Chapter Text
Balin Fundinul was a patient man. He’d been teaching high school Math for 27 years, after all. He knew the majority of his students disliked the subject and he understood that. It was simply a fact of life that teenagers felt they had ‘more important’ things to do.
But really. This was too much for him.
He’d been in the middle of an algebra lesson (though he Majored in Geometry) when angry shouts erupted behind him. He spun around just in time to see his (semi-adopted) nephew Fili jump over his desk at Bolg (an unfortunate name for a boy. No wonder he was so mean-spirited.)
Balin had thrown down his marker and had waded into the fray to separate the two boys. When he did, he saw that Bolg was grinning cruelly from ear to ear and Fili had tears streaming down his face. Balin had commanded both boys up to Glorfindel’s office and had instructed his class to right the desks as he followed them (to make sure there weren’t any more incidents, of course.)
When they got to the office, Balin sent Bolg on inside and clasped Fili’s shoulders. The boy (more of a grown man now, with his golden stubble and beginning mustache) hadn’t said a word since they left the classroom. His tears had dried, but he wouldn’t meet Balin’s eyes.
Balin sighed and opened Glorfindel’s door.
“In you go, lad.”
Fili raised his head and, taking a deep breath, walked forward like he was facing his Doom (Balin didn’t know why that thought made him shudder, but the lingering pain in his chest really unsettled him.)
For the rest of the class, he kept feeling... off. Like something wasn't right. By the time the final bell rang, he was jittery and anxious. He went back up to the principal's office, intending to check on the boys.
He opened the door and saw Thorin clutched both Fili and Kili to his chest, his face buried in their hair. He was speaking to them softly, his cadence soothing but ultimately unrecognizable (something in the back of Balin's mind twitched, like it was trying to remind him of something important.)
Glorfindel looked up at Balin and smiled.
"Ah, Mr. Durin. If you'd be so kind as to take these three home. I'm afraid they've had a bit of a shock and I doubt Mr. Oakensheild is able to drive safely at the moment."
Ice cold fear washed through Balin and he rushed forward, grabbing Thorin by the shoulder. Thorin jumped and, if it was possible, pulled his boys even closer to him. The wild look he gave Balin sent a pang through his heart.
"It's not Dis, is it? Or Vili?"
Thorin merely blinked at him.
"Ba-Balin?" Kili asked, looking up. His face was pale as milk and he had tears in his eyes.He was looking at Balin almost as if he'd never seen him before in his life. Balin nodded slowly, reaching out to run his fingers through the boy's hair.
"Aye, lad. It's me... now what on earth is going on?"
"Balin," Thorin choked and he snagged Balin by the front of his shirt and dragged him into the pile. Kili wrapped his arms around Balin's neck and held on for dear life. Balin turned to Glorfindel, alarmed.
"What has happened?"
The man only smiled and said, "Sometimes the truth hurts worse than the wound. Mr. Oakensheild and his nephews have just learned such a truth... and I expect it won't be lone until the rest of you do as well."