Chapter Text
Sigrid stood in the doorway, watching her brother with concern. He wasn’t normal, she decided as she crossed her arms over her chest, the tank bunching under her pits. The white wifebeater she had stolen from Thorin was looser on her than him. Bain was eighteen years old, sitting at home the day after he graduated high school, working on spreadsheets for his part time job instead of going out and partying with his friends. It wasn’t normal, Sigrid shook her head and it was probably her fault.
Three years had skipped by with her at WY Tech. Three years of ‘living’ as Thorin had put it. What a laugh, she sniggered. Thorin or Mr. T as she still called him had insisted on her enjoying her college life, getting the most out of the experience. Oh sure, she had dated, gone out with guys her own age after six months of moping around the dorm, longing for him. None of those boys measured up, Not One. Mr. T had spoiled her, treating her with kindness and concern while younger men didn’t have their shit together yet. Most were going home to live with their parents after they graduated.
It was only when she caught herself flirting with the college professors, that Sigrid accepted the fact that she preferred older men. Well, one older man in particular. Thorin Thrainson… Three years and she wanted him as badly as she had when she was eighteen. She had enough of life where she wasn’t with the man she loved deep down inside, the one that made her toes curl into fists with look. WY Tech had opened a satellite at the community college in the next county, allowing Sigrid the opportunity to switch to online classes but have one night class there. It saved money for her dad, giving her the opportunity to move home until she finished but also saved her sanity. Sigrid was tired of living without Thorin.
Staring at the huge diamond on her finger, it had been bittersweet when he asked her to be his wife. To be honest, she had been second in line. Thorin had asked Bard in front of her showing him the ring first to make sure it met a father’s approval. Her dad didn’t like Thorin at all now, hadn’t for the last three years after walking in on them midfuck in her bedroom. He had a point, Thorin was his friend, an older friend who his oldest child had been riding like she was jockeyed up for the homestretch of the Kentucky Derby.
It was a grudging yes to the proposal, and only after Bard caught the look on Sigrid’s face. Bain had been happy for her. Tilda had as well, swearing she only wanted to come to the wedding as guest and not wear some frou frou dollied dress from hell. The idea of her sixteen year old sister in a petal pink satin nightmare still could bring a smile to Sigrid’s face. She had every intention of making sure Tilda was a member of the wedding party.
The years since she had been away had pushed Bain to step up and be more of the head of the house the way Sigrid had been. Bard still worked long hours at UPS, coming home after dark and leaving before the chickens woke up. So much fell on her brother that Sigrid was shocked in every way that he graduated salutatorian of his class. He was taking the smarter route too by going to the same community college for the first two years then probably taking online classes after. Accounting or something if she remembered correctly. Standing at his back as he worked up profit and loss, she could see him in that field with frightening clarity.
Her brother had become quite the little hustler. Maybe hustler was the wrong word, she thought as she shifted in place. Emerging entrepreneur sounded better, more legal. When the family dog had died of old age, Bain taken some old pallets and scrap wood to make a coop, then bought some hens. He sold the eggs to the local farmer’s markets and gave discounts to the neighbors. He did several lawns in their subdivision on Saturday and Sunday with a day or two during the week. But the most of his money he made on Friday and Saturday nights, running a designated driver taxi service to the local country clubs and Miner’s bar. All the bartenders had his cell number and would call him to get someone home.
Money was nice but Bain had no social life, Sigrid worried. He was known to hang out with Gimli the Troll as she like to call him now. Gimli had about as much respect of women as a humping dog, but Bain liked to play video games with him so that might be considered social contact. Sometimes he was in the company of Sam Gamgee but not too often as Sam almost never left Frodo’s shadow. Boy crushes were so cute.
“Bain, why don’t you take a break?” Sigrid asked with concern. “We can go out to dinner.”
“Who’s paying?” Her brother asked, never looking up from the ancient laptop that was Sigrid’s when she lived at home. The cheap ass wouldn’t think to buy a tablet, despite the laptop having to stay plugged in thanks to a screwed up battery.
“I am.”
“You mean Thorin is. The perks of being an old guy’s fiancé is that he gave you a credit card.” Bain continued typing, ignoring the effect that his comment had on his sister.
The anger was blasted off her in waves. “I have a job and no, I refused the credit card! It’s still at Thorin’s office in the shredder.”
“Dumbass. It probably had a two grand limit.” Bain pulled a binder out of his desk and began to flip pages to study what was in the system. “Uh, look at that. I made five hundred dollars more than I did this time last year. But the egg production is lower. We might be having chicken on the table for dinner next week when I get some new hens.”
Sigrid snorted at him, shoving away from the doorjamb to head downstairs. Grabbing a handful of her maxiskirt, she took the stairs two at a time, running through the kitchen to the laundry room. Walking to the breaker box, she opened the door and flipped off the one labeled ‘Upstairs bedrooms’. A startled yell of frustrated horror echoed through the house.
“Ahhhh…Look who didn’t save their work!” Sigrid yelled in a singsong voice. “Who’s the dumbass, now!”