Sorry this particular fic is so slooooooow... I promise in the next few chapters things will start getting steamy. Doing a slow build up on this and my soon to be Fallout New Vegas one. I also have 7 stories so this one will be posted on at least once a week, maybe every other week. Depends on my schedule and everything. Anyways enjoy and don't forget to review. It does let me know if I am getting a personality wrong. My memory's bad. XD
Almost a month and a half later Brynjolf found himself nearly pacing the cistern that held the Thieves Guild of Skyrim. The Bosmer lass still hadn't reappeared, though part of him knew she would eventually return. He could see it in her eyes when she walked away, the teasing glint that promised more excitement than he had seen in a long time. Sure the red headed Nord could have his pick of the women in Skyrim, and had chances to bed about half of them, but the dark haired elf with ruby red eyes and teasing smirk had his hands itching and his nerves strung tight. He went to the Flagon, hoping to drink his nerves away, unsure why he needed to, just to find Vekel and Dirge talking about the girl he had mentioned to the pair.
"She don't sound like much to me, to be quite honest." the bartender quipped as Bryn sat on a stool, the line causing the usually level headed Nord to grit his teeth. None had seen the amount of skill she had used to do what she had done, the patience she had when she placed the ring in Brand Shei's pocket. They couldn't know the way she seemed made of the shadows themselves when she worked. Only he saw it, and saw her. "She is different. She could save this guild before we truly lose everything."
Vekel snorted and shook his head, taking his washcloth out and wiping down the bar. "Give it up Brynjolf... those days are over."
"I'm telling you, this one is different." Bryn insisted standing up from his bar stool with the bottle of mead in his hand. Dirge shook his head, the gruff blond Nord not one to mince words. "We've all heard that one before Bryn! Quit kidding yourself."
"It's time to face the truth old friend. You, Vex, Mercer... you're all part of a dying are changing." Vekel said, only a second before the three heard footsteps coming close. Brynjolf recognized the slow patient footfall, forcing himself to turn slowly to look just as Nera pulled her helmet from her head. Her hair fell around her face and she smirked at Bryn as the others just stared, letting the Nord know she had heard what the others had been saying. "Dying breed eh? Then what do you call this, my friend?"
The elf let out a low chuckle, causing more than one man in the room to look away and earning her a glare from Vex. Bryn smiled and took Nera's hand, placing a kiss to the top. "Well, Well, color me impressed lass. I didn't think I would be seeing you again."
"Getting here was easy... once I decided to come that is. I had a bit of work to do first." the distracting elf answered, earning a laugh from Brynjolf. His respect for the elf was growing, as was the obsession. Why did she take so long to return? Where was that lumbering sellsword she had with her last time? He thought it best not to ask and instead let his lips quirk into a small grin. "Reliable and headstrong? You're turning out to be quite the prize."
His words made the Bosmer smile, a genuine one this time, before she pulled her hand and flicked it as if brushing away his comment. "Flattery will get you no where with me, Brynjolf."
"Well then down to business I suppose, now that I've whetted your whistle with our little job in the market." Bryn replied, noting the very light rise of color on her high cheek bones. She wasn't going to make it easy to pull her in, he could see that, but she was just as affected by him as he was her. "How about you handle a few deadbeats for me?"
One delicate eyebrow rose on her face, her playful smirk back in place. She made it look like she was thinking, her antics causing old Delvin to start chuckling and Tonilia to hide her smile behind her hand. Brynjolf had a feeling he was going to enjoy working with the Bosmer, her antics making things a bit more silly than they should have been. Finally Nera looked at him and shrugged, "What kind of deadbeats are we talking about?"
"A couple people owe our organization some serious gold. I want you to go and collect what they owe." as he spoke he watched her face, hoping that she would be up to such a task. As gentle as the Bosmer came across he could see the scars of battle in her eyes. He prayed that even as he asked this he wasn't asking the type of person who would kill people. Nera chuckled and shook her head, her eyebrow still raised as she thought. "Ok... so how do you want me to get it?"
"You have many options but I would prefer you let them live. Dead men don't pay dues to us." Brynjolf answered, causing the Bosmer to bite her lip so she wouldn't laugh. "I figured that much Nord. I meant is there any I can do it where I won't be bringing the attention of the guards."
Vekel laughed from his place at the bar, an answering chuckle leaving Delvin. Bryn rolled his eyes, amused by the amount of attention she paid to how things worked. She was willing to do it without violence, something that was becoming rare in the newer recruits he found the guild. "Depends. I have information on all three of the people I want you to go to. Keerava, Haelga, and Bersi Honey-side. Ask me anything you want if you take this little job and I will give you all the information you need."
"Alright Brynjolf I'm in. What can I do to get them to hand it over, sans violence?" Nera replied, her arms crossing over her ample chest. Bryn smiled and arranged his thoughts, not wanting to give the wrong information to the small elf. He was wanting to keep her close after all. "Keerava and Talen-Jei are very close. He may have information if you can convince him it is in Keerava's best interest to pay us. Haelga is a devout worshipper of Dibella and keeps a statue in the bunkhouse. You could use it as leverage. Finally Bersi is very fond of a Dwemer vase he keeps in his store. Destroying it could be enough to get him to pay up. The way people talk by the time you take care of two of the store keepers the third should be ready to pay. "
The red head was astounded by the the intensity of the ruby eyed vixen as he spoke, her eyes not leaving his face as she seemed to memorize each thing he told her. She thought for a moment and looked to Delvin, who was attempting not to look like he was paying attention. "Hey... You're Delvin right? Is it true what I heard about Bersi being stubborn?"
Delvin choked on the mug of mead he was drinking, the action getting the others in the bar to laughing, even Bryn. He turned and looked to the girl with a scowl, the look not at all intimidating when coupled with the glint of laughter in his eyes. "Why you asking me girl?"
Nera smiled sweetly at the bald Breton, the look causing goosebumps to crawl up Brynjolf's arms. The woman knew how to make a man beg, that much was clear as she moved to lean against the table Delvin sat at and tilted her head. "Cause I listen to the rumors and you are well known in supplying information and rare items. That being said I want the quickest way to prove I wanna be a part of this dysfunctional little group. So please help a girl out?"
As she finished her little spiel the Bosmer pouted playfully, making even Dirge look away. Vex went from scowling to covering her mouth, finally amused by the elf as everyone else was as Delvin looked down uncomfortably. "Yeah... I know a thing or two... Bersi's as stubborn as they come. Even breaking that vase may not help. You probably should start with Keerava and then to Haelga, unless you suck at stealth and then you are shit outa luck anyways."
The Bosmer grinned and looked to Brynjolf, winking before she hopped off the table. She tossed a septim at Delvin before walking to the exit, waving to Brynjolf as she did. "I shall return then. Give me... Oh I say two hours... Maybe three. I need to pick up some supplies before I come back."