【Skyrim】 Nightshade Oneshots

Heart's Day

-Late chapter for Valentine's Day-

Today is the 16th of Sun's Dawn, a holiday celebrated all over Tamriel as Heart's Day.

***

Every day has been creeping slower than the next. It's agonising, and I always get this weird feeling in my stomach. Babette says it's butterflies, because of the way I try to deny it. Damn that child.

Still, this is the first time in ages since I've done a contract by myself, it's been four days. At least during the assassination of Vittoria Vici, I wasn't doing the kill alone.

Now I'm travelling to the sanctuary on foot from a bandit camp near Whiterun. My feet hurt, and Shadowmere was being used by Nazir.

As soon as I descend the steps, Babette skips towards me, a wider smirk than usual. Her grin is stretching ear-to-ear, the distinct smile I know so well.

"Babette..." I mumble softly, raising an eyebrow. "What did you do?"

She sways back and forth on her heels and toes, hands behind her back. She begins to hum.

Not. Good.

"Babette, did you put Skooma in Nazir's drink?"

"Nope!"

"Replace Festus' books with romance novels?"

"Not even close."

"Set up a date for Gabriella with some loser?"

Babette squints, but shakes her head.

"Decorate Arnbjorn's room with blue mountain flowers?"

"Ha, no."

"Replace Veezara's bath with spider piss?"

"Spiders pee?" she asks, tilting her head. "But no."

"Okay..." I eye her suspiciously. "Did you do something to my room?"

"Nah," Babette replies, her eyes wickedly gleaming. She revealls what was hidden behind her back. A crumpled note. "This!"

I snatch it from her, thinking this was from my diary, but as I begin to scan the letter... it's entirely different from what I've imagined.

Happy birthday, big bro! I love you!

I know that if you find this, I'd be dead by now, but don't worry! I still have the strength to pick up a quill, but I can't really read the paper. I think I'm doing good.

But anyway, I wanted to wish you a very happy birthday, just in case I don't make it to that day. Your birthday is on the 16th, so once I'm dead, literally take my heart!

...just kidding. Don't do that. That's creepy. Instead, on Heart's Day, spend that holiday with someone you'll love and cherish!

I love you very much. You're my hero.

-Mikasa

"I found it clutched in Kaito's hand while he was sleeping, and I just had to show you!" Babette squeals once she finds my eyes at the end of the paper. "It's his birthday today!"

I widen my eyes, immediately folding the note in neat squares. "Babette, that note is from his dead sister, you can't just take that from him!"

"Oh yeah, I also saw tears. He was probably crying," she intervenes, tapping her chin. Was she even paying attention?

"Babette, I don't care, just give this back."