***PLEASE NOTE: THIS STORY CONTAINS SLASH AND MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR ALL READERS!***
The clock radio blared a driving rock tune. After several frantic failed attempts, Pippin finally managed to hit the snooze button and sat up in bed, blinking drowsily. The room was blessedly silent, except for the soft, even breathing of the hobbit sleeping beside him. Pippin glanced at the clock. 7 a.m. Music theory class starts in an hour. What time did Merry say his first class was?
Pippin turned to the mop of honey-blond curls emerging from the blankets beside him. "Merry," he whispered. No reply. "Merry," he tried again, a little louder, and gently shook his companion.
"Mmmmmrhphf," came the muffled reply, as Merry pulled the blankets over his head.
"Merry, what time is your first class?"
Merry burrowed deeper into the blankets, curling into himself.
"All right, be that way, Merry," Pippin chuckled. "I'm off for a shower. The alarm will go off again in 4 minutes. You'll just have to fend for yourself."
Pippin hopped down from the bed, and retrieved his towel and toiletries from the closet. He opened the door to leave, when it occurred to him that he was missing a prime opportunity for mischief. He walked back to the bed and cranked the volume on the clock radio as high as it would go. Satisfied his work was done, he threw his towel over his shoulder and exited the room, humming a jolly tune.
Pippin showered and dressed quickly, eager to bid Merry a proper "good morning" (which, of course, involved very little speaking at all), and enjoy a proper hobbit breakfast before class. Perhaps Merry will even want to join me for breakfast, he thought happily as he toweled his hair dry.
His sunny mood was dampened somewhat by the sound of a throbbing dance beat echoing through the hallways of East Farthing.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, Pippin thought, as he approached his dorm room. Even out in the hall, he could clearly hear every single word of the latest hit from Gondorian teen-pop sensation Myste as it blared from the clock radio. Pippin winced. Oh no, I hope our neighbors aren't too upset.
The cacophony that assaulted his ears as he opened the door was unbelievable. Pippin gritted his teeth as he quickly closed the door behind him, and sprinted across the room to shut off the offensive noise.
To Pippin's utter shock and amazement, Merry still slept. I've had enough of THIS!
"Meriadoc Brandybuck, you lazy ass! Get UP!" he shouted.
No response.
Pippin climbed determinedly onto the bed, and straddled Merry's sleeping form. Merry's eyes flew open immediately, and he removed a small set of fluorescent orange foam earplugs from his pointed ears.
"Hoy! What's going on, Pippin?" he inquired groggily.
"Earplugs?" Pippin exclaimed. "You were wearing earplugs?"
"Well, yeah, Pip," Merry chuckled, running a hand through his messy curls. "I have to, or I won't get any sleep at all. You snore like a Balrog with a head cold!"
"I don't snore!" Pippin insisted, offended by the accusation.
"Yes, you do, Pip," Merry replied, kissing the tip of Pippin's nose, "and you're a cover-stealing imp, but I love you, anyway."
Pippin laughed. "And YOU," he pressed a kiss to Merry's chin, "are a horrible bed hog," then his neck, "and you keep me awake with your constant tossing and turning," then his collarbone, "and you are going to make me VERY late for class."
"Guilty as charged," Merry sighed contentedly, while Pippin returned his attention to Merry's neck.
Merry shook with laughter as Pippin's tongue found that one particular ticklish spot, right below his left ear. Pippin grinned, and shot a quick glance at the clock. 7:30. Oh well, there's always second breakfast. He tilted his head and pressed his lips to Merry's, feeling Merry's mouth curve into a smile below his.
Merry slid his hands down to the small of Pippin's back, pulling him closer. Pippin pulled away to ask breathlessly, "What time is your first class?"
"Ten o'clock," Merry replied. "Yours?"
"Eight."
Merry grinned mischievously. "Plenty of time yet." He sat up and locked his mouth onto Pippin's, pulling them both back down.
A loud and rather angry-sounding knock rattled the door on its hinges.
"Bugger," Merry exhaled dejectedly, as Pippin hopped down from the bed to answer the door.
Pippin opened the door to find himself looking up at the last person he wanted to see that morning: his RA.
"Grishnakh, good morning!" he chirped, "to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"TOOK," the orc spat, "I suppose you think the dorm rules about after-hours noise are mere suggestion. Or perhaps you think the rules don't apply to you."
"Of course not, Grishnakh," Pippin countered, "We understand the rules, and we respect our fellow res--"
"I received SIX complaints about that racket this morning," Grishnakh cut him off with a pound of his fist to the doorframe. "SIX! And it woke ME up. I'd hardly call that respect, Took. Keep your crappy hobbit music in the music building, where it belongs!" He poked Pippin's chest with a massive clawed finger.
To Pippin's relief, Merry joined him at the door. "Hoy! Now see here, Grishnakh. That was my fault. Pippin had nothing to do with it. I'm a heavy sleeper, and slept through my alarm clock this morning." He gave Pippin's hand a furtive squeeze.
Grishnakh cocked a skeptical eyebrow at the two hobbits. "Heavy sleeper?"
"Even for a hobbit," Merry chuckled. "Mum always says I'd sleep through the end of the world."
Grishnakh ran a hand through his thinning hair and snorted dismissively.
"Come on, cut us some slack this time. It was an honest mistake, and it won't happen again. You don't want to start off the school year writing up violations, do you? Don't you have to fill out those forms in triplicate?"
That's my Merry, Pippin thought admiringly. He could convince an Ent to run a speed race.
Grishnakh scowled. "Fine. I'll let you off with a warning this time, because I'm feeling generous. But there better not BE a next time, Brandybuck, or I'm going to hold YOU personally accountable! I've got my eyes on you two." He turned on his heel and stormed off.
Pippin shut the door and exhaled the breath he didn't even realize he had been holding.
"Wanker," Merry remarked wryly. "I'll bet he wonders why he doesn't have a girlfriend."
"That was close," Pippin sighed.
Merry nodded agreement. "Not the best way to start off the first day of classes, eh?"
"I should say not."
"Pip, next time you've a mind to wake me up bright and early, I'd much prefer this method." He looped his fingers through the beltloops of Pippin's jeans and pulled him close for a kiss.
"Agreed," Pippin smiled when they came up for air.
***
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