Imagine requested by @lunawolf8074; Imagine Thorin, Fili and Kili in a monster hunting team. The story is based on the books of 'Lockwood and Co.' . So if something sounds familair, that is the reason.

With this lovely picture as inspiration from Tumblr (I can't find the artists' name);

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It was like someone was blowing softly against the leaves. They danced on the invisible breaths of air.

Kili pulled up his collar to protect himself against the icy air. For some reason, that he expected to have something to do with age, he was always the one to take first watch. And everyone knew the first watch was the most dangerous.

"Because we trust your instincts, brother" Fili had explained to him.

"Instinct my ass" Kili said. His eyes darted from dark shadow to dark shadow. Light was not allowed on watch. Some monsters wouldn't come out if he lighted something as small as a match.

The darkness combined with the anxiety of being on watch often proved to be enough to attract most monsters. You were practically living bait.

Not that anyone would acknowledge that.

As a monster hunter team you had to trust each other. One mistake or one moment of doubt and your whole team could be slaughtered.

It had happened to other teams.

"And there we go." Mist was coming up over the hill. An unknowing spectator may think that it was all natural, just nature running it's course. Kili knew better than that. Because behind the white mist, there were green strings mixing in with it.

The metal of the walkie-talkie felt cold against his skin as he brought it up to his mouth. "It looks like we are dealing with ghosts. I am not sure which type just yet. Over."

"So we are not going to have a relaxing evening out then?" Fili's answer came in. He sounded tired.

Kili surpressed the need to roll his eyes. "You forgot to say over. Over."

"Like it matters." It was silent for a few seconds. "Uncle says we are on our way. Don't go anywhere before we get there. According to the story of the residents we could be dealing with a doppelganger."

"That would make my day. Over."

"Be careful Kee, we don't know what we are dealing with. Over."

The mist came closer and closer as it slowly rolled towards Kili over the hill. Fear began to settle deep inside his stomache. It wasn't Kili who was afraid but rather a feeling that ghosts secreted.

People who were not educated had no reason to guess their 'gut' feeling. That was why many of them died the way they did. When the feeling of fear jumped up on you and there were other signs of monsters, you were supposed to stay calm.

Drinking tea often proved to be very helpful. Kili prefered raspberry tea over anything else.

He slowly stood up from the ground, putting his bottle and walkie-talkie back in his deep pockets.

The green strings were almost completely entwined with the mist. He could clearly feel a pair of eyes looking at him from an unknown hiding place.

He stayed focused on the grounds before him when he heard the door open behind him. Fili and Thorin slowly walked up on him. "Has it shown itself?" Thorin asked, keeping his voice low.

There was no point in whispering but shouting was just as unnecessary. Whatever type of ghost it was, it could hear them clearly. Thorin, however, prefered to stay silent just to make sure he wouldn't attract other nearby monsters.

"Not yet. But the mist has entwined and I can feel something looking at us" Kili replied.

Fili nodded. None of that said another word.

It could be a long night. Ghosts sometimes prefered to just observe instead of making themselves known. That probably wouldn't be the case tonight.

"What did she say happened again?" Kili asked. His hands were getting sweaty.

"Miss Carlyle said that she could hear her name being called when she works here, in her garden. When she goes looking for it there is no one to be seen" Fili answered calmly.

Thorin sighed, grabbing his iron sword a little tighter. "She shouldn't have gone out looking. Has she not read the flyers everyone received?"

Fili shrugged. "I didn't ask. Many people appear not to take the monsters that seriously."

"That would explain all the deaths" Kili said, his voice a little higher than normal.

Thorin looke at him from the corner of his eyes, before moving them back to the dark trees. "If you are not ready to be out here with us -"

"I am" Kili interjected. He took a deep breath. "I am ready."

"Kili."

"What is it?" Kili asked.

Both Fili and Thorin looked at him, confused. "What are you talking about Kili?" Fili asked.

"You just- Never mind. I thought I heard something" Kili said casually. Feeling of unease faded away from his body. His usual high spirits were re-awakened.

"Kili."

Thorin grabbed his nephews' upper arm, pinching the skin hard. "Kili, look at me. What do you hear?" he asked.

Kili only saw his uncle's lips moving, maybe he was talking? The green mist was replaced by the normal white, transparent one. The voice had sounded like his mother'. She should have stayed at home like they told her.

"It isn't safe there!" he shouted to her. Maybe she would listen to him and go home unharmed.

Fili looked ahead, trying to find what his brother was shouting at. "Where is it coming from Kee?" he asked sharply. His silver sword was drawn, his silved dust bombs ready to be thrown and protect.

"I take care of the chains after I have locked your brother down. Wait until I am done" Thorin ordered. He pushed Kili back against the wall of the shed, putting a handcuff arond his wrist and the unused scarecrow that was resting there.

Kili wasn't paying attention to anything that happened around him. He just heard the voice that was calling out for him. His mothers' voice that sounded more desperate by the second.

"I am coming mom!" he called out. Something kept him from moving towards her.

Thorin and Fili didn't have to wait long afterwards for the ghost to reveal itself. Judging by the direction Kili was looking in, they were able to determine where it was hiding.

With his sword at the ready, Fili moved in first. There was no doubt that it was a doppelganger. These types could only focus on one person at a time. To Kili it looked like their mother and sister, while Fili saw the black and green body of the ghost.

"Uncle-"

"I can see it. You know what to do" Thorin said.

Fili nodded. The doppelganger was too focused on Kili to notice them. Especially now that Kili was locked in one place, he was the most interesting to the ghost.

It realised too late that the threat was coming from behind. Thorin swiftly ran around it, keeping the ghost in place with the iron chaines. A perfect circle was formed around it, keeping it trapped.

Only a moment later did Fili move in. His sword moved quickly, creating line after devastating line. Piercing straight through the transparent body of the doppelganger.

The ghost let out one final, terrifying howl before it dissolved.

Both man breathed heavily, feeling the cold air around them be traded in for the slightly warmer night air. The green mist dissolved together with the ghost.

"Go to your brother. I will try to find the core and destroy it. It shouldn't be a problem anymore" Thorin said. Before he could leave, he was stopped by Fili's hand on his upper arm.

"It wasn't his fault, uncle. He should be given a second chance."

Thorin looked at his oldest nephew. "Did you hear me say that he can't come?"

Fili let his hand fall, not fully convinced. "You threw someone out of our team because he fainted on our third quest."

"And then I married him. What is your point exactly?"

"My point is, that it wasn't Kili's fault he got trapped. So, I won't let you kick him off the team. Even if you weren't planning on doing so" Fili said. He left immediately after. Kili was slowly recovering and would soon begin asking questions as to why he was cuffed to a scarecrow.

Thorin smiled as he watched the blonde leave. "Neither of you will leave the team, for I will only put my life in your hands."