They tried to keep quiet, pressed up against the wall behind some crates in the training room. It was late, pushing the early hours of morning, but that didn’t mean the others wouldn’t be up. Hopefully it did mean no one wouldn’t try coming in to get a bit of practice done. There was no real reason to hide aside from the small privacy it gave. Nate wrapped his arms over Brynjolf’s shoulders, making soft sounds as they kissed. The taller Nord had his hands braced on the Breton’s sides, pressing him into the wall.

Nathanael couldn’t help but grin into the kiss, breaking it off to giggle. Brynjolf just moved his mouth to his throat, biting and sucking. Nate gasped softly, feeling his face heat up. Bryn wasn’t that much taller than him, but he had a way of making Nate feel encompassed and enclosed.

“Mercer gave me a new assignment, all the way in Solitude.” Nate mumbled, twisting his fingers through Bryn’s long hair. Bryn only grunted a response into his skin. “I have to go shake down some Argonian for info, Gulum-Eye? Something like that…”

Brynjolf looked up this time, breathing husky. “Gulum-Ei?” He asked, frowning. “That’s one of our informants, we can’t just pay him like normal?”

Nate opened his mouth to respond, then stopped. Mercer’s cold words echoed in his head. There was a traitor in the guild, someone was bleeding them dry, and it could be anyone, and from the way Mercer glared at Brynjolf, Nate was anxious over who that anyone could be. He would already get into enough trouble with the severe leader if he found out he and Bryn were having these small, physical meetings. He didn’t want to think that Mercer’s hunch was correct, he couldn’t imagine Bryn betraying the guild. But so far, everything else Mercer had been suspicious of had been right. The thoughts twisted in his gut, making his heart ache.

“Ah, well, you know, with how the guilds been doing, I think Mercer is just looking to save some coin.” Nate stammered out. Bryn frowned at him, Nate could tell he didn’t buy it.

“I would assume he’d rather keep a reliable informant in good favor, than shake him down just to save a few septims. He’s a slimy fellow sure, but the ins he gets with the East Empire Company...”

Nate shrugged, chewing his lip. “Who knows, he points and I go, isn’t that what we all do? Larceny is larceny.” The twisting in his stomach got worse, and Nate suddenly felt too enclosed, like the walls and crates were crushing in on him. He stepped from the wall, breaking free of Bryn’s arms. “Actually, I should be going now, the carriage always gets travelers early in the morning. I really don’t want to trek all that way on just my feet alone.” He sidestepped Brynjolf, edging around the crates. Bryn’s hand caught his wrist, and Nate looked back.

“You know you always find an excuse to leave, lad, one way or another.” Brynjolf said, voice strained.

Nate gave him a weak smile, pulling his hand back, Bryn letting got reluctantly. It was true he always cut their little dalliances short, but that was for an entirely different reason than the one he had now. Not that that was apparent to Bryn, who just saw knew the breton turned tail and ran the instant things got too heated. “I do? Well, remind me that next time. But now I really have to get going.” He waved, smiling brightly before turning on his heel and making a quick exit out of the training room and the guild altogether.

--

Nate was practically jumping for joy when he brought the information from Gulum-Ei to Mercer. He looked around the main chamber of the guild as Mercer poured over the papers of correspondence from whoever was targeting the guild, this Karliah.

“Where’s Bryn?” Nate asked, looking at Mercer, flinching when he saw the hateful glare on the man’s face.

“One his own mission. Don’t forget what I told you-”

“But the Argonian said Karliah said she was working alone!” Nate protested, “Surely someone who used to be a guild member could pull what she’s been pulling, she wouldn’t need inside help-” Mercer slammed his hand on his desk, and Nate flinched again. He was used to getting yelled at, getting glares. But the way Mercer did it reminded him the way it happened back home, in the redoubts. Not angry at what he said, but angry he said anything at all, that he dared exist outside of how they needed him to. It made Nate’s throat close up thinking about it.

Satisfied that Nate would stay quite, Mercer looked back over the letters. “Come on, I’m going to need your help with this. Follow me.” Mercer swept the letters to the side, and opened the draw of the desk. He pulled out a small box of matches and a strike pad, lighting a match and setting the letters on fire. Nate wondered vaguely why he was burning the proof, but didn’t risk voicing his concern.