So, I don't like this chapter very much. I'm not quite sure why. I think it was just harder for me than it should have been, but oh well. Enjoy it~
Bilbo paced his room as he thought about what happened before dinner. He felt that he could burst into hysterical laughter at any moment. What brought on such confidence as to speak to Thorin? He was terrible at speaking, and he knew that. How he managed to not come off like a stuttering idiot, he would never know. His hands rushed to his hair, tugging slightly. His face began to burn at the topic they chose. Could they have talked about anything different?
He heard the voices of the many men gathered down the hall. Sighing, he decided he should go outside. This thought grew as he heard Fili and Kili laugh. He had known them for, what half a week? And he already knew that those laughs meant trouble.
When he stepped out, some of the men glanced at him, returning to either watching television or talking about whatever. Fili and Kili sat on the sofa with Ori sitting between them. Fili's laptop sat on Ori's lap as the brothers pointed at the screen and grinned mischievously. Dori eyed them suspiciously while Nori looked quite irritated. Knowing the conflict between them made it clearer to Bilbo.
Thorin stared at him from his peripheral vision, trying not to make it obvious. When Ori released a gasp causing the brothers on either side to break down, his eyes narrowed on them. Ori tossed the laptop off of him, his face was completely flushed, and he excused himself to his room.
Ori nodded to Bilbo as he carefully stepped around him. Of course Bilbo was concerned, but not enough to dig him into more problems than he already had.
Fili and Kili high fived, but appeared to be as disappointed as wet kittens when their uncle stalked up behind them. Bilbo could have hit himself for the giggle that escaped his mouth at the sight. Thorin shyly looked in Bilbo's direction before going back to disciplining his nephews.
"I think you two should be the ones to do the dishes tonight. Don't you agree Mr. Baggins?" He smiled in response. "Sorry boys, but I think that's fair considering what you did to my nephew and his…friend."
The two sulked out of the room, leaving the room filled with all of the older men. It was surprising, but it seemed there was even more chaos with them gone. Maybe they all joked about the brothers on dish duty, but more likely they got to topics they wouldn't cross with them in the room.
Bilbo didn't feel particularly welcome (in his own bloody living room!), but when Bofur grabbed his arm and forced him to sit down he felt less tense. "I hope we haven't been too much trouble for ya Mr. Baggins!" The man's smile was face-distorting, making it seem all the more genuine. Bilbo scoffed, "You've been just fine for thirteen men. And please, call me Bilbo."
Thorin took the place of his nephews, which just happened to be next to Balin. He nudged his shoulder, leg, head, but finally stopped when a loud snore erupted from him. 'Later, then…'
When the next sound to disturb everyone came from the kitchen, Thorin groaned. He stared as Bilbo rushed to see what the brothers were doing. "You let go of him this instant!"
Thorin's foul mood only became worse. What could they possibly be doing now? Wait, they weren't….Bilbo didn't walk in on them-…
"It was funny!" Fili called from the kitchen. Kili stepped out into the hall, his hair was damp and covered in bubbles, and he fled to the bathroom to lock himself inside. "You go and apologize to your brother right now!" Thorin smiled, as it seemed his host had everything under control, even if he did sound like their mother, which really just made his smile even deeper.
Fili tugged on the doorknob and banged on the door. "Let me in!" Only a few more pounds of his fist against the door and he was pulled inside. The door locked. Thorin put his face into his hands, as he knew they wouldn't be seeing them for an hour or two.
At the sound of dishes clattering and water running, Thorin jumped up from his seat and wandered into the hall. Of course, Bilbo was doing the dishes all alone. He felt even worse as he gazed at the ten stacks of plates and pots that should have been soaking hours ago. It really was too late at night to be doing dishes.
Bilbo hummed softly as he bounced on the heels of his feet. Thorin wondered why he did that, but then he realized how long he had just been standing there staring. He coughed to get the short man's attention. His curls bounced across his cheeks as he faced him. He gave a warm, nervous smile. "Yes?"
Thorin was a bit stunned, but straightened quickly. "I'm sorry about my nephews…-again-…I could help you with that," he said pointing awkwardly at the sink. He was extremely nervous, and every gesture he made left him feeling like an idiot. Nonetheless, Bilbo flashed another smile and moved over a step to allow Thorin by his side.
After ten minutes of Bilbo cleaning and Thorin drying while desperately trying to map out where everything belonged, they traded roles. As he got down to washing Bifur's plate—no doubt it was Bifur's—he grimaced at the mess and scrubbed furiously. Bilbo stared at him worriedly. "I can't think of anything we had that would stick to a plate like that," he commented. "I wouldn't think too hard about it," Thorin said flatly. He turned his head to see Bilbo staring off into space with a more concerned look on his face. "I, uh, wasn't implying anything by that."
Bilbo gave a small chuckle and went back to arranging the silverware.
Thorin couldn't stop watching him. It seemed as though he was worried by something other than his plates. He was distant as he hummed to himself. 'I shouldn't dig into it…Maybe Balin will talk to him about it.'
Footsteps continuously sounded through the halls. Thorin finished scrubbing and rinsing, leaving Bilbo to dry a large pile and put them in their places. Thorin peered out into the living room to see that everyone went to bed. He grabbed another towel, assisting with drying every cup and plate. Eventually, there was one cup left. Thorin looked up to Bilbo's face as he snatched it from the counter, raising an eyebrow out Thorin's surprised face. "Have your nephews come out of the bathroom yet? It's awfully late…"
Thorin shrugged, "It doesn't matter. They're better off in there than near anything else." Thorin wasn't surprised to see another smile on his face. Did everything he say really deserve that reaction out of the smaller man?
Bilbo stepped out into the hall, Thorin following closely behind him. Thorin almost ran into him when he came to an abrupt stop in front of the door directly across from the kitchen. It must have been his room, then. Thorin continued down the hall to his door. He took one last glance at his host, who was staring at him with an awkward smile. "Thanks for helping me." Thorin felt his heart in his throat, and he choked on his tongue, "You're welcome!" He said this slightly louder than he intended, then quickly rushed into his room.
Bilbo listened to the soft click of the room's door shut, turning his gaze down to the floor. His hand shook on the doorknob. His mind shouted at him, 'Why would you stare at him like that!? He must be extremely uncomfortable now! He certainly looked it!'
His thoughts were interrupted by the bathroom door swinging open forcefully. Fili and Kili stepped out, arms around each other's waists, shoving themselves into their room. Bilbo was thankful they had not seen him standing in front of his door like an idiot. He stepped inside, turning on his light.
His first instinct was to grab his phone and check it. There was a single message from Frodo.
I'm not coming over ever again unless I have Merry and Pippin with me.
Just what he needed. More trouble. He was sure Meriadoc and Peregrin would get along quite well with Fili and Kili, and the thought sent shivers down his spine.
He looked to the many papers littering his desk. He sat in his office chair, swaying in it, spinning, leaning back, all while staring at his latest writing project. He quickly stood, shutting of his light and crawling into bed.
The thought of how Thorin looked at him came to mind. It brought a dull ache to his stomach. 'This is why you're alone, Bilbo. You scare people away.'
-
Thorin tried to keep from grumbling when his nephews blindly stepped on his long hair. They dropped to the ground from where they stood, still holding each other, and immediately fell asleep. He looked over to poor Balin, who moved himself to the floor.
It was hard for him to fall asleep. Bilbo's frequent smiling kept coming to mind. He was rapidly becoming more self-conscious. He never saw him smile so vigorously for anyone else in his company. He rubbed at his temples. He finally noticed his breathing had sped up when his heart felt like it was ready to burst.
He sighed to himself. 'I'll volunteer to unpack tomorrow. I need something to get my mind off of everything.
The next morning there was no sign of Gandalf. It was already ten, and he had not arrived. Thorin fidgeted in his seat. His eyes darted across the small house every time a door opened or closed. It was beginning to drive him nuts.
Bilbo stepped out of his room, and Thorin set his eyes to his thumbs twiddling the fabric of his shirt. "Gandalf isn't coming over today! He just rang me, and he said he's giving you lot a break!"
Thorin could have cried. The one day he wanted to get out of the house, and he was stuck there. Hopelessly stuck.
The reaction from the rest of the group was a positive one. There were cheers and groans of relief. Thorin grew overly suspicious of what it was Gandalf was trying to pull. He just seemed to want the complete opposite of what Thorin wanted. Was it just to spite him?
"Are you alright?" His voice made Thorin jump, and his grimace turned to a look of shock. He nodded at Bilbo, who slowly ventured back down the hall. He slumped lower into the couch. What an idiot he was…
As soon as Fili and Kili were in the kitchen, Thorin could hear the tossing of dishes he had just cleaned the night before. It only took one smash to ruin his composure even further. His hands returned to his head. What did he do to deserve such hateful cruelty?