Chapter Text
There was something nostalgic about the first day of school. Some would say that they loved the first day of a new school year, since it gave chances to make friends and switch into classes that interested them. It was a fresh start.
Bilbo, on the other hand, utterly loathed the very thought of the first day of school. He knew he was different from the other students; his short height, awkward yet still polite demeanor, and lets not forget, he was a target for bullying among his peers.
Bilbo shook those unpleasant memories. Sitting in his car, his eyes glancing between the front doors of the school and the clock on his dash. Half an hour until school officially started. He'd have to leave in ten minutes to avoid the students and prepare for his morning class.
He had to think optimistically. Yes, it was the first day of school. However, things were different this time around.
He wasn't a student anymore. He was a teacher. He wasn't in high school out of obligation. He was there to teach and help youth stay on track for the future. He-
He felt like throwing up.
Time was against him, as ten minutes passed faster than he had wanted. He briefly thought about just leaving and just telling the principle that he got lost and that he remembered that his mother had wanted him to call her and to come back to Shiretown and-
Cutting his own train of thought off, he admitted that lying just wasn't the answer and that he shouldn't lie about his mother.
Though it wouldn't have been a lie if he said father instead.
Bilbo sighed loudly in his car before stepping out, making sure he had his planner before locking the car up.
He walked briskly to the front door, grateful there were few students even at school yet. He went to the front office, to grab his room key of the school along with his i.d tag. Thanking the receptionist for his help, Thranduil Greenleaf, if he recalled correctly, made his way to his assigned door.
Thankfully it wasn't too far from the front door, he made a mental note to find out how busy the hallways were during lunch.
Still looking for his room, he caught on a pair of eyes that made their way to him. Standing by the lockers were some students; there were five that were joking around with one another, there was one set of eyes that stared him down.
It was unnerving. Bilbo was glad he was walking instead of standing, he would shift in obvious discomfort. He didn't keep eye contact long.
He had a burning feeling in his gut that the younger man hadn't looked away yet though.
It wasn't until he turned a corner he released a breath he didn't know he was holding. Thoughts of intense eyes eased away from his mind as he found his room and quickly unlocking the door.
He was happy to discover that as a teacher, he received a rather nice desk chair. Bilbo sat down in it, and regretted it as he knew he'd just have to stand up again as the day rolled on.
He began piling this upon his new desk, pulling out his navy blue laptop and connecting it to the schools wi-fi. Taking out his planner, looking over the self notes and instructions to follow. He printed out papers to hand out, setting them next to his laptop.
His desk was by no means full like his own teachers desks back when he was in school. He can only figure that with time, his desk will grow into a more messier place.
He stood up to write on the dry erase board behind him.
'Mister Baggins' in thin dark ink, surely readable for those in the back.
Only after taking a deep breath, he hears the bell ring.
He sits down to prevent his legs from shaking.
Sitting at his desk, he watches one by one as students swarm into his room.
As the last bell rang, Bilbo head counts all the heads in the class.
Fifteen students all together, not surprising since this area had a low birth-rate. Biblo felt a bit more at ease.
He gathered up what inner charisma he had learnt through speech classes, and introduced himself.
"Good morning. My name is Bilbo Baggins, I am your teacher for this year." Grabbing the printed papers off his desk, he started passing them out. "Here are a list of requirements, along with what we will be learning in each quarter."
He began to call roll, learning names and attaching them to faces.
He did the same routine in his next two classes. He checked the halls during lunch and found, that from his door to the entrance of the school, the halls were clear and he'd be able to leave school grounds occasionally for lunch. For now though, he'd eat his turkey sandwich with tomato and avocado along with a small salad and some earl grey mixed with orange tea.
So far, the day was stress free and his students seemed pleasant enough (at least at first glance.) He looked up to the clock, lunch would end in a few minutes and then he'd have a prep period. After that, just homeroom for half an hour. Then school is out for the day.
There wasn't much to do for prep besides planning for the next few days. Bilbo finished within ten minutes and decided to leave his room for a bit and go to the staff lounge. Maybe grab a candy bar from the vending machine.
Finding the room wasn't difficult with all the students within their own respective classes. He opened the door, saw the vending machine, pulled out a crinkled single dollar, and bought a chocolate bar.
"Skipping out on class the first day, Mister Baggins?" A voice came from behind him, feeling too close for comfort. He felt even more discomfort that the other had known his name without even introducing himself to the man.
While Bilbo didn't jump six feet into the air, he surely felt his heart leap out from its place and out his chest. An entirely unpleasant experience.
He turned around to see a man slightly older than himself. Pale skin with jet black hair, looking casual enough with his dark slacks, white dress shirt, and blood red tie. The smile was sly, clean white teeth that would make a dentist swoon. No doubt he was one of those teachers that teenage girls gossiped about and thought about having some 'forbidden romance' that would end with both of them in love and happily married.
But Bilbo could see so much more. His smile, while charming as it was, screamed predator. His dark brown eyes looked soulless, void of any emotion despite the tone in his voice.
"I'm just grabbing a snack." Bilbo congratulated himself for not stuttering. "Prep period is boring the first day, don't you think?"
"I would have to agree with you on that," the new comer chuckled. After moments of nothing being said, Bilbo took this as a sign to make a run for it. Just as he was about to open the door, he was stopped in his tracks from the man behind him.
"Mister Baggins."
Bilbo turned around to look at the man. A wicked smile was casted his way.
"I hope to see you around."
Bilbo nodded slowly before exiting completely. He walked quickly back to his own room and thought the next time he wanted something sweet, he'd bring it from home.
Bilbo was relieved that there was only half an hour left until the last bell rang. The first day always seemed the longest.
He knew some of the faces that were coming into his room. All the students were in his earlier classes. He recognized Ori, Dwalin, Fíli and Kíli from his first class, Military History. Bofur, Bifur, Nori, and Bombur are in his second class, Ancient & Cultural History. The last few remaining faces he recognized were Oin, Balin, Dori, and Gloin, who he had last in his Political & Economical History.
Bilbo frowned to himself. There was only twelve. He should have thirteen. He glanced down to his roster to scan for a name he didn't recognized. In printed ink, there was the name: Thorin Oakenshield. Was he already skipping classes? Did he just not come to school today? Perhaps he was lost in the hallways? Maybe-
His train of questioning thoughts took a halt when he saw a familiar face.
It was only a millisecond before Bilbo opened his mouth.
"Thorin Oakenshield?" Bilbo really didn't have the slightest clue by his heart felt like pumping more blood than usual.
There was no reply from the other. Just a nod from the dark haired man, taking an empty seat next to Dwalin.
He had thought about talking about homeroom, but seeing as that most of the students were sophomores, juniors, and seniors; he really didn't need to explain what homeroom meant. It was more or less a study break so students would get the chance to either socialize or catch up on their assignments before they went home and became less inclined to work.
That, and Bilbo didn't really feel like introducing himself anymore. He just had to hope that Thorin would be able to read the board and know his name by that.
The students began to talk among themselves. Well most of them, he thinks Bifur used facial expressions to talk. When he did talk, it was hard to understand; he could hear English, but a heavy accent coated the words so severally that it was difficult to understand.
He watched them for a couple minutes, no one noticing how he observed them. He saw this was some kind of 'clique,' one that he was fine to be excluded from.
When he stopped looking over them, and began to focus on his own work. While he was writing his own notes and writing a reminder to pick up milk on the way home; he didn't see that along with the whispers that the students shared with one another, eyes from each one of the younger men had glanced at him with a mixture of curiosity, amusement and disbelief.
When Bilbo got home, he about wept tears of joy when he fell on to the couch. It had been such a long day.
He was glad it wasn't a disaster though. He had over thought so many scenarios that didn't end with him coming back home. But he was home. He didn't have to worry about a paranoid itch that took control over his own actions. He was relaxing now, he gave himself a pat on the back for not having a nervous break down in any of his classes.
In fact, it today was like any other day, Bilbo thinks he could get through this school year with ease.
Those thoughts could be put aside for later though, perhaps after Bilbo eats his fill and reading the next chapter of his book that laid on his bedside.
When he finished putting a last minute dinner of potato soup, he set the burner on low and set the timer for some minutes until everything as properly cooked.
It wasn't a moment later when his doorbell rang.
Bilbo frowned to himself. It was seven in the evening, a little late for a visitor, wasn't it?
Opening the door, Bilbo had to tilt his head up to take a look at the other.
A man older than him, who had a good foot or two on him. His old age was given away from the wrinkles that stood at the end of his eyes and his grey hair.
The man had a beard that went down past his waist.
'That must take some time to wash...' Bilbo thought. Looking at the mans eyes though, they looked kind and very familiar.
It was like lighting stuck when Bilbo recognized who this man was.
"Gradalf! How are you this evening? Would you like to come inside?" The smile he sent to the older man was returned.
"Glad to see you recognized me, Mister Bilbo Baggins." Bilbo made way so that Gandalf could make his way into the house. "I'm glad to see you've taken the teaching position at the high school."
"Well I wouldn't have it without you, could I now?" He wasn't even really sure how a retires police officer even got him the job. Bilbo lead them to the living room. Bilbo siting in his arm chair as Gandalf sat across on the matching love seat. "I really am grateful for this opportunity to teach."
"Even from this far away from home?"
Bilbo didn't hesitate to answer.
"Yes." He was actually glad to be so far away from home, even though it also scared the hell out of him.
"Well that's good!" When Gandalf gave Bilbo a smile, he has a feeling their was more to his questions. "Tell me, have you heard anything.. Odd rumors around school?"
"Rumors?" Bilbo heard himself snort, "I really don't think it's very proper of myself to get involved in the students personal lives, unless its effecting their grades or physical health."
"Ah, I see..." Bilbo ignored the sound of disappointment in the mans voice. "I had hoped there was something interesting to hear around in that school."
"...What sort of interesting?" He had a feeling he wasn't going to like his answer.
He was correct.
"There have been anonymous letters, that are being sent to the station-"
"I thought you were retired?"
"I am, but I still dabble in more... Unique cases." Gandalf gave him a pointed look. "As I was saying, anonymous letters, jumbled up words that don't make sense, are being sent to the station."
"It could be pranks, you know how kids are these days."
"That's what we thought," a frown appeared on Gandalf's face, "But then a body was found."
"A-A body?!" If Bilbo had been drinking anything, he surely would have spit it all over himself. "You're not serious. There hasn't been anything on the news about such things!"
"We haven't released anything to the public just yet, but most of the community knows about the victim."
"That doesn't make much sens-" then it clicked together in Bilbos mind. "The body was a student at the high school, weren't they?"
Gandalf gave a short nod.
Bilbo swallowed hard.
"When?" He was afraid to know.
"Two years ago. We didn't realize the letters were a pattern, after six letters, a body would turn up."
"You don't mean to sa-"
"There has been two victims in the past two years. The only thing they have in common is that they go to the local high school here."
"...How did you convince the board to hire me, Gandalf?" Surely Gandalf wasn't suggesting what he thinks he's suggesting.
"I could really use your help, Mister Baggins." Gandalf let a sigh out. "This case, it's unknown whether the killers a student or a teacher. But it's going to happen again, this year."
Bilbo couldn't think of anything to say.
"...I think it's about time I go." Gandalf stood up, Bilbo copied him and followed him to the door. They said their goodbyes, Gandalf was almost to the end of the side walk when Bilbo called out to him.
"I-I'll let you know if I hear anything unusual."
Gandalf gave him a smile.
"I really do appreciate that, Mister Baggins." He turned back around, "You have a good night now."
"You too.." Bilbo was sure his reply was lost to the wind.
He shut the door, locking the locks before he turned around.
He was deep in thought when he heard the timer go off in the kitchen. He had been so startled, he thought he would faint.
"Oh good god..."
Perhaps moving to Erebor wasn't such a wise idea.