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wellhalesbells · 6 years

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I see you reblogging some comic stuff an I was wondering if you have a favorite comic or favorite character or ship?

this ask is from so long ago but [DEEP BREATH IN] i’m finally going to answer it, nonny. finally. i kept wanting to read a little bit farther in my comics stack because.... maybe i’ll like that and will regret not having recced it, i just hafta--get--to it, see? and, honestly, i’m still there BUT, come on, i’ll never be caught up because that would mean comics would just have to stop coming out and i would be sad forever if that happened, SO

i’m not even going to pretend like i can narrow this down to one comic. (one ship? sure, that’s spideypool. one character? sure, that’s the merc with a mouth, the regenerating degenerate, wade motherfucking wilson. but one comic?!) there is just straight-up too much out there to make a definitive ‘yes, this is it, this is THE ONE ™ ’ statement. instead, uh, let’s break this shit down, yeah? (super special secret bonus round, will note all lgbt+ rep and standalone comics.) in no particular order, here the frig it goes!

HORROR

infidel, by pornsak pichetshote and aaron campbell. in case you haven’t seen this on every 2018 best list ever, here it is. and, yeah, it was good. a muslim-american main character living in a haunted apartment building where the entities feed off the xenophobia of its occupants. if that’s not a fucking modern horror story i don’t know what is.

spread, by justin jordan and kyle strahm. THIS IS ONE OF MY NEW AND ALREADY ALL-TIME FAVORITES. what an awesomely weird and epic story. the spread is an uncontrollable, unstoppable monster-making force that humanity accidentally unleashed by digging too deep. it infects everything it touches and basically all of humanity is running from quarantine to quarantine just hoping for the best. and speaking of hope.... she’s a baby, rescued by no, and the only thing that’s ever been able to stop the spread. also, no’s gay? and i just DID NOT see that coming. it seems like it’s going to be such a formulaic, bro-y story about the action hero who kisses the face off his girl (her name’s molly and she’s batshit insane and amazing) and instead, nope, it is not that at all. lgbt+ main characters.

the black monday murders, by jonathan hickman and tomm coker. hate capitalism? think all the rich and powerful are evil, soul-sucking monsters? [obnoxious, low-budget commercial sound effects] MAN, HAVE I GOT THE SERIES FOR YOU.

the beauty, by jeremy haun and jason a. hurley. i just started this recently but so far, oh my good golly gosh, i looove it. a sexually transmitted disease that makes you conventionally gorgeous.... at least before it explodies you. [wide, creepy smile] the art is gorgeous, the characters are aces and i am very, very pleased so far. lgbt+ minor characters.

the great divide, by ben fisher and adam markiewicz. this? was a COOL idea. the execution stumbled a bit but, gosh, was it neat. it’s post-apocalyptic where touching another person will literally kill.... one of you. the survivor then absorbs the memories of the person who dies, taking on a ‘rider.’ some people collect them, some people go mad, some form a bond, all have the side effect of dyslexia. like i said, neat as all get out. lgbt+ minor-ish/main-ish character. standalone.

revival, by tim seely and mike norton. a rural town in wisconsin experiences ‘miracle day,’ where the dead rise again.... except, they were kinda already mourned and buried and this is really just fucking up the status quo.

the woods, by james tynion iv and michael dialynas. a high school gets picked up and plopped down in an entirely new, and wickedly hostile universe. it’s all survival and alliances and seeing what you’re really made of when it comes down to it. lgbt+ main characters.

clean room, by gail simone and jon davis-hunt. a cult, a journalist and a clean room walk into a bar...

anya’s ghost, by vera brosgol. you think it’ll be a cute story of a girl and her ghost. HA HA THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS AT ALL, OKAY.

FANTASY

rumble, by john arcudi and james harren. SCARECROW WARRIOR GOD, SCARECROW WARRIOR GOD, SCARECROW WARRIOR GOD!!! okay, first off, the art in this? pushes every friggin’ button i’ve got, and many i did not know i had. second, this book is so fucking fun. it’s mythology that’s balls to the wall ridiculous, funny, and features a main character whose life motto is basically: ‘do i have to?’ infinitely relatable and then some.

heathen, by natasha alterici and rachel deering. UGH, ONE OF MY FAVORITES. the art is just horribly, horrendously gorgeous and it’s LESBIAN VIKING MYTHOLOGY, OKAY. OKAYYYY??? lgbt+ main characters.

the wicked + the divine, by kieron gillen and jamie mckelvie. one of my favorite ever series right here. it’s a hella cool concept (gods reincarnating as humans every twelve years, and burning up their hosts in two), whip-smart and if you’ve ever met a human being who likes a pun more than kieron gillen i defy you to produce them. lgbt+ main and minor characters.

batgirl, by gail simone and adrian sayaf and vicente cifuentes. you know how people rave about gail simone? there’s a reason people rave about gail simone. honestly, i’ve never had much interest in babs. i don’t tend to go for superheroes who don’t kill and i have even less interest in ‘the killing joke’ story line and i am convinced only gail simone could’ve done the recovery on that and she did a GLORIOUS job of it.

red hood and the outlaws, by scott lobdell and dexter soy. (ignoring recent - and annoying - developments), this is my favorite of all the rebirths dc did. scott lobdell is the only writer to have gotten the idea down of: okay, we’re starting over, i assume you don’t know anything but i also assume there are a bajillion people reading who know everything, and hit the perfect medium between those two things. so if you want to start a jason todd run, you legitimately can here, and get all the found family, badassery, batman-teasing enjoyment there is to be had.

iceman, by sina grace and robert gill (covers by kevin wada). classic super-heroing here and bobby’s first solo title. he’s figuring out coming out while fighting (and flirting) with baddies. sina really gets his humor and how truly wonder-awful it is! lgbt+ main character.

spider-man/deadpool, by joe kelly and ed mcguinness. watch those names there, those are your guys right there, period. they looked at the void of a spider-man/deadpool series and filled it with absolutely everything you could possibly want for the pair (sans a hardcore make-out sesh, though they did get a few variant covers with some puckered up lips in there!)

limbo, by dan watters and caspar wijngaard. a fusion of 80s aesthetics, voodoo elements and a noir tone. just some remarkably cool shit in this. the ending, for me, left something to be desired but it was more than worth it to see worship via mixtapes. standalone.

hawkeye: kate bishop, by kelly thompson and leonardo romero. kate bishop is, apparently???, a super impossible character for a lot of writers. kelly thompson is not one of them. kelly thompson is my favorite kate bishop writer, actually, and the fact that she is ever not writing her is a gd travesty.

the unbeatable squirrel girl, by ryan north and erica henderson. honestly, i’m so tempted to just stick this under ‘contemporary,’ because it really does just feel very... normal. doreen’s navigating college, new friendships, and y’know... the squirrely-ness. this had every opportunity to suck and instead it’s funny as heck, never takes itself too seriously, and is just pure good-hearted entertainment through and through.

wolf, by ales kot and matt taylor. a paranormal detective and the-possible-antichrist go on a road trip. people hated this comic and i don’t know how you can hate a comic that has a character called freddy chtonic who has tentacles for a mouth???

ms. marvel, by g. willow wilson and adrian alphona. hi, you read ms. marvel because the world is a garbage fire and people are terrible and your cynicism is at an all time high and then kamala khan waltzes in and reminds you people generally want to help each other and the world improves when we work together and that thing optimists feel? you’ll feel that for as long as you’ve got the pages open and that’s a magical thing. lgbt+ minor character.

monstress, by marjorie m. liu and sana takeda. psychic links with monsters, matriarchal societies, magic and witchery, half-human/half-animal (and other ratios) characters, all through a steampunk lens. what’s not to like about that??

inhuman, by charles soule. i love this series, i love the idea of being a total average joe/joanne, getting smacked in the face by a cloud of mist and suddenly having to figure out how to live basically a whole new life. also, if you don’t fall madly in love with dante pertuz, i don’t even know what to tell you, my dude.

heart in a box, by kelly thompson and meredith mcclaren. break-ups suck, but only because of that whole pesky broken heart thing, right? so emma gives hers away. problem solved, no? standalone.

i kill giants, by joe kelly and j.m. ken niimura. i didn’t cry my eyes out or anything. did not. standalone.

sex criminals, by matt fraction and chip zdarsky. having sex = stopping time, which leads suzie and jon to the only logical conclusion: let’s rob some banks!

hawkeye, by matt fraction and david aja. honestly there are a lot of other artist combos in this run but the only ones that are worthwhile are the ones that have fraction and aja’s names on them - sorry not sorry.

SCIENCE FICTION

black bolt, by saladin ahmed and christian ward. saladin revived this character one hundred million percent. there is absolutely a reason this was parading around all over ‘best’ lists when it was released. it really, really did the damn thing.

saga, by brian k. vaughan and fiona staples. this is the comic you recommend to people who don’t even like comics because it is that good. like, my dad - who hadn’t read a comic since he was a pre-teen, eagerly awaits each new trade. the world-building, the characters, the care put into every single solitary bit of all the things? unparalleled. lgbt+ minor characters.

frostbite, by joshua williamson and jason shawn alexander. a post-apocalyptic story that has humanity dying from a plague that literally freezes you from the inside out. very neat, very cold, very readable. standalone.

descender, by jeff lemire and dustin nguyen. this had a rough start, for me, with the main character of the first trade being tim-21, an android who is literally incapable of having the depth to be a lead BUT that does not last through to the next trade, thank god. lots of space and found family and world-building in this to be had! but you know how people rave about jeff lemire? there’s a reason people rave about jeff lemire.

paper girls, by brian k. vaughan and cliff chiang. the 80s and time travel and lifelong friendships. it’s brian k. vaughan, you know it’s good, okay? why do i even have to sell you here, man? lgbt+ main characters.

injection, by warren ellis and declan shalvey. this is another one on my list that started out a little rough but really appealed to me later on. there was just a lot to absorb in that first trade but, once you’ve got it, the ride gets way, way smoother. lgbt+ main and minor characters.

black science, by rick remender and matteo scalera. this was a rocky start, because the main character is such an asshole but in a way where he can’t see he’s an asshole, he’s just a tortured genius who’s superior to all of you, don’t you know? but i am so glad i persevered because if that’s the set up? the rest of the series is knocking him back down. super scientist grant mckay finds a way to access the eververse, every possible reality the universe has on offer, and that’s really what causes every single problem that follows. hard to cause the apocalypse and be an arrogant prick, ya know?

CONTEMPORARY

giant days, by john allison and lissa treiman. this series is so funny and smart and warm. these girls are so kind to each other and relatable and failing at adulting regularly and often and i love reading about them. lgbt+ main character.

lumberjanes, by noelle stevenson and grace ellis and brooke a. allen. this is funny and ridiculous and kind and cool and all other awesome adjectives and you should read it, fact. lgbt+ main characters.

my brother’s husband, by gengoroh tagame and anne ishii (translator). this is such a sweet story about acceptance and family tbh. lgbt+ main character.

fence, by c. s. pacat and johanna the mad. i mean... i need to see nicholas and seiji hook-up, i need that, stat. stat means now! lgbt+ main characters.

WEB/INDEPENDENT COMICS

long exposure, by kam heyward. so mitch and jonas are my absolute faves and i love them to death and the author is so kind in that they actually put this up in print on indyplanet so i can read it the way i, personally, love to read comics (and - bonus! - support them with the monies). lgbt+ main characters.

modern dread, by pat shand and ryan fassett (editors). i’ve been trying to find more better horror comics lately so i’ve been kind of half-heartedly stumbling through kickstarter on the hunt and this was SUCH a great find. it’s an anthology but more cleverly done than any other kickstarter anthology i’ve read, with a main story line that seamlessly strings together the would-be-disjointed ones. this was really thoughtfully put together and really well done! standalone.

heartstopper, by alice oseman. a very sweet story about two high school-aged boys becoming fast friends, playing rugby and falling in love. the two characters are mentioned as an aside in the author’s book, solitaire, and she became so invested in them that she wrote their backstory as a free webcomic. lgbt+ main characters.

the pale, by jay fabares. JUST started this (like, just a day or so ago) but i’m enjoying it so far!

hotblood!, by toril orlesky. i mean... is it a webcomic about a centaur falling in love with his boss? it just might be. did i get a bound edition through a kickstarter campaign? maybe. maybe i did that. who’s to say? lgbt+ main characters.

the bay, by bbz. life on mars through the lens of three young professionals who form an odd but lasting friendship. lgbt+ main characters.

hard drive, by artroan. is it a nsfw comic about a dude and a robot? .... it might be a nsfw comic about a dude and a robot. [coughs] lgbt+ main characters.

seen nothing yet, by tess stone. a nsfw comic about two amateur ghost hunters. can’t imagine why i might be interested in that [coughs] lgbt+ main characters.

captain imani and the cosmic chase, by lin darrow and alex assan. i mean did i want a starship captain who can’t help but lust after the smuggler he’s chasing. i mean, maybe i did. maybe. lgbt+ main characters.

taproot, by keezy young. ghost falls in love with boy, boy falls in love with ghost, AND THEY LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER. lgbt+ main characters.

always raining here, by bell and hazel. just two boys falling in lurve. lgbt+ main characters.

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mylittledragonhoard · 8 years

Text

Fic: A Growing Trust - Chapter 2: Fili

Semi prequel to A Sign of Trust.

AO3 Link

The mer is slowly starving to death, and it's hard being the only one clinging to hope that he'll survive.

The sudden quiet was what brought Thorin out of the deep concentration it took when it came to the facility's paperwork. It was tedious and boring and the part Thorin hated the most about being the owner and boss. Numbers swam before his eyes and slowly faded as he turned toward the door of his office, leaning back in his chair to stretch muscles he hadn't used in a couple of hours and to see if he could see anything from the hall.

There was nothing of interest, but that's not where the sound had been coming from for the last few days anyway. He sighed and straightened the chair, rubbing a hand down his face in an attempt wipe the wariness he'd been feeling for the last while away.

A nervous tension hung over the aquarium that effected the residents and the staff, and it was getting worse every day that passed that the mermaid they'd brought in went without eating.

He'd spent a little more than a week in Oin's medical bay while his infected wounds slowly healed, only able to be misted so that his scales and skin didn't dry or crack. He'd been getting nutrients intravenously then, which had granted him a little more time, but Oin couldn't very well keep him that way forever.

The slices along his tail where his fins once were had healed surprisingly well, but the laceration running down his right side had been aggravated and the stitches broken when Oin had allowed the mer to wake from his sedative state to get a better read on his vitals. The mer had predictably freaked out, lashing out at anything he could, and it had taken both Thorin and Kili to hold him down. Luckily he was still groggy and uncoordinated.

Oin had gotten caught by those claws as had Kili before another sedative could be administered. Thankfully neither injury was very deep and wouldn't scar in the future, unlike the teeth marks embedded in Kili's left arm from when the mer had caught it between his jaws.

The mer's new - hopefully - temporary home wasn't very big, but he couldn't be kept out of the water any longer, and until Oin deemed his patient well enough for a larger and deeper enclosure, it would have to do. It was an observation tank connected to the medical bay, which freed up his ward once more. The veterinarian was getting frustrated with having Kili constantly under foot as the brunet sat by his patient and read book after book on mermaids. Once he'd run out of physical things to read, he had turned to the internet and would constantly be staring at his phone when he wasn't asking Oin questions or talking to the unconscious creature. Thorin found Oin's annoyance rather amusing, but he definitely wasn't going to let Oin know that.

There was a fair sized viewing window in the wall between the tank and medical bay so that Oin could see how things were going from an underwater prospective, and that way Kili could get out of his space and sit on the observation platform on the roof of the medical ward to watch over the mer instead of constantly stealing Oin's desk chair.

Because the sedative had still been in his system, it had been like releasing a sleepy toddler complete with disgruntled complaining and half-hearted glares that would have been downright scathing had he not been drugged to the gills he no longer had. Instead they were actually rather endearing and caused both Tauriel and Ori to coo and squeal at him.

Clearly having enough of humans, the mer had retreated to the farthest corner of the tank with a flick of his tail where he'd curled up to sleep it off.

When he refused to be drawn away from the corner a day after, and then a day after that, Thorin had noted Kili growing a little tense despite the young man's reassurances that he wasn't worried. They'd all seen it before with new residents coming into a new and strange environment, refusing to eat until they settled down a little.

Oin had also reassured him that it was normal behaviour, and the vet was sure that the mer would grow hungry enough on his own to seek out food.

Hope had been high for the first few days, but by now it was clear that something was wrong. Physically the mer was fine; Oin had reassured him he'd gone over everything, but the creature still refused to eat. He barely moved from the corner he'd planted himself in. This wasn't unheard of and was actually typical behaviour for captive mers, but knowing that didn't make it any easier to bear.

Everyone in the facility wanted the mer to survive, and it was hard on everyone to watch such a beautiful creature waste away to nothing after suffering so much already. But it was hardest on Kili.

When he'd given Kili the assignment, Thorin hadn't realized just how much heart the young man would put into it so quickly. He'd barely gone home, hell, he'd barely left the medical ward before the mer had been released, and now he spent all his time by the tank either reading or just talking to the creature.

Thorin had gotten used to hearing his voice filtering into his office since the tank was close by, and the sudden silence was unnerving. With a sigh and a slight feeling of apprehension, he pushed out of his chair and stretched until his back gave a satisfying pop before making his way out of his office and down the hall. He was stalling a little, half expecting to find out that the mermaid had finally given up. As sad as it was, he was used to this kind of thing happening in his many years doing this job, but he knew Kili wasn't and that's what was going to break Thorin's heart.

His name was called out as he passed the medical ward, and he stopped and looked inside where Oin was sitting at his desk. The room looked bigger without the mer and Kili taking up room.

"He's not up there anymore." Oin explained without looking up from whatever it was he was writing on. "Tauriel dragged him over to visit Lady for a break. She alway manages to put a smile on his face."

Thorin smiled slightly as he entered the ward, "Lady or Tauriel?"

Oin hummed as he took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. They were all tired these days. "It might just take both of them at the moment." He admitted before turning around so that he could see through the observation window.

Thorin moved away from the door so that he could also see inside the tank. The view was disheartening to say the least. The mer was in his ususal corner, farthest from the window. Sometimes he'd stretch out along the wall, but other times, like now, he'd be curled up in the smallest form possible. His back was facing the two men, showing off the few scars he'd accumulated within his life. None of them had been fresh when he'd been brought in, so they were assumed to be from regular life living in the ocean.

"Hasn't moved in a couple of hours." Oin said before Thorin could ask. "As far as I can tell he should have been dead by now." The veterinarian muttered, making Thorin turn to him in surprise. "He was already malnourished and severely underweight when he got here, and considering his fins had only recently been cut off, I can only guess that he was kept somewhere for a while."

Thorin frowned at hearing this news. "Normally they're brought inland though, so they have no chance of escaping back into the ocean. He was found washed up on a beach."

"It's just speculation," Oin shrugged, "But greedy people can live near the oceans too. Perhaps when they realized he was dying, as mers in captivity tend to do, they decided to make some profit and sold him to a poacher." The vet smirked then and gave Thorin a smug look, "But our boy's intelligent and a fighter and managed to escape somehow. My best guess would be that he put those teeth to good use."

There had been bruising along the mer's face, as if someone had taken a fist to him. Thorin could easily see the mer having latched on to some vital body part and refusing to let go until he was literally beaten off. He was ashamed to admit that the thought of having to do something similar had crossed his mind when he'd witnessed those teeth locked around Kili's arm. Luckily, Thorin could control his baser instinct.

The smug look melted away and was replaced by a deep regret. "The diet of the mermaid isn't well documented because they're such a secretive lot. Kili has gone through book after book and scoured the internet for any information he can find, but so far anything listed as part of their diet has been rejected or impossible to catch." Oin motioned toward the tank. "He won't even look at dead fish and the live ones are too quick for him."

Thorin could see what looked like three small herring gathered near the observation window and far away from the mer. "Dead fish probably mean diseased or something wrong to him." Thorin pointed out.

"True." Oin agreed, "But he's too slow for live ones. He tried catching these three for a while, but eventually he lost the energy and the motivation." He turned back to his desk so he didn't have to see the desolate creature. "Tauriel and Ori want to name him."

"Oh?" Thorin was surprised that Kili hadn't been the one to mention it sooner.

Oin nodded but he didn't look happy about it. "They think it'll mean more to Kili if he can remember his mer as an individual instead of just a creature he couldn't save."

Thorin could see the point behind that idea, and though he didn’t want to think of what that would do to Kili, it was becoming more of a possibility every day. "Maybe that's a good idea."

"I thought so." Oin turned to Thorin, a serious expression on his face. "You need to talk to Kili, Thorin. As much as I don't want to say this, it doesn't look like this mer is going to survive. His tail is starting to lose its colour and his skin gets paler by the day. I know how much Kili was looking forward to helping him, but we've done all we can. He looks up to you and he respects you. He might have an easier time accepting it if he hears it from you."

Thorin scoffed. The last thing he wanted to do was have this talk with Kili. "Regardless of who it comes from, Kili will have a problem accepting this." He took a deep breath, "But I'll talk to him." He nodded, but he'd do it his way.

***

"That's a good girl, Lady!" Tauriel praised the manatee and slipped her a little treat after she'd managed to manoeuvre around her obstacle. The gentle creature was still moving in the same counter clockwise path as before, but now she was beginning to recognise that if she shifted sooner, she could change her path just a little.

"I suppose I should give your obstacle a treat too, hm?" She cooed to the manatee, scratching her whiskered chin as vibrant green eyes shifted to look at said obstacle.

Kili rolled his eyes upon hearing that comment, but it was his only reaction. He didn't feel like bantering with anyone right now. He didn't feel like doing much of anything except going back to the mer’s tank.

He heard her sigh and watched as she planted a big smooch on Lady's head. "I don't think we're distracting him very well, Lady." She whispered loud enough for him to hear before standing up straight and making her way over to where he stood in the water. Her eyes were worried though she tried to hide it behind a kind smile, bringing her hand up to sweep away the bright red bangs that refused to stay in the pony tail she'd tied the rest of her hair up in. "Maybe you should go home and sleep. Your actual home and not the bunker."

Within the last week, Kili had only gone home to shower and to occasionally eat something, staying either by the observation tank or crashing in one of the bunks when he couldn't keep his eyes open any longer. He was riddled with anxiety and constant fear that if he were to leave, he'd come back to find the mer had died without him there. He was also filled with guilt every time he put food in his mouth, and he knew that it was a useless thought. He shouldn't stop eating just because the mermaid refused to, but the guilt ate at him nonetheless. She'd always had observation skills that Kili could only dream of possessing, so it wasn’t surprising that she’d noticed.

"I'm good." He finally responded to her suggestion, "I want to look through a few books this afternoon and see if I can find something else that might help." Never mind the fact that he'd read the same books over and over so many times that he practically had them memorized, and there was nothing in them that he hadn't already tried twice.

Tauriel's brow pinched for a moment and her lips pursed together so hard that they turned white. Kili had known her for a long time and he could read her thoughts from her expression. She wanted to talk some sense into him, though by her clenched fist, perhaps she wanted to beat it into him instead. She did neither and he watched as she physically reigned herself in, forcing that well known redheaded temper back to spare him. "Maybe." She said instead of what she truly wanted to say, "You never know."

He was being humoured, and he was hurting enough that he didn't care. While he was fearful of the mer dying, the rest of the staff was just waiting. They were still upset by it, but they'd accepted that it was inevitable. Kili hadn't accepted anything.

"I wish you'd smile again, Kili." Tauriel sighed as she turned to watch Lady make another around, scooping up the plants that she's managed to swim over. "Even the animals feel when you're upset."

"I'll smile when the mer eats something."

Tauriel did nothing for a moment, but then Kili found himself suddenly held in an embrace and being squeezed tighter than he normally would have been. "If you need to talk, you know I'll listen." She invited.

Before he could tell her that there was nothing to talk about, the sound of his name drew his attention away from her sympathy and to his boss standing by the ladder. Kili's heart automatically lurched sickeningly inside his chest as thoughts as to why Thorin would be there specifically looking for him raced through his mind.

Tauriel pulled away at the same time and they both looked up at him.

Thorin didn't look like he was about to deliver the devastating news Kili had been dreading, and for a moment he felt a flash of annoyance at the same sympathetic look on Thorin's face that Tauriel had, but he knew it wasn't worth the hassle to call the man out on it. He understood they were worried, but they were worrying about the wrong being.

"I'm taking you home." Thorin voiced, leaving no room for argument.

Of course Kili argued anyway. "I'm good, but thanks. I drove myself here anyway."

"Two days ago." Thorin scowled and crossed his arms. With his already imposing features combined with the rather impressive beard he'd allowed to grow simply because it was easier than trimming it, he was a little intimidating. "I have some errands to run closer in town so I can drop you off. As your boss I'm ordering you to shower, maybe take a nap, and eat something." Those eyes narrowed at him, "I know damn well you don't eat while you're here. I don't need you not eating either. So you have ten minutes to get your ass in my truck."

That actually made Kili's lips twitch upward into an almost smile. "My soaking wet ass?"

"I've had a seal ride shotgun, a little water isn't going to hurt anything. And we'll drive with the windows down to counter the smell."

Kili allowed himself to react the way he knew they wanted him to. He huffed out an offended breath and was about to respond to the comment, but then something happened that he wasn't expecting. There was a pressure against his side and the next thing he knew he was inhaling water.

He sat up sputtering and wiping water from his face, glaring at the grey culprit who'd made another lap around her tank. "Are you telling me I need a bath?" He hauled himself to his feet again, eyes narrowing at Tauriel as she tried to hide her laughter.

Seeing his glare caused her to erupt, giggling freely. "I think Lady's saying you should go with Thorin." Tauriel insisted as she shooed Kili away.

Clearly he was being ganged up on, and it felt nice to forget about his worries for a moment. They were back full force with that thought and he turned back to Thorin. "This isn't your way of breaking the news that the mer's gone to me gently, is it?" He asked suspiciously because that is something Thorin would do; take Kili away from people to give him his privacy.

Thorin shook his head, "He's still hanging in there. You can check before we leave. You now have seven minutes."

Kili snorted as he dragged himself through the water, using the ladder instead of his preferred method of climbing out of the tank via Air-Thorin. "I hope your truck stinks for months." He muttered as he squeezed water out of his clothes.

"It still stinks from the last time you were in it." Thorin bantered back the way they always did, "I've gotten used to the stench." He winked at Kili before clapping him on the shoulder. "I've got to stick a few things in the back of it. There's a package you can grab from Oin and check on your mer at the same time." With that he turned around and walked away. "Five minutes!"

Kili frowned, "He's not my mer." He shook his head before glancing back at Tauriel and Lady. "Guess I'll see you later."

"Much later." Those green eyes caught the sun, which made her stern look all the more intense.

Kili made his way down into the hallways beneath the observation area, heading to the medical bay. He'd spent most of his time above water, only able to see the dark figure from up top. He was actually a little apprehensive to see the mer through the glass. It made denial that much harder when one saw a better picture.

"Ah, Kili. Tauriel chase you away?" Oin greeted him good naturedly. The vet was at his desk, writing on something before beginning to tape it to a box.

"Something like that." Kili admitted as he plodded over to the observation window and forced himself to peek in. He deflated a little, leaning his hands on a small ledge. The mer looked worse than when they'd brought him in. Kili's hand unconsciously slid down his left arm and rubbed over the healing marks those teeth had left. At least the creature had had more life then. But he was still alive, so not all hope was gone.

"Hang on, buddy. We'll figure something out." He whispered as he leaned his forehead against the cool glass.

Pale blue eyes stared back at him calmly from inside the tank before blinking closed and not opening again.

Kili sucked in a deep breath before turning back to the vet, "Thorin said you have a package?"

"Right here." Oin tapped the box he'd just been taping. "Frozen blood and tissue samples."

That made Kili curious. "From the mer?"

"Mm hm. I took them while he was sedated and you were sitting in my chair snoring." Oin seemed to read his mind, "Things have slowed down enough now that someone can run them to the main lab. They'll be tested for age, but also to evaluate how his organs are functioning, and any diseases he may have."

"Do you think they might be able to tell why he won't eat?" Kili was hopeful.

Oin's expression said it all, "Even if I put a rush on it, we wouldn't get results for several weeks, Kili." He kept his voice gentle.

The mer would starve to death long before then. This was obviously for medical research more than it was for aiding the ill creature. "Well, we'll figure it out without it then." Kili insisted.

"I hope you do." Oin said, but Kili could detect his doubt. He'd given up too. Even the veterinarian had given up. Oin picked the box up and handed it to Kili, "Now get this to Thorin. When you boys return, he'll still be here." The older man promised as he motioned toward the tank with his head.

Kili took the box, face neutral. He didn't bother saying anything on his way out.

Thorin was already waiting for him in the small employee parking area, leaning against an old Chevy that was definitely older than Kili. It was a two-toned blue, regular cab four-by-four beast that was surprisingly dependable for her age.

Kili was sulking as he approached with the box in hand. "Why can't I just drive myself home?"

A dark eyebrow rose as Thorin looked at him with such an unimpressed expression that Kili had to fight the urge to squirm. "One, because I don't trust you to drive. I don't think you've slept much in the last week. And two, I don't trust you to go home."

"Ouch, Thor. That's a lot of distrust. It breaks my heart to hear that my favourite person in this whole world doesn't trust me."

That got him an eye roll and a hand nudging him to the passenger side. "Not with your health. You're going to burn out and then you won't be a help to anyone." Thorin expressed as he opened the door and got in. The old metal of the truck squealed with the movement, but it gave a solid slam when the door closed.

Kili climbed into his seat, setting the box on the floor between his feet before buckling up. "You're not just going to drop me off and then not come back, right? Because I'll just take a cab back." He wasn't sure if it was a promise or a threat, but Kili wasn't fooling around.

Thorin sighed and gripped the wheel as he started the engine. It roared loudly for a moment before calming to a pleasant hum. "As much as I want you to get a good night's sleep, I wouldn't do that to you." He promised before putting the truck in gear and backing up. "But I'm going to be gone for a few hours. You'd do well to squeeze a nap in during that time. If you're still asleep when I come to pick you up, I'll wake you."

"Swear it to me." Kili couldn't help but feel distrustful. He knew he wasn't taking care of himself properly, but he had other priorities that were more important. Thorin, on the other hand, had to look out for his employees first and foremost.

"I solemnly swear that I will come get you after my errands and I will bring you back to the aquarium." Thorin dutifully recited as they pulled away from the building and turned onto the road leading to the highway that would take them into the heart of the city.

"Thank you." Kili could trust Thorin's word despite all his misgivings.

Kili's apartment was downtown in a large, but quiet complex. The apartment itself was on the small size, but perfect for Kili who barely spent any time there. One bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen attached to the living room, and a room for storage had been his home since he'd moved out of his mother's place. He was one of the youngest tenants, but his landlady had always treated him fairly and had kind of adopted him like a grandmother would.

Once Thorin had sped off to do his errands, Kili made his way up to his floor, attempting to focus on what he needed to do without any intruding thoughts.

Of course, something as simple as taking a shower made him think of the aquatic creature, but he managed to clean up without incident. And maybe Thorin had had a point about bathing considering he pulled at least three strands of plant material out of his hair. That wasn't something the man would ever find out about.

Forgoing food because he probably didn't have anything edible, the brunet decided that he'd try to get a little sleep in before Thorin returned. With all the thoughts and emotions churning around inside him, he didn't expect to really be able to, but instead, he was out minutes after hitting the pillow.

***

He was woken sometime later by a loud knocking, and he slowly came awake, blinking up at the intruder standing in his doorway knocking on the frame.

"Should I let you sleep longer?" Thorin's voice jolted Kili back to reality and he remembered why he was even home and why Thorin was there.

"No." Kili sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"You didn't answer your phone after three calls, and I knew you'd never forgive me if I left without you, so I used your spare key." Thorin replied as he disappeared from view. Kili had made sure that both Thorin and Tauriel had a spare key to his place in case he lost his own. This came after his keys had fallen into a tank and had been mistaken as a shiny toy by a couple of otters. His landlady had had a heyday listening to that explanation on why he needed a new set.

"You'd be right." Kili huffed as he got up and stretched.

"Come and eat. Then we can go." Thorin's voice came from the kitchen.

"Did you go shopping for me?" Kili stumbled out of his room, still not quite as coordinated as usual. Tauriel would probably argue he wasn't usually coordinated either.

"I picked up enough for a meal. Which I'm to make sure you actually eat." There was a rather large sub sandwich on a plate already waiting for Kili on the table. "Both Oin and Tauriel demanded it. Your milk went bad, by the way, so I chucked it."

Kili made a face as he picked the plate up, his stomach grumbling loudly at even the sight of the food. He really hadn't been eating properly. "I don't like milk anyway. I don't know why I buy it." He admitted before taking a giant bite, groaning at the taste.

Thorin looked half amused and half frustrated as he leaned back against Kili's counter. No, Kili wasn't sure how that expression was even possible, but of course Thorin could pull it off. "You're going to be eating regularly from now on. I don't know what made you think starving yourself was going to help the situation any." He scolded with a frown.

Kili swallowed his mouthful. "It wasn't that. Every time I go to eat something I just feel so fucking guilty." He complained before frowning as the familiar feeling swelled up in his chest. He couldn't put the sandwich down though, not with Thorin there.

"I understand that, but you need to take care of yourself first. You passing out because of exhaustion or hunger will only make things worse." Thorin looked regretful, "If you do this again, I may have to look into suspension."

"What?" Kili's eyes went wide.

"I need to make sure my staff is safe when they're on the job, Kili. What if you passed out and fell into a tank? Not only do we have creatures that could potentially eat you, but you could drown. You guys are family, so watching one of you suffer like this is difficult on everyone." Thorin reminded him.

Kili guiltily took another bite of the sub, mostly so he didn't have to say anything in response. He did eventually mumble an apology.

"Don't apologize, just stop being dumb." Thorin instructed. "Your mother would kill me if I let anything happen to you." He muttered the last part.

That got Kili to grin. Thorin and his mom went way back. "I can't promise that. It's part of my charm."

Thorin scoffed loudly as he chuckled. "Charm. Sure. We'll call it that."

Kili took the mature route and stuck his tongue out. "Can we go? I'll eat in the truck, and I promise not to make a mess." He glanced down at the table, "I want to get back."

Sighing and looking like he wanted to refuse, Thorin relented instead. "Yeah, come on. I have crates of fish sitting in the bed of my truck."

The drive back seemed to take forever, and Kili finished his sandwich within the first ten minutes, so he didn't have much to occupy his time with. He chatted with Thorin about what errands he'd had to run which had included dropping the box off for Oin, picking up their regular order of food from the fish market, paying a few bills, and food shopping for an annoying employee.

"I didn't realize you went shopping for Tauriel too." Kili replied cheekily, "She better thank you."

Teasing Thorin and getting teased in returned was nice, and Kili's thoughts didn't stray as easily now that he'd gotten some sleep. He could actually call the ride pleasant.

At least until they were parked and Kili tried to leave the vehicle.

"Kili wait." Thorin drew him back, and it was the tone in his voice that made Kili's defenses slam up. It told the brunet all he needed to know about what Thorin wanted to say.

"Don't bother." He snapped as he crossed his arms, throwing himself back against the seat. He wouldn't normally ever speak to Thorin like that, but he was hurting. "I already know what you're going to say, and I don't want to hear it." He growled through clenched teeth.

"Kili-"

"No, Thorin!" Kili turned his head to glare at the man. He could see how hard this was on Thorin too, but at that very moment the anger and desperation consuming Kili were the only things he felt. He'd appreciate Thorin's seemingly limitless patience and understanding later.

A heavy silence filled the truck before Thorin let out an even heavier sigh as he leaned back in his seat. "Oin believes he was held captive by someone wanting to keep him as a pet."

Kili wasn't sure what to say to that, so he said nothing and continued stewing in his emotions. News like that wasn't particularly surprising. It was rare nowadays, but not completely unheard of. It made Kili angry that someone had done that to this mer.

Thorin didn't need him to say anything. "You know they don’t last since they all just seem to give up on life in captivity. He's too thin to have just been injured so recently." His frown was obvious in his tone, but Kili refused to turn so he could see it, having focused his glare on the latch to the glove compartment. "Oin figures the people sold him for his fins when they realized he wouldn't survive."

Kili's fingers tightened in the material of his shirt at the cruel thought, and the glove compartment latch blurred from the tears beginning to gather in his eyes. He'd read multiple pages about how mermaids could die from a broken heart, and that was why nobody could keep them in captivity for very long. Whether it was true or not, there was nothing else to explain all the deaths. The mer was technically in captivity now. Was this him giving up on life? All Kili wanted to do was help him.

"Maybe he's waiting to die, Kili." Thorin spoke quietly and gently.

But it only made Kili's anger flare wildly. "Fuck that!" He shouted at the man before grabbing the door handle and scrambling out. His foot got caught on the seat belt and he almost tripped, but he managed to straighten himself. He could see a few of the staff members nearby and could plainly see Tauriel's hair in the sun, but he didn't care if anyone saw him freaking out. They needed to understand that he wasn't going to give up.

So their presence didn't stop him from whirling around and glaring at their boss, "I can't believe that!" He shouted angrily, "He wouldn't have fought against us so hard if he was just going to give up and die now!" He clenched his fists at his sides, nails digging into his palms. "He wouldn't have fought to escape the assholes that cut his fins off!" The images of the bleeding and frightened mer had been haunting Kili since the day they brought him in, and now they returned. His tears fell but he didn't acknowledge them as he stared at Thorin, almost pleading. He took a deep breath to try and calm himself because Thorin wasn't the bad guy and Kili knew he didn't have the right to be yelling at him. "As long as he's still alive, I won't give up on him." He said, calmer than he was before. "I can't, Thorin." He shook his head before fleeing away from the truck, heading into the establishment.

***

The sun was just beginning to set when Kili's radio crackled to life. Every staff member carried one so that they didn't have to use an intercom that might startle the residents or hunt someone down when they were needed. Kili's had been sitting next to a cement support wall since yesterday. He was actually surprised the batteries were still working, but the sound of it made him want to chuck the thing into one of the tanks. He didn't want to speak to anyone.

He glanced down into the tank, spotting the mer still huddled up in his usual corner. He hadn't moved since Kili had sat down.

"Kili. Can you come to the staff room, please?" It was Tauriel's voice, which surprised him as he'd been expecting Thorin's.

A sliver of him was curious as to what they wanted, but he was mostly suspicious and worried he'd get another talk like the one Thorin had tried to give him. He didn't think he could handle another person telling him to let go.

"Kiiiili." The radio crackled again as she sang through the speaker. "Pick up your radio."

He sighed and gave in, yanking it from its position. "I'm busy." He muttered before releasing the button so she could respond.

"Yeah, busy sulking. I saw you five minutes ago and you probably haven't moved an inch."

"I moved to pick up the stupid radio." Kili retorted mockingly.

"Just get your surly ass down here before I come drag you down here kicking and screaming." She growled, apparently having had enough of his attitude.

He groaned and forced himself to his feet, clicking the radio where it belonged along his belt before casting one last look at the mer. "I'd toss her in if I thought you'd eat her." He muttered as way of parting, heading down to the break room.

When he got there, he found most of the staff inside, and he couldn't help but feel even more suspicious when they all turned to face him as one. Making an unhappy noise, he stepped inside and crossed his arms in a last ditch effort to defend himself. "Are we having a staff meeting?" He kept his tone light.

"We were overdue." Tauriel shrugged before holding out a few pieces of paper in his direction.

"What are those?" He asked without moving his hands.

She rolled her eyes and shook the papers. "Just read them." She sighed impatiently.

Reluctantly, Kili reached out and took the papers from her, figuring this was a suspension notice or something. It would be a dick move to do in front of everyone, but Kili couldn't argue that Thorn had every right to fire him let alone suspend him.

Hazel eyes narrowed in puzzlement as he read over what appeared to be a medical record and some sort of documentation. The documentation was familiar as every animal they housed required it as well as medical history. He read the name of the animal these were for and his confusion grew. "Fili?" He read it out loud before focusing on the sheet before him.

It stated that he was the primary handler, and that the animal in question was permanent to the facility for now. It wasn't until Kili flipped the page and found himself staring at a sedated mermaid lying on Oin's medical table that he finally clued in.

He looked up at Tauriel and Ori who'd stepped closer. "You named him Fili?" He asked, ignoring the way his voice cracked on the mermaid’s new name. "Why? Naming animals makes it easier to get attached." And it was so similar to Kili’s name.

Ori snorted, "Kili, everybody can see that you're already attached. Name or no name." He said before his expression shifted to regret. "Tauriel and I wanted to give him a name so you'd have something to remember him with." He admitted shamefully, "But we were wrong."

Tauriel took over then, "You were right. He wouldn't have fought against us or even dragged himself out of the ocean if he hadn't wanted to survive." She admitted, revealing the fact that they had heard Kili yelling at their boss, "He's a fighter, and you're his biggest supporter, hence his name." She smiled.

"And we're all with you, lad." Dwalin spoke up then from behind Tauriel and Ori. "If you're not giving up on that giant fish, then we're not going to give up either."

Kili teared up before he registered how much his eyes were burning, Fili's new name blurring on the page. "I...I don't know what to say."

"I'd like to hear a promise that you'll take better care of yourself from now on." Thorin spoke, "That means eating and sleeping regularly. Even if it's not at home." He added, seeming to sense that Kili would continue to spend most of his time near the mer.

Fili, he reminded himself as his eyes glanced down at the name printed in blue. It was Tauriel's handwriting. Somehow, seeing that name renewed his hope that the situation would work out.

"I can promise that." Kili managed a slightly quivering smile, and before he knew it he was enveloped in a hug.

#my writing #loving the sea series #Thank you to everyone who left wonderful comments.#They truly made my day!

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