Chapter Text
The first time Bilbo Baggins laid eyes on Thorin Oakenshield, he had thought the dwarf very handsome. He had a majestic and regal look to him that had Bilbo openly staring. Thorin held himself tall and confidant; like he knew he was a sight for everyone to behold. With his lovely dark hair, the little bit of grey beginning to show at the temples only adding to his attractiveness in Bilbo’s opinion. The intense blue-grey of his eyes had Bilbo nearly swooning when they had looked about his home, and he was sure his breath stopped when they had paused to rest upon him.
Then Thorin had to speak and ruin it all.
Any interest that had been piqued was harshly crushed by the dwarfs unkind words and arrogant tone. Really, who talked down to someone they had just met like that? An incredibly rude guest, Thorin was. Not that the rest of the dwarves were much better, having shown up so unexpectedly and pillaged his pantry.
The harsh treatment directed his way continued throughout the start of their journey, but Bilbo’s interest in the other male was slowly returning. Often he would try his best to assist with something and end up having Thorin order him to just sit down and stay out of the way.
“You should leave the wood gathering to someone else, Halfling. You can’t fit nearly enough wood to make a decent fire in your small arms.”
Bilbo made sure to never let himself get down over the way he was treated, but sometimes his anger got the better of him and he did things purposefully to bother the annoying man. If Thorin ordered him to back off while everyone else got things done, Bilbo would ignore him and run off to give assistance to anyone who wouldn't mind his presence. Thorin would huff and growl at Bilbo before stomping off, and Bilbo would do his best to hide his amused grin at the man’s childish temper.
Bilbo may not receive the Kings favor in any situation, but the rest of the company was treated quite well. Thorin was a great leader to his people, a job well-done never went un-thanked, and none of the dwarves were ever looked down upon or belittled. He treated them all with respect. A respect that Bilbo found himself longing for.
The blasted interest in the rude man’s looks had come back with a vengeance as well, much to Bilbo’s dismay. He couldn't count the times he’d had to consciously force himself to turn away from Thorin when he caught himself looking a little too long.
Whenever Bilbo’s eyes would linger on Thorin’s strong figure he would firmly tell himself his interest was only admiration for Thorin’s bravery and courage in working to take back the home of his people.
He had begun to get on rather well with the other Company members and talked with them often, which he was infinitely happy for. Several attempts had been made on his part to engage Thorin in conversation, but the most Bilbo had ever gotten out of him was a grunt of acknowledgement or a short and stiff reply before the dwarf was stalking away from the Hobbit again.
It made him a bit sad at times, to be thought so little of, but he kept his mind off of the matter by socializing with the more friendly dwarves and Gandalf.
Bofur so far was the kindest to him, always offering Bilbo help when he needed it, and always cheering Bilbo up with his bright happy smile and interesting stories. He enjoyed sitting with Bofur’s brother, Bombur, and his cousin, Bifur as they all talked to each other. He didn't really understand what Bifur was saying, but he did like to listen to the man talk in the harsh Dwarven language. It took him a while but he found it very pretty once he was used to it. Bombur would tell him stories of all the feasts he’d cooked and share his recipes with Bilbo, who in turn would happily tell the heavy-set dwarf his own favorite recipes. Bombur was always pleased when Bilbo offered to help him cook and would grin at the little Hobbit. Bilbo was just happy to be of some use.
When Bofur and his family were busy he would migrate over to the family of Ri. Dori was always a delight to sit down and talk with, because he could appreciate the gentler things in life like tea and doilies. Ori was a bookworm, much like himself, and they connected wonderfully through a shared love of long novels, especially tales of adventure and romance. Nori would jump into their conversations with stories of his own life, where he’d been and what kind of trouble he had gotten up too. Dori would always act disapproving, but Bilbo noticed him hiding his smiles whenever Nori recalled a funny or happy time. Ori would always snicker when Nori would recount to the two tales of all the times he’d given Dwalin the slip back in Ered Luin.
Fili and Kili usually approached him on their own, and mostly just to tease Bilbo for being so ‘odd’ with his Hobbit ways. Sometimes they would ask him questions about the Shire and other Hobbits, and though thinking of his home made him long for it all the more, he was always happy to give the two boys an insight to his people. Telling them stories of why Hobbits don’t need shoes, how they loved their food, and how they loved parties.
Whenever he was interested in knowing about dwarves and their culture he would sneak his way over to Balin or Gandalf, who would both always welcome his questions with amused smiles while they puffed away on their pipes.
For the most part everything within the company was fine. They’d been having a hard couple of days, what with Trolls, Orc attacks, and having lost their ponies and supplies. Bilbo was particularly sad at the loss of his Myrtle, and he continued to hope for her safety as they all sat around a warm fire inside the elven city of Rivendale.
Everywhere he turned he was faced with the beauty he had only dreamed of as a child. The sleek buildings, the lush green grass and trees, and the elven people themselves were all so enchanting! Even though their height intimidated him greatly, they were all very kind to Bilbo. They had even shown him to their library! He’d still be there if Fili and Kili hadn’t come and dragged him back to the rest of the group. So yes, the company was safe, and everything was fine. Almost boring, actually.
Then he caught on to the staring.
They weren't directed at himself (that he noticed) but between a few of the dwarves. Between three of them to be exact.
Three people he finds himself currently watching as well, as they all sit around the small fire. Most of the dwarves have gone to bed already, and only a few remain awake. Bofur and he sit beside each other in companionable silence, puffing away on their pipes. Dwalin and Thorin sit together on the opposite side, while Nori and Ori sit a little ways off from the rest of them. The two brothers are talking and laughing while they look at things written in the little scribes’ book.
What catches Bilbo’s attention first is that whenever Ori pauses in talking to flip through the pages while he hunts down something else to show his older brother, Nori’s gaze will lift and lock on Thorin for the briefest of seconds, though sometimes his eyes flick over to take in Dwalin’s form as well.
Thorin doesn't seem to notice, but Dwalin sure does. Though the bald dwarf is very good at not letting Nori realize that he’s been caught. Whenever Nori and Ori start to laugh, Dwalin will look over quickly, staring at Nori for a moment longer than is strictly necessary in Bilbo’s opinion. The tattooed dwarf’s eyes will narrow, and it seems that Dwalin has noticed that he isn't the only one that Nori is eyeing. Bilbo is shocked when Dwalin’s face twists into a jealous sort of worry for a split second.
‘Well hello, what’s this?’ Excitement races through Bilbo’s system as he continues to watch the three of them. Nori still hadn’t noticed Dwalin’s intense gaze, too occupied with his brother to notice, but it seems that Thorin has become aware of his friends lack of attention. The amused smirk on Thorin’s face makes Bilbo shiver, ‘Why must he be so damned attractive?’ and then Thorin leans in to murmur something to Dwalin, making the bald man choke on a laugh and shake his head.
“I’m turning in.” Dwalin grumbles, standing up from his seat before stalking over to his bedroll and Bilbo hides his grin as he watches Nori’s eyes follow him the entire way. Thorin gets up from his seat as well and takes up a pale of water and drowns out their fire. Nori and Ori take the hint and head over to their own bedrolls. Bilbo continues to sit and watches as Nori plops down onto his bed, not noticing when Bofur leaves or that Thorin has come to stand beside him.
“You should seek your bed as well, Halfling.” The growl makes Bilbo jump to his feet with a yelp, looking up at Thorin with wide eyes. Thorin looks back down at him with a frown.
“Of course! Yes, off to bed! Thank you!” He stumbles over his words, and can feel a blush spreading across his cheeks as he scurries over to his own bed, not noticing the light-blue eyes focused on his back.
As soon as he’s cozy and wrapped up in his blankets, Bilbo allows his mind to wander to the new information he’d gathered from tonight’s not very discreet staring. It seemed like Dwalin had interests in Nori, and it also seemed like it might be reciprocated. Though it was obvious that Nori also had interests for Thorin!
‘Curious! A love triangle! A very…attractive love triangle…’ Horrible, lovely, images begin to take shape in his mind. Images of three strong bodies all pressed tightly together, gripping and calling out to each other as skin slides together smoothly. Hips Rocking together in a desperate need for sweet friction – The idea of all three together has Bilbo choking down a groan into his pillow and doing his best to ignore the tightening in his groin.
He’d always had a vivid imagination, which hadn’t always been a good or helpful thing. Especially when three attractive dwarves wreak havoc in his mind and make his body tingle in normally very nice ways. But when in the company of 13 dwarves, and he can do absolutely nothing to alleviate the pain cause by his imaginings, his vivid imagination is making things for him very hard.
‘Damn it all!’