'Fire In Your Eyes' (Thorfinn x Reader) - Vinland Saga

Lodda

GASP I stab the wall beside me and the blade pierces through, again. I breathe deep. 

One. Two. Three. Four. Fiiive. Siix. Seveneightnineten. 

God I hate breathing slow. It makes everything more painful. I choke on my own breath and cough a few times. Feeling myself come back into existence. Waking up. My clothes are drenched. I stink. Sweat and tears. Salty and sticky. Not that anyone will care. I pull out my blade from the wall, the small slit I've created neatly aligned with the 12 other slits I've made form quite an entrancing horizontal pattern of lights. Yep. Definitely morning. I should really fill those in. I dig out the tear soaked crud from the corners of my eyes and let out an unnecessarily loud yawn. Fuck I need to eat something my breath stinks. I grab the tankard off the floor from the side of my bed, drinking the tepid water until empty. Discarding it on the bed I roll out and take a deep stretch. Time to limber up. I drop straight to the ground and hammer out my morning usual of 50 press ups, 50 sit ups, 50 squats with weights and a good 10 minutes of various stretching. Whatever my body is screaming for me to do. I glance at my dagger re-sheathed and back underneath my bed .... No. Not that. Not fucking that.

I'm thirsty again, I crawl away from my bed and into the furthest corner of the room. I lift the lid of the huge water barrel to see how much water I have left. ¼ left. Time for a water run. I give myself a flannel bath, with 2 flannels and 2 small buckets filled with cold water, hot if I can be bothered to wait for it to boil. Cleaning all the essential areas. Afterwards gnawing on a piece of stale bread while sliding on my clothes, tunic with undergarments, wolf fur-lined hood and my long, brown boots. I miss you guys.

I grab my father's sword, in it's leather harness sheath, looping the belt under my left armpit, over my right shoulder and fasten it into place. Another day to kill. Swinging the large water barrel over my shoulder, hearing it clunk against my sword with each step, I head out.

It's quiet outside. Fuckers must still be asleep. Lazy pricks. They haven't had much cause to move lately but by God these brutes could sleep.

I head straight for the trees behind my hut, heading west towards the brook, or rather, the river, as it was so vast it really didn't deserve to be called a brook. It split off in several directions pulling in water from different regions, it was always clean and fresh, with plenty of rocks and minerals on the way which filtered out any crap. "The best water for miles" everyone always said. I keep my pace to a light jog, the clunking becomes part of my rhythm, and I exhale in puffs through my mouth. The stale bread is slightly coming back up and I force myself to swallow. 

As I near the brook I feel my tension start to fall away, my pace slows and I survey the area. I've never let them see this place. Don't want them pissing and shitting all over it, destroying every good memory I have. 

If I'm ever on the brink of death, I will use every ounce of energy I have left to crawl back here to die. I silently recite this pact to myself, I always do whenever I return.

I descend the steep sides of the brook slowly, using the overgrown shrubs to keep my balance. I can hear the water, smell the earth around it, more alive than anywhere else. So peaceful. I gently set down the barrel beside a rock that stops it from rolling away and kneel down, tickling my fingers against the icy cold water. I wonder where you're going now. I hope it's somewhere just as beautiful. I allow myself to smile, now is the only time I can, while others can't see and mistake me for weak. I always smile by myself now. I scoop up a small handful and drink, cold and fresh. The best water for miles! I giggle as I take another handful and splash it on my warm face, the water mixing with the sweat that runs down my cheeks and neck.

"So guys, I had those dreams again last night. They scared the shit out of me, like always. Except the axe was bigger which was so weird, you're definitely compensating even on the other side, Alcott. Bet you don't get water like this where you are though." I laugh to myself, I've been filling the barrel as I talk out loud, it gives me comfort to think that the water is carrying my messages to them, or whatever spirits want to listen. 

It's almost full when I see a yellow flash in the corner of my eye. I stand straight up, letting go of the barrel which is now so heavy it has no chance of rolling anyway, my dagger from my leg sheath ready in my hand.

Seeing shit now (y/n)? Come on. My eyes dart around, up to the trees making sure no one is watching me from up high? Nothing. Down the bank of the brook, left and right? Nothing. Behind me hidden over the steep banks amongst the bushes? Nothing. Ok definitely fucking losing it? Unless one of those pricks woke up early to try follow me? I growl and grumble to myself. "OI! FUCKFACE! IF YOU WANT TO END UP LIKE THE OTHERS COME THE FUCK OUT NOW?! OTHERWISE PISS OFF!!"  ...I'm now almost certain I probably just saw a bird fly past, or a spirit...

Rustling. North east. 35 meters away at least. I grab some of the loose vines and clamber up to higher ground, ready stance low to the ground on a small mound a few meters away from where I was filling the water. I have some more distance which means I'm fucked in a long range attack, but if I can tell where they are I can dodge and make a run for it. Or it could be one of THEM in which case I know exactly what to do. I stare down the corner of the forest I am certain I heard the rustling from, breathing slow and deep.

 A few minutes pass and nothing happens, I decide to cautiously make my way back down to retrieve my water barrel and head back to my hut. If they wanted to do something, I would definitely be in the dirt right now. Gotta get back just in case they're still out there. And in the same vein as before, definitely heavier and slower I lug my pot of silver back to the village. 

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I really hope somewhere here enjoys the 'yellow flash' reference. As I have just started rattling this off as a wonderful little past time it has expanded ten fold over night so I really hope you enjoy it guys! I promise you see more from our favourite angry boy next!