Chapter Thirty

"You have career counseling this week, don't you, Fili?" Bilbo asked over dinner Sunday night. "Any idea what you want to do?"

Kili's head snapped up from his green beans to look at Fili intently. The last time he and Fili had talked about possible careers, the blond had been leaning towards being a firefighter. And while Kili would never want to stand in his way, the thought of Fili running into a burning building terrified him.

"I'm still thinking firefighter," Fili replied, shooting Kili an apologetic look. Given the resigned looks on their parents' faces, he had discussed the idea with them before as well. "But most major departments won't take you until you're 21, and I want to explore other options for my bachelors degree."

"What kind of options?" Thorin asked encouragingly as Bilbo leaned forward slightly in his seat, eager to hear the answer.

Fili shrugged and absently pushed around the food on his plate. "I don't know. Maybe psychology or social work. I'm not really that great with math or science. Not like the genius over here," he teased, nudging Kili lightly with his elbow.

Kili frowned at that. Fili was good at math and science. He just got bored with it and didn't concentrate enough. He didn't like the blond putting himself down.

"That doesn't sound nearly as cool as fighting fires," Frodo butted in with a frown.

"They're cool in their own ways," their dad said smoothly. "You can help people with those degrees just as much as you can help them by saving them from a fire. Maybe even more."

"That's true," Thorin agreed, jumping in with his deep, thoughtful voice. "It can be easy to rescue someone from physical danger, but it's much harder to help them recover from psychological trauma. If you can do that, Fili, it can be very rewarding."

"I think you'd be really good at that," Kili spoke up, not just saying it because he thought it was a much safer avenue. He didn't know if he'd consider the things that he'd gone through as anything extreme like "psychological trauma" (even if it probably was), but Fili always made him feel better. "You're really good at knowing the right thing to say."

"Yeah!" Frodo agreed with a grin. "Like you knew exactly what to tell Pippin to get him to apologize to Sam for gluing his fingers together."

Bilbo shook his head in bemusement. "I don't want to know."

"I do," Thorin said sternly.

The rest of the dinner was spent with Frodo trying to defend his friends' actions. Kili and Fili didn't help him very much, throwing in other ridiculous things that Merry and/or Pippin had done in the past. There wasn't much to say about Sam. That poor soul was often the target of the other two's mischief unfortunately.

"I meant what I said, you know," Kili said after dinner, leaning against Fili's doorjamb and giving him a shy smile. "You would be good as a counsellor or social worker or whatever. I wasn't just saying it because it's safer."

"I know." Fili smiled at him before gesturing him and patting a spot on the bed next to where he was sitting. Kili wasted no time plopping down and leaning against his shoulder. "And I don't want to have a job that'll make you worry about me all the time."

"I don't want you to not be happy and do what you want because of me," he said with a frown.

The blond threw an arm around him and leaned his head against his. "My job isn't going to determine whether or not I'm happy. But I like the idea of helping people."

"You help me all the time," Kili stated. "And you helped Frodo when he first came here and was sad so much. You always know what to say."

"Not always," Fili said with a heavy sigh. "But it's easy to help you. I know how you think."

"You didn't know Frodo that well when he first came and you still helped him," he pointed out. "And what you said earlier about not being good at math and science isn't true either. You don't like them, but you're good at the when you pay attention."

Fili chuckled. "Maybe, but I don't like them enough to make a career out of them. What about you, huh? Still thinking forensics?"

He frowned. "Maybe. I don't know."

"What's wrong?" Fili asked in concern.

"It's just… When I job shadowed Dr. Radagast way back, he didn't let me see anything really gruesome, you know? And I…" He sighed heavily and dropped his gaze. "I can't even watch a scary movie without getting freaked out. How am I supposed to look at crime scene photos?"

"That's different, though."

"Yeah, it's different," he scoffed. "It's different because it's real!"

"Hey," Fili said, squeezing his shoulder comfortingly. "Nobody says you have to go into forensics."

"Will Pop be disappointed if I don't?" Kili asked in a small voice. Kili knew that Thorin would love him no matter what, but he also knew that the thought of one of his sons following him into police work, albeit in a much safer capacity, made him very proud.

"I think Pop would be disappointed if you did something you didn't want to do just because he wanted you to," Fili answered.

Kili smiled. "You're probably right," he said before shooting him a sly look. "See! You always know what to say."

Fili shook his head with a sad smile. "Only about somethings, Kee. For others, I have no clue. So," he said cheerfully, changing the subject. "What careers are you thinking of now that forensics is off the table?"

"Forensics isn't off the table completely, but I don't know," he replied with a shrug. "I like figuring things out. That's why I liked forensics so much to start with. I don't know what other kinds of jobs there are for that."

"I'm sure there are a lot of jobs like that," Fili stated confidently. "And maybe you shouldn't discount forensics yet. At least not because you're afraid. Why don't you ask Pop and see if there's a summer internship program you can do or something? Now that you're older, you can see the more bloody side of things and see if you can handle it."

He grinned at Fili. "That's a great idea! And you call me a genius," he said with a roll of his eyes. "I never would've thought of that."

Fili chuckled. "That's because your first instinct when you have a problem is to keep it to yourself and not to ask for help," he pointed out with a shake of his head.

"That's not fair!" Kili cried in outrage. "I ask you for help all the time!"

"No, you accept my help when I figure out you need help," the blond said with a wry smile. "You don't have to fix everything yourself, you know. There's a lot of people around you that want to help you. Me especially."

"I don't like being a burden," he mumbled.

Fili sighed. "I know. But you're never a burden to me, okay? Just remember that."

Kili gave him a shy smile. "Okay," he said before reluctantly getting up. "Guess I should head to bed. Goodnight, Fee."

"Night, Kee."

#

The next day, Fili met him after homeroom to walk him to Geometry, keeping a keen out for any sign of Smaug. Tauriel paused slightly at the sight of Fili waiting in the hall as she darted out of the room before Kili, shooting him an unreadable look before quickly leaving.

"I think she feels guilty," Fili remarked as they headed towards Kili's class. "Which is what she should feel."

Kili sighed. "I said some mean things to her as well."

"You didn't leave her alone to be ambushed and threatened by an asshole," Fili growled.

"She didn't know Smaug would ambush me," he said patiently. "And she's right. Sometimes I do make a bigger deal out of things than they actually are."

"I knew it," Fili spat, pace quickening in his anger. "I knew she told you you were blowing things out of proportion. Dammit, Kili, don't you dare listen to her! Smaug is dangerous!"

"That's clear now," Kili replied with a roll of his eyes. "But it wasn't so clear before."

"Yes, it was," he insisted, slowing as they approached Kili's classroom and turning to look at him. "Kee, you don't blow things out of proportion. If anything, you downplay things that make you uncomfortable. Don't let Tauriel make you doubt yourself, okay? Don't let her unload all her crap on you."

"Fine," he sighed. "But you have to promise you won't be mad at her. I don't need you to go into protective big brother mode over this. She's still my best friend."

Fili's mouth twisted in displeasure. "Fine, but if she continues acting like this and treating you badly, I fully reserve the right to go into protective big brother mode by Halloween."

"Deal," Kili agreed with a smile. "See you at lunch?"

He shot him an unimpressed look. "I'll be there to walk you."

He shook his head in exasperation before heading into Geometry.

It turned out that Fili needn't have worried about walking him between classes that morning, as Kili discovered once study hall had begun. Drake Smaug was nowhere in sight, which had to mean that he wasn't at school that day.

A knot of worry Kili hadn't even realized was there loosened in his chest. He hadn't realized how much the senior's very presence in the school weighed down on him until he wasn't there anymore.

He was able to get done with his homework in record time without the worry of green eyes watching his every move. He even managed to finish the book they were reading for English Lit and jot down a quick outline for his essay.

It was amazing how productive he could be without Drake Smaug's presence in the library.

He left for his next class with an extra spring in his step, feeling like nothing could touch him.

Reality was quick to sucker-punch him in the gut.

"Kili!" Legolas called, rushing up to him as he rounded the corner towards his locker. "Fili got into a fight with Smaug!"

Kili felt like his stomach had fallen out of him. "What?" he asked breathlessly, endless possibilities were running through his head.

What if Fili were badly hurt? No, someone would have told him if that had happened, right? Unless it was so bad there wasn't time?

No, Fili had to be alright.

Oh, God, what if he were expelled? Kili couldn't go to school without Fili. Even if Smaug weren't around, he wouldn't want that.

Shit this was all his fault! The only possible reason Fili would be in a fight with Smaug was if they were fighting about him! So if Fili was hurt or expelled it was his fault!

"I didn't hear everything," Legolas was explaining. "I just saw Smaug say something to Fili and he just snapped and punched him in the jaw. Smaug fought back and then a couple of teachers pulled them off each other."

"Did he look hurt?" Kili asked desperately, Faramir's comforting hand on his shoulder not helping him at all.

The blond bit his lip before reluctantly answering. "Something on his face was bleeding, but it didn't look that bad!" he rushed to reassure him as Kili moaned in despair.

"This is my fault!" he cried tearfully. "Fili is hurt and is probably going to be expelled because of me!"

"He's not going to be expelled," Faramir assured him in a confident voice. "Boromir and Theodred got into tons of fights when they went to school here and they were never expelled. Maybe suspended, but not expelled."

Kili breathed a little easier at that, but only a little. "But what about the musical?" he asked morosely. "The first rehearsal is today. What if he loses his part because he's not there?"

"I'll talk to Mrs. Fitz and explain it to her," Legolas said quickly. "I'm sure she'll be forgiving."

Kili was far from reassured at that, and the rest of the day dragged on for him. By the time the final bell rang, he was out the door like a shot, not even bothering to complain when Eomer insisted on walking him home.

"Kili," Thorin said, stopping him from bolting up the stairs to find Fili. "We need to talk. Thank you, Eomer," he added, looking over Kili's shoulder to where the older boy was hovering. "For walking him home."

"No problem, sir," Eomer replied with a serious nod. "See you at school, Kili."

Thorin led him to the living room once Eomer was gone, sitting Kili on the couch and taking a seat on the armchair next to him. His solemn face was making Kili squirm. The fight must've been worse than Legolas let alone.

"Is Fili okay?" he blurted out, needing to know and unable to wait.

"He'll have a pretty decent black eye, but he'll be okay," his pop answered with a sigh. "But what I want to know is why you didn't tell us that some boy was bothering you at school."

"Oh." Kili stared at his hands. "I didn't think it was anything to worry about."

"Fili seems to," Thorin commented casually. "Fili is worried about it a great deal. And I think he's right to be worried about an older boy harassing you."

"Drake isn't doing anything wrong, really," he mumbled. "He just… makes me uncomfortable."

"Fili said he threatened you," he stated sternly.

Kili shrugged. "He said he'd figure out how to make me go out with him. But he didn't say it in a threatening way…"

"Kili, does he scare you?" Thorin asked seriously.

He hesitated for a moment before he nodded. "I would've said something but he hasn't even broken any rule," he tried to explain. "I didn't think anything could be done."

Thorin sighed heavily. "I don't actually know what can be done, but I will find out," he promised. "But I want you to stick close to your friends in the meantime, okay?"

He nodded and went to stand up. He paused, though, and looked back at Thorin. "Is Fili in trouble?"

"No, but only because there are extenuating circumstances," he replied with a frown. "I don't want you boys thinking violence is the answer. He is suspended from school for a day," he added though. "He's lucky it wasn't longer. But I'll be driving you to school tomorrow, and picking you up."

Kili sighed in resignation at that, knowing there was no arguing. "I have archery practice tomorrow afternoon," he said instead.

"Then I'll pick you up after that," Thorin said with finality. Kili just nodded before bounding up the stairs, taking them two at a time to reach Fili sooner.

He burst into Fili's room, startling the blond who sat up quickly from his supine position on the bed at his entrance. He gave Kili a smile before lying down again, scooting over to make room for the brunet on the bed.

Kili took the invitation for what it was, but sat down next to Fili instead of curling up next to him, reaching a hand out to hover over the blond's bruised face.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, tears welling in his eyes as he took in Fili's face. It didn't look as bad as he feared, but it was still pretty bad. There were a couple of butterfly bandages over a cut above his eyebrow, and the skin around the eye was turning a sickening shade of purple. It would probably turn even darker before it cleared up.

Fili rolled his eyes before tugging him insistently down and engulfing him in a warm embrace. "You have nothing to be sorry about. And trust me, Smaug got the worst end of the fight."

"What happened?" he asked softly, not sure if he wanted to know but knowing he had to hear it.

"Smaug said something he shouldn't have and got what he was asking for," Fili replied, thinly veiled anger in his voice, no doubt remembering exactly what was said but obviously not wanting to share with Kili.

"It's probably going to be all over the school tomorrow," Kili reminded him. "You might as well tell me."

Fili sighed and pulled him closer, as if his body could shield him from whatever Smaug had said. "He told me he… wanted to do to you," he said in a tight voice. "He was very… graphic."

"So you punched him," he summed up, leaning into Fili's embrace in an attempt to remind him that Kili was there with him and that Smaug couldn't touch him.

"I just saw red and couldn't help it," Fili said defensively. "I couldn't just let him talk about you like that."

"I know. But they're just words, Fee. I'll be fine, okay? Especially now that you've shown Smaug what you've learned in jiu-jitsu," he commented lightly.

Fili chuckled. "I think I surprised him. He seemed to think I'd be a pushover."

Kili grinned before sobering quickly. "Legolas said he'd talk to Mrs. Fitz about the musical."

"I know," he replied happily, running his fingers absently through Kili's hair. "He texted me. She's not happy, but she understood and said I still had my part. Thanks for getting Legolas to talk to her."

"This whole thing is my fault," he said with a shrug. "It's the least I could do."

"This is not your fault, Kili!" Fili stated emphatically. "This is all Smaug's fault. Don't try and take any blame away from that worm!"

"I'll try," he mumbled, snuggling deeper into Fili's arms.

"Good."

They lay there for a while longer, Fili's fingers still in his hair while he began to doze quietly. Eventually, Bilbo called them for dinner, where Kili had to endure another lecture about how he should've told them what was going on. Their dad surprised them, and Thorin, though, by turning to Fili and thanking him for standing up for Kili.

"What happened to not encouraging violence?" Kili heard Thorin mutter to Bilbo as they were cleaning up.

"It's a violent world," he shot back with a shrug. "Sometimes you have to fight back."

#

Thorin did drop him off at school the next day, where all his friends minus Tauriel were waiting to walk him to homeroom.

"I think the entourage is a little unnecessary," he mumbled to Ori.

He gave him a no-nonsense look. "It is absolutely necessary," he replied in a tone that brooked no argument. "Fili was suspended because he threw the first punch yesterday, but Smaug was only sent home for the rest of the day. He'll be back today."

He glanced around at his other friends but received no help from them either, though Faramir did shoot him a sympathetic look.

"Ori and I will come get you to walk to Geometry," Gimli said cheerfully as reached his classroom. "See you then!"

Tauriel frowned at him as he walked past her to get to his seat. "Why is everyone walking you to class now?" she asked in a sullen voice, curiosity evidently too much to keep up the silent treatment.

He scowled at her. "Probably because I'm a baby who's blowing things out of proportion again," he snapped, suddenly fed up with the entire situation and finding Tauriel a convenient target for his anger.

Hurt and regret shot through her eyes before they hardened. "You're probably right," she said coolly before turning to face the front of the classroom.

Kili felt remorse well in him. That was stupid of him. He had had a shot to mend things a bit between the two of them, and he just made things worse. Why couldn't he do anything right?

Thankfully, Smaug didn't approach him during school that day. Not that any of his friends gave him any chance to. He had at least two of them with him at all times. Kili was happy to note, though, as he caught a glimpse of the senior in study hall, that the lower half of his face was painfully swollen, making Fili's wounds look less serious in comparison.

Gimli and Ori walked him to archery practice, sticking by his side as he waited for practice to begin.

"Kili?" Bard said, approaching him with a frown. "Can I talk to you alone for a moment?"

Gimli seemed about ready to intervene, but Kili shot him a look a stepped off to the side with Bard.

The older teen gave him a grimace and sighed. "Look, Kili, some of the others on the team are wondering if they've done something to offend you or something? You didn't talk to them last Tuesday and seemed to avoid everyone Thursday…"

"No!" Kili said quickly before biting his lip. "I'm not really good at talking to new people. I joined the team because Tauriel did and now she's not talking to me so I… just don't know…"

Bard gave him a look of relief. "Good! Well, not good, because we want you to be comfortable," he explained. "But a couple of the guys thought you thought you were better than everyone and I really didn't think you did—"

"I don't!" Kili cried in horror. "I really don't!"

"I'm glad," he replied before frowning. "Is that why you brought your two friends? Because you didn't feel comfortable around us?"

"Um, no," he mumbled with a sheepish look. "My brother kinda recruited all our friends to guard me."

Bard's frown deepened. "Against Drake?" Kili nodded. "Listen, Kili, it's none of my business, but you should be careful, okay?" he said seriously. "From what I've heard, Drake has a bet that he can… well, sleep with you… before Christmas."

"What?!" he cried, revulsion welling within him.

"Yeah, but, Kili, Drake takes extreme pride in his wagers," Bard warned him. "He doesn't like losing."

"Well, he's going to lose this one," Kili declared, crossing his arms in anger.

Smaug was out of his mind if he thought Kili would ever agree to do that with him.

tbc…