Origins: Thorin

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Breakfast in Erebor Tower was a lively affair. With three sets of patrols running, as well as the occasional villain attack, it was seldom that the entire Company was in the same place at the same time. But shifts were always scheduled around one overlapping point- breakfast. Short of a city-wide disaster, there wasn't much that could keep the Company from a merry gathering at the table every morning. Most days it was coffee and toast and cereal, eaten hurriedly before rushing off to wherever they were needed most. On days when the city was silent, or there were important plans to be made, the tiny kitchen would bustle with activity as the table became laden with food. The Company was family- they nicked food off each others plates, reached across the table, and shouted conversations between mouthfuls.

During a rare moment of relative silence, Bilbo built up the courage to voice a question. "How did the Company form?"

Balin paused, tea cup half way to his lips. "That's a fair question, lad. Am I to assume you know Thorin's origin story?"

Bilbo nodded. The Daily Portents often used Oakenshield as an example to show people that Supers were not to be feared. Thorin Durin had manifested his powers at a young age when he stepped between a bully and his intended target, and blocked the punch with an arm that shifted to solid oak. As an adult the name Oakenshield became synonymous with defending the city and defeating evil. The newspapers wrote him as the model Super and now Bilbo wondered how many of those articles had been written by Ori.

Balin sipped his tea before continuing. "Thorin an' Dwalin were friends long before their powers developed, an' as Dwalin's brother I was privy to many of their conversations. Thorin wanted to break the stereotypes of powers being unnatural an' feared. He wanted to use his abilities to do good in the world. By the time they graduated high school I had my own powers an' when Thorin proposed starting a team of Supers there was no question that we would see it done. Even at such a young age Thorin inspired loyalty. I thought- there is one I could follow..."

Around the table every member of the Company nodded in turn. For his part, Thorin looked intently at his plate and seemed equal parts embarrassed and proud.

"What of the rest of you?" Bilbo pressed, curious to hear more of the story. "Where do you lot come in?"

Bofur picked up the story with a dimpled grin. "They were looking for a few more members, but yeh can't very well go advertising that kind of thing. I was a few years behind Thorin an' Dwalin in school. It was pretty obvious that I had powers..." He shifted his wings for emphasis. "I brought Nori with me when I joined. Powered or not, I wasn't going t' leave my best friend behind."

Nori hid a smile behind his coffee cup. "Dori was in a bit of a tight spot at the time and joining the Company offered him a good way out. And of course where we go, little Ori goes." The young man in question rolled his eyes.

"Bifur and I followed soon after," Bombur added, reaching for another pancake. "It was nice to be a part of something worthwhile."

Loni nodded. "I found out about the Company through the family connection. It was before Gloín gained his powers in the accident, but it was important to me so he came anyway." She reached over and squeezed one of her husband's hands. "Oín followed us here, but not until a few years later. He was the last one to join the Company."

"My husband Grár and I came back home just after Fíli was born. The boys were raised in the Company." Dís smiled fondly at her sons. "Thorin and I had a brother, Frerin... He joined right before I did..."

Bilbo saw the dark look pass over Thorin's face at the mention of his brother and decided not to question it. "So, you just fell together then, quite like the pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. I'll admit that I've been rather curious about it, since you all are different ages and seem to be from different backgrounds. I know you said some of you are distantly related, but..."

"Thorin always had a knack for picking up strays," Dís teased softly. "As a child he kept bringing home orphaned birds and kittens. He thought he could save them all." She offered her brother a small, sad smile. "None of us belong in the real world. We're all freaks in our own way. Being a part of this team gives us a chance to do some good. In the Company we've found a family. A home.

Bilbo feigned interest in his bacon and let himself wonder, just for a moment, what it would be like to belong.

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A/N: And that's how the Company was formed. Hopefully I'll see you guys back here on Monday where our heroes have meet up with the White Council and have their first on-screen encounter with S.M.A.U.G.!