...

Blue Team made their camp in a vacant building two blocks from the G-Tech offices. While Dís fitted both Bilbo and Ori with button cameras and ax-shaped com units, Thorin went over their plan one last time.

"Ori is to cause a distraction, but not enough to have the police called on him. Bilbo's purpose is to burgle the code from the computers." He stared at them levelly. "You both remember the code word for if you get into trouble?"

"Arkenstone," they replied with a shared eye roll.

"This is no joke! While I'm certain that Ori can cause an adequate distraction, I have my doubts about Mister Baggins."

Bilbo frowned, confused over the change in Thorin from the night before. One minute the man was pouring out his heart, the next he was acting as though Bilbo was an incompetent fool. "I'm quite certain we can accomplish this."

"This could be dangerous. If ya two ain't up for it, we can find another way..." Dwalin said hesitantly.

"We'll be fine." Ori smiled up at him. "And you're only two blocks away if we need rescuing."

"I know. I just don't like the thought of ya going in there by yerself." He hedged awkwardly. "I don't want anything to happen to ya."

Ori leaned up and kissed Dwalin on the cheek, then grabbed Bilbo's arm and drug him out onto the street before the other man could respond.

…

The two block walk to the G-Tech building was uneventful. They couldn't be seen entering the building together, so Ori waited around the corner while Bilbo let himself in and made his way to his cubicle. Once inside, he turned on his computer and checked his e-mail, trying not to seem like it was anything other than a typical work day. He answered a few phone calls and jotted down notes in his appointment book. A co-worker popped her head in to say she was glad he was back, and Bilbo forced himself to make pleasant small talk with her.

"I'm heading in," Ori's voice sounded quietly through the com system. "Get ready."

Bilbo smiled at his co-worker and hummed in agreement as she complained about something he didn't quite catch. A scuffle in the foyer of the building drew both of their attention and Bilbo used the distraction to slip out of his cubical and down the hall.

"The people have the right to know! You can't hide this from the press!" Ori proclaimed loudly, as he pushed his way further into the offices. "I demand to talk to the programers who created this vile creature! We deserve answers!"

As the majority of G-Tech employees left their offices to see what the fuss was about, Bilbo hurried towards the back of the building where the server rooms were. He paused outside the door and concentrated until he felt himself vanish. Once he was sure no one was around to see, he let himself into the server room and looked around. Over his com he could hear Ori continuing his rant, demanding to speak to the CEO and threatening to expose the truth about S.M.A.U.G. going rogue.

The server room consisted of a large bank of computers and a long desk covered in files. Misty North, one the programers who had been in the meeting Bilbo overheard, was sitting at the desk and looked up when the door opened. "Hello?" She blinked in confusion, then closed the door and went back to her work.

Bilbo bit back a sigh of relief. Looking around, he saw that the file Misty appeared to be working on was labeled S.M.A.U.G.. Also on the desk was the morning's edition of The Daily Portents, with Ori's edited story on the front page. The headline read Balrog Apprehended by S.M.A.U.G.- Super Caught in the Crossfire. Turning his attention to the computers, he quickly found the mainframe Dís had described and carefully put the flash drive into the port. He couldn't risk talking, but Dís' voice on the com assured him that the information was being uploaded to her server.

Meanwhile, Ori found himself surrounded by people. Two security guards were trying to escort him to the door, while a dozen employees watched in rapt amusement. Digging into his satchel, Ori pulled out the photographs of S.M.A.U.G.'s attack and held them up. "Do you see this? This is your robot attacking the Supers! This is Gandalf dying! Do you see this? Do you see what you've done!?"

Dís confirmed the upload was complete just as the door to the server room opened again. Barry Humphries, the other programer from the meeting, entered and Bilbo held his breath.

"We've got a problem, Misty."

"A worse problem than our AI going sentient?" She ground out, still staring down at the papers in front of her. "I just don't understand where this code came from."

"Deal with it later!" The heavyset man slammed a fist down on the table to draw her attention. "Some nosy reporter kid is out in the lobby threatening to expose us. He's got pictures and everything."

"Shit! I thought all of the newspapers were paid off so this wouldn't happen... What do we do?"

"Steven wants us to keep the S.M.A.U.G. problem quiet, no matter what the cost."

Misty looked horrified. "Are you suggesting we kill the reporter? No! I'm not going to be a part of that!"

"Fine. But it this kid publishes something that comes back to bite us on the ass, I'm throwing you under the bus!"

Over his com Bilbo could hear Ori shouting insults as the security guards drug him out of the building. The door to the server room was ajar and Bilbo knew it was time to make his escape. He quickly scooped up the file on the desk, though it made him appear for a split second, and took off running. Behind him, he could hear the confused sounds of the programmers, followed by Barry's angry scream "Thief!"

Bilbo ran as fast as he could, dodging people, and rushing towards the door. He passed Ori, just as the reporter was being thrown out onto the sidewalk and paused for a moment. "Ori, run!"

Ori took off running with Bilbo invisible at his side. They darted through a crowded market and towards the back entrance to the building Blue Team was waiting in. "I don't think we're being followed." Bilbo huffed as they slowed down in an alleyway to catch their breaths. He reappeared and passed Ori the file to put in his satchel.

"We did it," Ori said, with a breathless laugh.

Bilbo grinned and nodded. "I think we did. Though, I rather doubt either of us will be able to go back to work after that stunt."

"It was worth it though. I guess you really don't have to be a Super to help save the world."

"You ain't gotta be a Super to die like one either," said a rough voice from the mouth of the alley. The speaker was a tall albino man with bright blue eyes, covered in scars.

"Rumor has it that you little nobodies just stole something fun from G-Tech." A second scarred man with gray skin stepped out of the shadows, blocking their escape.

"It's Azog and Bolg," Ori whimpered into his com unit. "Arkenstone! Arkenstone!"

"We're on our way, lads. Hang in there!" Dwalin's voice in their ears was labored, as if he were already running.

Azog grinned wickedly as he raised his hand and a club made of solid ice formed in his grasp. "I ain't sure what you stole, but if it's about S.M.A.U.G. then I want it."

Bilbo looked around frantically, trying to formulate a plan. "S.M.A.U.G. is trying to kill everyone with powers! It'll go after you too... Maybe we can work together...?"

Lightening flickered from Bolg's fingertips and charred the ground at Bilbo's feet. "We ain't working with no Supers. And we definitely ain't working with no powerless humans."

Ori tucked his satchel behind him and tugged nervously at his gloves. "Who said we were powerless?"

"What? Little nobodies like you with powers?" Azog cackled and lunged forward, swinging his ice club at Ori's head.

Ori threw up his arm to protect his face and the club connected soundly with it, throwing him back against the brick wall of the alleyway.

Bilbo panicked and disappeared, skirting behind Azog and tripping him before the villain could hit his friend again.

Bolg's hands crackled with electricity as he turned to where Ori was crumpled on the pavement. "Been awhile since I got to fry a human. I'm gonna enjoy this."

The lightning bolt he readied never made its intended target as Dwalin barreled down the alleyway and tackled Bolg to the ground. His skin sizzled as Bolg's electrically charged hands grappled against him, but the regeneration power kept him mobile and fighting. Dwalin's knuckle-dusters found their mark time and time again as he pummeled at Bolg's face.

Thorin rounded the corner not a second later, his arms shifting to solid oak as he ran. Azog climbed to his feet and met him head on, swinging his ice club and meeting Thorin blow for blow.

Bilbo struggled to his feet and became visible again as Dís quickly moved to Ori's side. The reporter pushed her away and cradled his left arm close, his teeth clenched against the pain.

Balin's voice sounded in their ears, "S.M.A.U.G. has been sighted! I'm getting the car an' heading your way!"

Thorin was caught off guard by the warning and Azog took that moment to strike, knocking him to the ground. The ice club melted and altered into a sharp-edged ice blade in Azog's hand. He raised the blade over Thorin's prone form, cackling wickedly as the other man tried to scramble away. "You ain't getting away this time, Oakenshield. This time you're mine!"

Bilbo watched the scene unfold with a growing panic. Thorin was going to be killed and no one was close enough to stop it. A strange sensation pickled at the back of his neck. As the blade came down at Thorin's neck, Bilbo somehow moved without realizing it. One second he was across the alley with Dís and Ori, the next he was in front of Azog, leaping at him and knocking the ice blade away.

A mint green van skidded to a stop at the mouth of the alley and Dís hurriedly helped Ori inside. Dwalin landed one last blow on Bolg, who crumpled motionless to the ground, then pulled Thorin to his feet. Bilbo moved with them, rushing to the vehicle where Balin was waiting to make their escape. It wasn't until they were safely in the lobby of Erebor Tower that anyone caught their breath enough to speak.

"What the hell was that?" Thorin snarled, glaring at Bilbo.

"What was what?" He frowned, rubbing a hand over a sore spot on his ribs.

"You never told us you have a secondary power, burglar. That might have be useful to know!"

"What secondary power? Are you certain you didn't hit your head? I'm not certain what you're talking about?"

Thorin growled again and it was Dís who answered. "You teleported. One second you were next to me, the next you were across the alley. Puff of smoke, slightly sulfuric smell. You teleported."

Bilbo blinked in utter confusion. "I'm sorry...?" He hedged, looking up at Thorin.

"I thought that you would be a burden. That you had no place among us," Thorin started and Bilbo's heart dropped. "I've never been so wrong in all my life. You've proved yourself both without powers and with them." He reached down and pulled Bilbo into a tight hug. "I'm sorry I doubted you."

"It's fine. I would have doubted me too." He stepped back when Thorin loosened his embrace. "I'm not a Super. I'm not even a burglar."

"Come on, lads," Balin urged from where he already waiting with Dís in the elevator. "As touching as this moment is, we need to get upstairs with the others. Ori needs a healer."

"No I don't," Ori managed through gritted teeth.

Dwalin slid an arm carefully around Ori's waist and helped him into the elevator. "Ya ain't fine. I shouldn't have let ya go alone."

"You couldn't have stopped me," he said with a pained smile. "It's all right. I'll be fine. Really."

The elevator chimed and they exited at floor 27 where the rest of the Company was waiting.

"Ori!" Dori was at his brother's side in a heartbeat, pulling him from Dwalin's arms and dragging him off to the side. "You're hurt?"

"My wrist," Ori said softly. "I don't think it's broken though, just bruised or sprained."

"Shit," Nori muttered. "Do you think it'll heal okay?"

Ori looked at his brothers and managed a brave smile. "I'll be fine. Now stop acting so bothersome."

"Is the boy hurt?" Oín looked to where Ori had his arm cradled against his chest. "Your wrist then? That's an easy one. Take your glove off and I'll have you fixed up in a jiffy."

"No!" Ori snapped, covering his wrist with his good hand. "It'll heal just fine on it's own!"

Oín's fingertips glowed with energy as he reached out towards Ori. "Don't worry, boy, this won't hurt a bit."

"Don't touch me!" Ori backed away. "I said I don't want you to heal me! Just leave me alone!" He rushed down the hallway towards the bedrooms and Dori followed after him.

Nori looked up at the rest of the Company and shrugged. "He's uncomfortable with people using powers on him."

"What? Why?" Dwalin looked perplexed.

"Jealousy mostly. He doesn't have any of his own and all..." The thief shrugged again, his eyes shifting towards the hallway. "So... did you get that code?"

"The upload was successful, though I haven't had a chance to see what was on the hard drive yet," Dís said, moving to one of the computers. "Damn. They've got locked partitions all over the place. This might take a few hours."

"Do what you need to do," Thorin said with a sigh. "Right now we don't have anything else to go on."

…

...

A/N: The plot thickens! There are a few things that happen in this chapter that are going to be important subplots to the rest of the story. Any ideas what they might be? And what did you think of Ori and Bilbo?