Origins: Kíli
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Smooth the fletching.
Kíli grew up on the romanticism of Robin Hood, the twang of a bow string, the thud of an arrow head embedding itself into a target. He watched and re-watched the old films until he knew every line and the tapes had been worn out. He begged for a bow and arrows each Christmas and birthday, until finally his Uncle Thorin broke down and presented him with a child's archery set.
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Nock the arrow.
When he was ten he started waiting for his powers. By the time he turns fifteen he's given up hope. He's grown up being surrounded by Supers, seeing powers being used day in and day out. But just because he doesn't have powers doesn't mean he can't be a hero. It just means he has to focus more. Train harder. He can't be the weak link.
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Draw back the string.
It's pointless to try and be the best fighter, because anything he does Fíli can do do better without even trying. But he needs to be able to fight, to protect his family. His childhood bow is too small in his hands and he saves up for months before he is able to replace it with a beautiful recurve. It suits him well, bends with his body, and he loves the way it seems to have been carved just for him.
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Line up the shot.
Kíli practices. He spends his free time with music blaring in his headphones and his recurve in his hand. He learns to make shots from his feet and knees, and prone, and on the move. He teaches himself to use all the trick arrows his mother designs for him. Bolas traps, electrical current arrowheads, darkness powder capsules... he learns to shoot them all, learns to adjust his shots for their added weight, their particular affliction.
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Kiss the arrow.
He knows his shots will strike true. Once the fletching is clear from the string he doesn't need to look to know his shot will land. He breathes, steadying himself in the heat of battle. The smooth wood of his bow is a comfort and he focuses on it's weight, drowns out everything else. He fires one shot, then another, and another until his quiver is empty or the enemies defeated. He fights until they have won.
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Release.
Kíli may not have powers, but he refuses to be powerless.
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A/N: See you guys back here Friday for a huge, exciting, action-packed chapter! Same bat-time, same bat-channel!