By: Dana
Summary: Merry knows Pippin and his ways all very well.
Characters: Merry, Pippin
Pairings: Merry/Pippin
Rating: G
Warnings: Light slash
Author's Notes: I did a drabble/ficlet request. This was for Pip.
Disclaimer: The author makes no claim to owning the rights of anything to do with J.R.R. Tolkien or New Line Cinema. Any and all characters and situations that have been borrowed are for the author's personal use only, and for the entertainment of others.

Knowing Pippin as well as Merry did, it was clear that Pippin was only silent because he wasn't wanting to be a bother, and he certainly felt that he had been enough of a bother, as it was. While his younger cousin often played the fool, he knew that, deep down, he truly wasn't as foolish as he often seemed. And now, he was not foolish at all, but quiet, instead, and that silence spoke volumes – that he was tired, and he was sorry, and perhaps, if he was very lucky, Gandalf would forget his foolishness before the great door, and all would then be well.

Merry didn't even have to see him, to know, that this was how Pippin felt. And it was dark in Moria, dark as pitch, or midnight, when the sky was devoid of dancing, singing stars.

Reaching out, Merry took hold of Pippin's hand, and pressed it tight with his own. He didn't say a thing, as he knew his voice would carry. Nor did Pippin speak in return, instead pressing Merry's hand tighter, and leaned his weight against Merry's shoulder.

Merry could not help the smile that spread over his lips. He pressed his mouth light against Pippin's temple, and though the scent of damp cold and dirt was clinging to Pippin's skin, he somehow managed to smell of sunlight, too, and green and grass, and home.

Sunlight, and it had been too long since they had seen any of that.

Home, and would they ever even see it again?

Left hand still holding Pippin's, he wound his slowly about Pippin's waist. At that, he almost felt the darkness stirring as Pippin smiled, and then Pippin pressed his face into the crook of Merry's neck.

And Merry smiled, too, as he felt Pippin's dark thoughts lighten.