Prologue
Arya
Present Day
The morning sun rose high in the skies of Braavos as twenty-four-year-old Arya Stark basked under its rays for the last time before leaving for King's Landing after years of university studies abroad.
She was clad in her favorite black neoprene bikini that emphasized her toned body and her now sun-kissed glowing skin.
She had her circular mandala-designed beach blanket splayed on the shore as she laid there for some time while enjoying the summer-like heat. It was the tropical weather Arya loved most about this wonderful country, along with its pristine white-sand beaches.
As she was relaxing under the lazy azure skies, she also took time contemplating on the things that had happened in the past years. She'd already considered Braavos her personal paradise and second home. It was here where she'd learned to become more independent, especially after she broke up with her first boyfriend.
When she ended things between them, she vowed to become stronger and more independent, never needing any man to make her life complete. She kept herself busy by investing her time in improving her mental and physical health. She also broadened her perspective of life by reading more books, or going on solo backpack travels to other remote coastal islands surrounding Braavos. She also frequented the beach, either by lounging under the eternal summer sun or surfing the waves with her friends.
She was already so used to this kind of laid-back lifestyle that the thought of departing her second home made her desolate. She would be going back to King's Landing the following day, which meant that she was getting back to the real world. Back to where she'd eventually have to face the reality she'd been avoiding.
It was her parents who insisted she came back because she was offered something she couldn't very well refuse: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be the head interior designer to Robert Baratheon's newest hotel in King's Landing, and she'd been Uncle Robert's first choice so backing out was not an option.
Having to establish a name in the world of design meant gaining every experience she could find, so she grabbed this opportunity for her first exposure, along with the resolve of someday coming home to Braavos for good after all of this was done.
She'd be willing to come back to King's Landing just once for this project, despite the inevitable fact that she would also have to face everything and everyone, eventually.
The thought of the Baratheon family name clouded her mind with all the flashbacks of a particular Baratheon she knew too well.
Her thoughts drifted back to him unwillingly. Of how he'd always made her heart flutter whenever random thoughts of him would cross her mind. His piercing blue eyes and those sensual lips hungrily devouring hers for what seemed like a lifetime ago led her to an unending state of trance filled with raw, pulsating desire.
He was the sole reason why Arya realized how deeply her heart was capable of loving after she finally acknowledged her true feelings for him.
He was still, and always had been, her heart's true desire.
Right before she could delve into the deepest memories of him, her silent reverie was interrupted when her friends, Brea, Cara and Mycah, crowded before her, blocking her from the sunlight.
"There you are! We've been looking all over for you!" Mycah exclaimed as he threw himself beside her on the blanket while Cara and Brea snuggled onto her other side. They were all clad in their swimsuits and board shorts, ready to join her in what would be her last moments at the beach.
Over the years that they'd become close friends, it had become a routine for the four of them to spend long hours of their mornings or afternoons at the beach.
Arya removed her aviator sunglasses and gave them a playful glare.
"Where else do you think I'd be? You know I'm always here at this time of the day." She feigned innocence, shrugging her shoulders casually.
"Oh, you know, we thought you'd be somewhere inside that own world of yours again thinking about hi—" Mycah told her with teasing sarcasm before Arya interrupted him.
"It's a good day to go out there and surf the waves, don't you think, guys?" She interjected with the intent of changing the topic.
Brea only rolled her eyes, looking at her with that knowing smirk. After all, she'd been the only one who had first-hand knowledge of her history with him.
"Then you should definitely catch the waves one last time before you go back to that personal hellhole that is King's Landing. What are you still doing here on land, love?" Cara winked playfully, bumping her shoulder with hers.
Arya released a sigh as reality crashed her hyped-up mood.
Right. King's Landing.
"On second thought, maybe I should savor first all the fresh salty air for the last time. I'm afraid something like this is going to be nonexistent in King's Landing."
"But you'll be back, right? You're going to really make me miss you so bad, you know." Cara told her sadly.
"I'll be back, I promise. I just need to finish this project and then I'll be back. For good." She assured her.
Arya had been friends with them for quite some time now. Mycah and Brea, she'd met back at King's Landing during their high school years, while she met Cara during her first year at the university.
"I know, it's just that, I can't believe that you're finally going back to King's Landing after all these years." Said Cara. She slumped her shoulders as she met her eyes, "What if you're going to bump into each other there? Which, I reckon, is a great possibility, given how close your families are."
There's no need for second guessing to know who exactly Cara meant with her statement.
It was a huge probability indeed, what with her soon-to-be project with his famous father.
A long sigh escaped her lips as she shook her head, "Then I just hope I'm strong enough to finally face him. After all these years of running and hiding away from him."
She honestly didn't know what to do if that ever happened.
It was more than two years ago when she'd learned of his official relationship with Jeyne Heddle. Brea had stumbled upon it online and feeling the need to let Arya know, she'd let her read the entire news article.
The moment she knew the truth, she couldn't help but cry herself to sleep that night despite feeling so stupid at the fact that he'd never really been hers to begin with. Not when she'd left him after saying what she thought was her goodbye.
Her friends were most especially aware of the history revolving between the two of them. They all knew how strongly she felt about him even and what he truly meant to her.
"Hey!" Mycah snapped his fingers before Arya's face as she found herself lost in her thoughts again. "Are you sure you're going to be alright?" Came his worried question.
Arya looked up at him and flashed a faint, defeated smile.
"I'll be fine. I'm all grown up now. I can handle this." She affirmed, albeit dryly, shifting her gaze at the sparkling blue sea as she squinted her eyes to focus her blurry vision.
Finally answering to the invisible call of the waves, she slowly stood up and stretched her arms, allowing the cool sea breeze to caress her bronzed skin and run through her waist-length beach hair for the last time.
Turning back to look at them, she said invitingly, "Alright. It's time. Come on, guys, the ocean awaits!"
The day of Arya's departure from Braavos finally came.
The picturesque view from the window of the train carriage was so overwhelming that it left her painstakingly breathless. She'd always marveled at the wide stretch of the lavender fields whenever the train would pass by this part of the countryside on the way back to the capital.
She preferred travelling through train instead of taking the plane because there was just something about the lavender fields and in nature itself that calmed her down. She badly needed this kind of visual therapy because she had a lot of feelings to process at the moment.
If anything, she already felt like a complete stranger to the very city she grew up in the moment she stepped foot on Westerosi soil, especially because she'd already found her comfort zone in Braavos.
Arya had been sitting in the train for a good four hours already, contemplating yet again. She didn't quite mind, however, the long journey back as long as it afforded her a lot more time to think back on the reasons why she'd gone away in the first place.
She wanted a permanent distraction to the growing feelings she'd been feeling for her best friend. They had met and known each other in the middle of her high school junior term, and even before they got closer, she already found herself attracted to him. He had been very striking in all means –both physically and intellectually.
The old, immature Arya Stark never would've admitted to these strong feelings, thinking that it'd make her weaker if she'd soften up and acknowledge them. But now that she was older and wiser, she'd long since learned how to keep these feelings and nurture them until the time was right for her to show them to the person who was deserving.
Never mind if it wouldn't be with him.
Although she learned never to settle for anyone less, she also wouldn't want to waste her time hoping for a sliver of possibility between them, not when she knew that he was already stuck in another relationship with someone else. She didn't want to put herself in between him and his current lover.
She'd give the justice her heart deserved, and would be willing to open up if someone was also willing to try. Only, it might take longer since she wanted to be more careful with whom she'd give her heart to this time.
Apart from running away from that one person who'd taken a large chunk of her heart with him, Arya had also been avoiding the limelight and the attention that came with being a part of one of the country's most prominent families. The media had been nothing but relentless when it came to comparing her to some of King's Landing's socialites. The elite upper-class who knew nothing but glorify themselves in their fame.
Arya was sick of it all so she decided to stay away and live the life she'd longed for. She'd long since known that life didn't always revolve around being famous. The socialites and the social climbers could have all the attention and the limelight they like. As for her, she just wanted to live a quiet and normal life away from the inevitable drama that came with the luxury and glamour.
In the middle of her silent reverie, a familiar song from her playlist suddenly started playing as she listened to the music with her earphones. It was played by one of her favorite bands. And unfortunately for her, she was reminded of him yet again.
It reminded her of the first time they met serendipitously inside a subway train they were both boarding many years ago, and how she immediately found herself drawn to the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen.
Blue eyes.
Black hair.
Massive frame.
Strong hands.
She bit her lip as though it might help with the increasing beat of her heart before she let those thoughts drift away. It was not the time to get hung up on him again. Not when she'd be working with his father on a project anytime soon.
Heaving a deep sigh, she continued to stare blankly outside the window. The train was now passing by the crystal blue seas that surrounded the capital, an indication that she was closer to her destination.
She didn't really tell her family that she was coming home today, save for her two older brothers. She'd told her parents that she would be home the following week as she didn't exactly want them to prepare something grand for her homecoming.
Robb and Jon disapproved of her idea at first but eventually agreed to her decision after guilt-tripping them.
Much to her dismay, however, it just so happened that the same day she was arriving in King's Landing was also the same day her family was having a charity luncheon back at their penthouse apartment.
She cringed at the idea of having to face those guests in their private residence. She'd rather go straight to Jon's apartment where she would be temporarily staying while she was looking for a smaller place to rent, instead of stopping by to meet her parents at the party but Jon had heavily insisted.
"It's been a long time since you've been gone, Arya. The whole family would want to see you first. Just do it for them." Jon had told her over the phone earlier. "I can't wait to see you myself. So, you better be there." He'd added which made her smile despite herself, lifting her sullen mood.
She was about to say something back to him when he'd continued, "You know I'm not the only one who's been looking forward to seeing you." There was a serious air in his tone. "Why didn't you tell him you'd be back?"
Arya couldn't help but scoff on the other line. "It's not like he cares." Came her cold, stubborn statement, the smile instantly sliding off from her face.
"He is still your best friend." Her brother had stated matter-of-factly.
"Was." She'd corrected, bitterness evident in her tone.
"He still cares for you; did you know that?" Jon had confessed.
"Just give it a rest, Jon." There was finality in her statement that made Jon finally shut up. She hadn't been expecting this conversation, not especially from him. Yes, he was her closest brother, but when it came to matters of the heart, she usually kept to herself.
It became apparent that Jon had gotten close to him right after she left for Braavos with the way that he was always talking about him.
The train finally stopped, pulling her away from her thoughts.
Stuffing her earphones inside her leather black satchel, she finally prepared to get off the train. She was only carrying a satchel and an overnight bag during her travel since she already had most of her luggage sent to Jon's apartment days prior to her arrival. She badly wanted her homecoming to be as inconspicuous as possible to avoid the prying eyes of the media.
The train station was milling about with people from all walks of life as Arya took some time to stop at the balcony that overlooked the entire stretch of the grand lobby. It was the same lobby with intricate white marble columns, designed with Roman leaf patterns, a sight to behold even until now.
A sigh of relief slipped from her lips. At least she didn't bump into a familiar face this time. She doubted if anyone would recognize her as a Stark highborn, especially when she chose to wear something simple and inconsequential.
She was wearing a soft white sheer button-down underneath her black pinstripe jacket with a gray scarf around her neck and tight blue skinny jeans. For her shoes, she opted to wear pointed black flats. She then had her hair tied up in a messy bun.
She'd been wearing her black-rimmed nerdy glasses during the train ride–a new addition to her daily ensemble after being diagnosed with vision problems, but she'd taken them off the moment the train halted in favor of clear contacts. She didn't really want her family to know she already had four eyes after being away for too long.
She took the taxi on the way to their apartment which was at the heart of the capital.
When she set foot near the entrance of the building, she wasn't expecting the large group of the media and paparazzi trying to sneak inside to probably get some scoop about her family's on-going charity luncheon.
Knowing full well the impertinent inquisitions of the media, she motioned to make a quick detour at the back entrance of their apartment building. But when she was finally about to make a turn at the corner, someone from the crowd had unfortunately recognized her. There was a mixture of surprise and confusion in their faces.
With the rate of the camera flashes coming her way, she was certain that she'd surely make it to the tabloids the next day. One even tried to grab her physically just to bombard her with the most ridiculous of questions, but she was lucky enough to be saved by the lobby attendant who spotted her and immediately ushered her inside toward the elevators.
The sight of the unknown sea of people made her slightly wince the moment she entered their enormous penthouse apartment, which was actually the entire top floor of the building.
"I thought parties were your cup of tea?" Was Jon's way of greeting her.
Arya gave him a pained look as her brother sauntered toward her direction. "I used to think all parties are cool. But then I see these pretentious hypocrites and I suddenly want to spend the rest of my days in an island devoid of people." She finally gave him a smile, bringing herself closer for a warm hug.
It had been a while since she'd seen Jon.
"I miss you too, Arya." Jon told her, tightening his hug.
Pulling away from him, she looked around him. "Where's Ygritte?"
"She won't be able to make it. There was an emergency at the hospital and she's the only surgeon around." He retorted.
Ygritte was Jon's long-time girlfriend who lived with him in his apartment.
Jon kept Arya company as they stood in a quiet corner of the apartment as if they were two kindred outsiders who'd met each other while attending some lavish, formal gathering. They spent their time talking just about anything –from her life in Braavos, to her journey back to King's Landing.
A few minutes after catching up with Jon, she was finally spotted by her parents as they passed by their direction.
Bringing her to a tight embrace, her mother said with an air of surprise, "Arya, it's good to see you! You didn't tell us you'd be arriving today."
Arya could see her father smiling at her, too.
"This is indeed a surprise, sweetling." He said warmly as he hugged her.
They hadn't seen each other since her graduation, but nevertheless, she was happy that she was finally reconciled with her mother after she disappeared on them years ago to live in a faraway country and fend for herself.
Catching up with the rest of her family made her immediately exhausted, so she had to excuse herself to carefully make her way to her childhood room. She also wanted to avoid anyone else outside her family from trying to talk her into telling them about where she'd been all these years. She wasn't really in the mood for small talk and apart from the socializing, she was now feeling the weight of her long travel.
Slowly after slipping inside her room, she slid her back on the door before she released a deep sigh of relief.
"Shit." She cursed under her breath.
Her eyes scanned all over the room that was dimmed by the draped curtains and found that it was as how she had left it before.
She finally straightened herself and put her bags on the chaise longue, also taking the moment to remove the layers of her clothing little by little, starting with the scarf around her neck down to her jacket and then her shoes, when she noticed a tall figure standing by the window and looking through the view outside.
Not trusting her vision despite her contacts, she squinted her eyes to make sure that what she was seeing was real. His broad back was to her and she noted the stark-raven hair tied up in a man-bun.
She was blinded by the small amount of light gleaming through the slightly open curtains that she couldn't immediately distinguish to whom that face belonged to. He looked like an apparition to her as his entire body glowed under the blinding rays of the sunlight.
Finally, he turned around to face her and she was immediately engulfed by his searing stare. Those luring cerulean orbs were entrancing. Familiar. As if she'd seen those eyes lifetimes ago. If only she could adjust her vision that easily.
But then, her frantic heart did a somersault when his gaze penetrated through her soul as recognition finally sank in.
She was paper-white as she felt the blood drain from her face.
"Gendry?" Came her surprised question, sounding as if she was choking. "W-What are you doing here?"
Gendry never left his gaze on her. A familiar, dangerous look. One that she'd never forgotten even after all these years.
"I had to comply attending this event. I'm a Baratheon after all." His voice was cold and devoid of any other emotion other than his stolid gracefulness.
"I-I thought this was a charity luncheon hosted by my family." She said stupidly. Even Arya found herself uncertain of the words coming out from her mouth.
"Our families have the closest ties, so it's a given that we ought to be in this event after all. Or have you already forgotten?" He cocked his head to the side, his lip quirking up, albeit humorlessly.
"Oh…" Was all the response her suddenly dry mouth could utter.
"Yes. Oh…" He said, his raspy voice becoming more glacial.
As if he was an animal lurking its prey, he slowly sauntered toward her. A glass of something bubbly occupied the space on his right hand while his other hand was tucked inside his pocket.
"I've also been waiting for you to arrive, you know." He confessed, his voice steadily honest. "It's been awhile since I've seen you, or heard from you." He continued, closing what's left of the small distance between them.
Arya was altogether deemed speechless at the way he was handling the situation. He was dangerously calm. A side of him she'd always found intimidating.
"You were suddenly gone." He finally added.
She swallowed the lump on her throat as she felt the weight of her guilt for walking away from him five years ago.
Clearing her throat, she finally deigned to ask, "How did you know I was coming home today? I never told anyone else but Jon and Robb."
A dangerous and seductive low chortle escaped his lips. If anything, it was humorless. Just like the taunting smile he gave her.
"I didn't." Came his retort.
"Liar." Arya hissed. Aggravated at the thought of having her cover blown.
He finally put the glass of champagne on the corner table beside them and carefully pulled himself closer to her face with the promise of leaving her even more breathless.
Arya noted how much he'd improved. Physically. Because apart from his shoulder length hair tied in a top knot, he had also grown a full beard, from his jaw down to his entire chin.
He looked broader.
More massive.
Hulking.
Rippling.
As if the non-existent gods proved their existence by benevolently gifting him to her as a mocking challenge. One that could compromise the main reason why she'd come back to King's Landing.
He was wearing a tailored suit fit for a Baratheon heir, the color as dark as his very expression. So much different from the Gendry she'd known when she was but a teenager having a huge crush on him.
"You changed." He noted, his eyes scanning her gray ones before they traveled all over her face until his azure gaze was fixated on the lips that she was now biting out of habit.
"I haven't. I'm still the same." A lie, she knew. She'd changed more than she would allow herself to let on. And perhaps, it would be a mercy not to let him know how much she changed over the years.
"Liar." It was his turn to say that word, wrapped in a sensual whisper penetrating through her ear as he drew closer, already sharing the same breath as his as she felt his warmth ghosting over her lips.
Inviting.
Tempting.
Arya made the mistake of taking a huge intake of air as his scent infiltrated through her nostrils. He had the same invigorating scent of man, musk and Old Spice. A nostalgic scent that awakened her non-gastronomic appetites.
He always smelled so heavenly.
"You have a lot of explaining to do. After you practically disappeared on me years ago." He spoke again, his tone sounded berating, but in a seductive way. Probably for what she'd done to him.
She had to tell herself internally that the decision she'd made was all for the best.
Pushing away all thoughts of him out of her head, she finally reigned herself in and stood up straight. She blinked back to reality and moved a step away from him, allowing herself that cold distance once again.
"You should go back to her now. She's waiting for you outside." Arya coldly told him, changing the subject. She didn't really see his girlfriend at the luncheon, but that was the fastest excuse she could find.
Gendry held her gaze for a few more seconds before finally blinking back to his own reality.
"You're right. I should go." His words sounded like bitter pill in his mouth. She could tell. She wasn't sure whether to be happy or not that he finally gave up the urge to argue with her.
He motioned to move away from her, sauntering toward the door before he stopped, "Nice to see you again, too, Stark." Came his almost sarcastic headshot prior to finally closing the door, leaving her utterly breathless and wanting.
She knew she was bound to be fucked up the moment she set foot on the capital.