Chapter Text
The first day back was always the worst. Dwalin knew that it was important that Nori travel. It was the only way he could properly know what was going on outside the kingdom. He had spies - he wouldn't be the spymaster without spies - but there was frequently something he needed to see to himself.
And while he was on the road, he was in danger. He had to be unrecognized. He had to be thought just another thief, or just another nobleman. And he always had to be on guard. If he met someone he knew, his cover was blown and he could be arrested or used as a political pawn, or killed. When Nori went out, paranoia was something that saved his life.
When Nori was away, he did everything for himself. He never went out in company - never wanted another out in danger with him, never wanted the responsibility for another life that he might not be able to protect. Never wanted the possibility of betrayal. Nori cooked his own food, made his own fires, kept himself warm. He did his own mending, his own hunting. He did everything.
It took him a few days to shake his road persona. He would be home in Erebor, in Dwalin's home, in his bed, and still tense up at the lightest tough. He would root through the pantry and then go out and steal food from the farms of Dale because he couldn't trust anything he hadn't taken for himself. (Dwalin had a deal set up with most of the farms near the mountain that if Nori took too much they could come to Dwalin for payment, but they mustn't confront Nori.)
After a few days, he would look at Dwalin and not see danger. And that was when Dwalin would step closer and put his arms around his Nori. Gently, slowly, he would pull Nori close and kiss him. He saved his best kisses for that first real greeting; searching, warm, long kisses he could drown in, the best way he had to remind Nori that he was home and safe. Deep, passionate, focused, he would make the world fade from around them until the only thing he knew was Nori and the only thing Nori knew was him.
And Nori would reach for him and hold him as well. And he would relax into the kiss, pouring all of himself into it, desperate to be reminded of who he really was. And Dwalin would hold him close, hold him safe and gentle, and remind him.