Chapter Text
Waking did not come gently to Thorin.
He did not even wake, so much as cease being asleep, consciousness reclaiming his awareness with a rush of adrenalin and the sharp panicking sensation that something was wrong
He didn’t so much as twitch, taking careful stock of the situation first.
He was in a strange bed, Bilbo’s he recalled. The other man had insisted he stay given the late hour and the lack of power at his apartment. Bilbo in fact was pressed tight to his side, face mashed into his bicep, soft puffs of breath ticking the soft skin at the edge of his underarm.
That was fine. That hadn’t woken him.
It was still late, or early enough to still be night at least. He carefully let his eyes crack open, peering through the lashes.
A line of light cut across the dark bedroom.
The door was open, just a touch. It had been closed when they had gone to sleep.
His back tensed.
Bilbo shifted, stretched against him, and suddenly sat up, pushing himself up on one hand the other pushing back his thick riot of curls. “mmmmm Dori?” he half mumbled, half whispered.
Thorin closed his eyes and kept still. He heard the boards creak softly under the woman’s weight.
“I saw his truck was still here.” He voice was soft and held a question, but not an accusation, thankfully.
“He doesn’t have power at home, I told him to stay.” He broke off with a yawn. “We are playing nicely like the civilized adults that we are, I promise.”
Silence for a long moment.
“I just worry.”
“I know.”
“Sleep well.”
“I have been, and thank you. For worrying.”
There was a moment of silence and Thorin almost opened his eyes, then Bilbo sighed, sounds tired and exasperated. “…What Dori?”
“……… You really should clean this place up, it’s rater atrocious don’t you think?”
“Goodnight Dori”
There was a soft huff and he nearly laughed then the door creaked softly as it was eased closed and the room was fully dark once more.
A surprisingly strong finger poked at his shoulder. “I know you’re awake mister.”
He grinned then, slipping his arm around Bilbo’s waist and looked up at him with mirthful eyes. “And how did you figure that one out, mister clever?” he asked teasingly, voice rough from the sleep he hadn’t yet had nearly enough of, and would very much like to get back to.
Grinning Bilbo lay back down, cuddling against his shoulder once more. “Oh that was easy. You snore.”
Thorin stiffened, indignant. “I do not!” How could he possibly snore! He was a soldier, had slept in places where discovery meant death, had been perfectly silent in all moments of his day, had-
Bilbo snaked his own arm across the larger man’s stomach, pulling close against him and nuzzling up under Thorin’s chin. “Yes, you do. Not very loud, but you definitely snore. Maybe it’s just because you’re so tired, but you were definitely snoring.”
He sighed then, feeling rather put upon, but deciding that in this case, it wasn’t worth disagreement. Besides, if he pressed the issue Bilbo may move and he very much enjoyed the feeling of the smaller pressed as close as he could manage. So instead he closed his eyes, breathed in the sweet smell of fresh hay clinging to Bilbo’s hair, and let himself be claimed by sleep once more.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“So I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
Bilbo glanced over from where he was standing with his back against the arena railing, watching his haul-in student take a break from her jumping, letting her horse stretch his neck low and relax in long striding walk. “Yeah?”
Thorin crossed his arms and leaned on the top rail near his boyfriend’s shoulder. And he was his boyfriends now, they had had the talk. Not THAT talk but the ‘defining the relationship’ talk.
“What is the deal with the pony?”
He cocked his head, considering the question. “Not sure what you’re asking me here?”
“Is his name Freddy, or Frankie? Because you call him Freddy, and Ori and Beorn call him Freddy when Dori isn’t around, and Frankie when she is, and she only calls him Frankie, so what, exactly, is his name?”
Bilbo laughed. “Ahhh… that is indeed the question. When Dori was a child and they first got the pony, his name was Frankie, and his name continued to be Frankie for quite some time. Of course, Dori outgrew him and he became Nori’s pony.”
“And Nori changed his name to Freddy?”
“Well, not right away. Not until he was about twelve or so. Then he decided that Freddy was a much better name for the pony than Frankie. And because of reasons most folks agree, and Dori absolutely hates it.”
“I don’t understand, what’s even the difference? They’re practically the same name.”
Bilbo considered for a moment.
“Well…. let me put it this way. His registered name is Krugerrand.”
It took Thorin a few moments to catch on. “Wait… wait. You’re telling me the pony is named ‘Freddy Kruger’?”
Bilbo’s grin was wicked. “Oh yes. I am telling you the pony’s name is Freddy Kruger.”
He chuckled, shaking his head and pushed away from the arena fence. “Alright, well I better get moving on to my next stop. See you tomorrow night?”
With a nod Bilbo turned to claim a quick goodbye kiss before bidding Thorin farewell for the moment.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Laughing and grinning, Bilbo ducked into Thorin’s apartment as soon as he had the door open, the larger man following close behind as he tried to resume his thwarted tickle attack while also closing and locking the door. It took a couple of tries but as soon as he had the latch firmly closed he spun, grabbing at Bilbo who gave a playful cry but jumped up willingly when Thorin hefted him off his feet.
The feel of strong legs closing around his waist prompted an appreciative hum from the tall farrier as he slid his hands down under Bilbo’s thighs to support his weight, giving his rear an appreciative squeeze as he did. Bilbo smacked him playfully on the shoulder with a mock glare that was met with a grin, a kiss and another squeeze. He kissed back but poked Thorin again protesting “Hey! I’m at a distinct disadvantage here!”
Thorin just grinned at him again. “Yes you are” he could fit that pert little rear easily in his hands, and spread his fingers wide, the firm rounds of Bilbo’s butt well developed from years of riding and making very pleasant handfuls. “And if you poke me again I’m going to drop you.”
Bilbo raised a brow at the challenge and with a rather daring look poked Thorin in the shoulder once more, harder this time.
With a very unimpressed look Thorin considered a moment, the completely removed his arms.
And it was Bilbo’s turn to be unimpressed when powerful legs tightened around Thorin’s waist and he didn’t drop an inch.
Thorin blinked.
“Okay, that is seriously hot.”
Bilbo squeezed.
“Oh ow! Ow! Ok, ok I’m sorry, mercy! Mercy!” Thorin gripped his smaller boyfriend again half supporting him, half pulling as the rider’s legs closed around him like a vise grip, squeezing far tighter than was comfortable. Bilbo kept his grip up for a moment then loosened his legs, using the support of Thorin’s arms to carefully slip down so he was standing again.
Once the shorter man was on his feet again, Thorn rubbed at his sides “Oh man, I think I’m going to have bruises! Jeeze, I feel sorry for your horse!”
Bilbo huffed and walked over to the couch, dropping to sit on the plush leather. “Don’t, he has much stronger sides than you do.” He said with a teasing grin as he rubbed the head of one of Thorin’s cats who had come over to see what was going on.
After another moment of rubbing at his poor abused sides Thorin sat on the couch next to him. “Yea well, I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Riders have amazing legs?”
“Seriously.”
With a wicked grin, Bilbo shifted and swung his leg up over Thorin’s lap so he was straddling his legs, grinning down at the taller man from his vantage point. “That’s not all that riders are amazing at.” He said with a grin as he leaned down for a kiss.
Thorin pressed up into the kiss, hands drifting back up to that tantalizing rear as it was presented so nicely for his palms to cup. He hummed appreciatively and asked. “Oh yea? What else are riders amazing at?”
Bilbo grinned against his lips and simply said “riding of course” before capturing him for another searing kiss.