For Lomelindi(PirateColey). Because reasons. Love ya darlin.
Bofur watched Nori from across the room, mesmerized by just the thought of Nori's lips around the stem of his pipe. Bofur's pipe. The one Nori was currently smoking from that he had nicked earlier from Bofur.
He watched the shift and play of those lips and fought down a groan of frustration. And of course Nori was well aware of what he was doing to the miner; it was obvious in the way he kept glancing Bofur's way and the way just the corners of his mouth would turn up the slightest bit when he caught Bofur staring.
Of course, Nori had chosen the wrong spot to sit in if he was going to tease Bofur. The miner's pack was behind him, and that was where Bofur's pipeweed was. So he had to get up, walk across the room, pass Nori with a clap on the shoulder along the way (and if his fingers happened to just slightly graze the other Dwarf's jaw on the way, well, it could be accidental, aye?), retrieve the pouch, go BACK past Nori with another light touch, and take his seat again. No, there was no teasing going on from Bofur's direction either.
And Ori watched it all with a hidden smile.
The scribe wasn't nearly as oblivious to the undercurrents in their company as everyone would like to think. Nor was he as naïve or inexperienced. It was just that Dori was so protective that he had to keep such things secret to avoid the tongue-lashing he knew he'd get for poor choices and since he'd learned to keep his own, he was able to see others' secrets more clearly.
He was also still young enough to be a hopeless romantic. And that also allowed him to see what was happening between Nori and Bofur and to decide that he'd help it along, if he could. Oh, not obviously; both the older Dwarves would run for the hills if he suddenly announced he knew they'd been sleeping together and wanted to help them keep doing so. But he thought he might be able to provide a little subtle assistance, just the same. Even if it was just keeping Dori occupied sometimes so he'd leave Nori alone.
To be fair, Dori didn't fuss nearly as much over Nori as he did Ori. Ori was the youngest, and Dori felt responsible. But if Ori were to keep Dori's attention fixed on him, well, Nori might be a bit less grumpy.
He looked over to Bofur again and sighed. Those two needed to be together, he could see it. The looks that passed between them when they thought the other wasn't looking, the sheer heat of it, and there was something else, too. And Bofur, Mahal, Bofur was wearing his heart on his sleeve for anyone to notice. Or at least, someone observant like Ori.
His parchment and pen were in hand, chronicling their day's activities here at Rivendell, though truth to tell there was little to record. So, since he was in a shadowy corner, somewhat hidden from view, he turned from writing to sketching.
Nori's face came first, familiar, and yet subtly different. There was something about the eyes that hinted at mischief, like normal, but something else lurked underneath. Something warm and tender and Ori knew that if he realized it, Nori would close it off in a heartbeat. He didn't want emotional attachments to anyone, really. He tolerated the ones with his brothers because well, they were his brothers and you're supposed to love your family. But Nori trusted few others, and the warmth in his eyes when he looked at Bofur, that was something he'd fight tooth and nail.
The pipe at his lips was intricately carved and suddenly Ori understood part of the mischief showing in his brother's face. It wasn't Nori's pipe at all. The decoration was lovingly, exquisitely rendered and Ori knew Bofur had carved it. Nori must have stolen it at some point, and was teasing Bofur with it. And that in itself said something quite unusual was going on; Nori didn't noise things about when he stole. Quite the contrary.
Bofur's earring had gone missing a couple of days previous and now Ori thought he knew where it was. Or at least who had it. But why the elaborate tease? Probably, Ori decided suddenly, that Nori was making up the rules as he went along again, and breaking them as fast as they were set. He wished his brother would just stop hiding from everything and everyone and let himself be happy. He didn't HAVE to be a thief any more. He didn't HAVE to steal so they'd have enough to eat.
Ori put a halt to that thought quickly. Nori enjoyed being a thief. It was the excitement as much as anything that held him in that life, the thrill of the heist and then the exhilaration of the chase when he'd waited too long and almost been caught.
If Bofur really wanted to have Nori, and more than just as a bed partner, he'd have to chase him.
Ori's eyes went to the miner, sitting apparently content and sharing off color jokes and smoke with Fíli and Kíli. That was a dangerous combination, too. The three of them were pranksters in the extreme; just that morning the lads had tried once more to take the piss from Bilbo, explaining to him that his beloved Elves weren't to be trusted, they were worse than Orcs, really, and all sorts of odd, vile things that anyone with sense knew not to be true. It had all come out all right, of course. Bilbo had sense. And it hadn't helped their cause that he remembered the night they'd explained about Orc packs, throat cutters, and tried to scare him even then. Thorin had stopped it then, and Bilbo himself that morning.
Sighing, he drew his thoughts back, regarding the image of Nori he'd sketched out, and let his quill scratch a bit more on the paper. Bofur's face began to take shape as well, strong and rugged and with that indefinable something that made him what Nori wanted. His eyes were merry, his face content, and yet under the surface there lurked a sadness, a hint that not all was as it seemed. And yet when he looked at Nori, his face became even brighter, happier. And no one else had seen it or cared.
Really, anyone who wanted to know what Bofur was feeling only had to look at him. The miner's face was an open book, his eyes expressive and usually crinkled around the edges with laughter. And just now they were watching Nori with speculation – and not a little raw emotion.
He should have been paying attention to Dori. His brother had come up beside him to sit and was regarding the sketches with admiration. "Those are quite good," he said evenly as he offered a cup of tea. Ori would much rather have had ale but he wouldn't hurt Dori's feelings, either.
"Thank you," he said politely. He gave each sketch an objective glance and straightened a line on Nori's face, added a shadow on Bofur's jaw, and set them down again. He couldn't very well hide them now. Dori had already seen them. Hopefully he hadn't seen what Ori had in the originals.
"This is incredible, Ori," Dori said as he twitched the parchment from his fingers, giving it a closer look. "The way they seem to turn toward each other, the – I can almost see what they're thinking. It's an amazing likeness of them both." He hadn't missed the way the faces were half turned toward each other, nor the hints of longing on both of them. They were quite obvious, and at the same time, well hidden. Ori was talented in more ways than just writing, it appeared.
Ori blushed. Mahal have mercy and not let Dori see the other sketches! These were bad enough. "I only draw what I see," he said slowly as he watched Nori and Bofur, completely unnoticed by either of them. "And they want to be together. I can see that. Why can't they?"
"Perhaps it's better if they don't see it, Ori." Dori's hand lingered a moment on his shoulder as he rose. "It's getting late. You should try to sleep if you can."
Ori nodded, defeated. He wanted to help them, and obviously Dori thought it was a bad idea. But those two would dance to their own tune, he was suddenly certain, and no matter what Dori said. "Soon, Dori," he promised. But there was one other sketch he wanted to do before he retired.
(Nori)
Nori was surprised when it was Dori who sought him out and not Bofur. His brother didn't say much to him beyond the usual "you should really give up such things and become respectable" speech. Not any more, anyway.
But tonight was a bit different. Yes, Dori still thought he should stop being a thief, but that wasn't going to happen, so he stopped listening. But when Dori mentioned Bofur, he snapped back to full focus. "What about Bofur?" he demanded, interrupting quickly. Blast. He certainly hadn't meant to betray any interest in the miner and right now, he was failing miserably at keeping the secret. That angered him but he reined it in quickly. No sense letting Dori know he was on the right track, certainly. He'd never hear the end of it.
"I said, if your interest in him is sincere, you should show him," Dori was saying quietly. "Don't string him along, Nori. He's not like others you've had. Bofur is a good Dwarf, a steady hand, and you shouldn't toy with him."
Nori blinked. Dori lecturing HIM on his love life he hadn't expected. Not that there was anything like a love life involved, really. It was just sex. That was all. Besides, what right had Dori to interfere anyway? "What makes you think I'm interested in him?" he asked quietly. He wasn't going to admit it to anyone, and he thought he was dissembling quite well.
"Your brother is a talented artist as well as a scribe," Dori replied evenly as they turned to look out into the night. "He has a knack for showing what lies beneath the surface. And he's been sketching both of you."
That was a surprise. He knew Ori drew, but he hadn't realized it was so telling. He'd have to get a look at the picture. "I don't know what you're talking about, Dori," he stated firmly. "I've no interest in the miner whatsoever. And even if I did, it's really none of your business." He gave a tiny smile.
"Is that why you've got Bofur's pipe?" Dori was observant, when he wanted to be. "Or did you just steal it?"
Nori wanted to groan but he stifled it. Trust Dori to pick NOW to notice things. "Oh, I nicked it. I'll give it back. It was too easy." He shrugged. "No challenge at all." He would have said more but he saw Bofur coming out of the corridor a ways down and raised a hand. "No time like the present. Hey, Bofur!" He sidestepped Dori, effectively dismissing him, and went to greet his – he'd thought "lover" initially but he wasn't sure that was accurate. There was nothing of the heart in this. He wouldn't let there be. Emotional attachments were clumsy, unnecessary things and he didn't want any.
He handed the pipe to the miner with a wry grin. "Too easy," he said simply as he strode past then, on his way to anywhere else. He couldn't have any fun with Bofur with Dori nosing around, and he needed to get a look at that sketch Dori had referred to. What was Ori seeing about them? It had to be serious.
Bofur took the pipe with some bemusement and turned to regard Dori for a moment. "I don't suppose ye know what that was all about?" he asked with a wry grin.
Dori shook his head. "I suppose it's just Nori being himself," he replied evenly. "It's late. Good night, Bofur."
"Night." Bofur stood there for a moment and then continued to his room, thinking about his thief.