#also blank if you see this: remember when we passed eachother in the halls and counted down the days till the game released!!! that was fun

[snailfen]

happy one year of rw: downpour! im proud to have seen more slugcats come so far from when i joined the community. heres the rest of the ruffian & ruffles designs in celebration!

[faintblueivy]

Seasons we’ve seen together - yukimachi fanfiction

A/N: So after slaving over a week for this I've finally completed it! I'm so glad!

Before we start, let me scream - SPOILERS!

Summary - Finding eachother and falling in love was not something they thought was possible for them. But as the seasons passed by, it became easier. Yuki and Machi - and few moments of them being together. 

Ao3 link

Didn't think that I'll fall for another OTP, but guess what? I'm here with something new for these two idiots in love. This is my first time writing for Fruits Basket fandom and I desperately hope that I've done them justice. Hope you all enjoy it!

Word Count - 4k

Genre - Fluff, nothing else ;)

Seasons we've seen together

 Spring

The first time she meets him, spring is in full bloom.

It was her second day of high school and the beautiful and pink cherry blossoms were raining down. The gentle wift of sweetness lingering in the air was a reminder of the new season. And also for new beginnings like everyone said.

Walking down the unfamiliar hallways with a sheaf of papers in her arms, Machi feels oddly aware of every eye that follows her movement. The halls are bustling with seniors and she wonders why was it a good idea for the staff room to be built on the second year's floor. She didn't want to admit it but a part of her was wishing to catch a glimpse of her idiotic older brother. In a sea of nothing but strangers, Machi longs to find comfort of seeing someone familiar. She sighs inwardly. She had never imagined to see a day where she would want to see Kakeru voluntarily.

"Excuse me?"

 Name of the devil- wait, the voice was softer than her brother's upbeat screech.

She whirls around and comes face to face with 'the prince'. The rumoured senior who had been proclaimed as the most beautiful boy of the school. She had seen him first through the windows, surrounded by people smiling gently, as the girls around her talked about how perfect and charming he looked.

The prince with a lonely smile.

But now close up from here, she could see how mussed his hair was and the tie he wore looked crooked. Prince? Was she sure he was one?

"Yes?"

"Ah, I think you dropped this."

He extends a few papers in her direction which might have spiralled down to the floor when she was busy grappling with her thoughts.

She is able to mumble out a 'thank you' as he places the papers on the top. She waits for him to leave but he doesn't. Instead, he gives her that carefully calculated smile that she had seen a day ago directed at someone else and asks, "Do you need some help?"

"Could you please let me know the way to staff room?"

She replies him with another question of her own, her observant eyes noticing how he eyed the large bundle of papers in her arms.

"Sure. Just take right turn the next aisle you see. You'll see the plaque hanging right in front."

"Thank you."

She gives him a small bow, mindful of the stuff she was carrying. He gives her a nod and a genuine smile and weirdly enough, a part of her is relieved to see that he could smile like that. Before they could part appropriately, he is approached by a group of giggling and squealing girls who were gushing about how they were absolutely sure that he would ace the tests. Machi didn't know him that good but even still she could see how uncomfortably overwhelmed he looked at the moment. Giving him one last glance Machi went on her way, sure that he'd forget her in an hour or two. After all, why would the prince surrounded by people remember someone like her.

But she couldn't have been more wrong.

Summer

If he was honest, then Yuki didn't think he was enjoying being the student council president. Apart from the stress that the curse caused, he couldn't hold the energy that the student council exudated together. From Kakeru's unbound enthusiasm to Nao's complaining and Kimi's shallowness - everything would tire him out to the bones at the end of everyday. These people drove him mad with their eccentricness and unrestrained behaviour. Not that he should complain...but still.

Except for the newly appointed school treasurer who, at the moment, has been quietly following him around.

Kuragi Machi.

He tilts his head back slightly to steal a glance at the girl who had never once lifted her head from the papers she was invested in. Even accompanying him on the patrol today was Kimi's job. Not hers. But somehow Kimi had pushed the chore to the younger girl.

"Kuragi-san? Where do we go next?"

He questions, a pathetic attempt to start a conversation once again after countless failures.

"The sports club."

She replies monotonously, eyes never once leaving the list. He nods in acknowledgement, inwardly grimacing at another defeat.

It didn't matter, he had the entire list memorized but he couldn't help but notice how different this girl behaved. She had perfect grades, good records, perfect attendance and was highly efficient in her work. But despite how much rowdy the student council office got, she would still finish her work on time and even have enough energy to make up for the slack of others. Yuki cannot explain it in words but her behaviour unnerved him for some reason. The scene of their first meeting is still fresh in his mind. He still didn't know what had caused her to be on her knees back then, with files, papers and the entire room torn all around her. What was that Kakeru knew but he didn't.

And if he has to admit, he wants to know her better. Something about her empty eyes spoke volumes to him. He wonders why nobody else could see what he did in her. It causes a sense of discomfort in him knowing that this person was hiding her true self behind that perfect doll like persona.

"President, we're here." Her voice stops his train of thoughts, startling him for a second.

"Ah, yes. Of course."

He gives her an apologetic smile realising that he had been so occupied with his thoughts that he might have missed the gate to the outside had she not pointed it out.

The sports club building was situated near the playgrounds and fields, at a distance from the main campus. They had to walk around the football field to reach on the other side.

Yuki inhales a breath of fresh air, the sun shining strongly above their heads. It decides that it feels good. He gives a smile to his companion but she returns the look with a blank face and Yuki inwardly laughs.

It was no surprise that class 1 C was having their sports period at the moment. He had the entire time table in his head. He knew that. What shocked him was the way he was hounded on by the junior girls the second he stepped on the field.

"Yuki Senpai!"

"Senpai!"

"Sohma senpai!"

He jumps away from the girls, careful at dodging any physical affection they fling on him. His anxiousness rises as they push their way through each other, fighting, arguing and calling each other's names.

"Watch out!"

Somebody yells and Yuki feels his senses go on high alert. The first thing he notices is a football hurtling straight at them. Without thinking much, he immediately steps forward, swinging his leg out with enough force to deflect the ball on the other side. Thankfully, everyone is safe and unharmed.

"Yuki Senpai! You're a hero!"

The girls start screaming even before he is sure he had saved them all. The second he puts his foot down, he realises he had sprained it. Badly. He instantly bites his lip to not wince in pain.

"Yuki Senpai, you're really such a good hearted prince!" Someone sings from the crowd, and those words make something twist in his gut.

"I'm not..." Yuki blurts out, softly enough that the girls do not hear.

He watches the chaos for a few more minutes, trying to pacify them but with no luck. The pain in his foot growing much worse with the ticking of the clock.

"Excuse me, President. We must leave. Sports club council is waiting for us."

A familiar voice from his side delivers and he thanks Kuragi-san a million times for saving him inside his head. Apologising and leaving as soon as he could, he feels as if he could finally take a breath again after escaping the gaggle of girls. He is careful to hide his limp, deciding to deal with it only after he had reached home.

They were seated in the sports club council room to talk about the investments and renovation that the club required. But even before they could begin the meeting with the sport council's president, someone rushed in a flurry to report something immediate to the guy.

"Ah, apologies! President! Looks like I'll have to deal with the mess these idiots have made again! Will it be okay if I return back in five minutes?" He asks with a grimacing smile.

"Absolutely. Don't worry about it Nakamura-san. Please go ahead." Yuki returns it with an sympathizing one and giving a nod.

The boy is about to walk out of the room when she, who rarely ever speaks, calls out loudly.

"Nakamura-san. If you don't mind, may I use the first aid kit here?" She gestures to the kit that was kept above one of the cabinets.

"Definitely. Feel free to use it." He nods in agreement before running out of the room. The boy is barely out of the room when she speaks again, this time directed at him.

"President. Please remove your shoes."

Yuki sits their gobsmacked as she is busy rummaging through to kit, pulling out pain relieving spray and creams.

He was so sure that he had hidden his pain well. Nobody else had noticed. Then how did she? Was he that easy to read? But then again, people see him as a perfect prince. Should a perfect prince be injured and feel pain? He was sure that the answer would definitely be a 'No'. He is startled again when she kneels in front of him with the medical supplies.

What she told him next was something nobody had ever said. Something he had desperately needed to told. But he never thought that it would be from her. The person he wanted to help and to save. But nonetheless, it made him feel warm inside. And it was something he could never forget.

"You are not a Prince. You are in pain and you could have said something sooner. President, please remember that."

 Rains

The stack of papers seems never ending. His pen glides over the paper fluently, extra care being taken to make sure that no mistakes occur. The door to the room is open, wind wafting in softly, carrying the scent of petrichor with it.

The sound of rain hitting the window panes was overpowering the silence of the room. Yuki is not worried, because most of the noise causing elements of the student council were currently absent.

Kimi was out on a date with one of her new boyfriends. Nao had left earlier to prepare for an upcoming test. And Kakeru, worried about the incoming weather and torrential rains had left to pick up his girlfriend from her school, obviously entrusting his precious sister's well being in Yun-Yun's hands. Though he did not forget to warn Yuki to not do anything perverted to his sister which had unsurprisingly earned him a harsh bonk on the head.

His gaze darts toward the only other occupant of the room. Machi is busy scribbling on a notepad, working with numbers, her diligence for her work being reflected by her immense concentration. Yuki feels a little guilty though. She might have left earlier had he not asked her to calculate and summarise the expenses of the sports club for the last three months. But she never complained. The thing is she never did.

Unable to tear his gaze away from her, he admits how much he adores the way she subtly bites her lip when something doesn't add up. He likes how her brows shoot up when she finds the error in her calculations. He has no idea how long he's been sitting there simply taking her features in. And if he was honest, he is thankful to Kakeru for arranging their seats in a way that allowed him to stare at her without much suspicion.

A part of him feels wrong... watching her like this, when his heart thrums the way it does. She's...so unaware of him and his growing fondness for her but so incredibly conscious of the mess he is and his demons. He had always wondered if there was someone who could see past his lonely smile. And now, the person of his dreams was sitting right in front of him, barely a few feet away.

The sound of the rain becomes louder as the lights flicker off, startling her. The room falls into a colour of grey and darkness as she looks around with slightly visible panic on her face, only for her dark brown eyes to meet his grey ones. He is definitely amused when, even in the dim light, he can see a hint of redness of her cheeks. And she might have noticed it too, he knows when she turns her head to a side, willing her long bangs to hide it. Even though her cuteness is too much for him, her stubborn behaviour is something he has surpassed. So, in the premise of opening the window of the room, on her right, he stalks near her desk, loving how the red of her cheeks grows even brighter. His hands mechanically open the latch of the window, his attention is still directed at her. Of course, that is his fault when a violent spray of water rushes in and makes him sputter like an idiot.

"President?"

He notes how she sounds alarmed and his form tenses when she appears beside him, closer than they normally are. But Machi has never been the one to invade people's personal space and she probably had none of Tohru's natural clumsiness. He swipes the water on his lashes by the sleeve of his shirt when a white handkerchief enters his field of vision.

Machi extends the small article in his direction with wide worried eyes.

"Are you all right?"

He takes the offered cloth with a thankful smile and wipes his face. He's unexpectedly thrown off guard when her scent hits his senses. It was soft, so unlike Kimi's perfume which was strong enough to make them all cringe at it's fruity flavour. He could not put a finger at what this smell feels like though. And he was sure that trying to inhale it with a breath would definitely...freak Machi out. And he wants to believe that he is not a pervert.

"Thank you, Machi." 

He expresses his gratitude, eyes brimming with something he can hardly hold. She nods and comes to stand beside him on the window, not minding the stray water droplets that hit her. Yuki notices how her eyes soften.

"Does Machi like rain?" 

He questions, his gaze travelling to the cloudy sky above, watching the descent of the drizzle.

She hums in agreement and whispers, "Rain - messes up everything. Causes disorder and troubles in our mundane routine. But yet, it breathes life into everything around us. We can't survive without it, can we? And I think it's beautiful."

The faint smile that graces her lips is something that Yuki might have missed had he not been paying as much attention to her as he did. Machi is the only girl beside Tohru, whose simple upward quirk of lips could make his heart swell with immense affection. Maybe it was how rare this smile seemed that Yuki desperately wished to etch this moment in the back of his mind, to preserve and hold it close forever like a precious gem.

He had known that she was special for a while now, but now, he accepted that he yearned to see that smile for as long as possible.

 Autumn

The red leaves dance around her as she trudges through the roads to her apartment. The sun is about to set, the sky painted in hues of red, gold and pink. She jumps when a wildly whirling leaf smacks her right in the face, her fingers immediately latching on it.

The leaf looked...pretty. Red, with more yellow splotches on the left side than the right and a few brown spots of decay. It reminds her of the leaf she still had in her bag, tucked safely in one of her notebooks. Suddenly, a strong wind blows and the leaf escapes her fingers in the direction of the path she had just walked away from. And probably due to her stupid fascination with red coloured maple leaves, she instinctively runs to follow it when a hand snatches it out of air in one swift motion.

She is left dumbfounded. The president of her school is standing right in front of her, her leaf pinched carefully between his long fingers.

"Were you looking for this?"

He steps closer to her, offering the leaf as if he was offering a rose, smiling softly. She grasps the stalk of the leaf and holds it close to her chest.

"What are you doing here?"

"Why? Is there a rule that I am not allowed in this part of the city?" He teases her, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

Before she can retort, he smiles and says, "Please come with me."

Moving past her he heads for a certain destination and a part of her feels indignant that he's sure she'll follow him. Funnily enough, another part of her conscience chides her, reminding that he wouldn't come all the way just to annoy her. He is not like that. Then again, she shouldn't underestimate him.

He leads them to a nearby park and gestures for her to sit down on a bench, beside him. Machi flushes slightly but settles beside him anyway.

"Actually," he speaks rummaging through his backpack, "I came here to return this back to you." Pulling out a file, he hands it over to her. And she immediately notes it to be her assignment file.

"I thought I dropped it in my bag." She mumbles, quite astonished that she had carelessly left it behind.

Yuki's chuckle pulls her out of her thoughts.

"It wasn't you!" He laughs. "It was Kakeru! That idiot pulled your bag apart when you were out with Kimi for a pencil he couldn't find. And then forgot to rearrange it and put this file back. And I noticed it only after you had left."

"That idiot…" Machi hisses, but then looks at Yuki. "President, why did you-"

"Don't worry about it! I'm glad that I caught up to you."

He gives her such a smile that it knocks the breath out of her lungs. He looks almost a figment of her imagination, smiling like that, with red leaves falling over them. So beautiful. So impossible. But yet, here he was, sitting beside her as if she was someone who should be cherished.

"Has Machi eaten the dango of that shop here?"

His words startle her, she jerks her gaze away from him to the shop across the street he was pointing at.

"No." She answers timidly.

"Come on then! Let's have some!" He stands up, excited, offering her his hand and Machi feels her heart thudding in her ears. The red creeps on her face and she scolds herself for letting him overwhelm her with his exuberance every single time.

A few minutes later, they are on the bench again, biting onto the soft and delicious dango and Machi has to admit that it tastes good. She steals a glance at her companion who is already chewing on his third stick, eyes focused on the scenery around them.

"President?"

"Hmm?"

"You didn't have to come all the way here to deliver that assignment."

He looks at her, a questioning expression on his face as he chews on the last bite.

"Actually, that assignment was already graded."

What continues her statement is a long stretch of silence as Yuki sits there with his mouth hung open.

"You mean-"

"Yes, the assignment was already graded. You...wasted your time by coming here." She says, softly, averting her gaze.

"Machi." He calls out, chiding her gently.

She stares at her shoes unable to meet his eyes because she did occupy his time unnecessarily. She wonders if he was minding it now. She wants to run away and hide in some hole when he leans closer to her, his lips a few inches away from her ear.

"Machi, I did not waste my time. I was here because I wanted to be. In Fact, I'm glad I got to share and eat dango with you."

His genuine but firm words, his fond smile and the transparent look in his eyes was too staggering for her. It was so incredibly hard to accept that he was here out of his own free will. Not because he was forced to. Not because he felt obligated too. But because he wanted to be here. Because he didn't mind spending time with her. A strange warmth pooled inside her chest, spreading through her bones, making her tingle all over.

He simply chuckles and bids her farewell, loving how her face was the brightest red he had ever seen.

Winter

When the morning sun rays penetrate the minute gap between the curtains of his room, Yuki wakes up. He blinks, eyes full of golden light and dark brown hair over his nose and lips. Even his sleep deprived senses are honed enough to detect her presence beside him and it leaves him with a comforting warmth.

He gently swipes her hair off his face, grey eyes coming to rest on soft sleeping face. Her head is resting in the crook of his arm and her arm was draped over his torso. Her leg is over his, bare and soft. She is dressed in a pair of small pajamas and his red shirt. He knows he was leaner in comparison to a lot of other men, but still his clothes were too big for her. Though he loves seeing her in them. The shirt is quite large for her small frame, sliding off on from one shoulder, exposing her soft and pale skin to him.

A sudden cold sensation of chill makes him shiver and he immediately drags the blankets up to cover both of them. His arms slide over her waist, pulling her close to him and nuzzling her neck and side of cheek. Sometimes, having her beside him feels like a dream that he's terrified of waking up from. Both of them have had struggled against their own demons, found love and support in each other and the few kind people around them. As time passes by, things change and people do too.

Like how he loves mornings now.

For as long as he can remember, he has never been a morning person. But having Machi nestled against him, watching the sun rays fall on her eyelashes, illuminating her in a golden ethereal glow filled him with a sense of contentment that nothing else did. That moment of satisfaction, that feeling of his heart beating in his chest in synchrony to hers was something he craved so deeply that any morning he got to witness it made him feel blessed.

But he knows he's not the only one to have started loving something he never had before because of Machi. She had confessed to him as well, how winters - which she dreaded before became something she held close to her heart thanks to the promise he had made years back.

Yuki leans over and gently brushes his lips on her forehead and a small moan escapes her mouth.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty."

He calls her affectionately, knowing that he was going to receive a smack for that later. She blinks, frowning at him and then burying her face into his chest again.

"Machi. Wake up." He pokes his nose on her cheek and she immediately swatts him away. He chuckles and slowly slides away from her, out of the bed. The air is so cold and crisp that he resists the urge to crawl back into the blankets and into Machi's arms again with everything he had. Sauntering over to the window, he pulls the curtains apart and gasps dramatically.

"It's snowing! Machi, wake up!"

He runs to the bed, disheveling the blankets and adoring the angry noises his wife was making. Finally pulling the last blanket off her, he makes a few more attempts to get her out of the bed with no success. He sighs and takes a moment to appreciate her small form and his eyes coming to rest on the milky stretch of white skin of her exposed shoulder, and a devilish idea lights up his brain. He quickly leans over and playfully nips her bare shoulder.

"Yuki!"

Machi squeals, thrashing her arm out to strike him but he's agile enough to dodge it efficiently.

"Try harder Machi. You won't have me like that." He smirks, making sure that she notices the way he's all over her.

 Okay, fine. He is a pervert. But only when it comes to her.

The next few minutes are nothing but a scarlet faced Machi chasing him around the house in nothing but pajamas in freezing winters.

Yuki knows, if someone ever asks him to define love, all he would ever say that it's the feeling you get when you witness all the seasons passing, but falling in love and finding something precious to appreciate in each of them because you have that person - the love of your life - by your side.

That is what love is.

A/N: Yuki and Machi through the different seasons. I really wanted to write something special for them. And I'm glad I did!  Gooooshhhh I can't wait to see Machi and Kakeru in the new anime! We're slowly edging towards their appearance! AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Btw, please do tell me your thoughts for this story! Thank you for reading!

[branching-paths]

Of Secret Letters

A/N: I’m so excited! Please read and review, all that jazz! You can also find this on Quotev.com, if that’s more along your route, and soon to be fanfiction.net! Thanks Y’all!

Two months we had been gone, and two months we had ridden over hills, through forests, haven't hit a river yet, but it was coming. I glanced to my left, where my older brother was riding atop his pony. His name was Fili, and he was a blonde, in many ways. Two mustache braids framed his mouth, and a mirthrial clasp held back the rest of his hair. One hand was holding the reins, the other resting on one of his swords. My own hand was resting on my sword's hilt, like I found it did often. Ahead of us was our Uncle, Thorin Oakenshield. His black hair was past his shoulders, and he never put any braids into it. The only decoration and/or braids that could be found were the two braids that were right behind his ears. He would have had a clasp similar to Fili's clasp, or like my own, but he had lost it a few weeks ago. Since them, he had been much more stoic, and less like the Uncle Fili and I had been raised by. I glanced around, looking at the forest that we were passing through.

            "Who's coming again," I asked. Fili and Thorin stifled a sigh, again. I hated the silence that was steadily growing as we got closer to the Shire.

            "The Lin's, Ri's, Ur's, and the In's," Fili said. "Then who ever this Burglar is."

            "Wasn't it a Boggins," I asked.

            "I thought there was an A somewhere in the name," Fili said. He frowned at me and reached for my head. "Hold still." I leaned back, away from his reach.

            "No stinkin' way," I yelled. Fili still reached for my hair. He must of been jealous of my bark brown locks. Well he couldn't have any!

            "Then you can keep that spider in your hair," He said, folding his arms. He knew I had a severe dislike of spiders, and was probably just doing that to get on my nerves. That's the thought I would have stayed with, if said spider didn't lower into my eyesight. I leaned forward and aloud Fili to do something with it. He frowned at me again, pursing his lips. "I think I'll let you keep it," He said at last. I cringed as it landed on my nose.

            "Fee, please," I pleaded quietly. He shook his head. "PLEASE!" He rolled his eyes, grabbed a twig from his pony's mane and swiped the spider from my nose. I rubbed my hand all over my face to get rid of the webs.

            "Evil spiders, EVIL SPIDER-"

            "Shut up," Thorin yelled. "Do you hear that?" Fili and I stopped talking and listened. I pulled my bow off my back and notched an arrow. We didn't hear a thing, not even the wind was making a sound, no birds. Fili and I glanced at eachother and shuddered. Last time we went hunting with Thorin, we were attacked by a small pack of Orcs. We had woken up early and the forest that we were camped in was still, not even the birds chirped. It was the same eerie silence that we were feeling now. Thorin silently drew his sword and held it tightly. The ponies nickered with fear, Fili tried desperately to shush them, but in vain. Two Wargs jumped out of the trees on Fili's side, I loosed my arrow. It hit one of the Wargs in the head, killing it instantly, but the other was still very much alive. It jumped at Fili, who cut it's shoulder with his left sword. I loosed another arrow and the second one was dead. I looked around and found yet another Warg, but he was circling beyond the tree line. I grabbed another arrow and aimed. Before I could loose the arrow, another hit it's head and it fell dead. I turned around and saw Thorin had his bow out, and he was breathing hard. Four other Wargs were dead around him. And he was still on top of his pony. He turned his gaze on me and frowned.

            "Do not hesitate Kili," He snarled quietly. He pulled on both ends of his bow and it pulled apart. He put it back on his saddle bag and looked back at me. "The second that you do, you're dead." He turned around, faced the road and trotted towards the Shire again. I looked at Fili, who shrugged and followed Thorin. I rode up next to him and tapped his shoulder.

            "Thorin's being weird," I breathed. Fili nodded.

            "Wonder why...."

            "He's been weird since he lost the clasp-"

            "No, before that," Fili interrupted. "Did you see how he looked at Myrin when we left. It was almost regretful." I frowned at him.

            "What," I asked. "Why would he- Oo-oh, I get it!"

            "Get what," Thorin asked. We clammed up, and he turned around. "What are you two doing?"

            "Talking," Fili said. Thorin glared again, but didn't press.

            That night when we stopped on the east side of the Shire, Fili and I had a plan. After we had the fire going, food cooking, and ponies free of their saddles, we put the plan into action. Each time we could, we would send letters back to Amad. We hadn't sent Myrin a letter yet, and that was our plan. Fili grabbed a piece of parchment, a charcoal stick and got writing. He was more poetic them me, better with words, so I let him write the letter. I noticed that Thorin was writing a letter also. Thorin finished writing his letter first. He sealed it, did something with the front and looked over at Fili, who was grinning.

            "What's wrong with you," He asked. Fili looked up and shrugged.

            "Nothing," He said. "What are you doing?" Thorin frowned and held out his letter.

            "I'm entrusting you with something very important." He had both our attentions. "It must be delivered, and if you dare loose it-"

            "You'll skin us," Fili asked. Thorin frowned. "We know Thorin. This is very important, and we can't loose it." I grabbed the letter and looked it over. Completely blank, all except for a picture on the front of what looked like an eagle, only flames were it's feathers. I couldn't tell what it was.

            "Why can't you deliver it yourself," I asked. Thorin went over to his bed roll and sat down.

            "I have to go to Bree," He said.

            "Why?"

            "Because I'm meeting with someone," Thorin snapped. "I have to leave early in the morning, so I'm hitting the sack. You will be quiet, or so help me!" He let us consider the hopefully empty threat as he pulled his cloak back over himself. My gaze went back to the letter and the picture on it. Fili looked up and frowned. He held out his hand, wiggling his fingers, silently asking me to hand him the letter so he could examine it. I threw it at him, over the fire.

            "Careful with that," Fili hissed as he caught it. Thorin rolled over again, making us both tense. "Who do you think it's meant for," He asked quietly when he was done looking it over. I shrugged and grabbed a stick next to my foot. I poked at the fire, making the wood spark and hiss.

            "What do you mean this can't be delivered," Fili yelled at the postmaster. We were in the Shire again, at the Green Dragon. Tomorrow we would meet our burglar, hopefully.

            "There isn't a name laddie," The Hobbit said again. He handed back Thorin's letter. Fili slid it back across the bar table, a determined scowl across his face.

            "You don't understand, this has to be delivered," Fili pressed.

            "No, ye don't understand," The hobbit interrupted. "There is not a way to deliver this! If ye can get a name on it, I might be able to help ye, but in the state it's in now, I can't. Glad to do business with ye!" He turned around and avoided us.

            "What are we going to do now," I asked Fili. The hobbit frowned at us. Fili frowned and grabbed the letter from the table. "You don't have a plan, do you," I asked. Fili shook his head as we got some weird looks from the hobbits. "We can say-"

            "That the postmaster wouldn't take the letter," Fili said. "Thorin will understand." I snorted and walked towards the hall that lead outside. "Hey, don't you want some food," Fili asked, pulling out a chair by the huge hearth. My stomach answered for me. I sat down with Fili at the table and looked around. Hobbits were everywhere, smoking their pipes and drinking. Most of them were short, and paid us no mind. A few of the older hobbits were giving us sly looks though.

            "Evening gent's," A small lass said. Her hands were in a bar towel, and her red curly hair pulled back with a blue ribbon. "What'll it be?"

            "Two ciders, and some bread mum," Fili said, leaning back in his chair. The lass nodded and went behind the bar. "Basic's still weird," Fili said, rubbing his hands over his face.

            "We had better get used to it," I growled. "Probably the only thing our burglar knows how to say." Fili groaned again. A few minuets later, the lass came back, handed us our food and went back to work.

            "What do you think he's like," I asked Fili as we walked up the road. I looked again at the map Gandalf had given to Thorin. Didn't hobbit's have landmarks that they used?

            "What do you mean," Fili asked, looking at me. I folded up the map and tucked it under my arm. I rolled my eyes as I did so, getting a punch from Fili.

            "I mean exactly what I say, what do you think Mr Boggins is like," I repeated.

            "I still think it's Baggins, and I still don't know what you're saying." I growled, getting another punch. We came to a fork in the path, with a four way sign. I pulled out the map and looked it over. "Are we lost," Fili asked, looking over my shoulder.

            "No, I just don't know where we are," I said, staring at the map more. "Ah-HA!" I folded up the map, and slipped it into my coat. "We are taking the left," I said, striding forward confidently. "And you still haven't answered me," I added. Fili rolled his eyes and walked a little more humbled next to me.

            "I don't know what he's going to be like," Fili said at last. "But I have an idea. We see how he acts, and his reaction is how we find out if we'll survive the next few months with him." I nodded, liking what Fili was thinking. Well, even if he wasn't the ideal fun type hobbit, like Flambard, we could still survive the next few months. If she would come.... A few more twists and turns later, we were at a gate, looking up at the round door with a blue mark on it. Burglar for Hire, it read in Khuzdul.

            "Remember, forget all manners," Fili breathed into my ear. I nodded and opened the gate. Fili shut it behind me and jumped up the few steps to stand next to me at the door. I pulled on the bell rope and waited for the green door to open. I took a deep breath as it opened. The hobbit of the house was rather tall for one, and had red curly hair. Pointy ears too, but not like an elf's. A checkered robe covered his pajamas

            "Fili,"

            "And Kili,"

            "At your service," We finished together with a bow. We straightened and I smiled. "You must be Mr Boggins!"

            "No, you can't come in," The hobbit said suddenly, trying to shut the door. I shoved my boot into the doorway and shoved it back open.

            "What, has it been canceled," I asked, mortified.

            "Nobody told us," Fili said, glancing from the hobbit to me and back. The hobbit frowned, his brown eyes, similar to my own sparked with confusion.

            "No, nothing's been canceled," He yelled, trying to shut the door again.

            "That's a relief," I said, shoving the door open. A large hall was in front of me, to my right was room with a roaring hearth and a few sitting chairs, the front room I suspected. To my left was a room full of fine china. I turned around and smirked as Fili walked through the door like he owned the place. Spinning on the ball of my foot, I walked down the large hall to find another large hall branching out to my left. Farther down was a large door, one that I suspected was a bathroom. I went back to the entryway and looked around again.

            "Nice place this," I said. "Did you do it yourself?" Fili was unloading all his weapons on the poor hobbit, who was already starting to buckle under the immense weight of it all. I spied a nice looking box and smirked again.

            "Oh no," The hobbit said, trying to be polite. "It's been in the family for years- Could you not do that, that's my Mother's Glory box," The hobbit shouted at me as I wiped my feet on the ornate box.

            "Kili, we could use a hand with the table," Someone said behind me. I turned around and spied Dwalin. His bald tattooed head was alight from the chandelier, his knuckle busters glowing too. I smiled and looped an arm around my former weapons trainer.

            "Ah, Mr Dwalin," I said, grateful for another familiar face. Balin was looking at a table, obviously wondering how to move it into the china room. Fili raised a brow, and followed Dwalin and I into the room with Balin.

            "Come on laddies," Balin said, stroking his beard with one hand, grabbing the corner of the hutch with the other hand. "We have to move this to the hall. We'll never have enough room in here." The hobbit leaned in from the front hall, curious as ever.

            "Room," He asked. "How many are-" He was interrupted by the door ringing again. His nose turned up as his face morphed into a snarl. "No, There's nobody home," He yelled as he walked down the hall. A loud clang echoed through the house as he threw Fili's weapons on the floor. I chuckled as Fili glared towards the hall where the hobbit disappeared. "There are far to many dwarves in my kitchen as it is! If this is some clot head's idea of a joke-" I heard the creak of hinges, a few bodies fall on the floor, and surprised yelling. Dwalin, Balin, Fili and I chuckled at the now silent hobbit. We lifted the hutch up and walked it out into the other room. I spied Bombur on top of everyone else, and I almost dropped the cabinet again. We finished moving it and went to help up everyone. The hobbit was nowhere to be seen, either. I slapped Ori and Bofur on the back once they were up, just to see if they would fall over again. Ori did, but Bofur slapped me back, knocking me over.

            "Glad to see you Kili," Bofur said from under his floppy hat. He reached down and helped me back to my feet as Fili and Dori helped Ori to his.

            "Good to see you too Bofur," I said. I looked around. "You haven't seen the hobbit have you?" Bofur looked around too.

            "No, I haven't. Where's the food, we're starved!" Everyone voiced their agreements as we followed Balin and Dwalin to the pantry. Fili tapped my shoulder and pointed to a large keg of cider.

            "How do we get it off the stand," I asked, crouching down to better examine the barrel.

            "Let me shimmy behind here and we'll carry it into the dining room," Fili said, shoving the keg towards me. It promptly knocked me on my rear. I pulled myself back to my feet and lifted up the barrel. It weighed a ton! We shuffled into the dining room and set it down near the kitchen. All the food was on the table now, and the hobbit, who was now in day clothes, was demanding everything to be put back by everyone who walked by. Bifur, Oin, Bombur, all the Dwarrow that couldn't pay him any mind.

            "Have you ever heard of a cheese knife," The hobbit asked as he watched Bombur walk by with four large cheese rounds.

            "Cheese knife, he eats it by the block," Bofur said, rubbing his pipe with a cloth. I edged to the end of the table, closest to Bombur and sat down. Fili sat across from me, but got right back up to do something. "HEY, BOMBUR, CATCH," Bofur called from the other end of the table. He threw an egg right down Bombur's mouth, who munched it up with a huge grin on his face. We cheered and laughed again as Dwalin poured ale down Oin's ear trumpet. Oin frowned and blew on the small bit, showering everyone to my left with sticky cider. Fili appeared again, holding four mugs of ale. He was handing them out to everyone. Dwalin grabbed one, Bofur grabbed another, Bifur grabbed one more and Balin took the last one.

            "Drink," I shouted. The room went quiet as we drained our mugs of the liquid. We took a collective gasp and the belching started. Ori gave the loudest and longest, much to Dori's horror. We finished eating quickly and explored the hobbit hole. The bathroom, after dinner, was smelling from ten feet away, so I stayed away. Four other rooms with shut doors lined the hall, and I didn't dare open them. I pulled out my pipe, and held it in my hand. Amad had made me it last year, and it hadn't been used once. Between the horror stories Myrin told me when I was a Dwarfling, and my own observation through out the years, smoking scared me. Didn't mean that I couldn't chew on the stem like Thorin. I walked into the hall and turned to my left, just in time to catch a plate Fili tossed at me. I spun half way around and saw Bifur in the kitchen, so I loosed the plate at him, confident that he would catch it. The hobbit was standing next to Fili, who was catching more dishes and throwing them at me, and Ori, who was standing next to the table, holding the ever piling plate stack. The hobbit tensed and watched as everyone started up a rhythm with the forks, knives, mugs and plates.

            "Could you not do that," The hobbit yelled. "You'll blunt them!" Bofur's face morphed into a mischievous grin/scowl and he thumped the knives a little harder.

            "Oh, do you hear that lads," Bofur asked. "He says we'll blunt the knives." Remembering an old ditty that Fili and I made once, and had never put lyrics to, I started to sing.

            "Blunt the knives bend the forks," I sung, bouncing slightly to the rhythm and the tossing of plates. Fili smirked as he caught on.

            "Smash the bottles and burn the corks," He added, catching yet another plate and sending it my way. Everyone soon recognized the tune and joined in.

            "Chip the glasses and break the plaaaates," They yelled. "That's what Bilbo Baggins HATES!" Ori had just returned from dropping off more plates, and was getting even more then last time.

            "Cut the cloth, tread on the fat," We tuned. Bofur, Oin and Dori had gotten up and were looking through their packs, looking for something.

            "Leave the bones on the bedroom mat." They had found what they were looking for. A special tea pot that made music, Bofur's flute, and Dori's flute.

            "Poor the milk on the pantry flooooooor, SPLASH THE WINE ON EVERY DOOR!" Ori went waddling back into the kitchen with a stack of plates that made even me uneasy. I sent a knife flying towards Bifur, who caught it right before hit the back of his head. Smirking again, I caught more things and sent them to Bifur, still very confident he could catch them. The hobbit, or Bilbo as everyone else called him, was running around frantic, trying to catch every other dish, but drawing his hand back, worried that if he interrupted the rhythm, something would break.

            "Dump the crocks in a boiling bowl, pound them up with a thumping pole, when you're finished, if any are whoooooole, SEND THEM DOWN THE HALL TO ROLL!" Bofur did a little solo on his flute with Dori and Oin. We all gathered around the table with the now washed dishes as we yelled the last of the song.

            "THAT'S WHAT BILBO BAGGINS HATES!" We ended up laughing the last three words. Bilbo pushed through the wall of Dwarrow and looked at his clean dishes. Not one was chipped, if I do say so myself. Bilbo looked around at the dwarves crowding his house, a look of bewilderment or horror on his face, I couldn't tell. Three pounds on the door silenced everything in the hobbit hole. Unlike when everyone else arrived, the person at the door didn't use the doorbell. Fili and I smiled as Bilbo walked towards the door. Everyone massed in the large hall so they could see who had arrived. Pretty sure we all knew who it was. Bilbo opened the door and something fell in.

            "That wasn't very majestic Thorin," A tall man said. He was completely dressed in gray, had a long gray beard, long gray hair, and a tall, you guessed it, pointy gray hat. The only thing in his wardrobe that wasn't gray was his staff, but it was a dusty brown. I suspected that this gray clad man was Gandalf, our wizard. Thorin was on his back, in front of the door. Fili and Dwalin couched to help him up, and he brushed them off rather rudely. Fili backed up next to me as Thorin brushed the sleeves of his coat off. He looked around and turned towards Gandalf. He took off his cloak and frowned, looking around. His eyes landed on me and he gave me a huge grin. Then he tossed his cloak at me.

            "Gandalf," Bilbo snarled. Gandalf looked into the door and smiled at Bilbo.

            "Bilbo, I would like to introduce you to the leader of our Company, Thorin Oakenshield," He said, gesturing to Thorin. "Pretty sure you know everyone else by now." Thorin frowned at Bilbo and folded his hand across his chest.

            "So, this is the hobbit," He rumbled. He started to circle Bilbo. "Tell me hobbit, what is your weapon of choice?" Bilbo choked and looked Thorin in the eye.

            "What," Bilbo asked. Thorin chuckled.

            "Come on hobbit, axe or sword?" Bilbo was starting to get angry. He shifted from the ball of his foot to the heel and back.

            "Well, if you must know, I'm particularly skilled at conkers! But what has that to do with anything?" Thorin chuckled again.

            "Just as I thought. He looks more like a grocer them a burglar." Everyone chuckled.

            "Thorin, please give Bilbo a chance," Gandalf pressed, stepping into the house. "He might not look like much, but-"

            "He's a hobbit Gandalf," Thorin said, his voice strained.

            "I would prefer it if you wouldn't talk about myself in a different language, even if that's not what you're talking about, don't do it!" Bilbo yelled. Thorin groaned and walked into the dining room. Bombur walked towards the pantry and grabbed Thorin a bowl of something. He sat down at the head of the table, Fili and I took the opposite corner. Gandalf sat down on the wall bench and waited.

            "Were they all there," Dwalin asked after a while.

            "Aye, envoys from all seven kingdoms," Thorin said, setting down his spoon.

            "What about Dain, is he with us?" We waited for a while as Thorin gathered his words together. He moved his bowl away from himself and took a deep breath.

            "Dain is not with us," Thorin said at last. "He said that this is our fight, and our fight alone." Everyone groaned.

            "This is a fools quest anyways," Balin said. "Thirteen of us, and not thirteen of the brightest." It took a few minuets for that to sink in. Then everyone started to yell at everyone.

            "But we're fighters," Fili yelled over the roar. "Everyone one of us, to the last man!"

            "And you forget, we have a wizard on our side," I added. "Gandalf must have killed hundreds of dragons!" Gandalf smiled.

            "Well I-"

            "How many," Dori asked.

            "Hum, what," Gandalf asked, not hearing Dori correctly.

            "How many dragons have you killed?" Gandalf choked on the smoke from his pipe. Everyone started to argue again.

            "Enough," Thorin yelled over the roar. "Do you not think others have seen the signs? Have not weighed the risks? The Dragon Smaug hasn't been seen for 60 years. Will we sit back and watch, or do we seize this chance to take back Erebor? We will fight, and win!"

            "You forget, the front gate is sealed shut," Balin said over the sound of cheering. "There's no other way in!"

            "Oh, I wouldn't say that, my dear Balin," Gandalf said, twirling a key in his hand.

            "How come you by this," Thorin asked, staring at the key.

            "Your father entrusted me with it many years ago," Gandalf said. "I've been keeping it safe, until the time was right. I believe that time is now." Gandalf looked at Thorin and handed the key over.

            "If there is a key, there must be a door," Fili said. I found myself nodding. Bilbo poked his head around the corner.

            "Are you going on a quest," Bilbo asked. Gandalf looked at the hobbit and to the table.

            "Bilbo, we could use a little more light in here," Gandalf said gently. Bilbo ran off to get some more light as Gandalf pulled out a map. He laid it on the table as Balin and Bofur moved a few things.

            "Far to the east, lies a solitary peak," Gandalf said. Bilbo came back with a candle and looked over Thorin and Gandalf's shoulder.

            "The Lonely Mountain," Bilbo read off the map.

            "Aye," Gloin said. "Oin has read the portents-" Everyone groaned. Nobody believed in that mumbo jumbo anymore. "-And the portents say, it is time."

            "When the ravens return to the mountain, the rein of the beast will end," Oin added, shifting his ear trumpet in his hand again.

            "Beast," The hobbit asked again.

            "That would be a reference to Smaug the terrible," Bofur said. He pulled his pipe out of his mouth so the hobbit could better understand him. "Razor sharp teeth, claws made of iron-"

            "Uh, yes, I know what a dragon is," Bilbo interrupted. "Well, if you need to get past a dragon, you'll need a burglar, and an expert at that."

            "Well are you," Dori asked.

            "Am I what?" Oin cackled.

            "He says he's an expert," He cheered. Everyone cheered with Oin, Fili and I looked at eachother.

            "I am not," The hobbit yelled over the roar. "I haven't stolen a thing in my life!" The cheering turned to raging, until Gandalf stood up.

            "Enough," He yelled. His shadow grew until it covered everywhere I could see. "If I say Master Baggins is a Burglar, then a burglar he is." Gandalf's shadow shrunk back as he sat down. "Hobbits are remarkably light on their feet, and can past by most unseen if they choose. He has much more courage then you know...." Gandalf looked at the stricken hobbit hovering behind Thorin. "Much more then he knows." Gandalf flashed Bilbo a smile of encouragement. Thorin frowned and looked at Balin.

            "Give him a contract," He said. Dori and Nori started to protest, but Thorin held up his hand. Balin gave Thorin a contract to hand to Bilbo.

            "Just a few things laddie," Balin said. "Expenses, requirements, funeral arrangements, so forth." Bilbo went wide eyed at Balin as Thorin shoved the contract into the hobbit's chest. As Bilbo read the terms and conditions, Thorin stood up and said something to Gandalf quietly.

            "Funeral arrangements," I asked quietly. Nori nodded.

            "You would be surprised how dangerous even the most used roads are," He said with a shake of his head.

            "Incineration," Bilbo yelled/asked from the hall near the pantry.

            "Oh aye," Bofur said. "Melt the flesh right off your bones in the blink of an eye!" Bilbo looked sick. "Flash of light, searing pain and PUFF! You're nothin' more then a pile of ash!" Bilbo leaned over and puffed his cheeks a few times, trying to calm himself down.

            "You alright laddie," Balin asked, getting up.

            "Yeah, I just need a moment." Bilbo straightened up, looked at everyone seated at the table, cried "Nope," spun on his heel and fainted.

            "Ha, he can't even take a scare," I yelled. Gandalf turned a cold glare at me, but I paid him no mind. Fili and I got up and walked over towards the hobbit.

            "Pick him up and carry him into the front room," Thorin growled.

            "Already on it Thorin," Fili said politely. Fili went to the hobbit's head, leaving me with his fuzzy feet. We carried him one of the arm chairs and set him up. By that time, the hobbit was coming too again. I walked back into the dining room and sat down.

            "Bilbo's nothing like I though he would be," I said as Fili sat down. He snorted.

            "What did you think he'd be like," Fili asked. "Like you?"

            "No," I retorted. "Less stuffy truthfully. He's acting like Nork."

            "No," Ori said from his notebook. "Bilbo has manners, Nork fails to even show if he has any."

            "Watch your tongue Ori," Dori said, sitting down next to Ori. "He's still higher ranking then us, so he must be treated with respect."

            "Not if he doesn't deserve any," Nori said, sitting on Ori's other side. "Did you forget what his son did to Kili?" My hand flew to my stomach, where Dang, Nork's son had slashed me open a few years ago. It was all healed up now, but there was bad blood between us now. I could hear Fili's teeth grinding. I whupped him with the back of my hand. I pulled out my pipe again and looked it over a few times. As I rubbed my teeth over the stem of it, Bilbo walked into the make shift dining room.

            "Hello hobbit," I said through my pipe. He jumped, looked at me and relaxed again.

            "Good Evening," He said as he sat down. "Would you please get out of my house?" I barked with laughter with Fili.

            "We'll leave in the morning," Fili said, slapping the hobbit on the back.

            "You're going to have a blast with us," I added, giving him a big grin. Bilbo frowned.

            "I'm not going," He said.

            "What do you mean you're not going," I asked.

            "You're our burglar aren't you," Fili asked.

            "I'm NOT a burglar," Bilbo yelled. "Why your group and Gandalf think that I am is beyond me!" Fili and I looked at each other. He had to come!

            "Okay, you might not be a burglar," I said. "You might not be able to pick anyone's pocket, or nab someone's boots, but you might be light on your feet still." Bilbo scowled at me.

            "So you aren't the best burglar-"

            "Because I'm not!"

            "But you might become one," Fili finished. "We have a theif with us, and numskull over here-" Fili gestured to me with his thumb, "- was able to pickpocket him." I glared at Fili as I nudged his shoulder. I rubbed my fingers together, hoping to warm them. It didn't do me any good.

            "I'm going to the fire," I said as I got up. I crossed the hall and found Thorin, Dwalin, Bofur, and Balin in there already. I sat on a stool and looked around. The room looked dark, despite the fire roaring in the hearth. Fili and the Ri family joined us in the room, somehow finding places to sit. A deep humming echoed through the room, setting an ancient tone. I glanced up at Thorin, who was standing by the fireplace. He looked far off, like he was reflecting something. Glancing around, I noticed that all the older dwarrow had that far off look. I joined in the humming as Thorin started to sing.

            "Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep, and caverns old We must away ere break of day To seek the pale enchanted gold.             The dwarves of yore made mighty spells, While hammers fell like ringing bells In places deep, where dark things sleep, In hollow halls beneath the fells.             For ancient king and elvish lord, There many a gleaming golden hoard They shaped and wrought, and light they caught To hide in gems on hilt of sword.             On silver necklaces they strung The flowering stars, on crowns they hung The dragon-fire, in twisted wire They meshed the light of moon and sun.             Far over the misty mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old We must away, ere break of day, To claim our long-forgotten gold.             Goblets they carved there for themselves And harps of gold; where no man delves There lay they long, and many a song Was sung unheard by men or elves.             The pines were roaring on the height, The winds were moaning in the night. The fire was red, it flaming spread; The trees like torches blazed with light.             The bells were ringing in the dale And men looked up with faces pale; Then dragon's ire more fierce than fire Laid low their towers and houses frail.             The mountain smoked beneath the moon; The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom. They fled their hall to dying fall Beneath his feet, beneath the moon.             Far over the misty mountains grim To dungeons deep and caverns dim We must away, ere break of day, To win our harps and gold from him!"

            Thorin looked around and his eyes landed on me, moved to Fili, then down to his boots.

            "This quest might be for not," He said slowly as he looked back up. "But I believe it to be a just cause. I will not lie to you, this quest will be filled with danger unlike we have seen in hundreds of years. This is your last chance to back out, and if you do, I won't blame you." Everyone was silent as they thought over what Thorin said. I glanced around the room. Thorin was giving everyone one last chance to back out of the quest, and he wouldn't call them a cowardice for doing so. I furrowed my brows and stood up.

            "I believe I'm saying what everyone's thinking," I started, looking Thorin in the eye. "I would never abandon you, even if it is a fool's quest." Everyone cheered loudly. Thorin smiled at me.

            "Hobbit, I believe we need some accommodations," Thorin yelled, still grinning. Something fell over in the dining room and Bilbo rushed into the front room.

            "I only have two guest rooms," He growled. "If you're-"

            "Fili, Kili, take one room," Thorin said, interrupting the frazzled hobbit. "Oin, Gloin take the other. The rest of us will take the floor. For breakfast I would like ham and two fried eggs." Bilbo gaped at Thorin as he went to the large hall. "I would get a quill and parchment hobbit," Thorin said as he past by. Everyone got in a line and told the poor hobbit what they would like for breakfast, including myself. Fili and I grabbed our bags and went to one of the doors.

            "Is this it," Fili asked. I shrugged and opened it up. It was a study. I shut the door and opened the next one. A second pantry. I opened up the third door and found bags on top of the bed. I opened up the last door and found the empty guest room. I set the bags at the foot of the bed and flopped.

            "I don't think that's being very careful," Fili said, setting his bags next to mine.

            "I didn't break anything did I," I asked, lifting my head up.

            "No."

            "Then I'm being careful." I let my head drop back onto the bed. "Do you think she's gotten the letter yet?"

            "We only sent it yesterday, Kee," Fili said, sitting next to me. "It'll be at least three days, then a day to pack, and another two days to travel." I growled. My hand flew to my pocket, where my rune-stone was.

            "Do you miss them," I asked. Fili looked at me and shrugged. I sat up and stared at him. "You don't?!"

            "No, I do," Fili said, holding his hands up. "I really miss Amad and Myrin."

            "Then why did you shrug," I asked.

            "Because I thought it was obvious!" Fili jumped at me, his fingers scrambling at my sides.

            "Fili, the hobbit sa-aid to-oo be CAREFUL," I yelled as he tickled me. My arms shot out to his sides and started to wiggle. Soon, Fili's shrieks of laughter were joining mine.

            "If you two don't get some sleep right now, I'll strangle you," Dwalin shouted just outside the door. I snored a few times. "I mean it Kili, stop screaming and get ta bed!" I opened my mouth.

            "How did he know it was me," I asked Fili as we heard him stomp away. Fili shrugged again and looked at the bed. There was a couch in there too, but both were small. "The bed's mine," I yelled. I jumped onto it and watched Fili roll his eyes. He stumbled over to the couch and flopped on it. His snores filled the room soon after, but I couldn't get any sleep.

[xotwsm]

Imagine: Being One Of Liam’s Best Friends (Part 4) (Series: Bitten Consequences)

Liam X Reader ____________________________________________________________________

Something was wrong. Something was definitely wrong, but Liam just couldn’t put his finger in it. That tone of voice (Y/n) had used was so familiar, yet it was different enough to throw him off track of pinpointing exactly where he heard it from. The last few days had just been miserable for him. He wasn’t able to control his wolf at most times, which forced him to keep his distance from (Y/n). Not like that made much of a difference, ever since the cold shoulder treatment he gave to (Y/n), she hadn’t been the same towards him either. During their only class together, she would sit as far away from him as she could, not even sparing him a passing glance.

Liam clenched his fist at the thought. She wasn’t only acting differently towards Liam, but also chose to stay away from Mason, Garrett, and Violet. Instead, she hung around that group of guys all day.

“Stupid fucks…” Liam muttered to himself, gritting his teeth at the thought of (Y/n) constantly being around those guys.

“Hey! Hey, Liam. Watch it! No wolfing out at school,” Stiles said, covering Liam from any on passing person. Liam looked down at his hands, seeing that his claws had decided to make an untimely appearance. Liam grumbled out an apology, looking down at the floor. The pack all casted him curious glances, but decided not to question it.

“That’s it,” he thought bitterly. “I need to talk to her.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“What the hell is taking them so long?” You muttered angrily to yourself, glaring down at your phone. You tapped your finger against your thigh as you glanced around the busy hall. You ran a hand frustratingly through your hair, butterflies dancing and swirling in your stomach. Closing your eyes, you leaned back against your locker, taking deep, soothing breaths.

“(Y/n),” a voice called, making your eyes snap open. Your tense shoulders relaxed as you spotted Sean standing in front of you.

“What did they say?” You asked quickly, standing up straight. Sean glanced around him, checking to see if anyone was listening in. He stepped closer to you, making you lean against the locker again, as his lips moved towards your ear, barely whispering into it so no one would have the chance to hear. You tilted your head in towards his neck, so your ear was closer to his mouth so you could hear better, your eyebrows furrowed as you listened intently to what he was telling you.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Liam stared at the ground as he obediently followed the pack, all of them talking amongst themselves, something about a Deadpool and Benefactor. This should have interested Liam, but his mind was stuck on one thing. Well, person actually. (Y/n). He shook his head, trying to get rid of the thoughts of you. Groaning to himself, he turned to his right, ready to talk to Mason, before remembering Mason had left a few minutes earlier to grab something out of his locker. Liam huffed, turning to face forward, only to get forcefully shoved back.

“What the fuck Stiles!?” He growled, glaring up at the older boy. Stiles had a fake suspicious smile as he began to shove Liam back even more, this time with the help of Scott.

“Hey guys! How about we go the long way!” Stiles called out, using his body as a shield, blocking Liam from seeing whatever was down the hall. Liam furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, pushing past the weaker man, who dramatically fell into a locker. Liam looked down the hall, confused, trying to spot whatever made Stiles act so weird.

Finally spotting it, he let out a low growl, feeling his wolf almost completely take over. Leaning against a locker, stood (Y/n) and Sean pressed against one another, their faces buried into eachother’s necks. Liam felt his claws grow as he bounded over to the couple, grabbing Sean by the shoulder and yanking him away and onto the floor. (Y/n) let out surprised gasp as Liam landed a punch on Sean’s face, Sean’s lip splitting open. Liam almost growled as he was immediately pulled away by Scott and Stiles, trying desperately to get out of their grasp.

“What the fuck, Liam!?” (Y/n) yelled, rushing over to Sean, who was nursing a busted lip, his eyes glaring daggers at Liam, although his body was completely relaxed.

“He was fucking kissing you!” Liam roared out, attracting even more attention from passing students.

“No he wasn’t! Why the hell does it matter anyway? It’s not like you care!” (Y/n) roared back, standing from her squatting position in front of Sean, stalking over to Liam. Before Liam could respond, she sent a quick right hook into Liam’s jaw. Liam stared at her with wide eyes, as he was helped back up, after almost falling if it wasn’t for Scott and Stiles who still held his arms. The entire hall was eerily silent as (Y/n) glared back at Liam, her fist clenched, anger radiating off her. Liam couldn’t believe it. He has never seen (Y/n) this mad before, she was always calm and collected.

“Stay the hell away from all of us,” she hissed, turning on her heels and stalking away. It was only then that Liam realized that the other three guys she hung out with were standing there as well. The crowd parted as (Y/n) stalked through, her lackeys, including Sean, glaring at Liam, before following silently behind her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I want all of you to be careful out there. There has been a spike in murders, so I want all of you to be on guard,” I called out, getting a chorus agreements. You took a deep breath as your gaze scanning over the 20 faces spread around your living room. Since everyone looked satisfied with your decisions, you waved your hand, telling them they could all leave now. Hopping off the table you stood on, you cracked your knuckles, taking a deep breath. Your eyes drifted over towards Sean, who was walking towards you.

“How’s your lip?” You asked with a smirk, making Sean give out a fake laugh while rolling his eyes. He gingerly touch a finger to his lip, wincing slightly.

“Good. It keeps splitting when I smile,” he grumbled with a pout. You rolled your eyes, grabbing your keys from the coffee table.

“Where are you going?” Sean asked suddenly as you grabbed your jacket from the couch. You raised an eyebrow as he followed you out of your house and to your car.

“I’m gonna go grab some fast food, why?” You questioned as you climbed into the driver’s seat. Sean got into the passenger seat, shaking his head with a chuckle.

“Well on the way back from getting food, we’re going to have to stop by the warehouse. Brett Talbot called. He needs us to help him and some pack with whoever it is that has been killing so many people,” he said casually, making your head snap towards him. You let out a frustrated growl as you punched him hard in the shoulder. He winced, before smiling sheepishly until you got out the car, storming back into your house.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Liam huffed as he cracked his knuckles, softly banging his head back on the wall behind him. Standing up abruptly, he began pacing back and forth in the large empty warehouse. Scott stood with his arms folded across his chest a few yards away; Stiles stood near him, swinging his keys around his finger; Lydia leaned against a wall, staring off into blank space; Malia and Kira muttering quietly amongst themselves; and finally, Brett Talbot stood in the center of the warehouse, his back to Liam, as he stared at the door in anticipation. After a few more seconds of nothing, Liam finally snapped.

“Okay, what the hell?! We’ve been waiting for over an hour for these people we don’t even know if we can trust!” Liam yelled out, pacing faster as he ran his fingers through his hair. Brett turned towards him with a sneer, his eyes glowing yellow as he bared his teeth.

“Shut up! They’ll be h-” Brett growled, but was caught off as the sound of a truck reverberated around the large empty room. Liam immediately stopped pacing, walking over as the pack formed a small group way behind Brett, just in case this was all a setup. Brett’s gaze snapped to the door, listening as the people got out of their truck.

“Who are these people exactly?” Scott asked nervously as the sound of two footsteps became clear. The only thing that unnerved Liam, was the fact that neither of the upcoming people had a scent.

“The Alpha and the Head Beta of the (Last/name)-Walcott Pack,” Brett said, holding his head high as the door to the warehouse started to slowly creak open.

"The (L/n)-Walcott Pack?” Liam thought, as his eyes snapped to the door. "No… that couldn’t be….”

Liam was torn away from the thought, as two people entered the room. (Y/n) and Sean strolled casually into the room, a small smirk on (Y/n)’s face, Sean a few paces behind her, carrying a large lidded bucket.

“Brett! Long time no see, eh? How’s Lori and Satomi?” (Y/n) called out to the boy with a wide grin, eyes blazing red; Not yet noticing Scott’s Pack. “Now, where the little pack that needed help?”

Liam stood frozen to his spot as he stared at (Y/n). One of his best friends for years, yet he had no clue that she was like him. As if being hit by a wave, Liam’s mind was suddenly flooded with all the small clues that hinted to you being a supernatural creature; Not that any of them would be obvious to anyone but him. He thought of all the ‘family meetings’ you had to attend throughout the years; how before befriending Liam, you were quiet, and always alone, as if you felt like you didn’t fit in, it was because you didn’t. You weren’t like everyone else. Not to mention that he only just now realized that you never really had a natural scent, instead always smelling like whatever perfume you decided to buy. And that tone of voice, Liam finally recognized it as the one Scott would use if Liam was acting out. It finally all made sense.

Liam watched as you took a few steps forward, your eyes finally leaving Brett, and scanning the room. He watched as your body tense at the sight of Scott’s Pack, you eyes glazing over each of their faces, before coming to a stop on Liam’s.

“Well, shit,” you muttered after a brief few seconds of silence.

To Be Continued …