Chapter Text
It had been an idyllic day in Hobbit Land. Scott and Jimmy had finished their chores early in the day to beat the heat, and spent the rest of the day relaxing. Sure, there were things they could have been doing, and there was a greater need to be on guard since they had recently thumbed their noses at the Red King, but both thought it appropriate to seize the moment and just enjoy each other’s company.
In the heat of noon they waded in the pond, mud squishing between their toes. Scott whispered for Jimmy to come closer, and when he did, pushed him down into the water. Jimmy managed to grab onto Scott as he fell and dragged him down too. Jimmy was sputtering and indignant as Scott laughed, so he splashed him in revenge and started a water fight.
Early afternoon was for drying off in the sun. Jimmy fell asleep in the meadow, and when he woke up Scott had fashioned him a crown out of flowers. Jimmy was elated at the gesture, and Scott then took his turn relaxing in the grass and lovingly watched his husband pick flowers to return the favor.
Later in the afternoon they moved under a tree to relax in the shade. Scott laid his head in Jimmy’s lap so he could slip his gathered flowers through his longer, cyan hair. With his husband’s warmth so close and his hands gently touching his head, Scott felt so at ease he couldn’t help but lightly doze.
As evening started to fall they ate dinner together and laughed at how the rest of the server was preparing for war while they were just living their best lives among the flowers. When the sun turned red as it set in the west, Scott thought about how it was the same color as Jimmy’s eyes. Sweet, naive Jimmy had already lost two of his three lives to foolish, preventable mistakes. His stomach twisted to think that his husband was now so fragile, but his earnest, wide-eyed naivete was one of the things he loved about him, and he wouldn’t change him for the world. Instead, he stuffed down his worries and rested his head on Jimmy’s shoulder, putting his faith into the newly refurbished stone walls encircling their compound.
Night grew darker and fireflies blinked over the pond. The sky was clear and the moon was mostly full, so Scott and Jimmy saw no reason to go to bed early in the surplus of light. Instead, they danced. The tree frogs and crickets were their orchestra. Barefoot in the grass, they swirled each other round and round and laughed until the night was no longer young.
At the end they stood close in each other’s arms, foreheads touching and breathing slow. They agreed that it had been an uncomplicated but undeniably blissful day. Red eyes met blue, and they bid each other goodnight. Both practically floated back to their respective houses, content in that while they had not been particularly productive, they had used the day to its fullest potential.
So leaf subsides to trembling leaf,
And Eden sinks to knees in grief,
Gold can wilt, or shatter, break
Precious things the cold can take.
Winter comes, and as they say
Nothing gold can ever stay.