restless (for hope) [bilbo/nori]
I’m not blaming @bxdcubes but I thank them thousand times 💚 I hope you’ll enjoy it, darling heart, and that this poison will suit your tastes ❤
He doesn’t want to say anything. He doesn’t dare speak, too afraid of breaking this precious moment between them.
He’s aware of the air leaving his lungs, softly and carefully. He would do everything (and more, so much more) to not jostle the sweet creature leaning on him.
Bilbo’s eyes are closed and Nori counts it as a blessing as the hobbit sleeps restfully on his chest.
But he misses the bright light of his irises, and the mischievousness hidden behind their blue seas.
He ignores the whispers in the camp. The not so subtle looks thrown his way.
He’s always been an outcast, he doesn’t mind it as much as they think he does.
Nori just hopes they won’t paint Bilbo with the same brush, while he simply offers the previously home-bound hobbit some warmth during the night.
Despite Thorin’s dark muttering of spoiled halflings, Bilbo doesn’t ask for much. Barely asks for a company - and why would he, when the dwarves treat him like a walking burden?
Nori is not as proud as his kin to not notice that the sweet hobbit had no reason to join them on their quest. The dwarves? Every single one of them wants to reclaim their home - even if they know nothing about it.
But Bilbo? Bilbo could’ve stayed home, stayed warm and fed in his homely hole, and no one could blame him for it.
Nori sees the blinding kindness in him, but he also notices the mischievous spark in his river-colored eyes - especially when a small inconvenience (nothing hurtful, nothing malign, but still joyful) befalls the youngest of their crew. And Bifur for some reason, but the dwarf only chatters happily in their mother tongue and laughs with his whole body.
Nori sees it all and he has to stop himself.
He has to stop himself from borrowing some of the warmest blankets of Thorin and Kili, borrowing Bombur’s bottomless bag full of provisions and stealing his their burglar into the night.
With how trustingly Bilbo lies by his side and how most of the company refuses to acknowledge them, it would be easy to get Bilbo home and invite himself in.
Nori doesn’t - only because he’s seen Bilbo’s kindness and his mischievousness, and the stubborn tilt of his adorable jaw.
He does pray to Mahal, for the first time in years.
He prays for his brother and their little cousin.
He prays for Bilbo, for his safety and health.
He prays for a chance to build a home with him.
