I'm like if a teenage girl was twilight-levels obsessed with tolkien...
a little bit about me: my name is mika, i'm 23 years old, and when I'm not antiquing or writing music or working, you can probably find me obsessing and writing fanfic about dwarves that died forever ago!
If you're new here, then welcome! I write for The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, so if you ever want to obsess with me, my messages are always open <3
For the sake of safety and comfort, I humbly ask ageless blogs and minors to avoid interacting with my page.
Also! Please note that I write Y/N as an AFAB, gender-neutral person, using they/them pronouns. If you’d like to see a different version of Y/N, be sure to include it in your request.
Feel free to request anything if you'd like to see anything in particular from me (I currently accept any requests), and I hope you enjoy wandering through my blog! Also, be sure to check out my masterlist for any fics that may be hidden from view <3
I know I keep saying this, but I'm not big on modern AUs. That being said I just couldn't shake this. Hope y'all enjoy!
Thorin
Was relatively unknown (at least compared to his nephews) until the booktok girlies found him. Then he shot up to the top 1% of creators practically over night
Most of his stuff is solo and you almost never see his face. Which is an utter shame because the handful of videos where you can see his face are some of his best performing videos
The biggest draw though? His voice. It's why he gained the popularity he did. Everyone loves hearing that deep drawl tell them how to make themselves cum
Which means he's big in the guided masturbation genre because, again, that voice can make anyone do anything
He especially likes talking you through it
"That's it, darling, look at you, so good for me."
"You look so lovely when you cum."
"Take it so well, don't you, darling?"
In the few videos where he has a scene partner he'll spend what feels like hours eating her out for no other reason than he simply wants it. He loves having a woman sit on his face. He loves feeling her grind on him, the roll of her hips making his nose bump against her clit. He loves the taste, the feel, the sounds she makes when she cums in his mouth
And he fucks the same way he eats pussy. Like it's his favorite thing in the world. His thrusts are deep, controlled, and perfectly timed to bring nothing but pleasure for both of them. His positions might be basic, but no one is complaining
Fili
Was extremely hesitant to actually follow through on creating his account after losing a bet to Kili, but did it anyway. And thank the gods he did because this man is a natural born people pleaser
He's very good at taking direction, both from his online followers and his onscreen partners. If something is suggested or requested, he doesn't hesitate to give them what they want
Much like Thorin, Fili is a talker. He knows his voice may not be as deep or entrancing as his uncle's, but he also knows exactly what to say to make someone cum
Wants feedback and will use that dirty mouth of his to get it
"Tell me how bad you need it, how good it feels."
"Ah, fuck, you were made for me, weren't you?"
"Could anyone else fuck you this good, love?"
Very intense in a romantic sort of way. It's almost like he's incapable of separating love and sex. Because of this he only works with a small handful of people and when one of them is unavailable he just goes solo or waits
Kili
Very, very playful. He doesn't take the content he makes seriously and it's obvious in each video
Doesn't speak much until he's close to cumming and then the begging starts. It doesn't matter if he's jerking off or fucking someone hard and deep, he'll beg to cum inside
"Please... I'll be so good for you..."
Known mostly for the crazy intense eye contact in all his videos. And I do mean all
Kili is either going to make eye contact with the camera or with the person he's fucking senseless. He knows just how to blink and flutter his lashes to make your stomach go crazy with butterflies. He also knows which camera angles work best and utilizes them fully
Where Thorin is authoritative and Fili is intense, Kili is a manipulative little shit. He knows he's attractive and uses it as a weapon in his videos
Which is fine because everyone eats that shit up
Definitely plays up the himbo angle
He won't fully admit it, but he does get off a bit on the idea of being used. Sometimes it'll leak into his videos, but for the most part he tries to keep that one kink under wraps
Do you think you’ll ever continue your Fili x Reader band AU fic? It was such a fun read and I would love more you left on a good cliffhanger as well. No pressure tho!
just released the newest chapter! enjoy with a treat <3
but also in reality I just don't write as often as I used to; I def plan to continue this fit until it's over, it unfortunately just takes longer between my busy life and two jobs
thank you divas for all the love, I love and appreciate y'all so much <3
part one. part two. part three. part four. part five. part six (you are here).
synopsis. when tasked as the newest social media manager for Middle Earth's biggest metal band, the bassist makes it his mission to personally piss you off <3
pairing. Fíli / Gender-Neutral Reader
content. enemies to lovers, metal band! AU, modern tolkien! AU, slightly fem-aligned reader, suggestive scenes
song inspiration. "Infinite Baths" by Sleep Token, "No Mercy" by PVRIS, "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails
(I made an official playlist for the fic here if you want to check it out!)
wc. 6571
MINORS DO NOT INTERACT.
You let out an anxious laugh, your grip slightly tightening on the menu in your hand. “Come on now, is this another joke of yours?”
You knew you shouldn’t have said it, but you didn’t know what to say to the dwarf in front of you. Threl’s eyes were earnest, with a softness within them that made you wonder how your rejection would affect them.
He chuckled, wiping some more sweat from his brow. “Nah, not this time. I’ve been thinking about asking you for a little while now. Figured now was as good a time as any. No time like the present, right?”
And oh, what poor timing it was! Every steamy thought of Fíli ran through your mind like a recap of your own guilt, and you wondered how or even when you’d have to break the news to your friend. It certainly couldn’t be now!
Sorry Threl, I can’t go on a date with you because I was just three minutes away from having sex with one of your closest friends in the penthouse suite of his family friend’s hotel! Whoops!
You tried to keep your composure, but surely he must have noticed your widened eyes and your awkward half-smile.
“Threl, I really had no idea,” you admitted, trying to find a way out of this situation. “Honestly, I didn’t even think you… swung that way.”
This time he looked surprised, but his reaction held more mirth compared to your anxious expression. “Y/N, I swing every way, as long as they’re down to party.”
In any other situation, you definitely would have laughed at this. But all you could think about was the idea of Fíli possibly coming down to check on you. Surely he had noticed it was taking a bit long? Or perhaps he was more patient than you gave the bassist credit for.
“Well, I certainly know that now,” you tried to joke, still searching for the right thing to say. The right way to turn him down.
“Would you be interested, then?” His eyes held hope with a touch of nervousness.
You really didn’t want to do this.
“I’m really sorry, Threl,” you started, trying to be polite by easing into it. There was no right way to rip this bandaid and possibly jeopardize your friendship with him forever. “I don’t feel that way towards you.”
He nodded, taking the information in as his gaze shifted to the floor for a moment. He was smart; he had realized what you were saying before you were even done speaking. Your stomach felt like it was going to cave in on itself from nerves. You felt awful as you watched the disappointment etch itself into his brows and his lips.
“Damn,” he chuckled, clearly trying to hide his true disappointment from you. He gave you his signature grin, but it wasn’t the same this time. “Well, can’t blame a dwarf for trying.”
“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, boss.” He walked past you, his hand tapping your shoulder twice – an act of camaraderie, you assumed. “Have fun with blondie for me and get some rest, hm?”
He walked away, rather swiftly, to the elevators to retire back to his room, leaving you alone in the cold lobby.
“You too!” You called back to him. “Sleep well!”
And despite the awkwardness of what had just happened, you meant it.
Now on the home stretch of the tour, with a handful of shows left, work was busier than ever. Every single concert had been sold out in Moria, prompting the band to up the intensity in both their rehearsals and performances. Truthfully, you hadn’t had much alone time with Fíli since the day you both had been free. Free to swim in the warm steamy waters. Free to touch each other…
But this wasn’t the time to fantasize. You were knee deep in organizing final interviews, delegating what final Moria shots of b-roll you wanted Threl to capture, as well as sending some last minute emails in the green room of their final Moria show before Thorin came in, rummaging in some corner while you edited.
Your eyes finally looked up from your screen to look over at your boss, and suddenly you realized that you were starting to develop a headache from the sheer amount of screentime.
“Everything alright, Thorin?” You asked with a raised brow.
“Yes, thank you,” he nodded, finally finding whatever it was he was looking for. “Balin needed his notes for the party tonight.”
“Ah, right,” you nodded back. You had completely forgotten about the send-off party Balin was hosting. Ori and Kíli especially had been excited for one last time to let loose before focusing on their last few shows in the Shire.
“Is that immediately after, or do we have some leeway beforehand?” You asked, opening your schedule to see how much was left on your to-do list.
“Immediate, I believe.” He walked closer to the door now, stopping by the snacks table to grab himself a water. “Will you be there?”
Seeing the list in front of you, that certainly felt like a loaded question. “I can be, if you need me to.”
Truthfully, you’d love to cut loose with the band, especially with Fíli. But you weren’t exactly keen after the last paparazzi fiasco, nor with the sheer amount of work you still had to get done.
A frown lightly tugged at his lips; he came over and brought you your own water, as well as a bag of chips from the table. “I won’t blame you if you decide to take a break. We’ll be leaving early tomorrow.”
“I know,” you reassured, a small smile on your face. Though he wasn’t as boisterous with you as he was with his family and friends, you really did appreciate the care Thorin showed you.
“Either way, you are more than welcome,” he spoke softly. “We would love to have you there.”
“We?” You raised a brow.
“Balin and myself, of course,” he clarified. “The boys too, I’m sure.”
“Is there a dress code this time?”
“No, there isn’t. It’s a private event, only friends and family are invited this time.”
You couldn’t help the scoff that left your lips. Even with just friends and family, you were sure it would still be well over two hundred people. Thorin seemed amused at your reaction.
“At the very least, we’ll all be able to recognize each other this time.” He rested his hand on your shoulder, giving a squeeze before leaving. “Give it some thought, alright?”
A sigh escaped you as you sunk deeper into your chair, eyes reluctantly turning back to your laptop as you turned the brightness lower. Not that it did much good for your headache.
Threl came in shortly after, taking his SD card out and switching it for a new one as he handed you the now full one. “Everything okay in here?”
You groaned, another sigh drawn out of you as you hunched back over your laptop, taking the SD card and beginning to plug it into your computer.
“These emails never stop,” you complained.
Threl laughed, sitting down on the couch nearby to catch his breath. “Yeah, I certainly don’t envy you. But we’ll be done in two weeks now, at least it’ll be over soon.”
“You’ll be done in two weeks,” you emphasised. “I’ll still be working until we’re back in Erebor.”
And hopefully after that, you thought to yourself. If Thorin was still willing to have that discussion with you. Though from his earlier tenderness, you were sure there wasn’t any doubt about it.
“Yikes,” he winced. “I did forget about that…”
Silence quickly fell between you, muffled of course by the screaming of thousands of fans, blaring music and raspy vocals of Fíli and Ori flooding the stage.
Truly, it was astounding how almost-soundproof Moria’s concert greenroom was.
Guilt seeped into the throbbing behind your eyelids, contributing to your headache even more. You still hadn’t told Threl about your feelings for Fíli, though truthfully, there hadn’t been any time for it to even come up. As it was, you barely had time to see Fíli outside of passing him to interviewers.
Thankfully, in turn, Threl hadn’t used your rejection as an excuse to make things awkward. You had a feeling he suspected your reasonings, though. After all, you had been rather dodgy whenever he curiously asked how your “date” went with the band’s bassist. And you knew better than to assume he was too naïve to come to the conclusion that you and Fíli were… something other than friends.
Hell, you didn’t even know what you were anymore. More than friends, but less than lovers? It seemed an apt description, given that nothing between you had been clearly labeled. Everything was grey and blurry, but it still felt right somehow. It had to, at least, otherwise you wouldn’t find yourself texting him so late at night now.
Texting was all you two could manage right now, with the last leg of the tour keeping you both so separately busy. From quick-witted thoughts Fíli would sneak in between band practice to deeper conversations exchanged at night, when both of you were cozy in your separate hotel rooms, it helped keep you two connected despite the hustle and bustle of the day. But it didn’t feel as good as the real thing. Time was an expert at escaping you both when it came to anything non-work related.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with you, you know,” Threl spoke up, ripping you from your migraine-induced reverie. “I couldn’t have been stuck with a better boss.”
You couldn’t help the soft smile that tugged at your lips. “I feel the same way, Threl.”
And despite the awkward knowledge that he may have feelings for you, you meant every word. Truly, he was an honorable colleague and a much appreciated friend.
“I just don’t want us to lose touch,” he sighed, his eyes earnest. “I’m a little worried I messed things up between us the other day.”
You sat up straighter, shutting your laptop slightly to give him more of your focus. “As in…”
“When I asked you out.” He shifted slightly, clearly a little uncomfortable. It seemed even he wasn’t confident in confrontation. “I feel like I misread what we have, and I apologize for that. Truth is, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you in this short time.”
“I’ve enjoyed our time together, too. It definitely caught me off guard, but there’s nothing to forgive. Really, you’re all good. I’m sorry if I ever did anything to lead you on–”
“Not at all!” He laughed, waving his hands in front of him for emphasis. The tension between you two was certainly lifting, little by little.
And of course it was. Even if it had only been a mere handful of days, you two had always had this easygoing connection. This instant feeling of relief and relaxation around one another. Like you could tell him anything and it wouldn’t matter.
But could you, really?
“If anything, I was just getting full of myself,” he rolled his eyes. “I’m quick to assume when people are into me. A character flaw, I suppose.”
You chuckled, shaking your head. “Glad I could throw you for a loop, then.”
“For sure,” he grinned. “But the boss/employee thing would’ve been a little sexy.”
You scoffed, rolling your eyes and opening your laptop again. “Alright, that’s enough now. You’re not even my type.”
“I forgot, you’ve got a thing for blondes.”
He stood up, proud of his cheeky comment that left you at a loss for words. Maybe if your head wasn’t killing you, you would’ve already prepared a witty retort. But for now, all he earned was a half chuckle and long groan from you.
“Sure, whatever. Don’t you have a job to do?”
“I push buttons all the time at my job; it’s what makes it fun,” he winked at you, before disappearing again into the throng of the band’s final Moria show.
As the door opened, the sound of heavy drums and Kíli’s newest guitar solo flooded the room before the door shut again. Even now muffled by the door, the screams of thousands of adoring fans filled your eardrums.
Your headache wasn’t getting any better, even if you loved the sound.
Two hours later, and you still hadn’t left your hotel room for the party. By now, Threl had already texted you three times asking when you were coming down; the first was his question, and the other two texts were photos of Gimli attempting and succeeding to do a keg stand. You hadn’t responded to his texts, too exhausted from work to even think about socializing any more.
But Threl wasn’t the only one missing your presence. You stared at your phone screen, seeing the few texts you and Fíli had shared tonight. He knew you weren’t keen on attending the party, mentioning that he’d try and find time to come over to your hotel room while it was going on. At least with everyone preoccupied, you two had a perfect chance to see each other outside of an interview.
You set your phone down on the bathroom counter, staring at yourself in the mirror and questioning just how long you’d gone without noticing the deeper-than-normal eyebags you were sporting. It was odd, considering you thought you were sleeping enough, but the tiredness and the foggy thoughts made it clear that you weren’t. The longer you looked, the closer that everything about you appeared mismanaged and disheveled.
How was it that you could take care of an entire band’s social media presence and it looked like you were barely taking care of yourself?
A shower was in order, you thought immediately. You even nodded to yourself, as if you needed any reassurance while you fetched your pajamas and brought them into the bathroom so you could change later. To anyone else, you might’ve looked crazy as you muttered your to-do list out loud.
The warm water hit your skin and you instantly felt like melting and taking a nap; this was hitting the spot perfectly right now. This was already a million times better than partying the night away, and the easing of your headache proved you were right.
Now in clean clothes, you worked on your hair routine while donning a face mask, attempting to maximize your self care for the night. Was it because you needed it? Of course! Was it also perhaps that you wanted to look your best before a specific someone showed up at your door?
You’d never admit to that… not out loud, at least.
To avoid waiting for a dwarf whose arrival you weren’t even certain of, you found yourself tidying and repacking your things as much as possible. After tonight, it would be back on the tour bus for you. You would certainly miss your king size bed. And your own private bathroom. But soon all of this would be over, and you were grateful that you’d be rejoining the boys on the bus again, even if it meant sacrificing some of life’s riches.
Two weeks remained of the tour. One to get to the Shire and rehearse their unreleased set list, and another week stacked with four shows, all of which would get to hear an extra special new song. Your mind wandered to that night on the tour bus with Fíli; how he had shielded his phone away, claiming the song ‘wasn’t ready yet’. Would it be the one they revealed?
If only you hadn’t been so busy. Maybe then you’d know by now. Fíli hadn’t mentioned it yet, though he seemed much more private about his music than you’d expect from a rockstar. It was even more surprising that Kíli or Gimli hadn’t spilled the beans yet.
Lost in your thoughts, you didn’t realize how much you had gotten done until you heard three knocks at your door. Your head whipped around and your heart leaped into your throat, despite how much you tried to shove it back down and ignore it. But no amount of stress and wandering thoughts could hide the grin on your face as your hand touched the handle to open the door.
His hair was freshly washed and unbraided, though his mustache braids were freshly redone. His face was clean, save for the trace amount of black eyeliner that hadn’t fully washed from his waterline. He donned a white tank top and flannel pants that hung loosely from his waist. He smelled like sandalwood and oak, and you wondered if it was his body wash or some sort of cologne.
Even in pajamas, Fíli was beautiful.
“Well don’t get dressed up on my account,” you joked, and immediately realized you still had a now-dry face mask on your face. It pulled around your mouth, beginning to pry itself off your moving face.
He gave you an amused raise of his brow. "You're one to talk, love.”
You abandoned the open door to retreat to the bathroom, taking the mask off delicately and inspecting your skin afterwards. He followed you in wordlessly, just watching at first before his soft velvet voice broke the silence.
“I didn’t end up going,” he said. “To the party, I mean.”
“At all?” You questioned. “Won’t people notice?”
“Surely, but we also need to leave by seven in the morning. I’m sure it wouldn’t sound unusual for me to call it an early night.”
Given his previous reputation, it certainly would. Fíli never missed a party.
You couldn’t hide your frown, though you were happy to have his time now. “Right…”
“I’ll be fine, love,” he reassured, coming behind you to wrap his arms around your waist. You felt yourself flush from the contact, the night of the hot springs replaying itself in your mind. You supposed this intimacy made sense given your history, no matter how domestic it seemed.
“Besides, Kíli’s covering for me.”
“Oh? What’s the story this time?”
“I’ve become deathly ill,” he mused with a smirk.
When he saw you weren’t having it, he elaborated. “I told him to say I’ve got a headache from a hangover. Usually doesn’t earn any questions.”
You sighed, still feeling unsure. He rested his head against your back, breathing you in with a soft hum.
“This is nice,” he spoke softly. “We should have done this before.”
“There was no time,” you sighed again. “There’s barely time now, as it is.”
You separated from him, now done with looking at yourself in the mirror. You couldn’t take the sight of you together for much longer; you were too worried. You walked to your bed, sitting down and checking the time. It would be midnight soon.
He followed you out, a concerned look in his brow. “We’re here now, Y/N. Is that okay?”
“Hm?” You looked up from your phone, frowning. “No, of course it’s okay. I’m sorry; I’m not purposefully trying to bring the mood down. I’m glad you’re here.”
He took his place by your side and you felt the mattress dip under his weight. “It’s alright. Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?”
“I just don’t like hiding things,” you admitted, setting your phone down. “It feels weird, especially with how close everyone here is.”
“Do you want me to tell them–”
“What? No, I just,” you said quickly. In truth, you didn’t even know what to say. Or what you were. Or if you were even ready for that conversation. It was becoming very clear that you were catching feelings for this hotshot rockstar in your hotel room, and the thought scared you a little.
“If this keeps going on like it has, I feel like it would be unfair to both of us to keep it a secret.” You tried to keep your voice steady and even as you spoke, lest you give away your nerves.
He ingested your words with a nod, quiet at first.
“Unless that’s not what this is,” you tried to fall back, but he cut you off.
“No, I agree,” he assured. “I like you a lot, Y/N. I hope that’s clear. I just…”
“Yes?”
“This may be selfish of me to say,” he said. “But at least until the tour’s over, and we both actually have time to indulge in whatever this is, I think keeping it a secret for now will be easiest for both of us.”
Now it was your turn to ingest his words. And you did, even with a nod. After all, he wasn’t wrong. And most of your worrying was focused on the tour, anyways. You’d have much less stress after the tour was done. And hopefully more time than before to explore this with Fíli. Besides, the chances of paparazzi becoming involved would significantly decrease once you weren’t touring around Middle Earth. Hopefully.
“Okay,” you nodded. “Understood. I’m glad we talked about it.”
“Me too,” he gave a soft smile. “Because now I’d like to focus a little more on these pajamas of yours.”
You looked at your big sleep shirt and boxers, amused at his callout. You managed to push aside your worries for now, wanting to enjoy the moment while you still had it. “And what’s wrong with my pajamas? That they’re still on me?”
The look on his face was priceless; your words had caught him so off guard, he was blushing. But he quickly tried to regain control. “I mean, we can certainly fix that if you’d like.”
“Well, now I don’t want to,” you teased. “I want to know what’s wrong with them, coming from a guy wearing a wife beater.”
He scoffed, bemused at your words. “I didn’t name them that, I hope you know.”
“Mm, it still doesn’t help your case. Try again.”
“Your shirt’s inside out, love.”
Immediately, you pulled at your shirt to notice the seams were showing. He was right.
“Alright, I’ll give you that one.” You rolled your eyes, playfully shoving him away.
For the next hour, you two enjoyed the quiet peace while hanging out with each other. Once you calmed down enough, you even made some tea for the two of you. The party was still raging on; you both knew from the amount of photos and videos Kíli was sending Fíli as minutes turned to hours.
“It’s really late,” you mentioned. “You should probably get back to your room if you don’t want anyone to catch us.”
“You want me to go?” He raised a brow. Not insinuating, just clarifying.
You leaned into him more, swiping some hair from your face. “No, I don’t.”
Silence fell for a moment or two. Eventually you had the courage to softly whisper aloud.
“If we could, I’d invite you to stay the night. But we shouldn’t.”
You felt his grin before you saw it.
“My, my, you’re so forward now, Y/N,” he smiled with a slight teasing tone. “But as much as I’d love to stay, I agree that we shouldn’t risk it.”
You let out a disappointed sigh, even though you already knew his answer. He’d be risking too much if he stayed.
“Besides,” his voice was softer now, mildly husky. “I’d be too tempted by so much alone time with you.”
You couldn’t help the flush in your cheeks, but you refused to appear bashful. You looked into his eyes, taking in the dark ocean blue that looked back at you. Your hand traced his jawline, then took his chin lightly, making him face you more directly. Your eyes flitted down to his lips briefly, but it was enough for him to notice. He shifted in his seated position against your headboard, sitting up straighter as your hand left his chin to tuck some hair behind his ear.
“Then it’s truly a shame you can’t spend the night.” Your voice was soft; despite your best efforts to remain sultry and confident, your nerves still found their way through.
But it mattered little to the bassist in your bed.
His grin was smug as he leaned closer now, his lips a breath away from yours. Teasing. Taunting.
“Is this your strategy? Trying to tempt me into breaking my own boundaries?”
“Is it working?” A cheeky grin spread across your face, anxiety turning into excitement.
He broke the space between you, meeting your lips for a soft kiss. Much different than the time before. This was much more tender, more delicate.
“Only a little,” he grinned back.
You giggled, feeling that same drunken feeling from the last time you were this close to him. “Perhaps I should try harder.”
“A more aggressive approach would certainly be interesting to see from you. It sounds exciting.”
Your body felt warm and as a pulse of heat ran through your veins. You wanted to see where this led. You wanted more than last time.
You wanted him. Badly.
“Is that so?” You mused, summoning the courage to move your body until you were seated upon his lap, straddling him.
His hands naturally came to your hips, his touch electric on your body, even through your clothing. And yet, it still remained tender. True, the fire from the last time hung in the air and both of your minds, but the actions were less like animals in heat and much more sentimental. Like somehow, this meant more.
You placed a soft kiss to his forehead, then to his nose. “And what if I don’t want to be aggressive? Perhaps I’m too tired. It’s late, after all.”
“Mm, a valid point.” He chuckled before kissing you again. You wrapped your arms around his neck. “In that case, we can try that later. You’ve already piqued my interest.”
You smiled, beaming as he kissed your jaw, and then your neck, and then your collarbone, handling you with the same care as if you were delicate enough to bruise with just his breath.
This was right where you needed and wanted to be. All you could feel, could breathe, could touch, was him.
His kisses trailed back up, and you caught his lips with your own, sinking into him as if you both could melt together.
“Surely it wouldn’t hurt if I stayed a little longer?” His voice was soft and laced with want. You desperately wanted him to stay.
Your eyes felt hazy, both from exhaustion and slight arousal. “How can I say no to that?”
And against any better judgement, you never wanted him to leave. Here in this moment, you could care less if anyone saw or heard or gossiped about whatever this was. Right now, it was just you and him.
Fíli kissed you again, his hands on your hips pulling you closer and down onto him, lazily craving friction as your hands tangled themselves into his hair.
A small moan left your lips as you deepened the kiss, craving more of him in the quiet hours of the night.
His mouth traced your jawline, peppering it with kisses and small bites that traveled down your neck until they landed in a delicious tender spot. He bit down just a little harder, a smile on his face when he saw the color bloom on your skin.
You’d definitely be upset about that later, but you were too lost in the moment to care right now. All you craved was him. But this wasn’t feral like before. This wasn’t a carnal desire overtaking you. You felt fully in control, even as you lost yourself to his hypnotic lips.
This was something much more meaningful, and much more passionate.
There weren’t any tangible words to describe it; you could hardly speak right now as he traveled lower on your body, strategically slouching his body lower on your bed so he was now eye level with your chest. His fingers left your hips, carefully lifting your shirt up by the hem. You moved your hands to follow, thinking he wanted the garment off, but he forced your hands away and dipped his head into your shirt, disappearing from you.
You couldn’t see his face, but you could certainly feel his smile as he kissed between your breasts, the coarser hairs of his beard and moustache scratching you slightly.
Bracing yourself against the headboard for stability, you pressed into him further with a gentle rock of your hips, eliciting a hummed groan from the dwarf beneath you. His hands roamed under your shirt until they both palmed your breasts, giving them a light squeeze before he emerged from your shirt again.
His eyes felt darker than before as he came back up to kiss you, your hands finding purchase in his hair again as you grinded yourself onto him. It was a slow, sensual pace between you.
“Please,” he whispered, a begging tone to his words. “Let me taste you—“
Suddenly, both of your ringtones filled the air, causing both of you to jump from the sudden sound. Catching your breath and trying to regain any composure you might have previously had, you reached for your phone to see Kíli had started a joint FaceTime call with the both of you.
You rolled your eyes, immediately declining it while Fíli groaned, then declined the call before sending a quick text to his brother. You imagined it was something to do with the fact that he had certainly interrupted something.
Now with your phone in hand, you saw it was now well past midnight. You’d have to be up and at it in mere hours, and the thought alone seemed to be bringing your headache back.
All the previous heat was leaving your body as your anxiety slowly crept back in.
“It’s so late,” you frowned. “We should go to bed.”
“Together?” He tried to joke, but you shook your head in response.
“As much as I want to, we shouldn’t,” you explained. “I can’t risk it. We can’t risk it.”
He sighed, now frowning himself. “Perhaps another time, then.”
Just as you were about to respond, rapid knocks and the sound of two drunk voices came from your door. You quickly removed yourself from Fíli, not trying to look conspicuous at all. But your disheveled pajamas already felt too revealing.
Fíli looked more guilty than you as he sat up, his hair a mess from your earlier ministrations and his shirt riding higher on his stomach from your earlier seat. Even his pants seemed to hang lower, now showing a peek at his boxers underneath.
“Is it Kíli?” You whispered, wondering why on earth he’d appear when he knew exactly what might have been going on.
“It sounds like him,” Fíli nodded, a deep set frown now on his face. He certainly wasn’t ecstatic to be cockblocked by his brother.
You couldn’t tell what the voices were saying, but they seemed to be very drunk and mildly annoyed at each other. Kíli’s was easy to pick out by now, but you weren’t entirely sure who else was out there. Was it Gimli? Or perhaps Bofur, from the last party?
“I’ll take care of it.” Fíli stood up, too focused on his souring mood to fix his appearance.
Before you could object, the knocking stopped, followed by a short yell and a loud thump! against the door.
“Oh my god,” you whisper-yelled. “Are they okay?”
Despite your concern, Fíli wasn’t having it. He quickly swung the door open, and none other than a very drunk Threl slumped to the ground at his feet in doing so. Kíli seemed to have been in the process of trying to pick him up, but was clearly failing miserably.
Your heart dropped into your stomach. The last thing you needed was for these two to meet each other at your hotel room. And you certainly hadn’t wanted Threl to know how intimate you and Fíli were.
But it was too late. The cat was certainly out of the bag.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Threl slurred, pitifully picking himself up from the carpeted floor.
You couldn’t see Fíli’s face, but you weren’t naïve enough to imagine he was pleased.
“I could ask you the same thing, Threl,” he replied.
“I’m sorry, Fí,” Kíli tried to intervene. “We were going to my room, and he insisted on saying hi to Y/N—“
“I thought you said you had a headache,” Threl grunted, now sitting up and looking up scornfully at Fíli.
“I tried to call you both to warn you—“ Kíli continued, his voice clearly anxious.
“Warn me about what? That you two are sleeping together now?” Threl frowned. “As if nobody knows. We’re not that stupid, you know.”
You weren’t used to this harsh tone from your friend. It immediately awakened your defensive side as you came to the door, now in an attempt to put some space between Fíli and Threl.
“Excuse me? Can we act like adults for five seconds?” You pulled Fíli away from the doorway, now stepping in front of him as you attempted to help Threl up.
You could tell Fíli seemed hurt by this, but now wasn’t the time. You weren’t picking sides; you just wanted normalcy. And this was not going to plan at all. Not when your friend was speaking incredibly out of turn and with such bitterness you had never seen before.
Kíli, despite his own drunkenness, helped you lift Threl up, taking most of his weight for you.
“Just get him to his room,” you ordered, a scowl settling on your face as you handed Threl off to Kíli. “I don’t have time for this. None of us do when we have to be up in six hours.”
“They’re right,” Fíli agreed. “You need to sober up.”
“I don’t care if this is what you’re doing,” Threl frowned, now trying to appease you after realizing your anger. “I just don’t like it when my friends are lying to me.”
“And that’s why your first words were ‘what the fuck are you doing here’?” Fíli scoffed.
“I didn’t think you guys were that close!” Threl whipped back. “Otherwise I wouldn’t have even asked them out–”
“He asked you out?” Fíli now turned to you, eyes fiery with anger and newfound hurt. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Guys, come on–” Kíli pleaded.
“Everyone, just shut up for five minutes!” You threw your hands out for emphasis, feeling angry and anxious and confused all at once as you tried to just make sense of things.
The three men thankfully obeyed, their eyes fixated on you as you closed your own and tried to take a deep breath. This wasn’t how you wanted to break the news, but this also wasn’t going anywhere.
You opened your eyes to see Fíli fully focused on you with a hint of worry in his eyes. Threl looked positively guilty. Kíli just looked nervous. None of them had seen you this worked up before.
You took another breath, trying to clear your mind so you could think clearly, without judgment.
“Threl,” you started. “I’m really sorry this is how things were confirmed for you. I wanted to tell you, I really did. But you had to have known already, come on. I mean, you kept making all those jokes–”
“Which you always brushed off,” he muttered in reply.
“Even still,” you gave him a stern look. “You said it yourself, you’re not stupid.”
Silence fell for a moment as you tried to be kind yet forward. From now on, you didn’t want there to be any room for misinterpretation. Not when all it seemed to cause was a drunk fight at your doorstep.
You turned to Fíli, whose gaze now felt distant, despite his open body language towards you. You frowned, reaching out for his hands. Despite his hurt, he let you take them.
“I should’ve told you, you’re right,” you nodded. “But I think you’re forgetting that we’ve barely seen each other since it’s happened, and your reactions haven’t always been the most reassuring. I didn’t know how to tell you because I can see that I’ve already driven some weird wedge into your friendship.”
Fíli said nothing, but you could tell in his eyes that he was at least listening, despite his personal feelings.
You looked at both of them, sighing with disappointment.
“I don’t know what’s going on between you two, I really don’t. But I very much enjoy the relationships I have with both of you, and if either of you care about me, you need to respect that.”
You turned back to Threl now, who was finding it easier to stand up without Kíli’s help.
“Fíli and I are seeing each other. You need to be fine with that if we’re going to work together. Or if there’s any chance at us being friends, Threl.” Your mouth fell into a hard line, clearly frustrated. “But you also need to keep your mouth shut about it for now, because we don’t want anyone else knowing until after the tour.”
“I’m sorry if what I’m asking is selfish,” you said. “But I’m tired of feeling caught in the middle of this feud between you two. It’s exhausting. I can’t do it anymore.”
Fíli still said nothing, but now you felt his thumb draw slow circles into the back of your hand. You took it reassuringly as you looked at a very drunk, very guilty-looking Threl.
“You’re right,” he muttered. “I’m being an ass right now. I’m sorry.”
“Your apology can wait until you're sober.” You sighed. “But thank you.”
“Your secret’s safe with me,” he nodded. “My lips are sealed.”
“Good. Now please get to bed, all of you. We have to be up soon, and I already don’t need to be dealing with your hangovers.”
“Don’t worry Y/N,” Kíli grinned, though he was still visibly nervous. “I’ll chug a bunch of water before I go to bed. I’ll be right as rain tomorrow!”
He then left, leading Threl with him as they traveled further down the hall to their respective rooms. You felt Fíli’s hand pull away as he started following after them, but you pulled him back.
“Wait,” you frowned. “Fíli, I’m really sorry.”
“For what?” He turned to face you, his eyes still brewing some foreign feeling you couldn’t quite identify. “There’s nothing for you to be sorry about.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive, love.” He tucked some of your hair behind your ear, placing a kiss on your cheek. “I just need to sleep on my feelings, is all. I’ll be back to normal in the morning.”
You closed your eyes and sighed, knowing that you would miss how close you were right now once you were back on the road. When you opened them again, you were looking right into Fíli’s.
You wanted to tell him something. Something vulnerable, something meaningful. But it felt quite too early on to be thinking any of that. And so you didn’t. And instead, you said:
“I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Bright and early,” he gave a soft smile, squeezing your hand before letting go and walking away to his room.
Leaving you to stand in your doorway alone, as you wondered if you did the right thing. And if everything would work out.
Do you ever just think about how awful Bella’s engagement ring looked in the movies? Well I looked into the description of the ring in the book, and looked photos of antique diamond cluster rings. Here is what I think her ring could have looked like:
part one. part two. part three. part four. part five (you are here).
synopsis. when tasked as the newest social media manager for Middle Earth's biggest metal band, the bassist makes it his mission to personally piss you off <3
pairing. Fíli / Gender-Neutral Reader
content. enemies to lovers, metal band! AU, modern tolkien! AU, slightly fem-aligned reader, possible ooc Thorin
song inspiration. "Granite" by Sleep Token, "Be My Druidess" by Type O Negative, "Made of Stone" by Evanescence
(I made an official playlist for the fic here if you want to check it out!)
wc. 11508
MINORS DO NOT INTERACT.
Your alarm was ringing, loudly filling the room as you struggled to keep your eyes open long enough to locate your phone and turn it off. No matter how much you loved the song playing, the alarm had been a very rude awakening, jolting you awake and making you groan when you saw what time it was.
7 AM sharp. Only three hours until your call time for work. You don’t even know why you had it set this early, especially after last night.
You sat up in bed, forcing yourself to wake up rather than fall back asleep. Groggier than usual, a side effect from your swimming thoughts and late curfew last night, you reluctantly pulled the covers away from your body. Subjecting yourself to the cold air of your hotel room was the only thing that would keep you awake this early.
You wondered how long you had until Thorin would confront you, like Kíli and Fíli said. Surely sooner rather than later; you knew he was an early riser when you had shared a tour bus with him. But for now, as you sat up with puffy eyes and a dreadful reminder that you hadn’t gotten enough sleep, you were alone with your thoughts.
You shifted in bed, letting your legs dangle off of the side as you let yourself lay back down in that position, staring up at the popcorn ceiling of your hotel room. Your head didn’t feel as overwhelmed as it had last night; its quietness was a lovely relief compared to how frantic it had felt previously. Perhaps the crying fit was just what you had needed. You couldn’t help but let your mind wander to thoughts of last night, or more specifically to Fíli.
The conversation had finally happened between you two, and it had gone much better than you could have ever expected. You were finally friends. Uncertainty still hung in the air as you wondered what a friendship with him could look like, but you tried to ignore the doubtful feelings. Surely it wouldn’t be any different than it had been before, even if you both now knew that there were deeper feelings involved. Even if you knew now that he did like you.
One firm knock came from your door, startling you from your thoughts as you sat up, worry and anxiety already reaching your frowning expression. Surely it must be Thorin. You looked down at your pajamas, now feeling extremely underdressed in your own bed.
“One second,” you called, your voice still tired from sleep. You stood up and changed out of your boxers and into some pants, hoping your current top was enough to present yourself.
Quickly, you came to the door, your heart leaping into your throat as anxiety gnawed at you. Even though you already knew what to tell him, the thought of any confrontation with your boss wasn’t exactly a welcome one.
You opened your room door to a surprisingly neutral Thorin, who was already dressed for the day, his hair cascading down his shoulders. There wasn’t a hint of a scowl on his face as his eyes met yours. For once, he looked simply neutral.
“Good morning, Y/N,” he gave a small bow. “Did I wake you?”
“No, I’ve been up for a few minutes,” you answered. “I was just about to get dressed.”
“Good. I apologize for disturbing you, but we need to talk.” He didn’t seem phased by your pajama shirt or mismatching pants. “May I come in?”
You tried your best to refrain from holding your breath, clearly nervous. “Right, of course. Sorry about the mess.”
Thorin silently gave a nod, walking only a few steps in before standing, his arms at his sides as he waited for you to close the door. You did just that, coming to sit on your bed.
“You’re welcome to take a seat,” you offered. But you had a feeling he wouldn’t bite.
“There’s no need,” he replied. “I come with unsettling news.”
“Is everything alright?” You couldn’t help but feign innocence. It made you feel less guilty to pretend you knew nothing, even if it meant lying to your boss.
For a moment, he seemed surprised at your innocence. Perhaps he had assumed you already knew. But his expression soon faded into the typical stressed frown you knew so well. Thorin sighed, a hand running through his dark hair. Now the signature scowl was slowly making its appearance. You couldn’t hide your own frown.
“It’s nothing we haven’t dealt with before, but I’m afraid you’re now caught up in the mix,” he began. He pulled his phone out, quickly entering his passcode before showing you the same photo Kíli had warned you about last night.
You could feel the guilt twist your stomach into knots. Despite Kíli’s warning, it did little to help your anxiety in this conversation. You were tempted to spill your guts out if it meant feeling any bit better, but you held your tongue.
“This photo was taken of you and Fíli from the party, and it’s currently circulating with most major tabloids as we speak.” He took the phone back, putting it away.
“I’ve already spoken with my nephew about it; he has an unfortunate history of accumulating these sorts of things,” he said. “But I need to be thorough with this. I need to know what happened between you two.”
You opened your mouth to speak, worry creasing your brow. For a moment, you couldn’t find the words that you and Fíli had conjured up last night. It seemed Thorin could sense that.
“You’re not in any kind of trouble, if that’s your concern,” he said. “This isn’t Fíli’s first scandal.”
He rolled his eyes, even raising a hand to rub his temple. You frowned, not liking the stressed and tired look of your employer.
“In truth, this one does little to bother me. I doubt I need to release a statement for something this trivial. But things such as this can easily get out of hand if I don’t have all the information I need. You understand that, don’t you?”
He seemed annoyed at the mention of Fíli’s past scandals; it made you wonder just how many there were. Surely, you had already known about the bassist’s reputation from when you first arrived on the job. And sharing a tour bus with someone who liked to bring hookups on board was more than enough scandal for you.
“I spilled water on him,” you started, speaking slowly. You hoped it seemed earnest enough. “He wouldn’t stop complaining about it, so I offered to dry him up. But he kept going on and on about how ‘there was no point’. Something about the brand he was wearing or something. Eventually I had to drag him there just to shut him up.”
You couldn’t help the slight smile that tugged at your lips as you spoke, imagining a whining Fíli acting like a child. It was an amusing thought. You hoped your planned lie was enough to sway your boss.
At first, he didn’t say anything, and you could see the gears turning in his mind. Had you gone too off course from what you had discussed last night? Had Fíli said something different? Was it clear you were lying?
“I see,” Thorin nodded, for he already knew the story. “Then it’s settled.”
He checked his phone, taking a moment to type something out as he looked deep in thought, before eventually his eyes met yours again.
“What’s settled?” You asked, curiosity getting the better of you. You finally let out a breath you had been holding, trying to breathe as normally as possible.
“As far as I’m concerned, there’s no scandal,” he said. “Though it was a poorly caught photo, there’s no need for any further intervention. But it doesn’t make this any easier.”
“What do you mean?” Your stomach twisted and flipped inside out, anxiety gnawing at you the longer this conversation went on.
“You’re now in the public eye just as much as the boys are,” Thorin explained with a gruff tone. “Even though you’re obscured in the photo, I’m sure it wouldn’t take long for someone to recognize you.”
“But it’s so blurry–” you tried to butt in.
“We’ve had blurrier,” he countered. “And the worst of their fans still figured it out.”
Your eyes widened in realization as you pieced together what he was trying to say. “Am I going to have to wear a disguise now? Am I being fire–”
“You’re not being fired, that I can assure you.” Thorin, despite his stature, stood tall as he reached a hand to place on your shoulder. “And my offer the other night still stands, so there’s no need to worry about your job security. But I do need to ensure that you can handle the extra publicity if someone were to figure you out.”
You held your breath, thoughts running through your mind. The overwhelming feeling was making its very unwelcome comeback.
“Of course, that’s if we just let this go,” he explained.
You furrowed your brow, meeting his gaze. “I’m sorry?”
“We could also release a statement explaining who exactly is in the photo.” His scowl had faded into a disapproving frown now. “As a means of denying the claims. But that could make things worse and possibly feed into the rumors. To put it bluntly, thousands of eyes would be on you.”
“Absolutely not!” The words left your lips before you had even conceived them as thoughts. You flushed from the minor embarrassment. “Sorry, I didn’t mean that to sound so rude. But I’ve become very comfortable in the background, and I’d like it to stay that way.”
“Of course,” he nodded, checking the time on his phone.
He looked back at you, giving your shoulder a light reassuring squeeze before taking his hand away. He headed to your door and you stood up on instinct to see him off. “There shall be no statement. I apologize for the early disturbance, Y/N.”
“It’s fine,” you replied too casually. “Was that all?”
He opened the door, stepping out into the hallway before facing you. “It would seem so. I’m sorry to have you involved in something like this. I hope it doesn’t change your mind about my previous offer.”
“Not at all,” you tried to laugh him off, but the smile never fully reached your eyes. “I still look forward to discussing it, while hopefully still remaining anonymous to the public.”
Thorin let out a gruff breath through his nose; you assumed it was a small laugh. “If anything changes regarding this scandal, I’ll be sure that you’re the first to know.”
“I appreciate that, Thorin.”
“Good day, then.” He gave a small bow of respect before leaving you alone, heading down the hallway to god-knows-where.
The moment you felt yourself in the clear, you shut your door, slumping against it with a miserable groan. You rubbed your tired eyes, trying to force the nervousness and paranoia out of your body. Everything was fine, everything was under control! That’s what you told yourself, anyways.
You trusted Thorin with his promise, you hadn’t had any reason not to. But your only hope was that some crazy fan didn’t force him to keep that promise.
You really hadn’t gotten enough sleep. It was obvious from just how slow you were eating your breakfast. Not even getting dressed for the day helped to hide the dark circles growing under your eyes. You sighed into your eggs and bacon, sluggishly eating them in such a state that anyone could assume you hated the dish in front of you.
“Are you going to eat that?” Threl nudged, pointing at your two last pieces of bacon.
You looked up at him, your frown giving away your annoyance. “I was planning to.”
“Alright, my bad. Couldn’t tell,” he shrugged, finishing his cereal. “From the looks of it, I figured you weren’t hungry.”
“Just stressed,” you muttered, letting out another sigh.
“Why? You said it yourself, Thorin said everything should be fine.” His nonchalant demeanor wasn’t usually this annoying to you.
“Should be,” you emphasised. “But it doesn’t mean it will be.”
“You worry too much,” Threl frowned. “What are you afraid of here? Some crazed fan finding out you work for the band?”
“More like some crazed fan thinking I’m some rockstar’s groupie,” you scoffed, taking another bite of your food.
You had told Threl everything the moment he had knocked on your door this morning, inviting you to eat breakfast in the hotel lobby as usual. Well, mostly everything. For some reason, you couldn’t didn’t feel the need to mention that you and Fíli had a thing for each other. Whether it was embarrassment or guilt, you weren’t sure as to why you hadn’t told him. But he was just happy to hear that there wasn’t any bad blood, especially considering he was a mutual friend caught in the middle.
“Well you certainly could look like one,” he replied. When you clearly didn’t follow, he elaborated. “I’m saying you’re sexy. Especially with the dress that night.”
“Thanks,” you rolled your eyes. “I certainly feel like it.”
“Would you be less stressed if Thorin released your identity?” He raised a brow.
“What? No!” You spoke a little too loudly. “I mean… maybe? I don’t really know. This whole thing is just making me miserable. I hate having the feeling where all eyes are on me.”
You groaned, pushing your plate away and laying your head on the table. You certainly weren’t hungry anymore. You heard Threl sigh and set his spoon down.
“I’m worried about you, Y/N,” he spoke plainly. “If this is going to keep stressing you out, then you’ve got to figure out how to deal with it. Before it affects your work. Our work.”
“It won’t affect my work.” You looked up at him with tired eyes. “But what do you suggest?”
“Either force yourself to be chill with the current situation, or tell Thorin to release a statement so that way your name’s at least cleared. Unless you can think of something else, I don’t know what will make you feel better right now.”
His frown matched yours, and you sat up straight, brow furrowed in thought. He was right; you were letting this get to you too easily. What good were you if you were perpetually worrying about dating rumors and band drama?
“You have a point,” you muttered. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good, you better.” He took another bite of his cereal, wincing from the taste. “Fuck, it’s gone soggy. That’s the thing about hotel cereal–”
“Am I interrupting anything?” Fíli waltzed into the hotel’s dining room, half dressed with freshly brushed hair.
The other band members slowly filtered in behind him, all in different stages of being ready for the day. There was Kíli, who was still in pajamas and slippers as he sluggishly beelined for the coffee station. Then Gimli, who was dressed for the day but still very tired, as shown by his messy hair and sleepy frown. And then Ori, who was bright eyed and bushy tailed, his face glowing from a fresh skincare routine as he stacked pancakes on his plate.
“I’m surprised you’re awake this early, princess,” Threl scoffed, standing up to rid himself of his soggy cereal, bowl in hand. “We already finished eating.”
“Damn, and it’s only nine,” he nodded. “Well, at least I look better rested than you two. What truck hit you both?”
“Whichever one is owned by your Uncle,” you chimed in, also standing up with your plate.
Fíli’s joking grin soon switched to an intrigued raised brow. “How did that go?”
“You two catch up, I’m going to get ready for the day,” Threl sighed, gesturing to the fact that he was still in his pajamas. He took your plate, leaning in to whisper in your ear as he did so.
“Take it easy, alright? Text me when you want to meet up later.” He gave you a playful nudge before walking away, leaving you and Fíli alone for now.
For some reason, you couldn’t help but feel guilty that you hadn’t told Threl about your new relationship with Fíli.
You watched him put away your dishes and head back for the elevators, giving a small wave in his direction.
“It went well,” you sighed, bringing your attention back to Fíli, whose humorous demeanor had shifted now that Threl was gone. His eyes softened, wanting to listen to whatever you had to say. It was kind.
“He said he wasn’t going to release a statement or anything unless I wanted him to, which was nice,” you continued, now walking alongside Fíli to the buffet. He started fixing himself a plate while you grabbed one last glass of orange juice. It felt weird not to have anything while he was eating, even if you already had.
“How was he with you?”
“Certainly not as nice,” Fíli chuckled. “He wasn’t as pissed off as he can usually get, though. Probably because it had to do with you.”
“What does that mean?”
“He likes you, Y/N. More than me right now, that’s for sure.” He added some ham to his plate as he spoke. “He probably thinks that you’re not the type to go after your clients, or that you have a better sense of establishing those kinds of boundaries for yourself.”
“And I am,” you nodded confidently, until you saw the cheeky glint in Fíli’s eye. “Usually.”
“Sure, whatever you need to tell yourself,” he teased. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes.
It felt so much easier to interact with each other now that you two had talked things out. You felt lighter because of it, like a weight lifted off of your chest. Suddenly you were back on the tour bus that night, just talking honestly amidst cheeky banter. It was nice.
“I’ll have you know I was nothing but professional until the party,” you defended.
“Oh, so all it takes is some liquor? I’m sure that will hold up in court,” he quipped with a smirk, now adding some eggs to the plate.
You felt your cheeks warm from embarrassment, thinking of how delectable he had looked that night. “It wasn’t just that– Are we flirting right now?”
“Do you want to?” He asked, his tone less teasing now and more honest.
“I don’t know,” you answered. “It feels weird for some reason.”
“Maybe it’s too soon,” he shrugged. “Baby steps?”
“Baby steps,” you nodded.
He finished his plate, now moving to sit down on one of the lobby’s couches. You sat across him, resting your phone and juice on the coffee table in front of you.
You couldn’t help but notice the rest of the boys laughing about something, sitting at a high-top nearby. Well, Ori was laughing and Kíli looked miserable. Gimli was just there, which was surprising to see compared to his usual loud-mouthed presence.
“Do any of them know?” You asked, now looking back at Fíli. He finished his bite of food before speaking.
“Well, yes and no.” He answered. “Kíli was asking me about it this morning, and I said we were friends now. That it was just a misunderstanding.”
“Wait, so you told him what happened–”
“No, I didn’t go into detail,” he cut you off, shaking his head. “But I gave him enough to stop bothering me with questions.”
“Such as?”
A guilty expression crawled onto his face as he put his plate down. “He knows we… had a moment, so to speak.”
Your eyes widened, your expression still. “And?”
“Listen, he’s my brother, he would know if I was lying,” he tried to explain, raising his hands in surrender. “I couldn’t tell him the same thing we told Thorin. Hell, I doubt even Thorin fully believes us. He knows me too well.”
You shook your head in disbelief. “Don’t even say that, he believed me.” You had to say it out loud or else you’d be worrying about yet another thing.
“Well, again, he approves of you more,” he gestured to you. “He would do anything for me, but he also knows my reputation.”
“Okay, fine,” you sighed, giving up on the idea of Thorin for right now. “What exactly did you tell your brother?”
Fíli winced, like he knew you’d disapprove. “I said we almost hooked up until you cut things off.”
You literally felt your eye twitch. You took a long sip of your orange juice in an attempt to calm down your elevated heartbeat. It didn’t help.
“Well, so much for sparing the details.” You glared at him.
He was quickly pleading. “Come on, please don’t be mad. He would’ve seen right through me. At least I didn’t say you came on to me!”
You were taken aback at the thought, but quickly tried to regain your composure.
“Fine,” you spoke through gritted teeth. “So the whole band knows, basically. Is that what you’re telling me?”
“No, just Kíli,” he answered. “I told him I’d kill him if he told anyone. He won’t tell a soul, I can assure you.”
“Somehow your words aren’t swaying me,” you frowned. On the bright side, being mad at Fíli was an easy distraction from your worries of crazed fans.
“Then let’s talk action,” he said, bringing his hands together. “Let me make it up to you. Anything you want.”
He was desperately pleading, or at least as desperately as he could with the rest of the band a mere five feet away. The desperation in his eyes was amusing enough to ease your frustration. You almost pitied him.
“Anything?” You repeated. It was a dangerous offer and you both knew it.
“As long as we’re all still on schedule, yes,” he affirmed. “I could take you shopping! Or cook you something? Wait, no. I’m a terrible cook. I don’t know what to offer, I don’t know what you like!”
You thought for a moment; there lied the crux of your misunderstandings. “How about one free hangout?”
Your reply had confused him, probably because it sounded too easy.
“Done,” he nodded. “Just name the time and place.”
“We have tomorrow off,” you explained. “It’s our last free day while we’re here. You guys don’t have anything scheduled; no interviews or anything. If I can get my work done for tomorrow by tonight, then let’s hang out tomorrow.”
He made a face, and you immediately started backtracking.
“Unless you’ve already made plans–”
“I was just going to sleep all day, really.” He admitted sheepishly. But the disappointed look on your face was enough to sway him.
“But I’ll sleep when I’m dead! Tomorrow. You. Me. What do you want to do?”
You couldn’t help the smile that crept on your face. “You can sleep in, it’s fine. Just at some point tomorrow, let’s hang out. I want to learn more about you.”
Now it was his time to smile. “Okay, you got it. I’ll text you?”
Your phone buzzed, allowing you to see that it was almost time to get back to work for the day. You stood up, grabbing your things.
“I’ve got to get started for the day,” you sighed. “But yeah, text me later. We can figure out the details tomorrow.”
“So you have a date?” Threl mused, his tone unassuming as he worked to transfer some video footage off of his camera onto your laptop.
“It’s not a date,” you rolled your eyes, writing down some more deadlines in your planner so you wouldn’t lose track of your work. “We’re just hanging out.”
The music blared on behind the closed door of the green room; the sound of Kíli’s guitar riff was enough to cancel out the screams and shouts of thousands of adoring fans. After tonight, there were only two more performances before you would all be closing on Moria and setting out for The Shire.
“Right, whatever you say,” he flashed you a shit-eating grin before handing you your laptop back. “So what are you doing on this not-date?”
“Would it be weird to just hang out in the hotel and play board games?” You weren’t entirely convinced by your suggestion, even after saying it out loud.
“It’s very… domestic.”
You sighed, setting down your pen in defeat. “I just don’t want another paparazzi picture of me. But it feels weird to ask if we simply don’t leave the hotel.”
“Hey, he’s in this mess, too. I’m sure he’ll be down.” Threl tried to reassure you. “I’ve never seen him play a board game sober, though. Fair warning.”
You laughed, closing your planner for now. “And what about you? What does someone as fashionable and wonderful as you have planned on your only day off?”
“Careful now, those are flirting words,” he joked, casting you a sly grin. “And I’ll have you know that I have a very important appointment tomorrow.”
“Ooh, for what?” You leaned in, intrigued. “A facial? A massage? A conjugal visit?”
You cackled at his reaction to your last guess, a mixture of horror and humor splayed on his face.
“I resent that last remark, I’ll have you know,” he playfully warned you. “But I’m glad to see you laughing after how stressed out you were this morning.”
“I’ve been keeping busy,” you admitted. “It’s surprisingly easier to cater to crazy fans than to worry about them, as backwards as it sounds.”
“That is backwards,” he chuckled. “I’m just glad to see you normal again.”
“Me too,” you nodded. “As long as it lasts. Now tell me about this appointment of yours, the suspense is killing me.”
Suddenly, a loud hissing sound interrupted you both, as the pyrotechnic gerbs went off onstage. A wave of screams and excitement sounded soon after, and you both couldn’t help the smile on your faces. Ori’s muffled voice filled the air behind the door, leading the band into the next song. The sound would never get old to you.
“Well, before I was so rudely interrupted,” he joked. “It’s a shopping date for me, myself and I.”
“Shopping?” You repeated, shocked by his answer. You didn’t think he was the type to love retail therapy.
“Guys can like shopping,” he defended, handing back your laptop now that he was done with it.
“Thanks,” you took the computer. “And of course they can. I mean it makes sense, with how well dressed you always are. Excluding right now, of course.”
He looked down at his clothes, which were all black but fashionably functional for his job. “You must hate monochrome.”
“I’m kidding,” you grinned. “What are you buying?”
“Well, I like to window shop, but my goal is to get a surprise gift for everyone that’s been on tour so far. You know, since we’re coming to the end.”
“That’s so sweet,” you cooed. “It’s sad to think we’re almost done, isn’t it?”
“It’ll be a grand ending, though,” he nodded. ”The crowds in The Shire are a lot smaller, so the shows are more intimate versus their usual intensity. They always save a new release for the folks in The Shire.”
Your eyes lit up at the mention of a new song. You instantly thought of the one Fíli had been hiding from you that night on the tour bus. “A new song? I wonder why Thorin hasn’t told me to post anything about it yet.”
“That’s how he did things last tour,” Threl shrugged. “He really enjoys the privateness of it. If he does the same thing as last time, he probably won’t ask you to promote it until after the tour ends.”
You couldn’t help but wonder what your life would look like after this tour. Other than possibly working permanently with the band, it would feel so strange to go back to your empty apartment in Dale.
“Are you coming back with us, Threl?” You asked, hoping he’d say yes just so you could have closer contact with your newest friend.
“I haven’t decided yet,” he sighed. “I’ve been thinking of moving to Erebor to stay closer to friends, but my family’s in the Blue Mountains. It would be tough to leave them.”
You bit the inside of your cheek. “I see.”
“But that just means I’ll keep blowing up your phone, as per usual,” he threw you a wink, clearly trying to lighten the mood. He stood up, stretching with a groan as he adorned all his camera equipment again. “I should probably get back out there. You said you wanted more shots of Ori, yeah?”
“Yeah, that’d be great,” you nodded, returning your gaze to your laptop. “We could send it to his last interview as some B-roll. They’d love to edit it in.”
“You got it, boss.”
You smiled at the nickname, waving to him as he left and wondering just how many people you would have to say goodbye to so soon.
You woke up, feeling well rested for the first night all week, and it was a welcome change. Your eyes felt less tired and your body felt clean from the previous night’s shower. You checked your phone, your good mood getting even better at your lack of notifications, save for one.
“Enjoy your day off. Let’s meet at 10 tomorrow to discuss campaign plans for The Shire.”
Thorin’s text was short and to-the-point, just like always. You sent back a simple thumbs up emoji, not even wanting to speak a single word about work today if you could help it. After all, today was all yours. So many ideas passed through your mind about what to do. Perhaps you could go shopping in Moria. You could always visit the aquarium. Or maybe it was better to finally let your body rest and stay in for the day after so much hustle and bustle.
Regardless of the fleeting thoughts, you sent a quick text to Fíli, whom you were certain was still very much asleep.
“Morning! Let me know whenever you wake up, you still owe me that hangout :P”
You set your phone down afterwards, taking in a deep breath. You felt like a princess in a movie; it was a miracle what a free day and plenty of sleep could do for someone!
For the first time in a while, you felt like you could slow down and enjoy your day. You actually thought out your outfit versus throwing on something comfortable. You even thought about putting on some makeup or doing something different to your hair, but decided against it so you’d have more time to just be and let be.
You ate breakfast alone in the lobby of the hotel, opting to read a magazine lying around rather than stare at your phone for another second. Other than the occasional text from Threl, there was really no need to even check your phone.
An hour or two later, you passed Ori on his way out of the hotel. He was beaming with excitement, telling you about his plans to go spend the entire day with his cousins now that he actually had time to see them. It was heartwarming to see the way his eyes lit up at the mention of Dori and Nori. With a brief goodbye, you asked him to send your regards.
It was almost noon. You couldn’t help but watch the seconds tick by on the clock that hung on the wall, wondering why the hell Fíli wasn’t awake yet. You knew his brother could sleep like the dead, but Fíli had always been relatively well rested when you shared the bus with him. He wasn’t exactly an early riser, but he sure as hell should’ve been awake by now.
Refusing to accept that he was either still asleep or awake but ignoring you, you typed out another text.
“Let me know when you’re free today?”
You sighed, deleting it as quickly as you typed it. How desperate were you? He was probably just still sleeping, like any average dwarven male his age.
And 83 was quite a big age. How many other differences did you have, besides life expectancy? You already knew he had a history of being a rockstar playboy metalhead; it was a reputation that was trying its hardest to catch up to you. But what else hid behind that gorgeous eyeliner-filled mask of his?
Maybe tonight would be something as simple as asking him. It’s what you wanted to do: get to know him, and in turn, let him get to know you. You both were very clearly into each other, but most of it felt very surface level. It was time to take a deep dive, or at least a splash into the waters.
Suddenly, you remembered that Balin’s hotel had an entire spa somewhere on the tenth floor, offering facials, massages, and even sauna treatments. This was perfect; it was just what you needed after months of hard work and stress. And who were you to deny yourself a spa day?
Before you even thought about grabbing your things, you thought about texting Fíli one last time. You weren’t sure how long you’d stay at the spa, though you were sure to be a few hours at least. But the idea of texting him again made you feel too desperate, and so you simply turned your phone to silent mode.
One mani-pedi, an almost-nap in the steam room and a deep tissue massage later, you felt like an entirely new person. You hadn’t felt this rejuvenated since you’d graduated from university. Your skin was practically glowing. And thanks to your job and ties with Balin, you had gotten everything at a practically illegal discount. Was this what normal people were supposed to feel like?
For the last three hours you were gone, nothing in the world seemed to bother you anymore, least of all a late-sleeping dwarf.
You finally reached your hotel room, taking your phone off of do-not-disturb to reveal any missed texts or calls. Three texts from Threl, all asking what you thought of the gifts he planned on getting Kíli and Gimli. Save for the last, where he simply decided he’d buy them anyways since you weren’t responding fast enough.
You chuckled to yourself, sending a quick apology text explaining why you’d been away from your phone. He responded almost immediately.
“Wow. And without sending me any cute sauna pics?”
You rolled your eyes, texting him back.
“Nice try.”
You swiped out of the conversation to see you had two more missed texts, this time from Fíli. It seemed he had finally woken up. You read his apology text he had sent merely an hour ago, noting it was already three in the afternoon. Here he was, offering to make it up to you with dinner reservations at some high class place. If it weren’t for the tabloids, you probably would’ve jumped at the opportunity to try some fine dining.
“Sorry, I was busy. I don’t want to give paparazzi any more fuel right now. Could we just stay in the hotel tonight?”
His response was even quicker than Threl’s.
“Absolutely. Of course. My room at 7? I’ll set up a whole thing. Just us two.”
You couldn’t help the flushed warmth you felt in your cheeks from reading his last sentence. It was clear he wanted to make it up to you, which made it hard to stay mad at him. Was it really so hard not to read everything as romantic with him? Maybe it was just because of your history together.
“Sounds great, I’ll be there.”
You set your phone down, a new problem now entering your recently-massaged mind.
What were you going to wear?
Hours later, after finally deciding there was nothing more casual than a simple tee and shorts, you were yet again standing in front of door 307. You knocked softly, and the door quickly opened to an equally casually-dressed Fíli. Instant relief hit you, now that you knew you weren’t underdressed.
“Fresh moscato, at your service,” you awkwardly bowed, offering him the bottle wrapped in its paper bag.
“Hey, come in,” he smiled, opening the door wider for you.
“I didn’t know if I should bring anything, but I figured some wine couldn’t hurt,” you said, watching him as he unwrapped the bottle.
“This is great,” he smiled, but it didn’t fully reach his eyes.
“I didn’t know what kind you would like… Do you like it?” You took off your shoes, setting your bag down on his couch.
“I’m not a big fan of wine,” he admitted sheepishly, reading the label again. “But I’ve never had moscato before. Maybe I’ll like it!”
You frowned, coming over to take it back. “It’s okay, we don’t have to drink it–”
“Too late, I’ve already decided,” he grinned, walking away and reaching for two glasses out of the hotel minifridge.
You took a seat on his couch in defeat; his room had the same layout as yours, though it was mirrored.
You raised your hands playfully in defeat. “What’s your drink of choice then?”
“I’m a cider connoisseur,” he joked, pouring the wine now. “It tastes like juice to me.”
Cider. You’d seen him drink it before, of course. He handed you a glass.
“I’ll remember that next time,” you said, taking the wine. You sniffed the liquid, taking in the fruity notes before trying a sip. It was much more refreshing than you expected from a bargain bottle.
You watched him do the same, hoping that maybe despite his tastes, he would like it. The glass met his lips and he took his first sip, his expression hard to read until eventually it simmered into a lightly surprised smile.
“It’s not half bad,” he said, cheering his glass to you before taking another sip.
You sighed, finally feeling a little less tense than before. At least you wouldn’t have to worry about him returning your gift.
“So,” you started, taking his attention away from the wine. “What did you have in mind?”
His eyes lit up and a grin stretched across his face as he set down his glass of wine.
“I think you’ll really like it. Do you still have your swimsuit?”
A quick trip to your hotel room and another glass of wine later, Fíli was eager to keep his plans a surprise as he led you to the elevator.
“Is it a movie night?” You tried guessing for the upteenth time, but Fíli wasn’t going to let you in so easily.
“Not at all,” he shook his head, waiting for the elevator to close before he swiped his keycard and pressed the button to the highest floor – the penthouse suite. “That’s too easy.”
“It’s a private concert,” you joked, rolling your eyes in an attempt at nonchalance. What could he possibly have up for you in the penthouse suite?
“You don’t even like our music,” he laughed. “And still no.”
“I never said that,” you rebuked, adjusting your bag that hung off your shoulder. “Maybe I would like your music more if I wasn’t listening to it every single day.”
“That’s a fair point you make,” he agreed. The elevator finally opened, revealing a small lobby room with a grand set of oaken entry doors. The penthouse suite.
Fíli dug in his pockets, pulling out a thick metal key with ornate engravings on it. For a moment, you were confused, wondering why such a modern hotel that already used keycards would still use old fashioned keys for their most expensive room.
“Speaking of which,” you started, trying not to seem too curious of the key and its equally gorgeous doors. “Did you ever finish that song? The one you wouldn’t show me or Ori?”
Your questions must have startled him; you watched him drop the key and fumble to pick it back up. He played it off, of course, but you couldn’t hide the amused grin slowly creeping on your face.
“Almost,” he said, casting a look to you that you weren’t sure how to read. “I finally showed a part of it to Ori.”
“I see, so he gets to know the secret but I don’t.” You chuckled, trying to keep it light. “Wait, are you going to reveal it at the end of the tour?”
“Maybe, we planned on releasing a different song first,” he turned the key into the door, and you heard the grand doors creak as they unlocked. “Anyways, here we are.”
Just when you were about to chastise him for changing the subject so quickly, you found yourself wordless at the sight of such a room.
Before you, carved deep into the mountain, lie a gorgeous main hall of the suite. The exposed mountain wall had been carved into bookshelves, littered with knickknacks and tomes that made you wonder what could possibly be written inside them. Warm toned lamps and lanterns littered the space, hanging from the ceiling and resting on the shelves and even sitting on the floor, filling the room with a delicate glow.
You stepped inside, habitually removing your shoes and letting yourself feel the soft fur rug on the floor. You approached the oaken couches and coffee table, setting your bag down before letting yourself sink into the couch’s soft cushions. You let your hand rest on the armrest, running alongside the length of it to admire the craftsmanship of the furniture.
“Fíli, this place is gorgeous,” you breathed out, looking to him with awe. “How much does a room like this even cost?”
He laughed, setting his stuff down on the coffee table. “This isn’t even the surprise. And for me? Free, so long as we don’t trash it.”
“Free?!” You asked incredulously, looking around the room. Balin must really adore Fíli if he was willing to let him use such a grand space. “How much does this cost normally?”
“At least a grand per night,” Fíli shrugged, standing in front of the coffee table as he took in the room with a satisfied smile. “Are you ready to see the actual surprise?”
You stood up, wandering around just a little more before giving in to your host.
To your right, the hall stretched into an open floor connecting room, walled in only by another bookshelf. You drew closer, seeing through the gaps in the stone shelf at what must be the master bedroom. It was equally grand and even more cozy than the living room, if that were at all possible.
Fíli approached you, taking your hand and leading you away from the grand living space and bedroom. “Here, let me show you why we’re really here.”
You couldn’t help the smile on your face, growing excited by the minute.
He took you through the living room and past the kitchenette, barely giving you time to register their design before you headed down a small hallway with two doors. You could tell that the first door was to the bathroom, but you had no clue what the second door – made of glass that was entirely fogged up – would lead to.
You felt the warmth emanating from the door before he even opened it; Fíli’s calloused hands wrapped around the knob and pushed.
Your jaw dropped at the sight of the naturally formed cave, which stretched only a little further from the door to reveal an entirely natural hot springs. Steam rose from the water, rising up into the tall ceiling of the cave, casting glimmering images as the droplets formed on the cool rock.
Your eyes scanned the grand cave walls surrounding you, veins of lesser metals such as gold and silver seemed to stretch their glittering arms around the cave. Veins of shimmering quartz cut in towards the top of the springs’ cave, catching the lights of the lanterns that made them shine in and out like stars.
You had never seen anything like it.
“Fíli,” your voice was soft, almost a whisper. “This is gorgeous. It’s beyond gorgeous, it’s–”
He cut in, speaking in his own tongue a short phrase you didn’t quite catch, distracted from the velvet of his voice. “That’s what they’re called. In the common language, it roughly translates to Hidden Healer.”
“Hidden healer…” You couldn’t help but repeat it, feeling the name on your tongue.
“They’re hidden all over the mountain. Balin discovered this one on his own, and he’s kept it as a secret ever since. Only family members are allowed to rent this suite, all so he can keep his secret better. I’m just lucky he didn’t make me pay this time.”
He ran his hand down the railing that led down into the springs, taking a few steps before turning around to you.
“Do you like it?”
You stepped forward, the stone floor warm under your feet. “Fíli, this is better than any fancy restaurant.”
The smile grew on his face until he couldn’t help but show how proud he was of himself. “Then we better get changed and enjoy it, hm?”
Between your afternoon of spa treatments and the warm waters of the springs, you felt like you were on cloud nine. It was almost unfair that you’d have to return to your normal routine after allowing yourself to be pampered so well.
Fíli had been the first to get in, helping you ease and acclimate to the water with an encouraging smile. You leaned your head back, allowing the warmth to spread in your hair, but careful not to submerge your head lest you get overheated.
“I’m surprised you didn’t ditch me for Threl,” he joked. “With how close you two have gotten.”
“Is that jealousy I hear?” You teased, lightly splashing him with water.
“I’m not a jealous person,” he laughed, but you still weren’t convinced.
“Mm, so you’re nosy.” You teased.
“Guilty as charged.”
“Well, he wanted to take himself on a date, if you must know,” you smirked. “Shopping, that is.”
“I should have known,” he chuckled.
“And what about you? Were you really sleeping the day away, or is that just your cover story whenever you’re busy with someone else?”
“You wound me with implications,” he feigned hurt. “I barely have any time to ‘get busy’, not with this stretch of the tour. My recklessness tends to be reserved for the beginning of our tours.”
You nodded, agreeing for the most part. You hadn’t seen him put on the playboy charm for any fans in a while, not since you had all been in Rohan.
“Do you like him?”
His question caught you off guard.
“Who, Threl?” You asked.
“You’re the one calling me jealous,” he mused. “Is there anything I should be jealous of?”
“Not in the slightest,” you couldn’t help but scoff. Threl was a total catch, there was no denying that. Funny, beautiful, and very compassionate. But he had never been on your radar. “He’s not exactly my type.”
“Mm, and what is your type?” His voice was quiet, but the teasing velvety sound was very present.
You couldn’t help the flush in your cheeks. It was easy to play it off as the work of the hot springs.
“Are we seriously flirting right now?” You tried to deflect the question. “As if your ego couldn’t get any bigger.”
This time he laughed, and the sound helped ease the tension and embarrassment in the air.
“Alright, fine. What would you rather talk about?”
You thought for a moment, now wanting to seize the moment. This was the perfect in for you, all you needed was to ask the right questions.
“Tell me a secret about yourself.” You suggested.
“A secret?”
“One that even the boys don’t know.”
“And what will I get in return?”
You tried to stand firm against his very flirty tone, rolling your eyes playfully. “I suppose I could offer up a secret of my own.”
“A very tempting offer, Y/N. That’s dangerous.”
“Will you take it?” You couldn’t bear to address the obvious tension between you two, despite the steamy waters. Your only solace was that you both were at opposite ends of the pool.
“Hm…” This time he became lost in thought, and you could see the wheels turning in his mind as his eyes wandered up towards the ceiling of the cave.
“Only my uncle knows this,” he started, and you immediately leaned in to listen. “But when I was younger, I planned to enlist in the army once I moved to Erebor.”
“The army?” You tried to imagine the bassist before you as some sort of warrior.
“Thorin served before he retired, and I wanted to follow him.” Fíli nodded sheepishly. “But now we’re both doing music.”
“That’s…” You didn’t even know how to describe what you feeling, other than surprised. “I would’ve never pegged you for a soldier.”
“I’m actually sword-trained,” he chuckled. “And I did a little bit of knife throwing when I was younger.”
“Do you think you’d ever go down that route again? Or is music your calling now?”
“If I ever stop doing music and pick up a sword, I think Erebor would have to be claimed by a dragon,” he joked. “And what about you? What’s something I don’t know about you?”
You blushed, trying to remain nonchalant as you racked your brain for a secret of your own.
“It’s so hard to think of any when you’re put on the spot like this,” you explained, laughing to yourself.
“Now you know how I felt,” he agreed.
“Let’s see,” you thought for a moment. “Oh, okay. I had never listened to any metal music until I started working for you guys.”
Fíli’s entire jaw dropped, it seemed you had caught him completely off guard.
“Never? How did you even pass the interview?” His tone was incredulous but you could tell he meant no harm.
“I ask myself that every day,” you joked, and you couldn’t help the smile on your face. “But really, you guys were my first metal band. Of course I listen to other metal bands now, too. I figured it was better if I broadened my horizons.”
“That is a good secret, I must say,” Fíli was still astounded by this new information. “Much better than mine.”
Minutes turned to what felt like hours as you two enjoyed the hot springs, learning more about each other in the glittering cavern. You both took turns for swimming, as Fíli had been careful to warn you about overheating. Between lying on the rocks of the cave to enjoying the natural pool, time seemed to pass slowly. Like nothing else existed right now.
Fíli told you of his childhood; raised by a single mother who did her best to provide for her two sons, he shared his dream of being able to provide for his mother like she had in his youth. It made you admire him all the more for it, too.
In turn, you divulged your own secrets. How university had been hard for you, but ultimately very rewarding. You shared your passion for creating collages, which had originally sparked your career of social media marketing when your friends saw how unique your media posts always were.
You both even shared little meaningless things, like zodiac signs and favorite colors and typical ice-breakers that strangers would talk about. But none of it felt meaningless between you two, all of it felt strangely sentimental. You were making mental notes of every little thing he was saying, drawn to the velvet of his voice like a moth to a flame.
He was a Scorpio sign. His favorite color was gold, specifically the color of wheat fields in the sun. He loved to cook but knew his brother was much better at it. He had to switch schools when he was younger because he and his brother played such an elaborate prank on the first school’s principal that they were expelled and forced to transfer.
Here in the warm waters, he wasn’t the hotshot playboy bass player that the world knew him as. He was this bright, mischievous dwarf with a penchant for creating art in whatever way he could.
And it was making it harder and harder for you to see him just as a friend.
“I think this is the first time we’ve ever been near water and haven’t started a fight,” he teased, snapping you away from your reverie. “That’s a new record.”
“We’ll have to add it to the scoreboard,” you bantered back. “What is it, 2 to 1?”
You both were finally back in the water after a break to rehydrate. He swam closer, taking a seat next to you on the warm stones. Your heart beat faster at the proximity, the steam making your thoughts a little fuzzy.
His hair was tied up in a bun, save for a few loose curls that had managed to escape. His chest was more chiseled than you would have ever given him credit for, slightly damp from a mix of sweat and steam. You couldn’t help yourself as your eyes traced down his figure, taking note of the khuzdul tattoos he had running down his side.
You had the urge to reach out and feel them.
“You’re staring, love,” he chuckled, leaning back on his arms in the water.
You immediately looked away, embarrassed. “I didn’t know you had tattoos.”
“It’s my mother’s name,” he explained.
“That’s lovely,” you said curtly, still looking away.
“You can stare if you want, you know,” he said smugly. “I definitely won’t mind.”
And now you were flirting again. But this time you didn’t have the same urge to deflect. It felt impossible to ignore the fact that you were very attracted to this compassionate, annoying, gorgeous dwarf.
“Are there any tattoos I can’t see?” You asked, finally looking at him with hazy-minded confidence. The steam made you feel a little drunk, which probably meant it was time to get out, but you had no intentions of doing so just yet.
Mostly because you had, for the first time, caught Fíli quite off guard, his wide eyes giving away much more than he had wanted. He stumbled over his words for a moment before quickly recovering. You turned your body to face him better.
“Well, no,” he started. “But now I wish there were.”
“Me neither,” you grinned, satisfied with his reactions for now. You reached over, tucking a loose curl away from his face with unknown confidence. “I’ve always wondered if I should get one, though.”
He seemed to both shiver and melt into your touch, his face reddening at the contact. But you knew he’d probably say it was from the hot water. “Really? What would you get?”
“I have no idea,” you laughed. “Hence my hesitation. Did you know Threl has a tramp stamp?”
“He does not, he just says that for the shock value,” Fíli rolled his eyes. “He likes the attention it gives him.”
“I should’ve known he was lying,” you said. “Especially since he wouldn’t show it to me.”
“You wanted to see it?” He asked, shifting his position. Jealousy was lightly eating at him, but it was too soon for you to notice just yet.
“Well, yeah,” you shrugged. “That’s not something you can just say and not expect to show.”
“You seem very close with him,” he mentioned, his tone less playful than before.
“Well, we do work together,” you frowned, noticing his shift in behavior. “Plus, he’s the first person I’ve felt really comfortable with since the tour started.”
“More than us?” He asked, referencing the band. You were quick to appease him.
“Well, you guys too, but he can actually understand my job a little better. You know, since he’s behind the scenes like me.”
“So you like him, then?”
This felt like it was going south quickly. You stood up, giving your body fresh cool air. Having hazy thoughts wasn’t going to help you save this interaction.
“I’ll ask this lightly,” you warned. “Why are you so jealous when I’ve already said I like you?”
“I know him, Y/N,” he defended. “We’re more similar than you think.”
“Why, because you both sleep around?” You countered curtly. “I don’t even think he’s interested. I’m pretty sure I’m not even his type.”
Your face faltered for a moment, feeling bad for your harshness. You hadn’t meant for it to come out so quickly. In truth, you just hated these petty conversations.
A frown set on his lips, looking away from you now. “You are, that much I can assure you.”
You bent down, gingerly resting your hands on his shoulders. It still felt foreign to touch him so casually, but you weren’t sure if you’d get through to him with just words.
“Well, even if that’s true,” you started, your tone now softer. “Like I said, he’s not exactly my type.”
His frown stayed firm, but his eyes finally met yours. “Not a fan of tall, dark and handsome?”
You couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped you. Tall was certainly something funny to hear attributed to a dwarf.
“More like short, blonde and annoying,” you said softly, holding his gaze for a moment.
Suddenly, he pulled you onto his lap, wrapping his arms around you. You let out a small yelp in surprise, eyes wide and face flushed at the closeness. You were practically draped across him, nested sidesaddle in his lap.
“I’m sorry I said you slept around,” you whispered.
For a moment, he was silent, just holding you with an unreadable expression in his eyes. You could barely handle looking at them so closely, diverting your gaze elsewhere.
“This is more difficult than I thought it would be,” he spoke softly, the frown finally melting away bit by bit.
You turned to him, blushing again at how close he was. You could feel his breath this close, and the warm water wasn’t helping you feel normal whatsoever.
“What is?” You whispered, finally meeting his eyes.
“Being your friend,” he admitted, resting his chin on your shoulder.
“I don’t remember friends doing this kind of thing,” you nervously laughed.
He pulled away, worry in his brow. “Is this alright?”
Oh, it felt more than alright. But you didn’t want to let him know that so easily.
“Maybe,” you teased.
“I’m serious,” he spoke.
“Okay, then yes,” you affirmed. “This is alright.”
He sighed, putting his chin back on your shoulder. “I’m not exactly keen on the idea of him being interested in you.”
“I can tell,” you scoffed, wondering if his jealousy was causing him to be so clingy right now. “And I still don’t think he is.”
“You don’t know him like I do.”
“True,” you said. “But I don’t like these conversations. Isn’t there anything I can say to ease your mind off of this?”
“No, but this is nice enough at the moment.” He chuckled softly. “I’m sorry, love.”
You melted at the nickname, just like always. It provided your hazy mind a brief respite form the thought that it was probably high time for you to get out of the hot springs.
For a moment, you two were still, enjoying the silence, beauty of the cavern and the closeness of their bodies. The quiet steam seemed to mirror your own steamy thoughts that kept running through your mind.
“Friends don’t do this, do they?” He asked, pulling you closer as he met your eyes. Though his tone was earnest, you could tell he was testing his luck, watching your every move to see what would be allowed in such a compromising position.
“Mm, not that I’m aware of,” you shook your head, testing your own luck by wrapping your arms around his neck. You could’ve swore you felt him shudder at the contact. “But I don’t know if we’re exactly friends anymore, either.”
“Then what would you say we are?” His hands trailed down your back, resting on your hips.
You instinctually leaned closer, until you could feel his breath on your face.
“More than friends,” you whispered. “But less than lovers.”
“Mm, that would be a good song title–”
“Can I kiss you?”
The words left your lips before you even realized you had said such a thing out loud. But it did nothing to shock the rockstar in front of you, who was quick to close the empty space between you both.
His lips softly took yours, his kiss delicate at first, like he was afraid he would break you. You were quick to return it, one of your hands snaking up into his hair and pulling just ever so slightly.
But the effect it had on him was intoxicating. A small moan left his lips, and suddenly he was adjusting you in his lap, having you straddle him now as his fingers sank into your hips, their hold delicately firm.
You adjusted yourself in his lap, the heat of the hot springs and the dwarf beneath you making your mind turn to jello as you lost yourself in his kiss. You savored the taste of him in your mouth, your breathing becoming uneven as he pulled away to pepper kisses down your jaw, trailing lower to your neck.
Was this really happening? Or was it some sick wet dream? You felt like you were losing your mind, your whole body hot like fire. An almost carnal feeling filling your senses as you wanted nothing more than him.
“We should get out,” he whispered between kisses, coming back up to your lips. “Of the water, I mean.”
“Just a little longer.” You pleaded, both hands in his wavy hair. You pulled him closer to you, if that was even possible.
Truly, you didn’t know what was taking over you. There wasn’t a drop of liquor in you and yet here you were, acting like a damn animal in heat.
He pulled away again, staring into your eyes with such admiration and want that you couldn’t even fully appreciate with how lightheaded you were. He kissed your cheek, and then your lips, and then the corner of your mouth before diving lower and lower, peppering the shape of your jaw with his kisses.
“Is this alright?” He spoke in between each kiss, not daring to go any lower until you gave him permission. And it was all you wanted him to do.
“Yes, Fíli,” you whispered, begging. “Please.”
His grip on you tightened, gently pushing you down against him for some much needed friction. You lost your breath at the feeling; you could feel your whole body heating up, an almost carnal feeling filling your senses as you wanted nothing more than him.
His teeth grazed your neck, now leaving little bites in between his kisses. Not hard enough to leave a mark, but certainly enough to illicit another moan from your lips. He knew exactly what he was doing.
Your grip in his hair tightened, and it drove him crazy. Alone in the beautiful cave, you two were turning almost animalistic.
But it was quickly interrupted by you shifting your weight, causing you both to slip off of the rocky ledge you were planted on and deeper into the water. You let out a shout of surprise, your hands immediately catching yourself on his shoulders. But while you were unscathed, he caught the brunt force of the fall, his head completely underwater before he sat back up, gasping for air.
You immediately stood up, helping him up out of the water with a worried fervor.
“Oh my— Fíli! Are you okay?” You checked his head to see if he had injured himself any further than accidental drowning.
But his boisterous laughter that soon turned into a coughing fit was enough to let a sigh of relief leave your lips.
“I think that’s a sign, if anything,” he joked, coughing up here and there. “It’s time to get out.”
The steam had finally done you both in, making you both so lightheaded until you realized it was certainly time to get out. Almost drunk on having such a good time, you both couldn’t stop laughing at any little thing the other said. Suddenly, all sexual tension had simmered for now. Even having Fíli open the door for you was enough to make you giggle.
“Gods, I’m starving,” he laughed with a shiver as the cold air of the penthouse nipped at him. “Is it too late to order takeout?”
You shivered in turn, hugging your towel closer to your body. “I don’t know, what time is it? I know there was a takeout menu in the hotel lobby.”
He sat on the couch, checking his phone. “It’s only ten thirty, I’d say that’s plenty of time for some late night pizza.”
You checked your own phone, noting your missed call from Threl. You’d call him back later, when Fìli wouldn’t be around to get jealous again. “Then how about I go grab the menu downstairs?”
“Don’t bother, I’ll go get it,” Fíli said, but you were already pulling a sweatshirt over yourself.
“Too late!” You teased, heading for the oaken doors as you pulled your sweatpants over your swimsuit and slipped into your shoes. “I’ll be right back, I want to grab some clean clothes out of my room anyways.”
Fíli lifted both hands in the air, clearly accepting defeat. “Don’t run off on me, now.”
“I won’t, I get paid by the hour,” you laughed. “Unless Thorin doesn’t count today in my check.”
You could hear his laughter as you slipped through the doors, pressing the lobby button on the elevator with a smile on your face.
Now, finally alone, your heart seemed to be doing backflips as you processed everything that had just happened. A small part of you still ached for his touch, wanting to continue what had been so rudely interrupted by your complete lack of balance, but you knew in your heart that it had certainly been enough excitement for one night.
You finally reached the lobby, the cold air-conditioned air hiting you in the face as you waltzed into the empty room. Save for the lone receptionist on her phone, there was nobody else around. Or so you thought.
Just as you turned the corner to go grab a menu from the front desk, you saw a very sweaty Threl walk towards the elevators, clearly coming from a fresh workout.
“Y/N!” He called, a smile on his face as he approached you. “What are you doing down here?”
“Grabbing some takeout,” you waved the menu for emphasis. “And what about you? How was shopping?”
“Oh, it was great,” he nodded. “Got everything I wanted except something for Thorin. He’s always the hardest to shop for. Did you see the stuff I texted you?”
“Only a little,” you admitted. “I’ve been off my phone for the most part of today.”
“Mm, I see,” he teased. “Too busy on your not-date, I take it?”
“Actually, I did a spa day for myself,” you beamed with pride. “Balin gave me a lethal discount.”
“We had discounts?” He looked devastated. “Damn, that would’ve been good to know. No wonder you look so good.”
You laughed, gesturing to your sweatpants. “Yeah, I’m the pinnacle of beauty right now.”
“I meant you don’t look exhausted,” he laughed, wiping some sweat from his forehead with his towel. “But what are you up to right now? Would you want to come over and watch a movie or something after you order in?”
“Oh, I can’t,” you tried to hide your slight nervousness. “Fíli and I are still… hanging out right now.”
Threl’s face showed he was surprised, but he tried to laugh it off. “Wow, getting busy this late at night?”
“I told you, it’s not like that,” you waved him off, despite the fact that he wasn’t entirely wrong. But you didn’t have the heart to tell him that just yet. “We’re just hanging out and eating takeout. I actually need to head back up right now, he’s probably wondering why I’m taking so long.”
“Mm, you’ll have to tell me all the frivolous details tomorrow,” he winked, but something about him felt off. Like he didn’t fully mean it.
“Seriously, nothing happened,” you lied again. Was Fíli right? Did Threl have some feelings towards you? Suddenly you couldn’t look at him fully the same, Fíli’s jealous argument playing in your mind.
You don’t know him as well as I do.
“Well, that’s good to hear,” he laughed. “That you’re still on the market, of course.”
“I don’t understand.” You nervously laughed, feigning confusion as best as possible. Surely he didn’t mean something serious.
“It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but I’d really love to take you out on a date, Y/N. Once this is all over.”
