Work Text:
Jesper awoke one morning to a knock on his door. It was his day off so he was hoping to sleep in, but he guessed that would not be the case. “One minute please.” He yelled as he got dressed in his uniform.
As he walked down the stairs of Breezehome, his heart skipped a beat as he noticed a thief standing by the door. “Good morning, Jesper,” The thief said casually, as if he didn’t just break in, but while the guard was used to it, Keith always made him a little nervous. “Would you like to go to Eldergleam Sanctuary for a picnic today?”
Keith was never this forward. “With me?” Jesper said incredously, glad he was wearing his helmet so his blush was hidden. He was stunned, but always held caution when it came to the thief, he never could understand Keith’s intentions.
“Of course,” He chuckled. “I don’t break into everyone’s home with an invitation to a picnic.”
Admitted breaking and entering aside, Jesper found himself agreeing. “Well, it is my day off and I’d rather not deal with the Dragonborn.”
Together they left on Keith’s horse, galloping through Skyrim without a word between them. Jesper held onto the thief tightly, his face burning under his helmet.
Soon they rode upon the cave that would take them to the sanctuary. “What gave you the idea for a picnic?” Jesper asked as they entered the cave.
“Well while at work,” Keith explained.
“You mean stealing things?” Jesper interrupted. “That’s not work.”
“For me, it is work,” The thief shot back, glaring at the guard as they walked. “Anyway, I was at the Dragonborn’s house, and he had way too much food, so surely he wouldn’t notice if I took some.”
“Oh well, if it’s from the Dragonborn,” Jesper smiled from under his helmet. They emerged from the cave and beheld the beauty of the Eldergleam Sanctuary, the sound of the waterfall almost deafening. “Let me guess, you also stole a sweet roll or two.”
The two men chose a spot close to the water, luckily for them no one else was there.
“It wouldn’t be a picnic without sweet rolls, now would it?” The thief pulled out two sweet rolls along with cabbages and cheese.
“You took from his cabbage and cheese stash?” The guard gasped.
Keith laughed. “He won’t know, he hasn’t been home in several days.” Pulling out two Honningbrews and handing one to the guard.
“I heard he was helping Danica restore the Gildergreen,” Jesper raising the mead to his mouth. “Hey, that’s Maurice.”
The two men looked to see the Kynareth worshipper following the Dragonborn up to the Eldergleam. He didn’t notice them as he swung the dagger in his hand at the tree roots blocking the way, and the tree moving to let him past.
“He will wake the spriggans if he’s not careful.” Keith took off running after the Dragonborn, Jesper following behind him.
“I didn’t know you were a man of violence.” Maurice said to the Dragonborn as the last root moved out of the way.
“Dragonborn,” Jesper yelled. “I don’t know what you’re planning but surely there is a better way to restore the Gildergreen than whatever it is you are thinking.”
“You would violate this marvel of Kynareth’s glory to fix that half breed stump in Whiterun?” Maurice cried. “That’s abominable. Barbaric. I’ll have no part in this. Why didn’t you tell me what you intended?”
Jesper pleaded with Maurice. “Is there a better way than harming the Eldergleam?”
“Follow me, I think I can convince the tree to help us.”
Keith snorted as they followed Maurice to the base of the tree and watched as he knelt down to pray. Soon a sapling appeared. “The Eldergleam has blessed us with a sapling. You should take it to Whiterun. Danica will want to see that the true blessings of nature lie in renewal, not a slavish maintenance.”
The Dragonborn picked up the sapling and made his way to the exit.
“At least he didn’t notice the cabbages and cheese.” Keith said as he and Jesper went back to their picnic.
"I really didn't want to deal with the Dragonborn today." Jesper said as he once again picked up his mead.
"The way you handled him though was adorable, with your little wooden sword." Keith lightly poked the guard in the arm.
Jesper stood up and drew the wooden sword. "You know you did break into my house, I could arrest you for that." He then swung the sword at Keith and lightly bonked him on the head.
"Hey!" Keith yelled as he tackled the guard to the ground. "We both know you won't. You wouldn't do that today, it would ruin the picnic."
Jesper's face was burning so hard he wondered if his helmet was bright red. "You also just assaulted a Whiterun guard," He replied breathlessly, squirming under the thief. "What say you in your defence?"
Keith kissed Jesper on the helmet, released the guard and held out an offering. "Sweet roll?"
Jesper took the offering. "A bribe? Really?" He said playfully. "I want your sweet roll too."
Keith laughed as he handed over the treat. "This will be the first time complying to a guard, but it's worth it."
As Jesper took the other sweet roll, he thought that maybe the thief had a softer side to him that only he was allowed to see. They continued their picnic, laughing and swapping stories about the Dragonborn. Jesper wished he could spend all his days off like this.