(no subject)

[durincest]

[Traveling alone was much harder than Kili had anticipated.

He'd packed everything he'd needed in the dead of night, so perhaps a lot of the trouble was there. Things with Fili weren't...going well, and he just needed to go. Maybe some time apart would help, and Kili was anxious to prove himself anyway.

It takes longer than he'd expected to find Thorin. He'd known at least where his uncle was headed, having maybe listened in on a conversation Thorin had with Dis. But the first village he found was devoid of any familiar dwarves, though he did find someone who pointed him in the right direction.

By the time he staggers into the right town, he's tired and hungry and footsore. Men make him nervous, and he eyes them uneasily, one hand tight around his sword hilt as he wandered through the village.

It's luck that takes him past the forge, and his eyes seek out a familiar face, searching, until finally he catches sight of Thorin, beating hot metal into place.]

Thorin! [Heedless now of his blistered feet and exhaustion, a smile splits the young dwarf's face and he dashes to greet him.]

Comments

[durincest]

[Thorin's words just bring a bright smile to the young dwarf's face. He understands that his uncle is, in a round about way, expressing his affection, and that very much helps his mood.

The cold bath is not quite as appreciated, and Thorin's clothes are a little large on him, but the food is amazing. A young, growing dwarf can fit quite a lot in his belly, particularly when he's been traveling and not eating well. He eats until he's full to bursting before leaning back in his chair with a content sigh.

Warm, clean, and well-fed, Kili's starting to get a bit sleepy. He leans against Thorin with a bit of a yawn, even though a story from one of the travelers has him completely enraptured. He's getting a little more comfortable around these incredibly tall people. The more they talk, the more he realizes they aren't much different from him.]

[kinginexile]

[It is good to see Kili relaxing, coming more into himself as dinner goes on. The others in the inn are kind to them and the stories are good enough to be entertaining. He hardly minds Kili leaning against him, he's not unused to being used as a pillow of some sort for both Kili and his brother.

Thorin smokes his pipe as they listen to tales of men, finding himself pleasantly relaxed as well. It's not until some of the others start to head off to bed that Thorin will realize the hour, he'll finish with his pipe and peek down at Kili, wondering if he's still awake.]

... Kili?

[Regardless of if he's sleeping or not, Thorin will nudge him gently.]

Come, we should retire to our room.

[durincest]

[As interested and amused as the young dwarf is by the stories, he's dog tired. He ends up half-dozing against Thorin's side, feeling more safe and comfortable than he has since he left home. Thorin will protect him; he knows that without a doubt.

He stirs sleepily when Thorin nudges him, blinking up and yawning. He attempts to make it look like he hasn't been sleeping, realizing he might be losing some respect from the Men that have been swapping tales for falling asleep.]

Mm, yeah, I was just going to say that.

[kinginexile]

[There is a small knowing smile that says he totally saw his nephew dozing, but he won't say anything. Giving a curt good night to those still around, Thorin will lead the way back upstairs to his room, well their room now, and closes the door once Kili ambles in behind him.

Bed looked so nice now and the older dwarf will gravitate easily to it, sitting on the edge of the human sized bed. Boots kicked off, Thorin sets his pipe on the small nightstand beside the bed and considers lighting a small fire in the fireplace... but then decides against it. It is not cool enough this night to warrant it. Besides, the blankets here were warm and plenty and no doubt with Kili sharing the bed with him, he'd find a limpet to keep him extra warm.

But he doesn't want to sleep, not quite yet. Not that he could anyway. Sleep was always hard to come for him and he would rather wait till Kili has dozed off till he tried to find his own rest. So he'll get up to go rummage in his things, finding parchment that he could write on. Might as well get their letter for Dis started. He'll light a single candle, just enough light to write by, but not too much to be a bother to his nephew when he tried to sleep.]

[durincest]

[Kili has always been fond of cuddling. It's part of why Dis has had so much trouble getting him to sleep in his own bed. That, and the nightmares that have plagued him since childhood are easier to bear with Fili's arms around him.

He climbs into bed with a yawn, pulling the blankets up and looking over at his uncle. No doubt he's writing to his mother.]

Can you tell her I love her? And Fili too.

[His voice is soft, words half-mumbled. It's not long at all before Kili falls asleep, snoring softly.]

[kinginexile]

Of course.

[He'll nod. It's not a detailed note, just enough information to let Dis know he has Kili with him and the young dwarf was well. He won't mention any fight with Fili, just that Kili had come to him to help and had thought Dis wouldn't let him so he'd run away without telling anyone. She would be mad, but relieved he was well. Sending their love to Dis and Fili, Thorin will sign the note. Blowing out the candle he'll join Kili in bed not long after.

Thankfully he seems to be asleep, hopefully him getting into bed won't wake him. Thorin will not find sleep as easily, insomnia always his enemy at night.

Tossing and turning, Thorin will eventually pull a pillow over his face in frustration, huffing.]

[durincest]

[Kili stirs a little at all the tossing and turning his uncle is doing and lets out a soft sigh, eyes fluttering open as he yawns.]

Thorin?

[kinginexile]

[He'll sit up, pushing the pillow onto his lap as he looks over at Kili in the dark.]

Did I wake you? It's nothing... go back to sleep.

[Maybe he should take a walk or something. Go have a smoke just outside the inn to calm his nerves, not that it had helped him before bed in the first place.]

[durincest]

[Even in the dark, Kili frowns, reaching out for a handful of his uncle's shirt. He's sleepy but a little worried about Thorin.]

Something wrong, Uncle?

[kinginexile]

[If Thorin could give you a list of things wrong you would not sleep this night either, Kili. Immediately wrong? Nothing much, things wrong that he wanted to change, many. The tug of his shirt has him reaching semi-blind in the dark to feel for his nephew, petting a hand down his mused hair to reassure him.]

Tis nothing but sleep hiding from me.

[durincest]

[A second hand joins the first, entwining in Thorin's front. Kili scoots closer to his uncle, leaning against him and yawning softly. He smiles sleepily at the mussing of his hair.]

Is there maybe something I could do?

[kinginexile]

[Even as Kili gets older and tries to prove himself as an adult, he still behaves much like a child around Thorin at times. Like now. Leaning against him, clinging to his shirt like the little dwarrow he had been. It felt like the years had passed too quickly, one moment he was barely at his knees and now Kili stood almost as tall as him.]

Mm, go back to sleep.

[Thorin will say, ruffling Kili's hair now. He shouldn't have to be awake because his uncle was after all.]

You will need your rest after your journey, if you wish to work.

[durincest]

[Kili wants to be an adult, but in many ways he just isn't ready to give up being a child. He's grown used to being coddled and spoiled, even in the Blue Mountains. He nearly always gets his way, and when he doesn't, he pitches an enormous fit until he does.

So yes. He behaves like a child in some ways because he honestly doesn't know better.]

You need rest too, Thorin.

[kinginexile]

Aye, but there is nothing you can do about it, now...

[Thorin will take up his pillow and shove it against Kili's face. Not forcefully mind you, almost playfully, if Thorin could manage that.]

Go to sleep.

[He says this as he lays back down as well, stealing Kili's pillow, since he'd given the lad his in turn.]

[durincest]

[Keep up the games and Kili definitely won't be going back to sleep! He giggles, taking Thorin's pillow and giving his uncle a good swat with it.]

Not until you do!

[kinginexile]

[Kili are you five? He's played this game years ago. Usually with two young dwarrows coming at him with pillows as they fought valiantly to not be put to bed. They were lacking one dwarf, but still, Kili seemed ever the same no matter his size.

Thorin will roll over and give Kili a look, if he can see it that is.]

And how do you think I shall manage to sleep with your horsing around?

[durincest]

[Come on Thorin, you totally started it. Kili just took that as an invitation.

And yeah...yeah, he's pretty much five.]

...I don't know, but you started it.

[kinginexile]

[... so rolling his eyes at you. He'll roll back over again, back to Kili and he'll 'sleep'. Or, close his eyes and sigh heavily and wish he was sleeping.]

...

[Maybe part of him doesn't want to fall asleep, he doesn't want to deal with inevitable nightmares, but gods what he'd give for one night where he just slept through it all. Rolling onto his back now, Thorin will stare up at the ceiling, hands knit together on his chest.]

I am almost tempted to ask you to sing me a lullaby.

[durincest]

[Aww. Kili pouts a little when Thorin rolls over, but this once he doesn't throw a fit over it. He is tired, after all.

And then Thorin rolls onto his back, which Kili of course takes as an invitation to curl up against him and rest his head on his uncle's broad shoulder.]

I can do that, if you want. I won't be as good as you, though.

[It's a little backwards, but Kili doesn't mind! He's eager to please, particularly when it comes to impressing his uncle.]

[kinginexile]

[Kili is warm against him and it's comforting, perhaps it's what he needs. How many times had he roughed about with the boys when they'd been younger, worn them out till they crashed and found himself sleeping with them as well. Read them a bedtime story only to wake up a few hours later having dozed off too, two little dwarrows curled against his sides, or one in his lap, the other leaning against him.

So to him this wasn't as strange as others may view it.]

Do you remember any that I've sung to you?

[He'll smile just a little, fingers gently carding into Kili's hair, meaning to be soothing.]

[durincest]

[Thorin isn't home much anymore, and Kili's missed his uncle terribly. There had been many a night that he and Fili had fallen asleep by the fire, waiting for Thorin to come home. Curling up against his side, resting comfortably against him, it made Kili feel so safe.

Perhaps it was because he had barely known his own father. The flashes he did remember were mostly from nightmares, which had faded once he'd started to sleep in Fili's bed. Thorin was the father that Kili never had, and no one made him feel more protected.

The feel of fingers in his hair is achingly familiar, and Kili smiles as well, his eyes closing for a moment or two.]

I remember all of them, Uncle.

[Here, in a private setting, Kili felt comfortable just calling Thorin "Uncle". Outside, where others could hear them, he was just "Thorin". Thorin had insisted on it when the lads were young in order to protect them, and it had stuck pretty easily.]

[kinginexile]

[Kili sounds so proud saying he remembers them all and Thorin can't help but chuckle.]

One will suffice for tonight.

[durincest]

Alright.

[Kili smiles at his uncle, snuggling in a little closer and clearing his throat before he starts to sing.

His voice isn't nearly as low as Thorin's, and he stumbles a little over some of the more ancient Khuzdul words. It's his native language, yes, but some of the words in the song are from the days of the Seven Fathers. Still, he enjoys himself and he does his best.]

[kinginexile]

[No matter the imperfections of Kili's performance, part way through it does seem to start working. Thorin closes his eyes and lets himself focus on the song. Eventually fingers that had been gently kneading his nephew's hair slow and still, signaling that Thorin has actually dozed off.

Only the softness of his breathing can be heard when Klli finishes singing.]

[durincest]

[He doesn't really notice how Thorin has stilled until he stops singing. A quick glance up at his uncle confirms that yes, he has fallen asleep, which makes Kili smile.

He snuggles a little closer, letting out a soft sigh as he too drifts off.]