It took Fili almost a whole week to find the wicked pickpocketing thief that had stolen his wallet. And honestly, it was just sheer luck on Fili's part. He had lost his way yet again in the tortuous streets of this cursed city and somehow ended up downtown by the docks. That was where he saw him.

The familiar mop of brown hair had suddenly flashed up in the busy crowd and Fili made sure not to lose his track as it started to vanish behind the waves of people passing by. He looked different in the bright light of the day, Fili thought. Among the dockworkers, the other occurred less fragile and more solid if that made any sense. It was hard to explain, but he seemed more real like this, not just a flimsy flicker of memory nagging at the back of his mind.

"You," Fili exclaimed loudly, storming with large strides towards him.

"Huh?" Kili reacted instantly to the voice and raised his head, an error he hasn't done in a long time. He cringed inwardly at his own reaction, uncle Bill would not be pleased by such a rookie mistake. Most people tend to think along the lines of: 'If the shoe fits, wear it.' So therefore don't let them even so much as assume you're the one with the right size or let alone their pair of shoes.

"Me?" he professionally fixed a confused expression on his face as if he had never seen the blond man before and to top his little performance he actually turned around to pseudo confirm that he was the one that was meant.

"Yes, you! You stole my wallet!" Fili accused, standing now in front of him. There was an angry scowl on his face and his arms were crossed over his chest. He was definitely not amused. Kili found it downright ridiculous.

"Sorry, I am sure you must confuse me with someone else," He replied without missing a beat, but the mischievous glint in his eyes betrayed his words anyway. From one look at the stranger's face Kili knew that the other also could see right through his lie. Seriously, what was wrong with him today? He was better than this.

"Most certainly not. It was you. There were those thugs in the alley and you, and then my wallet was gone." Fili took a step forward, Kili took one back.

"No idea what you're talking about pal."

The younger man lifted his hands up in what could be both, a soothing gesture or plain mockery. In an afterthought, Kili offered the poor guy a disarming smile. After all you never know.

The blond couldn't believe it, first pickpocketing and then not even remembering him - no, that was not the point, definitely not! But still...

"Don't fool around with me!" Fili snarled.

Too late for that, Kili mentally added while trying and failing to suppress another grin. It was shocking how little self-control he seemed to have in the presence of this man.

"Listen, I am really sorry for your loss buddy, but I have work to do. You know how the big boss gets when he catches me slacking off," he said and pointed at a few heavy looking boxes. For a short moment, Kili wondered if he could get the blond to carry them for him like a schoolboy would do with the books of his girl. He would have let him back then... Arrggh, this guy was absolutely not good for his higher brain functions, he thought. On the other hand, he had learned to listen to his instincts and roll with the flow. A little truth in your lies made them always more convincing and fun. And there was undeniably a weird attraction between them.

"Maybe we could discuss this another time? Over dinner?" Kili waggled suggestive with his eyebrows. "Or you could buy me a drink. I know a place at 3rd Avenue that is amazing. You should try the pasta there. It will blow your mind," he proposed while sweetly batting his eyelashes.

"I, uh, I..."

Poor Fili felt like someone just pulled the rug from under his feet. That was not the conversation he had expected. He was totally taken aback by the young man's bold approach and the casual way he handled the situation or rather him, thought that charming smile may also play a major role. Worst of all, there was something inside him that sincerely considered the ridicules offer. He could treat him to a fine glass of wine, they would talk and he would figure out what the other would look like with a true smile on his face. It 'd be nice... Then again he had no money to pay for them and Fili remembered why he was here right now talking to a stranger.

"No. There were 800 bucks, my debit card and most importantly my flight ticket in it and I want them back. Now. Or else...," he semi-threatened him and pressed his finger into the boy's chest. Tss, tss, tss, what a sad excuse to touch him, a nasty voice whispered in Fili's head.

Kili just rolled his eyes. "Oh please, don't make a scene," He sighed theatrical, finally dropping his I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about act.

Time to change tactics.

"I- what?"

Before Fili had time to process the words another voice interrupted, "Yo Kili, this guy bothering you?" A giant of a man - twice Fili's size- cracked his knuckles and was about to come over. This could easily end ugly.

"Nah, don't worry. He's on his way. Just asked for direction, that's all," Kili waved the big man off with a nonchalant grin on his face, but inwardly he cursed at the use of his real name. Hopefully the other hadn't noticed. He didn't seem very bright to begin with, well at least his looks made up for it. Still it felt nice to have some folks you could actually count on even if they weren't the smartest puppies in the box.

The guy seemed not very convinced and eyed Fili suspiciously. The mix of shock and perplexity on his face didn't help to remove the dockworkers doubts either. In order to save them both from an upcoming disaster Kili shot a significant glance in the blonds direction, but to no avail the other appeared to be completely spaced out, so with a swift kick to the shin Kili helped to deliver the message a bit clearer.

"Right, directions...," Fili confirmed absent-minded.

The man nodded once as he returned to his tasks, but did not let the pair out of sight. Just in case. It was then when Kili caught a glimpse of a familiar shadow out of the corner his eyes.

Meanwhile, Fili had his own mental parade of what the fuck?!

Shit, shit, shit, he thought, this couldn't be true. Fate had a really twisted sense of humor. He got in an instant what this was all about. It wasn't that hard to figure it out in the first place. You just have to put two and two together. Fili and ...'Kili'. Fili blushed at Kili's name. Oh god, Kili was his mate. He was his one. Fili was so screwed. What should he do? Did Kili knew?

"You're alright in there?" Kili sounded a little concerned.