"I honestly have no idea what those boys were thinking, Bofur. I feel compelled to apologize once more on their behalf-"
Bofur smiled softly at Thorin, raising his hand to cut the man off. "Thorin, I get it. Those boys... They are of another breed. I guess they were just excited about my first day at work."
Thorin huffed as he crossed his arms, feeling like he should at least call their mother to tell her what the boys had done. But, while he was angry, he wasn't suicidal. And telling Dis what her sons had done would mean having his own life come into question. And he didn't want that.
"It could have been that, Bofur, but that does not excuse their actions."
Bofur smiled softly as he sat in the chair in front of Thorin's desk all the while the other man took off his jacket and placed it over the furniture.
"They are already being punished, Thorin. There really is no need to get so worked up about it." Bofur chuckled softly, feeling a warmth spreading in his chest.
Here was a man that barely knew him, uncle of the boys that had wronged him, stating that maybe they had gone too easy on the boys. It really was quite sweet of him.
"Bard's already told me that none of my pay will be deducted because the boys will be paying with all of their hard work. There really is no reason to continue fretting over this."
Thorin turned to the smiling man and couldn't help but smile softly in return. His nephews had caused this man so much grief, still he protected them and tried to cull Thorin's anger.
"They are lucky you are so nice, Bofur. If it had been any of my friends- even Dwalin- they would be working twice as much to pay back." Thorin breathed and Bofur couldn't help but shake his head.
"Aye, that they are. But they're also lucky Bard happens to be quite the sympathetic and understanding man. If he had been like any other... Well, let's not think about that, shall we?"
Thorin nodded and glanced at the clock on his wall. He had cleared his schedule for the whole day after being told of the boy's actions so he didn't really have anywhere to be.
Well, he should take this as his chance.
"Bofur, after all my nephews have done, I feel like I owe you something. Would you care to fetch a cup of coffee with me?"
The usually happy man's smile faltered as he ran through the question in his mind, making sure he had heard what he thought he had. Thorin looked at him expectantly and he couldn't help but smile shyly.
"You don't have you feel obligated to do that, Thorin. It really wasn't all that bad."
Thorin shook his head, smile never faltering, "Believe me, it would be my pleasure to spend some more time with you."
Bofur's face- regrettably- became redder at the man's words, but he ducked down to make sure the older man didn't see his blush. "Aye. And you don't seem so bad yourself."
"Good. Now, let's get going."
The long haired man basically pushed Bofur out of his office at that point, more than eager to go out and really get to know this odd man.
Kili was grouchy. Not only that, he was also dirty, sweaty, grumpy, and slightly hungry.
"I am so going to make you two pay after we are done with this manual labor." Legolas hissed as he followed the brothers into their apartment, Ori following behind with his head down in dejection.
They had just finished their second day working for Bard and Bofur and Legolas was completely regretting having allowed the brothers to bring him into their completely stupid plan.
They had known it was stupid since the beginning, yet Ori and Legolas had still been roped into doing it because of that dumb debt they owed from before.
"Please, Leggy, no more talk of money. Uncle has been warning us of all we would owe Bard if he wasn't so forgiving and hasn't allowed us to read anything but numbers ever since the incident." Fili sighed, throwing his dirty jacket onto the couch as he made a bee-line to the kitchen.
Only to find someone there waiting for him.
"Which is a well deserved punishment if you ask me, Fili."
Kili's ears perked up at the voice and he immediately took off running for the kitchen, shoving past his brother to hug the intruder tightly. "Tauriel! What are you doing here?" He gasped, earning a chuckle from the woman.
"I knew you boys would be coming hungry so I prepared some food." She motioned the chicken she had done and Kili's mouth watered. "I also had a speech ready to scold you for your stupidity," She said, eyeing the four tired males. "But you seem to have learned your lesson." She smiled, only to receive glares from all of them.
"We are not in the mood for your humor, Tauriel." Legolas griped, sitting down in the island and preparing himself to finally get some food.
"Thank you for the food." Ori chirped as he took out the plates and distributed them, earning a smile from the woman.
"You are very welcome, Ori." She told him politely, then looked at the three others already seated and ready to eat.
They were all dirty, their long hair disheveled, and clearly they were all tired.
"Just what exactly were you all thinking forming a food fight in the middle of a café?"
The glares that were sent her way were enough to let her know the boys were not yet ready to explain their extreme stupidity.
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