For Lomelindi (PirateColey), for just everything. Lots of reasons.
I don't own any of them, more's the pity. If I did, they'd have a lot more fun.
Unfortunately, the next time Bofur thought he'd have a moment to himself, they ran into three nasty trolls who wanted to eat their ponies. And then them. Whole. Or roasted, it didn't matter.
And of course, he'd ended up trussed to the spit to be roasted. With Nori. Between his legs.
Life was cruel. He was exactly where he wanted to be but the situation was hardly right for what he wanted. Like, "we're going to die but at least I'll die happy" wrong.
But the Hobbit surprised them all by keeping the trolls occupied until nearly sunup, when Gandalf showed up and the trolls turned to stone in the sun. And when they were free, he looked around for Nori and caught his eye, but the thief looked right through him. Not a good start for what he wanted to happen next, certainly. He felt hurt, really; he'd thought that after the night by the stream at least he had the right to talk to the thief. Obviously Nori thought differently.
And he hadn't found any way at all to broach the subject of his earring.
The trolls' hoard helped a little. He, Gloin, and Nori gathered a LOT of gold into a chest and buried it in the floor. So Nori wasn't avoiding him as such, but there was certainly something going on there. The thief, HIS thief, hadn't said one word to him. Hadn't so much as given him one smile, which was unusual.
He stifled a groan and followed everyone out when Thorin called.
The brown wizard, discussions of Necromancers and places Bofur had never heard of, and running for their lives from yet more Wargs and Orcs just put more emphasis on the fact that there was no way he was going to get Nori alone anytime soon. Then they were running through some sort of passageway and ended up in Rivendell, of all places.
The Last Homely House East of the Sea, Gandalf had called it. All Bofur cared about was that it was a place the Orcs couldn't get them, right now. They needed rest, even he could see it. At least he did. Rest and maybe a chance to get Nori alone.
He really needed to talk to his thief and not just about the earring.
Finally, after several hours of torture (it wasn't, really, just Elf music and their idea of food), the Dwarves were able to find a place to themselves to eat what they wanted and have some companionship. Bofur lit up his pipe and then looked across to Bombur, assessing possibilities. It had become quite a game, to see how far away someone could sit and still have Bombur catch whatever food was thrown his way. "Bombur!" Bofur called to his brother.
The sausage was duly caught and with a creak, the table Bombur had sat upon broke, sending him to roll about on the ground. Nori was nearby and had a good laugh, pointing and chortling with the others. Bofur rolled over onto his side, laughing hard.
Bofur watched Nori under his brows so the thief wouldn't catch him looking, waiting for him to slip away. He knew Nori would; he seemed uncomfortable in their company if he had to be there very long. It had to be hard for him, really, having been on the outskirts of society as he had been for so long. After all, being a thief was hardly a respectable profession.
Much like being a miner. Bofur had always known he was lower class than the others, and he didn't really care. He took pride in his work, even when the mining played out and he was forced into toymaking with Bifur. And it wasn't such a bad thing, really, it gave him something to do with his hands when he really didn't know what else to do with the rest of him. It let his mind wander when he needed it to.
There. Nori had disappeared. There weren't many places he could have slipped out of, so Bofur had a halfway decent chance of intercepting him. He rose and slunk out the nearest exit himself, pacing round the hall down to the exit into the outside and saw Nori standing outside, his hands clenched at his sides, completely at odds with his jolly appearance earlier. What had happened?
"Nori? Ye all right, lad?" The words were out before Bofur had known he was going to speak, but that was a good thing. If he'd thought about it he might not have spoken at all. He moved closer but stayed just out of reach. He didn't want his thief feeling pressured.
"I'm fine." But the tone was clipped and angry and Bofur smiled slightly.
"Aye, sure ye are." He took one step closer and stopped when Nori glared at him. "That's why yer fists are clenched, aye? Fine and dandy." He didn't move further, just watched his thief for a moment. "I just want t'help, Nori."
"You can't." Nori's voice was soft, now, but still nearly vibrated with anger and something else Bofur decided was pain. A tiny, pained smile touched his lips. "You're not related to Dori. I'll be all right."
Bofur nodded. "Don't have an older brother m'self, no," he replied evenly as he stepped close enough to take Nori's hands in his. He was wearing his heart on his sleeve and he knew it, but the other needed comfort and if that was all he could offer, he would. "What'd he say, then? Had to be pretty rough to put ye in this state."
Nori deliberately took his hands back and stepped away, going to lean over the balustrade instead, no longer looking directly at Bofur. "Nothing I haven't heard a thousand times already. It's nothing."
Bofur moved up beside him, saying nothing. He merely leaned over, his shoulder touching the other's, offering silent support. They stood together for a while.
Nori wanted to move away but couldn't. It bothered him that the miner obviously cared about how he felt. He didn't want entanglements of any kind. If he was focused on someone other than his mark, he'd make mistakes. And a thief who made mistakes was soon out of business, one way or another.
Bofur reached up and turned his thief's face toward him, searching Nori's eyes for some sign whether or not the advance would be accepted.
"Not here," Nori said quickly as he jerked his head back. To make up for what seemed a rejection, he grabbed the miner's hand and dragged him out into the valley. He found a secluded spot, lots of trees to shield them from curious Elf eyes and dragged Bofur to the ground with him.
"If we're going to get involved, there's going to be some rules," he growled as he held Bofur's gaze. "I'm not going to tell you I love you or anything, because I don't. It's convenient, that's all. I won't kiss you. And no one else knows about our arrangement. Anyone else finds out, it's over. You agree to all that?"
Bofur didn't take time to think about it. "Aye," he said softly. Any chance at all with his thief was more than he'd hoped for. And there was always the chance that Nori would change his mind later, that he would come to care for the miner the way he wanted. Even if he didn't, though, Bofur would have something of him to remember. "I can accept that."
Nori nodded and started skimming out of his clothes and Bofur stopped him. "Let me," he whispered. He might not be able to kiss Nori but there were other ways he could show his appreciation.
Slowly he rid the other Dwarf of his coverings, lightly nibbling and licking his way across each expanse of skin he uncovered. His hands were gentle, lightly skimming over Nori's skin, barely touching and Bofur counted it a victory when Nori shivered slightly just as Bofur closed his hand around him, barely grazing along the shaft.
Nori fought down his reactions. Bofur's hands were different than he had expected, calloused and rough, sure, but also gentle and tender and it was a new experience for him. He was used to things quick and rough. Still, a soft sound made its way out of his throat before he could stop it and then he bit his lower lip in an attempt to stay silent when Bofur took him into his mouth.
Bofur smiled around him and began to work him in earnest, varying tempo and running his tongue along the shaft, dipping it into the slit at the head on the upstroke and swallowing deeply when he had the whole length inside. Nori's barely stifled cries spurred him on. He had dreamed about those noises, and they had him achingly hard as well. He didn't care. He wanted to make it explosive for his thief.
Nori's hands were suddenly in his hair, tugging him upward away from that deliciousness. "Strip," he demanded, his voice hoarse. "Naked. Now."
Bofur grinned. Even his hat went to the side, lovingly placed atop the untidy pile of the rest of his things. Nori seemed to like his hair, if those tugs and pulls were any indication, so he'd go without it for this. He was certain he knew what Nori wanted and brought out the oil.
Nori almost laughed and then was a little awestruck. Only for a moment, but it threw him just the same. Bofur carried oil with him, and he had been obviously wanting this for a long time. He wound his fingers into the miner's hair again, dragging him upward to nibble and suck on the skin of his neck while those same fingers swiped the oil and opened it. He flipped them so Bofur was underneath and slicked up his fingers before using one hand to grip Bofur's length and slipping the other downward to tease and touch at his entrance.
Bofur wiggled and writhed at Nori's touch. Hot, he was so hot, and he wanted more. He was mindful of their last encounter, however, and tried to keep his hands away and his mouth silent. But it was progressively harder to do when Nori was using those talented fingers to stretch him, widen him, and prepare him for what was to come.
"I want to hear you, Bofur," Nori growled as he nipped at the miner's collarbone hard enough to bruise. "No one can hear us. We're alone out here. Let me hear you."
Bofur moaned, a long, low sound that went straight to Nori's groin. "More," he sighed as he squirmed. Unbidden, his hands came up and grasped Nori's shoulders, holding tightly as he arched upward, bucking against those fingers. "Nori!"
Nori didn't hesitate. He grasped Bofur's hips and pressed inside, slowly, teasing. Bofur was nearly mindless, moaning and squirming and gasping for more. "Touch yourself, Bofur," he growled as he began to thrust. "I want to watch you."
Bofur did as asked, stroking in time with Nori's thrusts, crying out and bucking against Nori's hands, spilling over as the pleasure spiked. He moaned again as he felt Nori stiffen. "Nori!" he growled as his hands flew back up, grasping his thief's back and holding tightly.
Nori thrust a few more times before seating himself deeply and uttering a wordless snarl as he came hard. He slumped then before rolling quickly to the side. That had been, without a doubt, the strangest, most intense encounter he'd had in a long time. If ever. And it scared him.
Bofur finally caught his breath and rolled to face Nori, a smile on his face. Said smile faded when he realized Nori was watching him not with happiness but with something akin to panic. Then it was gone so quickly he might have imagined it. He would say nothing of it, of course. He said nothing at all, leaving it to Nori to set the tone.
"We'd best get back," Nori said finally as he reached for his clothes. "Wouldn't want anyone to come looking for us."
"Aye." Bofur gathered his own things and quickly dressed, but when he turned, Nori was already gone. "Oh, now that went well," he grumbled quietly.