“You blame me” Gunnar said simply after a second of silence.
“You’re right” Vilkas said flatly.
“You have full right to”
“You’re right” Vilkas growled.
The anger he felt for Skjor’s death was boiling up now, spilling out of his mouth before he could stop the scalding words.
“Because you, Alea and Skjor had to go off and do something so stupid as taking on an entire fort of Silver-Hand, not to mention letting Skjor go in alone, and then you just had to fuel Alea’s lust for vengeance and kill all those Silver Hand!” He growled “Even though you of all people should know that revenge begets revenge, death begets death and bloodshed begets bloodshed!”
Gunnar took each stabbing word without even blinking.
“Kodlak’s life now hangs in the balance and in some fucked up way you’re trying to do right but at the same time you doing right will also likely kill Kodlak” It was unstoppable now, it all just needed to come out “You’re taking away the man that’s been like a father to me Gunnar! To every Companion today! Do you know what that feels like?!”
“No…”
“Horrible! I don’t remember my parents Gunnar, I’ve only had the Companions! And in you waltz and we lose Skjor, our home is attacked and now we’re going to lose Kodlak and everything’s just so messed up and… and” Vilkas’ voice broke and he had to stop to avoid crying. What man his age cried?
“...Do you hate me?”
“…No” And that was it, Vilkas sobbed loudly and buried his face in his hands because it was out there.
He loved Gunnar. He was a mystery, an amazing warrior, a great guy, a finely aged sort of handsome, he was fun, he was strong, he was talented, and he could hold all these burdens that Vilkas just had to say aloud. Gunnar was like a father, no matter what he did you would always love him deep down and no matter what you did he would always be the pillar of strength protecting you while the world crashed into pieces around you. And Vilkas loved him all the more for his father like qualities.
When he felt warm and strong warms around him, the knight didn’t resist. He just cried his eyes out as long as he wanted until the sobs subsided into whimpers and finally miserable sniffles.
“Glad to see no matter how badly I fuck up you can still like me pup” Gunnar chuckled softly.
Pup…gods be damned Vilkas couldn’t even hate that cursed nickname.
“Who said anything about liking you” Vilkas managed to deadpan.
“Oh? Something more perhaps? You saying you love me pup?”
Vilkas face burned in his hands and his embarrassment chocked his throat. If he didn’t deny it then Gunnar would-
Gunnar was suddenly prying his hands away from his face and lifting his head so that he was looking at the old man. He had a wicked grin on his face
Old Scales 37c/42
“You’re right” Vilkas said flatly.
“You have full right to”
“You’re right” Vilkas growled.
The anger he felt for Skjor’s death was boiling up now, spilling out of his mouth before he could stop the scalding words.
“Because you, Alea and Skjor had to go off and do something so stupid as taking on an entire fort of Silver-Hand, not to mention letting Skjor go in alone, and then you just had to fuel Alea’s lust for vengeance and kill all those Silver Hand!” He growled “Even though you of all people should know that revenge begets revenge, death begets death and bloodshed begets bloodshed!”
Gunnar took each stabbing word without even blinking.
“Kodlak’s life now hangs in the balance and in some fucked up way you’re trying to do right but at the same time you doing right will also likely kill Kodlak” It was unstoppable now, it all just needed to come out “You’re taking away the man that’s been like a father to me Gunnar! To every Companion today! Do you know what that feels like?!”
“No…”
“Horrible! I don’t remember my parents Gunnar, I’ve only had the Companions! And in you waltz and we lose Skjor, our home is attacked and now we’re going to lose Kodlak and everything’s just so messed up and… and” Vilkas’ voice broke and he had to stop to avoid crying. What man his age cried?
“...Do you hate me?”
“…No” And that was it, Vilkas sobbed loudly and buried his face in his hands because it was out there.
He loved Gunnar. He was a mystery, an amazing warrior, a great guy, a finely aged sort of handsome, he was fun, he was strong, he was talented, and he could hold all these burdens that Vilkas just had to say aloud. Gunnar was like a father, no matter what he did you would always love him deep down and no matter what you did he would always be the pillar of strength protecting you while the world crashed into pieces around you. And Vilkas loved him all the more for his father like qualities.
When he felt warm and strong warms around him, the knight didn’t resist. He just cried his eyes out as long as he wanted until the sobs subsided into whimpers and finally miserable sniffles.
“Glad to see no matter how badly I fuck up you can still like me pup” Gunnar chuckled softly.
Pup…gods be damned Vilkas couldn’t even hate that cursed nickname.
“Who said anything about liking you” Vilkas managed to deadpan.
“Oh? Something more perhaps? You saying you love me pup?”
Vilkas face burned in his hands and his embarrassment chocked his throat. If he didn’t deny it then Gunnar would-
Gunnar was suddenly prying his hands away from his face and lifting his head so that he was looking at the old man. He had a wicked grin on his face
“Bout damned time”