Eyes Opened

Homecoming

The stairs were a burden as you climbed. looking up the the second district. Whiterun was quiet, until you saw one of the healers from the temple run across your view. The first person you'd seen, yet the rush in her step sent dread into your heart. Your muscles relaxed, the bags slipping from your shoulder. With a gulp you sprinted up the stairs. Your eyes hit the scene, Athis down with the healer helping him to his feet, a few dead bodies on the steps to Jorrvaskr and Aela with Vilkas standing over them. "Is he going to be okay?" Aela's voice was more worried than you were used to, it was after Skjor that she changed.

"He's going to be fine." She spoke, Aela seemed to relax a little. You huffed as you made it to the bottom of the stairs, thankful to see Vilkas and the others were okay.

He looked to you, his eyes wide. He ran down the stairs. "Where have you been?!" His voice loud.

Your eyes widened, taking a step back. The look on your face might have told him how loud, the man eased a little. You looked down, shaking your head a bit. "I'm sorry... Kodlak sent me on a job, he wanted it to be secret."

You met his eyes, which were surprised more than you thought. He gulped, averting his eyes from you for the first time since you'd started flirting with him. "Oh..." He took a brief moment before looking back to you. "I... The silver hand... They grew enough balls to attack Jorrvaskr directly." His face looked down. You watched as you became a stranger to him. The man distanced himself from you fairly easily, leaving you to wonder just how badly you messed up by not waking him up. "We've killed them all but- the old man..." Your heart dropped, as did your jaw as you stared at him. "He didn't make it." You felt your eyes water a little, Vilkas turned his back to you. "He's inside..."

You nodded, then sprinted up another flight of stairs. "Aela!" She looked to you. "My bags were dropped, will you...?" She nodded before you turned your attention to the double doors. The scene was grim, Kodlak's lifeless body lying on the floor, Farkas kneeling next to him. "Farkas..." He looked up to you, his normal smile gone. You stared at the body, trying hard not to full on cry.

"[Y/N]..." He stood up. "You're covered in blood, are you alright?" The panic in his voice was apparent.

"Not my blood..." You waved it off. "Kodlak..."

"I couldn't..." You nodded softly, before taking in a soft breath. A hand clasped your shoulder. You looked to the hand, Vilkas standing next to you with a tight lipped frown. "Brother...?"

"We're going." He said simply, Farkas nodding. "Make sure everything is prepared." He looked to you. "We're going to wipe them all out. They took Wuuthrad... And Kodlak. I'm going to slaughter them. You're coming with me. If you were here..."

His words hit harder than they should have. You nodded slowly. "Yes. Let's go." He turned walking away from you both. The stark contrast between the twins was so conspicuous that it hurt a little more.

"Good luck." Farkas found his smile, though the corners of his lips were only slightly tilted upwards. Kodlak was right about his fortitude, you'd wish you'd had some of it right now, especially since the man you loved thought this was all your fault. "Keep him safe." You widened your eyes at Farkas, before waving and turning to leave.