Work For Free - Part 9
Characters: Reader, Fili, Bilbo, Bard, Faramir, Smaug, Eowyn, Tauriel, Eomer… anyone else I fancy just throwing in.
Summary: Here is the tale of a day, just one day, confined within the four walls of a small but perfectly formed Tea Room. There is drama and romance and probably a bit of slapstick thrown in to break it up a bit but I’m not promising anything.
Word Count: 3590 words
Prompt: Coffee Shop AU (I may have taken a little bit of a liberty with this.) and Neglected Characters from the Tolkeinverse.
A/N: There are some ideas that just take hold and won’t let you go until you have captured them on the page. This is one of those ideas. This is the LAST part and I want to thank you all for reading and all the lovely little messages, tags and reblogs and thank you @littlered83 for coming up with such an inspirational challenge for me.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8
Through a door in a wall there was a tea room. Not a nasty, sticky, damp tea room filled with incontinent old ladies complaining and the faint smell of wee, nor yet a minimalist, ironic hipster take on a tea room with beanbags you can’t get out of and strange ergonomic chairs that dig into your spine: it was Bilbo Baggins tea room, and that means comfort.
He had been working for Bilbo for a little over five years now. It had been his uncle's idea, trying to keep him and his brother out of trouble, but he had fallen in love with the place, with the customers, with a certain co-worker. And so he had stayed, even when Kili moved on to ‘better’ things he had remained sweeping the floors and brewing the tea in his happy, contented little bubble.
The brass bell above the door jingled and the beautiful cadence of your voice met his ears causing him to turn and watch as you made your way into the shop. A soft smile grew on his face as he watched you exchange pleasantries with Bilbo who was his usual ‘happy’ self. Your eyes met his own and for a brief moment he felt his heart stop and the world around you became kinda misty, as if you were the only thing in clear focus. Rolling his eyes dramatically in response to Bilbo’s demeanor he was rewarded by that beautiful, stomach flipping smile of yours and he had to remind himself to breath. “Morning Fi.” you nodded as you removed your coat and headed behind the counter. He watched you pass by, the scent of your perfume mingled with your shampoo filled the air for a split second and he paused in his task of removing the chairs from the tables, a goofy grin spreading across his face.
“Are you going to stand there day dreaming all day Master Fili?” Bilbo’s voice cut through his reverie and as his eyes met his bosses he knew he had been caught out. For a brief moment he panicked, wondered if Bilbo would drop him in it, and then you reappeared.
“Awww, come on Bilbo, cut the poor boy some slack, he had a hot date last night. Right Fi?” His heart sank as once again you seemed completely unaffected by the thought of him dating someone who wasn’t you. He caught Bilbo looking at him in a mixture of disapproval and surprise which caused Fili to concentrate intently on the chair in his hands.
“Yeah, yeah that…that didn’t really… erm… it didn’t work out.” Rubbing the back of his neck he just prayed you would drop the subject but when your hand touched his shoulder he felt a shudder of nerves flow through him and his eyes shot up to yours.
“You’ll find her Fi. She’s probably out there right now just waiting for you to show up.” You smiled that sweet, bright, encouraging smile of yours that momentarily made him think he could do anything and then you turned away leaving him with so many unspoken words on the end of his tongue. The bell tinkled, indicating the first customer of the day and he smiled as Faramir scurried in, some things never changed.
His morning so far had been taken up with serving customers and sneaking glances at you, wishing he could just get his shit together and ask you out. It was mid-morning when his friend Bard stumbled through the door, obviously suffering from the night before, his head coming to rest on the counter. He heard you promise to send him over with the order and the way his name fell from your lips caused his heart to race and before you had even looked over he was standing by the cake case ready and waiting.
Taking the tray over to the sofa where Bard was definitely not snoozing, Fili tentatively reached out and patted his arm. Smiling when his friends eyes opened he offered up the steaming brew. “Thanks man.” Bard mumbled as he sat up and Fili took up the space next to him, sinking into the cushions.
“This can’t be good for you. I mean, you know I will always provide the hangover cure but I worry about you.” Fili rubbed the back of his neck as he glanced over at Bard.
“Have you ever wanted something so badly but you just haven’t got the balls to just put yourself out there and do it? I can’t even remember half of last nights set but I do know it went down really well. What if I can’t do that sober?” Fili’s eyes darted across to the counter where you were busy stacking cups, your hair falling into your face, and the corners of his mouth twitched upwards for a moment.
“What if you can do even better sober?” Fi murmured, bringing his thoughts back to Bards situation but his words only caused his friend to groan and lean back on the sofa.
“That’s the thing though isn’t it. Maybe it will be the most amazing experience of my life but maybe I will fail so catastrophically that it will forever alter the path of my life.” Fili’s eyes fell on you again as you smiled sweetly at an elderly customer. You were always so kind and lovely and so far out of his league. Bards words were all too true and he nodded in agreement. “You know exactly what I’m talking about though. It’s hard putting yourself out there man.”
“Yeah, I know where you’re coming from.” Fili sighed and turned back to his friend. “I had a date last night.”
“Really?” Choosing to ignore the obvious surprise on his friends face Fi pressed on.
“Kili has been getting on at me about getting out there. Figures I need to get over this and move on.” He realised this was the first time he had actually acknowledged his feelings for you to anyone and his cheeks flushed a little as he noticed Bards grin. He suddenly wondered if his friend knew, if maybe everyone already knew.
“And?” The memory of last night flitted across his mind and he winced.
“It was a huge disaster from the moment I met her. I got the feeling my brother had bigged me up somewhat and in person I was somewhat of a let down. Not her type. To be honest I think she was kinda into Kili anyway.” Fi sighed and his shoulders slumped.
“That’s gotta be a bit of a dent to the ego.” He opened his mouth to reply but the kick he received had Fi looking at his friend in confusion until he felt you in close proximity. He could always sense where you were in the room and he turned to look at you expectantly.
“Just going on my break. Gonna eat in the back today, got a hot date with a book.” It was difficult for him to focus on what you were actually saying when you smiled at him like that. He just nodded and watched you go, partly aware that Bard was watching him.
“Maybe we should both be a little braver.” Fili turned back to him, eyes wide in panic. There was no way he could just tell you. “I only said ‘maybe’, you know as well as I do I’ll be back here tomorrow smelling of whatever alcohol I’ve had to boost me up tonight. I’m gonna head home and get some sleep before I go through all this again but you, my friend, maybe consider telling her how you feel before someone else gets in there.” As Bard patted him on the shoulder he let the words sink in. He was right, there was no way some hot guy wasn’t going to wander into your life and sweep you off her feet but he just couldn’t fight the fear that you would laugh in his face and then never talk to him again. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t noticed your interactions with a certain muscular blond who came in several times a week and if that guy realised then maybe he would lose you sooner rather than later.
A few minutes before 4pm Fili got that sinking feeling in his stomach that had started to appear each day and when the bell jingled to announce the arrival of more customers he stiffened as he saw your face light up. His heart sank as he realised he had no chance, the guy who held your attention was brooding and mysterious, a far cry from the shy and awkward figure he was. It seemed like there was some tension between this guy and his companion and Fili felt the need to stay close to the counter, not quite sure why but he wanted to be near. He had half an ear on the conversation and with each comment he felt his blood beginning to boil.
“It’s her job. She gets paid to make tea.”
“She doesn’t get paid to deal with men with no manners.”
“Actually, she does.”
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Faramir get to his feet and instinctively took a step forward behind the counter.
“Why can’t you be more like her? She knows her place is behind a counter making people drinks. It’s not rocket science, hardly taxing work but she’s not trying to compete with the big boys just to prove a point.” Fili stiffened. Hardly taxing work?
“Excuse me?” He heard the words come out of his mouth but the firm tone was unfamiliar. As if with a mind of its own his mouth kept spewing out words with a bravado that inner Fili wasn’t entirely sure he felt but he’d be damned if he was going to stand by and hear anyone speak to his sweet, beautiful girl like that. “You come in here quite often and have you ever once even bothered to ask her name? You say this job is hardly taxing and you may be right but it turns out she’s pretty damned good at it and there is far more to it than simply making rude customers tea and not spitting in it. As for ‘knowing her place’ how do you know she’s not currently studying to be an engineer or a doctor or something and works here to help her pay for school? Maybe she’s an incredible artist and works here just because she enjoys meeting people? I think you owe her an apology and probably your sister too because ever since you came through that door today you’ve been rude and a poor example of a man.” His body was shaking with adrenaline as silence rang out and he glared icily at Eomer, not daring to look at you incase you were horrified at his intervention. He stayed close, his eyes following the pair to the table by the window, making sure you were okay but not able to actually say anything after his embarrassing outburst he shuffled around the shop cleaning things away and generally straightening up.
The light had begun to fade through the window and as it came up to closing the streetlights illuminated as if by magic casting a warm glow on the sidewalk as people hurried through the increasingly chilly air on their way home and as Fili glanced through the window he saw a familiar flash of red hair. With a shake of his head he saw his brothers girl friend rush into the shop and sidle up to the counter. He knew it wasn’t going to be long before she would come bounding over wanting to know all about last night and he really didn’t feel like it.
“Fili! Come and sit with me, tell me things.” Kicking out a chair for him, Tauriel looked up and he sat warily, wondering just how much his brother had already told her.
“I take it you’ve seen Kili today then.” His brow furrowed and she attempted to hide her smirk by taking a bite of muffin.
“Yep.” She said through her mouthful.
“And he told you about last night?” Fili’s tone was hesitant wondering just how badly he had come across in that tale.
“Yep.” She confirmed, to which he let out a large sigh.
“Well, if you want details I think you’ve probably got them all by now so…” he made to get up but she the sound of her nearly choking on her muffin made him pause. Surely there couldn’t be anything more he could tell her about the epic car crash that was his love life.
“I don’t care about last night, that’s old news. I want to know how long you’ve been crushing on my best friend.” There was a moment of silence as Fili slowly returned to his seat, obviously there was more humiliation for him to endure but at least he could keep it confined to this corner and, hopefully, quiet enough that nobody else could hear.
“What?” He asked as if he hadn’t heard her but he had paused too long for that to be true.
“Oh my god I’m right aren’t I!” Tauriels eyes widened and he knew he had just fallen into a trap. His cheeks flushed and he felt a heat rush through his entire body.
“No I…” He began to protest but there was no going back now.
“You totally like her! I mean, when she told me you stood up to green tea guy for her I began to suspect but your face says I’m right on the money with this one!” Tauriel leaned forward and the force of her stare caused him to look up in defeat. Bard knew and Tauriel knew and soon Kili would know and you probably knew… this was hopeless.
“We’re just friends. Nothing going on there. She likes green tea guy anyway so even if I did like her like that, which I don’t, she wouldn’t be interested would she?” It was intended as a rhetorical question but he couldn’t help the small spark of hope within his chest as he asked. Maybe you had said something to Tauriel.
“I don’t know Fi, she did just say you were her knight in shining armor.” She shrugged and took another bite of her muffin.
“Well…she what?” Fili felt confused and glanced over in your direction in wonder, a knight in shining armor? That was a good thing right?
“Yeah, had this goofy grin on her face when she told me how you defended her honor.” Tauriel continued and the small spark inside him began to grow.
“Really?” A wide smile broke across his face as he continued to watch you cleaning the counter.
“Yeah, a little like the one on your face right now.” Fili felt the heat rising in his cheeks knowing he had been caught out again, flushing from a pink to a deep red. “So, you do like her then.”
“Taur, what do I do? I am hopeless at all this and we both know I’d only stuff this up so maybe I should just not do anything.” His voice was laced with desperation and now that he had finally said it out loud it was all far too real.
“And how’s that working out for you so far? What if green tea guy asked her out? How would you feel then?” He looked at her in horror as she glared at him earnestly. “Fili, how long have you liked her?”
“How long has she worked her now?” He sighed and ran a hand over his face.
“That long! And you’ve never said anything to anyone! FILI!” he winced as she exploded, glancing around he just hoped nobody was paying attention to them.
“Look, we’re not you and Kili are we. Not everyone can find the love of their life working here and we both know she isn’t into me, wouldn’t even look at me twice.” His voice was small, any confidence he might have had evaporated leaving just the defeated husk of a guy.
“Why not?” her voice was quiet and he refused to look at her, she mostly likely just trying to be kind.
“Come on Tauriel.” Shaking his head, he huffed out a sarcastic laugh at the idea.
“No, seriously, why not? Why not you?” she insisted and he could feel the pity rolling off her. There were a million reasons why not him and all of them were glaringly obvious but if she needed a list…
“She could have any guy she wants. She’s clever and funny and kind and beautiful and… way out of my league.” His eyes lingered on your form as you wiped down a table and he sighed.
“Fili, maybe tell her how clever and beautiful she is. You never know, you might be the guy she wants.” Tauriel slid her empty place across to him and he automatically picked it up. “Faint heart never won fair lady.” She got to her feet and although he knew where she was coming from he had been a coward about this for too long. He only hoped Tauriel wouldn’t say anything to you.
Fili locked it behind Tauriel and let out a huge sigh. “Long day?” you call over as you wipe down the counter top and his heart skipped.
“Something like that.” He shrugged as he began to place chairs on top of tables preparing to sweep the floor for a final time. This could be the last time you were both together without everything getting weird. He was fairly certain Tauriel would land him in it either directly or by blabbing to his brother and he steeled himself, figured he might as well tell you.
“I’m gonna put the cash in the safe then I’m gonna head off.” Your words cut his sudden call to bravery in half and he simply nodded at you a little downhearted.
“Oh. Okay.” It was a stupid idea anyway. He should just get over it, let you be.
Fili was busy doing the final checks, sweeping up and generally muttering to himself about what a loser he was when you wandered back into the room, pulling your coat on. “I’m going, see you tomorrow. Oh, and Fi,” His eyes met yours and there was something he couldn’t quite put his finger on, something a little different in your gaze. There was a very pregnant pause as they both stood there, inches from each other staring into each other’s eyes. “Thank you, for earlier, that was really very sweet of you.” You murmured and he froze as you leaned forward and he felt your lips graze over his cheek in a gentle but brief kiss. He watched you turning and heading to the door to leave and his heart was so conflicted. “See you tomorrow Fi.” You called as you unhooked the bolt, turned the brass handle and walked out into the chilly evening air and he could do nothing more than watch you go.
Fili leaned on the broom in his hand, his cheeks a little flushed and a dopey grin on his face. “Well Master Fili, if that doesn’t stir you to move then maybe you don’t deserve her.”
“What?” Fili nearly fell over his own feet, startled by the voice and then a little confusion at the statement. He’d totally forgotten that Bilbo was still here.
“The girl thanks you and gives you a kiss on the cheek and you just let her walk away? Favor fortunes the brave my boy. Go after her because you may never get the chance again.” He was still staring at Bilbo as the broom was taken from his hand and his brain caught up with the situation. They were right. Everyone today had been telling him to go for it, that this was his moment and as he grabbed his jacket he shot Bilbo a thankful look and darted out of the door into the cold evening air.
Pausing for a moment on the sidewalk he looked around desperately, catching a glimpse of you turning a corner. Yelling your name, he sprinted after you, skidding around the corner to see you standing there with an amused confusion written across your face. “Fi?” you smiled and he knew he needed to do this quick before his nerve gave out. He knew that there were no words, he’d played over a million different scenario and he could never find the right words. Coming to a halt right in front of you his eyes held a certainty, a self-confidence and taking a deep breath he cupped your face and pressed his lips to yours. He was taken by how soft your lips were against his and it took him a moment to realise you were in fact kissing him back and his hands slid down to your hips, pulling you closer as he felt your fingers winding through his hair. Breaking the kiss breathlessly he rested his forehead against yours and huffed out a chuckle.
“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do that.” His eyes searched yours affectionately.
“I’m not sure we got it quite right, maybe we should try again.” As you grabbed the front of his jacket and pulled him in for a passionate kiss a thought flitted across his mind that he was so damned glad he worked in that tearoom, that cozy, magical, crazy place that was Bagend Tea Emporium.
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