My Random Skyrim Stories

Backfired

(A short, fluffy one-shot that came to me while drinking my coffee and browsing Skyrim mods because my kids were sleeping in and the house was finally quiet...
Vilkas x Dragonborn)

Victolia, who Farkas had nicknamed simply 'Lia' back when she'd first joined the Companions, was enjoying the rare quiet morning at Jorrvaskr. She sat in a dark corner sipping on the coffee her brother had sent her from Cyrodiil, enjoying the added relief it provided for her hangover. She had taken a couple of potions to help too, but coffee was one of those comforts from home that always put her in a better mood.

But beyond a few luxuries that could only be grown further south like coffee and cocoa for making chocolate, Lia preferred her life in Skyrim. She was no Nord, but a dark haired, fair-skinned Imperial, and she still fit in quite well amongst the Nords and other Companions. Actually, she had come to Skyrim specifically seeking out the Companions as soon as she was old enough and prepared enough to properly leave home.

She and Ria had become instant friends (which Farkas said was funny because their names rhymed) and over the years the rest of the Companions had become just as dear to her as well. Kodlak had seen leadership potential in her and named her his successor. Once she got over the shock and grief of losing Kodlak, she had been honored to take up the mantle of Harbinger.

Then she'd discovered she was the Dragonborn and life had gotten more complicated, but her shield-siblings had always had her back. Last night had been spent celebrating her return from finally defeating Alduin. It had been the largest celebration Jorrvaskr had seen since back when Kodlak was still alive. There was food and dancing and singing and drinking till the late hours of the night. Lia wasn't sure she'd ever drank that much, and she'd been one of the more reserved ones.

Farkas had pulled out his lute, and even Vilkas had gotten drunk enough to pick it up and play a song... his lute playing wasn't anything to write home about, but hearing Vilkas sing was something else... especially since he'd decided to sing 'The Dragonborn Comes.'

Vilkas had been her shield-brother when she had to delve into Blackreach to retrieve the Elder Scroll and then he'd stayed with her when she'd gone back to the Throat of the World to face Alduin.

Back before Alduin's defeat she had been intentionally trying not to think too much into the way he'd looked at her on those missions... or into the reliable way he'd always had her back...

Ria and Farkas always had her back too, but there was something about getting Vilkas's approval that made her heart skip...

Especially when he smiled proudly at her... like he had when they made it back to the surface of Skyrim with the Elder Scroll. Lia had been so happy to see the sun again after days underground that she had turned and hugged him...

When she went in for the hug she was thinking it to be no different from the excited, friendly hugs she and Ria would frequently share after a victory... but the way Vilkas's arms had gone around her waist was much different from a hug she would have shared with Ria... or even Farkas...

She'd been glad neither of them had beast blood anymore because she definitely didn't need Vilkas hearing how he made her heart race... especially since he'd then seemed to realize his mistake, let her go and apologized, looking rather embarrassed with himself.

Not knowing how else to save face, she'd begun occasionally teasing him just a little after that... maybe it could be considered flirting, but she'd tried not to think of that at the time... whatever it was, Vilkas's usual response had been to look amusingly embarrassed and to shrug it all off.

...Although... he had been the one to hug her before she'd flown off with Odahviing just a few days ago...

She'd had a little too much on her plate to put much stock in any of it at the time... but now that she was home and alive... after hearing him sing of her legend... remembering his embrace and his words that afternoon was giving her goosebumps...