A/N: So I got two people agreeing a fluffy sequel would be great so here it is! This will focus on Loki and Brynjolf's relationship around the time they become Nightingales and kill Mercer. So everyone who has said Mercer is a slime ball gets to read about his demise! Wahaha! Have fun reading and remember I can't be held responsible for injuries sustained while buckled into this ride.
Title:
You're Not Going Anywhere
Chapter One: Plans and Such
(Loki's home Honeyside right after Loki dragged Brynjolf there)
Loki would have been happy to stay in bed half on top of Brynjolf with a strong tanned arm wrapped around his waist. It was one of the few times he'd felt safe and content in the last five years or more. But Loki knew that someone would need to go and investigate Mercer's house to try and find where the traitor had fled.
"I'll be back soon." Loki whispered to Brynjolf as he got up careful not to stretch the wound wrong. Brynjolf sat up and grabbed Loki's arms, just before he could stand from the bed.
"Loki…" Brynjolf's voice faded and he guided Loki to turn back to him just to press a possessive and dominating kiss to Loki's lips. Brynjolf said all he needed to with that one action, and left Loki a breathless panting mess. Loki flushed when he felt Brynjolf's hands drift down his sides just to tease.
"I promise." Loki answered the silent request and gave Brynjolf a quick nip to the corner of his lips, smirking when Brynjolf flopped down onto the bed with a groan. Loki knew the man would be waiting for him when he returned to the Cistern.
Loki got dressed in a lose pair of pants and a plain white undershirt, before pulling on his Thieves Guild armor. He grabbed his black leather belt that still had the twin Ebony blades, also grabbing his Daedric bow. He turned back to find Brynjolf wearing his black Guild armor with his hood lowered.
Loki walked over to the man he'd dreamt of for so long, wanting one more kiss before leaving for Mercer's house. Brynjolf grinned at the longing gaze he was receiving, but refused to give Loki what he wanted. Keeping a step away from the man as he was pursued, but then Loki stopped and gave a grin of his own.
"If I can't get another kiss how about I get a bite hmm?" Loki asked cocking his hips, and baring his neck, that already sported a bruise. Brynjolf almost groaned again, Loki had him trapped, and he liked it far too much.
"When you get back," Brynjolf answered, holding himself back just barely, "I'll do what ever you want to your body. But you have to come back in one piece." Loki's whine made the elder Thief smirk in victory. He'd won, and both men knew it. Loki stretched one more time before heading out of the house Brynjolf trialing him before they split up to take care of their separate ways. Loki headed to Mercer's back fence, and Brynjolf slipped into the grave yard then into the Cistern.
Loki quickly looked around, and when he knew no one was looking he picked the fences lock, then snuck up behind, Vald and quickly stabbed him in the back, effectively killing the pig. Hiding the body in the bushes, Loki drew his bow and aimed an arrow at the mechanism and fired, happy when the ramp fell down.
Slipping into the house he found nothing but a few sell swords, after killing them he searched the whole house over, finding nothing. Until, he opened the last wardrobe to reveal a false back board that lead into another section of the house.
He had to use all the skills he'd acquired over his twenty years to get through Mercer's traps unharmed. He finally arrived in a room that had a display case, table, a chest, and one book shelf. Looking trough everything he found a blade marked Chillrend, a bowl containing some gems, the Grey Fox bust as well as plans that pointed to where Mercer most likely was.
"The Guild will want to see this." Loki muttered, pocketing the gems and grabbing the bust and plans as well as tying the new blade to his belt. Loki began to walk deeper only to run into one last trap that caught him totally off guard.
Loki threw himself to the ground to avoid the swinging axes that had flown from no where, but to late to avoid a slash across his lower thigh, luckily not a deep or serious wound.
"Damn it!" Loki hissed crawling inch by inch to the end of the tunnel, only to end up in the rat way. Loki blinked as he stood after falling through the hole into an area of the rat way he knew well. Kneeling he took a look at his gash, he let out a sigh of relief when he realized he'd be able to heal it him self, unlike the wound in his side. A golden glow swirled around Loki's hand as he healed the slash, the wound closed and he let out a soft relieved sigh.
"How am I going to explain that nasty little cut in my armor? Shit." Loki muttered to himself getting up and heading into the Flagon then into the Cistern where the guild greeted him with open arms.
"So what did you find?" Brynjolf asked, looking Loki over for any injury, spotting the slash in the lower section of his leg armor. Loki handed over the plans and walked over to the nearby Delvin.
"Hey Delvin, know anything about this?" Loki asked holding up the Grey Fox bust. He smiled when Delvin bought it off him, pocketing the money, and heading back to a slightly more than a little angry Brynjolf.
"He's going after he Eyes of the Falmer. Gallus's pet project, this is just putting salt in a wound, it's a bloody insult to the Guild." Brynjolf, was pissed and Loki could tell, It set him on edge, he had no idea what to do, he didn't want a repeat of the last snap Brynjolf had. Loki edged back slightly, not wanting to hurt Brynjolf in any way, but self preservation was also high on his agenda. Brynjolf saw out of the corner of his eye that Loki had edged away, and he sighed and looked up at the other man.
"Sorry." Loki muttered, staying where he was and giving Bynjolf an apologetic look. He did feel guilty but he also worried that it would be the thing to set Brynjolf on the edge.
"Its fine, Loki, I'm not going to snap. Yet." Brynjolf's voice had dropped to a low and deadly rumble. Loki recognized the tone from when the man had greeted Karliah with his fur bristling and teeth bared. A shiver ran up Loki's spine as a heated gaze settled on him, those eyes could do so much to Loki.
"So what are we going to do next?" Loki asked, trying desperately not to say something he really wanted to do next. His face was heating up and he knew Brynjolf was laughing at him, maybe not aloud, but he was laughing alright.
"I've spoken to Karliah, she's forgiven the Guild for everything and she even joined back up with us. She asked when you got back to talk to us so come on." Brynjolf said a soft grin on his lips. He lead them to the center of the Cistern, where Karliah waited, trying not to smile at the way Loki followed Brynjolf, it reminded her so much of her and Gallus.
"So, Lass what's this about?" Brynjolf asked, eager to find Mercer and make him pay. Loki was rocking back and forth on his feet wanting to be on the hunt, to track Mercer and put an end to his miserable life. Karliah noticed an amber splash in Loki's eyes, but with a second quick glance noticed it was gone, and Loki was now standing perfectly still.
"Mercer is a Nightingale, so we won't stand a chance on our own. However I have a plan that might give us the edge we need. Meet me at the standing stone just outside the Southwest Gate to Riften. "Karliah said still wondering about the amber she'd seen in Loki's eyes, and why it had seemed to disappear only after he'd stilled.
"I have to do something before I can meet you two there. I'll catch up." Bryjolf said walking to the desk to do what he needed to do. Loki shifted again and Karliah swore she saw the same amber color appear in Loki's eyes again, only to vanish. Maybe it was the light? She wondered, but surely Loki would have said something about… No she was troubling herself over nothing.
Loki gave her an uneasy smile, and gestured toward the coffin exit that would lead out of the Cistern and into the light of two full moons. Loki walked next to Karliah, and he could sense her unease, and knew why she was unsettled. He glanced up to the moons as he emerged from the fake coffin.
The graveyard was as peaceful as it had been the last times he'd visited. The bright glow of the nightshade had brightened as the flowers bloomed to their full potential. Their bright glow illuminated their black leaves, making them look almost silver the grave stones looking like carved ghosts in the pale dancing mist. Loki closed his eyes as content and peaceful sigh escaped his lips, letting the lunar rays dance about him.
Karliah now stood behind him, his black cloak giving him an almost, mysterious and dark lordly appeal. His blond hair caught the moons rays and made it shine silver, and his emerald eyes shone as if fires burned behind them, almost glowing in the dark, his pale skin making him seem like a Daedric Lord of Night and Shadow.
"You suspect that I'm a wolf?" Loki asked, although he already knew what her answer would be. Karliah stood and her hand settled on her hidden dagger, no sure if Loki would attack her.
"I suspect it. Your eyes, they flashed amber, twice." Karliah's answer made Loki nod, she saw him turn to her and smile, his easy going nature coming to the forefront. But for a second she thought she saw the amber glitter return.
"If I am then I'm not a wild mindless savage, if I'm not then you were seeing things. Which do you want to believe? What will you do?" Loki looked at her levelly, straight in the eyes, he could smell the damp fear in the air, and his wolf instincts were slamming into the front of his mind howling to be set free. Karliah looked back, she didn't show her fear, which made it that, much easier for Loki to hold his instinct in check.
"I want to believe I have no reason to defend myself against you." Karliah answered, her hand flexing around the daggers hilt. Loki gave her a soft smile, his emerald eyes shining in an almost animalistic way before they returned to their guarded attentive searching look.
"Then you have no reason to fear me." The simple reply caught Karliah off guard she had expected Loki to at the vary least go on to explain if he was or was not a werewolf. Loki turned and headed out of the nearby gates heading for the strange standing stone that sat near the lake.
Loki had walked with Karliah all the way to the standing stone, undisturbed. When they got there Loki just leaned against he large stone, and settled down to wait. Karliah stood with her arms crossed eyes scanning the path for movement. And so they waited.
When Brynjolf arrived Loki jumped up and ran to the other Nord, kissing him quickly before pulling away, embarrassed he'd acted in such a way. Brynjolf grinned, knowing he' been missed, he pulled Loki back to him and kissed him hard, pouring his possessiveness and lust into the scorching kiss. Pulling back to let them both breathe Brynjolf noted the dazed look in Loki's eyes and could tell the man was completely take off guard.
"We cam here to get our edge on Mercer." Karliah sighed when Loki blinked in surprise. He had the decency to blush when he remembered she'd been standing there. Brynjolf just looked at her and waited. "We need to prepare and meet Mercer on equal footing. Follow me I'll explain on the way." She moved toward the rock face and slowly a secret door was revealed, having dealt with things like these Loki and Brynjolf were impressed but not totally shocked.
Going down the entered a chamber with a bridge over a small stream, and further in they came to a room with three stones marked with a bird symbol, Loki had come to understand was the Symbol of the Nightingales. Loki had listened attentively to Karliah and Brynjolf as their propose for being in Nightingale Hall was revealed.
"Dawn your Nightingale armor, then well begin your eternity into the entry Nightingales." Karliah said, walking to one of the stones in the room they'd stopped in. After equipping the new armor, Loki had the time to admire the craftsmanship on the armor as well as the quality, it had to be some of the best armor he'd seen in a while, and he'd not been near a forge with the time to use it in months! He couldn't help ogling over the excellent armor. Brynjolf chuckled and brought him from his little escapade into his own world.
"Are you certain you're not half Orc?" Brynjolf joked, shaking his head at Loki's awe filled eyes. Loki just laughed at him and shook his head.
"Let's get this over with." Loki said calming from his laughter. Breathing deep, knowing if he'd heard Karliah right, he'd be selling his soul to yet another Daedric Prince. Loki found him self praying to all the Divines he would be shown mercy in his death. Loki walked to the spot he was directed, the Nightingale Armor masking the sadness his heart was weighted with, he knew he was letting his tears fall, if he found no cure, he'd lose Brynjolf.
"I call you Lady Nocturnal, Queen of Murk and Empress of Shadow." Karliah said while kneeling, her voice echoing and all of a sudden, a deep purple and blue orb appeared, engulfing the lower platform, Loki stood in awe of the power he could feel radiating from the Daedra.
"Ah, Karliah I wondered when I'd hear from you again. Lose something did we?" The orb answered the call. The voice sounded bemused and uncaring, Loki wondered if the Vigil had a better idea than he'd originally thought, but he knew their hatred was fueled by nothing but bloodlust and disillusion.
Karliah had settled their deal, and Nocturnal was pleased by the two new souls, Loki wanted to vomit. He wasn't ever going to ever have any peace would he? Watching the orb, for a second he thought he heard a whisper.
"Little wolf, your pack hunts you, find them and your souls salvation, little wolf. Hear their howls and answer to the moon children's call. Cower not in the shadows." And with that the Daedric Lord Nocturnal vanished. Loki blinked, he knew, in his gut he was the only one to hear Nocturnal beckon him to find the Companions and run with the pack once more.
Loki blinked as images of Vilkas, Farkas, Skjor and Aela swirled in his mind, all of them drinking to their victories, then Mourning for Skjor's passing. The pain in his chest nearly made him fall to his knees. He missed them all so much. Then he remembered seeing Kodlak. After the attack bursting into the doors only to be meet with the dead body of yet another dear friend. The accusing looks he saw when he looked everyone in the eyes, he knew it was his fault. He should have been there to protect Kodlak, he should never have killed so many Silverhand. It was all his fault, so after retrieving the shards of Wuuthrad with Vilkas he'd watched them light Kodlak's funeral fire he fled, not wishing to see those accusations shining again in the eyes of his family.
Now he was told to return to them. It was time to vomit. Running to the doors Loki ran out of the Hall and into the trees, holding onto the bark he removed the cowl and hood, letting his stomach empty it's contents. He couldn't face them, not after what he'd done.
He couldn't hear, Brynjolf creep up behind him as he dry retched, Loki hadn't eaten much. Brynjolf's hand rubbing Loki's back made the sick man jump, his head snapped up and whipped to the side to look over his shoulder meeting with concerned eyes.
"What's the matter, Loki?" Brynjolf asked rubbing circles into Loki's shaking back, the blond Nord just looked scared and panicked.
"I can't! Not after everything that's happened if I go back they'll hate me just as much as when I left! It's my fault! He's gone, and it's entirely my fault!" Loki had sat back and his hands were shaking horribly they clapped together to only seconds later be apart again, flying around the panicked blond. Brynjolf had never seen him this worked up.
"Whoa, Loki, slow down, and explain what your talking about." Brynjolf said calmly, his hands grabbing the flailing arms and pinning them to Loki's heaving sides. Loki's emerald eyes were dilated with fear and the pale skin had lost any tone it held. Loki was shaking and tears had finally broken his mask, they pored down his face. Loki looked Brynjolf in the eyes, and stopped shaking he nodded, and took a few deep breaths, before sitting in the grass, on the other side of the tree from his tiny puddle.
"Before I came to Riften, I was in the Companions, well I rose quickly into the inner circle. " Loki looked down and for a split second Brynjolf saw shame and guilt pass through those emerald eyes. Loki looked up, running a hand over his face to push back the lose hair out of his face, then continued, "You see Kodlak, our Harbinger, noticed me going out of my way to attack a group that had a burning hate for us, I'd been going out and attacking them because I felt the need to, they'd killed one of us, and I felt I had an obligation to kill every one of those bastards. It was my fault they got Skjor I hadn't been fast enough. I was such a bloody fool!" Loki cried burying his face in his hands, his whole frame beginning to shake again.
Brynjolf was shocked when Loki had said he was a soldier he'd just thought the war, not the Companions as well. Then Loki going on to explain that he'd been one of their best, there was a lot he'd have to learn about his Dovahkiin. Loki felt like he was going to puke again, but he kept him self from going through another bought of dry heaves. They were painful, nothing he couldn't deal with, but still he'd rather avoid them.
"Loki I'm sure you tried your hardest, it's not your fault things were out of your control." Brynjolf tried to comfort he man, but as he'd said before he wasn't the best at such things. Loki just laughed; it wasn't one that Brynjolf would like to hear again, he knew Loki was laughing at himself.
"Yeah, sure, but it was my choice to go through with it! I could have turned down the offer, then maybe things would be different, I would have stayed with the family, no death, well in due time but not this." Loki said his voice self mocking as his hands gestured to an image only he could see.
Brynjolf knew Loki didn't mean that he hated everything the choice had brought about, but still felt a little cut by the words. Loki had looked up just in time to see the flash of pain in the other's eyes and flinched, knowing how the words had sounded.
"I'm sorry, Bryn, I didn't mean it like I hate all the things that have happened, I love the Guild, and I love you, I just wish I could fix what happened." Loki said hanging his head and letting his whole body slump back into the tree. Brynjolf just patted his shoulder, and sat next to him.
"We always do, Loki, but if you can't look away from the past, you can never see your future." Brynjolf said sliding his arms around Loki's waist and pulling him into his lap. Loki blushed a dark shade of pink.
"I guess your right. Well as I said Kodlak had seen how my anger was effecting me, and called me back to do a special job, but when I returned the group that I'd been waging a small war against had attacked." Loki trialed off his eyes becoming distant and glassy as he again recalled the night Kodlak Whitemane had joined the Honored Dead.
Blinking Loki came back to the present and shook his head before continuing, "I raced up the steps to Jorrvaskr and burst in, but it was already over, the remaining attackers had fled. Kodlak laid on the ground dead, Vilkas walked up to me, I told him I'd been on an important job for Kodlak, he replied that he hoped it had been important. They had stolen the shards of Wuuthrad, so Vilkas and I had gone to their fort and made sure we wiped every last one of them there from the face of Tamriel." Loki actually laughed at that, he leaned into Brynjolf, reassuring himself the man was still there.
"After we returned I gave the shards to Eorlund, who asked I recover the finale shard the Kodlak kept in his room. After doing this I watched them Light Kodlaks pyre on the Skyforge before fleeing not wishing to see the silent accusations that haunted their eyes." Loki finished, hearing Karliah's foot steps, he looked up and nodded to her he stood, and gave a grim smile, "Well that's enough about me, where do we go to now? My eagerness foe Mercer's demise is growing by the second." Loki held out a hand for Brynjolf, helping the man up trying to get the fear of confronting his lost pack from his mind.
"Irkngthand, that's were the eyes are, so that's where Mercer will be." Brynjolf stated, his anger flashed in his eyes but Loki knew who would be the receiving end of it. Loki sighed before begin to walk back to the city.
"Where are you going Loki?" Brynjolf asked watching him walk away. Loki just waved an arm to the city.
"I'm not going anywhere unless I have food besides cabbage and bread! Besides the area that ruin is happens to be is bloody freezing!" Loki called over his shoulder. Brynjolf chuckled before following the man, Karliah close behind.
After stocking up on supplies, the group headed out to the stables to get their horses and start the long ride to the Dwarven ruins. The occasional saber cat or wolf hurling themselves at the thieves, but nothing the group couldn't handle. Soon they stood down the road from the grand ruins.
"Let's make Mercer pay his price." Loki stated before dismounting Shadowmane. The others followed suit and they mentally prepared them selves as they headed up the road to the end of Mercer's trial, and hopefully Mercer's life as well. .
A/N: hope you like chapter One and as you recall in I dream Of Only You My Dovah, Loki states something about shadow and blood, so if you know what I'm talking about I'll be incredibly impressed. If you can quote it in your review it'll make my day.
Emerald,Out!