Tolkien reader inserts/one shots

A Murderer Most Foul (Detective!Thorin x Detective!male reader) Detective AU

(There is violence and bloodshed mentioned!)

"Y/L/N, are you listening to me?" Y/N shook himself from his thoughts and smiled at his partner. "Sure. Got another apparent homicide this morning." Y/N jumped up from his seat and grabbed his jacket. "Well? What are we waiting for old man?" Thorin frowned, but chuckled a little anyway. It was doing him good to have such a young partner. It kept him on his toes and gave him a fresher perspective on cases.

The two detectives traveled to the crime scene in near silence. Thorin didn't mind. It helped him prep his brain for what he was about to see. Murder scenes were never easy. So, Thorin spent that time just preparing himself. If this scene was anything like the last one, he was going to need all the preparation and help he could get. The two detectives stepped into the crime scene and Y/N let out a low whistle. "Damn." Thorin ground his teeth together. He knew exactly who was behind this. "Azog."

Thorin had been after a serial killer, alias Azog, for most of his career. The man just kept managing to slip through his fingers. Either he laid low for a while after a crime, he left no evidence and got off on technicalities, or a witness would mysteriously vanish. No matter what, Thorin could never seem to keep him in prison. But this time was different. This time, Azog was taunting him and Thorin refused to go down without a fight.

"Why has he attacked again already?" Y/N asked as he took out his notepad and continued, "Azog usually goes months or even years between killings. Why so many in such a short amount of time?" Thorin frowned. "I don't know." Y/N took a couple of notes and then placed his notepad back in his pocket. "It's like he's trying to draw attention to himself...maybe he's reached his peak and is going on a spree." Thorin stood up fully and straightened his jacket. "Doesn't matter. This time, he's not getting away. I want every single inch of this place combed for any evidence. Nothing gets left behind." Y/N gave a mock salute and Thorin swept from the room, unaware of the eyes trained on his back.

Thorin returned to the precinct and his desk to think. Y/N had posed some good questions. Why was Azog coming out so much now? Was he truly at the point where he knew his time was limited? Thorin shook his head. That didn't seem likely. Azog was a cocky son of gun. There was no way he'd just give up unless someone took him out. And he especially had it out for Thorin, who had been chasing him for so long.

*short time skip*

It took several days, but finally, there was progress. "We have a lead on Azog!" Y/N exclaimed as he burst into the precinct. Thorin jumped a little in his seat. "What? Where?" The younger detective smiled and told Thorin where he thought Azog might be. The two ran out to their car. Thorin was practically bouncing in his seat. This was what he had been waiting for and working towards for so long. And now it looked like it was finally ending.

"How accurate is your information, Y/N?" Y/N thought for a moment. "Fairly accurate. My CI has never steered me wrong before. He swears he saw Azog at that location." Thorin tried to hide his own triumphant smile. At last. He drove as quickly as he could to the place his partner had indicated. It was time to bring Azog in...dead or alive.

Thorin didn't count on Azog to be waiting for him. He didn't count on being taken by surprise by a hit on the back of the head. He didn't count on coming to being strapped to a chair with a gun pointed at him. Y/N's gun. Thorin growled up at the young man. Y/N didn't flinch. He just stared at Thorin, eyes full of uncertainty and remorse. "I'm sorry, Thorin. Azog threatened my family. I didn't mean for any of this."

"Yet here we are. Your partner finally in my clutches and you pointing a gun at him," a gravelly voice said, pulling Thorin's attention away from Y/N. From the shadows, a pale and terrifying looking man appeared. "Azog. Untie me and face me, you piece of filth!" Thorin growled out, making the villain laugh mercilessly.

Y/N turned to face Azog. "You got what you wanted. I'm leaving now. I'm not going to stay here and watch you torture him." Azog's lips turned up into a cruel smile. "I don't think so. I think you should be the one to kill him." Y/N's eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "No. No way." Azog's smile fell and he stalked over to Y/N. "You will, if you know what's good for you. For your family."

Thorin watched the exchange with bated breath. Was Y/N really going to consider killing him? Thorin was torn between feeling betrayed and feeling relieved that his partner had refused to kill him at first. Y/N's eyes met Thorin's again. Thorin could see the pain in the man's eyes. "I'm sorry, Thorin." Y/N raised his gun again and Thorin closed his eyes to prepare for the shot.

It came alright. But not in the head or the chest or even the gut where it would do the most damage. No. Y/N shot Thorin in the foot. Thorin screamed in pain at the same time another shot rang out. The second shot was from Azog's gun that was aimed at Y/N, but had missed its target. "You foolish child!" Azog spat, "Did you really think you could save him?! Now I will kill you both!" Azog moved to shoot again, but the doors burst open. "Erebor Police! Drop the weapon!"

Azog let out an inhuman roar and pulled the trigger, this time hitting his mark. Y/N's stomach. Y/N swore loudly as he dropped his own gun and fell to the floor. Despite his feelings of anger and betrayal, Thorin called out to Y/N, hoping the man was still alive and alright. "I-I'm fine." It was the weakest Thorin had ever heard his voice.

Thorin was quickly released from his chair and he tried to run over to his partner. He temporarily forgot the pain in his foot until he put weight on it. Then he too crumbled to the ground. It only took a few moments for both Thorin and Y/N to be loaded into separate ambulances and driven to the nearest hospital.

*another time skip brought to you by Thorin's beard*

Y/N groaned loudly. He had tried to open his eyes only to have to close them again against the harsh lights. "Just a second," a gruff voice said. Y/N heard some shuffling and what sounded like a cane hitting the floor. Then the voice said, "Alright. That should be better." Y/N tried to open his eyes again. This time the room was dimmer. Y/N attempted to rub his eyes with his hand, but something was restraining him. He looked down and saw that he was handcuffed to his hospital bed.

"Standard procedure. I tried to convince the chief that you aren't a flight risk, but he wouldn't listen." Y/N let his gaze travel around the room until it landed on Thorin. He was sitting in a chair next to Y/N's bedside. There was a cane leaning next to him. Y/N managed to croak out, "How badly did I injure you?"

"Doctor says I'll walk with a limp the rest of my life...which is going to be a nice, long one thanks to you." Y/N shook his head. "I shot you." Thorin shrugged a little. He'd long gotten over being angry at Y/N. He knew just how manipulative Azog could be and he knew Y/N would have done anything to protect his family. Thorin would have done the same.

"How bad is it? Am I looking at jail time?" Thorin frowned. "They won't tell me anything since I was your victim." Y/N sighed heavily. "Well, it's not like I can go anywhere for a while." Thorin nodded. "You're right. But I'm not leaving your side while you recover. And, when it comes time, I'll make sure you have the best attorney available." Y/N's brows furrowed. "Why? It's my fault you were in this situation. It's felony assault, Thorin."

Slowly, Thorin reached over and placed his hand over Y/N's free one. "Because you're my partner. Azog manipulated you into doing what you did. And it could have been worse. You could have killed me when he ordered you to. You know exactly where to hit. But you didn't. You spared my life. Yeah, it hurt like hell, but better than being dead. You bought us time and saved me. So now it's my turn to save you."

Y/N smiled a little. He turned his hand so hecould grasp Thorin's. Thorin's face turned beet red. "Thanks,Thorin." Thorin cleared his throat. "Uh, yeah. Don't mentionit." He gave Y/N's hand a squeeze. "I'll call the nurse in. Shewanted to check your bandages as soon as you woke." Y/N tightened his gripand Thorin smiled. "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere." Withanother squeeze, Thorin let go of Y/N's hand and called in the nurse.