Work Text:
"You need to relax," Nori said, sauntering into the 'Ri family apartment.
Dwalin remained looking at the blueprints of the inner walls of the Company wing, where he was pinpointing new guard stations that needed to be set up soon. After another assassination attempt, it was only fair he should focus on that, despite the lack of sleep he'd been suffering.
"There's no time for that, Nori," Dwalin replied, barely glancing up from his task, the graphite in his hand hovering just above the stack of plans.
Nori made a disapproving noise.
"If you don't make time, your body will do it for ya," Nori replied.
Dwalin huffed but ignored them still.
Despite him arguing otherwise though, his eyes were burning, and he was a tightly wound coil, ready to spring up at a moment's notice given the right inclination.
Dwalin stared at the lines before him, eyes mostly unseeing, and sighed. He sat back in the sofa, dropping his writing instrument and rubbing his eyes with one hand.
"There it is," Nori said, their arms crossing over their chest.
"What?" Dwalin asked, his voice edging further into irritation, as he turned towards Nori.
Nori raised an eyebrow.
"Proof that I'm right," Nori replied, a knowing grin on their face.
Dwalin grimaced.
"Being right doesn't change the fact that I am Captain of the Guard and Ori was nearly murdered on my watch."
Nori shook their head, exhaling an elongated breath. When they spoke, it was much softer than before.
"You're not the only one who has guilt about that, Dwal, but even I know you've done what you could." Nori quieted for a moment, before they walked closer and grasped his shoulders, massaging them as they said, "He's with Fíli right now, as well as more guards stationed nearby, outside of where they're sleeping. He's safe and in good hands." Nori placed their forehead on Dwalin's, as they murmured, "Rest. The kingdom will not fall whilst you are vulnerable for a few hours. I won't let it, nor will I allow harm to come to you, either."
Dwalin grunted, then sagged limp against the sofa in the receiving room.
Nori seemed to take that as sign of his relenting to what was being asked, so they came and straddled his lap, where Dwalin placed his hands on their hips and gazed up into his spouse's brown eyes. Eyes that could pierce his soul as much as Nori could rend wounds with their knives alongside their words, if they so chose.
"Fine. I'll rest," Dwalin muttered, with resignation. Nori grinned, exuberantly, placing a hand on his chest. "Only for a short time, though, and not a moment more."
Nori nodded, then reached out and cupped his cheek. Dwalin closed his eyes briefly, allowing his body to untense further beneath the former.
"Shall I help ease you into it?" Nori asked, voice sultry.
Dwalin's eyes didn't even crack open as he said, "Not here."
"I would never wish to offend Dori's sensibilities. Though, he should be so lucky to see the endowment Mahal gave you," Nori replied.
Dwalin snorted, but when he opened his eyes, there was a sly, humorous grin on Nori's face that made him smile afterwards.
"Well, I suppose that I should follow you elsewhere to allow you to appreciate it, then," he replied.
"Just what I like to hear," Nori responded, happily.
Soon, they were walking off together, towards their private bedchamber, where Dwalin had no doubt Nori would make good on such a promise. He looked forward to it, of course.