Chapter Text
"Kili, is this really the most sensible idea?"
"I'm teaching you a life lesson, little brother."
"I am not entirely certain what I am supposed to be learning."
Kili looked down at his adorable little brother, who was looking up at him with worried eyes. Really worried eyes, with his head tilted quite high, due to Kili's current position on the mountain he was scaling, but that was his usual expression anyway due to the alarming frequency of being witness to Kili's near suicidal antics. Fili was still such a young dwarf, but frolicked everywhere with the air of a highly responsible adult - miles more responsible than Kili could ever be, despite being older. Through his meticulous observations, Kili swears he can see Fili puff up a bit, like a lion, whenever he ‘strides‘ - actually strides, taking steps abnormally, almost uncomfortably large for his small legs, which only serves to make him more precious despite his intention - around the more prestigious side of the mountain. Heck, he’s got the hair for it. Such long, abundant locks of hair....
Age 10 years but walking around convinced himself to be 50, Fili (and Kili would never tell him this) still looked like a 7 year old. Such a mess of different ages, his Fili was. A walking dichotomy. He shook his head, fondly exasperated at his young brother. They were both a mess, in their own respective ways.
Fili is currently frowning at him with what Kili knew to be an expression of exasperation and worry, but to anyone else's eyes it would be seen as a petulant frown, what with his bottom lip pouting out. He chuckled at his adorable face - mine, mine - and kept climbing. The younger of the two, who was only half the size of the older, shook his head in that histrionic way only 7 year olds can pull off, and proceeded to drag out a large sigh, as if life was wearing out his little decade old body. It probably was, considering how little there is to wear out, Kili smirked.
"When Thorin comes, he will be blaming me again for not keeping my older brother in check. If you do not come back down this instant and I do mean this instant, I will refuse to take the blame again."
"Hush, brother mine. Look, I got it!"
One hand grasping the side of the mountain, his other held up a shining mushroom.
"This whole escapade is all for a mushroom?"
"Oh, Brother. Not just any mushroom. The Golden Jesshroom that every respectable dwarf needs!"
Personally, Fili thought a respectable dwarf, a heir to the throne nevertheless, would not be subjecting his brother to constant lethal worry that will undoubtedly result in health issues later in life. Differing definitions notwithstanding, Fili scoffed at his brother's foolishness, but couldn't deny the joy that was rubbing off on him from his older brother's eager expression.
“So, is this the life lesson in which I am to be taught? The lesson of how to climb down a mountain?”
“Well. Well, yes. That is part of the lesson. The Golden Jesshroom was a large part of it, but this is important. Um. As well.”
“Intriguing. So, how are you going to get down?”
"Oh. Um, that shouldn't be a problem. Just kind of put my foot there, do a triple somersault here-"
Expectantly, he fell. Fili doesn't even know why he's so surprised, but he, being a good younger brother, was anyway and cringed when he heard a huge thump land on the ground. At that moment, visions of Kili descending ruin onto the dwarf race when he ascends the throne flashed through his little mind.
"Brother! Are you alright?"
Kili rubbed the back of his hairy head and smoothed out his locks, wincing a bit in the process. To hear the worry in his brother's voice was worth the fall. Almost. The pain was getting to him.
“I hope you were dutifully taking notes.”
“I fear that if I applied your lesson to practice, I will never again be able to eat one of Mr Bilbo’s delicious homemade tea cakes.”
"Good to know you worry."
"I have no choice. Stop being so reckless; who is supposed to be the older one in this sibling dynamic?"
Kili heaved a huge sigh combined with an exaggerated eye roll, but the effect was ruined by the uncontrollable smile at the end. "You are." he said, trying to feign a bored monotone.
"Exactly."
Fili ripped a bit of cloth from his clothes and with his small, skillful fingers - irritably he thought skillful because practice, practice because he keeps doing this to himself - he nimbly tied it around the most obvious damage he could see. Sensing his brother's silent pain, all irritation evaporated as he turned towards him.
"Are you certain you are alright? There is no hiding from me, you know."
The authority in his little brother's teeny, tiny, high pitched voice made him laugh and for a second he forgot he was in pain.
"Do not fret so much. You are only young, you will get tired fast!"
"You are aging me tenfold." Fili sighed, once again in a way that did not fit his age. "Let us take our leave now and get you repaired." Using all his might, Fili tried to take his brother's weight while struggling slightly. Kili leaned half on him and the other half on his bandaged leg, aware of Fili's efforts and determined to give him the satisfaction, albeit paining himself.
"Are you sure you are fine?"
"Stop speaking so many words and let us just go."
“Perhaps Mr Bilbo will make us one of his tea cakes. Perhaps he will take pity on your injuries and also make some of his orange marmalade. Perhaps you will stop with this constant tomfoolery and Thorin will spare us the annihilation.”
Kili glanced sideways at his younger brother, at that moment revealing his rare youthful optimism. It rather begged to be indulged. Mandated, even. “Mm. Perhaps.”
Perhaps.
The two brothers limped into the sunlight.