browngirl

This is for

rabidsamfan. Amusingly enough, I had a longer tale in mind for this plotbunny. Maybe I'll write a sequel.

Title: Almost
Rating: PG
Characters/Pairing: Frodo, Sam, and Merry; pairings TBD by the reader's interpretation
Warnings: angst; an argument
Disclaimer: These characters and their setting do not belong to me.

The argument did not so much end, as break off abruptly when Merry charged out of Frodo's study, footfalls heavy and loud, through the kitchen and into the garden. Sam cautiously peered around the edge of the study door to see Frodo slumped forwards, head in hands; but before Sam had taken two steps towards him Frodo said without looking up, voice weary and cool, "Sam, if you would be so good as to check on Merry, I would very much appreciate it."

Aching and obedient, Sam followed the harsh sound of weeping to find Merry lying facedown between the beans and the tomatoes. The cousins' distress wringing his heart and stopping up his words, Sam laid a hand on Merry's shoulder; Merry shook harder, but sniffled and sat up, and scrubbed his face with a green-blotched sleeve. "Ah, Sam," he said, with a bitter little smile, "sometimes, I almost hate you."

Then Merry whipped round, so fast Sam flinched with anticipation of a blow, but Merry wrapped tight arms round Sam's ribs and pressed his face to Sam's shoulder. Merry's hair still smelled faintly of smoke, Sam noted incongruously, shaking his head at his own daftness and awkwardly returning the squeeze.