Eyes Opened

Rat In The Corner

"Wow... it hasn't changed, huh?" You looked to Vilkas who opened the door to the Flaggon. "It feels so long ago. Seeing you with all your wanderlust, wide eyed down here, but shivering a little. I wanted to comfort you even back then." He watched you pass him into the bar.

"You sort of did." You smirked for just a moment, the man sighed happily.

"Well it's good to know that at least I was able to be of some help to you. Wasn't all me being a jerk." He rubbed the back of his neck.

"You're the reason I found the courage to try to make it on my own. You gave me the options to make it." He followed next to you as you walked. "It feels like so long ago because it was. So much has happened since then. Including both of us trying to end what we have, more than once." You sighed. "I'm glad to know that these feelings aren't just making me crazy alone."

He still clearly felt awkward about it, coughing once. "Yes well. I'm told sometimes I hold on too tightly. I wish I had your help when Kodlak died, but if I had to be an idiot about something in life." He chuckled. "It was about you. I made a mistake when I thought you interested in Farkas too."

"Well, apparently you weren't the only one who thought that." You reached over, grasping his hand for a moment. "Arcadia also thought that, until she saw me around you. But then she just knew. Even before I had realized how I was feeling." You smirked for a moment, noticing his blush. It was impressive that you could still bring that to his cheeks even after you'd been married a month and took every spare moment to express love for him intimately. "I'm sorry, about everything." You looked to him as he stopped, turning towards you. Your eyes met and he still made your heart thump joyfully. "If I was-"

His finger moved to your lips. You knew what the desperate look he gave you meant. "Stop." He was gentle, soothing as he spoke. "If I was a smarter man I would have taken your words to heart."

"Which words?" You tilted your head, a bit confused. That night when he had told you to leave him alone you said not a single word, only conceded to his every whim.

"The best revenge is-"

"To find your happiness." You smiled a little. "I remember."

"If I'd listened to it... then I wouldn't have even thought to blame you. I'm the reason that idea was put in your head, but it wasn't your fault at all. You did the old man a favor. If I didn't rush off with you to wipe them out, then I would have had time to process it with you. Instead I let my anger rule me, then when I didn't feel better I didn't want to bother you. I should have found my happiness, instead I ruined months of our lives. Without you I was alone even in a hall full of people."

You shook your head. "It was hard, but not ruined. I embraced fully who I am, what... I am. When I found out I was scared. I had another burden placed on my shoulders. It was once more between duty and my own heart. I just picked wrong, twice, when there was a third option. There's always a way to do it your way."

"Did I hear that right?" A voice from behind Vilkas rang out. "You ruined things with her, Vilkas?" The shaven headed man draped in black chuckled heartily. "When you last left I didn't think there was anything going on past you wanting to bed her." Vilkas glanced to the ground, blushing brightly. "If you've ruined things I'd take a go at her." He winked to you. "She's just as pretty as when she left. Come to join our guild now? Companions too straining, lass?"

You let go of Vilkas' hand, folding yours over your chest. "Delvin. I told you when I left: I don't care how rich it will make me. I have no interest in joining. If I cared about money I wouldn't have changed my face." You looked to Vilkas who was making sure to rhythmically breathe. Was he getting a little jealous? The thought made you stifle a giggle. Looking back to Delvin you shook your head. "Besides. Why would I want to join a band of thieves who can't even spot treasure standing before them? Doesn't that make you inept...?"

He cleared his throat. "But I have recognized it, love. You're beauty is shinin-"

You laughed, covering your mouth for a moment. Vilkas looked to you with a raised brow, masking a smirk himself. "Oh... Save it, Delvin. I was talking about our rings. He's my husband."

"Well if you haven't come down here to join- or for me..." He looked to Vilkas. "Than what do you want?"

"Esburn." Vilkas spoke bluntly. "We're looking for him. We know he's down here and we know he's paid you to keep his location quiet." He shook his head.

"Don't know what you're on about." He denied it simply, averting his eyes.

"Don't you?" Vilkas shook his head again. "Look, you hit on my wife-"

"And I'm sorry, old chap. Not a fighter, I just eek by in life." He reminded you both. "Just thought she'd bring some prosperity to us, break the curse we have, ya know?"

Vilkas sighed, looking to you for a moment with a soft smile. "It's okay. We really just want to find him. We aren't going to hurt him, actually the opposite. We're retrieving him for a close friend, we want to protect him. If the Thalmor-"

"Thalmor?" Delvin shook his head. "Damn. So it's worse than we thought, the old man wasn't a raving lunatic. I suppose as a member of the companions I can trust ya both. You're honor bound with a contract, you wouldn't go back on it. He's in the warrens. Good luck getting him to come out of his room though. Dirge quite often has to bring him meals and he's not always open to getting him as a visitor." Delvin pointed to a door in the back of the bar. "Careful, there are madmen in the warrens sometimes."

"Thank you." You spoke softly. Vilkas nodded a little as well before looking to you. "Well, let's go get him."

Vilkas chuckled. "I know it's been a while since you've been in a fight, so just don't shout them into submission. We'll need your voice to convince him to come with us, if Delvin is right about him being a lunatic. Your far better at it than I am, which is saying something." He gave a wink, you simply shook your head.

"Sure, act like you don't have a silver tongue too."

"I never said that, but- reading people is your strong suit. So let's go. The quicker we get this done the quicker we can go back home and live life."

You smiled as Delvin took his leave of you both. Leaning in, you whispered into Vilkas' ear softly. "My love... this is life. It's going to happen on the road, or at Jorrvaskr, but either way it's going to happen. We're together now, my heart, body and soul are yours. I'm joined to you." You smirked looking into his eyes now with both hands on his chest. "Aela and Farkas will be fine. I believe in them. So much that I'm comfortable being away with you. I know adventuring wasn't what you had in mind. Gold fuels your sword. I-"

"Not anymore." You tilted your head as he spoke. "I have a wife to protect, a guild to look after." He smiled softly. "Life is more to me now, I'll go where my heart wills me to go." He caressed your cheek warmly. "That's you, so we're clear." He smirked, looking at you.

"I just want to help people and be with you. However we do that is fine. That being said we don't put our life on hold. There will always be a reason to be away from our home. There will never be a reason not to be with you. When you want me, take me, Vilkas. Anywhere. I'm in love, so deeply and we're only young once."

He chuckled a moment. "I can't do that. We'd never end up helping anyone. It would be the first three days of our marriage all over again." You smiled yourself. "I get the point. It's... not bad to rush past work so I can enjoy time with you. Lying in bed with a book we're both reading is my favorite thing to do. Can't do that when we're out fighting." You nodded slowly.

"I agree. I just didn't want you to think our time together only valuable when we're alone." You smiled sweetly to him. "You're the most important thing to me, Vilkas." He blushed a little, averting his eyes in bliss for a moment. "My love..."

"Alright. Let's go get a madman... dear." He hugged you gently before leading you to the back of the bar.