❤️ Loved By You ❤️
Summary; Eddie's ghost haunts Hawkins, Lovers Lake, The Hideout, the benches in the woods near Hawkins High, and especially the Trailer Park.
All your life you've heard of the poor souls who died in Hawkin's earthquake of 86.
Most passed on, Eddie wasn't so lucky he's been stuck in limbo for thirty-four years, fading in and out as time passes, trying to find companionship but failing.
That's until he meets you.
Love transcends death and happy endings can happen even when all hope seems lost.
Warnings: Angst with a happy ending. 18+, minors dni. Soulmate au
I don't give anyone permission to copy, repost or reuse my work.
If you enjoyed this pls consider reblogging, etc. It's much appreciated. ❤️
I hope you all enjoy it, it's a long fic and I hope you all love it as much as I do. ❤️✨
❤️
All your life you had heard about the great earthquake of 1986 that happened in Hawkins.
Every year the town held a vigil for those that died, your best friend's parents Nancy Wheeler and Steve Harrington held a special service along with Dustin Henderson and Robin Buckley for one person in particular.
Eddie Munson. The ghost of Hawkins, an urban legend whose name was whispered about by adults and whose legend was infamous.
Once accused of killing three high school students from Hawkins High, those of whom were in his (third) senior class.
Until Jim Hopper, Hawkin's most famous sheriff for a whole lot of things, the most amazing being coming back from the dead- or escaping the prison he was held at in Russia.
Anyway, Jim had cleared Eddie of any wrongdoing after his death, in fact, according to Dustin, and many others he had died a hero, helping save others during the earthquake.
Dustin told a lot of stories about Eddie, you'd heard a few when you hung out with Alice, it was bittersweet though because you could see how much pain it caused Dustin to talk about Eddie but he said he had to talk about him because he never wanted Eddie's memory to be forgotten.
You wondered what Dustin thought of the Urban Legend regarding Eddie's ghost. Over the years many people claimed to see Eddie, some were stoned, drunk or a little bit of both.
Others were curious, trying to find out if the tales of Eddie's ghost were true. Double dares to go deep into the woods and call out his name, mentions of the faint sounds of a guitar playing when everything was silent at The Hideout, the cave in Lovers Lake was a hot spot for activity too.
Some part of you yearned to know if it was true, even though the logical part of your brain dismissed it as nothing more than an urban legend.
Plus, you had seen how upset the rumours made Dustin, how much he hated that his friend was used as a laugh for dumb teenagers and even some adults looking for a scare.
Unfortunately, as much as you didn't want to entertain the rumours, some people were all for finding out if the ghost of Eddie Munson was real or not.
❤️❤️
Todd Carver was your ex and to say he was a dick was an understatement. You had dated him for two months and grew tired of his arrogant and boastful demeanour.
Graduation was fast approaching and you wanted more out of life than Todd and his asshole tendencies.
It was just your luck he was still part of your friend group however you did your best to avoid him.
He had been trying to get you to date him again but you just weren't interested.
You hear him goading someone and your stomach fills with anger when you notice its Dustin's son Ben.
He was exactly like his dad, you were very protective of him and follow Todd as he and his friends Calvin and Sam push Ben into the woods.
You can hear their laughter and it infuriates you.
"Come on dude, call out for Munson, didn't your daddy give you Eddie for a middle name? Talk about morbid man"
"Shut up" Ben snaps and you hear those morons laugh again as they tease Ben.
"Leave him alone!" you march up to Todd and he snorts.
"Come on Babe, we're just messing around" you glare at him. Steve said he was like his Uncle Jason in miniature, he didn't like to speak ill of the dead but apparently, Jason was an asshole, Todd was just like him.
"It's not funny Todd, Get lost asshole" Todd snorts.
"What? we just wanna know if Eddie Munson's ghost is real or not? What's wrong with that?" he replies innocently but his eyes are full of malice.
He imitates a ghost and at that exact moment, a branch falls and hits Todd, leaves fall on him and his eyes widen in shock and a small hint of fear.
"It's Munson! Let's get out of here" he rushes away with Calvin and Sam at his heels.
Ben smiles, relaxing as he watches them go.
"Thanks for helping me" You ruffle his hair and tell him to get back for his last lesson.
As he heads away you turn to look at the fallen branch and leaves and frown curiously. There's no wind? Was it an old branch or something else? Something spookier?
Then there's a voice behind you and you freeze on the spot.
"God, that Todd dude was a dick right?" when you turn around he's standing near the benches, arms folded across his chest.
His hair is wild, dark brown and long. Big brown eyes filled with annoyance, some of his tattoos visible and he's wearing a Hellfire t-shirt and jeans just like you saw in the pictures Dustin has on his mantelpiece.
What the fuck.
"He's related to Carver? Can spot that asshole smirk anywhere" Eddie grins at you.
"Shit, you're really... I thought you were a myth or some urban legend passed around by stoned guys and campfire tales" he snorts.
"I'm as real as it gets princess... The smile falls away from his lips, still very much dead though, which is shit"
You sit down on the bench feeling a little bit dizzy, you can barely believe what's happening.
"The branch" you ask faintly and he smiles, it's heart melting, all dimples and a hint of cheekiness.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you. Just that dick Carver. You dated that douchebag? Could do a lot better princess" you stare at him still processing everything.
"How did you know that?" he shrugs and sits beside you, the temperature drops a little.
"I'm a ghost, I hear all kinds of shit. Disappear for weeks on end, then come back again. It's confusing being stuck in this limbo world"
"I'm sorry" you reply feeling his sadness so acutely that it takes your breath away for a second.
"It's kay, not your fault. It's nice sticking around sometimes, even if I can't do much. Haunt the dickheads that come out here sometimes though the bullying little shits, keep track of Hellfire Club which is cool, amazing how massive it is now" he looks so proud.
"I know Dustin, Steve, Nancy, Robin. They've told me all about you. You died a hero" he gets up and smiles faintly.
"Decided to stop running, sometimes I wonder if it was sheer stupidity more than bravery"
"Bravery, not stupidity" you assure him and there comes that dimpled grin again. It makes you feel out of sorts, tingly.
"Must have been an awful earthquake" you sympathise and Eddie nods wincing.
"Yeah, was more concentrated on dying at that point though" this confuses you and you say so.
"It wasn't the earthquake that killed you?" he stares at you puzzled.
"No, it was the bats that killed me' he points to the tattoo of the bats on his arm. Ironic right?"
Wait... What?
"Bats?" his eyes widen.
"Shit you don't know?" he cringes and then turns on his heel and disappears. You call him back, curiosity piqued.
What the heck didn't you know? What was going on? More importantly, you just talked to Eddie Munson.
It's a thought that should terrify you but it doesn't and you find yourself anxious for the chance to speak to him again.
❤️
Eddie must be as curious about you as you are about him because he appears again at the edge of the woods while you are talking to your friends.
Anticipation fills you and you want to talk to him so badly, quickly.
You're a little breathless as you catch up to him and sit on the bench.
"Can you tell me what you meant about the bats, please? If you're okay to talk about it. I understand if you don't. The memories must be awful" he pauses for a few seconds then nods.
"Okay, I'll tell you but be warned. This shit is crazy. You might not believe me" you pay him rapt attention.
"Try me" and with that he begins to tell you everything.
You just talk a lot, he opens up about what really happened in Hawkins in 1986 you're stunned and have so many questions.
Demobats, Vecna, The Upside Down, The Mindflayer, The earthquake that rocked Hawkin's was caused by Vecna killing four people, their friend Max was the last death and it literally opened the gates to hell, where The Upside Down bled into Hawkins.
There was a massive group in Hawkins including Dustin, Nancy, her brother Mike, Steve, Robin and a super powers girl named El that fought against the monsters.
The evil was defeated but Max passed away and that caused a huge fracture in the group as well as Eddie's death.
"Sucked watching all the shit going down, doing my best to help when I could. When I wasn't vanishing for months at a fucking time" Eddie murmurs and his tone hurts your heart.
"Thank you for telling me Eddie. I really appreciate it" he offers you a warm smile and sighs as he looks to the darkening sky.
"You should get home, it's been hours" the darkened sky surprises you and you swear.
"Shit. Dad is going to be so pissed" You gather your things and Eddie clears his throat.
"Can I see you tomorrow sweetheart?" your heart melts at his hopeful expression and you find yourself aching to see him too.
"Count on it" you assure him. He sticks around to make sure you get to your car safely, he's gentlemanly and it's so sweet that you are smiling all the way home.
❤️
Even though you are still stunned about talking to a ghost you enjoy talking to Eddie, you talk a lot about many things and even though he disappears sometimes he always comes back.
The time between his disappearances begins to shorten as he mentions to you one day.
It's the first time he appeared outside your window you were just in your nightie and it was kinda cute watching Eddie stammer out his apology and turn around while you pulled on your robe.
If he could blush you're sure he would.
"Come in" you call to him and it's still pretty cool watching him go through things. He's beaming, something has made him happy and it makes you smile too.
That cute grin of his is infectious.
"The disappearances are shortening princess. It's like an hour now compared to hours or even weeks before we met"
It's amazing this is happening because you miss Eddie like crazy when he isn't around.
"This is amazing" You reach out without thinking and grab his hand, you except to feel cold, nothing at all.
Instead there is only a tiny chill as your fingers interlace through his and he is gazing at you in shock.
"You can feel me?" he whimpers and you nod tightening your grip on his hand as he squeezes your hand back, both of you are at a loss on what to say but it's also so wonderful what happened that you're both grinning at each other in a happy bubble.
❤️
Betty stares at you curiously as you doodle in your notebook, you don't mean to but you're doodling Eddie's name in little hearts.
Fuck. Over the weeks and weeks you had been getting to know each other, his form more solid with each passing day you're feelings are deep and growing by the day.
The truth was you were in love with Eddie.
"You've been lost in thought, daydreaming and smiling to yourself. What's going on? Are you in love with someone?" she asks excitedly.
Your heart speeds up but then comes crushing heartache and tears spill down your cheeks.
"It doesn't matter. It can't ever happen" she looks so confused as she rushes to comfort you.
"I don't understand honey" she wouldn't be able to.
How could you explain that you were head over heels in love with a ghost?
💕
It was a quiet night. Just you and Eddie. His body so close to yours, you bridge the tiny gap between the two of you and lay your head on his chest.
He feels so solid so real and for a few precious seconds you forget that you don't hear his heart beating. That it can never beat. All that matters is that Eddie is here with you.
That's until your doorbell rings and you groan getting up, you can hear that its Todd before you even see him and feel pissed. What the hell did he want?
You open the door just wanting to get this over with.
"Babe! It's been weeks and weeks. Graduation is next Friday! I've been super patient but when are you going to take me back?" you gape at him.
"Uh, how about the first of never? We broke up for good Todd because you're an arrogant bully" he looks stunned for a second.
"This is bullshit! You've met someone else haven't you" There's a shadow upstairs near your room, it's Eddie.
He's protective and you know he won't take Todd shouting at you lightly. However you're well versed in dealing with this dumbass.
"It's none of your business. Go away, Todd. You and I are never going to happen again" he scowls and reaches towards you to grab your arm.
"What are you doing! Let go!" his eyes darken and your heart sinks but then he comes to when you wrench your arm away and he snorts.
Then the next second he's literally flying out the door and lands right on his ass outside. You slam the door shut and head back upstairs knowing Eddie is annoyed.
He is quiet as you head into your room, still fuming that Todd thought you would ever want him back.
"Of all the arrogant, conceited assholes" you huff and you turn to Eddie who is resting on your bed his face blank.
"Eddie?" he gets up, he looks so tense and you move closer to him and gently take his hand.
"Eddie?" he turns to you and he looks forlorn, it makes your heart ache so deeply when he hurts, you hurt.
"What's wrong? Is this about Todd? I don't want him back. You know that right? He's such a douchebag and... He turns away and when he turns back to you his gaze is cold.
"Yeah, he's a dickhead but not every guy you meet will be. You'll find someone special, look at you. You're amazing, sweet, kind, beautiful" his words warm your heart and yet you still feel anxious.
"I don't want some guy. I... You're all I think about Eddie" It's the first time you've admitted out loud even though it's been obvious between you two for a while now.
He shakes his head, his eyes shining but his face set and angry.
"You can't sweetheart. I'm not even here, not really. You can feel me and I can feel you, yeah but it doesn't change the fact that I don't even have a fucking heartbeat"
"It doesn't change the fact that you have no future with me"
There's silence and he begins to fade.
"Please don't go" you beg and he smiles sadly.
"I can't be selfish sweetheart, you deserve someone real, someone who can be with you properly, that can't happen while I'm hanging around. Goodbye princess, thank you for making me happy for the first time in thirty five years" his hand gently strokes over your cheek.
"No, no" you beg but he disappears completely and he doesn't come back, not even for your heartbreaking calls.
Even if it breaks the heart that no longer beats inside of him, he knows he has to stay away.
❤️
It's been a week since Eddie left, sometimes you think that you catch a glimpse of him out of the corner of your eye, smell his cologne when you wake up in the night but it's all just wishful thinking you realise.
You can't even explain to anyone why you're heartbroken, you feel so alone.
Graduation passes by and while you're happy that you and your friends will be together at the newly built Hawkins academy, there is still a heaviness in your heart that is left by Eddie's absence.
For a second you swear you see Eddie at the edge of the forest but he's gone the next second and you're sure much to your disappointment that you imagined it.
He really wasn't coming back. The thought broke your heart all over again.
❤️
The next night you find yourself wandering around Lovers Lake. All your friends are here and it's a massive party for all seniors.
As they party you head off on your own and find the cave that Eddie supposedly haunts, you just want to feel close to him for a little while.
The tears you've been holding in since yesterday fall and you cry it all out, all the heart ache and pain.
"Please don't cry," you think you imagine Eddie's voice but when you look up he's watching you, he looks agonised.
"What are you doing here, I thought you were staying away?" you wipe your eyes and stand up shakily. He swallows and moves closer to you.
"It's hell. Like a physical constant ache, it never goes away, the longing to be with you. When I'm not with you I'm in agony. Didn't know being dead could hurt this much. Hurt even worse than when I died"
Your whole body shakes with tears.
"I feel the same way, it feels like I can't breathe Eddie, it hurts so badly" he reaches out to you and his hand rests on your cheek.
"How can I stick around though? I'm just keeping you from moving on, finding someone who...who can really be with you" he spits out the words, the devastation in his eyes breaks your heart.
"This isn't fair. Life sucks ass you know that?" this brings a smile to his face and you cuddle into him, then you peer up at him.
"I love you Eddie, I'm in love with you" his expression changes, it's like happiness radiates from him and it fills your heart with joy.
"I love you too sweetheart, I'm so in love with you" his lips meet yours and you kiss passionately, pouring all of your love for each other into the kiss.
The kiss is incredible, perfect. You kiss for what seems like hours until you slowly part, Eddie's lips press to your forehead.
Then something weird happens, and Eddie's eyes widen. He stares at you for a second and whispers "Princess"
Then he's just gone.
❤️
Eddie expects to disappear and then re appear within an hour or so.
Instead of an hour it's barely a minute and something feels wrong. One minute he's in The Upside Down and he's bones and dust, the next minute, as if by magic he can feel his body coming back together, bones forming once more, skeleton then his body piecing itself back together, he opens his eyes and he can hear the most wonderful sound that he's heard in thirty five years.
The sound of his own heartbeat. He can't even comprehend how this happened. How he is alive once more.
Maybe magic did exist? If those creatures, the demobats, MindFlayer, Vecna and another dimension under Hawkins then who's to say that magic wasn't real?
A miracle had happened that's for sure. Tears burn in his eyes and he knows so much has changed over the years, his friends are grown up, his uncle an old man.
And yet he was given a second chance, another chance at life and he wasn't going to waste a single second.
At first he's unsteady on his feet, he cuts himself some slack. Shit he's been dead for so long.
Somehow though he gets out of the cold desolate world of the destroyed Upside Down.
He crawls his way out of hell and into the light.
❤️
It's a couple of hours later, you're at home and the sun is beginning to rise. Bird sing fills the air as sunlight fills your room.
That perfect kiss with Eddie fills your mind. Was it a goodbye kiss? Something didn't feel right when he disappeared and it's troubling you what it is.
"Princess" you peer up and Eddie is at your window, you race over to open it and he comes in.
"I thought you were gone" tears blur your vision and you throw your arms around him.
It takes a second for you to realise that he's warm, so warm, Eddie smiles through tears as he says something to you.
He's beaming, absolutely radiant,his whole body is solid and through your haze of tears you hear the words he's been saying to you.
"Princess, listen" he places your hand on his chest and you lean in close.
Thump, thump, thump.
You can feel the steady thump of his heart beat. It's the most beautiful sound you've ever heard.
"How?" you're barely able to gasp out and he shakes his head, he has no idea either.
"After our kiss, I woke up in that place, everything was desolote and there was barely any sign of an exit but I crawled my way out of where my Uncle's trailer used to be" he closes his eyes.
"I was down there in the upside down but then I got to the surface, I could feel the sunlight, hear birds singing and could feel my heart racing, by some fucking miracle I was brought back"
"I've been given a second chance to have a new life, connect with Dustin and the others, spend my life with you if you'll have me, you're the woman I want to spend my life with" you kiss him elated.
"Yes, yes, yes. I'll be by your side through all of it Eddie". His eyes darken in a delicious way that makes your whole body tingle.
"There's so many people I want to see but first I really want to spend the morning making love to my girl. Does that sound good to you Princess?"
"Yes", you manage to say as his arms wrap around you pulling you close to him.
For the first time you make love, feeling Eddie's body close to you, the way he makes you feel is everything.
Mind-blowing orgasms sweep over you both but the absolute best part is when you cuddle into his arms sleepy, when you wake up he's dozing peacefully, there's a smile on his face and you sigh content as you rest your head against his chest.
His heartbeat lulls you back to sleep once more, a smile on your face as you slumber.
❤️✨
328 notes
·
View notes
Want You Dead
Daemon Targaryen x Pirate!Reader | Part 1 2 3
Summary: It was a classic case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time that lead to the Rogue Prince's capture to a ship of pirates. Had it not been for the cunning lady of the ship, he would have been killed. Yet, upon his relief of capture, he told himself it was only right if he captures the very lady that thought to capture him in the first place.
Word Count: 14k+
Warnings: graphic mentions of assault/rape, smut [oral (m receiving), degradation kink, impregnation kink, binding kink, fingering, vaginal penetration], fem!reader, super slow burn (i hate myself for doing this to myself), some made up characters and lore, time skips, bisexual reader, super thirsty reader, super major kinky reader, everyone onboard is her playmate fr, curse words because I'm tired, angst, misogyny, parts with fluff, typos, etc.
A/N: HELLO I MADE A FUCKING SPIN OFF????????? WHY?????
IT'S SO LONG I CRASHED THE EDITOR SO MANY TIMES ?????? WHICH IS WHY I AM CUTTING THIS IN HALF OR POSSIBLY MORE T_T
I really did not want to do this but tumblr decided for me with the amount of times it refused to cooperate. It's far from done T_T but i hope it's just gonna be two very long chapters.
Anyway pls reblog and comment if you so desire me to get that next chapter finished quickly T_T also, if you would like to be tagged pls tell me.
"STOP!"
The 3 pair of ears in the room ring at the sound of the shriek.
He, who was bound on the floor, didn't care for it though, as there was another more pressing matter at hand. He awaited the piercing sensation of a blade to his neck. He realized though that shriek had halted his impending doom as no painful sensation came. He opens his eyes just as a sound of someone galloping over resounded on the wooden floors.
"What are you morons doing?" I demand, turning to the silver haired man on his knees with a sword to his neck. He raised his eyes up at me, then down to the weapon in my own hand.
I hit the sword by his neck away, metal clashing against metal. The blood my blade was still slick in splattered onto man's cheeks in the process.
I make a face at that, crouching down after wiping my weapon on my dress shirt, uncaring if it stains the already stained off-white cloth.
I take in his features-- violet eyes, strong jaw, pointed nose, just as it seems he is taking in mine. I do not fail to catch the fact his pupils linger on the loose ties of my top by my cleavage where a single, largish, encrusted ruby dangled from my neck.
My own eyes travel down to his armor, and it seems we both silently examine the crests we bore. I lick my lips before speaking, "apologies. May I?" I raise a hand to his face.
The man looks at me darkly. I knit my brows, holding in a chuckle at his lack of response, tongue darting out yet again to my lower lip. I pull my hand away. I stand straight then turn to the two men behind me, "did you cut his tongue off?"
For a moment, the two look at each other. The tall, red haired man widens his eyes at the shorter, yet still tall, blonde, mentally asking him if he, indeed, cut off his tongue.
I roll my eyes after a moment passed with no response, "how could you lot forget so quickly? I was literally here with you less than an hour ago, not a whole day!"
I dust off my dirty, leather trousers and stomp my leather boots as I listen to them make excuses.
"It's not me! I caught Gorm hacking at him and I came to help," Ahern replies with his thick Gaelic accent, "I do not ken if he managed to chop his tongue of in the meantime."
I turn to Gorm, placing my hands on my hips, exasperated, "well?"
"I don't remember, if I'm being honest," he replies under his breath, muttering something about drinking too much ale in his Norse mother tongue.
"Fine!" I sigh, turning back to the man on the floor, "shall I check?" I lean down, piping softly, "could you be a dear and just," I bring my thumb by his lower lip, barely ghosting it on his skin, "open your mouth for me? It's truly more for you, if I'm being frank."
For the prolonged while I exchange looks with him, the man seems half compelled to do as I asked out of sheer intrigue. His eyes were still dark, and I yet could tell there was a curious glint behind them, curious and predatory.
"Who's he anyhow? Why can't we kill 'im?" Ahern asks.
Immediately, the prisoner turns away and stares at the large oaf with a look of daggers.
I huff and look over to said oaf, shooting him a similar expression. Ahern's annoyed face, once finding mine, melts into regret.
I roll my eyes, walking towards the discarded weapon on the floor, picking it up, "this is yours, correct?" I turn to our captive, earning silence still.
Ahern answers instead, "that's his alright."
I turn to Ahern, "This is Valyrian steel," I start to explain, turning back to its owner, "and his hair is whiter than your arse cheeks," I hand him the weapon. "He's a Valyrian."
"Hmp," Gorm tilts his head, "I thought he was just old."
I roll my eyes and shake my head, "this is why you should leave the politics to the masters, captain." I turn from Gorm to our prisoner, "and as said master, I say we take him onboard and bring him to our next stop... use him for show."
For a moment, my two shipmates are silent.
"No offence," the ginger rubs his fingers down from his chin to his beard, "but this one would've nearly killed our bright ol' captain if I hadn't stepped in," Ahern says.
"And you would suggest what? We leave him here? We kill him?" I inquired, "you do know that being a Valyrian means he is not only a high born, but a royal, right? And even it were that he is not the most beloved of his line, make no mistake his line will come for whomever made him unable return."
I steal a look from the Valyrian, "we don't even know why he's here, clad in armour."
"Yeah, well no one's gonna know why he ended up missing," Gorm says, yet again making me roll my eyes.
Ahern agrees, "yeah, we've done it once before-"
"Yeah! With that rat and his stupid cunty right hand-"
"And that old geezer! Gods, with the awful beard-"
The two continue to bicker amongst themselves of the exploits we've accomplished, but they all fall deaf to my ears.
"I beg your pardon," I turn to the man who had yet to speak, "they're not very creative and it's impossible for even I to help them with that."
Finally, after a few moments of struggle on the behalf of the captive wanting to break free, we got on board Jocelyn. We had to knock him out and have Ahern carry him over his shoulder to do so though. We tied him up, starboard side, with rope on poles meant for the very job of keeping prisoners.
Right now, I was patiently awaiting his return to consciousness.
I fiddled with my necklace, retracing the emblem on the reflective red rock with my fingers. I was sat by the edge of the ship, watching as the salty waves crashed against the hull.
I couldn't help but break into a smile upon hearing the man behind me curse and groan. It was nearing the sunset now, so he was lucky the sun was not too bright for his newly opened eyes.
I turn from where I sat, and hop in front of him, slightly raising my head to meet his face, as he was taller than I, "so you do have a tongue."
His head shakes as the ship hits a particularly rough wave.
I blink at the bloodied side of his head and purse my lips before telling him, "if you hadn't been so difficult, I wouldn't have had to hit you with my hilt."
He grinds his teeth then clenches his jaw, clearly not in the mood for my shenanigans, evident in his attempts to pierce me with his glare.
I place my hands behind my back and lean forward, "you're bleeding. Just say the word and I'll clean you up," I raise a finger, "and even feed you. Supper is almost ready."
He speaks nothing still.
I narrow my eyes at him, anticipating some sort of bite in his vernacular, since he did hold the looks of someone who basks in chaos.
Gorm especially made it a point to whine about how confrontational and short tempered he had had been, and how they quickly escalated into a fight because of the silver haired man's brazen words. Of course, Gorm omitted mentions of any sort of offence he did to our captive. He didn't have to say anything for me to know he's most definitely guilty of riling the Valyrian up just as much though.
I make an exaggerated expression, "I am afraid I'm being quite serious about asking for your permission before doing anything to you," I lean closer, "before touching you. Consent, to me, is important, for anyone who touches me without it loses their fingers one at a time."
The man's expression is blank, yet I could see a fire building in his violet eyes. I chuckle, excited over his brewing vexation.
Upon the impact of another crash of waves, I bend my knees and rock with the movement to remain upright. My hair flies up to the man's face as a gust of wind accompanies us. I push the strands behind my ears, exposing my collarbones further, practically drawing in the man's gaze to the area. I bite my lower lip as I watch him examine my skin and the necklace laid upon it, "perhaps you'd be more willing to speak of another topic? Shall you prefer to ask me something about myself?"
I move back and sit on the side of the ship again, this time facing him.
He was stretched out like a starfish, arms and legs in thick rope, and I could only imagine how uncomfortable he must be, especially since he was still clad in his armor. Oh, how I wonder, with how good he looks in it, how much better he would look without.
After another moment passed with only silence, I decide to speak instead, "your crest. It is similar to the king's." I think of how badly I want to retrace it with my fingers.
His head wobbles again because of the waves.
"I reckon you could be a prince, considering your attire. It would make sense, considering how much gold Ahern got out of you. But then again," I take a moment before continuing. He seemed exasperated and awfully done with it all. Though he had an air of composure around him, with how he was clenching his fists and possibly curling his toes underneath his shoes, he looked like he was about to snap. I smirk deliciously, thinking of nothing else than a way to make him burst, "perhaps you are just so desperate to pass off as a Targaryen."
"Not as desperate as you are to converse with me," he finally responds, though in High Valyrian.
I purse my lips in a small, thoughtful smile, and cross my arms, "I am not the desperate one on Jocelyn," says I in the same language.
He conceals it well, but I could tell he was not expecting me to understand, let alone respond.
For a moment, the two of us stare each other down. If he could, he probably would have lit me on fire with his gaze by now.
"Supper is here," chirps Aldora, walking towards me with a hot dish of food. She dreamily smiles ear to ear as she hands me a bowl.
I smirk back at the shorter woman as I take the food from her, "thank you, my love."
"May I?" she peers up at me with a longing expression.
"You may," I offer my hand, "but what of our Targaryen scum?" My eyes flick over to the said man as Aldora takes my hand and hops up next to me, "what shall he eat?"
Aldora frowns, seating herself snugly close to me, "he's a Targaryen?" She pulls her lips in disgust as I nod. She then presses her lips in an uninterested pout, "matters not. He is our prisoner and dangles on our mercy."
I click my tongue at that, "now, my love, I taught you better than to leave your bed pets hungry," I retort, hopping off in front of the said Targaryen, managing not to spill a drop of food.
Aldora is offended, "you cannot bed him!" She whines, "you are promised to me tonight."
I chuckle, "I jest, love," I turn back to her and give her a quick flying kiss, "still," I turn back to the man and scoop up some food, "I would enjoy it if he joined."
I bring a spoon up to his lips. His jaw clenches slightly as he looks down on me.
"I WOULD NOT!" Aldora exclaims, jumping down behind me. Swiftly, I turn to her, seeing her cross her arms with teary yet angry eyes. She roughly stomps off, thunder and lightning following her.
I can't help but chuckle in amusement, calling out, "Aldora, my love! Do not be cross!"
Ahern, who Aldora shoved right past, huffs at the contact then bellows out, "it'd do you good to get used to it!" He then turns and makes eye contact with me, "she's got a thirst that not even all seven seas can quench."
After a moment tension, Ahern snaps out of his trance and turns back to the direction of my quarters where Aldora locked herself up in, "last time, she left me for you! Imagine how I felt."
"AT LEAST IT WASN'T FOR A PRISONER!" Aldora screams.
"Aye, and a prisoner one time," Ahern mutters, walking off somewhere else in the ship.
"My arm is starting to tire," I speak to the prisoner.
"Both mine are," he quips back, making me chuckle in excitement over his harsh tone.
I put the spoon down on the bowl and raise a brow, "what would you have me do?" I watch his expression then decide to take a bite of food myself. He reverts back into his silence. A brow of mine quirks up in expectation.
When he does nothing but glare, I lose interest, "right."
I crouch down and place the bowl in front of him, nudging it back in place with my boot when it moved around the floor, "tell me when you're finally interested. Then, I can keep you locked up in my quarters instead of here." I stand up and give him a smile, "til then, Targaryen scum, I must pacify Aldora, lest she threaten to throw herself into the sea again."
The said Targaryen only watches as his unhinged captor walks away and enters her quarters. It was not long until the seas calmed, the sun set, and his, along with everyone else's ears were filled with lewd, loud, and wanton groans and cries of womanly pleasure.
His eye twitches as he looks down at the bowl of food in front of him.
The next day, I am munching an apple in front of the silver haired man, yet again waiting for him to wake up, only this time from his sleep.
Our captain, Gorm, who had been watching me watch the prisoner finally decides to walk over.
"Might I?" he asks me before coming closer. I, who was leaning against the side of the ship reach my hand out to him, and take another bite of my apple, wordlessly allowing him to approach me.
He takes my hand and firmly pulls me against him, wrapping his arm around me, securing them under my breasts. I place my arm over his and I continue to finish the rest of my apple.
Gorm leans against me, bending down to match my height, muttering in his mother tongue against my ears, "I don't understand your intrigue. He is hideous compared to me."
I chuckle as I chew before responding in Norse, "you vikings made sure to steal all the pretty women from their husbands," I lean against his chest and crane my neck up to look at his face, "you're wrongfully boasting about your good looks." I take a moment to examine in his blonde hair, blue eyes, and thick lashes, giving his lips a quick peck, then turning away, taking another bite of my snack, "and, he's not so bad. Much more cunning than you could ever be."
Gorm huffs at that, face sinking to my shoulder, pressing a rough kiss on my skin, "he doesn't know what you like."
I giggle at the ticklish feeling, "and I wager he'll learn much quicker than you ever could."
He is fully offended, and releases me abruptly. He then spits at the Targaryen's direction. Lucky for the latter, it misses his face by a hair and lands in front of him with a disgusting splat sound.
It was in this moment, I realize that man was already awake. I excitedly perk up at the sight of his open eyes, "good morn, Targaryen scum!"
He only looks at me again, completely annoyed, face wound in tension, ready to kill.
I smirk at him, "oh don't be so grumpy. If you must know, you are not special to the title scum," I walk over to him, clarifying as I get on my toes and move back and forth, "I think all monarchs and nobles are such."
He watches me as I take another bite of my apple, "hungry, my pet?" I ask as I move the fruit to his lips.
As if on cue, I hear his stomach growl. I decide to ignore it for his sake, although I am sure the involuntary act his body betrayed him with only added much more to his sour awakening.
I instead explain, "I will not feed you if you do not ask me to, for why should I force you when I know how much more effective it'd be to persuade you," I turn between him and my apple, "especially since I, too, am a master of that craft."
The Targaryen scum does not respond in the manner in which I wanted, "where did you steal that?"
My lips quirk at the accusation as I watch his eyes lock on my ruby necklace, "you think so lowly of me, Targaryen scum. This is the only thing on Jocelyn that is truly mine."
Jocelyn? He huffs, asking again "where are you taking me, insolent wench?"
I huff, rolling my eyes, "boring." I release a sigh, "still, if you must know, we're heading west. It's quite pleasant there in this time of year."
The man seems a bit pacified with my answer and I detest it. I click my tongue, "you are too eager to escape, yet you've no idea whose ship you are aboard."
He tilts his head, "you called that nitwit captain."
I cross my arms and shrug, turning to Gorm for a second then back to him.
"It's his ship," he decides.
I bite my apple, then reply, muffled, "does the captain normally own the ship?"
He quips back with his own question, "does the king own the castle?"
I give him a look, "well, that doesn't matter," I reply, "he's the king."
The Targaryen decides to speak to me again in his native tongue, "my sword holds the strength of his king's army behind it."
I chuckle at that, looking down to his hips, where his sword would have been, had I not locked it up with the rest of my spoils, "I see no sword, nor army behind you at all," I look back up to him and step forward, replying in High Valyrian, "you are nameless to me."
His face contorts at that.
I am awfully excited by this. I swirl my tongue across my lips and chuckle.
"Untie me and I will name myself," he responds.
I can't help but throw my head back in laughter, fully amused by how much weight he puts on the revelation of his mere name. Still, the spark behind his eyes makes my stomach churn deliciously, so I say, "I will untie you, if you swear not to touch me without my approval."
He weighs the seriousness of my words. He does not respond, and I am honestly surprised he did not just lie to me just to get what he wanted. I was not stupid enough to think his silence as agreement, and yet I was so eager to see what he would do, to feel him against me, even though I knew his touch would be nothing but attempts to hurt me as hard as he possibly could. It however set a ripple of excitement down to my core. I quickly decided I was ready to be hurt and began to bring my hands up to his left arm. I quirk a brow up, asking, "may I then?"
He again does not respond, but this time, I say, "I will assume you agreed with me, darling."
It work on untying one of his hands. His arm tenses under my touch.
It does not take long before someone catches me in the act and scolds harshly, "OI! DO NOT UNTIE HIM!"
"Or what, Fredson? You'll kill me? He'll kill me?" I chuckle, "good. I cannot stand your snoring."
"Captain!" someone tattles.
There is a moment of commotion then Gorm, fuming, shouts, "YOU WILL NOT UNTIE HIM!" He begins to storm over from the far end of the ship, "I will cut his arm off if you do!"
Continuing to work on the bind, almost fully untying it, I mutter, mostly to myself, "I don't understand how that is a threat to me."
By the time Gorm manages to get here, it's too late. The Targaryen scum already darted his hand to me and struck me across the face with all his might, or at least what was left of it from being tied up so long. Make no mistake he was still strong though, as I literally went spinning on my heels, seeing stars.
Next thing I knew, I was barely conscious yet conscious enough to feel his hot breath against my cheekbone. He had me pressed against him, his arm was around me, choking my neck.
I whine, breathless, bothered, increasingly turned on. I lick my lips and taste blood. I moan after I hear him mutter in High Valyrian, "you are a fool in thinking I would not hurt you."
I barely manage to wheeze out a chuckle, "I wanted you to hurt me."
He does not respond to this as Gorm is barking out multiple long threads of threats, demanding his attention. The rest of the crew is circled around the us, ready to watch whatever is going down next.
The man holding me captive barks, "do you doubt that I could break her neck?"
"No, but think she would enjoy it," Gorm retorts, face contorting.
I choke out a chuckle but it ends with a cough. The blood on my philtrum sprinkles in front of me because of it.
"I may not be bright, but neither are you for thinking you can get anything out of killing her other than yourself getting killed right after," Gorm states.
The Targaryen quickly realizes the rashness of his actions, agreeing internally he was getting nothing out of this. It was especially clear to him or, perhaps the exact opposite of clear, when he was hit from behind, effectively getting knocked out again.
Instantly, my chokehold is freed and I inhale sharply, coughing out in my hasty attempts to catch my breath.
After my lightheadedness faded a bit, I look up and find Aldora to be my savior. With her angry expression, she heaves as she grips a rock, knelt atop of a barrel. She drops the stone to the floor and makes a face at me, "still into him, love?"
I straighten myself up and watch as blood drips form the Targaryen's forehead, "are you doubting me?"
Aldora growls in annoyance and storms off yet again.
I lick what's left of the blood on my lips and turn to Gorm, who is glaring at me in distaste. I tilt my head to the the other light haired man, "unbind him."
"You fucking-"
"We're nearing our destination. We can't possibly leave him tied up, bleeding, and dirty," I retort, "and as you said just now, you are not bright enough to understand most things, so instead of using your head, use your hands to do as I say."
Gorm grips his fists tightly and clenches his jaw. I stare at him, awaiting his compliance. He does just that, albeit begrudgingly, and once he moves, I walk off and mutter, "by the way, tell Ahern it's his turn to be captain now."
When the captive finally woke up after yet another brutalizing, he was met with darkness, or rather, he quickly gathered, a dark prison cell.
"Good, you're awake," I smiled, looking over to him from the other side of the cell where I sat, "again."
The man that was sitting with his arms on his lap when realized he had something on his head.
"It's the last of the ice that hadn't melted yet," I tell him, hand through the wooden bars, holding a wrapped chunk of ice to his skull, "it helps with these injuries. Though since you're supposedly a dragon, perhaps this is uncomfortable for you."
He groans, slowly turning to me.
I pull my hand away, only to bring the ice down to his lap, "once again, you tired my arm."
He turns to the ice and places it back on his head as he moves to stand. I rise too, much quicker than he, then purse my lips in a small smile, "come now. Honor our deal. I should like know what to moan out next time you think to choke me."
He finally stands, his free hand slamming on the bars as he got his footing, "I am a prince of house Targaryen, you mad wench!"
I knit my brows at him, "I'm thinking you might not be as smart as I gave you credit for. I asked for your name, not your title."
"Let me out of this cell and I swear I will spare you to annoy another sorry bloke on your next expedition," he grunts.
I make a sound in thought, half faux-thinking about it, half enjoying how quickly his lips loosened after taking another hit, "I don't like that deal," I decide, instead showing him the elixir I had in hand, "how about you tell me your name and I give you this."
He leans against the bars, looking out at me.
"It's moonshine."
He pulls away, instantly uninterested.
"Mėnulio distira," I mutter, renaming it, or rather calling it for what it is, "it's used now to help women with labor pains, but it was first made-"
"Made to help warriors heal from their battle wounds," he continues, interested again, "where did you get that?"
"You have no sense for bartering, Targaryen scum," I reply to him in his mother tongue.
He discards the melted block he held, and leans both his hands on the bars, peering down at me, "Daemon Targaryen," he starts, "Prince of Dragonstone."
I raise my brows at that, chuckling, "an ambitious title to covet, Daemon."
He words out carefully, as if each syllable that left his was laced in flames, "I am heir to the iron throne."
"Ooooh," I blow out and end with a giggle, "that would have been true had the king not named his daughter, Rhaenyra, successor."
Daemon's face darkens at that. His ears ring upon realizing there was knowledge of this on the ship, and yet nothing of him. He suddenly felt as though he was toyed with.
I coo at him, "find no offence in my lack of knowledge of you, Daemon. -"
"I am your prince!"
"- I only know of this news because it was so exciting that a woman would succeed after a long line of raggedy old fucks."
Daemon seethes with venom, yet a sardonic smirk adorns his lips, "and you think my niece will empower impertinent, common whores like you?"
My jaw tightens at that. I lick my lips, pressing my tongue on my top front teeth, "it's funny how you wish to taint me by calling me a whore, and yet," I release an airy chuckle, "it's men like you that degrade women to be perceived as such. It's your filthy, little cock that is devaluing."
It's his turn to laugh, "you act as if," he steps closer, hands going to his side, "you were not so eagerly lusting after my" he raises his brows, "filthy, little cock moments ago."
I choke on my saliva as I laugh.
Daemon watches me and cannot hold back the curving of his lips.
I slap my hand on my chest as I attempt to catch my breath, "you are the most amusing man I have ever met."
"I am closer to the gods than man," he retorts, "you'd be wise to remember, bitch."
"You know," I raise a hand at him, "out of all the kinks and the thousand ones I have, this is the only one I don't."
The man smirks, leaning down to see my face clearer, "worry not, I'll break it into you."
I smile back at him, raising the vial in my hand, "I like a challenge," then throw the object to him.
He catches it with ease and looks up at me with a calculating gaze.
Before I could tell him anything else though, Gorm comes thundering down towards us, "that bastard better be alive, or else he'll be food for the kraken."
"Gorm!" I chirp, smiling at the blonde man stomping over, "he's well awake, but just to make sure everything goes smoothly during dinner, I gave him the elixir."
"You fucking what?" Gorm does a double take, raising a hand.
Daemon, in this moment, looks at the bottle in his hand and begins to waive his doubts on it.
I shake my head and shrug, "we can't really use him if he's fucked up in the head, now can we?"
Gorm breaks into a fit and releases a string of Norse cusses. I raise my hands in an attempt to calm him. I don't manage to place my palms on his shoulder as he raises his own and fists them, growling in frustration. He darts his hands to the bars and growls, "give me the vial!"
Daemon, at this point, uncorked the vial and downs the liquid in one go.
In that moment, Gorm sighs, releasing all the tension in his body, defeated. "May I?" I mutter as he nods on instinct. I place a hand on his shoulder and smile up at him, "I told you. There's nothing to worry about."
Gorm takes a moment to respond before breaking into a chuckle, "you're too cunning for your own good. What if he dies before we manage to break into Suston's treasury?"
Daemon knits his brows upon hearing that.
"I'm pretty sure he won't cause delay since he's adamant about being a prince and all. It's his death anyway."
"His death?" Daemon repeats, "who's death?"
Gorm looks over to him, as do I, then knits his brows, "what? Was I the one that drank the poison willingly?"
Daemon's eyes quickly dart to me. I turn to Gorm, chuckling, "stop pretending to be witty when you're nervous this dinner will last half a day long."
"Well it could!" he whines and groans simultaneously.
I make a face at that, just as Daemon asks in High Valyrian, "did you fucking feed me poison?"
Gorm looks at him, stupidly and annoyed, "what did he say?"
"He asked me if I fed him poison."
Gorm scoffs, "you drank the poison yourself, Targaryen scum."
Daemon's eyes flicker over to Gorm, tenfold not enjoying how the insult rolled off his tongue. It was poison all along. Daemon shoots me a look, sighing, releasing an angry string of curses, to which I give a soft smile and shrug.
"Calm yourself, pet. As you've overheard you have half a day until it actually does anything. In the meantime, you can help us if you want to get the antidote."
He replies in his native language, "what makes you think I'd be willing to do anything you tell me to do?"
I blink at him and shrug again, "then die."
Gorm begins breaking a sweat, "but you said the King-"
"There'll be no way for the King to know who poisoned him. Unless he gets smart and finds something on this ship distinct enough to bind to us."
"Like your pretty necklace," Daemon notes, eyeing the jewelry around my neck. He leans on the bars.
I look down to my chest and find myself chuckling, "but you said it was stolen."
"But you said it wasn't," he retorts, "regardless, at this point, many have seen you in your flashy accessory." The prince sticks his hand out through the bars and I smile. He is more cunning than what he let on.
I don't hesitate and yank the jewelry off me, throwing it over to him. He again catches the object easily and observes the rock on a golden chain, swearing to himself for the nth time since first seeing it on the piece of jewelry that he's seen it before, and yet he cannot recall where.
"Now that all's fair," I sigh, "I'll let you out of your cage and-"
"Wait, how is all fair?!" Gorm asks, face souring in confusion.
"Gorm!" I sigh, "He just agreed to help us, since he can't do anything anyway. I gave him the necklace so that if we let him die, the king will find a way to find us," I turn to Daemon, "if they manage to find his body."
"But we won't let him die!" Gorm retorts, "he's got too much leverage on us!"
I roll my eyes, exasperated, moving to unlock his cell, "I'll explain it to you when you're older."
"Do not be so comfortable with the idea of riding with her," Ahern says, arms crossed, as he adjusts the straps on the horse Daemon is mounted on.
He, who was on the steed, now clean and in fresh, noble attire, looks down at the man and gives nothing but a blank expression, "don't be so bothered by the idea of me riding her."
Ahern snaps his gaze onto him, "you fucking cunt-"
"Why is he on the horse?" I ask, dropping the skirt I held, giving both men a look of annoyance.
Daemon, in this moment, became acutely aware of the scenery. The ship, Daemon learned was named Jocelyn, was resting in the dock. The sun was setting yet again, creating this warm orange atmosphere. I was no longer in trousers and a dress, instead, I was in a deep red dress, with the neckline dipping teasingly, deliciously low. Usually, my necklace would be the cynosure of my outfit, but it was currently in the Targaryen scum's pocket.
"I am your husband," Daemon recounts that detail of the plans we made, "I would not insult my lady wife by letting her do all the work."
I narrow my eyes, ignoring him, "where is my carriage, Ahern?" I ask the red head, making him avert his gaze elsewhere. He clears his throat and starts, "well..."
"Well?"
"We lost it."
"You lost my fucking carriage?"
Ahern finally turns to me and bursts, "it was Gorm's fault! I've only just been captain today! He said there was an issue in the stables and some thieves came and-"
My sigh cuts him off. Rolling my eyes, I turn to the man propped on the horse, observing the careful look he had, "I should do the work since my husband and my men have no idea what they're doing."
Daemon's lips smirk as he extends his hand out to me, "you need only tell me where to steer my steed."
I stare at him for a long moment, shaking my head as his lips curve deeper, "pull me up, my lord husband."
His stomach ignites at that, twice as much as arms wrapped around him. In fact, his entire body was churning ever since that moment.
When we arrived to our destination, a private banquet held by Magnus of house Suston in his estate, I changed character, holding my head up with grace, practically skating instead of walking.
Daemon could not mask his astonishment of me, though he was trying quite hard to. From the way I unmounted the horse, to how I casually greeted every servant we passed, it was clear to me he was taken aback by how easily I played the part.
And so dramatically, just before we entered the banquet hall, Daemon grabs my arm and pulls me close to him to a stop, "who the in the name of the gods are you?"
I look up at him then to the hand he had on me. Daemon turns to the skin he was holding then releases me. I clench my jaw, clicking my tongue, bringing my hands to his face, "may I, husband?"
He knits his brows, still seemingly unable to understand my need to continuously ask for permission before touching him. Still, his face softens, then he says, "I am yours, wife."
I brush my hands on his cheeks, gently, tracing the curve of his jaw, "I told you as we recounted our plans for tonight on the ship that I was invited as a lady of an esteemed house. Once I put a dress on such as this, I am just that," I pull a smile, "which is why I will not cut your finger off."
Daemon is not satisfied with the answer.
I sigh, pulling my hand away, "I thought perhaps you would have figured out by now, since you have my necklace in your pocket," I begin to walk off, eyes still locked in Daemon's, "I am the heir of house Rubin."
Daemon's jaw loosens at that, that's why the crest looked familiar.
I smirk, knowing well that his shocked expression was due to the fact the very house I was speaking of has not stood for about as long as I have been alive. Or at least, not in any way that counts.
"Lady Rubin!" the man, who was seated at the head of the table exclaims the moment we walk in the banquet hall.
I smile at him, "sir Magnus Suston!"
I walk over to him, forcing back a look of disgust at his eagerness. I stop a few steps early since he took it upon himself to walk over and raise his hand out to me.
Daemon watches as I uncomfortably take his hand. Magnus places a kiss on my skin a second too long that I rip my hand away.
He is unbothered as his eyes dart to the man by my side, "and who might this be?"
I turn over to Daemon, "this, sir Magnus," I turn back to him, "is my prince husband," I pull my smile wider, "of house Targaryen."
Magnus' face falls as he releases a gasp, utterly baffled, "y-your grace! Your majesty!" He breaks into a loud and nervous chuckle, "I was unaware you would be gracing our company tonight. I-I-I am honored by your presence."
Daemon hums, annoyed by his squeaking, "yes. My lady insisted on honoring her visit to your," he looks around the place, "dwelling. Yet it was beneath me to allow my wife visit a man in these hours by herself. Impertinent of you to ask for her presence at this time, don't you agree?"
"Ye-yes, of course," he starts, fidgeting, "I was completely unaware the lady was wed, I-"
"Thought you had a chance with her?" Daemon blurts, raising a brow.
"I- I-" Magnus attempts to start but could not possibly continue with how absolutely petrified he was under the prince's gaze.
The prince turns to me, uncaring of the other person, "shall we sit?"
I give him a smile as he pulls the chair out for me.
Magnus mutters something about us sitting and making ourselves comfortable but it's all incoherent, and his words only become clear once Daemon is sat down next to me, "tis not Marcus, your eminence... but Magnus."
Daemon turns man across him, face completely uninterested and annoyed.
Magnus tugs on his collar with his finger, clarifying, "my name, your grace."
"Does it matter how I refer to a low born?" Daemon asks, leaning against the chair, raising his nose.
I purse my lips at that, turning to my side, crooning out, "my love."
The sound is ineffable and absolutely delicate to Daemon's ears. He was unable to hold in his surprise, nor the chuckles that came after. He clears his throat in an attempt to calm himself, "my apologies, my love," he continues in High Valyrian, "but he's got his head too far up his arse for a peasant, no?"
"He is not a peasant since he now owns a large expanse of land," I retort in the same tongue.
"Well, he won't for much longer anyway," Daemon replies, turning to the empty cups before him. He reverts back to our common language, "will you not serve me wine, Mark?"
Magnus shoots up from his chair, taking a jar of wine and circling over to pour Daemon a cup. He then moves to pour me a drink, but Daemon promptly blocks him, hand covering the cup, "will you not even ask her if she wants wine? She could be with bearing my child for all you know."
I turn to Daemon's enraged look, pressing my thighs together under my skirt before consequently crossing them over each other.
"I- ah," Magnus starts, reeling backward, "apologies my lady, I-"
"She is not your lady," Daemon retorts, face twisting at the man's trembling squeaks. The prince lowers his gaze upon me, expression calming but a fraction, "would you like a glass of wine, my love?"
I break into a smile, "might I just drink from your cup instead?"
He wastes no time. He grabs his cup and hands it over to me. With my lips curved in a smile, I take the object from him, and after taking a sip, handed it back to Daemon, who promptly downed it contents. Upon placing the cup back on the table, he looks over his shoulder, annoyed by the lingering presence, "you stand there and yet we have no food on the table still."
Magnus' eye twitches as he grips the pitcher with much force. He scurries off back to his seat and paces back and forth, unknowing if he should sit or run off somewhere, "my deepest apologies, your grace. Usually my servants do not take this long."
And as if on cue, there is a piercing shriek from the distance.
Magnus gasps, already on edge, completely taken aback by the noise. He stutters, sitting down tensely, "wha-t- what was that?"
Daemon takes his cowardly expression, noticing him shiver. He raises his brows, "is that not one of your help? Are you so stupid to not even know where the sound is coming from?"
Magnus covers his head in fear as there is a loud crashing sound followed by grunts and more shouts. He turns to us, looking for some sort of comfort, but is met by only my stoic gaze and Daemon's vexed one.
All at once then, the banquet hall's doors burst open with a loud sound, and Gorm, followed by the rest of our crew walks in with plates of food. The tall blonde stills when he sees the shriveled up man of the house, "you still haven't killed him yet?"
Magnus grips his chest as he involuntarily stands and screams, "WHO ARE YOU!? What have you done to Helena?!"
Gorm, who was holding an entire pot of what I assume was stew, moves to place the food on the table and draw his sword. Upon doing so, Magnus runs over to the wall in fear. He halts where a sword was mounted. He grabs it and screams, holding it up in his defense, "get out of my house! All of you! GET OUT!"
Gorm walks over to the terrified man, ready to behead him, but he is stopped my Daemon, who quickly stands, "no." The Targaryen turns to him and raises his hand, wordlessly asking for Gorm's weapon.
Gorm looks down on the shorter prince, then scoffs.
"Give it to him, Gorm," I say.
Magnus' breath hitches, seemingly only now realizing what was happening, "you treacherous whore! You brought them here?!"
Daemon turns to Magnus as the latter screams with tears staining his face, "and, what? This is the prince of the realm? You lying piece of-" he is unable to end his words, as he broke into a shriek as Daemon went upon him. Magnus attempts to swing at him, but Daemon quickly knocks the sword out of his hand and promptly ends the squeaks by beheading.
Blood splutters as the body drops to the floor. Daemon makes a disgusted face as he turns back to me. He walks over, handing Gorm his bloody sword. Once he's sat back down, he looks around the room and calls, "where's the fucking food?"
The crew trickle in, laying the food that was prepared by the now dead servants onto the table. Daemon wastes no time in digging in.
I watch as he stuffs his mouth with chicken and say, "you enjoyed that."
"He's a squeaky son of a bitch," he responds in High Valyrian, ripping off a leg of chicken with his hands, placing it on my empty plate.
I look at the food and break into a smile, "thank you."
"Eat up, for I will tire you tonight, wife," he continues in his native tongue, nonchalant, not even looking at me.
I chuckle, propping my hands on the table, ignoring everything else but the eating prince beside me, "I was under the impression you would be leaving the moment we were done."
Daemon swallows the food in his mouth then grabs a piece of cloth on the table, wiping his fingers on it, "I did this much as your lord husband," he turns to me, "might as well claim all that's left of mine."
"I belong to no one, Targaryen scum," I smirk, responding in High Valyrian. He mirrors my expression as I continue, "you will find that your armor and your sword is on the horse we rode on a while ago," I then reach into my top, fingers slipping between my breasts.
Daemon watches my actions intently, hands tightening into a fist.
"All that's left is this," I say, pulling out a vial, "it's a bit warm, having stayed under my breast all night. I hope you don't mind."
He watches as I place the object in front of him, speaking again in his native tongue, "dragons prefer warmth." Daemon stares at the small thing for a moment, then turns back to me, wordlessly examining my face.
After a few moments pass, he brings his hands up, then mutters, in the same language, "may I?"
I nod.
Daemon brushes the back of his hand on my collarbones, making me release a breath at the gentle action. His eyes are stuck on my skin, my own are stuck on his lips. I feel my body burn in warmth as his hands make it to my nape, where his fingers begin to dig into the root of my hair, "you should be more cautions."
I lean against his hand, silently looking at him, as he continues, "House Rubin has fallen decades ago."
The forming smile on my lips falter as he suddenly withdraws from me.
He thinks I'm an imposter. How daft of him.
Still, I cannot help but release an airy chuckle at the look he gives me. I push my shoulders back, "does it matter if a pirate falsifies claims?"
He smirks, then tuts, "oh doe. Any wolf would know you are the very ruby of that house," he brushes the back of his hand on my cheek, making my stomach swirl, "how many souls must have perished to ensure your survival." His hands then move down my neck. He presses his palms flush against my throat, fingers fiddling with my jaw, "and how many more will follow in attempts to covet the very ruby in my hands."
Daemon grows excited, feeling the pulse under his thumb quicken.
Swiftly then, he pulls away then inquires in High Valyrian, "how do I know this won't finish the job?"
Skin still so aware of the feeling of his hand on my neck, I take a moment to realize what he means. I turn to where he was looking and let out a hmp, "how do you know if I even poisoned you truly to begin with?"
Daemon smiles, drawing his hand out again. I anticipated his touch, and yet the tease places it on the table, "you remind me of Caraxes."
"Your dragon?" I ask, just as he moves for the elixir and hands it over to me. He does not speak a word and only stares at me.
I knit my brows, "what? Do you want me to drink it?"
He purses his lips at that, seemingly agreeing.
I raise my brows, taking the object, uncorking it, "and then what? There'll be nothing left for you, moron," I then break into a chuckle, "unless you want me to put it in my mouth and spit it into yours."
Daemon smirks, leaning onto the table as he continues in High Valyrian, "then at least we'll be poisoned together."
I am unable to hold in my laughter, "you're fucking crazy."
Daemon raises his brows.
I stand and step forward, "may I then?"
"So long as I keep getting to touch you," he responds, pushing his chair back. He spreads his legs and rubs his hands on his lap, beckoning me over. I respond my pulling my skirt up and placing a knee on his lap. I bring a hand to his neck and push his head up to me. His hands go to sides and grip tightly on my waist.
I throw my head back, pouring the liquid in my mouth. I close my lips as I lower my head to meet Daemon's. I press my mouth against his, slowly allowing the antidote to trickle onto his tongue. Daemon pulls me down on him and I adjust my legs atop his. He laps his tongue out to my lips, taking in the liquid greedily until there's nothing left but moans in me. It's all very messy as the liquid surely does not all go into his mouth, yet it was so very scrumptious.
"Oh for fuck's sake, get a room," someone calls angrily.
I am abruptly pulled off after this. I barely manage to look at Daemon as he suddenly stands and grabs me, bending down and throwing me over his shoulder.
"They're all fools to think you would not be heard from here," Daemon says, kicking the doors of a room open. It was a great stroke of luck that he found the master bedroom. Not that it mattered, I would let him have me wherever he wanted. And judging by how he threw me onto the bed, I’m certain he thinks the same way.
I sit up on the cushions and watch him as he crawls over to me. His brows quirk at the sight of the blankets, "that squeaky moron has horrible taste."
I waste no time in grabbing his face once he is close enough, placing heated kisses onto his lips. He leans into me, body pressing against mine, hands scratching at the fabric on my back in an attempt to undo my dress.
He pulls away from me so he could work on getting me naked.
I can’t help but laugh at his fervor, “easy, boy, you might hurt yourself.”
I manage to see him clench his jaw before he stands up from the bed and yanks at my corset. He effectively shoves me face down onto the cushion and rips my skirt back so my folded legs were now flat on the surface. He then climbs atop me, groin on my bum, and undoes my laces, ripping it all the way open. Once he’s finished, he digs his nails firmly into my skin in an upward motion, “you will know your place, bitch.”
He moves off me, only to flip me over and climb atop me again. This time around though, he bunches my skirt up and brings his hands in between my thighs, making way for himself in between them.
“I should ruin your pretty little dress, so you won’t be able to use it anymore,” he mutters, pressing his pants on my bare core, earning a moan from me.
I reach my arms out for him as I grunt, “ruin me with your Targaryen seed.”
Daemon brings his hands on either side of my thighs and roughly kneads on my flesh, “you would enjoy that won’t you, little come slut?”
His hands dart to the collar of my dress and he roughly rips it off, causing me to grunt. I shift in my spot, raising my arms, wriggling out of the fabric as he pulls it over my head. For a moment, I am caught in the expanse of my own skirt, then I am fully stripped beneath him. Right after throwing my dress off to the side, my hands work on undoing his breeches, but I am so rudely slapped away.
I give him a pointed look, but it falters after he catches my wrists and pins it over my head with his hands, “I am your prince husband. You are subservient to my mercy.”
His face is close to mine when he says this and so I give an open-mouthed moan, “fuck me good, prince husband, I beg.”
He chuckles. He keeps my wrists under one hand and brings his free one down my face, “so eager,” his palm rests on the side of my neck, “perhaps I shall take you back with me and wife you in Dragonstone.”
Taking this moment of tenderness to my advantage, I attempt to free my hands under his. However, I find that I underestimated his strength. His one hand on my wrists pull my limbs upward, making me whine. He clicks his tongue, “you don’t like that?” Daemon’s other hand runs firmly down from my neck to my core where he then rubs on my soaking folds, “you would prefer to be my come whore, hmm? Such a lowly dream”
He hisses, as do I, when he pushes two fingers in me, “your cunt belongs to me now. You will not be able to have anyone else’s cock but mine.”
I chuckle at his words, “you’re a lot of talk for someone so opposed to the idea of me undressing him.”
Daemon’s eyes darken. He shoves himself off me and kneels, “undress me, then, whore.”
I take in his looks, his expectant gaze, the hardened length beneath his trousers, and yet I cross my arms, “no.”
“No?” he repeats harshly, although there was no trace of anger in his voice. It was in fact of excitement.
“I will not submit to a man who perceives me to be a lesser version of him.”
“Ah,” he chuckles, removing his shirt by himself, “I remember your distaste for this, my dear ruby,” he throws his shirt aside and I lick my lips at the sight of his toned chest, “you are right not to enjoy these words when they came out of the mouths of all the trolls that fucked you before me.
“But like I said,” he grabs my hand from my chest, continuing in High Valyrian, “I’ll break it into you.” He pulls me up, bringing my palms to his waist, “strip me, while you still can.”
I sit up, fingers digging into his garment, replying in his language as I lick my lips, “or else what, Targaryen scum?”
“Or else you won’t be able to do anything with your hands at all.”
I groan at the thought, feeling my stomach roll. My hands then dart up to his face and I heatedly kiss him, savoring the taste of his tongue. My fingers travel back down, fiddling with the string of his clothes. I take a moment to nibble on his lower lip before I pull away and lie back down with my arms over my chest again, “do your worst.”
“You insufferable minx,” he quips proceeding then to climb off the bed. For a moment, I am confused and a little concerned, but then I see him rip at the tassel of the drapes, carelessly bringing the window’s cover to the floor. He winds the rope in his hand as he draws closer to me, “turn over.”
I bite my lips and cross my legs, “no.”
Daemon laughs, darting for my ankle, yanking me towards him, “turn over, my pretty little whore.”
“Fuck you,” I retort.
He wastes no time and roughly grabs me, flipping me over himself. My body is buzzing at the feeling of his rough hands on my bum.
“Not at this rate, you’re not,” Daemon replies, hands grabbing my arms, forcing them behind me, tying them with the rope still attached to the curtain that was dangling near the bed helplessly. He then pulls my hips up, bringing me on my knees. My face pressed on the bed as he climbs behind me and fiddles with my heat, “so deviant for no reason,” he notes in his language.
His fingers tease my entrance, and my voice betrays me because of it, “you—enjoy it.”
He laughs again, pumping two digits in and out of me, “not as much as you.”
Daemon feasts on the lewd sounds, absolutely basking in the slickness dripping from his fingers. He positions his free hand on my hip, digging his nails in my flesh roughly. He focuses on my heat around his fingers and quickly eases in an orgasm. I let out a pained grunt when he withdraws before I could come though. Although I was expecting it from him, I still bark in anger, “Targaryen scum.”
He tuts, rubbing my back, “come now…” he teases, “you didn’t expect to be rewarded for your insolence.”
“I can fuck myself better with my fingers."
Daemon laughs, “I’m sure from now on you’ll imagine they were mine.” He then brings his wet fingers to my mouth, wanting me to lick them clean. For the most part, I do, but he yelps when I bite down. I lick my lips after he pulls away, smirking in victory.
He grabs me by the hair, pulling me all the way until I'm upright. I whine in pain, yet feeling my body burn in excitement. He mutters hotly against my ear, “let’s put that mouth of yours to good use.”
He shoves me down and I hear him work on his pants. I roll over, grunting as with my arms still bound behind me. I chuckle, “who’s eager now?”
Daemon’s length springs free. The idea of him burying himself in me makes my breath hitch. He discards his pants to the side, “you won’t be so verbose after I burn my seed down your throat.”
I stick my tongue out and giggle.
In all his strength, he rearranges me like a doll. He gets me on my knees and sits in front of me, wordlessly commanding me to do his bidding. I obey and take him in my mouth eagerly. His hand is controlling the bobbing of my head and I feel utterly pleased with myself upon hearing his satisfied grunts. After relishing in his profanities, I begin to constrict him in my teeth.
He whines, “less teeth, viper.”
I use more teeth.
His grip on my hair tightens but his arm movement still.
I begin to laugh, but he’s so big that I can’t, so I begin to choke.
Daemon revels in the feeling for a moment, pushing himself deeper into my mouth before ripping me off him, allowing me to catch my breath. I heave as he brings my ruined face up to meet him eye to eye. His other hand grips my jaw, “if you will not obey, I will come in your cunt and leave you bound and unsatisfied.”
I lick my lips, head banging at the pain he was eliciting from all the hair pulling, “you would risk leaving a baby dragon inside me?”
I smirk at him, whining as he pulls my head back slowly. It seems I hit a chord as Daemon’s face is unreadable. Suddenly, he releases his grip and shoves me down. He claws at my legs then presses my knees to my breast. All at once, I am a loud moaning mess as he enters me without another word and beats into me without a break of pace.
The sound of skin hammering against each other is overpowered by my screams of pleasure. If I had known that what it took to get him going, I would have lead with that.
Daemon pistons himself in an angle so sweet that I can feel a fire so hot build in my belly. His lips are latched on my neck, sucking, biting, licking. Overly sensitive already, it doesn't take long until I uncoil beneath him and his brutality.
I am reeling, absolutely spent, utterly boneless beneath him, loosing my breath all over again.
He does not relent however, and I whine in a mix of both pain and pleasure at his lack of courtesy for me to come down from my high. I quake beneath him, repeating his name like a prayer, unsure if I wanted him to stop or keep fucking me raw.
My throat begins to burn at my obscene sounds that left my lips. I barely manage to hear him as he speaks to me
“They say a pleasured wife brings forth a male heir,” Daemon jaggedly mumbles, “will you be a dutiful lady wife and spawn me a son?”
My head is spinning at his words. Too keen on chasing this rebuilding high however, I spew out words in the heat of moment, “yes. Fuck yes. Burn your seed into me. Put a child in me, Daemon.”
“Good girl,” he praises, kissing my jaw, “your cunt is so eager for me, wife, do you feel it?”
My only response is my filthy groans.
My eyes are flooded by tears when I finally come around him for the second time. Daemon wastes no time and follows. He digs himself balls deep into me, shooting out every bit of himself inside. The feeling is so hot, I could barely feel my legs around him nor how my toes curl.
I relish in the feeling of his weight on top me. My arms behind me hurt twice as much as I remember I cannot even touch him.
“You will not move an inch, slut,” he mutters after catching his breath. He pulls away from me and I whine at the action, not enjoying the emptiness that came after. I watch him as he goes about the room and collects his clothes. He begins to dress himself and I stupidly look at him as he mutters, “if you do not fall with child, I will consider it treason.”
Once he is clothed, he walks over to me and turns to my legs. He pushes them together. I squeak when he digs his hands on my leaking core and presses a kiss on my belly, “you’re wasting my seed.”
With that, he gives me one last look and walks away.
Many moons had passed since then. It was almost as long as the years since the prince has been away from his home.
Daemon decided not to recount this encounter with pirates to a single soul, not even to Lord Corlys, who was enraged by his absence and began to believe he had forsaken him in their battle in The Stepstones. He played off his lack of appearance as with vague reasons of failed outsourcing, already irritated by the idea of people gossiping about how he was captured by a bunch of slow witted pirates had he told him the truth. Corlys obviously did not buy it, but he had no time to press on about the matter as the issue with the Crab Feeder was more imminent.
Daemon wonders what became of his captor after killing that Suston man. He would look at the ruby necklace he kept on him from time to time, wondering when he could use it to his capture his captor in return. He had yet to also make use of the fact the pirate claimed to be a Rubin, a house that was dissolved during the height of a war in their region. That, and he was owed a son.
"You look deep in thought, uncle," Rhaenyra notes walking over to him. Daemon had his feet up in the table and his back slumped on the chair as he chewed on some grapes.
He responds to the princess in High Valyrian, "I'm merely enjoying my time back home."
Rhaenyra chuckles, walking closer, "I did not know you were fond of this place."
Daemon watches as she sits down next to him and asks, "tell me about your adventures in the Stepstones."
He shakes his head, "what is there to tell but the fact there was blood and loss, before our eventual victory."
"Come now," she smirks leaning in, "they sing your name great praises and even gave you a title, yet you cannot think to tell me much more than that?"
"War is not a dazzling story, princess," he turns to her, giving a smirk, "you would be wise to be a benevolent Queen."
Rhaenyra rolls her eyes and shakes her head, muttering in her native speech, "the irony of my uncle telling me this."
"But you enjoy my irony, don't you, my niece," Daemon chuckles in response in the same tongue, bringing his hand to her head, ruffling her hair playfully.
She swats at his hand and shoves Daemon off with narrowed eyes, "well if you will not speak to me of your battles, tell me then if it is true you had an encounter with pirates."
Rhaenyra watches his face grows stoic as he mutters, "they were all pirate, girl."
"No," she shakes her head, "I overheard the servants speak about you dealing with a crew who had women onboard. They say you were turned away after asking them for help."
Daemon straightens up as he laughs, not even taking a moment to wonder how anyone even knew this, "more like I turned from them after they'd forced help out of me."
"So it's true, then!" her voice goes a pitch higher in excitement, "you had encounters with women pirates."
Daemon takes her expression in, "does that please you, Rhaenyra?"
"I think it's exciting to know there are fearsome individuals out there who bleed every month just as I."
Daemon blows out a breath that bubbles out into a fit of chuckles. He grabs a few more grapes, eating some, throwing one at his companion, "you're all fucking mad."
Rhaenyra narrows her eyes at her uncle yet again, "you mean all women? We're all mad?"
"Yes," he stands, smoothing out his pants, "but then again if I bled every month I think I would be so as well."
"My Prince," a voice calls, and Daemon turns to the guard who interrupt the laugh he was sharing with his niece, "Lord Corlys has requested your presence."
Daemon's mood does a total 180, "he is aware I am not entertaining anyone."
"My apologies your grace, but he insisted that it was urgent. He says it's about House Rubin."
Rhaenyra watches his uncle's face shift. Daemon's mood does yet another 180 and promptly decided to answer to the call.
He quickly regards his niece and heads off right after.
"Lord Corlys," Daemon nods upon entering his chambers, "you have news for me."
"Nothing that either of us don't already know," says Corlys, arms crossed as he stood by the table where the necklace Daemon had lent him was laid out, "the house of Rubin and all its heirs died during a skirmish, leaving their wealth and land ripe for the pickings of whoever stake their claim."
The prince nods, eyes going to the necklace on the table, "and what of this?"
"I've had a jeweler inspect it and he said he knew exactly who designed this and who had it commissioned."
Corlys and Daemon turn to each other as the former says, "it was made in the north by the request of the Lannisters as a gift for the Rubins."
"And yet I found it on the neck of a pirate," Daemon smirks, picking the ruby necklace up.
"It is not surprising, considering house Rubin was most definitely looted after its fall. They were also situated close to sea folk. Our houses once joined hands in the expeditions of the sea. Hearing of their demise was a sad day even for us."
Funny, Daemon thinks.
"Now, tell me what this has to do with the pirate ship that robbed 2 more of my ships blind."
Daemon's lips quirk, "that makes 14," he releases a chuckle, much to Corlys' annoyance. "What if I told you, Lord Corlys, that capturing the captain of that pirate crew could not only grant you satisfaction but could reignite your alliance with the house of Rubin."
Lord Corlys shakes his head, "and why would I want an alliance with a dead house?"
"Perhaps since it was that house that robbed your countless ships blind."
Corlys does not follow. Daemon raised his brows, "the captain is the remaining heir. Why snuff out the last of its remains when you could built it up and use it as an extension of your power. Your men have seen the might of Jocelyn first hand, did they not?"
For a moment, Corlys wonders who Jocelyn is, until he remembers that was the name of the ship. "What makes you think this Rubin-turned-pirate would swear fealty to me?" he raises a brow.
"Willingly? Perhaps not," Daemon smirks, "but is it not so much more fun to break it in?"
"That is not their captain," Daemon speaks.
Corlys instantly gives the order to execute the man with a simple hand gesture. "Yes," he responds, "yet it seems like they're not running out of captains any time soon as each time we capture someone who knows anything about that ship, Jocelyn, they claim to be the captain. Still, that fucking ship is still lurking the sea."
Daemon's lips curve upward, "perhaps they were captain for a while."
The other white haired man knits his brows, "what?"
The prince ignores this, "your error is in assuming their captain would be an ugly man."
"Are you saying the captain is a beautiful woman?"
"I'm saying the captain of the ship is the remaining heir of the house Rubin," he retorts, "you ought to be more careful of how quickly you kill your captives."
Corlys narrows his eyes at this, "does it matter if we restore this supposed 'true heir' when no one would be the wiser if I hailed a stable boy as a Rubin."
"It matters if you want an alliance with a fiery strategist who managed to steal from your ship, not once, but 18 times now, was it-- in broad daylight, or--" Daemon turns to the dead body that was being dragged out, "you want one with a smelly imbecile that's walking dead weight."
"Then what do you suggest I do, my prince," he asks, voice growing irritated.
"Nothing more," Daemon nods, "I'll do it myself."
"Targaryen scum," I smile, voice genuinely excited upon seeing the face of the man walking over to me. "You got a haircut," I say baring the blood on my teeth as I smile, "I am impressed to tell you that it suits you, even though I prefer long hair."
Daemon takes in my appearance, eyes raking over the blood that was on my face and clothes. He turns over to one of the guards, barking, "did you do this to her?"
The guard quickly shakes his head, "n-no, your grace. But I was told she did attack and injure multiple men."
Daemon's anger is calmed after this, though his face makes no change, "leave us."
Once it was only him, I, and the chains on the wall that I was bound to, he steps forward, licking his lips as he brings his hands up to my face, "may I?"
I look up at him, lips curving into a smile, "you may."
Daemon pushes back the hair that was stuck on my skin with sweat, tucking it behind my ears. He then begins in High Valyrian, "you could not resist me, could you?"
I lean against his hand as he places both of them on my cheeks. I pout, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Daemon chuckles, fingers gently pulling away from my face, "did you not hear about my presence in the Stepstones and purposefully hijacked those Velaryon ships..." he hums, "perhaps out of spite?"
I screw my eyes shut as I break into a hearty laugh, "out of spite over what, pray tell?"
"Leaving you tied up in bed," he mutters, placing his hands behind his back.
"And I am bound now as we speak, yet I share laughter with you," I raise my brows, "must a pirate really explain their motive for stealing?"
"Perhaps not," Daemon responds, turning down to my belly. He presses a hand on it, "how has your womb been?"
I chuckle, "it seems your seed is defective," I narrow my eyes, "there was so much of it in me, and yet nothing came forth from it."
He grabs my face with both hands again, "worry not. I will wife you up again soon enough."
Upon his mention, I recall a detail I learned that angered me. I clench my jaw, replying in High Valyrian, "perhaps it was precisely because you had an actual lady wife at the time that your own seed was against your wishes to get me pregnant."
Daemon chuckles, pulling his hands away, "jealous?"
"No." I respond, "I pity your bride that you treated so poorly."
The prince rolls his eyes, "oh, don't worry, my dear ruby, for the ugly beast has since been relieved of her duties upon her trip to the underworld."
"Fucking Targaryen scum."
Daemon watches my expression grow dark then chuckles, "are you not excited to perform your duties to me?"
"That's why you had my crew gutted?" I bark back, "were you to stupid that you not have tried to get me yourself?"
"It was not my failed attempts to capture the captain, but Corlys Velaryon. He did not take kindly to the fact you stole a handsome sum from him, which is why he made sport of killing Jocelyn's crew."
"Well, he's got the captain now," I say.
Daemon nods, "Indeed, she is here."
"Whatever he wants, I'll do, so long as you spare my remaining crew."
For a moment, Daemon is a bit disappointed by the admittance to defeat, however he understands soon enough.
"There's not much of us left," I mumble, "Aldora, Ahern, Gorm, Fredson, Charles, Th--" I cut myself off as my throat begins to tighten. "There's not point in fighting if we all end up dead."
"Smart," Daemon nods, "Lord Corlys will be delighted to know this." He then begins to walk off, "in the meantime, pay your dues here until I come for you."
I let out a soft chuckle, replying to him in his mother tongue, "petty scum."
"Targaryen scum," Demon corrects before walking out.
I hadn't expected him to come so soon that night, but then again, if I recall, I did have him out of his chains after sunset.
"Miss me already?" I ask in a teasing tone in High Valyrian, "will you lock me with your dragon next?"
It was a bit too dark for me to make out the figure coming closer, but there was something very off with him. There was something about the slowness and suspicious manner in which he stalked over, apart from the hood he was wearing.
I figured then Daemon would not act like this at all. So it begs the question, why would a guard have to come here dressed like that?
My heart began to quicken as I began to think of what this man's motives were. Still, unwilling to accept the worst, I spoke out in the Prince's language, falsely hoping it was him pulling a twisted joke, "is this your way of getting back at me?"
"What kind of demon language is that supposed to be, you cunt?" the man growls, darting forward, heaving heavily in front of me. He grabs my face, and I see him along with the cut he had going down his cheek to his lips, "remember me, bitch?"
I merely look at him as he forces my jaw open with the intensity of his grip on me.
"You're not so tough now that you're under the Prince's thumb," he seethes, hands coming down my neck, choking me, "since you scarred my face, you whore," one of his hands leaves my throat to go down to my thighs, "I'll make you regret the day you drew your blade."
My wrists and ankles were bound but that did not make me cease my attempts to fight back, though futile. And even though he was choking me, I made it a point to still scream, not caring if he asphyxiates me in the process. Better that than to be docile.
He was basks in my failed attempts to fight him off as he rips my top open and forces my trousers down.
Prince Daemon did not want Lord Corlys to join him on his way to the prison cell today for he so wanted all the attention to himself, especially since he couldn't speak in the privacy of High Valyrian, since Corlys could speak it.
And so together, begrudgingly, the two were making their way to the cell. Daemon had a spring in his step. He was so excited that even before entering the prison, he called out in the other language, "rise and shine, beautiful."
Lord Corlys averted his eyes from the guard who was unlocking the door, giving the prince a questioning look. He truly didn't think much of it however, knowing the prince's irritating nature.
Honestly, Daemon was half expecting an answer, an annoyed retort, and so he received none, he pressed his lips together in disappointment. He added once the door was open, "not in the mood to tease today?"
Corlys walks in first, face dropping in shock at the sight before him.
For but a moment, Daemon feels a rush of possessiveness, thinking Corlys must have been enchanted. He thinks of how he would easily cut off his hand if he so laid a finger on you. However, his own anger dissipated, then doubled upon his entrance to the cell.
I look at the two men, wondering how they were related to distract from how exposed I was. My assaulter did not possibly think to cover my chest nor pull my pants up. There was also a burning feeling between my thighs that I could not bare to look at. Anything other than thinking of how my flesh was surely torn was welcomed.
The prince is beyond livid. The lord beside him appears to be disturbed as well.
"Did you have your men do this to her?!" Daemon barks, turning to Corlys, raising an accusing finger as he pressed so close to him in anger that their chests slammed against the other's.
Corlys throws him an incredulous and angry look, shoving him off, "why would I when you were so clear on making sure the lady came here in one piece?!"
He heaves heavily, ready to attack Corlys, but the sound of my uncontained whine makes him avert his attention to me. Daemon then walks over to me instead, raising his hand out, but the sentiment is so uninvited that I bark out even through my hoarse and broken voice. It was so loud I even surprised myself, "DON'T YOU FUCKING TOUCH ME!"
Daemon halts in his tracks before he could go near. His hand drops, tightly turning into a fist, he mutters, "unshackle her."
Corlys does not do anything.
"UNSHAKLE HER NOW!" Daemon shouts, turning to the door, where a guard quickly came running in. The moment the guard nears however, the prince shouts again, "STOP."
The guard freezes, turning over to him with a look of confusion and anxiousness.
"Give me the keys," he demands, pulling the man over to him by his shoulder, then extending his hand out to him. The guard wastes no time in handing the prince the object. Right after, Daemon walks over to me, carefully as if his whole life depended on it. His fingers work on the lock without touching my skin.
Corlys watches as he does this.
The moment one of my arms were free, I crumple, dangling on the other arm that was still bound. Daemon looks down on me as I muffle the whine that comes as I force myself to stand. He quickly moves to the other side, undoing the lock, then crouches down, working on the bounds on my ankles. Once he is done, he rises in front of me, expression hard.
I look up at him before pulling up my pants that were left by my ankles then covered my breasts with what remained of my ragged shirt. He looks like his mind is running with a thousand different things and yet he cannot even bring himself to speak one word to me.
I croak out, hoarse and tired, "now you know why I don't like being touched without consent, Targaryen scum."
Daemon's jaw clenches. His anger multiplies at the notion this has happened once before.
"Lady Rubin," the other man in the room speaks, walking forward.
I turn to him, lips curving in a farce of a smile, "Lord Velaryon." I swallow roughly before muttering, "you, too, were convinced over my characterization yet you have not even seen me in action."
The man looks at me for a moment, examining my expression. He steps forward, untying his cloak, handing it over to me, "will you be able to walk over to the ward to the seen by a maester?"
I look at his extended hand and feel my smile fade, tears building in the corner of my eyes, "of course." I raise my hand to his cloak, gently pushing it away, "lead the way, my lord."
He watches me and withdraws his hand before nodding and tying his cloak back on, "I'm afraid the way there includes an unavoidable flight of many stairs."
"I was not defeated last night, nor will I be defeated by mere steps."
Lord Corlys seems to appreciate my response, and so he turns to prince Daemon, speaking in High Valyrian, "You were right about her fire. She's different from the rest of her crew."
"Thank you, my lord," I reply in the same language, making the man turn to me in slight shock, "I would have appreciated the compliment more had it been directed towards me."
With this, Corlys turns to me, shocked, but impressed. He then shifts where he stood and motioned to the door, then walking off.
I clench my jaw before taking a step. I falter in my actions and am unable to withhold a pained grunt as I do so. It enrages me. I heave heavily. The incident of last night replays in my head uninvited. I will the tears forming in my eyes back where they came and I force through the pain with each step I make.
By the time I make it out of the cell, I see Corlys there, waiting for me. I draw closer to him and it is then I hear a voice behind me, "I will destroy whoever did this to you."
I turn over my shoulder, expecting to see Daemon, but I find no one. When I do manage to spot him, he is already far off in the other side of the hallway.
"The prince was keen on bring you to me," Corlys starts, extending his hand to the direction we needed to travel, "his personal motives are now more apparent to me after seeing how he reacted to you." He begins to walk slowly and I follow after him.
He continues in High Valyrian, "he insisted that instilling you in House Rubin and re-forging an alliance with you as its head will be more beneficial than beheading the captain of ship Jocelyn, who stole ten thousands worth of goods from my vessels."
"It's clear to me the prince does what he wants all the time, but that does not equate to him always getting away with it," I retort, taking a moment to continue, lest I let out a pained whimper, "whether his influence on you will allow me to keep my head or not, all I ask is that you no longer harm whoever's left of my crew. They were only following my orders."
Corlys watches me as I limp in my short strides, then raises a brow, "following the order merits the same punishment of whoever gave it." He places his hands behind him, "they also lied when they confessed to be the captain when they were clearly not."
"I did not ask them to do so."
"A lie is a lie," he says, "Prince Daemon however said that you allowed your crew to take turns giving the order, being the captain for a time."
I clench my jaw, turning to my feet, "they were all born without... it was my way of giving them a taste of power."
I turn to Corlys, but I instantly regret it, for his gaze upon me was most scrutinizing. I turn away just as he tells, "I knew him, the man who you claim to be your father. Estephan Rubin. I would like to say we were friends years ago when he was still alive."
I rub my eyes that were watering in pain.
He continues, "I knew of his four sons and how each of them died in battle, though I repent of not remembering their names. However, my memory does not fail me enough not to know about Rubin having a daughter."
"That makes two of you." I press my lips, turning back to him, "I was told my father died well before I was born. My mother died of child birth."
"Who raised you then?"
"The remaining servants of my house, Agnes, Douglas. They married each other and had children of their own. For a while, I acted like I was their eldest child, but then some lords found out about the origin of birth, and then they--" I shudder, unable to bear the pain of the memory on top of the physical pain I was feeling now. I turn back to my feet, "I was 13 when I ran away and lived off of whatever I could pickpocket."
"Who taught you how to speak this language then?" he asks in High Valyrian.
"You tend to get around when the world is out to get you," I respond, hand coming up to my chest, "what remained of my house, my ruby necklace, it bore the crest of Rubin. I realized all I had to do was be shameless enough when wearing it and people would be willing to do whatever you want."
I turn to Corlys when he halts in his tracks.
"Keep your head then, Lady Rubin," he says, "go forth with your banner, not as a pirate, but as the last of house Rubin and bring me back all twice the amount of which you stole. I swear then I will spare your crew."
I nod, "consider it done," I reply in his mother tongue, extending my hand out to him. He shakes it firmly, beginning to talk about his plans for me as we continue our travel to the maester's room.
762 notes
·
View notes
Chapter Fourteen - Crimson.
Summary: Wilhemina Venable felt it was finally time to leave Kineros Robotics and get a job with people who weren’t such morons like Jeff and Mutt. What she didn’t expect, however, was for her new boss to be so damn insufferable. She didn’t expect to fall in love with her, either.
Tag List: @devriesgoode @mistysswampmud @paulsonsratched @msvenablx @notmeellaannyy @rwoolfe (message me to be added if interested!)
“Okay.” Venable reached for her suitcase and followed to the left of their shared living room. After she closed the door, her eyes scanned the bedroom; it was huge. There was a big window to the left, as well a king-sized bed just like the one she had at home. The nightstands were clear wood and the rug was soft fur. Near the bathroom, a small couch and table stood. Thank God we’re not sharing a bathroom. Or a bedroom. Getting changed in front of anyone was a huge no. She could at least lock the door and have some privacy like that. After kicking her heels off, Wilhemina checked the bathroom. Of course it was huge, with a large tube and a large shower as well. Even the chandelier there was fancy. The towels were white and as soft as cotton. Everything smelled marvelously. Are all hotels like that? Venable assumed only the fancier ones would have all that room.
After using the bathroom and finding herself some slippers, Wilhemina walked back to the living room. She was hoping they could order something that arrived fast, for she was absolutely starving. Billie Dean was still getting changed, so Venable sat down on the table and reached for her phone in her pocket; Emma had texted her again. ’Nice! How’s your room?’ Wilhemina quickly answered her. ’It’s gorgeous. Me and Billie Dean are sharing the same bedroom, I suppose, but they’re divided by a living room.’ Venable wasn’t sure how to put it in better words, so she just hit send. The door to her right cracked open, and Billie Dean stepped out of it in baggy sweatpants and a sweater, hair still in curls and makeup still in place. It was so odd to see Billie Dean in, quote on quote, normal clothes; she was always dressed so nicely.
“Sorry I took so long,” Billie Dean sat down in front of Venable.
“You didn’t. I just sat down.” Wilhemia set her phone aside. Billie Dean looked a little better, now; her eyes weren’t as red anymore.
“That’s good.” My feet are killing me. Billie Dean wasn’t sure what else she could do. I should put my feet up. But she wanted to have a nice meal with Wilhemina. “What are you in the mood for?” Venable frowned. Billie chuckled softly. “To eat. What are you in the mood to eat?”
“Oh—“ Wilhemina’s cheeks tinted slightly. Billie Dean kept her eyes glued on her, with that constant kindness in them. “Anything you want.”
Billie Dean hummed. She reached for the small menu on top of the table, reading all of the options the hotel offered. “Pizza?”
“Pizza?”
“Mhm.” Billie arched her eyebrows teasingly. “Too wild for you?”
“What?”
Billie Dean couldn’t help but laugh at Venable’s face; she stared at her like she had seen something out of this world. “You seem to be someone who enjoys order.”
“I do.” Confused, Wilhemina shifted on her chair. What did that had to do with food?
“Have you ever eaten pizza at four p.m.?”
“Of course not.” Oh. Billie Dean’s statement made sense. Her cheeks flushed a little more. Billie Dean laughed loudly.
Leaning closer, Billie bit her lower lip and smiled cheekily. “Would you like to go wild with me?” Even though the question was innocent, Venable gulped quietly. Shyly, she nodded, cheeks hot. “Pizza it is, then. Which toppings?”
Wilhemina had to concentrate on the task to be able to think again. She sat up a little better. “Cheese…?”
“A classic,” Billie Dean hummed. Seeing Wilhemina so flushed was something she was enjoying perhaps a little too much. “A big cheese pizza?”
“That sounds good.” Venable nodded.
“I’ll order, then.” Billie Dean walked to the telephone at the corner of the room and called reception. She smiled playfully at Wilhemina as she leaned against the wall. “Hello, this is room sixty-three. We’d like to order the biggest cheese pizza you have.” As the man on the other side spoke, Billie winked at Venable; Wilhemina let out a quiet laugh. “Yes, for now. And also…” Brown eyes scanned the menu again. “Do you have any ice cream?” Once again, she eyed Venable. She looks like a child seeing life for the first time. Had Venable ever been in a hotel room before? She had the same look of wonder she did when they were in the plane, earlier. Maybe that’s just who she truly is. “The bigger one, please. Chocolate?” She arched her eyebrows to Wilhemina in a questioning manner. Venable nooded. “Chocolate, yes. Alright, thank you.” She set the phone back down. “It should be here in an hour max.”
That was going to be a lot of food. Weirdly enough, Wilhemina was excited; she had never had those silly experiences in life before. “Okay.” She chuckled. Her cheeks hurt a little, for she was smiling big.
Billie Dean joined her on the table again. She stared at Venable, seeing the way her features seemed to have softened up. “Do you mind if I tell you something that might make you blush?” She teased, yet again. Mostly because that was how she was, but also because it was nearly addicting to watch Wilhemina’s face turn red and her lips to turn up.
“Is it really necessary?” Oh God. Venable was already blushing.
Billie Dean leaned against her hand, elbow on the table as she pretended to be thinking. “Hmm… I think so, yeah.”
“Will I lose my job if I deny it?” Wilhemina allowed herself to play along. Something in her trusted Billie Dean wouldn’t judge; wouldn’t make fun of her.
At the words, Billie laughed. She was not expecting that. “Yes.”
“Fine…” Venable sighed playfully.
“Well… you’re really beautiful.” Billie Dean wetted her lips. Wilhemina’s face turned white instead of red. “I’m saying that because I think you should hear it. Especially when you smile.” What should Venable answer to that? “And no, it’s not a joke. I’m being honest.”
Venable gulped. She kept her eyes on Billie Dean, having no reaction at all. After collecting herself, she managed to speak. “Why—why are you saying that?”
“I told you. Because I think so.” Billie Dean kept on leaning against her hand. “And I don’t think you know that… and you should.”
Wilhemina’s brown eyes fell down before she looked back at Billie Dean. Nervously, she played with her hands on her lap. “With all respect, I can’t help but think you’re not being honest,” she said softly, hesitantly. “I—I mean, look at you. You’re used to seeing yourself every day. How can you think I am beautiful?”
Billie Dean blinked twice as she assimilated Venable’s words. Is she… She frowned. “Is this your way of returning the compliment?” Over the years, taking compliments had gotten easier; but it still made her feel all giddy inside.
Now, Venable turned red. “I suppose…?”
Billie Dean chuckled. “Thank you. But that’s not about me… you are a gorgeous woman, Wilhemina. I mean, I’m sure you know how Emma sees you, and I’ve heard the boys talking about you. Jenny commented about it, too.”
The idea of so many people talking about her caused Venable to want to shrink down and run away. What were they talking? That meant they noticed her, and Wilhemina didn’t usually enjoy being noticed. “That is… odd.”
“It’s not, though.” She has this worry dimple between her eyebrows… Billie Dean hadn’t seen it in a while. Perhaps not at all today—saving from when they were in the plane. “They were all commenting on how beautiful you are. I’m sure a lot of people think that way.”
Venable looked away. Her shoulders began caving in, but she didn’t feel the need to close herself with Billie Dean. Weirdly enough, she felt safe to explore her thoughts; to say them out loud. Billie’s eyes were still glued on her. Once again, Billie Dean was right. Wilhemina did need to hear that more. She had a whole life to make up to. “I… I don’t know what to t-tell you.” It was the honest answer.
“You don’t have to tell me anything.” With her free arm, Billie Dean reached for Wilhemina. She couldn’t reach her, so she turned her palm up and rested it against the table; a silent invitation. Venable’s brown eyes lingered on it before she hesitantly reached for her hand. Billie Dean smiled and squeezed it, feeling Wilhemina slightly squeezing her own back. They looked at each other, and the corners of Venable’s lips turned up. There she is. “So… can I say we’re friends, now?” She teased after a minute.
Venable let out a small chuckle. “Yes.” She nodded. And then she gulped and decided for once, she would open up with someone she felt she could trust. It could be a mistake, yes, but it could also be a good decision. And right now, Wilhemina felt it was the later. “I have never… done that, you know?”
“That what?” Billie Dean’s thumb was back at caressing Venable’s hand.
“Pizza… with a friend.” Wilhemina shrugged. Her eyes fell back down to their hands, paying attention to how Billie’s nails shone under the bright light above them. “Sharing a room… almost like a sleepover.” Venable shook her head after a second. “I’m sorry, this is stupid.”
“It’s not,” Billie Dean quickly said. She shook her head and waited for Wilhemina to look back at her; when she did, she smiled sadly. “It’s not,” Billie repeated. She looks so vulnerable. It was hard not to get up and give Venable a tight hug.
The thumb caressing her hand made it hard to keep her facade up. The touch was so comforting it nearly made Wilhemina forget about all of her fears. Nearly. Her eyes wanted to get teary, but Venable held it back. “Thank you,” it came nearly in a whisper. She took a deep breath. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. “I—“ Wilhemina cleared her throat and sat up a little better. “I’m working on the report as you told me to.”
That’s my cue to stop. Billie Dean was slowly learning to read Wilhemina. She nodded. “That’s good. Your work is always impressive.”
“Thank you.” Gently, Venable pulled her hand away from Billie Dean’s. She let it rest on her lap once again. Silence made itself home between them.
Now this is awkward. Billie Dean didn’t want to make Wilhemina feel uncomfortable. So she tried finding a subject to talk about; that was the first time things got awkward between them. She needs to get used to being called beautiful. Billie would make that her personal mission. Why? She didn’t know. “Was your house alright after I went there?”
Venable nodded. That was safe to talk about. “Yes. It is as if nothing had ever been there.”
“That’s good.” Billie Dean smiled a little. I brought her here after everything that happened. She had forgotten about it. “Before we leave for the set later, I want to put a protection on you.”
Wilhemina frowned. “What for?”
“Whatever is in that house.” Billie Dean watched how Venable kept on frowning. She took a quiet, deep breath. “I know you don’t believe in me… most people don—“
“I do,” Wilhemina cut her. Billie Dean arched an eyebrow and allowed her to proceed. Venable licked her lips as she thought. “I think I do… I don’t know. I don’t don’t believe you. I just—I don’t know. It’s confusing.”
Confusing.That was a start. And certainly more than most people were willing to give Billie Dean. “It is.”
Venable nodded. “That night… that same putrid smell and cold feeling surrounded me in my own house. I can’t explain it… but you can.” Wilhemina was a logical person. And Billie Dean’s philosophy made logical sense in that situation. Venable bit her inner cheek as she thought for a second. Billie Dean kept on listening, allowing her to take her time. It wasn’t easy to come to terms with the other side, specially when you had lived a whole life without believing in it. “I’m learning,” Wilhemina finally said.
Billie Dean smiled to herself, small but genuine. She nodded. “Thank you.”
“What for?”
“Giving me a chance instead of calling me insane.” Billie shrugged.
She has a past, too. Wilhemina wouldn’t pry. I can’t deal with people opening up… but I think I could deal with her. Venable felt like she could, maybe, comfort Billie Dean to a degree. I’m being conceited. She pushed the idea to the side. “I don’t like to judge.”
“Me neither.” And still… Billie Dean was aware they had both done that to each other.
“Are you sure you’ll be alright tonight?”
“I think so,” Billie nodded. It was, once again, heartwarming how much Wilhemina cared about her well-being. No one else in the crew did. “I’ll come prepared.”
Venable nodded. “You can…” She started, hesitantly. “You should call me if you don’t feel alright.”
When was the last time someone had said it to Billie Dean and actually meant it? With no second intentions, with no eyes on any prize? I can’t remember. People didn’t treat her as human anymore, not for a long time, now. Venable’s words caused her eyes to grow misty. “I…” She bit her lower lip. “Can I give you a hug?”
A hug? That was unexpected. And certainly not the most comfortable thing for Venable. But Billie Dean’s eyes were shimmering with tears, and she stared at Wilhemina like she was the eight wonder of the world. After a minute, she nodded. And Billie Dean quickly got up and went to her side. Wilhemina barely had time to get up on her feet before two arms were tightly wrapped around her, caressing her lower back dangerously close to her crooked spine. Please don’t go up. She tried focusing on how Billie’s body felt, on how she smelled and how tight her hug was. I don’t think I’ve ever been hugged like that. The unfamiliar yet absolutely comforting sensation it provided was enough for Venable to allow herself to stay there a little longer, battling the thoughts about Billie Dean’s hands slipping up. They were steady on her lower back, after all. As she forced herself to relax, her head fell down on Billie Dean’s shoulder. Venable took a deep breath. Floratta Blue. It was becoming familiar. Her fingertips caressed Billie Dean’s back where no one would ever touch her own, feeling the straight curvature of it. It was so different. It was everything she had ever wanted.
She feels good. When Billie Dean’s chest felt better, she slowly pulled away. Her hands now caressed Wilhemina’s arms, lavander still clouded her senses. “Thank you, Wilhemina.”
“You don’t have to keep thanking me, Billie Dean.” Venable’s mouth had gone dry. Her body nearly trembled, and she could feel Billie’s breath tickling her skin. Now, with the hands on her arms instead of her back, she relaxed a tiny bit more.
“I do, though.” Billie Dean scanned Wilhemina’s face, taking in every single detail; from her almond, dark brown eyes, to her beautiful nose and plump lips. She’s an work of art. It was insane to think that woman standing in front of her didn’t allow herself to take a compliment.
“Nonsense,” Venable’s voice was a little lower, now, for they were close. Her hands slipped down to a more comfortable position and ended up resting on Billie Dean’s hips. She gulped. They reminded her of her fantasy. And of Emma. Emma. Billie Dean kept those kind eyes glued on her.
I want to kiss her, the thought came flying through Billie Dean’s mind. And she realized Jenny had been right—mostly right. She didn’t only have the so called ‘hots’ for Wilhemina; she was, maybe, perhaps, possibly falling for her. Fuck. Billie was the one to gulp, now. Her body refused to move, and the hands on her hips only made it harder for it to do so. And it only got harder and harder, for she caught Venable’s eyes falling down to her lips. “Wilhe—“ Billie Dean’s words were cut by the buzzing of the bell on their door. Quickly, they pulled away. “It’s—it’s the pizza. I’ll go get it.”
“Okay.” Wilhemina looked down. She took a deep breath as Billie Dean walked to the door, trying to collect herself and her rapidly beating heart. Her palms were sweating. It didn’t feel like that with Emma. She didn’t know how it had felt with Emma, but it wasn’t like that. Clearing her throat, Venable sat back down. Her phone vibrated in her pocket, and she grabbed it to see a notification from Emma. ’I want to know everything about it when you’re back! Those rooms sound good.’ Wilhemina barely processed the text. She took another deep breath before texting her back: ’I’ll tell you. And they are. How’s work?’
“Hey,” Billie Dean walked back into the living room, placing their food and two plates along with some silverware on top of the table. She smiled. She’s texting someone. Asking who it was was definitely prying.
Wilhemina sent the message and put her phone back into her pocket. She offered a smile back at Billie Dean, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw her face. That was the woman she had just hugged and stared at the lips of. That gorgeous creature. She’s a friend. That’s why it felt different than with Emma. Besides, she’s straight. It made sense. “Hi.” She looked over to the food, and only then she realized how huge the box of pizza was. “This is massive.”
“I know, right?” Billie Dean chuckled. “More for us.” She winked playfully before sitting down. “I got us some orange soda, I hope that’s alright? I forgot to order, but they brought it along just in case. I figured I’d take it.”
That damn wink. Wilhemina found it funny. “It’s alright.” She didn’t necessarily drank soda, but she also didn’t didn’t drink it. It was a surprise Billie Dean did, though; she seemed just so fancy, not the kind to appreciate that kind of thing.
“Perfect, then.” Billie Dean reached for a napkin and opened the box. The pizza smelled heavenly, full of cheese and with steam raising up. She hummed. “Do you want me to get you a slice?”
“Of course.” Wilhemina held her plate up. Carefully, Billie Dean placed a slice on it. “Thank you.” She reached for the silverware and began to cut the piece, careful not to make a mess.
Billie Dean watched Venable from the corner of her eyes. Her heart was only now going back to its normal speed. After getting herself some pizza, Billie reached for it with a napkin. She took a first bite. “Hm…” She hummed. Wilhemina looked up at her and let out a small chuckle. Billie Dean smiled a little. “What?”
“I’m just thinking,” Venable shook her head. She took a first bite; it was delicious. Billie Dean is a magnet for good food.
“What about? I like your thoughts.” Billie took another bite. It was true; Venable had a way of thinking that was different from almost everyone she had ever met. Almost.
Ignoring her tinting cheeks, Wilhemina reached for a napkin and wiped her mouth clean. She shouldn’t be talking that much; shouldn’t be opening up and allowing herself to be so vulnerable. But Billie Dean simply made her feel that way. And it was hard to stop it, especially when Venable was getting so good at ignoring her tormenting thoughts around her. “It ties to what we were talking about earlier… you know, how we judge people. I just didn’t expect you to be that way.”
Wilhemina was a smart woman, that was no secret. But Billie Dean appreciated that her intelligence didn’t stop at the books. “What way?” Billie reached to pour them some soda.
Venable pushed her glass closer. “Thank you.” She licked her lips clean. “And, like that. Eating pizza with your hands and all.”
“Oh?” Billie Dean chuckled. “You expected me to be all posh and stuff?”
“Perhaps…”
Billie Dean laughed as she finished filling Wilhemina’s glass. She set the bottle aside. “I can be. But not when I feel comfortable.”
She’s comfortable with me. Why that notion was so weird to Venable was foreign to her. “That’s not a critic,” she clarified.
“I know.” Billie took another bite. She smiled to herself. “You should give it a try.”
Venable took a sip of the soda. It was overwhelmingly sweet and not as good as she remembered it to be. “To what?”
“Eating pizza with your hands.” Billie Dean smiled cheekily. “It’s a path you can’t go back.”
“Sounds dangerous,” Wilhemina laughed softly.
“Oh, it is.” Billie Dean set her slice aside and reached for another one, wrapping it in a napkin. “Are you ready to take that step?” She stared deeply into Venable’s eyes, trying to stay serious while the corners of her lips kept on turning up.
Once again, Wilhemina laughed. It was safe to say it had been a while ever since she felt so light and carefree. “I don’t know. Am I?”
Billie hummed. “I think so.”
“If you say so…” Venable reached for the slice. Billie Dean wiggled her fingers playfully, laughing sweetly. Wilhemina slowly took a bite.
“See? Magical.”
She might be the coolest person I’ve ever met. Not because Billie Dean was famous, or had money. But because she was herself. She wasn’t scared of being judged. It was something to be admired. “It is good… I feel myself changing, already,” she teased.
“A whole new woman.” Billie Dean reached for her slice and took a bite, smiling cheekily at Wilhemina.
With a chuckle, Venable took another bite. Sauce fell down her chin and, this time, she didn’t think anyone would be making fun of her. Instead, she laughed, loud and honest. “Oh no.”
Billie Dean reached for a clean napkin, leaning closer to wipe Wilhemina’s face clean. As she did so, she kept on chuckling. “See? It’s a path of no return.”
“Thank you,” Venable murmured. She took another sip of soda and reached for the slice again. She took another bite. Eating food with her hands was so odd, she had to admit she was struggling a little. The slice kept on bending down.
Billie Dean watched her quietly, smile settled on her lips. She looks like she’s not from this world. Maybe she wasn’t. At least not from the world Billie Dean had been used to. I want to know more.“Have you ever been to McDonald’s?”
“McDonald’s?” Wilhemina looked up at her with a frown. “I don’t think so, no.”
Billie Dean gasped a little. “Never?” she asked, even though she had expected that answer.
“No…” The reaction caused Venable to feel inadequate. She knew she hadn’t had a, quote on quote, normal experience in life. She didn’t need to be reminded of that. “The food looks horrible,” she said, mostly because it was true, but also because she felt like she had a valid reason for having never been there and she wanted to somehow defend herself.
Uh-oh. Even though subtle, Billie Dean saw the way Wilhemina pushed her chest up and the way her voice grew sterner. I can’t risk her closing up again. It had taken a lot of work to have Venable feel this comfortable with her, Billie didn’t want to make that feeling go away. “You’re right,” she nodded. “I just assumed everyone had been there at least once. It’s almost cultural, you know?” Wilhemina nodded and took another bite, not saying anything. Billie Dean licked her lips. “I like it that you haven’t,” she quickly said. This time, Venable frowned. Think, Billie Dean. “It makes it more fun for when I take you there.” She opened a cheeky smile and watched as Wilhemina’s face softened up.
Against Venable’s wishes, she smiled a little. “Take me there?”
Billie Dean nodded. “Now that I know you haven’t tried it, it’s my duty to make you consume those delicious toxins.” The words got her a chuckle from Wilhemina. Thank God.
“Do you even like it?”
“I love it.” Billie Dean chuckled. “It’s my biggest guilty pleasure.”
Venable was not expecting that. Billie Dean was definitely nothing she had expected; she was a regular person, with regular interests and regular ways of being. She’s not regular at all, though. Billie Dean was someone you couldn’t meet twice, that Wilhemina was sure of. But in a good way. In a way she had never thought people could make her feel. “I won’t tell anyone,” she teased softly.
“Thank you.” Billie Dean took another sip of the soda. “Tomorrow, then. It’s settled.”
“McDonald’s tomorrow?”
“Yep. After we wrap-up.” Billie reached for another slice. So did Wilhemina. She’s using a napkin instead of silverware. Billie Dean did tell her it was a path of no return.
“Alright.” Venable nodded. She kept on smiling to herself, for everything was just so… good. She was having pizza with a friend for the first time in her life, traveling by plane and sharing a room, too. And even though it was late to be having simple firsts, Wilhemina found herself at peace with it; she was at peace, because it was with Billie Dean. And right now, Venable didn’t think anyone else would have made these firsts so nice. Even though it was cliché and Wilhemina absolutely despised it, for the first time she was able to believe things happened as they should.
Is this a date? Billie Dean found herself stupid for even considering that. They were friends. That was all. And Emma was interested in Wilhemina, so there was just no way. They were friends. Friends. She finished her slice and leaned back on the chair. She was absolutely full. “That was delicious.”
Wilhemina nodded as she drank the last of her soda. She looked over to the box; more than half of the enormous pizza was still there. “We’ll have it for dinner, too.”
“Yeah.” Billie Dean looked over as well. “I definitely don’t mind it.”
“Me either.” Wilhemina felt her phone vibrating in her back pocket. She reached for it only to see another notification from Emma. ’Work is boring… I like to watch you from time to time and I can’t do that today.’ along with the message, Emma had sent her an emoji of a monkey covering its eyes. Then, she sent another text. ’That sounded weird. But it’s because I like to watch you work… you’re pretty when you’re concentrated.’ Wilhemina’s cheeks grew hot, and she didn’t realize her lips were forming into a smile while she stared down at the tiny screen in her hands.
Billie Dean raised a teasing eyebrow. “Is that Emma?” Even though she asked it, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer.
Quickly, Venable looked back at her. Her cheeks grew even hotter. Shit. Fuck. “She’s just—just letting me know how work is.”
“Mhm.” Billie Dean smirked as she kept on staring at Wilhemina, whom kept on blushing. “Do you like her?” If was prying, Billie knew it. Even asking if the person Venable was talking to had been. But Billie Dean couldn’t stop herself.
Venable scoffed out of instinct. She set her phone back inside her pocket. And then she thought of an answer. Did she like Emma? She didn’t know. She thought she did but now… she wasn’t so sure. And that was none of Billie Dean’s business, frankly. It was uncomfortable to talk about it with Billie; or at least ‘uncomfortable’ was the closest she could think of to what she was feeling. “I don’t think I want to talk about it.”
Billie Dean felt herself wanting to push on the manner. She felt restless. Curious. Calm down.Wilhemina was still a friend. She nodded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s okay.” Venable had began to build her walls again. She felt the roughness coming back inside, and she hated it. Her eyes fell down to her lap.
I crossed the line. Billie Dean decided it was best to leave Wilhemina alone. And she also wanted to be alone for a minute. I need to rest for later. “I’ll go rest for tonight… save some energy.”
Weird. “Alright.” Venable looked up to Billie Dean. Something had shifted between them.
“Call me if you need anything.” Billie got up and closed the pizza box. And then, she made her way to the door of her bedroom. Before getting inside, however, she looked back at Wilhemina. “Before we leave, don’t let me forget to put that protection on you.”
“I won’t.”
Billie Dean nodded and closed the door. Now, in solitude, she let out a groan. I don’t want to think about it. So she wouldn’t. To make matters worse, they hadn’t even touched the ice cream.
27 notes
·
View notes