(I'LL BE THERE Alternate Ending)
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Fíli found himself with Kíli’s arms around his neck and Kíli’s body flush against his, Kíli’s breath tickling his bearded chin, and no idea how he got there.
If he squinted, Fíli could imagine Kíli was older; the kid had stubble and a sharp jaw and somewhat looked older than he was and, yes, Fíli would keep telling himself that because it was comforting, and he wasn’t a pedophile.
Kíli led them in an impromptu slow dance, Fíli following like there was nowhere else he’d rather be. Until he remembered there was somewhere else he was obligated to be on threat of death. Regretfully, he forced Kíli still.
“Hey! Hey - Guys! Can you … Can you just kiss? Please?” A loud, hoarse voice burst the tension, calling from somewhere by the treeline.
Kili squinted, peering over to see someone who resembled their friend but with frizzier, more unkempt hair and drooping posture.
“Mare?” Kili yelled back before asking Fili, “What on earth is she doing here?”
“Yeah! Hey! So, if you two could just smash face and wrap this up? I’d be grateful!”
Fili knitted his brow, eyes shifting between Kili and Marigold. “You remember he’s fifteen in this, right?”
“I really don’t care; I just need get this done. Got a … got a big day of cowering tomorrow.”
Fili and Kili thought for a second, realization hitting them simultaneously. “Mm, no one’s gonna be happy about that one.” Fili murmured, shaking his head.
“She knows there’s a whole ending that needs writing, right?” Kili blinked, jerking his thumb to his right where lay the spill of blank pages that needed filling. “We’re not supposed to kiss in this one!”
“Fuck it!” Marigold called back, “I don’t care anymore. Let’s go!”
“You realize this exchange is taking more time than the ending you planned?!”
“Mare,” Fili interjected, “It’s kind of wrong, I could be arrested!”
Marigold narrowed her eyes and folded her arms, “Fili, you can kiss the kid or Hannibal Lecter him, I have enough energy to do either so figure your shit out because I 👏 WANT 👏 TO 👏 GO 👏 TO 👏 BED 👏!!”
“Ah. She’s tired. Okay!” Kili held up a hand in surrender, turning to face Fili for the final sentence.
Fili leaned down and planted a hesitant peck on Kili’s lips. When they looked up, Marigold was hunched forward, still standing but very much asleep, her snores drifting through the air.
“Should we - ?”
“Leave her. She’ll murder us in the next one if we wake her.”
Kili nodded and together they returned to Fili’s truck, letting their friend sleep off her exhaustion.
