Suduction

Aila realized something. She's very attractive. Or at least, that's what other people thought of her. She didn't really understand it, and she didn't really want others to think it, except maybe for Kathryn. But she also realized that he could use her looks in her work. Not that she liked to. Aila made a pint of wearing her Guild armour as much as possible, as people tended to stay away from Guild members. But today she wasn't wearing her armour. Currently, she was wearing a rather expensive-looking tunic and breeches which showed off just a little more than Aila was comfortable with. She had also done her hair, which she had never done before. But considering the various shouts and whistles coming from men on the street, she assumed it looked good. The necklace Kathryn had given her rested just above her breasts. Aila gripped it and took a deep breath.

At least Kat's not here. She'd probably pummel anyone who so much as looked at me. The though made her smile despite herself. She loved how protective Kathryn was of her. She definitely didn't want her around for this. Actually, Aila didn't want to be around for this either, but she had to. A job was a job after all. Might as well get it over with.

Aila walked forward, moving until she bumped into a Dunmer carrying a number of fire logs, causing them to fall to the ground.

"Oh my!" Aila exclaimed. "I am so sorry!"

The Dunmer looked like he was going to tell her off for a moment, but then stopped when he saw her. "That's, um, quite alright."

"No really," Aila insisted. "I'm such a klutz. I should have been paying more attention to where I was going. Here, let me help." She knelt down to help pick up the logs.

"Oh no, please," The Dunmer said. "I wouldn't want a beautiful lady getting her hands soiled."

Ugh. Aila forced a smile. "Oh, well. Actually, I'm not sure I could lift these heavy logs." Aila knew full well she could lift those heavy logs. "Though, I'd bet you can do it quite easily." She held out her hand. "I'm Kori."

The Dunmer smiled at her and took it. "Kori, huh? I'm Tythis." He looked her up and down. "You know, I don't normally go for Wood Elves, but for you, I could definitely make an exception."

Aila resisted the urge to throw up. She place a hand on Tythis' shoulder. "Really?" she said, trying to sound seductive. "You know... I have a room at the inn. Perhaps you could meet me there and we can..." She paused for dramatic effect, leaning in closer and moving her hand to the back of his neck. "get to know each other."

Tythis grinned widely at her. "I'll be there."

Aila removed her hand, still smiling. "See you." She turned and walked away as quickly as she dared. The moment she was out of his sight, let out a full-body shiver of disgust. If there was one thing she would ever be certain of, it was that she would not be at the inn that night. Or the next, just in case. She looked down at the gold and diamond necklace in her hand. "I'd better get paid extra for this," she muttered to herself before heading down to the Cistern.

She mussed up her hair while heading to her room to change, hoping nobody would say anything about the way she looked. Luckily or unluckily, the only one who did was Kathryn. Who choked on her drink when she saw her.

"Gods above, Aila, what are you wearing?"

"Something I'd sooner not."

"I didn't even know you owned anything that... skimpy."

Aila glared at her.

"Hey, I'm just saying. Besides, you look..."

"Kat, if you say one more word, I swear I'll put an arrow in your knee."

"Why so hostile? You're the one wearing it."

Aila groaned loudly. "Just do me a favour." She handed Kathryn the necklace. "Give this to Delvin. And tell him if he ever gives me another job like that I'll kick him in the unmentionables."

"So many threats. You must be in a bad mood."

"You think?" She sighed. "I'm going to go get changed and meet up with Brynjolf."

"Alright," Kathryn said. She gave Aila a quick kiss. "I'll see you tonight, love." She went to go find Delvin.

Aila was suddenly feeling much better.

When she finished changing, she went to the training room. She had continued her training with Brynjolf after she had returned from Whiterun. It was awkward for a bit, after what happened last time, but Aila avoided the topic and Brynjolf never brought it up.

She also noticed something odd while training. It was a lot easier. The sword seemed lighter than she remembered, and Brynjolf seemed to be moving slower. At first, Aila thought he was going easy on her, but he insisted that he was actually trying harder than before, which meant Aila had gotten better. And that made absolutely no sense. Yet Brynjolf was still the better swordsman, and Aila was hard pressed to keep up.

Remembering what happened with the Dragon at Whiterun, Aila considered trying to use that "shout", but decided against it. If it worked, she would be marked as Dragonborn, which she didn't want, or worse, it wouldn't work and she would look like an idiot. Maybe if she was alone. Or with Kathryn...

Her thoughts were interrupted when Brynjolf's sword hit her in the leg. "Pay attention!" he practically yelled.

"Sorry, sorry." Aila lifted her sword to block another attack and returned one of her own, only to have Brynjolf parry it. They went on like that for a while, until Brynjolf came in with a flurry of swings that Aila couldn't keep up with. She grunted as she was hit in the hip. "Damn it!" she shouted angrily. "I saw that coming, I should have blocked it!" That was the strangest part. She saw the attack just fine. She didn't have any problems seeing and predicting any of Brynjolf's movements, but she couldn't move her body quickly enough to act accordingly. It was eternally frustrating.

Then she had an idea. "Hey... could I get another sword?"

"Another?" Brynjolf asked. "What for?"

"I want to try something."

"Hmm... well, alright. But if you're thinking what I think you're thinking, don't expect it to pan out too well."

"Well, we won't know until we try." Aila picked up a blunted sword from the weapon rack. It felt weird and heavy in her left hand.

Brynjolf spoke up. "That's how Mercer fights. A sword in each hand. But it's not as simple as putting another sword in your extra hand. He had to train for months until he was as good with his left as with his right."

"Months, huh?" Aila set the sword down and picked up a smaller blade, one that she could easily control with her left hand. "Well, it couldn't hurt to try."

"As you wish," he said, though it was clear he didn't it would help.

The two assumed their usual battle stances, though Aila adjusted hers slightly to accommodate her new weapon. When they started, ti began normally. Aila swung, Brynjolf blocked and countered. She didn't try to use the other blade just yet. Eventually Brynjolf would make a move too fast to keep up with. That move came when he raised his sword and brought it back down. Hard. The force of the blow knocked her sword out of position and Aila had another moment where she could see what was happening faster than she could react. Brynjolf was coming around for another attack and Aila knew that she wouldn't be able to recover fast enough. So this, she decided, would be a good time to use her other sword. She raised her left hand, successfully stopping his sword in it's tracks. Then she brought her right hand back around and struck him in the leg.

"Ha!" Aila exclaimed, throwing her hands into the air as he grunted in pain. "I got you!" It wasn't that she never hit him, it was just that the moments were so few and far in between that she treasured them when they came. And this time it wasn't a fluke. She had blocked and countered with her own skill. It was an exhilarating feeling.

"Aye, you got me," Brynjolf said. "Don't be getting cocky. But I'll admit... You surprised me. You know how to use you've got. But still, it was sloppy. You need practice."

"Then let's practice," Aila said, assuming her battle stance.

They sparred for of the rest of the evening. Aila was doing much better. The extra sword was an immense help. She found herself getting hit much less while also hitting Brynjolf a few more times. By the end of it, Aila was exhausted. The sun had set about an hour ago, and Aila debated going to Delvin for one more job before hitting the hay, but decided against it. She was far too tired, so she went straight to bed, saying goodnight to Brynjolf and heading to her room.

Alone in her room, Aila stripped down and fell into bed. She had gotten used to sleeping naked, for a couple reasons. One, her and Kathryn would almost always find themselves entertaining each other during the night, so she usually wound up nude anyway. And two, Kathryn was so warm that if Aila wore any sort of clothing she would sometimes start to sweat just from laying next to her. She wished Kathryn was there so she could cuddle up with her, but Kathryn would be out doing jobs until late at night.

Aila fell asleep thinking of how Kathryn's eyes seemed to glow when it was dark.

She woke a few hours later. Woke being a relative term, she was still half-asleep, only barely awake. What woke her was the sound of the door creaking open. She assumed it was Kathryn, no one else would just wander in. Her assumption was confirmed when when someone very warm crawled into the bed with her. Aila snuggled up next to her and mumbled something that Kathryn only understood because of her better-than-average hearing. "Go to the forest tomorrow," she said.

"The forest?" Kathryn asked. "Why?"

"Spar with me. Wanna try something."

"Isn't Brynjolf your sparring partner? And why do we need to go to the forest for it?"

Aila made a vague motion that might have been a head shake. "Don't want him to see."

"Hm. Well, if it means I'm going to get some time alone with you, then okay."

Aila smiled and buried her head into the ultra-soft pillow that was Kathryn's chest, and Kathryn giggled and hugged her tightly. Aila, feeling incredibly happy and content in her arms, had nearly fallen back asleep. Until Kathryn began to stroke her lower back and give her tingling kisses. As good as it felt, Aila had to protest. "Kat... not tonight, I'm too tired."

"Oh, come on. Just a little."

"How do you 'just a little'?"

Kathryn shrugged. "Let's find out."

"Kaaat..." Aila wanted to protest further, but the way Kathryn was kissing her neck and growling seductively...

Aila abruptly sat up and stared at Kathryn. "What was that?" she asked.

"What was what?"

"That noise. What that you?"

Kathryn's eyes widened and she looked away."

"It was! How did you do that?"

It was a moment before she answered. "I'm a werewolf," she said simply. "It happens."

"I've never heard you do that before, though."

"I usually force myself not to."

"Why didn't you this time?"

Kathryn looked almost ashamed, though Aila couldn't fathom why. "I forgot."

Aila smiled and leaned closer. "Do it again."

"Aila, I don't..."

"Oh, come on," Aila said coyly. "Just a little."

Another pause. Then Aila heard a low growl that a human or elf should definitely not be able to make. It was the deep and thrumming growl of a wolf.

And it was turning Aila on.

She kissed Kathryn full on the lips while her hands went to other places.

They broke apart briefly and Kathryn said, "I thought you were too tired."

"Oh, shut up," Aila laughed, pushing Kathryn onto her back.