Chapter Text
Kíli Oaks sighs as if the weight of the world has just been lifted off his shoulders, thanking the friendly librarian and tucking the books under his arm. He’d just found the three most amazing reference books for his British Lit paper on the Romantics. Nudging the bridge of his glasses up his nose he heads out the doors, taking the sidewalk along the side of the quaint brick building towards home.
His mind is milling through the multiple options for his paper topic, Kíli never noticing the group of four guys leaning against the hood of a car in the side parking lot. A shout cuts through his musings, smile disappearing when he notices the group heading his way. “Hey Kyle! Where ya headed so close to dark?”
Picking up his pace Kíli tries to ignore them, rerouting through the parking lot only to be stopped by the hulking forms of the four football players. The tallest steps forward with a grin, his friends chuckling when Kíli takes two steps back.
“Hey you little shit, answer me!” The guy, Derrick, Kíli’s mind supplies unhelpfully, spits as he knocks the books from the brunet’s hands. Derrick’s buddies laugh and point as Kíli tries to lean down and gather his fallen possessions, the others kicking them across the gravel and asphalt, making Kíli whimper at the harsh treatment.
“S-stop!” It’s almost a whisper but Kíli’s never once actually tried to stop the bullying before. He feels a bit proud of himself as he kneels down to gather the textbooks, though the feeling quickly shifts to dread when a foot comes out of nowhere and catches him in the side. Kíli yelps as he goes down, throwing his hands out to catch himself and scraping his palms on the harsh gravel.
“What’d you say, nerd?” Derrick laughs hollowly, kneeling down and grabbing the collar of Kíli’s sweater.
It’s times like these Kíli curses himself for staying at the library so late. The actual university library is further away from his small apartment, so Kíli usually frequents the smaller public library that’s about a thirty-minute walk away. He’s never seen Derrick or his friends here before and Kíli winces when he realizes this may no longer be a safe place.
“I asked you a fucking question, or do you need me to beat it into you?”
“N-no, p-please don’t—”
A barely pulled punch cuts Kíli off, hot pain racing up the side of his face and across his nose. His glasses fly off his face and into the dirt, Kíli’s hand quickly reaching out to locate them before anyone can step on them. He curls his fingers around the thick frame and brings them close to his chest, flinching as he makes out Derrick’s blurry figure reaching back for another hit.
“Hey! Fuck off!”
The angry shout has Kíli flinching back even harder, curling into himself and trying to become as small as he possibly can. The jerk holding onto the neck of his shirt yanks him forward before forcing him down into the dirt, a pained cry passing Kíli’s lips when his head cracks against the ground.
“I said fuck off!” Kíli tries to block out the sounds of fighting around him, hugging his glasses close to his chest and just wishing this would all stop. Bullying has pretty much been a staple in his life, so it comes as no real surprise that it would follow him to university. His father would be upset with him for not standing up for himself but Kíli’s never been one for confrontation.
Kíli’s face stings from the slap but he tries to ignore the pain, instead focusing on the near dead silence around him. He lifts his head slowly, vision spinning as he moves into a sitting position and puts his glasses on with shaky fingers.
A relieved breath passes his lips when he doesn't see Derrick or his friends, heart jumping when he notices an angry looking blond headed his way. The brunet squeaks as the other gets closer, scraped hands digging into the ground as he tries to scramble backwards like a crab.
“Hey, are you okay?” The guy is saying, though Kíli’s chocolate eyes are focused on the tattoos visible on the blond’s arms. Dark inky lines snake up from the man’s wrists to where his muscled forearms disappear under the rolled sleeves of a leather jacket. Kíli’s heart beats loudly in his chest, looking at the blond and wondering if he should have just taken his chances with Derrick.
“Hey, hello?”
Kíli’s eyes drift from tattoos up to the man’s face, eyes mapping the features along with their additions. A small silver hoops sits pierced into the right side of the blond’s lip, a matching eyebrow piercing raised as he focuses blue eyes on Kíli.
“I—I’m s-sorry!” Kíli curses himself at how weak he sounds, but really he’s about to pass out from the intense gaze this stranger is giving him. The man’s face shifts into a grin, Kíli’s eyes focusing again on the small ring in his lip.
“Sorry for getting beat up? Or sorry for checking me out?”
“I—I w-wasn’t checking y-you out!” Kíli stutters, averting his gaze to the ground and looking at his palms as a blush rises to his cheeks. There’s only a bit of blood beading there, but Kíli’s not sure how he’s going to manage carrying all his books home without getting blood all over them.
“Uh huh, sure, whatever you say,” his savior chuckles, kneeling down next to Kíli and reaching for his hands. “C’mon, let me see.”
“I’m…I’m o-okay.”
“Bullshit, give ‘em here,” he calls the bluff, taking Kíli’s hands carefully in his calloused ones, turning them over and carefully brushing the few bits of gravel out. “Not too bad,” the blond muses, reaching up to untie the bandana from around his head. Kíli now notices the mohawk the other sports, his gaze quickly dropping back down at the sound of tearing fabric.
“Wha—d-don’t!”
“It’s fine,” comes the casual reply, the pieces of soft cloth being carefully folded so they lay across the cuts on Kíli’s palms. “You need to wash these out as soon as you get home, warm soapy water and some peroxide should do the trick,” he tells the brunet, gently knotting the makeshift bandages and inspecting his work.
Piercing blue eyes lock with Kíli’s own as the other takes in his face, Kíli watching in fascination as this mystery man bites softly at his lip ring. “He got you pretty good on your cheek though,” he informs, reaching up to tilt Kíli’s head to the side and take in the bruise.
Kíli’s body shivers suddenly, the blond pulling back and getting to his feet. He offers Kíli a hand before laughing at himself, reaching down to gently pull him up by his arms. “Sorry, forgot.”
“Ah, t-thank you,” Kíli whispers quietly, gaze fixed intently on his hands and not the blond in front of him. He jumps when a finger hooks under his chin and tilts his head to the side once more, a frown marring his face.
“You need to get some ice on that, it’s going to be a real shiner.”
“R-right,” Kíli murmurs, eyes taking in the blond’s face once again, drifting over the long hair falling into his face without the bandana. The sides of his head are shaved and Kíli has the strange urge to run his fingers along the buzzed sections. He doesn't realize he’s lifting his hands to do just that until the red bandana catches his eye, Kíli dropping his gaze as his ears redden with embarrassment.
“I’m Fíli,” his stranger now has a name Kíli muses, nearly kicking himself for both calling Fíli his stranger and waiting so long to respond.
“K-Kíli, I’m Kíli.”
Fíli’s lips are quirking up in the corners and he bites his lip again, stepping back and nodding. He glances down and notices the books littered around, stooping down to gather them up.
“Ah, y-you don’t have to—I can get t-those!”
“And ruin the bandages I painstakingly wrapped over your wounds, I think not!” Fíli laughs good-naturedly, gathering the last of Kíli’s books and glancing towards the parking lot. “I’ll help load them into your car, which is it?”
Kíli blushes red once again and squeezes his eyes shut, willing his tears of embarrassment away. Fíli turns around when he notices the brunet isn’t following him, walking the few steps back to Kíli to see his blush and the tears gathering on long lashes.
“Kíli, are you okay?”
“I’ll just take the b-books, okay? I’ll be r-really careful.”
“What? I said I’d—”
“Y-you’ll have a hard time finding a car that d-doesn’t exist, so please just give me the b-books and I’ll head home!” Kíli snaps, instantly flinching at the harsh tone of his own voice. This man has just saved him from a beating, bandaged his wounds, cared about him for heavens sakes and all Kíli can do is stutter and snap. He drops into a crouch and buries his face in his hands; tears trekking silently down his face as he curses himself for yet another social failure.
A warm hand wrapping around his forearm has Kíli lifting his head, Fíli tugging him up and dragging him across the lot. Kíli sputters but lets himself be led along, wondering if maybe Fíli’s going to take him somewhere more private to yell.
They stop in front of the most dangerous looking motorcycle Kíli’s ever seen, the blood draining from his face as Fíli places the books into the back compartment. He takes a step backwards unconsciously, Fíli’s arm reaching out to grab him once more.
“Ah ah, not so fast, Bookworm,” Fíli’s grinning now, Kíli’s mouth gaping as he tries to form a complete thought. “C’mon, I’m taking you home.”
“W-what?!” Kíli’s voice is bordering hysterical as he tries to back away again, Fíli pulling him even closer to the shiny black motorcycle. A hand comes up to press warmly against his back, the brunet shivering from the pleasant feeling of it against his fearful quaking. Kíli’s never been this close to a motorcycle in his life and now this crazy blond wants him to take him home on one? He realizes a few seconds later that Fíli is talking, turning his head towards the sound and trying to focus on the words.
“—promise it’s completely safe, I’m such a careful driver I’m like an old lady,” Fíli is telling him, lifting the sleek black helmet onto Kíli’s head and fastening it quickly before he can protest, making sure the brunet’s glasses aren’t pressing uncomfortably. He swings a dark jean clad leg over the bike and turns to Kíli, urging the brunet to do the same behind him.
“I-I can’t—I’ve n-never!”
“C’mon Kíli, I promise you’ll get home in one piece,” Fíli is coaxing him in a sincere voice, helping Kíli onto the back of the bike and making sure he’s in the right position. “Okay, you’re going to want to wrap your arms around my waist like this,” Fíli instructs, reaching back for Kíli’s arms and pulling him flush against his back.
Kíli squeaks as their bodies are aligned from the waist up, his blush so dark he thanks the gods that Fíli can’t see it. They must look like a sight, an incredibly sexy biker toting around a sweater-and-corduroy clad nerd. Kíli wants to smack himself for calling Fíli sexy, but he literally can’t with his arms otherwise occupied.
“What road do you live on?”
“B-Bardshar,” Kíli squeaks, trying to judge the probability of Fíli letting him off.
Fíli starts the engine quickly, the roar making Kíli jump and press even closer against his back. “Ready?” Fíli calls behind him, taking Kíli’s head pressing into his back as a ‘yes’ and kicking the stand up. A shriek slips out as they take off down the street, Fíli’s laugh ringing loud and clear as Kíli tightens his arms and squeezes as if his life depends on it.
After what feels like forever they slow to a stop, Kíli peeking out and noting that they’ve only stopped for a traffic light. “You okay back there?” Fíli asks, the red light coming from the traffic light behind him casting a sort of halo around the blond’s head. Kíli nods stiffly, yelping when the light turns green and they take off once more.
They travel in relative silence, Kíli actually peeking out and taking in the lights of the city as they pass by. When they turn onto his road Fíli’s hand comes up to squeeze over Kíli’s across his stomach, the brunet leaning back just a hair and looking around.
“K-keep going,” Kíli says quietly, Fíli slowing down even more so he can hear the brunet. “T-there, t-those apartments to the side.”
Fíli pulls the bike to the side of the street, kicking the stand down and laughing when Kíli’s grip remains tight around his middle. Laying his hands over the shaking ones of the brunet, Fíli carefully pries them open and swings off the bike. He disconnects the helmet strap at Kíli’s chin, carefully lifting it off his head and rewarding him with a smile.
“That wasn't so bad, was it?” Kíli just gapes wordlessly, hair mussed from both the wind and helmet. Fíli chuckles as he helps Kíli from the bike, heading around to the back and pulling the books out.
Realizing Fíli intends to carry the books to his door Kíli stumbles up the sidewalk, pushing his glasses up further onto the bridge of his nose and keeping his head down.
“This is a really nice place! Let me guess, you’re one of the state uni kids.” Reaching out in front of Kíli, Fíli opens the door and holds it for the brunet, Kíli’s eyes lingering just a bit too long on his face and making Fíli grin.
“Y-yeah, that’s me.” Kíli replies, ducking inside and taking the stairway to the left. Fíli whistles appreciatively at the art hanging in the hallway, Kíli cracking a grin when he coos at the random penguin picture in his hallway.
“There’s a smile,” Fíli points out, making Kíli duck his head and fish the keys out of his pockets when they reach apartment 69D. Fíli raises his brow with a leer, Kíli flushing to the tips of his ears and reaching out for the books.
“T-thank you again, r-really. I’ll buy a n-new bandana and pay y-you for gas—“
“Don’t worry about it,” Fíli waves him off, carefully stacking the books onto Kíli’s forearms and avoiding his hands altogether. They stand awkwardly in the door for a few long seconds before Kíli shifts the books and Fíli snaps out of his stare.
“Well, stay away from bullies,” are Fíli’s parting words, the blond laughing when Kíli actually rolls his eyes.
“T-thanks, I’ll try and remember that n-next time.”
“Hopefully there isn’t a next time, but if there is I hope I find you sooner,” Fíli quips back with a grin, giving a small wave before striding down the hall and leaving Kíli to stare in shock after him.
Kíli stands in the hallway until he hears the roar of the motorcycle, the noise spurring him back into action as he hurries into his apartment and shuts the door. He deposits the books onto the small table in the entryway, pressing his back against the door and sliding down it to sit in a pile of comfortable fabrics and limbs.
With a sigh Kíli stares down at his hands, trying to wrap his head around what’s just happened. He’s just been saved, bandaged up and taken home on a motorcycle by a guy he barely knows. A pierced and tattooed guy nonetheless! Not that Kíli really minded, Fíli seemed perfectly harmless after Derrick and his friends had left, and was even kind and worried about him!
Kíli’s mother would have an absolute fit if she knew, and for some strange reason that makes him smile even wider.
Kíli doesn't see Fíli for a week after that first night and while he’s mostly relieved, there’s a small part in the back of his mind that’s actually a bit sad. Aside from his best friend Ori, his professors, and the cashier at the supermarket, Fíli’s the only person who seemed interested in talking to Kíli at all.
He still goes to the public library most nights, though so far he’s been able to avoid going on Wednesdays, just in case Derrick or his friends are around again. Today however is a Monday, so Kíli had packed up his bag and is currently sitting at the head of one of the long tables at the far back of the building. His books are spread out across the large wood surface, a notebook resting open in front of him as he jots down dates and names from the ancient book he’s reading from. There’s a paper due next week on early civilizations and there’s no time like the present to get started on it.
Biting the tip of his pencil Kíli sighs for the third time in an hour, dropping his head down onto the table with a dull thud.
“Psst…PSST! Hey Bookworm!”
Snapping his head up, Kíli brings a hand up to fix his glasses as he looks around owlishly. He sits back in his chair when he sees Fíli appear from behind a tall shelf, a grin plastered on his face and stretching the skin under his lip ring tight.
Kíli watches with wide eyes as the blond actually approaches him, sliding into the seat on his left and looking at the multitude of books surrounding him. His eyes shift back to meet Kíli’s, the brunet straightening in his chair as he tries to process the sight of Fíli next to him.
“Uh, h-hi!” Kíli grimaces when his voice squeaks, looking away when Fíli gives him a knowing grin. He moves to gather the books out of Fíli’s way, the blond hauling a black backpack up onto the table and wincing at the loud thud. They both look around to see if the noise has carried, dual sighs of relief a catalyst for the relieved smile they share.
“Hard at work I see,” Fíli nods to the books, unzipping his backpack and looking inside. “I’ve found a way for you to pay me back,” the blond tells him, Kíli’s shoulders deflate and he wraps his arms around his middle before nodding hesitantly.
“Don’t act so glum, you’re going to enjoy this, I just know it.” Digging around in his bag, Fíli yanks out a notebook and grins victoriously as he pulls out a thick algebra textbook.
Relief washes over Kili as he sits back, letting out the breath he’s been holding and nodding to Fíli. Homework he can do, it’s actually one of the few things he’s good at and often enjoys. His smile melts into confusion when Fíli scoots his chair closer, the sound of the wood dragging across the carpet almost like a whisper.
Looking up at Fíli, Kíli frowns when his pencil is stolen off his notebook and held tightly in Fíli’s left hand. The blond catches his gaze and holds it, letting out a quiet sight before speaking.
“I need your help.”
Kíli’s face stays blank as he tries to understand what Fíli’s just said. “Y-you…need my help?” he repeats slowly, brow furrowing when a light blush steals across Fíli’s face. Kíli must be imagining it though, because just a few seconds later it’s gone and Fíli’s sitting back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest almost defensively.
“Huh, I thought you would have liked the idea for sure,” he says softly, but Kíli notices the way his tongue comes out to poke at his lip ring before he sighs. “Forget it, it was a stupid idea—“
“No!” Fíli’s eyes widen at the shout, Kíli slapping both hands over his mouth and waiting for someone to come and kick him out. They wait in complete silence for a few moments and when no one comes Fíli bursts into barely concealed laughter and leans forward again.
“So you’ll help?” He tries to clarify, Kíli nodding his head quickly with his hands still pressed tightly to his face. Fíli looks utterly pleased with himself, folding his arms across the table and laying his head down to watch Kíli. “I think you’re safe.”
Kíli nods and slowly lowers his hands, a mix of embarrassment and excitement turning his cheeks a bright red. Taking pity on the brunet, Fíli lifts his head and turns his attention to the textbook, flipping to a certain chapter and staring down at it with a sigh. “This stuff is all a bunch of shit, so hopefully you can make sense of it and at least try and get me to understand.”
“W-wait, you don’t w-want me to do the work?” Kíli’s confused now. He’s never had anyone ask him for help before; it’s always just been him doing the work and not getting tossed around too badly. Fíli’s eyes soften as he realizes just what is going through Kíli’s mind.
“Well, how’s that going to help me when I have a quiz or test?” Fíli wonders aloud, Kíli smiling suddenly and getting the urge to hug the blond before him.
“I-It’s not,” Kíli nods, shifting up onto his knees and leaning over to see what part Fíli’s stuck on.
“Exactly! I just need some help understanding this stuff. I don't know whose idea it was to put letters into math but that’s just cruel.”
Kíli giggles and then tries to deepen his laugh, nodding his head and pushing his glasses up before starting to look at where Fíli’s stuck. He goes over each example problem and pinpoints where Fíli seems to have trouble, writing the problem down and explaining each step.
After a few problems the two are sitting shoulder to shoulder and laughing, Fíli scratching down the variables under Kíli’s watchful eyes and launching a fist into the air when he gets the first one right on his own. Kíli nearly falls out of his chair with laughter, Fili nudging his shoulder and moving onto the next problem.
Kíli buries his face in his arms to quiet his laughing, turning to the side and watching as Fíli bites at his lip ring. Getting the urge once again to touch the blond, Kíli brings his hand to his mouth and bites a knuckle, Fíli side-eyeing him and arching his pierced brow. “What, is there something on my face?”
“N-no, I just…d-did it hurt?” is the blurted question, Kíli’s flush creeping up his neck though he refuses to look away from Fíli. The eyebrow arches even higher, a chuckle pulling Kíli’s eyes away when Fíli realizes what he’s talking about.
“A little, not at all anymore though,” the blond shrugs, bringing a hand up and carding it through the brushed back hair of his mohawk. He grabs Kíli’s hand, lifting it to his face so the brunet can touch the piercing. “Go wild.”
Gulping audibly, Kíli’s fingers tremble in Fíli’s hold letting just his fingertips barely graze the cool metal hoop. His mouth parts in awe and although he doesn't notice it, Fíli’s eyes are focused on his face. “It doesn't hurt, t-truly?”
“Nope, I barely even notice it’s there,” Fíli reports, watching Kíli with an amused expression as the younger pulls his hand back and curls it into his chest. He gives Fíli a smile, eyes glancing down at the blond’s work and pointing out a mistake.
“That’s because you distracted me! I know how to fix it now, watch this!” Fíli mock yells, erasing half the equation and redirecting his focus back to his work. He finishes the problem correctly, flying through the rest of the sample problems and looking at Kíli in shock when the brunet makes one up.
“You just made that up off the top of your head?”
“Y-yeah, I…I like numbers and all you h-have to do is—“
“Okay hold up, I don't think I want to know how complex that brain of yours is! I’m just glad you’re such a good teacher,” Fíli says with a laugh doodling in the side margins of his notebook and looking up at Kíli. “Thanks, Bookworm.”
The nickname doesn’t sting like the others Kíli’s been given, instead a wash of warmth and something heavy settles in his gut, a smile he can’t seem to curb etching across his face. He opens his mouth to say something, anything really, when a loud voice interrupts him before he can even start.
“Fíli, there you are!” A voice hisses, the mentioned blond jerking back and turning to see a dark haired man appearing from behind the bookshelves.
“Bard—“
“Dwalin’s been trying to call you for a few hours now, man.” The brunet says, raising his brows when he notices Kíli at the table as well.
“Shit, my phone’s been on silent,” is the mumbled response, Fíli sounding less than pleased as he pulls his phone from a pocket. Kíli shrinks back into himself under Bard’s curious stare, Fíli pushing the taller brunet away with a huff. “Leave ‘m alone!”
Bard shifts his eyes away and Kíli can breathe easier, but the frown set across Fíli’s face is like the acid of nervousness settling in his gut. The blond student starts shoving his things back into his backpack, sighing when he disconnects the voicemail.
“Why’s he always got work for me when I’ve got shit going on?” Pushing his chair back Fíli stands, shouldering his bag and giving the chuckling Bard an unimpressed look.
“You? Having shit going on in the library? Good one, Durin,” Bard laughs, eyes once again shifting to the tiny form that is Kíli trying to seem invisible.
“Fuck off, man,” Fíli jokes, grabbing the pencil that is clearly Kíli’s and setting it behind his ear. Bard’s still watching Kíli and when Fíli clears his throat loudly, the other brunet seems to understand his unwanted presence.
“I’ll uh, go wait outside.” The brunet disappears around the bookshelves leaving Fíli and Kíli alone again, Fíli placing his hands on the table and leaning forward.
“Guess I gotta go,” Fíli says quietly, Kíli nodding without looking up though when Fíli makes no move to leave he raises his head. Azure blue meets warm brown, Kíli’s stomach bubbling like it’s full of butterflies when he gives the blond a small smile. Leaning in close, Fíli’s breath tickles Kíli’s ear and sets a wildfire blush racing across his face.
“Thanks again for the help, Bookworm.”
“A-anytime!” Kíli squeaks waiting for Fíli to disappear around the corner just like his friend. Fíli moves back and makes to leave, stopping right before he slips down the isles with a smirk.
“I may have to take you up on that,” Fíli winks cheekily.
When he loses sight of the blond Kíli lets out a low groan and buries his face in his arms, trying and failing to hide the smile Fíli’s left him with. He stays like that for a long time, replaying the entire encounter over in his head and forgetting all about the paper he was working on.