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

trussel

Breakfast was... awkward to put it mildly. After the General's outburst my presence at breakfast definitely had more impact than intended. I chewed loudly and sat as straight backed as the rest of them, next to Leif who seemed to be ignoring me on purpose.

The knot in my gut was there the entire time, telling me to drop my food and walk away. I feigned confidence and interest as they all chatted amongst themselves loudly and discussed Askeladd's triumph's, carrying them into the most ballsy and ridiculous battles that always led to their victory, yielding such wondrous results. The spoils of war. Jewels, coloured leathers, new armour and weapons, new women.

A couple tables away came raucous laughter as one of the brutes drunkenly announced he now had a taste for women with short hair who looked "kind of like a guy but more like a woman".. it didn't take much imagination to know he was talking about me. Or was he? My nerves were so crippling focusing on one thing was near impossible, and Leif's lack of conversation or acknowledgement made it even more challenging.

Askeladd seemed far too out of it to humour anyone and Gorm was simply too drunk to care, but when he engaged he shouted nothing but high praises about Askeladd.

I combed through the crowds... Thorfinn was nowhere to be seen. From what I learned yesterday we wasn't one to join in socializing but I wondered if his lack of attendance had anything to do with me.

After Leif excuses me from my morning duty, ordering me to report to him in a few hours time, I wander away from the group and head towards the trees to get some fresh air and space. The camp is more crowded than before and it seems to be shrouded in its own mess of odours. I need the brooks calm now more than ever. Once out of sight amongst the trees, I check back thoroughly to make sure I'm not being followed and begin my usual light jog further into the woods. The leather strap for my sheath squeaks with each step, I take small puffing breathes out my mouth as I pick up the pace, shifting closer towards the clearing to the brookside. The light hits my eyes as I sprint through last fast few trees, skidding on the grass as I force myself to a quick stop.

Yellow is the first thing I spot. A rounded form with messy yellow hair at the brookside. I catch my breath and draw my sword as the yellow form shifts and stands, as it turns it draws two daggers and growls unexpectedly. It's Thorfinn. 

We both stand still and take each other in, he's too far to read any particular expression but I would imagine he's still scowling. What is he doing here? How did he find the brook? He must have stumbled across it when he left the camp earlier. Shit. Ok it's fine. Stay calm.

I use these moments to steady my breathing and let my arms fall to my side, sword still in hand, but at ease to show I mean no harm. He mirrors me, rather reluctantly, arms and daggers now at his side. I allow a few moments to pass until I slowly sheath my sword, he hesitates then mirrors me once again, sheathing his daggers. We stay stood firmly rooted eyes fixed on one another. Ok I have no idea what to do now. Think. What do I do? I could just turn around and walk away? No this is my territory. My land. My only source of peace and rest. And clean water. He better not have pissed in my clean water I swear to God! 

I rub my temples and sigh deeply. I could just tell him to fuck off... but I cant have him running off telling the rest of them about this place. Ok. Maybe reason with him about that? I know he isn't a mute so that may not be a bad idea. Listen to yourself. Reason? With one of them? Hardly going to be the case. I've got to try though.

I take my first steps towards him, confidently. Proudly. He doesn't shift as I make my way towards him. I am trying to aim for the brook but I am very much aware that my body is steering me straight towards him, my eyes still locked with his. I can see his face more clearly now, he is scowling but only softly, it's more a look of wry confusion. His mouth is slightly open and his eyes dart over my body for a moment before looking back up. We're a few meters away from each other now, This is close enough.

"Your name is Thorfinn? Yes?" I ask in Norse. Smooth. He knows you know his name, dumbass.

He waits a beat then grunts, nodding gently in response. His scowl doesn't shift.

I can't tell if it's the moment or memories of the dream flooding back but holding eye contact with him feels so intense, like something is stirring inside me. I can feel my face growing hotter. I clear my throat and continue, no matter how I feel towards him I can't let any of the others find the brook.

"Look... this place. It's important to me." I gesture to the brook and then to my heart. My Norse is struggling now, this isn't like speaking with Leif, I can't switch into English. I don't know how much he'll understand. I take my time and string what I can together.

"Please do not speak to them... the other men about this place. Please?" The last 'please' is in English, I can feel my voice break a bit. Thorfinn shifts, he's looking around now, at the brook, then the trees around him, towards the direction of the village then down at my chest where my hand is placed. His eyebrows furrowed and lips pressed into a hard line.

He grunts and nods again before he suddenly starts off towards the trees. Fuck where is he going?  He walks slowly at first then begins to sprint towards the trees. "Wait! Come back!" I shouted after him in Norse. He doesn't stop. He keeps running until he's out of sight.

".... Fuck!" 

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So holiday season was a bit crazy and I broke my promise, my deepest apologies for this. This does mean that you'll be getting two chapters today!