viking!ghost x reader
cw: none? but i didnβt proofread so be warned lolz
viking!ghost who is believed to be killed in battle but really washes upon shore to some new coastline with people who speak a language heβs never heard before (he chalks it up to swimming in and out of consciousness)
viking!ghost who awakes violently, realizing heβs nowhere near home, thrashing and cursing anyone who tries (and fails) to console him and usher him back to bed
viking!ghost who finally shuts up when you, tiny thing beneath him, pick up a stick and promptly begin beating him with it, shouting what he can only imagine to be curses with weight behind them only a women could muster
viking!ghost whoβs so taken away by your raw beauty, and quite annoyed (and impressed) that your swings are actually stinging his skin, lets himself fall back into bed, only grabbing the stick after he lets you get a few more swings in. you canβt blame him heβs quite enthralled by your passion
viking!ghost who begrudgingly resigns himself to trying his best to acclimate while he gets over nasty pneumonia and frostbite. he hasnβt quite shaken being seen without his covering, but itβs a strange type of freedom, that these people knew not of his past. it was dangerous for bimn to feel like a new man in this new place, with fiery little you sporadically making appearances
viking!ghost wonβt admit to himself that he purposefully acts difficult with others in hopes youβd be tasked with his care more often. it works.
viking!ghost whoβs picked up some of your language. βyour.. name?β he tries in your tongue one night. you pause, heβs deeply satisfied when he sees recognition flicker across your face. you scowl and raise your eyebrow at him. βy/nβ. he tells you his name. his real name. and when you stare at him and you frown a little less, he thinks heβs never seen someone more beautiful. he vaguely notes that you must be the kind of women that inspire heroes.
viking!ghost who after that interaction has a sudden urge to be useful. to prove himself to you. the language was just the start. he stops being a pain, taking whatever is offered and resting when told. he slowly gets better, starts helping around your community. he sees you watch him as he picks fruit with the older adults and children. in the coming weeks heβs stronger, chopping wood and hunting with your best.
viking!ghost who tells himself heβs just repaying a debt. your people used valuable resources on saving him, it was only the honorable thing to do. never mind the beautiful woman who nursed him to health and wonβt give him the time of day. it has nothing to do with that.
viking!ghost who finally catches you at a celebration to usher in spring, the entire village buzzing with excitement at warming weather. the women you are with, aunts heβs come to learn, shove you towards him, giggling while they scamper off.
viking!ghost who canβt help but smile, scars stretching when you say his name curtly. βy/n. spring,β he dumbly points around, trying his best with what words heβs been able to learn. you smile. it outshines the sun. βspring.β you nod.
viking!ghost who trails you around the rest of the night. you let him. he sees a new side of you, carefree, engaging in traditions, joyous. towards the end of the night heβs drank something thatβs made him feel light in a way he never has, and he tries his luck one more time.
viking!ghost whoβs surprised when you beat him to the punch. well, kind of. you sit next to him suddenly, head titled. βyou. whyβ¦ stay?β heβs shocked hearing his language for the first time in months. he wonders where youβve learned it from he sits for a moment. heβs not sure how to answer. when he fails to respond, you hum and offer him a piece of fruit. you donβt ask again, you just sit with him in silence. he relishes in it.
viking!ghost who keeps putting off figuring out a way back home. itβs summer now, he can carry simple conversation, heβs found a routine. youβve warmed to him greatly, how could you not when he works so hard and gets you fruit from high up in the trees? you donβt want to talk about how you feel when heβs kind to the children who swarm him as if heβs an oddity.
viking!ghost who knows he faces a choice sooner than later. he had loyalties back home, no matter how it heart sunk at the thought of leaving you. he wonβt allow himself to confront the startling truth of how much this place feels of a home heβs never truly known. how you feel like home.
viking!ghost who doesnβt have to make the decision in the end. his men have plans of pillage, and theyβve landed their sights on your little villageβ¦
