Disclaimer: Game of Thrones is D&D's property, after being GRRM's property. Or else, Lancel would be the happiest kid in Westeros, should it be mine.

Summary: It had started with a simple and harmless enough talk between those two.

WARNING! THIS STORY CONTAINS THEMES SUCH AS SEXUALITY, A MALE PAIRING ( A MAN LOVING ANOTHER MAN ). IF YOU DO NOT FEEL AT EASE WITH THOSE, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SKIP TO ANOTHER STORY.

The power of words

Chapter 1

With a small moan of delight, Theon Greyjoy stretched his arms above his head, eyes closed, enjoying the fresh air and the warm sun after hours of lectures. He enjoyed college life, he liked his studies well enough, but being outside, living life was so much better than any classes he could take, even on his favourite subjects. They'd never match the beauty of the sea, the warmth of summer, the sweet laughter of a woman. He checked his watch.

"I should go, I'll be late to the archery club."

He smiled. He loved that place. He had always loved archery and he had managed to talk most of his friends into it. Robb had joined, just to try. He liked archery but was more into sword fighting. In the end, his brains and his health allowed him to join both. On weekends, the club was opened to outsiders and usually, his little brother Bran came along with Arya and Rickon. Theon suspected Bran to have a thing for Meera Reed, another member of the club. That was kind of cute. However, he was glad Ramsay had been expelled from campus. While he was excellent at archery, the guy was creepy, he was known for being cruel and several girls had reported him for his behaviour towards them. Theon could understand a man trying to flirt with a girl. He knew the feeling all too well, charming a lady, make her fall for you, making her having a good time and after a while, just sailing away, keeping in mind the good memories, was a sport he enjoyed. Of course, he never hid from the girls he charmed he wasn't meant to be a long relationship. He was just a provider of short but intense moments. And when a girl told him to stop because she was uneasy with his words, he apologized, left her in peace, remained cordial and friendly, but never crossing the friendzone's border, unless and until the girl allowed him to. There was a limit between wooing a lady and actually being a freak.

A familiar voice broke him in his thoughts as he was walking to the club.

"I really need to get going, I'll be late."

"You're so lame! College teachers don't care if you arrive late."

"They don't, but I do."

"That's why you're a loser."

The voice belonged to a young man he had always known, only from afar: Lancel Lannister.

Lancel was actually Robb's age, despite him looking younger. Theon had always known him, or at least got him in his sight, because Sansa, Robb's sister, used to date Joffrey. And Lancel, on top of being in his little crew, was his mother's first cousin, making them cousins once removed, despite being only three years apart. Theon had never really given much thought about Lancel. He was just there. Another student, another Lannister, another rather bland man with not a pinch of actual strength of character. He was talking to Joffrey, who was still attending high school. After all, Lancel had just graduated from it. And from what he could see, the conversation wasn't pleasant, at least for the freshman. Theon admitted that Lancel had never struck him as a mean spirited person. He was actually known for his faith in the Seven Gods, for how he actually attending the weekly service and, in his last high school year, he had started to help the local church with small missions, like helping with charities on his spare time. He also had a reputation in being a skilled babysitter, good with kids, kids liking him and him actually enjoying his time with them. His last year of high school had actually been the year of change for him. From the pompous, humourless, arrogant prick to the actually likable but bland young man. The car accident he had suffered from and his health issues afterwards had really made him reconsider his life and his change was slow but real. Theon even suspected his present self to be what he had always been on the inside, yet, for some reason, he had buried it deep when in the outside world.

"That boy is dumb." Theon thought. "If he dislikes Joffrey, why does he remain friends with him?"

He didn't deny the courage it had taken for him to change and start anew, still, in his mind, Lancel was either stupid or a masochist, if he disliked Joffrey and his actions and still maintained a relationship with him. Yes, they were family, but they didn't need to be friends. Theon had always hated his own two older brothers and the fact that they tragically died in an accident didn't change his point of view. Lancel walked by him, not even granting him an eye contact, something Theon didn't care about. They weren't friends, he didn't owe him anything.

"Wait... Does he actually have friends?" He froze, suddenly realizing that Lancel was perhaps alone and that remaining with Joffrey could actually allow him to have the ersatz of friendships

He wondered then why the thought crossed his mind and why he cared.

They didn't know each other, they only knew what rumours and reputations told of the other. And they clearly were opposites. So why bother? Sighing, Theon resumed walking, hoping shooting some arrows would take this unpleasant thoughts out of his brain.

XXXXX

Laying on his bed, Theon threw a pillow against the wall out of frustration. Lancel was still on his mind, making him wonder why he suddenly cared so much about him, about a Lannister. The guy already had everything money could buy, why bother? But Sansa's words were still echoing in his mind. She had joined Robb and him for dinner, along with Robb's siblings, and, to get informations without looking like he did, he simply told Sansa he had seen her ex talking with Lancel earlier. Sansa's face had gone from quietness to sadness.

"I'm not surprised." She said. "Lancel certainly maintains the appearance of a friendship with Joffrey to buy himself peace from his family. Cersei won't say Joffrey is isolated because people are jealous and that his cousins, close in age, could help."

"Why does he care? It's just family."

"Family is really important for the Lannisters. Besides, as long as Jaime or Tyrion don't have children of their own, Joffrey could be Tywin's heir for the company. They need to appear as if they were close or stick together for the public image. After the Lannister name was rebuilt, Tywin won't let anyone tarnish it, especially not family members by showing internal war. Besides, Lancel actually is friendless. And he knows it. He knows he's only a ticket to enter Joffrey's circle. So, he simply tries to be a good nephew helping his uncle."

"How do you know so much about it?"

"Lancel and I talked about it. Last year, after his accident, he actually came to me and apologized for all the bad or mean things he might have done to me or said to me, under Joffrey's influence. He knows he has a brain, he has a part on this, but leaving Joffrey isn't exactly easy. You know how he is."

Okay, so Lancel was trapped in a fake and abusive friendship out of duty but also fear. That sucked hard for him. Still, there wasn't any need for him to be that concerned.

Until it hit him.

He was concerned because he actually related to Lancel.

There were more alike that he thought.

Actually, there were so alike he wondered how he had missed it.

Theon had been friendless for a long time, until Robb had showed up in his life, not caring one bit about his insular origins and culture.

Theon too actually buried some parts of him inside when he was outside, so he'd appear like someone else, because appearances mattered.

Theon too knew all too well how it was, living under the rule of a domestic tyrant. Of course, in Lancel's case, it was his uncle, but his father and his uncle got on so well, Lancel rebelling could cause issues between the brothers.

Theon too simply wanted to live his dreams, to find a place to belong, have a normal life, away from troubles, doing what he liked, being himself.

And he had started to do that when Robb entered into his world, making him feel safe and confident enough.

Lancel was all alone.

He was no angel but he didn't deserve to feel lonely, trapped.

He sighed.

"I'll regret this but... Oh well, at least, no one will be mad at me for trying to be nice."

He turned off the lights, forcing himself to sleep, but his determination kept burning as he drifted into slumber:

He, a Greyjoy kraken, would try and befriend a Lannister lion.

Just like Robb tried with him, so many years ago.

It was time he did the same.

To Be Continued