Work Text:
Gimli sat with the blueprints before him, eyes tired. He had stared at them for hours, drafting and re-drafting the lines until he felt they were to his liking.
Removing his spectacles, Gimli rubbed at his eyes, genuinely exhausted. It was for a purpose Gimli was burning the candle at both ends, but his exhaustion did have its limits, and he was nearly there.
However, Gimli had finished his draft, and now, he would run it all by Kíli as a second pair of eyes. That would have to wait until the morning, though.
Sighing, he stood and intended to leave his office until such a time Kíli was available.
Except, there came knocking.
Frowning, Gimli went to the door and opened it swiftly. On the other side, there stood Legolas.
"What're you doing here?" Gimli asked.
"Looking for you," Legolas replied, tossing back his hood from the green travelling cloak he wore.
His long, platinum hair spilled out of it, over his shoulders. If anyone nearby did not know who it was before, they could guess just by looking at him now.
"For what reason would you be?" Gimli queried, knowing well what was still laid out on his desk.
Legolas frowned. "Here I thought you'd be happy to see me."
Gimli sighed, caught between wanting to see Legolas and wishing to keep his secrets from both Legolas and Erebor.
Silence slipped between them, and Legolas nodded. "I see this is a bad time. I won't make this mistake again."
Legolas was swift, turning on his heel, but despite his insistence upon maintaining their privacy, Gimli called after him, "Wait!"
Light footsteps came closer, and then Legolas was before him. There was clear hurt across his face, and Gimli sighed.
"Come in," he said, stepping aside so that Legolas could.
Once the Elf did, Gimli watched him, eyes raking across his face. His heart beat a little out of time as Legolas' blue eyes grazed him, too.
They had been teetering upon the precipice of more, yet nothing had happened. What Gimli had sketched out would change that, in a monumental way, should Legolas accept the gift he wished to create in the coming days. However, he did wish for it to exist before the intended recipient could appraise it.
Naturally, Legolas' eyes swept the area though, and Gimli was aware of the moment when the Elf noticed the blue prints. His eyes stopped, and he stared before moving closer.
Gimli sighed, turning towards him, then noticing how Legolas' left hand clutched the desk below. He waited as another’s eyes roved over his work, watching for any single hint of dislike.
Eventually, Legolas' eyes found his, and Gimli could see various unasked questions swimming in them.
"You're not one to reach for a bow," Legolas said, stating the obvious.
"It’s not my favourite, but a Dwarf must be competent with a variety of weapons, especially those with a relation to either Fíli or Kíli," Gimli replied, voice tinged with humour.
"I did not think either would care much for Sindarin upon one of their bows, nor my full given name," Legolas replied, eyes turned piercing.
"You caught that, did you?" Gimli said, as if he had not been found out.
"It's rather blatant," Legolas replied.
Gimli sighed, then replied, "Aye."
"For what reason?" Legolas asked.
"I think you know, Sanâzyung."
The word slipped out of Gimli's mouth before he could help it, but luckily, Legolas did not speak Khuzdul.
At least, Gimli thought that to be true, until Legolas inhaled sharply almost directly after Gimli's slip up, and said, "True love?"
Gimli's eyes shot up to Legolas' own, which were wide.
"Where did you learn that word?" Gimli asked.
"It is one often said by your dear cousin, and there can only be so many interpretations, Meleth nîn," Legolas replied.
Gimli stood there, understanding what had been said, then smiled.
"Well, I suppose we are of the same mind then," Gimli said, reaching a hand out, grasping Legolas' own. The longer, slim fingers clasped his as they stepped closer towards each other.
"That we are."
Legolas lifted up Gimli's hand and kissed the knuckles, their eyes remaining locked on one another. Gimli closed his eyes, exhaling in a way that extricated all worries about whether or not his gift might be well-received.
"I suppose, in doing this, you will be required to state the nature of our bond?"
Gimli nodded, eyes fluttering open.
"I shall prepare for war, then," Legolas stated, eyes dancing with humour.
"I do not think Fíli nor Ori would start one over our courtship," Gimli replied.
Legolas shook his head. "I was not speaking of your King and his Consort, but rather, my father."
"It's nothing we can't handle," Gimli stated.
Legolas smiled, and said, "I would agree, Master Dwarf."