint in her eyes, he didn't say anything.


Hmmmm... We will see how things play out.

I hope you all liked it! :D Suggestions and comments are most appreciated. Even if it's just some ramblings and you don't have anything really constructive to say - that's totally fine! All I ask is for no hate. ;)

Thank you all for reading. Until next time...