Mercer scowled as he flipped through the ledger, glancing at the neat rows of numbers that showed a clear spike in the Guild's finances. Brynjolf was seated in front of him, going through the new client requests that came through and painstakingly sorting them into piles where he mentally labeled "jobs available for everyone", "high-tier jobs recommended for some" and "jobs that should be rejected". Mercer will check through them later before he could pass them off to Vex and Delvin, of course.

The Guildmaster was just about done with the ledger when he noticed something amiss amongst the records.

"Brynjolf?"

"Yes?"

Mercer cast a glare upon him, "Would you care to explain to me why there is a loss in our funds?"

Brynjolf stopped his work and looked at Mercer, who proceeded to slide the book across the desk and pointed to a very distinct row where the job is indicated. Under it, he had very clearly written the name 'Rowan'.

"That's… ah," Brynjolf hesitated upon seeing it. He'd known that Mercer would've come across it sooner or later and he had no choice but to record it down as per the conduct. Then he'd forgotten all about it until this moment.

"Well?" There was clear hostile edge within the Guildmaster's voice now.

"It's the usual," Brynjolf explained, "We had to avoid giving him any important jobs because of his… actions. Unfortunately, that job he'd taken was unable to cover the expenses that took covering his tracks."

Mercer snarled, "So what are we supposed to do about this problem?"

Before Brynjolf could answer, Vex and Delvin entered the room, where the feisty Guild Third dragged the poor, whimpering man over by his ear, looking angrier than usual.

"This old sod have mucked it up big time!" She yelled, pulling him forward.

"Ow, there's no need to be so rough," Delvin whined, rubbing his ear as he was released.

"What in the oblivion is going on?" Mercer demanded.

"Ask this fool, won't you!" Vex snapped as she cuffed him in the back of his head, "Tell him how you lost our contracts, you arse for brains!"

"He what?" Mercer looked livid as he faced Delvin, "What on earth did you do!"

Delvin looked shaken upon seeing his expression. He gave a weak, sheepish smile and uttered, "I, um, Rowan took them."

"Rowan?"

"He's the troublemaker you're always raving about," Vex informed before pulling Delvin by the ear again, "Tell him, you smelly clod, what exactly did we lose?"

"It's the- the very important jobs, sir!" He yelped as Vex tugged harder, "Two important robberies in Markarth, three shill jobs in Solitude, Whiterun and Markarth, two numbers job in Windhelm, five fishing jobs in Solitude, Windhelm and Markarth and two planting jobs in Whiterun!"

"WHAT?!"

"And they are requested by?"

"The Graymanes, sir!" Vex twisted his ear, "Ow! And Erikur, and Captain Lonely-Gale! And Maven Black-Briar!"

Mercer looked like he was going to burst a blood vessel as he screamed, "DELVIN!"

Brynjolf looked positively horrified at the news, "Where is he now?"

"That is the problem," Vex grumbled, "We have no idea where he is. The scoundrel's not been seen in days."

Just then, the door burst open again. Cynric and Rune came scrambling in with wild, panicked looks on their faces.

"Sirs, we've a problem-" Rune started.

"Rowan's been captured!" Cynric exclaimed.

"What?"

"Where is he?!"

"Bandits, sir!" Cynric said quickly, "We were returning from a job when we saw Rowan get dragged into the towers, there were too many of them to attempt a rescue."

"And the goods?" Mercer demanded, beginning to look worried, "Everything that Rowan had stolen?"

Rune looked confused.

"We haven't seen them, sir," Cynric answered, "We suspect the bandits got their hands on them."

Brynjolf pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration, "I suppose we'll have to go help him."

"There's no need," Mercer spat, "Just find the goods."

"Where was he captured?"

"At Fort Greenwall, sir," Cynric answered.

"Very well," Brynjolf said, "You two come along, let's make our way there and look for the haul, shall we?"

As the three crouched in the shadows by the fort, Rune whispered, "We're rescuing him, aren't we?"

"Of course we are," Brynjolf whispered back with a sigh, "He may be a pain in the arse but he's still part of the guild."

"Those are some very noble words you are saying, sir," Cynric said.

Brynjolf turned to him, "What are you implying?"

"Nothing, sir."

Brynjolf stared at him for a moment, then decided to ignore him altogether, "Well, let's hurry up, then."

They knocked out the bandits patrolling the premises and snuck their way deeper and deeper into the fort.

"I've found some of the goods," Cynric said, picking up a jeweled dagger from the pile of valuables stashed in the corner of a room.

"We can come back for those later," Brynjolf said before turning to Rune, "Is the area clear?"

"Yes sir," he said, "Everywhere but this room over here."

They made their way towards it and suddenly, what sounded like pained gasps and grunts filtered in through the gaps in the doorway.

Brynjolf motioned for them to keep behind him and he carefully tried the door. It was unlocked. He pushed it open a crack and caught the sight of naked flesh within.

His first thought was that Rowan was held against his will and quickly snuck into the room. He clung to the shadows, dagger in hand as he prepared to subdue the aggressor when a very distinct cry of pleasure echoed throughout the room.

"Ah! Yes!" Rowan panted, bouncing up and down on a man's lap, "Oh! Harder, harder, just like that-"

Brynjolf stared at them, frozen.

"Yeah, you like that, don't you?" The man grunted, fingers clawing into Rowan's hips, "You little slut, faster!"

Rowan complied and gasped even louder, "Oh yes, yes, I'm going to-"

"Oh my Akatosh," Rune blurted, his eyes wide as saucers.

The bandit startled at the voice, "Huh? Who's there?"

At that, Rowan slammed a club into his head, knocking him out immediately. The onlookers took a step back in surprise at the unexpected sight as none of them had noticed when Rowan had gotten his hands on a weapon, busy as he were.

And instead of stopping, Rowan continued impaling himself on the unconscious man's member until he finished with a loud cry.

He pulled himself off the man and flopped down onto the bed, panting hard. He raised his head and regarded the three identical appalled looks and muttered, "Hello, I didn't expect company."

"By the gods," Cynric burst out, "What in oblivion was that all about?!"

"Too much cargo," Rowan replied with a huff.

"You were captured by the bandits!"

"Aye, I was," Rowan said, still catching his breath. "They wanted to kill me, too. Then I made them a deal." He smiled, "Sex for my freedom, they can keep the goods. Of course I was planning to come back in and take everything back but, here you are."

Cynric stared at him, "So, that's it? You slept with the chief-"

Rowan laughed as he sat up and regarded Cynric with a boastful smile.

"I slept with all of them."

Cynric and Rune both gaped at him.

Brynjolf, who hadn't said anything up until this point, sheathed his blade, straightened and snapped an abrupt, "That's it, I'm leaving."

He swiftly made his way towards the door as Rune turned to him in surprise, "Sir-"

"No, I am leaving."

"But-"

Brynjolf turned to glare at him and snarled, "I. Am. Leaving." He cast his eyes over at Rowan, who still sat naked, grinning over at him.

"And clean up this mess," he growled and left without another word.

Rune stared after him pathetically as Cynric made his way over and patted him on the back.

"So much for 'he's still part of the Guild'," Cynric said with a grin.