Skyrim One-Shots

(Slight Brynjolf x Reader) (Slight Ulfric x Reader) ~Silent Goodbyes~

You watched, the feeling of pure agony ripping through your veins as the woman placed a teasing hand on his neck, her other hand wrapping around his fingers. A hand was placed on her waist, and the two walked out of your sight as they ascended the inn stairs, grinning eagerly and the man that you thought that was yours whispering in her ear.

His eyes glimmered.

You took a shallow breath.

She was everything you weren't.

That was okay. You didn't need to compare.

The ale in front of you, once so empty, seemed so full as you stared numbly at the wall, completely still.

You'd always thought something was up after Mercer had been dealt with. You couldn't lie.

Quietly, you took another sip of your drink, the simple fact that you'd desensitized yourself before you even knew what Brynjolf was doing echoing in your head. 

Inside, you'd always known, hadn't you?

He never seemed to be all there when you were with him.

Now, you knew why.

You couldn't react, no. The look he'd had in his eyes... how can you be upset with your partner for loving? That wasn't just a fling, and you knew it. That woman was his world; on Mara's mercy, you were not. Not anymore.

It happened. Getting angry- yelling, screaming, that did nothing but break two hearts. You could completely destroy one, and save the other.

Not could, that was what you were doing.

How could you be angry at someone for something they can't control?

How... how could you be upset at someone you so dearly loved for finding love themselves?

You couldn't. No, it may tear you to pieces, but you couldn't slaughter someone that keeps you breathing by torturing them with words. You knew how that went. A person would never fully recover.

It's okay, you told yourself, he's happy.

That's all that matters.

You didn't need to say goodbye, you could leave a note to Sapphire: tell her to give it to Brynjolf when he next came.

Without a sound, you stood from your chair, posture slightly slackened.

Your absence was not noticed in the midst of the Bee and Barb, and the fact made a wave of sorrow hit your chest, but you kept yourself composed and collected as you walked to the Ratways.

When you quietly entered the Ragged Flagon, only Vex, Delvin, and Tonilia were there (Vekel, the innkeeper, and Dirge, the bodyguard/bouncer, were always there).

When you passed them all with an unusually indifferent expression and not a single wave, it took mere seconds for them to call it out, Vex, the master lockpick, the first to bark.

"____, you alright?"

You pause, turning and letting a soft, distant smile escape onto your face. "I'm alright. It's my last day here. I'll miss you all."

Delvin visibly froze, the old man shaking his head rapidly seconds later with wide, disbelieving eyes. "You can't be serious..."

The innkeeper barely held in a growl, "It was Brynjolf, wasn't it?"

You shook your head. "Don't worry about who, or why. It's okay. I'm just a bit down to leave."

"You look like you just watched your world fall apart, kid," Dirge stated quietly, and you merely plaster on that same, dim smile.

"I really did," you state quietly. "But it doesn't matter now. I'll go collect my things, say my goodbyes."

"Damn, ____, it'll be a shame to see you go," came Delvin's quiet murmur as you started to walk to the main Cistern where the guild beds were.

Sapphire sat quietly at her bed, a book in hand. The rest of the members were out on jobs, you supposed, and you and her were the only ones there.

You grabbed your small bag of belongings and threw it over your shoulder, silently trodding over to one of the many tables and scavenging for a small piece of paper, a quill, and ink.

It didn't take you long to find the items, and before you got cold-footed, you neatly wrote down two words on the paper.

The ink dried a minute later, and you headed over to Sapphire, who glanced up at your approach.

"Here," you extend your hand to give her the small, folded piece of paper, which she took with a raised brow. "I'm leaving. For good. Give this to Brynjolf when you next see him."

She glanced to you wearily, brows drawn. "____, you're leaving?"

You nod.

The woman took a sharp inhale, choked. "I- uh... I'll miss you."

Tears pricked her eyes, and you smiled, comforting and warm and everything a parent would be like as you rested a hand lightly on her shoulder. "I'll miss you too, Saph. Be safe, okay?"

She barely jutted her head down, "Will do. B-be careful out there."

Your smile widened. "I will. See you, Saphie."

"See you, ____."

''''''

Windhelm was cold.

It calmed your aching soul.

The people were hard and weathered, insensitive, and you didn't mind it.

It had been almost two months since you left Riften.

The pain never went away- nor did you expect it to.

You wondered if you should join the rebellion, see if you could find a friend or two.

You thought back to Brynjolf, and instantly, the words would die in your throat as you attempted to approach someone.

You didn't know what to do- you didn't know how to live all alone. There wasn't a single purpose in your life.

Your family was gone, the guild was gone, Bryn was gone. 

So, on a reckless abandon and in the cover of darkness, you had scaled the Palace of Kings on a tame Spring night where the wind was void and the air wasn't too chilled.

The view was startling, really.

However, for reasons unknown, you couldn't enjoy it.

You felt... you felt absolutely nothing.

It wasn't that you didn't appreciate the view- you tried to. You tried so hard, for some half an hour, to just feel that light warmth of enjoyment, but it never came.

Your mind was null. It floated quietly along the breeze, calling out but never speaking loud enough for a soul to hear. 

"It comes at dawn," spoke a deep, quiet and low voice behind you. You didn't react. "The relief of the weight. The night is never a good time for the broken, as I have found."

"Then for dawn, I will wait," you murmur.

"The trick is, you know not which dawn it will be."

~~~~~~~~~~

Oooof in the feels. Brynjolf cheating was a new way of looking at someone straying for me- and it hurt my soul.

I was supposed to be sleeping, dammit, and now I'm just sad.

Lol, onward.

Requests?

Part 2 of this heartbreaker?

Dani out,

Adieu!