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: 18 years ago, Kevan and Dorna's firstborn son got taken away and despite their best efforts, he was never found. The couple had lost all hopes… Until a young man, with Kevan's smile, arrived in their younger sons' school.
Author's note: A huge thank you to Assassin Master Ezio 91 who helped in making the chapter guide and in brainstorming with me !
Author's note 2: English isn't my first language, it's french. If you see any mistake or issue with the language, feel free to tell me so that I can improve.
Author's note 3: Yes, Lancel's character here is a lot inspired by Emma Swan from Once Upon A Time.
WARNING! THIS FANFICTION CONTAINS MATURE THEMES SUCH AS ABUSE. IF THESE TRIGGER YOU, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SKIP THIS FANFICTION. THANK YOU.
The Lost Cub
Chapter 2
To almost everyone, the newcomer was quite the strange addition to the school. Of course, it was partly due to his story, an orphan found in a dumpster, who jumped from a home to another one, until he was almost of age. But what made him the strangest was his behaviour. He was cold. He never talked to anyone unless talked too. When he had one free minute, he started to study and seeing him with his nose outside of a book was a rare occurance.
"Lancel, is it?" A young teenager asked
He raised his head and met the gaze of a lovely young woman. Her blonde hair reminded him of gold and her eyes were exactly like his in terms of shade of green. She was of average height, thin, quite pale, very delicate and she reminded him of a sunflower. She had a pretty smile on her lips.
"My name is Myrcella, Myrcella Baratheon. I'm Willem's cousin. Well, first cousin once removed. My mother is his actual first cousin, despite the age gap."
He didn't reply, wondering why she was talking to him. He remained away for a good reason: he had no time to waste on social relationships. He was a loner, would always be one, he needed to succeed, to graduate and if his grades were decent enough, maybe he could pretend to a scholarship, for college. That could also be his key to have yet another loan. He didn't need friends. Gossips wouldn't help him at the end of the day.
"You always eat alone. I was wondering if you'd like to eat with me and some friends. To meet new people. We don't bite, we promise."
"I don't eat at lunch. I have what the french call a sparrow appetite." He awkardly replied
He didn't want her to know he didn't eat because he lacked money. His job paid the bills, which was a relief to him, but after everything was paid, he didn't have much left to live on. He basically lived on tips he received or from leftovers he as given. He saved as much as he could, for his future.
"Well, you can always join us, even if you don't eat." She sweetly offered
He was about to give in, unable to resist her puppy eyes, she seemed so adamant on him not being alone all the time, but before he could speak, a voice came from behind.
"Leave him be, Cella. This guy is a pathetic loser. He couldn't even be fully adopted! Even his parents left him in a garbage bin, there must be a reason."
The voice belonged to a man, and with his own colours, Lancel assumed he was related to Myrcella and Willem, one way or another. He bit his lip, trying to swallow his anger. He knew he was trash, but he didn't need to be reminded of it, it was painful enough on its own.
"Don't pay attention to my brother. He is... Well, let us say he is quite the special guy." She diplomatically eased him
XXXXX
In the school's gardens, Lancel found himself sitting with Myrcella's family. There was Willem, of course, and his twin brother Martyn. Lancel noted that there was one difference between them: Willem's hair tended to be messy and curled. Tommen, Myrcella's younger brother, had joined them and despite being filled with bitterness at his young age, Lancel couldn't help finding the young man to be one of the sweetest lads he had ever met and he prayed his innocence to be preserved for the longest time possible. Myrcella's cousin Shireen had joined them. Lancel felt bad for the girl, a shy young girl, who survived greyscale but got scarred in return. But she was intelligent, kind and she was speaking of her father in the highest regards. He felt out of place. He didn't belong here, he knew. He was a nobody sitting with sons and daughters of important men of the land. Watching them eat was also painful, he could feel his own stomach contracting itself under hunger. He was starving. He was rather starttled to see an apple put under his eyes. Willem, who was sitting on his right, still eating his sandwich, was handing it over to him.
"You can have it if you want. Mom overestimated my appetite. For your snack time."
He accepted it without a word, feeling a bit humiliated. He always felt humiliated when he needed people to feed him. He knew Willem's appetite would have handled an apple. It was his way to help him out, having noticed his issue, without calling him on it.
"You should come over sometime. Mom would be delighted to meet you."
"I'm afraid I must decline... But thanks. It's nice, having good acquaitances, for a change."
"Call us friends, it's a quicker word."
Once alone, Lancel took a bite of the fruit, trying his best to keep away the tears of frustration that were burning his eyes.
XXXXX
"Lancel, here's the latte for table 4."
Lancel simply took the cup and made his way to the table. Sitting there was a regular, and everytime she was here, it was him she asked after, stating that while all the waiters and waitresses were good looking, he was the hottest. She was tall, with long legs, pale skin with some frekles here and there. She was known for being a flirt and she embraced it, she always wore tight fitting clothes, sexy but not skimpy, always enhancing in a subtle way her full round breasts. She had long strawberry blonde hair, a pinched face and brown doe eyes. If Lancel had to find any drawback in her appearance, he'd think of the fact that she lacked a chin but it didn't alter her charming look. If he hadn't been so focued on his studies, if he had been an average man, he would have found her gorgeous. He didn't have time for that. He didn't have time for romance, for one night stands.
"And here's my hot waiter."
"Enjoy your coffee, Miss Frey."
"Wait. For you."
Lancel looked at the tip and wondered if he was dreaming. She was becoming more and more generous in her tips.
"I cannot accept."
"It's to thank you for always serving me, putting up with my extravagant self."
He nodded.
"I hope that, one day, I'll be the one serving you coffee. As friends, of course."
As he returned to the kitchen, the world went black for half a second and he had to stop, grabbing the counter to give him stability. Willem's apple had been more than welcome but it hadn't been enough to fuel him. He just had to wait until the end of the service, for dinner, the only meal he allowed himself to have. Usually, it was just bread and water. Or pasta. Always the cheapest brands, the cheapest things.
"Sit." His boss ordered
She fetched him water and asked for a burger to be prepared for him.
"On the house." He could hear her say
He felt lucky to have a boss understanding enough, a good team, who knew his issues. Still, it felt humiliating. In a few days, he'd celebrate his birthday. And he was starting to wonder why he kept going on. It wasn't as if a good life was waiting for him anyway, he had nobody. He felt tired of everything.
And he was only seventeen.
To Be Continued
