#norixdwalin

"It was probably the scallops." Dwalin commiserated as Nori clung to the sides of the toilet. 

Nori made an agreeing noise and groaned as his stomach rolled. 

"It’ll work its way out." Dwalin promised. 

"But the mattress!" Nori replied, looking green around the edges. 

"You can fuck me into it later." Dwalin promised. 

Nori coughed and then hurled again. Dwalin sighed and filled a fresh cup of water to rinse out the other man’s mouth. He made a note to murder whoever had suggested scallops as a first night meal. He’d been looking forward to being fucked into the mattress. 

((sorry it’s late, sparkle!)) 

The rain was coming down in slanted waves, the wind pressing it against them like a blanket. 

It was Nori who found the cave, of course; Nori whose stonesense all but jangled like a bell when there was somewhere to hide. 

Starting a fire was out of the question. They had no way of knowing if their persuers had lost them in the downpour or were continuing to stalk; a quick spell on Nori’s part (a highly illegal one, but being the Eye of the King had its advantages) and they were concealed. 

At least for a while. 

"Not quite the way you imagined spending Lovers’ day, eh?" Nori asked as they cuddled together. Dwalin grunted and Nori chuckled. 

"Could be worse." Nori said. 

"How?" Dwalin asked. 

"I could be running from you.” 

Dwalin glared at Nori, who just continued grinning at him until the larger dwarf grumbled and dragged him in close. Dwalin nuzzled into Nori’s neck and his companion allowed it, stroking the other dwarf’s coarse hair. 

"Nori?" Dwalin murmured into the soft white noise of the falling rain. 

"Yes?" Nori asked. 

"Love you." 

"Mmm." Nori purred, which was as close to ‘me too’ as Dwalin knew he was going to get, especially on a nightmare of a mission like this. The Right Hand and the Eye twined even tighter together and slept but not really, because there was danger out in the rain; for the moment, however, they were safe. 

Hey guys, 

I just wanted to let all of you know that my fanfic 'Bearing' has been deleted from AO3. 

This was a personal decision based on several factors that I'm more than happy to discuss with those who might be curious. For that purpose, if you are curious, feel free to message me- but I will not be accepting anon asks on the subject.  I apologize to the 30 odd of you that had the story bookmarked. 

I have not given up on Bearing, and have the three chapters that were posted saved on my personal computer. It is a very real possibility that I will, at some point in the future, continue the story. 

Just- not now. 

Ori brought home fine paper and pen nibs from the raid, his special part of the treasure. 

Dori had carefully selected only the best china from the shop he absolutely would not let anyone destroy. 

And Nori?

"MFGRMGFF!" 

Nori brought home a bride. 

"You think he'll look pretty in a dress, Ori?" Nori asked, trying on one of the many golden necklaces they had lifted. Ori looked up from where he was drawing the trussed, burly warrior stashed near the barrels of pickled herring. 

"Maybe." Ori said thoughtfully. "Silk perhaps?" 

"I could make a silk dress." Dori said. "but you'll need to keep him from ripping it." 

Nori grinned, showing teeth- three of them capped in gold. "I think I'll manage." 

"MRRGRRFF!" 

Laundry day was Dwalin's favorite day of the week. 

He would come home and the entire back yard would be strung with clean clothes, drying in the wind and making everything smell faintly like detergent. 

Inside, Nori would be baking, because laundry made Nori think of Dori, which in turn made him think of baking. Nori never half-assed his baking. It would be carefully prepared tarts or treacle or soft muffins. 

And he would grumble when Dwalin came in with yet another sweaty shirt that needed to be cold-washed. He would stop bitching, though, when Dwalin got the comb for his hair. They would fall asleep that night on wonderful clean sheets, and Nori wouldn't toss or turn at all. 

"Power’s gonna go." 

"No it’s not." 

"Yes it is." 

"No, it’s not-“ 

The hum of the ship’s core suddenly powering down coincided with the wide grin on their prisoner’s face. 

"What. Did you do?" Dwalin demanded, levelling his blaster at the door. Nori grinned. 

"I didn’t do anything. But if you want a quick shag before my older brother kills you all, I suggest you let me out." 

Nori/Dwalin: I ship this because it has all the dynamics I love. Ambiguous Morality vs. Lawman, Scoundrel vs. Honorable Warrior, Complicated Family vs. Well Adjusted Brothers (as well adjusted as Balin and Dwalin can be, anyway.) There are so many angles that can be played with, and with each changing angle comes a new end to the story. I love that Nori can play many parts and with each changing part Dwalin has to develop a whole new persona to battle and overcome it. The endings aren’t always happy, but the writing is always enjoyable.